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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 15, 2007 18:41:31 GMT -5
Jungle outskirts leading in from the fuselage beach area. The survivors first enter this area in day 3. Location found in box G3 below: Each box is 3 miles by 3 miles. It takes an hour to walk 3 miles. But also keep in mind that hiking (like that really steep hill to get to higher ground) will take a heck of a lot longer and that if you're running (like from some jungle thing), that you'll get somewhere faster.
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Post by Hollywood Heidi on Jul 15, 2007 18:42:01 GMT -5
DAY 5 ENDS, SEVERAL HOURS HAVE GONE BY, DAY 6 BEGINS
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Post by ana on Aug 6, 2007 19:03:34 GMT -5
**Leia enters from G3 survivor camp**
Leia had managed to get through the crowd of people and away from the beach without letting her emotions show. Well almost. As she slipped between the outlying trees, the tears that had stung behind her eyes started to freefall from them instead. Hastily, she brushed them away with her fingers, only for more to spring up in their place. That was it now. The dam that had held her composure for the last few days had crumbled.
Thinking herself alone, Leia put her back to a tree trunk and slid all the way down to the floor, drawing her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms tightly around them. The quiet sobs that accompanied the tears were muffled as she burried her face in her arms.
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supremeoutcast
Hiking to Higher Ground
Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends.plg%%James Woodhouse%%
Posts: 209
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Post by supremeoutcast on Aug 6, 2007 19:31:51 GMT -5
**James enters from G3 - Area of Survivors' Camp**
James walked up to Leia as she sat against one of the nearby trees. She seemed not to have noticed him leaving with her, and now he found himself stopped dead not five metres in front of her; she seemed to be crying, a realisation that halted him in his tracks. The fact that he barely knew her made it seem all the more private, almost as if he were intruding on something indecent, but for some reason, he found that he couldn't stand the sight of her so absorbed in grief. Pausing briefly, he sat down beside her and put one arm around her shoulder.
"There's nothing anyone could have done, Leia" he said comfortingly.
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Post by ana on Aug 6, 2007 19:45:21 GMT -5
LEIA
A hand on her shoulder made Leia flinch and look up to find a concerned James looking back at her. Not wanting to let him see her crying, though it was possibly a little late for that now, she wiped her tear stained cheeks and tried to pull herself together.
"There's nothing anyone could have done, Leia"
"I know..." She replied, clearing her throat after hearing such a shaky voice emerge from it. "I know." She repeated, as if doing so would make her feel any better. It didn't and she felt a little bit of anger with herself rise.
"Actually, I don't know that....I mean.. I just stood there....." Leia turned her head away from James.
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supremeoutcast
Hiking to Higher Ground
Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends.plg%%James Woodhouse%%
Posts: 209
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Post by supremeoutcast on Aug 6, 2007 20:02:52 GMT -5
"Hey' James replied, squeezing her shoulder lightly, 'you saw what happened when Boone went out there. He almost drowned too and he's a trained lifeguard. I think the current was just too strong. If you'd tried to help, chances are you wouldn't be sat here talking to me". He smiled at the back of her head, somehow glad that the aforementioned scenario had failed to transpire.
"Besides, if anyone could have done more, it's me" he sighed, hoping to shift whatever guilt she may be feeling.
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Post by ana on Aug 7, 2007 5:40:44 GMT -5
LEIA
Leia looked down at her hands again, feeling like she couldn't face James. As though somehow she'd done wrong even if James' words were making perfect sense. She knew that swimming out would have been a dangerous mistake and that was why she didn't. Her common sense had won out by default. But then common sense wasn't very comforting.
"Besides, if anyone could have done more, it's me"
Leia finally looked back at James with her reddened eyes and a frown.
"Why would you say that?"
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supremeoutcast
Hiking to Higher Ground
Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends.plg%%James Woodhouse%%
Posts: 209
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Post by supremeoutcast on Aug 7, 2007 11:38:53 GMT -5
"Why would you say that?"
"Because I was the one who told Jack someone was in trouble." James looked down, somehow unable to meet her eyes. "I was so absorbed in my own thoughts that by the time I realised something was wrong, Boone had already gone out there. If Jack hadn't been busy listening to my problems, if I'd just realised a bit sooner, he would've had more time to get out and help that girl".
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Post by ana on Aug 7, 2007 17:39:24 GMT -5
LEIA
Leia felt she should say something comforting in return but nothing came to mind. Especially since everything that would probably have helped was the exact opposite to how she felt right then herself.
You couldn't have known Boone wouldn't get to her...it's not your fault she swam out too far....
She wanted to voice the thoughts that were in her head but somehow it just felt wrong. Hypocritical. So instead she took her own hand and slipped it into James' and said nothing. It was the only comfort she could muster right then.
