guardians } { of missing captains and doppelgangers

[braveandstupid]

Stiles: [having gotten fed up with waiting on their "leader" to return to the ship or any of the com hailings, he will dial up Elena's long distance code]

Elena: [is very far away from where they are and it takes a bit for the signal to get there but when it does, hi have Elena's face] What's up?

Stiles: Hi. Could you kindly tell your bedfellow that his shore leave is over and he needs to return back to his ship before we start auctioning his stuff off?

Elena: [frowns at that] Why do you think he's with me?

Stiles: Because he's not with anyone else.

Elena: I don't have him.

Stiles: ... well fuck.

Elena: Where are you guys anyway?

Stiles: Ursa Prime. We parked here to do a bit of shore leave and he's two days late.

Elena: Yeah, I'm at least ten jumps away. Whatever he's up to, it's not with me.

Stiles: Well he's not with anyone else in his entire freaken little black book he keeps in his room, so unless he decided to go be lunch for Dean, he's missing.

Elena: [deep breath, before shaking her head] Look just stay there. I'll be there as soon as I can to help you look.

Stiles: Fine, but if he doesn't come back, I'm calling dibs on the ship.

Elena: I'll make sure he knows. [and with that she'll get ready to head back to Ursa Prime]

Stiles: [and he will rub his face and go to let Cora and Scott know that Ben is still MIA]

Cora: [less than pleased, but she'll trust Stiles and Elena to take care of it unless they need her, so she would stay with Derek]

Stiles: [and he will be fiddling with tech while he waits for Elena because that's what he does when he's nervous.]

Scott: [is in tiny form, sitting nearby eating skittles and watching]

Elena: [and eventually, the Miss Mystic lands next to them and Elena comes off the ship and goes to find Stiles] Tell me everything.

Scott: I am Scott.

Stiles: She was talking to me, buddy. [looks up at Elena] What's there to tell? He took a three day shore leave and didn't come back. I stayed behind to watch the ship like always and he missed curfew.

Elena: Did he give you any idea where he was going?

Stiles: Something about finding a job. Which could be a job, or could be tail. I suspected you were on the other side of the planet evading sensors for some alone time.

Elena: Well, you were wrong. Where does he usually go if he's looking for a job?

Stiles: Bars. One time he got a job at a brothel.

Elena: Any he particularly favors over the rest?

Stiles: There's an actual bar that has terran artifacts. He gets crappy little plastic human figures there.

Elena: Show me where it is?

Scott: I am Scott.

Stiles: Yeah, that's the thing. That place don't take to people like me.

Elena: I said show me, I didn't say you had to go in with me.

Stiles: More like this whole planet doesn't like people like me. That's why I stay with the ship.

Elena: [sighs before glancing back over her shoulder] Bonnie?

Bonnie: Yeah?

Elena: Think you have a way for Stiles to keep a low profile?

Bonnie: That depends on Stiles and how much he's comfortable with.

Stiles: [and his ears twitch a bit] Why am I not comforted by that?

Bonnie: Well, there are two options. I can use disguise magic to make you look like something else, or we can do a bit of a mind meld where you can see through my eyes and feed me information telepathically, but that requires allowing me to have access to your brain and not shutting me out.

Scott: I am Scott?

Stiles: What kind of disguise magic? [because nope, the second isn't happening]

Bonnie: Illusionary stuff I picked up from an Asgardian once. I could make you look more humanoid, less therianthrope?

Stiles: [and he thinks for a moment, looking over to where he knows Cora is with her brother, and then back to Bonnie] How human can you make me look?

Bonnie: [she pauses for a moment, before there's a wave of her hands and some sparkly shimmers and one the magic settles, she'll hold up a mirror to show a very human looking boy]

Stiles: [and he will inch closer, looking at his face for a moment with something showing a vulnerability before a smirk slides onto his face] Alright, let's go.

Scott: [trying to poke his finger through the illusion] I am Scott.

Stiles: You stay here and watch the others.

Elena: Care?

Caroline: Don't worry. I can handle tree sitting duty. [and she'll gently pick up Scott and head back into the ship]

Scott: I am Scott. [and he is going to play with her hair that he finds pretty]

Stiles: Alright ladies, let's go. [and he is going to take them to what looks like a Terran sports bar, screens beaming in games around the galaxy, a pinball machine in a corner, and terran toys all over the walls]

Elena: [and she and Bonnie draw a lot of attention as they are two hot ladies walking into a bar, but they'll make their way up to the bartender as Elena pulls out a tablet to pull up a picture of Ben] Hey. You've seen this guy?

Bartender: [looks at the picture, then the girls] Yeah I know Ben. Good guy, horrible taste.

Elena: When was the last time you saw him?

Bartender: [looks at the girls and Stiles, and goes back to washing his cup] Can't really say.

Elena: [takes a breath, ruffles her hair a bit, and leans closer, giving her best flirty smile] C'mon. Think a little harder? For me?

Bartender: [and he will take a nice look at what she is "offering"] You really think women don't do that act with me every single day, sunshine?

Elena: Probably. But can you blame a girl for trying? [she tips her head to the side and shrugs] The asshole owes me some credits - I'm just looking to get paid.

Bartender: How much he owe you?

Elena: Couple thousand.

Bartender: Then I'll take a thousand of that, and tell you what I know.

Elena: [looks at Bonnie, and the other girl sighs, before pulling up the credits to make the transfer] Done. When'd you see him?

Bartender: Two days ago. He was looking for a job, and two guys offered him one. He left with them to work out the details.

Elena: You know who the guys were?

Bartender: I've seen them once or twice. Thugs for hire. Salvatore Brothers.

Elena: [and with that, the color drains from both Elena and Bonnie's faces] You sure?

Stiles: Why do I know that name?

Bartender: Yup. Ben paid his tab, and they left out the back.

Elena: Thanks. [and she immediately turns on her heel to follow where they indicated, Bonnie close on her heels]

Stiles: [and he will make noises like that's it??? but then will go to follow them] Hey, what's going on?

