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Encke had detected a Dark Mirror energy signature and figured it might be nice to visit them. Maybe he could chat with them a bit. See how they were doing. Maybe ask about Remarque. Perhaps interrogate them as to how their plans for getting back to space were doing, seeing as Avior had seemed a little cagey about it.

(Okay, a lot cagey.)

Maybe convince one that it was easier to just go to space naturally than to try and figure out how to manipulate their abilities to make it possible unnaturally.

It seemed like a good way to spend the evening to him. While Dark Mirror Senshi did not seem to be anywhere near as bad as the Negaverse, he still thought they would do better on his side.

What Encke hadn't been expecting to find was quite a few sleepy people--seemed to be oddly sleepy couples for the most part--stumbling and yawning near the source of the Dark Mirror sensation. He hadn't been used to catching a Dark Mirror senshi doing anything to anyone innocent, and the fact that the Dark Mirror senshi seemed to be actively harming civilians caught him by surprise. What was he supposed to be doing in this situation?

The logical thing to do in this situation was to stop her from doing that, as much as he admitted he didn't exactly want to do anything to a Dark Mirror senshi. She was actively harming people, and that couldn't stand, whether her alliance was less harmful or not.

Encke pinpointed where the aura was coming from and hopped up onto a roof, quickly making his way over.

She seemed tired, maybe exasperated.

Perhaps both.

It didn't miss his notice, especially in combination with the fact that she seemed to be aiming at couples in particular. Encke's mind started trying to puzzle it together by instinct. The most obvious reason seemed to be something with a lover. After all, why else would be she aiming at couples in particular? Maybe a fight of some sort? A break up, even? Encke tempted to ask if she had something wrong, instead.

But he responded to her, seeing as she asked first. Encke gestured at the people who were standing below. "You need to ask?" asked Encke, tone mildly incredulous, even if his expression wasn't. "Leave the civilian couples alone. They're just walking here. They don't need to be involved in this mess."

Encke wasn't the most inclined to fight Dark Mirror Senshi, but he was ready to. His stance was wide, and the hand he wasn't gesturing with was already balled up at his side.

If she wasn't going to leave them alone, he'd make her.

Exasperated, definitely.

Also angry. Definitely angry.

Encke had not been expecting a tirade of a response, and ended up relaxing his position a bit, mostly out of surprise. To some extent, he did expect all of it: the defensiveness, the needling at his own person, the invite to just come fight her. All at once with a lot of words though... That definitely hinted something was up.

... Also, punish her for all her misdeeds?

"I don't get any enjoyment out of this, you know," remarked Encke, unable to help at least responding to that bit.

He cleared his throat. "Anyway, can't stay out of it. It's my job to defend them. Less harmful than killing them, sure, but you're still harming them. And why would I offer myself instead, if I don't think you should be gathering energy?"

Encke shook his head. He needed to not get drawn into monologuing himself. Maybe that's what she was hoping for.

He couldn't help feeling bad for her, though. Attacking her didn't really seem to be the right answer, even if it was the only one he was obviously presented with. He had seemed to manage to distract her from the civilians, though. Perhaps they would leave while she was turned away from them. That would help.

(They likely didn't know she was there or what she was doing. Dark Mirrors didn't exactly have giant monstrosities fighting for them.)

Encke wasn't going to let himself get baited -- she wanted him to attack her now, after all -- but he still looked ready to fight.

"It may be a job, but it's one that's harming others!"

Why did she keep calling him Mr. Macho anyway? He knew that she didn't know his name but--

Encke saw the way her fists were trembling and prepared himself for a swing. She may have looked small, but she was still a super-leveled senshi. It was likely her punches would still have some sort of impact. He steeled himself for a hit, preparing himself to swing back and hopefully knock her down.

Bracing himself for that kind of hit might have ultimately ended up being beneficial, but not for the reason he suspected it would be. His arms suddenly felt cold, and he was fairly sure he was stuck in the middle of a rather sudden whiteout. Bracing himself prevented him from getting knocked back by the sudden wind force, at least, and he stood his ground. He knew her name was Chione now, seeing as her attack named her. Encke lifted an arm to shield his face and attempted to push after her, wanting to make sure she cleared out of the area.

While his legs were strong, anyone's progress was slowed down by a blizzard suddenly whipping around them, and Chione was definitely able to get a bit more distance between herself and Encke.

"Chione!" called Encke, after her, attempting to break any distance.

He broke into a run once the miniature blizzard dispersed, mostly with the intention of chasing her away.

Plague-ridden fool?

It wasn't exactly Encke's job to counsel for the Dark Mirror, but something about the way she was talking about herself didn't sit right with him. He frowned, crossing his arms, but he was making no further move to attack her. If anything, it seemed that he just wanted to make sure she was definitely leaving.

If she wasn't, he'd act accordingly.

But first, he would comment on the words she was using. He skipped by Mr. Macho and instead focused on the fact that she seemed ... angry? Upset? Frustrated? Upset with herself? "You don't have to do this, you know. This," he gestured vaguely to her outfit, implying that by this he meant the entire dark mirror senshi bit. Maybe the whole draining people and being grouchy about themselves bit. Either way. "There's other options. Maybe ones that won't leave Chaos weighing on you so much."

Encke shrugged, dropping his arms to his sides.

"In any case, I won't attack someone who's retreating. You can go."

The unspoken word was that if she didn't, he would attack.

Encke frowned.

He murmured something under his breath along the lines of, "I might understand," but it was clear she wasn't going to actually listen to him. He supposed the important part was that she was leaving, and in the process leaving the civilians alone, which was what he had wanted from the confrontation. Encke just didn't expect to end up feeling bad for the Dark Mirror senshi in the process.

He quirked a brow when she popped her head back out of the mirror and remarked that he should have offered his energy again, and shook his head when she retreated. Giving his energy to a bad cause wasn't exactly a proper resolution.

Encke wasn't sure what was the right resolution in this situation, though.

He had at least gotten a proper temporary solution, and he supposed that would be enough.

With a sigh, Encke left the mirror once he was certain she wasn't coming back.