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 Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:11 am
Malodore turned, surprised and obviously gratified by her remembering. "Grazie - you will know. One moment." It paused, then tensed, and the sockets on its back flared open, ready for the blades.
It winced as the metal bit into the flesh again, but it felt so much better without grit and dirt being worked in that it didn't really mind the small bit of pain. "That was the finest shower I have ever had," it sighed as it turned the taps to shut off the flow of water. Thus far, they were alone in the bathroom, but it was starting to worry about how long that would be the case... surely more students would be coming in soon, and deciding they, too, urgently needed to be clean. It pushed aside the curtain enough to grab its own clean, thin towels. One towel was placed around its hips (the other one discarded out from underneath the newcomer); the other was used to lightly pat at muscle and bone.
Then it was time to bandage once more. The plague doctor was an expert at this, but it still took a little time. "It occurs to me," it said, in a conversational tone as it wound strip over strip of bandage around its exposed flesh and bone, "that we may have an interesting time getting back to my room. I certainly don't want to put on that coat again." The very thought made it want to shudder.
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:18 am
Riley leaned on the edge of the wall beside Malodore, and watched the bandages roll over it's body. Each bandage felt like a loss as it covered the flesh beneath, with all of it's fine muscles and strips of flesh. She really did find all of it fascinating - a normal, complete body was something she'd seen a million times. She had the anatomy memorized. This.. this was new, and exciting, and beautiful. She reached out and brushed the back of her fingers gently against it's chest while it rolled bandages around it's arm.
Why? Do you not often see people leaving the showers in towels? Her eyes barely flickered up at Malodore, tearing themselves away from the sight of it's body for a moment. How does it work, here in these dorms? I daresay I've seen Sin naked a dozen times, let alone demons in towels. She chuckled softly. Would they find it strange here?
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:24 am
Malodore squirmed a bit. "Er... I do not know? I... personally, it will be a bit of an effort. If anyone else were in here, I would not have been so comfortable. Even if they could see only my silhouette, and the lower parts of my legs, it would be too much..." Its discomfiture was evident. "With the bandages on, it will not be so bad, but..."
Perhaps it could fashion something out of the towels? Or steal a shower curtain?
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:45 am
Riley understood that this would be a problem, but she didn't know exactly how to solve it. Perhaps I can walk ahead, and make sure the coast is clear? Or.. I can carry you, if you feel less revealed in the safety of my arms.
She took a step forward, and began wrapping all of her tentacles around his body like a cocoon, chuckling softly. I could take you back like this, if you like. It might be an awkward walk, but..
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:48 am
Malodore had no idea why, but it blushed. Powerfully. Enough to probably make its body temperature detectably rise, given the tentacle; given the bandages, that - well, plus the fact that Riley would feel the mental effects - was the only indication of its reaction. "I think that might raise some odd questions of its own," it managed, just barely. "Let's try the towels?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 12:54 am
After the last few minutes together, the last thing Riley thought she had the power to do right now was make Malodore blush. She couldn't help but try to dissect exactly what it was that caused the reaction, as her curiosity peaked. Her head tilted just slightly, and she lifted the end of one tentacle to it's face, brushing it lightly down the length of it's cheek and beak. Her ever shifting cocoon of tentacles remained, for now.
If that's what you want. Personally, I kind of like keeping you all to myself like this. She disentangled it gently from her full embrace, and held out all of the towels that remained. Once she had done so, she put her hand to the knot of the towel around her body. Do you want mine, too? I don't really need it.
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:35 pm
"I, ah... I would rather you keep it," Malodore said, ducking its head again. "The, ah.... shall we call it a nudity taboo, perhaps? It goes both ways. Unless one is plainly animalistic in form - or on the operating or study table..."
Its voice trailed off, hoping it wouldn't be misunderstood. "Just these, and running back to my room full-tilt, should suffice. I have secured my bandages well." With any luck, all anyone would see would be a bandage-colored blur.
... With a red hat on.
