Welcome to Gaia! ::

God... damn that was far more work than it needed to be. But it would be worth it. Oh how it would be worth it. Marlow readjusted his gloves, making sure they fitted absolutely perfectly. He would have no accidents on this journey, not this one. From his vantage point atop the hill, he could see the entire village spread out below. But he wasn't interested in the veiw. Keen eyes studied each bend, curve, dip and stretch of the road before him. This was definitely going to be worth the two hour push. His fingers were tense as they slid along the wheel grips, waiting for the release of the brakes. A push of the thumbs and was off.

So. ********. Worth it. He was dashing down the slope, chair clattering over asphalt and just barely making each turn. Even through the leather gloves Marlow could feel his palms burning from the heat of metal running through his palms as he tried to control a less than worthy machine. He didn't care. The wind was beating against his body and finally he could feel his heart pounding at its old, familar pace.

Newt had left his duplex finally, but only after he had set himself up with the proper protection. He had changed into a fresh clean jumper, an overlarge pair of rubber gloves tugged onto his hands carefully, the webs tucked in carefully, although they still chafed- just in case he had to touch something one of the islanders had touched. He had found a plastic gasmask in one of the supply cabinets, donning it as well- just in case an islander stood too closely and contaminated the air. In the same closet he had found a pair of safety goggles, in case of an islander spraying as they spoke, or who knew what. The larger-sized boots were more comfortable on his changed feet, and between the added leignth and with the aid of the handle of his upside-down turned broom, he had figured out an odd step to get around with. It involved a sort of short poll-jumping with the broom handle, using the stick to help push his body forward with enough oomph to catch himself again. Unfortunatly, every unnoticed crack or uneven ground and the stray pebble could put his careful rythm off, sending him into a horrible stumble. He tired easily, though- while his leg muscles seemed better equipt for jumping, the majority of him was still human shaped and built.

He had been taking the long way around the villiage, trying to avoid the lunch rush in the cafeteria to find sollice at the beach. He was half way across the road when he ran out of breath. The gasmask certainly wasn't easy to breath through either.

"YAHOO!" Marlow pumped his fist in the air as he picked up speed. He wasn't going to bother slowing down for this final turn. He was going to save it all for one long coast that would bring him right to the center of the plaza... provided he didn't flip his chair when he hit the grass. Details details. He'd worry about than in about another fifteen seconds. Fourteen seconds. He passed the turn, his chair teetering dangerously for another three seconds which brought him to the coveted count down. Ten... nine... The road was narrowing down as the he rocked into the ring of duplexes. Eight... Sev- what the hell was that in the middle of his path? Si- No... really what the hell was- OH s**t!

Newt heard the sound of wheels on illy kept road befor he managed to catch a glimps of the speedster through his goggles, his green eyes widening with horror, "Ah!" Instinct kicked in, and the man lept at full streignth, shooting through the air to land on his masked face several yards away with a plastic grinding crash.

Marlow and his chair fishtailed off the path. It was good instinct on the driver's part, but with the masked man now miraculously out danger's way, it looked like a foolish overcorrection. The chair only made it a few feet before flipping on itside, taking a fair amount of meticulously groomed landscaping with it not to mention propelling its passenger the remaining distance between wreck and escapee.

Marlow landed with a pained grunt, limbs sprawled as he finally came to rest with his eyes staring up at the tropical sky. He blinked. Well... wasn't this familar...

When Newt managed to roll over and recover from his sudden froggish leap, he straightened the mask that had managed to slip off his face, glancing about to see just what had nearly hit him. At the sight of the spilled cripple, the custodian gave a cry of alarm, crawling for his broom befor he inched his way over, "Are... are... are... are y-you alright, s-sir?"

"Hmm?" Marlow lifted his head enough to see what had to be a character out of some poorly done bioterrorism flick. He flexed his arms and neck, giving himself a quick check. "Nothing broken that wasn't already busted."

Newt's eyes darted back and forth as he crouched a good distance away still, not making any move to come any closer. "Ah... ah... G-good! Good! Ah... I m-mean... er-"

"Did the chair make it?" He pointed off in a random direction. It was a real love-hate relationship, that chair and he. On one hand, they had been inseperable, journeying across the island, eating together, enjoying the sunset. On the other hand... they had been inseperable. You can fill in what all that meant. So while he hoped that his friend would pull though, he had to admit with a touch of guilt that he was enjoying their time apart.

"Ah-" The oddly dressed man used his battered broom to straighten up a bit to catch a view of the chair, watching one of it's wheels sadly turn despite it's horizontal and scratched, scuffed and dirty state, "It l-looks like it's alright-"

"Ah..." They would share many more fun adventures then. "You sound a bit shaken. Are you all right?"

Newt nodded, "Wh-what on Earth wh-where you doing??"

Marlow shrugged "Joy Riding"

Newt wasn't quite sure he understood, but still made no movement to help him back into the chair. It was an awkward sort of predicament. Every fiber of Newt's being seemed programmed to be helpfull, but above everything else, Newt was a coward.

Marlow arched his eyebrow as the man seemed to hover off to the side. Wow. Someone who was willing to give him the chance to take care of himself. That was a welcome change. He rolled over onto his belly, searching out the direction of his chair. There it was... he hoped he looked a sight better or there was sure to be a lecture of someone in particular happened to catch him on the way back to his suite. He dug his fingers into the earth and began the less than dignified process of dragging himself towards the chair.

Newt took a nervious step backward, feeling exceedingly akward at the sight of his struggle. His insides were burning not only with hunger, but his Newtish desire to aid and be generally subserviant. "Ah... are... are y-you sure you're alright?" He managed again lamely.

