gocirclegogo | Because Erika

[Because Erika is a stray, if she isn't sleeping or crawling through a window, she is actually a bit difficult to find. It helps having three places she can leave things at and scamper off to whenever she pleases. Pretty decent life for a cat.

As another consequence of her whims, sometimes she wanders off for longer periods than normal. Not that it really lasts all that long. But going from seeing her every night to radio silence for a week happens. Naturally, Erika will skip back in as if no time has passed and make usual demands of whoever her target is then.

Thus despite having actually not pestered Will recently, there is no pause when she spots him randomly while parading the streets as always. Kitty is in a good mood. So Will gets a wannabe loli dangling from around his neck.]

Good evening, Willard!

[It's a mix that he's grown used to it and that he doesn't care. The times Erika decides to disappear for some reason or another have actually become a bit of a solace. No Lion complaints, extra time to write up spare stories to bribe her, and being able to read for more than a few minutes without interruption.

And it might have actually been a day spent being productive. Then Erika ruins it all hanging from his neck, and he only bends down long enough for her to get a better hold before standing back upright, completely immune to her weight addition. Now there's even more victorians staring at that tall obviously-american guy, and he couldn't even care.]

It's afternoon right now, Erika. Nice to see you again.

['Shame' is a word only used for other people and usually in connection with making them feel it, so Erika doesn't care at being stared at. At least Will is enough of a gentleman to let her hang on him. Rather than the tight cling of before, now she is relaxed as she dangles.]

It is, it is. But that is just a trifle in my greeting. Where are you going, Willard? I'm getting a little bored, so I think I will accompany you there.

[The meaning is obvious, in that whatever Will was doing with his day, Erika is tagging along like duct tape stuck to his shoe.]

[It's less 'shame' and more 'annoying', but Erika is more of an accepted annoyance by now. And clinging makes her happy, probably from her being a cat, so it's fine. And her only question gets an eye-roll, because it means she's not leaving. Great.]

...Errands. As long as you make yourself useful.

[You tag along, you help with his shit. Easy enough.]

[Just think of her as an elaborate, squirmy and probably annoying necklace. Erika will let go when it gets boring or the novelty wears off. Such is her attention span.

And she hums, content enough.] How boring. If I wanted to have adventures buying eggs, I would do that myself. Still...that trade is fair enough. I will serve you to the best of my abilities.

[At least she's in a good mood.]

[She's only slightly annoying, as he's more than aware of how annoying Erika can actually get if she tries. All she even earns is a momentary freeze at her comments about egg buying. Wondering if he should tell her what it's really for. Then obviously choosing not to in favor of an amused smirk and right back to his usual pace.]

A bit boring. One you might like. [And it might cost him, knowing how quickly Erika raids for prizes, but that's fine.]

Did you enjoy your week?

[Catching that look. A riddle? But since they would be heading towards the answer, it might be a little boring. Then again, it could be a way to pass the time. Nothing wrong with some knowledge mining.

First, though, she smiles.] Has it been so long? How time flies. I did, though, thank you. Nothing worthy of note but enough to keep me thinking. And how goes your mundane existence?

[Not everything's a riddle that has to be torn apart. Though she'll learn that part later on. Hopefully. Maybe it can double as a lesson that there's better things to do with her time than be a rapist.

Too bad it's probably a futile effort.]

Long enough to make Lion think you were dead. [Can you picture how happy she was Erika? To know she could go a day without hearing your mom jokes? It was such a nice week.] And I was thinking of charging for advice. Too many visitors lately.

[What do you mean there's more to life than rape? Look she's realised there's multiple truths and that love is okay. That is pretty good. No reason to stop raping for knowledge.

She also drops down, not because she's bored, but because she needs to express her proper delight with a twirl.] Then I will need to pay a visit tonight for dear Lion.

[Poor Lion. But then she giggles.] Well, I have read somewhere that agents of Heaven should guide humans. It would be sinful to charge for it. Not that it ever stopped anyone.

[The look on his face is a perfect mirror of the flat stare given before he hits her or throws her out of a window. But alas, this isn't for Lion, it's a business expense. Which means keeping up some semblance of manners and not kicking little girls into the river in public.

So instead he walks right by her, not even giving her a chance for her usual 'what do think everyone' responses. Cold shoulder.]

[Maybe those words were right on her tongue but Will keeps going and ouch, feel that Arctic air. How rude. And mean. And uncalled for. And he is going on without her, so Erika tries to gracefully and casually catch up, missing the mark not in pace but her expression.]

