Lupine Lawlessness (open)

[Eloise Thomas]

The sun was still up and wouldn't be replaced by the moon for yet another hour. Still, dusk was closing in and she shouldn't be alone and she shouldn't be in the forest (even if she was so close to the boarder that she could see the lawn), but where else was she supposed to be? Not in the bedroom that she shared with Rebecca that was for sure. She almost smiled as she imagined Becca waking up in the middle of the night and finding her roommate replaced by a furry monster. If only she had joined the Stooges she could have laughed it off and pretended it was just a prank.

She had gone to bed early, complaining of menstrual cramps, before climbing out through the bathroom window. There were pillows placed beneath her covers, charmed to expand and contract as if she was breathing slowly. It was a simple trick, but she hadn't gotten any other choice after the school had basically thrown her out of her single room without giving her any advice on how to deal with living with another person.

It was as cold as she had expected it to be if not colder, but still the only thing on Eloise's skinny body was an oversized mens shirt that reached almost to her knees. It was large enough not to rip once she transformed adn that was all that mattered. Worn and faded, it had taken her through many nights, just like it's owner had helped her through when she was younger. When she closed her eyes she could almost still feel the scent of tobacco in the frayed fabric. Tucking her bare feet underneath her, she leaned back against the trunk of a tree. And then she waited... "There once was a handsome, rich, and talented young warlock, who observed that his friends grew foolish when they fell in love..." She whispered the words to herself, repeating one of the stories her grandfather used to tell her when she was little.

[Rebecca Miller]

Yeah, like Rebecca wouldn't figure out that Eloise had been replaced by pillows. It was an excellent ruse, though. Very clever, charming them to rise and fall like that. Knowing just how bad her own cramps were, she had eventually gone up to see if she could get her roommate a heating pad or a potion to dull the pain. Rebecca would never be able to hunt her down. She had no clue what Eloise might be up to or in to. Maybe she'd gone to the gym to dance.

Stumbling upon her in the woods was pure chance. Rebecca decided to make a trip to Wight Towne to see if she could locate the Black Market. They usually had the strongest pain potions. Imported stuff that wasn't legal in the United States. The magical version of the FDA wasn't interested in finding a cure for anything or actually alleviating anyone's pain. They made more money if they kept people sick and feeling awful. Maybe she'd suggest her own solution to horrible menstrual cramps, birth control.

Rebecca wasn't all that far into the woods when she spotted Eloise. She started to walk over to her, when she saw her lips moving. Her voice was too soft to hear. Was someone else hidden behind a tree or something? She leaned this way and that, but didn't see anyone. Maybe she was praying or something. Curiosity getting the better of her, Becca approached Eloise.

"Who ya talkin' to?" Rebecca asked quietly, looking around.

[Eloise Thomas]

"Just... No one." Which wasn't necessarily a lie. She didn't feel like anyone. Not human nor wolf. She was just a part of the darkness, like the tree roots on the ground, or the stars in the sky. Yes, a star. She would have liked that. A glimmer of light far far away as she looked down on the miniature people on the earth.

But she was still a person, not a star, or atleast she would look like one in Rebecca's eyes. As soon as she had heard the footsteps approaching, she had known instinctively that it was her room mate. She didn't even have to open her eyes to see her standing there. The girl had a peculiar habit of following her outside whenever she shouldn't be out. Her heart started beating faster in her chest, warming her blood in a way that was far from comfortable. "You know, you're not supposed to be alone after it's started to get dark. I could send you to Bruja for this." Eloise jokingly lectured Rebecca from her sitting position, trying to ease up the discomfort that threatened to emerge from her throat in the form of bile. Maybe if she could delay the inevitable question, she would be able to find a plausible explanation as to why she was out in the forest herself.

She was grinning like she always was, but at the back of her mind something was screaming at her to flee. Rebecca might as well have a flashlight pointed at her eyes, as exposed as Eloise felt.

[Rebecca Miller]

"Ah. Talking to no one. That's a little weird," Rebecca chuckled. "I approve."

