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 Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:14 pm
Weeks of secretive spying and essential hermit’s living style had in some ways paid off. Despite the mass of chaos and confusion still within the undercurrent of his psych, Charlie was adjusting to his new home. Not only was he adjusting, but late evening walks and the studying of the island from his apartment had allowed him to become familiar with his surroundings.
It had nearly been a week and a half since the mysterious "aliment" he had caught plagued him. The man refused to believe it was anything else. But what could it be? Charlie had never read anyone getting symptoms like he had. Hence forth, he decided it was high time to start some key research.
Yet, damn this selection of books! Angrily Charlie tossed aside a book of tropical birds. What was with Moreau's island? None of these books had any decent medical information in them. They were all about animals. Defiantly, there was something defiantly not right about that stupid doctor. THAM! There went a book on the African Wild dog. Thank god he was the only one currently here--heaven forbid anyone see him making a mess like this.
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:30 pm
The door suddenedly swung open, hitting the door stop with a loud bang. Richard's form filled the doorway, tentacle's waving above his head. His cheeks were flushed and his breath smelt of Scotch. He wasn't stumbling drunk but he had been on that line since leaving the beach bar. The flask in his jacket pocket was keeping him there.
He really had not intended to get this way, but there had so many trains of thought fighting for attention that he had decided to drown them all. Now he only was thinking about his bizzare extra apendages. They we the only one of the those many thoughts that were directly in front of him. Tonight he had sluggishly decided he would find out what the hell had two tenacles and four arms.
He grinned at Charlie as he entered. "Hello there!" A bit louder than nessicary.
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:44 pm
My efforts will surely be rewarded... Charlie gritted his teeth and reminded himself, as with each book his hopes of finding SOME usefull information grew dimmer and dimmer. Patience pays off, patience pays-- Charlie flew as there came a loud crack from the door. Company?
They say that good company is better than no company...but that wasn't even close along the lines of what Charlie was thinking as he spotted Richard. Now, usually Charlie wasn't a bitter anti-social member of society. You see...he had recently become this way in order to avoid these creepy encounters with people like richard. Strange--what the hell was wrong with him?! Beneath clear lenses an eye twitched while the red head tried to decipher whether those were tentacles growing out of Richard's side or...or..."H-hello." Came a faltering but warm welcome.
Hastily turning to replace the book he had just grabbed, Charlie was able to catch the faint with of alcohol streaming in from the door. Just keep eye contact. Came that cool inner voice which kept Charlie in check. Now try and be sociable this time, won’t you? “Sorry for the start. You just startled me was all…” he tried to cover for the stutter.
Oh to imagine if Richards appearance scared him, how would he look to Richard with his skin all a mess and long black nails?
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 4:59 pm
Richard's eyes traveled up and down, noting the nails and the scales. Another reptile maybe. He grinned when he saw the books, showing off his pointed teeth. He moved toward Charile, leaning heavily on his cane, he back stiff so not to disturb his right arm where it rested in the sling.
"Trying to figure it out eh?" He looked to examine all the books Charile had laying about. He studied the man's face then back down at the book on wild dogs. He chuckled, "Sorry, but I think your way off. Not too many mammals have scale on their nose." He studied Charlie's arms. "Definitely reptilian I'd say." He nodded sagely.
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:15 pm
Besides the oddness of extra--limbs, probably born with that or something, this gray haired man looked fairly normal. The smile on Charlie's face nearly faded however when those lovely pointed white teeth came into view. Eye contact, eye contact...
Figure it out? Charlie was suddenly very interested to where this conversation was heading. No longer was the idea of walking out the door in his mind. So, apparently people who arrived here weren't sick to begin with. Charlie, Charlie, you fool. Why did you give up your private practice for the job they offered you? He couldn't remember anymore why he had accepted the offer...
"Mammals with scales?" There was a long pause as Charlie reached up and touched the tip of his nose. Owch--still sore. Ah, he would simply pass it off for now, silly man mistaking his dry skin for--" Sorry for the way my face looks. " He mumbled rather apologetically. "I can't say I've been adapting e well at all. I must say I do look rather scaly," he tried to smile despite how uncomfortable the talk was making him, " ...But I didn't know you could catch something like this from an animal." That was what Richard was talking about right? "Horrible disease it is...whatever it is..." Was that why they had all these books on creatures then?
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:30 pm
Richard looked at the man curiously for a moment. His brain slowly slogging through the scotch it had been emmersed in. The brain came up with nothing at the moment, completely missing the man's denial.
"Aww don't worry about the nose, I've seen far worse. You ever met Tommy yet? Now that's an ugly nose!" Richard clapped Charlie on the back, chuckling. "Do you need help finding it? I think the reptiles are right over here." He pointed at the section.
"Your probably lucky and not one of Sabin's pet projects." Richard rolled his eyes as he mentioned Sabin's name. "He's got me turning into something that never even existed. Has me stumped so far. Know of anything thing that has four arms and two tentacles?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:44 pm
"Tommy?" Charlie's mind began turning at the familiar but distant name. Oh yes, that was right. That fool who had thought it was funny to kid around, claming that he was turning into an animal--Bitterly, Charlie frowned "Oh yes, that unsavory character." No denial on the ugly part. Ugly in body and spirit that one was.
An what was this about another fellow, Sabin? The name too was familiar, Charlie had never met him, but he was sure his name was listed in something about the company. ---Oh god, more mention of pet projects, transformations? A sneer spread across Charlie's lips as he glanced over at the reptiles section. No, he wasn't going to touch those books.
