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Island of Moreau Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 1:51 pm
On the northen edge of the clearing on the west side of the village, there small, deer-path, that leads off into the jungle. It appears wholly unremarkable, and barely even qualifies as a path - tangled with roots and vines, as well as footholes. By night, however, this path is illuminated by small red lights every ten feet. The lights are bright enough to illuminate the path, helping travelers avoid footsnags on roots or vines, but at the same time manages to kill any night visision of islanders lucky enough to possess it. The lights wind through the jungle for about a half a mile, until up ahead, you begin to make out a dim blue-white glow... Here's where the path leads. The trees break into a small clearing, and after being in the thick jungle, this grove feels a little chillier as the wind stirs around you. By night, the blue-white light and the clearing make it very easy to see a small graveyard. The headstones near the front are newer, of finely carved and smoothed granite and bearing names: headstone1 Nathan Moriarity, subject Died of Complications, August 29, 2006 headstone2 Fiona Brooks, subject Killed by Angharad Anderson, September 11, 2006 headstone3 Matthew Brandovich, subject Died of Complications, March 31, 2006 headstone4 Sean "The Dude" Carrol, subject Died of Complications, February 23, 2006 headstone 5 Oscar Feldman Killed by Angharad Anderson, October 2, 2006 headstone 6 Dr. Marlena Frost, administration Killed by Angharad Anderson, October 27 2006 headstone 7 Brian Ducksworth, guard Killed by Angharad Anderson, October 27 2006 headstone 8 Michael McKinzey, guard Killed by Angharad Anderson, November 8, 2006 headstone 9 Peter Ransom, guard Killed by Angharad Anderson, December 22, 2006 headstone 10 Tim Reynolds, guard Killed by Jamal Reedy, Friday Feb 2, 2007 headstone 11 Randy Garrison, guard Killed by Jamal Reedy, Friday Feb 12, 2007 ~~ Then, further back, there is a series of very old, very worn headstones. Most of them are decayed beyond recognition, but a few letters can be made out. Seldom enough to make out words, however. A few headstones have dates that can be made out: 1890 and 1895 in particular And even fewer have names, specifically: Montgomery (last name illegible) and... one tombstone is in the remarkably good condition compared to the other older ones. And unlike the other headstones, this one is much more elaborate, crafted of a finer stone, and with a carved winged dog perched on the top. It's set off from the others as well, on a small rise: headstone Alphonse Moreau 1847 - 1897 "His creations were his life... and his death" ((This thread is a permanent RP location after the introduction of the location during the Halloween "Haunted Trail", located here: http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=6373307 ))
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:17 pm
((continued rp from: http://www.gaiaonline.com/guilds/viewtopic.php?t=6373307&page=22 )) Emelyn's face was paused in shock. His words had not been kind- and her heart was not eased by their harshness. But, in a turn of a small blessing- she was distracted from the ache which, for a time, was no longer buoyed at the surface of her emotions. With the harshness of his words, and his accusations- she was 'selfish', and 'chilidsh'- the nihilistic bubble of mourning sank below, if only for a while. "Why are you being... so mean?" A child's voice came through her lips, and she looked shocked, pinned to the earth with a sad little frown in her eyes. She honestly didn't understand how she truly was being selfish, at least in the way that humans so often are. They want someone to hold them, to comfort them and take care of them... to know that she was loved. But of course, everyone wants those things, and are seeking them as well. She was not unique in her needs- nor was she the only one who felt them unmet. But recently, having lived so solitary a life- Emelyn White had fallen prey to the almost unrealized belief that she was the only one suffering thus. She did not have a monopoly on pain, on loss... or on heartbreak. But in the past few months as her emotional state had crumbled... she had forgotten this, and her world had become as centered around her own existance as surely as if she had anchored an emotional lightning rod to her forehead in place of her well-worn goggles.
