Jean was walking through the Halls, moving between labs calmly and efficiently as he observed experimentation in progress, when his attention was caught by a rush of loneliness and neediness.

He turned and caught sight of a youthful Kyriotate, hidden shyly in the corner and watching him. His memory quickly provided an identity - Marufinah, who had Redeemed from Technology not a month earlier. He looked it over and nodded approvingly - when it had come to him, its true self had been barely visible under all the mechanical additions. He had removed its grafts himself, carefully, and it was looking much the better for it now.

"Marufinah," Jean said, voice soft, and braced himself.

The Kyriotate flung itself at Jean, bawling, and wrapped many arms and legs around his waist. It clung tightly. Jean swayed with the impact, then placed his own arms around it as it shook.

"I can't stop remembering," the Kyriotate whispered tearfully, the words tumbling over each other as it spoke from three mouths at once. "I try but I can't stop remembering. He's always there with me."

Jean squeezed, gently, and thought. On the one hand, this manifestation was needed to continue his management duties. On the other, things could indeed be worked out.

"Well," Jean said. "Then I'll have to be here with you."

As the afternoon wore on, a number of Jean's servitors had cause to wonder why their Archangel was going about his business with a Kyriotate wrapped around his middle. Every so often, he would lower a hand and stroke it comfortingly, then go back about his work.

And when the Kyriotate finally stopped shaking, Jean smiled.