008 ✞ [VIDEO]

[unetrustworthy]

[It took nearly three tries after stumbling out of bed for Midii to remember the proper button-pushing procedures, and clearly even longer to realize (and subsequently not care) that her hair was still a mess. A mess she was now publicly broadcasting, completely with a stiffened yawn and weary rub at her eyes.]

[Still clinging to the 24+ hours sleep she had unexpectedly succumbed to, her voice was groggy. Her mind, unfocused. Her words, uncensored.]

I fell asleep in the park. I think. But then I woke up here. I...don't remember anything else since then.

[There had been...a little girl crying. She remembered that much. What happened to that little girl? The paranoia began to sink in, and despite herself, she visibly frowned. Suddenly nervous.]

Is this another one of those magic things that keep happening around here?




((ooc: Midii was one of the people attacked by Bakura's summons. Her memories are a bit groggy at the moment, but as time passes, she might remember more and more of the incident.))

Comments

[unetrustworthy]

[Despite the warning, she not only took the cup into both hands, but brought it to her lips and took a large sip. Clearly unfazed by the heat.]

It's delicious. Brewed just right.

Thank you.

[demon_brat]

[ Despite himself, Damian grins a little at the speed with which she attacks the tea. Then, blandly. ]

You know. I once had a carer who felt she had to impart on me various superstitions. Why some people can handle - and drink - hotter objects or beverages was among one of them.

It made me realize just how much nonsense most of what she spoke was.

[unetrustworthy]

[She gave him an odd look, as if trying to figure out if he was joking or not. Then again, Damian wasn't really the joking kind.]

I always figured it was because I was used to drinking hot drinks. Campfires don't usually come with temperature control.

What's the superstition?

[demon_brat]

>Tt.< The most usual one she claimed involved not being afraid of your potential wife, for males, or mother-in-law, for females.

I found that very ridiculous.

[ At least it didn't occur to him to point out that, were that a fact, Midii should be afraid of his mother. Not in the least because, in a way, Talia al Ghul was dead to him. Or he wished she could be, at least. ]

[unetrustworthy]

[Not knowing Talia, the thought never occured to Midii, either. But what did occur to her was the potential implications behind this supposed superstition. The odd look didn't go away. Why was he telling her this? Or was it just a random attempt at making conversation, regardless of topic.]

[Very carefully, she placed her cup back in its saucer, staring absently at the liquid surface as she spoke.]

That doesn't really apply to either of us, anyway.

[demon_brat]

[ He rolled his eyes. ]

It applies to nobody. That is why it is superstition.

[ And, there was food, besides the tea. Ready for her. ]

[unetrustworthy]

Not necessarily. Superstitions exist for a reason, after all. Even if you don't believe in them yourself.

[Food. Equally aromatic. It wasn't until then Midii realized just how hungry she really was, and it took what little restraint she had not to immediately dive into her food. She had company, after all, and her Papa had taught her manners. Little bites. Pausing to take sips of her tea whenever possible. Chewing with her mouth closed. The basics.]

[demon_brat]

[ Damian's mouth tugged up into a smirk, at the sight of her 'digging in'. For all that he knew she'd done without - for all he suspected she still would do without, when she returned home - currently, in a way he felt responsible for the state she was in, so making sure she got what was necessary was, well. Satisfactory. ]

Superstitions, [ he remarked idly, picking at some salad of his own - a small amount, ] is made up by people who can not explain phenomena. They do exist for a reason, but we do not have to be bound by that reason, anymore. We have our own.

[ It wasn't a lecture. More a remark, a - an ease, for the fact that passage of time sometimes brought more information, better knowledge, further understanding. ]

[unetrustworthy]

[She nodded at the remark, neither patronized nor even annoyed at his commentary. It was almost...like a debate, in some ways. And she never shied away from a debate, let alone one with a peer.]

I never said we did.

Superstitions are for people who cannot understand something, and try to find an explanation they can in the meantime. I prefer to find as much out for myself as possible...but I'm starting to understand how, especially in a place like this, even that has its limits.

Besides...sometimes, they can hold more truth behind them than you think.

