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 Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:14 pm
Making SignsNewt was feeling only marginally better after his visit to Dee not too long ago. Only marginally because she still had seemed sick and he hadn't since heard from her. She wasn't dead, though. Right. Of course not. Her bird feeders were still in front of her duplex as he hopped by on his way to Nita's as he'd promised. Good. Good. Maybe he'd look in on his way back. The bottles and cans she had given him were stashed safely deep in his swamp until he had use of them, but he was excited about the plan the panda and he had come up with. Would people actually take advantage of it? Would selfishness overtake charity? Alright, so he was being a bit selfish, considering the nature of the plan, but if they knew the whole story, he was sure they'd understand. With a timid croak, he landed on the porch of Nita's duplex and gave a quick soft knock. It had been well over a week since Nita and Newt had begun their planning, and Nita was beginning to think the frog-man had retreated to that semi-feral state and forgotten. In any case, Nita was prepared to make signs, if and when he ever showed up at her duplex. So she was pleasantly surprised to find Newt at her door. "Hi there!" Nita said, letting him in. Her duplex was ready for business, the table cleared off except for the supplies she already had: paper and some pens, mostly. It really was a good thing Marshall had agreed to help. "Come on in, Newt. And I've got access to art supplies!" The frog flinched as the door opened, crouching low until he managed to force himself to remember that the small red-furry young woman was undoubtedly going to eat him. "Ah... ah... G-good! Good!" He managed to croak with a smile, leaping inside as he was invited. He felt like he should have brought something himself, but he really didn't have anything to donate to the cause (7:48:08 PM) Bilious42: which, of course, was the trouble to begin with. It was difficult to not feel a little embarrassed considering the state he had been in when they had last spoken. "S-sorry... sorry I ah... d-didn't... er... c-come sooner! I assure y-you... I... I am excited though!" He moved towards the piles of paper she had set out curiously. "Hey, don't worry about it," Nita reassured him. "Go ahead and have a seat." She glanced at Newt's awkward form and amended, "Or pull up a bit of floor." Padding over to the intercom, she said, "Hold on just a minute, and we'll have more stuff to work with." Nita grinned and punched in the number to Marshall's duplex. Marshall had spent the day...sleeping. It was too damn hot to do any thing else, he had decided. Actually, it stemmed from his transformations. While the fall and winter was bearable, now that it was Spring, he was in a world of crap. He heard a familiar buzzing sound from his wall. He couldn't help but swat at the imaginary insect next to his nonexistent ear. "Swuah..." he moaned, rolling onto his side. Eventually, the ringing became too much, and he realized that it wasn't a bug. He didn't even have visible ears to be annoyed by bugs any more. Slowly he got to his feet, scratching his paunch as he pressed the received key. "Yeah what?!" he answered, not very warmly. Nita stood fidgeting, waiting for Marshall to pick up on the other end. Hopefully he was home, and still willing to work on signs. "Marshall?" she finally asked upon a rather cranky greeting. "It's Nita. Newt is over here; did you still want to make signs and stuff with us?" "H-Huh?" Marshall blinked, wiping the sleep (and what remained of his cranky demeanor) out of his eyes. "Oh! Nita! Right! Just let me get dressed! I'll be right over!" "Great," Nita replied, stifling a laugh. "Don't forget your markers! See you in a few minutes, kay?" Apparently Marshall was just as oblivious as his adopted brother, not even realising he told a girl he was in his boxers. Oh well. "Yeah! See ya in a sec!" Marshall replied, as he looked around for any thing clean to wear. After she ended the call, Nita turned back to Newt. "You've met Marshall, right? I told him a little bit about the donation thing, and he offered to help us with signs." "Ah... y-yes, I..." Newt glanced up from where he had been peering in the drawer of the coffee table curiously, but closed it again and picked up a pen in a clumsy movement to try to cover his invasive curiosity. "He... ah... helped m-me with... um... w-well... wh-when... um..." He croaked and cleared his throat, a hand instinctively going to scratch at his swollen frog belly. "It's b-been mo-mo-mo-months, though." The last time he had seen him had been at the construction site, but that felt like ages ago now. He wondered if he had even wondered where the frog had disappeared to. The emotionally battered amphibious man lowered his head, fidgeting meekly with the pen. No reason to get nervous. They were all friends here. Right. Right keep telling yourself that. Nita raised a brow, unsure whether or not that meant Newt and Marshall were on good terms. Ah well. "Anyway, he'll be over in a little bit and we can get started." She glanced at the corner of the room. It was an implicit warning that they probably shouldn't discuss the actual motives behind their project. Even though their conversation at the lake's edge had probably been monitored, talking about it within the confines of the village was a bad idea. "Erg! Damnit! Ahr!" complained a tall tower of markers. Or at least, that was how it appeared if you were looking at the front of it. "42...42...Forty...One?!" Marshall said in shock as he walked up the bottom door, seeing the number. That must mean that Nita lived upstairs. "...CRAP!" he exclaimed, balancing the boxes of markers. Slowly, at about a Snail's pace, Marshall climbed the stairs, the box of markers wobbling back and forth, threatening to fall at any minute. It was a miracle he made it to Nita's door. "KNOCK KNOCK!" he yelled. At the shout, the frog gave a sharp, KRIIT! and vanished under the coffee table, wide eyes scouring for the sight of the threat. The pen he had been holding clattered to the carpet, forgotten. Nita heard the commotion at the door and went to open it. "Oh!" she exclaimed, surprised by the mysteriously walking pile of markers. She glanced back at Newt, momentarily unable to locate him. "Uh... Come on in. I'm going to assume it's Marshall under there." Nita grinned and gestured for the penguin to unload his burden on the table. "Thanks!" Marshall grunted, putting the boxes down on the coffee table, unable to see the chubby green frog-man under it. "Next time Nita, lets meet in the Cafeteria or some thing...Its a lotta work going up those steps with the markers!" When the door was closed and it was clear it was just the bird-man, Newt crawled forward out from his hiding spot. He watched him quietly, taking in his changes. His face might have become more of a beak and the tiny feathers might have spread, but the brown hair was a dead give away. He wondered how soon before he would loose it and be identifiable only by his species. "Ah... " He swallowed once he was out and sat upright to glance at the markers, "Th-th-thank you for h-helping us woo-woo-with this..." Force that nervous frown into a smile! There you go. The corners of his mouth wavered. Just a harmless project, right? "...Newt?!" Marshall exclaimed, greeted with the sight of a large, chubby, green frog. "Where have you been, man!?" Marshall smiled warmly. "Sorry, Marshall!" Nita laughed. "I wasn't expecting you to bring quite so much." Newt's head dipped down as he gave a somewhat embarrassed smile and rubbed his snout with a webbed knobbly hand, "Ah... it's... b-been a while, hasn't it?" Months. "I've... I've... I have a n-nice swamp n-now and um...KrrIIIT!" Marshall chuckled, "You got a swamp now? Cool!" he said, looking over at Nita, "Well...You said you needed Markers..." Nita poked through the boxes, thoroughly impressed with the selection, letting Newt and Marshall get reacquainted. "That I did," she laughed. "And it puts my handful of pens to shame." The red panda girl turned to Newt. "Well, now that we've got everything, shall we get started? What kind of stuff do we want to have on these signs anyway?" He turned bashfully to look through the boxes in fascination as well, "Th-this... th-this r-really is im-im-impressive! Ah... are... are you an ar-ar-artist?" "Huh? Yeah, kinda sorta. Use to be a cartoonist before I got on the island." Marshall admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "So, um, yeah...What should we put on these things?" Marshall asked meekly. "I guess just stuff like "Donate Your Stuff!" and "Free!"," Nita said, shrugging. "Big letters, neatly written?" "M-m-m-maybe... m-maybe explain it all?" Newt offered, giving Marshall a thoughtful look before picking out the blue markers. Something hardwired into his mutated brain felt very partial to the color. "All?" Nita repeated, glancing furtively at the camera up by the ceiing. "Like that people are free to give stuff and go through and take what they want?" She helped herself to a variety of colors, and a stack of paper. She hadn't done much writing since her final change, but her paw-like hands should still be nimble enough. "Whatever works for you guys." Marshall shrugged, digging around one of the boxes, finding