Waiting {Open}

[Claire Littleton]

Night had finally fallen. It had been one of the longest afternoons of Claire's life, and yet at the same time everything had happened so quickly. She'd had a major scare with that false labor. It hadn't lasted too long, though. After a young man had carried her over to the treeline, away from the wreckage, her contractions had started to get farther and farther apart until they stopped altogether. Claire was feeling a little guilty over the whole thing, as though it were her fault that she'd drawn attention away from people who probably needed help more.

Some half-hearted attempt seemed to have been made, dragging all of the motionless bodies, far beyond help now, back toward the main body of the plane, which lay on the sand. Claire was sitting with the fuselage to her back - it was too depressing, to terrible, to look at.

When the sun had started to go down, and people finally began thinking about what they needed to do to get through the night, someone else had used a lighter to start a couple of fires along the beach. Claire sat next to one of these fires, a blanket from the plane over her shoulders. Her perch was a chunk of metal from one of the plane's wings. She stared into the fire, wondering if the search party that surely had to be looking for them would still look at night, and if so, were the fires big enough to be seen from the air as anything more than moonlight reflected off the water?

[Brandon 'Bee P' Parkin.]

-- As soon as all the chaos of the crash had passed Brendon, and after he'd dealt with the fact that he'd just had to help shift dead people, the first thing he did was walk into the jungle, find a nice tree...and vomit against it. He really didn't have the nerves for doing such things, but if he was asked he would. He didn't mind taking orders, which could be a good thing...but sometimes it was bad. It all depended on the situation.

-- While he had been walking through across the beach, he had noted that there was a pregnant woman sitting alone on a chunk of the planes wing. He suddenly regretted not noticing that earlier, as she could probably use some company after what had happened. So he walked toward the chunk of plane with a semi-smile. Had to keep his spirits up, if nobody else's.

-- Smiling, he sat down on the wing next to her and looked at the fire too. He couldn't really see the point of staring at a fire, but he did anyway...it had a feeling about it for certain. Oh my god, I'm turning into a pyromaniac. He thought to himself as he looked at the pregnant woman. "Hiya. I'm Brendon. Thought you could use some company" he said simply. He wasn't much good at starting conversations...

[Drew Linsey]

Drew's day had been absolutely crazy and chaotic. He'd been running back and forth helping everyone get settled and getting his head bandaged up. The cut he had received upon impact with the ground and a rock had only looked gruesome on the exterior. Really it was just a gash that only required a few makeshift stitches thanks to Dr. Jack Shepherd. Though, he could have used some Tylenol or Advil or some form of a pain killer. But, the island seemed short on granting his stay here pleasant and so his head had continued to throb painfully throughout the day.

As dusk drew closer and the temperature dropped, Drew had managed to find one of his many suitcases he had brought on the plane and find his lucky--well, perhaps not so lucky anymore--sweater from Harvard and threw it on. As people began to start fires and settle down, he walked through the makeshift camps and spotted a fire that had only two people setting by it. The flames were high and welcoming and Drew found himself being almost pulled towards it.

Putting on a friendly smile, he walked up to the two people, both probably around his age, and asked: "Mind if I sit down?" as he waited for either one of them to answer him. "I'm Drew by the way." he added. The girl, whom he had seen earlier in the day, and the guy who he had also seen briefly as he walked by him dazed and confused when he had just woken up, looked friendly enough and perhaps even knew each other.

Maybe they were a couple; though it didn't seem likely as the male was somewhat detached from the girl and not hovering over her like he had seen most of his guy friends do when their girlfriends and fiances had become pregnant.

[Claire Littleton]

Claire looked up with a slight start when someone approached her, snapping out of her worried reverie. She needed to stop fretting - the last thing she wanted was another false labor, or something. Smiling a little, Claire managed to even put a little bit of optimism behind it. "Thanks," she said, Australian accent thick in her voice. "I'm Claire."

