Scene #9353: Angela Does Not Immediately Kill A Person She Hires

Owner	Pose
Petra Soroka	From the outside, the Library is nothing but a pillar of branching black that spears out of the center of the ominously spreading golden mist that repels anyone but those close to Angela-- or whoever she's decided will be close to her now. Past that, as Angela, Petra, and Audrey are well aware, the mist conceals that the Library's growth has expanded far beyond the original tower, creeping through what used to be the Nest like fungal spread. The buildings that used to surround the L-Corp HQ have been consumed and transmuted, rebuilt into twisted constructs of the same dark wood that makes up the Library, gnarled like funny forest folk huts. The golden glow of the enkephalin-free light that illuminates all of Angela's EGO shines out of their windows, and towering younger-growth branches and trunks stretch up into the sky. Those branches reach across the evening sky like skeletal fingers, filtering out most of the sunlight that could penetrate through, and the concrete and asphalt that makes up the entirety of the City's ground surface has gradually transformed into wood. Carpets appear in spaces when they're not looked at directly, warm lanterns sprout out of building facades held by curled branches, and even the air tastes less bitter than it does outside of the Library's domain. The newest zone claimed by Angela is also the furthest, and it's likely the longest walk Angela's ever taken that didn't involve stairs. Closer to the core of the Library, the segments where colossal roots have shattered the street have healed over, turned into shelters of their own, or just smoothed into rolling wooden hills. Out by Solomon's School for Community Upliftment, that isn't the case yet. The reinforced fence has been torn out of the ground like so many toothpicks, and the wood melds seamlessly into the broken concrete that still makes up the ground here. The new golden mist swirls around like disturbed dust, but there isn't nearly as much activity in the area as Angela expected. In fact, there's just one person there, squinting open his eyes like he was bracing for some kind of impact. The white-haired, slightly preppy but threadbare leader of Solomon's remaining students, Ji-Hun, looks around in confusion while trying to get his bearings in this new environment. Petra, meanwhile, comes to a stop with her hands on her hips, in the group of three Librarians walking over to check on their new territory. "Well, what the fuck's this? Last time I checked, there were like, dozens of people here. Who the hell's this guy?" Ji-Hun's expression settles down into a careful neutral, adjusting his glasses with a finger. He hikes down from where Angela's note was on top of the root, and politely nods his head to Petra. "Er, I'm Ji-Hun, a student from Solomon's examinee school. And you are... Angela, I assume?" "No that's her," Petra points to the side.
Audrey Basque	"You know, the Library might be a Tree but I didn't expect it would literally purify the air and all that," Audrey notes, as the three of them make their way along the Library's expanding domain like contractors doing a regular checkup of the construction site might. She's got a notebook, in one hand, what looks like a thick one she's used for classes before but flipped backwards to start writing from the other end. She's scribbling in it with a black pen, runes and marks and formulas as they pass through boundaries and layers of the Tree, diligently doing some important observations she'd neglected to put into writing until now. It's important to keep track! Though a lot of it is incomprehensible scribbles, lines and borders and crossings that are more equivalent to how she's feeling and perceiving the Library's domain and its reach than concrete facts. "Oh, come to think of it... Angela, is this the place you were telling me about the other day? The ones that got away?" The sight (and sound) of Ji-Hun makes Audrey look up from her notebook, beaming her best (if tired) smile to the young man. "See? One of them made it!" she replies to Angela, like one replies to a days old conversation that got left sitting. Petra refers him to Angela, and Audrey simply nods and steps aside a bit, to make sure she's not in Angela's way at all.
