Welcome to Gaia! ::

Vasile sat in the cramped, hot helicopter, looking mournfully out the window as the island finally came into view. He hated these stupid "training" camps. It was the new trend in Hollywood - if you're going to make a movie about people lost in a desert, the new fad was to drop them off in the middle of the desert so the actor could give a more real "performance."

Bullshit. Actors act. That's why they're called actors. But apparently his manager disagreed. Never mind his instant fame, and guaranteed #1 opening position. His manager and director insisted on having him dumped off on some island for a few weeks to "get into character" for his latest role.

What's worse is this island was susposed to be the real deal. Out in the middle of no where. Coral reefs kept luxury boats from docking close, and there was no room for an actual airport, which is why Vasile was sitting here, cramped in a tiny helicopter with his pet, Brutus, a miniature pincher, and one bag. The rest of his stuff was on a few more helicopters behind him.

He hated this. He didn't have his assistant, or his hairstylist, or his manager with him. Just some big, black, body-guard looking pilot who Vasile had no interest in striking up conversation.

Oh, god, please let their be hot native island chicks.

Sabin, meanwhile was still poring over the memo that had been left in his box. He, once again, got to play chauffer to a new arrival, smile nice and pretend nothing was wrong. The difference this time was that he actually recognized the name on the list. One "Vasile DiRossi" ... an actor. While Sabin wasn't exactly versed in the Hollywood gossip scene, but he knew enough to recognize names of big actors.

He had seen him acting in a few recent movies before heading out to the Island himself. The movies he played in weren't Sabin's typical bill of fare, but Vasile was apparently popular with many of his students. He had seen his photographs on a few confiscated cel phones that had gone off in class (Sabin was a stickler for things like that), and it was hard to miss the faces plastered across magazines. He found the whole thing rather amusing. But to wind up here...? That was news. It would be hard to "disappear" someone like that, wouldn't it? Or perhaps that was part of the point.

Sabin hopped into the weathered jeep and headed out to the helipad, his eyes on the familiar unmarked black helicopter that was coming in for a landing. Sabin grinned and kicked the jeep into gear, enjoying killing the shocks of the jeep as he literally bounced over the dips and bumps in the road, finally skidding to a stop just outside the requisite radius of the helicopter's landing pad.

Sabin also hadn't bothered to change or "Freshen up". He wasn't here to impress. He was here for his OWN sake and amusement. His white hair had gotten rather frizzy in the humidity and was tied back haphazardly. He had changed shirts since his introduction the other day of the nice young Indian woman. Today, he proudly brandished a blinding yellow button-up shirt with Black and Green palm tree print, and orange shorts. Completing his ensamble were beat-up flipflops and untrimmed toenails.

Vasile gazed out the window the helicopter, chiding Brutus for getting dog saliva over the veiwing area. A very haggard looking man was getting out a Jeep. Who the hell was he? Hopefully not the manager of this place. Vasile hefted his bag onto his shoulder, clucthing it tight. He wasn't going to let a ruffian like him touch it, even if it did mean he would have to carry the bag himself. He scopped Brutus into his arm and waiting impatiently for the man or the pilot to open the hatch.

The hatch was opened by the burly pilot with, as was typical of the flight over, hardly a word.

Sabin, however, beamed a smile at the man as he got a clear view of the cabin. Yup, that was him allright. Not a coincidence of names - not that Vasile DiRossi was exactly something he could expect there to be two of.

"Welcome!" He smiled in his typical greeting, remembering the cover story for this individual... and a most amusing one at that. "My name's Sabin. I'm a friend of Mr. Rosenberg and helping coordinate the activities here." He walked over and extended a hand.

Vasile pulled his designer sunglasses out his bag and put them on. Looking past the pilot at the man, he stepped out, evailuating the landscape. He was wearing very expensive-looking tight black leather pants, and a fitted blue silk shirt with black embroidery.

