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 Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:40 pm
"Oh...oh yeah. I kin do dat," he said with some mild relief at the mention of the boxspring, though he did blance some then at her also mentioning darkroom equipment. Uh... "...is dat what all dat s**t be?" He rubbed the back of his neck anxiously, gaze flitting to the jug he'd dropped, which was now languidly dripping chemicals into the grass, which was in turn being sucked up by the cardboard box beside it.
Smooth, Jamal. Real smooth.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:43 pm
Joliette looked over her shoulder and then back "Yes, stuff which I will make him replace if anything needs replacing" she smiled at him , he didn't know, how was he to know, he wasn't a photographer by trade. She had seen the bottle of chemicals and was glad to have requested more then enough to get started
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:47 pm
The only thing the man knew about photography was you pushed a button on the top of a disposable and it would flash and take a picture (as long as his thumb wasn't over the lens, anyway). He managed a very sheepish and guilty smile. "Uh, sorry 'bout dat...I jus' looked 'round some, is all." He decided to omit the fact that he'd probably broken one of those weird lights in the process.
Jamal coughed, and moved the door open a little wider. "So...'bout that boxspring.." he queried, hopeful that the subject could be changed.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:50 pm
"No harm no foul" she said with a nod No no harm no foul on HIS part damn that white-haired git he can't get ANYTHING right she thought to herself "Yes, it's in duplex number 28, all ready to be hauled out of there" she told him her smile not leaving her face, she was a journalist, she could accomplish that
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:51 pm
"Well, I ain't doin' nuthin' righ' now, so if ya want, I kin come move it now," he offered, letting the withered plastic wrap drop to the carpet behind the door in a ploy to maybe save some pride. Plus...there was still some life left in it.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 9:57 pm
"That sounds like a plan, shall we take some of this at the same time? saves a trip at least" Perhaps I can get Chubb to help haul some of it back she grumbled to herself she heard plastic land and ignored it her main thoughts was jsut how much she would need replaced
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:04 pm
"A'ight, works fo' me..." he said agreeably, finally leaving the safety of his duplex, knowing Joli wasn't going to go apeshit on him for ruining her stuff. A casual glance went towards the box of lights; he'd try to carry that one and try to smuggle the broken light out.
He headed for it in the most nonchalant manner possible.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:08 pm
Joli smiled and turned looking at hte boxes and deciding just which one she'd manage to be able to carry, her decision landed on all the tray and other smaller equipment which proved to be a correct guess, but she tipped the spilling chemical up and capped it first pushing the other box away from the spill "It's this way" she said carrying the box and heading in the direction of her duplex Stupid gormless white-haired arse, damn him, all he did was cost more bloody money, oooooh I'm gonna send him a nasty note... Or maybe I can get hte courage up to press 0
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2005 10:11 pm
Jamal hoisted the semi-heavy box up to his shoulder, finding that easier than trying to use his arm strength, and picked up step behind her. Faint clinking of broken glass chimed with each step, the pieces rattling against the metal casings inside. He pretended to ignore it though. It wasn't that loud, he could just hear it because his ear was pressed more or less to the box.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:21 am
Continuation of Joliette RPJoliette Rigiel Joliette led him up the steps to #28 and unlocked the door walking in, it was dark in there.. VERY dark, least until Joliette put down the box and flipped on a light "Come in Jamal" she said with a smile, the main room was basically empty, boxspring leaning against a wall, the dresser and desk pushed up against the same wall and the armchair stuffed as far into the corner as possible, and every single window was boarded up with wood and the curtain rods were empty Jamal_Reedy Jamal unceremoniously dropped the light box on top of the desk, or rather, daintly placed so nothing else would break, then glanced around. Where -was- everything? And what the hell was she planning to do? "s**t girl, where you be sleepin?" he asked with a slightly befuddled expression on his face. "Ain't no way I could live in herr." In a way, it reminded him vaguely of the ghetto...boarded windows, haphazard furniture arranged in an abandoned looking building.... Joliette Rigiel Joliette laughed "This isn't my duplex Jamal I don't sleep here, mine is downstairs, this will be the darkroom, where I will develop photographs" she smiled "It has to be completely dark in here except for special lighting so the exposures don't get ruined" she explained Jamal_Reedy "....Oh." Duh Jamal. He rubbed his forehead briefly, again in an attempt to cover his stupidity, before looking at the boxspring. Didn't look TOO heavy...he ought to be able to manage it. The black man wandered over to it and tested out it's weight. "So where's dis goin' then? Outside and then they gonna pick it up?" Joliette Rigiel "Yes please just against the building, the other matress seems to be gone already so I presume they took it" She said with a nod pulling open the box she had put down, thankfully it had not been opened yet and she smiled seeing hte trays Jamal_Reedy "A'ight," he said simply, then moved the boxspring away from the wall so he could guess where the best gripping place might be. The underside of it was already sort of patchy, the soft cottony film that usually covered access to the wooden braces was torn in various spots. Using those, he got his hands on solid wood and hefted the thing up off the ground, then semi-staggered to the door. Oh...damn. Stairs. He paused at the top, trying to figure the best way to go about this without killing himself. Jamal did try, however, to not appear as though he needed help. He could do this! He was a big strong man...who was probably going to hurt himself in the process. Joliette Rigiel Joliette started pulling the stuff out of the box and depositing it in drawers, luckily this particular box was unharmed. She didn't realize he was having dificulty and just kept emptying the box Jamal_Reedy Jamal stared down the staircase as the Jeopard theme song played in his head, searching for a good idea as how to go about this. Maybe he could just...run down the stairs really fast and get it over with? Or hell...maybe he should just throw it. That'd be nice and easy... He dragged the boxspring closer to the first step as he contemplated this. Joliette Rigiel She left the other box for the time being and headed for hte door intrigued to still see him standing there, she leaned against the wall and watched him. She was curious just how the blackman would get the boxspring down, she wondered if he'd do the same thing she had with the top matress, and if he'd check for persons first before doing so Jamal_Reedy Jamal hmmmed....and hmmmmed some more. Finally, he just decided to go with the "throw it over" method. Not like anyone was going to be sleeping on it...at least, not right now. He was unaware that he'd become some mundane source of entertainment for the moment; he was too busy pushing the bed piece further out to where he could prop it against the railing. Joliette Rigiel "Do make sure noone is below, it's a might heavier then the top matresss" she said when it became obvious he was indeed going to throw it over the edge. She smiled, she wondered just how the people who had buillt the place had gotten it up, she presumed using at least 2 people Jamal_Reedy Oh...that was probably a good idea. He gave the ground a furative glance, looking for signs of life before beginning to tug it forward so it would eventually teeter over the railing. It was pretty heavy, being made of wood and all, but not too bad. It took a bit of force to get the thing get up over the rail, but once it was teetering haphazardly on it, Jamal gave it a shove, sending the furniture tumbling to the ground blow. It hit with a loud thwack rightside up. Joliette Rigiel Joliette smiled "Thankyou Jamal, that gets rid of that" she walked out onto the balcony with him "Now it's just a matter of getting the rest of those boxes and crates up here, willing to help?" Jamal_Reedy "A'ight...I can carry a few of 'em. Though, I think them sinks are prolly too heavy ta be carried by jus' one person. Prolly need sum otha muscle in fo' dat." His first thought was Chubbs. That guy looked hellastrong. Plus, he was apparently a boxer and those guys had to be pretty buff. Joliette Rigiel She nodded "Yes that will require more hten one, the rest should be doable though I would imagine, long as the people who packaged them weren't too stupide when they packed it all up" she looked back at the door and smiled, she could leave it open for now at least Jamal_Reedy He nodded. "A'ight then. Lets go get da rest 'n get it ova with." Jamal more or less galloped down the stairs, pausing beside the boxspring long enough to heave it onto it's side again and place it against the sturdy building's wall. Joliette Rigiel Joliette followed him down a smile on her face dispite that anger at the doctor that flowed within. "Aye lets get it over with" least she had help she thought as they began to make hte trips required to bring most of it back. Jamal_Reedy He followed after her then, humming a bit under his breath as they tromped off to retrieve the rest of the goods. At least he was doing something other than sitting around boredly in his room. ...but at least he'd have bubblewrap. Joliette Rigiel "Jamal, thankyou for your help, I do appreciate it" she said with a smile a thought in her mind for later. Jamal_Reedy "Ain't nuthin' really," he said nonchantly as they walked. "Gives me sumthin' ta do, ya know? Either this o' sittin' in my room. At leas' I be gettin some workout doin' this." He sorely missed his normal workout sessions back at his friend's place in Detriot; the guy had his own set of weights that both he and Jamal worked with on a daily basis. Here there were no such things, as far as he was aware. Jamal_Reedy "Maybe...though I figger weights prolly gonna be harder to get since they be so big and bulky." He didn't admit that he'd never used the intercom system and didn't plan on it unless he absolutely had to. Otherwise he'd probably start swearing and cussing at whomever answered and that would only cause more problems. He browsed through the stacks