[ It feels like a low blow and that's partially because Derek knows it's meant to be. His jaw clenches and his finger hovers over the icon that'll end the video call entirely. Derek's fully aware of the fact that he's concerned when something seems off and Diego decided Derek was just an asshole when something felt off to him. He doesn't need this thing wearing Diego's face to remind him. ]
People have assumed worse things about me, believe me.
[ His tone carries both bitterness and sarcasm in equal measure, but it conveys the truth. He'd rather Diego think he's an asshole than an entire town he'd spent his life trying to protect assume that he's a murderer.
The more this thing talks, though, the more Derek starts to worry what caused it. What made that thing show up? What made it split off of Diego or take over Diego or whatever the fuck it's doing? ...and what can Derek do to prevent it happening to him, too? If there's one way to blow his chances at a new start, people hearing something wearing his face telling everyone his business like this. Nobody would ever talk to him again if they knew the choices that he made and the consequences that came with them...
He's trying so hard not to look as afraid of that prospect as he is. ]
Where did you come from? [ Unspoken translation: I need somewhere to start researching so that I can kill you and go back to being mad at Diego instead of worrying about his well-being. ]
[That isn't what Derek means, and the Shadow knows it. But... well, this is more fun.]
Maybe if you're lucky, you can talk him into accepting me... But-- I guess you aren't really on speaking terms at the moment, are you? [There's another laugh, almost viscous this time.]
That decision is plenty mutual, let me assure you.
[ His eyes narrow before rolling. What was it Diego had said? He didn't realize that Derek couldn't handle his own shit? Maybe Diego should just handle his own, from the sounds of things. ]
Well, are we finished here? There's nothing I can do to help him and you're not him, so I feel like we're both just wasting an awful lot of one another's time here, aren't we?
[The Shadow almost sounds impressed. He'd rather this be Derek's choice, in all truth. It only manages to work in his favor.]
Just remember this: Nothing I've said is a lie. I'm just as much a part of him as anything else he's told you. And he's distressed at the idea that he fucked up enough with you that you'll never talk to him again.
Well, he might not be wrong. I haven't decided, yet. You wanna make yourself useful? Tell him to pull his head out of his ass and apologize and we're good. That's it. That's all it would take. But if you're not actually interested in making yourself useful, then fuck off, all right? You're not doing either of us any favors.
[The Shadow is gone, but the mess it left behind didn't disappear with it. Diego never noticed these texts, because he had no reason to open his messages with Derek, since they weren't exactly on speaking terms.
At some point, he taps the wrong thing and the window pops up on the screen anyway and he sees some texts he doesn't recall sending. Scrolls back up to the top of the conversation and reads through it, watches the recorded feed of video.
And kind of wants to fucking die on the spot.
He presses his palms to his eyes and lets out a frustrated groan at the conversation he just witnessed between that stupid fucking doppelganger and his friend. He hates more than anything that it was right-- nothing it told Derek was untrue. Maybe expounded on, exaggerated for effect or something, but... not a lie. Not any of it.
He tries, more than once, to send a text to Derek. 'Hey', 'What's up''I'm an asshole', anything at all.
But he doesn't, in the end. Can't quite bring himself to it at all.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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People have assumed worse things about me, believe me.
[ His tone carries both bitterness and sarcasm in equal measure, but it conveys the truth. He'd rather Diego think he's an asshole than an entire town he'd spent his life trying to protect assume that he's a murderer.
The more this thing talks, though, the more Derek starts to worry what caused it. What made that thing show up? What made it split off of Diego or take over Diego or whatever the fuck it's doing? ...and what can Derek do to prevent it happening to him, too? If there's one way to blow his chances at a new start, people hearing something wearing his face telling everyone his business like this. Nobody would ever talk to him again if they knew the choices that he made and the consequences that came with them...
He's trying so hard not to look as afraid of that prospect as he is. ]
Where did you come from? [ Unspoken translation: I need somewhere to start researching so that I can kill you and go back to being mad at Diego instead of worrying about his well-being. ]
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[That isn't what Derek means, and the Shadow knows it. But... well, this is more fun.]
Maybe if you're lucky, you can talk him into accepting me... But-- I guess you aren't really on speaking terms at the moment, are you? [There's another laugh, almost viscous this time.]
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[ His eyes narrow before rolling. What was it Diego had said? He didn't realize that Derek couldn't handle his own shit? Maybe Diego should just handle his own, from the sounds of things. ]
Well, are we finished here? There's nothing I can do to help him and you're not him, so I feel like we're both just wasting an awful lot of one another's time here, aren't we?
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[The Shadow almost sounds impressed. He'd rather this be Derek's choice, in all truth. It only manages to work in his favor.]
Just remember this: Nothing I've said is a lie. I'm just as much a part of him as anything else he's told you. And he's distressed at the idea that he fucked up enough with you that you'll never talk to him again.
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[His voice is sing-song and he smirks before he disconnects the feed. Well, that was fun!]
reaction only » 10/26
At some point, he taps the wrong thing and the window pops up on the screen anyway and he sees some texts he doesn't recall sending. Scrolls back up to the top of the conversation and reads through it, watches the recorded feed of video.
And kind of wants to fucking die on the spot.
He presses his palms to his eyes and lets out a frustrated groan at the conversation he just witnessed between that stupid fucking doppelganger and his friend. He hates more than anything that it was right-- nothing it told Derek was untrue. Maybe expounded on, exaggerated for effect or something, but... not a lie. Not any of it.
He tries, more than once, to send a text to Derek. 'Hey', 'What's up' 'I'm an asshole', anything at all.
But he doesn't, in the end. Can't quite bring himself to it at all.]