salvatore school } { of drunk werewolves and first hangovers

[vampireboulevard]

Caroline: We did it! [they're making their way back to the room, and Caroline thrusts their gifted bottle of booze into the air] We survived the work weekend.

Derek: And you walked away with a few potential donors to boot.

Caroline: I think it was a very productive work weekend.

Derek: So we should celebrate. I can order us some room service?

Caroline: Yes. Maybe I can crack open this bottle Victor gave us?

Derek: You do that. So should we get real food, or dessert?

Caroline: Hmmm. Maybe appetizers and dessert?

Derek: I can do that. [and he will go to make an order]

Caroline: [and she will find the glasses in the suite and pour them both a few fingers of the booze]

Derek: [and he will rejoin her, loosening his tie. He takes a sniff of the alcohol and blinks] That's new. I've never smelt that kind before.

Caroline: Really? [she leans in to sniff herself, but vampire noses aren't as good] Smells like whiskey to me. But it can have different notes and things when its being distilled.

Derek: I'm not really a big drinker to begin with.

Caroline: And that is where we differ because most vampires are functional alcoholics. [she hands one of the glasses to him] Helps our general urges to tear people's throats out.

Derek: Do you drink it like this, or do you need to infuse it into the blood?

Caroline: I mean, we do get a buzz from boozy blood, but I tend to drink it straight. Our body functions normally so long as we have a healthy blood diet.

Derek: Yeah, our metabolism burns right through it. [he examines the color of the whiskey] My uncle drinks it to keep up appearances.

Caroline: He might also like the flavor. Sometimes it's very tasty. [and she will take a sip and make a pleased noise] Like this one.

Derek: [and he will take a sip as well, letting the flavor coat his tongue. He's not sure about it]

Caroline: It will be better when the appetizers get here.

Derek: Okay. [he'll take another sip, trying to get used to the taste]

Caroline: [and she'll keep nursing hers as she goes to sit on the couch] So, what did you think?

Derek: It's different. Tastes like liquid wood. [and he goes to sit next to her]

Caroline: [she tips her head to the side] Well, it is usually aged in barrels, and the barrels do carry some of the flavor.

Derek: Could be it. [he's going to put it down until food arrives] So, what else shall we do to celebrate?

Caroline: [she shrugs] My celebrating usually taps out at drinking, because I'm not normally celebrating with another person.

Derek: So you're in new territory. What do you feel like doing? Dance? Watch a movie? Go down to the sauna with our drinks?

Caroline: Oooh, I do like a good sauna. Maybe after the food gets here, because I am starving.

Derek: Alright. Glad I grabbed my jogging shorts before we left.

Caroline: Guess so. [she smirks as she takes another sip] This is really good.

Derek: Yeah, it's not what I thought alcohol would taste like.

Caroline: That's how you know you have the good stuff. When it doesn't taste gross.

Derek: Then we better not waste it. [and he's going to take a long sip from the glass]

Caroline: Indeed. [and they will enjoy their glass, and have some food, and maybe a couple more glasses as they sit and chat?]

Derek: [yup. it goes down nice and easy, and tastes good, so he'll gladly accept refills]

Caroline: [and soon she feels herself getting a little more buzzy than usual, and frowns] Uh-oh.

Derek: [oh, he's already feeling warm and smiling a lot more easily] Uh oh what?

Caroline: I think this isn't normal booze.

Derek: What kind of booze would it be then?

Caroline: Magical "I can get a supernatural creature drunk" booze?

Derek: [and his eyes widen. He goes to stand up, but yup, what is balance. He'll fall right back into the cushions ungracefully. And then he starts laughing]

Caroline: Yep. Definitely magic booze. [she, fortunately, has a lot of experience being drunk, so she'll get up and put the booze away] No more of that for you.

Derek: Aw, but I was enjoying that.

Caroline: Have you ever been drunk before?

Derek: Nope [popping that P]

Caroline: Yeah, we're going to slow you down, then. Have some more onion rings.

Derek: Okay. [looks like he's a happy drunk. But he's going to open his shirt collar a bit more] Are you hot? I mean, I know you're hot, but like temperature wise hot?

