Scene #9297: Lobotomy Corporation Exit Interviews

Owner	Pose
Petra Soroka	The arc of Petra's relationship with her coworkers has taken an odd shape. At the beginning of her employment at Lobotomy Corporation, she was disconnected from them, esoterically assigned on missions she wouldn't explain, an alien outsider with abilities they couldn't measure up to or comprehend. Then, gradually, she became one of them. She knew all of their names, she went to movie night, slept in the piles, helped out in practically every department, and the ways in which she was unsettling became quirky or helpful instead. Then, the war, the collapse of the facility; Petra's naked willingness to kill them all if she needed to for a goal none of them agreed with, and then at the end, becoming severed from them in the timeline in the same way Angela is, fundamentally incomprehensible and on a different level from any of them. The fact that she's at the Library much less frequently, and when she is, she's almost solely involved with the management, Roland, or Angela, adds to that feeling. Whatever home Petra used to have among the agents, she doesn't anymore. So when she talks to them today, it's more like a Sephirah than a fellow agent. And her topic is too, since she's got a tablet and is talking about salaries, and exit strategies, and robbing banks. Each agent is given the option to either continue working at the Library with pay, or have Petra's assistance with moving to Hydrochoeria or offworld and having their life set up there in safety. Either option includes a considerable amount of backpay for the two months since before the war that they haven't been paid at all. Her first stop is in the History department, with Justin and Random. After explaining the universal option, Petra sighs and leans against the bookshelf, shifting out of professional stance for more personal topics. ". . . and, also, I figure you guys would want to know... I found Yuri. She's alive. Pretty fucked up, but... alive. She's probably joining up with the Watch now, though, so... she's not going to be visiting or anything."
Angela	Well most of the Agents stood against Petra. But her old team-mates did not. The former Captain Rook and Random of the Control Team are in Cont---History and Random is lecturing Justin Rook on properb book placement, the latter visibly frustrated but too stubborn to just give up. ''I found Yuri. She's alive. Pretty fucked up, but... alive.'' "Oh...yeah?" Justin says, turning from his work--secretly grateful for the break. "That's good. I think Cinder'd get my ass if something had happened to her too." Justin exhales. "...I wish I could've taken her--" Random elbows him in the side and he grimaces. "--Hey...! It was my job as captain." Justin says. "But I just wasn't an option." He runs his hand down his face. "But...you saved most of the team. Definitely would've been worse off without you. And Malkuth is really riding our asses since we teamed up with you." Random crosses their arms, a little irritated that their partner is talking about sacrificing himself like that. "I know a bit about this kind of work and.. Well, we're probably not welcome with Trideag anymore. Justin and I wanted change and we might as well stick it out. Parker's up in Philosophy and Ya-Boy's moving to Art." They seem to be considering about whether or not to say anything about Yuri but ultimately settle that their own feelings are too complicated to throw at Petra right now. "So...yeah. Count os on Team Angela. Not exactly where I expected to end up but..." Justin shrugged. "Wanted to shake up this City and, if nothing else, she's gonna shake it up." He pauses. "How about you? You've been around less and less but if you ever need a hand again... I owe you one, alright." Random glances at Petra and gives her a small nod of agreement on that point.
Petra Soroka	"That's good. I think Cinder'd get my ass if something had happened to her too." "Yeah... it sure would be a... certain tone of ending, if it turned out the jail collapsed on her head during the White Nights and Dark Days. It wouldn't exactly feel... auspicious." Petra scoffs at her not-really-a-joke, and then dully turns her eyes away when Justin starts talking about wishing he took Cinder's place. That particular comment about Cinder goes by completely ignored. "Well, we're probably not welcome with Trideag anymore." "I... wouldn't necessarily bet on that, but... maybe. Either way, I guess, Ange and I promise it'll be change if nothing else. Better as much as we can." Even just so far, the content of the Library's work is totally unrecognizable to the employees doing it, though Petra has to admit that the imprisonment aspect is more similar than she'd like. "I've been around less, yeah. I mean... it's not like I'll ever disappear. But," Petra holds her palm up, gesturing towards the stacks of books and the cozy carpeting and warm lighting. "I'm not really, essential around here anymore. To saving lives. So... I've started other work in the City now, and I don't know if it's something anyone can help with, but if you can, then I guess I know I can trust you two." Then next up is Shajo, though his answer is self-evident even before Petra gets through her speech. Language is a floor that Petra has little reason to go to usually, and probably less once Gebura is actually awake, and with Shajo gone soon, it might just be abandoned for a little while. ". . . or I could give you whatever support you need to move out, give you your backpay, get you to the Warpgate safely, and you never come back here again and neither Angela or I ever ask anything from you again. So, yeah, obviously I know which you're choosing." Petra sighs and shifts her tablet from one arm to the other, obviously uncomfortable. Compared to Justin and Rook, she stands significantly further away from Shajo, with a table between them to make the environment more professionally distant. "... Despite everything, I guess I'm glad you're alive. But you specifically... you'll want to go to R-- to Apple Tree Island, won't you?"
