Private Finished Live Love Listen

For once in her life, Liliana was extremely glad to hear the quiet click of a gun, and continued to hold on to Mir's hand securely. The psychopomp knew it was wrong and irrational, and probably went against everything she stood for, but part of her was also scared of what might happen. She couldn't help it. Lily didn't want to be afraid of Tril, she even empathized and felt bad for her, and there was a part of her actually wanted to befriend the fog demon. However, Tril was not making it easy to get close to her.

"Tril, stop it, please," Liliana said, in a firm but quiet voice, that was surprisingly calm despite how uneasy and scared she was feeling inside. "If you don't want them to think you are crazy, then stop trying to scare and provoke people like that," she stated, unable to stop the words as they came tumbling out of her mouth.

"People just want to help you," Liana said as she directly looked at her. "I want to help you, but honestly, you are not making it easy," she admitted truthfully, unafraid now of what the fog demon might do. Guessing that, in part, her sudden courage to speak her mind had to do with having the knowledge that KirMir was there to keep her safe.

"That's not true," Liliana said, having lived on the island long enough to have had friends that were demons, dragons, werewolves, vampires, and even ghosts. Some of them were best friends and people she'd consider close enough to be family, and like KrMir, someone she loved deeply.

*People here, especially humans, are not like beings elsewhere. Most live in harmony with demons, are friends with them, and have even fallen in love with them, gotten married and have had children and families."

"People are not afraid of you because you are a demon, Tril, " Liliana said, brushing strands of hair out of her face. "People are wary of you because you won't give them a chance, and prefer to unsettle them, mock them, or make them feel uncomfortable somehow," Lily explained, remembering how Tril had not only taken her appearance but had chosen to appear in front of Lily naked. That had been a very uncomfortable and somewhat embarrassing moment for Liliana, and she suspected that if Tril did that with everyone, it would make people not want to be around her.

"Your friends and the people that know you will not care if you turn into a banshee if you are angry, or want to look like a dragon because you are having a dragon day, or even if you want to look like a friend because you feel mischievous... " Liliana told her, trying to make her see that things were not as she assumed them to be.

Liliana just watched Tril quietly and somewhat apprehensively when she finished her spiel. Lily was not at all sure what the fog demon was going to do. She wasn't even sure she had not insulted her with her words. Glancing very briefly at Kir, Liliana gave them a fleeting and grateful look before she looked away and tried to maintain her focus on Tril.

"Well," Liliana began, after considering Tril's question for a moment when she asked her why she had come to see her. "Maybe because I care what happens to you, and maybe because I want to be your friend, or at least let you know that there is somebody here who kinda understands that you are lonely and sees past all the smoke screens you put up to protect yourself from being hurt," she said in a quiet voice.

"Why does anyone generally do anything in life?" Liliana asked as she looked at herself calmly, this time not feeling like Tril was trying to scare her off or mock her. Maybe it was because Lily could sense Tril relenting slightly, or maybe it was because Liliana was beginning to understand Tril a bit better... either way, looking across the table at her own reflection was not as unsettling as it was moments ago.

"They do it because they want to," she answered. "And I honestly don't know why I want to be your friend, Tril. Maybe it's because I know what it's like to feel different or alone, or maybe because I just think you are interesting and have never met anyone like you before," she told her honestly.

"And these are not my bodyguards," Liliana clarified as she glanced and smiled warmly at Kir and then at Mir. "This is KirMir, my boy and girlfriend," she explained as she introduced them to the fog demon. "They are here because I wanted them to come along for moral support, not protection."

"Tril, please," Liliana pleaded quietly, feeling bad for the fog demon when she noticed the tears in their eyes. "You are not alone, really you aren't... you just feel lonely, like nobody cares or understands what you are going through, but believe me, a lot of people here do. So many students on the island were abandoned by their families, or shunned, feared by those they love, because of who they are and what they can do."

"You feel lost and sad right now, I know that much. I have seen people grieving as I take a loved one away. Crying inconsolably, full of despair, angry, hating the world, hating life..." Liliana told Tril. "I see it daily," she told her quietly as she squeezed Mir's hand tightly, glad that they were with her; even though she was beginning to feel that this was a lost cause, and that trying to help someone who didn't want help was futile.

"I am sorry, Tril," Liliana said shaking her head. "Maybe it was a bad idea coming here after all," she admitted, feeling slightly defeated by Tril's distrust and pessimism.