Welcome to Gaia! ::

The large T.V. flickered lights at the figure sprawled out over one of the couches of the entertainment room, the tan pastels of a wildlife documentary moving rhythmically to the humming of electronics. The DVD playing was set to mute, but left going, and Brian would occasionally glance up from his book to check on the progress of the film. It seemed to the casual observer to be some sort of documentary about Africa, or some African species or another: a few minutes spent watching might identify which. The biologist had kicked off his sandals, and they lay just inside the doorway to the room. His feet, distinctly clawed and boasting leathery pawpads, were propped up on one of the arms of the couch, facing the entrace, and his face was hidden behind a thick tome entitled Marine Life: A General Guide. Beside him on the floor, a huge stack of books sat waiting to be opened, all of them pertaining to animals. The man looked to be quite immersed in whatever he was doing.

Aislinn entered the room, trying to lean as little as possible on the cane she carried with her. She still had pain, and putting so much pressure activated the pain, but she was determined that it was getting better, and she wanted to take advantage of it while she could. She'd thought of perhaps watching a movie or playing a game-- there really wasn't much to do on the island, and she'd hoped to meet up with someone she knew so that they could entertain her, at least. She spotted the man on the couch easily enough, and recovered from the startled reaction his appearance gave her rather quickly. Her deep brown eyes took in the video and the books, and an eyebrow raised, "Well, someone's certainly doing their research," she teased, hobbling over to prop herself up against the couch.

The redhead glanced up from his book, the arch of his eyebrows speaking of his mild surprise and his momentary consideration of whether or not he knew this person. "Never hurts to polish up on the basics." He commented with a bit of a smile, his reply uncertain. Communication with strangers was not his forte, and everyone on this island was a stranger. This one seemed human, too. Would she be disturbed by the fur on his arms? Self-conciously, Brian set the book down on his chest so that his limbs weren't so revealed. Of course, then he had nothing to hide his face behind. He'd trimmed his scruffy beard into something of a goatee, but the man had been loath to attempt shaving the fur that covered his neck and dipped between his shoulderblades. Easier just to leave it. He looked from the girl to his book, awkwardly, not knowing what else to say.

The woman smiled, "I know how you feel. I wish I'd thought to bring some of my veterinary textbooks. Not that they'd do me much good this far from the school." She sighed, shaking her head. She really would have to talk with Dr. Duvert or someone about taking the courses online or arranging -something-. If for no other reason than to give her a goal to work towards again. She had been certain to wear a hat, as she had a tendency to do lately to cover the gentle point of her ears.

Veterinary textbooks? That certainly caught his attention! "You were a veterinary student?" He asked, a excitement bubbling into his voice, and sat up straight with a bit of a smile. Perhaps she was someone he could relate to! "I was- well, am, really- well, what I did was I was a wildlife biologist. For a while I wanted to go into the medical side of the field, but I'm too squeamish."

Aislinn's heart leapt too. Well, at least this guy wasn't completely boring. It was nice to know she wasn't the only one with an interest in animals who didn't work on staff, "Oh, yeah. I'm a year or two away from completing the rest of my schooling at UCD. Then I can go into practice. Well, could have gone."

"It's a shame," he said, before he could catch himself, and decided to continue the thought anyways, "A shame that you won't get to finish. University is a really unique experience. Well... this is a pretty unique experience too, I suppose, but-" Brian laughed, a light, nervous, excited laugh. He forced himself to calm down a little. Was a friend really such a big deal? He needed some friends in this place. The lonliness had been killing him. "Sorry," he grinned sheepishly, "I guess that's not something you'd want to be thinking about." He hadn't left much behind, in comparison to her. He'd had his dream job, gotten his university experience, seen the world. She still had- forgive the over-used cliche- her whole life ahead of her.

She shook her head, "Oh, no, don't get me wrong. I'm not as young as I look. I got through the first four years, though it took me a bit longer because of the accident," she motioned vaguely at her leg with the sort of tone that indicated she really didn't want to talk about it, "I meant my extended education. To get my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine."