Angela	Angela put on a traveling cloak for the occasion but not just for the occasion. While Angela is a very humanlike AI, close scrutiny can certainly reveal she is a machine--maybe especially even to one who was studying to work under X Corp--she can't be sure. She is no machinist and has had no experience or opportunity to study their work. Angela doesn't want to spook anyone who has stuck around uneccessarily. As Audrey knows, Angela was furious that Rita and Lilian had to advise these people against staying. In truth, she didn't expect to find anyone. She knows that Lilian and Rita can both make very tempting offers if they desired to. But it was a little weird that she was so upset just over the possibility of hiring a few workers. And it is weird. But Angela specifically wanted these people--not just because they no doubt knew a thing about machines--but because they were, specifically scholars. Students of learning. Their goal may have been one of simply seizing a better life...but Angela wants the Library to be a place FOR scholars. Losing out on students feels like a huge blow against her own goals. But Audrey was right that eventually she would have the home field advantage. In the sense that she could make her home bigger and bigger with the more Light she consumed. So a setback. But she shouldn't succumb to rage or despair. This is just a sign that she needs to improve the Library even more. And if she has to make a big push, she has a certain borrowed power from a certain Crown that she only hasn't relied upon yet out of an abundance of caution. She makes a show of 'breathing' in the air as she walks, closing her eyes as she feels the wind. It's different, in her mind, because this is The City. This is territory that she isn't allowed to be in. Even if she's only allowed to walk it because she's expanded the size of her prison--it feels like the first little victory she has clawed out of The Head's throat. She still doesn't need to breathe but there's still a positive sensation that comes when she breathes in like this. The movement of displaced air. The slight shift of her chest as it calculatedly approximates the physical act. ''Last time I checked, there was like, dozens of people here.'' "Trideag and Rita paid a visit. They informed me they would be warning them of the risks inherent in associating with the Library." Angela says. ''The ones that got away?'' "It's fine. Eventually we will be moving in the same direction again." This seems to be Angela's justification for calming down. She didn't bring Roland or the Sephirah along due to Roland having a bit of a big mouth and not wanting to overwhelm anyone who remained. ''And you are... Angela, I assume?'' ''No that's here.'' Angela steps forward as Audrey steps away. "But she does share my authority over the Library. Her name is Petra, I am Angela. And our friend here is Audrey." She gives a nod to Audrey as if she is now part of the Witches Three purely because homaging that sort of fable is only going to be helpful for expressing the vibe that Ji-Hun has unknowingly signed up for. Angela pulls back her hood, her golden eyes looking right at him. "To be honest, after I had heard what happened, I expected to find an empty lot. Why did you decide to stay behind, Ji-Hun? There was little I could explain over an insecure letter like that, whereas The Director could promise a great deal--I could only promise one thing. Since you stayed, I intend to follow through on that promise."
Petra Soroka	"You know, the Library might be a Tree but I didn't expect it would literally purify the air and all that," "Yeah, I wonder." Petra chatters aside to Audrey along the way. "Maybe it's just because of cutting off the source of all the gross exhaust and machinery and shit everyone uses. Or maybe it's because Angela's clearing out whatever leftover smoke from the Smoke War there is. Man, wouldn't that be fucked up? If this whole time I've been living here I've been getting my ass radiation-poisoned by a war a decade ago." "They informed me they would be warning them of the risks inherent in associating with the Library." Petra frowns, arm intertwined with Angela's while they walk. "Oh. Of course. This is what we get for trying to fucking be nice about it." Petra isn't as upset over the specific loss of the students as Angela is-- though, of course, she's more upset because Angela's upset so she has to be upset-- but she is still frustrated that Trideag keeps working against them like this. Rita and Lilian... even when Petra is trying to make the Library and City a better place to appease them specifically, they still won't trust her. Right now it's an inconvenience, but later, it might end up becoming a disaster. "Well, we'll keep on... keeping on, I guess. I bet they didn't think it was that relevant to talk about the inherent risks of associating with Trideag and remaining vulnerable in the City. Bleh." "Why did you decide to stay behind, Ji-Hun?" Ji-Hun is visibly cowed by Angela, the shadowy figure who might control L-Corp's Singularity and he was just told is responsible for dominating this section of the District, just showing up in front of him. Even more so when she pulls her hood down and looks at him with those golden eyes and inhumanly pale skin. He slouches and stiffens up, nervously twisting his fingers into his belt loops. "You're-- you're an AI. That's... right, yes, why I stayed, of course." Effortfully, Ji-Hun straightens his back, trying to at least look a little dignified. "I've always thought that... knowledge is what leads to a better life. And running away from this place, letting it... vanish, and wasting all the years I've studied here, would be giving up 'knowledge' to the circumstances that we live in, out of fear. So I suppose I hoped... that your Library's of a similar mind...?" His voice gets a little more uncertain towards the end, since the concept of a 'library' isn't quite as universal in the City. Banking on the fact that some massive superstructure consuming the Nest is a hub of knowledge based on its name alone is slightly insane to do, so there's probably more to it than that, but in this case, at least, he's right.
