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Joliette lay on her belly face turned towards the middle of hte bed they shared, a content and peaceful expression on her face. She was asleep, she hadn't yet begun her day when David returned to the duplex they were sharing, below the sheets, she had nothing, she'd not bothered to find a nightshirt when she finally had fallen asleep

Chubbs smiled lazily when he spied Joliette in the bed. Seeing her there the way she was, well he'd certainly have a good way to tell her good morning. Walking over, he tried to keep the bottles still and he sat on the bed putting the bags beside him. Quietly he leaned over and peeled the sheet back and twisted his cap around backwards. With a smile, he kissed along her back and lightly towards her neck.

"Mmmm" she took a breath in and smiled slowly waking feeling his touch, by the time he'd reached her neck she was awake and had opened one eye looking over her shoulder a bit towards him "Morning Love" she said not yet moving to let the furry man have his fun

Chubbs grinned and kissed along her neck softly and nibbled her along her shoulder. He smiled as he peered down at her and stroked her bare back.

" Mornin yaself gorgeous, I went to go get breakfast, but I recon I got me something better to nibble on right here"

He gave her a wink, put the bottles on the bedside table and put the bags there beside them.

" Oh umm, did ya drop those? I found em in a bush near ya duplex, thought mighta been photo stuff"

Joliette giggled and sat up "Oh David you silly" she says and then peers at the bags he motioned at "Uhm no, my darkroom chemicals are all in liquid state" she reaches and picks one up holding it between her claws and looking at it, it was white, what would a white powdered stuff be near her old duplex...

She pulls it open peering into itand then holds it up again eye level, her tongue flickered and brought scents back to her, him, her, the beer... drugs?!?

"David, I think this is... drugs!" she kept her voice low

Chubbs' smile was soon replaced by a blank and startled look. He raised a brow soon after and looked down at the bag and sniffed at it. He didn't know what that was suppose to accomplish, he didn't know what drugs smelt like.

" Drugs?... but how? I mean... who the heck leaves drugs sitting under a bush like that outside our place?"

"I certainly don't know, I don't use them, I don't know of any specific islander who might... sure I know a few who get high, but from other scents I've picked up over time, I'd say thats a spliff. " she closed the bag she was holding though not properly "David I certainly don't want to be connected to this stuff..." She looks at him not caring she was sitting there with a sheet loosely around her midsection and no top

Chubbs grabbed all the bags up and stood up from the bed, looking around the room he thought quickly and headed to the bathroom. He went to the toilet and considered his options, then made sure the bags wre tight and sealed and undid the backing on the toilet. He stuffed the bags inside and put the lid back on and sealed it up and after washing his hands, headed back to the bed. Taking off his shoes and hat, and then his hoody he smiled at Joliette.

" If ya hear anything bout it, just tell me, and don't admit to anything just yet. We'll get rid of it if we have to"

He jumped into bed beside her.

She leaned forward on the bag watching him move into the bathroom, and then what he did with it all. She sits back as he emerges "All right love, if I hear of it I'll tell you... I just hope personally I don't..." a grin spreads across her face as he sheds the garments. "Silly David" she says and flops back onto her pillow reaching and taking his hand pulling him closer

Chubbs groaned and rolled about onto his side, he couldn't sleep, his mind a racing from the vivid dreams and nightmares. He kicked the sheet off his body, wriggling around and grunting, the heat was getting to him, he wished it had cooled down or something. His heart was racing and he laid on his back, trying to block out of his mind the horrible images he dreamt of. The pile of flesh and blood and bone that he made with his own claws and the victims of his temper.

Chubbs rubbed his face and sat up, scratching his cheek and trying to calm down,. Looking back at Joliette asleep, he didn't even feel calm by her. He scratched at his arm, and then his shoulder, suddenly realising how itchy he was. Then right on his back, right where he couldn't reach, the worse itch of all. He grunted and sat up, rushing over to the bathroom doorway and rubbing his back against it as he scratched at his chest. Gods it was all over, like he had fleas. He was scratching so much it was starting to leave maarks and turning his skin blotchy and red. And while scratching his chest he felt a pain acoss it. Looking down he had left four great claws marks, bleeding now as the pain shot to his finger tips. Chubbs went wide eyed as his claws began to grow, and he was speachless in both shock at the site, and anger at the pain.

