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[Consider it less a mercy and more taking responsibility for the damages. She caused them and she's still quite proud of her victory but there's no reason to keep breaking him, even if it's just that way. Half-hearted petting means bumping his hand, though. Bad. Pet better.

And she realises it but only closes her eyes and focuses on Will's current issue instead.]

That would be impossible. [Blunt and calmly stated.] Let me say it a little clearer. What you are, Willard, is not going to allow you such a retirement. What did you have outside of your job? What most of you had was nothing. While I no longer view you as tools, it is hardly difficult to do so with the level of devotion to your cause ingrained in your minds. It is more than a trait. It is part of your core. You can't pack it away. You would need to cut it from your heart.

[A pause in thought.] You can't deny how nice it felt to be released. Don't you think you'll be able to live better if you do that sometimes? It would be hypocritical to say I need it but you don't.

[At least her demand for better pettings gets a larger glimpse of awareness. Enough of one to knock her on the head once in a light scolding, try to demand things less will you?, and while the quick motion sends nails through his hands, he still ends up complying to her demand. Such a spoiled cat.

So she goes the obvious route, which earns an internal sigh, but it's fine. She got the point, even if she's ignoring it for now. Even if she's throwing him off. If all it takes is to cleave his own heart open and rip out some of the pieces, then dealing with the constant bleeding is a small price. He's already braced to deal with something similar already, what's another?

The only thing that really gives her argument any weight is the instinctual rejection of the thought the same moment, that one must never throw away their loyalty to our Lord, and he's really beginning to hate it when she's right. At least go analyze someone else, don't you have your own problems?]

Then I won't be a hypocrite. I won't deny it, but that doesn't mean I'll act on it. Wanting to do something doesn't mean that's a pass to do what you please.

[Also the girlfriend tends to look down on the kind of thing that just happened. All the more reason not to do anything about it.]

[Of course Erika has her own problems. When doesn't she have issues? That's why she analyses everyone else. At least it is totally very useful analysis here and she knows it is because Will can't refute it even out of stubbornness.

If she could purr, she would be, but the light scolding is forgiven since the petting is nicer. Erika doesn't shut her eyes since she needs to observe him but she does allow them to go half-lidded.]

But you have the greatest pass of all, Willard. In the name of thy Lord, punish the wicked. [Smiling in that serene, confident way that Will can recognise as similar to his own "I know I'm winning this" smile.] And I know the concern you haven't voiced. But who would tell? I have no reason to spill any secrets in this case.

[His problem is not even that the advice panel has been turned against him. It's that it's Erika, of all people, doing it. Getting nitpicked over a single issue by someone with a laundry list of them is bigger pain than the concept denial and losing to her in the first place all in one. Made even worse by the fact that she's right, and not a thing can be said against it.

Just having that line pulled out as a pass is enough to have the internal conscience start firing off. That, especially in a place like this, that should be your priority. Not staying neutral for the sake of some girl's innocence. And on the external side, she's done a perfect mirror of his smile and God, is it irritating.

Note to self: use it more often.]

If you know my actual concern, then you know it's not just you. She can't find out. From anyone. I won't let her. The easiest way to do that is to make sure it doesn't happen at all.

[Not the slightest waver in that irritating smile, because even saying it like he does is proof that he's slowly losing. Stubbornness might give a good fight and certainly he is still fighting but a losing battle is still a losing battle.]

Isn't staying neutral for her sake practically a sin itself? To stand by and watch the wicked in their ways when it is your duty to take care of that? [Oh hello there, reading you like a book, Will. Not that it's too hard with any knowledge of how these things work.] Who is to say you can't both serve your God and not have her find out?

[Also not even pretending that she doesn't find all of this enjoyable, including the part where Lion doesn't know a thing. Oh she can't taunt her over it but just having a knowing smirk is good enough.]

You don't need to tell me that.

[It's far from the first time he's hated his neutrality. Between Kida taking a side and his own theories all the way to small things like one of the non-combatant branch churches being bombed over nothing.