of the remaining boxes, finding another with chemicals, and lugged it up into the air. Joliette Rigiel "Perhaps request it in the way of a note, it's how I put in the specifics for this request, and just think, if they can bring over a photography sink, I'm sure they can get some weights" she smiled taking what she could and heading back Jamal_Reedy He mused over the idea briefly as he strained to carry the heavy jugs the distance to Joliette's place. "I guess yous right...got a big list o' stuff I want anyway. Might as well add dat to da list...though I just ain't sure if I wanna have no communication wit' them assholes. I'da been better off not bein' stuck wit' a needle and not having weights than da otha way 'round." Joliette Rigiel Joliette sighed, "It doesn't matter, even if you turn it once you are here, they'll still give it, I found that out the hard way. It's how I wound up getting it, I turned it down, and they did something to make me black out, and gave it to me then" Jamal_Reedy "Bastards," he said gruffly, eyes narrowing as she explained what'd happened to her. "I wonda why I ain't changed yet. Been herr fo' awhile now...I half 'spect to wake up wit' a tail o' sumthin' herr shortly." He didn't know that a second injection was needed to start any sort of visible change...and once he did, he'd probably be paranoid as all hell. Joliette Rigiel She looked back at him before going into the darkroom "I think this whole place makes us wonder, why they are doing this, why us, why haven't we all started changing right away..." she put the box down "And how are we ever going to get out of it all" Jamal_Reedy He hauled his load into the room and plunked it down on the desk beside the lights, a hand then going up to wipe his brow. "I almost think they ain't got no real reason otha than to play God," he said, not bothering to keep the bitterness out of his voice. "Them people is sick, I swear. I think they also ain't really completely righ' in the head. Maybe they ain't realizin' what they be doin'." The black man leaned on the chemical box to catch his breath, a dark expression on his face that mirrored his bitter tone. Joliette Rigiel "Jamal that is one fact you couldn't have my more complete agreement on. This Moreau guy is wacked in the head, but I think Sabin is coming pretty close to equalling that loose screw" She sighed Jamal_Reedy "I only met that Sabin guy once...but yeah, I 'gree wit'choo there." He shuddered at the thought of the guy; he was pretty damn creepy. Aubrey didn't seem to be that bad, but...she was the one who stuck him with the serum, so he couldn't help but at least resent her for having a part in it. Joliette Rigiel Joliette sighed "Should we get hte last couple boxes? I'll ask Chubbs later if he can help move the sink... it'll be a task for another time" Then I have a nasty letter to write she added to herself Jamal_Reedy He nodded in agreement. "Didn't seem to be much mo' we can carry ourselves anyway," he muttered, tromping back down the stairs for what felt to be the dozenth time. "Makes me wonda how they got it all in front o' my door so easy. I ain't seein' that Sabin guy doin' this himself." Joliette Rigiel "I don't know, probably with a vehicle when noone was watching" she followed after him to get hte last of hte stuff the two of them could manage together Jamal_Reedy "I guess," he said lamely with a shrug. "I ain't seein' no otha vehicles 'round herr otha than the jeep I was brought out in. But I guess they gotta have 'em 'round some place. Too bad dis be an island...I'd just steal a damn jeep and drive out of herr." He'd done more than his share of car theft back home. He was damn near a pro at it, in all actuality. As they reached the pile, he sorted through the boxes and found a lighter one for Joliette to carry, then took the second lightest for himself. Joliette Rigiel "Wouldn't that be nice, or my boat, though I know thats in a million pieces now" she took the box and headed back Jamal_Reedy "Bastards." Jamal sighed in frustration at the fact that the Docs were one step ahead of everyone, but somewhere he was holding out hope that one day they would fall behind and the islanders would finally find a way out of this hellhole. He mutely continued the jaunt back to Joliette's duplex, climbing the stairs slowly as his muscles finally started to complain at him. He was so out of shape and he knew it. Joliette Rigiel Joliette deposited the box and smiled "Thanks Jamal, I appreciate it" she said after turning to him, I have to go through all this and check it against my list and figure out what hte git needs to replace" she nodded Jamal_Reedy He actually flushed a bit at the mention of things needing to be replaced. "Uh yeah...dat's prolly a good idea," he agreed, giving the light box a very quick look. "And dis time if it shows up at my place, I ain't gonna get nosy and start diggin' 'round." Joliette Rigiel Joliette chuckled "You didn't know, I don't hold that against you..." she smiled "I'll see if Chubbs will help with that sink, I think thats just about it really" Jamal_Reedy "Lemme know when ya get 'im and I'll come out n' help," he offered in a weak sort of apology for the damage he caused. Joliette Rigiel "Will do, thanks again" she smiled then looked around her and pondered where to start Jamal_Reedy Since Joliette looked about ready to tear into her new trinkets, he started to slide towards the door. "A'ight, well, I'mma head back to my place then. Gotta pick up some of the mess in there b'fo I can't get inside da door anymo'" Joliette Rigiel Joliette smiled "Alright have a good evening Jamal" she smiled and waved then sat down amongst her boxes Jamal_Reedy He gave her a stiff nod and a brief wave before heading back outside, walking down the steps for the last time for awhile (at least he hoped) and headed back to his duplex.
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:08 am
Joliette smiled as she put down a very light medium sized box against his door quietly, she knew he had taken the bubble wrap earlier, by both the broken light and it's lack of being there, and having heard it hit hte floor behind his door. She made sure the note was obvious then left to drop of something else...
The Note Jamal, Thanks for your help, thought you might enjoy this, dont worry, you can open this box no problems Joliette
inside the box neatly rolled up was more bubblewrap, in fact all the remaining wrap from the equipment he had not previously unwrapped
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 8:26 pm
Continuation of Gossip RP (backdated to before Joliette and the photography equipment)
Awen smiled softly seeing Jamal coming from the cafeteria. She didn't know what had made her run out before but she just let it go. Taking a breath she fell into step with him just walking in silence. She frowned a little bit. While she was out and alone she noticed something that disturbed her a little bit. She noticed for the first time ever a small camera on the side of a building. She searched around a little bit and found them everywhere. She just stayed in silence for now.
Jamal wandered alongside Awen as they headed back towards his duplex, semi-troubled over the talk of the mystery serums yet he tried his best not to show it. There were other things to think about and he figured he shouldn't dwell on it, but easier said than done.
Awen faultered a little bit. She gave Jamal a shifty glance. "You don't think the duplexs are monitored, do you? I mean... you need privacy sometimes, right?"
At the rather random question, he glanced at her, a hand going to his chin to rub it absently. "I ain't sure...neva really thought ta ask, ya know?" A slightly wolfish grin spread over his features as he paused a few paces from the duplex door and glanced at the blue-haired woman. "Wanna find out?" he asked, somewhat suggestively.
She laughed a little bit as she flushed. Her cheeks grew rosey. "Well maybe we should check?" At the look he gave her and the tone which he used Awen had a disturbing thought of the Doctor watching the cameras when they..... She really didn't want to think of that. "Yeah checking is a good idea..."
The black man raised his brows and widened his grin, looking hardly put off at the idea. "Fine, I will," he said saucily, giving Awen a 'gee I'm slick' look before disappearing into his duplex, leaving her outside for the moment. He peered around at the inside of his room, eyes now narrowing as he tried to focus. "Now, if I be a b*****d doc, where da ******** would I hide them cameras..." He started in the corner and started to trace along the wall looking for signs of one.
She giggled a little bit and decided to sit down. She started to draw in the dirt with a small smile on her lips thinking.....
Jamal darted back outside shortly after he started, growing impatient in his quest for cameras. He waggled his eyebrows at Awen, a sly grin splitting wide across his mouth. "Camera free~" he declared, even though really he'd only checked about 1/4th of the entire room. Oh well...good enough for him!
Awen smiled up at Jamal. She knew what they both had been thinking but she... decided to tease him a bit fiegning innocence. "Good! I didn't want the doctor to be watching me ...like changing or something!" She she was just content to sit in the dirt and resume drawing shapes.
At Awen's declaration, he pouted a little. Dammit, that was not the reaction he was looking for.
She hugged Jamal's legs from where she was. "Among..other less solitary things."
Jamal more or less ignored Awen's grasp on his legs, trying his hardest to retain the pout. He would not be swayed! Arms crossed over his chest to magnify the sullen man effect.
"Aww..." Awen stood up from the ground with a small smile. She brushed herself off and wrapped her arms around Jamal.
Okay, well...that was a little better. He accepted the hug, though he still very pointedly stuck his bottom lip out at her as though to say "Yes, I'm still pouting. What are you going to do about it? Hmmm?"
Awen stretched up and gently kissed Jamal on the lips. "Don't pout..." She said softly, with a real caring tone. She knew he was only joking but she really did care for him.
More progress...he tried to keep the pouty effect for just a liiiiiittle bit longer. Maybe he'd get a few more kisses out of it, neh? Though, this time he couldn't help but smirk just a teeny bit, knowing he probably looked ridiculous.
She giggled softly and wagged a finger at Jamal. "I see that smirk under there." She said with a low chuckle.
At that comment, Jamal widened his eyes in a look of sheer innocence, his hands coming back from around her back to give a "who, me?" gesture. Though, eventually he smirked again and huffed indignantly. "Well damn. Can't blame a brotha fo' tryin'."
Awen grinned a bit thinking about that comment. She really couldn't blame him but.... "You know..." She hesitated a second and bit her lip before continuing. "If you wanted more kisses you just have to ask, not pout you know."