She glanced up again at another person's approach. All of the survivors seemed to be gathering in clusters around the fires now, settling in to pretend to try and sleep, or to just hold the vigil awaiting the drone of rescue planes. "Mind if I sit down?"

Claire shrugged, offering up another half-smile, and said, "Sure." As she pulled the thin fleece, uniform navy blue plane blanket closer over her shoulders, she repeated for Drew's benefit, "I'm Claire. Erm, I guess it's nice to meet you both, though I certainly wish it had been under better circumstances."

It looked as though they'd all been similarly banged up, though they were comparatively unscathed, considering how many people had died. And yet, for a crash so severe, Claire couldn't help but think that it was incredibly lucky that so many people had lived. She still kept having moments of Oh my God, I'm still here. She had suffered only a couple minor bumps and bruises, and had abrasions on both her chin and her forehead. Well, that and.. Well. She was sure it was nothing. She was trying not to think about it. But she hadn't felt the baby move since her false labor earlier in the day.

[Brandon 'Bee P' Parkin.]

-- When the woman told him that her name was Claire, he was quite surprised to hear an Australian accent, a heavy one too. He'd never met a proper Aussie before. Well, he'd seen some obviously in Australia, but he'd never talked to one before. Brendon followed her gaze to the other survivors, all gathered in different groups, and Brendon thought about how they were all handling. Probably focusing on a rescue plan, or maybe just talking about resources. There was no way of telling without going over and asking, and Brendon really didn't want to go near the bodies.

-- When another person appeared, Brendon smiled at him too. Might as well anyway. "And I'm Brendon." he told Drew. Brendon nodded slowly as Claire spoke. "Yeah that's true. Still, you gotta look at the bright side sometimes. Shame I can't find one..." he offered uselessly. Brendon looked at the other survivors again and wondered how that many had managed to survive a plane crash. The only reason he'd survived is because he needed the loo.

-- Brendon looked around the beach and noticed, all of a sudden, the enviroment...and how it didn't suit the situation. It didn't look like an island for a plane crash...it looked like an holiday island. Brendon shook his head to himself. "I probably wouldn't have survived if I hadn't had to pee." He said, looking for a conversation to talk about. Drew and Claire might not want to talk about it, but he'd give it a go.

[Drew Linsey]

As the two people introduced themselves, the male as Brendon and the female as Claire, Drew smiled and sat down on the warmed sand. The girl had a noticeably thick Australian accent and Drew had not expected that from her. Though it wasn't as if she had a sign on her forehead saying, "I'm from Australia!" Drew probably needed to get accustomed to the fact that things were going to be throwing him for a loop from now on.

As Brendon remarked about why he had survived, Drew let out a soft and friendly laugh. Normally he probably wouldn't have laughed at it, just smiled, but it seemed that a little humor would only help to improve everyone's mood and he was glad for Brendon's remark. "Nature called at just the right moment then." Drew said with a smile. Looking from the two to the blazing fire, he had to admit that he was nervous about the upcoming events. How long would it take to be found? If they were found at all.

Suddenly, Drew remembered about Claire, who was obviously fairly far along in her pregnancy. What would happen to her and her child? It was one thing for someone like himself--young, strong, intelligent--to try and survive as best he could, but he wouldn't have to care for someone else. It was only him out here. It was alone. "So, do you guys know each other?" he asked, unsure of what to say, really.

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[Claire Littleton]

Claire smiled again faintly, and said, "I.. don't remember half of it. Shortly after I got my oxygen mask on, I passed out. Woke up on the beach. Small blessings - I don't think I could have handled seeing the whole thing. Would've panicked myself even more than I did." She shook her head, and reached down absently to pick a stick up from the ground, then toss it into the fire.

In answer to Drew's question, Claire again shook her head, and replied, "No. I don't know anyone here. I was traveling alone." Well, as alone as she could get with a little bun in her oven. "Um, what about you? Did either of you have family or friends on the plane?"

