halfbloodhill | second case. (im/possible action)

Stiles. [ It's a greeting and a question and a show of concern. Natalie emerges from her bunk to find him, half awake from an unexpected nap. She rolls up the sleeves of her oversized hoodie and folds her arms over her chest. ]

Why the sudden fashion statement?

[ Looking up from where he's playing with a golden drachma, Stiles turns his head and is immediately met with Natalie. His smile drops and he glances down, pulling his knees up into my chest. ]

's my mom. [ Quietly. Natalie is probably one of the only people in camp he wouldn't lie to about it outright. ]

[ Briefly, her eyes widen and understanding flickers across her face. ] Oh.

[ Natalie drops down to sit next to him, crossing her legs at the ankles. Her voice is low, quiet and she pulls one leg up to rest her cheek against her knee to look over at him. ] It's worse now?

[ He nods, mutely, and when Natalie sits down, Stiles looks away from her again, staring out at the camp. And when his voice cracks on the last word, he shakes his head, sniffling a little. ]

They said she's probably not gonna make it to Christmas. Stage four.

Shit. [ She pulls out her ponytail, running her hand through her curly hair to pull it over her shoulder, twisting the ends around her fingers. What do you say to that? "I'm sorry" just seems like a lame backup sentiment that people say when they don't know what else to say. ]

Do you - would you like my help?

I--yeah. Yeah, that'd be awesome. I used to have one when I was a kid, but I've never gone all gung-ho on it myself, or anything.

[ Stiles nods, a little absently, and tips over just enough to rest his head on Natalie's shoulder. It's not a huge point of contact, but it's something, and he loosense the hold he has on his knees and shuts his eyes. ] I--don't regret leaving camp. I mean, like, for the month or two I was gone.

I know. [ You know how much she loves you, Stiles? Enough to pull him into a hug, turning slightly so she can wrap her arms around his shoulders. And as much as she scolded him for abandoning camp, she gets it - perhaps not as well as she would like, all things considered, but she knows how much his family means to him and if she were in the same position, she would leave too. ]

And... yeah. There's gotta be a razor somewhere in the cabin.

[ Swallowing back tears, he returns the hug almost immediately, wrapping his arms around her smaller frame and resting his chin on her shoulder, long fingers coming up to curl in the fabric of her over sized sweatshirt. They've been through a lot together over the years--Stiles can recall problems in Natalie's life just as bad as his, phone calls on corded phones over birthdays and drama and just needing someone to chatter at who actually understood. She's always been there for him, since they were little kids, and that's not changing anytime soon.

Sniffling, he nods. ] Yeah. Please don't cut my brains out. [ It's a bit of a joke. He tried, okay. ]

[ For every competition and performance that her parents missed due to distractions or appointments or other unforeseen circumstances, she can also recall the times he just made her feel better. That's what family does, she's learned, and she's close enough to him to feel that same pain just as acutely. Natalie inhales sharply, tugging him close, fisting her hands in his shirt. It will eventually be okay, "big brother,", I'm still here.

And she snorts. ]

Listen, I'll be careful but I'm concerned 'cause you're currently the one with the best hair out of all of us.

[ That makes a grin crack onto his face, and Stiles snorts and shakes his head as he pulls away from the hug, running a hand over the hair in question. ]

Thanks, it's a real effort to get out of bed in the morning. [ It's gonna be okay. It has to be, right? A part of Stiles wants to talk to their mom, try to see if she can do anything, yell at her, something, but Hecate never bothers to show up to them, anyway. Rubbing at his cheeks to try and push away any tears, he nods at her. ] The last time I had a buzzcut was because my dad cut my hair, and I had a bowl cut. It was so bad, remember? I came to camp with it.

[ She ruffles his hair one last time and laughs out loud at the mention of that wonderful time in the history of his hair. ]

Cuts inspired by bowls only worked for four men only and those men are more commonly known as The Beatles. [ Natalie points out with a tip of her head to the side. ]

Come on, Broski. [ He gets a nudge before she gets to her feet, even holding both hands out to him. ]

Wait, you're gonna...

[Whoa. This is big. Scott's seen Stiles with really short hair before, so it's not like he's making a rash decision or anything, but...

He can be perceptive, sometimes.]

...what happened?

[ Something relieved clenches in his chest when Scott is the one who responds, and he drops any pretense at all. ] Dad told me over IM that she's not responding to the chemo.

[ He's terrified, to be honest. There's probably no scarier words after someone's been diagnosed with cancer than "it's not working." ] They don't know if she's gonna make it to Christmas, dude.

Holy sh-

[And he cuts himself off, because this is not the kind of thing to talk about over an IM. This is serious, this is scary, this is Stiles' mom.

This is bad.

He's at the Hecate cabin in a flash, sitting down right next to Stiles, his arms flung around his best friend in the manliest, strongest but he can muster right now.]

