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 Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 7:31 pm
Nerding It Up With The X-Files Nita MacNeal Finding herself at loose ends, Nita decided to check out the entertainment room again. She had already borrowed and read most of the sci-fi/fantasy novels, but she thought she remembered seeing seasons of The X-Files on DVD. She settled onto one of the couches with the remote, flipping through the menu until she found an episode she felt like watching. For once, Nita's hair was freed from its customary thick braids and pulled back from her face by two slim plaits that were then braided together at the back. It had taken her quite a while to get them even, but overall she was pleased with the result. Nita sighed happily as the familiar theme music began to play. Kim Nguyet Likewise... it was boredom that drew Kim to the entertainment room... which wasn't a place she adventured into all that much, oddly. She was much more of a fan of the arcade.
Her mind picked out the familiar theme song the second she stepped inside the room, and she perked. Well... someone had found something decent to watch in here... But granted, she had never really looked at the selection too much.
She was about to turn, however, until she semi-reconized the red hairs. She had seen this girl before, hadn't she ? This seemed to make her change her mind, and she instead went to sit on another couch, chirping a cheerful "Hi !" as she passed. Nita MacNeal Nita sat up from her semi-reclined position as someone entered the room. Long dark hair, slanted eyes, about her height... "Hey there," she said, waving at the girl. "Kim, right?" She smiled and gestured towards the TV with the remote. "X-Files fan?" Nita asked as the first few scenes played. Kim Nguyet "Yup !" She seemed to think for a moment. "...Nita, right ?"
"Not all -that- much... I mean, I watched it when it happened to be on, but I didn't really follow the series or anything." She admitted. "I don't think I've seen this episode before..." Nita MacNeal "That's me," Nita said cheerfully. Even though the girl had changed since she met Kim, she was still easily recognizable. "I only watched it a little when it was on broadcast, but it runs on TNT late at night, so I got hooked when I'd stay up late." Nita brushed a few wisps of hair out of her eyes and continued, "I had a lot of episodes on my computer at home. This is a fun one, where there's going to be a movie made about Mulder and Scully." Kim Nguyet "I usually watched Adult Swim if I stayed up late enough..." She said, visibely finding the conversation more interesting than the episode, but doing her best to keep track of both.
"But as far as anime go, I got plenty on my computer here." Ahhhh, her precious laptop. One could argue the girl would be heartbroken without it.
In truth, it didn't seem that she had even noticed that Nita had changed - visibely much more used to the most drastic changes of the friends she had seen lately. With the AC, the room was a bit chilly... Thank god she had thought about wearing those gloves. She had found them in Cass's box, and they had been sutch a wonderful catch.
"I can't remember that one." She admitted. Nita MacNeal Nita watched the episode out of the corners of her eyes, familiar enough to know what would happen. "I liked Adult Swim. Mostly Futurama and Venture Brothers." Nita grinned, happy to have found someone else with similar tastes. "Never watched much anime, really, but it's okay." She had to admit she was just a bit jealous that Kim had her computer with her. Nita had had to leave hers at home, since it was a clunky desktop instead of a laptop. But it was her clunky desktop! Kim Nguyet "Oh, I am a complete anime nut." Kim couldn't help but chuckle. She seemed to be the only one of her kind... which was a bit familiar. "I watch them in japanese subtitles alot. Of course, those are on my laptop." Well, duh. "Of course... with no internet... It's pretty much been reduced himself to act mostly as a tv, poor thing."
She leaned against the side of the couch almost comically, eyes on the television, but thoughts elsewhere. Nita MacNeal "Hmm," Nita said, a sort of noncommittal 'I'm listening' noise. "I like the Miyazaki films, though. Subtitled, not dubbed." She shook her head, as if sympathizing with Kim's poor, crippled laptop. "Aw, yeah, I miss the internet. It wasn't like I was online constantly, but it's weird thinking how disconnected we are here." Kim Nguyet "Yeah, those where good." The black haired girl agreed. "I don't even think I have a favorite... I liked them all."
She sighed a bit at Nita's mention of how disconected they where. "True... It is a bit wierd. I had an hard time getting used to it." She couldn't help but laugh suddently at a memory. "You should have seen me when I came here... fighting for hours to connect on a wireless network that doesn't even exist. I was all upset at that time... Now I think back of it and I can't help but think it was so stupid. It was before I knew what was going on here." Nita MacNeal Nita made a face and wrapped a strand of hair around her fingers. "For all we know, the rest of the civilized world has disappeared with out a trace. Guh." She shook her head. "But that's depressing. Everything's probably still there." Her tone was serious, but a smile threatened the corner of her mouth. She laughed slightly, well able to imagine Kim searching frantically for the wireless connection. "So how'd they trick you here?" Nita asked. Kim Nguyet "Yeah... I wonder how things are going back there, sometimes." She said, but seemed glad to change the subject.
"There was an ad in the paper about an experimental cure for Diabetes. My mom saw it and told me I should give it a try." She shrugged. "I didn't want to come at first because I was pretty sure I was about to find a job, but she wouldn't quiet down until I agreed to come. I don't really like traveling... So that was one of the reasons, too." She admited, a bit sheepish. "It was supposed to be a month... and well, I've been here since November. What about you ?" Nita MacNeal Nita nodded slightly as Kim spoke. "Wow, since November?" Her whitened eyebrows rose at that revelation. So Kim was yet another who had been on the Island for a long time. "Did you get any help for your diabetes, at least?" The redhead continued to twirl the strand of hair around and between her fingers. "It was supposed to be an independent-study slash study-abroad deal. College credit and all that good stuff." Nita rolled her eyes. "Unless you can major in 'turning into an animal' I'm pretty sure this won't count towards graduation!" Kim Nguyet "They give me insulin. That's pretty much it." She sighed. "But that's better than nothing, I guess. Ill'd be majorly screwed without it."
The idea of having to depend on the staff for this didn't really make her happy at all, but she didn't voice her discontent... Even if the look on her face spoke volumes.
"If it did, I think we'lld all get full credit !" She couldn't help but laugh a bit. "Pass with flying colors, in fact... But... damn, they actually manage to take you guys out of high school for s**t like this ?" She knew some of the islanders where young, but she had never gotten a definite age for any of them. "That's bullshit. This kind of thing makes me so pissed off. That someone with their lives ahead of them wind up trapped here..." She muttered. "I don't know why, but it upset me more than myself being here in the first place." Nita MacNeal "Heh, at least you don't have to mess with your insurance company..." Nita suddenly remembered that she only had a two-months' supply of her own medication. Would the staff notice that, or would she have to contact them about it? She sighed inwardly and made a mental note to find out. She laughed softly. "Oh no, not high school! I was in my junior year at OSU- that's Ohio State- when my advisor suggested this program to me." Nita was used to people not being able to guess her age; they either seemed to think she was several years younger or several years older than she really was. "I know what you mean about the really young ones here, though... My neighbor downstairs is only 17, I think." Kim Nguyet "Oh !" Kim couldn't help but be a bit embarassed, her face reddening sightly. "Sorry... but I guess you could take that as a compliment ?" She smilled. "People always think im 16 or 17... it makes me laugh a bit. I guess im somewhere in the middle as far as islander age goes... Not that I really know the other's ages at all."
"But I think ill'd ratter have to mess with insurance than being there, but that might be just me." She teased a bit with a smile on her face. Nita MacNeal Nita grinned, not at all offended. "My mom always said I'd appreciate it when I'm 40." She eyed Kim, thinking aloud, "So.. you're what, 20 or 21 then?" In the background, the episode drew to a close, and zombies danced about the stage. Nita reached for the remote, which had fallen to the floor during their conversation, and switched off the TV. "Hm... sprouting fur or dealing with insurance." Nita held her hands up as if weighing the options. "Insurance is probably the lesser of two evils," she snickered. Kim Nguyet "22." She corrected almost systematicly. "Was 21 when I came here... I can't believe I spend my brithday locked out in the stupid jungle." She muttered lightly, but seemed to be cheered up by Nita's last sentence.
"Being cold blooded or dealing with insurance... Yeah, I think I know which one ill'd choose there." She gave a light-hearted laugh. Nita MacNeal "Ugh, I heard about that lockout thing." Nita gave Kim a sympathetic look. "I just turned 21 a couple of days ago." She glanced at the clock on the wall and stretched. "Hey, I'm gonna grab something to eat and go back to my duplex, but it's been nice talking to you." Her back popped loudly, causing Nita to grimace and roll her eyes. Nita hauled herself off the couch and slipped her flipflops back on. She put the X-Files DVD back in its case and shelved it properly. "I'm sure I'll see you around, though, and I'm in number 42 if you ever want to watch stuff on your laptop with someone." She smiled and waved at Kim as she passed through the door, ready to find food of some sort. Kim Nguyet "I should probably get going too, before I fall asleep here." Kim answered, getting up as well.
"Im in 22... Drop in sometimes." She smilled, waiting for Nita to exit before she left as well.
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 12:15 am
Another New Islander Natsumi Tanaka It was early morning when the woman stepped out of her duplex, looking towards the misty area, and smiling slightly at the various sounds of the jungle she was in. She hardly recalled hearing much about jungles of America... But she was willing to accept it, just the same. She still felt a bit ill from the initial injection, her situation, and so with shakey steps she started towards the town where there had been promise of a cafeteria and whatnot.
She found it fairly quickly, it was one of the few, if only, things that looked different. Slipping through the doors she scrunched her face at the initial mix of smells. She couldn't quite place all of them, it seemed there was such a good variety that they all mixed together into one unreconizable scent. It made her stomach flop, as she looked uneasily around the room. She moved foreward with the promise the food on her empty stomach would make her feel better. And soon enough she had selected something as close as possible to her homestyle foods from Delia, and was on her way to finding a seat to pick at the meal. Nita MacNeal For once, Nita had awoken early. Unable to get back to sleep, she showered and got dressed in her typical jeans and tanktop. Still yawning slightly and with wet hair, although otherwise perfectly presentable, Nita shuffled to the cafeteria. She chose a bowl of cereal and sliced some fruit to put on top. Nita was mostly working on auto-pilot, so she barely noticed the other girl in the room. Sitting in her usual spot in the corner, she spooned cereal and fruit into her mouth, careful not to spill any of the milk. Natsumi Tanaka Natsumi locked eyes on the new female, smiling slightly. She was fresh out of highschool, and still felt a gravity to anyone that looked near her age. Expecially in a lunch room setting. Plus, this person must have been another worker there... so she was definatly inclined to meet them and show her respects and the other buisness formalities.
So when the woman settled herself in a seat, Natsumi came over with a small smile. "Good morning..." She greeted, looking towards the seat across from Nita "Do you mind if i sit here?" Her words fluctuated between being overpronounced or mispronouced. The english she heard back home had been from tourists, so her accent seemed to hold no steady grounding. Nita MacNeal "'Morning," Nita mumbled, rubbing at her eyes. The hot shower she had taken only recently had apparently not woken her up all the way; she would probably go back to bed once she was finished with her breakfast. "Yeah, go ahead," she replied a bit more clearly, noting the other girl's accent and mispronunciations. Wait. The girl in front of her was also fully human. Another new person, or just someone she had yet to meet? Best to play it safe for now. "My name is Nita. What's yours?" Natsumi Tanaka Natsumi smiled and set her food on the table, settling herself into the seat. She noticed the... special features of the woman. Paticuarly masses of hair... She ignored it, how rude would it be to up and say 'hey you're hairy!' when just meeting someone? Maybe it was the lighting... Whatever it was, it wasn't important. Or atleast she thought.
She took a small bite of her food, her eating feigned simmaler to that of how a mouse would eat. Timidly, and in small portions.
She swallowed, returning her soft smile. "I am Tanaka, Natsumi, it is nice to meet you." She gave a tiny bow of her head, "Do you work here too?" Nita MacNeal Nita smiled back, not wanting to alarm the timid girl. Recognizing the name and accent as Japanese, Nita mentally flipped the given name. "Natsumi?" she repeated, imitating the clipped vowels. "It's nice to meet you, too." The red panda girl ate a few spoonfuls of cereal before attempting an answer. So she had found yet another new person. Wonderful. One pointed ear flicked in annoyance. "Ah, no," she answered finally. "I live here." Natsumi Tanaka Her eyes locked as the womans ear... moved. She stared a moment, a bit taken back... As soon as the young japanese girl realized she was staring, she flushed and shot her eyes to the bowl of food.
It must have been her imagination, ushering the sight from her mind she quickly returned to the conversation at hand. "Aa." She took another bite, chew, swallow, return to talking. "I just got here... It seems nice!" Her conversation skills dwindled from the distraction of the fuzzy and ear-movments. Nita MacNeal Nita knew what Natsumi must be looking at. She sighed softly and deliberately flicked her ears and brushed her hair out of her face with one furred hand. "It's nice enough, except for.." Nita paused and bit her lip. "I'm sorry," she said. "There's no easy way to say this, but whatever the doctors told you when you got here is a lie. We're all subjects here of some whacky experiment." Nita stared into her cereal bowl for a moment before realizing it was empty except for a thin sheen of milk. "We're all being turned into animals." Natsumi Tanaka Natsumi looked beweildered, attempting to place the words in her vocabulary. She thought she knew what they all meant, but that didn't make any sense whatso ever.
The thoughts wheeled around in her mind, things may have connected to that. The reason she was chosen for such a huge company even though she was young and inexperienced. And ofcourse the fuzzy misportions of the woman infront of her.
But she'd never heard of such a thing. "I am sorry... I... Don't understand?" she tilted her head to the side, wondering if perhaps it was some of that oddly used american slang. Like whats up to see how the person was doing, instead of asking what was above them. Nita MacNeal Nita suppressed another sigh and held out her arm, which was covered with soft reddish fur and tipped with hard, almost claw-like, nails. "We're turning into animals. The injections they give us... they make us change." The girl's other hand touched one pointed ear, emphasizing its shape and furryness. "I know it's hard to believe, but it's not a trick." Nita gave Natsumi a pleading look, hoping the Japanese girl would even understand her words, not to mention actually believe what she was saying. Natsumi Tanaka Natsumi stared at the woman's arm. Blinking once or twice, her cheery mood had dissapated as everything to sink in... she looked like she was taking it much better than she should have. A blank expression, she leaned to look closer. "O..Oh..." she muttered softly. It reminded her of the old stories when gods punished people by turning them into animals... simply children's taise she'd hear from her brothers as they teased her.
So that was it then, the gods were punishing her. Yes, this all made perfect sense. She offered a distracted smile as she stood up, moving away from the table. "Excuse me.. I..." Her sentance faded out as wavered, then simply fell. Lucky for her, she missed any chairs and tables that would have caused any serious damage. Nita MacNeal Nita pulled her arm back, a concerned look on her face. "Again, I'm really sorry to be the one to tell you, but you needed to know..." She was interrupted as the girl stood and abruptly fell over. "Oh my god!" Nita squeaked, rushing around the table to kneel at Natsumi's side. She shook the girl's arm, hoping she hadn't hurt herself. "Are you alright? Natsumi..?" Natsumi Tanaka The girl seemed to have simply fainted, and after a moment or two her eyes fluttered open. "Yume... da ka?" she muttered as she came to rather quickly, luckally for her informer. Her brown eyes moved over the woman above her, no... not a dream.