Brian mentally chided himself. "Of course. It must still be frustrating- to have been so close." He wondered, absently, what had happened to her leg, but wasn't insensitive enough to ask about it. "So where would you have gone with your life after you'd finished? Work at a clinic, or a shelter, or an animal hospital...? Or were you like me after university and know what you wanted to do but not how to get there?" He grinned gently, feeling far more at ease around this new face than he had around anyone else he'd met so far. "Oh, by the way! Almost forget. I'm Brian."

Aislinn smiled, holding out a hand, "I'm Aislinn. Aislinn Derrry." she brushed her hair back out of her eyes, "Oh, I had a clinic I was doing some work with, and they were willing to take me on full-time after I graduated." She settled down on a free section of the couch, setting the cane off to the side a bit, "What was it like, being out with them in their natural environment? I worked for the zoo, but that's not the same."

Brian shook her hand firmly but genially, and, while she settled herself on the couch, replaced his book on marine life back on the stack with the others. "You're right, it's not. I tell you, it's much harder to find them when the enclousures are thousands of miles wide." He allowed himself a chuckle at this joke. "It's a lot more tiring, but a lot more rewarding- or at least, that's how I feel. There's a certain something special about feeling completely alone in the world with nothing but you, these magnificent animals, and perhaps a coworker or two." His speech became animated as he discussed a topic that clearly thrilled him, gesturing mildly with his hands to place emphasis here and there, curling his legs up underneath of himself. "It's long hard work, but I love it."

Aislinn grinned, interested at his obvious love of the job, "I can see how that might be fun. There aren't that many people to deal with at the clinic either, though I'll admit I hated coming in at night or on days when nobody else is about." she stretched again, leaning back against the couch, "I guess I'm just a social creature by nature."

"I'm rather the opposite," Brian admit, "But it's been such a long time since I've spoken with anyone who I felt I could relate to, I can't help being a little chatty." Here he smiled, meeting her gaze for a moment before looking away, at his mutated, transformed feet and their dark, upturned soles.

Aislinn could understand being a little self-conscious about his appearance, but really, the fur was sort of cute. "Hey, that's fine with me. I need more people to talk to on this island anyhow, and you're the first I've met who knows a thing about animals, even if you didn't go the veterinary route." She smiled, and reached over to scratch the furry paw-pads, "You remind me of my brother's husky, only redder," she grinned.

Brian laughed, wriggling his toes. "If my guess is right, I'll be turning tan eventually. From the pattern on my elbows-" he held out his arm, no longer ashamed in front of this kindred spirit- "I'm quite certain they've injected me with a serum based on African Wild Dog DNA." He gave her a quick once-over, and still not noticing anything suspicious, asked, "Have you gone through your first change yet?"

Aislinn's tanned Asian skin turned a bit red at this, "Er. Well, yes..." she looked away, then back at the tall man at her side. She hadn't realize before, but looking at him, she realized he had to be about a foot taller than herself. Well, she was used to being short anyhow. "I'm not certain, but I think I'm turning into some sort of equine. I've had enough experience with them..and I'd say Clydesdale, judging by the fur." She motioned to her legs despite the fact that she'd shaved all the fur off, "colour patterning, and the white feathers are pretty distinctive."

"I can't say horses are my specialty but, they are rather marvellous creatures when you see them up close after a while, especially the really gargantuan ones." Once this thought had been spoken, he said another of the things that came to mind. "I don't see any fur on-" he paused, "Oh, right." You shaved it off. No need to say -that- out loud. "I did the same with my face, actually," Brian commented, so as not to make her feel self-concious, while touching an absent palm to his orange goatee. "Although I'm not sure if that big ugly beard was a result of the changes or just my inability to keep track of time."

