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 Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 9:33 am
((Note: this RP is set during the Festive Forest segment on the last morning.))
Malodore shuffled through the snow, following the pathway left by the scouting group. It had emerged from its tent to find the group mostly dispersed, with a few other tents set up here and there. Jericho was curled around a tent which appeared to be Riley's... except that it could see two figures silhouetted against the cloth. Riley and... Israfel?
Well, they could be drunken cider buddies together forever, for all Malodore cared. It had shut up its tent with a snap, called Luce away from growling at an as yet unmoving tree, and headed on its way.
It had very little idea what to do with this level of awkwardness and embarrassment other than... keep moving. Preferably away from it. And maybe forget it had ever happened... if that was possible.
The snow seemed to go on forever.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:55 am
Riley hadn't gotten much sleep. She had stayed up all night talking with Israfel, and despite his inebriated sensibilities, it had helped to talk through her problems. She found that she wasn't the only one with problems, either. It helped to have some clarity on the situation.
She emerged from her tent, looking absolutely disheveled. She brushed off all the feathers that seemed to have shed off her tent-mate overnight, and left him to get some rest. If she couldn't, at least he could.
The outside of the tent had a haunting quiet settled on it. Everyone was still asleep, or gone. Without really thinking about it, she realized her eyes had settled on the depression in the snow where Malodore's tent had been. Already gone, she assumed with a heavy heart. She took a quick glance at the other tents, and the sleeping dragon, before deciding this might be a good time to clear the air.
She heard the soft crunch of her steps in the snow as she hurriedly followed the footsteps she assumed were Malodore's, trying to catch up. When she caught sight of it, she stopped stumbling through the wretched white muck and reached a thought out.
Malodore?
Was it leaving without them? Her stomach clenched painfully.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:01 pm
The plague doctor had not been expecting that. It stopped moving mid-stride, glancing back over its shoulder. Riley? What was she doing here?
And, more importantly, was she here to pummel it into the snow in vengeance now that she'd apparently sobered up?
"Si?" it called back, awkwardly.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:05 pm
It was a good sign that Malodore had at least stopped when she called. That meant it didn't hate her completely, right? There was a chance to fix the situation, after all.
She took a few long strides towards it, despite not really needing to be closer to talk. It was still rude for her to converse from a distance, so she waited until she'd closed that distance before continuing.
Mind if we talk for a second? She didn't sound mad - if anything, she sounded utterly contrite. I think I made a terrible mess of things, and I'd like to make it right.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:15 pm
"I... you..." Malodore stared for a second. "Si, si - of course." At least it wasn't detecting any mental vibes of I want to punch you in the face from her. Which was good.
"I believe, however, that I am the one who has made a mess of things," it added, staring down at the snow.
(Behind them, Luce was engaged in suspiciously investigating trees for signs of life, and paying little attention to what Big Non-Tree People were up to.)
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:23 pm
One of her eyebrows lifted slowly, before she shook her head. Not at all. This was completely my fault. Malodore, you did nothing wrong.
One hand lifted up, and the long fingers rubbed against her temple. Despite the throbbing pain, she was managing it well, and it didn't seep through her 'voice'.
I had a long talk with Israfel, last night, she began. And.. well no, it isn't his fault either. I will take the blame for this, because I'm the fool who thought it wise to warm herself with spirits. He simply hadn't informed me that whatever concoction he'd smuggled in was a lot stronger than an average.. She stopped there, furrowing her brow in annoyance. She didn't want to blame anyone but herself for last night's shenanigans, and every time she caught herself doing so she would stop, and try again.
.. the point is, she started up again. I shouldn't have made that mistake. And when I did, I put you in a terrible position. You were only trying to help, and I.. her eyes rolled in self-annoyance. I really didn't deserve anyone's help last night.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:29 pm
Malodore blinked behind its lenses, and a little bit of the guilty feeling tiptoed away. A little bit. "I thought, since you were... ah... burping bubbles, that that was how you imbibed the intoxicant in the first place," it explained, ducking its head slightly. "Evidently I am not as educated in demonic anatomy as I thought I was." And admitting that was a good part of the sting - how Malodore felt or didn't feel about Riley aside, a doctor never approached a patient without knowing exactly what they were doing.
