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 Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:35 pm
 Sunset and Dawn of HumanityEmelyn She didn't know which sunset this was- they were all so alike, and the days bled into one another here. Emelyn only knew that the previous nights, Zach hadn't come to the beach... and so, she was beginning to think that he hadn't forgiven her. Either that, or he wanted to put what had happened behind him- and didn't want to answer the questions that Emelyn... truly needed to know, if he was to remain a trusted friend. Was he truly violent? What was he turning into? ...And did he believe he might ever hurt her? Emelyn sighed and tugged her goggles from her forehead, dropping them to the sand at her feet. She stretched out to her fullest, looking at the point where the sky was still somewhat blue. Zachary Bloodstone Truthfully, Zach had become wary of walking along the beach after the fiasco with Rex. He wouldn't - couldn't - speak to the lion-man again. Not after what had happened. He felt like a fool, which he'd come to know as a reaction of guilt, but there was still a feeling of pride in him that refused to let him consider an apology. He looked up a moment to the sky, and the stars, as they came out one by one like spilled glitter on a navy blue canvas. His feet were bare, again, and the sand was quick to try to loosen footing as he followed the dunes down to meet the rhythmic ocean tide.
He hadn't come wandering randomly, though. Emelyn had asked him to come to the beach this week, and he'd postponed over and over with idiotic reasons to avoid it. He didn't know what she'd say to him, and that was what bothered him. Her quick flight as she'd met him in the forest made him uneasy, like he was still dangerous. The almost-attacks he'd made were things he wasn't eager to talk about, especially with someone who seemed so fragile.
Onward he walked, glancing between the deep blue of the sea and the sky as they mirrored one another flawlessly. He heard the soft thump of an object falling to the sand, and drew his eyes away from the horizon to see Emelyn waiting nearby, her goggles discarded.
His tail twitched behind him, unwilling to keep still. After a silent moment of watching her as though expecting an interruption, he took the initiative, his voice just loud enough to be heard over the crash of a wave.
"Hello again, Emelyn."
Emelyn "Zach," she said, before she ever sat up to see him, and confirm it was he. She knew who it was, and, for the most part, she was glad he'd come. Only a single seed of doubt took root inside her- reluctantly thinking that what might come would be less of an apology than an interrogation. And no matter how much she needed answers, she didn't want that. "I'm glad you came." She leaned forward onto her upright thighs, 'til the fur of her stomach met that which covered her legs. "I'd thought you... wouldn't." Zachary Bloodstone "It's... it's nice to see you," he stated awkwardly, his one arm hanging against his side. He felt a little worse for putting off the beach meeting for as long as he did. His yellow eyes widened at her remark. "Oh... I'm really sorry I didn't come sooner."
He took a couple of steps toward her, unable to read her body language. She looked so lonely here, a furry little figure on a wide beach, but there was little he felt he could say or do for her. He slowly sat down beside her, brushing some sand off of the bottoms of his pants as he asked her a rhetorical question. "Well, um, you wanted to talk?"
Emelyn "Talk. ...But mostly apologize." There was no slack in the line of tension that had been drawn between them- so she swallowed those pleasantries which sat on the edge of her tongue and wasted no time. "I'm sorry that I threatened you. I was just..." she stopped already, and shook her head, rolling her eyes up to the quickly descending heavens. "...I've been thinking about how I was going to phrase this apology for days, and each time I tell myself I'm not going to give myself an excuse. At least, not in the apology..." she said, wrapping her arms about her legs and dropping her cheek down to rest on her knees. Her eyes were still rapt on Zach's. "I was afraid. And I had just been attacked. When you said you were dangerous- I thought that meant you really might be. But still, above all- that doesn't excuse that I probably very wrongfully felt you'd hurt me. ...You were... lucid- human, nothing like the raw, animal form that Jamal had presented before the attack. You're unalike. But I treated you as if you weren't. ..And for that, I'm truly sorry." Zachary Bloodstone Zach stared blankly back as he took in her words. She was apologizing?
He was tempted to laugh at the sheer absurdity, but held his tongue. The night was too serious, and he didn't want to hurt Emelyn with even the slightest gesture of mirth. "Emelyn, you were defending yourself. From me, or whatever I was that night. Don't apologize. You did what you should have done, and you should be proud of yourself for being strong enough to stand your ground. I don't know what was wrong with me, and if I had attacked you, too..." He trailed off wearily, breaking their gaze to look down at the ocean.
"I... I still was. If I'd stayed there in the cave any longer, I don't know what could have happened, or if I'd have tried to hurt you too. I would never have forgiven myself if I'd done that." His tail made lazy swirls in the sand behind him before he looked at Emelyn again. "I've been hearing more about people like Jamal... and another man... getting violent and almost killing people. I don't want to be like that... among other things." His eyes momentarily flickered upward at his horns.
He sighed, leaning his forehead into his hand. "You were hurt, weren't you? Back in the cave. I didn't realize it at the time. I thought maybe... maybe he'd missed, that Jamal hadn't really hurt you, just almost. I'm... I'm so sorry. I should have left, right away."
Emelyn The sky was deepening into night. No longer would the island go forth in the sun- those pinks and golds spiralled into the horizon, for dusk was upon them. Upon that previously sunkissed beach- was a dawn. Emelyn lifted her head and with it, her spirits- and reached out to touch Zach. "A 'predator' and a 'prey'... apologizing to one another. ...Begging each other to forgive the loss of our humanity." The sun died, and yet- Emelyn could see so clearly. "It's the sort of thing that Moreau isn't looking to research at all. ...And yet, it's the most beautiful result of all this madness." Zachary Bloodstone At the touch of her hand he turned to Emelyn, letting his own hand go to his neck to hide the red spikes developing there. In that long pause it seemed she had found something to revive her from her despair, even as the night slowly veiled Emelyn from his yellow eyes with darkness.
"It seems you can always find something positive even when it seems there's nothing but despair," he smiled. Her few words spoke volumes that he could not describe.
Emelyn Her smile was soft, and she was pleased by the compliment. "Thank you. ...It's just who I am. Besides, I consider very little 'despair'. I've seen too many things in this world to consider myself among the unfortunate." It was that last word that reminded her of the questions she had yet to ask, and so, with her hand still out to Zach, she glanced at where he covered his neck... and she asked. "Zach... what are you turning into?" Zachary Bloodstone He looked over at her curiously. Had she no home, no life, and no world to return to? No relatives that would grieve her memory while she was trapped and losing her humanity one change at a time? There was the most despair in all things death, but still some remained in suffering. He started to speak, but her short question put an end to whatever meaningless words he planned to say.
It destroyed his hopes that Emelyn's conversation would go no farther than her apology. What he was becoming, in short, was a reptile, but that wasn't what she wanted to hear. The long answer was difficult, since Zach had little fact at his disposal. His confidence took a hit. "I, um... I'm not... completely... sure..." He looked down at the sand rather than look her in the eye. "That doctor, Sabin, said it's a mix of DNA. Supposedly it's not the first time they've done that. Either way I forgot to ask what the mix was of. All I know is I'm supposed to look like a 'dragon'..." He refused to meet her gaze.
Emelyn "A mix? ...A dragon?" They were questions without a root in understanding- Emelyn said the words, but there was a veneer of shock beneath those blue eyes that kept them from becoming anything more than just words. "...A dragon. Just in appearance- or... are you going to be dangerous, too?" Zachary Bloodstone He nodded, his eyes still on the sand. There was nothing he could do about it. "Well, appearance... yes, I guess so. I know of few enough red lizards. I don't even want to think about what else is implied by the word 'dragon'." Since I've already found out about the wings...
He blinked, unsure. "Dangerous? I... I don't know. I hope not. When I was, it only lasted a few days but it went away just like that. I haven't felt that... bloodthirsty... since, and I don't know what to make of it. I hope it doesn't get worse. I know almost nothing about this, but I don't want to go asking the doctors any more about what will happen."
Emelyn "I know... that the doctors aren't exactly any of our favorite people right now..." Emelyn started- treading cautiously on the delicate subject, "but if you don't know what's going to happen to you, I think it's worth... sacrificing yourself on the altar of dignity, as it were- if only to be prepared." She wondered if he could see her, now that the sun had so descended, wondered if he could see the concern- and even apology, for suggesting something so odious. "I don't mean to tell you how to run your life... I just figure... it would be better to know." Zachary Bloodstone "It's not my dignity I'm worried about," he frowned. Emelyn's telling expression was lost on him to the darkness. He put his arm down across his own legs and glanced where he knew she was, even if she was nothing but a silhouette at this point to his eyes. "I don't think I have much left of it. It's just... oh, I don't know. You're right. It's better for everyone else if I did find out, so I'd know what to do with myself. I just feel too spineless to get near that intercom after hearing what little I did."
He fished around for an analogy, and all he could come up with was bitterly depressing but to the point. "It's like... like if someone would tell you the day you're going to die, you know? But I shouldn't talk like that. I'm sorry. Maybe one of these days I can ask them, at least before I get any more lizardlike."
Emelyn "I think knowing will actually be more of a godsend then remaining in the dark. ...Without the truth, your mind will just see the worst. Besides- the longer you know what's going to happen, the more time you have to prepare- to cope." Zachary Bloodstone He gave a soft "hmm" of agreement with her statement. Coping - that was possible, however vaguely. "Huh... I wish I knew why... why they're doing this. And why they'd choose so many unwilling people for their twisted experimenting. Maybe no one here knows, even them. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that this is all for nothing."
Emelyn "I've wondered... the same thing myself. Not that it's for nothing- I don't think it's that... nihilistic. If anything, though, I wonder if the purpose Moreau so advocates- research, knowledge... is the true goal." Emelyn wrapped her arms about her knees, wishing she could encircle her entire body with her soft, comforting arms in the same manner. "...Maybe he even believes that his purposes are noble. ...Maybe they really are. Or maybe he's insane. Twisted, morally corrupt and needy. Have you ever met Moreau? There's a... a look in his eyes, sometimes. It seems hungry, wolfish. As if there's something there that can never be fed. He needs us- to try to fill that void." Her voice was quiet, almost melodious- her eyes out over the waves of ink that coursed in hushed whispers towards the shore. Zachary Bloodstone "From all I've seen and heard here, I'd guess the latter." Zach's tail swished in agitation. He gave up on the futile effort of seeing Emelyn and instead were resigned to watching the stars come out over the water. "And I guess that would mean we've become destined to be the lab-rats of this madman to make him feel like he can play god. Science, the advancement of science... is a noble purpose. But this... this is a cruel mockery of it."
"I've never met Moreau," he murmured, "but you make me glad I haven't."
Emelyn "A cruel mockery," Emelyn said- repeating Zach's intonation exactly- and adding none of her own to those three, poignant words. She sat, her body fallow and her mind swimming, for what seemed to be a very long time, before she spoke again- her eyes still upon that ocean of ink. "Do you need help finding your way back to the village? Based on the way you're staring, it looks like you don't see very well in the dark..." Zachary Bloodstone The pause was welcome, and Zach too fell silent, though there were things he was desperate to say. His opportune moments vanished soon enough when she spoke again. He got to his feet slowly, still having some trouble with the sand under his feet, and tried to smile at her. It was likely she could see it even if he could barely see a foot in front of his face by this point. "Nope... I'm still blind in the dark. Could you...? I've never tried to walk back there this late at night. I don't mean to be a burden or anything..."
Emelyn "I'd be happy to." With that, the damsel took the arm of the dragon... and led him through the dark jungle. She left him on the edge of the village- for at that mark, she would go no further. "Take care of yourself, okay?" She stopped short of saying 'I worry about you'- for that might be seen as condescending or patronizing. Instead, she held it steady in her mind as she left him to the subtle lights of the village.
