I'd have brought somethin' for you but I literally just thought it of that right now when you opened the door so...sorry 'bout that. [ She rubs the back of her neck awkwardly and steps into the room. ]
Thanks for letting me come over. I figured you might prefer t'have a conversation here where you're in your own surrounds and stuff.
[ Ren stalls. She doesn't really want to have this conversation. But now more than ever, she needs to start working on allies and people who'll trust her. Especially with so many vamps about. ]
So, Devon asked me to talk to you about something I've been keeping secret. 'Cos he didn't like the idea of havin' to lie to you if you asked him directly about it.
But it's kinda sensitive? People aren't supposed to know. Kind of like your name thing?
[ She just waves her hand at Ren's apology - she didn't expect to get anything and definitely isn't holding it against her. Then she gestures at Ren to take a seat if she wants to, while Cellar sits on the edge of the bed. It sounds serious, especially with the way Devon seems to be involved, but she can't even begin to guess what it might be. ]
Yeah, I get it. I know it's hard to share some stuff around here, especially when our secrets end up on the network anyway, but ... you share whatever you're comfortable with, Ren. I won't be the one sharing it if you don't want me to.
Back home, we have this thing called the Veil. It keeps us a secret. I told Devon when we got into a relationship 'cos I felt like if I couldn't be honest with him and trust him, I had no right asking for his confidences.
[ There's a lot they haven't discussed but, this had been too huge a part if her life to hide away from him without having to constantly lie.
Ren paces. It helps to relieve her onset of nerves. ]
It's more sensitive to talk to you 'bout it right now, given everything that's happened recently. But, I trust you. I know you wouldn't...that you'd do the right thing with this information if something happens again.
[ If one day she has to send her to a cell like she did to August. ]
I'm not human. Not in the way you are. My people are called Garou. And, for thousands of years, humans have known us as werewolves.
[ She's thinking of Dom now. He's not someone she's really interacted with, but with them sharing Theo as a partner, some things (a lot of things) have reached Cellar, like the fact that he's also a werewolf. Question is: 1. does Ren know, 2. would Dom want Ren to know. ]
I had no idea you guys had another name. [ Garou. She'll have to remember that. ] I mean — thanks for trusting me. With this.
Is there, like... anything I can do? Other than help you keep it a secret.
Werewolf is a made up name we created to confuse humans and muddy the waters around what we actually are.
[ The Garou have had their claws in the media for about as long as print journalism as existed. And before that, verbal storytelling. ]
It's not a bad thing. I want to make that like super fuckin' clear. I'm lucky. It's a blessin' from Gaia to be Garou and shift. [ To be one of her chosen warriors. Her most beloved. ] Dev didn't want to have to lie to you if somethin' happened. And it didn't sit right with me either.
I'd ask you don't talk to anyone but Devon about it, if you need to. Gale found out. There are others here too but unless they make themselves known to you, I ain't going to tell you who they are.
But, what you do need to know is that I am the pack alpha around here. If something happens, I'm responsible for it. And I take that really seriously.
[ She nods, listening closely. She can't help wondering what the conversation must've gone with Devon. It's kinda sweet(?) that he asked Ren to tell Cellar the truth. ]
Yeah, for sure. I'm not gonna ask who they are either.
[ She picks a strand of hair, pinched between index and thumb sliding it down once and again. ]
[ She smirks at her own bad joke before shaking her head. ] Yeah, no, it's a fair question.
I don't lose control of myself, if that's what you're asking. It's mostly only young ones or feral Garou that shift when the moon is fullest. I'm a little pissier, I'll cop to that. And I have to watch my temper or I might shift against my will.
But it isn't like, bam, automatic time to be a murder monster time now.
I can literally shift right here and now. I have control over my transformation. But I'm also old for our kind and it takes work to get to this stage. I've been doing this since I was sixteen.
[ The idea of another Garou out there they can't control themselves fills her with dread. It doesn't cross her mind for a moment they might be speaking about Domingos. ]
In my family, we're fostered for a year to learn how to control our gifts. Trained intensely. Then we have to pass a test to become a fully fledged adult of the group. It sounds like a cub who doesn't have control over their rage.
You're good. I expected questions. I guess it ranges from four foot to about nineish? I've never really like...got the measuring tape out before.
