Scene #8795: Growth

Owner	Pose
Angela	Angela has sent a call to Persephone earlier asking if she'd like to check up on the Orange Tree's progress down in Records and has gone to the trouble to send Hokma away preemptively so the two of them can have some privacy. Lobotomy Corp has been going through it--as has Angela herself--and it's only just recently that the facility has started to really put itself back together and fall into their usual routine of managing the facility though even then... The Warpgate still opens up into the Control Department. The Agents are humorlessly going about their tasks. THe general vibe is ''tight ship'' and the general emotional resonance is considerably more miserable than Persephone's prior visits. As usual, Angela is also present in Control to greet her. She bows her head and there doesn't seem to be any evident sign that she's even thinking about what happened in Petra's Psychonautverse--her face is as blank and stoic as ever. "Persephone--Phony." Angela dips her head. "Thank you for coming by. There is nothing I have to ask from you today but I wanted to show you my progress since it's been a long time since you were able to see the status of your gift. ... Gebura has been ... handling more of the facility's affairs since one of our offworld ventures." If there's no objections from Persephone she'll start leading her way to the elevator. The Random and Justin Rook are discussing their assignments in a low voice, the latter's eyes trailing over Angela for a moment but only for a moment. Punishing Bird hops over to Persephone and chirps at her, cocking its head slightly to the side. Worrying is illegal, Angela reminds herself.
Persephone Kore	There it is- there I am!- when the warpgate opens. A pure dose of loving stellar radiation, casual warmth so bright it could fry a roll of film. It feels like your vision ought to be going grainy, like your ears ought to be ringing, but instead it's just your heart. Making everyone happy would be too 'rough'. They're sad, and sometimes it's right to be sad, isn't it, Angela? But I can take the edge off. So I will. All employees are steadily regenerating Sanity! Isn't that nice. When I step through, it's abrupt, but it's so foreshadowed that it can only feel natural. Persephone turns, hair swishing like in zero-gravity, and touches her cheek and beams unbearably. "Angie! Ahahaha, it's so good to see you! I mean, I saw you just a while ago, but that wasn't really seeing you, was it?" She steps forward and takes Angela's hand in her arm-warmed-clad palm, so confidently that it feels like Persephone's the guide and Angela's the guest. And I am! You don't mind if I lead the way, do you? I remember. And even if I didn't, I could read it right off you! It might be a spectacle for the employees, for Angela to be led along like that. But the thought doesn't strike Phony at all. "Oh, Gebura?" she says idly, in the elevator. Her hand slips from Angela's grasp to wrap her arm around her shoulders, instead- even more scandalous. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing? She's not being overworked, is she?" En route to the Orange Tree Room, she smiles ever-so-warmly at Justin, and then stops- for the first time in a minute, not leading Angela along- to crouch in front of the little bird, right there in the middle of the hallway. "Awwww. Aren't you a little treasure! Don't you belong in the woods? Did you get lost? Oh, but are you here to visit the tree too?" Phony talks to it so confidently that one might almost believe she really could talk to animals. Disney Princess-hood isn't far off. She offers it her palm to hop up into, even! "Huh?" she says, looking back over her shoulder. Answering Angela's thoughts, just as confidently as if they'd been said out loud: "What would there be to worry about?"
