A Thin Line [Animositas]

[Lagunamov]

Well, since you asked so kindly.

It was an amusing sight, seeing someone consider their own kind in such way. Not that it could be disagreed with, not an ounce of what he had said was a lie. As a general rule, humanity had always proved to be far below what it was truly capable of. Which was disappointing, particularly for the Sentiment. So many eons and they hadn’t changed at all.

Animositas examined its grip on his neck, slightly distracted by something in contact with its hand that gave a strange vibe. It now realized it wasn’t anything of great importance, or anything that would pose any risk to its existence, so the armor released its grip and took a step backwards.

“Releasing earlier was not a wise option. I sensed something, and had to examine it,” the Sentiment explained itself, if only because it figured the man would be completely unaware of the true nature of what he held. “That thing you hold… I thought it’d be a weapon, but it’s just a regular object. Deeply engraved with memories of the past, but a regular object nonetheless.”

[Aerith]

This?
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At last, the strange creature set Ethan down and removed its clawed hand from his throat. Instinctively, he rubbed his skin, checking for blood. Finding none, he was able to concentrate more fully on the question being asked of him.

A regular object engraved with memories? It took Ethan only a moment to realize what the creature meant. While holding him against the wall, it would have been in contact with Sophia's ring through the fabric of his shirt. It could sense the significance of that somehow?

"You mean this?" He undid the top two buttons and withdrew the ring on its chain.

The act of showing it to someone else came with an odd feeling. No one else knew about it, and he had been more than content to keep it that way.

"What sort of memories? You can see them?"

Truth be told, he was wary. This was a part of his past that he would rather stay hidden, the one spot of emotional agony that he would not let go. Perhaps it was because, in some ways, he wanted to remember that he was still human, even if that portion of him was a very thin shred.

[Lagunamov]

A circular gate to your deepest secrets.

Intrigue could be seen in the man’s face as the topic shifted to the object of significance. The armor watched as he pulled it out from beneath his clothes and exposed it, showing a simple necklace with a silver ring on it. With the subject in clear sight now, Animositas immediately recognized the ring as the one with engraved memories. The necklace it had touched while holding him by the neck was merely an extension of sorts, but not the true holder of lost knowledge.

“Indeed, that is the one,” it started to explain, eyes fixated on the silver glimmer. “Only objects important to someone can act as conduits for memories and knowledge. I can sense them, but without proper time to perform an extraction, I am unable to see them clearly,” it trailed off, thinking for a second. This ring in particular appeared to have been engraved with memories even further than most. With memories of not just one person, but two. That’s why it resonated so strong.

“It belonged to someone other than yourself, did it not?” it asked bluntly, its sight leaving the ring and returning to his eyes, meeting them with the cold stare from the fallen girl’s eyes.

[Aerith]

What could this do for me?
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This meeting had certainly taken an interesting turn, though Ethan remained on his guard for the time being.

"If you had enough time, you could extract the memories from it? What would that mean, exactly?"

The possibilities were intriguing and, at the same time, so very unsettling. Human or not, this creature might learn too much about Ethan's past, which could give it some leverage to use against him at some point. That was not an appealing prospect.

[Lagunamov]

Inquisitive one.

He appeared to be baffled at the concept of memory extraction. That was the only explanation for why he would ask for details on something that was such a clear concept in the first place. But, no matter, Animositas could indulge him for now. This man was neither a threat, nor an aggressive human overstepping his boundaries to feed his curiosity.

“It’s as it is said. With time, memories engraved in the object by its owner can be extracted and examined. Their hidden knowledge is revealed, and can be utilized,” it explained, trying to think of a way to make the point strike home more easily. “This form I have taken… I performed a similar process on her body, gaining most of her memories for me to use,” it explained, moving its right arm and forcing an interference in the illusion around it.

[Aerith]

Perhaps later.
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The one detail that stuck out to Ethan was that memory extraction enabled the creature to take on a person's form. Specifically, this meant that if the memories from the ring were extracted...

"You would know everything about her, wouldn't you? And you could look like her?" The idea was a tempting double-edged sword. Would he allow someone else to know that much just for some illusion of Sophia? He almost laughed. How sick in the head was he?

