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[theshabbiestofmen]

[The camera clicks on to a low-lit room. It's difficult to see anything, but there's something moving in the darkness--

--a face. A wolf's face turned to the side, its jaws bloody and eye narrowed, teeth stretched into sharp, curved fangs. It stares at the camera for a few seconds, sizing it up, before turning. But the other half of the face isn't a wolf; rather, it's a mangled, gory mess. A young face appears on the screen, meshed horribly with the wolf on the other side-- and it's Remus' face, but one could only tell that if one knew him well, as his face is horribly torn up. Torn skin and exposed muscles make up the majority of his face, while blood pours from scratches on his forehead. His teeth are exposed through a hole in his cheek, but that's barely visible, as dripping yellow fat mixing with crimson blood are constantly slipping down his cheek. It's a horrible sight, made all the worse by Remus' sudden low laugh.

--because it's the mask, of course, and he proves that by removing it after a few seconds.]

Enjoy the show?

[There's a noticeable edge in his voice and smile, something colder and crueler than before.]

I think I quite like this new development. It's certainly far more interesting than simply another Jump, don't you agree? And far less deadly-- which reminds me, there's new people here, aren't there? I do hope that's not your first inkling that things on here aren't quite so lovely as they seem; that would be a rather poor welcome.

[He glances down, considering the mask for a few more seconds, before glancing at the camera again.]

You know, I'm always surprised at how kind everyone is here. Aren't you? How welcoming they are to the supernatural creatures. The vampires and the werewolves, the poor castaway souls that have found sanctuary here-- but you know, I don't know if that's so wise. It works out for me, of course, but don't you ever wonder what might happen if one of us snapped?

[He grins fiercely.]

Think about it. Once a month, all that separates me from a potential meal-- that is to say, you (and please don't say that you could defend yourself from me, because I can promise you, you couldn't, not from me when I'm on the hunt)-- is a simple door and a dog. Just a few inches of steel, and I'm sure soon enough the werewolf will figure out how to get out of that.

As for the vampires-- well. I don't think it would be very hard for a vampire to snap, would it? At least with me, you only have to worry once a month. A terrifying once a month, to be certain, and I could most definitely hurt you if I was so inclined now-- but in the end, I have control over myself twenty-eight days of the month. A vampire, now-- well. He could snap at any moment. His cravings are a constant hunger. Imagine, if you would, starving. Having hunger claw at your stomach, making you dizzy, making you delirious-- and then being presented a delicious meal and being told you weren't allowed to have any. Imagine having to deal with that at every hour, every minute, every second of every day--

Really, it's a wonder the poor things haven't snapped by now, isn't it?

[He slips his hand up, his finger playing carelessly at his dogtooth.]

Of course, being a creature of darkness also has its benefits. Strength, hearing, sight, smell-- they all get better. You become something better than a human, something bigger and cleverer and far more interesting. I have to say, I'm a bit surprised no one has asked for the bite yet.

But then perhaps you're all frightened.

[He shrugs and glances down at the mask again. After a moment he slips it back on and turns so the wolf side is facing the Network.]

I suppose you should be.

Comments

voice » private

[theshabbiestofmen]

Why not? I'm sick of hiding it. I'm sick of pretending there's no tension, that we aren't superior to them.

[unparental]

Listen to yourself, would you? I'm not going to get into the superiority debate because it doesn't matter. There are a lot more of 'them' if you make this an us v them, and that means we lose.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[His pleasant smile suddenly changes, growing darker and colder. His mouth twists into a snarl, and he spits:]

You can't expect me to simply forget a superiority debate, not when they rub it in our faces every minute of every day!

[unparental]

I didn't say forget it. If you want to think about how much better you are all the time, go for it-- I'm not stopping you.

But it's stuff like this that takes it from 'I know vampires and werewolves are kind of scary but look at Jenna and Remus, they seem like good people-- maybe I shouldn't kill them while they sleep' to killing us while we sleep.

There's a difference between honest and a really bad PR move, and this is the second one.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[His lip curls up into a sneer, but there's still enough of Remus that he stops and listens to what she says. After a long pause, he sighs.]

