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 Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2005 9:18 pm
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 12:50 am
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Dumping
Ambrose Maurlias With a flurry of movement Ambrose realized that he had made up his mind. He felt the distinct need to be around people. ANyone.... except Angelina or Emelyn. He needed company and support. And food, his stomach prodded. Comfort food if nothing else. The cafeteria seemed the most logical solution. HE hoped to find Amaya... maybe even Greer or the Dude... but as he jogged into the large room, he stopped still. He was faced with, unlikely enough, a large group of people - none of which had begun to change. Jamal included - who the last time he had seen him he had succeeded in making him feel worse. The blue-haired girl.... he couldn't remember her name. And Joliette... who at least - last he had seen - knew and was dealing with it... and just his luck - someone he didn't know at ALL. A tower of a man with thick red sideburns. "Ohboy..." Ambrose murmured, starting to regret his decision on the cafeteria. Hesitating, shifting from foot to foot indecisively, he finally sucked in his pride - knowing that at LEAST three out of the four people at least KNEW, and got a tray, loaded it up with steak.... and chocolate cake.... and then took a breath before heading over to the group. "H....hi there.." His tail gave a half-hearted wag. His cheeks were wet, and his eyes were bloodshot, if anyone was paying attention to anything other than his other, more notable, appearance.
Jamal_Reedy Jamal gave Joliette a look of faint amusement. "Yeah...I'm hopin' I ain't gonna lose it like dat again...really." That whole thing was embarassing now that he looked back on it, but still his stomach churned unpleasantly as he remembered having to see Ambrose up close and... He lifted his gaze and was promptly greeted with the appearance of the wolfman. He stiffened almost instantly, but then his mind started to scream at him to cool it. This was not new to him...he KNEW what was going on. Settle down...settle down ya dumbass... He managed to squish the urge to flinch for the most part. "Hello...Ambrose," he offered, swallowing hard afterwards.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette pulled up a chair after grabbing some salad, she saw Ambrose come in as well "Hello Ambrose" she greeted. she smiled and looked back to Jamal "When reality hits it hits hard, don't worry, it can happen to any one of us. And I'd love help movin hte boxspring out of there, especially after the top matress landed on awen" she looked a lil sheepish saying that Hearing Chubbs words "I don't think I have the bravery to call up there and ask that..."
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs lowered his hat again when he got giggled at, he didn't mind, it kinda brought some merriment to the situation. Looking back up finally, hearing more company coming, Chubbs blinked as he saw Ambrose, looked down quickly and tried to focus. In his mind he spoke . o O ( Okay, don't over react, you just saw a dog guy. He's still a guy, like yaself. Just treat him like you always wanted to be okay?) Chubbs watched Ambrose fetch himself some food, he looked like he was feeling awkward, He had a remedy for that. With a shy smile Chubbs offered a hand to Ambrose, a sinciere one. " Names Chubbs, forgive me I'm a Noob" He looked at Joliette while he still held his hand out and try to keep a smile. " I need to know, I've.. ah.. this suspicion they'd likely.. well make me a pig... and uh, ... I can find out, if you guys want.. I mean.. I wanna be useful to ya... not just the guy that umm. makes sure ya miss out on donuts" He smiled lightly at his joke
Awen Zyn Feeling Jamal's muscles tense Awen gave his shoulder a little nuzzle. She was reminding him she was there for him... she looked up though at the man. He had...changed a lot more than when she last saw him. Wolf, just like Sabin had said. But still something wasn't quite right...
"Ambrose?" She tested under her breath. "I thought his name was Andy..." She shrunk down on her chair a little bit blushing, glad she hadn't said hi first or she would have made a major goof.
"Um...Hi." She said more strongly and smiled to him.
Giggling at Chubb's new joke...she was giggling a lot.... She shook her head. "I'm really too scared to know.. to be honest... I have some..suspicions..."
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose took a shaking breath as he seated himself, nodding hesitantly to Jamal. At least.... all of them knew, he reassured himself, stisll cursing his bad luck at the assortment of people in the cafeteria. At least Emelyn wasn't there... And, beyond that.... they at least seemed to be trying to pretend things were normal.. and for now... that was good enough. "I... hope you're doing better today, Jamal..." Ambrose forced a smile, after wiping at his eyes. "And Hi, Joli..." He nodded to her. He turned fully to the large man who he hadn' seen before, and looked surprised at the hand before taking it with an air of respect of the courage that he could image that it must have taken. "It's... nice to meet you, er.... Chubbs.." he smiled... although the smile didn't quite seem that enthusiastic. His voice seemed strained. He nodded to Awen, "Yes... it's Ambrose." He confirmed.... "Though... you'll have to forgive me... your name was...?" He sliced roughly at a piece of steak, chewing it roughly before swallowing. His movements were jerky, and after a few bites he ran his han akwardly through his hair.
Jamal_Reedy Jamal broke the odd trance he found himself in and then glanced at Joliette. "Boxpring? Ooh...OH. Sorry, yeah, brotha can help ya out wit' dat wheneva." A light smirk graced his lips at the mention of Awen getting smooshed by the matress...poor thing. Chubbs offer was then given a faint headshake. "Might be betta if I found out fo' maself...I ain't handling second hand info all that well as of late." Then his eyes flitted cautiously to Ambrose, whom had taken a seat next to him. Today though, the intense fear that the wolf might have encountered that day was muted..it was more of an uneasiness than anything. He noted the younger man's fidgetting. "You a'ight?"
Joliette Rigiel "I won't stop you chubbs, but they may not tell you other people's info. I certainly don't want to press 0 again after my last experience" she made a disgusted face "Thanks Jamal" she said and looked towards ambrose when Jamal spoke to him pausing with her food, his question seemed accurate, Ambrose soomed , well she wasn't sure, but not his usual optomistic self
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs felt a lil deflated, back home he had a reason, he was somebody to someone... the kids. Even if that's all he had, it still made him a better person knowing that. Here, he was really nothing, nothing useful he could do, and the only thing he thought to do, no one really wanted. Awens giggles helped though, she was good to be around. Chubbs shook the hand of Ambrose, it felt so furry, and he smiled at least, was a good thing. He looked bout as nervous to meet him as Chubbs was of Ambrose. He sorta felt out of place here, seems people were already friends, and he was just meeting them. Ambrose's steak looked good, Chubbs needed something to occupy himself before he lost it in front of them " I'll just, umm .. find out bout me.. see how I go. Hmm, think I'll go get something" Chubbs got up and headed over to the food with shuffled feet and hands in pockets.
Awen Zyn Awen shifted a little bit n her chair. Something seemed to be wrong with Ambrose... now that Jamal had mentioned it. "I'm um..Awen..." She said meakly to his question looking concerned for the furry guy. But...she didn;t really know what to say and something shifted inside of her.
All of a sudden she just had to clear out. Something about being around people right then made her stomach turn around. She looked between the four others and gave a little smile.
"Hey uh... you know I think I need some air..." She stood up slowly. "I'm gonna head out and...catch you guys later okay?" She gave Jamal a small kiss on hte cheek and everyone else a wave.
She waited for their responces if any then turned and headed towards the door.
Before she left she paused. "Feel better Ambrose..." She said softly before turning and heading out.
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose looked back to Jamal, pleasantly surprised at the question. He HAD come here to talk.... he had just hoped to encounter some of hte people he knew better.... who he had already begun to tell of his situation here... that miht be able to understand better... or offer advice. Now, if he wanted to talk, there was.... a lot to talk about to say the least. An ear flicked back at Jamals question. "Not... not so much, really..." Ambrose winced. "It.... it's a long story." He sighed. Looking back to Chubbs he ran a hand through his blonde hair again. "I'm sorry... Chubbs" It sounded as if he was having difficulty calling the big man that, like it should be an insult instead of a name. But he had gotten used to Dude at least. "I... it's been a rough morning for me.... it's not that I am not pleased to meet you... and more so that at least my presence alone isn't calling for a barrage of questions." He wasn't sure if he could handle that this morning. He nodded to him as he went to go fetch himself some food, taking the opportunity to take several more hungry bites of his own. He mused over the topic of coversation. Despite his own change, it suddently became very relevant all over again. Ambrose considered himself having been exceedingly lucky... but now it was time to play roulette all over again. "I... assume from the conversation... you guys sound worried about your serums..." He winced. "I.... know how you feel." Ambrose lookd up suddenly as Awen shot up. HE was about to repeat the formalized greeting when she shot up. In his state of mind, he was about to worry that it was something he said when she gave a sincere well-wishing. However, the peck to Jamal's cheek, while it gave a small smile, only seemed to aggravate the issues in his mind.
Jamal_Reedy Jamal managed true sympathy for Ambrose but was interrupted as Awen flittered up from her seat with a declaration for a need of air and kissed him on the cheek. "I'll be out in a bit, a'ight?" he said before she managed to disappear, then turned back to the group. The mention of uncertainty over the serums made him nod and grimace, a hand passing uneasily through the parts of his cornrows. "I ain't got no idea what they got in store fo' me....dat's what be worryin' me."
Joliette Rigiel "Bye Awen" Joliette called to her as she left and looked towards the others once more "You know Ambrose, if you need ears, theres none better then your fellow islanders" she said softly "And yes, concern over hte serums is high, I worry Sabin may have chosen one that is not vegetarian or vegan" she paled slightly at the thought
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs blinked, midway through putting a couple of hamburgers on a plate. Ambrose was sorry. Chubbs turned about a bit, listening to him. Ambrose was having problems, of course he was, but Chubbs hadn't thought about that, he was worried bout himself. Chubbs felt a twinge of guilt, he wanted to make Ambrose feel better some how. " It's okay, it's the name right?" Chubbs made his way back to the table, settling down in his chair. " It's ..ummm really fine, I..I gave myself the name... I'd rather had been called that than hefher, or, ya know?" Chubbs looked between the three, leaning on the table. " I'm gonna find..umm.. find out... I hope... but I know I'm new... and ah all.. and you don't know me... I'm not going anywhere... and I'm a great listener....ask my mum" He gave a bit of a smile
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose decided that, for the moment, perhaps it would be easier to talk with them about their anxieties. Perhaps that way, at least, he could try to not worry so much about his own and... in a way.... maybe even figure out a way to help Angelna with some of her own fears. "I... know another person.... who just arrived." He fidgeted for a moment, took a bite of steak. "She's really worried about that as well.... as am I. I was spared... really.. this waiting period. I was the fist one here to change to my knoweldge. But that brought with it a whole different set of issues." Ambrose smiled to Chubbs. He couldn't help it, he seemed like a nice guy, and another person who didn't deserve to be here. "Yeah... I'm sorry - I mean, I see what you're saying, but me, I'd just call you whatever you'd like to be called.... or your real name.... And good luck - that takes a lot of courage. I hope that it's something that you can live with." He replied hoenstly. Ambrose looked at Joliette consideringly. "I don't know this... Sabin fellow.... but I've seen the technicians make decisions that seem.... cruel... in a word. A woman, Cassidy... terrified of snakes... and I'll give you two guesses what serum they gave her. I know that this probably isn't sounding comforting" Ambrose backtracked, miserably. "I'm probably just making things sound worse." He sighed deeply, looked to his three companions, then took a risk. "Have.... have any of you... ever known somone you really care about.... and something happend between you and you thought that things were irreparable.... or that you'd never... you know... see eachother again..... then... surprise!" He held his hands out, his voice mimicking the scared smile on his face. "And it's wonderful to see her.... but there are.... complications... beyond that.... LOTS .... of complications..."
Jamal_Reedy Jamal silently cursed, his worries confirmed as Ambrose explained the Doctor's evil nature...purposefully picking out things that their captive wouldn't like. However, Ambrose started to speak again of a situation that he'd sort of been in before...but somehow there was enough of a difference to it to where he didn't agree nor disagree. he just listened.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette put her salad fork down and leaned on the table "No, but perhaps getting it off your chest will help Ambrose" she said softly trying to be as supportive as she could given the circumstanses
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs smiled a bit at Ambrose, he was a nice guy, kinda like a drinking buddy. " Chubbs is fine, I uh kinda got use to it now" He took a big bite out of his burger, it may have been huge for others, but that was normal for Chubbs, he had a big mouth. Chubbs listened to Ambrose, who seemed to have trouble explaining. Afterwards, He offered a situation, and hoped maybe it would sounds similair. " I ... ah well, my dad... he um.. walked out on mum... and I found him , like down the pub, I umm got a bit mad and broke his nose" Chubbs blushed a bit, and looked down at his food and not the others. " Been like 4 years since I had... umm... senn him.. and I well... he came for my grandfather's funeral... I thought I'd like never see him again"
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose shrugged, feeling rather on-the spot. There was so much background. "It.... it's really a long story..." He said with a shake of his head. He raised his eyebrows at Chubb's story. "Ouch..." He shifted a bit awkwardly. By the sounds of things: a father who walked out on his mother and a deceased grandfather, Chubbs had had his experience of hardships. Ambrose's relationship problem now seemed... well... definately differet. Finally, he took a breath. "Back home... I had been in a wonderful relationship.... we had been seeing eachother for about three years... Angelina.... well... she was wonderful. I had thought maybe someday we'd.... you know.... get married. Then.... THIS happened. I get whisked away to this Island. Supposedly for 'two weeks'. My heart is broken when I hear the truth. I never... you know.... even really got to say good bye. From what I Hear, I assume they tell her I died somehow. For the longest time, I hold out hope that maybe, someday, somehow, I 'll see her again.." He swallowed. "Then I got my third injection. And things ... reality, I guess... crashes down around my now furry ears. They're never going to let me go. Even if I escape, they say I' get cancer and probably die a horrible, painful death. So I start to try to face the hard facts that I will probably never see her again.... I'm lonely.... I need someone to confide in... to.... you know... share things with.... and I start to move on... Emelyn.... Emelyn is a wonderful person. She really has been helping me through this - see the better sides of things, make me smile, and listen to my concerns - no matter how selfish or stupid they might be. The other night... we got closer..." He blushed. "Then... y..yesterday...." He took a breath. "Angelina.... she.... she showed up. HERE. She... she was looking for me... she never gave up hope.... she dug too deep and they lured her here to 'see me'. Now she's trapped here too. And... and God I missed her so much. But... now she's trapped here. I mean, I woudln't wish this on my enemies let alone her.. But I feel guilty for enjoying seeing her. But.... but I admit... Emelyn... and she's upset - rightfully so! But.... what can I do to help her understand I stilll love her.... and.. and... Emelyn! I really do care for her.... and she needs someone here as well... and and..." He dropped his face to his chin. "I don't know what to do...." He whimpered. Ambrose really, REALLY wished that there were still alcohol on the island.
Jamal_Reedy Ouch...this was QUITE the situation Ambrose had caught himself in. Sadly, he was so poor at really offering serious advice and felt he was more or less taking up important space here in a council that he had little to offer. "s**t man, I wish I could offa some help, but...damn," he said lamely, shifting in his seat until he finally stood up. "This sorta stuff I ain't so good at...so I'mma excuse maself. Gotta go find Awen anyway and make sure she a'ight." He did offer Ambrose a pat on the shoulder as he slipped around; he really was trying very hard to deal with all these changes. "Ya'll have a good one, a'ight?" he said in his most friendly manner, though still it sounded a little curt, before disappearing in the same direction as the blue haired woman.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette frowned slightly "That is a sticky situation Ambrose, I can certainly see your point of thoughts, I can't blame you for it, it's likely to be a rough road ahead, If love is true though Angelina will see you didn't mean to hurt her, as for Emelyn, that weels like a trickier situation, I'm not certain I could give advice there"
Chubbs MacKraken Every Insult fly into Chubbs' mind to through at the people that did this. Not only did this poor guy lose everything, had to suffer like he had, then they throw in the person he most cared about and made him watch her suffer too. Chubb's frowned and tried to hide the fact he was just about to shed tears. " ... I...... woa... you ah, told her at .. um least.... you did the right thing...But I've... I ah... never like kissed a girl yet... so... I'd try to ... help but umm, ya may think me silly" Chubbs didn't even blush that time, his fingers were white from his clenched hand, he wanted to yell at the idiots who did this. He could handle what happened, but no one deserved what Ambrose got
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose nodded to Jamal as he got up to go. "Thanks for listening... at least. And... uhm... good luck with Awen. She seemed like something startled or upset her." He nodded his thanks at the shoulder pat. He looked in turn to Joliette. "I... I certainly hope she will come around.... admittedly... she's had quite the shock with .... well... everything hitting her at once. I wish I Didn't haven't to be the bearer of bad news to her of all people... But I really really don't know what to say to Emelyn.... especially since she already felt kind of left behind in favor of another with another person here already... that will remain nameles...." Ambrose blinked at Chubbs, then at Joliette and put a hand to his forehead. Ambrose hardly considered himself an expert at the whole dating thing, but to have met two people in as many days who had NEVER had a relationship before? And add that to Greer... and these were older people... "Well.... thanks..." He said awkwardly. "I think it's best I told her too.... I think it would have been worse to not tell her... have this secret that ate at me. Even though it was an inopportune time.... I couldn't keep that from her." Ambrose frowned as well, and took several big bites out of the steak with a sigh. With Jamal gone... and as little as he admittedly would trust dating suggestions from a gansta.... that left two people with NO experience, and his heart sunk deeper. "I... should probably.. I don't know.... get back or something." He looked at the uneaten piece of chocolate cake. "I wonder if I can even eat that now.... isn't chocolate poisenous to.... canines..?" Ambrose winced, looking as if he just got a moutful of something distasteful.
Joliette Rigiel "I truly wish you the best with that Ambrose, honest I do." she sighed softly, suddenly her problems didn't seem quite so bad "I don't think poisoness" she said quietly "And please remind me not to press 0 any time in the near future"
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs looked at the cake, as the oppurtunity hit, he thought he could lighten the mood, even if he was pissed. " Ya can .. ah..always rely on me for.. like, food disposal, ... if not.. to listen" He smiled on one corner of his mouth, he tried but the feeling wasn't there. He felt completely useless, and it was aweful. But he tried his best. " The well.. see.. it's.. not like I don't want a girlfriend... I just.. couldn't find one... and ah...well... those that.. well sit on the side and watch.. kinda learn alot" Chubbs stroked his fuzzy cheek. " I .. I can't know what it'd be like in .. well your shoes... but Em..Em ah, I forgot her name..I think you should let her know... like umm soon.. and from you...... If ya like... I can be there for ya?"
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose took a breath and summoned a weak smile for the two of them. "Thanks... I... I know it's not going to be easy... in any aspect. But honestly, thanks for listening, both of you." He gave a more sincere smile to Chubbs as he patted his cheek. He really did seem like a nice guy. "Help yourself." He said, sliding the plate in the big man's direction. "And good luck to you here. If you need someone else to listen to anything of yours. Well, I'm in Duplex 1." He offered, standing. A nap sounded exceedingly nice. With the stress and the full belly, he could shut out the world for a while. Then.... deal with relationship issues.
Joliette Rigiel "Sleep well Ambrose, and best of luck" Joliette said with a soft smile truly hoping he did have good luck.
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs waved to Ambrose, sighed and looked to Joliette, then stood up. " I have to get to my ah..room, take care of some things ...ya know?...Anything ya need ....umm request wise I can put in? He headed over to the door, shuffling, just to the left he found his boxing bag and with a grunt, hoisted it onto his shoulders and turned back to Joliette.
Joliette Rigiel "No I should be fine thanks Chubbs, I dont need more Naff clothing Appreciate the offer though, see you soon" She sighed and looked down at her plate and just picked at it for a while
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs nodded, waved a little and headed out. Even though there were neighbours she'd probably pass him anyway.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette eventually gave up eatting and left as well returning to her own duplex |
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:35 pm
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Amaya Changes to 50%, More Dumping, and Advice
Ambrose had just left the cafeteria, sighing in frustration. His hands were shoved in his pockets, his shoulders were slumped, and he was making a general heading towards his room, a nice nap in mind to shut out the world and his problems for a while.
He was frustrated that, despite dumping his feelings on some people he barely knew in the cafeteria, and while they expressed sympathy and listened to him, none of them could really help -nor did any of them even know him very well. He had wished he had run into someone he knew better - except Emelyn of course. Ironically, in any other situation, Emelyn probalby would have been the best help.
As he was walking, however, he saw a familiar looking batgirl, and a heavily obscured figure heading out of Amaya's duplex. After pausing a few moments, he walked in their direction, trying to peer under the hood.
His brow furrowed It WAS Amaya... but... ..... were... weren't there more scales down there than before.
"Hey Hargun... Amaya." Ambrose smiled weakly in greeting.
Hargun noticed Ambrose comming, and looked rather nervous.. not sure if Amaya really wanted anyone else to see her right now, but surely she wouldnt care if Ambrose did.
"Hey Ambrose." she said softly, and looked at Amaya. "We were out to get some.. fresh air."
Amaya had just stepped off the stairs when she heard Ambrose's voice. Her shoulders gave a shudder and she looked down, the hood hiding her face. Even though most of her body was hidden; especially her new tail and larger hands, nothing could hide her larger feet tipped with sharp claws that clicked on the stairs or the sidewalk around the duplexes. "H-Hey Ambrose..."
It wasn't like she didn't want him to see her, in all honest he was one of the few people she would have ran to if she haden't conked out of it.
Hesitantly she pulled one of her large hands from the pocket of the hoodie and used a finger to push the hood back so he could see her face. Though her eyes remained closed, not wanting to see his initial reaction.
Ambrose jogged closer to the pair of girls, his tail giving a slight wag, though it did seem halfhearted.
Ambrose could sense the tension as he arrived. It seemed like everyone was having a bad day due to one thing or anothe, even all things considered with being stuck on an island and turning into an animal.
"I'm glad I ran into you guys." He said truthfully. "I was about to just head -" He almost said 'home'. He swallowed. "Back to my duplex. It's been a long d-"
Ambrose stopped as Amaya pulled back the hood. NO wonder the tension! Poor Amaya. A small whine came from him, his ears drooping sympathetically. "You... changed again too, Amaya?" It seemed to come from left field - were the doctors testing different reaction times to the serums, or something? There were people here for weeks who hadn't changed for the first time, and Amaya had transformed long after he had the fist time.... and yet here she was changed again. It's like they couldn't relax and just assume stabilization for a while.
Without a nother word, Amrose stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her, patting her on the back. IT was more than obvious that she wasn't used to the changes yet. "You stll look lovely, Amaya.." He said softly.
Hargun nodded as Ambrose mentioning her changes. "Poor thing.. found her passed out on her bed with vomit in the floor. And here we are outside." she said and patted Amaya on the back as well.
"We were gonna head down to the cafeteria too to get some food. Indeed.. its been a long and traumatizing day." she said and glanced at Ambrose's drooping ears for a bit. Interesting how he could now so easily show emotion with them. Harg's ears wouldnt move much so it just seemed rather curious.
For the most part Amaya didn't reply, keeping her eyes closed and her head down until Ambrose hugged her. She wanted to cry, but couldn't. Instead she settled for hugging him back with her one exposed hand, though after feeling it almost cover the width of his back her hand twitched and she pulled it back away to shove into the hoodie. "Thanks... Ambrose."
After parting the hug (the feeling of his arms pressing onto the spikes on her back through the hoodie was still a bit sore) she gave him a small forced smile and let Hargun do the talking for her. Right now she really wasn't up to talking about her own previous drama.
After his squeeze, he gave her a couple small pats on the back, feeling a part of a line of flimsy spikes down the back, and he more than understood her desire for the hoodie.
Ambrose parted and looked to Hargun. "Food is always good after the change, I've noticed." Ambrose said softly. "I just came from the cafeteria." He ruffled her hair through the hood with a small smile. "I... I'm guessing it was painful." He said ,feeling stupid for stating the obvious. "I'm sorry, Amaya.... But we" He looked to Hargun "Both of us know how you feel. And I'm not going to look at you any differently, you understand? No matter how much you change. You're still my new little sister." He gave a small smile agan. Even saying this was helping him feel a bit better as well.
"I just had an awkward situation in the cafeteria.... ran into four people - none of which had changed... thank god at least all of them knew.... but I had been hoping to run into one of you guys ..... I... heh..... I've been having an... awkward.... day... to say the least?"
Hargun smiled warmly. It was really sweet, this little sibling relationship between Ambrose and Amaya. Almost made her wanna cry.
"Eww.. four people? And not changed either.." she said quickly. She turned to Amaya. "..You sure you wanna go? I could grab you something and come back quickly.. maybe Ambrose would come?" she asked. "Of course though.. sounds like you wanted to get out of there.." she said scratching at the back of her head with her finger.
"Yeah, I just hope I can keep it down." Amaya admitted, letting the hood she was wearing up a little so that some of her face could still be seen. For the most part she was feeling a little better, but her stomach was twisting it's way out of the emotional trauma from earlier... hopefully once she actually got around to looking at herself nothing that drastic would happen.
She gave a small smile to Ambrose and nodded, knowing full well that both of them probably had a harder time then she had. Or at least she told herself that for now since it would probably help her from pittying herself even more then she was now.
Though upon hearing the tone of Ambrose's voice she raised a brow and looked up at him. "Awkward? How so? ... Besides the cafeteria thing." Good, switch over to him and away from her. The more she could focus on others the more she could put her newest change in the back of her mind.
Glancing to Hargun she thought for a moment and then nodded. "Yeah... I'd appriciate it. I dunno if I can handle a crowd right at the moment." Back-stepping a little she sat herself down on the steps they had come down from, moving around until her tail comfortably semi-curled itself around and it had enough room behind her. Amaya hated asking so much from others, but dealing with a large group of people right now was really low on the priority list.
Ambrose took a seat next to Amaya on the steps.
"Yeah... honestly... I don't think I particularly wanted to go back just yet myself, either." He spoke softly.
He looked to Hargun. "would you mind? Just run in, grab something and come back? I'll keep her company here."
He scratched the back of his hand. "I.... I know you're going through a lot, Amaya... everyone is today it seems. I don't want to ladel my problems onto you as well." He winced. "You need support right now. Transforming is NEER an easy thing." He swallowed. "For any of us. At least, you don't have to go through what the people in the cafeteria are facing now - none of them knew what they were becoming, and they were scared to find out. I neer really thought about it before as Ichanged first and didn't know it was coming... but with you... and everyone else... the waiting must have been horrible... knowing that somethign was going to happen to change what you were going to be for the rest of your life..."
Hargun nodded and started walking.
"Hows a nice salad sound?" she shouted back grinning, then made a quick trot until she was out of sight.
"I'll be alright. Maybe even now I can figure out what I am... haven't had the stomach to really look at myself yet." Amaya leaned foreward, removing her large hands from the pocket and drapping them over her knees. Her long toes curled around the step below her, as if to hold onto whatever she was sitting on.
"Actually, talking about other people's problems will probably help me forget about my own..." She managed a tiny smile and looked up at him.
"Thanks a lot, Hargun." Amaya nodded to her and watched her walk off.
"Thanks, Hargun" Ambrose said appreaciatively.
He looked over to Amaya. "Well, at least you've known that you're not becoming... like... an insect or something." Ambrose shuddered. "And lizards can be cute." He smiled, sounding honest. There were a lot worse things he could picture.... admittedly, he was thankful of his own condition...
"And..... you're sure..?" Ambrose hesitated, looking down at his feet... next to Amaya's long-toed feet.
"You.... know Emelyn and I Have been getting closer, right...? And... uhm... how I was also really having a hard time... letting myself move on because of Angelina...?"
Amaya smiled slightly and nodded, thankful for his comfort. "I'm sure."
She then listened to him, having noticed a small spark between him and Emelyn during the night of the Halloween party and the time after Ambrose had changed. "Yeah, I know about all that..." She raised a brow, wondering what was wrong.
Ambrose nodded, shuffling his foot around in the dirt. "Well... we've been doing a lot of talking... she's really... really sweet... and has really helped me keep my head here - kept me tethered to reality, you know?"
He took a breath in preparation. "Well, I was finally.. finally starting to think I could move on. And we kissed! And.... it was really nice. And then...."
He swallowed. "The unthinkable happened... Angelina.... showed up... here.... yesterday." "Andit'swonderfultoseeher! I mean I LOVE her sooo much... but I'm scared for her - and I never wanted her to have to go through this... no one deserves this! And... She's upset- rightfully so - that I started to move on - when she hung onto me so tight - so much that she FOUND me - well, traced things to feral labs and they bribed her to keep her mouth shut long enough to bring her here..... And how am I going to tell Emelyn??! I really care for her.... and I don't want to hurt her..." He trailed off.
Amaya listened to him in silence, only moving to jump and stare at him wide-eyed at the mention of Angelina winding up here just because she had been so determined to track her loved one down.
Once he had finished she looked back ahead, but didn't say anything. Her brow furrowed and she looked deep in thought as she muddled over her big brother's situation.
"Well, it's clear that you love Angelina more then Emelyn, right? Any person would have probably started to move on." Her tiny shoulders gave a shrug. "There probably isn't any way for you to break it to Emelyn without hurting her. Your just going to have to confront her, jump into the fact that Angelina ended up here. Though make sure you tell her that you still like her as a friend... even though I'm not sure if that'll help much or not. As for Angelina... give her some space. If you told her all what's going on then she's probably got a lot on her mind. Prolly needs time to think everything over."
