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 Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:11 pm
Nita's hands went up automatically, as if to stanch the blood on Gaius' face. But before she could do anything, Vixen went for Lauren. "No!" she shrieked, freezing in place. She couldn't help Lauren, she couldn't help Gaius, and she couldn't help herself. Her instincts told her to flee, but she knew her legs wouldn't carry her.
Even more conflicted was Comet. The dog leaped forward and stood staring back and forth between Nita and Lauren. Vixen was her sister, but Nita and Lauren were both her mistresses. Comet whined piteously, her tail tucked between her legs.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:14 pm
Lauren had expected and prepared for a hit from the front, despite the man's statement that he 'doesn't hit girls'. Instead the attack came from behind and since she braced for impact from the front, Lauren flew foreward into Gaius.
She clung instintively onto him for safety and finally got her bairings she tried to fling the animal off of her. Lauren could feel the cool trickle of blood from the back of her neck.
"I'M a PSYCHO!?" She managed to get out in all of that, "YOU'RE THE PSYCHO! GET this ********... thi... OFFF!" Freedom at last. Lauren hissed violently and yelped loud shrieking sounds as she finally got herself free from the animal.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:20 pm
Before Gaius could do anything to defend either himself or Nita, he suddenly found himself the buffer of a very angry and very clawed weasel-woman, and on top of that, his snarling defensive dog. It was a good thing Nita's table was there, or they'd have all gone down onto the floor. Needless to say, whatever was on it got knocked about as he crashed back, catching himself with an arm, and his wings sweeping out.
Everything was pain and confusion. He wanted to lash out, but he risked hurting everyone around him, including Nita and his own dog. He wanted to bite too, to get this crazy OFF him, but he resisted that urge, just baring his incisors instead.
"Get OFF, woman! I don't care if you ARE Nita's Ex, if this is how you treated her, it's a wonder she was faithful to you all those months you were gone!" he growled, angry that this woman was raging at him for no good reason and slapping Nita with verbal abuse on top of it all.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:26 pm
Nita managed to shove herself under the table as papers and pens slid from its surface. She found Comet under there as well, her whining a barely audible keen.
"Get out, get out, get OUT!" Nita yelled. She needed to tidy up, to make sure Gaius was okay, and that there wasn't blood on the carpet. "Please, just go..."
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:39 pm
Lauren's blood was boiling, and she wanted to hit Gaius again, but there really was no longer a reason to. Besides she had JUST got that damn dog off of her, and didn't want her to attack again.
She reached up panting to feel the wound, it was larger than she had origionally thought at the momment of the adreneline rush. Lauren felt a bit faint from it. Things were getting blurry and sometimes there were two Nita's and two Gaius's each.
Vixen was crouched growling and backed up at Lauren as if she were saying the same thing as Nita. Get out... leave and don't come back
"Leave and... don't come back huh Nita? You were so quick to say that... No second chances here. One strike... you're gone." Lauren said panting as if that was a warning to Gaius. She wanted so badly to be with her again, so badly to at least be friends but after tonight she knew that wouldn't happen.
She held her hand hard on her neck, trying to get the bleeding to stop. "Hell... yeah no one would want to love Lauren. It's just to painful." She said in self pity quietly as she finally did leave. As she closed the door, Lauren's tears fell like a floodgate had just opened, and audibly too.
Slowly, Lauren regained her composure and did leave. The mongoose limped towards the nurse's office and then... if she could stomach it... to Miller's.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:46 pm
Gaius pushed himself up off the table, pulling the hand from where it was clutching his nose and glanced at it. There was some blood spots, but not too bad. Still stung like none other, though. Like a really bad cat scratch. And he had little doubt it could easily get infected. A pat with his palm showed there was already a little swelling around the gouges.
Vixen licked her lips, cleaning them of the bit of mongoose that'd come away with her. Most of the damage had come from Lauren shoving her away, that's when the teeth had torn in most. The dog's head remained low, as did her tail. Normally she wasn't a violent dog, but this had put her on edge, and she was worried for her master. Gaius, however, was worried about someone else. He bent over to glance under the table at Nita, worried she'd somehow been hurt in the fight.
"Nita? You alright?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 9:53 pm
Nita nodded tearfully and crawled out from under the table. "I'm okay," she mumbled. "Physically, at least." She cast a backwards glance at Comet, who was still cowering several feet away.
"s**t, she really got you good," Nita said, eying the scratches across Gaius' face. She pulled herself up, visibly shaking. "You should get those washed..."
Focusing on cleaning up an injury was much easier than thinking about what had actually just happened.
Once she thought she had proper control of her limbs again, Nita bustled to the bathroom, returning a minute later with a washcloth soaked in hot water and a small tube of antibiotic ointment.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:01 pm
He waved a hand, mumbling something as he tried to pass it off as only minor. Really! It wasn't anything to worry about! Yet she insisted, and so he remained standing there. When she came back, he winced and pulled his head out of her grip, making a boyish nuisance of himself as she tried to tend to his wounds.
"Nagh! I'm fine! Really!"
