video; un: mr. chandler

[lupusintus]

[ Not long after getting to the Welcome Diner and gathering his thoughts, he flips on the device to begin what will surely be one of the hardest things he's ever had to do. He hasn't bothered to clean himself up much but, with Daniel's help, he probably doesn't look like a serial killer anymore. Still, it's obvious the man has been through hell. ]

My name is Ethan Chandler. I-- [ He swallows, then begins again. ]

Last night, something wicked prowled through the streets and attacked several residents. It was me. I don't look as I did last evening and, despite what I said, I can't recall who I encountered or what events took place. I change, you see, when the moon is full. I can't control myself; God knows I've tried.

[ He lets out a sharp exhale, grimacing when it aggravates some of his injuries, but powers through. ]

Ever since my arrival, I've done what I could to make sure I couldn't hurt anyone, taken precautionary measures to restrain myself so this wouldn't happen. But it did. Something happened last night, and I made a mistake that put people here in harm's way. The blame rests entirely upon my shoulders and mine alone.

I'm not deserving of your forgiveness, but I'll ask for it. If you encountered the wolf last evening, please, reach out to me here. The phones are impersonal and I would prefer to extend my apology in person, to look you in the eye when I give it.

[ Now, to another pressing matter: ]

Mr. Gray and Miss Ives were present before and after what happened. I can't contact either one of them. I've tried.

Comments

Text | Un: Ouroborosed

[inlovewithmycar]

Werewolf, eh?

Well, if I ever need to go out on a full moon, I'll remember to keep a box of milk bones on me.

Vanessa hasn't popped by. If she hasn't been sent home, then she might be having some alone time to herself.

video; un: mr. chandler

[lupusintus]

Is now the best time for jokes? I just said that I attacked people.

[ Crowley, he is utterly unimpressed. ]

She didn't know what I was before then, she wouldn't have left before we discussed what happened. I know that I wouldn't hurt her in my right mind, she's the clearest memory I have of the night, but I was influenced once before on Halloween.

I need to find her.

[inlovewithmycar]

In my experience, humans do much worse to each other all the time for far worse reasons than turning into a big hungry dog. At least you have an excuse.

I'll keep my eyes peeled. She may just not want to be bothered.

[He's doing a very good job keeping the worry out of his voice as he surreptitiously texts a wellness check to Vanessa.]






....How d'you mean "influenced"?

[abit_ofboth]

[When the video message suddenly shows up on his device, Loki tenses, a familiar feeling of rage rolling through him as the video begins to play. Since Hob explained to him what happened, Loki has very much been pacing his apartment alone trying to keep himself under control. He has promised not to do anything rash, but seeing Ethan’s face on screen is testing his control.

It’s a rather new experience for Loki, having people he cares about this much, but Johanna and especially Hob have come to mean a lot to him (please, no one tell Jo, he does not want to scare her off). So to hear someone he actually likes, someone he thought might be another friend attacked them has been torturing him since he heard.]

Oh so you want to do this in person, do you Mr. Chandler?

[He speaks out into the empty room as he loses the ability to continue to sit there and do nothing, or even something civil like saying something on the device first. No, Loki has always been more a creature of instinct and right now his instinct is to tear the man apart. Truly, the only thing stopping him is his promise to Hob that he wouldn’t do anything to hurt Ethan.

That, of course, does not mean he’s not about to go down to the diner and confront Ethan in person. Dressed rather casually as if he thinks that will help calm him, he grabs a fitted black jacket and makes his way to the diner with the collar flipped up to draw less attention to the anger plain on his face.

As he enters, he glances around the room, spotting Ethan and quickly making his way over to the table before slipping into the seat across from him.]

I think we need to talk.

[lupusintus]

Loki.

[ It's all Ethan manages to get out at first as he shifts in his chair to face him, looking about ready to drop. But he left the message on the network with a purpose, and he intends to see it through to its conclusion, no matter what may become of him. Physical or emotional retribution are the very least he can accept for what he has done, he is prepared for either in this case.

