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 Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 7:11 am
Cody Archer In front of the door of your duplex lies a small gift wrapped in regular paper by a string. There are some words scribbled with ordinary pen, saying: "Merry Xmas. From Cody" ((Cody doesn't remember the number of most of the duplexes his friends live in, so he painted gifts for everyone))
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 11:21 pm
Very early Christmas Morning, after a wonderful Christmas eve night with his beautiful fiancee, Ambrose slipped quietly out of bed and padded surreptiously out of the duplex, careful not to stir the sleeping Angelina.
Then, trotting eagerly out to where he had hidden a small sack just off the path on the way to the beach. Stopping by the cafeteria and nodding a Hello to Delia who was up late cooking, he grabbed a few things and then returned to his duplex.
On the porch he noticed a small wrapped paper gift and paused, smiling and stooping to retreive it, pulling the string off with a claw.
Inside was a tiny painted seashell, the childish handwriting and message bringing a sad smile to the wolf's face. Cody. How long had it been since he had last seen the young boy? At least... with this gift, it showed that he was still alive and hopefully doing alright. He really needed to stop and see the boy sometime, see how he was doing...
He carried it with him inside, setting it carefully on his shelf, and went to set up the bundle of things he had brought inside.
A few candles about the room... a "garland" of green leaves and red flowers around the room... Then a bushy branch from a tree: there were no evergreens on the island, but with the tropical seasonality there were plenty of green trees about. He stuck it through the bottom of an upside-down styrofoam cup and placed it on the desk - a makeshift christmas tree.
Finally, he tighens the drawstring on the bag and places it back under the tree, and returns to bed, trying very hard to get back to sleep with his excitement.
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Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 7:46 pm
Outside your door is left what is clearly a hand-built simple wooden chair, about medium size. The seat is carved out and in the back, rather than a flat backrest, a large divot has been cut out, with an ample opening in the backrest. A dowel fits through a hole carved in one side, sliding down to a divot in the seat to provide more support when leaned back against. It seems the chair has been specially designed for those with tails in mind… This one is painted blue with leaves carved in the wood. While simple, it’s sturdy.  On a note tied to it: Quote: Merry Christmas!
Hope the holidays are finding you well and healthy! Been a while since we talked. Hope things are good with you and your girl.
Keep in touch!
Gaius
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Posted: Mon Dec 25, 2006 11:02 pm
Left outside your door is a small package, which appears to be a white trash bag and some red ribbon tied around it. Inside is a large royal blue and white blanket and pillow, both made from the same soft fabric. You'll also find a few pieces of hard fruit candy. There is also a note in the bag. Quote: You probably don't remember me, but I wanted to thank you for your honesty and the help on my first night on the Island. I hope you are well. Have a Merry Christmas.
-Lucas
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Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 12:12 am
On Christmas Day, there are two boxed left outside the duplex. The first, addressed to Ambrose, is a formal suit. A hybrid between a normal tuxedo and a fantasy prince costume, it has tails and a tight cumerbundt that's almost more of a corset. Vest, cravat, and small capelet that hooks to the shoulder's in an intricate silver brooch on each shoulder. And of course its all fitted in a way to accommodate Ambrose's frame and features.
The other box contains an intricate hand-stitched veil. The craftmanship is world-class, and has lined with crystals and other beadwork around the headband.
A note reads:
It will be a while before everything comes together, but here is what I have for you so far. Please let me know if the tux is not to your liking, or anything needs adjusting.
The veil is technically mine, but seeing I will not be using it today as planned, you can probably find use of it quicker than I can. Consider it your 'something borrowed'
~Aubrey
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Posted: Tue Dec 26, 2006 4:51 am
Christmas Morning All night, Ambrose could barely contain his enthusiasm. Every time he felt he was finally nodding off, he could swear he heard a scuffling or bumping out on the porch and he'd be excited and eager for the next day all over again.
Finally, when the sun was barely begining to edge its way under the curtain, Ambrose took it as a signal that it was late enough.
He slid out of the bed and took a match to the candles before returning to bed and planting a kiss on Angelina's lips.
Angelina shifted awake, arching her back and returning the kiss. She opened her eyes and reached up to scratch the side of his face. "Up already?" she asked while yawning, looking at the early morning light coming through the window.
"I've hardly slept, to be honest." He said, nuzzling against the side of her face.
"I feel like a kid again. Just something about Christmas."
He slid up next to her, running his fingers through her hair. "Did you sleep well?"
"Mmmmhmmm..." she said, nuzzling into his fur. "You're encouragable. And I already gave you my present last night," she said with a wicken grin.
Ambrose shared a mischivious smile with her, his tail elaborating on his fond memory. "I know... but... now I want to give you mine." He nodded to the candles perched on the desk and bookshelves around the room.
"You mean I get something else?" She sat up and looked at the candles, stretching her hands over her head. "Really?"
"Of course! It is Christmas, after all." He graced her cheek with another small kiss and darted off to the desk where he retreived the small paper-wrapped package, and brought it back to her.
"This is for you."
"Oh?"
She used her long nails to easily rip open the packaging, quickly revealing the handmade necklace underneith.
"Oh Ambrose!" She ran her fingertips over the shells and quickly went to tie the string around her neck, proudly displaying it to Ambrose. Of course, it was pointedly the only thing she was wearing
Ambrose's ears perked as the shell necklace hung around her neck. Perhaps it was how it accessorized her... well, lack of clothes. But it she looked stunning.
"I know that it's not normally the sort of accessories you wear.. but I wanted to get something for you that I didn't order from the labs. They're doing so much for us already. The wedding ring, the wedding..." He rolled his shoulders. "I hope you like it, though. I spent a while combing the beach for the shells."
"Its beautiful, baby," she said, kissing the tip of his nose. "Thank you."
She made her way of the bed and removed it, carefully setting it on the bedside table. "I'm going to go take a shower.."
"need any company?"
Angelina curled her tail around Ambrose's thigh. "Always."
~ Some time later~
Ambrose had dried and brushed his fur after getting out of the shower and was now putting on the closest he had to festive clothing - olive khakis with a red polo shirt: part of the recent batch of clothes he ordered from the labs after his last change.
"I heard some scuffling by the door last night. Why don't you check the front porch and see if "Santa" came." He called out to Angelina with a smile.
Angelina pulled a tank top over her head and flipped her damp hair over her shoulder. "Okay," she chimed, skipping over to the door. She peeked out and noticed the packages on the front door. "Wow Ambrose!" she called over her shoulder, opening the door and bringing them in. "Well you got a chair!" she giggled.
"A chair?" he called out incredulously as he followed after her. "wow... you're right." He picked up the tag, eyes scanning it. "It's from Gaius. He's started quite the carpentry project. I remember he was talking about working on custom chairs for islanders.." He moved it carefully inside and then brought the rest of the packages inside as well, putting them on the bed.
"This one's for me!"
Angelina was always an impatient one. She opened the fancy wrapping paper with an adorable lack of finesse. The box's lid popped off, revealing the silk wrapped lace underneith.
"Oh my god," she breathed, pulling out the garmet and spreading the lace over the bed. "Ambrose, look at this.."
"Oh.... wow.... That's... that is stunning!" He responded, his voice hardly a whisper. "It... must be from the labs...."
He picked up the other package wrapped in the commercial paper, smiling for a moment before tearing open the paper. Then, lifting off the lid of the garment box, he lifted the note out, sharing it with Angelina:
Quote: It will be a while before everything comes together, but here is what I have for you so far. Please let me know if the tux is not to your liking, or anything needs adjusting. The veil is technically mine, but seeing I will not be using it today as planned, you can probably find use of it quicker than I can. Consider it your 'something borrowed' ~Aubrey
"So she's not getting married now?" The corners of her mouth tugged down for a moment. "I wonder what happened..." she trailed off, her concern wavering, at least momentarily, as her eyes went back to the beautiful veil.
Ambrose shook his head. "I.... I don't know.... Moreau and Aubrey never seemed to exactly be... happy. But with her pregnancy and the engagement I thought that things were finally working for them..." His ear flicked back.
"But... this is so generous of her. And the veil is stunning." He lifted the veil and held it up to her, cocking his head with a smile.
"And I wonder what the tuz looks... like..." His voice trailed off as he pulled it out next and holding it up to his chest. "Look at this!"
"That's amazing, Ambrose!" she squealed in glee. "Oh my god, Ambrose, this is really happening, isn't it?"
"It's perfect... I... I always wanted to give you the wedding of your dreams. And to see it happen even here.... " He smiled, scooting closer and wrapping his arm around her. "I want to be your prince charming."
Angelina nuzzled the fur under his chin. "I love you." She scritched behind his ear then looked back over to the tux.
So what are you waiting for... go try it on!"
His face split open in a grin as he was on his feet and shedding the khakis, carefully wreathing himself in the elegant suit.
He tightened the cummerbund, smoothed it down around him and then turned in a circle with his arms out, his eyes seeking the mirror. He puffed, tail and head lifting proudly.
"You look amazing," she said, watching him whistfully.
"Thank you." He responded, running his hands over the fabric again. "I... should probably take it off... keep it somewhere safe until the wedding."
"Probably.. .but it looks so good!" She hopped up and wrapped her arms around his waist, her tail curling up behind her. "But maybe its for the best. I'm starting to get hungry."
"Then we'll need to fix that!" He said with a laugh as he meticulously removed the tux and hung it in the closet. Redresing himself, he opened the last giftbag, pulling out the vibrant blue and white blanket with matching pillow.
"Hey... this is nice!" He read over the message. "From Lucas.... I wonder how he's been doing. I'll have to thank him for this."
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 6:13 am
Run in with Joli In which Ambrose runs into Joli and finds that another islander has gone nonmorphic... and the extent of some of the behavioral side-effects Even though it was only a few short weeks after Christmas, the island showed anything but the traditional signs of winter that the New Englander was accustomed to. As he strolled through the village after visiting the cafeteria, he longed for the crisp winter air, the snow on the ground, or even, strangely, the bare winter trees. If anything, the nostalgic trappings of his old home had the added appeal of a welcome respite from the clingy humidity that his furry body was certainly not well adapted towards.
But despite the discomfort, this was about as cool as the island tended to get during the day, and so Ambrose, after his daily gorging in the cafeteria took his time as he passed through the village, stretching his legs and letting his mind wander.
He still couldn't bring himself to eat the eggs in the cafeteria. One of the few non-meat things that he still had savored after the finalizations of his transformation now gurgled his stomach at their very sight... and the memory of the soft leathery objects that had plunked into his lap in that very cafeteria not so long ago from a girl he thought of as his sister.
Joliette on the other hand truely didn't mind the warmth, the Komodo liked the sun in the middle of hte day, and of course the dark coolness of inside at night. As per her normal actions she was at that time trying to keep out of sight, still wary of people's reactions despite the fact that none had been bad to that point. In this she was moving close to buildings and other places less likely to be seen as she moved around hte perimeter of the inner village area, she had no destiation, just wanted to get out of hte duplex and enjoy the sun.
Ambrose caught a scent then, something distinctly familiar, and yet different than any specific scent in his library. Then again, the shedding of the humanity from the scents that he learned of the other islanders was not a new thing for the wolf. And yet, despite teh distinctly animal smell of even the islanders who, like him, had completed their change there was still the unique tinge that generally tipped him off to their identity.
So with the lizard scent, Ambrose's head turned quickly. while vaguely similar to Amaya in odor - and hers was quick to his mind on his train of thought - he quickly discerned that it was in fact a reptile of a different color. Joli.