She compiled her second language, so the girl would understand her. It tended to help. "Yes. I'm alright." she tried to sit, moving a hand to teh back of her head. A bit sore... but no harm done. She sat up completely, blinking a few times as the shock of the whole concept still threatened to knock her out again. Nita MacNeal Nita put a hand on Natsumi's back to brace her. "Here, can I help you back to your duplex?" Without waiting for an answer, Nita patted the girl's shoulder and stood, preparing to clear away both of their breakfasts. Once that task was finished, she held out her hands to help Natsumi up. "What number are you in?" Natsumi Tanaka "nn. Please... If it is not too much trouble.." she quietly added, hoping not to put the other woman out... How troublesome she was being. Her thoughts spiraled some as she took to her feet. Wobbling some, she steadied herself, and reached for her soup. Even though she was dazed, confused, and completely astounded, she was still hungry...
So with the bowl carefully grasped in both hands, she seemed to focus on that. "46." She replied, softly once more, starting to move foreward slowly but surely.
It wasn't a suprise she'd respond like that... While if a normal person had told her they were all morphing into animals, she would have thought they were mocking her. However... this person had something wrong, and while nothing made sense at the same time it did. And thus, she was left dazed and distant. Almost in a place of denial. Nita MacNeal "46?" Nita repeated. "Oh no, it's no trouble at all; you're only two doors down from me." She nodded definitively to stem any further protestations. Walking carefully beside Natsumi, Nita watched her to be sure she wouldn't fall again. The pair went out the the front doors of the cafeteria and along the path towards their duplexes. Natsumi Tanaka Natsumi seemed releived as they headed through the doors, and down the newly familiar path. It was awkwardly silent, Natsumi decided to keep all her thoughts to herself. It wasn't in her nature to complain, or speak so poorly of anything, and right now that was all that was going to come out. So a sealed mouth was the answere as she tried to find the acceptance of her newfound fate.
The occassional wobble would break the still until they reached her room, moving the soup to one hand she unlocked the door, then with a tiny click it slid open to reveal the fresh room. As Natsumi stepped inside, her shoes were kicked off by the door. She then turned to smile towards Nita "You can come in if you would like... I am sorry to have interupted your breakfast like that."
She tried to be optomistic with her thoughts, so if she was turning into an animal monster... thing. Then perhaps such punishment would bring what she had come to do in the first place. In a less fun way than she had originally imagined... But what's done was done, so she'd ignor it... and definatly keep herself from being a burden to her new fellow islander.
It was a thought process that would likely lead to disaster down the road, but for now it would work. Nita MacNeal Nita put an arm out to Natsumi every time she wobbled, but the girl seemed to be mostly alright. Under the present circumstances, of course. At the entrance to number 46, Nita glanced past the Japanese girl into the sterile room that looked very much like her own, although Nita's was a bit more personalized. She had lived there for nearly two months. "No no, it was hardly an interruption." Well, it had been, but Nita didn't mind. It was much more important to make sure that this new girl had some idea of what was going on, and that she was okay after fainting like that. "But sure, I'll come in for a little while." She followed Natsumi in, also ridding herself of her shoes to reveal darkened nails and slightly furred feet. "I guess I can try to answer any questions... I don't know too much, of course, but I'll try." Natsumi Tanaka Natsumi's eyes glanced over the strange features once more, quickly glancing away to her room. The somewhat familiar settings eased her current worries about the island. It was atleast hers, held her familiar belongings, and even though it was new... it was still comfortingly familiar in the face of the bad news.
She moved towards her bed, to seat herself on the side of it. "Oh, no." She smiled a bit, setting the soup on her side-table. Her hands folded neatly in her lap automatically. "I won't further bother you with that... I was hoping we might, how do you say... Hang out...?" she looked a bit awkward trying out the forign term. Hoping it wasn't over dated yet, or she had said it wrong. But hopefully, her tiny offer of perhaps a new friendship atleast made sense and went over well... and if the woman felt like she didn't want to she could still feign hunger and go back to her breakfast. Nita MacNeal "Hang out? Sure, we can do that for a bit." Nita gave Natsumi her most reassuring smile and perched on a chair with her feet under her. One hand played with the end of a braid; the other fidgetted absently with the edge around the hole in the knee of her jeans. Natsumi seemed like a very sweet girl, if she was awfully timid and withdrawn. But then, Nita herself could come across that way unless she made a specific effort to be personable, or if she was truly comfortable with someone. "So... Where are you from? What brings you to the island?" Maybe it wasn't the best thing to talk about, but at least it would establish some kind of commonality. Being tricked onto a tropical island and turning into an animal was a surefire conversation piece. Natsumi Tanaka Natsumi's small smile seemed to widen a bit. Encouraged by the reassurance of her new peer. The thought that good could come out of everything rang in her mind.
She brushed a stray strand of raven hair behind her ear, "I am from Japan, a small town outside of Kyoto..." She paused to let the town name catch up if the woman was familiar with it. The second question wasn't as bad as one would think, she even smiled slightly as now a multitude of answeres poped up for that one. "Well... I was going to be a translator." Another breif pause was given, "And, you?" Natsumi's original dizzy spells, and what could only be describved as spacing out was seeming to fade as the conversation progressed.
She seemed to gravitate towards Nita. Wether it was simply because she was the first person other than the doctors that she met on the island, or simply that the woman had been nice to her. She would still remain withdrawn, polite, and as it should be... Doing otherwise so soon would likely have been a direct insult. Nita MacNeal Nita listened quietly while Natsumi spoke, nodding briefly in recognition when Kyoto was mentioned. However, her reason for coming particularly sparked Nita's interest. "A translator? What languages do you speak?" Nita herself had been informed that she had a special faculty for languages, although it had always seemed perfectly normal for her. "I'm from Ohio, which is the midwest of the United States. Sort of right under Lake Erie, if that helps at all." As she spoke, Nita sketched a sort of map in the air with her hands. "I was a student, in university, and this was supposed to be a study-abroad program." She sniffed derisively, although she still seemed cheerful enough. "Of course, this place has been awfully educational..!" Natsumi Tanaka Natsumi blushed a bit when asked, shaking her head as though knowing multiple languages was nothing. "Englsih, German, and I am learning spanish." and there was probably some unknown animal language to add to that list soon enough. Joy of joys.
She nodded as Nita went over the state's information. After a few seconds into describing it, the girl's eyes lit up in recognition and she almost bounced. It was held back, but she did make a tiny "Aa" sound, then fell back to silence to listen. When the joke came she covered her mouth with her hand, letting out a soft muffled giggle, her hand lingering a moment before finding it's way back with it's twin in her lap. "What is your major?" Nita MacNeal "I took several years of both German and French in high school, plus I took more German in college," Nita explained. "Plus my dad is a Latin teacher. My mama spoke Spanish growing up, but I never learned it." She leaned forward in her chair slightly to better hear the girl's soft voice. "I was an English major, for a lack of anything better. I've always loved reading and writing, so it made the most sense." Natsumi Tanaka Natsumi nodded,looking a bit interested. "I was thinking french would be good as well."
"So what else do you like...?" she paused, her eyes moved up as though she were tryign to look into the back of her brain for something. "Hobbies." she perked up as the word flooded back into her memory. Nita MacNeal "French was pretty easy to learn, especially after taking German. The grammar is easier." Nita shifted in her seat. Natsumi's careful way of speaking reminded Nita thoroughly of days spent in language classes; the query regarding her hobbies enforcing that impression. She suppressed a giggle. "Mostly reading, and I was in choir for a long time. Took voice lessons and stuff. I was never very social, no sports or anything. You?" Ich lese und singe gern. Ich treibe kein Sport, Nita thought with a mental snort. Natsumi Tanaka "Aa." she responded, flushing a bit. Her own hobby was an interesting one, often people were suprised when they heard. " I like gymnastics. I was in the championship back home." the faintest hints of pride shone through. "But most of my time was spent helping in the shrine. Sometimes I would help in the entertainment... Traditional dances for the tourists." She breifly wondered if that could even be considered a hobby. It was fairly fun though, they would pull her out as an extra sometimes, she always enjoyed it. Nita MacNeal "Oh, wow, that's neat," Nita told her. "Were you going to try for the Olympics or anything?" Traditional dancing sounded interesting as well. Nita had a vague idea of what that entailed, but not a clear picture. "I think there's an exercise room here, if you're wanting to stay in shape." Natsumi Tanaka Natsumi shook her head, though the idea had crossed her mind once or twice, "No." She smiled at the thought of an exercise room... she had wondered if she'd be able to find something like the gym at her school to continue her hobby. "I would like that. Do you know where it might be?" Nita MacNeal Nita had never actually been in the exercise room, but she had gone past it several times. "It's in the building with the cafeteria. There's an entertainment room, too, with books and movies." A sudden yawn split Nita's face. She had been intending on going back to bed after breakfast. Nita covered her mouth hastily and apologized. "If you don't mind, I think I'll go back to my duplex. I really just wanted to make sure you were okay..?" Natsumi Tanaka "Alright." Natsumi nodded, mentally noting to head down that way.
As Nita's yawn broke out Natsumi felt her own stomach remind her of her original intent with a soft rumble. She smiled a bit, nodding "Please." she reassured, in the i don't mind fasion. "Yes, I am much better." she stood to walk her new aquatance to the door. "It was nice meeting you. I think i will finish breakfast and look for the place you told me of..." she thought outloud as she bid farewell.
When nita moved down the hall, natsumi returned to her seat on the bed to finish up her slightly chilled soup. Nita MacNeal Nita smiled and stood up, her back creaking slightly. "Take care of yourself, Natsumi," she said, slipping her shoes back on. "If there's anything I can help you with, don't hesitate to stop by. I'm in duplex 42, which is just two buildings down, on the second level." Still slightly worried, but content that the Japanese girl would be fine, Nita left the pristine room. Hopefully she would still be able to sleep.
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 5:04 pm
Soccer and Sappiness Nita MacNeal Although Nita had intended to go back to sleep after breakfast, she was too distracted and worried about the new girl, Natsumi. The poor girl had taken a nasty fall, even if she hadn't seemed to have injured herself. After a couple of hours of fitful sleep, Nita dragged herself out of bed. Maybe a distraction would help; or at least getting out of her duplex. For the first time since her transformation, Nita pulled on her bathing suit instead of wearing jeans and a tanktop for her trips to the beach. She grabbed her towel, shut her door without bothering to lock it, and set out along the track to the western side of the island. She walked barefoot along the water's edge, the beginnings of pads on her feet having acquired a nice callus, looking for shells and the occasional tidepool. Thomas Brinley After Ambrose had departed, Thom had taken to the water, alternately swimming and retreating back to rest on the beach, and generally just wasting away the morning. It wasn't as if he had anything better to do with his time, after all, and the tropical weather was a rarity in his life. He'd might as well enjoy it while he had the chance. It never occurred to him that he may be surrounded by tropics for the rest of his life. Rising from the waves and shaking water from his hair, he waded through the surf back onto the beach, only to drop down onto the sand as soon as he was clear of the waves. Yawning, he sprawled out on his back, eyeing the soccer ball and shirt he had discarded nearby as if debating using either for a pillow. Deciding against it, he moved his hands beneath his head and closed his eyes, quite content to simply enjoy the sun. And all the while, he was completely oblivious to the girl approaching from down the beach. Nita MacNeal Nita spotted a reclining figure not far away, although she didn't recognize him at once. With her sizable collection of shells wrapped in her towel, she approached him quietly, enjoying the feeling of wet sand under her feet and the cool water swirling around her ankles. It wasn't until she saw the bandage on his forehead that Nita realized who it was. Hopefully by now the guy had run into a few other islanders, more changed and better at explaining what was going on than she was. "Hey..." she said tentatively, once she was only a yard or so away. Thomas Brinley The wet sand served to muffle her approach, but even taken by surprise he hardly reacted when she spoke. Instead, he opened one eye, squinting up at her through the bright sunlight. As recognition dawned, he opened both eyes and sat up, nodding a greeting. "Mornin'." After a pause, he sighed, climbing to his feet and dusting wet sand form his body and hair. Nevermind the fact that he was shirtless and fuzzy girl in a swim suit--it wasn't a common to shed a shirt during or after practice, and...well, he'd seen women in less. Once satisfied that he wouldn't itch for the next day and a half, he returned his attention to Nita, running a hand through his drying hair to slick it out of his face. "I... b'lieve I owe you an apology." Nita MacNeal Nita nodded and shifted her bundle of towel. Oh good. This time he wasn't giving her the 'freak look,' so apparently he had figured out that she wasn't crazy. She smiled slightly and shrugged. "It's okay. I know it's awfully hard to believe." Thomas Brinley "Yesterday I met Alec," he explained, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. "And t'day Ambrose. T'gether, somewhere along th' line, they knocked some sense into me. I'm sorry I didn't b'lieve you." Grimacing, he let his hand fall and reached down to retrieve his water bottle. "Y'ave t' admit, though. It's rather 'ard to swallow." Nita MacNeal "Ahhh," she said. "That would do it... Ambrose especially." Nita shrugged again, accepting the apology, but also understanding exactly how weird the whole situation was. "The first person I met here thought I was a friend of hers from back home, and came running at me." Nita laughed at the memory. "She's turning into a mongoose, but she's got horns of some sort as well." She shook her head, a wry smile on her face. "Definitely hard to swallow but, unfortunately, it's all too true." Thomas Brinley "Yes, that was a bit...shocking." He chuckled dryly, twisting open the nozzle and taking a long drink before reclosing it. "Nice chap. We played football for a while earlier," he added absently. At her description of Lauren, he chuckled softly, though the image conjured to mind by 'mongoose' provoked a scowl. Almost immediately, however, a faint grin returned, and he quirked a brow. "A mongoose with horns. Interestin', to say th' least... I wonder what I'll be--assumin' I'm here long enough to, ah, start changin'." Nita MacNeal Nita's white brow quirked, not missing the brief scowl on Thom's face. "It suits her though, somehow," she said. "I can't really imagine what she looked like before." Nita flushed slightly, feeling a bit weird talking about Lauren like that. Thom's final statement caused her to pause for a moment. "If you're here... you're here for good. Some people have been here since last August." Lauren Granger Lauren's ears were burning as she walked to the beach, lugging her long board towards the ocean. She hadn't been surfing much and had the basics back, but it still was a bit akward staying up with those horrendously large feet. She looked at herself puzzled as she rubbed her ears, not knowing the old wives tale. Up ahead she saw Nita talking to some guy she had never met before. A large grin crossed Lauren's face as she ran up a little ways, planted the board into the sand, then ran up to Nita. The mongoose girl embrassed her in a huge flying bear hug and firmly planted a kiss on her cheek. "NEEEETAAAH!" Lauren exclaimed. She hadn't seen the girl in what seemed like forever. Thomas Brinley "I'll take your word for it," he replied dryly, not exactly understanding how being furry could suit anyone. "I really can't imagine what she must look like no--" He abruptly fell silent as a... horned mongoose barreled past him and all but tackled Nita in a hug, one brow shooting up as he played witness to the kiss on the cheek. Well, well. "...Your horned mongoose, I presume, Nita?" Nita MacNeal "Ack!" Nita squeaked, having just enough warning to brace herself so she didn't go flying into the ocean. She returned