Joliette barely stirred at her lover's vacating of the bed, she was herself quite asleep, obviously her dreams were much more pleasent then his had been, and indeed unlike the last time Chubbs and herself had changed, she herself was not changing. She rolled slightly her hand sliding under the pillow and continued her slumber

Chubbs suddenly cried out in pain and even with his pained fingers, started scratching violently at himself. He watched in horror as fur began to lengthen along his hand. He staggered into the bathroom to look in the mirror and watched as his face started to hide behind a mess of fur sprouting out of his skin.

" no...no! NOOOO!"

Chubbs roared and started pulling out fur, where ever he could, tearing it painfully from his skin. He couldn't take it, holding back so long, the anger, the frustration, the change, it all came out in a deafening roar.

Joliete's eyes snapped open hearing his scream... She sat up fast the blanket slipping down into her lap as she looked around to figure out what was going on. Her eyes lit upon him and her jaw dropped "David..." she whispered seeing fur spreading across his skin... She focused on herself a moment before returning her gaze at him, she wasn't changing, he was... This time she actually was paying attention to his change, not distracted by anything else

Chubbs' fist went straight into the mirror, shattering it like a giant spiders web, he cried out again, and raked his nails along the wall. He was loud and agry, he'd lost control and was taking it out on anything and everything. The fur grew thicker over his body and only seemed to agitate him more. He began to hit himself agains the walls, against the shower door and through it, he growled and slashed and clawed and rammed into all sorts of things.

Newer, heavier smells asaulted his nose, it caused his brain to get confused, but one thing caused him to stir. Flesh, he needed to inflict pain, to induce the kind of pain he was feeling, emotionally and physically onto others and ther was someone nearby. Chubbs rammed into the doorway, his face scrunched up into a horrible snarl, claws digging into the walls and cleanching tight as he viewed Joliette like a stress toy he could take his anger out on. He growled and started forwards, and tripping on his new claws. Before he could stager to his feet, there was the cracking sound, and a horrible cry of pain as his tail shot out of his shorts and grew longer. Chubbs wailed and began tearing up the carpet.

Her eyes widened seeing the look in his eyes, she scampered backwards only to fall off the side of the bed furthest from David. "Ouch" she winced landing hard on her nub of a tail. She got up and grabbed her Gi bottoms pulling them on with nothing under it. She snagged at her top "David please... please..." she knew the feeling behind those eyes, only because she'd felt it to Billy only days before and Sabin months before as she tried to pull her top on to stay away from him feeling more nervous every moment.

Chubbs bares his teeth and roared again, and winced as it was cut short. His face began to adjust to his changing jaw and growing teeth. He stared up at Joliette and charged at her, diving over the bed and pinning her against the wall. He stared down at her and snarled as the changed finished and he shut his teeth together with a snap. His eyes looked her over and he stopped, and sniffed at her. He began to loosen his hold and looked suddenly scared. Then Chubbs rested his head on her shoulder, and burst into tears.

A look of pure horror graced her face as he dove over the bed pinning her to the wall before she had had a chance to fully get the top of her Gi on, and she knew exactly how Awen had felt the day in the jungle. "David!... please!..." she cried out scared, tears slipping down her cheeks. She was frozen in place even as he put his head to her shoulder

Chubbs dropped to his knees, and cried more and more. He wrapped his arms around her legs and held her tightly. He was afraid, scared, maybe more so than she was, he didn't want her to go, he'd been so terrified of what just happened, he was scared she would run away. He couldnh't speak, he didn't know how it could happen. He was in a shambles, his fur partly torn, scratches on his body and his face wet with tears.

