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Owner	Pose
Petra Soroka	It's basically never a good thing for Petra when Tamamo comes around. Understandably so, from Petra's perspective-- anyone who hates Petra for the 'right' reasons should have infinite leeway in how much they can abuse her, because it's naturally correct to do harm to Petra for all of her past misdeeds. This is a circumstance that will never change, no matter how many years of good behavior go by before Petra kills herself, and so Petra can't construct a coherent defense for why she should ideologically be allowed to dislike being harmed.     So when Tamamo asks Petra to show her around the Library, Petra can't possibly refuse, both on philosophical grounds, and because of a certain choice she made when getting de-Silvered a long time ago. Anyone there can sense Petra's stress in the interceding time after she gets off of class and arrives at the Library, not in the least because for the very first time, Petra has her uniform on *neatly*. She rushes around fussing over making the Library orderly for a short time, until Tamamo arrives.     The Library is separated from the rest of the City by impenetrable golden mist, but when Tamamo is allowed through it, there's practically a second city inside of it, or at least a modest town. The numerous city blocks that the Library has swallowed up through its expansion are recast in twisted black wood and golden light, with the brutalist architecture turned into haunted forest-esque huts that people still live in-- though definitely not as many as this area had before the Library. Petra scurries out to meet her, and though the enormous double doors entering the Library proper don't actually need to be held open, Petra stands to the side to let Tamamo through as if she is, to be polite.     The entrance hall of the Library is a radiant gold space, lit sourcelessly and filled with ornate stairs and pillars. Off to either side are bookshelves that stretch up impossibly tall, for the Floor of History where Malkuth works, but that isn't where Petra takes Tamamo first. Instead, she goes to the elevator, selecting the highest floor in the Library.     "I, uh-- well, there's a lot of ground to cover, so we can work our way down from the top. The top floor is General Works where, actually, the patron librarian is me. All the other ones are the Sephirah from before.")] Petra has a premonition that she's going to be in trouble and wants to be out of view of her coworkers for it.     Or at least, most of her coworkers. When they step out into General Works, the environment is somewhere between unnervingly empty and surprisingly cozy. Pathways cross out over a bottomless void that seems to encompass the entire Floor, and the lighting of the area is a liminal monochrome. Bookshelves surround 'islands' of stable land, which are decorated with plentiful cushions and reading nooks, and other structures loom in and out of view, including sections with contiguous walls.     Petra is doing her level best to give a proper tour before Tamamo decides to 'accidentally' shove her into the void and kill her forever. "So, General Works includes stuff that doesn't fit into any strict genre of literature. There's stuff like, encyclopedias, essays, newspapers, memoirs... I have a section dedicated to recordings of interviews, written and audio. There's stuff on science journals, philosophy journals, stuff that's published in odd formats... like records of flyers and stuff."
Audrey Basque	And amidst the many sights of General Works...     Is Audrey, who is not much of a sight after all.     Like Petra, her uniform is impeccable, though not for any special occasion; she just wears uniforms on straight, fully, like it's somehow a mark of pride that she is visually spotless and without reproach.     Unlike Petra, she had no idea anything was meant to happen today. It hadn't been a good day, but also not an awful one, though certain threats and statements 'not to worry' had lingered with her since lunch unpleasantly.     When she comes into view, it's not intentional; she's hauling a stack of assorted books that are meant to go to other floors, freshly dispatched from General Works. Most seem to be volumes on painting, music and poetry, and so they are doomed to be placed somewhere in Netzach's vicinity and promptly ignored, or laid out to make a bed out of next time he's sleepy.     A stack of books that she almost drops at the sight of Tamamo and Petra together, especially after earlier talks. She's got the wrong idea, but the right reaction; either way, she freezes in place and then, finally, manages:     "L-Lady Tamamo! Oh, this is... if I'd known you were visiting, I would have prepared tea, or..." No, wait, if she's here, then is--     "Is... Miss Rook also joining us?"     No, no, what she wanted to ask was 'Shall I excuse myself?' or perhaps the more familiar version to Petra, 'Do you need me to leave?'.     Too late-- wait, no! There's some hope.     "Would you like anything to drink? A snack? I can go get something." That's temporary even if it works!! But it's something.