Audrey Basque	"Eventually we will be moving in the same direction again." Audrey nods to Angela, more than happy to see she's at least somewhat gotten over the matter. It's a big city, after all. Billions of people. If even only point zero zero zero one percent of those people are fit to join the Library, that's still a whole lot of bodies remaining to be found and recruited. The big picture is nice, sometimes. "And our friend here is Audrey." Audrey waves to Ji-Hun, twirling the pen she's holding to add to the motion a bit. She can't be in a bad mood, not here, not with Petra and Angela both present and things going... Okay. They're going okay. All things considered. "Or maybe it's because Angela's clearing out whatever leftover smoke from the Smoke War there is. Man, wouldn't that be fucked up? If this whole time I've been living here I've been getting my ass radiation-poisoned by a war a decade ago." A quick squint, as Audrey asides to Petra: "I hope not. Like I need any more of a reason to think the air of the City is kind of stuffy." "So I suppose I hoped... that your Library's of a similar mind...?" An upbeat Audrey steps in, showing off her notebook of magical scribbles like it's an argument in her favor. "Knowledge is what we're about! Among other things. But it isn't called the Library just for show! You're absolutely correct, though, you just never understand how valuable knowledge is until you've lost it, so it's nice to meet someone who gets it!" She could speak of everything lost in the Onslaught, but the City is its own excellent example already and the concept needs no introduction to one of its scholars. Young or otherwise! "Did you have particular knowledge you were hoping to get? Angela was praising how valuable this place was due to its students, but she didn't mention what it is you study here exactly."
Angela	Angela grimaces at the idea of Petra being killed by something as stupid and anti-climatic as smoke war poison from ten years ago. No, if she's going to die it better be a death so climatic and epic that she's effectively written into the very fabric of the multiverse. No more stupid pointless deaths for stupid random reasons. That's partly why the Library is set up the way it is, isn't it? She'd rather her just live, but she also knows how Petra tends to talk about herself. After that last close call she knows exactly how it'd shatter her if it truly came to pass. "I certainly hope not." Angela says. ''This is what we get for trying to be nice about it.'' Hearing that from Petra makes Angela wonder if being 'nice about it' was actually a trap Lilian seeded into her mind but she pushes that thought out for the time being. It isn't just about loyalty to Lilian, it is important to Petra to be of proper use to Lilian, so she can't let that seed sprout. It isn't proper decorum, but Angela leaves her arm intertwined with Petra's even as they meet with Ji-Hun. It is important to Angela people understand that the people of The City--particularly those that work in the Library--have a not just learned but intuitive understanding of Petra's importance. Minion, Lieutenant, Sister, Friend--they all demand the same understanding. She doesn't interrupt Audrey's inquiries either. They are questions Angela's also curious about too. Oh sure, she knows the general structure of what was taught at the school but a general curriculum is no substitute for a first hand telling. In truth, she's grateful for Audrey's pep. Petra can't help but be true and Angela can't help but be a bit dour so she feels it's a nice counterbalance to whatever this poor guy is feeling right now. She specifically notes his reaction to the unveiling of her nature. Does this mean that a lot of the HEAT behind the AI Ethics Ammendment Act is no longer present? Just the echo of an old decision still crushing her? ... Or perhaps it's just because he IS a student and not philisophically alligned with the governing body in the slightest. "I am." Angela confirms, glancing up at the sky as if looking for eyes. When a hit squad of Arbiters and Claws doesn't appear to tear her apart, she decides that's confirmation of the Mist's effectiveness. That means she has time. And hopefully someday a clear path to the Warpgate. While more Light means less pressure on Petra, more territory that is the Library also means she has less time where they have to do THE THING to begin with. Attacking the problem from two directions, Angela thinks approvingly. Excellent. Almost offhandedly she adds, "For now." Which surely invites questions. But she moves on quickly. "As Audrey says. The Library prizes knowledge. We likely have most in common with the Dieci Association in how gathering and personal accumulation of knowledge are key philosophies of the Library. However our focus is broader than the Ruins. Many of our Librarians help defend the Library, but I do not expect that from you. What I want you to do is to simply--" she barely avoids using shrimply. "--learn to your heart's content. Food and board will be provided but you'll understand why it will be some time before I can let you ''leave'' due to security concerns. If there is anything you need--it may take time but it will be provided. In exchange, I want you to help pick out gaps in the Library's knowledge base--particularly involving the City and the subject matters you were an expertise in."
