[ The question "have you seen Derek?" tends to lead to what most people would consider strange results. Most people aren't what make up the circus family, though.
As someone that doesn't like people, for assorted reasons that he doesn't enjoy talking about, Derek Hale is the perfect person for the job of 'beastmaster.' He communes with the animals of the circus, takes care of them, makes sure they're healthy and happy, and so he's got a pretty close bond with them. Especially since they're who he goes to when he wants to avoid the crowds that filter into the circus every time they open their gates to the public.
He hasn't worked in the public eye in a while, not really. His uncle has tried to strongarm him into doing things again, even just working in the shows where his animals are showcased, but he just... has been more than resistant, truth be told. (You go from doing acrobatics with your high school sweetheart who died because of something you did to losing everything to a literal firestarter, you sort of don't want to get involved in anything ever again.)
Which is why he's hiding away in the 'wolf den,' because he doesn't want to deal with anyone right now. He's got his head resting against the flank of the alpha of their little pack, a few of the smaller wolves practically piled against his chest and stomach, one weaseled underneath a leg. He's not actually asleep, but the wolves all are and he's letting himself doze while he pretends that he hasn't been asked to work with the acrobats again.
[ the name of the show for this season was "a beast within." stiles should've figured that meant he was going to end up working with any number of the beast tamers they have employed at the hale circus, but of course, of course, peter decided putting him with derek would be the best.
after all, he'd said, in that simperingly sweet voice, the two of you have fooled around enough times before.
he hadn't met anything romantic by it, thankfully--stiles is great at pretending that he doesn't think derek is kind of the hottest thing on earth, and that's impressive, thank you--but derek had picked him up and basically chucked him, ring and all, across the stage a couple weeks ago and apparently peter saw it.
so now he was stuck training with derek, and one of his wolves. he was supposed to be red riding hood, of course, so the teenager is basically sulking as he makes his way across the tents towards the beastmaster's, pulling on the shirt emblazoned with the logo for the new show on it in bright letters. why he has to break the news to derek, he'll never understand.
he pulls the flap of the tent of and is met with a pile of fur. derek's sitting near the back but there are wolves, lots of wolves with really sharp teeth, and it's five in the morning but stiles really doesn't want to be eaten-- ] Oh my--mmmrmgh. [ --so he muffles his exclamation with his fist and hisses at Derek. ] Hale! Wake up!
[ Stiles is, honestly, the bane of his existence most days. They get into fights frequently enough that no one really pays much attention when they suddenly hear their volume slowly increasing, although thankfully the all-out shouting matches aren't as frequent as they could be. There's some sort of thrill they both get out of arguing, bickering and bantering on the regular.
Isaac, Erica, and Boyd all have a betting pool going. He's pretty sure that Cora's thrown in on it, but none of them will tell him what it's for. At the moment, he's convinced that it's over who'll kill who, and how long it'll take.
Unfortunately they have so much chemistry that Peter's decided he'd like to cash in on it. Oblivious as he is to the fact that he's been signed up whether he likes it or not, he's not oblivious to the fact that his uncle gets this sort of smile on his face every time he sees them interacting. Especially when Derek basically manhandles and/or throws Stiles however he sees fit.
At least he hasn't tried to actually hurt him for a while.
The wolves rouse around him at Stiles' presence, but don't quite fully stir. Derek, on the other hand, opens his eyes and tilts his head a little to look at him where he stands at the front of the tent. He should probably not have the wolves out of their cage when there are, actually, people coming and going around the grounds at all hours of the night. But he trusts them, a whole hell of a lot more than he trusts people, and they haven't ever left his tent without him before. So, he's not worried. ] What?
