middaeg | [ muffled johnny cash in the distance ]

Entry tags:

[ muffled johnny cash in the distance ]

Who: derek hale + you!
When: all through this month
Where: he's been everywhere man, crossed the deserts bare man...
What: class, daily happenings, magic study group, shenanigans, etc
Warnings: none atm, will update if needed

i. your mind must flower, it's great to learn... ( plant class )
[ being in school is weird for derek. he hasn't actually done this since before his family died. after that whole tragedy and then essentially running away across the country with laura, finishing high school didn't seem like that big of a deal. he got his GED when he was seventeen and that was the last school-like thing he'd done. but despite the six-odd years between then and now, derek finds that it's easy enough to get himself back into school habits.

it's a little different, now that he's not a teenager posturing and trying to be the cool guy. he doesn't make smart remarks in class. instead, he sits towards the back and takes diligent notes like he used to when he was in high school. (he's kind of a nerd underneath all the stubble and frowns.) every once in a while he'll ask a question, but for the most part he's a quiet and studious type. also kind of a loner.

shit, he's turned into the emo kid, hasn't he?

well, in any case, the plant class is doubly interesting and derek can fairly often be found hanging out for a little while after class. mostly because he's attempting to sketch (poorly) whatever specific plants they're studying or at least get some really good descriptions of them down so he has his own reference in his notebooks. which, really, is just begging for someone to interrupt him. ]

ii. take chances, make mistakes, get messy! ( magic study group + mishaps )
[ derek has finally found himself a place to live. a cute little cottage, technically more space than he needs by his onesies, but it's got easy access to the outdoors for his dog, louis, (pronounced the french way) and cat, steve. (yes, those are really his familiar's names. and if anyone asks why, derek will just give them a blank look and tell them to figure it out for themselves.) and, y'know. he fully expects stiles and possibly others to randomly show up and stay over wherever he's living. that, combined with the fact that he has somehow ended up the... leader? instigator? of a magic study group (how) means he went for a decent amount of space.

which is good, because there are a lot more people in the study group that he originally anticipated there being. but it's cool. he can deal with it. and, he'll never admit it out loud, but it's kind of nice to be able to fumble along in this magic thing with other people who have no idea what they're doing. comparing notes and asking for help is easier when he's not the first to do it.

of course, this also means people are around when distraction causes him to mess up a spell and steve the cat suddenly finds himself with vary large ears and bright pink fur. the cat's back arches as it looks around, clearly startled. ]

Oh, shit-- [ derek reaches out, but is too late. steve turns tail and runs as fast as he can under a very large piece of furniture. there may or may not be disgruntled growling filling the air as derek drops his head into his hands. ]

iii. makin' my way down town, walking fast, walking faster... ( out and about / wildcard option )
[ derek falls into something of a routine pretty easily once he gets his cottage. he wakes up early, takes louis out for a run, gets some breakfast. he spends a fair amount of time at classes, determined to get this magic thing as under control as he can. afternoons and evenings are generally spent wandering aefenglom with louis and steve, the latter enjoying perching on the giant dog's back. he drops in a few stores. does some window shopping, keeps an eye out for anyone who is hiring. he's not... social, exactly, but he's around.

he avoids most of the eostre happenings, but he does flit around the edges on the last night. tries some of that liquor with the flowers and finds himself just a little fuzzy around the edges. metaphorically. he's not actually any fuzzier, though how could you tell with how hairy he already is? (it's possible suddenly lacking his werewolf metabolism has made him vulnerable to getting tipsy, but he'd never admit to anything like that. even if his cheeks are a little pink.) in any case, he calls it a night fairly soon after that, walking home with his hands in his pockets.

feel free to encounter him any number of places around town, if you like. he's probably poking around everywhere he can, all quiet and occasionally creepy lurker-like. ]

[ note: if you wanna plot anything specific (or if i am a dope and my flare-up made me forget something specific i was gonna put in this (it feels like i did) feel free to hit me up via pm or plurk (

birbs) and lemme know! i will write up a thing and toss it in the comments. ]

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[Of course Allura is one of the first to sign up for some kind of magical study group. While she never attended a school proper in her youth (princesses were a bit exempt from that) she nevertheless was a studious learner. She felt so... helpless without her normal powers. Finding herself here in Aefenglom without them was all the motivation she needed to throw herself into learning everything there was to learn here.