After all that she paused and pursed her lips. "Or at least that's what I assume is the best course of action. I've never been in a relationship."
Ambrose nodded, listening to Amaya quietly. He was continuously impressed by the wisdom the girl had.
Admittedly, many of the thing she said were thing she himself had thought. But, hearing someone else say them, confirm them, helped so much.
"You're right.." He said. "I do love her... I've been going out with Angelina since I was seventeen... over three years now. I've only been gone from her for three months. I am not about to lose the bond we had just because I was away from her for a few months doesn't change that. I'm not that fickle. And... I think you're right... I dumped so much on her in such a short period fo time. I just... it hurts to see her upset... especially because of me. And it's my fault that she's here... that she's not back at home, happily living her life."
His ears drooped in response to the 'no way to tell Emelyn without hurting her' line.
"I wish there were an easy way. I mean... I DO care about her... that's why... well..... you know. I don't want to lose her trust and companionship just BECAUSE we were so close." He sighed heavily. "Relationships aren't fair sometimes, Amaya." He turned and gave her a small smile. "Although you've always been very smart for your age." He ruffled her hair again. "An a great listener."
Hargun returned, a tray full of food for Amaya, and a mouth full of chocolate ants.
"Did someone order a salad?" she called and brought the tray to Amaya. "Hope Im not.. interupting anything.. now." she said smiled embarassedly, then took a seat on a step bellow Ambrose and Amaya.
Don't feel quilty. Even though right now she might be upset with you, I highly doubt that would make her break up with you... I mean, she risked enough to get herself in this situation. You couldn't stop her since you had already been lured in. The only one to blame is of course, Moreau. If he had given her some sort of closure or something she wouldn't be here right now in the same position we're all in... though don't get me wrong, now that she's here you'll both be able to sort of have closure in a different way. To live your lives out here and help each other through it."
Amaya smiled a little as he ruffled her hair and gave her the compliments. "It's because I like listening to others and trying my best to help them out. It keeps me from dwelling on my own problems... Though I don't think I'm any more smart then others my age. I didn't even finish my highschool education."
Spotting Hargun she smiled and took the salad bowl, able to hold it in her large palm without any problem. "Thanks a lot Hargun." Taking the fork between her thumb and forefinger she stabbed at the lettuce, pondering whether she could down it or not.
Ambrose nodded. "I... had assumed that they told her I was dead...." He sighed. "One reason I finally decide that there was nothing I could do to ever see her again. And I think you're right.... I'm giving her space now.... I just want t see her happy again... and... and I'm scared for her... I have seen them give people serums to be spiteful it seems..."
He tried to picture him and her... living out their lives.... could it be happy here? Him a wolf, her.... something.... and yet still being there... together. Maybe, it wouldn't be so bad? Amaya would be there - a little sister.... they had friends... there were other good people.. they had food. He could still do fencing... just not the Olympics...
He looked over to her with a small smile. "Well... Most people don't need to really - High School tends to teach to the lowest denomination if you catch my drift... most people who can think like you do could pass their GEDs before even starting High School I bet.... course if you care about classic literature or math... I bet you could get Moreau to get you some schoolbooks..."
He looked up as Hargun got back with a smile. "Hi again.... and thanks" He smiled gesturing to the food.
Hargun smiled, feeling glad she actually did something helpful for once in a while.
"Hmm.. you guys talking about school?" she asked and continued to munch on the ants. "Sure.. Moreau get us books. Though hed probably get us low level books, thinking we're so inferior to him.." she coughed. "Sorry.. negative comments need to stay in my head.."
"Yeah, know what you mean... You could always ask them, though." Amaya shrugged and stabbed at some of the lettuce before eating it, her fingers mostly curled into a fist to keep them out of the way.
Well, it seemed she was able to stomach a little bit of food for now.
"I'd much rather just live off the knowledge I know then ask Moreau for anything. I can see him doing just that." She said with spite to Hargun's assumption, her tail giving a little aggrivated thud against the step above her before going silent once more. Amaya winced, but tried to ignore the new feeling of having a tail that pretty much only acted on instinct.
Ambrose frowned and shrugged. "Who knows..." he sighed. "I don't know anymore. He gives us... gifts... parties.... all the while screwing us over. Maybe ask Aubrey - she seems at least genuine about wanting us to be... content here." He shrugged.
Ambrose quietly looked over at Amaya's changed hands and glanced behind her at the tail, then back to her, smiled to see her having her appetite back. "It... gets easier..." He gave her a small smile. until the next change that is...
"Hm... yes, Aubrey has been a lot of help towards us.. but do you think Moreau would let her?" Hargun pondered then frowned a bit. It was Aubrey that gave her the first injection.. and something told her that Aubrey had a lot to do with the choice of it. She wouldnt dwell on that again right now though.
"Hmm.. dont bats have tails?" Hargun asked and turned to look at her bum, expecting one to be there that she never noticed for some reason.
"Aubrey is that woman who was at the Halloween party, right?" Before then Amaya had never known about her, save for a few things people said about her being one of the better staff members. After taking another bite of her salad, she noticed Ambrose's gaze and held out her free hand to look at it.
Her body started to shudder and her stomach gave another lurch, but she tried to act like nothing happened and grabbed her fork again. "Yeah, I'll get used to it eventually."
"I didn't think bats had tails." Amaya blinked and raised a brow up at her batty friend while taking another stab at her salad. She was starving both from the change and the fact that she had expelled what little food she had eaten the day before, but could only eat at a rather slow pace since her stomach was still trying to protest sometimes.
Ambrose blinked at Hargun and shook his head. "I... don't know really. There are some books on them in the entertainment room, though, Hargun. I mean... I think we're all changing differently.... different rates, different features.... aside from just different animals." But we're all goign to end up at the same ... state... right? Or will some of us end up more animalistic than others...? It made sense, and was something that hadn't occurred to him. This was experimental, and they changed at different rates.... why not more or less animalistic at the end...? He seemed more animalistic than Amaya or Hargun or Greer .... would that be indicative of the end result..?
So much on his mind. He shook his head with a sigh.
"And you can let me know if you ever need to talk more, Amaya." He gave her a tired smile.
"But... for now.. I think I need some sleep." His tail thumped a few times after stifling a yawn. The food was still sitting heavy in his stomach, and he was feeling tired after all of the ... heavy subjects.
"Different features.. ah yes. I keep forgetting these.." she said and tried to look at her horns and failed.
"I guess I should drop by the entertainment room as soon as I can. Although there isnt much mroe to know about bats than I already do.. unless theres some mysterious bull-horned bat or something." she snorted then watched Ambrose yawn.
"I guess we'll see you later then? Hope you get a good rest." she said.
Amaya nodded to Ambrose and smiled up at him. "Alright, and same to you. If you need any feminine advice." She gave a small chuckle. "Tell Angelina I said hi once things wind down a bit." She wanted to hug him, but the feeling of her large hands were still awkward to her, so she merely tried to give him a reassuring look.
"I've actually been reading a few lizard books but from what I looked like before I couldn't really get a clear image of what they're turning me into. Maybe now I can... in awhile." She still needed time to even look at herself, let alone from head to toe and then read about what she was becoming.
Ambrose stood, smiling to Hargun and Amaya with a small chuckle. "Thanks for listening... and for your advice, Amaya. You'll be the first to know if I need anything more from a female perspective." He winked. " And I'll definately let her know.... and hopefully be able to introduce you guys sometime soon."
He took the initiative and rached out to give her another quick hug again, then, with a smile, gave one to Hargun as well. Ambrose was, slowly but surely, becoming more of a touchy person. It.... felt right. Comforting.
"Good luck to the both of you. Maybe we can find a way sometime to help eachother learn more about ... well... what we're becoming in a less painful way together." his tail gave a bit of a way.
"But I shall see you guys later." With a wave, he headed back to his duplex, and to some quiet rest.
Hargun waved as Ambrose left. "Thanks for the hug." she smiled. "See yah."
She wished everyone on the island would all come together and form one whole family together. Although they were stuck together, it didnt mean everyone had to squabble all the time. Luckily she had friends like Ambrose and Greer.
"Hmm.. whose this Angelina of Ambrose's?" she asked Amaya as soon as he was gone. She had never seen that picture he had or heard him talk about her before.
"Take care Ambrose." Amaya called after him, refusing the urge to wave her grotesqly large hands. She took another stab of her salad and ate it. "Angelina is Ambrose's girlfriend. They've been going out for about 3 years before he got stuck here. He thought he'd never see her again so started to move on... then she ended up on his doorstep the other day. He says they brought her here because she wouldn't stop looking for him." |
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Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 2:23 pm
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Apologies
Angelina spent a while sitting on the bed of the empty room, crying. She needed a few minutes to think on her own, without Ambrose there to ask her anymore questions or dump any new information on her.
She puttered around the room, looking in the empty minifride and unpacked a few of the things she didn't expect she would be using. She planned on spending most of her time with Ambrose.
Finally, she headed back to Ambrose's duplex and was upset to find out he wasn't there. Afraid, and not knowing anyone else, she sat down in the chair and rested her head on her knees, waiting for him.
After speaking with Amaya and Hargun,Ambrose finally headed back to his room, intending on closing out the world and the problems for a while. He hadn't expected, when he opened the door, for Angelina to have returned.
"Angelina...?" He asked softly, feeling guilty for not having hurried back after he ate breakfast now. But then again, perhaps he would not have been as well prepared to face her again had he not spoken with Amaya about how he felt.
His tail gave a hopeful wag, and he slipped inside, shutting the door softly behind him. "I... I'm sorry." He began.
Angelina looked up as the door opened. "Hey," she said meekly. "Where were you?" Angelina wondered if he ran off to talk to ... the other woman. Angelina was beginning to think she overreacted...she didn't even know her name.
Ambrose gave a small shrug, smiling just a little bit as he didn't detect the anger in her voice anymore. "Just to the cafeteria... I... tend to have a rather substantial appetite when I get up." He scratched his arm. "And... I ran into someone on the way back I spoke to for a little bit. She... she just went through another change, and we talked for a little bit." He replied honestly.
He walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed closest to the chair, and gave her a impressively accurate puppy-dog look.
Angelina reached out and caressed the side of his face, reached around and scratching instinctively scratching behind his ears. "Was it... her?" Now Angelina had moved into the morbidly curious phase.. wanting to know everything about her and what she was like and what exactly they did, even though she knew it would be painful to hear.
Equally instinctively, Ambrose closed his eyes and leaned into the scratching while his tail began thumping against the mattress.
"No... I haven't seen her... since before you came. Honestly, I'm glad - it's not going to be an easy conversation. It was Amaya - she was only fifteen when she got here." A small smile. "She's kind of.... adopted me as a big brother. Really sweet kid."
Angelina's eyes widened. "Fifteen...?" She shook her head sadly. "Thats horrible - I mean, about being here that young. She couldn't have picked a better big brother than you, though." She gave a weak smile. Suddenly feeling small and childlike herself, she moved over to the bed and curled into his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck and nuzzlig into his chest - needing the comfort.
"It really is... I mean she had her whole life ahead of her... She was an orphan - adopted by one of the workers here to bring." His expression darkened. "But... you know I always wanted a little sibling - and she's great. Very bright for her age - and looks up to me, ya know? I'm even starting to teach her how to fence; she's really enthusiastic about it."
He whimpered softly as she sidled over to him, and he held her to him, feeling reassured by her presensce in his arms. "I'm sorry I dumped everything on you all at once.. I just... I didn't want to hold anything from you. I figured if I didn't say it... it would just get harder.. and harder to say."
"I know. And I know you're right. Ambrose, but its just so hard to hear. So hard... and I guess the thought of you moving on...while I'm still here. It just... I don't know. I know you didn't ever thing you'd see me again, and Ambrsoe if something ever happens to me.. I want you to be happy. But just... its all seesm so soon to me. I guess just because I've been so driven. And I didn't KNOW if I would ever see you again or not. WHile you.. you knew you wouldn't. Or...thought you wouldn't..
I just... yeah. It was so much at once, even if I needed to hear it. I'm... I'm sorry I yelled at you. I should be thanking you for being honest.
I love you Ambrose. More than anything. Especially now... if what you say is true... then you're all I have."
Ambrose held her and watcher her as she spoke, letting her express her feelings and the result of her thoughts before responding.
He squeezed her tighter and placed a small kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry... I... I couldn't shake the feelng that I was cheeting on you. Even though everyone was telling me how unrealistic I was being... or that no matter what I wanted... that I was stuck here like everyone else... that nothing was goign to convince the deranged doctor to let us go. And escape was futile. I understand why you yelled. And I wish there were some way I could have contacted you. I would have done so in a heartbeat. Maybe, at least now that you're here, they can give you the letters I wrote you before I knew anything was wrong. I bet they have them." he gave a bitter half-smile.
"I love you too, Angelina. And nothing is going to stop that. Emelyn... she's nice, and I don't want to hurt her... but I mean, I've only really known her for about a month... and we've only been growing closer the last two weeks. I just hope that she will... you know... be alright."
Emelyn. Angelina rolled the name around in her mind and tried to develop a face for it in her head. She felt the bitterness rise up in her chest and she tried to push it down. SHe couldn't be that bad, after all, if Ambrose deemed her good enough.
She frowned as a thought occured to her. Angelina knew that Ambrose had only been with one woman - herself - before. She swallowed. "Did you... you know. Sleep with her?"
Ambrose's eyes widened and his face flushed pink beneath his fur. "N...no! Well, I mean, not like that!" He took a breath. "It only even started to become anything remotely physical... the night before you arrived." He winced. He wished Angelina had chosen to show up a day earlier... hell, a month earlier. But at least a day earlier.
"I... I really was having a hard time ... coping with all of this ... alone. And she was nice... easy to talk to.. and really gave me some perspective that I needed." He stopped and then shook shi head. "I'm sorry, I'm sure you don't want to hear this."
"Not really. But I dunno... part of me does. Needs to." Angelina always wondered if Ambrose secretly resenting the fact that Angelina was not a virgin wen they came together, but he was.
She cleared her throat. "You should.. probably talk to her soon. You know... before she hears from someone else. Something tells me news travels fast here."
Ambrose winced. He hadn't thought about that. "Erg...." It was a conversation he was, above all, NOT looking forward to.
"Angelina... you... you're a woman... how... IS there a way I can tell her... gently? Some way to lessen the pain? I mean, I really don't want to make her hate me. I'd still like to be friends with her...." He trailed of, then looked to Angelina questioningly, wondering if that was even something that she would be comfortable with.
Angelina winced. "You're not going to like this answer, but if she really likes you - and she's be crazy not to - there is no way you can tell her that won't hurt. Especially since, well, I was a threat that was never susposed to happen. She's not going to feel...good enough. I dunno her of course, but she might even feel like she has "right" to you now, and "right thing" to do would be to stay with her."
Angelina frowned, not liking to think about the situation in reverse. It made her feel guilty as well. "I guess really stress that you still care for her. That it was nothing that she did wrong. I dunno. Its awkward. Because I know you're attacted to her romantially, and I don't really see how me just showing up really...changes that.
I know you didn't get over me.. but you did move on. You allowed your heart to open up to someone else. And you can't just... turn that off, you know?"
Ambrose nodded solemnly, his ears drooping. "It... it doesn't change the fact that I still care about her... but... ergg... I do care about you more. I haven't been able to stop thinking about you since I came here. No slight against Emelyn - i DO care for her... but I know you so well - you know me so well.... we're so cut out for eachother it seems - in that weird... opposite way. Maybe, if I had been with her three years, then it would be different... but..." Ambrose was having trouble stringing his throught together. AMbrose had dated off and on before Angelina, but it was never anything serious. There had been breakups before, some of them not exactly a happy mutual parting, but nothing as messy as this already was turning out to be.
He sighed, and ran his hand through his hair. "I'd be happy just being friends... being able to talk with her, be there to support her if she has problems or wanted to talk. Packmates Something deep inside clicked. "But... I don't know how possible that is now."
Angelina just shrugged. "I dunno," she mumbled, feeling bad for Ambrose and a bit guilty.
Ambrose shook his head. "Neither do I.." He sighed. "I'm... I'm just glad that at least you aren't furious with me.... any more." He summoned forth a small smile for her.
Angelina gave a small laugh. "Not as furious."
A lop-sided smile. "And what might I be able to do to get myself into your good-graces, Miss Swanson..?"
Angelina shrugged and gave him a kiss on his cheek. "I missed you," she said simply
His tail started wagging again. "I missed you as well. Every single day." He stroked her hair with a winsome look. A spot of worry behind the loving eyes, the strain of the concept that he still had to tell Emelyn weighing on him
"At they very least... you need to tell her before she hears it from someone else. Something tells me gossip travels fast here."
Ambrose nodded. "I know it does.... and you're right. I will. I promise." .... somehow...
She ran her fingers though his fur, smiling up at him. She didn't really know what to think or do at this point, she was just contest being there with him.
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Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 12:53 pm
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Preadator and Prey?!
Ambrose Maurlias The next day, Ambrose was feeling... at least partially better. Amaya had been right - after having some time to cool down, Angelina had come around, and seemed at least understanding of his actions. She was still overwhelmed - to say the least - but he saw hope. She still wasn't ready to leave the duplex and meet the 'others', however, and Ambrose had volunteered to go to the cafeteria to get some food for her (and probably eat there himself as he wasn't quite sure how she would take his massive apetite for meat.) Seeing that there were people (and familiar looking at least) there already, he first went though the lunch line for himself, getting piles of freshly made steaks before heading back to sit down at the table with a greeting to Amaya, Chubbs, Joliette, and Ian.... where he promptly did a doubletake at Ian. He had changed again... drastically - just as much if not more so than himself. While he may not have been covered completely by fur like he had been, his face was stertched out into a short muzzle, and his antlers had grown to an impressive length. Ambrose... cocked his head as he looked him over, and his stomach gave another kick, reminding him that he hadn't yet eaten today. At first, Ambrose didn't think much of this - it was normal for his early morning state to be hungry, and he picked up his utensils to slice his meat. The smell of the cooked steaks did indeed send his stomach clamboring for him to hurry... but that wasn't the only smell in the proximity - adn the vegetables on the plates of three of the people around him wasn't it. It was then that a cold shudder passed down his back, setting his fur on end for a moment. It... couldn't be... no... he was jsut ungry was all and there was food in front of him. But... the thought of the conversation he had had earlier... abotu predators and prey. Ambrose shoved a bite of meat into his mouth to quell the thought and appetite, hoping desperately that the thoughts didn't show in his eyes. Finally, he spoke up, trying to avoid eye contact with Ian. "Hey, Amaya - I wanted to thank you again for the talk yesterday.." He smiled. "It really did help... and you were right about Angelina at least." He still hadn't seen Emelyn... and he knew he needed to....
Ian Campbell Ian listend to Amaya nodding when appropriate when he heard the cafeteria door opened. Glancing over he spotted someone and stared, his mouth dropping open. A scent reached his nostrils and he became paralyzed with fear, his eyes becoming very wide. It took a few moments, but Ian finally recognized the person as Ambrose. He took deep breaths trying to calm his insticts down, surely Ambrose would not hurt him..he hoped...and prayed. His mind had identified the smell as wolf....someone that could eat Ian. He needed to do something... Stop gaping,he told himself. That is horribly rude. "Morning Ambrose, Joliette." he greeted. "Hast the morning brought good tidings upon the both of thee?" Why the hell couldn't he stop speaking like that....he would have to try to speak normally....but perhaps after he persuaded himself that Ambrose would not eat him.
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs started to eat into his delicious meal heavily, he always took big bites. Some people use to say he was being a pig and he was eating too fast, Chubbs just felt like his mouth was empty with the tiny bites people took. Chubbs watch Ambrose walk into the room, he was something to look at, covered in fur as he was. He remembered the first time he met Ambrose and remembered to be delicate about staring so much. Chubbs didn't want to do what so others had done to him. He gave Ambrose a wave and watched him sit with Amaya and the deer looking guy. Chubbs smirked a bit and looked to Joliette. " This reminds me so much like high school"
Joliette Rigiel "It finds me as well as can be expected Ian thankyou" she said with a smile she replied between bites across the distance between them... She watched him a moment... So different then the first time I saw him she mused remembering her first day there.
She looked at Chubbs when he spoke and chuckled "Aye, though those usually had more people... lets just hope they dont bring that many people here" she agreed then added
Amaya Vaughan "Hi Ambrose." Amaya smiled, having caught that strange hesitance in his eyes when he looked at Ian. Oh no, predator and prey? Would it... would it really get that bad? Would they be driven to cannibalism? The very thought made her shudder. Green eyes looked over to Ian, having seen the feral fear on his face. She frowned sadly and wondered if anyone on the island was going to turn into something that ate iguanas.
"So uh... Angelina isn't as mad anymore? That's good." She tried to smile while taking another bite of her salad. "Talk to Emelyn yet?" Amaya glanced over at Chubbs and Joliette, feeling bad for the two groups to be so segregated.
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose looked over to where the Chubbs and Joliette were sitting, giving them a friendly wave and a smile. It only struck him after he had sat down whether the 'segragation' was due to familiarity.... or how developed they were. Ambrose then swallowed as he caught a different whiff from Ian, Fear. His ears folded to the back of his head - was he having ... instinctual reactions..? No... no - it couldn't be. Ian must just be reaction... to his change! He hadn't seen him like this yet. That was all. "I'm sorry... my appearance is probably rather startling to you" he winced. "I... changed not too long ago myself. I... hadn't seen you since the beach party - I wasn't aware you had changed as well." Ambrose had no idea that this was a recent development for him as well. "I... I'm doing alright. Could be better.... but could always be worse." He gave a small smile. And why was Ian talking like that? He had always been rather... strange... what with that whole 'druid' thing he spoke of... but not THIS odd. Had he?Ambrose shook his head to clear his thoughts and turned to Amaya with an apologetic look. "No... she' not. She's still scared, understandable. And not ready to come out and deal with things outside of the duplex quite yet. But better. I'm going to be bringing her some food when I'm done here. I just... felt awkward pigging out like I do in front of her." He scratche the back of his head. As the subject turned to Emelyn, his tail tucked. "N...no. I havne't seen her yet...." To say nothing of the fact he hadn't made so much of an effort to even go see her yet at her duplex. He followed her line of sight. "Do you think we should invite them over...? Or do you think it would be awkard...?" He gestured to the three of them, all after their second transformation.
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs, couldn't help hearing the the conversation over the other table, he looked up from his meal from time to time, blushed and decided to talk to Joliette to avoid prying ears. He didn't know what Ambrose was worried about, Chubbs ate worse than him. " Let me guess Joliette, you, umm were in the... hmm.. smart kids section yeah?" He was trying to figure out where Joliette might fit in a school cafeteria.
Ian Campbell Ian finally got his instincts under control and managed to look as normal as he could. Ambrose's ears told volumes and Ian knew he had to control his instincts or it could cause many problems. His own ear twitched a littleand he felt he needed to aplogize to Ambrose. "Yes, it has been awhile." his voice was soft...he needed to try to talk normally... "I changed earlier. Amaya found me right after and together we came here." Ian knew Ambrose thought he was strange, what with talking the way he was, Ian thought it strange as well. "It would be rude not to extend an invitation to dine with us. If they refuse, then what injury would be done to our own meal?" That sentence had managed to avoid using words like thee and thou, though the hrasing was still not what one would term as "normal". Ian looked towards Joliette "I fear that that condition shall almost permanently become thee..er, you, trapped on the island as we all are." Damn, and he had been so close too.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette laughed turning her attention to Chubbs since he was speaking to her and the others seemed to be having their own conversation, besides that it kept her from staring at the changes the others had taken as well. "Actually no, I was in the eat outside under a tree with a camera on my lap section, though yes I was a good student" she told him
Amaya Vaughan "Yeah, I can't blame her there and... despite everything, I'd love to meet her when she's ready to face everything." Afterall, if Ambrose loved this Angelina woman she had to be pretty nice... maybe she wouldn't even react that bad since she had seen Ambrose like he was before her.
Though upon hearing that he haden't visited Emelyn yet she gave a tsk before swallowing her salad. "I know you've been comforting Angelina and you don't want to but... your going to have to see her soon, Ambrose." Amaya looked up at him, her expression more worried for the love triangle then anything. "The longer you postpone it, the harder it's going to be to tell her and harder it's going to be for her to cope with it." She reached over and partially put her large hand on his, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Okay?"
Green gaze then shifted over to the other two and she laughed nervously with a nod. "Heh, yeah... Chubbs has seen me but Joliette hasen't... but I guess we all have to face it sooner or later, right?" She put on a smile and waved to the both of them, gesturing for them to join before looking back to Ian and Ambrose. "I wonder... what it's going to be like when we end up confronting new people when it's... all over..." Amaya frowned, knowing that it would be harder on both sides when someone new bumped into someone... 'complete'.
Ambrose Maurlias One of Ambrose's ears turned to the side, a further sign of his finding Ian's speech patterns strange, but he said nothing, not even aware how much his ears were acting as signal flags to his thoughts. "Earlier... by that you mean today? Oh, lord, I'm sorry, Ian. You must be quite sensitive to all of this then.." Maybe that's what the fear he smelled was.... that... must be it. The realistic side of him doubted it, thought. Ambrose nodded to Amaya, between hasty bites of food. "And I'd love to introduce her to you. I promise I will soon, as soon as things settle down a bit with her. And... maybe after I speak with Emelyn... we'll see." his tail flicked back and forth a bit. He swallowed and nodded at the chiding from his 'little sister.' "You know, maybe you should be the big sister sometime." He said with a wink. "But seriously, I know. It's not easy... but I know. I Know I need to be the one to tell her, too, so... I need to do so before word spreads. Ambrose gave an agonized shrug. "I'm not sure.... maybe we could get it out of the way quickly, just jump out at them and say 'hi, welcome to the freakshow." He commented bitterly, his ears pointing back. "But seriously... I don't know how much more or less difficult it will be for new people to cope with seeing us like this... versus .. whatever we look like then. I know that given our progress, we will likely be some of the firsts to... finish."
Ian Campbell Now it was time for Ian's ears to go back. "Yes, today."z He needed to apologize to Ambrose as well. "and my apologies for the way I reacted to th..you. It was most rude." He had to make more effort to be "normal". Ian had no clue about who Angelina was but he knew Emelyn and was able to guess a tiny bit about what was going on. And Ian definately did not want to hear about "finishing". With his hands the way they were he didn't want to change any further. The apples that were seeming to lye heavily in his stomach suddenly decided to bother him. He stood up unable to resist the heave that overcame him. He stood p and both his hands were on hte table supporting him. He wasn't vomitting, that his instincts told him...no this was different. He began to chew the partiallydigested apples letting his deer intincts take over entirely, that was disgusting. When he finally swallowed he looked sick. "Dammit...why me?..." "That is a possibility. Very blunt, to the point. It could work."
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs kept peering over at the other table, he wasn't trying to stare, it's just the were together, and he felt a bit oucasted being where her was. Chubbs smiled to Joliette, he knew she was smart, but she sounded like she had a good time at her high school. " Sounds like ya umm.. got the best spot in ah school" Chubbs heard the talk over the other table, he was deffinately she about approaching them but it sounded like they wished to have two more there. Chubbs slowly stood up and grabbed his plate. " Think we should .. umm.. well go.. say hello" With that he walked toward the three, only to see the deer guy look like he was about to barf all over the table. Chubbs winced, seeing that would probably make his dash to the bathroom and he went a little pale. Then the guy didn't throw up and instead chewed. Oh boy... close call but. still... yuck.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette picked up her tray "Yes, lets, more fun as a group anyways." she smiled and got up following after him. she too saw Ian Poor guy I cannot say I envy him she thought to herself as she sat down "Hi Ambrosse and Amaya" she said looking more closely at Amaya, there was definetaly more green now then the first time she had seen her, but she didn't think she looked... bad, just ... different
Amaya Vaughan "Big sister?" Amaya snorted with a laugh, gradually looking like the same cheerful girl before she had changed for the second time. "Even though I'd like to help you through it and even be there to make things a little smoother... I really feel you need to tell her alone. It'll give you freedom to vent without any interferance. Afterwards though, feel free to come to me if you need anything, alright?" She gave her 'big brother' a smile.
At the realization that she probably would be one of the first to finish she shuddered, but smiled a little at his joke. "Well, at least then it'll be over with, right? No more painful changes or fear of what might happen the next day besides awkward meetings and such." She tried to look at it in a postive light, no matter how little it was.
Amaya jumped a little when Ian started to heave. She was about to make sure he was alright but then something occured to her... the fact that deer and cows and things like that would regurgatate their food and re-chew it. Oh god. She had to look away, her face paling. "God... I'm sorry, Ian." She pushed the veggies around in her bowl with her fork, having suddenly lost her appitite.
"Hey Chubbs, Joliette." She smiled a little and waved her large hand a little to both of them.
