darkest timeline } { of banshees and roommates

[braveandstupid]

Elena: [New York City's crime rate is going down, but that doesn't mean it's non-existent. While it's been a while that she's gone into a full trance and had to deal with a death outside of the hospital, tonight happens to be one of those nights. The scream splits across New York City, carrying louder and farther than any normal scream should and echoes right through the windows of Derek's soundproofed room]

Derek: [and his night owl habits haven't changed -- it's safer to sleep when his family is awake to protect him, and he isn't out of that mindset quite yet -- so he is awake reading in his room when the windows shake and he hears the scream. He tilts his head, because the tone of the scream is familiar. He debates a moment on if he should investigate but his curiosity gets the better of him and he will pull on his sneakers and jacket and try to track down the origin of the scream]

Elena: [it's not far from the apartment, exactly, but it's still a bit of a walk. When he gets there, Elena's just coming out of it, a little dazed and disoriented, and rather underdressed in her cute pajamas]

Derek: [and he will see her and the connection to the voice makes sense. He then sees her state of undress and takes off his jacket quickly and approaches her] Elena, here, you're going to catch your death of cold.

Elena: [she blinks for a moment, before she nods, putting the jacket around her shoulders] How did you find me?

Derek: I heard a scream and came to see what happened.

Elena: Oh. [and then she glances over to the body and her face softens. It seems like he was jumped in the mugging and she steps back towards him, trying to keep her feet out of the blood pool] We should call the cops. Do you have a phone?

Derek: Yeah. [and he will call 911, reporting that he came across a dead body while out walking. Keeps it anonymous though and hangs up] We should get out of here before they arrive.

Elena: [she nods again, and looks around at the streets] Where are we?

Derek: Uptown. I don't live too far from here. [and he will guide her out of the alley and head away from crowds] Where do you live?

Elena: Downtown. We should probably get a cab. [then she makes a face] My roommate is probably going to freak out.

Derek: Probably. Why are you out here in your pajamas anyway? [he will go hail a cab]

Elena: I ... didn't really leave by choice. [she pauses] Its a long story.

Derek: [and he will open the back door to a cab] I'm all ears.

Elena: [sighs as she slides in and gives the driver her address] Can it wait until we get back to my place?

Derek: Sure.

Elena: [and they drive, and Elena is mostly quiet, watching the city as she goes, and when they get to her building she'll walk them up and let him in ahead of her] Caroline? [she asks into the darkness of her apartment. the darkness doesn't answer back, and Elena sighs, before going to check her phone to make sure her friend didn't go looking for her]

Derek: [and he will just enter and look around the apartment, seeing more in the darkness than she probably knows]

Elena: [it's small but comfortable, decorated with the flair of someone who cares about these things. there's a kitchen and living space that leads back to two bedrooms and a bathroom. Elena disappears into one of the bedrooms and comes back with her phone] It looks like she's staying with someone else tonight. Good. [she shrugs the jacket and hands it back to him] Thank you, for finding me.

Derek: No problem. I mean, I was in the area. I'm just glad you're safe.

Elena: [she nods, before turning on one of the lights and gesturing to the couch for him to sit] So ... I have this thing where I ... sleepwalk? Sometimes? I haven't really had an episode in a while so I guess that's why it was more ... dramatic than usual. [it's only kind of a lie? but still a lie]

Derek: And you scream while you sleepwalk? [he will sit down]

Elena: Sometimes? It depends on how aware I am. [that's ... less of a lie, but still not entirely the truth as she's not sleepwalking she's banshee-walking] Sorry, it's been a long time since I've had to explain this to someone.

Derek: [and he will nod, taking it in for what she says] Have you had a sleep study done or something to see if that would help?

Elena: Yes. [that's actually not a lie! she did before she learned about bansheeness and all it entailed.] But it turns out there's not much they can really do about this particular kind of sleepwalking but ... roll with the punches, I guess.

Derek: I'm sorry to hear that. It must make it hard to feel secure when you're falling asleep.

Elena: [she nods] I ... I thought I had gotten a handle on it? I had been doing really well, but ... this sort of caught me by surprise. [and she is frustrated by it because the strategies were working]

Derek: Well, don't let one setback upset you too much. If it's been working, just keep at it.

Elena: [she nods, before swallowing hard] Well, I don't want to keep you. I'm sure you had other things you were doing. Like ... sleeping.

Derek: I wasn't sleeping. I was reading, actually. But you were sleeping so I should let you get back to that.