And Erika stumbles upon a similar case to his last move. That it was a push too far, and the snap of someone being convinced to reverting to a solid wall. A losing battle, no doubt, but she's severely underestimating exactly how stubborn a steadfast angel could be.]

Having her 'find out' isn't only defined by someone telling her. There's also the case if something happens that puts her in danger. If refusing to serve and becoming a fallen is my punishment for protecting her, then I'll take it. It's the least of the sins I've signed for.

[With that near-insane belief backing it up, it's said with a one hundred percent conviction. Absolute certainty, if you would. Takes a lot more work than that to convince someone to be a murderer again.]

[Sudden brick wall and yeah, definitely underestimating it. Though Erika is only half-disappointed. The other half would have been disappointed if it was this easy to push him back into it in the first place. Nothing worth having is easy, right?

Just need to loop around his logic until he hangs himself on it. Will can keep his certainty. Protecting her is the key here and Erika's smile returns with an idea.]

And staying neutral will protect her? [Will can probably see where this is going but Erika continues.] Lion has a habit of making friends who get involved. I can name several off the top of my head and you are aware something nasty will happen soon enough. There is more you can do than you are now to protect her as you say.

[He can see where she's going. Easily. There's not even an attempt to be subtle on her part, which means her next game is making him break. But that's fine. It's another less brutal game of theirs, just like the usual. Calm down. Read the heart behind it.

Few reasons. Possibly that last game wasn't enough for her - doubtful. That she really does want to see him go back to his old work, which itself has differing reasonings. For her own joy, reminds her of Dlanor, wants to join in, wants to hold it over him, just wants to say she's the reason for it, maybe just for the hilarity of it. All things are high possibilities. Chasing the trains too far isn't worth it, step back again. Distracting from her own issues. Going into his is a projection to avoid hers, circling around him means keeping away the chance for him to read her. Too late for that. Last one seems the most probable, but is that really it?

No. It's a mix of two and three, at about a 1:3 ratio. If it was entirely the latter, she would have ran away to lick her wounds. Her curiosity keeps her around, and her fear of being called out keeps her pacing. Hm. Closer, but not perfect. Or is that really it? Getting too detailed can also miss the answer. She's doing it for the reaction - her own joy, his irritation, and getting an inquisitor out of it - and to hide that she still feels cornered. Sounds right. Now a move to make with it to get her off, but only a light scolding. No need to hang her like she's trying.

Not too brutal, but enough to knock her off. One move fits that bracket.]

...There is more I can I can do. I'm not here to deny you. You're just trying to convince me. I also won't deny that you're probably right. [A move that means it's spun around from defense to attack. Flip to a new strategy.] It might be better for a lot more people than just her if I went back to that. I might even start to consider it... but you need a better argument. It's just a few of her friends. I can execute them with or without that title. That way I can still remain neutral.

It's better than picking a side to try and help, then failing that person even harder because of it.

[A slight flinch at the last line and with all the rest turning her arguments away, it would be harder not to back down. A graceful acceptance of a minor loss for an ultimate victory later. Will is still highly likely to give in sooner or later and Erika can still know she had a good hand in dragging it out of him.

Still.

Erika's twitch would probably seem more like irritation or even anger if put on display. In actuality, her thoughts went to Mikado in some way she doesn't exactly get. Not guilt or blame but an Erika equivalent, some hurtful feeling from failing at a role. Even if she can tell Will was reading her, she doesn't know if that was on purpose or not.

Just by being thrown off, though, Erika glances away and the predatory gig is up.]

Executing them still falls into the category of things you can do to upset her. [Not quite mumbled but sulking enough.

A beat, though, and Erika the graceful loser fires one last bullet, a tradition of losing on her own words if nothing else.]

But if you want a better argument, you can consider this one. Quietly fixing the immediate issues that surround this mess would be enough to change things. Then no one she cares about gets hurt beyond repair. At least I would assume that her happiness in her new little family would be worth protecting. If you think, however, that when all is said and done, she won't be cutting herself trying to pick up broken pieces, then please, continue on your way.

