[Again with the fucking silence as he contemplates his answer, as he considers Cidolfus' words. His gaze stays unbroken upon those waves, their perpetual and faithful cycle of mutually assured destruction somehow soothing to his mind.

He needs it, after hearing those three words from Cid again. Normally it does nothing to him, but normally he has a nigh impenetrable shroud of aether around his heart, but as of right now he has a break in the wall. A weak spot where Cid's words and affections can slip in and infect him, worsen his corruption.

He takes solace in the fact that when the collar is removed, it will be rooted out, as his desires will be.]

So, you would have me simply because I am inevitable?

[He guesses that does sound like love.]

Nevertheless, had plans unfolded as intended...the Dominants would have been united under Waloed, and we would play our part in sating Mythos' ravenous hunger thus making him presentable to our Master. With your connections that you forged as Lord Commander and years of infiltrating Storm, you would have located Mythos, the Phoenix, and Shiva. Procuring them as you had Garuda, and as she had Titan. With Phoenix's ties to Bahamut, we would save him from his place as Sanbreque's celebrated whore.

You need not have died to fulfill your role in feeding Mythos, though if we were to cross the gates to paradise, then you would have needed to surrender your will as I have.

[Finally he glances at Cid.]

That we might know salvation and peace forevermore once our world was saved through our joint efforts in service to the Lord.