Aislinn laughed, "Yeah. I dealt with it for a while, but then I found a lovely pair of scissors and a nice sharp razor to take care of that problem.." she took off the hat, revealing the light points to her ears-- she didn't want to discuss horses, really, "and I've got this, but it's not much. Liamh's got a lot more, I feel like I got off easy." Especially with her leg getting better. It was almost a -good- thing, really.

"Liamh?" He hadn't met this person, or he'd forgotten the name. It wouldn't have been the first time a name slipped his mind. "I don't think I know him, but I have noticed some people have changes that are a lot more difficult to deal with. Mine are pretty light too, considering." Just a little bit of fur and nails.

Aislinn laughed, "Well, I have toenails of steel now, too. But yeah, that and a bit of hair and terrible sleeping habits. I'm up almost all night." She sighed, glancing at the screen as though trying to figure out what was going on in the documentary, "This place..is pretty crazy, no?"

"It's utterly impossible, that's what it is," he said with a smirk. "It's terrifying, and thrilling, and horrible all at once. I find it difficult to believe, but... the evidence is right under my nose. It's... hard to deny." He settled his hands on his knees, leaning back a little into the couch and feeling wonderfully comfortable for the first time in over a month. He'd missed this, socializing, feeling accepted, finding someone to talk to at his own level. There had been a deep, instinctual craving that gnawed at his thoughts since the change, and at last that craving had fallen silent. Perhaps all Brian needed was a companion.

The woman nodded, deciding to be bold and snuggled up against him, because he was big and fuzzy and holding up a good conversation. Besides, it made her feel better when broaching a subject that was so terrifying she only halfway dared to think of it, "I can't...imagine why they'd do this..and I'm torn. My..my leg is getting better," she looked at it briefly, "which is good, and it is what they promised me..but it's the rest that worries me."

FahLUMP. Goodness. Was that Brian's heart there? What on earth was it doing, taking up residence in his throat? Brian forced that obnoxious muscle back down somewhere between his lungs, and tried not to react to the very unexpected physical contact. Now, Brian wasn't really one for social cuddling. He liked to keep things professional. But the overwhelming need to connect with someone and the strange, determined little voice in the back of his mind that insisted that touching was good and a friend was good and being alone was bad and not touching was bad. It wasn't a thought so much as a feeling, really. "The 'why' of it all has bothered me for a long time, too... I just hope they'll use what they learn for something important." He quieted down again, unsure of how to comfort her.

She smiled, letting him adjust. She could tell he was a little uncomfortable by the way he'd stiffened, but most people were when someone you barely knew got a bit cuddly. She couldn't help herself, though-- she felt comfortable enough to do so and had taken the initiative. Besides, she was pretty sure he'd get over it, "I wonder if they will. Or if they're just crazy. Dr. Duvert brought me over here, and he seemed nice enough, but odd...he's the only one I've really met on the staff, still, though."

"Doctor Duvert is... he has a very well-developed appreciation of irony, shall we say." He did, in fact, quickly grow used to the closeness of his newest acquaintance and - dare he think it - newest friend. More quickly than he would have before his arrival at the island, truth be told. "I get the sense that he truly enjoys his job here, and the results of it."

She looked at him curiously, "You've met him too, then?" she asked, "I didn't know about all this when I saw him, so I guess I wouldn't know what he thought of it, but he did strike me as pretty odd." She looked at the screen again, still not-quite-seeing it, and then back at Brian, "I really feel bad for some people, though. Sayuri can barely walk, let alone dance. And she's really nice too. It's awful that people like her have to go through this."

Brian chuckled a little. "You're definately more social than I am- you keep throwing out names and I have no idea who any of these people are. I need to meet more people."

She smiled, "Eh, if you hang around long enough you will probably meet them all. Besides, I don't know that many either," she assured him, "but I'm around enough to meet a few here and there." She played with her hair absently, glad that she'd managed to get ahold of the Kool-aid. The ends were now orange like the streaks, as she wanted to hide the gray but hadn't found any black kool-aid to dye it with.

