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 Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:36 pm
While Calder had been busy since being released from quarantine and taking a moment just to rest, the next day he wanted to check on Malodore. Considering all that had happened, he was deeply worried how the undead was handling things, and wanted to be sure that while he wouldn't be okay, that he was at least not turning destructive in whatever sense his friend could. Considering how calm, caring, and collective the Plague doctor was, he was worried how it would handle such a grave incident in it's life.
it hurt deeply when he thought about it. Calder had helped Malodore plan dates for Riley, and had spent many hours hearing the undead talk about her good qualities, her likes, and what he loved about her. If that wasn't enough to get the impression, Calder had been witness to one of these very dates and saw the spark between them. The fact that that was over, that Malodore wasn't able to have any more time with her - he wasn't sure if he'd be any use to help soften things for his friend.
Despite this, he wanted to see.
When Calder went to Malodore' dorm, there was a simple note written elegantly that it was located in another room. Confused, Calder adjusted his grip on the jar he was holding and headed to the directed door. Looking about, he knocked on the door, rather unsure of this change. "Malodore? It's me, Calder. Are you...in there?" He hoped he didn't have the wrong room - and why the change?
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:31 am
The door creaked open after a moment, revealing Malodore; the plague doctor looked tired, somehow, weariness etched in every movement, but it opened its beak in a small smile when it saw Calder. "Ah, my friend... please, come in, though it isn't much..." The room beyond was smaller than Malodore's original chamber, with only one small window, but there was furniture in it now. Temporary dorm furniture, but furniture nonetheless. And it was clean.
Luce bounded up to Calder and barked happily at him, delighted to see a visitor.
"It is good to see you," the plague doctor continued, sitting on the edge of the cot it was using as a bed. "I find... that I cherish the sight of my friends more now, I... am glad you are well. Are you well?" it added, a little anxiously.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:04 am
The room was small and lacked the personal feel of the other, and this troubled the kelpie. Of course, he had no place to state what the Plague Doctor should do, but he had much preferred the other room and wasn't sure about this change.
Regardless, he stepped in and shut the door behind him, locking it out of instinct. "A'm fine." He told his friend, looking just as weary, but with the addition of more sunken eyes and a paleness to his features. The small wounds from the vines were healing, and Calder made sure to wear a long-sleeve sweater for his visit to keep Malodore focused elsewhere than just himself. This visit wasn't about him, it was about his friend.
Setting a jar on a small table that was filled with a dark green chemical with a strange plant inside, Calder moved over to sit across the doctor on a plain, stiff chair. " 'M glAd others ar visitin." And that Malodore allowed these visits instead of shooing them away. This was good. As much as the undead was a doctor of the physical, he had to doubt his capabilities on the more emotional field. These things were not something you could fix with a fancy stitch.
"Hou ar ew doin?" He asked softly, his voice laced with a Scottish accent.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:52 am
"You... you were there too," it said quietly, gaze traveling over Calder's wounds. "I remember seeing you. You saw what... what happened to her..." It swallowed, then cursed itself mentally, wishing that it's throat didn't close up every time it talked, practically.
"I am... well," it said, with a laugh that had no joy in it. "As well as you would be if Bartholemew had... gone. I am glad he was not there," the plague doctor added, with a sigh. "I am tired, and hurting, always. But I must continue on, even if part of me does not wish to. I made promises. I intend to keep them." Its tone was conflicted, sounding earnest and determined one minute, hollow and numb the next.
"Mostly I am lonely. So." It leaned forward slightly. "Your injuries are healing? How is your mind? The voices speak to you still?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:10 pm
"I kin only imagin how yoo must feel. When tha hunters took Barth away, I did everything in ma power to save him. Too keep him froom suffering and yet I was noot the one ta save him. The hunters were too strong and while I would like to think I am stronger, I have proven I am not. The most I can eva doo is try. Sometimes it may not be good enouf, but it is all I can give." He twisted his hands about the knitted hem if his sleeves as he thought of Barth being taken. It was worse than before since he hadn't been with Barth officially back then. They were much closer now, and he was fiercely protective of him.
"Here I thooght that tha school would be unsafe an worried for him. Now I see no place is safe." That lack of security put him on edge and brought about a sense of hopelessness.
"But my wounds are fine. Came oot better than some past battles. Most left much worse." But not as worse as her or those that had been at the islands. At least he still had a home - for now.