Marlow peered back over his shoulder, just slightly peturbed. "If you are looking for a way to help, you could jump ahead and turn my chair back up. I'm just saying..."

Newt fidgeted with his rubber glvoes, clinging to his broom as he glanced from the chair, to the fallen man and back again, "Are... are you a sub-sub-subject?"

"Subject?" Marlow was confident that he didn't care for this term at all. "Who wants to know?" He rolled over onto his back as he finally reached his fallen mount and gave the man a more scrutinizing look. He looked absolutely ridiculous, but beyond the mask and gloves he also looked official in his snappy little feral lab jumpsuit.

"I... ah..." That answered that question. Newt took an instinctive hobbling step backwards befor returning to his crouch, "I'm s-sorry, b-but I c-can't."

"You... can't?" Okay so maybe he didn't always want help but what the hell was this guy's problem, refusing to help a crippled man back into his chair? Was this another part of Moreau's little grudge-fest or was this guy just a p***k?

"I... I... I r-really am sorry!" The man's voice was sincere albeit muffled behind his mask, and it seemed the urge to obey was too strong. Carefully keeping a wide circumfrance, he hobbled around the fallen cripple towards the chair, shoving at it with his broom as though he could prod it upright without getting too close and touching it himself.

Marlow shooed his broom away, clearly annoyed. "I'll clean it off myself, thanks." With a less than gentle touch he righted the chair and set the brake. He'd worry about getting of the grass once he was seated and could glare from at the man from a more proper four feet, not four inches from the ground.

Newt wasn't sure what to do, clinging to his broom desperatly as he watched the man ready the chair himself. But how could he have helped him without risking getting infected again?

He struggled back into the chair, somewhat relieved that it was getting easier each time he had to manage it unaided. With a final huff of breath he settled square in the seat. "You've been a real help." He quipped sarcastically as he dusted off his chest and arms. "I'm so glad 'a kind and helpful staff' wasn't just another in the mulitude of lies I've been fed about this place."

Newt crouched lower, trembling as he clung to his upside-down broom, his eyes clenched shut behind his safety glasses. His voice broke as he spoke, wavering pathetically, "I'm-I'm s-sorry! I'm s-sorry! I... I... I... p-please d-don't be m-mad at me!"

This was just... sad. Marlow leaned back in his chair, lacing his fingers infront of his stomach. "It's... all right." He really hoped nobody was seeing this for the staff member's sake. Marlow was confident that even the octopus could take this guy if he was in the mood. "It 's really alright."

Newt shook his head, his wrongly informed fear coupled with the surreal situation he had been put into to begin with sending his already fragile emotions turn-about. What was he supposed to do? He quieted his near tears, instead fidgeting self conciously with his grip on the broom.

"So" Marlow began awkwardly. "Sorry about the... thing" He pointed up the road, still eyeing the man cautiously as if he expected him to either start brandishing his broom at him, break into a fit of anguished sobs... or both. "I was just... Why are you dressed like that?"

"D-dressed like what?"

"That..." He gestured to the entire Tom Clancy novel reject ensemble

"M-my j-jumper? I... I'm a cus-cus-cus... a c-c-custodian," Newt stammered, shifting in his crouch.

"Well that explains the broom, but dare I ask why a custodian needs a gas mask?"

Newt gave a little hop backwards, his breathing quickening behind the mask to fog up his safety glasses.

Marlow was having his doubts about the whole situation. There was something off about the janitor that didn't end at his outfit. "Or maybe you just want to keep that to yourself..."

"I'm... I'm s-studying th-the effects of... of exposure, th-they said... or... soemthing like that," He babbled suddenly, blushing behind his mask. It was clearly mumbled in defence of himself.

"Studying?" He gave him a skeptical look. "I thought you said you were a janitor..."

"I... I am!"

"So..." Marlow steepled his fingers as he helped guide the man through his reasoning. "If you are a janitor... but if 'they' are 'exposing' you to something down here and 'studying' it... wouldn't that make you a subject as well?"

His eyes darted back and forth anxiously, "I... b-but I'm n-not a sub-sub-subject... I... I... j-just work here!"

"And such a fine job you are doing..." Marlow leaned forward in his chair, trying to get a closer look at the janitor.

"W-well, I'm sorry! I'm a jan-janitor, not a doc-doctor!" He prattled, his rubber gloves chafing where his webbing had been pinched between the fingers for too long.

Marlow held up his hands with a dismissive shrug of the shoulders. "Forget I asked, Mr...?"

Newt cleared his throat, attempting to straighten up slightly, although he couldn't seem to bring himself to straighten his legs completely, "Er... F-fil-fil-fil-filinas. Newton Filinas."

He offered his hand. "Marlow. Just Marlow"

At the sudden movement Newt panicked and gave a startled cry as he whipped his can of spray- disinfectant, spraying it at the sudden infectious subject befor he could hop backwards clumsily.

Marlow's hands shot up to sheild his face but he was no match for the reflexes that had saved Filinas on the road. "Ah ********." He wiped at his eyes, but that only rubbed the spray in further. The sockets puffed red and watered as he continued to flail.

"Ah-!" Newt gaped in horror at what he had done, "I'm s-sorry!! I'm s-sorry!"

Marlow snarled, scowling blindly in to direction of the frantic apoligizing "I swear if you say 'sorry' one more time...."

Newt squeaked, pursing his lips.

"Actually, you know what? Screw that" He fumbled for the brake levers on his chair. "Where's an intercom?"

"Wh-what do you need an intercom f-for?"

