driftfleet | Dandies across time

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Dandies across time

Who: Biffy and Lance
Broadcast: No
Action: Biffy's Shop
When: Very start of September

[It's been a few days since the end of Biffy's glitch and he's been needing to get all of his things in order. Make sure matters are attended to at his shop, see to it that his Communications duties are settled. However, when all of it is done, he sends a message to Lance to invite him to come to his shop.

Because he feels that he should share his story with him. Lance has shared his heart and it just seems right to share his own. Lance has been a more dear friend to him in ways no one else has been able to for many years now. He wants to make sure that they're able to continue that relationship. Keep it going strong honestly.

So the tea is ready and when Lance arrives he smiles at him before waving for him to come sit. He's even brought a couple chairs and a table in here this time. To give them a comfortable space while they talk.]

Come in. I'll just make sure it's clear I'm closed so we can just spend some time together. Please help yourself to the tea. There are biscuits in the tin there.

[He's British, Lance. Biscuits will mean cookies.]

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Man, I can only imagine.

[He puts the teacup down after another sip, trying to figure out how to word an answer to Biffy's question.]

I'm...dealing, I guess. I still haven't told anyone other than you and Jim about the extent of, you know, what happened. And I don't know if I'm ever gonna. But I'm hoping that this is just one of those things that I'll get over eventually. Sorry about unloading like crazy to you back when I first got back.

Please, you don't ever have to apologize for needing to talk. Least of all to me.

[Reaching across the little table, he rests a hand on Lance's.]

You are a dear, dear friend to me, Lance. [Evidenced by how he doesn't use any sort of title with his name now.] You can tell me anything whenever you need to and I swear that I will never tell a soul.

[He gives his hand a squeeze.]

In fact, I...actually called you here because I wished to share my story with you. You were able to share something deeply personal with me so I wanted to do the same in return. If that is alright.

[Lance gives Biffy a little smile before putting his other hand over the older man's, giving it a comforting squeeze as well. His next words surprise him somewhat, but he nods.]

Of course it's alright. I'm glad to listen.

[Biffy is quiet for a moment. He's only told Ulaz any of this before. It's not difficult to talk about really but he sometimes wonders where to begin.]

It's probably best to start with this. I was never meant to become a werewolf.

It's not exactly something you're born with, yeah? I mean, I only really know about what fantasy books in my world say, so I don't know if they match up... Anyway, sorry, continue.

[He nods.]

You don't have to apologize. But no, no one can be born a werewolf where I come from. You have to be changed into one. The same goes for becoming a vampire. In truth, a vampire is what I'd wanted to become and I was actually in service to a vampire. His drone.

[He smiles a little now.]

I was his favorite and he and I shared many...treasured times together.

[Translation: They were lovers.]

[Well, that much he can tell. No other real way to take a statement like that. The term "drone" sounds strange, almost demeaning in a way, but apparently it was nothing to be ashamed about. Not to Biffy, at the least.]

So...how did things end up going the other way?

Vampires by nature cannot leave whatever place they make their territory. A Queen specifically cannot leave the home. Males can but only within a certain radius. It takes a great emergency to force a hive to leave its territory because then they are at risk and in grave danger until they can be established again.

[He sighs a little.]

The emergency that caused this to happen for my former master was that I was kidnapped and hidden away. It got him out of the picture for other plots that were taking place at that time. As a result, I spent many days in a glass bubble under the river. Lyall and his Alpha at the time finally found me and broke me out. Of course, a fight broke out and during the chaos I was shot in the heart. My last memories of that time are the shock and how cold I was as I bled out.

[Biffy pauses here, like he's trying to figure out what to say. How to say it.]

I awoke later in Lyall's office. To save my life they'd made me a werewolf. It was a calculated risk since letting me die would have meant war but making me a wolf also could have meant war. In the end, Queen Victoria stepped in and no fighting took place but I was officially stolen from my master without a choice in the matter.

[Lance does his best to understand the basics of what Biffy is telling him about supernatural culture. Thankfully, they're just that--basics--and it's not difficult to follow along.

His eyes widen, though, when he gets to the part about being shot in the heart. Oh, Biffy... And being forced into a life different from that which he wanted? That was something Lance could definitely connect with.

He reaches out, resting his hand on Biffy's knee.]

I'm so sorry that you had to go through that all. Nearly dying then ripped away from someone you cared for, and the life you knew and wanted... I'm so sorry.

It was a difficult time after, I will not lie about that. I had difficulties controlling my abilities. More than once I would transform against my will and would run to my former master's home on pure instinct. It was an altogether embarrassing time if I am to be honest.

[He sighs softly.]

I've come along way since that time over twenty years ago but I can say my story was not a happy one. After you opened up so much to me, I felt I should share my own story with you. You are a dear friend to me and I wish us to be on equal ground.

