Journal

[therealpm]

My attempts to ascertain the original cause of my erstwhile lycanthropy not withstanding, this week has been reasonably productive.  Though the legislation surrounding lycanthropes will never be brought to a full vote in either House (how could it), there are various committees that decide on such matters and intensive lobbying is at last beginning to bear fruit.  Not, I will admit, intensive lobbying conducted directly by myself.  I suspect any overt moves made in such a direction would be immediately regarded with suspicion, but Fowler has taken up the cause with what might be considered alarming alacrity.  Though he (and indeed every other member of such a committee) will never be convinced of a werewolf's right to roam, he has at least instated an inherent right to life provided the lycanthrope is willing to take the daily potion, and removed the restriction barring partners from becoming a lycanthrope's legal guardian.  Small steps, perhaps, but welcome.

I therefore intend to spend some time improving the daily potion.  At present it is challenging, though not impossible, to brew correctly, and it has a rather repulsive taste.  I suspect DEFRA consider the sedative and weakening effects to be a feature, rather than a problem, but I suspect that taken over a long period it causes a gradual degardation of health.  This too must be addressed.

The exact combination of ingredients required is yet to be discovered, but given the healthy links I have maintained with various research institutions, acquiring any particular root or grub should not present too much of a problem.  The main difficulty will be finding a test subject.  I can of course use mice for the development stage, but they give so little feedback, and in any case, once the formula is past development and into trials, I will need humanoid test subjects anyway. 

I wonder how that scottish island community is getting on?

Comments

[therealpm]

....how ....kind.

*At some point I will remember to lock that man out.*

...would you mind putting them in the kitchen? I'll just clear some space.

*He shuffles the papers he's been working on into a pile as quickly as possible, trying to keep the more damning ones near the bottom and shoving a couple of newspapers on top.*

[bamfbercow]

*John does as instructed and puts the kettle on for good measure.*

I do hope I'm not interrupting anything important...

[therealpm]

As a matter of fact, you are.

*He doesn't actually mean to be this blunt, but he's feeling a little rattled.*

Thank you for the biscuits, John, it's very kind of you, but I really do have a lot to be getting on with.

[bamfbercow]

...Oh.

Right.

I- I'm sorry for interrupting whatever it is that...

*John begins to leave. He bumps into the table with all the papers on it.*

I'm sorry!

*John picks up the papers, apologising.*

Really, I... I...

...Peter. What is this?

[therealpm]

...nothing, just some idle thoughts.

Kettle's boiled!

*He snatches back the papers and shuffles them into a stack, which he takes through with him to the kitchen and holds tightly under one arm as he makes himself a cup of tea.*

[bamfbercow]

*John follows the other man through his house.*

Peter, is that a plan for another werewolf experiment?!

Do you not remember what happened last time? Could you not comprehend the possible repercussions of this action?! What in Merlin's name is wrong with you?

[therealpm]

I remember very well what happened, and given that we have no idea how I came to be a werewolf, nor whether the same cause could affect anyone else, don't you think the matter bears a little investigation?

[bamfbercow]

By the proper authorities, yes! Am I of the opinion that you should conduct highly sensitive, dangerous and illegal experiments? Of course not!

Whatever knowledge regarding your previous state you posses, please pass it on to authorities so charged with experimentation and investigation. I do not think it wise for you to attempt such yourself.

[therealpm]

*Peter sips his tea.*

You opinion has been noted.

[bamfbercow]

For some reason such responses to not elicit a positive reaction, Peter! I do hope you take the implication of such proposed experiments seriously.

[therealpm]

I take them very seriously.

...

John, you cannot seriously think that I have any desire to return to living in a cell.

[bamfbercow]

Of course not. But I do believe that you consider it possible to circumnavigate the legislative boundaries to allow yourself to experience a state of being - for whatever reasons - without the backlash of legal consequences.

[therealpm]

...and do you also believe this hypothetical belief of mine to be unfounded?

[bamfbercow]

That is not important. The issue is whether I believe such theoretical actions to be wise. I do not.

[therealpm]

How fortunate, then, that we are dealing only in theories and hypotheticals.

[bamfbercow]

If I were to come into contact with any evidence which would suggest that these hypotheticals were to become reality, I hope you are aware of the actions I would be forced to take.

[therealpm]

Loud, angry, whinging and the consumption of all my biscuits?

I will keep that in mind, John.

[bamfbercow]

*John isn't stupid - he's fully aware of the various layers of subtext hidden in the conversation. He's just not sure how to adequately express his concern.*

*He stutters, trying to get the words out.*

I... It's not that... Peter, surely you must... I mean it's clear... Of all the solutions...

*He pauses, looks at Peter. He sighs.*

*John rushes forward and hugs Peter, eyes closed.*

Please. Cease these contrivances. Your cessation of being would be most undesirable.

[therealpm]

*He very slowly and carefully puts his mug of tea down on the side then awkwardly pats John on the shoulder. He really hopes the other man isn't about to cry.*

...

...noted.

...

Would you like a cup of tea?

[bamfbercow]

*John takes a step backwards. He coughs, trying to regain some composure.*

If that isn't too much trouble.

[therealpm]

*He pauses for a moment, then shoves the stack of paper across to John.*

Go sit in the living room and work out where the weak points are in these hypothetical scenarios. I'll bring the tea and biscuits through in a few moments.

*Without checking to see if John has done as requested, he starts making a second cup of tea.*

[bamfbercow]

*By the time Peter comes through with the tea, John has divided the plans into different piles - "Not ethical", "Not practical", "Not advisable" and "No". He takes the offered tea from Peter and begins to go through his reasons for rejecting Peter's plans.*

[therealpm]

*He shoves the biscuits over, banging elbows in the process, and reminds John that his assets include the closest thing this world has to an all-knowing sentient supercomputer, a flying and duelling ace (flattery never hurts) and the best stocked potions laboratory in the country outside of Queen Mary, University of London. This results in some reshuffling of the piles and, at Peter's insistance, the creation of a fifth one labelled 'possible'.*

[bamfbercow]

*They spend the next half an hour bickering over details - Peter managed to get a "Not ethical" moved to "Not advisable" and John gets a "Possible" to "No". John can sense himself getting too wrapped up in the argument - he's losing sight of the big picture. Peter can't just go about conducting experiments in the middle of London that could result in free-range werewolves.*

I hope that all these hypothetical plans have the same starting safe-base of precautions. For a start, a remote, enclosed and highly protected place for them to take place.

[therealpm]

As remote, enclosed and highly protected as the cell you-... within which I was kept, certainly.