[It was on purpose, hence the emphasis. Just enough of a hint to make it obvious if she looks for it, but perfectly bleeding into the rest otherwise. A low move, but it was delivered far less harshly than it could have been - would have been, if he didn't keep that one mental condition in place. But it's fine. It worked, and her glancing away means it worked. Tides turned back to neutral, and that's good enough.

She can sulk all she wants, he hasn't even broken speed at petting her hair. Least he could do for ruining her fun twice in one night.]

I could keep arguing that, but you can take the last word. I'll even say you can count it as a win. [And it's not so much a pity return as it means he'll actually consider it. Hate himself for it, but consider it.] Back to a part you mentioned, any ideas on how to fix the immediate issues? Can't say I'm involved enough to know more than what you've said.

[Along with Kida's one instance of asking for opinions, and Ange's drunken rambling. But neither of those are to be taken seriously.]

[At least there is the petting or someone's head would be getting gnawed. Cats are the worst - or most hilarious - to poke into anger after all. This one chooses to sulk in that way that allows the human to continue giving affection but clearly only because said cat is merciful.]

...It's a thin victory but one nonetheless. [Licking a little wound of pride. It still doesn't feel like much of a win but at least it isn't a loss. And being asked for advice does heal her mood faster.] As for that...there isn't much I can do in my position. I did try to talk to Mikado and got him to admit he doesn't want to go through with whatever ridiculous little idea he's thought up. But between pride, hurt over something which he won't tell me about- [Not bothering to hide any bitter note there.] -and his own eccentric delight in these things, he won't stop himself. If I thought stopping him would help, I would, but it won't change his desires.

[And then a sigh.] And the other one isn't much better. Just as stubborn and refuses to back down unless Mikado apologises and patches it up himself. At least he's self-aware it's not helping. Neither of them want to be soothed from their wounds yet, either. In short, going through either of them is a waste of time. They plan to confront each other and not alone. Morons are predictable in some aspects.

[And then kitty flops heavier onto Will and curls up into the pettings.]

[There's a wince when she flops over entirely, but it's obviously done unconsciously. Too busy thinking on what she said and ignoring her little stint of battered pride and twisted kindness. It's a problem from both ends directed at the other, neither refusing to step away or find a better recourse. Kida could be taken as slightly better for his awareness, but that actually makes him worse.

There's a spot missing. It's gone and it's glaringly obvious it's that one piece that would make the entire solution fall into place, but it's not there. And the entire thing feels all too similar of days spent on end without sleep, slaving over countless pages of reports and confessions with nothing but a frozen cup of coffee and a pair of far-sighted glasses with a too-long overdue prescription. All trying to find that one missing part of the jigsaw puzzle that would put everything back together.

Too bad it's not that easy. And it's only before speaking does he realize he stopped petting her for a few seconds, lost in thought between that faint memory and speedily replaying the parts he knows about their little teenage drama to find anything. At least he realizes it, and immediately resumes.]

'Not alone'. So Kida was aiming to lure over the Christians. [Said with the kind of bitterness that he had thought of it, gave him the benefit of the doubt anyway, and is now pointedly regretting it. Such is the result of trusting a fool. A almost inaudible 'tch' comes with the following thought, that if he goes back to his old duties, Kida would end up on the interrogation list along the line.

Well. Treat it the same as everything else. Murder that bridge when you get to it. Think for now. And behind closed eyes Erika can pick up the frighteningly-precise machinery of his mind going off. Not the subtler invasion of a person's heart, but that louder encompassing one of pieces and details being picked, shredded, rearranged, the simple businesslike arranging of an Inquisitor. With the sound of gears working, it's easier to see why someone would freak out on the receiving end.]

Would be easier if we knew what their problem was with the other... Until that's figured out, I agree. Working with the two themselves is a dead-end route. Best to keep a transient contact for information, but nothing else. Utterly useless for anything else. ...The most efficient way after that is to destroy them from the inside out. Work with their connections and their underlings to ruin the power base they're building up against the other.

[Lapses in pettings can be forgiven for getting to see those gears turning. Erika's only regret is that his eyes are closed, because the look would be breathtaking in all the worst and most beautiful ways. If thinking is a weapon, she appreciates only the sharpest, most brutal blades and it probably explains a lot about her admiration of heaven.