Marlow struggled to get some traction on the slick grass with little success. "I'm telling."

"T-telling?? Ah- ah n-no," Newt hopped over, managing to catch himself with the aid of his broom walking stick, "P-please, n-no! I'm already in enough t-trouble-!"

"Oh?" Marlow laughed in disbelief. He couldn't imagine what Mr Finias or Philinus or whatever the hell his name could have done to upset his superiors.

"Ah... ah... h-here!" He offered Marlow his hankercheif, "I c-could... r-run and find cold w-wa-water for it if you'd like! If... if it'd help-?"

"Now you are in a rush to be helpful... " he sneered, finally catching a little ground and staggering forward a few feet.

"I d-didn't m-mean to get it in your eyes!"

"You know what? Fair enough. I almost run you over. You almost blind me." He waved him off as he finally made it back onto the road... not that he could really tell except for the change in sudden change in terrain. "I say we're ******** even. I really hope your 'study' goes well, buddy."

"W-wait, m-maybe I c-can... c-can... p-please d-don't be m-mad!" Newt sputtered, desperatly hop-hobbling after the man in the chair.

"Don't... touch my chair." It was a pointless request, as Newton had been doing everything in his power to avoid contact with Marlow since the beginning but he'd be damned if the slimy little creep built up the nerve now. He tried to blink the cleanser out of his eyes but still could see nothing but a wash of greens and blues. "Just... help me find my house..."

"Wh-which one is th-that?"

"The one with the wheelchair ramp in front of it. 47"

"Ah... th-that... th-that would make sence, w-wou-wouldn't it?" The janitor laughed weakly.

Marlow narrowed his eyes, not that it wasn't very noticable amid the seething and squinting. He clearly wasn't amused.

"Almost... almost there... it's t-to your left up th-that way," He at least tried to assure him.

Marlow kept spinning, trying to keep a good distance ahead incase he did something foolish like say 'thank you' and ended up with a broom over his head for his trouble.

And Newt meekly followed, giving him directions as needed, although he was feeling mroe and more uneasy.

"Am I there yet?" He better be. He needed to do a proper slamming of the door in the face if he was going to regain any of his lost dignity.

"J-just a m-meter ahead th-there is the ramp-"

Marlow made an overdramatic turn and clattered onto the stoop. A fumbling of the keys later and the front door swung open. He wanted to be safely inside before addressing the man again. "Thank. You."

"Ah- y-you're w-wel-welcome!" Newt smiled behind his mask, even if his mouth was hidden.

"Right" and SLAM. Just as satisfying as he thought it would be.

To be compiled:
meeting Maryke
http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=4630525

to be compiled: Newt changes
http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=3070329&page=1

Awen sighed softly as she glanced around the lake. She was treading water just at the surface a far ways out into the pool. She enjoyed her time swimming in the lake, but sometimes it grew boring. Actually... the whole island was starting to seem slightly dull. Sure she had her new books and video games coming in but, really, there was more to life than that....

It had been a day since Aubrey's visit, and Newt had indeed attempted to relax a bit more. He had allowed himself to sleep in and take his time catching himself breakfast, and had filled a thermos of tea to drink out on the beach. He had brought his broom with him, intending to go to his self appointed duties directly after, but the froggish tendancies that had been bubbling up in the back of his mind didn't want to go back to work just yet. He supposed he was growing the hands and feet for it... and his amphibious skin was feeling a bit dry. He turned in the sand and hopped off towards the lake.
By the time he had gotten there, he was panting heavily, using the broom to keep himself moving. Almost to the water. He didn't see anyone around, not noticing the manta's grey and blue skin against the reflections of the water, and began setting his things down. He didn't want toget his clothes wet if he was going to sweep up later, and therefor set to carefully strip off his jumper.

Just as Awen had been about to dive again into the cool waters she noticed someone coming towards the lake. It moved oddly and Awen couldn't recall any islander who would walk like that. Smiling, with a chance to maybe relieve some of this bordem Awen found her escape. She dove under the water to allow herself to flow freely towards the one she had seen. She surface just in time to see the jumper his the bank of the lake.

Blinking slowly Awen looked up to the very green and very skrawny man before her. There was something oddly familiar about the man but at first she couldn't quite grasp what it was. She glanced away from him quickly and her eyes wandered to the things on the ground. "Sorry." She said but not in the quick embarassed tones she used to apologise to people with. This was one smooth word with no hint of panic. Sneaking up on people in this manner seemed to be a habit of hers. She saw the broom and suddenly it clicked. This was the janitor she had met in the games room. She knew she had been right about him...

His dark green speckles and yellow stripes stood out against his greyed undershirt and tighty whities. Newt was certainly a skinny man, spidery and angular all over. At the sudden sound of another voice, the frog-man gave a frightened croak, leaping away from the source in a clumsy leap.

"No no no." She said quickly seeing the flash of movement out of the corner of her eye. "Don't run away, calm down it's just me, Awen. I'm harmless!"

"I-I'm suh-suh-sorry! I th-thought i w-wuh-was alone!" Newt sputtered, looking utterly embarassed and terrified, his enormous eyes round as plates as he grabbed for his jumper again. If he still had been able to blush, he would have looked like a tomato.

"Don't worry, don't worry. Happens all the time. Just calm down hun." She tried to give him a reassuring smile as she held up a hand. Her gaze drifted to the colours that now made up the jumpy man's skin. "Nice markings you've got there...er... what was it? Ned?"

He tried to hide himself behind his jumper, trembling timidly, "Ah... Nuh-nuh-Newton..."

