[ 1 ]ㅤ⸺ㅤAshley is hunting for Andrew in Hell, convinced he must be here somewhere. Lute crosses paths with her during an Extermination, noticing the rabbit-demon moving through bodies with zero hesitation [ which intrigues her just a bit, ] Ashley genuinely believes Andrew is somewhere in Hell & becomes convinced Lute can help locate him; she sees opportunity: angels know things. Heaven tracks souls [ right? ] Whether that belief is rational or delusional doesn’t matter; she attaches to the idea. Lute refuses at first, but perhaps Ashley offers something in return — information on Overlord movements, safehouses, rumors. Lute eventually agrees to assist, [ partially to track a separate Heaven objective, partially because Ashley’s desperation makes her predictable, & perhaps some part of her understands the fixation ] Their alliance becomes transactional: Ashley feeds Lute intel & Lute quietly checks old registries, extermination lists, lost soul classifications. Lute [ reluctantly ] understands the depth of Ashley’s fixation; it mirrors something uncomfortably familiar — devotion without boundary. New evidence suggests Andrew may have already been purged [ oops, ] Does Lute tell her? Or withhold it to keep Ashley stable? Or perhaps, he wasn’t purged but he may not want anything to do with her… Then the question shifts: is Lute helping reunite siblings? Should she?
[ 2 ]ㅤ⸺ㅤHeaven discards Lute; no title, no command, no intact wings. She is left with nothing… In Hell there is no formation to fall into, no hierarchy waiting, & the sudden absence of structure pushes her toward instability she does her best to mask as discipline & control. A fallen or active Exorcist radiates authority, danger, & emotional unavailability — everything Ashley reads as challenge. She begins shadowing Lute between Cannibal Town & the Hotel, appearing uninvited, offering small “gifts” made of things she shouldn’t have access to. Lute initially dismisses her as nuisance-level sinner behavior, until she realizes Ashley is studying her routines the way a hunter studies prey. Ashley isn’t afraid of Lute; this makes her rather curious. She wants to know what makes something so rigid break; Lute recognizes the attachment pattern fast [ cough. ] Instead of pushing her away violently, she sets boundaries like military barricades; Ashley responds by testing each one, escalating with manipulation, flirting, threats toward anyone else who gets close. They slip into something strange — a warped kind of companionship built on proximity & shared intensity; besties, besties, besties…
[ 3 ]ㅤ⸺ㅤAfter a catastrophic fall or divine rupture, Lute doesn’t just lose rank: she loses memory & what’s left isn’t the militant commander, but the baseline she once was: Eve from the garden. She’s all just instinct, confusion, & raw power she doesn’t understand; she wakes in Hell disoriented, stripped of language for what she used to be, wings damaged but still luminous enough to draw attention. Ashley finds her first. At first it’s curiosity, recognizing something potent beneath the fear. An angel without memory is still an angel; still dangerous & oh so very useful… with time. Ashley approaches gently [ maybe softer than she ever is with anyone else ] presenting herself as guide, protector, the only safe constant in a hostile place. She feeds Lute partial truths; tells her Heaven abandoned her, tells her no one else will keep her safe. Lute, reverted to that Eve-state, clings because she is alone & frightened; the fear of isolation mirrors Ashley’s own autophobia. A bond forms fast, intense, unequal; Ashley starts using her, [ for small things at first! ] Sending her to retrieve things, stand behind her during negotiations as silent divine muscle [ even if only in appearance ] Lute obeys out of severe dependence; but then flashes of old memory begin bleeding through — discipline, judgment, violence. Ashley notices the shift. The “lackey” then starts standing straighter & asking questions…