Angela	''I'm not really, essential around here anymore.'' Justin smiles. "If you say so. But I'm sure the work you're doing out there is more important. Just don't be afraid to call upon your old crew for help." Seems like they're settled enough. Shajo, despite also wanting change in The City, scowls at Petra as she arrives but he can't seem to keep it up by the time Petra's done talking, looking more exhausted htan anything. "I'm waiting for Gebura to wake up then I'm gone." He says. "...Rita's probably feeling like shit right now. I'm going to head back to Apple Tree Island. You get me to that Warpgate without getting jumped by a thousand Brothers and Sisters of the Middle and I know better than to grumble too much." He sighs, running his hand down his face. "...I just wanted to make this bastard of a place a little more fair but it sounds like you've got your own plans for that." His shoulders droop and he can't quite look Petra in the eye. "...I'm not gonna tell Nonon what you did to me since I don't want her going after you. I'm gonna say I was just badly hurt by White Night and needed extra care. And I'm gonna ask Rita to stick to that story. Nonon's a sweetheart but I know her and she's not going to be like 'oh you only half ripped me in half'--and she wouldn't care that you're stronger. It seems like Disciplinary's losing its whole team practically. ... Honestly kinda surprised we're being allowed to leave..." He doesn't really regret punching that brat for getting in Petra's face or anything, but it's tough for him to just say 'it's in the past' whether or not he wants to hold onto that grudge. "I'll take the backpay. Apple Tree doesn't really need it but I'm sure Nonon will find a place to bury it. Or maybe it'll come in handy to the Dame Commander someday. Never hurts to have a backup plan."
Petra Soroka	"...Rita's probably feeling like shit right now." Petra's lopsided, guilty smile feels more grimly unhappy than Shajo's scowl does. She can't wait to get this interaction over as quickly as possible, but it's her responsibility to confront everyone in the facility personally, for apologies and amends, because how else could she do it for the rest of the world? The rest of the sector, really; it's just more of the same, of every location she's ever been to being eaten through with guilt and rot and misery, and having to go back and look them in the eyes anyways. "... Yeah. I figured. To all of that." "...I just wanted to make this bastard of a place a little more fair but it sounds like you've got your own plans for that." Petra's gaze slides away from Shajo. "... Well, believe me, I'm not happy with the City the way it is. But... I'm taking the path of least-regret for myself, even if it kind of doesn't look that way right now. So, once you're out of here, if you ever come back to the City, I hope it'll be really different." "...I'm not gonna tell Nonon what you did to me since I don't want her going after you." Petra's lips twist. "Okay. I'm not going to tell you to lie to your wife. But you're right that I would win if she came after me, and if she came after Angela, then she might not make it back. And if she even wants an apology, then I wouldn't be able to give it to her honestly. So, do what you think is best. Once Gebura's up, I'll be back for you." "... Honestly kinda surprised we're being allowed to leave..." "Consider it our first demonstration of the City changing." Petra says while turning away from Shajo to leave, waving her hand to signal the end of the conversation. Next... Roland! Roland's not actually given the option to leave, since he wasn't there for the war, and Angela's claimed him as a new hire, but he still needs to be told about the changes to the Library. ". . . so, a bunch of people are going to be leaving. You're... I mean, you're not, but still. You'll get paid for the work you've done so far, and then also you're just getting a normal salary now."