He watched, almost curiously, as Aislinn fiddled with her hair. "I suppose. I'm just not... the most outgoing of people. And I've been doing a lot of heavy thinking. A lot of reading." Brian nodded his head at the pile of books. The documentary came to an end and began scrolling credits, but he paid it no notice. He was feeling rather comfortable, come to think of it. "There's not a lot you can do, you know?" The redhead commented, returning at last to the subject of the changes. "Just hope whatever limbs and form you end up with aren't too awkward or difficult to adapt to a human lifestyle, and be glad you're not someone with a horribly disfiguring serum like an insect or a fish."

Aislinn smiled, "That's sort of the way I've taken to thinking of it. I guess...hey, I'll be able to karaoke whether I've got proper hands or not, right? So there'll always be something I can do. And it's not like I'll need them for surgeries here." Though, the idea intrigued her. Perhaps, with everyone turning into animals...well, she could possibly set up a sort of veterinary practice here. It was an interesting thought, something she might try looking into eventually. She was pretty comfortable herself and not inclined to think too deeply right now.

"I can't imagine you'd be too welcome in an operating room," Brian said with a chuckle, envisioning a horse doing sutures with its big, awkward hooves. "You could still do diagnosis, though. You don't need thumbs to understand symptoms."

She nodded, "Maybe some basic care, too. Setting broken bones and stuff. That wouldn't be too hard, even with hooves." She laughed at the image that now sprung to her own mind of herself as a Clydesdale attempting to set bones, "It'd be interesting to try, anyhow. What about you? You could still do some things, but I guess it'd get hard to write with paws."

Brian's brows creased slightly, and he settled back further into the plush cushion of the couch. "That's my biggest fear, that I'll lose the dexterity of my hands and be unable to write. I'm not the best with words, but I like to record what I learn, and, well... imagine how much more you can learn from -being- the animal than you can from just watching it. I was actually writing a book, of sorts... I'd only started to compile my research on wild dogs when..." He trailed off. It didn't really need to be said. He didn't really want to say it.

She smiled, turning to look at him, "Well, you could always use a tape-recorder. You could still get your ideas down that way, even if you're not actually writing it. I doubt Moreau would let anything you wrote off the island anyhow." It was sort of sad to think about...but still, it could benefit the islanders, she was sure, "and you could possibly help others too, to know what it's like and what their animals are like and all."

"I doubt anyone here wants to be analyzed like some sort of wild animal any more than they already are," the biologist muttered, glancing over Aislinn's head to stare at the wall. "It's bad enough knowing every move you make, every word you utter is being watched." Being so comfortable and snuggled up, Brian had to admit to himself he wasn't entirely surprised when an unbidden urge to lick the side of this poor girl's face surfaced in his thoughts. It was perfectly normal, from the standpoint of a wild dog, but it was a vague fancy and one he could easily supress. He wondered if these 'urges' would be more difficult to combat the further he got along with his changes.

"Oh, that isn't entirely what I meant," she said, "More like..your observations about wild animals, and research about them, and you can tell people what sorts of things they can expect in further changes. What they might have to deal with. Not studying -them-." she shivered a little at the idea he brought across that they were being watched all the time. She'd never really even thought of that part of the deal. She supposed it made sense, though, when she thought about it. "And you could help me too, if I..." she blushed a little, "well, if I set up a bit of a practice here. If I know more about these animals specifically, I can learn better if there's something wrong, or what to do when there is."

Brian's spirit glimmered into life at this prospect. "That sounds wonderful. To be able to do something, to contribute, to help people." Guilt stabbed secretly at his heart. Help the people who were suffering because of his research? He had never intended for anything like this. But regardless, it was his work that had landed a handful of the islanders with their unwanted canine features. No. No. He couldn't have known. "I really would," he reiterated, his jaw clenching just slightly, invisibly. "It'd be better than sitting around and waiting to lose the face that I've known all my life, the hands I never thought I'd have to live without."

