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 Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:28 pm
Jordan was finding it a bit difficult to focus on his reading, not because of the mood of his duplex. The music that filtered in posed a very studious environment condusive to reading. His mind was racing. He really wanted to know which breed of dog he was, but more than that, the pain from the recent changes was still there, only lessened over the past days since it ocurred. The new sounds and smells were a bit distracting, but did they ever propose new insight to his world! He loved being able to actually smell the wind and know someone had been through recently.
Cautious of sitting on his tail, the klutz that he was proving to be in the adjustments to his new body, he was sitting sideways on the entertainment room couch, with his changed, fur-covered legs dangling off the side and kicking back and forth idly. It was all-too strange walking around without shoes, but he'd have to come to terms and try not to step on any sharp twigs. Ouch!
He was reading through the book on canines, but his mind kept trying to guess what that sound was or what was he smelling this time, so he's spent twenty minutes already reading and re-reading the first entry in the AKC book on registered competition breeds.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:40 pm
Tommy strugled as he made his way toward the entertainment center. His hips still hurt like hell from the previous day's change...that, added to whatever drugs the labs had given him during his month long stay, has made the poor bat-man rather ill and sore all over. Regardless of this minor hurdle, Tommy studiously maneuvered his way toward the building he knew and loved. It was his place to watch movies in the dark at night. A distraction from the world around him. ...his cave.
The bat-man squinted at the dying sunlight for a moment while he allowed his legs to rest. Ever since the change, his legs could no longer fully support him anymore. The labs had delivered a walker to his duplex though in the middle of the day while he was asleep. He pressed down heavily with his palms on his walker's handles, using his arms to support most of his weight as he slowly closed the distance to the door.
At last, he opened it and stepped inside...it was bright in there. Someone else was using the room...someone else was in his cave. Tommy instinctively let out a quick burst of echolocation despite his extreme desire not to and was granted a quick picture of the room in his mind. There...on the couch...human...? Not sure yet...who is he?
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:50 pm
Finally, the first dog had been ruled out. There was no way he could be transforming into an affenpinscher. They had stark black fur and his was most definitely the opposite. The next dog, afghan hound was listed as he studied the respective picture a moment.
His ears twitched, his nose snuffled. New scent! Oh my god! New scent! His mind was abalze all over again and he looked around, sniffing the air urgently as it was important to know exactly what it was. His ears twitched again and he glanced towards the door. Someone new?
Jordan shifted his sunshades, but they didn't exactly sit right on his face anymore, so they slid back down the slope of his nose, stopped from fallign off his face only by his broader nose. The book was lowered into is lap as he waited in great anticipation to put a face ot the scent. He perked up as he watched Tommy enter. He was preparign to greet Tommy when the air was suddenly filled with a very shrill high-pitched screech that hit him like a mac truck.
He dropped the book and his paws rose to his ears immediately. Jordan let out his own sound: a wincing whine of ear-piercing pain.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:56 pm
Tommy winces as the bood lands with a loud bang, his large ears amplifying the sound ten-fold. Though he was able to distinguish the the whine...and that confirmed it...not human. Were there any left? How many had come in since I've been gone...how many more lives ruined? Tommy looked over the face that greeted him over the top of the sofa and grimaced himself after realizing that he had caused pain.
"I...I'm sorry. I can't help doing that sometimes..." he said softly, more than a little embarrassed. He moved his walker inside a few more steps, his thin, oddly shapped legs barely supporting him at all.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:06 pm
Once the sound had diminished, he took his paws down from his sensitive ears and got a clearer look at the batman. He didn't overreact as he had in the past, he was a bit awe-struck at the man's transformation. Sinewy-long fingers and webbed arms. 'He must be in some pain to need a walker'. He thought to himself.
"No no.. it's.. alright. These ears aren't used to loud noises yet." his nose twitched again, taking in the scent of the batman. "I'm Jordan." he offered, picking up his book and closing it. If it wasn't one thing it seemed it would be another keeping him from ever reading. What a cruel joke. "Don't worry about it, though. It's really alright. I understand if it comes naturally." he put it out there so the other guy wouldn't feel bad. Jordan scooted over on the couch to give Tommy room in case he was so inclined in sitting there. His tail curled on top of the couch's arm to keep from sitting on himself.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:14 pm
"Tommy...Tommy Christian," the bat-man replied, eyeing Jordan's arms as he moves the book. He's far along...wonder how many times he's been injected. Tommy just shakes his head at the thought, wanting to keep his mind on anything but that subject.
"Heh...I can understand completely, with ears like mine, I don't miss much," he says with a small grin while slowly moving toward a chair near the couch. He pauses for a moment, "Oh...you're reading, I'm sorry. I was just going to watch a movie or something, but that's alright." His eyes stared longingly at the chair, his legs aching. Ah, what the hell...I need to eat anyway. He continues on to the chair, glancing at the many titles of book around him, wondering if one would help pass the time.
