the moon will sing | rhys & toby

[tobias charles watkins]

October 23rd, 2026

Tobias Watkins' life as of late had been a complete, absolute whirlwind. Since the demise of Hogwarts, his relationship with Lusie going down under, and getting attacked by a rogue werewolf…he felt like his life was in shambles and he couldn't pick up the pieces fast enough. His studies and healing training were nearly impossible to focus on, which was a struggle alone for Toby to fathom. Never in his life had the Ravenclaw done less than excellent in his academic endeavors. He was extremely critical on himself and the work he put out into the world. Major brain fog, fatigue, and pain, took over his body all day, every day, for the past couple of months. Though he was finally starting to feel better, or maybe get used to it, he was dreading the quickly approaching Full Moon and his transformation.

Tonight, he was tired of staring at the ceiling of his lonely flat he once shared with Lusie. Instead of sulking about his situation any longer, he figured he'd venture back over to The Violent hound for a nightcap. A bit of alcohol would surely help him sleep away his blues. If he was lucky, maybe he'd sleep for a couple of days like he had after getting bitten. That was the last time he had truly slept uninterrupted. Well, 'uninterrupted' until the Medi-wizards came to retrieve him and the other wizards, but all he remembered was waking up in St. Mungos.

A few months ago, Tobias wouldn’t have been caught dead alone in a pub called 'The Violent Hound'. The name alone was barbaric, he'd be afraid of being thrown into a pub fight or something, but at the time he came across it, he was desperate for a place with similar beings. Oh, it's Violet Hound. Much to his luck, he had the opportunity to chat up the lovely owner, Vas, and a couple of other regulars who made him feel like he was welcome. It was nice beacon in a time where he truly felt alone and like no one understood what he was going through. 

The bell chimed above the lanky teens head as he entered the pub, where he was greeted by a few dodgy looking toothless individuals. Tobias carried himself as a polite young gentleman, a bit timid, always trying to blend in the back and not be a bother. This was not the place for him. He stuck out like a sore thumb. The teen slinked off toward the back side of the pub where less people were sitting and he slid into a stool at the counter. The bar lady slid him a foamy pint of beer and he offered her a curt nod and 'thank you'.

Now that he was sitting there, he was feeling awkward as he twiddled his thumbs in front of himself. This was a mistake. Toby was already mentally contemplating on draining his beer and leaving. Who was he kidding...staying home and playing video games or reading a book was much more appealing to him.

rhys alexander greyback

[rhys alexander greyback]

I lay with the wolves

Alone, it seems

October 23, 2026
tobias charles watkins

Rhys wasn’t a man of many words. And even when he did speak, he was hardly as eloquent as some of his friends or other people he knew. He didn’t have that empathetic charm that his girlfriend, Vasilia, had or the irrefutable charisma of someone like James Potter. But Vasilia had asked him, many times, for a favor in speaking to one of her new patrons. Rhys had refused initially. First of all, he was exhausted from dealing with a newborn, and she knew how he felt about talking to people. But then she’d explained that this new patron seemed very despondent and alone—oh, and he’d also just been bitten by a werewolf not long ago.

On that note, Rhys had paused and reconsidered. Lycanthropy was something he had lived with for over twenty years now, and while one could become accustomed, it never got all that easier. Sure there was Wolfsbane, and now there was the Aware wolf potion, but this affliction separated them from regular society. Rhys spotted a young man, who looked like a boy, walk in and sit on the other side of the bar. The way his shoulders hunched and he glanced anxiously around the room told Rhys that was who Vasilia was talking about. While it wasn’t the same experience as decades ago, it was still a frightening prospect to be a brand new werewolf in this world, and as luck would have it—the full moon was in three days.

Rhys shook off the achy feeling in his back and neck as he stood from the small table where he’d been sipping on whiskey after a few minutes as he occupied the stool next to this boy. The woman tending the bar greeted him. Dating the owner hadn’t granted him any special privileges aside from the opportunity to help Vasilia pick whiskey or tequilas for the bar from time to time. Still, even aside from that, he’d been a regular. From what Rhys had been told of others who had been turned at an older age, the physical adjustment to it all took some time. Sitting next to this kid, Rhys felt a familiarity, much like he had when he first met Lyra earlier in the year. Clearing his throat, he finally spoke.