Angela	Shajo says, "You change this place for the better and I'll do whatever embarrassing shit you want." But he isn't sure if he's going back. Sometimes you find people you just want to stay with even if it means abandoning some plans. Petra tells him she won't tell him to lie to his wife and Shajo grimaces. "Petra, you don't gotta brag about how good you are at violence. I've got the scars to remind me. It's not me she'll be mad at if she finds I fibbed." He shakes his head. "But yeah. I'll see you then." And then it's Roland! Roland's back up at Keter, Petra's route is taking her all over the place pretty inefficiently, but Roland doesn't have any war baggage at least. He smiles . "Hey Petra. Yeah I heard the rumblings. Gonna be rough of them trying to return to normal life." He brightens. "A salary huh? Maybe I can handle the rest of my gear upgrades without begging for a taste..." He frowns. "Actually I was kinda thinking if I could head along with you to check with the rest of the Agents? If it isn't nothing too private. Still trying to get a feel for my new situation, you know?" He rubs at his neck and repeats what Shajo said, unknowingly. "Surprised you're just letting 'em leave. Wings don't normally like their talent bouncing. If someone's fired, they'll resort to severing before severance packages." He smiles. "Sides, it's nice helping Audrey out. Grown fond of the kid." He hesitates as he realizes that isn't even a lie.
Petra Soroka	"It's not me she'll be mad at if she finds I fibbed." "You know her best," Petra shrugs. She wonders if she'll ever see Nonon again, and hopes she doesn't. Especially not under the most likely circumstances. She feels abstractly guilty about all the times she scolded Nonon for doing something gross or annoying, even though those things were absolutely gross and annoying. But now that she's said them, and probably won't say anything to her again, they're what stick out most in her memory of Nonon. "Gonna be rough of them trying to return to normal life." "Eh." Petra is pretty low energy after her last agent encounter. That's partly because of how long the travel time is between each of them! But Angela went from Hod to Binah, and Petra's order is intentional on her part too. "Probably less rough than staying, for most of them." "Maybe I can handle the rest of my gear upgrades without begging for a taste..." Poutily, Petra points at Roland with her other hand on her hip. "Yeah, dude, you can buy stuff as business expenses if you really need to, but that shit's gotta be approved through me. I don't care if you spend your own money on shiny new toys, but you really earned yourself double duty in the battledome for those Atelier Logic guns." "Actually I was kinda thinking if I could head along with you to check with the rest of the Agents?" Petra isn't actually that angry at him, though, so she drops the affect immediately to consider his request. General Works is the department that Petra has made 'hers' the most, and so she interacts comfortably with the environment as she purses her lips in thought, setting the tablet down on a table and leaning her arms against the back of a chair to look across it at Roland. "Hmmm... well, sure. You haven't really had much of a chance to talk with them, have you? Besides Audrey, but she's..." Petra trails off, wincing. "Surprised you're just letting 'em leave. Wings don't normally like their talent bouncing." "We're not a Wing, though, are we? This is a Library. It's not... we need to keep security, for Angela's sake, but this isn't Lobotomy Corporation anymore. It's symbolic, to let them leave. Now that Angela is running things, things are going to be different." Petra pauses for a beat. "Well, I'd prefer if they all moved off-world, though. I don't want any of them sticking around the City." Next up, with Roland in tow, are Haschen and Mikey, along with a brief run-in with Hod. Petra gives her little spiel to the two agents, then looks over to Hod. ". . . so that's that. Honestly, I have no clue how either of you two survived at all; it's just sheer fucking dumb luck. But I guess that counts for something, so if you wanna retire somewhere, I guess I'll help." Then to Hod with a little smirk, "Damn, I guess we might have to give people their 401k's, huh?" Of course there's no such thing in the City. They've never had an employee leave before! "Anyways, Hod, there's... a couple people who were interested, that Roland and I found at the Tres Association thing. Would you wanna do interviews?"
