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 Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 8:58 pm
Logical, to a fault, as expected. Her eyes closed as the storm within her began to calm at its touch, but the sound of regret in its voice truly killed any anger left in her heart.
Never take in the Insanity again. She whispered. Her voice wavered with a rare vulnerability. I can't - I won't - She paused, and opened her eyes, slitting them as she attempted to focus her thoughts. I don't think I am nearly as strong as you, Malodore. I don't want to test my limits by losing you to it.
As soon as she admitted it, she retracted herself, desperate to forget she'd said anything at all. You're right, of course. We need to go. She urged it forward, wanting nothing more than to forget the one moment where she felt weakest.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:09 pm
It caught at her, trying to hold her still, with it just for a moment longer, its silent heart twisting within it. "I... mi dispiace, mia cara. The infection had already entered me when I urged it forward; the voices were whispering, so quietly, so... ceaseless. I thought only that no one was around, so if something went wrong I would not harm them... but I would not wish to put you through pain as I- through pain," it amended.
"I assure you, I have no desire to taste more than I did. I was able to purge it most effectively, but it was still an unpleasant exercise. I swear to you, I shall not choose to deliberately infect myself again."
And it held out one pinky, most solemnly.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:17 pm
The hold was effective, if only because her heart wasn't in it. If something went wrong, you would not harm them? Don't you see the flaw in that logic? If something went wrong, and I lost you, you would harm me.
She looked tired, trying to keep her anger at bay, because she knew it would never do something to hurt her on purpose. She understood its intentions, she just hated the possibilities. Besides, it was already promising her that it would never do it again. Wasn't that all she really wanted?
She took its promise, but failed to notice the pinky, until a few moments of silence passed, and she looked to see what it was doing. The pinky stuck out at her, and she blinked at it. Then she looked at her own hand, and folded her fingers in, holding nothing but her pinky out. She looked at Malodore's hand, and then at her own. She knew what a pinky swear was, but seeing it from Malodore made her mind crack.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:26 pm
Malodore lowered its hand a little; if it had had the facial mobility needed for a proper puppy-dog look, it would have deployed it at this moment. "It is a solemn vow," it said, sounding just the tiniest bit hurt. Just a little.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:29 pm
There was no anger in the world strong enough to keep Riley from feeling the overwhelming urge to smile. Her face twisted, and her eyes crescented in amusement, before her finger slid up around Malodore's pinky claw, capturing it daintily in her own. Then she pulled them both up, and pressed them against the flat plane of her face, where her lips would have been if she'd had any.
Who taught you this solemn vow, mia cara?
It was the first time she'd returned the affectionate nickname since the day she first saw Malodore in her cell.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:39 pm
It brightened as she linked pinkies with it. "I swear," it said, quietly, then opened its beak in a relieved smile. "Grazie, mia cara. I will keep this promise to you."
Still, Malodore looked faintly sheepish as she inquired after the source of its knowledge. "Ah - a ghoul I hardly know, to be honest. She saw me in the other bathroom during the prom, actually, when I was hiding from everything. Before I knew you would be able to come." It shook its head. "I was there only for Jericho's sake, awash in memory of the previous year... but she came to me, and did her best to cheer me, innocent as she was. She informed me that this variety of vow is unbreakable, cherished above all things. Is it not appropriate to seal my promise, thus?"
And then what else she had said hit it, and its beak fell open, this time in surprise. "Oh. Oh..." Was that a bit of dampness suddenly collecting along the bases of its lenses?
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:46 pm
Riley took a step forward, head tilted until her forehead touched Malodore's mask. It's appropriate. It was charming in its naive, childish origins, and she had to admit, it was sweet. Plus, she just didn't want to tell Malodore otherwise. She reached up to brush the edges of Malodore's lenses, and her eyes fluttered when her kiss, brief yet affectionate, reached out to him.
A moment later, she chuckled.
Remember that part about staying here, versus going?
Logic could bugger off, if this was what the future held for them
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:47 pm
"A-ah... ah, si." Its beak opened in a grin once more. "Very well then, mia cara - whatever the future may hold, we will continue onward into it, yes?"
The blackness of the staircase yawned like a mouth.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:51 pm
Riley pulled away just enough to give it breathing, and stepping room. But no more than that.
Si. She repeated in its tongue, pinching her face up into a cheeky expression. Together.
Her hand squeezed its claws, and she headed down the staircase.
((exit))
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