Movement down the beach caught her eye, and she glanced up again to see that a large man with poofy hair was moving from campfire to campfire, passing out.. something. When he got to a fire near to the one she, Drew, and Brendon were huddled around, she saw that they were airplane continental dinner trays. Small blessings, she reminded herself. Someone must have braved the inside of the fuselage and found the plane dinners. That would at least stave off hunger for a little while. Hopefully they'd be rescued before they were forced to search for other means of feeding themselves.

[Kayla Slater]

(Do you mind if Tracy[Edward] and I join? *needs to post*)

[Claire Littleton]

[Sure, go ahead!]

[R.J. MacReady]

Since the time of the crash, R.J. had spent his time alone. It was simply his nature. He didn't know anybody there, and he had just survived the unsurvivable. Both of these factors contributed to his choice in being anti-social for the time being, completely avoiding the group.

Instead, he was sitting up in one of the trees that was right off of the beach, right close to the group. It allowed him to see down right at them, and more than likely up at him. A coconut had been found and cracked open - don't ask how - and he was now gnawing on the delicious innards. As she chewed, he continued to stare down at the group, taking in each and every one. He was alone here, and he'd have to be safe.

[Brandon 'Bee P' Parkin.]

-- Listening to what Claire said, Brendon nodded and recapped to his little journey on the plane, needing the bathroom, it being occupied...which probably also saved his life. He remembered tripping and getting the red lump under his fringe. It wasn't visible unless his fringe was moved to the side. He also remembered waking up in the water. Not a pleasant experience. Brendon suddenly realized he'd been staring into the air for some time. He snapped out of his staring state. "That was probably the best way for it to happen." He commented with a weak grin.

-- As he heard Claire's response Brendon felt a sudden pang of sadness somewhere in his conscious. "My family were all on the plane. It was the first time we'd ever been abroad so we bought first class tickets. I'd been asleep most of the flight so I didn't know much until a few seconds before the crash. I had to go to the toilet so I told my parents and little brother that I'd be back in a minute. They were in first class when the front ripped off. I doubt they survived." he said almost cracking up halfway through. Brendon could feel himself slowly breaking down inside, and remembered that he had to be strong and tough it out.

-- Smiling kindly to the man who'd just handed him an airplane meal, he turned back to the fire and stared at it. "At least we won't starve to death today." He said as he began on the beans from his airplane meal.

[Kayla Slater]

Kayla was slightly freaked out. What if they ran out of water? What if they ran out of food? What if they all died? What if a bee stung her? What if the dog bit her? What if she drowned? What if she choked to death? What if someone on the plane was a criminal, and they were aspiring to kill someone? What if they killed her? So basically, she wasn't thinking about about where she was walking and she nearly ran into a group of people.

Laughing nervously she smiled. "Sorry, I was spacing out." Like that made it better. But it was better than not apologizing. "I'm Kayla." She stated, hoping her name would distract the small group from her clumsiness. Though she didn't know their names, she knew their faces. There was the pregnant woman she had ditched, the man who crawled out of the water, and another man, who looked familiar, but she didn't know why. "Some crash, eh?" Kayla bit her lip, talking to people was not a high skill of hers.

Her blue gaze dropped to the ground and she looked at her leg, the cut was still there. But it looked better, sorta. It had stopped bleeding and she'd been able to wash it in the ocean. Now all she had to do was wait for the rescue people to come, and take her to the hospital. Her mind drifted back towards the crash. So many bodies. So many crying people. But there had been a dog, and a tall guy with tan hair. What was his name? Ed? Eddy? No. That was wrong. But there had been a dog, she was sure of it! "Hows your baby?" She smiled, turning her attention back to the present people.

