Empty Books. [Open]

[Alexiel BookMan]

Alexiel was indeed the type to feel utterly useless at times, and he was feeling that way now, mostly because he was thinking over all the people he would consider friends. Had he been attracted to any of them? Did he think people were better looking than others? It must have been one of the only times since Reikas had met him that he stayed quiet while neither of them were speaking; he hated the sound of silence when people were around but obviously he was thinking hard about it. Luckily, Alex seemed to have discovered something in his thinking that stuck out rather a lot, and he grinned at the demon like he had discovered the secret to life. "I don't think I would mind falling in love with either gender. I mean..." He stopped again, obviously thinking of the best way to put this, and he stepped forwards a little, to try and close what seemed like a rather large gap between them. It was however, the worst mistake he had made yet, and not noticing the computer cable he had unplugged still laying on the floor he fell.

If his arms hadn't still been crossed the fall might have gone better, but Alex hadn't even noticed he was falling under his cheek hit the cold and rather hard floor. He blinked, now realising he was looking at Reikas' shoes before looking up slowly. Strangely, he must have hurt himself but he jumped up as quickly as he could, brushing himself down and rubbing his cheek ever so slightly before acting as if nothing happened. Alexiel was well known for ignoring pain. "As I was saying..." He muttered, standing next to Reikas rather quickly, with little gap between them, still no concern over personal space at all. "There's not a difference when it comes down to it?" Alexiel meant love was the same for everyone by this sentence, and didn't realise the implication towards his thoughts on sex... which was rather none existent. He had stayed rather far away from that section of the library; mostly because most of the people coming out of it looked utterly frustrated.

[Reikas Esterion]

Reikas respected Alexiel's contemplative silence, allowing the man to take as long as he needed to figure out whatever was going through his head. As he did so though, the demon cast a quick glance around the library for a clock. He didn't see one immediately, but he did wonder what time it was. What time did the library close?

The mara began talking again and Reikas' attention turned back to him. He didn't notice the disaster in time to avert it, and he winced physically as the mara went down hard.

"Oh god, are you..." He started to cross the distance to help Alexiel up, but the man was on his feet and talking again before he could offer a hand. It fell back to his side and he leaned again against the edge of the desk, watching Alexiel approach. This time he noticed the distance (specifically lack thereof) between them and turned his body slightly so he wasn't directly face-to-face with the mara and it wasn't as...intimate. He kept his head toward the man though, paying attention.

"Well..." he started with a smirk. "I mean, there's the obvious, but otherwise, you've got guys who usually like guy stuff like who's the current fighting ring champ, and you've got women who are more interested in who can afford the priciest condos." Not that he was particularly sexist, but he found that most men were concerned with blood, and most women were concerned with flair. Dogs and cats. Barbarism and civility. "It's really a matter of whether or not you want someone who's the missing half to everything you are, or someone who shares all your interests. At least as far as the public eye is concerned. Are you okay by the way? That didn't look like a pretty fall..."

[Alexiel BookMan]

Alexiel nodded along to Reikas, he had come across those type of people before and more often than not they didn't really like him. This was either because he talked too much and was childish, or didn't look like the kind of boy you want to be seen hanging around him; his looks gave him a worse name than anything else would. "I guess... I dunno, different but the same really isn't it?" He laughed a little, trying to ignore the pain in him from the fall. Maybe he had gotten up too fast but his jaw was really started to ache a little, but he had talked an awful lot, that might not have helped matters. Alex leaned against the desk as well, but more awkwardly than Reikas, wings were hard to keep out of the way at times like this and with a strange sort of twitch he seemed to find himself being comfortable enough to stay a little more still than usual. "All I know is that I don't want a 'bad boy'.." He joked with a strange sort of truth in the matter; he had heard too many stories about people being 'cheated' on by these kind of men, and whatever cheating meant in a relationship, it didn't sound too good. "Or anyone who likes alcohol... can't get into that stuff... addictive..." He ended his sentence there and heard Reikas' concern for him.