Actually, she was glad Eloise was alone. 'The more the merrier' was hardly ever a phrase applied to any situation with Becca. The fewer people she had to deal with at one time, the better. Lately, almost all of their interaction had been amid a large group of Hippies, and she always acted like she felt at ease, but felt alone in the crowd. Plus, what was it 'they' said about talking to yourself? You're only crazy if you respond to yourself. Or something. Rebecca wasn't sure if she should sit, too. Eloise probably didn't want company. She had to have come out to the woods alone for a reason, after all.

"'I could say the same of you, Pot,' said the Kettle," Becca smirked. "I was just on my way to procure some ¡Ay Calambre! or some such potion for you. Or some blood-replensihing potion." She chortled at her own lame joke. "Are you still cramping?" she asked, wondering if Eloise was cramping at all or if that was just an excuse.

[Eloise Thomas]

Scratch Rebecca being a little sister. Grandmother, mother or older sister was more suiting. Or perhaps a fairy Godmother from the muggle stories. But instead of a dress and a pumpkin she was bringing potions and painkillers. As much as Eloise hated being offered help, it did feel nice being taken care of at times. Almost comforting. Not that she would admit that to anyone. She smiled, not wanting to show how much she appreciated the other girl's care, unneccesary as it might be. "Hear that, Eloise?" she said instead. "Becca thinks you're weird." It felt strange looking up at Rebecca. She was so used to towering over the other girl that the change of perspective almost made her dizzy.


"Guilty." Eloise smiled a crooked smile and put her hands up in defeat. "Arrest me officer." She shook her head. At least that part wasn't a lie. "It's the cold. It eases it." She did want to be alone, or rather needed to be alone. It wouldn't do to have Becca there once the moon went up. The other girl might approve of small weirdnesses like talking to herself, but she had a feeling watching her friend grow fur and a tale was more than Becca could handle. Still, she found herself wanting the other girl to stay, if even just for a few minutes. She shouldn't be scared anymore, not after so many years, but she was. It was just one of those things you never got used to. "I still haven't gotten used to the fact that it doesn't snow as much here", she followed her own train of thought, grasping at the frozen ground with her hand. "You can't even have a proper snowball fight."

[Rebecca Miller]

Rebecca grinned. As if just the mention of the cold made her colder, she pulled her hood over her head and stuffed her gloved hands into the pouch of her over-sized red hoodie. All she needed was a basket full of treats to take to her grandmother. "Good," she smiled bigger. "I take contraceptive potions for mine. I hardly ever even get a period anymore. Maybe you can take a potion for yours, too?"

She didn't really think too hard about how strange it was to be 'taller' than Eloise, for fear of getting awkward. Figuring she no longer needed to make a trip to the Black Market, she got a little more comfortable by leaning on a tree, but not too comfortable, because she still couldn't tell if Eloise wanted company. Sitting down might have been going too far.

"Oh, that's right. You're a Canuck, aren't you?" Becca's smile indicated she was not using the term derogatorily. "We don't get much snow down in Tennessee. There was a big ice storm a couple years ago, but I was up here. So I missed it."

[Eloise Thomas]

"I always thought those potions were for people a bit more.. Well... Straight." Eloise grinned, raising her eyebrows. She'd never actually considered contraceptive potions, even when her cramps were bothering her, simply because she'd never had to fear getting pregnant. It hadn't occured to her that you could use it for other things than that. "Although I suppose it could be useful."


"Aye. We sometimes have snow for half a year." She smiled and put her hands up into the air as if to properly show how much snow they actually got. "Grandpa says we only have two seasons. Winter and July." Sometimes she did miss home. Like now. She missed discussing the latest hockey game, drinking coffee at Tim Horton's and the eight inches of snow that would be covering Winnipeg right now. Even the woods were prettier in Canada she thought. But maybe that was just her being biased "Though to be honest, it's usually too cold to make any snowballs anyway.