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:10 pm
Nita frowned dubiously and let him go, although she managed to wipe off the worst of the blood. "If you're sure...," she said, hesitating. "Just... Be careful." Attempting a small smile, Nita patted Gaius' arm.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:13 pm
Gaius wrinkled his nose, the ointment stinging a bit as he did so. "It's okay... I have some bandages. I'll be fine, really. What I'm worried about is you." He caught her hand, giving it a small squeeze. "Are you going to be okay? Need me to stay?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:18 pm
Nita shrugged and looked away, although she didn't let go of his hand. Glancing at the table, she shook her head slightly. It really wasn't too much of a mess, but at the moment it seemed like a total disaster area. "Yeah," she said finally. "I'll be okay, just need to get this straightened up..."
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:22 pm
Gaius gave her a long look, wondering if she was really being truthful, but his nose was starting to bleed a little again. He did need some kind of bandages put on it.
"Alright, then..." he said in an unconvinced tone. "Just... call me if you need me, okay?" He gave a quick wave at Vixen, who dashed to his side, and giving her one last hand-squeeze, let her go and went out the door.
And he still didn't fully realize that it had all been his fault for confronting Miller earlier.
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Posted: Thu Mar 08, 2007 10:26 pm
"I will," she promised, with a jerky nod of her head.
With Gaius and Vixen gone, Comet finally emerged from under the table. She whined softly, pressing her body against Nita's legs. The red panda girl knelt down and hugged Comet around the neck. "I know," she muttered. "I hated it, too."
Wiping away yet a few more tears, Nita set about straightening up the duplex. Those physical objects were the only aspects of her life that she could really control.
[Fin]
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Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:48 pm
Between Civilization and the WildNewton Filinas The frog had spent a good long while around and about his swamp, for fear of the terrible cat-creature that wanted to eat him up. He swam, he hunted, he hopped about lazily through the underbrush, but the word 'Village' kept echoing through his instinct-numbed skull. Village, followed by Danger, followed by the memory of the cat-creature's words, begging him to come. Then the memory of the nice female, the nice nice female who had helped him... the word Dee rang in his ears over the image of her funny human face.
These thoughts drifted in and out of his mental bog, enough to make him restless. By evening, he drifted down the stream towards the lake, swimming down the river with great froggy kicks. He paused at the bank just outside the cover of the jungle, though, watching the houses along the lake with growing ill ease. Nita MacNeal Nita, on the other hand, had barely been anywhere near the jungle in weeks. Annie was an ever-present threat and learning about Jamal had only provided yet another reason to avoid the wild outdoors. But she missed the trees, the peacefulness of reading a book while perched on a wide branch. She walked alone along the riverbank, just where the water branched off from the lake to form one of the many rivers criss-crossing the island. Comet had been left back at her duplex, resting after her dinner, but Nita was energized and ready to go out after an afternoon spent resting. Although it wasn't the peculiar white noise/clamor of the jungle, the riverbank was calming. Nita couldn't take the walls of her duplex, echoing as they did with memories: loving Lauren, fighting with Lauren, being with Gaius... The girl sighed and shook her head. This was a chance to get away from all of that, even if just for a little while. Newton Filinas Staring out at the duplexes anxiously, the frog didn't notice the panda-girl come fairly close to the bank he crouched on, half in the water with his green amphibious hide and torn, faded and mud-stained swim trunks stood out against the tan sand. Was she out there? Maybe now she'd follow his calls? "KrrKIT! KrrrKIT! KrrrKIT! KrrKIT!" The croaks hammered off like an power-tool, low, loud and slow. His throat sacks inflated as he lifted his head, attempting to get a better look. Nita MacNeal Nita practically jumped out of her skin at the noise. She froze, only her eyes moving in the semi-darkness, searching for its origin. Finally spotting the muddy frog-man, Nita let herself breathe again. An islander, and a frog. Nothing that should try to eat her. A wisp of memory tugged at her mind. "Newt?" she asked, her voice hardly more than a whisper. Nita padded forward a few feet and knelt down, careful to avoid the mud. "Newt, is that you?" Newton Filinas The frog flinched at the sound of another voice, his string of mating calls cutting short as he twitched his head to give her a dumb, sideways stare. Newt- Newt, right, him. Right. Who...? His head dipped down as he turned int he shallows, blinking curiously. He couldn't remember anything that was shaped like the furry red creature that stood surprisingly close. Words, words words... words, right, "Y-yeskrrIT!" Yes, he was Newt. Nita MacNeal Nita frowned; something was definitely wrong. "Newt, are you okay? Um. It's me, Nita." Her eyes flicked over the froggish man, taking in the bulbous eyes, wide cheeks, and generally bedraggled state. It had been months since she'd seen him, other than in passing, and he'd changed. Not just physically, but... mentally. He didn't seem to be 'all there.' Newton Filinas Nita nita nita nita.... the word triggered the image of a petite young woman about his age with red hair and fur... back, back when he walked upright. "N-nita... KrrIIT! Y-yes!" He nodded, blinking as he crawled around to face her. He was excited by the familiarity, but her unfamiliar shape