Angela	There she is! It takes a moment for the flavor of the facility to start shifting into something more upbeat. The drudgery seems to become less of itself and the clerks get a bit more of a skip in their step. Even the Agents with some level of resistance seem to be in an all around better mood. Even /Angela/ is visibly relaxing along her shoulders though some things--such as her general stoic expression--remains the same. Angela has worn that mask for so long it serves as a functional replacement for a face. "You're very kind, Phony. I have been thinking a great deal about what you had to say in your earlier visits." She is getting accustomed to people calling her 'Angie' because it is happening so often but she still doesn't know how she feels about it. At least she doesn't flinch again. Persephone takes her arm in what should be expected but actually manages to be unexpected maneuver still. Angela's simulated breathing speeds up for a moment before restabilizing. "Certainly. I can't imagine you don't remember where you put it. I asked Hokma to give us some privacy." She is led along by Persephone and she glares at anyone who seems to particularly take notice. She is an AI that can lie so even if she's happy to be in Persephone's presence she can just lie and suggest to the world that she is only participating out of grudging responsibility to the Concord rather than because she is grateful to Persephone. Petra told her to not change her opinion because of what happened ''in there'' so Angela elects not to. Angela made sure to smother that version of her before Persephone's arrival. "It means she is about to have her Meltdown," Angela says. "It's occuring differently than usual but a growing push for a more stringent facility within her is how it usually starts." She stops on a dime when Persephone does. "Chirp." The Punishing Bird informs Persephone. There is a brief concern throughout the facility (not from Angela, but by clerks and Agents) as Punishing Bird hops into Phony's hand and pecks at it lightly with its beak. Then the Agents and Clerks seem to collectively remember Worrying Is Illegal and move on to their tasks--the Outsiders know how Punishing BIrds, they remember. Angela does say, "The bird turns dangerous and violent at the slightest injury," Angela explains, which is true but not an answer for why she said worrying is illegal to herself. It is more honest to admit a moment after, "I worry by nature so I am simply reminding myself of the law." Angela is always ready to excise thoughts and feelings that are not helpful. She hits the button for the elevator and will step inside if Persephone doesn't beat her to it. "The tree is doing well though when the facility rights itself--well, I suppose that will add to its remarkability. I have catalogued its growth every time the Seed of Light project progresses."
Persephone Kore	Ahahaha, that's right! It's unfair of them to stare. You're only being dragged around against your will. I'm so big, and the pull of my gravity is soooo strong, that nobody can possibly blame you for being held in my arms! Isn't it beautiful, how that works? You're blameless. It's a gift I wish I could give to everybody. Persephone cradles the 'Punishing Bird' in both her hands, like she's protecting a little candle from a breeze, and leans down to oh-so-gently smooch the top of its little head. Awww, but don't peck! I've been good to you, haven't I? Or are you just bored? "I've never injured anyone in my whole entire life," she says while standing, and she's the only one who could make it sound true. And then she laughs a tiny laugh, and steps inside the elevator to wrap her spare arm around Angela again, still keeping the bird in her other palm. "Well, one person, once, but we made up. You'll forgive me for lying, won't you, little beauty?" After a contented breath of relaxation, she works herself back around to an earlier thought. She tilts her head forward to look down at Angela, earrings swaying with the elevator's kick. "Rights itself... has that ever happened before, Angela? You're sounding more and more confident. Ahahaha, I really love that from you? 'Meltdown' sounds bad, but you must know you can handle it!"
Angela	Angela'd probably blush if she had blood vessels. She doesn't, so she has to express feeling bashful by pushing up her arms and not looking directly at Persephone. She's not exactly upset, she just really isn't accustomed to this sort of talk and isn't sure how she's even supposed to react to it. Being blameless is a new sensation or rather being understood as blameless is a new sensation, there's plenty Angela feels blameless for that is thrown at her feet but when there is such an insistence, she can't help but wonder if it's true and there's just something wrong with her. ... There almost certainly is, with a story such as hers. Best to not think about it too deeply. There are those that understand. Punishing Bird stops pecking and flaps its wings as if to protest that it only pecks to root out ... EVIL. But the Bird does settle down a little regardless, perhaps convinced Persephone isn't in need of Punishment after all. She hasn't injured anyone in her whole entire life! The forest will be safe with her in it, the Bird decides. For now, of course, the Bird doesn't exactly have long term memory... ANgela relaxes considerably once she's in the elevator but she does say, "How does ... Touch come so easily to all of you?" as if she's mystified. "It feels like I'm trespassing." The Punishing Bird considers whether or not to forgive Persephone before eventually... "Tweet!" All is forgiven! /This time/. "Not at all, the facility is consistently upside down for all my time within it." Angela admits as the elevator crawls down to the lowest floor. "...But I am feeling more confident. I even..." She emulates a steady breath. "Erased my Cookie Clicker Data as proof of my conviction." The doors open up into Records, Angela leads Persephone on through Records--No Hokma in sight. "...We are too close to fail now. One way or another..." She murmurs before adding, "...About what I said before with regards to revenge on the City. It was upsetting, wasn't it?"