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:36 pm
Truth... or Dare... Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose picks up a glass, wandering around behind the bar. It certainly was busy that night - everyone seemed to respond to a calling of the alcohol. He smiled, rememerbing the last time something happened like that. "Hey guys.. how about a game of Truth or dare?" He grinned wolfishly. Looking quickly over to Amaya, who had been quiet almost every time he'd seen her lately. "Amaya! Truth or dare?" Antony:Antony raised an eyebrow from her corner. "I think we just time warped back to high school," she muttered to herself. Amaya: Amaya blinked, having simply been watching the others. Truth or Dare? Didn't they do this... months ago? That had been fun. She couldn't even recall if she had changed then or not. "Uh... truth." She managed to mumble. Alec: Alec snickered from his spot amongst the crowd, nudging at Amaya with a grin. "Aw weak, ye shoulda picked dare." Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose smirked and thought with a smile. "Truth, eh? Well... " He looked at her - start easy... "Why have you been so quiet recently?" Cassidy: Cass gave a soft laugh into her pint of beer. "What, this again?" she teased. Emelyn:: Emelyn sat, cross-legged on the sand, idly wrapping her fingers about her pilots goggles, which sat in her lap. She didn't have a drink in her hand- she never touched the stuff- but was thoroughly enjoying the assemblage. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose shrugged, giving Cassidy and Antony a wide smile. "From my experience, the last time we did this it really helped break some of the glacial ice that somehow existed on this tropical island." Fiona: Fiona looked on, strangely silent. Her expression, however, was full of varying shades of amusement and interest. This... could be fun. Amaya: A non-existant brow raised. "'Cause... well..." She fidgetted with her long fingers. "I dunno, really." This had come up with Alec too. "Guess I'm shy?" Yeah, that was a nice way of putting it. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose shrugged, pouring himself a glass of whisky from behind the counter. Might as well go all out. He looked to Angelina inquisitively as he pulled out another glass. "Good enough, I guess. Your turn!" Antony:She raised her eyebrow, not really seeing how this was breaking the ice. It just seemed to make Amaya uncomfortable. Amaya: "Hm... Alec, truth or dare?" She already knew what he'd probably pick. Kaveri: Kaveri, having just poked her head in, overheard the deadly phrase of "truth or dare." Didn't girls do this at sleepovers or something? She'll just hang back and people-watch with Zach for now and not get involved. Angelina: "Make me something fruity," she said, batting her big blue (underaged) eyes at Ambrose. Alec: Alec took a swig of his homemade cocktail. "Well..." He coughed and fidgetted in his spot. "A'd say dare but 'am not cuttin' off me 'air..." He laughed... nervously. Vasile: Vasile sat in a stool next to Cass after grabbing a corona from behind the bar. His tail swung over the edge as he watched the goings-on, keeping to himself for now. Amaya: Amaya raised a brow once more. "And you call me weak?" Oh. Burn. Emelyn:: Emelyn forced her focus to the answer of the man she'd not yet met... and away from the simpering couple. There were so many people here she'd not met- so many better things to think on than if Angie still despised her. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose smirked at Angelina, read over some of the recipes taped to the top of the fridge, and started mixing. Alec: The teen gave a bitter glare to his reptilian friend. "NO 'AIR." Cassidy: Cass was merely coiled on the ground; a stool was an exercise in futility, after all. She leaned against Vasile a little and watched intently, smiling a little. Antony:A gag was disguised as a cough as she saw the eyelash batting of the still normal girl, taking back a shot of vodka. Ambrose Maurlias: Checking the available liquors, which didn't do much to limit thei choices, he proceeded to mix a "Hawaiin Ecstasy" - pronouncing it as such as he slid to to her with a grin. Ambrose Maurlias: Nodding to Vasile and Emelyn with a friendly smile, he walked back around to the front and took a seat, waiting to hear what the punk teen would have to subject himself to with a wry smile. Amaya: "Fine. Fine." That wasn't what she had in mind anyway. "Eat one of your cigarettes." She grinned sharp teeth. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose made a face, his long tongue sticking out in distaste. He could hardly stand the stench let alone eat one of the cancer sticks. Cassidy: Oh, gross. Cassidy choked and sputtered on her beer. Angelina: Angie gave a not-so-subtle quick glance to Emelyn before taking the orange-red drink and plucking the pineapple from the glass, sucking on the fruit and wiggling her eyebrows at Ambrose. Alec: Alec stared in utter horror, wishing he'd been told to kiss someone or streak or something like highschoolers really did. Not... like he'd know. "Wha' th'fook?" Antony:"What'd the poor smoke ever do to you to deserve being eaten?!" Antony called out over the swarms of people, shaking a finger at the lizard girl. Zachary: Zach tapped his fingers lightly against the side of his head as he leaned his arm against the bar. He watched silently, occasionally looking over at her as if to ask her what they were doing there. Emelyn:: Better to eat it than smoke it, Emelyn thought wryly to herself, wrinkling her leather nose in distaste but saying nothing. Carcinogens weren't high on her list for sympathy... Amaya: Amaya silently agreed with Emelyn, but didn't say so. Instead she shrunk down a little in her seat and said nothing. It was Alec's dare afterall. Vasile: Vasile's tail casually draped over Cass's shoulders as he grimaced. Nasty things. Fiona: Fiona gave a half-snorting laugh, her attention making bounds from person to person and twinkling with mischief as they did so. She crossed her arms in front of her chest in a manner that said 'serves him right.' Alec: Alec let out a groan, pulling a cig from his pocket. "This i' gonna sook..." He mumbled and winced, throwing his head back and tossing the cig down his thoat. Kaveri: People here certainly looked interesting, and some of the animal-folk look downright alien. "This kinda reminds me of the Star Wars cantina," Kaveri whispered to Zach in a low voice, a smirk tugging on her lips. Angelina: Angelina watched Alec and Fiona intently. So she wasn't the only 'human' left on this rock after all. She didn't know whether to be releaved or a bit sad. She wondered how new they were. Antony:Since they were technically 'outside,' the squirrel woman dug in her pants for her pack of cigarettes and a lighter. If one was going to get eaten, then she would hold a formal memorial and smoke one. Vasile: Vasile made made no effort to hide his disgusted look to Antony when she pulled out her cigarette. Amaya: The iguana couldn't help but stiffle a laugh as she watched him. Taking in the look on his face as he was forced to swallow it. Cassidy: Cass giggled a bit and petted Vasile's tail. It was just like a fur stole! Except nicer and not dead. Angelina: "Thats disgusting," she commented around her straw. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose put his paws together and applauded the young man. "Good job." He made another face at the thought of how the thing must have tasted. "Your turn to torment." Alec: He looked like he was going to puke for a good minute there, eyes watering as he attempted to contain his gag reflex. "You... payin' fo' tha'" He coughed, washing it down with a good helping of his drink. Kaveri: Kaveri watches Alec eat his cigarette, a low chuckle escaping her throat. "Man, poor kid." Amaya: "Oh you'll be fine missing one of them." Amaya rolled her eyes and patted the teen on the back. Antony:Antony gave Vasile a look of 'like I give a ******** what you think of me' before lighting up and taking a drag. She was on the outskirts of the crowd anyways. Emelyn:: "In fact, I warrant you'll be better..." Em said softly, stretching out on the sand with a wry smile. Alec: "Alrigh'..." The teen took a good look around, trying to catch someone he didn't know well. It was more fun that way. "Aye." He gestured to Emelyn. "Dare o' whateveh." Zachary: Zach smirked at Kaveri's cantina comment, but made a mental note to avoid dares. "Hey, at least there's no secondhand that way." Emelyn:: Emelyn blinked in surprise, but shrugged her shoulders at the statement. "Well... since you don't know me, I don't know how good a truth would do. So... erm... dare." Kaveri: "That's true," Kaveri nods, then tilts her head curiously to see what's going to happen to the spiky-haired chick. Alec: Alec grinned, clearly pleased by the hedgehog's decision. "Lick.." He paused for only a moment, clear that he didnt think this over a bit. "im!" He pointed to Zach. Angelina: Angelina giggled, getting funny flashbacks from middle school. Emelyn:: "Lick him?" She pointed to Zach, not emphasizing either word over the other. She looked at the punky-headed guy with a laughing smile. "Contrary to popular belief, he's not a popsicle..." (cont) Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose snorted into his cup, his tail thwapping against Angelina to one side, Vasile to the other. Emelyn:: But it was a dare, so she laughed, and walked over to where Zach sat. She knelt next to him and winked at him. "Sorry about this." Then she proceded to give him a short lick along the side of his face. Cassidy: Cassidy began to chuckle helplessly. She put a hand over her eyes, set down her drink for a moment, and just laughed. Fiona: One of her eyebrows perked at the 'hawked guy's selection. "This should be interesting..." she muttered tactlessly to herself, watching for his reaction. Alec: Alec burst out laughing, as immature as he was. He figured he'd let her go easy that time. Kaveri: Kaveri covers her mouth in attempt to conceal her laughter. "So, how's he taste?" She asks the hedgehog girl with a grin. Emelyn:: Afterwards, Em covered her eyes and laughed, feeling a red blush creep to her cheeks. Thank goodness it was covered in fur. Antony:The tattooed woman couldn't help but snort openly, "As long as clothes stay on..." She couldn't help it if she had the mind of a male. Vasile: Vasile's tail curled tighter around Cass's shoulders, though he sat there, casting long sideways glances over at the wolf-man. Vasile wondered if he would change anymore.. he looked pretty, well, wolflike already Zachary: Zach's tapping stopped immediately as he gave the spiky-haired teen a look of confusion. It was soon transferred to Emelyn as she licked him. "What are you--" Emelyn:: "Try him yourself," she said cheekily to the woman she didn't know, but also with a smile. Then she turned to Cassidy. "Truth or dare?" Amaya: Amaya giggled as well, though seemed to be trying to keep the spotlight off herself. Cassidy: Cass stopped laughing abruptly. Well, she deserved it. "Er. Dare." Vasile: Vasile nudged Cass with his thigh, smirking. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose followed Emelyn's look to Cassidy, getting a good look at her and held back any sort of reaction. She HAD changed, Vasile was right. If there were anyone on the island he was happy for that the changes weren't done.. Kaveri: "Ha! I might as well. C'mere--" Kaveri drapes her arm around Zach's shoulders, attempting to lick up the other side of his cheek. Poor guy, getting all this attention! Ambrose Maurlias: It was definately her - she looked caught between two forms that didn't mesh well at all. He kept his mouth closed and soon found himself with a predicament all his own of muzzle + glass Alec: Alec took a look around, realizing there were so many people he didn't know. "Huh." He hummed and drank down the rest of his cocktail. "Reeefiiilll..." He whined to no one in particular, clearly buzzed. Zachary: "Hey!" Zach squirmed, grinning nervously as she licked him also. What the hell was wrong with women these days? "I'm not a salt lick!" Emelyn:: "Dare? Damn, now I have to come up with one. ...Okay.. erm... alright. I dare you to... oh man... okay, I give up. It's more of a truth- but... tell Vasile something he really doesn't know about you." Alec: "A' wou'n complain." The teen raised an eyebrow at the crimson guy's comment before keeping anything more to himself. Amaya: The girl raised a brow at Alec and rolled his eyes. There was no way she was going to refill his drink this time. He already seemed buzzed. Antony:For the first time, Antony noticed the girl with the dreads and piercings, but at Alec's comment she simply raised an eyebrow. "Of course you wouldn't," she teased. Emelyn:: After eliciting her 'dare', she turned back to Zach and knelt next to his ear, whispering only for him. "Sorry about that. You can get me back later, if you'd like." Then she left him a soft, friendly kiss on his cheek. Vasile: Vasile quirked an eyebrow, looking to Cass. Cassidy: Cass looked up at Vasile. "Er. That's hard." She took a sip of beer, more to stall than anything else. Everything was either really... trivial, or just downright embarrassing. Cassidy: "I kissed a girl once," she said at last, and looked down, just slightly horrified. "It was at a party. I was kind of drunk. Um. There." Zachary: "Well I don't know what turns you on, kid, but..." he mumbled at the spiky-haired teen, his face a shade of scarlet to match his scales. Vasile: Vasile's tail thumped. "Oh really?" He raised an approving brow and let a toothy smirk spread over his face. Alec: Getting no reaction from his feeble plea for a drink, Alec crawled over until he was close enough to make himself another drink. "Ye, ye" He snickered. Vasile: Then. "Can I get you something to drink?" Cassidy: Cass stuck out a forked tongue. "Already quite fine on that front, thank you. Your turn. Truth or dare, Vasile." Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose's mood was lifting already, people were smiling, and amusing dares were flying. With a sigh, he glanced around and lapped at some of the alcohol in his glass. Vasile: "Aw s**t, I should have seen that one coming," he said, his smirk fading. Vasile: "I'm not quite ready to streak down the beach in the nude or anything, so Truth." Antony:Antony took a long drag from her smoke before offering Alec the bottle of vodka with a smirk, after she had refilled her drink of course. Alec: Alec gladly accepted, raising the bottle in thanks before refilling his glass greedily. "Streak! Streak!" Emelyn:: Emelyn went back to her seat on the sand, rubbing her forehead as if to coax the blush from it. Poor Zach, she mused, as she returned the goggles to her forehead. Vasile: Vasile blinked an eye at Alec. "You'd like to see that, would ya?" He winked in mock seduction Antony:She made sure to swipe the bottle back after he had refilled his glass. Amaya: Amaya glanced at Antony and then Alec. Oh yay, he was probably going to get drunk... if he wasn't already. She hadn't touched anything, thinking the stuff smelled like pee. She doubted her new pallet would enjoy it anyway. Cassidy: Cassidy gave this a moment of thought, her finger tapping against her glass. "Truth, truth. What is," she said slowly, "the strangest thing you have ever bought for yourself?" Fiona: Teenage curiosity spurred on by natural confidence, Fiona allowed her eyes to rake across Vasile's figure at the suggestion of streaking. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea. Darn, a truth. Oh well, maybe later. Alec: Alec paled, realizing he hadn't been paying attention to who was being dared. "uh... neh thanks?" He winced and sat down quietly. Vasile: Vasile took a long drink from his bottle, thinking. "A full body waxing," he said with a cringe - then quickly added - "it was a modeling gig!" Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose winced. "Ouch..." Cassidy: Cass winced visibly. "Yikes. I'm not entirely sure I wanted that mental image." Amaya: "Wow." Amaya raised a brow, staring at the changed Vasile. Vasile: "Hey!" Antony:"Full?" Antony echoed, eyebrow raising. She had only gone as far as a Brazillian. Ambrose Maurlias: "Course, I bet you anything it would hurt ten times as much now!" He barked a laugh. Alec: Alec spit out his drink, not wanting to EVER feel that pain. Cassidy: Cass grinned and stroked his tail. "Now, now. No waxings for my fuzzy man." She was, possibly, just a tiny bit tipsy. Vasile: "Anyway..." Vasile's eyes darted around the crowd, settling on Antony as she spoke to him. "Yes. Everything that wasn't on my head, or a well-shaped eyebrow was OFF. So, truth or dare?" Kaveri: "Wonder what the hell modeling he was doing THAT for," Kaveri says to Zach, "Can't imagine any of these guys getting a waxed ANYTHING, much less shaved. -- Porn, maybe?" Vasile: "NOT PORN!" His tail ruffled. "It was a swimsuit add! They were just, uh.... very....very small....swimsuits..." Cassidy: "Porn," Cassidy repeated, giggling. Vasile: Vasile huffed, nursing his bottle. Kaveri: Kaveri gives a hearty laugh, dismissively waving her hand. "Sure, buddy." Zachary: Zach was still a fierce shade of red, but he managed to get out a semblance of a laugh. Amaya: Amaya giggled again. Alec: Alec wished he was deaf and without imagination at the flying accusations of male porn. Emelyn:: "Bm chka bm bmm.." Em hummed in the background. Antony:"Dare," she murmured, snickering at the labret girl's comment, "Nothing I've seen him in... So nothing hetero?" She was, in fact, kidding. Vasile: "I think if I was ever in porn my naughty-bits would be all over the net." Emelyn:: Emelyn turned to the person next to her and whispered, laughingly, "We don't get the net here, do we? ...Too bad.." Vasile: Vasile gave a happy-evil grin when Antony said dare. He hopped off his stool and raided the fruit basket that hung over the bar for drinks, taking a bananna. Kaveri: "I don't think I've ever been on 'the net,'" Kaveri adds. And really, she hasn't -- most cable companies don't go to abandoned buildings. Vasile: "You always claim..." he said, handing the girl the fruit. "That you give the 'best head ever." He waggled his eyebrows at her. "Demonstrate." He turned to sit back down, t hen quickly added, "ON the banana." Antony:"Wishful thinking?" She asked him. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose's eyes widened curiously at the procurement of the bananna, and even more at the dare, lapping more at his alcohol and caring less. Cassidy: Cass glanced up at Vasile and over to Antony, more puzzled than anything else. "Best head ever?" Angelina: "I'd rather watch Vasile demonstrate on the bananana," Angelina mumbled into her drink with a secretive smile. Antony:"A good blow job, involves more than just the c**k... I'll have you know," she said with a grin, but taking the banana from him anyways. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose spluttered into his cup. "I don't!" Antony:Antony raised her eyebrow at Cass, "He didn't tell you? Tsk." Vasile: Vasile patted Cass on the shoulder. "Take notes." Kaveri: Kaveri suppresses a laugh, covering her mouth and leaning back, her other arm still draped around Zach's shoulders. Alec: Alec froze, grey eyes slowly moving over to rest on Antony, frozen in just... shock. Amaya: Oh jeeze. Adults were so gross... and sometimes seemed more immature then she was. Though like always, she remained silent. Vasile: He smiled at her, hoping she got the fact that he was joking. really hoped.... Fiona: Fiona laughed, leaning over to Ambrose (who happened to be the nearest person she recognised) and saying, "Remind me never to eat a banana split here. Ever." A wide smirk appeared on her face. Cassidy: "I'll be sure to file it away safely," Cass teased. ".... wait. Tell me what?" Vasile: Vasile just shook his head, trying not to blush. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose continued to chortle harder at Fiona's additive. "I'll do that!" He grinned back at her. Zachary: Zach glanced between Cassidy and Vasile with slight alarm. He hadn't heard people talk about their sex lives this casually since college, and those stories were mostly made up. Antony:The shot was thrown back before she took care to peel the sticker off of the banana before raising her eyebrow at Vasile, "Well aren't you the honest one." Cassidy: "Uh." Cass's tongue flickered. "Should I know what this is about? Do I really want to?" Antony:Part of her was stalling, banana peels didn't exactly taste great. Antony:"Considering no one here wants to see this banana get fellitio except for Vasile, I'll simply..." She trailed off, opening her mouth and proceeding to carefully, due to the curve of the fruit, push it down her throat till it's stem was pretty much the only thing showing. Once done, it was quickly pulled back out. "Now that takes skill," she boasted, tossing the banana in the nearest trash can. Antony:((D: Sorry, had to be done... Antony = whore. >_>)) Alec: "THANK YE' AN' GOO'NIGHT" Alec announced when it was over, abruptly retreating to the bar to get some ice cubes. Yea, that's it. Cassidy: Yes, a complete loss for words. Cass decided she really needed another swig of beer, and decided to just focus on that for the moment. Good thing she couldn't really blush. Zachary: He moved a little to better shoulder Kaveri's arm, nervously putting his hand on her back to steady her. He was glad the breeze was cold. His face still felt like it was burning. Kaveri: Kaveri looks on with mild amazement - it's quite difficult to suppress that gag reflex, and Antony seemed to have some kind of a gift. "I'll be damned," she murmurs. Amaya: Amaya held no reaction, having found it disgusting. Fiona: "Bravo!" Fiona shouted humorously, clapping and grinning. It was funny to her, at least. Antony:She gave Kaveri a wink, obviously not sober. Angelina: Angelina clapped, winking to Ambrose. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose felt his own cheeks burning, turning away from Antony - but not until the 'deed' was done. Antony:"Oh! My turn..." Antony blinked, looking around at those present as she tried to decide who to pick. "Hmm... Zach," she grinned evilly, "Truth or Dare?" Alec: Alec eventually returned, flopping back down wherever he could find room. Zachary: Zach blinked at Antony, still in a little shock. "Oh, I guess... um... dare." Antony:Noticing Alec's return, Antony grinned and looked back over to Zach. Motioning between Alec and the dragon, she smiled sweetly, "You two... Kiss." Insta-cold shower for Alec. Amaya: Say what? Amaya blinked, shocked and looked between Zach and Alec. Oh jeeze... Kaveri: Kaveri is morbidly curious to see what's going to come out of this one. She looks at Antony with a crooked smile, then back at Zach and then to Alec, clearly more amused than she should be. Alec: Alec's jaw dropped, just... STARING at Antony in a 'how could you do this to me' sorta way. Cassidy: "Karma is a wonderful thing." Emelyn:: "Holy cow. ...Boy Zach, bet you wish you were getting licked now," Emelyn nearly squealed, falling back on the sand with the propulsion of her laughter. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose coughed. Strong whisky... yeah... that was it, eyes going from one poor guy to the other, very glad that he wasn't the targed. Antony:Antony wiggled her eyebrows at Alec, patting his leg as a gesture of 'I'll make up for this later.' Zachary: Zach mouthed the word "traitor" to Emelyn as she laughed at him. Kiss... a guy. He could probably do this. As long as he kept the 'guy' part out of his mind. Fiona: "Somebody get a camera, quick!" Fiona said with a snicker. Antony:"I'll ask Aubrey for a copy of the video." Emelyn:: Em just responded, after she'd propped herself up on an elbow in the sand and saw Zach's mouthed word, with a wink. Kaveri: Kaveri gives Zach a reassuring pat on the back. "Go get 'em, tiger! ... lizard ... thing!" Alec: Alec's head dropped with a pathetic whine as he sloooowly edged him torso in the angle that Zach was in with the most... disgusted look on his face that rivalled any hangover he'd ever had. Alec: *his Angelina: Angelina had a huge grin on her face. Yaoi was hot. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose gave her a look. "Traitor!" Zachary: At this rate, the blush would become a permanent rash. Why had he picked dare? He shut his eyes tightly, hoping that the teen would get it over with quickly. Vasile: Vasile shifted and his right ear twitched three times in rapid sucession. Antony:The squirrel woman glanced around, the smirk on her face widening as she saw everyone's expressions. Alec: Unfortunately Alec was firmly stuck in his place, left staring at the dragon man to wait for HIM to make a move. Emelyn:: A grin covered the face of the hedgehog-girl as she looked around at the gathering. "Oooh... methinks the gentlemen are getting a little uncomfortable," she said, her voice tinged with delight. Angelina: Angelina. "What?" she asked innocently. But an idea brewed in her head and her grin grew wider and she patted his knee. Cassidy: "You may as well just get it over with," Cass hooted. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose didn't like that look. Scowling suspiciously, he lapped more at his drink-he'd figure out an easier, less embarrassing method lated. Zachary: Zach opened one eye to glance at Emelyn. "You think?" he whined, before closing it again. Emelyn:: "Aww... come on! ...Kiss... kiss... kiss..." she chanted. Angelina: "Kiss kiss kiss..." Angelina joined in. Antony:Antony whistled some old western show down music. Kaveri: "C'mon, boys!" Kaveri feels compelled to give Zach a jump start, throwing her arm out to lightly shove him in Alec's direction. Fiona: "Doooo iiiiit!" Fiona added to the shouts of encouragement, her own devious grin mirroring those of many of the present females. Alec: Alec shuffled closer, obviously delaying this as log as he could. "D'ye 'ave like... some disease or somethin cuz 'am not su-" He of course didn't see the shove coming, unable to dodge the oncoming Zach as their lips met. Antony:Part of her was expecting Zach to make her kiss a girl later on in the night, but then again, the dragon was rather naive. Angelina: Angelina gave an approving cheer as the lips came in contact. Zachary: Zach didn't see the violent shove coming, and thus couldn't avoid it as he temporarily locked lips with Alec. It was over just as quickly as he pulled back, putting a hand to his mouth. Alec: Alec flailed his arms and made sure to scramble at LEAST 3 feet away from Zach after it was over, wiping furiously at his mouth in horror. "Drink! Driiiiiink!!!" Ambrose Maurlias: "Poor bastards." Ambrose lamented, worrying more about his girlfriend and her devious mind. Kaveri: Kaveri roars with laughter, applauding with approval. Emelyn:: "Oh, you men are so uptight." Em said, mirth coming out every pore. Antony:She gave a wolf-whistle at the pair, giving Alec an apologetic look, handing him her shot of vodka. Cassidy: "That wasn't so bad, now? Was it?" Angelina: Angelina plopped herself right down in Ambrose's lap. Not saying anything, just smiling herself. Antony:"They're uptight because they're straight," she pointed out, laughing with Em. Vasile: Vasile joined in the laughing, though his ears were awfully pink. Zachary: Zach glared at Antony's whistling before turning his attention to Kaveri. He spoke from behind the hand, afraid to move it. "Truth... or dare?" Kaveri: "Oh, hell. I'm setting myself up for disaster, but whatever, man," Kaveri shrugs with a toothy grin, "dare me." Antony:Antony simply blew Zach a kiss and winked at his glare. Alec: Alec downed the shot and slumped against the nearest person that wasn't Zach, afraid to look in the guy's direction out of embarassment. Angelina: "Revenge!" Angelina cheered, giggling at her own suggestion. Ambrose Maurlias: "Brave woman in respect to the dares that have been flying around." Ambrose lifted his glass to the woman whose name he had yet to learn. Angelina: Angelina helped herself to a sip from Ambrose's glass. "eugh, gross.." she pinched her face up. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose chuckled, polishing it off with a few coughs and then handed her the empty glass. "Make me something better then." He challenged. Amaya: Amaya seemed to be the only one not really having a good time... maybe she was still too young, prude and naive. Or maybe she was still just shy around crowds and people she didn't know. Zachary: Zach moved the hand a little as he contemplated the dare. His eyes darted between Antony and Kaveri before he announced it. Zachary: "Kiss Antony." Angelina: Angelina got a twinkle in her eye. Such a small little woman and Ambrose had made her such a strong drink... Angelina: She climbed over the bar (literally) and got to work. Vasile: Vasile looked to Kav. "Now what did she do to deserve that," he teased. Antony:At Zach's comment, Antony simply grinned and glanced over to Kaveri before patting her lap, "You're standing and I'm lazy." Alec: Alec burst out laughing, though he could've seen that from a mile away on a foggy eve in Devon. "Thas more like i'!" Cassidy: Cass shook her head. Guys kissing, now girls... It was a good thing she'd had such an easy dare. Ambrose Maurlias: "there goes my idea." Ambrose sighed overdramatically, glancing between Emelyn and Angelina. It would be copying now. Damn. He then looked warily at the small brunette in front of the bottles of alcohol. Kaveri: Kaveri shrugs, smiling. "I've kissed a girl before, I can do it again." She looks over to Antony, tilting her head before starting to approach her. "You can't live in Olympia without kissing a girl." Alec: "'ow far's Olivia from 'ere?" Alec called out, laughing and obviously feeling the vodka a bit. Antony:Antony simply grinned, leaning up when she was close enough to whisper in her ear, "Want to be cruel and give the men a show?" She had enough alcohol in her for that. Emelyn:: Emelyn heard Ambrose's words- then saw his gaze shift between her and his girlfriend. Her eyes narrowed at the man, and she decided one thing. ...She didn't very much like Ambrose when he was drunk. Angelina: Angelina didn't seem to notice or care abuot the comment, too busy pouring over drink recipes and pulling out an assortment of bottles. Kaveri: "Ah, why the hell not," Kaveri whispers back, curling an arm around Antony's waist and pulling the other woman towards her. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose's lament was soon distracted (fortunately not noticing Emelyn's glare) and hypocritically turned to watch the show. Antony:Grinning, she moved her right hand to the back of the woman's neck, pulling her down with an audible purr. Time for a sadistic show. Alec: Alec watched, drink in hand at what was guaranteed to be entertainment. Zachary: After Kaveri left, Zach moved to sit by Emelyn, having spared her from his barely-vengeful dare. He watched Antony and Kaveri, still not moving his hand from its place in front of his mouth. Emelyn:: "Cat got your tongue?" Em said to Zach in a kinder tone of voice, and reached up to pull his hand down to his lap. She wondered why he'd come to sit with her- and hoped it wasn't... pity. Angelina: Angelina cleared her throat for Ambrose's attention, sliding a tall glass his way. "Its called a Waikiki Woo Woo!!" she exclaimed, proud of herself Kaveri: Kaveri bares her teeth in a grin, putting her other hand behind Antony's neck and allowing herself to get pulled down. Let's get this party started! Cassidy: Cass glanced up at Vasile, and then appeared to decide that the bottom of her glass was very interesting indeed. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose, momentarily distracted, smacked his lips and took the tall, fruity drink from the grinning woman's hands, smelling it cautiously. Ambrose Maurlias: His tongue flicked into the mixture, letting the rum-based fruit drink tingle it before grinning and lapping at it with gusto. "Not bad." He replied wryly. Antony:Antony immediately caught her in a passionate kiss, groaning softly in order to make sure that those that weren't 'allowed' to watch could hear them. She was trying to torture people damnit! Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose's ears crumpled back, eyes darting to the scene daringly Alec: Alec forced himself to stare at his glass's contents as he whistled a little tune that didn't seem to do the trick in drowning out the "noises" that beckoned everyone's attention. Cassidy: Cass looked up involuntarily, squeaked, and looked back down. Okay. This was almost punishment for admitting that stupid kiss. Angelina: Angelina looked rather unphased, but amused Zachary: "I don't think that was a cat..." he mumbled quietly, gazing in the direction of Alec. He was about to speak again when Antony's loud sounds interrupted him. He smiled at Emelyn, face still very red. "What have I done?" Kaveri: Kaveri leans into the kiss with much panache, adding to the noise with an amused 'ooo!' squeal, running her hands up into Antony's hair. What a beautiful trainwreck! Amaya: Amaya wasn't really bothered either, or at least she tried to make it look that way. Green eyes stared at the tabletop, her chest feeling tight. Emelyn:: For the most part, Emelyn ignored the kiss, as she laughed gently at Zach. "You've just owned up to a dare. Nothing more, nothing less. Don't agonize over it. You did well," she smiled. Antony:Backing them both up so that she was able to sit down again and pull the other woman closer between her legs, tilting her head to the side to deepen the kiss. Angelina: Angelina would elbow Ambrose in the ribs if his attentioin got too focused. Vasile: Vasile leaned down. "Kissed like that?" Fiona: Fiona watched out of the corner of her eye a tad curiously, if only to know all the gory details for storytelling at a later date. They certainly seemed to be... enjoying themselves. Alec: Alec looked a little uncomfortable to say the least where he sat amongst the group, thankfully his alcohol was doing its job at making him clueless. Cassidy: "Ummmm." Cassidy fidgeted without looking at Vasile. "Something like that. Maybe." Vasile: Vasile just grinned to himself. Kaveri: "Mrmphpht!" Kaveri tries to cry out, but continues to let Antony take the lead. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose blinked. IT was... still going? As his stare lingered he felt the sharp elbow in his ribs and pulled his attention away. Antony:Antony lingered with the kiss for a minute or so longer before pulling back to catch her breath, eyes still closed as her lips curled into a lopsided smirk. "Kiss enough for you Zachypoo?" Angelina: She wrapped her arms around him tightly. kimie kitty chan: Nita sat at the back of the group with some sort of fruity drink in her hand, amused at all the goings-on. Antony:Glancing over to Ambrose, she waggled her eyebrows at Angelina with a knowing expression. The art of manipulating men included more than eyelash batting. Kaveri: Kaveri attempts to wriggle out of Antony's grip, laughing hard. "Oh man," she gasped, "that was a hell of a thing." Wiping her forehead, she goes to sit back down. Now it was her turn? Hmm... who to pick? Zachary: Zach looked from Emelyn once more to quickly roll his eyes at Antony. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were enjoying it more than us guys were." He turned back to Emelyn again. Kaveri: She glances around the room, twirling her finger in the air to pull out the next victim. Antony:"Kissing is kissing," she said simply, figuring the comment explained itself. Fiona: Fiona snorted in response to Zach's comment. "No, I don't think that's possible." She gave something partway between a smirk and a sneer. Fiona: ((Fee hasn't been picked. *belated*)) Kaveri: "Hm... how about the, uh... wolf dude?" Kaveri jabs an unsure finger in Ambrose's direction. "Truth or dare?" Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose blinked, pointing a clawed finger at himself before smiling, tail thumping. "Me?" He smiled, glancing around. He couldn't chicken out in response to everyone else. Ambrose Maurlias: "Dare. And the name's Ambrose" he smiled. Angelina: Angelina slipped out of his lap, sitting next him. "Wolf-dude" she snickered. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose stuck his tongue out at Angelina. Antony:Antony wolf-whistled at him before adding a casual wink. Kaveri: "Yeah! Alright, Ambrose," Kaveri grins, rubbing her hands together deviously, "I dare you to... kiss the green chick over there. Yeah, her--" She points at Amaya. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose blinked, and looked to Amaya, who had been remarkably quiet and sullen, he realized, scratched the back of his head. She was his 'little sister'! Angelina: Angelina straightened up, pouting. Amaya: WHAT?! The look on her face couldn't be described in words. Alec: "Amaya kisses!" Alec randomly blurted out, grinning like a fool. Why not? She needed a good kiss to lighten her up. Ambrose Maurlias: But... a dare was a dare, right? he got to his feet, giving an apologetic look first to Angelina, and then kneeled over to Amaya. "I'm sorry, 'sis'." He winced, rubbing his paw across the top of her head. Antony:Blinking, the squirrel looked back and forth between Amaya, Ambrose, and LashBatter. Oh this would be interesting. Ambrose Maurlias: Then, glancing around, he smirked, and gaver her a big, wet 'dog' kiss - licked up the side of her cheek. Angelina: Angelina chuckeled, making herself relax. Amaya: Amaya was tensed up and ready to bolt when a wet, sloppy tongue made contact with her face. She blinked a few times before realizing that was it. Oh thank god. "S'ok, that was nice." Emelyn:: "Awwww... a patented Zachy kiss," Em said, clapping her hands with glee. She had wondered how Ambrose would make it so it wasn't awkward- considering the sort of relationship they shared. Ambrose Maurlias: He chuckled, his tail thumping as he stood up again and, with a hand to his chin, regarded the dozen or so people around him with a mirthful light in his hand. Alec: Alec clapped his hands, enjoying the dare. "Awww...." Despite his half-drunken state he knew Amaya would've been upset over anything more than that. Amaya: Indeed she would have. The last thing she wanted was her first kiss to be from her 'big brother'. Ambrose Maurlias: "Angelina!" He spun, tail motoring. "Truth or dare." Angelina: She leaned forward, a predatory gleam in her eye. "Dare." Ambrose Maurlias: He grinned toothily, the possibilities spirialing in his mind. Then, with a grin, he vaulted over the bar, grabbed another bananna and tossed it at her. "Show up Antony!" Angelina: Angelina blinked. "With who?" Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose guffawed. "I was just going to say the bananna... but I mean... if you WANTED to give us a show...." He chuckled. Angelina: Angelina couldn't help stop the blush. "BUt... Angelina: you know how I good I am!" Ambrose Maurlias: It was Ambrose's turn to turn red. Emelyn:: Emelyn covered her eyes with her hands. This was a subject she wished she werent as privvy to as she was... Ambrose Maurlias: He gesticulated in the vague direction of the fruit. "Well... you know... do a ... production... sort of thing." Angelina: Angelina grumbled to herself, swiping the fruit out of his hand. She looked at it and sighed. No way she could deep-throat like Antony could... Fiona: Fiona snickered, humming a tune and muttering lyrics: something along the lines of "This s**t is bananas- B-A-N-A-N-A-S!" Zachary: Zach's blush had started to fade, but returned when Emelyn used a pet name of sorts for him. He glanced over at her quickly before closing his eyes as the banana stunt was about to be repeated. Antony:Antony rolled her eyes, but said nothing for now, simply glancing over to Alec briefly and cocking an eyebrow. Angelina: But... worth with what God gave you... Angelina closed her eyes, trying to concetrate then she heard Fee. "Oh nO! I HATE that song!" Fiona: "So do I," she said with a wince, "But it popped into my head. Fits perfectly, don't you think?" Oooh, a double entendre. Alec: Alec was shaking his head, not sure if his teenage hormones could take mcuh more of this. "Give a' guy a' BREAK alreadeh!" He laughed though he was partially serious. Think cooold showers. Angelina: She huffed and closed her eyes again, trying to forget there was a whole group of people watching her. Kaveri: "Yes, we have no bananas," Kaveri croons, resting her hands on her hips. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose groaned at the puns, but not without a healthy dose of chuckles. Angelina: She went to work on the banana... though maybe not as deep as Antony, she tried to make up with lots of tongue and lip work, completely with sloppy sucking noises. Angelina: When it was done, she was beet-red and flung the fruit squarely at her boyfriends head. Ambrose Maurlias: Ambrose let loose a startled yelp as he was beaned with the bananna, fumbled to catch it after it connected squarely in his chest. Ambrose Maurlias: To try to reply, he gave it a sniff, peeled it, and then ate it after sticking out his tongue again at her. Emelyn:: Emelyn actually snorted as the projectile fruit bounced off its target. Antony:Antony laughed out loud, relaxing with a smug smile to herself. After that show, the tattooed woman hadn't lost any of her confidence. Antony:"I'd like to point out in both our defenses, banana's are far from the real thing." Angelina: Angelina tried to calm herself down, but it was hard to chose who she wanted to pick next without ...looking at people. "What about you," she asked, pointed to the quiet girl in the back. (Nitta). "Truth or dare?" Antony:bananas* Ambrose Maurlias: "I'll accept that." Ambrose replied to Antony. "No way in hell would I eat the real thing." He winked, the banana halfway devoured. kimie kitty chan: Nita's head jerked up. Damn. She'd been spotted. "Um.." She took a big swig of whatever she was drinking. "What the hell. Dare." Antony:"Detachable p***s!" She cried, busting into giggles. She hadn't heard that song in forever.