and threatening fur made him wary to leave the water. Nita MacNeal With a worried expression still on her face, Nita settled back on her heels. The semi-retractable claws on her toes dug lightly into the earth, helping her stay balanced. "Good, so you remember me?" she asked softly. Newt seemed frightened of her, as he had been when they'd first met. He had been in uniform, cleaning, and new to the village. And Nita had frightened him. It always perplexed her when people were scared of her. She had been so small and unassuming as a human, and red pandas were hardly fearsome predators. Newton Filinas "Re-re-re.... re-KRIIKmember..." He swallowed, sinking down into the water until only his eyes poked out, staring at her curiously. As a human, Newt had been a timid sort of man, used to sudden movements usually ending in a sharp blow to his person in some painful fashion. As the frog had steadily crept through his system, the fear of anything seemingly larger than him had been hardwired into his brain. By now, that paranoia had grown to anything that reminded him of something that could potentially eat him. The memory of his meeting with Sabin had linked a threat to even human-like shapes. In the water, he felt safe. He could flee easily if necessary, and made pursuers hesitate. Oh, he was a clever frog. Nita MacNeal Nita herself knew the uncomfortable feeling that someone around her was liable to eat her but the fear wasn't nearly as debilitating. Only when caught unawares or surprised would she freeze and need to decide whether or not to flee. "I'm not going to hurt you," said Nita, speaking slowly and clearly. "Okay? Can you come out of the water?" It was like trying to coax a shy toddler... or reassure a wild animal. How awful. Newton Filinas Maybe it was the gentle voice, or the fact that when she slowed down, it was easier for each word to sink in. The frog gave a nervous chirp, bobbing in the water before giving a sudden springing leap to land on the bank not too far away. At least he was out of the water. His swim trunks had braved the jungle and the swamp for a week now, and as a result had the wear and tear of several months. Nita MacNeal "Good," murmured Nita. She gave Newt her approximation of a smile, which mostly involved her cheek-fur puffing out. Nita shuffled backwards, leaving Newt plenty of room to maneuver. She kept her movements slow and as non-threatening as possible. "Have you been living out here?" she asked, glancing at his trunks. She wondered if he would even know if she asked how long. "Do you get enough to eat?" Newton Filinas He gave a cooing croak, cocking his head and worked his jaw in a nibbling fashion, Eat? He had plenty of things to eat. "B-bird.... rat... luh-lurrrIKK-zard... b-bug..." Anything he could fit in his throat, he had swallowed, and it had gone over fairly well thus far. It was a lot of work keeping himself fed, admittedly. He inched towards her, like a stray dog inching towards a possible source of food that might just as equally be ready to hit it. Living? Living here? "N-no... s-swamp. KrrKIT!" He blinked again, head twitching as though desperately trying to clear his thoughts. Nita MacNeal Nita resisted the urge to make a face. Well, at least all of those seemed to be in abundance. So he was alright... physically. It was hard to tell if Newt was just having a hard time talking, or if his understanding was limited as well. She didn't want to baby him, but if Newt was having trouble otherwise... The red panda girl nodded absently. She almost put her hand out, as if Newt were Comet. "Do you like it in the swamp?" Had he left the village voluntarily? Newton Filinas He made a little noise in the back of his throat, head bobbling as he moved closer and inched away. "S-s-ssss-s-safe! KRIIIT!" Of course he liked his swamp. It gave him cover and plentiful food and shade and water and... he had other things, but they had been taken away. Everything had been taken away. His eyes slid down from the panda to wobble along the line of the grass before flowing back up to her changed form. He shifted through the thick waters in his head, embarrassed by his slowness. "N-nn... Nita... r-r-raccoon...? Krrit?" Change the subject! That was easy! String the words together, he could do it! He could speak! he knew he could speak! Nita MacNeal "Safe," she murmured. Evidently he hadn't been eaten by wolves or tigers... Maybe she could try venturing into the jungle again. Staying near the village, but far enough way to feel secluded. Nita smiled and shook her head at his question. She actually hadn't got that one for a while. "Red panda," she corrected. "Not a raccoon." Newton Filinas "P-pa-pa-pa-pa-krrIT! ... panda," He repeated with a serious expression. Right, right, she had told him this before. They had had this conversation... "R-right... so-so-so-sorry..." He clenched his eyes shut for a moment, trying to concentrate on the conversation at hand. His throat hitched in a froggish chirp and he opened his eyes again to watch her carefully. This was good, this was good. Just keep his mind on her. Just keep his mind on catching up. "L-look.... sim-sim-sim-simil-KRIIIK!... similar." The corners of his wide mouth twitched up in an experimental smile. Nita MacNeal A giggle threatened to escape from Nita's mouth; she schooled her features into a more appropriate expression. "It's okay," she said easily. "They do look alike. Different colors, but similar markings." Nita wondered if there actually was someone on the island who was being turned into a raccoon. If so, she'd like to meet them, just so she could point out the differences. Newton Filinas All seemed to be progressing well, and for a moment, Newt felt as though he had finally reached shallow waters. All that crumbled when a black shape flittered through the darkness, and a large black moth fluttered just a touch too close. With a croak and a flash of tongue, the insect was gone. He was swallowing when he realized what had happened, and gave an embarrassed