[Filtered to Herbert]

[greenmoonrising]

[Lots of ink splotches from where he's been holding the quill over the page while trying to write, chewing on his lip the whole time]

Hey.

Are you all right? You've been scarce...



Did I do something to pi offe





Did I piss you off, somehow? I haven't seen you in days and that's a bit weird when we're in the same dorm...

Comments

[preanimator]

[glances up, with a stricken, almost panicked expression] Please don't. It really hasn't got anything to do with you, I promise.

[Hey, Bruce? If you've got any particular enhanced smelling stuff going on right now, Herbert's just started sweating. He really, really doesn't want the werewolf finding out what's really bothering him, but he's just not socially adept enough to think up a good lie to cover.]

[greenmoonrising]

[Nostrils twitch a bit, noting the increase in sweat and frowns, wondering why Herbert's so nervous. Then comes across a though and asks, uncertain and just a bit hurt:]

Is it... the werewolf thing? Grossing you out?

[preanimator]

[genuine startlement - he forgets how sensitive Bruce is about that] What? No, of course not! Why would I want to help you if it bothered me? I think it's interesting. [A little too interesting, truth be told.]

[greenmoonrising]

Then what is it? [Looks increasingly concerned.]

[preanimator]

I told you, it's nothing to do with you. [looking away again] There's no reason to talk about it. It'll be fine. Can't we just get back to this homework?

[greenmoonrising]

I hate to sound like a needy girlfriend but you don't talk to me any more.

[preanimator]

I've been busy. And what is there to say? You've got [gestures vaguely] other concerns now, and maybe this makes me a terrible friend, but I don't really want to hear you gushing about Stark.

[staring fixedly at the tabletop]

[greenmoonrising]

[Looks for a moment like he's been slapped. Hard.

Then asks in a quiet voice:]

... So this is about me dating Tony?

[preanimator]

[sighs, and pinches the bridge of his nose under his glasses ... but at least Bruce doesn't seem to have figured out that he's jealous. Maybe he can make this work for him.] Bruce. You know we don't get along. I recognize that you've wanted to get with him for a really long time, and it's lovely and all that's it happened for you, you deserve to be happy, but that doesn't really mitigate the fact that Stark is a complete prat who always gets whatever he wants the moment he snaps his fingers. I think you can do loads better, and I think it's shite that Stark gets handed someone as good as you on a silver platter, and I doubt he'll ever even really appreciate it.

[looks up, and the expression in his face is tired, a little sad, and probably older than should be on a 16-year-old's face] But you're not going to want to hear that, which is why I wanted to avoid this whole stupid conversation.

[greenmoonrising]

[Looks equally tired and a tad sad but earnest as always.]

I know you don't really get along and yeah, I'm not too fond of hearing people telling me how bad Tony and I are for each other but... It's not as if my life revolves around him, we can still talk and not have it keep going back to our relationship.

[preanimator]

Isn't that pretty much the most important thing in your life right now?

[greenmoonrising]

It's important but it doesn't have to take precedence over everything. [Shrugs.] I mean, it's my sixth year, exams are coming up soon, and I have other friends I hang out with.

[preanimator]

He sleeps in your bed with you. It's a bit hard to avoid when we're in the dorms. [points out, fiddling with his quill again as he looks at the tabletop] I'm all right with this, when we're studying, but ... it sort of does take precedence when you two are in the room together.

I'm just trying to be a good friend, and staying out of it right now. You can have your little [can't help the slightly bitter twist in his voice, but he tries to keep it off his face, at least] honeymoon period, and then things will go back to normal, I expect.

[greenmoonrising]

Tony's been sleeping in my bed for years now, why should it be any different now? It's not like I'm going to have sex with him, especially when he's a minor.

[Mistakes the bitterness as Herbert wanting a relationship of his own and fidgets a bit]

If it makes you that uncomfortable I can get him to stop using my bed...

[preanimator]

[glances up, a bit surprised] What do you mean, you aren't going to have sex? You surely can't be waiting until you're married can you? I don't even know if wizards allow homosexuals to marry - it doesn't seem likely, considering how much importance they put on blood status.

[besides] And I know how pushy Stark is. [wrinkles up his nose - he knows that all too well] I don't really want to have to listen to that, thanks. Even if you don't do anything, he's going to try, and keep trying, you know he is.

[greenmoonrising]

Good thing I'm as stubborn as a mule then. [Shrugs with a small embarrassed smile.]

I didn't mean until I'm married but... I probably won't be keen on sex. For a long, long time.

[preanimator]

Why not? [Can't help but be a little sidetracked by that.]

[greenmoonrising]

Because I grow fur and fangs whenever I experience strong emotions or a jump in heart rate. Last I checked, sex kind of combines the two.

[preanimator]

There are potions and spells that could help with that. [The words are out of his mouth before he thinks about it, that he could be seen as offering help to get Bruce laid by Tony, oh god, that was stupid.]

[greenmoonrising]

I'm not risking it. It's too dangerous. [Shrugs and glances down at his hands.] I mean, most calming draughts don't work on me either. Might be from increased metabolism or something but yeah...

[preanimator]

Yes, I actually had an idea about that ... [cuts himself off] Well, anyway, I suppose that's neither here nor there.

[greenmoonrising]

[Glances at Herbert and gives him a wry smile.] Let's make a deal - you don't tell Tony about these ideas. It'll make my life easier and out of trouble for defiling a minor.

[preanimator]

Oh, no, that's not what I mean, this wouldn't be very useful for- [Herbert cuts himself off, and then gives Bruce a curious look before glancing down at his paper again, wondering why on earth Bruce thinks he'd seriously get in trouble for fooling around with Tony. Other than the normal school rules around that kind of thing. They were only two years apart, and who would report them or even care if they were? It wasn't as though the police were going to show up and clap him in chains.]

It's none of his business anyhow. But I might have figured out a way around your metabolism. Still very theoretical, but ... possibly something.

[greenmoonrising]

[See that gleam of interest in Bruce's eyes? It's the light of SCIENCE.] Really? Care to tell me about it?

[preanimator]

[Herbert wars with himself - does he really want to get into a heated discussion that's just going to painfully remind him how well he believe Bruce is suited for him? But in the end, his desire to brag and share his knowledge wins out.]

Well, I can't be sure without blood tests - there's not enough research on lycanthropy looking at the physical changes unrelated to magic. But thyroid hormones often cause an increased metabolism, as you have, with things like Grave's disease - sufferers often are irritable, have an increased heartrate, weight loss, and hyperactivity. If thyroid hormones are playing a part in your transformation, or even just your increased metabolism, then an antithyroid agent could be useful, though there might need to be some magical alterations.