Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ambrose was feeling quite well the next day, almost walking on euphoria. The scene playing over and over in his mind of the conversation with Emelyn the night before. THe conversation, her understanding, the ease that he had found himself talking with her. She had even somehow conveyed a great deal of the gravity of the situation to Ambrose - but even her bluntness didn't seem quite so heavy as it had been when he was dealing with the concepts himself.

However, he had not completely lost his head. There was still the niggling feeling he couldn't shake- the guilt he felt about starting to actually see someone - even if it was just a date... "just a date". He had dated other women before Angelina.... taken them to movies, to dinner, even to dances. None of them had ever felt as meaningful as Angelina. Then again, he had never been able to really TALK to any woman like he did until he met Angelina.... and Emelyn could listen as well.... She was bright, friendly, and thoughtful. She wasn't afraid to put her thoughts to words, or to provide an ear for him to be honest to. And he had felt a click with her... something was right.... right? But that same bothering feeling also wouldn't let him forget that part of that initial curiousity about her might very well be due to her familiar appearance.... an appearance that might automatically lead him to feel more comfortable around her. Sometimes, Ambrose wanted to tell that little voice to shut up, but that generally served to make him feel more guilty. He DID love Angelina... and he didn't want to lose her..... but as Emelyn said... he had to accept that there was no way Moreau would let him off the Island... even IF he didn't change any further - which was seeming more and more unlikely ever sence he saw Greer.

He sighed, putting his hands in the pockets of his short khakis as he found himself wandering from the cafeteria out towards one of his favorite spots on the Island - the beach, bringing along his fencing equipment, just in case he felt up for it.

HE would see where things led him... he didn't believe in fate - He had cte on taking his future into his own hands.... regardless of the fact that it led him here - out of control of his life once again.

Hope... hope was such a delicate subject. Fate, belief in onesself, the conversation was spinning in his head.

But he would not stop fencing -he loved it. And maybe, someday, it could still pay off. But he didn't need someone else to tell him he was good. Really.

He sighed, looking across the sandy beach - and saw that two figures were there already - Amaya once again - apparently listening to her music again, and Pyroth - the other canine-person who he hadn't seen in some time.

He raised a hand in a wave and walked over towards Amaya to see what she had been up to, and if she had been practicing, eager to get his mind off heavier things.

"Hi Amaya, Hi Pyroth!" Ambrose said with a smile as he approached the two.

"I haven't seen you in some time, Pyroth. Have you been doing alirght?" He smiled, glad to see that he hadn't changed any more yet either.

"And Amaya - how about yourself" He grined "Practicing your footwork?"

((Rawr - sorry, I was typing and my laptop went crazy and opened up a dozen windows or so and ... yeah))

Ambrose smiled to Amaya. "That's wonderful! We'll have to put that to the test - and maybe, if you're ready I can teach you something new" He grinned, patting her on the shoulder before turning apologetically to Pyroth.

"I'm sorry, Pyroth - it must sound like we're speaking another language. I've started to teach Amaya how to fence." He smiled proudly. IT felt good - especially seeing the outright enthusiasm in Amaya's eyes - he was really doing something helpful to her here. She was a wonderful person and didn't deserve to be here - no one did, but she was going out of her way to help others while she was here. "And unfortunately I know how you feel.... I've been getting better I Think since it's been a while since I changed. Or maybe I'm just becoming accustomed to it." He winced. "I never had a problem with meat before... but that seems to be what I'm craving above all else now." He admitted. "And in much greater quantities." He snorted. "I think Moreau would definately deserve that."

Ambrose raised an eyebrow at Pyroth's protruding ribs, and began to wonder if he might be anorexic. "You really should eat... despite my increased appetite I have really not gained any extra weight. I think my metabolism has been going through the roof in dealing with all of these changes." He admitted. "I've always been athletic, but my body's never demanded quite this much food before. I'm glad it's not just me."

"And fencing can be difficult to master... but not that difficult to learn the basics. Once you start competing, though, the opponents you face increase dramitically in skill in the higher eschelons that you get. There's a BIG difference between regionals and nationals, let me tell you." He smiled, but the smile faltered a bit as he kicked at the sand, reminding himself of something he wouldn't be able to go back to that he hadn't quite told them before. "I was hoping to make it to the Olympics in the next few years.... I was training pretty hard for it, actually." He said more quietly.

"But!" He said, trying to give it a positive spin. "That would make me an adequate teacher, I'd think." He forced a smile to the two of them. "You're welcome to join in on the lessons if you'd like, Pyroth." He nodded to Amaya. "I've been teaching her the footwork. About to see what she's been working on since our last instruction."

Ambrose shrugged. "You're more than welcome if you like, Pyroth. Everyone can be a little unsure of themselves to begin with. Besides, they say that the expression 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks' is a dirty lie." His smile faltered as he realized that that expression might not have been in the best of tastes. "I'm sorry, Pyroth... I didn't mean anything by that.."

"But yes - Eat, man! You need it!" He glanced at Pyroth's tatoos. "And it looks like you were quite skilled. I hear that that takes a confident, steady hand."

He turned back to Amaya with a grin. "Ready to show off what you've learned?"

He dropped into the en-guarde position in front of her "Show Pyroth he doesn't know what he's missing." He gave Pyroth a quick wink. "Once again - I advance, you retreat, I retreat, you advance" He smiled, and began the drill.

Well, getting lunch had been downright insulting. Cassidy was used to being, well, slightly taller than average. Having to suddenly strain to be seen by the cafeteria workers was, well. Stupid.

Still. With a plate of meatballs and two rare steaks which she'd already cut up into bite-size pieces, Cass left the uncomfortably air-conditioned cafeteria and headed out to the warm beach, albeit awkardly, on her knees.

Concentrating on not stubbing her knee on a sharp rock or spilling her lunch, she came out onto the beach, her head down. The sound of voices caught her attention, and she raised her head to see.

Oh, hell. People. Cassidy half-considered fleeing, but speed was not quite an easy thing right now.

Ambrose began the basic drill again with Amaya, starting slow, pausing between movements, and keeping the forward/backwards movements pretty evenly spaced at first, while carrying on the conversation with Pyroth.

Neither of them were holding a blade- they still rested on a rock nearby.

"Well, I suppose it's difficult to discern just where the barrier between human and canine is...." Ambrose admitted, wondering just when he would be considered actually canine... IF he would.

"Well, regardless, I'm sure if you had as much practice as you say, that your work must have been quite talented. Have you given though to drawing? Like Hargun?"