Angela	Roland waves up his hands defensively. "Hey I'm not gonna leach that much! I got some professional pride still!" He frowns after a moment of thought about White revealing he was tougher than he claimed to be. But fortunately it didn't seem like that mattered much. Maybe a Grade Three isn't too different to these Elites than a Grade Nine. Makes sense if they were able to defeat The Red Mist and assassinate the Head of a Wing. "Don't worry, I'll prove myself in the arena like a real gladiator... And if Audrey's helping it'll be a breeze." He doesn't actually believe that but if Angela is mostly talking about Grade Fives and below, he probably has a while before he really has to worry--even with a limited arsenal. "Yeah... And I can't help but wonder what drives folks to work for LobCorp when they could've just ran. ... Or why they stayed behind in the Library that remained." He pauses. Is the Library no longer a Wing? "...That depends on Miss Angela doesn't it?" Roland asks. "Sure the City wouldn't acknowledge it but that's not the kind of detail that's relevant in how SHE runs the place. Every agent that leaves here could spill the beans to the Head if they wanted. Letting them go is a...pretty big gesture of trust. Even if they are moving off world instead." He smiles though. "But I'm not complaining or anything. Just... Not something I expected to see out of this place." He follows after Petra, letting her take the lead. Mikey has a surprisingly quick answer. "Ahh...man... Yeah!" Mikey says. "I'm surprised I survived too! And if you asked me about moving to Hydrochoeria earlier I would've taken you up in a heartbeat...Nobody messes with you! But..." Mikey trails off. "There's gonna be an ART department here... And you don't gotta worry about me going into The City, The Ring would murder the hell outta me...! But man I'm gonna get so much inspiration for my work here!" Haschen says, "Um... I actually wanted to see about splitting my time between here and Hydrochaeria?" Haschen's cheeks pinken. "I thought maybe I could help retrain the agents and clerks moving out so they could...um... get jobs in non-adventure non-murder related fields..." She perks up. "Oh! But Fox did mention thinking about moving to Hydrochoeria full time! I think he'd explain it best but ehehh..." She rubs the back of her neck. "Why do you want to split your time though?" Roland asks. "Um...I don't want to leave Hod alone... Maybe once we see about those new members? Maybe it's because of all the horror lately but the Library seems so cozy. ." Hod awwwws and ruffles Haschen's head. "You found some...workshop people? Gosh that'd probably be a help. Without us performing works and suppressions, it's tougher to get new EGO." Hod smiles. "I'd love to do interviews. Thanks for trusting me with this, Petra!" She tries to give Petra a hug right then and there!!!
Petra Soroka	"And I can't help but wonder what drives folks to work for LobCorp when they could've just ran. " "Well..." Petra wobbles her hand, thinking of Rose. "A few people tried. That's the cost of letting the agents out; they're like cats. But no one got away with it, and no one... for the most part, it was still better than the rest of the City. Like, I guess... we cared, a little bit, at least. I don't know. I was the one stopping people from running, not the one who would've thought about it." "Sure the City wouldn't acknowledge it but that's not the kind of detail that's relevant in how SHE runs the place." Petra hesitates and gets stuck in thought for a few seconds. Then, after a heavy pause, "... You know... Library does start with an L. In English, at least, but it's the English alphabet." More on topic, she adds, "We're not... blind to the risk, I guess. But like I said, it's symbolic. If I have to kill someone before they rat, then I'll do it, but for Angela... she isn't 'part of the City'. She doesn't want to start using the same methods as them, just because she can justify them. I'm a little worried about Shajo and Rita, but... there's nothing I can do about that that wouldn't end up making things worse. So I'll have to trust him." "There's gonna be an ART department here..." As apathetically sarcastic as she was to Mikey when giving her speech, his stupid idiot enthusiasm gradually puts a faint smile on Petra's face. Sort of with the same tone as if she was talking to a very polite dog, she says, "You know, that's a pretty smart idea. We could totally get some paint and canvases and stuff for you, along with letting you sort and file stuff. I'll take it up with Angela." "I thought maybe I could help retrain the agents and clerks moving out so they could...um... get jobs in non-adventure non-murder related fields..." "What the fuck?" Petra half-speaks and half-gasps, hand on her chest. She pauses for just a second too long, seeming for a moment like Haschen is about to get scolded somehow. "--... that's so cute. That's a really good idea. I mean... none of the clerks who survived because they were on vacation are really thrilled about coming back, so there's plenty of students. I can set aside a building as a school." Petra, possessed by a certain urge, plops her hand on top of Haschen's head and leaves it there for a few seconds. "I'll trust it to you, Haschen-seonsaengnim." "You found some...workshop people?" After a surprisingly positive interaction with Mikey and Haschen, Petra isn't so edgy to escape from a hug from Hod of all people. She leans her head into Hod's shoulder, murmuring, "Man, you're way taller than I would've thought before." "They're some Fixers, some Workshop guys, some civilians... I didn't give them a ton of details, but they all know it's combat stuff related. So, yeah, they should be good for interviews." Next up is... Chewie! "Alright man. So you have your options." Petra rushes through the explanation of the financial situation, because she's getting a little bored of it, but also because she knows Chewie too well. "But really, and I'm totally good with you either staying or going, but the food here is going to be better than the cafeteria before. And also, Angela's able to eat now. But I know I did try to kill you a little bit, so I'd get if you're sorta eyeing the door."
