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Post by beastly on Mar 4, 2022 6:23:36 GMT -6
Simon blinked at the bottles in his hand, then nodded. That made more sense.
"Oh- sorry, head ain't on right tonight. Moon brain 'n all... That's smart."
Simon had thought, maybe, that Cassius had only had little bottles. Which was also a bit stupid. He decided not to explain his thought process.
"It- I might if I wake up, honestly. Wolf eats just about anything."
Simon set his bag down in a spot out of the way. He hadn't brought the muzzle- he hadn't been sure if he'd be able to drink with it on, but not having it felt odd.
Simon stepped into the cage and set about preparing, crouching and stuffing the chew toy with beef. It smelled really good, and he licked his lips. He could always tell when he was getting close to shifting. His sense of smell and hearing didn't enhance any more than they already were, but his reactions and inhibitions changed. He held off on giving into the temptation to try the beef, though.
He went about changing out of his clothes, feeling slightly awkward but pushing along. This would end with him naked and dazed in the morning, nudity was part of the whole werewolf thing anyway you sliced it. Agent Lucidus was probably not someone who would judge him for a few nasty scars. Clothes folded neatly, he set them out of the way.
He looked over the cage from the inside one final time to assure himself it was safe, then sat, taking one of the bottles. He gingerly took the lid off of the potion, giving it a sniff.
"Alright then. See you on the other side of this," Simon half muttered. He really wanted this to work.
He downed the potion swiftly, making sure he got all of it. Very quickly, he was unconscious.
Twenty or so minutes later, Simon's unconscious body would begin to change, growing increasingly more hairy first. Then there would be the audible sound of bone creaking and muscle shifting and rearranging itself, Simon's sleeping body jerking with the process. He didn't stir through out the change, only making soft canine whines in his sleep. It would continue for a few minutes before leaving a large black wolf where Simon once was. The only hint that Simon was not a regular wolf were his strange paw-hands.
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Post by jarahamee on Mar 4, 2022 18:29:32 GMT -6
Cassius seemed unperturbed by Simon’s ritual. The consideration amused him and he reflected on how strange the circumstances that connected them were. He himself took off his clothing before becoming Beast to preserve them. His transformations were violent and often resulted in the removal of his clothing in a way that did not allow them to be put back on him. Best not to share that little detail; as much as it was common knowledge at the department that he spent far too much time nude, it was relatively unknown outside of their floor. While it had never bothered him, it had been enough of a concern that Rhys had ordered him to purchase warded clothing.
It would have been a more useful ward if it protected me from bullets instead. Or puncture wounds.
The transformation was graphic, but standard fair werewolf stuff. Simon didn’t transform as impressively as Agent Asher did, but that was likely a good thing both for Simon’s containment and for Simon himself. He considered vaguely, pulling up a chair to watch the proceedings. He drew “A Knight to Remember” from his satchel and began to read the tome idly as he waited.
So far, Simon slept, and that was good. Now it was time to get back to the plot; the knight-princess’ gender had just been revealed to her commanding officer. Now they were meeting in private to discuss what they were going to do next. A part of Cassius was fairly sure that what happened next was probably going to be some kind of romantic confession, but that was half the fun.
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Post by beastly on Mar 5, 2022 19:50:00 GMT -6
Simon slept for about three and a half hours before he started to wake up, the sleep mostly peaceful. It was probably one of the better rests Simon'd had all month. He occasionally made a noise, a grunt or a huff, but otherwise he was still. After those three and a half hours, though, Simon started to stir. He made a louder groan, rolling onto his side. The wolf's eyes opened briefly, closed, then opened again. The werewolf got to his feet quickly but not gracefully, knocking into the side of the cage in the process. He seemed discombobulated, not steady on his feet. Simon took a few wobblily steps along the side of the cage, shaking his head as if to clear it. Foggy. He didn't appear to notice Cassius immediately, head full of fluff.
He was not home, and waking up in a strange place was unsettling for man or beast. Was he in danger? The werewolf hazily looked around the room, and his eyes picked up Cassius. Oh!
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Post by jarahamee on Mar 5, 2022 20:44:07 GMT -6
Cassius saw the inert body of the werewolf begin to stir, and put down “Knight to Remember.” A shame, he had been hoping that this was going to be a success, but alas, the werewolf’s metabolism worked different than a human’s. Something he would have to remember himself for his next attempt. Unpredictable results. Unpredictable length. Would it make a difference if he doubled it, and made it so it would have to be reversed? If he gave twice as much, it might last eight hours instead, and that was likely the entire length of Simon’s transformation.
