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 Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:40 am
Who: Simon n' Belbel Where: Behind the Beaver cabin When: Late at night, Day 7  There was a distinct lack of Simon inside the Gnashing Beavers' cabin that night.
Not even a sign he'd been there since morning was there; his bedsheets were rumpled in the typical half-assed readjustment one occasionally did upon waking up and his belongings were just as they'd been left when he went out to attempt breakfast. If anyone there was asked, it wasn't very likely they'd note having seen him that evening either - after the hectic events of the surprise challenge he had pretty much trailed behind everyone as much as possible, not wanting to be seen or bothered.
His determination to make a contribution to their third challenge had been the only thing holding him together, and when it was over the only thing stopping him from unraveling on the spot was fear of drawing too much unwanted attention. If he was going to have an emotional breakdown, it was going to be alone...
So he decided to sleep outside tonight, against the wall of the cabin. It wouldn't do good for himself or his team if anyone heard his attempts to stifle his sniffling and sobbing.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:27 am
 The fact that Simon hadn't returned that evening had startled her; she'd been hoping to have at least some contact with him. They hadn't seem much of each other since the conflict with Lizzy, and Annabel had been hoping to apologize for that. On top of that, with her run-in with Chris and the resulting stress of Ariel, it'd turned out to be a very bad end to a very bad week. So, yeah, she'd wanted to see her good friend and hopefully cheer up.
When he hadn't arrived, she'd been down-hearted, but... she'd snuck off into the woods at night. Maybe he was off on some soul searching on his own, and didn't want to be bothered? Something like that. Contenting herself with that thought, Annabel had slowly drifted off to sleep. Nightmares, it would seem, had other intentions.
Waking in a cold sweat, Annabel had practically leaped out of bed- managing to whack her head on the ceiling along the way. Groaning as she tried to make sense of her surroundings, her line of sight blearily went to Simon's bed. Hopefully, he was having better luck sleeping than she wa-
...Or he wasn't there at all. Squinting and rubbing her eyes to confirm that her friend was, in fact, missing, conscious thought slowly ebbed back into Annabel's mind. When she could finally confirm that the bed was still empty and her friend was still gone, Annabel set down the ladder. By god, like hell she was going to let Simon be out alone this late- especially when he'd come for her at such an hour.
Silently pushing the cabin's door open, Annabel was as stealthy as possible, slipping out with no more than a peep. Letting the door shut behind her, Annabel remained tense and silent, hoping to get some sign of her friend.
And was shocked, to say the least, when she heard crying.
Rounding about the corner while still sneaking, Annabel fumbled when she finally caught sight of Simon. Giving him an incredulous looking, she blinked a few times, frowning.
"...Why're you out here so late, and crying, Tiger?" She asked, her voice very gentle and highly concerned. Helping herself up, she trotted over, sitting next to Simon and leaning gently on his shoulder.
"...Bad week?"
Boy. That was the understatement of the year.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 8:24 am
It was probably a stroke of luck for Annabel that Simon's choice of hiding place was nearby and accessible. No chance wandering through the woods was slimming down the chance they could cross paths tonight.
He was propped up against the wall of the cabin, knees loosely drawn to his chest in the familiar upright fetal position. The way his head was carelessly hanging above his legs allowed tiny pools of fresh tears to collect inside the lenses of his glasses; they were also smeared and spattered with little blobs of salt, making it apparent that he must have been sitting here in this state for quite a while. His hair was also a bit ruffled in the back, probably from it rubbing against the wall behind him.
In short, he looked like an emotional wreck - part of him was dimly aware of this, and he hated himself for it.
It surprised him when Annabel arrived, but outwardly he showed no sign of it, and for a while he didn't even acknowledge she was there. Bad week indeed. For Simon it felt like it had been going down an increasingly steep hill since the moment he woke up on this island... the few happy moments he had, it seemed, existed only to set him up so McLean or someone else could knock him down again. And this was only the first week out of... out of he couldn't recall how long they were all supposed to be here.
He wished he could feel some semblance of comfort from Annabel's presence, but as it were it just added a layer of unease to his current mood. After hearing not just from Chris himself, but also an eyewitness about what had happened at the lake that day, even the reassuring feeling he got from just thinking about her had just about completely vanished on the spot. It left him not knowing what to believe or what to feel about the whole thing, so he'd defaulted to assuming the worst and feeling miserable about it.
Maybe it would be better for him if he got voted off. Then he could leave and work on forgetting about the very existence of this place and everyone on it, especially that host and this girl.
Bad week indeed.
