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 Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 3:33 pm
It had done this for her innumerable times, opened itself and let its memories pour into her. She was a natural, skilled in all ways of the mind; its own fumblings had been pathetic in comparison. Any gifts of this sort it possessed had come from her, legacy of months spent nestled into each other's thoughts.
It was a strange feeling; a headache threatened almost at once as she began introducing material, but - no, no, think of it surgically. An implantation, an introduction. A transplant - here, there, sterilize, cleanse, contain. Prevent rejection of the foreign matter. It knew how to handle these instances, if not in this exact context.
It was a half-empty bookshelf, a notebook left partially blank, now being filled. It gave itself up to the process, and found that made things a little easier... but still, when she was done, it felt achy, as if its mind were chafing at the insides of its own skull. An interesting metaphor, it thought, distantly.
I love you, Malodore.
The thought came to it between one mounting headache-throb and the next, but it opened its eyes, squinting against the light to focus on her face. It would have ducked its head had it not been absolutely certain what the unpleasant consequences of that movement would have been.
"Ti amo, Aen'ryllis," it whispered back, using its voice rather than its aching mind. It kept its beak open in a smile when it had finished speaking. "I will... keep you safe. Here..." It lifted one claw to not-quite touch the side of its head. "And here." Its other hand clutched hers tightly.
"... I think I must wait a moment before we move, though," it added, with a sigh. "How do you cope with such things? I had not thought it so... so..." It couldn't think of the right word and settled for a helpless gesture instead.
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Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 3:48 pm
The sound of her name, her true name, sent a thrill through her as it always did. Hearing it out loud was a special treat. She bent her head in to rest against it, her expression embarrassingly lifted. She was helplessly smiling, and it was habit to hide it.
That's okay. She whispered in amusement. It takes a lifetime to do these things without trouble. If you had managed without a single problem, it would have been miraculous. We challenge the brain much like we challenge our muscles. They are in a constant state of activity.
Nevertheless, she tilted her head up, and pressed the flat plane of her face against Malodore's forehead.
Take your time. We have- Ah, and then she was reminded of what they were doing this for.. and all the fluttery warm feelings vanished. Ah, no, I suppose we don't have all the time we need, do we. Her mouthless smile vanished. Tell me as soon as you're ready. If you encounter further difficulty, I will carry you. Her arms snuggled tight around it. I wouldn't mind that one bit.
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Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:19 pm
"No, no, we don't have much time... ah, merde," Malodore swore. It shifted, letting go of her and bringing both of its forefingers up to its temples, pressing lightly on either side of its head. A moment later, it took off its hat, then shifted the strap on its mask to let its fingers touch exactly where it was needed. It knew how to treat pain...
"Why Amrita?" it muttered, as it worked at its own muscles, trying to release tension. "She wasn't tainted. She wasn't. I would have noticed. It isn't possible... is it changing its behavior? If it is indeed formed from pseudo-sentient FEAR transmuted into an unstable form, then..."
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Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:26 pm
Riley watched the hat as it was brought down, only to then pay special attention to what it was doing to itself. She went so far as to lean to the side, and watch Malodore's fingers work the spot to release the tension that must have throbbed it with a headache. It distracted her just enough to let it muse about Amrita, until something else distracted her further.
She straightened up, and turned her head away to look at the window, as if she'd heard something.
I fear this is not contained to just Amrita, Malodore. Riley's whispered voice uttered, as she focused and listened. People were screaming. There was more fighting than she'd previously heard. She couldn't pinpoint who, or why, but it felt relatively obvious.
And the urgency welled up within her.
I think it might be getting worse. Her hands balled into fists, and determination tensed every muscle in her body. We have to go. Now.
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Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:30 pm
"Worse..." Malodore looked up, pausing in its movements. Then it returned to its ministrations with a sense of greater urgency, moving directly to known pressure points. "No doubt the death of so many Horsemen greatly changed the Insanity-gestalt... if my theory is correct..."
The increased tension brought up by Riley's warning warred with the plague doctor's own treatment, and it forced itself to relax as much as it could, taking rare breaths in and out. "If. There are too many hypotheticals. I need... the best minds in Halloween, I need single-minded dedication, I need acknowledgement - maybe this will force their hands," it growled, and the Bogeymen floated through its mind.
The headache was lessening, but not fast enough for Malodore's taste. It would have to do. "Let's go," it said, scrambling to its feet, retrieving its hat on the way up. "A bit of lingering pain is an annoyance only."
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Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 4:34 pm
Though she wouldn't have said it aloud, she was relieved when Malodore pushed through the pain and stood to leave. Something about the entire situation was setting her on edge, and patience was never one of her virtues. But Malodore's sudden surge of desire made her pause, and the growl made her temporarily forget her troubles. It was bewitching, dangerously so. She rose up, settling her hand on it's back and rubbing it softly for a moment, before she adjusted her clothes to make sure all the zippers and buttons were properly closed, and then surged out the door on a mission.
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