Finally, he seemed to 'realize' Sabin's presence and took the man's hand. "Wonderful," he said, unenthusiastically, looking skeptically at the sky behind the copter and the Jeep waiting beside the helipad. They have got to be kidding...

He shifted the weight of his bag, already tired of carrying it. Perhaps this Sabin fellow looked trustworthy enough after all. He unloaded the bag off his shoulder and piled on Sabin's arm before he let go of his hand. "Thanks," he said, and headed towards the Jeep.

Sabin lifted an eyebrow as the shoulder-strapped bag was unceremoniously dumped onto his arm without so much as a request. A frown tugged at the corners of his mouth as he rearranged the weight so it was balancing a bit better. Biting back the comment of asking if Vasile wanted to drive his own spoiled a** to the facility he swallowed it with a smile. There would be plenty of time to gloat later when he would be sprouting fur ... or scales... or whatever.

Walking over to the back of the jeep he dumped the fancy duffle bag into the backseats, not bothering to ask if it was fragile.

Smiling he walked around to the front and hopped in the driver's seat. "Hop in, Vasile" He grinned over, markedly not opening the door for him. "You ready to be a prisoner on an Island Paradise for the next month or so?" Sabin grinned.

"Careful with that," Vasile snapped, reaching over to reallign the bag. "This is lambskin."

He sneered and pulled open the door, deposting the tiny dog in his lap. The little canine tilted his head at Sabin and stepped over the gear shift to sniff at Sabin's crotch.

"We'll see about this Paradise," Vasile said, a grin spreading on his face, "when I see the ladies." He grinned like he had made the funniest joke in history, displaying his two rows of perfectly white, straight teeth. No denying the man was pretty to look at.

Sabin smiled and patted the seat. "And this is 100% genuine pleather"

He snarled a bit at the dog that was sniffing a rather private area of his lap, giving it the impression that unless it removed itself then it too would be joining the bag in the backseat. "Make sure he doesn't wet the seats." Sabin commented offhandedly as he shifted the gear into 2nd whether or not the dog had moved yet.

"Well, there are indeed plenty of ladies here." Sabin mused. "But keep in mind you're to get into character now, Vasile, and they will be as well. How much of the premise did they tell you? Or have you gotten the full script..?"

Vasile plucked the miniature dog from Sabin's lap and set him on his own. He adjusted the diamond studded collar and reached behind him to pull out a small bottle of Perrier and a plastic unfolding dish in which he poured the water into and held it out for Brutus to drink.

"I've recieved character bios, thats abuot it," Vasile said. "I heard this was just a general 'how to live while trapped on a tropical island.' And I think I read something about experimentation. I'm looking forward to doing another sci-fi flick, since Godzillia 2005. Look what it did to Will Smith."

Sabin quirked an eyebrow at the preferential treatment of the doggie. Shaking his head, he started down the road.

"Yes - we've had several of them here for a while now. Some as long as about three weeks. So they've gotten quite into character - living, breathing, and eating. Some of them even have started working in the prostetics into their everyday wear. We've been working with some tip top makeup artists here - seriously big budget on the makeup effects here, DiRossi - ex CIA - Some seriously expensive s**t - but the best part is that it's easy on and off - no 5 hours spent in makeup to make it look convincing any more. Nuh -uh!" He smiled, mentally patting himself on the back for his own acting job.

Kicking the jeep into gear, he sailed down the dirt road that most sane people wouldn't take at more than ten miles an hour. Sabin, however, was having fun.

Vasile looked unconvinced abuot the make-job at first, resisting the urge to make a crack about them obviously not working on him, but decided against it. CIA? That did sound pretty interesting. He just hoped this "in character" business didn't interfere with his ability to relax. He didn't care what his manager said. He was an actor by profession. That means 9-5, sure. But he was not going to be expected to be on an island 24/7 and not have a bit of time for fun. He just smiled knowningly to himself as he smiled and nodded along with Sabin.

Sabin rambled a bit about the amenities that the Island offered, the beaches and the entertainment room just installed - he had good timing- and finally barreled through the gate and slid into a parking spot near the glass doors of the facility.