Tamamo	The reasons for Tamamo's visit are all based in curiosity. Those for the library are largely benign, and her outward appearance is as it ever was in visiting L-Corp, covered in layers of dark blue silk and adorned in gold. There may be no reason to expect trouble in the library as it is now, but the City is a place Tamamo regards as inherently and, more importantly, surprisingly dangerous, and in this manner she is equipped for surprises, while also projecting the gently noble aura that she prefers others see.     Her curiosity centered on Petra is, of course, aloofly cruel in nature. That should be no surprise, even if the direction from which the attack will be made remains hidden. 'Anticipation' is something Tamamo doesn't mind delivering, in general. She only wishes Petra was resistant enough that the threat of punishment could mold her. Fully accepting eternal torment has a certain confounding effect upon one's would-be jailors... but dealing with that reality isn't part of Tamamo's current plans.     "When Ms. Angela said that it was 'a tree,' I wondered what it was she meant. I was not expecting a town of wood. It may be an improvement over what was here, in some ways, though it does seem rather... less populated. Does that mist prevent you from reaching the resources to support more, or is it only a matter of 'security'?"     Going to a high floor and finding a long drop off is perfectly sensible. It being a drop off into nothingness is a bit less so. Light from nowhere is fine, but space warping is a different thing, and Tamamo looks out into the void like it's an illusion to be pierced... or, perhaps, a slide into a looping section of twisted space. That certainly could produce a bottomless pit. Maybe she could even create a bounded field like that, and throw unnecessary things into it...     Oh, Audrey is here. That could be a good thing, on the whole, for the topic she's decided not to lead off with. Instead, "Oh, Ms. Basque. Do you... have tea, here?" 'Have tea,' as a singular phrase, rather than 'have' 'tea.' "There do seem many places to sit. I suppose you would, if your work allows for it." She's having a terribly hard time gauging a realistic pace of work for a librarian trying to make a living in this environment, and even more so, a librarian working under Angela, whose ultimate motivations are neither business-oriented, nor oriented toward municipal beneficence, in the first place.     'Is... Miss Rook also joining us?'     "Ah... no, I arrived without escort." It takes a moment for Tamamo to think of the fact that Audrey has never seen Tamamo walk alone with Angela, but has seen her constantly together with Lilian. One could, generously, mark this as a somewhat reasonable and not terribly leaky assumption.     "Were you expecting her?" Tamamo's not feeling immensely generous, at the moment, though her tone is gentle.
Petra Soroka	"When Ms. Angela said that it was 'a tree,'"     "Oh, that's because of," Before entering the Library, Petra just points at it. It looks like a very tall pillar, but a pillar with branches coming off of it. "The surroundings all came later as it's been expanding. Most people in District 12 just avoid being near the Library as a rule, and especially the area around the center of the former Nest here kind of turned into a ghost town, which is why not a ton of people are around."     The Library is *ridiculously* large. Taller than most skyscrapers Tamamo has seen, a significant fraction of the top was obscured by clouds when looking at it from outside. That could plausibly account for most of the sensation that the ceilings, and here in General Works the pit, go on forever, but it's definitely spacially weird even beyond that. Similarly to the ways that the Extraction Department had a seemingly infinitely high ceiling, the nature of the Library as an EGO probably accounts for some of its... nonliteral-ness. "L-Lady Tamamo! Oh, this is... if I'd known you were visiting, I would have prepared tea, or..."     "You--!" Petra's pointing finger lands on Audrey as if she's the next feature of the Library that Petra will explain for Tamamo. On an impulse, guided by her precognition, she decides that whatever trouble she's in today should drag Audrey down with her, and it's almost inevitable that Audrey will make a fool of herself in front of Tamamo.     Petra folds her arms over her chest, unnerved by the implications of her psychic intuition, but not really being able to do anything about it at this point. "I'm showing Tamamo around the Library since she asked me to. You should tag along." It sounds more like a threat than a request.     On the topic of tea, Petra resumes exposition stance, turning around a series of corners that seem slightly noneuclidean in their relative angles until she gets to a little cluster of tables-- and cushions, of course-- that looks like a modest cafeteria or breakroom. "Most of the workers here live here, actually. By choice, unlike before; anyone who wanted to quit was given a place to stay on Hydrochoeria, but... well, since people still live here, it's still gotta support people living here."     "I organized a deal with Trideag to trade to make sure we have everything they need." She doesn't say Lilian, even though it was obviously 'with Lilian' specifically.     Petra lingers nervously in the breakroom, dread building up steadily the longer Tamamo doesn't scold her. "Were there... any specific things you wanted to know about? Ma'am?"