Bonnie: The Salvatore Brothers work for the Mikaelson family. This isn't about Ben, this is about Elena.

Stiles: Whoa, hold up. [and he will slide in front of them, trying to make them stop a second] What do you mean this is about Elena?

Elena: [looks down for a moment, before looking back up at him] Can we talk about this back at the ship? If they did take him, they would have left something for me to follow, so can we find that first?

Stiles: No one's been on the ship that I don't know about. But fine. After you.

Elena: [not on the ship, in the alleyway behind the bar. She stops once they get out there, letting her eyes roam over the dumpster for a moment, before she sees a collection of dead flowers tied with a bow. Swallowing hard, she makes her way closer and picks them up and checks the card, before tipping her head to the side] C'mon.

Stiles: [and he just shakes his head but he'll let Elena take lead]

Elena: [and they'll go back to the Miss Mystic where she will put the flowers down on the table and move to take a seat. She then scoops her hair up and twists it into a ponytail] My actual birth name is Elena Petrova.

Stiles: And that means what exactly?

Bonnie: About two thousand years ago it was discovered that the Petrova family's blood held a great deal of power. Every five hundred years or so, they would produce something called a doppelganger. They're considered to have the most potent blood. Klaus Mkaelson likes to collect them. Elena is the fifth doppelganger that's appeared in his lifetime. And he lives a really long time.

Stiles: [and his eyebrows go up] So your blood has magical properties? How much would that be worth on the market?

Bonnie: [and there's a glare] It's not for sale.

Stiles: But what if you really needed to?

Bonnie: Not for sale. If Klaus just wanted a bag of her blood, do you think we would have this problem?

Stiles: Yes, I mean if it's worth that much money, a lot of people would try and kidnap people with a literal blood ransom.

Elena: It's not useful to everyone. You have to know how to use it, and outside Mystic Falls there isn't really a lot of people who do, or who know what an actual doppelganger looks like.

Stiles: So really the Mikaelsons are the only market for it? [damn]

Elena: [she nods] It's rough.

Stiles: [he's thinking, but he'll shrug] Well, we need to figure out how we're going to work to get Ben back.

Elena: [she nods, reaching through the flowers to pull out the holodisc with Damon's message] This is my fault.

Stiles: So fix it.

Elena: [she nods and reaches to press play on the message and Damon's smug face appears on the screen]

Damon: Hello, Elena. If you're hearing thing, you obviously found the gift we left for you. Klaus MIkaelson has asked for you to join him for dinner. And don't worry, we already secured your date. How long he stays a date and becomes dinner though, will depend on your RSVP. There are coordinates embedded into the disc. Follow them and my brother will be there waiting to escort you, and only you, the rest of the way in. Anyone who follows you or tries to track you will not like what they find.

Elena: [swallows hard and leans back in her seat] Okay. So how do we do this?

Stiles: How good is their tech?

Elena: Asgardian level.

Stiles: Hm, I can beat that.

Elena: Beat that how?

Stiles: I have my tricks.

Elena: Can you hack people?

Stiles: Not yet. But, Asgardian tech is elemental based. It gets cancelled out when grounded.

Elena: Because his security also includes actual Asgardians.

Stiles: Oh. [licks his lips a bit, then looks over at Bonnie] Think you can lay over this Damon guy a spell that makes him look like Loki?

Bonnie: No. [a beat] I may have a better idea.

Stiles: What's that?

Bonnie: [looks at Elena] Katherine.

Elena: [sighs up straight] No.

Bonnie: They'd never see it coming.

Elena: We don't know if we can trust her.

Stiles: Can you blackmail her? Then you don't need to trust her.

Elena: Katherine is usually the one doing the blackmailing.

Stiles: Okay, so turnabout is fair play.

Bonnie: You would need her to be ashamed of something. Trust me when I say she isn't.

Stiles: Okay, so kidnap and drug? Hold someone she loves hostage?

Katherine: Or you could just ask? [was she always standing there? did she know what was happening all along? the world may never know]

Stiles: Would you actually say yes?

Katherine: Depends what's in it for me.

Stiles: [looks over at Elena and Bonnie since it's there's problem to solve]

Elena: [grits her teeth] What do you want, Katherine?

Katherine: I want something out of Klaus' house. Pretending to be you gets me inside, and I think we both know I'm more capable of protecting your little booty call than you are.

Stiles: And what's that something?

Katherine: None of your business.

Stiles: Well, if you screw up getting this thing, that's my crewmember on the line so yeah, I think it is my business.

Katherine: I don't screw up. The only way people will know is if they figure out I'm not Elena, which Bonnie has a solution for.

Stiles: [looks over at Bonnie] You do?

Katherine: She was going to do it for you, but you turned her down.

Bonnie: [glances over at Elena] Elena?

Elena: Damon you might be able to fool, but not Stefan. And he's going to be the one who's waiting for me.

Stiles: [thinks] But could someone then pretend to be Stefan?

Elena: No. Rebekah will know.

Katherine: She's right. [a beat] I'll distract Damon, you take care of Stefan.

Elena: So ... you want both of us in the house at the same time. [a beat] That could work. You'd just need ...

Katherine: Your memories of you and Damon. To be convincing.

Bonnie: I can do that.

Stiles: then let's get this party started.

Elena: Okay. We'll handle the magic stuff. Can you go tell Ric so he can fly the ship?

Stiles: Yeah, sure. [and he will go hunting for the guy they could totally turn in and make off of, but don't]

Elena: [and off they go back to Mystic Falls! yaaaaaaaaay]

Stiles: [and he will stay in the back, and he won't try and repair your crappy tech work Ric]

Ric: [screw you Stiles]

Stiles: [right back atcha buddy]

Elena: [anyway, they arrive! And Elena makes her way up to the house to meet Stefan and he escorts her inside]

Stiles: So what now?

Katherine: [comes out, styled perfectly to match Elena] I go to work.

Stiles: Yeah, that's not going to get freaky at all.

