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[Ah, yes, Nanami. He still doesn't really understand why they do that either, but at least their transformations seemed innocent and fun. There's a difference between a happy horse person and a DEMON.

The drooping wings do little to convince him this is as fun as she seems to think it is, but he at least doesn't feel his heart's trying to beat its way out of his chest anymore. He huffs, trying to put his thoughts together in a way that won't come out as offensive.

He fails.]

But why willingly make yourself a demon of all things?! I...I need a minute...

[Excuse him while he starts to pick up his chair.]

[Ah, and there it is, the thing that makes her brows match the droop of her wings. Eyes low and unamused, Maya puffs out her cheeks in a pout.]

Because it's fun,

[She asserts, again, as though he didn't hear her the first time.]

I mean, look at me! I'm super cute and I can fly. Usually.

[Actually, she doesn't feel nearly as strong as before this time... but it's just the first day!]

[Hmph. He glances up at her after heaving up his chair, equally unamused. Without a word, he turns back to his desk, picking out another one of his notebooks. This one, however, is all about Ryslig's different monsters, and he's quick to shift through the pages before finally getting to all his notes about demons.

Silently, he slides his finger down the pages, only to stop and finally say some actual words.]

"Ryslig's demons are just as capable of being as wicked as any other demon. More than any other monster, they're susceptible to forgoing their human nature and acting out their darkest desires."

[Closing the book loud enough that it gives a nice SNAP, he looks back up at her disapprovingly.]

I'm sure that sounds like fun and games to you, but it sounds like an absolute nightmare for me.

[She already liked to push his buttons as a mermaid, he can only IMAGINE what a DEMON Maya would want to do to him. Sure, okay, he's met some nice demons on the network, but he doesn't live with them!!]

[Maya's wings snap further downward, pointing to the floor, in time with that book's snap.]

You're such a fuddy-duddy,

[She grumbles, her pout still just as puffy, though she's lowered her face almost as if in— shame? No, she looks too irritated for it to be that, but still...

Tail whipping like a cat's, Maya's wings flutter up once again as if to stress her point when she asserts;]

I'm not wicked! I just want everybody to have fun!

And that's not any different than before!

Oh I am not!

[Merlin punctuates by slapping his notes back onto his desk.]

I just don't want YOUR fun to come at MY expense! Which, let's face it, will probably be far more tempting with a tempting demon psyche!!

[If Merlin had a tail, it'd probably be whipping just as much. Alas, he is a flower.]

I think it's a perfectly reasonable worry to have, and I'm tired of having my feelings get brushed aside for being "no fun." I'll have you know I am very fun. The most fun, in fact! OOHHH all the fun I used to have!!

[But Maya just pouts even harder, her face lowering more, her eyes raising— the puppiest-eyed she can manage, given the nature of her eyes and all. Clutching her materials to her chest, she whines—]

You— should really stop judging other monsters based on narrow-minded cultural assumptions!

You don't even know why I came to see you yet.

[....Stupid demon puppy eyes. Merlin sighs aggressively, knowing damn well that she's right. It's not like he hasn't judged people aggressively before and got into a bunch of trouble over it. He puffs out his own cheeks as he rolls his eyes, the only way he'll concede that she's right.

He has a bad habit and he knows it.]

I assumed it was to show off your new form?

No... Well, okay, maybe a little.

[But she sees how well that's gone!]

But thats assumptions for you!

I need your help. I've only got two hands, after all.

[and she wiggles the materials and pearls in those hands to demonstrate.]

I thought I could count on you to keep a secret.

You want me to keep a secret...for you?

[That is...certainly a lot of trust.

And kind of feels a little weird.

Seeing as all he does is keep secrets from her.]

I mean...I suppose I could, but I don't understand why you didn't ask Hanna first...?

[Don't they know each other better?]

I can't surprise Hanna if I tell him the secret.

Did you know? I met Hanna and Adrian both a year ago, when I first turned into a demon!

[her wings perk up, flappin a little, but ineffectively so. She seems cheery again already, clearly pleased with what she's recounting. She has lost so many friends in being here... And Hanna and Adrian cant replace the empty rooms in her heart left by people like Sonia and Makoto, but they can certainly redecorate.]

I made a contract with Adrian back then, so, it's time to renew! And this time I've got something to mark the occasion!

[she grins, wiggling her materials again—]

Or I will... If I have someone to hold the strings for meeee~

Ah, I see, is that who I am? The designated string holder?

[Still, he can't deny that this is obviously very important to her, even though his spine trembles at the idea that people have been stuck here for over a year. A part of him worries that Nanami's "where do you see yourself in five years?" thing might actually become true...

So fine, no more jokes. Merlin takes a seat in his now corrected chair and sighs as he holds out his hands.]

Very well.

[practically bouncing on tiptoe, Maya finally moves from the place she was rooted to before and kneels on the floor in front of Merlin.

She immediately takes the string of tiny oblong pearls off her wrist and leans up to hang them over Merlin's shoulder with a 'hold this', before she starts to measure one of the lengths of twine around his wrist.

