It's fine. [It's inconvenient, but it's not like he has anything especially pressing on, and this is important. Jon offers a tenuous smile and awkward pat on the shoulder. He's not nearly as close to Lyall as he is Alessandro, in spite of living with the man for months now. Being able to help the werewolf in any capacity feels good, though. Generally being able to make things better is a rarity for him.] We're here for you tonight, all right? I'm not in a rush.
[That shoulder pat and tentative smile together earn a much surer (and warm besides) smile from Lyall in return. He genuinely appreciates this. Perhaps it was a solution he might have come to eventually himself, but Jon proposing it and wanting to see it through is important.]
Thank you. I appreciate it.
I suppose as long as we're here we might as well explore.
Okay. [A pause.] We'll... stay away from that cannibal restaurant, I think. Ava and I were able to find the source of at least some of their 'responsibly sourced' products, but it was nothing enough to shut them down. Maybe... I did see a university here. Maybe a quick walk around there?
...Yes, I think the university would be preferable.
[Werewolves can and have eaten humans but it isn't something that he'd prefer...or want to be anywhere near in all honesty. He starts walking towards the door of the Repair Shop.]
.....How "responsibly sourced"?
[It isn't any of his concern, really. Except, well. It does sound worrisome.]
[Jon frowns to himself as they head out and he starts directing them toward the university grounds. He keeps a wary eye on the natives they pass as they walk.]
They were taking 'spare' organs from people as payment for debts at one of the hospitals. And the hospital sold that meat on to the restaurant. It's despicable.
[Lyall looks suitably unsettled by the idea of that and voices his agreement about the underhandedness of it all.
Their trip to the University is mildly interesting. Of course, quite a few of the classes offered are entirely appropriate for the society they find themselves in and nothing Lyall would be interesting in attending at all. He is faintly concerned about the course on monster hunting and curious about the one on robotics. But those are both matters for another time and another investigation. The sun has definitely sunk below the horizon by the time they've gone and poked around and Lyall does not want to push their luck too much.
They return to the shop to be met with the owner looking slightly put out. There's still a customer or two about, but it's clear he would like to be closing up soon.]
Ready now? [Lyall nods slightly.] I am. You wouldn't happen to have a private room somewhere, would you? The change is not particularly appropriate for public viewing.
[For one thing, he doesn't want to ruin his clothes, which means he'll need to remove them. For another, it is something that tends to more than slightly upset most daylight folk. Something to do with the horrific sight of a body being completely changed from one form to another.]
[The proprietor sighs heavily and directs Lyall to the same sex-dungeon style room taht Jon was led to with Martin.]
I'd like to watch. [The words are out before Jon can stop them. He has the good grace to look embarrassed.] If you're all right with that, Professor. I can just... wait at the front.
[Lyall looks mildly but not terribly surprised at Jon's request as he pauses in his approach to the indicated room. He turns slightly on his heel, looking at Jon for a moment before he nods. He isn't quite smiling, but neither does he look put off by it.
Honestly, if he takes more than a moment to think about it, it makes sense. And it isn't as if he really minds being observed. It is other sensibilities that he's trying to mind.]
That's fine.
[He finishes his approach to the room and opens the door, stepping through. Once Jon does as well, he'll find Lyall turned away from the entrance, having already removed and folded his coat over...well, the cleanest part of whatever surface or contraption is nearby. He's slipping out of his jacket as Jon enters, and he glances over his shoulder just to make sure that it's just Jon.]
Shut the door, if you would. [His jacket is placed on top of the coat...which reminds him that he should mention his intentions. It isn't that he particularly minds being seen - nudity is an unfortunate but rather necessary facet of the life of a werewolf - but Jon might. He has his fingers on his tie but pauses.] I'm not terribly keen on unnecessarily ruining an outfit...if you would like, I can call you in after I've finished undressing.
[He can cover himself with his overcoat before the change.]
[Jon closes the door immediately behind himself, even without being asked. At the mention of Lyall undressing, he tenses for a moment, considering.]
No, that's- if-if you're all right, I was thinking I could, er... this room was designed for the proprietor to voyeur. I could block the peep holes while you're getting ready?