Persephone Kore	Persephone beams confidently at the bird- she never doubted it, of course. Her thumb strokes its little 'cheek' while it perches in her palm. Awwww. And you're merciful, too! Ahahaha. How could anyone be worried about you? "Do you feel trespassed against right now?" I say. But I already know the answer! I'd feel it in your heart if you weren't happy. And so Persephone leans down and touches her forehead to the top of Angela's head, and shuts her eyes angelically. "Or, do you think you're capable of trespassing against me?" The warm breath of her little laugh- those always come so easily to her- stirs Angela's hair, there. "Aw, I'm only teasing. It does break my heart a little, you know, that you've never had reasons to touch and be touched. But you're a little out of practice! That's all. The world wasn't kind to you, so I will be." She finally pulls away- but keeps her arm around Angela, and keeps up her leading pace- when the elevator doors open. "I guess it wouldn't help if I turned it right-side-up myself?" she jokes, and then looks expectantly at Angela when 'Cookie Clicker' isn't further elaborated on. Then Persephone's face falls. She isn't good at hiding that torn melancholy. "Oh. At the lunch. I'm not even sure it upset me, saying something outrageous like that. I felt a little sad, and really confused." "When you say 'revenge on the City', what do you even mean, Angela? There isn't any 'the City', is there? Not really. It's just a lot of people. A lot of people who sound very unhappy. Who probably don't know you exist. I know you're hurting more than anyone. But I don't know why you want to hurt those people. I don't get it at all."
Angela	Punishing Bird is not very merciful but Punishing Bird isn't immune to Phony's charms either and even without them, is not inclined to do more than mild pecking to those the bird is testing--it's when harm is done to Punishing Bird that it elects to really cut loose. Does Angela feel trespassed against right now? Angela thinks about this question as she moves throughout the facility to The Silent Girl. "Less so than I used to." Angela admits. "But it is difficult to let go of the idea entirely. If someone hugs me, or if I hug someone, that is a considerable amount of time, there is a lot of time to have second thoughts while executing the procedure." Executing the procedure, ANgela thinks, ugh. You're starting to sound like a Decepticon. Angela doesn't elaborate on Cookie Clicker--she doesn't seem to realize that Persephone is curious about it. "If you turned it around, the facility would likely be irrevocably destroyed. Turning around is supposed to be ... the last step." There is a flicker of fear at the very idea of this happening before Angela smothers it as unlikely. "The Seed of Light project would no doubt be foiled forever and vast swaths of The City would lose its powers as the Abnormalities escape and start, I suppose, do whatever they want." ''I felt a little sad, and really confused.'' Angela doesn't like making Persephone sad. Even after everything. It's hard to be mad at her or upset or want to hurt her. She feels a little guilty for inflicting that on her. "... I don't know. I was just ... overcome. And upset. I think I'd need to learn a lot more about The City before I can decide how to revenge myself upon it. I know very little. I'm still learning more about it now that...what is happening outside matters a little more than not mattering at all." She can't argue with Phony that avenging herself on an entire City is a bit overboard and they definitely don't know she exists. "...But there is someone out there in the City who is responsible for my misery. Perhaps the Head, perhaps the structure of the City, I do not know yet. But I will know." It's a relief when she finally opens up the doors to Silent Girl, stepping in with Persephone. Inside, the tree has started to grow and actually is starting to look like a tree--though the fruit of the tree hasn't grown out yet. "We sometimes speed or slow time up in this room--Hokma does, rather--for the tree's benefit but I've largely been taking it one dady at a time. It looks like it still has a lot to grow but ... Seeing as it was originally just a seed, I can't help but admire how far it's come." The tree does seem like it's well cared for, even though it's young. The little river is still bubbling, the tiny sun is still hovering there. The Silent Girl... Is she hiding that nail a little less behind her back? It seems a little more in view. Her smile is unchanged. "...I have learned that there are those on the Outside who have suffered similarly. It makes me wonder if...maybe I am just weak for succumbing as much as I have. Perhaps they haven't quite suffered quite as much as I have, but it is still considerable. I do not know if just a little more would have broken them." She looks to Persephone. "Have you ever been hurt? ... This is not worrying, I promise, I am simply curious. Hurt enough to want to hurt, even if you never did."
