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 Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 8:58 pm
"It's time, I'll see you out...Malodore. And you," she got up and turned to Riley, golden eyes gleaming, "...have done well in regards to your first visitor. It's a promising start." Sinclaire wasn't going to offer more in the way of promises or praise, as the subject seemed more like to try running before she could even crawl without undue encouragements.
She opened the door and glared as a squawking Prinny tumbled in, "Next time warn me to stop eavesdropping!"
The succubus gave the fairy a flat look, "Get the ghoul a snack."
"Oh somebody's been a good widdle minipet, huh?"
Another flat look, "I'll be back after I escort our guest out."
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:30 pm
Riley's pleased, smug expression faded when it's arms wrapped around her and slid up her back. She paused for a moment and simply waited for something.. anything..
Her body felt like it would burst with it's flesh memory of the plague doctor's touch, but as hard as she tried she could not actually remember a time when it had done so in the past.
And she wanted to.
The quiet admission to herself hurt no one, she immediately assured herself. She wanted her memories back. It made perfect sense. She didn't know why the thought made her fingers cling tighter to Malodore's robes in frustration.
And she didn't need to know.
But memory was knowledge, and knowledge was power, the loss of power was unacceptable. This, she convinced herself, was why she clung to desperately, and her brow furrowed in distress.
It was.
Hearing Sinclaire's voice felt like a shot directly into her heart. She untangled herself from Malodore immediately and stared vacantly at the woman, a blank slate devoid of reaction to the praise. But unbenownst to her, Malodore would feel the turmoil, the heartache of letting it leave. Of staying behind. Of being a prisoner.
Of being alone.
Her eyes flickered back to the doctor for a moment, before her hands pulled away with a hesitant slowness, leaving them parted.
Goodbye, Malodore. She murmured, though the tone in her voice said something much more important than the cordial words she spoke. Thank you for visiting me.
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:42 pm
Malodore flinched at her words, then slumped, all the fire going out of it in an instant... for an instant.
Then it rallied, lifting its head and nodding to the succubus before turning back, squeezing her quickly before she pulled away from it, the separation hurting just as much as it had hurt to wake up in that bed in the infirmary without her stone body around it. But she wasn't stone. Not stone.
"Goodbye, Riley..." I will come for you again. "I'll see you when I can, I promise..." It got to its feet with obvious reluctance, but it moved nevertheless, keeping its word and not trying to drag things out longer. Twenty minutes it had been allowed, gifted, and it would not try for more.
As it reached the door, it turned back to look at her. Ti amo, mia cara, it couldn't help but say, its wings rustling behind it.
Then it visibly steeled itself and stepped through the doorway, every step a torment.
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 9:59 pm
Prinny scampered up to the Illithid, eyes wide, "Oh wow were you getting romantic? What's that bracelet? Can I have it? What kind of snack do you like? I have some liver and guts minipet candies in my pocket if you want some."
The succubus closed the door behind the scene, and led Malodore to the elevators. "That went well. If there are others close to her? That are as stable as yourself? I'll allow short visits once a week. Only one person per day, as there's no need to stretch her limits just yet." She gave the plague doctor a curious smile, "Now, you said you had something of use?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:09 pm
As the door closed, Malodore slumped again, letting out an almost imperceptible sigh before squaring its shoulders and straightening once more. "Grazie... I apologize for, ah, my... emotional state. It is... a challenge, but... thank you for letting me see her. Thank you for... saving her. I cannot thank you enough for that..."
Its words trailed off; it greeted the announcement of visitors with a slow nod. "Si, I know of several people who would meet your criteria. I, ah... I can tell others of her survival? Her removal was an unpleasant shock to many, and... they would be glad to know she lives." It bowed its head for a moment.
At the mention of being of use, though, the plague doctor visibly brightened, and that brightness was not feigned. "Ah, si - I am a doctor by species and by choice, and I have been studying the Insanity rather... ah, rather single-mindedly since Riley was taken from me. Though given what you have accomplished, my knowledge is likely eclipsed by yours. Truly, I am not sure why I thought it might be otherwise," it added, vaguely embarrassed. "But if I can be of assistance in this..."
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:18 pm
Riley remained fixated on the sight of the swath of red as the robe of the plague doctor swished against the cold floor. She hardly noticed Prinny as it came inside and barraged her with questions, though she pulled her arm protectively closer once it asked her for the bracelet, and gave the creature a scathing glance.
Her words were not so scathing, however. I prefer brain flavored, if you have something of that nature.
Food was food, after all.
And at once, the door closed, leaving Riley alone with Prinny - or more importantly, leaving her alone without Malodore. She slumped down against the wall behind her, and her entire expression and posture radiated unhappiness.
She could still feel it, though. Just beyond the doorway, walking down the hall with Sinclaire, a distant thrum of thought and discussion. It's mind working overtime as it discussed with the succubus. She felt like as easily as she felt her own mind. She felt it as though it were still here.
She wished it were still here.
