Notice: Werewolf Warning!

[ostro_goth]

Attention all denizens of Milliways!

Beware The Were-Wolves!!

Tonight (Saturday, November 16th), tomorrow and on Monday night are the three nights around the full moon, when the wolfmen may roam freely outside, as is their right.

Do not go out while the moon is out, so you will not be bitten! In this, we cannot and would not protect the unwary; instead we must sternly warn all of you: - remain inside where you are safe as ever, and within the protection of Security!

- TTT

That posted, Teja sits by the fire, the forge cats unobtrusively clustering around him, reading a large history book while sipping well-watered red wine from a large clay cup. He will not go out tonight, either, or work the forge at night; but the cats might wander out later, to see if there are any shape-shifters that they might team up with for a great hunt or, alternatively, tease from the trees.

Comments

[1stwitness]

"Werewolves? Really?"

[ostro_goth]

Teja looks up from his book. It is a heavy tome, with many pictures, maps and source material, full of bookmarks and post-it notes.

"Yes, truly," he says. "You know about them?"

[1stwitness]

"There are stories." He makes a vaguely dismissive gesture. "There was a time I would have said they were nothing but stories."

[ostro_goth]

"Not any more?" Teja says. "Have you seen so much of this place already?"

[1stwitness]

"Hardly. I've been in the library. No, I was referring to my own world. I have... learned things... in recent years, I may not have mentioned at our first meeting."

[ostro_goth]

"Thing of a supernatural nature?" Teja guesses.

[1stwitness]

"Supernatural and evil. But not, so far as I know, werewolves."

He wouldn't be remotely surprised, though.

[ostro_goth]

"Evil of what nature?" Teja asks.

[1stwitness]

"Demonic", he says simply. "I've seen them."

[ostro_goth]

"Indeed," Teja says, "there have been demons in this place as well, at times, as have been gods, angels, and anthropomorphic personifications. But not all worlds have them. Or werewolves."

[1stwitness]

Ichabod's eyes narrow.

"How can you say so cavalierly that demons have been here?"

[ostro_goth]

"Because indeed, none is judged evil by their nature alone when they come to this place," Teja says. "Vampire-slayers may not kill the blood-drinkers that come here, either. The Devil herself comes here, and she behaves as well as any. It all falls under the second rule."

[1stwitness]

"But they are evil by their nature alone", he says incredulously. "That is what demons are. I'll grant you, they may behave in a civilised manner if it suits their purpose..."

[runningred]

"So... how safe is the garage?" Jay's not overly keen in the idea of werewolves in that infinite space.

[ostro_goth]

"Safe," Teja says, putting his book down with a little shrug. "For it is a space where cars and other vehicles are kept within, not part of the outside. What interest would a wolf-man have in, say, a motorcycle, standing upon its place and with no rider? No, they are out by the lake and in the woods and mountains, under the moonlight."

[runningred]

"Oh good, 'cause I'm seriously thinking about camping down there for a while. As nice as the rooms are I'm kinda not getting use to my room being in a different spot in the hallway when I get up in the morning."

"So," He bends to give the cats a pet if they'll let him. "Have problems with werewolves here often?"

[ostro_goth]

"You would prefer to be among the machines, rather than in a bed?" Teja says. "My room does not move, though."

The cats, however, are very amenable to attention. One of them, white with grey tabby spots, even rubs against Jay's leg.

"Werewolves are not the problem, those that respect them not, are."

[runningred]

"I prefer being somewhere I'm not gunna bother anyone if I work late on the bike." Not to mention the night-terrors. He shrugs, "Maybe Bar just likes you better."

"I have plenty of respect, for my own person of nothing else. If you say it's not a good time to go out then I'm staying indoors."

[ostro_goth]

"Sensible," Teja says. "Down there among the machines, you are safe."

Pause.

"You are still new, are you?"

[runningred]

"Yeah, it's quieter that way. Thanks for that."

He smiles and shrugs. "Does it show? Yeah, been here a couple of days and so far I kinda like it. I take it you've been around a while?"

[ostro_goth]

"I have," Teja says, "or I would not be part of Security. I have been here for more than six years."

Pause.

"Did somebody tell you the rules?"

[runningred]

"Ah." Jay straightens up. "Yeah, I got the heads up - No fighting, no fucking in the bar and no personal grudges or business. Is that the deal? Believe me, I don't want any trouble. I'm just looking for somewhere for a little down time."

[ostro_goth]

"I would not infer that you wish for trouble," Teja says, "but we do not have the rules posted for all to see, so it would be truly unjust not to tell a new arrival."

[runningred]

"Do many people come here looking for trouble?"

He grins, playing with the cats and giving them as much attention as they want. "People here have been pretty helpful. It's nice to find somewhere to just chill for a while."

[ostro_goth]

"They may not come looking for it, but mights stumble upon it unaware," Teja says. "Who would not strike, if he saw his most dire enemy?"