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 Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:32 pm
Hm. Perhaps something gentler, then. A broth, perhaps... but it was no chef, not in the least. That, too, would have to wait for Nurse Cricket's tender mercies. "Tell us what... what happened, mia cara," it said, quietly. "So we can get you the best care as soon as possible."
It also turned and nodded at Christof, solemn yet grateful.
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:45 pm
How could she explain what she'd just been through, in the shortest, least horrific manner?
I received some disturbing information concerning our well being here at Amityville. She briefed, quickly. Quietly. She was still cringing from the smell of brains, but she reached out and slid her tentacles into the glass for a sip of water, letting it linger before swallowing. Though she didn't need to wait until she was done to continue.. she did.
I just wanted to make sure I could protect you. All of you. I don't know what's coming, but I had to try.. and it just. I lost control.
The little shreds of crystal on the floor that were not connected to her hummed as she brushed her fingertips against them. I'm supposed to be much stronger at psionic energy. I should technically..
She faltered, and pulled her hand away. The crystals dulled and quieted.
She took a deep, gulping breath through her tentacles, and in a rushed voice she continued. I tried to control them, but I wasn't ready, and they tried to control me instead. They embedded into my spine, and worked their way up, but I stopped them before I lost my mind. So. That's it.
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 10:51 pm
While Christof was trying to clean the floor, Jericho's eyes softened at the story Riley laid out for them. His gaze drifted to the wings, lingering there. This... was because she was trying to protect them.
"Why.. did you try to do this alone? Don't forget our terms. It's not a one way thing... I understand you want to watch my back but how can I watch yours when you shut me out?" he said while heaving a sigh.
He didn't get it. Maybe.. just maybe if he had been around he could do something to.. to prevent this. Or at the very least be able to give her some level of comfort earlier than right now.
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:01 pm
Christof sat on the blood-soaked carpet, staring at one of the stray crystals he had been cleaning up on the palm of his hand. He digested her words slowly, his grip on the thing tightening until it's sharp edges cut deep into his palm.
With a snarl, he threw it in a sharp, sudden movement and it rang as it bounced off of one of Riley's ill-used lamps. Rocking to his feet, he left the broom and now stained cloth where they lay, storming from the room.
If he wanted to get those stains out, he was going to need something stronger.
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:05 pm
Malodore entirely sympathized with Christof's feelings, or so it thought... but Jericho had laid out exactly what the plague doctor itself had wanted to say, so he let the dragon say it for both of them. No sense in making Riley feel ganged up on. At this point, it kept silent.
All it wanted was for her to be okay.
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:14 pm
Christof's sudden action made her tentacles cringe, and she accidentally knocked the water down. It soaked into the floor, but the rug was already ruined, it didn't matter. Riley pushed herself back up into a seated position, clutching the sheet in front of her, and sighed.
At first I just.. I thought I had it under control. And then, when it was too late.. I couldn't move. I couldn't even use my own mind. I'm sorry.
Her eyes went from Jericho, to Malodore, and back again. She looked so thin, so uncharacteristically frail.
Please forgive me.
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:22 pm
The dragon had noted that Riley looked bad before but now that she was sitting, she just... looked so much more weak. It pained him greatly to see her like this. The frustration he felt was drained for the time being and he just felt really worried for his best friend.
"Alright.. but please.. next time..?" he started, "None of us are in this alone... whatever.. this really is."
Speaking of that... there was that bit she mentioned earlier on. He wondered if it would be better to ask her about that later, however.
"Just... I.. think you can still use this to your advantage.. once you heal.. Not.. sure how right now but there has to be a way.."
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Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2011 11:30 pm
Christof hadn't need to go far- stains were a common thing in Barth's room, and as he crossed through, he said nothing to the Sloth. His expression and posture spoke volumes, though. He snatched up the appropriate supplies from under the kitchenette sink where he kept them, plus a few more additions from Barth's chemical supply cupboard near their work bench.
He would get those stains out. If he was good at anything, it was hiding evidence.
Even as he quietly padded back into Riley's room, he refused to look anywhere but at the floor, his sloped back to her and her care takers as he prepaired his tools for the current Task at Hand. Unfortunately, no matter how hard he scrubbed, it didn't stifle the pain of the situation. Still he tried.
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 9:14 am
The last bit of frustration bled out of the plague doctor, leaving it only with exhaustion... and relief. It merely nodded in response, though it radiated a wave of gentle affection at her, only slightly tinged with traces of the worry and panic that had so recently consumed it.
Now that the immediate adrenaline shock was fading, it allowed a bit of proper scientific curiosity to enter its thoughts. The crystals were thick with FEAR - indeed, they felt a little bit like the bloodmetal in its own wings had. "I believe they can be pushed into a FEAR-symbiosis with your own system," it said, sitting back on its hooves. "If you are certain you do not want them removed."
((I literally have like. No idea what to do re: Nurse Cricket, haha. Should we ping Pach or something orrrrrrrrrrrrrrr?))
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:30 am
I know. Riley murmured, slumping back down to put her head back on the pillow. She snorted in disbelief at the idea of using the monstrosity attached to her as an advantage, but Malodore's words brought a measure of hope to her. Are you saying you think there's a way to remove them?
Sadly, it was not the type of hope they might have expected. Malodore was right in its theories, but it was the last few words that had her attention. Riley did not want to live in symbiosis with the crystals. Riley wanted them out.
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:40 am
Jericho looked to Malodore, blinking a bit. There was still a way to remove these? That certainly didn't seem to be easy though considering how deep they were. Something gave him a feeling that such a process could potentially be dangerous... either killing or crippling the Mindflayer.
"How... would you do that?" he asked the doctor.
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:05 pm
"I would not be able to do that myself, but a team of trained FEAR-healers might be able to." Malodore shrugged, then winced as the movement strained at its back. "It looks like they've penetrated quite deeply, possibly even fusing with the spinal cord..."
Really, the whole thing would have been fascinating if the patient in question wasn't Riley. It would have loved to analyze this abstractly, picking apart the puzzle of FEAR melding, parasitic behavior, and other such things.
But, well. It was Riley.
"Far, far too advanced for me to even contemplate," it sighed. And it wasn't particularly happy that it couldn't help her.
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:10 pm
Christof could only listen and scrub harder, a tight, almost inaudible whine escaping his throat.
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 12:26 pm
Riley's little flare of hope died off at all the complications, and she nodded. I didn't think so. I can feel them, still. Or.. it. She hadn't yet grasped exactly how, but the crystals weren't really little separate things, anymore. Her mind had adjusted to their current state, and considered them one large thing.
Her shoulderblades flexed, and they flared out behind her again. She almost hit Malodore in the face with one, though she couldn't see it happen. She was simply testing the waters.
Regardless, if we could just wrap me up, please, so I can move without further injury. She sounded weary, and slightly annoyed. Her eyes closed as her head swam. I do need Nurse Cricket. She whispered.
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 1:03 pm
Jericho watched as Riley moved the crystals again. It.. was almost like a strange artificial wing in a sense. It had him wondering if they could be used as such, but... then again probably not. At least not alone.
"Yeah let's.. get her patched up. Sorry there isn't.. much I can do for you right now," He said quietly.
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