”Calming draught.” Rhys drank from his glass, only a small amount of whiskey remaining. Though he spoke again, feeling he should probably clarify. ”Calming draught for the few days before the full moon.” Rhys finished off his glass and locked eyes with the other free bartender, who began to pour him another drink. It had been pointed out to Rhys that there was a trend for this pub, and he honestly had not realized it until one of the bartenders had said something. An uncanny number of werewolves frequented here—and there was even one on staff. Maybe this kid was just another one for the pack. The bartender returned with his drink, taking the empty one away, and Rhys thanked him. ”I’m Rhys, by the way. Rhys Greyback.” Vasilia had asked for his help, and not even the consistently stubborn Greyback could say no when she gave him those pouty eyes. He just hoped he didn’t scare the kid away.

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[tobias charles watkins]

It wasn’t long until Toby was joined at the bar. But first, he was greeted by a strange sensation that crawled up his spine; hairs standing at full attention as a burst of static rumbled through his core. An older gentleman sat beside him, commenting that calming draught would help him.

The young man swallowed, offering the man beside him a slightly confused look as he turned in his seat to face him. Growing up, Toby was painfully shy and typically tried to blend in. He was working on prying himself out of his shell because he noticed when he did, he usually had a good time. Somehow he’d gotten lucky with his encounters at the Violet Hound, so he’d wing it again today.

He wondered how other wolves were able to identify each other like he had just done. There was definitely a sense he was starting to notice but everything in the world felt so different since getting bitten it was hard to place. ”Hi Rhys, I’m Toby Watkins.” he offered him a curt nod and handshake, suddenly feeling like an awkward nerd for being so formal in a pub setting. The young man couldn't help that he was raised with good manners. Sometimes he was sure his politeness would be the death of him.

Toby allowed Rhys' words to sink in about Calming Draught before responding. Unsure if he should share, but ultimately he thought what the hell, he had nothing to lose these days.. 

“I read somewhere that calming draught is supposed to help.” He commented thoughtfully, feigning nonchalance as he replied to the older bloke. ”Admittedly, I wasn’t in my best mindset while brewing such an advanced potion before the last full moon..probably added too much peppermint..because I ended up sobbing uncontrollably for 3 hours.” Toby replied, ending with a chuckle as he ruffled his hair. Self deprecating was a coping mechanism he always used to get through life. Toby knew before attempting the calming draught uncontrollable sobbing was a side effect, but it actually happening? That was hands down the worst night ever.

Tobias' expression softened as his eyes carefully fell on Rhys. That strange static was still prickling at the back of his neck. He took a sip of the frothy beer to gain himself some time. ”Are you able to sense it…?” he asked, ending with a long pause. Confident that the other wolf had to know what he meant.

rhys alexander greyback

[rhys alexander greyback]

I lay with the wolves

Alone, it seems

October 23, 2026
tobias charles watkins

The kid looked confused, naturally. But Rhys was a stranger who had spoken to him out of nowhere. As someone who didn’t always seek out conversation, Rhys could only imagine what was running through the kid’s mind. The kid turned to face him and identified himself. Toby Watkins. Vasilia had not managed to get his full name, but now Rhys could confirm this was the ‘Toby’ she had wanted him to find. Rhys returned the handshake, wondering if he’d ever met a more polite werewolf before.

Potions had never been Rhys’ strongest subject, but he knew enough to get by and, of course, enough to have gotten the NEWTs for Cursebreaking. But Rhys couldn’t help but grin in the slightest—an easy mistake to make with the potion and definitely not the side effect one wanted when they were feeling the full moon approaching. ”My old Potions professor warned us about that.” Sienna would have probably laughed and had a comment or perhaps even Rob, but potions was also second nature for them. Drinking more whiskey, he thought of how to answer Tobias’ question.

