Scene #9377: Inviting Lilian In

Owner	Pose
Angela	Angela had invited to give Lilian a proper tour of the Library. Angela offers to teleport Lilian in directly or is willing to just open up the mists so she can head through the front doors. Angela thinks the risk of alerting The Head is pretty meager either way. Either way, Ceri offers to handle the Trideag duties for the day so there shouldn't be any issues on that front. Whichever approach Lilian chooses, the first room that she'll find herself in is the lobby. The lobby is lit by hanging pendant lamps and filled with tall bookshelves. It is also presently empty aside from Angela and a bit of mist trailing in from. A staircase leads upwards and there is also a nearby elevator, nearby, that leads up to the higher floors. Angela offers her hand to Lilian, ever as concerned with the rituals of decorum and etiquette as much as the actual acts involved. "Thank you for coming, Lilian. I am excited to show you the Library. There is much left to do, of course, but I believe we made some progress." There is still the distinct LACK of a smell of blood permeating the library as well as a distinct lack of the heavy scnet of cleaning fluid that used to be everywhere in the Lobotomy Corp facility. This isn't Lilian's first time at the Library, exactly. She paid a visit before to assist in the 'taming' of Fragments, though Angela has grown accustomed to using the term 'Realization' since she didn't really like using that term. But that was a specific mission on a specific floor. "There are many more floors. The only floor that is not ready to visit would be the Floor that will ultimately be assigned to Benjamin." Angela explains. "So we can visit whichever floors you like in whichever order. Each floor is dedicated to a different subset of knowledge. Petra is in charge of General Works, for example, but the other Sephirah each have their own floor. I have tried to match them to their interests." She hazards a guess, "Would you like to visit Literature first? That's Hod's floor. But if there's a particular Sephirah--or subject--you would like to check in on first, we can start there instead." There's some nervous energy surrounding Angela, hench the near-repetition. She is hoping to prove that she is being ''positive'' to society. Or at least, an improvement to what was going on before. The last thing she wants to do is add to Lilian's disappointments but she should be ready for some critiques, she reasons to herself.
Lilian Rook	As much as Lilian wants to still like Angela, the fact is that the Library is somehow an even bigger unknown than Lobotomy Corporation. Whatever trust she might want to put in the woman who runs it, it'd be the height of disingenuity-- at least to Lilian-- to waltz with the implicit assumption that Angela would never dare do anything to her; she herself had told Angela in no uncertain terms to do anything it takes, and not to brake for her. Perversely, this means that the fog is a better bet than teleportation; for Lilian specifically, it is impossible to opportunistically close the former on her, and contrary to what some might think, she is, actually, quite attentive to this sort of thing. She's even declined to wear her Trídéag coat on the minuscule chance that someone actually sees her from a distance, though wearing her armour doesn't necessarily mean anything particularly ill; the place is host to Abnormalities and a Rage Cage, after all. And despite that, she does take Angela's hand. Smiling isn't going to hurt her. "It doesn't reek of bleach anymore." Lilian notes ever so positively, forgetting to say anything about blood. "Going through each floor one by one . . . likely isn't necessary." she says, with an interruption only to second-guess. "So I suppose if I'm meant to pick one . . ." "Which floor are those college students working on?"
