some guys think they can't be winners

[beanchaointe]

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[vampireboulevard]

[When Scott, Cora and Stiles get back to the house, Caroline is sitting on the front porch. She wasn't kidding when she said that she and Stiles needed to talk, and she takes her vampire mentorship very seriously. She gives them all a wave, and tips her head to the side to look at Stiles.]

Got a minute?

[Cora looks at Scott, before glancing back to Stiles.

"We'll be inside."]

[phonetically]

( While it was a case well-but-questionably solved (with violence,) Stiles wouldn't consider it a job well done. It was not his best FBI hour, not even close. Two lives were lost.

And before all that, Stiles had a major setback thinking he could just go back into the real world to a carnival.

He waits for the door to close behind Cora and Scott before saying something simple. )

You said the bloodlust gets easier.

[vampireboulevard]

It does. But it still takes time.

[She tips her head up to and gives him a small smile.]

Did I ever tell you what happened right after I turned?

[phonetically]

I don't remember any cautionary tales, just caution. What happened?

( He's all ears. )

[vampireboulevard]

Well, I was in charge of running the annual school carnival before I turned, and I didn't fully understand what was going on with me yet. And while Bonnie and Elena did their best, planners they are not.

[She loves them, but it's true.]

Anyway, I thought I was under control with the new hemoglobin diet I was on, and this new mind control power was awesome and being able to throw Damon literally down the hall after he treated me like garbage? I was riding high.

Then I started losing it. I almost at my friend Matt, who I was kind of dating at the time, and I managed to hold myself back. But then I came across this carnival worker who had a bloody nose and ... I couldn't hold it back. I killed him.

[The first person she ever killed. Not the last, but she'll always remember him for being the first.]

[phonetically]

( Damon? The same Damon? This is fun context. )

I didn't. Kill Ivan from Norfolk. ( But. ) It was hard. At first, right in the beginning. I couldn't drown out any of the sounds. People's pulses...

( Talk about overstimulation. )

[vampireboulevard]

Good. I'm glad you didn't kill him.

[Because that's a lot to live with.]

And it's okay if you didn't get it perfect the first time. Maybe ... I shouldn't have left you alone with Scott and Cora so soon. That's on me.

[She's responsible for him after all.]

But I'm going to tell you what Stefan told me. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I'm going to have your back and we'll try something smaller next time. But you'll be okay, Stiles. I promise.

[phonetically]

Yeah. I found him first. I smelled his blood and I couldn't stop myself. Lydia found me. I did lie before.

( But, he's coming clean now. )

I thought I had things under control. Guess a guy with an addictive personality makes for a jumpy vampire.

[vampireboulevard]

Probably, yeah. That's not something we always think about when we're turning people.

[Though when he says "addictive" ...]

When you were feeding on him ... how did it feel?

[Does she need to be worried about a ripper in the making?]

[phonetically]

Like I wasn't in control of my own impulses. You're a vampire, blood -- it would turn my stomach to hear me say this, human me, but it's blood. I was just -- in its thrall or something. Like I had zero will power.

( He blinks, sighing. )

My dad had a drinking problem. He was a sheriff and Beacon Hills was stressful on its best day and I just - could that mean something? Am I... more prone to -- drinking?

[vampireboulevard]

Maybe? There are vampires called "rippers." They feed and can't stop. They feed so violently they tear their victims apart.

[Which she's not saying is what he is, but if he is, then she's not sure that keeping him on an all blood bag diet is going to be what's best for him. The sooner he learns moderation on a human, the better.]

You're also really new, and still learning. So let's not jump to any conclusions. But ... I think I might want you to try feeding on a human, in a supervised scenario. Just so we can see what we're working with.

[phonetically]

Supervised feeding.

( Sounds so official. )

If you think it will help, I'm willing. Um, and they're willing. I assume. Is this a rando we're -- talking about?

[vampireboulevard]

I think we'll be able to find someone who'd give their consent.

[Which is better, in her opinion. Less compulsion, less of a chance that word will get out.]

In fact, we do have an excess of werewolves around, with healing factors and while they are not the tastiest, the risk is less.

[phonetically]

Better for it not to be a close personal werewolf.

( Scott and Cora would in a heartbeat. But there's already a sexy component to drinking and a line he does not need to cross. )

So - am I Salvatore grounds grounded.

[vampireboulevard]

[Well, the sexy component is something she's concerned about, but since nothing seems to be happening there yet, she's keeping it to herself.

But, she shakes her head.]

I think you'll be okay to stay at the house. Just call me if you're feeling weird or are losing it and aren't sure what to do.

[phonetically]

And until we -- supervise, moderate my blood bags. I got this.

( Despite feeling the opposite, he bluffs with a (19). Or, maybe he can do this. Faking the confidence could lead to having confidence. )

[vampireboulevard]

[Caroline seems to buy the bluff (11), so she nods in agreement.]

You do have this.

[She reaches over and gives his hands a small squeeze.]

We'll figure this out, Stiles. You're not in this alone.

[phonetically]

My entire friend group up and moved here. Like rented a house moved here. They won't let me be. And I know you won't.

( He nods once and then heads inside. )

[impetere]

[Speaking of people who won't let him be, when he comes inside and makes his way to the stairs, he'll find one of them sitting at the top of the stairs. He's not the only one she was concerned about and listening in on -- she's been keeping an ear on Scott and Isaac too -- but Stiles is the one she was worried about more.

Tonight was rough, and she wants to make sure he's okay.]

Hi.

[Yes, because that's good to say. A+ opening.]

[phonetically]

( Oh, right off the bat. Okay. From the bottom of his stairs, he looks up. )

Hey. I could be what Caroline calls a Ripper. I am hoping that doesn't mean I'll start going after sex workers.

[impetere]

I don't think there's any evidence that Jack the Ripper was a vampire.

[He was just a really twisted human, as far as they're aware.]

But if he was a ripper, I think sex workers were more prey of convenience.

[phonetically]

Classism at it's most gruesome.

( He slows ascends the stairs, taking a seat next to her. )

I'm okay. I just got carried away. I followed the blood.

[impetere]

[She nods, because she believes him. But sometimes with Stiles it can be hard to tell.]

It's kind of what you're built for now. Following the blood.

[It's the carried away part that worries her.]

[phonetically]

I'm like a bloodhound. Except. Literally. Even just talking about it, it's hard to stop... thinking about it. It's like, some days it's all I think about. And I've been lying to myself about that.

( He fidgets, tapping the back of his left hand. )

You were right, I shouldn't have gone today.

[impetere]

[She shifts, her hand slipping under his arm and into his, giving him something to anchor to, rather than fidget.]

You didn't hurt anyone. Ivan was already dead. And now you know what's too much and what you have to work on.