[Well, that news is unwelcome. Lyall's brows draw together and his expression morphs to one of distaste, very briefly. Then he glances up, lifting his head - searching for scent, subtly - before he focuses on Jon once more.
What an unpleasant man. But Jon's offer is the opposite of unwelcome. His expression evens out again and he nods.]
Yes, thank you.
[Once it's clear that Jon is in place - or has done what he needs to in order to block the peepholes - Lyall continues to disrobe with his back still turned to the other man. Each item of clothing is folded and stacked neatly on top of the others. When he is properly naked, he glances over his shoulder once more.]
[Jon moves quickly around the room, shifting different pieces of equipment just so. He pulls the sleeves of his coat down over his hands so that he doesn't have to touch anything.
Once Lyall finishes undressing, Jon looks at him. His gaze is intense on the werewolf's back, but it's not particularly lecherous. There's a detached air to it, if anything, like a scientist observing a specimen.]
[Lyall nods and takes a singular deeper breath that appears to signal his gathering of strength.
What follows is certainly just enough horror to provide the Eye a little bit of a snack. To be sure, Lyall completes the transformation with elegance or as much elegance as is at all possible. He is quiet and calm in the face of it all.
"It all" is quite a sight. It all encompasses his hair seeming to spread to encompass the rest of his body. The sound of bones breaking and grinding as they shift and lengthen and then cracking back into place. Of flesh seemingly melting and flowing and shrinking to reform into the form of a wolf. At some point mid-change Lyall turns a bit so that the lengthening of his jaw is visible as well, the way his ears shift up and, eventually, sharp teeth grow in.
It has to hurt, but there's absolutely no indication in the minute or so that it takes that Lyall feels even a bit of pain.
And then at the end, there's a small wolf standing in the middle of the room. His - its - face is almost vulpine, honestly, and if one was at a distance Lyall could easily be mistaken for an overlarge fox or simply an average sized dog. Panting lightly, Lyall sits back on his haunches for a moment, regarding Jon with pale yellow eyes.
Then he sniffs and pads forwards, glancing significantly at the door. There's an intelligence in his gaze that suggests that the Professor's human intelligence still holds.]
[It's horrifying, really, and Jon can't help the thought that a werewolf like Lyall could potentially be classed as both a creature of the Hunt and the Flesh. He knows Daisy had transformed, herself, into something monstrous to protect the Institute and Basira. But that was, as far as he's aware, a one-way transformation, finally giving into the Hunt. The malleable nature of Lyall's form lends itself more to powers he would associate with something like the Boneturner.
If he hadn't seen worse, though, his stomach would probably be turning at this. As it is, the Archivist just stares, drinking it in. If Lyall looks toward him when he turns his muzzle, just out of the corner of his eye, he'll see that the thing standing against the wall is made of eyes and every single one of them is watching him intently. It's vaguely shaped like Jon, but beyond that, it's nothing human. A closer look would bring the Archivist into focus, although there's something that's still not right about him. Perhaps the inhuman stillness as he watches.
When it's complete, when Lyall pads forward, Jon finally breaks from his silent vigil, blinking a few times to come back to himself. He heads to the door and opens it.]
[At the very least, the pain is a distraction from the strange vision of the creature that is the Archivist. It is horrifying but then so is Lyall in that moment.
There's an actual nod from the wolf as he slips past Jon on his way back out to the front of the shop.
An hour later, panting a little bit more and just slightly dirtier, Lyall re-enters the back room. He glances back at his fur, which appears to have a bit of jam stuck in it and then looks at Jon with a long-suffering expression. Then he trots back over to where his clothes have been stacked. A short, soft bark is his warning that he's going to change back and after a moment he does just that. The change this time around leaves him on his hands and knees. After a moment of rest, he begins the process of redressing himself.]
[Back out into the main shop they go, and Lyall approaches the proprietor.]
Well then. [He pushes up his sleeve slightly to look at the time they have remaining, and then back at the man.] We should be on our way soon, I think. May I have the fix?
[The man nods and goes over to his machine.]
It'll be a minute.
[Lyall indicates that he understands, and waits, turning to check on Jon for a moment while he does. In short order, though, he's handed a vial of liquid which he takes curiously and cautiously.]
This is it, then? Hm.
[One more glance at Jon, and then he unscrews the top and raises the vial to his lips. One cautious sip to begin with, and then the rest shortly after.]
