Pant. Breathe. Pant. Breathe. Thud. Thud. Thud.

They are entirely the last sounds he remembers hearing as the wolf comes to a halt at the end of the course. His entire world shifts into utter blackness as her paws come to a halt and that rhythmic pattern of life his mind so relished in hearing seemed to fade along with his vision. Tobias tumbling from her back and into that sand. Hmm. It was almost peaceful really. Maybe he could just stay here. Then again he was sure to worry his mate if he continued to lay in the sand in such a state, the man never yet having had to use this much power to shift his mindset and force that animalistic boy to so yield control to him. How inconvenient it would be if he was forced to render that shared body unconscious every time it got out of hand. A soft sigh parts his lips, eyes flickering open at last, his bright golden gaze starring upward and towards the giant wolf standing over him. It was a struggle then, to so align his thoughts and pluck from within the eternal abyss of his ever illusive sanity what exactly was occurring here and now. Why was he in the sand? That confusion that touches his features seems to last but a few moments before that shaggy haired young man pulls himself upright, his thoughts so slowly beginning to trickle into his conscious mind and provide him some information of exactly what he'd been doing. Selfish little bastard. He had some kind of nerve! What an idea! Yet, to fail to see it through would prove to be as foolhardy as the task itself. The boy would only take over again, perhaps in the very middle of the night, forcing Raven awake. He would protect her from himself. He owed her that much in the least. How mad he would be when he realised he had been thwarted. Ha! Tobias glancing upward once more at that look of concern that surely rested upon the girls wolfish features.

"I'm fine, don't worry, I'm just a little confused. He is being particularly difficult tonight."

He frowned slightly, unable to fully explain just what was occurring within his mind, his head shaking once more as he pulled himself at last to his feet, ringlets of dark hair falling into his eyes as he moved to brush the sand from himself- eyeing the obstacle course blankly for several more moments before scowling. Oh all the nonsense! He understood, he supposed, what the boy was trying to do and yet it surely there was another way then to so have Raven go through this! How many times had he wondered just this, how many times had he considered the patience of this woman whom he was fortunate to have love him? One hand reaches forward without thought, resting upon the side of the wolfs muzzle with a distinct care and a gentleness that this side of the man was so akin to displaying, a smile of sorts tracing across his lips.

"Oh Raven, what have we gotten ourselves into this time, hmm?"

He gestures briefly to that obstacle course, a touch of amusement lingering in those youthful, handsome features at a joke of sorts that might be shared between them alone before he moves to take his hand away and pull himself upright. This night had already gone something awry and yet perhaps it could be salvaged still and that restless soul within made peaceful. At least for tonight. One hand lifts to run through the black of his hair as he eyes that beach almost critically, gesturing softly for Raven to follow as he moves to head slowly back towards the Ark now, turning to his mate but briefly.

"You must forgive him- he, we, I suppose, are bound by a desire to follow a pattern of sorts. They do this every year. I shall explain a little more on the way. Together though, we might appease him yet. You should shift back."

He pauses upon that gangplank that leads back up and onto the Ark, on hand extended towards the curly-haired woman now, waiting for her to place hers within his before he guides her easily up that ramp with an almost gentlemanly display of manner. It was cold within that ship and yet tonight Tobias bothers little with it. They had truly little time if they were going to make that party as he did every year with Tetradore and yet....even the mere name of the man saw his features shift if only slightly. The pain was so raw, so real, even now, even like this he could barely bare to think of it, that barest flicker of darkness so overtaking his gaze again as if that more animalistic side of himself so threatened to take over and shield him from that emotion he could barely stand to feel. He was trying to protect him. Yet for now he pushed back against that inner force. Just a little longer. He needed to be in control just a little longer to make sure this worked. If that other side of himself so took over they would both end up arrested.

"I'll meet you in the hallway in about fifteen minutes. See if you can find something nice to wear, a dress if you have it. Do I own a suit? I'm sure I can find one all the same."

The chances of him owning a suit, he was sure, were decidedly slim. Tobias letting go off her hand now to step into that room they shared. The man so disappearing into the bathroom within the same moment. There is a distinct pause then before the distinct sound of running water could be heard, Tobias eyeing that heated water with disdain for several minutes still even within this state of mind. He was fearful of it. Fearful of what it might do to him and yet that other part of him would never be convinced. It is instinct alone that sees him hold his breath to step into the shower, continuing to hold it as he reached for that soap and too that shampoo. Showering himself for the first time since Tetradore had passed, his shower routine seeming to have died along with him, Tobias racking his fingers through his hair in a fast and yet no less thorough job. He moves with diligent ease, wrapping that towel around his waist before striding back out and into his bedroom, pilfering through his wardrobe before finding what appeared to be, well, hardly a suite and yet a nice set of pants and a diner jacket. Had Raven bought it for him? Had he ever worn it? It takes hardly a moment to disappear back into that bathroom. Tobias emerging some minutes later entirely dressed for the first time. His hair was washed and combed, his skin clean, cologne so clearly having been used, that white shirt- lightly open at the top, dark jacket and dark pants fitted to his slender, toned form as he strode out and into the hall to wait for Raven, leaning back against the stair railing. Tobias appearing, for the first time....entirely like a man. Yet didn't Raven deserve just that? Did his other half not ever wear such clothes? Why else would he own them? He pushes such thoughts aside for now, waiting instead for Raven to reappear.

madness, as you know, is like gravity: all it takes is a little push