driftfleet | 'cause it's better than nothing

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'cause it's better than nothing

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ROOMS BY CHARACTER

N - P

Otono-Tachibana Makie

Q - S

Sandalio "Biffy" de Rabiffano

T - V

W - Z

(last updated: 1/25/19)

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[He follows where the finger is pointing and gives a nod.]

A rather nostalgic pick I would wager. Let us see if it suits what you are looking for here.

[Unlocking the case, he brings out the little pillow with the bullet on it then turns to present it to Lyall with a little smile on his lips.]

Let me know what you think.

[Lyall hesitates before he picks up the bullet.

It's silver, so by all rights it should be burning him. In fact, it kind of is, metaphorically. he can still remember what it felt like to go and fish the bullet out of Biffy's gut, to have his hand in the young man's stomach and grab this little slug of metal that changed his entire destiny.

It was such a small thing, that had gone on to create such big things in its wake.]

[The scene starts off in a familiar way only from a new point of view. This is Biffy's point of view inside his under water prison as water floods in. You feel panicked as you try to keep your head above the water, looking out at a naked Conall and Lyall in the water working to free you. Then the glass explodes and there's nothing but water. You attempt to get one last gulp of air and only breathe water. Your chest burns and you try to cough and breathe more water in the process...

The image goes blurry as it seems to distort. Voices not clear. Water rushing around. Images of bodies you can't process. You can't move. What is going on? The world is spinning and you can't tell what that means.

Then warmth fills you and in a sudden crash of senses you cough and terrible tasting water expels from your lungs. More coughing and your brain tries to process what is happening. You're being held? You're wet? Vision blurry, unable to understand what is happening you say one thing:]

Do I know you?

[More is happening around you. But the man holding you answers.]

I’m Professor Lyall. We have met before. Remember the aethographor and the tea? How do you do?

Where's-?

[You don't finish your sentence. You look down to see blood on your stomach, where the pain is. Is that...your blood? Were you...shot? No. That can't be real. You cry out and you writhe in agony, tears on your face as you hear more gunfire around you and a man with the head of a wolf near you. And just like that the man holding you reaches down into your gut for the bullet and that's all you can handle.

Everything goes dark.

And then everything lights up again. Everything is agony. It's like your entire body is breaking and destroying itself even as you see the world clearer than you ever have, smell it better than you ever have. Then your cry turns into a howl that sounds like a wolf until you're collapsed, panting from it all......

The scene fades and Lyall is back in the shop with Biffy tilting his head a bit.]

No. I have a feeling that wasn't the right choice after all...

.... Wasn't it?

[He knows that this is not what Biffy is talking about, but truth be told, he's been plagued by the consequences of his choice back then, good or bad, for such a long time. A snap decision that he had to make.]

I have often wondered if I did make the right choice back then. I still do not know if I did. I can't regret being with you, but I cannot help but wonder about how much I sole from you sometimes.

[He puts the bullet back down. And points at the fur then.]

This one, maybe?

That one? Hmmmm...

[He ponders even as he puts the bullet away and locks it back up. Unlocking the case with the fur, he presents the pillow to him.]

I'm not so certain this will suit you but would you care to see for yourself?

[Lyall stops for a second there. Is this something Biffy might not want him to see?

But then, he'd probably have been more insistant about it if it really was. And it's not like they hide things from each other. Not anymore.

So after that first hesitation, Lyall goes and touches the tuft of fur, stroking it with his fingers.]

[The scene shifts and there is a ragged looking American before you. You feel decidedly irritated after everything you have had to deal with recently. Babies at your doorstep, a cult, a bloody American werewolf causing all this mischief. And for what? Honestly, having a loner on your territory is bad enough but now he's offending your sensibilities with how he's dressed and having humans leaving their children as sacrifices. It's time to end this. So, you interrupts the harsh laughter of the werewolf across from you who has utterly baffled you pack, all itching to get their teeth into him. Something you can feel pulling at your senses and you want none of them hurt so...]

Shall we try this again, Mr. Monday? I am Lord Falmouth, Alpha of the London Pack. Do you wish to challenge my leadership, as you are a loner in my territory?

[The man stops laughing.]

What is this cussed foolishness? I don't want to have to kill you, boy. You need only bow before me. Challenge has already been issued. What'd you think the children were, offerings? Come at me.

[What? You can feel the confusion of your whole pack and you are very baffled yourself. Children as a challenge? That's not what you were taught when you became an Alpha. That's not how things are done, especially in so modern an age. It's barbaric!]

Wait. You sent infants as a preemptive weregild in lieu of challenge blood?

In this day and age, Mr. Monday, we do not even require a dead rabbit. A simple inscription in blood on the back of a calling card would suffice.

[Ulric and Lyall respectively. And you agree with what they both are saying. Still you wait for the answer to come from the man. This horrid man with his terrible fashion sense. Tattered and filthy and ugh...]

Cultural differences. So, you accept my challenge then, boy?

I accept.

[You hate to fight. Hate it with every fiber of your being. Even when you were a fencer as a human it had always been more dance to you than a battle. Your heart is simply not one of a warrior and it never will be. But you must for that is your duty as Alpha.