Willard...? ...Well there isn't a need to repeat myself. [Not pouting. Or sulking. Clearly why she latches onto his arm.] So what sort of destination is more interesting than buying eggs?

[He doesn't even slow down when she latches on, still dragging her along so her feet trail behind her, and it gets another few double-takes and stares at Erika, but he doesn't break pace. But to Erika's joy, at least he stops ignoring her.]

Picking up uniforms. My boss didn't want to pay for delivery. [It's a half-truth. No need to ruin too much.]

[Like a good lady, she picks herself up at receiving attention. The answer is anticlimactic but she wasn't expecting much anyway. So Erika is content to have their arms looped and get Will to talk.

Willard talking! Priority of interest.]

Boring. But I guess a little less boring. Will you be wearing one?

[She's such a good girl. Sometimes. But he doesn't answer until he actually reaches the tailor's door. And the only hit she gets is when he turns around and shrugs.]

Oh. I already have mine.

[Use your little gray cells Erika. And before she figures it out, he gives the warning as he walks inside.] Don't get so excited you knock things over.

[Her head cocks and for a moment Erika doesn't seem to actually be at home. When he said 'uniforms' she had thought of something as a joke but then since that connection was already made, a few little jolts dance between cells and an answer pops up.

Quick calculating for error and it all lasts maybe fifteen seconds before her eyes widen and Will suddenly has his arm yanked on like a bell pull. Get to her level, you tall bastard.]

Because you've always had it. [And no, Will, you neither get to pull away or shut her up before the words rush out.] By that uniform alone, this level of reasoning is possible for Furudo Erika. What do you think, Willard?

[The smallest of small concessions. She didn't say 'everybody'.

And then he gets why she made that concession a beat later. Had to set up a punchline.]

Ah, or maybe I should ask Lion? Does she know?

[He's still too tall to get to her level, but it's only a height gap of a few inches or so with how she's pulled him down. The only difference is the look she's getting to contrast her intellectual rapist grin is annoyance. Erika, this is why he doesn't tell you things. Because you are like a kid in a candy store and do nothing but run around screech and make everyone's lives harder.]

I said not to get excited. [And not even breaking face before continuing.] Lion already knows. She was there when I hired them. Before you start asking, they're based off my district's uniforms. And there's only two of them. I'm not paying for a third if you can't keep yourself quiet.

[Bribery is a sin, so it's not a bribe. But rewarding good conduct? It's the same deal she always gets with his mysteries, but she's gotten better. Even her subtle attacks just now are nowhere near as sadistic as she's capable of. All she has to do is play nice like she did at that first dinner. Same as the usual exchange.]

[Never tell her that her edge is wearing down, though. Erika still has a sort of instinctual pride in sharp sadism. So while the words might not cut and gouge, her smile still acts like they do.

It twists and changes, though, at the not at all bribe-like incentive. It almost lights up in what could be viewed as innocent. Context wise, no, no it's not. But it still seems a little softer.

Erika even stops yanking Will. Bribe accepted.] My, what I miss in a week of your life. What brought about this decision?

[All grace and poise, quiet indoor voice like she's even a proper lady.]

[He wouldn't go so far as to say it's wearing down, because if she was pressed, she could pull them out just as easily as ever. Maybe her instinct for it is ebbing off. But with how quickly her eyes change from sadistic to an almost child-like joy, and how a beat later she's feigning perfect manners, she got the message.

Accepted? Good. And now to make it a contract, more as a guarantee than anything.] Here I thought you liked figuring it out yourself. I'll explain while you're getting fitted.

[Verbal headpat. Enjoy your prize Erika, you no longer need to wear a corset or hundreds of ruffles.] Besides, I have something else to ask you about.

[The lingering Bernkastel feelings might object to that even harsher.

But Erika at least doesn't. Even if the sparks of interest come back into her eyes, she remains calm and sweet. Really, what was Natsuhi thinking in choosing something like that? Worth tossing her through the wringer based just on that.] An answer for an answer. Fair enough. I'll conduct myself flawlessly.

[Verbal agreement and maybe a little happier sounding. Headpats of any kind get the same reaction. Anyway, not like she has to make a great deal of effort. Falling in line with as the gentle, quiet girl is pretty easy somehow.

Any onlooker would think she was obedient and sweet from the composure she keeps.]

[She doesn't have to be that quiet, but it works out. A short discussion with the seamstress about how it's a pick up for two, but is it possible to get a third done on the spot for the girl? Normally no, but oh she's so quiet and polite and it's not like it's a hard design so of course. Costs extra, yeah whatever, but soon she's running off to make the preparations and then it's back to dealing with the good girl. Prize guaranteed.]

