27th September, 8am. Prison Cell.

[therealpm]

*Peter paces the cell.  His legs ache from yesterday, but unlike his human form, his wolf form seems more inclined to walk it off rather than curl up in bed.

John had tried the dog food again this morning, and was once again rebuffed until he caved and brought down two packets of sausages, the potion and a bowl of fresh water.  Peter had tried to follow him out the door, whining that this cell was far too small for an adult wolf, but John clearly hadn't been paying attention as he'd nearly closed the damn thing on Peter's nose, leaving Peter to scratch forlornly at the wooden surface.*

Comments

[lord-fowler.livejournal.com]

*Norman comes in for his shift with a newspaper tucked under his arm and goes up to the cell door, but he stops short when he sees the pacing wolf through the bars.*

*He's never really cared for dogs. Michael had a series of large, dreadful ones of the 'jump up and slobber' variety and always failed to adequately corral them when Norman came to visit, so he's learned to endure them, but he can't say he's fond of them.*

*Still, Peter Mandelson is quite unlikely to jump up and try to lick his face, whatever form he's in.*

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Peter's ears prick up at the sound of someone approaching and he wanders over to the door, curious as to who it might be. The wards around the door have been weakened enough that he can put his paws on the edge of the windowsill without pain, and he peers through the bars, then drops back disappointed.

If it was Frances or John or even Sally, he might possibly be able to persuade them to let him out for a bit, but Norman will merely give him a small smirk and remind him that it's his own fault for getting into this mess in the first place.

Disgruntled, he bounds over to the desk and leaps up to look out of the window, careful that his paws do not crinkle the paperwork.*

[lord-fowler.livejournal.com]

*Absurdly, Norman feels ever so slightly hurt by the werewolf's transparent display of disinterest. Not that Mandelson's interest presages anything good even when he's not shapeshifted into a ravenous beast; quite to the contrary. It should be a relief to be ignored. But it still feels like a snub.*

*It probably is a snub, if there's anything of Mandelson left in there. Or perhaps he's just so boring and unappetizing that werewolves can't be bothered with him.*

*Norman unrolls the Times and looks at it ruefully.*

I brought you the paper, but under the circumstances it just seems cruel to give it to you.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Peter's head whips round and almost manages to get from the desk to the door in a single leap. It's true that the wolf bit of him hasn't the foggiest what the patterns on paper mean, but the potion has done its work and his human side is very much in control, if not outwardly apparent and has been somewhat news-starved over the past month.

He puts his paws on the sill once more, shoving his nose at the bars.*

[lord-fowler.livejournal.com]

*Norman jumps back. In his defense it is quite a large wolf, and it moves very fast. Fortunately there is no one here to see his embarrassing lapse of courage except for Mandelson himself, and for once Mandelson can't make some snide remark about it. Norman takes a deep breath and tries to return his heartbeat to some more normal rate.*

Oh. You know what it is after all.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Peter tilts his head to the side.

'Of course, I'm a werewolf, not a moron.'

He waits patiently for Norman to push the newspaper through the bars.*

[lord-fowler.livejournal.com]

Oh, very well, then. Although I'm not sure how you'll turn the pages.

*He rolls the paper up again and pushes it through to Mandelson.*

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Using his front paws, he unrolls the paper carefully and reads the front page. Turning pages requires a little more balance, but after a few stumbles he manages without tearing the page or hitting his nose on the floor.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

*John arrives back at Peter's cell some time later. He needed to see if the potion had worked - if Peter was still Peter inside, and no longer the wolf.*

*After relieving the on-duty guard of their task, John waits until they are out of sight - and out of earshot - to try and gage Peter's responsiveness.*

Peter?

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Peter looks up from the cryptic crossword. His attempts at manipulating a pen by holding it between the toes of one paw hadn't worked very well, and holding it in his jaws had merely made him crosseyed. Eventually, he decided to put a claw through each clue's number as he works it out. So far, only two clues have been marked this way. He chalks this up the excessively long time it took to experiment with the pen.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

*John looks from the wolf to the newspaper and back again.*

...I see.

*John lets himself into the cell. He's never seen an animal attempt the crossword before...*

How are you this morning, Peter?

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Peter tries to approximate a shrug, but with his shoulders now closer in form to a second pair of hips than the upright form he's used to, it undoubtedly looks strange. He pads past John and puts one paw on the door, looking at the man, then back at the door, and whining.

I'm not certain how to make my desire to leave this cell any more obvious, John. Perhaps you could purchase a suitably sized sand pit and I will spell it out?'*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

*John may not be able to read Peter's mind, but he's pretty sure he knows what Peter's actions mean.*

You want to go out?

