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"I... si, I did indeed..." It smiled, not resisting one bit as she pulled it close, twisting only for a moment to fluff one wing out behind her, encircling them both. "Mi dispiace - I am made of pointy bits, it seems," the plague doctor chuckled. Was it dreaming? It wondered, perhaps, if it might be... ah, but if it was, it was going to enjoy it. All the fear and panic earlier, the confusion, had fled away. It had a chance, now. And it was going to make the most of it.

"We will leave this room," it said, firmly, "though... I would keep you here with me, and hoard you all to myself, except there are others who dearly would wish to see you. Jericho, for one, and the rest... several of them know you are alive, and improving, though I do not know how far the news has percolated through the student body as a whole... they would cherish a bit of time to see you in a slightly more private setting."

Not entirely private. Malodore was still aware of the Bogeyman's presence, but it really couldn't care less at this point. The important part was the two of them; the Bogeyman was incidental. A trifle.

Except that he would take her at the end of the night...

No. This was now. It was going to enjoy it. "I, ah, was not planning on attending, without you. I do not have any clothing on hand - my old formal clothing no longer fits, with my larger wingspan and structure. I had not bothered to make more... but with you by my side, nobody will notice." Which was pretty much true. Still, it had a faint pang of regret that it didn't look as exquisite as she did.

It blinked at her. "I, ah... our physiques are quite different. The amount of alteration needed would take us well past the prom itself," it said, after a moment, its tone amused. "We would arrive some weeks late, I fear... no, I will go as I am."

It settled contentedly, then turned its head, looking at her directly. "Is there anything else you would like to taste, to see? Ah..." Its gaze fell upon the book. "I believe you missed a page. The second from the last?"

Its beak clacked shut; it twisted, turning so that it could embrace her in return, wings coming about to circle them fully. "I don't know, mia cara," it said, quietly. "I don't know when that was written. It is undated... but as you can tell from the wear on the page, I found great solace in it..."

It sighed, bending its long neck so it could press its forehead against hers. "None of us knew. If we had..." Its own voice slipped into ragged for a moment. "Much has been lost, it is true, mia cara. But much has also been found. I never thought... I never thought I would be able to hold you like this, and be held in return, again..." A tear escaped from under its lenses, snaking down its mask to fall and hit her cheek, but its tone had become fond again, rich with a tenderness that also emanated from its mind.

It loved her, loved her, loved her.

"So do I," it confessed. "So do I."

There was silence for a long, contented moment before it loosened its hold on her, lifting one hand to brush the last traces of tears from her cheeks. "I will rumple your dress irreparably, if I stay perched here much longer," it murmured. "I do not want you to miss the prom entirely... there are so many others who want to show you their own care for you." That hand strayed down to find her right wrist, and the feather-bracelet still wrapped around it.

"Would you like me to call them to you? Jericho, and the others? I will stay by your side. As will your, ah... guardian, I am sure," it added sardonically, looking up at the Bogeyman. Yes, they'd been carrying on and been incredibly sappy in front of a witness.

Look at all the jacks it gave.

"I shall - oh, mia cara, he will be so happy to see you..." It scooted to one side, carefully, shifting most of its weight onto its hooves for a moment so it could move to the side again without harming her dress at all. It produced its phone from its sleeve, then looked at her expectantly.

"What shall I say? Do you want only him, at first, or...? Only as you feel capable, naturally. Perhaps it will strengthen you, to have a small increase of people to deal with before we depart in earnest."

"Va bene," it said, with a smile. "He is at the Prom already, as part of the student council - ah, si, you are part of that too, or you were!" It tilted its head and opened its beak, grinning at her. "President, actually. The highest elected office a student can have." That would please her, it knew.

As it spoke, it rapidly typed out a message.



"Done," it said, as it pressed send.

Ah... It responded in kind, speaking with its mind rather than its voice. Jericho is also afflicted with Insanity, as you are. The striping is rather obvious... I do not wish the Bogeymen to make an experiment of him, and he has been hiding his infection from the others. As it is not directly contagious, this is not a danger... but I do not want this one to notice.

As it spoke, it took her hand, twining its fingers with hers. Such a simple movement, but the sight of their hands intertwined, purple and silver, brought it such happiness.

After leaving Prom, Jericho ran to the demon dorms. Could it be true? Was she really here? What.. what if this was some sort of trap? That thought, caused him to slow down. But... he had to know for sure. With more caution in his step, he walked up towards the door, pausing at the sight of the boogey standing by. He didn't look happy to be there. Somewhat nervously, he pressed on past and into the room.

There, he stopped in his tracks.

There he saw her with Malodore. She was really here. And he just knew she wasn't just a figment of his imagination. For one thing.. the stripes of insanity that covered her were more than what he remembered.

"Riley..." he whispered, "It's.. it's really you!"

His vision blurred for a moment as he felt a surge of emotion. The dragon rushed on over towards her and the crouch, kneeling down besides it. There was a pause. And then he suddenly took both doctor and flayer into his arms.