03. Video

[onewiththewild]

[ Toboe has been thinking about this for a while now. To hide or not to hide. In his world, to expose himself is incredibly dangerous. when he did it once, Leara screamed and she was so scared, and so many people chased him and his pack... To keep hidden is self-defense, so he won't scare others and others won't scare him back. So he can be with humans without being shoo-ed, without being sent away. But here, he is a "hero" and the ones he has spoken to always so nice. They might be scared at first, but they eventually say it's alright. Some even pet him after or get so excited.

So a wolf comes to video. Some would think it's a dog, but in all honesty, it's way too big to be one and there is no species of dog that looks like that. Except a wolf. ]

Hello. [ that's a good way to start ] I was brought here two full moons ago, they gave me a tattoo and they said I was a hero. I don't know much about that, but they say the things I can do are "powers" [ though he was always able to do them, back home ] A lot of you have tried talking to me and I don't usually talk back because I don't want to scare anyone. But... I do want to talk to you. [ without being pushed away or screamed at ] I think that's why I'm doing this image thing. [ it's called video, Toboe doesn't remember ]

I can also do something else. All wolves can [ in Toboe's world, but he assumes every wolf can ] and that's probably a bit more scary than talking. Wolves can create an illusion, so we can look human. It helps us to mingle among you, so you won't be scared of us, and so we can protect ourselves- [ he is talking a bit fast, but at least Toboe realizes it - so he stops. He also figures it's better to show than to explain it with words.

In a blink of an eye, a boy takes the place of the wolf. You don't see a transformation; a second there is a wolf, the next second there is a boy there. Anyone used to the supernatural or to really weird stuff might be able to see the human illusion flicker, and for a couple of seconds instead of the boy, they'd see the wolf again. The boy has posted to the network before, so it's not like he is a new face. He smiles, a bit awkwardly ] We can do this, too.

I'm Toboe.

Comments

[ Video ]

[ohmydarlinme]

[ To her credit, she doesn't look scared, but she does look a little skeptical. (And trying not to show that she thought the idea of talking wolves that can look human is really cool.) ]

... All wolves?

[ She's ... never actually SEEN a wolf. The closest thing was Sam and... uh... she... yeah moving on. ]

[ Video ]

[onewiththewild]

Yes? [ probably? Well.

Maybe? ]

In my world, at least.

[ Video ]

[ohmydarlinme]

Oh... that's... kind of cool. [ I mean come on, it's a -wolf-. A talking one! A talking one that looks like a boy, but still. ]

.. I'm Clementine. [ Because manners. ]

video :

[proteus]

Kid, you're going to give me a migraine.

[ What part of DON'T TRUST HUMANS was not obvious ]

video :

[onewiththewild]

[ BUT HE LOVES HUMANS ]

Ah, Badd- [ wait migraine? ] Why?

video :

[proteus]

Because advertising this shit might fly with other imPorts, but you're hardly equipped to go out into the wild blue yonder!

[ Bader was concerned as any Gangrel would for its assumed pack member just by virtue of Toboe being a wolf. ]

How do you think wolves went all endangered in the first place?

video;

[bioshift]

[ The ID reads; Miss Martian ]

That ... [ Staring, M'gann, you're staring. ] ... Is so .. Cool!

So you're- You're a wolf then? And not actually a human. You're just a wolf that can make itself look like a human?

video;

[onewiththewild]

[ people praising Toboe! Yay!

Even if they are... green people...? ]

Hm, that's right! The human look is just an illusion. I can make it more real, to the point of feeling human, but I need to make sure I'm focusing on it, for that.

video;

[bioshift]

Feel human? To others or to yourself? Is it like shapeshifting? Or more ... a projection or illusion? How does it work?

[permavoice]

[heartstings]

[Has anyone ever mentioned that Kenzi has a weakness for wolves? Because she does.]

have a friend back home that's a wolf but he's usually human. Looking. Human looking. [Because he's not human, he's Fae.]

Okay. He's not actually a wolf, he just turns into one. But still that's really neat.

[permavoice]

[onewiththewild]

Is he a werewolf? [ since Toboe has heard that word being thrown around ]

[video]

[hands4healing]

I guess I can talk to you whenever I see you - however I see you now, huh?

[video]

[onewiththewild]

Yeah, that would be alright!

anonymous + encrypted | audio

[gevurah]

[ Someday soon there won't be a need to hide under anonymity.

Today is not that day. ]

Are all wolves in your world like you?

audio

[onewiththewild]

[ he does recall her voice, though ]

Hm, they are!

[braided_icarus]

You think at least some of us didn't pick up on it? I didn't know it was an illusion. I just thought you had it as a power here or something.

[But. Yes. Ed totally had a feeling all along. He's used to things being not what they seem, 'people' not actually being human. But this is. New?]

But right. Wolf. You seemed kinda big for a dog. And I've never seen one like that before. Plus the bracelet. So they just kinda made it a power to give you the option between being human or a wolf here?

[onewiththewild]

[ what are you talking about, Ed? Toboe's disguise is totally flawless, of course you would have never guessed the wolf and the boy are the same person!

Not. ]

Uhm... I tried not to be obvious. [ mutter mutter ]

It's not an option. I'm still a wolf while the human part isn't real. But I always had this ability.

text

[slingshots]

[ whaaat she totally recognizes that wolf
the one that wouldn't do tricks
>:[ ]

gee thanks, could've said something earlier

Audio

[onewiththewild]

[ JHDGFBDG TEXT. Toboe can't type.

With his communicator, he already figured the option that allows him to listen to written words, but he still doesn't know how to type. ]

hjlfdbp

[ wait, wait, he can put audio. Give him a second... ]

kjdfkdsjfdskfsfd
fdf

[ finally there is a voice ] Where...? [ ah! Here we go! ]

Ah! Is it working?

text | forever late you can entirely ignore

[lyingheart]

[ That's... one hell of a safety feature to advertise to people who may take advantage of it. Annie hopes otherwise, but doesn't expect the world to follow hope as much of a leader. ]

That's a surprising talent... I don't think I've heard of anything similar before. How does this illusion hold up under touch?

text | never

[onewiththewild]

[ and Annie will now learn she can't use text when talking to a wolf ]

hddjdjksf
dfdjkfkds

voice, private.

[altercate]

Why did you show this on the Network?

voice, private.

[onewiththewild]

[ Because he is alone. And lonely. And everyone who finds out he is a wolf is always very nice. ]

because I want to talk to other people without having to lie to them.

video

[heartboxer]

[ Hopefully Toboe recognizes Armstrong from that one night in the middle of the road. Armstrong almost looks lost in thought as he continues to stare at Toboe. But, it's not a bad thing. His lost in thought is easily translated into a sense of wonder and shock at such a great ability. ]

Wow...! This explains quite a lot now that I think about it. [ Like how they talked about wolves. During the full moon. Wow. He almost feels a little stupid now. ] I appreciate your honesty and your courage in sharing this with me! And, I'll admit, I would be a little spooked if a wolf tried talking to me but you can rest assure that I will never shoo you or another wolf away in my life time!!

video

[onewiththewild]

[ yes he does remember! ]

H-hello. [ small awkward laugher ] I'm sorry I didn't tell you at the time.

And people are usually scared of us for some reason. But actually, I think we are usually more scared of you. [ no need to shoo anyone ever ]