Ambrose Maurlias Ambose shook his head. "It... it's alright. Really. I've had worse reactions, and I've at least had some time to get... somewhat used to it myself now. It was harder when I still was newly chagned. But... I have to admit... I still somewhat feel like a stranger in my own skin now." He took several quick bites of food. "The fur covering me.... a different face in the mirror... I feel so ... out of place still. I know I'll get used to it... but in the meantime I still feel so strange... so...." He swallowed, the word was there, but he was almost scared to vocalize it. "so... inhuman. animal." Ambrose cocked his head at he noise that Ian made, and then, with widening eyes, guessed at what had happened. The poor b*****d. At least He didn't have to deal with anything quite like that. Just... a penchant for meat. "I... wasn't exactly being serious" Ambrose winced. "though... it is ONE way. I... ah.. .was speaking about that with Emelyn the other day - what IS the best way to tell - or not to tell others. We finally said that everyone's going to react differently. Everyone's here for different reasons, and thus there really IS no single good way that we could think of at least to tell people." Ambrose smild to the pair as they came over. "Hi guys. YOu don't need to be strangers. Scales and fur aside - we don't bite." He winked. Ambrose nodded to Amaya.. "You're right - I do need to do it alone. And I will. I promise you. You can kick my a** if you see me next time and I havent' spoken with her. Speaking of - we need to get back to your fencing lessons. Hope you've been practicing." He winked and clapped her on the shouler. Ambroe glanced down at his wristwatch as he finished the last bite of food. "Yeep... Angelina's probably waiting for me. I need to go bring her breakfast, she's probably waiting." He stood up and smiled to the group. "I'm sorry, I hate to eat and run, but I'm sure I'll see you all about!" With a wave, he bussed his tray, piled an assortment of food onto another, and carried it out.
Ian Campbell Ian still felt really sick from what had just occured. He looked at his plate of apples and the realization hit him that he would regurgitate and chew all his food for the rest of his life. That really hit a nerve and he started to shake. "I....I must go...sorry for any inconvenience....." He grabbed his apples and took care of his plate before dashing out the door hoping he would be able to get back in his duplex.
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs blinked as Ambrose left just as he arrived, sure he was busy with things but Chubbs wouldn't have minded the company. Then no sooner had he sat down then the deer guy dashed off out the door. Chubbs watched them go and sighed a bit, looking at his half eaten meal. He looked up at Amaya, half expecting her to go now, maybe for the deer's sake. Chubbs hated being new, there was so much he didn't under stand or know and people he had to keep meeting. He just lowered his hat brim and leaned on the table with one arm, stabbed a potato with a fork and nibbled it.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette blinked watching the pair go "Good luck Ambrose" she said remembering the previous time she'd seen him "Bye Ian" she said as he departed, my that was the second time Ian had left before Joliette had had a chance, but, she figured he must have needed it. She looked at Chubbs curiously for a moment then to Amaya "How are you" she said not neccessarily focusing it was a lil unnerving unlike her first meeting with hargun who she thought was in costume
Amaya Vaughan "Not as of late, sadly. But I'll get back to it soon, I promise... and I'll remember that whole 'permition to kick your butt' thing." Amaya gave a cheesy grin to Ambrose and waved as he left. "See ya Ambrose!"
Though upon watching Ian scramble out as well, her smile quickly faded. "Take care, Ian!" She frowned as she watched him go. Poor guy. With a sigh, she returned her attention to the two... now feeling very... naked? No, that wasn't the word... inhuman as Ambrose had called it. Like she didn't fit in with the two others sitting before her. An alien surrounded by humans.
Noting from Chubbs' reaction, she assumed what he was feeling. She flicked her tongue out to taste his emotions, now her senses even more pronounced. Amaya picked up a large range of feelings, her eyes widdening. Wow.
"Sorry about that, but Ambrose has a girl back at his duplex to care for and Ian just... went through the change a few hours ago. He's probably still a little tired and stuff." She smiled at the two, pushing around her salad.
"Oh y'know... good, considering. How about you two?" |
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 1:01 am
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The Most Painful Talk...
Ambrose paced back and forth a few times in front of Emelyn's duplex. He knew she was there. He could smell her fresh scent around the place. There were no excuses this time.
He held up his hand to knock again, but pulled it back again, running it through his blonde hair instead as he paced in a small circle again.
He had promised both Amaya and Angelina that he would talk to her. Soon. It was better that way. No secrets, no avoidance.... of course he HAD avoided her for a couple of days. Told himself he'd tell her if he ran into her - of course he hadn't even tried her duplex yet.
Now... he was here. In front of HER door. And... with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
He felt for her, he really did. And that made it all the more difficult. He had considered bringing flowers, but that would just lead her on. He had considered writing a note - btu that would just be plain mean and insensitive. He owed it to her to tell her face to face. However painful it might be. He had tried to come up with words a hundred times in his mind, but each time he threw them to the side. He would have been hurt if the situation were reversed... why would it be any different with her.
Finally, he realized - despite the fact that everyone he had spoken to had already to him as much, that there probably WASN'T a way to do it without hurting her. As frustrating as that was.
He raised his fist to knock again, swallowing hard, his tail tucked snugly between his legs.... and let it fall a few soft times on the door.
Maybe... maybe she was asleep. Maybe he should come back again some other time. He almsot turned to leave.
"Ow...good gods... just a minute!" Em called out to whoever stood on the other side of the door. At the sudden sound of someone's request to come in, she'd been startled into sitting straight up. ...Which would have been fine, normally, if she hadn't been scrounging under the desk at the time for a pen that had rolled away from her. She climbed to her feet, rubbing the spot on her head where the dull ache was starting to spread, pushing aside the limp quills that met her fingertips as she did. The door was only a few steps away, and she threw the door open, a smile waiting for whoever was there. It only spread further when she saw who it was.
"Ambrose!" She cried, holding herself back from vaulting onto him in surprise. She'd not seen him for days, and it may seem a little...needy to be so enthusiastic.
A wide-eyed, droop-eared and tail-tucked Ambrose was the one that greeted her. A weak smile met his face in response to her glowing one, one that could not nearly match her wattage.
Upon seeing her, all of his courage tried to flee from the light of her enthusiasm, but he tried hard to reign it in. He swallowed. "Hi... Emelyn! It's... It's been a few days since I saw you last...." A few very eventful days He commented mentally.
"And... uhm..." He winced. "I was wondering if... perhaps I could come in... and we could talk for a little..?" His voice seemed to grow weaker with every new word.
The smile wilted, withering away into the puddle of uncertainty that was building in Emelyn at the sight of Ambrose at her door. He didn't seem... pleased to see her. She didn't have the wolf senses- or, rather, even those innate animal instincts that would gradually be afforded her by her change... but even she could see that something was wrong. Her mind automatically wrapped itself around the worst case scenarios- either something had happened to him- maybe Moreau had done something to him? ...Or did it have to do with the fact that she'd not seen him in several days. ..What had happened during those days? She took a deep breath, and stepped backwards..
"Sure. Come on in. ...What's wrong?" The tone of her voice dropped dramatically in the pause.
He stepped uncertainly into her room, feeling more like he was intruding on her sanctum than ever before. what once had been a special place where things were shared was now uncertain territory.
Hesitantly, he sat down on one of the chairs and began to fidget. "Emelyn... I... I can't express how wonderful you've been to me over the past few weeks.... the conversations we've shared... helping me through a lot of really... really difficult times, and thoughts. And... Emelyn..." He drew a breath, venturing to look at her. "I do care for you. VERY much. I... I even postulate to say that maybe if things were to continue as they have been... that what we share might even rival what Angelina and I had."
The looming 'but' hung on the air, and he struggled to say it. But as he tried to give words to it, he couldn't... not just yet. He had to emphasize that he hadn't been stringing her along... that she wasn't a substitution. "You are a wonderful person, Emelyn. You... you're beautiful... smart... you always seem to have the right words.." He gave her a lop-sided smile. "And... well.... in... in any other situation... I would be happy to really push this to the next level." He bit his lip. "But..... but... but there's always a but, huh?" He winced.
"The... the unforseen... happened." His ears drooped. "What... what I never pictured happening." He tried to continue, he really did. He opened his mouth, but all that escaped was a weak whimper.
The words weren't real. None of it was real, and she hung on the but- quite differently than Ambrose did- as if every next word was going to bring the explanation for all of this... it was going to be fixable, it was going to be anything but an apology, a goodbye. It was going to turn every terrible, viciously pregnant 'but' into something positive. This was not going to be... what she thought it was.
Emelyn sat down on the edge of the bed, and put her hands out on her knees, outstretched with palms up- willing and waiting to receive something... anything other than the doomsday Ambrose was holding back.
"What, Ambrose?" She said, quietly. "It's alright. You can tell me. ...What are you trying to tell me?"
Ambrose's eyes flicked to hers again, his tail only tucking tighter as he still saw the hope in her eyes - seekign to help him despite what he was trying to tell her. And he didn't want to lose this for the world... he realized. Despite how happy he was with Angelina, and how resolute he was when he was with her, when he was faced with Emelyn, it made things a thousand times harder.
"I.... I had just begun to finally accept... realize... that there was no chance I would go home. That - for better, but mostly for worse, like everyone else here, I'm imprisoned with dire consequences to face if I considered fleeing. That.... that I'd never see her again. That... moving on was the only option. You helped me realize that.. and I was - and still am thankful - that you grounded me in the distinct reality that I was going to change again... that I was stuck here... and that she was lost to me."
He paused to fill his lungs with air again, as if the air might somehow lend him more strength to tell her what she deserved to know. "But.... we were wrong..."
Emelyn moved down off the bed and got in front of him on her knees, putting her hands on his knees, trying to draw in the feeling of him, and to comfort him. She was just now beginning to understand what he meant. Of course he'd not be over Angelina yet- there was so much history there. The night she and Ambrose had spent together must have entrenched him in guilt, wondering if he'd betrayed his love of Angelina. That must have been why he'd been avoiding her for days.
"Oh Ambrose, I'm sorry if we moved into things too quickly. I can see why you feel like we were wrong... that we should have waited. But we acted on impulse, on feeling. And I'm not mad that I've not seen you the last few days." She looked up at him, and those guilty, sad eyes with a comforting smile, and eyes filled with genuine care. "Oh you poor thing- you must be dragging yourself over the coals. A love has been lost, and you probably feel like you've been going too fast." She put one hand up to his face, tracing the shape of his jaw.
Ambrose winced. She was taking it figuratively when he meant things quite literally. The caring touch of her hands along the fur on his face... her tenderness and understanding... it hurt so much. Emelyn really was such a wonderful person... so understanding... and really would make a wonderful mat-
He shook himself from those thoughts quickly. NO... no he couldn't. As much as he felt for Emelyn.. and as much as he really did think that if things were different - if he had met her those years ago... that the same situation might be in reverse. But three years of a loving relationship were nothing to scoff at... he LOVED Angelina.
"That... that's not quite what I meant." He finally whispered. "I... I did feel guilty. I mean... dont' get me wrong - it ... it felt right, but in retrospect I wasn't sure if I was ready to move on quite that fast.... but.... but..." He swallowed again. "She... Angelina.... she..." A pause. Two words. He just had to say TWO words. "She's here."
A picture flashed into Emelyn's head- a memory that had been long buried, tucked behind snapshots of birthdays and happy events... she was nine years old, and she and her sister were waiting with their Grandpa John in the hospital waiting room- waiting for Grandpa John's doctor to come out and call him for his checkup. They'd seen a woman sitting across from them, silent, and her eyes were glossed over. When Mizzie had asked what was wrong with her, Grandpa John had leaned down, and with his peppermint breath, had whispered "She's swallowed all her hope. It's living down somewhere in her belly... and that's why she's here. Trying to get it out before it's gone forever." ....Emelyn had never completely known what that meant... until this moment, her eyes still and her face blank as all the hope slid down the back of her throat and into the pit of her stomach.
"Here? She's... here." She sank back on her heels. She didn't ask questions, she didn't disbelieve. She realized exactly what he was here for, and it made her blood run cold.
Ambrose could feel the tension build and turn frozen within the span of a breath, and it set the fur on the back of his neck on edge. Edge with anxiety... and guilt. Why... it wasn't fair...
His face crumpled and he nodded. "Just... a day ago... she.... she showed up on my doorstep..." His words seemed like they belonged to someone else. He saw the hurt in her eyes. He could have slapped her and evoked less of a hurt look from Emelyn. "She... never gave up looking for me. Caused... caused too much of a stir.. threatened them...." His ears crumpled back to match his expression. "I ... She didn't know... until she saw me.... the truth..."
He stopped talking about Angelina. "Emelyn... I... I'm so sorry. You have to understand.. I care for you... I care very much for you. And I don't think it's fair... that... because we shared so much.. because we understand eachother ... that because of that this has to ... hurt that.... does that make any sense? Why is it that when you get close to someone - the closer you get... the more damaged it can become...?"
She was looking... not at him, and not even at the space beneath the chair, at the wooden legs, which is where her eyes were trained. Instead, her eyes were nowhere, and everything she saw was just a 2-D whisper of a world, where the actual reality was in her mind, repeating every one of Ambrose's words in her head. She heard the pain in his voice, and it registered, but quietly, almost an afterthought, as she ran her fingers through her hair and pulled it up into the back, entwining her fingers into frustrated fists and pulling the hair in her grip into a tight capture. The ache spread down the nape of her neck, and her ears pounded- although that had nothing to do with her self-inflicted squeeze, but rather, the pumping blood that had rushed to her head.
"I don't really want to hear this, Ambrose." Her voice was low, even, and devoid of emotion- a sure sign that she'd been struck with an emotional brick. All the feeling had been sapped out of her voice, leaving only a blank canvas of words that was possibly... the most raw, emotional way she could possibly convey the hurt. "Normally... I would love to pontificate this. But all I can hear now, is that..." she paused. "Oh god...." she released her hair and covered her mouth. "God, what do you want me to say, Ambrose? What can I possibly say to this?"
The coldness in her voice... and the pained shock that he knew that he was responsible for dug like claws into his heart. He wished that there were some way...any way to make this easier for her.
At her pained question, he spoke a pained, strangled gasp. "Emelyn... I... Please, I'm not doing this to hurt you. I don't want you to say anything untrue... Dear Lord... Emelyn... I want... I want to stay friends... to be here for you... to support you with what we're both going through... But... God It's not fair. I wish there were a way I could say this to you - any way - without being the one to just cause you more harm.."
She was silent for a good long handful of moments in which her expression was unreadable and her body language inexpressive. After that pause... she laughed. It was not a cheery laugh, but rather, one wracked with irony, low and breathy as she pulled her chest in, concave, so that her form doubled into a 'C'.
"I want to stay friends. Ohhhhhh...." she breathed out a long, rasping laugh. "Oh, I love that line." She ran a hand up roughly through her hair, the proto quills pricking her palm as she did so, and leaving her to trail damaged fingers back down the line of her head. "I know you don't want to hurt me," she said, tensing her other hand where it lay on her thigh, "but you have to realize- there's really nothing you can say right now to make me feel better." She paused, a wound growing in her feelings and in her voice. It was that wound that reached out to her heart, to tell her to look up into his eyes and tell him that she didnt' blame him, didn't want to hurt him, either... but also, made her feel weak, and low. So she closed off that part of her feelings and crawled to her feet, her eyes cold once more.
"GOD!" She said, almost a scream into the ceiling as she paced back from his wolfen form and back towards the wall. "God, this is so unfair. You feel like s**t now, but you're going to get exactly what you wanted. What's going to happen to me, Ambrose? What's going to happen to the goddamn martyr? I was a martyr for Moreau, and now I'm going to be one for you."
Ambrose was on pins and needles during the strained silence... wanting to say something... reach out to her to tell her that it would be okay.... except that he coudln't do that now. Not... not anymore. She was no longer his in that sense... and it felt as if something was being pulled from him forcefully.
Ambrose crumpled. "I... as contrived as it sounds I DO want to be your friend, Emelyn! Despite how many times on countless movies or shows it's said as a parting with no truth behind it, it's robbed the truth from that statement. I DO care about you and I really wish there were a way to keep that closeness alive even if the romantic side is.... isn't. To still be friends, yes."
He cowed back at her explosion, whimpering, the guilt rising up in his gullet and stinging his eyes. "Emelyn... I... I never expected.... you're not a martyr... you... you're a friend. A wonderful person! Please don't compare me to Moreau! And I'm not getting 'what I wanted.' I'm not getting your happiness. I'm not getting all of us free from this prison... and I'm not regaining my humanity. I've instead shouldered the burdon that even if Angelina probably got here because of her own prying, that maybe I'm not completely guilt-free in bringing her here to suffer the same fate of all of us here. That instead of being able to be happy for her - free in America and living her life, having a future... that some aspect of me will always feel guilty that she's here. That it's one way or another MY fault that she's here. Because I signed up for the damned study instead of taking a normal job like she told me to do."
She was up against the wall- both physically and mentally. The breath was tight in her chest, and she exhaled, trying to let out the stone that sat there. "Guilt guilt guilt guilt guilt..." she said, tensing her hands into fists and releasing them with each repetition of the word. "You feel guilty for having Angelina here, guilty for what's happened to us, guilty that I feel like screaming and crying and throwing something at you..." she had to pause, and let the lump in her throat die down before she continued to speak, knowing that if she pressed on while it still resided there, it would turn into tears... and she couldn't bear to cry in front of others. And especially not in a situation like this...
"And guilt for me, for even slightly insinuating that you're like Moreau... guilt that I want you to feel as awful as I do right now... guilt that maybe you do... and guilt that even though I see Angelina being here as a terrible thing... I don't think it..." her eyes locked with his for the first time since the fateful conversation had begun, "...for the right reasons." There was nothing that could keep those tears down now, and they came, unbidden and silent, streaming down her cheeks. It was not just this loss, that she was feeling- but every loss that had occured to her... her grandfather's... and then Mizzie... her life had been destroyed long before she ever wrecked upon these shores, but then, so much more had been taken away from her- the possibility of being healed, of living a normal life, of getting closure. Then The Dude, and the possibility of understanding someone else, having someone else care back for her. ...She'd lost all purpose to why she was here, as she realized the lies Moreau had told. And now, she was losing yet another someone in her life. And in that moment, as she lost all abandonment and those few tears wet her cheeks- something in Emelyn... shut down. She didn't even realize it herself- but surely, something inside had.... died.
"I'm not mad," She said, whispering, "But I think it's time for you to say goodbye."
Ambrose was fighting his own struggle to keep the moisture from his eyes and the creak from his voice. It was only the years of practice in swallowing his emotion into a bitter, painful ball into his chest that kept him from also breaking in front of her. But every telltale sign - especially with the newly expressive set of ears and tail that he had acquired spoke well enough to his guilt and his nerve-wracked pain at seeing a woman he cared about breaking in front of him... and yet there was nothing he could do. No white horse that he could ride to her rescue. He couldn't even take her into his arms, smooth her spiny hair back and tell her it would be alright.... because... quite simply, he couldn't promise that.
As much as he wanted the world to just be... okay again. To see a genuine smile light upon her face and the light to come back into her eyes instead of the icy coldness, the anger and the pain that had taken its place.... he knew that it was beyond his power to give her that hope back now.
He nodded dumbly at her list of pain that they both suffered. And almost - for a ghost of a moment before his ration backfired and turned away the idea - wondered what it would be like if they did become simple animals... immune to such pain and torment that only came as a payment for the gift of sentience and emotion.
"I'm sorry..." The words seemed hollow... reverberating against the empty feeling that was being quickly filled by that ball of repressed emotion. He needed to get out of here... and yet... he couldn't bring himself to turn his back on her... his back on a woman in need.
But her words cut him off for him... turned him away before he made any actual movement to leave. She was done with the conversation. "If... if there is anything I could say... anything I could do, Emelyn, to make things better. Now or in the future... please... just tell me. Even if this werent' a tiny Island... I wouldn't want to lose you completely..."
"That's a little... easy, isn't it?" She said- not unkindly. She was truly trying to express how hypocritical and unfair the situation seemed to her. "If you get to keep me as a.... friend, and then you have Angelina, you'll be making an already unfair situation even more skewed in your favor. And I hate..." the word dripped with emotion, so much that it bore repeating, "hate hypocrisy." She sniffed, and let out a ragged breath. "And I don't know if we can ever go back to being friends." She dropped her head into her hands, and discovered that her skin was burning to the touch. "I don't know.... if I want to set myself up for any sort of loss again. ...I didn't mean saying goodbye now, Ambrose. ...I meant... maybe you should say goodbye... to me. At least then, it would seem a little more fair."
"Fair?" The word was a whisper. "How does losing our friendship... tilt the scales in your favor? And how is this a situation of losses and gains...?" He shook his head, confused. "I'm not trying to ... to... gloat on my gains... to have my cake and eat it too... well... I mean... I like you... and I thought... I thought that maybe... if we meant enough to eachother to try a relationship... that maybe there's something there strong enough not to want to kill entirely.."
HE shook his head with a shrug, wrapping his arms around his torso, feeling that ball of emotion strain against its container. He wanted to bawl.... he wanted to scream... but... he couldn't. Not here.... not now.
"If me... saying goodbye..." The words were forced, strained through clenched jaws. "Would be better for you... If you would think me a hypocrit for trying to hold onto something meaningful.... then I will."
She nodded. "Losing our friendship... makes us see the situation for what it is. It's not us pretending everything's okay, pretending we can tip the clock back to a time when we just confided in each other on the beach, or talked about what we lost. It's not... trivializing what we were... or...could have been," she said, almost angry- but she didn't know if it was at him... or with herself. "If we were just friends now, that would say that everything that happened those nights ago, everything I felt, was nothing!" She screamed, distraught, coming forward off the wall as she did. She pointed at the bed. "While you'd pick up the pieces with Angelina, and you'd still have our friendship, and her love, and everything that we were would be just a smear of a memory that we'd pretend never happened. So yes. We'd be a hypocrite to 'hold onto something meaningful'," she was almost hysterical now, "when it would reduce my feelings to rubble. I don't even know what we were, Ambrose. I don't know if we were going to become anything. But even so, I'm not willing to pretend it never happened."
Ambrose cowed as she yelled, backing away, and instinctively closer to the door. He took her explosion, balling it up tighter... and tighter.
Swallowing, and taking a breath, he tried to keep his face straight... dry... keeping it - and him - from crumpling under the torrent. He had hurt her... hurt her by taking things to the next level... she was right... he couldn't abandon it... couldn't pretend it never happened... that they never felt for eachother.
"I ...." The words were scattered about his mind. "I... woulnd't pretend nothing happened." He whispered hoarsely. "I... wish we .... could... I don't know... I don't know what I'm even saying anymore." He whimpered. "I'm sorry, Emelyn. I Truly am. I did and still do care for and about you. And I want to see you happy again. I... I'm sorry it's not with me. You're a wonderful person. And I am horrible for doing this to you... it... God it's such a frustrating... unique situation."
He shook his head. "I... I can't... I can't say anything... to help. I... I'm making things worse." He rambled, half to himself, choking on the acrid taste of the emotions. "I... I'm sorry.... Emelyn. G... Good.....bye."
And he turned, taking a heaving breath, and opened the door.
"Goodbye," She said, not coldly, but firmly, to the sillouette of the man against the doorframe. A part of her wished to beckon him back, to say that she didn't blame him, and that she didn't expect him to make her feel better. ..But the rest of her kept her lips closed, only letting that one, final word pass through them before sealing them for good. As soon as he'd leave, she knew she'd be draped across the bed, wishing for sleep so that she wouldn't cry. ...And she knew that when he closed that door... it would be stay closed... for a long while. She had no desire to see anyone, or to feel anything but this deadness for a while.
Ambrose only nodded. He couldn't trust his voice any more at this point not to break and crack and finally loose the tears that it was taking all of his muster not to loose.
And with a final 'click' of finality, he stepped out of the doorframe and shut the door behind him.
He couldn't head back to his duplex, not now. He loved Angelina... and he felt overwhelmingly guilty about Emelyn... but she woudln't understand this - not the pain he had just caused - and he didn't want to laden the guilt onto her for causing her the pain. So instead, he fled, to the shady coolness of the jungle. Into the wilds like the animal he was for doing this to her... and to the place that a part of him labeled as a safehaven. He ran, not looking where he was going, through the trees and brambles until his legs gave out -more from mental exhaustion than physical. |
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Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 3:51 pm
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Into The Woods
I am NOT a werewolf!
Ambrose ran blindly into the wooded jungle from Emelyn's duplex, his emotions a tumoltous mess. He couldn't go back to Angelina.... not just yet. He had hurt himeself and Emelyn in his actions, and he knew that if he ran to her arms than it would only be to burden her with the same guilt. A guilt for a woman that she didn't even know.
He didn't want her to think that he resented her. He didn't want her to have to shoulder yet another weight in such a short time. And right now... he didn't want her to see him this weak... this upset over another woman.
His lupine instincts carried him deftly into the woods - no longer impeded by the brambles and briars and underbrush like his first venture into the thick, mysterious jungle. Instead his feet carried him fleetly over bush and between trees. Sure, a few brambles caught in his fur, but for the most part he ran, his thoughts not touched on by where he was going or how he was getting there - letting instinct completely take over his body.
Bird calls and monkey screeches came from his hurried plight, scattering at the scent of a predator. Ambrose paid them no mind. Instead he ran, ran until he was deep into the jungle and he collapsed to his knees, tired of the hurt, and frustrated at the massive ball of grief in his chest. His lip was quivering and his eyes stung with unreleased tears.
His time here on this Island had slapped his dignity aside before - bringing him to the tears that long ago he had promised himself that he would never shed. Thus far, very few people had seen him in his moments of weakness - where the dam in his soul was overcome with emotion and broken apart in a fit of weakness. Angelina.... and now Emelyn and Amaya. The Dude had seen the forbidden anger that he had pent up long ago. All traits of lesser men, or so his father had beaten into his head. And now, where was he...? On hands and knees, his clothing torn by brambles and thorns and branches in his mad run into the woods, panting and muffling sobs, his once distinguished features deformed - twisted into those of an animal. An animal in the woods - where it belonged.
He had hurt the person who had grown the closest to him here. The one who had given him that shoulder to cry on. The one who had seen him in his weakness, and opened herself to him. Opened herself to the risk of pain... and the risk of love. And now, because of the reciept of the wish he had held most in his heart - Angelina... the granting of an impossible dream... she was hurt. And more than that - she had screamed at him... yelled at him. He had tried to help her as she had helped him... and he ended up hurting her more than Moreau ever had. And because of HIM, Angelina was here as well. Whether or not it was his bemoaning his situation to Aubrey or not... his mere presence here, his decision to take 'the easy way out' for money over the summer... it was because of him here that Angelina had come looking for him. Because of him, her hopes and dreams of the future were cut off as well.
He wrapped his arms around himself and looked to the shady canopy overhead. The welling sadness was building in his chest - and he couldn't hold it back. He squeezed his eyes shut. He was alone... the middle of the woods...
And... he opened his throat to let loose a primal yell of frustration, sorrow and rage.... bundled up into one vocalization of his emotions - not a weak cry, but a shout - a cathartic scream. But when he opened his throat to release this complicated, poison ball from his chest - what emerged was not a shout, but a mournful, wavering, and ultimately very lupine howl..
After finding a bite to eat, Rayanya left the cafeteria and turned her back on the complex. Her eyes were now scanning over the bits of island she could currently see, discovering just how much she had yet to explore. Her eyes eventually came to rest on the lush entrance to the island's jungle, then lit up slightly. Well, she thought to herself, I might as well start there. After all, I know the concret jungle like the back of my hand... I'm sure I can fare within a more natural one. And with that, the young woman set towards the woods.
Rayanya had found a decent path to follow through the woods and decided to take it as far as she could. As she walked, she would pause to sniff at a flower or get a closer look at a particular tree. It was so beautiful out here... she wished she had brought her sketchbook. That one particular tree over there really looked like it would be a comfortable place to rest and just draw for hours, in perfect, shaded silence.
About forty-five minutes into her walk Rayanya discovered that the path she had chosen was choking off: she followed along it anyways, believing idiotically that it was like an alleyway and a new, wide path was soon going to start. Fifteen minutes later she realized that she was quite wrong, and also starting to become quite lost.
It was at this time that she heard the howl...
The howl rose out of his chest and carried across the air. In the wild, wolfcalls traveled for miles as a method of long-distance communication, and this one was no exception.
Ambrose gasped for breath as soon as the howl finished its decline to nothingness. All at once he was speachless in fear. The only other time he had lifted his voice to the crescendo of a lupine howl was for a drunken and good-natured dare at a beach party, when he could look in the mirror and still see a man looking back at him.
Now... now he felt the howl in his bones, and the book he had read years ago in Jr. High and scoffed at the value, Call of the Wild, came into sharp clarity. Ironic... overly ironic. He was scared... scared at feeling the animal in himself - something wild that was at home in this jungle... something that before he would have been anxious about kneeling in the dirt let alone lifting ones voice to loosen the beast inside....
... and yet another part of him... found it exhiliarating. The song of his voice was more of a relaease than quivering tears... it was a shout to the skies itself... a long note of pure emotion.
