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 Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 11:50 pm
It was early. Perhaps too early. Despite the fact that there was physical evidence of Riley having been awake and on her eyephone no more than an hour ago, she was already up for the day and on her morning run. The first lap had her briefly pausing when she passed the monster dorms, but the second lap found her stopping altogether and heading inside. She had a bone to pick with a certain monster, and if that meant her exercise routine would be comprimised this once, she could live with it.
It was with this determination that Riley, in her black tank top and workout shorts, rapped sternly on Nukpana's door. She brought a hand to her face to wipe away the sweat, and look at least somewhat presentable. Then she crossed her arms in front of her, and attempted to look like she hadn't just been running laps around the school buildings while she waited for him to open the door.
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Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:44 am
Predictably, Nuk had been asleep up until the very second Riley had knocked on his door. Delightfully so, in fact -- he'd been having a particularly lovely dream involving Shehk and a bruteball and chocolate pudding, something he had always wanted to try but never had, due to the myth about it exploding organs, canid especially. Every so often his mouth would move a little, drool spilling out the corner and into a little puddle by his face as he mouthed something incoherent, muscles twitching as if he were running in his sleep. There had even been a little smile curling the corners of his mouth as he'd slept there on the fur-covered bed, sprawled out like the uncouth being he prided himself to be. Yes, it had been perfect, until suddenly there was the distinct feeling of tentacles across his mind, stealing away the pudding and the girlfriend and the bruteball, leaving his once-pleased expression to immediately distort.
Perhaps overall it was a good thing that the rap on the door came at that exact moment, jarring him suddenly awake. The dream having dissipated, as most dreams did within moments of waking, the skinwalker sat up blearily, glancing over at the door with half-lidded eyes, blinking a few times at it. What time was it? Did he miss class again? (He flailed in the dark for a second, giving up when he couldn't find his panic-clock.) In the end he dubbed these questions irrelevant, and almost went back to sleep when he considered the possibility of who would come looking for him. The answer to that question was very few people. Altair, maybe -- that a*****e. Tristan... unlikely. Nuk's eyes closed a little more, his head hitting the pillow.
Shehk, however, was quite likely to come find him. Especially if she was cold and needed cuddle times.
This was much more motivation to get up, and although it had taken him a good few minutes, the doorknob finally turned, and Nukpana opened the door wide, fully expecting to see the pricolici standing there, ready to attach to his arm like he was her personal heat-lamp. Which he was.
"Hey bab-- Riley?" he paused mid-greeting, the mindflayer's name coming out of his mouth in a mildly stupid tone. Considering the hour, he expected her to forgive him for that. And for the few seconds afterwards too. Catching sight of what she was wearing, his eyebrows lifted without actually opening his eyes anymore, looking her up and down once before settling back on her eyes. "... hawt shorts."
Clearly whatever minimal brain-to-mouth/body filter he had had not woken up yet.
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Interesting Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 1:14 am
Riley rolled her eyes and wordlessly greeted the skinwalker and his uncouth statement by reaching out and grabbing his head with her hand, covering his eyes while pushing him back out of the doorway. She continued to hold his head in the palm of her hand while she stepped in, and closed the door behind her with her foot. Still silent, she flipped her eyephone open and dialed Nukpana's number. It was at this point that she released his head, and stood with her head perked slightly to one side, listening.
She held one finger up, and waited, and then..
♬This.. right here? Is my.. swag. All.. the girls.. are on me? Damn.~♬
The sound was faint, but she could hear it coming from the other side of the room. She followed it, bending down to rifle through a rather large pile of clothing.
♬Girls scream my name when I pretty boy swag, watch me pretty boy swag~♬
She snatched the phone up and flipped it open, stifling the music as she turned to him. She closed both her, and his, phones simultaneously, held his out, and glared.
Why did I spend all that time setting up your phone for you just so you would ignore me when I called you, mmm? Her eyes slit thinly, and as if she'd only realized what he had previously said, (which she had not), she used the hand holding her phone to point at her eyes, then his. And keep your eyes on the skies, soldier. Unless you're imagining Shehk in these shorts. Which can be arranged.
