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 Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 9:19 am
Wise Men Say, Only Fools Rush In ...
Part I The Dude Captain Morgan had a good morning. Last night, after the nice green eyed human with gentle hands gave him a full body massage, he felt energized enough to go a hunting. Ah ... nothing like a good back rub to make you feel like a kitten again. The outing was successful and he had surprised a green finch. Trotting proudly into the Village, the Captain headed for the Dude's apartment to show off and brag. In his mouth he carried the dead bird, it's head dangling pathetically as he strutted. Greer Greer patted herself, making a quick check that she had everything before she left for the beach. Bathing suit under clothes? Check. Small backpack with notebook, writing implements, sunscreen, water bottle, snacks, and bug equipment packed? Check. Bag of cubed ham? Check. Slipping her feet into her three dollar flip flops, she headed out the door. The Dude Captain Morgan stopped and looked up. Oh, another one of the humans on his list. Proudly, the old cat headed for Greer, the bird still dangling in his mouth. His eyes were sparkling and his tail pointed straight up to the sky, like a flag pole. He strutted up to Greer and sat down in front of her, his no longer twitching prey firmly in his mouth.
'Tell me I am the king of the jungle!' - the cat seemed to insist. Greer Glancing down, Greer caught sight of the Captain and smiled. "Hi there! Back from a grand hunt?"
Kneeling down, she scrittched the small tiger behind his ratty ears, doing her best to ignore the dead creature in his mouth. You never knew when a bird might be a relative of your's these days.
"Hungry?" She pulled out the bag of ham, holding it out for him to sniff. The Dude The Captain enjoyed being petted by people he respected. He curiously sniffed at the ziplock baggie, but seemed unwilling to let go of the bird. Meanwhile, nearby, there was a sound of a door opening then slamming shut and the rustling of someone skipping down the stairs. Greer Oblivious to noises, she opened the bag and laid out the offering. "It's ham Morgan! Honey cured to be specific. I'd say it was yummy, but it's not really my thing." The Dude Ooooooh ... it smelled ... heavenly! The Captain set down his prey and tentatively chewed on a cube of ham. Oh so good! Quickly, the cubes began to dissappear and the cat was emitting the same 'touch my food and die horribly' growling sounds as he was enjoying his snack.
A shadow loomed above the two and then the Dude's voice asked: "Wow Greer, you are taming the beast itself here." Curiously he crouched down next to them, poking at the dead bird: "What'd you catch, Captain?... you better eat it ...." Greer Startled by the Dude's sudden appearance, Greer fell back onto her a** with a suprised squeak. "Oh! Hi Dude. Well, I suppose that's one of the upsides to my needing to eat meat now - I understand your tiger's weaknesses."
Wiggling her toes so she had something to look at instead of her friends face when she asked him her question, she spoke timidly. "I was on my way to the beach to poke around in the tide pools. Would you like to accompany me?" The Dude "Yeah. Hear that, Captain. You the TIGER!" - he fluffed the fur and the cat's head and stood up, offering Greer a hand.
It was cute how shy she got all of a sudden. Considering Greer had never been kissed, she probably never had to ask anybody out, either. Must have taken a lot of nerve. He pulled the girl up from the ground and nodded: "Sure thing!" - he grinned. Greer Greer absolutely BEAMED. "Oh good!" She smiled, hand tingling where it touched the Dude's. Bending down, she grabbed up her bag. "Shall we?" The Dude He had never seen Greer beam before. That was a 1000W smile he just got, enough to put a beauty pageant chick to shame. What was happening with Greer? This was cute! Like ... like high school or something ...
"Yep." - the Dude nodded and stuck his hands into his pockets, walking for the beach. Captain Morgan stayed behind, too preoccupied with polishing off the ham to even look where the two were going. Greer She trotted along, happy to have succeeded so far. Now, what to talk about without making a total fool of herself?
"So... what's your favorite sea animal?" The Dude The Dude thought about that: "Good question. I do like sea lions, but dolphins are really cool, too. And rays. And sharks. Sharks are awesome! I've seen a black tip here recently ... but out of small things I like gobies. And feather dusters. And porcelain crabs."
He scratched his cheek: "But I don't think I can really pick a favorite, ya know? What about you?" Greer She grinned to herself, amused to see the Dude so animated. "Growing up in Seattle I've always loved crabs, since there's so many. Rock, green, and Japanese spider crabs which look like monsters from a fifties b-movie. And sea cucumbers, which have a special place in my heart for reasons I can't explain." The Dude "Oh man, you grew up in Seattle? I'm from Frisco ... errr ... that is I am from Montrey Bay, but most people don't know where that is. And the spider crabs are cool. Friggin huge ... " - the Dude could talk about critters of the sea for hours, if anyone cared to listen. "Taste good, too ..."
He paused then grinned again, considering: "Wow, small world ... I've been to Seattle once on a roadtrip, back in high school. We went to go see the killer whales and the club where Nirvana first played. Pike Place is neat, too." Greer "I love the Public Market!" Greer gushed, always ready to babble on about her hometown. "Mmm, the fresh fruit in fall..." Getting vaguely nostalgic, she mussed her hair and smiled.
"I remember when the Aquarium opened up it's jelly fish exhibt... I was there for hours." The Dude "Jelly fish are pretty cool, especially when there is glass behind you and them. Those bastards can really sting, though." - the Dude sounded like he knew all too well from experience. "And I liked the fish throwers up at the Public Market. And the steamed clams that they make there."
The blue infinity of the ocean opened up as they walked out from under the jungle canopy to the beach. The Dude smelled the air and grinned: "Well, the tide's not coming back in for at least another hour. What do you want with the tide pools? " - he turned to Greer. Greer Greer pulled out her field notebook, "Looking for arthropods, which are pretty much underwater bugs. I need to practice my field sketches." The Dude "You gonna draw them?" - the Dude asked curiously, peeking at the notebook. "Why?" So there WERE underwater bugs after all ... well, hot damn. And he though he knew everything about the ocean ... Greer She rolled her eyes. "I'm going to TRY. I'm hoping for a deep pool with peppermint shrimp." The Dude "Oh, peppermint shrimp! Errr ... those are not in the pools. They are by the reef." - he pointed at the waves breaking at the edges of the lagoon, about 100-200 feet away, at least. "But there'll be crabs ... and sea cucumbers" - he tried to make up for the lack of peppermint shrimp. "I can help." Greer "Oh. Oops." Greer grinned nervously, mentally berating herself for making such a stupid mistake. "You clearly know more about these pools than I do. Care to show me around?" The Dude The Dude didn't really have much interest in the pools because there was usually nothing big and cool in them, just sea urchins and a few stranded damsels. But he nodded and walked out into the wet sand of the lagoon, looking under his feet for a deep puddle ... err ... pool. Ah hell - they were all big puddles to him ... Greer Slipping off her shoes and leaving her bag behind, Greer trotted out after him. "It's amazing how much you know about the ocean. Have you ever formally studied it?" The Dude The Dude turned back at her and smiled, shaking his head: "Nah. I wanted to, but ... well, things came up." He stopped and crouched by a deep pull of water that remained, held back by blocks of dead coral skeletons. He motioned Greer over and pointed at the water.
"Look, tiger tail." - he explained, pointing at a ... thing, about 3 feet in length, that was trying to disappear under a rock, but was quite obviously not fitting.  Tiger Tail Cucumber, Holothuria hillaGreer Greer bent down to look, catching her glasses as they tried to slip off her nose. Since her vision no longer required them to function, she pulled them off and stowed them in a back pocket. "Oh wow! That's neat! I wish I had a camera now..." The Dude The Dude was crouching on his kneed next to Greer, then reached out to grab the unfortunate cucumber. He was not paying attention and when he turned around was surprised to find to amber eyes looking at him, as opposed to the usual black horn rimmed spectacles: "Wow." - he stopped, the unfortunate critters undulating in his left flipper. "You can see?"
Greer was ... pretty. Greer She nodded, blushing a little from the attention. "One of the perks to growing feathers - the bird of prey genes fixed my eyes."
Eyes flicking down to the cucumber, she reached a tentative hand to pet the velvetty squishiness. "That is utterly amazing... especially since my eyeball upgrade makes the texture of it's skin look so very neat." The Dude The Dude handed the unfortunate tiger tail over to Greer, still starring at her face.
"Err ... yeah, tiger tails are neat. They grow really huge, like 2 meters long. They eat sand. If you can see, why are you still wearing your glasses then?" - he explained and asked in the same breath. Greer She accepted the gooey, living tube gingerly, not wanting to hurt it. "Sand? Really? Doesn't sound very nutritious."
Entranced by the feel of the tiger tail in her hands, she shrugged. "Habit I guess. These aren't my original glasses, just facsimiles with regular glass in." The Dude "Well, if you squeeze him, sand'll come out." - the Dude explained, completely convinced that the tiger tail did indeed eat sand. He didn't know about plankton that hung out in the said sand. But back to the main point here: "But you look nice without glasses. And don't these things get in the way?" Greer "If I squeeze him, his guts might come out too." Greer had been rather traumatized at a young age by an unfortunate encounter with a sea cucumber as a child. "Besides, there are microscopic organisms that live in the sand, which are much more eatable."
Startled by the compliment, Greer looked up at her friend and blinked blankly at him. "I look nice?" The Dude The Dude smiled at Greer: "Yep." - he left it at that so as not to cause a panic attack in the geek girl and thus trigger a flight response.
"Now, gimme this cucke here. Aint' no guts coming out, I promise, he's just a tube." He grabbed the squirming echinoderm from her hands and squeezed gently on it. Wet sand came out of both ends and the cucumber started squirming more frantically. "See ..." - he pointed at the sand. Greer Greer frowned, puzzled. The idea that she could look nice was not computing, so she filed it away to be thought about later. Instead, she watched the show and winced in anticipation of impending ickiness.
"They throw up they're stomachs to thwart predators. I know, cause one did it all over me once. It was... not nice. And anyway, bivalves could also be said to 'eat sand', but really they filter the diatoms out of it." The Dude And right on cue, the stomach came out as well, spilling it's white tubes all over the Dude's hands, who looked quite surprised: "But ... wait. It worked before ..."
He looked defeated at the mess on his hands now.
"Why would he spill his guts if he wanted to get away?" Greer Greer closed her eyes, trying not to relive a child's terror. "Just... put it back in the water please. I think the idea is that the predator will eat the stomach while the cucumber makes it's escape. It regenerates later." The Dude Very embarrassed, the Dude put the poor tiger tail back into the pool: "Sorry about that" - he mumbled and stood up. Wah, it had worked before. He squirted water out of one once ... oh how unfair ...
"Erm ... let's go look at that pool" - he finally pointed, still feeling guilty for the cucke. The Dude didn't like hurting things, especially things that couldn't really defend themselves.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 9:21 am
Wise Men Say, Only Fools Rush In ...
Part II Greer Peeking, Greer was visibly relieved that the barfing creature was gone now. "Sounds like a plan. You know, someone really should study the ocean life around here sometime."
Standing, she stretched and took in the vast view of the sea before them. Utterly gorgeous. Hmmm... "Any chance you can show me where those peppermint shrimp are if we go swimming?" The Dude "Huh? Yeah, I agree. Somebody should. I saw things here that I have never seen before. Maybe it's a new critter or something, Like, one that hasn't been named yet!" - the Dude nodded, excited that the demise of the tiger tail as not being held against him.
"Oh and sure I can get you some shrimp ... can you swim okey?" - he asked, pulling off the bag with diving stuff he had brought along. (Because in fact that was why he had exited his duplex this fine morning. XD) Greer Greer scoffed, pulling off her shirt as she walked back to her bag to discard her clothes. "Swimming keeps one in shape for fencing, so yes, I can swim."
Slipping hurriedly out of her shorts so she didn't have to think about the Dude seeing her in her one-piece blue and green number, she left everything tucked into her bag and returned to the water's edge. "When I said 'someone' should study this place, I actually meant you Dude." The Dude The Dude had not expected Greer to take her glasses off, and he most certainly didn't expect her to start stripping like that. Yes, she did say 'Let's go swim', now that he thought about it. But he didn't know that she had a bathing suit underneath when she decided to take off her shirt all of a sudden! There was vivid imagery there for a sec. Oh, c'mon Dude, just a chick in a swim suit, Since when did that phase you? be cool, man ..
"Erm ... me?" - he finally replied, only half listening to what she was sayiing to him Greer She nodded, oblivious to his reaction. "You already know so much and love it, right? Makes perfect sense, especially with the sea lion-ness." The Dude "But ... I don't know ... well ... I never studied it" - the Dude looked at Greer sheepishly. "I'm just a fisherman." He was walking along side of her into the water, more concerned about what he thought of Greer right now then about his bright future as a marine biologist. What did he think of Greer? he gave the girl a furtive side glance ... she seemed almost unrecognizable now, with her glasses and clothes gone, her usually properly combed hair fussed up when she took of her shirt ... hmmmmmmmmm ... Greer The Dude could have gaped and wolf whistled at her if he'd wanted - the girl was oblivious. "Experience trumps booksmarts any day." She sighed, enjoying the first shiver of stepping into the water. "That's why I never got offered a position on a research team at school. They wanted people who didn't sit in their rooms all day studying textbooks. You're perfectly intellegent Dude, you've just done more with your life than I have." The Dude The Dude was trotting thru the water, listening to Greer talk. Him and research? "I don't even know where to begin, Greer" - he tried to laugh it off.
"Sure, I might see pretty critters every day ... but I don't know what their names are. There are thousands of things living on that reef ... and they are all different. I mean ... yeah ... I got no clue where to start." - they were standing about waist deep in the lagoon now. Greer Greer splashed a bit, smiling. The ocean had always meant a family holiday to her. "All research is is writing down what you see. Keep a notebook. Take or draw pictures. Write down names you know and look up the ones you don't. Context is everything, so write down where and when you saw them. Do that long enough and voila! Research!" The Dude "Err ... okey" - the Dude nodded half heartedly. "I .. I'll think about it." He looked at her splash and decided that they were now deep enough in the water that Greer couldn't easily flee. Taking the mask he was carrying and giving it to her, he quirked his eyebrow and grinned: "I got a question for you, too ..." Greer Greer took the mask, spitting in it to ward of fog and rinsing it with sea water. Holding it away from her and shaking it vigorously, as she didn't relish getting salt in her eye, she cocked an eyebrow at the Dude. "Hmm?" The Dude Now, the Dude was NOT the person to start gushing over something, but ... but Greer knew about spitting into the mask! SWOOOOOOOOOOOON. I mean ... I'm cool. She's cool. You know, whatever.
"What's with the winking back at the cafeteria, Greer?" - he smiled at her. Greer Greer's faced turned several shades of pink at that question, but she covered it up as best she could by hunching down and fiddling with the mask's strap. "Well, I... didn't want you to think... um, that... that I hadn't noticed yours or didn't like it... or something."
Damn it! And she'd been so coherent too! The Dude "And why would you care about that, Greer?" - he tried not to grin too much at this moment. This was great! Greer Pffft. As if SHE knew why. Please. Ask someone who had actually experience with this if you wanted a real answer. Finishing with the mask, she glanced shyly up at him. "Because I'm not very good at this sort of thing, and I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea."
She really, really hoped that hadn't come out wrong. The Dude The Dude smiled, then reached out and gently pulled out the stray bangs that Greer had tucked it under the mask in all the hurry: "Well, I can tell you that you made my day." - he nodded then turned towards the sea. "Let's go find us some peppermint shrimp." - he switched the topic, probably to Greer's great joy. Greer Since she didn't fall over dead, Greer was pretty sure her heart didn't physically skip a beat, but she certainly understood the phrase a lot better now. Eeee!
Shrimp! Yes, shrimp. Much safer things to think about, those shrimp. "Okay, lead the way!" The Dude The Dude swam off for the reef, in a bit of a euphoric state of mind. He was paddling circles around Greer in his flippers, like a silly goose ... err ... sea lion. The large school of yellow snappers dispersed grudgingly, letting the fool and his date thru. Yes, dammit, his date. YEEEEEEEEEHA! Thank god Greer had to dive up for air much more frequently then he did, because all these underwater backflips must have looked a bit odd to her.
The reef emerged from the misty blue like a glorious living wall, crawling with fish. Greer and the Dude were now in deep water, maybe 25 feet or so to the sandy bottom. The Dude motioned up and dove out of the water to converse. Greer Greer followed as best she could, a strong swimmer due to good muscles but nowhere near as skilled. She only swam laps and was distinctly flipperless. Still, everything was magical below the water, from fish to reef to the feel of the water over her feathers, and it made her fight to stay under as long as possible with each breath. By the time the Dude motioned her to the surface, she was a little lightheaded from the lack of oxygen. The Dude "Hey, so here is the deal" - the Dude turned his head towards Greer, moving the wet dreads out of his face and still grinning for no good reason: "The shrimpies live on corals and they make their living cleaning fish. So we gonna go look for a fish that is staying in one spot. Peppermints are not hard to find - they aren't particularly rare. But " - he pulled his flipper out of the water. "I might not be able to catch one. So it's up to you to get them in your jar if you want. And ... don't touch anything you don't know is safe. But ... that's common sense." Greer "Jar?" She frowned, trying to figure out why he thought she'd have one, smacking herself on the forehead when she remembered her utility belt. "Oh, no, I left my killing jar behind on the beach. It's for the not so nice side of entomology. I'll be a good girl and just look."
She grinned back at him, smiling and good times being infectious. The Dude "Okey, good girl. Let's go!" - he was abotu to dive again, but then remembered: "Oh yeah. I saw a black tip reef shark here a few days ago. If he comes by - don't panic. He's just checking things out. I mean - don't go hug him, but please don't flee, either. Just ... ya know ... act casual."
With that he dove down, because Greer's smile was pretty and he was a bit high on all this ... happy s**t .. right now. And he had to think about things. Greer Greer nodded, taking another minute to breathe before filling her lungs and diving down. Staying close to the surface since diving below ten feet made her ears hurt, she inspected the upper most parts of the reef, leaving the lower parts to the oceanic mammal. The fish wer all goregous, and if she trailed her fingers down a few of the... wrasses? came and nipped at them. She was careful to avoid contact with coral, having learned about fire coral once and nervous ever since. It was so amazing down here! No wonder the Dude loved it - almost as many beautiful and strange creatures as the island's collection of insects.
Now, where were those peppermint shrimp? The Dude The Dude seemed right at home here. He was pocking his nose into crevices, shooing off the curious damsels that were getting in his way and stirring things up. Suddenly, about 13 feet down below the surface he stopped and shot up to the surface for a breath of air, then dove right back again. On the vertical surface of a fan coral there was a gorgeous creature - about 3 inches in length, white and frilly like twisted lace, a red-lined sea goddess was crawling along. Minding her business. This was rare! this was way better then some peppermint shrimp. He swam up to Greer and pointed up.
At the surface, gasping for air the Dude explained: "I bet you never seen one of these. It's a sea goddess. Err ... a nakid sea slug. Come, she's gorgeous. Worth a ton!" Greer Greer followed him up, gulping down air. She needed to stop forgetting to breathe. Her feathers itched a little from the salt, and they would be a mess tomorrow, but who cared. "Sounds neat! Show me?" The Dude So they dove down to the black fan coral and the Dude pointed out to Greer the little beauty, which was still crawling fearlessly over the coral. She was ivory white with a second tier of frilly white flesh above her crawling foot. The delicate scallops were edged in red and yellow and two delicate horns and her gill structure were located above the frills.
The sea goddess was blissfully unaware she was being stared at by thing much larger then herself. After all, she was just a slug. Red-tipped Sea Goddess, Glossodoris sedna Greer Greer admired the little creature for as long as she could, making a dash for the surface at the last moment. Oog. She needed some air. Floating on her back, she focused on breathing for a bit. The Dude The Dude followed Greer up shortly after, surfacing and wiping his face with his flipper. He turned to see what Greer was up to and swum up to her. Mercifully, there was no wind today and the surface of the water was calm and flat like glass. Treading water next to floating Greer, he asked her, a bit worried: "You okey?" Greer Greer nodded, enjoying the oxygen. "I'm fine, I just need to remember I'm turning into a bird, not a seal. More breathing is in order."
Changing position so she was treading water too, she grinned. "That was lovely! Was it a sea slug? Don't they have a funny name?" And... she was a nerd again. Figured. The Dude "It was a sea goddess. I am not sure what the proper name would be. I just know that they are rare and people pay a lot of money so that a beauty like that can die slowly in their fish tank in New York." - he smiled at her.
"Hey, let's get out of the water. I'll find you some peppermints next time" - he suggested, not wanting her to faint form enthusiasm. Greer She nodded again. Oh, he was good with the plans. "I think they're called... nudibranchs? That's they're phylum? Something like that, anyway."
She repeated 'dork' to herself mentally the whole swim back to shore.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 9:28 am
Wise Men Say, Only Fools Rush In ...