Angela	Still better than the rest of The City, Roland thinks. "Guess people care less about freedom of movement than you might think so long as their needs are met." He mulls on that. "I'm guessing anyway..." He winces as Petra mentions how Library works. "Well yeah... I ... ... I guess she's not, really. But she was still raised by people from The City. It might be tougher to escape its influence even if she never steps a foot in there than it sounds." But... He smiles. "It's not a bad idea though. I mean, it IS a bad idea depending on who you talk to, but it's not the sort of idea I dislike." Unfortunately, he thinks. "Not taking any risks is how Wings like to do it. At least, they don't think they're taking risks. ... It's kinda a nice sign you're willing to do that especially considering how invested you personally are. I don't know if I could take the same risks." Mikey beams at Petra's idea. "Yeah!! That'd be great! I never got to work on my craft back at LobCorp but now I have so many ideas. And I'm not going to be randomly murdered as much!" Haschen blushes at her idea being cute. "Ahaha.... youi think so? ... I mean, yeah... I think I'd be good at that...!" Her face turns even brighter red after that. Hod giggles, "Yeah... most people thought I was actually like four feet tall...!" OH NO CHEWIE Chewie scratches at his chin. "Mm... You know... Angela's been inquiring more about dishes, but she doesnj't seem to care for Abnormality cuisine..." Chewie seems uncertain about his future here. "...And the Abnormalities are all booked up..." He seems upset by that actually!? But he seems oblivious to Rita being on the outs of LobCorp and Petra right now--or at least he doesn't bring it up. "...Sal wants to leave to look for their mentor and M.O.M's gone so most of Info's gonna be gone..." ''But I know I did try to kill you a little bit'' Chewie shrugs. "That's cuisine for you." He says in case Petra forgot he was actually kind of a maniac. "I came here to learn about new cuisine ideas using the Abnormalities but I also want to feed Abnormalities new dishes..." He sighs. "Though planning meals for Angela...Ahh, to treat someone to meals when they are so new to the experience..." Roland seems a little unnerved by this one but he glances to Petra and says, "Uh..." He trails off. "He sounds like a District 23 guy..." "I am a District 23 guy." Chewie mumbles. Chewie isn't exactly a guy with a lot of self propelling energy outside of his passion and now he's unsure which is the best way for him to go!
Petra Soroka	"Mm... You know... Angela's been inquiring more about dishes, but she doesn't seem to care for Abnormality cuisine..." "Yeah..." Petra resists the urge to tell Chewie that that's because it's gross, and then comes up with nothing else to say anyways. "That's because it's gross." ...And the Abnormalities are all booked up..." "For now, at least," Petra agrees. "We have some plans for that later, but they're not going to involve repeatedly killing the Abnormalities like we used to, hopefully. In general, I mean, a lot less repeatedly killing. So you're not going to get a ton of human flesh anymore either." Petra sighs. She doesn't really like Chewie at all, because his personality sucks and his interests suck even more, so she can't feel that attached at all to keeping him. The only thing that would really compel her to do so is if he would be less trouble to keep than to let go, which is probably true considering that he is, if nothing else, an experienced agent, which none of their new hires will be. "I don't know. What the hell am I supposed to do with you? Maybe you'll find more monsters being brought here because of Outsider stuff, maybe you could have chances to feed the Abnormalities again later, maybe you could try being experimental with food in other ways. But that's up to you. No matter what, you're not stepping back into District 23, and I don't know of any world that would be happy to have you cooking up stuff like that. The only thing I can promise is that here, at least, we know you and know your deal." Petra is also unnerved by Chewie, but she's spent ten thousand years getting used to the cannibal freak part of him, so really she's just unnerved by his terrible personality. She shares a sympathetic look with Roland, before turning back to Chewie. "I think Hydrochoeria would be worse for you than here. I could... maybe put you in touch with Heyalexa? She might want to keep you around for monster pervert stuff." That's all she has for Chewie, though! Next up is... Fox! " . . . so that's the situation. Haschen said that you had plans already, though? To do with Hydrochoeria?"
