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+---- Thread: cut our teeth and make our bones right here (/showthread.php?tid=7764)
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Remi - 07-23-2023
[say]"Oh...oh right."[/say] Forgetting that this was all about him, but in a much larger scale than he'd imagined, the wendigo lowers his eyes to somewhere around the arm of the chair on which Isla was sitting, and frowned. Whatever this meant to him, it was also the culmination of all of Isla's work as well, and how this turned out would directly reflect on her as a researcher and doctor. But gods he really didn't want to say what he needed to. [say]"I, uhm..."[/say] Would it be too much to ask her to turn around or just not look at him as he explained?
Clearing his throat, the wendigo moves the blanket off of his lap in a way he hoped was obvious. [say]"I had to...take care of something in the bathroom."[/say] He murmurs, feeling his cheeks growing hot. [say]"And when I say I had to, I mean it."[/say] Hopefully Isla could put two and two together from the wendigo having had an erection to suddenly not having one, such that he wouldn't be forced to elaborate.
Holding out his arm and trying to see if he could feel the effects of the IV, whether positively or negatively, the wendigo just nods. [say]"Does that mean...10 minutes is the limit, or..?"[/say]
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Isla - 07-23-2023
Busy checking the IV, trying to ensure she times it correctly lest human-Remi get sick from wendigo-Remi's lunch, Isla doesn't realise what he's trying to say at first. Obviously as he continues and Isla straightens up to look at him properly, all becomes painfully clear, and her eyes widen a little in surprise. [say]"Oh. Oh,"[/say] she says, blushing suddenly (mainly because she hadn't noticed than because it's something abjectly embarrassing).
[say]"Right. Well, I... I'd better note that down."[/say] So saying, she jots the observation down as a footnote (with a lot of asterisks) at the bottom of her paper. [say]"It might have just been the shock. But if it's a regular occurrence... probably something I should look into."[/say]
As for the time limit, at least Isla is much more confident about that. [say]"Not necessarily. With trial and error I should be able to develop something to last significantly longer. But it was all dependent on this first stage being successful."[/say] A timer on her watch goes off at that point, Isla moving to switch it straight off again. [say]"And that's ten,"[/say] she says. [say]"How are you feeling?"[/say]
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Remi - 07-23-2023
Wanting to cover his face with the blanket and instead just staring blankly down, Remi nods stiffly before giving in to his impulses and rubbing his palms over his face. Mumbling something in Italian into his hands, Remi sighs heavily as he shifts ever so slightly on the bed. [say]"If it could not be a regular occurrence...I would appreciate it."[/say] He murmurs, before looking up to the ceiling and forcing out a nervous laugh. [say]"It's been years though, so I'm hoping it's just that..."[/say]
Masturbation aside, at least Isla knew that part of his medical history.
[say]"Error? You? Unlikely."[/say] The timer has the wendigo starting slightly as if expecting at any moment to simply become a monster again. When nothing happens at first, he simply looks at Isla with his eyebrows raised
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Isla - 07-23-2023
[say]"Of course,"[/say] Isla says with an apologetic smile. [say]"It isn't something I honestly looked into when I was developing the serum, so... well, this is a surprise for the both of us."[/say] Uncontrollable libido - the side effect no one is ever expecting. [say]"If we keep trialling this dose - tweaking it as needed, of course,"[/say] because that sounds better than masturbation-dependent, [say]"I'll try to introduce further tests, so we can make sure it won't get overridden if someone cuts themselves around you, for instance."[/say]
About to give a wry agreement about the likelihood of making an error, it does seem as though Isla's timings are off in this case, the doctor frowning and looking him over. [say]"No change at all?"[/say] She tilts her head, glancing at the IV in Remi's arm as if wondering whether to halt it just in case. [say]"Let's give it another minute. It's always possible that your body took to it better than anticipated."[/say]
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Remi - 07-23-2023
A surprise for the both of us, the subtitle of Remi's sex-tape.
Nearly the wendigo makes a joke about Isla not being thorough enough, before all the horrifically cheesy medical-porno lines that would spawn scream into his mind and he immediately squeezes his eyes closed. [say]'Are you going to let me know ahead of time, or...?'[/say] Or should he just expect someone to walk into the room with a bloody arm to see if it had any effect at all. [say]'I should mention that one thing Ronin and I noticed was that his blood doesn't seem to have the same effects on me.'[/say] Just in case Isla thought about introducing Ronin as part of the trial.
Sitting up slightly straighter and trying to really concentrate on things, the wendigo tilts his head to the side in an affectation of listening. [say]"I can't hear your pulse."[/say] He says, before looking down at one of his hands. [say]"And this all looks nor-"[/say] Details snarl into focus, and the world around him which had been pleasantly dulled down suddenly erupts with sensory inputs. Moaning in protest, the wendigo lurches forward as the muscles of his stomach contract and cramp, followed in tandem by those in his arms and legs.