As luck turns out, the first section about plants seems entirely up Allura's alley (or at least is tapping into her particular life-giving magic energy she has), and she's been catching on faster than most in the class they're in - giving her the illusion of being at least a little bit of a good student. She might not have started the study group, but for all intents and purposes, she gives of the air of being the sort of student everyone would want on their group project for an easy "A". Which is just a long winded way to say she hasn't messed up too badly (yet).

When poor Steve gets poofed into something much more pink, and Allura can't help but clap her hand over her mouth to keep from a small laugh.]

The poor thing. [She thinks it looks very nice, but she says, kindly,] What were you attempting? I doubt it was a... pink cat spell.

Edited 2020-03-12 01:19 (UTC)

[ allura's a good sort, derek can already tell. that doesn't make the fact that he turned his cat pink any easier to deal with, but allura pointing it out is a lot better than some other people that could've noticed. still, it's a little embarrassing, so derek is not exactly looking at her as he answers. in fact, he's getting down on the floor so he can peek into steve's hiding place. ]

I was hoping to make him look like an orange or red tabby. [ steve is nice just how he is, but derek figured this would be a good a chance as any to see what he'd look like with, y'know. fur.

derek makes a soft little clicking noise with his tongue. ] C'mere, Steve. Let me fix that for you.[ he doesn't exactly go the baby talk route a lot of people seem to do with animals, but his tone is definitely more gentle.

steve growls a little louder. yeah, derek wouldn't trust himself to fix it if he were suddenly hot pink either. ]

[Finally, she can't help the small laugh that escapes her, but it's not a mean one. On the bright side, she doesn't think his name is weird at all, what does she know about human naming conventions. (And her mice are named Platt, Plachu, Chulatt, and Chuchule so... she has no room to talk.)]

Maybe I can help...

[Joining him on the floor, she doesn't put her face near the bottom of the bed because she doesn't want an angry cat in her face. But she sits with her knees tucked under her, leaning over to peer at him.]

It's a very handsome look for you, Steve. There's no reason to be angry.

[And yes, she is talking to the cat in an entirely conversational tone, like Steve might be able to speak right up and answer her.]

[ the growling quiets a bit, but it's still there. steve is not quite ready to come out, but he seems to have taken a shine to allura. then again, probably anyone is better than the dude that messed with his ears and fur right about now.

derek huffs out something that could be a laugh and sits on the floor, watching. ] Maybe you can tempt him out with some treats.

[She has a way with animals. It’s her calm demeanor. Or maybe the cat can smell the lingering scent of mice on her. Either way, she nods at Derek, before reaching for the conveniently nearby tray of snacks they’d set out for study group.]

Be reasonable, Steve. [She talks like she’s standing in a full conference room, setting a small cube of cheese on the floor at the edge of the bed.] Once my mice were turned into giant space snails, and you didn’t hear a peep of complaint from them.

[In a stage whisper to Derek.] They were not very happy.

[ derek's eyebrows fly towards his hairline ]. Giant space snails...? [ that's a joke, right? that has to be a joke. and if it's not, he really wants the story behind that.

steve has stopped growling so much and seems to be sniffing at the air. he doesn't come out quite yet, but the scent of cheese combined with the faint scent of mice clinging to allura is tempting. ]

Giant space snails. We were trapped in in a wormhole anomaly. [She says sagely, like it’s the most logical and normal thing to talk about.] It was a malfunction in our teleduv combined with the magical crystal that powered our ship.

[Hm. She leans in, reaching out one hand for Steve,] So a bit of a magical hiccup. Kind of like what happened to Steve.