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Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:37 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:43 pm
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:44 pm
Joliette's Change Em came down upon the beach, returning to the scene of the previous night's merriment. She'd brought her basket- filled with fresh fruits she'd collected about the island, to include even the tiniest, sweet berries she'd found on the slope- and headed for the beach bar. The night before had reminded her that there was a fridge therein- which she could likely store the more perishable foods, and not have to worry about having to dry them all. She was slightly oblivious to all else around her- those waves were the same she'd seen every day for the past few months, and the foliage that overhung onto the beach swayed with the ocean breezes... as they always did. Joliette had left her towel where it was on teh beach, and beside it was a pile of clothing, she only now had her bra and panties which stunk too but she had no desire to wear the stinky shorts and tshirt. She was in the water at least waist deep and bent at hte waist trying to wash the musk off of her. Her back was to the beach as she splashed in the waterIt wasn't until after Emelyn had deposited her store, along with a small, handwritten note, in the back of the top shelf of the small refridgerator, which identified the fruit as hers, and not to be used to mix drinks with- that she stood, and saw the figure in the water. At first, with the sun glinting off the waters and accosting the nocturnal girl's eyes- along with the distance, she didn't recognize the form that was splashing out in the tides. It took her a moment of deep squinting to identify the shape, and then she smiled, and called out. "Joli!" She came out from behind the bar and headed for the surf. Joliette paused, she was sure she had heard her name, she herself had barely gained control over the Komodo, it was still hungry, but she hadn't wanted to go to the cafeteria smelling as she was. She lifts her head standing up a it more, everything from her waist down, tail included, was under the water. She turned her head slightly to find out who was there but not enough to show her changed face yet, her yellow tongue flickered giving her that answer before she'd even turned her head all the way "Hi Em" she replies just loud enough to be heard from the beach, she was still facing out from the isle her hair obscuring her face.Em waded into the surf up to about her ankles, letting the frothy water rush up against her fur-covered feet as she stood, arms at her waist and her face edged away from the sun. She noticed that Joliette was still unturned in the water, and she mistook the stance for her being startled. So Emelyn stayed at her distance. "Didn't mean to disturb your swim," she said congenially, "I'm just surprised to see you. It's been such a while!" Joliette sighed what little she could sigh with her changing system, closing her eyes and tipping her head back slightly. She knew there would be no avoiding it in the long run "You weren't disturbing my swim Em..." She opened her eyes again and righted her head and then crossing her arms slightly over her chest she turned around to face one of the closest friends she'd made on the isle.The visage was very nearly one out of a horror film. Joliette's body had been transformed from that of a sweet, confident journalist, to a shell of deformity. Those hands enough- for Emelyn could see the one more clearly where it lay, outstretched slightly as if to protect her chest, were enough to send shudders down the spine. Em didn't know if it was the hedgehog in her... or the human, which reacted so strongly- but those infant, proto-spines which poked out from the skin on her now so muscular back... stood at attention. Luckily, they were beneath that mass which was her malformed hair- and Joliette would be unable to see the reaction. But her eyes- they were so sad, and the face which had held so many smiles and defiant words of escape- were still... so human. And that, more than anything, kept Emelyn from going for the knife she had tucked in the front pocket of her jeans. "Hey, sweetie." She said softly. "How are you?" They both knew what the question meant. "I hurt, I'm hungry... I stink, the Komodo chased another islander, this time I remember it..." she looked down at the water "All in all I've not had a good day" she says her tongue flickering as she took barely noticeable breaths and then slowly trudged towards Em and the shore more of her changes becoming visible as she movedAs the base of her tail became gradually visible, along with those patches of skin which... could no longer be correctly categorized as skin appeared, Emelyn understood why Joli would be so upset. So many things were changing- and not for the better. "I'm so sorry." Emelyn said, slowly following her to the beach. "I don't think there's anything I could do- the only food I have stored up... wouldn't be very appetizing to you. ...And you're hurt? What happened?" Joliette sat on her towel and then pulled the ends around herself "I hurt from the change, not from anyone doing anythign to me.. I was down here relaxing and enjoying the sun, then I remember waking up... Then I changed and the Komodo took over... and I kinda chased Timothy... That is till he musked me" she points a ways down the beach at the pair of pants that the skunk male had abandoned on the sand in his haste with a very clawed finger. Her stomach growled loudly and she she did her very very hardest to keep control, she didn't want to scare away yet another friend.Of all the things Joliette said- it was the unspoken- yet very evident- that she focused on. "You sound starving. Have you been to the cafeteria at all? You sound like you need to eat if you don't want the Komodo taking over." Emelyn knew- from quite different experience than Joli, given... that when she was hungry or hurt, the animal presence became much more solidified, more insistant. Em wondered briefly- as she had before- what it was about humans that had... cancelled out the majority of their survival insticnts. Had humans just become so reliant on the tangible, on the known... that they'd forsaken those anscestral keys that gave them priveledge to the doors of survival, to innate, instinctual knowledge? Were they nature's mistakes? ...Or perhaps miracles, evolved beyond the need to instinctually know, and feel. She supposed she'd never know. Joliette didn't move for a moment and then slowly shook her head "No... I been trying to get rid of the smell" she admitted quietly. Her tongue flickered and if her teeth weren't as they now were she would have bitten her lip "But I am hungry" she says and pulls the towel more around her. "I kinda got musked it's not fun, never even did back at home ever get even near a skunk let alone sprayed...""Well, water won't help you, much. My Grandpa John's dog used to love getting into the skunks in the woods. The best way to get the smell off is to clean yourself with tomato juice- or with a mixture of hydrogen peroxide, dish detergent, and baking soda. ...Maybe you can get them from that woman who works in the community center. ..En route to the cafeteria." Emelyn said. Not quite subtlely. "Going to have to do something... Can't stay smelly" She looeked up at the hedgehog and gave a weak jagged tooth smile "Hopefully noone will be there if I go" The longer she could keep from everyone seeing her the better.. least in her opinion "How has the jungle been treating you?" she tried to change topics.. Something away from food and her hunger, perhaps she could stave it off if she didn't talk about it right then."Pretty good. Can't complain," Emelyn said. "It's easy to live off the land when you're an omnivore. ...Although I do get awfully bored." She steered the topic off food as soon as she'd gotten a handlehold on it. No reason to antagonize Joli's poor stomach even more than it was. "Seems these days, all I do is write, think... wash my clothes... and gather food. Tres boring." "Oui, tres boring, least you can still do it, I feel sorry for anyone who can't do their hobbies anymore, I hope..." she lifts a hand and looks at it "That I don't lose mine" She wasn't holding her breath on that one. She lets her hand drop again and watched Em taking small shallow breaths, the only breaths she technically could"I'm sure you'll be able to still do everything you've done before. Just... differently-abled. If it came down to it, I'm even sure that the jackasses up at Feral would be giddy at the chance to design new, compatible equiptment for you." And it was probably true, too- they'd think of it as a challenge, instead of what it really was: payment due for their atrocities. A very small percentage of that payment... but due, nonetheless. "Somehow that wouldn't shock me too much. I wish they could just stick to that kinda thing... instead of this" She stood up bringing the large towel with her which succeeded in hiding all the changes except her feet and head. "Did you find some place to hall... home?" she asks not remembering just then if Em had or not."Mmn," Em said, murmuring in the affirmative. "There's a cave about halfway up the slope of the mountain- about a six-seven minute climb up the easy side, if you take it at a clip. Just at the point where the trees start to thin out. It's just a little... concave sigh, practically, in the mountain- but it's deep enough that I've got everything set up inside. It's also far enough up that I feel safe. ...That's a big thing out here," Emelyn said, after a noticeable pause. "Trying to feel safe." "Yeah..." Joli looks at the sand "Lots of preditors, natural... and islanders" she closed her eyes knowing she was becoming one of those... She thought about the salads she used to eat, and suddenly found herself having no desire for them... despite how hungry she was, one of the things she had dreaded ever since she figured out what she was to become..."It's not the natural animals that I have cause to worry about," Emelyn said honestly. "Only those islanders... who have given themselves over completely to their animal nature." Her eyes were sympathetic, and her words were honest. "I try not to... but it's a constant battle, theres often times I don't know how I manage to stay myself..." like right now she added in her mind. "I hate whats happening to me... to us... it's cruel... we don't deserve this" her voice was quiet it wasn't that she was chosing her words but trying to keep strong, both against her emotions and the beast within"We really don't," Emelyn agreed- softly... and sadly. "We deserve to be treated with respect, and not violated to the last strand of our DNA. We all deserve... so much more than this." She put her hand out- not to touch Joli, for she didn't know how the komodo-woman would respond to the feeling of touch- but instead, she put it down near her on the sand. "And I've seen those who don't have control over the animal. They have truly given themselves over to it. ...Just the fact that you're keen against it happening- I think that's enough to save you," Emelyn said. Her words were not light- but then, neither was the subject. "How do you stay so strong Em, so resiliant... I don't know how you do it, right now I just feel like crawling into somewhere dark and hiding." her tongue flickered and she closed her eyes. Half of the people she knew seemed so strong minded, hargun was one of them too... but she'd not seen Hargun since Christmas time."Life has dealt me an easier hand, Joli. That's how I can be so resilient. ...And really... I'm no stronger than anyone else. I internalize everything. I let it sink deep down, and then I isolate myself for strong bursts. A part of me thinks that this," she lifted her arms and looked around- at the sky, the jungle, the water... "Is my 'crawling into the dark and hiding'. ...I think you're stronger than you know." "I don't know, I really don't, I've attacked at least 3 people, one I vaguely remember, one I dont, and one I do... Just that thought alone makes me want to cry, thats not who I am, thats not the kind of thing I would do... Use martial arts as defence yes... but be the attacking end... Thats just not me" She felt ashamed of herself, perhaps at some point she'd be like Em... but that day wasn't todayHearing that Joli had attacked three people... made Emelyn's stomach churn. A part of her wanted to cry, and another begged her to crawl to her feet and run for the mountain. But she did neither- instead, focused on the steadiness of her breath, making sure to keep her eyes low and her thoughts aimed at thinking... and not feeling. Joliette was her friend- and, despite what she said- Emelyn wasn't afraid of her. She believed that she would be safe. ...Or perhaps only could be safe. But it was enough to keep her on the sand. "I know it seems awful, now- but maybe if you focus on what you can remember- tie together clues, triggers, that may have caused the komodo to eclipse you. Were you tired, were you hungry? Was it a certain type of day- were your emotions a certain way?" Emelyn rolled the questions off her tongue like liquid. "If you put together all the factors, you may be able to find a way to prevent it- or at least lessen the risk... of losing control." "First time was during lockout, before we ran into each other,... You remember that I'm sure... Second time I got lost in the jungle that was a couple weeks ago, I was hungry, I dont really remember who or what happened exactly, and the last time was right after this change, thats why I stink so badly... Timothy sprayed me as he tried to get away" She paused "I guess the trigger would be hunger if I add those up""Then..." Emelyn said, absorbing the information, "as much as I love to talk to you- and as glad as I am to see you..." she put her hand out again- this time to touch her leg. "I think this is when I tell you goodbye... and you go get some food." Joliette didn't flinch as the hedgehog woman touched her scaly leg she nodded though "All right.. I'll go, I need clothes first so I'm going to go to the darkroom first though" she pushed to her feet once more holding the towel around her as she scooped up the stinky clothing, she knew Em was right"Any time you need to talk... I'll be out here. And Joli?" She paused, looking down at the sand as she exhaled. What she was about to say wasn't easy, but truly... it needed to be said. She looked up into the woman's eyes. "I know they're all bastards over at the labs... but please, if you think you're losing control... go see them. I don't want you getting hurt- and I know you'd hate yourself if you ever truly hurt someone. Just... consider it." Joliette looked at her as she spoke "All right Em... thanks" she conceeded softly and then turned and headed away into the jungle
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Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:54 pm
Better Changes, Better Days Emerwyn Emerwyn woke up early that morning. Ian didn't. So, carefully, gently, she slipped out of bed without waking him. She reached for her long cloak, and donned it, then leaned forward, and softly kissed him on the forehead. Emerwyn strolled in the jungle all morning. Her spirits were higher than ever, and for once, she didn't question the matter. She was happy, and she knew that this was the way it was supposed to be. Breathing in deeply, she began to sing: I once believed there was a place
Beyond my farthest reach
Far past the sea
Far past my dreams
I could not see
And for a time my only care
Was just to find that place
Then I would feel
True happiness
