"Good morning Lucifugus. To help get your blood flowing,would you mind running in place for a few-- " Sutcliffe started to ask.
"Skip me the false courtesy and just do what you came for," he hissed.
"Well! I apologize for ruining your day beta Lucifugus,' Dr. Sutcliffe sneered.
The injection of wolfsbane already taking effect. Lucifugus fell quiet as his senses dulled and he felt dizzy.
The second injection just above the middle of his back increased the dizziness and he leaned forward as though he was actually going to get on the bed he stood in front of.
Then was the last injection on his lower back.
The third one like always felt like a sort of betrayal. His head would briefly feel deceptively clear, his senses almost functioning normally only for him to completely shut down and be virtually useless as a werewolf. Any limited abilities connected to it such as manifesting ears, tail, or even growing needed patches of fur for self defense against weapons.
Talking to his wolf was of course out of the question. Interacting with him on the best of days was physically draining and it was easier to just not to. Although he does miss the connection sometimes, considering that he avoided talking to Bandersnatch after a few attempts went south.
The abilities would slowly return over the week as the effects of the injections waned. Moreso when he used them at night as Nouveau Eclipse. But for almost 24 hours he would be a human in everything but name.
The sudden languish pace his body functioned at was a drastic change that made him feel like he felt uncomfortably hot.
"As you know for the remaining duration of the day you can keep the silver chains off. They will need to be on again tomorrow." Sutcliffe was saying. But he'd heard the speech so many times, aside from having it memorized, he didn't want to hear it.
He cast a glance at the chains in question, lying on the bed. Then he was unprepared, despite how often it happened for the bile rising up in his throat as for a dangerous few seconds the room seemed to spin when he took a step. He deeply regretted buying that drink from earlier.
Though it was supposed to substitute him purposely skipping breakfast, all it really meant was that he now had something to vomit on days like this where moving after the injections nearly sent him to his knees on the ground. He barely managed to walk into the bathroom in his room, lifted the toilet seat and promptly regurgitated the contents of his stomach.
"How have you been handling your prescription painkillers for your headache problem?" Dr. Sutcliffe asked over him retching. He felt a spark of anger at the blithe question.
"I stopped taking the painkillers because they make me nauseous. I told you this the last three visits," he said irritably.
"Right. Have your headaches progressed?" Dr. Sutcliffe asked in a most likely fake concerned tone.
"You've given me the injections already. If you are trying to make a point about something, leave me alone," he lifted his head and snapped in a harsh tone.
"Of course," the man acknowledged and left the room. It was good because he would have resorted to throwing things at him otherwise.
He lifted a floor tile revealing a secret compartment filled with water bottles and grabbed one. Standing up, he took a swig of water then spat it into the sink. Making sure he had his bearings he turned the faucet to wash the sink, drinking more water as he did so. His eyelids fluttered tiredly and he brushed his teeth.Then grabbed his phone out his pocket sending a message to Dion that said 'hey can you come get me?'
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"Hey, get up sleepyhead." Cernunnos smiled gently. He was in his human form, for the first time in a while.
"Mmm..."Lucifugus groaned and rolled over. "He's right, you still should get up to prepare to go back to your quote unquote, hobby," Dion said from his right. "So get up and get some basic exercise in," he enthused.
He opened his eyes and immediately sulked, wishing morning had come later. He sat up and realized it wasn't morning but Cernunnos was merely manipulating how the sunlight filtered through the trees. It should have been obvious since the light was coming through from the wrong angle indicating it was now early evening. Perhaps four o'clock.
"What're you waking me up for? Day isn't over yet," Lucifugus grumbled.
'I'm tired... That one thing made me exhausted and I didn't even get to ask what I wanted.' He sat up. Then repositioned so he conveniently rested more on Cernunnos' lap. It wasn't where he intended to land but he was content to be there anyway.
"Dion...? What do you think I should get my sister in celebration of her coming of age ceremony?" He asked after a moment.
"I know the gift will probably just sit in her room, courtesy of not wanting anything to do with me but I still care and want my gesture to be genuine." He admitted.
"You're asking me?" Dionysus blinked.
"Out of the two of us, You have siblings," Cernunnos deadpanned at him.
"Turn back into that cute fluffy monster with the antlers, so I can cover you in dirt," Dionysus threatened.
"Do not ruin my coat," Cernunnos warned.
His attention turned back to Lucifugus "You seem bothered about something,"
"I feel like I'm forgetting something," he responded.
"Maybe it wasn't worth remembering," Dion suggested hopefully.
"Isn't that advice how one of your followers got into a bar fight and owed like ten people $200 and found out when everyone started showing up to collect?" Lucifugus asked.
"Hey when that happened he wasn't my follower yet," Dion defended.
"Maybe you should try to focus on it or something that happened around the same time as what you forgot," Cernunnos said casually.
Lucifugus was about to respond but Dion interrupted.
"I got it! You could just give her some of your money and call it a day," Dion smirked. "She's a girl so she'll probably want to spend it on books, food, books, Personal items.."
"You spend too much time around Athena," Cernunnos commented.
"You laugh but I'm right," Dion threw a stem of grapes at him. The grapes landed in the grass but the snake around his waist burrowed deeper into its cool resting spot. Hiding behind Cernunnos, not that Cernunnos seemed to mind. "You're scaring Carnegie," he mumbled absently.