a roll of masking tape with an odd smirk on his face. Newt gave a clicking cooing noise in the back of his throat, cocking his head one way and then the other as he considered, "W-well... m-m-maybe... m-maybe j-just... a l-little? F-free... Th-th-th-th-thrift shop? S-something?" "Sounds good to me," Nita agreed. She settled herself into the wooden chair from Gaius and got to work. "Yeah, Thrift shop isn't a bad name for it...Erg!" Marshall grunted, using his beak to unwind the tape. He smirked as he got a longish piece out, and ripped it off his his handy-dandy beak. "So, we got paper?" he asked, grabbing a red marker with the hand that wasn't holding the tape. "Ah- y-yes, here!" Newt snatched up the stack Nita had set out, pushing it towards the artistic penguin with fascination. Marshall laid his right flipper down, then put down the marker. Then, he taped the marker to his hand in the same pose it would be if he still had opposable hands. "...What? Do I got some thin' on my face?" Marshall asked Newt blankly. Nita had almost suggested that Marshall, as resident artist, perhaps add some little cartoons to the signs. But then she realized that the penguin-man had fared worse than she in terms of his hands. Although, she noticed, Marshall had figured out a pretty good method. "Ah-KRIIIT!" Newt flinched back, embarrassed at being caught staring, "N-n-no! N-no, I was j-just... j-just curious... wh-what you were doing with th-the... ah... ah....krrIIIT! Car-car-cartoons would be n-neat- they'd... d-d-draw... attention... m-m-maybe..." He trailed off, worried that he might have treaded on a sore subject. Marshall nodded, "Hmm....Yeah." he murmured, doodling a tiny, cartoony face of Nita in the corner. "Like this?" Nita's brows rose in surprise. "Hey, exactly like that!" she exclaimed. She turned back to her own piece of paper and started to write, as careful as she could. "Should I write some thing?" Marshall asked, actually having a new reason to draw. "Th-that... th-that's really c-c-cuh... c-cute!" Newt remarked, timidly leaning in to watch the penguin as he worked, clutching his own blank paper to his moist chest demurely. "Pretty much whatever we decided on, I guess," Nita told him. "Unless you want to add doodles to other signs." "Sure, I can handle that." Marshall said, writing "PLEASE DONATE" over the doodle-Nita's head. "If... if th-they're d-decorated like th-that, I'm s-sure people would... wh-what about... wh-what about pictures of... of l-little things involved like... like b-bo-bottles and... ah... old s-socks and s-suchlike?" Newt tried to offer, brightening up by the progress of the project. He glanced over to Nita, his timid smile gaining assurance as he straightened into a more human sitting position. "Hand me another piece of paper, will ya?" Marshall asked Newt, as he fumbled with his taped hand. Trying to get it off was about three times worse, he feared. Nita nodded encouragement at Newt. This was definitely going better than she'd hoped. Marshall's sketches were really cute, and they should help draw attention. Newt did as he was told, handing them over as he watched. Nita continued working on her own sign, her tongue poking out between her lips as she concentrated. Her thumbs weren't quite opposable anymore and it took a lot of control to keep the markers from wobbling all over. This time it was a green marker. He did the same thing: tape, flipper, marker, tape. "So, Newt, outside of your swamp, how ya been?" "I... um... " He wasn't quite sure how to answer that question, his spherical eyes swiveling up to peer at the spots that might have had a hidden camera or microphone, but of course he couldn't spot any directly. "Er... I've... b-been... buh-b-busy I guess..." That was one way to put it, wasn't it? He glanced to Nita helplessly before snatching up a marker himself to scratch at the paper in his timid way. Even before the webbing, the frog man had had terrible handwriting. "How does this look?" Marshall giggled, holding up the Newt doodle cartoon. "Life like, eh?" Nita glanced up from what she was writing and grinned. "Lovely job. Now one of you!" Newt twisted his head to see the picture better, positively beaming at the sight of the little cartoon. Marshall laughed, adding the HELP YOURSELF to the top of the Newt picture. "Heh heh, alright." Marshall agreed happily, as he finally got the tape off his flipper. Finally content with her sign, Nita grabbed another sheet of paper and set to work yet again. Newt was tempted to say something further, but he knew it would be stupid speaking up in the duplex. He settled to scratch away with a black pen, his own sign scribbly, illegible and somewhat uninviting. "Erm...Newt..." Marshall smirked, rubbing the back of his neck with his un-markered hand, "Maybe you should leave the hand writing to me and Nita..." Glancing over at Newt, the red panda girl hid a smile. "Aw, it's fine. I think people will still get the gist of it." "Ah...?" He glanced up with a frown, glancing from the happy colorful doodles of Marshall's fliers, then to Nita's neat-and-tidy version and then to his own before crumping the paper up with embarassment. "Always... w-was a b-bit er... m-messy..." Nita frowned. "You didn't need to do that! It was fine, wasn't it Marshall?" She looked over at Marshall for support. "H-hey man...C'mon. They weren't that bad. They were good!" Marshall said, partly lying but trying to protect his friend's feelings. Newt stayed crouched over his fresh sheet of paper, trying again with the blue marker this time, but the product was no more legible than the last, but he had added in scratchy-lined stick figures, one with a beak and another with pointed ears and a big tail, followed by what was essentually a circle with four lines and two smaller circle eyes. "There ya go, Newt. That's the spirit." Nita gave the frog-man a quick pat on the back. He was obviously trying as hard as he could. A+ for effort. "Yeah. Newt, thats great." Marshall smiled, as strange and quirky a beak-smile was. "Hm...Hey, how many posters are we gonna need?" "As... as man-man-many as we c-can I think... wan-wan-want people to... to con-con-contribute." He felt a little better at his second attempt at least. "Yeah, enough to put up around the village," Nita agreed, starting on another sign. "Ohhh...We're gonna have to make a lot, then." Marshall murmered, wondering if he'd need more tape as he did his Penguin Art Hand with a blue marker. "Do... do... do you th-think pe-pe-people will re-re-really... you know, do-donate?" He shifted, "I m-mean... I d-don't know..." He fidgeted, holding up a third attempt to frown at it critically. "I really hope so!" Nita exclaimed. "Or else my hand is cramping up for nothing." She grinned and added another sign to her pile. Sure they will. I know I'm gonna donate all my old shoes. And between me and Nita we can probably guilt Gaius into giving stuff." "I'm going to keep spreading the word, whenever I run into people. Besides, everyone likes getting free stuff," Nita added. "And... and y-you never know whw-what... what people might p-put in, right?" Newt laughed weakly, shifting anxiously as he finished up another that looked about the same as the first few, although he was getting a bit more confident and formulaic. A couple hours later, there was a rather impressive stack of signs on Nita's table. The girl sat back, shaking her sore hand. "Okay, I think we have enough. For now, at least!" She grinned at Marshall and Newt, thoroughly proud of their efforts. "Next step is to get that corner of the cafeteria set up, and start taping these all over the place." "Okay!" Marshall said, a large pile of discarded tape next to him and a good amount of poster in front of them, each one of them with a different caricature on it. Ah... I w-was... offered a... a c-case to use... an old s-suitcase... for p-puh-people to put the... objects in! I'll... I'll leave it in the co-co-corner if... if you p-put up the... the s-signs..." "Awesome," Nita told him. "I'll keep an eye out for it, and I think we can actually get this thing going in the next couple of days!" [fin] ***     
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Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 7:32 pm
A letter lays at the doorstep of Nita's duplex, somewhat inconspicuously off to the side and wrapped tightly around a bundle containing Alec Derring's drumsticks, all fastened with a small ribbon. Inside, the note reads:Quote: Dear Nita =)
Hi! It's Alec! Remember me? Amaya's helping me write this so it would make more sense, wouldn't want you misinterpretting my gibberish and bad handwriting!
Well I guess it feels a bit weird getting a letter from me, huh? But I needed to let you know at least. If anyone, It'd be you. I wanted to let you know that I'm moving for good (Don't start crying now!). I've been fighting for a long time and struggling hard with a lot of things but I need this. I need to go where I belong now, accept what kind of thing I've become.
I know we haven't seen each other in a long time but I wanted to let you know that I'll miss making noise and keeping you up at night and calling you and bothering you although you always seem not busy at all. Amaya and I will be in aquatic duplex #7, come visit some time. We'd like that =)
Alec <3
P.S. You can have my drumsticks now. I can't use them anymore.
