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Gaius grinned broadly, glad that she'd changed her mind. "Good! Ah!" He snapped his fingers and got to his feet quickly. "Hang on just one second, I know just what will help!" Without waiting, he rushed over to the fridge of the caf and after a bit of digging, turned back, carrying a plastic-wrapped plate with a couple pieces of white-frosted marble cake left on it, which he set down between himself and Amaya. "I almost forgot I had this left over." He cut off a slice for her as well as for himself, and pushed the plate over to the iquana, grinning eagerly.

A taste of the cake would find it to be a bit on the stale side despite the wrap and fridge, considering it was a couple weeks old, but Gaius didn't seem to notice as he took a bite and refocussed his attention on Amaya, his expression encouraging. "So, what all's weighing on your mind?"

Gaius winced. First strike. Now he knew what he'd done terribly wrong earlier, but then, he should've realized that she like anyone else would've been without her parents there. Still, that they were dead...

"I'm sorry..." Gaius said quietly, lowering his eyes to her water dish. "I didn't know... That has to be hard. And what a way to celebrate growing older..." He shook his head slightly and looked back up at her. "But, it's good that you remember them. I'm sure they appreciate it..."

It was hard, looking at Amaya and realizing there was a young, still-teen girl under the scales, dealing with all the stresses of growing up along with her current state. She should have been learning to drive, not sitting stuck on an island with the face of a reptile. It stung Gaius's sense of fairness something fierce, but he did his best to mask the anger.

"How long... have they been gone...?"

"Ten years... That's a long time." His expression fell, but he shoved another piece of cake into his mouth to prop it back up. "And I guess it never grows any easier to think about, huh? I can certainly see how that would make anyone depressed..."

Gaius's ears perked up. "What happened?"

He stuck another piece of cake in his mouth, noticing that Amaya wasn't touching hers. Maybe she wasn't a cake person... He'd have to remember ice cream next time.

He stared wide-eyed, forgetting the bit of cake mid-way to his mouth. "Doesn't like you?!" he repeated. "But why? You're a sweet girl, from what I've seen..."

He jumped to his feet after she sniffled, and hurried around the table. He knealed beside her and grabbed her in a hug, manners be damned. "Shh! Don't say that! You are no Godzilla, and if he called you that, I have a fist he can talk to," he said forcefully. It didn't matter that he was essentially hugging a human-sized lizard, in Gaius's mind it was a little girl on the verge of tears. "How you look doesn't matter, you're beautiful on the inside, and it's a sweet nature that will keep them around for a lifetime, rather than a one-night-stand. Whoever this guy is is a block-headed idiot who probably can't see past his own nose and realize the wonderful girl he's missing out on!"

Gaius faultered. That, sadly, was most likely true... But he was determined to help her see the brighter side. Surely, on an island where the impossible was happening, there could be exceptions? "Someday, there's going to be a guy who will see you, and he won't care if you have scales or not. He'll even think they're cute, you'll see! Someone who will cherish you as the prize you are!" It was probably sounding sappy, but from the look on Gaius's face, he sincerely meant every word. In his world, fairy tales could come true.

"Just you see! It may not be right now, but someday! I know you may like this guy, but if he treats you like this, leaving you alone, he doesn't deserve your attention. It's like throwing carefully prepared sirloin to lions, they aren't going to care how much time or love you put into it. Save your heart for someone who really truly deserves it."

Tristan groaned inwardly as he entered the cafeteria stopping only briefly to toss his cigarette on the ground to step on it. He was sure the main meal would be closed but he had to grab something to eat. The idea of vending machine snacks made him groan again, only this time, it was out loud. He'll have to work out extra to make up for the unhealthy food he'd be tormenting his body with this evening.

He noticed a couple were embracing. They were in costume to boot it seemed. How realistic they looked! There were no cameras that he could see so they might have been rehearsing or perhaps they were just close. He suddenly felt foolish for walking in on them. Perhaps they wouldn't notice him and he could just grab a few things from the machine and skedaddle.