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From:

stressingwitchface

Kikimora doesn't exactly know how to look at Malcolm at the moment.

She feels...strangely guilty. Because while she still feels she had the right to throw a tantrum all over the ship, she's been hearing things from her time up in his loft that make her think that maybe this was...not the most ideal time to do so. These last few days she's heard snippets of conversation between Malcolm and others about Will Graham, someone she barely knows except as an offshoot of her warden. Evidently he's killed someone.

And the screams in the middle of the night. They make her shudder.

She patters down the stairs and settles her hands in front of her, waiting for Malcolm to see and acknowledge her presence.

From:

abrightboy

Malcolm’s phone is sitting on the kitchen island. The screen is cracked. He’s making popcorn. He’s filling an absurdly large bowl. He turns around and spots her there.

“Kikimora! When did you come down? You walk so quietly. You’d be the mistress of stealth magic. If… that was a thing. What can I do for you?”

From:

stressingwitchface

"It was required of me as Belos' second to always be seen and never heard." She answers, matter-of-fact.

She sniffs the air - observes the cracked screen of the phone - and then turns back to Malcolm.

"May I ask what you're doing now?"

From:

abrightboy

“I’m making popcorn. Warden Shaw is bringing Will over to watch a movie in a little bit.” He looks over at her. “You’re welcome to join us, if you like.” He holds out a piece of popcorn. “Have you tried popcorn?”

From:

stressingwitchface

She walks over, taking the piece dutifully in claw and giving it a once-over.

"Briefly. May I ask, is Will under the same restrictions as I am?" Is he forbidden to leave his warden's side, as Kikimora naturally assumes she is, too?

From:

abrightboy

“More, actually,” Malcolm tells her. “His Warden sleeps in his bedroom and reads all his messages.”

From:

stressingwitchface

Her visible eye widens in horror and outrage. But she can't complain - it's against policy for inmates to voice complaints of wardens to other wardens.

"I see." She manages, after only a brief second to process this.

From:

abrightboy

“I’m not going to do that,” he assures her. “One of the reasons I have you staying upstairs is because some of the people mad about what you did are dangerous people and I don’t want someone to implement their own justice before you fulfill your obligations. Once you’ve finished the program, I think they’ll have simmered down and they won’t have anything to complain about. You’ll be… as relatively safe as someone can be here,” he explains.

From:

stressingwitchface

A slight sigh of impatience, once she relaxes back in her skin.

"If I had my magic, I could defend myself against dangerous people without any assistance or restrictions."

From:

abrightboy

He gives her a clearly affectionate smile.

“Kikimora, I say this with love, but if you had all your magic back, you’d be the dangerous people and you’d never graduate.”

From:

stressingwitchface

She scoffs, crossing her arms.

"You don't know that for certain. I'm a target here."

From:

abrightboy

Malcolm raises his eyebrows. “Is anyone targeting you that isn’t just mad at you for wrecking the place?”

From:

stressingwitchface

She shuts her mouth and refuses to look Malcolm in the eye, glaring at the wall. Diversion time!

"Is that you screaming I hear every night from upstairs?"

From:

abrightboy

Interesting.

“I did warn you.”

From:

stressingwitchface

"I crept downstairs in the middle of the night."

She takes a breath, then prompts;

"You were chained down. Like some mindless beast."

From:

abrightboy

"Yeah... I can see how that would be... alarming. But I can let myself in and out of them. They're for my safety. When I was about sixteen - when they started getting really bad - I actually ran out into traffic in the middle of the night. Almost got hit by a truck. That's when my therapist suggested the restraints and the mouthguard. So I wouldn't hurt myself or someone else walking during them and so I wouldn't bite my tongue," Malcolm tells her, gesturing to his face.

From:

stressingwitchface

Alarming? Kikimora scoffs. Try terrifying!

"And you have made no progress since you were sixteen? I can't imagine ever feeling safe sleeping in a new place!"

From:

abrightboy

"Well... I don't. But sometimes we have to do things that are uncomfortable. Though I wouldn't say I've made no progress. It's just... not enough to get rid of the restraints," he explains.

From:

stressingwitchface

Unacceptable!

"Have you tried spells! Hypnosis? Knock-out gas?"

From:

abrightboy

No knock-out gas. I have to be able to wake up, or it’s like I’m trapped in there. But I’ll tell you what: when you earn back your healing magic, I’ll let you try a spell.

From:

stressingwitchface

She scowls, unhappy, and moves away from the table.

"Healing magic doesn't WORK like that."

From:

abrightboy

“You’re the one that suggested a spell.” He leans forward. “So how does it work?”

From:

stressingwitchface

"I am only saying that you would need something else." She explains, scowling. "A diagnosis spell, to begin with. And then maybe a potion, to help you sleep through the night unencumbered."