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 Posted: Thu May 19, 2011 9:16 pm
Christof sighed as he hauled the wagon down the path back towards Campus. He had hoped a nice walk to the graveyard would clear his head, but there hadn't been any fresh graves, and the rest he had picked over already for the best parts. He supposed he could go see Barth, but after the N.A.P. Club Incident...
His Incident report was really becoming a long list, he thought gloomily. Stupid, always stupid.
In it's cage on the cart, Firth the Lepus gave a horrible squeaking noise, chomping at the bars in a desperate attempt to knock it free to hopeful freedom in the forest beside him.
Even attempting to train his creation had not turned out well. He was limping a bit, but thankfully just a small flesh replacement at his calf was needed when the hunchback got home. Apparently the Lepus was not fond of leashes. Christof stopped to give the cage a kick, and the creature inside settled down sullenly.
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 12:19 am
The trees rustled gloomily above Christof as he rumbled his way back to campus. One in particular looked like it was rustling a bit more animatedly than the others. In fact, when Christof passed it, the rustling seemed to stop. A moment later, Riley fell from it's branches, landing in a crouch beside the trunk. She straightened up, and brushed the leaves from her skirt, before eying the patchwork carefully. She gave it a look as if she was wondering what it was doing all the way out here, despite the fact that she was the one hiding in a tree.
Good morning, Christof. She finally managed to murmur distantly.
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 12:29 am
He jumped with a startled noise in his throat, shovel lifted from his wagon with a metallic clang as he raised it at the ready- only to register he had THOUGHT the voice rather than hear it and...
He put the shovel down.
Flushing he glanced away, hands trembling as he carefully made to put it away again. His own mental voice was faint, off handed, Hello, as though it was the instinctively polite response.
He did not address her as Mistress, for once. The mark was still on his chest, he had discovered sometime after N.A.P. after he had had some time to regain his senses... but who knew what that meant? He certainly didn't. And so he had tried not to think about it. Keep himself busy.
And what was she doing lurking like that anyway? None of his business. Never his business, he supposed.
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Posted: Fri May 20, 2011 11:44 pm
Riley felt as awkward about their accidental meeting as Christof looked. Her expression did nothing to show it, but she really didn't know what to say to him. He'd done some unforgivable things, and she had responded viciously - how was she to recover from such an incident?
Were they to recover at all?
So. Ah. I see you're keeping busy. She nudged her chin at the empty wagon, which of course did not indicate 'busy' in any way. She registered this fact only after she'd spoken, and her hand brushed through her tentacles in frustration.
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 12:01 am
Always good to keep busy. Keeps one out of trouble, came the idle thought in response, touched a bit with bitterness. The shovel back where it wouldn't rattle, he checked Firth's cage, if only to give himself something to do, something to think about, something to look at rather than Riley.
The lepus responded by giving his finger a sharp bite the moment it went between the bars. Christof gave only the smallest grunts of annoyance, jerking his hand back to give the cage a firm smack and the creature fell backward, gripping the finger victoriously.
The hunchback's more human right hand had more stitches on the fingers than usual, visible even with the fingerless glove he had adopted to at least try to conceal Barth's swollen mark.
Hope things have been well with you, he added politely, but it was clearly auto pilot.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 11:01 pm
Riley completely ignored Christof's question. Perhaps this was because he had not addressed her as Mistress, and on a subconscious level she did not recognize that the question was meant for her. Therefore, she simply acted as though it did not exist.
It may have also had to do with the fact that something had just bitten Christof.
What is that? Riley peered around the humped back to get a better look at the creature in the cage. Do you have a new pet? It looked familiar.. she recalled the pieces of lepus, and it all clicked into place.
Oh.. The ah. Yes. I remember now. My, isn't it looking animated. Her eyes crinkled just slightly at the pun.
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Posted: Sun May 22, 2011 11:35 pm
It's name is Firth. It was going to be First but I have problems pronouncing it, and so I figured to just keep it simple for those times I should need to speak to it. He explained quietly. And... er... yes. I didn't take into account what I'd have to do with it after the experiment was complete, unfortunately. I fear letting it loose would not be a good idea, it's already eaten... a lot of very good spare parts.
He gave a frustrated huff, once more hammering on the cage with a frustrated fist. I do not understand why it's such a terror, you would think it would be in my debt for giving it Life! It cost a very expensive refrigerator, apparently, or Muh... Barth would not have been so upset.
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 10:38 pm
Riley was pleased to have the patchwork talking again, even if it wasn't on the most pleasant of terms. One brow rose at the mention of it eating spare parts. A creature with a taste for flesh? It did make sense, given its arrival into being.. still, it sparked interest. She took a few steps, sat down on her haunches in front of the cage, and leaned in to look at it. She was careful not to put any of herself in its reach, however - they had just established that it wasn't looking for a petting.
Fascinating.. I wonder if its anger stems from being forced into existence instead of born naturally. Are you mad that Christof pulled you into this body, little rabid creature? Are you? Her voice had turned soft, and liquid smooth, as if it was cooing it.
She lifted her head slightly to look up at Christof. Have you considered trying the whip that Professor Malcolm gave us? I'm not sure how it would react to this creature, but it's worth a shot I suppose..
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 10:47 pm
Er... it turned into a snake. And er... only seems to care about bothering Scruff or hiding in my laundry basket, He replied anxiously, fingers twisting as though she was a teacher inspecting his work.
I feel nothing but duty and indebtedness towards my creator. It is the right thing, to show them respect for creating life. Maybe I didn't do it right. His mental voice sounded depressed. It was just an experiment. I should stick to tinkering with devices, I think.
