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Christof had been sleeping very little lately. There was so much to do, and everything was needed immediately. The Mad Science labs had become his home for several days, between sculpting and casting for Barth and careful, strategic welding, gluing and building for Mistress....

It was going to be a Part of her. A Vital Part. He had to make it... right. Make it Special. It had to be comfortable and practical and aesthetically pleasing or she would refuse it and he wasn't sure his heart could take the rejection. The idea of letting her down was almost as horrific as the thought of that.... that Insanity destroying her.

And so by the time he had finished, the paint was dry, the metal was cooled, the parts assembled, he looked as though he hadn't slept in a week. Even so, he spared no time rushing to find her... save to send Malodore a quick text message, although there was no doubt where it would be.

Malodore was, also unsurprisingly, at Riley's side, sitting on a nearby and currently empty cot as it leafed through a book of children's feary tales. The Hunter and the Death Knight. Corpse White and the Seven Hunters. And so on, and so forth. It was scouring the old tales for any hint of truth buried in legend...

And then its phone vibrated. It put away the book with a slightly exasperated sigh, but all that exasperation vanished when it read the message. Mia cara... mia cara, shhh, Christof has finished the device, it thought at her, gently but firmly.

It didn't take long for the disheveled, unwashed and stressed looking hunchback hobbled his way into the office, something clutched carefully against his chest as he made his way urgently to the bedside, It is finished, Mistress! I'm here! You... you will like it, I hope, Mistress! Are... are you awake?

"Ah... Christof. The device," Malodore said. It gently leaned forward and placed one hand on Riley's shoulder. "Allow me, per favore..." It still didn't like the idea of plugging up its amore with some foreign thing like a hole in a wall, but hopefully it would be only temporary, until she herself could heal or be healed.

No sooner had Mal moved to her shoulder, Christof grunted to Jericho, nodding as he limped his way beside her. It would undoubtedly not be comfortable going *in*, but hopefully would be just fine once it was in. It had been tested personally, as the fresh stitches hidden under his shirt would illustrate, and as far as he could tell... it would work fine.

He had also thoroughly disinfected it before heading over. He pulled over a table, setting it down gently at the edge so she could at least see it as he unpacked bottles of ointments and tonics he often used when doing his own... adjustments. I... I put a lot of thought in the design, Mistress, really- the... the outer ring is adjustable and so it will fit snugly and lock into place. The inner core.... is removable. For... for cleaning and... His hands emptied, he scooped the device up lovingly before pulling one last thing from his pocket- a small iron key. The device itself was cylindrical, carefully forged from what he could find to adapt, hodgepodge as everything he built, but somehow united. The wooden front of the inner capsule was a natural dark gray wood, sealed with a lacquer and fitted with a black iron lock retrofitted from what had to have been a jewelry box at some point in it's life. When he twisted the key, there was the subtle click of several mechanisms releasing, and the inner core slid out to reveal a hidden compartment. He set the two halves aside- they'd need to fit the inner sleeve in first before he did the final adjustments for the lock-box.

I know your measurements by heart, Mistress. His voice was a whisper in her mind, It should feel as though it's not even there. Once it's in, anyway. I'm sorry I took so long.

The design seemed sound enough, Malodore had to admit, though it wasn't entirely sure why the extra components and compartments and things were needed. Still, as long as Riley was happy... "Should Infermiera Cricket be here?" it murmured. "In case something goes amiss."

It couldn't explain why it had such misgivings when it had far more serious bodily modifications done to it, some by its own choice - perhaps it was that Riley was very much alive, not undead. The living were not half as malleable.

Riley shook her head stubbornly. I trust you. All of you. We will not bother Nurse Cricket further with my injury, she has done enough for me for a lifetime. Just put it in, and .. She shuddered. Just put it in.

Malodore tilted its head to one side, putting the gestures together into complete thoughts. It was still a little uncomfortable with the whole thing, but this was only temporary, was it not? And it did not want Riley trapped in the infirmary for months if there was a way to avoid it while preserving her health.

"As you say," it acknowledged, squeezing Riley's shoulder gently. "Proceed."