Angela	Angela expects everyone she befriends to abandon her, ultimately. That Lilian hasn't means a great deal to her. She can't let her running the organization that might one day be sent out to dispose of her too much. She hasn't abandoned Benjamin, after all, and he'd done worse than kill her. Her devotion to Lilian was once enough that she'd have buried herself forever for her sake. She wants to hold onto as much of her friendship with LIlian as possible without squeezing so tightly the sand spills out all over the floor. And that is the fuel that encourages her to try and make things 'better' rather than just take the cruellest most efficient route she can. It certainly doesn't hurt she is getting fed little pieces of freedom here and there, though that also means she knows exactly what she's missing every day. It's a bit of a double edged sword in that sense. Seeing Lilian's smile feeds one of her own. "One of my favorite parts of the 'new place'. I am not offended by critique either, though I should warn that my space, at the moment, is limited." ''Which floor are those college students working on?'' "...You mean Ji-Hun?" Angela asks. "He works at the Floor of Technology, though of course they aren't ... locked to any particular floor but that is where he works. We can start there." She makes her way to the elevator, slides a library card against a key reader and the doors open. Angela steps inside shortly after and gives a nod to Lilian to step in. It'd be a nice place where Angela wouldn't really be able to defend herself effectively. She's still tough to harm by construction but she would be stuck without any room to maneuver for about a minute. Once Lilian's on, she hits a button and the elevator rises up. "Only one student ultimately decided to take my offer. I suppose that means I'm more partial to Ji-Hun than I would have been if they had all decided to join us." She shakes her head. "I cannot provide a better living situation than Trideag. It is to be expected." She looks over to Lilian. "I want you to know that the hit I put out on Sarracenia isn't because I'm upset about Trideag's accurate remarks regarding me. It is because Sarracenia is a 'Partner' and if I allowed one Partner to so gleefully sabotage me, they might as well all do so." The doors slide open. The Floor of Technology's purple tinted nature suggests it's Yesod's floor all on its own. A hanging sculpture, pinned to the ceiling by wires, consists of large gears and seems to largely be an artistic flourish. It is very tidy, as befitting Yesod's nature, the books are carefully collected and properly sorted behind glass. The chairs are plush in that office chair for a guest companies might put out near the reception area. Tables are placed far apart from one another. There's signs pointing to restrooms that seem recently bolted on and Lilian can spot a vending machine offering various types of local sodas and snacks. A pair of librarians--they're wearing the uniform--that Lilian hasn't seen before are present. A larger woman with long curly brown hair and a short woman, about half the other woman's size, with short white hair are discussing something animatedly.
Angela	"Hey buddy," The larger woman tells her friend. "An engine that big will rip off the arms of whomever tries to swing that sword." "That's part of the fun, Samantha!" They must be Workshop people that Angela picked up. Not any that were involved with Ji-hun's college, though. The two of them recognize the elevators have opened and Samantha throws a wave. "Howdy chief!" She says to Angela who seems indifferent to the title. "Isn't that... Woah! That's Director Lilian from the Trideag Association...!" "Is she here to fight?" The shorter woman asks, a manic glint in her eye. "No Maxine." Angela says. "Just a tour." If Lilian looks through a window she'll see that she's overlooking an arena with an 'impossible' city sprawled out across the distance under and around it. Despite various lights being on, and the buildings being quite lit, it seems ... empty. "I have considered moving people out to the City, but the streets are plasma." She says this like she hasn't designed it intentionally this way. Maybe she hadn't.
Lilian Rook	'I am not offended by critique either, though I should warn that my space, at the moment, is limited.' "I have a policy on criticizing the arbitrary shape expressed by the inside of someone's soul." Lilian says, recalling the specific instance she got mad at everyone about it on someone else's behalf. "Which I've just decided is a 'policy' right now." she adds, evening up fib with truth. Following after Angela into the elevator, regardless of how strange it all is, she almost feels as if nothing has changed. Or at least, that nothing is different forever. She halfway expects the doors to open to one of those silly little lounges that Petra-- 'I want you to know that the hit I put out on Sarracenia isn't because I'm upset about Trideag's accurate remarks regarding me.' Lilian tries to disguise a cough as a cough and then winces realizing how stupid that is, needing to clear her throat a second time after. "Beg pardon? The what?" she says, staring. "Well . . . A-a Concord internal disciplinary matter is . . . ah, but you're using agents from outside the City, aren't you? If it's an in-City bounty then that sort of becomes my problem." says Lilian. Her tone hardens up again. "Arguably. If a Partner assassinates her for being intolerable, that's another faction's business. If someone in the City comes after a . . . nominal Fixer of mine, I'd have to . . . think about it." Really, Yesod's floor is probably a good first impression. Lilian has a weaker impression of him than most of the Librarians, having missed his Meltdown, and the way he keeps his space is one she meets with loosening up from a place of metaphorical 'holding her nose' before stepping in. For some reason, the first thought that pops into her head is, "Are those uniforms your idea too? Or did they just sort of 'appear'?" 'Isn't that... Woah! That's Director Lilian from the Trideag Association...!' Lilian successfully parries the urge to smirk. She's getting better at it again. Really though, she could get used to the idea of everyone in the Multiverse reacting to her like this too. She begins seriously contemplating the idea of pushing for a more active PR strategy, starting right now. 'Is she here to fight?' Short women. Lilian looks at her as if she's thinking something equally pithy. "Try not to look so excited." she says, drily. "From the looks of you, you'd never have an opportunity to learn anything from it." Her eyes rove around the surrounding area, looking for any sign of the aforementioned engine. "Especially with an experimental weapon. More's the pity I didn't bring the new Type-Thirteen, I suppose." She wasn't sure what to expect from the resident Thunderdome, but Lilian both sees no harm in, and cannot really avoid, slowing down and staring as she passes the window. "Are there one of these on every floor?" she asks Angela, looking at her reflection rather than turning back. The reflected eye contact is the same anyways. "Why? Do these-- people actually fight battles in here?"