"So what would I get if I pouted more?" he asked with a curious tone.
Awen thought about this for a moment. "You'd get a sore lip from sticking it out for too long." She nodded with a rather serious face before smiling at him. "If you want to kiss me, just kiss me."
"A'ight then," he said impishly as he embraced her again in a hug and teasingly kissed her several times in sucession, making each quick and very peck-like. They were hardly proper kisses; they were just done because he could.
Awen giggled between the quick kisses, not even able to return them in kind. She really did enjoy this attention he gave her. Sometimes he just filled her heart so much, made it flutter.
The black man chuckled mirthfully at her little squeals. "I like it when yous giggle," he remarked, giving her a bit of space now.
Awen blinked a little bit. She had heard her giggle was many things, but enjoyable she had never heard. She giggled too much, it was too erratic, it was a weird laugh, but liking her giggles? That was new. "Really...?" She asked tentatively.
He nodded a bit, then gave a furative look around before leaning in to whisper in her ear. "It's....cute...And you ain't neva gonna hear me say cute again, so ya know. Betta enjoy it, hm?"
Awen outright laughed at that one and nodded. "Duely noted!" She grinned. It was true she didn't think she would ever get Jamal it say 'cute' again. It was just so uncharacteristic of the big man. It was....well cute.
Now that that was dealt with, he casually glanced at his open door, growing impatient. "So...'bout da duplex..."
Awen tilted her head a litte bit. She gave the impression that she was thinking something like, What was Jamal getting at exactly... ? "Hm? What about the duplex?" She tried not to smirk, keeping it rather successfully from her features.
"Oh, I dunno. Gettin' kinda cold out herr, ain't it?" Okay, so that was lame. It was a ******** tropical jungle...it wasn't going to get cold. Maybe a teeny bit brisk at the most at night...but...still lame. "Plus yous can help me make sure I ain't missed no cameras."
Awen frowned a little bit. It wasn't cold at all outside, she hoped Jamal wasn't coming down with anything. For that moment she forgot the teasing situation they were in. She didn't want him to be sick at all... But soon she smiled and nodded. "Sure let's go."
Jamal didn't need an invitation; he trotted inside.
She started to think that Jamal really was coming down with something the way he rushed inside. Was he that cold really? Awen thought she should bring him to the Doctor to check him out...
The black man shut the door, then sauntered over his table set up, a look of feigned uncomfort flitting over his broad features. "Aw damn, now it be hot again," he drawled, again acquiring that wolfish look to his eyes. Now they were inside...now...had to deal with the being clothed issue...
Awen tilted her head at this. "Hot?" She mumbled a little bit and frowned. Hot and cold alternating, definately a sign that he's sick. "Didn't you just say you were cold?" She seemed to miss that wolfish grin.
As she spoke, Jamal rid himself of his t-shirt, looking back at her innocently. "Hm...strange weatha we mus' be havin' then," he offered in explaination, flinging the dirty laundry off into the corner with his mini-mountain of things to be washed.
Awen nodded slowly. "I suppose....." She walked over to the air conditioning system. "You know you've got AC though, right?" She pressed the button to turn the AC on.
He sniffed and shook his head. "Naw, cause then it be gettin' cold in herr...unless yous lookin' ta warm me up then in that case..." Jamal snuck back over to Awen, this time behind her, and wrapped his arms about her middle, resting his head on her shoulder.
She laughed a little bit and turned the AC off. "Just can't make up your mind can you?" Shaking her head she lifted up a finger and poked his nose softly. "Silly...."
"Yeah, I guess I be silly," he said agreebly. It didn't seem to bother him at all. However, he then decided to be bold. Without a word, he scooped her up (since she's nice and small), and practically danced over to the bed. "Betta to snuggle on da bed. My feet are tired from playin' ball," he explained. It made perfect sense to him.
Awen laughed softly before he mentioned his tired feet, taking that to mean they are sore. "Oh... do they hurt? I could give you a foot massage if you wanted..." She slipped off her shoes with her toes as they neared the bed.
The black man wrinkled his nose immediately, giving Awen a look of uncertainty. "Ya sure yous wanna be touchin' my feet," he asked gravely, wriggling his toes as he kicked off his shoes. "Yous brave, if so." He gently set her on the bed before crawling onto it too so he could get comfortable.
Awen smiled and cuddled a little bit with him. "Well, then if not a foot massage a back massage? They say I'm a natural massuse." She beamed a little bit proudly.
"Dat prolly be mo' safe than messin' wit' ma feet," Jamal said with a chuckle as he rolled over to present his back for a good massage, propping head on his crossed arms. "Haven't had a good massage inna long a** time."
Awen nodded as she started to massage his back softly, feeling around for all the knots and sore spots. "I can really tell Jamal.."
As Awen worked her magic, he sighed in bliss and buried his face in the space between his arms. "Damn girl, you got da touch...brotha is lucky to gotta girl wit' massage ability," he muttered in a muffled tone as her fingers danced along his back, working out the knots and kinks in a rather efficient manner.
She giggled a little bit. "Well.... I took cosmotology through highschool, wasn't a fan of all the makeup lessons and stupid things like that...make up ruins your skin." Awen shook her head sadly while continuing to attack the knots. "But you know they helped hone the ability to massage, and things like that.."
Jamal approved of her declaring of not liking makeup. "Dat's good you ain't likin' makeup much. Ya don't need it. Plus some them girls look pretty scary wit' it all caked on." He had seen some prime examples back home...even if those girls had normally been the streetwalkers and the hookers he'd see out and about late at night when he'd be heading back home. The tension across his shoulderblades began to disappear finally.
She blushed as he complimented her. "Yeah, sometimes people just over do it.... and.. thanks."
The man stretched lazily as she slowed her tugs and prodding, tilting his head to the side now so his cheek was to his arm and his face was uncovered. "Ya oughta set up a clinic fo' massagin'. I'd be yo best customa." That was probably very true.
Awen grinned a little and chuckled. "Oh but that might make you jealous, me being in a dark room all alone with all the other half naked men of the island? I think I'll just stick to giving you free massages."
"Mmm well, I trust ya...but...yeah, you's prolly right," he did finally admit as he rolled over since Awen was pretty much done, sifting to one side of the bed to room for her. "Can't be havin' Jamal jealous cause his Shorty be out doin' massages fo' otha guys."
She smiled lightly and cuddled up with Jamal getting comfortable. "Besides, if I did open a clinic, I'd have to charge ya." She winked and giggled softly.
"Wit' what? Ain't like we got much money herr...at least, I know I ain't got much." He put his cheek against her shoulder, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Hm...good point... not that we need it either...". Awen just settles down and relaxes with Jamal. "Well all that work and no pay? Naw then I'm definately not opening a clinic..."
Jamal mused aloud at that, trying to be a little difficult and persistant only because it made for amusing conversation. "Well, we could pay in shells, if dat's a'ight. Like the indians o' sumthin." He chuckled some at the idea, imagining handfuls of shells being passed from person to persson. "Might as well...christ, it's like we're all damn indians herr or somethin' except we gots crazy doctors runnin' 'round too."
"Yeah I suppose, but the Doc does give us a lot of what we want, so why bother with the shell trading?" She shivered a little bit at the thought of those things from in the sea. "I never really liked shells anyway."
It took him a moment to realize he said something kind of stupid, forgetting about her little water phobia...and since shells come from the water... "Aw s**t, sorry shorty, I wasn't even thinkin' about da water thing." He resorted to his apologetic little pout in hopes of gaining her favor back.
Awen smiled and kissed his lips briefly to get rid of the pout. "Don't worry about it Jamal...." She shifted more comfy into him. "You know I think it's getting better though.... I mean.. when we were on the beach the other day I didn't even run or anything!" It sounded lame of course, but she was very proud of herself even for such a small feat.
"Dat's good. Ya'll get yo'self ova it eventually. I got faith...and when ya do, we goin' to da beach to enjoy it," he declared, please that she wasn't mad at him for his thoughtlessness, and brushed stray hair from her eyes. He smiled encouragingly.
She smiled brightly up at Jamal before something the Doc said popped back into her head, be as comfortable in the water as though you were born to it, and she squirmed a little uncomfortable thinking about her turning into some hideous fish. What would Jamal think of her then? "Jamal..?" She said in a meak voice. "Would you, um, I mean.... after I change... it might not be pretty and... I mean..." She really didn't know what she meant...
He lifted a brow, wondering what she's getting at exactly. "I suspect my changes ain't gonna be all that great either...Gonna be a shock eitha' way, ya know?" He idly rubbed at her shoulder opposite to him in a ploy to offer some consolation.
"But... I mean...fur feathers and lizard scales aren't that bad... I mean a lot of the other islands look different but it's not exactly bad." She bit her lip nervously. "I... think the Doc is turning me into some kind of hideous fish..."
"What be givin' ya dat idea? He didn't tell ya dat did he?...dat's just cruel if dat's the case cause he knows why yous came out ta dis damn island." He frowned at the though...how WOULD he handle that?
Awen trembled sightly before repeating Moreau's words. "He said I would be as comfortable in water as if I were born in it. "Her voice was very soft and afraid.
