canon au } { post-507, of stalker fathers and creature research

[kiss_evilgoodbye]

Malia: [yes, so she will turn and see them in the window of the coffee shop and glare before turning back to Theo] I gotta go. I'll see you later, though?

Theo: [blinks, then nods] Yeah, sure. We can try that whole driving thing again. [does he see Peter Hale? Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. He's not acting like anything is different though. But he's totally going to slide somewhere and watch from afar]

Peter: [ to Buffy] We've been made. [sips his coffee]

Buffy: ... Oops.

Malia: [she nods in agreement before turning and heading back down the street in the direction of "home," until she's sure she's not being followed before she doubles back around to get to the coffee shop and comes to stand at the end of Peter and Buffy's table] What are you doing here?

Peter: Getting coffee? We're allowed a coffee break on occasion.

Malia: [just glares. Apparently she's been taking lessons from Derek]

Derek: [that's his cousin!]

Peter: [sighs] Will you at least sit while you judge me?

Malia: [makes a face before grabbing one of the chairs from the side and sitting on the end of the table, before raising her eyebrows] Better?

Peter: Well, that is one way to do it. [puts his coffee down and leans back] Have you talked to Cora in the last two days?

Malia: Yes.

Peter: And has she told you about her feelings on what she's seeing develop between Theo and Stiles?

Malia: If you're here to tell me to not trust him, I'm already two steps ahead of you.

Peter: No, I'm not here to tell you that, but I am glad to know. The trail I was following went cold, and Cora is concerned for Stiles so I told her I would see if I can find anything out to help you all. After all, I'm not a part of the pack - he doesn't have to behave for me.

Malia: [she shakes her head] Maybe he doesn't have to behave but that doesn't mean he'll tell you anything. He's too consistent.

Peter: I didn't say I was going to ask him anything. [he smirks. His back shifted to the window the moment Malia saw him, so no one looking in would be able to make out his face] I'm just here to observe and report.

Malia: Uh-huh.

Peter: Is there a reason you don't want me to?

Malia: I don't want you to back him into a corner. Right now he thinks he's the smartest guy in the room. I don't want him to figure out that there's a bigger threat. [because let's be honest, in Theo vs. Peter, it'd be Peter. Easily. Without even breaking a sweat.] He knows I'm stronger than he is but right now he thinks I'm on his side.

Peter: [looks at Buffy a moment, then crosses his arms] Then you call the moves. You have an ace up your sleeve now - how do you want to use it?

Malia: [sighs as she glances away, studying the window for a moment before shrugging] I don't know yet. But he hasn't really tried to impress any of the Hales except for Cora. And mostly that was to try and get to Stiles. He hasn't gone near Derek or Laura.

Peter: Well, he wouldn't have a reason to if he is aiming for Scott. Derek and Scott are not as close as they used to be. And Derek has more power than anyone but Scott. You think I'm one who can back him into a corner - we don't even know how Derek has changed strength wise.

Malia: [she falls silent for a moment, her brow furrowing as she thinks] Liam and Mason got chased by a wolf.

Peter: [tilts his head] Derek or Laura?

Malia: [she shakes her head] They both said it wasn't them.

Peter: None of Satomi's pack can do that as far as I know. Wolves that have that ability get whispered about among packs. Alphas seek them out for advice because they know balance better than most. Even if they don't feel it. [he leans forward] How long from this wolf sighting until these chimeras showed up?

Malia: [there's a pause as she thinks] Chimeras came first. The one with the garuda claws.

Peter: So this wolf may not be a wolf. He could be one of the chimeras. Because that kind of power doesn't get handed out like candy.

Malia: [her brow furrows] Don't you have to earn that? It doesn't seem like something that the doctors can steal.

Peter: But one of these chimeras was trying to steal Scott’s power, wasn't it?

Malia: Yeah, but it didn't work.

Peter: And do you know why?

Malia: Deaton said it was because he was a true alpha.

Peter: Right, and a true alpha's powers can only be stolen by someone in their wolf line - the one who made him, or the ones who he or she make.