[Jon gives a small nod when Lyall looks to him before drinking. When it's done, the Archivist looks to the Repairman.]
If it doesn't work as advertised, we'll be back.
[The man gives them a jerky nod and motions them to the door. Closing time.
They step out onto the street and Jon's cool, threatening demeanor collapses into concern.]
Do you feel all right? How do we test it? H-holding hands, or- no, probably- we'll get back to Alessandro. You can test it's, um... it's efficacy with him. Yes.
[Once they're outside, once Jon starts fussing a bit, Lyall smiles at him.]
I think that best, for now. If only because of the ritual he mentioned. Perhaps it's silly but I feel as if performing the ritual as a wolf would be...appropriate.
[The implication being that he doesn't have any intention of shifting now in the street.]
But I do want to form a tether to you, if that's all right.
[They hadn't really talked about it, though it sounds as if Jon would not be opposed.]
[He wonders if he should bring up the possibility that this might do something to tie Lyall to the Beholding. Well... maybe in a little bit. Not just now.]
I think we're about out of time, then. Why don't we head home.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
craftylikea) wrote2019-09-17 10:48 pm
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Do you want to wait in here or walk around a bit?
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Thank you. I appreciate it.
I suppose as long as we're here we might as well explore.
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[Werewolves can and have eaten humans but it isn't something that he'd prefer...or want to be anywhere near in all honesty. He starts walking towards the door of the Repair Shop.]
.....How "responsibly sourced"?
[It isn't any of his concern, really. Except, well. It does sound worrisome.]
no subject
They were taking 'spare' organs from people as payment for debts at one of the hospitals. And the hospital sold that meat on to the restaurant. It's despicable.
i'm gonna...timeskip us some...
Their trip to the University is mildly interesting. Of course, quite a few of the classes offered are entirely appropriate for the society they find themselves in and nothing Lyall would be interesting in attending at all. He is faintly concerned about the course on monster hunting and curious about the one on robotics. But those are both matters for another time and another investigation. The sun has definitely sunk below the horizon by the time they've gone and poked around and Lyall does not want to push their luck too much.
They return to the shop to be met with the owner looking slightly put out. There's still a customer or two about, but it's clear he would like to be closing up soon.]
Ready now? [Lyall nods slightly.] I am. You wouldn't happen to have a private room somewhere, would you? The change is not particularly appropriate for public viewing.
[For one thing, he doesn't want to ruin his clothes, which means he'll need to remove them. For another, it is something that tends to more than slightly upset most daylight folk. Something to do with the horrific sight of a body being completely changed from one form to another.]
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I'd like to watch. [The words are out before Jon can stop them. He has the good grace to look embarrassed.] If you're all right with that, Professor. I can just... wait at the front.
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Honestly, if he takes more than a moment to think about it, it makes sense. And it isn't as if he really minds being observed. It is other sensibilities that he's trying to mind.]
That's fine.
[He finishes his approach to the room and opens the door, stepping through. Once Jon does as well, he'll find Lyall turned away from the entrance, having already removed and folded his coat over...well, the cleanest part of whatever surface or contraption is nearby. He's slipping out of his jacket as Jon enters, and he glances over his shoulder just to make sure that it's just Jon.]
Shut the door, if you would. [His jacket is placed on top of the coat...which reminds him that he should mention his intentions. It isn't that he particularly minds being seen - nudity is an unfortunate but rather necessary facet of the life of a werewolf - but Jon might. He has his fingers on his tie but pauses.] I'm not terribly keen on unnecessarily ruining an outfit...if you would like, I can call you in after I've finished undressing.
[He can cover himself with his overcoat before the change.]
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No, that's- if-if you're all right, I was thinking I could, er... this room was designed for the proprietor to voyeur. I could block the peep holes while you're getting ready?
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What an unpleasant man. But Jon's offer is the opposite of unwelcome. His expression evens out again and he nods.]
Yes, thank you.
[Once it's clear that Jon is in place - or has done what he needs to in order to block the peepholes - Lyall continues to disrobe with his back still turned to the other man. Each item of clothing is folded and stacked neatly on top of the others. When he is properly naked, he glances over his shoulder once more.]