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Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2007 7:34 pm
Happy.. August 29th??Gaius Harper It had begun like any other day - unremarkable, just like the past weeks. Gaius had been in low spirits, his drive dampened and his feelings confused. At least there were others to work on the construction when he wasn't there, but what did it matter? Escape? For what? He was already utterly inhuman, hardly recognizable anymore. Family, friends, they all thought him dead. And Nita? After that fiasco weeks ago, she was probably furious with him. If only he'd handled himself with Miller better... It was in the middle of these gloomy thoughts, out in one of the sunny grass clearings around the village that the buzzer caught Gaius, felling him like a heavy black bag of potatoes. --- When he first awoke, the first thing he felt was something wet and warm against his nose and cheek. Gaius grimaced, turning away from the disturbance, but it continued with an insistent whine. He cracked an eye open. "Wha...?" Where was he? It was... dark? Vixen's face obscured most of his view. Shoving the worried dog off, he squinted around at his surroundings. He was in his own duplex, the curtains drawn. The clock blinked down at him, 9:41pm. Gaius groaned. He'd been out all day? Why couldn't he remember any of it? The last thing was outside on a walk, and then... His eyes went wide and he jerked up in bed, jerking one of his wings painfully in the process. "Well damn..." It was then he became aware of a strange sensation, as he sat up. Something felt sensitive, down on his bottom. The fabric of his boxers wasn't rubbing against horse hair, it was rubbing against skin. The pegasus-man was up in an instant, lurching clumsily to the bathroom as his body tried to recover from standing up too fast after being prone for so long. He flipped the lights on, barely noticing the slight film of dust on the mirror as he turned around and, in his relative privacy aside from the canine companion, tugged down the back of his pants over his tail. There, standing out like the full moon on a black night, was a bare shaved patch of skin, practically the entire side, and in the middle of it was a black bar code. Gaius, frowning and confused, rubbed at the markings - they didn't smudge. For all intent, it looked like it was under the skin... His heart raced. He'd been shaved and marked? His eyes trailed up the mirror as his wing pained him again. The spread of his wings, normally smooth, was marked by several breaks where pinions were missing. Gaius turned back around, catching himself on the counter. What the hell had happened while he was out? His hand pulled away from the counter, and he stared at where his hand had left a trail in what appeared to be a layer of dust. Gaius was out of the bathroom in a flash, grabbing at the calendar/clock beside his desk. How long HAD he been out?! August 29, 2007. But hadn't it just been March...? Gaius's blood ran cold. Vixen whined at his side. It couldn't be... He couldn't have been gone that long, surely people would have noticed? Not even bothering to grab Vixen's leash, he bolted out the door, taking the steps two or three at a time and putting his long stride to work. He stared around wide-eyed, heart pounding and on the verge of panic. Where was everyone?! What'd happened? "Hello? Someone? Anyone!" he bellowed, somewhere between a horsish bray and a panicked cry. Nita MacNeal Nita had been napping that afternoon, as usual. She was jerked momentarily awake when the buzzer went off- for one panicked instance, half-dreaming, she managed to glance at the clock next to her bed. The numbers didn't make sense... and then it didn't matter, because she was unconscious. The room was dark, much darker than it should be. The red panda girl usually slept until about 5:00 PM, then got up, ate something, and went about her business. Her head pounding, Nita pushed herself upright. Comet was sprawled across her legs, trapping her under the blankets. She shifted herself out from under the dog and flicked the light-switch. Dust motes floated in the air, and a thin layer of grime coated the lamp. Nita frowned, rubbing her fingers together. Definitely dust. But her duplex certainly hadn't looked like that when she'd gone to sleep! She dug her palms into her eyes, trying to come to terms with what she saw. A familiar voice pulled her from her confused ruminations. Practically before she knew what she was doing, Nita was outside her duplex and half-way down the block. Comet dashed after her. Gaius was loud. Richard Harrison Richard was finally sitting down with a stack of clothes magazines and a tape measure when the chip went off. Her entire body tensed and then slumped against the desk. She awoke with fit of sneezing. "Snnnnnt! Snnnnnt!" The dust that covered the room was to much for her nose. It took her about a minute to get it under control. Then she looked around the room. It was dirty, dust was all over her den! What the hell? Her mouth was dry. Panic was rising, she had no idea what had happened. Then she saw her stomach, the four injection marks. "No!" She squeaked. Thoughts race through her head. What the hell was this? Four injection marks? She pushed herself out of bed, grabbing a robe. She started sneezing again. She needed to get away from the dust! That had to come first. She opened the duplex door and stumbled out. Gaius Harper The horse-man continued his stumble-run towards the village center. It was dark out, the sun long gone and the stars above. If Gaius had possessed any presence of mind, he might've noticed how similar the moon was to the moon that had risen the previous night, but he payed little attention to details like that. All he knew was there was a tattoo on his butt and his clock said it was five months later than it should have been. Vixen bounced after Gaius, unsure how to comfort her distressed master, so she kept on circling, until she caught a familiar scent on the wind. Giving an excited bark, she turned tail and bounded across the lawn towards Nita and Comet, Vixen's real aim. "Wha-!" Gaius spun around. "Vixen! Where are you going?!" He chased after the dog, not wanting to lose sight of her, and wondering if perhaps she'd found someone else. Nita MacNeal Comet wagged her tail and dashed away in the general direction Vixen (and Gaius). Wincing, Nita forced her short legs to carry her more quickly. In spite of her generally good night vision, she stumbled a few times. Her head still hadn't cleared from her forced unconscious state. "Gaius?" she called. "Is that you?" Nita finally caught up with Comet, who was busily sniffing Vixen. "What- the hell- is going on?" she gasped. "Were you buzzed too?" Richard Harrison Richard eventually got the dust out of her nose and was breathing normally again. She felt exhausted, but she couldn't go back in duplex. She needed a dust mask and cleaning supplies first. Her mind was spinning as to the injection marks her stomach. Was she going to change again? It was too soon right? The date and time didn't even occur to her. She wrapped her robe around her tightly and brushed some dust off it before heading down the stairs. Enroute she spotted Nita and Gaius in the moonlight. Curious, she headed over to investigate. Forgetting for the moment that neither had seen her since her last change. She announced her arrival with a sneeze. "Snnnnt!" Gaius Harper If his heart had been pounding before, it nearly stopped when he heard Nita. His running broke out into a full-out sprint, practically running her down as he skidded to a stop and caught her up in his arms. "NITA! I was so worried! I thought- The buzzing, and the labs-" He shook his head, unable to get things out straight. "How long was I gone? I-I just got up, and the calendar said it's August already!" The sneeze came as an unwelcome surprise in Gaius's high-strung state. He spun around, ears alert, but then glanced back at Nita. "What's happened while we were out...?" Vixen looked up as well, sniffing at the mildly familiar (but changed) scent, and gave a gruff 'woof!' Nita MacNeal Nita let out a surprised squeak as Gaius picked her up. "Is that what happened? I'd been asleep and I woke up with an awful headache and there's dust all over." She blinked. " August?" she repeated. "But that's impossible..! "Bless you," Nita automatically replied. Comet's tail wagged; she trotted right up to Richard, sniffed him(?) thoroughly, and sneezed in return. "Who's that?" Nita called into the darkness. Richard Harrison "August?" Her voice came out of the darkness, it had changed so much it wasn't even recognizable. Did she hear that right? No thats not possible. She shook her head, as she walked toward the pair. Then there was a dog in front of her sniffing her robe. She gave a small growl at it, waving it away with her handpaw. "Hey you, shoo!" She looked up at Nita, her eyes catching the moonlight. "Its just me, Richard." Gaius Harper Gaius's ears flicked back. He couldn't make out the other islander very well in the darkness, and the voice didn't sound like anyone he knew... "You're not Richard, whoever you are. I'd know him." "I don't know how... but I think the labs did something... Yesterday it was still March, but when I got up just now, it said it was the end of August." He spoke much more calmly now, though he was still frightened. He rested a hand on Nita's shoulder, thankful for the company. "There was the dust... and... other things..." His blush was hidden by the moonlight. "Do either