ataraxion | (no subject)

[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.

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[He stumbles back, more because of Raven's yanking force than because he hears her (or, frankly, is aware that she wants him away). Gasping, her blood dripping down his mask, he stares at her.]

What-- what's wrong?

[His eyes dart from her face to her bloody wrist, eager for it-- eager for her, his blood is singing for her--]

[ it takes her a second to slip away from the wall, but eventually she does, just to put some space between them. she takes one look at her forearm then hides it behind her back, squeezes her eyes shut. she's not crying, but it feels like she should be. maybe she's too freaked out to focus enough on her fear just yet. ]

This isn't what I wanted. [ it has to be her fault somehow, she's caught wondering where she got lost in translation, where bite me held more meaning than just teeth scraping skin in a pleasurable way. he must have said it, there must have been some sign. she just can't remember. she's still too scattered, she can still feel his mouth on hers. but now when she looks up at him, all she can focus on is his teeth covered in her blood. ] Remus. [ waaah panic. she's not running for the door, she's just standing there, trying to make sense of this. ] What did you just do? Why- Why did you need your mask? What did you do? [ she can feel her blood slipping down her hand and she's forced to lift it towards her shoulder, so she turns her body, tries to keep it out of sight ]

[His expression turns fearful, though not as fearful as it ought to be. He didn't want to hurt her, never hurt her-- change her, yes, taste her, but never ever hurt her.]

You-- you said to bite you-- and I did, you said you wanted the bite-- and I could turn you, we could be werewolves together--

[ the bite. oh, god. ]

Is that what this is? That's what- [ okay now she's really panicking. gasping for breath, again, like she should be crying but it's just not happening yet. ] I never meant that you could turn me, I said I would try, try and shift to- This isn't what I meant! [ she can already feel her body starting to react. it's like.. when she drank alcohol for the fist time, her body tried to right itself, tried to purge whatever foreign substance was being put into her body. ] What's going to happen? How does it work? Is that- [ her foot steps out when she feels her body start to rock, shuts her eyes again ] I think I need to sit down.

[He doesn't come near her, though he wants to help her sit-- instead he stays back, his mutilated mask twisted into an expression of regret.]

I-- I bite someone and they turn. I don't know how it works if I'm human-- I've never turned anyone before. Raven, I thought you wanted it, I'm-- god, I'm sorry-- but I can find you some bandages, I can get you something for the wound--

It'll heal. [ she can feel it already starting to, at least. kind of. the bleeding will stop on its own faster than a normal human's might, but the bite itself will probably be there for a while. still, the idea of going to medical and trying to explain- no. no. ] It's- It's okay, it's fine. [ probably. maybe. she has no idea how her mutation will react to that sort of thing. she has no idea. her heel slips when she steps back onto the blood that's dripped on the floor, but she manages to catch herself. ] I'm gonna go. I should go. [ she's looking at him again, trying to just focus on his face, not the mask, not what just bit her. ] We- I shouldn't have asked you to bite me, I dunno what I was thinking. I just got kinda caught up in the- [ handwavewavewave let's maybe not say it out loud just yet ] Don't worry, okay? Just don't tell anyone about this, not until we know for sure. [ what? if she's a werewolf now? a mutant, shapeshifting werewolf? jesus. her hand moves to try and find the panel to open the door, but she can't seem to look away from him now even just long enough to make sure she's hitting the right part of the wall. she's scared. ]

[He nods numbly, uncertain how to react or what to say-- and he feels a sick sort of emptiness in his stomach as he watches her go, a loneliness that (it seems like) he always feels, something that claws its way up from his stomach to his chest-- and he ducks his head, shuddering, not wanting to watch her go.]

I won't. I promise I won't.

Good. [ weirdly, she feels bad. she's more freaked out than guilty though, and she knows as long as he's wearing that mask, any apology she gives him isn't going to mean anything. he's not himself, he's really not. now she sees it as clear as day and she feels terrible for not doing something about it.

she hears the door slide open behind her, and she steps back into the hallway, finally bringing her wrist back in front of her so she can wrap up one of her sleeves around it. which stings like hell, but she's not walking around the ship with a bite mark on her arm. ] Just- [ and before she goes; ] Take off the mask, Remus. Please. You don't need that thing for people to see who you really are. You don't. [ becAUSE IT MAKES YOU CRAZY ] I'll see you later. [ maybe. depending on how this whole bite thing pans out for her. and with that, she backs out of his room and heads for the lift. ]