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 Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 5:46 pm
Spring was just around the corner, and the days were just starting to get really warm. As usual Nita had woken up before dawn, fed herself and Comet, and took the dog out for a walk. With nothing much else to occupy her, by late morning the red panda girl found herself walking along the beach. Comet ran ahead, chasing little sand-hopping birds and having epic battles with clumps of seaweed. Nita usually retreated to her duplex to sleep away the midday hours, but Comet was still so full of energy it seemed mean to confine her indoors.
Wishing she'd brought a book, Nita settled against a dune. The shade it provided blocked most of the sun, which would quickly become too warm for Nita's taste. Even until her second change Nita had spent a lot of time at the beach (since the fur kept her fair, freckled skin from burning), but now, fully transformed, the sand and saltwater weren't terribly appealing. Red pandas weren't fond of swimming, it seemed. Nonetheless, Nita got comfortable, curled on her side with her tail wrapped around her body. She knew Comet would alert her if anyone approached.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:07 pm
Jordan was wondering if he'd really be able to turn on the labs if it ever came down to that. His candid apology and subsequent talk had revealed a few things about the dog that he'd been afraid to tell anyone so far. Jordan was still quite surprised he'd said any of that to Seth, although genuine, it was a shock that he was acting defiant towards Doctor Moreau and the labs. Was it him or was it the foreign DNA affecting his mind? Samoyeds were known to have independent minds and were notorious for defiant and/or manipulative behavior. Some are known to be willful, obstinate, and even displaying dominance, wanting to be the boss, and will make others prove they can make them do things. Samoyeds have to be shown, through consistency, that you mean what you say.
In any case, he had too much energy to focus on the matter entirely. The urge to run was becoming even stronger the more he indulged in it, as part of his renewed fitness regime. Jordan was being compelled to run, swim, lift weights. He had so much more energy since his last change and there was lamost not enough time to burn it all off. Exhausting himself in the name of pumping his body back into shape didn't seem like a bad idea at all, even if it was the canine DNA telling him to do so. He was vane and knew he'd let his body slip into what he considered ruin, though not fat or horribly out of shape, the view of his body was driving him to work harder to regain his physique to his athletic days of high school stardom.
Dashing down the beach was a white mass of fur. The feel of his long, white-streaked hair whipping behind him in the breeze was fantastic. His legs aching from the burn was magnificent. Powering down the strip of sand, he was nearly compelled to drop to all fours for better traction and that thought seemed odd to the part of his human mind that was losing out to the canine. He didn't drop, not yet. There were a few things that seemed a bit odd to him, but for the most part he was embracing his new life all-too firmly. He slowed himself at a distance. Jordan was awful at stopping suddenly once he'd gotten himself into a run, so backing off the pace about ten yards from the new face was prudent.
He waved, offering a friendly "Hello!" pumped on sunshine and adrenaline. He was hot in all that fur, but it didn't seem to stop him from being active.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:21 pm
Comet tore down the beach from the opposite direction. Running! Another dog! Wait-- by Nita! The young dog skidded to a stop, mirroring Jordan. Heyyy, the dog-person was familiar! Her tongue hanging out, Comet approached Jordan for a healthy sniff.
All the commotion woke Nita; she sat up blinking. Where was she? After a brief moment of disorientation, she remembered: she was on the beach, Comet was running... Nita jerked to attention, alerted to the second, unfamiliar presence. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Sorry, I must have dozed off." The girl grinned, glancing back and forth between Comet and Jordan. "Have you two met?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:29 pm
As Comet neared, he recognized the familiar dog and sniffed the air to make sure it was her. Confirming what he thought, Jordan knelt down scruffling the fur around her neck and ears with his canine paws. He was happy to see her, as his tail was waggling at hyper-speed. He tilted his head slightly in confusion. Jordan had thouht that Comet was Lauren's dog, but she was with someone new- at least to him. "How ya been, Comet? Haven't seen you in a while!" he rubbed his fluffy cheek against hers in friendly canine meeting.