Katherine: See you later. [and off she goes]

Stiles: [looks over at Bonnie] So we just sit and wait now?

Bonnie: Until someone screams that they're in trouble.

Stiles: Hopefully that won't happen.

Bonnie: Fingers crossed. [and we transition to one of the girls finding Ben?]

Ben: [well, he's totally in a suit, Damon having worked the vervain out of Ben's system to compel him into being the good little hostage.]

Damon: [and dinner is set out, Damon waiting with wine for everyone]

Elena: [and Stefan will escort Elena in, sitting her down next to him] Hey, Ben.

Ben: Hey. Sorry about all this.

Elena: [shakes her head] Not your fault. Are you okay?

Damon: He's fine. I didn't hurt a single hair on his head.

Ben: Screw you.

Elena: [glares at Damon, because she'd really love to be shooting you right now] I'm here. Where's Klaus?

Damon: He's on his way.

Elena: Fine. Do you two need to be here?

Damon: Payment on delivery.

Elena: Can you wait outside?

Damon: What, and not let your new bedfellow have the company he has come to enjoy over the last few days? [looks at Ben] I mean, I can see why you chose him. He looks delicious.

Elena: [glares] If you don't want me to walk right out of this room, you'll leave me alone.

Damon: You can leave, but I can't promise you how your boy will fare if you do.

Elena: [grabs one of the forks and looks like she's ready to charge him, but is stopped by Stefan's hand on her arm]

Stefan: There's only one door in and out. It won't hurt to give them a little privacy. Let them say their goodbyes.

Damon: [rolls his eyes, but gets up] Fine. [looks at Ben, focusing] You just stay in that chair, Benny boy.

Ben: [his gaze unfocuses a moment, and then focuses again] One day, Damon, I'm going to make you regret this.

Damon: [laughs] I'd like to see you try. [and he will leave with his brother]

Elena: [waits until the door closes before she turns back to him] How much have they compelled you?

Ben: Beyond the not getting up from my chair? Um, to not try to escape, to wear this stupid monkey suit, and to not tell you... [and his voice cuts off at that]

Elena: [there's a moment of silence as she processes that, before one of the bookcases pops open and she places a finger to her lips. She very quietly gets to her feet, and slips out behind it. she's gone for a moment, and then ...]

Katherine: [and then she slips back in again, moving to sit next to him. She gives him a small smile and takes his hand, before meeting his eyes and trying to override Damon's compulsion] What aren't you allowed to tell me?

Ben: [and he will blink, and then his eyes will squint shut at the pain in his head from the conflicting compulsions]

Katherine: [then she'll just do this the old fashioned way, and lean forward to whisper very quietly in his ear] I'm not Elena. What did they tell you not to tell her?

Ben: [taking a deep breath, then whispers] They don't plan on letting her leave.

Katherine: Oh. They think we didn't already know that? That's cute. [pulls back with a small smile] Don't worry, handsome. We've got this.

Ben: No, they have a drug and a coffin. They don't want to just give her to Klaus.

Katherine: What do they want?

Ben: To make a deal to get out of working for Klaus.

Katherine: So they think they can just offer her up as their final payment and then they'll be free? Good luck with that.

Ben: I didn't say they were smart. Also... [his eyes are watching the door] Damon made me drink his blood. What kind of freak is he?

Katherine: [her eyes narrow at that, before she reaches down into her pocket and pulls out a vial] Drink this. If he ever compels you to leave the room, run and don't look back. We will figure the rest of this out.

Ben: [nods and he takes the vial] What’s in this?

Katherine: Something that will protect you.

Ben: [he'll debate a second before he downs the vial]

Katherine: Good boy. Now act like I'm your girlfriend.

Ben: Alright.

Katherine: [and she resettles and puts on her best "Elena Worried" face]

Damon: [and he will enter with Stefan] I hope we aren't interrupting anything, but it's time for us to go.

Katherine: Where are we going?

Damon: Somewhere safe.

Katherine: Is Ben coming with us? Or will you let him go?

Damon: If you come along quietly, he can stay here and we'll signal his ship to come pick him up.

Katherine: [swallows hard before nodding] Okay. Lead the way.

Damon: [and he will hold out his arm for her] Shall we?

Katherine: [takes it gently and swallows hard as she lets him lead the way. she then turns and reaches out for Stefan's arm to keep them together]

Stefan: [eyes her for a moment before nodding and taking her arm]

Damon: [looks over at Ben before he is out of sight] Ben, when your teammates show up, you can leave. Until then, just sit tight.

Katherine: [glances over with her best emotional Elena face] I'll be okay.

Ben: [gives her a small smile] I know.

Katherine: [she nods and lets Damon and Stefan lead her away]

Damon: [and once they are in Damon's ship, he will lock her in a guest "room" so they can take of]

Katherine: [before she lets them do that, putting up the appropriate humanoid amount of struggle] Signal Ben's ship first.

Damon: You really think I'm an idiot. I'll signal them once we've taken off. Now be good, or I'll walk right back down the ramp.

Katherine: [stubbornly crosses arms in front of her chest and holds her ground] I'll wait here until we're in the air.

Damon: If that's how you feel... Stefan, watch her. [and he will head to the ramp]

Katherine: So stubborn, so dumb. [and before Damon can get far, Katherine's hand is in his brother's chest cavity grasping his heart] Back on the ship, Damon, or Elena won't be the only one down a loved one.

Damon: [and he will slowly turn, and then look at Katherine with a smirk] Hello, Katherine.

Katherine: Hello, Damon. Back on the ship now. Or should I start squeezing? [which she does and Stefan starts spitting blood]

Damon: Fine. [and he will come back on, but he will hit the button to close and lock the ramp] We both know you won't kill him.

Katherine: [she waits until the door closes and she considers before giving a small shrug] Actually I'm kind of bored with you both now. [and she withdraws her hand ... along with Stefan's heart] Oops.