the hug and kiss happily, tucking herself under Lauren's arm and leaning against her. "Hi, Lauren!" Dropping her towel, with its collection of shells, a safe distance from the water, she turned back to Thom. "Um," she said, turning pink, "Yeah. Lauren, this is Thom; Thom, Lauren." Lauren Granger Lauren smiled at Thom, "Hey." She reached a furry hand out to the new guy. "Were you two talking about me?" She looked towards Nita, "Nothing bad I hope." "So I'm YOUR horned mongoose now?!" Lauren gave a happy smile towards Nita. Thomas Brinley Lesbians. Lesbians were...tolerable. And often quite likeable. This could work to his benefit. He remained politely silent as the women greeted each other then, grinning faintly, nodded to Lauren. "Pleasure, 'm sure. Nita was just tellin' me about you," he innocently offered. Nita MacNeal Still decidedly pink under her fur, Nita grinned at Lauren. "Just that you were the first person I met and that fur suits you." She stood on tiptoe and patted Lauren's furry cheek gently. "And if I'm your red panda, then of course you're my horned mongoose!" Nita snickered and suddenly remembered Thom was standing there. Lauren Granger Lauren reached out and held Nita's hand. "Well, then you can be my red panda I guess..." Being part animal made pet names easy. Lauren then turned to wave at Thom, "So you're new here huh? Well welcome to the island." She was never that great with introductions, it always felt so akward. Thomas Brinley ....Well, they were sometimes tolerable, anyway. And while he was sure if he stood around long enough they would begin snogging, he felt decidedly awkward standing half naked on a beach while two women cuddled. Nonetheless, he managed a grin as Lauren addressed him, chuckling dryly. "Some'ow, I'd 'ave expected more of a 'Sorry t' see you 'ere' than a welcome, knowin' what's happenin' 'ere. But thank you." Nita MacNeal Nita settled herself, still leaned against Lauren, but not obviously all over her. She had always been a bit embarrassed by public displays of affection, and didn't want to be one of those girls who had to be attached to her significant other at all times. Even if it had been quite awhile since she had seen Lauren. "Better to say welcome than yell at you to go away," she grinned. "Besides, it's really not so bad here." Lauren Granger Also not wanting to make a scene, Lauren stayed content with Nita leaning up against her... for now. She scowled a little at him critiqueing her welcome, but Nita interupted it saving her from making a scene with her pro Moreau melodrama. "Yeah, well might as well get comfortable." Was all she said to Thom, "So... what brought you here?" Thomas Brinley "You've got a point there," he admitted, chuckling softly. "And, no, it hasn't been...horrible. Aside from th' turnin' into animals an'... Well, never goin' home." He frowned darkly, the look remaining as Lauren breached the subject of his arrival. "There was a bus wreck... I think. Duvert told me I'd 'ad a concussion once I woke. Don't really know any other details. Y'selves?" Nita MacNeal "That explains that," Nita said, indicating the bandage on Thom's forehead. "What kind of team was it? You mentioned it before..." She wiggled her toes in the sand for a moment, then offered, "It was supposed to be a study-abroad thing, to go towards my degree." A bad pun about 'studying broads' popped into her head. Nita suppressed a snicker and squeezed Lauren's hand. Lauren Granger "Ouch... bus wreck. So you really had no clue." Way to rub it in Lauren... She thought to herself. She felt Nita squeeze her hand and snickered herself as she realsied what Nita looked so amused about. "Well... I ran away from home, got sick of it and called an ad in the paper that lead me here. It's much better then the streets." She looked towards Nita and smiled. "I don't really mind being an animal for some ******** up reason. I just hope I don't get fleas." Lauren chuckled at herself. Thomas Brinley He nodded, lifting a hand to the bandage. "Though I could prob'ly remove it now, I'd think. Football," he offered brightly, indicating the soccer ball laying on the sand nearby. "Professional. For England. Which is why I won't be 'ere much longer," he said with confidence. Grimacing faintly, he shrugged. "Ahhh... I don't know. Some animals wouldn't be bad, I s'pose. But... It's not anythin' I'm lookin' forward to." Nita MacNeal Nita glanced at the soccer ball. "Professionally? That's pretty neat, actually." Even if she wasn't a a sports fan, soccer wasn't so bad, and it was still neat to know a professional. She blinked. So he still thought he would be leaving? She had already told him he wasn't.. but maybe he needed more time to digest that little tidbit of information. "Red panda isn't bad at all," she added helpfully. "They're cute, and the instincts aren't strong." Mostly, she thought, thinking back to the weekend Aubrey had been hurt. As far as she knew, the attacker was still on the loose. No need to dump too much on Thom at once, however. Lauren Granger "I've not really played much soccer, 'cept in P.E." Lauren looked at the soccer ball. "I was on the swimming team in high school, well for two years anyway. I also ran track a bit." Lauren wondered if she would have ever thought of going pro as a swimmer had she not ran away, then a small frown crossed her lips. She hadn't thought about her future at all in high school, and thinking about her future on the streets was too grim. Now she was on the island and had her future nice and neatly set out for herself. And now, she was still thinking of what would of been. Comming out of her small daydream, Lauren smiled at Nita, "Red Pandas are very cute, and sexy too... or at least this one is." She gave Nita a quick kiss. "But yeah... good luck on not being here too long. Bet you'll get right back there." Lauren said a bit sarcastically at Thom. He seemed like a nice guy, just a little slow on the uptake. Thomas Brinley "Professionally," he repeated, grin fading away as he stared down at the soccer ball. Not anymore, however. Not if he was stuck here as everyone kept insisting. "I, eh." Blinking, he returned his attention to the conversation at hand, glancing back up to the pair. "I was never terribly fond of any other sports. Few of th'more extreme ones, I s'pose, but no other team ones. I never 'ad time." Another sappy couple moment ensued, at which Thom rolled his eyes upward, growing irritated with the display. And moreso with Lauren's retort. He raised a brow, but merely shrugged and, after a pause, scooped up his soccer ball and water bottle. "Well, I'll be goin', I think. I 'aven't eaten yet t'day. Nice meetin' you, Lauren," he added. Nodding a goodbye to both women, he turned and started up for the path through the jungle. Nita MacNeal "I see," Nita said with a nod. She wondered vaguely if there would be people looking for Thom, since he was apparently pretty well known. But then, almost 50 other people had disappeared without being recovered, so it was unlikely. She blushed again at the compliment and the kiss, aware of Thom's expression. Most guys, she thought sardonically, would be quite happy to be in the presence of a couple of gay girls. Not that it would do them any good. "I'll see you around, I guess," Nita called after him as he walked off. "You want to go back to my place?" she asked Lauren, brows raised suggestively. Lauren Granger "Bye Thom. Hey, maybe we can play some soccer sometime?" Lauren shouted off in his direction as he left, quite oblivious about how the sappiness had scared him away. Lauren held Nita's hands, "You're asking ME that?" She laughed at the girl as she brought her close into a long kiss, now that no one was there to watch. "Let's go" She said in a smile, taking Nita's hand and leading her back to the duplexes.
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Posted: Sat May 27, 2006 12:21 pm
Professor Rivers Gets a Reality Check Joshua Rivers Joshua was sure this place would have a library of some sort somewhere. After all, this was a school, wasn't it? Although I haven't even found the classrooms yet, Joshua thought to himself. Perhaps they were closer to the labs. For now, though, he supposed he wouldn't worry about that. He knew where the cafeteria was and where to get medicine if he needed it, the next thing on his list was where to find books. He brought some of his own, but if there was new reading material around, he wanted to know where he could find it and what was available. Finally stumbling upon the entertainment room, Joshua cast a glance around the room, and spotted the magazines and books. Ah, well - not quite what I expected, but I suppose it's better than nothing. He walked over to the shelves, scanning over the books. There sure are a lot of books on animals here... Nita MacNeal Full from a quick lunch, Nita wandered around the village center, searching for something to do. Her sensitive ears caught a few rustling sounds coming from the entertainment room. Perhaps there had been a new shipment of books or movies. Nita peeked in, braids swinging. "Er, hello?" she called across the room. "I'm not interrupting or anything, am I?" Colche "I can show.. you the world" A slightly broken but very sweet voice echoed around the corner long before the little cheetah girl came in to view "Shiney..sheemeery..uhm" she paused, though not in her walking, almost knocking in to Nita as she neared the entertainment room though she stopped on a dime with a grin "Ariel!" she giggled waiting for Nita to enter the entertainment room. She was out in search of some fun and a movie, by the song, she was most likely in the mood for Aladdin.
Grinning cattily she peered around the door spotting her newest friend and learner man. "Josh!!" a puurr echoed from her chest as she saw him, she had been hoping she would find him again soon and conveniently she had her book tucked under the crook of her arm. She had wanted to go back and read the first page again now she knew what most of the words meant, she just, wanted to watch a movie first. Movies taught her new words.
Of course, as was the norm with Colche she was padding around naked, it really was too humid to wear clothes with all the fur she posessed, but people on average did not comment and she never noticed uncomfortable stares. She had fur after all, what did she need clothes for? Joshua Rivers Joshua turned when he heard a voice. "Ah, no, I--" he hesitated. You've got to be kidding me, he thought when he noticed the redhead's fur. Why was everyone here... modified? "I was just looking to see what kinds of books were available here." He was a little disappointed by the selection, as there didn't seem to be very much learning material - although he was already thinking about how to borrow the one or two romance novels he spotted, without being seen. "Ah, I am Professor Rivers, by the way - I'm a new teacher here. What's your name?" he asked, before he heard a familiar voice from behind Nita, and smiled when he recognized it. Her nudity still made him uncomfortable - perhaps I should explain to her why people wear clothes? - but he attempted to ignore it. "Colche! It's good to see you again," he said with a smile at the cheetah girl. Nita MacNeal Nita moved from the doorway with a sideways grin at Colche. The 'princess cheetah' really was too cute. She didn't particularly mind Colche's nudity, almost envying her the freedom. Even though she wasn't terribly furry -yet- the heat and humidity was certainly rough. "There's a pretty decent collection of science-fiction and fantasy here," she offered. "Must be the labs' sense of humour, but I don't mind much." Nita plopped herself onto one of the squishy couches, slipping her sandals off and sitting on her feet. "Nice to meet you, Professor. My name is Nita MacNeal." She realized rather suddenly that that was probably the first time she'd introduced herself and included her last name since her arrival. She shrugged and patted the cushion beside her. "Hi there, Colche! Is that a new book there?" Colche Colche grinned widely, her big blue eyes flickering between the two of them before she went and plopped herself next to Nita her legs crossed. Giving a giggly nod she held out the book she was struggling to get through, but with Josh's help she was going to finish "uh huh, Charlotte's Web" she smiled and leaned her head down as if she had a really big secret to tell to Nita "Josh teaching readings better" she grinned she didn't exactly whisper it but she did peep over Nita's head to look at the professor as if it was a big deep interesting secret that the other girl should know.
"Him good" she grinned peering again with a giggle before resting the book in her lap her furry fingers pawing at the cover. She actually looked a little shy at this revelation, noone had actually sat her down to learn to read before but she fully realised that Josh was a good teacher and with his help she was going to learn to read and write and speak just like everyone else. Joshua Rivers "Ah, yes, I was noticing there seems to be quite a few animal books here," Joshua replied, not really understanding what Nita meant by the labs' sense of humor. What was so amusing about that? "And it's nice to meet you, as well. May I ask what you are studying here?" Perhaps that might explain her fur. He hoped all the students here weren't that enthusiastic about their studies. Joshua liked a student who was actually interested in learning, but he was starting to feel there was such a thing as being too enthusiastic. "Speaking of reading, Colche, I have something for you." He reached into his pocket, walking over to the couch. He had brought the present with him as he planned to pay a visit to the cheetah girl later. "It's a bookmark," he explained as he took the present out of his pocket and held it out to the cheetah girl.  It wasn't a very fancy bookmark, with palm trees on the front and decorated with a blue tassel, but it would serve it's purpose well enough. "Instead of marking your place with a piece of paper, you can use this instead. I brought a few with me, I thought you might like to have one?" Nita MacNeal "Charlotte's Web is a very good book," Nita told Colche. "Was that one of your birthday presents?" She patted the cheetah girl's fuzzy arm, glad that the girl was getting some real help with her reading. Nita peered over at Professor Rivers. Did he not know? But.. he had been helping Colche! Baffled, Nita simply nodded and said, "The animal books are pretty useful, once you've changed, or if you know what you're becoming." "Studying here?" she repeated, blinking. "I was an English major back home, but there's not a lot of studying to be done here. At least not on our part. The staff likes to study us, though," Nita finished, her tone just a tiny bit bitter. Colche Giving an affirmative nod to Nita that the book was indeed a good read she grinned broadly. "Uh huh, is abouts a piggy" she grinned looking up at Josh as he approached them.
Colche giggled as she took the book mark from the professor, looking it over she grinned before opening her book to where he had left off reading for her and placed it between the pages. Admireing it she smiled shyly and held the book up over her eyes with a further rather girly giggle "Thankyous" she mumbled.
Of course when Nita spoke of changes, she looked away at the tv, Josh had gotten angry when she had asked him what he was becoming, she didn't want to upset him. She liked him too much. Maybe he wouldn't get angry this time? Joshua Rivers Joshua suddenly looked a little aggravated; was everyone in on this joke? It was getting old, very fast. "I know people here aren't really turning into animals, so please, don't waste your time with that joke on me. It has already been done." He reached up, pinching the bridge of his nose with a sigh. He didn't want to deal with this every time he met someone new, especially because of that constant, nagging feeling in his gut that something was indeed wrong with this place - but he trusted Dr. Duvert, and he didn't want to make a fool of himself again for freaking out and asking stupid questions. Like if people here were turning into animals. No, he certainly wouldn't let himself fall for that again. Nita MacNeal Nita's jaw dropped and she stared blatantly at the older man. She would have yelled, if Colche weren't there, and besides, she didn't like yelling. She always ended up crying, and that wouldn't help at all. How was it possible that Professor Rivers didn't know? He had been helping Colche, he hadn't stared oddly at her fur... Nita couldn't imagine being so far in denial. Up to his neck in the river, at least. "It's not a joke," Nita managed, as calmly as possible. Her eyes flicked to Colche, staring intently at the television. Had the cheetah-girl tried to tell him as well? Nita sighed. Why did she seem to be the one who had to convince new people? This guy was the third in a week. "I don't know who you've met, or what you've been told, but I assure you, Professor Rivers, I most certainly am not joking about this." Colche Colche's furry ears twitched and she looked up at Josh with a smile, she didn't want to make him mad at all. Biting her tongue a bit, she came to an appyfany. She guessed the man didn't beleive he was turning in to a something. Maybe he wouldn't beleive them til his first change? When people got fuzzy they beleived pretty swiftly.
Still she jumped off the couch and padded over to Josh, those sweetly innocent blue eyes looking up in to his. It was a question whether Colche acctually knew how to lie, she had certainly never thought about lying. Looking around herself, for the first time she stretched and picked up her tail holding it out to Josh. She had never held her own tail before nor looked at it very closely, it was an extra appendage with a mind of it's own. The tip twitched as she held it and for a moment she seemed facinated bythe mechenics of her extra limb of course, this look soon faded as she held it out as far as she could to the man. "No mad please" she whispered, a puurr attempting to vibrate from her chest to perhaps sooth the situation at hand. She didn't want Josh to be mad at her, she was just starting to really like him after all! He was helping her a great deal having him mad at her would upset her.
