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 Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 1:57 pm
Pinkish scales? Rachel found herself thinking, wondering what the girl was turning into. She couldn't think of anything off the top of her head that had pink scales, however, she nodded, letting Thom know she understood.
"Ok...thanks, I'll try to remember that. Any idea whether she's found or acquired any equipment to practice on?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:02 pm
He shook his head and took a moment to duck beneath the water before surfacing and replying. "As far as I know, she 'asn't, but it 'asn't exactly been her top priority. If you did manage to acquire some, I'm sure she'd be interested in joinin' you for practice and suchlike."
Thom paused, thinking over possible locations of gymnastic equipment. "I know there's en exercise room in th' villiage you could check... If all else fails, just ask th' labs. They're usually good about giving us anythin' we want," he finished dryly.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:14 pm
"Hmmm..." Rachel frowned slightly. If the other girl hadn't found any, then there probably wasn't any to be found. "I've been meaning to check the exercise room, but something tells me it won't be more than the standard fare. And...I really don't want to ask the labs..." she finished hesitantly, dragging her toes through the sand.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:24 pm
"You could improvise?" he suggested, climbing to his feet and wading through the surf towards the shore. "Floor and beam, you said? Should be easy enough t' rig somethin' up to practice. Wouldn't be perfect, but it's better than nothing. It needn't be the ideal situation t' practice, right?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:35 pm
Rachel brightened a bit at Thom's suggestion. She hadn't thought of trying to make the equipment out of something else that might just be laying about the island.
"That's a great idea Thom!" she said, genuinely getting excited, the more she thought about it. "I'll just have to look around for things I can use to make them."
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:51 pm
"There you are, then." He grinned, pausing as he reached the beach to retrieve his cane. "You could probably find some islanders to help, as well. I'll do what I can, but I doubt I'm good f' much with this leg." He grimaced, tapping his left, short leg with his cane before returning his attention to the girl. "But it would be a good way to pass th' time. Natsumi would help as well, I'm sure."
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:02 pm
"Well I'm in duplex 76, if you want to let her know where she can find me. And I bet you're perfectly capable of helping us," she said firmly, not wanting him to feel left out.
"Did...the changes do that?" she asked hesitantly, not wanting to offend him, after he had been so nice, and given her some good ideas.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:10 pm
"76," he echoed, clearly surprised. Were there that many of them now? It was hard to believe... But it had been over six months since his own arrival, and his duplex was 45. "I'll let her know," he assured Rachel, shoving the thought from his mind for the present. "Or, if all else fails, she's in duplex 46. As am I," he added as an afterthought, grinning faintly.
At her question, he hesitated briefly, stealing a glance down towards the clawed leg. However, he simply forced a smile, nodding and chuckling bitterly. No use crying over spilled milk. "Mmhmm. That was when I realize I wasn't goin' back.... I dare say I won't be playin' football again."
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:44 pm
Rachel rasied an eyebrow slightly when he mentioned he was sharing a duplex with Natsumi, but didn't comment. She figured it made sense that people were starting relationships here, just like anywhere else. The surrealness of the situation just made the normal parts of life seem a little strange in the midst of it all. She wondered if that meant that eventually she could find someone here, even if she had never had the time for it before.
When he confirmed her question about his leg, Rachel gave him a sympathetic glance. "I'm sorry Thom, no one should have to give up something they love because of someone else's selfishness. Damn doctors...I hate them all. I hated them before I even came here...." She frowned and folded her arms.
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 3:55 pm
Her words actually provoked a laugh from him, but it was one of good-natured amusement, nothing targeted for her expense. "I'm sure you did, sweet'eart. I'm sure we all did. An' thank you," he offered with a nod, shifting his weight to the cane. "This island changes people in more ways than one... Let's 'ope you don't suffer the same fate, eh?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:16 pm
She was a bit surprised when he laughed and wasn't entirely sure how to react. Rachel hadn't meant it to be funny...but she didn't think that Thom was the type to mean, so she laughed hesitantly along with him after a moment.
"You don't have to tell me that twice. I suppose I'll be fortunate if I can still do gymnastics when this whole thing is over. I don't even know what I'm turning into, as I haven't gotten the guts to call the labs and ask. I think I'm afraid of what they'll tell me..."
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:23 pm
"There're benefits either way, knowin' or not knowin'." After a glance towards the water, he stepped out of reach of the waves and dropped to sit on the sand. "I never asked. Worked out that it was a snake when my toes vanished, an' was told cobra in passin'. Surprised that I didn't figure out out myself, lookin' back, what with thing on my neck. But I've never cared much for snakes."
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:31 pm
"It seems needlessly evil for them to let us figure it out, or throw ourselves on their good humor for us to know what we're to become, when they're responsible for this whole freaking situation. And then on top of that, they choose things that can destroy part of who we are. They had to have known that you played soccer before they made you a snake..." she trailed off, shaking her head. "It's so damn unfair!"
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 4:37 pm
"Couldn't agree with you more." The girl was absolutely right. Thom was willing to bet, knowing how bizarre some people were, that there were people out there who would volunteer for this sort of experimentation. He was sure that half the fun for the doctors was knowing the people had no say in the matter. His own case was an example of that.
"I wish there were more I could tell you than th' same old 'There's no way off, you're stuck 'ere', but..." He shrugged. "We don't 'ave much say in things. Best you can do is not think about th' changes and 'ope somethin' 'appens to th' labs before your next one gets 'ere."
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Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 7:30 pm
"Like what? A fire or something? Because the way the doctor who sent me here for 'treatment' explained it, they aren't controlled by anyone. It's because they're out of the United States that they can use 'experimental drugs.'" She made the air quotes with her fingers.
"I don't think they can get in trouble with anyone...but I don't know that much about how things like this are dealt with legally" For the first time in her life, Rachel wished she knew more about how government and international politics worked. Before, she hadn't really cared. She had other things to worry about, and besides, she wasn't even old enough to vote.
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