"Oh! Newt, that's right. Sorry... pretty bad with names, you know?" Seeing as the man wasn't going to calm down so easily Awen backed a ways into the water. "Come on in, the water will hide anything you don't want me seeing better than that pair of overalls will. I won't dive under the water so all I'll see is what's above, okay?"

"I... I'm n-nuh-not a vuh-very good swim-swim-swimmer..." Newt admitted nerviously. He swallowed, his neck suddenly inflating for a moment befor pushing out a loud, "KrrKIT!" He knew the manta's face. Knew he had met her befor, but couldn't for the life of him remember her name. It had been too long ago- when he had still been human.

The manta's eyes widened for a moment as the frog's neck inflated before his ribbit, noise, thing. Well, that had certainly been new. Quickly thought she regained composure and held up one of her webbed hands. "Newt, you've got webbing like me now. Swimming will be very easy. Besides that it's just chest deep here, don't have to swim if you can touch the bottom right?"

He fidgeted, as though debating befor he finally spoke up, "Y-you... w-wuh-wouldn't m-mind if I juh-joined you?"

"I was actually just thinking that I'd enjoy such company. Besides, if you end up not being able to swim it'll be safer for you with me around." She gave him a big grin, trying to be friendly.

He smiled back, although it was a trembling, crooked-toothed sort of smile, "Cuh-could y-you ah... tuh-turn around? I sh-shouldn't g-get my clothing wet..."

It took a moment before Awen understood what he meant. She had thought it odd that he would be that bashful while he still was in his skivvies. He had already taken his jumper off so it wouldn't get wet. Then it clicked. "Oh....Yeah, yeah, sorry!" She chuckled to herself and turned around. She guessed he really did mean all his clothing. "Maybe you should request a pair of swim trunks next time you're at the duplex huh?"

"I... I h-hadn't th-thought of th-that..." He sputtered, "Duh-doctor Luh-lockheart... s-said she w-was g-going to get me s-some nuh-normal cluh-clothing- maybe sh-she'll rem-re-remember?" There was the sound of something large hopping into the water behind her.
Newt had never done anything like this befor. He had never really gone swimming much to start with, let alone skinny dipping. The frog was loving it, though, feeling far more at home crouched in the shallows than awkwardly attempting to stand on the bank. With only the top of his head, his enormous eyes and tiny pin-point nostrils sticking out of the water he gave another froggish croak, "It's alright to tuh-tuh-tuh-turn around n-now..."

Slowly the manta spun around in the water to face the rather funny view of Newt crouching in the shallows. "There, that probably feels a lot better, huh?" She nodded as if to herself. "I know when my skin gets dry it's so irritating. You probably feel the same way?"

"I sup-sup-suppose," He managed shyly.

"So...." She said in a more serious tone. "I suppose they didn't just reassign you huh? I'm really sorry Newt..."

His eyes glanced down to the water as he sat down even lower in it meekly, looking thouroughly embarassed about the whole deal.

Awen bowed her head slightly. "Sorry again... I shouldn't have brought that up. Probably like salt in a wound..." Looking back up she smiled. "On the bright side! Me and Pyroth are planning a party for....uh..sometime soon. We're still gonna work it out with the labs, see if we can get that big tarp from the Halloween party, maybe drag the kareoke machine out of hiding. Pyroth's going to barbequeue and we'll probably grab some other things from the cafe, salads and whatnot.... It should be fun, if you're interested."

"A puh... a puh-puh-party?" Newt managed meekly, his thick eyebrows raising over his monstrous eyes, "I cuh-could cluh-clean up for you, I sup-suppose- it wuh-won't be a pruh-problem..."

Awen laughed and shook her head. "Of course you will not clean up Newt! Don't you worry me and Pyroth will do the lug work. I mean I'm inviting you to attend the party. You know, hang out, have a good time. Meet some new people and such, right?"

At that, Newt's eyes widened impossibly further, "Wuh-what... luh-like a guh-guest? Are... are y-you sure?"

Her brow furrowed in a curious manner, as if unable to decide whether the frog-man was joking or not. Finally she gave into a smile and a chuckle. "Of course I'm sure. You'll have fun I'm sure. For..er.. whenever it is I mean I still have to arrange things with the staff and all, but hey when I get the date and time and stuff I'll slip a note on your door or something? I might post a flyer on the cafeteria... I'm not too sure yet...."

"I've nuh-nuh-never *b-been* to a par-par-party befor... I've... cluh-cleaned up after them th-though... or s-sat upstairs wh-when F-father had g-guests over..." He mused, looking entraced by the idea of it.

Never been to a party? He couldn't be serious.... But the look on his face made Awen believe for certain he was serious. She understood now the hesitance and him having to ask if she had really invited him. "Then this should be a really interesting and new experience for you, right Newt? Anything in particular you'd like to have at the party, we are really open to suggestions."

"Ah... I... I ... I d-don't know..." He murmured, his attentions suddenly distracted by a dragonfly that had flitted over the water nearby. He ducked down lower, trying to stay as still as possible.

Awen had thought that maybe the man had grown embarassed again, how she wasn't sure. She couldn't fathom why he would shrink back into the water like he had. But something was different in the way he looked. His eyes didn't have the twitchy nervousness as when he was embarassed. He seemed intent on something. Awen stayed very still and very silent to accomodate whaever it was he was fixated on.

The dragonfly flitted close, oblivious to the danger of the swimmers- at least untill Newt's tongue suddenly snatched it from the air to end it's life upon his teeth. The wings sticking out from between his lips, he chewed with an embarassed sort of expression, "Ah- s-sorry-" He peeped, trying to eat his snack as quickly as possible.