After a few moments, he fidgeted, digging in the dirt with the heal of his boot, I... am sorry I did not think to invite you. I was.. swept up in the storm, I suppose. You take the pieces you need and you put them together. That is how it... works. Um. I should have thought it through more, you would have been useful. It apparently tried to eat Master Malodore after you left. They handled it though. He gestured to the three stitched scars on the lepus's chest and stomach, funnily enough spaced just the same as Malodore's talons.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:19 am
Riley's eyes returned to gazing at the little creature, paying special attention to it's stitching and the movement of the muscles underneath that patchy skin. A wonder of scientific experimentation - she knew Malodore was probably quite proud to be a part of it's creation.
She would have liked to have been a part of it, too.
She kept her eyes on the lepus as Christof continued to talk, though there was a flicker of sadness passing over them. She wanted to be happy for Christof. She wanted to say that it was fine, and she didn't really care, and have things back the way they were again.
But it would be a lie.
This won't make sense to you, Christof. Her soft voice murmured out quietly. But I wasn't mad at you. It isn't like you are under obligation to invite me to everything you do. I know that is not the case, somewhere deep down.
She pushed herself up to her feet, and plucked at a tentacle anxiously.
I was just a little, ah. A little.. jealous. The word was barely a whisper. She immediately responded to the embarrassment of admitting this by flailing her hands outward in a dismissive manner. What you have here, it was clearly a very interesting experiment. I just.. She rubbed one of her elbows. I guess I wish I could have- Her words were choppy with indecision. -You know. Been a part of it.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 12:29 am
He was flushing as he glanced back to her with disbelief, and got that calculating look he usually got when trying to piece thoughts together. Jealous...?
I... had thought it would be a good surprise. I told you I was cheating death, Mistress... I got a really good look at this contraption on... on that island... I don't know how it worked, but... but the idea of harnessing and controlling Fear like that... Master Barth and I talk sometimes about it. Er... well. He was mentally babbling. I didn't want to bother you with silly Igor fancies.
She really was jealous. Like she had been about Sin's proposal. He shifted again, eyes falling to his shoes, I understand the feeling.
I really enjoyed Fitness Club, though, even if I got my nose broken. I fixed it, though. I... I would like to... to keep helping you with that... if you'd like, Mistress?
Still nibbling the finger like a carrot, the lepus watched Riley back with narrowed eyes, calculating far more than a small creature should.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 11:39 pm
It's not a silly igor fancy. Her tone was perhaps a little sharper than she intended it to be, as she straightened back up and snapped out in reply, but she instantly softened to make up for it. I mean, it was a very interesting idea. At least, I think so. I do like that kind of thing, you know. I know you might think of me as more of a death-becomes-her kind of mistress.. but bringing life to something interests me just as much. It's a very powerful skill.
Riley dropped the tentacle she was anxiously tugging upon, and looked up at Christof directly. Of course I still want your help in Fitness Club. I would be lost without you. Don't you know that by now? The sudden fear of genuine emotion behind her words had her quickly pulling back. It wasn't a good idea to be opening herself up that easily. She knew better.
Besides. She nudged her chin upwards slightly. You technically do still have the key, after all.
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Posted: Tue May 24, 2011 11:53 pm
He swallowed thickly, brows furrowing as once again the thoughts attempted to scramble into some form of order. It's... I mean... it wasn't... a very Igorly thing to do, I know... but... I wanted to see if we could do it. I know knowledge is one of your passions, Mistress, I do pay attention. He fidgeted again, rubbing the side of his head with a palm, I worried... a lot of things. After the fact, really- initially he really hadn't thought about it. He knew the pieces he needed- Barth to help him with the electronics, and Malodore to help with the too-small and tricky stitching and construction- they had been his tools, really, and the thought depressed him. It should have been the other way around. I get too many ideas, I think. For an Igor. But... but I did want to impress you. I worried... if it didn't work and you were there... you might have laughed at me. Silly Igor playing Science...
He was still watching her intently, panic on the edges of his expression, but he relaxed slightly when it seemed she wasn't about to try to take the key back again. You were... very angry the other day. About... what I did. I wasn't thinking. I am sorry, Mistress. I was.... am... er... jealous. As you put it. I suppose. His mental voice was very small, still afraid of her reaction it would seem. I feel like I don't serve you well enough. You don't find me useful enough. I keep doing stupid things.
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 12:12 am
Riley visibly relaxed as he started to explain. She had still held a touch of anger at being excluded, but Christof managed to hedge away even that small worry with his explanation. She kept silent, digesting all of it at her own pace.
Then she was reminded of the incident with Jericho, and a well of anger bubbled up inside of her. She was still angry about that one. Perhaps this was as good a time as any to take care of that problem.
If you were not useful, Christof, I would not keep you. But as it is.. I find your presence very helpful. It's just.. I mean, I understand jealousy. I really, really do. You can see that it affects my judgement sometimes as well. But to have almost hurt my best friend..
Her hands curled up tightly as she tensed, and she took a deep breath to keep calm.
Hurting Jericho hurts me. Even moreso now than ever. He is not here to help me, he is my best friend. My equal. And I just.. I can't..
She paused, and then shrugged softly, unable to finish her sentence.
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 12:21 am
Her equal. Yes. And he was just an Igor. He understood, although that understanding made him sag all the more. His hand dug into his pocket, fidgeting with the key that still sat there. Yes, Mistress. I will not try to harm him again. I am sorry for being foolish. He would be a good Igor. The best. He would make it up to her.
In it's cage, the Lepus grew bored again, dropping the left over bone from the finger to squeak and rattle his enclosure once more before going for the hinges this time to try to gnaw his way through.
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