"And, last stop - doctor's office. We'll get you your immunizations for the nasty tropical diseases, and you'll be free to slip into character and intermingle with your costars" He smiled, hopping out. "You can leave your bag in the jeep, we'll be coming back out this way."

Vasile narrowed his eyes. "I'm sorry, all my medical procedures are cleared and executed by my own, personal physician, thank you." He didn't indicate any desire to get up. He just sat there stroking his dog.

Sabin looked rather surprised as he exited from the vehicle. "Well.... I mean I can't make you... personally... but, well, if you WANT to start hemmhoraging and bleeding from the eyes from Dengue fever... well..." he shrugged. "Let's just say that your 'Island Experience' would probably be all the more genuine, but I doubt that you'd be able to convince the lovely ladies here to get within 20 feet of you..." He walked towards the door, which slid open soundlessly as he approached.

Vasile rolled his eyes and got out the vehicle, following Sabin. Brutus was still tucked under his arm. "Look, Mister Sabin," is there any way we could at least fax him. I take pretty good care of myself, I was sure I'm up to date on all my immuzations."

"I'm sure you are, Mr. DiRossi" Sabin said offhandedly. "But Most people don't immunize against Dengue. It's a rather specialized strain in this area and most physicians state-side don't even think about it. It only crops up in localized spots anyway. The immunizations keep it under control, but you don't want an outbreak situation. Or even an individual - it's really rather.... stomach turning to be frank. And we're quite accate here in some respects, Mr. DiRossi - no faxes. Your cell phone won't work out here either."

As they entered the lobby, even the simple faciliities had "Money" written all over it to a well-trained eye like Vasile's. The furniture was genuine leather, the desk in the center was solid wood, and the floor was marble. Sabin hardly paused as he walked towards a door in the back.

Vasile looked impressed at the Lobby, which seemed to contriduct the lack of fax and phone use. "you're kidding me?" Vasile pulled out his cel phone from his pocket and flipped it open, looking at it in distaste. "s**t."

Sabin's smile widened. "We're going for authentic, Vasile." He strode towards an elevator positioned in the hallway outside of the lobby. Once outside of the lobby, the plush, comfortable feeling was replced with a sterile, hospital feel. No less expensive looking. "You can't be a marooned Islander with a working cell." Ahhhh, Irony Sabin beamed.

"Well, unlike my maroon islander character, I have very important things to worry abuot. Like a publisist and an assistant, and a some lady friends. And a career..." Vasile continued to mumble as he stepped into the elevator. "..and fire his manager," he said under his breath.

"...all of which is being taken care of" Sabin placated, as he spoke aloud "Floor 8". The doors slid shut and the button-less elevator jerked into motion.

The elevator opened and a red haired man in a lab coat was standing there. "Ahhh, Mr. DeRossi, what a pleasure. I'm a huge fan." Moreau got a sickening smile on his face, he had grown to be rather good at lying through his teeth.

He also intended to abuse the boy a bit more. He didn't like pretty boy actors, no brain matter as far as he was concerned. He walked towards his cabnet to get his special serum, this one with an almost grey/silver tint to it. He'd spent most of the day on it but now it was ready, just in time.

"I hope you enjoy our little... actor camp here. I think a man like you will find it educating." Moreau grinned and turned back around.

"Please, sit, roll up your sleeve." he said.

Sabin was silent and watched the doctor at work, watching on with a curious eye and made a mental note to inquire of the doctor what serum he had chosen for this arrogant actor...

He kept a blithe smile on his face, however, his arms crossed as he leaned against a wall.

Vasile gave the doctor a friendly handshake. He was at least clean-cut and presentable. "Oh thank you, sir, its always nice to meet the fans." He gave a dashing smile. The cold, snotty man suddenly gave a pleasant, friendly, happy attitude.

Vasile set Brutus down on the ground and let him wander around.

Vasile meanwhile looks wearly at the needle, a tinge of nervousness coming over his face. "Is this really absolutely neccessary?" he asked.