Persephone Kore	"Oh. Ahahaha, I guess that would make hugging hard. But, you know, when you get good at it, you'll be able to savor it a hundred times more." Persephone's bright eye contact afterwards asks a silent question. Is this okay? If I keep holding you, just like this? The tiny flicker of fear makes her smile, saintlike, and tilt her head to reassure. Her eyes shut peacefully. "Oh. That sounds really bad! I just won't do it, then." A firm resolution. God's promise with the rainbow. "Oh, wow..." Phony's arm finally leaves Angela's shoulders so she can wave to the Silent Girl, just as if she were greeting a real person. Gingerly, she steps over the river and around the sun, and then lays the Punishing Bird to rest in the orange tree's branches. "There," she says, self-satisfied. "It'll be a real forest someday, you know. An upside-down one." Afterwards, she sinks to sit gently against its trunk and pats the ground for Angela to sit beside. "Here. It doesn't make fruit yet, but it already makes shade. You know, if a tree knew that people like the shade, I think it'd be happy?" She draws one leg up against her chest, so she can rest her cheek on her own knee while looking over at Angela. It squishes her face adorably. "You're a stronger person than me, Angela. I know that for sure. Good things never happened to you until a while ago, but you can still be kind. And bad things never happened to me until a while ago, but I can still be mean. Don't you dare argue about it." "Hurt enough to want to hurt..." "Yes," Phony says confidently. "Or, no," she corrects, just as confidently. "Or, I thought I wanted to hurt her, but actually I didn't." "It was when me and Lily-R were having our big disagreement. Before either of us met you. I kept asking her not to do hurtful things and she kept doing them for reasons I didn't understand at all. And I got so mad, and then she went to my home and scared my family, and I got even so madder." "I said some awful things then. I said, 'How do I make this behavior stop? I think I have to punish you now'. I wanted to hate her. But I didn't really hate her. I was just desperate to make things change." Persephone lays her hand on the grass, palm-up. It's an implicit invitation to hold it. "Does that sound familiar, Angela?"
Angela	''Is this okay? If I keep holding you, just like this?'' There's something nice about being asked, something that makes her feel more at ease, with the reason why murdered days ago and only an echo remaining behind. The Silent Girl does not let go of her weapons and doesn't seem inclined to wave with them, but when Phony's eyes aren't quite on her, there is some movement like a curtsey. Angela doesn't even see it happen (she isn't looking through cameras right now as her eyes are open). The Punishing Bird is easily set up on the branches and makes itself comfortable, wiggling its feathery butt as it tries to get comfortable even if the leaves are still sparse. Phony's eyes are closed a lot too, Angela thinks. It can't be for the same reason, can it? "A whole forest ... That wouldn't be bad." Angela admits, moving to sit down next to Persephone. Usually it's just Petra who sits next to her like this, she thinks. "Trees can have wills of their own. Perhaps the tree can feel it. ... And if people who care about it sit by it enough times, it can learn that it is something to be happy about." She leans back, her head lightly clunking against the tree as she (now) closes her eyes. Through the camera she gets an above angle of Persephone squishing her face. She thought she wanted to hurt her and that would be... "The Dame Commander again?" She asks as if of the world itself. Phony confirms it even as Angela is saying it and she clamps her mouth shut. 5r''I wanted to hate her. But I didn't really hate her. I was just desperate to make things change.'' It does feel familiar to her. "...Yes. Meika and I, for starters. But there are many things I am desperate to change. I frequently feel the limits of my reach. I am envious of your reach though I admit..." She exhales, embarrassed again. "Knowing it did not come entirely easy to you either is a bit of a relief. I suppose that is a bit ugly to say." Stronger than Persephone? She was told not to argue about it even if it's about as easy to believe as a sun this deep underground.
Persephone Kore	Ahahaha. Sometimes it's just to shut my eyes, you know! It's nice, when I don't have to be scared of anything at all. But sometimes it is to savor looking at people's hearts. Did you know, actually, that yours is extra captivating? Persephone looks up at the room's camera, just as Angela is looking down at her from it, and winks with an eyelash-sparkle of tiny newborn stars. Ahaha. Get my good side! "You should be jealous," she says with an almost triumphant emphasis. "Everyone deserves what I have, you know. Especially you! Ahaha, and maybe me least of all. I didn't offer because I'm not sure my powers would make you happier, but you can have them, you know?" "But... no. It isn't ugly, Angie." Persephone eyes-shut smiles indulgently, and her hair sways as if in the breeze, though there isn't any wind. "I'm so glad you see right through me, that I'm not perfect at all. Even a tiny bit. I'm big, and amazing, and kind, but that doesn't make it effortless. I have to play a role for my project too, you know? I have to pretend to be someone I only almost am. And you have it so, so much worse. But I still manage to mess up sometimes." "I think--" Persephone's un-taken hand reaches up to pet Angela's head, but it hesitates an inch short. Her eyes open to ask permission. That smile could melt glass. "--that you're really, really impressive. And I'm proud of you, Angela."