[Drew Linsey]

As someone came up to them handing out small trays of food that had meant to be eaten on the flight over, Drew passed up his plate and offered it to Claire. Granted, he was starving and hadn't eaten in several hours, but he also wasn't eating for two; though with his frame and metabolism, he could easily eat as much as three or four people in one sitting. But he was on an island for cryin' out loud. It wasn't like there weren't any fish or coconuts on the damn island!

Watching as another person, a women, came to sit by the fire, he figured that he had come a just the right time. The girl was very beautiful but no doubt taken and looked to be about his age, though he wasn't sure. Back in the city, he dated all sorts of beautiful women like her; his relationships never lasting more than a few months. Usually he found out that they were all after one thing: his money and so he would find a way to let them down easily. He reckoned he had never truly been in love before. But now wasn't the time to think about such things. After all, it wasn't like he was going to find his soul mate on this God forsaken island in the middle of frickin' nowhere.

"Hey Kayla, I'm Drew." he said, coming to. Then as Kayla asked Claire about her baby, he had realized that he hadn't asked her about the baby either and waited for her to reply to Kayla's question as he looked at her concernedly.

[Edward White]

Edward James White did not deal with problems. He ran. Because that was how he was, that was how he was raised, and that was probably how he'd be for the rest of his life. When Gwen died his father had said that she had deserved to, and so he cracked and ran away to Australia. Or at least he was planning to, but then the stupid plane crashed. He hoped his father thought he was dead, as awful as that sounded. Why would he care anyways? It wasn't like he could go get another son, but there were plenty of young men that were capable of taking his place in his fathers mind.

Edward needed allies, people to scratch his back and he'd scratch theirs. So he found water. Not a lot of it, only ten water bottles, but it was still some. He needed to find a group to be in with. There was the pregnant lady, two guys, and a girl. A brunette girl, with blue eyes. The one that had knocked him over. The one that hated dogs. Kayla. He had heard her name around a few times. Walking over to the group of people he grinned awkwardly. Setting down the water bottles in the sand, he looked around, stopping at Kayla. She seemed like a semi-friendly face. "Feel free to take a water bottle," he shuffled his feet awkwardly.

His people skills needed some work and he wasn't exactly friendly, but he brought water. That made him a good guy right? "I don't think the dog will be bothering you for a while, last time I saw him, he was fast asleep." Chuckling a little he adverted his gaze from Kayla and looked at the other guys. They both looked cool enough. Not crazy. That was his definition of cool. Not psycho.

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[Claire Littleton]

Claire listened solemnly as Brendon spoke of his family, and when he fell silent she said, "I'm sorry." She thought of adding, You never know - miracles happen. Maybe they're still alive. But she didn't think that was what any of them needed at this point. It was miracle enough that the Fuselage had landed safely enough for at least some of them to survive. It would just be empty words, and she knew all about empty words. When her mother had gone into a coma after a car accident, there had been enough empty words to suffice her the rest of her life. She simply left it at "I'm sorry." That was all she could offer to such a loss.

Shaking off the dolor that threatened to engulf her, Claire looked up at the arrival of another girl. She smiled back, though it was a bit strained, and said, "Fine now, I think. It was, um, a false labor. It should be fine now." She ignored the fact that she'd said "fine" twice within the space of one minute, a little too insistently. She wouldn't think about it now. She'd figure everything out when rescue came, and when she was in a hospital somewhere safe.

She gratefully accepted the tray of airplane food that Drew offered her, with another, more sincere smile. "Thank you," she said, opening it up. As she tore open the little plastic packet of utensils, she felt her stomach rumble quietly in anticipation. She hadn't noticed her hunger before, with all the havoc going on, and the broken, bloody bodies lying around, but now it came back with a vengeance. Even if the food was bland and cold, it was food, and she was grateful for it.

Then another man approached, this time with water bottles, and she gratefully leaned over to take one, saying, "Thanks," again. As she twisted off the top, she raised her eyebrows slightly at his other comment and asked, "There's a dog here? A dog survived the crash? Wonder how it got out of its cargo kennel."