Caroline: [she blinks at that, before shaking her head] No, I'm okay. But I can adjust the temperature if you want.

Derek: Maybe. I might just take the shirt off. [don't worry, he has a t-shirt underneath]

Caroline: Go right ahead. [it's his shirt, he can do what he wants with it]

Derek: [and he's going to take his tie off, then unbutton the dress shirt. As he takes it off, Care will see that he's only wearing a sleeveless white undershirt that stretches tight across his chest. He leans back into the couch, visibly relieved]

Caroline: [oh yes. she notices. and she takes another long sip of her drink] Feel better?

Derek: Mmm, yeah. [his cheeks are flushed though] So this is what drunk feels like?

Caroline: Pretty much.

Derek: It's not so bad. [and he's going to grab a cheese stick] But I should probably have water. Water help flush it out, right?

Caroline: Yes. Water is a good plan. [and she will get up and head to the kitchenette to get them some water. Her halfway across she kicks off her heels for better balance, but she's still in her fancy party dress]

Derek: [and he will enjoy the view. He thinks he's still acting like he normally does, not at all aware of the dumb smile on his face]

Caroline: [yep, and she's not going to burst that bubble, but Care definitely notices]

Derek: So I guess we're driving back tomorrow? Or are we taking a day to play tourist?

Caroline: Up to you. You're the one who has classes to get back to.

Derek: Well, I guess it also depends on if we want the students to realize we're together and come up with all kinds of rumors about what's not happening.

Caroline: Oh, Josie and Lizzie already know we're together. [depending on how motivated they are, the rumor mill is already going] That was a foregone conclusion.

Derek: But they know we're not together, together. I don't want them thinking I'm gonna hit on their mom or something

Caroline: You say that like it's not exactly what they want. [whoops she should not have said that]

Derek: [blinks] They want me to hit on you?

Caroline: They're seven. They want me to have a boyfriend.

Derek: But you don't want a boyfriend.

Caroline: I don't want a boyfriend for the sake of making my seven year-old daughters think I'm happy.

Derek: But you do want a boyfriend to make yourself happy?

Caroline: I don't not want a boyfriend? [she makes a face] But I'm kind of over relationships for the sake of having a relationship. And ... there's still some stuff that I'm working through. Do I miss the sex? Yes. Absolutely. But I'm trying to figure out what I really want.

Derek: God, I miss sex too. [yup, he just said it] Especially that part after where you just cuddle together. Sharing a space and knowing you're safe.

Caroline: [tips her head to the side] Is that a werewolf thing? Being a big cuddler?

Derek: Mmhmm. [smiles a bit, remembering the last time he felt safe doing that] Do you know how hard it is to keep away from that? It's like, even if I wanted to, just the memories from the past and all that hurt. I wish there was like, a way you just knew who you were supposed to be with. So you don't risk getting hurt. Or killed. Not a big fan of dying. Did that once. Never again.

Caroline: Same. [she makes her way back over and flops onto the couch next to him] But I don't think it's all worthless. Sometimes you have to go through those bad relationships to learn more about yourself.

Derek: I learned that I don't like dying? Does that count?

Caroline: It does.

Derek: [and he sighs] I'm so going to regret saying all this in the morning. Right now, though, I can't see to find it in me to care.

Caroline: That's the beauty of being drunk.

Derek: You don't seem nearly as drunk. You need to drink more.

Caroline: That's because I am used to drinking. But if it makes you feel better, I'll have another glass.

Derek: Good. [and after a bit, he's going to end up leaning on her, the drunk puppy feeling a bit sleepy] How long does alcohol last again?

Caroline: [she'll let him rest against her shoulder, and shrugs gently] Depends on the booze and how much you normally drink. You might be feeling it a while.

Derek: I feel like I could fall asleep right here. [and he is totally not nuzzling his cheek against her shoulder as he settles]

Caroline: [smirks a bit, before holding up the cup of water] Finish you water first, and then we'll get you into bed.

Derek: Yes ma'am. [and he will do that]

Caroline: [and once that is done, she will nudge him up and walk him towards his room] Okay, bedtime.

