[Journal]~Awen Zyn~Special Aquatic Duplex #1~

[Awen Zyn]

Jabberwock? What happened to Cheshire?

Awen sat in the village square, near where Jamal used to be in the cage. It was a good evening and she needed form fresh air. Staying in her duplex all this time was, yes giving her great progress on her xbox 360 games, but sadly keeping her from people on the outside world.The stars were beautifulas she sat and looked up at the sky. There probably would have been a better place to watch the night, but Awen was still afraid to stray too far from the village and easy protection. Billy had scared her pretty good back at the river side those days ago.

About then, an awkward, thin form came staggering along, bright green eyes glinting in the darkness. He was wearing his customary black turtleneck - though it was rather tatty by now - and his pocketwatch ticked around his neck.

His lips moved in quiet, rapid words - reciting something? Between this, the way his clothes were suddenly too baggy, and the dark rings under his eyes...he didn't look well.

Julian didn't see Awen yet...his gaze was fixed on a notepad and pen in his spindly hands.

Awen on hte other hand noticed the man walking towards the square. It took her a moment to realise she had met this one before. Yes, the one who Awen thought was in terapy before the island too. At the Halloween party there was that... Chester? No no... Ches...Chesire! The alternate personality of the boy, as far as Awen could tell anyway...

She stood up and brushed the dirt from her flowered swinsuit bottoms. She had taken to wearing the suits because it was simply easier to wear just that when she decided to take a dip in hte river or take a nap in her tank-bed.

"Julian!" She called, surprising herself by actually remembering his name. "Haven't seen you in awhile huh? How are ya?" She didn't want to draw attention to the fact that he looked ill, he probably already knew it anyway.

Julian jumped a bit, dropping the paper and pen with a clatter. He hadn't really been expecting to run into anyone out there at the moment, and...he wasn't in the best of states for talking.

The usual nervous smile spread across his face.

"...Hello...ah...doing...okay...I guess....?" His voice was hoarse and small as he stumbled to pick up the notepad. He wasn't very steady on his feet right now, was he?

"...Just...taking a walk...."

Awen took a step forward and held her arms out as if to catch the poor boy as he went to pick up the notepad. To Awen is seemed as if he were ready to just fall. When she saw he was...not too steady but realitively okay she put her arms down. "Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you."

She smiled openly, trying to seem friendly. She wondered if the man remembered her. She had changed twce since they last met and even then it was brief and months ago. "Mind if I join you? I've been cooped up in my duplex for much too long lately. Need a bit of a stretch."

When he straightened up again, the nagging sensation at the back of his mind made him wait a moment before answering.

He...didn't want to change right now. If he did, it might be Jabberwock and not Chesh.

Not like he could stop Jabberwock. Why was he getting so weak?

Shaking his head to dispel the thought, he smiled feebly.

"...Sure...if you don't mind my company." He paused, trying to remember the girl's name...and failing.

"...Miss....?"

"Zyn." She replied with a silent chuckle. She didn't figure he remembered. "Awen Zyn. We met i nthe cafe before the Halloween party. It was a long time ago so it's no big deal." She waved her hand dismissively.

She turned in the direction he had been going when she interupted. "So... this way then?"

"Oh...right. I'm sorry...had a lot on my...mind." He swallowed hard, his grin twitching.

"...Sure. I was just...wandering." He rubbed at his jaw with a frail hand...flashing the fact that he had electrical tape wrapped painfully tight around his fingertips and claws, causing some discoloration and bruising.

...Same with the claws on his toes, if she looked.

"Halloween...it has been a long time, huh?"

"Yeah...but it hasn't felt like any time at all honestly." She smiled brightly and started on the way. "Not counting the days helps a lot. Video games help a lot more..."

He was acting strange... but Awen couldn't remember if this was how he had been acting back then or... something else. She would assume the best, as usual, and just hope that someone quick is on watch tonight.

She did eventually notice the eletrical tape on his fingers and her smile faultered slightly. That was definately not there the last time. He never had seemed violent before. Maybe.... maybe the blackout did more harm to him, like it had for Chubbs, Joli, Lauren and Jamal. Her faultered smiled turned frown as she thought about it more. It had to hurt...

Shaking her head and forcing a smile back she nodded as they were walking. "Ah well... it's a good night for a walk isn't it? The air is good for you."

"Yes...."