"....s**t...dat ain't soundin' good at all," he agreed, his frown deepening considerably. "Dat b*****d. I swear...I get my hand on 'im..." Jamal's thoughts turned inevitably violent then. He was seriously going to murder that ******** doctor if it was the last thing he did.
Awen shook her head. "No... it's my fault really.... if... I was turning into a fish I mean that does get rid of my hydrophobia, I would hope, and he said on the phone that experimental drugs would be used. I mean, I didnt think enough to really ask farther than 'is it dangerous?' "
Jamal snorted heaviliy. "It ain't yo fault what's goin' on herr," he said firmly, pulling her closer so her warmth could be felt against his bare skin
She wrapped one arm around him and traced her fingers along his shoulder a bit. "But he didn't lie to me...."
"He jus' found a loophole then. I still think he lied to ya."
"Maybe..." She really didn't want to argue for the doctor but she knew it was her fault..instead of persist however she dropped it. She just leaned and gave him a kiss on his head." I guess I'll find out soon enough though.
Jamal looked troubled for once, a darkness settling over his eyes. "You worried about bein' a fish fo' a reason otha than da water thin'? Cause...like ya said, that kin be fixed if ya keep tryin' to get better," he said smoothly in hopes of making her feel better while simultaneously stroking her cheek with the back of his hand. He watched her eyes for signs of distress; he knew she was bothered about something else.
She leaned into his hand a little bit loving the caressing feeling on her cheek. She looked into his eyes for a few moments before looking away sacrificing his touch so she didn't have to look into his eyes. "I...don't want...." She gulped a little bit. "I don't want you to... think I'm...ugly or anything.... and... if I'm a fish I won't be able to be on land... I mean... it wouldn't...we couldn't.... and I would be..just...hideous..."
Jamal knit his brow in concern and sat up slowly, head tilting to the side as he tried to figure out how to put it without having it come out wrong. "Awen, I ain't worried 'bout you lookin' like a fish or a lizard like Amaya or whateva that sadistic b*****d got goin' fo' you. That ain't what I worry 'bout. Believe it o' not, I ain't always all 'bout looks." Well, he used to be...but finding a girl with both looks and a good personality seemed to be much more satisfying than a hussy just wanting a one-night stand.
She shifted a little bit as he sat up but still remained relitavely at hte level she was at, saved proped up on an elbow. "I didn't mean to say you were..." She said with wide eyes not meaning to imply anything like that. "But... well... all about looks and just... being attracted to someone are two different things.... I just... I'm afraid I won't be attractive to you...or..or something..."
Jamal nodded slowly as he understood what she was saying, his expression again retaining a somber sort of manner to it. He shook his head then suddenly. "I ain't worried about it, Shorty. 'Cause ya still gonna be Awen when it's all over and dat's what I like. I like what makes you Awen and dat's a whole buncha stuff the doc ain't neva gonna touch."
She looked back into his eyes as though she was searching. She didn't have to search very long before she smiled softly. He really meant it too.... She wrapped her other arm around him and hugged him tightly. She didn't really know what to say but she was near teary just with how he did truly care. "And no matter what happens to you I'll be here for you... Besides, you might get to be something really cool, hm?" She really didn't know what he thought was a cool animal so she just left it at that for now..
He embraced her fully and nestled his face near her neck, his warm breath fanning on her collarbone as he inhales her sweet smell mingled with soap and shampoo. Jamal was so glad she could deal with him sometimes...he drove himself crazy on occasion, especially after that damn cafeteria episode. "I like big dogs," he grumbled. "But I got a feelin' they ain't goin' with anything I'mma like."
"Who knows?" She smiled encouragingly. "They don't know what you like, maybe you've got your dog, while they think you hate dogs or something?" She stroked his hair gently holding him to her. "Maybe you'd get ot be a lab or something? Those are big handsome dogs." She noddeda bit decided Jamal would make a great labrador.
"I dunno, I jus' ain't seein' the doc bein' nice ta anyone as he plots the rest of their lives, ya know?" He sighed and pulled his head away from the slope of her neck, somewhat disheartened at the thought of just what sorts of serums the Doctor had access to. "I guess a Lab be a'ight...I dunno."
Awen sighed and shifted so she was facing Jamal, ending up on her stomach, proped on her other elbow and looking down at him. She was trying to think of something to say to change the subject, she really didn't want to talk about the Doctor anymore... But she ended up just leaning down and giving Jamal a slow, caring kiss on the lips.
Well, talk about a subject change.
He was pleasantly surprised as her lips met his and lingered longer than they had in previous encounters, so he took the opportunity to reciprocate the action, keeping the kiss delicate yet very clear as to his feelings for her. He couldn't, however, resist giving her bottom lip just a teeny nibble, maybe to surprise her back or maybe initiate another round of friendly kissing...or whatever.
And surpised she was, the little squeak escaping her throat proved it. She pulled back a bit and smiled down at him, chuckling softly. He was so....such a.... bah she couldn;t think of it and just went back to kissing him. She was glad the plan worked, they had stopped talking about the Doctor, heck stopped talking all together. This...feeling inside of her gave a little jump. Her hand settled on the side of his neck running her fingers gently across his skin. She really had fallen for him....
His skin tingled madly where her fingers pressed on his skin and slowly a heady sensation started to swamp his mind, a flush of warmth rushing down his body as Awen kissed him again. Jamal's own hands slipped under her arms to gently run the length of her back, pulling her to him as he kissed her more deeply and subtly rolled them both so Awen was on her back now with him on top.
This was all quite the rush to Awen as well. She returned his kiss only noticing the shift of her to her back after a little while. She wrapped her other arm around his shoulders. This rush felt really good and his lips started to gain an intoxicating flavour to them...but a small voice inside, muffled as it was, was protesting...
Jamal did not and could not know of the little voice of protest, thus could not gauge his actions appropriately. The situation was quickly growing into something very serious and he was hardly afraid or worried about it. The air about them was heavy and as he paused for a breath, the scent of her hair and skin assaulted his senses. His lips came down to kiss the side of her neck, her shoulder, her collarbone as his hands continued their path along her back, but they seemed to be growing a mind of their own slowly and he was growing less careful with where they roamed.
Awen licked her lips lightly as Jamal's lips left to trail down elsewhere. Her head tilted slightly oposite to where Jamal was kissing, of it's own accord really. The air indeed great heavier, thicker as Awen started to flush feeling a little short on breath. Feeling his roaming hands the voice grew louder, but the part of her truly enjoying this tried hard to block it out. Wasn't this, partially anyway, what she had wanted after all? To feel...normal. To feel...human?
Jamal's breathing was growing more rapid as the flush struck again as he kissed lower down on her chest once...twice...three times, while one hand slipped up the back of her shirt and the other played with the waistband of her pants. He lifted his head though before he went lower, looking at her in the eyes. What did she want?
A mix of feelings were conflicting on her features. She indeed wanted him to continue, but that voice whispering to her now shouted in her eyes at Jamal. She licked her lips again, not really..knowing. But... hte voice... finally won over. The part of her enjoying herself growled at her, but was consolled with the fact that next time it would be more likely it won. "Jamal..." She said softly as she looked away from his eyes. "I...I..." She bit her lips a little bit trying to think of how to say what she was feeling. But she hardly even knew how she felt... "I don't think I'm..quite...ready for...a-anything...that much...yet..."
Dammit. Dammit dammit dammit.
Jamal wasn't sure if he could stop...he saw the look in her eyes and heard her words. It was so...no, he had to. If she said no, she said no. He wasn't a rapist. But now his own internal voice was chiming in, but his was not one of pure innocence. No...it knew what he wanted. He inhaled shakily and for a moment, he was frozen, but slowly he pulled his hands away from their positions until they were at her mid-back again where they had started.
The air was still so heavy and warm though...dammit...He closed his eyes in a bid to regain his senses, even though he wanted so badly to continue. She had acted like he wanted to...but..well, that didn't matter.
Awen didn't want to look back to him, knowing she would see his disappointment but forced herself to. She was causing this pain she would see it... Being met with his closed eyes an an expression that was not the positive thing it had been before she felt chestfallen. To fill the void she tried to.... what? Explain? Excuse herself? "I want to..." She said so very fragilely. "But..." She couldn't even describe this feeling holding her back. It was something like a roadblock just making her freeze up. "I don't know... I'm... nervous? Afraid...maybe...?" She blushed... quite a bit... "I've never..." The words caught in her throat, they all seemed too bulky and awkward to say...
"No...don't explain," he murmured, slightly breathless, eyelids parting again to look at her. "Ya don't gotta explain. I unda' stand."
In the end he had to respect whatever it was that she decided; that's just how he operated. The little voice yelled at him, telling him to keep trying, that maybe he'd change her mind but he shoved it down and away. It wasn't meant to be.
So instead he placed a tender kiss on her jaw and contented himself with the smell of her hair as he slipped off to her side and let his chin rest there on her shoulder again.
She gave a soft smile to him. When she had first met him she had never pegged Jamal as the type to be so... gentlemanly. She had half expected Jamal to keep persuing her and trying to change her mind. And God only knows Awen would have changed her mind rather quickly. But he hadn't....
