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 Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 10:53 pm
It was so good to be back at school. The first thing Xiu did upon waking up that morning? Bake. The two (or rather, one and a half) weeks that she had spent at home had been rather uncomfortable more than anything. With the exception of her uncle, everything about the house--including her parents--had made her feel more like a stranger or a guest visiting than anything. Compared to the stiff and awkward atmosphere of her old home, the baku found her quaint little dorm room and the noisy school grounds to be much more welcoming.
That, and no one could complain if she baked.
Donning her new outfit--courtesy of her uncle, of course--and an apron, the spent the whole morning making a variety of sweets. Spookies, cupcakes, a cheesecake--one could probably argue that Xiu had a problem when it came to baking. However, once the cheesecake came out of the oven, the baku finally decided that that was enough for today. With no intention of finishing all this by herself, she proceeded to wrap everything up into packages: a slice of cheesecake, two cupcakes, and a few spookies were set on a plate and done up with colored cellophane and a ribbon.
...Welp, time to visit random friends and drop these things off! Considering how it had become a rather frequent event now, she was sure that no one would be surprised to find her with baked goods in front of their door. Gathering up one of the packages in her arms, she stepped down her room and head down the demon dorm hallways. Now...who first?
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 12:09 am
She smelled it.
Riley's door opened before she'd actually gotten to it. A few moments later, she stepped out, and eyed the hallway like a predator. There was a thick, obvious wave of warm sweet smelling goodness wafting in from all corners, and the moment she'd realized it, Riley was intent to find out where it came from. It wasn't hard to find it, since the culprit was walking right through her hallway when she came out.
Hello. Riley murmured quickly, but then fell silent, because she sounded desperate. Her eyes fluttered from the ghoul, to the package, and back.
And then back to the package.
And quickly back to Xiu.
Hi.
In case she hadn't heard her the first time. It was important that she heard.
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 12:29 am
Xiu had wondered many, many times to herself what she would have done if Riley had come back. After having not seen the mindflayer for so long...well, it was genuinely hard not to miss her. Needless to say, whenever she had imagined her reaction to Riley's return, it had involved crying. A lot of crying. Litres upon litres of--
Okay, point made.
That expectation, however, was completely shattered when the baku heard a familiar voice suddenly echo in her mind. The ghoul jumped in surprise, her grip on the package tightening slightly as she slowly turned her head to look over her shoulder. That voice. She knew that voice--not only the fact that it spoke in her head, but the tone, the sound, the--
The package nearly slipped out of her hands when her eyes fell on the mindflayer, but Xiu somehow managed to keep her fingers closed around it. Despite the fact her heart was going haywire, on the outside, Xiu looked...normal, really. Her posture was normal--if not a little stiff--and her expression was surprisingly calm. After Riley's second greeting, the corners of the ghoul's lips quirked upwards in a small smile. Quietly, she moved forward, stretching the plate of sweets out towards the mindflayer.
"...Spookies, Riley?"
And with that, Xiu was suddenly aware of the lump that had formed in her throat.
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 1:37 am
The ghoul's face was unreadable. Riley's expression lifted in return for the smile that finally graced Xiu's features, and she nodded at the offer, waving her hand in a restless motion to gesture inside. Please. I smelled them from all the way inside here - did you make them yourself?
She tried, very hard, not to sound over-excited that she was being offered the confections she'd smelled. Come inside, we can share. It's never as much fun to eat alone.
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:47 am
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Xiu nodded quickly at the question, her cheeks flushing. "Y-yes! I baked them all this morning, and I thought that I'd offer them to anyone who wanted a plate, so..."
She trailed off, her gaze still fixated on Riley. Within the next few moments, her expression underwent a few quick changes--first unreadable, then puzzled, and then surprised--before she finally settled on a big grin. Her tail had suddenly begun to wave behind her as she nodded at the invitation, suddenly feeling a herself grow a little shyer than usual.
"Oh, um...yes, okay! Thank you!" With a quick bow of her head, she took a few steps into the familiar room.
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 8:30 pm
Do you bake often? Riley murmured gently, as she closed the door behind Xiu and led her inside. I seem to find that I have an affection for sweets. If you're ever looking for a willing drop off for extra baked goods.. please, look no further than my room.
She moved to sit on the couch, and gestured for Xiu to join her. The ghoul looked happy to be there, which led Riley to believe that this wasn't her first visit. Of course, she wasn't going to broach the subject until after she'd been allowed at least a few spookies..
May I? She edged forward, looking to untie the wrapping.
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 9:44 pm
Riley's question earned a wide-eyed blink and a tilt of Xiu's head. "Ah...yes, I bake a lot!" Oops, she thought that Riley had known that! A small, nostalgic smile settled onto her face as she added, "Lizzy and I made those spookies for your campaign booth, remember?" That had been fun...though there had been some uncomfortable drama going on in her life at the time as well, but that was over and done with!
"I'll definitely keep you in mind when I bake more things!" Xiu reassured her, before sinking down onto the couch beside the mindflayer. Clasping her hands in her lap, the baku glanced around, taking in the familiar room with another wag of her tail. It was nice to be in here again...and just nice to see Riley again. She wanted to ask when she had gotten back, but her attention was drawn back to the baked goods.
"Oh--yes, of course! Please go ahead!"
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 7:44 pm
Riley was already reaching for a spookie when Xiu tried to 'remind' her of a moment in their shared past, and a guilty look fluttered through her expression for a moment. It paused her, for an entire second, before she dove in and took the spookie anyway.
And a second for good measure. Just in case.