"Well Mr. DeRossi, I could go into the details of the effects of Dengue fever but I'd perfer not in such... polite company. I'd say it's very neccesary." Moreau smiled and struck the needle a few times with his finger after squirting just a drop out of the top.

"Well, I must say I'm honored to have you here, most of the... actors here are much less known. I doubt you'd even know their names." Moreau patted Vasille's back. "I do warn you, some of them are prone to spend too much time in character and can get kind of weird. I wouldn't worry about it though, I'm sure you'll be well recieved."

Moreau inserted the needle and pushed the liquid in, he was enjoying this one particurally too much.


Vasile frowned as Moreau approached with the dreadul looking needle. "Yes, your employee here aready informed me of such effects - thank you."

He gritted his teeth and hissed violenty at the injection quickly jerking away as soon as the needle was removed, cursing under his breath and grabbing at his arms, causing much more of a fuss than probably needed.

"Unknowns are perfectly fine with me," he finally said, in a whiney voice. More spotlight for him. And the chicks were much more... cooperative.

"Ahhh... that's good then." Moreau grinned. "I sincerely hope you enjoy your time here, we've done what we can to make it pleasant. Though it is fairly laid back, and I'm sure you'll find the scenery nice too." he smiled at Vasille knowing full well what he was doing.

He was looking forward to building Vasille's expectations and having them torn down. He almost made a comment about some of the women being "animals" in bed, but decided that ws going too far.

"We are in the midst of installing a beachside bar as well, free drinks of course for the actors." he gave an almost half cheer motion with his hand.

"Sabin can tell you more of course..."

Sabin stepped forward at the mention of his name, his hands lazilly in his pockets.

"And the medical things are all taken care of, Mr. DiRossi" He nodded back towards the elevator.

"I can take you to your room now, if you like. And then you'll be free to start!"

He started walking towards the elevator again, which opened for them once again.

"Any questions?"

Vasile shook Moreau's hand again, this time less friendly. "Ah, a bar. Excellent."

He nodded his goodbye to the doctor then walked back to the elevator. "Yeah, have the helicopters arrived with the rest of my belongings yet?"

The elevator descended back to the main floor at a verbal command from Sabin once again, and he led him back out the front doors to the jeep.

"I am not completely sure. As soon as they arrive, however - if they haven't already that is - then I'll have them take your things to your room, Mr. DiRossi."

He got back in the jeep and nodded towards the passenger door. "It's not far now."

Vasile made a mental note to talk to Mr. Rosenburg abuot the rudeness of his staff. He gave a distinctive sigh and pulled open the door, scooping up the dog from the ground and placing him in the car with him. Instinctively, he checked his bag. He nodded to Sabin indicating he was ready.

With Vasile's sign of preparation, Sabin headed out towards another gate into the complex, and within a matter of minutes a small community became visible. The buildings were uniform an unoriginal, and certainly didn't seem to add to the feel of a "tropical Island"... they looked more like a cookie-cutter apartment complex with drab gray siding.

"And here we are~" Sabin said in a peppy, sing-song voice. "Your home for the next month." He pulled to a stop in front of one of the stacked duplexes. "Number 14. 2nd floor. You should be able to even see the beaches from your patio" He smiled affiably.

Vasile looked condescendingly at the Duplex. "There must be a mistake - all these buildings are the same size. It must be for the supporting cast."

Sabin quirked an eyebrow. "Ahhh, but your character is no different from all the rest of them." His smile turned mischivious. "This is a character camp, Mr. DiRossi. How can you get into character if you're afforded luxuries that your character wouldn't have?"


Vasile's face flattened. "Since when to people trapped on an island get shelter at all?" Smug a*****e.

Vasile grabbed his bag and his dog and got out the vehicle, slamming the door hard behind him as she evauluated the building. It was small. But it least it looked livable...from the outside.

"I'd like to request a change to a lower story, please. I don't like stairs."