He shifted his head to gaze at the unoccupied space beside him, and managed a tiny nod.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:10 pm
For all the inner turmoil she'd been facing lately, it seemed Simon was facing his in catharsis. Unsure of what to say, Annabel remained quiet a moment- was there even anything to say at all? Feeling her own doubts and worries bubble in her chest, she sighed quietly, closing her eyes. This island was pretty ******** up- here they were, divided into teams, fighting to survive and stay here- when all they really wanted was to get off and go home. Somehow, during this week, it'd clicked that she wanted to win. And how ******** up was that?
Poor, poor Simon, though. Where her problems were self-created, his seemed to be coming directly from her, and the situations surrounding her. The bees. Her attitude. Maybe it would be better if she left the boy alone, let Lizzy win- he deserved a nicer, better girl than her, anyway. And they'd go terribly well together- quiet and meek, in a nice and easy relationship. No fighting. No anger. No midnight trips through the woods on a sprained ankle, no caring for beestings...
Forcing her eyes more tightly shut, Annabel turned herself to bury her face in Simon's arm. God, McLean was right; she really was just like him, minus his self-described awesome. At least he had the confidence to keep himself afloat; Annabel was more of a snowball in Hell at the moment. Biting her lower lip to keep herself from crying- because really, neither of them needed that right now- she was silent for some time, simply thinking. She should just get up now, walk away, leave the poor boy alone. At least if she were around Chris, he could handle the problems, the snark, the attitude. At least she wasn't hurting him.
But still, there was selfishness- it was Simon Annabel wanted, not Chris.
"I'm so, so sorry.." she whispered gently, still nuzzled into his arm. It was a murmur, meant only for his ears.
But sorry for what? That was up to Simon to decide.
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:41 pm
Everyone who was still here probably had their own motivations for staying... for many it must have been sheer competitiveness, or wanting to conquer this island so it wouldn't conquer them. Some were probably crazy enough to be enjoying the thrills here. Whatever the case, most everyone was making the effort to stay on this hell-on-earth instead of get themselves voted off, which implied a reason for them not to. If asked, Simon wouldn't say that he were here to win, not by a long shot - he didn't think it would be possible to get that far. Rather, he felt somehow obligated to help his team as far along as he could before that point where he'd be exposed as a weak link in the group... that, and he'd like to think that he'd made some friends here he wanted to get to know better...
Sigh. And now he was here realizing that his thoughts about Annabel were probably misguided. Whatever he'd overheard at the riverbank, he must have interpreted incorrectly; after all, she had never outright said what he thought she was describing, so it was always possible he'd jumped to the wrong conclusion. Learning about that moment she had with Chris made it seem more than likely and he'd developed some crazy thoughts out of some form of desperation.
It was hoping for far too much that she'd go after the clumsy, pathetic type anyway...
He was starting to wind down a bit, if for no other reason than sheer exhaustion and dried-up tear ducts. It was enough for him to draw a shaky, sad breath and and mumble, "I'm sorry, too."
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2009 1:56 pm
Somewhere in her crying there was a snort of laughter- more in disbelief than anything else. Glancing up to Simon, her eyes now red as well, Annabel gave him a disbelieving look, a sort of lop-sided smile plastered to her features. From Simon's viewpoint, Annabel might look like the girl caught crying in the school bathrooms, only recently on the path to happiness with her friends. Rubbing lightly at her nose, her eyebrows were raised in disbelief.
"And what in god's name have you got to be sorry for, Tiger? Last I checked, you hadn't chucked any hosts off of cliff, beehived your best friend, or sprained your ankle naked in the woods. You've got nothing to apologize for," Annabel soothed, desperate to use her own faults to cheer up Simon. At the very least, he wasn't plotting any secret alliances with the host- that had to count for something. Despite her self-assurances that she was working to be good, there was still a lot going behind the scenes and under the tables to label her as 'pretty ******** up' in this game. God, if the Producers had been mad about his little kiss, they'd probably have a Freudian Field Day over her access to his trailer and private wave machine.
...Come to think of it, she might have to look into that. Pushing her thoughts of herself from her mind, Annabel forced herself to look at Simon once more. Tentatively raising a paw to his hair, she very lightly brushed at it, all the while still leaning against him.
"You want to talk about it...? I'm here to listen, if you need me. I promise."
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 3:45 pm
No, no, no...
He was slowly shaking his head even as Annabel was speaking. Those same things again... bitterly, he wondered why she thought talking about her own personal blunders again would do anything to cheer him up. Was she trying to belittle his problems by comparing them to her own? The thought of it made something sour turn over at the pit of his chest and he shrank a bit, curling his arms tightly around his legs and leaning over them in a sort of attempt to crush it. After all, it's not like she knew everything he'd dealt with so far - how the host had found some way to torment him almost every day...