Angela	Angela quirks her head to the side. "Since you were brave or foolish enough to come alone in spite of everything--is there anything I am not offering that you desire?" Rita's accusations towards Angela may be having her be nicer to this guy because she wants Rita to be SO WRONG now.
Petra Soroka	"Like I need any more of a reason to think the air of the City is kind of stuffy." "I certainly hope not." "It's okay," Petra says reassuringly, in the rare tone that means she won't actually follow it up by talking about her own inevitable death. "With the Beauty of Ash back I should pretty much be immune to getting cancer or whatever. At least, that's what the researchers said. The smoke war stuff had, like, mutations, so I figure it's probably along the same lines. It just feels gross." "You're absolutely correct, though, you just never understand how valuable knowledge is until you've lost it, so it's nice to meet someone who gets it!" Ji-Hun has been introduced to 'Angela, the Chief Librarian and ominous ruler figure'; 'Petra, who is her co-leader'; and 'Audrey, who is also here'. He seems to figure that his best bet is to treat her with the exact same level of respect as Angela, which is to say, the CEO of a Wing. So her peppiness is treated as a personality quirk, rather than an expression of cameraderie and vulnerability. So while his response is genuine, it's also tense, because he's just gambled his life and future on being in these three people's good graces. "Right. The professors didn't bother to take their lesson plans when they evacuated, and I was quite relieved when we found them because of that. Losing the world around you is one thing, but losing the knowledge to rebuild it is even worse, right?" "Yeah! People exist in communication with each other. The information about a person or society or whatever is basically identical to the person themselves. I think that understanding is a form of rememberance, and rememberance is a form of society." Petra liked that!! "Did you have particular knowledge you were hoping to get?" Ji-Hun reaches up to readjust his necktie only to remember that it's not there anymore. Instead, he tugs at the collar of his shirt, taking a breath in order to be questioned more effectively. "This was an examinee school for X Corp--" He hesitates and leaves off the 'of course'. "--And my specific field of study was in mechanical robotics, with a minor in environmental engineering. Er-- though, of course, I'm more than willing to swap over to studying whatever field your Wing is interested in." "We're not a Wing." Petra cuts in. "The L thing's a coincidence. Don't expect things to be done the City way here." Ji-Hun's eyes slide over to Angela again. "I... did hear some comments about, maybe, the goal being 'revenge' of some kind?" "We likely have most in common with the Dieci Association in how gathering and personal accumulation of knowledge are key philosophies of the Library." Comparing it to an existing structure that Ji-Hun is at least somewhat familiar with helps ease his worries, though it means he has to bring up a new concern in exchange. "Ah... I'm not a Fixer, so..." But Angela addresses that next anyways!
Petra Soroka	"In exchange, I want you to help pick out gaps in the Library's knowledge base--particularly involving the City and the subject matters you were an expertise in." "In other words, record what I know about X Corp's workings? Solomon's had us all sign contracts when we first attended, but..." Rather than considering that a downside, Ji-Hun thinks about it seriously for a few seconds. Not only was he already abandoned by the faculty of the school, the school that is now wrapped in black branches and golden mist, but his livelihood from now on is dependent on Angela. "It almost sounds too good to be true," He admits, tugging at his jacket cuffs. "Besides exchanging X Corp's knowledge to you, what does the job consist of?" Petra lifts her head off of leaning on Angela's shoulder and beckons for everyone to start moving back towards the Library. "Come on, dude. There's no reason to sit around out here; let's just go back to the Library. I'll give you a tour or some shit. Philosophy's the lowest on Librarians, right? But maybe this guy's better suited for Yesod's floor."