Sabin chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, they're trapped on an island, sure, but didn't you read over the synopsis, Mr. DiRossi? They're experiments of a mad scientist. They're given living quarters - just... well... no escape." He smiled pleasantly, eating up the layers of irony.

"I'll be sure to file a formal request. Of course, you're welcome to offer to trade with any of the other residents on your own as well. It will encourage... interaction" he smiled again.

"Whatever" Vasile mumbled, begrudgenly heading up the stairs. Perhaps he should look over the synopsis tonight. He waited at the top of stair impatiently for his key.

Sabin took a bit longer than was probably necessary to fiddle with the keyring, finally extracating a small silver key and placing it in his hand. "There you go!"

He smiled as he headed back downstairs.

"Take care, Mr. DiRossi. If you have any problems, you can reach the center by pressing 0 on your intercom."


Vasile reached in his pocket and handed Sabin a generous (well, Sabin would think so) tip. Of course it was more out of habit and politeness than gratitide. "When can I except breakfast in the morning?" he called after Sabin, a sour expression on his face.

Sabin looked surprised, not used to being tipped, and replaced it with a warm smile as he slid the cash into his pocket. More amused than anything else - as there really wasn't much use for money on the island. "The cafeteria opens at 6am - and should have a wide selection of breakfast foods. Sometimes they open a little early, though."

With a wave, Sabin climbed back into the jeep.

Vasile just watched Sabin go with a flabberghasted expression. Cafeteria?!?!?

Oh. This would NOT stand. As soon as he was off this godforsaken camp he was calling his lawyer. No role was worth his kind of treatment.

With a sneer on his face, he jammed the key into the lock and stormed inside his room.

The night breeze carried a salty tang on it, digging runnels in the white stretch of beach that ringed the island. Karma watched as the sun slowly sank into the horizon, painting the waters a furious orange-red as it went. She felt that she was finally getting a better handle on all of it.

Perhaps it was the total isolation talking, but when you really thought about it...REALLY, there were worse things than being turned into an animal. Oddly enough it was easier to stomach than the idea of being imprisoned in a detention camp had been. There was still no word from the Doctor on a secondary injection yet...though, she supposed that he wouldn't be warning her. Warning would give her time to try and hide and make things difficult.

For now, that wasn't on her mind. This time of the night was reserved simply for herself and the sea as the tide came in. The raven-haired girl stopped on a sandy rise, arms about herself as she stared out into the water, silent and stoic.

Vasile sulked down the beach, thinking to himself. Things here just didn't seem "right" to him. This was going beyond bad service. None of his requests to get word to his managers were granted, he still didn't have the rest of his belongings that were susposed to one the second helicopter, and for being an "acting camp" he didn't see anything that would indicate such save for a set of very impressive prostetics on the man who owned the cat that tried to kill his dog.

No one else had a script. There were no cameras, or coaches.

And worst of all, the only person who hadn't treated him like utter s**t was his downstairs neighbor who, curse his luck, was gay. He was lonely and depserate, but not that desperate.

As he continued down the sand, he spotted someone down the way. Maybe there was a god - it was female!! And a rather attractive one from his vantage point. He quickly started to make his way to her, after first straightening his shirt and messing with his hair.

At first she paid the footsteps chuffing through the sand no heed, thinking that it must be someone on their way elsewhere. When they seemed to be heading right for her, she turned her head, squinting a bit against the light of the setting sun.

The sight of the blonde hair in the distance immediately made her think that The Dude had come to visit her once more and she smiled brightly, preparing to wave at him, only to realize her mistake as the figure drew closer and out of the glare of feverish yellow light. No, that wasn't him, this was someone she hadn't met before.

Her smile faltered, but remained as she didn't want to be rude and she offered a wave anyway to the approaching stranger.

Vasile trotted over, giving a dashing white smile to her and returning the wave. As soon as he got close enough to speak, he smiled warming and nodded his head. "Hello there." He looked out over the ocean. "Wow, thats beautiful, isn't it?"


