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 Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 9:10 pm
The horse-man's head that had almost disappeared below the level of the couch shot back up, shooting Zach a dark look. The guy had dumped who knows how much food down his back, spoiling the pair of pants he'd been hoping would stretch for the rest of the week, and upset everyone in the cafeteria with his show of throating the turkey, and now he had the balls to barge in and start ordering him around?
Gaius reached forward to grab the remote off the table, but rather than turning the volume down, he turned it up until the explosions were literally vibrating the floor.
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:13 pm
The lack of response, even a snarky one, was surprising enough to pull his attention away from the books for a couple of seconds. Zach's eyes tilted ever so slightly in Gaius's direction, watching him pick up the remote. That was more like it. Maybe now he could find another book and--
It was worse than if someone had shined highbeams in his eyes in the state he was in. The way his vision was both bright and spotty made him feel not unlike a wounded animal. He shut his eyes tightly snarled, to what he felt was no effect. Clamping his hands over what remained of his ears didn't even help. He could feel the noise. Why did he have to have a hangover? Why?
As painful as it was, there was no way he was going to leave. He'd turn that movie off if it was the last thing he did. He opened one eye to see where the couch was (in case somehow the huge amount of sound had thrown it back a couple feet), intent on blocking as much noise out as he could from his already pounding head. Without wasting a moment, he moved as quickly as he could, his tail swiveled when his depth perception wasn't up to par. He leaned his upper body over the couch and sacrificed the hearing in his left ear to reach for the remote in Gaius's hands. He raised his voice after the next loud explosion and spread his wings as he did, body language giving every impression he was agitated. "Give that to me! What the hell is wrong with you!?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 10:23 pm
Gaius had to admit silently that the noise was pretty bad, his own sensitive ears flattened back against his head to lower the input to a more acceptable level. Zach's intrusion over the back of the couch startled him and Gaius scooted away from him, shooting him a dark glare as he held the remote out of Zach's reach.
"Hell no! I'm watching it!" he snarled. "If you hate it that much, then get out!"
Gaius wasn't about to give up ground in this latest squabble. So what if Sabin had said to avoid him? It was the dragon's fault in the first place! He always started it! All Gaius was doing was trying to enjoy a couple movies, it was Zach's fault for antagonizing him. All these justifications and more flew through Gaius' head as he glared at the dragon, watching his movements for any sign of trying to grab the remote. It was that, or he'd have to get even closer to the source of the noise to push anything on the TV itself.
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 11:03 pm
"Well you don't have to watch it this goddamn loud! Do you want to go deaf?" he roared at Gaius, moving down the couch a couple steps and reaching out once again in a swiping fashion with no regard for his claws. He shot Gaius an equally poisonous look. The sound was still so painfully loud, and the longer he was subjected to the noise the worse his headache was going to get. With a frustrated groan he clamped his hand back protectively over his ear. There was a power button on the television. This was over.
And several seconds later, after shimmying around the couch and darting forward, he realized that walking right up to the TV was a bad idea. He thought he could feel the noise from over by the bookcase, but here it was downright lethal. It wasn't until his finger slammed the power button and the screen went blank with a static crackle that the noise ceased to assault him and his headache could go back to a dull pounding. Unfortunately, his ears were ringing. He stayed in front of the TV, grimacing at Gaius, wings and frill still spread. He seethed but said nothing, still trying to collect his thoughts.
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 11:18 pm
Outraged, Gaius lept to his feet. "Why'd you do that?!" he snarled, despite the obvious answer. He was half tempted to throw the remote clenched in his hand right at the dragon's face, but instead he shook it at Zach as he continued his angry tirade. "You can't just barge in here and act like you own the place! What, you think you should get special treatment just because you lick Sabin's boots? You're not so special! I-" He cut himself off suddenly, clenching his teeth as his neck muscles clenched. No, he didn't want that information out. His temper had almost cost him that.
However, that left him needing to cover for what he'd almost said, something he could only do lamely. "Just because you're a favorite doesn't mean you're better than us!" He added a testy snort to punctuate the end, glaring from his impressive height, wings raised to add to the aggressive display.