She waited silently for him to take her tail. "No pull hard" she had gotten her extra limb caught once and it really hurt when it was tugged, but what other proof was there? Her tail was attached, she was a pricness cheetah and damn proud of it. "Happy be me" she grinned broadly showing all those white sparkly fangs. "No be mad, likes Josh lotsers" she whispered her puurr vibrating from her chest indefinately now. Joshua Rivers "Miss MacNeal, please do not play me for a fool. I have already met your classmates, Kaveri and Zachary, and they tried to tell me the very same thing. Dr. Duvert already explained to me Kaveri is studying the Pai Dong people, and Zachery is working with animatronics - he also explained that the students here can get carried away with their little pranks on the newcomers." He was trying to keep his voice down, so as not to yell in front of Colche, but his tone still gave away the annoyance he was feeling. When the cheetah girl walked up to him and held out her tail, he felt uncomfortable. Even though she said she was happy to be what she was, he still couldn't help but worry she didn't understand it. He lifted his hand, taking hold of her tail gently, feeling the soft fur against his skin. It wasn't true. But the fur on her tail felt just as real as the fur on her paws had felt. And it was warm - not cold and loose rubber like he imagined an animatronic tail would feel. How could this be? "But it's impossible," Joshua murmured, staring at the tail in his hand. Nita MacNeal Nita glowered and would have said something rather nasty in reply (respecting your elders be damned!), but Colche went over to the professor and offered him her tail. Surely that was proof enough to convince anyone, Nita thought, if her own changes were still subtle enough to be explained away. She walked over and put her arm around Colche's shoulder's. "You see, Professor, it's true. It's not a prank. The doctors here, they did this to us. They'll tell people pretty much anything to get them here, to deceive them..." Nita sighed, her voice soft. "I'm sorry, but apparently it's not impossible. Colche and I are proof." She held out her other hand and laid it gently on Josh's arm. The darkened nails were not painted on, and the soft reddish fur was clearly growing from the skin and could not be attributed to excessive hairiness. Colche Colche smiled lightly, her tail twitched in his hands, it always seemed to have a mind of it's own. She giggled, ever so slightly looking up at the man with those big baby blue eyes. "Please no mad, Josh nice." She puurred gently leaning forwards and touching the man under the chin with her nose, it was a cool, damp, rough feeling but it was Colche's kitty kiss, she didn't want him to be mad at her, or anyone. She wanted for Josh what she wished for everyone, to be as happy as she was, this place was home, not torture for her. Joshua Rivers "But then why would Dr. Duvert tell me otherwise?" Joshua asked, letting go of Colche's tail. It didn't make sense. Who was lying to him? Obviously someone was, but he was having trouble figuring out who... and the evidence right in front of him was very strong indeed. "He's the one that brought me here. Why would he lie? It doesn't make sense. None of this makes sense..." But he couldn't deny how real everything seemed, and wondered for a moment if the injection he was given when he arrived was still having side effects. Even if it was real, it wouldn't happen to him, right? He didn't sign up for this... He looked down at the cheetah girl after she pressed her nose to his chin, and tried to offer her a small smile. "I'm not mad, Colche... I'm confused. I don't understand this, or what's going on..." Nita MacNeal Nita smiled sadly and patted Josh's arm, both to reassure him and to drive home the fact that it was all real. "Dr. Duvert lied to you in order to get you here. "All of the people living in this village here, we have all been brought here under false pretenses and injected. It's been just under two months for me, and I know others have been here since at least last October. All of us have been injected, watched constantly, tested, and changed." Nita looked down at her hand and reached to touch her soft leathery nose. Taking a deep breath, Nita elaborated, "Duvert himself told me I'm being changed into a red panda. Colche is a cheetah; my friend Lauren is a yellow mongoose." Colche Colche looked at the man, she seemed to physically relax when he said he wasn't mad and she smiled ocne again. Taking his hands she nuzzled his fingers happily turning those perfect blue eyes on the professor that had promised her so much.
Still, she had been put off watching a movie now though she held the book tightly against her chest. Realising Josh probably needed to speak to somone more knowlegable than her, or Nita she bit her tongue before speaking again "Speaks to mommy..Aubrey" she smiled softly "Mommy no lie." She did know what a lie was, they were bad mean things that hurt people.
Smiling softly she gave Josh a quick hug. "Gunna go read" she whispered smiling softly, though she looked a little sheepish about her antics. Turning away from the two she gave a little puury grin. "byes Nita" .Turning for the door her tail twitching at the very tip. "Come read later Josh!" she grinned that hopeful look still in those sweet blue eyes. She headed out of the door and back to her duplex. She wanted to read further in to her book and put her new present to good use. Joshua Rivers "But I was already here when I asked Dr. Duvert about Kaveri and Zachery," Josh protested, "so why would he lie if I was already tricked onto the island? We spoke over the intercom, so there was no reason for him to lie about it." Joshua shook his head, trying to take in all this information. No matter how many times he heard it, it still seemed so... outrageous. Impossible. Aubrey? Yes, maybe he should talk to her, then... perhaps she could explain without him having to accidentally make a fool of himself with Dr. Duvert again, if indeed this was still a joke. "Alright Colche... I'll come by and see you again later to read more of your book," he smiled at the girl, giving her paws a very gentle squeeze before watching her walk away. Then he looked to Nita again. "... I don't know what to say." Nita MacNeal Nita agreed with Colche; Dr. Lockheart was more likely to be trustworthy. At least, she took good care of Colche. Nita wondered absently if the woman was alright after being attacked, and if they knew who had done it. But that was hardly relevent at the moment. She waved goodbye to Colche and turned back to Professor Rivers. "Like I said, the doctors here have an odd sense of humor. My friend Cass is turning into a snake, and Duvert gave her wings so she'd be like Quetzalcoatl." Nita leaned back and perched on the arm of the couch. Joshua Rivers "Quetzalcoatl... right," Joshua laughed a bit, shaking his head. "And you think that I'm going to turn into an animal as well?" Maybe he was just brought here to teach the people here, like Colche, and not to be like one of them? He sat down heavily on the couch. "This is a little much to take in all at once..." Joshua felt like he should be panicking right now, afraid that he was being used as an experiment, too. Instead, he just felt... numb. Nita MacNeal Nita spun around on the arm of the couch to face the professor. She nodded, a wry smile on her face. "I'm sure of it. Did you get an injection when you got here?" She knew it was hard to take, and Professor Rivers had held out longer than most. Nita was sympathetic, of course, but it was high time he faced reality. Joshua Rivers "Well, yes - but it was only an immunization shot..." Joshua said. At least, that is was Dr. Duvert told him, at any rate. Now, he was starting to doubt that. He rubbed his arm where he received the shot. "So you're saying that was the, what, animal injection?" Nita MacNeal Immunization, indeed. Nita sniffed, barely masking her derision. "Something like that. I called the labs once, to ask them about it." She paused, not wanting to mention that it had actually been Dr. Duvert with whom she'd spoken. "Seems the first injection is a preparation, and the subsequent shots induce changes." She brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. "That's how it happened for me. Injected the day I got here, and about a month later a group of guards came up to me while I was eating and injected me again. A few hours later, I changed this far." Nita stretched out one furry leg and touched her ears and nose again. Joshua Rivers "Then perhaps I need to speak to someone other than Dr. Duvert to get some real answers around here," Joshua said, looking up at her. If this was true, there was no way he was going to stay on this island. In fact, he wasn't sure he wanted to stick around even if it wasn't true. "Miss MacNeal, I think I'm going to try and contact one of the doctors and ask them some questions," he stood back up. "It was nice meeting you... thank you, for explaining this to me..." Nita MacNeal "I think that would be a good idea," Nita said, biting her lip. She stood up as well, no longer in the mood to browse through the island's small library. "You're welcome, I guess. I mean, you needed to know..." Nita turned away for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "And please," she said finally, "Call me Nita." Joshua Rivers "Then, you can call me Josh..." He figured he wasn't really a teacher here, so formalities didn't matter. "I'll see you around, Nita," Joshua said, and then he left the room, heading back to his duplex. Nita MacNeal "See you, Josh," Nita said quietly. Giving Josh a few minutes' head start, she sat staring at her furry arms, contemplating how well and how quickly she had adjusted to life on the island, new people aside. With a sigh and one last glance at the bookshelves, Nita retrieved her sandals and left for the solace of her room.
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Posted: Sun May 28, 2006 8:53 pm
Just "Lion" Around Rex Vadnais Rex drifted lazily down the river; enjoying the sparce sunlight and cool water. Nothing was better than taking a kick back and letting the water wash over you. He wore nothing but a Feral Labs Swimsuit and a happy expession.
Over the past few days, he'd been completely oblivious to the frantic happenings of the island, he was glad to take it easy. Then again, what more was there to do on this darn island? Nita MacNeal Nita wandered barefoot along the riverbank, enjoying the breeze off the water. The heat and humidity had been worse than usual, and her fur didn't help at all. A way down the river, a familiar shape floated in the water. With a smile, Nita padded more quickly towards him. "Hey, Rex!" she called out. Rex Vadnais Rex's blue eyes flicked open to find the red-head along the shore. He stood up in the shallow waters and waved a hand to the girl. "Why hello there, Nita!" He waded to the river's edge while holding himself back from soaking her with a greeting hug. His hair and fur was sleeked down against his wet body, but his smile made up for a lack of attractiveness. He shook his head and sent little beads of water flying through the air, and as a result his hair flew back to it's typically perky fauxhawk. "What's up, girl?" Nita MacNeal The bit of water that did get on her was delightfully cool. After returning the hug, Nita grinned back and brushed her hair out of her sweaty face. "Oh, not too much, I don't think... I guess it depends on.. well, when was the last time I saw you?" She laughed slightly. "I've been keeping myself busy." Her voice was muffled for a moment as she tugged off her t-shirt and jeans, revealing her same faded bathingsuit. "It's hot!" she complained. Rex Vadnais "Yeah, it is getting pretty dang hot. I never stopped to think that islands like this got so humid! I'd never been on one before the incident on the ship." He wiped from water from his brow and put his hands on his hips.
He stopped in thought, recalling the days. "The last time I saw you waaas... that day on the beach, I think. And you told me about the chan-" He paused mid-sentence, the hug did feel a little furry. "Heeey, mah shorty changed!" He stepped back to examine the patches of red fur that had sprouted up on her skin. "Welcome to the ranks, I suppose." Nita MacNeal Nita waded into the shallows, sighing with relief. "I'd never been any further south than Virginia, so being in the tropics is a pretty big shock." She leaned over and scooped water into her furred hands, splashing her face. Wiping her arm across her forehead, Nita nodded. "Yeah, a few weeks ago, actually, right after Dr. Lockheart was hurt. It's not so bad, except the fur is awfully warm. I don't even want to think about full summer and having more of this stuff." Rex Vadnais Rex follwed her into the water, submerging himself underneath the chill water for a stroke, then emerging on the other side of Nita. He ran his hands through his and sighed. He began to drift lazily once again and stated, "I've lived on both coasts, Cali and in the north-east. Neither place got this kind of weather though; it's kind of a nice change though."
"My changes, the both of them, happened quite a while ago. I think I met you before my second change though. When Zach blew up on me." He sighed and blinked up into the sun above. Where were your sunglasses when needed? Nita MacNeal "I lived in Ohio my whole life. So we got nasty cold and nasty heat... sometimes within a few days." Nita rolled her eyes. "My freshman year of high school, we had a week of 70-something-degree weather in February, and then a snow day in April." Nita bounce-walked out towards deeper water, hissing through her teeth as the chilly water crept up her body. Considerably cooler, and glad of it, Nita took a few deep breaths. Apparently red pandas weren't meant for such heat, and neither was Nita, with her fair skin and freckles. "Yeah, that was.. an interesting meeting," she said, remembering the day well. The thought of Zach was still disturbing, and she hadn't seen him since his second change, nor did she have any idea that he was actually Aubrey's attacker. "So.. what have you been up to?" Rex Vadnais "Ahh Freshman year, that was a cold winter if I'm remembering correctly. Cold and awkward. I didn't know a soul at that school for the longest time." He chuckled and remembered his days in the dormitories of boarding school. Good times, back then.
He, too, could picture that day strongly in his mind. "I was an idiot, I shouldn't have gotten mad at him. I haven't seen Zach since then... I should appologize." He sighed once more and came to his feet; the water only reached his furry chest. "I'm sorry if I scared you... emotions were high..."
"It definately can get even hotter with all of this... hair. But honestly I couldn't care less!" He scratched his pecs gently with clawed hands and grinned. Nita MacNeal Nita dunked her head and came back up, water streaming from her thick braids. "As I recall," she said, "You both said some pretty nasty things." Nita sighed. "I was scared, but not at you. I mean, yeah, at you, but not in particular.. more like the whole situation..." She trailed off, not really knowing how to express her thoughts. "I try to maintain normalcy; keep myself me, in spite of it all..." Although it was still a bit unnerving to see someone so content with their changes, Nita found it refreshing. In the quietest part of her mind, Nita didn't mind the island much at all. It was too much like the books she loved to read. Rex Vadnais He chuckled, embarassed, and rubbed the back of his neck with a padded paw. He smiled nervously and said "Yeah, that wasn't the greatest 'Nice to meet you!' day for me. I'm never like that, I don't know what came over me." He wanted to sink into the water and hide there for ages until the memory was washed away in the current. But he shouldn't hide from his problems and wait for them to leave.
Not like Zach.
He was glad to see that Nita was pretty comfortable with her changes, there was only so much that you could do to ensure your sanity in a place like this. She seemed to be making the right strides. How many people could be 100% comfortable around someone who was part animal and nearly attacked an innocent man? Suddenly Rex felt like a criminal in his own house. Nita MacNeal Nita laughed quietly. "Yeah, I'd say not," she drawled, amused. She lay back in the water, squinting up at the sun and trees overheard. After a few minutes of quiet companionship, she realized Rex hadn't answered her question of how he'd been. "You didn't say... How've you been, Rex?" Nita asked. He seemed like such a sociable, outgoing kind of person; it was a bit odd not to hear of his activities. Rex Vadnais He pushed the water away from him with his arms and legs so he suspended himself above the river-floor in a particularly deep part of the stream. He was enjoying this simple and unplanned meeting.
His mind was cleared of its nothingness upon her question. "Oh! Heh, yeah, I've been good! A little scatter-brained if you couldn't tell, but good. In actuality, I wish I could say that I was doing more. But in the end it's mostly eat, sleep, work-out and chill. I wish that there was more to do, I ought to get out and meet some more people." There was a major shortage of things to do to hold your interest or entertain on the island. Maybe being addicted toa video game or a good book would be good for him. Or perhaps he could ask for a surfboard or some climbing gear. That mountain ought to have some nice places to scale. "But yeah, boring boring boring. I do enjoy company though, feel free to drop me a visit sometime. What about you? Been out on the 'town'?" Nita MacNeal Nita, on the other hand, preferred to stay in the shallower water, although still within easy speaking distance. She nodded as he spoke, well acquainted with the boredom that seemed to lurk around every corner. "I've actually been fairly social, for me at least. Ugh, it's crazy, I've met no less than three brand new islanders in the past week. For two of them, I was the first changed person they'd seen; the third guy was in serious denial." She gave a short laugh. "My theory is, Moreau's taking out his anger on the rest of the world, bringing more people here. 'Least he hasn't done anything directly to us, that I've seen anyway." That was actually worrying, not hearing anything about Dr. Lockheart or who was responsible. Nita was still wary of the jungle and had been staying close to the village. Rex Vadnais His eyes widened in slight surprise. "Three more in the past week... wow." He stared into the clear and fluid water, his beastly reflection shone back at him with an uneasy expression.