"What are you reading...I mean, if you don't mind me asking."
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:24 pm
"Hi, Tommy." he smiled, repeating the name to commit it to memory. Jordan chuckled and nodded. “No, don’t let me stop you. “Feel free to watch anything you like, Tommy. This is a public place after all. I only came out here because I got antsy and needed to get out. Had to walk the dog.” He chuckled again, but more nervously and it died off after a few seconds. No doubt that bit of bad humor was not appreciated. Jordan patted the couch. “You look like you need to sit and there’s plenty of couch for two.”
He held up the book “Not at all. I don’t mind. This here is just the AKC book on registered official competition canine breeds. It’s good reading, but I’m having a bit of some trouble keeping focused long enough to complete a page.”
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:38 pm
"Thanks, man," Tommy says with a smile, trying his best not to show off his razor-like teeth...though this is hard due to their size. He gives a half-hearted chuckle at the joke, knowing how it's easier to make light of a difficult situation. At least some of his behavioral science classes had stuck with him.
Being near the DVD's it doesn't take long for Tommy to pick one out. Who Framed Roger Rabbit seems like a good choice, if only for a background noise while he socialized. It took him only a moment to load the DVD in and turn on the television. Though one may think his 'hands' would hamper this, he has had plenty of practice with this motion over the past few months. His only worry was trying to hold himself up with his elbows while he worked.
After this, he turned and eased himself into the couch with a grown. His small legs crossed themselves.
"Yeah, I hear ya...it's hard to concentrate with everything going on around here..." he says before looking back to Jordan's book. "Trying to figure out what you're becoming?" he asks while fishing a medical packet of blood out of his short's cargo pocket with the claw on his thumb..
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 11:10 am
Jordan just smiled, trying to be genial and chummy. It was likely that Tommy didn’t share his views on things and he had to be on his good behavior. The last time he’d let himself succumb to an emotional outburst Jordan had punched Seth in his snout as hard as he could, yelling at the top of his lungs. That happened a day before his change and he was beginning to believe that he would have remained human if he hadn’t resorted to such violence. Yes, in Jordan’s skewed mind, he believed that he was transformed as punishment for physically lashing out at one of the test subjects he was meant to live amongst but not necessarily interact with.
Jordan had taken note of some of the DVDs, such as Gilligan’s Island and his grin grew at the amusing irony. He loved the show and it made him think of Doctor Moreau as the professor. Thinking of Moreau made his tail thump happily and eagerly, but that could simply be played off as liking Tommy’s choice in movies. “Awesome choice, Tommy. I love the weasels in that movie. I can’t help but laugh at their antics.” It was soul pain to talk anything other than he would in the presence of Doctor Moreau himself, but he had to remain incognito and undercover amongst those who cost him his humanity. Yes, it was his fault for striking Seth, but Jordan was justified! He was defending his alpha’s good name!
“You gonna be okay, guy? We gotta look out for each other, y’know, so if there’s anything I can do… you want the couch? I can sit on the floor. I don’t mind.” He responded to the groan with convincing, feigned concern.
He just nodded at the last comment. “It’s not really what’s going on. It’s all the scents and sounds that set my mind on fire. When I take a simple walk through the jungle, I paint a picture no human can ever imagine.” He smiled, showing his enlarged canines. He tapped a claw once on the book cover “Yup. I’m gonna look through every single entry time and again until I’ve narrowed down the possibilities.” At the blood his eyes widen but he tries not to look disgusted. After all, he may be eating kibbles and bits from a dog dish soon enough.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:00 pm
Tommy glances from the tail to Jordan's face as it thumped away. He couldn't help but grin at that. "Yeah, it was always a favorite of mine, ever since I was a kid back home," he says as his grin turns into a sad smile. He shakes his head though, "Hmm? Oh...nono, not at all. I um...I just changed recently 'n my joints are still sore as s**t is all...but um, yeah...thanks though."
Tommy continues fumbling with the packet of blood, trying to open it like one would a Capri Sun. After a moment he glances from the package to Jordan, "That nice, huh?" he says without much emotion. "Well...can't say that I know what you mean though...my eyes still suck 'n my nose hasn't gotten any better...and don't get me started on my ears, heh," he says with a slight chuckle.
"But...anyway, try looking up sledding dogs maybe?" he says while glancing at the fur and the tail."
After saying this, Tommy reached out with his foot to pick up the DVD remote. It takes him a few attempts, but he eventually hits the play button and turns the volume much lower.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:19 pm
“I was like… seven or eight when it came out. My mom took me to see it and I laughed so hard. The main villain was scary for a kid though, y’know? Had nightmares for weeks.” Jordan nodded at the batman’s confession of recent change, knowing all too well about that and from the looks of it this wasn’t his first change. Not that he was intending on letting him know that he could sympathize with that. He was hesitant to say anything on the subject. He needed to be a good boy! Good boy! And talking about confrontational and controversial subjects with people who couldn’t understand would only invite hostility again.