[ Some time after the last stragglers from the study group have left (which of course he crashed, despite being a Monster), Stiles throws himself onto the couch and groans dramatically. ]

I can’t believe how boring schoolwork makes magic. Magic! Like, the one thing that shouldn’t be boring at all. More evidence that schools are soul-stealing institutions bent on draining the vitality of the young and impressionable. Hey, what’s a nine-letter word for “something from nothing?”

[ Yes, that is indeed a crossword puzzle he’s working on. ]

[ is it crashing if derek knew this would happen and thus told stiles when it was gonna be? in any case, derek's tired and a little peopled out and a bit grumpy after group. so, pretty much his usual. he leans back into a large chair and gives stiles a raised eyebrow. ]

I don't know if I'd call the people at school young and impressionable. [ but he doesn't disagree. nor, it seems, does steve. who makes a little mrrrp sound from his perch on the back of the couch. ]

Do you have any letters or just the clue?

If you don’t have opposable thumbs, you don’t get an opinion, [ he tells Steve severely. Then, to Derek, ] There’s a “c” in the middle. Fourth letter.

[ As he gives the former werewolf time to puzzle it out, Stiles continues to make himself at home; a pillow is pummeled cheerfully into just the right shape for him to lay his head on. Perfect. He flops back down, shooting Steve an apologetic look as all the movement shakes the couch. ]

You got anything, big guy? Or you all tuckered out from nerd magic?

[ he can't tell if nerd magic is supposed to be an insult or not. but he feels vaguely offended. ]

Nothing with a C in the middle. You sure you have the right clue?

[ because seriously he's got nada. and now he kinda wants to know what the answer is.

also: ] Are you sticking around for a while? [ is he going to have to feed you at some point? make up the guest bed? ]

[ Scoffing to let Derek know what he thinks of the first question (while subtly doublechecking to make sure that he does have the right clue), Stiles abandons that row and starts working on the ones around it. ]

Why? [ he asks distractedly, chewing on the end of his writing utensil. ] You can’t kick me out yet. Steve and I need to finish our debate about what Talam’s outer space aliens look like.

[ Back him up here, Steve! ]

[ mrrrp! ]

If you're around in an hour you get to watch me eat dinner. [ he says like he isn't going to cook enough for the both of them. ] If you want to spend the night you'll have to fight with Ludwig for the dog bed.

[ his money is on the st. bernard, honestly. and after a beat he says as much. ]

I don’t really sleep at night anymore.

[ The crossword puzzle is thrown down in disgust. “Evocation” is the word they wanted, though Stiles has lost interest in pursuing the hint. ]

Can we talk about the furballs, for a minute? Or the one furball and the…naked…thing.

[ No offense, Steve. ]

Goblin, I think.

[ he's a former canine, he can be an asshole about his equally assholish at times cat. ]

Familiars are supposed to help witches stave off the need for a Bond. [ which is an explanation for why he has them. because derek with animals clearly needs justification. hence him doing it preemptively before stiles can ask "why do you have them??" ]

[ The explanation is waved off dismissively; having attended several classes at the Coven out of curiosity, he has a vague grasp of the basics. ]

No, I mean… Why these familiars? I’m kinda surprised you didn’t go with…uh, the more cliché option, I guess.

[ Where are the wolves, Derek. ]

[ he shrugs. ]

It's hard to have a normal pet as a werewolf.

[ by which derek means when he was younger, he was the kid who always begged his parents for a cat or a dog but never got one. first because he had to figure out how to not be threatening to animals and later because cora had to learn. and then--well. then there was the fire. ]

Besides, it's cheaper to feed them than it would be wolves.

[ A perspective he hadn’t considered, honestly. Curiosity sufficiently sated, he nods in understanding to Derek. There’s something sweet about a born werewolf wanting a slice of normalcy in his life. It makes Stiles less inclined to tease the other man about his choice of familiars (at least, for now). ]

And the names? [ he asks, eyebrow cocked wryly. ]

[ while derek appreciates the lack of teasing, he's also bracing himself for some once he tells stiles why he named his familiars what he did. ]

Louis is short for Ludwig. [ as in von beethoven. like the movies. ] And Steve... [ derek reaches over and, after giving the cat a scritch under the chin, holds him up for stiles to look at his face. ] Look at him and tell me he doesn't look like Steven Tyler.