She smiled softly and wrapped her arm around him again. "Soon..." She said softly. "I'll be ready....soon..." She closed her eyes and sighed softly. She hated disappointing him, reguardless of whether ot not he understood. She had to give the man some hope after all, and the best kind of hope, true hope.
In complete honesty, he didn't completely understand...but...there was enough there to keep him from being irritated that he'd been led on again. The warm flush seemed like it was not going to go away so easily however and his nerves were still very badly overcharged. Calm down....calm down....
"Don't worry about it," he whispered lightly into her ear, his voice somewhat husky from all the sudden activity, as he contented himself to curling up beside her.
Awen felt the tension there and wish she could do something... well heck she knew she could do something but.... she couldn't all at the same time. She shifted a bit getting more comfortable nad hoping not to set him uncomfortable. "I've just never..." She really felt like she had to say something, even if he said not to worry she really was, she felt his tension. "I've never.....had sex before..." She finished almost in a mumbled before continuing quickly. "So well I guess I'm just, worried, nervous, unknowing of the whole..well yeah. I don't mean to be so conservative part of me...okay a really big part of me wants to continue badly, but.... I guess I'm just....nervous...." She hated sticking to that word because it in no way truly described what she was feeling but she had to explain somehow and that was... she supposed, the best word for it.
He managed to get a few good, full breaths in as she spoke and slowly the warmth was ebbing and his nerves grew less sensitive. He was regaining his control and would be fine. This certainly was not the first time he'd been shot down before...just...well, it didn't matter. He successfully squashed his own little voice away for the night. Everything would be fine.
"It's fine...I promise," he told her, his voice more normal than before but somewhat hushed. "I'll be a'ight...are you gonna be?" The black man nuzzled her shoulder, concerned he might have scared her somewhat. It bothered him she was so worried and kept trying to explain.
Nodding a little bit she went for a smile. "Yeah, sorry..." She wasn't afraid of him at all, but currently yelling at herself mentally. "Two of my major flaws: I over analyze things and I over explain things... Nerves just pick up and my mouth doesn't shut up." She chuckled half heartedly at herself.
She gently stroked Jamal's head her fingers playing among the cornrows. She just made herself stop there by focusing on making her fingers trace little shapes around his head. Just...shut up and don't dig yourself another hole..
Everything would be fine. He would get over it, if he hadn't already.
"Sumtimes it be a good thing to do dat sorta stuff," he remarked, eyes narrowing to sleepy slits as he felt her tickle his head with her shape tracing. All his energy just sort of went out the window and now he was tired, though his mind still buzzed vaguely with excess energy that would eventally disappear.
"Sometimes..." She repeated softly and turned to her side slowly, letting Jamal's head fall softly to the pillow. She looked him in his sleepy eyes a moment before kissing his cheek.
She gave a smiled and just settled wrappping her arms around him. "Looks like you're half asleep now though.... might be a good idea... catch some Zs..."
Jamal nodded; he did look pretty sleepy now. "Sleep looks like a good option righ' now...and yous can protect me from them needles." The last was said with humor in hopes of diverting some of the awkwardness finally into a place where they could forget about it and just rest.
"Always dear one..." She whispered softly and just relaxed into his form. Despite everything... it was comforting just sleeping with him. Soon enough she was asleep... before Jamal fell asleep this time though. Some protector she really turned out to be after all.
He mentally chuckled and took one last moment to get comfortable before accepting the warmth of her form beside him and eventually lulling off to sleep as well, a hand curled about her waist as he did so.
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Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:30 pm
Response to the box Joliette left
Jamal cracked open his door the next morning, the day after his incident with Joliette's photography equipment, and was puzzled to find the box sitting at his door. His brows creased heavily as he eyed it, wondering if one of the Docs got confused again; he knew he didn't order anything. However, he did see a note along with the box this time and so he picked it up and quickly skimmed it.
"What da hell," he murmured, toeing the box hesitantly before stooping to pick it up. It was oddly light in his hands. Hmm...
The black man hauled it inside and put it on the table, eyeing the neat script of the note once more before opening the box cautiously.
.........
He couldn't help but grin. With a little bit of a flourish, he pawed into the box and withdrew some of the wrap and set some of the pillowy buttons between this thumb and index finger, then pressed. The satisfying crack noise only made him grin wider.
Joliette was alright in his book.
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Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:04 am
Answers to some Questions The entertainment room was fairly quiet today, being somewhat early. Perhaps that's why Jamal found himself there, lounging casually on one of the couches, eyes glued to the TV as some sort of action movie played; rips of gunfire pierced the silence every once in awhile with an accompany tire squeal. The man had apparently demolished a bag of Doritos, a bag of cheese popcorn, and half a two-liter over the course of the movie, as the remains of his food items were scattered about on the floor in front of him. Hmm.. Ambrose told me I should go look at some books about bats. Arg.. I dont want some random animal tail popping out of my a** like these horns on my head without me ready for it. Hargun thought to herself as she exited her duplex and headed for the village. Hmm.. no wheres that.. entertainment room..
It didnt take too long for her to find it, hearing the gunshots and awkward sounds comming only from a television. She followed the sound till she came in. Looking around, she spotted Jamal. She didnt want to disturb a man and his movie, exspecially since she didnt even know him, so she walked over towards the book section and began searching through the shelves. Normally Jamal wouldn't have bothered to break his gaze from the TV, but the movie didn't seem to have his attention like it normally might. Perhaps he was distracted by his thoughts, which were oddly loud and nagging today, or perhaps he was just looking to pass time until the village 'woke' up and more people were about. Whatever the case, he heard the door to the room open and the sounds of someone moving inside, so he glanced up and was met with a potentially horrifying vision of the half bat, half woman 'thing'. Brows flinched and knit together as he tried to ignore her, not really wanting to acknowledge someone that was a later picture of what he'd be later on, yet he couldn't help but to keep glancing up at her in a more or less fullout stare. Hargun could feel him staring at her. She continued to searchthough until she found a rather thick book. A bit uncofrtable, she turned and skimmed through it, but facing Jamal.
"Hiya." she said, looking up once, then she found a page she was apparently looking for, dog-eared it then leaned back against the book shelf, holding on to the book.
"Im assuming youre new here?" she asked, trying to spark converstaion instead of blank stares at one another. Jamal tried to cover his blatant staring by trying to avert his eyes back to the TV, but he couldn't stop the sheepish smile that spread over his mouth, realizing he'd been caught.
"Uh...I ain't dat new," he said, smoothing his flustered countenance by offering her his most charming grin as he peered over the arm of the couch, even if it was somewhat forced. "Been herr 'bout a month o' so, I figger. Keep losin' track..."
He sat up slowly as he spoke, arms crossing over his chest without a real reason to do so. "I know I seen you b'fo...at least, I be thinkin' so."
Hargun turned her head a bit. "Hmm.. A month?" Wow.. Im suprised.. Id think hed have changed by now..
"Ive been here over two months.. almost three if Im not mistaken." she shifted over to another shelf of books, rather curious now to see some info on somw of her friends' animals.
"Now that I think of it, you seem familiar to me too. Your voice does.. if nothing else.." she said, and her ear twitched. "s**t...well, dat'd explain...uh..." He sort of made an up-and-down motion with a hand in her direction while trying not to grimace or look sick. "Why you how you is," Jamal finished lamely as a hand rubbed his chin. He wasn't trying to be insensitive, but it was hard to sympathize when he hadn't yet experienced what a good percentage of the island's population had already.
"Prolly saw ya at dat damn hall'ween party, now dat I be thinkin' 'bout it. Ya were wit'...uh...Amaya?" He squinted at the wall above her head, as though it would help him remember everything properly. However, he decided it'd be better to just admit his poor memory. "I ain't so good at 'memberin' names, so dat's prolly wrong." Hargun looked down at herself and frowned a bit. "Yea..." she muttered.
"Yea, I was at the Halloween party with Amaya. Maybe I left before we really could 'meet' each other." she said then smiled and took as few steps towards him and held out her webby hand. "Im Hargun." she said. "And you?" Jamal looked a little better, finding his stab in the dark was probably correct for once. That was enough to make him grin as genuinely possible as Jamal could ever manage and, even though he was somewhat apprehensive about it, took the offered hand and shook it long enough to not to appear too offset by her 'modifications'; actually, the wingy membrane between her fingers did manage to catch his curiousity. "Da name's Jamal," he responded. "Sorry I didn't run ova ta get da name thing outta da way at da party...distracted 'n all dat. I was wearin' da bedsheet. Ghost, ya know." Hargun laughed.
"And the best costume idea there." she sighed, glad that he wasnt going to completely freak out about the wing thing and run off. "Nah its okay. I wasnt doing so well at the party anyways. I had changed again just that night so it was rather disturbing for me."
She looked around and found a seperate chair facing towards the TV. "So what the heck are you watching?" she asked, opening her book with her pointy finger to the page she dog eared. "I ain't got no otha ideas at the time, so...figgered a ghost be nice and easy," he said with a shrug, leaning back into the soft cushion of the couch now, watching Hargun part the pages of the book with her extended digit.