Angela	"...The cutting edge of cuisine is often seen as gross..." Chewie says, a touch defensively. Nobody really likes Chewie outside of, well, District 23. Despite cannibalism not really being treated as a Citywide taboo, people still aren't exactly THRILLED with cannibals and they're less keen on the people who are as likely to ''serve man'' as they are to, well, serve man. ''No matter what, you're not stepping back into District 23...'' "Philistines..." Chewie muitters, the only time he's ever shown any indication that words like this can get to him. #-1 FUNCTION (ANIS) NOT FOUNDEver since the Seven Chefs took over, there's been no heart..." But a glint in his eye lfickers at the mention of ... Heyalexa of all epople. "...She might appreciate my art...?" Chewie seems surprised but intrigued. Then he manages an awkward smile. "...If she's interested, I'm interested..." Roland is eager to get away from him though. "Hahh... I can't stand those District 23 types..." Roland says. "Luckily they don't usually venture outside of that turf..." Fox doesn't have a gun to play around with anymore, he's just lounging on a couch. "...Yeah, assuming you're cool with it. I talked it over with Haschen some because she seemed interested in spending time there too." He rubs at his neck. "i was working to pay off student loans and give some cash to my family, but at this point they should be well and settled. So I intend to check in with my family and then make my way to Hydrochoeria... The clerks living there are gonna need proper medical care and... Well, someone needs to make sure their interests are looked after--especially since you're not going to be lingering there all the time." He pauses and then adds, "But I'm also interested in... Anomolous biology. I know there's some interested in finding a ways to make Abnormalities able to coexist with people and that means someone's gonna need to be able to look after ''their'' needs too. They don't exactly ''die'' but that doesn't mean they don't have any physical needs."
Petra Soroka	"...She might appreciate my art...?" Well, Petra didn't say that, but she's not going to contradict Chewie here. She's happy to leave that job to Heyalexa, who is uninterested in anything besides her own 'art', which is creating economic ventures tailored specifically to perverts and weirdos because they're an untapped financial opportunity. When walking away from Chewie with Roland, she sighs and shakes out her hands like they're covered with an invisible film of gunk by interacting with Chewie. "Yeah, I can't stand him either. Guy who says the cannibal district's gone too woke or some shit. My first day here he tried to bite my arm off. But Lobcorp's always been a bit of a haven for... outliers, so it is what it is." "I was working to pay off student loans and give some cash to my family, but at this point they should be well and settled." "Time loop'll do that to you," Petra agrees. Not to mention the fact that Fox's salary as a captain without living expenses easily has that problem solved at this point in general. "You'll have to be supervised to visit your family, but...." She gets a little defensive at his description of her precious little evil flying island. "I mean, Hydrochoeria's not, like, the fucking trenches. I've got a line from there to the Grand Dorado, it's practically like, the suburbs of the most well-developed place in the multiverse. They're not dying out dysentery out there." "But I guess it can't hurt to have more, like, skilled people there. You mean you'll be mainly working on Hydrochoeria, but if you want to study the Abnos, you'll have to be working here at least a little bit. That..." Petra furrows her brow as she tries to imagine the legal and economic situation that would need to be set up to allow for this. If he wants to travel back and forth... and do work at both... it's sort of two jobs, but they're overlapping a lot, and.... Well, in the end, she doesn't actually care that much about those sorts of things. "I guess you'd be my employee then? Not that it makes a difference. But studying the Abnormalities, that's worth doing."