this doesn't change you~ (RF) (Rufus)

[Cayden Thomas Murphy]

Cayden sat on the floor of the pack house with his back leaning against the couch, ankles crossed. He flipped through the channels, not really wanting to watch tv, but still bored. Classes had been cancelled due to weather and he wasn't scheduled to work today. Or tomorrow for that matter. It made for a slow day and he wasn't entirely sure what to do with himself. Flipping to another channel, he watched part of some kind of cooking show before pulling himself up onto the couch. Much more comfy that way. That's when he heard someone coming up behind him.

[Rufus Lee Bailey]

He had yet to tell his dad. As soon as he found the strength to shift back - which was an excruciating process - Rufus phoned his dad. He was alright and staying with some people. He'd be home soon. That... wasn't a lie. But it wasn't the truth either. How could he tell him the truth!? Rufus had barely slept three hours a night, if at all. There was just... too much to worry about. What am I now? What does my family think I am? Will they hate me? He couldn't go home yet. Rather, Rufus had to figure out what he was first; there was some reflecting to be done. With his rather vague task set before him, Rufus crossed the packhouse threshold (he hadn't strayed very far from the packhouse - nor the forest - since he first shifted). He was about to settle himself down in the living room for some thought probing when he caught... a scent? Rufus nearly jumped out of his skin. There were too many new... abilities for him to get used to! How was he supposed to handle all of this shit! With a look of bewilderment in his eyes, Rufus cast out a greeting towards Cayden. "Hey..." He was hardly surprised that Cay was a werewolf; nothing could have surprised him at this point.

[Cayden Thomas Murphy]

Cayden was happily learning the proper way to cook plantains, though he doubted he'd ever cook one. Still, he believed that if he was going to call himself a cook, he should know a thing or two about actually cooking things that didn't involve meat. Without turning to see who was behind him, he quickly tested the air. He... almost knew that scent. But it was different now. His brow furrowed at the tv as he tried to put the pieces together. Oh! Rufus! With a grin, Cayden looked over his shoulder just as the greeting left the other guy's lips. He grinned widely now that the big, bad secret was out. "Hey, dude. Welcome to the pack. How are you feeling?" He nodded at the couch, an indication that Rufus should sit and talk awhile.

[Rufus Lee Bailey]

How was he feeling? Rufus stared at Cayden with the most dumbfounded look he could muster. Part of him just wanted to... launch into some sort of rant or rage! He could feel the anger bubbling beneath his skin, some terrible terrible ang- STOP! Rufus flinched at his own emotions and quickly took a seat next to Cayden. He scratched at his skin and rubbed his face, clearly uncomfortable with whatever was... inside of him. This wasn't like the usual peacock Rufus; he didn't completely know who he was... or at least, he hoped that he hadn't changed that much. These bursts of anger were proving him otherwise. "I feel like my family might disown me, and I'm... I feel different. Not in a good way." He rubbed the back of his head and drew his gaze down to his bouncing knees. "How are you?"

[Cayden Thomas Murphy]

Cayden watched the play of emotions over Rufus's face. Yeah, new werewolf was definitely new. He was so glad he'd never had to go through a transition, but the first few months after shifting for the first time weren't exactly a piece of cake. He couldn't image having to go through it without being prepared for it. Cayden grinned when Rufus got himself under control. Looked like the guy was already getting the hang of it, but he knew looks could be deceiving. He knew how easy it was to snap at a moment's notice. "Oh, shit. Your dad. Man, sorry about that." Cayden would not want to be in Rufus's position right now... or ever. He watched the twitchy guy next to him with a sympathetic look on his face. "You get used to it." Actually, he was already speaking softer than normal because of the change in Rufus's hearing. "I'm good... I think? I mean, other than the normal stuff. But I think you need to talk way more than I do." He paused a moment, thinking. "Hey, you ever been petted? I'm not talking had your hair played with, but really petted?" He motioned for Rufus to put his head in his lap. He'd calm the guy down a bit. It was the least he could do to help.

