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Sitting in his office, he looked over the crystals he’d found recently and started checking their quality with a loupe. Each one had few if any imperfections, it seemed that Voce had done well this time. His youma, although much more talkative than before, still listened well and had an eye for such things. To be honest he was sure it was more than that at this point as the large raven-like bird preened and perched on the perch he had near his desk.

They still accepted his petting, still seemed to enjoy his company, so the adjustment period seemed to be coming to an end and he’d started giving his youma more complicated tasks. Finding things in the rift as well as retrieving things from his team or dropping off supplies to locations when he was busy. They could manage much more now and each time they did a task he rewarded them with more crystals that now filled the nest they’d made on top of the perch.

Smiling a bit, he pulled out the tools he needed from the drawer and worked on shaping one of the crystals. By now he’d done it a few times, the shape coming out smoother and more refined each time but try as he might they never seemed to last. It was probably the nature of things, but he still enjoyed the work. It was easy to get lost in, letting his mind wander and think of Liam more often than not at this point.

Things had gotten better, at least in part when it came to the day-to-day. He still kept busy, still worked here, and ran those private lessons while the university work had wound down. Something else he’d made some time for was working on other instruments, getting orders filled for the season at the shop that held his family name. Liam had been wanting to go with him but he’d been trying to figure out a good schedule for it. He didn’t want to drag them out of bed at four am on a random day of the week when he felt like working on things.

Shaking his head he smiled more to himself as he worked. If he finished early enough, he was considering bringing Liam out for dinner maybe. Something he’d been looking forward to doing with them more often since the charity event that happened in February.

Looking up as he heard the knock and then enter, Chalcanthite saw the French senshi peer in and directly at his youma. “You are fine Kafka, Voce will not bother you. If anything, if you want to give them a crystal, it will improve their opinion of you greatly.”

Offering up one from the breast pocket of his coat, he smiled at Voce. “This is a friend of mine Voce, please avoid pecking them.” Speaking firmly, almost like a parent to their child, he watched them carefully before looking back down at what he had been working on.

“I was just working on some things but I can put them away for now, just a small project I have been working on for a while. It seems that you were able to solve your issue using my notes and I see you received a promotion as well." Looking over the senshi as they took the crystal from his hand, he still wondered how much of the actual quota gathering they'd done and how much Benitoite had covered for them. It seemed like something they might do since Kafka wasn't one to fight. He was fine with it for the most part, his own time as a lieutenant had been rough and had nearly gotten him killed a few times.

"What assistance do you need from me this time?" Icy eyes watched the other as he traced his fingers over the edge of the crystal he'd been working on, feeling where he'd dulled the once sharp edges down so that they wouldn't harm someone using one of them. His voice was still pleasant though even if he was very to the point over things, he did want to get out of here and get home to his partner.

Internally, he grimaced at the thought of consuming a starseed. It was something he knew he would be far too likely to get addicted to after everything else he had leaned on as a crutch before. Externally he nodded and then picked the report up and read through it as Kafka spoke.

"It is handy and once you reach another promotion you are able to pull others to you if you need assistance. They have to accept though but it is useful, it was how I pulled Aoede out of a particularly bad situation." At that, the corner of his mouth turned down into a frown. He couldn't quite shake that sight he'd seen of his sister charred and hurt.

The mention of research or anything besides fighting did have him leaning forward as he finished with the report. "Good work, have you considered joining the information branch? I believe Benitoite is part of it as well, as hard as that may be to believe." Setting the report into the top drawer on the right side of his desk, he locked it up and then looked over the crystals.

"Yes and no Kafka. It will help senshi in general though, whether or not they have the same issue as you had. Some crystals I have found are capable of deterring youma as it were. I need to run some in-the-field trials as it were but I am going to avoid bringing senshi into the Rift when there are so many uncertain variables still. I intend to kick a hornet's nest as it were down there so only agents will be joining. At some point, I may borrow Benitoite though I have a feeling it may not be something that is up his alley after Bazzite."

Picking the crystal he was working on back up, he went back to shaping and finalizing things. "I always keep detailed notes, the more information I have then the easier it is to proceed without issue. Unlike Benitoite, I rarely move forward without all the cards. I have many responsibilities to manage and cannot risk getting hurt and falling behind." That and he knew it would worry Liam and it would mean he would have to go back to Lorcan for another visit. Things were alright as they were for now but he still was hesitant to let more of his own info out into the open. It wasn't something he needed to worry about and he preferred to keep things to himself, it was better if all these lower-ranked senshi and agents saw the front he put on anyway. He was confident with all this at least, with the notes and information alongside all the background machinations he was working on.

There was that hesitancy, something he didn't quite like but it didn't seem so much as a hesitancy to be a part of the Negaverse at least. That was something he could understand a bit when it came to fighting. It wasn't something he liked or wanted to participate in more than he had to.

"I can assist no matter what branch you choose and you can always switch if things are less than desirable. I just started with information and it has suited me perfectly over the years." Of course the past blips with things he wouldn't bring up but he was confident in his choice and position still. He had plenty or research to offer and more of the work he was doing was proving fruitful now that he'd assisted two corrupts with stabilizing their powers.

"I see, that is understandable then. I apologize if Voce stirs that memory up but he is rather peaceful, all things considered." Scritching the youma beneath their beak, he smiled at them as they leaned into his hand and mumbled thanks in that odd mixed voice they had.

"That would be beneficial if you can convince him. Considering the situation you may have more luck on that front, I still find myself a bit cautious of him after all these years but I have enough reasons to be cautious of other Generals." More than once he'd been bitten by his trusting of others and each time he had withdrawn to keep his projects under a smaller jurisdiction if he could manage but this would be too difficult to handle on the small side of things.

Narrowing his eyes, he recognized a pitch when he heard one. He'd slung plenty of his own on stage and in the Negaverse over the years. It did sound good and made logical sense but he didn't quite trust those who were so quick to turn to violence. Even if he had done the same to protect Liam, he didn't want to have that added risk but if they could lower that risk then it might be worth his consideration.

"I can be patient, I will watch and see how things go but yes, do please let him know I may require his assistance in the Rift. I can watch him if need be during other things as well. For now, I do need to focus on my work though, I have to make a few more of these in preparation for things."

WC: 1,572 for Chal