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[ukan]

This is Lark Tennant, leave a message.

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[ukan]

[He listens. Gradually there's a fond smile.]

Alec's been telling me the same thing. And you're both right. Mostly right.

Tell me what werewolves are like where you're from?

[atowncalledtreffy]

[Trevor has yet to hear a pronoun to relate back to Alec. Thus he’ll be in for a surprise to find out Alec is a man. Here, he only nods]

Well, they’re nothing like you, for one thing. All manners and ethics. You’re more like Alucard, who can both turn into a wolf and harass me with long -worded conversation.

[He’s joking, if poorly]

Werewolves are more like Wolf Men but there’s different kinds. The ones I’ve fought are about eight feet tall, insane muscle structure, kind of the body of a man and the head, teeth and claws of a wolf. The whip I had was inlaid with silver and that usually took care of them.

What else? I used to remember reading about a dark lord of lycanthropes somewhere. Maybe I’ll find that book here.

[ukan]

In my world, we can all change at will. But there's a steep cost. Every sensation is heightened. Hunger makes us vicious, lust is constant, anger turns into rage. We're slaves to our senses. We live maybe five years after being turned because we just can't control ourselves, we're too violent and too impulsive.

I saw another way. My packs don't indulge in cruelty. We don't devour more than we need. We have goals, and we meet them, and we do it quietly. Half of us still hold jobs in the human world.

I don't have to change human nature. I just have to give it a direction and let it gain momentum. If I could do it with wolves, I can do it here.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[He gives a rough chuckle. Christ, yeah; sounds very similar to newly-turned werewolves and vampires]

You all sound like the vampires out west. Trying to live peacefully with humans, for a given value of peace.

Wolves are easier than humans. Hate to be the one to tell you that.

[He cups a hand around Lucy, who wants to be put down]

Or you, you great furry oaf.

[ukan]

I like a challenge. [He glances at his book, thinks about how many supplies he'll need to make it work.] I don't expect to make a lasting difference. There's too much change here, too few people stay.

But while I'm here, things will be better than they were.

[He starts to reach a hand out to Lucy but stops.] I think she's getting used to me. [He has no idea if that's true, he just hopes she is.]

[atowncalledtreffy]

[Trevor holds Lucy out for Lark to take]

Go on.

Well, just so long as we're all being realistic.

[ukan]

[He cautiously takes her. To his surprise she doesn't immediately try to bite him, but she would plainly rather be with Trevor.]

When is the last time you were pleasantly surprised by someone?

[atowncalledtreffy]

Pleasantly surprised?

[he grins, turning a page to glue in another next to it]

I guess....two years or so ago. I was leading away a mob who wanted to skin me alive and the girl I had rescued that day turned out to be a magician. She returned the favor.

[ukan]

Two years ago?

[He rubs Lucy's ear] What about two months ago when you met me?

[atowncalledtreffy]

Well, I..

[He trails off, evidently clueless. Finally, Trevor shrugs]

I just didn't expect anything from you except for you to be weird, and you are.

[ukan]

I was kidding.

And I'm not weird. I'm atypical.

[atowncalledtreffy]

You're fucking weird, Lark.

[he reaches over to give his hand over to Lucy to lick so that she settles down]

What about you? When's the last time you were pleasantly surprised?

[ukan]

By you.

[He sets her on the table so she can waddle around and smell the books.]

Twenty minutes ago when you started saying the same things my husband did yesterday.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[He visibly balks, clearly running back in his head what was said]

Wait. Hang on.

Alec isn't your wife, he's...

Well, shit.

[ukan]

Yeah. [He is, it must be said, a little wary. People here tend to be progressive, but Trevor is from an era before running water.] I think you'll like him.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[He's clearly processing this. Same-sex relationships aren't as unusual as some like to pretend it is, but marriage is a whole other concept to wrap his head around.

Finally;]

I didn't think the church would let that happen. Or just....wait, so, how does inheritance work? I don't..

[he's fumbling, and gives a pleading look to Lark to rescue him. Help?]

[ukan]

It became legal a few years ago. Anyway I'm a lawyer, I drew up our contracts. I die, it goes to him. He dies with me, our fortune goes to Zinzi and Bonnie. They lead two factions of the pack.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[He falls silent, chewing this over.

And then;]

....Well, shit.

I didn't -

Fuck. The future's a really, uh. Different place.

I mean, we have men fucking other men, we're not animals, but no one - I mean, you have to get married in a church, right? And....

Fuck, sorry. Lot to wrap my head around.

[ukan]

We found a church that decided to follow the rule of law. It wasn't Catholic, most mainstream churches are still very much against same-sex marriage.

You're handling it better than most people. And I do think you'll like each other. I hope you do, it'll make my life a whole lot easier.

[atowncalledtreffy]

Huh. Guess my only other question is when do I get to meet your h-husband? Husband.

[he repeats it under his breath to get used to the word in this context, with Lark, and wanting to get it right. Another thing from the future he doesn’t mind, if only for the delight he has in picturing what self-righteous church officials might look in response.]

[ukan]

Soon. As soon as you want. He works in the infirmary, you might have met him already.

[atowncalledtreffy]

Don’t much get the chance to go there. But I might have seen him in passing.

[ukan]

[He pulls up a picture. It's Alec in their kitchen mid-something, flipping off the camera.] That's him.

[atowncalledtreffy]

[He looks over, and smiles, a little wan]

How does a man compliment another man's beauty in your time? WIthout getting punched in the face?

[ukan]

Some people still get punched. I met Alec here, though, and this place is more accepting.