Angela	"No, I did not know that." The AI that can lie answers with complete honesty. There is actually a great deal of herself that she takes some pride in. Her management skills, her mind, her Endurance, her looks (by design). But she is not particularly proud of her heart. Is it even hers to begin with? Or is she just the cast off dire thoughts of someone else that everyone loves more? It doesn't really matter, she still wants to be born no matter how shitty her heart is. Persephone winks at the camera and Angela half lids her eyes open. She really is impressive, most people don't even notice. ''I'm not sure my powers would make you happier, but you can have them, you know?'' "Probably not." Angela admits. "Some part of me must want to do this the hard way still. Fucked up, isn't it?" Angela is, it seems, allowed to say fuck as no alarms go off or anything of the sort. When people see Persephone here, it's not just that power of hers that lifts the spirits of the facility. When Persephone visits, they can't help but be reminded of when the Carmen who everybody loved was still here instead of what they have now. And she could have been, couldn't she? Have been that beautiful light to take away all their pain. It's why Ayin made her. But then, upon seeing her--he gave her the opposite task. To be the one who takes the hope away and gets the project done no matter how many bodies are feeding that seed of light. "You do, don't you." She says, regarding Persephone's own role to play. "Do you want to be what you are almost, or would you prefer to be who you are?" Hook has given the headpat--he didn't ask, which is fitting because he's a pirate, but Persephone is asking. The camera blinks off. The Manager sees no more of this. Angela nods once to Persephone. "Careful, or I might get an overly inflated ego." Angela quips, her tone a bit dry. "I have no idea why you are proud of me." Angela admits. "All I've managed to do is survive. You walk into the facility and it is the best day they've had in months. That's what people want." She finally nods a confirmation for Phony to go ahead. She can pretend a little, since she is an AI that can lie after all.
Persephone Kore	Just as Angela thinks to nod, but before she actually does, Phony's hand presses against her head. Pat, pat. It's warm, not quite like skin, but like sunshine. In an ordinary sunbeam, only the body basks and relaxes. In this one, someone could unravel every knot in their soul. And maybe your heart's a million times more burdened. But it lasts a hundred times longer, right? So I hope I still did a little bit of good! "I don't know which," she says, while dragging her nails gently along Angela's scalp. And I wish I could make you feel really good, so her telekinesis adds a gentle kneading pressure, as if she were pressing in with more fingers than anyone has. "Ahaha, nobody's ever asked me that before?" "Part of me wishes I could be perfect for them. And part of me wishes I could just be irresponsibly selfish. Where does that leave me? ... Maybe I just wish those didn't have to be different things." "And what about you? Do you wish you didn't feel even a little bad about the things they make you do? Or do you wish you were allowed to brighten everyone's days like I do, instead?" She finally stops her assault on poor Angela's head to give her a moment to answer, and withdraws her hand with a satiated smile. Then she laughs a tiny laugh, and smooshes her cheek against her own bent knee to rest. "You don't know how selfish I am. That's exactly what I'm proud of you for, Angie. If you didn't survive, you couldn't be here to make me happy."
