( backdated a bit )


Since he doesn't have a whole lot else to do, other than count the cracks in the ceiling and turn them into constellations of his own, Chance Bones spends his last evening in the infirmary thinking about the string of visitors that he's had while stuck in his sterile white palace (a gross overstatement, but that's beside the point).

Claude, of course, with her sarcasm and her bluntness, is always much appreciated. Chance isn't sure how exactly he's supposed to view her - as a friend? She mentioned that word once before, but he's not good at deciphering emotions, and he's certainly not capable of experiencing many of them himself. She's fun to be around, certainly, and he finds her both attractive and interesting, everything rolled into one very pretty package. He doesn't regret sleeping with her (twice), half because he doesn't feel regrets in the first place most of the time and half because it had felt really good; but a part of him, a small, niggling part of him, can't help but wonder if she is thinking about things as casually as he is.

Chance does not do deep connections for a reason; he likes the uncomplicatedness of it all, the lack of mess that stems from a mutually beneficial relationship. There are no strings to untangle, there is no drama to avoid. Everything is simple and straightforward, which Chance appreciates. And he certainly likes Claude quite a bit; she is by far one of the better people on the island, and he only hopes that they can continue their relationship without too much occurring that would put him off of it. So far there are no warning signs, no questionable activities or questions, but he will make sure that things stay as they have been.

(He does like having C.J. for company, it's very nice to have a starfish beside his bed; Chance wonders if he can get away with stealing the sea creature for the night and possibly bribe Claude with a bottle of bourbon in exchange for it.)

The others that visited - Peyton, and the younger one (Astrid, if he recalls her name), similar in appearance but different in nature, are also rather pleasant to have around. Peyton with her compliments and her helpfulness in attending to him (not to mention the very delicious brownies), and hair that is quite pleasing to look at (he's always found dyed hair to be somewhat fascinating, regardless of color); and Astrid with her interest and questions about the stars and the stories behind them, which Chance always finds very appealing in a person. He has not seen them together, but separate they are both individuals that he finds he does not mind having around to talk with.

(There is something sad in Peyton's eyes, though, that make him curious.)

Oliver, of course, is by far the easiest person to rile up, and Chance takes great pleasure in doing just that. A part of him feels a little bad for teasing him so often, but the young, freckled hunter is almost the exact opposite of Chance himself. Where Chance is mild-mannered and unemotional, Oliver is shy and awkward, and completely emotional. He wears his metaphorical heart on his sleeve, everything open and revealed for Chance to view, and somehow this interests him. He likes that he can see such raw feelings out in the open, because then he can try and pick them apart, try and discern how they are experienced and what purpose they have. Many are dismissed and discarded, but some are held thoughtfully in the recesses of his mind for later perusal.

Sadly, it is the one that is so inclined to crying that makes Chance amused, and he's still trying to figure out how Oliver views him; as some sort of bully who endlessly torments him, or as just another person to be around that he can talk to about things, since Chance is utterly neutral on most subjects (except for a few). Either way, it doesn't bother him.

(Poor Oliver, he thinks with a smile.)

Lex is another mystery; Chance doesn't dwell too much on Claude's brother, because he doesn't want the drama of the whole overprotective nature thing. He finds it gives him a headache, and he doesn't like having headaches - or drama. But there is something to be said about Lex that allows Chance an opportunity at messing with him.

(He's probably not making a good impression on him. He finds he doesn't care - when has he ever?)

Leesha is a fascinating creature, with her bright, bubbling personality and her lack of a filter. Chance has always appreciated those who can say what they want without thinking, since he prefers honesty more than almost anything; and there is something rather interesting about the awkward, somewhat silly manner in which she speaks and acts. It is very engaging, all hands and gestures and theories and whispers and laughs, and he finds her to be extremely entertaining to watch.

(Not to mention, her theory about everyone being hot is mostly true, a fact Chance can appreciate.)

And speaking of Leesha's theory, Chance thinks, Finn definitely falls into that category. He finds he looks forward to visits from both Finn and Ripley, separately and as a pair, and they are the closest things that he has to actual friends, besides Claude (whom he puts on a separate, albeit different) level for a reason). Finn himself, with his blunt sarcasm and honesty, his rakish and laid-back personality, is quite appealing. He is a smoker, which is the smell and taste that Chance can stand only when he finds the pros of the other party more outweigh the cons (and in this case, it rings true); and although he has more snarkiness than strictly necessary, there is something entirely comfortable about Finn that makes Chance drawn to him. There is absolutely zero desire to be more than what he is to Finn; he just simply finds him to be the easiest on the island to get along with so far, and he's not entirely certain whether this is a good thing or not.

(It probably isn't, but Chance doesn't give two shits either way.)

The nurse comes later to check up on him, and it's close to three AM. She's surprised to find him awake at all, but considering that Chance rarely sleeps before four, this isn't all that startling. He reassures her that his pain level is almost nonexistent, and that he is quite fine, really, he is just contemplating the intricacies of human relationships and the way that they present themselves differently with different people.

The nurse walks away looking slightly confused.