|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 11:53 pm
"As the way it should be," He said with a faint smile. Jericho still felt that something was still troubling Riley but things seemed to have lightened up for her in the very least.
"Oh. It's an RPG. This game in particular takes you through the story of how the Champion of Dirtwall came to be more or less," he explained while looking over towards the computer. After saying that, he paused and looked towards the Mindflayer once again with a little more of a serious expression.
"Just.. remember. Through the ups and downs.. I'll always be here for you."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 11:58 pm
Riley returned to the screen, her eyes lit up as she soaked in the graphics. Do you get to kill humans? She asked breathlessly, her tentacles shuddering behind her. She was overly content to be off the subject of her unsettling mood, but when he seemed as though he was about to return to it he received a wary side glance from her, for just a moment, before she returned to the screen.
I know you will. She replied quickly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:04 am
Somewhere on campus, a small red lizard skittered through the darkness, only to be impaled by Christof's pocket knife. He wasn't sure why, but it made him feel better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:04 am
"Of course," Jericho replied, "A fair amount, and there's one that makes a big boss too."
Catching that wary look, he furrowed his brow and frowned again. Perhaps he had let things slide a little too much for a moment.
"You know. You never did tell me what happened. Even if it was a few days ago it's still affecting you today," he said while turning towards her and adding firmly, "You came here for a reason and I don't think it was just to affirm how I saw you. Something is causing you pain and I can't let that slide. So tell me Riley, what the Jack is it?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:06 am
Riley furrowed her brow and glared at him for a moment, before sighing in exasperation. She tried to return to a neutral expression, but there was something almost - *almost* like fear in her eyes.
Fine. I needed to tell you something. But I don't want it to affect our relationship. Do you promise to keep a secret?
She gripped his arm, hard. I'm serious. You must promise, on your life.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:12 am
Staring hard into Riley's eyes, Jericho didn't glance at the hand that was gripping his arm rather firmly. That look she had... was there... fear in those eyes of hers? It wasn't quite the case but it seemed pretty close.
<<Si inglata shafaer rinovup annyo smunsoua di ve, de sia iejir ekess sia rasvim>> he thought to her in draconic. It roughly translated to 'I swear on every last bit of me, from my blood to my treasure'. It was essentially an incredibly strong vow for a dragon to make.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:16 am
The kind of honored swear he gave her was exactly what she needed, since she would have rather gone through with this without telling anyone. Still, she knew that giving him the truth gave him the power he needed to be at her side when things turned dangerous.
She let go of his arm, and her eyes crescented as if she was smiling. There was no smile in her eyes, but she faked it gloriously. It's a simple procedure, really. Nothing's going to change. You must believe that.
What was she talking about?
She turned away, and poked at the buttons of the game, making the character walk about. It's almost like your game, here. I'm contacting the hivemind, tomorrow. I'm requesting a mindwipe.
She pushed a button, and the game paused, asking if she wanted to save before reset. She moved it towards no, but didn't push.
Kind of like a reset button. Only, my memories will still be intact in the database. I simply won't feel attached to any of them, as if they were mine.
Her eyes lifted up to him. I'll still remember you. I'll remember everyone. So don't.. you know. Flip out. - which was exactly what she worried he was going to do.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:21 am
Jericho was rather confused once more with what she was saying. Approaching her, he had a concerned expression upon his face as he didn't really get what was being said here.
"Wait.. why are you requesting something like that? How can you say that nothing is going to change if you won't feel attached to any of your memories?" he asked. There was a sense of pain in the thought that she'd only see him as like a character from a movie or game... detached.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:29 am
Riley was confused at Jericho's confusion. She thought she had been rather clever, using a video game reference, and everything. It all seemed clear, except.. for the why.
Of course.
Her eyes flashed with pain, and she dropped the video game controller gently. Because I will remember them, and I will be able to act upon them. The only thing that will change, is that I will not be weakened by.. by things like.. things that we were never supposed to feel, as mindflayers. I told you, once, that it is a struggle to feel these things. This is a very easy, and commonly used solution. It also prevents me from straying too far from my order to be a danger to myself and those I love.
She put her hand on Jericho's chest. You do realize that, don't you? By caring for me - no, by being cared for by me, you all put yourself at risk. Her eyes crescented in a weak smile. I'm going to keep you all safe, but I won't lose you, and you won't lose me. That's all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:39 am
Jericho's golden eyes betrayed the conflict he now felt as she explained her reasoning. He was trying hard to see things through her eyes, but that wasn't easy. There was a different sort of logic going on around here.
