Private Finished So, an Angel and a Demon Walk Into a Cafe

When Ishvi sat down across from Chloe, he really tried to not appear overly uneasy. He only glanced around once or twice, maybe three times before looking at the woman sitting across from him. Needless to say he was largely unsuccessful in hiding his discomfort. He wasn't sure of her age, but she was the head of the Demonic Student Union and a demon - he figured she'd be able to answer his questions. Plus he wasn't really thinking straight lately, should be sleeping, and definitely not drinking coffee with a demon.

"I... this is probably going to sound bad. But I should say I'm biased against demons. I find it very hard to trust any of you. Even though I took the classes. I- my home, we are.. were at war with them. I know it wasn't you or your type or maybe even any type I've met here, but it's still there. I'm trying to get over it. That's not what I wanted to ask you.. just thought you should know." Actually, Ishvi wasn't sure how to fame what he wanted to ask. Talking to Chloe had been mostly a spur of the moment decision.

"I want to know more about.. your club, I guess? What does it actually do .. um what do you do in it? It's to help demons?"

Once his admission was out of the way, with Chloe seeming to accept it, Ishvi wouldn't bring it up again. It was a slightly embarrassing bias on this island, and one he'd thought he'd mostly gotten over until learning of his outpost's destruction had brought it all back again.

"Activism, awareness, and a support group. I guess what I'm trying to ask is... being a demon on earth, here, those things are needed aren't they? Demons are treated really badly, even here. And angels... real angels... angels don't need support groups. Here even a -half-breed- is treated fairly." Ishvi couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice for that word. "I'm not really good with people... I was wondering..."

Over exhausted from his sleepless days, the half angel was having a hard time getting his thoughts together. It really was fairly late for him not to mention an uncomfortable subject. Everything about his body language screamed awkward and uncertain, along with the long slow blinking of tiredness. "Does the DSU help with other clubs? For um species that aren't demons but... pretty close?"

It felt strange talking like this. Asking a demon for help even in such a roundabout way. Actually acknowledging for once that he was only half angel and needed to deal with his other side. And... He genuinely felt some empathy for demons, though he still felt uncomfortable about them. His voice was quiet. "I know what it's like to be treated... differently because of what you are. At home..." Ishvi trailed off with an awkward shrug. He couldn't quite admit he'd been treated badly, even to himself.

"I don't want to join... don't think I'm ready for that. I'm not a student anymore anyway. I just. I don't know much about, about my other half. Thought it might be a similar thing. So I could learn about it. Real angels..." Again he let his sentence end without finishing. This conversation was more uncomfortable than he'd thought it would be. He hadn't intended for it to be so personal, but his issues were tied up in his species, too close to the surface.

"I thought if I talked to more demons, I'd see that they're people. I don't know if that makes sense."

Ishvi just shook his head slightly at Chloe's half breed comment. He didn't expect anyone who wasn't an angel to understand how disgusting he was, and he wasn't looking for sympathy. "That doesn't bother me."

Ishvi shrugged a bit uncomfortably. Chloe wasn't reacting at all angrily, was probably more level headed than himself at the moment, but he still felt put on the spot. Like he had to defend all the angels of his home. Possibly because he was guilty for daring to disagree with something they'd taught. "I... well... yeah... It is, was a war. Didn't know there were different kinds of demons before coming here, just the ones that..." He trailed off, glancing downward to hide his face in case his pain was visible.

"I work with demons. They seem to be more common than angels. Meeting them in an official capacity has actually been... not good exactly, but they've been no different than anyone else, and often victims. The ones I've talked to elsewhere... I don't know... You're no worse than, than most people I guess. And people on this island seem more forgiving than the angels at home. I can't keep judging a group for the actions of a few."

"Yeah maybe a public event would be a good thing." Ishvi managed a tired half smile, still a little strained. "I'm supposed to be socializing after all."

Ishvi's rather pathetic endorsement hadn't actually been directed at Chloe in particular, but at most of the demons he'd run into outside of work. One especially who he kept finding himself in agreement with and if asked would've wanted to call a friend. Of course there was no reason for Chloe to know any of this.

Just because things were bothering him, didn't mean he actually wanted to talk about them. He was just too tired to stop himself from starting to say things when topics he was attempting to bury came up. He blinked a little at Chloe's question, hating a bit that he was so obvious, had a hard time hiding or lying even in ways he could. Still he managed to keep a blank tone when he responded. "Half angels at home were treated like demons on Earth. Demons were treated worse."

He paused then figured he might as well stop avoiding the one thing that had brought his issues with demons back. "They destroyed my home and slaughtered everyone, permanently. I just found out a couple weeks ago from a survivor. I was doing a lot better before that. But it's no excuse and I didn't want to bring it up really. I don't blame any of you. It's an unfortunate weakness I struggle to overcome. And I have never treated demons any differently professionally - if I thought I was, I'd ask someone else to intervene." There wasn't a hint of a lie. He may have become unstable, but he took his job seriously.