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 Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:09 pm
PRP for Jordan / Seth.
Edit: FIN'ed. One for the archives now.
=========
It was a fairly warm morning already, despite the fact that the northern hemisphere was in its winter season. But the seasons didn't affect the tropical island weather a great deal, and the day was already humid and uncomfortably warm despite the fact it was not even noon yet.
Seth left the air-conditioned comfort of his duplex, intending to get the next item on his list. While some of the other things in the past required stealth and good timing (such as when nobody was looking), this next needed item would require some cunning plotting and smoothly worded lies.
The thylacine-man headed beyond the perimeter of his marked territory in the jungle and wandered out onto the beach, leaving his strange pawprints in the hot sand, walking out to where Jordan's duplex was located. The animal within became nervous as it smelled his scent on the air, being able to recall quite clearly what happened last time when he met with this person. But no, the man bit his lip and forced his mind into telling himself and his instincts to be strong, not to run and retreat.
This was important, afterall.
Seth made his way up the steps, kicking the grains of sand off his bare feet before he knocked on the door, giving it a good solid firm knock with his knuckles. Then he stepped back once more incase the door should fly open, or the occupant within should get mad and fly at him in a rage. He stood on his hinds as he stepped back onto the sand once more, waiting to see what would happen. He would run if necessary. But if he didn't have to.... this could get rather interesting.
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:35 pm
Jordan hadn’t moved much from his bathroom sink, pitying himself, becoming a mixture of conflicting and confusing emotions vying for control. It had been maybe ten or fifteen minutes following his venture into the bathroom. So much raw emotion had come to the surface at once regarding his actions since his arrival and the path that he was walking. He just wanted to be alone to sort out his wild thoughts. He’d isolate himself from everyone if he had to till he figured himself out. Anger. Fear. Doubt. All of these were running amok in his frightened mind. He no loner knew himself, nor what he was becoming.
A solid knock came to his door and it scared the hell out of him. Who would be at his door?? He jerked up and hit his head on the corner of the mirror, hissing through his fangs in pain. He didn’t want to answer his door. He wanted to hide from everyone, though he knew that wasn’t possible. He’d tried and failed.
Jordan looked at himself in the mirror, wiping away the tears. He splashed some water on his face, taking his time. He wasn’t looking forward to company and he wasn’t sure how he’d react. He looked like hell. He licked over the puncture wound his canine had left in his bottom lip, the bleeding had stopped thankfully.
Jordan sighed as he made his way to the door, hesitating. He even tried to pick up the scent of who was on the other side first, but it was no use. It wasn’t familiar. He clutched the doorknob as best he could and opened the door slowly, keeping his eyes towards the ground.
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:45 pm
When the door initially opened, Seth stood tall, his tail raised with his sense of curiousity. He took one look at Jordan and blinked. So the man had changed afterall. Interesting. Part of the man wanted to point and laugh, to give him a smarmy lecture about how "I told you so" and that he was going to suffer the same fate as everyone who came here. But no, that's not why he was here today. Seth hadn't come out onto Jordan's beach duplex just to annoy him.
"Hey there, um," Seth began. "I'm probably the last person you wanna hear from right now. But I could really use your help." He paused, hesitant. "You see, a couple of my mates and me, we're planning something for Dr Moreau. Was wondering if I could use your help."
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 9:56 pm
His ears twitched at the voice and Jordan winced visibly. Eyes shot level with Seth standing at his stoop, a snarl of a grimace plastered on his face. He wanted nothing to do with this troublesome man and today was not a good time for his bullshit. Jordan’s eyes narrowed in disgust and his nose wrinkled in the same sentiment.
Jordan fought every urge to slam the door in his face. The only thing that kept him in sight was the mention of Doctor Moreau. As if he’d just given up on his hostilities, Jordan let the rage for Seth go- for now, his facial expression softening. He really didn’t want to hear what the man had to say and –at the moment- didn’t care that it regarded Moreau, though his fluffy tail wagged nonetheless.
A soft sigh ushered his soft-spoken voice in a defeated tone, a definite change from their violent run-in. “What do you want…?” Jordan slumped against the frame of his door.