And if that didn’t work, then they could try clarity instead. He sighed and moved a little. It was a good thing that he had left the dog toy in the cage for the werewolf to enjoy. Maybe if he didn’t move, the werewolf wouldn’t notice him. He decided not to address it. Animals found it least stressful when he was both not too close, and not trying to engage them too closely. He glanced up to see it staring at him, and looked back down at his closed book.
Come to think of it, he could go back to reading if he wanted. No other way to skip time. Besides, the princess-knight had just had her first kiss, and now was wondering what she’d do with her illustrious warrior career. This was a kind of plot he could get behind. He licked his finger and changed the page.
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Post by beastly on Mar 6, 2022 17:45:31 GMT -6
Simon recognized Cassius, even in his groggy wolf form. He liked Cassius, Cassius was smart and strong and helped him. A little intimidating, but good. The werewolf was puzzled as to why Cassius was sitting there when he was clearly trapped. Maybe, did the man not see him imprisoned here? Cassius had looked up from what he was doing, but hadn't made a move to set him free, had just gone back to his reading. He should let him know he was here.
Still a bit out of it, Simon sat by the cage bars and gripped them with his strange hand-paws. He made a noise at Cassius in an attempt to get his attention, investigating the structure as he did so. He was slowly waking up, becoming more aware of his surroundings. The room smelled... It smelled clean. Not home. Not outside. Kind of like work? But not like work. This cage seemed very sturdy, and the wolf had yet to locate any weak points he could push at to try and get out. There was food somewhere close too, which he was also interested in, but investigation and potential escape took priority.
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Post by jarahamee on Mar 7, 2022 0:51:35 GMT -6
Cassius looked up over his book, and noticed the wolf was now fully awake, and had put its paws up on the bars. He cocked his head, reading its behavior. Each werewolf was different. It didn’t seem aggressive, it seemed more like…it was trying to get his attention. How aware and intelligent was Simon while transformed? He closed his book and placed it on his lap, deciding the leave exploits of the Princess-knight behind, putting on the ground.
The larger werewolf studied Simon’s face, and then turned on the television, changing the screen to a nature channel’s late night venue. Perhaps he’d appreciate that more than just being trapped in his cage. He then got up off his chair and walked over towards the cage, squatting to study Simon. The werewolf had brought a pencil and paper. He was going to test some things if he was going to spend time with Agent Groves in his other form.
“Can you understand me?”
He asked, speaking slowly and clearly, waving with his right arm. Cassius watched Agent Groves’ face for any signs of understanding, or response. That might tell him more about the nature of the curse, and if he might be able to trust him with more than just a cage. After all, this place was secure. Maybe he could trust him.
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Post by beastly on Mar 8, 2022 13:47:49 GMT -6
Simon's tail wagged as Cassius approached, sniffing at the other werewolf through the bars of the cage. The man had heard him! He shifted in excitement, paw-hands scrabbling for a moment as he adjusted himself. Fully awake, he had plenty of energy now. He briefly turned his head at the sound of the nature program Cassius had turned on, but returned his attention to him after identifying it.
Simon heard Cassius speak, and replied by wagging his tail with a little more intensity and trying to get closer to greet him through the bars. He didn't entirely grasp what Cassius wanted, watching him wave his arm. He looked like he expected a response? Simon gave a friendly whine.
The werewolf identified the things Cassius was holding as 'work stuff'. Maybe they were at work. Cassius was a work person, after all. Simon liked work, and it really was a shame that he was stuck in this cage. He was hopeful Cassius would let him out though, pulling slightly at the bars.
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Post by jarahamee on Mar 9, 2022 22:24:41 GMT -6
“Shake your head if no, and nod if yes.”
The old soldier’s dark eyes watched Simon intently, noticing that his behavior was much more like an excited dog than like a human being. How interesting. The scarred man stood up, shifting out of his squat as he folded the book again, waiting for a response. Then he definitely was not aware in his current state. He could likely remember things, if he remembered that Cassius was a friend, but he did not remember enough to speak, or to act with sentience. He didn’t expect anything, but it was worth trying.
In a moment, he’d try something very different.
He picked up his half of a roast-beef sandwich out of the paper bag, rotating it slowly in front of Simon’s face. It was fresh, and a little bit bloody on the inside, just like he liked it, and he was sure that the werewolf would like it too. He then drew it upwards, as if to invoke a dog’s “sit” command.