Angela	''I have a policy on criticizing the arbitrary shape expressed by the inside of someone's soul.'' Angela quirks her head. "Hm." She says. "That is a relief to hear. While I can influence its shape to some extent, and I can ... fill it with furniture, I suppose. There is only so much I can do about the inherent shape. The fact that we're inside a ''tree'' for example, that is well beyond my ability to control. I don't even ''make'' it grow with conscious effort. It does so on its own." When Lilian indicates it's a policy she just made as policy in the moment, Angela actually has a small chuckle at that, and she remains smiling. Today's a good day. She's ... missed it. Lilian coming by. Even just to talk. ''You're using agents from outside the City, areen't you?'' "...Yes. I asked an agent of the Concord on this matter. It is, after all, Concord business. Not City business. As far as I'm concerned, after all." She pauses a moment nad then admits, "Besides. I am not interested in putting you in a position where you ''have'' to defend Sarracenia. I don't want open war with Trideag either. After all, as far as I'm concerned, you are ... not counterproductive to my goals for The City. In the worst case scenario, Trideag may be able to do what I cannot, though I would--ideally--prefer to avoid that situation." She considers whether or not it would be an assassination by cupping her chin. "I don't think it would be an assassination. I am leaving much up to the discretion of the one who made the offer. To be honest, the offer was made before that point but since she helped me during the war I felt it would be impolite to send the 'hit' through regardless. It is her recent acts that encouraged me to reinstate it." She would prefer to avoid having to think too much about it, honestly but she's relieved she didn't accidentally put Lilian in a difficult spot by sending, like, some librarians after her but in truth, she hadn't thought everything through to the end. But she can pretend she did. That's fine. It's not like she wouldn't have considered it if it came to her in the moment. ''Are those uniforms your idea too?'' Angela looks at her ''own'' uniform and then sheepishly admits, "It was my idea, though the Sephirah added some flourishes for their individual floors. To encourage each team to have their own sense of identity. ... It isn't too stuffy, is it?" Angela asks. It might be a little stuffy. Yesod--a serious looking purple haired man, approaches--he doesn't seem too different from how his cognition filtered self looked. But he gives a small nod to Lilian. "Dame Commander. Welcome. Apologies for my late greeting. I was finishing tidying up a section farther down the hall when I heard the news and I had to finish my work first." ''Try not to look so excited'' "Ehehehh...." The shorter woman laughs though doesn't quiiiite put her hand behind her back as she does it. She's not quite like THAT. But she admits, "But it'd be fun, right? We've seen the video, it's hella cinematic! You gotta admire artistry even if you can't paint it yourself!" "Hold on, Maxine--" Samantha says before looking over to Lilian, excitement in her eyes but way more chill about it. "New Type-Thirteen? That must've been after we entered the Library. What is it?" "Does it explode?" The giddy Maxine adds. Samantha pushes down on her head like she's trying to get her to become even shorter.