Derek: [and he will go, but before she leaves, he's going to take her hand] Caroline, you know I'm not blind, right? You're a beautiful, intelligent, amazing woman. Your girls know that too, and they just want you to be happy.

Caroline: [she squints a bit because she's not sure what he's getting at] I do know that. But ... it's more complicated than that. And I also don't need a guy to validate that for me.

Derek: I know. And am not even saying that I'm even in your league. But the guy isn't there to validate you. He's there to love on you. If it's something you want, who cares what others think. Just go and find it. You don't know how much time you've really got.

Caroline: [she nods] I'll keep that in mind. [she steps away, heading back towards the door to head back to her room, before pausing in the doorway as she turns back to shut the door behind her] And for the record? It's not about leagues.

Derek: [and she gets that rare, beautiful Hale smile] I'll remember that.

Caroline: [smiles back] Good night, Derek.

Derek: Night Care. [and he's going to head into his room, strip down to his boxers, and pretty much flop face first onto the bed to sleep]

Caroline: [and she will be less haphazard about it, but also change and collapse into bed herself]

Derek: [and he has totally forgotten to set an alarm for the morning.]

Caroline: [that's okay, she will wake up and start making coffee and will knock lightly on his door once it's ready] Derek?

Derek: [and he will stir, and then that's a buick that hits his head and he groans in pain]

Caroline: [laughs softly] C'mon. Get dressed and we'll go get my favorite hangover cure.

Derek: Okay. [and he will groan and get out of bed. He'll emerge in a bit in jeans and a sweatshirt, hair disheveled and his 5 o'clock shadow looking more like a two day shadow.]

Caroline: How're you feeling?

Derek: There was this time I was handcuffed to an electric fence and tortured for hours. Kinda like that.

Caroline: Oh, so a bad one. Yeah, you'll want sunglasses before we go outside.

Derek: [nods, still sleepy, and goes back to get his aviators]

Caroline: [and she'll get her things together to head to the diner across the street]

Derek: Remind me never to get drunk again. It's not as fun in the morning.

Caroline: Don't worry. I'll save the magical booze only for special occasions. [tips her head to look at him] How much do you remember?

Derek: Everything's fuzzy. Kinda like my mouth. How much trouble am I in?

Caroline: [she shakes her head] No trouble. You were just a little more forthcoming probably than you would have liked.

Derek: [and he winces] That bad?

Caroline: Nothing bad. There was no bad about it.

Derek: Well, that's good. I think. [and he'll open the diner door for her]

Caroline: [and she will walk in, getting them both a table and settling into the booth across from him] Honestly, it was sort of adorable. I didn't know you could smile that much.

Derek: That's why my jaw hurts. [but he smiles at that, trying not to blush]

Caroline: [smiles as well as she picks up her menu] So you're going to want water and carbs. I also recommend something greasy and salty for flavor.

Derek: So bacon and pancakes.

Caroline: That's the ideal, yes.

Derek: What about coffee?

Caroline: Coffee is good too, but balance it with some water because alcohol dehydrates you.

Derek: [mumbles, gruff.] Hangovers are truly horrible.

Caroline: They are. One of the many things I don't miss about being human.

Derek: No more alcohol for me.

Caroline: At least not the enchanted kind.

Derek: Better safe than sorry. [and hello blessed coffee]

Caroline: [she shrugs as she goes to fix her own coffee]

Derek: [nope, drinking it black. like his soul]

Caroline: So what do you think of the Kirsanovs?

Derek: Intimidating, but sincere in their words.

Caroline: Do you think we can count on their support?

Derek: I do.

Caroline: Then mission accomplished. We make a good team.

Derek: That we do. And I'll admit, magic whiskey aside, this wasn't bad.

Caroline: Was the magic whiskey really that bad?

Derek: I feel like I got hit by a truck. And then it reversed back over me, and then went forward again and kicked up gravel against me.

Caroline: [she laughs] Yes, well, had I known it was magic booze, I wouldn't have been as liberal with it.

Derek: Same.

Caroline: Next time, we'll be more prepared.