Audrey Basque	"Since you were brave or foolish enough to come alone in spite of everything--is there anything I am not offering that you desire?" Audrey stage-whispers, to Angela: "I think people are more likely to take the offer if you don't call them foolish upfront, but I don't know, maybe it's endearing here?" The City is weird. She won't presume to understand its complex web of odd behaviors, most of which are violent. "At least, that's what the researchers said." "Oh! Good. ... h-hang on, should -I- be worried?" No, clearly, no one else she's seen has been falling over from any kind of local supercancer or mutations, so surely if it was a problem, some of the Librarians would be showing signs. Or Roland. Really, Roland, especially. "Right. The professors didn't bother to take their lesson plans when they evacuated, and I was quite relieved when we found them because of that." Somehow people keep thinking Audrey is either An Authority, A Princess, or Both. She notices his tenseness, though mostly attributes it to Angela and Petra, considering. "Somehow it feels like the City's already been through that cycle more than once. I mean... just look around. You're all being starved of information except what the Wings need you to know, and their knowledge is exclusive to each other... I wonder how much greater this place was before it was split." The idea of a Unified City, a long ago dream or idea that probably died and took with it all of its advancements, is incredibly sad. Probably great essay material for a philosophy class though. "--And my specific field of study was in mechanical robotics, with a minor in environmental engineering." "Oh, you'll just have to meet Yesod, then! We've got a whole floor dedicated to science." Full agreement with Petra there. Sweeten the pot a bit, too. Give him a reason to shuffle on over. "Besides exchanging X Corp's knowledge to you, what does the job consist of?" "Well, we have a battledome for intruders, but that's probably not your thing since you're not a Fixer. We do movie nights, there's a gym," that she never goes to, "Food, obviously. A lot of our work is just, figuring out where to put all the new books, but it sounds like Angela has more important things in mind for you."
Angela	''It just feels gross.'' Angela hesitates and then nods. To her the air feels fresher than she's ever felt it but she isn't sure if that's because of the circumstance, because of the Tree, or because she just doesn't know any better and doesn't have to worry about mutations--at least not yet. ''The professors didn't bother to take their lesson plans when they evacuated.'' "Typical." Angela mutters. "Sloppy. No respect for knowledge. A true scholar should shield their books with their bodies but The City has gripped the very conceit of education, wisdom, and intelligence and twisted them all into tools of control. They have no respect for it because it is a weapon first and enlightenment second. But the priorities are in the wrong order." But she's happy to see Ji-hun getting along with Petra. Or at least, Petra liking what he's saying. Maybe Petra lost a lot of her friends the day Lobcorp fell--fewer to death than one might expect--but maybe she can give some of that back starting with this guy. Angela is more intrigued with environmental engineering, strangely enough, than robotics--largely thanks to Petra and, eventually, Benjamin being available to help her with maintenance--something more important the more Light she gathers as her body becomes a bit ... stranger. Or maybe it'd be less useful. This is part of the exciting journey Angela is undertaking. "I'd rather you focus on what your interests are." Angela says. "Though I applaud diversification of course--But as Petra says, we are not a Wing. Even if I were to adopt that term, it hardly looks like I have control of the District so it is premature. And it would be pointless if we were to simulate other Wings." She doesn't say what 'it' is, largely thanks to Ji-Hun's next question. About Revenge. Angela has spoken abuot revenge before, so she's not surprised that someone (she suspects Sarracenia more than Rita) has brought up her vengeful desire. She did offer him this so she has to answer but it's tricky because Angela doesn't actually know the shape of what her revenge ought to be yet either. She just knows she can't let it stand. "Revenge isn't a primary goal of mine." Angela admits--truthfully even! "It isn't even my secondary goal. Right now I want the freedom to walk under the sun. The power to travel." He doesn't have to know about the exceptions to her limitations just yet. "To be seen by Society rather than shunned by it. These goals are big and hefty enough that it is difficult to truly imagine what lies beyond them." But that's not an answer so much as a qualifier so Angela does her best to answer. "But I do want revenge, still. Once I wanted revenge against the whole of The City--Society itself for putting me in the position it had before I even constructed my first thought." She shakes her head. "My scope has to become more precise but some crimes must be punished or people forget they are crimes. Not the crimes of ''law'' of course but the crimes against the potential just society pulled away from us." She focuses on Ji-Hun. "Worry not. Trideag--and your friends--will not be the target of such ire." But she's increasingly unsure about that Star who hangs around them.
