Creepy Mansion Of Traumatic Events, Monday afternoon

[justlurkinghere]

When Derek finally returned to the land of the consciousness after his fun time with the creature inside Stiles' skin, he tried tugging on the chains again. And again.

It took him enough struggling to leave his wrists raw and constantly healing before he gave in to ask for some help.

And by help, we mean a long, drawn out howl. Which would hopefully get at least Jack there. Otherwise, he'd have to depend on Mike getting back early. Which was not something he looked forward to.

[NFB other than the howling like a Florence + the Machine song. For one!]

Comments

[bitten_notshy]

Jack had finally tempted fate an inch too far and knocked over a leg of Tiny's domino chain, and he was trying to reassemble it when he heard Derek's howl.

Actually, it wasn't a matter of heard so much as of felt. Hair prickled on the back of his neck, and claws prickled at the tips of his fingers.

He couldn't even have told you what a domino was. He was out the door in a moment and at chateau de creepiness a moment later.

"Derek!" he shouted. He had to be around here somewhere...

[justlurkinghere]

"Basement," Derek grumbled, assuming Jack was listening in close enough to catch that. Because why bother speaking up when you're werewolves?

[bitten_notshy]

Yes, well, some wolves liked to be dramatic even when it wasn't strictly necessary.

Jack thundered down the stairs. "What is it?" he asked. "If you're having a problem with Netflix, I'll -- you're chained."

Well-spotted, Jack.

[justlurkinghere]

The look Derek gave him strongly implied 'no shit.'

"Help me."

[bitten_notshy]

"Of course," Jack said, hands already on the chains. "Is there a key? What happened?"

[justlurkinghere]

Derek nodded over toward the stairs. You know, were he couldn't get to, try as he might. "Stiles--it's complicated."

[bitten_notshy]

Right, the stairs. Where Jack had stepped over it. He went back to retrieve it.

"I'm listening."

Even he knew there were some times when kinky jokes weren't appropriate.

[justlurkinghere]

"Stiles is possessed," Derek said, looking away from Jack. "If you see him, run away."

[bitten_notshy]

"Jesus." Any thoughts of jokes flew from Jack's mind as he stumbled to free Derek. "Are you sure? Can't you -- exorcise him, or whatever?"

[justlurkinghere]

"Don't know yet," Derek admitted. "I have to find him again first."

And not get stabbed. Or tormented.

"It's called a nogitsune."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack furrowed his brow, called upon a half-remembered encyclopedia of Asian supernatural creatures he'd read years before. "That's Japanese, isn't it? I-- don't know anything else."

He finally got Derek free. "There. Try to move now."

[justlurkinghere]

"A fox, yeah," Derek said, rubbing his sore wrists. "I have to warn his dad."

If that thing hadn't already gotten there first.

[bitten_notshy]

"If he isn't already there," Jack said, eying Derek's wrists. He didn't like the soreness. "What happened? Start at the beginning."

[justlurkinghere]

Derek sighed, looking down before he went up the stairs to find his phone. "You know how Stiles was having some sleep problems?"

[bitten_notshy]

Jack hesitated, but nodded. "Since he did that thing where he died but didn't, isn't it? He told me that might have some lasting effects."

[justlurkinghere]

"It brought something back with him," Derek all but snarled, looking over any messages on his phone before hitting dial to the sheriff.

Where there was, of course, no answer.

[bitten_notshy]

"A Japanese fox demon," Jack supplied, watching Derek anxiously. "Was that his dad's line?"

He suspected it was, but he wanted to have it confirmed.

[justlurkinghere]

"Yes," Derek all but snarled, putting the phone back down. "I don't know if there's a way to stop it."

[bitten_notshy]

"There has to be," Jack said firmly.

He wasn't letting Derek lose Stiles.

[justlurkinghere]

Prepare yourself for a manly shoulder grab, Jack. "Can you look into things here?"

And have as much luck as everyone else while the stupidest story time ever happened back on Beacon Hills explaining this bullshit.

[bitten_notshy]

"Of course," Jack said, matching the manful shoulder grab. "There must be something in the Magic Box." (And if there wasn't, he almost believed he'd make there be something by sheer force of will.).

"You don't want me to come back with you?"

Not that he blamed Derek; his visits to Beacon Hills had not historically gone particularly well.

[justlurkinghere]

"You can get more done here." And it was safer for him here. Derek could not stomach losing more of his little pack.

Let's be honest, guys. No one gets anything done. Ever. Because Beacon Hills.

[bitten_notshy]

"And I don't need you to be worried about me, too," Jack answered, swallowing hard. "Text me every few hours or I'll portal out after you, though, promise."

He wasn't losing Derek, either.

[justlurkinghere]

"I will." Oh god, he was going in for a hug. Sorry, Jack.

[bitten_notshy]

Oddly enough, Jack was willing to hug back. Funny how that worked.

"It'll all be okay. Somehow."

[justlurkinghere]

"I'll call you as soon as anything changes."

If his phone wasn't crushed in an epic battle.