Audrey Basque	"You should tag along."     "I... ah. Could."     Petra is her boss, so she couldn't say no.     Petra is also her Boss, so she wouldn't say no.     But it's quite evident Audrey is caught in a corner here. "Do you... have tea, here?" "I organized a deal with Trideag to trade."     "A-Ah, that's correct. We get supplies, and... anytime some of us head out, we also bring some things back, as able. So while the selection of tea here isn't anything grand, we have some variety, and... it would take but a second to drop by the tower and get you something more, to your taste, if you prefer?"     Tamamo does know she can teleport. "Were you expecting her?"     "Oh. No, no, I was just curious. I'm sure she's busy." As she ever is! This is calming for Audrey, actually, to hear Lilian isn't about. She's immensely less skittish around Tamamo, and she'd certainly think her a much more agreeable person to be around and talk to. Cooperate with, even.     Audrey shuffles about, placing the pile of art books onto a nearby desk in the breakroom since she's now on Tour Duty.     "Perhaps... is there a Sephirah whose floor you have more interest in? You seem like you would enjoy the Floor of Philosophy," Audrey suggests, possibly hoping that Binah's inclusion in this would mitigate things.
Tamamo	'Most people in District 12 just avoid being near the Library as a rule...'     "If they had not previously fled, would they be trapped within, I wonder? That mist..." It's still, though it could be confused otherwise, idle curiosity. Tamamo's not too fussed about Angela's territorial acquisitions, if only because she doesn't think Angela cares too much about them, beyond as a side effect of the library's progress. Regaring the branching height, "One can only wonder how the Tree of Light would have otherwise manifested."     '...well, since people still live here, it's still gotta support people living here.'     "The lack of supporting farmland is another matter that has never quite been opportune to ask." Tamamo doesn't mention anything about how a facility that takes cuts off an infinitely regenerating live monster would be perfectly in keeping with things she's seen in previous tours. Making a resource out of suffering just isn't something she enjoys, as a concept, even in the 'fascinatingly awful' way someone else might.     "I suppose I could sit and take refreshments, for a moment." There's a breakroom right there, after all.     "You may prepare something." She doesn't specify who should hop to it and make what, yet clearly expects that either Petra or Audrey will.     And...     'Were there... any specific things you wanted to know about? Ma'am?' 'Perhaps... is there a Sephirah whose floor you have more interest in?'     "I have had some interest in speaking with Ms. Binah. However..." <B-anter> Audrey Basque ohgod. "No. Oh can we *please* talk about literally anything else." PHONE: Lilian Rook says, "Could you really imagine her--" pauses, runs through her set of vocabulary, and then says, "I wondered as much for a moment, but I thought it'd be too pathetic even for her to instantly rebound to one of my *classmates* the moment I stopped speaking to her. But, ah, more importantly, Petra strikes me as too much the..." There were words after that, but Tamamo's too polite to think them loudly. She goes to take a seat, silks spread about her.     "There is no need to have your coworkers overhear such a question as..."     There's no particular change, but Petra, for expecting it, will recognize that this was being saved just for her to answer for. "Do you know who it was who left the whip marks across Ms. Basque's body, Petra? Those that were left to be seen in public. I had been curious about that little unanswered question."     Of course, if Petra would rather the sephirah be around for this conversation... Tamamo would be surprised, after all, in that case.
Audrey Basque	"You may prepare something."     "Ah, please, if you'll excuse me just a moment, then," Audrey begins, using the fact Tamamo asked for it as an excuse to divert away for even five whole minutes if it'll buy her that much time. "Do you know who it was who left the whip marks across Ms. Basque's body, Petra?"     A little bit of the color drains from Audrey's face, and she abandons the quest to go make tea to stare blankly in Petra and Tamamo's direction. Perhaps between, or even past, the two of them, rather than at one.     "T-That is... a r-rather personal question, Lady Tamamo, i-isn't it? I don't-- believe that we... need to..."     It could have been a fight!     And if it wasn't, it's surely personal!!     To ask that so boldly, and-- to Petra??     "I-I mean..."
