Remus Lupin (answertoten) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2013-09-19 20:02:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, nina pickering, remus lupin |
Who: Remus Lupin & Nina Pickering
When: Backdated: Wednesday, August 28th. Afternoon
Where: A Coffee Shop
What: Werewolf Talk
Rating: PG-13
Status: Complete
Remus had made plans to meet Nina at a coffee shop near the school during one of his free periods. He would have scheduled it after school, but he was going to have to continue working on his syllabus once he got home. Home to his own apartment where there were far less distractions than if he went to Sirius’ house. He hadn’t realized that there were others who dreamt of being werewolves, so he was intrigued to meet Nina and find out how similar and different werewolves were in their respective dreams. He wondered if she had marks like he did, from where she’d been attacked and contracted the curse. No, curse wasn’t exactly the right word, but Remus wasn’t entirely sure what word would accurately describe it.
Nina wasn’t sure what to expect when she met Remus, it was kind of reassuring that there was somebody else who dreamed of a similar thing to her but also slightly concerning. She had just finished her shift at the hospital so hadn’t had time to change out of her uniform yet as she walked towards the coffee shop. She spotted somebody waiting outside and smiled, “Remus?” she asked.
He turned at the sound of his name, spotting the petite blond and nodded, “Nina?” There was very little chance of it being anyone but the woman he’d spoken to on Valarnet, so he extended his hand to her, “It’s nice to meet you, in person. Did you have any trouble finding the place?” The coffee shop wasn’t part of a chain, so it wasn’t as if it really stood out like Starbucks did.
She nodded and shook his hand, “Pleased to meet you too” she said, before shaking her head briefly, “Surprisingly not, although I did expect to” she smiled.
“Would you like to go in?” Remus gestured towards the door, anxious to hear about Nina’s experience as a werewolf in her dreams. That and he didn’t have that much time to spend talking to Nina, but he did want to know as much as possible and wanted to help her if he could.
“Of course” she nodded entering the shop with Remus and standing in the queue. Once they had drinks and were settled at a table she smiled, “So I guess we should see how similar the mythology is in each of our dreams?” she suggested, “I mean it’s transmitted via scratch or bite in my dreams, is that the same for you?”
Once settled, Remus nodded in response to her question, “It is. In my dreams, I was attacked as a child. The morning after I had that particular dream, I woke up with the scar on my shoulder.” Subconsciously, Remus touched his shoulder where the scar remained. “Do you mind if I ask how you became afflicted, in the dreams?”
Nina rolled up her sleeve to show the scars she now had, “In my dream my boyfriend changed and I got in the way. When he pushed me back he scratched me, he didn’t realise he’d done it so I kept it to myself until I could see if I was now a werewolf too”
"My parents kept my condition a secret as long as was possible. I didn't even tell my closest friends until they found out on their own." Remus took a sip of his drink, "The world I'm from in my dreams, werewolves are condemned. They are made to register with The Ministry of Magic. That is the head of our government in the dreams."
“Oh my god” Nina said, “The world in my dreams is pretty similar to this one. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts they just don’t reveal themselves to anybody. Sounds like you have it a lot harder than I do”
Remus nodded, “It’s strange actually. We’re wizards, which in itself makes us different from regular people, but then we condemn others such as werewolves and vampires, most of which don’t choose to become what they are. I certainly didn’t choose to become a werewolf.” And now Remus had to live with the possibility that someday he might become one in the waking world as well.
“Sounds like double standards aren’t limited to just this world” Nina replied, “Do you think you’ll change here too?” she asked softly after a minute.
“I can’t say for sure. Over the last two months or so I’ve been able to feel the pull of the full moon more than before. I appear to know when it’s going to be without needing to check.” Remus was beginning to take precautions now. Sirius was learning to become an animagus and Severus was going to brew him Wolfsbane, “Do they have anything in your world to help on the full moons? Such as help you keep your senses while you’re a wolf?” He wondered if the Wolfsbane would work on werewolves who weren’t from his world.
Nina nodded, “I’ve felt something too, especially on the last one” she said before shaking her head in answer to his question, “Nothing other than locking ourselves in a room and hoping the wolf doesn’t find a way out” she told him. There hadn’t been any mention of a way to stop the transformations so far in her dreams. “I take it you do?”