”Sort of.” Rhys answered. There was a feeling, like another sense. It was subtle. Subtle like how he’d felt on that island at the beginning of the year. But unless you felt it—it was hard to describe. But he remembered feeling it when he’d first encountered Lyra here at the bar. ”But most werewolves can spot a newer one—there’s that same lost look in their eyes. At least for most older ones. Rhys had been so young that lost couldn’t adequately describe a five-year-old not understanding the concept of lycanthropy.

Again he paused to drink more whiskey and look back. It probably wouldn’t help the kid be more comfortable by being mysterious. ”Also Vasilia asked me to speak to you.” Rhys looked back. Vasilia had a habit of taking in strays and making them feel welcome. While Rhys couldn’t fully understand it, he was grateful as one of those strays.

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[tobias charles watkins]

The young man froze, the expression on his face faltered ever so slightly as Rhys told him he had that ‘lost baby werewolf look’ in his eyes. ”Oh” Swallowing, he couldn’t hide the mixture of confusion and discomfort spreading across his face. Suddenly he felt self conscious about how he looked. Shit. Was it that obvious? 

Rhys followed with a look over his shoulder at the cute tattooed redhead bobbing around behind the counter with a contagious smile. Vas. Toby’s expression contorted into a comical expression when Rhys finally shared that Vas asked him to talk to him. Tilting his head to the side, his face went red hot,  spreading to his ears instantly. ”Oh? She did, huh…” he chuckled, unsure what else to say to that, so he took a drink of the beer he was nursing in his hands. ”Well, fuck, that’s…awkward.” he shared with another laugh, running a hand through his messy, overgrown hair. ”Ice cream lover, pub owner..and part-time lycanthropy philanthropist..” Toby stated with playful jest before asking, "How do you know Vasilia?" 

‘Greyback’ was a name that stood out in his memory since he was acquaintances with them in school. Toby had a suspicion that they may be related, which was almost comforting in a strange way. Typically, Toby didn’t enjoy small talk with strangers, but maybe he wasn’t as much as a stranger as he thought.

“Pardon me if this is a stupid question. Are you related to Adrian and Max?” He asked the older male, feeling a bit silly for asking that question, if it was supposed to be obvious, but he couldn’t help that he was painfully polite at times.

rhys alexander greyback
(mention of vasilia abigail fortescue )

[rhys alexander greyback]

I lay with the wolves

Alone, it seems

October 23, 2026
tobias charles watkins

The boy seemed self-conscious that he had been spotted so easily. Rhys felt a little bad at putting him on the spot. His whole life had been spent in such a way that he’d almost forgotten what it felt like to not feel like he stood out somehow. Still, he could never quite describe the feeling. That sense of someone. He recalled first noting it at Hogwarts around a few classmates and then being surprised when they also joined him in the Hospital Wing for that first full moon in his First Year. Wolves knew but it was hardly anything exact.

And again, he seemed even more embarrassed when Rhys admitted Vasilia’s involvement. Toby reacted far better than Rhys might have if their roles were switched. This kid seemed harmless and friendly enough, not standoffish or prickly as Rhys could be. With a light nod in agreement, he responded. ”She took pity on me.” It was the truth, at least in Rhys’ mind. Dealing with his less-than-social behavior and preference to drink rather than speak. ”I—we’re dating.” He added, it still felt strange to say it out loud but might as well be upfront with it. Rhys’ natural jealousy couldn’t help but throw it out there, not that Toby seemed particularly threatening like some of the other men in Vasilia’s life.

But the topic shifted just slightly, still on topic in the sense of werewolves but directed more toward Rhys this time. With a slight nod, he drank some of his whiskey. ”My brother and sister. Though I haven’t spoken to Adrian in some time.” The boy had gone off to the States, or Merlin knew wherever. And Rhys had sort of watched over Lily after he’d scurried off, especially since it was the younger Greyback’s fault that the Potter was a werewolf now. So far, there were at least four of them in the UK at any given time. Though they all hardly looked alike with their varied backgrounds, minus their eyes in a few of them. Though who knew how many children Fenrir Greyback really had out there and how many of them knew who their real father was.

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