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For once, Riley had no idea what Malodore was talking about. She watched Jericho leave, the sense of melancholy seeming into her own heart even as he departed with it, but remained holding Malodore for a moment more. What, exactly, did you think you would have to do that was so stupid? Her fingers lifted to brush against its beak affectionately, stealing just one more moment with it.

But of course, the door was now unlocked, and so she knew the moment would have to end far too soon.

Barth took the jacket, holding it more than using it. "It's...chilly out," he said, with a yawn.

"I'm alright. Just needed to sit down for a bit," he said, eyelids heavy. "...Are you? Alright?"

Malodore shook its head and said nothing aloud, but something leaked out on the edges, a quick series of mental images edged with hopelessness-

They would seek no help, then - they were already this far gone, this far lost. The plague doctor's heart tightened painfully as it watched them. How could it possibly consider- they would take it as betrayal, it was certain.

Would they be right?

It would not watch them go mad a second time. Knowing that it was hopelessly outnumbered, knowing that every worry they put forth might be true, and yet seeing no other way forward, the plague doctor stepped back. It gave them an anguished look before flaring its wings, calling up the miasma against those it cherished most, hoping against hope to bring them down gently. To think for them, when their minds could not be trusted.

The knowledge that it was doing this for love was like a knife-

"It did not happen; so," it mumbled into her shoulder. "We will seek Invictus."

Jericho rubbed his head and took in a deep breath. Hesitantly, rather than saying it exactly, he glanced around to make sure there was no one there. When it seemed to be clear, he pulled his sleeve up again. Just enough to uncover the first patch of grey within his scaled arm.

"..Just like the Christmas creatures.." he murmured.

It took her a minute to understand. Even seeing it, even knowing that standard of comparison...even understanding, to some degree, what it was. Shehk reached out to touch his arm, her fingers tracing over that grey within his arm, brows furrowing together.

She knew what this was, and she knew that it wasn't good either. In fact, it caused her stomach to sink. Confusion, slight traces of distress.

"Jack, this is......" just like the Christmas Creatures. He'd already said it himself, but...the grey reminded her of something else. Something like her mind was trying to block it out. After a moment, she looked to the piece of bone - grey bone...she wore on her wrist, shifting it to hold it side by side, looking at the colors - or rather lack of.

The pricolici didn't grow angry at realizing what it was Jericho was telling her - and why he was telling her, but rather, she moved, burying her face against his shoulder, crying.

Jericho stood there, shifting uncomfortably in the silence that followed, letting it sink in for Shehk. When she looked to her wrist, he did as well, noting the grey shard of bone next to him. It was the same color. He didn't know what to expect next, but even then the pricolici breaking down against him took him by surprise.

With a grimace, he pulled the sleeve down again, lest someone else spot it, and slowly placed them around the undead to try and calm her down.

"We're sorry... We're a fool. Please. Tell. No one. This musssn't get out," he said quietly, feeling paranoia sink back into him. He should have made her promise prior to showing her, and now that lack of foresight was worrying him.

It seemed he was lacking foresight a great deal tonight.

"No. No, mia cara." Malodore's voice was firm, without a trace of anger; it inserted itself between Riley and the door, though it knew its slim frame was no barrier to her. "Listen to me. That is what I would have done had you not been yourself - I know you, Riley." The name sounded almost strange in its beak; it called her mia cara so often, so much more than using her actual name. "The Insanity has not caged you yet; I need not fight it in the guise of your flesh, as we all feared. I would never betray you, or Jericho."

Though its words were gentle, there was a core of steel in its tone. "I will always protect you, mia cara, amore mio. And care for you, even when you do not care for me." Its voice hitched a little on the not, but it kept its poise. It would not break before this.