Damon: [and he will snarl, charging for her intending to do the same to her]

Katherine: [unfortunately she is older and faster, so she is able to pin him to the wall and get her hand around his heart first] Klaus isn't going to do to Elena what he did to me. So as much as killing you is a waste of a very pretty package, you chose your side. [she leans in and kiss his cheek, before yanking out his heart] It wasn't mine.

Ben: [and he can feel Damon's death as the compulsion over him lifts from his mind and he reaches up to rub at his forehead]

Elena: [sneaks out of her hiding place to make it to him] You okay?

Ben: Other than the world's worst headache?

Elena: That happens sometimes. C'mon, we have to get you out of here.

Ben: [and he will be able to get up, but he will reach up and tug the tie off his neck] Let me get my stuff first.

Elena: [nods and will escort him there, keeping an eye out for any other fail safes]

Ben: [and he's going to strip out of the monkey suit and back into his real clothing]

Elena: [and off they go back to the Miss Mystic]

Ben: Thanks for coming for me.

Elena: Did you think I wouldn't?

Ben: No, I knew you would. Just thought you'd have more backup.

Elena: I did. Oddly enough, I had Katherine.

Ben: I didn't know you had a twin sister.

Elena: She's not my twin. But she is my doppelganger. Or I'm hers. I'm not really sure how it works.

Ben: How do I tell you two apart then?

Elena: [her head tips to the side for a moment, before she steps in and leans in to kiss him]

Ben: [and he will blink, and then melt into her arms]

Elena: [and they're in her room at this point, so she's just going to keep kissing him and pull him towards her bed]

Ben: [oh hey, this is good.]

Stiles: [but he is going to barge in because hey he's back probably a good idea to tell his crew right]

Elena: [... sigh] Hi, Stiles.

Ben: Stiles. [blinks] Stiles? You don't look yourself.

Stiles: Yeah, I know. Good to see you're not in twenty bloody pieces.

Elena: Anything else you need?

Stiles: Are we good to head back to our ship now?

Elena: Yeah. Ric knows how to get us back.

Stiles: So I guess you want time alone then.

Ben: Yeah, that would be the reason the door was closed, Stiles.

Elena: So if you don't mind?

Stiles: Right. Carry on. [and he will head out, closing the door behind him]

Ben: Where were we?

Elena: [smirks before she leans in to kiss him again]

Ben: [and we can just assume that there is going to be a lot of reunion sex while they are shuttling back to the other planet]

Elena: [yep, pretty much, lots and lots of reunion sex]

Stiles: [meanwhile, he is going to go find Bonnie]

Bonnie: [working on navigating stuff]

Stiles: Hey, can I ask you a question?

Bonnie: Sure.

Stiles: How long is this illusion spell going to last on me?

Bonnie: Not much longer. Want me to break it?

Stiles: No. I was just... it was easier to do the job today because of it. Could come in handy again. I've got some cash if there's a way you can maybe, make it something I could take on and off as needed.

Bonnie: Oh. [she tips her head to the side] .... I've seen you be more humanish before. Can you not do that anymore?

Stiles: I can, but not like this. Not fully.

Bonnie: [she nods, before pushing up gesturing for him to follow her]

Stiles: [and he will go with her, not liking being vulnerable like this]

Bonnie: [she shuffles a bit, going through some materials, before she pulls out a necklace] This should do the trick.

Stiles: A necklace?

Bonnie: It'll hold the spell.

Stiles: [and he will narrow his eyes because trust isn't something that comes easy from him, but he nods] Alright.

Bonnie: she closes her eyes and casts the spell before handing it over to him There you go.

Stiles: So when I wear this, I'll look human?

Bonnie: [she nods] Yep.

Stiles: How long does it last?

Bonnie: As long as you have it on.

Stiles: [nods, and he will pocket it] How much do I owe you?

Bonnie: [she shakes her head] Don't worry about it.

Stiles: You sure?

Bonnie: Yeah.

Stiles: [and he will lick his lips, and nods] Thanks.

Bonnie: No problem.

Stiles: [and he will head back, playing with the necklace a bit until they land back near the Milano]

Elena: [and Ben will be released to go back to his ship]

Ben: [which he will after one last kiss and a promise to check in with her later]

Stiles: [and he will thank Caroline for watching Scotty, and then head back towards his bunk]

Caroline: [and she will head back to check on Elena]

Stiles: [and he sees the spell is still up in a passing reflection, so he stops a moment, and then goes to search out Cora a moment]

Cora: [and she's actually in the galley, getting herself and Derek something to eat. She catches Stiles scent before she actually sees him and doesn't look up right away] Did you find Ben?

Stiles: Yeah, we did. He's back on board debating on where we're going next. He wants us to put as much distance between the Milano and the Mikaelsons as we can.

Cora: Makes sense. It's good that he's okay though.

Stiles: Yeah. Um, so I have a question for you?

Cora: Sure. What's up?

Stiles: Can you, um, look at me a moment?

Cora: [her brow furrows at first, confused at the question, but she does as he asks and then blinks at first, before squinting as though she was trying to get her eyes to focus] What happened?

Stiles: It's an illusion spell. Bonnie cast it so that I could look human while we tried to find Ben. The bar doesn't like non-humans.

Cora: Oh. [that makes sense] Is it going to wear off?

Stiles: Yeah, soon actually. But she gave me something I can use to make it come back when I need it for situations like that.

Cora: Oh good. That could make things a lot easier.

Stiles: [and he rubs the back of his neck, nervous a bit before asking] Do you like it?

Cora: Like it?

Stiles: I mean... how ugly am I in human standards?

Cora: [she blinks again, before giving a small shrug in return] You're not. [she doesn't really know how to have this conversation or what he's getting at]

Stiles: [and he's going to take it that she doesn't seem to care, and part of him isn't sure really why he cares so much it just feels like he should but he nods] Well, thanks. Just wanted to get your opinion.

Cora: Why? [she probably should just let it go, but she's super confused]

Stiles: [he shrugs his shoulder] Can't really ask Ben and Scott. [he smirks a bit] I just wanted an honest opinion.