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:23 am
"I seem to recall asking you to turn it down. Twice," he added sharply. The headache was fierce, and his mouth felt so dry. "It was your brilliant idea to do the opposite."
"I was trying to get a book! It wouldn't have hurt either of us if you'd just turned the TV down. And honestly? I don't even know why you're bringing Sabin into this." He tapped the side of his snout thoughtfully as he stared at the tall human horse in his display of anger. He gave Gaius a mocking smile. "Jealous?"
"I used to hate it here too. Everyone does, for a while. But unlike you, I'm past feeling sorry for myself. I'm enjoying it here" He shrugged, smirking. His tail was sweeping from side to side casually now, though there was still that pounding behind his eyes that couldn't be alleviated even by shutting them. His wings dropped back behind him."That's what makes me better than you."
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:42 am
Gaius' teeth ground as he sneered at Zach, his face flushing red to match the dragon's scales. Every word seemed to only push his temper farther. Oh what he would give to just nail the dragon one on that haughty nose of his... This must be what Freddie felt like all the time.
But no. Gaius clamped down on the rampant emotions. He was letting a little annoyance blow up out of proportion. Much as he hated to even think it, Zach was right. "Sorry..." he ground out.
The horse-man turned his back on the dragon, closing his eyes and taking a few moments to recover a margin of himself. When he opened his eyes again, they were sharp, but not furious.
"Sure, I'm sorry for myself. Everyone is. I left a lot behind when I got ripped out of my life and put here... That's not something anyone can do without leaving a scar. It'd be different if we were only trapped here, not being warped around like human putty into God knows what animals the scientists come up with! I'm supposed to live in this body for the rest of my life... it'd be as bad if they were cutting off a limb! Twising me, what my body is... How I move, how I sit, how I sleep! Everything's had to change because of what they're doing to me. That's why I bring Sabin into this, because he's already messed with every other part of my life! And not just mine, but everyone here! My friends..." Gaius clenched his hands, futile frustration coursing through him. He growled, "And I've not done a damn bloody thing about it!"
Shooting Zach a studying, harsh look, he said, "So, you like it here? Maybe you wouldn't feel so cocky if you knew what other serums Sabin was making... Maybe then you'd have a little perspective."
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:05 pm
"Yeah, sure you are," he said with mild disinterest, taking a few steps away from the TV and somewhat off in the direction of the bookcase he'd been browsing before. The ringing was just starting to disappear. He stopped when Gaius continued to address him, curling his lip at the whining.
"So? Suck it up and get used to it. You think this is as bad as cutting off a limb? This? I can tell you from experience that this is a hell of a lot more preferrable." As much as he knew Gaius was obviously not an amputee of any sort, it was still a touchy subject for others to take so lightly. Ten years of bitterness could easily be condensed into a couple scoffing sentences. "And really, what can you do about it? Think about what you're saying for a minute. I know you've got practically boundless optimism, but as far as planning, you probably don't even know where to start. Stop raving about how you want to get off the island with all your 'friends'. You're wasting your time."
That was certainly random. His expression was confused for a moment, but he quickly recovered and tried to look calculating and calm. "What are you talking about?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 4:18 pm
Gaius' fists reclenched as his temper rose again. He refused to think that everything they did, any possible plans, were hopeless. He could do something. He still had his mind, right? The fact that Zach went and whiped his face in their situation only stung at his mood.
"You're wrong!" he blurted, tail flicking agitatedly. "I don't know what twisted life you came from, but this is not preferable! And I can do something! I am doing something! I'll show you! I'll get off this island and free everyone from this hell hole!"
When Zach's attitude changed to questioning, Gaius folded his arms, temper turning cold. "Why don't you ask your precious Sabin? I'm sure he'd tell you if you kissed his a** enough."
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:08 pm
"I'm right until you prove me wrong and escape, since no one's managed to come close to succeeding. You can start any time now." He noted the less than subtle signs of Gaius losing his temper and felt smug. Somehow it didn't seem like the horse-man would be convinced without a little trial and error.
"Oh for god's sake, you just don't give that up, do you?" he growled wearily, one hand on his forehead as though trying to keep the headache from spreading elsewhere. According to his view of the world, he didn't kiss anyone's a**, regardless of what Gaius thought. "I don't go around patronizing your friendships, as much as I hate you."