She'd closed her eyes, she made no move to leave, or even to get out of his grip. She shook slightly out of fear. She didn't know what to do, was it a glipse of hte future? what would happen when she changed further. After a long whle she opened her eyes tears still slipping down her cheeks as she looked down at him taking in his appearance

Chubbs choked and coughedand sniffed. He couldn't look at her, he couldn't lift his face to see if she was okay. He was afraid he'd see the fear that now haunted his mind.

" Oh... oh gods... Jo... Joli.... I'm sorry"

"It... it's... ok..." she said in a bare whisper. She knew losing control and it's feelings, she'd felt it when she nearly attacked Awen. "I... I understand" her voice quiet and she slowly and ver very nervously moved her hand to set it atop his head

Chubbs whimpered and sniffed, and finally let go of her enough between his blubbering to look at his arm. The itching burn was still there, but not as bad as he could have been. His arm was coarse with hair, and he felt his face. It was gone, he was slowly fading away both body and mind. The thought now of him almost hurting Joliette, what he wanted to do to her, it sent him running to the bathroom, tripping several times on his claws and promptly began to vomit into the toilet.

Joliette watched him go tripping on his way and lifted a hand to rub her sore shoulder where he'd pinned her, a quick look under her gi told her it would likely bruise. She pulled the gi around her finally getting the chance to tie it shut and then followed him doing her best to keep her tongue in her mouth not desiring to 'smell' the vomit. She stopped in the bathroom door and just watched him

Chubbs finally stopped heaving up and spat into the bowl for a bit. He reached up and flushed it, hoping to remove the smell. Getting slowly up onto his feet he looked down, and never at Joliette. He saw broken tiles, shattered glass and walked over to the sink to wash out his mouth and wipe his face. He could see her there in the corner of his eye and he tried to talk.

" I......I.........wh........ I'm sorry"

He painfully looked at Joliette, afraid to see the fear on her face, something that would shatter him.

Fear had in fact left her face replaced by concern and worry, she bites her bottom lip for a moment and then speaks "David... I understand... I forgive you" she replied quietly and moved towards him "Instincts... it's why I stayed alone after almost attacking Awen" she says softly and stops closer to him

Chubbs blinked and held up his arms, trying to stop her from entering. He hoped it didn't look too threatening, he was actually thinking about her well being at the time.

" No,.. no... just um wait there, there's glass everywhere"

He shifted himself across the bathroom, trying not to step on the glass as he went over towards the doorway. he got up to beside her, looking down at the floor and he sighed, awkwardly looking up between the bangs of his hair.

" It was too much... so much... the island, Sabin, the bitchy staff girl, the locking us out for an expiriment. I... I couldn't handle it"

Even though she said she understood, Chubbs continued to feel like a monster.

Joliette looked up at him, she nods silently and lifts a hand using a couple clawed fingers to push the bangs to one side, she looked into his eyes has hand coming to rest on his furry cheek "You are still David... and I still love you" she whispers, she felt just like the beauty and the beast just then

Chubbs closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he felt the hand on his cheek. He quickly put his hand over hers and held it, he felt the same way she did. He wondered how she could still love him, after how he looked, and how he acted. Finally the pain kicked in, the irritation, the pulled out fur, the cuts and scratched and the back, it all be wave over him. He took another sigh and winced when his tail moved and he rubbed his forehead.

"I... I love you too..., I need to lay down hun,... I'm feeling like crap I probably.. lok that way"

Joliette nods and steps back to let him pass "David... do you want me to go try and find you some pain killers? I think that lady Delia in town hall has that available" she asks him

Chubbs shifted closer to Joliette and tried to put his arms around her. He balled up his hands as best he could to hide his claws as he hugged her. He wished he wasn't how he was, he wished Joliette had someone to love her what wasn't a beserking freak, she deserved better.

" That... that might help... thanks"

He finally shifted towards the bed, and slid onto it gently, laying on his stomach to not move his tail on the bed.

