That’s because it was. It was about more than just writing. It seemed everyone from her plane has just accepted what was happening to them and no one was trying to fight it. The truth of the matter was she hated it there. She hated that her room was barely a room. She hated that her bed was hard and uncomfortable, that her blanket was nothing more than old fabric sewn together. She missed her books, her notes, her laptop. She missed music. She missed quiet. Mia didn’t know if she had it in her to rewrite her whole book and if she did what was the point? Would it matter to anyone but herself? “I’ve tried to leave.” Mia admitted quietly. “I’ve been stupid enough to try and swim away. I knew I’d probably get nowhere but I just… didn’t want to be here anymore. The monotony alone was getting to me.” She sighed heavily and ran her hand through her hair. “But it wouldn’t let me get far without turning me around. I’d blink and i’d be facing the island. I did it over and over until I was too tired to swim and the waves washed me back up on shore. It won’t let us leave.”

~

“What are you talking about?” Monroe asked, everything about the other’s lack of muse suddenly seeming unimportant. “What do you mean it won’t let us leave? Are you sure it’s not something else? Maybe you just got exhausted from swimming and turned around. If you go out far enough in the ocean that can be pretty easy to do” 

“I just don’t understand what could have happened to that poor girl. How does someone just disappear like that?” There’d been lots of people at the event and no one had seen her wander off? “I’d hate to think ill of anyone, but it just doesn’t seem possible that absolutely no one saw her leave.” 

“Ah well you are very lucky indeed and determined,most people would probably give up after the third or fourth try.”She said to her. “Really? Oh I couldn’t let you do something like that, I would have to owe you in return if you did do such a thing,espeically if it took you so many tries.”

~

“Maybe it won’t take me as many tries this time now that I’ve gotten the hang of it” she smiled as she started back towards the game, motioning to Mattie to follow her. “Come on let’s win you something cute

“That… actually makes me feel better.” Mia gave him a small smile. “All i’ve felt since we’ve been properly integrated is that I’ve been strange in some way for holding on to the past. I literally had nothing but my job and my hopes but to have them gone. Now I just feel… Like nothing. Which is strange too because for the first time people are actually paying attention to me and want me to be part of something.”

~

“Of course it isn’t strange to hold onto the past, just make sure you don’t hold so tightly that you can’t live in the present or embrace the possibility of a future.” It was something he had had to learn, just like many others that had been on the flight with him. “It sounds like you’ve relied on just yourself for so long that maybe you’re having a hard time being part of something with others. Just a thought.”

“I’m fine just watching from the sidelines,” Melissa admitted with a small smile. “Does your daughter have a crush on someone? How old is she again?”

~

“I don’t know. She hasn’t mentioned one. Of course she could always not be telling me because I’m her father. I did not tell my own parents about most of mine when I was younger” he chuckled a little, “she’s ten as of a few months ago”

“It is incredible for a smokey eye, but we’re so limited as to colors and palettes and glitter. Oh, Finn, I miss glitter,” Martha said with a dramatic sigh, even as she started to dance with them. “I could give you a makeover if you wish. Come to my hut tomorrow and I’ll make you the prettiest resident on this island.”

~

“Oh I do wish” they grinned, ready and eager to take her up on the offer to come by her hut the next day for a makeover. “I’ll bring over a sample of the new hair stuff my mom’s been working on” 

“Yeah, that’s part of what’s so difficult. I’m used to luxury, Roe. This is like … everything I’m not used to,” Cat said, shaking her head. “I want shrimp cocktails and red carpet photoshoots and Savage X Fenty express shipping.” She sighed. “I know I’m being tested … I have to learn how to be less selfish or whatever, but I’d really like for this to be over now.”

~

“Is there something I can do to make it a little more like home for you?” she asked taking a moment to take her hand and give it a light squeeze before letting it go. “Maybe invest in some really good island moisturizers to keep your skin all soft and smooth. There’s plenty of fish and seafood, so I’m sure I could make you a shrimp cocktail or some caviar”

Mia couldn’t believe how sweet they were. Despite her difficult time adapting she felt like she was actually making some friends for the first time ever. “You guys have had to be really inventive over the years. I can only imagine the types of foods you’ve come up with though I imagine most of your meat is sea food.”

~

“there’s animals on the island too. lots of birds. I don’t really like to eat those though. When I was a kid a bird saw me eating some and then followed me around for a couple of days. I think it was waiting to try and eat my mom or something so I knew how it felt. I, mean, he still could come back to do it, just play the long con and let me sit in a false sense of security for years before he strikes. But, yeah, it’s a lot of seafood.” 

