Welcome to Gaia! ::

The question made her smile, and Emelyn flashbacked to those days in elementary school when girls would ask to play with her long hair, and Em would happily comply, playing the part of a life-sized Barbie doll while her classmates took turns braiding, twisting, or just stroking it into strange teased shapes. At her age, it had been years since anyone had made the request- and now... well, it was different, obviously, since what she had could barely be called hair anymore. But the feeling of joy still remained.

"The spines are still rather... limp. They're not fully formed yet, so no, they won't p***k. Go ahead and feel. Be my guest!"

Emelyn jerked her head back at the noise, startled and feeling guilty for her words.

"I'm sorry! No one else has ever really gotten pricked by them. Some of the ones in the front must be further formed than the ones along the back. Are you hurt?"

"I don't know exactly," Emelyn admitted with a soft smile. "It seems my already awful sense of time has been even further impaired by being here on the island. But I was on the first 'wave' of islanders to arrive. Those first few weeks. ...Back before anyone was transformed. How about you?"

New RP~

Ian hadn't gone back to his duplex since he had a few belongings after talking to Emelyn. He was now sitting on the edge of the cliffs munching on a tomatoe that he had gotten from his dwindling supply.

Seeing the guy in a cage had further strengthened his beliefs that staying in the village was a bad thing to do so he had stayed away and had created a 'home' of sorts on the cliffs.

His home consisted of patch of trampled grass of sorts next to a tree, and a photograph resting inside a carved notch in the tree. A rough hewn quarterstaff rested by the tree as well as both of Ian's antlers that had fallen off.

Right now Ian was sitting on the edge of the cliffs with his legs dangling over. He was listening to the waves crash below. As of yet he hadn't gone swimming, but the next time he was at the beach he would, and he would hope he wouldn't drown.

Ian heard the call in the silence and jumped, nearly accidently falling off the cliff, but managing to remain sitting on the edge. His heart beat rapidly at his near accident and his eyes were very wide. He picked himself up and knelt by where the woman collapsed.

She hadn't changed yet, Ian was sure. And he also didn't know her. On instinct Ian held out a hoof to help her to her feet.

"Fear not, everyone acts the fool at least once. I am called Ian, by what name art thou known?" He didn't even realize that he had offered her his changed hand without hesitation. That was a first for him.

Ian smiled back relieved. She didn't seem shocked or revolted by his changes. "Comfort food sounds wonderful, do you like tomatoes?" Ian removed his pack from his shoulder and showed her the small stash of the bright red fruit inside. "What dost thou have?" Ian hadn't had any sweets in a long time and he didn't know whether he would be able to stomach them, though he would try since sweets were what comfort food usually was.

He sat down cross legged and made himself comfortable on the ground. "Like an old fashioned picnic!" He laughed and grinned showing his teeth a little.

Ian almost laughed like a child being told he could have extra desert when he saw the food that Bobby had brought.

He moved onto the blanket across from the woman. After taking a peek at the sandwiches and considering about the egg salad one, he looked at the couple of apples that she had brought. His mouth watered, he hadn't had an apple since he had been in the cafeteria last. He reached for an apple and added his tomatoes to the assortment of food.

Hesitant about bringing up such a delicate subject as what he wanted to say, he stared at the apple for a moment before speaking. "So what brought thee here?"

So she had misunderstood the question. But Ian would not pressure her farther. "I currently 'live' up her." He pointed to the trampled grass by the tree with the photograph, antlers and quarterstaff. "I was sitting on the edge because it is very relaxing to sit and think there while looking and hearing the ocean."

Ian didn't realize, but the more he talked to this woman the more normal his speech was becoming. He took a large bite from his apple, crunching loudly as he ate it core and all, licking his fingers afterwards.

He rested his hands on his knees and smiled with his ears listening seemingly beyond the conversation - to the ocean far below them.

"Can y-thou swim?" He had unconsciously stopped himself from using the word "you" but it meant he would eventually. And he wasn't talking about the island anymore, it was better to have a more casual happy conversation.