And... after all... what were men but animals themselves... was growling or howling any less demeaning that being wracked with quivering, weak tears?
The thought hung in his mind in stillness for a moment before he lifted his short muzzle again, squeezed his eyes closed, and loosed another unmistakably lupine howl. This time, while it still screamed his injustice, his guilt, and his pain... it was stronger - intentional.
Rayanya froze in absolute terror at the first howl, and found herself absolutely unable to move. She knew pretty much nothing about wolves (only what she had seen in movies), and therefore she couldn't even come close to guessing how far away the beast was from her. But she most definately knew it was a wolf... and she also knew that wolves travelled in packs.
The second howl brought Ray back to life, and she tried to turn herself towards the direction that it came from. Her mind was whirring away, trying to think of anything she could about wolves, or at least her minor knowledge of them from the movies she had seen, and watching Animal Planet on those particularly boring days. Wasn't this a tropical jungle, not a forest? And didn't wolves live in cooler climes? What would a wolf be doing out here?
Could it be someone playing a trick on her again, like Joli's stupid little story? Perhaps it was Joli...
"Whoever's trying to scare me, its not going to work! And I swear to the gods Joli, if you are behind this you're going to regret it!"
Ambrose was just starting to breathe more evenly after his second howl... it... was amazing how much of a venting device that was.... Was... it a bad thing that it made him feel good...?
But before those thoughts could be followed to their conclusion... there was a noise.
A person. His ears pricked. And beyond that.... an unfamiliar voice.
He stood... slowly, hesitant, suddenly feeling very vulnerable and out of place. What would they think of him?
He took a few steps towards who it might be instinctively curious. Then he caught the whiff of fear... turned quickly to a mild anger. He paused, hung between curiousity and anxiety. Should he see who it is... or run.
But where? He thought indignantly. Back to his duplex to more issues? Deeper into the woods? He was no coward! He took another few probing steps in that direction.
ANything - even more conflict - had to be better than the mental wall he had been beating his head against.
Rayanya waited for a response for a few minutes, turning her head in various directions, trying to catch a glimpse of a fellow human being. The more she spent looking and not finding the more irritated the girl got.
"Come on, show yourself! Don't play tricks on a person unless you can defend yourself when you PISS THEM OFF!" The last three words were amplified, and it was becoming quite obvious that Rayanya was on edge.
Taking a moment to catch her breath, Rayanya twirled around amidst the trees and foliage, trying to find the path once again. She was muttering heavily underneath her breath, along the lines of "Bloody idiots... stupid jerks who have to try and bother anyone they see just because they're different... honestly, I thought I had gotten away from them when I left highschool..."
She lifted a heavy boot and planted it into a tree, slightly scuffing the leather on the tree's rough bark. She cursed again, this time in an odd language, then went back to searcning for her path.
Ambrose had approached closer, his footfalls silent. Thus, her muttering did not fall on the deaf ears of the surrounding trees, but instead on the sensitive ones of the wolfman.
He swallowed seeing the form emerge through the brushes. Indeed somoene he didn't recognize. A tall woman, clad in clothing that didnt' suit either the tropical island or a forrested area.
He swallowed. He could go back to his little area in the woods and run his head against more problems... or he could face whomever this was... and hatever possible repercussions. And, if her newness to him were any indication along with the number of new people that had been coming to the isalnd recently was any indication, than it was quite possible that she was a very new-comer. And that promised MORE hurt. But... it might at least save some of the others the pain of telling somoene. And right about now, Ambrose felt about as low as he could get... what was one more punch.
Maybe... deep down, he wanted to be seen as a freak by someone.... someone to express how low he was feeling.
He approached closer, silently, hi words too caught up in his mind... until his foot (perhaps intentionally somewhere) snapped a dry branch underfoot.
Rayanya was still trying to find her path, seemingly intent on her search, with little mutters beneath her breath. "I always promised that one day I would show them what it really was to be a freak... how it really felt. But what could I even dream of doing to show those jerks exactly how I feel? Maim them, dismember them?"
She sighed. The anger in her voice was dying off, its sharp edge dulling and turning into depression. Her muttering stopped suddenly, leaving her in silence, listening to the noises of the forest. She didn't know why she dressed the way she did, nor acted the way she did... why she never had friends in school or ever found at least someone to talk to.
For the most part, the fear that had come with the two unnerving howls had disippated, and the noises were almost forgotten in Rayanya's memory. Heaving another large sigh, she thunked down on the ground and wished she had brought more than the single pack of cigarettes she had already smoked on the way here. And she would never get any more til she got home again, as the helicopter pilot had told her that the island was dry.
Rayanya sat on the ground in thought, blocking out noises until, from behind her, she heard the sound of a snapping twig. AHA! So the culprit had decided to show up in the end! Rayanya turned her head to look at the figure through the corner of her eyes, but couldn't quite focus... She stood up again and turned to face whoever it was, and fell over just as quickly as her eyes widened in horror. A step backwards had caused her fall as she tripped over a root, and she found herself paralyzed once again.
But instead of meeting the stranger with a snarl or a growl as his appearance might suggest, the figure instead whimpered, his tail tucking and his ears lowering.
He hesitated, realizing all at once that perhaps this was not the best of ideas after all. She... obviously had not been given "the talk" by anyone else. His own self-destructive perspective that this couldn't make things any worse suddenly was cast into serious doubt.
Taking a breath, he summoned the courage to take a step forward. He could be brave. This would be a distraction.
Right.
Remembering her train of speach he eventually found his voice. "Perhaps you are no longer the freak here." He said eyeing her with caution.
Rayanya stared at the wolf man with hideously obvious fear in her eyes, still unable to move. The appearance of him had all-out paralyzed the young woman as she tried to find some sort of rationalization in her mind. Was Joliette right? Could it be possible at all? Rayanya let out a whimper of her own, one of fear and confusion, efficiently human against the sound that had come from the man across from her.
Unfortunately, though, fear has this strange tendency to make people act like idiots, and instead of the rationalizing part of her brain accepting Joliette's theory, it came upon one based completely upon superstition.
"Oh dear Woden... a werewolf..." The statement was given in a whine; Ray was having a hard time getting a proper amount of oxygen into her lungs.
Ambrose whimpered again, and went to go take a step forward. However, after seeing and smelling the fear on her, he stopped.
From... the looks of things, she hadn't even been primed to the truth on the island.
A werewolf. Ambrose almost snorted. A werewolf would have been preferable. IF that were the case, at least he could be human looking most of the time.
His ears flicked back. At least... this was a very different problem. ANd honestly, maybe it WAS preferable.
"I'm... not a werewolf." He spoke quietly. "And... please... I'm not going to hurt you." He held up a hand - which furry, padded and tipped with claws - probably didn't help.
Rayanya stared at the wolfman for a few more moments (they seemed like eternity to her), waiting for her heart beat to slow and the paralysis to leave her body. She was so scared that each beat of her heart seemed to quake her entire body, and she was having a hard time concentrating -- and an even harder time keeping herself from passing out. Indeed, her world was slightly rimmed with darkness.
However, the wolfman stepping towards her and raising his paw got her into action. His words didn't seem to register in her mind as she tried to scuffle to her feet and, once again, toppled over by cause of that same damn root. This time, though, she fell face-first because of trying to turn her body to run. Now the marks of dirt on her back were visible and even more had been added to the front of her clothes; her top hat fell off of her head and rolled a few feet away along the ground. She bashed her nose quite viciously on the base of a tree, causing it to start to bleed.
I must not cry, I must not cry... death with dignity, Rayanya, go out fighting! But not even these mental thoughts were enough to get her back to her feet; however, she did manage to spare the beast her tears.
Once again the words Joliette had spoken to her edged back into her brain, and she was becoming terrified of the fact that she might just have to believe them...
Ambrose gave a growling swear under his breath. Things were NOT going well.
He took a breath. IF he couldn't fix his own problems right now... maybe he could at least help this new person's.
He quietly, and with as much dignity as he could summon walked to where her tophat had fallen from her head. Wordlessly he bent down, wishing that he couldn't smell her fear as pungently as he did, and picked it up.
Then, coming to a kneel besides the fallen woman he held it out to her.
"Please.... miss.... I'm not going to hurt you. Depite.... appearances to the contrary." He winced.
Maybe... maybe she was right... maybe he's telling me the truth...
Maybe this is all Loki's fault.
Rayanya kept her face hidden in the tree roots for a few moments til she could wrestle her way out of her coat (it was far too hot for it anyways) and get to the black tattered sleeve of the strange shirt she wore beneath. She moved this to her nose to catch the blood, trying to wipe away as much of it as she could. Slowly raising her head, Rayanya turned her head slowly towards Ambrose. As her eyes came into view, it was easy to see that they now lacked most of the fear that had occupied them... they were intense, watchful.
"If you even try anything on me..." Her hands were curled into fists, and her nose still bled.
Ambrose sighed, a frown crossing his features that still had a lot of human expression despite the short muzzle, combining with the very lupine mix with his ears adding to his expressiveness.
"I have no desire to hurt you... I assure you." An ear flicked back in irritation. "Besides... even if I were a beast of the woods.... no healthy wolf has ever been recorded as having attacked a person, despite fairy tales to the contrary."
He extended his other pawed hand, while still holdering her hat in the other, crouched in a squatting position.
"Can I help you to your feet...?"
"No, no. I'm fine." Rayanya got to her feet, albeit a bit too quickly. She swayed a bit and finally caught her center of balance, lifting her sleeve to her face and again wiping away the blood that was still pouring from her nose. She hoped she hadn't broken it...
Rayanya now took a moment to look over Ambrose now... how she had thought him to be a werewolf, she didn't quite know. He definately did not fit her own personal description of a werewolf, not even close.
After a few minutes of staring at him, Rayanya finally spoke again. "What... what are you?"
Ambrose pulled his hand back and put it into his pocket, feeling just a bit stiffed.... not that he could blame the woman. Wouldnt' he have been equally as freaked out were the situation reversed? If the first time he had wandered this island after coming here for a 'medical study' that he ran into a monster, despite how friendly it might be acting.
He eyed her nose, ears crumpling down. "Are you alright..?" He ventured. "That... spill looked painful." His tail gave a few nervous wags behind him.
He swallowed at the directness of the question. "By... the sound of things... you haven't been given the real explanation of the island." He shifted awkwardly from foot to foot. But, as he reminded himself - as hard as this was - telling a total stranger, even one that viewed him as a monster, was a thousand times easier than telling Angelina, who had recognised him. And much, much better than dealing with the fresh wound of Emelyn.
"I..." He breathed. "My name is Ambrose. And... not four months ago.. I was as human as you are."
"I'm fine, I'm fine. I've taken worse than this in my life." By now Ray was just holding her sleeve over her nose, and the blood was finally starting to slow. She couldn't quite comprehend why she was so calm right now... perhaps because she was faced with something potentially dangerous (or so he looked) and trying to calculate how he could have come into being, her mind was forcing fear away in order to think.
"The real explanation of the island?" Ray raised a brow. "You mean the story Joliette told me about the shot I got eventually turning me into an animal?" Surprisingly, Rayanya scoffed and furrowed her brow at Ambrose. "Please. She got you in on this too, didn't she? You're just wearing some sort of a costume, aren't you?"
Rayanya folded her arms across her chest and gave Ambrose a glare that seemed to be able to peel paint off of a wall.
Ambrose frowned doubtfully at her claims to wellbeing. He was still overwhelmed by how sensitive his nose had become, and the scent of blood was overpowering even the smells of the jungle and her earlier fear that still clung to the small clearing.
His furry eyebrows raised. "So you've met Joliette? She... she's rather new here as well. Well, I presume you're new here...." He trailed off as she had yet to give him her name. At least, now, she seemed relatively calm enough.
"And as much as I hate to say it... from the sounds of it she told you the truth. And I have yet to see a costume as convincing as 'this'." He said, gesturing to the fur that clung to his body, that rippled with the passing breezes through the trees.
"As much as I would love to peel all of this off and confirm your doubts... I can't."
Rayanya pulled her sleeve away from her face to check the flow of blood, satisfied to see that it had gone down quite a bit. Everything was fine, and it didn't seem broken... thank the gods for that.
"Yes, I've met Joliette. And what she told me can't even be close to true. Its not possible, and there is no way it ever will be. Just because it moves doesn't mean its not fake."
At this point, Rayanya took a very bold action. Extending her hand, she darted to the side and towards Ambrose. Her fingers opened wide, clutching to grab at his tail. "I'll prove it!"
Ambrose crossed his arms, his eyebrows quirking further. Then he shook his head with a sigh. "I suppose I can't very well blame you. I would have thought the same as you had I been in your position. A prank is much more believable than the strange truth of this place. Had I not been the first to change, I probably would not have accepted anything until it happened to me-"
He stopped mid sentance as her hand darted out to his tail, only having a split second to brace himself for the impending tug. His ears flicked back and he winced, exposing long canines, but didn't pull away.
Rayanya gave the tail a couple more desperate tugs in hopes that it would pull away, but they were much softer than the initial. Horror had struck her face again and tears were starting to fall from her eyes, though she didn't seem to notice them.
All she did was stare at Ambrose's tail.
"It... can't be..." Her voice finally sounded out of a form that had forgotten to breathe yet again, and it was weak, at least until she pulled in a deep, rattling breath. She had gone paler than she already was, especially once she started screaming.
"Impossible! No! This is not happening! NOT HAPPENING!" She was in hysterics, since the story had just been proven, and she was forced to realize the fact that she would have to change, too...
The tail was... warm to the touch. And her hands wrapped around it revealed a structure of muscle and bone beneath the furry exterior. Certainly not a fake. Especially the way the muscles twitched with each subsequent tug.
Ambrose swallowed a whimper at the tugging.
He turned to her as the realization was seeping through her wall. His ears lowered, and his eyes turned sympathetic. "Miss.... I... I'm sorry. I wish it wasn't the truth..."
Flashes of Jamal's reaction flashed in his mind. And Ambrose began to realize that he was miserable at the whole "telling" part. Or was it just that there WAS no good way for some people. "Please... I... I'm sorry. I wish I didn't have to be the one to spring this on you... it hurts both parties" He frowned. Lovely day. Simply LOVELY.
Rayanya finally let go of Ambrose's tail and moved her hands to her face, sobbing into her sleeves. Even the one that had been covered in blood. As a result, her face was now covered in blood and tears, but she found herself incapable of caring. A slight whimper was given as Ray once again settled to the forest floor, this time of her own will. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, now burrowing her face in her skirt. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't stop her tears.
One thing, she could never go home again... Not that it entirely mattered, she only had two people back in the city that she considered friends. Another, she was going to turn into some animal, gods only know what... and how far would she change? Would she still be humanoid?
Finally, Rayanya felt a deep set pity for Ambrose... he had stated he was the first to change, and therefore, most likely the one closest to his doom.
Ambrose finally moved to squat besides her, and moved a furry hand to her shoulder.
"I'm sorry... I truly am. No one deserves the fate that's been set for us here. Whatever lie they told you to bring you here." He squeezed her shoulder lightly. Despite all of the problems of the day, he couldn't bear to see a woman crying... couldn't bear not to try to help. At least, here, maybe he could. Unlike the problem he created earlier today.
"Shhhh... shh... I'm sorry... It... well... I wish I could say that it will be okay.... but at least I can promise you this. There will be others here to help you through all of this. ALthough I'm sure that right now that's probably little consolation."
Rayanya didn't move when Ambrose put his hand on her shoulder, merely remained curled up and, now, silently sobbing. The only way one could tell that she was still crying was to feel the sobs rip through her narrow form.
Head still buried in her skirt, Rayanya tried her best to respond to Ambrose. Though her voice was a bit muffled by tears and fabric, her voice was still fairly easy to make out. "I'm so sorry... I don't want to know what's going to happen to me... to you... to everyone else... Dear gods, if there are as many people here as I noticed duplexes... even half as many..."
Rayanya refused to lift her head from her skirt, therefore it stayed where it was. After all, if she did, her face would be a MESS of make-up and blood.
Ambrose didn't move from her sigh, but he felt helpless. The hand on her shoulder was little support against the weight of the world that was pressing down on her. The cold shock of the horror behind the beautiful facade of the Island.
"THey say.... they say we will keep our intellect... our voices.... at the very least... althought... this is all highly experimental if you hadn't surmised..." He swallowed. "By my count... I think there is somewhere in the neighborhood of thirty of us now. But... our numbers seem to be growing by the day."
He didn't sound happy with this fact. HE wished they'd stop bringing people here - they had ruined more than enough lives. "I... know how you feel. Honestly I do. I had a life back home... goals... dreams." He whispered.
Rayanya seemed a little bit encouraged at hearing that they might not shift fully into an animal, that there might be enough hope for her remaining human. Well... humanoid.
And oddly enough, Rayanya startled to chuckle. It was weak at first, and the shakes of her body might have been mistaken for sobs... but within a few moments it was obvious that she was laughing.
Ray lifted her head towards Ambrose, her face a ridiculous mess of black eyeliner and blood from her nose, and allowed a few peals of laughter to escape her lips before forcing herself to stop.
"I'm sorry... I'm not laughing at you," she said apologetically. "Just... what you said about hopes and dreams... its kind of comical, in a horrid, twisted sort of way. Almost ironic... I came to this island because I was in debt. I was a starving artist still dealing with an alcoholic father, who had no friends and no life... I came here to not have to worry about that debt any more, and to get away. Its kind of funny that it worked out so that I actually don't have to worry about it anymore... but instead I'll be stuck here, turning into gods know what."
Ambrose moved from a squat to an awkward sitting position beside her.
His mouth actually started to turn up as she lifted her face to the rivulets of black mascara that coated her cheeks - especially seeing the humour in her eyes as opposed to the anguish he was scared he might see.
Admittedly, the laughter did catch him off-guard, but he was familiar enough with those who used it as a defense mechanism to not be that surprised.
He nodded. "I... know how you feel, honestly." He said after listening. "I... I came here for a 'medical study.' I was between semesters at college, and I was... well... I was broke. My scholarships were starting to run out, and while I still had tuition paid for another year, I couldn't afford housing. So I read about a study that offered Five grand for a 'two week' series of tests. I ... I didn't have enough work experience to get a job other than fast food... or Wal Mart or something in this economy... and, well, a whole summer of work wouldn't pay that even...." His ear flicked. "So I took the easy route. ANd this is were it landed me." His ears drooped. "I.... while I was in financial trouble... I was pursuing what I loved. I ... I stood against what my parents wanted me to do in college and went somewhere on a fencing scholarship." He gave a small smile. "I... just didn't think ahead enough."
Rayanya started to use her bloody sleeve to try to wipe away some of the makeup that was caked on her face, spotted the blood, stopped, and switched to her other sleeve. Thankfully, her shirts were black. See, there was a reason she preferred the color.
After a few moments of mopping, Ray heaved out a short sigh and turned her head towards Ambrose.
"I'm really very sorry... from what you have said so far, you did have a future in front of you. It must have been painful to find out..." She couldn't quite bring herself to finish the sentence, and replaced the last few words with a wave of her hand and another nervous chuckle. "Well... at least we're here with others going through the same thing, right? Maybe... maybe that's why that red-haired doctor wouldn't tell me anything about the medicine testing I was coming here for..."
Rayanya put a hand on Ambrose's back and patted him gently, trying to avoid the 'mane' of fur he had developed.
Ambrose nodded quietly. "Y.. yes. yes it was very difficult. " He gave her a ghost of a smile. "It still is to be honest. I ... I don't want to be cut off from the rest of the world. But... well.. it's not exactly like I have a choice in the matter. But yes. At least everyone here is... well... supportive of eachother. No one is going to see you as a freak..." He hesitated.. "Well... unless you're new" He gestured to her with his chin. "But the more of us that arrive, the less liklihood that you're going to run into someone who hasn't heard yet. Then again... it's hard for us even... to see others change... become less recognisable. More...." He swallowed. "More like animals."
He sighed. "I'd reccomend you speak with Joliette again, though... she... she's got a camera and is setting up a darkroom. If you don't have a photo of yourself with you. It... it's nice to have something to remember what you looked like by." He looked uncomfortable again. "I... I'm sorry - you probably didn't want to think about that."
Rayanya nodded to Ambrose, intently listening to his words. Then, suddenly, she did something she never really quite thought she could do... Extending her arms, she wrapped Ambrose up into a hug, again patting him on the back. Everyone in this world had different ways of dealing with stuff, and apparently, Rayanya had just discovered that she was the type to dole out comfort.
"I will, if I ever find her again. I'll have to take a walk on a beach one morning and hope to see her exercising. I wish I knew just how much we were all going to change... or for that matter, what I'm going to turn into. Is everyone changing into the same thing?"
Ambrose stiffened in surprise before relaxing and returning the hug, wrapping his arms around her and rubbing his hand on her black-clad back. His tail thumped on the ground behind him a few times. He had begun to become a very touchy-feely person.
He spoke quietly over her shoulder. "No one knows... all they've said is that it is a series of injections... frighteningly enough I believe I'm only about halfway through the process after my second transformation. And no.... not everyone is going to become the same thing. I haven't seen another wolf...They.... they can tell you... if you ask. The intercom - press zero to talk to one of them. Though a warning - it might be more frustrating than helpful sometimes. Most people I know haven't had the courage to ask ahead of time."
Rayanya shuddered slightly, mostly to release what was left of the negative energy within her. She hugged Ambrose tighter momentarily before pulling back from him and offering a soft smile. She didn't look nearly as scary while lacking her make up.
"Perhaps I'll try that later on, then... it might work to some effect. I think I'd rather know than live through every day here wondering..." She sighed, straightening out the dirty sleeves of her shirt. "For now, I had best get going... I still would like to make my room more homely, especially now that it seems I am permanently trapped here."
Standing, Ray brushed herself off. "If you ever want to chat with anyone, come find me... my name's Rayanya, by the way. I live in Duplex 24. Stop by whenever you get bored, or whatever... thanks for telling me, being supportive..." And finally, jokingly, "and not eating me." Another grin was given.
Ambrose squeezed her back as well, giving her a few patts on the back before they parted. At least... after the shock, and the denial and the breakdown... she seemed to be recovering from the shock. Much, MUCH better than Jamal had handled it thank, God. Enough, that Ambrose was actually starting to feel a bit better as well - he had braved the response of yet another new 'victim' - at the very least, he could say that he had experience telling people, for better or worse - and he had saved people like Amaya or Hargun from having to tell her the bad news.
"That's brave of you... and I hope, for your sake, that they tell you something that you can live with." He gave her a soft smile. "I ... I think I woudl agree with you - the suspense can be maddening... "
He smiled at the final introduction. "Rayanya... it is nice to meet you. Honestly. And I'm easy to remember, Ambrose in Duplex number 1." He gave her a lop-sided smile. "And no problem. I promise to not eat you any day." He actually chuckled.
Rayanya spotted her hat on the ground and scooped it up, carefully placing it on her head. "Indeed... my faith tells me to go through life with a strong resistance to fear. I intend to keep that value." She winked and clutched the rune around her neck within her hand, lifting the symbol for Thurisaz up to her lips and kissing it gently before letting it fall to her chest again.
A chuckle escaped her lips at his final comment. "I'll remember that, Ambrose. Perhaps one day I'll stop by for a visit. Hopefully my makeup will look better next time and I won't be caught up in a breakdown." Finally, Ray turned her back on Ambrose and went back to searching for her path, which she found relatively easily... she now wondered how she had missed it so much before.
Ambrose gave her a half-bow as she said her farewells.
"And feel free to stop by at any time. I'll be here." He said with a note of irony.
As she left, Ambrose looked around again to the trees, alone once again save for the sounds of distant jungle animals.
He sat down on a fallen tree with a sigh, leaning against the trunk of another.
Now what... He thought to himself.
With Rayanya gone, it presented the same initial dilemma.... but... at least, he was feeling a little better. After the confrontation he had actually parted having done something. In a strange, roundabout way, helped someone. But should he feel guilty for feeling better? After all... Ambrose was almost certain that a certain someone was very unlikely to be feeling better.
He rested his elbows on his knees, and just closed his eyes, breathing in the scents of the jungle and listening to the sounds for a good few hours before finally picking himself up and finding his way out of the jungle and back to his duplex. |
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Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 6:41 pm
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Return
Ambrose finally made his way back to his duplex, many many hours after leaving it. It was nearing dusk, the sky peppered with specks of light visable on this island far from the drowning lights of the city, but Ambrose paid them no mind. While feeling much better than when he ran into the jungle earlier, his feet were weary, and his heart still low in his chest.
He pushed open his door without so much of an announcement. his clothes were tattered, torn by branches and thorns - many of which still clung in places to the fur that coated his body. His feet were dirty, leaves and stems in his hair, small branches dangling from the frayed edges of his shirt and pants.
Angelina was lying on the bed with her iPod on, staring blankly at the cieling. When Ambrose came in, she jumped in surprise, then pulled the headphones out of her ears and stood up, worry crossing her face as she saw the state he was in. "Ambrose what happened??"
Ambrose winced, realizing how he probably looked. "I.... I'm sorry, Angelina... I.. should have been back a long time ago." He gave a few apologetic wags before crossing the floor to the bed where she stood. "I... she didn't take it well.." He frowned. "I... wanted some time alone to think... I... headed out to the woods for a while. I didn't want to weigh you down." He reached out to her face, brushing his thumb lightly along her cheek.
Angelina pursed her lips together, not pulling away from his touch, but not leaning into it either. "I was worried abuot you... you just.. I mean, I didn't know what was taking you... I mean, I was afraid maybe you changed your mind..."
His eyes widened and he shook his head emphatically. "Nono! I just... I'm sorry...I ... I was just .." He sighed heavily. "I never had to do anything quite like that before. She... she has had to deal with a lot of loss... and..." He sighed, his face softening as he looked at her. "I felt really guilty. But I don't regret my decision. I love you, Angelina. I just needed some time... I didn't want you to have to burden yourself with these problems as well from someone you don't even know."
Angelina slumped down on the bed and rubbed her hands over her face. "I can't help but a feel a bit guilty. I mean... if the situations was reserved..." she shook her head. "You're a very lovable person, I guess is what I'm saying. And I don't want to share."
Ambrose moved to follow her, sitting besides her on the bed, and tried to slip an arm around her. "I..." He sighed and nodded. "I wish that things hadn't.... gotten complicated. That was one of the most difficult conversations I've had to give... but you've given me strength to have more difficult ones. You helped me stand up to my parents. I don't think anything could trump that. But honestly. Emelyn is... a good person. And I didn't want to hurt her... but ... but in my mind, there was no choice."
Angelina smiled, that making her feel a lot better. She did feel bad, a bit, for this Emelyn person, but even if she came out on top, it would have still hurt to win only by a margin. She leaned into his arms a bit, still looking a bit dazed and confused by everything that had been going on. It all seemed so surreal, and she felt like an animal trapped in a cage. Even though the door was locked, she was absolutely terrified to go outside yet. She didn't want to face others.. in some way she felt it would be like looking in a gloomy magic mirror: a taste of what might be in store for her.
Plus she was fairly certain she would have a lot of questions or judgements that she didn't want to face yet. By law of womanhood, she was no longer just an ememy to Emelyn, but all of her close friends as well.
"I... I don't know what I ought to do now. She obviously needs her space. When I tried to apologize, I somehow was making things worse near the end of things... but... am I wrong if I want to still be her friend? Is it impossible? And... would you resent it..?" He rested his chin on his hand, thinking of her throwing it back in his face that by trying to be friends and ignoring what happened, it belittled it... and thus belittled what she had meant to him. He... didnt' deny it.. but he couldn't be with her again. But that didn't mean Ambrose didn't still care for Emelyn. He wished that she could find her happiness again. Even if with someone else - that would allow her to nto feel awkward around him.
Angie shrugged. "I dunno. I mean, I believe you when you say it, but she probably doesn't. Its hard to hear. 'Let's just be friends' or 'it's not you, its me.' Is it possible? Maybe in time. Probably not right now. But I don't see how apologizing made things worse."
Ambrose shrugged. "I don't know... really either myself. She... she was really upset." He frowned. He shouldn't get into it - he had taken his time to try to keep Angelina out of it as much as he could. To not weigh her with yet another burden that kept her from trying to start moving on.
"I... I know that you've been going through a rough time, too. You... you really should try to talk to some of the others. There are other people here who just recently came themselves... who don't look... quite as scary as I do."
Angelina bit her lip and shrugged. "I don't know if I'm ready."
Ambrose nodded slowly. "I... can respect that. I just... I wish there was more I could do to help you too." His ear flicked. "While I was out in the woods today... I ran into someone else who... didn't know yet. She... she was scared of me at first... but... I explained things to her. I seem... I seem to frequently be the one who runs into people who either don't know yet or don't believe. And I've seen people take it well... and people who take it very badly. Regardless... I know it's hard." He squeezed her shoulder.
"I guess going out and talking to people would me... having to accept it. I don't think I can do that yet."
"You're welcome to stay here with me as long as you like." He stroked the side of her face. "I may come in and out some... but I'm here for you. I can bring your meals... keep you company." He smiled softly. "And you can come out... when you're ready to. But... don't bottle things inside." He winked at her, parroting her own words back at her.