[ oh god, they are moving. stiles really doesn't want to get eaten before the show--for as much as the wolves are going to be used, the main "wolf" in the show is going to be derek. stiles has already seen the costumes and everything, and for as much as he's thrilled (okay, well "thrilled") that he gets to star in a show (maybe if only for the minor pay raise), he's not super psyched about working with derek and his " pack".
he doesn't move from the side of the tent, clutching onto the edge a little bit. they can probably smell his fear tbh but he is an acrobat, not a beast tamer.
at least he's not jackson.
slowly, he relaxes his grip, but doesn't move from where he's stepped a fair distance from the pile and their somewhat human alpha. ] We have rehearsal. In like five minutes. For this program that you're apparently going to be starring in. [ he doesn't sound distasteful or anything--derek is kind of badass at his trade, honestly ] With me. [ that is more distasteful. ]
[ Derek narrows his eyes a little as Stiles continues to stare at the wolves around him, waiting for him to get to why he's actually here and "waking" him up. At least he doesn't really sleep these days, at least not for very long, so there's a very small window where he would actually be disturbed. At least, in that context.
But then he gets it out, and he can't help but stare at him for a long moment. He's been roped, against his will, into a program. A program that's apparently going to be with Stiles. That he's going to be starring in with Stiles. Slowly, he bristles as it sets in, and his displeasure is evident. ]
I'm going to kill Peter-- everyone up. [ A rumble escapes him, and he jostles the wolves around him so that he can get to his feet. The wolves, to their credit, only seem disgruntled about being fully woken up. Stiles is spared a few glances, but overall they don't seem too interested in eating him. Derek, on the other hand... ] I told him I wasn't doing shows anymore.
[ Still, he picks up a shirt from his trunk and makes his way towards Stiles. ]
[ stiles 100% doesn't look at his chest or abs, okay. his despair at this situation is much greater than his traitorous body's boner for derek hale that likes to pop up when things are least expected. (at least his attitude is a boner kill.)
rolling his eyes at him, stiles fidgets around his person and produces a flyer, holding it out for derek's inspection. now that the wolves aren't going to eat him (he thinks), he can slip back into a little more of a comfortable bicker. ] No, really? I had no idea. Dude, it wasn't my idea, he was the one who thought it would be an awesome idea to play ~Red Riding Hood~.
[ he waggles his fingers in a gesture that is 100% sarcastic and huffs, stepping out of the way to keep from getting run over. ] You can take that up with him. Point is, we're supposed to start learning choreography in the next ten minutes.
I didn't say I was going to kill you. [ Today, at least. All of his anger is going to be directed at Peter for most of the day, honestly. But he pulls his shirt on over his head and reaches to take the flyer once he's close enough, reaching a hand down to stop the wolves from going too far. His fingers curl a little in the black wolf's fur, and she leans against his hip patiently while they all wait for him to process this.
And the moment he does, he gives the flyer the flattest look he possibly can. ] Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. He cannot be this cliche.
[ Or this insane. He growls a little and starts moving again, bringing the wolves with him easily. A few sniff at Stiles, nipping at the hem of his shirt as if to bring him with them, but they immediately follow their human and wolf alphas towards where the animals are typically kept. ] I need to put them back in their cage-- unless for some deranged reason Peter wants them there now.
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As someone that doesn't like people, for assorted reasons that he doesn't enjoy talking about, Derek Hale is the perfect person for the job of 'beastmaster.' He communes with the animals of the circus, takes care of them, makes sure they're healthy and happy, and so he's got a pretty close bond with them. Especially since they're who he goes to when he wants to avoid the crowds that filter into the circus every time they open their gates to the public.
He hasn't worked in the public eye in a while, not really. His uncle has tried to strongarm him into doing things again, even just working in the shows where his animals are showcased, but he just... has been more than resistant, truth be told. (You go from doing acrobatics with your high school sweetheart who died because of something you did to losing everything to a literal firestarter, you sort of don't want to get involved in anything ever again.)
Which is why he's hiding away in the 'wolf den,' because he doesn't want to deal with anyone right now. He's got his head resting against the flank of the alpha of their little pack, a few of the smaller wolves practically piled against his chest and stomach, one weaseled underneath a leg. He's not actually asleep, but the wolves all are and he's letting himself doze while he pretends that he hasn't been asked to work with the acrobats again.
