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 Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:02 pm
"What-I-want-not-important." Christof managed to get his hands to cooperate, even with his face and accompanying look of misery hidden behind his knees, "Would.... like-very-much. To-spend-rest-of-days-here. But-am-property. Not-my-say-regardless-of-what-Calder-suggests."
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:13 pm
Barth felt a surge of hope and relief at would like very much, and felt it subsequently crushed by to spend rest of days here.
"You can't," Barth said tiredly, "stay here forever."
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:29 pm
"All-I-have-known. Master's-Castle. Or-here."
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:25 pm
"You've been to Christmas Town. The Hunter's Island. The Human World. On ships and in Haunted Houses. The world does not end with this campus. It's only a school, Christof. And even if you want to stay on as a staff member here, I don't."
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:34 pm
Christof rocked, making an anxious noise as he tried to digest this perspective. His hands twisted, finally working out, "Part-of-school. Not-limited-to-but-a-product-there-of. Been-around-my-town-as-well. Still-bound-to-Master. Must-have... Must-obey... cannot-explain," the last words were signed with quick, pointed, emphasized gestures, "Physically." He added as though it was a separate thought.
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:42 pm
"I am not asssking," Barth hissed, baring his teeth in something that was not really a smile, "you to disobey anyone."
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:46 pm
Christof glanced up over his knees at the hiss, his brows furrowing.
"What-are-you-asking?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:04 pm
"If the school closes, Dr. Fell will come to collect you. It is likely you will either be recycled, or sold. Do you want me to buy you." Barth had to know. They had to address it. They had to be prepared. It was the last question he wanted to ask Christof.
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Posted: Wed Dec 14, 2011 10:07 pm
Christof couldn't take his eyes off of Barth. Every fiber of his expression looked touched, alert, almost pleading, but he was unable to nod.
His hands said for him, "Must-go-to-highest-bidder." If he was lucky, he would only be Parts or dismantled if he DIDN'T sell.
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Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 11:17 am
"Very well," Barth said peevishly. At this point, he felt like Christof was just avoiding telling him no outright. The thorns were still thickening, walling up the room in steady, weaving measures as Barth's manner grew colder. "Do you want me to bid? If you don't, I wish you'd say so. It would save time for both of us."
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Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:40 pm
The hunchback's eyes had gone glassy, threatening tears again, his hands trembling, but this, at least, was a question he could answer, "Yes." His breathing quickened, trying desperately to keep his panic bottled, "Would-make..." He hesitated, fingers jerking as though pulled apart by unseen strings before he fought through it, "Best-Master."
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Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:06 pm
Barth looked startled, the chilliness melting away into a stunned, meek expression. The vines that had been building slowed, waving tentatively.
Yes, Christof had said. And further- he clarified, confirmed, that was a definite yes, a positive yes, a yes.
Christof looked ready to cry- from fear, or nervousness, or something else Barth couldn't tell. He was not unaware of the gender pronoun there- Christof preferred him to Fell, at least. Barth's throat felt thick. He slid from his chair to lightly and nevously touch Christof's arm again.
"No, I'm...rather lousy at that, I'm afraid, but- I'd hoped-" He hesitated again, then intertwined his claws to indicate a different sign.
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Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 6:27 pm
Christof was shaking, trembling from head to toe as he lumbered clumsily to his feet, face twitching as he mirrored the movement.
After a few moments, he lurched forward, grabbing the sloth in a desperate, terrified hug, the likes Barth had not felt since that first meeting in the graveyard a year ago.
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Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:07 pm
This time, it didn't take a while for Barth to register the hug. He clung to Christof with the gradual sort of determined grip that sloths are capable of. He was slow, and steady, and did not shake, and realized that the thickness in his throat was making his face hot, and that he was dangerously close to letting himself cry.
It's not over yet, he thought.
But so much hinged on Christof, and in those few seconds, he had been on the edge of losing all of it.
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Posted: Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:14 pm
A pair of green eyes were watching from the far end of the room, hidden under the skirt of the mattress that gave him cover, and he watched the tender scene from start to finish. Why was Calder under the bed? It was the safest place he could think of. For now, he was quiet, and remained as a secret audience member.
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