Malia: What does this have to do with the wolf power?

Peter: Depends - if the first chimera's efforts didn't work - would they have stopped trying... or kept working on one that would work. What if all these chimeras are attempts at making a creature just to steal the power of a true alpha.

Buffy: [her brow furrows] What, you think they're like supernatural hoarders or something?

Peter: They capture the power of a true alpha and have the ability to make an army of super chimeras? I'd pick you all up and get the hell out of town.

Malia: [she makes a face before shaking her head] This isn't the first time they've done this. Make chimeras? That Dr. Valack guy wrote a book. [she fishes out of her backpack and goes to hand it to Peter]

Buffy: Is that the magic memory unlocking book you guys were all reading?

Malia: Yeah?

Buffy: [reaches over and takes it from her] I'll hold onto that.

Peter: Thank you. [nope, not touching that book for anything] But back to the matter - how long ago did they do it?

Malia: I don't know exactly. Lydia and Stiles were the ones who went to Eichen House to talk to Valack, but the Dread Doctors came to take the eye in his head and then he used Lydia's scream to escape.

Peter: [sits back a bit] There's a lot of balls up in the air it seems. [and Valack being loose is not a good thing] A missing eye, a wolf... what else has been going on here that doesn't make sense?

Malia: [one. two. three.] Kira's fox has been acting up?

Peter: ... Acting up how?

Malia: She's been getting really ... violent?

Peter: Has anyone else been unable to control their powers, or felt like they were losing control?

Malia: [shakes her head] Her mom thinks she can help her, though, so maybe it's not a Dread Doctor thing. She did just get her first tail.

Peter: Well, he mother is a 900 year old fox. I'd say you guys give her the benefit of the doubt then.

Malia: [nods, before shrugging] And that's everything I know. Stiles has been acting a little weird, but Stiles is always weird.

Peter: What about the youngest one of you? Liam, right?

Malia: He's still learning, but it's nothing out of the usual.

Peter: You will want to keep an eye on that one. If they are taking pieces of creatures and mixing them - Liam's DNA would be something they would want to try and infuse it into the creatures and gain that link to Scott.

Malia: [nods in agreement] Okay. We'll try. [and fail. spectacularly] We're going to try something at the high school tonight to help one of his friends.

Peter: Do you need help?

Malia: [she shakes her head] We're going to try to use the telluric currents at the high school and see if that keeps them out. It worked for Eichen House so maybe it'll work here. Parrish is going to back us up.

Peter; Well, good. You should be okay. If you need help though, just howl and I'll come find you.

Malia: [she nods though she ... probably won't. It's bad enough that these guys are playing mind games which Peter probably doesn't need, but it also won't make Liam feel any better about their ability to protect Hayden. The last time he saw Peter, Peter tried to kill Scott.]

Peter: [yeaaaaah. but still, he's not going to let you go get killed either.]

Malia: Anyway, I should go meet up with Scott. [the "don't stalk me this time" is implied]

Peter: [he just smiled. He's not stalking you, Malia. He's stalking Theo. You just happened to be in the same place] Stay safe.

Malia: [nods and off she goes]

Buffy: [sips her coffee] So. That escalated quickly.

Peter: You leave town for a few months, and everything goes to hell. Derek is slacking in his family responsibilities to protect Beacon Hills in lieu of a wedding. [smirks a bit as he picks his coffee back up]

Buffy: Can't say I blame him. Place settings and flower arrangements clearly take priority over some creepos experimenting on teenagers. [her tone is dry] I heard back from Riley though. They're not affiliated with the Initiative, even with a "formerly" attached to it. Wherever they came from, it's not the usual places.

Peter: I tried to contact Deaton but he isn't in town. [his fingers drift over to the copy of the book]

Buffy: [and she'll put her hand over it before giving him a look] That is something you don't need.

Peter: I don't plan on reading it. I wanted to look at the date it was published.

Buffy: [moves her hand and flips open the cover to look] Ten years ago, it looks like.