Ever.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:38 pm
A soft chuckle escaped through her thoughts, even as she thought them. No, you were right. That's where I ingest. Honestly, you probably would have succeeded in your goal if I hadn't been so completely stubborn about the mere idea of .. she paused here, and a faint blush touched her cheeks at how ridiculous her next words sounded .. expelling myself in front of you. I was not allowing that to happen. She put a hand to her face, running it down the length in an effort to calm the blush. It's just.. the hand didn't work, she was still blushing. Her words now came out halted, and choppy - she really didn't know how to express herself this time. They're also. Used. For other-I was deeply intoxicated, I am so so so so sorry for saying what I did. It was ridiculous. Please forgive me.
Oh look, eggplant is such a nice color.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:48 pm
Once again, Malodore was grateful for its mask/face and the bandages that covered its skin, because otherwise Riley's eggplant would have been joined by... whatever colors plague doctors blushed in. "I... of course. If you will forgive me for acting hastily, without proper understanding." It inclined its head in what it hoped was a conciliatory (and somewhat dignified) manner.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:00 pm
Riley's chest rose and fell in lieu of a deep, grateful sigh, and she nodded. You have nothing to apologize for. But I will. Besides.. She stared down at the snow with forced interest, because the blinding painful white was easier to look at than to look at Malodore while she said this. I know you were only doing what you thought was best. Which means, uhh. A hesitant pause, before she continued. Well it means you were looking out for my best interests. I appreciate that. I'm assured that, should I ever be in any real danger, I will at least know someone cares enough to try to help.
She felt the situation had resolved itself, but somehow embarrassment continued to creep into the color of her cheeks. Still, she'd done the hard part - now she figured that the events of last night could be eventually filed away, and things could return to normal, with time. This was what she'd set out to do, and she felt confident that she'd managed it. Somewhat.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:15 pm
Malodore opened its beak in a hesitant smile. "Of course. It is in our best interests to keep a cool head in this overly-joyous place." It glanced to one side, giving the surrounding trees a vaguely suspicious look. "And you have such a marvelous brain - it would be a shame to scramble it."
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:31 pm
Some girls think it sweet when they're complimented for their hair, or their eyes, or their figure. It is in the mind of the beholder, truly, to choose which feature is most important to filling a woman's ego.
It is with no small surprise, however, that to compliment the mind of a mindflayer is to give the largest of compliments indeed.
Riley was already blushing, and it didn't get darker, but something much worse happened. She was clearly at a loss for words, and the silence was stifling. If she didn't think of something quick to say, she knew that this tentative return to comfort she'd -just- barely managed to retrieve would vanish into the wind. In a thought that sounded like she was whispering from far away, she quickly stammered out.
Thank you, Malodore.
It was time to leave. Yes, definitely time to head back to camp and stop thrilling at the idea that someone thought her brain was marvelous.
I'll go grab my tent so we can go. A slightly louder thought said, but was instantly interrupted with - I mean not that, we - I mean you don't have to - it's not like -
When an eggplant is very ripe, and ready for eating, it still would pale in comparison to Riley's cheeks. She looked up at Malodore, eye to eye, lifted her hand swiftly to point back at the camp, and then.. scampered off to go retrieve her tent.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:36 pm
"Prego - ah, you're welcome," Malodore said, vaguely surprised - and a bit gratified - by her reaction. It would have been a terrible thing to accidentally alienate one of the more interesting students it had met so far!
"'We' is acceptable," it added, raising its voice so the fleeing Riley could hear it.
Then it wondered if Riley would have to dump Israfel bodily out into the snow to pack up her tent. Hmm. That could be entertaining.
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2010 1:44 pm
Riley stopped when he called out, took a moment to think about it, and then turned.
Yes of course. I'll catch up with you once I've packed up then, she answered lightly. She was instantly relieved at how easily it was to act as though she had not just presumed something inappropriate, with Malodore. It made things so much easier.
But deep down, the phrase "'we' is acceptable" still made her feel odd in inexplainable ways. She brushed it off, much too content that things were back to normal, and headed back to camp with a wave.
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