But while Ambrose was keeping a conversation with Pyroth, he made sure to Keep his eyes on Amaya, encouraging. He DID notice some improvement. "Aha! You have been practicing! I can tell!" He grinned.

His back was to the path that led to the beach, and his attention on Amaya, so he had not noticed Cassidy's approach.

Cassidy tilted her head, and hobbled her way across the sand.

This was ridiculous. She couldn't keep doing this. It was hard on her knees, for one. She'd have to figure something else out.

"Fencing practice, I assume?" Just act casual. Nothing out of the ordinary at all. Nope. No way. Cassidy attempted to smile, though it was half-hearted.

She felt sick.

Ambrose was just about to mention to Amaya to keep her eyes on his when she fell backwards over the log.

"Amaya!?" he stepped forward, instinctually offering her a hand up. "Are you alright??"

It was then that he heard Cassidy's voice calling from behind his head. He chuckled a bit self-consciously before even turning around. "Yes, actually - I've been teaching Amay-" He turned around to address the person he was speaking to, and somewhere in the turn managed to lose the rest of his sentence.

Cassidy had changed.

But moreso than that, it was becoming painfully obvious the extent that the morphological changes that could happen to them. Her face looked so different - more inhuman than even greer's with the hardened yellow nose. She was carrying a plate of food, and the scales had spread over the majority of her body... including over a long tail. She was kneeling down for some reason, but the strangest thing was that there were feathers on her arms? Were... they actually her feathers? Or just some accessory?

He wouldn't stare. She was probably having more than her own share of problems. And at least, thank God, Greer had already taken the fall for shaking him out of his dream-world that they couldn't possibly change more than they already had. He felt guilty about probably not helping Greer's self-opinion, but at least Cassidy- who was more likely more fragile than Greer in regards to the change - especially its serpentine nature - he would be stronger to.

"Cassidy, I'm sorry.... you... got your third injection, didn't you...?" He said quietly, sympathetically, dropping his stance completely.

He glanced quickly back to Pyroth, although Cassidy was more in the forefront of his mind at the moment. "I'm sure the Doctor would be willing to oblige if you ask - he doesnt' seem hesitant to buy things for us... though if he heard your comment about the swine serum he might have second thoughts on getting you good quality paper." He added teasingly.

"I suppose I did get my third injection." Cassidy didn't look at them. Coming down here had maybe been a bad idea... oh, man. She probably looked like an idiot.

She sat herself down cross-legged, her deformed feet plainly obvious. "I don't suppose you folks know of any snakes that have feathers? But don't stop on my account." She popped a bit of meat into her mouth, and swallowed it whole.

Ambrose patted Amaya on the shoulders and moved to put himself between Amaya and Cassidy in hopes that Amaya would be able to recover from her feaux paus while out of direct line of sight. He knew how delicate emotionally one could be after a change. Not to mention probably rather tender physically as well.

But he couldn't help but eye her legs as she brought them around when she sat down. A bit of fear ran down his spine, setting his fur on end. Her simplified legs all but promised more to come - and just how great the physical changes would get. Aubrey had said that they would probably keep their hands... but would they still be able to stand up?? He had been thinking about offering for Cassidy to join them in fencing before he saw her legs and now realized that that would just be grinding salt into a wound. But... what about the rest of them? Would he be reduced to all fours like a real animal? That... that would be unbrearable, above all else.

"No, it's fine, Cassidy. If you need to talk about anything... anything at all- we're here for you." He smiled, knowing Amaya would understand. "But... if you want some more time... I understand that as well - but dont' feel bad about interrupting. We've got nothing but time here, unfortunately..."

"Sounds like you have a plan at least, Pyroth." Ambrose said to him. "we definately need at least hobbies here... lest we DO go crazy. Something to keep our minds creative and to minimize any temptation that might arise from other new instincts... I mean it might not be an issue, but I think it's a good thing to focus on the things that make us who we are." Ambrose had given this a lot of thought.

"Mixing... serums?" Cassidy repeated, dully. "Oh no. Oh, god no. They wouldn't try something like that, would they?"

She rubbed her temples, letting out a slight whimper. "I'm not even turning into something real. Great. Just... just great." Her voice cracked; she cleared her throat. "Maybe I shouldn't have come down here..."

Ambrose shook his head fearfully. "I have no idea what they're planning... I can't think of any snakes - or reptiles for that matter that actually have feathers... except extinct ones, right? Like.... the... uh... archae-optrixs? right?" He shook his head, confused. As if animals wasn't bad enough, were they trying to make actual monsters out of us?

"And Unfortunately I haven't been able to keep myself out of my thoughts. I've been probably doing far too much thinking for my own good." He sighed. "I guess another problem is figuring out what part of things that you feel are foreign... I mean they're emotions, it's not like something living in you, it's... urges, desires.. far more insidious in trying to distinguish what's you and what isn't." He glanced around at the company. "I'm sorry... I seem to be rather depressing to be around recently. Greer hit her second stage as well - I don't know if you knew... but I had this whole... system down before I saw that the changes really could go this far... you know... it didn't seem that they could really do this to us - genetically or whatever... until you see it." He sighed. No - he wouldn't go into it again. It was a dream - a pleasant string of hope that he had held onto. Unless for some unknown reason the mammal serums didn't go further - which made no sense when the more foreign ones did.

"We're in this together. For better, for worse. And Emelyn spoke with me last night - and she was right... we have to face facts. We're all going through this, and we're certainly not going to hold your appearance against you, Cassidy. You can't help it, and we'd be hypocrites if we did."

"...I hadn't seen Greer."

Cassidy sighed, simply overwhelmed with it all. "But thank you, Ambrose. That means a lot." She grinned at all three of them. "I... was feeling better, the last few days. I really was. I..." She shook her head. "I'm going to head back to my room. My knees sort of hurt. This isn't going to work..."

She really didn't like the idea of being bound to her room for the rest of her life. Or until she could--ugh--slither.

"I'm sorry. I just... I thought I could deal with this right now. I don't think I can. I'll see you guys later."

She popped another whole meatball in her mouth, and turned to make her way back to the village, on her knees.

Stupid way to travel.

Ambrose nodded solemnly to the two of them as they parted. "Best of luck to you. Both of you." He said seriously. "And I truly am sorry about what they've done to you in particular, Cassidy." He nodded. "Yes... Greer changed just the other day... it sounds like some of the rest of us may be soon to follow if the first changes were any indication. Let me know if there is anything I can do. I understand if you want some privacy, but don't become a hermit - we all need eachother." He gave her a genuine smile.