He looked around at the quiet of the night, keen eyes adjusted well in the darkness. His movements were a bit listless, from moment to moment - as if he lacked strength.

"...I've mostly kept to my duplex, lately...I...just feel safer that way."

Nodding slowly Awen looked over to Julian. "Yeah I know what you mean..." Though she probably didn't exactly, Awen did feel safer when she was alone and in her duplex.

She was really worried about Julian by now though. He seemed really tired, even as though he could pass out at any moment. At least that was how Awen thought of it.

"Hey um.... are you okay?" There was no working around it. "You seem kind of..sick. Or something..."

Julian's smile twitched at the question, his eyes flicking over, then back down.

"...Oh...ah...not...sick, per se. I'm...just having some...trouble...with some things."

His tail drooped, but the fur stood on end at a cold voice in his ear.
...Best not to brood, Julian...Jabberwock likes it when you do....

"Some..things?" She sighed slowly. Of course it wasn't just a cold. No, that would have been way too easy.

She shuffled along beside him and bit her lip softly. She debating offering, maybe it wasn't a good idea....what could she do for him anyway? But either way it wasn't fair for her to just ignore it.

"If there's... anything you need to talk about. I mean..you don't know me that well but... I mean I'm a good listener. If..." She hesitated. "If it's that Cheshire.... I mean I don't know... I hear talking sometimes helps.."

Julian thought about this for a moment - and a cold prickle crept through his heart at Cheshire's name. But he wasn't the problem right now.

"...I don't...want to scare you, though...." He gave her a strange, strained sort of look. "...And...what's been happening to me lately is...scary...."

"I've been in and out of therapy clinics for most of my life...." She said softly with a smile. "And I've been dealing with a lot of people freaking out on me at the island, two almost killed me..." She paused a moment at that thinking about it. Well they didn't really almost kill her, Sabin or another lab tech would have stopped it before that happened... but it was what she thought at the time.

"Really Julian... You won't scare me okay? If I can help... if it will help to talk about it, then you can talk about it with me. I don't want to pressure you though, if you don't want to seriously...then you don't have to. Just..offering to help."

"..Well...I...."

He bit his lip, wincing.

"...There used to just be Cheshire and I...but lately...there have been others. And one of them...he's..dangerous."

He held up his hand, showing her the tape.

"...That's why...Cheshire did...this."

Awen frowned. Dangerous? Cheshire wasn't the dangerous one? Alrighty... she needed to get caught up on things appearently. "So...Cheshire tapped up your claws, so you couldn't hurt anyone? Or..rather the dangerous one can't hurt anyone?"

She nodded slowly. "When about did these others, this dangerous one show up? Have you talked to the docs about it? Maybe a side effect from the transformations....do you think they can make it go away? Then you wouldn't have to hurt yourself like that...

"...So...Jabberwock can't hurt anyone."

He recoiled from the name, as if afraid saying it might make him appear.

"...The Doctors...they...they won't help me." A note of paranoia crept into his voice. A slight twitch racked his eye.

"...The Queen of Hearts would get me, then...."

Hooo, boy.

Awen's brow furrowed slightly at the name. It sounded kind of familiar. She wasn't exactly sure what it was but thatname reminded her of something silly from ages ago. This Jabberwock didn't seem so silly.

"Queen of Hearts...?" She really wasn't sure who he was talking about. She knew that was a character from Alice in Wonderland....never did like that movie though...

She shook her head. "That's not right though... Aubrey definately would help you. I'm sure they could deal with the Queen too..."

Julian's heart was pounding - he could hear a roar echo through his mind.

"No...no...the Queen is one of them! The Queen...she...."

He groaned, brandishing the notepad as if it were a shield. His head felt horrible - searing agony. "...I'm sorry...the...the Jabberwock...he's...he's coming...!"

With a strange scream, Julian turned on his heel and bolted for his duplex as fast as his feeble legs would carry him.

...Poor guy. Who knows what goes on behind that closed door...?

Awen blinked trying to keep up wit hthe flurry that was Julian for those few seconds. Seeing so energised, even if by his fear, threw the manta off gaurd until it was too late and he was already running away.

The Queen is one of them...? Who could he have been reffering to, Awen was very curious now. Awen could see why he would be afraid of staff..but he needed to be taken care of.

This Jabberwock seems to be doing him more damage than anything, and could harm other islanders. She frowned and watched him go; she hadn't meant to bring that out in him. She felt horrible...