He was surprised that Malodore knew about the voices and looked at It for a moment, ears back. "I 'ave heard them before. On the island where Emily was in da cornfield. Where the fog was. Also in tha chambur that tried ta make meh a weapon. They are... Worrisome. I am surprised you know. Do you hear them?" He had to hope it wasn't serious. "I try to think how they all match up. Tha voices. The fog. Tha gra..." He paused, feeling he was becoming insensitive with the current topic.
"If you are lonely and need to not be aloon, then call on meh. I am always available. If yoo need meh for anything... To move things or .. help with her room.." Calder felt Malodore would be the only one to decide what to do with her belongings. "...I'm here."
"Even ta talk. Especially that." He had seen how loss could affect others. Calder wanted to be there for It.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:48 pm
"I... did not hear them this time, though I know they spoke," Malodore replied, folding its hands in its lap. "I heard them on the island, and in Riley's mind. She was infected and had been since the master Hunter struck her. I found out at Scarentine's..." Its voice trailed off and it shook its head.
"I blame myself for not working harder on a cure. I had no conception that it could be... fatal..." There was that lump in its throat again. It swallowed and continued on. "I will not make that mistake again. As for myself, I was not affected. It seems my natural ability as a plague doctor has adapted through exposure and protected me. We are naturally immune to infection; being so close to Riley, mentally, must have given me time to adapt. So." It sighed as it finished its explanation.
"I am devoting myself to seek a cure, or at least a treatment. It is too late for my amore, but not for others..." It gave Calder a weary smile - a smile that vanished when the kelpie mentioned her room.
"I suppose I should," it said, softly. "I would not want any other, save a few... how is Christof, do you know? The marks of contract burned off of Jericho, so I assume... I must see him also, and soon. So many to tend to." It looked tired but resolute.
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 5:52 pm
Calder leaned over, setting a hand on the undead's a moment. "You doot need ta tend to anyone right now. I know you take yuer profession seriously, but evan Plague Doctors need too address thur own woounds. Everywun is dealan in their oown way and they do noot expect you ta tend to them right nuw. Christof is...." He bit his lip a moment thinking about it. The bruise on his stomach was still there. "...He is dealan in the few ways he knows how. Amrita and I are checkin on him. If yoo want to talk ta talk, then yew can, but please.." He looked at the Plague Doctor. "...doot be thinkin its selfish to take care of yurself. I know busy work is nice, but yoo should address what ya feel capable of doing right neu." He patted the undead's claw a moment before rising, moving over to where he placed his jar.
"If yoo need help with yur research, yoo can fetch mah. I may not be experienced in da field, but if it's basic labor or simply boucin ideas, I'm gewd for that." He examined the vine flower in the jar, floating in the preserving liquids, before moving over and offering it to him. "I thought that if anyone could make use of it, you could. It had.....seemed to react to both Hunters and Students - especially her. They talked much in the same way the voices did."
Looking down, he gently touched the lid. "You shouldnt feel responsible fur what happened. This..infection isn't anything I think anywun has really seen - and if they have, they haven't left mooch information about it. Do not put the entire waight of it on yoor own shoulders simply because you are a Plague Doctor an that yew wer close ta her. If cures were easier too find in such a short amount of time, no one would ever feel sickness or pain. We're not so lucky."
A moment of silence passed as he thought of others leaving him - of Barth being taken or even infected in the way Riley was. "...I am gluud though, that you 'ave a goal in life foor the future." Instead of trying to cling to the past in hopes of change.
"I'm also lookin inta a few things mysel. If I find anything useful to yer research, I'll tell yoo." He looked at his tired friend.
"Have you been sleepin well?"
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 5:44 pm
"Thank you... I appreciate the support, truly..." Malodore looked down at its own hands. "I do not know what to do with myself unless I am working. Everything else seems a waste of time. My hesitation earlier could have meant the difference in... in Riley's survival. I cannot hesitate again. Others might be lost to us."
It stared at the flower, remembering the grasping vines - it had nearly forgotten after what else had happened. "Yes... yes. I am sure this was connected to the Insanity somehow. I must conduct a thorough case study. So much was lost... the knowledge of Famine, destroyed. They were skilled scientists as well, and could have aided greatly." It had to remind itself of that, sometimes, that it wasn't the only one who had lost much. Really, the Four Clans had suffered infinitely more than it had. But perspective could be hard to find. Especially when it was alone.
"Sleep is... a distraction for me. Nothing more."
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Posted: Thu May 03, 2012 6:05 pm
Calder sighed. "I doon't want yew ta think this was aull on yoou, Malodore. It takes time ta figure oot cures, and yoou dadn't 'ave that. Please doon't beAt yoorself up ovar this. Riley was infected frum something we haven't figured oot yet. Her......changing was noot yoor fault." Calder knew there was little else he could do to convince the undead, but at least he felt he had done something by saying it.