*John thinks for a moment. If Peter were a normal dog and John was that dog's owner, taking the hypothetical dog for a walk, the dog would most certainly be wearing a collar and be one a lead. And, come to think of it, a muzzle if the dog had been known to be aggressive.*

*Well, thank goodness John had bought a lead and a muzzle when he'd ordered the collar!*

*John summons the extra items and holds them in one hand while he talks to Peter.*

If we're going to go for a walk, you're going to have to attempt to look like a normal dog, Peter, not a werewolf. That means wearing a lead and this muzzle.

Do you accept this?

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*'Finally, ten points to the gnome in the bad suit.'

Peter waits patiently as John considers.

Oh no. Oh no, no, no. The collar was bad enough. You have to be joking.

He backs up against the door and whines his displeasure. John looks smug, but entirely serious.

I don't need a lead or a muzzle! I've been taking the potion!

He rushes forwards and pushes the bowl into which John had poured the potion earlier for emphasis.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

*Why on earth is he pushing at his bowl? John thinks. What was in the bowl that could possibly...*

Yes, Peter, I know you've been taking your potion, but hear me out. If we can prove to Sally that you're safe and that I have taken all the necessary precautions, then there is a distinct possibility that she will allow you near the children sooner rather than later.

So, I ask you again, will you permit me to put the muzzle and lead on you?

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*This isn't fair.

I didn't even try to eat Alastair the second time.

Peter stares at the floor, tail jumping from side to side fitfully as he tries to make a decision.

...you had better not tell anybody about this.

He paws at the ground indecisively, then finally pads over to John and sits down, tail curling around one of John's ankles.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

*John looks at the wolf next to his leg.*

I am going to take that as a 'yes'. If I am mistaken, I do apologise and I request that you merely growl rather than bite as I attempt to get these into place.

*John cautiously starts to put the muzzle on Peter. When no growl (or bite) is forthcoming, John takes it as a sign to hurry up.*

*Soon, the muzzle and lead are in places.*

Come on then, Peter, off we go.

*John tries not to tug at the lead too often as he takes Peter out to one of the courts.*

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Peter reluctantly allows himself to be muzzled and leashed, feeling deeply uneasy about what the tabloids would say if they were to get any hint of the matter.

He had been too tired to notice it yesterday, but when he is lead out of the door it becomes clear that every square inch of floor has a scent of some sort and that scent has a history, which if John would just stop tugging on the stupid lead, Peter is sure he could unravel.

After several annoying tugs, Peter runs ahead and in front of John, hoping to tangle the lead and buy himself a bit more time to investigate the myriad of smells present in the coridor.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

Peter, do hurry up.

This isn't- what are you-

*Peter nearly manages to knock John to the floor with his dashing ahead, but living with three unruly children (and having a low centre of gravity) means John just about stays upright.*

*After a few shouted curses, John gets himself free off the lead around his legs and tries to chivvy Peter along again.*

The sooner you hurry up, the sooner we'll be outside again.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Satisfied that he has discerned all that he can from that particular patch of floor, and anxious to get out into the open air once more, Peter attempts to race ahead. Unfortunately, John has maintained a tight grip on the lead, and Peter is brought up short after a couple of steps. He turns his head to look at John reproachfully.

Hurry up. You no longer even have the excuse of shorter legs. What's keeping you?*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

*He assumes from the look on the wolf's face that John has done something to annoy Peter, but he doesn't try and work out what it was. Instead, he keeps walking, out to Speaker's Court.*

*When they're there, he puts up a number of wards and spells then turns to Peter. He un-clips the lead.*

Go on, Peter.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*He races away, threading between the parked cars, nose near clamped to the ground. The scents of petrol and tar are overwhelming, but as he reaches the exposed wall of the court, new smells: those of the river, the tourists and faintly, the sea, reach his nose and he howls as well as he is able through the muzzle.

Further investigation of the guttering along the side of the court scares up a rat, which he chases- unaware of the faces peering through some of the windows lining the court.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

*John hears the howl.*

Peter, no, the children-!

*Too late. Already poking their noses over the, John spots Freddie, Oliver and Jemima looking down over the courtyard. He distinctly sees Jemima mouth the word "Doggy" and grin, then they are gone.*

*John curses again.*

Peter! Peter, get back here right now before the children get into the court!

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Peter looks up. In the excitement of the chase, he had rather let his wolf form take over for a little bit, and it takes him a while to process what John has shouted.

When he does... well, this is an opportunity for him to show Sally and John exactly how safe the children are around him...