Seeing him leaving Awen realised that he must not be eating right. It could be part of the cause of everything. Maybe she would bring him a plate of food sometime or other.

She shook her head and started towards the lake. A nice swim.... to clear her head. She wanted to go after Julian but she doubted there was anything she could do. It was best to stay away... the last thing Awen needed was for the Jabberwock to hurt her and then Julian feel guilty for it later.  

[Awen Zyn]

I'm sorry.... Escape just... isn't possible

Picking at her clothes and cursing quietly, Fiona was making yet another sweep of the area around her duplex. "Aaaaannieeee?" She called out periodically, seeming unaware of the fact that it might bother other people. After a few minutes of this she scoffed and surveyed her surroundings. The girl sent a glance back at the wide open door of her room, now propped with a rock. Not like there was anything in there worth stealing. While her common sense told Fiona to close the door, she wasn't all that good with remembering numbers and, quite frankly, the buildings all looked exactly the same. "Maybe she really isn't here," the redhead mumbled to herself.

Awen heard the girl calling out and it sounded like someone in need. It didn't seem terribly urgent so Awen gave herself time to towel dry as she got out of her tank-bed and get a pair of shorts and a tank top to fit over her bathing suit. She had just layed down for a nap with her head above water before she heard the yelling.

When she exited her duple she looked around. Seeing the redhead right down the line of duplexes Awen's stomach tightened. A new arrival? Or someone she just hadn't seen before? She slowly made her way forward, not to startle the girl if anythnig went wrong, or she hadn't seen another islander.

"Hello there." She said in a somewhat cheery voice. "Is something the matter?"

Fiona turned somewhat jerkily, tilting her head and squinting at this new person. "Sort of. Have you seen my friend anywhere? Her name's Angharad, long brown hair?" She folded her arms behind her head and walked forward to close the distance between the two. She let out a slow whistle, peering at the alien flaps of skin and rubbery protrusions. "Hoh-lee," she muttered to herself, cocking her head to the side. "Totally not the island of the hedgehogs." Fiona coughed, bringing her arms down to her sides. "Sorry, talking to myself. Name's Fiona Brooks." She extended a hand.

Well that was a better reaction than what Awen's been getting from most new islanders these days. She chuckled a little bit and took the hand offered, not actually afraid or ashamed of her webbing infront of this girl. "Island of hedgehogs huh? I take it you met Em then."

A bright smiled beamed from the blue haired girl's lips. "Name's Awen Zyn, a pleasure."

Then she faulted a moment. She had met someone with long brown hair awhile ago with a weird long name like that. But something hadn't quite felt right. It could be the same girl...the one who believed in like Norse gods or something...? Or was her hair black... "Um... Your friend... wears lots of black, pale skin with make up, with a top hat? Kind of gothy looking-ish?"

So she was new, obviously... but had Moreau brought in a friend of one of the islanders? Maybe she had gotten too close to the truth of the goth's disappearence.... Then how could she not have known?

Angharad climbed warily back up to the box village, or duplexes as she should now call it, she guessed. The conversation on the beach ahd been.. disturbing, to say the least. Right now her brain was completely wrapped in fog, cushioning her slightly from the shocks that appeared at every turn. A bear man, the chubby woman, the man with tentacles...

As she headed back towards what she thought she remembered as the way to her duplex, she almost missed the hauntingly familiar redheaded figure standing further down the 'street'. Was it..?! She focussed all she had left of concentration, stopped in her tracks. There, talking to a girl with ...blue hair?

"FIONA???!"

She broke into a run, ignoring Awen and grabbing her friend roughly in a hug, head buried on her shoulder.

The girl burst out laughing when Awen asked if Annie was goth-looking and wore a top hat. "Hardly. She's just-" Just what, Awen would never find out, for it was then that she was tackled by a familiar face. "Annie!!" She shouted gleefully, her face nearly cracking in half with the size of her grin. "Where have you been?? I've been looking everywhere for you! Did they inject you? Are you okay? Are you hurt? Have you found out about the big experiment and crap??" She squeezed the poor girl tightly, not daring to let go in case it turned out she was a figment of Fiona's imagination. It was then that she remembered the existance of the other girl.