"Yes." she said quietly, her arms folding back around herself once more as she looked back out to the water. "Its nice this time of the night. Everybody else is inside." A strange feeling crawled over her that she should know who he was. Her mind ran a hasty check through the familiar faces at school, in choir, online friends who had sent her a picture, and she drew a blank. Strange...

Vasile looked back over to the woman, letting his eyes wander over her. Fate must have been with him tonight - not only did he find a woman, a beautiful, unescorted woman alone on a beach.

He held out a hand to her. "Vasile DiRossi," he said. It was a pleasantry, of course, to introduce yourself. Sometimes women were hesitant to immediately ask who he was, or just an impressive lookalike. He gave his best headshot smile as he extended his hand.

She hesitated before extending her own, accepting the handshake. "Katherine DeFeo. My friends call me Karma..."

Her smile faded into a look of quirked-brow thoughtfulness "Vasile DiRossi...." she repeated the name quietly, trying it out. Suddenly she blinked, a missing piece of the puzzle almost audibly clicking into place. "....from the movies....??" she asked, crimson eyes widening. She nearly dropped his hand in surprise and half-expected him to laugh and tell her no, but that he got that a lot. Or something to that effect.

Vasile nodded, giving a non of understanding. "yes, thats me. Don't be embrassed, I look a lot different on screen." That wasn't entirely true, Vasile thought, but at least it made the girls feel better when he said that. "Its so very nice to meet you Karma. That's a beautiful name!"

"I--uhm--thank you...!" she faltered, almost certain that her cheeks were flushed brightly with embarrassment at this point. It was bad enough she couldn't introduce herself to normal people without tripping all over her tongue, but put her in the presense of a pop icon movie star and you could consider her pretty much useless. What was someone like -him- doing here, she wondered?

"Its nice to meet you too, Vasile..." she said, hoping that if she kept talking it might keep her from looking like an imbecile.

"So, what's such a beautiful woman like you doing out here all alone. Don't you know sunsets are much better to enjoy with company?" He looked back over the ocean, giving an appreciative smile.

The girl inwardly flinched at being called 'beautiful'. Attractive men who appeared in cinema just didn't CALL someone like her beautiful. It had to be an unwritten law someplace.

She followed his example and looked back out to the ocean, finding it easier to keep her thoughts in order when she wasn't looking at him. "I...I come here when it starts to get dark." she explained. "Its easier to think if I'm not holed up in my apartment or around everybody else."

She paused and tucked a stray strand of hair behind one ear absently. "But I don't mind company." she added quickly. That would be the last thing she needed...Mr. DiRossi thinking that she was snubbing him when ninety percent of the girls she'd gone to school with would have cheerfully killed to be in her place at the immediate moment.

It was about then that it occurred to her, with a sinking feeling, that she had not actually SEEN any of his films. She knew who he was, she'd seen his picture all over websites online, but as far as physically going to a theater and sitting through one of his movies...

....hopefully he was one of those guys who didn't like to "talk shop", otherwise she was about to be incredibly embarrassed.

"Yeah, the accommodations here are pretty cramped," he said to her response abut being holed up in her apartment.

He offered his arm to her. "Would you like to go for a walk?" he asked softly.


She blinked twice, startled, and she was aware that her hand, as though acting entirely on its own, was reaching out to accept the offered arm before her mind had even formulated an answer. "Okay." she said, her voice a near-whisper.

Vasile gave a smile that almost looked relieved. "Its been a long day," he admitted as he took her arm and started a casual stroll along the beach.

"So, how do you like it here so far? Its been hard to get used to for me..."

"Its getting better." she told him truthfully, walking alongside him at a sedate pace. "I was kind of a mess when I first got here..." Karma decided to spare him the details as he probably knew by now what they were all about here.

She hesitated and then ventured a question of her own. "Have you been here long? I've...not really met many people, so I'm not sure who got here when."

"I'm still a mess," he said reassuringly. "Over half my things haven't even arrived yet. And the treatment I've gotten has been appualling. And everyone has been so rude," he looked her in the eyes. "Except you of course. You're like a breath of fresh air.."