...not to mention how she at least could make up for her faults by being bold, brave, reliable... by contrast, here he was crying outside over a few misguided thoughts and the emotional buildup of what he'd endured over the past few days. He didn't see anyone else breaking down after just a week. No wonder McLean enjoyed picking on him so much. It must be so easy.
Annabel was willing to talk, but Simon wasn't sure if he wanted to. Did she really need to know he'd heard about that kiss, and if she did would it even matter?
"I..."
He took another heavy breath, his paws tensing and shaking around his legs.
"I... I heard about what happened with you today..."
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:54 pm
Whatever she'd just been trying obviously hadn't worked- even she could see her friend physically- and likely emotionally- retreat. Had she known the extent of his problems on Wawanakwa, Annabel probably would've tried something else. But for now, she was blissfully unaware of the host's torments; those that weren't applied to everyone else at camp, anyway. Kind of ironic how the two people who worked to torment each other in similar ways were taking on Simon in entirely different lights- one desperate to ruin him, the other...
...Well. Annabel's intents were extremely obvious to anyone who paid attention to her interactions with Simon. The tough, self-asserted girl seemed to literally melt under the nerd's attentions; talk about opposites attracting. Where with Chris, it was attraction based on hope to understand him, and admittedly some physical aspects, with Simon... there was something different. She wasn't one to believe in destiny or soul mates, but the way they were so different... it was nice. Completing, if that was the sort of thing you really looked into. She didn't, mind you, but she could easily see someone thinking that sort of thing.
At the mention of her earlier actions today, she froze. The statement itself could apply to anything- there'd been a lot she'd pulled off, honestly. But, no. No, by the way he'd changed, Annabel instantly knew what he was talking about. Freezing herself for a moment, Annabel was entirely silent.
Then, slowly, she moved her arms around his waist in a hug, burying her face in his arm once more.
"I'm so, so sorry, Simon.." She whispered quietly, unable to directly face her friend anymore. Swallowing heavily, she tightened her grip again.
"I-it wasn't my intention. I hadn't... I'm so sorry.."
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 5:51 pm
At first it would have taken a bit of effort for Annabel to get her arms around his waist, given how tightly wound his body was at the moment - his legs were effectively blocking the way, and his back pressed against the cabin wall. But when he put two and two together and noticed what she was trying to do, he actually relaxed a bit and shifted his posture. Not very much, mind, but just enough to make room. He'd like to have thought it wasn't a very noticeable move, but... oh, hell, it was obvious he liked having her this close even if it was for a bit of shameful indulgence.
Then he just... looked at her for a while, solemnly, feeling a mixture of relief and sadness over her words. So that meant she hadn't really wanted to kiss him, or meant to? He should have figured it was another one of the host's sadistic mind games. To go that far and invade that much personal space in order to do so, though...
That jerk...
His arms suddenly unwound from his legs and he shifted like he was trying to get Annabel off of his shoulder-- and he was, but only so he could free his arm and return her embrace with his own, reaching up to gently pet her hair.
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:06 pm
It was almost heartbreaking to feel Simon move for her; once more, the punkish girl bit back a sob, trying not to fall apart when Simon so obviously was. God, maybe they all just needed a hug, at this point. The more and more she thought about it, the better that idea was starting to sound. Hell, maybe when she went and apologized to Ariel tomorrow, she'd give the girl a hug as well. The Sharks- especially with all of their recent losing- didn't seem like the types to offer sympathetic hugs. Especially if Lucifer was on the team.
"I-it's my fault," she sniffled lightly, still unable to bring herself to face Simon, "..I baited him into it. A-and basically everything he's been freaking out about it my fault. I-I'd tell you everything, but I can't, and I'm so, so sorry. But I swear, it didn't mean anything. I might care about him more than I let on- and I swear to god, that doesn't mean anything!" She sniffled once more here, apparently trying not to break down and tell him everything with her emotional release. Still, what she had told him was a step froward- definitely helping her emotionally, as well as in apologizing, in her own mind.
"A-and I'll probably keep screwing up, b-but it's for good reason. I swear to god, I've got reasons behind everything 'm doing and will do!" Annabel assured him, finally able to look up and meet his gaze. Her own expression of heartbreak and pain, her lower lip pouted slightly.
"So I'm going to try not to hurt you. Swear to god, I'm going to try my hardest. I just- I need you to trust me, Simon. If I don't have you here, as my friend, I don't know what I'll do."
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2009 8:57 pm
Simon could barely string together half of what Annabel was saying, at first - it all sounded like things the girl would never say, mixed in with things that he wouldn't expect to hear anyone say regarding Chris. It was worrisome to him that she had said she cared for him, even with her repeated insistence that it wouldn't lead to anything that would hurt him. The promises she was throwing at him felt like a very weak facade against her self-proclaimed connection to the host's problems, not to mention all the secrets she was admitting to keeping from him.
