savetheearth | 36th Howl | backdated to April 17th, evening [Audio]

[A polite and somewhat embarrassed British voice comes onto the network. Someone still doesn't have a camera for his laptop. Someday, someday....]

Randall here. Ah, I meant to do this last month around this time, but I got a bit distracted....

I went away last month for spring break, which, lucky for me, happened to coincide with my changes for the full moon. Ah-- to newcomers, as I know we have many, I'm a werewolf. And a biology teacher at Locke high school. Pleasure to meet you.

[The embarrassment fades into something more professional, as he gets back on point.]

Anyhow. I went away with a couple of friends to test the changes to Locke's pulse boundary, and how that would affect my own changes and memories. Nick and I went away again this month. I'll admit, we didn't remember much the first time, but enough to at least keep us going. I didn't change for the nights around the moon, like I do while I'm here in the city, but I did change on the full moon... just not all the way. Teeth, eyes, a little fur, and certain aggressive impulses that are otherwise out of character for me-- enough that I definitely needed those friends to keep me in one place, and definitely enough to make us all believe that something worse would have happened if I'd stayed here. So leaving the city... really isn't entirely enough to keep uncomfortable abilities at bay, for those interested in such things, but it does help, if you take precautions.

[He pauses to sigh and gather his thoughts, after that, then finishes with:]

Interestingly enough, when we left again this month, we remembered the entirety of last month's trip on top of what vague memories we retained from the city. That did make everything a bit easier, this time. I know some of you will probably find that useful to know.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's good. Maybe it'll get easier each time now, if you're away from the city?

[He's just...not going to comment on that embarrassment. This sort of thing is sensitive, and besides, if Lyall went with Nick, Hajime can only imagine how that went without ~~a chaperone~~ his tagging along.]

[Thanks, Hajime. Your politeness is one the reasons Lyall likes you so much.]

I think the more I'm away, the easier it will be to keep control. It was worst that first time since I was taken so much by surprise, I think.

[Politeness? Or supreme awkwardness concerning any sort of romantic endeavors causing him to avoid the issue entirely? It is a mystery.]

Yeah, even with the notes, it was just too crazy to believe that first time.

[Either one means Lyall doesn't have to talk about it.]

Well, we believed it the second time, that's for certain. And probably even more, the next few months. I'm not sure how I'm going to explain being gone so often, but I'll think of something....

You could always make up some relative or another, say they're sick or need you that often. I did that a couple times in...uh...

[There's an embarrassed cough.]

...high school...

[And an awkward silence.]

Is that so.

[Now he's safe to be amused, since Hajime isn't in high school anymore, so there's no point to being annoyed after the fact. It isn't like he can put Hajime in detention, or anything.]

No.... As easy as that would be otherwise, I'm afraid the entire staff knows my only family lives in Iowa.

I didn't do it often...

[There's still a note of guilt there.]

You could always make up some friend or something to try it with, too. Or you could try to find a doctor on the network who'd write you some medical excuse.

Edited (Got to close them brackets) 2014-06-01 16:11 (UTC)

I did have that thought. And I may still, if I decide actually telling the principal is a bad idea. I need to feel her out for what she thinks about those of us on the network.

Yeah, if she thinks we're unfriendly monsters, I see how that might be a problem...let me know if you need the Lord of the Bugmen for anything.

You know, Nick offered to meet her, too.

[He sounds amused that his friends are making these kinds of comments.]

Or, well, threaten her. Politely.

Well, there's not that much difference between the two sometimes.

What, meeting and threatening politely? Well, I suppose meeting her as the Lord of the Bugmen would certainly seem threatening.

It's not my fault I've got a way with people when I'm in that form.

That's one way to put it. All the same, while I appreciate the offer, I think I'll try and handle it on my own, if it comes up-- it might not. I still might come up with a good excuse that she'll believe.

[He's just kind of doubting it.]

Good luck. And hey, you know where to come if she needs a little more persuasion.

36th Howl | backdated to April 17th, evening [Audio]

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