Gasping for breath that suddenly felt unnecessary, Remi reaches forward for the arm of Isla's chair. The wood and plastic splinter between his fingers, throwing him to the ground once more at Isla's feet.
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Isla - 07-23-2023
[say]"At first, yes,"[/say] Isla says (though of course, all of this hinges on the fact that Grimm doesn't catch wind of the trials). [say]"But as we continue, I might throw a few surprises in there just to cover all of our bases."[/say] The fact that she can say it with an amused smile is telling enough; despite the snags and noted side effects, this has arguably been a complete success. The note about Ronin, however, is something entirely new.
[say]"Interesting,"[/say] Isla murmurs, and she means it. [say]"I wonder if it's because of repeated exposure? Though that shouldn't make a difference. It isn't as if Ronin's blood is any different to any other human blood. Maybe I'll have to get him in here for a few t--"[/say] Of course, Remi wendigoes back to normal at that moment, Isla starting to get to her feet only to find herself slightly pinned in by the way he hits the ground before her.
[say]"Shit. Alright, thirty seconds late,"[/say] she mutters to herself, trying to reach for the IV to draw it closer lest Remi rips it out of his arm. [say]"It's okay. Take it slow,"[/say] she murmurs, knowing better than to reach out for her patient who has just warped and cracked a wooden chair with his bare hand. [say]"I feel as though I should get some carpet put down in here, though."[/say] You know, since he's spending so long on the floor.
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Remi - 07-23-2023
Are we sure Ronin's blood isn't different from any other human blood? For all of the wendigo's honesty, he is happy to keep this back from Isla. The next time he's alone with the hunter though, he'll be sure to ask if any of his fae bullshit might not have had an effect at the cellular level.
For the second time today, Remi nearly mocks Isla's suggestion of taking it slow, but he finds that his jaw has locked shut. Though her words feel like a scream in his ears, the wendigo is too focused on the drumbeat of Isla's pulse that sings a siren song his talons and teeth are keen to answer. The collar keeps him from acting on these impulses, such that it's merely a salivating and snarling blob of a man at Isla's feet who hisses something hateful in response to her jest about carpeting.
Unlike the transformation in the opposite direction, now that Remi's wendigo senses are back in control, the transition is much swifter. After only seconds he's able to straighten, releasing the splintered wood of the chair and leaning back against the bedframe. Regarding Isla with too-pale eyes once more, Remi's movements are once again predatorily sharp and his breathing and blinking nonexistent. Looking at the IV still in his arm, the wendigo flexes his hand as if he might increase the speed of the drip.
[say]"Had this collar not been here..."[/say] Remi says in a careful voice as he looks at Isla and gives his head a slight shake. [say]"Even with the IV.."[/say] He finishes the shake of his head.
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Isla - 07-23-2023
The situation goes for the both of them; if Remi's collar hadn't been there, Isla might be missing a jugular right now. And if she wasn't a doctor and hadn't done so much extensive research on Remi's condition, she might have panicked and tried to run. As it so happens, while it might look counterintuitive, Isla has remained exactly in place so as not to act quite so much like prey. Only when Remi comes back, for lack of better word, does she let out the breath she's been holding.
[say]"Understood,"[/say] she murmurs, knowing better than to continue to jest at the very real possibility of losing her life to a lack of failsafes. [say]"Next time I'll make sure you're given enough space to make the transition as easy as it can be."[/say] And suddenly Isla finds herself frowning softly at Remi, as if already missing the green-eyed man who had been able to sit so comfortably in her presence. (Er, erections aside, of course).
[say]"I'm so sorry this happened to you, Remi,"[/say] she murmurs, shaking her head; she can't ever remember having said it, not in all this time. [say]"It can't be easy, having these instincts but still being so self-aware."[/say]
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Remi - 07-23-2023
Had Isla said as much while Remi was still on the before side of the serum, he might have flushed, might have swallowed and sighed, might have blinked and turned away. Now, he only regards her with too-still eyes that see everything. [say]"Don't ever let Grimm get ahold of this."[/say] Remi says in a low voice as he gazes up at Isla from the floor. Because no, it isn't easy, and had it been anyone else in the room with him right now, Remi might have lashed out at them simply because he could. That it was Isla was the only reason he had remained on the floor instead of reminding anyone watching what a monster he actually was.