Elena: [she nods and she gets up to walk him to the door. part of her wants to ask him to stay, just in case, but she doesn't feel like she knows him well enough to impose]

Derek: [he can smell the hint of nerves and fear in the air, and will turn to her in the doorway] Are you going to be okay with your roommate elsewhere?

Elena: [she watches him for a moment] I'll figure it out. I mean, I don't want to impose or anything.

Derek: I could stay until you figure it out? Do you have other friends who could stay here with you?

Elena: Not who aren't at the hospital. Let me just ... see where Caroline is.

Derek: Okay. Do you mind if I get a glass of water?

Elena: Go ahead. The glasses are in the cabinet closest to the fridge.

Derek: [and he will go get himself a glass and some water, and then being nosy look around the kitchen at things]

Elena: [it's a normal kitchen with the normal smelling things, but in the other room Elena will be having this conversation with Caroline:] Hey, sorry ...

Caroline: Are you okay? Is it a banshee thing?

Elena: Yeah. Yeah, but I'm fine, I'm home.

Caroline: I'm on the other side of town, but I can leave right now. This guy is not worth spending the night anyway.

Elena: Are you sure?

Caroline: Positive. I'll be home in an hour. Are you alone?

Elena: No. No, a friend found me, he's still here.

Caroline: He? A hot he or a gay he?

Elena: A none of your business he.

Caroline: Mmm-hmm. That means hot. I'll see you in a bit.

Elena: [rolls her eyes as she hangs up, having no idea that Derek heard all of that]

Derek: [is trying not to snort his water, but he will come back in] Any luck?

Elena: Yeah, she's on her way back, but it's going to take about an hour?

Derek: Most of my family is asleep. They'll text me if they notice I'm gone.

Elena: Okay. [and she glances around] We can ... see what's on TV?

Derek: Sure. Would you mind if I made some coffee?

Elena: Actually let me. Our coffee maker can be kind of finicky. [and she'll head to the kitchen to set that up]

Derek: Can I at least help?

Elena: Help? [it's not asked to ridicule, but more to clarify, because it's just pouring water and coffee grinds, but she shrugs] Um. Grab the filters from that cabinet? [she points to the one in question]

Derek: [it's more that he just doesn't want to sit still and have her wait on him] Okay. [and he will reach up for the indicated cabinet, looking for the filters]

Elena: [the box is pretty prominently featured along with several more unopened ones - these girls drink a lot of coffee]

Derek: You must drink a lot of coffee. [he will hand it to her]

Elena: Caroline and I may have a slight caffeine addiction. [she smirks as takes the box and goes to set the filter properly] I'm a med student and she's a journalist so both of our jobs often involve nights with not as much sleep as we could have hoped for.

Derek: And so you rely on stimulants to keep you going.

Elena: Could be worse. Could be Monster. At least with coffee I'm not rolling the dice for a heart attack every time I drink it.

Derek: Monster?

Elena: It's an energy drink? Very bad for you.

Derek: I'll try and avoid it then.

Elena: Good. [and she'll turn on the coffee maker and let it start percolating] You will be much healthier for it.

Derek: [smiles a bit, almost like his health is a topic of a joke] I'm sure.

Elena: [hey, she'll just settle for making him smile, not really seeing the joke in it, a smile of her own to match his] So how have you been?

Derek: I've been alright. I think the library may cut me off soon and get me help for my book addiction.

Elena: [she laughs] You would think that would be the kind of thing they live for.

Derek: You'd think. But I think there's a line between reading a lot and squatting that they draw.

Elena: Ahh. Well, if you need to switch up your venue, I'm pretty sure I could convince my book club to let you in.

Derek: You mentioned that before, your book club.

Elena: It's a small group, but it's fun.

Derek: What book are you reading now? I can't remember if you told me about it.

Elena: It's different now, it changes every month. This month was Angeline's pick and she likes Jane Austen so it's Persuasion.

Derek: I've read that one. It's the most mature of her works

Elena: I like the effort he puts in to winning her back. Sometimes just ... saying you're sorry isn't enough. Each of those letters was proof of how much he loved her.

Derek: It is. Plus Mister Elliott is a jerk and doesn't deserve Anne.

Elena: Ugh, he is the worst. [makes a face. he reminds her of a guy she dated once]

Derek: [and he chuckles at that face, smiling again, and then he will look over at the coffee maker as he smells the coffee brewing and it smells good. Better than the stuff he gets at home] What kind of coffee did you use?

Elena: Uhhh ... [she goes and finds the empty bag and holds it out to him] I think Caroline gets it at one of the local markets?