Would she upset it, if she replied to it now? If she told it that she loved it, despite knowing full well she had no idea what love even was? Would it make the plague doctor feel better.. or worse?
She couldn't tell.
Her arm came up tight around her body, hugging herself and keeping her new treasure safe from prying eyes.
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 2:57 pm
"Well you can't have my brain if that's what you're hinting at," Prinny shook a finger at her.
"She'd be undernourished."
"Yeah! You'd be...hey, are you calling my brain small, Vek?"
"Diet food."
Prinny settled in to figure out if this was a compliment or not while Vek left to grab the ghoul something out of the vending machines. A few minutes later he tossed a Riley a couple packets of candied brain burgers. "Closest thing we have."
Stepping into the elevator, Sinclaire nodded, "Those closer to the heart of a problem have a unique vantage point, at once able to see deeply but with a narrower field of vision." The offer to help was, well, Chite was already more annoyance than anything, so another Halloweener, and a student at that wasn't exactly the most welcome idea. However...
"We'll be setting up examination tents on the school campuses, I'll be at Amityville Academy in a few days' time. If you can get permission from the school nurse, you may observe and assist. I'll need to see the notes on your Insanity study first, of course."
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 3:25 pm
Malodore hesitated a moment - it could feel something, just barely, the faint brush of Riley still reaching out to it. In that moment, it closed its eyes, 'projecting' affection and determination with every fiber of its being.
And then the succubus was addressing it again. It opened its eyes and sped up, not wishing to give her the wrong impression. "Ah, si? I have the honor of being Infermiera Cricket's apprentice, so I am sure she will permit me to join her. And I can certainly compile a second set of my notes for you. With my thanks," it added politely, though part of its mind was already thinking of the information it would have to excise. Jericho and Ashford, for one - it was fairly sure the Bogeymen would have little respect for doctor-patient confidentiality.
Though this demoness seemed quite professional. "I, ah, I am afraid I did not catch your name earlier?" it asked, stepping into the elevator alongside her, folding its wings to make sure it didn't get into her personal space. Not that there was much room in there to start with. "You are... a Bogeyman yourself, or...?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:05 pm
Vek and Prinny's back and forth mattered little to the Illithid. She was pressed against the wall, soaking in the waves of affection that creature was - how was this even possible - emitting to her even as it had left. She wished she knew more about plague doctors, because they seemed very similar to Illithids in many ways. She closed her eyes to open up the link between her and the hive-
...
Her eyes opened again and she started to shake, growing visibly unstable. If it weren't for the sudden distraction of food thrown at her, she would have very likely dissipated at that moment from the shock. She couldn't reach them. She couldn't..
What are these.. Riley had ripped open a bag and started ingesting one through her tentacles without any thought, but when the flavor hit her it made her pause in her breakdown and take note. They're delicious..
Sugar, once again, was new to her.
Her breakdown would have to wait until later.
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:25 pm
"They're Candied Brain Burgers, geeze can't you even read! If you're not going to be a rock, try not to be as dumb as one." Prinny mooned her for emphasis and then tried to sneak a bag away from her pile.
As the elevator creaked and shuddered in its ascent, the succubus gave the student a professional smile, white teeth gleaming sharply behind plump red lips, "I'm Agent Sinclaire. While not what you might consider a convention Boogeyman, I do happen to be attached to their research section."
The tiny cage reached the surface level, and the doors squealed open. "I'll make sure the front desk has your description so you don't have to go through the paperwork ordeal a second time. Anyone other visitors you send here, however, will have to deal with it at least once."
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 7:53 pm
"I understand," Malodore said, bobbing its head. "Grazie, ah, Agent Sinclaire... I will not thank you yet again for saving my Riley's life. Know that my gratitude is a constant." It ducked almost bashfully before straightening.
"I shall see you again, then? Next week? Or sooner, if you intend on coming to Amityville Academy before then for your examinations?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2012 9:21 pm
Not the name, you idiot, what is it made of.. Riley muttered coarsely as she read through the ingredients, but as soon as Prinny attempted to swipe a bag, Riley was at full attention, hissing wildly and pulling her bags close to her.
Mine, her tentacles said, as they pointed their sharp tips at Prinny to keep it at bay.
She spent the rest of her time enjoying the sweet delicacy she had suddenly discovered for the first time, all over again.
And Prinny would have herself a very talkative inmate for as long as the sugar lasted.
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Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 1:05 am
The smile on her face softened to something more genuine. Having someone actually appreciative soothed a few of the succubus' ruffled feathers from having to deal with Vek, Prinny, and even the subject herself. Reaching into her shirt, Sinclaire handed the plague doctor a card with her name and a skelephone number on it. "In a few days, yes. Give me a call once you've gotten permission, and I'll make sure you have clearance."
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Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2012 10:07 am
"I shall do so," Malodore promised, stepping out of the elevator and into the lobby. "Thank you again-"
And, with that, the plague doctor was gone, hurrying out through the front doors. It had much to do, and much to think about. And, first and foremost, it had to spread the word...
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