serenity \\ Ithica

[Ithica Pettineo]

"It could be that." Ithica replied, not really wanting to get into a time debate. He never understood it so he doubted that he'd be able to defend his theory that the future wasn't set in stone. If the future was already laid out for each person, it would be a lot more relaxing. One could just make decisions and know that it was supposed to happen. But if the future was constantly flitting about in all sorts of directions, how was one supposed to know what to do? And now Ithica wasn't quite sure which he would defend if the hypothetical debate wasn't hypothetical. The future was unknown either way he argued. One was just less scary than the other. Ithi was going to get a headache if he didn't stop thinking about things he didn't understand. "I don't know much of anything." He smiled. "The understanding of time is a very metaphysical subject. I've never been too good at metaphysics."

She seemed confused and mildly... concerned once she found out about his species. Immediately his body tensed. He had only met one person who was not so happy at discovering he was a demon, and it had terrified Ithica. But the girl wasn't yelling or screaming or punching him, so he glanced at her sheepishly. Maybe he hadn't quite gotten her emotions right. Maybe it wasn't confusion or concern she felt, but some other 'c' word. Her questions first caught the demon off-guard and he giggled at the absurdity of it. He thought that he should explain that he was just laughing because he had been so nervous she was going to assume the worst and she hadn't, and that he was laughing because... he was relieved, and he was laughing because humans didn't taste good. But he didn't, he just offered up another smile.

"No, I'm the only one who Animates things!" There was a hint of pride in his voice, although he knew that perhaps somewhere out there, there was a female demon with the same Trait. "A Gifted thing?" He didn't know what she was asking. Was she inquiring if he had a Gift that allowed him to do this? Or was she asking for what the demon version of a Gift was called? "Animation is my Trait. Traits are like Gifts, except usually only one demon has their specific Trait." What was he supposed to tell her? That he honestly didn't know much about demons? He had read everything he could get his hands on, but he still didn't know about himself. His father didn't know a demon from his elbow, and his mother... he didn't know about her. His smile faltered for a moment as his thoughts landed on his mother. "Anyway, you don't have to apologize for asking questions. I like curious people."

As for eating her and taking her soul, Ithica couldn't do that unless she agreed. Not that he would. Not that he knew that he could, because as far as he knew he had gotten thus far without Life Force. Unless he had been secretly leeching it from people or plants. But her tone indicated a joke, so he bared his teeth and tried to look ferocious. His teeth were a little sharper than the average human's. He had decided that it wasn't his demonic side that allowed that, it was the fact that he was basically a carnivore and needed sharp teeth to eat. "I'm fierce!" He then returned to looking down and poking his shoes, his expression his usually dorky smile. "I won't eat you. Or steal your soul. I generally stick to eating candy and pastries. I can't steal. I'm a terrible liar." He sighed as if being such a terrible liar was a curse. It was, because people asked him some very uncomfortable things. And he could really only tell them the truth, as harsh as it was. Which was why Ithi was a terrible person to go to for comfort. He would speak about how maybe things could get better, or of course their grandma could get run over by a double-decker bus tomorrow.


[ooc| >.< sorry about the crappiness.]

[Harley Mannin]

Ehh, no big deal. Really, lol. Though I think I might timeskip out of the time discussion because I sense that we're going to have a timing issue here with the multiple topic thing going on. =P If it's a big issue, just tell me and I can edit it in.

Perhaps Ithica wasn't excited about her lack of enthusiasm because he now seemed more embarassed than proud of his race. And sure Harley was a bit nervous, a little anxious, but being an incredibly curious person she mostly wanted to learn more. More stupid information to cram into my little mental eidetic library, she thought wryly. Then again, he had the same "Gift" as she did, so maybe he enjoyed sharing as much as she craved taking. And he laughed - no, giggled would be a more appropriate word, given the absolute innocence and light-heartedness of the tone. Relieved that he wasn't annoyed, she let her breath out and smiled back.

"No, I'm the only one who Animates things!" he said cheerfully, and she smiled at the return of his pride. He reiterated her question regarding gifts, and though he seemed confused he answered her question quite well when he continued. "Animation is my Trait. Traits are like Gifts, except usually only one demon has their specific Trait." His definition was sufficent and she nodded encouragement.

Unfortunately, his happiness faltered, both physically and mentally. It was only for a split second, but Harley had a pang of fear run through her, so powerful she almost felt it physically. She showed no outward sign but her thoguhts instantly flicked into telepathy mode. Mother... she thought as the main idea entered her mind. Something about his mother. A sensitive topic. She withdrew quickly, feeling a bit dirty for invading something so private to a near stranger. He was already talking again, cheerful as ever. What a trooper. "Anyway, you don't have to apologize for asking questions. I like curious people."

"Thanks," she said gently, sincerely grateful for his acknowledgement. Harley wondered if it would be all right to ask more questions... After, of course, he was done explaining whether he'd eat her or not...

