( video 21 )

[studmuffin]

[ The video feed picks up Stiles' bedroom at the youth center, his cluttered desk covered in a cheap second hand laptop and books upon books, messy and scrawled on pages everywhere. But that's not what it focuses on - instead the feed wavers and picks up the mass of wiring on his desk. It's roughly heart shaped and big, wires that circle in on each other like a maze and pulse light every beat.

The device gets put down so that the arm not covered in a cast can reach out and prod the thing. The reaction is instantaneous, it flairs and Stiles' faint protest of pain comes through as he lifts his hand away quickly, shakes the shock out of his fingers. His computer chair creaks as he takes a seat, angling the device to take in his face. ]

I'm sure there's a metaphor in here somewhere but I'm not looking for it. Anyone else I don't know about stuck with the physical representation of how much life just sucks?

Comments

[lupusalpha]

It wouldn't suck so much if you would stop doing stupid things like that.

[studmuffin]

[ The mass levels of sweetly sarcastic are immense. ] I'm trying to figure out if I can truly love myself here, Derek.

[lupusalpha]

You spend enough of your time figuring that one out.

[hulkbusted]

If you'd check the network, you'd see that the answer is yes. It's today's theme apparently.

[studmuffin]

[ He's trying to find something to poke it with because y'know, his blantant disregard to his own safety extends to this too. ]

Was that a joke? I'd tell you to quit playing games with my heart but today that might make it literal.

[lupusalpha]

Stop touching it.

[studmuffin]

Hey Doc. [ He just grins. ] I was too busy doing a scientific experiment. I thought you'd be super proud.

[studmuffin]

I'm not touching it.

[ He's using a pen to touch it. And also that means he's still getting electrified. ]

[hulkbusted]

Take it from me, using yourself as a subject is contraindicated. [Deadpan and dry. The Sahara yearns to be as dry as his tone.]

[studmuffin]

If I prod it enough I'll become a superhero? Cool.

[lupusalpha]

Stop playing with it.

[hulkbusted]

Tell me that's sarcasm and not stupidity.

[studmuffin]

Admit it, you're super tempted to step on it. Maybe do the Gangam dance all over my electrified heart.

[studmuffin]

Hey, there are plenty of situations where it's a little of both.

[hulkbusted]

I'm curious how you're still alive.

[lupusalpha]

I'm not going to step on your heart.

[studmuffin]

So has the City given you one? Because that's enough Disney magic to last all year.

[ This curse is ... weird. Which means that Stiles is pretty acidic. ]

[lupusalpha]

Yeah, I got one.

[studmuffin]

So am I.

[ Through sheer bloody mindedness mostly. ] Actually, so is everyone in Beacon Hills. It's an urban legend by now.

[studmuffin]

What's it look like?

[ Morbid curiosity? Mostly curiosity? ]

[lupusalpha]

We're not discussing this.

[studmuffin]

What's got your tail all knotted up, Sour Wolf?

[unwheeled]

Barbs don't seem too terrible in light of that.

Just be careful.

[studmuffin]

Now we know it's not just my mouth that repels people!

[ He sounds almost giddy but that's Stiles' deal, hide everything. Of course, the fact that it's literally pulsing with electricity could mean anything - his energy, his life. ]

[unwheeled]

I could say something about being surrounded by people who refuse to see their own benefit but I won't.

[POINTED. LOOK.]

Alternatively you can look at it this way: this manifestation of you is a vibrant, powerful thing that is somewhat guarded but mostly happy to just be chugging along.