Private Can I eat that?

S'Mores

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Gray watched as Erione shifted the plate into a ball, then nodded along as he explained the process and what happened. They were going to need to test that soon, maybe later that night if they had the time. They weren't currently sure what they were going to talk about, but Erione did say that they could just say 'Hi'; that was easy enough. They ran a finger along the dog's head.
They were still nodding along to the conversation, balancing their attention between the dog and Erione, when he mentioned a phone. Gray blinked, then paused.
They had gotten one with their arrival to the school, along with a laptop. And while Gray could use both, it wasn't like they had planned to use either of them for anything besides calling their creator or using emergency services. They hadn't even planned on giving out their phone number, that was something they had mostly reserved for just their creator. But friends also seemed to call each other, so maybe they could trade numbers.
Gray wasn't going to text or call him, but at least the option would be there.
As for the actual phone. . .
Gray pulled their phone from their pocket. It was a plain flip phone, which didn't bother them much, though they did notice other people had a different type. Still, it was what they had, and they would work with it. They flipped it open, then stared blankly at the screen.
"We don't have to go today," they noted. They looked at Erione, offering the phone. "I can go alone if you would prefer it; I would like to stop you from getting injured. But I am also busy, so I cannot go today."
 

PixelatedGlory

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Erione reached out to help Gray navigate the phone, showing them what buttons to press rather than taking it from them and just doing it himself. Programming in Erione's number and then texting a series of short messages and pictures from his own phone to serve as rough but workable directions.

"You can always just call me or pray to me if you have trouble finding the shrine. I'll help you. Plus I can meet you at the shrine too- they are kind of my special places where I feel really happy.

He risked patting them on the shoulder in solidarity and friendship. "It's ok Grey, I know you probably have a lot to do. I'm glad I got to eat lunch with you though. You're really nice"

More smiles, of course. Erione does what Erione does.
 

S'Mores

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Gray watched with full attention, and slightly raised eyebrows, as Erione showed them what to do. They already knew basic things, like typing in numbers and selecting contacts, but Erione was doing more than that. Gray nodded quickly at the explanation, reading the instructions and studying the pictures.
When Erione touched their shoulder, they swatted at his hand without much force, leaning away while still looking at the phone. "Do not touch me, Erione. I don't like being touched."
After reading the instructions once more, Gray put their phone into their pocket, then looked at Erione, their expression returning to neutral. They didn't want Erione to touch them, he wasn't their creator. But Gray felt a pang of warmth when he mentioned that he enjoyed spending time with them.
He had called them nice? Gray blinked, then nodded firmly.
Not only did he call them nice, he called them really nice. Kindness was a human trait, and Gray had successful preformed a human trait. Their eyes widen slightly, and they leaned back to their previous position.
"I think you are very nice, too, Erione," they stated. "And a good friend."
Erione had smiled throughout all the time they had been together. It was a kind, simple gesture, and they wanted to do the same, but the flicker of warmth from before had died just as it had come. They relaxed, gripping the glass dog with one hand.
Maybe they did want friends outside of what their creator wanted. If they were all this nice, why shouldn't they go make more?
Just as soon as they had that thought, they remembered all the staring faces, and how they all seemed to be angry or surprised or generally just annoyed. And well, that was a reason why they shouldn't value friendships.
But Erione was a friend.
They could have friendships they did and didn't value; what would be wrong with that?
"I am happy to be your friend," they noted. "But I still don't want to be touched."
 

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Erione immediately withdrew his hand and hoped with all his heart that Gray wouldn't accidentally hit him hard enough to shatter him. Fortunately they didn't or things probably would have gone way, way worse.

"I'm so, so very sorry. I shouldn't have tried to touch you without asking first. That was my fault and it won't happen again." He wasn't panicked, but he was being very clear and quickly trying to assure Gray that he didn't mean them any harm.

"I'm very happy to be your friend Gray. And you're welcome to pray to me or drop by my shrines whenever you want. The doors are never locked unless someone asks for privacy."
 

S'Mores

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Gray nodded at Erione, setting their hands on their lap. "I am glad that you understand, Erione."

