Scene #8647: Trade Secrets

Owner	Pose
Touta Konoe	PHONE: Angela says, "It is complicated. Not good, perhaps, but necessary for some reason." PHONE: Phoning Angela, Touta Konoe says, "No, I get that. It's like that in a lot of places. Trying to find the right answer through a painful path...I...I really do know that's complicated. I'm just sorry you've been brought to the front of it with L Corp." PHONE: Phoning Angela, Touta Konoe says, "Even if it's complicated...I can at least get the feeling of being thrown into something you never had a say in..." PHONE: Angela says, "Oh? Perhaps you ought to tell me a bit about yourself. I've talked about myself plenty today." PHONE: Phoning Angela, Touta Konoe actually sounds a bit surprised. "That's..." He takes in a small breath. "Angela...Before I say anything of that, I promised you I wasn't going to repeat anything you told me and I mean that. I hope you believe me when I say that. At the same time, me telling you something like this...It's...Probably one of the more personal things I can tell /anyone/. If I tell you this, you'd probably be the first person in the Multiverse even before me coming back to know." His voice starts getting a bit more serious, "If you want to know, I feel like you have that right, especially after what I heard. At the same time...If you believe that you'd rather keep more business relations...Or that this is a friendship that can only be so limited...It may be best not to say it..." PHONE: Angela is quiet for a moment. "I see what you are saying." PHONE: Angela says, "You have the right to privacy and I apologize for pushing past the boundaries." PHONE: Phoning Angela, Touta Konoe says,"No, honestly...I'm actually a bit glad you asked. You were able to be so earnest with me before, and then ask if I could be the same. If anything, it could make explaining some of the choices in that work agreement a bit easier. If anything, I think someone who embraces books and stories like you...The things I've heard you've been through. Maybe it'd mean something...At the same time...I think it's less about pushing boundaries for just me, and more that it puts us both in the situation of should something ever happen between myself, Lilian or Pet..." There's another breath, before a small chuckle escapes. "No...That's just my excuses. If you really want to know, I think you have enough reason to hear. It'll make things easier for business as well if you know the full story. I'd just ask one thing..." PHONE: Angela says, "...I promise, but I am an AI that can lie. It would not be proper for me to not warn you about that." PHONE: Phoning Angela, Touta Konoe says, "Yeah, I know...And I think that makes you someone worth more to trust. You're not an algorithm that'll spit out what people tell you when they want it. You're a person who chooses for herself what she's going to say." PHONE: Phoning Angela, Touta Konoe says, "That said, this might be a bit of a conversation...I'm not sure how much time you got, but if that's the case...Would it be alright if I came over so we talk about this face to face?"
Touta Konoe	A conversation that had been about business turned into one of emotion upon the first words spoken. It was one where words that could have been held were spilled and yet...Rather than creating walls, it felt like a bridge had been made. A bridge that leads Touta back to L Corp. of all places. He'd make his presence known at the entrance, his reasons likely assumed to be for discussing in more detail about the business dealings that he and Angela have in the works. To those that ask, he'd find himself lying and saying it's as such. There's only one person he plans to tell his story tonight. Upon any investigation or checking of him, it's apparent that he's brought no weapons of his own, either hidden or otherwise. The only things that are held on his back is the red t-shirt under his light-black jacket. His appearance chosen for this night was that of his older form. Someone who appeared in their mid-twenties or so. A person that in the matters of business could have been taken more seriously than that of his younger visage. While he offers all those that greet him, whether familiar Agents or new, behind it there's vulnerability. More so than ever. Touta can bear physical pain, he can endure the kind of threats that would bring others either to the brink or past the point of death. That isn't the kind of pain that lingers for him. The kind of pain he braces for is that of the heart. The kind of pain that can truly scar an immortal for all eternity. As any inspection of his person is completed, and he's permitted to arrive to where Angela resides there's a quiet demeanor he offers at first. Still a smile, though definitely not as chatty or attempting to be as usual. "Angela...Thanks for agreeing to this short notice. I know it's slim, but if there was even a chance of us being overheard on the comms." It'd be unnerving for certain. Which is why as he says this, his eyes can already be casually looking around the room for any cameras or the like. He assumes that after their conversation understood the discomfort of unveiling beyond the scope of her, but knowing L Corp. he does find himself a bit reserved all the same. After all, it's like they said...It's not a good place.
Angela	Angela is a person who chooses for herself what to say. Angela is regretting this right now. Maybe she would have been better if she wasn't (in her words) a great and powerful AI of unparalleled sapience within her world. She can trace back mistakes now that she wouldn't have made before. If you can get past Gebura, or maybe even Tiphereth--both to be safe--then they won't have anything even the branch offices can say or do. She'll have MADE PROGRESS and if she has MADE PROGRESS then she'd have actual ammunition to use against the branch office. She is not doing great though. She is in her office and for once doesn't go to greet Touta at the gate. Instead, Malkuth takes Touta over. She doesn't run any scans over Touta though if that's a matter of trust or a matter of not giving a fuck--it's unclear! "The Halloween party was SO good," Malkuth says as she walks him over. "You've REALLY missed out. It's really a shame!" She says. "Also hallo! I'm Malkuth. I'm the Captain of the Control TEam. Don't think we've talked yet! Anywy, here we are! Short walk but we are in the same department, more or less!" She opens the door and Touta can go right on in. Touta has been raising Angela's estimation but she is still uneasy because she's also been WARNED and she doesn't have the details for the reason of that warning beyond vague statements from someone she deeply trusts. And that's enough for her, but... she does believe in second chances. After all, she's had thousands of them. "No, caution is appreciated." Angela says. "I have as of late been paying the price for a lack of caution." Or perhaps someone's treachery, but either way it informs the former.