"Please take care of yoorself. Maybe at some point, ya can talk to some Famine members. Thay might knuw sumthan." The horsemen were suffering as well, and he wondered if Malodore talking to them would help it learn to accept Riley's death a bit better.
"Yew should also knuw sleep is good fur ya." Advising his friend about taking care of himself and the values of sleep sounded odd, and he could only hope it wouldn't be brushed off. Calder wasn't a Plague Doctor after all. Just a boil from the backwoods with a teasmith for a mother.
"Ya know, Christof likes being busy too. Don't know what to do with himself when he isn't. Might send him on some errands or bounce ideas with him. He'd be happy ta help ya and has....well, more free time now." Considering he was without one mistress. Maybe Malodore and Christof keeping each other would help them both work through their loss.
Then again, what did he know? He was just a friend trying to piece his friends back together. None of them were prepared to counsel someone from such a strong sense of loss. Calder was only trying to keep it from going somewhere dark.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 10:10 am
Malodore opened its beak a little bit, in a wry smile. "I know, my friend. I sleep whenever I can - I can tend to my physical needs. The emotional will... take time, I suspect. It is not a familiar sort of wound to me." It slumped a bit, sighing. "But I suppose there is no poultice or medicine that one can take to heal one's heart, in the emotional sense..."
Something Calder had said a few minutes ago, though... that was starting to pique its interest. "I am sorry, could we... ah, rewind a little bit? The chamber that tried to make you a weapon? You do not mean in the Trials of the Four Clans, do you..."
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 11:51 am
"Oh no. This was back at the haunted house. I went after Barth when he was captured by the Hunters, and in turn decided ta get captured too find oot where he was. I....have ta admit it was ah terrible idea, but I foond him. The Hunters took me and threw me into their weapon chamber. I didn't knuw it at tha time, boot it was there to convert me inta a weapon. When it started up, fog started to build, and then I heard tha voices. Many of em. 'Home. Home.' They kept wanting to go home. It's sad really. To want ta go home and not be able."
He leaned back, rubbing his eyes. "But it didn't wurk. They took me out and threw meh in a cage instead. Kept hearing em though for a while." He looked over at Malodore. "I wish we had that machine." Just to keep the Hunters from having it and to see if there was a reverse button.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 1:08 pm
"Home... home. Always home..." Malodore nodded. "Thank you. That... that is helpful to know. It is real data, rather than merely a dream presented to us by the Horsemen." And yet the future they had foreseen had come to pass, in a sense - levied on the Horsemen themselves, rather than on Halloween proper. A cruel irony.
It sighed. "Grazie, my friend. I... find it hard to continue, at times, but the knowledge of those who depend on me keeps me moving forward. And I have a duty to everyone now. Perhaps once it is fulfilled, I can sleep peacefully by her side again." It ached to feel her arms around it again, even if they were made of stone. Even that touch was still hers-
It shook its head sharply as if trying to fling away the ache, focusing on Calder again. "We had said we would discuss herbal remedies, had we not? It seems like it was so long ago..."
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 1:13 pm
"Oh yes. I guess with everything come up with the horsemen and trials and then the visit and...." He shook his head. It was a lot that had happened that he often felt it all blurred together, yet all the memories were vivid in his mind, defining one moment to the next. Despite his age, he felt worn and strained. More experienced, but what knowledge he had was always in question as were his own abilities.
"Yes. We can go whenever you feel. I want to get a feel of the campus anyways, and I probably should be getting a few materials for myself. It will also be nice to just get out for a while. I'd feel better going with company in the end now that I think about it instead of hunting them down on my own." Now that no place was safe. "Whenever you are free, send me a text. I don't know where I'll be these days." There was a lot on his plate as well. His mind wouldn't rest.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 2:21 pm
"Yes, much has happened... and you have changed as well." Now it was focusing properly on the kelpie - it wasn't just the voice that sounded different. "Your fur and hair have darkened, yes?" Not greyed, thankfully. It was all in favor of every other color change except for grey.
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Posted: Fri May 04, 2012 5:51 pm
He offered a light chuckle as he touched his hair. "Yes. It seemed to really kick in these past few weeks. I guess I'm a grown stallion now." He said, examining a lock of his black hair and frowning. "Certainly don't feel like it."
His deep green eyes looked back at Malodore. "But we've all grown up and changed a lot in our own way." Malodore had grown wings after all, and seemed different than the younger Plague Doctor he once knew. "We've been through a lot in our short time at school. In a while, we'll all be talking about graduation."
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