sort of groan, "Ah..." Would she jump? Would she shout? Would she understand? What had he done wrong? He had just... words, words, words, remember! "S-sor-sor... sorry!" He managed, swallowing again to make sure no moth remained. Nita MacNeal Nita jerked backwards at the sudden flurry of movement. "Whoops!" she exclaimed, more surprised than disgusted. While bugs certainly weren't on her menu, Lauren had eaten them. It was kind of gross, but nothing too out of the ordinary. Propping herself up on her heels again, Nita managed another smile. "It's okay. It's actually kind of impressive." She grinned, the corners of her eyes crinkling. Newton Filinas "Ah... oh... oh?" He flinched at the unexpected positive reaction and boggled for a moment. Maybe Richard had been right. Maybe it had been living out alone in the woods? Maybe he just needed to talk to more people. "What's.... ah...." He cocked his head, throat trembling as he sorted through the proper words, "V-village... um... H-how are... are th-things? KrrIIT!" Nita MacNeal Nita shifted herself into a more comfortable crouch. "As far as I know, things are okay. I'd, um, been more concerned about people living away from it, actually." She shrugged, wracking her brains for something gossip-worthy. "Oh, Gaius is making good progress with the theater." Newton Filinas At the mention of Gaius, the frog perked up but then winced back in embarrassment. Progress? He never had gotten a chance to give the pegasus-man his pulleys. The last construction meet the frog had been to, Gaius had been understandably swamped with responsibility. It was no wonder he had been busy. "I.... I... was... was sup-sup-sup-KRIK!... supposed to... to m-mm... help..." He ended with a clicking in his throat, shifting anxiously, "How.... how is... how is G-gaius?" It was coming easier now, as though all he had needed was to be warmed up. At the very least, the absence of upsetting things made it easier to think. Nita MacNeal "I'm sure he'd appreciate any help, even if it is a bit late," said Nita. "It's a pretty big project, after all." Talking about Gaius was getting into sensitive territory, but it wasn't like trying to think about Lauren. "He's okay, I think. We've... gotten to be pretty good friends over the past few months." Newton Filinas "Y-yes... yes... he's... he's ver-very nice..." He shifted in his crouch, legs swiveling under him as he sat up uneasily to sit on the grass. It was as though a moss buildup of thought had been prodded clear, and the thoughts could flow freely again. At the thought of the last time he had seen the horse-man, though, he visibly winced. Richard had hissed and snarled and flashed far too much fang. While the small furry girl had her own claws, they were somehow far less threatening, and he could find himself relaxing for the first time in days. Nita MacNeal "He is," Nita agreed. Her cheeks puffed out again in an odd, tiny smile. Noting his slight change in demeanor, Nita raised one white brow. "You okay?" Her claws could probably do some damage, as they were perfectly suited to digging into tree-bark. But it would require a lot more aggravation than a stuttering frog-man to incite her to violence. Zach had nearly done it, and even being that angry had actually frightened her. Newton Filinas "I... I... Ah... KrrKIT!!" He swallowed, cocking his head one way and then another, "Ch-ch-changed... re-recent.. recentKRIIK! Recently..." He rubbed his snout bashfully, as though that explained everything. "I.... I... j-just... ah... ad... adjusting." Nita MacNeal Nita nodded, fidgeting with the end of one of her long braids. In a way, that really did explain, if not everything, but quite a few of Newt's mannerisms. "It was a couple months ago for me, I think." She glanced down at her plump body, almost reflexively. "You're... you're done then?" Newton Filinas "D-d-done? KrrIIIT!" He chirped, cocking his head to one side as his throat danced curiously. He thought it over, "I... I... I am, aren't I?" He hadn't had the opportunity to really think through his situation just yet, and for the first time in a long while, the frog did think. Nita MacNeal Nita's gaze flicked over Newt's round, froggish body. He certainly looked completely changed. "I guess so," she said quietly. Even though it had been a while since her final transformation, it was still difficult to comprehend being like this forever. And if, by some enormous stroke of luck, they were all rescued, or somehow able to have the changes reversed... The results would be unknown. At least this way she knew what she was, and how she appeared. Newton Filinas The frog lowered his head as the reality seemed to hit him as well. "It's.... it's... n-not... not so bad... KRIIT!" He croaked, massive eyes blinking before swiveling up to watch her with a clarity he hadn't had a few short minutes ago. Nita MacNeal Unsure whether Newt was trying to convince her or himself of that fact, Nita shifted a little closer and dared to place a paw on his shoulder. She resisted the desire to pull away- his skin was unpleasantly damp. "No, it's not," she affirmed, nodding in emphasis. "We just have to... deal with whatever crap they throw at us. Right?" Newton Filinas It wasn't what they threw at him, so much, as what they took away that bothered the frog. At her touch, he flinched with a chirp but settled again once he convinced himself she wasn't a threat. "D-deal with it... y-yes..." He glanced to her sideways, and flinched when he accidentally bumped his snout against her arm, unused to his proportions. Timidly, he sidled away at that, throat trembling as his breathing quickened. "H-how... have y-you b-been... b-been c-coping?" Nita MacNeal Nita shrugged and looked at the ground. "Okay, I think. I mean, I've obviously been better, but I've definitely been worse." She rolled her eyes and grinned. "I swear, I never really had a complicated social life until I got here." Newton Filinas Newt smiled weakly, looking back down at his toes again, "I... I... I know