Cora: Oh. [she gives a small shrug in return] Well, you're not ugly. Don't worry.

Stiles: Thanks. Well, I'll find you later. [and he is going to retreat back to his quarters]

Cora: [and she is going to finish the food and head back to her brother]

Stiles: [and when he gets to his room, he's going to just flop on the bed and stare up at the ceiling, trying to logic out what is going through his brain because he shouldn't care about all this, but he does. Why does he? When did he start caring about anything?]

Derek: [and meanwhile, he'll just be in his little corner doing some meditation while he waits for Cora to return]

Cora: [and she makes her way in to sit down next to him, holding out a plate] Here.

Derek: [and he will take it] Did they find your missing crewmate?

Cora: They did. He's back on the ship, safe and sound.

Derek: Good. So we will be leaving soon.

Cora: I believe so.

Derek: So what am I supposed to do here now?

Cora: Help me get Laura back?

Derek: That I know, but it's going to be hard.

Cora: I didn't think it was going to be easy.

Derek: Some of them may die. [meaning Ben, Stiles, and Scotty]

Cora: [or Malia. And she's not unaware of that, but at the same time...] They're tougher than you think.

Derek: But none of them are an Alpha.

Cora: And neither are we. We can't do this alone.

Derek: I know, but we need to have a plan, and a lot of firepower.

Cora: We're working on that.

Derek: [he just nods, focusing now on his food]

Cora: [deep breath as she shifts a bit so that her side is pressed against his] Shutting people out isn't going to help us get her back. And they think differently than we do. They might see something we don't.

Derek: I'm not shutting you out.

Cora: You were suggesting shutting them out.

Derek: No, I'm stating they will get killed.

Cora: You don't know that. Ben held one of the infinity stones and lived.

Derek: [looks up] He did what?

Cora: Yeah. I saw it myself.

Derek: What is he then?

Cora: I don't know. He says he's from Earth, but there's no way a Terran should have been able to survive that.

Derek: So what is he hiding?

Cora: I don't think he's hiding anything. He has no idea who his father was - I just think he honestly had no idea.

Derek: That may be a danger then, if he doesn't know who or what he's capable of when he goes against Thanos. What if Thanos manages to get control of him?

Cora: I don't know. You'll have to ask him about that. For the record, though, I'd like to avoid a plan that has us running right at Thanos.

Derek: So would I, but having lost us both, I don't see him letting Laura go far from him.

Cora: He will if its something he really wants.

Derek: Like what?

Cora: Like a hellhound.

Derek: That's right, you told me that already once.

Cora: Peter thinks we may be able to find one.

Derek: Can you trust him anymore?

Cora: I'm more worried about him trusting me.

Derek: Peter never trusts anyone.

Cora: I don't know. But he seems to want to help. And he didn't try to tear my throat out the second he saw me.

Derek: [and he finishes his food, putting the plate down and scooting it away from him] That's always a good thing.

Cora: [she nods] We didn't really talk though, so I don't know what's going on with him.

Derek: [huffs, and his leg starts to fidget] Is there someplace I can run for a bit?

Cora: I don't know. I can check. [and she starts to get up]

Derek: Thanks.

Cora: [nods and goes to see who's around who's not Malia]

Scott: [and he will tug on Cora's pant leg]

Cora: [smiles down as she goes to scoop him up] Hi, Scott.

Scott: I am Scott. [what's wrong?]

Cora: My brother's feeling cooped up and I was wondering if there was somewhere on the ship he could run a little.

Scott: I am Scott [its a small ship. Can he not go outside?]

Cora: I thought we were leaving soon.

Scott: I am Scott. [Ben is taking a shower]

Cora: So we can go out for a little while?

Scott: I am Scott. [yes]

Cora: Okay. Can you tell Stiles that we'll be back in a half hour?

Scott: I am Scott. [of course]

Cora: Thanks. [and she kisses him on his tiny bark cheek before placing him down and going back to find Derek]

Scott: [rubs his cheek happily]

Derek: [is stretching]

Cora: [pokes her head in] We have a little time, so if you want to go walk around before we take off, now's the time.

Derek: Let's go. [he needs to get out of the ship. He needs space, and not the outer kind]

Cora: [nods and leads the way out down the ramp and onto Ursa Prime]

Derek: [and his eyes flick back and forth, watching as if he expects something to jump out of the shadows any second]

Cora: [steers them away from the crowds and towards the isolated areas where there aren't a lot of people that could recognize them]

Derek: How do you handle being on that ship all the time?

Cora: [she shrugs] I usually get off when we're planet side, at least for a little while. Now that you're better we can start you doing that too.

Derek: They expect me to join the crew?

Cora: If you're going to stay, yeah. Everyone pulls their own weight.

Derek: Would you come with me if I didn't want to stay?

Cora: [there's a pause as she glances back to the ship, then back at him. she doesn't want to lose her brother, but she doesn't want to leave her friends either] Why don't you want to stay?

Derek: I'm not known as being a team player.

Cora: None of us were. But we figured it out.

Derek: What if I can't?

Cora: [her eyes narrow] Are you planning on not trying?

Derek: I'll try, but I don't see myself being a part of this.

Cora: [takes a deep breath before nodding] Just ... try for a couple jobs. There's a safe house I know, if it doesn't work then I'll take you there.

Derek: Okay. [deep breath] I can handle a few jobs.

Cora: Okay. You might like it more than you think.

Derek: We'll see. So can we run now?

Cora: Yeah. Let's go.

Derek: [and a running they will go!]

Cora: [yep! and they will make it back just in time as promised]

Ben: [hanging out waiting] You guys get all your extra energy out?

Cora: [she nods] We're good.

Ben: Great. You're going to want to secure your stuff and strap in. we're going to take off in five.

Cora: Okay. Where are we heading?

Ben: Quick job out over near Canton.

Cora: [she nods] Can Derek help?

Ben: [looks Derek over] Yeah, I could use some extra muscle. This planet isn't the most respectable place.