Angela	''Are there one of these on every floor?'' "There are." Angela admits. "They weren't planned, exactly. That's why they take such different forms." Angela explains. "I wanted something fitting for each Sephirah so they could feel comfortable and it showed up like this. I suppose because in my heart of hearts, I didn't want any fighting to be done near the books." ''Do these--people actually fight battles in here?'' "They do. Though the fighting is less consistent and constant than in LobCorp." Angela adds. "Some days there isn't even any fighting at all. It seems fewer people are accepting invitations as of late--at least amongst the Fixer offices. It's mostly Syndicates lately." Lilian's warned to The Liu Association must have slowed down that roll--conciously by Xiao or otherwise.
Lilian Rook	'The fact that we're inside a ''tree'' for example, that is well beyond my ability to control.' "That's fine. I like trees." Lilian says, immediately followed by. "Or-- I sort of fucking hate them. But I'm very fond of them. They're just really important, so it's obvious that the best thing that's ever happened to you but which also sucks unbelievably badly would be a giant tree." By the point she reaches the end of her sentence, Lilian is full-on talking with her hands. She decides to quit while she's ahead. "It's much nicer than the Headquarters Branch." 'As far as I'm concerned, after all.' "I'm glad to hear it." says Lilian. It's one of her more neutral affirmatives, but the fact she doesn't evince any particular relief just means that she hadn't really thought Angela would have fucked it up anyways. "I'd rather avoid war as well." she says. "Not just because the odds would be overwhelmingly tilted against you instead of me, this time, but because of the amount of human collateral you have tied down to this library." The words anyone would have normally used would be 'because it would be heartbreaking' or 'because it would scare me', but here, all things are one and the same; a war, at this point, would only be immiserating punching down at people who don't deserve it. She makes a smug little smirky face when she hears that Sarracenia got her own hit reinstated though. Classic. 'It was my idea, though the Sephirah added some flourishes for their individual floors. To encourage each team to have their own sense of identity.' "Cute." Lilian says, under her breath, and doesn't think more about it. 'But it'd be fun, right? We've seen the video, it's hella cinematic! You gotta admire artistry even if you can't paint it yourself!' Lilian allows her head to list to one side, tilt-rolled like she's thinking about something very tedious. She sighs, and the next moment-- -----[stop]----- Lilian draws Night Mist, looks away from the window, and guides the weapon to just under Maxine's chin. With the last few inches hovering against the woman's neck, Lilian carefully turns her gaze back to the window, so that-- -----[start]----- --she has her sword held delicately against Maxine's throat without looking at her. Talking to the reflection instead of the woman, she replies, "Fun for whom, exactly? Try to imagine what it must be like to be me and better respect my time." 'Dame Commander. Welcome. Apologies for my late greeting.' "Think nothing of it. I'd forgive the Sefirah before anyone else, considering the circumstances." says Lilian. Her tone lightens back to airy, just as her sword whirls through the air and snaps back into its scabbard. "I still have to properly thank you, all of you, for how hard you fought back then. It relieves me to see you all making the best of the circumstances as they are." she says. "I was just talking earlier today about the concept of ending battles and beginning new ones, rather than dragging out the same one ad infinitum, so it seems an appropriate time." She takes one more look around, and then says, approvingly, "Despite your looks, you're in good spirits, aren't you? I can only hope the others are this organized."
Lilian Rook	'New Type-Thirteen? That must've been after we entered the Library. What is it?' "The Trídéag Association's newly instated standardized Fixer armament. Designed by myself, as a collaboration between Stigma and Nestor." says Lilian. No harm in letting Angela's stepchildren get antsy and annoying! 'Some days there isn't even any fighting at all.' "Some days?" Lilian says, turning away from the glass with a raised eyebrow. "Implying that they're fighting most days." Her tone uneasily tilts neither one way or the other. She doesn't let the good news especially show on her face. "Let it be Syndicates for as long as possible, frankly. If we have to pick between foot soldiers, then better theirs than ours. At least as you go up the chain, they get more deserving of it." Lilian says. "But I'm afraid the question of who you have fighting them, and how, isn't . . . immaterial to the matter of how these people live here."