His ears flicked back as he saw the brown shape lumbering along one of the paths... on all fours. At first, he didn't want to believe - surely she had been nearly complete when he last saw her - and she was barely human.... but there was no denying in her heavy build, her short legs that Joli was no longer even partially bipedal. Like Pyroth, she was hardly indistinguishable from the animal she had been infused with. Were it not for the mop of brown hair strangely situated on her lizardlike head like an animal in a wig - Ambrose would have had a hard time visually distinguishing her from the real deal.
"Joli...?" He called hesitantly, subconsciously dropping to all fours to meet her. It seemed more appropriate, the back of his mind coached. And truth be told, that form of locomotion was almost more comfortable for the wolf man - save for his pride. Though unlike the lizard before him, he still wore the trappings of his human persona - designer clothes - a polo and khaki shorts sized to fit his mass.
Joliette lifts her head more to the sound of a familiar voice calling her name and comes to a dead stop turning her head, her tongue flickering as she looked around till her eyes landed on the wolfman, she studied him for a moment, clothing... something she dearly missed, though the last she had worn had become very tattered by the time she had gone to the labs.
"Hi Ambrose...." she says almost hesitantly, he'd known her from the start, when she had been... human. And she'd known him since he'd been about 1/4 done... it was still a shock to see the changes Feral forced on them.
A wincing smile - the closest he could manage to a friendly one at the moment - graced his face as he padded forward once it was obvious that the woman seemed to be of sound mind despite her reptilian, clothesless appearence.
"Joli.... I... hey there." He stopped himself from immediately launching into the barrage of questions such as how and when. Instinctively, he sniffed a few times at her to gauge her mood.
She lifts a brow at his sniffing, she's nervous, but otherwise mellow and down in spirit. "I see you changed too" she says after a moment breaking the ice a touch. Her tongue flickers taking in his final scent. She glances past him a moment then looks directly at him, was more not wanting to be overwelmed by numbers of people, the Komodo did like it's solitude after all.
He flicks an ear back as she drew attention to his own change. That's right, he had changed since he last saw her... and it was relatively dramatic in his point of view as well.
"Yes... although I am not really in much of a position as others to complain. At least... from what I know... it's over. I'm done and I can start to move on from here. You.... I assume that you are in the same situation now, yes? How... how have you been holding up..?"
"Yes, I believe this is the last change... I have a lot more control then I used to, I'll admit that though... I dont lose it like I used to. Which in itself I suppose is a good thing. I dont have to be worried about losing the control to the point where I attack anyone anymore" She nods "You? And your fiancee? Doing well I presume?"
"That is good to hear... to be honest... If I had to choose, I'd take a sound mind over a human body. At least you can learn to adapt.... and perhaps maybe there might be some unrevealed advantage to your shape.." Ambrose didn't mention that he couldn't precisely think of one, but... he was sure there was. Strength? He knew little of exotic animals beyond the research he had done into his own species.
"And yes! We're doing quite well, actually. Things are progressing. Slowly, but they are moving. She.... still hasn't changed again, though.... I worry about her."
"I wouldn't have a ... sound mind for lack of any better term if it wasn't for David" Joli admits to him "Learning to adapt is harder, I've about given up on eatting in the cafeteria... I cant get at any of hte food without help in there, nor sit at any chair at any table."
She pauses a second "hasn't changed? but... she's been here like three quarters the amount of time I have..." she frowns at this
He nodded. "Having someone special in your life is priceless here.... someone to cling to... to share the experiences - the bad and the good. I couldn't have made it alone, I can tel you that." Ambrose confided.
At her second question, he shook his head. "She's only changed the once in al the time she's been here. They have her take.. supplementary injections, run blood work... I know she's had problems... complications.... after seeing the gravestones.." he shuddered, the fur rising along his hackles as the chill ran down his spine.
"Yeah.. well he ran into me one day, or rather I ran into him, and I wasn't in control when I did, he made me go up to the labs... Ok well I agreed to go, against my better judgement... but I still went." She pauses and thinks about the headstnes he refers to. "What happened to them all. I mean last time I saw him the Dude was happy and well"
"I... I think that they are trying.... I mean, overall circumstances aside... they don't want us dead... or insane. I spoke with Aubrey about them...." He spoke quietly. It didn't sit right with him... the Dude being gone...
"This procedure... you and I know how experimental this all is... how impossible.... there... were unforseen problems she said. They tried to correct them, but ... they can't fix everything. I don't know the details. I don't think I'd want to. But I think there were different circumstances. But it all would boil down to the body rejecting the change."
She shudders a little "I am glad it wasn't me... Would prefer being locked in a bare room for 3 days far more then that... Even spending even more birthdays here then that... I've already spent two of those so far..." at that she grows quiet
Ambrose nodded, and then blinked. "wow... you're right... my birthday is coming up later this month.... I hadn't even given it a thought. And... three days in a room? What was that about?"
"Mine was a few days ago, just before new years... As for three days in a room, when David convinced me to get help, so I could stay in control, the git locked me in a bare room for three days after they gave me the two injections" she tries to explain the best she could
Ambrose nodded, but his brow furrowed. "Why did they lock you in the room?"
"Why does the git do anything... they escorted me into a room, the git talked to me through a speaker, I threw a food tray at the 'window' a few times and eventually they knocked me out and gave me the injections, it was almost over when I came to, and then they left me there for three days or so before returning me to the village" she nods slowly as she speaks
"I've personally had little interactions with the man... but I've heard nothing but horror stories about him. I'm sorry that you had to endure that.... but at least it's over. And... like you say... you do seem more stable. I remember during the lockout you were pretty bad off. The hunger did strange things to a lot of us. The new islanders are lucky they didn't have to experience that."
"I got a lot worse then that" Joliette admits "I very rarely could hold onto control after the third change, the beast almost always had it, and only a few people could seem to pull me out of it."
His ears lower. "Dear lord.... I... I'm sorry about that. I didn't know you had gotten that bad. I... I didn't know that anyone had gotten that bad. I... I'm sorry, Joli. How? I mean.... did you fight it? Did you deny it? What let it get such a strong foothold? Just the nature of the serum?"
"I dont know, but I think fighting the instincts didn't help at all... Eventually I gave up fighting, gave up hope I suppose, and hte beast took over... Was still worst when I was hungry though. I haven't lost control as of yet since the injections and change at the labs" She thinks about the past and what had happened, some actions she could remember and wished never had happened
Ambrose nodded, though as sympathetic as he tried to look, there was a worry behind his eyes. He kept his instincts in control through a system of picking his battles. Much of the emotions that coursed over him in any given day were likely largely a factor of his lupine nature... it was a strange sort of synthesis. And while his transformation was complete, Ambrose did harbor secret anxieties that someday that equilibrium would tip. In the months or years to come, living in this jungle, he would give in to a simpler, animalistic nature. He needed to find more to keep him occupied.
At least he had Angelina. And in the near future, the wedding to look forward to and plan.
"Hunger... can drag down even the best of us... I try not to let myself go for long without food. I'm glad that they were able to help you."
"Yeah I suppose..." she pauses, "better help would have been for this never have been done to us at all... Iknow what my parents felt last winter, I can't imagine what they are doing now, I dont know that I want to know if they are still looking, not to mention anyone else's parents or loved ones that are stuck here. " She watches him, his expressions, trying to gauge his feelings, they almost seemed mixed to her, but she wasn't sure
Ambrose nodded silently, his eyes meandering down to his front paws as his ears flattened against the side of his head. What were his parents doing now? Did they even miss him? Did they think that he ran off and did something horrid, possibly damaging to the precious family? Or did they honestly miss him... worry about him.
Finally, his tail flicked and he sighed. "No one can argue that." He responded sullenly.
She nods, "Yeah... But I suppose we can't dwell on it, it doesn't help us" she says quietly looknguinto the sky for a moment. "Have... have you seen Hargun at all lately? I haven't... I'm worried about her" she tries to think of exactly when she HAD seen her last
Ambrose paused, then shook his head. "Not in a very long time. Before the lockout. But... I didn't see a headstone, either.... so... maybe that's a good sign?" He winced. "But... there are a lot of people that I haven't seen in a while, so don't take my word for granted. I stay in my duplex or around the village most of the time. And my schedule has been rather off."
"I hope she's ok... I miss her,I uess eventually I should touch base with all my friends, and avoid those whodidn't really like me too much. I'm just scared oneday I'll run into a new islander and they wont have as accepting a reaction as others have had..." She pauses "have you had bad reactions?"
Ambrose nodded. "I have... I think there have been at least three times that I've been called a werewolf... newbies scream.... every time it happens it chills me... makes me feel positively miserable. I... I was always raised that appearences were important... how you present yourself... first impresions..." he gesticulated with a forepaw/hand. "It's... hard. But... at least ... every time it has happened, and I explain myself... people come around. They understand. They're scared, but not of me. And.... for better - but mostly for worse.... soon enough they join us."
He sighed. This conversation was rather depressing.... he felt bad for Joli...he really did. "Have you seen Pyroth? Maybe... you might be able to help eachother. His changes took him about as far as yours did."
"Pyroth? no I haven't seen him in a very long time, where does he usually hang out?" Now Ambrose had her curious about changes taking anyone 'as far as herself'
Ambrose paused, then shook his head. "I saw him during the Halloween party... I think he's been in the jungle, actually.... not that I'd reccomend that. It's been dangerous since... well... Annie. Or ask Bobby, I think they've been hanging out."
His ears flicked back. "But I should proably get back to Angelina. You take care, Joli... and feel free to drop by any time, alright?"
"I have spent most of my time in the jungle, I think I'll be ok out there... " she pauses and looks out intot he jungle then ack "Ok, thanks for talking Ambrose, it was really good to see you again"
Ambrose hesitates then nods. "You be careful. Jungle out there and all..... but seriously, Annie's dangerous. I know you can probably take care of yourself.... but still. She chewed me up and spit me out." He reached out and patted her forepaw with his. "It was good seeing you too."
She gave him a small yet genuine smile and turned for the jungle "Keep happy and safe Ambrose, and say hi to Angelina for me" and with that she lumbers into the folliage
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 1:06 am
You Could be in Show Bidness, Kid! It was a hot afternoon, and Billy lay propped between rocks, half submerged and fading from one dull color to another as he dozed quietly. It was comfortable and warm and wet, and he was well ready to spend his entire afternoon there if he didn't need to go fishing for his dinner eventually.
Ambrose had been actually being fairly productive that afternoon - he was feeling envigorated. Between reading the newsletter that had been delivered to his door while eating breakfast, and then the board that was set up in the middle of the village and stopping by the construction site (unpopulated at the time he had swung by), the village finally seemed to be living up to its title.
So, with the letter clutched in his hand, and after stopping by his duplex for his long-neglected epee, Ambrose trotted out to the lake to see if the infamous octopus might be about. If even he could be prompted to work towards a community-benefiting plan, Ambrose knew he should feel bad for not being active yet.
His eyes scanned the still surface. His fishy scent was all over the place, and Ambrose crinkled his nose as he looked to see if he actually was still about. Then, a small shift of color caught his eye and he approached carefully as close as he could without getting his feet wet.
He remained oblivious, beak agape as he quietly weased, cushioned by a coil of his own limbs snaked around into a nest. A pair of flies had taken to flitting about his head, but he paid them no mind, lost in whatever place his mind went when he was unconcious.
Ambrose flicked an ear back in indecision as he watched the slumbering form. He couldn't help but crinkle his nose again but quickly mentally berated himself for the disdain at something the man obviously couldn't help. And to make things worse, if it was possible, Billy looked to be in an even sadder state than he had been when he saw him during the Truth or Dare, as addled as he had seemed. There was a mass of little deformed-looking tentacles around his... beak... that wriggled as he breathed, and there was hardly any remnant of a once-human build on the man.