"This is Angharad." She confirmed to Awen through a mouthful of brown hair. "Erm... Annie, meet-" Fiona eyed the girl with blue hair. "Well damn, and it wasn't even a second ago you told me. Sorry, I'm awful with names. My head's kind of in a mess right now." Suddenly becoming concerned, she pulled away to look at her friend in disbelief. "So you're here, instead of being safe back at home. This whole place is one big experiment, eh? So much for getting in quick and leaving before anyone noticed. Huh. Sorry." Her expression became a tad downcast as guilt flickered alive in her heart.

Awen blinked as a girl rushed passed her and pretty much glomped the red head she had been talking too. She smiled seeing the two together. So this was the Angharad girl? Sure enough Fiona announced it was only moments later. Then who was the gothy girl with the long name Awen met in the cafe? She'd have the check the registry next time she was around.

She waited until she was about to be introduced but then the red head just kept talking. Staying silent and letting the two reequaint with one another. That was until she saw a frown forming on Fiona's lips. That really would never do.

She stepped in a big and offered her webbed hand to the other girl, Annie. "I'm Awen." She smiled. "Kind of sorry to say...but welcome to the island?"

"I 'd hoped you weren't here, that you'd escaped, Fee..." Angharad couldn't help voicing her thoughts in a low voice, the many questions clamouring in her head but that must be reserved in front of others. She drew back slightly, but her hand was still around Fiona's arm, desperate for comfort. One familiar face in the day's bizarrities, and the final clap of doom as it confirmed that it really wasn't a dream.

"I.. I know. A bear man tried to tell me, and then some others confirmed it..." She turned hesitantly towards Awen, and swallowed slightly at the gills, and webbed digits. She really couldn't say anything to it though, seeing as it was she who was going to be going through the changes also... The shot weal itched, and she could not block it from her thoughts.

"I'm Angharad, as Fiona already said.. pleased to meet you, Awen." She was the same age as them, she realised with a start; all of them in it togther, no matter where they'd come from.
"And don't worry about it, Fee. No-one could have expected," and she gestured at the surroundings a touch bitterly, "this to come of what we did." She looked up at Awen, suddenly curious as to what reason this poor girl had been turned into a sea creature for.
"How did they get you here?"

"Awen, right," she mumbled, attempting to force the name into her mind without it slipping out the other ear. To Annie, she said, "A bear man? So there really are a lot of people here. It makes me sick that you got caught, but I'm kinda glad you're here." A sudden confidence sprang up on her face, one that would be more than easily recognisable to her long-time friend. "I'm staging a revolt. One of those peaceful type ones like you're always telling me to do. I get the feeling lots of people just roll over and take it. No way we're doing the same. You know what, we're gonna get off this ******** island, no matter the cameras and microchips and whatever else."

She turned a sly eye on Awen. "You can't possibly be happy here. Everyone must have left a life behind, everyone must have been tricked or kidnapped. We can do something about it. There has to be somewhere here that isn't bugged, and we're gonna find it. I've already got a whack of idea, just you wait." A grin tugged at the corner of her lips. "We'll show them they picked the wrong duo to mess with."

Awen, again about to open her mouth to answer the question Annie gave her shut it once more when the fiery red head started speaking. A frown started to crease further on her lips as she starts talking of escaping. She stayed silent though until adressed once more.

She glanced to Annie and decided to respond to her first. "I came here to get therapy. I used to have hydrophobia, a severe fear of water, and nothing mainland had helped. I paid a whack of cash to get here, and was informed of the experimental drugs." She huffed a laugh and spread her arms a bit. "Of course I didn't think this would happen. But the Doc didn't exactly lie to me, I just never asked enough about the drug they were giving to me."

She shook her head and turned back to Fiona. "You can't do anything about it. I've tried." Her tone seemed a little more stern but also sad. "I've been here for months. I've missed the people back home. I left a lot behind. But I can't leave. I tried to swim off the island and almost drowned. I was so close to death.... I really don't want that to happen again. The doctor's can make you go to sleep. Pass out rather. One command and you're out like a light. I heard of the first time back around Halloween, and now more are going on. I know you're new. I know you want to go home. But the best thing to do right now is get over it, accept it."

She shook her head slowly. She was really offended at the tone and way she said that the islanders are just giving up. An almost glare came to her eyes as she spoke. "People here don't just roll over and take it. Jamal, for example, tried to kill Aubrey...the woman who saved my life. Chubbs almost snapped at her too, the Dude punched Moreau himself square in the jaw! We don't take it sitting down. We've tried what we can... but the doctors are like gods on this island. They control everything."