Well. I'll begin then.
no subject
Once Lyall finishes undressing, Jon looks at him. His gaze is intense on the werewolf's back, but it's not particularly lecherous. There's a detached air to it, if anything, like a scientist observing a specimen.]
At your own pace.
cw: light body horror?
What follows is certainly just enough horror to provide the Eye a little bit of a snack. To be sure, Lyall completes the transformation with elegance or as much elegance as is at all possible. He is quiet and calm in the face of it all.
"It all" is quite a sight. It all encompasses his hair seeming to spread to encompass the rest of his body. The sound of bones breaking and grinding as they shift and lengthen and then cracking back into place. Of flesh seemingly melting and flowing and shrinking to reform into the form of a wolf. At some point mid-change Lyall turns a bit so that the lengthening of his jaw is visible as well, the way his ears shift up and, eventually, sharp teeth grow in.
It has to hurt, but there's absolutely no indication in the minute or so that it takes that Lyall feels even a bit of pain.
And then at the end, there's a small wolf standing in the middle of the room. His - its - face is almost vulpine, honestly, and if one was at a distance Lyall could easily be mistaken for an overlarge fox or simply an average sized dog. Panting lightly, Lyall sits back on his haunches for a moment, regarding Jon with pale yellow eyes.
Then he sniffs and pads forwards, glancing significantly at the door. There's an intelligence in his gaze that suggests that the Professor's human intelligence still holds.]
no subject
If he hadn't seen worse, though, his stomach would probably be turning at this. As it is, the Archivist just stares, drinking it in. If Lyall looks toward him when he turns his muzzle, just out of the corner of his eye, he'll see that the thing standing against the wall is made of eyes and every single one of them is watching him intently. It's vaguely shaped like Jon, but beyond that, it's nothing human. A closer look would bring the Archivist into focus, although there's something that's still not right about him. Perhaps the inhuman stillness as he watches.
When it's complete, when Lyall pads forward, Jon finally breaks from his silent vigil, blinking a few times to come back to himself. He heads to the door and opens it.]
I'll keep a watch on your clothes.
no subject
There's an actual nod from the wolf as he slips past Jon on his way back out to the front of the shop.
An hour later, panting a little bit more and just slightly dirtier, Lyall re-enters the back room. He glances back at his fur, which appears to have a bit of jam stuck in it and then looks at Jon with a long-suffering expression. Then he trots back over to where his clothes have been stacked. A short, soft bark is his warning that he's going to change back and after a moment he does just that. The change this time around leaves him on his hands and knees. After a moment of rest, he begins the process of redressing himself.]
Well. I suppose that could have been worse.
[It's a very dry sort of commentary.]
no subject
Hmm. Let's get your prize. Or did he give it to you while you were out there?
no subject
[Back out into the main shop they go, and Lyall approaches the proprietor.]
Well then. [He pushes up his sleeve slightly to look at the time they have remaining, and then back at the man.] We should be on our way soon, I think. May I have the fix?
[The man nods and goes over to his machine.]
It'll be a minute.
[Lyall indicates that he understands, and waits, turning to check on Jon for a moment while he does. In short order, though, he's handed a vial of liquid which he takes curiously and cautiously.]
This is it, then? Hm.
[One more glance at Jon, and then he unscrews the top and raises the vial to his lips. One cautious sip to begin with, and then the rest shortly after.]
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If it doesn't work as advertised, we'll be back.
[The man gives them a jerky nod and motions them to the door. Closing time.
They step out onto the street and Jon's cool, threatening demeanor collapses into concern.]
Do you feel all right? How do we test it? H-holding hands, or- no, probably- we'll get back to Alessandro. You can test it's, um... it's efficacy with him. Yes.
no subject
I think that best, for now. If only because of the ritual he mentioned. Perhaps it's silly but I feel as if performing the ritual as a wolf would be...appropriate.
[The implication being that he doesn't have any intention of shifting now in the street.]
But I do want to form a tether to you, if that's all right.
[They hadn't really talked about it, though it sounds as if Jon would not be opposed.]
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If it's something you want, yes.
[He wonders if he should bring up the possibility that this might do something to tie Lyall to the Beholding. Well... maybe in a little bit. Not just now.]
I think we're about out of time, then. Why don't we head home.