Ambrose nodded to Pyroth. The atmosphere on the Island had certainly been taking a somber one the past few days... "Indeed. If you discover anything that could help us... don't hesitate to mention it."

He waved to Pyroth. "Good luck reaching them - and you'll have to show me your drawings if you make any!" He smiled.

Finally he turned to Amaya and patted her a few times on the shoulder. "Of course the same is always open to you - if you ever have anything you need to talk about..." He gave her a quirky smile. "Your 'big brother's' here."

They needed something to lighten the mood after that.... "SO!" He put his hands on his hips. "Scales and fur aside. Back to your footwork, young lady" He said in a jovial tone, settling back into stance.

He worked with her for about another 20 minutes drilling - calling her attention to his eyes when she dropped them to her feet, or correcting minor flaws in the width or breadth of her stance. He spoke lightly during the excercize, always encouraging -and once again, near the end, he kept the pace quicker, changing up the patterns.

Finally, at the end, he patted her on the shoulder again. "really good work today, Amaya! I really can tell you've been improving. Before long, as long as you keep practicing, this stance will be like second nature to you and you'll be able to drop into it at a moment's notice." He smiled. "In fact, You've improved a lot since just today. Next time - I promise - you'll actually pick up the blade." He grinned.

"But that's enough for today." And with that he gave her another encouraging clap on the back, gathered his equipment, and headed back to the village.

"A'ight...we can roll out if ya want. It's 'bout time for the party to end anyway, I figger."

He got to his feet and kicked his costume away under a table. The man didn't notice the scaley-faced girl at this time.

After going and comming from the party so many times over, Hargun didnt know weither or not she was there and wandered around the village area for a while and caught sound of the tent and the inhabitants finally. She strolled down and crept in.

She could hear Awen.. and someone she obviously hadnt met. She attempted to look with her poor eyes and finally caught sight of Amaya's bright red hair.

She lifted and a 'wing' and waved, hoping shed see her without being required to shout out.

Lauren stepped out from lurking unoticably in the shadows when a while after observing Jamal and Awen... they appeared to be flirting. She wasn't sure how she felt about that but didn't trust Jamal around Awen for some reason.

She waved towards everyone, "Hey! Actual people here at the party now!" She waved to Jamal, "Hey, I'm Thorn." She gave him a predetory smile, hopeing to imply 'hurt my friend and you die' from her glare.

Jamal peered at Amaya's face, an odd expression flitting over his features before a smile cracked. "What up. Nice costume," he quipped, indicating the scales, then glanced over to Lauren who had seemily come out of the woodwork.

"Hah...now everybody be showin' jus' as we gonna leave," he said none-too-softly, giving the strange blonde a once-over and determining her to be too young without even asking. Plus the fact that she was practically leering at him...well, whatever. He'd dealt with frigid bitches before. "Yo," he said in response to her greeting, giving her a stiff nod.

Hargun snickered at Amaya's clicking guns. "Those would drive me insane if I walked around with them."

"Yes, hey there Lauren." Hargun greeted and smiled. She turned her head real quick to the person Awen was introducing Amaya to. So Jamal huh? Wish I could see what he was like a little better.. Hell seeing anyone in general would be nice..

She shook her head and grinned. "This party seems to last forever.. and I swear to god I keep hearing new people popping up everywhere.." she said to Amaya.

Lauren smiled at Awen and Jamal, "Awww, why ya leaving for?" She kind of had a clue, or geussed something about that but asking the question might make it akward to them, which is what Lauren hoped for. Her slitted eyes still glaring on Jamal, arms crossed as she tried to look as tough as Lauren could.... forgetting that she was dressed as Dorothy. But at least it was an undead gothic lollita Dorothy!

Jamal shrugged. "Don't matta' ta me...but it sorta got a little cold in herr," he said to Awen, giving Lauren a neutral, casual glance. Frankly, he wasn't scared of the little blonde girl and no amount of armcrossing and glaring was going to do it. s**t, he'd beat the s**t out people before. He didn't appreciate the standoffish nature when the girl didn't even know him and it irked him sufficiently that he shoved his hands in his pockets to make fists instead of drawing them into the open air.

Not that'd he ever hit a girl unless...well...they deserved it.

"Nah thats cool." she said. "I did that earlier on at one point.. ended up sleep walking right outta here." she tried to scratch her elbow and failed somewhat.

Hargun looked over in the direction of Jamal and Lauren. Was something going on? She turned back to Amaya and continued about the party. "I met that Sabin.. guy. Said I should contact staff and maybe get some glasses." she said and tried to look at her hand in front of her which she couldhardly see, but better than everything else in the room.

Lauren backed down a tad, still on guard. "Ah, well yeah I can see that." She hands in her apron pocket, rocking on her feet. This situation turned akward, why would she care if Jamal and Awen went away together and maybe they weren't.

Thorn suddenly felt bad for jumping to conclusions, "Colder outside." She said to Jamal feining ignorance.

Despite Lauren's change of heart, Jamal's good mood was effectively ruined and that was a feat considering he'd been high as a kite after he returned from "getting food". He wasn't up for anymore social nonsense at the moment. At least, not anywhere that people usually congregated about this time of night.

"Listen, shorty. Yous can stay and hang wit' these peeps if ya want...brotha's headin' fo' the beach or somethin'. Ain't feelin' into staying 'round herr for right now."

He grabbed his do-rag from the mount of sheet on the floor, having forgotten it was over his ghost costume, tied it back on tight over his cornrows, and retrieved his 'bling' from the same source, carefully arranging it back over his neck.

Hargun made a lame wave to Jamal before he headed out then sighed. "No, I dont think he did.. but.. you never know. The staff here are.. so disturbingly cunning. But anyways, I dunno either. Ill probably be needing big a** glasses thatll make me look so nerdy." she chuckled.

Now that she thought about it, she wouldnt mind looking like a bug-eyed-freak than not being able to see where she was.

Lauren felt accomplished in fending Jamal off of Awen, for now anyway. "Yeah, bet he wanted to make it real warm for you." She said as he started to walk off.

"See ya, don't drown or anything." Lauren said after him, not really meaning it.

She hoped Awen wasn't too mad at her, but she needed to protect her if possible. If Jamal was after more than booty he could wait.

Jamal ignored Lauren completely, even though he really wanted to smack her. He, however, addressed Awen.