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:26 am
There was a distinctly smug smirk on Nuk's face as Riley's hand reached out to grab his head, not even bothering to try to duck out of the way before she had covered his eyes with her palm, starting to shove him backward into room. There wasn't any point, really... the mindflayer, beyond being extremely well-built herself an therefore likely to have managed to grab him regardless, had his undying respect, and it hardly even crossed his mind to try anything funny. They had a word for it, animals did -- Alpha. Still, even as he let her navigate him backward and close the door with a sharp, audible click, it was obvious it was more than that. Although the fact that he was remarkably relaxed for an individual who would punch you for trying to restrain him even in the most innocent of ways was certainly a prominent factor, there was something else that wasn't quite right about the situation, something very few people could boast seeing at all, much less with the skinwalker in such a calm state of mind.
He was not wearing his pelt. He looked remarkably human, in fact. Too human. Standing there, completely naked but for the tan hide pants riding low on his hips, there was no indication at all that he was anything but human - no tentacles like Riley, no canid ears or tail like Shehk, no wings like Jericho, no scales or gills or hooves of any kind to offset the well-sculpted muscles boasting the demonic-looking tattoos and distinctly bipedal frame. Only his eyes distinguished him from food, the glowing amber against black sclera, and with Riley's hand covering them there was not even that. This in itself he did not like in the least -- the fact that he could not shapeshift without a scrap of fur or feathers or skin redoubled this dislike exponentially, to the point of excessive aggression and agitation without it. Of course, he had his natural form, the little skull pendant around his neck the only thing keeping him from shifting, but it was not in a skinwalker's nature to use their natural forms often. They relied on the forms of others, for strength, speed, stealth. Without it, he was without his greatest asset.
And yet he was calm. Curious.
Stumbling backward a few steps as that hand released his face, Nukpana continued to smirk as Riley moved about the room, his posture oozing amusement and mischief as he folded his arms across his bare chest, looking so close to vocalizing a decidedly sexual implication of her 'sneaking' into his room at such an early hour, and in such an outfit too. Still, he refrained, merely moving off to the side as she did her thing, leaning his shoulder against one of the walls and yawning showily. He also tried very hard to make it a point to stare at her a** as she passed him, but in the end it was the eyephone in her hand that really caught his attention, not needing to ask to know what she was doing. Within a few minutes it was confirmed, a muffled sound wafting through the still dorm air.
'This. Right here. Is my. Swag. All. The girls. Are on me? Damn.'
Despite how it was so obviously a jab at him, Nuk couldn't help but smirk a little broader at the words of the song, clearly taking a great deal of masculine pride at the context. Even the mindflayer's glare could not dampen his amusement, and he flicked his eyes down to the eyephone held out in her hand, merely staring at it for a good few minutes before lifting his eyes again to her opposing, unamused expression, not moving to take it from her just yet.
"I didn't know how to answer the damn thing. Do you know how it feels to listen to that song on repeat, unable to make it shut up?" he replied nonchalantly, briefly wondering to himself why she called him in the first place. Although she would be one of the few people he'd actually answer for, if he could. And Shehk. The rest he just wish he knew how to hang up on them. Lifting an eyebrow, he continued with a slight roll of his eyes, pushing off the wall and reaching up to close his hand around the phone in hers, picking it up and examining it idly, "And what do you mean, 'all that time'? I've never seen your fingers move so fast."
The corners of his mouth might have curled upward a little at that last statement, both his and hers, attention returned to those short shorts.
"...Is that one pair of shorts between the two of you?"
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Interesting Conversationalist
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:55 pm
Riley was, above all things, a keen observer. She had recognized early on that she had gained Nuk's respect - and worked diligently to keep it that way. After all, she practically fed off the loyalty of others. This was exactly why she looked quite put out that Nuk hadn't been using the phone she'd so carefully programmed for him. She continued to hold the phone out to him, and when he merely looked at it without taking it back, she shook it in frustration. Then she reached down with her other hand, pulled the edge of his pants out, and dropped the phone in them. She released the pants with a snap, and both hands went to her hips.
I find myself stunned with disbelief that you don't know how to answer a phone, Nuk. She pulled out her own phone, flipped it open with a flick of her wrist, and flicked it closed again.
Open. Closed. Open. Closed. How is this difficult? She teased. Alternatively, you can just leave it open and press this lovely green button on the touch screen. Look. It's amazing. She held it out to him and, very exaggeratively, poked at the screen. Watch me, Nuk. I'm a technological genius.
Her teasing had reached its end, and she flipped the phone closed before sliding it back into her pocket. This, of course, returned the topic to her shorts. She looked down at them, trying to picture Shehk inside them.
I think they're too tight to hold both of us, so, no. She answered in deadpan voice. But speaking of Shehk..