He shook his head, It could have just as easily have been him lying in a pool of fetid water had he gotten a sadder luck of the draw.
Finally, Ambrose shook himself out of his thoughts - at least Billy was asleep and not privvy to his looks before Ambrose could compose himself, and he cleared his throat, first gently to see if it would rouse the sleeping lake monster.
It mearly stirred an odd shift in his coloration, from a dull greyish blue of the water, to a purplish in a blink befor being flushed out with a spasm of red and it settled back into the color of the stone. He gave a little grumble, his chin squirming as he rolled over. Sleeping outdoors for months had made him a very sound sleeper. Perhaps this wasn't for the best, all things concidered.
A frown flitted across his muzzle. Would a sound even rouse him? He hadn't heard him approach after all. Or at least not enough to pull him out of his slumber. Part of him had noticed perhaps - the interesting shifting colors attested to that....
Ambrose tried another tactic. He didn't want to particularly get any closer. A suddenly woken wet octopus could flail and get him wet and slimy.... So he lifted his epee and staying as far back as possible with his arm outstretched, he poked him with the blunt tip. "Psst... Billy..."
He flinched and wove a tentacle tip to try to shove it away, "No, ma'am... aint goin'...!" He mumbled angrilly. His skin clouded, vains of dark indigo bristling over him.
ooc: I saw this video of an octopus changing colors while dreaming and it was so trippycool o_o
Ambrose grunted. Maybe he should come back later.... but then there was likely an equal chance of the sod being asleep then as well. He was going to try to be more active in this forming community, dammit.
"Billy! Wake up!" Ambrose said louder this time, poking at him a little harder. How hard was octopus skin to bruise? It certainly looked thin...
This time, the octopus flailed, water splashing up into the air to mix with a wide spray of black ink, and with a sploosh and a hoarse profanity, Bill was submerged to his head ten feet out in the water, panting heavily, "Wha' th'... bloody hell'rey'... doin', boy??"
Ambrose winced, backpedaling from the tepid spray. But despite his best efforts, several droplets of diluted black inked showered down on him, landing in his fur and staining one of the nice polo shirts that he had specially ordered to fit his new form.
"Ugh.... William... what did you have to go and do that for?!" Ambrose exasperated, holding his arms out and shaking them ineffectively with a disgusted expression.
"Wha're y'doin'... sneakin' up on'... a sleepin' man li'... tha'? Wit'... wolves an'..." After a look at the visitor, he added, "An' o'er... tings in th'jungle..."
Ambrose's expression darkened for a moment, his ears flattening back. This wasn't the first time that he had felt frustrated at being either mistaken or lumped in with the.... insane wolf in the jungle. He was perfectly sane. And yet because of her, not only did he receive a nasty neck wound, but seemed to be even better at scaring other islanders recently. "Yes, because all the wolves on the island are terrible, ferocious beasts."
Ambrose shook the flier at Billy. "And if you didn't want to be bothered, why did you advertise??"
The octopus man's inhuman lavender eyes widened at the sight of his flier. Now that was a different story! "Oh so... yer' here aboo'... THA', then?" with a few strokes of his various limbs, he scooted back towards the rocks to snake his limbs up over them and pull him up into the shallows amongst the rocks once more.
"Well yes! Do you get many other visitors to your... uhm... home here? I actually thought that this.. .production company that you came up with is a fabulous idea. I would love to help out... I suppose I've always had a mind for theater.. I did a bit of acting in high school, you know." Ambrose puffed, as if this were some great claim to fame.
"Ach... well..." He cleared his throat, glancing to the side as he wlithered his limbs about to sit up against a rock, "So wha' d'y'.....propose t'me, then? Entertain me."
Ambrose straightened. "Well, I think that I can do a fair job reading lines. I would love to see a production - a swashbuckling play! Or perhaps even something shakespearean! They have their share of flashy scenes if you know the ones to pick. And of course.. My first love was the sword. I was a nationally ranked fencer, and that is easily applicable to the stage."
"Ah, good, so y'coul'.... teach people t'fight... on stage?" That would be entertaining. Heck, a real fight would be brilliant but impossible. He could always... *say* it was a real fight and have bets be held.... but no, a fight scene in a play seemed easier to incorperate. "Alrigh', yer on th'team." With what he had recieved so far, he'd take whoever came to him. He'd figure out how to put them to use later. "An' talk ...t'th'deer woman... er.. Emily... Emma... er... hell, I cannae' ...remember, bu' she's... workin' on a script. Or th'man Sid, if y'seen 'im." Bill hadn't seen Sid since his rather awkward final change. He wondered if the labs had gotten him or if he simply had been too grossed out to care for his company any longer. Hopefully it was just a bad case of excessive boozing. "Bu' I aint heard ... from him in a while."
Ambrose's ears pricked and he nodded enthusiastically. "I would love to teach. I have tried a few times with some of the other islanders since I've been here, but ... people have lost interested or... gotten depressed about their changing physical capabilities. "
Ambrose grinned, showing off long, sharp pearly whites. "Wonderful! I am excited to be able to help out!" In a friendly gesture, Ambrose extended a paw-hand to shake ... tentacles? with the octopus.
"Emerwyn? I know her! It has been a while, but she's a really sweet woman. She's writing for it? That would be wonderful - perhaps she could write something with an action flaire!"
"Probably easier... fer ye t'track 'er down'n me," He chuckled, looking at the paw a moment befor lifting a tentacle up to coil it around his palm and wrist.
Ambrose squeezed it gently, trying to block his expression from mirroring his thoughts about how slimy and strange-feeling the appendage was.
"I shall do that. Anything I should ask on your behalf when I find her?"
"Ask... if she's got anyt'in' fer me yet," He grinned, knowing it was pointless regardlessly. The theater itself was far from finished. "An' feel free... t'drop by construction... anytime. Me lad Gaius's... always lookin' fer... able bodies." He made to take his limb away, but the suckers had become fairly well attatched to the pads of his palms. He lifted a second and third limb to squirm around his wrist to untangle himself, "Sorry aboo' tha'."
Ambrose nodded, feeling glad to have a purpose. "I'd be happy to. I've been meaning to drop by and lend a hand. I... really have no good excuse as to why I haven't yet. "
Ambrose looked towards the stubborn suckers, ears flattening and blatantly unsure of how to extricate his hand with minimal damage. Fortunately, Billy solved the problem. "It's.... it's alright..." Should he offer condolances? Or was Billy the time to hate sympathy. "And... I'm glad to see that you've found a niche that you're enjoying as well."
A muscle twitched on the octopus's cheak just under his round eye, "M'tired.... o' bein' fecked up ....th'arse by e'eryone.... Hopin' t'turn... me karma aroun', y'know?"
Ambrose nodded, slower and meeting the octopus's eyes. The man was testament to the abuse he'd seen - hardly a man in the sense of the word... teh collar about his neck. "I can only imagine some of the s**t you've been through. I hope that you're right. This is... our home now. We have to make the best of it."
"Bloody well... better'n... sittin' aboo' all day li'... we're on some holiday... li' bloody... stupid sheep, y'know?" He chuckled, licking his beak befor lifting a tentacle tip to try to pick a fishbone out from between a remnant tooth and the beak itself.
Ambrose nodded. He had Angelina, thank goodness - which served a double purpose of making his life feel more meaningful and often giving him something to do. But he didn't want to potentially rub in the fact that he had a woman to the octopus. Despite him protesting to the contrary, Ambrose was judgmental based on appearences, and he doubted that Billy had that sort of gift. "This is true."
As of late, though, Billy had twice as many women as ever, and was still riding the high of his last rather enjoyable encounter with a certain curvacious monkey. He nodded, "Alrigh' then... don' know... wha' else y'coul' want wit' me."
Ambrose grinned. "And at the moment, neither do I. I'll go try to find Emerwyn or Gaius and I'll let you get back to sleeping."
"An'... y'know..." He shifted, trying to not look half as lonely as he often felt these days, "Feel free t'li'.... come lemme' know ....wha's goin' on. ...Li' t'keep track... o' all tha', y'know?" He panted, giving the wolf a wink.
"Sure thing. Just don't.... spray me next time and you have yourself a deal." Ambrose responded, brushing at some of the black speckles in his fur for emphasis.
"Maybe wake ...me wit' a fish ...next time," He was only half joking, "T'be far better received than a jab t'th'shoulder."
"Well, you didn't respond to me talking at you." Ambrose responded indignantly. "But I'll give fish a try next time." He promised.
"An' make it a big one," Billy added after only a moments hesitation.
Ambrose chuckled, and saluted him with the epee and a wink before turning and heading back towards the village.
As he watched the fencing wolfman go, Billy wondered if he should start some sort of notebook with his findings. He wasn't the best of writer, even befor the tentacles. Maybe he'd just have Maryke write down his notes for him. She could be his official sexy secritary. He liked that. He'd see about maybe finding her a skimpy uniform to wear, not that it would be necissary with all the furr, but hey, it would still be fun. Ah, things were slowly coming together, and with each fresh audition, the octopus man's spirits rose.
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Posted: Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:58 am
I'M the Alpha Male! Ambrose meets Jordan on the beach, and pack tendencies flare! ^^Ambrose Maurlias NEW RP
Ambrose hadn't had any luck looking for Gaius or Emerwyn in their duplexes. Then again, it wasn't much of a surprise - it was one of the rare months on the island before the weather got miserably hot, and many people were taking advantage of that fact.
While he hadn't yet seen anyone working on it, the progress on Gaius's theatre was looking great, and even Billy seemed to be in livlier spirits and being productive.
And the temperature wasn't making Ambrose swelter just walking around outside. So taking advantage of the "winter" season, Ambrose decided to take a stroll down to the beach. It was a likely place to find people if he didn't run into them in the village. Besides, it had been too long since he had let himself stretch his legs and run - feeling his heart pumping in his chest and the muscles burn in his legs.... and arms.
He had left the polo shirt behind, after all it had been stained earlier that day with Billy's ink, and while the island wasn't hot per se, it never really got cool.
And while he would never do it with other people watching - at least not yet, Ambrose found it secretly invigorating to run on all fours - he was faster than he had ever been before - the wind rushing through his fur was an amazing sensation, and the scents that carried on the wind were fascinating. And it certainly was a swift way to carry him the mile + distance to the Western sandy shores of their island home. Jordan Essex Jordan was riding the high of staying out of trouble, finding romance, and as well his niche. The dog man was coming into his new role and learning to enjoy being shifty for the sake of the labs. Life was good. Yes sir.
He was on the beach as it was the closest location to his duplex without having to trek through the jungle. He preferred to remain on the beach anyhow. It was 'his' turf as he was usually the only person out this far. The cool breezes were so refreshing and soothing for the mind.
It made coping with the humidity a bit easier. The long fluffy double-coating of fur on his arms and legs were like wearing wool pajamas at all times. Walking through the dense, moist jungle was a pain, so in spite of laziness, it was easier to relax in the sand, knees held close to his chest, just losing himself in the peaceful atmosphere. Ambrose Maurlias Carried by his momentum, the exhiliration from the run, and the delight of gaining a lupine endurence, Ambrose had hardly slowed by the time the dirt path let out onto the sandy beach.
His pawpads spread and the warm, soft sand cushioned his footfalls as he tore out onto the beach, forgetting for the moment the reason he had come out here in exchange for the runner's high and simple canine pleasure that he felt the need to experience from time to time. After all, it seemed to help quell other, baser desires if he gave in to harmless urges such as this.