She shook her head and gave a small smile at that. "yeah, thats good advice. I'll keep that in mind." She picked up her iPod off the bed and fidgeted with it, avioding his eyes. She didn't know what she was feeling - though she felt eerily calm now. Like she had cried herself out, though she didn't really feel much better.
"You look tired." He spoke softly. "I... I'm sorry for making you worry about me. If you'd like... we could just rest for now. No ... complicated talking." He sidled closer to her. "But-" He held up a clawed finger. "You have to promise me that you'll talk to me... try to work things through soon."
Angelina picked a leaf out his hair. "You should probably take a shower first," she said as he came closer. She sighed and nodded. "I promise. I just don't know what to say that I haven't expressed already. I'm scared, and I don't know what to think abuot everything. I feel like I'm dreaming..."
Ambrose looked at the leaf, and then down to his torn, muddy clothes and clumpy, dirty fur. "Erg... you... you're right" He ran a hand through his tangled, leafy hair - which more than substantiated her request.
"And... I understand. It sounds like things just really haven't sunk in all the way. Which... is good and bad. Though eventually at least getting out of the duplex might help clear your head. I could take you to the beach at night or something. Smell the sea breeze, the sound of the lapping water." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"I'll go take that shower now. And we can lie down when I get back if you like."
"Beach sounds nice," she said, and it was true. She hasn't been to the beach in a very very long while. Well, I real beach. With warm sun, and sand, and all that jazz. She popped her headphones back in and layed down.
"Well I shall have to take you then." Ambrose confirmed. "It's a nice beach... but it wasn't the same enjoying it without you." He winked.
"I'll take that shower now, and then I'll be clean enough for you." He joked. If anything, now that she drew attention to it - the grime was bothering him.
He grabbed an extra pair of boxers from the dresser, and headed into the bathroom. Not long after, the sound of running water could be heard. |
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Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 10:48 pm
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Chubbs whistled as he walked his way pass many of the duplex's on his way towards the first. He carried with him, tucked under his arm a sketch pad, full of the designs he had been creating. He headed to see Ambrose, Chubbs needed some help, particularly muscle to help finish his project on time. Coming up to the door, he knocked his large knuckles on it a few times and took a deep breath. Not knowing Ambrose that well and given his appearance, Chubbs didn't want to appear nervous.
Ambrose's ears pricked as he heard the knock at the door, and he glanced hesitantly back to Angelina. He had been chatting with her, trying to keep her company and help her relax despite the... innate awkwardness.He looked hesitnatly between Angelina and the door. "Let me... see who that is." He patted her on the back of the hand with a supportive smile. Getting up, he peeked through the eyehole to see a familiar face. "It's Chubbs" He said with a smile. "He... ah... he's also pretty new. He hasn't changed yet either..."
Angelina sat up and forced a tight-lipped smile, nodding. "Oh, okay..."
He gave her another supportive smile and looked back to the door, turning the handle and peeking out. His ears were pricked curiously, but there was still a touch of a nervous aire to him. "Hi Chubbs....!" He opened the door a bit wider, to show the big man to the room "come on inside, if you like. How can I help you...?" He took another deep breath. "Angelina... meet Chubbs. Chubbs... this is my ... my girlfriend! Angelina!"
Chubbs smiled shyly as he was greeted at the door with the familiar fuzzy face of Ambrose. He blinked and was pleasantly surprised by the warm invitation. Stepping inside, he took his cap off from his head as if he'd been invited into a fancy house. Chubbs looked over at Angelina, and blushed red all through his cheeks, he smiled still and waved shyly to the girl. Chubbs internally thought Ambrose was a lucky b*****d. " Umm... hi... ah.. not interupting .. ah... anything... I can umm.. I can come back later?"
Angelina stood up and held her hand out to the man. "Oh no, not at all. I'm, uh, new here, I guess you could say."
Ambrose nodded, his tail swishing still a bit anxiously. If Chubbs looked closely, the only real difference between this room and any other unfurnished one was a portrait
sitting on the bedside table that very obviously was of the young woman, Angelina, as well as a young blonde, human man that looked vaguely like Ambrose."No problem at all. Sorry I haven't been out and about that much recently. How can I help you, Chubbs?"
Chubbs smiled still as he took the petite hand of Angelina in his large gloved one and shook it gently, speaking in his nervous aussie accent. " Umm pleased to ah... to umm meet ya" Chubbs took a moment to glance at the portrait before turning to Ambrose. Reaching inside his pocket he produced two twinkies in their wrappers. " I ah... thought.. I'd umm bring a welcome to the neighbourhood present"
Angelina chuckled and took it. "Thank you," she said, looking to Ambrose. To think, if he was right....this would be last twinkie she might ever have.
Ambrose smiled, but could tell Angelina was still very anxious. He was as well aware as she how... frightening things were here... but he hoped eventually they could help eachother pull through... "How have you been?" He smiled to the big man. "Last I saw you was the cafeteria... what, a week ago? I know how rough things are when you first get here. Hell, no matter how long.." He trailed off, glancing to Angelina and wincing. He knew that probably wasn't helpful to reassuring her.
" Y-yeah it's umm.. been a while, but umm I ah.. been bit busy myself.. ya know.. trying to ah.. keep people together... and ah.. doing my new project.. which well.. is what brings me here" Chubbs pulled out the sketchpad from under his arm and began flicking through the pages.
Ambrose's ears pricked curiously again as he stood up on his tiptoes and glanced over his shoulder at the sketchbook. "Project?"
Chubbs looked at Angelina, he didn't think ahead that she would be here, he was a goose. He decided to let her in on it and open the page he needed and held it out so they both could see."What ya think?.. I've ah.. started up a bit on my own.. it's kinda gonna be a surprise.. ya know.. for like.. umm the community.. for christmas. And ah.. well I needed some help... ya know... bit of muscle?"
Ambrose's eyebrows raised drastically. "A **** ******?!" He smiled and waved Angelina over. "Take a look at this..." "wait... you mean build this? Wow...." He scratched the back of his head with a nervous chuckle. "I'd be glad to help... but I'll give you the same warning I gave Greer... The most building I've ever done is shop class."A small smile hung on his mouth. It reminded him eerily again of his upstairs neighbor nicknaming him the "carpenter." Here he was starting to find himself committed to more building projects.
Angelina quirked an eyebrow and looked to Ambrose, then gave Chubbs a friendly smile. **** wasn't really her... thing.
Chubbs nodded and smiled to them both quietly, he thought to himself it was a strange idea, but he thought he could do it with some help." I recon I can do it... I've umm done some construction work before.. and ah.. well, it ah.. it's really not that hard. Ah... I'm gonna ask Jamal too for a hand... but anyway you guys can help" Chubbs thought about Angelina for a moment then smiled. " I won't steal ah Ambrose.. that much... and umm If you felt like.. felt like ah doing something you could help maybe with the umm.. *** ********* I have to make"
Angelina shrugged, not really ready to jump head-first into group activities. Part of her was still hoping Ambrose and herself could catch the next helicopter fight off the island. "Mayhaps.." she said, noncommitedly. She looked back to Ambrose and gave asmall shrug. "Actually doing some heavy lifting around here, Ambrose?" she teased.
Ambrose stuck his tongue out at his girlfriend teasingly. "Whaat? I can be of help! I'm... not a weakling or anything..." He paused, looking at the skeptical expression. "really!" He turned back to Chubbs, patting the man on the arm. "Seriously, I'd be glad to help." He smiled again. It helped being useful around here... even if it was just a project.
Chubbs grinned watching the pair of them tease at each other, it was fun to watch. He flicked the pages over a bit, showing some of the designs a bit closer and smiled to Ambrose "I'll be glad for the umm help...If ah. ya not interested Angelina it's fine.. but ah.. I can bring the stuff here to paint if ya like.I showed ya as well cuz I figured ah.. well Ambrose wouldn't keep it from ya for long"
Ambrose nodded, looking over the plans. "This definately looks workable... I mean it's a biiiig project, and it sounds like a lot... but when you break it down.." He smiled. "You're still going to have to walk me through everything, but I'll be glad to lend my time."
Chubbs grinned lightly " Don't worry, I basically have it planned like a " For Dummies" book, cuz .. I ah... need to be able to follow it" He closed up the book and tucked it back under his arm. " But thanks for helping out... I ah.. really needed it... I'll probably meet ya here in the morning.. umm well about seven am" Chubbs smiled cheekily to Angelina " You could do me the favour.. of umm.. kicking his a** umm outa bed each morning?"
Angelina laughed. "Oh no, he's the morning person, not me!"
Ambrose grinned. At least he used to be. But he still could be. "Well, you made the plans, you can't be as much of a dummy as you say." He winked. "And who knows - I might even be back by the time this sleepyhead gets out of bed" He nudged her in the side with his elbow and gave a fanged grin.
Chubbs chuckled and nodded, looking between the two, he was glad to see some humour. " Right well ah... I won't get in ya hair anymore.. umm.. I'll be off and umm probably see ya in the mornin"
"Goodnight, and nice to meet you," she said with a smile, taking Ambrose's arm
Ambrose gave a small wag. "No problem, Chubbs." He gave a playful smile. "Early tomorrow then! Have a great night!"
Chubbs nodded and smiled, waving as he stuck his cap back on and saw himself out the door. " If ya not up.. I'm gonna jump in the bed with ya!" He shouted out as he left and chuckled
Ambrose guffawed at that mental image. "Well! For Angelina's sake... I'll have to make sure I am! I'll meet you at your duplex!" And he waved his big friend off.
Angelina laughed and shook her head.
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Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:05 am
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Ambrose, as promised, was up early the following morning. The streaming sunlight through the slats of his blinds was enough to rouse the slumbering wolfman. Carefully, he stretched and planted a soft kiss on Angelina's forehead, who was still sound asleep next to him.
He slipped out of bed, and went to go brush his teeth and hair, and dressed in the most casual clothes he had before darting out to the cafeteria to grab a bag of some food to eat along the way to wherever Chubbs wanted to begin.
Finally, all preparations in order, he jogged towards Chubb's duplex.
Chubbs yawned and stretched, just coming from the cafeteria after a joyful breakfast and conversation, He was ready to begin the day, even though he hadn't slept a wink last night. Carrying his plans under his arm he wondered if Joliette was okay where she had been sleeping, and headed up towards his duplex.
Seeing he was not alone this morning outside, he looked at his watched and noticed it was just a little after seven. peering at the figure, he saw Ambrose. Chubbs blinked and jogged after him quickly, waving an arm to get him to not knock on the door, fear that he may wake up poor Joliette. In the end he let out a small whistle in his direction.
Ambrose paused, surprised to see that the man he was expecting to be inside the residence outside of it, and attempting to get his attention.
He paused, his hand held in a fist and about to connect with the door. "Chubbs! Ah, there you are! You are up earlier than I expected you to be." He smiled, bringing his hand back down to his side and turning to face him fully.
Chubbs chuckled then blinked and put a finger to his lips, making a quieting gesture. He blushed knowing he had to tell Ambrose why he ran up to meet him and was now shushing him. He took out a pen and flicked open a page on the sketch pad he had, and quickly began to write down as he spoke a little quietly.
" Sorry.. I've ah.. been awake umm.. all night... ah.. Joliette's asleep, I umm well didn't want ya to wake her up"
Chubbs wrote out on the piece of paper:
Hope that you had a nice sleep
You certainly didn't make a peep
Feel free to stay if ya desire
and use my bed to retire
I had some secret business to do
And no you will not get a clue
I'll be down by the new spot today
Hope ya have a good day, Joliette
Chubbs then tore the paper off and slid it under the door frame
Ambrose cocked his head at the call for silence, but obliged his friend. Had he an upstairs neighbor he was concerned about...?
However, the silent question was soon answered by the notes on the page, and Ambrose did a doubletake between it and the man before him. whispering quietly, he asked. "Joliette's there...? Is... she alright?" If Chubbs had been awake all night and she was there, was she ill? Did she change?
Chubbs blinked up at Ambrose, then blushed, placing a hand on his shoulder he got him to start walking with him pass the duplexes quietly. He wanted to talk instead of whisper for once, and not outside his front door.
" She's fine.. I umm... we were up.. like ah... talking late... and well she looked really tired... so I umm.. just let her sleep there ya know? umm just that... I couldn't sleep cuz umm.. well... would you?"
Chubbs looked at Ambrose and blushed bright red talking about it all.
"Aaaahhh" Ambrose said with a knowing smile, and patted Chubbs on the back. "Congradulations" He grinned. "Sounds like you two are really hitting it off. I... I think it's really nice." He smiled.
"People need support here... it's really bringing people together despite all of the obvious negatives." He gave him a half-smile
Chubbs blinked widely at Ambrose , he blushed even brighter than before. Chubbs figured he would get the wrong idea, he didn't want Joliette waking up to find half the village talking about her and him.
" I ah... it's umm nothing.. like umm... Oh man... I ah... we were talking late.. tis all. She just umm stayed over"
Chubbs looked at the ground, too embaressed to look up.
Ambrose had a bemused smile on his face that didnt leave with the dismissal. "Okay, Chubs... sure" He winked.
"So! Now that we're out of hearing range... tell me more about this project. Why such a big secret?"
Chubbs poked his tongue out playfully at Ambrose. He was taking the mickey out of him, but he didn't mind. Chubbs fetched around in his pocket, searching around for a couple of keys he had in there.
" I ah... wanted to make umm a christmas gift for.. well like the people... and umm... Joliette kinda gave me the inspiration when she told me about some things she'd miss... I umm just wanted to keep it a surprise"
Ambrose nodded, looking interested. "What did Joliette say to inspire you?"
Ambrose reached into the bag and pulled out a hotdog, munching as they walked. "And have you had the opportunity to talk to to Jamal yet?"
" She ah.. said she regretted *********************************************************...so I kinda wanted to ah.. ***** **** ** ***"
Chubbs eyed the hotdog and smiled, he loved hotdogs too. He wondered if he got Ambrose up a little too early to work, that he had missed breakfast.
" I got a hold of Jamal yeah.. he'll probably join up with us later"
Ambrose nodded. "Sounds like a plan. And, wow, Chubbs... that's really thoughtful!"
The smile just widened. "And you're about to ********* * **** ****** with a theme based on Joliette's missed opportunities and you're saying that you don't like her?" He winked.
He polished off the hot dog and pulled out a second one.
"So where are we going to construct it..?"
Chubbs blushed deep crimson red all through his cheeks and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He would have to smack Ambrose for that one later.
" Awww hey... can't I just be umm.. thoughtful.. I mean... it's not just for her I was umm gonna like ***** *** ******* umm like * ******* *****... and ah... so she could see em... but ..I thought.. it'd just be a lot of effort for ah.. well a well something that'd sit and gather dust... so I decided to make something practical.... and ... ah.. well I like her... just umm... I would do the same for most"
Chubbs lead Ambrose down towards a section near the beach, it was a fenced off area, with a gate with a padlock and chain on it. Chubbs finally fished out the keys from his pocket.
" Here we are"
****
Ambrose laughed and held up a hand. "Alright, alright... I give. You're being thoughtful. But, it is sweet. And I bet she's going to appreaciate it a great deal." He smiled, his tail wagging.
"And everyone should find it very useful." He paused as they got to the fence, realizing that it had been longer than he thoguht since he had last been to the beach. "wow... you've really been thinking this out! I hope that I'll be of help." He winced. "Angelina... well.. she was right - strength isn't precisely my forte. I'm a good fencer... I'm quick... but..." he scratched the back of his head. "yeah..."
Chubbs chuckled and still couldn't remove the redness from his cheeks, he hoped everyone would like the idea. Chubbs began to undo the lock and pulled the chain free from the gate, dumping it on the ground. He smiled at Ambrose and mock punched his shoulder.
" Well.. in boxing, everyone has a strength and weakness.. mines endurance... but I ain't fast..Ya may say ya not strong.. but ya smart, and probaly quick... and ah.. ya probably got like precision eyes and nimble fingers for the delicate work. Any way.. umm.. enough time here and ah.. you'll be buffin yaself out.. and ya missy with be all over ya like a bear on honey"
Chubbs grinned and opened the gate to the work area. He'd been busy already, There was all the tools they needed with some of the supplies, and the the ground already marked out.
It was Ambrose's turn to blush, albeit most of the redness was covered by the fur. "Well.... I suppose you're right. And don't think I'm trying to shirk my duties - but I just wanted to warn you that I might not be quite so good at the heavy lifting as you might have assumed. And... well... who knows." He shuffled his feet in the sand. "Though I don't want to be... musclebound or anything!" He replied. "Even if... there aren't any more competitions... I still want to keep fencing as best I can with the equipment that I have and any other interested parties."
Ambrose stepped into the enclosure and looked around at what the landscape offered. "Well... looks like we've got a lot of work ahead of us... so... point me to what you need me to do." He held his hands out to the side.
Chubbs chuckled a little and patted Ambrose on his shoulder. Leading him inside, he locked the gate behind them, making sure no prying eyes got to ruin the surprise. Chubbs picked up a tape measure and a bit of small wood, measuring out a length on it, he marked a pen line across it. Handing that to Ambrose, he then grabbed a shovel and placed it in his other hand, and pointed to an already dug out hole.
" See ah.. that one there... well need to do the same with the rest, just make it.. ah bout.. as umm deep at the lowest point, as that umm... line I marked out there"
Ambrose watched carefully, nodding. "Well.... that doesn't look too hard, I suppose." He smiled back to Chubbs, taking the tape measure, and getting to work.
Ambrose was a dedicated worker, and learned quickly. While an amateur at construction, the tasks were broken down into simple enough pieces. He worked with Chubbs for several hours, eventually suggesting a break - needing to get back to Angelina, not wanting to leave her by herself for too long.
Chubbs wiped the sweat from his forehead anf put down the hammer his was belting nails into board with. A break would be good, he needed a smoke and something to eat, his tummy suddenly grumbled and he chuckled.
" Get goin ya lil scamp... I don't wanna be in the shits with ya girl cuz I ah.. stole ya all day"
At least it was December, Ambrose thought to himself.... as depressing as it was that he would probably never see snow again... at least it wasn't quite as blazing hot as it was when he had first arrived.
"Thanks, Chubbs! I'll help out when I can! Just come get me when you need the help!" And with that he waved him off and headed back to the village.
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 12:06 am
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Emergence from Seclusion
(Cafeteria get-together with Amaya, Jamal, Angelina, and Rayanna)
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose almost felt like he was emerging from hiding as he walked, slowly, to the cafeteria with Angelina at his side. Between helping Chubb's construction and spending some much-needed time with Angelina since her arrival, he had barely seen any of the other Islanders who had grown quite close to him since he had gotten here.
He had made many quick trips to the cafeteria, briniging Angelina food, or getting food for himself before construction, but never spotted anyone else during his erratically-timed visits.
He wondered how Colche was doing... or Amaya... and he still worried about Emelyn... did she still hate him? And it seemed like ages since he had seen Greer or The Dude. Was Greer still having... issues?
He glanced over to the short brunette at his side. A blessing in disguise, mayhaps... he couldn't believe his eyes when she had come into his duplex... back into his life. And how his heart had panged for her.... but now.... now she was here - he knew the problems it would bring. She was scared, for her ... humanity... for her freedom. And... since her arrival... they had yet to share any real... "quality time". They had hugged, snuggled - certainly. She had even said that he was soft... but... they hadn't even really kissed - nothing more than a peck on his furry cheek. Ambrose was beging to fear that she no longer found him attractive.... no longer saw him as the man she had fallen for.
With a disguised sigh, he walked arm in arm with her quietly to the cafeteria, lost in his thoughts. He gave her another encouraging smile - or at least he hoped it came across like that. She had not stepped foot outside of his duplex for more than a few minutes since her arrival - she was making a big step - coming out with him.
Ambrose also hoped that she wasn't disturbed by his eating habits - that he had gone out of his way to hide from her. Between eating most of his meals at hte work site, or guzzling down some meat while bringing her her tray. He mostly had satiated his hunger before bringing her her meal, during which he could eat lightly with her. He had gone out of his way to tone down the lupine impulses around her - which only made them stand out more to him. Resisting the urge to lick her face, or shake himself dry....
But the longer it went, the more awkward it felt - like he was violating the sacred trust of a relationship - not letting himself be himself - despite how unnatural and artificially-induced these new impulses were.
So it was a big step for both of them.
Stepping through the doors Ambrose gave a small sigh as he saw it was empty of people save for the lunch lady at her typical post. Although... he wasn't sure if it was really relief or disappointment.
Smiling to her, he extended a hand to the food area. "Here we are. I know it's not a very nice restaurant... but.... well, it's the best I could do" he winked.
Angelina Swanson Angelina was not as brave or as strong as she would like to think she was. She stayed close to Ambrose, hesitantly letting her eyes wander over the setting. She was nervous about meeting other people had changed. She was afraid she would scream or gawk or something else terribly insulting or rude.
She also didn't want to accept that something like that might happned to her.
She gave a tight lipped foced smile and nod to Ambrose, looking over the cafeteria.
Amaya Vaughan After that rather depressing conversation with Colche, Amaya made her way towards the cafeteria. It was getting to be a little late and she needed to grab something quick before heading back to her duplex.
As she headed into the cafeteria doors, she paused and looked at Ambrose and... some girl she didn't know next to him. Was that Angelina? Oh god. She physically winced, her first instinct to just get the hell out of dodge so nothing bad would happen. But if she had come out here with him then... that meant she was ready to face things?
With a shaky sigh she grabbed a fruit salad and very slowly made her way over, claws clicking on the tile floor as she did so. "Hey Ambrose... long time no see." She forced a tiny smile, one of her large hands holding her bowl in it's palm and the other balled up at her side.
Her tail gave a nervous twitch behind her and she kept her eyes partially down. If Angelina freaked out she really didn't want to see it face on.
Rayanya VonStrantz Rayanya had become a bit of a shut-in since she found Ambrose in the woods. Now that she knew what was going to come of all this (though not enough for her own ease; she didn't get out of Moreau exactly what she was changing into...), she was starting to get a bit... upset. Not really scared, per se, but worried. And to think she would never see New York City ever again.
However, Ray had finally decided to step out of her room for more than a few short minutes and headed off towards the cafeteria. She was rather hungry; she had been eating very little the past week and her appetite was quite voracious. The little snatches of food she normally kidnapped from the cafeteria didn't really do anything to hold her over.
After a short walk, Ray turned to the doors that smelled so deliciously of food and took a deep breath, then pulled the doors open. She didn't look around, merely made her way to the food in hopes of snatching and running once again.
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose was heading towards the lunch line with Angelina and heistantly loading up his tray with meat. There was a set of steaks on the buffet today - some of the pieces particularly rare and juicy that really was catching his attention - particularly after not having eaten since early yesterday when he did construction work with Chubbs.
Finally swallowing his pride, he put four big thick pieces on his plate, after an apologetic look to Angelina.
He turned, a smile widening in surprise as he saw Amaya. "Amaya! It has been a long time! How have you been doing?" he turned to Angelina, gesturing. "Amaya... this is Angelina" He smiled, and turned to Angelina. "Angelina.. this is Amaya. She's a really great person. Even letting me teach her how to fence." He winked at Amaya. "Speaking of... how's that footwork gone?"
Ambrose glanced up as the door opened once again to reveal another familiar familar. Rayanya... the strange woman he had encountered in the jungle and who had called him a werewolf.... but at least... she had eventually seemingly come to understand... and at least it had been he who had encountered her first instead of, for example, Amaya. And strange as it was, he had needed to help someone that day...
He nodded to her, giving her a small wave as he collected his tray.
Jamal_Reedy The noise and bustle of the cafeteria was only contributed to as Jamal poked his head in, deciding to play "social butterfly" today as opposed to remaining holed up in his room. As of late he'd been feeling pretty aloof and cranky...which wasn't too abnormal for him, but still. He didn't feel completely right. The first thing he did was search for familiar faces and saw them, which was good...but there was also two strange faces that had to belong to new folk, since they were unchanged like he was. Hm...
Angelina Swanson Angelina's eyes widened a bit at the four huge steaks Ambrose piled on his plate. She opted not to say anything and got a small peice for herself. She got a sampling of several things, not really because she was hungry but because it gave her somethng to do.
Then a few people started to enter and she nervously looked up. This was it. There was a handsome black man and a goth-looking woman. Okay, she could definately deal with them.
But then there was... she wasn't sure. She looked young, and female. But her face had blotches of green skin and her hands were large and, well, a bit freaky looking. Angelina caught herself staring, her mouth hanging a bit agape as she suddenly had a mental image of herself with long, freakish fingers.
She blinked a few times and swallowed forcing her eyes up to her face. "Nice to meet you Amaya." Instinctually she held her hand out to shake hers, hesitating a bit once she did, wondering how on earth to shake a hand that look like that...
..oh god, they were all going to hate her.
Amaya Vaughan Hearing the door open twice, Amaya glanced towards it and winced when she saw yet another person she didn't know. Of all the times to come into the cafeteria... As much as she hated to, she tried to just ignore her. After what happened with Chana, meeting people who haden't changed yet scared her probably as much as it scared them to see her. Jamal haden't seen her since she changed either and he... didn't exactly react well. Crap.
Ambrose's rather enthusiastic greeting made her crack a small smile, forcing her to glance at Angelina and nod. "Nice to meet you too." She then gave a tiny laugh. "Not very well, I'm afraid. Even though I've been practising it's hard when your height differs so much." She went on her feet, dropping five inches before standing on the balls of them once more.
Green eyes went to Angelina's offered hand, a bit surprised. Hesitantly she reached out and shook her's with her thumb and three of her fingers. Jeeze, her hand was so tiny...
Rayanya VonStrantz Rayanya looked around the cafeteria, which was currently the fullest she had ever seen it. Perhaps this was a bad time...
The young woman immediately recognized Ambrose, and she tossed a smile in his direction, but nothing more. Her eyes then shifted to the pretty young woman standing beside him, and finally to the scaled girl. Ray couldn't help but shudder a bit. She sincerely hoped she wasn't turning into that.
Ray was slightly startled when the door opened yet again behind her, and she turned around to face a very... buff black man. Shock was clear in her blue eyes; she never liked it when people suddenly appeared behind her. Combined with the two strangers, this new addition made Ray wonder if she should have left her room...
Ambrose Maurlias ((I think the posting order is: Me-Jamal-Angelina-Amaya-Rayanya)) Ambrose hesitated, a bit of a frown as she drew attention to the awkward problems that her changed feet had brought. "Well... maybe there's something that could be done about it... adjust the stances to cater to your physique...." He swallowed. After all.... wouldn't he have to make his own adjustments eventually? From what he had read about wolves, they walked on the balls of their feet as well. While his feet hadn't changed much... yet... that didn't mean that they wouldn't eventually. "If you're still interested, that is.." He offered.
His tail wagged as he saw them shake. That was a good start, right? He watched Angelina... he could smell her anxiety, and his tail slowed. He wished he could make this easier for her... but how?! It had taken him long enough to seeing the others change - and that was only aided by his own change first...
He sighed, resenting the absence of alcohol. Maybe alcohol could help. He never used to think like that...
He looked up as the door opeend again and Jamal entered. He nodded to him, giving him a wave. On the good side, he was seeing several of the people he had missed recently.... on the downside... he hoped that it wasn't making things worse for Angelina.
"Here, let's go take a seat, shall we?" He offered, walking to a table and setting down his tray, taking a seat behind it and extended inviting hands to Angelina and Amaya, with nods again to Jamal and Rayanya.
He waited before digging in immediately on his stack of food.
Jamal_Reedy Jamal hardly looked at all troubled by Amaya...perhaps he was comfortable now with all this genetic "bullshit" as he'd taken to calling it. Or perhaps the fact that Awen had changed, thus forcing him to believe this was happening, had given him a good dose of reality. Who knew. He gave Amaya a stiff nod, showing that he saw her, then gave a wave to Ambrose. Jamal had gotten along alright with him lately, mostly because of the construction with Chubbs, realizing Ambrose wasn't a bad guy. However, he wasn't pleased at the expression on the stranger that had come in before him. The look in her eye was completely interpretted wrongly as perhaps not shock over being startled, but...well, a completely racial bias. His own eyes narrowed some as he gave the girl a slightly intimidating stare, icy silence, and pushed around her to get at the food bar. After a quick round of grabbing, he turned and went to join the others at the table with his meal. "Yo," he said flatly to the assembled group as he took a seat. "I ain't neva seen so many peeps in da caf'tera at once."
Angelina Swanson Angelina look Amaya's hand and gave it a quick shake. The skin was cool and dry, not slimey, but she knew that... she had a pet snake back at home. But still, a part of her brain just didn't want to compute that that was a girl - not an animal.
At Ambrose's suggestion, Angelina nodded, grabbing a can of soda and heading with Ambrose back towards a table. She looked back towards Jamal and Rayanya, focuses on them. They weren't changed, it was easier to deal with. She looked over the thug-ish Jamal. Angelina didn't exactly grow up in the best part of town, so his appearance wasn't very phasing. She looked at his tatoos and stature...