Cora: We'll fit right in.

Ben: Yeah. [turns to head to the cockpit] And expect to get a bit muddy.

Cora: Gross. [but back inside they go]

Derek: This is the planet that sell mud, isn't it?

Ben: That would be it.

Cora: Is that a good or bad thing?

Ben: It's good because it's a straight, legit job moving clay from there to a customer looking for it to build stuff with it. Bad because it's a messy job and no one else wants to do it.

Cora: I think we could use something uneventful. [a beat as she moves closer] If this doesn't work after a couple of jobs, with Derek, do you think we could take him to Bo's?

Ben: [thinks, looking at Derek] Well, Bo isn't the easiest person to please. You sure he'd cut it there?

Cora: [she makes a face because she does not want to think about Bo's preferences in that capacity, Ben]

Derek: Who's Bo?

Cora: She's a friend. She runs a place called the Dal.

Derek: [shakes his head, never having heard of it]

Cora: She's nice. You'll like her.

Ben: You know, you're actually just her type.

Derek: [eyebrow raise]

Malia: Bo's a succubi. [as she passes through to the galley]

Derek: They still exist?

Cora: They're rare, but they happen.

Derek: Huh.

Ben: She also tends a bar, and don't play pool against her unless you like going home poor.

Cora: Maybe we can stop there after the mud job?

Ben: Yeah, we can do that. I'll let Stiles know so he can put in any orders he needs with Trick.

Cora: [nods, and turns to head back towards her room] I'm gonna clean up.

Ben: If you don't want to be in a tight room, there's a hammock in the hold you can claim. At least you won't feel as cramped.

Derek: [watching Ben a moment, then nods] Thanks.

Cora: [and she'll head off to shower and change into clean clothes and they head off to get dirty and muddy with this job!]

Stiles: [and he is going to totally just go..... off on his own to talk with a buyer about something not as legal as the mud job the rest of the crew are doing]

Cora: [Stiles what are you up to]

Stiles: [Trick wants something from one of the magistrates that he'll take as payment for his supplies. Don't worry, Ben totally know about it]

Cora: [oh okay then. and then off they go to the Dal?]

Ben: [yup, before anyone misses that cursed object. Or the cow]

Cora: [. . . . .]

Bo: [but whatever. as they roll up to the bar there's the sounds of a scuffle and two bodies go flying out the front door, followed by a busty brunette clad in leather who's looking plenty annoyed] You knew the rules, boys. Now stay out.

Ben: [and he will grin, arms out in greeting] Bo, still kicking ass and taking names?

Bo: [turns at the familiar voice and grins] Well, it is my brand. What are you guys doing here?

Ben: What, guy can't come for a drink without having his motives questioned? [smirks] Stiles has a delivery for Trick. And figured I'd let my newest crew member get a feel for the place.

Scott: I AM SCOTT! [BO! I MISSED YOU as the tiny tree boy goes running to the succubus to hug her ankle]

Bo: [and she stoops down to pick Scott up and place him on her shoulder before nodding and gesturing to the door] Well come on in then. What can I get you?

Ben: The usual for me. [looks back to the wolf pack and nods his head for them to come as Stiles - who is back to normal and not bothering to hide his racoon side - is carrying a bag and leading the cow off somewhere]

Bo: Did Trick ask for that cow?

Ben: I know better than to get involved in what Stiles does for Trick. Maybe it has magic milk?

Bo: Whatever. [and she'll start pouring beers, before glancing over at Derek] I take it you're the new guy?

Derek: [nods] Yeah.

Ben: [snorts] That's Derek. He's not a big talker.

Bo: [smirks] Well, are you a beer or whiskey person?

Derek: Don't drink.

Bo: Not even a little?

Derek: [shakes his head. Mostly because Thanos wouldn't let them, so he doesn't know what any of it tastes like]

Bo: Well, what do you drink, then?

Derek: Water.

Ben: Did I also mention he is probably the most boringest member of my crew? [is teasing and smiles at Derek as he says it]

Bo: Nothing wrong with staying hydrated. [and she will get him a glass of water] If you want to switch it up, let me know.

Derek: [nods his thanks and takes the glass]

Ben: So tell me what I've missed. Any good gossip?

Bo: Nothing too interesting, unfortunately. Just the usual bar fights and turf wars.

Ben: Well, no news is good news sometimes. [and he will drink his beer] You haven't by chance heard of anyone looking to place a job at all.

Bo: [shakes her head] You'll have to check with Kenzi. She's been picking up the slack in that department.

Ben: I'll go do that. Think you can keep Derek company for a bit?

Derek: [single eyebrow going up]

Bo: Sure. No problem. [and she'll go wipe down the bar not far from them]

Derek: [and yup, he's going to just be silent McBroody with his glass of water and his eyes flicking to all the exits methodically.]

Bo: [just watches him curiously for a bit, before finally speaking up] You remind me of a guy I know.

Derek: Oh? [but he won't look back at her]

Bo: He's a little more zen, but I think that's just because he's a little older. He's definitely the silent, broody type though.

Derek: [snorts]

Bo: He also has a bit of the lupine touch too.

Derek: [well that gets his attention and he will turn his head] That so?

Bo: Mmmhmmm. His name's Dyson.

Derek: [tries to think on if he's ever met him, but just shrugs when he doesn't recall the name.]

Bo: He swings in here sometimes. If he does I'll point him out.

Derek: [nods, and goes back to watching the exits. He is just SO talkative and interesting]

Bo: [that's cool. Bo'll just deal with other customers and keep up with things behind the bar - she tried making conversation, time for him to make the effort]

Ben: [yeah, since that's not happening he's going to just take over and go looking for his favorite gothic princess]

Kenzi: [and she is on the other end of the bar doing shots. so many shots]

Ben: Looking to break my record? [smirks]

Kenzi: Please, like you could keep up with me.

Ben: That a challenge?

Kenzi: Only if you're buying.

Ben: Depends on if Bo will let me open a tab.