[ or vice versa, honestly. ]

[ Sadly, the Beethoven reference is totally lost on Stiles. It’s too many jumps for a movie that was before his time. When he thinks of the name Ludwig, naturally only one man comes to mind. So, the name gets his implicit approval despite the inherent dorkiness. As for Steve… ]

He looks like Deucalion, [ he deadpans. ] Put a pair of sunglasses on him and you’ll see.

[ Open your eyes to the truth, Derek. ]

[Momo likes opportunities to meet people, and a study group seems like just that - not to mention that he's largely focusing on llusion and abjuration magic, so the chances of hurting anyone else if he goes awry with it is pretty limited. He's just doing some extremely basic warm-up type magic to put himself more in the abjuration mindset when something very pink catches the corner of his eye, and he turns his head in time to see the newly pinkified cat running under furniture.

The guy responsible looks plenty like he's trying to stick his head in the ground already, so Momo feels almost obliged to break the ice with humour rather than concern. Even if the cat sure doesn't sound very happy about proceedings.]

Hey, at least you've got great choice in colours? [Having hot pink eyes is one way to make someone appreciate pink, and Momo was also turning his nails hot pink with illusion magic earlier for basic reflex practice, though they're back to red now. He sounds amused, but good-natured about it, and he gives Derek an understanding sidelong glance like he knows that embarrassing error mood.] You want help getting him out for a restyling job?

[ derek pinches at the bridge of his nose with a sigh. it's a thing he's seen humans do enough times that he's hoping it actually does help ward off the headache he's sure is going to come on soon. ]

Yeah, I'd appreciate it. [ and so would the cat, honestly. but they're going to have a hell of a time getting steve out from under the dresser. ] You any good with cats?

[ because steve is occasionally a picky bastard, much like his witch, and can be a little standoffish with most people. cats, man. they're weird assholes. ]

I dunno about cats specifically since I don't know that many people with pets, but animals usually seem to like me when I work with them. [Momo gives a broad sort of shrug, like it's a better bet than nothing. It might just be because Momo is more prone to be gentle with them even if he's a little excitable otherwise, and that seems to make them more inclined to approach.

That said, he digs into his pockets for a moment like he's looking for something.] I did bring a snack, but I don't know if I brought anything a cat would eat.

[He's been eating dried meat fairly frequently here, so it's a possibility...though the first thing he unearths out of his pocket and opens his hand to reveal is a little bag of nuts. Which is considerably less helpful.]

[This place is full of strange sights and sounds, and while Sheva's more or less become acclimated to that baseline of weirdness, sometimes things happen to stand out. Today, it's a cat riding a dog outside of a shop that she notices while completing a bit of shopping herself, their smells finding her first, her curious gaze following shortly afterwards.

The lioness part of her instinctively isn't too keen on the dog, but Sheva's more than happy to see the pair (suck it on this one instincts), a smile breaking out over her features. She knows it's ill-advised to pet strange animals, but she does meander closer.]

Hello darlings. [She glances about for their owner once they've been politely greeted, her own tail swishing behind her.]

[ louis the st bernard seems pretty happy with the attention, even if sheva isn't much of a dog person. he lets out a happy boof and wags his tail, stepping from foot to foot in a way that makes it obvious that he wants to move closer to the friendly person even though he knows he's supposed to stay put. steve just stares from his perch on top of his back.

a moment later, derek comes out of the shop with his few purchases in a cloth bag hanging off his arm. he looks at sheva, looks at louis, and looks back at sheva with a smile. ] You wanna pet them?

[ louis wags his tail a little harder clearly recognizing the word 'pet.' ]

[More of a cat person only now that she's an actual cat monster. It's quite impossible not to find joy in the big dog's excited little dance and commentary.]