Suddenly her stomach fell as she caught herself admiring Jamal more than she really ought to... She quickly looked away and bit her lip, looking back over to Ambrose. It had been months since she had been... close... to someone, and she hated to admit to herself that it was beginning to bother her. Ambrose hadn't exactly been trying to seduce her recently. But with everything going on, she could see why that wasn't exactly forefront on his mind.
And she couldn't blame him completely. She didn't exactly give him any blazing green lights either. It wasn't that she found him repulsive... just things were do... different. She didn't even know he if wanted her to do anything, or if he just felt too weird. As much as she hated to admit it - she didn't even know how to kiss him anymore.
Gah, why was she even thinking about that right now. What was wrong with her. There lives were being drastically changed forever and she was lamenting to herself about her sexual frustrations?
Get a grip, Angelina, you sould like a sex-crazed little ...
She decided focusing her attention to eating was a better avenue for her thoughs. She looked down to her tray and began to eat, listening to the conversation around her.
Amaya Vaughan "Oh yeah, I'm still interested." Amaya nodded up to him, looking a little surprised that he might think otherwise. She then gave a glance to Jamal and the woman she didn't know, nodding to them in recongnition before following Ambrose rather quickly. She felt very exposed right now and since he was the only other one changed in the room she wanted to stay by him.
After taking a seat next to Ambrose she started to poke at her fruit salad, holding the fork with three fingers clumsily like she had tried to teach herself. Jamal seemed to be reacting pretty well to her new change, which was a huge relife.
Rayanya VonStrantz Rayanya moved out of the black man's way as he shoved past her, quickly darting her eyes away. Gods, she couldn't believe she just did that... Sighing and fingering the rune around her neck, Ray moved on towards the food.
After investigating the selection a bit she grabbed one of the smaller steaks and started to head to a table until a selection of fruit caught her eye. She rarely ate fruit, but that honeydew looked rather delicious. She contemplated a moment before moving to the buffet and picking up a few pieces, and finally found her way to a table.
A lonely table, of course. Rayanya Felt a bit like she was back in high school: one table was bustling with a crowd that had already known eachother, a group of people who, though some of them were transforming into animals, still looked fairly normal. And she had plopped herself at her own table, to hunch over her food. Rubbing the rune at her throat again, she began to gnaw idly at a piece of honeydew.
Ambrose Maurlias "Hi Jamal!" Ambrose smiled, oblivious to the looks that Angelina had been giving him. "Yeah... there do seem to be a lot of people here today..." He glanced around the room. "It's kind of nice actually.... in a way." He added quickly to the end after glancing at Anglina. "This is Angelina." He smiled, gesturing to her. "Angelina, Jamal" He returned.
"And excellent, Amaya! I'm glad to hear that. Maybe we could try some things this afternoon. Maybe even start some work with the epee." He grinned.
When Rayanya sat down at the table by herself, he hesitated, glancing curiousy over to her. Did she not feel comfortable sitting with them? Perhaps he overestimated how well she was handling things...
Finally, he picked up his utensils and began cutting up the steaks before taking a wonderful mouthful of juicy... rare... steak...
Jamal_Reedy Jamal gave Angelina a very slight eyebrow lift, easily picking up the looks she was giving him. Not that he minded at all....Angelina was hardly ugly. However, he was smart enough to not comment on it in front of Ambrose. Jamal might be bigger, but Ambrose could probably do some damage being as he was being turned into a carnivore. Instead, he gave her a very smooth smile and lifted a french fry from his plate. "What up," he drawled. "I take it you be pretty new herr. Doin' a'ight wit' all dis?" She obviously had to know what was going on since she seemed to know Ambrose pretty well. The black man pointed ignored Rayanya since she hadn't joined their table. That also irked him sufficiently and only confirmed what his first thought was. Perhaps she was too good to sit with a black man? Hmmph. Well, this wasn't the first time and certainly wasn't the last. Nevermind the fact that he was probably 100% wrong on his determination.
Angelina Swanson Angelina looked up from her plate can gave Jamal that Are you talking to me? look. Trying not to look as dumb as she felt, she shrugged. "Its all pretty hard to swallow. I guess... I don't know. I don't think its really sunk in yet." She looked him back over. "You seem...er, you know. Have you been...?"Amaya Vaughan a Vaughan"] Amaya swallowed a piece of fruit and glanced over to the woman again, feeling awfully bad about not inviting her over. But she didn't know her and the thought of the same thing happening again scared her to death. Even though it looked like Ambrose knew her... she still felt very out of place among so many normal people, two of which she really didn't know.
Though as Ambrose addressed her she looked back over to him. "Yeah, that'd be nice." She nibbled a little more at her fruit salad, stabbing a strawberry with her fork. To be honest, she wasn't even sure if she could hold an epee with her new hands.Rayanya VonStrantz Giving a small slurp, Rayanya finished off a slice of honeydew and sucked the remaining juice from the effective cup that its rine made. It was, indeed, quite delicious, and she wished she could eat it all day.
She set the rine down on her plate and pulled up a fork and knife, cutting into the steak. Ray kept getting a creeping feeling over her body like the others were looking over at her, which merely reminded her even more of high school. The only difference was that this cafeteria was considerably less populated.
Silently sighing, Ray took a bite of steak and pulled out her notebook and a pencil. Perhaps if she drew something or wrote, she could get rid of the feeling that she was being stared at. Ambrose Maurlias Rayanya seemed to ignore Ambrose's silent invitation... maybe she hadn't seen... or hadn't caught the gist of what he was suggesting. He squirmed in his seat a bit. He thought about vocalizing the invitaition, but Angelina was uncomfortable enough as it was with only a few new people. Maybe she'd join them if she felt comfortable enough doing so...
At least Angelina seemed to be opening up a bit to Jamal. Despite an awkward first start, he seemed to be a nice guy. "She's only been here a bit over a week..." He explained to Jamal.
He nodded to Amaya again. "Glad to hear it" He smiled. He grinned to the others. "Anyone else interested?" Jamal_Reedy "Been herr damn near two months now...s**t, what be da date anyway? 16th?" He tried to figure it out in his mind as he ate the previously mentioned fry, confirmed his initial guess, then smirked. "Been 'zackly two months since ma sorry black a** got dropped on dis island. I basically know all da s**t dat goin' on herr...took a long time ta believe it though, so I ain't surprised you ain't quite on da same level as the rest o'us. At least ya know people already...it go betta dat way." He flashed her another smooth, charming smile before glancing at Ambrose. "Ya talkin' 'bout dat fencin' stuff?" the black man said with barely concealed mirth, shaking his head in amused disbelief. Jamal saw fencing as a pansy sport, even if he didn't truely get the gist of it. Hardly sounded like something he'd be into. "...dat's a'ight, I be stickin' wit' da boxin' lessons fo' now." He'd been getting his lessons during breaks in the construction yard and was getting better day by day, but he was hardly champion at it yet. Angelina Swanson Angelina chewed on a carrotstick. "Its been two months?" Angelina thought to herself. "Well, maybe I'll have a little time then. Do you know what they said you were...going to be?"
She looked back over to Ambrose and gave him a small smile. She knew how important fencing was to him. Amaya Vaughan For the most part Amaya remained silent, watching Angelina, Ambrose and Jamal talk. She was finding herself becoming less and less of a talker these days... maybe it was because of the iguana inside her, or it could have just been all the going ons in the past few days... she didn't really know. Rayanya VonStrantz Rayanya began to quietly sketch in her book, taking down little bits of images both from her imagination and from the cafeteria. She found her eyes wandering to the other table, and, chewing another piece of honeydew, she began to draw simple sketches of its inhabitants. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose's ear flicked back and he gave a rueful twist of his lip to Jamal. "Yeah, I'm talking about fencing again. It's really fulfilling, you know. Much more elegant than boxing." He countered. "It's about precision and speed... not brute strength." He commented flippantly.
He shook his head, though. "But two months... wow, has it been that long, Jamal?" He seemed surprised. "It's been.... nearly four for me...." It seemed longer. His entire life had been turned upside down and closed away from everyone else.
"You alright, Amaya...? You've been quiet." He gave a small smile. Tension... he didn't need tension. He wished he could paint a perfect picture of the island for Angelina.... even though it was anything but that. Everyone seemed to be down or snappy recently... even before he pulled himslf away from a lot of it. Except for when he was working with Chubbs. The guy was sometimes refreshing company admidst everything else. He wondered if that would change when he ... changed. But... no one seemed to have changed recently - even joliette and Jamal... people who had been here a while. Awen too, last he had seen her.. he wondered if that was still the case. Jamal_Reedy Jamal grimaced a little at her question and sat back in his seat. "Naw, I ain't asked 'em yet. I ain't so sure I wanna find out. Knowin' them bastards, they gonna pick sum'thin' I ain't gonna like, but it ain't like I kin do nuthin' 'bout it now, so at least right now I kin pretend dis ain't happenin'." He passed a quick look to Amaya and Ambrose in succession, an odd look overtaking his features. "Not like I can really 'scape it when I got peeps like dis 'round. At least I ain't freakin' no more." He prodded the top bun of his sandwich, feeling an odd aversion for the bread rise in his chest out of nowhere. Mmph...he always liked hamburgers before... Ambrose did manage to get a bit of a spark back to Jamal's eye with his veiled irritation, however. He lifted his gaze to steadily fall on Ambrose's lupine face and though there was still a good-natured aspect to the black man's face, Jamal clearly wasn't in agreement with what Ambrose said. "Look, brotha ain't carin' how elegant o' fulfillin' fencin' be. When it come down to it, if someone gonna kick ma a**, I rather know how ta hit wit' just ma fists than stick 'em wit' a fake sword. Plus if ya look at me, ya seein' anythin' elegant 'bout me?" He prodded an arm muscle to emphasize this point, casually flexing at the same time. "These ain't sayin' nuthin' 'bout bein' quick on ma feet. These be sayin' I'll knock a b***h out." Angelina Swanson Angelina actually started to open up talking to Jamal. "Thats exactly what I think," she said, leaning forward. "I mean, here I am all paranoid they're going to turn me into a cockroach or something, so I'm too afraid to ask. I figure I can lve in ignorant bliss for, well, at least a little while before I have to face the reality of it all..."
She looked over him again. "Well, if it means anything I hope its not something really, uh... like a slug or something."
She took Ambrose's hand and tried to preimptively calm hiim down from Jamal's insults, while she watched him flex. She could help but shake her head ruefully and shake her head a bit. Amaya Vaughan "Huh? Oh, yeah... I'm fine." Amaya lied. A lot of things had happened since the last time she saw Ambrose but right now she didn't want to trouble him with them. Angelina was here, he needed to focus on comforting her through all of this.
She listened to Jamal and Ambrose calmly argue, but didn't interject. Right now she still felt very exposed and out of place. The less attention brought to her the better. Rayanya VonStrantz Rayanya had, by now, abandoned what was left of her steak in favor of sketching. She really should head back to her room, but being around other people , though not interacting with them, was starting to grow on her. It must have been caused by all the time she spent shut up in her room... Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose ruffled a bit, although there was a smile on his face in response to Jamal's banter. "well, learning how to use a 'fake' sword teaches one how to use a real one. And... anyway, dueling is the gentleman's combat... just... well... people dont' tend to carry swords around anymore. But it still teaches me to be quick on my feet and deflect a blow.." He responded defensively.
"Besides... ladies tend to like a man with a leaner build instead of being all... musclebound... right Angelina?" He grinned to her.
"But I'm glad that you're doing better. Hell, not many people have been changing recently it seems at all... maybe their process is breaking down or something. That would be nice."
HE gave Amaya a couple of patts on her shoulder. He hoped it was true.
"You know.. as strange as it is... it's nearly Christmas. Can you believe that? Not that the weather would make you think so. I don't think it's dropped below Fifty."
He took a few more bites of the steak, nearly polishing off the second one. HIs ears picking up the skritching of Rayanya's pencil on paper, his ears pricked and he looked over to her curiously. SHe was drawing..? His thoughts flashed to Hargun... and her now grossly distended fingers. HE hadn't seen her draw in some time now.... he wondered if she could anymore - or if she had had the courage to try. Jamal_Reedy Jamal nodded in agreement with Angelina, casually checking her out as she leaned forward but hopefully not in a way that would get noticed by a third party, i.e. Ambrose. He wasn't trying to really make Ambrose mad with all his trashtalk on fencing, but Jamal did like to create some controversy when he could get away with it. Arguments like this were commonplace where he was from...that was something he sorely missed. He and his friends used to rip on each other so bad. Maybe it was how he developed a thick skin to most things people said. However, the comment on lean men getting the women, well, that was -highly- laughable. He had many reasons and ways to disprove that. "Depends on da ladies ya be talkin' 'bout, Ambrose," he said with a sort of cheshire-cat smile, glancing again at Angelina for the briefest moment. "Maybe some of 'em like it...maybe othas just pretend...or maybe they ain't so picky ta just pick guys like you o' guys like me and you just ain't knowin' it." He passed a look to Amaya and Rayanya also, wondering why they were both so oddly quiet. Rayanya...well, he had his owns thoughts as to why she wasn't saying anything, but he thought he'd remembered Amaya being more talkative. Angelina Swanson Angelina snickered, looking between Ambrose and Jamal. "I guess it just really depends on personal preference..." Amaya Vaughan After the pats on the shoulder, Amaya finished her fruit salad. "Well... I better go. I can't stay in air conditioning that long anymore." She forced a tiny smile to them and stood up. "It was nice meeting you, Angelina. I'll see ya later." Giving them all a nod, even the woman she didn't know, she then bussed her tray and headed out of the cafeteria. Rayanya VonStrantz Ray was now staring with utter intent at her sketchbook, apparently done with something and adding some sort of a detail to the piece. The dark woman was utterly oblivious to the world around her, and she didn't even see the scaley woman leave. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose licked his chops after another juicy mouthful, a wry smile on his face. "Ah, but see - matching an opponent with a sword is the physical version of a witty banter... not too unlike this one. I bet you'd like it if you tried it." He replied, pointing at him with a clawed finger. "Although I'm sure both of you are right about ladies having various preferences... " Ambrose very nearly said something about how precision and agility had... other merits, but bit it back with a glance to Angelina, a blush coming to his face. He couldn't discuss... that sort of thing with her right there - especially as that sort of thing had not exactly been comfortable to discuss with just them let alone at the lunch table. He glanced to Amaya as well, she was hardly more than a child. But he couldn't just submit entirely.... "Well... and let's say not everything is best dealt with by a heavy hand or fist.."
He blinked as Amaya stood up. "I... I'm sorry, Amaya. Perhaps... perhaps we'll practice some other time." He gave her a small smile and a wave. Jamal_Reedy Jamal watched Amaya wander off, wondering what her problem was, but shrugged it off. The black man just smiled and shook his head at Ambrose, getting a vague idea of what the blonde was getting at. He was hardly stupid with matters of -that- kind. "Maybe," he said, though he didn't look at all convinced. "But dat's a diff'rent matter entirely, ya know?" He chuckled and picked up his burger, which was now suddenly more appetizing than moments ago, and took a big bite from it. It wasn't quite five-star quality, but it filled an empty stomach just fine. Angelina Swanson Angelina watched the green lady leave, staring at her tail as she left. She focused on eating the rest of her food with a small smile on her face as she listened to Ambrose try to defend his masculinity. Rayanya VonStrantz Ray flipped a page in her sketchbook to a blank page, then began a fresh process of observing and sketching. Ambrose Maurlias ((Ahh! WA, That rocks! ^____^ ))
Ambrose watched Amaya leave, raising the age level of the room. "I... well.... I don't think it's a very different matter at all." He smirked. "You know... they say if you can fight, then you can dance..." He opened and closed his mouth, putting a hand to his lips. "Er... well.... ahh.." He looked over to Angelina again, looking very awkward. "You know what I mean."
He slid aside his now empty plate.
He glanced over again to Rayanya's table curiously, hearing her pencil skritching away. He opened and closed his mouth a few times again. Jamal_Reedy Jamal smirked heavily at that little blurb, amused at how awkward Ambrose was about this subject. He himself could care less about being PG. "Oh don't worry...I can definately fight...and you kin ask Awen 'bout da dancin'." He took another big bite out of his burger, his expression nice and nonchalant as he chewed. Angelina Swanson Angelina chewed on her steak, raising an eyebrow. She wondered who his Awen person was, and she looked back over to Ambrose and gave him a smile. "Ambrose is the best 'dancer' I've ever been with." Rayanya VonStrantz ((No prob. Just doodling to keep my mind off of stuff. And now for the first black man I have drawn in quite a few years... sorry... )) Rayanya continued to doodle idly, her gaze once again intent on the form coming from her pencil and marring the perfectly white paper.Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose's eyes widened at Jamal's counter. He had no idea he and Awen had gotten that close! His face reddend in embarrassment even more as Angelina stepped up to defend him.
... only to be replaced with a proud smile, his tail lifting confidently. "Grace and precision." He restated, sliding the empty plate to the side.
He glanced self-consciously back to the artist at the adjacent table.
((Ooo! Nice job with that one too~! biggrin . *hugs WA* What is it about the holidays that bring a double dose of the good with the bad :/ )) Jamal_Reedy Hehehe....victory! He had caught Ambrose offguard and that's what he'd been trying to do the whole time. He finished the last bite of his sandwich off with a flourish and also shoved his plate away, now reaching for an unopened can of pop, which he cracked open with a satisfying click. Jamal decided to leave the topic lie, unless they preferred to bring it up again. ((Yeeeee! biggrin How awesome!)) Angelina Swanson Anglina finished most of her steak and finised off her drink, still amused by the banter between the two men. She watched Raynanya draw for a bit, the gently squeezed Ambrose's knee when she was finished. Rayanya VonStrantz As Rayanya looked up from her sketchbook to snatch another quick glance at her subject, she noticed that Ambrose was looking at her and locked eyes with him for a moment. What could he be looking at her for? Rayanya, as usual, was completely oblivious.((This didn't come out so good. x.x )) Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose sighed, smiling ruefully. "Well, anyway." He glanced to Angelina, who was signalling that she was ready to go. "It was nice seeing you, Jamal." He rose, picking up his tray. "I will be seeing you around."
He set aside the tray, and walked over by Rayanya on his way to the door. "You know... you don't have to be a stranger around here..." He said with a small wag. "There aren't that many of us around here, though most of us are pretty friendly if you give us the chance."
"You ready, Angelina?" He smiled. Angelina Swanson Angelina leaned over the table and offered her hand to Jamal. "Nice meeting you," she said with a smile and headed back over to Ambrose.
((THANK YOU Arsenic, that looks awesome :3 )) Rayanya VonStrantz Rayanya looked up from her sketchbook and gave Ambrose a temporarily bewildered look, at least until his words fully sank in. "Oh... yeah. Sorry. Old habit, and you know how those are." She gave him a small smile. "I'll sit with you guys next time; I'm sure there will be plenty of them."
Ray's gaze switched over to Angelina, and she gave another small, disturbing grin. Though she knew that the woman was leaving, she figured she might as well offer at least somewhat of a greeting. "Ah, you must be new as well. I'm Rayanya, I'm sure I'll see you around." Jamal_Reedy ((Sorry, got distracted with SS order filling D: )) Jamal nodded to Ambrose and shook hands with Angelina, who he gave his most suave smile, then watched them both amble out of the cafeteria...leaving him with the strange woman whom he was sure wasn't so pleased to be left in his company. Well, that's wasn't going to fly. The black man also stood and started to gather up his dinner articles, not giving Rayanya even a glance now. Rayanya VonStrantz ((Gack, so sorry. I deleted that post because I didn't know if Sabin and Kamiki were posting back or not e.e Yeah I'm an idiot who got ahead of herself. So repost then... or we can delete these and save them for later, Jade.)) Rayanya watched the black man for a few moments, contemplating, before deciding to take a bit of action. Granted, he could just blow her off without saying a single word, but she still might as well try. After all, where she grew up ethnic diversity was hideously common; hell, you could still occasionally catch a tinge of German accent in her voice. And she knew how to read people's faces, especially when they thought you were discriminating against them. You learn a lot in New York City schools, and by growing up in the middle of Hell's Kitchen.
"Hey," she said to him, raising her voice a bit to ensure she was heard. "I'm pretty sure I know what you thought I was thinking, and I wanted to say I wasn't thinking that at all. You startled me, that's all that look meant. Where I come from, bad things tend to happen when people appear randomly behind you."((To go before Jamal's last post)) Jamal_Reedy Jamal paused as he collected his pop can, glancing up with a manner that clearly showed he wasn't interested in hearing what she had to say, at least...at first. The fact she even said anything to him was more promising than a stony silence though so he did give her the benefit of the doubt. "Mmmph, I see," he murmured, disbelief still apparent, but not as thickly so. She was from a city...that made sense. Jamal understood that whole "watch your back" mentality. "Well, you not sayin' anythin' didn't help none, so ya know." Rayanya VonStrantz Swiping a bit of hair from her face, Ray kept her gaze on Jamal. "Just wanted you to know. I'm not like that, I don't discriminate, in case you couldn't tell. I'm not even close to normal." She chuckled, but there was little humor behind it. "And you're just another person, take no offense." Ray reclined in her chair a bit and watched for Jamal's reaction. "So basically, I'm sorry for any wrong impression I might have given you." Jamal_Reedy Jamal didn't say anything for awhile, but finally nodded. "A'ight then..." he drawled. "But sumtimes peeps dat look diff'rent be hatin' mo' then normal lookin' peeps, so you ain't impossible ta be one of -them-." He tossed his trash into the nearest available can and sauntered over to her table, vaguely curious as to what she was drawing that entire time. |
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Posted: Sat Dec 17, 2005 3:36 am
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Oh Won't you 'Dance' with me?
Ambrose closed the door to his duplex behind them as he and Angelina got back from the cafeteria. The meal had filled his stomach, and the company had partially sated his lonliness for seeing some of the other islanders (although his thoughts still went to a few of his older friends he hadn't seen in some time).... however, the conversation with Jamal had begun to stir some other apprehensions.
He had yet to be .... close... to Angelina since her arrival here, and it had been bothering him. In his heart, Ambrose was greatly worried that his appearance scared her, or at least made it so she didn't find him attractive in that way. Or maybe he just was a constant reminder of what might happen to her, serving the same ultimate result.
But the ... conversation in the cafeteria today... about 'dancing' - as much as it turned Ambrose's skin red to virtually be bragging about his prowess right there in front of his girlfriend. But... she hadn't stopped him... instead she had supported him. So... what did that mean?
It was obvious something was on his mind as he walked into the room, not taking a seat on the bed, but lost in thoughts, his hands clasped behind his back. He was begining to mouth things, trying to find a way to start this conversation that had been looming on his thoughts. What if he didn't like the answer. What if she wasn't attracted to him anymore? He was the reason she was stuck here... it was his fault... and then to lose even that...?
Angelina came in, watching Ambrose. "So... I guess that wasn't so bad. Jamal was nice, I guess.. you know. He seems fun..." She was just trying to make conversation. "Something on your mind, honey?"
Ambrose smiled, nodding. "Yeah... most of the people here are really nice once you get to know them." He delayed. "A lot of people are just stressed. We should do something, you know?"
He hesitated.... she asked... he ... dammit she was his girlfriend - previously she had been the ONLY person he could open up to- why was he hesitating now. "Uhm... well... it's just - about the conversation.... and... well... 'dancing'-" The word was half-obscured with a cough. "I... well... I've been wondering -and I wouldn't hold it against you - I understand, you know? - but... you just haven't seemed.... well.... that... interested... recently." He took a breath. "And I know it probably seems really shallow of me. You're goign through a LOT. Hell, I understand that. And it probably isn't the best situation for me to be asking this sort of thing, but it's... well.. it's been worrying me. We haven't even kissed... and... I guess... I just want to know... Do...." He swallowed again. "Do you not find me attractive anymore? -andyoucanbehonest!" He closed his eyes, forcing himself to breathe. He had just dumped another load of a question on her, and it wasn't fair of him.
Angelina just started at him, dumping all this onto her at once. She scratched behind her head. "Ambrose, I..."
She tried to think of what to say. Sure, how Ambrose looked now wasn't exactly the first thing that popped into her head when she thought "sexy" but more importantly what Ambrose looked like now isn't what popped into mind when she thought "Ambrose"
She sat down on the bed and patted the space beside her. "Ambrose, I'm sorry.. I didn't know thats been bothering you..."
His tail moved side to side and he clasped his hands behind his back. "I... I'm sorry... I know - I know you've been under a lot of pressure... and it's not fair of me to ask you something like this." He sighed, and ran a hand through his blonde hair. "I.... I just missed you so much.... and... things have felt... tense... ever since you got here - with good reason. I mean this isn't exactly a ... well... holiday. But... how I feel about you hasn't changed." but I'm wondering if how you feel about me has... he finished mentally. this might be the last chance I have to spend with her... fully human.
Angelina motioned him towards her. "Ambrose, I love you, you know nothing will ever change that..."
She came up to him, putting her hands on his furry face, letting herself feel the fur under her hands. "I don't really... know. I mean, I don't find you repulsive or anything, Ambrose. Its just... its different. I had this mental image, you know. In my mind I think of my boyfriend and I think of.." she looked over to the picture.
"... I'm not saying thats -bad- I'm just saying... its just a bit weird. I don't really know... I dunno.. I didn't know if you even wanted to, you know..."
Ambrose's ears crumpled back as she spoke; he couldn't blame her for the awkwardness. How would he feel if he was parted for Angelina for months only to find her again looking so completely different?
However, he didn't pull back as she put her hands to his face.
"I wish... if you did have to come... that you had come earlier... seen things more gradually instead of ... all of this" He winced.
"But... of course I love you too... and I miss... being with you - close to you. I do feel as if there's been a wedge - partly because of how I look... and partly becuase I feel responsible for getting you into a situation that you have every right to be terrified of.... and partly even because I'm scared to let you see how much this has been... changing me."
Angelina drew him down on the bed. "Its all very scarey, Ambrose... its hard to deal with. I wish so bad you never came here. But I promise I'm not lying.... barring that you can't leave.. I would rather be stuck here with you than living my life not knowing where you were."
He followed obediently after her, taking a seat by her side. "I wish I had listened to you and never came here." He looked down, drooping. "I... believe me - I know how scary it is... it was terrifying with me as I came to the painful realization as to what was really going on here without any sort of preparation... but the scariest thing for me, after getting over... the physical changes... was the thought of never going home - of never seeing you again. I felt so guilty being happy to see you."
"I would be more insulted if you weren't happy to see me," she teashed lightly, smiling.
He actually chuckled lightly at that. "never." He promised. "But... I mean... I would never have asked for it... trapped you here away from your future. Condemned you to this same fate volitionally. Although I feel that perhaps I am somewhat to blame, even if you did push to come here from your side... with how much I ... complained the staff.."
He stopped, shook his head. "But... that's the past... You're here now - and unless something happens drastically, neither of us are leaving." He took a breath. "I... I know I look very different. I... I even feel very different from time to time - and I don't know how much of it is the setting, and how much of it is the... genes. I don't know how much it will change in the future, either, though - and so in a way I'm clinging to what I have..." He looked into her eyes, hesitantly reaching out his furry hand to stroke her jawline. "But... please... be honest. Is it ... too soon for you? Do... do you even think that you would ...." he swallowed again. "Ever be comfortable... with me like I am now? I will always love you... even if it's not.... physical."
Angelina licked her lips and nuzzled into his touch. "I don't know if its too soon or not. I mean, I don't think anything's really going to change unless we try, you know?"
She ran her hand through his hair. "I... I know this sounds really weird... but one of my hesitations is that I don't really know how to... uh, you know.. kiss you, I guess."
His eyes widened and his eyebrows lifted. He had never thought that that might have been one of her hesitations. His anxiety melted into a laugh. "You.... Angelina.. you shouldn't have... been scared to ask. It... welll... I mean... I don't imagine it being... that different." Haltingly, he leaned forward, licking his own lips, and turned his head to the side and met her lips with his.
"Just... like this.." He breathed quietly.
Angelina closed her eyes and tried to relax into the kiss. She tried -not- to think about kissing her dog, so of course thats the only thing she could think about. So she opened her eyes and let her fingers get tangled in his silky hair. This was Ambrose.. the love of her life.
She sighed into the kiss as she felt her heart swell in her chest as she started to realize just how much she missed him
Ambrose felt the warmpth of her lips against his own and her comforting scent filled his nose. And all of the lonliness, all of the longing for her side, for her touch rekindled and filled him. This was his Angelina. She was here, and she still loved him.
He wrapped his furry arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him, feeling her curves against his body. Tentatively, he began to deepen the kiss, which would put her into contact with his canine fangs, and his legthened tongue...
Angie hesitated a bit feeling things that were very different. The teeth were a bit intimidating, and the tongue took her a bit by surprises.
... but it felt so good to be kissing Ambrose like this. She began to crave that comfort, that closeness. She cralwed up into her lap, her small frame resting on his hips as she wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders.