"Well, dat be up to you. Brotha's goin' to the beach...I ain't forcing no one no where." The last sentence was said very pointedly for Lauren's benefit before he turned and headed away from the tent and melted into the darkness.

((Gotta head out soon, so a few more posts for me xD))

Hargun laughed. "Hopefully. Until then, its blindly drawing with my toes, which are now actually getting a little strange.. Im constantly walking on them."

She pondereda bit. Wait a minute... if Ive now changed more.. surely someone else has? "By the way Amaya.. has anyone else you know changed a lot like I've?"

She began to make a list of people whom which she met that could change and what horrific features had now been plaguing themas well.

Awen's comment caused her to jump slightly. Such anger in her voice..

Oh god, now she felt like a heel. Normally that wouldn't happen she would gloat in her accomplishment of causing discord but not now, she upset Awen.

"Um," Lauren bit her lip then let it explode out, "He was looking at you like a piece of meat, I saw it, I know guys like that." She didn't really mean it in a racist way, she would be the same to a white guy who looked at Awen like that.

Damn, she got herself into a mess.

Hargun smacked her forehead. Ow.. that was actually stupid..

"I forgot! You told me about Cass! Dude.. sorry." she grinned meekly and stepped back a pace. "Erm.. Awen and Jamal must be good friends.. and Jamal not very hot with Lauren huh?" she whispered to her lizardy friend.

Things are gonna get out of hand.. maybe I should head out soon..

Lauren was near tears, what was that... tears? She held her head down her hair over her eyes, feining a sneeze to wipe the water away.

"I... I.... I..." She was stuttering this was hard to say, "I'm sorry I just don't know. I got protective. You know how aweful guys can be on the streets, seemed like every guy I knew was always looking to break in a new girl, one by one." Oh gods... not those memories, anything but those... block block block....

"I was tall enough and tough enough to fight them off, always stood up for my friends. Geuss that's why I got tough all of a sudden. You're right, you're an adult, I'm the kid here... even though only technically one year from it and adult or minor doesn't seem to matter where I'm from. But yeah, sorry... I just hell I don't know but sorry." She felt bad...really bad. But she still didn't want Awen to sleep with Jamal and didn't quite know why.

((G2G x__x; ))

Hargun shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe. Julian and Lauren sang some good ones earlier." Her ears twitched to the conflict between Lauren and Awen and it sounded intense. She leaned over and whispered again. "Hey Im gonna head out. Ill see you later kay?" she said, and rushed out shouting a quick "Bye!" to Lauren and Awen, waving to all three as she made her way to her duplex.

The Dude had spent the entire night in a dreamless oblivion. The microchip was still exerting slight counter current on his brain stem, enough to keep him knocked out but his heart and breathing rate stable. Moreau was playing a dangerous game here with the microchip. Sure, 99 attempts out of a 100 had a complete reawakening of the subject without any detrimental effects. But there was still that 1 in a 100 chance that the ever so slight counter current exerted by the chip would be too strong, that the vital systems of the body would be affected and the subject's heart would stop. It's not like he got a chance to test it on a 100 men yet ...

Eventually the timing of the program activated by the doctor timed out and the Dude slowly returned from the sleep-like state. He opened his eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling. Where was he? Wasn't he just at the party right now? Why was he horizontal? Turning his head to the side he saw a dark haired girl curled up in the armchair next to his bed. He was in his room, he slowly realized ... what was this girl's name?

"A ... amaya?" - he asked, hoping he was right there.

"Yeah .. fine. Struck with amnesia, though. What happened? Did ... did I just DREAM I smacked Moreau or what?" - there was a strong sense of dissapointment in his voice there.

He sat down on the bed and scratched his head, looking around quite bewildered still. There was sun shining outside so he must have been zonked out for quite a while. Did Amaya really stay here all night to watch over him????

Oh yeah ... she was right. The events of last night began to slowly come back in the Dude's head. Moreau's sneering face, Aubrey's shocked expression, Ambrose, looking horribly indecisive at first, then coming out for support and Awen, trying to keep the peace ...

"WOW. It's insane that he can put us out by word alone. Megalomaniac b*****d ..." - he grumbled, feelign a bit defeated. But still, he smacked Moreau good. Part of the Dude was extremely excited aboutit, but most of him felt sick. He was not a violent man. There was not question about the fact that Moreau deserved it, but it also made him feel like a beast. But it was for Greer ... and all the other people on the island.

"It was very nice of you to come watch over me like that, Amaya." - he smiled at her. "Who brougth me here? Couldn't have just been you alone ..." Then he noticed that the girl was shivering: "Are you okey?"

"Aubrey helped? Moreau LET her?" - the Dude's jaw hit the floor and a bad sense of foreboding settled inside his stomach. Surely Moreau didn't instruct her to help carry the bumm that hit him in the face. Aubrey dissobeyed the doctor! WOW. The unthinkable has actually happened ...

"Well, let's get you outside into the sun, then" - he stood up and offered his hand to pull Amaya out of the chair. "Sun and food will fix things, I am sure ..."

And the two headed for the cafeteria (the RP moves there now.)

The Dude, Amaya in tow, has walked into the cafeteria this fine sunny morning. After the events of the past night, there were a lot of thougth on the sea lion's mind, but food came first. Besides, Amaya was shivering from the coldness ofhis room and the cafeteria not only had food, but a much move ambient temperature as well.

"So what happened after Moreau knocke dme out?" - the Dude asked Amaya, loading his plate with scrambled eggs and toast

"Well, you see, Aubrey's in love with Moreau. She'll do anything for him, I think. She's also hie head scientist. And always makes excuses for the megalomaniac ... But she is also a very good person and tired to do her best to make our lives on the island, well, nice. Her consiousness must be eating on her." - the Dude shrugged, buttering his toast. "Oh and the spikey haired woman you are talking about - her name is Emelyn. The reason she's spikey is because she's turnign into a hedgehog. Are you turning into a lizard of some kind?"

Hargun had been lazy today when it came to dressing. A few of her old clothes were obviously no longer going to make it around her strange arms. Only her larger articles worked... that and her swimsuit. Swimsuit it was.

Though it was sunny out, she knew she needed to get something to eat.. her stomache continuously whining for the creepy crawlies that she so frequently ate. And what better place to go than the breeding ground for all her little snacks but the cafeteria itself.

She threw on her sunglasses and made a rather cheerful trot down to the cafeteria. Fortunately, she missed the madness that had occured during the end of the Halloween bash.

