<div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/nvQJUqt.jpg)</div><strong>NAME:</strong>Albion<br/><strong>DAY:</strong>June 15th, 2021, 11:00 AM<br/><strong>LOCATION:</strong>City Streets<br/><strong>TAGGING:</strong>Nerissa, Lily,<br/><strong>EXTRA:</strong>Long-winded explanations<br/><strong>WEARING:</strong>Sharp style<br/><br/><hr/><br/>Once there was enough distance, once he was sure he didn't have to turn around and see the presence of the blue-skinned witch, he found finally turn and take a seat on a bench nearby. He was sure he'd walked out in less than his usual cheerful and chipper self, but he didn't want to stop to have to explain to Lily or Nerissa why he did not have any fond memories of the demoness. One would think even someone like him would not have a bad thing to say about a cute girl, but not all evenings were pleasant memories.<br/><br/>Lily and Nerissa seemed to follow along a short few moments later, no doubt staying behind to try and inquire a bit as to their new guest. He couldn't blame them; After all, SOPHE had to (tried, in the case of Lily) go through great pains to cover up some of their secrets in the faces of their newer recruits, and keep others away from her to prevent being manipulated, or worse, by Kyless especially. While Lily seemed to be the sort to not let today's events foul up their attempt at a date by putting it off for another day (which Albion appreciated, he was going to need to unwind), Nerissa was far more inquisitive... Which, unfortunately for him, meant there was no getting around answering about what just happened. Standing up from his seat  he walked along with the others, ready to answer.<br/><br/>Though the way and speed she asked them left him snorting and chuckling gently as he raised his hand. "Whoa there, Neri, you're moving a mile a minute! Give me a chance to reply to your first question before hitting me with four or five more." he spoke. He stared at Nerissa first and foremost, as answering questions while looking away would make it look as if he had something to hide. And while he did indeed, this particular subject was not something he wanted to remain hidden.<br/><br/>"For starters... Yes, I shot her at one point. It was... Accidental to say the least, but it worked out in our favor." Albion admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "Was during one of my earlier operations... Me and others were caught in a powerful illusion and getting assaulted by other demons in the meanwhile under the cover of said illusion. I'm not even sure which shot did it, maybe one of my Ricochets, but I intended to hit something else... And instead I guess I struck her. It broke her control, and from there we could find our real targets. So, by sheer dumb luck, I'm still here today. Needless to say, it scares me that they're letting her wall about so freely now." He sighed.<br/><br/>"The shot was a wounding one, and while I was ready to kill her if needed, the agents intended to interrogate her instead. I didn't think they would let her out so freely though." He grunted, annoyance on his features now.  "If I had to guess, SOPHE keeps prisoners to try and get an understanding of the enemies we need to deal with. Not all are willing to cooperate though... Can't imagine what happens to those." He gave an indifferent shrug. "The only thing I know about that demoness is that she's... Like you, a Demon of Calder. She can weave powerful illusions while masking her presence, but I haven't been read in to the specifics of her powers, or any weaknesses short of the bells she was given. According to the Doc, it's to help agents learn where she is amidst her illusions, incase she tries to flee, and normally i'm only allowed to shoot her with the tranquilizers given to me if the need arises. But I didn't think she would be accompanying us today or else I would have brought them along... I guess those damn war demons love keeping their secrets. She appears to be playing nice for now..."<br/><br/>After all, what was really stopping her from simply taking them off before fleeing? He couldn't put all if his faith in such a measure... He knew she had to be smart enough to figure that out too, so the fact that she had been playing so nicely with the others had not gone unnoticed to him. He wasn't ready to accept the fact she had turned over a new leaf yet either, however; Trickery was their game, and what greater trick than making those around you believe you had given up your ways?<br/><br/>However, the biggest question awaited him at the very end, and of course, it wasn't one with a clear answer... Nerissa, while a tricksoms and mischievous sort, was never malicious with her illusions. Could he shoot her...? Potentially... But<em>would</em>he shoot her... That was a very different story. However, leaving it in the air was only going to make her uncomfortable, so he stopped walking and put a hand on her shoulder, looking into her eyes.<br/><br/>"You've had enough time to show everyone here that you are not the kind of demon that would be as malicious as others can be. Back when I was my more grouchy self and you were new, you kept pestering me and poking me to try and make me less boring and grouchy... If you think I could ever shoot someone like you, you're wrong." He nodded, moving his hand to her head to scritch gently. "I don't think I could even be ordered to shoot you, and if I did, Lily here would never forgive me for it." He added with a grin, jerking a thumb at Lily. "But I understand if everything you heard today makes you more wary of me, which is fine. I wouldn't just ask you to trust me completely in light of that."<br/><br/>With everything cleared up, he removed his hand from her head and put his best smile on once more. There was a rather curious scent out, but given how out in the open they were and how close others could be, it was certainly easily dismissed. "Sorry if that earlier display worried you two. Lack of trust is not something that should be going on before a mission... Plus, I rather not ruin today's events with sour memories.<em>'Even though they're probably not going to go all that well for me.'</em>" the white haired male mused, though that last bit had been very much internalized. Lily really did have a point... The waxing was probably much worse than dealing with enemy demons...