He felt her tense for a moment as he kissed her, and he very nearly pulled back, but then she relaxed, and his concern abated - things... were just different... she didn't pull away... this... this was alright!
He begain to move his hands over her back, massaging her as he kissed her. She tasted so sweet, smelled so intoxicating... he felt his body begin to respond to her presennce - the anxiety melting away to a reined-in desire. He shifted a little under her slight weight, and venturingly explored her mouth with his longer tongue - realizing for one of the first time a possible benefit...
Angeline smiled into the kiss as she felt hsi much longer tongue. She gently pulled away and smiled to him, watching his expression.
He watched her as she drew back, his eyes soft and a loving smile on his lips. "I missed you." He whispered. He ran his hands down her sides, trying to fathom her thoughts.
"I've missed you, too, Ambrose..." She looked him over, thinking back towards the kiss. "That wasn't so bad, eh?"
The smile must have been stuck to his face - it certainly wasn't budging for some time.
He shook his head, his tail wagging slowly. "Not that bad at all... in my opinion. What... did you think? Can... can you feel comfortable around me like this..?"
"Yeah, I think I can," she said, snuggling close. "You're still my Ambrose... I can tell. No matter what you look like."
His heart wanted to leap from his chest and proclaim his love to the world.
"And you will always be my Angelina." He smiled coyly. " My little angel." He knew she hated that.
There was another question on his mind... and he wasn't sure how to phrase it without sound too... pushy. Instead, he squirmed a little underneath her, pressing ever so slightly against her lap.
Angie poked him the side. "I'm no Angel," she whined, but then her smiled faded and she looked him over. "What if I become something aweful. LIke that lizard girl or something. Or a cockroach.."
Ambrose refused to let his smile escape - it could be such a rare find in this place sometimes.
"Then I wouldn't care." He insisted. "Amaya- the lizard girl - is a great kid. I don't hold her scales against her - and I certainly wouldn't you. But... for now... you're still you - one hundred percent. Try not to dwell on the future... we can't stop it - unless you can think of something I havent - so why let what will happen ruin the now? We can deal with that when it comes."
Angelina nodded slowly. "You're right, baby... I'm just... well, its hard not to think about I guess."
"I know it is... even after.... it ... started to happen to me... I thought the most depressing things... I couldn't stop myself. Worry about the future... what was happening to me... and I admit - I still do.... but." He drew a breath. "That doesnt' mean that it should interfere with the things that are good. And... that you don't have people - like me - who you can talk to about them. Sometimes.. it helps."
Angelina nodded. "I would fall apart if you weren't here with me, Ambrose. I'm so sorry you had to be alone for so long."
"It's not your fault. You tried to stop me from going." He let the smile take an ironic twist. "I should have listened. I said I was too good for a fast food job... and look what happened." His ears drooped a bit.
"Yeah, suddenly flipping burgers doesn't seem so bad, eh?"
Angelina tried not to drag the conversation no negative...she didn't mean to. "At least we have a better view..."
He snorted lightly. "There is that. I still need to take you out to the beach sometime. Although it's actually starting to get chilly now... being December after all - which is hard enough to believe with no snow."
He sighed, rubbing his padded hands down her arm, looking up into her eyes. "But... you can't change the past. As much as I can regret decisions. As strange as it sounds for me to be saying this, but I've been trying to live for the present more here... enjoy the smaller things.." He shifted his weight again under her, pressing against her ever so slightly.
Angelina gave a wry smile. "Or not so little things," she asked pointedly, shifting her weight.
Ambrose smiled and gasped at the comment with a larger smile. "Well.." he licked his lips. "Perhaps not so little." He echoed, his tone turning playful and his cheeks turning red.
She pulled him close for another kiss, this time not hesitant to turn it deep and longingful
He murmured into her mouth, pulling her closer, wrapping his tongue around hers with a smile and an inviting raise of his eyebrows.
Slowly, he began to lean forward, rocking her back onto the bed.
Angelina murmered back at him, pulling a pillow under her back and getting comfortable. After several long minutes of kissing she looked up at him, then over the bed. She blushed a little. "We going to do this?" It was an honest question, she said with a friendly, loving smile. Part of her said she was probably rushing into things, but the hunger inside her was definately tell her that she needed to express how she felt in very physical means
Ambrose kissed her pasionately, feeding his desire as he did so, but pulled back at the question, a serious look on his face. He studied her eyes and expression. It... had been some time for him. And he still felt very much like a stranger in his own body even weeks after his last transformation. One one hand... if anything could acclimate himself to his phisique... this might... but he didn't want to push her... as much as he wanted. Although... she didn't seem... opposed to the idea...?
"I... I don't want to push you, Angelina... if this is moving too quickly. We have... time. Just... well... things might change if we wait.." He hated to bring that up.... but it was true.
"Although..." He shifted nervously. "I.... I'm.... different already..."
Angelina paled. "What... things may change, Ambrose? You mean.. me?"
He opened and closed his mouth a few times. "Either of us... I .... I'm going to change more.... and... I mean... I'm certainly not saying that I wouldn't with you... when you do... but that things probably arent' going to get any... easier... and..." He rambled, feeling like he wedged his foot in his mouth. "well... I figured... you might... want to... before... you know.."
Angelina shook her head. "I'm not thinking about that right now, Ambrose. I just want to think about you...and us.. you know. I've missed you so much...
He nodded, "Then let's not think about that." He leaned closer to her, kissing her again.
Breaking the kiss after a moment. "we can... take... eachothers' minds off of that altogether...."
Angelina gave a low growl in her throat. "I like that idea."
Ambrose's tail began to wag, a low growling rumble in his chest began in response to hers. "I think I do too.."
*Fade to Black* |
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Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2005 12:50 am
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Meat... & Fights... Again
Hargun Aikason Hargun walked out of the duplex, taking a deep breath. Just as she had faded from socializing as odd as it seemed to her, she had to be woken to finding another one of her friends changing. It was pretty painful for her to bare. "So.. I had no idea you and Chubbs were.." she began and looked to her scaley friend. She mustve been turning into a lizard of some sort by the looks of it.
Joliette Rigiel "A couple?" Joliette finished her friend's sentence awkwardly walking moving her heavier bare feet wasn't anything like she was used to. "Yeah... I been sleeping over a lot... last night was... special.. until this" she said quietly as they made their way to the cafeteria. Her long yellow tongue flicked in the very very early morning light takig in all the scents from near and far, very far.. she felt like there was areas of hte isle she knew but had never been to
Hargun Aikason "Yea." she said blushing a bit. Another one to add to the list.. that seemed to be growing. "I used to love reptiles when I was little but I forgot.. the tounge senses.. what now?" she asked and watched Joliette flick it in and out. She didnt mean to ask but she had absolutely NO idea of what else to talk about after all tha trama to her. "I mean.. if you dont mind me asking.."
Joliette Rigiel Joliette turned her head to look at her friend "Uhm I dont know but it seems 'smell' I am picking up smells of the island I don't recognize" she admitted she wrapped her arms around her torso trying not to catch her Gi with her claws "I don't know, reptile of some kind, only clues I have are what I can see... and feel" she moves one hand rubbing a hte nub in her backside gingerly before crossig hte threshold of hte town hall
Jamal_Reedy Jamal had spent most of the day in the cafeteria for some reason...either he was hella hungry or he was just really bored. Today he was decked out in basketball shorts and a baggy tee, and unlike the two approaching girls, hadn't yet sprouted a single claw or rouge hair to date. For now, he was hunched over a bowl of cereal and was shoveling it into his mouth while thumbing through a sports magazine about boxing. All the work he'd done with Chubbs had got him actually interested enough to look up information about the sport.
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose was just strolling out of his duplex on the way to the cafeteria. Angelina was still sound asleep on the bed where she had finally fallen unconscious the night before... after a very... wonderful time. He didn't have the heart to wake her, so he resolved to go get something for her to eat.
He had showered, thoroughly conditioned and combed his fur and hair, and dressed in some of his nicer clothing. Strolling outside, there was a bounce in his step and a wag on his tail. Even the cresting sun on the chilly morning aided his spirits - for once it wasn't sweltering hot. Small favors with a December in the Caribbean.
His ears pricked as he saw two other figures headed towards the cafeteria - Hargun and Joli by the look and smell of them, and he jogged up behind them, not yet noticing Joli's changes from Behind.
He did notice, however, a scent of anxiety and the reminiscient tinge of fear. His ears lay back cautiously. Apparently not everyone had had as wonderful of a night as he had.
"Hey... guys. How's it going?" He was almost scared to ask.
Hargun Aikason Hargun turned around at Ambrose's voice, happy to know someone else was there besides her to confort Joliette. Especially since it was Ambrose who seemed to be the one gone through the most pain over any other islander. "Hey Ambrose.." she said and looked at Joliette sympathetically. She hadnt yet noticed Jamal.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette turned around stopping shortly inside the cafeteria, Jamal looked busy or so she noticed from the corner of her eye, she thought she'd probably greet him in a moment, in the mean time ambrose had spoken, she looked up at hte wolf-man "Hi Ambrose" she said quietly her tongue flicked from her mouth and she shudered at the 'smells' it brought her on it's return and she clung to her arms a lil more "ouch" she gave up holding her toso and let her hands drop to her sides
Jamal_Reedy Jamal hardly glanced up as the group came in. The voices were familiar enough... He lifted a hand and gave a lazy, sloppy wave without lifting his eyes from the magazine that was boldly emblazened with something about heavy weight boxing and their training equipment of choice. The black man hardly cared if they saw him or not...he'd probably get up eventually and go be social.
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose's eyes widened as he took in Joli's changes. His exuberant smile changed to a wince with a hiss of air.
"Oh, man.... Joliette... I'm sorry." From the looks of things, and her flicking tongue - memories of Cassidy's first change came back to him. Another snake? The poor girl.... Ambrose idly wondered what the staff had against women.... all of the reptiles were ladies... the bat and bird - losing their hands, a hedgehog with the quills. As high as his spirits had been - all things considered - this brought back the cold spash of fear for Angelina.. and what she would eventually become.
He glanced over to Jamal, the only other occupant in the cafeteria with a nod, though it probably wasn't noticed quite yet as the black man appeard to be poring over a book of some sort. Why had Joliette changed, though? It had been some time since her arrival... btu she was the first newcomer to change in quite some time! Jamal hadn't changed yet!
"Are you hungry, Joli...? I ... I was after my changes." His tone was sympathetic.
"Why don't you two go take a seat by Jamal... I can get us something.... what would you like?"
Hargun Aikason Hargun looked over, now noticing Jamal after Ambrose mentioned him. "Oh hey there Jamal. Sorry I didnt.. uh.. notice you there." she said and turned to Joliette. "Yea.. you do need to eat something.. its not just your changes, but you look rather hungry.." she said, wanting to have to avoid looking at her poor friend. Those changes could break your heart.. definately since she knew this would change Joliette's whole lifestyle almost. Hargun walked over to the food bar quickly though, needing to get something in her tummy as well.
Joliette Rigiel "Thanks Ambrose" she sighed seeing his initial reaction, she guessed she'd have to get used to it now... "Uhm I'm hungry, but what I want is not all inside me wants... I just hope... I can hold down what it wants..." she added She looked at Jamal "All right, I'm going to sit with Jamal" she scratched her already raw scaley cheek with a claw her yellow tongue chosing htat moment to flicker once more "I'll try a happy medium, can you get me a salad with... meat in it" she asked giving a weak smile then clumped towards Jamal's table her claw-nails clicking on teh lanolium as her heavy feet landed and moved
Jamal_Reedy Jamal swore as a splash of milk escaped his heavy-handed spoon handling and splattered all over the page much to his utter annoyance. Dammit...well, maybe he could put it back in the 'library' and no one would be the wiser to his clumsiness. He was finished with it anyway. He lifted the magazine up into the air and gave it a few strong shakes, sending the milk on it all over the floor and on the surface of the table, then closed it up proper and flung it back onto the table on TOP of the splattered milk. The clicking of nails on the floor brought his attention to the group that had just entered. At first he thought that it was Ambrose coming along, but instead he was greeted with a green-patched Joliette who looked distinctly ill. At first he squinted and stared...were those SCALES among her freckles or was Sabin back to his tormenting? His eyes widened when he confirmed his first guess and couldn't stop himself from looking slightly taken aback.
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose nodded seriously to Joliette. "I'll see what I can find." He said gently before joining Hargun in the lunch line, his own toenails clicking on the linoleum.
He pulled out a tray and two plates, loading the first one up with the meat of the day, the other he put together a garden salad and sprinkled it with ham chunks - big enough that could be located and removed if she couldn't stomach them, btu small enough so as to not be obtrusive, then doused the whole thing in ranch to disguise the flavor.
Heading back to the table with his food and a few drinks balanced on the tray, he took a seat across from Jamal.
"HI Jamal." He spoke - the mood had been dampened some with Joli's change, but not killed altogether. There was an air of confidence about the wolf-man, his tail held high. His fur was still a touch damp from his shower, but obviously recently washed.
"And here you are, Joli... hopefully this will be palatable.." He slid the salad her way then picked up his own utensils.
He weighted how to ask the obvious... glancing first to Hargun - she had apparently 'found' her first. She obviously wasn't happy about it all - but he didn't know if discussing it would just make things worse... or better..
Hargun Aikason Hargun gathered up a plate of shrimp and some bread.. a little bit of the salad ham as well that she always loved eating at buffets. She hadnt yet lost ALL her taste for other foods, but still preffered bugs over all. She came and sat back down next to Ambrose, sighing. She was silent for a while, unable to think of anything wity or cheerful to say like she usually did. It was turning out to be a depressing morning.
Joliette Rigiel "David changed too" Joliette said after taking the salad, she was staring down at it hoping she could keep it down, she'd not eatten any meat in a lil over three years. she picked up the fork having a little trouble with it thanks to her changed hands. She knew very well the meat was hidden under the sauce and appreciated ambroses' efforts to hide the meat. With a LOT of hesitation she took a bite
Jamal_Reedy Jamal passed a look of slight panic to Ambrose, wondering how everyone was being so calm about all of this. It wasn't so bad for him seeing already transformed people having an advancement, but to see a completely normal person now looking like...one of them... "Yo, Ambrose," he managed to say without much waver to his voice, trying to push off his uneasiness with a stout shrug of the shoulder and placement of his arms on the table. However, for once, he felt distinctly out of place among the changed islanders...he was the only NON-changed person here...and for that fact, Joli had been here a lot less time than he had and she was already sprouting scales. Now, either someone was playing games with him or something had to be up. He held his tongue as the question of "what up" lingered there. Pretty damn obvious what was up, wasn't it? However, Joli's mention of Chubbs being changed made him squinch his face up and he swore under his breath. ******** to ruin a perfectly good thing with his boxing teachings. God dammit, how inconvenient. "Well s**t." He didn't know what else to say.
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose winced at the news of Chubbs. HIs good mood, it seemed, was determined to be weighed down by the new news. He idly wondered if he would ever be able to keep high spirits for very long here. He made friends with newcomers, and they were all bound to change... right? Even small triumphs or good things on this godforsakenisland were bound to be overshadowed by the reality of the s**t going on.
"Well put, Jamal." Ambrose said without any sarcasm. "Poor Chubbs...." He had always been such a nice, friendly guy. He wondered how he was... or was his absence enough to speak of that. "And here I was about to go... work with him" He caught himself as Joli was sitting right there. "How... how's the big guy doing..?"
He took a breath. It had to be asked. "How are you doing for that matter, Joliette...? I.... we know how you feel..." He glanced quickly to Jamal. Well.. most of them did. And the rest would eventually.... woudln't they? Why was Jamal taking longer? Was something wrong? Did... they need more preparation or something for his serum? Or maybe he was becoming a plant like Anjali....
"I take it.... you're a.... snake...?" He asked, barely a whisper, glancing to where her tongue had flicked out barely a moment before. "What... what of Chubbs...?"
The steak before him gave him an alternative to talking, and he cut into it, red 'juice' spreading over the plate and releasing its 'sumptous' odor to his nose. He took a big hearty forkfull.
Hargun Aikason Hargun took a bite of her shrimp then shot a glance at Ambrose rather suprised at him. "Shes got claws... and sharp teeth." she whispered to him. Finding the two both close to each other rather frightened looking really slaughtered her mood for the day. She tried her best not to sound bitchy though. "I was shocked to have found them BOTH changed at Chubb's duplex." she started and looked at Jamal. Now that she ran it over again, he said hed been at the island for a VERY long time when she talked to him in the entertainment room. WHY in the world had he not shown ANY signs of changing? She also had no idea about Anjali, so she couldnt use that as an exscuse. What did Moreau possibly have against him, if thats what it was, that would keep him waiting so long.. so dangerously and antagonizingly long to change?
Joliette Rigiel "Somehow I don't think I'm a... snake" she agreed with Hargun her eyes looking at the claws... she looked to Hargun "I.. uhm.. I'm kinda moving in with him, he asked me to... before... " she blushed averting her gaze again "And then this happened.. David is ok I think, he was going to sleep when we left... he's rather furry now.. among other things..." she picked at the salad and tried to keep her tongue in her mouth after almost loosing it when her tongue flicked and picked up the scent of the meat's juices on Ambrose's plate
Jamal_Reedy Jamal gave both Hargun and Ambrose a very hawk-eyed glance, noting that they each look at him in turn in a way that gave him the impression they were wondering something about him or they were checking him out for some reason. Eww. "Sounds like a lizard, if ya askin' me," he said in hopes of not looking as weirded out as he felt. "Ain't that s**t similar ta Amaya?"
Ambrose Maurlias ["Maybe" Ambrose replied. "I didn't think lizards did the.... tongue thing..." Ambrose winced after he said it.. Jolie probably felt uncomfortable enough as it was. "I'm sorry, Joliette... I dont' mean to put you on the spot. I'm sure you'll discover things on your own time when you're ready to face it." He gave her a smile.
"I still have yet to figure out the ... order... however. Maybe some people react different to the serums... or maybe not all of them work. I mean, this is experimental. I would think that it couldn't work all the time." He tried to sound encouraging to Jamal. "Like... Anjali - I don't think that they could really turn someone into a plant." He squirmed, probably sounding like a hypocrite, sitting there covered in fur. He had doubted beforehand that changing beyond his first change would have been impossible.
"I'm glad to hear Chubbs is doing alright." He smiled. "And fur - that's not bad!" /color]
Hargun Aikason Hargun nodded remembering Amaya's scaley ness. Joliette had yet to show any signs of a specific lizard though and it would take a while to figure it out most likely. Hargun poked around at her food, but ate most of it after a while. She was still pretty tired, and Joliette and Chubbs had woke her up at a bad time. She yawned and looked at everyone at the table. "Guys I dont want to sound rude, but I outta bail soon. I was still sleeping when I heard Joliette and Chubbs and Im still pretty tired." she managed to say.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette closed her eyes for a moment after Ambrose's words but knew she'd have to get used to it.. "I think I'll be pulling out my laptop computer's encyclopedia" she said quietly and forced down another bite of the meaty salad
"I think one big difference between Amaya and I though is... she has long fingers..." Joliette held up her free hand "Mine... shrunk"she moved them around a bit before letting her hand lower again "David, well he already knows what he's becoming, he asked the git and was told"
She looked to her friend "I'm sorry Hargun, I didn't mean to wake you up... " she bit her lip a moment looking between the three
Jamal_Reedy "Oh," Jamal said lamely as each added their two cents in on his guess but shrugged. "Well, whatever. Yous prolly gonna figger it out soon 'nough anyways." Ambrose's reassuring speech made him feel better...so he wasn't the only person to think that maybe his serum failed! Okay, well then maybe the chance that this was the case wasn't so far-fetched. It was enough to make him smile smugly and tap the table with his nice, human fingers. So what would they do to him if the serum failed to take? Let him go home? Or just wander around the island? Either was a decent option...except the whole going home thing again put him at risk for being picked up by the police. "Yeah, I'd be so ********' sad if dat b*****d's plan ain't gonna work fo' me," remarked the black man snidely. "Ain't da first time I be puttin' up trouble fo' some crazy ********' b*****d...ain't gonna be da last."
Ambrose Maurlias "I wish I could boast such luck, Jamal." Ambrose said with a sigh as he skewered another large chunk of steak and then proceeded to chew on it thoughtfully. "Though ... and this bit me in the a** last time I said it... I wonder if he really can change us ... further than we already have. I mean... all of this is pretty drastic. Don't get me wrong - I'm not going to get my hopes up like last time.... but it really is .... unbelievable."
He quirked an eyebrow at Jamal's smugness. Reassurance was one thing, gloating was another. "Or maybe he's trying to turn you into a plant too... or a ... mushroom or something." His ears flicked back. He regreted saying it as soon as he did... but part of him wanted to jibe back after 'losing' the snips the other day. Another part of him wanted to gloat about his wonderful night with Angelina... but that was in even poorer taste. He shut up that train of thought with another bite of steak.
He looked over to Hargun. "I understand. My schedule's been pretty wonky recently... not really diurnal or noctournal." He saluted jokingly to her. "Sleep well, Hargun."
"Good luck figuring it out, Joliette... They told me when I asked as well... but I don't know if your... er... previous bad experience would reflect on their honesty with you."
Hargun Aikason Hargun smiled at everyone and waved, yawning then turning to the door. "Bye guys.. hope things cheer up.. or at least get a bit better." she said, and waved a hand lazily before slumping out of the cafeteria and back to her duplex.
Joliette Rigiel "I do not trust the git to tell me the truth, I gave up on trust with him a long time ago before the green hair incident" she tells him glad to have finally washed the last of that out hte night before. She smiled weakly "Uhmm..." she tried to avoid hte impending arguement after having watched their last bout... Her toungue flicked out and in she knew both scents well now and didn't like the 'taste' they brought to her "So how is... uhm.. What is her name again?" her day's so far activities made the name slip her mind
Jamal_Reedy Ambrose's jab was well landed to judge by how Jamal's eyes narrowed immediately and glittered in an almost feral way, not at all in a manner that would appear to be jokingly. Arms drew against his chest in a firm crossed position as his jaw tensed, then he dropped his arms to grip the edge of the table. "Yeah or maybe I jus' lucky and ain't gonna be screwed like da rest o' yous," he said acidly, kicking his chair away from the table and standing, his temper obviously flaring and getting the better of him. They were NOT going to ruin his hopes that he was going to escape this whole mess. "It ain't ma fault you is how you is and it ain't my fault I be how I be. s**t, I'm ********' due fo' a goddamn lucky break."
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose's ears pressed back and his hackles raised defensively in response to Jamal. "Look Jamal." Ambrose replied flatly, staying in his seat, but matching his glare back at him. "No one is blaming you for any of us. But pardon me if I might be a bit resentful for what's happened to me. To Joliette... to Chubbs... to all of us. None of us asked for this. No one wanted to be turned into a damned animal. And you're due for a lucky break?? What did any of us do to deserve being tricked here for one reason or another and had our humanity stripped from us?" Ambrose tried to keep the growl from his voice. Everyone was tense, and it was so close to Christmas... there was no use fighting among eachother.... he tried to repeat to himself.
He closed his eyes and took a calming breath. "I'm sorry, Jamal. I know how it feels to be.... scared of what... might happen." He rubbed at his temples. "And for your sake, I hope you're right! I hope that no one else has to change any more. I just... I've gotten stung already for getting my hopes up."
He turned to Joliette with a thankful look at the other subject. "And Angelina... she's... doing better. She came out to the cafeteria the other day... met Jamal. She... she's scared too - the same reasons... but at least I've been able to help her relax some I think."
Joliette Rigiel Joliette anxiously watched the pair argue tensing before relaxing when Ambrose turned to her, the last thing she needed just then was to whitness them at it a second time. She forced herself with queezy stomach to eat more of the salad, she was hungry after all. "I'm glad, I ... I feel her fear... and yours Jamal" she added and shifted her position rubbing her bottom end with one hand she had sat on the nub of a tail the wrong way for a moment when she was tense
Jamal_Reedy "You ain't got no ********' idea," Jamal snarled, a finger flying out to point accusingly at Ambrose. "I never ********' said any of yous deserved ta get what you be gettin', but goddammit fo' once maybe I jus' got da best end of the deal 'n it jus' be happenin' herr?" The pointing hand moved now to tug at the hem of his shirt, lifting it up over one pec and shoulder while the other hand jabbed now at little circular scars that marked thricely on his abdomen and one near the socket of his shoulder...remains of his lackluster bullet-dodging career. "You ain't never been shot at, I ********' bet, let alone been HIT...run from the cops eitha, Ambrose? Jus' cause yous a black ********? No, you ain't. So maybe yous best forgive ME fo' lookin' fo a reason to get one ova' on dat b*****d." "Can't 'spect yous to anyway. s**t. Yous just like them people," he said, dropping his shirt down so it settled back into a baggy drape across his form. "You ain't got no ********' idea." His tone was almost condescending now but the anger on his face was still very apparent. He highly disliked the fact that they could "smell his fear" as it were. One couldn't even HIDE such an emotion anyone with these people around. "And scared? ********. I be ********' past that bullshit," he said, which was true. He wasn't scared anymore, just...apprehensive and uneasy, which was pretty much a very close cousin, but not the same in his views. He knew what was possibly coming, it was just a matter of when and if. However, he figured his welcome was wore out at this point and honestly he wanted nothing to do with Ambrose right then, or Joliette or Chubbs by proxy of being one of 'them' now. He had no one to confide in anymore and that felt like betrayal even if they couldn't control it. Even Awen was changed at this point...were there NO complete humans left? He snorted harshly and shoved away from his chair, stalking to the food bar to grab a handful of snack-sized chip bags with every intention of leaving.
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose attempt at peacemaking after his comment had fallen flat. Ambrose hated upsetting people, probably stemming from the situation with his father... that would now never be resolved. And especially when he was starting to consider a person a friend. But he wouldn't back down. Jamal didn't understand, and from the soudns of things he wouldn't until it happened to him. Until then he would be walking on eggshells every day - even if it was another month until he changed... another year.
"And what in the hell is yelling at us going to do, Jamal?! You're right! You ARE lucky! You still have every bit of humanity that you came here with. But from the sounds of things it's that fact that's pissing you off. But you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. You relish that fact, you tell yourself that you're going to be okay and won't change again, then when - fine- if you do - then it's going to be all the harder. I know. But the alternative is no way to live either - dreading the day you're goign to change, counting the days until what you have is gone. That's just as much bullshit."
Ambrose eyed the scars on the gangster's arms dubiously. He had never known anyone who had been shot before.... and just because he was black?? That didn't really happen like that, did it..? He had know of... black people attending the university. They weren't shot at just because they were black. Maybe because he was black and from the slums...? Ambrose knew very little about that sort of lifestyle. "So maybe you've had a shitty life.... but I refuse to believe that there was nothing you could do to take charge of your future... I refuse to believe in fate." Ambrose, perhaps, had seen one too many after school special. "I know it's hard.... maybe not from your perspective, but I did a sharp turn from where my life was outlined. I cut myself off from my parents... from what they expected of me.... and I set out on my own." He grit his teeth, reminded of where that got him. "NOW we're all screwed maybe. Maybe now, in a virtual prison, we're out of control of our lives. And that is maddening! But until now, we were all alive, and we all had some measure of control. Now we're all ********." IT had been some time since Ambrose had sworn.
Ambrose pushed his empty tray away with a throaty growl. Jamal was leaving. He wasn't trying to piss him off - he just needed to LISTEN.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette pushed her plate away and folded her arms atop the table resting her head atop her arms trying to block the fight out. She didn't know what kind of background either male came from, she didn't know them as well as she would like to. Calm they were both great people... Angry... Well Joliette could not put words to them...
Jamal_Reedy "Maybe I jus' wanna ********' know if I'm gonna change or not. To know if they ********' screwed up so I ain't gonna have to go to bed tonight wond'rin' if Imma wake up ta'morrow wit' fur or scales or ********," he bellowed, whirling away from the food, his face taut with anger that just sort of manifested itself in him out of nowhere. "You weren't herr way longa' then some people and they be changin' and you just get ta sit and guess how long it gonna be. Yeah, dat's a real good game...yeah, yous mighta been herr when no one else knew what was goin' down, but you jus' had the doc's word to go off n' there weren't no walkin' examples 'round ta go against." A hand beat his chest sharply with a loud thump as though emphasizing his presence there. "Ev'ryone be tellin' me I been herr so long and ain't done jack s**t...you think that's a'ight? You think dat makes me feel good so I get ta walk in limbo?" The black man drew a sharp breath and an oddly relaxed expression took over his face, yet his mouth curled and eyes glittered with a look of irony and acceptance. "But s**t, dat's a'ight. Yous don't believe in fate...yous been spoonfed all yer life...yous one of them high 'n mighty white folk who kin afford ta pay da bills and buy expensive s**t...so o'course you figger it so easy to jus' change a way of life. But by god, when a ********' black man might succeed where folk like you ain't, well..." Jamal basically lost all respect for Ambrose at this point because to him, Ambrose had turned this into something that it shouldn't have turned into. The blonde had always oozed rich and well-off since the day that Jamal had met him, but he tried to put that off in hopes of banding together to get through this bullshit...but at this point, Ambrose had started spouting almost how no one's life could have been harder than anyone else's and that ticked him off. Self-righteous? Basically. Did Jamal care? No, because he had never intended to come off like he was better than anyone, even if he privately thought he was in some aspects.