wh-what you mean... b-before I d-didn't really... well, I w-was s-sort of... um... well... b-beforrrIIK! I ch-changed, th-there was this... KrrKIT! KrrKIT! This g-girl..." He cleared his throat, but couldn't help the little balloons of skin and air from flickering on either side of his throat at the thought of her. Nita MacNeal Nita's grin got wider. "Really?" she asked. "Who was it? Does she like you, too?" Newton Filinas The throat expanded sheepishly as he fidgeted, "W-w-w-well, I... I... I d-don't... I d-don't re-re-really... krrKIT! know her all that w-well yet... b-but... but sh-she's ver-ver-very n-nice and krrrIIIK! ah... ahem, s-sorry, ah... w-well... have... have... you... h-heard of... m-met I m-mean... er.. any of the... ah... h-humans?" The pouches inflated only to be emptied again with a loud, amorous KrrKIT! Nita MacNeal Nita waited patiently for Newt to finish speaking. "Any of the humans?" she asked. She shook her head. "I haven't seen anyone without any changes for... Wow, months, I guess." Nita paused, trying to remember the last time she actually had seen any full humans. Surely it couldn't be as long ago as Halloween..? "Well, anyway, I'm glad that she's nice," she concluded, whiskers twitching. "What's her name?" Newton Filinas "Duh-d-d-Dee... Her... her n-name's Dee!" He smiled, "Sh-she b-brought me... me some th-things... sup-supplies... ah... until... until they t-took those away too." His expression fell into one of bitter disappointment. Nita MacNeal "Dee," she repeated, committing the name to memory. "I'm sure I'll run into her eventually." Nita raised a brow. "What kinds of supplies? Seems they like to take things away from people," she said bitterly, thinking of Gaius and the construction site. Newton Filinas Newt glanced down, shifting as he rubbed his oddly frog-like head, still unused to the strange features and odd positioning of his eyes. He liked Nita sitting next to him- it made it easier to watch her. "I... w-well... th-they... ah... I sup-sup-suppose I... I b-brought it on m-myself... so I sh-shoo-shouldn't be complaining..." The eyes dipped down to his twisting webbed fingers. He was feeling more and more himself, and as a result was feeling more and more miserable. Nita MacNeal Nita frowned and patted his shoulder again. "What happened, Newt?" Depending on what he'd had, it might be replaceable... Newton Filinas Newt wondered where to start. He decided perhaps she didn't need to know everything that had happened, unless she really wanted to. He frowned down at his long webbed toes, rubbing the side of his face clumsily, "Out... in the sw-sw-swamp... I was m-making... m-making things." He left it at that, "D-do... do you know C-cody? Th-the ah... l-little... little dolphin boy? He... he w-was my... my d-duplex mate and his B-b-b-buh-KRRIIIK! bicycle was l-left and r-rusting, so.. so I t-took it and m-made it into a sp-spinning wheel for rope and... and I had a c-camp I had s-set up... w-with... w-with a p-proper... k-kettle and.. and D-dee had brought me... t-tea th-things and... and it w-was l-lovely and p-peaceful b-but..." The waterworks threatened to return to his enormous bulbous eyes. Nita MacNeal Nita nodded; she knew Cody, and had been vaguely aware that Newt lived upstairs from him. Her frown graduated to an outright scowl as Newt continued his tale of woe. Granted, she understood why the labs might not want some who was clearly as clever as Newt making things unsupervised, but that just made it worse. A spinning-wheel was pretty ingenious. "Oh Newt," whispered Nita, continuing to pat his slimy shoulder. "I'm so sorry; that's awful." She hesitated a moment, then continued. "I mean, it wouldn't be the same, but... I could probably bring you some things. A new kettle, at least? Would that help?" Newton Filinas He swallowed with a chirp, eyes twitching up to see if she was serious. "A... a n-new k-kettle? I... I was ch-chased out of the... the k-kitchen b-by Delia wh-when I sw-swiped my old one.... M-maybe... you'll have an easier t-time?" He shifted, sniffing as he rubbed under one large spherical eye. With a nibbling movement of his snout, he cocked his head and shifted, "Any... anything else... y-you might not want anymore... anything at all, I'd.. I'd t-take g-gladly. Even... even empty b-bottles and c-cans... b-but... but old th-things, old c-clothes or... or items I c-could... could t-take apart..." Keep his mind on projects and off of... froggy things. Keep himself thinking that was important. Nita MacNeal Nita smiled again. "I'll try," she said. "No promises, but I'll do my best." Privately, she thought maybe Newt's trouble had been swiping the kettle instead of asking politely. Nita and Delia were generally on good terms; Nita was polite, usually only borrowed cleaning supplies, and was good about returning them promptly. One or two items going 'astray' shouldn't cause too much ire. "I do have old clothing," said Nita, making a face. She had outgrown most of her old wardrobe after her final change, and while it probably wouldn't fit very many people, a lot of it was still in good condition and could surely be used for something. She bit her lip. "How would I get stuff to you, though? I... haven't been going into the jungle much..." Newton Filinas Newt thought about it, shifting where he sat to nervously run his fingers over his changed features. He'd never get used to the odd feel of the proportions of his neck and face. Well, he supposed he would in time, but just not anytime too soon. He gave a thoughtful sort of croak, cocking his head this way and that, "I... I c-could... c-come... p-pick them up, I sup-suppose... or... or l-leave a... a b-box s-somewhere y-you c-could... leave things in?" Nita MacNeal Nita bit her lip in thought. Obviously Newt was as wary about going to the village as she was, going into the jungle. She didn't want to force him; the poor guy was nervous enough already. "A box would work," she said slowly. "Although there'd be a greater chance of