At first Awen face scrunched up as though in disgust with a muttered "Aww..." but then it broke into laughing and all hint of disgust was gone. "That was so cool!" The manta crossed her webbed arms and chuckled still. "It's an easier way to catch food on the go anyway."

Newt made an embarassed sort of noise in the back of his throat, dipping down again as he swallowed, "I... I... Ah... wuh-what? Oh... I... ah... sup-suppose... Y-you're... th-the first per-per-person to think so..."

Awen shrugged softly and started running her fingers through the water. "Whatever is happening to us, for whatever reason we came here and no matter what Moreau's motive or intention was.... what's happening to us is, in a way, a gift. You have to look at the positives. Such as..." She bit her lip thinking a brief moment and then snapped her fingers. "Learning how to swim! You say you couldn't swim before, right? Neither could I. But thanks to the serums, we're better equiped for swimming!"

"I kn-kn-know it's a guh-gift," He said flatly, "Th-the research b-being done here w-will ch-change scuh-science! Th-the b-breakthroughs the duh... the Duh-duh-doc... D-doctor has made alone-!"

Awen nodded slowly as if having heard, or given, such explainations a hundred times. "Could cure cancer, could cure disabilities- mental and physical, enhance the way we live..... I know Newt. While I disagree with some of the methods used to get test subjects, tricking or forcing people here against their will, I understand the value of the research and because of the research I know how illegal it is and how aquiring subjects any other way is near impossible. Don't worry Newt, I'm not going to rail uselessly against what the doctors are doing. Even if I disagree with some of it."

Newt nodded, crouching in the water again uselessly. After his talk with Aubrey, he figured he didn't need to continue prattling on about how he wasn't worthy. Worthy or not, he was still there, and still turning into a frog. "I m-muh-made th-this one lady vom-vom-vomit the other d-day..."

A slow frown crept to Awen's lips. "Oh no, seriously? Who was it? Someone new to the island?"

"I... I th-think so... sh-she luh-looked human."

"Oh dear..." Awen moved a little closer to pat the man's shoulder. "It's okay..." Her tone was gentle and compassionate. "They're still probably adjusting to all of this... it's really not your fault."

"I w-wuh-was j-just hungry... And... and I s-still luh-looked fuhf-airly human then too... n-not... not like now..." He shook his head in a depressed fashion.

Sighing softly Awen gave the slippery shoulder a squeeze. "Newt, you look fine. Don't worry about it. I actually think frogs are cool animals..."

"I... I d-duh-don't m-mind so m-much anymore... " He shook his head, "It's j-juh-juh-just... everything's n-new.... it's only buh-been a cou-cou-couple d-days s-since I... ah..."

"Oh....since you've changed?" She nodded slowly. "It'll take a little bit, you'll get used to it. If you just changed than at least you know you won't change for awhile yet. It seems they wait longer and longer between changes once your first. It'll be fine, you won't change again for a bit. Plenty of time to adjust."

He nodded, "I s-still d-don't know about swuh... about swuuh... swoo... Swimming."

Awen stepped back in the water and held out her hand. "I could help you if you like?"

He gave a nervious croak, watching her hand as though expecting it to bite him, "H-help how?

Awen wasn't so sure about the idea herself. She'd barely ever swam before and before her changes it had been years, and it wasn't as though she knew *how* to swim, just that she swam now, by instinct. She wasn't sure how to teach the janitor how to swim, but she would try. "Well... uh... If you hold onto my hand... I could support you if you don't think you can by yourself. I'm thinking we could start just by treading water in after the drop off, so we're right close to a place where you could regain your footing if something bad happens...."

"I juh-just... k-kick my fuh-feet, I sup-suppose?" It seemed to make enough sence logically. He liked the feeling of mud under his elongated toes.

"Yup. Nice even strokes should do it. But not too quickly or youll just tired yourself out and flounder.... just kind of..fluid motions..." She motioned him forward as she backed up over one of the cut off points, where the floor of the lake suddenly drops down a long ways. "And just keep moving your hands too... with the webs it's a lot easier. Back and forth, like me, see?"

He watched her, his throat inflating in a curious croak. While the Newt part of him wasn't so sure about the act of swimming in general, the frog part knew exactly what it needed to do. Timidly, he drew in a breath, "I'm... g-going to truh-try." He could do this. He didn't need help. It'd be fine. He was half frog now, afterall.

Awen nodded encouragingly. "And remember I'm right here if you need me. What you should try to do is....close your mind and really let your instincts take over. Kind of what I did with the manta ray. It'll come to you..."

Newt nodded, straightening up a little so she could see a patch of his boney, cream colored chest befor he hopped forward deeper into the water. At first, all seemed well and good, his legs giving an easy kick that allowed his webbed toes to act as fins. His changed eyes could see excellently under the water, and he was amazed for a few moments befor he realized he needed to surface for air. That was when the trouble started. He pawed at the direction of the sky with his hands, breaking te surface to thrash and gulp for air in a frantic, paniced movement, "Ah! Ahh t-too d-duh-deep!!"

Awen smiled watching Newt slowly dip into the water and start to swim around. She remembered the first time she had, willingly, gone back into the water. It had been an amazing experience. That was when Newt started to thrast about. As soon as he broke the surface and she saw his paniced expression and movements Awen grabbed the man by his upper arm and propelled them both to the shallow waters. "It's okay, it's okay." She reassured him. "Calm down, it's okay."

He spat out water, giving a terrified wimper, "I'm a ter-ter-ter-terrible fruh-frog!" He groaned once he had caught his breath enough to attempt to speak.

