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 Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:36 pm
You got to hit things.. with a guitar? Riley looked visibly disappointed. I wish I'd been there.. I assume this happened before I was accepted into the Academy. What other exciting things had she missed by coming to the school later than sooner?
I believe so. I'll test out my swing first, though. She placed her hand down to steady the metal, before bringing her swing down far gentler than she normally would, and observed the amount of bending it provided. Her eyes clouded for a moment as an intricate network of mathematical equations flew through her thoughts, which, without knowing, she had kept open to Malodore as if she was mumbling under her breath - until she figured out the exact angle, weight, and velocity for a swing to finish the job. She brought down the hammer hard at an unnoticeably subtle angle, and with a heavy twang the blade flopped back straight as an arrow. She held it up, inspecting it for detail.
I think it could use a little fine tuning, just for a bump or two, but you have the knack for that kind of perfection I'd wager. I'll just knock them straight for you.
She took yet another one, and with two swings (a test, and a completor), she had another straight blade in her hands.
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:38 pm
"Grazie - that will save me a good deal of time," Malodore said appreciatively. It watched her work, fascinated by not only her movements but the flow of mental information coming from her before each swing. "You are truly an artist. Have you studied smithing, perhaps?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:51 pm
Riley couldn't help but laugh at the idea of being an artist, but she took the third blade and took her initial swing before replying.
I'm hardly an artist, dear. In fact, I'd consider you more of an artist than me - your subtleties and skilled hand work wonders. This is just.. She paused, letting the autonomous mathematical equations flow through her mind in one speedy moment, before taking her second swing - brute force based on data. Any true blacksmith would probably be ashamed of me. Their work is based on detail. I don't think I have an eye for it.
She laid the blades down flat on the table once she had straightened them all out, and handed Malodore the hammer back.
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:09 pm
Malodore picked up the hammer and began work again, fine-tuning - its measured strikes were far better suited for this aspect of the job than for the brute-force straightening phase. "I meant... the mental aspect," it said, amused. "More than anything else."
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:23 pm
Riley paused, realizing her mistake in interpretation, and a slow blush began to creep into her cheeks. It wasn't embarrassment at misunderstanding that had her skin darkening, however. Malodore found her intellectual capabilities artistic. Artistic. Her heart fluttered, and then pounded like a drum. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her, and it was flattering the hell out of her.
Oh. She whispered, fiddling with the neckline of her dress anxiously. Oh I see. Well. Her voice was very quiet, and fell silent for a moment after the last word.
Finally, her hand dropped from the dress, to the two pins that rested side by side of each other at her breast, and her eyes crinkled just slightly as she toyed with them. Well, She repeated. Thank you.
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:29 pm
"Prego," Malodore said, pleased; it could feel her delight as well as it shuffled one finished blade to the side and moved in another for fine-tuning. "Your thoughts are so swift that I cannot entirely follow them all, yet being able to look in on such processes is nothing short of fascinating. Intoxicating."
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 10:38 pm
Riley's attention turned to the blade it finished, and she ran her fingers down it's length while it worked on the other one. She leaned just slightly against the table as she did so, but her hand froze on the metal blade when it called her thoughts intoxicating. At the moment, her thoughts were the complete opposite of intoxicating - in fact it was nothing but white noise. Her blush had turned a deep, shadowy color, and she lifted the hand off the table to cover her face and try to stop overreacting. Instead, she somehow managed to slide her body just slightly, which in turn had her slipping off of her perch against the table and tumbling to the floor.
This wasn't going to help her stop feeling embarrassed at all.
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:04 pm
"Ah!" Malodore quickly put the hammer aside - while it couldn't catch her (both time and its own strength being against it), it did crouch down next to her, pressing the back of its hand against her forehead. "Are you all right? Have the day's exertions been too much for you?" Its voice was filled with concern.
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:10 pm
Riley let out a sound that was indecipherable - perhaps something akin to a growl mixed with a whimper - before she reached up and took it's hand, clasping it in her own to remove it from her face.
No, I'm fine, I just lost my balance. She lied effortlessly. She put one hand on the table above her, and used it as well as her hold on Malodore to pull herself back up to her feet. While she didn't lean on the table again, she did lean back on her own heels and rubbed her hand down the length of her face.
Sorry about that. Don't let my clumsiness hah stop you. Her own thoughts were interrupting her, betraying her just a teeny bit, but she didn't seem to notice.
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:19 pm
"Non è un problema," Malodore replied, though a thread of confusion remained in its tone. "I am very nearly done - please, sit down until I am finished? It will take only a few moments, and then you can assist me if you wish."
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Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:42 pm
Riley chuckled nervously as it continued to dote on her in worry. Really, Malodore, I feel fine. Go on ahead with your work. I'll be happy to assist you when you've finished. She stood firm, hands folding neatly in front of her. The best option, she decided, was to force herself to think of something other than the idea that Mal found her mind intoxi- yes, something other than that, and not specifically that, which was exactly what was happening again. So her eyes focused on Malodore's bandages, letting them capture her interest once more. As she did so, a bubble of questions sprang forth in her mind. She realized that she was still, somehow, connected to Malodore, and therefore shoved them down before they could rudely babble at him. However, the fact that she had questions had escaped through her thoughts - and so she decided to ask one.
I often wonder about something, and seeing you now makes my curiosity peak. If I may be so bold as to ask.. does it hurt? Her eyes remained on it's bandages. Touching, I mean. I know you're not fond of it, her eyes lifted up to meet its, apologetically, despite the fact that you tolerate my affections quite well. But, on a purely physical level.. is touch painful?
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:39 am
Malodore shook its head slowly. "No... it does not. It is another taboo, truly. Being touched by others can result in the spread of disease. It is part of our culture, along with the need to be covered up thoroughly. But there is no physical discomfort... usually." It looked down at the nearly-finished final back blade with another shake of its head. "Gargantuan is not usual, fortunately."
A few more careful, studied taps of the hammer, then a sight down the blade, and... "I believe these are as good as new, now. The blades should be returned to true." A quick slices through a few piece of paper on the desk confirmed it.
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:44 am
Any trace of guilt that Riley might have felt for being affectionate vanished at the news, and she was instantly relieved. She picked up the largest blade and turned it facing outward.
I'm glad. I was worried.. well, I didn't want to ever cause you discomfort. Unfortunately, as I say that, I'm probably about to do just that, aren't I? Her eyes crinkled apologetically as she held up the blade. Is there any specific way you want it done - I would assume slow and steady handed is best?
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 12:09 pm
"Oh, all you need to do is place the blades back in their sockets. That part is not painful in the least. The only part that is uncomfortable is when the sockets 'grab' the roots again, and that is under my conscious control." The plague doctor pushed the top of its coat down again, exposing its bandaged back once more. "I will just have to concentrate to keep the sockets open, that is all."
Malodore made sure the blades were lined up in the proper order, then tensed slightly; on its back, the blade-sockets flared open, looking very much like the empty place where a tooth might be, were the assemblage in a normal mouth instead of on its back "Go ahead," it said, with effort.
It was still easier than doing it all by itself.
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 4:01 pm
Well, that sounded easier than she had previously thought. Her voice was a hushed thought, still tinged with awe. That's really amazing, Malodore. I'm notably impressed by the process.. and your control over your body. She slid the blades into their sockets, holding them in place as best as she could. I wish I could help with the pain of grabbing, though.. if I was at home, I could close the connections between your nerves and the brain, so you wouldn't feel it - but here at school, I can't manipulate the mind like that. Maybe one day. Though, it's probably for the best that you feel what you're doing.. even though it's uncomfortable.
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