LogFAQs > #883744093

Cut to the bridge. It's the dead of the night, and a heavy rain's falling down on Lisa Brenner's head, including hail. Accompanying her is Tubal Cain. A small, forlorn smile spreads across her face.

"It's like a Catharist whipping, huh?"

She couldn't go back to the ORTs yet. She needed time, time to think, so that's why she's here right now, letting the rain soak her skin. Soon it'll be Christmas...Rea's birthday. She's not sure what to think about that. Such an important day...a day she's simultaneously been awaiting for a long time, yet also hated. All that's left is to sit and wait, and she's sick of it. Her job's done, but there's no relief over it. Only anger and impatience.

Would her wish be granted? Would everything she'd lost come back to her? Or would she end up losing something else in return?

"How pathetic. I've gotten too old..."

Lisa's lived for more than ninety years, and none of that time on earth has brought her any peace of wisdom. All this time, and she still carries many regrets with her. A long time ago, she learned to give up control, and go with the flow, and now, as she has many times before, she realizes she feels weak and used. In some ways, she's no different from Cain. A puppet controlling a puppet.

"So at the very least, I think it would be good if you weren't..."

Angry? Sad? Something of that ilk, at any rate. How must Cain feel about her?

"Would you care to tell me? Cain...or should I say..."

"You will catch a cold, Lisa."

It's Kristoff. Way to cockblock a reveal, dude!

Anyway, the Father is here because to interrupt Lisa - not from revealing spoilers, but from wallowing in her self-loathing. He leads off by thanking her for opening the third swastika, a job well done. This confuses Lisa, because why would he ever need to thank her? It makes her suspicious.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah, nothing of import. I merely felt a somewhat bizarre disturbance with the spirits. It happened shortly before the Swastika was opened, I believe."

Oh? Interesting. Must have been Cain's awakening, probably. The others didn't sense a thing, which is odd - they aren't on his level, I suppose. As he says, 'perhaps it is significant that only I sensed it'. Ignoring Lisa's questions, he begins to inspect Cain. As he does so, it occurs to Lisa that Cain is certainly the best weapon in the ORTs' arsenal - but while Father Trifa isn't the 'strongest', he is the most 'dreaded' amongst the order. And then...

"Do you hesitate at times, Lisa? Now that your work is done, all that is left is to wait. You never have been fond of violence to begin with, so that is fine. I shall not stop you. However...I believe Cain still wishes to move around."

"..."

"How about it?"

"Why? Why do you still want to use him? You're not shorthanded, that's for sure."

"Mmm, all in due time. First, let us discuss your worries. Your worries and hesitation...you need not talk of them for me to understand. I have no wife or children, but I have those who are just like that. They are precious beyond words. Warmth that can never be replaced. Though we may be called demons, we possess human hearts. As such, I understand your suffering — so well, in fact, that it hurts. The source of that conflict is that you must kill the child in order to hold it in your arms. The contradiction is so tremendous it is far too much to handle. So you went with the flow without being able to make a choice. Is it not natural? We are indeed similar beings. I wish for Theresia's happiness just like you do, Lisa."

Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear...
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Shine on, you crazy diamond.