[ In hindsight, how hasn't she figured that out in all these years? ]
So like this? [ She points at herself. ] We call this this homid form. The next is Glabro - I call it teen wolf, 'cos, well, it looks like every shitty teen wolf movie. I guess I gain about a foot?
The crinos. We call that the war-form. It's pretty much your classic werewolf. Big. Mean. Deadly. Hard as fuck to actually kill. Big bitch.
Then, you start to shift down onto four paws. Hispo. Some people call us Direwolves but we're about five foot on all four paws. Then, total end of the scale, Lupus. Wolf. I'm a big bitch, so, I'd guess at around four feet from ear to paw?
[ She kinda wishes she could write this down, since there's the very real possibility she'll forget about half of what Ren's saying, but then there's the risk of someone running into that. ]
You give me a putcher of water? I can turn that fucker into anything from tequila to champaign.
[ She grins. Proud. ]
Gaia teaches us stuff. She taught me how to make magic booze. It's a Fianna thing. Don't read it to the implications of teaching the Garou with Irish heritage how to make booze too much.
[ Aaand she disappears into the other side of the suite, then there's the sound of her filling two glasses in the bathroom, and then she's joining Ren with said glasses. ]
[ Ren winks before closing her eyes and hovering a hand above each glass. She pulls on her gnosis, taking her time to perform the gift fully, just as she was taught and there is a palpable shift of energy in the air. Something ancient and unknowable shifts to react to her offering of spiritual energy.
Ren opens her eyes again with a grin.
The two glasses of water are now one glass of fine dry champagne, and the other of a dark sweet rioja. Filled to the level that Cellar had filled the water to. ]
[ Lifting the rioja a little higher, biting her lower lip as she grins. She gives Ren the other one, unless the other girl asks for the wine instead. She takes a sip, and … she might not really know what the original is like, but she knows this one's damn good. ]
That's fucking incredible.
[ Magic booze is the best kind of magic, she's decided. ]
Thanks — again. For telling me. [ A little laughter, ] With or without the booze.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
I'd have brought somethin' for you but I literally just thought it of that right now when you opened the door so...sorry 'bout that. [ She rubs the back of her neck awkwardly and steps into the room. ]
Thanks for letting me come over. I figured you might prefer t'have a conversation here where you're in your own surrounds and stuff.
[ Ren stalls. She doesn't really want to have this conversation. But now more than ever, she needs to start working on allies and people who'll trust her. Especially with so many vamps about. ]
So, Devon asked me to talk to you about something I've been keeping secret. 'Cos he didn't like the idea of havin' to lie to you if you asked him directly about it.
But it's kinda sensitive? People aren't supposed to know. Kind of like your name thing?
no subject
Yeah, I get it. I know it's hard to share some stuff around here, especially when our secrets end up on the network anyway, but ... you share whatever you're comfortable with, Ren. I won't be the one sharing it if you don't want me to.
no subject
[ There's a lot they haven't discussed but, this had been too huge a part if her life to hide away from him without having to constantly lie.
Ren paces. It helps to relieve her onset of nerves. ]
It's more sensitive to talk to you 'bout it right now, given everything that's happened recently. But, I trust you. I know you wouldn't...that you'd do the right thing with this information if something happens again.
[ If one day she has to send her to a cell like she did to August. ]
I'm not human. Not in the way you are. My people are called Garou. And, for thousands of years, humans have known us as werewolves.
[ Ren is stony faced and serious. ]
no subject
[ She's thinking of Dom now. He's not someone she's really interacted with, but with them sharing Theo as a partner, some things (a lot of things) have reached Cellar, like the fact that he's also a werewolf. Question is: 1. does Ren know, 2. would Dom want Ren to know. ]
I had no idea you guys had another name. [ Garou. She'll have to remember that. ] I mean — thanks for trusting me. With this.
Is there, like... anything I can do? Other than help you keep it a secret.
no subject
[ The Garou have had their claws in the media for about as long as print journalism as existed. And before that, verbal storytelling. ]
It's not a bad thing. I want to make that like super fuckin' clear. I'm lucky. It's a blessin' from Gaia to be Garou and shift. [ To be one of her chosen warriors. Her most beloved. ] Dev didn't want to have to lie to you if somethin' happened. And it didn't sit right with me either.
