the one with werewolves

[theshabbiestofmen]

Who: Remus & James; Remus & the crew of the Paisley
Broadcast:
Action: on the Paisley
When: Last week of November!

closed to James;

[They've done this . . . god, he's lost count how many times. Since around fifth year, once a month every month, no matter how many protests Remus has voiced. The routine is always the same-- Remus on his own at first, stripping off his clothes and hanging around awkwardly with his boxers on, waiting for the others. The actual transformation has around a half-hour's time frame, always starting with an ache, always ending with screams.

Even after they graduated, they did it-- not in the Shrieking Shack, and not every month, not with everyone scattered to the wind on Order missions-- but often enough.

So now Remus waits in his room, clad only in shorts, fingers twisted in the blankets nervously. It won't be long now.]

on the Paisley; open to all crew

[The poor crew; what must they have heard? Well, all of it, frankly, which means: at 2300 and 0500 hours, there are screams coming from Remus' room. The door is locked, sealed physically and magically both, no matter what anyone tries to do. They're most definitely painful screams, and if you listen closely you can hear awful sounds-- bones snapping, sobs, Remus whimpering in pain. Fortunately, it only lasts five minutes each time-- and between, there's only silence. Perhaps an occasional whine or the click of dog nails on a hard floor-- but  beyond that, nothing.

After all is said and done, Remus seeks out each of the crew the next day. This is a conversation he'd prefer not to have with any of them-- but there's no way everyone on their ship hadn't heard him screaming. Might as well get this over with. He approaches them all one by one, his expression determined, his body held so tensely he's nearly shaking.]

I'd like to talk to you about last night. The noises you must have heard, the-- the screams and the like. This is a conversation I suppose I ought to have brought up before, but-- regardless. 

closed to Mal;

[The morning after, and Remus is still reeling over the revelations of the night before. The ability to be able to exert control over Moony-- even if it isn't absolute, even if it's only a fraction of a fraction of what James and the others can do-- is astonishing. The ability not to tear his friends to shreds once a month, to not put everyone's lives at risk, to say no and have it actually stick-- he still can't quite believe it. It seems a dream; it's only because James has assured him that he knows it wasn't.

An unconventional transformation. It makes sense, then, that the next day would be unconventional as well. Remus hesitates for quite a while before heading over to Mal's ship. He brings some coffee  as well, more to have an excuse than because he thinks Mal won't accept his company. James is splendid, of course, he couldn't ask for a better friend-- but it would be nice, for once, to be around someone who understands.] 

Comments

[theshabbiestofmen]

This is more than enough, believe me. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions? What is it like for you-- do you still have cravings, or have you found a way to divert that? What are werewolves like in your world? I'm no danger to vampires-- at least, not at home, but I presume it's different in your world.

[He looks so excited, fascinated and delighted in turns.]

[stefanged]

Go for it. [If anything, Stefan's blinking back surprise - no one's ever been fascinated by this. Distrustful, hurt, maybe even furious, but never excited.

As he answers each question, he lists them off with his fingers, moving onto another one sentence by sentence:] Yes to the cravings, but Atroma makes us blood pills. You'll see them in the med bay. When my cravings get unbearable, I'll drink animal blood. Werewolves are... well, the one guy I know is a total dick, but he was a dick before he started turning.

As for the danger, uh. [He pauses] I'm not sure how, but werewolf saliva is toxic to most vampires. I wanted to help last night, but... I couldn't afford that risk.

[For what it's worth, he's genuinely apologetic as he picks up his mug again.] Sorry.

[theshabbiestofmen]

There's nothing to apologize for. There's nothing to do, really, I-- get rather mindless when I transform. This month was a bit different, more controlled, but-- it's best to just wait it out.

In any case: what about your strength? Sunlight, silver, things like that, are they dangers to you?

[stefanged]

[He shakes his head, holding his mug different - so Remus can better see the ornate lapis lazuli ring around his finger.] I've had my share of beach vacations, I love garlic bread, and holy crosses and water don't do much for me.

Only three things can really pose a threat: you, a stake to the heart, and fire.

[He pauses, amending,] That's just my world. You'll learn pretty quick, but not every vampire plays by the same rule book.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[Fascinating. Remus sips at his tea as Stefan talks, absorbing the information like a sponge.]

Mm, no. Ours can't stand sunlight-- they won't die, but I think it's very unpleasant. And there's no damage from salvia-- our salvia carries the disease, but I'd have to get a good amount of it into your bloodstream for it to do any real damage.