Part III The Dude He let her swim in front this time, distinctly worried about the fainting possibility. And also a bit peeved that he didn't know the name for the pretty thing that he found. Maybe ... maybe he should look that up. But where? He'd ask Aubrey. She was a researcher, too. She'd know. Greer When the water was shallow enough to stand she did so, tugging off the mask and holding it out to the Dude. "Thanks for letting me borrow it - I suppose you don't need such things anymore?" The Dude He took the mask: "Well, I still use it, but you needed it more. I am no sea lion yet." - he smiled then looked up at her: "So waht are you gonna do now ... draw the sea goddess?"
He was kinda curious about this whole "research" thing, if only for the sake of not looking stupid. Greer She smiled, cupping handfuls of water to smooth her hair back from it's funny spikiness. "Nope, you are. I'll help, but I'm just an entomoligist. Ocean creatures are beyond my perview."
Pronouncement made she turned and headed up to the beach, making a beeline to her clothes and notebook. The Dude "Oh." - said the Dude. Well, that was hard ... he ... he didn't draw. Goddesses or otherwise. He trotted after her, catching up: "But I can't draw, Greer" - the Dude teased."Will you draw for me, please?" Greer She shooke her head, doing her best to hide her grin and sound chastising. "We scientist must do our own work, Mr. Carroll, and you'll never learn to draw if you don't practice." Reaching her clothes, she looked for a towel and cursed herself for frogetting it. There was always something! Sighing, she pulled on her shorts and plunked down on the sand, drying her hands on her shirt so she wouldn't get her notebook and pencil wet when she held them out to the Dude. The Dude The Dude sighed in mocking exasperation and sat down next to her, taking the pencil and notebook. "Yes, Professor Greer." He scratched his cheek with the pencil, thinking about what to draw. Then, the Dude got to work. The product was predictably horrid looking. It was a depiction of a badly drawn voluptions woman with a crown and an extremely frilly dress that kinda looked like the scallops of the sea goddess.
"It is an ... ahem ... free interpretation. But I think I got the crucial details right" - with that he pointed at the boobs of the "sea goddess" ... Yes he was in fact begging to be smacked with the notebook. Greer Greer took the notebook back, looked at the picture, looked at him, and sighed. She'd never learned that you were allowed to smack people for being cheeky. Shaking her head, she wrote out an adaptation of the information form she used to record insects, leaving space for the creature's scientific name, common name, habitat, eating habits, predators, and mating habits. "Here, fill this out as best you can." If he was going to tease her, he was going to have to live it down. The Dude The Dude took the book into his flipper and layed back down on the sand: "Common name ... ah I know that one ... Red-Tipped Sea Goddess. Eating habits ... hmm ... sand? Predators ... pretty girls with collection jars .... mating habits ..." - there was a dead silence. Then the Dude looked at Greer with a widest grin: "I'm supposed to watch them do the nasty? Wooooo, Greer. I didn't know research was this kinky. Do you have to fill that bit out for all the critters you collect?" Greer She refused to blush. Patently refused. She'd done it far too much because of him already. Crossing her arms over her chest, she gave him a cool look. "Flip through the pages if you want - I most certainly do. Reproduction is key to all species."
"And for the record - NOTHING eats sand as food." The Dude The stern look from wet Greer without her glasses was too much. The Dude melted and sat up again, siddling up closer to the entomologist. "Okey okey ... sea slugs don't eat sand." - the Dude nodded, trying to keep a straight face then sneakily put his arm around Greer's shoulder. "Now, what was that about reproduction ..." Greer Greer's brain stalled and fell out of gear. What the hell? Glancing between the hand on her shoulder and the very close, very damp, very friendly Dude who smelled good too... luckily, her science lobe took over from there.
"It's key to all speices, otherwise they die out and such, which can be a real blow to their existance." It was a stupid comment, but she didn't care. There was a nice, handsome guy far closer than any guy had ever been to her in her life and she was certainly not complaining. The Dude He was holding onto her gently but firmly. Which was taking quite a bit of concentration because part of the Dude wanted to give Greer a big bear hug and swing her around like a child, for she was CUTE. Instead, he put his chin on her shoulder and put the notebook on her lap: "Here, since it's so important, read me your favorites mating habits. Must absorb the wealth of knowledge like a sponge." - he grinned, the whiskers probably tickling her neck. Greer She blinked, doing her best to get a hold of herself and succeeding enough to get a mean thought. Charm her would he? Ha! Two could not play at that game, but entomology was a power that could be used for evil when needed. Pretending to flip the pages idily, she opened it up to a two page, illustrated spread on Stagomantis carolina.
"I know it's a cliche to like the mating habits of the Praying Mantis, but I can't help myself. It's so interesting! The way the male and female interact, the male leading the female on, her responding, him impregnanting her, her biting off his head, his headless body trying to flee..." She blinked innocently and smiled at the Dude, exuding geeky interest.
"Fascinating, isn't it?" The Dude The Dude chuckled: "I'm so glad you are not turning into one ..." - he exclaimed. "But it does suck for the mantis guy. Hey, at least he doesn't die a virgin. There is something to be said about that ..."
And of course his chin didn't move an inch off her shoulder, in fact, now that she was looking at him, their faces were in a very piquant proximity. Greer Greer blinked, not so innocently this time, and sucked in a breath. "Yes, one supposes. Everyone seems to think so. Still," this was said rather shakily as her hold on herself began to slip. "I'd prefer to avoid decapitation post coitus as a general rule." The Dude The Dude's chin stopped hovering on Greer's shoulder because he was dying from laughter in the sand nearby. Oh this was great. With tears in his eyes, he finally was able to squeeze out: "That ... that's good ... I can assure you, hon, you are not alone in that." Greer Half happy and half upset that she'd managed to dislodge him from her shoulder, Greer grinned and winked. "If you'd disagreed I think I would have had to run screaming."
Half of her was trying to figure out how to reel him back in while the other half thought the whole running and screaming thing sounded like an excellent way of handling her current situation. Apparently her simple, easily understood life was a thing of the past in more ways than one. The Dude He looked up at her, still laying on the sand, his dreads a messy halo around his face: "Even if I disagreed, I'd lie, because it would be a shame to send a pretty girl like you all running and screaming." - he retorted then made a grab for Greer's hand in the sand: "Ah, gotcha!" Greer Greer squealed like she'd been a fangirl all her life, and crashed unceremoniously on top of him. Her brain debated with itself whether she was enjoying this or not. The new bit that liked men and eating meat won out. A lazy smile spread across her face, chasing the startled fear away. "So you do. Dare I ask what horrible torture you're going to visit upon me while you have me in your clutches."
The other bit of Greer watched silent behind her eyes, jaw dropping. She could be warm and sarcastic? The Dude This was the third time today that the Dude was extremely surprised in a good way. And the third time, as everyone knows, was the charm. He put one of his arms around Greer's slight figure and smiled at her, brushing the tangled wet hair out of her face: "May I have the honor of your first kiss, grasshopper?" Greer At that moment her usual self won the battle of self control, which she was very glad about, since that made this flat out her decision, with no other influences to blame it on. Smiling nervously, she nodded. "Yes please."
She'd deal with the 'grasshopper' comment at a later date. The Dude And so they kissed. And it was cute and sweet and short, with the Dude still holding onto Greer like she was a fragile vase, and both of them laying on the white beach of the lagoon. And then they kissed again. And again. And this would have gone for quite a bit longer had the tide not decided to come back in at about that time. Smoooooooooooooch, Homo sapiens Greer Greer yelped, jumping up and scrambling after her now soggy notebook as the impish wave tried to steal it. Inspecting it's sorry state, she muttered a well-deserved "******** me." under her breath before frowning at her soppying sandyness. She'd gone over her sketches and notes with her good pen, which meant they wouldn't run, but it was the principle of the thing. A good entomologist did not allow the ocean to attack their notebook! Come to think of it, a good entomologist probably didn't run around kissing cheeky beach bums either, but what could you do? Turning back to the Dude, she sighed.
"Your precious ocean assaulted my notebook.." The Dude The Dude had helped pick up the precious research things that the Atlantic so sneakily was trying to appropriate, cursing "his ocean" for such an underhanded move. And it was getting so good, too. The Dude really couldn't believe his luck today. But hey, the karma had to be balanced out somehow here, and it just happened to have been Greer's notebook that suffered. He made sad eyes at the grasshopper and offered: "Sorry there. Me and the ocean - we'll have a talk about this tide business." Then he smiled - what a lovely girl has been hiding behind the glasses and the polo shirts and the kill jars. "I can help ... " - he swallowed "redraw the bugs, if you need me to ..." Okey, she was not THAT cute, but he had to offer some words of support. But nothing was cute enough to make him draw. Maybe he could bribe Hargun ... Greer She snorted, pretending outrage as best she could in the face of him attempting to make ammends. She focused on the notebook, since thinking about other recent events made her brain have a paper jam. "You'll do nothing of the sort. You think I want to go down in history as the one entomologist that had pictures of butterflies with d-cups?"
Unable to refuse the smile any longer, she grinned, "Besides, I'm a klutz, so I go over my sketches with some really spiffy, rather water resistant pens every night so I won't lose anything. The only thing that was lost was your masterpiece." The Dude "That's too bad. I still say that my sea goddess was pretty rad." - he put his arm around her shoulder, partially because he wanted to fill her warmth next to him, partially to reaffirm to her that they did, in fact, just kiss. Because this excessive fussing over a notebook was nothing but avoidance, and the Dude knew a lot about avoidance himself.
"Well, what do you say, Greer. Enough adventure for one day?" Greer Leaning into him, she tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Maybe. Enough adventure for one day without a hot, desanding shower certainly. After that though..." She gave him a speculative once over, and for the first time wasn't sure if it was the old bit or the new bit doing it. "who knows?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:50 am
It never ceased to amaze her how much sand one person could drag back home from the beach. She'd shaken everything could outside her door, but her shower was still coated in it just the same. Sheesh. As predicted, the salt water had dried her feathers horribly, to the point that Greer had spent an extra half hour shampooing and conditioning them last night. The only thing that had suprised her was the lack of reaction her hard, yellow leg skin had given. Apparently it wasn't just scaly - it was practically armored! Who couldn't like natural shin guards? Rummaging through her travel cases after breakfast with Mei mei chirping merrily on her desk, Greer found what she was looking for. She pulled out a bright yellow spiral bound notebook that looked suspiciously like a newer, cleaner version of the one that had gone swimming yesterday. It was a pity to give it up, since she was more than halfway through her current one and with so many insects on the island she never really knew when she'd run out of space, but someone else needed it more. Repacking and stowing the case, she returned to her desk and gave her cricket a quick one-fingered pet before sitting down to work. This was going to take some effort. The cover was a challenge for another day, one she might need to enlist Hargun the actual artist's help on. For now, she set to work on the pages. Leaving the first page blank except for the owner's name, she counted out four pages after it and made them the index, covering them in the following page numbers and leaving space for the contents of those pages to be written in later. Next came actually nubering the rest of the pages in the book, and then copying her modified research form on to the first ten numbered pages, leaving the rest of them for the new owner to do. Now came the tricky part. Flipping to the first research subject page, she pulled out her current notebook and opened it to the last used page, looking over it's washed out, crinkled surface with a critical eye. Reproducing it's contents in the new notebook would be tricky but worth it. Somethings couldn't be left unteased. She worked carefully in pencil, planning to trace it over with her 'sealing pen' later. It was hard work reproducing an image she could only half see and would never have drawn in a million years, but she was a stubborn creature used to spending hours at a time working, and so fell in to it easily. Losing track of time, she didn't sit up again until interrupted by a sudden knock at the door...
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 11:07 am
The Dude The Dude ran up the stairs of Duplex #4 and knocked on the door. He looked the same old self, no attempt to clean up, brush hair or put on clothes has been made. In fact, his hair was still quite wet from diving and consequentially dripping on the floor and his back. And instead of flowers he brought a pickle jar with things swimming in it. Small, reddish colored things.
"Hi Greer!" Greer Greer startled at the knock, having been working intently on something involving notebooks and drawing. Hastily, she stored her work in the main drawer of her desk and pulled on her red hoodie from the back of her chair. Hearing the greeting and recognizing the voice she frowned at her apparel - she'd pulled her pajamas back on after her shower since the rest of her clothes were in the wash - well, there wasn't much choice in wearing them, was there? They were perfectly decent, anyway, even if they were pale yellow with a green cricket pattern. Her mother had given them to her ages ago. Her glasses still on her desk where she'd put them last night after rescuing them from her shorts pocket, Greer went and answered the door. "Morning!" The Dude The Dude had a wide grin on his face when Greer appeared. He promptly put his arm around her shoulder and invited himself in. "Did you just wake up? Nice PJs!" - he presented the pickle jar: "Look at me, I've been up since 9. Finally got these buggers into a jar. "
Three somewhat mangled looking peppermint shrimp were swimming back and forth behind the glass. Greer "Lysmata wurdemanni!" she smiled, accepting the jar. "They look lovely, but I don't have a tank set up to take care of them..." she eyed her terrarriums speculatively. The largerest one was actually an old aquarium, and with some resident rearranging could probably be made to serve...
Glancing at her clothing, she smiled shyly and shook her head. "I got up at 8 but had to put these back on due to lack of clothing. Laundry day." The Dude "Oh, you don't need to keep them, I though you just wanted to draw the little buggers. We can let them go afterwards. They got fish to clean."
"You know" - he pulled her closer to him in a hug: "You are the only girl I know that gets more excited about peppermint shrimp then flowers. And PJs are good by me."
Greer Greer rolled here eyes. "Well that's easy - I'm terrible at drawing flowers. One of the reasons I'm not really a fan of bees. Robber flies are neat though!"
DORK. Anyway. Putting the jar down on her desk she twisted around and gingerly hugged him back. "Thank you very much." The Dude The Dude brushed strands of black hair out of her face. Not because the hair was messy. He just liked doing that: "Well, I must confess I brought the shrimp over with ulterior motives ..." - he started. Greer "Oh?" she she smiled up at him. The Dude "Aha." - he nodded and moved in for the kill ... err ... kiss. Greer It really was amazing the things a girl didn't learn until she was tricked into going to a private island to be experimented on by an animal-crazed mad scientist. Honestly, you'd think this stuff would be taught in school!
Greer kissed him back as best she knew how. The Dude There was a make out break that we will not go into for the sake of our younger readers. Funny thing how two perfectly adult humans can act like total teenagers when no one's looking. Well, at least they though no one's looking. Back at the Feral Labs a group of technicians had crowded around one of the monitors, hollering and hooting, until Moreau floated by and glared and everyone went back to work again. Greer Worried that things they HAD talked about in school might try to happen, Greer broke the kiss and tried to think of something to say. What else had they done yesterday? Hmm... oh yes!
"You really should study the reef animals out there. You'd be great at it."
Queen of romance, our Greer. The Dude "Ah ... what?" - the Dude blinked at her, a bit dazed. "Whatever you want, baby ..." - he attempted to go back to what they were just doing. Greer "Dude, I'm serious." she poked him in the ribs, the most violent thing she felt capable of doing to another living creature. "You would." The Dude "Ack" - he twitched: "No, I'm ticklish!" - he caught her hand at the wrist and pressed it against his cheek "I try my best. But no drawing. Can't' I just take pictures of the critters? Like, with a camera?" Greer Filing that little quirk away for further use, she nodded. "Sure! They make you learn how to sketch them for field entomology, but that could have been a quirk on the part of my professors. I think they had something against processing film. Do you think Aubrey would get you one?" The Dude "I think so. Moreau's got money to spare and he did say that he's gonna take care of us for the rest of our natural lives. Hey, I think you can set up a full blown research station for insects here, if you wanted. Be the queen bee ... err ... bird." Greer Greer shrugged and attempted to reclaim her captured hand. "Before coming here I would have said yes to that on the spot, but now I'm not so sure. The more I make friends and play around outside, I find that giving my life to science might not be my cup of tea. I'm perfectly happy terrorizing the island's insect population with net. Besides." she poked the Dude in the tummy with her free hand. "If I did that I would have any of time to go swimming with you." The Dude "That is very true" - he squirmed a bit and caught Greer's other freed hand by the wrist. "I got you pinned now, like a butterfly." - he pressed Greer against a wall. "Wanna go swim?" Greer Greer's eyes got big and she swallowed nervously. She trusted him, but was not a fan of captivity. "I'll go to the beach, but I should probably stay out of the water. It's bad for my feathers." The Dude The Dude saw the wide eyes and let go immediately. Oh, he didn't mean to have scared her! Instead, he brushed the black her out of her face again and kissed her on the forehead: "I'm sorry, grasshopper. I was just joking. I'd never do anything to you that you were against. Don't worry." - he kind pulled her up to him and petted her hair: "I promise you. Honest injun." Greer She chuckled, having a sneaking suspecion that he was going to call her grasshopper till the day she died now. Ah well, there were worse nicknames. "I know, I'm just new at this whole interpersonal contact thing." The Dude "Interpersonal contact! I like that" - he laughed: "Don't worry, it's not that hard. You know the song? "Birds do it, bees do it, even educated flees do it ..." - he mussed up her hair again. What was it with Dude and hair?! maybe he was just a kid at heart and liked playing with things ... Greer She shooke her head. "Goof. It's a good thing I make no effort to style my hair, because you'd make it a moot point." The Dude "Yeah" - he nodded: "You should do it like I do it - just let it do what it wants. I got kickass dreads out of sheer laziness." - the Dude shook his matted hair with his flipper. Greer Greer snorted. "Whatever you say..."
Getting an idea, Greer smiled impishly. "If you let go of me, I'll give you a present." The Dude The Dude hugged her even tighter: "Oh, you drive a hard bargain here, grasshopper. What kind of present? A pet roach?" Greer "Of course not!" she looked horrified. "I would never hurt an innocent bug!" The Dude The Dude let her go, not without kissing her first: "What do you mean hurt? You think I can't take care of a roach?" - he joked. Greer She shook her head, going to her desk and taking something out of the main drawer, which she then hid behind her back when she turned back to face him. "Not if that's your idea of a hairdo." The Dude "Hey hey hey" - he feigned being insulted: "It's professionally styled by ocean and the sun. Many folks pay good money for dreads like this. I'm a white rastaman. Not even that white anymore." Curious about what she was hiding he walked up to her and tried to look, but failed. Greer Not entirely sure what a 'rastaman', she shook her finger in his face disaprovingly. "Ah ah ah, no peeking! You have to close your eyes and hold out your hands." The Dude "Oh God. I am very afraid now." - he smiled then sat down on the corner of her bed and did as she told him - closed his eyes and stretched out his hands. Whatever it was that Greer decided to give him, he deserved every bit of hell she could dish out.
Greer It was a pity she didn't have any slugs on hand, because his reaction would have been priceless. Instead, she put the notebook she'd prepared for him in his hands, along with a mechanical pencil and a permanant ink pen rubber banded to the spiral binding.
She hoped he liked it. The Dude The Dude opened his eyes and looked at the present. It was a notebook, just like Greer had. The girl sure knew how to get her way - the Dude WAS going to describe the reef fish, whether he wanted to or not. Thing is - he kinda wanted it. Voluptious sea goddesses aside, it was something that he wanted to do back in high school, before Maria and all other things came his way. He pulled of the rubber band and looked inside at the empty pages to be filled. They had been numbered and lined - a 100 empty pages. Quite a job to do, but werent' they gonna be here a life time? He'd find a 100 critters on this reef for sure! The Dude looked up at Greer and smiled at her: "Thank you! You gonna make a naturalist out of me yet." Greer Sitting down beside him, she grinned. "That's the plan. Besides, if I convert enough people, I get a free toaster." The Dude "We both came here with presents and ulterior motives" - he looked at the carefully written index pages then opened it on the "sea goddess" reproduction: "WOW." - he looked back at Greer, impressed. "Now this is a true masterpiece Greer! How'd you DO that?" Greer Greer chuckled, leaning against him. "Very, VERY carefully, although I don't think it lives up to the genius of the original." The Dude "You are amazing" - the Dude uttered - "in this really bizarre way."
He put his arm around her, still admiring the carefully copied drawing, glad to have her next to him.
"So how do I make it water resistant?" Greer Picking up the pen that had be bound to the notebook, she drew a line, let it dry, and then ran her hand through the Dude's damp hair before running a wet finger over the inked line. It didn't ever smear.
"This pen is pretty water resistant, and if you feel the paper you'll notice that it feels odd - it's got some plastic mixed up in it, so it's pretty durable. Of course, if you wanted, you could laminate every page once you finished writting on it." The Dude "Wow. Neat." - he touched the paper. "Technology these days ... and laminate? Nah. But I'll be sure to preserve your masterpiece here." He gave her a side long glance: "You look cute in PJs, did anyone tell you that? Especially because they have grasshoppers all over them."