The salty scent of the sea carried on the cool breeze from off the island and Ambrose closed his eyes, letting imagry play in his mind's eye. Mixed with the sound of lapping waves and the vague scent of fish and beach wood and long-dead shellfish it was a very tranquil and soothing picture.
As Ambrose kicked up dry sand in his wake, at his loping run he almost didn't smell one other scent present on the beach until he was nearly upon its owner. His eyes jerked open to see an unfamiliar partially-changed man sitting in the sand. And too late, he tried to slow down. Jordan Essex Jordan too enjoyed the scents carried on the breeze, though his enhanced senses were hardly comparable to a wolf's. His nose twitched inccessantly and it didn't bother him at all. He'd been making a game out of 'What's that smell' for some time now and it amused him. Having enhanced senses was a gift no human could imagine to possess and for that, he pitied their dull hearing and lackluster sense of smell. For the past three weeks Jordan had been experiencing the world in a way he'd never been able to in twenty-five years of life.
His slightly-pointed ears would twitch to every stimulus that presented itself. The waves were -of course- the primary sound. He loved that sound. He'd loved it back home, but the beauty of this beach amplified the experience ten-fold.
Jordan squinted as he thought he'd heard something, but it was drown out by the rolling waves. His ears twitched more as he heard it again, trying to figure out what it was. He lifted a paw to the bridge of his nose, rubbing between his eyes. Closing his eyes seemed to help him focus as the other sound was approaching- fast. He just happened to look up blurry-eyed, drawing his paw away from his face, when he saw the outline of a rapidly-approaching form.
No one he knew.
He squinted his eyes again and that's when he saw... oh god.. no...
Jordan's first response was to panic. His heartbeat raced two, almost three times faster in an instant. It was too late to move out of the way as the large wolf was barrelling upon him. The dread in his eyes was evident without the sunshades no longer in his possession. His mouth opened in horror, ready to cry out a horrible gasp.
This was it. The killer wolf had found him at last as he trembled in fear. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose locked his legs, but the only good that did in the soft, giving sand was to send him skidding towards the man with a look of horror plastered to his face.
His ears plastered back against his head and he squeezed his eyes shut in preparation for the impending collision, and a moment later his bulk crashed into the stranger - and with a surprised yelp they were btoh sent toppling into the sand.
How acutely embarrasing. Why wasn't he paying more attention!? Why hadn't he opened his eyes, and why hadn't he let his nose tell him more about the surroundings than just the distinct smell of the beach itself?!
With a groan and a flinch that displayed his sicled fangs, he tried to push himself off of the poor guy, preparing to apologize profusely. Jordan Essex The collision hurt like being side-swiped by a mac truck and he was sent flying in the sand, but not far enough as he let out an exapserated 'OOF' as the wind was knocked out of him. He was pinned under the large wolf's bulk, stunned by the force of impact.
Jordan was hesitant to touch the wolf, even to use him as leverage to unearth himself from his body. Anything to set this feral off and that thought frightened him further. Jordan squirmed, trying to worm himself away, but it was no-go. He was trapped until the killer so desired to release him from his clutches.
He breathed uneasilly, gasping sharply with each breath. This was it. He was going to die. He wasn't going to get the chance to see Kim again. His time was short as his equally short life flashed. His lips quivered and he couldn't control his fear anymore. He gripped the sand, as much as one can, and closed his eyes, preparing for the final moment of life before becoming dog kibble.
"Please don't kill me!!" the words escaped his fanged mouth. Great, his final words to be remembered by would be a cowardly display, shouting 'Please don't kill me.' Ambrose Maurlias "Oh god, I'm So TERRIBLY Sor-" He cut off, cocking his head and his face contorting into a baffled confusion. Kill him? Why would he...?
Oh.
His ears flattened to the side and he scowled, pushing himself up to a kneeling position with a belabored sigh and began to pat the sand from his fur. He obviously knew about the island. He looked like he had changed at least once or twice. It was probably her fault. His lip curled momentarily, and Ambrose didn't think that this was probably not helping the nerves of the dogboy.
He shook his head, with an exasperated gesticulation. "I'm not going to kill you" he insisted. "Really." Jordan Essex His frantic mind buzzed with one thought: FLEE!! As soon as Ambrose had lifted his weight from Jordan, the dogboy kicked his paws in the sand, not intentionally to kick sand at the wolf (though that would have been a good idea if he had thought of it). He only succeeded in scooting himself deeper into the sand. He turned onto his side and pushed himself up, ready to bolt for the safety of his duplex---- when he slipped and fell face-first back into the sand.
He curled into a fetal position, resigned to his fate. A shivering, huddled mass of white fur covered in sand. Ambrose's scent was so very strong. It burned his nostrils with the sheer power and strength of his animal.
Wait... what...? Nothing happened.. and did he just speak eloquently? Jordan peered up at Ambrose with one slowly-opening eye, relieved to see him not lunging for his jugular, but the curling lip snarl was just as intimidating. He was so confused. The wolf wasn't attacking. He was dusting sand out of his fur.
"Sir.. Mr. Wolf.. You're not going to hurt me.. B-but everyone says you're a killer..?" he was stuttering his words as his mouth trembled and then his paws were tightly wrapped around his mouth at the last part, eyes widening. He'd been spared and now he may change his mind. Ambrose Maurlias At the "Mr. Wolf", the image of the fairytale Big Bad Wolf flashed in Ambrose's mind. The cowering person, the nasty reputation trying to beg for his honor... it did seem like something out of a children's story.
"Mr. Wolf" indeed.
And damn the other islanders for spreading warnings of Annie without bothing to give any more description than "wolf". Probably trying to distance themselves from her by reducing her to the animal she had become. She wasn't a person to them anymore, not an islander. Just... "the wolf". Ironic, that in all the reading he had done, it likely wasn't the lupine DNA in her system that was responsible for her madness but the serum and the process itself... Wolves generally didn't attack people, despite their fairy tale cognants. But whatever the cause for her madness, Ambrose has already run into the sharp side of her fangs and claws, and he had scars to prove it. It was because of her that his runs no longer took him into the jungle, and because of that they were fewer and further between. Most of the island was covered with jungle, and Ambrose did not like to be seen doing something so base. But... at least he wasn't like her despite similar appearences.... he was still a man... not just a wolf... not just a monster.
His ears stayed plastered to the back of his head as his mind tumbled over these darker thoughts.
Finally, he spoke again, slowly and deliberately, trying to start over. "I am truly sorry to have frightened you. It was not my intention. It was my own mistake for not looking where I was going." He stayed where he knelt, careful to not close the distance. He, unfortunately, had had to placate more than one islander since his arrival here. As one of the firsts, he was usually more changed than other new folk he encoutered...
"I don't know what you've specifically been told, but I believe that there may have been a case of mistaken identity. I'm not the wolf that you've likely heard the tales about." Jordan Essex Jordan blinked in utter mystification. He was so very articulate. Commanding. Collected. Now, he felt horrible for reacting as he had. No one had told him there were two wolves!! This thought came through his facial expression as momentary anger for not being told more about the wolf on ther loose, his brows furrowing. As he collected himself and pulled himself to his paws, Jordan gapped the distnce between them both. His expression was still furrowed brows of confusion, though the fear could obviously not be detected at this point.
"I'm.. so very sorry, sir." he placed both his paws on Ambrose's right arm. "I hadn't been told anything more than there was a feral wolf on the loose killing people. That was during my first encounter with one of the residents.." he hung his head low in shame, not telling him that it had been Awen who'd warned him. "I'm very sorry for the way I reacted." Jordan slowly lifted his face, tears dripping down his cheeks. "Please, I beg your forgiveness.. I don't know how terrible it must be to be mistaken for being a marauding animal, but I'm truly sorry to have accused you without having more of the facts."
He could feel Jordan trembling against him and he leaned forward to hug the wolf tightly. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose was grateful for the understanding and the apologize... but the degree to which the man subjugated himself... and then... hugged him...? That, Ambrose had not been prepared for - nor was he quite sure how to respond.
Then, slowly, he gingerly patted the man's back. "It's.... it's alright. I'm sure you didn't know any better. And the stories of the other wolf are the truth... I've seen her myself. For future reference, she's got a dark brown pelt and, well, is female." His ear flicked back. He was describing her as if she was an animal, too. But then... that's what she was now, wasn't it... He too wanted to distance himself from her, regardless of the polite, meek girl that she had once been... one of them.
"But you'll find that the majority of the islanders here will mean you no harm. We're as human as you are where it counts, despite appearences." His eyes flicked to the thick white fur, and his nose told him that the man had a distinctly canine air to him. "After all... even those who aren't as far along eventually will get there..." Jordan Essex He felt safe near Ambrose, as if the omega submitting to the pack alpha. He definitely felt protected as the large paw patted at his back. The command of presence combined with the calm, collected demanor, he was definitely what his mind understood as 'Alpha'. Jordan looked up, meeting Ambrose's expression with a meek smile, flashing his canines in the process. He snugged a-hold of Ambrose another few moments before pulling back gently and respectfully, kneeling down before the wolf as if he were king, himself, and held up a paw, tilting his head to the side as if asking if it were alright to be part of his pack. This may not be what Doctor Moreau had intended with the drugs and mindbending but it was happening as a result of his mind trying to cope with these new thoughts.
Jordan's tail fanned the sand behind him as he remained there like a an excited puppy, awaiting any response from the wolf. He was strong and fast and noble, like everything he knew of wolves to be and he was awe-struck by his kindness. Jordan didn't exactly understand what was going on with him. He just knew this was the thing to do, to submit to the higher station of authority.
"I'll spread the word and inform people that you are not the wolf that everyone fears." So it was a female wolf with a dark brown pelt. He compared that to the noble golden hair and grey fur of the wolf before him, smiling even more. "I'll make sure this won't happen again, sir." Ambrose Maurlias Something seemed... off... about the way the fellow spoke. And yet, everything about his mannerisms seemed to bypass Ambrose's rational mind and speak to him in a much more instinctual level. It made him feel confident and in control, that the guy wasn't a threat; quite the opposite - that he was friendly and subservient and someone to be watchful over. And Ambrose liked that. There was so little about the island that Ambrose felt like he had control over - the labs saw to that. But at least the other people in his life, how he dressed himself and the care that he took in tending to his hygene - (despite the fact that he was currently spackled with ink in a few places from Billy; he hadn't had time to shower since then). In many ways, the lupine influences on Ambrose had intersperced themselves amongst Ambrose's pre-established personality and the result was a very congruent whole. Much of the wolf nature synched with the man's priorities and morals.
It was thus comforting that the man's mannerisms and posture immediately told that lupine segment of Ambrose's mind that judged every new person, sizing them up and trying to determine where they fit into the complex heirarchy of the island, exactly where this individual stood.
He nodded, feeling like a king; quite the turnaround from his embarrassing klutziness and apologies. "Thank you. Fortunately... I think there are many on the island who know me already, but it would be nice for those I haven't to not mistake me for the bloodthirsty savage. Ambrose... by the way... my name is Ambrose." Jordan Essex He smiled, hanging onto every motion, every miniscule movement, every change in scent. He understood something that he didn't quiet comprehend. He was now part of the pack, the omega, the caretaker, the one who ate last and who answered to all of higher station, especially the leader. Ambrose was as quickly adopted as his alpha and he did not move from his position until given the permission to do so. He did understand canine behavior and that knowledge helped him to understand, though, he had a long way to go before he truly would comprehend the complex heirarchy of being in the alpha male's pack, to be protected as if it were the canine mafia and forever cared for, lest he gave any reason to not be trusted further.
