Issue 1 Downtime

"God this sucks," Brigid grumbles, leaning against the wall in her infirmary bed the morning after. She's all cleaned up, and her arm certainly doesn't look like Murphy bit her there. She's eschewed her glasses for the time being, since it's not as if they were prescription anyway.

"I mean, we're fine, right?"

Steph looked tired and extremely worried as she leaned against the wall of Brigid's room.

"Well. Magic and curses aren't really my specialty..." she said. "But I'm almost positive I saw you with bite marks last night, and I certainly smelled your blood."

She chewed her lip nervously. "And if she did bite you, then..."

"I certainly don't feel particularly bad, though I did sleep like a log last night," Theresa said, fiddling with her laptop. It must have just been a scratch on her shoulder because it was healing up nicely. "I do have the munchies though."

"Oh, don't remind me. Are you sure we can't go to the cafeteria?"

Shoot...they're already hungry...

"Yes. I'm sure," she said firmly. "You two do both realize what getting injured by a werewolf might mean, right?"

"Realized it before I agreed to keep Murphy company," Theresa said. "Didn't expect her to go Norse-nuclear, but sh-stuff happens." Apparently some old habits died hard.

"I think it's more likely that we're hungry because it's the morning after we frigging kick-boxed a wolf the size of a car."

"Secret's out, I swear like a sailor when my other half is driving, and I'm too tired to be bothered by other people's language choices, Theresa" she sighed.

"And I can get you some food. What...what are you guys in the mood for? I'll go to the cafeteria....heck I'll get into Maldon if need be."

"Old habits. And I could go for a steak," she said, smirking at Steph.

"Let's not bankrupt Steph, yeah?"

"I could totally demolish a burger or two, though."

"I'm kidding. Way to ruin the joke, Brigid. A sandwich would be fine."

Steph blanched at the joking about meat, then smirked slightly.

"You two...okay. I'll be back in a few with some food. And if you're still hungry after what I bring you, I'll officially be worried."

She turned to head out the door, then hesitated and turned back in. "And don't go wandering off either."

"Alright, alright, Mom," she groans.

"Why on earth would we go wandering off? I've got my laptop and I'm not in class. Everything is awesome."

Stephanie returned some time later with four double cheeseburgers. And hash browns, because while the cafeteria staff was willing to make burgers for breakfast, they apparently drew the line at cooking up fries this early in the morning.

"Okay. If you're still hungry after this, then I'll officialy worry" she smirked

"Ooh, score. Thanks, Steph," she grins, taking the offered food and eagerly unwrapping a burger.

"Yeah, I appreciate it," Theresa said, opening hers and taking a bite out of it. "So official worry... how does that differ from normal worry?"

"Normal worry is is mostly me being a worry-wort, official worry is 'I have realistic concerns that us three and Murphy will be having discussions about how best to mitigate clothing malfunctions the night of the next full moon.'"

"Well you and Murphy manage, right?" She asks between bites.

"It took me nearly three years to get to a point where I'm not shifting involuntarily. I still get...edgy...around the full moon, even though it's not even really a *thing* because my shifting is part of my mutation, not some curse that I can pass along."

Steph sat down in a chair in the room along one of the walls.

"It's just a big adjustment for anyone to make. And if you are...infected, cursed, whatever you want to call it, then you *can* pass it along as well," she sighed.

"And have I mentioned the part where for most people the transformation where all of your bones and muscles rearrange themselves is really, really painful?"

"I guess my point of view is that until we know, worrying doesn't help us. And if it is the case, worrying could just make the situation worse."

"Yeah, I guess I'm just not sure how this helps. Not that I mind the present company or anything," she says as she starts in on the second burger.

"Do you normally eat two double burgers in a sitting?" she asked.

"Maybe if I've really been pushing myself? I mean, we had a helluva workout."

"I'm still working on my first one," Theresa said, though she was most of the way through the burger.

Steph still had her arms crossed in worry.

"I guess you're right about worrying...can't help it. Still just...be aware of yourself this month. If your find your senses are hyper-sensitive, or you're unusually hungry or aggressive, please, talk to me or Murphy."

"Well I guess I'm just a pig then, whatever." She chuckles.

"I'm not trying to be hard on you here, Steph."

"I'm not either," Theresa said, "And don't beat yourself up about this. Seriously."

"Can't help but feel responsible. Maybe not for you, Theresa...like you said, you knew what you were signing up for...but you Brigid. I should have never let you go after Murphy."

"They're my friends."

"And if worst comes to worst, you've got more people to howl at the moon with," Theresa said with a smile.

Steph couldn't help but smile at that. "I...would like that a lot, actually."

"Well hey, if it turns out we really are infected, you're damned right I'm going to spend the moon with you guys, even if I don't have to."

"Yeah," Theresa agreed. "Even if I weren't starting to date Murphy, I'd say the same thing."

"Well...we'll have a werewolf 101 class once the full moon is getting closer. We'll probably know sooner rather than later."

"Well it's still... pretty full, isn't it? Or does that not count?"

"...I'm bad with the magic part of things."

She chewed her lip, "Well...maybe we find out tonight. I don't know if it takes a day or a month."

"Well... crap."

"...sorry. Hope you didn't have a date with Alex or something."

"No, no, just... short notice, yeah?"