"The Italian Job, I think," he said after a pause, glancing at the TV, showing a chase scene of some sort. "It be a'ight...only watchin' it cause there ain't nuthin' else ta do. Tryin' ta distract mahself from s**t goin' on herr. Wond'rin I start this change bullshit. Mostly a sit n' wait game though, ain't it?"
He was sure if if it required the doc's having to come in and give him another shot that he'd be able to fight them off. They weren't going to get him so easily. "Heh.. never seen it." she said, shooting a quick look at the tv then reading through the page, having to squint several times.
"Its hard to dstract yourself once you start changing though, I have to admit to you. Youve got to enjoy being 'normal' while you can, then everything seems to go downhill." she looked at him then smiled weakly. "Sorry.. I sound so negative."
Back to the book. "Thats exactly what it is. But not a single person yet has changed, knowing exactly when to expect it. Its become obvious now that they do it to us in our sleep." The TV was pretty much forgotten as the topic inevitably changed to what he figured it was, and oddly enough he was somewhat relieved. Maybe he could get some information about what was going to happen to him...maybe so he could prepare. Afterall, he'd been stoutly ignoring the fact this was going to happen until the run-in at the cafeteria and since then he'd kept his company limited to 'normal' islanders as much as possible. Plus it seemed that Hargun didn't mind the topic so much, at least to what he saw.
"Well, changin' to a damn animal ain't really gonna be a good experience no matta how ya look at it, unless ya had a bad bad life," he said in a grudging manner, rubbing the sparce moustache above his lip with a pensive look in his eye. Or you did something that'd probably prevent you from living a normal life anyway...
"I figgered dat them bastards get ya'll in ya sleep...dat's what I worry 'bout. Gotta be some way to keep 'em away at night, unless somethin' else ain't gonna let us stay up at night." He vaguely wondered if perhaps he and Awen should just take turns staying up at night...perhaps that'd do some good against preventing them from coming. Maybe...
He looked at Hargun's fuzzy form with a morbid sort of curiousity and found himself speaking before he really thought about what was coming from his mouth. "How bad does it hurt?" he queried in reference to the change, but perhaps she didn't catch what he was talking about. "I guess if you put it that way, yea. But I had a perfect life before this so.. its pretty bad period." she laughed uneasily.
"Theyve got cameras in the rooms, just incase you didnt know.. or at least thats what we all figure. Nobody really doubts that." she shuddered remembering when she and Amaya really thought about it. Perverted Moreau..
She blinked at his question, suprised he asked. But she wasnt even bothered by it. In fact, she was kinda glad he asked. "Well.. uh.." she started.. it was hard to decide where to begin. "It only really hurt after the night I changed and for a few days. My fingers were sore for a while and sometimes if I try picking something up and move them the wrong way it hurts. But I have to say, these hurt the worst." she said and looked up, signalling to the horns.
She laughed. "I dont even KNOW where those came from..." "Yeah, I figger there be some cameras...ev'rythin' else got 'em, why the duplexes be any diff'rent." His lips pursed some at the thought of privacy invasion and for other reasons that he didn't care to elaborate on, at least right now. "I dunno...gonna work sumthin' out. Tryin' mah damnest ta avoid this bullshit if I can."
His gaze drifted to her webbed fingers, finding them almost too delicate to really be able to do any sort of normal hand manipulation, but obviously she was doing alright with them. Probably adapted...like she had any choice. "So...stuff just kinna pops out then? O' be it slow? I ain't a fan of slow pain, but if I at leas' know it comin', I be a'ight."
The indication of the horns made him blanch a touch. Hargun looked like a bat...and no bat that he knew of had horns. Did the doctors screw up serums sometimes? He didn't want to end up looking like a mix of animals! Hargun nodded. "Good luck." she said, trying to sound as supporting as she could. As much as she didnt want to see his hopes die, he was dommed here for sure, and there wasnt a chance of avoiding the second change, or at least any side effects by just being injected once.
"My hands grow only with each change Ive noticed, but the mental stuff such as food cravings and hieghtened senses seem to change and grow every day. And so will your sleeping patterns if you become a nocturnal animal... although I still like to come out at day time a lot." Jamal spread his own hands, envisioning webbing like Hargun's between them, then found it to be stupid to do so. There was nothing at all that gave him a hint he'd be a bat.
"I ain't got no idea what I'm 'sposed ta be yet. Chubbs said I could ask...but I ain't sure I wanna know." He grimaced and jammed his hands in his pockets. Hargun sighed. "Most of us arent sure what we're turning into.. even when we've had our first changes. Plus I wouldnt want to ask the staff.. itd make them feel overly proud of themselves, not to mention probably lie about what your changing to."
She scratched the back of her head and asked while glancing at some pictures in the book. "Do YOU know if bats have tails or not?" "Them bastards would lie, wouldn't they," he practically growled, clenching his fists briefly. "Well, whatever. I ain't gonna get any contact with them unless I gotta."
He then peered over at the book, wondering what she was doing. "Bats?...I think they got a tail..but like...it got membrane on the sides so it kinda look like anotha' wing. O' maybe dat's jus' the kind I seen." Hargun winced. "Gah.. its gonna hurt like hell I bet.. Probably wont even be fluffy or anything either.. just an ugly stick out my butt like some rudder.." she laughed at what she said though.
I make such... interesting comparisons..
She turned the book to show him a picture of a bat skeleton with transparent lines to show where the wings would go. "I ain't thinkin' bat tails are fluffy...I founda bat once, lyin' on the sidewalk on ma way home. I don't think it gotta fluffy tail, but it was years ago."
He peered at the skeleton, somewhat interested the the bones in the arms and hands were so similar to that of a human. It was almost eerie. A bat skeleton was weird otherwise...they hardly had legs, and that made him wonder just how much like animals everyone would end up turning into. Was there the potential of losing legs? He'd never met Cassidy, so had no idea. Hargun chuckled softly. "A dead bat? Heh. Odd, Ive never really seen a DEAD bat but I saw them a lot when we'd go on trips and see caves in various states."
She pulled the book back and flipped to the next page. "I wonder if these horns belong to a specific species of another animal.. after concluding that obviously they dont belong to a bat, surely theres something else that has em. Maybe some sort of deer-like animal?"
She slowly walked back over to the shelves and flipped through the titles. "Yeah...it was about this big," he said, spreading his hands apart maybe 3 to 4 inches apart, growing a little nostalgic over the thought of the city. "Lil' guy really. Prolly ran into onna da buildin's or sumthin'...ain't dat unusual, I think."
The mention of the horns brought his attention back to the present relatively quickly. Ah yes...this was his new reality.
"Looks like some deer thing I seen in a zoo once," offered the black man, slithering up from the couch to wander over to join her at the book case. He gazed at the bindings of each book, his eyes darting over each as though he were rapidly reading each title...yet honestly, he couldn't understand a good 75% of the words before him. Hargun laughed at the bat. "So Im going to change into a blind, flying dimwit?"
She snorted. "Aaaand Ill be a zoo animal. Yep great. But then again a zoo is probably better than this place.. in a cosmic.. sort of way."
Moreau probably intends sticking us IN a zoo when hes finished.. otherwise what other use does he have for us? she thought.
"Maybe its bull horns? Theyre dark in color and I havent seen any sort of deer horns this color.." she suggested. Jamal shrugged, offering Hargun a small grin as he did so. It was somewhat fascinating to him that she hardly seemed bothered by this changing business. "Could be worse?..." he mumbled uneasily. A bat hardly seemed like that bad of an animal really...better than a mouse or a bug or a toad anyway.
He let his fingertips run across the spines of a few larger books before drawing one out that read "Endangered Species in North America" and idly parted the book about mid-way through. Large colorful photos of large raptors glossed over the page, which he examined with a somewhat dejected look on his face.
"...I ain't thinkin' I can do this animal s**t." Hargun glanced at him.
"Could be yea.. the only downside Ive bumped into so far is not being able to use my hands for things as much. Other than that though..." she paused and turned her head.
"Hmm? Oh.. yea.. I didnt think so either after realizing what was happening to us. It was probably the most scariest part of being here.. and then I changed and everything seemed to become a little less frightening. Then I changed again. Now the scariest part is the Moreau factor actually.. not so much the animal part." she pulled out a book specifically about horned animals and skimmed the pages.
It was true.. she wasnt AS scared of the animal changing but Moreau and his undescribable power over them. Jamal flipped a few pages in his book, giving the picture of a gila monster a morose glance before he snapped it shut and put the book back in it's assigned slot.
"Makes sense, I guess. I jus' ain't talked to many...changed peeps, I guess. Too busy makin' up what gonna happen in my head so it's prolly all outta wack by da time I actually start this animal bullshit." He eyed the books again, this time pulling out a thinner one labled "Marsupials", which he couldn't understand, but opened anyway.
It didn't make sense, at least yet, for Jamal to be afraid of Moreau. The black man didn't really fear anyone. Doctor Moreau was just human...he could be taken out if the circumstances were right. Jamal was afraid of the unknown. Hargun spotted a page with some very strange and exotic antelope-looking things, making a disgusted look as some of their horns looked really wierd or mutated.
"At least youre trying to substitue whats really going on. Thats probably a good idea while you wait for your changes, then just keep the story going."
