ᴅᴀᴍɴ ɪᴛ, sᴛᴏᴘ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ sʜᴇʀʟᴏᴄᴋ ᴏɴ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɢɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ғʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ!

[cholesterol]

WELCOME TO THE SALTBURNT NETWORK

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DEAN

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[cholesterol]

( Dean's been around, been in people's messages, and seen people in person. He's strategized. Made some good bonds. He has some thoughts. When Ren knocks, he's just changing from the day, hair damp from a pre-dinner shower. But, he's dressed, not indecent. )

Hey, hey, come in.

[ragesagainsttheodds]

( Ren has gathered herself since the morning, meditated and tried to connect with Gaia as much as she can out in the woods where she feels most at home. She still isn't right, but, she is less likely to fall into a quiet disassociation again.

She nods her thanks. )

I told Devon it'd be better if we weren't seen together right now. I don't want him getting deeper involved in anything.

[cholesterol]

( Dean closes the door behind her and gestures to one of two twin beds he's made up. It's only been him this month. Hawk some of the time, the last. But, his bed is clearly rumpled and recently sat on. )

What are you involved in?

[ragesagainsttheodds]

( She takes the invitation and sits, elbows on her knees. Ren has seen death before. She has killed before. This bothers her not because of the callous nature of it or even the gore - but instead because it feels like bait.

Servants of the wyrm are cruel and intelligent. This has wyrm stink all over it. And there isn't a thing she can do about it. )

I woke up this morning with Shauna's head at the foot of my bed.

Me, Dom 'nd Devon were sharing a bed - platonically - and some fucker was in there long enough to put a fuckin' head on a plate. I should've woken up. I should've kept guard. I've never slept through an intruder before.

[cholesterol]

( Well, he was going to sit, but, how do you sit hearing that. He waves away the platonic part, he doesn't care about that part of the story. )

Don't blame yourself for not waking up. All the wolves do their dirty work while we sleep. There's probably something that makes us sleep. It's not on you.

( Finally, he sits behind you. )

You wanted her head on your platter, so-to-speak. Maybe the wolf was granting you your want. Like a cat leaving a dead bird. ( He lets a moment linger between them, before adding. ) Do you not feel safe because of the Yellowjackets?

[ragesagainsttheodds]

I didn't. I wanted her locked up so she wouldn't hurt anyone else.

( She had tried to be even handed in her accusation, as calm and methodical as she was capable of being. )

Did you not hear the ginger bitch? It'd be better if the poison had killed me? She said that in front of everyone. One of them already tried just 'cos I spoke out about somethin' true. I didn't even tell their whole truth. Only what was relevant.

How d'you think they're goin' to react knowing her head was found in my bed like some fucked up bible bitch?

[cholesterol]

Wolf's not seeing the gray. The wolf sees in black and white. Killer. Killed. Retribution.

( He winces at ginger bitch, but doesn't correct her. Just listens. )

They'll hate it, but they know you didn't do it. You didn't want that. No one would want that. You're not getting poisoned again under my watch. You ask me, they have bigger problems. Misty's going scorched earth. And you're not her target. Problem is, I don't know who her target would be.

[ragesagainsttheodds]

( Ren does not care for Vanessa. At all. She called her dumb and wished her dead in the space of a single accusation. )

How. How do they know I didn't do it?

I'm waiting to go defend my name at any minute here. If Misty Fucking Quigley doesn't dole out her own brand of justice straight off.

[cholesterol]

She'll have to go through me.

( And he means it. )

Why would wolf you off Shauna and then place it on your own bed?

[ragesagainsttheodds]

Plausible deniability.

( Ren swallows some bile. )

Think about it. I had two people in my bed. That sounds like an alibi. Not just my boyfriend who would lie for me, but Dom, who's friendly with Melissa.

[cholesterol]

Except, we all know there are no alibis. I'm sorry. Sleeping isn't an alibi. Sleeping with someone else. Not an alibi.

( She needs to understand. )

[ragesagainsttheodds]

You don't suspect the girl with a head at the foot of her bed, Dean. That's a victim. Perfect way for a killer to throw people off her scent.

And we don't all know. Some of the girls were asking incredibly basic questions last time to try and throw me under the bus for accusing Shauna. I don't trust them to not do the same.

[cholesterol]

Do you think you did it.

( Are you asking him to do something for you? )

[ragesagainsttheodds]

No.

( Sharply. Firmly. )

I've got a role. I know I'm not a wolf.

But I've only told Gale. Everyone else thinks I'm open season.

[cholesterol]

What's your role?

( It's now or never in the trust department, at this point, but he can't help if he doesn't know everything. )

[ragesagainsttheodds]

It's shit. It doesn't even do anything. The Storyteller.

( She sighs heavily. )

They told me I had to get someone to say a word and I'd get a reward. But I haven't been given shit. Just the knowledge I ain't a wolf.

[cholesterol]

Did they say the word?

( Is it bird? )

Maybe it's still coming.

[ragesagainsttheodds]

Yeah. I managed to get them to say it without questioning me or figuring out that I got them to say it. That was part of it. It all had to be a secret.

Shit, right? ( She sighs. ) I was hoping they'd give me a gun at least.

[cholesterol]

From your mouth.

( But not to Chuck's ears. )

You can stay here as long as you want. We just may not be alone.

[ragesagainsttheodds]

Am I cramping your style? Who else--?

( pls not Misty. )

[cholesterol]

No, what style. ( It's a fucking slovenly hole. In a commune. ) Hawk's... going through something. If he needs a place, it'll be here.

( Coming down from vampire blood. )

He helped you out, right? You trust him?

[ragesagainsttheodds]

( Ren stands immediately. )

Yeah, no, I don't trust him as far as I could throw him.

( Because he knows the truth of her nature. )

[cholesterol]

( What is he missing? He slowly stands, too. )

What'd he do?

[ragesagainsttheodds]

When I was poisoned out my fuckin' brain? He was trying to get Devon to admit I was a wolf.

( Werewolf. But that's besides the point. She's slipped into thr practiced lies of omission. )

Told his boyfriend Tim that I was too so he could spread it about.

And after the first round of killings? Armand used him as an alibi. That guy is a vampire.

[cholesterol]

( Here's a problem. Armand was his alibi. Now Dean is convinced. A real one. That is a rock, a hard place, and a freakin headache. )

What about Sam. You know Sam? Carpenter?