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 Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 9:34 pm
Calder was staring at Barth's door, holding a basket, and waiting. He had knocked 15 times. He called 9 times. He heard the ringtone on the other side of the door. Barth was in. Now Barth probably was awake or in some state that he couldn't be heard. Calder called for Barth. Again. Again. Then again some more.
Then he waited.
Then his eyes went wide, and he stared at the door, trying to penetrate the wood with his massive eyes and let the very presence of his stare wake the boil. He heard that some of the best kelpies could strike fear by perfecting their lure in a way to make humans wet themselves just by feeling their eyes upon them.
It didn't work.
Sighing, he knocked his forehead against the door a few times. If Barth was asleep, he wouldn't want to talk, and Calder needed an outlet. It was exhausting being perky these days that he couldn't keep it up. He would have to check on Amrita or Lizzy to see how they were doing, but he wasn't sure if he should bother them right now or not.
Looking into his basket, he touched the cloth over the small kettle and frowned. The tea would get cold soon at this rate.
Resigning to the fact his boilfriend was in another coma, probably to recover from the trials (and Calder on the doorstep instead of wrapped in his arms), he started to head for the stairs.
And then he paused, and looked at Riley's door. They didn't talk much, but he had pressed her into treating Christof more fairly, and she seemed earnest. He wondered if she attempted such a thing, not to mention that she had helped him break free from when he was stuck (though he still was rather miffed at her method.)
Chewing a bit of his hair as he thought, he looked around, checking to see the coast was clear, and stepped to the door and knocked. "Um....hello?" Oh Jack, this was so weird.
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 10:47 pm
Riley was sitting at the corner of her room, in the spot she'd inhabited for days now, staring out of her window silently once more. She heard Calder's voice, of all things, coming from her door. She legitimately had to pause and wonder if he was simply standing at the wrong door, or perhaps facing Barth's door, therefore not there to see her at all. She waited, for a few seconds. When no reply from Barth came, and no further call from Calder was made, she decided to check and see who he was looking for.
Calder? Riley murmured very quietly. This may sound like a stupid question but, was that for me, or are you out there looking for someone else?
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 11:20 pm
Calder stared at the door. "I was.." Oh, he should talk mentally, but it was hard to just transmit thoughts when you weren't looking at the person. He felt he was talking to the door. Would it misfire to a vase or a couch if he didn't have his thoughts directly beamed to her? He never understood how this mental talk worked.
Now how did he say this? "I was..." Well, he was looking for Barth, but he knew Barth was asleep. It was pretty insulting to say to someone you wanted to unload tea on them only because they did digest food and you had no one else in the vicinity to offer it to. Then again, saying he was here JUST to offer her tea seemed like a very direct gesture. That he had made tea and food JUST for Riley.
"I have tea. Are you..." Busy? Decent? Not making out with Mal? "....Do you like tea?" Yup. Just having a convo with a door and yet still failing at conversation. Maybe she would think he was up to something mean or just brush him off. Maybe he could compliment something to ...help grease the wheels of this very rickety friendship thingie. "Your door is very clean." Compared to Christof's door, it was.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:28 am
Well, he certainly spoke to her enough for her to assume he had been calling for her. When he started to explain, she listened carefully, though it wasn't terribly easy to hear through the door. Still, she understood what she needed to, and blinked her eyes away from the entrance of her bedroom, turning instead back to the window as she responded.
Tea is an acceptable substance to imbibe. My door is as clean as the rest of my dorm is. If you mean to say you wish to share some tea with me, my door is open. You may enter at any time. I am in the bedroom. Feel free to enter.
She truly couldn't fathom why Calder was here to see her, and not Barth, but neither did she see a problem with it. Company was always welcome when she spent so many of her hours alone, and awake, in her room.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 8:38 am
The steady fall of hoofbeats clacked from the hallway, through the doorway, and onto the various rugs and soft surfaces of Riley's living room. Closing the door, he had to take a moment to appreciate one that wasn't remote controlled. Then again, she still didn't get up to open it, so Barth and Riley were rather even at this point. Part of him always expected Riley to just open doors with her mind. It felt that powerful at times, if not still invasive.
Looking about, he noticed things didn't seem to have changed much since he was here for the first and only time. It was still lavish, in dark colors, elegant in taste that most demon's seemed to have and afford. Brimming with this and that that Calder, if left unsupervised for too long, would wind up taking off of shelves and possibly breaking (He apologized plenty of times for this.). Still, it that that peculiar air of belong to a ghoul. Details in taste and color choice maybe, not to mention a faint aroma. Something he had noticed a long time ago. A heavy, sweet, almost floral smell. Certainly not like Death on the Beach, which Barth (and now Calder) were certainly fond of.
Slowly moving and resisting the urge to pick up a shiny do-dad that was sitting on a side table, Calder stood at the bedroom door, shrugged, and slowly opened it. "I wasn't sure if you drank... tea." He muttered, making conversation due to the silence and pressure of someone else occupying the same area.