She glanced at the book he was opening up, then squinted, imagining him turning into some sort of tree-eating Koala. An.. interesting sight indeed. Jamal crossed glanced, looking at her book and then glancing at her horns. "Jesus Christ, I hope you ain't gettin' them things," he said, pointing at a picture of a Greater Kudu. The horns were massive...and the sight of those things perching on top of Hargun's head almost made him laugh, but he stopped, finding a situation like that not impossible. Hell, surely the Doctors were out to make everyone miserable through this transforming nonsense.
"Anyone else gettin' weird s**t like horns when they ain't 'sposta?" He wondered if this phenomenon was common, but couldn't remember seeing Ambrose with anything non-wolf like or human-like at their last meeting. Hargun shook her head. "Actually, I and this one girl, Cass are the only ones I know of getting.. 'different' creature parts put on us but, I havent gotten to see what hers looks like. Only heard shes sprouting feathers and is turning into like.. a snake or reptile."
"Ewwh.. I hope Im not either.." she pursed her lip and held the book away from her, examining it then turning the page to some sort of bulls with not atrociously large horns, but still rather cool looking. "...feathers and scales. Okay, dat's ******** up," he said bluntly with a shake of his head, shutting his book and replacing it in it's groove, then leaned back against the shelf, content to look over her shoulder at the pictures in Hargun's hands. "Bulls ain't too bad. I ain't never seen a real one, but...they be lookin' like they could cause some damage. 'Long as I ain't turnin' into a mouse or a rabbit or sumthin' like dat...it'll work out a'ight eventually. Peeps say yous pick up da animal's feelin's or whatever...Be damned if I be turnin' into some pansy a**. "
Probably stupid reasoning, but Jamal was certain he'd never be taken seriously again in his life if he turned into a rabbit or something cute and cuddly and that bothered him a great deal. "Ha.. next time I change I bet these will be so sharp I could maime Moreau and the rest of the horrid staff.." she said, a firey determination in her eyes.
She shook her head grinning. No need for such violent thoughts.. yet. You cant really hurt anyone with the stubs you got now. "Well, we have been changing in sleeping patterns and food cravings.. I mean I eat bugs all the time now for christs sake. I guess it depends on how the animal thinks. If its violent, youll probably turn more violent. But I somehow doubt if you turn into a rabbit or mouse that youll become gentle.. probably just more smart." she shrugged. He smirked at Hargun's blurt aout maiming people, mentally chiming in with a "right beside ya" before making a very disgusted face at the mention of eating bugs. How nasty!
"Aw hell naw, I ain't eatin' no ********' bugs," he nearly spat, a shudder running across his back. "Uh uh. No way. I don't care if dat be da only thing they eat...ugh..." Hargun laughed and placed the book back on the shelf, then immediately went searching for books on insects while continuing on to disgust him. "Oh, but theyre so good! All crunchy and squirming about in your mouth.."
She flipped through it as quick as she could and threw a picture of a decaying bug at his face.
"See? Now doesnt THAT look appetizing?" "Ugh ugh ugh...dat's SO not cool," he said, giving her mock-scathing glare, pushing the book away from his face with a hand. Seriously...how nasty. The thought of a midnight bug snack made his stomach lurch unpleasantly.
"How can yous EAT dat s**t. I thought mah auntie's cookin' was bad, but damn. I ratha' eat her cookin' than nasty-a** cockroaches." She pulled the book away and set it back in the shelf.
"Ill have you know they really are good! And those chocolate covered ants the cafeteria provides.. theyre like Raisinets!" she said and walked over to a seperate shelf not filled with animal books but cooking recipes, and flipped through one of south american delicacies.
"Well whatever, Im sure youll eventually have to eat SOMETHING you dont like, and believe me, you wont think of it as very nasty after a while." "Anything gotta be betta' then bugs," he said with a final empatic nod, giving Hargun a 'yeah right' sort of expression. He didn't follow her, just in case she wiped out another picture of six eyed bugs or spiders the size of basketballs. "As long as a brotha gets ta eat some meat, dat'll be a'ight wit' me." He couldn't imagine not eating some form of meat for the rest of his life...he was practically raised on hamburger helper and hotdogs when he was younger. Being a strict-plant eater wasn't even an option, in his mind.
He watched her suspiciously from his perch against the wall, trying to see what she was looking for without having to get closer. "Chances are youll probably turn into a leaf-eating cow or some.. plant.. or a bug.." she couldnt help but snicker at that one.
"Knowing the staff theyve probably got something ironic picked out for you, I hate to say." she frowned and continued to strum the book blankly, staring at a page or two rather curiously.
"Oh.. I forgot about them serving candy-coated cockroaches... oh and shrimp too. Surely youre not bothered by eating shrimp though right? Maybe youll be some sort of marine animal.." "So I be hearin'. The staff likes ta ******** 'round wit' us all. I almost wouldn't be surprised ta be some sorta plant-eatin', bug-snackin' freak. Bastards." His eyes narrowed and he thumped the shelf with a fist. More and more people were confirming his fears...that the Doctors were just using them as puppets to make dance whenever they wanted.
"I could handle shrimp...da s**t be good, but just 'spensive, otha'wise I be eatin' it mo' often back home." He looked off towards the ceiling at the thought of being some sort of water-based animal. Awen said that she had a suspicion that's what she was turning into...could being a dolphin or a whale be that bad? "I couldnt agree more with yah.." she mentioned to the comment.
"And to believe I almost saw good intentions behind them.. that girl Lauren almost convinced me the staff were 'good'." she snorted and looked up from the book.
"If anyone can think that Moreau has any decency, they must be ********. I swear." His eyes narrowed dangerously at the mention of Lauren. That little b***h...
"Lauren's outta her ********' mind," he said bitterly, jamming his hands into his pockets to hide the fists he'd formed at the memory of the small, fiery tempered blonde. "Lil girl ain't got no ********' clue what be goin' on. She jumped all ova' me last time I seen 'er. Thinks she be tough s**t."
"Ain't nothin' these doctors be doin' that be good fer anyone but themselves. They ain't out ta help no one unless, like I said, their lives sucked mo' then than they do now." Hargun took the hint Jamal definately wasnt fond of Lauren, and was laughing at the back of her mind.
"Not sure if I should be saying this, but her life DID suck before now. Shes one of the few here who are better off here than before. But unfortunately as I said, I had a good life. I really shouldnt be here." she sighed and put the book up.
"But, at least we're all crammed here together.. not stranded on seperate islands with no one but a Moreau clone to torture us all friggin day long." "Well, dat might be true dat her life be bad back home, but I ain't takin' s**t from anyone...I ain't carin' so much as to how peeps were gettin' along b'fo they ended up herr." He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to remain somewhat calm just to prevent himself from making more enemies right now.
"But yeah, at least we gots peeps ta deal wit' this togetha'. I ain't a fan of goin' batshit crazy all by maself."
The black man sighed, feeling somewhat downtrodden again all of a sudden. It seemed like things would never get any better here. Hargun nodded, understanding why he wasnt sounding any bit sympathetic.
"Yea. I cant imagine what it would be like without having the others around here. Whether or not we like some of them, we almost literally NEED them and theri support. Try to make the most friends we can, stick together like a family, and this will just seem like a silly nitemare." she coughed. "But still.. regardless of that, we wont be able to ignore us changing."
She figured it was comming time when she needed to head back to her duplex and just reflect.. getting her information she needed, and meeting someone quite interesting. "Fair enough," he admitted, though privately he refused to just get over Lauren and her outburst. He didn't like her, pointblank.
However, he was also thinking was probably best to head back to the duplex...maybe visit Awen on the way and let her know about some of the stuff he found out.
"Well, I figger I best be walkin' back home pretty soon. Been herr awhile...gotta stop by Awen's place b'fo it gets too late." Hargun frowned a bit at Awens name. It wasnt like she hated her, but ever since that argument shed been trying to get an apology to her.
"Okay. I should head back too." she said and started heading for the door first. But first she turned to him and furrowed her brows. "Hey, can you do me a favor? If you see her, tell her I said 'Im sorry.'" she said, and pushed the door open, heading on out.
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Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 8:07 pm
Meeting Chana Chana sighed as she finally saw the moonlight glinting off of the ocean. It had been a few days since she'd gotten her tour, and she'd already made one wrong turn trying to get back to the beach. Still, it was beautiful. She shut off her flashlight to better enjoy the scenery. And to look at the stars. To see how many constellations she could make out under the clear sky. The beach was already occupied, as it usually was this time of night. Jamal was standing at the edge of the water, shoeless, letting the gentle waves lap at his bare toes as he stared across the water at the horizon. His eyes were squinted, yet reflected a pained look to them as he peered out. The man had foolishly been staring out there for ages, looking for signs of life that might spell as a source of rescue for him and Awen. Lights...motion...anything that might give away a chance at freedom.
But yet realization of his plight was only confirmed as he saw nothing civilized out there on the dark waters except for the curl of whitecaps every once in awhile. He felt so foolish...wondering how long he had until life as he knew it would change. Jamal felt the Doctors were teasing him; Hargun had seemed to surprised to know he'd been on the island so long and hadn't yet changed. This should have been comforting.
