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

[bamfbercow]

*John has finally made his way past all the standard, predictable, boring parliamentary paperwork to the good stuff. Not that the work of the everyday parliamentary sitting was bad or not as important exactly, but there were certain things that John had more of an interest in than others. The pile he was about to tackle was, to him, the most interesting of all - protected by parliamentary privilege and exempt from most FoI requests, the workings of the Committees of Prestidigitation covered the most secret of all of Parliament's business; the magical side of parliament. Statute and tradition had allowed this element of the legislative process to remain mostly hidden - John can still remember the first time he had dealings with the Commons committee...*

*He sighs with nostalgia before dragging the top sheet towards him.*

*A proposal for the regulation of a specific subset of magical plant - the fifth time John has seen such a proposal in his time as Speaker. He knows the bill won't make it past second reading, but the debates are always entertaining. Calls for the standardization of wand sizes, the arbitrary relocation of pixie populations, tax exemptions for magic circles... John adored this part of his job. He flicked through the rest while sipping at his cup of tea. It was only when a particular word jumped out at him that he stopped to exam in the minutia of the text...*

*Werewolf*

*If John were permitted to have opinions on such things, he'd certainly believe the steps proposed in the bill (carried over, he noticed) to be in the right direction. A little short of what should be achieved at this point in the liberation of people-of-change, but it's better than nothing, he would think. John certainly doesn't begin to mentally write a list of people to send the bill to in order to try and get backing for the legislative proposal. Curious, John looks to the names in the fine print. When Peter's name doesn't jump out at him, he's not sure what to think.*

*He knows Peter - or, at least, The Machine - keeps on top of all the goings on in Parliament these days. Even if Peter isn't backing the bill in writing, he's at least keeping tabs on it... surely? Peter isn't that detached from the mainstream lobbying groups and the results they achieve is he?*

*Just to be safe, John takes a note of the reference numbers then returns to the pile. When he reaches the end he sends Peter a text.*

Text from 078## ######

Peter,

Just going through the paperwork ahead of the next session. Some interesting proposals from your place - have you seen the ones carried over?

-John

[therealpm]

*Apparently onsite visits to the island aren't allowed, even for peers of the realm. He does consider simply abstracting one of the inhabitants, but the remote Scottish island is a little too, well, remote for The Machine to guarentee any translocated individual would arrive in one piece.

The drumming of his fingers as he muses on the problem is interrupted by his phone buzzing.*

Text from 07### ######

John,

I've glanced over a few of them.

-Peter

*Social obligations discharged, he gets back to plotting the acquisition of a test subject.*

[bamfbercow]

*John's in the middle of making anther cup of tea when he gets the message. He very nearly spills boiling water on his hand but thankfully misses.*

Text from 078## ######

Peter,

I have them all here if you'd care to a look.

-John

[therealpm]

*He's got to the point of sketching out possible plans for breaking into the DEFRA holding cells by the time John's reply comes through. He could try pitching a research project on the matter to DEFRA and gain access that way, but if he goes via the offocial channels, they'll only hold him back with trivialities...*

Text from 07### ######

John,

not particularly. I have other matters to attend to at present.

-Peter

*Of course, he could always make his own test subjects...*

[bamfbercow]

*...Oh. That wasn't the reply John was expecting. Peter's never normally that busy - or, certainly, he's normally not busy for very long.*

Text from 078## ######

Peter,

Just wondered if you'd seen Fowler's contribution, really. I've got the text in full and the proposed timetable here if you'd like to have a look over it in the near future.

-John

[therealpm]

*He'd need to track down the cause of his own lycanthropy of course, in order to be able to induce it in others, but he's confident he'll manage to do it eventually. Yes... if you want to do something right, you do tend to need to do it yourself.

Oh... another text message.

Of course I've seen it, I wrote a fair portion of it!*


Text from 07### ######

John,

I am aware of it.

-Peter

[bamfbercow]

*Well... that's good. That's why John had texted Peter in the first place, after all. To make sure he was aware of the bill. It's only as John reaches for another biscuit that he thinks up remembers another reason for contacting Peter.*

*He rushes to the nearest shop, buys the most expensive tin of biscuits he can find and then transports himself to Peter's house via his own livingroom.*

Peter, I thought I should pay you back for the other night. I've got a tin of biscuits...

[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.