He peered around looking for the purple ghoul, wicker basket in hand.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:42 am
I drink everything.
Riley had turned away from the window by the time Calder entered, and picked up her needles and yarn, so that when he walked in, and his eyes adjusted to the dark, he would see her sitting in the corner of the room, knitting away at a long pink and black spiderweb patterned scarf. Her luminescent eyes blinked up at him, and gestured over to his left.
The light switch is beside you there, if you wish to turn it on. Once said, the glowing orbs turned back down to their work, as if unaffected by another person's presence. If he chose to turn the lights on, all of the bloodstained bandages that covered her tentacles would become a little more obvious than they were in the dark, adding to the oddness of a knitting Riley sitting alone in the corner of her room.
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Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 11:13 am
Calder didn't take Riley as the knitting type, but there was little that he knew of Riley's personal life aside from what he overheard while talking to Maladore and Christof. Hobbies did not come up too often in such conversation, as he would have probably laughed if someone told him that Riley, a ghoul who once tried to choke him to death, did something as timid as knitting.
He wasn't laughing now. His eyes were we'll accustomed to looking though the dark woods, murky waters, and heavy fog of his home. Being both predetor and prey, he knew changes in smell. The bandages gave off a strange smell that wasn't like the spiced honeysuckle he attributed to the ghoul.
Walking over, he sat down on the floor and took out the metal kettle and earthen cups, a tin of sugar cubes, spoons, and a small bag of cookies. He poured he cup and offered not to her. "What happened to you?" The bandages were too obvious and he wasn't the type to avoid asking what he wanted.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:36 am
 The soft click of the needles tapping against one another stopped when Calder questioned her, and the bright orbs flickered up at him for a moment, before they returned down to her work and the clicking began again. She folded them carefully in her lap so that she could take the offered cup, and then placed it gently beside her hip, where one tentacle - unfettered by bandages, and therefore well enough to use - slid into the hot liquid and soaked there as it gently sipped away.
Nothing happened to me. She murmured quickly as she took up her knitting again, and the clicking of needles returned. Well, that is to say, the trials happened. They were very hard on all of us, it is certain. Her voice took on a strangle, wilting quality as she continued, as if something had changed in her lucid thoughts. We are coping with the trauma that the Horsemen have inflicted on us, that is all. Her eyes lifted up to Calder again, half-lidded. Thank you for the tea. We enjoy it. What flavor have you brought us?
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:52 am
"Oh." He hadn't put the two together. Mainly because he had never seen Riley physically injured to such an extent - then again, maybe it was the way she was holding herself now, and the wounds only accented it. We're all wearing thin. Everyone. If we keep getting hammered down, everyone will loose faith in themselves and each other. Then that end will happen. The one result he had seen during the trials where everything was ruined. It was hard to buck others up when he wasn't feeling it either. Luckily most of his injuries weren't visible, and there seemed to be a trend where he always got hurt on his side or through his midsection. Cricket had worked her magic, though strained as she was, and he was recovering after of patchwork himself. He'd never look at cliffs and ice spikes again without being very tense.
Lifting the lid to the sugar tin, he started to make his sweeter, his ears turning at the transition from 'me' to 'we' and 'us' without raising a brow but pressing his lips thing. That was peculiar.
"It's Lobelia and Pigwort. I had some dried before coming here." It wasn't something he'd seen in the stores, not that he actually BOUGHT tea. It just didn't make sense when you could just walk outside and grab what you needed. The taste was slightly floral with a deep, woody taste.
Not wanting to dwell on what was behind them, as bringing someone lower then they already were was not helpful to a pleasant conversation and he was far too exhausted with that talk over and over again through these past months, he thought of something else. "Did anyone come to see you during the trials to wish you well?" Friends? Family?
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:22 pm
Ah. Lovely. You have exquisite taste in teas. She sipped quietly, though the sound stopped when she caught sight of the sugar tin, and her hand slowly reached out for it. One, two, threefourfive servings later, her tentacle was stirring her now thickened tea, and she sounded much happier about it.
In fact, the question Calder asked received a rather happy sounding laugh. Though, if one thought about it, there really was nothing happy to laugh about.
Ahah. She practically giggled. Ahahhah. Someone.. to.. ahahahah. Haaahahahahaahaha.
Riley's laughter was actually a very simple laugh, nothing too loud, and nothing too ominous - but the fact that he may have never actually heard her laugh before might have made it sound strange indeed.
And it went on for quite a few seconds.
Hooo.. She finally wiped a tear from her eye as she calmed down, and returned to sipping her tea. Ahh, no. One last chuckle, before continuing - No one came to wish us well. Was there anyone there for you?
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:53 pm
Calder was indeed startled, and he reached out, slowly taking the sugar tin away from Riley and hiding it back in the basket. She was getting cut off.
Still rather confused, he let her laugh. Past reflex made him think he was going to get choked or stabbed with some knitting needles for asking it, but she seemed to actually think it was a fun joke.
That didn't mean he wasn't tense. Good thing he had tea.
