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 Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 11:29 pm
Riley's face lifted, the muscles that would have been used for a smile clearly at work in her expression. Listening to the details of Famine, and how delighted Malodore sounded at it's acquisition of new knowledge. As soon as it was done, Riley shifted her leg off of the plague doctor and moved closer, pulling it by the collar of it's robe right into her arms. She had warned it she would do this, after all.
I believe so. At the end of our second week, my greatest interest will be to find out whether I enjoyed my time at the Clan of War more, or less, than Conquest. I would have thought the answer was going to be clear, but not anymore.
She squeezed the plague doctor, and pressed her face against it's mask affectionately.
Not anymore.
Her face crunched up, and she sighed softly. So. I have some questions about something.
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:05 am
Malodore tilted its head to one side, settling comfortably into Riley's embrace. "What questions, mia cara?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 1:51 pm
After being quite satisfied with how completely she was able to wrap herself around Malodore, she summoned up a bit of courage and tried to make it sound as if the topic was not bothering her in the slightest.
I've been asked, quite a few times in fact. About, ah, the status of our plans. As in, a date for our, ah, you know. Wedding.
Her attempt completely failed.
At first, I just assumed we would wait until we graduated. Which I think is probably a good idea, still. However, I came to a startling realization earlier today, when Jericho asked me about it. Her face crunched up slightly. That's.. only one year away. Should we be.. I mean, is there some kind of.. planning.. we should be.. She shrugged nervously. I don't know how this works, mia cara. When our kind choose to mate, there is no ceremony. They simply mate. I have no background to pull from other than thousands of customs from other cultures, all of which mean nothing to me.
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 2:00 pm
"Ah, I see." Malodore ducked its head, a little sheepishly. "Ah, there is... not precisely such a thing as marriage, per se, for plague doctors? It is not called 'marriage', that is. I, ah... I suspect my particular choice of words that evening was more attributable to, er... to Calder's teen scream magazines. Not that I wish to rescind the offer!" it added, quickly, just in case. "But my own traditions do not lie in what those magazines usually speak of." Really, it wasn't sure how many of Halloween's many cultures actually did the marriage in a crypt with all the wrappings, officiated by some demon lord or other, thing. "Is the, ah.. the popular conception what would best please you, or would you like to hear a bit of our - my - traditions?" Yes, yes, it was visibly flustered, but it was also possibly adorably so.
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 3:39 pm
Being that plague doctors were one of the few cultures that were a mystery to her, she sighed in relief of the mere fact that it had customs to begin with. Please, do tell me your traditions. All of them, I want to know every little detail. She was sure that once she knew of some kind of base to work with, she would feel better about strategizing a plan of attack for an event such as a wedding.
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 4:39 pm
" Every detail?" Malodore chuckled. "I would need a tome for that; we are complex creatures, in our own way. But bonding rituals, now..." It settled back comfortably in her arms. "A mating bond can be created between up to four plague doctors at a time, though pairs are most common - not all have the time needed to manage more complex social structures." It opened its beak in a small smile. "When one enters into such a bond, it is assumed that the individuals involved will dwell together and act as a unit, taking similar work shifts and rest periods. They may also breed together, though of course our young are raised communally. As you know," it added, nodding to Riley. It closed its eyes for a moment, thinking. "A bond is drawn up much like a... like a contract, of sorts, with arguments presented on paper as to why the individuals involved are best suited to each other. These arguments and agreements are then presented to the elders. Counter-arguments may also be presented, though they are often placed in jest and teasing, not in seriousness." Plague doctors joking? Yes, it happened. "One Elder will spend some hours speaking with the potential bondmates, mentoring them; bonding is considered an important step on the road to Elderhood, though it is not a requirement." "When the bonding is approved, the plague doctors involved go before a concordium made up of their Elder mentor, the Eldest, and the higher-ranking plague doctors in their respective work shifts. Any shift changes are drawn up then, with the shift leaders releasing and accepting the new bondmates, as needed... the bondmates are dressed all in white, signifying a fresh start. There, at least, is a faint similarity," it allowed, smiling. "When all is approved, the bondmates exchange tokens, trust-blades, and copies of the contracts. They then wear their white clothing to their first work shift, after which it is no longer white. There's... some symbolism there, I know, but it was never entirely explained to me. That they are not giving up their lives' work for each other, I think? Or that they strive together? Or simply that there is no such thing as a 'honeymoon'." That faint smile again. Vacation time! How droll!