If only I believed...Emelyn Somehow, the voice wasn't completely familiar to Emelyn. Perhaps it was the fact that her ears still held a few droplets of water in them from her earlier 'lake bath'- or it could have even been that the sound of Emer's voice in song was so alien to her. But either way, as the hedgehog-girl made her way through the thick jungle underbrush, bashing her palm against an ear with her head tipped- as if to spill the water out the other side- she didn't feel threatened. After all- who sang so joyously when they were dangerous? She was surprised, though, when she pushed through the leafy overhangs of a tree to spy... Emerwyn. The last person she might have thought to sing so cheerily. "Emer?" Emerwyn Emerwyn stopped moving, and her body froze up. Her ears twitched; otherwise, not a muscle moved. It was odd; she'd never felt a sensation like that before. She knew Em's voice, but being caught off-guard like that set her off. Then, she saw Emelyn, and her body relaxed. "Oh, Emelyn. You startled me." She laughed, her laughter light and soft. "How have you been faring?" Emelyn "Really well," Emelyn said- the tone in her voice an amalgam of honesty and surprise. "You seem... really well yourself. How are you?" She had never seen the girl so airy, so... unhindered by the fogs of circumstance and emotion that seemed to make her such constant company. To see her like this was new- exciting... and a little puzzling. Emerwyn Emerwyn nodded. "I've learned that the truth is a far less frightening thing when I actually came to face it." She revealed her 'hands' from beneath her cloak and observed them herself, running 'fingers' over the others. "It seems I have undergone more than one transformation." Emelyn Emelyn had obviously noticed the changes. They were so prevalent- and yet, somehow she was completely recognizable. Perhaps it was her poise, the way she spoke- that poetic lilt that came through in everything she said. Emelyn shook her head- in more amazement. "You look wonderful. So... graceful, I guess the word is." Those long, lean legs, the cloven hooves- even the stretch of her face was, in a way, aristocratic. Only the brow above her eyes looked darker- more frightening- but Emelyn couldn't possibly see this change as a negative thing. Not when Emer seemed so happy. Emerwyn Emerwyn's face grew warmer as it flushed. First Ian telling her that she was beautiful, now this. She was not very good at taking compliments, and hardly knew what to say when faced with them. "...Thank you." The weather reflected Emerwyn's spirit, and she looked up to the patches of sunlight through the jungle roof to revel in it. "It must be marvelous, living out here. I can't even recall what kept me inside for so long." Emelyn "It definitely has some amazing ups," Emelyn said, her eyes following Emer's up through the canopy. "Almost makes you forget the downs." But she said it as an afterthought- and not in an unsettled way. It was more- just a filtering of feeling- not unlike that light that poured down on them through the leaves. "I think Ian is out here, as well," she said, not quite absently, "he said a while ago that he was going to try out the 'wild' for a while." Emerwyn Emerwyn's ear pirked up at the mention of his name. "Ian?" "I... did not know he'd been living out here. As a matter of fact, I did not see him at all until... last night." Her heart still glowed when she thought of being with him. Emelyn "Oh. ...Well, I'm glad you saw him. I've been wondering how he's been doing- I've not talked to him since that day he decided to live out here. ...How is he doing?" Her words were carefully chosen, coated in a seeming nonchalance. Emerwyn "He's doing very well, now. We're both doing very well now." Emerwyn didn't see how anything she said may have sounded odd or confusing. Her joy was a haze that clouded her vision. Emelyn "Both?" The word, coupled with that happy daze, was steeped too thickly in meaning for Emelyn to let it lie fallow. "Did something... happen, between you?" She smiled. Beamed, rather. There was just something so sweet at the idea of the deer of the island being together. Emerwyn "We did enjoy a lovely dinner together - under the stars..." She looked up again, and saw them, saw them among the trees. "And we both accepted the truth." Emelyn "The truth...?" Getting a straight answer out of Emerwyn was like trying to thread a twizzler through the eye of a needle... Emerwyn Emerwyn smiled. It was far easier than talking to Ian, at any rate. "That we cannot deny how we feel about each other any longer..." she paused, wondering if that was enough. "...that we love each other." Emelyn To say Emelyn was excited- would be an understatement. To say that she squealed like a fifteen year old at a slumber party who was coked up on caffeine.... was not. "Eeeh! Oh, Emer!" The girl practically danced forth on her hedgehog-heels, putting her hands on Emer's arms. "That's... that's amazing. No wonder you're so thrilled." Emerwyn Emerwyn beamed at the joy she had brought forth in her friend, and she threw her arms around her in an embrace. Pulling back, she said, "It is a wonderful thing indeed. I only hope that those around me can find the joy that I have." Her eyes met Emelyn, passing the wish on to her. Emelyn "Hmn..." Emelyn said, an amused half-agreement. "Well, I'm just so glad you're happy. And thank you," she said, seeing the desire of her happiness being conveyed through those sparkling eyes, "to have a slice of this... all this joy. That'd be enough." She laughed, and returned the embrace heartily. Emerwyn But now, Emerwyn felt, it was time to move on once more. "May you fare well in your journeys, Emelyn. I will see you again very soon." "For this is where the White Stag has led us. And where he leads, I am destined always to follow." Emelyn Emelyn laughed a white, pure laugh that had no seeds of mocking or dissent within it- only an amused happiness. "Emerwyn- do me a grand favor. Never, ever change." Emerwyn To this, Emerwyn simply smiled, a small, serene smile. She raised her cloven hand to the sky in farewell, and turned, disappearing in a green and golden haze.
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Posted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:02 pm
Strangers. "Conversation"? William Woodrow
Billy didn't know why he was so disagreeable with everyone. Or rather, he *did* know, but didn't know what to do about it. He liked arguing. He liked screaming away his frustrations. He liked bleeding it all out on other people.
He had been distant from everyone since his run in with Nita, now hiding out in the woods to take a quiet, cool soak in the lake. His clothes remained left safe and dry on the shore as he backstroked across the surface. His new limbs loved the water. The rest of him didn't care, but it did give him something to do.Emelyn Emelyn saw the figure in the lake long before he likely spied her form on the water's edge, peering out from the dark jungle. The man was unfamiliar to her- and based on the glint of tentatcles that eked out of the water as he backstroked along the surface... he had already changed. Thus, she hung back... not out of fear of surprising the man- but rather, with the cautious eye of a woman who had lived on her own, in the wilds of this Hell Island. She had come for her bath, and so she was clad only in her bikini- a towel slung over her arm and her flint knife tucked into the side strap of her bikini bottom. Emelyn waited until the man was at a far point away from her, then came forth, dropping her towel at the lake's edge and revealing herself. "Hello!" she called out, "I didn't mean to disturb you. I figured no one else was here." She waited for his response- and wondered if she'd soon find the need to curtail it back into the woods. William Woodrow Billy straightened, flinching in the water befor giving a groan. He failed at staying alone, didn't he? "Wha' th'hell d'ye want?" He called back to the shore where a bakini clad woman stood. He didn't recognize her voice, but at this distance, he couldn't see her very well. Emelyn She took affront at the brusque voice, but at least it didn't sound like a violent outburst. Emelyn put her hands to her hips and steeled her eyes against the distant figure. "Nothing from you," she said simply. "Just the use of the water." William Woodrow "It aint mine. Do wha' y'like," He grunted, swimming closer to get a better look. What previously looked like an overmoussed hairstyle, came into focus to reviel... quills? "So ye've started changin' too, eh?" Emelyn "Twice, actually. ...Hedgehog," Emelyn said, glad to hear that his words had somewhat calmed. She stepped into the water, submerging herself, and swimming a wide circle around the man. "And I see you have as well. ...Octopus?" She ventured. William Woodrow "Tha's me theory," He grumbled, watching her unashamed, despite his nudity under the water. "An' wha's yer opinion on th'whole matter, then?" Emelyn "Whole opinion on the matter?" Em asked, finding that she was a little more than amused about this forthright- quite naked man, she saw once she was nearer him- if anything, she found her interest somewhat piqued. "Besides it being a damn outrage, you mean?" William Woodrow "An' bloody fecked up?" He snarled, making sure his.... removed part was out of sight to avoid embarassment. Emelyn Emelyn huffed a single laugh, ducking her head underwater for a moment to wetten down her proto-spines. When she returned to the surface, she wiped the water from her eyes and tread. "...England?" She asked, based off his accent. William Woodrow "Partly," He answered, "Among other places. You?" He wasn't quite sure what to make of this woman. at least she wasn't telling him everything was going to be fine. Emelyn "Everywhere you can imagine," Emelyn said, then swam towards the middle of the small lake with a hearty backstroke. She didn't know what she- or they- were doing... whether they were actually conversing, or being coquettish- or even if they were being curt with each other for darker reasons. But whatever it was, somehow it suited the situation. ...She didn't even know his name. William Woodrow His mind seemed to be along the same lines, "So are ye one o' them what don' care wha's happenin' to them? I don't dig furry chicks." Emelyn She didn't stop to look at him, just continued her stroke- now, at a more leisurely pace, to match her words. "And I don't dig aquatic men." There was a pause as she put her hand down to her side- checking to see if her knife had fallen from her bikini. ...It hadn't. "...No," she said, after the interim, "I care. I've even stopped accepting Moreau's ...blood charity. I've not lived in the village, or taken anything from him since Christmas." William Woodrow "So where d'ye live, then?" He watched her carefully, tredding water uneasily. Emelyn "I tend not to tell strange men where I live... before I even know their name," she said- the inflection of her voice not clear... even to herself, "but suffice it to say, somewhere up on the mountain." William Woodrow "So wha', ye burrow a wee hole an' sit inside when it rains?" He raised an eyebrow, wetting his hair befor turning to swim back towards the shore. "An' I don' give me name ou' easily." Emelyn "Notice," she said, in between strokes, "I haven't asked for it. And yeah, something like that. The mountain is riddled with caves. They do well enough for me. ...Better than living in Moreau's hypocritical little 'civilization' that he's already made very clear that he can take away at his whim." She noted that he was swimming towards the shore... and wondered if their bizarre 'conversation' was drawing to an end. William Woodrow "Well, While yer ou' campin', I'm usin' an indoor shower," He grunted, "Have fun wit' tha'." She was living out in the wild? Out in the mountains? In a cave? Why? Just to take a stand against the mad scientists? Yeah, much good that was doing her, it seemed.
But soemthing in the back of his mind wondered how bad an idea it really was. Emelyn "Hmn," was all she said- a noncommital sound that would have been accompanied with a shrug of her shoulders, were she not implementing them in her strokes. "I feel less like a dog on a leash... when I don't take food from the man who's holding the other end." William Woodrow Billy stood thoughtfully with his back towards the sound of her voice as he zipped up his trousers, "Sounds good t'me, Lass, I'll tell y'tha'." Emelyn She kept her eyes to the water until he'd clothed himself- more out of a cursory, automatic gesture of respect than to be embarassed that a naked, deformed man was so near to her. ...Who was Emelyn to remark on deformity, after all. This place was, if not simply Moreau's cruel, crowning achievement- at least a possibility for Dr. Frankenstein's greatest wet dream. What a place, where a man with tentacles eking from his sides, that bluish tint looking not unlike the dead flesh of a man who had floated several days in a river... could be normal. Even attractive. It was a strange, strange world. "Maybe one of these days the dogs will bite back," she said, looking over at the man with what she knew must be an unreadable expression on her face. She herself didn't even know what emotions were stewing beneath the surface. William Woodrow To that, he said nothing. He knew better. They were watching. With their cameras and recorders. They didn't need footage of him agreeing with a rebel. He was already on questionable terms with the people in charge. "If y'want t'use a shower, I'm in Duplex T'irty t'ree," He grunted, picking up his shirt to flick the dirt and leaves off of it. "Or a drink or somethin'." Emelyn "Thanks for the offer," Emelyn said, an unbidden smile crawling to her lips, "but I don't plan on stepping foot in the village unless they make me. ...And I don't drink." She wondered what the offers really meant. If anything. Her mind was at a curious stall. William Woodrow "Then maybe I'll run into ye again," He shrugged, "Lemme know if'n y'want anything." He gave her another look over, taking steps backward towards the path. Emelyn She tipped herself forward in the water, falling into an eased tread. One palm eclipsed out of the water, exposed to the wrist, and she folded her hand down upon itself twice. "Goodbye, Duplex Thirty-Three." Then she silenced her legs, and let herself sink leisurely beneath the water.
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 9:48 am
What other Islanders think about Emelyn... As of May 1st, 2006
(Can you tell I'm stalling from working on a project?)...XD Bili Emelyn: Crazy lady out in the woods. Made me think. She seems alright. Kaveri Spiky-head girl: Seemed friendly. Hung around Zach at the beach bar. Zach Emelyn: A girl turning into a hedgehog. I've talked to her several times, always out in the wild parts of the island she calls home. She's very sincere. And... there's something about her... Ambrose Emelyn - She seems to really understand me... and her feet seem to be really grounded in the frightening reality that we're all facing. I don't know why I seem to be able to open up with her so easily.... is it because she reminds me... of Angelina - her brown hair, blue eyes... or is it something else? I ... I think I might like her. I know I'm never leaving here, but I still can't shake this phantom guilt... Obviously this one's a lil' dated... XDAmaya Emelyn: I didn't get to talk to her very much, but the time I did was right after Ambrose's second change. I'm pretty sure theirs something going on between them... too bad Ambrose's girlfriend winded up on the island too. Ouch. Nita Emelyn: I like her already, and I feel like I can trust her. She gave me a lot of useful information. Awen Emelyn- She seems to like animals and their comforting qualities. She knows exactly what she's turning into, and doesn't seem to mind all that much. She was trying to keep Jamal from knowing what happened the first time Awen met her. She too cared not to hurt him... Awen admired it. Cass Emelyn: What a wonderful person. <3 She's gone off to live in the wild, though. As she tells Cass, it seems the lockdown was intentional, a part of the experiment. Well, s**t. But Cass is going to bring her new clothes. Jamal Emelyn: She's a'ight. Ain't seen her much lately though. (Also dated. And marked in green to show that she's a 'friend'. XD Irony abounds.)Fiona Emelyn "Real nice lady. She's kind of quiet, but I like her." Avery Emelyn White: Very nice girl, although I always seem to catch her when she isn't wearing much. She gave me swimming lessons! Emerwyn Emelyn White: A great help when I was desperately in need. She was very, very kind to me, even though she had to trick me to take me to get help. I have suspiscions about how she feels towards Moreau... Joli Emelyn First Impressions: She's intersting I like her. Seems kind and friendly, I didn't get much time to talk to her though... Growing Impressions: I really enjoy conversations with Emelyn, Moreau thinks she's on his side so she has to be careful what she says but she has a wonderful sense of hunour and I look forward to further conversations Further Impressions: A very good friend, she's supportive and understanding, I'm glad to have met her... even if she plans to stay living in the wild all the time. Lauren Emelyn is also not someone I know a hell of a lot about but hey she seems alright. Bobby :: Emelyn :: A delightful young woman. She is rebelling in her own way, refusing the comforts of the village; good for her! That's every one that's mentioned... which tells me one very decisive thing... I need someone to hate Emelyn. XD At least ONE person!!!!!!
