|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:27 pm
It felt more like two days, even if it was only closer to a day and a half that Jordan had been working on his task for Doctor Moreau. He was making progress, even if it was a bit slower than anticipated and he felt it was time to clear his head so he wouldn't mis-calculate a single factor in the genetic model. That would be bad. For Jordan, that is. The doctor was expecting results and results he would receive, though, a good physical workout always cleansed the worked mind.
Jordan was feeling quite relaxed in the waves. He was excited to be back in the labs' good graces, grateful for the new clothing, and currently letting the waves wash over him as he rested on his back in a 'dead-man's-float' drifft. He even had new sunshades that had been provided or him so he could close his eyes and not be bothered by the sun as much. This is what it was about: doing important work and letting the salty water wash away the tension.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:39 pm
Richard was doing better now that he could hide his less than manly attributes again. They were still sore but the pain a bearable with the help of a steady supply of tylenol. So Richard was trying to enjoy the sunshine abit by taking a stroll down the beach. He held his back very straight and walked with a careful lurch, trying not to disturb the binding too much.
His mood was still swinging between depressed and angry although spending time away from his duplex was certianly improving things, he walked with his eyes on the sand at is feet, his mind brooding over the island's situation, Jamal, Annie and the stablity of the Ivory Tower. He new he had to start work on the newsletter soon but he wanted a capstone of a story first. He didn't have anything like the interviews of the first issue yet.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:52 pm
He sat up and let the waves push him to shore. Each cresting wave felt like a lapping tongue on his body and the sensation kept his mood good. Wet sand felt so weird squishing inbetween his paws as he drifted close enough to shore to stand, but the water felt so good. With such long fur, he needed to cool himself off in this manner.
Jordan had brought a towel with him to set his new clothing on it, to keep sand off of his dry clothes and to prevent sand from being tracked into the duplex. Doctor Moreau was so kind to provide new apparel and he was going to take care of it. He was oblivious as he stood on the warm sand, toweling himself off two or three times, while carefully holding his new, dryer clothes to keep them from getting too wet.
He felt good in these new clothes as he took off his wet swimsuit, dropping it to the sand and slipped into his dry wear. It was just one small reward, but it meant a lot to him. Jordan sat down on his towel and enjoyed the view, the breeze feeling good on his damp skin and fur.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:27 pm
So involved in his own thoughts was Richard that he was less than five feet from Jordan. If it wasn't for the sudden appearence of large pawprints in the wet sand in the perperify of his vison Richard might have collided with Jordan. Instead he stopped in time for the distinct scent of wet dog to fill his nostrils as he looked up to find the owner of the prints.
He found Jordan there, sitting on a towel, his back to Richard. The man had obiviously changed since Richard has seen him last, maybe twice as Richard silently studied the man's altered anatomy. He recalled Seth's mention of the man who Richard had met in the depths of denial. Why had Jordan lied to Seth?
Richard creeped forward toward the dog man, unable to resist the idea of catching Jordan off guard. It just appealed to him some how. Thanks to the sand muffling his footsteps and his whiskers told him he was definitely downwind Richard figured the edge was his. Silently as possible, wincing at the pain from his chest, he settled down beside and slightly behind Jordan. Once situated, he put a hand on Jordan's shoulder, "Nice day isn't it Jordan." He grinned in a friendly but with the enlarged canines it had hint of threat in it.
This was so fun.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:43 pm
The edge had definitely been on Richard's side. Jordan's nose was filled with the many scents carried on the ocean breeze. It was like a salty all-you-can-eat seafood buffet with various other smells carried. He wasn't paying attention at all. Jordan thought he'd been alone- again. It was like clockwork: te beach would be empty and devoid of any other presence beyond his own, but gradually, someone would always come along. Today was different, though. Today was his and his alone.
The Samoyed was unable to detect Richard's approach with the sand buffering the sound and the breeze keeping his..her scent at bay. His mind was preoccupied anyways, so it made little difference. He was in his little world bubble again. Of course, all good things come to an end and no rest for the wicked, blah, blah, blah. Jordan's afternoon was about to become less peaceful.