interception..." Nita shrugged. "Or maybe it would just look more innocuous. If it was known that people could donate and take things at will... then you could take the remainder on a regular basis?" Newton Filinas Newt thought it out, "M-maybe... m-maybe... if... a re-re-recycling p-pro-program? I... KrrIIK! I c-c-could... have someone... empty the b-box out each n-night for me?" He liked this idea. It seemed a heck of a lot more effective than rooting through garbage cans. "W-would... p-people do-do-KRRIIK! donate do you think?" Nita MacNeal Nita shrugged. "It's worth a shot, I think. My old stuff's just cluttering up my duplex, but I didn't want to throw it away. It'd be nice for someone to be able to use it, and I bet lots of people have odds and ends lying around. It could be like a combination of a recycling center and a thrift store... Boxes for different kinds of stuff..." She trailed off, making mental lists. Wood, plastic, metal, fabric, miscellaneous items."I can make signs and organize," Nita offered. "And if you can find someone to bring stuff to you..." The girl was getting enthusiastic in spite of herself. Although her last project had pretty much been put on hold, this would give her something else to think about and be involved with. Newton Filinas "I... I... I have n-nothing," Newt perked up, turning to face Nita directly with blossomed enthusiasm. "B-but... but if you could help... f-find me puh-puh-paper and... KrrIIT! and markers... l-lots of b-blue, I like b-blue," He smiled. There was an instinctual attraction to the color that he wasn't entirely sure about, but figured it had to do with water. "Oh... oh th-this would be won-won-wonderful, you have no KrrrIIIIT! idea! D-do you th-think... r-right away?" Nita MacNeal "I've got notebook paper and pens of my own, but I can probably find someone with markers. Or paint," she added. Gaius would have paint, at least, and he probably wouldn't begrudge her the use of some. It was a relief to see Newt so excited; he was so awfully pathetic when he was sad. "Well, it'll take a few days, at least, for me to get in touch with a couple of people. So not immediately, but I think we've got a good start." Newton Filinas He plopped back down into a froggish crouch, but his posture had perked up considerably from when he had first hopped out of the river. Although he indeed looked like a giant frog, there were small traces of his humanity left in his ability to straighten and control his mouth enough to form words or contort his expression into an enthusiastically timid smile. A whistle and a chirp bubbled from his throat as he bounced on his heals, "I... I c-can... can f-find a b-box, m-mm-maybe... "
He glanced along the water back towards the village and his smile faded slightly. He could find a box if the guards didn't chase him away again first. "W-where... wh-where should I leave it? The c-c-cuh-cafeteria?" Nita MacNeal "That'd probably work," Nita told him, unaware of Newt's prior issues with the guards. "The most people would have a better chance of seeing it. Maybe have a notice on that bulletin board, too, and hope word-of-mouth helps." Nita sighed; yet again it came back to the issue of being no really reliable method of widespread communication in the village. "Oh!" she exclaimed, suddenly reminded. "Richard could put something about it in his newsletter, too." She didn't know how many people actually paid attention to it, but it wouldn't hurt. "So," she continued. "If you can find boxes, and someone to help transport things, I'll get sign-making supplies and talk to a few people about getting the word out and stuff. And I'll get you a tea-kettle." Newton Filinas Newt's eyes wobbled, the wide grin glued to his face as he reached a pair of moist webbed hands to hold her furry clawed hand in a tight, affectionate and undoubtedly human manner, "Th-th-thank you... th-thank you so krrrIIIT! m-much, y-you have n-no idea...!" Nita MacNeal Nita grinned her puffy-cheeked grin and eventually managed to reclaim her hands. "You're quite welcome, Newt. I mean it. It gives me something to work on, too, and I've been needing to feel useful." She looked up at the night sky: the sun had set during their conversation and the cool air was invigorating. Maybe she'd sit out on her porch and write up some lists and plans... Newton Filinas "I... I... I n-need to stay... KRRIIT! Stay y-you know... b-busy," He swallowed, rubbing his snout again as he turned away, "K-keep my... m-my mind off of... of... y-you know... b-being a krrrIIIT frog." He rocked a little shifting his weight on his legs as though readying himself for a hop. "It's... it's a b-bit... overwhelming." He glanced down again, as though embarrassed now by the state she had found him in. Nita MacNeal Nita nodded sympathetically. "I know. But this'll help." She pushed herself to her feet, brushing a bit of mud from her pants. "Well, I think I'll go and see what I can get done. Do you want to meet right around here, say, a week from now? Or you can just stop by my duplex, if you find yourself in the village." Newton Filinas "I..." He glanced to the village, shifting as though trying to make up his mind, "I.... I'll c-come... come visit," He nodded. He could visit Dee too while he was there. The thought made him smile. He might not feel welcome int he village, but now, at least, he had an excuse to visit. His smile faded at the thought of returning to his dark, empty swamp and his more amphibious side. Before, there had been the gentle glow of his fire pit, but that was gone, now, and the matches undoubtedly scattered deep under mud. He'd figure something out. At least the thought of the swim "home" was inviting enough. Nita MacNeal "Good," Nita said. He was definitely making progress. "I'm in Forty-two, and I'm usually around. Oh, and I'm awake more in the evenings, like now." She reached over for another friendly pat on the back. "I'll see you around, Newt." With that, Nita turned back towards the village. She had lots of work to do.