Joliette hugged him back and watched him go to the bed, her eyes taking in his details for a moment "All right, I'll be back in a moment" she pulled the gi close around her and left the duplex.

She got the painkillers from the lady and after some time pushing the door of the duplex open once more, she had run into a lady at the town hall that confused her morning and had delayed her... But now she was back.

Chubbs was passed out asleep by the time Joli returned, his breathing was deep and he was curled up like a big ball. He'd been awake all night and the angry outburst exhausted him. He'd feel it later when he woke up.

Joliette smiled softly seeing his sleeping form and put his pain killers on the bedside table and crawled back into bed, despite what had happened she was still tired, even if the wheels were turning. He was still David... no matter what... And she dozed back off...

Joliette had left the duplex after Colche had fallen asleep, she had eatten and now she had to focus her frustration, the painkillers still had their effect on her shoulder and it was not bothering her. So now she stood in the entertainment room in a open space away from the TV and the couches, there was really nothing within several feet around her.

She was still wearing the black gi but had at least fixed it to it looked less sloppily put on, her feet apart for balance she stood at rest for a moment, her fist resting near the hip, with the palm facing upwards. She took several deep breaths and then struck out, her arm extending forward in a straight line, wrist twisting as her elbow passed her body, till she completed the punch so that her palm faced to the ground, she was punching thin air but didn't care "Ichi.. Ni... San... Shi... Go... Roku... Shichi... Hachi... Ku... Ju" she counted loudly each number in turn quickly each time she repeated the move hitting nothing but air.

Zach felt mildly better after taking Pyroth's advice on curing his hangover. However, being rid of his hangover didn't rid him of his uneasiness. He had no idea where to even start looking for Avery... he himself hardly knew what he'd been doing while intoxicated.

He didn't feel motivated enough to bother going on another dimly-lit hike through the jungle as he usually ended up doing, so he instead took a look inside the room he was passing. Books? Excellent. He'd missed the ability to be drawn away from reality by a story, now more than ever.

He saw a figure calmly reciting Japanese and punching out in the open space around them. As they moved, he caught a glimpse of a scaly face. It was Joliette. She was a familiar face... in a way.

"Joliette!" he called to her, forcing himself to smile. She could help him take his mind off of his present concerns, hopefully.

"...Shi..." she punched and paused hearing a voice call her name. She relaxed her stance and put her hands together and bowed slightly to Zach "Konnichiwa Zachary" she greets him and then lets her hands drop by her sides.

Zach paused a moment in wondering how to respond to the gesture, then tipped his hat and head a little to her. "We meet again." Not that it was surprising - the island wasn't that large.

After the run-in with Aubrey, his thoughts on transformation had only dropped further, leaving him slightly preoccupied with the question of what he'd become. He wandered over to the couch nearest to her and sat down, brushing his loose sleeve out of the way. He tapped his fingers idly on the couch's handle and looked around, obviously nervous. Underlying all this had been his faint obsessive-compulsiveness. Back in his duplex, he'd spent part of the morning organizing some of his unpacked belongings without thinking. He needed to calm down, but he didn't see that happening.

His wandering attention was fixed again on her. "So you know Japanese?" he asked her suddenly.

Joli wanders towards him "Some, enough that would be needed in a dojo during class"She smiles and stops short of hte male and looked up at him "English and French are my languages prodominately though... You seem somewhat distracted, you ok?" she hoped yet another person hadn't had a run-in with Billy.

He recognized the word, and a thought occured to him. "Ah, self-defense. Have- have you ever needed to use it?"

He shook his head. "Just having a bad day I suppose."

He looked away from her and adjusted the collar of his shirt. He felt uncomfortable thinking about it, but he had to see if anyone knew what had happened to that Avery. "I... I sort of... attacked someone, while I was drunk..." He didn't mention that he'd confused them with Jessica, his ex from a good while back, before that had happened.