Angela	''Maybe it's endearing here?'' "Ah, well--" Angela says. "I can lie, but I don't want to in this case. It is important to understsand him." ''More important things.'' "I wouldn't say those are less important." Angela says, of food and movie nights and the like. ''Yesod's floor.'' "That is a good idea. Yesod cares deeply for those that work for him so he'll make sure he's taken care of." The same language as the note... Maybe Angela can't help but be a little ominous. She turns with Petra to return home. Well. To a different part of home, now.
Petra Soroka	"Oh! Good. ... h-hang on, should -I- be worried?" "Probably not?" Petra puts her free hand on her hip thoughtfully. "I mean, if there's some magical cancer going around, it's not affecting people that quickly. And, like, I've lived here way longer than you have. You basically never even go around the City outside the Library." "I wonder how much greater this place was before it was split." "Well... no one really likes the Wings, but that's life. There's never been a time where knowledge was more easily accessible than today-- or, several months ago, I suppose,")] Ji-Hun corrects himself, half-awkward and half-joking. As they walk and the buildings transform into the wodden structures closer to the Library, it looks like he's been transported into an alien world, and his eyes keep wandering. "Since the Wings need employees, they're forced to at least educate some people outside the Nests. Without them, we wouldn't have any opportunities to get education at all." "Well, we have a battledome for intruders," Oh thank god. He is still in the City, and not some fucked up incomprehensible realm. "The... books? Are there that many? There's a building full of them back on the campus." "A true scholar should shield their books with their bodies but The City has gripped the very conceit of education, wisdom, and intelligence and twisted them all into tools of control." Petra nods, always ready to bitch about this with Angela. "Honestly, it's fucking nuts. It's against basic human dignity, and that's coming from me. Keeping such a tight control over information is basically controlling the whole population of this fucking place like puppets. I mean, listen to this guy. 'We wouldn't have education without the Wings'. Like, damn." "Er...." "Dude, I go to college offworld, and you can just learn whatever you want. I spend a bunch of my free time reading in the Library. The Wings suck, and also, they suck absolute shit and make everything worse and you do not have to 'hand it to them'." "... Alright. Well, on that note," Ji-Hun shifts over to answering Angela's question. "My 'interests' per se aren't... precisely represented by my studies. I applied to most of the examinee towns in the District when I was younger; Solomon's was just the one that accepted me. Rather than drilling machinery, if I had the choice of studying anything at all-- to expand the knowledge of the Library, I mean-- it would probably be... mechanical prosthetics, instead?" "Right now I want the freedom to walk under the sun. The power to travel." Ji-Hun picks up on Angela's meaning remarkably quickly, and without too much fuss. Probably because, even if he is one of the many that believe that androids are inherently violent and hostile, he's kind of already at her mercy, so he should be polite! "Because you're an AI, you mean? Isn't the outlawing of AI an edict from the Head, and not District law? Ah-- sorry, I wouldn't consider myself an expert in these things." "But I do want revenge, still." Fair enough. Ji-Hun hesitates, and then asks the question that he's been wondering about ever since Trideag displayed personal, rather than professional, familiarity with Angela. "Not Trideag? Don't misunderstand, I want the others from the campus to be safe, but... do you have a relationship of some kind with the Trideag Association? Is there something I should be aware of?"