After a minute or so of silence between them, Leia pulled her hand free again and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"I didn't even know her name." She said quietly.
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supremeoutcast
Hiking to Higher Ground
Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends.plg%%James Woodhouse%%
Posts: 209
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Post by supremeoutcast on Aug 8, 2007 18:56:38 GMT -5
Something in James' chest began to quicken as he felt Leia's hand in his. His eyes fixed on it and for a moment, he had to fight the temptation to hold her had properly. He wanted to say something, but the comfort that small gesture had brought him was simply too incredible for words. Besides, James was sure that to say anything would only cause him to embares himself. It had been a while since he'd felt comfortable opening up to anyone. The ease with which he had confessed his feelings of guilt surprised him. Then Leia removed her hand from his and for a moment, he found himself missing the touch.
"I didn't even know her name."
"Joanna" James replied softly, looking up at her again. "I think her name was Joanna". He wasn't sure exactly where he'd heard her name, or even who had spoken it, but that was the thing with Investigative Journalism; no matter how hard he tried to distance himself from that part of his life, there were skills, such as his incredible recollection of names, that were too deeply engrained to shake off.
"I know what you mean, though" he continued. "There are so many people here I don't know...people I've never even made an effort to speak to. I mean, look at us. We only started getting to know each other yesterday. It's weird to think that something could have happened to either one of us that morning and we'd never have met".
Thank God that wasn't the case...
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Post by ana on Aug 11, 2007 11:38:52 GMT -5
LEIA
"There are so many people here I don't know...people I've never even made an effort to speak to. I mean, look at us. We only started getting to know each other yesterday. It's weird to think that something could have happened to either one of us that morning and we'd never have met".
"If the plane hadn't crashed in the first place, we would never have met." Leia replied, facing him again with a strange, half smile on her face. "Every cloud has a silver lining, isn't that what they say?"
"It's funny how something this terrible can make you realise what's important." Her gaze drifted up as an exotic bird flew over head, landing in the trees above them both. "My job...my life at home. Until a week ago, I thought it mattered. I put it above everything else. And I got so used to shutting people out and not making the effort to actually have a life, I guess it was easy not to get involved here too."
Leia's tears had dried now and she sniffed, discretly wiping her nose with the back of her hand before letting out a self pitying chuckle.
"God, I must sound like such a loser...."
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supremeoutcast
Hiking to Higher Ground
Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends.plg%%James Woodhouse%%
Posts: 209
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Post by supremeoutcast on Aug 12, 2007 18:04:56 GMT -5
"If the plane hadn't crashed in the first place, we would never have met. Every cloud has a silver lining, isn't that what they say?"
James smiled, hoping that his expression wouldn't give away how strongly he agreed with her. He had never looked at it that way, but then again, up until today there hadn't been anything to put him in that frame of mind. Then his conscience kicked in and he felt a momentary pang of guilt.
"It's funny how something this terrible can make you realise what's important. My job...my life at home. Until a week ago, I thought it mattered. I put it above everything else. And I got so used to shutting people out and not making the effort to actually have a life, I guess it was easy not to get involved here too."
James kept his eyes on her face as she spoke, amazed at how similar their thoughts and experiences seemed to be. He too had been completely focused on his career, on the investigation that had ultimately cost so much...it all seemed so trivial now, so insignificant...but then again, the realisation that nothing in his life truely mattered had begun to hit home hours before he had even started boarding flight 815...
"God, I must sound like such a loser...."
"No, you don't" James replied, looking into her eyes and smiling empathetically. "I was the same...more or less. I gave myself over to my job completely, let it become the one thing that truly kept me going...it became my identity, but like you said, there are things in life that are so much more important".
He looked away slightly, out toward the ocean. He couldn't quite believe he'd opened up like that and had forced himself to stop before he said any more. He may already have said too much and found that once again, his own unspoken guilt had made it harder for him to meet her eyes.
**FLASHBACK**
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Post by ana on Aug 14, 2007 13:26:39 GMT -5
LEIA
James had turned away now and Leia felt that something in his voice sounded heartbroken. Certainly the look on his face wasn't exactly peachy, but this wasn't just because one of the survivors had just lost their life. This was something else. Something deeper.
Leia sat there quietly, looking at his profile in the sunlight and wondering how she could ask him what was wrong without intruding on something personal and most likely, distressing too. Her thoughts got distracted though as her eyes traced the line of his jaw, noticing the stubble and thinking to herself how much a few days growth made a man look sexier. She caught herself daydreaming and forced her mind to think of something to say before he turned back to see her all glaze eyed.
"What is it you do...um, did....back home?"