“Do you know what this means?”
He asked, watching his expression thoughtfully.
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Post by beastly on Mar 10, 2022 11:44:20 GMT -6
No? Yes? Simon understood those words, tilting his head, but not what Cassius wanted. He dropped down from the cage bars onto all fours again, looking at Cassius thoughtfully. Clearly the man wanted him to do something. He just wasn't sure what. He grunted at Cassius, taking a few steps back before coming back over, still puzzled.
Then, Cassius brought out a delicious smelling sandwich. Oh. Oh, he wanted that. Cassius let him get a look at it, and look Simon did, as well as sniff- but then took it away, lifting it up. He was speaking to him, asking him a question. Simon looked up at the sandwich, sitting to follow it as it was moved. He tore his eyes away from the food to shoot Cassius a questioning glance. He hadn't understood what the man was saying, just his tone and the implication that if Simon wanted the sandwich, he needed to do something.
The sandwich under his nose had erased the werewolf's escape plans for the time being. Now he just wanted that tasty treat.
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Post by jarahamee on Mar 12, 2022 15:46:13 GMT -6
Cassius watched the werewolf’s face, tilting his own head. No response. This being probably had dog-like intelligence in this form, maybe a little more if he was lucky. Perhaps that was the problem. Maybe they could try something that increased intelligence as opposed to keeping his control. Another useful option perhaps.
He tore off a piece of sandwich and placed it close to the edge of the steel bars, within reach of a tongue or paw, before taking a second bite of the remaining sandwich. The cooked blood had a good flavor to it. He was reminded that he should put more meat in it next time. Perhaps less cheese. As he considered this, he put the sandwich back in the bag, relocating that to his chair. The scarred man then reached into his suitcase and pulled out the Beast skin.
The creature’s hide reflected the dim light, black, shaggy hair rippling in the air conditioning. The taxidermized, formed head set its jaws in a permanent grimace. The good news was, he no longer had to take his clothes off for transformation. He could simply dawn the hide and transform using magic. How useful technology was. Admittedly, the benefit was more the matter of saving time than it was the matter of saving anything like dignity.
The old soldier huffed, and placed the skin over his own head, the flesh melting and crawling over his body as he sunk down on all fours, appearing to grow in size, accompanied by terrible crunching and groaning of flesh as his body twisted unnaturally. When all was said and done, a large wolf-like creature stood on all fours on the other side of the room, yellow eyes shining out from a black void of ragged fur. The long limbs had an unnatural look to them as it moved closer.
The wolf-like creature approached slowly, head up and tail up, confident. If no hostility was detected, he would reach out his nose so the two might sniff, raising his head high to denote his status… If all went well, he would sink into a play bow.
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Post by beastly on Mar 22, 2022 17:43:02 GMT -6
The sandwich chunk was eagerly snatched up through the bars by the werewolf. Simon definitely enjoyed the meat and cheese, eating the treat rather quickly. Apparently, he had done whatever the man had wanted? Good! Simon liked him, and he wanted him to like him too. Respect and admiration for Cassius was still felt, even when Simon was much hairier than normal.
Licking a strand of cheese from his muzzle, Simon looked over to see what Cassius was fiddling with next. The werewolf was hoping for more tasty snacks, but instead saw the man pull out a hide. Simon sniffed curiously, sitting up and stabilizing himself on the bars to watch. What happened next startled him- Cassius put on the fur, and then changed?
The werewolf dropped down from the bars when the-thing-that-had-been-Cassius got closer, backing away slightly with an uncertain noise. He was wary- what had happened? What was this? Was it Cassius still? Had he been eaten? He smelled no blood. No, it smelled strongly of Cassius. It smelled more Cassius than Cassius had smelled before. The wolf-like-thing-that-had-been-Cassius didn't appear to mean harm, though. It approached confidently, and Simon crept closer, hesitant at first, but wanting to investigate and greet the larger wolf-Cassius. He sniffed at the wolf thing, and confirmed that it was indeed still Cassius. How, he didn't know, but he wasn't terribly bothered by the how. It was Cassius wolf thing, and Cassius wolf thing was friendly and wanted to play! His tail wagged at a respectfully low level, and he began to get excited and antsy. It was a bit frustrating having the bars there.