Sighing she lost the edge of her voice. "For two months we were in a black out. No duplexes or cafeteria no easy living. It seemed as if there was a huge explosion, we didn't know what was going on. It seemed we had to survive all on our own for two whole months. But secretly the doctors were controling everything. It made a lot of people angry... but the fact is...it only proves their power over us all."

"There is no place on the island that is free of cameras. They keep a watch on us all and make sure we're surviving, and staying relatively healthy. Everywhere is bugged, they are smart enough to manipulate DNA to make...this!" She once again gave a good show of her arm webbing and gills. "You think they aren't smart enough to block escape attempts? You're just going to hurt yourselves if you try to escape."

She sighed softly and then lost all flame. She looked away. "I'm really sorry..." Her eyes shut tight because she doesn't want to see these girls getting hurt... more pain... "I want to believe there is a way out. I want to believe you can make it. But I don't want you to get hurt. I dn't want there to be more pain, more disappointment. As much as I hope I know you will fail...."

She looked back to them her eyes teary. "I'm really...truly...sorry."

Angharad almost started crying again by way of reaction to Awen's tears, the crushing defeats piling up in the blue-haired girl's eyes. She tightened her grip on Fiona's arm for a moment; she knew that Fee would never ever accept it, but in the bizarre dream world Annie was living, the words were black with despair.
"I.. Thankyou, Awen," she said slowly, almost at a loss. "It must be hell to have to live here. And you've lived it longer than we have." Her hand slipped, and her green eyes saw nothing for a moment.
"Fee," she continued faintly. "I'm going to go lie down for a while. I have an upstairs apartment... it's near the end, and the bottom one's door is open, but I can't remember the number. Come and see me in a little while...."

She stumbled off, slightly dazed, confused in herself as to why she was leaving Fiona after spending all day trying to find her, but her bruised body was tired and sore and her mind threatening to switch off the dream cushion. Nevertheless, her feet made their way back in the hopefully right direction, unfamiliar sandals flopping steadily. All she wanted now was some sleep, some sleep that would leave her awake and back in Canada.

"See you again soon, Awen..."


Expressions as varied as the colours of the rainbow passed across her face one by one as Awen let loose the torrent of speech. Anger, disgruntlement, disappointment, sadness, insult, loss, sympathy, despair, self-rightiousness. When her friend's hand left her arm, the spot felt cold. "Angharad..." she said softly, almost imploringly as she left. Her fire had dimmed, and her energy dropped quite visibly. "I'm sorry to hear that you got hurt real bad trying to get away." Fiona muttered after a moments hesitation. "Really, I am. But I can't just not do anything. Give me time to think it out, and I'll find a way. Trust me, I've been doin' stuff like this since before I could walk."

She gave a somewhat subdued smile as a peace-offering. "I think the reason nothing's worked is 'cause it's all direct approaches. Punches to the face feel great, but they don't get you anywhere." She'd learned that one the hard way in grade three. Oops. "Like, the hedgehog lady is real smart, choosing to live in the wild. And it sort of gave me some ideas how you-" she stopped, "how we can change things around here. We don't have to swim away here and now, or hijack a chopper or something. We've just gotta get something we can use to manipulate the strangle-hold a little. I've fought bigass corperations before who don't give a damn about the individual, and I don't think it's all that different, 'cept for the zapper-in-your-neck scenario. Hedgehog lady," clearly another forgotten name- "mentioned that too. But we just have to take small steps, yanno? Do s**t that won't piss them off enough to knock them out, but that'll make a difference in the long run." Fiona grinned, but her eyes wavered slightly. Awen's discouragement had certainly rained on her parade, but she wasn't going to be deterred so easily.

Sighing softly Awen waved Fiona to follow her. She turned and started back for her own duplex. "Come with me please... open areas kind of bug me lately." She rubbed her arm a little where Billy had latched on. Sabin's talks had helped, but it didn't erase everything that had happened.

She glanced over her shoulder to see if the girl was following. "Besides there's less cameras there."  

[Awen Zyn]

Dinner!? Omg it's a date!

Awen was first answered by a rather bored-sounding woman who responded quickly that she would check on the availability of Dr. Duvert.

There were a few clicking noises, and then the familiar, French-touched voice came clearly through the panel.

