recommence | 2 - {audio}

So! Uh. Hi, everyone.

Question for the masses.

[Bennett fidgets a bit with his communicator, fingers audibly shuffling up the side and back down.]

If, if I haven't met you yet, my name's Bennett Marrow. I was a professor and researcher, back home. I-- I had a little bit of a second job, too.

[Evasive, but he's getting to it.]

Um, my question is kinda... multi-part, bear with me here.

So, we've-- we've been here for a little while, some of us longer than others, and, uh. I'm, I'm always looking for ways to understand the world around me. Aaaaand, uh, obviously, there's-- there's a lot to understand here. So, if anybody has any information about the nature of the Black Tide, or-- or, the previous ship that I've heard about, the MS Elegante-- could you please contact me? I would love to interview anyone who would care to step forward so we all have a log of information about our, uh, houseboat. Boat-home. This will not be confidential and I will be happy to share it with anyone who needs it at any time.

Also, on the, uh, confidential side of things. I, uh-- I know there are some other nonhuman and supernaturally-inclined beings-slash-people on this boat. If you need any help-- if you need anything, please let me know, okay? I'm-- I'm never going to tell anyone, but I know how-- h-how terrible it feels to try and find the help you need all alone. I'm, I'm a werewolf myself. I, I ran into a few of you last weekend.

I used to run a network for the supernatural crowd so I could bring help to anyone who needed it. I might not have all the tools I used to, but I know I can build that network here again.

[He sighs and runs his hand through his hair, fiddling with the communicator again.]

This-- this got kinda long. Sorry, everyone. Anyway. Um, I'd normally tell you to meet me at my room if you didn't want to talk over the network, but, uh, it's-- it's flooded entirely right now, so I'm, uh-- you can find me in the back corner of the shopping area. I've made a little, uh, cave.

Hit me up if you need anything. This is, is, B-bennett Marrow, signing off.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Alex makes a face as a Ben says that he hadn't really found anywhere to contain anything. He exhales and leans back in his chair, worrying at his lower lip. He looks up at the sincerity in Ben's voice, however, ad the other man says he's likely not too much to handle.

His expression is a little bemused when he speaks next.]

Babysitting a feral shifter sounds about as much fun as being said shifter, Ben. You ever babysat an oversized big cat? Like... tiger sized? I'm not average leopard size when I shift on the full moon... And if I slip into my half form things could get even worse. [He wasn't trying to dissuade Ben so much as make sure he knew what he was getting into.] I have three forms, including what you have here.. and while this is the prettiest, it's also the least threatening. I can be an above average sized leopard, a human or in between the two.

[He falls quiet, though, his hackles rising at the last as he sits up a little straighter and leans in.] He would harm a shifter, or me in particular?

[Ben leans out of camera frame for a second to jot some notes. Alex having a half form-- "imperfect" in Bennett's notes, based on his own classifications-- is interesting and slightly worrisome. Imperfection in lycanthropic shifts in Bennett's world only refers to physical forms. Those half-forms are a lot smarter, usually.]

A-alex, I normally sleep through my transformations, g-given the option. The only difference here is I might just sleep on you. My, the, the, uh, w-wolf form is pretty, pretty big. So. I think we'll be-- b-be okay. I've done this before, just-- just not with wereleopards. Normally werewolves.

But as to the, uh-- he seems... he seems like a man who can be reasoned with, but... we have to keep you safe, and-- and keep everyone else safe. This place... the more I learn, the more dangerous it starts to sound.

[Alex sees Ben lean out of frame and the scratching of pen on paper isn't lost to his sharp hearing. It doesn't upset him, as he'd taken more than his fair share of notes when the changes had begun to be and others... let alone when he hung out with Marcus and his pack.

The fact that Ben is still willing to go out of his way for someone he's just met warms Alex's smile, even as the topic doesn't warrant it.]

I appreciate that, Ben... can't say that I know many that'd make an offer like that. [There's a flash of that winning smile again, only it slips when Ben describes the hunter amongst them.]

I'm more concerned about others... I can take a licking and keep on ticking, so I'm not worried about me. I... I don't want to hurt anyone else... [Or infect them. Would it work here, or were people safe? Was he only a great as an animal and not as the contagious lycanthrope.]

I mean, we-- w-we can always barricade your door. Keep you locked in. If you think you're going to hurt me, I'll-- I can sleep outside. even if you do hurt me, it's going to be a lot to take me down.

[His only concern is that Alex could hurt him enough to make the wolf take over. He... doesn't want to even broach that subject.]

Really, the-- the concern I have, is... i-if you were to hurt someone else, they're.... they're going to hurt you back. Possibly badly. We have... w-we have some characters on this boat, you know?

I-if you don't want me around, I'd-- I'd say lock yourself up and hope for the best.

[Ben, you've sorely impressed Alex this day and earned yourself one hell of a friend. He nods silently in response, because as little as he likes the idea of injuring his new friend, he knows that there is little other option in ways he can go at this. He's trapped in a boat, for fuck's sake.

When Ben says he can just stay away, Alex's gaze shoots up and he shakes his head.]

No! No, I do... nobody has ever understood that wasn't a shifter... I'd like your help... [A tremulous smile... it's the first time Alex hasn't looked 110% confident in everything he's saying or doing.] I don't want to go through it alone.

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