Angela	"You seem to be of two minds regarding trees. Is that a story you're willing to share? I admit it is difficult for me to not ... wonder." She does seem relieved to hear that it's 'nicer than the headquarter branch' though. That's what she wants. She wants it to be ''nice''. Otherwise the blood is only for her, right? And if the blood is just for her, then what her dads say about her are just true, right? It has to be nice. That's not just a 'if possible' thing. It's a requisite. That's why the rules in how combat is conducted. That's why it will never smell like blood here--at least not in that everpresent way of the facility. No. ''The odds would be overwhelmingly tilted against you instead of me.'' "Undoubtedly. I do not believe I have it in me to wage an all out war like that again. We utilize matches here instead of war to determine who the victor is. It's not kind. But it is better than the alternative." She exhales to imitate a sigh. "...And I don't want to sacrifice my 'human collateral' either. There are people here who chose to stay here. It is not like before where they had no choice." Well at least some chose. "If they chose me--that means I have a responsibility to look after them properly, no?" She looks into Lilian's eyes for a long moment. "that is what you would do, after all. I apologize for the mimicry, but it is not as if I haven't seen how a bit of consideration from a leader can build something far greater than anyone could alone. ... I suppose King Zephiel employs that as well in his own way. There are too many people who are loyal to him for reasons beyond country or coin." Lilian freezes time. Angela's eyes flick towards the tip but Maxine-- "Eh? Ehh? For me--" She isn't about to lie, though she is self aware enough to glance down at the blade at her neck. "Please understand I hold you in the highest regard. I wouldn't insist on anything, but that doesn't mean I can't hope right?" A bead of sweat drips down the side of her neck, drifting closely past the blade. "My buddy's a little maniac, ma'am." Samantha assures Lilian but seems unbothered that Lilian is threatening her. Probably not the first time Maxine's been threatened. Yesod says, "It was our dream. It would have been a shame to not fight for it." Yesod says. "I am glad you hold no ill will towards those that voted to end the war rather than fight to the end." ''Despite your looks, you're in good spirits, aren't you?'' "Our dream may have fallen, but ... well, as you said, there's a new battle before us. It is good to see Malkuth in the flesh again, I suppose it has lifted my spirits since it was my error that gave her the opportunity to do something reckless enough that it ended her first life." He doesn't start smiling or anything. Honestly, most people would probably not be able to tell that he IS in a better mood. He is even more stoic than Angela, to the point of it being a little ridiculous, but there is SOMETHING there if you know how to look for it. "Netzach is still a mess I'm afraid to say, though I believe the others do work hard even if they might occassionally struggle with the load. For my own part, texts on technology have been a bit more difficult to come by for the Library so far, but it is important to me to keep everything in its proper place and well tended to. I don't care for haphazard jobs." "He gave Roland a stern talking to on their first meeting." Angela admits. Yesod doesn't deny it.
Angela	''Between Stigma and Nestor.'' That gives Samantha something of an idea. "Incredible... Stigma is very particular about their work. That they are willing to do a collaberation for you, they must hold you in really high esteem." It's also pretty obvious that Samantha is the levelheaded one of the pair and is instrumental in keeping her 'buddy' alive. "Isn't that right, Maxine?" Maxine lets out a whistle of appreciation. "Want to see 'em burn." "Hopefully not, buddy" Samantha laughs, pushing down harder on Maxine's head. ''Implying that they're fighting most days.'' "I did not mean to make such an implication." Angela admits. "But I did not wish to suggest it was so rare as to be inconsequetnail. When I am not here, we cannot receive receptions, but sometimes we don't get any even when I am here. In a sense, my little outings with Petra is slowing my progress but ... I don't believe I could sacrifice them at this point for the sake of expediency." she pauses. "...It slows it down because it would be impolite if I do not greet guests properly, of course. That is why I need to be here." In other words, it's something elected into rather than a strict rule. Angela, like Yesod, cares much about everything being in its proper place whether it be books or protocol. ''At least as you go up the chain, they get more deserving of it.'' "...Unfortunately, it is the nature of The City for people to send those they deem expendible to a place like this first before sending ... the ones who deserve it more." Angela admits, her hand curling into a fist. If Roland was here hse imagines he'd start complaining. In some ways, he's more pissed at The City than she is. Or at least it feels that way. She can't help but wonder how. Her own disgust is difficult to match, it has to be right? "So far I'm mostly having Roland and Audrey fight them. So they can get the practice. But at the very least, they are not risking their lives. If they 'die' I can restore them from their 'book' state." Angela explains. "It didn't seem sporting to just send Gebura after everyone. That's one of hte reasons she's on vacation. But I hope it appeases Rita some and ... Gebura has been a weapon at the hands of someone or another for longer than my life. It is important she be able to walk around on her own two feet without someone making demands of her for a while." Lilian said she kind of hated those she was trying to save, once. But another way of putting that is that she's trying to save the people she kind of hates.
