While most people are probably looking forward to today, Derek is not one of those people. He wakes up alone after having fallen asleep with Katniss, for one thing; not a great way to start his day. Admittedly, in spite of the fact that he fell asleep drugged out of his goddamned mind when he'd had to be subdued in the Commissary earlier the previous day, it's the best night's sleep Derek's gotten in longer than he remember. Waking up to a cold other side of the bed started Derek's day off on a bad foot, but he pushes on because what else can he do?

In addition, Buffy's talked him into taking her to this stupid Charity Ball, even knowing he has no interest in being there for many, many reasons. But she gave him the puppy eyes. What was he supposed to do, say no? Doesn't work that way when pretty girls give him puppy eyes, regardless of his interest or lack thereof in them romantically. It's a secret he'd like to keep but doubts he'll be able to for a whole lot longer, but he's always been a sucker for pretty girls giving puppy eyes. He can't help it. So he guesses he's going to this stupid thing after all.

At the morning meeting, he's his usual surly self, but he keeps his composure anyway because he is not looking to be pumped full of more bullshit drugs against his will for acting out. He'll be a good little Alpha. For now.

Derek spends the afternoon just getting through the day the way he does every day, like it's nothing special because, to him, it isn't. A day that started out lonelier than he's willing to admit and is going to end at some crappy dance where he'll be surrounded by the creepers who post in that secret forum someone keeps forwarding to the Specials every week.

He's quiet at work, but as pleasant as he can force himself to be, as per usual, and when he finishes his shift, he heads to the Commissary for dinner before retiring to his room to read until Buffy forcibly drags him out of there for the event. ...translation: gives him the puppy eyes again. Yes, he's bought the stupid ticket. Yes, he's gotten himself some Reckoning clothes, and yes, he expects it but some little part of him is hoping that maybe she'll forget. Or take Alcide and leave him out of it. No such luck.

He likes to think he looks better when he puts a little effort in and if Buffy's going looking the way she does, the least he can do is not look like a freaking slob when she's on his arm. Once he gets there, though, the buffet of real food is enough to get Derek pumped about being there. He's not all that interested in the festivity itself, but alcohol that can actually have some effect on him and real food that he can look at and identify on sight rather than that nasty goddamn soylent? Yes please.

At some point, he'll have to spend some time with an Alpha who, for whatever reason, paid to be in his presence instead of just coming to his service firm like a normal person, but he's willing to do it because he's being given an offer he kind of can't refuse. So it is what it is.

He'll be in high spirits between the alcohol and the food, so for the most part, Derek's pretty approachable throughout the night and will be happy to indulge anyone who asks, so long as they're not a dick about it, with a dance. He'll be a lot less discriminate as the night wears on and he gets a little more alcohol in his system, because Derek is a lightweight. Usually, he could drink a bar out of business and never feel a thing, so this is kind of new and different for him. It's worth enjoying himself if he's got to be here, isn't it?