"No, no, no!" She said quickly before making her tone a little more gentle. "Newt, you're just new to it. You'll learn the waters soon enough. That was just your first try. It'll get better from here. You just have to remember that you still need air. I'm not exactly sure how long frogs can stay under water, but it's possible you haven't developed their natural capacity yet too. Just take your time."

He continued to pant, resuming his defensive froggish crouch in the shallows, the water up to his shoulders. "Ah... ah... alright..."

Seeing that Newt was fine, for the most part Awen slowly started to make her way towards the shore. "I don't know about you." She said slowly. "But all this excitement has gotten me hungry!" She smiled and gestured towards the village. "I'm gonna go get a bite to eat, okay?"

He stayed crouched, giving a nod, "Ah... alright... th-thank you... for ah... h-helping me... I... I th-think I w-want to truh-try some more..." He didn't have to go back to work just yet, did he? Aubrey had suggested he relax, afterall... and he was enjoying giving his new features a try.

"Hey it's not a problem" She waved as she plodded onto the bank of the lake. "Just relax and take your time. Don't get in too deep and stay close to the shroe until you're ready for to do otherwise. And see you at the party!" With that she turned and made her way back to the village.

Swimming with Emerwyn
to be compiled
http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=5134149&page=1

Natsumi stepped out of the jeep that had been kind enough to bring her right up to her duplex, not bothering a wave of goodbye or anything. She simply stood there, staring at the plain duplex in a dazed fasion. She was wearing the clothes she'd been wearing that fateful day... Only now they were clear of dirt and whatever else had leaked from her body in the process. And one important factor... her sweater was tucked over her arm. Her stomach now noticably flat in comparison... While some pudge remained, it was practically nothing.

Her hair was unkempt, her face red and puffy with traces of tears still left on her face. She had noticable bags under her eyes clearly stating the lack of sleep she'd had over that near-week she'd been in the labs.

The silence and lonliness of her room had droven her to the brink of insanity. She had so desperatly wanted someone to hold her and tell her it would be allright... But there was no one. Her parents.. her brothers, friends.. She couldn't even reach her new island-friends to find comfort... And in that time her mind had delved into worse and worse thoughts.

Her child was dead. There was no doubting that now. While perhaps that was a better fate than being stranded her with the rest of them, even that thought couldn't rid the guilt she felt. This was her fault... If she had just stayed at home... Just stayed there with her family none of this would have happend. Now she knew her parents wouldn't have cared... Dissapointed, maybe, but they'd still have loved her... and supported her. And if Taro was telling the truth... He would have come back, and they could have gotten married and lived "happily ever after."

That wasn't the case though... It was her fault she was here, it was her fault she was mutating into some stupid lizard and it was her fault her child had died.

She cringed as another wave of guilt flooded her, her thoughts drifting into a repetitive loop My fault, my fault... echoed in what felt like a hollow darkness. A few more tears welled up and fell down her face again. Which she left there... she was too drained to bother whiping htem away. Too tired to care.

Finally she stepped foreward, towards her stairs to face her room. Her eyes locked on a figure settled outside her door. She blinked a few times, still carrying that dazed depressed look. "Newton-san...?" Her voice was softer and dryer than it should have been.

He didn't respond, laying curled up in a froggish ball on her doormat like a lost puppy being waiting to be let in. A six foot six puppy curled in a ball. It was unclear how long he had been there, but judging by the dirt in his jumper, he had most likely only moved to relieve himself or find food somewhere nearby durring her absence. He had fallen asleep, long arms wrapped around himself as he lay waiting for her to return. There was even a little wet patch in the decking under the corner of his mouth.

She looked him over, noticing the dirt and what not that had accumulated over the time he'd been there... While her mind didn't quite want to work enough to form a decent thought, the fact he was there and he had been there awhile did manage to regester, how long was missing... But she also wasn't sure how long she'd been gone. It had felt like months.

But no matter how long he'd been there, it struck her as nice. Slowly she started up the steps, not wanting to wake him, but at the same time she so desperatly wanted someone to do.. something. Anything to distract her thoughts. She gave a light sniff as she neared the top of the stairs, "Newton-san..." she whispered timidly, hoping not to startle him.

Unfortunatly, it didn't take much to startle the frog man. At the sound and vibration of footsteps, Newt jumped into an upright crouch with a frightened squeek. His look of panic subsided at the sight of the gecko-girl and the timid sound of her voice, his eyes widening, "Ah- M-muh-miss N-N-na-natsumi!"

She automatically froze when he jumped up, one hand resting on the rail of the stairs, the other held in the air uncontiously in the "i mean no harm" sort of fasion.

She swallowed, nodding a bit to her name, still looking out of it and holding back tears. "Why are you here?" Again, she sounded a bit timid.. almost doubtful that he was here for her.

Why was he here? "Th-they... they tuh-took you away and I... I... I d-duh-didn't know wh-what and... Do-doctor Lockheart s-said..." He floundered, throat suddenly swelling for a quick croak. "Are... are.... are y-you alright...?"

She swallowed hard, he tiny bit of kindness offered in just those few stuttered words broke the dam. Her lip quivered as her mouth tried to pull into a frown, tears rushing forth. She let out a small sob, quickly clasping her hands over her face to muffle the noise. It was impolite to start bawling like this... However she couldn't stop it now, all she could do was try and hide it. Was she alright? They had told her she was in perfect health... But still, she didn't feel alright. Despite that she offered him a nod in the midst of her crying, falling into a sit on the stairs.