Kenzi: Will you actually pay it?

Ben: Of course! Though some of it will depend on you telling me if there's a job around that I could pick up.

Kenzi: What kind of job you looking for?

Ben: Something easy to work in a new crew member, but something that keeps me far from Thanos or Mikaelson territory.

Kenzi: ... You've managed to piss off both of them?

Ben: Just the first. The second may have tried to kidnap me to blackmail Elena, so I'd like to avoid that again.

Kenzi: Fair enough. [there's a pause as she looks over the rest of the room, before pointing to a guy in the back booth] He has an easy transport job, I think. Or at least that's what I heard.

Ben: [looks over at the guy, sizing him up before slipping Kenzi a credit] Thank you kindly.

Kenzi: Your generosity is appreciated! [and she will tuck that credit away for later]

Ben: [and he will move over to the back booth, sliding into the seat across from him] I heard you might be in need of some transportation?

Cora: [and Ben will deal with that, while Cora will wander back over as Malia has abandoned cousin bonding time in favor of trying to get laid] You okay?

Derek: [just nods, still being ultra-surveillant]

Cora: You want to play pool?

Derek: [thinks a moment, then shrugs] Sure.

Cora: [nods and heads over to grab one of the tables to set up]

Derek: [and he will leave his empty water glass and reaches into his pocket to leave Bo a tip for the water because she was a working woman after all]

Bo: [his generosity is appreciated]

Cora: You wanna break?

Derek: [he just responds with a nod, debating on which stick he wants to use before leaning over the table to break. Those are very nice, tight leather pants he wears]

Bo: [oh, Bo is appreciative. but he also doesn't seem interested, so he won't get much more attention than that]

Derek: [ it's not that he isn't interested. He might be. But he has reverted to overactive control mode because he's internally freaking out about everything he did and not having control of himself for so long and not understanding a lot of how to be a real boy and SO MANY ISSUES that he hides behind his silent, broody demeanor]

Bo: [yes, well, if he decides he wants to talk about it, Bo kind of gets it. Or, you know, you could talk to your sister, Derek]

Derek: [but that involves talking.]

Cora: [well, when you decide you want to use your words, she is here. Until then, she's just going to kick your butt at pool]

Derek: [he let you win]

Cora: [sure he did]

Derek: [but after awhile] How often does he come here?

Cora: [she shrugs] Depends what jobs we're doing in the area.

Derek: It's a nice place. [and he will rerack for another game]

Cora: Yeah, it is. And they don't judge.

Derek: [nods] Good.

Cora: Bo's really nice too.

Derek: Seems so.

Cora: [and she just nods as she waits for him to finish racking so she can go first]

Derek: [which he does and steps back, taking a moment to glance at Bo before focusing back on his sister]

Bo: [notices but doesn't say anything - she's still trying to figure you out, weirdo]

Derek: [to Cora] Do you trust them?

Cora: Ben's crew or Bo's?

Derek: Bo.

Cora: [she nods a bit] I haven't spent much time with them, but yeah. They're good people.

Derek: [nods to himself, then thinks before asking] What do you drink?

Cora: [she wrinkles her nose a bit before shrugging] I don't like the taste of some of it, but Bo made me something once that was really fruity and sweet - it kind of covered up the taste of the alcohol.

Derek: Ben made it seem like I was wrong in not drinking.

Cora: They drink a lot - they think it's more fun that way. The alcohol doesn't last long for us, but he doesn't know that.

Derek: [nods, which is a fair point]

Cora: Ben also teases people a lot. It's how he deals with people. Don't take it personally.

Derek: It's just a lot to adjust to in a short amount of time.

Cora: I know. At least you're not doing it in prison, surrounded by people who want to kill you.

Derek: [and his eyebrow goes up]

Cora: [sighs] Ben had the stone, right? I tried to take it from him, Stiles intervened and we all got arrested. When we got to prison, everyone knew who I was, and I was still in Thanos' control at the time, but the longer I was there, the more it chipped away until I was me again.

Derek: And Ben and Stiles helped you?

Cora: [she nods] They got me out of there, and gave me somewhere safe to work it out. Malia followed to make sure I wasn't conning them all and intending to kill them to escape.

Derek: That does sound like her.

Cora: Yeah. But it helped - holding me accountable, I mean.

Derek: [nods]

Cora: You'll figure it out too.

Derek: [and he will just push off the wall to go take his turn, not answering]

Cora: [and she'll let it drop for now, turning her attention back to the game]

Derek: [and after the second game, he's thirsty again] Do you want anything? [nods towards the bar]

Cora: [she shakes her head] I'm good.

Derek: [nods and he will go to the bar and wait patiently for Bo]

Bo: [glances over before making her way closer] What can I get you?

Derek: [licks his lips a moment] What would you recommend?

Bo: [tips her head to the side for a moment, before getting a nice, old bottle of whisky from the top shelf] Personally I'm a whisky girl. This brand is pretty smooth. [she'll pour him a finger and pass it over for him to try]

Derek: [and he will sniff the glass a moment before taking a bit of the alcohol in. He then makes that face she would see on someone having their first taste of alcohol ever]

Bo: [she laughs a bit before nodding] You get used to it after a while.

Derek: It's strong.

Bo: It is. But once you get past the alcohol the taste is better than most.

Derek: I will just trust you on that. [he hesitates before taking another sip]

Bo: [and she'll go to put the bottle back, because she's assuming he won't want another one quite yet]

Derek: [no, he will finish this one and reach for his wallet] Water, please?

Bo: [nods and goes to give him another glass of water] There you go.

Derek: How much?

Bo: [shakes her head] I'll put it on Ben's tab.

Derek: [smiles, then nods] Thank you. [but he will give her a tip]

Bo: Thank you. [because tips are always helpful]

Derek: [and he will duck his head, heading back to his sister]

Bo: [glances over at Scott, who is still sitting on her shoulder] What do you make of him, Scotty?

Scott: I am Scott. [he's very angry at himself]

Bo: Why's that?