"I'm Jordan Essex." he wagged his fluffy tail even more knowing his alpha's name. Yes, he was Ambrose, the leader. As much as he was compelled to call him 'sir' he was given permission to call him by his given name. His nostrils flared as he sniffed at him again, although the scent was registered in his mind, it was the way canines greeted one another, after all.
"Ambrose," he rubbed a paw against his cheek in a fidgety manner "If I should ever run across the she-wolf, what should I do? Will she try to hurt us if we run?" Ambrose Maurlias He nodded in approval, shoulders staying square and his head and tail raised confidently. This was the first time Ambrose had encountered another canine islander that was this instinctual in his mannerisms, and it seemed to awaken so much of Ambrose's own developed qualities.
"Jordan... it is good to have met you, and I am glad that I didn't give you a heart attack there. Hopefully you'll never run into her. She tends to stay in the jungle. But if you do..." He thought back to her running for Antony when she tried to run "I wouldn't flee from her.... I'd try backing away cautiously... But I've only enountered her once before amonst a group of people. She went for the person who tried to run and I ... I intercepted her." Ambrose was loathe to admit - especially to this person who was looking up at him as if he were king - how strong the she-wolf was. "I wouldn't reccomend trying what I did." He finished simply.
Then, seeking a change in subject away from his shortcomings. "I don't suppose you've seen a deer-woman by the name of Emerwyn... or a black Horse-man by the name of Gaius, have you?" Jordan Essex He nodded sagely at the survival advice. He'd make sure to do exactly as he said, but then his ears twitched nervously and he fidgeted again. He had to tell him something that overrid a part of his self that had been so cautious. This would be ther first time he told someone else that he did not live in the village and he was afraid of the consequences.
"Ambrose... I.. I... don't live in the village with everyone else.. I live further down the beach, on my own..." he'd done it. He couldn't keep secrets from the alpha. "I have to walk through the jungle everyday to get food or if I want clean clothes and if I want to borrow a book. I'll have to be extra careful in the jungle from now on."
Jordan quickly changed gears and had to pause a moment to think of the people he'd met. He hadn't encountered a deer, nor a horse, but he had heard of the latter. "I'm sorry I do not know either, but I think a girl named Sophie mentioned a horse-man to me a few weeks ago." he nodded. It wasn't much help, though. "I'll keep a look-out for them and let them know you wish to speak with them." He gazed longingly at the opportunity to prove his usefulness to the pack, wagging his tail for Ambrose as much as he does at the thought of Doctor Moreau. "You can count on me to do anything you desire."
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose furrowed his brow and cocked his head as he listened to Jordan talk, an ear flicked backwards as he considered the implications. Why did Jordan live away from everyone else? And there really was something odd about the way he spoke. Was it just that the canine serum was having a stronger effect on the boy? If that was the case, he obviously wasn't done changing yet... how much worse would it get?
"There... is a road... a narrow dirt road that cuts through the jungle... it's further to the South of here, but it leads straight to the village. That would be safer... I don't know if she uses the roads or not.... but being she hasn't been caught yet, I doubt she'd be there often."
Ambrose nodded. "That's alright, I'm sure I'll find them eventually - it's nothing pressing, but if you happen to run into either of them you can tell them that I'm looking for them." He smiled, his own tail returning the wag. "Thanks, Jordan."
He glanced around the beach again. Aside from him and Jordan, there wasn't a soul else there. But at least it had been a good run, and he met a new friendly face. "It was good to meet you. But I think I'll be heading back and see if I can't find either of them elsewhere. I'm in duplex number one if you ever want to pay a visit."
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Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:21 am
Emerwyn the Playwright Ambrose had thus far had no luck in his search for Emerwyn or Gaius. But in his defense, he hadn't exactly been looking that hard for either of them. It had given him something to do, and even the process of passively looking for an individual on the island gave him a sense of purpose. Not to mention that whenever he seemed to go out, he'd run into someone interesting, oftentimes a new face. Of course, there was always the awkward chance at running into a new islander... or someone who mistook him for the rumored "mad wolf"... but often times even negative first impressions could be shaped into a potential friendship... quite the turn around from the way that he had been raised to carefully groom his outward appearence.
But regardless, Ambrose wasn't ready to deal with that again today after nearly scaring the wits out of that Jordan fellow who... didn't seem to quite be completely right in the head. And so, Ambrose made use of one of the costly boons that came with his new form - his sense of smell.
It had been so long since he had last seen Emerwyn - a guilt-worthy long time, especially considering the sudden, strong kinship that he had stricken with the deer-woman who had also lost a love. And so, after finding her duplex empty, he picked up on her faint scent, and began to follow it in the general direction of the jungle. He paused, uncertainly at its border. He still had scars and scabs from his run-in with the mad wolf that had given him a bad name.... But... she had never been seen this close to the village... and he couldn't smell her anywhere around the area. So with careful footfalls, he picked his way into the jungle after Emerwyn's scent.
Emerwyn was heading back now, after making an even shorter distance than usual. The Doe was not even able to make it to the Meeting Tree, as she had come to call it, after first finding Miller, and then Thom there. What strange meetings she had indeed! She had yet to figure just what to make of Thom. He seemed to change every time she saw him. However, she'd found endearing qualities in him, as she strove to uncover in everyone.
She had been brainstorming much lately, taking down notes much to the dismay of her malformed hand. The thumb helped, however it caused a great cramping pain to write for more than five minutes at a time. So, the going was slow. But at least it was going. It would be difficult to reach the aspirations of one director such as Biily, but the bookwork felt up to the challenge.
Slowly Emerwyn moved on her way back. It was nice, relaxed. She'd grown to know the path so well. And at the end of the path, Ian would meet her, and the day could come to a blissful end.
Soon, Ambrose was able to discern the old, faded smells that seemed to indicate that this area of the near-jungle was often visited by her, to a stronger, fresher scent. His ears pricked, and he dropped to all fours in order to better follow the trail, padding slowly after her. It did... admittedly... feel good to return to the cooler shade of the jungle. Even in the "dead of winter" on the island, it was never cold by any stretch of the imagination. And before Angharad, Ambrose would take out his feral instincts to run and stretch his legs unseen by the other islanders in the shrouding depths of the jungle. His amazing sense of smell guarenteed that he wouldn't lose his way, and that he would notice if someone might spot him doing something base or animal.
But the months since Annie posed a danger meant that Ambrose had to find this repreive in short, secret times - along the path to the beach, roaming the open areas between the duplexes at odd hours, or along the coasts. But it wasn't the same.
So Ambrose took his time as he followed after her at an easy loping stroll. Perhaps twenty minutes later, the scent was very strong, and he could hear a soft crunching of underbrush. His ears pricked and he lifted his nose from where it hovered above the muddy path. Returning to two legs didn't even occur to him, so enlivened he was with the feeling of being in a stronger element than he had been for a long time. There was no hint of danger, and the playful aspect of a wolf's nature was flitting with him. And so, with a wag in his tail, he bounded towards the woman through the brush who he had successfully tracked, eager to surprise her.
And surprise her he did. Emerwyn was in such a relaxed state of mind, too lost to even realize if she had found a song or not. If she had the voice capacity to do so, she would have screamed. She spun around, and tripped, falling backwards before recognizing the impulse to run, run far. This proved to be a very good thing in the long run, however, since the Deer soon realized that the thing had no intention of harming her.
It was a fully formed beast, but Emerwyn felt in it what she firmly believed each of them would hold 'till their dying day. Human. Happiness, too. So Emerwyn could not help but break into a smile as she placed the all-too familiar features of the wolf.
She remembered well the one meeting she had had with Ambrose. From that day, she was determined to see him again, such a strong connection they did make. She never did meet his mate.
"Ambrose," she said, getting to her feet slowly. "My friend, it has been far too long." Her heart still beat in her chest, and she breathed heavier than usual, even in these recent days.
The spike of adrenaline and fear did not go unnoticed by Ambrose as she spun and froze, wide-eyed as he leapt out of the brush. But fortunately, the shock gave way to a smile on her features. She didn't run or scream... though the amount that the doe-features settled on the woman did catch him offguard for a moment. For a brief instant between heartbeats the playful lupine impulses shifted to suggest a much more sinister course of action would be appropriate... but it was quickly dismissed - though it's very presence, though brief, was enough to have the smile on Ambrose's face waver.
He didn't know why he should have been surprised by her appearence. After all, it had been far too long since they had seen each other last. And of course, the awkward match of a wolf and a deer meeting in the woods hardly escaped him. But... the features seemed to suit her - a strange, almost alien graceful beauty that matched the sorrowful, distant woman.
Ambrose ran a paw-like hand through his blonde hair as he rose to a stand, a wag in his tail. "Emerwyn... I... apologize for startling you." He started sheepishly. "It has been too long - and I'm sure that this isn't the way that you would have preferred that absence to be remedied."
But she laughed softly, excusing the fear that the animal in her absolutely insisted she maintain. "Please," she said. "It seems the powers that be have a particular fondness for creating various forms of deer-foe. Gradually I am coming to terms with that. Though one day I may regret growing so comfortable with that which new instincts claim I should fear." Though she said it lightly, there was a certain weight in her tone.
Brightness quickly overcame it though, and it now seemed as though it was never there.
"And what a long absence it has been for such a small living quarter," she continued. "I can only feel there is a reason for our meeting, for each time we do, some significance seems to make itself known."
Ambrose nodded slowly, shifting his stance to a more relaxed one, leaning his larger bulk against one of the convenient trees nearby. He hoped that his eased posture might help subdue the innate fears that flitted about in the deer's chest.
"It is not your fault, and I suppose that mine is likely the shape that would be the most instinctual for you to be apprehensive of... Though perhaps here that is not entirely without reason... I... assume you have heard that these jungles are not entirely safe now a days...?" His brow creased in concern. Despite Emerwyn's long legs that could likely carry her swiftly through the foliage, he had personally witnessed Annie's strength and mad tenacity.
"But that is not the reason for our meeting today - instead it is something hopefully more light-hearted. I spoke with Billy the other day regarding his "tryouts" for the theater that they are working on. He mentioned that you were an aspiring playwright...."
Emerwyn also shared a concerned look with Ambrose, though she had been oddly out of the loop. She knew nothing of recent events. Nothing of Annie, or what she had done to her friend, Fiona. Somehow, Emerwyn had managed to remain blissfully unaware of these facts. However, when Ambrose moved on she decided to not pursue any inquiry, and to instead smile and respond to his next remark.
"Oh, yes. Newton had told me of the theatrical endeavors of the Islanders... I think it is a wonderful idea... I began working on a play not too long ago - I think that even Lord Billy will approve in the end." She smiled now almost mischieviously, which didn't entirely suit her long features.
Ambrose had to supress an incredulous look at the honorific that Emerwyn bestowed on Billy. "Lord" Seemed to be the furthest description that Ambrose could think of the laude upon the bitter octopus. It almost caused him to question whether they were speaking of the same individual. He shook his head briefly with a bemused smile. "I certainly am curious as to its subject! And... I was wondering if I might inquire at least enough to see if there might be room for my talents. I would love to adapt some of my fencing to the stage. I loved drama in High School... and while I know that that is a far cry from a noteworthy resume, I have always had a soft spot for swashbuckling movies and plays - anything from Shakesperean duels in Romeo and Juliet to the big budget Zorro or Pirates movies... do you think there might be a place for that? I can train others if there needs to be a duel, for instance..."
Emerwyn of course meant no honor to be bestowed upong Billy with the title she'd given him. It was the woman's attempt at sarcasm - but it was so difficult to tell when she was being serious, and when she was in jest.
