When it came to Fathom, she wasn't sure if she were surprised or not. The girl had gone from half asleep to diligent in a split second; she did not run and she did not bend to the will of Covet. It merited a mental note from Malina that once they were back in Diveen, she'd not only fetch Brooke for Fathom but perhaps a small meal for her efforts - a token of gratitude. Well, that'd be nice but in the meantime, it was time to get themselves out of the little predicament they'd found themselves in. She'd watched Magnus with an amused grin, nodding in affirmation of her words. Things had not fared so well for Magnus as they had not fared for Malina; part of her couldn't blame her, what with Azrael charging about like a wild boar. She was, however, correct - Malina was no Angel, something she'd accepted years ago. There'd been a time when she had hoped that her white ear may lead her back to their blood but now, she had accepted that was new - new blood, new beliefs. She'd been given the Art and she had molded it to herself as any should, no? She was but the daughter of a Healer and a Warrior.
"Perhaps we will need to organise a time to meet, yes? Of course, I'd expect only your company and no other's. With pack diplomacy as it is, I'd like to think we're both smart enough to keep it civil - besides, I have no quarrel with you. I know so much cannot be said for some of my... Art siblings, but I am not their blood."
She pressed into Fathom lightly, reassuring her once more that in that moment, they were safe from Magnus at least. It was the male, the one that made the tension between Fathom and Malina thicken, that they had to be careful of but the way he brushed up against Magnus, sending her hackles like knives into the sky - well, she doubted he'd become too much of a threat. She imagined a fight breaking out somehow focusing more on the Magnus side of things, giving both Fathom and she the perfect chance to escape - hm, what were the chances of this boy pressing Magnus' buttons further, though? Her eyes had narrowed at the thought, his words hardly noted until the last minute when her features suddenly changed to amusement, an entertained snort making its way out of her. So, he was in full consciousness of his acts until, say, Tobias or even Jaidah who seemed to become... unhinged, completely instinctual. Nature versus nurture, she wondered which one had the greatest impact on the wolves that killed - she'd dabbled in the thoughts before but Covet? Oh, he was intriguing.
"A reason to stay? Well, I do like the view from here - it's quite... peaceful, no?" she shrugged, taking a moment to glance out over the nearby water and up at the clear sky as to reiterate her point, but she was quickly brought back to him by his next words.
Ah, articulate at least but something seemed quite off about his logic. Angels? Well, they'd already cleared that up didn't they - Malina was no Angel, and neither was Fathom. They were both black of pelt and Mark free, hell, they were closer to looking like the Demon bloodline if anything - she smiled in humour of it, flashing Fathom an amused grin. Surely the female didn't feel the same kind of entertainment as Malina but they were, well, friends so it felt right to at least try to share the moment. Once he had finished, she took a step forward, her head tilted as she watched up at him.
"I'm sorry, but I feel your logic is skewed. You say you hunt to survive? You hunt an apex predator, one of your own kind, in order to survive? I am curious for the last time I checked, there was an abundance of rabbits, stoats and even deer provided by this land. As for the killing? Well, I kill because I have fundamental issue with those who kill and devour puppies and wolves who would otherwise provide for our species; see, the death of one saves dozens, if not hundreds, and I can justify that. You have no territory to defend, no worry of famine - I am just a little confused."
She paused, a brow sliding up expectantly as she continued to watch Covet with curiosity. Maybe it'd taken her five years but she thought she was getting rather good at the whole 'don't lose your temper, just storm about over it later' thing - hell, maybe one day she'd be as excruciatingly in control as Ava was. Sure, Ava's control was a little creepy at times but hey, it was remarkable nonetheless. Besides from that, though, she had a myriad of other differences that truly separated her from the Angels - they were all as equally committed to ending the apparent influx of demons and thus killing, but there was more to Malina (or so she'd like to have believed.) See, she had become curious to how Demons worked exactly - their bloodlines, their minds, what made them tick and whether or not it was reversible. Crimes could be forgiven and souls redeemed but it required change. Poor Fathom, with her apparent friendliness - she'd be the one to take the full brunt of Malina's thoughts that day when they returned home.
"Of course, if you are unable to hunt such natural prey, I could teach you. Perhaps you did not have a parent to do such teaching, I don't know, but rather than do as those of my Art do - I could help you. I once had a friend that reminded me of you, actually. Cayen, brother of Tobias, who thought he was born to do as his brother did because of his blood. He'd tasted the flesh of his own kind and he had enjoyed it but with help, he learnt to be elsehow. It's possible to change."
It wasn't so convincing, sure, but she spoke so much for another reason - to keep as much attention off of Fathom as possible. If she could fill the male's mind with thoughts, retorts - whatever! - then Fathom would not need to feel so afraid. Magnus, on the other hand, was getting her chance to learn though Malina would have certainly still taken her up on their solo venture - there was much to learn of Magnus, too. Besides, she was doing Heyel and all of them a favor by not being a raging psychopath like some of them were. Obviously the Angels had received a bad name at some point but she'd try hold on to the reputation of the Malina's for as long as possible.
She felt some kind of... guilt over making Fathom stay in such a situation for so long but really, she'd not planned for this to happen. It was a glorious opportunity, though, and she could not say no! She only hoped the sheepish grin she flashed her companion was enough to get the point across - feel free to join on in on their fun discussion, Fathom. You know more of the male than any other and perhaps airing out the tension would help them all.
M A L I N A
[ five - dark angel of diveen ]
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