She smiled, suddenly excited about the idea she'd only been casually toying with a second earlier, "I bet we could do it, too." She snuggled against him some more, enjoying the soft fuzzy fur. She laughed, "Now we just have to figure out what everyone's turning into, I guess, and get word around."

"I guess that the people in the laboratories would take care of the major illnesses... but it'd be nice to make a place for people to go for minor things, or questions about behaviour. It'd be a great way to gather information in an unobtrusive way. And I'm certain not everyone is comfortable with the scientists who're running this place. It'd be less stressful for them to talk to someone who isn't a..." what had the manta girl called them? "...a 'labbie', I suppose." He shifted a little to accomodate her, unbending one of his legs (it had fallen asleep) and slinging it over the side of the couch.

She nodded. Some of them were undoubtedly really angry and uncomfortable with the lab people, and would feel better coming to someone like herself or Brian, people who were 'one of them' so to speak, "We could see if we could get a place to set up the practice too. Order some stuff. I don't know that the labs will mind-- they'll be able to watch us and all anyhow." She ran her fingers gently through his hair, almost in the same way a person would when petting a dog, "It'll be fun, give us something to do, and give us a way to do what we love."

There she went, being all touchy-feeling-petting again. Oh, but it felt so nice to both the man and that tiny portion of wild dog that had being saying its piece, especially after so long a period of self-imposed isolation. Without really meaning to, Brian tilted his head a scant fraction of a degree towards her hand. Otherwise, he didn't seem to react. "I can't think of many reasons the administrators would refuse. It would make their job easier, and give us something to do- something to keep our minds occupied." He laughed suddenly, mirthfully. "Like how zookeepers will put plastic barrels with artificial kelp into the seal exhibit- so they don't get too bored, doing the same laps around their tank day after day."

While she didn' t like the comparison precisely the way he'd said it, she knew that he hadn't meant it quite that same way, or at least, meant it to be as disturbing as the idea was. She buried her fingers deeper into his hair, playing with it absently, "I think so. We should try to approach them about it sometime. I haven't really had the courage to try and reach anyone over the intercom yet, but it's about time. I had some other things I wanted to bring up anyhow."

"Yeah..." he trailed off. He was baffled but pleased by the connection they had made, so quickly, so easily. Was it because she, unlike all the others he'd met so far, had similar interests and experiences to his? Or had he himself changed? No, it wasn't logical. It had to be their similarities that made them such fast friends. He marvelled at the simple pleasure of having his hair touched, and thought inadvertantly of one of his highschool girlfriends, so many years ago, who had done much the same thing when they cuddled after- best not to continue that thought. He'd only met the girl. Honestly!

Aislinn's mind managed to keep away from the subject merely because of the pain she knew it caused her even to try. If only her body had been completely healed instead of her leg just supporting a bit more weight. Ah well. She stretched a bit, too comfortable to suggest they part. Really, she'd rather fall asleep like this-- it'd be a while since her last proper cuddlefest, what with her leaving Erik right after the accident. And she was a physical person by nature, "What was your life like, back home?" there, that ought to be a more pleasant subject, "Like, family and all that?"

"Hmmm, my family," he mumbled, closing his eyes and getting a nostalgic expression. "My mother is absentminded and silly, and my dad is quiet and introverted. Both of them were layers- dad retired a few years ago. Mum is still going strong, especially since she switched from criminal law to civil law back when I was just starting highschool. My brother, Mitchell, is a ball of energy. His hair is red like mine, but outrageously curly, and he's a couple of years younger. Last time I checked, he was travelling around with some band or other as a roadie, getting up to goodness knows what. I saw him about a year ago, before I left for Africa. And that's my family." Brian chuckled. "You?"