Touta Konoe	Touta doesn't blame her for not greeting him. For one, he always knew her to be a busybody when it came to the work burden placed on her by this place. Though more than that, he knows that she's still likely feeling things. The ruining of that library, the chat prior on the radio. Even the most great and powerful of people can find themselves needing time to themselves. To simply just...Think. "Nice meeting you, I assume you might know already but let me say it properly. Name's Touta. Control team though..." He's trying to think for a moment if recalls anyone specifically from the Control team he's interacted with in depth. If he recalled Shajo and the others were Safety team, and the three of them are probably the ones he's chatted with the most. Though either way he's not trying to say too much on the subject. "Halloween Party...?" Touta doesn't recall receiving any such invitation if there was one. Though, he imagines that perhaps there was a reason for that... "Yeah, I must have missed a ton. Still, that's great though. I remember a few years back we had hosted one back in my world. They're usually a real hit! You and the rest of the staff able to dress up at all? If I was able to show up, maybe I could have brought pizzas...Now that I think of it I promised Shajo and his team I'd bring some pizza the next time I was here. I'll have to apologize to them later I came empty handed." He'd keep chatting casually like this with Malkuth till the time he was brought to Angela's quarters. As she opens the door he lowers his head in a bow before heading in, locking the door behind him. It's fair for Angela to be wary. After all, she has been warned and despite his failings, he's continued to be someone who appears innocent enough. Though, surely Angela has dealt with people like this before. Innocent at a glance but holding more potential for disaster. Wasn't that how some Abnormalities functioned at that? When Touta arrived he stands as he hears her remarks back, and a gentle smile slowly forms. "Thanks, I've been trying to be better with caution...And discretion." If allowed he'd find a space for himself to sit before looking over the room one more time. Eyes shifting to one side than the other before lamenting. At the end of the day, even if they can hear his story...It's nothing that puts him at risk beyond his feelings. "Angela, I promised you that I would tell you more about myself but first...I think it'd be important to tell you more about my world first..." At this point, he stops again. A moment of thought being taken to consider where to even start this story... "About ninety years ago, there appeared a magical prodigy by the name Negi Springfield. At only around the age of ten, his magical prowess had been recognized by the magical community of this world, and his achievements only furthered in a short span of time. I'm sure if I said this on the radio or whatever, his achievements might be downplayed for his age, or just that the people in my world might get downplayed...But he really was incredible. At just that age, he had re-discovered the magical section of the library we've spoken about, attained powers that would have corrupted men beyond his ages, and ultimately saved not one world, but two from the minions of the Mage of Beginning. The one I told you about previously. But that's not what I think really made him incredible..."
Touta Konoe	His words have an odd mix of admiration and remorse as he speaks, and it doesn't stop as he continues on. "We both have been in the Multiverse long enough I think. We both know that in every world, there's some hero that punches the bad guy and saves the day. If the story ended as is with just some kid good at throwing a spell or throwing a punch I think we'd both think that'd be a story we've both heard before, hehe...But he was more than that. After what had happened, even though he stopped what had put the world in danger at that time, he didn't just stop...He wanted to make society better. For example, one of the worlds that was on the brink of destruction during that time was Mars. A planet where magical existences live. Though...I guess I could say the ecosystem that was sustaining them there was falling apart. In a few decades their lives would have faded even without what happened at that time. But, Negi was able to find a way to save them by terraforming the entire planet. It wasn't just that he was some battle junky, he was just insanely smart! Through his influence he saved an entire culture, an entire world not by punching a bad guy...But fixing a real problem..." His tone actually raises just a tad when discussing it. Almost like a child talking of a superhero in the moment, and only continues to do so as he keeps listing off Negi's achievements. "He didn't stop at that though. As he kept growing up, he only continued providing for the world. Do you recall the tower that's in my world? The space elevator? The development of that tower was in part influenced by him. Even the open influence of magic we have now is because of him. For millennia, magic was kept secret from the world due to tradition till Negi brought it to the forefront. He allowed the integration of it through society to occur as he traveled the world, providing it to countries that were poverty stricken or incapable of acquiring supplies first. Supposedly he spent over forty years traveling the world doing this, making sure to provide them with assistance so as to make sure they could sustain themselves and avoid the potential of them or the magic they'd been given from being stolen by tyrants or neighboring governments that intended to abuse it. Even the organization I work for now, UQ Holder originated from his original concept. While it's true we have the resort, the true idea of our organization was creating a place where immortals could come together without persecution, and by using our strength, act as a humanitarian aid society. By assisting our world's governments on occasion, and handling other immortals that would try to cause trouble in our world, we were able to create a home where immortals don't have to be worried about having to be constantly hunted down as monsters. He was a hero in the truest sense of the word. And..." Touta's gaze begins to lower, his tone once more beginning to shift to that of less admiration and more conflicted. "And like a true hero...He made a large sacrifice..."