When he finally glances over at him, he takes a moment to look him over for any semblance of injury, but he finds nothing. Not one iota of evidence. Which means that he didn't attack him but he did do something, he can see it in his face. Did he attack someone he cares about? He's instantly taken back to their conversation at the Halloween festivities and feels his stomach lurch when he recalls Loki talking about a man who was important to him.

He places his phone back into his pocket and presses his lips into a thin line before speaking up again, meeting his stare. Quietly: ]

Who was it that I hurt?

[abit_ofboth]

[As he sits, Loki gives Ethan a rather serious look, as if he was mentally trying to pull him apart, wanting to see inside and figure out why he’s done what he’s done. Or maybe he’s just trying to intimidate him. Even Loki isn’t sure right now as he tries to remain calm despite the anger raging in his chest.

Ethan looks rough and all Loki can think is good, though part of him almost wishes he being cocky about what he did just so Loki could punch him in the face without feeling bad about it. Thing is, Loki knows all too well what guilt looks like and that’s exactly how Ethan looks. He supposes Ethan could be faking it. Could have faked everything that had led Loki to believe they might be friends. But somehow the shame radiating off the other man feels real. It is honestly the only thing keeping his anger in check. Well, that and his promise to Hob.

Loki doesn’t let any of this show though. He remains calm and cool, a dark smile on his face and, if Ethan is paying attention, he might notice a green tint to his usually blue eyes. When he speaks, his tone is too calm with a hint of sarcasm.]

Unfortunately, it was someone I am quite close with. And as I understand it, someone else I think quite highly of. It seems at least one of them is quite forgiving. [Loki leans in again and gives him a rather sweet looking smile, though his eyes show his true feelings on the matter.] Alas, I am not such a forgiving person.

(1/2) video | un: P.Graham

[possessum]

[ It's an alarming sight, and the words to come only add to that impression. Peter's already tried to reach Vanessa today — a common thing for him, one lost dark thing calling out for another. She's never not responded to him. She's always been there on the other end of a tether, waiting.

Something's wrong.

Now he's listening to Ethan's message, heart beating quicker and quicker at the words. (It's too familiar, to the boy who recently learned from a friend that he attacked her in the night, and has no memory of it. He was growling and hissing, she said. On all fours—)

.......the wolf. Peter's so recently learned about some of those things that go bump in the night. The bite on his neck from a vampire is still healing. But this.... Ethan becomes a wolf? (A werewolf, he realises, with a soft hitch of breath. 'I change, you see, when the moon is full.')

The thought surprises him, terrifies — overwhelms. His heart's pounding and pounding and then suddenly Ethan says Miss Ives and the frantic organ in his chest freezes, instead. Everything does. ]

(2/2)

[possessum]

[ He's already started turning on his own device, and he begins losing himself before he can start to think that he shouldn't.

It's still Peter — mostly. But it's something else too, the warm browns of his eyes altered by the blacks of swelling pupils, making his gaze too big, too weird, too dark. His voice comes out hoarse, abrasive. Something deep within him shudders and croaks.

Still, for the moment at least, he sounds like a boy in what he says. Angry and rasping, but still a boy. ]

What'd you do to her?

video; un: mr. chandler

[lupusintus]

Peter?

[ Jesus Christ. Those eyes.

Someone neglected to mention that Peter has a dark passenger within him, no wonder the kid had been so confused when Ethan mentioned seeing him trail after Vanessa at night. If his head wasn't already pounding, it certainly would be right now. He meets the stare head on. ]

I wouldn't hurt her. [ But is he trying to convince himself or Peter? It remains to be seen. ] Peter, can you hear me? I wouldn't hurt Miss Ives.

audio; un: loveless

[limbical]

Oh, good. Another gentleman with something possessing him.

So tell me, how do you plan on avoiding this in the future? And just how many patients am I expected to see?

video; un: mr. chandler

[lupusintus]

It isn't something I take pride in.

However I'm able and by any means necessary but I'm open to suggestions. I was able to take control again in the presence of Miss Ives but, should something prevent her from being there, I have a month to find a more permanent solution. This place was able to influence me on Halloween, I can't put anyone through this again. If deadly force is called for, then so be it.

[ At the mention of patients, he grimaces again. ] I can't answer that until I'm able to figure out who I attacked.