Audrey Basque	"Sloppy. No respect for knowledge. A true scholar should shield their books with their bodies but The City has gripped the very conceit of education, wisdom, and intelligence and twisted them all into tools of control." "Ha... w-well, in ancient times, maybe. The invention of printing sure made shielding your books from harm less of a concern. As far as the Library goes... don't worry, we have people there to do that for you, Ji-Hun." She considered mister, for a second, and then realized this young man is definitely not that old. "Like me!" She pauses. She turns to look at Petra, maybe just a bit embarrassed as they walk. "Oh God I said that so quickly and like I enjoy it." "My scope has to become more precise but some crimes must be punished or people forget they are crimes.." Audrey pauses, for a moment. Stops walking outright, to mumble something under her breath. "If I don't, then everyone else forgets not to play... yeah..." This actually makes her fall behind, since she was already trailing as she tends to; it takes her a good ten seconds to notice she stopped walking, and she makes a half-run to catch up. "Oh. Sorry, sorry, what were we..." "The... books? Are there that many? There's a building full of them back on the campus." "Oh! Books! Right! ... a whole building of them... ah..." She looks at Petra again, like she fully expects to be part of the team that's going to have to haul those books around. If it's a whole building of them, that's probably days of work! "I... will prepare some bags for us so we can just... you know." Magic them over. Though bagging them all is probably still gonna take hours.
Angela	''You do not have to 'hand it to them''' "Once removed from the constraints of The City, it is my hope the injustice of the situation becomes more clear. But I do not police thought. Only betrayal, Ji-Hun." Though Angela is not going to give Ji-Hun an opportunity to do so any time soon. She's relatively hands off on Roland largely because he seems to be even more pissed at The City than she is. So surely he can be relied upon. And she's enjoying their little chats, even if he tends to be dreadfully unserious at times. She still wonders why. "There are more books than can be counted." Angela affects a sigh. "Though I am aware of the number. However, the number of books that have a point to being read are considerably fewer in number for the time being. Though I suspect we have more than your campus did. And our selection is not... City exclusive." She smiles as Petra agrees with her at the 'affront' to basic human dignity. She's always happy when they're on the same page. "I see. Perhaps you can take a look at Roland's limbs. He's been saying his left leg has been feeling a little off..." But Angela suspects he's just complaining because he seems to like to sometimes. ''Isn't the outlawing of AI an edict from the Head'' Angela doesn't answer that one first. Instead she focuses on the latter question for the purpose of dramatic and narrative build. "Yes. Many of Trideag's Elites were once working alongside me at LobCorp--Lilian, for example--though with how it all ended, the situation has changed. But I still don't see them as enemies. We just have a philisophical conflict right now." Trideag's goals aren't exactly against her own even as they aren't exactly with her either. Same with the Watch folk that have been lingering about. A multi pronged approach even if they bash around a bit might not be entirely a problem for her... But this is thinking so far ahead that it's basically useless to. ''Like me!'' Angela is a little startled, honestly, by Audrey's pep going THAT far. She's not sure she entirely understands the mumbling but she notices the mood shift because Audrey is staying back there for SO LONG. She quirks her head curiously but isn't going to press in front of Ji-Hun. And eventually she returns to looking at Ji-Hun as they walk. "But yes. It is an edict from the Head. ... However you feel about the Wings, about the Head, I'm afraid that you may be destined for a role as a revolutionary scholar simply due to your association with me. But rest assured, The Head will only get the opportunity to harm you if you betray us. They...are not so kind to informants."