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Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 2:04 pm
Plans, Posters, Penguins, and PandasNita MacNeal Several days after Nita's conversation with Newt, she finally got the time to make a serious survey of the cafeteria. First and foremost, she found Delia and asked her, very politely, for the loan of a tea-kettle. Nothing fancy, and one that hopefully wouldn't be missed, since Nita had no intention of returning it. Nita smiled and thanked the cafeteria lady and went to eat her dinner of bamboo, fruit, and nuts. She chose a table in the corner, eating rather absently as she mentally inspected the various corners. Perhaps the donation- and recycling-center should be situated near the main entrance. Out of the way, but close enough to the trash cans that the other villagers might remember to recycle instead of throwing away their bottles and cans... Marshall_Green While Nita had thoughts of recycling and other things, Marshall found himself just thinking of one thing: Food. Despite his paunch, his appetite had far from wavered. Yes, he was concerned about how peculiar Oz had acted last time he saw him, and how he would ever get Awen to notice him, and the fact he hadn't seen Gaius in a while. But still, right now, food was his top priority.
So, waving to the nice lady behind the counter (out of sheer politeness, he honestly had no idea what her name was), Marshall helped himself to his usual meal: Some fish, maybe a vegetable or two, a soda, and a cookie or three. Perfectly balanced meal, right?
Turning around with a semi-full plate, Marshall was surprised to see a red-headed, and red bodied, woman. The first woman he ever met on the island to boot: Nita.
"H-Hey!" Marshall smiled, with a weak wave. Nita MacNeal Nita was jerked out of her ruminations when Marshall spoke. Nearly inhaling a bamboo leaf, she coughed, waving her paws to indicate that she was okay. After a moment of hacking, Nita sipped her drink to soothe her throat. "Hey Marshall," she finally managed. "Sorry 'bout that; surprised me." The red panda grinned sheepishly. "Have a seat? I haven't seen you for a while..." They had both changed since their last meeting, although she supposed they were recognizable enough. Marshall_Green Marshall walked over, the click-clack of his feet against the tile echoing through the cafeteria. He put his plate across from her, taking the seat adjacent.
Marshall knew that Gaius had feelings for Nita. But he was also fairly certain that Nita was, in turn, a Lesbian. So, really, what was the harm in letting his Big Brother have a crush?
"So, how ya been?" Marshall asked, as if he didn't even seem to notice the weight-gain or the more prominent muzzle, and totally oblivious to the drama that had been Nita's life as of late. Nita MacNeal Nita shrugged slightly, her thoughts still mostly on her plans. "I've been okay," she said automatically. And really, now that most of her drama with Lauren was over (or being avoided), she probably did average out to 'okay.' "Starting to work on a project of sorts," she elaborated. "And you?" Nita glanced at Marshall, acknowledging his changes. Apparently he hadn't escaped the penguin-pudge, just as she had acquired her own. Marshall_Green "Well...I've been okay." Marshall said, cutting off a piece of fish and popping it in his mouth, "Though, I haven't seen much of Gaius. He talks about you a lot y'know." Marshall chuckled, totally oblivious to Nita's relationship to him. As far as he knew: Gaius had a crush on Nita, and Nita was probably just a friend.
That couldn't be wrong, could it? Nita MacNeal Well, that was a bit of a non sequitur. "Oh, really?" she asked, keeping her voice nonchalant. Nita wondered how recently that would have been, anyway. It had been a bit over a week since she'd seen him last, under less than pleasant circumstances. Marshall_Green "Yep. Don't tell him I told ya, buuutt...He kindah has a crush on ya." Marshall chuckled, taking a sip of his drink, "But ya didn't hear that from me." he added jokingly.