She grinned, "What about friends and stuff? You said you have trouble with people, but do you have anybody you miss?" she started unlacing her rainbow-shoelaces, letting her boots fall to the floor and stretching out her rainbow covered toes, "I've got...well, mum works as a vet for the zoo, da's a show rider on the circuit, and then there's Liam, my brother and my sisters Rosaleen and Aileen. We're all adopted 'cause mum and da couldn't have their own." Sort've like herself, if she were back in the land of normality and if she'd any desire to settle down, which she hadn't just yet, "And there's my best friend, Lise. I miss her like mad sometimes."

"I had one friend who I spend my days off with, Jonathon, but he'd always get frustrated with me because he'd take me to a bar to get drunk and pick up chicks, and I wouldn't touch the beer he'd ordered for me and I'd keep talking about animals. 'Bri,' he used to say, 'Sometimes I think y'like them beasties mor'n y'like women,' and when I'd heard the same thing every time we went out over the course of five months and I hadn't had a single date, I started to wonder if old Jonny was right. He and I weren't really fast friends, I guess. Just someone to talk to, someone to spend time with. He didn't have anyone else, I didn't have anyone else. His wife had left him the year before... he did a lot of drinking, those first few months." Brian looked at Aislinn, studying her face boldly. "And here I am, spilling my guts to someone not an hour after meeting them."

Aislinn grinned, "I bring that out in people sometimes. Eric-- my ex-boy-- used to tell me I could get a man to spill his guts one way or another faster than he'd ever seen," she laughed, shaking her head, "Though, I think it's usually after they've had a few drinks. No women, eh? I'm not making you uncomfortable, am I?" if he liked guys, that was allright with her, but she knew some who hated women...though, he'd been nice enough to her she doubted he was of that variety. Really, he seemed more just what had been indicated, a guy more dedicated to his work than anything else, 'Yeah, I didn't date much after I broke up with Eric, for various reasons. So I can sort of see where you come from."

"I'm not uncomfortable, no," he said, although slowly, as if he were afraid to admit it too readily. "It's not that I wasn't interested in women. I just wasn't interested in flings or... or... one-night-stands. I'm a relationship kind of guy, and I simply didn't have the time to devote to something like that when I spent twenty-eight of out every thirty days out in the bush, on my way to get to the bush, or in the office doing paperwork and compiling data and organizing my next trip to the bush."

"Ahhh," Aislinn smiled, "See, I had sort of the opposite problem. Not that I was in for one-night things or anything...but I was more of a casual dater, and even Erik was never supposed to be a serious thing. I guess really I just wasn't ready, " and then when she had been, life had hit her over the head with impossibilities. What sort of guy wanted a girl he couldn't sleep with, who could probably never have kids? Not for a serious relationship anyhow, and she hadn't wanted to bother with short ones, not when she was going through school and had so much else she wanted to do with her life, "And then life got in the way when I sort've started feeling differently. Sort of out of luck," she motioned to her hips, feeling slightly more comfortable with the idea of letting him know what had happened there. Afterall, he was spilling his guts to her, and she couldn't possibly get upset with him still sitting here all furry and comfortable.

"Because of your accident?" Brian asked cautiously, watching her reaction for any signs of annoyance. He wondered what could've had such a long-lasting and clearly traumatic effect on the otherwise normal young woman? Maybe a car accident? A sporting event gone wrong?

"Yeah. I used to ride horses professionally. Steeplechasing, if you know what that is." She shivered, but continued. As much as she hated to talk about it, she felt she could trust him, "And then my horse spooked, fell, rolled over on me and broke my pelvic bone as well as a few pieces of my leg."

He winced sympathetically. "That must have been... terrifying." Having felt her shudder, Brian considered placing a comforting hand on her shoulder, but hesitated. He wasn't sure enough of himself, and he wasn't certain if it would be the appropriate reaction. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Her smile wavered and fell, and she leaned into the touch, "It wouldn't have been so bad if it'd healed right, but it didn't...and now I'm in pain so bad I can't ride, even if I wanted to, or do anything that requires a lot of lower body movement...though, it's better since the change."