Jordan pulled up his legs underneath him and just smiled. It was easier to smile and be not get into a fight. Hold back anything that could get him into trouble and swallow it. “Oh man. I love being able to hear and smell things I couldn’t before. It’s just… so amazing.” He was trying to keep the enthusiasm down to a low boil. No point in totally giving away his hand, but he couldn’t help but attest that he did approve of the hightened senses. “But.. it must be harder on others.”
“I was told I look like a husky… but I don’t know of anything white huskees. They’ve always had some other color blended in: black, gray or brown. Never just white.” Jordan thought to himself that he could just go straight to the working class dogs, but what if he were incorrect? Then he’d look foolish! He had to be scientific stubborn about it.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:27 pm
"Yeah, I hear you...I always had to leave the room at the end when the guy got flattened...scared the s**t outta me," he says with a chuckle. With a slight popping sound, Tommy finally gets the large straw into the blood pouch. He takes a few swigs from it before closing his eyes and sighing. "It's never fresh..." he mutters under his breath. Blinking with surprise at his own words, he just shakes his head and looks back to Jordan.
"Hmm? Oh! Yeah...well...I used to think opposable thumbs were amazing, but...yaknow..." he says once more without any emotion. Stop it Tommy...the guy's just trying to be friendly. God knows you need some friends right now more than ever...just talk to the guy and quit bringing up the goddamn changes!
"But anyway...I dunno...I've seen albino huskies before, but they're not the only type of sled dog out there...damn...what was the name of that one breed..." he says as he thinks out loud.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:38 pm
It’s just a V-8. It’s just a V-8. He chanted in his mind. It’s not a pouch of human--- (or animal) blood! Other than the blood thing, Tommy was taking the bait wonderfully! This was easier than he thought. You catch more flies with honey… he mused.
“Well… if it makes you feel any better.. I slammed my tail in that door the other day. I was trying to be quiet when a nice woman..” he paused purposefully, trying to look in thought. Of course he hadn’t forgotten her name, but a classic pause was priceless. He dragged a claw across his cheek. “Maryke. Yes, that’s her name. She was in here watching a movie.” He lifted the book “This is what I’d come for too.” Knowing who knew who was valuable. Learning who liked which subject could prove interesting and an asset of sorts in later meetings and scheming- or the quelling of such scheming.
“Really? You’ve seen an albino husky? That must have been some treat. It’s a good day if I see a brown one. They’re so beautiful.” Don’t play the part too well. Leave him thinking you don’t know what’s going on. Sure, domesticateds are commonly known by most people, but don’t tip your hat. Keep a few tricks hidden under your hair.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 6:48 pm
Tommy sips at the bag once more, too hungry to be self-conscious anymore. Strangely enough though, he too tried to think of it only as a mundane...pouch...of V8. "Heh, that's gotta hurt like hell...Haven't gotten any...extra additions myself. I don't think most bats have much of a tail," He says with a shrug.
He glances up at the mention of Maryke. "Hmm? Maryke...yeah, heh...I know her. She came a couple'a weeks after I did...by...helicopter I think. She likes her drink," he says with a chuckle. "Haven't seen her lately though...wonder how much she's changed," he says mostly to himself. He tries to picture what he looked like back then and almost cries out when he finds it gives him some trouble. He holds it back though as Jordan continues.
"Yeah...always liked them. I couldn't have a pet back at the Academy, but when I got out I wanted to adopt a husky...that or maybe a Malamute," he says with a smile and a nod.
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 7:02 pm
“You think slamming a finger in a car door is painful? There’s no knowledge of pain until it’s been your spine slammed shut in a door. This thing has a mind of its own too, so I can’t really control what it does.” Oh yes… that’s right. Be cool. “I scared poor Maryke half to death when it happened too. I can’t remember ever screaming quite like that before.” Good, good. We have confirmation of a connection. “Well… the best way to describe her… she has fluffy white fur on her arms and legs too. And she mentioned her feet are turning into hands because she’s turning into a….” another tactical pause. Don’t show too eager to remember the species. Some people might become offended by that. “…ruffed lemur?" he quirked a brow, tapping a claw on his lip "Imagine me with boobs and a longer tail and poofy white earmuff ears.” He couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at that image. “But she doesn’t have paws.” He waved them gingerly through the air.
“I used to have a pet husky too. You’ll probably laugh at what he was named. We called him Snowflake.” He said proudly. “Man, that was a great dog. He was my best friend as a child. We romped, rolled, chased squirrels together.” He laughed at that last part, scratching the back of his head. “Kids, go figure.”
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