In most people's eyes - and in his own - Stratos is far from a man to look kindly on demons. Everything in his upbringing says that such creatures are to be feared, mistrusted, and one never places their wellbeing on a level with that of one's fellow mortals.

But whether he acknowledges it or not, Stratos doesn't think of Nekomata as just some daedra. Whether or not he ever breathes a word about it, when push comes to shove she is not an expendable monster whose pain he can ignore. He made that choice a year ago. He's too honest to pretend he can take it back.

The tribune does come around the table and sit in the chair: he wasn't planning to do so before but now it's a matter of principle. Neko will sit wherever she pleases and so long as it's not on his person he won't object further.

There are more important issues at hand. He fixes her with a direct stare.

"You've been tampering with my letters."