( the dog days are over )

[prescind]

Who: stefan salvatore (prescind) + amos burton (rocinantes) + katherine pierce (manipulative + wanda maximoff (explosion)
What: event + other shenanigans
When: january
Where: all over the place

Content Warnings: possible nsfw, language, violence

Comments

[manipulative]

Uh huh.

[ katherine trails behind him, her arms crossed against her chest. he's walking slow, practically not even moving. by the time they reach the porch steps, it'll be two years later. ]

Keep going.

[prescind]

I'm taking it slow.

( and he does take a few steps, feeling the weakness in his legs but fighting through it. he hates this. how did he survive being a human before? )

Stop watching me like you're expecting me to fall over.

[manipulative]

Admit that you need help and I'll stop waiting for the inevitable.

[ she's not going to stop watching him like he's about to fall over. she thinks he is. hearing his heartbeat and the slow movement of his steps is proof enough he's about to keel over. and she'd much rather he keel over into bed rather than the driveway. ]

You need to not push yourself, Stefan.

[prescind]

I have admitted it. You're here with me, aren't you? I didn't try and leave the hospital. I need help. I just don't want to be an invalid.

( he makes a face and keeps walking. )

I'm fine.

[manipulative]

You're not an invalid when you're still recovering from a very significant injury.

[ she purses her lips and looks at him sternly. ]

Instead of worrying, you should be milking it. [ she loops her arm with his and tugs him closer. he's not walking to the front door on his own anymore. she gently teases, ] You're not doing the whole being injured thing right, Stefan. It'd make me feel better if you were.

[prescind]

I'm not my brother.

( he'd be the dramatic one when it came to injuries, stefan knows. he sighs and does slow himself down, leaning on her a bit. )

But I don't need to milk it. I just need to get past it.

[manipulative]

[ pleased that stefan's finally trusting himself and subsequently her, she wraps her arm comfortably around his waist and tucks her hand into his hip. she keeps their pace set slow. ]

You can get past it by letting me help you.

[prescind]

That's what I'm doing.

( he's trying to, at least. )

But I need to do some things on my own too.

[manipulative]

You can do that when we're inside. Like lie down, rest, close your eyes.

[ but in typical katherine fashion, she does need stefan to do one thing... use his keys to open the door she locked and didn't bring her own keys for. ]

And... [ she smiles sweetly and innocently at him. ] maybe use your keys to open the door?

[prescind]

Did you not bring your keys?

( he laughs and stops walking, reaching into his pocket to pull the keys out. he passes them to her. )

You can get it.

[manipulative]

Why would I bring them when I have you?

[ she scrunches up her face incredulously. honestly, stefan… katherine may not be hopeless when it comes to cunning and outmanoeuvring others, but she is absolutely utterly hopeless when it comes to domesticity.

taking his keys, she ensures that he's leaning against her as she makes a show of struggling to open the door. ]

This is why I need you. I can't open locks.

[prescind]

Your ability to suddenly forget how to do simple things when you want me to do them is amazing.

( he laughs and then reaches for the keys to turn the lock and open the door. how amazing was he? )

Do I get a reward for opening the door for you?

[manipulative]

Yes.

[ she ensures her arm is wrapped tightly around him as she begins to walk and expects him to walk with her. ]

I will lead you to bed and fluff your pillow. How does that sound?

[prescind]

Will you stay in there with me for awhile?

( not that he thought she'd leave but he wants to make sure. )

I don't think I'm going to sleep but I'd like you to be there.

[manipulative]

[ katherine smiles. it's nice to be needed. it's more than nice to be wanted. ]

I will gladly miss out on a shoe sale I was very much looking forward to just to be with you.

[ she scrunches up her nose and pauses momentarily as she furrows her brows. second guessing what she's said, she narrows her eyes at him. ]

Don't repeat that.

[prescind]

Who would I repeat that to anyway?

( stefan laughs because seriously. it's not like he has that many friends. )

I'll tell Aleksander and he will be so shocked.

[manipulative]

[ she rolls her eyes and feigns a look of annoyance. ]

Keep that up and I'm dumping you on the couch with the weak pillow, Stefan.

[ he'll suffer with the pillow she's deemed shitty for a week while she enjoys his fluffy and thick pillows. ]

[prescind]

Wow.

( but he does quiet down, merely tsking her and trying to hold back a laugh. )

Never knew you could be so cold and cruel.

( except he had. )

[manipulative]

Well...

[ she shrugs as they approach the base of the stairs. katherine doesn't rush him up them. that's a calculated kindness on her behalf, she thinks. ]

I like to surprise you from time to time. It keeps things fresh, you know?

[prescind]

Oh yeah, fresh and titillating.

( stefan reaches for the railing and starts pulling himself up, one foot at a time. he's slow but he wants to do it himself more than anything. )

Wouldn't want either of us to get bored and just not wanna be here anymore.

[manipulative]

So is that why you go around wearing your tightest jeans?

[ katherine stays beside him, taking one step at a time a step after him. she leans back and eyes his ass, which is in a nice pair of jeans if she says so herself. ]

The moment you wear shapeless pants, I'm gone.

[prescind]

Of course you are. I absolutely believe that.

( no, he doesn't. he doesn't believe that at all. )

I'll be sure to invest in some sweatpants to see if that's true.

[manipulative]

Tight sweatpants, Stefan.

[ please, listen to the lady and heed her. ]

Your ass, whether vampire or human, will always look good in the right pants. You just need some guidance on how to pick them.

[ guess who can provide such guidance. ]

[prescind]

Tight sweatpants defeat the point of pants!

( he's buying his regular sweatpants. )

They're supposed to be comfortable.

[manipulative]

And tight sweatpants aren't?

[ wtf stefan, that sounds so wrong. katherine does her best not to laugh at him. ]

Clearly, you're wearing the wrong type of pants, Stef. You're so lucky I'm here for you.