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 Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:51 pm
Malodore shook its head. "Lo non la penso così. Everyone is still talking, so I don't think the class proper has started yet." It quickly glanced around to make sure t his was still the case, then turned back to Siddie. "If I may ask, were you in the first session? I signed up afterwards, so I am not entirely sure what to expect." Something genteel, it would seem, given the place settings and the dress code... perhaps table manners?
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:56 pm
Siddie nodded, folding gloved hands neatly in her lap. "I was in the first session. We had a lesson in proper posture and carriage." She paused a moment, a little smile appearing on her face. "But there was an unexpected interruption. Someone brought their invisible dog, and it caused quite a bit of commotion before Bartholomew caught it. The class was released after that."
She fiddled with the lace edging on her glove. "I didn't get my turn at the lesson, but it was amusing watching everyone try to catch something nobody could see. Even if it wasn't quite as - um - elegant as I'd expected the class to be."
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:08 pm
"Ah, yes... posture is critical to proper care of the spine." Malodore tapped its own spine - long claws made that easy, as did the fact that there wasn't that much flesh between bandages and bone (though, naturally, its clothing covered both). "Slipped discs are never decorous."
Though if Christof had been in that class... oh, dear.
"I have enough difficulty with my visible canine; why anyone would want to keep an invisible one..." Malodore shook its head, opening its beak slightly in a smile to show it was joking.
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:13 pm
Siddie blinked. "I would imagine not," she said politely, though she'd never even considered the concept. "I've no personal experience with spines." Had that sounded weird? That had sounded weird, hadn't it.
"I don't know either." She shook her head. "My mama wouldn't allow me to keep one, even if I wanted to. She was once bitten by an invisible dog. At least, she thinks it was an invisible dog. They never did find it."
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:16 pm
"Ah! You are not a vertebrate creature?" Curiosity piqued, Malodore studied what it could see of Siddie. "... Not boned at all, actually, I would wager? Affascinante. Tell me, do you consider yourself demon or monster?" Its tone was curious, yet warm and friendly.
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:23 pm
Malodore's interest surprised Siddie, but she wasn't averse to satisfying its curiosity. "Right," she answered. "I'm a living shadow. Just dark all the way through. I hear some of us can turn into all kinds of shapes, but I don't have that talent."
She made a small half-pout at the second question; she might have been insulted if it had been asked differently, but it was clear that Malodore just wanted to know. "I'm a monster," she said, with a touch of pride. "I think there are demons with shadow talents, but my family has no demons in it."
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:29 pm
Malodore nodded pleasantly. "Pardon my curiosity - I have a particular interest in physiology and the sciences, and this school has been excellent for meeting many new types of beings! I must say, other than Professor Hellma's... ah... gift, I have never met a shadow before."
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:43 pm
"I've met a great many new types of people here," Siddie nodded. "There were a lot of different monsters in my neighborhood, but I was still surprised by the variety." She smiled. "May I ask what you are? I don't think I've met a - um - being like you, either."
Now that she thought about it, she did vaguely recall seeing Malodore in Shadowcraft as well. It had been ... scolding its shadow? She decided not to mention the incident; most of the detached shadows in that class had gone romping around and being embarrassing. Not exactly a cherished memory, most likely. Hers had sassed back at her.
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:47 pm
"I am a plague doctor, signorina," Malodore said, opening its beak in a smile. "Technically, we are classified as undead, though I at least take particular care not to seem intensely so." Indeed, Siddie could probably smell a faint whiff of coffee and parchment emanating from the plague doctor. "Moreso than usual, today - it wouldn't do to appear underdone for this course, I don't think."
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:52 pm
"I wouldn't have guessed," Siddie said, diplomatically. "I know quite a few undead." She giggled a little. "Underdone, indeed! I don't think everyone here made quite as much effort, but I think the way one presents oneself is important, even aside from class requirements." She brushed an invisible bit of dust off her skirt.
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 9:55 pm
"Indeed so! Though we seem to be doing well for ourselves." Indeed, the class as a whole, with only a few exceptions, looked quite nice. Riley especially... but then, Riley always looked nice. "If we are, in fact, learning table manners, I will do my best not to dissect the meal. Not everyone appreciates such things, sadly," the plague doctor lamented. It was a little hard to tell if it was being silly or serious...
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:01 pm
"Probably a good idea," Siddie agreed. "If it's a really interesting mystery meat, you can probably ask the kitchen gnomes to help you get a sample later," she offered. Malodore seemed a nice person, very well-mannered, and there wouldn't be any harm in dissecting something later if it got really curious. ... Unless it was joking? She couldn't tell. She put on a smile just wide enough to imply that she was playing along, if it had been a joke.
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:57 pm
Like a kettle on the stove, the hunchback huddled in his seat, his back still twinging now and again as he tried to tune out the world. Just chit chat just idle chit chat, it was in his head, just sit quietly and wait for class to start.... He couldn't keep his eyes on the place settings, though, all... fancy and filled with forks and knives and carefully folded napkins and silver candlestick holders with posh dribble-free candles and the table cloth and hands with marks and people passing notes and someone was talking to him he could almost hear it, but his Mistress was possibly making fun of him or not or he was just looking for trouble but... and now there was some other student SOBBING into her exposed chest and... he was derailed for a moment, brows furrowing as he registered who it was- that BOIL FROM DETENTION. Seeking sympathy for nearly throwing a fellow student in a vat of hot BLEACH? But... but... but his Mistress was smart, she was good at Doing it Right and she more than likely had a Plan, and Rule 1 and Rule 3 and he should trust her, he had to trust her...
He was rocking in his seat now, eyes locked on his mismatched hands gripping the edge of the table, and it all seemed to click into place- this was WRONG. An Igor didn't sit at the table! It didn't take posture tests! It hid in the shadows and lurked and brought a tray the moment before someone asked, with the poisoned glass positioned in just the right angle... But his Master Creator had sent him to the school to further his education and this wasn't something he knew but his back really hurt and more importantly, Rule 5. But... but maybe this wasn't what he had meant, maybe he had signed up for the wrong class and his spine was unhappy and what was he DOING HERE?
In a sudden jerking motion, the Igor pushed his chair back from the table, eyes never leaving the table as he stood up with a sharp whine and rushed for the door.
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:28 pm
Riley was exceptionally good at multitasking.
She continued to comfort Calder as best as she could, patting his back as he got his emotions out. However, her eyes were cold, as she watched Christof abruptly stand and head for the door. She was still quite mad at the way he'd ignored her, and now he was about to walk out on a class? She'd had quite enough.
Christof, she murmured liquidly, a stark comparison to Barth's earlier outlandish cry. Her hand lifted, just slightly, palm facing the retreating igor.
Stop.
Her word was quiet, demure, and most importantly it was only for his mind to hear. However, it was enough. Her mark came to life, sizzling at his chest.
Come back to your seat, Christof. Class is not over yet, and you have some explaining to do.
Additionally, a careful thought was sent only to Malodore's brain. Malodore, dear, something is wrong with our Christof. Until the class is over, could you possibly find some way to keep him occupied?
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Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:32 pm
Unfortunately, Malodore had been focusing so intently on Siddie that it didn't notice Christof's increasing discomfiture until the Igor actually... bolted?! The plague doctor rose slightly in its seat, then sat back down when Riley's voice floated through its mind. I will try - are you talking to him? it thought back at her, wondering if she would hear it. It hadn't really attempted thinking at her before, but she was too far away for talking, and more loud noises might well alarm the patchwork further!
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