"I've been lucky enough to not have had an experience like that yet. I mean, I've met newcomers that hadn't changed yet, but there had certainly been at least some span of time between when they arrived and when I encountered them. Breaking the news must have been a tough job." He sighed at the bittersweet memory of his arrival on the island with 'the blonde damsel' Avery. "I was greeted with four significantly changed islanders. About as animalistic as myself. Goly, that was a scary day. Alot of stuff happened way too fast." Nita MacNeal "Geez," Nita muttered. "I guess in a sense they were lucky, since I still look relatively human, but that made it harder for me to convince them it wasn't a joke, or that I'm not absolutely crazy." She poked at a few waterbugs skittering by. Even though Thom had apologized, she still resenting him talking down to her like that. "First person I met was Lauren. It certainly wasn't the best first impression, but we've gotten..." Nita searched for an appropriate word. "...Close," she managed, blushing through her fur. Rex Vadnais "I guess that you could say the first person I met was Avery. Since we washed up on the shore and woke up next to each other. But from there is was..." He dug deep in his mind, the memory wasn't fully clear, "guh, it happened so fast. Amaya, and Colche... and Ian... Oh, Ambrose too! I need to get to know those last two better."
He smiled at the mention of Lauren, the end of her sentence hadn't exactly flipped the lightswitch in his mind about their relationship. Instead, his memory went straight to all of their similarities. "Oh Lauren? Yeah! SHe's a nice girl, I've met her a few times. We have alot in common." It's a shame that she isn't into guys. She hadn't said it to Rex directly, but Lauren sure dropped a hint. Nita MacNeal Nita had met Avery, if only briefly at Fee's beach party/fiasco. "Avery seems like a good kid. Never really got a chance to talk to him, though. And Colche is a sweetheart, of course." She smiled, thinking of the cheetah-girl's sweet nature, as well as her obvious intelligence. After all, it had really been Colche who convinced Professor Rivers that the fur and whatnot wasn't some awful joke. Nita just filled in the details. "It's funny, really, that Lauren and I work so well together. We're very different, but.. As cliche as it is, I guess opposites do attract!" Nita laughed sheepishly, hoping she didn't sound too silly. Rex Vadnais "I love Avery, he's my little guy. But goly do I miss him, I feel like I haven't seen him at all since he got with Tim. At least he likes him." He sighed and listened to Nita explain further about her and Lauren.
It hit him.
He tried hard not to look surprised, but to hide his sudden change in countenance he washed his face with the river water. then continued on with, "Oh! I didn't know that you two were together? So that's working good for the you?" There was so many couples on the island, more and more girls were slowly being marked off the singles' list. "Much longer and I'll be all alone!" Rex chuckled a little and sighed. He remembered the feelings that lingered in the work out room with Fiona a few days back, was that a possibility? Should Rex go for it?
He hadn't seen anyone since the death of Julie, maybe thats just what he needed. Nita MacNeal Nita knew what it was like to "lose" a friend to a significant other, and had always vowed not to do that; not to get so caught up in a romantic relationship that everything and every one else were swept aside. She blushed again ( Stupid red and white fur! Doesn't hide anything!) and nodded. "Yeah, so far. I've gathered that her particular views aren't exactly popular around here, and I can't say that I entirely agree, but we still work. Somehow." Nita grinned, her expression turning to one of surprise as Rex continued. "What, a nice, good-looking guy like you?" Nita liked Rex, and thought of him as a friend. If, for some reason, she had to date a man, she'd want to be with someone like Rex. Rex Vadnais Rex recovered from his shock quickly and was soon back to a normal color. "I think she's great! I mean, just because you have different views about things doesn't make you a bad person. It's the same thing when I tell people that I'm Christian. Well.. in a religious sense, not in the fact that that's my name as well." He slowly told more and more people about his real name, glad that they didn't act awkwardly towards him like in his teen years. "Just because I believe in a different god then you r'something doesn't make me a bad person."
He shrugged and blushed immensly at her compliments. "D'aww, shush you. You're making me blush..." He waded his way to the beach and shook his hair wildy once again. Nita MacNeal "Exactly!" Nita said, perhaps a little too loudly. Rex understood. Why couldn't certain others? She grinned, amused at making the lion-man blush. "But it's true!" she insisted. After a moment, however, she stopped, not wanting to take the teasing too far. "Aww, are you on your way back to the village?" Nita stood up in the thigh-deep water and worked on wringing out her hair. Rex Vadnais "Well all that I know is that I'm not all that 'good-looking' with these." He fluttered his claws through the air and smiled toothily, his fangs overpronounced. "But you, little missy, are the one with a girlfriend. I'm the one left lady-less." He chuckled.
Then responded with a "Not exactly..." and promptly flopped in a grassy patch not far from the river's edge. The solid ground was sure different from the free water. Nita MacNeal Nita stood, hands on her hips, in a mock-lecturing mode. "Hey now, I've been informed that fur is sexy, and you've got more of it than I do." She snickered and brushed off most of the water from her arms and legs. "As comfortable as that looks, I think I'll head back to civilization," Nita snickered. "Turn the AC way up for a bit." Rex Vadnais Rex chuckled in the grass, slightly in denial that the changes were attractive. "If hair... err.. fur.. is so hot, then why do so many guys shave their chests now a days?" It was weak support, but support for his side of the debate none the less.
He pressed his chin into his chest to watch Nita emerge from the river. He patted his belly temptingly and said, "Well you won't leave me without a hug, now will you?" He sat up, legs extended in front of him, "Git over here, you!" He opened his arms wide and reached playfully towards the red head. Nita MacNeal "I dunno," Nita quipped. "I'm not terribly interested in guys' chests!" The red panda-girl squeezed a bit more water out of her hair. "Oh alright, I think I can manage a hug." She padded over and knelt down in the soft grass. Nita poked Rex in the belly. "But you're gonna have to sit up more than that." Rex Vadnais "Fine, make me work for a little love." He clambered to his feet upon being poked in the abs and embraced the girl in a hug. "Have fun in your cool room, I'm going to head to the gym... it's like I've been living there more than my duplex." Rex chuckled quietly and let Nita out of his grip. Nita MacNeal Nita pulled a face at Rex, but gave him a willing hug. Once released, she gathered up her clothes, tugging on her t-shirt and not bothering with the jeans. They'd just get over her bathingsuit anyway, and the shirt would dry faster. "Oh I will, and you too. Stop by whenever, I'm usually around." Rex Vadnais "Good stuff, I'll catch you around the village then, girl. Adios!" He pawed off through the jungle to the village, tempted to use his arms to run along, but resisted the urge. Darn it, you lion. Nita MacNeal "See ya!" she called after him. With her jeans folded under one arm, Nita took a more circuitous route back to the village, walking along the riverbank and occasionally cooling her bare feet in the water again.
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Posted: Tue May 30, 2006 11:45 pm
I don't know what's going to happen. I only have a week's worth of my pills left. Should I notify the labs? Would they have paid that much attention and know already? I don't want to go through withdrawal, and if I do, once everything is out my system, I don't want to be the person I'll become. It's awful. I hate being dependent on medication, but I hate the way I am without it even more.
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Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 12:31 pm
A Snow Leopard on a Tropical Island? Nita MacNeal Nita went through the buffet line, pleased to find a sort of vegetable stir-fry that included bamboo shoots. Although her inner-red-panda told her the leaves were better, shoots would do for now. Armed with a plate of stir-fry plus some fresh fruits, the redhead took her usual seat between the door and a window. She gazed out the window, eating her food neatly. Without realizing it, she set the bamboo shoots aside to eat later. Saving the best for last, or something. Yamamoto Kikue Kikue had stayed indoors, mostly. She knew she had to get out and find food; there wasn't much in the mini-fridge provided by the staff that wasn't a beverage. Yet her desire to continue to be alone for a while kept her in. Finally, she found she couldn't hold off the hunger any longer. Leaving her duplex, she made for the building she had seen Jamal heading for the first day. Pushing the doors open, Kikue looked inside. The aroma of food hit her -- some she had never even smelled before -- but she breathed it in deeply, her stomach rumbling. Food. Moving to take a tray, she caught sight of someone out of the corner of her eye. It must be another person who lived her, and by the looks of it, she wasn't as new as Kikue was. Yet the girl had still changed. Kikue made sure not to look directly at her as she sampled the foods available. I should sit with her and get to know her...Kikue's eyes fell on a plate of sashimi, a thin label on the bottom in spelling out the Japanese name in romaji : "Shikasashi." Her eyes widened. Her absolute favorite meal. Quickly she took a pair of chopsticks from a nearby, open container, and loaded her plate, as well as taking samplings of sushi from the next plate, rice mixed with egg, onion, and crab; and sauce. Walking with her full tray to the red-headed girl already sitting, Kikue gave her a smile and a tilt of the head as if asking if she might sit with her. Nita MacNeal Nita's sensitive ears twitched, alerting the girl to the presence of another. She turned her head to watch the newcomer make her way through the line. Young, female, and fully human. Another brand-new islander? Nita sighed inwardly. Hopefully she wasn't the first person the dark-haired girl had come across. Nita caught the girl's eyes and returned the smile. That was a good sign, at least, Nita thought; the new girl wasn't gawking... even though Nita knew it wasn't necessarily a good indicator. Josh had been so deeply in denial... "Hi," she said quietly, waving her fork at the place across the table. "You want to sit down?" Yamamoto Kikue "Thank you," Kikue said, sitting down with her tray across from the girl. She set things up accordingly on her tray, glancing up at the girl with another faint smile. "I'm sure you can tell I'm new here," she said sincerely. Picking up her chopsticks and swirling around the sauce she had, she dipped a piece of sushi in it. "I've already met someone else though. So you don't have to explain anything to me." She tapped her chopsticks on the edge of the sauce cup and put the sushi in her mouth. Mm, it was decent -- still not as good as home, though. "My name is Kikue," Kikue said, looking over the girl good-naturedly. She wondered what her partner's animal was. Nita MacNeal A blatant look of relief crossed Nita's face. She had had to give "The Talk" several times in the past couple of weeks alone. Nita picked up a few of the bamboo shoots, chewing them slowly. She had never particularly liked them before, but they were definitely delicious now. "It's pretty easy to tell who are the newbies around here," she said, smiling slightly. "You seem to be holding up pretty well, though. I'm Nita." Yamamoto Kikue "It was hard at first," Kikue admitted, moving to the sashimi on her plate and quickly eating a piece. Mm, so very good. "I just found all of it out yesterday." She ate thoughtfully. "I found out about my animal last night too. I've only met one other person, Jamal. If you don't mind me asking, do you know what animal you have?" Kikue was curious, looking at the girl's face and ears. She couldn't think offhand what the girl might be tied to. Nita MacNeal "Wow, just yesterday?" Nita asked, incredulous. She could hardly remember how she had felt the second day. Was that when she'd met Cass? Or Emelyn? Nita continued making her way through the pile of bamboo shoots on her plate. "I don't think I've met anyone named Jamal, but I know there are a lot more people here than I've seen. Lots of new people lately, too..." At the mention of "her animal," Nita's furred hand automatically rose to touch her leathery nose and pointed ears. "Red panda. They look kind of like a cross between a fox and a raccoon." Yamamoto Kikue "Yes," Kikue said, her vocie softening. "I think I would have stayed inside longer, but I hadn't eaten anything, so I decided to come here." She forced a tiny smile and had some more sushi off her plate. "I haven't seen anyone else yet...but if there are more people, it may be because of the reach of this company. I'm not sure how big it is...but I am from Japan." She glanced down at her meal tray and new that it probably looked quite obvious she was Asian, as well as induldging in her native food. "Red panda?" Kikue echoed, suddenly recalling what they looked like. She had read something about them somewhere, for some project once. Feeling like she desperately wanted to tell someone what she had heard last night from Dr. Lockheart, she pointed to her nose and said, "Mine is a snow leopard. I used the intercom last night, and a woman, Dr. Lockheart, told me." There was still so much Kikue felt sure she didn't know about. She stirred her sauce in a distracted way, thinking. Trying not to picture the changes that would inevitably happen. She tried to focus on her sushi. Nita MacNeal "I usually take stuff back to my duplex for those times when I don't particularly feel like leaving." Bamboo shoots decimated, Nita moved on to the other fruits she had chosen. "Oh, there's another girl from Japan; she just arrived last week... Natsumi is her name." Nita shook her head, not having realized exactly how extensive Feral Labs really was. The U.S, Canada, and Europe were bad enough, but all the way to Japan? So Dr. Lockheart was alive afterall, and apparently back to work. From what Lauren had said, her injuries were awful. Nita was glad to know the doctor was alright; she'd seemed a decent sort, and of course Colche really loved her. "Snow leopards are gorgeous animals," Nita said. "Although I'll tell you right now, growing fur in this weather is really unpleasant. Air-conditioning will become a necessity." She held out her furry arms to emphasize that point. Yamamoto Kikue Kikue nodded at Nita's suggestions to bring things back to her duplex. She definitely planned on doing so. But hearing that there was another Japanese girl already on the Island got Kikue completely by surprise. "Really? There's another Japanese here?" Biting her lip, she too thought what Nita was thinking : just how big was Feral Labs? A soft smile spread across Kikue's face. "I brought a book back from the 'Town Centre' about big cats. The snow leopard pictures were beautiful." It was just the point about becoming one that was so awkward. "...I think I'd think even more highly of them if I wasn't set to turning into one." Kikue peered at Nita's fur. She grimaced noticeably. "I haven't got any other injections, but I think I'm already being sensative to this heat here. I can't tell if it's from the serum or not." But they do live in such cold places...She had another piece of sashimi, chewing politely. "Jamal, the first person I met...he's turning into a tiger. A white tiger. I think he's fairly advanced..." Considering Jamal her first friend, Kikue couldn't help but feel badly remembering the pictures he had shown her. She hoped he would see her note; she didn't expect a reply, but she did want to see him again. It seemed like he didn't go back to his duplex very much anymore, though...like he said... Nita MacNeal "Yeah, she's in, um.. Duplex 46, I think. She seemed nice." Nita smoothed the fur on her arms. "Well, it is just awfully hot here. Red pandas live in the mountains, in Asia, so they're definitely not meant for this kind of weather. Nothing like a snow leopard, though." She winced sympathetically. "I talked to one of the doctors here; he said the second injection isn't given until we've been here at least three weeks. Something about spacing them out so we can 'stabilize.'" Nita sniffed. "Funny, I'd thought I was relatively stable before I got here." As long as I was medicated, Nita amended privately, suddenly remembering again that she was almost out of her pills. Yamamoto Kikue "I think I may have seen a red panda before," Kikue commented, almost done with her plate of sushi. She looked thoughtful, in a pained way. Nodding, Kikue picked at the remains of her rice. She'd been worrying about the temperature since she'd found out. "The air is on quite high in my duplex. I didn't even think it had anything to do with this until I found out." She sighed. "Are there are a lot of things you notice in the first weeks? I've been trying to be critical of everything I do." It was always harder when the situation seemed to call for reactions that would be natural -- like wanting to be alone after finding all this out. But could it be serum-related? She just wasn't qualified enough to know... Scratching the back of her neck slowly, Kikue nodded at what had been Nita's bamboo shoots. "Obviously I know pandas, and I'm guessing red pandas too, like those. Do they introduce more foods as people change?" She'd read that snow leopards were apt to go after wild sheep and goats especially. At least shikasashi, raw deer meat, was close enough...right? Nita MacNeal "Having the air on high could just be because it's June, though. I mean, I'm from the midwestern United States, and I just plain don't like really hot weather. Plus I sunburn really easily..." Nita paused a moment to correct herself. "Sunburn ed, I guess I should say." She laughed a little. "That's one good thing about fur!. Anyway," she continued, "I don't think you can chalk everything up to the serum, especially not right away." Nita poked at the last few chunks of melon on her plate. "I'm not sure; this is the first time I've seen a stir-fry like this, but they do tend to have a pretty wide selection. Fish, vegetables, raw and rare meat. The cafeteria lady must have a pretty tough job, now that I think about it." Yamamoto Kikue Kikue knew Nita was right. "It's hard to tell what isn't all of this and what's natural," she admitted, mostly done with the food on her plate. She'd finsihed off just about everything. Sighing, she nodded slowly. "I just can't tell what's me, and what's something else. I guess I can't really know what to expect, although I've been trying." Looking at Nita, Kikue did feel that at least because she had changed somewhat already, it wasn't as bad as wondering when that first one would happen. But there would be more. So Nita probably worried about the next one. Nita MacNeal "Oh it's definitely hard to figure out what's 'natural,' if anything here can really be called that," Nita agreed. "But really, it's not so bad here, and you do adjust." Nita attempted to spear another piece of fruit, only to notice that she had eaten it all. She put her fork down surreptitiously, rather hoping Kikue hadn't noticed that. Yamamoto Kikue Kikue smiled. She moved what was left of her rice around with her chopsticks. She still had to know more about what was going on here. "Do you know who's in charge of this project?" She thought of mentioning Dr. Duvert. "I was given my injection by a Dr. Duvert. But I talked to a Dr. Lockheart over the intercom. Are there a lot of doctors here? Or is it just those two that head the facilities...?" Nita was right; this place was nice. And being away from her father, as much as it was bad for him, was probably good for Kikue herself. Even she admitted that much. Nita MacNeal "Duvert and Lockheart are both pretty high up; I met Lockheart when I arrived, and Duvert is the one who told me what I'd be. But Dr. Moreau is the one in charge of this whole.. facility. He was the doctor who actually gave me my first injection." Nita rubbed her arm as if she could still feel the poke of the needle and the tingling heat of the serum. "I'm sure there a lot of others, working in the labs and stuff, but I've never seen them. Lots of guards, too." Yamamoto Kikue "Dr. Moreau..." Kikue mused, her brow furrowing. So. He was the head of this place. Was it his project? Or was he working underneath someone, too? She wasn't sure if the person at the top would want to be here, on the island, to oversee everything....or somewhere else. It made sense that they would be here, though... Guards, and probably other doctors. But Lockheart and Duvert were pretty high up. She thought through it carefully. Looking up at Nita, she asked, "Nita, what duplex are you in? I think I'm going to head back to mine and write some of this down, for later. I still don't know everything that's going on..." She looked down at her empty meal tray. "But I want to keep my eyes and ears open. I've got to learn more about this." Nita MacNeal Nita nodded. "I'm pretty sure Moreau is in charge of everything, here and when it comes to the company itself. The name was vaguely familar when I got here, pharmaceuticals or something." She shrugged. Ultimately, it didn't particularly matter who was at the top of the food chain, as it were. "I'm in 42, an upstairs unit. Please, feel free to stop by any time, whether you learn more about this crap or not." Nita smiled sincerely. Company was nice, and even though she had a feeling Kikue was awfully young, she was clearly intelligent and moreso, a good thinker. Yamamoto Kikue "I haven't heard the name, but he may have started in the States. I was born in London and then moved back to Japan...but." She began to clean up her tray, piling the plates on top of one another. She smiled at Nita. "42," she repeated. "I'm in 48. It's an upstairs one too. I haven't met the person below me yet." Standing up, she felt a rush of gratefulness toward Nita for being so open and friendly. "Thank you, I think I'll probably take you up on that offer. It's good to have a friend." Giving Nita another smile and a habitual bow, Kikue straightened up and tapped her own temple. "I know I probably won't leave here, but learning as much as possible is important to me. I'll probably come visit you." Her mind whirling with Nita's information, and the assurance that she had another friend here, Kikue started for the trashcan to clean her food off and return to her duplex. A red panda, and a white tiger. What else was hiding on this island? Nita MacNeal "I'll remember that; you should just be a couple buildings away from me then." Nita smiled more broadly. "There are a lot of good people here, and it really does help," she said, putting her tray and dishes in the proper place. As usual, Nita gathered up some fruit and raw vegetables to keep in her minifridge. With a final wave to Kikue, Nita padded back to her own duplex.