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:56 pm
Riley settled in to listen, effortlessly engrossed in the process from beginning to end. She could envision it, and somewhere in her mind, she almost lamented that Malodore would not be there with another plague doctor, sharing in the rituals with it's own kind. Her arms tightened around it, as if staking her claim once more. Mine, her embrace said. Not theirs. Just mine.
So we'll need a contract drawn up. I think that is an important step in the process, as well as exchanging tokens. Simple enough. The real question I have, I suppose, is.. when?
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:47 pm
It idly stroked the tip of one claw down her arm, the movement light and playful. "I might also suggest... the intercession of an Elder. There is... there is Armida. I would like to see her again, when my wings are complete," it said, closing its eyes. "And for you to meet her. Perhaps Celeste will be there with her too, and Ettore..." All those names from its past, all familiar to Riley now since the time they had shared, when it told her everything.
"I do not need or want the permission of the Casa Elders. They are as dead to me as I am to them. But Armida is a different matter. She was - is - my true mentor."
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:56 pm
Riley stilled at the mention of Armida. The memories she'd been gifted came flooding back, and with each name a different flicker passed through her eyes. The idea of meeting these people, the ones who had shaped Malodore into the person it was right now - the person she had fallen in love with, and the person she was preparing to share the rest of her days with.. it both thrilled and frightened her.
She supposed it was something like meeting the parents, in this situation. Malodore was lucky - it would never have to meet her parents.
I would be honored to meet them, and for them to be a part of our union. Riley breathed out very quietly, a reverence present in her voice.
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 11:00 pm
It pressed its forehead against hers, filled with a sudden upwelling of unspeakable gratitude. Grazie mille, it said, without words. Sapevo che eri la mia vera casa, Aen'ryllis.
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2012 11:28 pm
Though she knew it would mean a lot to Malodore, she hadn't been prepared for the swell of emotion that came from it's thoughts, and it's very being. She sucked in a surprised breath, before it released from her raggedly, and she closed her eyes to rest her head against it's mask. Those words were her undoing, and she felt herself unraveling with each passing moment. Malodore was going to be the end of her, but it had already started to become the true beginning of her as well.
And you, mine. She whispered hoarsely, thick with emotion. Never before had she spoken truer words.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 2:22 pm
Malodore chucked, the sound not so much audible as a faint hum in its torso. "Truth be told, I had not thought to find a bondmate... insular as plague doctors are, they do not tend to intermingle with other species. And, truth be told, I did not care - was I not already fully encompassed in my goals, my life's work? Never once did I feel incomplete. But now I feel..."
It untangled one hand, then reached down and pushed off the mattress just enough to overbalance them both and tilt them from sitting into lying down. "Completed."
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 1:15 pm
Riley stilled once Malodore settled them down onto the mattress, her eyes distant as she considered something for a moment, before deciding that the knowledge she was about to share was something Malodore deserved to know. You already know that I never thought I would find someone, the way I found you. She squeezed her beloved plague doctor affectionately, before continuing in a bored, uninterested voice. And as I previously mentioned, our kind do not even have bonding rituals. We're simply paired off with an equivalent of our species, in an attempt to breed optimal results. Pairings such as my mother and father were rare - but not impossible. Just two equivalent matches who chose to live together, I suppose. Perhaps it was because they had such success in their breeding. She chuckled softly. That is to say, me. But most of the time, we are mated by law, and otherwise never speak to the one our hive chose for us again.
There was an awkward silence, before she let out an unhappy noise. Just another reason why I can never return to my hive, I suppose. And, unfortunately, likely the main reason Andeon was the one sent to retrieve me. The implication was clear, so she left it unsaid, as it was unsavory to even speak aloud.
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:58 pm
Malodore made a low hum of interest - and then the implication sunk in. "Andeon - he..." Its stomach twisted, entirely without its consent, and a very obvious ripple of tension swept through its form, its feathers rasping together dissonantly as its wings trembled for a moment. The thought of her being anyone's, other than its own, was... foul in a way it never could have imagined before this moment. Its claws entwined through her fingers and clenched hard enough to hurt.
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Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:11 pm
Riley felt the tension as Malodore clamped down on her hands, and her arms wrapped around to soothe it as best as she could. It's all right, my love. She whispered into it's mind, gently settling herself into it with a light caress that simply continued forward, sinking deeper into Malodore's conscious until she felt acceptably merged. I am only yours. For the rest of forever. Remember that.
She coaxed it with her mind, seeking to join every thought with her own, until there was no possible way to distinguish between the two. She would never allow anyone to touch her this way, and Malodore knew it, because Malodore was right there with her. There would never be room for any doubt, with how openly she shared herself with it.
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