"Yeah I have actually, several times over several years back home when I was working.. And 3 times here on the isle... Once against Sabin, Once against Antony and once against that Billy character" she said all names with distaste though more distate was given to Sabin and Billy then anyone in her words. "You did? You don't remember? I hope they are ok if you did" she frowned thinking of his words, she'd not heard of it, so it must have happened to someone she'd not seen in a while

He smiled a little at that, and not a fake one. Attacking Sabin, he could completely understand. Antony, too, in a way - it didn't seem like she got along well with some people. But he was lost as to who Billy was, or what he could have done to deserve a punch to the gut. "Who's Billy? Is he..." He didn't choke on the word like he usually did, but it was still tough to use. "Changed?"

"I hope so too." The smile faded. "It was a guy named Avery. I didn't see him anywhere when I... ah... woke up, so I don't know how he is. I feel awful about it..." For all Zach knew, he could have followed through with the punch he'd aimed before he thought he passed out. He wasn't sure, and wondered what state the poor kid was in.

"He's some irish sounding bloke with rotting teeth and a bad smell, he tried to take my brand new camera from me, and didn't stop when I said stop... so I got him in the gut.. the gormless plonker dropped my camera and broke the lens to it" she makes a face of anger before letting it slide "Avery? I've met him once, he's a nice guy... I hope you find him to talk it out"

Zach couldn't recall anyone who sounded like that. Breaking cameras was bad, though. The guy must have deserved what he got from Joliette as well, though it didn't sound as serious as she must have thought it was. He shrugged. "Thanks. If you see him, tell him I-"

He suddenly felt an itchy feeling from within his nose, and realized the dryness of the island weather had finally caught up to him and his sinuses. As quickly as he could, he dove his hand into a pocket to grap a handkerchief and tilted his head back as far as it could go. "Ugh, sorry," he said, muffled by the cloth now covering his nose. A red spot blossomed on it. "It's a nosebleed..."

Joliette realized he was bleeding a moment late, and she was already upset due to Billy. Her tongue flickered and it brought back that fresh blood to her and she took a few steps back a hand and claws digging ito the arm of a chair "Must keep control.. must keep control... must keep control..." she started saying quiety to herself, lord help her she didn't WANT another Awen incident...

"Joliette, something the matter?" he asked, watching her retreat suddenly. She was framed by bright sunlight flooding in from the open door. Zach saw the tongue, as it was obvious enough in color, and his eyes reflected a little confusion. However, it wasn't until she started muttering and clawing into the furniture that things really seemed to click.

He was bleeding in front of a predatory animal.

The initial shock of realization numbed him, but it faded quickly, leaving him in pure fear. Slowly, carefully, he stood up, a little wobbly due to a lack of balancing. Once on his feet, handkerchief still covering his nose and part of his mouth, his terror immediately sent him running away from her, which meant around the couch and farther into the room. All form of communication between his mind and muscles had been disconnected, save the temporary desire to escape being eaten.

Almost a lost feeling overcame her and her claws dug deeper, her green eyes followed his movement around the room calmly, her tongue flickered again, the beast inside liked the scent of the fresh blood. She was trying her best to stay in control, to not give chase. Lord knew she HATED the feeling she had after Awen in teh forest she didn't want to repeat it

Zach found himself up against a wall of DVDs, and turned around. She was still there, her fingers digging ever deeper into the chair she was next to. Though she appeared undisturbed, a flicker of a presence behind her watching eyes desired blood. His mindless fear only increased.

He felt his breathing quicken purely out of panic and his chest felt tight from it. Hyperventilation, just when he needed it least. He was still holding the cloth to staunch the flow of blood. Grimacing, he shut his eyes, back to the rows of movies. He felt a few careless tears escape. He had no other hand to hide them with. Still, his breathing was faltering and mentally he felt so weak. He barely knew what had come over him at the sight of the predator in Joliette. He just ran. Ran like the coward he was.