At the confirmation tacitly given to him by her moving closer, Brian went with his gut feeling and encircled her with his fur-accented arms in a sort of backwards hug, careful to keep his limbs at the level of her collarbone. "So there's a chance that, despite the obvious drawbacks of being here, the labs will be able to give you back full function of your legs?"

She looked away from him, a few tears springing to her eyes as she nodded, "Is it awful of me to be sort of...happy about that?" she knew it was vain. She could still walk, and she was luckier than many who'd been in a similar situation. Just look at, say, Christopher Reeves who'd ended up in a wheelchair for the rest of his life, paralyzed...she could still feel, it just hurt if she tried to do too much. "I know it's horrible for some people, but...to have that back, it's almost sort of..worth it, for me."

"It's not awful to embrace the good side of all the things that are happening here. If they're using this technology, this medical advancement to try to help people, then it makes everything a little bit easier to bear." He held her, gently, against his chest, stroking her shoulder with his thumb in what he hoped was a soothing way. "This is an opportunity for you to regain something that you lost. The price is high, but if you can find something, anything to be happy about on this island, then be happy about it. Goodness knows there are enough things in life to be sad about."

She pushed the tears away quickly enough--she'd had a lot of practice with that over the past few years, "I...I guess you're right. I just feel awful being happy about something that so many others are cursed with, when they don't need it." She looked at him again, her brown eyes searching for -something- though even she wasn't sure what, "People like you. You don't deserve to be here. But here you are, and you're turning into some cuddly furry canine and you don't need to be."

"How can you say that when you've lost so much more than I have? I didn't have my education ahead of me, my career waiting, and unlike some people I didn't lose a wife, or children when I was brought here." Momentarily, Brian considered telling her the truth of why he'd arrived at this island, but it was too soon, and he couldn't allow himself to be so trusting with something that had the potential to make an outcast of him, and the potential to ruin her opinion of him. Imagine of what Ambrose, Lucas, and Pyroth would think of him. "Nobody deserves to be here. It's not about deserving. It's not awful to be happy about small blessings. Well, not blessings, I guess... that's not really the best word." Brian did not believe in God. He believed in Science and Fact. "What I'm trying to say is, if there's a chance to be happy, and it's not hurting anyone, take it." He looked back at her evenly and cautiously through his pale blue eyes.

It was...a lot to process. She wasn't sure what she thought of the situation, but he made some good points. Did anyone really deserve to be here? Even her? Was it really worth losing her humanity just so she could walk again without the damned cane? Would it even matter if she could? She doubted she'd ever be able to stop into a club and have a dance, not if she turned into a horse. She'd have to...think about it. But right now, those pale blue eyes were calling her, and she moved so that she was sideways in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder, "I think...that maybe you're right. I don't know, though. I want to be able to walk again, though, that's all I know for sure...and I think that's all I need to know just now." No need to think about the next stage in this horrifying escapade. She lifted her head from his shoulder and kissed his cheek, "Thank you. Sorry...for the outburst. I promise, I'm all sunshine again now," she smiled.

The redhead somehow kept his cool and smiled back, caught up in how very genuine this new friend of his was. At her promise, a very lame, sentimental saying popped into his head and escaped through his mouth before he could stop it. "You've got to tolerate the rain if you ever want to see the rainbow." Brian chuckled a little at himself. "But seriously. It's okay. I don't mind."

She laughed, "If that saying wasn't written for me, it certainly does seem to apply." She wiggled her toes to illustrate the point, "I promise I don't usually get this morose. ...I don't suppose you're up for a drink? I've got all kinds of stuff snatched from the beach bar back at my Duplex...unless you'd rather go to the bar."

A drink. He hadn't had a drink in so long... way too long. "Do you have anything other than beer? I'm not much of a beer drinker- I'm more into the girly drinks, as Jonny would have said. Anything with the name of a fruit in it usually does the trick for me." Brian smirked, enjoying the company immensely. As for whether he'd rather the bar or her duplex... well, the bar that he'd spied while exploring the beach was awfully far away. Unless there was one nearby that he'd overlooked.