Jordan had gone back to playing with Comet until Nita spoke back and with a grand nod, he smiled. "Yes! Me and Comet are best buddies!" Anyone Comet liked seemed to be a good person he could trust- or so that's what the dog mind rationalized. "Are you watching her for Lauren?" he asked innocently.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:38 pm
Comet sat grinning, her fluffy tail smacking against the sand. It suddenly occurred to Nita that if she didn't know this islander, but Comet did... They must know Lauren. s**t. That realization was quickly proved true.
Nita coughed slightly, working on brushing the sand from her hair. "Ah, not... exactly," she said carefully. "I, um, well... Comet is my dog." Her eyes flicked to the side. "You're a friend of Lauren's then?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 6:48 pm
Jordan continued to lavish attention upon Comet, so happy to see her. His paws ran down her neck and back, scratching her gently with one paw, while the other was busied giving her chin scritches. His tail was moving and thumping almost as much as Comet's. "You're such a good girl, Comet. Been staying out of trouble?" he was enjoying talkign to her like a person. Well, he felt more on her level than the last time he'd seen her. He'd understand her more in the coming weeks that would twist his mind and bring more changes.
Jordan was confused and blinked at that. He thought that Comet was Lauren's dog the whole time. His curiouity piqued, he had to know her name. But he'd introduce himself first. "I'm Jordan, by the way. I live out here. Imagine my surprise to have such friendly visitors today!" he smiled and nodded at her next question. "Yup. I know Lauren. You must know her too." that was rather stupid to ask, but oh well. He didn't put the peices together yet. He was clueless that this was the Nita that had caused Lauren to coem running to him.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:06 pm
Comet whined happily and proceeded to slobber on Jordan before trotting over to Nita and flopping onto the sand.
Jordan. The friend Lauren had mentioned during that disaster of a Valentine's picnic. Pro-labs.
"Yes," Nita replied, her voice catching oddly in her throat. "I know her. Have you... Have you seen her lately?" Hopefully it wasn't too obvious she was avoiding his question.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:27 pm
She seemed rather concerned for Lauren. Had she gone missing?? As Comet moved back over to Nita, he gave the red panda girl a stark look of surprise, standing to his full five-foot-nine height. His tail settled in mutual concern for his sanity-challenged friend. Jordan was beginning a dangerous path away from the labs' way of thinking, but only Seth was privvy to that knowledge and Lauren would kick his a** till he reaffirmed his dedication. The staff could do worse.
"I haven't seen her since she left my duplex. She came to me, distraught and in tears, following her break-up and stayed with me for the night. The labs re-assigned her to a new duplex pretty quick too.. she's in duplex #14 now."
Jordan moved closer to Nita, his cold, wet, black nose twitching and wriggling. The sea breeze was carrying some strogn scets as usual, but the closer he got, the more he thought he smelled omething- no someone familiar. His chin lifted into the air slightly as he sniffed like a dog. And his tail wagged. It semlled so familiar, but it seemed like an after-thought of a lingering odor. "You kinda smell like her." he spoke bluntly. And upon stating that, along with Comet being Nita's dog.. Nope. Almost had it, but it was lost. Wait... wait... OH! Ding! Ding! Ding! His mouth opened in a slight 'oh' as he ventured a guess. His thick brow furrowed in query. "By any chance is your name Nita?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:39 pm
Nita leaned over to scratch Comet's shoulders. The dog was finally getting tired from her hours-long romp.
"Fourteen," Nita repeated, wondering what had happened to Lauren's original duplex. The labs must have moved someone into it once Lauren was living with Nita. At least she'd had somewhere to go...
She shifted nervously in the sand, watching Jordan's nose. "Yes," Nita said finally, turning her face away.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 7:52 pm
He'd only heard Lauren's side of the story. From what he understood, she'd been told to die of cancer. That.. just seemed so unconscionable. She was the reason that Lauren had come to him in tears. The rock had broken because of this insensitive girl. He moved closer still cautiously. He didn't want to frighten her off with the wrong impression. Yes, from what he knew of Nita she was out of line, but.. what if there was more to it?