As soon as she stepped in she noticed the Dude and Amaya, and almost shouted loudly until she spotted the innocent Colche moving about. Instead, she walked calmly in and sat down near Amaya and the Dude, and rather quietly and formally, said "Hiya guys."

The Dude waved at the two girls, neither of whom he recognised. Well, the blond one look familiar, but he couldn't put a finger on it. She looked quite advanced in her change, probably even farther then him.

"Hey there." - he nodded to both of them. Tehn Amaya referred to the dark haired girl as Colche and the name rang a bell instantly. This was Colche? The abused child that Aubrey told him about. She acted quite strange for an 18 year old but that was to be expected from somebody who live thru the darkness. The Dude shut up, feeling guilty for no good reason. After all, he was also a man, and thus the vile half of humanity that has brought Colche somuch pain

Hargun was about to open her mouth when she notcied Colche sit beside her. She gave a warm smile then turned back to Amaya.

"Mm... so I did miss alot eh? Nothing.. bad happened, did there?" she asked and before speaking again, looked under the table as she heard her voice softly beating off a bug crawling under the table top, then grabbed it, and quickly popped it in her mouth.

"Erm.. sorry about that.." she blushed then turned to the Dude. "Its been awhile since Ive seen you.. uh sorta.. Dude."

"Yes yes, Dude very nice." - the Dude nodded energetically, trying to do his best and inside deeply amused by the way Amaya spoke to Colche. The striped kitten was really still very much a child. "You know Greer? Well Greer told me to teach Colche how to swim." - he smiled again at that stetment, too and then raised an amused eyebrow at Amaya's description of last night's event. To the point, that girl.

Hargun looked rather bewildered at first. Hearing that the Doctor reared his head again obviously meant something bad happened or as going to at least. The first time she actually met him was at the beach when he was walking with Aubrey, and at that time seemed as if nothing was wrong with him, until the bar incident. And even at the bar, the Dude had been involved. To him it mustve been some sort of victory, being able to hit the doc.

"Showed him what for, eh? Did he just leave after that or something? I bet his reaction was priceless." She asked, and made a retarded face of the doc being hit, and slightly hit the table, then looked back up.

She couldn't help but smile after listening to Colche. The girl sounded so sweet, and the Dude was going to teach her to swim? It just made her feel all fuzzy inside.. (despite how lame of a pun that was. x''D)

Now that he was on Colche's good side, the Dude nodded with a smile and elaborated further: "Well, hargun, I think your impression wa more like me hitting the deck when he told me to sleep. It's pretty amazing, actually, that he is able to do that. but what's weird is that he didn't use the command on me right away ... maybe he was waiting for Aubrey to do that ... and she failed him. I wonder how he can put us out with words alone ... it's like magic." - he shrugged, still very amuzed by Hargun's visuals.

"Anyway ... sorry i didn't recognise you, Hargun. How are you feeling?" - he looked at the bat girl.

"He did WHAT?" Hargun exclaimed, her face now a bit flushed. "At first I thought the cameras werre the worst he could do, but putting us to sleep??" It was evident that things were a bit more frightening after this news. Her voice calmed a bit. "It didnt hurt... like a zap or anything did it? Or were you unconcious before you hit the ground?"

She shook her head. "Sorry.. I shouldnt be trying to dig up so many details. Im worried now though.. maybe he can make us do more than just fall asleep on command, yah know? Oh its okay. And I /was/ doing okay." she laughed slightly then sighed. "Until now of course."

She raised a brow at Colche and judging by the items she was gathering from the cafeteria lady, she had a pet at home. Or something like that at least..

"Well, I hope it's not suicide, Amaya. I hope it's not." - he scratched his head, looking worried. part of him began to regret that fight already. Now Aubrey was in trouble. But in a way, it was for the best. maybe she'd find it in her heart to rebel against him, then. Or a way to turn them all back to normal or something. Nah ... that was nothing but a wet dream. But wasn't the thought of being turned INTO an animal sort of like a bizarre dream, too? Never give up hope, Dude ...

"And it didn't hurt, Hargun. I think I remember him telling me "Subject Carroll, Sleep" and then I jsut don't remember anything at all. I was out before I even hit the floor ..."

Shuddering, she repeated Subject Carroll, Sleep in her head as if making a new alarm system for anything like that to happen again, shed be able to know what was about to happen at least.

"Aubrey and Moreau are obviously close.. and yea, if she didnt active it or whatever right as he was hit as you guys are saying then thats like turning your back to your master. Hopefully he didn't hurt her or anything afterwards."

She slouched in her chair, eyes level with the table. I want to go back home.. she thought. It was a while since she felt this intensely homesick, and that her 'new home' was revealing more and more terrible things, things youd only ever read in stories or watch in movies.

The Dude looked first at Amaya then at hargun and shook his head: "Come on guys, perk up. Sorry, I didnt' mean to bring everyone down like that. Look at the bright side - Moreau got a face full of fist last night. And I'm still standing among you! Must mean something good. Little victories, guys. Little victories ... " - he smiled and nodded, hoping that it woudl cheer the two up.

Hargun laughed slightly and slowly slid up from her slouch, her butt had gone numb. "I guess when you put it that way..." she began then tried to smile a little.

She stretched a bit and glanced at Amaya who seemed quiet, but she could tell she was intent still then returned to teh Dude. "And hopefully these 'little victories' are going to somehow get us off this damnation of an island.. or at least stop moreau from his work."

Emelyn didn't know the girl's name- she'd never been officially introduced, but she'd seen her at the Halloween party, and when The Dude had been... incapacitated. She was surprised, however, to see her at Ambrose's door.

"Oh..." she said, pausing several steps from the duplex door, "I didn't mean to interrupt anything. I was just..." her voice trailed off. She'd actually come to talk to Ambrose- and to either apologize for her assumptions, or to cement them. But she wasn't going to tell that to someone she didn't know. "I just came to talk to Ambrose," she finished, the pause noticeable.

Ambrose had been asleep - he realized after the fact as the sound of the door woke him with a jolt. He blinked around, hearing the repeating knock and the muffled sounds of womens' voices. With a furrow of his brow he realized afer his consciousness came back to him, just how well he could hear the voices on the other side of the door. Emelyn and Amaya. He swallowed. Not just one person to face, but two.