[stefanged]

Better than spontaneous combustion. [He's seen it happen, or at least the burn marks left on their skin before they burst into flames. Stef's just... gonna save the bit about his ring for next time.]

So it's not genetic? That must be a relief. You can't really turn anyone back home with a bite. Either it's in your DNA or it isn't.

[theshabbiestofmen]

No, it is. It just doesn't have to be. My parents are entirely human, but I was bitten when I was a child. If I do have a child . . . it's not a guarantee, but . . .

[He shrugs. But the possibility is too great, but he can't possibly doom a child to this awful fate.]

So-- your parents are vampires, then? What's that like?

[stefanged]

[Stefan winces in sympathy - but he knows lingering on that subject will take too much, so he reaches for his mug again.]

Ah, no. My parents are completely and totally human. [For now. He hasn't thought about them for a while, and it shows as he stares down at his tea.] I meant, werewolves are all genetic back home.

Vampires are trickier. You need to have a vampire's blood in your system when you die, so it's less a vampire biting you and more a vampire feeding you before... you know.

[theshabbiestofmen]

And-- and please don't answer if this is too personal, we can most certainly talk about something else-- was it, ah, voluntary?

[His cheeks color. He doesn't mind the question in reverse, but he doesn't know the etiquette here, doesn't know if this is inappropriate.]

[stefanged]

The dying part usually isn't. [He laughs a bit at the mental image, taking another sip of his tea.]

It's okay, I don't mind. I didn't plan on becoming a vampire, but I had my friend's blood in my system when I uh.... I got hit by a car.

[Doe Remus know what a car is? James seemed to have no idea, so when Stefan looks over at Remus, it's less out of concern and more out of curiosity.]

[theshabbiestofmen]

I-- oh. I'm sorry.

[He ought to say that, right? Except Stefan doesn't seem that upset. Remus tips his head, regarding him with just as much curiosity.]

Are you all right?

[stefanged]

Huh? I'm fine.

[As fine as a guy can be while remembering two sets of memories, anyhow. One Stefan got turned after a hit-and-run; the other got turned after he was shot. The first (in his opinion) is a lot less gruesome to think about.]

I was just--- James said that he didn't know about a lot of Muggle stuff. So I was wondering if that was the same for you.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Oh. Ah, no, I'm half and half-- my mother's entirely nonmagic, so I've grown up with a foot in both words. Made passing Muggle Studies a breeze, I don't mind telling you.

[stefanged]

[A sigh of relief,] Thank God.

So they do teach people about us Muggles. I knew a witch back home, but uh - I guess the community's more scattered, because she still went to school with us.

[theshabbiestofmen]

We're a bit more secluded, yes. Honestly, I think the wizarding world would benefit from having Muggle Studies be a required class, not an elective, but so many think muggles simply don't matter.

[stefanged]

They aren't the only ones. I knew plenty of vampires that thought lesser of humans, like they were something you snatched, fed, and compelled.

[Stefan scrunches up his face just thinking about it. He might need some more tea, considering how fast he's drinking this cup.]

Sorry you had to deal with that, by the way. It didn't sound particularly easy.

[theshabbiestofmen]

Oh, it's . . .

[Awful. Awkward. Humiliating. Ostracizing, forcing him into poverty, into lying to everyone he knows just so he can survive.]

. . . well. I've found far more support here than I ever thought I would. And I have some good friends at home. I mean-- [And he laughs, softly and wryly] I honestly thought James would punch out a girl in third year when she suggested werewolves ought to be euthanized.

[stefanged]

[Now that's a funny mental image - and one Stefan would've paid some good money to see in person.]

That's our James. [Our. Weird, because technically he doesn't have any right over this kid, and yet-- Stefan shakes his head.] I'm glad, though. You shouldn't have to be alone for this.

I know I'm no werewolf expert, or like, even a hybrid expert - but if you want to keep comparing notes, I'll always be around.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[Our James, and Remus is a little taken aback by that-- but he smiles, pleased by it.]

Thank you. It's-- honestly, I've never gotten to do this before. It's fantastic.

[stefanged]

[James might have sorta-kinda earned a place in Stefan's mind (and/or heart) as a pseudo-son. Not that Stefan consciously thinks about it, until he goes and says things like "our James."]

Well, I hope you get to keep doing it. If there's one thing I've found here time and time again, it's acceptance. [Which, he'll add as he takes another sip of his tea,] Not sure why, but I'll take it.