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"You...juggle?" he said in disbelief.

There was just something quite incongruious about a girl like Maryke actually knowing how to juggle, and then wanting to display her talents for the Island to see. It wasn't usually the pretty ones that learned circus tricks, she belonged as the elegant rider on the back of a performing horse. It made him giggle.

"Yah, I know about Billy and his theatre, although I didn't know it was his idea until a few days ago. Gaius hired me for labour in building the thing, then Billy hired me as security for when its finished," he said, obviously still smiling from the idea of Maryke juggling. "I'll be able to sneak backstage and keep all the drooling fellas out of your way."

Of course, he didn't count himself as one of the 'drooling fellas.' Gorillas don't drool. They purr-rumble. Just as he felt his begin to reverberate with that noise that symbolised his happiness, he began walking with Maryke again and changed the subject.

"So, errr...have you climbed any trees yet?"

Maryke's enthusiasm and obvious eagerness to get climbing reminded Oz of little kids in an amusement park, itching to get on the bumper cars or the rollercoasters. It was quite endearing really, even though it was an animalistic urge that was so alien to how she should be acting. It was a little bit like Sayuri's comment on Oz's odd 'purr' - she found it quite cute, like a cat's purr.

"Maybe you're a natural and you don't know it yet," he encouraged her.

As they travelled a little further into the jungle that lined the river, Oz began to size up the trees for ease of climbing. But he was no expert. Anything that he could have climbed as a human was a big no-no now that he'd almost doubled in weight. Seeing how tall some of them were just brought back horrible memories of the helicopter journey.

"Heh...you're on your own on this one...go nuts," he chuckled, but obviously looked awkward around trees.

She really needn't worry about what Oz would think of her if she did indeed go a little nuts over the trees...this was a guy who had suddenly become quite obsessed with grooming. Although unlike her, he wasn't about to let go and request a grooming session with her...at least not yet...all manner of odd thoughts entertained his mind.

Mostly the fact she was a 'monkey' also. Oz hadn't met anyone else who was being turned into a primate, and he at least found solace in the fact that Maryke might understand and be more accepting of his behaviour than his other friends.

He watched her display of agility and grace as she clambered about in the trees and lower canopy now, head following her all around her explorations. Her enjoyment made him laugh.

"Orgasmic? You gunna give up sex for the trees?" he teased, having only barely heard her contented statement.

Oz settled himself down on the ground, resting his aching back against a strong tree. Whilst Maryke's antics were greta to watch, he couldn't supress the knots in his stomach as he dreaded the thought of her falling, watching her with the odd flinch or grimace. Maybe it was a good thing he didn't have the same climbing urges.

"You should do the high-wire act for the theatre."

"Awww, now thats a shame. I'm never gonna get a chance with THE prettiest thing I've seen on this Island," he replied, equally as playful in his teasing.

Of course he had that little voice niggling at the back of him, reminding him about Sayuri. But this wasn't like last time. He was pretty sure nothing would ever come of this harmless flirting...so it was okay to do it.

Oz watched Maryke's performance inbetween bouts of curiously picking up blades of grass, examining them briefly, and then tossing them aside. Was he looking for something in the grass? He didn't know, it felt natural to do it. Maybe it was just his short attention span - he often fiddled with his hands in all manners when they weren't busy.

But he bolted upright when Maryke leapt from the tree.

He watched in slow horror as he expected the worst to happen - she'd lose her grip and topple. But it didn't happen. Maryke landed safely, and even completed her act with a perfect dismount.

Oz was impressed.

"Bravo m'lady," he cooed.

"Well then, you must have had a pretty dull life," he said with a slight chuckle.

It struck Oz as bizarre, and maybe a little uncomfortably, that she was having fun with her changes. Admittedly, there had been times when Oz had forgotten what was going on here. Like in the cafeteria...he'd get his meal and eat it as normal but then it only took a glance at his grey skin to jolt him back to reality.

"So what's your story? How were you brought to this floating zoo?" he asked casually as she flopped next to him.

"...I can't say I can relate, I've done nothing good with this body and I doubt I will," he replied, his tone bitter and venomous.

Oz's whole demeanour seemed to change ever so slightly. His body tensed and from the attitude in his voice, it was obvious what he thought of the Island and its purpose. He found it hard to understand anybody who actually enjoyed what was happening.

"Meh, rehab. Drinking problem. The lady I spoke to said I showed greatest potential for an intensive detox program on a tropical island," he said, with that same bitterness. He felt quite stupid every time he thought about how he'd been duped.

"So what do you scout for?"

"Modelling...I thought so. Beauty knows beauty," he said, slipping back into that harmless flirting.

Oz looked a little disappointed that she had to go. Despite his teasing and the odd urges she brought about in him, he had enjoyed her company. He wasn't sure if she felt the same, and could probably understand if she never wanted to see him again. It wasn't the first time it had happened.

"Yeah, theres just so much to do here...see a bug over there, look at some grass over here..." he said sarcastically with a chuckle. "At least let me be a gentleman and walk you back."