"Hmmm, can I do that?" Lucifugus asked.
"How much should I give her?" he asked without waiting for a reply to the first question.
"Well, in the words of my older sister, calculate the average cost of what she normally buys for herself then-" He took one look at Lucifugus's contemplative expression and halted.
"I don't really know what my sister likes anymore. All my attempts to reach out and reconnect with her as a family ended up short." He relaxed on the makeshift bed. Also known as Cernunnos lap. He knew he should get up, but it was easier not to when he was content where he was.
"You'll be later than normal but for that alone you're staying another thirty minutes," Dion snorted running a hand through Lucifugus's hair, massaging his head. Lucifugus leaned into the touch, telling himself he would get up in five more minutes.
"Children. Children everywhere," Carmíllia facepalmed. Her curled light bubblegum pink hair with black undersides and streaks was pulled up in a ponytail, save for the curled streaks framing her face.
Carmíllia wore her white lab coat over her outfit; though this time the coat was open. Revealing a simple dress that has a decorated print of pink bat designs with spanned wings that connect to one another. In her hands is a portfolio, previous doctor's bag nowhere to be seen.
Dion did a double take and internally freaked out as he realized she was suddenly back.
"Oh that's right you had an injection appointment today. No wonder you seem so sluggish." Carmíllia said as her eyes rested on him.
Her deep purplish burgundy eyes fixed Lucifugus with a cool expression, although from her frown she still greatly disapproved of the persistent wolfsbane. Her pink signature dripping heart outline earrings swayed slightly.
Lucifugus sighed.
"Oh yeah they're starting the preparations for her coming of age ceremony today," he scratched his head. Dimly he noted he'd need to cut his hair as it had gotten long again. As it did when he experienced emotional stress.
'I'll need to make my own lunch and dinner tonight because the others will be working on the menu for her coming of age ceremony,' he thought.
'Something else... Something about today..' his foggy mind tried to think. He didn't remember anything after 11:42 am since that was about the time he got home after going to the Bookshop -
"Oh Crap! I forgot Wellesley! I just left him at the bookshop I think," he sat up abruptly.
Cernunnos'expression looked curious.
"Dion gimme some of my clothes," he said realizing that he still was only in his green apple t shirt and the cargo pants which now had grass stains.
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"Lycan Alpha Rasiel, You're here almost four hours early, I presume due to the upcoming festivities?" Alpha Blackwater stood by his daughter Luciana who looked a bit nervous but it was quickly hidden by a mask of amusement at seeing the Lycans face. The white limousine looked out of place in essentially the forest, but everyone in the vicinity looked awed that it was there.
"Children, we've arrived. You may leave the car and wander as you see fit," Macaulay Rasiel told his children who were very much young adults, like Lucifugus and Luciana.
"Yes father," both "Alya" Orchid Loomington and "Aytaç" Fallahan Loomington responded and exited the limousine. Practically the Prince and Princess of the Lycan monarchy.
"Aytaç" Fallahan Loomington had gotten taller since the last time she saw him. He'd been present the day Lycan monarch Macaulay Rasiel came to visit on her parents' wedding anniversary. His sister however was a new presence entirely.
Luciana felt proud of her height but both of them together made her feel short. Fallahan alone was about the same height as her brother.
"Aytaç" Fallahan Loomington had a formal charcoal grey and white pinstripe suit. His tosseled hair was brown with deliberate red and black streaks added in, almost meant to contrast from his serious expression and sharp eyes that looked like they had eyeliner. On his hand was a gold and purple knuckle ring on his right hand.
He shut the car door and greeted Luciana and her father cordially, as always. It was safe to assume he hadn't changed.
Alya Orchid Loomington wears a long purple tiger patterned sweater with gold leopard print on top and yellow trimming that's off the shoulder showing off two teal camisole straps. Over the sweater was a teal waist belt and under it were tight purple denim jeans covered halfway by her black, purple, and yellow wrapped sandals that are slit at the ankles with saber tooth fanged heels. She was a few inches shorter than her brother, but the cool aura of confidence she exuded made up for it.
Her brown and black hair is straight, going to mid thigh, even after being pulled back in a high ponytail. Following that apparently true rumor that Lycans typically have longer hair than normal werewolves. Mirroring her brother she has a gold and purple knuckle ring on her left hand.
"I... I can smell him... He's close. Very close" her wolf Māyā rātri announced in her head.
She turned around and came face to face with the man about her age and slightly taller than her, trying to walk around her without confrontation. He had an all black attire, consisting of a sweater that smelled oddly like apples, black pants and black sneakers. His hair was black which wasn't odd but rare for a community of werewolves with brown fur.
The hair was long tied in a braid and the bangs looked hastily brushed. She could only guess he'd been running around in his wolf form courtesy of a Houndstooth enhancement before this. His eyes were a soft grey that felt also slightly out of place.
He froze in place as he came to the realization she had. But he kept his face calm, eyes void of any betraying emotion.
"You, what's your name?" She asked. Māyā rātri seemed confident she knew who he was, almost singing in Alya Orchid Loomington's mind that he was her mate.