Oh, he knew. But no one else truly did.

Still. It was something to keep in mind, tucked carefully in some mental recess. He was not sure if he would ever get to that level of desperation.

"Interesting trick. Very interesting."

[Lagunamov]

Your true colors are clear.

The man’s intentions were becoming transparent. Or rather, his inquisition was revealing much more that simply touching the ring could. It appeared clear now that the owner of the ring was of a great importance to him. Asking if Animositas could take her form was enough to tip it off. But, his apparent need to see her, whoever that was, proved very interesting. And, could prove to be an effective tool.

“Indeed. All secrets are revealed,” it answered, pacing back and forth a bit with its arms behind its back, trying to make its movements when wearing another skin more human. “This girl in particular proved very interesting. Her connections around the Worlds run deeply, and reveal much of what is occurring even as we speak.”

It thought for a second, deciding not to give any specific examples. Those were unimportant right now. Both their interests seemed to lie in a different place. “Just interesting?” it asked, trying to make itself sound inquisitive with the girl’s voice. “You needn’t hide what you really want to ask now,” truly, Animositas didn’t see him as any sort of threat, nor could sense anything in him that would raise any flags. But, his thought processes and knowledge were interesting. Maybe he could be manipulated.

[Aerith]

Partnership?
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Ethan chuckled. "Am I that easy to read? Well. Perhaps this once, only in regards to this."

Tucking the ring back into his shirt, he refastened the buttons. "Even if I were to ask it of you, I do not think I would want to follow through. That is too much information given to a stranger."

He smiled. "I am sure you would like to have such information, though. Perhaps at a later point, after we have worked together for a little while. Ah. I am making an assumption, of course. If you don't wish to work with me, then I understand."

[Lagunamov]

For mutual gain.

“Very much so. You are easy to read,” it thought to itself, keeping that to itself. Sure, it was mostly around that one topic, but still. His defenses lowered and he made his intentions all too clear when that subject was brought up. Even now, his suggestion followed the same pattern. But, because it posed such an interesting leverage, it was worth exploring.

“Behavioral data is always useful. But, if a partnership is the best way to learn how to fake humanity once more…” it trailed off, considering the proposal. Moving through the worlds with a human that could be kept on a metaphorical leash would be more productive than alone. Especially if interaction with others started to become more common.

“I see no down side,” it concluded after a minute of inner contemplation. “However,” it added “if you cross me, your remains will be scattered across countless worlds,” it threatened, the girl’s face distorting itself in anger to the point it almost looked like a monster.

[Aerith]

Indeed, I think this will be beneficial for both of us.
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Ethan smiled, ever the picture of politeness, even when some of his darker thoughts were brought to the surface. "I wouldn't dream of crossing you."

In truth, he was a little excited at this opportunity. While quite opposite of what Jericho had done and was doing to Nadia, it was a project nonetheless. In this case, however, the idea was to teach a monster to act more human, though it would still remain completely a monster beneath the facade.

He realized that, if he was to be traveling around with this creature, he needed something to call it. "I don't believe I've properly introduced myself yet. My name is Ethan Hargrave. What shall I call you?"

Ideas were already threading their way through his mind. Seeing as he had no way to leave this world (unfortunately, his ship was still on Radiant Garden), he would have to remain here until Jericho showed. But there was more than enough human decadence to illustrate the usual behaviors of people.

[Lagunamov]

Lead the way dog.

With the man, Ethan as he called himself, agreeing not to try anything funny, regardless of how honest that was, a mutual beneficial partnership of sorts seemed to have been formed. A partnership between monsters who faked humanity.

“My name is…” it started, thinking for a while. It was scanning its memories, trying to find that crucial piece of information, to no avail. The passage of time had erased even something as simple as that. No name. No, maybe not a name. But, there was one term. Something it could remember being called. “You can call me Animositas,” yes, that was it. Not a name, but a term associated with its human self due to its nature.

With introductions done, all that was left was for both to start learning from one another, the Sentiment hoping to unlock memories of its past, and learn how to blend into society. As much as it looked down on humanity, it most definitely didn’t want to isolate itself to the point where its mind would erode to the point it had once more.