Angela	Malkuth says, "Oh, you know, Justin Rook, Random, Petra, Cinder and Yuri THOUGH, aha, they mostly run themselves right now..." though part of this is because the idea of messing around with Petra's situation seems dangerous, but part of it is is that the Control Team can generally run itself at this point and she mostly concerns herself with the clerks right now. They're doing a good job, far as she can tell and she can spend her efforts in working with the Manager to manage her department and inform him of important events. Angela wasn't aware that the guest list was particularly curated but it WAS Petra's party so she supposes she shouldn't comment further on it. She simply nods and lets it go but does confirm, "Yes, I was a pirate. The Tiphereths were a horse. There were other costumes. Some of them were quite striking and some were utilized for the Haunted House." People seem to like bringing pizza to L-Corp but Angela supposes it must be a delicious food. "Woz was catering, do not fret." She has confidence in Woz's cooking. Angela isn't just wary because of what others told her about Touta, she also is just wary because her mistakes have recently been thrown back into her face. "Understood." She adds and settles in to listen to Touta. She doesn't interrupt. Fortunately, her player does remember Negima which will make this easier. A ten year old prodigy. Her thoughts trail Hodwards as she thinks about it. "I see... I suppose a 'Mage of Beginning' would be a long term project." is all she says at first. Then she, more hurriedly, says, "I have not been in the Multiverse for very long at all Touta. Less than a year. Best to presume I do not know." Even if Time has slowed down for her, she is...not in a hurry to be an expert of the Multiverse. She ... doesn't know how she feels about Negi. But it also feels like she doesn't have to think too much about Negi right now. She just needs to acknowledge the societal role he played. ''Immortals could come together without persecution'' This raises some alarm bells. Immortals, being immortal, sound like they'd be hard to ultimately persecute. Then again, she thinks, She has seen Touta bullied a fair bit... "Are you ... a replacement for this Negi?" Angela asks. "Is your mind patterned off of him?" She quirks her head like she's still thinking through all this.
Touta Konoe	"Ah, yeah, thanks for the heads up on that. Your organization really does have quite a few people. Hard to always keep track. But I should learn to make sure to remember just in case we end up working more in depth." Those are the last words he finds himself giving to Malkuth. As for Angela... He's not sure whether the guest list was curated or not, though ultimately, he wasn't made aware of it publicly at least. Whether there were invitations or not, he can't say. "Mmm, sounds like you all had a good time then, I'm happy to hear. We do intend to have costumes for the kids this year though so should still be a fun time. Planning to be a Headless Horseman." Did that mean he was actually going to take his head off, or...Perhaps that wasn't a topic to bring up! "Woz's catering though, huh? Haven't heard one way or another about it, but I'd be curious to see one day." If there was one thing Touta could have told her about mistakes...They usually do get thrown back in someone's face. It's something he's more than aware of at least... As for the story he tells, it is good that the story is known to save some time...So Angela would simply be explained to the tale that happened after, or at least the version that happened in his world after Negima. The tale of that young man becoming an immortal in his own right, the story of how his trusted ally Asuna Kagurezaka was put into a hundred year sleep, yet was the only way to assuredly end the Mage of the Beginning. The tale of his attempt to still save the world against her in a final battle that transpired in the Milky Way Galaxy's asteroid belt, and ultimately his win against her, that ultimately had him consumed by the Mage of Beginning's power and becoming her new vessel. "Yeah, that would be the case. She's a problem in that...No matter how many times you defeat, the person that does ultimately ends up being taken by her and it just...Becomes a cycle." As she takes the moment to correct him, he just smiles, "Ah, it's fine. I just meant...Mmm...In some worlds, you'll see people or societies that try to resolve their issues through conflict alone to try and resolve the solution. Not all of them, but enough...So having someone like Negi that wasn't just someone willing to find a peaceful solution...But actually capable to act on it. Iunno, maybe I'm giving it more credit than it deserves, but that's someone I'd like to be more like..."
Touta Konoe	In regards to Angela's thoughts on immortal persecution, if it was brought up he could assure her that despite his own 'bullying', the kind of persecution that most immortals received is the kind you'd usually expect. The fear of the unknown, the greed of those who'd desire immortalities for themselves, any and all excuses that people might use to justify attacking them. Even if it's hard to persecute them in the sense of them being successfully defeated. There's just the simple fact of the matter that spending day after day having to worry about someone trying to drink your blood, hunt you down and trying to burn you at the pike, or inflict a poison on you that'll linger in your system for twenty years were not things that any being wishes to have. Angela's final question cuts right to the point and it has him shake his head, but with a bit more of a smile than before. "Hehe, if I had Negi's mind, I imagine I'd avoid a lot more trouble than I've been in...I'm..." At this point he stumbles a bit, clearly starting to get into the meat of the conversation. "Before Negi went into his final fight, he let a close friend map his DNA. The idea was that should Negi fail, the unique magic in his bloodline could still be used. Like you said... A replacement for negi if he was lost. Only, according to them...I was a failure." He starts looking at his palm for a moment, staring at it momentarily in deep thought. "From what I found out, I'm a clone that has a portion of Negi Springfield's magic, the dark magic that fuels my immortality. But also I have the DNA of Asuna Kagurezaka, so I have the white magic of her lineage that supposedly can kill the Mage of the Beginning. So I'm not exactly an exact clone of either, and I did have parents...So the way most of us see those two related to me is as grandparents. That said..." His expression turns a bit melancholy, "While everyone was hoping I'd turn into a mage like Negi, it turns out that putting together magic that swallows everything it can, and one magic that erases everything it can, shouldn't be put in one place. Apparently my body wasn't able to use either magic properly when they mixed together. It was bad enough that not only could I not try to use magic from my own body...But even using external magic was impossible. As far as creating a replacement for Negi went...I was a total failure, and if I had ended up staying where I was born..." There's a trailing off, a quiet contemplation going at the realization of what could have very well happened to him. But ultimately, a little chipper smirk comes back to his face. "Well, to put it simply, I was able to get out of there thanks to my boss. She kinda ended up raising, and because of her while I'm not exactly like Negi is...Even though I've had to cheat a lot of ways to make things work, I've slowly been able to learn to do things even with the limitations I got. At the same time...I know I'm still not Negi, and I know I'm not Asuna. So I'm trying to do all I can to bridge what I can't do...And that's part of the reason that I've been going to the Multiverse and trying to go to as many different places as I can. And the reason I wanna make this deal with L Corp. I think some of your E.G.O Gear might be something that we can use to help deal with the Mage of Beginning and maybe even get Negi and those who helped her from out of her influence."