Lilian Rook	'Is that a story you're willing to share?' The effort of thinking about that one question is enough to take Lilian from casually ultra-threatening to temple-rubbing overworked and tired over the course of precisely three seconds. "I can't even begin to imagine how I'd make a story of it." she says, massaging the bridge of her nose. "A story implies a structure, with a beginning a middle and an end. Trees are just everywhere." Lilian sighs exasperatedly, raising her voice. "I can't get away from them. I swear slipped through the cracks of God's creation and everything in my life is part of Tree's Plan now." This is a lot of answer and not very helpful at all. 'It is not like before where they had no choice.' "Yeah, it isn't." Lilian says. The words alone convey the sigh that she had to hold in, gaze fixed on the window, rather than the arena beyond, in the direction of an excuse. "There were a few reasons, that I said everything would only get more difficult once you left." The silent part is 'Lobotomy Corp'. "But perhaps the greatest of them is that everything gets more complicated, evaluated differently, once there is a choice. Perverse as it is, the freer you are, the thinner the tightrope becomes." Finally breaking eye contact with her reflection, Lilian looks back to Angela, hands behind her back. "At least as far as concerns your evolving relationship with the world. Even the worst people alive intuitively understand the difference between having no options and having 'some', even though their discernment only stretches to sniffing out the exact moment you can start being blamed for real." says Lilian, who is no longer talking about the agents, and probably hasn't been for a minute. "If 'duels' are what it takes to split the difference between your principles and your conscience, I can spend all day analyzing and judging you for it, but there's nothing I can say that wouldn't make me a hypocrite." "After all, it's no different from why I didn't order Petra to betray you, back then." 'I suppose King Zephiel employs that as well in his own way. There are too many people who are loyal to him for reasons beyond country or coin.' Lilian shakes her head, but she's being indecisive about what. "Certainly, you have a responsibility, but because they, too, chose to be here, they bear some responsibility for what becomes of them; or rather, they bear some responsibility to look after themselves." she says, strangely bitter for only a moment, about something that seems neither here nor there. "On the other hand, Zephiel was, by all accounts, a king worthy of following; but you're talking about people would die for the man he was supposed to become, were there any justice in the world, and not the man he did. They're hanging on to hope for him; the two things don't spend the same." 'Eh? Ehh? For me--' Too late now Maxine. Lilian huffs in an 'impressively unimpressed' way, and skims over the apology. 'My buddy's a little maniac, ma'am.' "No one likes a selfish lover." Lilian says, dripping less sarcasm than simply thinned patience. "I make a habit of not spending time on things that are only enjoyable for someone else." 'I am glad you hold no ill will towards those that voted to end the war rather than fight to the end.' Sword put away, Lilian smiles in a strange, far-off fashion to Yesod, and her eyes commit to no expression one way or the other. "I wouldn't say I hold none at all, but I don't even know myself what I was truly hoping to happen. Rather than obsessing over how it turned out, the only thing I can do is accept the current state of things as reality and keep moving." she says.
