Not Sleeping Like a Dog

[grimbiker]

Who: Sirius and Open
What: A great big “dog” sniffing around the Rig. Come and get any much needed therapy dog cuddles and a much more understanding dog than most-- or just find him shapeshifting.
Where: About the rig
When: Night, prior to the Adverse Rig Event
Warnings/Notes: References to imprisonment and dealing with the effects of that. There will be talk of murder and probably PTSD flashbacks in the thread with Remus. Smoking in the thread with Saturday. Will add more here as needed.

I can switch to actionspam if you prefer that.


A. Padding Around (Open)

Sirius couldn’t sleep. Considering he wasn’t welcome in his room and also that he’d taken to spending his nights as a dog lately, this wasn’t surprising. Sirius first started his nightly wandering of the halls as his usual self, then turned into his Animagus form. It was easier to be a dog, less painful, and the smells were far more interesting.

He also had the vague idea that if he were caught like this, he might be in less trouble. Or he might be in more. He’d find out once that happened.

He didn’t check out any rooms just yet. He was just wandering around and getting a mental layout of the place. If anyone approached him, he’d wag his tail and walk slowly toward them. Just a normal, friendly dog. Granted, this dog was huge Newfound-like dog, the size of a short person. Black and shaggy, he could be either terrifying or adorable, depending on one’s view.

Unless they happened to catch him while changing back to Sirius Black, as he sometimes did. In which case, they’d just get a sheepish grin.


B. I Solemnly Swear I Didn’t Betray Our Friends (Closed to Remus)

To say it had been a long day was an understatement. Sirius longed to sleep. And they had actual beds here. On the way to his room he imagined what it would be like to have a nice, restful night in peace and quie--

He stopped just inside of his room. He knew he’d have a roommate, of course. He just didn’t think it’d be…

“Remus,” he said quietly. “This is your room?”

The last time they’d talked had not gone well. It’d been pretty close to explosive, really. Sirius had little hope that this time would be better.

Comments

[grimbiker]

Sirius thought back to all the times he'd had to contain a violent werewolf. "Yes, I remember," he mumbled. Then he caught himself. "Well, it sounds like we'll run into each other soon." He spread his hands and shrugged as if to say 'me too.' "Nightmares and all."

[credit_not_blame]

"Sounds like we'll be able to share notes at night then," Stacia said. "Unless Remus is also part of the nightmare party we'll have to dodge?"

It'd be interesting to find out how many of the "new hires" can actually get a good night's sleep. Might be worth setting up some late night planning sessions when all the pencilnecks are asleep.

[grimbiker]

Sirius flinched. "Jorgmund had the brilliant idea to make us roommates. He has the bed." Which was to say, Sirius wasn't welcome in Remus's vicinity and he didn't have a bed.

"I can't say if he has any nightmares." Though Sirius thought it was extremely likely. Sleep hadn't always comes easily during the war.

[credit_not_blame]

"Of course they did," Stacia said, rolling her eyes and bringing a hand to her head. "You could probably make a reasonably comfortable bed out of couch cushions, especially if you can sleep as a dog."

[grimbiker]

"I'm used to sleeping on the floor," Sirius replied offhandedly. After all, that was what one did in prisoners. It could hardly be news. "I can make myself comfortable anywhere. It's why I left him the room."

Well, not the only reason but a very good one.

[credit_not_blame]

"Do you get all the instincts and everything?" Stacia asked, cocking her head to the side. "When you turn into a dog, I mean. I can't imagine it's a purely bodily transformation if who you are as a person has an impact on what you turn into."

[grimbiker]

"Yes, but I'm still in control." He sighed and looked past Stacia. His gaze might have been mistaken for distant or long-suffering if it weren't for the fact that she'd already seen that. This was him just being dramatic. "It really is tempting to chase cats."

[credit_not_blame]

Stacia giggled obligingly, recognizing the joke.

"I bet it's really hard not to roll in smelly stuff, too," she said. "Or pee really high up on trees." She cocked her head to the side. "Then again, you're a guy, you probably have the urge to do that when you're not dog-shaped."

[grimbiker]

"Despite what you may have heard, I can restrain myself. Though I haven't felt that particular urge. You have an interesting view of men." Well, she was sixteen. He could understand how she'd have that opinion.

[credit_not_blame]

"Spoken like someone unaware of how gross straight dudes can be around attractive teenage girls," Stacia says, making a face. "Seriously, if you want to show your appreciation for me helping you with Remus, believe the women in your life when they say a guy creeps them out, even if you've never seen him do anything creepy."

[grimbiker]

Sirius looked at her, confused at how his response translated into not believing her about creepy men. Though he wasn't a straight dude so maybe he was missing something.

"You're the one who implied I have to mark my territory when I'm human."

[credit_not_blame]

"Two words," Stacia says, holding up her fingers. "Dick. Pics. Though I guess you're a wizard and from the olden days, so you don't have cell phone problems."

[grimbiker]

Judging by the way Sirius cocked his head in confusion, some of those dog traits carried over into his regular human state.

Dick pics seemed self explanatory. But...

"I know what a phone is but I haven't heard of any called cell. But I wouldn't call 1981 the olden days." He frowned. "No, 1982."

[credit_not_blame]

"Small portable phones you can take anywhere with you," Stacia said, holding up her hands to indicate the size of something maybe half-again the size of a deck of playing cards. "They've got cameras in them too. I think they're called 'mobiles' in England."

She drops her hands. "I was born in 2000, so I am entirely comfortable referring to the early eighties as olden days." Especially if it annoys people.

[grimbiker]

"2000?" And she was only born then? "You have cameras in phones?" That was almost as much of a surprise. Of course the novelty of it was dampened by the realization of just what dick pics must be.

He made a face. "I take it you can send those pictures? Of all the things you could do with that kind of technology..." He shook his head. It was disappointing but not shocking. Sirius knew very well that people could be despicable.

[credit_not_blame]

"Bingo," Stacia said. "It can do a lot of other stuff too, but I'm not firing on all cylinder right now, so I'm not sure how to explain computers to you right now."

[grimbiker]

Sirius huffed and folded his arms over his chest. "I do know what computers are. I'm not that old or out of touch. And now I know if I make it that long, I'll be living in one of those science fiction shows."

[credit_not_blame]

"Who doesn't want to live in a science fiction show?"

Stacia paused for a moment, looking around them.

"...Never mind, I take it back."

[grimbiker]

Sirius grinned. "Little late for that."

He stifled a yawn. "I think I've kept you too long. You wouldn't happen to know of a good place for a dog to take a nap?" He probably wouldn't be able to sleep for long but something was better than nothing.

[credit_not_blame]

Yawns were contagious. Stacia stifled one of her own.

"One of the lounges, maybe? You could pull the cushions off of the couch and make a pile if it's too narrow for you to curl up on."

[grimbiker]

Sirius watched her struggle to contain the yawn flashed her an apologetic smile.

"That does sound good. I think I'll try that." He looked relieved to have something better than a hard floor for the night. Just because he could sleep on it didn't mean he really enjoyed it. "Sleep well, Stacia. If you can."

[credit_not_blame]

"I think the adrenaline has worked its way out my system at this point, so I'll give it another shot," Stacia said. "You sleep well too."

[grimbiker]

"I'll do what I can." He bowed to Stacia but mid-way through he transformed back into Padfoot. He wagged his tail at her before disappearing around the corner.