Sipping it, he frowned at the fact she seemed to find anyone visiting her funny. "My taste in tea comes from my mother. It is what she does. They did come to visit me during the trials..along with a member from my clan." He didn't want to talk about Murchadh much. While the last part was spoken in a flat tone, Calder smiled when he spoke of his parents. He missed them. Maybe he should visit?
"So...does no one visit you? Why did you think it was funny?" Riley wasn't undead or a ghost, which meant she didn't just come into being without someone responsible for her. Then again, she could be some of those that wound up in orphanages. He wasn't sure. These things were not discussed between people who once hated each other's guts.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:21 pm
Riley was absolutely unreactive when Calder started talking about his mother. She sipped her tea quietly and listened. But when the topic returned to her, a cold mirth bubbled in her eyes. Calder, you know me. You understand the kind of person I am.. don't you? She bent in slightly, and her eyes lidded. We are the Illithid. We do not.. wish each other well. We kill each other to survive. We barely even like one another. My only living parent would rather kill me himself than see me fail. The last thing I would ever want to see.. would be another Illithid here at Amityville. It would be a constant fight for survival.
She leaned back again, and the sip of her tea became audible again. If I never see another Illithid again, so long as I live, I would probably live a much longer life. What did this say about Andeon, then? She left that particular thorn in her side out, for now. As would most of the people I love.
She finished her tea, and offered the cup back to Calder. Truly delicious.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:12 pm
He took the cup and set it back down, watching her. He had to smile as she felt he knew her. "Riley, I know of you from past encounters, which haven't been the best to know a person. Aside from that, it's word of mouth from those around you. Mal. Christof. Jericho. All testimony but not enough to get an impression. They don't go into any real depth about you, and I have to say, a Igor, your boilfriend, and your best friend tend to....paint a very flattering picture of you. Too pristine, and you are not that." Which was a good thing, and he hoped it translated in his tone.
He sipped his tea. "Do you hate your clan then? Do all of your people leave? Or, is it that only the strongest live and therefor have scarlings?" If that was the case, Calder knew that system very well. It was how his own clan worked. It seemed one built on pride if her own father was more willing to kill her than to see her disgraced. It seemed a bit more strong on that side of ideals than his own kind.
He turned the cup slightly in his hands. Maybe talking about clans for her wouldn't be good. It seemed sad to have no one on your side. Calder had grown up alone, but he at least had his parents. To think that any one of them would want him dead? It felt terrible just thinking about it.
"What are you knitting? Would you like more tea?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:28 pm
At first, the conversation disturbed her. But as they continued on, Riley's knitting continued, and she fell into a quiet lull of comfort with Calder, unafraid of discussing her family life with the curious boil. Yes. Pour me another cup, please. She whispered, before turning her eyes back down to her knitting. I am making Lizzy a scarf. She seems cold, lately. The weather is turning cold, don't you think? Her eyes flickered up to the window for a moment, and the warm breeze that tickled her skin. It was, most definitely, not getting colder.
We do not hate our hive. Riley finally murmured as she returned her eyes to the yarn in her needles. We respect the balance of our kind. And we do not leave unless we are sent away on missions. We kill each other because, just as you say, only the strongest of our kind are allowed to mate. When we return, and join our council, we will be forced to mate. She went quiet for a moment, before snickering softly. I said when, didn't I? I meant if. If I ever went back, I would be forced to mate with the strongest of my hive. Her eyes focused very clearly on Calder. I fought for the right to live, and I won the burden to make our hive stronger. But, things change. One eye winked closed. Don't you think?
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:48 pm
Calder smiled at the wink before it softened and disappeared all together. He took a moment to glance at the anklet on his leg. "Yeah...I do." Barth was next door, and yet the weight of the piece of jewelry felt as if it was searing into him. If I went back. Didn't that thought alone tear her up inside? Then again, from her talk, maybe she didn't like being home?
"I don't think I could live without seeing another kelpie." Not that he hadn't been kept away from the others, but if he couldn't see his parents? Then again, he fought very hard to get into the clan. Right? You made a deal and sneaked your way in. You didn't fight. Not in combat. Not against any other bachelors for a claim. What did you do? He reached out and went to poor some tea to keep his hands busy.
"My clan fights for rights too, but only for disputes and who gets to claim who into their harem. That way only the strongest get to have the most scarlings." They weren't forced to mate, but the pressure was suffocating and drilled into each one of them since they knew what being claimed meant. He gave a chuckle. "You'd probably have a massive harem if you were ever a kelpie." As for Calder...
He handed her the cup back, now full, and slowly returned the sugar tin back to it's place again. He'd watch her if she got funny after having too much sugar.
"If you didn't go back, don't you feel.....bad? I think my parents would be ashamed if I left my clan." If he left, they would say it was because it was due to his father, because his mother didn't raise him right and with proper values that had the clan's interest at heart. That he was selfish and probably influenced by the school and not staying in the clan like the others. those thoughts made him quiet as he stared at his tea.
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