Derek: [and he will sniff in the bag] There's Bavarian chocolate and toffee in here with it.

Elena: You have a good nose.

Derek: Yeah. Most of the time it's a good thing.

Elena: And sometimes it's too much?

Derek: Public restrooms [wrinkles his nose]

Elena: Say no more. [she shakes her head] A guy I grew up with had oversensitive olfactory senses. It was rough, especially when we got to high school.

Derek: Yeah, high school was difficult. For multiple reasons.

Elena: You seem to have figured it out though.

Derek: [nods, his eyes unfocused a moment because his figuring it out was a very painful process in the Argent basement] Eventually.

Elena: [she senses that, and she takes a step closer, one hand coming out to rest on his arm gently] You okay? Sorry, I didn't mean to step on something painful.

Derek: [he jumps a bit, pulling away from the unexpected touch, and then almost regretting it] It's okay. I'm fine.

Elena: [her hand comes up because she totally misread that] Sorry. Sorry, I'm a touchy feely person. I read that wrong.

Derek: I'm sorry. It's not you. I actually just... [he sighs and reaches up to rub at his eyes] I'm not used to some things still.

Elena: Okay. [and she'll accept it without qualification, and she won't pry. if he wants to tell her, he'll tell her. She steps back and pours him the cup of coffee that's finished percolating] No worries. What happens at three am, stays at three am.

Derek: [he takes the coffee from her gratefully] Thanks. For understanding.

Elena: Sometimes ... stuff sticks with you, whether you want it to or not. I know how that goes. [she's got more than her fair share of scars]

Derek: [he nods as he puts some sugar in his coffee] I'm sorry. [he'd hate to think she experienced anything like what he's gone through]

Elena: It's not your fault. [she smiles softly] But if you ever want to talk about it, I'm pretty good at listening.

Derek: [nods] Thanks. [maybe one day, long from now]

Elena: [it's an open offer. he can take his time with it. and she's about to say something else when ...]

Caroline: God, I reek, my uber driver's car smelled like old people. [in swans Caroline, smelling like whatever fragrance was in the guy's car, sex, booze, and smoke. she rounds the corner, spots Derek with a cup of coffee, and ... immediately drops into her flirtiest grin] Well, hi there.

Elena: [sighs] Derek, this is my roommate Caroline, Caroline, this is my friend Derek.

Derek: [and she will get a nod and a half smile] Hello.

Caroline: [more seriously, to Elena] Are you okay?

Elena: [nods] Yeah, I'm okay.

Caroline: Good. Then I am going to go take a shower. [back to Derek] Nice to meet you. Glad to know you are an actual person and not a figment of Elena's sleep deprived imagination. [and with that, out she goes]

Derek: [and he will give Elena a curious look, waiting until Caroline is out of the room before rubbing at his nose to get the scent out]

Elena: [shakes her head] I ... haven't really made a lot of friends outside the hospital? I would mention you sometimes and she was convinced that since she hadn't seen you in the flesh, obviously you did not exist. [she rolls her eyes] She means well, even if she's ridiculous.

Derek: [chuckles] Yeah, but friends like that are good to have. You know they will always be there for you.

Elena: Oh yeah. We've been joined at the hip since we were five. She's helped me through ... a lot more than she probably signed up for, but she's the best. You don't say no to friends like Caroline Forbes.

Derek: Well, since she's here, I guess I can go.

Elena: Yeah. I mean, it's really late so you can always just crash on the couch for a couple hours too. I don't mean to make it feel like I'm trying to kick you out.

Derek: No, it's fine. I don't feel like that at all. But my sisters would be worried if I wasn't home by breakfast.

Elena: Okay. [And she'll go to walk him out, and as they're reaching the door she glances back to him] Thank you, though. For being there.

Derek: Anytime. Sleep well.

Elena: You too. [and she'll close the door behind him and head back to bed to at least try to sleep]

Derek: [and he will head directly home, feeling relaxed and not jumping at all the shadows]

Barry: [and the penthouse will still be mostly asleep except for the cat, unless Peter is up to head in to the office]

Peter: [he's in the shower]

Derek: [and he is going to sneak back into his room to avoid dealing with Peter and greet his cat] Did I miss anything, buddy?

Barry: Mroow. [where'd you go human? you're supposed to be here when it's dark out]

Derek: Good. Come on, let's get some snacks and go back to reading.

Barry: [oooh snacks, yes let's do that]

Derek: [and once snacks are acquired, back to his bedroom and reading before drifting off to sleep]