She nodded, "Of course. I prefer the fruity drinks myself, though I can hold my own in a beer-drinking contest if I have to. Learned -that- in college if nothing else," she laughed and gave him a wink, "I've got midori and all sorts of other fruit flavouring with a smattering of the different necessary varieties of alcohol."

"Sounds like fun. Shall we...?" Releasing her from his arms, Brian eased back slowly, so as to give her a moment to stabilize herself, and then stood. He glanced distractedly at the T.V.: the DVD had returned to its title screen. Walking across the short distance, he crouched down and ejected the disk, putting it back in its case meticulously and switching off the screen. He replaced the case where he'd found it and then went about gathering up his books and reshelving them. "Don't want to leave a mess," he explained, almost apologetically.

By the time he'd finished this, she had managed to stop wanting him to come back and cuddle some more and get onto her feet, cane in hand, "No worries, " she grinned, "But I hope you don't go crazy over my place. I'm not the best housekeeper in the world." She really ought to do laundry soon. She'd had more clothes sent in through catalogues and stuff, so now her room was a proper mess and she hadn't been expecting company.

"Oh, my room is a mess too. I just hate it when people leave a mess in public places, and I try not to be a hypocrite and do the exact same thing." With all the books put away, Brian went to the door and pulled on his sandals- his shoes hadn't fit properly since the change- and stood ready for her. "Do you want a hand, or have you got it all under control?" He didn't want to patronize her, but he didn't want to seem inconsiderate, either. Oh, the dilemna.

She smiled-- usually she'd feel a little offput by the idea that she could possibly not walk on her own, but he'd been so nice about it, and it'd been such a pleasant time anyhow. She shook her head, "No, it's really a lot easier now. I only need help with carrying things," she grinned and moved forward. More slowly than most-- herself included if her body were back in perfect shape-- towards her Duplex.

Brian allowed himself a nice leisurely pace as he strolled along beside her, enjoying the evening air now that the weather had cooled and wasn't so opressively humid. He didn't have much to say, as the confidence spurred in him from their mutual interests seemed to have faded slightly. Regardless, he took the time to glance at her occasionally as they walked, his eyes considering her ponderously before returning to the pathway immediately ahead.

Aislinn led him into the room and told him to make himself comfortable. After a drink or two, she offered to let him stay, but in the end said goodbye and curled up with a book for a bit.

Rp By the River

Summary: Aislinn meets up with Oz again now that both of them have transformed..

Rp With Charlie

Summary: Aislinn meets this rather reclusive Islander while off for a morning hike.

Reserved for teh dream

Aislinn had been sulking the majority of the day. The few hours of sleep she -had- managed to snag had been full of the same variety of horrifyingly awful dreams as she'd had before her first transformation. And, being no idiot, she realized that that meant she was probably facing her second.

So she'd stayed inside. It didn't hurt that she was feeling itchy too, and it felt like some of her hormones were out of whack, so she'd been sipping at raspberry tea and planning a nice long bath to soothe herself later on.

'Til then, it was Dynasty Warriors loaded up on the Playstation 2 to vent her frustration.

She heard the knock and looked at the door, sighing,
"Come in."

The apartment itself wasn't much different from usual-- it was clean of dirt and such, but clothes were strewn about, as were books and other items of variety.

Aislinn looked up from the couch, peering at the other,
"Oh, hey 'Zi." She managed a weak smile,
"I'm..eh. I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. Rotten dreams. And I've been itchy, so I figured I'd better stay in today."

Aislinn motioned to the tea set,
"Have some if you like. It always makes -me- feel better, anyhow,"

She set the controller down,
"I...I'd really rather not talk about it," she looked down, "Just suffice it to say they were pretty awful dreams."

She looked back at the screen,
"Want to play?"