Remus nodded, “There is a potion called Wolfsbane that relieves some of the symptoms of Lycanthropy, according to a friend of mine. You would still transform, but keep your wits about you during the full moon.” Remus still wasn’t far enough in his dreams to know first hand how the potion worked. He was simply going by what Severus had told him. “My friend, who is also from my dream world thinks he can brew it.”
“Wow” Nina said with raised eyebrows, “That’s pretty awesome if he can do it. Not killing people in wolf form would be good, if it does come to pass that we change here too” She was working under the assumption that it would happen at some point because, let’s face it, weird shit was standard around here.
Remus would have to ask Severus if he thought the Wolfsbane would work on werewolves not of their world. If he could help Nina then he would. He knew, from the dreams what the transformations and the time during the full moon was like and he didn’t want someone else to go through that if there was a way he could help them. “The only drawback to the potion is that you have to drink it for the full week before the full moon.” He knew that he should start drinking it before the full moons now, just in case. He would have to talk to Severus soon.
“Small price to pay to retain who you are as the wolf though” Nina said, she wasn’t expecting Remus to give her the potion too though she’d be willing to try it out if he offered. “My current solution is to lock myself in an escape proof room in the hospital morgue”
“The morgue? I assume you know someone who works there?” Remus didn’t think that Nina was just going to break into the morgue in order to transform safely. That would be going to extremes just a little bit.
Nina nodded with a laugh, “I work in the hospital and my friend Molly suggested the room in the morgue” she explained.
Remus nodded, “I suppose that’s better than basements or simply trying to chain yourself up. I haven’t figure out what it is that I’ll be doing just yet. I had met with a man from the Agency, who may be able to help, but I haven’t decided yet.” It was good to see that Nina had a plan, even if she might not transform yet. She was still prepared.
“I’d offer to share but I can’t see that ending well” she told him, “I can ask around though, see if anybody I know can think of a place?” she offered. Nina was definitely prepared. It helped that Annie and Mitchell were here, she didn’t feel quite so alone. And Martha and Molly helped too.
“I think you’re right. I’ve never known another werewolf in the dreams, but the thought of two werewolves together in an enclosed space doesn’t seem like it would have a very good outcome.” Remus took a sip of his drink as he contemplated his next question, “Are you worried about the transformation?” He could admit that he was. While he knew what to expect, knowing it and experiencing it were two completely different things.
Nina nodded as she let out a breath, “Very” she admitted, “I mean it hurt in the dreams and they feel real enough so I’m kind of scared I guess” It didn’t help that she was a nurse so she could guess what was happening to her bones and internal organs during the transformation.
Remus nodded, “I know exactly what you mean. On some mornings after the full moon, I feel as if I’ve transformed. I know I haven’t, but my bones ache as if I had.” He didn’t understand how any of it was even possible, but there really was no point in questioning it, because there was no way to get any answers.
“Precisely. It’s an odd feeling and one that I’m sure shouldn’t be possible but then there are many of those type of things around here” Nina said.
Remus had noticed quite a lot of things since he'd returned to Orange County in December that shouldn't have been possible, "Like magic." Even now whenever Remus looked at his or Sirius' wands, it felt strange to think that he knew how to use one. He knew spells and charms.
“Like magic” Nina agreed, “Sadly I seem to be lacking any fun things like that. But my roommates fiance is the greatest wizard who ever lived so I guess it evens out somehow” she joked.
"I assume you're referring to Merlin?" Remus was well versed in the legends of Merlin in both the waking world and the dream world, "He's the Merlin then?" It hadn't occurred to him before that he could be the actual Merlin, but now it all made sense.
“Yep, He’s the Merlin, the myth and legend himself” she smiled, “One of the sweetest guys you’ll ever meet though”
Remus couldn't help but chuckle as he recalled some of the expressions they used in his dreams that included Merlin's name, "He's very well known in my dreams." Smirking, he glanced at a clock behind Nina then brought his attention back to her, "I'm afraid I have to be going. My free period is almost over. Wouldn't do to get to class after the students."
“I’m sure he’d get a kick out of that if he knew” she said with a smile before nodding, “Definitely not, wouldn’t do to have a tardy teacher” she grinned, “Thank you for meeting with me Remus”
“It was my pleasure, Ms. Pickering.” Remus smiled as he stood up then pulled a card out of the pocket of his jacket; yes, Remus was a school teacher with business cards, “Please feel free to call me anytime. It’s nice to know that there is someone else like me here.” Knowing there was another werewolf made Remus feel a little less alone.