of you remember anything?" Nita MacNeal Nita frowned. It certainly didn't sound like Richard, she had to agree. "Comet, come here," she said, her voice cracking. This was all too weird, even for the Island. With another friendly snuffle at Richard, Comet bounced back over to Nita. The red panda girl leaned against Gaius, resting one hand on Comet's back. Shaking her head, Nita peered at the person who claimed to be Richard. "I was asleep," she repeated. "And I don't usually sleep this late.. I guess... I think I remember being buzzed..." Richard Harrison Richard steps closer to the pair, her tentacles writhing above her head in anxiety. The shadows revealed her very feminine walk as her deformed feet forced her to walk much like she was wearing high heels, complete with hip sway. She growled in frustration, "I am Richard. I just had a change alright?" Then she stepped underneath one of the lamps that lit the village at night, revealing her body to Nita and Gaius, it was very different from what had been. But there was a resemblance to the old man. "Was buzzed too. And when I woke up..." She put her handpaw over her stomach. Gaius Harper Gaius stared, still unsure of what he was seeing. It was clearly a woman... a kinda feline-looking one, with tentacles coming up over her shoulders. "But... Richard's an old guy. You're not a guy!" He gave a snort in emphasis. "Besides, your hair's darker and stuff. And he didn't have... you know..." He made a cup gesture at his chest, pointing out the obvious. "Unless..." Gaius's eyes widened. "They gave you a sex change while we were out?! I thought I had it bad waking up with a tattoo..." Nita MacNeal Nita's brows rose involuntarily. Whoa. "s**t," she whispered, trying not to stare. "Are.. are you okay, Richard?" Once she looked closer, the woman in front of her did bear a resemblance to the old man. And, if she thought back to their previous meeting... Nita supposed he had been looking a bit feminine. At Gaius' last comment, Nita turned to look at him instead. "They gave you a tattoo?" Richard Harrison Richard beared her teeth at Gaius and then shook her head at Nita's question. "No I'm fairly far from okay, but I've been sulking around for a month now, I- I'm trying to get use- No." She sighed, "I'm moving on." She took a deep breath, tail swishing behind her as she did so. "Now what this about August? And a Tatoo?" Gaius Harper Gaius blushed, hanging his head and shifting awkwardly. Ah blast, why'd he bring that up? "S-So neither of you woke up with one, then...? Well, it's kinda... in a personal place..." He scratched at the back of his jeans self-consciously. "Uh! Well, didn't either of you look at your calendars when you got up? I mean, if the labs were to put us in comas or some kind of testing for five months... would we remember any of it?" He glanced between the feminine-possible-Richard and Nita. "I'd heard of others getting taken to the labs and not showing up again for months...?" Nita MacNeal "Jesus," Nita muttered. It was hard not to pity the (wo)man, but Richard probably didn't want pity. She wouldn't, in his situation. "Well, um, it looks like the three of us were zapped, although I've got no idea why." Nita suppressed a snicker at Gaius. " I'm fine, but..?" She shook her head again and rubbed her arms. The night was a bit cool... "Wait," she said suddenly. "It can't be August. It's not hot or humid enough." Richard Harrison Richard also smirked a bit at the revelation of the tattoo's placement. She could use all the amusement she could get as her own life was sorely lacking in light hearted moments. "I've got enough dust in my duplex for two years, let alone 5 months." Then Nita mentioned the weather. How would she know? There were barely any season here, just wet and hot. Still... as the adrenalin wore off Richard was slowly becoming aware of a dull pain in her left arm. Where Seth had bitten it. She pulled up her left sleeve, revealing the nasty networks of teeth punctures and bruises. She winced. "Well thats pretty much the same as yesterday." Gaius Harper "I only had a little dust in my place... normally I wouldn't notice, but it was in the bathroom..." Gaius shrugged. Unconsciously, his eyes trailed down the feline's figure, taking in the strange sight. So, those must really be real... His attention was pulled away by Nita and Richard's debate over the validity of the date. "But..." he began, furrowing his brows, "...the calendar said... What if it's just a cool August? It's the tropics, it might just be a front going through?" Nita MacNeal Nita made a face at the reference to the dust. "My duplex never gets that dusty," she huffed. "But I was here last August; I had a lot less fur then, and the humidity was awful." The bite-mark on Richard's arm elicited a sympathetic wince. "Ouch. What chomped you?" asked Nita, hoping it wasn't another islander. Richard Harrison Richard felt Gaius' eyes on her chest and turned herself sideways as she drew her right arm across her chest, letting the sleeve fall back over her ugly wound. She understood the looks but hated them just the same, she was embrassed by her form and felt naked infront of them in just a white bathrobe. Trying to ignore Gaius she focused on Nita, "It was Seth... He's a bit territoral these days." So was she appearently but she wasn't going to mention that. "Happened about a week ago, or maybe five months and a week. I'm more concerned about the injection marks." Her handpaw fell to her stomach protectively. Gaius Harper Normally if Gaius had caught himself staring rudely like that, he would've been immensely embarrassed and apologized, but larger things on his mind kept him oblivious to his slip in manners. "Ah geeze, Seth did that?" he winced. "Well, I wouldn't put it past him if you angered him enough... He stalked me once when I wandered into his territory, but he only made growling noises... I think he was having fun trying to scare me," he added with a huff and snort. It seemed the other two weren't nearly as quick to believe everything as Gaius was, leading the horse-man to grow a bit unsure, and frustrated. He didn't want to appear silly in front of Nita, but how could he know if this was actually fake or not? So, when Richard mentioned the injection marks, it was a welcome bit of evidence. "There!" he barked, jabbing a hoof-capped finger at Richard. "See?! They've taken us all away and been experimenting on us without our knowledge! They jabbed you with who-knows-what and slapped a barcode on my butt and we weren't any the wiser because they were wiping our memory or something! It has to be true!" Nita MacNeal Nita had never met Seth; she made a mental note to avoid him, or at least walk lightly should they ever cross paths. But even a nasty bite like should have faded to nonexistence after so many months. The injection marks were worrying. "But... I'm fine," Nita said. "Except for my duplex. No punctures or tattoos that I've noticed." She choked back a laugh as Gaius let slip the location of his new decoration. Richard Harrison "It's on your butt?" Richard smirked and then a chuckle escaped her lips. Still despite that, Richard seriously concerned with the injection marks. Far more than the lost time. They weren't itchy like the previous ones but they unnerved her. "My wounds should have healed in five months though. It can't be five months right?" She sounded unsure now. "If its five months then I-I'm due again." She shuddered and gave a worried sound. She looked at the ground. Please not so soon she thought desperately. Gaius Harper Gaius's cheeks flushed bright red. "'s not funny," he muttered, lowering his head and shooting both of them a glare. And then he couldn't help but scratch at the back of his pants. Why did the thing have to be there of all places? And, come to think of it, was still rather tender... If Gaius had known anything about tattoos, he might've wondered what that meant, but knowing nothing, he dismissed it. "That's true..." he slowly admitted. "I haven't changed either - thank goodness - though... would they be able to hold off for a while? Maybe if we were in some kind of stasis?" He tilted his head, considering the possibilities. "At least the calendar said it was still 2007. They could've frozen us like scientists do in movies and then we wouldn't have woken up until 20 years later..." Nita MacNeal Nita coughed and chewed the insides of her cheeks to keep from laughing. "Sorry," she managed after the frantic moment it took to get herself under control. At least she didn't have to worry about changing again..! "I don't... I don't think they can do that stasis thing, though," said Nita slowly. Her brows beetled as she thought. Of course, a year ago, she wouldn't have that it was possible to be turned into a red panda girl. "It's just not hot enough to be August!" she protested again. Richard Harrison "Well if its not August when is it then?" There was a glimmer of something there but Richard had been so disconnected from dates lately she couldn't put a finger on it. "As for freezing, my instinct would be that its impossible but..." She flexes her claws as her tail gives a halfhearted lash. "Lets say its improbable. Either way I have a de-du-plex that so dusty that I can't breath in it. I'm going to need a face mask." She was not looking forward to that. Gaius Harper "Yeah, when is it?" Gaius parroted, folding his arms and raising an eyebrow at Nita. "You seem sure, but how can we find out?" Richard's comment about dust bothering him-er, her brought an honestly surprised expression. "What? Why