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 Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2022 6:29 pm
After meeting the Senshi of Selkies, Lysithea had powered down and sent a text to Malcolm, asking if she could come over for a few minutes to discuss an old friend.
Obviously she didn’t want to put any powered names in a normal text message…who knew what kind of people could be reading them but…still. Hopefully he would get the idea.
It took her another fifteen minutes to get to his house and she knocked softly, rocking back on her heels and sighing softly, half hoping that Malcolm would have some snacks or some new book to show her so that it didn’t have to all be business. She did want to help this girl but…
The idea of hanging out with Malcolm was always something to look forward to.
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2022 6:38 pm
Of course Talia could come over. Malcolm would always make time for her. He’d encouraged her to head over and told her he was looking forward to it–and apologized for the mess in advance.
The kitchen was almost a disaster. He was baking and it was–well, it was okay! He’d dropped the bag of flour everywhere and hadn’t had much time to clean it up because he was worried about burning everything. So far, the food was okay.
He was just dreading the clean up process. He’d made a dent in it by the time that Talia arrived, and while he’d managed to get the floors clean, the counters still needed a lot of attention–and he was covered in flour.
Malcolm rushed to the door to answer; he was wearing an apron but his sleeves were rolled up and his hair was tied in a sloppy bun. “Talia, hi! Come on!” he encouraged. “Do you want something to eat? I got pizza earlier, it’s not even room temperature yet. I couldn’t cook in the kitchen, I’ve got a bunch of things out. We’re having a bake sale tomorrow and I left everything until the last minute. But I’ve got some ugly cookies if you want to snack. Is everything okay?”
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Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2022 6:50 pm
Talia grinned, looking him over and then hugged the male tightly. “No worries! I’m happy for almost room temperature pizza, and even happier just to see you.” She made her way into the house and gave a sigh, reaching out and wiping some flour off of his cheek.
“I have some questions if you’re not too unhappy to answer. I just ran into a senshi and she was looking for someone named Elpis, and I swear I’ve heard that name before, and it was either from you or Evan, so I figured I’d come ask you.”
Hesitating, Talia raised her eyebrows. “...how messy is the kitchen? Do you need help cleaning up? Also, how could you bake without inviting me? I’m hurt Mal. Hurt. You know I love baking.” She pouted but still seemed in a good mood, so clearly she was teasing.
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Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2022 8:19 am
Malcolm squeaked, not in pain or alarm, but just because he wasn't sure if she’d seen how much flour he was covered in. He went through a range of emotions after that point in time. Worry prevailed, though.
“Oh–well, it’s not too late if you need to get some baking out of your system! Um. But I was using a voice to text transcriber to jot down some ideas while I worked so it was a lot of talking to myself. I had some inspiration. Except I know it recorded me spilling the flour all over, too. It’s mostly cleaned up now! The counters are a little rough, but that’s not too bad, I was just working on it now. What was that about Elpis?” he asked, and he led her to the dining room table. He pulled out a chair for her and gestured to the pizza box on the table before he went to the fridge to grab her a soda.
The kitchen still had a lot of work to do, but he didn’t seem too worried about it.
“She used to be in the Court. I mean, she might still be, I don’t really know. There was a period of time where–it’s complicated, I just, um. Wasn’t really on top of things, so I don’t know some of what I missed. You guys had a lot going on while I was in the hospital and I didn’t really get a lot of updates while I was healing up. But–yeah, what’s going on with her?”
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Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2022 12:45 pm
Talia broke into a pleased smile and nodded. “Yes please. I’d love to bake with you! And I’m sure my cookies will get sold pretty quickly, not that I’m bragging or anything, but I think I bake really well.”
The idea of Malcolm having inspiration was a good one too and she grinned. “Hell yeah. Tell me about what you were thinking for your books too, I was hoping you’d have something for that for me too. This is turning into a very productive trip, and as for Elpis. I ran into a senshi who was looking for her…she said that Elpis hadn’t been in contact for a few weeks. I knew I had known the name from somewhere so. I thought I’d come and ask, and you’re always wonderful to visit and easy to talk to so…here I am!”