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Posted: Thu Jun 01, 2006 9:20 pm
Interview #1 Marlena Frost Dr. Frost was once more in the interview room, shuffling through files. "Juanita MacNeal...that's an interesting ethnic combination..." She scanned over the pre- and post-injection photographs of the girl and quirked a wry smile. This should be interesting. Just to make things more interesting, and see if any of the red panda's instincts had kicked it, she put several planters with plenty of healthy bamboo around the room. It also made it look less clinical, since Nita was noted as being adverse to hospitals.
Once more, Marlena had eschewed a lab coat in favor of a professional-looking skirt and sweater combination. Hearing the guards outside, she closed the file, got out her steno pad and pencil, and put on her most winning smile. Nita MacNeal The guards had showed up at Nita's duplex not long after her meal with Kikue. Remembering all too well her previous experience with the guards (although none of them seemed familiar, they all had the same kind of dim-witted tough-guy look) she went along willingly enough, again wondering why there needed to be quite so many of them. She stood nervously at the door, trying her hardest to appear calm and composed. What could she have done to attract the doctors' attention? "Um, hello?" she said quietly. "You sent for me," she continued, rather unnecessarily. Nita glanced around the bare room, her sensitive nose wrinkling at the faint antiseptic smell common to such facilities. Marlena Frost Marlena looked up from her papers and she smiled with the warmest expression she could affect. She stood and rounded the desk. "That will be all gentlemen, thank you..." she murmured dismissively to the guards. When the door had closed behind them, she offered a hand to Nita. "Miss MacNeal, a pleasure to meet you. "I'm Marlena Frost, I've been brought here to counsel some of the residents to aid them through their transformations. You'll have to bear with me though. I wasn't fully apprised of just what that meant until a few days ago, and I'm still trying to get used to what I'm dealing with here."
She tried to look as apologetic as she could, and gestured to the comfortable looking chair. "If you could be so kind as to have a seat? I'll try not to take up too much of your time today, I'd just like to get to know you a little, and learn a bit about you, and what I can do to help you." Nita MacNeal Nita's faded brows shot up as she shook the woman's hand. A counseller? Oh joy of joys. "I see," she said carefully, sitting cross-legged in the chair. She clasped her hands in her lap so as not to fidget. At least the guards were gone. The scent of bamboo caught her attention, but since she had eaten recently it wasn't too difficult to ignore. Although the red panda in her did want to forage... Nita pinched the sensitive skin between her thumb and forefinger to keep her mind on the situation at hand. "Nice to meet you too, Dr. Frost," Nita responded automatically. Marlena Frost Marlena gave a knowing smile and murmured "I think you and I both know that probably isn't the case. I'm very sorry for what you've been put through Miss MacNeal. But as we're both stuck here, we may as well make the best of it, hm?" She rounded the desk and sat down at it, skimming over a file. "It says here you were hospitalized for depression and...cutting in your youth? Can you tell me a little about what caused you to feel so poorly?" Nita MacNeal Nita blinked. Getting right to the point, was she? And she doubted the doctor was quite as "stuck" as she was, and probably wasn't turning into an animal, either. No point in beating about the bush, she supposed. Like ripping off a bandaid. For a moment, Nita had the rather amusing mental image of a berry bush covered in bandages. "Depression runs in the family, so it wasn't totally unexpected. My dad is bi-polar." Nita's mouth twitched. "In any case, it was my senior year of high school. Lots of stress." Marlena Frost Marlena nodded "I know how that goes. I had some...difficulties not far off that myself during those years." A complete lie of course, but she could see this girl was used to dealing with medical professionals, and had walls built quite sturdily. "You were diagnosed as OCD? Did their treatments help you at all?" A simple question, placing herself on the level of being someone with a similar affliction. It might be an in, it all depended on how tightly closed the girl was. Nita MacNeal "I'm usually okay, as long as I'm medicated. The dosage has changed slightly over the years, of course, and I went to a therapist for a while." Nita shrugged and eyed the folder on the table. "Surely this kind of medical history is in my file..?" Marlena Frost The counselor nodded. "Yes, but I've learned that doctor's tend to file their expectations as much as reality when it comes to someone's reaction to medications." She looked up from the file directly into Nita's eyes. "How are you really feeling? Have the medications been as effective since you began changing?" Her expression was as sympathetic as she could muster. This one would be a tough nut to crack. Nita MacNeal Nita shifted slightly in her seat, unnerved by the doctor's direct stare. Oh, this woman was good. "I have my ups and downs," she said, which was true. "But as far as I can tell, the Zoloft still works. It probably helps that most of typical stressors aren't here." Nita paused for a moment. This was a perfect segue, even if the various doctors were probably monitering her well enough to know already. "However, I was only supposed to be here for two months, so I'm almost out." Marlena Frost Marlena nodded. "I noticed that. I have a generic version of it here I've been permited to prescribe you. It should be taken right before bed, about the same time every night." She opened her desk drawer and fished out a pill bottle, handing it across the desk to Nita. Of course, it looked a lot like Zoloft, but it was just another variant of the same nightmare inducing bloodpressure medicine she'd been dispensing to the others. Different appearance than the two prior versions, but same in essence. "This one is a not as strong as Zoloft. They feel your changing metabolism will work better with this. You can take it in concert with the Zoloft for the time being, it isn't strong enough to hurt, or if you prefer you can try just the new pills starting tonight." Nita MacNeal Ah, so they had noticed. Nita wasn't particularly surprised. She took the bottle, peering through the orange plastic to see the familiar shapes inside. "Hm, that makes sense," she murmured absently. At least this way she wouldn't go into withdrawal on top of everything else. It had happened before, and Nita had no particular desire to go through it again. "Thank you, doctor. I've gone without my meds before, and it wasn't fun at all." Marlena Frost "Believe me, I know. In college I was so busy studying for finals that I didn't have the 'time' to go out and refil my prescription. In the middle of a chem exam I wound up scrawling a Fibonacci sequence endlessly over every inch of the blue book." She sighed. "Thankfully they let me take a make up exam." More talespinning on Marlena's part, but she'd devised this OCD past after reading Nita's file.
"How have you been doing on the island, socially?" she asked quietly, "Friends, enemies?" Nita MacNeal Nita made a face. She'd never screwed up that badly with her meds, but the anecdote was familiar enough. "That was nice of them, to let you retake it. There are a lot of people who don't seem to realize how much of a problem depression and OCD can really be." Nita shrugged at the next question. "Okay, I think. I talk to people; and they're mostly friendly enough. I have a girlfriend." A faint tinge of a blush tainted her cheeks. Marlena Frost "A girlfriend, that's good. It always helps to have someone to confide in." She jotted down Find out who girlfriend is...tool to manipulate with if all else fails. "Is there anything you would really like to have that you haven't been able to get on the island? I'm trying to see if I can gather a few items for people, use what little leverage I have to make you more comfortable here. I don't like for people to be uncomfortable." She almost had to pinch herself to say that with a straight face, but long years of practice made her quite the actress. Nita MacNeal Nita was a bit surprised that the doctor didn't comment further on her sexuality; most people would never have guessed, but then again it wasn't like Nita ran around yelling, 'I like boobies!' Although that could be interesting, Nita thought, suppressing a laugh. "Something I want?" Nita repeated, inflection rising. Now that she wasn't expecting. "Um. Oh, I don't know. More books would be good. I've read everything I brought with me, and I've pretty much been through the selection in the entertainment room." Marlena Frost Marlena jotted it down. "I can probably manage some books." She picked up a blank journal off the desktop. "I'll make you a deal, you take this journal and jot down any unusual feelings or dreams or nightmares you might have, so I can help you work through this transformation you're going through, and I'll try my best to get you some new reading material. Any genre you prefer?" Nita MacNeal Nita held the blank book in her lap, along with the pill bottle. She nodded her compliance, although she generally didn't remember her dreams, or if she did, they were just nonsensical bits and pieces. Except for the dream she had had the night after she changed... "Oddly enough, science fiction and fantasy," Nita said, rolling her eyes. Marlena Frost Marlena chuckled. "Science fiction and fantasy it is then. I won't take up any more of your time, the guards will escort you back. It was a pleasure meeting you Miss MacNeal. If you need anything, use the intercom and ask for me." She gestured to the door with a smile. Nita MacNeal Nita rose, journal tucked under one arm and holding the bottle of "Zoloft.' She eyed the guards, not thrilled with the escort, but refrained from commenting. "Yes, ma'am, I will," Nita said politely, on her way out the door. Marlena Frost Marlena watched her go, her smile fading to pure ice once the door closed behind her. She sat down with a grin and filled out her new case study.
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Posted: Fri Jun 02, 2006 1:14 pm
Tentacle-Tantrum William Woodrow When Billy finally made his way back to the villiage, the first signs of evening had begun streaking the sky. There was plenty of light, of course, to show the terrible mess in front of his duplex.