He shook his head quickly, getting to his still-sore feet. He wouldn't hide. Greer hadn't hid, even Cassidy Hargun hadn't hid. Nd to be perfectly honest.... Ambrose really wanted the company. He didn't want to be alone, despite his freakish appearance.

"I"m coming" he called back weakly, finally making it to the door and opening it with bated breath. He was dressed in boxer shorts, and not much more. Unless one counted the thick pelt of fur that now covered him. His long tail was tucked between his legs, his lupine ears nervously folded back against his head.

"H....hi, guys.." He swallowed. "I'm happy to see you two..."

Emelyn hadn't the chance to answer Amaya before Ambrose appeared, and so her tongue was held as the man came into sight... and Emelyn realized- he wasn't entirely a man any longer.

...He'd been changed. Oh, had he been changed. His entire visage had been nearly swallowed by the beast, his fur radiating up every inch of his body, covering it with more than just a downy coat of grey and yellowed fur. She didn't have a first reaction to the change- if anything, all of her thoughts were fused together in the flash-fire of shock- burnt into an unrecognizable lump of thoughts and ideas and reactions. One thing that came out clear as day... was that he barely appeared human any more. Even as he spoke those human, crystal-clear words, his animal nature was belied by rows of pointed teeth.

The first thing she did was to put a hand on Amaya's shoulder, as if to draw her back from the furious embrace. Something about the outburst frightened Emelyn- she didn't want Ambrose to feel like they were mourning his passing. She paused, her hand still anchored on the girl's shoulder, and found her voice, drawing it forth from its silence.

"I'm glad to see you, too." Was all she said, emphasizing the 'you'... as if to let him know... I still see you.

A whine escaped Ambrose as Amaya clung to him, sobbing into his fur. He hugged her fiercely, happy for the contact although her tears were regretfully contagious. He felt his own eyes become misty. She was scared, and rightfully so - he was scared. "I'm sorry, Amaya... Dear God I'm sorry.... I wish this hadn't happened." He smoothed her dark hair back with his furred hand.

He looked up to Emelyn as he held her, not sure who was doing more of the comforting. "Th... thank you, Emelyn." He whispered. He had been so scared to see her again - between their parting, and worried that she would be scared of him - that he would have a hard time still seeing him as a man. "It... it just happened.... today." He was trying to put forth a brave front before two of his closest friends here - show that he had courage. But something about the hollowness of the last phrase betrayed the shock that he was still suffering.

"Please... come inside...?"

Emelyn followed the instruction to come in, and, seeing the tears in Amayas eyes, put her hand on her shoulder again- this time comfortingly. The words that sprang to mind were "It's okay"... but held them back. Obviously, everything wasn't okay. If anything... nothing was okay.

"I'm so sorry, Ambrose," she said. She was torn between wanting to comfort him, and wanting to let him know that she didn't feel any differently about him. It was a very... hard medium to accomplish, and it left her torn.

Ambrose took a shaking breath and nodded, letting them in and then closing the door softly behind them as he padded after them to take his seat back on the edge of the bed.

"I know, Amaya... only one person is really to blame." He responded, dejection in his voice. "I... I knew this had to happen. I Just....." He shook his head. "As Emelyn knows, I was trying my damndest to pretend it wasn't going to."

He looked to Emelyn as he spoke, wrapping his arms around his knees as he drew them to his chest. Knowing it was futile to hide the animal parts... there was no part of him that wasn't 'tainted' by the serum. "Thanks, Emelyn...." he looked back to her. "I..." he shook his head again, staring at a blank spot on the wall "I don't look anything like myself any longer..." he winced.

Emelyn nodded, and found that her words had been taken by Amaya- and also, her tears. For as much weeping as the girl was able to do, tears running in her eyes and down her cheeks, Emelyn couldn't manage to get any of the sorrow and fear she had for this man come to light. ...But she felt it all. Deeply, and she went to Ambrose where he sat at the edge of the bed, wrapped to himself as if to press his knees through to his back, and she looked down in the eyes that Amaya had so thoughtfully mentioned.

"It is you..." she said, a whisper, and then... they came. The tears that had hidden themselves from her made themselves known in a silent torrent, and she reached forward and ran her fingers through the blonde hair atop his head. "What's happening to us is... terrible," she said, and her knees practically buckled as she sank next to him on the bed.

"Oh Ambrose," she said, facing him, and then dropping her head and the weight of her thoughts onto his shoulder. One hand hung limply at her side, and the other she placed on his knee.

Ambrose looked to them, their sincerity and support really touching him. His eyes and attention were pulled back from their hollow stare at the wall to look between the two of them.

"Thank you, Amaya..." Despite her young age, Amaya repeatedly impressed him wiht her insight and maturity. "I... I was so frightened." He admitted quietly. "I was hoping, I guess, that it would take longer to take my ... human face away." His ears crumpled back. "What's going to happen to us...." he added with a whisper.

He leaned towards Emelyn as she approached. "It... it really does help... knowing that there are at least people like you who are here...." He gave a weak smile. "I just wish that I don't have to see these same things happen to the others here..." He couldn't bring himself to say them specifically, but the implications were there. "But... I mean.... I guess part of the most frightening thing is that this really means that I can never go home again...." He gave a small smile that had little happiness actually behind it.

Emelyn nodded over to Amaya... and regretted that what she was going to say next couldn't be said allowed. She put her fingers to her lips in a quick motion, and shot her eyes at Amaya.. then at the intercom, as if to say- I can't say this louder than a whisper. Then she leaned in, as if to give Ambrose a hearty embrace... but whispered in his ear...

"We can find a way out. Moreau still thinks I'm on his side. We can find some way to either stop the treatments, or to at least bear them out until the end... and then get him.. out of power," she said, less of a whisper than an echoing breath that took the shape of speech. "And even if we can't go back to the mainland... we can make this home. Free from opression."

Ambrose's heart swelled with Amaya's comforting, and he nodded. "That, that is very true, Amaya. At least we have eachother... we can still do fencing... talk to eachother. And yes, we can be here for eachother." He gave Amaya's hand a squeeze.

He blinked in surprise as Emelyn leaned forward. His sensitive ears heard her quiet whisper without any difficulty. He swallowed and nodded, and ever so quietly, as they were parting. "Thank you, Emelyn... I don't think it's safe to escape before they're finished with us... as much as I despise to face that. But if we could do the latter..." his eyes hardened.... "Or... at the very least... yes, we can make this Island our home." He squeezed her and parted the hug.