Greer She smiled shyly, shaking her head. "Since no one but my mother, father, and those firemen when I was six have seen me in them before today, no. And it's my mum's fault about the grasshoppers. She believes in giving gifts with themes." The Dude "I see. Is all your stuff insect themed, then? Like, underwear, too?" - he grinned. Greer She shook her head. "I buy my underwear, and I couldn't find anything other than butterflies. It's all days of the week." The Dude "Really? Can I see?" - followed the predictably cheeky retort. Greer Greer frowned and slapped his shoulder lightly. "Show you my underwear on the second date? What kind of a girl do you think I am?" The Dude "A very cute one!" - he squeezed her happily. "Thanks for the notebook!" Greer She giggled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I'm very glad you like it. Now, are you going to use it or do I have to assign you homework?" The Dude "I will go to the beach right now and start filling it out. I promise. Except that I need to ask Aubrey about the camera and I need some books, too. You know, the kind for identification?" - he was being oh so good now. Greer Greer nodded. "I recommend the Audobon field guide series. They're indestructible and have GREAT pictures." The Dude "Okey."- he nodded. "Hey, I think if you don't start drawing the peppermint shrimp soon, they are might ... ya know ... stop swimming around happily." then he added, jocking: "I'll watch you and take tips."
Greer Greer glanced at the jar o' shrimp worriedly. "I don't want to kill them! I could draw them some other time. Will they be okay?"
She'd always had a soft spot in her heart for crustaceans, mainly due to them being so closely related to insects. The Dude "Well, what'll kill them is suffocation, but it's a big jar an they'll be okey for a while. I just want to see you draw them. Then I'll go release them by the reef. Because if I just leave them here and you let them go in the lagoon, then they'll get eaten by something before they get home." - he nudged her towards the desk. Greer "Okay, as long as they'll be all right." God forbid she injure an invertebrate.
Walking over to the desk she pulled out another pencil and held out her hand. "Give me your notebook." The Dude He picked up the book and gave it to Greer as instructed, then pulled up a chair to sit down next to her, propping up his chin on his left hand. Greer Flipping it open to the next blank page, she eyed the shrimp for a moment, getting a general idea of size and body shape. Still watching them, she began to sketch. Starting with intersecting ovals for the body, head, and tail, she quickly fleshed them out into more exact shapes before adding details like legs, eyes, and antennae, which required her to actually look at her drawing. When the outline was there, the shrimp got markings, gills, mandibles, and other small details. It wasn't the most artistic thing on the planet, but the shrimp had enough characteristics shared with insects that it made a decent technical drawing. The Dude The Dude was watching Greer draw, uncharacteristically quiet. Probably thinking about something. Greer seemed to really know what she was doing and little by little the peppermint shrimp appeared on the page.
"Wow, you are good." - he said once she was done. Greer "Due only to four years of technical and life drawing classes that I had to take to graduate. Mine was the last year they required them, but it did get my foreign language rec waived."
Embarrased by the praise, she kissed him quickly. "Thank you." The Dude "No problem, grasshopper." - he smiled and collected the jar, the pens and his new notebook: "Well, I'm gonna go set the little prisoners free, then. And trace stuff over." He didn't stand up though, but kind put his head on her shoulder. It was hard to leave something that was cute, warm and sweet. Greer
Greer was going to say something, possibly do something, but her stomach interrupted her with a very loud growl. Stupid high metabolism! "Okay. I think I'm going to go get food before my tummy starts eating itself."The Dude "Okey!" - the Dude stood up, too and headed for the door. "See ya!" - he waved his free flipper in the air and smiled at her, closing the door after him. The little peppermint shrimp swam around frantically in the pickle jar as he hopped down the stairs.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 4:31 pm
 Colche On her own, gods she was on her own. If she knew the meaning of the word she would probably have shouted it, or even have called for help, she was on her own, it wasn't that far to the Cafeteria and her belly rumbled, if the phrase had been known to her, she could have eaten a horse. She had left her dorm all on her own, standing on the step for longe than was really necessary, she had closed the door, checked the plaque, looked around for somone to lead the way, stood nibbling her bottom lip for a little bit, the taste of blood that slipped from that ever chewed skin causing her stomach to howl out all the more. She took a deep breath and finally stepped off the porch heading for the cafeteria, her eyes datrting from left to right, searching for a hand to hold, a sleeve to cling to, oh please, please "Cafateria!" she shouted mid stride seing the familiar building before her she broke in to a run. She had never run in her entire life but she felt the urge to pick up her feet now. She skidded to a stop looking overly proud of herself, her big blue eyes searching round for somone to give her praise for making it here all on her own. On not finding a soul she pouted a bit. The pout soon faded though, she was starving! Or it felt like it any way. Slinking up to the counter she helped herself to a nice steak, some cooked meats and avery, very large chunk of chocolate cake, she had found a profuse liking for the stuff of late and still hadn't worked out that perhaps these things weren't supposed to be eatewn at the same time. Pilferinga bottle of OJ she went and sat at a picknic table digging in to her mixed meal, eating it all at the same time, though the chocolate cake went first before she sore at the steak with her teeth and fingers, shewing before swallowing every chunk. She had never learned how yto use a knife and fork so it there for passed her notice that she was eating like a dog, she just wnated the food as swiftly as possible before somone could take it away and before her belly rumbled angrily again. Greer Cassenwari Greer's face hurt from smiling, but who cared? Life was good. The next time someone asked her how she was faring here, she was going to be forced answer that she loved this island, feathers and all. Ah, she was a weird one. Trotting into the cafeteria she collected a plate, piled it high with meat, got a small plate of carrots for her non-bird taste buds, and finished it off with a tall glass of water. Feeling cheery and personable, she walked over and sat down across from the other person there, a girl she didn't recognize. "Hello! Mind if I join you?" Colche Colche's gaze hardly left the food that was on her plate but when som,one greeted her she lifted her head and smiled lightly, the long tear lines that noe inhabited her face made ehr look rather sad and to look in to those huge blue eyes the smile nevertouched them. 'mind if i join you', what did that mean? She simply looked at Greer searching for something to say, she wasn't very good at this greeting thing, she didn't know the word hello, nor hi or even greetings from your friendly neighbourhood cheetah lady, not that she klnew she was changing, she had hardly noticed her changes and the fur on her elbows she considerd natural after all, everyone else was fuzzy around here. She searched for a word to descrbe greer, feathers wasn't in her vocabulary, the only phrase that came to mind was one complimenting the fodder before her "food nice" she smiled again, though that smile never reached her cool blue eyes. If greer looked closely at her bare arms and neck line old scars could be seen small white lines between the newly formed spots on her skin. Greer Cassenwari Taking that as an okay, Greer sat and nodded. "It certainly is! You a carnivore too?" She pointed to the two plates, indicating the similar fare, and chowed down. She'd grown an appetite along with her feathers. Colche "Car..Ni..Vore" she spelt out the long word like a child and smiled at Greer her cool blue eyes watching the woman, she smiled again, her lips only curving slightly as she watched greer. She felt compelled to ask then, she was obviously a woman, which was a good thing but she wasn't fuzzy. she pointed at the feathers and made a uhn noise looking at greer questioningly, hhoping she would understand. Colche was far from stupid she was simply missinformed about alot of things. Greer Cassenwari The girl was clearly on the low side of verbal, so Greer focused on her face and body try and understand more. Watching her, she glanced at her own feathers and smiled. "I'm turning in to some type of bird." She flapped her arms and cawed like one of the island's parrots. Colche "Bur..Duh" she smiled again "nice" she nodded an affirmative, ehr plate was now empty and her belly was full though her cloathes and face were just a lil splatterd in chocolate, she really loved that chocolate cake. She again watched the girl wondering what ehr name was and it took all of her will power to pull together the words she knew were a greeting "Name Colche" she looked to greer hopefully, even searching for praise fromt he girl even though she didn't know her at all. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose was feeling a little bit better the next morning as he got up. The talk with the Dude the afternoon before had been smooth, and he was actually kind of looking forward to the prospect of perhaps getting together with some of the other Islanders to try the whole drinking and socializing thing again.... but - he woudln't get smashed like last time. Hell, he hadn't really gotten smashed last time until he had gone back to the beach and made the mistake of drinking while bitter. Regardless - Ambrose was feeling a bit starved for attention (and food) and decided to head back to the cafeteria. Last time he had gone there had been a surprising amount of people there. As he entered the big double-doors he saw two figures seated at a table - both of which were familiar faces - thank goodness at least - Ambrose didn't want even more people being brought here unnecessarily. He gave a smile and a wave to Greer and Colche... realizing a few moments later that Colche looked distinctly different from when he had last seen her... there were birthmark-like spots all over her body, bigger ears.... she had been given the next injection... although she didnt' seem phased by it as she dug into her food with just as much enthusiasm. Retreiving a few big slabs of steak from the lunchline, Ambrose returned to the table, sitting down with a smile. "Good morning, Greer... Colche! Mind if I join you?" Greer Cassenwari Greer pointed to herself. "Greer." Looking over at Ambrose, she broke into a huge smile and gave a quick hug. "Ambrose! I haven't seen you in ages! How are you?" Colche Colche smiled brightly at the arrival of ambrose and a tiny puurr escaped her, she looked confused for a moment, that was a new sound to her. She gave a tiny giggle and looked at greer "Gruh..eeurr" she spelt out the other womans name and wriggled happily. Watching them as they hugged she held ehr arms out to ambrose her blue eyes looking hopeful for one of those too, she liked hugs, even if she didn't know what they were called. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose beamed a smile back at Greer and returned the hug, squeezing her genially. Wow, it had been too long since he had hugged someone - while he would never say as much, the feeling of another person against him.... he forced the thought from his mind and words to his voice. "Greer! I know - it's been a while! You look like you're doing well!" His smile turned to Colche with a small mark of surprise. Given her past he had actually assumed that too much physical contact wouldn't be something she would like - but, well, as long as she was receptive to hugs he certainly didnt' mind dispensing them. He gave her a quick hug and pat on her back as well. "Good morning, Colche" He spoke a bit slower, smiling. "Are you doing... nice today?" He asked it a bit hesitantly, eying her spots. Greer Cassenwari "Oh yes, meeting all sorts of new people, spending time with friends..." her voice trailed off and she grinned to herself. Ahem! Get yourself under control young lady! "Eating lots of meat, you know." She smiled at Cloche's demand for a hug. Cute kid! Colche Colche smiled, she usually wouldn't have asked for a hug, but seeing ambrose hug somone else made ehr a little jalous. She had so few friends on this island she didn't wnat to be left out by them. Aubrey always hugged ehr after all and she liked that alot Aubrey was like her mum. She smiled lightly a tiny giggle and another of those uncharacteristic puurs leaving her. She seemed surprised but nodded at the nice comment "Aubrey shot, fuzzy" she beams then showing off her furry elbows proudly as if it were soemthing to be very proud of, after all everyone else was fuzzy so this was just a normal thing, Or so she told herself, she wasn't phased by the fuzz or the birthmarks and even the nubbin of a tail that had appeard had made her simply shrug, she was perfectly happy here andwas even confident enough to come to the cafeteria all on ehr own, it was something to be proud of and she knew it now if only she could cross the language barriers and learn what everyone was talking about. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose grinned to Greer. "Much the same in my department" He replied. "Especially the meat part" He admitted, gesturing to his plate. Ambrose blinked at Colche after they parted. He looked at the tufts of fur at her elbows and ran a finger along it lightly. Well, if she was handling it this well, there was absolutely no reason to make her feel uncomfortable. At least someone was viewing this in a completely positive manner and he hoped that she would continue to do so. "Yes, I see that." He kept the smile on his face. "Colche fuzzy." He took his seat, and began slicing up the steak into bite-sized pieces. "So what have you been up to these past couple of days, Greer? I haven't spotted you around. " He took a bite and gestured to Colche. "I met Colche the other day... and there are several other new people here who.. unfortunately, probalby won't be taking to the Island life here quite as readily as she. But... at least no one seems to be quite as displaced as you and I and some of the other firsts..." He grinned at Greer after taking a couple of bites to appease his stomach. "So when are you and I going to go for another bout with the epees?" Greer Cassenwari She smiled at Cloche, look her alterations over. "Cloche's a pretty fuzzy." she said approvingly. It all looked quite nice on her. Turning back to Ambrose, she shrugged. "Bug hunting as usual, watching a fellow named Timothy turn into a skunk, spending time at the beach, all sorts of things. And I patently refuse to fence epee with you again until I've gotten a chance to best you in sabre." Colche Colche watched the two quietly a little smile lifted on ehr face "Pri--tee" she mimicked looking thoughtful she smiled at Greer "Greer Pretty" she looked at the both looking for approval that she had done right. There were lost of words there after that basically went over her head but she enjoyed listening to the talk, her blue eyes dark but full of facination for the things happening around her. Ambrose Maurlias Amrbose leaned back looking mock-hesitant. "Well...... I supppose that that's only fair, Greer." Ambrose leaned forward with a smirk. "But what if you don't beat me at sabre?" He winked, taking another big bite of steak. "But anyway, I'm sure that they'll put in an order for us if we ask!" Ambrose looked around at the corners of the room, wondering if someone might be listening. Ambrose beamed an approving smile at Colche. "Ah, yes, Greer is very pretty" his eyes darted to Greer with a small blush. "You are absolutely right, Colche." Ambrose quickly cleared his throat. "But, ah, well. The Dude and I were talking yesterday - about perhaps doing another get-together at the Beach Bar sometime soon...." Greer Cassenwari Greer harumphed and finished off her steak, eyeing the carrots longingly. She'd never get them down. "If I don't beat you at sabre it'll be becasue my right arm falls at an inoppertune moment." At the pretty comment, she smiled and fussed with her hair. "I have no idea where people are getting that from. Anyway, "She picked up a carrot and gave it an experimental nibble. "If there's going to be another Beach Bar party, count me in! It was way too fun last time." Colche Colche looked confusedly betweent he two "beach?" she questioned ehr big blue eyes looking hopeful, she liked the beach it was a fun place to go and build sand castles and paddle in the cold foamy water "Play sandcastle?" she smiled lightly she wanetd to see the bach again but perhaps they weren't talking to her after all. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose scratched the back of his neck, picturing the awkwardness of the combination of Colche and alcohol. "Maybe soon, Colche" He smiled to her. "And Greer - I think they're 'getting' it because it's the truth." He punctuated that as he poked his fork into a bit of steak. "And wonderful.... we don't know where or when yet." Greer Cassenwari Forcing the entire carrot slowly into her protesting stomach via small bites, Greer grinned. "I'll make sandcastles with you later, okay? I bet you're very good." Blushing a little at Ambrose's comment she rolled her eyes. "If you say so. Ooo! Guess what?" she pulled a jar from her bag which had a beautiful blue butterfly fluttering inside. "I caught a blue morpho!" Colche Colche smiled, "sandcastles later" she didn't really know the meaning of later it meant basically now to her but she waited any way looking to the jar that Greer produced. She tilted her head a little looking up to greer questioningly her big doe eyes looking for what the creature in the jar was "pretty" she states, it was her new word of the day that was for sure she wanted to use it as much as possible to make sure she knew how to use it. She pokes the jar and bites her tongue, how did something so pretty get inside the glass thing? She was pretty sure she would find out one day. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose leaned forward as well to peer at the fluttering butterfly. "Wow, that's fantastic, Greer! You even caught it alive!" He looks up to her with a boyish smile. "Are you going to add this to your ... er... collection of pets or just... well... your collection?" Ambrose looked over to Colche, finding the mental image of a cat watching a fluttering thing that was out of reach all too fitting. "Very pretty" He agreed with her with an encouraging nod. He took a few more bites, polishing off the plate of steaks. Greer Cassenwari "I'm going to let it go, actually. I already have a very nice example in my collection, and they're pretty rare as it is. I'd love to keep it as a pet, but that would require an indoor enclosure larger than my duplex." That gave her an idea, though. With a large wooden skeleton and a lot of netting, she could build a butterfly house, the island's weather not requiring a full climate controlled building. Hmm... that would be neat... Smiling at Cloche, she unscrewed the lid of the jar, making sure to keep a hand over the top to keep the insect in. "I catch and collect them, see?" She replaced the top and pushed the jar over so the girl could get a better look. Colche "Coa..Lect" she mimicks looking at the beautiful little insect her huge deep blue eyes filled with an awestruck air "pretty" she puurrs again, a little tiny whisper of a puurr that emited from her chest, she seemed once again rather surprised at this and she looked up to greer with a little smile and a curious eye wondering if it was normal to make such anoise, she checked with Ambrose as well before her gaze was attracted once again by the fluttering butterfly in the jar. Ambrose Maurlias "Oh really?" Ambrose looked back into the jar. "That's too bad..." He thought back to the butterfly garden that he had visited once - and how tame many of them had become - warning some visitors against wearing certain colors or else they'd be mobbed by the colorful insections. "That would be really neat to see." Ambrose mused. Ambrose's nub began to wiggle with he pleasant company, good food, and intereseting conversation. He glanced over to Colche's smiling at her purr. "Interesting.... apparently your voice has changed at this point as well... well... expanded at least." He smiled. "THat's a rather cute purr." Greer Cassenwari "It would be!" Greer's mind took over, plotting how materials, labor and upkeep might all be located. "I wonder if the Doctor would let me build one..." It wasn't as if she didn't have the time. She chuckled at her companions, amused by their animalistic antics. "Just wait until she learns how to caterwaul." Colche "Cuh..yoot?" she looked at ambrose for a meaning of the word ehr big blue eyes almost smiling, at least a tiny light glimmerd there. She was ceratinly starting to like having company around her and these people wereso nice to her and the insect in the jar was so pretty. She puurred again smiling this time, her chest rumbled when she did it and it made her feel quite giddy that they weren't upset that she made the strange noise. She wriggled alittle, excited that she had found such nice people and Ambrose was a man! Men were supposed to be nasty and scary but he wasn't at all. She smiled at him now and decided to use ehr new favourite word "Ambrose pretty" she states simply her eyes once again fixing ont he bug wondering what else it might do, maybe it was like a bird and would make a really big noise when it flew. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose's smile widened, his tail wagging more feverently. "That would be wonderful! I don't see why they wouldn't let us. From what I can tell as long as we're not killing eachother - or them, or trying to escape he could care less what we're doing. It would be something... productive that I could be doing, anyway. I've been horrendulously bored. I feel like I need to be doing something..." He gave a smug smile. "Just make sure you keep out any insectivores" He winked. Ambrose looked to Colche. "Cute... is... ah, like pretty, but... er... cute?" He finished lamely. He blinked and blushed at the compliment. "Me.? Pretty..?" He rubbed the back of his neck again. "Er, well, men are handsome, woman are pretty." He grinned. Greer Cassenwari "Aw, Ambrose, don't be so humble! You're very pretty!" Greer teased, finishing up her water. "If you'd just grow your hair out we could set you up with some adorable pigtails." Ooo, someone agreeing to help? She was officially tracking down either Moreau or Aubrey to demand help with building specs and supplies as soon as possible. "Excellent, I'm holding you to that. One labor slave, check!" Colche Colche looked at ambrose blankly, he kepst on speaking babbling a bit but, cute and pretty appeard int he same sentence so she would start using that one too. "cute" she puurred quietly her pretty blue eyes flitting from greer to Ambrose, she hadn't quite caught handsome but on hearing greer agree she smiled and said it again "Ambrose pretty" she gave a tiny giggle seeign him blush, another thing she didn't understand as bodily functions went she had never blushed in ehr life, she didn't know the emaning of embarressment. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose sighed and shook his head in mock-defeat, grinning all the while. "And you know, I had been considering growing my hair out... assuming I still can and it doesn't fall out or anything. But now.... I'm not so sure." He smirked ruefully. "And I'd be happy to help. I feel like I'm just... rotting here. I need to be doing something. I miss competing so much." He lamented. Ambrose looked back to Colche. "Apparently it's a concensus, then" He stuck his tongue out at her. "Ambrose pretty. Fine." He laughed. Greer Cassenwari Greer giggled, incredibly amused. "Do! You know you want to. And as for the butterfly house, in a place like this it can be open air, so all we'd need is lumber and netting, really. How do I go about getting a hold of Aubrey?" Being social was way too much fun. She mentally thanked her bird genes for this. Colche Colche smiled even more when she heard Aubrey being mentioned "Aubrey button" she said looking between Greer and Ambrose she was glad he had agreed that he was pretty that got a load off of ehr mind not having to figure out another word, at least for the moment, that described her friend,
She spent another moment looking at the butterfly and yawned a little finding new people was fun but she sure felt sleepy. Ambrose Maurlias That pesky blush was staying well-rooted on Ambrose's cheeks now as he chatted with Greer and Colche. He missed this, very much so... and those subconscious lupine genes were only making the craving for attention and being around people worse. "I might just have to." He smiled. "I haven't cut it since I arrived, and I don't see a reason to do so now. To be honest, I always kind of liked long hair - maybe too many swashbuckler movies - but it was never really soically acceptible where i was... and, well, my parents were sticklers for social norms." He shrugged. "But I'm not exactly goign anywhere for a while it seems, and I think I'd like it. Besides, it's not exactly like someone is going to hold long hair of all things against me here what with everything else. Although, it might be relatively minor compared to the other changes I have been through and will be going through.." he tapped a long nail on the table. "And You might be able to just press 0 on your intercom to get a hold of her. Though I ran into her at the beach the other day... She said she'd be able to get me a book on wolves." He smiled and looked to Colche. "That's right. 0 is the Aubrey Button." He leaned to Colche and tapped her nose wtih a finger with a playful smile. "You getting sleepy, there?" Greer Cassenwari Greer laughed more. He was blushing! It was nice to have someone else doing it for a change. "On the plus side, wolves don't blush, do they? Ooo, you can be a lupine Fabio! Pose for romance novel covers! Advertise margerine! Kill birds with your face!" She stopped, thinking over what she had just said. "Or... maybe not." Noticing Cloche, Greer nodded. "You want to go to bed sweety?" Colche Colche gave a long, wide yawn this time, her front two teeth had become a little more spikey than they used to be but she didn't seem to notice. She rubbed an eye with the back of her hand rubbing away the tears of sleepyness that were forming there and she nodded gently "seventeen" she whisperd in a sleepy child manner looking to one then the other hoping they would take ehr back it had been hard work finding the cafeteria, getting back again, well she didn't wantt o get lost in the green place again! Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose's blush deepened as she pointed it out. "Well, I don't know - maybe they do and it's just strategically concealed under all that fur" He smiled, wishing for just a moment that he did have fur covering his face to hide it. With the Fabio reference, a mental image came to mind. "Hey, this might sound silly - but did you ever see ... ah...was it Tiny Toons? I remember this short with a very Fabio-ish wolf" He grinned. "And I doubt that anyone would want my furry butt on margerine commercials. And never fear - no killing birds for me" He winked. Ambrose looked to Greer after Colche made her request. "Want to come with me and walk Colche back to her duplex?" He smiled, patting Colche on the shoulder as he stood up and picked up all three of their trays to bus. "We'll take you back to seventeen, Colche." HE smiled. Greer Cassenwari "Oh I don't know. I think you have a very nice butt." It was true testament to how much she had changed that saying that didn't phase Greer in the slightest. Standing and giving Ambrose a thank you nod for the tray service, Greer went over to help Cloche up. "Let's get you home." Colche Colche nodded meekly, getting to her feet she gave another big yawns her huge blue eyes closign as she did so. She reached out and took Greer's hand like a little child, she looked around for ambrose guessing that he was coming too and simply, very glad, that she didn't have to find ehr own way back to her appartment yet, she would learn, one day, but until that day it was a scary, very big place between the cafeteria and her home at number seventeen. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose took their trays to the stacking area and walked back, taking Colche's other hand. Ambrose laughed, embarrassed, to Greer's comment. "Nah" he scratched the back of his head - again - with his free hand, but his tail was wagging rather quickly - probably drawing even more attention to his aformentioned butt. Using Colche's sleepiness and trip home as a good change of subject, he began to lead the way to 'seventeen.' "And off we go - taking Colche hoooome to seventeen~" He spontaneously turned into a rather off-key song. Greer Cassenwari Greer rolled her eyes, walking along with them. "If I'm cute, you have a nice butt, and that is the end of it." She chuckled at his singing, and made a vague attempt to harmonize. "Home, home, home to seventeeeeeeen!" The result was rather painful. Colche Colche giggles a little, these two were so funny. She yawned again her appartment looming pretty quickly, she knew eventually she would be able to get home all on her own but at the moment it took alot of confidence for her just to leave it to go and get food. She looked at the Plaque as they arrived and smiled saying ehr usual line "Seventeen" she smiled looking from one to the other again as she released them both and pushed open her door. She potterd in to her room shuffling tot he bed and climbing under the covers turning to look at her friends from beneath the sheets. She wasn't really sure what she expected, maybe to be tucked in, or a kiss on the forehead, Aubrey always did that, she quite liked it. She yawned closing her eyes for a long moment "sleep" she whispers rolling over on to one side and watching her two friends. It was definately sleep time she could hardly keep her eyes open. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose finished the impromptu song rather off key as they arrived at the duplex. He waved to Colche as she went inside. "Sleep well, Colche! Goodnight!" He turned back to Greer, putting his hands in his pockets with a shrug and a grin. "Well... the kids are all in bed now." He chuckled. Greer Cassenwari Greer smiled, saying good night to Cloche and shutting the door. "They grow up so fast! Any chance I can bribe you into coming back to my place for a bit? I need to ask you some questions, and can offer a balcony and cricket food for your troubles." Colche Colche yawned unable to keep her eyes open any longer she drifted off in to a blue butterfly filled sleep, ehr dreams had become something she looked forwards to, as long as there were no nightmares in them1 She gave a soft, happy sigh as she drifted off in to the land of nod, all but forgetting the world and the past, lost to her pretty dreams. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose smiled as he walked away with Greer. "Sure, Greer. And no bribe even necessary. While my palatte is changing, I don't think that cricket food would quite cut it" He winked. "Besides, I'm full from dinner!" He continued walking with her. "Lead the way!"