[say]"You have no idea."[/say] He adds after a moment in a low voice, and though he's pulled his eye-line down, he doesn't need to see Isla to hear the small sips of air she takes through her nose or the pitter-patter of her pulse. Pressing a fingertip between his eyes and tapping it there softly, the wendigo gives his head a small shake. [say]"If there's nothing else you need...I think I'd like to be alone."[/say]
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Isla - 07-23-2023
[say]"She'd have to kill me to get it,"[/say] Isla says quietly, and given that the doctor isn't one for hyperbole on the best of days, odds are good that she means it. [say]"I'm the only one doing the research. I don't even have any lab assistants, just in case."[/say] In case they're in Grimm's pocket, in case they go rogue with it, or - perhaps worst of all - in case they get over-familiar with Remi, make a silly mistake and end up being another source of his guilt.
[say]"Yes, of course,"[/say] she murmurs, rising to her feet at last and moving to gather the tools and her notes. [say]"There shouldn't be any further testing today - I blocked the time out as a precaution, in case there were any adverse effects to the serum. So nobody should bother you unless you call."[/say] With a weak smile, Isla leaves Remi to it and heads out of the room. The door hisses in place and a lock clicks - and a few seconds later, blinds descend over the windows into his room. Maybe the cameras even go into sleep mode - who knows?
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Remi - 07-23-2023
Finding little consolation in Isla's words if only because they both know that Grimm would have no qualms about killing the good doctor, stealing her research and getting Remi all to herself, the wendigo just nods.
For anyone watching the live stream of Remi's room, it will appear to have frozen. If not for the time stamp on the bottom dutifully ticking out seconds and minutes and then finally hours, one wouldn't be faulted for thinking something had happened, that's how impossibly still the wendigo had been ever since Isla had left him.
Having retreated deep into his own mind, the wendigo allowed memories of his last night with Carmelita to drown out his senses. Images of her blurred with Isla's face and he wondered how long it would be before he killed her too. Surely it was only inevitable; he was a monster after all, and despite how very sorry everyone was about it, not even Isla's serum had changed it. Just as with his little vacation with Ronin, it would always inevitably end with him returning to who he was, back in this pink, green, or white room.
Later that day? evening? night? when the light above the door began to flash indicating someone was about to enter, the wendigo straightened, suddenly very much hoping and praying that it was one of the interns who would drag him out to the front where Ronin would be there to collect him.
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Ronin - 07-23-2023
Good news, Remi - it's not just an intern, it's the man of the hour himself! (Cue the crowds going wild, cheering, etc.) When Ronin steps into the room it's with a scrunch of his nose to see the walls so stark and white again, and he's already got the wendigo's trenchcoat folded over one arm and his good ol' trusty silver chain in the other hand. One might expect him to have been absolutely oblivious to how Remi's day has gone, but that's underestimating how invested Ronin has become in his friendship with the other man.
Isla has filled him in on the serum-side effects-creepy livestream situation, and Ronin has watched the last few minutes of footage back himself. Unfortunately Remi has already received one hug from him today, so he'll have to make do with Ronin tossing the trenchcoat at him instead. [say]"Ever fought a banshee?"[/say] He grins. [say]"And do you want to?"[/say]
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Remi - 07-23-2023
Remi doesn't sigh with relief or anything of the sort, though he does grin roguishly as the hunter enters. Standing, his reflexes cat-like such that he snipes the trenchcoat out of the air and already has one arm through the sleeve by the time Ronin's question hits his ears. Shrugging his arm into the other sleeve, the wendigo straightens and grins, looking both murdery and eager. [say]"No, and yes."[/say] He answers, moving toward Ronin before tilting his head to the side so that he could be tethered for their walk out.
Having not realized just how much he'd missed the hunter, it's with one of his feet cocked out at a 90 degree angle toward Ronin's own that he does his best to slyly trip his partner up as they exit his
[say]"Is it just us..?"[/say] He wonders under his breath. [say]"If not, given the day I've had so far...it might be best if it's just us."[/say]
RE: cut our teeth and make our bones right here - Ronin - 07-23-2023
It's telling that Ronin is able to leash Remi with a mere flick of his wrist at this point, and between that and the wendigo seamlessly shrugging into his coat, anyone watching on the cameras might well think this was choreographed. [say]"I was hoping you'd say that,"[/say] he says sunnily, only for Remi to decide to try and trip him up. It works too, and Ronin absolutely stumbles, only to slo-mo exaggerate it into a full, dramatic fall. A fall that, naturally, Remi will be forced to join in with, given the leash.
[say]"Oh no, gravity,"[/say] Ronin complains when they've both appropriately said hello to the ground, playfully sneering at the other man. [say]"Well, shit. I suppose I'll cancel the group outing, then."[/say] It's only a joke, thankfully, Ronin getting back to his feet and walking them out towards the exit. [say]"Just us,"[/say] he confirms, in case Remi needs it saying. [say]"I figured it would be good to get back into the swing of things."[/say]
As for the type of day Remi's had, although Ronin already knows to some extent, he still waits until they're officially signed out and heading up towards the tunnels before speaking again. [say]"You want to talk about it?"[/say]