I'd ask you don't talk to anyone but Devon about it, if you need to. Gale found out. There are others here too but unless they make themselves known to you, I ain't going to tell you who they are.
But, what you do need to know is that I am the pack alpha around here. If something happens, I'm responsible for it. And I take that really seriously.
no subject
Yeah, for sure. I'm not gonna ask who they are either.
[ She picks a strand of hair, pinched between index and thumb sliding it down once and again. ]
Can I ask what happens when there's a full moon?
Cw: menstruation humour?
[ She smirks at her own bad joke before shaking her head. ] Yeah, no, it's a fair question.
I don't lose control of myself, if that's what you're asking. It's mostly only young ones or feral Garou that shift when the moon is fullest. I'm a little pissier, I'll cop to that. And I have to watch my temper or I might shift against my will.
But it isn't like, bam, automatic time to be a murder monster time now.
no subject
[ :O ]
Okay, I kinda know one — Garou. And as far as I know they can't control it at all. It'd be pretty huge if they could change that.
[ She could talk to the guy about it, but then she'd probably have to bring up Ren. Darn it. ]
no subject
[ The idea of another Garou out there they can't control themselves fills her with dread. It doesn't cross her mind for a moment they might be speaking about Domingos. ]
In my family, we're fostered for a year to learn how to control our gifts. Trained intensely. Then we have to pass a test to become a fully fledged adult of the group. It sounds like a cub who doesn't have control over their rage.
no subject
Wait, how big are you? As a— do you have another term or is it 'wolf'? Garou?
[ ... ]
Feel free to tell me if I'm asking way too many questions.
no subject
[ In hindsight, how hasn't she figured that out in all these years? ]
So like this? [ She points at herself. ] We call this this homid form. The next is Glabro - I call it teen wolf, 'cos, well, it looks like every shitty teen wolf movie. I guess I gain about a foot?
The crinos. We call that the war-form. It's pretty much your classic werewolf. Big. Mean. Deadly. Hard as fuck to actually kill. Big bitch.
Then, you start to shift down onto four paws. Hispo. Some people call us Direwolves but we're about five foot on all four paws. Then, total end of the scale, Lupus. Wolf. I'm a big bitch, so, I'd guess at around four feet from ear to paw?
no subject
Wow. That's... kinda amazing.
[ Big Big Wolf. ]
no subject
[ This is her favourite Gaia given gift. ]
no subject
Still a pause.
And another pause. ]
Say what.
no subject
You give me a putcher of water? I can turn that fucker into anything from tequila to champaign.
[ She grins. Proud. ]
Gaia teaches us stuff. She taught me how to make magic booze. It's a Fianna thing. Don't read it to the implications of teaching the Garou with Irish heritage how to make booze too much.
no subject
You know I'm gonna ask you to demonstrate, right?
[ Please may she have some booze? She's ready to get two glasses for them as soon as Ren gives the go-ahead. ]
no subject
[ Hey, its better than screaming and crying and running away. ]
no subject
Do you have to hold them, or—?
no subject
[ Ren winks before closing her eyes and hovering a hand above each glass. She pulls on her gnosis, taking her time to perform the gift fully, just as she was taught and there is a palpable shift of energy in the air. Something ancient and unknowable shifts to react to her offering of spiritual energy.
Ren opens her eyes again with a grin.
The two glasses of water are now one glass of fine dry champagne, and the other of a dark sweet rioja. Filled to the level that Cellar had filled the water to. ]
Told you.
no subject
Holy shit! How do you not do this all the time?
[ Other than the obvious reasons. You know what, never mind. ]
Which one's for me?
no subject
[ Normally, booze and drugs aren't on offer all the time like they are here.
Being 18 in America with their wild drinking laws had been the catalyst for realising she need to fix the problem. ]
Lady's choice. A stiff drink usually helps with the so you're a Garou conversation.
no subject
[ Lifting the rioja a little higher, biting her lower lip as she grins. She gives Ren the other one, unless the other girl asks for the wine instead. She takes a sip, and … she might not really know what the original is like, but she knows this one's damn good. ]
That's fucking incredible.
[ Magic booze is the best kind of magic, she's decided. ]
Thanks — again. For telling me. [ A little laughter, ] With or without the booze.