"Ah-!" Newt flinched, trembling a moment with fidgeting hands befor he hopped towards her to timidly give her a hug, inable to think of anything usefull to say. Instead, he rocked her gently, like he used to rock himself when he had been bad and his father had locked him upstairs.

She tensed at the contact for the breifest of moments, before pulling her hands away from her face and wrapping her arms around her friend. She burried her face in his shoulder, ignoring the smell he'd obtained waiting on her. She wasn't normally one for physical contact from men... It was one of those 'impropor' things she just shouldn't do... But right now she didn't care. What did it matter how she acted when her life had just crubmled around her?

So she simply clung to him, crying into his shoulder and letting the warmth and caring of another being calm her breaking heart. She couldn't beleive just how much it hurt... Such an empty feeling from something she'd been so scared to have in the first place. "Doishte?" she muttered weakly into his shoulder, her sobs starting to still from the rocking. Subconsiously it reminded her of the days back home, after a nightmare where her parents or brothers would hold her and tell her it was just a dream... That she was awake now and nothing could get her. Which was comforting. Only this time she wasn't going to wake up from this nightmare.

"Doishte..." she repeated mindlessly. "Doishte kore dekigoto desu..." she knew he couldn't understand her... But at the moment she didn't want to bother figuring out english. Her tail shifted and she fell back into silence.
Newt, having no idea what to do in a situation like this, continued to hold his friend tightly. He had been terrified- he didn't know much about the child birthing process, his childhood and general education being rather sheltered and confined mostly to what he had read in books, most of which didn't have many pictures. Indeed, Japanese was gibberish to him, leaving him just a man, albeit a froggish man, holding a sobbing woman, albeit a geckoish woman, and Newton Filinas had never once been in a situation like this befor. At least this close to a woman of any nature, having been raised in his primarily male oriented father-run household. The effect on him was not so much embarassing in a human sence, as the inner frog seemed to be able to sence the female present, even if she wasn't a frog herself, and instinct kicked in. His throat inflated far grander than it had ever for his nervious little croaks, and he emitted a loud, frog-instinct driven, mate-calling krrrKIT! at the top of his lungs.

Once he had realized what had happened, he immediatly coughed, attempting to clear his throat and settle down the skin- this was certainly not the time for silliness like that!

"Ah... ah... it... it... ah... it's... it's alright..." he managed, trying to be as supportive as possible, and pretend the croak had never happened.

Her thoughts were spiraling again, heading towards guilty depressed hopeless places... Then, something stopped it. It broke through the silence and her thoughts in a loud echo. Something seemed to inflate and hit the top of her head from it's spot burried in Newt's shoulder.

What it was.. she wasn't too sure, or where it had come from. But it struck something, causing her sobs to queit down into an almost bitter chuckle. The croak was both a disturbing reminder of everyones situation here, but it was also cute in a strange mutant person way. With that and the comforting words, though few, her depression seemed to ebb away enough to stop crying for the time being. "Thank you..." she muttered softly.

The croak also brought back the single redeeming point to this whole mess. The child was definatly better off... He or she wouldn't end up being some freak like the rest of them. It wouldn't have to go through the mental and phsyical torment like the rest of them.. It was better this way, right?

Newt's head dipped down as he looked embarassed, his legs squeezing against his ribs self conciously, "S-suh-sorry about th-the.. ah... er... " He swallowed, glancing back up into her face, "Is... is th-there anything I c-can do...?" He didn't know what was wrong with him, nor what his froggish instincts were attempting to tell him, but he did know that he was emensly relieved to see that the little foreign girl was alright- at least physically. Alright enough to be home. "I... I... I w-wuh-was... b-bringing you that... b-bug trap wh-when... and... I haven't b-been able to... install it y-yet b-but... ah..."

She shook her head no to his apology, smiling sadly. She scooted back, trying to whipe away tears and whatever else had tried to leak out. She was a mess, yet again. She felt a bit bad for laughing at him... "No... Thankyou... For everything." She was still rather amazed all the effort he'd put into being friends with her... Not only had he caught bugs for her, shared his lunch, made her a bug trap, helped her in the birth, but here he was after wating God knew how long for her and then was kind enough to comfort her. It was a wonderfully reassuring moment after what she'd been through.

She stared at him a moment, suddenlly realizing they were outside.. that he'd been sitting outside for awhile, and she still hadn't invited him in. Normally she would have overreacted to this, but the general exhauseted feeling kept it from going to her normal level. Still, she stood up quickly. "Aa.." She scooted past him towards her door, unlocking it and opening the door open for him. "Please... Come in. I am sorry."

She paused a moment, "Newton...?" her silver eyes moved towards the floor "Is... is it better... this way?" she trailed off, not feeling foreward enough about the subject to form clear nouns... It occured to her that it might not make sense, so in a hushed reluctant voice she added something "That he did not have to be here...?"

Newt had built up a certain steam of self esteme, but at that question, his expression fell. "Ah..." Still holding her webbed hands in his, he looked up at her in an unsure smile, "M-maybe..."

Her eyes locked on her feet, the ones she could now see all too well. It was amazing... Just how much she could miss that fat swell that she'd tried so much to hide. If she could just have it back.. she'd decided she wouldn't hide it anymore. She'd show it off proudly and lovingly... Like she wished she had now. But no.. it was better this way.

She looked back to him, offering a that sad smile once more and giving his hand a squeeze. She then looked back to the room, deciding that whatever food she had in there was probably spoiled... "Would you like something to drink?" Her voice was still hoarse from the crying, and a bit tight as she tried to patch up that dam again and keep from crying.