Lilian Rook	"I'm glad that you seem to agree. That understanding, despite how long that time has been topsy-turvy and backwards in this place, is part of the reason why I appreciate you lot as much as I do. Even Netzach." 'I don't care for haphazard jobs' "Good man." Lilian pats him on the soulder. 'Stigma is very particular about their work. That they are willing to do a collaberation for you, they must hold you in really high esteem.' "Naturally." says Lilian. "Ordinarily, I might politely diminish that, by informing you that it's easy to be good to the people of the City when you haven't always had to live here. But the fact is that even in the City, there are people worthy of esteem who simply don't get it." She brushes back her hair. "And those from outside who get more than they deserve. But either way, I'm hardly about to skimp on what's supposed to be keeping my Fixers alive. I couldn't look the ghost of a man who died because it was cheaper in the eyes." 'In a sense, my little outings with Petra is slowing my progress but ... I don't believe I could sacrifice them at this point for the sake of expediency.' "Do you think I don't understand the value of rest?" Lilian says. She raises an eyebrow, almost smiling. "Well, I'd forgive you if you got that impression from me. But, no, I think you should keep standing on ceremony. Rare is the Elite who understands that practical things are built out of impractical ones; the methods you use and the ways you chose to be will inevitably make their way into the outcome, whether you like it or not. Going about things in a way you won't feel ashamed of . . . think of it as a form of structural backbone." 'If they 'die' I can restore them from their 'book' state.' "Don't be in a hurry if it's Basque." Lilian says, waving a hand dismissively. "And don't do anything for the sole purpose of appeasing Rita." she adds, raising her voice, then back down. "Or myself, for that matter. If she can forgive you, she will; if she can't, then she won't. You didn't ask anyone's permission to live back then, so it's too late to start seeking approval now, even though everything's changed." Lilian pauses for a second. "Well, you asked me, but I recall that I told you not to. 'Fighting to be born' is . . ." It takes her a moment, to access the way she was thinking back then, or rather, how she'd thought about something that seldom ever fully leaves her mind. Her eyes flick back to Angela, with an edge that hadn't been there before. "The only thing you can do, in the end, is force people to respect the fact that you're alive; here and now as yourself. You don't have the luxury of making them like it, too. No one before you did either." Lilian exhales, closing her eyes and letting her shoulders fall. "I don't need to see every single floor; I get the gist. Out of curiosity, might I ask where you typically prefer to spend your time in here?"
Angela	Angela might not get much in the way of data and lore from Lilian's answer, but she gets a vibe enough that makes her grimace. "I can't believe I'm contributing to Big Tree. I wondered why it took the form of a Tree, honestly. At first my presumption was that it was a natural result of the ''Seed'' Of Light being invoked in its creation but I do not believe that is entirely true anymore. And despite the City being called 'The City', there are forests, rivers, lakes, grass, and so on within it. So it is not inherently intrusive as part of being 'a tree'. I suspect that there is a longing for the natural world in my soul, such as it is, so it takes the form of a tree. But I also have much room to grow, and a tree is a suitable expression of that as well. Phony's tree is remains within, so there is in fact a tree within the tree. And of course there is the invocation of a 'World Tree', an inevitable new beginning for a static world, but that may be a bit presumptuous." ''Perverse as it is, the freer you are, the thinner the tightrope becomes.'' angela clenches her fists tightly like she has already tumbled off and is hanging on for dear life. She wonders if she knew freedom would be so hard if she would have fought for it so stringently. "If I had been born free, I imagine I would have more appreciation for the act of being controlled. Not that that is a good thing in of itself, but I've noticed that those in the multiverse seem less interested in being the ones that follow orders, in being under a structure. There is a benefit to that--The agents were far more understanding of that than I anticipated. I really wouldn't mind working for you directly, Lilian, and perhaps one day I still can. But I would be more useful without a chain around my ankle anyway." ''Sniffing out the exact moment you can be blamed for real.'' Angela still doesn't feel free, she doesn't feel she has power, she doesn't feel like she has a choice. Even as she acknowledges that she has significantly more freedom, true freedom still feels so far away. Maybe that's why it's so hard to accept the shifting reality for her. Before she would have died, but now her life isn't exactly quite on the line as it used to be. ''It's no different from why I didn't order Petra to betray you, back then.'' "I hope the City doesn't judge ''you'' for that. But I suppose without an understanding of the situation of the Sector that eclipses most people who already live in it, that is unlikely. The only thing that can get you in trouble regarding that day is when they realize an AI is living in The City. And they will find out eventually, Lilian, that you must've known. The Hana Association are not staffed with idiots even if according to Roland they are slow to move and abundantly cautous. The Arbiters may be maniacs who eradicate any impurity, but the Hana are the ones that keep the City glued together. After getting to know you I consider that the harder job. But where I place respect has always been different from those that properly lived in The City. My opinion on Gebura is ... I respect her ability, but I hold more ''faith'' in Tiphereth. And most of The City would bulldoze her without even acknowledging her existence. When I was young, she was the one who voluntered to show me the ropes. I once saw her as a big sister, since we were both tied to Carmen, but the version of Tiphereth that exists now is missing all that context. She only got to know me as I am now." She hasn't really gone so far as to admit this so far. Maybe some part of her wonders if she can make up for lost time there. Or maybe just understanding of why it feels like that old connection is a ghost now.