He wanders over to the door, tail relaxed and ears up, the picture of a calm and playful dog. Jemima, for once, is out the door first and he allows her to pat his nose, or what she can reach of it through the muzzle, without complaint.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

*John tries to get to the door, but too late; the children are there already. Sally is going to murder me... he thinks.*

Yes, yes, very well, children, do calm down...

*John clips the lead back on to the collar as Freddie and Oliver are stroking Peter's ears.*

No, Oliver, the dog isn't a present for you.

Yes, I know you've been very good recently, but that doesn't mean-

...the dog's name, did you say? Er, well it's, er-

*John thinks on his feet. He can't call the wolf "Peter" (Freddie would never let him leave) but suddenly all the names have flown from John's mind.*

His name is-

*What's Peter's middle name?*

Benjam- Ben. Benji. Benji.

The dog's name is Benji.

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Peter rankles slightly at the lead, but it barely registers through the happy haze that sprung up as soon as the boys began scratching behind his ears.

Bit to the left... bit to the left...

My tail's wagging. I didn't ask it to do th-

Ohhh... keep going....

What's that John?

Benji?

Really?

I may have a muzzle but I also have claws and I'm going to get yo-

...a-after they've stopped scratching my ears. After that.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

*John tries to assess the situation. on the one hand, Peter doesn't seem to be in an aggressive mood and the children appear safe. On the other, he's hardly acting like Peter (unless Peter always has a blissed-out expression on his face when someone scratches behind his ears, but John has never tried, so doesn't know)... could it be a ruse to fool the children? Has the wolf taken over again? Better to be safe than sorry...*

Come on children, back upstairs, I have to take Benji back now.

Back where, did you say Freddie? Back to his home.

I'm looking after him while his owners are away, that's why, Freddie.

...a good question. If his owners are away, why am I taking him home? Well, the answer to that is... we... it's because...

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*The children pause their scritching behind his ears to argue with their father, and Peter turns his head to grin smugly at John's inability to manufacture a convincing story.

Tell me, how low is the bar to becoming a Tory MP?

His smug internal commentary is cut off by Jemima's determined assault on the bit just at the junction between his jawbone and his neck. Freddie, perhaps worried that the petting zoo will be closed soon, renews stroking the bit behind Peter's ears, and much as Peter tries to follow the thread of John's stuttering explanations in order to mock him later, he finds it very difficult to contain the urge to close his eyes, lean in to the scritchings and let his tail wag furiously.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

Because... because...

Because that is the arrangement I and his owner came to.

Now, don't you have homework to do, children? I thought to! Go on, get back to it.

Hmm? Will you get to see Benji again?

*John looks at Peter's reaction to being fussed. He's nearly falling over he's so relaxed.*

I cannot promise anything, and of course I will have to speak to your mother, but I don't see why not.

But that will only remain the case if you get all your homework done.

*The children rush off, betting that whoever finishes their work first gets to pet the dog first too. Only when they're safely inside does John return his attention to Peter.*

I think that's enough excitement for one day, don't you - Benji?

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Whining, he tugs at the lead, trying to follow them, putting a paw against the door when he is tugged back.

I cannot believe you've been foolish enough to do that twice, one might almost think it was intentional... if they had a vastly optimistic perception of your abilities, anyway.

He drops his head and follows John back through the carpark and corridors to his cell, nudging the food bowl with a paw when he gets there.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

Hungry again, are we?

Oh very well, and since you behaved in front of the children...

*John heads off back to the flat. He returns a short while later with a tray of meat - chicken, sausages, bacon, a few burgers and more. He puts the tray on the ground for Peter.*

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*John removes the muzzle and Peter's tail wags...

I'm really going to have to get that under control, it's becoming embarrassing.

...as he wolfs down the food. Eventually the tray is empty and he laps up the remaining water in his bowl.

John has apparently stayed to watch, which Peter finds a little intrusive, but no matter. Now fed and watered, he takes the corner of John's jacket in his teeth and tries to gently tug him towards the door.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

*John looks down at the wolf tugging him towards the door.*

*He raises an eyebrow*

You want to be left alone, do you? Well I do have rather a lot of work to catch up on, it must be said.

Goodbye, then, Peter. I shall visit later, no doubt!

*John makes his way out of the cell, nudging Peter back so he doesn't get hurt by the wards.*

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*No, you stupid man, I want to get out of this cell again.

Peter whines and pushes forward until his nose is almost touching the wards, putting his body in the way of John's attempts to shut the door.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

Wha- What are you-

...you're not permitted to come with me, Peter!

[therealpm.livejournal.com]

*Peter sits on his haunches and whines.*

[bamfbercow.livejournal.com]

No, Peter!

*John pushes the wolf backwards and slams the door shut quickly. He ignores Peter's whining and returns to his work.*