[Journal] Duplex #1 - Ambrose Maurlias & Angelina Swanson

[Ambrose Maurlias]

Ambrose rubbed at his arm a bit where the needle had injected its second bout of serum, already numbing his arm. At least it was his left arm and shouldn't interfere with him trying out the fencing gear.

Noting the tension between The Doctor and The Dude, he changed the subject. "Thank you, Doctor. I'll let you know if anything comes up that deserves your attention."

He glanced between them again as Amsterdam was mentioned with a thoughtful 'hmm' noise. Ambrose wasn't completely naive, he had heard of the legalities of some things there that weren't elsewhere. He left it as a raised eyebrow at his taller companion.  

[Aubrey Lockheart]

Aubrey looked a bit uncomfortable. She liked the dude a lot, but she wouldn't dare correct or interupt the doctor. "So..." she said instead, stepping up and taking Dude by the arm. "Shall we go? Hey - I heard its Taco Night at the cafeteria! Sounds good, yes?"

She started to usder Dude and Ambrose out, giving a smile to Moreau, hoping it might cheer him up alittle.  

[Doctor Moreau]

Moreau looked throughly annoyed with The Dude as his steely look gave the distinct impression he didn't want to continue this conversation. He nodded to Aubrey attempting to show that he was pleased with her then turned around and walked into the automatic opening elevator. It closed with his back to the trio, he was odviously not amused.  

[The Dude XD]

Feeling like a winner all around, the Dude didn't object to being ushered from the battle field. He swaggered after Aubrey and Ambrose, his hands still in the pockets of his swiming trunks and a happy grin on his face.

"Hey, Dr. Lockheart" - he said, once they were out of the Labs: "He should be treating you like a princess, for the sweetheart that you are. Cuz you are a real gem of a girl. Don't forget that."  

[Ambrose Maurlias]

Ambrose sunk into Aubrey's suggestion to further distance himself from the tension. "Tacos sound GREAT!" He trailed after the Dude and Aubrey as well, lingering just long enough to cast one last look backwards at the monumental facility. Something, for some reason, was giving him a sense of forboding that he just couldn't pin.

Pushing it to the back of his mind he continued walking, rubbing the hot, itchy spot on his arm.  

[Aubrey Lockheart]

Aubrey turned a deep shade of burgandy. "Oh, he treats me... well, you know. He trusts me, and that says a lot for him. He doesn't hardly trust anyone. I'm really honored to be working with him at all, much less be his right hand man, ya know..." She seemed to notice she was rambling, and probably being rather obvious abuot her feelings towards the doctor and cleared her throat. "Oh, but ... thank you. That's sweet." She couldn't help but have a shy grin come over her face.  

[The Dude XD]

"Any day, Dr. Lockheart!" - the Dude grinned again. "Well, let's go eat Tacos ..."  

[Ambrose Maurlias]

After just about gorging himself on Tacos and saying goodnight to the Dude, Ambrose meandered back to his bungalow, feeling full and happy. It had been a good day. He had been wondering why he hadn't received any follow up to the preliminary injection yet, and receiving the second injection put him at ease a bit with the validity of the study.

Despite the exhiliration in the aftermath of the day, and the extra confirmation of the validity... he still somehow couldn't shake a growing feeling of trepidation. Ambrose had tried to push aside instincts before on many occassions, usually knowing that the underlying reasonings were foolish or unfounded. But sometimes, like before a match with a particular opponent, he would get a sinking feeling that shook his confidence - usually when he had previously been estimating as easy win. The uncomfortable feelings were almost always accompanied with defeat -whether the feeling was some sort of "omen", or the other way around: the feeling shaking his confidence to make him lose - he was never quite sure. But he learned to stop underestimating those opponents, and sometimes fared better.

This was hardly a fencing match, but the uneasy feeling was similar. He had gotten a very similar one on arrival to the Island, but had been trying to push it aside and enjoy his time here for most of the trip. The conspiracy theory discussions with The Dude and Cassidy had been an outlet for that anxiety - he knew that - and in general had honestly eased his nerves a bit as opposed to outright denying the unsettlement as he had done usually in the past. That just made things worse.

Tonight, however, it seemed to be back full force, despite the overall pleasant day he had had. Much like the grey skies that foretold the coming storm, there seemed to be something.... off about all of this that he couldn't nail with any sort of evidence as conclusive as stormy clouds to the weather.

The headache was starting to come back, he realized in irritation. That had happened last time he had gotten the injection, and was a precurser to a low grade fever that would probably last a day or so, along with the sore arm that was already begining to throb.

