Welcome to Gaia! ::

Nicky paused for a moment on his treck up-river and gave a relaxed sigh. This was what he needed...to get away from everything for a bit. The freakish vibe he'd been getting since he first stepped off of the helicopter had finally begun closing in on him and threatened to strangle him into insanity. But out here in the forest...no animal life but the non-sentient kind...no menacing lab off in the distance...no fear of change. As much of a city-boy Nick is, he's one of the rare few who also enjoys the outdoors. Now, this doesn't stop him from wearing his suit...no matter how hot it was...of course, this is mainly due to the fact that he didn't think to pack much in the way of hiking gear.

On his hike he had found a good sized branch lying on the ground, and after stripping the bark and excess twigs off of it, carried the now-cudgel over his shoulder. He doubted it would be that much use in a place like this...but, it reminded him of the bat he left behind. Just one more thing to glaze his mind over the opressive freakish vibe.

Nicky had stopped suspecting his environment as soon as he got away from the village. No one had told him to be wary of feral islanders...as far as he knew, the changes were only skin deep...and easily reversible, he prayed. With a sigh he pulled a small bottle of water out from his jacket pocket and took a sip...completely unaware of the Displacer Beast right above him.

As much as he resented this place...he had to admit it was quite nice. And hopefully, with Sabin's help, I won't be here for much longer. With an easy motion, he hefted the stick he was holding over his shoulder and began walking once more.

Nicky continued to walk until both a sound and a glint out of the corner of his eye made him stop in his tracks. Instantly he took a cautious step away from the direction of the sound...his mind back on alert immediately. Other than the step though, he didn't change his appearance...the casual stance and slight smirk still apparant. With his back to where he knew the river to be, he let his calculating gaze sweep over the area in front of him...lingering slightly longer on the bush where something glinted in the light. His first instinct was to walk over and pick it up, but a feeling of watching eyes washed over him and he had to forcibly control an oncoming shudder. Instead, he let his eyes focus on the object in question...touch with your eyes, don't get too close...

What the hell is that? Some long thin metal rod...shining...looks kind of like a pen...whatever it is, something that doesn't belong in the forest. A rising bit of fear came bubbling up within him...could it be another islander? He mentally slapped himself for not thinking of that possibility...it was a jungle, afterall...maybe some felt more comfortable out here. His eyes continued to search as he backed away...this time gazing upwards...from where he guessed the pen came from.

That's when he saw the eyes. Oh God...those eyes...animal eyes, unblinking, staring into my soul but seeing nothing but a slab of meat. Christ...what is that thing? Nicky froze in that spot, staring up at Richard...a dangerous calm coming over his face to mask his fear.

Nicky eyed Richard the entire time she made her way toward him. After his initial panic though, he allowed that small smirk to light up on his face once more in his effort to slow down his heart rate. That was key to his ability to last so long in the business he was in...a subtle control of one's body could open up so many options in dealing with people. Granted, this situation was a bit harder to control given the distinct predatorial nature of the fellow he was dealing with...but that was just another hurdle to over come. Overall, on the outside he seemed calm and in contro...the only thing denying this were the white knuckles gripping his cudgel.

At Richard's words, Nicky's smirk got a little bigger as he remembered one of his favorite songs with lyrics that went just so. "Alas, no such luck," he said, his cool and steady voice belaying his initial fear. "Dropped your pen?"

Nicky's eye twitched, just now realizing that those were extra arms underneath her real ones. ...This used to be human? he asked himself in horror, not wanting to know just what sick mind could have spawned this. She's...almost as bad as that Lizard thing...Victor... During this, he honestly wasn't expecting her to jump down that far...much less land that close. He jumped back, startled, a few feet...one in surprise, and two...just to not be close to that thing. That smirk on his face died out as he got a good look at her.

He needed to say something...anything...if only to get those menacing green eyes off of him. And I thought that wolf was bad...but...at least there was something human hiding behind those eyes. Here..., he mentally shuddered. "Perhaps..." he said with that same smirk, "And who may I ask do I have the pleasure of meeting?" he asked slowly, all effort into controlling his voice.

Nicky held his ground...he wasn't quite sure if this rule applied with cats...but he knew most animals would only attack if you ran from them...or did that only apply to dogs? Nicky wasn't quite sure...but regardless, he was the type to hold his ground no matter what. The ex-wiseguy allowed himself those few brief moments of near-panic...but now it was time to get control. Once more he focused on nothing but getting his heart-rate under control...as his pulse slowed, so did his fear. Finally, by the time Richard extended what was once a hand, he was mostly under control and showing noe fear. Without hesitation, he transfered the stick from his right hand to his left and shook Richard's. "Richard...?" he said slowly, quietly surprised by the name and how it in no way matched the body. But he kept that to himself. "Name's Nicky...Nicky Bartels," he said in his slight 'yat' accent.

"They told me about you," he said cryptically, adding that smirk in for good measure.

It had been some time since he'd been last man-handled like that. Come to think of it, he wasn't actually beaten in a fight since he was a child. It was something he had taken personal pride in...deceiving others into thinking he was scrawny and easy pickings, not knowing the powerhouse of sinewey muscle that hid beneath his well-manicured exterior. But sadly, Richard had the element of surprise...weight...strength...and weapons over Nicky. After the initial shock of the fluid movement by Richard, though, Nicky allowed his body to relax...waiting for any deviation in his current position to capitalize on. Also...he didn't want to be too tense with those claws right next to his throat.

A breath was caught in his throat at first, but he slowly eased it out...glancing down at the claws wrapped around his neck and then up into those emeralds staring down at him. That infuriating smirk still on his face as he stared down the displacer beast. A calm center passed over Nicky...slight anxiety remained...but no fear. His eyes told of the horrors he would commit to any person who would slight him...but still that smirk remained.

Finally, he spoke...just one word, but a word that he hoped would be enough. "Sabin."

Nicky just kept that calm exterior as she let him go...eyes not leaving hers even during the insufferable tracing of the claws. Don't want to tell her too much...and the way a person moves can tell an entire story. As she finally stepped away, he shrugged he shoulders to straighten his jacket as he tightened his tie. With a slow and calculated movement, he reached down to pick up the club. Her quip bothered him...but he would never show this...thing that. He just kept that smirk on his face as he hefted up the large stick.

"Don't know, don't care. I care about facts, not speculation. To specify...he told me you were intelligent and capable. A person to seek out to help get bearings. I'm beginning to fear that Sabin's judge in character was...lacking to say the least," he said while inspecting his cudgel once more. "Also...you ever come near me like that again and I will bash your ******** brains in." There was no fear in his voice, only a promise.