Riley turned on her heel and walked away to inspect the pile of clothing. Her foot reached out and toed the garments warily. That is why I called, after all. I know you hate technology, Nuk.. but you have no idea what you're missing out on by ignoring it. Her eyes sparkled, but it was unnoticed as her back was turned to him. I find myself continually impressed by how open Shehk is concerning you on Groanspring.
She let that bait hang, dangling it in the silence that followed.
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 11:27 pm
Nuk's grin broadened into a definitive smirk as he watched Riley shake the phone, clearly deriving great pleasure from her frustration. As if to make this doubly clear, he continued to merely stare at the phone, lifting his eyes to hers with a devilish grin that was by no means sneaky, keeping his arms folded loosely across his chest. There might have been no question in either of their minds he respected her, and would stick his neck out for her without question, but sometimes you couldn't teach a dumb dog new tricks. He'd spent seventeen years building up a reputation as a bully, getting into fights and generally making an a** out of himself -- what could he say, old habits died hard. Still, if he had been grinning before, it faded within a few seconds. The skinwalker didn't even have time to make a sexual joke about her trying to get into his pants before the phone was suddenly discarded down his jeans, yelping as they snapped back as she let them go and immediately sticking his hands down the loose jeans.
"What the jacking s**t motherjacking cactus hell...!"
Giving Riley a slightly more sulking look, the skinwalker scowled a little as he retrieved the vibrating toy, shoving it in his back pocket. As it was, he barely looked up as he heard the sound of the phone flipping open and closed, raising an eyebrow at her skeptically before waving her off dismissively, shoving both hands in his pockets and sauntering over to his bed, flopping down on his back with his hands behind the back of his head. It could have easily been construed as an invitation, had it not been Riley. ... then again...
"Hey, as if I'm supposed to know that bullshit. You want someone who can beat the s**t outta someone else, you come to me. If I ever need technical whatever, I'll remember to ask you," he replied, snorting and letting his eyes slide closed. It wasn't an obvious deflection, but it was there, subtly ringing in his words and dismissive posture and if anyone could have picked up on it, it was Riley. The last quip he added after a second's pause, his voice surprisingly hollow of any chauvinistic undertones he normally used, "You can be my laptop anytime baby."
It took that paused moment Riley had taken after the word 'Shehk' for Nuk to open one eye, flicking it over in the mindflayer's direction to watch her toe his clothing, his interest mildly piqued by the mention of his girlfriend. There was still a little skepticism -- he didn't think Shehk and Riley were particularly close -- but it had ebbed considerably, easily baited. Whether it was purposefully baited or not, it was hard to say. "She said somethin' 'bout me?" he questioned, opening the other eye and lifting an eyebrow again, not moving from where he was laying, "What'd she say?"
What he really needed to ask was 'what's a groanspring?' but he didn't dare. He didn't want to have to deck her if she started laughing.
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Interesting Conversationalist
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Posted: Mon May 02, 2011 11:46 pm
Riley surveyed the swinwalker laying on his bed for a moment, clicking her claws together in thought, before she moved to the bed and sat beside him. All teasing aside, she held a special interest in this particular couple, and she was prepared to get serious about it if the need arose. She hadn't yet decided if this was the case, yet.
You're more than just the school bully. You know that. She punched him lightly in the stomach. I don't require a bully at my side. I require a strong, loyal companion. I did not choose you because you can push people around. I chose you because I believe you have great potential, and I intend on being there to help you unlock that potential. Her hand remained rested on his stomach. But first, you're going to get through this school, and you're going to get the ghoul you love. That is why I am here.
Riley's eyes slit slightly in delight. Nothing worth fighting for ever comes easy. I know you haven't given up on Shehk, and from what I see on Groanspring, I truly believe she might be ready to accept you. She had no trouble calling you her boilfriend. That is a big step, is it not?
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Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 8:06 pm
The skinwalker's eyebrows lifted in surprise as he watched Riley approach, glowing amber eyes following her as she circled and sat down at his hip, keeping both arms tucked under his head. Riley had never seemed particularly affectionate to him, at least not in the way he was used to. Most people thought Nuk was physically touchy because he was just an a**, but that was only half true -- physical was part of his life. Often assumed to be an effect of stealing an animal's skin, there was a pack mentality among skinwalkers, a closeness derived from intimate contact. And although he had absolutely no insight on mindflayers, beyond the physical which happened in a fight, he'd never really thought of Riley as particularly touchy. So it was particularly surprising that she had sat so close, considering she could have said what she wanted to say from the distance she had been before. Although he didn't look smart enough to think it, he wondered if perhaps she was actually trying to appeal to him, making the effort in order to gain his trust.