Saying such things and asking for his trust meant that she either thought he was incredibly stupid...
...or that there might actually be some truth behind those words, despite how crazy it was all sounding. The look on her face spoke the volumes she hadn't said. It was like looking at a whole different person, or at least uncovering a new facet of her, sad and regretful. He drew up a hand to lightly stroke the side of her face, almost as if he thought it was possible to wipe the frown away.
"It's okay," he replied, voice barely above a somber whisper, "I trust you."
Then, the shadows of his face quirked into a little smile. "After all, it's not like you're the only one who'd go crazy if I didn't."
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:29 am
It sounded horrible- in all honesty, had someone approached her with the same statement, she would've scoffed in disbelief and turned them away. But with Simon- good, faithful Simon!- he was so willing to believe her, so wonderfully trusting. It was probably the most beautiful thing Annabel had seen in a very, very long time. Closing her eyes at the feeling of his touch, she sniffled slightly, so glad to have someone like him to share the pain- and help work through it.
"Thank you," she responded quietly, her own crying dissipating slightly. It seemed, at least for the moment, that Simon had made her happy once more- then again, he tended to have the ability to do that. Vaguely, she wondered how life would be without him, when she returned home- turning to look for someone to turn to, and finding herself alone once more. She'd have her journal, yes, but it just wouldn't be the same anymore. Camp had given her pain, yes...
...But it had given her friends, too. Already, she was starting to trust people- the extremes not only bringing out the worst, but the best. Managing a nervous giggle at his responding statement, her eyelashes fluttered ever so slightly, before finally closing as she leaned against his hand. Maybe this crying hadn't been so bad- already, she was starting to feel better. Hopefully, he was getting the same effects from bearing his soul like this. At least, she could hope she wasn't the only one benefiting from this.
"You're too nice, didja know?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:08 am
Seeing Annabel's mood improve a little was fuel for Simon's own. Once again he found himself grateful that they'd run into each other tonight, despite the highly undesirable circumstances that this encounter had started with. In some ways this felt like a mirror of the accidental run-in at the river: the only differences here were that nobody had gotten injured, and instead of Simon earing Annabel's trust, Annabel had earned Simon's.
The sudden weight of her head on his hand was too much for him to resist continuing his soft stroking, putting a bit more deliberation into the movements of his fingers now. This wasn't just him trying to comfort Annabel anymore; part of it was him being indulgent and admiring her. He was already happy enough just for her presence, but part of him - a very small part, mind you - was starting to notice that the girl hugging him was a bit attractive.
"Would you rather I be mean?" he joked, drawing her in just a bit closer with his other arm.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 2:57 pm
Oh, the parallels one could draw between the two encounters; were Annabel not the one experiencing this chain of events, she'd be rambling to Simon about that very thing. Maybe at a later date, looking back on all of this, she'd be able to laugh- at the very least, to hold her head up high. But for now, the girl had no mind of symbolism or motifs. No, that was for when she was on top of the world.
Now? Now, she just was relishing the comfort- the calming sensation of friendly company. Having someone close who she wasn't attempting to strangle, or desperate to get away from, was always a nice change of pace. And really, it was Simon- secretly what she'd been hoping for all along. If Simon were listening carefully, there might've been the hint of a purr at his comforting touch from Annabel. She wasn't the romantic type- this sort of touch was entirely foreign to the girl- and admittedly, wasn't unwanted. At all.
Glancing up to Simon, then, a small and playful smile took her lips.
"I think I'm mean enough for the both of us, Simon," she murmured quietly, scooting closer at his encouragement.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:27 pm
Heh, heh, heh. Annabel was mean alright, there was no doubting that. That part of her was the first thing most people probably saw, he imagined, and he'd been erroneously subjected to it himself (thankfully those stings were healing over very nicely). However, the mean streak only went so far with her. Unlike certain other people on this island she wasn't outright defined by it, and it was that knowledge that made him break into a small, quiet chuckle. "Just don't try to hard to be mean for my sake, okay?"
As his arm curled more readily around her back, something felt... odd. Particularly her clothing, and something besides the fact she was actually wearing some this time. It was almost as if the look of her normal outfits didn't quite match how this one felt. The shirt wasn't hugging her torso quite as well as he'd expect it to, and out of idle curiosity his eyes trailed over to have a look to see what it was she was wearing.
His hand couldn't have jerked off her back any more violently if it were crawling with hornets.
That shirt... that was McLean's shirt! He'd known his teammates had gotten a bit overzealous, but now one of them was WEARING that thing?! He shuddered noticeably, repulsed that he was this close to something that incarnation of pure evil wore on a regular basis.
"A-a-annabel... You stole that thing?!"
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