bother with a face mask? If it's that bad, then just hook the front of your shirt up over your nose-" He reached at his chest, then remembered he'd been shirtless that day - or months as the case might be - while out in the sun. "Er, if I had one I'd demonstrate, but I can promise you it will probably stay in place just fine with a nose like that. A little dusting and vacuuming and everything should be fine!" He gave a nod. "So... how can we know what day it is, anyways...?" Nita MacNeal Nita mimicked Gaius' pose, arms crossed over her chest. "Well, it was the end of March. Give or take a couple of days. Because I was just thinking that it's been almost a whole year since I've been here." Her voice caught in her throat. Somehow, saying that out loud made it so much more real. One year ago, Nita had been packing. Getting ready to go off on her first major trip on her own. And she ended up being turned into a red panda. Huzzah. She cleared her throat, turning her mind to more practical matters. Like if she had enough Endust in her duplex, and how to figure out if it was really August. Richard Harrison When Gaius called attention to his shirtless she look at the horse man for the first time, her eyes actually lingered on his torso. It took a half second for her to realize what she was doing and tore her gaze away. In the moonlight, it might as well be noon for her. The colors were muted but every thing was quite clear. "Aw well I need some cleaning supplies anyway, dust mask or no, I think I'm allergeric to that much of it at once." She delibrately looked at Nita and not at Gaius' chest. "Would the library have a book on the stars? Could we check it that way?" Gaius Harper Gaius gave a snort, missing the shift in Nita's emotions. "Stars would be too much work - there has to be someone we could just ask? If it was the end of March (what day was it anyways?), then how long has it been since we were put out? How many days? It had to be at least several hours since it was mid-afternoon when I was knocked out..." Nita MacNeal Nita sighed, too distracted to really notice that Gaius wasn't wearing a shirt. "I just had a day-by-day calendar that I was using to mark off the days. I think it was the 30th or 31st, but I might have lost a day or two somewhere." She shrugged, a slight frown on her face. Checking the stars would be complicated- her knowledge of astronomy was limited to finding the Big Dipper and which way was North. "We could just ask... but then we'd have to take their word for it." Richard Harrison "Well it was just a thought, the stars can't lie. Why would the lab's lie about the date?" Richard made a fist experimentally, it made her arm hurt. If it was August and she had spent five months in coma Seth's bite would heal right? "The wound can't lie. Wait if you missed a day that would make it..." She looked at Nita, eyes widening. They wouldn't! They couldn't do that! Gaius Harper "I think it might've been the 31st yesterday, but I dunno. I wouldn't really trust the labs... Though they might be truthful, unless they have an agenda..." He shrugged, looking down at Nita and missing Richard's shocked expression. "Maybe we could ask someone in the caf, if anyone's there?" It still seemed strange, though, to be knocked out and wake up with so many... meddlings. "I just don't see why it couldn't have been five months? There's no other reason for the clocks and dust and everything!" Nita MacNeal Nita shrugged. "I don't know; I guess I've just been in a suspicious state of mind lately." She paused and stared back at Richard as the realization dawned on her. "Oh holy s**t." Nita waved a paw at Gaius. "That would be an excellent reason for the clocks," she said sarcastically. Richard Harrison "April 1st, April Fools." Richard shook her head, disbelieving. "Would they go that far for a prank? Adding dust to all the duplexes? Giving me four injection marks?" She blinked, four injection marks? Oh hell. She looks over at Gaius, "Gaius do you happen to remember if there are numbers on your tattoo?" A slight smirk crept onto her face. Gaius Harper Gaius blinked at Nita's sudden exclamation. "What? What are you talking about?" His ears flicked towards Richard and he stared between the two of them, mouth opening in slow-dawning understanding. "You... they wouldn't... but I was sure-!" He clamped his mouth shut and snorted. "No, no, they'd go that far... or Sabin would, at least." "Hm?" Gaius looked up at Richard, taking a moment to realize what she was asking. It was still strange hearing that feminine voice from what'd been to him an old grandpa. "Er..." he chewed on his lower lip awkwardly and glanced away. "Nah, it was just bars... I dunno what it means..." Nita MacNeal "Those bastards," Nita muttered, leaning against Gaius. It really did seem like something they'd do, just to mess with peoples' heads. "I hope whatever those injections were don't hurt you or anything, Richard. I mean, maybe it was just a saline solution or something..." Nita shrugged and peered up at Gaius. "What kind of bars?" She flushed under her fur. "Not meaning to pry, of course." Richard Harrison Richard laughed. "Sabin would go though the effort wouldn't he?" Richard certianly hoped the injections were a prank. She clung to that hope like it was a piece of driftwood in the middle of the ocean. She watched Nita casually lean into Gaius and their body language registered. She looked at Nita and then She looked at Gaius, then back at Nita. She nodded in approval and smiled, showing her teeth. For some reason the two of them her think of Dee. "Well I guess we still have to clean up the mess they made. I guess time will tell for the injections." She wondered if she should let the two have some privacy. Gaius Harper Gaius groaned, rubbing a hand over his face. "I'm such an idiot... I fell for all of it. I really thought it was August... still kinda worried, but it's hard to imagine which is more likely." He sighed, wrapping an arm around Nita's shoulders. "I thought I'd lost everyone..." Looking up at Richard, he smiled hopefully. "I sure hope they don't turn out to be anything bad... Dunno what they could get away with in six hours..." "Er, the bars?" he glanced back at Nita, feeling awkward despite her apparent calmness. "Like... black ones, the kind you'd see on a package or something? I tried rubbing them off earlier, but I'm pretty sure they're under my skin." Nita MacNeal Nita shrugged. "If they start to itch or anything, you should call the labs up and yell at them. Or something." She grinned. "Oh, and if you need cleaning supplies, I get mine from that janitor's closet in the village center. Down the hall from the cafeteria." She turned her smile up at Gaius, reaching up to pat his scruffy cheek. "You're not an idiot. If I'd had a calendar on my clock telling me it was August, I'd have freaked out a lot more. And... eventually your fur will cover up the tattoo, right?" Richard Harrison Richard ran her claws through her hair, feeling increasingly like a fifth wheel and took a step back from the the couple. "Well thanks for that. I guess I'll go see if its open at this time of night. You kids take care." She gave a wave with a handpaw and headed off in the direction of the village center. It was just a joke, she wasn't sure whether to laugh or be angry so she did neither. It was just part of life on this insane island. Gaius Harper Gaius gave Richard a wave, wondering if he'd ever get used to equating the guy-girl with the old man he'd known. "Take care of yourself. Sorry about the scare!" Feeling Nita's hand on his cheek, Gaius looked back down at her. "I am an idiot, I always believe things too easily..." He shook his head and sighed, rubbing her shoulder lightly, then made a face. "Oh man, I sure hope so! Still, it's gonna feel weird for a couple weeks... and itchy too," he groaned. "I've learned from experience, regrowing hair is not fun." The scare and panic over, Gaius felt incredibly foolish, but he was grateful for Nita's reassurance. Turning slightly, he gave her a small hug. "I should probably go and try to catch up on what I missed today... I don't want to risk losing five months for real, not when I have things I should do." Nita MacNeal "See you around, Richard," Nita called after him. From the back, at least, it was easier to think of Richard as a male. Richard as a woman... was slightly terrifying. That, plus tentacles... Nita shoved the thought away. She returned the hug, momentarily resting her cheek against his chest. "Yeah, I should take care of that dust..." Nita didn't exactly relish the prospect- her allergies would no doubt start acting up. Gaius Harper Leaning down, he kissed her lightly atop her fluffy red head. "Sorry for not being around lately... and sorry about the, er, incident last time, in your duplex. I'll make it up to you, okay? Something better than a dinner and a movie..." One last squeeze, then he let her go, giving a sharp whistle to Vixen, who'd been busy playing with Comet. The dog bounded to his side, bouncing up against his leg as he headed towards the cafeteria, in need of a late dinner. He waved over his shoulder to Nita. "Seeya later!" Nita MacNeal Nita quirked a smile at Gaius. "I know that's not what you meant to have happen. So consider yourself forgiven." She pulled away, yet again thankful that being covered in red fur meant blushing didn't show. "That sounds wonderful. Call it a date." With that, she called Comet away from her sisterly reunion and headed back towards her duplex. Time to get everything dusted off.