[ To Stiles' credit, he does hold it together. He doesn't move an inch when the feed abruptly disappears, just waits, holding his breath, and then Scott and his stupidly fast Nike powers lead him here in just enough time for him to lean over and hug him back, clutch long fingers in the fabric of his shirt and hold on, to try and breathe and stave off what must be a panic attack.

The manly, strong hug is exactly what he needs, and he takes in a deep, shaky breath, shaking his head. ] D-dude.

[He knows the signs of Stiles' panic attacks by now, knows them like the back of his hand. And he hates that he can't do more, doesn't know how to do more. But Stiles and his family have helped him and his mom so much in the past. He loves Mrs. Stilinski, she's good and she's caring and-]

Don't, don't - I got you, dude. It's okay.

[Stiles does not deserve for this to happen.]

[ That's when it feels like it's okay to let go. There are very few people he's ready to just--tell everything to, to let go of in front of, and Scott is probably at the top of the list. Period.

It starts with a hiccup, a wheeze, and Stiles just shuts his eyes and holds onto Scott like an anchor, until he thinks he can breathe again, four or five minutes until he's shaking like a leaf. By the time he pulls away again, he wipes at his face, furiously, shaking his head. ] I can't--I mean, I just, I was trying to do something, with the Mist, because they said I could help her, but I don't--it's just not working, I can't learn it fast enough, dude, I don't know what I'm gonna do if she dies.

[Scott just hugs him tight, refusing to let to until Stiles shows any sign of it being okay to let go. He knows this is what Stiles needs right now, and he's not exactly one to resort to violence but if anyone says anything - anything to make fun of them, he will tear into them. This is serious. This is Stiles.]

Can you - can you send her stuff, I think one of your fauns is a mail guy - it might help her, Stiles. Help her smile and stuff.

[ help stiles keep her smile in his thoughts.]

[ He nods, wiping his nose with his sleeve and looking down at his feet. It's not going to fix everything, and he just--a part of him just wants to run away again, scoot out of camp when no one's looking like he did over the summer. It was stupid and irrational then, and it would be stupid and irrational now, but that was his mom and if she died while his dad was alone...

He doesn't want to think about it.

Stiles swallows the lump in his throat and wraps his arms around his knees, staring into the distance. ]

Yeah. I IM'd them earlier today and I saw they shaved mom's head. [ He gives a smile, a little lopsided. ] She said she was tired of them putting it off and that she'd--"rather just rock the buzzcut." She looked bad, dude... Could barely sit up long enough to talk to me.

[Scott starts searching his back pockets for tissues. It's something he's seen his mom do a million times, especially at the hospital, and it stops seconds later when he realizes he doesn't carry tissues, ever. He decides to pull off his hoodie and hand it to Stiles. Hoodies can be washed.]

So you wanna do it, too. Like a...a solidarity thing.

[It's actually a really noble thing to do, and Scott can't help but be proud of his best friend for thinking that. Still, this is- this is bad.]

I'll talk to my mom - send her an IM or something later. I know she'll... You know. Do anything she can do to help.

[ He grins a little as Scott hands over his hoodie--it's just such a Scott gesture that he takes it and wrings it in his hands, trying not to blow his nose in it but ending up failing. That's what best friends are for, right. ]

Yeah, 'xactly. [ With another loud sniffle, he sets the sweatshirt back down in his lap, picking at the fibers. ] Yeah. I dunno what I'm gonna do if she--while I'm here, man. It can't happen while I'm not home.

[ But it has to--considering they can't leave. ]

[Scott's actually kind of glad when Stiles does end up using the hoodie to blow his nose. At least it's fulfilling it's intended purpose. Well, its intended purpose for right now.]

I...

[He sighs a little, frowning. He really wishes there was something he could say to Stiles, something more he could do. but for now, he can be there for him.]

I'm sticking with you through this, man. You're not gonna face it alone.

[ Stiles looks up at him for a second, holding the sweatshirt in his lap, and offers Scott a small, exhausted smile. He leans over and bumps his shoulder with his, because--seriously. How do you get through life without a best friend like Scott McCall? It's pretty much unimaginable for Stiles. He thanks pretty much every deity under the sun and profusely that he met Scott in the sandbox in kindergarten. ]

You never let me, dude. [ But it's not upset or anything, not resigned. He's just glad. ] You're the best, you know that, right?

[Scott thinks much the same about Stiles. There's so much he has to be grateful for as far as his best friend goes - he'd have had a much rougher time in middle school if it wasnt for this guy.]

Right back at you, man.

[There's a little bump at the shoulder from his fist.]

So you wanna- uh, you wanna buzz your hair off. I mean, I don't have a razor or anything but Aphrodite cabin might. I can ask Heather.

[ And there's a second where if you really knew Stiles (you know, like his best friend from kindergarten might), you could notice the fact that his ears flush red. ]

Yeah, I was thinkin' that too. I mean, short of Nat doing it with one of her arrows, I'm gonna let the cabin of love and beauty handle that one. [ And Heather. What? ]

Aww but your hair's so nice.