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:12 pm
Seth flattened his ears in reaction to Jordan's snarl.
"I don't really want anything, I'm just here to ask a question. Is now a bad time?" He wondered, tilting his head slightly, trying to work out what was going on in Jordan's head. He looked... unhappy. Perhaps it was because he had transformed recently, or something else? He shook his head, deciding it probably wasn't a good idea to ponder over it. At least he didn't look like he was going to attack.
"I can come back later, or go ask somebody else if you don't want to be bothered. But then you'd be left out of it." He shrugged. "You see, to put this simply, I'm planning a surprise for Dr Moreau. It'll involve some of the other islanders too. We're... creating something for him and the other lab staff, we kinda need some supplies to complete it. I've looked around but couldn't really find some of the stuff I was looking for."
"Interested in helping?" Seth grinned, trying to appear friendly. "It is for Doctor Moreau afterall."
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:28 pm
Jordan had waved his paw in circles, indicating for Seth to speed his hokey little explanation. Of course now was a bad time. He was in the middle of a breakdown and would have appreciated to have continued it in solitude. Jordan didn’t feel like fighting. He didn’t feel like protesting. He was… numb. He didn’t care why Seth was here or that it was a surprise for Moreau or that he wanted his help. Jordan just wanted to curl up and cry in sorrowful pity.
“No… you’re not interrupting… now is fine…” he made no attempt to hide, in his voice, that something was amiss. He currently lacked the capacity to care. At least he wasn’t being rude or violent. He hated the thylacine man with a passion, even blamed their ‘fight’ for being the cause he was turned into an animal, having met Seth the day before he transformed.
There was something definitely wrong. Jordan wasn’t preaching the gospel according to Moreau, nor making an effort to colorfully hide behind a facade. This was it, an empty shell of a man, lost in his own inner conflict.
He didn’t even seem to be listening whatsoever as he slid down the doorframe, huddling in the open doorway. Jordan sniffled, staring at his bare footpaws.
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:43 pm
Seth bit his lower lip and stared at Jordan as he sinked to the floor of his duplex. He felt a mild sense of deja-vu, and felt just as hopeless as he did when he had come across Newt in much the same state of depression a few weeks ago.
"Hey, erm, cheer up." Seth said in the best encouraging tone he could muster. "Being on this island isn't so bad once you get used to it. You don't have to pay your taxes and if you're wanted for treason against your country, they'll never find you here. You can have all the free booze you want. And," He added quickly, an amused grin on his face now. "You can sleep and eat whenever you want, and make a whole lot of land yours. Just... don't go looking around mine too much, okay?"
"Er..." Seth didn't come any closer, but continued to keep his attention on Jordan. He looked like he was going to cry. Great. He felt absolutely hopeless now - what was he supposed to do in a situation like this? Sure enough he wasn't fond of the guy, an especially wasn't fond of the fact that he had slugged him one in the snout. But he didn't hate him as such, especially not to the point of wanting to make him feel worse. He still needed him right now, afterall.
He tried a different approach.
"Why don't you call up the labs and ask for a whole bunch of free s**t? You can ask for anything you want, just about. They'll give it to ya for nothin'. They gave me a new laptop afterall."
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:07 pm
He sighed, pressing the dewclaw of his right paw into the central pawpad of his left. He didn’t have the will to move from that spot or that position. There was no point. It didn’t matter if he payed attention to Seth or played with his paws, sat in his doorway or stood. Each choice brought with it consequences. There was no escaping that truth for Jordan. Things were much different in his case from most others in ways they wouldn’t understand, in ways they didn’t need to know..
There was an awkward silence for several seconds in which time Jordan continued playing with his paws in what some might mistake for fascination and others idle distraction. Jordan huffed with resigned lackluster.
“You cheer. You pretend to be happy. That’s right, drink yourself stupid and gorge till you vomit. Be happy for me too. Indulge till it hurts, then sleep it off in paradise.. none of you appreciate what you have.. what you can do.. all of you ungrateful children spoiled with luxury..” Jordan spoke oddly, but still in his near-whisper tone of a man shattered. Indeed, the others had privalages he did not. He couldn’t sleep when he chose, he couldn’t venture where and when he so chose either. No one understood the pressures ad restrictions he faced, nor would they understand. How could they?