Angela	Angela seems a bit surprised that Touta hasn't had Woz's cooking but she supposes it might be a recent development. "I can assure you that simply being intelligent helps you avoid trouble a lot less than you might expect. It might even get you in more trouble." Touta's story is familiar. In truth, Angela is starting to wonder if someone being created to be someone else and then being deemed a failure is even more common than a hero beating the bad guy story. Her fingers press into her desk but as she feels the material start to cave underneath her fingers she realizes what she's doing and stops herself before permanent damage can be done. Angela says the most genuine thing she has said to Touta. "It was unfair to do that to you, and I am sorry that it happened to you. Unfortunately, I cannot see a man--no matter how intelligent--who would inflict that upon another as a good man. If you appreciate him, well, I suppose that is your choice but I don't believe I can hold anything but antipathy for him. It is better that you be Touta than this Negi." She frankly is starting to think that the crimes Touta has apparently performed against Lilian is probably more because of the Negi inside of him than anything else even though she has no idea what Touta had actually idd. She also can't exactly praise 'his boss' for saving him due to the previously mentioned horrifying torture she may be willing to engage in. Yes, Angela thinks to herself, maybe she should just not worry about a lot of things and close her eyes to it as she does many other things. Indeed she thinks for a moment--maybe she should actually say she WON'T lend him EGO Gear? Does she really want to help this Negi guy in the first place? Angela cups her chin as she goes through all these thoughts before ultimately saying, "I cannot make a permanent contract for perpetuity, but I can lend you assistance in this regard so long as L-Corp is a functioning entity. Is this acceptable? This is, of course, cognizent of you continuing to make ammends with Petra and the Commander--or at least not pushing them to the point where assisting you would be problematic."
Touta Konoe	"Maybe, but...The fact still stands that he's done way more for our world than I ever have. Even if it brought him more trouble...He was still smart enough to find the solution every time still..." As he speaks, it's starting to become more apparent that perhaps more than just admiration there's...A type of inferiority complex that stems in his process as he continually flaunts that person's accomplishments only to diminish himself in kind. As she begins speaking those genuine words is when he stops completely to hear them in kind. It's not that he's thrown off thinking she'd say such a thing,, but to hear her offer such genuine concern for him, and to tell him that it's better to just be himself...It catches him off guard. For a moment there really does look like there's a bit of a shimmer in his eyes. "Angela...Thanks...Really. That really does mean a lot, and in the last few years...I have been trying to make a path for myself. A path where if I can't do things the way Negi could, someway I could...Though, it's funny that you said that one thing...Well, not funny but..." He starts scratching at the back of his head awkwardly. "I was trying to cut things down a bit more when I said it, but while he did approve to have his mapping used...And we were born..." Did she hear /we/, yes, yes she had. The emphasis that there was definitely more than Touta just involved. "There's debate on what Negi truly wanted...The person who creat--Rais--Brought me into the world. I think they believe the same that you do. When Negi gave his mapping to them, it was with the idea that ultimately we'd have to be used as a tool to stop this. My boss, Yukihime on the other hand...She thought a little differently on what Negi would have wanted. That even if there had been a successful clone, if that child didn't or couldn't bear that responsibility...If they wanted a normal life, then that's what they should have...And...She actually gave it to me." Angela might not see either Negi or his boss in a fair light, but even more than the admiration he spoke of when talking about Negi, there's a certain glee he has when talking of her. "Even though I was a failure, she took me away to the countryside where we wouldn't be found. She let me live a normal life going to school...Making friends...Nothing I would have done otherwise. In fact...When I made one of my biggest mistakes, and nearly end up killing us both...Rather than trying to put me on the path that would lead to all this...She told me that it might be better to just die than give up my humanity. She warned me that immortality would likely suck...That I might experience things even worse than death one day. I think that's part of the reason .She's put me through the ringer. I was a failure that couldn't do anything except not die. I think it's because she knew more than anyone that I was getting thrown into a level 99 dungeon--Mmm...That the world I was being thrown into was like being told to handle an Aleph ranked monstrosity when I only had one day on the job with no gear. I had to learn fast how to hold my own, or even with immortality, no, because of it... I was one day going to get a fate worse than death...At least, that's how I've seen it after everything I've been through. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely 'tough love' but that's how we grew up together. She's more than just a boss to me. She's my family...My very first family member...Even now...She's planning to use an option to save him and defeat the Mage of the Beginning that would put her at risk because she doesn't want that burden placed on me..."