[Yang replies, she notices that Stiles isn't being his usual self and since they'd been at camp together for-ev-er, she was quick to pick up on that. Although, she doesn't say anything about the change in demeanor, not yet anyway.

Her own smile drops a bit, teasing over for now.]

I'm good with hair. I can do it.

Edited 2013-11-28 04:51 (UTC)

It's more of a bird's nest on a good day. [ He manages a smile, half crooked, and shrugs his shoulders. ] 's easier to take care of this way, right? Less trouble.

[ Nodding, Stiles clears his throat. ] That'd be awesome of you, yeah. Whenever you get the chance to, or--I can come over there, or whatever you need.

Hm. Well I wouldn't know about that.

[She messes with her own, super long hair.]

But I think short would work for you. Stop by the Aphrodite cabin whenever you're ready, okay? I'll have everything ready.

[She gives him a small, sincere smile. She knows this is about more than the hair.]

Noted. [ His grin increases a little at her remark about her--whether it was a joke or not, it was typical Yang, and being campers together for so long? You kind of get to know a person.

He nods and adds-- ] Be there in a few.

[ And cuts the IM, pushing himself up off of the stoop and making his way across the courtyard to the Aphrodite cabin, familiar stomping ground. It always feels weird walking in here, like he needs to--properly touch himself up, or whatever, and he tries to ignore the instantaneous feeling of self-consciousness before taking a hand out of his ratty sweatshirt and knocking on the door. ]

[Yang didn't take long to set up. She had just put down a towel to collect all of the hair and was getting out a second towel to drape around Stiles for the purpose of making sure it didn't get all over his clothes. She'd actually never shaved someone's head before, but she was a natural at cutting hair and was fairly confident she could do this with no problems and CERTAINLY no scalping.

She doesn't judge at all when she opens the door to find Stiles in a ratty sweatshirt.]

Hey, come on in. I've got us set up over here.

[Lydia is hanging out by the chair Yang plans to use to buzz Stiles' hair. When Stiles is brought in she gives him a welcoming smile and gestures toward it.] Hey, Stiles. Like Yang said. Don't worry, she's great with hair.

[It's hard to tell if she's kidding with regard to what she says next.] I'll hold your hand if you want.

What's wrong, Stiles?

[Something is wrong.]

[ oh god, lydia is talking to him. lydia never talks to him!! why did this have to be now. he grins for her, a little sheepishly, holding his hands up. ]

Just thought it was time for a change, 's all. It's not the first time I've had it, and it gets so frickin hot at camp that it starts to drive me crazy.

[She cocks her head to the side, peering at him.]

If you were just feeling like a change, I think you'd be a lot more cheerful about it. Also, you're a lousy liar. What's wrong?

[Her lips press together tightly in that way she has when she's concerned or distressed or upset.]

It's a long story. [ he is also nothing if not stubborn--and also kind of surprised. lydia's from beacon hills, lydia was the center of his world for what felt like ages and ages, but they never really had any chance to interact in camp; supernatural teenagers or not, lydia was basically on another level than him. useless pining to scott (now that he was here, at least) was about as far as that relationship ever really got. ]

It'll--it's gonna be okay. It's just a show of solidarity, y'know?

Of course.

[Of course she saw you, Stiles. She just defaults to her habit of ignoring certain behaviors on the presumption that all it's ever been or will be is the frissons of power that tend to leak out as a result of her heritage. This is different, though. Lydia knows grief when she sees it, and if the impending possibility of his mother's death weighs on Stiles' shoulders, well, it's possible that she's picking up on that too.

She summons up a smile for him, one of sympathy and yes, solidarity.]

You should get Yang to do it. She's very good with hair. I could sit with you while she buzzes you, if you want.

Yeah, she said she would. [ this is still the most surreal interaction stiles has ever had, and a part of him would be celebrating--like, seriously, celebrating, talking to scott, the whole nine yards--if it weren't for the other events going on.

it's hard to try and keep clinically calm, but the gods know he's trying, because the last thing he needs is to go into epic meltdown freakout, particularly in front of lydia. and now that he's had a chance to sit with scott and let it out, he's at least able to compose himself enough to pass off his issues like they're not a big deal. ] I'm gonna be by in a little bit, I guess. If you wanna.

[Her immediate instinct is to counter with well if you'd rather I didn't, but she just studies him, her mouth still pressed tight against itself. Whatever she rolls around in her head just winds up being]

I'll see you in a few.

[There's a pause, Sojourner blinking. Well that's an odd request, and she makes the note next time she plans to give Stiles a noogie to do it gently.]

Can't say I know how to buzz hair, I mean, I probably could but I'd end up slicing your head open by accident.

That is definitely what I'm trying to avoid. [ He grins a little at her anyway, though, pushing down the thoughts of melancholy in the back of his head. ]

If I can come out of this with my brain intact, I'm calling it a win.

second case. (im/possible action)

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hail sisi queen of late tags

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we be rollin', we jackin'

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