She looked better, though at the moment she was simply keeping up drone-like actions... Trying to distract her mind from reality... atleast while Newton was here so he didn't have to deal with her crying. It was the least she could do, right?

Newt felt terrible, fidgiting as he hopped behind her, still carrying the bug trap, "Ah... n-no.. no... I'll juh-just... install th-this for you and... and..." He didn't want to go- she really needed someone. That much was obvious, even to someone as clueless as the clumsy janitor. He had his tools ready with him, though, hopping to her kitchen area to find a good spot for it, "Er... wh-where would you like it?"

"Alright..." she gave a light sniff, nose still slightly runny and pestering her to find some tissues. But her self concious, propor self demanded she wait til he left to do so. She looked over, giving a shrug and a thoughtful "Aa..." She had no idea where to put a bug catching machine. She hadn't exactly installed one before. "There.. maybe?" she pointed to an empty spot that looked about a good size for it, giving another sniffle.

Awkwardly, meekly, quietly, Newt set to installing it, wishing he knew what else he could do for her to help ease the misery that seemed to be leaking out at her seams. Newt knew about bottling emotions- he did that quite often on his own.

Natsumi steped back, dully trailing her eyes around the room... It took her a few seconds before her mind turned the wheels enough to remember something "Aa... Do you need help..?" she offered, looking increasingly tired as the swing to crying tried to slip towards sleeping. It would be a restless sleep, but sleep none the less.

"N-nuh-no... no... I have it..." he murmured distractedly as he tightened the last screw that held it in place on the kitchen counter. It wasn't much larger than a breadbox, comprizing of an outer framework covered in a loose mesh with an inner amount of mesh where insects could fit in, but couldn't figure out how to crawl out again and were drawn by an inner basket that could be filled from the top with a concoction he had stored in an old coffee tin. "Kuh-keep it in the fruh-freezer... th-this... s-seems to attract the g-guh-good ones... b-but any s-sort of... ah... compuh-compost-type... g-garbage w-will d-do the trick." He offered her what was left in the sealed can, his eyes lowered and his head down.

Natsumi nodded trying to catch allt he details as he spoke. In the back of her mind somethign went 'ew' to the garbage, however she was once again met with a 'too tired to care' feeling. So she took the tin, offering a smile and finding a nice place in the freezer to store it as he had suggested.

She gave another sniff, turning back to him to offer a smile, a poor one but a smile all the same. "Thankyou... again."

He fidgeted, looking thouroughly awkward, and would have been flushing thouroughly if had been able to. "Is... is th-there... anything else...?"

She mulled it for a moment... Anything else? Sure he could get her off this hellhole... It was a breif, bitter, passing thought. One that she quickly let go behind a fake smile and a shake of her head. "No..."

She stayed quiet for the most part, robotically keeping up whatever formalities her mind would remember. Before something finally slipped past the thin wall she'd managed. "C...Could you..." she trailed off, finding the question a bit awkward "Lunch. Could you come for lunch? Maybe... on the weekend.. Or any day. I am not really busy..." she gave a halfhearted chuckle at the last part, trying to signify it had been a lousy attempt at a joke.

"I... I... I'd luh-love to..." The crouched gentleman sputtered, looking as though he wasn't quite sure what he felt about this proposal- but he did honestly look eager to stay in her company. Newt never had made friends easily, and had grown very fond of the gecko girl.

She gave a small smile, the invite was just a friendly thing.. An attempt to find an excuse to know she wouldn't have to be alone again. She didn't want ot be alone... Not again. Not like she had been that near-week in the labs. She had never felt so alone and distraught before... Never... Her whole life she'd had people to fall back on. People to comfort her. And when that went missing for the first time it had snapped something in the young adult.

But those fearful thoughts aside now, he said he'd come back... Even if it was just for a single meal the reassurance that he'd be back was enough for her. And she gave the first smile that actually seemed to be real. "Thankyou..."

Newt's own elusive smile trembled onto his face, looking goofy with his flattened nose and silly toothy overbite. She wanted to be alone. It was fair enough. He felt a bit silly for having waited so long for her, but was relieved tos ee her alright regardless. "Y-you're wuh-welcome...." He stammered, quickly glancing down bashfully, "I'll... ah... s-see you for luh-lunch, then..."

She nodded, leading him to the door. "I will be looking foreward to it." While it may have been silly for him to have sat there waiting for her... It had meant the world to the girl. But now... she was ready to sleep, even revoking the thoughts of a well needed shower for curling into a ball under the blankets.

She breifly felt as though she should thank him again... but the fact she'd said it an uncountable number of times already prevented her from doing so.

And quietly, Newt gathered his tools, the bug-catcher installed and his task finished and he hopped to the door, "I'll... I'll... I'll s-see you th-then, then," He confirmed, giving her a nervious smile once again befor he let himself out.

Once he had hopped down the steps, he hurried towards his own duplex as quickly as he could.

Natsumi stepped out long enough to watch him leave, just to be polite and make sure he would make it out safely. While that seemed like an odd thought to her, the gecko in the back of her mind assured her they were all likely to be eaten.

But he was fine... and so she turned back to her room, shut and locked the door, and went straight towards her bed. She let herself fall into it, quickly whipping hte covers up over her head as her makeshift burrow, then promptly stuffing her face in her pillow as the will to cry overcame her again. She let out muffled sobs into the pillow, shifting every time the fabric absorbed too many tears, until her exhaustion overcame her and she drifted into a restless sleep.

Name: Maryke Jimenez
Duplex#: 56
Services requested:

Newt,

I've got a little mess for you to clean in my bathroom. I'm sure it's right up your alley.

xoxoxox

Maryke