[limbical]

No, I assume you don't. Apologies for my terse tone, I'm just trying to prepare for the inevitable possibilities here.

Unfortunately, your answer leaves much to be desired. [Daan does find the man's situation unenviable, and he can imagine how difficult it must be, but it is frustrating as well.] I have a liquid sedative I have arranged for another patient with a similar problem. Is this something you have tried, or would be willing to try?

...I see. So the memory is hazy for you, it sounds like.

video; un: Hob

[100more]

[ So, that's who it was. Something about the wolf did feel familiar, but Hob couldn't quite put his finger on it. Damn. If only he was gifted with a healing ability along with his immortality, maybe no one would have even found out he had been attacked.

Hob looks at Ethan with concern, both for him and the others that were mentioned. ]

Hello, Ethan. I think we had a run-in last night. Are you alright? You don't know anything about the others you mentioned?

[ If Vanessa is missing, that is going to go very badly for Ethan, once Dream becomes aware of it. ]

video; un: mr. chandler

[lupusintus]

[ That's a face he remembers, belonging to a man he spoke with at great length during the Halloween fiasco. Ethan closes his eyes for a moment, as if that alone might erase the wounds he gave him.

He opens his mouth to say something, then closes it again. ]

How bad did I hurt you, Mr. Gadling? [ He doesn't answer the first question, Hob shouldn't be concerned about his well-being when he's the one who attacked him. But he's sick with relief that he didn't kill him. ] No, nothing.

[100more]

[ Hob remembers enjoying Ethan's company at the bar. It's still a shock to know that he was the creature that attacked him.

When he's asked how badly he was hurt, Hob cracks a smile, and sees no reason for Ethan to torture himself for it. Obviously, he feels bad enough already. Compiling guilt on top of guilt doesn't actually amount to anything. ]

I'll have you know I spent a lot of years as a soldier. I've had worse.

[ But Hob is still more concerned with the missing persons. One in particular. ]

Do you think you.. harmed them?

audio; un: loveless

[limbical]

Hob Gadling, is it? Ethan mentioned that you encountered him during his transformed state.

Are you in need of medical attention?

[100more]

[ He's surprised by the new voice. ]

Hello. You're a doctor?

voice | lsk

[condorone]

( Big secrets that cause a lot of damage. This guy knows what he's done, and if the situation were different, if he wasn't infected himself with Las Plagas, he can imagine himself coming down on Ethan for putting others in danger. But he doesn't know if he'll become something like that too.

But he doesn't. There's just a sigh, followed by: )

Don't be too hard on yourself. We can make sure this doesn't happen again.

video; un: mr. chandler

[lupusintus]

[ Telling him not to be hard on himself is like telling him not to breathe right now. ]

This was preventable, how can I not be? [ He leans back in the chair he's seated in, looking away for a moment. ]

I've spent the past three months looking for better places to contain the wolf, this worked until last night.

text; @onni

[scowlish]

Miss Ives. You mean Vanessa?

[A pause, and then in a second message.]

Do you have someplace to be locked up, when a full moon happens?

text; un: mr. chandler

[lupusintus]

Yes. She found me after I changed and isn't answering her phone, she doesn't stay in one place long enough for me to be able to track her that way. When I woke up this morning, she was gone.

[ It's easier to text, he doesn't have to look her friends in the eye when he isn't absolutely sure he didn't hurt her. ]

The parking garage was the most remote spot I could find but if I can slip through the restraints once, I can do it again.

text; un: thevampirelestat

[perfectdevil]

[ He's been staring at the input for a while, face twisted in deliberation, unsure of how to feel.

Finally, he sends a very simple: ]

I wish you a quick recovery.

text; un: mr. chandler

[lupusintus]

I'm more concerned about the people who were hurt.

But thank you. [ The bubble for his text appears and disappears several times before: ]

Lestat. Did I attack you?

text; un: louis

[deathoftheauthor]

You took quite a beating.

text; un: mr. chandler

[lupusintus]

I've had worse before.

[ He lied lyingly. No, this is absolutely the worst beating he's taken. ]

You weren't out last night, were you?