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Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:39 pm
[Reserved- Alec's letter; duplex-cleaning]
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Posted: Wed Apr 04, 2007 3:19 pm
The Village Idiot (Oz's Change)Osbourne Caldwell Staggering through the village and making his way into the throng of duplexes, Oz was not in good shape. His heavy panting and paler than usual complexion could be put down to his afternoon spent baracading himself behind a shield of alcohol. If it weren't for his intermittent stops to clutch at his side. Each time, he slumped against the nearest building or hard surface, struggling to breathe, stringy drool hanging from his mouth before he wiped it away. And each time, he just gritted his time and carried on. Everything was on fire. He looked feverish, his skin clammy and beaded with sweat in some places. His arms were red with a terrible rash, supposedly from his fever. Oz just kept straightening himself up until he next had to rest. Which, by cruel fate would have it, was just beneath a camera, its lifeless lens fixed on him and a red LED flashing. Oz's already pained face twisted into a sneer. "Oh...I bet you're...just loving this...you sick sons of a bitches..." he struggled, his choppy speech mixed with laughter. Nita MacNeal That aggravating layer of dust had been removed from her duplex, Nita finally allowed herself to realize how late it had become- and how hungry she was. Groaning, she went to inspect her refrigerator only to find that it was nearly empty. The red panda girl pulled a face; her fur and clothing were streaked with dust and she was hardly in any shape to make a trip to the cafeteria. Her stomach, however, protested loudly. "Fine, fine!" she said, throwing her paws up in the air. A few minutes later found her relatively cleaned up and in fresh clothing; Nita dumped some kibble into Comet's bowl and set out through the village. Her damp fur clung to her body. In the hours since she'd been out, the humidity had increased substantially. Nita heard the commotion from several duplexes away. Someone else, perhaps, thinking it was August? Fortunately, whoever it was, was between her and village center. As she approached him, Nita's nose flared. The large figure reeked of alcohol and sweat. In spite of the humidity, the fur on the back of Nita's neck stood up. "Oz?" she questioned hesitantly. "Oz, is that you?" Osbourne Caldwell For a brief moment, stupidity had overtaken Oz and he thought that the camera was talking back at him. And worse still - he actually replied. "Of course its me, you dumb shits! You have...those...things in my neck...I bet you can...tell everything abou' me...righ' now...can't ya?" he yelled at the camera, standing as straight as he could but finding his intoxication, coupled with his alcoholic state, to be hard to balance. "You wanna know...what I think...of these ********' cameras...and this whole Island...?" he smirked with menace. Taking a strained deep breath, a gurgling sound could be heard and in a sudden movement, Oz spat at the camera, wiping his mouth in triumph and watching for a few moments as the saliva dripped down the lens. His body fighting his imminent change, he stumbled and caught himself, forcing him to turn and see Nita. "Oh hi....N--niii...err...fluffy..." he grinned moronically. He made efforts to stand up and keep still in the presence of a lady. Nita MacNeal Nita cast a brief glance at the camera before staring, slack-jawed, at Oz. He was drunker than she'd initially realized, and possibly drunker than she had ever seen anyone. Her stomach lurched at the sound of gagging, only to be very slightly relieved that he was spitting instead of vomiting. She stepped back a foot or two, just in case. "Um, hi Oz," she managed. "Are- are you alright?" Obviously he wasn't, but the question came automatically. Nita glanced at the camera again and fidgeted with one of her long braids. Osbourne Caldwell "Yeah...I'm just fiiiiiine and dandy..." he replied, his speech more relaxed and slurred, so much so that it was hard to tell if he was being serious or sarcastic. He swayed a little as he stood, and juddered as he physically stopped himself from falling. Clasping his side once more, he winced through the fire in his rib cage. "And you?" he asked. Oz was surprisingly calm now. But the conversation was still surreal considering his state of mind and his state of body. Nita MacNeal Nita blinked a few times, taking in the slurred speech and unsteady movements. And in spite of (or perhaps because of) his protestations to the contrary, Nita was increasingly convinced that Oz was in bad shape. She wondered if he'd been drunk already when everyone, apparently, got buzzed. Maybe he'd reacted poorly to that? Some vague itch along her spine suggested that this was more than just Oz on a bender. "I'm fine," she said, trying to keep the nervousness out of her voice. "Don't you think maybe you should sit down..?" Nita gestured vaguely at a bench several yards away. And in plain sight of the camera... just in case. Osbourne Caldwell "Nah...I'm made of..strong st-stuff...y'know I might sit down," he began, changing his mind instantly as another flash of pain shot through his body, this time down his arms. The thick veil of alcohol was starting to be penetrated by the pains of change, ringing alarm bells in his brain. Without the intense pains he associated with the change, he thought nothing of his aches and his fever. The alcohol made sure he couldn't feel them acutely. Until now. Oz lifted his legs like they were made of lead and fixed his blurry vision on the bench she had pointed out. But he wouldn't make it. Only a few steps into his 'journey,' he toppled under his own weight and landed with an angry grunt. A few spots of rain began to fall. Nita MacNeal Nita's brief flash of relief was all too quickly followed by one of chagrin-turning-to-panic when Oz collapsed in the middle of the path. "s**t," she mumbled. She was far too small even to attempt moving Oz. It would be like trying to move a mountain- a drunken, hairy mountain. Nita shoved a few errant strands of hair out of her face, silently cursing the rain. Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. The girl padded forward and tentatively prodded the man's shoulder. Osbourne Caldwell Oz hadn't fainted. But he was barely conscious of the situation, slipping in and out of his alcohol-fuelled delusions. As the rain fell a little heavier, it came as sweet relief to his burning body, vapour quite visibly rising from his frame. He shuffled about and tried to at least prop himself up, trying to keep Nita's position in mind at all times. He didn't want to accidentally squash or smack her. The groan that wheezed from his chest was not human in the slightest, and just got more aggressive as he battled his own weight. So caught up in making his body move was he that the blood streaming from his nose went un-noticed until he tasted metal in his mouth. With a gargantuan hand, he dabbed his nose and stared in horror at the blood on his fingers. "Go...just go away...please...!" he pleaded with Nita, doubling his efforts to get to his feet and at least put himself at a safe distance from Nita. Oz hadn't forgotten how he had inadvertently broken Marshall's arm during his last change. And although he didn't know Nita as well, he could not face bringing harm to her. To anyone ever again. Nita MacNeal Nita leaped away from Oz. The blood pouring down his face, coupled with his labored movements, made her distinctly nervous, causing her stomach to clench up. As frightened as she was, Nita couldn't bring herself to abandon Oz in this state. She glared at the camera. Surely someone was watching. Someone who could do something. "I can't just leave you here," she whispered. At least she was keeping her distance, wringing her hands helplessly. Osbourne Caldwell "Yes you bloody can!" he yelled, his intentions in the right place, even if his suggestions were muffled with the pain he felt. Just as he had managed to get to a position where he could support himself with his arms, they gave away with a sickening sound, almost as if they had broken at the same time. Oz landed onto the damp earth with a grunt that was soon replaced with horrifying screams. Inhuman screams. Sounds that belonged in the deepest recesses of a jungle. It was not a pretty sight. Oz had to roll onto his back since the pressure of his own weight on his arms was excrutiating. They lengthened out, at first quite thin and skeletal, almost lacking muscle. When his arms were as long as his torso, he lurched and twitched as new muscle grafted itself to the bone. But that wasn't the last of the bone breaking. It felt like his rib cage was ripped wide open, only to be pushed together again by some hack doctor. New muscle bloated his torso to grotesque and gargantuan proportions. Nita MacNeal "I can't," she repeated softly. Oz probably wouldn't have heard her, even if he hadn't been drunken... and apparently about to change. What was she supposed to do? Skip off to the cafeteria and eat like nothing was wrong? Nita's stomach lurched again as Oz's body transformed. She backed farther away and nearly tripped over the bench. The red panda girl collapsed onto the seat, tucking her legs up to her chest. She knew she couldn't help... but at least she could be a witness. Osbourne Caldwell His hips were the next to go, widening just slightly enough that didn't require this bizarre internal mechanism of breaking bones and re-growing them. His legs remained unchanged, save for twitches and spasms that signaled the new muscle growth. Then, his body just seemed to stop convulsing for a moment, like it was taking a break. Panting heavily, face smeared with blood and spit, Oz just stared at the dark sky, eyes unblinking even when hit with rain drops. He could still feel every muscle burning and aching, his chest and arms the most. Was it over? Arms too weak to move properly at this point, he struggled to roll back over onto his stomach and then begin the laborious task of propping himself up somehow. He looked at Nita and how she cowered on the bench. He couldn't face to look at her again after that. Guilt and shame stung at the back of his head...or was that something else? It felt like a vice had gotten hold of his head and just yanked him up to his feet, standing like some ancient colossus of a time gone by. He clutched at his neck desperately, growling and grimacing as it felt like worms crawled under his skin, the thick neck muscles that gave silverbacks their distinctive look and their powerful bite threading their way onto his skull and neck. Something tumbled from his clenched mouth. It was teeth. Several human