He'd never be used to the island. Not if he had to spend every day of his life there running from an early death. Not if a drop of blood could possibly spell disaster in the days, weeks, months he feared would come. More tears found their way down his cheek. His nosebleed was slowing down considerably, but there was no way to stop him from utterly breaking down from his own weakness.

The hyperventilation continued to tear at his lungs, and he found himself slowly lowering to the floor. He didn't belong on the island, and yet here he was sure to stay forever. No doubt they would turn him into easy prey. I'm such an idiot.

"Joli, I'm so, so sorry... I didn't mean to run... I'm sorry..." he gasped between his painful breathing. He didn't even feel the confidence to look up and at her as he spoke. The blood was slowing to a slow trickle. The handkerchief's red stain had swollen enormously by that time.

"When the gale blows, the stiff oak resists and breaks, the flexible willow bends and survives" She closes her eyes, holding hte arm of hte couch now with both hands "I can... keep control..." she seemed to still be trying to steal herself against it, she remembered the words of Ambrose... she could conquer it, be human... she didn't want to give in, not after all she'd done to control it "When the gale blows, the stiff oak resists and breaks, the flexible willow bends and survives" she repeated the words... The words meant to calm her, relax her mind to practise the martial arts she'd learned from her sensai years ago... She heard Zach, but barely, and she was trying her hardest to keep that damned forked tongue from flicking.

Zach continued to sob silently, wheezing a lot in between. His inhaler was back in the duplex, so all he could do was shudder and gasp for air as he sat there against the wall. He could hear her voice like a quiet buzzing in the silence, but he couldn't understand a word. He didn't dare look up to see what Joliette was doing.

He was afraid of the komodo girl.

He removed the handkerchief. The blood flow seemed to have stopped in that short time. His breath still ragged, he crumpled the cloth delicately in his hand, trying to avoid putting his fingers against the reddened part of it. He'd get rid of it later. He figured the bloodstain wouldn't come out of it in the wash, anyhow.

"the flexible willow bends and survives... the flexible willow bends and survives" she takes as deep a breath as she can and then looks towards him, she was regaining control over her beast, and she'd managed not to move... She looked towards Zach "Oh dear" she says seeing his perdicament. She had no idea the male had an inhaler "Uhh need help?" she asked not sure if he'd even answer her, she knew everything that had happened in the past few minutes.

Zach shook his head. He'd ended up halfway in a fetal position, with his legs bent toward his chest and his head down. He was shaking a little, but more from his hyperventilating than from any crying he'd done. Realizing she likely couldn't see him, he spoke up. "N-no..." A cough ripped through his lungs. He needed air.

Forgetting a moment, he replaced the handkerchief back in his pocket. He needed his hand free to get to his feet. The painful tightness of his chest made it hard to move around easily. He tried to calm himself down by emptying his mind, but it failed to empty so easily. With a little embarassment, he looked over in Joliette's direction. What could he say? What could he do?

He really needed that inhaler. As his breathing eased up a bit (though still with a wheeze to it) he moved closer to the chair of the room Joliette was sitting next to as she dug her claws into it. He tore his eyes away quickly enough. He was a little nervous about offering a hand to help her up, in case her claws would accidentally shredded it. "I'm so sorry, Joliette. If there's anything I can do..."

He gave a glance toward the door. He wasn't going to be able to breathe for long without the inhaler. He'd have to leave soon to get it.

"I'll be ok Zachary, it's something I have to learn to control... and it's not easy... You sound like you've had better days... you should go see Delia about it" she didn't know about hte inhaler, she slowly let go of the chair and nodded towards the door, she wasn't ready to leave, she needed to re-focus herself again

He frowned at her statement. but didn't comment further. Psychologically changing seemed almost as awful as the physical changes. "No... I have an inhaler somewhere... I can get asthmatic sometimes..."

Standing in the doorway, he gave a weak wave to her as he left for his duplex. "Take care of yourself." He waited another moment, to see if she would be all right. Then he vanished into the sunlit afternoon.

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