Touta Konoe	"I guess what I'm trying to say is...I don't mind if you feel antipathy for him. It's true I respect him for all the good in the world he's done, and I think now he'd be better able to handle this mess than me. And even if it came with strings attached, I'm around because of him...His decision, and the decision of the person that went through with using his mapping put plenty of people in harm's way. In fact...There's been circumstances to what he provided that even he probably didn't expect would happen when he left..." Just in the same way that Angela felt a sense of fury come over here that she found her fingers digging into the material underneath, his hands tense into fists just as well before ultimately releasing in the same fashion. "The fact of the matter is...Yukihime wants to save him too cause she cares about him...And if she cares, as the person who gave me a choice when I shouldn't have had any to begin with, I don't want her to risk her life to save him...I want her be able to live happily too. She's the one person I owe more than anyone." Perhaps from the viewpoint of normal people, the hell that his boss put him through was something deranged. But...It was clear that the way he saw it...The life he was entering into was anything but normal. That the risks he was going to take were going to be to the point where he needed to be thrown into the deep end. That was the kind of life that he was born to live in, but ultimately because of that woman...Actually did end up making a choice at the end of it.Just for his own reasons rather than someone else's. The transition from his origin to the arrangement for the EGO Gear is...Something that he finds himself having to put a bit more thought into...It's clear that he's taking his time to make sure not to say anything without chewing it over for some thought and ultimately he speaks up... "Angela...If that's the case...Would you be okay holding off on that part of the deal?" It almost sounds like a rejection of her offer entirely. Though at least he's trying to elaborate. "I'm not against trying to make amends with Lilian. It's something even now I'm slowly trying to do. But even knowing that, there is a chance that in her eyes...I might fail, which at that point could lead to that problematic situation. If it was just that though, I'd be willing to make this contract now. Cause it's something I really am trying to avoid. However...There's serious issues trying to make a contract with conditions like that..." He takes a deep breath, he knows what he might say next might offend, but Angela has been nothing but honest with him, and she deserves that same respect back. "I don't know if Petra and I can do the same, at least as things are now. For one, if I've directly hurt Petra, then that's something I'd work on...But from what I know, she's angry for the things that happened in the past with Lilian. And I get being angry for your friends but...I don't believe she wants me to make amends with Lilian at all. That I'm not worth it. Pretty sure she's even said that to me before over the radio..." He's trying to recall most of the conversations with Petra, but most of them seem to fall into a category of not wanting to associate with him, calling him a tourist, or killing him... There's another long sigh that escapes as he thinks of that.
Touta Konoe	"Angela, I know she's a dear friend to you...And I have tried on an occasion to offer a hand...But...No matter how much you put out a hand to someone, if they don't want to talk to you...There's not much to be done. If there's something that I do need to make amends with her directly, I don't even know because most attempts to talk to her just lead to..." Insults. Threats. Letting others join in to add to the fire and berate him. "...Nothing productive... And even more than that...In most situations I don't think I'd be butting heads with Lilian morally, but...I've already had to do it with Petra before on occasion, and even at that time she said that Lilian would have been on the side opposing her if she was there. So if 'pushing them to the point where assisting you would be problematic' means facing off with her, I think I'd fail on both accounts simply because if I face off against her, it'd be problematic for her to see me in EGO Gear. Yet, if I didn't...Lilian might consider it poor use of discretion, and it'd go against trying to make amends with her..." He really isn't trying to berate Petra in front of Angela, he knows how dearly he cherishes her. And yet... "I know how much you care about her...That's why even though I had reservations about you getting her opinion on this deal before, I held my tongue. Though, the biggest reason of all that I couldn't accept a deal like this is..." At this point, he starts scratching at the back of his head a bit awkwardly, "If Petra or Lilian ever heard that I made a deal to get EGO Gear from you under the condition I tried to be nicer to them...They'd both be thinking I was disingenuous...And even if I wasn't trying to be, I wouldn't be able to prove them wrong.."
Angela	Angela says, "I am not arguing he has done a lot for your world. I just .... do not care about that." It is refreshing to say it, actually, to actually get to fucking say she doesn't care about the high-faluting ideals that are used to punish people who had nothing to do with it. Angela at the very least will have to find other ways to reinforce Touta's inferiority complex (while dodging her own) because she's certainly not going to be upset at him for not saving the world yet. She really couldn't give two shits about it! She is sure Touta made his own way in the world, what else could he do? It's difficult to see how Touta was cruel to Lilian, maybe awkward and continuously putting his foot in his mouth, but the image Petra had conjured in her head doesn't really match with her lived experience with Touta. A pity, Angela thinks, that it may not really matter. "We?" She asks, because she's a particular woman. And then there's...a lot. It's a significant amount of backstory, so maybe it ought to be, but Angela was certainly not expecting to get Touta talking this much. She supposes everyone just wants to be understood. Angela doesn't interrupt. It's clear he has affection for this boss of his and it's enough that she figures it isn't really her business to press the matter. When she PRESSES matters, the situation becomes worse for her. But it is a difficult instinct to break away from. She's still feeling hot from her argument with Kayoko. Maybe she should have just said 'Understood' and left it at that? Perhaps having friends makes her a little more concerned with her reputation and in being more concerned with her reputation more likely to drag mud across it. No, she tells herself, in the future let them believe what they want like you had before. Ah, she thinks, family. Angela knows what it's like to find someone like that. But she is also familiar with someone like that failing her. "Maybe. But I suppose it doesn't really matter. He lived his life, and like it or not that burden has been placed upon you. But I certainly wouldn't blame you for shrugging it off. If you are going to push for it anyway, you might as well do it in the way that suits you. I imagine he acted in the way that suited him." ''I'm not against trying to make amends with Lilian'' Ah there it is. At this point this is a familiar story to Angela and since it is familiar that tells her that her current tract isn't helping. "I am not asking you to be their friend." Angela says. "I am asking you to respect their humanity going forward and not treat them like ticking time bombs or--" She pauses a moment, feeling a little worried about the pressure of Lilian's promise. "I imagine it would hearten Petra to know that so many people are willing to lay themselves at Lilian's feet. When I say 'make amends' I do not mean 'saying sorry' or even, neccessarily, earning forgiveness. I am asking you to act in a manner that seeks out and corrects your past mistakes with them. The level of respect you treat me with, I would hope you would treat them with it as well." Though Touta isn't really wrong that there is only so much he can do if she wants nothing to do with him. Though Touta does have a good point that giving him EGO Gear might cause a kerfuffle. She's not entirely sure how that entered the picture because she's HAD A DAY but it's a good point. She probably should just say so. "But I agree that it would be best to not give you EGO Gear." Angela says, thinking back. "If nothing else I do not believe you really need it." Then she recalls how the EGO Gear entered the picture "Ah but, to be clear, I meant that I would be lending agents with EGO Gear not EGO Gear itself. WIthout proper training it would be irresponsible of me to give EGO Gear to you."
