https://tinyurl.com/ufdk43p

[magnetite_plz]

A trail of strange, unidentifiable red petals winds through the plaza this cold day in the Nexus. Not a heap of them, but enough small bits of brilliant red to pop out amid the snow and dreary ground to leave a distinct marking of something or someone passing through.

The trail leads anyone following it to Nike, currently brushing more of those petals out of her impossibly long golden tresses, her brow furrowed in concentration. It's more of an emotion than her countenance normally belies. She startles to see anyone approaching her and drops her hands from her hair quickly. Scrambles for a long piece of red and white cloth she's got folded into her pack.

"Apologies. I did have queries for the populace today." Her fingers grip and cinch the fabric between them, slowly working their ways down the length of the cloth. She fidgets with it while she addresses anyone who will listen.

"Why do people choose partners based on mere attraction? Out of dozens of qualifying attributes, why should something so unimportant have a disproportionate weight to the equation? The choice could be made based on compatibility of skills, or a mutually sought after goal or..." Nike trails off and with a sudden forceful flick of her wrist bunches up the fabric in her hands to flop against her thighs in clear frustration. The demon clearly does not understand and it's eating at her.

"Why do you do this?"

Comments

[sweetcandygirl]

"So what has you confounded? Maybe I can help!"

[magnetite_plz]

Nike hesitates as she shuffles from foot to foot. It feels transgressive to complain so much about the people she finds herself among.

"Why do people so rarely say what they mean? I do not understand why they lie when there is nothing to hide."

[sweetcandygirl]

"Mmmm that is a tough one. A lot of people lie and say it is to protect someone else... but really, they just protecting themselves."

"And sometimes people lie to make themselves feel better."

"And sometimes people lie because they are afraid that others will judge them."

"But don't fret! I will always say what I mean. I get told that I am very forward." Harley grins. Proud of that fact.

[magnetite_plz]

"I understand lying out of fear and ill intent. It is the meaningless lies I do not understand. Lying when it affects nothing. Is such casual deceit something that makes humans feel better about themselves?"

If she ever saw social media Nike's head might explode. Self promoting isn't really something she understands.

[sweetcandygirl]

"Afraid so, hun. And it comes from being lied to about meaningless things at an early age... that most people are going to keep doing it. They think this must be fine. My parents did it. Their parents did it."

"And so forth."

[magnetite_plz]

"Do the other people know they are lying? Is it a cultural phenomena?"

Does...Nike need to learn how to lie? It sits heavily in her chest to even consider it.

[sweetcandygirl]

"Well, there are conversational lies, that we all know about. Like nobody is really fine, when they say they are fine after you ask how they are doing. But it is a greeting now days. How are you doing George? Fine. And you Bill? Just dandy. And we let it go, because we really don't want to know if the other person is fine or not."

"And there are expert lies that are hard to tell if they are truth or not, because they have lied so long. And you really want to believe them."

Harley glances over Nike's shoulder for a moment. "Do you love me? Yah I really do. Just do this one for me. Everything will be fine."

"And you don't want to know that that other person is lying. You want to believe that they really loved you."

"But I don't really recommend getting into the lying game. In my opinion. And from what I try to be to everyone I meet. Is honest. Blunt. Real. This is me. And I am lucky enough to have friends who accept me as blunt as I am."

[magnetite_plz]

"Conversational lies. A cultural adaptive greeting. I see." This phenomena is something Nike has witnessed in her strolls through the Nexus and even somewhat through the Tower back in Blaze's world. She has seen these dozens of times before.

To treat them as a greeting is easier to wrap her head around. To catalog and understand. She can do that, couldn't she? If it would help her blend in.

"You always reply with...'Fine' and repeat back the question.." It's a script, not a conversation. She can handle that. Surely she could do this! It's the other lies. The Expert lies, that wither the accomplished pride of understanding Nike had nearly let show on her face. That make Nike frown with concern as Harley speaks.

"It is not a game. I simply...need to be more human."

[sweetcandygirl]

"Why?" Harley wonders immediately. "I am sure you are just fine the way you are. Why would you want to be more human?"

[magnetite_plz]

"Because everything not of their world is trying to kill them. If I was discovered to not be human it would cause Blaze much trouble."

Not to mention a whole lot of people would probably want to kill her. Not really a permanent problem while Blaze is alive mind, but a painful one. Something to be avoided.

"I have to learn how to pretend."

[sweetcandygirl]

"Doing to protect someone else. Okay can't fault that logic. Too much."

"I am good at pretending. If you ever need someone to help you learn."

[magnetite_plz]

"I will keep that offer in mind. You have my thanks."

Nike isn't one to emote much, but she seems a whole lot less flustered than she was when Harley showed up. Success, probably!