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Posted: Thu May 04, 2006 7:09 am
Bikini Tops
After was was likely too long, Cass had finally managed to get together a couple bikini-tops. Or maybe they had been bras... the difference is difficult to tell, sometimes. She also had a sewing kit, as requested, and the entire thing was wrapped up in her arms. It was time to find Emelyn.
The problem was how exactly to find someone without a permanent address.
At the very least, she supposed, she had her sense of smell, and even if wandering around the island looking for the warmth of body heat was an inefficient way to find someone, she didn't have any better ideas.
Cassidy had made her way to the beach, and she paused for a moment, tongue flickering, to try to get a good feel on which way to go next.
It would be trite to say that Emelyn's finding the naga-like woman was a coincidence- some twist of random fate that brought her to the beach at that moment. The truth was somewhat ... less mystical. She had been making trips up and down the mountain all day, transporting rocks from the beach up to her cave. Em had been musing with the idea of creating shelves of sort in her room- or at least, it would give her something to do instead of her regular routine. Things had become stilted for the 'wild woman', and these inane side-jobs were all she had left to bring any variation to her day.
Emelyn saw Cassidy before she ever hit the beach, and grinned like a Cheshire before ever reaching the sandy slope.
"Cass! Hey!"
Cass turned in the direction of Emelyn's voice, waving an arm wildly. "Hey!" she called back, and started off in that direction. "I have clothes for you!"
No one had gone crazy and eaten Em, yet; she hadn't fallen off a cliff and died. It was encouraging.
"I had to hunt around a bit. Um. I may have gone into your old duplex to scavenge and I really hope you don't mind too much...?"
"Not at all," Em said, coming close to the nearly unrecognizable woman with a smile spread across her fur-dusted face. "Feel free to trash the place, if you ever have the desire to. ...I'm impressed you managed to get up the stairs, though!" Emelyn hoped the statement didn't offend the woman, but decided that there was no reason pretending that everything was normal when everything was obviously so different.
She was close enough to take the bundle, but didn't. Her eyes were on Cassidy's, and her hands planted on her hips.
"The stairs were a bit of an... experiment," Cass admitted shyly. It was probably a good thing no one had seen her. She wasn't sure how she would have explained struggling up a flight of stairs for a very awkward break-and-enter. Possibly some of the staff had raised a few eyebrows. "But I made it."
She held out the bundle. "Are you still managing okay? You look good, at least."
"Thank you," Emelyn said, both for the clothes and the compliment, taking the bundle and holding it to her stomach. "I'm surprised I've not changed again yet. ...Not that I even know what day this is, what month." She shrugged, and gave Cassidy's muscular rope of a body a cursory once-over.
"Seems like it's the same for you. Perhaps you're done, then?"
"May third," Cass supplied, with a small laugh. "I think it might be Wednesday, but I'm not sure."
She looked down at herself, tongue flickering thoughtfully. "Maybe this is it," she said. "I wouldn't mind it too much, if this were the end. They did tell me, once, that there was a chance I might never lose my legs entirely."
Some small, purely snakey part of her brain remained stubbornly annoyed at having its slithering hampered by useless limbs, though. Cass shook her head.
"Though I would have suspected they could do... well, a better job than this," she added, a bit of laughter creeping into her voice.
"Well, if you're happy with what you are now..." she paused, bowing her head for a moment with a huff of a laugh, "Wow. I don't mean happy with it, obviously... but... if it's what you can deal with, I hope you stay the way you are, then. Maybe I'm done, too?" She tossed her head almost idly, and the infant proto-spines that hung around her face flopped against her skin.
Emelyn held the bundle back up, cradling it against her chest like a precious treasure. "And for this? Thank you. Really, you have no idea. I've been wearing this same bikini top for...well... if it's May already- my god, it's May already... three months or so? And I've been out here for... four months. I can't believe it's been that long."
And she couldn't. A part of her froze in disbelief. Had so much of her life been consumed in this venture? Where had all the time gone? Burned away by the sunlight that seared her still so-blue eyes, or sunk into the depths of that swallowing sea? Had it been buried somewhere, tucked away like her own respite into the concave sigh of the mountain she now called home? How her life had winnowed away on this Hell Island. Emelyn had thought that the worst loss she had suffered were those drops of blood that had graced the jungle floor that day of Jamal's animalistic attack. But now, she saw that the true loss were those drops of time- those silky goodbyes of sand as they fell through the hourglass.
"Maybe you are done," Cass said, with one her small, stiff smiles. "We don't need any more shots, I think. You look pretty good, even if any unwary huggers need to be a bit careful."
As soon as that was out of her mouth, she gave a bit of a grimace. It was a nasty thing to say to someone, especially when she wasn't sure just how comfortable Em might be with her reflection.
"I guess it has been that long," she said. "I'm impressed, you know. I don't think I would have managed out here quite so long."
Emelyn didn't say what was on her mind- that she had no doubt that Cassidy would have had greater difficulties managing out in the wild... not for any sake of her abilities, but from the sheer nature of her changes. There may be no need to ignore the 'elephant in the room', but pointing out their differences to the point of ranking abilities- was further than even the honest Emelyn was willing to go.
"Thanks. I'm surprised it's been so long as well. I suppose most of the credit is due to the hedgehog. I've never been the outdoorsy sort. Well, when I could help it, anyway."
As for the grimace that lit across Cassidy's face- Emelyn pretended not to notice, and did not outwardly respond to it. In any case, there was too little about the alien expressions Cass portrayed that Emelyn could trust herself to have accurately deciphered. And, even if it had been a grimace- likely brought on by her own statement about hugs, Em didn't have anything to say that could make either Cassidy or herself feel better about the sake that they weren't built for that manner of affection any longer.
Animals, for the most part, are creatures of necessity. They are built to survive, to adapt to their surroundings and thrive within their niche. Nature hasn't equipped them for the superfluous feelings of affection- for the need to embrace one another, to kiss, to shelter the feelings and the love of another of their species. All those upon Moreau's shore had physically evolved... out of love.
"I was in the Girl Guides. That was a long time ago, though." Cass grinned as best she could, showing a glimpse needle teeth before she carefully closed her mouth again. "I dunno how good the snake would be, left to fend for itself."
It, she said, because it was certainly not her.
How 'it' would fare, fending for 'itself'... the credit is due to 'the' hedgehog. Emelyn connected the two in a sudden realization.
"Is it everyone who refers to their animal as a separate entity? ...Or just us?"
"I have no idea," Cassidy laughed. "But I have to deal somehow."
Even as she said it, the oddness of it struck her. She had her vague fantasies and secret games to make it easier. "Reptilian alien" was easier than "snake." It probably wasn't healthy, but she'd never focused on mental problems during her single year of nursing school--she hadn't intended to become a psych nurse, after all--and that all seemed so long ago.
"I could name the snake," she said, distantly.
The statement hadn't been spoken to her, so much as an audible aside, Emelyn realized. But she smiled and answered as if the words had been created for and delivered to her directly.
"If it helps, you should name it whatever you'd like. ...I didn't even realize I was calling the hedgehog... "the" hedgehog."
"Chetter Hummin," Cassidy declared, after a pause, and giggled, though she suspected Emelyn might not get the joke. "The snake is named Chetter Hummin. I declare it so."
She tilted her head. "I think that this way lies insanity, but I can't imagine anything around here supports mental well-being."
Emelyn cocked her eyebrow, swallowing a laugh as she did. "Asimov much?" Cassidy was an odd bird. Or, rather, snake-bird. In any case, her humor suited her, and it made Emelyn smile.
"The staff bribes me with Asimov to keep me happy, and I am weak," Cass said, mock-mournful, and burst into laughter again. "Oh, but I love Asimov. And it's appropriate. Um. Sort of."
She put a hand against her face. "Oh boy, I'm a nerd."
Em put the arm that wasn't devoted to hugging her bundle to her chest out in a 'look at me' gesture.
"Hey, no worries. I knew what you were talking about, after all. So if you're calling yourself a nerd, that doesn't bode well for me," she laughed. "And I know you're kidding... but really.... don't ever think you're weak for taking things from the staff. They owe us so much for what they've done- more than they can ever repay. If anything, you're a better person than I for letting them try to even try to make up for it, even try to edge away at that... bottomless debt," Emelyn said, searching for the words.
"I don't think I've quite forgiven them for that shelf of books they gave me, right before they kicked us all out," Cass said. "Hardly got to look at them. That's just cruel." She laughed lightly. "I dunno. Gotta do something, I guess."
Ugh. She'd end up reading every science fiction novel ever, twice, and she'd still be here, doing nothing.
"I... er. I really should head back, Em... I haven't eaten today and it's getting to me." And lately, she only ate alone. There was just no polite way to stuff an entire rare steak in your mouth and swallow. Cass gave an embarrassed cough.
"Oh of course," Emelyn said, nodding profusely and understanding the implications of that quite clearly. Gone were the days of 'oh, my stomach aches a little because I've neglected eating for a while'. Instead, the animal took over when hunger became a factor- the nature of these amalgamated creatures of man and beast... was that they were, to an extent... slaves to their hunger.
"Well, thank you again for this. It will make my life so much easier out here, not walking around like a dirty skank running around the woods." Em laughed, and put a hand out to touch what was left of Cassidy's shoulder. "I'll see you later, okay? Take care of yourself."
Cass smiled, and bowed her head. "You, too. This place can be crazy." She touched Em's hand, squeezed it, and turned to head back to the village.
She didn't eat much, these days but when she was hungry, she was hungry.
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Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 7:49 am
Metaplot Post+Emelyn retired to her cave Friday night, equipped happily with her new Cassidy-brought tops... and a feeling of relaxed ease. Over the next two days, she intends mostly just to lay low. After all... as long as she avoids those storms... everything will be fine. We plan..... Moreau laughs.In Which Emelyn discovers... the carnage..: http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=2890587
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Sabin Duvert Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 2:50 pm
The small injection mark is hardly noticible among the various insect bites that Emelyn has picked up since her rejection of the 'civilization' of the village. You feel feverish throughout most of the day, hot, and itchy and more irritable than normal. However, as the sun sinks and the heat of the day begins to wash away from the tropical island, the heat seems to become more... directed. It begins as a sinus headache and just blossoms worse from there. Then, before your eyes the tiny bulge of a muzzle that had previously graced your face begins to push out further. Along with it, the coarse brown hairs spread from its tips, rushing over your face. The thicker fur spreads over your body, and many of the more limp quills that run down your back get thicker, stiffer, and pick up some of the signature banding of a hedgehog. Your ears enlarge and round a bit just a bit. All in all, despite the muzzle, this change is MUCH less streneous than the last one, where the multitudes of quills burst from your back. 
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Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 8:50 pm
 Numb
The day Emelyn had washed upon the shores of Hell Island, Lady Fate must have had more of a hand in the girl's future than normal. For beyond cementing her life as one of a captive labrat, she had also steered Aubrey's hand to choose the hedgehog serum from its place on the shelf. ...At the time, Emelyn had been concussed- very nearly unconscious and hardly effusive enough at the time to display even the tiniest bit of her personality. So the doctor would have had no idea how ironic it was that she had pulled from the shelf the very animal that personified this world-traveller. Open and friendly... yet a defensive creature by nature- always something keeping people at bay, whether it be the outward prickles or the inner fear that constantly sulked.... just beneath the surface. All these things and more possessed the girl- more now than ever- but in a way, they'd always been there.
Ever since the awful discovery of Aubrey's body, Emelyn had retreated to her mountain home, no longer feeling safe or confident in her decision to live out in the wild. There was danger here- and madness, and for all she knew, Moreau had unleashed his wrath upon the woman. No matter how harsh, how serious Moreau's voice had sounded over the loudspeaker that day when he promised revenge for the culprit, there was simply no accounting for the dreaded feeling Emelyn had- that something had gone viciously wrong. And so, delving into the only thing she could think of to comfort herself, the girl and the hedgehog had become nearly as one once more. Emelyn controlled her thoughts still, and her feelings- but the days seemed to blend together as she remained in her home, only venturing out to the beach to wash herself and walk along the shore- eyeing the forest with apprehension.
The animal in her was always present, if not a driving force- and she could feel it stirring inside her, comforting her as her only companion in nearly two weeks of solitude. She did not know what had happened to the other islanders- whether it was her own seclusion that had kept her from the sight of the others, or if Moreau had made true on his promise and was punishing them. Perhaps she would be spared for having found Aubrey. ...Or perhaps she was simply lower on the list. Emelyn didn't know- and except for that building dread that seemed closer to the surface every day, she didn't care.
Perhaps that was why, on the day of her third transformation, Emelyn dismissed the sticky wet feeling of sweat and heat on her skin, irritably diving into the water and tensing her eyes against the sun and the blinding headache that pounded in her temples. She went about her day as normal, hiding from the world- it wasn't until midday, as she was weaving a net on the beach, that a lapful of blood suddenly alerted her as to what was happening.
At the first sign of the red pool, Emelyn had stopped, pushing the woven strands off her lap with one hand, and putting the other to her face to trace it back to the source- her nose. She didn't know why it had suddenly started its revolt- until a jolt of pain caused her eyes to slam shut. Her nose was forcing itself out into a legitimate muzzle, accompanied by a feverish, almost sickening spread of coarse fur that rippled out across her face. Her first reaction as a human was to fall onto her back, close her eyes and let it pass- bear it out and then wash off her face, and the hedgehog she had come into such close touch with over the past few weeks, wanted desperately to fall forward- and ball up. Between the two, equally demanding desires, Emelyn was sandwiched- forced into a swaying limbo as she sat, letting the changes sweep over her. There was a tugging, almost pithy sound as her ears changed, and although she did not feel the spines change into a more mature form- she could sense that the weight along her back had easily doubled.
It was over in a matter of minutes, but it was hours before the girl would move, wiping the now caked blood from her fur, and to run her hands over her changed face. ...The ocean was too tumultuous to provide a clear surface for vision- and there was nothing that could possess the girl to seek out one. She would know only- that she was different. Less human. Whether it upset her- she didn't know. Everything was numb.