Especially not one in particular. ]
I am sorry this took me so long I love you ;__;
after all, he'd said, in that simperingly sweet voice, the two of you have fooled around enough times before.
he hadn't met anything romantic by it, thankfully--stiles is great at pretending that he doesn't think derek is kind of the hottest thing on earth, and that's impressive, thank you--but derek had picked him up and basically chucked him, ring and all, across the stage a couple weeks ago and apparently peter saw it.
so now he was stuck training with derek, and one of his wolves. he was supposed to be red riding hood, of course, so the teenager is basically sulking as he makes his way across the tents towards the beastmaster's, pulling on the shirt emblazoned with the logo for the new show on it in bright letters. why he has to break the news to derek, he'll never understand.
he pulls the flap of the tent of and is met with a pile of fur. derek's sitting near the back but there are wolves, lots of wolves with really sharp teeth, and it's five in the morning but stiles really doesn't want to be eaten-- ] Oh my--mmmrmgh. [ --so he muffles his exclamation with his fist and hisses at Derek. ] Hale! Wake up!
It didn't even take that long boo omg.
Isaac, Erica, and Boyd all have a betting pool going. He's pretty sure that Cora's thrown in on it, but none of them will tell him what it's for. At the moment, he's convinced that it's over who'll kill who, and how long it'll take.
Unfortunately they have so much chemistry that Peter's decided he'd like to cash in on it. Oblivious as he is to the fact that he's been signed up whether he likes it or not, he's not oblivious to the fact that his uncle gets this sort of smile on his face every time he sees them interacting. Especially when Derek basically manhandles and/or throws Stiles however he sees fit.
At least he hasn't tried to actually hurt him for a while.
The wolves rouse around him at Stiles' presence, but don't quite fully stir. Derek, on the other hand, opens his eyes and tilts his head a little to look at him where he stands at the front of the tent. He should probably not have the wolves out of their cage when there are, actually, people coming and going around the grounds at all hours of the night. But he trusts them, a whole hell of a lot more than he trusts people, and they haven't ever left his tent without him before. So, he's not worried. ] What?
STILL
he doesn't move from the side of the tent, clutching onto the edge a little bit. they can probably smell his fear tbh but he is an acrobat, not a beast tamer.
at least he's not jackson.
slowly, he relaxes his grip, but doesn't move from where he's stepped a fair distance from the pile and their somewhat human alpha. ] We have rehearsal. In like five minutes. For this program that you're apparently going to be starring in. [ he doesn't sound distasteful or anything--derek is kind of badass at his trade, honestly ] With me. [ that is more distasteful. ]
Bless.
But then he gets it out, and he can't help but stare at him for a long moment. He's been roped, against his will, into a program. A program that's apparently going to be with Stiles. That he's going to be starring in with Stiles. Slowly, he bristles as it sets in, and his displeasure is evident. ]
I'm going to kill Peter-- everyone up. [ A rumble escapes him, and he jostles the wolves around him so that he can get to his feet. The wolves, to their credit, only seem disgruntled about being fully woken up. Stiles is spared a few glances, but overall they don't seem too interested in eating him. Derek, on the other hand... ] I told him I wasn't doing shows anymore.
[ Still, he picks up a shirt from his trunk and makes his way towards Stiles. ]
no subject
rolling his eyes at him, stiles fidgets around his person and produces a flyer, holding it out for derek's inspection. now that the wolves aren't going to eat him (he thinks), he can slip back into a little more of a comfortable bicker. ] No, really? I had no idea. Dude, it wasn't my idea, he was the one who thought it would be an awesome idea to play ~Red Riding Hood~.
[ he waggles his fingers in a gesture that is 100% sarcastic and huffs, stepping out of the way to keep from getting run over. ] You can take that up with him. Point is, we're supposed to start learning choreography in the next ten minutes.
no subject
And the moment he does, he gives the flyer the flattest look he possibly can. ] Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf. He cannot be this cliche.
[ Or this insane. He growls a little and starts moving again, bringing the wolves with him easily. A few sniff at Stiles, nipping at the hem of his shirt as if to bring him with them, but they immediately follow their human and wolf alphas towards where the animals are typically kept. ] I need to put them back in their cage-- unless for some deranged reason Peter wants them there now.