Just listening in rapt silence to him speaking and making ever minute observation that she can, all filed away in her impressive memory. It can't be helped that her appreciation borders so hard on disturbing that it usually falls right into the abyss of insanity but at least right now she's quiet about it.

Snapping from her reverie, Erika mulls over a point or two in her head. Nothing as intense or fascinating as his own thoughts. Perhaps because she's spent so much of her time pondering this over and over that it's mechanical in a vastly different way.]

A slight revision. Masaomi plans something much smaller as far as I am aware. Also much stupider but such is his way. From my observations, he's hoping to turn the tide with a few and end it with words of the cliched kind but prepared to do some damages if and when those fail. [It is possible this revision is not just for data's sake but to allow Will some ability to keep that benefit of the doubt. Erika would say it isn't but she felt the need to say it anyway.]

I know he doesn't know what happened, either. Mikado says he somehow returned home for what seemed like a brief time but was longer for him. Whatever events occurred is anyone's guess. I can only gather that he felt betrayed and alone.

[Kids these days. Ignore that she is barely older than they are.] ...I can't do much though. I could likely destroy Masaomi's connections but leaving him helpless against Mikado in Mikado's current state feels like a death sentence. Destroying Mikado's...will take much more planning. I-

[Sudden cut-off. Erika was in analysis mode, meaning no feelings, meaning she forgot something. Quickly and quietly destroying something before continuing.]

-I don't have any other church connections to help boaster a conflict or power struggle.

[Her responses are given the same internal treatment. Picked up, torn to pieces, keep the bones and parts of the skin, and the rest discarded like such useless dust. No need to even think about, Kida's approach is a set-up for failure. If words failed when they were both aiming for civility, they'll hardly work during a show-down. In terms of power, he's lesser, so aiming for damages is also a failure. Stupid.

So working with Mikado's end, and Erika's comment might be a hint. That whatever Mikado went through during this apparent stint when he returned - that's even possible? file away, but useless for now - might be the hidden piece to the rest of it. Too obvious. Not the happenings themselves, but how Mikado reacted to them. Something that caused such a personality skip to bring about the current situation... No. It's not too obvious. That missing time isn't the key itself, but it'd be enough of an answer to find it.

But alas, the thought gets derailed momentarily, and Erika does get her wish to see his eyes. Because right near the end they snap open again, both the same and infinitely worse than Dlanor's in how they're frozen over to absolute zero and made entirely of razorblades. And worryingly, their target lands on Erika.]

You lapsed. What was it.

[This isn't a question. If it's enough of something to make Erika herself trip on it, that means it's worth hearing. Or, if she wants to be difficult, it's worth ripping it out of her soul to put against the mental poster-board.]

[Breath catching and eyes widening. Well, wish granted. And just as worrying, Erika doesn't cower. Funny how usually receiving a look like that would send her reeling but anything that is familiar in even horrible ways is welcome.]

...Zelos. His church would be useful. That religion isn't associated with these disturbing ones and neither is it associated with any of the traditional religions that we're familiar with. It also has a lot of power and while his power has certain limits, he is very skilled at double-dealing. But unless you think your connection to him is good enough, well.

[It would register as more worrying if he was actually aware of it, or cared even if he was. The goal was to gain the piece Erika tucked away, and she was kind enough to reveal it. Sounds useful. It runs the risk of starting a three-way war, but Kida's side is smaller, so only Mikado's would have to start being cut down at the roots. Problem is without his notice.

The other biggest issue is who the leader is. Zelos. Despite his constant hitting on Lion knowing she's taken, he actually finds a nice tolerance for the moron. Zelos' side is a harder guess.

A sigh, then closing his eyes.] It would be useful, but I don't know where I stand with him. His opinions are well-hidden. Lion would have a better chance. Too bad it's out of the question.

[Some amusement actually comes from that. How unusual for Will to have trouble reading others. Though, if it was going to be anyone, she's not surprised it's Zelos. Erika might not be a heart-reader but she has a certain ruthless spark that generally gets results and look at her luck with him. Even the parts she can read just confuse her further.

