[ miles catch-all: one-way train to crazy town ]

[forwardmomentum]

Who: Miles & company
When: March...ish. all of March. there u go
Where: assorted locations, mostly on the Moira
What: Miles's no good very bad brains month
Warnings: general mental illness, trauma/PTSD, discussion of sexual assault



starters go below, post one if ya feel like it or let me know if I should write one

Comments

[forwardmomentum]

Hm. Makes sense. [ he mulls this over with the rapid tap of his fingers against the bartop, as though keeping rhythm is helping him to stay alert and awake. ] Succumbing to your animal instincts -- something like that? I imagine that'd take just as much self control.

[whynotgoonmyown]

[He nods.] A bit more literal for me, since it'd mean literally become a wolf in mind and body, but yes.

[forwardmomentum]

That's sort of what I figured. Sounds like an exhausting way to spend a weekend either way.

[ but saying the words aloud only makes miles more keenly aware of how exhausted he is and god, he needs to not think about that right now. the drumming on the bartop gets faster, louder. ]

So...what d'you do when you're a wolf? You don't seem like the type to go in for squeaky chew toys.

[whynotgoonmyown]

[He makes a face at both the suggestion of squeaky toys and the drumming on the counter. He can tell that Miles is both restless and tired as hell, but now he's wondering just how deep does that exhaustion goes if he has to distract himself like that.]

No, acting like a dog isn't really in the agenda for most werewolves. Mostly we just together with either some friends, or relatives really, and spend the three days together. Where depends on things.

[forwardmomentum]

[ miles makes a slight face in apology, realizing he's stepped into tactless territory. that's really ivan's job. ]

Sorry, I didn't realize it was a family thing. Though I suppose it makes sense. So does getting bitten alter your DNA somehow, and make it a hereditary condition?

[whynotgoonmyown]

[He waves a hand.] No, no, it's fine. [Makes them even, really.] But to answer your question... Kind of, but not necessarily so. Like... My father is a werewolf, has been for most of his life, but my mother was human until she had me and my brother. So we were both born as humans. Werewolves are only born if both parents are werewolves, not just one. I only turned when my dad bit me when I was 12.

[forwardmomentum]

[ miles blinks in surprise once, twice, then his brow crease as he tries to decide if he heard that right. ]

Is that a family thing? Er...to turn your children, I mean?

[whynotgoonmyown]

[he shrugs.] Like, in general for werewolves? Kinda, if they want. My parents wanted me to wait until I was older, but I was an impatient little shit, so my dad caved.

[forwardmomentum]

Oh! So it was your choice, then. [ okay, that's a relief. he was worried at first that it was some sort of...initiation rite, regardless of one's wishes. not that he'd have judged or anything. he can't really talk, he's barrayaran. his chin jerks up and he regards tyler with genuine, if a little intent, curiosity. ] No regrets, I take it.

[whynotgoonmyown]

[He starts a bit as he catches up on what Miles had been thinking.] Oh! Yeah, no, it's very rarely done any other way; too big a change. But no, I don't have any regrets. I'd maybe wait a little more if I had to do it all over again, but otherwise...

[forwardmomentum]

[ he smiles a little crookedly. ]

In a way, I think I understand. I was so eager to be a soldier when I was a kid that I used to try running drills on my friends. I don't think they enjoyed it as much as I did. So -- does anyone ever choose to stay human? Is that an awkward family situation?

[whynotgoonmyown]

[He chuckles.] In all fairness, I didn't enjoy puberty as a werewolf either. I was moodier than anyone should have a right to be. [He then nods.] But yes, some do choose to stay human. It's... Rare, most of the time, and yes, it is awkward. I mean, for starters, it's pretty much a guarantee that your parents will outlive you.

[forwardmomentum]

Ah.

[ miles thinks about that for a minute with a slightly more sober expression. the wide disparity in life expectancies across the nexus isn't quite as applicable, but it's...similar. his betan mother, his barrayaran father -- no doubt that his mother will outlive the other. him, far less likely, being half-betan and that his mother didn't have children until she was thirty-five. still, there's a slightly distant look on his face before it vanishes with a jerk of his head. ]

Well, I suppose it's nice to have the choice, then.

[whynotgoonmyown]

Yeah... [He then flicks his eyes up to Miles's.] You ok? You looked a little distant there. [And just exhausted in general, but you don't need him to tell you that, surely.]

[forwardmomentum]

[ miles smiles tiredly. ]

Yeah, I'm alright. Just the talk of family got me thinking about mine, is all.

[whynotgoonmyown]

[He nods, understanding what Miles means perfectly.]

Alright. Change of subject, or do you have to get back to work?

[forwardmomentum]

[ miles sighs. ]

Yeah, I ought to. I've got inventory to do. But hey -- nice talking with you again, Tyler.

[whynotgoonmyown]

[He smiles and nods, raising his glass in goodbye.] Same to you. See you around.