He laid his head against the doorframe, hiding his face under his furry arm as he wiped the tears away before Seth could see them, but his sniffles were sure to give him away if the choking sobs hadn’t.
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:40 pm
"Hey now," Seth grunted in an objecting manner. "You don't know that. You don't know if I'm grateful or ungrateful, the only time you ever discussed anything with me, it was about this place in general, and then it ended in you punching me in the face. But that was weeks ago and I hold different opinions now. Animal deformities and painful body changes aside, this place isn't so bad really."
"Okay, you're stuck here, just like the rest of us." He flattened his ears. "It's permanent - get over it. We look too messed up to just go back home now - what would society think of us if we went home?" He was silent for a few moments, still trying to struggle with that realization himself. "They took my life away from me and I'll never forgive them for that, but..."
He was silent again. Here he was trying to sound like he enjoyed the place, yet he was trying to escape it himself. He just didn't have it in him to argue a side he himself didn't believe in.
"Look, there's still lots of stuff you can do here. Start over. I own a territory here now, that's my domain and mine alone." He grunted and folded his arms. "I can't say I exactly like the lab staff for what they've done to me, but on the bright side, I don't have to take the train to work every day, I don't have to make money to support anything, I don't have to deal with booming interest rate hikes. That's all meaningless here."
He grunted once again at Jordan, mild irritation in his voice. "Oh come on. Get up off the floor and go for a walk down the beach. Come on, it'll do you some good." He scowled. "No need to lie on the floor and look hopeless. Been there done that, didn't get me anywhere."
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Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:59 pm
Start over… was that even possible..? Was that what he needed? To start over, re-identify himself as the young man he knew himself to be once upon a time, not the stranger he’d caught a glimpse of in recent weeks? He didn’t hear anything after ‘start over’, his mind focusing on that intently. And indeed, Jordan seemed to look deep in thought, bringing his paws to his mouth, tapping the claws against his fangs. No.. it was a stupid idea..
Jordan glanced at him blankly, looking as if he’ll being with more tears any minute. So much fear, so much confusion.
He huffed. Seth was right. There were some positive aspects of the island, but that didn’t matter. Nothing mattered really. Not at the moment, maybe not tomorrow either- or the day after that. Jordan fell quiet, giving in to despondence. He suddenly didn’t feel like talking anymore. He’d already said more than he usually would have. He wasn’t the great orator he’d been posing as. That wasn’t him. Jordan was becoming wrapped in lies and deceit and losing his identity in the process. He didn’t know what he was becoming in the psychological sense, but it scared the hell out of him the way a part of him wanted more of it.
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:25 am
Seth made a soft grunting noise in his frustration, becoming tired. It seemed like Jordan wasn't really listening to him any more.
"Ah come on, snap out of it," He moved forward finally, grabbing at Jordan's nearest paw-arm, pulling on it slightly, trying to encourage the man to his feet. "Moping around like this ain't gonna get you anywhere, trust me - I tried it. I spent weeks either drunk or bombed-out on the floor of my duplex. Didn't change squat - I'm still stuck here, aren't I?"
"You ain't gonna change s**t if you just sit there and do nothing." He sighed. He felt a complete loss on what to do now. "D'ya still want to help out, or should I come back another time?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 12:53 am
Jordan didn’t resist. He was pulled and so he rose onto his paws, using Seth as a balancing weight.
“Snap out of it, huh..? That’s the best line you have..?” what a callous thing to say. ‘snap out of it’ like it was just that simple. He shook his head in frustration and lifted his paws chest level. “I used to enjoy writing in my journal.. now I can’t even hold a pen and if –on the off-chance- I am able to manipulate one, I can’t even read the chicken scratch.” His paws trembled as the tears welled again “So, no, I can’t just snap out of it, but thanks for the concern.” He rolled his eyes in disdain, the anger shining through for that moment of angst.