[Rebecca Miller]

"Well, yeah, if you're just usin' 'em for birth control. I started taking them way before I even considered losing my virginity," Rebecca suddenly frowned, reminded of Makepeace. She quickly latched on to Eloise's separate subject. "Hahaha. I wouldn't survive in Canada. I wear jackets in summer time, even in Tennessee. I'm always cold."

Rebecca finally slid down the tree, sitting across from Eloise. "So, why are you really out here?" she asked, knowing full well that heat was much better than cold for cramps. "Is it a breakup?"

No, Eloise wasn't all out in the open about her sexual orientation, or the relationship she had with Hailey, but Rebecca was at least observant enough to know Eloise preferred girls over boys. "I like you, Eloise," she admitted, taking a chance. "And it's not a rebound like. I liked you while I was with Makepeace."

Her admission wasn't easy. Admitting her feelings in any situation was incredibly difficult. Rebecca was frank enough and lacking in a filter enough to admit it, though. "I like you, a lot," she pulled her legs in close, arms wrapped tightly around them. "I feel so guilty about it, but I can't help it. You're amazing."

[Eloise Thomas]

Eloise froze when Becca sat down. As much as she enjoyed the company, she didn't want her to get too comfortable. But if that had freaked her out, it was nothing compared to the question that came next. Had she really been that obvious? Or was she just a bad liar? She fumbled for words. "I... I... No, no breakup. I just... like the cold." Which was true. She would probably have been outside even if it was only a half moon, only she wouldn't have hidden out in the forest. Especially when she hated the forest. That's why she wanted someone to sit with her. At least for a while. "It's comforting." She shrugged her shoulders in an attempt to seem carefree.

If she was distressed before, she felt strangely calm when Becca proclaimed she liked her. She assumed Becca was nervous enough for the two of them after admitting that and she felt like one of them should be in the control of the situation. "Huh..." She didn't know what else to say. Especially about the whole Makepeace thing. Becca was cute, there was no denying it, but Eloise had never looked at her that way. Probably because with the whole boyfriend thing, she had always assumed she was straight and straight girls just weren't worth waisting your time on trying to convert them. And besides, she had a boyfriend. Has? Had? Eloise wasn't sure anymore regarding Makepeace's condition. At least Becca had said was. Did that mean he was dead?

She wasn't a rebound. That's what Becca had said. but maybe that was what Eloise needed herself. Someone new. Someone to get her mind off trying to get Hailey back. She hadn't even dated since homecoming. And that was what? Four months ago? She really should get back in the game. And this time, she wouldn't make the same mistakes. "Kiss me then", she challenged Becca, her eyebrows jumping up and down on her forehead. It was probably the worst thing she could have said after the girl had just admitted how guilty she felt, but Eloise wanted to know both for her own sake and for Becca's. She didn't think Becca had ever kissed a girl and was therefore hesitant to believe that Becca really did like her and not just imagined she did because Eloise was the only lesbian she knew.

For a second she toyed with the idea of telling her what would happen once the moon was up, just to see the look on her face. She didn't think Becca would like her anymore if she did, and she wanted Becca to still like her in some way. Or maybe it would be a pity like. Maybe Becca would feel sorry for her if she told. That was probably the biggest reason she didn't tell anyone. She could stand the hatred and the comments. If they bothered her too much she could just hex them. But it was the pity she feared the most. Everybody thinking there was something wrong with her and looking down at her but not daring to say it to her face. Thinking she was weak.

[Rebecca Miller]

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have sa- what?" If Rebecca had been holding something, like an expensive china tea set on a tray, this would have been the point in a movie when she dropped it in shock. "Really?"

Rebecca didn't want things to get weird between them, if they did kiss and nothing came of it. But she supposed Eloise knowing she had a little crush might be enough to make things weird. She was right to think Rebecca had never kissed a girl. Not even on a dare. It couldn't be all that different from kissing a boy, could it? Something about it was scarier, though.