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:42 pm
And suddenly it all sunk in. Malodore was uncomfortable with her being this way. Her tentacles disentangled at once, leaving it still covered in it's own towels. Oh. She murmured with a touch of embarrassment, and nodded slightly. Okay. Let's run then. I'm ready when you are. She moved to the exit of the bathroom, and opened the door to peek outside, holding it open for Malodore.
I don't see anyone. The coast is clear for now.
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:45 pm
Malodore didn't wait - it darted out and down the stairs; as it descended it had a brief, dizzying idea that perhaps it was still on the Lighthouse stairs, climbing and descending forever, forever... the flashback's force was sufficient to make it stumble.
Then trip.
Then faceplant at the bottom of the staircase.
"... Ow," it mumbled, after a long moment of dizziness.
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:57 pm
That was unexpected. Riley had started to run after Malodore disappeared down the stairs, but she slowed when she saw the stumble. Even as Malodore was still falling, Riley jumped the distance she had left, which happened to be six steps, and landed by it's side. She couldn't have stopped it from landed on the floor, but she certainly was there to help it up.
Ohh, you poor thing.. Riley whispered, wrapping her arms gently around it's fallen form. I should have gone first. I could have caught you.
Without really thinking about it, Riley collected Malodore up in her arms, scooped him off the floor, and carried him the rest of the way to the dorm door. Are you all right? You're not hurt, are you? She murmured gently as she leaned down, grasping the doorknob with one hand carefully and then pushing it open with her foot.
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:07 pm
Malodore sighed and let its head droop against Riley's shoulder. "I'm sorry, cara mia..." It projected a sense of what it had seen and felt right there, curling slightly into her embrace. "I thought I was doing well," it said, its voice shaky. "And then... it was as if nothing had changed."
Luce jumped off the bed once Riley had opened the door; seeing Malodore, she sat down and whined, ears tilting back.
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:34 pm
The memories made Riley tense and pause for a moment, and her compartment of locked memories rattled dangerously in her head once more. She closed her eyes and pressed her head down against Malodore's for a moment, before forcing all of the memories out again. It's okay. I can't blame you. I too will be reminded of it for the rest of my life, and it will always remain a fresh memory. Never faded. We cannot hope that this event has not changed us irrevocably.
She closed the door behind her with her foot, and walked over to lay Malodore down on it's bed with a gentle movement, after Luce had jumped off. She sat down beside it, and patted the bed to call Luce over to join them. Malodore needed every reminder that they were back home, safe, together, and alive. She leaned down, and rested her head beside the plague doctor, reaching out with her mind to caress the functions of it's limbic system and project her kiss.
Changed, but not broken. That is what matters. If we don't let what happened break us, we are invincible. Untouchable. Nothing can stand in our way now.
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 9:48 pm
Malodore sighed raggedly and pulled her closer, shifting the blankets aside to nestle under it - even though all it was wearing now was bandages and towels, that didn't matter. Even though the blankets were flecked with dog hair... that didn't matter either. "Resta con me? I'm... afraid," it admitted, its voice barely a whisper. "That if you go, I'll start hearing voices again. Seeing fog."
Luce jumped up next to them, leaning against Malodore's side.
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 10:10 pm
There was a melting sort of feeling that settled over her as Malodore pulled her closer and asked her to stay. It eradicated any lingering thoughts of proper etiquette, and a stray thought passed through her head to remind herself to apologize to Junko the next time she saw her. She slid under the covers, and settled into it's embrace.
I'm not leaving you. She whispered back in comfort. Not now. Not ever. I told you. I love you. Her arms collected Malodore and pulled it close, brushing the back of her hand against it's shoulder. I will not let the voices return. If they enter your mind, I will chase them away. I promise.
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Posted: Sat Apr 02, 2011 10:24 pm
Malodore curled towards her with a contented sigh, feeling the echoes of the fog abate... or at least back off for right now. "Grazie mille," it said, quietly. "I... I know I am not so skilled in matters of pure thought, but I would like to do what I can for you, as well." It pulled her close.
Luce, for her part, jumped up and squirmed under the covers, taking up a place cradled between both of them. Thus positioned, she started to pant happily - and a bit stinkily - into Riley's face.
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