[demon_brat]

>Tt.<

[ 'More truth behind them' didn't match Damian's idea of things he should bother with knowing. ]

You know that I fight, yes?

[ He didn't quite wait for her to answer, instead barging in with his point, though he did treat it as debate, too, not as arguing. ]

When you are the tip of a sword, you cannot rely on vague maybe-truths, or uncertain, unreasonable message, passed down generations of people who might have unwittingly changed them, too.

You need facts. Cold, understandable facts. Strength, skill, weaknesses of your enemy. History, strategy, tactics.

Not superstition.

[unetrustworthy]

[She was gradually starting to understand Damian's >Tt< -ing, and had to resist the urge to smile at his latest one. The fact that he was not giving her the time to answer his initial question before diving into a specific example only further fueled it.]

Unless the person you are fighting against believes.

Then, there is always a chance you can use it to your advantage.

[demon_brat]

[ Damian was really not that difficult to understand, all in all. Just difficult to want to try and understand. He raised his eyebrows at her. ]

But if they are as removed from facts as to rely on superstition, I would already have various advantages over them.

[ A small shrug. ]

I suppose if I ever run out of actual knowledge to acquire, I could learn superstitions, too.

[ That was, indeed, a small joke, there. That 'if' was pretty much impossible. ]

[unetrustworthy]

[Unfortunately for him, she was almost as bad at joking as he was.]

Damian Wayne, you are the only person I know who actually plans for the possibility of running out of things to learn.

[...almost.]

[demon_brat]

[ Paaaause. ]

>Tt.<

I am aware that such a situation is very highly unlikely, of course.

[ Yeah, she's definitely better. He has no idea how to react to that. ]

[unetrustworthy]

Of course.

[There might be the slightest twinge of pride at knowing she'd gotten the better of him. If only for a second.]

Are you saying there's no superstitions you believe in at all?

[demon_brat]

None that I am aware of.

[ Beat. ]

Though there may be facts that I know which would be superstitions to others, or in different worlds. [ He spreads his arms. ] There is no Green Lantern corps in Bean's world. Such a group would be a superstition for him, and yet I know they are real, where I come from, and here as well.

[ Ditto zombies, but Green Lanterns are a less complicated examples, right? ]

[unetrustworthy]

[Unless you started getting into Aya's existence. Otherwise...maybe?]

There are no Green Lanterns where I come from, either. Or people with powers.

[Which didn't detract from his point at all.]

Couldn't that apply to other superstitions too, then? What might be real to us wouldn't be to somebody else. Or what seems completely absurd could be as real to another person as breathing.

[demon_brat]

But in the worlds where there are people with powers, they are not a superstition.

[ The conclusion is simple, really. ]

Rather than collect superstition with the hope that I may at one point or another be on a world where they are true, I would prefer to learn the facts about the worlds I go to and operate by them, instead. It would still be more precise, would it not?

[unetrustworthy]

You're assuming every world operates on Fact alone.

Even Keelai doesn't always.

[After all, they've had their ages changed...watched people shape-shift right before their eyes...among other unbelievable things happening daily....]

[demon_brat]

[ ... as far as Damian is concerned, all those things are based on facts. ]

Does it not? Or do you not know all the facts yet? I am certain that I do not all of them.

[unetrustworthy]

[And that was where they differed on the subject.]

...well, if you don't, then I can't imagine there's anybody who does.

[demon_brat]

... there have been people who have been here far longer than me.

[ Yeah, his definition of facts simply included more things. He'd lived with them all of his life, simple as that. Well, lived with some of them, obviously. ]

I would guess the Emperor would. From the foreigners, Annabeth Chase would be a good source of information, should I not be available.

[ Because that was totally a question that needed answering, right? ]

[unetrustworthy]

[It...wasn't one she would have thought to ask. Even though it should have been.]

You mean...if you end up getting sent home.

[demon_brat]

Or if I am hurt and incapable to answer.

[ He was special, like that. ]

[unetrustworthy]

If it wasn't something I needed to know right away...['or something that could help you']...I could wait for you.