Erika settles back against him with a laugh.] We can't just ask her to talk to him for us?

[Though she doubts Lion would feel 'right' doing something like that anyway but they could have forced her hand. Naturally Will won't but ah well. Erika frowns a little for a moment as another thought occurs to her.]

...Willard. There is another issue. A psychological one. We have a very easy riddle. Mikado desire his friendship and also power. Right now, though, the latter is stronger. He's already gone through an unknown event which made him feel somehow helpless and angry. So the riddle is if the roots are cut out from under him again, what will happen?

[Because Erika might be sitting here in a way that seems like plotting against him but in the end no amount of detached observations can hide that it's as much concern and care for Mikado as it is anything else. More, in fact, much more.]

[He gets her amusement, because if he's the one willingly admitting he can't read Zelos, that means he's very good at it. Then there's the fleeting worry that whatever a person like that is containing could never be anything good. It wouldn't be heart with secrets. It would be one, when cracked open, would contain nothing but something unwanted, like sickly black tar washing everything and can never be forgotten or accepted. Even Kinzo was more like something filled with cobwebs and rotting bones than something that horrible.

This is just another reason in how he wants nothing to do with the man any further than civility, but he'd be a good piece, and it's worth giving an attempt. The worst that will happen is losing a connection he never wanted or bothered putting effort into in the first place. Oh, and it means he can't punch him. Damn.]

I understand you're going through the default steps. For that reason, I'll do the same. 'She wouldn't be able to get the answers we need. And I'm still not getting her involved.'

[Still an absolute certainty on that last part, but his voice is generally dead and distracted, now doubly so when she speaks. Plotting? Maybe. His end is more of a mix of an adviser and personal concern, but not for the situation itself. For how the situation would effect Lion, and even Erika counts a bit to the decision, because this is getting to be something where it could threaten his own.

This is something you Do Not Do Under Any Circumstances Ever.

And it says something for how close Mikado is getting to crossing that line he placed before with each word Erika says. Because even though it's a worrying question, even though her heart is concerned, even though Mikado's even considered one of his friends, right around here is where Erika might regret waking up that part of him he hates. Since the response she gets is just as cold as his eyes, without any mercy for her feelings or his own.]

He will lose the will to live. Whether he gets over it or kills himself might be something worth seeing.

[Only some regret and it isn't even regret so much as realising how deep that thread runs through Will. Actually, it is a little fascinating, to see him rank and prioritise people. Lion wins but it is a little flattering to see a bit of herself considered, too.

Still, while she appreciates the sentiment, as a friend and someone loyal to Mikado, her reaction is a sigh. Well, she can hardly scold him. It is interesting to think about.]

It might be for an outsider but for me it will be a test. My theory is that he'll lash out and become worse. I am in a very terrible position in my theory is right. [She smiles.] Well, no matter what, he'll still be better than some to whom I've belonged. This position also means accepting failure for him.

[Oddly, that mindset has always been there. Like his idle dismissive motions, it's something that was taken and toned down for the new edition, but there was always a system. Lion was the most important, by any and all definitions, and for her sake he'd kill everyone else included. After her is Dlanor, then the rest gets blurry and the positions vary and shift as information is filed or redacted as needed. Erika herself is on the level Mikado used to be. Or still is. Hard to say where it lies, since he still cares enough to try helping from the sidelines. But if that can't be done...

Well. That just makes him a bit more certain that Mikado still is on that level. Because sometimes a friend's job is to do horrible things for their sake, even if they'd hate it. Even if it'd be their death. It's better to kill him than let him live a life as a monster made of sin. This kind of logic in angels is like a last mercy to loved ones.]

Only partially. He's not your original owner. That means you have a clause in your contract that lets you break off and become a free-roaming piece. [Like he was before he was ripped to shreds and put back together by Lambda. Free-roaming piece was a pretty sweet gig, he'd miss it if Lambda herself was anything more than an owner in name. Also a sweet gig.] But your heart means you'd stay, right...?

