Fifth floor common room - Late morning

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

It was almost nearing noon when Faramir returned from that morning's ride. He'd ridden far, had even crossed to the mainland so when he return, his stomach was growling. Which meant that the common room was his first stop. He'd change out of his ranger drab later. A quick survey of the fridge had him pulling up eggs and bacon which would be plenty for a hearty meal.

He'd turned on the radio to one of the classical music channels and Faramir was humming along as he finished up his omelet and boiled some water to make tea.

[Open as common rooms are.]

Comments

[therewaslife]

Kate the cat thought with her nose when she was a human so it wasn't a surprise that she did it when she was a cat. She smelled food and before Bod could stop her, she was into the common room and honing in on the smell.

Bod slipped in behind her, shaking his head and giving an apologetic smile to Faramir just in case Kate tried to get some of his food.

"Good morning," he greeted, trying to scoop the cat up. "Kate's turned into a cat and apparently I don't feed her enough since she seems to have found her way to more food. Terribly sorry about that."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Good morning," Faramir laughed and shook his head, slicing off some of the bacon. "No need to apologise, it is how cats seem to work. She is welcome to some of my bacon, there is plenty."

It took another moment where he considered the cat before he asked. "Is she a cat or a friend of yours?"

[therewaslife]

"My girlfriend, actually," he laughed, watching Kate wind herself around Faramir's legs. "She's been a cat for about five days now so she's bound to be extraordinarily happy whenever she turns back. This happens to her far too often."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"It has happened to me but once," Faramir said, leaning down to offer Kate the strips of bacon on the flat of his hand. "I believe it lasted almost a month and that was more than enough for me."

[therewaslife]

Kate greedily took the bacon and ate it like she hadn't eaten in months when she'd just eaten hours ago. Bod was never going to understand that.

"A month?" Bod asked, raising his eyebrows. "That's quite the long time to be an animal. Were you very disoriented when you changed back?"

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Mostly relieved," Faramir chuckled as he watched Kate gobble down the bacon. "But yes, it was rather strange. I had been an owl and I must say that being able to fly was not the worst experience."

[therewaslife]

"I can see how that wouldn't be so bad," Bod agreed, taking a seat on one of the couches and watching Kate lest she do something like bite or scratch. "It's never happened to me so I guess I can count myself lucky. I was even skipped over when it came to being a pony last weekend."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"I had that good fortune as well," Faramir straightened up and grabbed his plate from the counter. "Though it would not have been so bad as one could talk to other people. That is the most frustrating part of being turned into an animal."

He tried to carefully move around Kate to take his seat. "Well, that and the knowledge that my brother would never let me forget if he were to find out."

[therewaslife]

Kate followed Faramir over to the couches but hopped up next to Bod and settled down there now that her hunger craving had been satiated.

"I suppose the talking was a good enough trade off for not having thumbs or anything else most humans are used to," Bod agreed with a little laugh. "And I didn't see anyone advertising pony rides so it looks like no one got too bold about things."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

Faramir laughed as he dug into his food. "I believe the risk of getting a hoof in the face might have been deterrent enough," he remarked, though he could imagine Boromir attempting to do it either way. "I will just hope that the roles are not reversed next week."

[therewaslife]

"I hope that as well," Bod agreed with a laugh. "I didn't do so well when most of the males became females so I can't even imagine what it would be like to be an animal. I'm barely comfortable in my own skin."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"I had the pleasure to take part in that as well," Faramir shook his head in memory. "It was interesting at least, if not somewhat confusing. But I see your point, I would much rather be myself as well. I believe we all would."

[therewaslife]

"Indeed," Bod agreed with a nod. "Though, after each bit of weirdness, I always wonder what causes these transformations. Obviously, it's the island but I wonder about the mechanics or the biology of it."

[daventryprince.livejournal.com]

It was usually a scent like bacon frying that could do it. Just like the irrefutable aroma of brewing coffee, it was like a beacon for curious noses and a sure sign that there would be people where the smell originated.

Besides, he had a hungry roommate-puppy with him that would probably be happy for a little treat if there was any bacon to spare.

"Ah, Faramir!" he smiled when he drifted into the room and William-puppy's tail began wagging as the aroma became more pronounced. "A bit of a late breakfast, is it?"

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Good morning, Alexander," Faramir greeted. "I believe it would be more of an early lunch."

He glanced down at the puppy and it seemed to be the day to ask this sort of question. "Would this be one of your friends or did you acquire a new hound?"

[daventryprince.livejournal.com]

"My roommate, actually," Alexander said with a faint smirk down at the puppy, whose scientific curiosity seemed to extend to being a canine, as he was now sniffing toward the back of the couch. "Which is not to say that William is not a friend, of course, but that does put him in a special category, I believe. He turned just last week; he seems to be doing well, though I'm personally just glad I am not similarly conflicted."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"As would I be," Faramir said honestly. "Bod seems to be in a similar situation as his girlfriend is currently a cat. Perhaps it is going around."

[daventryprince.livejournal.com]

Alexander tried not to visibly shudder at the mention of turning into a cat. "I certainly hope not," he said. "I must admit to being a little squeamish about those sorts of transformations. I was quite pleased to be able to avoid turning into a pony. Were you able to avoid it as well?"

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"I was," Faramir said with some relief. "You saw me when I was an owl, that was all the transformation I ever needed."

[daventryprince.livejournal.com]

"I can only imagine," Alexander said with sympathy. "As well as I can remember, I believe I have managed to avoid most transformations, at least ones into a more animalistic form. Other people, frequently enough..."

There was a slight pause. "Unless you count that Beast fellow. He was somewhere in between."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"Beast fellow?" Faramir asked, unable to hide his curiosity. "That does not sound as if it was a pleasant experience."

[daventryprince.livejournal.com]

"It was truly abysmal," Alexander agreed with a stiff nod and a faintly distressed frown. Even just recalling how he felt that weekend caused him a great deal of disturbance. "I woke up as this giant Beast, and filled with an unquenchable rage the entire weekend. I believe I was a prince of sort, transformed into that horrendous state as a punishment. I could not blame the fellow for being as angry as he was, though I do wish I didn't have to experience it and I most certainly regret that it made me practically trash my room in my uncontrollable hatred for my position."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"You can regret it, but it sounds as if you had no hand in it," Faramir was frowning. "It seems a rather cruel punishment to set on anyone, and in a manner is was set on you. I am glad it did not last longer than a weekend."

[daventryprince.livejournal.com]

"As am I," Alexander agreed with a nod. "An odd sidenote to that story, though, is that, apparently, there's a good chance that I had the same curse of, if not was, a good friend of our librarian! She has commented that I sound like him in a most uncanny fashion, so I am almost lead to believe that this similarity has led to my sharing his fate for a weekend. It sounds, however, that he was able to break his curse in time by finding someone to love him, and I can think of no better ending to a story than that."

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

Faramir did not know whether there was truth to Alexander's theory. It would be much of a coincidence, but keeping coincidence separated from fate was not an easy task. Still, he could agree with the latter part all the same.

"It is a good ending," he agreed. "And one I hope you may share with him as well."