Touta Konoe	Hearing Angela's lack of interest is a bit...Surprising at first. Though, thinking about it for a moment given her circumstances of people who have made high contributions versus their deeds, perhaps it really doesn't matter to her. Or it only made her more critical of them. People that were on that level were on a higher standard of responsibility...Even he could understand that. ' 'We?' ' The moment she heard those words, Touta realizes that he's probably going to say something else that will very well bring her a bit more discomfort...Still...He's here, and he's agreed to tell his story. Thus... "I'm...Not the only one they made. I think I told you before once on the radio once but...I have at least one sibling I know of and the rest..." He really can't say. Touta did in fact take some time to go through his story. In some regards, it's such a long story because it's a story that's not just his own. It seems he wasn't kidding before when he understood that things could be complicated, if this was the kind of story he had back home to deal with. As Angela continues, there's a lot to take in. Many times Touta looks like he wants to interject or say something to counter point. Though after some time, it seems he's able to keep himself in his seat till she finishes speaking about what she would hope to see him do about making amends. "Angela, have you ever heard the phrase... 'Live as if you were to die tomorrow; learn as if you were to live forever'? A friend of mine taught me that quite a long time ago. Even now, I'm trying to learn about a lot of things. Though one thing I've been trying to learn right now is about the mistakes I made. There were things that happened I didn't even know about till after the fact, and things that I unknowingly caused. So I promise you that now, I am trying to learn how to best avoid those mistakes again. I've even been lucky enough to receive advice from an incredible person...Which is also the reason why even if I wanted to shrug off this responsibility that Negi put on me...I wouldn't. Before, there was someone I should have been responsible for, but I didn't handle it like I should have and because of it, someone else...Lilian, had to do it for me. A burden that should have been mine ended up going to someone that didn't want to get involved. So even if this was dropped on my lap, I'd rather have it be me than someone else...I'd rather be the one to handle this, than have to let someone else have to suffer through it...This way, I am able to do things the way it suits me."
Touta Konoe	Perhaps Angela is used to hearing such familiar stories, perhaps it is a tale as old as time that people say they are 'changing'. At the very least though, Touta is trying to do more than say the words alone. He tries to explain his fault, the change that he recognizes, and even how to act on it. The way that he believes he can make amends...At least for that mistake. "As for the rest of what you said..." His expression turns a bit more serious, though his thoughts seem to wander for a moment. Angela's remarks on humanity and timebombs were simply so specific that he feels the need to think if he's ever said anything to Lilian that went along those lines-- Eventually that focused gaze looks back to Angela. It's not menacing, nor is it intended to be. It simply tells her that he's focused on the conversation at hand, both in regards to the words he's choosing and her response. "I think I see..." From his tone, it does feel like there's already an idea in mind, but he's not locking in those thoughts yet. If he's right, it simply means he understands where he went wrong. If he's wrong, it means that he needs to learn more than he thought he did. "I don't always agree with what Lilian says or some of her views...But I do respect her humanity. At least in the sense that even if I don't always agree with her, or think her methods are extreme." Even now, his thoughts are going back to what he'd been told of what had been done to Tachibana Hibiki once upon a time. An action that involves disarming the girl in the most literal sense. Yet... "But her actions aren't just inherently inhumane, there's a reason behind them. She's definitely done things that are extreme...But for a bigger picture I think. I do respect Lilian, even Lilian's enemies I think respect her on some level. For Petra though..." His eyes still keep locked with her own, but still he holds his tongue a moment, as if reaffirming in his own mind the words he's said. "When it comes to looking out for her friends like you and Lilian, she's incredibly caring from what I know and passionately defensive. She also surprised me when she came to check on the orphanage for Lilian in how well she was able to take care of the kids. For those things, she does have my respect...But even as great as she is with her friends or how well she acts with kids, that's /all/ the things I respect about her..." Again, there's no malice in his words. Just an objective truth as he sees it. He speaks in terms of observation or reports one of her Agents might have provided her. "Angela, when we first spoke, you just treated me with the same reasonable amount of respect you'd give any stranger, and when you learned about my history with Lilian, or I messed up and said something without being aware of it, you didn't shut me off. You let me learn about you slowly and with patience...And I learned a little about the hardships you've gone through and because of it I learned to respect you more. You /earned/ respect." He starts straightening up in his seat as he continues speaking, "Same with Lilian, she had her reservations and thoughts about me when I came back. But she was willing to share about her world, about Arx Zenith when she could have just told me to screw off..." Touta can imagine that Angela can see the pattern, and thus...See where he might be going next.