Fine. I'm . . . sorry, I suppose. I'm simply sick of . . . of being the outsider.

[unparental]

[ and that, jenna understand. she sighs, mouth twitching into a smile. ]

I adopted a vampire yoda-- or he adopted me, I'm not clear on the rules. And I started drinking human, not synthetic.

So I get it, I promise. But making people afraid of you? That's not the way to go. What you want to make them do, Remus, is let you in knowing what you are.

[ so that's... a slightly more terrifying version of jenna's usual speech about acceptance. ]

[theshabbiestofmen]

And what if I don't want to let them in? I'm tired of . . . of all of them, Jenna, of humans, of them not understanding a damn thing, of their idiocy and their inability to understand how we work.

[He glances at her, his face suddenly caught between agony and fury.]

I don't want them to understand us. I just want them gone.

[unparental]

So we make them understand.

If they're gone, what do I eat? How do we fly the ship-- how do we keep the ship running?

I know you're angry. I understand. But no one ever, ever won much of anything by lashing out in anger instead of thinking things through.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[He exhales hard, ducking his head down. Finally:]

Can I speak to you in person? I hate talking over these things.

[unparental]

You know I'm always here for you, Remus. Your floor or mine?

[theshabbiestofmen]

I'll come to you. Ten minutes?

[unparental]

I'll be waiting.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[It's more like five minutes when he arrives at her door, his mask clenched tightly in his hand. He looks pale and sick, glancing around nervously as he waits for her.]

[unparental]

[ jenna keeps her smile easy and her body language relaxed, opening the door for remus and giving him her back as she turns inside-- i trust you, remus lupin has always been true-- but she keeps half her attention on that mask, thoughtful. ]

Come on in, hon.

[theshabbiestofmen]

How have you been?

[It's said more out of habit than anything else, as Remus glances around listlessly. His fingers mindlessly stroke along the edge of the edge of the mask, very nearly caressing it.]

[unparental]

Getting by. Hey, Remus, can you do me a favor?

[ she pitches her voice low, comforting. ]

Honey, can you set that down for me? Just on the dresser-- I won't touch it, I promise, but let's just talk you and me.

[ because the way he's touching that mask is worrying her, given his behavior. ]

[theshabbiestofmen]

[He glances over at her for a few long seconds-- and if he were Moony, he'd be whining; he wants to make Jenna happy but he doesn't want to set it down-- and he shifts, uncomfortable, his fingers tightening no the mask--

--and then, abruptly, he sets it down. Swallowing hard, he turns decisively away and sits down on the bed.]

Better?

[unparental]

Much. And you can take it with you-- I just want to talk with us, not us and a third party.

[ she tilts her chin at the space next to remus, an unspoken 'can i sit?'. ]

Me giving you space or physical contact, which one would feel safer to you?

[theshabbiestofmen]

[He shrugs and scoots over, giving her room to sit.]

It doesn't matter. Whichever you'd like best.

[unparental]

[ she sits close enough their knees will touch, if remus leans in a bit; watching derek and his pack has given her an idea of how they would deal with this-- laying on top of each other seems a favorite-- but remus is his own person, and his own wolf. ]

Right now, we're all about you. You're calling the shots, okay? I'm here for helping you out, but this is your time, not mine.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[He smiles tiredly.]

Do I pay for the session, doctor, or is this on the house?

[unparental]

I can't officially counsel friends and family-- it's against the rules.

[ she chances a hand on his knee, light and easy to shake off. ]

This is just Helpful Aunt Jenna stuff.

[theshabbiestofmen]

[He gives a low chuckle and glances over at her.]

Then, as one friend to another-- how do you stand it? I'm fi-- sixteen and I've had ten years of this and I'm tired of them all.

[unparental]

You educate. You smile even when everyone is stupid and mean.

[ bolder now, she squeezes his knee and laughs quietly. ] And then you vent in private, to people who already get it and sooner or later a lot of people will get less stupid and mean.