He headed to the shower; rinsing himself in the cool water helped a great deal clear his head and forestall the headache. Drinking that beer earlier probably wouldn't help things either, he lamented, scratching at his chest. Given his athletic focus and dislike of losing control of his actions, he rarely partook of very much alcohol. But hardly the prude he used to be, he didn't mind a social drink here or there. But alcohol alongside illness or excercize could really run one through the wringer. He made sure to drink a big glass of water, just in case, before finally heading to bed.

However, even after shutting off the light, sleep was not swift in coming. Despite the dutiful air-conditioning and thin sheets, Ambrose was uncomfortably warm. He was tired, but couldn't quite sleep - his head alreay pounding, the sheets and his nightclothes feeling inordinarily scratchy against his skin, and his arm hot to the touch and sore around the injection. He was more than used to his fair share of bruises from overeager opponents in fencing - but this was different. He tossed and turned for what felt like over an hour before finally, the fever bordering on exhaustion, he slipped off to sleep.

His dreams that night were back full force - chaotic, fever-dreams that seemed to swirl dramatically from one setting to another. Vivid colors and cacophonous, mixmatched sounds in all the wrong settings. Lush jungles with drumbeats, pine forests dripping with color and smells that seemed to be so strong he could see them - but strangely not unpleasantly so. Movement, feeling brushes and wind against him - blurry vision. Venemous snakes snapped at his heels and ravens swooped at his eyes, and he was running, running away from them, running for freedom. He needed OUT, but out of what? He needed to get away from them, away from more than just the hostile wildlife away from THERE. His heart burned for something he couldn't have, something he needed so bad - like a hunger that was eating away at his stomach....

Whatever the need was for, Ambrose never found out as the actual hunger pains in his stomach pulled him to consciousness. It was back, more than he could recall from any other morning since his stay here. It HAD to have something to do with the drugs - he was certain that whatever it was doing, it had to be having some sort of metabolic speeding effect as he had't put on a pound as far he could tell - he was in as good physical condition as he could imagine. His chest - and parts of his arms were itching like crazy, however - it felt like he was coming down with a rash.

He showered. Again, thoroughly rubbing himself down with the soapy washcloth to some relief. He didn't see anything - there was a bit of redness, but that could easily have been justified by the itching he must have done overnight.
After he was done, he dressed as quickly as he could, and made a beeline to the cafeteria.  

[Greer Cassenwari]

Elated by the discovery of the package of entomological goodies and the prospect of fencing promised by Ambrose's note, Greer very nearly skipped to the door of duplex #1. What stopped her was a combination of poor coordination and a momentary loss of direction. It was a pity she didn't know which direction it was in - she could have tried out her shiny new compass. Mmmm, shiny!

Finally reaching Mr. Maurlias' door, she knocked cheerfully and bounced on her toes with excitmement. Insect studies! Fencing! This would be a wonderful day.  

[Ambrose Maurlias]

Ambrose had already been awake and eaten that morning.
After shaking off some of the trepidation of the night before with a big meal of breakfast sausages and eggs, he was relieved to feel that he was feeling generally better. He still had a bit of a muzzy-head and his left arm still hurt, but that was not going to stop him from getting in a wonderful practice with the fencing equipment.

He sincerely hoped that Greer would in fact turn up today, but regardless of her presence or absense, he was going to break in the new gear. Already halfway into the fencing shirt, he heard the knock at the door and headed over with a smile on his face.

Opening the door to a familiar and most welcome face, a smile spread across his face, the elation seeping into his eyes. "Greer!" He greeted. "Wonderful that you could make it!"  

[Greer Cassenwari]

Greer giggled, highly amused by Ambrose's half dressed appearance. "Need a hand with the zipper?"  

[Ambrose Maurlias]

Ambrose blushed a bit with a sheepish smile. With his sore arm, and the zipper on the fencing vest he had indeed been having a bit of problems.

He ran a hand through his hair self-consciously and spun around. "If you woudln't mind - I would greatly appreaciate a hand" He smiled back at her.

"But Greer! You must take a look at the equipment they bought! It's all top of the line - professional grade!"  

[Greer Cassenwari]

"It certainly looks like it." She chuckled to herself as she did up the zipper, careful not to snag his hair in it. Tapping him on the shoulder, she pronounced him done.

"Will any of it fit me?"  

[Ambrose Maurlias]

Ambrose smiled and gave his thanks as she zipped him into the jacket. "Excellent! Thanks!"

He dashed excitedly to the closet, where he withdrew another jacket, set of gloves, mask, and epee from a large cardboard box.

"As a matter of fact" he grinned "If I'm not mistaken - this set appears to be about your size." He handed her the set of equipment.

"I hope you don't mind practicing with epee...?" He winced.  

[Greer Cassenwari]

It looked perfect. She grinned. "Not at all- as long as you have a breast protector? I don't play with long pieces of metal without a slab of hockey mask plastic."