|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:41 pm
"Are you rendered insensate so easily?" Malodore said, a cheerful, marveling tone in its voice. It walked forward obediently, wincing slightly but moving with more determination, more purpose, than it had before the bird arrived at the window. "What a wonder. I shall have to try such things more often, for my own amusement."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:22 am
Riley stopped in her backsteps, lifted her head, and one eye opened just slightly wider than the other as she stared at Malodore in utter shock. It's own amusement! What had she done to this plague doctor, through bad example! She had turned it into a teasing miscreant, and she was trying very hard to be contrite about this change, and not enjoying it as much as her deepening blush was betraying her to be doing.
Cheeky. She whispered out hoarsely, trying to sound offended and not laugh. There was a mixture of the two, which made her simply sound over-exaggerative. Armida was right.
Her backsteps continued, though she refused to look up at it anymore. If she did, she was sure she would lose her battle and start giggling. That would be unacceptable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:18 pm
"I am not cheeky," Malodore said, tapping at its own mask with one claw. "No cheeks, see? Your assessment is most inaccurate." Plague doctors by nature have excellent poker faces, but the amusement was clearly there in its tone of voice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 7:16 pm
Riley rolled her eyes, and her head drooped, shaking slowly. Ohh. You. She growled, taking a quick step forward and wrapping its arms around her, before letting go and wrapping her own around the plague doctors thin form. I am done helping you exercise. You have lost your trainer, for your impudence. Now I will take from you what I want instead, selfishly ignoring your needs.
She pressed her face against the tip of its beak, and poked herself with it repeatedly, in little pecks. There was a little sound, or rather a thought, that bounced at Malodore each time she did it. A possessive thought. Without using words, it was as if she was saying mine, mine, mine, each time she did it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:38 pm
"You want to be poked in the face? You had only to ask," Malodore said, leaning forward slightly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:11 pm
Oooh, it was being so infuriating today! She was entirely at a loss, and she pulled away suddenly, dropping her arms to her sides. She wanted to say something witty. Something completely brilliant. She wanted to be on the upper hand of this back and forth tease-play until it was Malodore blushing under its bandages, instead of her more public display.
Her face crunched up childishly for a moment, as she came up blank.
Hmph. She backed away a step, before walking past, looking entirely intent on leaving. You can just keep practicing on your own then, if all you're going to do is tease me today. She sounded entirely pouty, which was violently at odds with the voice and mannerisms normally associated with the mindflayer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:48 pm
"Ah, dolce mio, you wound me," Malodore sighed, taking a few steps forward; its words were interrupted near the end by a very real, and audible, wince of pain. "I suppose I shall just have to continue on... alone..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:07 pm
It was the wince of pain that had her stopping in her tracks, and her hands balled up into fists of frustration. Even this, she could not get away with, and she slumped her head in defeat.
Malodore. Her one true weakness.
Stop it now. She growled, turning back around and pulling its arms back into her hold, to lead it forward as if she'd never left. You know I wasn't serious about leaving you. You're just not playing fair today. She took a deep breath, and a calm, serious demeanor returned to her.
I am here. Now come. Walk with me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:08 am
Malodore chuckled, leaning against her. "I am sorry, mia cara. I am just... happy, I suppose. To know that I am on the right path... ah, what a gift. To know that, and to have you, makes everything worth it." Its wings twitched in their slings, awkwardly.
"And someday these will work properly, si?"
Over on the chair, Fedele had finished his preening and was eyeing them again, but there was no sign of any presence other than the crow's own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 1:48 pm
All pretense of learning had been dropped once again when Malodore leaned against her, and she snuggled effortlessly into it once more. She was dangerously smitten. I know. I know. You deserve to be happy. I will try to take all of your teasing in better stride, if it pleases you. Her hands lifted and tugged at its collar playfully. Though I'm starting to think you would get more done if I wasn't around. Her eyes snapped up and narrowed as they focused on Malodore's eyes sharply. No teasing me about that, though.
Hadn't she just said she would let it tease her all it wanted, today? Oh weeeell.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:03 pm
It sighed. "I should get more done, shouldn't I? The faster I am healed, the sooner I can be up and about... si. Well, then. What does the doctor prescribe?" Malodore tilted its head at her, its beak opening in a slow smile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:41 pm
Riley bumped against its beak gently, and her expression lifted in lieu of a grin. You should stop letting me distract you from your exercise. That is what. Now, stand up straight, head up, and walk normally. Feel the muscles that are straining. Those are the ones that need work.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:52 pm
"All of them," Malodore groaned, drooping slightly. Then it squared its shoulders, lifted its head, and moved forward again. "But I want to... be able to walk again and... ow... fly someday... like that."
It pointed one claw at Fedele. The crow looked up, cawed, then took flight, gliding to land gingerly on Riley's shoulder.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 10:20 pm
Riley let out a soft, compassionate noise, and brushed her fingers along the side of Malodore's neck as an affectionate gesture, as well as a way to distract the body from feeling pain. Her fingers stilled when the crow landed on Riley's shoulder, and she turned her head slowly to stare at it, curious - and just a little bit anxious.
It. Ah. Likes me. Maybe. Or maybe it was just going to peck her eyes out for touching Malodore. She couldn't tell. She was standing very still, just to be sure.
You will fly like they do, someday. And I will sit at the window and watch you soar. It will be lovely. But you must work for it, as we must work for all things. She was still staring at the crow, as she said this. Did it mistake her tentacles for worms? Oh please Jack, don't peck at them, little crow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 8:42 pm
"I hope so," Malodore said, opening its beak in a smile. "To both things."
It turned and hobbled slowly to the other side of the room, away from her - so it was not close enough to see or hear when the crow's eyes glowed faintly, and he tilted his beak towards one pointed purple ear. To Riley's senses, there would abruptly be an additional sense of presence, a second mind joining the first.
"Take care of it, child." The voice was a bare harsh whisper, tinted with amusement. "And fear not. I am not here to spy on you. Let's keep this between us, shall we?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
