Have You Hugged Your Python Today?
RP Log - AIM
The sun seemed more dazzling today than he could ever picture it, and yet if that meant that the temperature was worse, Ambrose hadn't noticed despite his thick coat. He wasn't just walking from place to place, he was virtually prancing. The wind was in his fur and he he closed his eyes (and managed not to run into a tree, building, or some other unforgiving large structure) he could have almost deceived himself into the notion that he was flying.
He couln't think of a moment on this island where he had been happier. Hell, he would be hard pressed to think of any moment he had been happier. Things were finally starting to really work out... wonderfully.
Ambrose had made another trip back out to the beach to gather up the torches and ice chest to return to the village.
Cassidy was in a slightly more sober mood, but still fairly content; she was on her way back to her duplex after a leisurely trip through the jungle, which had been interrupted by a nap in one of her favourite trees. It had been a slow, quiet day, as most of her days seemed to be, and since she hadn't eaten yet today, that was on her list of things to do.
As she came into the village itself, though, she paused briefly, and hurried forward inher slightly lurching manner. "Ambrose?" she called, after matching the scent with a name. After all day by herself, she was maybe a bit starved for company. "Hey! Ambrose!"
Ambrose paused, turning with pricked ears to see his old friend. "Cassidy!" He smiled, trotting over to her and juggling the objects in his arms to free up a hand to clap her on the shoulder.
"How have you been?" He queried with a wag. "I haven't seen you in a bit."
"I suppose not." Cass grinned in her subtle way. "I shouldn't be such a hermit, I guess. But I've been... mostly okay." Except for.... things. Yes. Okay, no bad-mouthing Vasile behind his back, not even a little bit.
Her tongue flicked curiously. "What about you? What've you been up to?"
His head gave a sympathetic tilt as she spoke. "Things..? Well, you shouldln't be a hermit. It tends to just mire you in whatever is getting you down."
At her querty, however, he couldn't keep the toothy grin from his face. "Well... me? I ... uhm..." His tail began to wag. "I.... I proposed to Angelina last night!" His chest puffed out with pride. It wasn't hard to tell that he was looking for a way to work that into the conversation.
"I know, I know. But sometimes it's very tempting." She looked a little shamefaced.
However, this quickly melted away into absolute glee. "You prosposed? Really?" Cassidy clasped her hands together, let out a brief, girlish giggle. "That's just about the best thing I've heard in a long time! When is the wedding? She did say yes, right?"
He nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I know It's crazy, isn't it?" His face was lit up and he couldn't keep the sheer joy from his eyes. "Yes! She said yes! And... the wedding...? I.... I don't know!" He laughed, still smiling. "We will have to talk about it - but I had already talked to Father Stewart - and he's willing to wed us - and... at the very least you'll be invited!"
Father Stewart? Oh yes. The Catholic priest who'd mistaken her for a leper. Cass had to wonder how he was doing. "I'd love to come," Cass said, on the verge of gushing. "You just let me know when. You won't be able to keep me away!" She laughed, her mood clearly elevated a few notches already. "Is there anything I can do to help out?"
"You won't be forgotten!" He beamed. "And, well, quite possibly! We haven't even spoken about details yet.
"But... however it turns out, I'm sure it will be great! ... I hope." He tacked on sheepishly. "So... I mean... what have you been up to..?" Ambrose asked, not even thinking how much he might be wedging his foot into his mouth.
Cassidy winced a little. "Really not a lot. I... have no idea if you've heard, but... Vasile's... discovered he's gay, so I'm single now." Oh, wait. Outing people was bad. Think, girl, before you opened your big mouth. "And that's really the only big news I have... since I haven't asked about that pet snake thing Angelina came up with."
Ambrose opened and closed his mouth, eyes widening. "oh - OH! Oh crap.. I'm sorry." He winced, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. He knew that. Why didn't he think about that?? Vasile himself had old him.
"No... I did know... Vasile told me actually. That was a rather... interesting conversation. But I'm sorry.... that.. that must have been a difficult conversation. For both of you, I'd imagine. I know that last we talked about it he felt crummy about it all with you."
"And... yes! ANgelina mentioned the snake thing - I bet that would be really good for you. I mean.... I never exactly thought about snakes as ... well.... pet-material, but she had one back home, and it was actually pretty neat."
"Well, I think we've more-or-less made up. Although I was avoiding him for a while, and I think I was kind of an a** about it." Cass's shoulders slumped. "I guess there are worse things to happen. I'll live."
She gave Ambrose a rather guarded look. "I'm sure a snake would be good for me. But it still grosses me out, to tell you the truth. But Thom... he's pretty sure that he's turning into some sort of snake, too... and.... oh god, that's..." She shook her head. "I can't be terrified of other people for something like that."
"That.... sort of thing is always hard. I mean... at least it's not anything either of you did... I ... things were really tough between me and Emelyn for some time after.... Angelina wound up here. I still feel bad about how all of that worked out. But at least we've been on friendly terms again recently..... the few times I run into her. But I still get the feeling, well.... she and Angelina..." He shrugged.
His eyes widened, however, at the mention of Thom. This was news he had not heard. "Thom..? Really? A snake? Oh man..." He winced. "I mean... he's a socce- well... football player for God's sake! Is he goign to lose his feet? And... even though your own... I mean... so they still.... frighten you...?"
Cass shook her head. "There's not enough of us around here to make a bad breakup easy," she pointed out.