Angela	Angela doesn't end up nodding because as she's about to nod, Phony makes a move for it, and she has plenty of time to stop that nod in its tracks. It's only a span of a little over 15 minutes which as far as events Angela has to wait for is pretty small but she has enough time to shift from embarrassment, to acceptance, to embarrassment, and then a bit of impatience, and then finally a bit of a mental apology for emotions that's not really Persephone's fault for inciting. Despite her own processing speeds, Persephone doesn't seem to have trouble adapting her read off of her. Domythoughtssoundlikethistoher? She thinks, trying to think extra fast--but if she's thinking extra fast it'd be even faster than normal-- Okay, that's enough of that. Headpat has engaged. She notices that it feels differently when she's asked in advance than if someone just does it. Either way she knows it's coming well in advance--she just can't move her body any more quickly to avoid it. ''Nobody's ever asked me that before?'' Angela thinks that's a little sad. Carmen would probably think it a little sad. But Carmen would definitely be in support of everything Phony does, Angela knows, even without necessarily knowing all that she's doing too keenly. The vibe is enough. This is approaching illegal territory, though Angela would say feeling a little sad isn't exactly the same as worrying. Worrying involves thinking that there's something to change. Sadness is just...acceptance of what is. Either way, she stops for now. She can break the law on her own time if she really wants to where it's safe. "Maybe they don't have to be. Sometimes the culture and language around us trick us into thinking some concepts and ways of being do not exist. If one knew every language, perhaps then they could understand the way to be precisely everything they want to be. Or at least have the words to say it." ''So I hope I still did a little bit of good!'' ''I wish I could make you feel really good.'' Don't you? ...It's honestly frightening to imagine there could be much more than this. Even the idea of escape is a little scary, Angela doesn't usaully admit that but it's not really unknown to her either. If she steps out into the free world, that's a pretty huge change for her even if it's a positive one---it'd have to be a positive one right? The outside world is scarier than she expected, the multiverse more dangerous. She has run into lost children, mass-slaughtering fish armies, frozen time, and strange energies and locations. It's ... nice that it's different, but that doesn't mean it's safe either physically or, more relevantly for Angela, to the core of her being. ''Do you wish you didn't feel even a little bad about the things they make you do?'' "I used to think bad--" Angela lies instinctively, realizes Persephone can just know she's lying, and then she gives a kind of half shrug after and keeps on lying. "You get used to it after a while." And then she tells the truth. "It got boring." She's not used to it, but it's still boring as if it was. "The worst part ... Hahn... is that it doesn't matter how I feel about it. I am still doing what I am doing at the end of the day. I had the option to do nothing and simply suffer in silence here forever in an endless repeating cycle. People will die, permanently, if I get what I want. The only way to save everyone is to never leave--but that isn't saving anyone at all."
Angela	Persephone pulls her hand back. It's been hours and yet she still feels that weird pang of absence as the hand withdraws, that strange need--not so much specifically of Persephone's hand on her head, but she wonders if that is how her mother would have felt if she had a hand to pat her there when she was still young and stupid enough to imagine receiving such shows of affection like them. She knows she still wants it. She always will want to believe that her dad will acknowledge her one day. Look at her. Say she did a good job. She can't imagine more than that, but she wants this still. "Well...I am allowed to make you happy at least. Maybe one day--" She could make the Sephirah happy too I can't. I'll break their hearts first and then that too will be another distant dream. "...It is worth these visits if I can manage that much, Phony." The pang of guilt is crushed before it can start up. "Thank you. For everything."
Persephone Kore	Ahahaha. To me, it's like you're thinking twenty things at once! But I'm used to crowds, so it really isn't bad. Just gorgeous. --hey, hold on! Did you just think about worrying about me where I can't hear it! That's so utterly rude of you! If I find out I'll really be a tiny bit upset!! Persephone isn't world-wise enough to feel insulted by being lied to. She just keeps smiling and tilts her head as if it were a funny little game. In slow motion, Angela can catch tiny irregularities: her hair and earrings sway with the tilt, but like I think they should, not quite in sync with physics. A body of stardust and wishes. It takes a second or two for Phony's face to fall after her hand fully withdraws, sensing Angela's yearning: slower than talking to Lilian, but much faster than actually having to speak. Her lips press. There's plenty of time for Angela to see the resolve behind Phony's eyes and wonder what it means. Then she lunges. Her arms wrap around Angela's shoulders and her momentum bears them both down on the soft grass, one atop the other. Phony tucks her hair behind her ear so it doesn't get in the way, and laughs, and then leans down to-- --kiss-- --her brow. Angela can feel the little 'ahaha~' laugh through their chests pressed together before Phony pulls up. "You're so silly, Angela. Do you think anyone's too broken to be happy? Are you?" Her hand cups Angela's cheek while she stares down adoringly. "It sounds, to me, like you're doing what's kindest for everyone. You're giving them the chance to be happy after all. But you are so absolutely determined to think that you're bad? Because the people who should have told you that you're good never did." "I'll say it. I'll say it a hundred times. I believe you're a good person, Angela: but you have to say it too!!"
