Welcome to Gaia! ::

Cassidy blinked; for a moment, she just stared at her hands.

"Well, I've been here since, um, August, I think it was. I came for a job at a hotel that, sadly, doesn't exist." She shrugged, and the feathers visible through the top of her sweater ruffled a little. "As for the animal thing, well... I know that's true. I mean, well. Look at me." She extended an arm, rolling up her sleeve past her elbow to show the scales and the feathers.

She was hoping she could stay way from the Genesis connections this time around.

"Leprosy?!" Cassidy boggled. "I don't have leprosy. It's their... their 'medicine' that did this to me. I went and asked them outright. They said."

At least it was a better story than we're-making-a-movie-and-everyone's-in-full-costume.

She rolled her sleeve back down. "Anyway, I never heard of a leper growing feathers."

Ick. When he put it that way, it was almost a logical thing to think. Cass wasn't sure she liked being mistaken for a leper.

"Not this sort of allergy... I asked them straight out. They told me. Green tree python and macaw... oh, forget it." She rubbed her forehead, and sighed. "Just... forget it."

After a pause, she said softly, "You can ask, or you can wait." Cassidy shook her head. "Not a lot of choice. I'm sorry."

She wasn't sure what she was sorry for... just... generally sorry.

Her good mood rather wounded, Cass got to her feet, and wobbled a little before she got her balance. "I'll just go... I don't want to disturb your reading..."

She hobbled to the door.

Ambrose almost felt like he was emerging from hiding as he walked, slowly, to the cafeteria with Angelina at his side. Between helping Chubb's construction and spending some much-needed time with Angelina since her arrival, he had barely seen any of the other Islanders who had grown quite close to him since he had gotten here.

He had made many quick trips to the cafeteria, briniging Angelina food, or getting food for himself before construction, but never spotted anyone else during his erratically-timed visits.

He wondered how Colche was doing... or Amaya... and he still worried about Emelyn... did she still hate him? And it seemed like ages since he had seen Greer or The Dude. Was Greer still having... issues?

He glanced over to the short brunette at his side. A blessing in disguise, mayhaps... he couldn't believe his eyes when she had come into his duplex... back into his life. And how his heart had panged for her.... but now.... now she was here - he knew the problems it would bring. She was scared, for her ... humanity... for her freedom. And... since her arrival... they had yet to share any real... "quality time". They had hugged, snuggled - certainly. She had even said that he was soft... but... they hadn't even really kissed - nothing more than a peck on his furry cheek. Ambrose was beging to fear that she no longer found him attractive.... no longer saw him as the man she had fallen for.

With a disguised sigh, he walked arm in arm with her quietly to the cafeteria, lost in his thoughts. He gave her another encouraging smile - or at least he hoped it came across like that. She had not stepped foot outside of his duplex for more than a few minutes since her arrival - she was making a big step - coming out with him.

Ambrose also hoped that she wasn't disturbed by his eating habits - that he had gone out of his way to hide from her. Between eating most of his meals at hte work site, or guzzling down some meat while bringing her her tray. He mostly had satiated his hunger before bringing her her meal, during which he could eat lightly with her. He had gone out of his way to tone down the lupine impulses around her - which only made them stand out more to him. Resisting the urge to lick her face, or shake himself dry....

But the longer it went, the more awkward it felt - like he was violating the sacred trust of a relationship - not letting himself be himself - despite how unnatural and artificially-induced these new impulses were.

So it was a big step for both of them.

Stepping through the doors Ambrose gave a small sigh as he saw it was empty of people save for the lunch lady at her typical post. Although... he wasn't sure if it was really relief or disappointment.

Smiling to her, he extended a hand to the food area. "Here we are. I know it's not a very nice restaurant... but.... well, it's the best I could do" he winked.

After that rather depressing conversation with Colche, Amaya made her way towards the cafeteria. It was getting to be a little late and she needed to grab something quick before heading back to her duplex.

As she headed into the cafeteria doors, she paused and looked at Ambrose and... some girl she didn't know next to him. Was that Angelina? Oh god. She physically winced, her first instinct to just get the hell out of dodge so nothing bad would happen. But if she had come out here with him then... that meant she was ready to face things?

With a shaky sigh she grabbed a fruit salad and very slowly made her way over, claws clicking on the tile floor as she did so. "Hey Ambrose... long time no see." She forced a tiny smile, one of her large hands holding her bowl in it's palm and the other balled up at her side.

Her tail gave a nervous twitch behind her and she kept her eyes partially down. If Angelina freaked out she really didn't want to see it face on.

Ambrose was heading towards the lunch line with Angelina and heistantly loading up his tray with meat. There was a set of steaks on the buffet today - some of the pieces particularly rare and juicy that really was catching his attention - particularly after not having eaten since early yesterday when he did construction work with Chubbs.

Finally swallowing his pride, he put four big thick pieces on his plate, after an apologetic look to Angelina.

He turned, a smile widening in surprise as he saw Amaya. "Amaya! It has been a long time! How have you been doing?" he turned to Angelina, gesturing. "Amaya... this is Angelina" He smiled, and turned to Angelina. "Angelina.. this is Amaya. She's a really great person. Even letting me teach her how to fence." He winked at Amaya. "Speaking of... how's that footwork gone?"

Ambrose glanced up as the door opened once again to reveal another familiar familar. Rayanya... the strange woman he had encountered in the jungle and who had called him a werewolf.... but at least... she had eventually seemingly come to understand... and at least it had been he who had encountered her first instead of, for example, Amaya. And strange as it was, he had needed to help someone that day...
He nodded to her, giving her a small wave as he collected his tray.