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 Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:16 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:33 pm
She had pointed Ellis out to him nearly every time they had passed the imp, certainly often enough that the boy's appearance was burned into Thian's brain. He was a bright, cheery point of light that everybody loved even if he didn't deserve it. Everybody except for Amory. Maybe. He expected she loved Ellis too, underneath all of her scorn. It would explain why Thian's chest burned with jealousy when he saw the other Nightmare, at the very least.
He was already moving toward Ellis at a rather threatening pace when he realized this was completely idiotic. His orange eyes lost their fire as he slowed his approach, but he couldn't help the rush of pride that ran through him at the terror on the other freshling's face.
"Hey," he muttered. "I'm Thian. Amory's friend. She's told me a lot about you."
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:34 pm
Ellis's life was never easier than when Amory was ignoring him. It had been a very recent discovery, but now that he was regularly left to his own devices, he found he liked it very much. His pseudo-sister had a new best friend, and Ellis couldn't have been happier for her.
He was leaving language arts with his customary bounce when he caught sight of an unfamiliar freshling out of the corner of his eye. The demon had dark hair, bright narrowed eyes, and was coming right for him at a rather determined pace. Ellis had never met Amory's Thian, but he was certain that this could be no one else. The imp's eyes widened as he backed away a step. Even though they were in a public hallway, Ellis couldn't help worrying that he was about to get punched.
Holding his ground, the imp waited the situation out, narrowing his own eyes at Thian's words and change of stance.
"I... I'm Ellis?" He didn't like the way his voice shook. He stood taller. "She's told me a little about you, I guess? But she mostly just tells my dad stuff and I overhear them talking."
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:36 pm
Though he could see how Ellis might be a pain to be around all the time, with his good-natured cowering, Thian could also tell that the boy was absolutely no threat to his own friendship with Amory. He relaxed some, slightly embarrassed that he had reacted so strongly. Thian was also a little unsettled to learn that Ellis was a mutant, seeing as how Amory hadn't seen fit to mention it before. Not that she should have or anything. Not that there was anything wrong with that. Thian sighed. Of all the Nightmares who understood feeling different and out of place, he should have been first on the list. Singling out the boy's mutation made him feel cruel and hypocritical.
"So, yeah," Thian said, gripping Ellis's shoulder and steering him farther down the hall. "I'm introducing myself so that when she talks about me you'll know who she means. Like, in person."
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:37 pm
He suspected Thian was lying, but he wasn't quite sure why. Why would he care what Ellis thought of him? Why had he deemed it necessary to confront him at all? And why was he suddenly being so nice about the whole thing? Ellis didn't doubt Thian's capacity for bullying, but he seemed reluctant and deflated now, tired almost. Ellis had no idea how to respond.
"Okay. Yes. Sure. Thank you? I guess that it's good that we're talking without her here?" Ellis swallowed. That might have been the wrong thing to say. Even after spending only half a minute with the other boy, Ellis could tell he cared for Amory very much. "I mean I know she can make things seem different than what they are is all, people, I mean, and if we're both going to be talking with her about each other, we should know the truth!"
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:40 pm
Thian couldn't help it. He snorted rather rudely as he turned them sharply to the left and through the doors to the cafeteria.
"You've got lunch now, right?" He had lunch, so why wouldn't everyone else?
As far as the truth was concerned, Amory had already been telling it. Her description of her brother was spot on and he had nothing to relearn on that front. But if she hadn't overembellished Ellis's annoyance level, the demon wondered what she had said about him. What was her truth as far as he was concerned?
Thian didn't say anything more until he had led Ellis through the lunch line and they sat opposite each other in the far corner, trays piled high with questionable cafeteria lasagna.
"So," he began, unwrapping his spork. "Tell me about you. So, you know, I don't get it wrong."
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:40 pm
Ellis did not, in fact, have lunch right now. He had a free period which he supposed he would now be spending eating. He mirrored the demon, unwrapping his own utensil and wondering how to begin.
"Well, I'm a mutant?" It was something he liked to lead with so people wouldn't feel uncomfortable asking questions, but when he said it this time he sounded like he had some of his own. Ellis cleared his throat. "I was adopted by Howard last year. A chimera. He was already taking care of Amory, but they weren't..." He took a deliberate breath, spearing his mushy noodles and meat with purpose. "He was too young to adopt her when they met, so he was just her mentor. He is her mentor. They got paired up because chimera were sticking together. You know." Sometimes Ellis wondered if all of the problems Amory had with him stemmed from the fact that Howard was officially his father on paper and not her own.
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:43 pm
Although Ellis hadn't said much, Thian absorbed every word. The imp might not have been sure that most of his problems stemmed from his own adoption and Amory's self-perceived snubbing, but to Thian it was as clear as the moon. Jealousy licked off of every word she uttered about her unofficial brother, and though Thian had no similar spot reserved in him for jealousy of the parental sort, he had certainly proven he had one for the jealousy that bloomed from friendship. He knew how she felt.
"I'm not a mutant," he said, a small smile quirking his lips. "And I've heard of Howard. Amory thinks he's real smart. Do you want to do psychology stuff like he does?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:45 pm
For all that Ellis disliked the entirety of his current situation, he couldn't help brightening at Thian's question. "Yes! Psychology and sociology are fascinating! And with all of the new races venturing into the city I'll have so many chances to help! I can help them with what I've learned." He paused, realizing he was blabbering and poking at his lunch again to hide it. He took a large bite, chewing and swallowing before he spoke.
"I think everyone is interesting in their own way. And everyone's got troubles. But with enough studying, we can make sure people's troubles don't bother them as much and that we don't repeat the big stuff."
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:46 pm
As hard as he tried, Thian couldn't bring himself to hate this kid. Yes, he was irritatingly chipper even when obviously annoyed himself, and yes, he was naively optimistic to a fault, but he was smart too, and had so many good intentions that it seemed possible some of them might rub off on the world through sheer stubborn force of will. Below could probably use more kids like Ellis to balance out all the Thians.
"Mmhm," he agreed, finishing off the last bite of his lasagna as he nodded. "Everyone is." Thian sat a little straighter as he looked the boy over, contemplating how to end this little meeting. He had his answers, he was done, and his only desire was to up and leave. In the end, that's what he did.
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Posted: Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:50 pm
The imp was chewing a bite of lasagna when Thian shot to his feet and stalked out of the lunchroom. Ellis watched him go, spork lifted and frozen in place. What had he done? Was Thian going to go back to Amory and tell her he'd been offended? He couldn't even imagine what she would do if given that information. He wanted to run, but where would he go? How would he take care of himself if he just ran away? Ellis lowered his head into his hands, face contorted with worry. He absolutely was not going to cry here. No. He was going to stop making faces, get up, and go to math.
It took him a minute or two, but eventually Ellis did just that. He gathered their discarded trays, disposed of them, and moved on with his day, a new fear tingling in his gut.
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