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 Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:54 pm
"The next trial?"
Unexpectedly, a jolt of fear thudded through Malodore's undead heart. It was entirely unreasonable - Riley was thoroughly capable. More than capable. Completely irrational response.
And yet...
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:57 pm
"Yes. Like I said, we have them every three years." Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she felt the fear pulsing through it, and she sighed softly. She found herself being entirely too honest with it - as usual. "Perhaps.. now you understand why I keep running. I don't like worrying you.." Her words trailed off, but the thoughts behind them continued. She didn't like the idea of leaving it alone if something ever happened. She never wanted to be the cause of Malodore's suffering.
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:47 pm
"I would rather be worried than see you running again," Malodore said, firmly. "You will be fine. You are strong and capable. I know this. I have seen it. If you have lived this long, odds are you will continue to live. You have much to live for, do you not?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:54 pm
One brow rose at Malodore's question, and her eyes brightened considerably - but instead of answering, she was compelled to pluck her pin off the desk and replace it on her person. The same sights and sounds presented themselves in reverse, though the site of tentacles splitting looked a little more painful than their merging. When it was done, she put her hand to her neck for a moment to rub it. It would be sore in the morning. It was worth it.
Having returned to her school form, she felt like herself again. At least, she felt like the ghoul who'd found herself in a very un-Illithidlike relationship. It was this Riley that reached out, and took both of Malodore's hands in her own. Their grip was gentle, but fierce.
Actually, I have more to live for now than ever before. And I have more than any other Illithid could ever claim to have. Nothing will get in my way.
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Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:17 pm
"Then I have nothing to fear," Malodore said quietly, squeezing her hands back. There was still a faint thread of dread in its thoughts, but it was quickly being crowded out by trust and confidence.
And contentment. Can't forget that.
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:21 am
Riley's heart was torn. On the one hand, she felt a thrill of contentment tingle through her at the mere idea that Malodore worried over her. No, it wasn't anything new, but that didn't make it any less desirable.
On the other, Malodore's dread matched one that sat deep within her own thoughts. It had been there for quite some times, and she was no stranger to that worry as well. She was capable, she was confident.. but she wasn't perfect. There would always be the chance of someone bigger, stronger, smarter. There was never any certainty in her life.
Or, at least, there never was. She slid her fingers through Malodore's claws, and adjusted her opinions of certainty slightly. She was certain about this.
Her expression turned wry. I should head back to my own dorm soon. At this rate, I'll have stayed with you the entire night. You keep telling me you're not scandalous, Malodore, but I just don't know~ She teased, in a musical voice.
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:26 am
Malodore blinked. "I... I do? I don't recall mentioning anything regarding scandal either way. I tend not to pay attention to such things."
Still, it got to its feet slowly, offering her an arm up - it might not be very strong, but it could manage that at least. "I suppose you are right, though. I find myself wishing for a bit of sleep myself. A lot has happened tonight, hasn't it?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:34 am
Riley chuckled softly and nodded, taking its offered arm and rising with it. Of course, now that she had captured it, she slid her own hand underneath and kept it captive possessively. As they walked to the door, she took in its words and thought back on the day. The entire day. It surprised her to suddenly realize that all of that had happened in one day. Just thinking about it tired her.
It was.. quite a busy day indeed. Speaking of which.. She untangled herself from Malodore's arm and walked back to the bed, leaning down to the unconscious Luce. Her hand, and her face pressed gently against the top of the pup's head, brushing against it in an affectionate gesture.
I'll see you tomorrow morning, Luce. She whispered, before returning to Malodore and claiming its arm as her own once more. That is, unless you're too tired to return to our regime after the day we just had. It was clear she hoped not.
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:37 am
The pup leaned slightly into the faint pressure from Riley's touch, though she did not wake up. Malodore chuckled quietly under its breath. "She is absolutely exhausted. A state which I will shortly share, I think. But I will run with you tomorrow. We both will."
At the door, it hesitated a moment. "Ah. We are not well suited to this, but..." It leaned forward, and very carefully... pecked lightly at Riley's cheek, just once. "... It is not a natural gesture to my race, but...."
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Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:28 am
Riley didn't understand what exactly it was planning on doing, but her trust in Malodore was palpable as she stood calmly, watching it bend into press the tip of it's beak against her cheek. When it pulled away, it became apparent what it had just done, or tried to do, and Riley's eyes crescented in a mixture of amusement and affection. Stepping out of one's boundaries to express itself was a courageous, and charming move. She certainly felt charmed by it.
You are very sweet. She whispered quietly, and leaned up to look it directly in the eye while her face pressed lightly against its beak. None of this is natural to my kind, either. Don't worry. We're both treading on foreign ground. Her eyes closed, and she moved just slightly to the right, so that her cheek rested against the side of its beak. If it was going to try something new, so was she, she decided. Her face rubbed gently against it's beak for a moment, and then pulled away.
She wasn't blushing, but her face did hold a touch of amusement. She could tell it was late - she felt kind of silly, and would probably second guess herself a hundred times the next day. It was a good thing she was heading back to her dorm now, before she did something completely outlandish.
Goodnight, Malodore. She murmured, reaching her arms around this time and offering a loose hug. Her hands pressed gently against its back, and her cheek rested against its shoulder. Thank you for the lovely night.
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:12 pm
"Grazie per aver condiviso con me," Malodore said quietly; if Riley felt silly, it didn't notice. It felt perfectly natural to reciprocate the gesture, even.
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:43 pm
If Riley could have smiled, Malodores words surely would have made her do it. She pulled away, and leaned her head upwards in a contented expression.
Always. Her single word of response was her last farewell, as she disentangled herself from it and headed out for the night. It was a day that felt like it had lasted forever, and yet as she walked away, she was sure it had all passed by in a blur. Still, she would be hard pressed to feel anything but satisfying contentment for quite some time, no matter what came her way.
Happy. That was what she was, she mused as she headed back to her dorm. It was simple and unavoidable. She was happy. And she was determined to hold on to that feeling for as long as she could.
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