He looked over his two friends, and he felt so much better... as scared as he had been to be seen like that... it was more than made up for by the support. Little did Ambrose realize, the packing instincts that had started to bud in him after his second injection was blossoming.

Emelyn nodded at his response. She understood that he doubted the ability to escape- and she knew that some of that may be her fault. She'd been such the... bringer of reality, striking not only Ambrose with what her 'reality dose' but also The Dude... Greer... Awen, and even Jamal. So now, she understood if it was difficult for others to truly believe that her mind had harbored thoughts of escape. The hope of leaving. ...All in time, I think they'll understand how serious I am, she thought, giving Ambrose a sort of parting smile as they pulled apart, and turning to Amaya with a thankful nod, understanding that the girl had picked up the hint.

"It's a home for me too, Amaya," she said... less out of believing it, than for Moreau's sake. He was doubtlessly taping this... or perhaps even watching it. So she acted for the benefit of his extensive library of labrats. "I think it can be a home for all of us."

Ambrose nodded. He really did value these new friends... and in some cases, a surrogate family. Nothing would ever make him forget the life he had before... he refused to. But... maybe he could find happiness here as well. A different life. It seemed unlikely that one could find such happiness as a prisoner, becoming an animal. But... at least he had friends?

He sighed, with a small smile. "You're a great little sister, Amaya." Ambrose ruffled her hair. "If you'll still have me."

To Emelyn he nodded slowly. "I... should probably mention... Thanks again... for the night we spoke the other night. I think that if you hadn't given me the reality check then, then this would have been so much more difficult than it is now." He scratched at some of the new fur on his arm.

The praise Ambrose gave her struck home... and she felt guilty for her words. She'd been trying so hard to accustom him to life on the island, to accept what had been dealt and to live a full life here... and now she was trying to rattle that faith with her own thoughts of escape. She swallowed a lump that was forming in her throat, enough to pass through a handful of guilty words.

"Any time," she said, before turning away from this man who seemed to be the midst of such a turmoil in her mind right now.

"Amaya..." she said, rubbing her throat as if to free the sore lump that still resided there, despite the shameful swallowing, "I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to meet you, earlier. You seem to be... a wonderful person."

Ambrose beamed at Amaya, the change almost slipping his mind for just the moment and forgetting to try to keep his teeth from showing. "I'm glad, Amaya. Really. Thank you." The long tail behind him started to move slowly from side to side - the muscles still new and sore, but responding to the glimmer of hope once again planted in his chest. No matter what he looked like... he still had friends like this.

Leaning forward he put an arm around each of them and pulled them gently closer. "Thanks." He whispered again. "For everything."

"May I ask you a question, Ambrose?" She hoped he'd say yes... because she barrelled forward, anyway. "Are any of your senses heightened?" She stopped herself, and rubbed back the quills from her forehead in an anxious motion. "What am I saying, of course they are. But... how heightened?"

Ambrose shrugged to Amaya. "Well. I think you are - in a good way of course. As much as I feel horrible for saying it... at least we're surrounded by some good people.... I mean, don't get me wrong - no one deserves this, and I wish that he'd stop bringing innocents here on one hand... on the other, I've made some of the closest friends I've ever had here, especially considering that I haven't been here very long. Maybe I didn't get out much back home..." He shrugged self-consciously "But it's true."

Turning to Emelyn, Ambrose looked a bit surprised by the question, but not offended. "I... well, yes... actually. I mean, I've barely had time to even properly come to terms with it myself... I could hear the two of you speaking outside the door before I opened it..." He paused, and his ears visually perked, turning towards the window for a moment, and then swiveling to the door. "I can hear jungle animals... A few people walking around..." Ambrose shaked his head. "It's so strange..." He said quietly.

"And...." He lifted his nose, sniffing a bit "Dear Lord I can smell the cafeteria now that I think about it.... Mmm... that smells good." Ambrose was suddenly reminded that he hadn't eaten that day between the change and then dealing with it. His stomach audibly growled.

"I'm sorry to blurt it out like that," Emelyn said, "...unfortunately there's not a... Miss Manners Manual for something like this." She shoved the limp quills out of view of her eyes- annoyed with herself. She'd been saying only the wrong things for a good long time. "I think curiousity just wanted to... take over all the other emotions. Curiousity doesn't require as much thinking." She decided to just be honest, and voice that aloud. If it left her vulnerable- ah well. At least they'd understand that she hadn't meant to be callous.

"I'm hungry, too," she said, but paused, not wanting to suggest that they go to the cafeteria if he wasn't ready.

Ambrose nodded. "I understand. I'd actually rather that you get questions off your chest, to be honest. I spoke with Cassidy about that after my first change. I think it's better than having awkward questions that you want to ask but are worried that you'll offend.... you know... get them out of the way so that they don't get between you and being comfortable around the other person..?" He gesticulated, realizing he probably wasn't making much sense. "I... I know it's going to hit me again sometime... but for now... I ... I think I'm doing alright thanks to you guys." He smiled. "It's hard to really sink in all at once. Maybe it's better that way. I'm not sure. But regardless, food sounds fantastic. I think I can make it outside. Well... once I put on some more clothes, at least." He gestured to his mostly undressed form as he whet his lips, realizing that he had been sitting there in his skivvies in front of two nice young women for the past thirty minutes or so.

"Oh God, I'm so glad he's alright," Em said- putting her fingers up to her lips in automatic horror that she'd forgotten completely about The Dude. With the circumstances, it was almost understandable... but she was once again appalled with herself, regardless. "I was so worried about him last night. ...Are you sure you don't want to join us for some food, Amaya?"

Ambrose felt bad - he had almost forgotten completely about the Dude, and all at once the memory of what had happened the night before surged back in his mind and put things into an even starker perspective. "Oh, geez, that's right! Thank you Amaya - I was worried about him. I'm really glad to hear that he's alright." He stood up as well, giving her a final quick hug. "Thanks for letting me know - and for helping out so much last night. You have a good night's sleep."
Ambrose wasn't tired in the least.


Ambrose smiled to Emelyn and blushed. "Just wait here one moment, I'll go get something more decent on."

Avoiding the mirror in the bathroom, Ambrose pulled out one of his standard t-shirts and pants, and slipped them on over the boxers... only realizing as he had nearly pulled the pants all the way up that he had a new apendage to deal with that wasn't going to be surreptously hidden in his pants. With a frustrated snarl, Ambrose grabbed a pair of scissors from the dresser drawer and made some hasty adjustments before dusting his hands off on his pants and giving a weak smile. "Ready. I think."