Touta Konoe	"From the first day I came back, there was never a moment she's offered that basic level of respect you would show for a stranger. From our first conversation she had already decided I wasn't worth any. And even after that, any conversation solely focused between just the two of us... She's told me she wants to kill me, or berate me, or join in as someone else was talking crap. Thinking on it now though...From the beginning I don't think she had any respect for my humanity..." He's not trying to come off hostile in his remarks. Again, his words are simply meant to speak of his observations since that time. Almost as if trying to act as if he was a third person to the interaction. Though now that he's said it aloud, he can't help but think... Was it a reasonable question to ask someone to provide a respect for someone's humanity, when you know such respect likely wasn't going to be returned but demeaned and belittled instead? It's a question he keeps to himself though.He's been open with Angela thus far about his past. But he's not trying to vent his own hostility towards her friend. At least without being asked first. "Even with that...I have tried to offer her respect. Though, I don't know if she'll take it that way..." Even now, his eyes do look reminiscent, he thinks back to just fairly recently. While it was true at first he wasn't sure whether to trust her around kids, she had surprised him at that time and he even admitted to such. Even now, he awaits to hear if she would come back on her own volition rather than it being just for inspection purposes. Ultimately, there's a small breath he exhales. He knows this topic is likely tiring for the both of them. So, he opts to see if there's a way to change the direction of it... "Since I've come back, I've learned very little about Petra, and most of the things I have learned...Don't paint her well..." Especially in regard to respecting the humanity of others... "Angela...Can I ask, what have you learned about Petra that makes you respect her so much?" It's not a question with a tone of interrogation. More of curiosity. He asks in the voice of someone who asks 'So how did you two first meet?' In all the encounters, in all the second hand stories Touta has not heard of a story where Petra started out treating someone kindly. Even as he learned her origins with Lilian, they were not as close as they were now. If that's the case, he wants to see that other perspective. While the talks of the EGO Gear were brought up, he feels this ultimately is a more important conversation to have at the moment.
Angela	"..." Angela's fingers curl in faintly at the mention of... Another. But she doesn't comment on it any longer than Touta does. Angela doesn't interrupt people much when they speak, otherwise to ask an occassional question or inquire after clarification. Her mind strays and thinks if her temper getting the better of her again will cause her serious trouble or not. She just needs to hang in there a little longer and that makes it harder to hang in there a little longer. ''have you ever heard the phrase'' "No, I have not." Angela says. She wonders, why do I try to be a positive influence on their worlds? I am a broken thing as it is, I've killed too many. When I try it blows up in my hands. When I act in anger it blows up in my hands. I should just wait. That's all I have to do. And the time that I helped Lilian was a fluke, not the norm. Her mind returns and she says, "Ah." on the matter of Touta accepting the responsibility foisted upon him. And ... and that's it. "I see." Angela says. Angela does usually agree with Lilian. She usually is reminded of parts of herself she had thought she discarded when she acts in a manner she feels is against...not in disagreement with Lilian, but rather in a manner that seems contrary to the world Lilian would prefer to have... It WOULD be nice if fewer stories ended in death, torture, and revenge. There's always a reason for why people are the way they are, Angela remembers. And so it is ridiculous for you to think you can provide any solid advice. They SAY you can, but you can't. She is ignorant of what happened with Hibiki so that isn't factoring into her words--though it's unlikely it would influence her anyway. Touta is right. She can recognize the pattern. "She distrusts you, and is hostile to you...because of how you treated someone she is very devoted to." Angela says. "...Are you stating that Petra is inhumane, then?" She exhales out a sigh. She doesn't sense rage. It would be better if it was rage. You can work with rage. Antipathy is far more difficult. She knows Petra pretty well. Does Petra have respect for Touta's humanity? At the very least, she can understand why someone would think she doesn't. ''Can I ask, what have you learned about Petra that makes you respect her so much?'' ...That one's a new one. "She is the first person who let me do something that helped someone else," Angela says, in a daze. THere is another element to that but she isn't going to share that as it's a secret. "She has always been wonderful and kind to me. I haven't had a friend much like her or Lilian--or even Persephone before" She steps away from the desk to turn and look towards the monitors behind her desk. "In my opinion, me asking you to do this in spite of everything you say is asking you to do something for your benefit. I suppose I should simply accept the world as it is rather than what I imagine. I withdraw my request, Touta." "Do as you will."
Touta Konoe	' 'No, I have not. ' ' ' 'Ah. ' ' ' 'I see.' ' He's only known Angela for so long, at the same time though...Even he can usually pick up on when it seems as if the conversation loses interest, or a mind is elsewhere. More than that...After hearing the way she vented to him before...He's received a slight window into those thoughts of hers. At least a little he'd like to think. ' 'She distrusts you, and is hostile to you...because of how you treated someone she is very devoted to...Are you stating that Petra is inhumane, then? ' ' The question that comes next though, it's something that feels genuine. Something that really was wanting the answer for, engagement. Though...In truth, this is what he's afraid of, providing the wrong answer. Saying the things that push people away. To end up as someone that can not be understood and becomes someone who can not be understood in kind. PHONE: Phoning Angela, Touta Konoe finds himself a bit reserved at first as he starts speaking up, "Hey Angela, uh, this a good time? I was just gonna check if those documents made it to you, but...I admittedly caught a bit of that chat on the channel...So I understand if you'd want me to call back later." PHONE:: Angela says, "...Did you now? I understand if you wish to avoid doing business with a warden and abuser." PHONE: Phoning Angela, Touta Konoe says, "Angela, that's not what I think of you..." PHONE: Angela says, "Why not? It is not like it is inaccurate." "I think I'm trying to say...Is that when you think someone's already made up their mind that you're just an abuser...And you don't think they're even willing to try to see you for more...When they've already decided your humanity doesn't exist...It makes it harder to try and reach out...But easier for you to try and push them away too..." Touta isn't looking to her words for a response this time but her eyes. Because he knows she understands this. Her conversation with Kayoko, and the beginning of their call, even if done in sarcastic jest. All the way through, he doesn't interrupt as Angela speaks about the first person that let her help someone else. That person that has been wonderful and kind to her. He watches as she steps away and as she gives her opinion. "What does that mean...?" It's the first words that come out of his mouth as he gets up out of his seat. ' 'Do as you will.' ' Was that not simply another way to phrase that she thought he made up his mind? If that was the case, did she already think he had decided to push this away... "Angela..." He steps towards her and the monitors, hoping to look her in the eyes, that she might look his way once more... Once more, he wants to say it again...I want to know what you're feeling about all this too. "Angela...In this world you imagine...Is it possible for Petra and me to respect each other's humanity?" Before she had asked him if he thought Petra was inhumane. He's seen her humanity even if only in the tiniest instances. What he hasn't seen is her ability to recognize another's beyond that small scope. That's why he asks now. Because he doesn't know, but Angela does. Because out of nearly everyone in the Multiverse she is someone who has learned the most about Petra. So he asks her that question of that possibility...Of that world...And... "Angela...For the world you imagine...What would you do to help realize it? Would you tell me...?"
