Oh, Molduous Me..... [OTA]

[abrightboy]

Who: Moldy!Malcolm Bright and YOU.
When: During the time of the moldening.
Where: All over, but especially B1, local coffee shops and ADI
Summary: Malcolm has succumbed to the mold and he feels GREAT, if a little itchy on his left side, just under his ribs.
Warnings: Aggressive attempts at friendship, mold, the worm game.


Malcolm doesn't know what this stuff is on his left side just below his ribs. Maybe he'll get it checked out at some point; it's a little bit itchy. But not right now. He has things to do. Like BE YOUR FRIEND.

OTA
He's been in his room most of the day, after a stop at the craft store. He's made a whole bunch of friendship bracelets in different colours.

He immediately gives one to each of his roommates, Tim and Meredith, and he's got one in his pocket earmarked for Neal. And he thinks he would quite like to give one to Jeff. He's put two aside for Gil.

You know, he'll just put all the ones he hasn't given out yet in his pockets. Just in case. People have been nice here. Maybe, unlike at school, they will want to be Best Friends Forever!

Tim Drake
Malcolm does knock, but he then walks right in to Tim's room without waiting for a response. That should be a red flag on its own, but he's smiling broadly, too.

"Hey Buddy! I have a present for you. What are you working on?" he asks curiously, casting around in his pocket.

Meredith Idlewild
Malcolm finds her in the kitchen in the morning. He grins.

"Mere!" He fishes around in his pocket. "Making something to eat? You should definitely have something to eat; you always make sure we have stuff to eat."

Neal Caffrey
Malcolm texts him. Neal. Meet me at the cafe down the street from ADI?

Comments

[abrightboy]

“I mean it’s basically police station coffee,” he replies. “Makes me nostalgic for home but you can meet so many more different people out here don’t you think? Plus Neal comes here sometimes, so maybe I’ll run into him. Oh, hey, I met someone at Thanksgiving - well, I met him once before but there were kelpies, no time for pleasantries - but we were talking and he said he has a roommate that makes everyone food and I thought that could be you is it you? He seems like a nice person; he cut me a very small piece of pie and I wasn’t going to have pie but he cut it really small and it was really nice of him. Honestly, everyone here is nice, I hope we never leave. Do you ever get nostalgic for home? The coffee at ADI makes me nostalgic for home.”

[bossyboiler]

Malcolm speaks so quickly and says so much more than Kate is accustomed to hearing at once. She blinks once and then twice. How does she respond to that? She had not expected word vomit from him. She decides to focus on one thing at a time. "If he had a metal arm, that's Winter. He is my roommate and he is nice." She says slowly.

"I miss home. I would go back if I could."

[abrightboy]

“Yes, it was Winter! That’s him. It’s an interesting name. I didn’t ask about it, but there’s so much to know. Like, is it his first name or his last name? Maybe I’ll ask him next time; he just seems easily spooked. Not by monsters or anything, just by socialization. It’s probably PTSD. He looked like he knew how to fight and he lost the arm somewhere, right? I’d suggest severe physical and emotional trauma leading him to withdraw socially and now he’s not sure how to approach it. Anyway, you must come from somewhere nice to want to go back. I miss my family - well, most of it - but there was just… too much of the same crap there, you know? And I have more friends here. People are nice,” he explains.

[bossyboiler]

Kate feels an immediate need to protect Winter from Malcolm. "His name is Winter and that should be enough. You will not ask him more." She means it. It's not that Malcolm is wrong. He is probably correct but Winter (for all of his strength) is delicate. He doesn't need Malcolm barging up to him with the intent to lay his psychological problems bare.

She is quiet for a moment. Is her world nice? It's food for thought at any rate. "I miss the familiarity of it," is going to be her final answer. "You mean people here treat you better than back home?" She can't disagree with that. His father isn't here.

What is Malcolm's deal? Is he on something? He is not exhibiting his usual Malcom Bright dourness. People are nice. That's his comment that does it for her. "Are you feeling okay?"

[abrightboy]

“I feel great. I’ve been looking for some people. Like. Specific ones. I want to give them something. Do you know Gil Arroyo or Neal Caffrey? I might have to text them. Anyway, I’m going to get a coffee first. Do you know what I saw in New York one time? This lady knit reusable coffee cup sleeves and was selling them on the street. I wonder how hard that is because I know a lot of people who like coffee and it would make a nice gift,” he muses.

[bossyboiler]

"I've met them both. What do you want to give them?" Neal has a really nice smile, Kate thinks and wouldn't be surprised if what Malcolm wants to give them in a hug. What has gotten into him? She's not sure if she likes this Malcolm or not. It's weird. Does he really need the caffeine?

"They would make a nice gift and better for the environment," Kate adds. "I don't believe it would be too hard. There's a new arrival that offered to teach me how to knit. Abby, I think. Maybe she'd teach you?" Why is she enabling his behavior?

[abrightboy]

“Abby? Abby Neal’s Roommate Abby or a different Abby?” he asks.

[bossyboiler]

She doesn't know who Neal's roommates are though she has the power to find out. "Are there two Abbys?"

[abrightboy]

He looks at her oddly. “Isn’t that what I’m asking?”

[bossyboiler]

"I only know the one." So that would probably make her the same Abby that is Neal's roommate.

[abrightboy]

“Well, that’s convenient because she’ll probably also know what colour Neal likes, though I made him this friendship bracelet already,” he says, taking a grey and dark red one from his pocket and holding it up. “And I just guessed about the colours.”

[bossyboiler]

"That looks very nice, Malcolm. I'm sure he'll like it." She's not so sure but Malcolm is certain enough for four people. "You like him, don't you?"

[abrightboy]

“He’s a good friend of mine; I made these for my best friends,” he explains, tucking it away again.

[bossyboiler]

"Of course you did, that's why they're called friendship bracelets." Well there went her chance to ask Malcolm how good a friend he was. "What are you getting to drink?"

[abrightboy]

“Mocha; I’m getting a mocha. Did you know glucose helps the frontal lobe function more efficiently? That’s important for focus, you know. I eat liquorice at home, but the corner store is farther away than the coffee shop,” he explains, gesturing towards ADI.

[bossyboiler]

"A mocha huh? Have you already had a lot of sugar today?" Kate steps up and orders for the two of them. She orders for Malcolm because he hadn't seemed to notice that he was up next in line. She orders him a mocha and herself a vanilla latte and pays for them too. "You know, Christmas is coming up. I've not personally experienced it but I've read quite a bit about it. Why don't you give your bracelets as gifts."

[abrightboy]

"Christmas gifts? Aren't you supposed to give them to your very best friends? I'm giving them to them today I can't wait but I will have a lot left over. Like. A lot. Hey, do you want some to give to your friends?" he asks.