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supremeoutcast
Hiking to Higher Ground
Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends.plg%%James Woodhouse%%
Posts: 209
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Post by supremeoutcast on Aug 14, 2007 16:24:33 GMT -5
"What is it you do...um, did....back home?"
James smiled humourlessly. There had been a time when he would have answered that question without hesitation or regret, a time in which he could feel proud of all that he did, of the causes and effects resulting from each stage of his investigations. Something told him that Leia wasn't the type to pre-judge, that she would understand the difference between his profession and the tabloid filth that dominated the modern media, but to divulge the nature of his career would only break down his ability to repress the memories of that fateful investigation. Leia had already been upset once this morning. He wasn't in a hurry to drag her mood down further still.
"It doesn't matter". He turned and looked at her again, smiling properly this time. "Not any more".
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Post by ana on Aug 15, 2007 16:51:35 GMT -5
LEIA
Leia raised her eyebrows and then quickly dropped them into a frown as though she wasn't ready to accept that answer. If James wasn't going to tell her what he did, well that was fair enough. Didn't mean she couldn't try to guess.
"Tree surgeon." She said definitively.
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supremeoutcast
Hiking to Higher Ground
Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends.plg%%James Woodhouse%%
Posts: 209
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Post by supremeoutcast on Aug 15, 2007 17:09:19 GMT -5
"Tree surgeon."
James laughed. He couldn't help it; something about her sense of humour had that effect on him.
"Don't let our friend hear you say that!" he said, looking upwards at the tree supporting their backs. "Let's just say I'm a writer" he added. This, after all, was not a complete fallacy; it described his field well enough that she wouldn't feel shut out, but at the same time avoided narrowing it down completely.
"What about you?" he asked, genuinely interested in something for the first time in days.
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Post by ana on Aug 15, 2007 17:26:12 GMT -5
LEIA
Seeing James laugh was pleasing and infectious and Leia soon found herself joining in. Nothing like a random comment to lighten the mood. Leia didn't like to dwell on sadness. If she felt down she didn't hide it, she just let it show. Let it run it's course and then moved on. Being unhappy was a natural emotion, just the same as happiness. The trick to not letting it consume you was to embrace it and let it go.
"Don't let our friend hear you say that!....Let's just say I'm a writer."
"What? You're not a tree surgeon?" She said in mock surprise. "I just assumed since you did such a good job getting wood for Bella's shelter yesterday.....plus you have the broad shoulders...." And that's about where she stopped herself before she blurted out something embarassing. "...Well, y'know....." She trailed off.
God I hope I'm not blushing right now.....
"What about you?"
"Oh you're really not that interested...most people think it's dull." She said with a casually dismissive wave of her hand.
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supremeoutcast
Hiking to Higher Ground
Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends.plg%%James Woodhouse%%
Posts: 209
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Post by supremeoutcast on Aug 15, 2007 17:56:36 GMT -5
"I just assumed since you did such a good job getting wood for Bella's shelter yesterday.....plus you have the broad shoulders...." And that's about where she stopped herself before she blurted out something embarassing. "...Well, y'know....."
James smiled uncontrollably as Leia's face turned a fantastic shade of pink. He looked away for a moment, not wanting to embaress her, and forced himself to stop grinning.
"Oh you're really not that interested...most people think it's dull."
"Of course I'm interested...why wouldn't I be interested in you?" he asked, turning back to face her.
Oh my God, that came out wrong...idiot!
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Post by ana on Aug 15, 2007 18:36:46 GMT -5
LEIA There was a little flutter in Leia's heart that, coupled with the stupid grin on her face - that must have been wider than the Cheshire Cat's from the way it made her cheeks ache - made her feel like a teenager again. Did he just say he was interested in me....? He said he was interested in me, didn't he....he means as a friend, right?....But he keeps smiling at you, Leia....That's because you keep saying dorky things, stupid....but he just said he was interested in me? Oh hell, i'm so not good at this.... "I'm a cryptologist." She said, after clearing her throat. Yes, that's right....let's add some gravitas to the situation and maybe we'll both turn back into sensible adults again. And that would work, if only you could stop grinning.....
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supremeoutcast
Hiking to Higher Ground
Everything. Everyone. Everywhere. Ends.plg%%James Woodhouse%%
Posts: 209
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Post by supremeoutcast on Aug 16, 2007 15:57:02 GMT -5
James smiled and felt himself relax again; there was no way of knowing for sure whether she had picked up on his little slip or not, but something he'd said seemed to have amused her.
Good, just so long as she doesn't think you're a complete special case...
"I'm a cryptologist."
"And how is that not interesting?" James asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "Granted you probably spend half your day dustier than a nun's gusset, but as far as interesting jobs go, that one's pretty near the top of the list!".
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