He slammed the door behind him and pushed Seth out of his way, motivated to… move. “Don’t feed me that old line.” He wasn’t energized for a walk, but more accurately propelled by his mood swings. He felt like he was losing it and if he wasn’t careful, he would. He turned around after having put several feet between them. He didn’t like this guy. He didn’t care what he was up to. He didn’t even want to be a part of it. Yet, he was afraid of what he’d do if left alone.. he’d slip into a deeper state of despair, further lamenting.
“So…” he didn’t know what else to say. “Why am I so damn important to you?” his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 1:18 am
Seth couldn't work out Jordan's mood exactly, and was confused by it. He sensed the anger well enough, but it was sporadic. The thylacine instincts were telling him 'danger!' now, but Seth continued on.
"I'd say something different but I was never one to sound all encouraging and stuff," He shrugged, allowing Jordan to move ahead of him once on his feet. He felt safer being the one behind, he could watch the guy and flee if he made any sudden moves. "I'm no motivational speaker. What I'm saying is true though, perhaps you can't just shrug it off immediately, sure, that's OK, I respect that. Took me the longest time to get over it. But you're not goin' to go anywhere if you don't get over it eventually, ey?"
He stopped briefly, toes sinking into the sand at Jordan's last question. "Why are you important? Well, I dunno really." He shook his head. "First off I thought I'd come here to try an' make amends. The second reason was because I was gonna ask if you knew of how to acquire something special." He paused. "You're pretty fond of Moreau, right? This thing I'm planning is because of him, a suprise for him. I thought maybe you'd be interested in helping out with it. You don't have to help with the actual construction part of the surprise but some tools'd be handy."
"Who knows," He shrugged, continuing after Jordan again. The sun was beating down on him now, and although it was hot, part of him actually liked it. He would have to so sunbaking in it later.
"If you're in Moreau's good books, you might even be able to call him up on the intercom in your duplex and ask for 'em. D'ya know what I mean?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 2:06 am
None of this seemed right, but he couldn’t think straight. Their first meeting hadn’t been a memorable one. Jordan hated this man, loathed his very being, yet he was tolerating him. Why? He could have just as easily told him to ******** off and burn in hell, but he hadn’t. Goddamnit.. he was doing it again, wasn’t he? Playing the role of the spy to gain information. These games of subterfuge were addicting. He’d let Seth think whatever he wanted of him. Whatever. He was apathetic towards the thylacine’s misinformed assumptions.
“You don’t understand.. it’s not that..” He opened his mouth to say more, but paused in silence. “Nevermind.. it’s nothing..” waving his paws in dismissal of the thought.
He didn’t know what to believe. This man, who’d been so diehard against the labs was now making amends and wanting favors? His spider-sense tingled all over and he was even more confused. He had to keep an eye on Seth, but he didn’t want to care what he did. The only reason he showed any remote interest was the doctor was to be the recipient of this ‘gift’. Doctor Moreau- he made him feel good, but that only brought on more mixed feelings. He felt strongly towards him and wouldn’t want harm to befall him. Moreau was also an alpha, like Ambrose: a leader to be respected and obeyed. Was he being unfairly paranoid of a man honestly wanting to make amends?
The heat was getting to him, sweat beading on his forehead. He felt weaker in his stressed out state and marched closer to his duplex. “And… who says I’m in good with him..? I’m just a screw-up.. that’s all.. that’s why I’m here..” He sniffled at the thought of being abandoned by Moreau. His tail wagged nonetheless. He’d angered him at least twice and had been scolded, if not punished on each occasion.. He was making stupid mistakes and bad decisions left and right. To that end, Jordan didn’t know if that was true or another lie to distance himself.
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Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:41 pm
Seth continued to remain several feet behind Jordan as he followed along, the instinctive desire to remain alert was high. He wasn't in his territory, the animal within was becoming more and more nervous by the moment. Seth bit his tongue and continued along, determined to get what he needed.
"Who says you're on good terms with him, ey? Well, me for a start." Seth mused. "You're certainly on better terms with him than me - I've never met the man myself, never even spoken with him over the intercom. Was it him who gave you your own space on the beach? I got shoved in with the rest of the regular bunch, I would say that there's pretty interesting.
"As to why we're here, I think all of us screwed up in one way or another. So what? There's more than one way to turn a bad situation into a good one."
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