teeth. Larger teeth had pushed them from his raw gums as they erupted from his jaw, his bottom canine teeth quite menacing in their size. What began as a human scream of terror turned into an aggressive roar bursting from his lungs. He'd already been too big for his now tattered and loin-cloth like jeans but to add insult to injury, Oz broke out in fur. Now it was not just his head and neck adorned with dark fur, but all down his arms to about the elbow, and downs his legs to his knees. His back was impressive, thick with fur and a silver saddle from his thighs to the middle of his back. Oz just crumpled to the floor, first trying to catch himself on his knuckles, as instinct told him to, then laying down on his belly with long arms stretched before him. He struggled to breathe but was amazingly still awake. The amount of adrenaline in his system had just wiped out the effects of the alcohol and he could feel everything. See everything. Sense everything. He looked to Nita pleadingly, but also apologetically. She seemed so sweet, and it seemed so cruel for her to have witnessed a change as grotesque as this. Nita MacNeal There was nothing Nita could do but watch as Oz' body twisted and grew. She remembered her own changes far too well- the itch of fur, the ache of bones reshaping, the tear of new muscles growing. Feeling slightly sick to her stomach (only worsened by how hungry she'd been), Nita bowed her head to her knees and waited for it all to be over. Her ears flattened against her head at scream-turned-roar; adrenalin rushed through her body, encouraging her to flee. But Nita stayed. Finally, after several minutes of quiet, the girl looked up. "Well," she said softly, then stopped. Nita bit her lip, simply looking at the gorilla-man, hoping to convey her empathy. Osbourne Caldwell Each breath taken was quite audible through wide nostrils and seemed to echo around the barrel that was now his chest. Almost too fatigued to feel anymore, he slowly shifted one arm so that it was outstretched on the ground toward Nita. He wanted to hold her hand. If only for a brief moment, he just needed that physical reassurance that someone was there. If he had been born a gorilla, it would have been a group member to come comfort him. Nita MacNeal Although her heart was still thumping in her chest, Nita was pretty sure that Oz no longer posed a threat. She unfolded herself from her spot on the bench and padded towards him, remaining cautious all the same. Crouching beside him, Nita reached out and gently touched his much larger hand. Osbourne Caldwell The rain had begun to subside but had never been much more than a brief downpour. As such, it had effectively washed much of the fresh blood and saliva from Oz's face and his hand. There was still dark encrusted blood about his new nose and in the corners of his mouth. He certainly looked a poor creature. A creature. Nothing human. Nothing more, and nothing less. He could have thought the same about Nita. She wasn't human anymore. At least physically. But there was just something in her eyes that said something different. She still had the fire of humanity in her somewhere, affirmed by that single gesture. She had come over to hold his hand. The same couldn't be said for Oz. Nothing about his face was remotely human anymore, not even his eyes which had become a deep amber colour. He gave an affectionate grumble at Nita and squeezed her hand with an amazing gentleness, looking up at her as if to say thanks. "S...ssss...orrry..." he forced the words through numb lips and saliva. Nita MacNeal Nita made herself ignore the water on the ground, her thick tail dragging in a puddle. If she'd had napkins or tissues, she would tried to remove the blood from Oz' face; instead she merely reached up to pat a clean patch on his cheek. "No need for apologies," she said softly. "It's not your fault." Nita's eyes trailed from Oz' hulking form to the ubiquitous blinking light on the camera several yards away. Osbourne Caldwell Further physical touch was greatly appreciated by the fallen simian, another affectionate grumble echoing around his chest - an automatic response to her touch. Oz still felt incredibly guilty...and ashamed. He had a lot less to be embarrassed about this time since, last time, he lost all his bladder control. "They...ww-w-on't...help," he gasped with a half-smile. He knew she was looking at the camera. Sobered, he realised that is what she had seeked any kind of help from before and during his change. And who could blame her? He dread to think how he must have acted. He withdrew his hand from hers and painfully forced himself to sit up. "N-nnn...eeed sa-fe...rest..." he stammered, his speech surprisingly disjointed. Even at the height of being drunk, Oz was never this bad with his speech. He looked about and was maybe mildly reassured to see he wasn't too far from the main buildings in the village. Maybe he could take shelter in the medical centre, or in the entertainment room. Anywhere that was close and inside. "H-elp...?" Nita MacNeal Nita shrugged and raised her middle finger at the camera. She was considerably calmer now that Oz had sobered up. And even though his change had been grotesque... Nita had watched as Cassidy lost her arms all-together. And Billy had thrown up ink all over her. His stilted speech wasn't terribly alarming; at that point she figured it was an after-effect. Shock, perhaps. Attempting a smile, Nita patted his furry shoulder. "Are we close to your duplex? Or, um, maybe a quiet place in the village center?" If he chose the latter option, Nita might even be able to get some dinner. Osbourne Caldwell "D-dupl-ex....seve-four...l-l-long way, I think..." he said weakly, still wincing now and then as muscles spasmed in his arms. Still, he lifted one gigantic arm to point towards the village centre building. Pretty much torturing himself, he groaned to a semi-standing position, resting only briefly on his hands. He wanted to spend as little time like this as possible, he didn't want to dwell on anything related to his 'animal.' Unfortunately, considering these new changes, Oz looked more natural to be standing on all fours. And it would later pain him to admit that it was easier for him to walk like that too. But for now, he forced his already battered and bruised muscles to hoist him up to his bulky two-legged stance, where he wobbled for a bit and seriously feared squashing poor Nita. Maybe he could just follow her or hold onto her tail or something. Nita MacNeal Nita nodded; Number 74 was past her duplex, and while the village wasn't exactly large, the main building was much closer. She winced, sympathizing with his strained muscles. The sooner they could get him to a safe place indoors, the better. Once she was sure Oz could stand, Nita set a slow-but-steady pace towards the village center. With any luck, the entertainment room, with its large, comfortable couches, would be unoccupied. Osbourne Caldwell Oz sounded like an old man as he walked (more like shuffled) beside Nita, wheezing terribly. He had to resist the need to hold her hand again but knew, with her small frame, she'd never be able to lead him anywhere. So, he struggled on, faltering every now and then, and expressed his sheer relief upon reaching the inner sanctum of the town hall with a deep rumble. The entertainment room was the first he could see but was now faced with a different problem. He was too wide to fit through the door. He just stood and stared at it pathetically, like he'd lost the common sense portion of his brain in the nosebleed. Then, oddly, he began to whine. Nita MacNeal Nita was relieved to get into the considerably drier air of the village center. And blessedly, the entertainment room was unoccupied. She went in ahead of Oz; it took a moment before she realized the gorilla man was simply standing in the doorway. Her forehead creased: why didn't he just go sideways? Maybe his brain just hadn't quite recovered from the strain of the transformation. A tiny tickle at the back of her mind suggested that his faculties would be permanently dulled. Nita forced it quiet. "Turn yourself sideways," Nita instructed him gently. She turned her own body to demonstrate. Osbourne Caldwell Oz's nostrils flared slightly as he took one last look at the doorway, its frames, and so forth. He knew he'd had no previous trouble getting into that room, and he could at least link his new weight and width to the reason why he couldn't get in. So why did he just forget to turn sideways? Following Nita's example, he turned sideways and walked through the doorway, proud to have made it in, but then smacked his head on the frame. He groaned and glared at the offending piece of the room's architecture. But all ill-feeling was gone when he saw the large couches. Without another guiding gesture from Nita, Oz made his way as quickly as was possible to the couch and it seemed like all the air just left him in a huge sigh as he gently sat down. The couch creaked in protest but he was being careful. Nita MacNeal Nita winced again at the crack of skull against wood, but Oz seemed to be relatively alright as he made a beeline for the couch. Although the furniture creaked alarmingly, it held his weight. It reminded Nita of Rachel, having to deal with her immense bulk within the too-small confines of her duplex. The girl clucked her tongue, hands on her hips. "You stay here," she instructed unnecessarily. "I'll get something to wipe your face, and... something to eat?" Nita wracked her brains, trying to remember what gorillas ate. Chimps ate meat, but were gorillas vegetarian? Nita herself still ate small quantities of meat, but bamboo and other fruits and vegetables were best. Osbourne Caldwell The only sign of life from Oz now was the audible sigh of breathing. Aside from that, his body had give way to fatigue and he'd effectively blacked out on the couch. He sort of opened his eyes blearily to acknowledge Nita, but said or did nothing else. Nita MacNeal Nita hid a smile and shrugged. Even though the gorilla-man was totally out, she crept from the room and made her way down the hall to the cafeteria. Fruit should be safe enough, she figured, grabbing a bowl and an assortment vegetarian items. Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her of why she'd left her duplex in the first place. After gathering up food for herself, Nita padded back to the entertainment room. Oz was still deeply asleep; she placed the food for him within easy reach. Maybe when he woke up he'd be his normal self again. Or at least, as normal as he could be. "Please be okay," Nita whispered. She exited the room a final time, provisions in hand, and wound her way among the duplexes. Back to what she had, for almost a year, had to call 'home.'