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:34 pm
Greer Greer smiled, pointing her toes towards home. "Good, because any gelatin you can substitute with catfood and veggies sounds pretty suspect to me." She sighed, not wanting to talk about this but knowing she had to. She just didn't have info knowlegde about relationships not to do some research. "So... have you talked to the Dude in the last day or two?" Ambrose Ambrose snorted at the concept of the food. "Well, I'm sure that the crickets don't notice the difference at least." He commented as they walked back. He nodded. "Yes, actually - I spoke with him just yesterday. He seemed to be doing pretty well. Why?" He smiled. Greer Reaching her door, she pushed it open and ushered him inside. "When did you talk to him?" Ambrose Ambrose shrugged. "Well, not about much in specific.... Cassidy's worried about losing her limbs.. and about Vasile... and getting people together at the bar again soon." Greer Shutting the door behind them, she picked up her desk chair and nodded to the only other seat in the room. "Shall we take these out to the blacony? It takes a little doing to get them past the sliding door, but it's very nice." Ambrose Ambrose smiled, pickign up the other chair. "That sounds nice. The weather here admittedly can be rather pleasant when the humidity isn't that bad." He slid open the door and maneuvered the chair out onto the balcony. Greer "I think it's always lovely! You almost never see the sun in Seattle, what with all the clouds. It wasn't until I went to Umass that I realized it could be sunny and winter at the same time!" Ambrose Ambrose laughed. "True - though I doubt that we'll see any winter here. Not being so close to the equator. ... I never thought I'd say it but I think that I'll miss the snow." Greer Greer nodded, sitting down. "My first traying experience with my biology TA is something I'll always treasure." Turning the conversation back to an early topic, she looked nervously down at her feet. "So, when you talked to the Dude, did he happen to mention me at all?" Ambrose Ambrose through back through the brief conversation with his flippered friend. "Mention you...?" he pondered for another moment before shaking his head. "Not really... why?" Greer "Well..." She looked out at the view, wishing something out there would grant her the courage she lacked. "You remember when we were playing that I never game, and I didn't have to drink when Dude said 'I've never kissed a guy'?" Ambrose Ambrose nodded.... slower. The tail that had been wagging nearly continuously since the cafeteria began to slow as he began to visualize where this conversation was heading. why on Earth would that bother him, though?? He had a girlfriend. Angelina. He WOULD see her again.... somehow.. "Yes... I remember." He finally spoke, leaning towards her in the chair, trying to read her. Greer She could feel the blush spreading up to her hairline, but she slogged onwards. Greer was determined to ask the help from her friend she so desperately needed. "...I would have to drink now." Ambrose Ambrose pursed his lips as her words confirmed his suspicions. "You.... and The Dude...?" He tried to make his voice sound happy. Dammit, he should be happy for her. She was sweet, she was cute - despite what she thought... And the Dude was pretty much his best friend here... .... and Greer was smart, she was funny... and she Fenced!.... The smile wavered, however much he tried to keep it up. I have a girlfriend. I WILL see her again... It's only been... a month. I'm not this weak."That's.... great!" The voice seemed strained. Greer She smiled at him, so incredibly grateful to have someone to talk to and completely oblivious to how miserable he sounded. "It is! And it isn't. And - oh Ambrose I can't do this!" She wailed, pulling off her glasses and covering her face with her hands. "I'm not this girl! I'm not pretty, I'm not social, and I don't know how to do this! I've never even had a crush, let alone... this!" Ambrose Ambrose's brow furrowed. "No - why not? I mean, you ARE pretty... really, Greer. Maybe you never ... I dunno... did your hair or wore fancy dresses, but you don't need to to be pretty. Did you ever see those riduculous movies about turning the social outcast into a prom queen? They made a ridiculous parody about it recently, too, but it made a good point. It shows how someone really gorgeous can be viewed as 'geeky' or unattractive just because they dress in a particular way. But... I mean.." he flustered, hoping that he wasn't insulting her more. "What I'm tryign to say is that you Are pretty... whether or not you realize it." He nodded. "And everyone deserves to be able to have someone. And you've never even had a crush? Dear lord, I mean, Greer - no offense, but it really is about time... it's part of life...." Greer She put her hands down on her lap, looking at her glasses to avoid looking at him. Shaking her head vehemently, she spoke softly to avoid breaking into tears. "If you love someone, and they die, they make a hole in your heart that never goes away. It safer being alone, and until I came here I never wanted not to be. I was happy not knowing what I was missing." Ambrose Ambrose looked down, his heart begining to ache. "We.... well... a lot of us have been through that, Greer.... I know the Dude's lost someone he loved.... I... well... no one I loved has died... but... I don't know if you know, but I have..." He paused, continuing the next bit in a whisper "maybe had now.. a girlfriend back home... I... I have honestly tried not to think about it too much... but... I don't know how I'll ever see her again." He pulled in a deep breath, forcing himself to look back at Greer instead of his hands. "It hurts... but - as cheesy as it sounds, even if I don't see her again, I am happy that I had her... I wouldn't give the memories for the world. " He avoided mentioning how badly the Dude wanted to drown the memories of Maria away in alcohol. "You can't live your life never taking the chance of getting close to someone..." He pulled in another breaht, hoping to find courage in it. "Because... well... it's not fair to you... or to someone else who might want to get closer to you." His face was reddenign again. Greer She shrugged, voice faraway as the memories washed over her. "It always worked for me. My dad died when I was fifteen, from cancer. After that I just... went away. Wasn't me anymore. I had friends before that, went to dances, hung out, giggled over boys... but then he was gone and it was like I'd died too." She could believe she was telling him this. She hadn't said these things to her own loving, understanding mother, and now she couldn't stop herself. What the hell? "Just worked harder to have something to do. Studied insects because they were interesting and didn't hurt. I took up fencing just to keep my mother from worrying about me so she'd stop trying to ask me about it all. I pushed my MOTHER away. How could I let anyone else in?" Ambrose Ambrose fiddled with the arm of the chair as he listened. "But... you don't regret the time you spent with your father, right? You still love him... and he's still very much a part of you even today. The people you're around... the people who love you and you love in return... they all contribute to who you are." "Studying insects is more than just an escape for you, isn't it Greer? I've seen you talk about them - how your eyes light up. You have a passion.... I mean... it may have started as somethign to occupy you and keep others away... but it really is something you love doing. And fencing... I have a hard time believing that you do it only to keep your mother satisfied...." He scratched his arm. "I mean... I fence... because I did hope that I could make my parents respect me... respect the things that I do... but also because I truly love it. I wanted to make them proud through something that I loved." Greer She nodded, pushing the memories away and finally turning to look at him. She didn't deserve to call him 'friend.' "Yes, I know, I love being an entomologist, which is very much my Dad's fault for encouraging me to collect bugs as a kid, and fencing has turned into something wonderful. I don't know, I just... just decided that life would be easier if I didn't try to do the social thing. My little implosion at fifteen scared everyone off anyway, and when I started coming out of it I figured I missed my opportunity. If it weren't for the fact I came here, I'd still think that. God I'm messed up!" Sighing, she smiled sadly. "I'm sorry to put all of this on you Ambrose, but you're the only one I trust." Ambrose Ambrose reached forward, boldly taking her hand. He was honestly flattered by her final sentence. "I don't think it's too late.... Hell, I mean, I was a 'late bloomer' myself... although admittedly not as late as some comparitively." He smiled. "It's never too late to find love, or happiness... or even yourself. I lived in my brother's shadow until I was about seventeen. I acted the way he did, wore the same kinds of clothing, even hung out with the same type of people. I was too scared to live for me. But... you can turn that around. If you don't feel like you're happy living the way you have been." He chuckled. "I mean some people don't realize till halfway through their lives that they aren't doing what it is they want to be doing. You shouldn't hesitate to take what you want from life just because you haven't done it yet. No one would ever get anything done then!" Greer Greer gave a choking laugh. "Well I've certainly begun change, whether I want to or not. I think this bird venom is making me more casual and open than I used to be, which is not a bad thing." She squeezed his hand happily. "I'm sorry, really, I was just going to ask dating questions so I made sure I didn't missinterpret stuff. I didn't mean to um, gush like that. I don't usually. Stupid bird." Ambrose Ambrose nodded, still holding her hand. "I... I Know what you mean... honestly I have felt... different. Though usually it's nothing I can place my finger on - and that makes it even more unsettling. There are things that I'm not sure whether or not they're just emotions that I've been suppressing... or if they're new... Or even if I'm expecting to be different and so I feel different - a placebo effect. It... it's kind of frightening, though. I don't want this to change who I Am... inside. But it's hard when you don't even know what's the serum.. and what is just being stuck on a tropical Island, away from home and anything familiar, and the normal reactions to that." Greer Greer smiled at him. He was really cute when he over-analyzed things. " 'Normal reactions'? Do you suppose this comes up in psych classes a lot?" Ambrose Ambrose shrugged, blushing. "Well, I guess the Psych class I took last semester is worming its way out, huh?" Greer Greer laughed, rolling her eyes. "I took human anatomy for that Gen. Ed. credit... ended up being a highly amusing semester long sex ed course." Ambrose Ambrose laughed. "I think they tried to recruit as many freshman as they could into the intro to psych course. There are a lot of open sections, and freshmen kind of get the bottom of the barrrel as far as order of selection. But it wasn't bad.... kind of interesting, actually." He shrugged. "Anyway.... I guess what I'm trying to say... is what I did was I sat and thought about the things that are important to me... what I don't want to lose about myself... I mean, if you don't know Who you are, how are you supposed to stop yourself from losing that?" Greer He was all cute and earnest-looking. And young. Very young. Even though she knew for a fact she was behind him in the whole relationship arena, looking at her friend sit there and philosophize suddenly made her feel ancient. "I have to admit, I've never been a soul searcher. Deep thinking has always been either too painful or time consuming for my tastes." Ambrose Ambrose shrugged self-cosciously. "Well... to be honest, growing up and acting like someone I wasn't for a long time .... well... when I did eventually realize this it did involve a lot of soul-searching... building on a lot of years of repressing what I really felt about things." He shook his head. "I hated leading this... double life... acting one way and feeling another. Never thinking that the things that I liked to do were good enough, or acceptable. Then I realized how much of a hypocrite I was being when I found out that my brother was doing the same thing... just better at it. And the things that he did when no one was looking was really sleezy." He frowned, looking down at their hands. Greer Greer smiled. He was getting cuter by the second. "I'm sure you never did. Ambrose and sleazy are two words that will never belong in the same sentence without the accompanyment of 'not'." Ambrose Ambrose's blush intensified. "Well... no... not exactly..." He verbally stumbled. "But... well... it made me kinda realize that what I was trying to do wasn't exactly realistic... it was a very enlightening moment..." Greer Reaching forward, she put a finger under his chin and left his face to look at her. "And I, for one, am very glad you did." Ambrose Ambrose blinked, swallowing, and slowly a smile emerged on his face. "I... well, I am too..." He was about to finish with if I hadn't, though, I probably wouldn't be here... But... for some reason, looking into her eyes like that at that precise moment, being here in that chair didn't seem all that horrible. Greer Greer had a sudden urge to kiss him, which she squashed quickly, horrified with herself. If she had picked up anything about relationships, it was that most people only had one at a time. Hastily taking her hand off of his face, she smiled warmly to cover up her mental argument. "So... do you think I could ask you those questions I was planning on?" Ambrose The moment was broken as if cold water had been thrown on the potential couple, and Ambrose sat back, his hand goign to the furry spot on the back of his neck as he looked away. He felt his heart travel down to have a conversation with his stomach, and again mentally kicked himself. He shouldn't be feeling like this. He should be happy for them. "Ah... sure, Greer." He looked back to her. "Ask away." Greer "Um, well... how do you know the diffence between like, love and lust?" Too embarrassed by her own thoughts, she completly missed his reaction. Ambrose Ambrose blinked, and sat back, rubbing his head. She certainly was direct. "Well..." he drew out, thinking back. "I guess you have to ask yourself... if the person you're around makes you happy... makes you smile just being with them. And would it matter to you what they looked like? Can you be happy being around them without doing anything physical?" Greer She nodded, mentally taking notes. "Which one is that? Like? Love?" Ambrose "Wellll..." Ambrose drew it out. "It's hard to tell sometimes. If you just like someone, it can be like that.... but if you really love someone... you can feel miserable without them... but also, knowing that you love them can make you happy even if you're currently sad?" He winced. "I'm sure that doesn't make any sort of sense." He gestured, sitting back. Greer She grinned and grabbed his hand again, giving it a friendly squeeze. It was entirely possible she'd been a touch dependent person who'd denied it for years. Or it was the bird DNA acting up again. "That's okay, I'm asking tough questions. Thanks for trying to answer them. This more than earns you another epee match, sabre or no." Ambrose Ambrose smiled, whether it was at the contact or the promise of an epee match, he didn't dare try to disentangle them. His nub began to wiggle again. "Sounds like a deal. And I'll do my best. But just because I've had a relationship doesn't automatically make me an expert" he winked. Greer She scoffed. "You know more than I, which isn't hard. God, how did I get myself into this?" Greer shook her head ruefully and commandeered Ambrose's other hand too. "I mean, if I ever thought I was going to start kissing anyone here I would have assumed it would be you, even if you are kind of young and girlfriended. You just make more sense. Not that I don't like... Sean... I do, clearly, he's just, we're not, we're just so different."Ambrose Ambrose felt his heart quicken as she spoke, only to bomb again as she ended with Sean. "Well... always glad to help." He proferred with a smile, squeezing her hands back. "And... well... I mean..." he babbled "No one can tell you what is right. Love doesn't always make sense. I mean... I never would have guessed ahead of time that Angelina and I..." That's right, Ambrose. ANGELINA. Not Greer. Don't give up. . . . But... what if I never see her again? I want her to be happy, and I love her... but how long should I wait? On hope that is formed of something no more substantial than gossamer. You've argued with Aubrey and the Doctor and there is no way off of this rock. Especially no way off this rock and still be a man. And even if I were to escape somehow as a wolfman... that might be years from now... years in which she will have probably assumed me dead and buried me in her heart...