[Rufus Lee Bailey]

Rufus traced a tattoo on the back of his hand as a look of numbness fell across his face. His eyes half closed. "Yeah... yeah I'm sorry too." At the moment, Ruf was very close to wishing that he had never entered the forest. But he didn't. If there was one rule Rufus lived by, it was to live with no regrets; if he regretted something, he'd ultimately be wishing he wasn't himself. And Rufus liked himself... perhaps a bit more than most people. But he still wasn't happy. Not at all. "If I lose my family, Cayden... I'll never get used to it. I can't." He closed his eyes and hung his head before exhaling; he didn't like to be sad, either. He needed to calm down or... or something! Perhaps Cayden's offer would do the trick. "Petting?" He didn't look up from his knees yet. "Mostly just had my hair played with... course my mom sometimes would rub my back when I was sick, a few years back anyway." He raises his eyes to see Cayden motioning him forward. After a moment of hesitation, Rufus complied and rested his head in the other's lap.

[Cayden Thomas Murphy]

Cayden listened to Rufus, feeling like he should have something to say that was both witty and reassuring. So far, he was coming up blank. He'd never been put into a position of being cast out from his family because of what he was. Sure, he was beaten senseless all the time by his father, but that wasn't the same. That wasn't because he was a werewolf. It was just because he was himself. Honestly, Cayden didn't know which was worse. Probably Rufus's situation because it was so new to him. He waited until the guy adjusted himself with his head in his lap, then Cayden got to work. He ran his fingers through Rufus's hair, but a good petting was more than that. There was a little bit of a massage to it, a bit like someone who was absentmindedly petting a cat or a dog. Cayden's other arm was thrown across the back of the couch, and for the moment, the teen was perfectly at ease. Contact like this didn't bother him and it never had. It confused him that humans seemed to be so afraid to touch each other. "Alright, the Cayden Murphy therapy session is now officially open." He took a deep breath. "I know your dad is a hunter. Ex-military, right? Well, I can't see him turning his back on you. Most hunters go after us to protect their kids, not go after them." Just because he didn't like hunters didn't mean he didn't understand basic motivations, especially the instinct to protect those you loved.

[Rufus Lee Bailey]

Rufus took solace in Cayden's petting... but it wasn't quite enough. Not enough to make him forget, anyway; maybe he'd drink himself into half a coma later. The teen wasn't entirely paying attention to Cayden until he starting asking him about his dad. "Wha..?" He opened his eyes a little wider then relaxed. "Oh... he's not ex-military. He's just on leave for the moment, so he has more time for... hunting." That word never tasted more bad than it did now. He closed his eyes for a moment, unsure as to whether he wanted to scream or throw up. He eventually calmed himself down enough to keep talking. "Yeah well, he's still got another kid to keep safe. And... and maybe he'll try to keep me away from Adam." He couldn't stop himself; tears were welling in his eyes. "I messed up. N-now I'm never gonna see my brother again and it's my fault."

[Cayden Thomas Murphy]

Cayden tried not to, but he couldn't help a slight flinch when Rufus mentioned his dad making more time for hunting. Getting shot full of silver a couple times would make anyone react that way. He'd never experienced something so painful and considering his family life, that was saying something. He stayed quiet while Rufus talked. Sometimes that was all it took to help someone. A set of ears. Then he looked down and saw the tears in Rufus's eyes. Okay, he wasn't staying silent for that "I saw how your dad protected you. He's not going to turn on you. He just doesn't understand us. And nobody is going to keep you away from your family except maybe on full moons. I mean, look at me. I'm around humans all the time without problems." Well, without many problems, at least. "You just have to adjust. It'll take time and patience, but it'll happen. You, your dad, your brother... you'll all get used to it and it'll work out in the end. You'll see."

