"In my defense, I think things through a lot when it involves outsmarting something way bigger and more powerful than I am. It doesn't leave much room for thinking through anything else." In retrospect, that didn't make him sound all that great and he offered her a lopsided grin to say he knew that.

And there was that habit of hers again. She always played with her cross when she was nervous or talking about herself, but touching the symbol didn't do anything to her, at least not physically. A cross as an object of faith wouldn't do anything in his hands, but maybe it meant something to her. He couldn't quite figure out how to breech the subject, though, curious as he was.

"What you are isn't who you are, Ivy."