Oh yeah? [She asks the pup in response, as if the dog understood her, fully expecting that he probably doesn't, but who knows with magic. The approach of the owner halts their conversation, and her smile turns sheepish for a moment before a laugh and nod follow.]

Who wouldn't? [Redundant question there mister; Sheva looks delighted. She reaches down to dote pets on the dog immediately with her right, her dominant hand reaching to allow the feline the opportunity to sniff her first.] What are their names?

The big guy is Ludwig [ von beethoven. derek gives his wiggly butt a fond pat. ] or Louis for short. The other one is Steve. [ because he kinda looks like steven tyler. or rather, steven tyler looks like a hairless cat.

louis is very happy to get pets, as evidenced by the tail and also the drool. steve sniffs at sheva's hand for a moment before giving it a gentle headbutt. fellow feline is allowed to touch. ]

And I'm Derek. [ since they're doing introductions. ]

Hello Louis. [She greets properly, shifting her attention to the feline, patiently awaiting whether or not this was about to be an issue. A happy chuff leaves her on throat at the headbutt.] And hello Steve.

[Steve definitely gets the bulk of the attention that's split between the pair. Still, she's saved some for their owner too.]

Sheva. [She frees her hand from Louis and offers it to Derek as she straightens, left still providing soft chin rubs.] It's a pleasure.
Thank you for letting me pet them. My day's already looking up.

[ Despite what many people seem to think, Vanitas is the sort to study. Rather than be one of those slackers, he actually takes everything seriously. Mistakes during his "education" and "training" hadn't yielded any rewards. Thus Vanitas himself is not inclined to make mistakes.

Not that there's really any mistakes to be made in a class revolving around flora, huh? Van's interest is minimal, but magically speaking? Plants are easy to deal with and in some respects? Vanitas would rather work with them than people anyway. Besides... It's not like the Badlands are abundant in green.

Granted he has noticed people taking notes, but well. Vanitas isn't sure what they're actually doing? This is why Derek is being interrupted - because Van is curious enough ask. ]

What are you doing?

[ Of course he doesn't really understand the purpose in the sketches either. ]

[ While she may not have technically known what a 'study group' was, Grace could catch on to the idea of people coming together to learn easily enough. Considering that she's currently trying to relearn everything she knows about magic, having company doesn't seem like the worst idea. Grace is a social sort of creature, and everyone working together feels a bit less lonely.

She's still a bit inside her own head even amidst a group, though, trying to rearrange her way of thinking. But even as deep in thought as she is, the sound of something growling catches her attention just in time to watch something pink and furry go by. She doesn't seem particularly surprised about either of those things, but living in the Outer Planes does make being surprised by anything a bit difficult.

The animal seems to have tucked itself under a nearby chair, and Grace can't help but smile a little as she bends down to get a better look, wings flaring slightly to keep her balance. ] Hello there. Are you alright?

[ And angry hiss is the only response, and Grace chuckles quietly as she straightens again, only to catch sight of a man with his head in his hands. It doesn't help her amusement much. ]

Are you alright?

[Riku is a recent addition to the study group. He'd been searching for some like-minded people to practice with, and it had seemed like as good a group as any, especially once he found out that it was lead by a friend of Stiles. It's a good enough of a reference for him.

He's taking a break from his own studies when he comes upon Derek performing...some kind of spell on his cat. Riku doesn't know much about familiars, not having any of his own, or any inclination to do so. But curiosity freezes him in place as he waits to see the results.

They are not as expected if the reaction of both the cat and the man is anything to go by. The now very pink cat sprints towards and around Riku's legs before he can make a grab for him, leaving him behind with the frustrated and growling man.]

Don't worry about it. I'm sure it'll be easy to reverse. [He doesn't know, exactly, how easy it'll be. But it couldn't be any harder than what he'd just done. Right?]

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[ muffled johnny cash in the distance ]

Magic study group

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ii. wildcard, lmk if this works!

totally works!!

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magic study group

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out and about

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plant class

study group (I am super late I'm sorry)

ii;