Grinning slightly, Talia shrugged and nodded towards the kitchen. “So she was part of the court…that’s…good. I had to have been told it then. When’s the last time that you saw her, or heard from her…do you know?”
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Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2022 1:45 pm
“A long time ago,” he confessed. “A few years. I don’t know what happened. It’s–”
He looked a little guilty, a little reluctant, and wouldn’t meet her gaze as he passed her over a soda and then went to clean off the counters.
“I sort of–it’s not like I was kicked out or anything, and I didn’t quit, I just–” He shifted positions awkwardly. “I don’t think I was doing very well so I think maybe I stopped getting invited to Court things for a little while. Everyone wanted to give me some time to get better–and by then, Evan had awakened! So I wasn’t really–I mean, you guys didn’t need me. And everyone had so much going on. It was–at least four years ago, I think? I don’t know,” he admitted, quieter than before, like he’d found some way to make this all his fault.
“I didn’t get the chance to be very close with her. I’m sorry, I wish I could be more helpful. I can keep my eyes out for her, though. Who did you say was looking for her?”
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Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2022 3:23 pm
Talia took a sip of the drink, frowning slightly as she watched Malcolm and when she listened to what he had to say, she began to feel guilt bubble up inside of her. She couldn't remember that time but…obviously she would have had something to do with it. Obviously she…or…or Cambria rather would have added to these bad feelings, added to making Malcolm no longer feeling welcome in their court.
“Hey.” She put her soda down and moved to hug him tightly, heedless of the flour that covered him, wanting nothing more than giving him all of the comfort that he had given her ever since she had come home.
“I can’t speak for my actions or choices back then, but I am so sorry you ended up feeling so alone, and feeling like you were no longer needed in the court. I am so sorry it all happened that way, and if I could go back and change it, I would but…I know I wouldn't ever let it happen again. I need you, and I hope I’ve been able to make that clear but…I need you. You’re my best friend and I wouldn’t be here without you, Mal. Just…I know this isn’t what I came here to say but…it needs to be said…um.”
She blinked, feeling embarrassed by the fact she had already forgotten about Elpis and the reason she had come over. “Ah. Um. The Senshi of Selkies? Lambda Aurigae was her name. She…her outfit looked really comfortable. Almost like pajamas."
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Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2022 5:44 pm
When Talia first spoke, Malcolm seemed to expect rebuke. He’d almost bristled at her ‘Hey’, and there was the briefest second of tension before he relaxed into the hug.
“It’s okay,” he said quickly, but didn’t try to break the hug. He was comfortable how he was, and it was easy to relax in the embrace. And, he didn’t want to cover her in even more flour.
“It’s all in the past, there was a lot going on. I’m sorry for worrying you!” He meant it, and seemed almost frantic to make sure she knew how serious he was about it. “I didn’t mean to go off there! But–I appreciate it, Talia. You’re my friend. You’ve always been my friend, I know that. And I’ll be here for anything you need. But–I can’t say that I know her. Lambda Aurigae sounds totally unfamiliar to me, sorry…But if I hear anything about Elpis, I’ll make sure you know!”
He didn’t try to hide the worry in his voice; he didn’t know how to, anyway.
He’d seen things happen to Monoceros, to Lysithea…
He didn’t know what to expect if Elpis was missing, too.
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Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2022 6:09 pm
Talia nodded and gave a heavy sigh, squeezing him once more and drawing away, swiftly wiping at any tears that had decided to come to her eyes during the hug. Unfortunately, there were a few but. That was okay. Emotions were okay.
“All right then! Let’s…let’s you and me get baking and then we can eat some pizza, and maybe just watch a movie, since I don’t really feel like leaving you any time soon.”
Which…had to be all right, right? If he had an issue, he would say something but.
Right now, she simply wanted him.
And they would find Elpis. She was sure of that too…just. Hopefully they’d find her as still a part of the White Moon…but…even if that wasn’t the case.
They could always save her too.
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