"Is it really so horrible to feel the way you do about me and the others?" he asked, "By having those you care for, wouldn't that make you want to fight harder for your cause?"
"While you might remember us, would I still be able to trust and rely on you when you've severed those feelings towards me? Should I be at the brink of destruction, would you still be there to try to pull me away or would you allow it to happen because the odds are against me and the most logical thing to do would be to not waste energy to try?" he added. The dragon was obviously disturbed with this thought. He would continue to follow Riley, but he did not want to be reduced to something that was essentially a sacrificial pawn..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:45 am
His questions left her stomach churning. Why did he have to ask all of the wrong questions? How could he know that feeling care for others was making her NOT want to fight for her cause at all?
Her mindwipe, while it left her memories intact, would, just as he suspected, leave him to be a sacrificial pawn. A powerful, trusted, pawn, but nonetheless a pawn to be used to her best advantage.
It was clear that was not in his plans for the future.
You.. are strong. She faltered. You would never be in that situation. The question is moot. She backed away, stumbling slightly on the game. Her foot hit the video game controller, finally pressing down on the reset button, and ruining his game unintentionally. She watched the screen go black, and her heart seized in the hidden torturous fear this entire process had filled her with from the moment she'd decided.
She continued to back towards the door.
I shouldn't have told you. This was a mistake. Her hands shook, but she lifted her chin sharply in an attempt at feigning strength. You will forget we had this conversation.
She stopped her backtracking, and shook a finger at him. You promised. Remember.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:51 am
"Riley wait.."
Jericho didn't care about what happened with his game and went to grab a hold of Riley's wrist to try and keep her from leaving just yet.
"Yes I promised and I don't plan on breaking it," he said quietly, "But my question wasn't just for times of dire need. There are times where I need support, and just a few weeks ago showed just that. Regardless of what happens I will follow you but I want to know if you will still be there for me as well..."
"My strength isn't endless and you are still a source for it.."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:58 am
Riley snatched her wrist away from his grip and buried both of her hands into her tentacles in frustration. Her eyes closed tightly. Stop it. Stop asking me this. You don't know what you're asking for. You don't need me. You need someone who can feel this way. Someone like Lizzy, perhaps. Anyone, anyone really - but not me.
Her eyes blinked open, and the emotion was back - but it was burning too bright. She disentangled her hands, and placed them around his head. Then she pressed her forehead against his, and opened herself to him.
Feel it. She growled painfully, as she flooded him with the emotions of someone completely torn between duty and love. Why are you asking me to feel this way all the time? Don't you understand we weren't made this way? Don't any of you understand that it's tearing me apart?
Her hands tightened in his hair, struggling to keep herself in check, but once she'd released her emotions, they were not to be silenced. Her eyes rimmed with moisture, threatening to fall for the second time that night.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:13 am
"You're my best friend. I.."
Jericho's words were cut off as she pressed her head against his. The sudden wave of emotion had him flinching as he wasn't expecting anything like this. There was an intense pain and while it the feelings were a little foreign, there was something very familiar about them as well.
There was also this fear... it was an intense fear. One that she'd lose him and the others. It was one he could relate to, and the emotion was strong enough to really effect him as well.
Closing his eyes as he struggled to get his bearings with everything he felt now, he wrapped his arms and wings around her.
"Riley.. I know you're stronger than this... You can overcome it. You don't need to break your ties with me or anyone else to have me fight at your side until the end of the world. Red dragons weren't made to fight alongside mindflayers but that isn't stopping me in the slightest."
With that said, he tried to send her how he felt. There was a conflict in itself there. He didn't want Riley to be in pain, but at the same time, he didn't want to let go of this bond. He didn't want to become simply expendable. He wanted her, not just as a great leader, but as a friend and he felt that she could still be both... even if it wasn't the Illithid way.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:29 am
Riley crumpled in his arms, the strength to fight ebbing out of her like an open artery. You're wrong. You're so wrong. She buried her face into his chest, her tears brushed away by his shirt. Look at me, crying in your arms. She buried her face deeper into his chest so he couldn't really look. How can you possibly say I'm strong. If my kind could see me now, I would be dead before I could move. I am a failure to them, and a danger to you. What use am I, now? Her claws clung painfully to his shirt, ripping holes where they dug deep. She struggled suddenly, trying to push herself away.
Don't do this. Don't try to change my mind, now that I finally worked up the courage to do this. I HAVE to do this, Jericho!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