At this, Emerwyn's interest was definately peaked. She placed a hoof to her chin. "I do believe that will be a dinstinct possibility. After all, when following with the Shakespearan format, I must honor the tradition - the story shall make its greatest turning point at a great and dramatic event. I can think of no better way than a swordfight. I am glad there is someone who can aid in that endeavor." Everything was building up so well - this was going to be the writing experience of a lifetime.
Ambrose's face split into a wolfish smile and his eyes sparkled in excitement. At last! If he couldn't truly live out the role of a swashbuckling hero, at least he could live the part vicariously through a role on a stage. What a fantastic opportunity! He had been discouraged with the lack of opportunities to maintain his fencing talent on the island - no real competition, and those who he had begun to train had quickly either lost interest or the physical capabilities to continue.
"Well that is fantastic! I must say, I've enjoyed my share of a Shakespearean play. And to attempt something of that caliber is certainly a brave endeavor. I wish you luck with it - and... is there anything else that I can do to assist?"
Emerwyn shared in his excitement, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt the desire to throw her own hand in with the performance of her play. Even a written-in cameo would be acceptable, and have many humorous possibilities.
At the offer, Emerwyn turned thoughtful. What else could Ambrose do? The prospect of him adding a swordfight to the play was incredible enough - but there had to be a way to make it perfect. "Well, I believe to increase the drama of the scene, there will be a need to make the lines and the action move seamlessly together. You, now being the choreographer, will need to assist me in the writing of the scene, at a later date. It will truly advance the scene, I think." She nodded thoughtfully. Yes, that would be perfect.
Ambrose puffed up with the weight of the responsibility. Him! A choreographer! How wonderful! "I would love to be of help!" He offered enthusiastically. "I'm eager to see how this turns out, Emerwyn~! And quite eager to see what the subject matter of your play will be! And tryouts, and the casting, and props and of course the production itself! How is the writing coming so far?" His tail was mirroring his excitement as he began to babble enthusiastically.
"Admittedly slow-going," she said, a little disappointed that she had slightly dampening news following Ambrose's wonderful enthusiasm. "There is increasing difficulty in the physical act of writing, you see. However, I do not doubt that it will move along far more smoothly as I regain energy. I seem to be completely sapped of it lately..."
"It is a comedy," she continued. "One which will play to this particular audience, I do believe."
He nodded slowly. It was to be expected - wiritng a play, particularly if it was to be an endeavor like she was describing - of Shakespearean influence - then asking for it to go quickly would compromise quality. After all, the stage wasn't even complete yet.
With her admission of difficulty, Ambrose's eyes strayed to Emerwyn's hooves with a wince. "oooh... Oh Emerwyen... I'm sorry. Do... you think that there might be something that could be done to assist you? Maybe... you could request a laptop or something... with a pointing device for the keys?" He spoke hesitantly. Not all the islanders liked their physical handicaps to have attention drawn towards them. "And I'm sorry that you've been tired recently. Are you getting enough to eat out here?"
He scratched at his chin. "Comedy? As in Shakespearean? Or one of a more mainstream humor... or a parody or satire?"
She waved it off with the same hoof that caused her so much grief. "I think I shall do fine. I have never done any writing on a computer before, and now my resolve is even stronger to do this piece by my own hand - my own hoof. Whatever I have."
Emerwyn honestly did not know why she was so fatigued. "I cannot be certain. I know my eating schedule has not changed, though my appetite has changed. I have been rather - how shall I put this - picky about my food selection. While I normally found myself content with a vast variety of the growth here, it has changed greatly... But I am certain it is nothing.
As for the play. It is indeed a comedy written in the format of Shakespeare's works.
However, it is only in format, and not in language or symbolism that I follow him. It is a heavily satirical work, creating various parallels with our current reality." It was no wonder Billy seemed originally aprehensive of Emerwyn writing the play. Her explanation seemed to completely sap the fun from it.
Ambrose's smile twisted and he chuckled in bemusement. "I'm certain that it will capture a good deal of attention in that case. I wish you the best, and I'll look forward to reading your work. It sounds like it will be a play delivered with a sharp wit as well as the point of the sword." He hoped that the play wouldn't draw too much negative attention from the labs if his assumptions were correct... but there was no telling. They didn't seem to limit their speech, at least, despite the utter lack of any sort of freedoms or democracy here.
"I don't know your feelings on the labs when it comes to medical issues... but if you're feeling weak... it might not hurt to check with them.. make sure that you're doing alright. Perhaps they could even reccomend a better diet if your tastes are changing drastically. Or perhaps you could find out what particular species of deer you are becoming to see if they have any specialized dietary requirements..?"
It was true that Emerwyn's play was going to attack many aspects of the labs, but she was not afraid. She'd been sapped of any fear of them. There was nothing more they could do to her after all. Nothing more they could take from her...
She nodded. "Perhaps you are right. I have tried to avoid that conclusion for a long time... But if this persists, I shall find myself with no other choice... After all, the morbid truth of the matter is that they want us alive - and we may as well benefit from that knowledge.... Thank you." It helped a great deal when an outside force adressed the concern.
He nodded, but the concern was not totally wiped from his eyes. "Take care of yourself, Emerwyn. I mean it. It's not worth letting yourself wither away out here. And despite everything... there are others here for you and I'm sure those that need you as well. And as you've evidenced, there are things to help - things to entertain yourself and works that can be created. " He reached out and put a big hand on her shoulder, and gave her a sincere smile.
"Don't be a stranger, either. Things can get lonely out here."
Emerwyn's smile broadened across her snout. She believed him. There was still so much to live for. Ian helped show her that, talking to Miller had, as well... It was a wonder that it had taken Emerwyn so long to realize herself again.
"And entertain them we shall," she said with vindiction. "I will be sure to see you again. Another long stretch of time without Ambrose would be a sad one indeed."
He nodded emphatically. "You know how to find me, and I shall try my damndest not to be a stranger, either." He gave her an exaggerated, swooping bow, nearly losing his balance with his altered weight distribution. With a chuckle, he righted himself and gave her another nod. "Well, you ought to get something to eat in the meantime, and keep me up to date on your progress! And let me know when I can be of assistance with the choreography!"
"Then fare thee well, Good Ambrose. I shall count the days 'till our next meeting like petals on the flower." And with her own flourish, she gave a nod and a wave, and turned to complete the walk home, where she would indeed indulge herself with those broad round leaves she'd become so terribly addicted to. And to give birth to an entirely new branch which had now brithed itself in the tree of Emerwyn's mind.
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Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 10:17 pm
When Annie Attacks The trees were a blur along the sides of his vision as his legs pumped, propelling him down the dirt path that led between the village and the beach. He could hear his pulse racing in his ears and smell the distant tinge of salty air on the humid February evening. His muscles were hot, and adrenaline coursed through his system as he ran on all fours, feeling the tinge of euphoric freedom where no eyes could see him.
It had been an... interesting week. For some reason, he had been attached at the hip to Angelina recently. He wanted to be close to her, he wanted to fill his nose with her scent and not leave her side. She needed... watching. He was anxious. When were the labs going to get them the rest of the things that they needed for the wedding? He yearned for her... to make everything official. To truly be wed.... to be able to start a family with the woman he loved. After all, Aubrey had said it was a possibility. Valentine's day was also coming up judging from the calendar in the cafeteria. He wanted to be with her... And beyond that.. he worried. She still hadn't changed again. What if she fell sick again? What if... her "complications" got worse? She wouldn't be the first after all... He wanted this time with her - he wanted to marry her and start a family... That is what Aubrey suggested.... after all.
His legs pumped... it helped him clear his thoughts, burn off the worry in the physical exertion. It did for him what fencing used to... and what it still might. But it seemed every time before he had tried to fence alone it drew others.... and now, it only seemed to be a painful reminder of what he could no longer do.
And then... there was...the body. It had been strung up at the edge of the village like some sort of twisted holiday decoration. Dismembered and with the gruesome number carved in its forehead indicating that it wouldn't be the last. And it stunk of the tiger. Jamal. Just when Ambrose thought that maybe he wasn't as insane as he had heard rumors. Wasn't as insane as the time he had run into him in the jungle during the truth or dare session when he had helped Ambrose keep Annie at bay. But he was lowering himself to her level - killing guards like an animal.... and what the newspaper said... no longer with a chip either. He was potentially as dangerous as she was.... almost at least.
His blood burned - he felt so nimble, so powerful when he ran like this. Faster than any person had the right to. His tongue lolled out to help cool him. He felt as if he could run forever...
The scent hit him before anything else. There was a heady, musky scent in the air. One that his mind imediately seeed to... know. Thoughts of Angelina sprang to mind, distracting him momentarily. Until the movement caught his eyes, the rustling, the sound. He was no longer alone. Someone was running along side him, just off the past. Blurs of brown fur ducking in and out of view.
His mind was already distracted, musing of his troubles and yearnings. The scent was filtered through but not yet analysed - bringing Angelina back to the forefront of his mind and how sorely he missed... being with her. With the exception of her Christmas present, they had been attempting to have their wedding night be a ... renewal of sorts. For the significance. And while Ambrose had thought it a wonderful idea, this past week or so had been maddening in particular for some reason. And it only promised to get worse.
With the scent - that heady, powerful musky scent, he began to regret his run. While he had been cooped up in the duplex for so long he needed to stretch his legs, he already missed her presence.
But then it hit him. It wasn't just a lovely scent. It came from something... someone. And someone all too familiar. His hackles rose and his ears immediately pressed back to his skull. Annie would smell a tinge of fear as panic swept over him. It was HER! And he was alone - a mile from anywhere and already running. He had her attention. It was too late. What would he do!?
He skidded to a stop, bristling and snarling like a beast towards the jungle, stepping back and tryign to figure out how he could bolt back to the village.
Annie burst through the jungle wall, appearing on the trail a few yard in front of him after he stopped. She was on all fours, tail high in the air and ears up and forward. Though it seemed to be healing, slowly, large patches of fur where still missing from where she had been burned. A poorly treated wound seeping through a strip of fabric tied around her upper thigh. But regardless of her wounds, her chest was puffed out and her head high and dominant.
There was certainly no mistaking her... and in the fading light of the afternoon, she seemed to loom even larger than he remembered. A growl was in his chest - it seemed that there was no need for words in this sort of situation - instinct burned in him. This is what it was there for. After all... there seemed to be nothing left of the meek girl that he had met once in the cafeteria.
He lifted his own tail. There was no backing down now. He snarled, a canine roar with spittle flecking out towards her. He tried not to show his fear, tried to reach deep down inside for the courage in his heart. He was powerful. He was strong! Someone to protect those he loved.
She lunged towards him, launching off all fours and throwing herself against him. But she didn't go for his neck. Instead, both paws forward, she caught him his shoulders and threw all her weight in an attempt to knock him to the ground.
Ambrose loosed a quick yelp of surprise at the sudden attack. With a twist, he snarled, trying to regain his footing and snapped his jaws threateningly with a growl. He was lucky she hadn't bitten. He still had scars around his neck from their last enounter.
She was so strong.... but that's what his fencing was for. It was not a matter of strenght alone! He twisted his body and attempted to regain his footing to leap aside and avoid the jaws that he was sure were coming next.
Annie kept her hold of him, twisting right along with him. She kept throwing her weight to one side, then the other. Doing her best to try to knock Ambrose off his stance. She dropped to the ground, struck out her back feet slightly off the ground and used them a levy to trip.