"Awen?" He used her first name, a tinge of curiosuity and surprise - but not an unpleasant one. "How can I help you?" Sabin, for once, had not been monitering the video panels, but actually been working in the labs. He had just looked down at a rather awkward message that Aubrey had left on his voice mail earlier that he had missed, and eager for an excuse to delay it further.

Awen sat silently by the intercom for a moment. How could she say it? How could she reveal this to him? "I...well..." She sighed heavily as tried to find the words. She certainly didn't sound very happy and even if he couldn't see her the life that was present in her voice was all but gone completely.

"One of the new islanders....red head, named Fiona... is going to try to start planning escape attempts..." She winced as the words left her lips, almost sorry she said them. But this was for the best... it will stop more problems. "I know you guys have precautions against this kind of thing... but ...I don't want anyone to try what I did and get hurt...."

Sabin pursued his lips, considering this. He had read a memo regarding two new islanders - PETA activists or something like that who had broken into a facility somewhere back on the mainland. It was no surprise that they were discontent with their position. Sabin was also pretty sure that they didn't have a chance in hell of escaping. But... that wasn't the point.

The point was that Miss Zyn was coming forward with this knowlege. The same person who had tried an escape attempt herself not overly long ago. But - she had also been 'saved' by Aubrey, and seemed genuinely regretful of her choice. Even looking back over the old tapes of what led up to the escape attempt, it seemed more like she was trying it for the sake of other people than herself.

He scratched his chin. Beyond that, she was coming to him. This wasn't the first time that it had occurred to Sabin that both Moreau and Aubrey had 'pocked islanders'. Individuals on the island who trusted them implicietly. It put them in a position to be able to have more control over the islanders indirectly, even if they didn't utilize that position. Sabin had maintained since the get-go that he wasn't going to personally interact with them. If he did that he could get attached and if he got attached he might feel guilty. He had a heart down there, but he was trying his damndest not to allow it to come forward. But Awen seemed to be one of the few Islanders who was opening up in the Island... Enjoying going back in the water....

If there was anyone he could use... er... speak with, perhaps it would be her.

Sabin leaned forward. "Fiona, eh?" He sounded concerned, intersted. "Yes... the last thing we want is for more of the islanders to be injured trying to leave. The islanders mean a lot to us, we don't want to see you hurting yourselves or others" well, There was a lot of money invested in each one -that was the truth. "If it's any consolation, I know that neither of them are becoming acquatic.."

Awen gave a half smile. At least that was a plus, she could see Fiona, despite Awen's warnings trying to go into the water and swim home if it got to that point. Besides...Billy was already becoming an aquatic and the lake was only so big. Not that she liked the idea of being eventually alone in the lake with Billy.

"Alright." She practically mumbled. "Just could you make a note to whoever was on the camera to watch them. Fiona seemed fiery but nice... I just don't want her to get hurt." Awen however didn't fully buy into the doctors being all caring. She was generous with her interpretations of people, but she knew that they were still lab rats. It's never good to loose a valuable subject just because of a mere accident.

Her stomach rolled as she thought about what she was doing. Why was she doing this? It could o many people's chances of getting free. Maybe there had been hope and Awen just crushed it. Awen felt disgusted in herself as she stared at her carpet.

"But don't let anyone know..." Her voice quavered with her obvious struggle. "I... I don't want them to know... Chubbs found out I've been talking some to you, pleasent like, and he....well he was none too happy. I've never been angry with him before, I never thought I could be angry with him before.... but..." A heavy sigh came through Sabin's side of the intercom. "I think a lot of people are going to hate me if they found out."

Which isn't a stretch.... the manta thought, you're already hating yourself.

Sabin frowned at the mention of Chubbs. He had nothing personal against Chubbs. Hell, he had even been commissioned to pretty much develop his serum. But he wasn't stupid. He knew he was generally disliked, and he even sometimes enjoyed playing with them. Chubbs's flame happened to be one of them. Sabin was not so secretly fascinated and highly entertained with Joliette's situation, and couldn't help but wonder what if unlikely pairing would survive their transformations.

"'Chubbs' has... a temper problem.. not unlike a few other islanders. If it helps him vent his issues at me, then so be it." Sabin gave a wry smile. He was more personally responsible for Chubb's problems than even Jamal's. But it sounded all noble to be said like that. "But I will not revel our... discussions, Awen. To be honest with you... many of the other staff aren't exactly very close with me either. Aubrey likes to blame a lot of the island's problems on me even though frequently I am just following orders."