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Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 6:53 pm
Trust No One Emelyn After a dreamless sleep, Emelyn came back down the mountain to finish the net. She'd been making the rope out of wheatgrass fibers and from twisted material she'd cut from the clothes she could no longer wear, and was unwilling to abandon the project just for the sake of the blood stains. The fish would be unlikely to mind. Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs was a bit fidgety still, he heard no word about what was going on investigation wise. He couldn't stay in his duplex for long and went and got out and about, lighting up a cigarette to calm himself. With his mind on other matters, his feet just continued to carry him away from the duplexes, and soo he found himsefl on the beach. Rubbing his face, he began to feel hunger again. It had been odd as of late he was eating so much, and always craving meet. A smell hit his nostils on the wind and it sent chills up his spine. His mouth watered even though he knew what it was, blood. Following it for a while, with a sniffing nose, he came across a figure in the sand...one that looked like Emelyn.... mostly. Emelyn Her nose smelled him before her eyes fell upon him. Smoke. The hedgehog girl turned over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at the man. The sight of the cigarette upset her, but she'd be the last to mention it- let Chubbs kill himself slowly. It's not like there was a lot to live for here. And besides, even if he did get cancer- perhaps that would be incentive for Moreau to hold true to the promise of his research. "Hello," she said softly, the hedgehog in her a little on edge at the sight of someone new. He was the first person to disturb 'them'- for these days, Emelyn saw herself as a separate entity from the hedgehog- in almost two weeks. Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs blinked out of a semi hypnotic state while watching Emelyn as he had drawn closer. Hearing her speak and look up at him, he at least waved back. Seeing her eyes on the smoke in his fingers, he guessed it wasn't a welcome thing by the girl and promptly crushed it in his hand and tossed it away. Looking out at the ocean, he wasn't sure what to say, he guessed he was a prime suspect with this whole attack thing and Emelyn wasn't to comfortable mear him. He noticed the stains and her change now that he was close by her. She was a little different than he remembered, those spines certainly looked sharper. " I can go if ya want.. sorry... just... smelled you is all" Emelyn "Hm," she laughed. "Well, considering the circumstances, "she viewed his very animalistic form, "I'm not going to consider that an insult. ...And you can stay if you'd like. I was just ...surprised to see you, is all. I've been keeping somewhat of a low profile since- well. Yeah." She turned back to her net. Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs slowly settled on the ground or the sand rather and sat comfortable with a bit of a distance between him and Emelyn. It wasn't that he was afraid of scaring her, he just wasn't sure he could trust himself. " I mean I ah... smelled that" He lifted a claw to point towards he red marks then looked away again. HE didn't know what it was that happened when he blacked out, but he'd been feeling a change in him that was for the worse. " I can understand how ya wanna hide out and all... dunno who's attacking people these days" Emelyn Emelyn knew what he was pointing at- and yet, her eyes followed the direction his claw indicated, dropping her eyes to the net in her lap. She paused at the browninsh stains, realizing what that meant with a sharp intake of breath. "This happened yesterday," she said softly, putting one hand on her hip pocket to see if her knife was still there, "a nosebleed from the transformation." Emerwyn Emerwyn wasn't sure how she should feel. The night before... It was like a hazy memory. Sometimes she couldn't even hold onto it long enough to realize what had happened. But the feeling, the warmth coursing through her, did not go away. She spent the day in an odd sort of cloud, not sad, not happy. She went to the beach. Perhaps the clear waters would help clear her head. And again, she wasn't sure if that was what she wanted. The 'unfeeling' feeling was intoxicating. Still, there she was. The breeze filled her nostrils, the salty scent lighting up her body. More scents coupled with it. She smelled them before she saw them. Two figures on the beach, one large, one familiar. Emelyn was often at the beach. She hurried clumsily to meet them. Half-hooves on sand did not work well. Quickly, she shrugged off the massive aprehension she felt at approaching the large character, even though it was stronger than any she'd felt up to this point. He was still an Islander, if not wholly human, it was there. Emelyn had changed again. There was a kind of charm that she held through it. "Emelyn!" Her voice was clear, her smile serene. Overall, she did not seem much out of the ordinary. Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs nodded and looked at the patches, he sniffed again lightly, something he couldn't help as of late. " I wouldn't think you were the one hun.... not when I'm pretty sure I did it" Chubbs' ears suddenly perked and his head twisted as the sounds of someone on approach caught his attention. He eyed the new figure closely, and not like he normally would, where the chest would more than likely catch the eye. He looked at her muscles, and he rubbed his face and eyes. He needed to snap out of it, what had the lab done to him? Ga - thump
Ga - thumpChubbs could hear it alwready, heartbeats, and the warm flow of blood. He took a moment to get himself together before looking up after hearing the new girl speak. She looked somehow familiar. Emelyn "You did it?" Emelyn said, her hand going straight to her knife pocket but not pulling it free. She'd only said that the blood was from her nosebleed because it surprised her that the man would have been able to smell it at all- not for any sake of trying to 'pass the blame'. But after what Chubbs said- there was fear in Emelyn's eyes, and a fair measure of anger. "Why would you do that?" Emelyn didn't hear the 'pretty sure' part of Chubbs' speech- after all, she still didn't know that she had gone feral, or that she had lost the weekend. After all, living in the wild for so long, she'd lost the concept of time, of days or weeks. Although she'd woken with the knowledge that some time had passed on Sunday morning- for all she knew, it had been a sake of a few hours. Her horror was cut short, however, by the insertion of a third- Emerwyn, coming out of the foliage with happy greetings. "Emerwyn!" Em called out- much less enthusiastic than the deer woman. "I'm glad to see you're okay." Emerwyn "Hm?" Emerwyn didn't much hear what Emelyn was saying. She was distracted by the way the hairy man was looking at her. It made her feel very uncomfortable. The hairs on the base of her neck stood on end. "Oh, oh, yes..." She did not know or hear what they were talking about, only that it helped to make her feel more nervous. Maybe, she shouldn't have approached. Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs blinked when Emelyn looked at him like he just said " I ate baby Jesus", he didn't think he'd get that reaction from her. But who was he kidding, he WAS a monster, everyone was starting to see it now, he even thought Joliette did too. " I dunno... I think I did... it just makes sense... I just cant remember anything, three days were gone out of my life and I don't remember a thing, cept waking up in the jungle covered in blood" Chubbs looked up at the Emerwyn woman and looked apologetic, blabbing all that right now probably wasn't the smartest thing. " I'm sorry girls.. but I'm not out to hurt anyone... honest" Emelyn Somehow, his words made sense to her- and although the thought of him waking up in the forest covered in blood was still terrifying, it didn't automatically make him the murderer. ...If Aubrey was even dead. Emelyn hadn't heard anything past Moreau's island-wide announcement- and she'd not seen anyone until now. "...THat doesn't make you a murderer, Chubbs. You were probably just hunting. ...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lash out- it's just. Well, out here I don't know much about what's going on." She dropped her hand from where it sat, tersely waiting at the opening to her knife pocket. Emerwyn It began to dawn on Emerwyn what this discussion was based around. Aubrey. The hot topic of the week. So, it was still unclear as to who had done it. The thought chilled Emerwyn. But, if it had never happened then, it would have to happen some time. Breeding monsters on an isolated island - something was bound to go wrong eventually. That was Emerwyn's reasoning. "It's alright... We're all confused right now," she said, addressing both of them. The magic of only moments before had all but faded. Grim times would make no exception. Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs sighed into his hands and combed his hair back with his fingers. It was true that it could have been an animal, there was so much bllod he had to have killed what ever it was that he attacked. HE looked between the two girls once more. " I dunno... look, i'll umm.... I gotta grab a bite to eat... I might see you guys around... just um.... nah forget it" Chubbs stood up and flicked the sand off his tail with a wiggle of the bundle of fur and rubbed the back of his neck. He was probably more scared than the pair of them combined. He felt like a bad werewolf movie cliche'. Walking off towards the village, he thought maybe he should find a silver bullet. Emelyn Emelyn watched Chubbs go. He got up and left before she ever had a chance to tell him that she wasn't afraid of him, or even to say goodbye. He was in the jungle before she could speak- and then, she was left alone with Emer. She nodded. "It really is a confusing time. I'm sorry that everything has been going so... wrong." She eyed the deer-woman up and down. She looked unharmed- maybe even happy. "I hope you and Ian are doing well. And I wish I could stay and talk. But I should get going if I'm going to get half the things I planned to do today done." She wrapped her arms around the woman before heading back up the mountain. "Come find me soon- so we can talk," She said. The truth of the matter was, although she did have plenty to do, she was just... unused to contact. It would take the girl a little longer to fit back into the swing of things. For now, she'd have to continue her hermitage. Emerwyn A part of Emerwyn breathed an enourmous sigh as the large 'animal' left. She never even got to learn his name. A name was a powerful thing. Emelyn seemed uncomfortable. The conversation that had just passed did seem rather tense. She would let her go, even though she really did not want to. She returned the embrace, happy at least for some contact. Her mood had certainly taken a violent turn that day. "Thank you, Emelyn. I pray you fare well."
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Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 9:17 am
Aubrey's Thank You Aubrey Lockheart Aubrey sat up in bed, pouring over her files. She had been able to stay away for longer of periods of time now, and in a few days she might even be able to leave the room with the aide of a wheelchair. She hated the fact that Zach got off with little more than a slap on the wrist - she almost died, and by his hand..a.nd a part of her hated him for. So help her if she couldn't have children anymore....
She took a breath and closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. BUt Sabin was right - it was just as much her fault it happened as his. Unlike Jamal, Aubrey agreed with Sabin that Zach's mental instabilities were the complete fault of the experimental serums.
But something else was eating at her. The inital communications reports. It was clear to her that the spikey-haired girl who reported her injury was Ms. White. That was... very fortunate for her. What if it had been Jamal that found her? Or god knows how manny other islanders that would have just left her there to die?
Ms. White needed to be let known that was she did was right. From a position of power - and on a personal level.
Aubrey reached for her uplink that Moreau set up for her. "Markerson, fetch me Ms. Emelyn White. Set up your Jeep uplink to my room when you have her. Be nice. She most likely won't be in her duplex." Emelyn There were few things that didn't unsettle the on-edge hedgehog girl these days. ...And being approached by a guard- was certainly not a resident upon that short list. She'd been sitting on the beach when she heard him coming- finishing that net that she'd left fallow after her brush-in with Chubbs and Emerwyn. It had taken all morning to convince herself that she should sit out in the open, and not hide herself away in the dark- but now, seeing the familiar guard burst through the woodland path with his jeep, she froze, and wished very much that she'd been... a little more lax on making up her mind that morning. She dropped the net. It would lay fallow once more, and stood to receive what she believed was 'her turn'. The culprit must not have been turned in- and here was another of Moreau's minions- out to punish the next one down on the list. Aubrey Lockheart The guard led Em to a Jeep and asked her to sit down. He pulled the radio uplink and dialed a number on the pad, then, probably to her surprise, handed Emelyn the mouthpeice.
"Ms. White?" came a soft voice over a the speaker. "This is Dr. Lockheart."
The guard stepped away for privacey, but stayed close to the vehicle. Emelyn Emelyn was shocked at the care that was taken- that she was led to the jeep, not forced- and asked to sit, rather than thrown in the back with threats abounding. She was even more put back when she was handed the radio mouthpiece, and a familiar, if somewhat weak voice came over the speaker. "Dr. Lockheart? ...Oh." Her breath escaped her, forming itself into the short word. "I'm glad that you're... feeling better." She had almost said 'alive'. Aubrey Lockheart "Thank you. If better is how you can call it. But to be honest, I'm happy to be feeling anything at all."
There was a moment of silence as Aubrey wished she could look at te girl. "Look, I just wanted to express to you... I mean... I know you could have easily just left me there to die, Ms. White. You could have walked away and no one would have ever known..." Emelyn "No," Emelyn said, softly, hoping that her voice would still come through the speaker. She adjusted it in her hand, and spied the guard out of her peripheral vision as she spoke. "I really couldn't have. It's just... not in my nature." And it wasn't. No matter what associations Aubrey had with this island, or her relationship with Moreau- Emelyn truly believed that the woman was trying to do some good here. Her flaws lay in her faulted morals- not in her ability to be a good person. When the foundation is cracked- nothing that is built atop it can be sublime, no matter how high the quality of materials used. But none of that... would Emelyn ever dare to speak aloud. "Besides... there's nothing you could have done to warrant such an attack. The least I could do was try to get you help." It was the only way Emelyn knew how to express it. Aubrey Lockheart Aubrey took a breath and leaned back on her bed. "Well, I can't deny how lucky I am that you found me... instead of.. certain other people."
She paused for a moment, wondering why she was feeling so emotional. "I hope no one gives you trouble for that. You know, Jamal or someone. I just... I needed to say thank you. Is there.. anything I could do? Seriously - anything in my possible power I could do?" Emelyn Emelyn ran her other hand through the mass of quills that collected above her forehead, wondering how to respond- and then drew her hand back quickly, remembering that she couldn't do that any longer. "Well... I've not run into Jamal since... the incident," Emelyn said, using the euphemism for her own run-in with the tiger-man, "but I'm not very concerned as to how they'll respond. Everyone who knows me would be surprised if I did leave you out to... die." There was no euphemism for that. "But as for doing anything beyond the thank you... it's so sweet of you to offer. But... I don't think I could accept anything from the labs in good conscience. Not after the reason I moved out here in the first place. The thank you is really enough." Aubrey Lockheart Aubrey was quiet for several moments. "If you insist. It just feels so.. empty. Emelyn, if you had any idea how scared -" she suddenly cut off, realizing she probably shouldn't be speaking of such things.
"Anything I could do... on your behalf for someone else, perhaps. I just... I need to do something." Emelyn The humanity that burst through the speaker in a quick, almost forgetful burst- was pulled back just as quickly- reigned in, it seemed, by her professionalism and by that line which marked the appropriate distance between the doctors and the subjects. But it had been real, it had been heartfelt, and Emelyn had heard the emotion in her voice- the fear. And it went straight to Emelyn's heart- despite all her own fears and doubts that had plagued her since becoming a permanent member of the island of Doctor Moreau. She realized there was more to this offer than keeping her pride in tact- there was allowing Aubrey to realize that not everyone on the island despised her, and that there was still humanity in her own soul, no matter how much animal DNA infiltrated it. ...There was more at stake here- perhaps even to just kindle the tiniest ember that the woman may still possess for kindness and understanding to the islanders. One day, one of them may need it- and Aubrey may look back to this day to decide whether it was worth it or not to extend herself out to Moreau, to put herself on the line. It would likely, Emelyn thought, be a long day in coming that she'll openly trust again- but at least there's a chance this can all be made right. "It must have been terrifying," Emelyn said gently, and honestly, remembering her own brush with death in the woods. Though it had been nowhere near as violent- there had still been the knowledge that death may be imminent- that she would die... all alone, ravaged by a man too far gone to realize what he was doing as he tore her to shreds. The memory would not soon leave her, and she drew upon it as she spoke to Aubrey. "I'm just glad you're okay. ...But, if you feel the need to do something- I... well," Emelyn searched her mind for something- anything that she could ask the woman for. Her mind drew a blank, until she drew on that memory of the Jamal attack once more- specifically, the last thought that had been in her mind. "...Living out here is a little lonely. Perhaps- if there's a spare lab animal laying around that you wouldn't mind letting go of? A cat or a dog, maybe? Just something that I could take care of." Aubrey Lockheart Aubrey gave a relieved sigh, infinately thankful she didn't ask for something she knew she's have to decline. "Of course... of course. I promise I'll get you something soon... something absolutely wonderful - I'll hand pick it myself."
Aubrey removed her glasses and tossed them down on the table beside her bed, closing her file. "Thank you again, Ms. White. I won't forget this. Ever." Emelyn "Thank you. ...And... get better. Next time I get a vicious cold or whatever ends up sending me to the labs, I want it to be your face that I see." Emelyn paused, debating whether to say what else was on her mind. "... And by the way- if you'd like, you can call me Emelyn." She said it softly, almost reverently- something about 'Ms. White' seemed so impersonal and distant- and if she was going to be here for the rest of her life, at least she could be on a first name basis. ...Even with her captors.