Vasile pondered a moment. "Only a few days. Still getting used to everything. I can barely eat the food here."

"Really? They've been rude...?" she asked, sounding disappointed. After meeting her upstairs neighbor and The Dude, she'd started to develop a slightly-more optimistic outlook on what the others must be like. Vasile's statement made her wary all over again, though.

She also thought the food here was just fine, but she kept that to herself. "I'm sorry you've had such a rough time...." she told him sincerely. Crackpot research project or not, Moreau must have been insane to not only lure a well-known celebrity here but to treat him badly. If they would look for anybody with a fine-toothed comb, it would be Vasile.

"If I can do anything, I'm over in building nine..." she offered. If they were all going to be here anyway, she supposed there was no reason they shouldn't offer to help one another and make the experience at large easier to deal with.

"I think I'll survive," he said, giving her a wink. "Especially since I'm feeling much more optimistic abuot this place now." In one smooth motion, his arm slid down her arm and across her back as he pulled her alittle closer. "Some people just don't know how to act around someone they've seen in a movie."

"Building nine, eh? Maybe you can show me sometime," he said, flashing her a smile, a glimmer in his eye. "I'm in 14 myself."

Her shoulders tensed a bit as he put his arm around her, but she did her best to simply go with it. Why not, after all...? It wasn't like she had a boyfriend. Forcing herself to relax, she kept talking.

"Well, that makes us neighbors, I suppose." she said with a lopsided smirk, realizing that it was stupid to say, considering all of the buildings were neighbors with each other.

The sun was now little more than an orange glow on the horizon, the indigos and blues of night painting the sky as the first of the stars began to wink on.

"Well then, neighbor, can I walk you home?" His voice was low and soft, and he leaned in close to her ear to speak. There was as subtle invitation to his voice, but just enough to put the thought in her head. His arm slid to the small of her back - but stayed above any off-limits areas. He gave her a comforting smile, then looked up to the stars.


The fine hairs on the nape of her neck stood on edge momentarily at his question and a slight chill passed through her as his arm changed its position. ~Oh for crying out loud, get a -grip- on yourself, woman....~ she mentally chided herself. ~He asked if he could walk you home, that's all. He's trying to be a gentleman!~

"Sure." she told him, smiling. "I think I'd like that."

Vasile grinned and started to casually head back towards the village. "So where are you from?" he asked, trying to sound interested in her.

"Colorado." she replied, beginning to calm herself a bit. "I've been up in the mountains for so long that all of this tropical weather is really a switch..." she chuckled softly. She caught herself before asking where he was from in turn. Hollywood. Duh. Smooth, Karma.

"A snowbunny, then? I've never been much for the cold. I like it places like this."

The village was getting closer slowly. "So how did you land yourself here?" he asked.

"My parents sent me here..." she told him, chewing her lip thoughtfully, unsure of how much she should tell him. She didn't want him to think that she was some sort of angst-ridden headcase right after meeting her. "They thought it would be good for me." There. Good enough. She'd leave it at that.

"And you?"

"Ah, your parents just want to see you become great. You know, I bet you could be. If you're half as talented as your are lovely, you could be the next Hepburn." Vasile found himself coming awfully close to nine.

"Me? Oh, my manager set me up here. He also thought it could do me good. Let me tell you, managers. Just when you think you get away from your parents, you get a manager. They can be even worse sometimes..."

Vasile stopped in front of her door. "Home already," he said, a pout on his shapely lips. He turned to face her, lightly running a finger over her cheek.

The talk of managers set off warning bells somewhere in her head. .....wait, did he not know what was going on here? Had no one clued him in yet? As she turned to ask how much he'd been told, she found herself pinned beneath his gaze and her train of thought came to a screeching halt.

"Yeah..." she heard herself say, her heart speeding up a bit as his finger brushed her cheek. "Home already."

Pause.

"Would...." she cleared her throat and tried again. "Would you like to come in for a minute...?" she inquired.