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Post by jarahamee on Mar 25, 2022 1:46:17 GMT -6
The massive wolf-like creature sunk down deep in his bow, before rolling onto his side, as if he was dead, then rolling over completely, putting all four wrong-looking legs in the air. The creature was easily three and a half feet tall at the shoulder, much larger than any natural wolf that had ever lived, though lankier and leaner than a bear. His thick, ragged fur went every-which way with the movement, exposing scarred flesh beneath. His red tongue and bone-white teeth flashed as he wolf-smiled, exhibiting all of his good intentions. This stranger monster then rolled to his feet, and dashed across the room to the other side of the cage, waiting to see if Simon followed him.
When the other wolf did precisely that, Cassius made a decision.
He padded over to the main door of the containment chamber, before padlocking and double bolting it, then returned to Simon’s cage, studying the locking mechanism he had placed upon it previously, cocking his massive head as he considered. After a few moments of thought, the giant wolf-like creature reached out with mangled long-fingered claws, and opened the door between them.
If the other werewolf bit him, he had his ways, and this was another level to the test. Besides, Simon seemed friendly enough, at least for now. He huffed softly and raised his head, waiting for Simon to come join him, tail raised and wagging.
(The door to the rest of the WDSA is still closed and locked. Only someone with a key can open it)
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Post by beastly on Sept 21, 2022 9:32:36 GMT -6
Simon sat, watching the Cassius wolf check a door, and a part of him understood 'locking'. He tilted his head in time with the greater beast, and once he realized the door was going to be opened, his tail started to wag faster, and he rose onto his hind legs by the lock, as if trying to help indicate where the problem was. Yes! That was a way out! He was letting him out! He could get out!
The moment the door was opened, Simon launched himself out. In a burst of athletic energy that would seem uncharacteristic of his human self, he ran a joyful lap on all fours around the room, giving a quick look around. He wasn't the most graceful, but he was reasonably fast, his paws skidded on the floor as he tried to stop by Cassius. He nearly tumbled into the much larger wolf but stopped himself from crashing into him, sliding past and fumbling into the side of the enclosure.
Simon very quickly recovered, shaking off the disorientation and looking to take cues from Cassius wolf, tail low but still wagging. He let him out, did he want to play still?
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Post by jarahamee on Sept 21, 2022 15:18:50 GMT -6
The big wolf-like monster dashed towards Simon, stopping abruptly right before they made actual contact, and avoiding colliding with the wall while he did so. His body moved both like a singular and swift entity, and like a nightmare beast made of disjointed limbs and horrible jaws. The creature scrambled a little before turning around and dashing the other direction, whipping around, then awkwardly half-rolling with its long limbs that ended in human hands.
His tongue lolled out, mouth full of oversized fangs slavering as he panted, before dashing past Simon in an effort to invite him to run. When he reached the other side of the building, he used his disconcertingly human-like arm to pull out a large rubber ball, rather like a dodgeball, and grasped it delicately in his powerful jaws.
The werewolf then tossed it high into the air, bouncing it across the room and to the other side. He then waited for a reaction before dashing right back, as if to chase it. And so the night passed. Cassius performed test after test on Simon’s mental aptitude, his problemsolving ability, his energy, and his appetite, bringing in different tools he had smuggled in the lockers and within his backpack.
He had so many questions now that he knew what he was dealing with.
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Post by beastly on Sept 21, 2022 17:40:11 GMT -6
Simon eagerly tried to keep up with Cassius, enjoying their games much more than his typical full moons. The smaller wolf was smart, able to pick up fairly quickly what Cassius was wanting to do when he ushered him to a new task. New things were met with excitement and curiosity, a mixing of canine and human craftiness as Simon went about Cassius's secret tests.
He was not as smart as a human, but more intelligent than a wolf, recognizing some words and phrases and doing his best to puzzle together what they meant. He had good use of his paw-hands, grabbing the ball at one point with them to hold it still, and at least once tried to fiddle with the lock on the big door, although he couldn't figure out how it worked.
He was entirely a glutton where food was involved, having a voracious hunger and not necessarily caring about the quality of food he was given, or if what he was eating was strictly 'food'. If Cassius didn't pay attention to his backpack, Simon's nose would lead him there, snuffling around for treats- or treat adjacent things. Or things that had been next to a treat and gotten a little sauce on them.
He slowed down towards the end of the night, still seemingly wanting to engage with the other wolf, but ultimately he slunk down on the floor and made tired grunting sounds when Cassius attempted to rouse him.
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