It was a match. A fight. One that pitted wits and physical strength and dexterity. Perhaps... perhaps it was not the gentleman's sport that Ambrose had prided himself in... perhaps he was not some dashing vigilante swashbuckler like he had envisioned himself a thousand times. But this was also real. Very real. Those teeth, those claws. It awakened in him the adrenaline of a combatant... and the heart of a wolf.
He tried to shake her from him, touching the ground long enough to spring and turn over her. The back feet caugh him, made him falter... but embracing the four legged stance gave him a stability he hadn't had before and he ducked underneath her and bit for her underbelly.
She dodged from the bite, just barely missing the gnashing of his teeth. She pounced up, back up on her feet and jumped around, teeth latching down on the thick fur and skin and the scruff of his neck.
And there it came - her bite - but at the back of his neck.... his fur stood on edge at the tingling it sent through him. He shifted his weight for a moment to his back feet and pushed hard with his arms on her torso, to knock her off.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and shoulders and tried to pull him back down to the ground, a deep rumble in her chest.
As nimble as Ambrose prided himself to be, she already had him in a lock - and that was not good. His ears pressed back and he wriggled, trying to get her off, but she was so strong.
His vision was a haze- he was letting his anger and his fear get to him.. it was clouding his sensibilities and his ability to strategize correctly. He growled, struggling against her in earnest.
Her teeth released his flesh when she had her arms locked around him as she threw herself backwards, back to the ground, and dragging Ambrose on top of her. "No!" she screamed, teeth bared. "No hurt."
His eyes widened. Words! She could still speak! Was... there still something of the girl in her...? No... no it couldn't be... could it? What did she want with him!?
His lips were still pulled back in a snarl, but her voice and the fact that the bite to the back of his neck had hardly done any damage caused him to falter in his vehement struggle - caused him to doubt her intentions. If she was still sane, if she wasn't going to hurt him.... she was still a woman...
"What are you doing!?" He growled, suspicious. "You are mad!"
She backed off a bit, on all fours still and watching him carefully. She didn't like it when they spoke. "Not mad," she said bluntly. Her nose flared as she tried to approach him, sniffing.
Ambrose didn't take his eyes off of her, but was amazed that she backed off. His last encounter with her had been very different. She had nearly eaten Antony... and had done a remarkably good job at her attempt to tear his throat out. Was she having a bout of sanity...?
He took a careful step back, his hackles still risen and his tail raised and bristled. Even if she was having a moment of clarity... "Then what happened to the meek girl that arrived here?!"
The she-wolf pulled her lips back and growled violently at that, ears flattening on her head.
The snarl stayed plastered to his own face. Not mad, indeed. Don't show your fear!
"You nearly tore my throat out last we met. Or did that thought fall from your slippery mind? Perhaps your body challenges my trust that you "no hurt"!" This wasn't wise... This really wasn't wise.
"Do not want fight," she spat out, clawing at the ground and pacing around in a tight circle.
He sidled back another step, trying to increase the distance between them while distracting him with his words. They were making her uncomfortable. Maybe if he could confuse her long enough...
"Beautiful. I do not particularly want to fight either." He admitted, then pressed. "Neither have most of those you have killed, I am sure." Another step back....
She bristled and growled, putting a deep rivet in the ground as she lashed out, sending a pivot of mud hurling towards him. "No talk."
He pinned his ears back. He hated seeing her like this... seeing a twisted reflection of the animal that he too had become. The association that other islanders had lauded on him.... his image. Insanity seemed to drip from her.
He flinched as the mud hurtled at him, but he didn't try to avoid it, letting it splat against the fur of his chest.
"I am not like you!" He snarled. "I don't know what you want!" Or perhaps he didn't want to even think about what she wanted. The scents, the mood he was already in setting his hormones on edge, putting him more in touch with his own lupine side more than he cared to admit. His temper flared more readily....
She came towards him quickly, head down and rump raised, her tail high. "You know."
Ambrose's eyes nearly fell out of his head. There was no way his mind could find a way to weasel out of making THAT connection. For the first time since he got wind of her presence, the snarl fell from his face as his jaw went slack.
It felt as if something in his mind just broke at the connotations. It was disturbing, it was unthinkable. She was wild - he was nothing like her. Nothing of the girl seemed to remain in the beast... and while they may resemble eachother physically...
"NO!" He cried in disgust, springing back away from the she-wolf. He latched onto that logical response desperately.
"Yes!" she barked, continuing to approach him. "Now."
He gulped and blinked. He could smell her, it was strong, and... so was she. He knew that scent now - ever fiber of his wolf blood did. She was horrifying. Her burned flesh, her festering wounds, the blood that had never been washed from her fur. The ... crazy look in her eyes. And there was no question in his mind about his dedication to Angelina. But something about that smell put ideas in his head that he found... horrifying.
"I have a mate." He snapped, hoping that those would be terms that she could comprehend.
She grumbled in her chest, lips curling up again. Words were hard for her, especially stringing together sentences. "Not looking for a mate."
That was.... even more disturbing on some level. He swallowed again, and the snarl found his mouth again.
"Not with ME." He sneered.
"You best...." she tried to retreive the word but gave up, shaking her head. "Most like me."
"I AM NOT LIKE YOU!" He practically roared back. He didn't care what they looked like! And then he turned tail... and ran. Hoping that the edging he had been doing had put enough distance to keep her from stopping him before he gathered momentum.
She launched after him, gaining speed remarkably fast, nipping at his flanks.
Crap! His legs pounded faster, and he reached inside, trying to tap into his own survival instincts. He banished from his mind any sort of embarrasment of being on all fours. He didn't think about the mud between his fingers and toes. Just the road. The beast on his heels. He was fast... he prided himself in his speed. He had to be able to outrun her!
Eventually the wolf slowed down. They were getting too close to the village and the cameras. She roared after him angrily before ducking back into the jungle.
His breath came in pants. He didn't dare look back. But he was gaining distance. He couldn't feel her hot breath on his fur. He didn't dare stop. He ran, as fast as he could, in a mad sprint with his tail tucked between his legs until he was in the middle of the village. Only then did he slow and nervously look behind him. His muscles were shaking, quivering as the adrenaline left his system and the relief drained him of his energy.
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:42 am
Jamal, The Jeep, and MY Duplex! Ambrose barely outruns Annie back to the village... only to find a Jeep crashed into the side of his duplex! Jamal has killed another guard and appears to have totally lost it... and threatens Ambrose. And Amaya seems to agree with Jamal??http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=7814287
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 12:32 pm
Someone to Rant At...
Richard checks up on Ambrose
Frustrated would be an understatement to how Ambrose was feeling. The jeep crashing into the wall of his duplex... chased by Annie... and the wreck that was now the inside of his room set the wolfman on edge. Despite all the s**t that had been happening, at least Ambrose had been able to make the environment of HIS territory home clean, organized, and to his satisfaction. It was a way to control an aspect of his life. Even with his appearance beyond salvation, it was something. Now, even that had been messed with, and Ambrose was on edge. He had even snapped at Delia when he had taken a break from picking up the room when he found that they had run out of steaks earlier in the day. He felt bad about that in retrospect... But it didn't help his mood any. And even besides everything that had been happening, Ambrose had already been feeling off recently. Not wanting to leave the duplex as often, wanting to cling to Angelina's side, and being snippy in general.
So Ambrose was growling and muttering under his breath as he continued to try to clean and reclean parts of the duplex, pick and situate things that had been knocked off the shelves, and glaring at the big, obtrusive crack in the wall. The remnants of the jeep had been removed quite quickly, but they had yet to repair all the damage that had been done to his duplex. He wished that they would hurry the ******** up, but he suspected that their low priority might have something to do with Jamal's presence, and the animosity that he had openly displayed to Ambrose... and the threat that he might return. It went without saying that Ambrose had been keeping his duplex door locked.
Richard had been wandering the village after his noonday nap. The sun was just beginning to touch the trees. On a whim he was walking down the duplex row, inspecting the duplexes of the people he knew. Some people were out, heading to towards the cafe and he said hello to a few people. How ever as he drew closer to the beginning he saw less and less activity or signs of use. Many of the older islanders had long since disappeared into the jungle or in a couple cases, disappeared all together. When he came to the end of the row, he stopped and stared. Duplex number one, Ambrose's duplex had sustained some major damage. What on earth had done this? The baloncy supports had been smashed, there was a crack in the wall where something very large had smashed it. Concerned and curious Richard creeped up to the wall to inspect the duplex's damage. He stared at the crack for a bit, running his claws along its length. Eventually he knocked on the door. "Ambrose?" He called through it.
His ears pricked and Ambrose turned quickly, hackles immediately raised at the knock and the voice by his door. It only took a second to place the voice, however, and he took a breath, calming himself before padding over. running a hand through his hair to attempt to smooth it somewhat, he looked reproachfully at the cleaning still remaining to be done. He had been working on it since the day before when the damage had occurred, and it really wasn't that bad any more, but Ambrose had been obsessing, and in his mind, the room was still a wreck.
Finally, a click could be heard as the deadbolt was undone, and the door cracked open, only really wide enough to show Ambrose's head and thick, furry frame. He was shirtless, dressed in just a pair of khaki shorts, one ear pricked forward, the other flicked back, a small tick that stemmed from his less-than-stellar mood.
"Richard." He forced a smile. It had been a while since he had seen the older man - since the Halloween party as a matter of fact. He had obviously changed again - his features (and his scent) giving off a distint feline cast.... the extra arms appeared slightly larger. He was certainly one of the stranger serums that Ambrose had seen...
Richard flashed a smile, "I noticed your home looks like its been forcablily redecorated. Are you and Angelina alright?" There was genuine concern in his voice. He wasn't able to read Ambrose's animalistic facial expression to detect the stress that he was under.
Ambrose gave a lupine huff as he glanced back inside again for a moment. "That ... is an understatement." He said with a clear note of exasperation. "But... yes... at least we're physically alright. Neither of us were inside when it happened."
"Thats a relief," His gaze passed over the mess of the front porch, frowned and should his head. "Things appear to be getting... something I suppose." He was going to say interesting but thought that might not be wise. The wolf man was clearly out of sorts. "What happened? If you don't mind me asking."
His hand ran through his hair again, and he withdrew a band from his pants, tying it back out of his face.
"Jamal happened." He growled. "Somehow... got a hold of a damn jeep. Killed another guard and crashed it into the side of my duplex." His ears were pinned back and his eyes scanned the trees in the distance before glancing back at the 'mess' inside.
"Here... why don't you come inside...?" As loathe as he was to have company inside given the state of things, it was preferable over standing and talking in the doorway.
Richard nodded at the suggestion, "Yes thank you." He followed Ambrose inside, looking around. Minus the crack in the wall it looked pretty good. "Not bad considering it was a jeep," he said more to himself. He was recalling newspaper stories where cars generally went through a wall or two when they crashed into buildings.
Ambrose nodded, scratching the side of his neck. He was antsy, and despite inviting Richard in, he felt vaguely unsettled at having him inside... in his room.
Just nerves...
"I know... I am surprised myself that it didn't go all the way through, not that I am not thankful... but then again I think that these buildings are built of pretty stern stuff. During the lockout none of us could get back inside - here or anywhere else." He paced between the bed and the desk, reshuffling some papers around.
Ambrose hadn't offered him a chair so Richard took a seat on the bed, his diseased looking tail stretching out over the surface of the sheets. As Ambrose pace both Richard's eyes and tentacles's followed him, the tip of the tail twitched. Richard snorted, "Jamal mmmm? That makes two guards and now he's going after villagers. I can't say I'm surprised." Richard recalled that encounter with Jamal, perhaps a month or two ago. "The lockout?" That was new, he hadn't heard of that.