Vasile had to resist jumping up and down for joy. "I would love to," he said in a very deep, bedroom voice. He waited for her to unlock the door, letting his eyes linger over her. Oh yes. THIS is what acting camp was good for.



*~*~*~*~*~


Vasile woke up fairly early the next morning. It was habit, for he usually spend a good hour running or working out in the mornings. Today, of course, he was feeling particuarly invigorated. He looked over to the sleeping woman beside him and gave himself a satisfied smile. Damn I'm good, he mused to himself. And he was. Vasile put much pride in his bedroom skills, and worked harder on skills as a lover than me most likely did for his skills as an actor. Women weren't exactly conquests for him like they were for so many men his age. He didn't objectify women. But he did love the hunt. Sex was fun, and thats all. He wasn't ready for any long-commitment relationship.

He stretched and slipped out of bed, gathering his clothes. Maybe he should go running. But a shower would be pleasant. Or maybe he should run to the cafeteria (he sneered even thinking the word 'cafeteria') and grab from orange juice and bagels. But he didn't want to send off too much of the "good morning, honey" signals. Nor did he just want to leave. He would be having to work with this woman for the next month.

Karma felt the mattress shift, and then stirred quietly at the minute rustlings of Vasile getting dressed. Her eyes cracked open just enough to see him in the dim light of the room and she quickly shut them again, her mind awakening itself rudely to recollect what had happened last night.

It had started innocently enough. The typical "Come in for a minute, can I get you something to drink?" but conversation had dried up quickly. And the surrogate for conversation had become....

....she'd found she couldn't say no. Despite the fact she and he had had no reason in the world to end up in bed together, he'd known all of the right things to say and all of the right things to do to convince her otherwise. Now that the heat of the moment was gone, her mind was clear enough once more to wonder what the hell she'd been thinking.

To make matters worse, it looked like he was hoping to slip out before she was awake. Maybe she'd let him....that would make it easier. And then once he was gone, she would be better able to get herself together and figure out what to do next. She continued to lay still, pretending to sleep.

Vasile got dressed and looked at the door, then back at the woman. Maybe in another circumstance where he could just slip away... but here...on an island. Women react so differently. But, she was a fellow actress, so as a professional courtesy he came back to the bed and sat down. He stroked her hair gently, trying to rouse her. He planted a caring smile, but tried to look more friendly than affectionate. "Morning, Karma."

Her eyelids fluttered and then opened as she looked up at him, managing a sleepy smile. Maybe she'd been too quick to judge him...

All the same, it was awkward. Though she hadn't been a virgin, she wasn't what one would call experienced by any stretch of the term and she just wasn't the type for casual encounters under normal circumstances.

"Hi..." she said softly, stretching and then moving to sit up in the rumpled sheets.


"I, uh.. I had fun last night," he said with an awkward smile. "I was just about to head back to my room and grab a shower. You want me to run an get you anything from the... cafeteria?"

"Oh...um....no, I'm all right." she faltered. She wasn't sure what was considered polite conversation at the moment. Somehow "K, thnx 4 s3x" didn't quite cut it. She supposed not everybody could say that they'd gone to bed with a movie star, but then that really wasn't something you discussed around the dinner table either.

Part of her felt relieved that he was leaving after all and part of her just felt....empty. "I'll...I'll probably head down there in a bit. I need the walk."

Vasile smiled and nodded, trying not to look too relieved. "I'll probably be seeing you around. We should do this again sometime." He gave her a friendly wink, and headed out the door - after first stopping to run a hand through his deshelved hair a few times. He gave her a final wave before shutting the door.

Once by herself, she sat still for a moment and then drew her knees to her chest, resting her head upon them with a heavy sigh. Again sometime...no, she didn't think so. Not that he hadn't been good at what he did, but it just....wasn't her.

Kicking back the blankets, she got out of bed and headed straight for the bathroom to run the hot water. Great...just when she thought things were calming down, she had to go and do something stupid and stir them up again.