He padded towards her and sat himself in the sand. It was too late to hide his deformity from her, but he made the attmpt to hide the wiggling tummy paws under his arms anyways, though it was uncomfortable. "Look.. Nita.. I don't know what to say." he looked up at her, not in anger, but in confusion. "I really don't know what happened and it's not my business.. I was there to comfort Lauren because she trusted me enough as a friend.. and I have to ask.. did you really tell her to get cancer..?" there was only one way to ask that and it was directly and bluntly.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:04 pm
Nita shifted slightly again, preparing to flee if Jordan started to attack. She eyed him carefully, taking in his slow movements. Okay. Not trying to hurt her. The little paws emerging from his stomach caught her eye; her own stomach lurched. What the hell were they doing to this guy? Nita forced herself to face Jordan.
Her jaw dropped. "What?" Nita asked, bewildered. "Did I tell her to get cancer? What the hell kind of question is that?"
Cigarette smoke blown into her face. Nita snapping, lashing out verbally--
"That is not what I said. At all." The red panda girl shook her head for emphasis.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:21 pm
She was nervous. Was it because he'd guessed who she was? Or was it talkign about Lauren that had set her off? He didn't know and he was hoping that it wasn't something Nita had heard about him through a third party who was on bad terms with him.
Jordan put up his paws defensively with the pawpads facing out. "Whoa, whoa.. that's what I was told. I'm sorry." he nodded softly. Lauren had been upset when she incoherently sobbed, but that one line had been stated clearly and with effect. "I don't mean to cause problems.. it just.. yeah.. that was my reaction too.." he fumbled for words, scratching at the back of his neck. "I'm sorry things didn't work out." he offered his condolences, petting -or rather pawing- the back of Nita's paw in offering sympathies. "I don't hold anything against you. Like I said, I don't know the story."
"Hey. Nita. Do you mind me asking something?" he looked back and forth and then behind him, trying to make sure they weren't being watched, but he wasn't sure. So, he lowered his voice. "Are you as fanatic as Lauren is about the labs?" he looked ocncerned by that statement, as if he was afraid it would be 'yes'.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:33 pm
Nita took a few deep breaths, finally understanding that Jordan wasn't about to leap at her throat or yell at her. She shrugged jerkily, resisting the urge to yank her hand away. He'd said he understood. He wasn't leaping to conclusions.
Of course, what Nita had actually said wasn't much better. She knew she had said some horrible things, but she wasn't a vindictive person by nature.
His question provoked an eyebrow-raise. "No," she said quietly. "And, ah, it was rather a bone of contention."
To put things mildly.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:45 pm
Jordan fidgeted with his paws nervously. The Samoyed looked down at the sand. He wasn't sure what to say. Why'd he have to ask that!! He was scared now of what she might think of him. What if she had heard something about him? He didn't want to scare anyone by mentioning his ties with Feral, but he wanted to break away from them and had to be very, very careful about what he said and what he did. "Has... uhm... what I mean to say.. uhm.." he'd been liberal with his words around Lauren and if those two, Nita and the mongoose, had been as close as he thought... "In case you've heard anything about me.. that is.." he clenched his eyes. His ears twitched in frustration. "I.. uhm... don't.. exactly..." his voice lowered even more "..I don't want ot be controlled by them anymore... but Lauren would kick my a** into net week if she knew.. when I mentioned my last change.." he shuddered at what happened regarding that, looking around paranoid even moreso.
Jordan lifted his head, tears welling in his eyes. He didn't know what to say beyond the stammering. Nita wasn't with the labs. Maybe she'd understand, right? "I'm afraid of what else they'll do to me.."
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 8:59 pm
Nita watched Jordan curiously. Frankly, she hadn't heard anything about Jordan, from Lauren or anyone else. The two of them hadn't exactly been confiding in each other. But Lauren had suggested that Jordan was content with his lot in life, and loyal to Moreau.
"Ah...," she said, her voice trailing off into an uncomfortable silence. What did he want her to do? As far as Nita was concerned, the labs did what they want. It sucked, but they just had to put up with it. Like Dr. Duvert confiscating all of the construction supplies.
"I'm sorry," Nita told him. "Really. But... What can I tell you? Nothing reassuring, that's for certain." Her last statement was muttered wryly and followed by a rather derisive sniff.
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