Like an apprehensive feral cat, she crawled across the cold earth on her hands and knees until she was beside Eloise. Becca leaned in, eyes shut tightly. Halfway to Eloise's face, she realized Eloise might have been kidding. She expected Eloise to shove her shoulder and laugh about how goofy she looked or something. Then Rebecca would laugh along, pretending she knew the whole time and just wanted to see how far she'd get before one of them burst into laughter. If that was the case, she'd gotten this far, and she wasn't going to stop now - especially if Eloise wasn't stopping her, yet.

She put her lips to her roommate's. Eloise's lips were definitely different from a boy's. Softer, fuller, smoother. The kiss was brief, but she'd done it. Becca pulled away, cheeks stinging and tingling as she blushed in the frigid outdoors, and sat back on her heels.

[Eloise Thomas]

She hoped Becca wouldn't be upset. It would be completely natural if she did and Eloise wouldn't blame her if she started crying or screaming at her. She would blame herself. She might look confident and carefree at that moment with a small smile playing on her lips, but she had never been good at rejections. Whether it be with girls or a part in a play, she had always found a way to take it personally.

But Becca was moving, although slowly. Closer and closer as Eloise's heart was fluttering in her chest. When Becca was about an inch away, she moved to meet her. Eloise hadn't even began to search herself for any feelings she might have for Becca, and she didn't even know if she liked her, but she found herself enjoying the kiss. Maybe it had just been too long since she'd kissed anyone and since she'd been that intimate with someone. She was starting to understand now why some people had friends with benefits. She had always discarded it as some stupid non-serious unromantic rubbish, but maybe they just wanted to feel that closeness with someone, even if it wasn't the real deal.

"And? How did that feel?" Eloise was curious, but she didn't want to stress Becca by staring at her. Instead she leaned back against the treetrunk again and closed her eyes. She was still smiling in a calm way, even in all honesty, she felt nervous.

[Rebecca Miller]

"Warm. Soft. A little moist," Rebecca answered, her mind bumping around blindly in a dense fog. That's not what Eloise had meant. How could she be so calm and clear-headed? Collected and confident? Other adjectives starting with 'C' that her mind couldn't find in the haze? Finally, a bit of the fog dissipated. "I don't. . . I don't know. I liked it, I think. Yeah, I did. It felt good, and I liked it."

Her brow gathered pensively. Rebecca's heart and head were at war. It didn't make any sense, feeling so right and so wrong at the same time. Then the guilt hit her like a ton of bricks. "I need to go," she said, voice creaking as she scrambled to her feet. "The kiss was great, I just. . ."

. . . don't like to be seen crying. Her thought wasn't finished before she turned and started hurriedly walking away. Well, now there was an almost 100% guarantee things were going to be weird.

[Eloise Thomas]

It was the first time that anyone had run away crying after she'd kissed them. But then again, she'd never kissed anyone who's boyfriend was dying before. So she really shouldn't feel as hurt by that reaction as she did. What was she doing? Makepeace was probably dead and here she was worrying about if Becca thought she was a bad kisser when she should be more concerned about the fact that she was being a lousy friend.

Atleast she wouldn't have to make up an excuse as to why she wanted Becca to leave. Sighing, Eloise got up from the ground herself, but she didn't follow. As much as it felt wrong to leave things like that, she let her go. Becca needed to think, and Eloise needed not to think. If only she got through this night, she would take care of everything else tomorrow.

She turned her back at the school grounds and started walking deeper into the forest. After ten minutes she stopped and sat down again. She was breathing heavily even though she hadn't walked any faster than usual. She didn't look up. Her eyes were locked on the grozen ground beneath her, but still she could feel the clouds clearing. The moon was up. She could feel it in the way her bones were aching. The way her skin felt warmer. Her body started to shake as her muscles clenched and unclenched. "There... There once was a young... Young and talented... Talented young wiz... Wiz... Wizard... who... who..." she started telling herself the story again through clattering teeth, but her words soon turned into a soft whimpering sound of pain.

It hurt. It was just one of those things you never got used to. Just like the fear, the pain would always be there. There was a soft creaking noise as the wind swept through the trees, but the only sound Eloise could hear was the groaning of her own bones as they adjusted to their new body. Her whimpering got more and more wolflike until there was nothing human left but the fear.