Peter: [thinks] Taking the time to write that, publish it, and of course live through it... odds then are that when this happened would be about thirteen years ago. Minimum. Something would have had to happen thirteen years ago that would have had to happen that stopped them back then.

Buffy: Cora said they were drawn back by the nematon. When did the nematon lose it's mojo?

Buffy: [drums her fingers against the top of the book before tipping her head to the side] Do they keep logging info? It was cut down, right?

Peter: It wasn't cut down for logging. I can tell you that. Logging on the preserve is forbidden because of that damn tree. No, whoever cut it down was in the druid circle. But you're also talking about someone whose memories of even it's location were tampered with.

Buffy: Then maybe we should talk to someone who was around back then, but their brain wasn't messed with. Like maybe Satomi Ito?

Peter: Derek has the better relationship with Satomi.

Buffy: [she nods] Then I'll ask him about it. And maybe you should comb through the vault and see if Talia stashed anything there?

Peter: That I can do.

Buffy: [she nods] Cora I think is getting Theo duty if she's not at the high school, so that should at least keep all of us busy for right now.

Peter: Sounds like a plan. Go Team? [smirking]

Buffy: [she chuckles] Something like that.

Peter: Do we know if the boy is still standing around the corner watching us? [he felt the little eyes on a curious wolf for a while]

Buffy: [glances over his shoulder since she was across from him, but subtly enough to make it seem like she's still looking at Peter, not at their peeping Tom] Looks like it.

Peter: He's trying to see my face. I'm going to head out of the back. I'd rather him not get a good look. Head for Derek's and I will trail from behind after I see if he goes to follow you, or doubles back to where he's supposed to be.

Buffy: [she nods] If he's stalking me, give me a heads up so I can double back and punch him in the face. [she hates having a tail]

Peter: Just for the amusement, I will text you if he does.

Theo: [Nope, he knows better than to tail a slayer, thanks. back to the vet he will be going]

Buffy: [boo on Theo being smart. She hasn't gotten to punch someone in the face in a while. But regardless, off she will go to Derek's]

Derek: [who is sitting with the family archive laptop and the bestiary and a big cup of coffee that is empty and desperate need of refilling as he's looking up to find out what the fireboy may be]

Buffy: [lets herself in before pausing and squinting at the scene] This is not a picture I'm used to.

Derek: My assistant is out at the moment.

Buffy: I know. But usually it's my sister who is buried in all the smart books and woefully under caffeinated.

Derek: I'm working on something for Laura and she can't understand Peter's coding system on the laptop.

Buffy: Well, he should be back here soon. [she goes to sit on the couch, tucking one leg under her so she can face him] He's just going to poke around the vault to see if there's anything there on the history of the nemeton that we can use.

Derek: The nematon?

Buffy: Yeah. Cora said that Valack said that the Dread Doctor guys were drawn back to it when they did that ritual with Scott, Stiles and Allison. And with the time between when the creepy book was published and now, we're trying to see if there's a connection between what happened with the nemeton back then and the Dread Doctors leaving the first time.

Derek: [nods] That would probably be a good thing to discuss with Deaton.

Buffy: We tried. He's out of town. So for right now we're falling back on family records.

Derek: Well, let me see what's in here. [he pushes the book to the side to focus on the laptop. He's getting better at it, but it's obvious he's still learning technology]

Buffy: Actually ... I was wondering if you might be able to talk to Satomi.

Derek: [his fingers pause] I could...

Buffy: She was here back then. Maybe she might have a better idea of what happened than we'd be able to find in the records.

Derek: [nods, sitting back a moment] I can, but Deaton was involved with cutting it down, with what I've inferred.

Buffy: Does he keep records or something we might be able to snoop through in the clinic? [Buffy Summers: Failing to respect privacy since 1997]

Derek: I don't know if he would keep those at the clinic, but I'm sure you can get Scott to look. He'd know where Deaton keeps things after all.

Buffy: [she nods] I'll ask him once we hear how things went down at the school.