[Rufus Lee Bailey]

Rufus hiccuped as the tearing progressed; the longer her thought about his family... the harder he would cry. He couldn't live without them. Or at least, he couldn't live knowing that they didn't want him. He was a pest, a drunk, a smoker, an all around rebellious child... but they put up with him. He couldn't help but worry that being bitten by a werewolf would be the very last straw. So he cried... he clutched at the couch and cried with golden eyes and extended claws. "I'm just scared... I'm so scared not knowing what's gonna happen." He could usually live with surprises (sudden parties especially) but not when it concerned his family. Rufus nearly worked himself up into a fit - strangled breathing and all - before Cayden's petting finally did it's job; he was calming down. Slowly, his crying eased to a soft trickle. "Please don't stop, Cayden... it feels nice."

[Cayden Thomas Murphy]

Cayden continued to pet Rufus, working his fingers from front to back with soothing strokes. He couldn't really imagine what Rufus was going through. He'd been born into this life, had grown up knowing exactly what to expect with parents and a brother that were the same species he was. Granted, his upbringing hadn't been the smoothest, but knowing what he was and how his family would react to it would never be in question. "We, as a pack, can help you understand what'll happen. You don't need to be afraid of that. And I'm just about certain that your family will understand." He honestly wasn't even sure if Rufus heard him, and he did his best not to flinch when Rufus clawed at the couch. Not that it didn't already have a couple claw marks in it, but he was fond of this couch. "I won't stop. That's what we're here for. To calm each other down when we need it, and you need it." He didn't mean for it to sound insulting. It was merely the truth. "Besides, there are perks to being a werewolf. We're kinda badass if you ask me."

[Rufus Lee Bailey]

Rufus' tears slowed down to barely audible hiccups. He buried his tear streaked face in Cayden's jeans - staining the material - as he murmured quiet expressions of thanks. "Cayden you're... just thank you. I don't know if I believe it, but h-hey," He hiccuped. "even some sugar coating is okay sometimes." The crying teen continued to wipes his eyes on Cayden for another minute or so, then slowly let go of most of his tension with a sigh. Still tense though... the petting felt good and all, but maybe he needed something with a little more... pressure. "My back hurts." Rufus couldn't help but cast a glance up at Cayden.

[Cayden Thomas Murphy]

Cayden continued to pet Rufus. He could practically feel the tension radiating off the guy. Nobody could blame him. His life had been turned upside down recently. Cayden thought it was pretty cool to be what he was, but he'd been born this way. If he'd had it shoved on him, especially with a hunter for a father, well, he wasn't sure what he'd do. Cry, probably. "It's not sugar coating. We are badass. Ever pick up a car? You should try it sometime." Because what other intelligent species could pick up a car? That's right. None. Werewolves rocked. Rufus mentioned that his back hurt, and Cayden looked down to see Rufus looking up at him. He let out a sigh. "Roll over. I'll give you a back rub." He'd given a massage or two and didn't think he was half bad at it.

[Rufus Lee Bailey]

Rufus hiccuped and laughed briefly. "No... I've never picked up a car before." He sniffled then smiled; maybe he would try that eventually... but perhaps when his head was more clear. Maybe a back rub would do that for him. "Thanks, Cay." Rufus moved off of Cayden's lap and onto the floor, this way the other wouldn't be stuck having to massage him at some awkward angle. The teen proceeded to strip off his jacket and shirt, baring his back and revealing a network of skin graffiti along his shoulders and neck. What? Cayden was probably used to seeing shirtless people - both male and female - just because of his species. "Go crazy."

[Cayden Thomas Murphy]

Cayden stayed on the couch and tried to wipe away the tear stains on his jeans while Rufus stripped. "If you keep thanking me, I might just think up something for you to do to pay me back." He grinned and looked up as Rufus laid down on the floor. "Nice artwork." He looked a bit closer as he stood up. "Okay, maybe except for the... chicken?" He cocked his head as he moved closer, trying to figure out what kind of bird was tattooed there. Then he stopped. What was he supposed to do? Straddle the guy? Sure, he was used to seeing naked people - even cuddling up to naked people - but this was somehow different despite him being fully clothed. After a moment of hesitation, he squatted down on Rufus's ass with a knee on either side of the other guy's hips. Why was he awkward? He was never awkward. Shaking his head, he put his hands on Rufus's shoulders and started there, working his thumbs into the tense muscles.