"And I don't know what's going to happen to Thom... He's got no toes, so if he is a snake, he seems to be going through it, well, better than I did." She shrugged vaguely. "And yes, I realise it's completely stupid for me to be scared of snakes, or snake mutants, or anything, but... phobias are very rarely logical. And I guess I really ought to do something so I don't have to just... avoid him."
He nodded.... "That's one of the many downsides to being trapped on an island with a group of people who are likewise trapped. You can't easily avoid someone on a more permanent basis. And even if you can, there's overlapping circles of friends..." He gesticuated awkwardly.
"Kind of forces you alogn to coping, even if you don't want to. But... I mean... at least, I think you both are good people... and again, I... ah... I've spoken with him a few times recently - he... he's certainly not lying about the gay thing.." He scratched the back of his head nervously.
He nodded. "It... really isn't fair what they paired you with... animal-wise" He murmured.
"I can be civil to Vasile," Cassidy said, rather solemnly. "At the very least, I can do that. I'd like to be friends with him, but... sometimes it's very hard to want to do that." She shook her head. "And I figured he wouldn't lie about that. I don't think I've known very many guys who would, and around here, I'd figure out pretty quickly if he was."
Her tongue flickered again. "I don't know about fair. I have to wonder if they did it on purpose, if they somehow knew... but I can't think how they would have."
He nodded. "I'm sure you can. Though.... it's never easy having to be civil or friends with someone you used to be in a relationship with, regardless of the reason you broke up. You... really have to have a rapport with someone to be in a relationship - close to them, you know? Then... to cut it suddenly, the awwkard feelings..." he rambled, shrugging his shoulders.
"It... woulnd't surprise me, just from what I've seen or heard of some of the staff, I woldn't put it past them. But.... I Don't know if they'd have access to something like phobias in whatever records they have on us... It could just be miserable luck. But... there are worse things than snakes, I'd say. Billy springs to mind as one - at least you're not an invertebrate?"
"An invertebrate?" This thought was horrible enough to startle Cass out of her self-pity. Was a bug or something really worse than a snake? Hard to say, but at least with a snake, she was keeping a skeleton. "I think I've heard this Billy person mentioned a couple of times... but what exactly is he turning into? No one's ever mentioned that."
"You haven't met him?" Ambrose asked, caught off guard. Then again, Cass had said that she had been a hermit recently "An... octopus." He winced. "rubbery skin, he's got eight tentacles instead of the normal arms or legs.... spits up ink..." He shook his head. "I think he's managed to draw the shortest straw of anyone I've encountered. He's not exactly the nicest person in the world, but no one deserves that."
Cassidy stared for a moment, mouth slightly agape. "An octopus," she repeated, blandly. "Oh my god. Okay, um. That's definitely worse than a snake, even if I really have no problems with octopusses. Octopi. Whatever. Christ." At least that was good to know in advance for if or when she did run into him.
He nodded. "I .. know what you mean. It almost seems like they're.... just trying to see what more horrors they can do. I don't know if there is a rhyme or reason to their assignments. Though... I think Anjali is still matched with the strangest serum. I can't even begin to understand how changing into a plant works..." He shrugged
His ears flicked back and he set down the things he had been carrying. "But... if it helps... I think everyone here has learned to look past appearances if they've been here longer than a few weeks. I'll never see you as anything different than the friendly blonde I met when I first came here, Cass."
"And Duvert expected me to be thrilled when he explained the feathers. I don't get it at all." Cass shook her head. A plant, too? What about a root system? They really were crazy, here. Genius, but crazy.
She smiled, very slightly. "Thank you, Ambrose. That really does mean a lot to me, to hear you say that."
He shook his head. "Nether do I. But... they are colorful. And hey, maybe some day you'll actually be able to fly, or at least glide? Wouldn't that be a sight?" He smiled.
He nodded, his tail swishing back and forth as a softer smile graced his features. "Let me know if there's anything I can ever help you with."
"Maybe," Cass said doubtfully. "But it would be nice. It'd almost be worth everything else." She smiled faintly. "And I'll keep the offer in mind, though I'm not sure what I'd ask for. Thanks, though."
He nodded. "In that case, I definaely hope that will be the case. One more change..." He mused, looking down at his own hands, a frown briefly flitting across his features.
He looked back up to her, distracting himself, and nodded.
"So I hear." Cass looked down at what was left at her legs, and had to admit to herself that she wasn't sure whether it would be better to lose them or not. As it was, they were mostly just in the way. Her fingers, on the other hand.... "Well. Happier things. Congratulations, again!" She positively beamed.
He smiled, the trepidation washing from his face at the reminder. "Thanks, Cass! I really am happy about it. I'll be certain to keep you informed.
"You better," Cass told him. "But if you'll excuse me... I am really very hungry... but I wanted to clean up a bit before I did anything else." She gave a slightly embarrassed cough.
He nodded. "I understand. Don't let me keep you from your dinner. I ought to get these things back to where they belong." Before picking them up, however, Ambrose encircled her in a quick, unannounced hug. "Take care of yourself, alright? Don't hide out in your duplex or I'll be forced to drag you out." He said with a teasing grin as he parted and stooped to pick back up the materials.
Cass was taken by surprise, but squeezed back during the hug for as long as it lasted. "I'll try not to. I promise. I'll be social and everything." She turned away with a friendly wave, to head back the way she had been going in the first place.
Ambrose returned the wave, and smiled to himself. It's not everyday that one hugged a python, he couldnt' help but muse to himself as he headed to the supply room to return the things he had borrowed.