Scott: I am Scott. [he was a slave to Thanos almost all his life]

Bo: [her face softens a bit, because she knows the feeling] That must have been rough.

Scotty: I am Scott. [I don't think he knows how to be a person.]

Bo: He'll figure it out. These things take a little time.

Scotty: I am Scott. [he needs a friend]

Bo: Well, I can't be his friend all the time. Do you think you could be his friend on the ship?

Scotty: I am Scott. [I'm everyone's friend]

Bo: Well, good. Because I think you're a great friend.

Scotty: I am Scott. [you're a good friend too]

Bo: Why thank you. I'm glad you think so.

Scotty: I am Scott. [Stiles is my best friend.]

Bo: Is he a good best friend?

Scotty: I am Scott. [yes. he's sad too though]

Bo: Why is he sad?

Scotty: I am Scott. [he doesn't like what was done to him.]

Bo: No, I don't blame him.

Scotty: I am Scott. [sometimes he thinks people avoid him because he is different]

Bo: Yeah, well, people are jerks that way. [a beat] Is he worried about someone in particular avoiding him?

Scotty: I am Scott. [he likes Cora]

Bo: As in like-likes?

Scotty: I am Scott. [I think so. He got magic to make him look human.]

Bo: Ahh. Well. If he asks for you advice here's what to tell him: Cora's a direct kind of girl. If he wants to know how she really feels, he needs to be direct with her.

Scotty: I am Scott. [this is Stiles we are talking about]

Bo: I know. But if he wants it bad enough, he's got to man up and say so.

Scotty: I am Scott. [man up?]

Bo: Uh. [a beat] Be brave.

Scotty: I am Scott. [oh. okay I will tell him that]

Bo: Good. Hopefully it'll work out.

Scotty: I am Scott. [I hope so. too many sad people]

Bo: Well, I think that'll change. And I bet you're really good at making people feel better.

Scotty: I am Scott. [I try]

Bo: Good. I'm sure it helps more than you think.

Scotty: I am Scott. [can I have some honey nuts now?]

Bo: [picks him up off her shoulder and places him down on the bar near the nuts] Go for it.

Scotty: [and he will pretty much divebomb into the bowl in the cutest way]

Bo: [what a precious baby tree. and Bo will go back to work]

Stiles: [and he will come back out at this point, plopping down next to Kenzi] Hey girl. What's going on? [he'll wave for Bo to bring him some shots so he can play catchup]

Kenzi: Oh, just the usge. Who's tall, dark and scowly?

Stiles: That's Derek. Cora's older brother.

Kenzi: Ahhh, I should have known. They all seem to have that smoking hot I could kill you with my pinky thing going on.

Stiles: We rescued him a few weeks back from Thanos.

Kenzi: [low whistle] Yeah, Ben mentioned you pissed him off recently.

Stiles: Not over yet. They have one more sibling we need to find and then break her from whatever kind of mind control he had over them.

Kenzi: Good luck. I remember when Bobo was going through Thanos withdrawl. It was not pretty.

Stiles: Nope. But we survived two of them, one more will probably be the death of us.

Kenzi: Well, if you need an extra set of hands, you know where to find us.

Stiles: Oh, I know. Just need to convince Ben to let me make the plans.

Kenzi: You think you can get it done?

Stiles: Maybe. Depends on where his head's at and if his pants are on.

Kenzi: I see your odds dwindling, particularly if the latter is a requirement.

Stiles: Well if he doesn't have his pants on, he is usually distracted.

Kenzi: But how often does he actually have his pants on?

Stiles: At least half of the time.

Kenzi: That's an improvement.

Stiles: Oh yeah. I can only handle so many weird looking underwear.

Kenzi: It can only go up from there.

Stiles: Oh, if it starts to go up, I'm outta there.

Kenzi: ... That was not what I meant, but wow that was too much information.

Stiles: Yeah, live on our ship for a month and see where your TMI limits go.

Kenzi: [and she needs some more shots. watch her do those shots]

Stiles: [nope, he will join her]

Kenzi: [yay for Stiles and Kenzi getting drunk]

Stiles: [oh yeah. Because he can and will get drunk for all of them if he has to]

Kenzi: [but drunk Stiles is also probably a dangerous Stiles]

Stiles: [Only if he has a gun in his hand and people make fun of him]

Kenzi: [I'm sure that won't happen]

Stiles: [especially when he's not hiding his raccoon side at all]

Kenzi: [annnnnnnnnd this is how we wind up with a bar fight]

Stiles: [yup. Sorry Bo.]

Bo: [it happens. unfortunately]

Ben: [and he will rush in and break it up, convincing the drunk raccoon boy that no one is laughing at him and to just go back to the ship and sleep it off]

Cora: [and she'll step up to take Stiles by the shoulders] I'll make sure he gets there.

Ben: Thank you. [and he will go back to see how much this is going to cost him]

Scotty: [and he will chase after Stiles and Cora too, dragging a shoe he earned in battle behind him filled with honey nuts]

Cora: [and she will take Stiles back to his bunk to tuck him in]

Stiles: [and he will toss a bit, starting to feel the bruises he was going to have tomorrow] You know, I didn't ask to be made like this.

Cora: [glances back at him and frowns] I didn't think you did.

Stiles: Then why can't people just see that? Why do they have to be assholes?

Cora: I don't know. [she reaches up and brushes her fingers through his hair] People are just assholes, I guess.

Stiles: I just want things everyone wants. I'm not that different. [oh that feels really good]

Cora: Oh yeah? What do you want?

Stiles: [his eyes closing because yeah, his head is sensitive and he likes being petted like that] Home. Family.

Cora: You don't think you have those things here?

Stiles: I do... just... for me. [yeah, he's drifting off to sleep]

Cora: [she's gonna let him do that and hope he makes more sense when he's sober in the morning]

Scott: [and he will climb up to his bed on the side table and curl up as well]

Cora: [smiles and brushes the top of Scott's head] Night Scott.