Alexiel felt his stomach well a little, as if he wanted to jump on his new friend and hug him. It wasn't like many people to be concerned about him; he had pulled a whole book case on top of him and no one had batted an eyelid before and he couldn't help but grin (though it hurt a little now). "I'll be fine thank you." He offered politely, rubbing his jaw line a few more times rather innocently. "I'm rather accident prone... happens a lot." A confession wasn't needed for that sentence, since it was already rather clear to see, but he gave the remark anyway. He had been told before it made him 'cute' watching him trip and knock things over; but Alex really didn't see how damaging oneself and ones surroundings could be seen as anything other than a bad thing. It was then he noticed the demon's body language and giving him a raised eyebrow accidentally he couldn't read it. Did he not like the mara being that close?

[Reikas Esterion]

"Mm, mm..." Reikas nodded and laughed along with Alexiel about things being the same, bad boys, drinks...At least he had a good head on his shoulders, for the most part. Not like some women Reikas knew who always lusted for that dangerous soul, as if they could tame him somehow, domesticate him.

He felt the swell of happiness from the mara and wondered if it was from his question about Alexiel's health. He could see a lonely man feeling overjoyed about this, but if it was true, it really was quite pitiable. The poor man. He grinned.

"I can imagine so, with those gigantic wings," he said, indicating one without looking at it and accidentally brushing the edge of Alexiel's wing. "Sorry," he added quickly, unsure if the mara was as sensitive about those things as Belial. When he looked back up at Alexiel though he noticed the mara's quizzical gaze. "What?" he asked.

[Alexiel BookMan]

Alexiel seemed rather happy Reikas knew what he meant about the bad boy type, and unlike Belial he had a little more colour in his cheeks as he was smiling, the constant colour of actually being alive. And he was certainly pleased that he was concerned for him, it was the habit of a simple man to let such things make him feel like he was in heaven... not that heaven was the place for him; no, not enough human contact there. As the demon touched his wing, the little mara seemed really rather thrilled inside, but on the outside all he did was let his wing lean slightly into the touch, smiling fondly. "They are a little too large really, but don't be sorry; it feels nice when people touch them, even if it's accidental or I brush against people while walking." He pulled the wing that the man touched slightly closer to himself, and used his own pale and thin fingers to trace over his own feathers. He liked his wings a lot more than most people might, they were a reminder of his past; and they were also useful since they could still fly.

He realised though that he might be staring at Reikas a little strangely, and he knew this when his question was asked. "I... well..." He muttered, trying to think of the nicest and politest way he could talk about this kind of subject. "Do you mind people being close to you?" He asked rather cutely, still toying with his own wing gentle as if brushing the hair of someone you were fond of. Alexiel personally had to need or want for personal space, he fed by touch, and he enjoyed doing that so why would anyone not want to be close to someone else, even if they were just friends? That was a strange thought, did Reikas even consider Alex a friend, and was it too soon to ask if they were? The poor mara wasn't too sure about how to go around this kind of situation and he seemed to be getting a little nervous about it.

[Reikas Esterion]

Yup, there it was, that thrill of pleasure when Reikas brushed Alexiel's wing. He even did that same involuntary drawing-closer movement that Belial was fond of. He just nodded and smiled in understanding as Alexiel explained to him what he'd already confirmed. What was intersting though was that Alexiel played with his own wings. That was something Belial didn't really do much. Interesting difference of habits.

"Close...." he started to ask for clarification, "close how? Physically or emotionally? I don't mind close bonds between myself and others, I know a lot of older beings get sick of outliving their friends, but I'm good at moving on..." For the most part. It still hurt, but that was life, and Reikas was no stranger to death and all of the friends it had claimed from him.

However, if it was physically, he and Alexiel were going to have to have a talk right there. The mara seemed innocent enough, but at some point Reikas would have to stop giving him allowances and make sure they were both on the same page.