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:22 pm
The words weren't meant to be kind. They were meant to serve as a distraction and, with a bit of tweaking, to make her realize that her situation was not as unique and she seemed to believe it. "I'm not bein' mean," he assured her, voice softening somewhat as he offered a more genuine smile for her benefit now that he had gotten her attention. "But you're not th' only person on this island 'oo's lonely, Emelyn, an' you seem to've forgotten that."
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:26 pm
She blinked- slowly. "Are you lonely, Thom?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:24 pm
He raised a brow, cocking his head to the side. "I 'ardly think that's relevant, Emelyn."
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:32 pm
"You're the one that brought it up." Despite herself- despite all the crazy, selfish, childish, lonely emotions that made up 'herself'- a small smile came to her face.
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:42 pm
"Not once did I claim t' be lonely," he retorted, chuckling. "I merely pointed out that you quite clearly are, an' that no one's seemed t' notice that I 'aven't been in my duplex."
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:45 pm
"You moved...into the jungle?" Her words were cautious to return to more normal speech- and yet- after the rawness of her emotions had been pulled so viciously to the surface, she didn't dare remain wholly committed to her 'funk'. "How are you doing out there?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:50 pm
Thom nodded in reply, pleased that the conversation seemed to be safely away from the subject of those buried in the graves and Emelyn's momentary desire to join them. "Been managin' fairly well... Well enough, anyway. I'm a bit more...wayward than you were, I'd imagine. I sleep in th' trees unless it rains, an' eat whatever I catch when I catch it. It's not terribly difficult..." He trailed off, shrugging. "Th' cobra prefers it. But rain's murder."
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:51 pm
"I imagine the cave is too far up for your... tastes, then." She said it more of an aside than an actual question. She didn't know much about cobras- but she had a hard time believing one would care to scale a mountain daily to get out of the rain.
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:53 pm
"Trees are easy t' climb." Pausing, Thom glanced pointedly down to his cane and stub leg. "Mountains are not."
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:57 pm
"Well, I'd offer you the use of the things I set up outdoors- but I don't think many would help you." She sniffed- the air was getting colder, but her hedgehog fur accommodated by bristling up against the sensation. "You don't... eat fish, do you?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:07 pm
"I appreciate the offer, but I move around too often t' lug it about with me, I b'lieve. I wouldn't rule out fish," he added after a moment, mulling over the idea. "I 'aven't tried catchin' any yet. Lizards are easier."
He paused, grimacing at the images his own words summoned, then climbed to his feet with the aid of his cane, turning to offer Em a hand up and nod towards the path. "Whatsay we start back? I'm sure neither of us want to spend th' rest of th' night 'ere."
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:12 pm
Emelyn started to explain that no, she didn't mean things that he'd need to carry- but rather, implements like her drying rack and fishcatch that were stationary- but at the sight of him crawling to his feet and offering her a hand changed her thought direction. She debated for a moment then which was worse- not accepting someone's hand once they've offered it to you for aid, or letting someone who uses a cane pull you up to your feet when you could have done it yourself.
In the end, she decided his pride must be hurt if she looked at him as one disabled- so she took his hand and let him help her to her feet.
"Thank you. ...I wouldn't mind some company back through...that" she jerked her muzzle at that 'path of horrors' they'd come up through.
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Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 8:22 pm
Thom had a tendancy to forget he was 'disabled'. Mind, it had changed a great deal of his life and habits; he couldn't play soccer anymore, couldn't run at all, couldn't manage half of the things that had occupied his time before his changes without a great deal of effort. But he could stand without the cane if need required it, and he could walk, if only slowly and over flat ground. He had as used to having one leg as anyone could, and was simply grateful that he was still standing on his own. He could manage just as well as the next person...for the most part.
He nodded his agreement at her fitting 'description' of the path, grimacing faintly at the idea of passing back through it. Mind, most of the scenes were bound to be done with... But there were some that would be disgusting regardless. He would rather not pass through the grove of skinned experiments if he could avoid it. "If I knew where we were, I'd suggest just takin' th' jungle... Can't be 'ard t' find th' duplexes, eh? Or will y' be returnin' to th' party?"
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