But it has only been a bit over a month..... but... He shook his head, his thoughts turning over and over on themselves. Finally, he focused on his half-finished sentence. "Well... we were very different ourselves. Though she helped me figure out that inside, I wasn't that different at all." Greer Her heart went out to him, as it did everytime the subject of Angelina came up. This had to be tearing him to pieces. "This is going to sound stupid, but if there's anything I can do to make things better... I'm so sorry Ambrose." Ambrose Ambrose gave her a smile. "I... that means a lot to me, Greer.... I just... I just wish I knew what to do about it." He held her hands tightly, as if holding onto them for support. "As much advice as I can give.... I feel so lost in this. It... I mean, it's been over a month now - which isn't long in the scheme of things... and I feel I can't give up... but on the same note - what am I supposed to do? Just wish and pray that things will magically work out? I've explored the possibilities here - and every one of them ends with a dead end. If I leave prematurely - even if we somehow escaped - we probably get cancer and die. This whole experimentation process might take years, by which time she'll more than likely have moved on - besides which , I don't know how human I'd be anymore at all. But... I did... I DO love her... but... I don't want to just crawl up into my room and lament not having her.... I can't just live my life for a memory. I dont' want to forget her - and I feel like such a b*****d if I did want to move on... but when? I mean... Arg!" He looked to her, frustration and other emotions evident. "I... I don't know what to do. The fact that she's still alive... and out there... it makes it so much harder..." Greer She nodded, not about to attempt to weigh in on the subject of whether having your loved one dead or alive where you couldn't reach them was the worse. "You know that saying, 'It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all'? I think it's really evil that that's true. It'd be a lot easier if it weren't." Ambrose Ambrose nodded. "I have to agree.... I don't regret for a moment what we had.... but it sure can complicate things... as I know you know." He sighed with a smile. "But... what do you suggest, Greer..? Am I... am I being unrealisic thiniking that there's a chance that 'love will prevail?' Does it matter? Will I end up making myself more miserable if I long after something I can never have again?" Greer "Well..." she sighed. She was not the one with such answers. "Maybe you should take your own advice and not let past pain get in the way of future happiness? Don't forget her, but don't let her memory get in the way of possibilities. I mean, you never know, Sean and I might not work out." She grinned impishly, "And after I crushed his heart into dust you'd need to teach him how to love again." On a random note, was it weird that calling the Dude Sean seemed somehow wrong? Huh. Anyway. Ambrose Ambrose smiled, nodding slowly. "You... you are right." He ran a finger over the feathers on her hands. They felt soft... "Roll with the punches and that, right..?" It sounded a bit hollow.... but it was true... he was just having a difficult time getting over the feeling that thinking of anyone else was cheating... because it kind of was, wasn't it? He smirked. "True... so... I mean... does that mean that you and Sean.. er... The Dude... well, is going to happen then...?" He ventured, his eyes going down to join his hands at analyzing her feathers, zipping and unzipping the microscopic teeth that kept the fibres together. Greer She giggled, finding the sensation rather ticklish. "Ooo, that feels neat! And as for me and him, god, who knows? We've kissed, like, twice or something. Unlike some girls I knew, this does not cause me to start picking out a wedding dress." Ambrose He smiled up at her, glad that his fidgeting with her feathers had earned him a smile and a giggle rather than something more uncomfortable. Then he blinked. "You and he... kissed already?" The chance seemed to be flitting off like the golden ball in those Harry Potter books. Then he made himself listen to the converstaion. "Well... you probably don't even want to know the proportion of casual interests or dates that actually wind up in something as serious as marriage". He said, wondering which of them that was supposed to be encouraging. Greer She nodded. "Yup, hence the whole reference to that drinking game we played earlier." She watched him, brow furrowed. "Are you okay?" Ambrose Ambrose nodded, mentally slapping his forehead. "I.. I knew that, really" He winced. He did know that. "And I'm fine!" He put on a smile again. Greer She smiled at him. "Liar. You're thinking about something deep and dark and depressing." Ambrose Ambrose tried to play innocent. "What, me worry?" He responded, unable to resist the quote. Greer Greer snorted, giving a look that made it plain she was not going to be fooled by him. "Out with it. If you don't, I'll give you...uh, cooties!" Ambrose Ambrose looked up to her, and despite his nervousness, his face cracked open in a smile. "I just... well... I... I think that it's wonderful that at the very least you and I seem to have some things in common. I... well... I like being able to talk to you about things on our minds..." He gestured. "It's great to know someone else who's so passionate about the things that you are... you don't seem to let other things drag you down... but still... there's more to you that a lot of the people I've known." He whet his lips, taking a breath, and putting on a smile. "I guess... well, the Dude's a lucky guy." He eventually spat out. Greer He was trying to tell her something, but for the life of her she didn't know what it was. Maybe if she'd been good with empathy, or sympathy, or hell, just plain understanding other human beings she would have gotten it, but no. Instead she fell back on her old tried and true method of trying to cheer someone up through jokes or gestures of kindness, and since the joke hadn't worked... Leaning forwards, she gave her friend a kiss on the cheek. Her mind snorted and said it hadn't meant THAT kind of kiss. "Thank you Ambrose." Ambrose Ambrose breathed out, smiling bashfully to her. It had taken enough out of him to say what he just said, and he still wasn't quite comfortable with pushing his way forward... and she was obviously intersted in his best friend... maybe it was for the best that she didn't seem to have pieced together what he was trying to say. So... Ambrose did what years of training had taught him to do. He took those emotions, wrapped them up, and bottled them down. He patted her hand. "It... well... it's true. You're a wonderful friend, Greer." He said, a bit of disappointemnet slipping into his voice. Greer Greer grinned, hearing the disappointment and still having no idea where it was coming from. She seriously needed a class or a reading list or SOMETHING...sheesh! In yet another attempt to cheer him up, she released his hands and wrapped him in a warm hug. "You are too Ambrose! And whatever is wrong that you won't really tell me about, I promise we'll make it better." Ambrose The emotion that he had stuffed down in that mysterious pit in his chest burbled in frustration. As much as he appreaciated Greer noticing his discomfort and trying to help, what she was doign currently was certainly not helping. He reached up and gave her a tight hug, holding her like that for a moment, breathing in her scent. "Thanks, Greer." He muffled into her shoulder. "And... I'm sure things will work out. Don't... don't worry about it. I'm happy for you two. At least some people are finding happiness on this godforsaken rock." He gave her a final squeeze before he let her go, sitting back against the backboard of the chair. Greer Greer leaned back too, resolving to ferret out her friend's hurt and make it either disappear or ease it somehow. Her mind suggested some 'easing his pain' ideas but she carefully ignored them. "As odd as it may sound, this island is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. It's letting me live again. Creepy huh?" Ambrose Ambrose shook his head. "No - actually, I don't find it creepy at all... I mean, I'm glad some people are making the best of it. I hope that everyone can.... although even if they did I still don't think what the doctor's doing is right..... I just... well... I should have been more honest on that damn survey form for the medical study. I've been so goal-driven my entire life that I don't know what to do when I'm not on a schedule and aren't working towards something..." He shrugged. Greer She laughed. They really were too perfect. Why wasn't she in his nicely sculpted arms again? "You and me both. Look at me - I've gotten a TAN since I've been here. I didn't go outside enough to darken like this before, Seattle weather or no." Ambrose Ambrose laughed. "I've been going out a lot more than I used to as well... I just feel... I guess like I'm wasting my time. But, ironically, there isn't exactly much else I'm distracting myself from. Maybe I'll go explore the jungles sometime soon; I admit I'm curious about that." He shook his head. "I'm still training with the epee by myself on the beach sometimes. I enjoy it, and it is a great stress relief... but in the back of my mind I'm still training for the Olympics..." He frowned. "Even if it's not true... it's like I have to be working towards something." "Do you think it's possible... that somehow, someday, I might be able to?" Greer "A wolfman at the Olympics?" She made a show of thinking, and then nodded vigorously. "As long as you don't use steroids, sure!" Ambrose Ambrose shrugged sheepishly. "Well... it's technically not against the rules.." He winced. "But... well, I think I'd have a whole nother can of worms there. But then again, isn't Lance Armstrong like some sort of genetic abberation? I've heard his resting heart rate is something like... 25 beats per minute, and has some weird sort of physiology in his legs." Greer She shrugged. "I have no idea, but considering how long it took them to make women's sabre an olympic event it's the least they can do." She grinned, patting his hand. "I'll vouch for you if it helps." Ambrose He smiled and placed his other hand on top of hers. "Thanks. Maybe having an enthusiastic birdwoman would help my cause" He replied. Making light of it did seem to help... Greer "An enthusiastic, carnivorus, birdwoman. I'd be very scary." She laughed, trying to imagine herself intimidating anyone. Ambrose Ambros laughed as well. "What... do you think we'll look like? I mean, they've all been very vague. I don't even think that they know for certain." Greer "I'd ask Hargun, since she's the artist she'd be better at imagining asthetics. But if I had to hazzard a guess, I'd say big, bi-pedal animals would be the best outcome. Honestly, it's the in between stages that worry me." she closed her eyes and stuck out her tongue, making a face. She really didn't want to see herself again until she got to the end. Ambrose Ambrose nodded. "That would be interesting to see... But I guess none of us will really know until the end... however far off that may be" He shrugged. "At least the inbetween stages don't seem to have been that bad so far... maybe it will be a mostly smooth transition? Though I feel sorry for people like Cassidy... I mean... unless she changes in big spurts, I know she's worried about losing limbs... and I don't know what halfway-through losing legs would be like.." Greer "Okay, we need to stop talking about this." Greer shivered. "Makes me wonder if I'll grow a beak, which completely weirds me out. Ambrose Ambrose winced and cringed as he realized he had stuck his foot in his mouth. "Oh man, Greer- I'm sorry... I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." Greer She stuck out her tongue again and laughed. "It's okay, it's just, ew! The only thing that's ever given me a viceral ick responce is the idea of things moving around under my skin, so this is doing it for me." Ambrose Ambrose's hand subconsciously went to his arm, shuddering at that thought as well. "Understood." He stretched, looking out over the patio as the sun was setting over the trees. "Well.... I should probably let you be... I'll meet you at the bar tomorrow afternoon..?" Greer "Of course! I wouldn't miss it." Greer stood and saw him out, leaving the chairs for later. Putting a hand on his shoulder, she turned him to face her before he left. "You know you can tell me anything, right?" Ambrose Ambrose stood as well, looking at her eye to eye as he became painfully aware of what it was that he was keeping quiet. He could tell her anything, yes, anything but what he was feeling. The feeling that would get between his two best friends here, and made him feel disloyal to Angelina. "I know" he said, trying to make it sound as sincere as he possibly could. "I think I'm going to go for a walk.... or practice some footwork." He gave her another hug. "Glad we could talk, Greer. Honestly. I don't know what I'd do here without friends like you and the Dude." Greer She hugged him back, having gotten rather attached to that action since she'd relearned it recently. How had she gone so long without human contact? "I know how you feel. If it weren't for you two, I'd have gone insane weeks ago." Ambrose He chuckled. "Me too. I think I was alone here for the first few days before I even knew anything was wrong, and I was going stir-crazy." He smiled. "Good luck, Greer - and if you ever need to talk about anything at all, I'm here." Greer She smiled and gave him another kiss. "You too bub, and stop being such a stranger!" Ambrose He smiled softly, and if she didn't know any better, by now she might think that red was the natural color of his cheeks. "You too, Greer. I'm pretty easy to find." With that, before he moved to the door, he gave her a quick peck back on her cheek, and then stole off quickly through the sliding door.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 11:24 am
Greer hummed as she folded and stowed her clean clothes in her chest of drawers - she'd grabbed them out of the dryer still slightly damp after seeing Sean off and bolting to the Cafeteria yesterday, and due to all that time spent with Cloche and then Ambrose, had left them piled in the hamper until this morning. They'd dried completely and wrinkled thanks to the tropical weather, but she'd never been a stickler for making sure a clothes looked nice. The only concession she'd made to her clean but disheveled clothing was to hang the shirt she was planning on wearing to the get together this evening in her bathroom while she showered, the steam smoothing out the wrinkles without ironing. Being a poor college student for six years taught you a few tricks to save money on looking presentable. Smoothing out her usual sunflower yellow short capris, which she noted were starting to fade in all the sun they'd been getting, she put it on her bed next to her one semi-nice shirt - a blue/black sleeveless cotton tanktop she hadn't worn in years. Huh, sunflower indeed. She frowned at the shirt which looked suspiciously shorter than she remembered - in her haste to wash all of her clothes, she really hoped she hadn't shrunk it. It had been bought and pressed on her by her mother when she'd had a Dean's List dinner to go to or something... there'd been a lot of Dean's List dinner invites mailed but she didn't really remember going to any. Poor mum. She'd liked that sort of thing, especially the dressing up and looking swanky bit, and had always been rather disappointed in her wayward daughter for not agreeing. "Oh honey, you're just built for a-line! You have no hips." she'd told Greer once, meaning it as a compliment, since her own generous curves never fit the styles fashion seemed to think were in. Greer had always been happy she didn't have hips - her cousins that did were forever being told by their aunts and grandmother how perfect that made them for bearing children. Greer's skeleton looked like it would split in two if she ate too much at Thanksgiving. This made her a disappointment for Grandma Murphy - she wanted a big clan of great-grandchildren and seemed to have been looking forward to them ever since her grandchildren had gotten old enough to stop liking bows in their hair. God it was nice to know she'd probably never have to go through another critical hip inspection. Hmm, so, that looked nice enough. Frowning at her sneakers, Greer decided her cheap flipflops would round the outfit out better, even if they left all of her yellow-legness to view. Ah well. It wasn't as if she'd be the only animalistic one there. Glancing at her bed again, she hissed a little under her breath. The prospect of having shrunk her shirt was really bothering her, not because she thought that it might not fit over her chest, since it was pretty obvious she had nothing to worry about in that area, but that it might reveal some of her midsection. After all, she'd never been one to show off her tummy in the light of day even when swimming, so it was going to be rather pale compared to the rest of her, but mostly she didn't want anyone to see the line of feathers that now ran the length of her spine. Due to the practical nature of her swimsuit it was nearly as solid in the back as it was in the front, so Sean hadn't seen anything much a few days ago, but it was the one thing she didn't care to show off. She didn't know why exactly, but that trail of feathers from just under her hair line to the budding tail she couldn't cover she wanted to keep to herself. If Greer was lucky tonight, the shirt would comply.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 2:59 pm
Her excuse was that there was nothing to do in the last hour before she went out, having started getting ready way too early. Showered, washed, brushed and preened, a very clean, very slightly makeuped Greer was sitting out on her balcony in the extra chair she'd left outside from yesterday, sketching lazily in her field notebook in the dying light of day. She was dressed to the nines in her pjs, knowing herself too well to risk her clean outfit by putting it on a second earlier than she needed to - it really was amazing the damage she could do with the slip of a hand and a pencil. She was not, by virtue of lack of practice or want, a drawer of people. Her sketches were not innate talent but mechanical skill, earned by sheer force of will and many hours spent forcing her hand to make alien motions. She was also not a creative artist, having learned to draw for the sole purpose of recording the image of an insect sitting in front of her. Had her subject been sitting there on the balcony with her, still and silent as she made her attempt, it might have come out better. As it was, she was attempting to complete an action she was not entirely at home with, under poor circumstances with an unfamiliar subject. It was a terrible drawing, and probably only recognizable as a picture of Sean because he was the only one on the island with dreadlocks or whiskers. She frowned at, not pleased with how it was going or that she was even drawing it anyway. Yet another sign that she was changing. Harumph. At least she felt more like she actually was doing the new behaviors, and less like something else was taking over her body and brain to get her to do new things. She'd never liked Invasion of the Body-Snatchers. Reminded her too much of those creepy crab parasite things she'd read about once. Ick. Glancing casually at her watch, she leapt out of her chair and ran into her room, realizing suddenly how late it had gotten and that she needed to be going. Discarding the notebook on her desk without a thought of what it displayed, she tore off her pajamas and leapt in to her clothes, moving too fast to realize how small her shirt had shrunken. Sliding her feet into her flipflops and finger combing her hair, she dashed out the door, hoping she wasn't too late to join the festivities. That was yet another one of the bonuses to having friends - they gave you things to do besides thinking over stuff and figuring it all out.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 9:53 pm
Drunken Truth or Dare pt. 1 Ambrose Maurlias
At four O'clock, Ambrose, looking like he had dressed rather nicely (from the clothing that he had brought with him), his hair well groomed, and a nice pair of sandals, appraches the beach bar and takes a seat, waititng to see who will show up. Vasile DiRossi Vasile came down to the bar at four, waearing his swim trunks, sunglasses, an open Hawaiin shirt, and sandals. He was either going very casual, or revelling in the oppurtunity to show off some skin. He had spent the earlier part of the day doing sit-up and spend an ungodly amount of time getting his hair perfect. Brutus was with him on his leash. He waved to Ambrose as he came near. "Hey man, how goes?" He patted him on the shoulder. "Man, you better hope some chicks show up or me and you are going to need to talk. Can I get you a drink?" He tethered up the dog and went behind the bar. Greer Cassenwari Greer trotted into view not long after, arrayed in her capris, flipflops, and a blue-black tanktop that was desperately trying to ride up enough to flash a line of tummy, despite her best efforts to prevent such a thing. Her glasses had been left behind in her room as she didn't actually need them anymore, and anyone who knew her and looked hard enough might find that she'd made a small and entirely unsuccessful attempt to apply some eyeliner. This was as fancy as she got, and was making her visibly nervous. "Hello Ambrose!" she greeted her friend, giving him a hug and hopping up on a stool beside him. "How are you?" She was ignoring the unfamiliar man behind the bar until she was forced to converse with him, feeling rather exsposed in her wayward top. Pyroth Ignatius Pyroth had not been formally invited to the beach party and therefore was largely in the dark as to the events planned for the day. However, that didn't stop him taking his usual walk around the island. He liked to spend some time in the sun each day, remenicing on the waves. It helped him relax to an extent. Today however, on arrival at the beach, he became aware of a few others already at the bar and raised a single crimson brow.
He recognised Ambrose, but did not recall ever meeting the other man before. He didn't want to interrupt them, never one to barge into conversation, so he made his way over to the bar, with every apparent intention of retreiving a drink with as little fuss as possible. He noted Greer aswell, was something going on today?
If anyone saw fit to greet him, then he'd have a reason to join the conversation.
Hargun Aikason Hargun was not in a great mood today... just from the clump of stress that had been eating away at her head. However when Amaya came the other day to hang out it cheered her up enough to bring up the courage to walk outside now with her new transformation. "Alrighty.. to the beach we go... to be.. utterly STARED at.." she grumbled and threw on the beanie Amaya gave her and covered her eyes just incase the sun decided to shine in her eyes tauntingly when she opened the door. Down to the beach she went in her two piece sarong, but she felt like wearing a large t shirt over her fuzzy self.. just untill everyone got used to the change. When she reached the bar, she hung her head and stared at the ground, lifting a long arm and waving to Ambrose and Greer. "...hey guys.." she said, and grabbed a seat at the bar. Ian Campbell Ianwas going on his daily trip to the bar. Upon arrival he found that he knew everyone there, except he didn't know the name of the man who was really....Ian hated to think the wordto describe a man - pretty. "Hey," he said smiling slightly. "Didn't expect to see so many people here." He glanced at Hargun and did a double take. It lookd like she had started to change as well. Unsure what to say to her, he forced himself to give her a warm smile. "It'll be alright" he ended up saying. "Don't let it get you down." He hoped she knew he was trying to reassure her about the transformation even though he hadn't been really blunt or clear about it. Greer was also there. Great, last time they had talked, he had scared Greer off, he hoped his being here wouldn't make her leave. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose looked up as people began gathering at the bar. Oddly, only two others were actually people he had invited, not that he minded the company, but it might prove for a rather diffrent dynamic than he imagined. He smiled to Vasile as he sidled up to the bar. "Glad you could make it, Vasile." He smiled. "And I promise..." He gestured as Greer and Hargun approached. "See? Though... I do hope Cassidy shows - I know she got the invitation." He smiled and looked over at the list. "How about a margarita? Frozen." He replied, jokingly panting and waving his hand in front of his face. "It's damn hot." He smiled and rose as Greer approached, unable to help himself as he looked her over. "Wow, Greer! You're looking fantastic!" He exclaimed, and embraced her, pausing for a moment longer in his hold as he smelled in her scent and savored the comforting feeling of her body against his. He gestured over to Vasile. "This is Vasile DiRossi." "Vasile, this is Greer" He give him a significant look. Ambrose did a doubletake at Hargun as she waved. Maybe it was just a trick of the light or distance, but her arm looked longer than it should be.... But he smiled and waved back. Seeing Pyroth, Ambrose swallowed wondering how the strange man was doing, and hoping that he wasn't still in a down mood. He nodded towards him, letting him make his own decision as far as weather he wanted this much company. As Ian approached, Ambrose looked at Hargun again... indeed... there was fuz along the sides of her face, and looking closer, it appeared that her fingers were webbed... with black webbing. His first thought was remembering The Dude's familiar fin-like hands, but they were different - the fingers slender... and suddenly the picture of a bat came to mind, and he gave a flinch, though he tried to cover it up afterwards. "Well, glad to see so many people showed...." Ambrose started... "Cassidey and the Dude might be showing later, but... well... I was figuring we could try to relax a bit, get to know eachother...." He gave a look and a smile to Greer. "And perhaps have a rather interesting game of Truth Or Dare..." Vasile DiRossi Vasile looks surprised at the sudden flock of people around the bar. He only met Ambrose out of the whole lot.
He smiled to Ambrose and let his eyes linger of Greer. Nice pick, Vasile thought. Not really my type, but more power to you, bro. She's pretty hot "Greer! What a pleasure to meet you!" He reached over and took her hand, brining it up so he could brush his lips against the back lightly. "Ambrose has told told me all about you--all good, I promise!" He smiled and started to gather the materials for Amrbose's drink.
You know, this was kind of fun. Cleaning his apartment.. making drinks. Funny what little things you miss when you're used to everyone else doing everything for you.
Vasile was bit dissapointed Cass hadn't shown, but he tried to keep his spirits high. Dude wasn't here, so he could focus his attention of helping Ambrose. I mean, the situation seemed custom made to order.
