002 [ Video ]

[doctoral_bird]

[ It may be an unfamiliar face to many! Malkus is actually appearing on the feed without his signature mask. Even a plague man like him needs fresh air now and then. His sickly facade wasn't far from the norm! That's just... his face. ]

Greetings fellow residents. It has been some time, but with the lull in disturbances I feel now's a better time than any to- ah-... discuss...

[ He scratched his claws against the wood of the bench outside, trying to remember what the hell he was going to say. As the pause grew, he could feel his social anxiety build.

Don't give them dead air, Malkus! The people hated pauses! ]

I am sorry, sleeping outside has left me- e-eh-... melancholic. I'd forgotten what I wanted to bring up. Ah! Yes!

[ He moved the feed to the mask sitting beside himself, placed daintily on a heap of papers and glassware. ]

As it often becomes a point of conversation, I would like to ask my fellow residents if anyone has actually had an epidemic ravage their land. I've come to realize I may be alone in this topic.

Comments

[video]

[tongueamok]

It depends on what you would define as an epidemic, I suppose.

[Boy, does Carlisle sound far nicer when he doesn't realize this is the infamous masked birdman.]

[doctoral_bird]

[ Malkus visibly raised his eyebrows, recognizing this man. Wasn't he the scared fellow with the unnatural ability? He squinted, completely taking the advantage of a mask for granted now that his expressions were worn on his sleeve. ]

Ahhh-... Well, one that threatens civilization as a whole. By which I mean... Er what do I mean...

[ He hummed, trying to find the words. ]

My country, for example, is currently cocooned in a web of blighted mycelium. To put it lightly. Which does not give it the respectful loathing it calls for, but-...

[tongueamok]

[Carlisle doesn't quite understand the look he gets in return, but that's nothing new.]

Should the blight of undeath count, then the answer is yes.

[doctoral_bird]

Goodness, that certainly would be an issue. Proper corpse handling is an important thing, undoubtedly.

[ Malkus had thankfully handled most of these problems through the utilization of fire pits. With how dry the blight would make everything, it's a wonder how wildfires never began. ]

Guess that goes doubly when they have a penchant for rising back up.

[tongueamok]

The best way to handle a corpse that has risen again is to obliterate it.

[Boy, does he have no sympathy at all when he says that. Someone doesn't like undeads.]

[doctoral_bird]

I like this.

[ Malkus nodded. While he was very very disrespectful towards the dead of his land, he never thought of it as such. Digging up graves to pilfer whatever he could find was necessary for his survival in a place where there was nothing but graves around. The undead sounded awful, though. Imagine graverobbing only to have them fight back?! ]

I agree with you, sire. I suppose I should consider that things could have always been worse. As... difficult as that would be to consider, given the state of things.

[tongueamok]

Carlisle.

[His correction is immediate, and with the tone of someone who doesn't particularly like being called anything more than what he is.]

[doctoral_bird]

Bless you. Anyway, I hope I'm able to safely assume that an undead curse won't follow us to the city. 'Least, judging by the area's lack of my own plagued fungus.

[ That tone rolled off of Malkus without much abrasiveness. Probably due to the fact that he'd mistaken such an abrupt sound for a sneeze. ]

[tongueamok]

[If indignant seething has a noise, it goes riiiiiiight here as Carlisle's eyes narrow. Despite his clear displeasure, he doesn't address it further... for now.]

Perhaps. Unless a necromancer should appear through the Door.

[doctoral_bird]

Surprisingly, I've yet to meet anyone pulled from this door that was an outright antagonist. Surprising amount of elves. And at least two dragonfolk.

[ If Malkus were any sort of writer, his mind would positively be flooded with inspiration! That being said, the only proficiency he had was medical notes. And nobody seemed to want to read those. 'Cept that one weird 9S kid. ]

My name's Malkus Iverwelling, by the way. I don't know if I'd introduced myself yet.

[ Their first meet was a surprisingly long time ago, and there was a lot of screaming. The more he remembered that, the stranger this entire conversation felt. ]

[tongueamok]

That name is quite a mouthful.

[Says the guy whose last name is literally a description.]

[doctoral_bird]

Wh-

[ Malkus felt his temple pulse as he cracked the most awkward smile. That toothy grin hid his shaken composure so very poorly. ]

I- Well- I-

[ He let out a very embarrassed chuckle. It was more of a cross between a chuckle and a bird-like squawk. ]

I-I suppose one can say that. C-Can't say I've had my name described as such before! W-Well then!

[tongueamok]

[Normally, Carlisle is fairly adept at reading people, but this fellow's expressions are so... unusual -- almost as if he's not used to them being seen -- that he struggles. What he does know is that the squawking quality of his laughter makes him a little unnerved.]

Aheh. I suppose I cannot say mine is much better, as some would say that Longinmouth is rather wordy for a surname. I cannot change it though, so Longinmouth it is.

[doctoral_bird]

Still fewer ah, what do you call them? Syllables than Iverwelling! Mister Longinmouth then, it is good to ah- make your acquaintance again. Without the yelling of before!

[ If it hadn't been obvious before, Malkus tossed it plain out there. He could only wonder if Carlisle would make the connection, or if he'd have to explain where they'd met. If only for a moment. ]

[tongueamok]

Before?

[Has he met this fellow? He doesn't recognize the face, though perhaps he had it obscured the first time they met. The squawking sort of voice does ring a—

Wait. Face he hasn't seen. Awkward behavior, like he's not used to being seen. Bird-like, squawking laughter. Birds.] The horror that dawns on his face is absolutely palpable even through the network.]

You!

[doctoral_bird]

[ There it was. This fella hadn’t recognized him. Malkus tilted his head back with an inaudible “Aaah” on his lips. It made sense now. Well, it didn’t make sense. That horror was some hardcore horror, man. Grade A genuine article. The doctor held up a pacifying OK sign in response. He took a glance at the way his gloved claws curled over themselves.

How about a curt thumbs up? The doctor gave the simple gesture without much thought to it. ]

Hello again!