Petra Soroka	"Oh God I said that so quickly and like I enjoy it." Petra pats Audrey on the shoulder, in the slightly too rough way that one does when they're kind of passively hazing someone. "We'll make you a real warrior yet, skater girl. Maybe one day you'll even be able to pick up a sword properly." "If I don't, then everyone else forgets not to play..." Petra looks over her shoulder and recognizes a Lilian Line even when she wasn't there to hear it. Seeing Audrey fall behind, Petra prods her out of her thoughts by calling out to her, lapsing into the colder tone she usually uses with people who aren't Audrey. "Keep up, Basque." "I... will prepare some bags for us so we can just... you know." "You probably should. I mean, you'd get exhausted just from carrying the first chunk of them back." When it comes time to actually do it, Petra will almost certainly help with the work, but right now it's funnier to her to pretend that she'll make Audrey do all of it. "But I do not police thought. Only betrayal, Ji-Hun." "I'll make a note of it, ma'am." It's hard to tell how serious exactly Ji-Hun is being about that. Probably at least a little bit. He sort of has to take it to heart, when surrounded by all these looming trees, where almost no one else is walking around on what used to be the central streets of the Nest. "Though I suspect we have more than your campus did." Petra interjects offhand, "Oh, way more. I did some snooping before. Even if you just count the real books we have, we've easily got a hundred times as many or more. I might've set your standards too high by showing you my campus library, sis; the City's book situation is fucked." "Perhaps you can take a look at Roland's limbs." "Got it. I'll do that then; er-- after the tour, I mean." Ji-Hun seems relieved to have a task he's assigned to do that isn't 'organize books' (though that's cool!) and 'movie nights'. Unfortunately for him, he won't be able to do anything about it. Roland's limbs aren't robotic. "Many of Trideag's Elites were once working alongside me at LobCorp--Lilian, for example--though with how it all ended, the situation has changed." That's a pretty big point towards the Library being the spiritual successor to L-Corp, with the Singularity like Lilian suggested. But that makes it a pretty great place to be! Probably the best in the District, even better that they're apparently not operating like a traditional Wing. Ji-Hun absorbs the information with a nod. "I'm afraid that you may be destined for a role as a revolutionary scholar simply due to your association with me." Ji-Hun immediately makes a connection on what he assumes the danger that Lilian and Rita were referring to in the Library to be. He tugs at his shirt collar, cold sweat breaking out on the back of his neck, but he tries to keep himself collected. "Well, ah... rest assured, when I made my career path to join a Wing, I made my peace with committing to a singular organization in my life. No one appreciates being betrayed, I believe. Now that I've thrown in my lot with you, I plan on sticking by that. If I can change the world alongside that, then... I can't say it's not more appealing than running mining machinery all my life."
Audrey Basque	"We'll make you a real warrior yet, skater girl." "There's gotta be a better word for it than warrior," Audrey whines a bit, without necessarily objecting though. "Keep up, Basque." The snap to attention is noticeable. Ji-Hun might not have context for it, but Angela surely could piece two and two together if she thought about it, and time to think is something she has so much of. Audrey takes a moment to compose herself, and then glares daggers at Petra. "I mean, you'd get exhausted just from carrying the first chunk of them back." "I know," she says, a bit exasperated, and a bit... something or another, a bit pinker, a bit distracted, but entirely more attention on Petra than anyone else at this point. "If I can change the world alongside that, then... I can't say it's not more appealing than running mining machinery all my life." "Mm. Yeah. You won't have any shortage of different things to do at the Library at least. Especially since it's always growing." On the bright side, this went well. Hopefully it appeases Angela!
Angela	''I can't say it's not more appealing than running mining machinery all my life.'' "That's the spirit." Angela says, not quite reaching an exclamation point at the end of that sentence but she definitely put a little more oomph into it. She doesn't interrupt Petra giving Audrey shit, though, because she ultimately sided on Audrey probably needing to be given more shit in her life. Maybe this will be the last push she needs to finally rid herself of the concept of guilt from her heart. That would be nice. She remembers Lilian once long ago giving Petra shit about not being able to wield a weapon properly (Angela may have missed more recent times) and look at where Petra is now? It can only be good for her. Maybe one day Audrey too will live in the forest out of a mecha despite access to a lair. It DOES almost feel like they've fallen out of the Nest anyway, even through the Backstreets and down down down to the forest floor, doesn't it? And once inside the Library, that feeling will only grow stronger, as if The City is no longer there. There are windows that can be opened to overlook it, but the Mist is frequently making the view rather hazy. But Angela can't help but wonder--is conflict with Trideag--direct conflict--inevitable? They might not pick that fight carelessly, but what happened wasn't exactly encouraging for the future. Perhaps she should lie more. Promise things she can't keep. But she has always clung tightly to possibility hasn't she? She DOES seem to be feeling better, when Audrey observes her. She is still quite difficult to read, but--well perhaps Audrey is getting better at reading Angela too. "There is no shame in learning, Audrey. Now that you have committed yourself to the task--I hope to see the results of proper dedication in time." The mist parts long enough for the doors to open and Angela returns to the prison called home.