[Alexiel BookMan]

Alexiel seemed to stop stroking his wings, in fact, he seemed to stop moving all together at Reikas' mentioning of outliving ones friends. It was a sad thought, and one Alex only had nightmares about when he was having a bad day; he didn't want to think about such things and shook his head a little, trying to make the thoughts go away by force. How could the demon talk about it so casually? The little mara guessed after a while you must see a lot of it but... No, he couldn't understand, and furthermore, he didn't want to.

It took a few seconds for the poor thing to regain himself, and he started stroking his wing again for a little comfort. It would comfort him better if someone else had been doing it, but for now this was enough to sooth his fears of others mortality and the way in which people would eventually leave him - He was too young to come to this conclusion yet. "Sorry." He commented, trying to pick himself up off the very sad and lonely floor and back onto the chair of happiness and excitement. Though it was a little harder to now. "No I mean..." He hesitated, feeling Reikas might be one of those people who really was comfortable talking about that kind of thing. "If you want me to go back behind the desk or back off just tell me. People often say I've got no value for 'personal spacing'."

Alexiel thought about his words. That sentence structure didn't sit right and it frustrated him slightly, and for a few seconds he was sure he used the wrong sort of work too. 'Personal spacing' ... No that wasn't right, he was sure not that it must just be 'space', but hopefully Reikas wouldn't judge him for his mental burp right now.

[Reikas Esterion]

Ah. Of course Alexiel had meant physically. He was a mara after all. And Reikas had accidentally depressed him. Shitt. He really needed to be more careful about that sort of thing. He was doing the same thing he had with Belial, where he made fast friendships then stumbled into territory he was more comfortable with than the other person.

Ideally, he imagined he could do the same with with Alexiel as he could with Belial, just hug him and everything would be okay again. But first, some boundaries. He dismissed Alexiel's apology as unnecessary with a wave of his hand, and watched the mara try to reconstruct himself quietly.

"Ah. Well, no, I don't much mind it," he said, shaking his head and rubbing the back of his neck, "I just want to make a few things clear. I know we held hands and all just then, but...I thought I should let you know that I'm not looking for a partner right now, and I'm not exactly boyfriend material anyway. So you can stand as close as you want just as long as we're clear that it's not an allowance to try to be anything more than friends..."

It was almost awkward to say. The content was awkward, but the tone wasn't. Library or not, Reikas had to make sure this clingy little mara wasn't thinking he'd just found a potential soul mate for all the things Reikas would probably be willing to do to him in the near future (because hell, another addicted mara meant another powerful food source). He didn't want to go around breaking some sweet kid's heart over a misunderstanding of the different levels of complexity the two of them functioned at.

[Alexiel BookMan]

Alexiel stared in what could only be amusement at what Reikas was saying to him. He was saying he wasn't looking for a partner and though he tried to stop himself, the little mara's body started to shake a little; though not in the way most would expect. He was holding back laughter, the kind of laughter you want to do in the middle of a quiet room when someone is being deadly serious to you. The man really had no clue about what the mara was like did he, and he wasn't surprised, he had talked about love rather a lot but this was rather hilarious to him. "Mr. Reikas..." He started, the laugh still trying to escape, but he did his very best to keep it back, "I didn't wa-" And there it was, the uncontrollable little laughter that he was trying to hide behind his hand and his wings now. They curled around him like a defensive shell and he shook more, the laughter becoming a little louder.

"Sorry!" He chuckled, physically pulling his wings out from in front of him with his hands. "I wasn't planning to falling in love with you... As bad as that sounds, I think I'd rather be a friend." He was still laughing a little every now and then, and he was no longer sure why such a thing had tickled him so much. "Holding hands is something I do, touching is something I do... to everyone, even people I don't know." He explained, smiling like an idiot. At least the depression and sadness was gone now, he had completely removed that from his mind. "I know I see couples holding hands and such, but it's just an easy way for me to steal a meal..." He admitted a little more darkly, easy meals were his favourite type.