He looked around to everyone else and gave a brilliant white smile. "Good afternoon folks! Lookie here, Vasile DiRossi - model, movie star, and bartender! What's your poisen?" He asked the group. Greer Cassenwari Smiling at Ambrose, she raised an eyebrow at Vasile's greeting. For some reason the almost-kiss on the back of her hand made her want to bristle. Being an inherintly non violent person, she settled for a little bit of sarcasm. "Nice to meet you too." Turning back to her friend as she sat, she fidgited with the hem of her shirt. "Thanks! This is about as dressed up as I can manage." Turning to wave at Hargun, she kept her smile and greeting steady as she took in the girl's changes. "Le artiste! How have you been?" Poor thing looked pretty gloomy. She noted the arrival of that Pyroth fellow she'd seen before, and also Ian, who had scared her a bit when they met. Still, being surrounded be people made her not want to flee. Turning to Vasile, she made her usual, nicely ironic order. "Grasshopper for me, please." Returning finally to Ambrose, she brightened visibly at his mention of who else might attend. "Sean and Cassidy are coming? Good! Although if we play 'Truth or Dare' with Mr. Carroll around I suspect I'll be in trouble." Pyroth Ignatius Pyroth noted Ambrose's subtle nod and returned his own. Quite fortunately, he was once again in a positive mood, only really slipping into a slump when he let himself stare into the abyss that lay before him in terms of the future. However, so long as he simply kept his head up, he was fine.
A sudden flash of self-conciousness returned to him as he noted the others gathered around the bar, many of whom he knew. It seemed that a few more of his fellow islanders had also developed features distinctive to their future animal alts, still, that didn't stop Pyroth himself from feeling a little embarressed in front of those who had not yet changed at all. In particular he felt a twinge of inferiority in front of the handsome blonde man, old associations springing to mind.
As Hargun approached the group, Pyroth cast a normal customary glance in her direction and was surprised, though not too suprised to see the changes seemed to have affected her too. Well, the islanders were changing many and fast it seemed, he just wondered when it would all end.
As Ambrose spoke again, Pyroth returned his attention to him once more.
A chance to mingle sounded good, the truth or dare worried him slightly. Nevertheless he nodded mutely and replied to Vasile.
"I'll have any whisky you can reccomend." Hargun Aikason Hargun snorted and tried to smile at Ian.. she could tell he was trying to be reassuring but.. just her mood roared at every word that came from everyones mouth. "Thanks." she turned to Greer. "Not to well.. if it wasnt already obvious. " She scratched her larger ears with her boney, slender fingers then sighed. She wasnt thristy tonite so she didnt ask for a drink. Socializing and being with the other islanders who knew the trouble she was going through was all she felt like doing today. Eyeing each person she discovered that there were only two islanders who hadnt changed yet. She placed her finger down on the bar, resting her head in her other arm while etching into the bar's surface, a doodle of a cartoony bat-self. Ian Campbell "Beer." Ian said to the pretty man - Vasile he had said his name was. He was still reeling from what Ambrose had mentioned...Truth or Dare. C'mon, it can't be all that bad. The voice told him. It happened a long time ago. Get over it. Ian flushed red at the voice but refrained from mentally replying. Instead he voiced a comment. "Truth or Dare huh....." he swallowed and supressed a grimace. "I've played it....once." Yeah, nice one. the voice snorted. You have about as much tact as a bent arrow, no wonder you scare people Ian scowled and his shoulders hunched involuntarily. Upon catching that he straightened up and forced a smile noticing Hargun's snort at his comment to her. He understood what it was like to be in a bad mood, the gods knew he'd had enough of them in high school. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose thanked Vasile for the Margarita and settled back into the barstool, taking a pondering pull from the cup. "You look plenty nice, Greer" Ambrose commented in regard to her outfit, then grinned. "Nicer than I would in it, I assure you." He teased. "And I'm not sure, they might be. I say we go ahead and get started and let what happens happens." He lifted his glass to the rest of the group that had assembled around the bar. "Today... today we try not to worry about the obvious problems." He said with determination. "We're going to be here a damn long time, so we might as well get to know eachother better, and, well, learn how to have fun." He announced, unconsciously thinking back to Angelina... this is the sort of thing she would have suggested, and so, in her homage... here we go. He turned to Vasile with a wry smile. "SO... let's get this party rolling.... Truth or Dare, Vasile?" Vasile DiRossi Vasile did his best to fill the drink orders, finally making something tall and fruity for himself. He took a long sip from a curly straw before looking up to Ambrose. "Oh, what the hell. I'll start with a truth. I'm not liquered up enough yet to go streaking down the beach or anything." Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose couldn't help but laugh at that picture. "Aww, I wouldnt' start with something nearly that bold, but I'm sure you might have given plenty of people ideas" He winked. He leaned as far back as was possible in a chair without a back and rolled his eyes up in thought. Might as well start with something relatively "Let's see..... Vasile... out of the women that you've met on the Island... why don't you rate them - as far as your interest level" He smirked, putting him on the spot. Vasile DiRossi Vasile leaned forward on the bar. "Well lets see...."
He thought for a moment. "Cass gets a ten. I want to know more about the exotic beauty. Then after that would be Queen Karma. Beautiful woman she is. Maybe an 8? Other than that I've met that doctor woman. Maybe a four? She's not really my, uh... type."
He looked around the group. "From first impressions I would give you," he said to Hargun, "a five because thats good enough to want to know more, but I don't know anything abuot you." Then he turned towards Greer. "As for you, my beautiful bug," he said as he slid the Grasshopper over to her. "I would have to say zero, because I personally know two" Vasile gave a not-no-subtle look to Ambrose, "guys who might personally want to see my bodily injured if I overstepped my bounds." He winked at her.
"Well then," he said, clapping his hands together. "Greer! Truth or Dare?" Ambrose Maurlias A MASSIVE blush rose to Ambrose's cheeks at Vasile's not-so-subtle comment about Greer, and he stuck his nose into his drink, taking a biiiig swallow. Greer Cassenwari Greer rolled her eyes at Vasile's pronouncement, casting Ambrose a questioning glance. Mr. Pretty Boy had his messages crossed if he thought her friend had any interest like that in her... didn't he? Leaving that issue for another day, she downed some of her drink and debated her answer. "Truth, I suppose." Vasile DiRossi Vasile snapped his fingers, hoping for a dare. "Truth, hmm..." He tapped his chin, thinking. "What's your favorite thing to do here on the island?" he asked. Greer seemed like the kind of girl who wouldn't say something trite like "make out with my boyfriend." At least, he really hoped she wouldn't say that. That would kind of backfired on him. He was hoping she might mention the fencing, to point out how similar her and Ambrose where. He took a long drink. Here's hoping I don't regret that one.. Greer Cassenwari She blinked, honestly suprised at such a tame question. Hmm. Perhaps Vasile wasn't so irksome after all, not that she was entirely sure why he rubbed her the wrong way. "My favorite thing? A tie between chasing bugs and spending time with my friends I suppose. Half my old life, half my new." She smiled at Ambrose and Hargun, making it clear she was happy to have them. Now, who to drag in to all of this? "Ian, truth or dare?" Pyroth Ignatius Pyroth thanked Vasile for the drink and casually sat back to sip it while listening to the game as it progressed. He hadn't even guessed that relationships would already be flourishing amongst the residents, that thought at least was heartening, people were moving on. It had been a long time since he last had a decently strong drink and his body had little to no resistance to the chemical. It was nice to have a little fuzziness there in his head and he relaxed a little, just letting the conversations seem to slosh around him.
Maybe he would learn a little about the inhabitants he didn't know yet. Ian Campbell Ian flinched as Greer asked him truth or dare. If he chose dare, it might be a repeat of his sophomore year, if he said truth he mihgt have to also relive his sophomore year. Taking a long swallow of his beer he finally decided. "Truth" Greer Cassenwari Getting through almost a full half of her drink, she frowned and tried to figure out what to ask him. Hopefully his answer wouldn't be creepy. "Are you having a good time on the island, why or why not?" Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose scuffed his foot along the wood of the bar under the counter as he watched Greer. Well... that answer was ... well... not all that surprising, except for the fact that she was regarding socializing almost as high as bug hunting... fencing wasn't mentioned... but then again, Ambrose did know that bugs came first to her above that. But, on the positive note, she hadn't specified hanging out with The Dude. He smiled and nursed his margarite as the game progressed. The Dude XD At this moment (whether inopportune or not) The Dude walked into the Beach bar, waving at everyone. He looked sleepy and dishevelled and predicatbly, appologized for being late cuz he fell asleep. He walked over to a seat next to Greer and sat down. If there was an open seat next to Greer that is. "So what game are we playing here?" - he grinned. Ian Campbell Ian stared at his beerfor a long moment before replying. "Yes, actually. Here I can have time to myself, and I've made a few friends." He paused wondering if he should add the last bit he was thinking. "I am even okay with becoming like an animal. I've had time to think, and I've discovered that there is a part of me that has wanted to be an animal. That part of me is also history obsessed - more specifically with the druids. Turning into an animal is almost like a certain druidic ceremony." Now what had made him say all that. They didn't need to know about that part of him - but they were his friends and he would be on the island with them for the rest of his life. There couldn't be that many secrets he could keep. "Umm.....Hargun, truth or dare...." Greer Cassenwari "Sean! Truth or dare." Greer quickly grabbed her glass and took a swallow, hoping no one noticed that embarrassing near-squeal. Zen girl, zen. Hargun Aikason Hargun waved to the Dude as he walked up. "Hey Dude.. other.. webbed finger.. person... animal.. yea." she said retardedly. She hadnt realized it was her turn... but she sighed and stopped scratching at the bar. "Dare. Apparently no one's picked it yet anyways so.." she said and grinned. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose was trying to hide the funny look that wanted to spring to his face when Ian described the inpending transformation as being similar to a druidic ritual when he heard The Dude's familiar voice. He nearly choken on his drink as he turned around, conflicting emotions bubbling to the surface. He was happy to see him. Really.... it would be for the best if he were here and AMbrose didn't end up in a potentially embarrassing situation with Greer, or something that might screw up the thing they had going on. "Dude!" Ambrose finally said after coughing a bit as the drink tried to go down the wrong pipe. "Glad you could make it!" Amaya Vaughan Amaya aimlessly wandered along the beach, being dressed rather... lightly today. It was hot, she felt lazy, and she didn't expect to bump into anyone so she had just kind of said the hell with it for today. Though it seemed like she wasn't going to be that lucky. In the distance she could see tons of people are the bar, one being Hargun. A smile reached her lips and she took a step foreward but stopped and thought for a moment.
Was she interupting something? They were all at the bar afterall. She held up a small carton of orange juice she had been drinking and sipped some out of the straw, the habit of getting drinks from the cafeteria and walked around with them becoming a habit of hers.
"Hnnn..." Looking down at her boots then over at her bare arms that made her feel ridiculously self-conscience, she slowly made her way to the bar and silently took a seat by her batty friend. She leaned over and whispered a 'hey' to her, being uncharacteristicly silent to the others as she played with her glasses. Ian Campbell Ian waved a greeting to Dude before taking another drink of his beer. Hargun had chosen dare. He wasn't going to torture her like his classmates had done to him yearsago....WHatto do, what to do... "Hargun....I dare you to...." It was the first dare, something easy, that perhaps didn't seem to 'wimpy' of a dare. She was also only a teenager so..... "I dare you to........" he spied a bug scurrying across the sand and reached down capturing it. "Eat this bug." He hoped he wouldn't upset Greer too much with that dare. Hargun Aikason "Oye! Hey Amaya!" she said, turning quickly to her friend, replying just a bit too loud. Turning back to Ian she had a strange feeling. She knew he wasnt doing it to pick on the animal she was changing into, but it striked her funny at first. Shrugging she snatched the bug and said "Sure," then scarfed the poor thing down. It tasted suprisingly good. "Mm." she grinned. "Tasty." She looked to the ever quiet Pyroth and poked his shoulder. "Do you wanna go next? if so.. Truth or Dare?" she asked. Greer Cassenwari Greer whimpered a little, wishing that particular example of Lasioderma serricorne well into that long good night. Meep! Ian Campbell Ian watched in horror as Hargun was able to easily eat the beetle. Supressing a shudder at how weird that was he looked at Greer, hearing her small whimper. "I'm sorry Greer" he said then turning to Amaya waved to her. "Hi Amaya, how is you?" The Dude XD The Dude had plopped back onto the chair next to Greer, happy to see that she was happy to see him. He was sitting pretty close to her, but since he REALLY didn't want to make her embarassed (he didn't know she had talked to Ambrose), he was still keeping his flippers to himself. She looked cute today, and the half hearted eyeliner remains on her eyes were adorable. As were the little brownish feathers that were stickign out from behind her ears. The Dude has been so good and actually filled out two pages of the notebook, as well as spent an entire hour carefully lining her sketches with the water proof pen. And yeah, while there were a lot of other people there and he did wave to Hargun and to Amaya and Ambrose and everyone else, his eye were pretty much wondering over to Greer ever so often. So he was trying to concentrate on sipping his White Russian, the milky cocktail leaving a white mustached on his whiskers. Frag him, the pretty boy was here, too. Oh well. Ambrose promised ot stop the worst from happening, and the Dude happily put his reputation in the hands/paws of his buddy. Pyroth Ignatius Pyroth had finished his whiskey and settled into a mild reverie, his gaze on the bar top. However, he was starled out of his daydream by Hargun and looked up, somewhat dazed for a second before nodding. Why not?
"Truth." he stated, definately not being made to eat strange bugs or anything else of the sort. What could she ask him anyway?
Amaya Vaughan Amaya simply STARED as Harun ate the bug she had been dared to eat. "Ewwww..." Though her disgusted look quickly turning into a smile as she couldn't help but chuckle. She HAD said she was craving bugs, didn't she?
So they were playing Truth or Dare while drinking... that didn't seem too bad. Green eyes looked up to Ian and she smiled, glad she had picked a seat by the two people she knew the best on the Island. "I'm doing alright, do you feel any better since last time?" She hoped he did, not wanting him to be sad... though Ian did look a bit more happy today.
Her gloved hand rose slightly and she gave a shy wave to the Dude, only drawing attention to herself if someone noticed her. She looked over to the red-haired man that Hargun had dared. He was starting to change too, but she haden't met him before... Greer Cassenwari She sighed. "That's okay Ian - at least tabacco beetles aren't poisonous." Turning to smile at Sean again, she debated a bit before surrepticiously commandeering one of his hands. "Have you been a good boy and worked on your research?" Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose smiled and lifted his glass to the Dude, and watching their admittedly cute chatter.... field notebook...? He took another deep drink of the glass, and then refilled his cup with what was left in the blender. Hargun Aikason Hargun paused to think, scratching at her chin with her finger. "Hmmm..." Finally she got something. "Whose the nicest person youve met here on the island, and why?" she asked and looked around for a second oddly wanting to find another bug, then glanced up real quick at Greer remembering her whimper. "Im really sorry Greer." she frowned. The Dude XD He happily put his "commandeered" hand around Greer's shoulder and nodded to her: "Yep. I caught a yellowtail snapper and described him. Then I grilled him over open coals. His stomach had a few shirmp so I assume that's what he eats, but please don't ask me how he makes babies. And I also "described" some scallops. They tasted pretty good, too. AND I talked to Aubrey about a camera and books! I think I deserve a gold star, Miss Greer." He winked at her. Pyroth Ignatius The nicest person? Pyroth pondered that thought for a moment. He had met many nice people on this island since his arrival, in fact almost all of those he had met had been warm and pleasant towards him. All apart from the doctor that is, he had a cold and metholodical manner about him. However, there was really only one name he was bound to decide on.
"Not that most people I've met here haven't been extremely pleasant, but I'd have to say Colche, that girl seems like she wouldn't know how to do something nasty even if she had to. She keeps right on going despite everything else that goes on round about her, something even /I/ had to learn."
He nodded resolutely, yes, Colche had made the biggest impact on him since his arrival. As he spoke, he noticed Amaya for the first time, and the Dude whose arrival he had missed. Wow, there really were a lot of the islanders here tonight.
"So yes, Colche."
It only dawned on him then that meant it was his turn to choose someone to question. He picked the nearest person he could who just so happened to be the Dude.
"Dude, I take it you are joining in with the game? If you are, then truth or dare?" Greer Cassenwari Snuggling into him, Greer rolled her eyes. "I hope you don't plan on eating all your subjects - I'm sure a few of them will be poisonous. And as for gold stars, I'm afraid I'm plum out of stickers." Smiling at Hargun, she laughed. "Don't worry about it hun, you're the one who had to eat it!" The Dude XD The Dude smirked at Greer, still admiring how pretty she looked in teh dusk of the evening: "Oh yeah, no worry. I was going for the yummy ones first anyway. For motivation." He turned to Pyroth and grinned, showing white teeth: "Hmmm ... let's walk on the wild side - I want a DARE!" Amaya Vaughan So that Greer lady and Mister Dude DID have something! That was... creepy. She peeled her eyes from the couple back down to her neglected OJ and took a sip. Hargun Aikason Hargun nodded rather blankly. She hadnt met this Colche, but she figured she just wasnt an out-and-about person. She looked over to Amaya and laughed. She could tell there was a bit of 'wtf' in the way she was acting. "Help me find another bug please?" she laughed and shook her head. "No no wait! Be sure that its been on the bar.. anything that tastes good has been graced with the flavor of a table." Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose leaned closer to the Dude, intentionally getting closer to Greer as he did. "So, you've been doing research on fish?" He asked, honestly curious. He glanced between Greer and him, licking his lips and trying to think of what he could contribute. "THat... sounds like a rather ineresting use of time... being we have plenty of it." He clapped him on the arm. "Come on Pyroth! GIve him a challenging Dare!" He gave a fanged grin. Greer Cassenwari Greer rolled her eyes. Sean with a dare? This was going to be... interesting. Smiling at Ambrose, she chuckled. "You're going to get him in trouble, aren't you?" Pyroth Ignatius "A dare eh?" Pyroth pondered for a moment what he could ask the Dude to do. He didn't intend anything /too/ contraversial, after all, he wanted to remain as unassuming as he had been since the beginning. So no kissing dares or anything, this wasn't high school. However, what did appeal a bit to Pyroth's ever so slightly drunk brain was a good old manly drinking challenge.
"Ok then, The dare is as follows, I dare you to drink either 10 bottles of beer or a half bottle of spirits without a single flinch."
He knew it was one heck of a lot of alchol but what the hey, it was the only thing he could think of at that point.
"Of course, if that's too much for you, then feel free to set any other more feasible amount" he smirked ever so slightly, calling the other man's bluff. Pyroth could never drink that much in a hundred years, but he wondered if the Dude would know that. Ian Campbell Ian whistled through his teeth. That was a helluva lot of alcohol....He would have never been able to do that dare, considering how he had started drinking only about two weeks ago. He turned and grinned at Amaya. "This will be interesting." Amaya Vaughan "Ah, yes. Gotta have that table flavor in there." Amaya looked around the bartop, but didn't see any bugs at the time being. If she did though, she'd hand it over to Hargun. The whimper and look Greer had made passed her, though she did hear both Ian and the red-haired bat appologize to her... she just didn't know what for.
She then looked innocently up at Ian. "Can't you die or something from that much alcohol? Like... alcohol-poisoning or something?" God, she hoped not... The Dude XD The Dude rubbed his nose with his thumb and nodded at Ambrose: "Yep. Cuz I know fish and stuff." He souded a bit embarassed there. Turning back to Pyroth, the Dude quirked his eyebrow and grunted: "Chug half a bottle of hard liquor. Hmmm ... sure, why not. Just dont' let me drown afterwards. Can I pick what to chug? Cuz tequilla gives me horrid hangovers." He stood up, leaving Ambrose next to Greer and trotted over to the bar, looking thru the bottles. Tequila - no, Bombay Saphire - no, vodka - nah, too wussy ...Captain Morgan Rum - hmmm ... good old Jack ... another possibility. He picked the Jack and swirled the ember liquid around the bottle. Then he looked up strickly at the two underage girls in the crowd and professed: "Now kids, this old Dude has already run his liver into the ground. So little harm done. But don't do this at home okey? Alcohol is bad for you. It's icky and smells of medicine. Oh, and Ambrose - you be my wing man. You keep me out of harms way, ya know what I mean?" - he winked at him, hoping Greer woudln't hate him for this. With that he took a deep breath, then put the bottle to his mouth and started drinking. God he was gonna regret this in a few hours. But a dare was a dare. YEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAA! Greer Cassenwari Greer groaned and rubbed the bridge of her nose, recalling the time she'd spent an entire night watching over her roommate as the poor girl had puked her guts out after coming home smashed from a party. This was going to be a loooong night, but at least she didn't have a midterm tomorrow. Pyroth Ignatius Pyroth raised his eyebrows as the Dude took his dare without even batting an eyelid. What had once been a grudging respect now went through the roof.
"Of course, your choice of spirits." he affirmed, still somewhat agape.
Then he watched, in probably as much shock and fascination as everyone else as the Dude made mincemeat of his challenge. If he had been back home, he would have given the man the best weapon he owned as a show of just how impressed he was. But as things were, he settled for a brief clap.
Respect.
Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose boggle at the dude... actually about to take Pyroth up on the dare... dear lord... He shook his head and gave The Dude a thumbs-up. "Good luck, man! And I'll do my best!" He smiled, a sincere one. He didn't mind at all being there to try to stop the Dude from doing anything stupid. ... after all, that might help him look even bet - no .. no... He was doing it because the Dude was his friend just as much. He shook his head at his margarita. He was here to have fun... And NOT forget. Things would happen as they happened. And these people were his friends. Vasile DiRossi Vasile watched teh goings-ons quietly from behind the bar. He did indeed play bartender where needed, refilling drinks and making knew ones. He wore a steady scowl on his face at the Dude's arrival, but held his tongue. He kept looking out for Cass, getting more and more dissapointed as it looked like she wasn't going to show. The Dude XD The Dude put the half full bottle down and filled up a glass with water, drinking it straight after. Oh god, that was alot of liquor. His inards were on fire. GAH. He saluted Pyroth and then turned his bewhiskered face at Vasile: "Hey pretty boy, choose your weapon. Truth or Dare?" Greer Cassenwari Greer shook her head, somewhat amused. As long as Sean could keep his food down she wouldn't really get upset. "Hey Vasile - another grasshopper?" she pushed her empty glass towards the self appointed bartender. Amaya Vaughan Amaya watched the Dude chug the alcohol, mouth agape. She wanted to run up and stop him, but... it was just a game right? It wouldn't hurt him... and their weren't any cars around for him to get in so it was okay. Yes, it was okay. Just let him be. Green eyes went back down to her OJ and she blew some bubbles through her straw with what was left or it. Vasile DiRossi Vasile licked his lips as he considered the Dude's question. What the hell," he thought, making another Grasshopper for Greer. "Dare," he said after he handed the glass to Greer with a smile. The Dude XD s**t, he had hoped for truth. Oh well. The Dude thought about what would be a good dare. His mind came up with a few "good ones" instantly, but there were children around and he REALLY didn't want to traumatize them too much. He already chugged the liquor in front of them. Bad example right there. "Come give me foot massage, sugar." - with that the Dude sat down and plopped his flippered foot on the bar in front of Vasile. Hey, he wasn't asking him to lick his dog's privates, right? This was all pretty tame ... Pyroth Ignatius Pyroth had actualy begun to really enjoy himself for once when he realised that he had to go. He had a schedule to keep, he needed a shower and to go wash his clothes for the morning, all that sort of stuff. Also he was even considering checking up on Colche. He hated having to leave just as things got interesting, but he hoped he would be caught up later by one of the others.
Getting to his feet, he downed the last of his third shotglass of whiskey he had procured that night and bid the rest of his fellows goodnight.
"Hate to leave about now, but I have things I intended to do tonight. I'll see you all around though."
"And Dude "he gave the Dude a nod "Take care." after all, if any harm came to the man the blame would probably fall to Pyroth in the end.
And with that he made his (somewhat unsteady) way back up to the duplexes, feeling actually quite contented. Greer Cassenwari Waving good bye to Pyroth, Greer grinned at Vasile. "Looks like you have nice, tapered fingers for that too." Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose coughed a smile and looked to Vasile as the repercussions of that dare immediately leapt to mind. Vasile was trying his damndest NOT to think about the physical changes that had come over many of the other Islanders - even refusing to tug on Ambrose's fur on his hands... he wondered how he would handle TOUCHING the Dude's webbed feet. He was distracted by Pyroth's exit. "Take care, Pyroth! See you around!" He called after him and leaned closer to Greer, giving her a playful smile. "Enjoying yourself?" Hargun Aikason Hargun started to cough in laughter at the dare given to Vasile. "I was gonna ask for a glass of water but Ill go get it myself since youre going to be messaging the Dude's grundgey feet." she said and got up real quick and poured her a glass then sat down quickly to watch the interesting show. Vasile DiRossi Vasile just sat that there and stared at the Dude's...feet. Or whatever the hell they were. They looked... oh man, Vasile couldn't keep the curl from his lip off his face. But he was here to proove a point. Wiping off his hands on his bartender's towel, he took a deep breath and wrapped his manicured hands around the rubbery flippers. The texture did take him aback- he was expecting them to feel like all the other latex make up he had been exposed to before. These felt... different. But he had never touched a real sea-lion, so he had no basis to compare them.
He began to rub and felt his stomach lurch a bit. Between clenched teeth he forced a smile. "Feel good, honey?" He seethed out.
He took another swallow and made himself think of something else. "Truth or Dare, ol' Buddy," he said, looking to Ambrose. Ian Campbell Ian cracked up.This game was much more fun than when he had played it in high school. Taking a swallow of beer he promptly choked upon hearing Hargun's comment. Finally able to breath again, Ian watched Vasile, a gleam in his green eyes. Amaya Vaughan The young girl was thankful that the next dare didn't have something to do with alcohol... it was a pretty funny dare too. She stiffled a laugh and remained quiet, waiting to see what Vasile's reaction would be.
A gloved hand rose and gave a quick wave to the red-haired man... she'd have to make a mental note to maybe meet him sometime later. Greer Cassenwari Draining half of her new glass, Greer nearly choked on her minty drink laughing at Vasile's expression. Nodding to Ambrose, she grinned. "That alone was worth whatever else happens tonight. You having fun?" Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose was positively chortling as he watched Vasile come around to rub the Dude's flippery feet. At least he didn't seem particularly wigged out, just.... disgusted. However, the question halted his laughter and he straightened, coughing into his hand. He had thus far managed to avoid drawing attention to himself since he started off the game. Ah well, might as well take it like a man. "Dare!" Ambrose proclaimed with a grin.
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 9:55 pm
Drunken Truth or Dare pt. 2 The Dude XD The Dude turned around to give Greer a big grin for the support and saw Ambrose cozying up to her a little. WTF? Eh, whatever, must be seeing things. Testosterone + alcohol = never a good combination. Instead, he turned back to Vasile and stretched out his armd behind his head: "Oh yeah, sugar, you really know how to work it. Thansk!" He put his foot down and poured himself another glass of water. His stomach was contracting and the Dude's mind was slowly but surely being clowded over by an amber haze. Maybe he should stand up for a sec here, go puke somewhere privately before his heart decides to stop on him. Chugging half a bottle of whiskey was no small feat. Vasile DiRossi Vasile grinned. This would be easy enough to slip in being the choice of fairer sexes was slim pickings right now. And someone had to do this eventually. And he was a man on a mission. Rubbing the Dude's feet with a bit more.. passion, he looked to Ambrose and said, "In the most romanic, sauve, knigh-that-just-saved-the-damsel-in-distress way you're cabable of, Wolfman, give your lady-faire of choice here a kiss." You owe me one, buddy! The Dude XD The Dude grinned and added right after Vasile: "Because our lady fair over here, just can't wait to make out with you" - he pointed at the movie star. Little did the Dude know that he was about to eat his words. Greer Cassenwari Greer giggled. "Ooo, Vasile, you're going to have to teach me how to please men so well!" Vasile DiRossi Vasile scoffed a laugh at the Dude and, though he honestly had no real interest in Greer that way, she left too big an opening for him to stop himself. He leaned on his elbow over the bar at her. "I'll be more than willing to give you a personal lesson if you like, babe!" He winked at her playfully. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose coughed, blinking a few times at Vasile and then around at the people around him. Let's see... ladies... There of course was Greer... but other than that there was only Hargun and Amaya - both very young.. Hooo boy... his face was already reddening and he was begining to wonder if him talking to Vasile was the best of ideas before this drinking party. But... what the hell, right? He could analyze later whether or not it actually meant anything. He first sheepishly grinned to Greer, responding to her earlier question. "The night, apparently, has just begun.... milady." He got to his feet and gave a small bow. "Seeing as milady Greer is the only woman whom I may not get arrested for kissing...." He glanced to the Dude. "Who is infact a lady" He smirked and stepped closer to greer, whispering very lightly to her, "Not that it would be a difficult choice even if the entire population of the Island were here..." He sucked in his courage, took a hand chivalrously in one of his, thanked the alcohol in his system for allowing him to summon the nerve to do this, and leaned forward, touching his lips to hers and giving her a warm, althoug chaste, kiss. Greer Cassenwari Greer had been about to attept to say something nice and insulting to Vasile, but Ambrose's choice, and mostly what he whispered to her, made her rather speechless. Leaning back, she smiled haltingly and ducked her head. "Um, thanks, I think. Nothing like not being jailbait to really make a girl feel special." She glared at Vasile's porcelian smile. He was clearly up to something. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose straightened his collar afterwards, glancing hesitantly to the Dude before retaking his seat, still BEAT red.. "Ah... EHEM! welll..." He glanced around the table... who had been spared the mercy of embarrassment so far...? "Amaya! Truth or Dare?" Ian Campbell Ian finished his beer going behind the bar to grab another. Tking is back to his seat he grinned. Things were getting interesting....Ambrose had been dared to do enarly exactly the same thing he had to do years ago - kiss another guy's girlfriend. He laughed and took a swallow. As long as he didn't have to do anythng like that. The Dude XD The Dude gave Vasile an amused look, but then watched Ambrose smooch Greer, clearly surprised. Heeeeeey! Well ... Ambrose was right, she was the only legal girl in the room. That b*****d Vasile! Thought of everything. The desire to give Vasiel a black eye intensified, warmed up by Jack Daniels. He really should go puke sometimes soon, this was getting bad. Poor Greer! All this abuse! Vasile, little p***k, cornering the girl like that ... the Dude smiled encouragingly at Greer then at Ambrose, who was a lovely shade of red: "Sorry, Ambrose" - he walked up to the two and kinda hovered between the two, his flippers on each of their's shoulders" "You got cornered there. I shall avanged you once it's my turn! And you too, grasshopper." Poor Ambrose. Having to kiss another girl when all he had on his mind was Angelina. Vasile was sure a little p***k. Just because his love life didn't go anywhere, he had to ******** with other people's feelings. Amaya Vaughan Amaya blinked and looked up from her drink as her name was called. "Huhwhat? Oh! Uhm..." She looked around, trying to think of what to do. They weren't mean or anything, so dare would probably be okay. "Dare!" Greer Cassenwari Greer shook her head quickly, stopping when it caused the world to spin. "That's okay Sean! I-I can take care of myself." Somehow, after what Ambrose had said in her ear she felt bad about the Dude trying to 'defend' her. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose's blush seemed to spread more across his face as all he got from the dude was... not anger... but sympathy. "It... it's alright, Dude... really." He forced a grin and patted his flipper. "I'll live... I promise!" He turned his focus to Amaya, scratching his chin thoughtfully. She was underage - by far - so no alcoholic antics. He looked around the bar and the beach, pondering. "I Dare you, Amaya.... to go find some seashells, seaweed, and whatever else on the beach, and decorate a person of your choice here with them." He beamed a smile. Ian Campbell Ian chortled some more, burying his face in his beer as best he could. He wondered who Amaya would decorate. Whoever it was, they would be a sight to behold....too bad he didn't have a camera. Greer Cassenwari Laughing, Greer finished off her drink. "Nice one." Amaya Vaughan "OHYAY!" The young girl perked up almost immediantly and shot off like a bullet to collect what she needed. What a fun dare!
She returned shortly with seaweed drapped over her shoulders and a pile of seashells and small pieces of driftwood in her arms. "Okay!" Approaching Vasile from behind, she put her equipment on the bar and started to place the stuff on him. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose's face split into a grin. He was happy to see her excited by the dare, and roping Vasile into the 'fun', wondering exactly what he might end up looking like after her magic was worked. His tail began wagging back and forth enthusiastically. "Nice collection you acquired!" Hargun Aikason Hargun laughed as she watched Vasile getting draped in seaweed and other beach items then yawned. Even though this would be her most active time, she had returned to a somewhat normal sleep schedule since the day of her change. "Imma head out soon guys.. but I wanna stick around a little longer. This has been a really entertaining event." she laughed. The Dude XD Oh god oh god ... the room was starting to spin. Okey - INTERVENTION. The Dude patted Greer on the naked shoulder then walked out rapidly and purposefully out of the bar. Walking into the opposite direction from Amaya, he cleared a considerable chunk of the beach then made a beeline for the palm trees and the darkness of the jungle. Barefoot and not seeing where he was going he just wanted to get away from people without making an embarassment of himself. About five minutes later he emerged from the jungle, feeling a bit better and went to wash up in the lagoon. The cold water on his neck and shoulders felt even better for handling the spinning world around him. He could do this. Frag Pyroth, sneaking out before he coudl retaliate for making him drunk as a skunk. Heh skunk was Timmy's job, not his. Funny! Grinning for no good reason, the Dude walked back to the bar and entered the brightly lit area. He was not aware of it, but on top of his blond dreads sat a large, pissed off looking spider, complete with some spider webs that the Dude had ran into on his track thru the jungle. "Oh WOW. Good job Amaya! It's pick on Vasile day! We should have this weekly ... kinda like therapy for him, eh Vasile?" - he grinned, patting her on the back. The spider began it's descent from the Dude's head onto his shoulder. Vasile DiRossi Vasile gave a mock-defeated look, but took the dare in stride. He smiled and laughed to himself as he was donned by seaweed and various shells. "You know when I first saw you I thought you might be my make-up artist!"
His smile, unlike most of the time when it looked posed, was genuine. The look in his eyes would actually imply he was having fun. Greer Cassenwari Greer cheered, clapping. "Amaya, you're my heeeeero!" Turning when Sean patted her shoulder she frowned, watching him disappear and return. Catching sight of his companion, she cooed. "Ooo, lovely Citharacanthus spinicrus you've got there!" Ian Campbell Ian downed the rest of his second beer. This was great. Seeing the pretty boy actor get seaweeded was worth every second of his time here. Again wishing for a camera, Ian just went and grabbed a third beer. Then the Dude came back from the trees...wearing a huge spider on his head. Ian gave a yell and leapt backwards. Spiders were not his thing. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose gave a hearty round of applause for both Amaya AND Vasile for being such a good sport. "Beautiful! And agreed - this has been a great deal of fun." He beamed, sitting back down. However, at the Dude's approach, he gave a muffled yelp of surprise at the giant spider in his hair before smoothing himself back down. Great, Greer was calm of course - it was a bug of some sort, and he had looked like a wuss. Trying to cover, he walked over to the Dude... it... probably wasn't poisenous, right? "You.. ah... that's a great Spider in your hair, Dude!" he gestured, trying to brush it off. Amaya Vaughan "Oh yes, of course!" Amaya giggled and stood back to admire her work. His hair looked like slimy green dreds and a few pieces of the driftwood had been shoved into his t-shirt sleeves to make them look like makeshift armor. Some of the hermit crab shells she had found at been shoved onto the juts sticking from the driftwood like decorations as well. "Ta-da! ... Oh wait." Grabbing half of an old clam shell, she placed it on his head. "There." She grinned, marveling at her work. Cassidy Smith Fashionably late? Nah, just plain old late. Cass had dozed off during the afternoon, which may or may not have had something to do with getting chilled. Anyway, she was here now. She made her way towards the sound of voices, snuggled into a baggy sweater, hands in her pockets. The Dude XD Oh oh ... judging by the grossed out look Ian just gave him and how Greer suddenly started cooing happily about something spinicrus, the Dude's whiskey fogged mind realized that something bad was on him. At the same moment a ticklish feeling of eight little claws on his bicep alerted him exactly where this monster that was making Greer squee was. He looked, wide eyed and EEEEEPED like a girl, trying to shake the bloody thing off of himself. The spider, blinded by the light and terrified was perdictably holding on for dear life. "NOT FUNNY! GET IT OFF MEEEE!" - he pleaded to Ambrose ... and to Greer. He trusted her mroe with spiders then Ambrose ... Vasile DiRossi Vasile's face, already looking a bit flushed from the alcohol, lit up like a lightbulb when he saw Cassidy approach. "CASS!" he called out to her, waving. He was standing behind the bar, decked out with seaweed and shells around him and in his hair. Besides sea-life, he was wearing an open shirt, swim trunks, and a pair of sandals. Amaya Vaughan Now lets see... who would she dare? Amaya looked around. Everyone seemed to have been dared already, though Ian haden't been in awhile. Sitting down, she nudged him in the arm with her elbow like she had a few days before. "Ian, truth or dare?"
She then jumped at the rather girlish squeel that emitted from the Dude and watched, amused as he flailed about while trying her best not to burst into fits of laughter. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose beamed a smile at Cassidy as she approached. "Cassidy! Alright! Glad you could come!" He gave Vasile a subtle wink and turned back to her. "Come on up, have a seat, and let our marine bartender here fix you something. We're playing Truth or Dare." He said as a halfway explanation. "It's Amaya's turn to pick someone" He said, plopping back down into his chair ... as the Dude proceeded to run frantically around with the Spider clinging desperately to him. Greer Cassenwari Rolling her eyes, Greer grabbed his arm. "Stay still, you big baby. Pfft, men." She reached over and calmly plucked the frightened beast off of him, being careful to avoid its fangs. Still laughing at Sean and Ambrose's reactions, she disappeared into the woods, released the tarantula, and returned to her seat, smiling at Cassidy. "Hey you! We were wondering if you were going to show." Ian Campbell Ian lifted his head. "Dare I guess." he said. Where was the harm, the others had been dared. It couldn't possibly be too bad. "Hey" he said to the new arrival. He hadn't met her yet, andhe neededto introduce himself. "I'm Ian." he ignored the fact that she had scales. Cassidy Smith Cassidy blinked. "Oh... kay." She shook herself, trying to forget about the spider (uuuuuggggh) and grinned sheepishly. "I fell asleep. Um. Sorry. I'm here now, though." And she promptly yawned. "Hi, Ian. I'm Cassidy." She smiled nervously, then said to the crowd as a whole, "What's Truth or Dare got to do with... um... well..." She pointed at Vasile's new fashion statement. The Dude XD Saved form the spider, the Dude sat down on a far away bar stool and pouted. He was cool with spiders ... he really was. But not when they were the size of his hand and appeared suddenly. GAH! Did he really just yelp like a litte girl? Frag. There goes the tough male image the hald a bottle of liquor gave him. He watched Greer fluff her feathers and go release the beast. "Yo Cass." - he finally realized the Canadian girl was here. Greer Cassenwari Awww, poor sea lion man! He looked absolutely adorable when he sulked. Putting an arm around his shoulders and giving him a quick kiss on the lips, she grinned at him. "You protect me from the alcohol and I'll handle the tarantulas, okay?" Amaya Vaughan "Hi Cassidy." Amaya waved, feeling less self-conscience now that she had been able to vent her energy on Vasile's wonderful new look. "And I did that!" She pointed proudly to him. "It was a dare."