How could they be so nice?
They tilted their head slightly, opening their mouth somewhat, only to close it as they sank deep into thought. Erione was already an anomaly to them, but his openness and acceptance was something they hadn't really seen before.
Their creator was pushy on occasion, and even 214 became impatient from time to time. Meanwhile, Erione just seemed content with life as it was. He never rushed them around, or yelled, or even gave them weird looks like the others from before. Why did he act like this? He had no reason to.
"I am very curious, however. Just why are you so courteous? I have not heard of many benevolent gods from stories. They tend to have some sort of hidden motivation or are rather cruel to others," Gray noted. They ran a finger across the head of the glass dog, looking to Erione. What if Erione had deeper motivations than just making a new friend and gaining a new follower? What if they had just signed up for something that could end up with his creator hurt or upset? They narrowed their eyes slightly. "Do you want something from me?"
And well, now that they were really thinking about it, they'd read about cults on occasion. Specifically when their creator was trying to teach them about religion. Gray blinked, their face returning to neutral.
"Am I signing up for a cult?" they asked. Almost as soon as they said it, they crossed their arms, shutting their mouth. "I should not have phrased it that way."
Their creator had repeatedly told them to be a bit more cautious with how they said things. Perhaps this was the time when they should have made it less definitive.
Regardless, they looked back to him. "But I would still like to know. I do not want to hurt anyone. I simply want to be friends. So what do you want?"
Being treated with this type of kindness just didn't feel legitimate or true. Their creator wanted their existence; 214 wanted love and happiness; Gray wanted praise and acceptance; and Erione? Erione was an enigma full of variables. It could only make sense that his mind was deeper than what it seemed. People used each other all the time; gods too.
What would hurt if they knew now? In absolute assurance?
 

PixelatedGlory

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Erione watched as Gray completed their mental gymnastics and listened seriously to their concerns before replying. "Gray, I'm a god. People worship me and ask for my aid and I give what I can of me to them in return. I don't consider it to be a cult- that has a more sinister tone to it. I don't ask for anyone to cause harm for me. In fact I would hate for anyone to get hurt because of me."

He looked genuinely sad to have to spell that out. How could someone think that he- friendly and cheerful and supportive Erione- would want to cause people harm?

"Honestly, I am here because I like it on the island and i'm looking to make friends and maybe expand my worship base if people feel like they want to. That's it. No dark scary secrets. My domain is glass and anyone who knows glass well knows that force is never a good thing for that medium. It's prone to shattering if you try too much of that."
 

S'Mores

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That reply was nothing sort of strange. How could Erione want so little? Sure, it was practical and all, and even Gray didn't want much. But Erione was a god; how was Manta Carlos and his followers enough for him? Their creator always said that people with low ambition never truly wanted anything, so perhaps Erione just didn't have the same amount of motivation as other people did.
At least it wasn't a cult and people weren't going to get hurt.
Still, glass could always cut. Gray tried not to think about that fact, but they still couldn't help but trace their fingers over the glass statuette, feeling nothing but the slight chill.
"You're a strange being, Erione," they stated. "And your casual attitude is something I'm not used to. But I appreciate your company. You are. . .very kind."
They stood up, taking the glass dog with them. "We should return before the bell rings and we become late to class."
They held the dog statuette delicately, lifting it slightly. "But I would like to head into my room and put this in a safe place first." They looked down at him, putting their hands back down.
For a moment, they contemplated giving him a hand up, but they pushed that thought away just as soon as it appeared. He could get up on his own.
 

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Erione smiled warmly at Gray and nodded. "I'm glad you enjoy my company. I don't want you to be late either so don't let me keep you from heading to your room or to class. It was wonderful meeting you Gray and i'll see you again soon."

He didn't really need the hand up anyways. After waiting a moment to make sure that was all Gray wanted to say or do he waved and then reached up to touch a window in the wall above him. His form turned into a million small colorful shards of glass and they streamed up and into the windowpane like a magical waterfall in reverse. The glass of the window rippled a little and then stilled. Erione was gone.
 
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