[ An uneasy smile is better than nothing. The moon joke annoys him, but other than a frustrated twinge in his expression, he doesn't answer. Tate wants to pull his hand away, but Derek doesn't take the hint to let go first. ]
I don't want you to be scared. I just... don't want you to...
[ Hate him? Be disgusted by him. Think he's a monster. Hurt him. There are so many ways for Derek to finish that sentence, but they're all pathetic and weak and that's not who he is, not anymore. He flexes his arms, straightens out his shoulders, and if his hand grips Tate's wrist any tighter, he doesn't seem to notice.
Derek frowns, trying to decide, and then he just - closes his eyes. He thinks of anger, but that doesn't work anymore, so he works through muscle memory alone. He opens his eyes again, and the human, mossy hazel has faded, bled away and replaced by an illuminated, scarlet red. He starts to open his mouth, and this part is - difficult, but he wants Tate to see his fangs, if he's going to bite him one day. He looks younger, despite his lack of humanity, and when he parts his lips, his teeth are sharper, longer. Viscious. Made for tearing.
He looks at Tate, and he says nothing. Just - looks like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop. To be hit, or insulted, or feared, or - something. Anything. ]
no subject
I don't want you to be scared. I just... don't want you to...
[ Hate him? Be disgusted by him. Think he's a monster. Hurt him. There are so many ways for Derek to finish that sentence, but they're all pathetic and weak and that's not who he is, not anymore. He flexes his arms, straightens out his shoulders, and if his hand grips Tate's wrist any tighter, he doesn't seem to notice.
Derek frowns, trying to decide, and then he just - closes his eyes. He thinks of anger, but that doesn't work anymore, so he works through muscle memory alone. He opens his eyes again, and the human, mossy hazel has faded, bled away and replaced by an illuminated, scarlet red. He starts to open his mouth, and this part is - difficult, but he wants Tate to see his fangs, if he's going to bite him one day. He looks younger, despite his lack of humanity, and when he parts his lips, his teeth are sharper, longer. Viscious. Made for tearing.
He looks at Tate, and he says nothing. Just - looks like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop. To be hit, or insulted, or feared, or - something. Anything. ]