Three hours truly wasn’t a long amount of time. Three hours was hardly enough time to eat, relax and enjoy…things once or twice. And then that was it. The three hours were up, it was time for Eion to return to Negaspace. It sucked.

Lionel lay in his rumpled bed long after Eion had gone, broodingly watching the ceiling and trying to figure out some way around the problem.

Taking the fire out of Faustite obviously wasn’t the answer, not if it meant losing Faustite in the process. That would do no good for anyone. But…if that wasn’t the answer, what could he do? Figure out a way to make Faustite fireproof? Find a way to do ah…recreational activities with Faustite while he was Faustite, and not in the guise of Eion.

There were flameproof materials out there…and perhaps that was a solution that he could try…but it wouldn’t do all that was needed. It wouldn’t allow for…the intimacy that Faustite deserved…and that they all wanted.

Then what? What other course was there? It wasn’t like he could simply make himself fireproof…

Lionel paused and pursed his lips, mulling over that thought for a few minutes.

If he were to find a way to get such a power. Such a skill set…what would be the path to take? Become a half youma the same as Faustite?

Would that grant better protection from flames? Perhaps, but he couldn't be completely sure. Still. It was a better jumping off point than he had been at before. It was worth a thought, worth some research.

He wasn’t strong enough yet to go into the rift, and didn’t want to think about going there alone until he had a weapon that was more than a joke…but. It could work. If he could grow stronger…gain a promotion…he could do it. Find a youma and…what? Eat it? How the hell did someone become part youma anyway?

Well…s**t. He hadn’t anticipated just…not knowing the answer so…he’d have to find someone who did know. Who could help him. Who could keep it a secret, what he was trying to do and could guide him down this path.

…Sure, it would be a difficult thing, and he wouldn’t…wouldn’t be Lionel anymore, but…it would be worth it, wouldn’t it? To stay closer to his General and help him to smile more. To be able to provide physical assurances to him at all times and not just when they were in a three hour window of miracles.

Stretching, Lionel got himself up and made his way over to his computer, turning it on and jotting down a list of ideas on a notepad. First off, he should find things that were fireproof…so that he could hopefully find a youma with that kind of ability. Second off, he had to find out who could help him in his quest to become this new and improved version of himself…and third off, he had to continue to meet and possibly exceed his quotas, so that he could get stronger and set this ball into true motion.