Angela	Angela concentrates. Her expression becomes unreadable. Her eyes, conversely, open up as she stares at Touta Konoe once she views through the camera that he's seeking them. "What Petra does is her responsibility. What you do is yours." What does it mean? "It means I repect your autonomy. I disagree with your choice but you are free to act as you'd like." Angela says. "I am not your boss." And she has already withdrew her request. As for the world she imagines versus the world that is... That is more difficult for Angela to explain--and ultimately she doesn't. To her it's like explaining a memory of a dream you weren't lucid for. A half remembrence of something foggy. She says nothing until Touta just asks her if it's even possible. "To an AI even a zero percent chance is not strictly impossible." Angela says, simply enough. But then Touta asks her what it would take to realize the wolrd she almost imagined. She wonders. The people here would say it would take a Seed of Light but for Angela... "I do not know." Angela says. "If I knew, I would have done it by now, I imagine."
Touta Konoe	When Angela desires it, she's able to become as unreadable of an AI as she wishes to be, and even as he looks at her now, it's as if a wall has been put up. Still...Even after all that, he'll try at least to say one more thing. "When I made that choice, I only meant in regards to making that deal...I didn't realize you were asking as a personal request. I...Thought you didn't want that." She did ask for him to respect their humanity, but at the same time...Up to this point he had still been working with the assumption that this was still part of keeping things just business. It's a miscommunication. It's always a miscommunication! If that was the case, while it was a rescinding of the request, he believed it was rescinding as part of that deal... "Angela...You're not my boss...You're a friend. Even if not as much as you are to Petra. If you were making that request as a friend...Then..." It's hard to say if his demeanor is a bit better. After all, none of the things he said before have changed really...Both of them are still putting up walls. Yet... "Actually finding some common ground, it might be something that'd still be a near zero percent chance of doing if it's just her and me trying to work this out. Though...I think if there's no business strings...If it's just two people willing to compromise to make a friend happy...I would think maybe with their own autonomy..." And again, he stops himself... "Even with that though...I...Don't know if I could say anything to bring things over the finish line on my own..." "Angela...If this is something you really want...Then...I'll try...But...As a friend...Can I make a request to you? If it could even raise that zero percent chance a bit...Would you make the same request of her that you did to me?" Up to this point, there's been back and forth on the why nots and should nots. In the question before, he had asked her the broad question of what she would do to help realize the world that was different from the now. Now he was asking something more specific, something more tangible to that goal...Or at least to something similar. There's surely misgivings, and realizations of that miscommunication, but at the same time...At least in his mind, this seems like the most tangible compromise. Something that Angela could do right now to make it happen. At the same time though, it would mean putting her in the line of fire as well wouldn't it? To stick out her neck for Touta to her friend. To vouch for him? Was the contrast between the person she had been told about versus the person he seemed to be strong enough to take that risk...? Ultimately, that decision might have to be decided based on whether she thinks that he can see Petra's humanity...And whether she believes she could convince Petra of his... If that was the case... "You...You don't have to answer that now actually...It's gotten really late, and it's already been a long day." Even if neither of them needed to sleep. What was being suggested now, was something that likely needed some time to process. Which...After everything that happened today...Might have stalled. But more than that...Touta was just not sure he could handle leaving things even more tense than they already felt.
Angela	"You should not throw that word around, I can scarcely imagine how I've earned such a designation." Touta is right that she is closed up for today. She seems to be out of stamina and out of inclination to discuss the matter further and half considers it a mistake. They don't need her help, she thinks, they know what they are doing. You haven't been able to bring this insane task of yours to completion and they are likely to down it in one and you can't even complain because it is what you want but it does make you feel just a touch incompetent, doesn't it, Angela? Maybe the job wasn't insane. Magbe you just weren't suited for it. Maybe all their suffering is your fault. Angela screws her eyes back shut. She doesn't want to talk about it anymore. She hates hearing people tall about her like this. She thinks back to the origin point of this conversation. So she just repeats, "I have withdrawn my request. The matter is closed," Did she just hear Touta say she didn't have to answer now? She will when she reviews the tapes but right now she just wants to scream into that bear Solty had left her. And most of why has nothing to do with Touta. "My apologies, Touta. I have had a long week. We can quibble over contracts later but the core matter kf the Library should be no issue." "Your visit," she adds. "Was appreciated."