Angela	Samantha and Maxine are around listening to all this. Maxine has no interest, Samantha has the emotional distance of someone who likes information and is filing details away but doesn't seem inclined to comment on it. "Well hopefully my little maniac will learn a lesson but odds are she'll explode in a fireball of her own making." Samantha says with happy chill despite the content of what she just said. She seems to take it upon herself to be Maxine's minder anyway. ''Good man.'' Yesod bobs his head to Lilian. "Of course." But he doesn't seem to have much to say. Samantha smiles, "Seems like your attitude is paying off, ma'am! You're rising up in the world. At some point it might ''concern'' people!" Angela frowns about THAT but that is really a Lilian problem she can't help with while trapped in here and also quite illegal. "It feels like that lack of ability you mention is a rare failing." She doesn't consider it a failing, of course, but she's willing to wordplay along. ''Do you think I don't have understand the value of rest?'' Angela smiles. "I do wonder, sometimes. Tamamo does think you work too hard, sometimes." Angela holds Tamamo in very high esteem specifically because of Tamamo's priorities in life. Tamamo in her mind does work hard but also seems to have this sort of ... She's not sure how she'd even put it. Will Angela feel no shame with this method. "Certainly, if I could think of something that was easier on my heart, I would take that route. There is no point in achieving freedom if I dream of the damned every night." Angela is admitting she has a heart! And that she is worried about a guilty conscience! "Not that I dream--or sleep--yet but Ayin has killed himself enough times that I am endeavouring to avoid such a pitfall. And it is important for me to be fairer than Lobcorp, at least." ''Don't be a hurry if it's Basque.'' "It's likely to be Basque." Angela admits. And then hesitates. "But it will take several hours regardless to restore from the 'book' state. So Audrey will--" She frowns, wondering if people in a book state can think. She doesn't finish the thought. "I understand." She gives in instead. ''You don't have the luxury of making them like it, too. No one before you did either.'' "...You're not wrong, even if it is difficult to accept. It didn't used to be difficult. When we unified, I assumed nobody ever would. and I admit I am .. a bit envious of the hand you've extended to the girls of the Foundation." She has no idea that the situation has changed there some. "But you've already helped me. I shouldn't be so greedy." Of course the King of Greed was one of those Abnormalities she had some resonance with, isn't it? She doesn't bring this up, but Angela has had some time to reflect. "There are many who would benefit from your experience." And she can't exactly learn to be her own woman if she's constantly looking towards others. Even if it's tough to navigate when you still want to respect their experience. ''Might I aske where you typically prefer to spend your time in here?'' "Of course. I can show you, though you've been there before. It ''is'' different now. But it used to be Silent Girl's cell."
Angela	Angela turns, making her way to the elevator. "It is in the floor above Keter. Nearest to the stars." Angela opens the door, stepping inside and if Lilian follows her, she'll up and hit the button. "Ever since that day I've been drawn to the stars. Audrey and Petra showed me once. And it's been stronger since. I feel it here, though not so much in the 'space' of other worlds. Perhaps it's just a wondering of the unstated possibility of my homeworld intriguing me." She glances to Lilian. "I can feel the grass there, feel the breeze, read in peace. And past that is where the Light is being collected, though I wouldn't step inside of it. It is dangerous to step into such quantities of Light--since it so keenly connected to the River. The fact Audrey has been able to tap into it is impressive." She shakes her head. "I think I have learned that ability matters less than confidence and will. She has plenty of ability--she'd have to, to be able to do that--but every day I talk to her she seems weaker. I owe her, but perhaps she was too strong at the start and now that she has to sweat..." She sighs. "She reminds me of the Sephirah moments before a Meltdown that kills twelve people."