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After speaking with its friends, Malodore had given itself time to settle in. Time to think, to consider its feelings. To permit itself to feel, rather than filling its days with distractions... something that it wanted to do instinctively, to avoid the messy and illogical stink of emotions. But it had forced itself to do so.

And now it was returning to her side.

The Bogeyman formalities had already been tended to last time; it was permitted through with a minimum of fuss, somewhat surprisingly. While Riley's minders were as prickly as ever, it wasn't long before the plague doctor was padding down the hallway towards her, feeling a strange combination of dread and eagerness. Its Bogeyman escort leaned against the wall as it slowly approached her door. Mia cara? it called out, mentally. Are you awake?

It paused, pressing its palms against the door, leaning forward so that its forehead rested on the smooth, cold surface for a moment. Every emotion that it had worked through threatened it, pulled to full fury again by just that single word - but no, no, it refused to allow them to snarl again. It would not permit it. It had made its decision and now it was going to abide by it, as best it could.

It straightened, then; the escort stepped forward and opened the door, letting it through. The sight of her was pain and joy all at once. "There you are," it said softly, without thinking; it then ducked its head, vaguely embarrassed, and walked into the room proper. The door pulled to behind it, but was not entirely shut - a pointed reminder.

Fine.

"Are you well? I see they have not improved your accommodations," it said, with a wry glance at the room they were in. She seemed well, though... and not terribly clothed. It wasn't sure how it felt about that.

It reached out, obligingly, offering its hand in response to her gesture. "I am glad... I am sorry I did not come to you sooner," it murmured. "I had... many things to consider. Emotions are folly, did you know that? But a powerful folly... and one I wish to continue exploring. Particularly with you," it added, ducking its head.

"May I sit with you?"

It gave her a startled look; in that moment, its unbeating heart tightened painfully. "I... you still, even now, you cut to the heart of my thoughts," it said, voice barely above a whisper. "I had... si. I had thought just such a thing. My... one of my very dear mentors, she told me that she once believed her lover to be dead; in the intervening time, they became very different people. They were fortunate that they were able to love one another anew when they came together once more..."

Malodore shook its head. "She did not know the story would be so relevant to me, I am certain. And yet, it seems that it is." It had not released her hand at all. "And it... though I and... and Riley, we grew together through many trials, it seems to me that... in you, I see her - you - as you were when I first..."

Its beak closed, then its eyes. It could not say the words, but they echoed in its mind, for her to hear. Wanted her. Fell in love with her. With you.

"I did not say that," Malodore said, firmly. "And I will not say it. You are not a substitute - how cruel, how cold! If anyone says such a thing to you in my hearing, they will find themselves perforated in many exciting and novel ways." Oh, it was flying now, its tangled emotions falling away into perfect clarity. Yes, yes - it had made the right choice. Calder had shown it the right way.

"You are as you were when you came to this school - when all the bonds you no longer remember had not yet set in place. And it was then that I began to love you..." It quieted, looking down for a moment. "I know it is not the same. That experience has been erased from your mind, and perhaps some of the shaping it performed will never return. But... I, too, have changed greatly. It might be that you as you were would not... be able to love the me that I am now..."

The thought made its throat tighten, strangling its voice for a moment. "I want... I want to start again. I want to learn again. I refuse to strain after paths that have passed us by. I want to forge new ways. I... hope, I must admit, that these paths will bring my heart and yours together again. Yours," it added, emphasizing the word. "Yours, as you are now. I have made my peace..." Aen'ryllis, it added, keeping the name between them. It would not give the Bogeymen any additional leverage.

Then it stood, mute, waiting for her answer. It felt emptied, as if it had poured out all of itself before her in offering.

A small sigh of... wonder? contentment? escaped Malodore's beak, and it gently tilted its head downwards, the tip of its beak gently nuzzling against her cheek. "I want to learn, too - I am not your teacher," it said, softly. "I am not the one who knows, and you the one who does not. We are learning together, si? This is how it will be, from this day forward, you and I?"

"Si... it does, indeed," it said, and then its knees gave way and it slid to the floor, laughing. "I was so... so worried, and then... ah, I am a fool, mia cara. I am so ill-equipped to deal with such emotional matters, and yet... I have grown, I think? Perhaps a small amount?"

It looked up at her from its place on the ground, then patted at the floor.

"I am lost, too," it assured her, shaking its head, but the turmoil inside of it had finally cleared - at last, at last. "But at least I found you, and together we shall find our way..." It took a deep breath, for the calming effect, then closed its eyes.

"I wish this, too," it replied, its voice low. "Fervently so." Its fingers lightly touched her arm, tracing up the curve of one bicep. "You have been training yourself, I presume?" Only a guess, but it could tell she had undertaken the work of strengthening herself - by her own choice, or by order, though it was like her to do such a thing on her own, in defiance.