I wish I could remember. She murmured, very carefully. Her tentacles worked on the cookie, but Riley's eyes were focused very intensely on Xiu, watching for any negative reaction. I suppose this means no one has told you the news. Which is good, I guess. I'd rather you heard it from me. She lied.
...
These are delicious spookies.
Her brow furrowed in dismay. No amount of distraction would soothe this blow. I died. She ripped the band-aid off. And when I was returned to this world, my memories of Amityville did not return with me. I do not remember you, my friend. Or your spookies.
I wish I could.
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:18 am
"Oh."
That was all that Xiu managed to say despite the fact she was, frankly, outright stunned by the news. Perhaps it was because she was so stunned that she only managed to utter the quiet, short noise, and her expression--that had been so happy a moment ago--had also faded into blankness. She...so she had actually died? But that statue...and...and when she was taken away by the Boogeymen...
Xiu's hands had tightened into fists in her lap as she tried to take in the news--the news that Riley couldn't remember her, or any of the memories that they had had together in Amityville. At first, the thought filled her with a great deal of sadness...but then the baku decided that she wouldn't be having any of that. There was no reason to be sad, right? After all...
"Even...even if you don't remember us," She started, wringing her hands together as she tilted her head back up to look at the mindflayer, "You're still here with us now. We can make new memories, can't we?" Wriggling in her seat awkwardly, she turned her gaze back down to stare into her lap, looking embarrassed, "You helped me out a lot in the past and I really admire you, so if there's anything I can do to help you make your time at Amityville easier..."
She suddenly perked up, pink eyes growing round. "Oh, right! If you don't remember my name, I'm Xiu! And I wouldn't worry about not being able to remember my spookies," The ghoul suddenly laughed, her demeanor lightening, "I'm sure I can get you acquainted with all my baked goods pretty quickly."
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Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:13 pm
There was something effortlessly charming about the way Xiu worked through her emotions, and the answer she finally gave. Riley's hand, holding the half-eaten spookie, slowly fell. She stared at Xiu for a moment, as if trying to understand how the ghoul could react so positively, to news that surely must have hurt her.
Xiu made Riley feel.. better.
She put down the spookie, brushed off her top, and reached out to take Xiu into her arms rather suddenly. It was a strange answer to the ghoul's question, but it was the only answer Riley felt compelled to give. Xiu. Riley whispered, very softly. Your acceptance of me. As I am. It's.. surprising.
She should have let go, but it was difficult. It felt pleasant to hold the ghoul in her arms. It felt uplifting.
Thank you.
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 9:41 am
The hug was sudden, but not at all unwelcome. The baku was quick to wrap her own arms around the mindflayer, the familiar feeling of hugging her friend almost bringing tears to her eyes. They were not sad or longing tears, however, but happy ones. She was here. She was alive. And maybe she didn't have any memories of the past, but the fact that she was here now was already a blessing. They could make new memories to fill in for the old, but they could never replace Riley.
Xiu drew back slightly so that she could grin up at her, her tail waving behind her. "Of course I'd accept you--you're my friend! A-and there's nothing to thank me for!" While everything she had said were her genuine feelings, the baku was suddenly aware of all the cheese she had just piled on. Looking a little sheepish, she gestured quickly towards the plate of baked goods.
"H-how are they?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2012 9:54 pm
Riley breathed in slowly, and sighed audibly in contentment. You're wrong. I have everything to thank you for. Believe me.
Riley followed her gaze to the spookies, and returned the one she was holding to her tentacle, where it began nibbling away. They're wonderful. I am hooked already. Do you live here, in the demon dorms? I should know where to go if I ever need a pick me up.
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Posted: Wed Aug 22, 2012 6:04 pm
Xiu looked puzzled at Riley's response, but made no effort to pry, simply offering her a bright grin before turning her attention fully to the plate of treats.
"I'm glad you like the spookies! I hope that the cupcake and cheesecake are to your liking as well." Now that she thought about it, despite the fact that she had given baked goods to Riley in the past...she never did ask whether the mindflayer had a favourite flavour or type of cake. Now seemed like a good time to ask!
"Ah--yes, I live here! Room 268!" Tail wagging eagerly behind her, she leaned in, eyes bright and expectant, "Also, may I ask you what your favourite flavour of cake or spookies is? I'd be happy to make you something sweet whenever you'd like!"
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 3:10 am
Riley's head sharply turned to look at the basket, eyes widening slightly. Cupcakes, cheesecakes.. are you saying these are all for me? Her fingers itched to go through the basket right that very moment, but she just barely held herself back. She made note of Xiu's room number, but her question tore Riley away from the attention that the basket of sweets had. She thought about it, very seriously, before she had to shake her head.
I.. I don't know what my favorites are. Her brow furrowed sadly. So far, I have never met a sweet I didn't like.
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Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 9:42 pm
Xiu seemed surprised at the question, pink eyes growing slightly round as she tilted her head at the mindflayer. "Of course they are! I love to bake, but I tend to make too much, so I always wrap some up to deliver to friends! Everything in there is for you!" It was, admittedly, quite a lot of stuff. One could say that the baku had an addiction to baking, considering that she made stuff even when she didn't want to eat anything sweet herself.
The baku's ears drooped a little at Riley's answer--or rather, the sad expression--but she was quick to perk up again, giving an eager nod of her head. "Don't worry, we'll just use trial and error, then! I have lots of recipes, so I'm sure we can figure out what kinds of desserts you don't like! ...If anything," Xiu lifted a hand to hide her grin, "I kind of like most desserts in general, to be honest."
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