It was working, too.
"What'm I, a dog now?" he replied after a second, half grinning a bit at her 'strong, loyal companion' bit. "And I thought that was exactly why you kept me around. Muscle. Hate ta tell you this, sweetheart, but you don't exactly need brains." There was a few second's pause after that, Nuk's eyes rolling up and to the left a bit in that little way he did whne he was thinking about something, his face scrunching ab it as he mulled over the complication of what he'd said. "... or you do, but that's not what I meant," he amended reluctantly, unfurling one of his arms to wave it in the air dismissively, letting it fall to rest on her thigh.
"Point is, Shehk doesn't want me. You know what she calls me? Her stalker-boilfriend. And I don't need a jackin laptop to tell me that."
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Interesting Conversationalist
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Posted: Tue May 10, 2011 12:08 am
I knew it. Riley whispered triumphantly the moment Nuk had finished talking. Her eyes flashed for a moment, clearly caught up in her own whirlwind of thought. Finally, she leaned in and looked down at him with a thinned glare. She means more to you than you make it out to be. She called him out on the depth of his emotions recklessly. And do you know what, Nukpana, you big, tough puppy? I bet you mean more to her than you know.
Riley took his hand, which rested cheekily on her thigh, and plucked it up just to plop it down on his stomach. Her own hand rested on top of it. I don't want Shehk hurt. Did you know, there are certain forces out there that might think of her in a way that is less than noble? And while you may talk a good game, I always knew you weren't one of them. She reached out and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, lifting him up to face her. Her eyes were bright with mischief.
Nuk, I can't tell you how she feels. It's not my place. But I'll be damned if I'm going to let you sit here and think there isn't anything you can do about this. You're done hiding in your skins, aren't you? Because I think it's time you show her who I can already see in your eyes. The real Nukpana. That is who she wants. That is the man, not the muscle, not the dog, that will fight by my side when the day comes.
She let his collar go, and straightened it out casually. So. Do we have an understanding?
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 1:09 am
The weight of his own heavy hand plopped back on his chest made the skinwalker flinch up a little over his stomach, grunting a little and giving Riley a slightly sour look, not quite sure why she'd done that, but staying silent none the less. Or rather, he had an inkling, but he didn't understand it -- she thought he was being fresh with her, something which, while he would never deny a nice romp with the very-well-toned demoness, was not what he was aiming for. And wouldn't, if he was perfectly honest. It wasn't like it was any secret that she and Malodore were pretty into each other, and he wasn't nearly stupid enough to get between that. (And he secretly though they were adorable but you'd bet your sweet pin he wouldn't admit THAT out loud.) Still, he stayed perfectly quiet as she continued, already starting to feel more and more agitated as he continued, his vulnerability suddenly coming into play.
Had it been anyone else, one of two things would have already happened: if they were a guy, they would have had a fist in their face faster than they could say 'she means more to you,' if they were a girl, he would have picked them up, carried them to his door and plopped them on their a** outside. As it was, he merely gritted his teeth, glowing amber eyes narrowing as she threw everything he was feeling out into the open air, muscles in his chest tensing. The hand around his neck made him flinch, not from fear but from impulse, although he did allow himself to be dragged up from where he had been laying on his back, grabbing her wrist instinctively and growling a low, husky growl in her face, staring into the eyes he couldn't read. It was unsettling. Not because it was any different than anyone else -- he didn't really do well with people in general, and certainly didn't 'get' them -- but because she clearly could.
He was hiding, and she knew it.
Shoving her hand roughly away, Nuk shrugged his shoulders in an obviously agitated motion, as if trying to shrug off her words, his eyes never leaving the white ones trained on him. "She's just a ghoul, Riley. Why would I care?" he hissed, shoving himself almost violently off the bed. He crossed the room several times, stalking a few steps before a stray unsavory thought popped into his head and he twisted around to move a different way around the room, until finally he practically spun back towards her, pointing at her dramatically.
"'n you know... you... know... the best way for her to not get hurt, is to not be around me. Grass grows, birds fly, sun shines, and brother, I hurt people."
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Interesting Conversationalist
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Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 1:14 am
Riley watched him, moving only her eyes as they were trained on his movement carefully like a predator watches it's prey. The moment he spun around, her eyes flickered briefly to that rude finger pointed at her, before turning back up to him again.