[Pegged. And he doesn't have to say more than that. No need to. Erika, you really are a masochist sometimes. Enough to make your friends worry.] Then how else do you expect to help him? Let him win against Kida even though he's in the wrong?

[Saying it like that is more than a little shameful. Always, always, even now, Erika tastes something bitter whenever the heart comes into things, especially hers, because if she could, she would have cut it out a long time ago. Now she appreciates it and the truths it brings and equally hates her inability to deal with them still.]

If you already know, there isn't a need to say it. [A dull snap. It only proves he pegged her hard on another crisis.] Yes, I am going to stay loyal to him as long as he'll have me. But I can't let him win or lose.

[Twisting one of her twintails in her usual anxious habit.] If he loses, he'll break one way or another but either direction is not a choice I will accept. But winning...would break the other and ultimately Mikado as well. Is there even a way to resolve this? It seems the only one is if they could speak again as regular children.

[A beat.]

...I want him to stay kind and open to me. Obviously, I don't really care how he treats others. But I actually need to because that part of him is connected to it. [Erika curls up against Will's chest.] Perhaps I would also rather you handle it than make me decide.

[Her snapping only gets a small smirk that drops off a fraction of a second later, just petting her head idly as she freaks out to herself and coils against his presence, and while his end still feels it's acid corrosion, his heartbeat is still the same. Dull, slightly colder, a slower pulse that in a human might even be worrisome, but right now it's only good as a distracting anchor against an unwanted truth.

And that last part, deep down, might have been a peg. Very slight, more like a graze than any outright pinning, but he'll say that her aim is good for stabbing hearts. Even if it was an unconscious one.]

...It's strange. I know I should interfere. Maybe if I did something earlier, the situation would have changed... But I won't. I told him once. The only move I would make is killing him if he lost his humanity. Stupidly, I follow this. Even if he forgets, or thinks of me a traitor, I will follow this.

[That kind of horrible, twisted loyalty that to angels is the same as honor. It hurts, knowing you might've done something and still should, but can't. But honor says to abide by one's promises, even if there was no verbal 'I promise' to seal it, and if that means being cursed and hated and murdering a dear friend, then that's fine.]

Offering you advice is all I can do. Anything that involves stepping on that stage... Until my role is needed, I refuse.

[And she doesn't blame him as in the end, her pride would rather her not rely on anyone even this much and relying has meant getting hurt over and over again, especially lately. Why did she bother with all this? It might be easier to just stop bothering. Could she do that now...? Unsure.]

I could likely prove an earlier action, had you taken it, would have changed things. [But she shrugs.] I will do my best to keep it from coming to that point. I suppose I would even protest if you did. Oh, death doesn't sound like much fun a second time.

[Saying that, though, while still curled against him and noting the curious differences in his heartbeat in a sort of relaxed, distant way.]

Anyone can prove that. I can destroy my own argument easier than you.

[Which s even worse than just unwarranted self-hate. It's because he had the perfect chance and position to fix something, and never did. But that's fine. It's a regret, and that means it's another reason to keep the original promise.

And that kind of comment brings an internal wince, because she's right. Erika is already throwing herself at anything for a chance to fix it. Which means, in the worst of cases, she would spend her last breath trying to save him. So the problem is no longer if he can kill Mikado, which is a bitter pill to swallow but still a yes. It's if he can kill Erika, which there would be no reason for other than she was saving a sinner, and is that really as easy to justify? Is that still something possible?]

...Try to keep it from coming to that. Having problems between us would only end badly.

[He would.]

[If anything, that just makes Erika laugh.]

Oh, dear Willard. Don't take me so lightly. [Even if she is quite certain in a fight like that, she'd lose. It doesn't mean it would be easy if Erika has any say in it. And hey, dying for a sinner sounds like a pretty good deal. A lot of villains die for that and get the redeemed through death end right?

Just thinking about it makes her laugh again.]

Let us just take this one step at a time. I don't request that you get involved but as a fellow detective, I do request that you help me gather information needed for this. The last thing Mikado needs is to think I'm betraying him. [With a soft sigh.] Because I'm not.

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