"But I don't hate you." He grinned.

Awen wasn't exactly surprised to hear Sabin wasn't liked among staff. Lauren had warned Awen about Sabin...though the mongoose had nothing specific to warn her against. But still it struck a cord to hear Sabin himself say he is disliked by the very people that he works with. After all they can't hate him for what he's a part of, like the islanders hate the staff, because the rest of the staff are doing the same thing. "Well that's just not right..." She mumbled softly as an undertoned responce.

She blushed a little when Sabin said he didn't hate her. It was already obvious... but.. it's one of those things that was just surprising to hear from him. "Well... thanks Sabin." She couldn't help but chuckle. "I don't hate you either. I don't see why fellow staff hate you though... I mean honestly they've no right to hate you at all! It's hypocritical, I mean really!" She was kind of in a huff but her tone was definately more pleasent than it had been.

Why could Sabin make her smile? If he was so bad, how could he make her smile like that?

Sabin shrugged. It was true, and he wasn't always the most personable of individuals. he had been alone for some time now, going through the motions as a professor since ... her death. His class still filled most semesters and he had always been known for his eccentric teaching style, breathing a life into the subject. But it wasn't what he wanted to do, really. And it was nothing like it used to be. Hence... he jumped at this opportunity, and it did succeed in breathing a life back into him... just not necessarily the side of him that was for the best of most people he came into contact with.

"I'm glad to hear that I'm not universally despised." He commented smoothly. "I believe that either those under me regret my ... drive... and those above me find me an easy scapegoat for things that go wrong. Especially when there is already some... miscommunication from time to time." Sabin phrased it carefully. He was more than willing to take the 'fall' for Moreau in regards to the lockout when it came to Aubrey in exchange for his project. But that didn't mean he didn't resent the fact that Aubrey seemed to view him as the totally responsible sometimes when it came to any issues any of the islanders had.

"But overall... yes, I do find it hyprocritcal. But I suppose that one has to deflect feelings of guilt, and I have been made a target for that, so be it." He tapped his finger on the desk. "Speaking of... I wish that there were some way that we could assist some individuals... such as Jamal.." He thought about the memo - he knew what it concerend. To be frank Sabin didn't have any ideas about the homocidal, suicidal tiger. It wasn't his fault the man was crazy. Moreau shouldn't have given an already dangerous man a predator's serum. "I quite frankly don't know what to do to keep them from being a danger to themselves and others."

Awen wasn't quite the fool... well mostly... just when it came to things that were not her emotions. She'd only really known of Sabin, Aubrey and Moreau as staff on the island. Sure there were others but those were the only true names you got from the scientists, so it wasn't hard to piece together exactly what Sabin was trying to say. Or at least as near to as Awen would understand.

At the mention of Jamal and the dangers Awen glanced to her shoulder. She knew Jamal was dangerous... and how they had locked him in up. "Well... the cage on display certainly didn't help." She sighed a little bit. "But I wish I could help Sabin... I honestly don't know what to do about that kind of danger..."

"Well, the cage wasn't my idea." Sabin replied honestly. "Although it's a better punishment than most governments would have bequeathed to a man who had just made a serious attempt on someone's life." He said honestly.
"But he's just been getting worse. No one else is reacting as negatively as he is and I worry that he's not just a danger to himself but other people he's around. I'm not sure how much you're aware of but he tore a hunk out of Emelyn for no other reason than she was passing close to him. If you have any suggestions in how to deal with him, I'm more than willing to listen, because I believe Dr. Lockheart has about given up and wants me to deal with him."

"He attacked Emelyn!?" Awen was taken aback by that comment. She knew Jamal was bad with the lab techs, that was understandable at least... sort of. But Emelyn? She'd never been a problem for Jamal, and last Awen saw those two in the same room..sure it was awhile ago.. but they were friends. He really was getting bad.

"I don't know Sabin." She said with no more snide remarks towards the cage incedent. "He really is just falling down that path isn't he.... I really wish I could tell you how to deal with him, but I really don't have any ideas. But if you figure something out and need my help then I'll help."

"Indeed... She's been rather reticent to return to the village since its reopening and came across the wrong side of him out in the jungles. If you want to see her I believe she's taken up residence in one of the caves, although makes frequent trips to the beach."

