Welcome to Gaia! ::

Zach wished he could disappear. He knew he had to get used to the looks, people attempting to read him like a book by the sight of his horns and tail. Grabbing any excuse to avoid her gaze a moment longer, he gave a quick glance toward the new sound of a person on the beach. Looked like someone was trying to cook themselves in the sunlight. The girl looked paler than even he had been before he'd begun to change color. No changes to that girl, either. He felt a spark of envy. The sunglasses threatened to slip off his nose as he turned back to face the girl, but he quickly readjusted them with the one hand. If anything, he wouldn't let her see his eyes.

After a moment of hesitation, he shook her hand. He tried to keep his fingers gripping hers as lightly as he possibly could, afraid of scratching her with his claws, and broke it off after a couple of seconds. Her reason for being on the beach stunned him for a moment. He forgot entirely about what she asked him, wondering how anyone could possibly have a reason for a party in such a dismal place. "A party? You... do you know what's going on here? Have you met anyone else who looks like an animal?"

"I'm just not thinking today." He shook his head. Probably, he'd have to enjoy this total lack of horror at his appearance for as long as it lasted. "Where are my manners? I'm Zachary."

She beamed broadly at being identified by the girl. "That's me alright- Fiona Brooks at your service. Pleasure to meet you both." So the crappy little sign had actually worked! "Yep, a party is just what this place needs. Because all this ridiculous s**t is happening, I think people should lighten up and relax, and prove that no matter what the damn labs do to us, we're still human inside and our spirits can't be broken. Besides, parties are fun." Fiona added childishly, excitement leaking into her tone. "There's going to be a bunch of fire pits, waaa-aaay along there," she traced the shore with a finger, "and then somewhere in the middle of it all, a kind of make-shift stage, if I can actually find people to play music. And maybe one big fire to crowd around." Her toes began to curl in anticipation. "Either of you any good at music?"

"I'm Nita," she said, offering one hand to shake, then promptly recrossing her arms self-consciously, casting a sidelong glance at Zach. 'I met your friend; you guys live next door to me." Nita had never been the most social creature, but usually she had homework or studying to do. Since that wasn't exactly a pressing issue here, she was actually a bit excited at the prospect.

Nita turned pink. "I sing, sort of," she offered. "I mean, I took voice lessons for years, and I was always in choir, but I kind of freak out when I sing on my own..." Her voice trailed off and she wondered why she'd volunteered that information. A simple "No, sorry," would have been much easier!

Rex ran along the sandy shore as part of his daily routine. Clad soley in his jeans, accompanied by his cross necklace and ring, as usual, Rex soaked in the sunshine and enjoyed the sea breeze. His runs often felt repetitive, though they were relaxing and essetially the only thing he could do to keep working out. Back home he went to the gym nearly every spare second he had, the excerise was something he loved.

Padded footfall after another, he noticed three figures standing farther down the beach. Rex squinted his eyes against the sun's blaring light, though the only one he could make out was the red-scaled Zach, he couldn't tell who the other two were.

Eventually he approached the crowd and realized why he couldn't tell who the others were, he'd yet to meet them. Rex slowed to a stop a few feet away, panting, "What's up, Zach." He flicked his head in Zach direction, then looked to the two ladies standing to his side, "And I don't believe we've met, I'm Rex." He grinned friendily and extended a hand to shake.

"Maybe..." Nita said, dubiously. Fortunately for her, a distraction! This new guy was considerably more chipper than the rather twitchy Zach, (and pretty cute, too, she thought very quietly) and also exhibited minor but noticeable changes.

"Er.. hi there. I'm Nita." She shook Rex's hand timidly, seeming to shrink back into herself. Why did I leave my towel over there? She twirled the end of one long braid, a subconsciously nervous gesture.

Rex glanced around the small circle, examining the faces. he'd known Zach and been with him on several previous occasions, though the girls were a refreshing change of pace.

He shook the red-head's hand, "Nita.." repeating her name after the girl so it sunk into his head. But watched as she curiously shrunk into herself. A reserved one, huh? Though his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the chipper girl next to them, "Fio-" He started to repeat, as always, though was quickly cut off by the girl's recruiting. He smiled, stretching his arms and legs a little bit so he could cool down from the run. He wiped a little sweat from his brow and responded with, "I'll gladly help with whatever. I'm not the greatest chef, but I'll sure help you set up with whatever."

"Hotdogs and vegetable kebabs sound perfect," she enthused, clearly happy to have found helpers. "That's great, I love planning stuff but I'm not much of an organizer. I could write up a list for you, if you wanted, of who's doing what. I could like... put a sign-up sheet on my room door. But that's so impersonal." Fiona wrinkled her nose.

"You could help with digging the fire-pits and gathering rocks from the jungle," she said to Rex, obviously taking his fine shape into account, "and maybe help me figure out how to make a sort of stage. If worst comes to worst we could just weigh down a bunch of spare blankets and sheets, I guess, but I sort of wanted to save those for seating." It was then that Fiona noticed the miniature stub of a tail hanging from his pants. What her eyes were doing on that part of his anatomy, goodness knows, but her reaction was instantaneous and irrevocable. "Oh. My gosh. Your tail is so adorable."