Angela	Angela covers her forehead and her eyes (partially) with a hand as Persephone catches her thought about worrying about her (type: Secretly). Her fingertips are splayed towards the ceilings, the palm placed directly against her face. She is not used to having to police the mind behind the mask. The story of Today's Shy Look runs through her head at rapid speed--a story that spoke well to her. A story of a woman who found a way to make everyone happy by finding the right faces to wear, while being allowed to think what she thought behind. Try it again. No worrying allowed. No crime. The very least you can do is to treat them the way they want to be, the way they say they want to be. Follow the stated rules. She doesn't quite wholly obscure her eyes though. She sees physics defied in slow motion. Sometimes, the slowness of the world is a blessing. It's very rare, but Angela has to know this is true because she was able to help Lilian in a small way with the curse. It's not enough to hold onto it. The madness it inflicts can't be countered by whatever beautiful thing she sees that isn't so easy for others. The way Dysnomia's body shifts from state to state. Now, the way Persephone's hair breaks reality just a tiny bit. Wait, what's she-- Angela studies that resolve. It could be anything. She has plenty of time to think about it and develop theories, but none of them turn out to be right. Persephone lunges. Ten minutes? She can't get out of the way, but she can turn off the cameras. She doesn't want the Manager to see this, whatever ''this'' is. She knows that more than anything. Should she try to dodge? She can't dodge, so there's no real point to trying to beyond what it means to her if she tries to get out of the way. Either way she's getting tackled to the floor. Trying to means showing Persephone that she does not like this or at least wants to pretend she doesn't. Trying to avoid it means that she...doesn't trust her, right? Or at least it could signal that. Trying not to means...acceptance of Persephone's brand of affection, a show of trust that she promised Petra to hold onto no matter how ... bizarre all this can seem to her. ...She wants to understand them better. She wants to understand them. When they say 'Girls Like Us' and count her amongst that number, she wants to know every facet of what that means so she stops saying things that make Petra say 'Isn't it obvious?' So when she is in that timelost world facing down the strange offerings and edicts of Exigent Serenity, she can know how to engage without feeling a large dam of hesitation in the way. These bindings are the bindings she wishes to rip free of second most of all--second only to this very facility she is in now, no matter how many happy memories these women are bringing her. Angela waits and accepts but that doesn't mean she entirely knows what Persephone is up to until her arms start wrapping around her and sends her onto the grass. The grass. She likes the feel of the grass on her back. It's like...being outside. She feels a miracle sun's warmth on her body. With the shock of impact against the floor, there is a moment where she wonders if Persephone could just slam bam tackle her outside. Probably, she could just ask her to fix everything. So why doesn't she? ... Because if she lets her do everything, then she won't feel that she escaped so much as was broken out of, she'd feel like Sarracenia--constantly waiting for heroes that won't come even when she steps outside of her ivory towers.
Angela	She couldn't stand that. The kiss is even more unexpected. Angela's eyes widen with a mix of confusion. Angela's body is cold. The only warmth there comes from Persephone and her sun, but she's been in this room long enough today that it might not be that obvious. There's no blood to heat up or push out into her cheeks. She looks as impassive as always. If Persephone didn't know her so well or if she couldn't look through her head--If those cameras were still on, the Manager might think she wasn't reacting at all. She feels that kiss for hours. Only some of that is because of enlongated time. She's going to feel it for a long time. Is she supposed to... Persephone pulls up before she can complete that thought even with a horrifying time curse. Is she too broken? "That sweet girl who wanted to ease their pain. I had to kill her or I wouldn't have even gotten this far. It comes more naturally to me now to inflict pain and even if it is a pain to try to help... Nobody wants that." This might be incorrect, but it's not a lie. Angela believes this. She can't imagine anybody thanking her for doing what was neccessary--not the people she does that to. It felt so strange when Sougo did it. She thought something might be wrong with him. Or Ishirou or... ''You're giving them the chance to be happy after all.'' ''But you are so absolutely determined to think that you're bad? Because the people who should have told you that you're good never did.'' It isn't Ayin that pops into her mind then, it's Benjamin. The Sephirah who should be here but she pressured out of this place so she could be here and not have to think about the way he made her think he was a friend until he no longer was one. She still can't call him Hokma. She didn't do it for revenge. It was the very script he gave her that demanded she Kill Him. Dire thoughts start to push through her had despite everything. No, she doesn't want to think like this. She doesn't want to think about him. She doesn't want to let it infest her soul and fuck everything up. Can't she just forget? Why doesn't Meika understand how much better it is to forget?? Angela can't push them away anymore, not even for the person she wants to keep these thoughts away from most. "...If I say it a hundred times will I believe it? Even if I'm lying?" She takes a breat and lets it out slowly. It's fake breath. Maybe if she fake breathes enough times she'll eventually breathe for real. "I am a good person," Angela lies for her. "I am a good person." She did as what asked. Maybe eventually it won't feel like she's lying to her dear friend--but it won't today.