Sabin drummed his fingers on the desk. "I appreaciate your offer of assistance, Awen. I do hope that it doesn't come to it, but we'll see.." Pulling out his ponytail tie for a moment he ran his fingers through his hair, tugging at some of the tangles.

He paused, pondering. The girl was surprisingly easy to speak with, and was taking an interest in things from his vantage. Even from their brief conversations she seemed sympathetic. While Sabin would have to guardhimself to not let himself become too vulnerable, if he was careful she might very well prove to be useful in the future if he played his cards right. "You know, Awen, I do so enjoy these conversations. As I've said before, most individuals tend to view me in a rather unforgiving light."

She smiled and perked up a little bit. "Well I enjoy your company Sabin. You've really been a help to me and I appreciate it." She paused a moment thinking about what she just said. "But you know... not just because you've been helping me. I mean I really do find you interesting."

She laughed a little awkardly. She felt a little dumb saying it like that but at least the smile was there. It was definately a change from how she came into the convorsation. Awen could even almost forget of the betrayal she just pulled. Almost anyway. It still nagged at the corner of her mind, but with Sabin expressing a pleasure in their talks it definately didn't hold as much sway on her conscience as it had.

Sabin laced his fingers with a smile. As much as he tried to suppress the thoughts that led him towards his humanity, Awen reminded him of a few of his favorite students back in the university - intelligent and curious, with interesting discussion. He tapped his nail against the desk again, chewing on his lip.

There would be no harm in it.... "Say, Awen. Sometime I ought to have you come up to the labs. I could have the cooks fix something and we could actually speak face to face." After all, if he wanted her to trust her he couldn't imagine leaving that lasting of an impression based on his voice alone.

Awen's jaw dropped a little at the proposal of dinner. She hadn't expected anything like this, at least not now. A giddy grin spread across Awen's face and for a moment she still didn't respond. Her mouth moved for a moment without any sound. When her voice began to work it came out in a rush. "Sure! That would be so great!"

A few seconds later something dawned on her. "Oh..." She frowned all the giddy joy that had just expressed was gone. "That... probably wouldn't be a good idea. If the other islanders just saw me come into the labs like that they probably wouldn't... well... they probably would... suspect something's up."

It brought a grin to Sabin's lips to see Awen's reaction on the cameras, albeit one of a slightly different nature than the young woman's giddy one.

His finger tapped the desk once more in irritation at her decline after the fact. "Well... you can't continue to live solely for others or considering what they would think." He said quickly. Sabin rarely cared what other people thought about him... although it did get lonely when no one undestood- He cut that thought process off at the roots.

"If you change your mind, and I do hope that you do, then you know how to reach me. Besides, I doubt that many islanders man the path between the village and the labs so diligantly as you suspect."

Awen rolled her shoulders a little bit. "I guess you're right. I just.. well..." She sighed and nodded. "No no, you are right! I'd love to have dinner with you Sabin. Just tell me when and I'll be there."

He was right. People would learn to accept things eventually. They can't just keep hating everyone forever. Besides Sabin and the other lab techs aren't the main problem, the one who had the idea for this god forsaken place in the first place. No. Awen's resentment would all fall on Moreau's shoulders. Not for herself, of course, she honestly was starting to enjoy herself on the island, but for all the other islanders who are absolutely devistated with it.

She just hoped no one like Jamal saw her. Even if they did she supposed she could always just say she was going in for - She shook her head. Only use an excuse if it was an emergency, if anyone else saw her she would tell the truth. She smiled again grinning at the thought of dinner with Sabin.

"Well then I am glad to hear it!" She could hear his smile through the intercom. "I shall investigate what needs to be done and when it can be and get back to you to let you know." He jotted a few notes down to remind himself.

"Sure! I can't wait to hear back from you." She barely surpessed a giggle. Let's try not to give it all away right now. Still she couldn't wipe that stupid grin off her face.

"You will be hearing from me, I assure you." He said smoothly.

Awen nodded and was bouncing on the balls of her feet with a newfound energy. "Alright Sabin. I'll talk to you later then." She was possitively beaming as she spun on her heel and glanced over to the flowers on the table. They were starting to look like they were dying but Awen would preserve them as best she could. He really did like her, even invited her for dinner. This was indeed a great day.

"Until then." Sabin said, his French brogue a tad thicker as the line clicked closed, his expression hidden from her eyes.  

[Awen Zyn]

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