There was so much emotion flaring in those eyes. It was coming off of him in waves, and even she, who hated emotion, could feel it. His response elicited a sharp sigh from her, and her shoulders drooped an inch.
I hurt people, too, you know. Riley murmured in a quiet, muffled voice. That is all I was meant to do, honestly. All I was bred for. Her eyes had turned away for a moment, but as they returned to his, they furrowed deeply in regret. That wasn't really something she wanted to share - but his excuse wouldn't work on her. Should I give up Malodore, then? She stood, and her figure straightened in empowering rage. I'm putting it in danger, you know. Her hands shook slightly. Do you suggest that I should do what's right, and stay away from it as well? Keep my feelings bottled up and hidden where they cannot hurt anyone but myself?
Her words meant to sound challenging, but in the end it almost sound like her voice could have cracked, if it had come from an actual physical source. She was earnestly asking for an opinion, without meaning to sound like it.
.. is that really the right choice?
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Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 3:52 am
For a second, Nuk's eyebrows rose slightly at the unexpected response, hovering higher than normal for half a second before they furrowed, molten amber barely visible as he narrowed his eyes to just wider than slits. In that moment it had taken Riley to sigh, his entire demeanor had changed -- not a lot, but enough, visible to any who were looking for it, or were observant enough to catch it, of which the demoness certainly qualified. His own posture became slightly less hostile, the pointed finger curling back into a fist, although it was a loose one, non-threatening. Muscles unclenched from beneath mocha-colored skin, ropes of coiled tension ebbing away a little, and the skinwalker let his own shoulders hunch a bit, back into his more traditional pose. That hadn't the response he had expected -- he'd expected anger, fury to match his own, Riley ready to beat him for his stupidity, for his impulsiveness. Instead, he got... regret and honesty he hadn't expected at all. Although his eyes narrowed, it wasn't because of any hostility, but suspicion and bewilderment. Was she... confiding in him? No, why would she do that? But it was close, surely, she was extending herself -- even if it wasn't true, she was taking the effort to lie to him.
And that meant something to him. For a good few minutes, Nukpana was complete silent, judging and re-evaluating their entire relationship. Until now, she had been an object of respect. Surely untouchable, and just as surely he had made sure to be no pawn of hers, refusing to be like the others -- an ally, yes, but no mindless follower. Now... now there was something dangerous in the air. Their relationship was on the brink of something, two roads diverging in a wood.
When he finally spoke, his own voice had lowered as well into a husky rumble, eyes lowering along with his fist. Despite how he wanted to, he didn't turn away from her, finally relifting his gaze to settle on the straightened demon. "I don't know," he replied, honestly, "Don't ask me to answer that question... I can't even answer it for myself." Stuffing his hands into his pockets, Nuk turned around completely, looking like he was taking something off his desk, although it was hard to tell. If it was rare for him to be in anyone's company without his pelt, it was unheard of for him to turn his back in the same situation. But he had soon turned back around, glancing at her again with a searching, thoughtful look before he slowly took a few steps towards her, closing the space between them. Standing in front of her, far closer than personal space would have allowed, he stared down at her, hands in his pockets.
"Why are you helping me?"
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Interesting Conversationalist
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Posted: Thu Jun 23, 2011 4:15 am
It was as if the strength she'd gained by standing there, waiting for his answer, was lost as soon as he spoke. His words offered nothing, and she crumbled back down onto the bed to sit with her hand buried in her hands.
She shouldn't be thinking about this. She came to help him, not to throw herself back into doubt. She promised..
But why was Nukpana allowed to speak so easily of disengaging himself from those he loved, without repercussion? Why was it only a sin when she did it?
Her hands fell to her knees just as he returned, and she tilted her head up to glare at him. His question made her want to walk out that door, and never speak to him again. But the one thing it did not make her want to do, was to tell the truth.
Yet, she could feel it bubbling from her thoughts before she'd ever made the decision.
Because! Her thought was a sudden explosion, as she stood back up and looked up into his eyes. Seeing them once more made her pause, brows furrowed in doubt. Because, a quieter voice said. When I look at you, I see myself. I see something I didn't know I had, within me. And I don't want you to make the same mistakes I did.
She tore away from his gaze, and placed her hand directly on his heart. You can lock this up all you want, but one day you're going to regret it. And I care too much about you to see that day come.
Her moment of weakness passed as quickly as it had come, like a raging summer storm - winking out as soon as it had dropped it's torrent of rain. Her hand dropped to her side, and her back straightened in posture. She looked as if she was daring him to argue with her. She was ready.
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