[Reikas Esterion]

Reikas frowned as he felt Alexiel's joy mount and mount until he realized what was happening. He folded his arms and quirked an eyebrow at this arrogant little creature who laughed at him for his oh-so-obvious mistake of not conforming social norms to a single outlier. He wasn't angry or affronted though. Alexiel was just too sweet and he knew the mara didn't mean any harm.

"Well, all right then," he said patiently with a disarming smile. "As long as we're on the same page. I didn't want to be sending off the wrong signals, is all. Most people doesn't go around holding the hands of complete strangers and leaning over library desks to talk to them while putting off library card creation." He chuckled quietly. "If that's just how you are and you're not lying for whatever 'malicious' purposes, then I don't mind some friendly physicality."

He was a cute little guy, though. Not the kind you expected to fall in love with, but the kind you wanted to wrap up in a box, take home, and give to your kid to entertain them for hours. He probably wasn't the kind of guy Reikas could ever be angry with, or certainly not be angry with for very long. He was far too mercurial for that sort of thing.

[Alexiel BookMan]

Alexiel was still grinning, rather a cool grin now than a innocent one now like he was used to; he might have made a good addition to a a rather bad reputation boy band. He folded his arms after calming the laughter inside him and within a few seconds his wings had made a strange few noises, like they were dislocating and within another few they were gone; back into hiding for the minute since they were no use - in this respect, he was much more like an angel than the other mara the demon might know. "Same page!" He chirruped, the shirt on his back a lot more comfortable now, but it did have two slits down the back of it which let in a little bit of cold.

"I just like touching people sorry Mr.Reikas." He had said this, but he didn't feel sorry about it in the slightest, it was a friendly thing to do, and he raised an eyebrow still grinning. "I can tell you now 'Malicious' is not a word in my dictionary. I'd rather just be myself and make friends than want anything from them... except the odd emotion I can eat." He made the motion of 'noming' on something and then chuckled again. Today was turning out better than he thought it might have done and he decided to tuck his hands into his own pockets; and then a curious thought came over him, which was rather easy to see.

"...What kind of Malicious thing could people do with touch?" It was an innocent enough question, one that he truly meant. Touch was pure to the mara, and something only done in a innocent way, like accidentally brushing against someone in the street just to see if they were okay. He had a knack for that too, sensing someone was upset in the library and then trying to find out why and help them if he could.

[Reikas Esterion]

Reikas watched Alexiel's wings disappear with interested. He didn't know they could do that. That was rather convenient, wasn't it?Could Belial do something like that? It had definitely sounded creepy though, like cracking knuckles, but Reikas was good about not letting it show that it had creeped him out slightly.

He still smirked and rolled his eyes as Alexiel went on to explain to him how the mara worked. He still didn't quite get that Alexiel was as perfectly innocent as he actually was. To him, the mara just liked playing games, and feigning innocence was a good way to get what he wanted, although it probably didn't work that well for a creature with white skin and blood red eyes anyway. It was a technique Reikas could see himself using sometimes if he'd been the type that needed to touch to feed effectively.

"I hope you aren't actually asking me that question, Alexiel," he said, folding his arms in front of him. "It's kind of a big deal if you touch someone who doesn't want to be touched, and people can get very angry about that. Some of the less open men I've met might attempt to beat you up for homosexuality if you touched their hands like you did mine. And women can get very scared by a man getting physical with her."

He said these things in a bored sort of tone, as though it was every bit as obvious to Alexiel as it was to him. The mara might act like a childish goofball, but he'd still said he'd been around for a couple decades. That counted for a lot in Reikas' book, even if he was raised by a librarian. Certainly enough to know the different social norms...

[Alexiel BookMan]

Alexiel still had his hands in his pockets and with a slight blush he sighed. It wasn't the first he had heard of men and women getting iffy with people touched by a strange man, even if it was just their hands; he had experienced what it was like for people to see his friendly actions in a strange way. "Yeah... I've been hit a few times, and women have run away before... I tried to explain but it seems pointless sometimes." He wasn't completely stupid, it had to be said that for a man who acted so childish he had rather a lot of intelligence stored away rather secretly. But common sense... well, that was another matter entirely.