"What in the..." He started, wobbling unsteadily on his crutches towards the scattered shirts and bottles that made up his belongings, his tentacle-like foot knocking his old, well loved backpack. Immediatly, his first reaction was to rush up to the door, madly pulling at the knob that refused to budge. The key he kept tucked in his cigarette box didn't want to fit in the lock. "Wha' th' feckin'- OPEN UP!! OPEN TH'FECKIN' DOOR!" He bellowed, crutching to the side anxiously, his face reddening as he peered into the window. At the sight of the clean, hotel-room fresh interior, his features swirled from pale to red once more, his grip on his crutches tightening. "WHA' TH'FECK'S ALL THIS?? I KNOW Y'KIN' HEAR ME, Y'SPYING ASSHOLES!" He snapped, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Y'OPEN THIS UP NOW!" RidleyMarlow A little ways up the path, Ridley Marlow was making his way down the path. He was having... a bad night. He had managed to resist calling up to the labs for some help of the painkilling variety, but this also meant he had had been swallowing ibprofen by the handful. The result was yet another lonely trip up to the commons for a refill... and maybe to discover a new and exciting place to vomit. He let the wheels run through his hands, gliding down the hill with increasing speed until the sight it frong of dulpex 33 caused him to slow into an uneasy stop. It looked like one of those scenes in the start of a romantic comedy. Where the no good boyfriend comes home to find that his long suffering, heroic girlfriend finally was through with his s**t and decided to oust the b*****d. Carefully he manuvered his chair around a pair of pants that had managed to be flung into the main road. Nita MacNeal Nita had been resting in her duplex after her appointment with Dr. Frost when a lot of yelling and banging startled her awake. "What the hell?" she muttered, padding to the door. She opened it part-way and peered out, searching for the origin of such a commotion. Was that.. Billy? Wow, he was a lot more.. purple. And tentacle-y than she remembered. Her eyes widened as she noticed what seemed to be his belongings all over the grass in front of his duplex. Nita stepped out onto her porch, leaning over the rail, to watch. William Woodrow When no one seemed to respond to his shouting, his temper got the best of him, "IS THIS WHA' I GET, THEN?? I DIN' DO ANYT'IN'!! YE FECKIN' MIND RAPISTS!! WHERE'M I S'POSSED T'GO??" He roared, swinging a crutch up with a tentacle to slam it against the window with a loud, heart skipping smack, but not so much as a scratch was left on the window pain. RidleyMarlow Marlow's attention turned to the ranting beast at the front of the building. He had a to give a good long stare to make sense of it. He was flailing both arms... but also punching and banging with his other both arms. It only clicked when he remembered something Vasile had said the other night. There was an octopus around. One of the 'unlucky ones.' as he had so tactfully put it. Looked like some unlucking ones were less fortunate than others. He looked ahead, debating whether or not he should just go along his way. Exactly what sort of help was he gonna be in his condition. And if the octo-guy had managed to piss someone off so bad as to get locked out of a house... did he really want to get involved? Half a bottle of advil said go for it. Against all good judgement, he turned his chair and started up the walkway, weaving through articles of clothing and clutter. William Woodrow Billy continued to curse and spit and cry out at the top of his lungs, anger and frustration driven rage spilling out as he continued to try to break in the window, knowing it was to no avail. "LEMME IN, Y'RUDDY BASTARDS!! YE GOD DAMNED ******** class="clear"> RidleyMarlow "Have you tried a credit card?" Marlow offered as he made it within speaking distance. He managed to keep a cool demeaner, though in his belly his intestines were spinning with sheer what the ******** are you looking at is that going to happen to you too get the ******** out of here a*****e what are you doing standing around? "Or maybe you left the window unlocked." William Woodrow The octopus man huffed, whirling around to catch himself on the wall with a tentacle, rocking on his remaining crutch, "THOSE BASTARDS! THOSE BLOODY- THA' BLOODY b*****d LOCKED ME OUT!! THREW ALL ME SHITE OUT AN' LOCKED TH'DOOR!!" Nita MacNeal Nita couldn't help but be curious. Even though Billy had been less than pleasant to her when they had met before, he seemed genuinely distressed. Plus, people just don't go shrieking and swearing and then expect others not to pay attention. Shrugging, Nita clattered down the steps and padded the short distance down the path to #33. She paused next to the guy in the wheelchair, eyebrows raised. "Damn, what happened? Why would they lock you out?" RidleyMarlow Marlow nodded sympathetically. "I see that." He glanced around at the mess that haloed the two, wait now three, of them. "I... really see that." Yep, not a help at all, just like he suspected he would be. Nita MacNeal Nita blinked and prodded a wadded up shirt with her foot. She glanced at the other guy, momentarily considering introducing herself. But this probably wasn't the time. Furious octopus men, belongings strewn all over... definitely not the best time for introductions. "Um," Nita offered lamely, "D'you want help getting stuff picked up at least?" William Woodrow Billy sputtered, pacing madly as he ran a tentacle through his greyed hair, his reddened skin drifting down past his shoulders now in his rage, "He can't DO this!! HE CAN'T! I din' DO anthin' t'deserve this!! WHERE DOES HE EXPECT ME T'GO??" He didn't seem to register who was there with him in his anger, giving a snarl as he swung a crutch around to slam it against the door. RidleyMarlow Marlow flinched slightly as he heard the wood of the crutch strain from the blow. He almost suggested he try a rock instead, but that would just be egging him on. Not exactly the face he wanted to show on the island. "You obviously pissed somebody off..." he stretched down an arm and wrapped his fingers around one of the straps of the backpack. "Maybe they want you to apologize." Nita MacNeal "Probably Moreau," Nita said, ever-so-helpfully. "It's like that lockout I heard about, only it's just you." Shut up, shut up, shut up!Nita coughed, hoping in vain that Billy was too pissed off to hear her properly. She didn't exactly want to be whacked with that crutch. William Woodrow "APPOLOGIZE FER WHAT?" Billy shreiked, turning to face the man in the wheelchair directly, leaning on the one crutch to limp towards him looking absolutely livid. RidleyMarlow "Whoa" Marlow held up both his hands, the backpack now settled in his lap. "I wouldn't know anything about it. I just know you don't change the locks and throw everything a guy owns out on the lawn for anything small... unless your his girlfriend or something." Nita MacNeal Oh good, at least she wasn't being blatantly attacked for her rather stupid comments. Nita stepped back, partially hidden by Marlow's wheelchair. She shook her head wordlessly, having no idea what Billy could have done to invoke such ire. William Woodrow "These ******** Je's want t'bloody ******** wit' me! Tha's all this is!!" Billy snapped at the both of them, a tentacle flying to Marlow's collar to wrench him up in his chair, looking about ready to throw a punch. RidleyMarlow Marlow narrowed his eyes, glaring right back at Billy and lowering his hands. "They must be doing a pretty good job of it too. You're not exactly being friendly." He felt a twinge of sympathy for the girl shrinking behind his chair. Didn't look like that was the safest spot. He placed his hands back on the bag, tensing slightly. "Now let. me. go." Nita MacNeal It was occuring to Nita that it probably would have been for the best if she had just stayed in her duplex. Or watched from the porch. She wiped a few flecks of spittle from her face, trying not to gag. What the hell, attacking a guy in a wheelchair? Nita was very much aware of her small stature at that moment, shrinking away from the enraged octopus-man and feeling awfully cowardly. William Woodrow Billy made an odd face, a bit of black liquid glistening at the corner of his mouth as he pulled back, stumbling befor he started scanning for where his second crutch had gotten to, "Shite. Feckin' hell." RidleyMarlow He smoothed his shirt watching as Billy staggered towards the brush. Once he was confident he wasn't going to come flying back he looked over her shoulder to the girl. "Hey... you know him?" Nita MacNeal Nita paled slightly, fervently hoping Billy wasn't about to vomit all over the place. "What?" she asked, surprised at being addressed. "Um, kind of. I've run into him once before... William. Billy." Nita held onto the back of the wheelchair for support, hands clutching at the handlebars. William Woodrow The octopus man kept apart from the cripple and the redhead, murmuring to himself in his thick accent as he dropped to sit on the ground, collecting what few of his belongings he could reach quietly and bitterly. RidleyMarlow Didn't really tell him much, but a name was a decent start. "Hey, Billy" he cautiously pushed the wheels forward, going slow so Nita could scoot along behind if she had the nerve. Once he was close enough he tossed the backpack in his direction. "There's gotta be someone willing to let you stay at their place." Person might end up tossed out on their a** as well... but that wasn't his concern. Nita MacNeal Nita would have given Marlow more information, had she known anything other than, "Well, he's generally unpleasant.' In any case, she did trail after him, more automatically than actually thinking about it. Better than standing around, looking like a dolt. Maybe. William Woodrow "Aye, righ'," Billy grunted, shifting to shove his things into the backpack, leaving the garbage and empty bottles were they lay, picking out only his belongings worth saving. His squeezebox had rolled under a bush, and he had to lay down and slither a tentacle under the branches to reach it. "Aint nobody on this damn island tha' woul' give a s**t enough t'put up wit' me," he growled. RidleyMarlow Marlow would have assured him otherwise, but for all he knew everyone on the island really didn't give a s**t about the guy and nobody had passed the memo his way just yet. He shrugged at Nita, mouthing anybody?Nita MacNeal Nita frowned, thinking that Billy was probably right. The people she had run into who had encountered Billy certainly weren't particularly fond of him. She shrugged back at Marlow. "What about Antony?" she ventured. The two of them had been together at that beach party way back. William Woodrow Billy gave a grunt, his face contorting with anger, "Tha' snitchin' b***h, y'kiddin' me? She woul'n b'sides." That said, he slid the backpack on as best he could, cringing at the feeling of the straps on his sensitive arm webbing and pulled himself up onto his crutches, "No, I know where they all feckin' want me. They want me out, I'll get out. Feck all o' ye." He spat black beside Marlow's chair, although his expression was strange despite his angry tone. It appeared angry, although his color changing skin remained blank, grey and dry. Like he was pretending to be angry, covering up whatever it was that was going on behind his mildly altered features. He gave a sniff, his nervious tick returning. RidleyMarlow "Suit yourself." Marlow said cooly as he stared at the black spatter next to his chair, his stomach turning again at the concept of inky spit... or was that just the pain again. He comforted himself with the thought that it could have been worse. Billy could have spat in his face. As for the guy's attitude, he couldn't blame him. Guy was turning into a ******** octopus. That alone gave him a certain right to be an a*****e in Marlow's mind. "Just don't do anything stupid. You wanna try this whole 'meeting' thing later look me up. Duplex 47." Nita MacNeal Nita shrugged, muttering defensively, "It was just a suggestion..." She stepped away from the puddle of ink. Now that was just gross. In spite of her general dislike for Billy, Nita did feel a bit bad for him. He didn't seem to know why, exactly, he would get locked out like that, so maybe the doctors were just ******** with him. She was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, for now at least. "Yeah, take care of yourself," she said quietly. William Woodrow "Aye, righ'," He grunted, crutching down the path and away, his head low in defeat. He had a long walk to make to the lake befor it got dark. Maybe he'd make due with the river. Or some hiding place where some stupid wild animal wouldn't decide to eat him. ******** them. ******** the whole island. RidleyMarlow Marlow watched him go, trying not to dwell for long on his fate, or his own for that matter. Seemed Vasile was right... the we sure fond of their mind ******** on the island. He leaned back in his chair and tilted his head back to look at redhead behind him. "There goes a sad, sad man." Nita MacNeal Nita nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Jeez." She shook her head. "I wonder what he did," she said absently, watching the departing form of the octopus man. "Oh yeah. I'm Nita," she said, brushing a few strands of hair out of her face, revealing her pointed ears. RidleyMarlow "Marlow" He offered along with his hand. "A pleasure." Nita MacNeal Nita took his hand. "Tch'yeah. I'll see ya around, I guess." Shaking her head, Nita walked back to her own duplex, thoroughly bemused.
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Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2006 7:25 pm
Grey High-pitched. Screaming. shrieking Buzzing underneath; a machine an insect music. Warm Wet. Humid. Love. Pearly. Smooth skin fur warm damp good wonderful. Buzzing beeping yelling shouting. Hatred, love, dying. Rebirth. Everything in between. Music and silence. Sky and stars and ocean and salt and waves. Undertow. Drowning. Dying. TRAITOR Sun through leaves scratchysmooth bark up down inside just right how wrong nestled together lovehate burrow warm earth cold sand cold water cold air fire crackling smoke Gasping, wheezing, breathing. Suffocating. Rest. All. Stillness silence. Sensory deprivation is an overload. Itching, scratching, pain. Stretching. Twitch spasm. Tingling. Pearly. Going in circles; dizzy with joy and ******** you ******** you ******** you how could you oh s**t why Because When gasping all at once an instant an eternity. Screaming buzzing flatline.
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Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 12:06 am
Na-na-na-na na-na na-na Bat-Girl! Hargun Aikason A batty girl, of orange and majorly highlighted hair walked through the village for the first time in ages. Hargun had been finding herself in odd situations the past months, and wondered if shed ever see the village and her friends again before something else happened. Shortly after her short reunion with Amaya and a few others, she had the sudden desire to attempt to fly, feeling she had the 'wings' to do so. However, her attempt failed miserably, ending up giving her a badly broken arm, and with such delicate bones now in her appendages, it took quite a while to be recovered. With a cranky grunt, she looked down at her arm as she walked and groaned lightly. "What the hell was I thinking when I tried doing that?" she said to herself and glanced around. "God this place is beginning to look unfamiliar, I keep getting withdrawn from it. Wonder if my duplex thing is still there.. doubt it by now.." she continued. Nita MacNeal Nita was on her way back to her duplex from the cafeteria, carrying a box of fruits and vegetables, as well as more of that vegetable stir-fry Delia had been making lately (although it wasn't nearly as good reheated). For once it was sunny but not too hot and humid, so Nita walked slowly along the path, her long braids swinging behind her. Not particularly paying attention to where she was walking, Nita almost crashed into another of the island's inhabitants. She stopped abruptly, swaying back and forth to regain her balance and not drop her burden. "Whoops!" she exclaimed. "Sorry about that! I wasn't really looking where I was going." Nita grinned, slightly abashed. Hargun Aikason A muchly exaggerated squeal escaped the one Nita nearly bumped into, having been looking down again at her arm, and not focusing on listening to anything around her. "Oh holy crap!" she said and jumped back slightly but then rushed fowards to try and help Nita with the things she'd been carrying incase any of it happened to drop then stepped back again and chuckled, scratching at the back of her head. "No no, I wasnt looking either." she said then turned her head a little. {Wha... has like.. a ton of people arrived here while I was out? Ive never seen this girl before.. and she looks like shes changed already.} "Hey uhm... do I know you? You dont look at all familiar to me.." she said squinting her eyes. Maybe she just imagined it was someone else? After all, her vision was bad enough as it was now with her changes and such. Nita MacNeal Nita's ears twitched at the high-pitched noise, which was actually more alarming than almost running into someone. Someone who had definitely been around for quite a while, to judge by her changes. Some sort of bat, Nita thought, eyeing the elongated hands and wing-like arms. After a rather impressive juggling act, Nita managed to control the boxes of food she carried and was able to think about introductions. "Er, no, I don't think we've met," she said. "I've been here a while, but I know there are a lot of people I've never seen. I'm Nita." Hargun Aikason Hargun nodded slowly, and scratched at the tip of one of her ears. "Eh.. I kinda figured you looked new. Im Hargun... wierd name, but I suppose it suits a wierd thing like me." she said, and held out one of her hands but hesitated to truly offer it to Nita.. she looked like she had her hands full anyways. "Erm.. do you need any help with that? Maybe you outta set it down or something for a moment." she said, but new her offer of help was somewhat dumb. Her ability to hold things securly was definately gone, however, the webbing to her arms made a good basket for small objects, food probably being a good weight. Nita MacNeal "Hargun?" Nita repeated, both because it was an unusual name and so she would remember it better. "Nice to meet you." She shrugged. "Yeah, I've been here a couple of months now; There've been a lot of new people lately, like within the past couple of weeks." Nita made a face. She didn't really mind being stuck on the island, but there were already so many others there... Plus, she thought rather selfishly, it was hard to explain stuff to the newcomers. She shifted the boxes of food, making sure everything was balanced again, before carefully shaking a.. finger. Claw. Handthing. "Nah, I'm fine, they were just a bit out of control for a minute there." Nita snickered, but, spotting a conveniently located bench, went to sit down. It wasn't like she was in any particular hurry. Hargun Aikason Harg shook her head as she heard the bad news, or at least bad news to her. Lots of newcomers always meant things were NOT clearing up for their situation. If Moreau kept getting more people, then obviously no one was trying to stop him. "Heh.. ya sure?" she double checked and followed Nita over to the bench and sat down beside her. Now that they were a little closer, she examined Nita's animal-features and raised a brow, thinking curiously. "If.. yah dont mind me asking.. usually this is something I hesitate to ask people, but do you know what you're changing into?" she asked and raked her teeth on her bottom lip, still trying to figure it out on her own. Nita MacNeal Nita put the boxes next to her on the bench, nullifying any need for assistance. Her body turned slightly to face Hargun, Nita's legs dangled a few inches above the ground. "Oh, I don't mind," Nita reassured the girl, absently pushing one of her long braids back over her shoulder. "Red panda. They look kind of like raccoons, but with coloring like a fox." She nodded and held out her furred arms, noticing how near-sighted Hargun seemed to be. Hargun Aikason Hargun gasped somewhat and looked rather upset for a moment. "A red panda? Gah.. youre lucky.. those things are adorable." she said and huffed, crossing her arms the best she could, but finally showed a kind smile again, getting over it soon. Nobody got to pick their animals.. that was just the way it was. She examined over Nita's arms then held up her recently recovered arm and turned it around and such. "Youre really lucky. I mean.. you could turn into a really ugly, fuzzy flying mammal thing.. that eats insects all day." she said, but didnt bother shuddering. She actually liked her diet now that she had to live off it.. Nita MacNeal Nita's first thought was to apologize, but there wasn't much point. Even if she was "lucky." "I keep hearing that," she said, a hint of complaint in her voice. "Not that anything could really be considered 'lucky' here." Of course, Nita didn't really mind her changes... but that was hardly a popular opinion around the village. "You're right though; red pandas are pretty freaking cute." Nita leaned foreward, rather amazed by the webbing between Hargun's long, delicate fingers. "So you're a bat then?" she asked. The diet was a pretty good indicator. "Hey, at least you're still a mammal, right? And bats are cute, in a kind of a weird way." Hargun Aikason Hargun snorted. "I'd bet.. and yes, nothing, absolutely NOTHING is truly lucky here. However, if we got let go or something, then maybe, just maybe it would be considered lucky. Course we'd still be freaks so.." she said rather coldly, and then sighed. "Yea, a bat. Not sure... what specific species, can't be vampire though-" she added a chuckle. "And maybe I'll turn out cute.. maybe not. As long as I dont grow one of those hideous leafy-looking noses I'll be fine." she said. "I've also been growing these horns on my head.. which is really wierd.." Nita MacNeal "T'chyeah. I mean, maybe some people could still get by. I guess I still look pretty normal, but.. Geez. Do you know Cass? She's like, almost all snake, except she also has wings. One of the doctors wanted to make her look like this South American god, Quetzalcoatl." Nita shook her head. Dr. Duvert was definitely a bit.. special. Nita giggled. "Some sort of bug-bat then." She'd seen the horns but hadn't attached any significance to them. There was so much general weirdness about the island that a horned bad didn't even throw her. "I guess they like to give some people extra features... Like Cass and her wings. Lauren's got horns too, really big ones." Nita shrugged, perfectly content to be a normal red panda. Well. Relatively normal. And relatively content. But whatever. Hargun Aikason Hargun looked a little shocked for a moment, Cass was someone she had definately not heard from in ages, and really worried about what shape she was in right now.. she must've changed so much that she wouldn't be recognizable. Though it did spark some curiousity in Harg; to see what was to truly become of everyone. "Heh.. the doctors are all psycho. Putting random s**t on us just to make us look funky." she said. "Ive seen one or two other people with these extra er.. appendages if you wanna call em that. I dont feel too awkward since so many people have these added features." she said and yawned a little. Nita MacNeal Nita nodded in agreement. "Yeah, there's definitely some weird stuff going on around here." Hargun's yawn was contagious and Nita rubbed her forehead. She was getting a bit of a headache, and the heat was starting to get to her. "Hey, I should probably get this stuff into the fridge," she said, indicating the boxes of food next to her. "It was nice talking to you though." Nita stood up and brushed at the back of her jeans. Hargun Aikason Harg nodded and stood up as well, stretching her arms a little then waved them at Nita with a smile. "Nice talking to yah too. Maybe Ill get out a little more. We could talk another time." she said and began to walk off towards her duplex praying it was there waiting for her. Nita MacNeal Nita gathered up the boxes of food, suddenly feeling a bit lightheaded. She shook her head to clear it. "I'm in duplex 42," she called after Hargun. "Stop by some time, if you want!" With that, Nita turned down the path to her own duplex, looking foreward to the air-conditioning and maybe a bit of a nap to get rid of her headache.