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Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 8:46 pm
Be vewy quiet... we're hunting hedgehog... Fiona Brooks
As Fiona walked through the trees, munching on an apple filched from the cafeteria, she made a mental list of things she needed to do. First and foremost was to find a place devoid of cameras, and secondly to construct there an area that would prove as further protection from prying eyes. Where this place might be, the rabbit-girl couldn't be certain. So, remembering the person she had met living off in the wild, she decided it would make sense to ask someone more familiar with the terrain of the island. Perhaps that hedgehog lady- Emelyn, her name was- would know. And having no idea where the imparter of wisdom might be, Fiona decided a nice walk through the forest was in order, and, if she wasn't there, a trip to the beach. As the girl made her way past large trees and fallen logs, she made notes of possible hiding spots and potential structures to create her little section of the island impervious to spying. If, the cynical part of her mind commented, such a thing was at all possible.Emerwyn It was taking a little while for Emerwyn to get used to her new living arrangement. While her extremely limited possesions were all moved in to Ian's home, she still felt awkward. She took to walking alone for a time each day. She knew too well what happened when one spent too much time with another. And, on a small island such as this, the effects could only be worse. She decided that it was time to seek out Emelyn. She needed to clear some things up from the other day. Who was that frightenigly hairy man? What were they talking about? What had them both so tense? She cared very much about the spiky girl, and wanted to make sure she was alright. It was, after all, the least she could do. Emelyn had helped her out in the past. Her search took her to the jungle, where she then intended to turn to the beach. But, she paused, sensing something she could not hear nor see. The smell was the only thing to hint that it was there. Her ears perked up, strained to hear what silent creature was lurking about. It was close. Fiona Brooks Fiona, whose senses had sharped slightly but skills of observation had not, continued on, unaware. Eventually, although she was not partial to such information, the girl drew nearer to Emerwyn, making no effort to conceal herself as she went. Dried twigs and leaves snapped distinctly underfoot, and to be fair Fiona did so conciously. Firstly because she knew a wild animal was far more dangerous if it were startled from being crept up on, and secondly because she was hoping to run into someone. It didn't make much sense to be sneaky, did it? Of course, the icing on the cake was the fact that she was hardly a tactful sort of person- or quiet one, for that matter! Emerwyn The animal must have been furthur off, since after not too long a time, Emerwyn heard its feet crunching along the jungle floor. She followed it; it must have been a person. An animal would not have made so much noise. She walked toward it, tentatively. She didn't know who it was. The scent was completely unfamiliar. "Hello?" She called uncertainly to it. Fiona Brooks A voice! Her pulse suddenly quickened, and she felt the inexplicable urge to hide. It wasn't anyone she recognised- but that didn't sound like a threatening voice. Fiona took a moment to calm herself down, peering through the trees in the general direction the sound had some from. "Hey!" She said, attempting to get rid of her internal paranoia by putting on a front of fearlessness. "Who's out there?" With her attention actually focused on it, Fiona found she could hear the person's cautious footsteps. Following this indication as she walked, the girl was able to see the stranger, just barely, through the dense trees and vines. Emerwyn Emerwyn emerged slowly from amonsgt the trees to greet the stranger. She was not wholly visible until she came into plain sight. The tan-brown color of her body and the long green cloak she wore did well to camaflogue her in these surroundings. She smiled as she saw the fellow Islander. She looked a rabbity sort, there was no doubt there. "Emerwyn is. At your service." The deer-girl made a mock bow, with a smile. Fiona Brooks The girl nodded and mumbled, "I'm Fiona," but was stunned for perhaps a moment by Emerwyn's appearance. It was not so much the dainty hooves or the fur that threw her off, but the strange structure of her face. Of all the people she'd met, all but a few had kept their basic face shape. No part of the body, she suddenly realised, would be left untouched by the transformations.
When she had regained her composure, Fiona smiled a little. "Emerwyn, eh? Y'know, that's really weird and ironic. I'm actually looking for a person called Emelyn. What are the odds, huh." Emelyn "You called?" Emelyn poked her head out from around a tree. She'd not realized how close she was to people until they raised their voices to each other in greeting. The hedgehog-girl had been collecting mushrooms and roots, and had chalked up the sounds of rustling underbrush to that of regular forest deniznes- not the two souls that waited near her foraging. She stepped out into plain sight, her basket hung on the crook her her arm, which she had folded up at the elbow to rest on her front. "Hello you two." Emerwyn "And what a coincidence indeed," Emerwyn said, smiling as Emelyn appeared. She looked now at Emelyn. "She's just the one I was seeking, as well." "It's a pleasure to meet you, Fiona. And so good to see you again, Emelyn." This was far too odd to make sense. So, Emerwyn didn't bother to try to figure it out. Fiona Brooks The girl blinked once, and then twice. "Okaaay. Really weird. But I guess I shouldn't be complaining." She opened her mouth to say something and then cut herself off, frowning. "You've changed too. It seems like everyone I know is getting more... animal...ish. Nita, Rex, you-" her eyes shone briefly with anger at the situation, "...and me, too. Which means Annie can't be far behind." This statement was made with dread, laced with regret and sadness.
"But... that's not what I came here to talk about. I was wondering if you knew about any places on the island that doesn't have cameras?" Fiona turned her gaze back upon Emerwyn, indicating that the question could be directed to either of them. Emelyn "I love coincidences," Emelyn said, coming closer to the duo, "but I don't know if this truly qualifies. I criss-cross this part of the woods at least three times a day, for one reason or another. ...Mushrooms," she said, indicating the basket, explaining why she was there now, "...I would have run into you at some point, if you were in the woods long enough." Emelyn leant down to put her basket on the ground, and gave Emerwyn a hug. "I'm sorry I ran out last time- that day was... strange." Then she released the hug, and would have given Fiona a similar one- regardless of the changes in the girl's appearance, or the short time they'd known each other- if not for the sudden question. "As far as I know, every place on the island has cameras of some sort- although I don't know about far up on the mountain. I've never had any indication that I was being watched in my cave... but really, it's unlikely that I'm not being watched." She spoke squarely and honestly, trying to distract the girl from the hurt and the fear that came through so clearly in her earlier statement- that her friend was not far behind. That, and Emelyn suspected that this girl- whatever she was becoming- would respond... to honesty. "I think your best bet for not being watched... is to swim out as far as you can from the island, and talk there. I would assume there'd be no way to fully watch what goes on out there. And even if they could do a close-up from a mountain lens... they'd be unable to hear you speaking." Emerwyn Emerwyn returned the embrace, glad to see Emelyn in higher spirits, so it seemed. "That's quite alright. I'd gotten a little concerned, I'll admit." She simply shrugged at Fiona's question, allowing Em to take that one. She had no idea; she'd never thought of it. What did Fiona want to talk about that she needed to avoid the ever-watchful doctors? "And, yet, that would not stop them from being suspicious," Emerwyn offered to that last comment. Fiona Brooks "Out in the water? That makes sense, but it doesn't really work for... what I have in mind." Fiona looked around warily- there could be cameras planted in the trees, watching them at that very instant. "Solid ground is kind of important. I mean, I could build a raft, but anything escape or rebellion related that would take you more than a couple hours to make will get smashed by them the second you fall asleep, I'll bet. And even if you didn't fall asleep they could just... knock you out." This comment reminded her of another thing she wanted to discuss.
"Have you ever thought about how much more control we would have without these chip things? If they weren't able to knock us out at will, we could overthrow them in no time with just brute strength, planning and stuff. Imagine the possibilities, if someone could find a way to just... get it out." At this Fiona rubbed the back of her neck, annoyed that it was undetectable to her external poking and prodding. Emelyn Emelyn stayed, standing next to Emerwyn, her arm out to touch the deer-woman's arm with affection. The woman seemed happier, if not a little more preoccupied than usual- and there was much they had to discuss. But at the moment, her eyes were focused towards Fiona, her brows twisted down in thought and a chunk of her inner cheek sandwiched between her teeth before she spoke. "Well, I know some people have attempted escape via water- one that I know of- but no one tried to stop her. They just fetched her when she passed out. It's too far to swim- so you'd have some measure of autonomy, even if you built a little raft. They'd likely assume you weren't stupid enough to try to escape on a little log raft. And the chips- they're... very powerful. And I'm sure they have some sort of failsafe to keep us from... removing them. Your best bet for those is to try and disturb the signal. Not that I have any clue of how to do that." Emelyn spoke simply, plainly, and without concern for the possibility of cameras being about. Her time in the wild had drained her of that constant, curded fear that had always seemed so important when she lived in the village- particularly when Moreau had thought her to be on 'his side'. She didn't even know if the cameras in the wild were pervasive, or if they had sound attached at all. So she spoke with something that was either bravery... or apathy. It was impossible to tell, even to herself. Emerwyn The thought of the chips always bothered Emerwyn once she'd learned of their existence. "They have taken amazing measures to keep us under their thumbs, yet not locked up in cages... It seems they are always seven steps ahead of us." Fiona Brooks Fiona listened carefully to Emelyn's response, but couldn't help but snort and snicker when she mentioned disturbing the signal. "Are you suggesting I walk around with a tin-foil hat? Repels the signal from both the laboratories and the mothership!" She laughed, but it faded quickly as she tried to think how to work her plan. Another problem would be recruiting someone to help and telling them the plan without alerting the scientists... maybe the 'out in the ocean' tip would prove useful in that respect. Emelyn Emelyn couldn't help laughing, but neither would she attempt to suppress the bubble of mirth that burst in her throat. "Something like that. Probably a weensy bit more high tech," she said, "But Emer's certainly right. They're always a few steps ahead of us. At least... technically," Emelyn said suggestively, warping the word 'technically' to let Fiona know that while the lab may be technologically ahead of the islanders, there may be something to be said for emotional and social manipulation. A sort of... mutiny of minds. Emerwyn Emerwyn's laugh was hardly audible under the others, being lighter and softer. The humor also did not touch her quite as much. "I don't suppose it would be completely safe to ask what it is you want to do," Emerwyn said, her soft voice lowered considerably more, out of some newly rekindled fear of supervision. Fiona Brooks "Unless you're up for a trek to the beach and then wading out in the ocean, it's... not really safe to say out loud." She sighed slightly, "Maybe if I run into you in the village sometime, I'll write it on a piece of paper, and you can burn it after you've read it, or something. I do need help... but I can't risk giving the scientists the upper-hand... not that they don't already have it. So anyways, it was nice meeting you, and thanks for the advice, Emelyn. But I'm getting hungry, so I think I'm going to head back. See you around!" Emelyn "See you, sweets," Em said, then, softer, "and... for what it's worth, you look great. You can still see you through the changes. Completely." It was said just as Fiona left, and Emelyn wouldn't know the girl's reaction to her words, but it still needed to be said. "So I suppose it's just you and me." Her hand was still on the deer-woman's arm. Emerwyn Emerwyn nodded to Fiona, her interest actually piqued by this prospect. The fire of intrigue flickered in her. After Fiona left, Emerwyn felt glad. Now she would be able to speak to Emelyn one-on-one. "So it would seem," she said. It was a casual remark, but did it have some other meaning that Emerwyn did not even intend? "I have wanted to talk to you. I was very concerned about the other day." Emelyn "I know... I'm sorry about leaving so quickly. But- to be honest, all the business with Aubrey was upsetting me- and Chubbs said that he might be the one who did it." She put her hands up, as if to suppress the train of thought, "I don't actually think he did it... and now I at least know Aubrey's okay, but... well, suffice it to say I was the one who found Aubrey out in the woods, and all the blood and her body was cold- and then, I was alone for two weeks with no human contact- except perhaps Moreau's threat of revenge." She took a deep breath, and it came in ragged. Emerwyn It was Emerwyn's turn to place a comforting hand on Emelyn's shoulder. She had been through much. Emerwyn had felt overall very detatched from the situation. "That man - Chubb's you said? - he is truly a kind person, isn't he? The only thought in my mind as I looked at him was to run away... I couldn't even meet his eyes. I fear, that even if it wasn't him, it could have just as easily been him... Something like this was bound to happen, if you'll pardon my pessimism." Emelyn "True. It could have been him. But he is a kind person. And I at least believe that he doesn't know whether he did it or not. And that's enough to... well, I don't really know. But either way- I'm cautious about everyone I come across these days. You never know what will happen. Not here on 'Hell Island'." She said, using the name she'd given to this place. Emerwyn Emerwyn nodded to Emelyn in solemn agreement, with a small smirk at Emelyn's 'pet name' for their prison. "But, I did not only come to you with things most dreary. I bear good news as well." Her tone became more formal, yes, but Emerwyn could not hide the smile that was forcing its way into her face. Emelyn "Oh, Emer. I can always use good news." She smiled, and picked up her basket from where it lay, more out of habit than anything else. Emerwyn "Ian and I have decided to live together," she said, her smile fully broken out now. "I moved in a few days ago..." She did not attempt to supress the happy sigh that emitted from her mouth. It felt so good to say it now. It was what she'd wanted to tell Emelyn the other day. Emelyn "Oh Emer!" Emelyn had to put down her basket as soon as she'd retrieved it. A one-armed hug simply did not suffice for the caliber of news that Emerwyn had provided. "That's so wonderful! So much better than those days that you two orbited around each other, so afraid to make a move or feel something out of the ordinary." Emelyn had never looked upon relationships as a necessary staple of life- but rather, no more than an icing- just a frosting on the true meaning and joys of life. Something joyous and yet... unecessary. But here, on Hell Island, all the lives upon it had been wrenched away from what they thought were their destinies, and the joys were few, and more than that- the meaning in their lives had disappeared. Emelyn had never thought that love could become a meaning for life. Not this hardened, independent, happy world traveler who would jet off into the horizon as soon as kiss a man at the door. Not she. But when the meaning has been wrenched from your life... it's up to each person to mould their own destinies from the ashes and the ruin they have been handed. In a life such as this- Emelyn did not begrudge any even the tiniest joy- from a goodnight kiss to having someone there to witness your life. If anything... she envied them. Emerwyn Emerwyn had to laugh, laugh out of pure joy. There was no joy greater than sharing that joy with others. And there were few people Emerwyn would rather have shared it with. "I thank you, Emelyn. It is hard to believe... Let alone that I could find happiness here. That I could look beyond my own pity, and foolishness... so that I could find it." Emerwyn sighed again, then she spied the basket Emelyn had been lifting up and down. "Are those... mushrooms?" Emelyn "Indeed." She picked up the basket once again- looking not unlike a very spiny yo-yo. "Want one? No fears- they should be fine. The hedgie in me tends not to let me pick the nasty ones." Emerwyn "I would love one, thank you." She reached into the basket to retieve one of reasonable size. "I find there are few culinary treats greater than the spongy taste of a mushroom, especially one shared in celebration. Wouldn't you say?" Of course, what she was saying was utter nonsense, but Emerwyn found that it was an appropriate thing to say at the time. Emelyn Emelyn blinked- though it wasn't exactly in surprise. Nothing startled her about Emerwyn anymore. She just took a mushroom in her free hand, and 'clinked' it with Emer's in toast as a light chuckle of a laugh came free of her mouth. "You are fabulously weird, my friend. ...And now, you have a witness to your wonderful wackiness. Cheers." She took a bite off the cleaner side of the mushroom, revelling in the unique flavor that was the wild. Emerwyn It was a great comfort to speak with someone who did not get turned away by her little oddities. She returned the toast, and bit into what was actually her first wild mushroom. It was very refreshing. Mushrooms tended to have that fresh flavor, that almost made it feel like you were biting into solid water - not to be confused with ice. Emelyn "Good, hm?" Emelyn said, swallowing the bit of masticated mushroom that rolled about her mouth, focusing on the expression on Emerwyn's face. "I've gotten into the practice of eating them whenever I can find them- they don't try too well, but eaten fresh, they just taste so good. ...Such a difference to my regular diet of... well... roots and grubs," she laughed. Emerwyn Emerwyn laughed at this. "It seems I got the better part of the food chain." She paused. "...except for the whole, chewing the cuds bit." Emelyn "Mnnhm," Em said, a simple noise of agreement and pleasure. The afternoon had been... salvageable after all. "Well.... I'm so glad you came to find me. And I'm so happy for you. I wish you both the best." Emerwyn "I am glad to have found you, as well." She embraced her one last time. "And thank you. But, now, I must be getting back to my friend," she said with a sly smile. Emelyn "Tell him hello for me. And.. here..." she passed a good-sized mushroom into Emerwyn's changed hand. "One for the road." Emerwyn "Cheers!" Emerwyn called as she turned away. There was a great spring in her step as she trotted away. The visit with Emelyn had raised her spirits so high. And now she was off to spend another evening with Ian... nothing could be better. Still, a mental note remained in her head to see Fiona about her plan...
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