"So, have ya seen the construction site?" Marshall asked curiously. Nita MacNeal Nita snickered. "I... pretty much knew that," she said, grinning. It was pretty obvious, really, even if people didn't know about their latest set of interactions. "But I won't tell him you said anything." She nodded around a mouthful of bamboo leaves. After a moment of chewing, Nita continued, "Yeah, I've been past a few times. Looks like it's coming along well. I'm impressed. Are you one of the guys working on it then?" Marshall_Green "Nnnope. I was. Buuutt y'know..." he held up his hands, a defeated look in his eyes not matching the cheery sound in his voice, "No hands makes it kinda hard. Not to mention I kinda broke my arm last time I was there..." Nita MacNeal Nita winced and glanced apologetically at Marshall's flipper-hands. "Ahh, that sucks. How'd you break your arm?" Apparently it was healed by now, since there was no cast. She leaned back in her chair, shifting her tail slightly so she wasn't squishing it. Maybe she'd take a walk past the construction site later; Gaius might be interested in her and Newt's project. Marshall_Green "Well...Oz, y'know him? He's kinda this giant gorilla guy. Comes off as a jerk but is pretty nice. Erm, where was I? Oh! Yeah! Well, any way, we were working on the construction site and he erm..." Almost over half a year on the island and he still couldn't find a tactful way to say 'changed', "...He kinda hit his second transformation. And well...He didn't react well. Dropped a plank of wood on me. Lucky it was only my arm, y'know?"
He sounded almost okay about the whole thing, but a tinge of sadness still lingered in his voice about the whole situation. Nita MacNeal "Ouch," said Nita sympathetically. "At least it wasn't intentional. I've met Oz a few times, and it's not like he'd do something like that on purpose." She shook her head, specifically not mentioning the first time she'd really met Oz-- during that disastrous game of Truth or Dare. Marshall_Green "Yeah...I know." Marshall admitted. As much as it sucked to admit, he wasn't sure if he was completely over what happened.
"So, 'nuff about me, whats up with you?" Nita MacNeal "Welllll... I'm starting to work on a new project. It was Newt's idea, really, so I'm helping. Um, basically, we want to start up a donation center. So like, since a lot of people have stuff they can't really use anymore, they can donate it, and if anyone can use it, they're free to take it. For example, I've got a bunch of old clothing that doesn't fit anymore, but it might work for someone, even if they just need it for scraps." Nita finally stopped to take a breath and realized she'd been babbling. "So, uh, yeah. It's still in the planning stages." Since they were in a rather public place (complete with cameras), she didn't mention the other part of the plan- that Newt would inherit most of the plastic and metal for his own devices. Marshall_Green "Oh, really? That sounds great! I got all my shoes that you guys can have. They're those cheap, plastic flip-flops but I'm sure some one can get a use out of 'em." Marshall said enthusiastically.
"Y'know, I think its kinda cool how every one is kinda making projects and stuff on the island. Gaius' theatre, your Recycling Project..."
Not like I could ever do any thing. I'm too useless.
"Well, if you need any help with it, I'm just a quick call away. And I'm sure I could get Gaius to help ya."
Nita MacNeal "Awesome!" Nita exclaimed, perking up in her seat. "Seriously, we need all the help we can get. Mostly we're worried about people just... not caring enough to donate. It's really reassuring to know that at least one person other than me and Newt will pay attention." She grinned wryly, whiskers twitching. "We were thinking we'd set it up in the cafeteria, since a lot of people are here on a regular basis. Oh! Would you happen to have markers or Sharpies? I've just got regular pens and pencils, and we're gonna make signs." Marshall_Green "Y-Yeah! I got a lot of markers and that kinda stuff." Marshall said, happily. He had no idea what the project was really about, but it at least sounded like he could at least help out a little.
"So, you, um...Mind if I make a few signs?" Nita MacNeal "Sweet. I was really hoping I'd be able to find some, and not have to call and ask the labs. I mean, that kinda defeats the point, you know. People being able to use what's already on hand." Nita was practically wiggling at this point. "By all means! Newt was going to stop by my duplex in a few days to make signs. You could come over, too, or make some on your own." Marshall_Green "Thats great! Just, um, give me a call once you and Newt get it planned, alright? And, um..."
Thanks for actually giving me some thing to do.
"Erm, never mind." Marshall chuckled, looking down at his room-temperature fish. He wasn't very hungry any more, but of course, being him, he found room for his cookie.
"Well, I think I'm gonna head for a quick swim...But, you mind calling me when you and Newt want to work on it?" Marshall asked again, just to be 100% sure she would. Nita MacNeal "Yup, I can do that, no problem. Bring your markers, and anything else that might be helpful, okay?" Nita started gathering up her empty bowls and flatware, as well as the kettle for Newt. "Enjoy your swim, Marshall." Marshall_Green "Thanks. I will." Marshall said happily, taking his paper plate and throwing it into the trash, waving small as he left.
Hey...I might be able to do some thing. Nita MacNeal "See you in a couple days, then," Nita called after him. Once Marshall was gone, she took a brief walk around the cafeteria, considering whether or not they could move a couple of the tables to mark off the donation area. Eventually, tea-kettle swinging from one paw, Nita trundled back to her duplex. It had been a productive evening: good brainstorming over a meal, and a new recruit!
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