Jack laughed. “I know that, I just meant that you’re eating in tiny baby bird bites,” he said, reaching over to pinch Jasper’s cheek gently. “Here. Eat like you mean it. You probably eat as much as you sleep and that’s why you’re so damn skinny.” He picked up the other’s plate and lifted a good-sized piece of fish to hold it out toward Jasper’s mouth.

~

“Oh” Jasper said as Jack explained what he’d meant by his previous statement. Eat like you mean it. Jasper always ate like he meant it, at least he thought he did. When he ate he meant to. No other time. That was eating like you mean it, right? He eyed the piece of fish for a moment before taking a bite. 

“Not yet. My boss has to do the engravings first, remember? Come by tomorrow and see it,” Jack said with a small smile, before reaching to take the pinch of food from him. “You eat like a bird, you know that?” he said with an affectionate grin before placing the bite in his mouth.

~

“Oh, right” he nodded, “I remember.” Jasper would make note of it when he got back home to go over to see it. “Birds don’t eat with their fingers. They do not have them” he said, a little confused at Jack’s question. 

“Uh…” She had learned that being brutally honest wasn’t exactly what most people wanted to hear so Mia took a second to plan her words. “It’s an adjustment. Almost wish I had gone camping to kind of prepare myself for it.” She missed her creature comforts. She missed music and the internet, netflix and being able to order whatever food she wanted. Mostly she missed that she’ll never get a chance to prove herself to those imaginary parents she thought up. “It just goes to show the resilient nature of the human species though.”

~

“Those who were young when our plane crashed or were born on the island are lucky. They haven’t had to adjust the way we have. It took years for some of us to adjust, so if it takes time for you there’s nothing wrong with that. Even now some days I still think about life outside the island.” 

“I spoke to one of them tonight. A beautiful woman whose makeup was impeccable. I wanted to see if she could trade some of her real makeup because I’ve been using berries and charcoal my whole life,” Martha said with a soft laugh.

~

“Well, we both know that charcoal is incredible for a smoky eye” Finn grinned, taking a moment to listen to the music before finding the beat to dance to. “Were you able to do the trade?” they asked, realizing she hadn’t said whether or not it had been a success. “You should give me a makeover. Make me one of your beautiful muses, Martha.” 

“Yeah, you gotta finish things, but you don’t have to work straight through the night. You gotta take time for yourself too,” Jack said, shaking his head. “Anyway, yeah, I finished the chalice. I slept eight whole hours last night too.” He nudged Jasper playfully with a small grin.

~

“Did you give it to the temple yet?” he asked looking over, his expression making it obvious that he wanted to see it. Jasper picked up a piece of food, pinching it between his fingers to eat. “Want some?” he asked, getting another pinch and holding it out to him. 

“There’s no such thing as hitting on too many people,” Ryan said, glancing sidelong at her. He narrowed his eyes slightly before facing forward once more. “I like it here. It’s a fucking whole lot better than where I came from. Or where I was going.”

~

"Well, it sounds like the universe put you on the right plane then” Fiona smiled, “I know not everyone seems to be adjusting as well, though.” it was understandable, and Fiona, herself, often went back and forth on this. “I’m just trying to be as positive about everything as I can. It’s always helped in the past.  What have you been doing on the island?” 

Mattie looked at the little teddy bear, it was very cute and she almost wanted to start cuddling it. “It really is very cute, kind of makes me want to get one of my own,although I am pretty bad when it comes to games like that.” She admitted brushing her hair behind her ear. “Did you do well to get it?”

~

“I did, even though it did take me about six tries before I got it” she gave a slightly embarrassed laugh at the admission. “If I hadn’t seen myself do it, I would have just thought the poor boy at the game felt sorry for me. I could try to win you one”

Amelia carefully took the picture and looked at it. She could see the intent behind it, it was meant to be Loch Ness. She smiled at it, her eyes already a little glassy. Maybe it was going to be okay here. Maybe she would find a new family here. “This is wonderful, thank you so much Finn.” She reached out and hugged him close. Finding peace at what had happened might be a long way off but it felt a little like progress. When she pulled back she wiped her eyes. “Do you wanna go get some crab? You can tell me about what’s in this seaweed dip.”

~

Finn was glad it didn’t take her long to say something about it, and even more so that she liked it. They returned the hug before she’d pulled back. “Sure” they nodded, starting to walk over to where the food was with her. “So it’s made with seaweed, obviously, but also there’s some coconut milk and coconut butter and lime, and some other stuff in it too.”

“Especially since there’s really no telling just how strong your drink is going to be.” She pointed out as she moved along the line. “Ishaan is eleven. He wanted so badly to come tonight but he tried himself out with the games earlier and could barely keep his head up.”

~

“Exactly” she nodded, turning from her for just a moment as it was coming up to be their turn. Monroe waited for her to order and then gave her own after she was asked. “Well, maybe he can stay out later next time they put on something like this”