Vasile, getting more and more comfortable with his 25% form everyday, had continued his daily strict regiment of excercise. He found working out - a lot - not only made him feel more in control of his body, but it was good for him and helped him pass the time. Becuase he would quickly admit he was bored in general. The mixer was fun, but still didn't manage to get anywhere fast with Cass. Unless you count "not hating him more" progress.

He went running down the beach, thinking to himself. He was wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and his sunglasses. The first day he wore a shirt and sweatpants to attempt to hide his now nearly-completely furred back, but learned that fur trapped under a shirt while you're sweating like a pig did nothing but make you hot and chafe. Of course, he was still rather unfortably furry now under his shorts, but he wasn't about to go running in the nude.

Not looking like this at least.

He slowed down after a long sprint, cooling down as he slowed his run to a job, letting himself splash through the water on the beach, feeling the cool seawater on his legs. As he slowed to a walk, he noticed someone laying on a peice of driftwood up the beach a bit. Hoping it was Cass (he found her reading on the beach once), he approached. He was shiney with sweat, and his now much longer hair was pulled into a ponytail that now had little frizz-bits sticking out. If he knew, he's be freaking out.

He was a bit dissapointed as he approached to see it wasn't Cass, but no need to be rude. He stepped up, waving. "Hello.. Amaya, was it?"

Vasile didn't mean to stare, but he couldn't help but look her over. What was it with this island and scaley chicks? He wondered if Karma had changed yet, and what to. He needed to look her up sometime.

But back in the present, he swallowed and tried to drag his eyes back up to hers. "Me? Oh, uhm... well, fine, I guess... considering." He motioned helplessly to his transformation. "I feel... a bit foolish and like I owe everyone here a big apology. I probably looked like the biggest a**. I'm still hoping a camera crew is going to burst out of the jungle at some point."

Vasile smiled and took the seat. "Thanks for saying that," he said. "Most people got rather agitated at me for beleiving so ... vehemently that this was some movie camp. But I mean... come on! They gave me a SCRIPT!" He sighed and shook his hea.d

He swallowed uncomforably at her comments about him not looking so bad. In truth, he had to agree with her. And he was beginning to feel guilty for people not so.. lucky. Snakes and scaley-things... a fox or wolf or whatever it was he was turning into really didn't too bad in comparison. "Thanks.." he said, forcing a smile. At the mention of his hair, he reached up and pulled it out the ponytail. It fell just below his shoulders, and faded to a stark-white at the roots. "You know, this is weird. No one else has had thier human hair grow like this. At least no one I or Ambrose have seen. I mean..what animals have... hair? Like.. human hair?"

Vasile shrugged. "Maybe. Gawd, I hope I'm not turning into a maltese or something."

Wow. That would make sense. And that scared him. Hair turning white and silky... with silver fur.

His blood ran cold for a second but then he shrugged it off for now and smiled back at Amaya. "Really?"

"Yeah... a little silky white tiny little lap dog. Like Brutus... but more girly looking and long-furred." Oh no, this was Moreau's way of making fun of his dog, he knew. THe b*****d. Vasile looked like he was distinctly pouting, now.

Vasile winced a bit. Being told this from a lizard or snake or.. something person. "Yeah, you're right. I"m sorry.. I shouldn't be complaining.." He looked back over her scales.. "Do you know.. what.." he trailed off, looking at her fingers.

Vasile smiled at her, impressed at her... attitute. He wouldn't call it optimism, but she didn't seem embarassed or sorry for herself. Such a change from Cass. He wished he could someone get her to accept things better. I guess a lizard was still better than a snake - at least she wouldn't lose her legs.

"How did you get here?" he asked, curious

Vasile seemed to pale. Wow. Okay, so he wasn't really expecting that, Talk about heavy conversation. Not really knowing what to say, he just nodded. "Oh... uhm, I'm sorry..."

"Wow," Vasile said simply. "Thats quite... an outlook you have." He looked over the ocean. "But you know, I kind of understand what you mean. I mean, I didn't come here looking for anything but a job. But since I'm here I've really been forced to do a lot of thinking. I know I'm going to sound very Hollywood here, but I never.. did that before. I didn't have to deal with things. There was always somewhere else there to do that. Now... I'm forced to have to deal with my own problems. I feel... so lost. I don't know who I even... am. But I guess, in a way, thats good."

He looked back over at her, his hair flying back in his face a bit. "Not the being lost part," he said as he batted it away, "but the reality check, I suppose."

Vasile looked surprised at her. The cute little teen didn't look like someone who could think very dark thoughts. Not in light of the other things she was saying. "I'm sorry about your parents," he mumbled out. He was curious, but he figured asking how they died might come off pretty rude.

"Uhm, yeah," he stuttered out, a bit surprised by the suddent change of subject. "Been modeling ever since I was a kid. My acting career looked like it was just about to take off, too." He let some of the bitterness slip back into his voice.

"Yeah." He said, leaning back on a branch of the driftwood. "Looking back on it, I really didn't have much of a childhood. I was tutored privately, but most of what I remember was booking shoots."

"Wow, that sounds... interesting" That was Vasile's way of saying "old fashioned." She would probably laugh if she knew how many times Vasile had ever made his own dinner and washed clothes or clean the house. And he knew he had never done anything like chop wood or hunt.

"Siblings? Yeah, I have a younger brother. He'd be fourteen this year."

Vasile let a frown tug at his mouth. "My parents did their best to keep him out of it, but he always wanted to. Right before I let he landed himself a guest appearance on a few WB shows. He was... thrilled."

"My parents didn't want him involved... I think because they were afraid that we'd be in constant competition or something. But, I dunno. I sometimes felt like he was being forced to stay in my shadow." Vasile frowned, for the first time actually feeling nostalgic. "I wasn't always the nicest to him," he admitted. "I wish I could see him again. See how he's doing."

Vasile looked over a smiled to the girl. "Hey, I want to go shower. I'm feeling a bit sticky. Maybe we can catch up with each other later?" Vasile was enjoying her company and chided himself for momentarily wishing she was older. The last girl he was with before coming to the island was only sixteen (she said she was eighteen!) and the more he had been thinking abuot it, the more he had a suspicion that might have had something to do with the reason he ended up on this island.

Vasile smiled and nodded. "Allright, I'll see you around. Catch yourself a good tan," she said to her with a wink and headed back off to his duplex. In which he would probably freak out seeing how frizzy and wavy his hair looked while talking to another living person.