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:15 pm
Gaius snorted with impotent frustration. Somehow the situation had worked itself around for Zach's favor. "Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't make it impossible..." he muttered, sounding far less sure of himself.
"It's only because you're obviously doing it to get favors from the labs. Otherwise nothing would have happened to Rex or the snake guy! Not only that, you play along with their sick jokes." He stalked forward, close enough to jab Zach's chest with a finger as he glowered face to face witht he beast. "You were the one who tried the actor ploy on me the first day I was here! And then you acted like you were doing me a FAVOR by lying! How did you expect me to feel? Grateful?!"
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:04 pm
"All I did was ask; Sabin could have easily turned me down if he wanted to." It seemed a shame he hadn't had the time to deal with Gaius. "And I'm not playing along with anything. I'm glad Rex and Thom got dealt with. They deserved it." He spoke the last sentence with absolute confidence.
He didn't want to admit it, but people towering a foot taller than him were somewhat imposing, and it was hard to look up with all the bright lights in the room. His tail lashed behind him. "It's not all about you, Gaius. You just gave me something to work with. Though I tried not to spoil your remaining minutes of ignorance for your sake. I could have had just as much fun watching you scramble to find an explanation for seeing talking animal people, but I didn't want to waste my breath. You wouldn't have believed me if I'd told you the truth!"
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:15 pm
Gaius sneered. That was just like Zach, feeling not a bit of remorse for his actions. Who was he to say anyone 'deserved' what he'd asked for? And the fact that Sabin went along with it only made things worse.
"That doesn't excuse you for lying!" he practically shouted, rising temper translating to a rising volume. "It was all just for your fun! Your fun! That's what it all comes down to! You're a selfish b*****d who feels better about himself when he sees others in pain, and you're happy to wallow in your own lazyness until something upsets your little bubble, and then you run crying to the labs about it! And you expect everyone to share your view and can't see why everyone thinks you're wrong!"
"You don't even care about the fact we're all being turned into freakish creatures outside of nature. I may be weird, but you, Zach, are the biggest freak here!"
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:02 pm
A hot flush ran up his face, though it was difficult to see with the red tinge his skin already had. It was easy enough for him to feel it, and the words that Gaius spoke came with a strange buzzing noise to his remnant ears. He blamed his dry mouth for his lack of response. Were there any words in the english language that could describe how angry he was? Certainly, there was some truth to the words, but that didn't make hearing them any more pleasant. He had tried to hold off on losing his temper, but there were only so many undisguised insults he could take before he snapped.
So he snapped. It was easier than trying to find a couple of sharp words to put between himself and the accusations. No sooner had Gaius closed his mouth than Zach's tensed left hand slammed forward in a punch aimed for the source of the hateful words. The act of slamming Gaius's jaw with the fist shoved his own claws into his hand, something he hardly noticed despite the blood and the punctures. It hurt, but there were worse things. His aim hadn't been the best, so it couldn't have hurt Gaius as much as he'd like it to have, but with his mind scrambling to make sense of what he'd just done, there was no room to consider throwing a second. He was breathing hard, eyes glassy and wide as he glared at Gaius.
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Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:29 pm
The punch came as a surprise. In all his dealings with Zach, he'd rarely physically assaulted Gaius, preferring to hide behind words and aggressive shows and sneaky tricks. So when Zach's fist smacked him clean in the jaw, Gaius hadn't even registered what had happened. His teeth clicked together, head snapped up and back to the right painfully, and he had to take a step back to avoid falling over, which ended with him bumping into the couch. Thankfully, that was enough to recover his balance.
Gaius rubbed at the sore spot, working his jaw to make sure it was alright, and shot Zach a glare. His temper was beyond gone, and now adrenaline was coursing through his veins. His nostrils flared, still weak by animal standards, but able enough to sense the mass of predator in Zach. It was do or die now.
Ears flattening back, Gaius' clenched fist swung under as he stepped forward, catching the guy right in the gut. Knuckles scraped against scales, skinning them, but like Zach, Gaius was beyond caring.
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