She holds it sort of... Nowhere near the size of his wrist the first time, estimating the size of Adrian's big ol honkin' paws, before measuring eight more loops of it, snapping the end with her teeth.]

You know, you don't have to be like Giorno about all this.

If you still don't like me, you can say so. I'm all grown up now after all.

[she says it like she's joking, but meets his eyes with a curious look before she says—]

I can take it.

Wha—?! S-stop that!

[He can't believe she's saying that, even after their friendship handshake! He puffs out his cheeks again, letting her put her pearls or whatever all over him as he tries his best to do whatever it is she needs.]

I just don't like demons. [WHICH DOESN'T REALLY SOUND MUCH BETTER.] ...whiiiich I realize is a me problem and not a you problem. I'm trying, alright? I'm...actually quite proud of myself for not attacking you on sight.

Yeah, you know? Me too. That probably wouldn't have gone well for either of usm

[Demon powerless or not, she has that minotaur strength still, and it probably sucks to get whacked with a scared minotaur arm.]

I know... We don't know a lot about each other yet. But I've been a spiritualist for years! I can handle whatever demon has to throw at me, emotions-wise.

[she sets aside the string again, measuring another length much closer to Merlin's wrist, and then preparing a third right around it—]

...and I would never, ever use it to hurt my friends.

[She clasps her hands around his wrist and that length of twine, making sure he's looking at her when she urges—]

I promise.

I'd even make a contract over it!

Oh, yes, a demon contract, because those always go over so well!

[And then Merlin is hit immediately by regret and hurries with the backpedaling.]

You see?! It's like a reflex!! I don't mean to, it just...comes out!

[it... Probably isn't helpful that this time, Maya snorts, trying to hold back a laugh.

But when Merlin insists—see?!— she can't stop herself. She has to let go of Merlin's hand to cover her mouth, wings aflutter as she giggles.]

That's— crazy! You did the same thing as me!

[Despite his hands being free, Merlin holds them perfectly still. He may be eying her suspiciously again, but that doesn't mean he wants to ruin any of her work.]

What do you mean the same thing as you...?

[between her fits of giggling, she manages—]

When I was talking to Hanna about you! I made a joke and I couldn't stop myself!

I guess we're both just a little bit too much ourselves, sometimes.

Oh...

[He stops, blinks, then leans back in his chair.]

I guess we are.

....May I ask what was it you said to Hanna, exactly?

[Maya pauses, which for all intents and purposes may look like she's just catching her breath. But she clears her throat, nods, and gets back to unwinding that length of thread and laying it alongside the others. Then it's back to measuring more threads for the weave; four strands for each of the three lengths.]

Well... The thing is, I know Trish from the bar. When Riley was still here, they were doing stage performances together for a while. She's just a teenager, and her friends are pretty intense, too. So when she kept saying she wasn't being mean, well...

[With the longest one measured, she loops the ends to tie them and then hooks that loop around one of Merlin's fingers. Then, she undoes the furthest-hanging knot on the string of pearls (as a knot is tied between each to prevent the nacre from shedding) and holds the first pearl under her pinky and mide finger as she begins to weave the bracelet.]

I just wanted Hanna to tell me if I'd really gotten mean without realizing it, is all. And... He reminded me that your feelings are a little more delicate than usual, considering you've only been here... Almost two months on the dot.

Well I'm glad someone understands me...

[And Merlin can't help but smile knowing it's Hanna who stood up for him. He's getting kind of tired of people treating him like a baby just because he asks for things like kindness and understanding. "Everyone has it bad, so you should just get over it!" is such a horrible way to live. Why not "everyone has it bad, so let's treat each other a little nicer so we don't make life worse?" Is he too optimistic?

He makes no comment about Trish, if only because he knows it'll just rile him up. He doesn't care what she does or who her friends are, she's vile. The less she's in his life, the better, so why even talk about her?]

Yeah... I'm glad he does, too.

One of his really good friends disappeared a few months ago. And the whole year was pretty hard for him, too!

[Maya's hands work fast. There are already several knots in the bracelet, though at this length it doesn't look like much.]

But ever since you showed up, he's all smiles again.

Oh...

[Ah, that's right, this world takes away just as much as it kidnaps. Maya's own husband is the same way, if he recalls. Merlin really hopes that Hanna isn't simply putting on a brave face for him, but he's at least glad to hear he's changed his life for the better. He can't really blame Hanna for keeping something like that to himself.]

I would've never known...

He's a pretty secretive guy sometimes. And he hates to bring down the mood.

[...

The bracelet begins to take a shape—herringbone, like a tiny spine. A pearl gets threaded on, and the weave continues.]

Actually, that's something I really like about you, you know. You'll tell someone if what they're saying bothers you. Not that Hanna wouldn't, but... I sure have some friends that love to give mixed messages.

You're not like that at all.

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WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, MERLIN. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 135.18.129.14 * Merlin has joined 135.18.129.14 <merlinofcourse> ⌁˚⊹ You have reached Prince Merlin ⊹˚⌁ <merlinofcourse>** I know how to use computers now~