But he seemed to be responding to her half-joking tone with a fully comedic one of his own. He bared his teeth, not looking remotely frightening, and growled, "I'm fierce!" which consequently made her grin. He was still smiling even as he looked away. "I won't eat you. Or steal your soul. I generally stick to eating candy and pastries. I can't steal. I'm a terrible liar." Her wide smile slowly dissolved to a smirk when he mentioned the candy, and her eyes flicked to the abandoned cotton candy lying pitifully on the ground. Ants were beginning to swarm and she wondered how long it took an ant to dissolve or digest all of that processed sugar.

"That's a relief. I'm probably not very tasty anyways. Too bony," she joked, gesturing vaguely to her upper arm. "So even though you're demon, or part demon, that means you eat human food?" And though she spoke after he did, she couldn't take her mind off of that last sentence. I'm a terrible liar, he said. "Do you know about other demons? 'Cause I don't. I don't really know much about other species at all." Not that he could truly lie around her if she set her mind to it. She almost shook with revulsion at the idea. No way she was going to rape anyone's mind. She already had enough of that forced upon her when she was younger. How could she? She cleared her throat. It was hard to continue with one topic in her mind and another in her mouth.

"I'm guessing they have to get some other form of energy other than human food, like vampires do." The idea of racking through someone's inner thoughts left a bad taste in her mouth. They had to feel it, right? Feel the forcible entry and digging. Would it feel like serrated blades slowly cutting along the surface of--? She stopped herself abruptly, and found herself not breathing or moving. She sighed, sending an apologetic glance at Ithica. He probably thought she was a freak. But at this point she didn't even want to know. No more mind-raking. "Demons are alive, right?" she asked, a feeble attempt to pick back up on the somewhat one-sided conversation.

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[Ithica Pettineo]

Too bony? Ithica glanced at the arm she was gesturing to and wasn't sure what to do. Should he nod and agree with her that she was thin? Was thin a bad thing? Or should he try and disagree and tell her that no, he was sure that she was perfectly scrumptious? But it was said like a joke so did he even have to respond? Why was such an off-hand comment causing him this much turmoil? "I'm sure Hannibal Lecter liked to eat bony women." Ithi told her seriously. His mouth twitched into a small smile. "Especially with some fava beans and a nice chianti." He looked backed towards the butterflies. "My sense of humour just took a cannibalistic and morbid turn," He tapped his chin thoughtfully before shrugging it off. It must have had something to do with the fact Rosie and he had watched Silence of the Lambs the night before.

A change of subject was clearly necessary. "Demons and half-demons don't technically have to eat." He wondered if that answered his own question about his needing life force. He made a mental note to get over his shyness -shame?- and finally get up the nerve to ask around the University for a half-demon expert. "I like to eat though. Makes me feel better." It was a lame reason but it was the truth. He couldn't imagine not eating. An Ithica Pettineo without some kind of food on his person was like a cat without attitude. It just didn't happen. He looked down at his cotton candy and sighed a long-suffering sigh. He knew better than to trust those pesky little creatures. He wasn't sure how comfortable he was with the spotlight on him, but he decided that Harley was probably more comfortable asking than telling.

Other demons. Aponi had been the first demon he had met besides his mother or her side of the family. "I figured you didn't know any other demons," he teased gently. "I know of other demons, but I've only met a few." He wondered exactly how much the girl wanted to know or if it had just been a passing question. "My mother is a demon." Ithi said, forcing his smile to remain in place. Is? Was? "I'm not sure what her Trait is though." He shrugged. Ithica had a lot of vague memories about her, but he couldn't be sure that he hadn't played them over and over so that reality dissipated into fantasy and the two were blurred and entangled. "I met another demon. She controlled...er, dirt. She said something about ash, I think. All I know is that I sneeze a lot when she's around," he grinned, referring to his dust allergy.

Back to the food topic. When was the last time someone ever asked him so many questions about himself? All right, so the questions weren't about him in particular. Just his species. It still felt weird not to be the one asking the questions. Not a bad kind of weird. A sort of neutral weird. Weird. "Uhm, yes. Demons make contracts with people to get life force." He never thought the pacts were very appealing. "It's gross. They have to drink our legion... er, a demon's version of blood sort of." Ithica was not such a big fan of his legion. Sure, he knew that a demon's legion looked different depending on the person. Sure, he liked the colour purple. But let's face it: when you're bleeding purple it's hard not to feel your masculinity slip out from under you. He tilted his head as she held her breath and stopped moving. He reached out a tentative hand, getting ready to poke her - but she looked at him and he lowered his arm.

And then she asked if he was dead. Well, not exactly; but that's sort of what she was implying, wasn't it? He stared at her, unsure if that was a joke or if she was truly wondering. He looked at his own hands and then back at her. "I hope so." Ithica replied. "I don't know all about demons, but I can say with some confidence that I am alive. Perhaps it's just a matter of how loosely the term 'living' is used." Demons were alive, right? Because if they weren't that would mean they were dead. Ithica wasn't dead. His mother wasn't dead... right? No. She couldn't be dead. Ithi returned his gaze to the butterflies, fighting back the intense wave of panic her question had created. "I know more about my human side. I guess that's kind of obvious. I live with my dad. He's Gifted." He was rambling. He was definitely rambling.

[ooc| pft, Ithi's mind would have exploded if he had to think that deeply about time again.]