He had been far too innocently raised, and sheltered when he first came to this world. It didn't help matters that he kept himself away from anything that might tell him the truth about life; sticking mainly to fantasy novels and staying as far away as he could from bad influences. Maybe meeting Reikas wasn't the best idea for someone planning to live the easier and innocent life. "I didn't really think before... Sorry I blurt out some stupid questions sometimes, I guess I'm just excited to talk to someone so interesting." And that's exactly what the demon was to the little mara, even the way he acted was unusual for people he would normally meet.

Speaking of which, Alexiel had another one of his strange thoughts... maybe happiness demons and mara's were alike, but he kept this quiet for now.

[Reikas Esterion]

Reikas snickered quietly. Interesting. Right. That wasn't quite a word he'd really use to describe himself, or really believe that a man who'd just met him actually meant. Plus, he found it amusing that Alex had actually been hit for coming on too strong. The poor guy.

"Trust me, there's a lot more interesting people out there just waiting to meet you," he said, glancing towards the door. "But to be honest, you're probably better off just not trying to touch people so directly. A good plan is a handshake in the beginning and one at the end, if you really want some advice." He wasn't sure why he was giving it. Probably because he imagined this poor creature staved a lot if his idea of a meal typically tried to consist of five to ten minutes of hand-holding. "People usually take handshakes as innocent and friendly..."

He wondered if this would go on. Did he want to make a lasting friendship with Alexiel? He'd certainly be friendly with the mara and accommodating as he always was, but did he want to seek out Alexiel's company? He could seek out for mara for mutual meals if he was bothering Belial too much and Irina was away. Maybe he could do that. Maybe he could start trying to establish something more than a friendship (but less than a relationship) with the mara. He imagined Alexiel would be open to it...

"Hey Alexiel," he said lightly, looking back at the mara. "What makes you happy?" The question actually felt rather strange. It wasn't something he ever asked so bluntly of people. Usually his approach was direct discovery, but he felt not only comfortable asking such an open question of Alex, but that it was a necessary thing to establish motive. If he started seeking ways to please Alexiel God only knew what the mara might think of him, besides a really really good friend.

[Alexiel BookMan]

Alexiel nodded at the handshake comment. He had tried it several times before and although it was good for a quick snack, he didn't like them all that much. It was too formal for him, and it felt as if someone was offering to touch him but not in a way he might consider himself comfortable; but he guessed he would just have to get used to that kind of thing. Not everyone was as accepting, open and as friendly as himself after all. The mara did not appear to happy with Reikas' comment about himself though; why on earth would the mara lie about finding him interesting, it was a little insulting to him to be honest. "Mr.Reikas you are one of the most interesting people I've met!" He explained, his words obviously filled with truth, and he stared directly at the demon to make sure he knew it.

Though Reikas may have not known if he wanted a lasting friendship with the mara, he knew all too well that he wanted to stay in contact. He didn't have that many people who would willingly come back just to talk to him rather than anything else and he was always on the look out for more. It also helped that Reikas seemed a little more understanding that most the people he had met, and there would always be that trust of letting him grab his hands without a thought of hesitation; that was indeed rare for Alexiel. Of course, it wasn't like he wanted another friend just for reason of feeding, no, that wasn't the case at all but it always helped. Starving was not his idea of fun and sometimes he found it rather hard to get a meal that could keep him going for a day or two, and it wasn't really an option to snack little and often.

The question of his happiness took his by surprise though; this mara by nature was rather a happy creature, and there were a lot of things in this world that pleased him. However, taking several minutes he thought about what made him happiest and gave him that sense of pure butterflies in his stomach. When a few things flooded into his head Alex appeared to feel a little shy about his answer, looking at Reikas rather nervously. "Do you promise you wont laugh, even if I say something stupid or... you know, I say something simple?"