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Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:34 am
Descent Nita woke with a start, damp with sweat and chilled through. She had fallen asleep in her clothes after running into Hargun in the village, and her jeans were twisted around her legs. Her hips felt bruised from digging into the mattress. Surely she hadn't slept for long, but it was deeply enough to dream. Nita shivered. She needed a shower, she was unclean, her head still hurt. She stood in the shower for a long time, losing track of the time, just letting the warm water wash over her. Her mind was fuzzy; she couldn't tell if she were really awake or if this were part of the dream. She washed her hair, soaped her furry skin, trying to clear her head. It could have been hours later or only a few minutes when Nita stumbled out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel. Her head hurt less, but everything was still a bit fuzzy (no pun intended). She stretched her arms and legs, shaking her limbs to loosen them up, and only ended up making herself dizzy again. Sitting on the edge of her bed still wrapped in her towel, Nita stared at the wall, blanking out for a while. Something was wrong. Something was very definitely not right.
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Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 1:28 pm
Neets and Newt Nita MacNeal Nita was bored. She didn't feel like reading and she didn't want to go watch a movie... and her head still hurt. She looked around her duplex, noticing the dust in the corners and hair on the rug. Despite how neat she kept the place, it could definitely use an overhaul. Suddenly full of purpose, Nita strode down the path to the village center in search of cleaning supplies. Rags, multi-purpose cleaner, and maybe even a vaccuum-cleaner... At the very least a couple of those adhesive lint-roller thingies. She thought she remembered a janitor's closet near the laundry-room... Newton Filinas Newt was hiding out in the village main, hoping no one would spot him as he worked to windex the high windows. He had stopped back at his duplex, thanking that who ever had stocked him up had left him with extra coveralls, and was now clean and dry, if a little lemon scented still. Nita MacNeal Nita opened and closed a few doors before finding the small room she was looking for. Perfect. The smell of cleaning solution and floor wax hit her nose, making her eyes water a little. It was definitely a bit overpowering, but it was still familiar. Nita wiped her eyes with the back of one hand while poking around for what she needed. A few moments of searching produced a yellow bucket and some rubber gloves, along with tile- and glass-cleaner, some sponges, and a slightly dented dust-buster. It would do. As she turned to leave the janitor's closet, the hair on the back of her neck raised. Someone else was there. Her ears flicked nervously and she whirled around. Oh! It was the janitor himself, squeegeeing the windows. "Um," she called out, "I hope you don't mind; I'm just gonna borrow some stuff. I'll bring it back though!" Newton Filinas At the sound of a voice, Newt gave a sharp, startled cry, immediatly toppling from wher ehe had climbed up for better reach, "I w-was j-just w-whiping the w-windows! I'll g-go!" His incident with Jamal that morning was still fresh under his skin. He had no way to tell if all of the islanders were as hostile as the tiger man. Nita MacNeal "s**t!" Alarmed by the clatter, Nita nearly dropped her bucket. She scurried over to the fallen (and rather greasy) man, hoping he hadn't whacked his head on the hard floor or something. She put the bucket down carefully, holding her hands out to show she was unarmed. "Jesus, are you okay?" she asked. It didn't occur to Nita that he might actually be afraid of her. The guy had at least a foot on her, and she wasn't exactly intimidating anyway. Newton Filinas "I'll b-be out of y-your way!" He babbled, scrambling back away from her with wide eyes, groping for his rag. "J-just d-don't eat me!" Nita MacNeal "I'm sorry, what?" Nita blinked. Surely she misunderstood. "I'm borrowing cleaning stuff. I'm not going to eat you." She pointed at the yellow bucket on the floor, several feet away. Newton Filinas Newt blinked, his heart still racing. "I... I... I had... had th-thought... earlier I m-mean... I w-was attacked and... I th-thought..." He sputtered, his back to the wall now as he gaped at the much smaller, albeit fuzzier girl in mild horror and confusion. Nita MacNeal Attacked? Why would anyone attack a janitor? Technically, Nita supposed, a janitor was a staffmember, but it was unlikely that one would have anything to do with the research and whatnot going on. Nita cocked her head to the side, giving Newt a sympathetic look, making sure to stay several feet away. "Hey now, I'm not attacking anyone. Honest." She noticed for the first time that she could smell the man's fear. And lemony-freshness. Weird. Newton Filinas "I... I... I w-was j-just c-cleaning..." He murmured, swallowing thickly as he watched her carefully. Nita MacNeal Moving slowly, she retrieved her bucket, still amazed at being found frightening. She was short, thin, didn't have horns or big teeth or claws... and tended to be mistaken for about 14 years old. "Um," Nita said, oh-so-intelligently. "Yes. I know. I really didn't mean to scare you." Yeeshk, who could have freaked him out this badly? Nita wondered, shaking her head absently. Newton Filinas He seemed to relax a little more, lowering his legs as he sat in a more natural position, scratching the back of his head anxiously. "Ah... I'm... I'm s-sorry... I had... earlier today... ah... I haven't... b-been here very long... in the v-village I mean... and th-the mon-mon-er... ah... g-gentleman I met earlier... s-seemed r-rather hostile..." If it hadn't been for his thick fabriced jumper, he was sure he would have been gutted instead of just brused. Nita MacNeal Nita took a few deep breaths, very much relieved now that the janitor seemed to have calmed down some. "That's too bad... D'you know who it was?" She shifted the bucket from hand to hand. Her headache was starting to come back. "Most people around here aren't like that. Really." Newton Filinas "I... ah... n-no... I d-don't r-really know anyone..." He shifted, looking embarassed, "He w-was... ah... a b-big bloke... ah... with s-stripes... I sup-suppose he was...a t-ti-ti-ti-tiger or something... got one l-look at the p-patch on my j-jumper and... had me on the f-floor- I w-was j-just trying to... to..." His eyes watered again as he gave another sneaze, "Mop." Nita MacNeal Something about the description was familiar, but Nita couldn't place it. She had never actually met Jamal, although she had heard various different stories about him. "Bless you," she said automatically. "So, um, are you new.. here? To the island?" Newton Filinas "I've b-been... r-reassigned," He murmured, unsteadily getting to his feet as he rubbed his nose, "Used to w-work up at the l-labs... untill ah... y-yesterday. Er... well, this morning, r-really. I'm n-not sure." He looked embarassed, fidgeting with his cloth in his hands. Nita MacNeal "Ah. So.. at least you know what's going around here, right?" Nita hoped she wasn't about to have to give the 'So You're Turning Into an Animal' speech again. At least Newt seemed to have been more frightened of being attacked in general than by being attacked by a man-turned-tiger. "Oh yeah. I'm Nita, by the way." Newton Filinas He offered her a clammy, spidery hand in return, giving her a weak, trembling nervious smile, "N-newton F-filinas." Ah... w-well, I"m s-sure you c-could read th-that on my er... n-nametag b-but ah... y-yes, er... N-newt is j-just fine." He cleared his throat, "And... and y-yes, isn't it m-marvelous! I'm p-proud to be a p-part of s-such a p-progressive com-company! D-do my part as b-best I can, and all that." He puffed out his chest, looking proud of himself. Nita MacNeal Nita shook the proffered hand gingerly, resisting the urge to wipe her hand on her pants. She'd wash her hands when she got home. She hid a smile; Newt looked pretty funny with his chest puffed out like that. "It's nice to meet you, Newt," she said. "And it's good to know we've got such competent janitors as yourself around here." Her tone was serious, although it was difficult to tell if Nita was teasing him or not. Nita wasn't honestly sure herself. Newton Filinas "I... I'm also m-maitenence," Newt replied proudly, "S-so... if... if you ever n-need anything, j-just come by n-number f-fifty one and l-leave me a note! And... and f-feel free to tell any.. er... other n-nice p-people th-that you know." He certainly didn't want more people like the tiger man pounding on his door demanding fresh light bulbs if he could help it. Nita MacNeal "I'll keep that in mind," she told him with a nod. Nita mostly avoided the non-nice people, so there wasn't much danger in her siccing some of the less pleasant islanders on Newt. So.. Newt had a duplex. Was he a subject, then? Or just.. a maintenance guy living in the village? Nita had her suspicions, but she didn't want to freak Newt out again. Newton Filinas As though his mind was subconciously on the same train of thought he gave a nervious laugh, "Y-you know, I w-was t-terrified the d-doctors were upset w-with me... b-but then I g-got this promotion! At l-least... I th-think of it as one... I have th-that whole big place and a b-big responcibility here, I think. M-my d-dad would be p-proud!" If he was ever proud of him. Nita MacNeal "Yeah?" Nita leaned against the wall across from Newt, still absently switching the bucket from hand to hand. "Why would the doctors be mad at you?" Nita definitely had her suspicions regarding Newt's status as a valued employee. Did he even know? "It'll be good to have someone local to do maintenance stuff, though," she said. "I keep my own space clean, but I'm sure stuff gets broken." Newton Filinas At that, the janitor seemed to shrivel slightly, lowering his head to hide his blush, "I... ah... I'm a b-bit... er... c-clumsy at t-times. Er... and f-forgetfull... and... ah... " He cleared his throat, "B-but obviously I've d-done something right, right?" He beamed. Nita MacNeal Oh boy. The story was becoming pretty clear, to Nita, at least, if not to Newt. Nita pushed a few strands of her wavy hair behind her pointed ears, rather at a loss for what to say. "I'm sure that's it," she said at last, trying to smile. The guy was doomed. Newton Filinas Newt smiled cluelessly still, fidgeting with hsi rag as he scratched a cheak with a finger, "W-well... I sh-should get b-back to w-work... b-befor that t-tiger f-finds me again." Nita MacNeal Nita smiled back. Might as well let the guy hold onto his delusion for a little while... right? "Okay, Newt, I'll stop bugging you then." She lifted up her bucket of cleaning supplies for emphasis. "I'll be sure to bring these back, no worries." Newton Filinas "Ah... any t-time you'd like to b-borrow them... or... or v-visit... or... ah... wh-what not is p-perfectly f-fine by me!" He beamed after her nerviously. "Y-you weren't b-bothering me at all!" Nita MacNeal "Alrighty, I'll see you around then, Newt!" Nita called as she walked away, yellow bucket swinging at her side. It was time to do some serious cleaning.
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Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:43 pm
Obsession Nita practically skipped back to her duplex, planning exactly how her cleaning fit would go. She had done laundry only a few days before, along with acquiring clean sheets, so that front was already taken care of. The main room would be dealt with first, then the minifridge and surrounding area, and finally the bathroom. The main area of her duplex actually didn't need much work, since Nita kept it neat. She set the yellow bucket on the table and dug around for the dustbuster. Humming to herself, Nita scooted around the room, vaccuuming up hair, fur, and dust. She crawled around to get under the bed and between chair-legs. Once everything was vaccuumed to her liking (or at least as much as could be done with the ancient appliance), Nita went to work on the minifridge. She removed all the contents of the fridge, throwing out old food and setting aside soda cans and more recent pilferings. A few moments with a damp rag and multi-purpose cleaner left the shelves spotless. Nita spent quite a while arranging and rearranging cans and assorted fruits and vegetables before finally being content with the appearance of the minifridge's insides. The easy part was over-- it was time to tackle the bathroom. Nita sprayed every surface she could reach, standing on the toilet and dragging a chair in from the other room to get the higher-up parts. She scrubbed the bathtub and the sink, again precisely arranging her toiletries. The mirror got wiped down thoroughly; Nita was careful not to leave streaks. The fumes from the chemicals went to her head, compounding the headache and dizziness Nita tried her hardest to ignore. There was no time to be sick; she had to clean her duplex. She had to put everything in its proper place, every aspect had to be controlled. Nita took only a few short breaks, sitting at the table, clenching and unclenching her hands. She was otherwise unaware of her physical state: sweaty and bedraggled, her long hair a frizzy mess. None of that mattered. Her duplex had to be clean.
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Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 8:55 pm
Alec hung around the outside of his duplex for awhile, smoking a few and munching away at a sandwich he'd snatched from the cafeteria early that morning. He was bored, as usual, looking forward to nothing but the football game Ambrose had apparently managed to co-ordinate according to the flier he'd posted. Stupid island.
About to give up and head back into his stuffy, grungy duplex when he got the idea to stop by his favorite neighbor- possibly to harass her into somesort of form of entertainment. He wanted to know what she was up to recently, anyways. Wandering upstairs, he tossed a butt over his shoulder and held the sandwich in his mouth as he rapped on the door.
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