Ambrose nodded, his lip curled. But it felt good to rant at someone. He glanced briefly at the strange, naked tail on his bed, and ear flicked and he looked away.
"I thought... thought that perhaps Jamal was getting better. The last I saw him was a few months ago when a group of us were drinking by a bonfire out in the jungle. That's also the last time I have forayed very far into the jungle since... well... Annie attacked the lot of us. Jamal actually helped me stand up to her and hold her back off of some of the more vulnerable islanders. He had hung out and talked, and even participated in drinking games. Then, he apparently goes batshit and kills and drives a damn jeep into the side of my duplex - and threatens my life!" Ambrose waved his hands around to emphasize his point. "What in the HELL! We perhaps never got off on the right foot since an argument we had in the cafeteria over a year ago, and we come from very different lifestyles... but I honestly do not understand why he carries hatred towards me most of the time! And then Amaya defended him." He shook his head, and eventually stopped his pacing, plopping down onto the blue chair that Gaius had left for him at Christmas.
"The lockout? You haven't...? I guess... it shouldn't really be a surprise... it happened a year ago... but it's still hard to think that so many of the people here never went through it... everything shut down for about three months. The duplexes locked, the labs locked, and to all apearences there was no power to anything, and no one could get in any of the buildings. We had to live off the land. The most changed of us were perhaps two changes in. No one knew what happened. There was a crashed helicopter... no sign of the staff.... as it turned out it was a damn setup. The helicopter crash was meant as an 'excuse' for us to think that it might be the end of things. It was a damn experiment. Some people were never quite the same after that.... Emelyn decided to live off the land for about a year after that... she only relatively recently came back to the duplexes... Some people I haven't seen since then... I... they aren't on the gravestones... so maybe they're still out there. Hargun... Greer...." He steepled his fingers, looking down at his claws. "And a lot of us had to recognize some of the animal in us to help us live. It... was difficult going... and once you bring it out, it's not like a toy that you can put back on the shelf. And... admittedly, it was frightening... showing how much we do take from the labs.
Richard listened intently to Ambrose's retelling of the event with interest. He exhaled, puffing out his cheeks after Ambrose had finished. "Damn, I knew he was crazy when I met him, he was an animal that happened to have the ability to speak. I had hoped his campaign would stay directed at the labs but now..." He shook his head. Then a thought occurred to him. "Wait, Annie also is going after villagers? Jesus Christ." So much for heroic vigilantes.
Ambrose fidgeted with the hem of his pants. "She attacked us when we were in the jungle after Antony tried to run. And.... I had.... a very different sort of run in with her very recently." His hackles rose and he shook his head quickly.Richard's eyes narrowed at the mention of the squirrel woman's name but he didn't comment, she'd get hers once the next newsletter was published. At the second part Richard's eyebrows shot up and he cocked his head ever so slightly to the right. The tip of the tail curled. "A different sort?"
Ambrose shook his head again. "I don't want to talk about it." He grumbled. "Suffice to say... there is very little left of the girl she once was."
Richard sighed and the tail relaxed, he wasn't about to press the wolfman about anything after such a close call, but didn't try to hide a flash of disapointment washing over his face. "Well sounds like you've had a difficult week. Any good news? The newsletter has reached its quota for bad I think. Not that it ever pays attention to that." Richard smirked a bit, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
"You can certainly say that again." Ambrose agreed at the analysis of his week. "Good news...? Well... nothing in particular unfortunately.... still waiting on the wedding supplies from the labs... I believe that the issues up there have likely delayed things." He sighed, still fidgeting. "There certainly seems to be plenty of sources of bad news here, though. Well... I know Emerwyn is writing a play for the theater that Gaius is building... I will likely help her with that... and help coordinate some stagefighting if not try to play a role myself in the production. I have yet to read what she has of the script, however." He leaned back a bit in the chair. "I've been meaning to help Gaius with the construction since I read about it in the paper, but the man can be surprisingly difficult to track down."
"Ah so your aware the paper exists then?" Richard grins, always happy to hear that some one reads his work. "I'm beginning to think most people around here are illiterate sometimes. You know you could put in a wedding anouncement if you'd like. As for the theater thats something else I have to go help with again, haven't been back since I met Antony there." He self coniusionly rubbed his jaw when he mentioned her name. "Been busy with Colche, lately."
Ambrose nodded. "Yes.. it led me to Billy and his auditions..." Ambrose commented. "I think it's great... trying to build some semblance of community... make the best of things."
Ambrose smiled at the offer. "That would be wonderful! I don't have a date yet, however. But I can certainly let you know." His tail wagged for a moment through the specially-designed hole in the back of the chair.
Ambrose cocked his head at the gesture. He had only run into Antony a couple of times himself, but it seemed Richard had not had a very pleasant run-in. "Colche? Really! I haven't seen her... in far too long. How is she doing?"
"Ah yes, Billy's theater's, good idea. I just wish somebody else had thought of it." He failed to suppress a growl, thinking about Billy, he crossed his arms self coniously and looked away from Ambrose. He nodded at the bit about the community, "Yeah, community keeps people sane and human." " Well let me know when you have a date. Also if you'd like to write anything for the newletter feel free to submit it. I wish it was more of a community effort." He stared at Ambrose's wagging tail, envious of the chair. "Ah Colche's still sunny but she's not quite as well as one would hope. She broke her leg trying to bring down a boar a month or so ago. She was trying to be wild." Richard bit his lip, lightly. "Cody had his own scrap in the wilds too.
Ambrose chuckled at Richard's reaction. "Billy isn't exactly the most pleasant of individuals.... but at least he seems to be turning around and making an effort with the lot of us." He leaned back in the chair. "Our current situation nonwithstanding... there really is such a wide variety of people here... such a strange grouping to build a community... people of all walks of life, nationalities..."
He rolled his shoulders. "I was never much for writing, really. I mean, sure, I had papers for classes but..." He made a face. "It was never my intention to become a great writer."
He listened as Richard described Colche, nodding. "I'm sorry to hear that she got hurt... and Colche..? Wild..?" The mental image seemed to jar with him and he shook his head. "I'm sorry to hear that... hopefully she's doing better now."
"And all of us have a common bond of bitterness to hold us together." Richard chuckled. "Well its what we have right? Endure, at least for now." Richard tried very hard not to let his mindslip and think of what he was probably going to endure in about two weeks. A shudder run through him and his face lost some color. Regardless of the face he put on it. He was still terrified. Recovering to talk about Colche he smiled. "Yeah both the young ones tried to live au natural. They have no structure here not parents so they're turning to they're feral inclinations. I'm trying to help Colche, we have 'class' two hours every morning but Cody is convinced that learning is boring and bad." Richard sighed.
Ambrose nodded. "At least we're not alone here.... but that is both a blessing and a curse. I wouldn't wish this life on my enemies... and yet when they do bring... people who don't fit well with the outside world, like Jamal, it makes it hell on the rest of us. But if it were not for the good people here, I do not think I would have made it through all of this sane." He glanced down at his furry feet. "Well... though I suppose sane is all relative... I like to think I am at least."
His brow creased and his ears pressed back. "That... is sad to hear... but I suppose it makes sense... I am glad that you're helping them, or at least trying to. I know Colche loves to learn, which is good. I'm sorry Cody is giving you problems. But even here... I think children should be educated."
Sanity and the peservation of it was a very sore topic for Richard, who could only manage a weak chuckle and a nod at Ambrose's comments. It was easy for him to say, he was done. Richard still had two more sanity breaking changes to go. Ambrose's acceptance was beginning to bother Richard a little bit, while he got the feeling that Ambrose didn't approve of the lab it appeared that he had given up all hope of this situation ending. Richard could accept that but he found it disconcerting. Ah but the children was a much safer topic. "Colche is a good and most importantly eager student. Although I'd be the first to admit I wouldn't be completely upset if a qualified teacher was the next on the island. Colche's got a long way to go and I'm a reporter and was lab manager, never a teacher. I've got no clue what I'm doing. Despite the stack of books I've got." He indicates a stack about half a foot high. "Cody on the other hand needs structure or at least an authority figure. I can't make him come to school." Richard huffed, Cody frustrated him.
Ambrose nodded. "I remember her talking about a teacher once..... Josh... I think she said his name was. But I can't say I ever met the fellow myself. And if you're teaching Colche, then I assume that he isn't any longer. She said he was helping her to read, though..." He shook his head with a befuddled look.
Ambrose couldn't help but chuckle at the description of Cody. "Well, you're not his father, and he doesn't have parents here or any sort of enforcement of rules other than the same ones we all have to abide by here. Which can't be good for helping him with necessary life skills.... assuming they're even necessary here." He added bitterly. "I understand that they chose him because of his condition... but there are more negative sides to bringing someone so young here than merely sympathy that his life was just starting... I can't say that many kids really enjoy school when faced with the alternative of a neverending summer vacation... but I know that at least I had a sense of the bigger scheme of things... and wanting to make my parents proud of me..." Ambrose didn't seem to realize where his words were taking him until he ended the sentance, trailing off into an uncomfortable silence. That was a subject he tried to keep himself from dwelling on. Even after finally having that last argument and setting off on his own, Ambrose still wished to someday make his parents proud of him... coming to the island... after what had happened... His ears drooped and he looked down again with a plainly audible sigh.
At Ambrose's rant Richard's eyebrows steadily crept ever higher on his forhead. When it ended and he could ask was a lame, "Are you okay?" "You'll see them again." Richard said it with a surprising amount of conviction. "Family runs deeper than this. You've still got your speach, its all you need." Richard had no family left, his partents were long dead and Cathy's family had been completely alienated. There was no one to recognize him, the tentacle's drooped at the thought. Ambrose snorted skeptically. "You don't need to placate me... I know that there is probably about an equivalent chance of it snowing here as it is that I'll ever see them again. And... yes, I can't express how thankful I am that I can still speak... I can still stand and use my hands... but I am not the man I once was.." His eyes strayed over to a framed photo that sat on the bedside table. A young man with piercing blue eyes, blonde hair, and trendy clothing stood with his arms around a pretty brunette girl. "And they could never accept me like this. Even if they believed it was me... I would be too much of an embarrassment." "Family acceptance or not, this isn't going to last forever," His eyes drifted to the crack in the wall. "One way or another." His voice was low. "I believe that." In Richard's mind there was simply no way a madman like Moreau could keep on top of his organization forever. Sooner or later something was going to break.
"well... for all our sakes... I do hope that you are right. But forgive me if I have my doubts." Richard gave a half defeated nod. Such a collapse wouldn't come in time to save him that was sure. "Well it was good talking to you Ambrose. Its been too long." He stood and offered his hand Ambrose shook himself from his dark musings and rose to his feet, his hand clasping Richard's. "Yes, it has. Please don't be a stranger... and thank you for listening." Something about the older man made it easy to talk to him. Perhaps it was that there were so few other older individuals on the island and his ingrained respect for authority figures and the need to please them.
"Take care of yourself, old man." He gave him a small teasing smile, trying to end the conversation on a lighter note.Richard chuckled and shook the hand vigorously. "Stop by sometime. Colche's usually around in the morning if you'd like to help out." Richard tried to ignore a little voice in his head that informed him that old man might not be accurate for too much longer. And if Ambrose paid carefull attention to his scent he might find some confusing things. With that Richard headed out the door.
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Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:02 am
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Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:48 am
Open Mouth, Insert Foot - Take Two Ambrose makes another verbal feaux pas, but then tries to describe to Lucas how to deal with canine instincts. All the while, Ambrose doesn't really realize just how much he really is affected himself by the canine influences.http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=7995211&page=1
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