You're a dear friend to me too, Biffy. It means a lot that you trust me to be able to tell me all of this.

[Lance shifts his hand to take Biffy's in his own, giving it a squeeze.]

I'm glad at least you adjusted on some level by now. And I'm sure Lyall probably had a part in that, hm? [A little smile.]

[Looking to the hand, he's quiet for a time. To accept the comfort and also to listen to what Lance has to say. In the end, he smiles gently and turns his hand to hold Lance's in return.]

Lyall was a fair portion in the beginning. He was there when I unfortunately discovered I have the Anubis form which means I'm rather destined to be an Alpha. But he could not be there for long and had to depart for twenty years. During that time I was Beta in his stead. In truth, it is only very recently that he and I truly became mates.

Anubis form? Well, whatever that is... I think you make a really good leader. You definitely look out for people, and I think that's important in one. What's a Beta, exactly, though?

[He's trying to learn these werewolf things!]

It's something only an Alpha is capable of. I can turn only my head into that of a wolf. When I am in that form, I am able to attempt to change others into werewolves. As for a Beta, you can think of it as something like a second in command in a pack. Someone second only to the Alpha which would be me. A Gamma would be third in command.

[He's actually glad to be explaining this. It helps to have people know about his kind.]

The Alpha's role is to be the leader of the pack. What they say is law to the pack and the pack is tethered to them. The stronger the tether, the stronger the pack. The Beta helps to solidify this tether and keep the pack balanced. They are there to see to it that everything runs smoothly with the pack. As for the Gamma, you could say they are there to offer resistance to the Alpha. In doing so the Alpha is better able to keep track of whether what he is doing is correct for the pack or not.

[Lance looks Biffy over, trying to imagine him as he is, but with a wolf head instead of a human one. It's everything he can do to not burst out laughing, because the visual is kind of ridiculous to him. He won't laugh out loud, though, not wanting to offend, nor intending to.

He nods as he listens to the mini-lesson. Unfamiliar with it all as he is, he can still make sense.]

I see. I guess in a way, my team's like a pack of our own. If we were werewolves, Shiro definitely would have been the Alpha...though I guess that'd be Keith now. Dunno what I'd be, though. Beta kind of sounds like me and what I try to do for the team.

After all that you've told me, I think that you are somehow filling both Beta and Gamma for your team. Which makes you quite the strong person since that is never an easy task.

[He gives Lance's hand a squeeze.]

You are an amazing person. Whatever you truly are for your team, they have no idea how lucky they are to have you.

That kinda makes sense, from your description.

[Nodnod. Honestly, it makes him feel kind of proud, just like he takes pride in being Keith's right hand man.

He squeezes Biffy's hand back.]

You're going to make my head swell to ginormous sizes one of these days, Biffy.

Should that not be my intended role? Swell you up so no matter what the world throws at you you'll be filled with too much good?

Biffyyyyyy!

[His voice comes out in a whine, and he ducks his head, laughing.]

[He gets a grin on his face that shows just how much he's enjoying this now.]

Yes? Am I wrong?

I guess not, but still!

[What did he do to deserve such another amazing friend?]

But still nothing. You are much like a little brother to me. It is clearly my duty to see to it that you have every tool you need to face the world.

Thank you, Biffy. I mean it.

[He really does like being the little brother again sometimes.]

You can thank me by just being happy. I can't possibly ask for more than that.

[He laughs softly and then offers him more tea.]

Also, for your friends, I know that what you went through was difficult but things will get better. Just remember that I believe in you no matter what. Even when things may seem hard.

Edited 2018-10-27 08:54 (UTC)

I'll remember that. It...really does mean a lot, to have someone who's not obligated to try to like me at all actually care for me like this.

[He happily takes the tea, sipping at it.]

You know, if you think about it, no one is actually obligated to try to like anyone. The fact that people do like us shows us that no matter what there are people out there to love us for exactly who we are.

I mean, I get that, but with Team Voltron... It's like, we can only form Voltron when we're connected. And if one of us hates the other, it's not gonna work. So the others sort of have to like me in order for us to be able to actually fight this war.

[He drums his fingertips against the cup.]

I don't distrust them or anything, but when I really get in a mood, sometimes I wonder if they're making themselves like me because of Voltron, and only just tolerating me. I know it's ridiculously silly to think that, I mean, heck, Keith and I are dating and I don't doubt him, but it still pops into my mind sometimes.

[There's a small sigh and a smile.]

I may not fully understand everything you are talking about but I can say this. I understand what it is like to suddenly have to find a way to get close to a group of people. To have to because there's no other choice in the matter.

[It's what happened when he became a werewolf.]

And even then I can still say that no one is obligated to try to like anyone. It's good that all of you have managed it but none of you had to do that.

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Dandies across time

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