"Bastards," he uttered under his breath, unaware of Chana's appearance on 'his' beach. Chana gasped involuntarily. Someone else was here! But...where? Her eyes hadn't fully adjusted to the darkness...was that a shadow over there? "H-hello?" she called out, feeling nervous. Maybe she was imagining it? Then she'd feel really foolish... Jamal turned sharply, his solitude interrupted by a nervous call that almost made him curse aloud. Dammit, he could never find a place where someone wasn't around.
"Yo," he said, his tone somewhat more gutteral than usual. Irritation was very blatant in his voice and his expression; he probably sounded pretty menacing without actually meaning to.
The fact that his dark skin coupled with the dark clothing he was wearing probably didn't help this image either. It was like he was almost trying to be evasive as he stood there in darkness at the water's edge. Chana almost blanched when she heard the voice. What kind of camp was this that they'd...no...nevermind. That would be prejudice. She knew a lot about prejudice, and would do her best to not judge. Calm down. Think calmly. Say something. "It's very beautiful out here," she said, still very nervous. Would he construe that as an insult? Or maybe he'd just tell her to ******** off or something like that, right? This whole camp was so weird. "Yeah, I guess," Jamal said blandly, arms crossing over his chest as he peered at the moving form not so far away now. It was a woman; he could tell by the voice and the way the shadows played off her form. "Nice ta come out herr now n' then."
He didn't recognize the voice and that made him semi-curious, but also edgy. What if it was another one of those cracked out Docs? "Now and then? You've been here a while too?" The words slipped out too fast for her to gather them back up, like the feathers in that story. The one in the kids prayer book for the High Holy Days about gossip. Gah, this wasn't the time. But this was the strangest place. Why bring people in at different times? What did that really accomplish? Eccentric philanthropist in charge, she reminded herself. "I been herr a month."
His face faltered as he spoke...god, had it been that long already? He shook his head as to rattle the thought from his mind, a hand drawing upward to rub at his chin. The black man sighed airily and forced his attention to the here and now.
"You be new then? I ain't 'membrin' yo voice b'fo," Jamal asked cautiously. He still wasn't sure if this was a Doctor or not and he remembered Hargun's warning of them coming at night. Surely this would be a good place for them to try and get at him with an injection...the beach was usually nice and private this time of night. A month!? But....that was...no, it wasn't her business. Best to stick with answering the question. "Yeah...I got here on Saturday. I...haven't really been out much. Too much to unpack and organize, you see." That was safe enough to admit. Don't talk...don't think about those nightmares that terrified her so much, she refused to leave her duplex. Jamal didn't seem to notice her surprise as he moved a little closer, finding that talking to shadows almost made him feel like he was losing his mind.
"Best ta get used to this place...spendin' time in yo duplex ain't gonna help in the long run," he remarked absently, his mind still wandering back to his original purpose of being on the beach. "You ain't been herr long, ain't surprisin'. They keep bringin' people in one atta time...what they drag yous herr fo'?"
He didn't know if she knew what was happening here really, and for what he figured, she probably wouldn't believe him in the first place. Honestly, Jamal wanted nothing to do with the explaination portion of the island. He'd leave that for people like Hargun or Ambrose, who do a find job of scaring the s**t out of people when they come around the corner. Chana tried to stifle a shiver as the man moved closer. She had to admit that he was right, though. An escape was just that; an escape. Then he changed the subject. "I'm here to be a counselor, of course!" she answered heatedly. Why did no one seem to believe her? Did she look that young? "You think I got this shirt for nothing?" she demanded, forgetting, for the moment, that her flashlight was off. The shirt itself was simple and grey, reading "5 Year Staff" and "Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute." Jamal stared blankly at the woman before looking at her shirt, then leaning in closer when the lettering was not obvious from where he stood. No doubt she'd probably take it completely wrong...not that he cared. Any chance to look at a woman's chest without being slapped outright worked for him.
"Coun'selo' fo' what?" he asked bluntly as he finally leaned back, hand again rubbing at his chin. The only time he'd heard the word counselor was when he was behind bars and ordered to take alcohol classes and talk to a shrink back when he was younger. This woman didn't look the part for that sort of job. A chill passed down his spine though; was this woman part of the staff here? Most of Chana's fear was shunted to the side in favor of outrage. What was going on here? Joliette had taken a moment to think about her job, and this guy was...he was definitely not a camper. "I'm here as a counselor for autistic people!" she replied, using a great deal of will to not add "of course" or "no duh" to the end of her statement. And...had he been staring at her chest? Men. Soooo exasperating. "...Awww-what?" He gave Chana a very suspicious look, a glimmer of dangerous light flickering in his eyes. This woman was using pretty scientific language and claimed to be a counselor...how could she not be one of Moreau's people? "Be you staff herr then? You knows what happenin'?"
Jamal didn't even try to keep the accusation from his voice as he practically growled the questions at her. If she knew what was going on here, he bet he could get some answers from her. He didn't care that she was a woman; if she was part of the Doctor's staff, he'd do whatever necessary if it meant that he could possibly buy himself freedom...even if it meant this woman was going down in the process. "Autistic," she repeated, with growing impatient. "You know, mentally retarded? And yes, I am being paid to be here, but no, I have no clue what's going on! I met the weirdest doctor when I got here, and I haven't even met the camp director!" Now Chana was simply pouring out all her frustrations on the poor man, and had stopped caring about this "ghetto black guy" except as semi-friendly ear. "I've recieved no instructions, not even a schedule, no cares if I stay in my beautiful duplex all day and night...this place is a mess!" Only then did Chana realize she might have said too much. She belatedly clapped a hand to her mouth. "Oh my G-d, I didn't mean to say all that. You must think I'm so irrespectful..." she apologized. Of course this man had no wish to hear her life story...she just hadn't spoken to anyone about anything serious for such a while...she'd completely lost all common sense for a few moments. Out of the first batch of words, all he got was 'retarded', which basically made him think of stupid people. Okay, fair enough. But who in the hell would want to deal with stupid people all day. He rolled his eyes at that as she continued to ramble.
As she continued, his evil gleam slowly disappeared, replaced now with a oddly void expression. So...she wasn't really staff. Dammit to hell.
"This callin' dis a camp now?" he asked with a disbelieving laugh. Wow, the Doc was turning out lies left and right. "You musta met Doc Moreau then, if you met some nutcase. I ain't met him yet...o' dis camp directa' you talkin' 'bout, unless dat be Aubrey." Prolly fo' da betta' he thought darkly as he stared at Chana, trying to decide if he should even bother trying to lay it all on the line. By her previous outbursts, he figured she'd be stubborn like he was. It probably was not worth the breath.
"Did da Doc give ya a shot o'sumthin'?"
Might as well ask. Surely she had to have gotten one...the Doctor didn't seem to let anyone pass through his grasp lately."Yes, a camp!" she stated angrily. "And yes, I think I was behind on some shot...TB or tetanus...but he had it and I'm good now." Whoo. Now that all that was out, she felt a lot better. More able to appreciate how beautiful the nighttime beach was. And the stars...the brightest she'd ever seen them. "Whateva'" Jamal said dismissively with an accompanying headshake. This girl obviously wasn't going to be an easy one to convince of anything. "I jus' call it hell. Ya'll see soon 'nough...takes some time ta get used to dis place."
It was then he was reminded he hadn't gotten a name from her. Probably should get it so maybe he could have Awen go introduce herself and perhaps let her do the dirty work of explaining the purpose of this island; the blue haired girl seemed to be the best at it as far as he knew.
"Da name's Jamal, in case ya wond'rin'. Ran inta anyone else yet?" "I don't believe in hell," she told him coolly. Jamal. Not some random guy. And where had her manners gone? "I'm Chana," she responded, emphasizing the "ch" like an old yenta from Eastern Europe. "I met a woman named Joliette...no one else though." "Ya will in time. I promise ya that." There was no humor in Jamal's voice as he spoke. He, of course, had no idea of her religious affiliation and if he did, he didn't care. This place was as close to hell as he felt he'd ever get.
At the mention of Joliette, he placed the name with the girl with the british accent and bubblewrap. He nodded in recognition of the name and mused privately to himself. So...she hadn't met any of the transformed islanders yet... "Ya'll prolly run inta the main crowd event'ally. Gettin' ta be so many of us herr that it's startin' to get hard to not run inta someone in a lil' time." Chana looked at Jamal sharply. He seemed to know more about something than he was telling her...ah well. It probably wouldn't make a difference in the long run. She shrugged as a response and changed the subject. "Did I interrupt you? I should probably head back now...it was nice meeting you though." And...she actually meant it. Strange as it sounded (to her). Jamal let his gaze drift back towards the water, mulling over the idea. Had she really interrupted anything other than his brief flight of fancy?
"Ya ain't interruptin' nuthin'," he said finally, a slight air of defeat to his voice now. "But dat be a'ight if ya need ta go...Chana." He attempted to say her name as she had said it, but he couldn't make the sound properly. Ah well. "Apparently I don't need to be anywhere," she spat. "But I think I needed to just rant. Thanks for listening." She didn't even wait to hear Jamal's response before heading back to the village. The black man simply raised a brow and shook his head slightly before addressing the night horizon again.
"Anytime now," he mumbled, kicking a pebble into the gently lulling tide. He was on pins and needles...waiting for his nitemare to begin.
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