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 Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:30 am
Malodore frowned internally. The words written down on the notepad weren't answers to the question it had asked. Not even close. Was Christof inclined to speak - or think - ill of his Master? It could feel the prickle of the patchwork's anxiety.
Could he not answer because any answer would go against the tenets on the paper?
"I am a modified creature too," it said, instead. "My mask, my tail, my arms... wings, obviously... all made, not born, though I do not remember anything but the wings. I was, ah, curious. I suppose." It paused again.
"What would you do, if you could modify yourself?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:27 pm
Again, there was the flourish of anxiety at the question, a hand rising up to rake through his hair. Christof let out a long breath, wobbling back and forth a moment as he mulled the question over.
Better Symmetry.
That was a start, but his pen hovered over the notepad, hesitating another few moments before continuing:
Better looking-
they say being scary is better but
ghouls like symmetrical Parts and
things like that.
But he quickly scribbled it out. Looking over his shoulder it was probably too late already.
Not built to attract
that sort of attention.
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Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:27 pm
Ah. "Ghouls, is it?" Malodore tilted its head to one side. "Is there anyone... any ghoul... you particularly, ah, appreciate?" It was curious, really. What interesting depths might the patchwork possess?
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Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:29 pm
Christof's mouth became a flat line, brows furrowed as he stared at his hands on his knees. He then huddled down as he wrapped his arms around his head a moment before nodding slowly.
There was. Of course there was. But how... how could he even begin to talk about that to.. to Malodore of all people?
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Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:44 pm
"Ah, yes, of course. Miss Morrigan, was it not? I remember, you went to the dance with her. With a tongue." It nodded in what it thought was a sage, rakish way, though really it didn't see the appeal of two fleshy beings smacking their fleshy bits together in a fleshy fashion.
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Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 11:50 pm
Christof gave a whine, shaking his head. No.... it wasn't Miss Morrigan. He hadn't heard hide nor hair of her since that day.... he more than likely scared her off.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:06 am
"Ah." Malodore patted Christof lightly on the shoulder, sympathetically. "My apologies, then... perhaps Miss Amrita? She is a charming ghoul, truly."
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:07 am
Christof suddenly glowered through his fingers at the Plague Doctor, as though it had suggested he had feelings for his sister.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:10 am
"Ah... perhaps I should stop guessing, then. I am sorry," Malodore said, ducking its head sheepishly, then wincing at the answering curl of pain from its back. "I merely... I know so little about you, truly, Christof, and yet you have been here so faithfully, tending to my needs. I, ah. Would like to be a better..."
It hesitated. It wasn't quite sure if 'master' would be appreciated or not; it was so hard to tell with Christof sometime. "... person," it finished, cagily.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:17 am
The hunchback lowered his hands, looking guilty now as he retrieved his notebook.
Difficult. he wrote, his expression softening.
Not many people
care enough to try.
Not sure I know myself
sometimes. Difficult.
Supposed to be a tool.
Lately... have felt
otherwise.
He stared at his own writing, not sure if that communicated well at all... that was really the crux of the issue, wasn't it? Maybe partly. It wasn't supposed to be an issue. He was supposed to lurk in the background until summoned. That's how Things Went. But... while that might have been fine enough for him a year ago, far too many things had changed since then. Where did he even begin?
You are a Good Person, Master.
He glanced sideways up at that mask, brows furrowing. He had been drawn to Malodore early on because it reminded him so much of... of home. If you could call it that. But despite the birdlike doctory similarities, they were indeed very different people.
Perhaps his life would have been very different if Malodore had been his Creator... but alas.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:24 am
"Supposed to be." Malodore tilted its head, then glanced back at its own wings, the actual feathers impossible to see under the fabric of the slings. "I was... supposed to be 'proper', and do what tradition mandated. I did not. I could not. They were going to exile me, you know," it said, quietly. "Take my mask and blind me." It left off the part about not being able to talk; given its company, it didn't seem quite appropriate. "I was afraid, and yet... I was fortunate. I am fortunate."
It looked up at Christof. "Fortunate to have a most excellent Igor, si."
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 12:36 am
Christof wanted to smile at the compliment, but he merely sagged further.
Not good Igor.
Did bad thing.
Must obey.
Built to obey.
His handwriting had become shaky, hesitating a few moments as he swallowed.
Believe Experiment might work.
Believe She is powerful.
Master Barth was nea
the writing cut off as Christof's hand spasmed, dropping the pen as he hissed in his throat. With a few breaths, the pain subsided from his mouth, his pulse slowly fading from his hearing.
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 4:50 pm
Malodore missed the pen, but caught the notepad, pulling it close; it tore away what Christof had written and tucked the page into one sleeve, watching the patchwork all the while with worry in its eyes. "Experiment? What experiment?"
This was dangerous, it knew. But important.
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 6:26 pm
The hunchback stooped to retrieve the pen, blinking and wincing still as the pain faded. He seemed to assume Malodore had simply turned to a fresh page when he went to write again, silent for several heartbeats before writing out:
I care about Mistress very much.
It wasn't a change of subject necessarily, more of a diversion.
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 6:33 pm
Malodore tilted its head to one side. "An experiment for Riley? What sort of experiment?" It was still vaguely suspicious, but well. There was no point in asking Christof questions that were, themselves, too pointed.
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