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose rose to his feet now, hackles raised. He could hear the scorn in the man's voice, and he couldn't stand it. He sure as hell wouldn't run, tail tucked back to Angelina after that.
"You're right. I didn't have my posible future looming over me when I arrived. But in a way, I think it was worse - I had no time to even have the option of preparing myself for what was to come! Everything was hunky dory - people were kidding about something top secret going on here, and then BAM! One day I wake up and I'm growing fur and claws. I'll tell you what, Jamal, it scared the ******** out of me. I didn't know what the hell was going on. I thought there was some kind of damned mistake. I was the freak among everyone else who was completely normal. No matter how much they comforted me... I knew they saw me as different. Then I watched it happen all around me and I came to the slow realization of what was going on. No convenient pre-packaged truth of the matter." Ambrose slapped the table.
"And yes, My parents had money. But you know what?? That doesn't necessarily mean that i had a good life growing up. Have you ever been told how to act? That the things you wanted or the things you liked were wrong? Were unbecoming? Being constantly compared to someone else? But you know what - I finally stepped back - and realized I couldn't live my entire damn life for a reason I didn't believe in. And I left. I left the money and the 'silver spoon' as you would say. And I had trouble paying bills, and I had to scrape to live the way I wanted."
He was trying to keep his voice from wavering. "And why the HELL do you think I'm here, huh? Because I was ******** Desperate for money. I needed Five thousand dollars so that I could keep going to school... so I could keep fencing... to maybe, maybe reach my dream of the olympics. Well THAT's ********." AMbrose's eyes were stinging.... in his conviction... yeah... conviction.
He turned his back, crossed his arms, trying to mask the wiping of his nose from Jamal.
God DAMN it Ambrose, don't lose it.... don't show him this.... He bit the inside of his cheek hard - harder than he had intended with his now sharp canines - and focused on the pain of the cut instead of the pain in his chest.
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs walked very slowly into the cafeteria, he was still feeling tender, the fact he put a dent into the wall using his body didn't help. He frowned hearing the argument, it rang through his new ears and he held onto them to trying and block the noise. He then looked over to where it was coming from, Jamal and Ambrose. Two people he though were his friends now bickering at each other. He winced hearing the words thrown at each other as he tried to uncover his ears. He looked partly scared and partly angry. He felt it was a barking match that he should be winning, that he should yell over them. Chubbs eased himself into the room and looked between them like he he should do something, and a ugly gut felling made him feel sick, something telling him to smack them both out.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette hadn't moved much trying to block it out, her tounge flickered and picked up another scent, a very familiar one. She lifted her head and turned it "David" she said quietly and stood abandoning her food in favor of what felt to her like protective arms in the midst of the fighting and just as sore as he she headed for Chubbs
Jamal_Reedy "s**t, dat's betta than bein' dropped on an island and bein' met by a bunch of people who looked like ********' MONSTERS outta a movie," he retorted harshly. "I'd be givin' anythin' to go back ta not knowin' and just havin' it happen if it gonna. Then I ain't gonna have ta deal wit' no what ifs...just what nows." The scorn never left his voice, but it was mingled with almost an inflection desperation as he spoke. He was still very angry about everything now, it seemed. "And at leas' you got dat time in a nice place wit' food all da time and s**t. I ain't been so lucky and maybe yous need ta realize things ain't a goddamn picnic fo' ev'ryone in there life...so I wanna hang onta this ONE THIN' and yous gonna tromp all ova it? Aw hell naw. Ya can be bitta' if ya want, but don't take it out on me. Yeah so yous got stuck herr cause you lookin' ta get more educated o' ********, but some o' us come herr because we ain't got no choice. SOME o' us be wanted fo' -murder- because we jus' tryin' ta get by and survive back home 'n s**t happens. I was tryin' to change my life...get away from fate as yous like ta put it, but brotha can't get no break anywhere. So how 'bout you just shut da ******** up 'n let me cling ta whateva ********' sign of hope I got?"
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose barely noticed Chubbs enter in the room - he was seeing red. He would NOT stand here and be scorned by this man!
"At least YOU have the luxury of foreknowledge. Say what you will, but I would wager that if you woke up, even back where you were from, one morning and looked like a monster with no warning you would be scared as hell! Scared of what people would think of you - that they'd be scared of you - hate you...."
"I never tried to make this harder for you - you're the one stirring something up, Jamal! You're seeing people all around you losing your humanity one by one and you're blaming US for it instead of Moreau like you should be!"
Ambrose froze... as that last tidbit of information was passed along. "M... Murder??" Moreau let a damned killer on the island?!~ He knew he was insane.... but that?! No... he knew Jamal... had worked by his side for days, talked with the guy.... he wasn't that bad... not some... serial killer or something... there had to be an explanation... right? But still... Ambrose's tail lowered a bit with that news from where it had been sticking straight up and bristled a moment before. He was trying to change things... like me... I can re... respect that! But.... MURDER?!?!
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs wrapped an arm around Joliette, he balled his fist, not out of anger, but so he wouldn't touch her with his new nails. His head dashed back and forth between Jamal and Ambrose like watching a tennis match, and just as annoying. He held Joliette tighter as he fel himself growing hotter under his clothes. Why was everything suddenly crashing and burning? The lastest days felt like a rollercoaster, going so high and feeling up, then suddenly plummeting to the ground. " W-..we can stand here, and argue here till... till we are blue in the face. But that just makes us animals... You two, there's no need for this...We all have our points of view.. our own opinions.. a..and we can either agree or disagree. W- we got to stay together... we are the only family each other has now... there's no one else we have." Chubbs was trying not to cry or go completely ballistic at them both, it was so hard, he wanted to shout, he was angry at what had happened. " I lost my family.. twice now, I.. I need to believe that you are my family now.." Chubbs clenched his fist, wanting to hit something, he'd only ever felt like that around Sabin. " I can't lose another family again.."
Joliette Rigiel "We all got trapped here at various stages of the doctor's plans, and he keeps adding new people all the time, and none of them are told hte truth, they are left to find it out from us. All of us hope i's not going to happen to us, all of us hope to get away, no matter what our backgrounds, no matter what we did in the past, we are stronger as one then we are divided as many" Joliette said quietly after David had finished speaking
"Please guys stop fighting" she shook slightly the day becoming nearly too much for her already
Jamal_Reedy Ambrose might have lose some of his fire, but Jamal was far from it. He was quickly rising to the point he had so desperately tried to stay away from since he's been here...a point he hadn't been to since that night in the alleyway that ended his life as he knew it. "I NEVA ********' SAID IT BE YER FAULT O' ANYONE ELSES DAT HAVE THIS s**t HAPPEN FAULT," he practically roared, the desperation gone and replaced with refueled anger that deepened the severe creases about his eyes and forehead as he practically vibrated. "When did that -EVA- ********' come outta ma mouth!?!" The appearance of Chubbs only made him more angry because he knew the man was going to try and get involved...and he did. Jamal didn't listen only because he liked Chubbs enough to not want to start a war with him too...the man had never given Jamal a reason to not like him. Jamal paused, realizing now what had just slipped out of his mouth, and an intensely bitter expression spanned his darkened features. Ambrose had made him so angry that he had let slip the one thing he had been so desperate to keep from everyone. Great...just ******** great. Now he was an angry black man who was a known killer. His eyes acquired a hollow, worn look even though he continued to hold a snarling posture with his mouth, but he looked defeated in a way that was hard to put your finger on...maybe the slight slouch of his shoulders gave it away. "You ********' win," he said more quietly though he continued to seethe internally. "I'm jus' a stupid, black, murderin' b*****d who don't know nuthin' 'bout anythin'. Ya be sure ta let all yer friends know....but don't botha tellin' Awen. She already know." His clenched fist loosened and the bags of chips he had not long ago grabbed onto scattered to the floor with a crinkling plop as he turned for the door, nearly wrenching the handle off as he flung it open.
Ambrose Maurlias Chubbs' words rang true with how Ambrose was feeling as well - just didn't have the same words to express, the sentimentality as opposed to the frustration that was lacing his words with growls.
But Jamal was gone before Ambrose could repeat the words about unity being necessary here.... Yelling wasn't going to get any of them anywhere except slipping more to the bestial sides that most of them wanted to pretend they didn't have.
"Arrrgh!" Ambrose called eloquently after his retretaing figure. "You accused ME of taking it out on you!" He kicked at the table and grabbed his tray roughly, taking it to the return slot where he virtually threw it in with a snarl. His hackles were raised and he was frustrated and angry - Jamal was misunderstanding him! And Where the hell had that outburst come from anyway? Was it because of that damn joke about the mushroom? Jamal was on edge and he should have realized that and not tried to poke at a wound that was obviously sore.
Ambrose paced between the table and the door - debating between going back - but taking this frustration home to Angelina, or staying here and being frustrated.
With an audible sigh, he turned a sympathetic look to Chubbs. "It's... not my fault!" He protested, exasperated. "I agree with you! We can't fight! We're in this together! That's what I was trying to tell him too! Arrrgh..." He snarled, and sat heavily next to chubbs with his arms crossed.
He took several slow breaths with his eyes closed again. "I'm.... sorry ... both of you.... that you had to see that... and... probably not helping your morning any that was already stressful enough."
He... wondered about the family comment.... but didn't pry.
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs pulled the saddest look as Jamal stormed out. He wanted to go do something, he wouldn't be able to catch up with him if he tried.Chubbs sighed and looked to the floor, he for once didn't feeling like breaking something and sat in a chair slowly. " Ah! nut sack!... damn thing" Chubbs winced and ran his hand over the nub on his back now. He watched Ambrose get some frustrations out in the cafeteria. It looked almost good to Chubbs. Chubbs took a deep breath and stratched as his cheek while running his tongue over a canine. He listened to Ambrose and nodded. The guy was trying, he saw that. " It's okay... don't fret mate... things will work out... christmas is coming up... we could all use a bit of some holidat cheer, even if it's a fuzzy one" Chubbs smiled as best he could, but it seemed sad.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette stayed close to David even as he sat. "Furry and feathery and ...scaley" she said quietly watching her furry friend pace "We have each other, and thats about all we have, but it's what counts" she sighed and pulled another chair close to sit down, she looked at David taking in his features truely for the first real time since the change
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose huffed, the adrenaline fully wearing off and he leaned forward with his elbows on his knees.
"Thanks, Chubbs..." He said with a ghost of a smile, glancing over to his now furry pal, his eyes skimming over the features. For some reason, seeing the man sprout fur and fangs and claws wasn't nearly as much of a shock as seeing the scales and tongue on Joli.... maybe he was biased.
"Bet you're sore..." He said quietly. "I was.... when... it happened to me. And hungry."
He scuffed his foot on the tile, looking down at his own claws. "Yeah.... but there doesn't seem to be much of the ol' Christmas cheer going around, does there? I can't even go shopping for presents. And... I've been so preoccupied with everything else.... damn... I should have been trying to do something. As horrid as it sounds, I'm not used to making things for Christmas." He was rambling, trying to get his mind off of the argument, but he was still tense.
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs noded slowly to Ambrose, he was sore, like he'd done six hours training at a gym, he ached all over. " Friggin killed changin" Chubbs looked towards Joliette, noticing she'd been watching him closely. He got a good chance to see her closely now. He must have looked so different, he didn't want to see his face if he could help it. Chubbs stuck his hand on Joliettes, then tried to hide his claws again. The smells from the cafeteria were getting to him, Chubbs took in a deep sniff before looking to Ambrose. " It's understandable about the gifts... but well ya helping me bring one to the community" Chubbs tapped his nose at Ambrse and gave him an all knowing wink to suggest to keep it hushed in front of Joliette. " We don't have much to do left.. I umm could help ya whip up something for Angie if ya like.. all you need is imagination Ambrose" He stroked Joliette's hand as he spoke.
Joliette Rigiel Joliette took his hand and opened it un-hiding hte claws she lifted a hand wiggling her own longer and rather much sharper ones "Don't have to hide them from me..." she really didn't want him to hide things from her, if he did he would be the rest of their lives and there was no point to that.
She said nothing about the 'surprise' she knew he wouldn't tell anyways there wasn't any point, besides the fact she had resided herself to waiting for the surprise, it wasn't all that long left anyways
"Sometimes homemade presents are better then anything one can get in a store ambrose, because it's our heart that goes into it rather then someone else's or a machine's" she smiled softly looking at the wolfman
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose nodded weakly. After the argument he felt tired. The frustration was still there - he hated seeing his group of friends falling apart - arguments over stupid things, arguments about what was happening to them when the problem was outside them.
But a part of Ambrose was still hung over Jamal's admission... the murder.... he didn't sound proud or threatening with that statement, but regardless of that fact it gave Ambrose chills, and didn't help the admitted stereotype that Jamal had brought up.
"I'll think of something guys,thanks." He looked up to them, glancing at their held hands, with a small smile. He could sense their.... connection. relationships seemed to be budding all over the island. People put together in stressful situations needed companship, comfort...
"You.... ah.... you two take care. I'm glad that you have eachother with all of this. And I'm here too, of course." His tail gave a small wag. "If you ever need to talk... about anything. What you're feeling.... the changes..."
He took another deep breath and stood up, walking towards the door where he paused, debating where to go.
Chubbs MacKraken Chubbs smiled lightly, and even through the change, he still blushed. What's more his fur and hair seemed to blush as well a little. He nodded to Ambrose and cupped Joliette's hand in his. " I .. I appreciate it..Ya a good friend Ambrose" Chubbs watched him head out to leave, and he turned to look at Joliettle, aching a little bit still. He smiled at her, for even through the change, he still could see the love in her eyes.
Joliette Rigiel
"Take care Ambrose and say hello to Angelina for me" she says watching him leave for a time then looking back to David "Hungry?" she asks softly and then glances over her shoulder at her ranch drowned ham salad knowing she was still hungry herself
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose paused with a more genuine smile to Chubbs at his compliment, his tail wagging again. "Thanks Chubbs.... you too." He nodded again, giving the pair a wave.
"And I will, Jolie. Good luck to the two of you.... the changes... they don't look that bad.. Honestly." He gestured to them.
With a final wave he headed out, letting his feet carry him wherever. |
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 4:47 pm
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Ambrose meets Chana
Chana made her way down the and slipped off her sandals. At this time of year, the sand wasn't as hot as it could be, though it was still quite warm.
She hadn't seen anyone on her way here...and couldn't tell if that was a good or bad thing. So many things on this island made no sense at all.
But on a better note, Hannukah started soon. Chana started singing her favorite song softly: "Who can retell the things that befell us..."
Ambrose, on the other hand, had stalked out of the cafeteria after the injunction with Jamal, angry and frustrated even after Chubbs and Joli had moliated him a bit.
He had headed out to the beach to try to relax. He had always enjoyed spending time on the beach when he was frustrated or didn't know what to do - but it just didnt' seem to be the same.
He had paced around a bit before finally heading into the work area that he and Chubbs had set up... bitter thoughts about the argument flared in his head again - reminded of all the side-by-side work he had done with Jamal. Just when he thought they might end up friends... Arrrg!
Ambrose spied a chunk of unused wood and picked it up, hefting it a bit. He had been doing a lot of construction - working with wood.... maybe he could find something for Angelina after all.
Picking up one of the knives and some sandpaper, he walked back out to the beach... where he heard soft singing in an unfamiliar voice.
An ear flicked back hesitantly. He hadn't heard of any newcomers that recently.... He just hoped that they were't that new.
He hesitated for a moment, curiousity eventually getting the better of him as he sniffed the air again and headed towards the voice.
He was still dressed in some of his nicer clothes - for all that mattered with his thick fur and other drastically lupine features.
Chana was rather oblivious. Between her singing and the ocean, she didn't hear Ambrose behind her. Her attention was on remembering the second verse.
"Hark! In days of yore...now what was it? It couldn't be "in Israel's ancient sand", right? And I know it's in the prayerbook..." she spoke aloud. "I know I know it...ugh, maybe I should stick to dreidel songs..." Chana trailed off, trying to recall some of the...stranger...verses she and her friends had come up with.
Ambrose's expression turned into a quirky smile and a curious c**k of his head as he approached the curly brunette from behind. At least some were in the holiday spirit, it seemed. Perhaps she might be better company than Jamal - of course -given his argument with Jamal that wouldn't be all too difficult.
"Good afternoon." Ambrose called out, a bit hesitantly, a block of wood in one pawlike hand, a small knife clenched in the other, albeit in a non-threatening gesture.
Chana stopped as a man called to her from behind. She smiled and turned to wave. "G--" Oh, dear G-d! She stared at Ambrose, fear coming into her frozen expression. He was like...some...wolfman from a movie!
And he was holding a decent-sized piece of wood and a knife. Chana backpedaled into the water until it nearly reached her knees. "S-stay away from m-me!" she shrieked at the stranger.
Ambrose froze, his eyes widening at the unfortunate and unexpected reaction from the young woman. Great. Perfect. That's what he got for assuming that perhaps she already knew what was going on.
And it had started out as such a good morning. Then Chubbs and Joliette had changed... the argument with Jamal... now this.
His ears lowered and he slowly bent down to put down the wood and knife, he unbent with his palms open towards her. "I... I'm sorry... I... I'm not trying to hurt you... I promise."
His eyes flicked down to the objects he had sat down. "I ... was just going to do some carving."
"Christmas presents...." He added quietly, dejectedly.
Amazingly, there was a small, rational part of Chana's brain still working. Carving? I'll bet he really means with those fangs, she thought, staying where she was.
Until he added that it was for Christmas presents. Still very pale, Chana snorted. "Why does the Christian religion have to believe the world revolves around it?" she spat. Of course, only standing up for her Jewish heritage would allow Chana to react to the wolfman as a person.
Ambrose wasn't expecting that. Perhaps she was being defensive because she was scared... she certainly still smelled of fear, despite his good intentions. Not that he blamed her - he thought with a sigh.
But regardless of why, he had managed to both scare her and offend her. Lovely work, Ambrose.
"World revolves...? What? No... I mean... Angelina and I... Ergh... I'm not prostelizing or anything... just making my girlfriend a gift for Christmas." His ears pinned back defensively. Ambrose was Christian... by all technical terms - but more of an Easter/Christmas one, especially since leaving home.
"Do you really need a holiday just to give your girlfriend a gift?" Chana demanded. "It's such a stupid notion, really. People say "it's the thought that counts," yet it's "thoughtless" if they should forget to give a loved on a present on a holiday such as Christmas. Giving gifts is supposed to be a joy, not an obligation."
And Hannukah was one of the least important holidays. Eight days of presents? Whose idea had that been? Chana had had a bone to pick with whoever it was ever since she was in highschool. Presents were expensive.
His eyebrows raised. "I never said I felt obligated to do so." Thoughts started to wane of her perhaps not knowing the 'secret' of the island.
"And I thought I heard you singing something festive before I spoke up. Perhaps I should criticize you for singing happily during the holiday season." He was perplexed - why on earth would someone he didn't even know criticize him for making a loved one a gift - that she also didn't know.
"And Perhaps I wanted to cling to some aspect of normalcy here - celebrate the holidays with the people I care about - even if I cant order something from a catalogue or buy from a department store. After all, I thought something handmade would be more... thoughtful.... as you sneered at."
Chana crossed her arms. "I was singing to myself, and so it really wouldn't matter if the song was for Hannukah or...or Rosh Hashanah!"
And then he was talking about normalcy and handmade gifts over store-bought. Chana cocked her head as she considered what he said. Finally, she sighed. "I suppose you do have a couple valid points. This island is the strangest place I've ever been, and handmade gifts are better. I still don't hold with the whole "season of giving" though. Any old time of the year is a good time to put a smile on someone's face."
Charities worked year-round after all. And wasn't her being here also along those lines?
Ahh, so she was Jewish - that was the missing piece. He knew very little about that, other than some of the holiday names, and using the Old Testament...
"Yes... well... for me... at least, Christmas was one of the few times I actually got to see my family really happy looking - actually having time for me and spending time together..." Ambrose shook his head, trying to shake the wave of nostalgia away. Talking about family was usually painful for him... even when talking about some of the few, scattered good moments.
"Anyway... I guess it has always felt like a kind of magical time... though too bad we don't even get snow here. It feels different." He sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Please don't ruin what I do have. Besides, I thought Hannukah was a gift giving, celebration holiday as well."
"Happy looking?" Chana echoed. It certainly sounded very different from 15-25 people eating and talking and arguing happily several times a year.
And snow. Chana wasn't overly fond of the cold, though she did enjoy snowball fights. "It is different to not have snow...but there's almost none in Israel," she commented.
"And gifts or not, Hannukah's not even a real holiday," she snarled. "The rabbis made it up. I'm not sure why, but maybe it's because all the other religions had celebrations and festivals around this time of year."
Ambrose shrugged defensively as she echoed his words. "My parents have never been the overly affectionate sort."
"And I Never heard that about Hannukah. But even so - don't you think the Rabbis had a reason for doign so more than to just imitate the Christain giftigiving holiday? Maybe... you know... the sentiment, the way it brings people together? Besides, Hanukka's older than Kwanzaa - which certainly is invented."
Ambrose plopped down on the sand, picking up the block of wood again and turned it over in his hands, visualizing what he could make from it, while glancing back at her, still standing in the surf.
"Look" He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not trying to argue with you. I'm sure neither of our holidays advise that."
"Must've been a rough way to grow up," Chana said softly. She knew she'd been lucky to grow up in the busom of a large family that made sure she knew she was loved and special.
"Not many people know. But I wasn't referring to Christmas. I'm not sure approximately when this was, but the big festivals would have been Solstice and Saturnalia. And Saturnalia was also a gift-giving holiday."
Chana stepped out of the water, though she remained about a meter from Ambrose. "You're probably right about that...I'm sorry. This is just...I'm not at my best...and half the people I've seen look like horror movie stars." She sounded sheepish as she brushed wind-blown sand off of her face.
"I see..." Ambrose had heard of the pagan holidays mentioned in passing... but never really looked too much into it. "Well, regardless of the inspiration... I still maintain that there is some reasoning for the... copying... for lack of a better word." His mouth quirked up. "Who knows. Maybe there really is something magical about that time of year. Not that I really would ever be one to believe in that sort of thing... but with the goings-on recently... who knows."
Ambrose made no move towards her as she approached, just turned the block of wood over a few times in his hands. He had really been enjoying helping Chubbs with the project - he hadn't been that crafty since shop class... and he found that he really did enjoy it. Fencing had always been his 'creative' outlet, but it was frustrating not having much in the way of a sparring partner here. Not that he was going to give it up! Just.... find a supplementation.
He snorted at her horror monster comment. His appearance was still something of a sore subject. "And I Don't look this way by choice." His ears swiveled back again. "Besides, there's only one horror movie star here. Not sure if you've run into Vasile yet."
"This late in the game, the only way to know which celebration came first would be to build a time machine," Chana replied, chuckling weakly.
"I guess...I don't think anyone would want to look anything like people on this island," she said slowly, thinking it through. Beneath the fur and the Christianity...there was something quite down-to-earth about this guy. She half-remembered Cassidy saying something...but it was gone again. Regardless, she felt...she felt that this man was not her enemy, and that she shouldn't be afraid of him and his...fellows on this island.
"Who's Vasilie?" she asked instead. The name sounded remotely familiar, but no more than that.
Ambrose picked up the knife, keeping his eyes on the block of wood made a few notches as guidelines for where to cut and shape later.
"Very true. I suppose the whole 'which came first' argument doesn't really matter. They're all here now, and they make people happy, right?" He glanced up to her, the amiable smile starting to return.
"And no... I wouldn't wish this fate on my worst enemies. From... what you're saying I do assume you've been given the... run down of what's going on...? I wasn't sure with how I startled you, but maybe you just hadn't seen anyone as.... different as me yet." He shifted positions a bit, trying to make himself more comfortable in the sand.
"And Vasile DiRossi.... the film star.... apparently he's being listed as being in a planecrash...."
"Another way to ask the chicken or the egg," she added, smiling slightly.
"Run down? I...ah...think...Cassidy tried," she admitted, flushing. "I...well...this hasn't been very easy, seeing people like this."
Chana stared blankly at the name. "Who? No, never mind. I'm really bad at keeping up with that stuff. Wonder if he'd rather the planecrash," she mused.
"Precisely. And a rather moot question at that." He made a few more notches in the wood before turning it to check to see how things lined up, and then smiled, making some deeper cuts.
"So you met Cassidy?" He nodded. Cassidy was also pretty far in her changes - although along a very different line. "I haven't seen Cassidy in a while.... is she doing alright? .... But no - it's not any easier on us, I can assure you. Most of us at least. It's one thing to see someone else with fur or scales... quite another to see it in the mirror. But... admittedly, even that hasn't made it easy to see your friends changing around you... remembering them as human... and seeing them scared, looking different... more like an animal." His ears drooped.
Ambrose snorted a bit at the question. "I guess that's a good question you'd have to ask him. Me...... I don't know to be honest. It's.... it's hard thinking that things are only going to get... more drastic from here, and that I'll never be able to go home - never be able to chase my dreams." He shook his head. "I'm sorry." He sighed. He always had the tendency to think about himself when talking to others about the problems of the island. Selfish. "From the sounds of things you had a good family.... I'm really sorry...." He trailed off, realizing he didn't have her name yet.
"I'm terribly sorry - my name is Ambrose."
"Yeah...Cassidy was pretty nice. I...I really had trouble looking at her, but we had a good conversation. She seems...to be doing well." Chana was quiet. Looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing...something like that? Changing? Chana felt she should ask...but...no. If she didn't know, she could hang on to what little sanity she had left. Coward, she called herself, but so be it.
Then he started talking about her family. Unbidden, tears clouded her eyes. She quickly wiped them and responded to his last statement.
"I'm Chana. It's...well, it's nice to meet you, Ambrose."
Ambrose nodded. "Cass has been having a rough time... last I saw her. She and Vasile had been slowly trying to... help eachother through all of this, but I haven't seen either of them in some time to be honest. I've been... rather reclusive for a while until just recently..."
Ambrose looked up, his ears crumpling as he saw her expression, and he set down the carving. "Chana.... I... I'm sorry... I didn't mean to upset you..." He slowly rose to his feet, debatng between tryting to comfort her or if that would just make her feel more uncomfortable.
Chana waved Ambrose away. "Really...it's just...I've never gone a year without seeing my family during Hannukah. I even missed Winnie the Jew for my family." The tears were gathering again.
"Maybe I should go think about what you've said today," she told him, her voice not quite wavering.
"That must be painful" Ambrose said quietly. He wasn't quite sure what Winny the Jew was other than from the sounds of it some sort of parody of the famuous bear, but it was obvious how meaningful her family was to her.
"Well.... it probably sounds like an empty sentiment... and I know that if I were you, I wouldn't be overly comfortbale with me... but if you ever want to talk about anything - I'm in duplex one." He gave her a small smile and a instinctive few wags of his tail.
Chana turned and smiled up at Ambrose through her tears, which were now streaking down her cheeks.
"Thanks. I'm in 26 if...if you ever want to argue whether the chicken or the egg came first," she told him. She stood up and slipped on her sandals.
"Maybe I'll see you around later." She turned toward the village, then turned back, grinning wickedly. "First candles get lit in two days at sunset in my duplex." Chana winked at Ambrose and left him alone on the beach.
.. and Ambrose had managed to make the poor girl cry. Beautiful day. Just perfect.
"Hopefully I will see you around again, Chana... and I'm sory again. I do hope that you have a happy Hannukah." He gave her a weak wave and plopped back down in the sand again.
He looked across the winter sun reflected on the ocean that seemed to stretch forever. Somehow... that sight wasn't as comfoting as it was earlier in his residency here. He would have to bring Angelina to the beach sometime soon however...
But for the moment, he would stay away from some of the others... it only seemed to be resuting in him upsetting people today... or being pulled into other problems. He picked up the block of wood, glanced around, and pulled a few pieces of driftwood closer to him before sitting down to carve. It was... relaxing. Focused his attention away from the problems, and let him do something for the others. |
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Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 9:05 pm
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Gathering up all the plushies she had time to make for the holidays, Amaya set to delivering each one. She wasn't sure if anyone would like them since... well, they were stuffed animals afterall, but since she had no money and was an ocean away from any store, she did the only thing she knew how.
Approaching Ambrose's door, she set down a tiny grey wolf plushie with blue patches and orange buttons for eyes. A small slip of paper was tied around one of it's paws with black thread. When it's opened up it reads in rather scraggly handwriting (holding a pen has become rather hard with her new hands): Quote: Dear Ambrose & Angelina, I know the holidays are the least one our minds, but I don't think we should let the staff get our spirits down. I just want you to know that despite the situation were all in, I could never express how glad I am that I met you... though I just wish it was under better circumstances. I hope you have a happy holiday, regardless of how things may seem. Love, Amaya <3 |
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