So flawless it's almost unnerving. [If she ever becomes that well-trained, he'd turn her back into a psycho at the drop of a hat. But more importantly. Reward for her efforts. Then answer for an answer.]

I'll be quick. It's confidential, don't bother reading into it... Kida claims he's not fond of you, but only because of your recent activites. But from what I know, your only movements lately are for your master's sake. [If A connects to B, and B to C, then you can see what he's getting at.]

I'm not asking what it is he's doing. That's between you and him. What I'm asking is if this anything I should bother worrying about?

['Worrying' read as 'getting involved in'. Mikado pestering him about things is normal, but Kida? It feels like playing two sides, which doesn't pass no matter what the case is. It's a big enough problem to ask the third party about, at least.]

[If she ever became that well-trained, she might just off herself from the sheer boredom of it. Playing a role is fine for a while but Erika can't wait to stretch out already. So she does so physically, still being good for now.

Not an unexpected question but interesting.] ...His impulse control is poor. He summoned me with a non-verbal command demanding 'hurt.'

[No reason to elaborate there. It was a pure emotion command. Semantics are one thing but someone's heart screaming it is another.]

...He was cold. And then normalised to the point where when I kissed his cheek, he was his usual blushing, incoherent mess. As his friend, Masaomi prefers to blame it entirely on me. [No shits given there.] As far as worrying goes, what do you do when someone's heart grows fainter?

[That is said more like a riddle she hasn't answered yet. Dealing with Mikado? Easy. Dealing with Mikado minus a lot of his emotions is not exactly dealing with Mikado.]

[No need to ask about the non-verbal summons. Lion's done it a few times, but her emotion is "mental flatline". And Erika answered his question, so that would've been the end of it. Displacement of blame to make something easier to accept, it's normal enough. But then she goes on to her question, and it answer why she explained in more detail than needed.

Erika, you are an example of why he's thinking he should charge you kids. Make a fortune off of it.] It all depends on the circumstances. If it's purely emotional, then it's as easy as healing the wounds. External forces are as varied as how many things you can think of.

...It's all about finding the right solution, but I doubt I know him well enough to make any guesses. [So says the heart-reader. It's less that he doesn't know and more like he doesn't want to pry. It amounts to the same thing. Kind of.]

[That makes her laugh a little. Not a heart-reader by any means since truth-reading is a very, very different thing with how she does it but...she knows you well enough, Will.

Though Erika pauses as if considering how much to divulge. Then deciding whatever, it's Will.] We shared a dream once. It was very...interesting.

[Ignore that grin she's trying hard to fight down. Being in her element and loving it? Ahhh-]

Well. He was a witch in it. Do you know what his title was? The Witch of Communication. Isn't that interesting?

[She doesn't have to try that hard to be a prissy good victorian girl. As long as she wasn't screeching and ripping at the walls and letting her voice rise with her explanations like when she gets wrapped up in her own solutions. That would've been good enough of a pass.] He mentioned a dream once. Something about illegal moves.

[See how little he cares. So. Very. Little. A dream is a dream, even if it's shared, and his only saving grace is that he hasn't gotten that yet. Hopefully never.]

'Communication' title? [There's various types of witches, and their titles usually convey their powers. Some are only used by one witch, such as Certainty and Miracles, or they're titles and have nothing to do with their powers, like Beatrice was Endless, but her title was 'golden'. Some like Ressurrection, Origins, and Truth, are classes given based on a witch's source of power. While rare, it's possible to have multiples.

The thing to note here, is that when he repeats her, it's almost out of genuine confusion. Angels keep track of everything. Fragments, powers, titles, but he doesn't even need to repeat his thought for Erika to get it out of his voice. Communication? Never heard of it. So that means it's a one-time brand, like Bern's and Lambda's. Voyager in training. Which is bad.]

Normally I don't agree with you on your feelings... but that actually is interesting. I wonder what his domain was like.

[Erika's smile widens. Catching Will's interest in an open way is a much more difficult task and one to be proud of here. After all, she wouldn't mention it if she didn't think it was relevant or interesting and it is both.

So she waves a hand, palm up with a nod.] I did corner him into revealing his illusion. Well, you can't blame him, really. He didn't have a clue what he was doing and I personally would not want to face myself and Lady Bernkastel starting off like that.

At any rate, his illusion was based on the internet. An anonymous leader to a massive group. It was just a dream but considering his fading heart, that title hasn't stopped chewing on my brain like there is something I missed.

[Yeah yeah she said she missed something, shut up.]

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