The hand on his shoulder made him jump and the voice made his skin crawl. Richard had done ti to him again! Jordan physically leapt an inch or two off the towel and was quick to throw the hand from his shoulder, only then turning around the other way to see Richard's smirk of self-satisfaction. "Oh god! Don't do that! You scared me half to death!" he patted his chest over his swift-beating heart. "What do you want, Richard?" he tried to ask in a calmer, less-surprised tone and not doing a great job as his voice wavered. The tentacled cat gave him bad vibes all over.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:57 pm
Richard tried to pull the grin off his face, but only managed to chuckle quietly to himself. "What? I'm not allowed to stop and say hi? Just wondering how you adjusting to the situation and all. You weren't in the best of states the last time we met." He crossed his arms and his tentacles waved around in an agitated fashion, the clubs curling and uncurling restlessly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:03 pm
Jordan huffed in resigned indignation at the way he'd been startled. He didn't feel right having Richard behind him, but he didn't have to face his this way, either. "I've adjusted. Is that all, Richard? Or is this visit more business than a frivolous excuse to startle me?" He didn't owe him answers. He didn't feel the overwhelming need to trust this man. Definitely not like he could trust Lauren. Or Awen. Or Doctor Moreau.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:17 pm
Richard didn't like the hard tone in Jordan's voice. It hadn't been there during the previous encounter but either had the dishonestly that Seth had spoken of. His tail gave a single lash across the sand behind him. This was a puzzle and he intended to crack it. "Aww, the change take away your sense of humor? Its not like I'm Jamal or Annie. I'm not going to hurt you." He held up his hand palms out to Jordan in a gesture of innocence. He watched to see Jordan's reactions to the names.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:30 pm
There were people who’d earned his respect. There were people he’d never be this curt to. Richard fell into neither of those categories. Even if the tentacled cat had been the second person he’d run into following Awen’s initial contact, he didn’t like his smug, conniving nature. In his mind, he didn’t have to acknowledge him as Richard. It was a tactic to keep himself distanced from the man.
“Whatever the changes take away, the benefits are doubled.” He smirked, taking another sniff of the salty air, giving only the cryptic response to his supposed lack of humor. He quirked his head to the side, though, at the mention of two unfamiliar names. “Who..?” he asked, as if he cared. What was he after? Richard easily got under his skin, or perhaps it was he left himself open to the unamusing antics of this creature. “I wouldn’t bet on that…” he muttered at the part about Richard not hurting him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:44 pm
A flicker of annoyance crossed Richard's face. He'd put all that work into the newsletter and the stupid man hadn't even bothered to read it. "You should read your newspaper, now I know you young people consider reading unhip but you might learn something important. Such as the names of two islanders that are probably the losest cannon's on the island. Jamal's a white tiger, Annie's a very large wolf. Annie's killed five staff members and Jamal just dropped a body off at the village with a number one carved into his forehead. I haven't encountered Annie but Jamal's got very little left but animal left in his head." For a moment Richard himself looked afraid as he recalled that encounter.
He shook his head to clear it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:57 pm
Jordan was sharing in the mutual annoyance. “What? You’re a paper boy, now, Richard?” he wanted to say more to rub some salt in his wounds, but he held his tongue. Hell, he nearly bit it off when he’d heard the description of a very large wolf. He lurched forward and went pale as a sheet. He closed his eyes, pretending it never happened, willing it to have never happened, but it had and he had met…. Annie.
“S-sorry..” he took an uneasy breath “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He stammered the first syllable in trying to keep some measure of fleeting composure and failed at it. He only wished Richard would go away now. Hadn’t he caused enough trouble for one day without playing detective? “If you’re looking for a lead I’m unable to help.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:11 pm
Richard noted the hostile comment and might have snapped back if it wasn't for the interesting reaction Jordan had to Annie's description. A single eyebrow went up at Jordan's sudden denial. Truth be told Richard had mostly been warning the dogman but this obivious connection held his interest.
"Well thats a lie." He cocked his head to the side, in a very feline expression of cursoity. "What happened?" He looked over Jordan's body, looking for some sign of a wound and seeing none. His eyes returned to Jordan's eyes, searching for a glimmer of an answer in Jordan's face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:23 pm
Jordan folded his arms and crossed his legs, trying to ignore Richard's inquisition with rising agitation. He pursed his lips and his chest heaved with an uneasy, angry sigh. He kept his eyes closed in a manner of centering himself in his mind. He did not want to go here. He did not want this out in the open. He did not want the entire island to know. "I don't know what you're talking about. So, there're two wolves on the island, then, only one has killed? Sounds absolutely frightening. Guess I'll have to keep my guard up."
He didn't want to think what would happen if the labs were to find out. He'd be used as live bait, staked to the ground or bound to a tree and held immobile for her to find. He shook his head and peered from the corner of his left eye at Richard in a mock nonchalance. "What..? You're still here..?" he huffed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:42 pm
Well that was certianly an odd reaction. If he had an encounter with Annie then why was he keeping it so secret? There was no shame in admiting to running away from a massive wolf that had blood on her paws so to speak.
"So you've obivously encountered her in some fashion, yet you insist on keeping that encounter secret. Then you expect my curiosity to simply fade. Hmpf." He shook his had plainly confused. Then he shrugged, "Eh, I suppose that not really the most pressing issue I suppose."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:51 pm
More pressing matter? Aha! So there had been a reason he'd come all the way out here.. His brows furrowed in aggravation. “So.. you didn’t just come here to ruin my perfect afternoon.” It was great not having to keep eye contact with Richard, nor to be face-to-face or have to acknowledge those tentacles hovering just inches from him at all times. That brought on a shudder as he remembered their first meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
