liS TEN.... I know Erica is a twiglight but can you explain a little more about what Danny was talking about? The one with the affection and forehead kisses. Also sorry for asking so many questions šš
Hey itās fine~! ^--^ I think weāre just all so happy the story has started up again
What they did to Erica was torture conditioning and brainwashing. She was abused, from what we see also injected with possibly painful and psychologically affecting drugs, and then most likely put through intense training and conditioning to make her a combatant worthy of their use. During all of this, she was probably lied to so much that she eventually began to believe their words, and this is where the whole āfamilyā thing comes into play.
A wonderful example of the kind of conditioning most likely used on Erica, and possibly Mikhail, actually comes from what I believe to be a little known book series called āThe Sword of Truthā, which had a TV broadcast under the title of āLegend of the Seekerā back in 2008. In the series, there is a group of female warriors called Mord-Sith, who also go through similar conditioning/training when they are brought in to join. Obviously itās not exact, but I think it comes pretty close. Taken from the wiki:
Candidates to become Mord-Sith are selected from the gentlest and kindest girls in D'Hara, regardless of rank, wealth or any other factors. The kindest girls always make the best Mord-Sith because they have the farthest to fall. They are kidnapped along with their parents and trained from a young age on three levels. Each time, she must be "broken."
The first breaking is a time during which she is tortured to the point of obedience so strong that she would do absolutely anything her master/mistress tells her, without question or hesitation. The girl is hung from a chain and tortured methodically by with the use of an Agiel until she breaks. This part of the training rids her of her sense of self and personal desires.
During the second breaking, she is forced to watch as her teacher slowly and brutally tortures her mother to the point of being broken, and eventually, death. This is to rid her of compassion.
The third, and arguably the most difficult, breaking is when she is given the instrument of torture and must inflict pain and suffering upon her own father until he breaks as well, and then she must kill him. When she has completed this task, she is a full Mord-Sith.
Due to the kind of torture conditioning used on Erica, the biggest and most wonderful reward for good or favorable behavior, was a kiss on the forehead from her trainer, or āfamilyā. Monroe had seemed to frequently visit her, Delico, and Yang while they were in the orphanage, so the kiss on the forehead was probably something he noticed was special between Erica and her brother before having her abducted, so they made it their way of connecting feelings of loyalty/love for family to their benefit.