there's something due any day

[braveandstupid]

Comments

[deathlessness]

Of course. Happy to help.

[She straightens to face them.]

Hayley says you're welcome to continue staying the bayou while you're here. Malia knows the way.

[engender]

( While he's here. Will he be needed here? He's stayed in worse, too. )

Thanks. I will.

( And not one to beat around the bush. )

Hayley mentioned you might need something from me.

[deathlessness]

[She tips her head to the side curiously, studying him.]

Not now. At least, not yet. But I can't say that being in contact with a wolf of your caliber wouldn't be beneficial.

[engender]

( speaking of, he retrieves his phone from his pants he'd ruined and stuffs the rest back into the bag. )

If anything comes up, Hayley can get in touch.

[deathlessness]

Fantastic.

[Honestly, she probably won't ask for anything, but she knows how hard it is to believe that a Mikaelson witch other than Hope is the altruistic type. If it's easier for there to be a quid pro quo, then she'll give the illusion as such.]

Enjoy New Orleans.

[And then she'll leave him and Malia to carry on with their day.]

[engender]

( He's just going from what he's been told, but, when she takes her leave, Derek pulls up Cora's name and dials. )

[impetere]

[Whatever she's doing, she answers quickly as soon as she sees his name on the screen. If she's helping with vamp training, it probably comes off as awkward, but she clearly doesn't care.]

Hey. How'd it go?

[engender]

( Stiles can distract himself. It's a superpower. He also can hear both sides of the conversation. )

Hey. It's done. I'm unbound. How's it going in Mystic Falls?

[impetere]

It's fine.

[It's quiet, which is probably better than not, if any of the stories she's been told are true.]

Stiles hasn't killed anyone or himself yet, so. Progress.

[engender]

Let's not hold our breaths.

( Stiles isn't murderous, but he is now deadly )

Barring anything changing, we have a return flight in a few days.

[impetere]

Okay. No need to rush back, though. Everything's pretty quiet.

[The hunters probably aren't going to be coming back to Mystic Falls anytime soon, at least.]

[engender]

How are Allison and Scott?

( And Lydia, too, but, this is Derek, so he will be more concerned with Allison, the general, and Scott, his alpha. )

[impetere]

They're good. Scott and I have been helping Caroline with Stiles, while Allison's been coordinating with Isaac. He's got a bad feeling about Prague.

[engender]

What kind of bad feeling? The next hit?

( It steps in closer to Malia. )

[impetere]

Maybe. Apparently a lot of heavy hitters are going to be there in the next few weeks.

[But she doesn't know much more than that.]

[engender]

Do they need us?

( Most of the time, this is his own doing, but he has not stopped in one place in a while. That expunged FBI file did not help matters. )

[impetere]

[She shakes her head.]

I don't think so. So far, a lot of the heavy hitters are on our side.

[But that might change.]

Just sit tight. Allison still thinks New Orleans is going to be a target, so it might be better for you to just stay where you are.

[engender]

We'll be here, then. Help the local wolves. Let me know if anything changes.

( It does feel good to not be mired by his power being stripped, but the impending danger still lingers. )

[impetere]

I will. Stay safe.

[And unless there's something else, she'll go back to inform Scott and Allison that Derek is okay.

Once he hangs up, Malia looks back with a nod. "So. Bayou?"]

[engender]

You too.

( He hangs up. )

I want to see the Bayou.

( He pulls up Hayley's contact for a quick: Thank you )

[werewolfqueen]

[Malia leads the way out to the car as Hayley responds:]

I take it everything worked out with Freya?

[engender]

( Can Malia drive since she's familiar with the bayou. Texting and driving also does not mix. )

It worked out. Everything is in working order. Malia's taking us to the bayou.

[werewolfqueen]

[Yes, Malia will drive.]

Glad to hear it. I'll see you there.

[engender]

See you there.

( He thought maybe she'd stay back in the city, but seeing her again. That'll be nice. )

[werewolfqueen]

[If Hope were in town, that might be the case. But when she's not and Hayley needs a break from the Mikaelson drama, she retreats to the Bayou to be with her pack. It feels more at home than the Abattoir, than the French Quarter. And, honestly, it's the place where she can most be herself.

Derek arrives and a lot of the first hour he's here is function - finding a place for him to sleep, introducing him to the other wolves he doesn't know, letting him get accustomed to the space. But after dinner passes and the wolves settle into their little fire circles for the evening, she makes her way closer, offering a beer to him.]

How're you settling in?