So you change. It hurts because it always hurts. Yet, you embrace that pain as your change into a wolf is swift and smooth and easy. Twenty years and you've mastered this and you can feel Lyall's pride coming through your tether. It warms you but you push it aside as you shake off your torn shirt. Across from you the other wolf is still changing and caught up in his coat and trousers. He's struggling to free himself and in the end only that horrifyingly ugly waistcoat is left. But you remain calm as you stare down the other wolf.

Obey me. Stand down. I will end you if I must. These are what you let off as you wait, watching the horrifying shifting of someone in pain and more monster than man. It's terrible and he looks like he belongs to an ancient time than this one. And just like that...he attacks. The fight begins.

You fight smart. Your pack watches and you feel that Rafe has changed at Lyall's beckoning. Good. He'll maintain the circle so this stays contained. It allows you to continue to fight as you draw first blood from the other wolf with a sweep of your paw. The American should roll over now and yet he doesn't. He's too maddened and continues to fight. You keep dodging and swiping but the black blood doesn't slow him down. This has to end. And you can feel Lyall wanting this to end too. You're of one mind in this.

In a rush, you twist and catch the larger wolf's neck in your mouth. You easily throw the wolf down onto his side and avoid his attempts to claw you. Shifting your grip you clamp down onto his throat. You slowly bite down harder and harder and harder. Blood is all in your mouth. Old. Foul. Immortal blood is disgusting. But you don't stop and you feel your heart break as the wolf you are pinning refuses to submit, refuses to stop fighting.

You have no other choice.

You lift your head high and clamp as hard as you can. The neck snaps in your mouth and you know in that moment that you've killed him. Releasing him you're left with the foul taste of that blood in your mouth and the weight of knowing you have killed your first man.

And the scene blurs and Lyall is in the hat shop before Biffy who is frowning a little. Like he knows that fur has been the wrong choice.]

No. That definitely wasn't suited to you. But I know what will be.

[This is another familiar one. And while seeing it from Biffy's perspective is interesting, it is indeed, not very new and surprising given the tether that was linking them again at the time. he had seen and felt a lot of that. And it was just after that... Lyall smiles and shakes his head.]

I did not mind trying any of these, but I will follow your recommendation, my Lord.

[Putting the last item away, he fetches not the hat but instead goes behind the counter for a special box. Sliding it open he reveals a quilted velvet dressing gown in a rich blue lined with satin. Lyall will recognize it quickly. It's Biffy's favorite dressing gown to wear at home in their world.]

Try this.

[Oh yes, he does recognize this. He has seen Biffy wear it many times, and he likes it when Biffy wears it. The color is flattering for his skintone, his hair and his eyes and it makes him look relaxed and yet so enticing.

Although there's just one thing...]

Should I put it on?

[He's never done so before, because, well, it's Biffy's.]

Please. I will assist you.

[Pulling it from the box, he holds it open so that way Lyall can more easily step into it.]

[It's a bit weird to put the robe on on top of his suit, but he'll step into it and try to pretend it doesn't look as bizarre as it does.

This should not be a bad memory, since Biffy insisted he look at it.]

[The robe is warm as if Biffy has just worn it. Warm and smelling just like him. And when the scene shifts Lyall will get to see that it's something very personal to them. A stolen moment in time where they are curled up in bed together. It's quiet in the night and it's clear they're going to bed now. Biffy has allowed himself to manage to stay awake longer than Lyall.

And he's just holding him close and smiling as he strokes his hair and admires his features. One can feel the love in the room. But Lyall will notice something else about this moment.

Biffy thinks of this as one of his most precious and treasured memories. Just this little stolen moment in time where he could be here quietly just loving Lyall as he is. It's not as involved as the other scenes have been but it's his to share with Lyall now.

The scene goes on a little longer until Biffy finally goes to sleep himself, wrapping himself around Lyall protectively. Only then does it fade and Lyall will find himself back in the shop. This time not wearing the robe and this time all the strange figures are gone. It's just him and Biffy.

And he's smiling at him, his eyes so full of recognition. This isn't the shop owner. This is his Biffy.]

[It looks like so little, but it is so much.

Lyall has had many lovers in his lifetime. His last one before Biffy was not the quiet kind either, but fiery and passionate. Dangerous.

Biffy's love doesn't feel dangerous. With Biffy, he feels warm and safe. There is a place just for him at Biffy's side that is always there.

Lyall walks towards Biffy to grab his hand.]

You really are a hopeless romantic.

[He brings that hand up to his lips to press a kiss to his knuckles.]

And I always will be.

I like that about you. I am glad that metamorphosis has not taken that from you.

[With this, their pack is in for a profound change.]

Is there anything else you wanted to show me?

No. I think this moment is just for you to be able to ask any remaining questions you might have.

[Those blue eyes of his are so warm as they look at Lyall.]

I will say that last memory was for your eyes alone.

I think any questions can wait until after we are back where we are supposed to be, Biffy.

[Honestly, none of what he has seen is anything he has many questions about, and the last thing is... it's probably the most adorable thing he has seen and it's making him tingle all over, but he has never questioned Biffy's love for him. Maybe at the very begining when they were both a little unsure, but certainly not anymore.]

I'm not quite sure of how to get out, though.

You need only walk back out the door again, Lyall. I will see you when I wake up.

Then... until then, Biffy.

[He does linger a few seconds before he lets go to exit, though he knows there's no use in staying further. He has seen everything there is to see.]

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'cause it's better than nothing

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cw: violence, gun wounds, mild gore

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cw: violence, death, mild gore, werewolf transformation

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