"Hmmm..." A gloved hand rubbed her chin as she looked up at Ian, plotting. "I dare you to..." As she thought, she finished her OJ then looked down at it and held it up in the air as if she her lightbulb had just went off. "Balance this carton on your head and sing Yankee Doodle!" Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose's finger circled the glass of his now empty margarita as he watched the two of them cute next to eachother again with a sigh. Was he jealous of Greer... or just that there was a couple here... and he really really wanted Angelina... to hold... to comfort him...? He slid the empty glass to the bartender, and held up a finger for 'one more'. "Vasile here was the target of Miss Amaya's dare to... ah... decorate someone" Ambrose averted his mind to the mirth at hand. Ian Campbell Ian gonked. He didn't know the lyrics to yankee doodle.....But being the good sport (the alcohol helped too) he grabbed the carton and balancedit on top of his head hoping it wouldn't fall once he started to sing. Standing up tosing the carton fell off his head. Putting it back on, he began to sing off key but in a soothing tenor voice Yankee Doodle probably getting most of the words wrong. The Dude XD Oh, now the Dude was all better. What magic a little kiss can do. "Sounds like a deal. That was a tarantula? Are they mean?" - he asked as he stood up to fill a large glass of water for her. "Here, oh my hero. Drink!" - he gave her the glass then patted his lap, inviting her to come perch on it. Vasile DiRossi Vasile waved again to Cass. "Hey girl, can I get you anything to drink?" He asked from behind the bar. Cassidy Smith "Oh, I dunno, Vasile. Something hot. Some sort of Irish coffee or something, if you have it. Aren't you people cold?" Cassidy took a seat on the ground, crosslegged, and sat down to watch, hugging herself. Amaya Vaughan "Yay!" Amaya watched him, throughly amused and tried her best to stiffle her laughter to no avail. It was nice to see Ian having fun! At least... she hoped he was having fun. Greer Cassenwari Accepting the water and the lap offer, Greer took her new seat and managed only to spill a little liquid down her front. Coughing, she put down the glass and clapped for Ian. "Bravissimo! Encore!" Answering Sean's question, she nodded vigorously. "When frightened yes. And they have big fangs and lotsa venom." Vasile DiRossi Vasile rummaged around and found the direction for Irish Coffee. He made it, and feeling proud of himself, he brought it over to Cass, sitting down next to her and holding it out to her. "m'lady," he said with a smile. He looked utterfly ridiculous with bits of seaweed hanging from his hair. Ian Campbell Ian took a bow forgetting the carton was on his head. It tumbled to the ground and he laughed. He was having fun. This was the best time he had had in a long while. "Ambrose!" he grinned "Truth or dare" he didn't know cassidy well enough to ask her truth or dare yet. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose looked over to Ian quickly, blinking. "Me...? Uhm... how about... Truth?" He smiled, not knowing Ian that well. He took a sip of his fresh Margarita courtesy of Vasile. Cassidy Smith "Thanks, Vasile." Cassidy took a sip, relishing in its warmth, and peered at Ambrose carefully. Truth or Dare. Weird. The Dude XD Holding Greer on his lap and using majority of his will power to not try and get fresh with her, the Dude answered back at Cassidy: "Cold? NOPE. But if you are, I know someone who wouldn't mind fixing that for you. Hint - he's ugly and has a yappy dog." That's right, Vasile. Greer Cassenwari Perking up at the idea of embarrassing the oft-pink Ambrose, Greer spoke up. "Ooo! Ooo! Ask him if he can howl and to prove it!" Ian Campbell Ian grinned...what could he ask Ambrose. Howling sounded good......but there were so many things he could ask the wolfman "Ambrose," he began the effects of the beer making him slightly tipsy. "The fair lady yonder wants to hear you howl....so can you?" Amaya Vaughan "Well, as much as I'd like to stick around, I think I should head off to bed." Amaya smiled and stood up, tossing her OJ carton in the trash. "See ya guys!" Waving to everyone, she headed back to her duplex. Greer Cassenwari Waving goodbye to Amaya, Greer grinned. "Sing my angel of music! Sing for me!" Ambrose Maurlias As predicted, A blush creeped onto Ambrose's face as he was reminded of his rather animalitic persuasion.... but it was all in good fun, anyway, yes? He gave a play-rueful look to Greer and slid off the stool. Could he howl? He wasn't even sure. "Well, I can Growl... I've found that out. I guess we'll find out together, now won't we?" He tossed his head back, the margarita making this sound like a very Fun idea, and opened his lungs as a long, lupine howl rose out of his chest, carrying its way over the Island, rising to a solid note that held a creepy-mournful tone before lowering down to finally silence. Ambrose looked back up afterwards, "Wow... uhm.... I guess I didn't quite expect that." He looked between Ian and Greer before sitting back down and then shooting a vengeful look to Greer. "Welll... as the one who suggested that.... I think that our attention should return to you, Greer.... Truth or Dare?" Greer Cassenwari Greer hiccuped, still smiling. "That was great! Um, dare I guess!" She was in trouble, but hey, she more than deserved it. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose's grin widened. Perfect! "Welllll... as you had me "sing" for you in my wolfish way.... let's have you dance for us, miss birdie. Shake your tailfeathers for us up on the bar!" Ambrose grinned. patting the top of the bar. Vasile DiRossi Vasile looked rather alarmed at Ambrose's howl. He even tore his eyes away from Cass long enough to stare at him a moment. But then Ambrose skipped over him for the dare?? Vasile looked a bit hurt at Ambrose, grabbing his eyes with his then darting them to Cass beside him. C'mon, man, you owe me one! The Dude XD When Ambrose howled, the hair on the Dude's back stood up. The howl was eerie. Ambrose truly just sounded like a wolf. And something inside of the Dude didn't liek it, even considered it dangerous. He squished that something out, since he was so very soused right now, it was easy to ignore things When the next dare was announced the Dude chuckled, nudging the drunk Greer off his lap, whispering to her: "C'mon, you can do it. Did I tell you look really hot tonight? Go show them all!" Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose caught Vasile's look and slapped his forehead. Damn... he was right. Ambrose looked back to him and nodded a few times quickly, crossing his fingers to him, shielded from most of the rest of the company by his margarita glass. Then, he turned to Greer to watch. Greer Cassenwari Greer sniffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Shows what you know! I'm a grasshopper, not a birdie." Turning, she gave Sean quite the kiss and climbed out of his lap on to the bar top. Closing her eyes, she played her Dad's beloved 'Bomboleo' by the Gipsy Kings in her head as she salsa'd her way up and down the bar a few times. There was much butt and hip shaking to be had. You know, when her mother signed her up for those latin ballroom dance classes as a kid, it was doubtful she had this in mind. Finishing by draping herself over the bar, she winked at Ambrose and then quickly climbed back on to her aquatic man's lap. She was very glad she wasn't too sticky. "All right, who next?" Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose coughed, and as he did so, pointed his finger at Vasile, who was most likely not paying attention to what Ambrose was doing right at that moment. Greer Cassenwari Turning her head and seeing the still bedecked pretty boy, she grinned. "Vasiiiile, truth or dare?" The Dude XD There was hooting and hollering from the drunk sea lion as his hot mamacita was shaking the money maker. Had the Dude been more coherent and less trashed, he would have even said inappropriately cheeky things at the butt shaking, but he was thankfully too soused to think of them. The considerable dose of Jack was happily pumping in his blood stream and since his stomach contenst have been left somewhere in the jungle, there was nothing really left to stop the flood. Welcoming Greer with a big hug and lots of squishing, he grinned at the rest of the folks in the bar ... kind like 'CHECK OUT THE HOT STUFF ON MY LAP, SUCKERS!' Vasile DiRossi Vasile wondered if he should "waste" a dare on Greer. But she seemed pretty interesting. Especially liquered up a bit. Oh what the hell, he was feeling adventurous. "Dare," he said, after a long moment of thought. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose found his eyes glued to Greer as she performed his Dare, his hand frozen to his margarita. Wow... she was quite hot... He shook his head quickly and watched as Greer returned to The Dude.... and they were a couple. Greer Cassenwari Greer nodded, pretty much permanently giggly due to alcohol. "Just let me confer with my learned council on this one." Leaning over to Ambrose, she whispered in his ear. "Well? You know this guy way better than I do. Any ideas?" Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose smiled as he leaned over to Greer. "I know he's got a thing for Cassidy.." He trailed off, glancing over to Vasile. "Maybe... something to nudge those two lovebirds together?" He smiled, his breath definately carrying the scent of one-too-many margaritas. Greer Cassenwari "Ooo, you're a smart puppy!" She gave him a peck on the cheek, mostly likely not intending to make that rather bad pun. Snuggling back up to Sean, she pointed to Cassidy. "Our one and only lady Cass looks very chilly. You should go warm her up, pretty boy!" Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose chortled, in his current state of half-inebriation finding the pun rather amusing, and that coupled with a kiss from Greer made it all the better, a dopey smile on his face. And even better - here was some repayment for Vasile! Vasile DiRossi Vasile beamed at Greer. Thank you my feathered friend he thought to himself. He scootched closer to Cass and opened his arms, patting his thigh, offering her to come hit in his lap. He placed one of his hands around her shoulders and gave her a small pull towards him, but only to show what he meant. He let her accept or decline on her own volition. The Dude XD The Dude put his flipper around Greer's waist when she came back and demanded: "I want a kiss, too." He was very drunk. And Greer was very hot. Consequently there was only one thing on the man's mind. And Ambrose was being a very bad wing man currently. Not that the Dude could realize that ... he was pretty far gone. Greer Cassenwari Greer shook her head. "You haven't earned another one yet." The Dude XD Making sad eyes the Dude wondered: "Whatcha want me to do, grasshopper? Howl?" Greer Cassenwari She laughed. "Nooo, sea lions don't howl! That's wolves. What do sea lions do?" The Dude XD He grinned, putting his flippers around her unprotected waist, since her shirt had rolled way up during the dancing. His hands were soft, kinda squishy, with dawny fuzz starting to grow on them. "Mmmm ... sea lions bark! Like this. Arf Arf Arf!" - the drunk sea lion demonstrated. It was a happy loud sound not unlike that of a dog. And it wasn't positively sure wheter the Dude has simply mimicked a sea lion or wheter the sea lion inside of him had barked. "Kiss?" Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose laughed. "Make him bark!" He grinned mischiviously. Greer Cassenwari Greer squealed at the feel of his flippers on her midsection. "Eeee! Hey, watch it, the feathers down my spine are sensitive!" Getting a mischevious glint her eye, she nodded. "Okay, kiss. C'mere you!" Wrapping her arms around his neck she pulled him in close... and at the last second gave his nose a big wet lick.Vasile DiRossi Vasile frowned as Cassidy stiffened and shook her head. Vasile took his hands away and stood up, looking like someone just killed his best friend. "Hey Dude, truth or dare?" he finally asked lowly. Ian Campbell Ian caught Vasile's look of disappointment and wanted to go comfort the man. While debating that he finished the last of his beer not going to go get another. The Dude XD "Hey! That's cheating!" - he protested, having totally missed stuff about sensitive and what not. Or maybeit didn't compute yet, drunk as he was. Information processing took time right now. But then Vasile's voice dragged him away from admiring the reflections of light in Greer's eyes. Starring blankly at the actor, the Dude admitted: "I don't wanna move, so it'll have to be truth, buddy." He also had totally missed the fact that Cass snubbed Vasile. Yeah ... the Dude was in his own private Greer world. Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose shifted more uncomfortably, watching the two of them, obviously quite inebriated and being VERY flirty, drawing Ambrose attention even more to the fact he was - even if not necessarily with Greer... that he was without a girlfriend. He pondered returning home.... Well... what was it that a wingman was supposed to do... make sure he didn't do anything that they regretted, right? But what was he supposed to say without sounding like a total a**? He tapped The Dude on the shoulder, and whispered. "Careful, Dude. You and she are rather...er... tipsy. Don't do anything you'll regret in the morning." He gave him a clap on the shoulder. Vasile DiRossi Vasile went back behind the bar. He poured himself a shot of whatever Pyroth had been drinking and tasted it, thinking. "Did you really think I was queer?" he finally burted out. Greer Cassenwari She smiled. "It's Ambrose's fault! Learned it from him." Watching Vasile and Cass, she frowned. Oops! Had she done something wrong? "Ambrose! Don't go!" Reaching out, she attempted to snag her friend around the waist. "If you leave it diminishes my harem!" Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose blinked as Greer wrapped her hand around him, hesitating... "Your harem!" he jibed, poking her in the ribs. "Feeling ambitious are you? Goes to show what a little bit of socializing can do to a girl, huh?" He teased, remembering the shy bookworm of only a month ago. Greer Cassenwari She squeaked at the poke but didn't let go. "And alcohol. Alcohol helps too. And just why can't I hog my two pretty boys, hmmmm?" The Dude XD Huh? Ambrose just said something ... ooooooh. He looked at the giggly Greer in his lap. Harem? With Ambrose? Wow, she was SOUSED. Heh ... a soused giggly girl who wanted a harem. He'd show her that there was no need for harems. Mmmmmmmm .... Ah, she'd totally hate him in the morning if he drag her away like a caveman now. Ambrose was right. Small steps. He nodded at Ambrose: "Hey man, give us water here, will ya?" Taking his flippers off her waste he instead of put on on her shoulder, and kinda cradled the drunk grashopper in his arm. What did she just say about her feathers beign sensitive though? He looked at the brown dawny feathers on her arms and bhind her ears. The mind was still not processing the info very well. Turnign back to Vasile the Dude blurted out: "Huh? Well ... how do I put it ... yeah. Cuz you showed up on my doorstep reeking of cologne, with hair perfectly styled, a gold chain around your neck and a little dog on a leash. With the jeweld collar. Ya know ... sorry about that man. Cuz then Timmy also told me he had a crush on you, so I totally assumed." - he was drunk and thus in a very happy and very peacefull state of mind. Vasile DiRossi Vasile snorted into his drink. "Just because a man has style and takes care of his appearance..." he mumbled, but didn't argue any farther. Greer Cassenwari Greer nodded, feeling like sticking up for Vasile for some reason. "Yeah Sean. Like in Europe, even the straight boys wash themselves." Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose laughed as well... and then it fell on his lips... "Heey... yeah, that's right, Vasile!" He looked to the Dude, hoping he didn't think the same of him because he had style too. He wandered back to the bar and poured four big glasses of water and distributed them to Vasile, Greer, The Dude, and himself, knocking a big couple of gulps back. Ambrose giggled into his water at Greer's comments. "But the women don't" He chortled. The Dude XD "Well, no offense, I have seen many men with style like yours in Key West and they all were quite queer Not that there's anything wrong with that. ya know. Whatver floats the boat. But I heard even Brad Pitt waxes his legs, so I suppose in Hollywood things are different." - he grinned. "My turn now" - he looke at Ian "Hey Ian, truth or dare?" Greer Cassenwari Greer took her glass, sticking her tongue out at Ambrose. "Only in France." Gulping down her water, her head began to swim a bit less. Ah, much better! Then her impromptu man-chair's flipper accidently brushed across some of the feathers on the back of her neck. She froze, and not due to ticklishness. "Sean, sweetie, can you move your hand please?" she asked in a very quiet voice. Ian Campbell Ian frowned, was he going to do a dare this time. Three beers had made him a lor more social, he didn;t remember ever being this social ever before. But since he had done a dare last time he decided on "truth" Vasile DiRossi Taking one last, sorrowful glance at Cass, Vasile finished drinking his water. "Well, I think thats about all for me tonight." He gave a half-hearted smile to Greer and Ambrose, and nodded to Cass as he gathered Brutus and began to slowly drudge back to his room. The Dude XD "Oh, sorry. Better?" - he adjust his other hand that was on her side and pulled her t-shirt down for her, then turned to Ian. "Truth, huh? Okey, then tell us three things you are terrfied off!" - he grinned. "And, like, juicy stuff." Ambrose Maurlias Ambrose watched Vasile trudge off, sighing and knowing all too well how he felt. Dutifully draining the rest of his water he got to his own feet as well, waiting patiently while for the earth to stop its wobbling. "I think that's about it for me tonight, too, guys." He said, patting Greer and the Dude. "You three... have fun now. And don't do anything I wouldn't, you lovebirds." he waved and started walking back to his bungalow, admitting defeat. Ian Campbell "Farewell." Ian said to Vasile and then heard the Dude's truth question. "I'm scared of flying. The helicopter ride here terrified me, umm...spiders. I loathe spiders. And..." Ian turned bright red before muttering his third fear. Greer Cassenwari Breathing again, Greer made a mental note to make sure he back feathers were covered at all times. Waving good bye to Vasile and smiling sadly at Ambrose, she yawned. "Hmmm, I need sleepies. Ian, you think you can take care of my marshmellow for me?" The Dude XD The Dude was listening to Ian talk, and waved good bye to both Vasile and Ambrose as they left. But when Greer suddenly stood up he protested "Hey, wait. No way you not gonna let me walk you home!" - he grabbed her hand. "Sorry there, Ian" - he turned around towards the young man Ian Campbell Ian frowned as Ambrose left then Greer asked him to look after her marshmallow? He couldn't quite see Dude as a marshmallow.... "Um, it's alright" he said to Dude, glad he wouldn't ahve to repeat his third fear. It was rather embarassing and he'd rathernot have mentioned it at all exceptthat there wasn't much he was scared of. "I might as well head home too. See ya around." Greer Cassenwari Greer rolled her eyes. "Please, you're so worse off than I am." Smiling at Ian she apologized, "I'm sorry to steal your company, but I need to sleep my way to sober sooner rather than later. I'm not fleeing though! You aren't scary this time!" The Dude XD The Dude looked confused between the two then turned back to Greer: "So I can walk you home? Right?" This entire harem discussion with Ambrose left a strange taste inside his soul. He just couldn't put a finger on it quite yet. Ian Campbell Ian frowned "I was scary" then he remembered, it had been the first time the voice had spoken to him... "Oh, you were scaredd by that episode I had right before you left. Iwas just having problems coping, I'm better now." He smiled. "Dude, inyour state can you even find the way back to your duplex?" Greer Cassenwari She nodded, giving him a hug before heading in the direction of home. "Sure! But you're sleeping in your own bed tonight, mister." The Dude XD "Oh, no worries, Ian. I've been off far worse. This ain't tequila ..." Looking a bit hurt, the Dude followed after Greer: "I wasn't even thinking about that." Walking next to her, he was quiet for a while, flippered hands in his pockets. The cool night breeze doing an excellent job of waking teh Dude up from the amber haze. After a while he took his arm out and put it around Greer's small shoulders. Once they got to the village, he wusheled her hair and smiled at her: "Good night grasshopper. Drink more water before you go to bed. Tomorrow's gonna be a b***h." Ian Campbell Ian watched as they went off, the he made his way back to his duplex making sure he didn't interrupt their walk. Greer Cassenwari She snuggled happily into his warm body as the walked. Ah, bliss! Hearing the hurt tone in his voice, she gave him a squeeze and explained herself. "Oh I wan't accusing you of anything - actually you've been pretty much a perfect gentleman all night, considering, which I appreciate more than you can know." Nodding at his advice in the village, she went up on her tiptoes and gave him the best kiss she could muster. "I will. Thank you for caring about me." The Dude XD The kiss made it all better. He smiled at her and then winked: "Good night, hot stuff!" And trotted off for his Duplex for good now. Greer Cassenwari Putting in her last giggle for the night, Greer went home to drink water and explain her inebriated state to a stern Mei mei.
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Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:40 am
 Judging from the number of times she'd woken up to go to the bathroom she'd drunk plenty of water before she'd closed her eyes last night, but her skull was still throbbing. Urk. Either she was still a lightweight, birds didn't process alcohol well, or a combination there of. Sleeping in until ten, which was late for her, Greer slowly pulled herself out of bed and headed to the shower. The warm water felt wonderful, waking her up and making her feel more human... well, more like herself at any rate. Paying special attention to her hair and feathers, she turned off the water, toweled off, and climbed back in to her pjs for comfort's sake. Her stomach growled, demanding meat, but she really wasn't feeling up to getting dressed. Deciding that few of her fellow residents would be up at this hour considering the night they'd spent, she made a dash for the cafeteria and almost hugged the lunch lady when she gave her a plate of assorted dinner meats and told her to bring the dish back when done. Returning to her room, Greer dug into the pile of food and nursed a glass of water out on her balcony, watching the sky and pondering the night before. The first thing that stuck her was that she didn't remember all of it. The really early bits before she'd had much to drink were there, and most of the end since it was more recent chronologically, but the middle was pretty muddy. She vaguely recalled something about Ambrose saying something about ladies...and Sean with a spider...and Ambrose howling...and then she- Oh crap. She danced on the bar. Danced on the freaking bar. Putting her food down, Greer had a moment of silence for the demise of her pride. There were people who were going to remember that and remind her of it for probably the rest of her natural life. Chuckling at herself, she shook her head ruefully and gave one of the local parrots a look, daring it to comment. Her one saving grace might be that Sean had been too drunk to remember - although Ambrose certainly hadn't been. Ambrose... she frowned, munching again, and tried to remember whatever it was he'd done last night. That fellow who liked Cassidy... Vasile... had dared him to do something... she tried to put her finger on it, but everytime she located the memory it got spooked and galloped off. Ah well. If it was important she'd remember eventually. What she did recall in relation to him and last night was that he'd howled magnificently - something she planned to tease him about only in self defense if he brought up her dancing - and that she's grabbed him around the waist and declared him part of her harem. Wait- what? Deep in the recesses of her mind, Greer's hawk-self rubbed it's hands together and cackled evilly, possibly adding on a gratuitous Mr. Burns-esque 'Excellent.' Since when were birds into polyandry? Didn't they either mate for life or pick a new date every year? Particularly birds of prey, which if she remembered anything from that ornithology class back in sophmore year that had been a graduation requirement, were into the whole monogamy thing. Not that her budding romance with Sean was necessarily serious and this was an implication of cheating, and not that it was just a fling and whatnot either- oy. Her head hurt, and not so much from the physical pain anymore. This was way too much to deal with at breakfast. Sighing, she filed that issue away under 'Things to Deal with If/When They Come Up,' and continued to consume the cooked animal flesh on her plate. Finishing up as much of her meal as she could, Greer stretched and eyed the slab of chicken still left untouched. Not only was she pretty full, but she just didn't have the heart to eat a fellow avian this early in the morning. She didn't want it to go to waste, but was pretty sure she shouldn't take it back to the cafeteria and put it out for someone else to eat. Hmmm, what to do? Ooo! Getting an idea, she cut the chicken into small pieces and piled it on to a small tea saucer she had yet to return to it's dining homeland. Setting the offering and a small note that read 'To Appease the Captain' out on her front step, Greer slipped back inside to wash the death juices off her hands and dress for the day. More hydrated and full of food, she was feeling much better than she had an hour ago, even if the light outside still made her flinch a bit. Oh well, everything had its price. Scrubbing the last of last night's ill-applied eye liner from her face, Greer trotted out her door to return her plate and indulge in a cup of coffee. After that, she had some Aubrey hunting to do- if Ambrose thought last night's festivities would cause her to forget the idea of a butterfly house and his promise to help her build it, the boy was sadly mistaken.
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