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 3:24 pm
On Changing One's Appearance
When I was sixteen years old, I dyed my hair. The plan was that my younger brother would be allowed to bleach his own dark hair. Both of our parents had agreed. I went with Sam to pick out the bleach. In the isle at CVS, I poked through various other hair-dyes, considering doing something myself.
My mother gave me permission- I think she was thrilled to find me exhibiting some interest in my appearance. I finally chose a simple henna rinse; it would only last a few weeks. Flying high with my rather impetuous purchase, the three of us drove home. Several relatives were in town on a visit and one cousin was let in on the surprise. Amelia helped us; I can remember all too well the way my eyes watered from the smell. It was cold, right around New Year’s, so the bathroom windows were shut tight.
I even blew my hair dry and let it hang down my back instead of trapping it in two long braids. The three of us trooped down to dinner. Sam, as always, caused the most stir. Hardly anyone noticed any change in me until Amelia pointed it out. My mother beamed.
Later that evening, after everyone had left, my dad came in to talk to me. “Nita,” he said very seriously. “Today I wanted to do something I’d never considered doing in all my life. I was so sick, so betrayed, that I felt like finding a pair of scissors and punching myself in the stomach.”
I stared. There were tears in his eyes.
Apparently such a minor change as a little bit of hair-dye meant that I didn’t think my looks were perfect. That I should know that I was perfect the way I was. No make-up, no piercings, no nothing. And that that tiny frivolity was somehow a betrayal.
Even though Sam had been allowed to make a much more drastic change. Even though my mother gave me the money for the henna. Even though Dad hadn’t noticed the difference until it was specifically pointed out.
A couple of years later, when I was in the hospital, I confronted him about this. He didn’t remember ever saying it. He said I must have misunderstood. But I can still see him, sitting on the edge of my bed, his face crumpling, a grown man saying such horrible words to his daughter.
I wonder what he would say now.
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:35 pm
Gaius glowered at the comm unit. The thing was mocking him, he was sure of it. This was the fifth time today he'd worked up his courage to call Nita. All his previous attempts, he'd chickened out just as he'd picked up the receiver. He chewed his lip. It was the only way to tell her... a letter wouldn't be enough, and he risked zapping if he tried to talk in person. Just a foot too close...
He picked up the unit, fumbling with the buttons a bit thanks to his hoof-finger, but managed to dial Nita's duplex. A beeping sound buzzed in the ear piece - a fair distance from his ear, as the distance between mouth and ears had increased with his changes - as it waited for Nita to pick up on her end.
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:44 pm
Nita had been propped up in bed with a book, alternately reading and napping, with Comet stretched out along side her. She looked up as the comm unit beeped, wondering who might be calling her instead of simply wandering by her duplex.
Climbing over Comet, she padded over to the wall and answered. "Hello?" she said tentatively. The few times she'd received calls, they had mostly been from the labs.
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 2:53 pm
Gaius's hand tightened on the unit, cold and clammy, as she picked up. He'd half been hoping she wasn't home, just so he could put off this talk a little longer. But that was cowardly to think, he berated himself. A deep steadying breath did little to help, unable to mask the anxious tension pitch that strung through his speach.
"N-Nita! Hi! It's me, Gaius... well, of course you knew that, you know what I sound like..." he babbled. He took another deep breath, then continued. "L-Listen, about that date... I... I'm going to have to take a rain check... I'm sorry!"
His free hand had found the edge of the wall and was drumming his two fingers on it nervously. "S-Something's come up... I did something stupid... really stupid."
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:00 pm
"Oh hey, Gaius," Nita replied. Much better to hear from him than the labs.
"... What?" Her previously chipper mood took a downward plunge. "What happened?" Nita frowned and tugged anxiously on one braid. "Are you okay?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:10 pm
Somehow, calling was better, because he didn't have to see her face as it turned with a frown, or her accusing eyes, but it only made the disappointment in her voice ring all the clearer.
Gaius winced. "I... Well... It was kinda my fault, I guess. After Zach waved that eyeball at us, I'd been thinking about it, and with the whole April Fool's thing... I decided I couldn't trust the labs, they'd done too many wrongs with no reason. And I wanted to amend one of them, the only one I could do anything about. Soooo... I went to Zach's apartment and tried to get Lucas's eyeball back." The hoof-fingers tapped harder as he debated how much to tell her... "We... had a little bit of a scuffle, and then we got zapped, and I woke up back here. It's okay, most of the cuts have scabbed up! My wing's a little chewed-up, but the bandaging's helping."
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:20 pm
"Oh Jesus," Nita muttered. Confronting Zach definitely wasn't the smartest thing to do. And he was easily a match for Gaius, unlike Miller, who was just a skinny little kid. With bird-bones. Really, she figured, listening to the run-down injuries, Gaius hadn't done too badly.
But that didn't really explain why they'd have to put their date on hold. Unless he just didn't want the sympathy. "Did... Did you get Lucas' eye?" she asked, shuddering slightly.
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:34 pm
"No..." he sighed. "When I woke up, it was gone - don't know where. But that's not the worst of it."
Gaius fidgeted, as much as his sprains and bruises would allow. "I've... gotten on Sabin's bad side, from the looks of it. It's not all my fault! Zach fought just as much as I did! But, well, he decided to make sure I wouldn't do anything to that idiot again. If I go within a certain distance of Zach, I'll get buzzed out automatically. So that's kinda the end of that. I just hope that dragon doesn't abuse it somehow.." he muttered.
"But... the reason I'm calling you about this is... er..." Gaius took a long breath and steeled himself. "Sabin put the same punishment on me if I went anywhere near you. I'm... I'm sorry, Nita. I'm so sorry..."
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:46 pm
Privately Nita thought that keeping Zach and Gaius away from each other was a good idea. She'd seen first-hand just how much they infuriated each other, and it probably was safer for them to be kept apart.
"I," she began, "What? That's totally not fair!" Nita huffed angrily, eliciting a questioning grumble from Comet. "That's a punishment for me, too, and I didn't do anything!" She paused to take a few breaths. Flying off the handle, as tempting as it was, wouldn't do any good.
"For how long?" she asked softly. "And... how close?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2007 3:52 pm
Despite the fact they were buildings apart and Nita couldn't even see him, Gaius flinched and ducked at the sharp response - then cursed as his jammed neck flared with pain.
"I know, I know!" he said, rubbing his neck. "I never thought they'd do something like that. And, I... I don't know," he said helplessly. "I don't know how long. All I know is the range is 25 feet. 'Close enough to talk, but not to threaten.' And... not to touch. I'm sorry, Nita..."
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