"Very funny, how cute, something non-existent--that's almost worth the laugh that I gave Tommy. " Turning around Charlie folded his arms and gave a long hard stare in Richard's direction. "Now pretending to go along with you people and your ridiculous games," there was a hiss on that last syllable " I'm afraid I can't help you. I never was a fan of pointless fairytales and mythological creatures."
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 5:57 pm
It wasn't what Charlie said but how he said it that finally made Richard realize that Charlie didn't and wouldn't believe what was going on.
He look at Charlie, blinking, he looked at his scaly nose and then at his expression. It was so stern. So ridicidulously angry, like a kid who wasn't allowed a peice of candy. Richard's smile split wide open.
"heh." A small chuckle, then another then Richard was laughing so hard could barely stand. The enterianment room echoed with his laughter. Tears swelled into his eyes. He wouldn't believe.... It was so funny!
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 6:08 pm
What, what was so funny? Something he had said? Charlie always knew his appearance was one that people could get a rise out of. Especially his hair cut, the younger generation defiantly got a rise out of the style. How couldn't you? It looked so out of place on an aging face. Not to mention the color...red just wasn't a good shade on a tortoise.
Blankly Charlie stared at the man. Dear lord...he hoped to god the man wouldn't roll over onto the floor. Because, frankly, Charlie didn't want to have to help him up. Frankly he didn't want to catch anything else than what he had...Tish.
With a rather dry yawn, Charlie responded, drawing off from his earlier line, before the man started rudely laughing. "Then again, I don't know. With the selection they have here, maybe there's something on a four armed unicorn with flying wings and sharp teeth. By all means, after meeting the likes of you people anything seems possible. ---ARE YOU QUITE FINISHED?" Came a bitter snap when Richard did not cease the incessant laughter. Kid? The only one here who was being childish was Richard.
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 6:25 pm
Richard attempted to stifle the laughter, he knew it wasn't the man's fault but the utter disconnect between the man and reality was funny on levels Richard could not imagine sober. Slowly he got himself under control, almost. He face was still red and a occiasional giggle would slip out. His grin was so wide it practically split his face in half.
"I'm sorry. Really I am." Chuckle. "But look at this rationally. There is no disease that gives a man claws or scales or even tentacles." His tentacles wriggle a bit. "Your just in the same boat. Your no different from me or Tommy." Richard knew this was just going to upset the man but he peristed. Charlie would thank him later. Maybe. "Look closely at your arm there." He pointed at the scales on his skin. He chuckled a bit. "That isn't dry skin. Your changing. You can't deny that."
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 6:44 pm
Tapping his foot, Charlie lifted his arm and began to count the seconds on the clock. Wow...a fully minute! Richard had, had quite the laugh on Charlie's part. Rude by societal standards, Charlie just found the whole scene irritating. Why was it every time he managed to run into people, he always lost his temper or ran away terrified? Inhaling deeply, Charlie reminded himself that loosing one's temper was something children did, not himself.
"No, no...it's all right." Charlie began in with the standard line. But as he open his mouth to finish words left his throat. Was he having Déjà Vu, or was Richard repeating almost the exact lines Tommy had said to him? No...this joke wasn't funny anymore! Why were people so persistent? Was everyone here cruel? They most certainly couldn't be right....dejectedly the counselor took a look at his arm.
He didn't want to talk about this. Quick, he needed something to change the conversation. Something that his clients tried to do quite often when confronted with uncomfortable matters, “ I suppose not... " It was said quietly, barely audible--no, not admittance, but perhaps a bit of a step. Even if was meant to get them off this topic of "changing"...bull s**t that was.
"What's your name?" Perfect. Questions were always distracting, and the topic of this question was random enough to avert Richard's attention, yet keep him from realizing it's true purpose.
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 7:36 pm
"Name's Richard Harrison." He extended his left hand. "I was a reported before Moreau decided he didn't want his interview publish and trapped me here. Now? Well I guess I'm forcably retired."
"So what's your name Mr. Denial?" Richard winked.
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Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2006 10:22 pm
Ah, the question had worked all to well. Even though Charlie hadn't asked for anything else besides a name, it seemed Richard was more than willing enough to share more information about himself. Trapped here? ...Sounded something that Moreau might do, he was a dangerous man and took great risks. Someday someone would catch him, for now though, Lady Luck was on his side.
Stretching out a hand Charlie grasped Richard in a warm hand shake. "Name's Charlie," came a chill reply, as he squeezed the shake a bit harder than he normally would. Not to hard though...his damn nails. (Of all the ridiculous nicknames...)
"Marriage counselor," he added, deciding for once not to hide his life.
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Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 8:26 pm
"A Marriage counselor eh?" Richard seemed to find that hilious also but merely chuckled. "The good Doctor mentioned that he and finance were having some difficulties. Did he not like your sage advice?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 9:49 am
Pushing up his glasses, Charlie leaned back and averted his eyes towards the corners of the room. "I should hardly call it sage. There's nothing magical about solving other peoples problems. " He paused and gave a slight smile, "You just have to know how to listen is all...neither of which Moreau or his fiancé know how to achieve. "
Deep within the back of his mind, a bitter reminder of how difficult that session had been came to mind. "Then again, it was a surprise attack on Aubery's part. It's never good when one spouse surprises the other like that, you know?" A faint twinkle came to light in the man's eye, "The results are always bound to be disasters....I wonder what should happen to them."
All to well did Charlie figure what would happen to the pair. They were headed towards a cliff...a sudden drop off upon which there would be no return. Yes, they might survive the plunge, but things would never be the same again.
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