Derek: Alright. I'll hunt out Satomi tonight. Right now I need to keep working on this.

Buffy: Anything I can help with?

Derek: No, just the same old question of what in the world is Deputy Parrish. [smirks, getting up to stretch]

Buffy: It's like how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll pop. The world may never know.

Derek: Well, let's just say that the need to know has been escalated into a priority before we get bit in the ass by it.

Buffy: Yeah, that sounds about right. [she sighs] If you book me I can try and cover more ground.

Derek: [nods] Want coffee to go with that book?

Buffy: Please. [never mind that she just had coffee at the coffee shop]

Derek: I'll make a new pot. [grabs his cup and heads into the kitchen] How much have you been filled in on what's going on?

Buffy: Malia just gave me and Peter a pretty big info dump, but beyond that and what Cora's been filling me in on here and there, I'm not sure what I'm missing.

Derek: [he focuses his hearing a moment, trying to see if there was anyone in hearing distance]

Peter: [nope, still a few minutes out making sure lover boy made it back to the vet]

Buffy: [and Dawn and Laura are both out so nope on this end too]

Derek: Cora's told you about someone stealing the dead chimera bodies?

Buffy: Yep, I remember something about that.

Derek: Well, Laura and I have a good guess about who's doing it.

Buffy: And that is ... ?

Derek: [walks over with the coffee and holds it out to her] Deputy What the Hell is He Parrish.

Buffy: [her brow furrows] Why would he be stealing the bodies?

Derek: Well, that's issue one - Laura says he doesn't realize he's doing it. He's sleepwalking. Similar to how when Jackson was the kanima and he didn't know it.

Buffy: Okay. Who's brainwashing him?

Derek: Exactly. Now the kanima myth pointed out in it's vague way that he was searching for a master. Parrish is not a crazy killing lizard, so we need to figure out what he is to know if it's a side effect of that. Otherwise it's someone how holds reigns over him in other ways, which is much worse.

Buffy: Well ... to go with the big bad of the moment ... have you made him read the memory releasing book?

Derek: Scott's the one assigning the homework. Not me.

Buffy: Maybe we should eliminate that first, just to be on the safe side.

Derek: I'll ask Laura. She'll know how far back it's been going on with him

Buffy: [she nods] Still. Best to be on the safe side. Malia gave me a copy of it if she needs it.

Derek: Well, hopefully it'll work and not make him worse. He hasn't hurt anyone yet. Well, anyone alive.

Buffy: Do we know what he is doing with the bodies?

Derek: Well, he has a reoccurring dream that he's taking them to the nematon. And when we went to look at it... there's a lot of ash on the ground.

Buffy: So he's cleaning up. Kind of lends itself to him being connected to the doctors if he's getting rid of their messes.

Derek: Maybe, but then why bring them to the nematon? I think it's something else - I think it's a balance.

Buffy: Balance how?

Derek: What the doctors are doing is not natural. They are breaking the rules of the supernatural. Someone out there can't stop it - but they can return the balance by disposing of the unnatural remains so that they can't be studied.

Buffy: Too bad we don't have a conduit to the Powers that Be on retainer that we can ask. [there's a beat] Oh wait! Maybe we do. I haven't punched Mark in a while.

Derek: You realize what happened the last time we talked to them, right?

Buffy: Yeah, well. Sometimes they can be helpful.

Derek: You're going to be the one asking. I still want to rip his throat out.

Buffy: I don't blame you. Why do you think I want to punch him in the face?

Derek: You're leaving him in a state that resembles living.

Buffy: Ripping his throat out probably wouldn't kill him.

Derek: Now you're ruining my mood.

Buffy: Sorry. Just giving you fair warning.

Derek: See if he's useful. Get in a punch or three from me.

Buffy: Will do. [she nods before picking up her coffee and settling in] But for now, let's get researching.

Derek: Keywords are fire. [he hands her a book on Norse mythology]

Buffy: [she takes it and will settle in for some quiet reading until Derek's phone rings and it's his sister calling about Scott looking for his help]