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 Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:33 pm
She had been ignored.
For days, Riley hadn't seen nor heard from Sinclaire. She knew the woman had heard her calling - there was no doubt of it. And she knew she usually saw her at least once a day, but the past few days had been nothing but Chite during her visitations and testing. Every day, the gargoyle showed up; and every day Riley's patience, if she could even call it that, grew thinner.
Enough was enough.
Chite opened her cell door on the fifth day, with his clipboard in hand, and he was treated to a sleeping cot slamming directly into his face. Once the mangled piece of furniture slid off of him and clattered to the ground, the door was closed again, and Riley was left alone.
She felt she'd made her point relatively clear.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:39 pm
It didn't take long for the door to open and grumbling Vek to carry the abused cot out. Sinclaire followed shortly, tossing the equivalent of a doggy bed down at Riley's feet, "If you're feeling restless again, just scratch at the door, and one of us will take you for walkies." There was an odd serenity surrounding the succubus, a calmness of purpose that would be pleasant in most other people.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:54 pm
Riley was not pleased at the new addition to her luxurious abode. But the complaints could wait - the sight of Sinclaire brought a bubbling rage to boil in her veins. She stormed forward, stopping inches from the serene succubus, and glared viciously. How dare you ignore me. Riley's voice was a hissing thought, intertwined with several other thoughts that attempted to whisper her seething hatred at the same time. It was a jumbled mess, but the main thought prevailed loudly enough.
She knew her rage would get her nowhere with Sinclaire. Anger was a dead end, and yet it was all she could do to keep her hands off the woman. But she was really, really mad. She tried to collect herself, but failed at every turn. Finally, despite continuing to sound like she wanted to kill Sinclaire, she barely managed to seethe out something less than a threat.
Stop trying to degrade me for your own personal amusement. I have business to discuss with you. She paused, and the next word sounded like it was being hissed through imaginary clenched teeth. Please.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:03 pm
Sinclaire gave the ghoul a professional smile, and responded in a reasonable voice, "I've been busy working on a testing facility for Amityville, recent events having made the situation so much more complicated. My apologies if you felt ignored or neglected." Taking the visitor's seat, the succubus crossed her legs and smiled up at the mindflayer, "Now what did you want to talk about?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:16 pm
Sinclaire's answer hit Riley like a punch to the face, and her expression reacted appropriately. All the rage ebbed away as she watched the woman sit down, and waited for a few seconds in stunned silence.
Testing facility? Riley's voice had returned to the quiet, detached smoothness she normally used. On Amityville? Why? What has happened? What recent event? Riley sat down quickly in front of Sinclaire, only to realize this left her at an oddly subservient position, and quickly stood straight up again.
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:49 am
Resting her chin on her fist, Sinclaire considered Riley for a quiet moment, before answering. "Testing for Insanity, of course. But the school's proximity to the Lost Clan and certain student activities that once again draws Boogeyman interest on your school..." she held her hands out, palm's up, here was no irritation or accusation in her tone, that serene calm unwavering. "It creates extra concerns, extra procedures, extra red tape, you understand? All the while, time is ticking down for any number of students."
The considering gaze never left Riley's own.
"It's already too late for one of them."
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 1:55 am
Riley's rigid pose broke at the last few words Sinclaire spoke. She slumped, just enough for her back to curve and her head to tilt downward in thought. Her eyes were slit, glaring now at the floor instead of the succubus.
Testing for insanity meant discovery. But more important than that, by far, was-
And who would that be?
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:00 am
Clasping her hands together over her knee, Sinclaire simply smiled, "Surely no one you were close to, having gone through this yourself. Now, you needed to speak with me?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:12 am
Withholding information. Riley restrained herself from rolling her eyes and straightened back up again, returning to business-like demeanor. I think you know exactly why I want to speak with you. I want to negotiate the terms of my release, and I'm sure you want to make them as beneficial to your cause as possible. So before I can offer any applicable options, I need to know, with as much honesty as you can muster - what is it that you're really trying to achieve with me?
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:16 am
The succubus answered her without rushing or hesitating, and with sincere honesty, "I want to study Insanity and possible prevention and curse. It's been mutating rapidly and I don't wish to see it escalate further." On Riley's mention of her own release, however, she said nothing.
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:24 am
Fine. The answer was simple, and somehow Riley felt like she already knew that, therefore she knew there was more to it than that. But if Sinclaire was only going to give her this much to work with..
She began to pace.
Then I propose you continue to study me, in the habitat where the Insanity was first established. I must have contracted Insanity at Amityville, is this not true? I regret I don't know the details, therefore this is as much an experiment for me as it would be for you. She paused in her pacing and waved her hand. You've already mentioned that you are working on a testing facility at Amityville. You'll have what you need to study me there, when needed. And when not.. I will be able to interact with the other students, just as I did at prom. I will voluntarily come in for check ups, at regulated intervals as well as after any stressful events.
Here, she slid her eyes carefully to look at Sinclaire. She was waiting for.. something. It was unclear what. Your research would be enhanced by my interactions. What do you think?
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:28 am
Sinclaire gave the ghoul a slow, thoughtful nod, "Yes. Yes I think that would be reasonable and beneficial to us both." The smile turned almost motherly, "But I need to be sure your body can handle it. Amityville is becoming a much more dangerous place."
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:35 am
Riley let out a sound that was meant to be a snort, and did not hold back her rolling eyes this time. All right. She muttered quickly, folding her arms in front of her. So what you're saying is, you want to do more strenuous testing, in exchange for my release. Permission to torture, captain?
Riley's eyes never left Sinclaire's as a moment of silence passed, and eventually, she nodded just once. Permission granted. If you need to test this body, test away. Just try not to kill it.
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:44 am
Sinclaire simply smiled, and opened the door for Riley to exit before leading the mindflayer to the room of her awakening. "A friend of mine," she began conversationally, "...once explained to me the importance of positive thinking, and how negative expectations invite negative outcomes." Opening the door to chamber that had repeatedly broke down and rebuilt her very soul, Sinclaire turned to Riley, smile bright and eyes empty, "So be sure to think happy thoughts, hm?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 2:55 am
She hadn't expected it to happen right now. When Sinclaire held the door open for her, Riley took an instinctive step back. She silently scolded herself for the moment of weakness. Her face hardened in determination, and she strode through the door, following Sinclaire with more confident steps. But when she turned away to open the door of the chamber, Riley's face fell in a helpless moment of terror. She remembered this. And she knew what she'd signed up for was beyond her tolerance.
She briefly considered just walking back to her cell, closing the door behind her, and returning to eternal meditation.
Happy thoughts, the succubus said. Her voice sounded distant, but Riley finally digested the bit of advice, and looked straight into those dead eyes. What were her happy thoughts? She considered Malodore for a moment, of course, but when it came down to it, there was only one thought that brought a smile to her mouthless face.
Flaying the skin right off of Sinclaire's body. Vek's too. Prinny's, just for good measure. And then finally burning this entire facility straight to the ground.
Riley's eyes were bright and filled with content in comparison to the lifeless ones that looked back at her.
I'll do my best. She cheerfully murmured, and stepped into the chamber without another moment of hesitation.
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