Petra Soroka	"The of supporting farmland is another matter that has never quite been opportune to ask."     Supporting farmland... Petra became intimately familiar with the logistical supply lines that fed into Lobotomy Corporation's HQ, as the only indirect window outside the facility she and Angela had for ten thousand years. She is, then, acutely aware of the ways that the Library does not share that web of systems, and has in fact been spending months across multiple different ventures in order to patch up those holes in the support net for the people living here. Even though the number of people contained within the territory has dropped an order of magnitude from its time as Lobotomy Corporation, Petra still only barely manages to keep every ball juggling that she needs.     "No... S Corp doesn't want to trade with us anymore...." Petra considers elaborating, tries to turn a dial in her head to gauge how much exhaustive detail Tamamo wants, and errs on lower. "Hydrochoeria has a couple farms. We have the deal with Trideag. And stuff comes in from the Concord and from Hydrochoeria." "You may prepare something."     Petra would *like* to run off and perform a little task, and she opens her mouth to say so and begins turning away, but then Audrey steals it. She frowns a little. It's either a good thing or a bad thing that Tamamo didn't phrase it as an order. "I have had some interest in speaking with Ms. Binah."     When Tamamo moves to sit down, Petra sweatily pulls out the chair for her like a good servant. She doesn't know if this is *wanted*, but, inaction is the worst thing possible and she's very anxious right now. She doesn't sit down herself unless she's invited to.     "O-oh! Binah's floor, that's Philosophy, is really pretty. It's probably my favorite floor. ..." Petra trails off weakly when it becomes obvious that Tamamo is not going to ask to be led over to Binah and then thank Petra for her help and dismiss her. "Do you know who it was who left the whip marks across Ms. Basque's body, Petra?"     Two particular geases are placed on Petra: firstly, she isn't able to lie to Tamamo. Secondly, upon being given a certain trigger phrase, she has to complete any request to the best of her ability. Without being commanded, this question only demands the former, and this is a question that Petra would *really* rather not elaborate on.     With a visible sweat drop trailing down the back of her neck, Petra doesn't shift to look towards Audrey even a little bit. "That's... something that Audrey would know as well as me, if not maybe better. Is there, um... a reason that you asked me...?"
Tamamo	'No... S Corp doesn't want to trade with us anymore....'     Another thing for Tamamo to ask about, at some point. Probably when it becomes more relevant to her. Lilian seemed to think it'd be odd for Tamamo to 'work' for Trideag, so she's kept herself separate from most relief efforts, thus far, but this one is likely to come up apart from the library's support, so she files the thought away.     'Binah's floor, that's Philosophy, is really pretty.'     "I shall warmly anticipate enjoyment of it." Though she's making no move to go there, just yet.     'T-That is... a r-rather personal question, Lady Tamamo, i-isn't it?'     "Oh, is it? Were those marks 'for personal reasons,' Ms. Basque?" Tamamo asks this as if she genuinely doesn't know the answer, and can't think of how that could be so, but is willing to listen to an excuse -- that is, an explanation.     "Do you have an illness for which beatings are a necessary treatment? If so, I would apologize for prying into the matter." Her tone and expression only differ by an increase in concern, but there's no way she could really mean that. The meaning of 'dig yourself deeper' may as well be on the surface of the words, so transparent would be an excuse of 'Tamamo assuming convenient illnesses.'     'Is there, um... a reason that you asked me...?'     "'If not maybe,' is it?" Tamamo begins, as if to herself, before answering, "I would have wagered you would know and, further, that you would tell me, regarding such a concerning, public sign of malady in your coworker. Even Lilian remarked on the sight." Without knowing, and likely to bet against Tamamo on the cause.     "Go on, then."     It's still not a clear order to give a definitive answer. Not while she's still stretching out the rope for Audrey to either grab onto or hang herself.
Tamamo	Having taken the seat without comment, but seeing that there remains nothing on the table, Tamamo settles in. After a moment, she adds, "You have both stopped moving."
Audrey Basque	"Oh, is it? Were those marks 'for personal reasons,' Ms. Basque?"     "F-For personal reasons, Lady Tamamo," Audrey confirms, largely because it was already more or less factually known. Lilian certainly knew and was happy to tell people of it, so there was no reason to keep that particular bit from Tamamo if she somehow hadn't caught on. "Do you have an illness for which beatings are a necessary treatment?"     "Not an illness... o-obviously. It is... y-you know. Certain. Activities. That adults sometimes perform, and..."     Color returns, in the sense that Audrey is turning red rather than white. It's hardly an improvement for her ability to stay composed.     "Surely you do not mean to make me... explain."     No, nevermind the fact Lilian knew, her whole school did, thanks to Maria's meddling. Even if they only saw it as 'gossip' and 'rumors' it may as well be a fact. The real mystery is who she's seeing, not how. "You have both stopped moving."     "I would be happy to... get you that tea, if that is all you wished to know about my... proclivities."     Please be all.     Please.
Petra Soroka	"Do you have an illness for which beatings are a necessary treatment?"     Compelled to honesty by the threat of slow and painful death, Petra feels absolutely certain that if she made a single sound here in response to that question to Audrey, she would be forced to say 'yes'. She'd have to give the same answer for herself, but she'd like to think the nature of the disease is different. "It is... y-you know. Certain. Activities. That adults sometimes perform, and..."     Oh god. It sounds like Audrey is narrating the intro to a dubiously moral smut fic. It would be *so* much more believable of an evasive answer if she just implied that she was getting attacked. Claiming that Audrey, of all people, could get laid, is bound to involve follow-up questions, such as 'why?' and 'how?'. "Surely you do not mean to make me... explain."     Though it does give Petra a tiny bit of relief to see someone else squirming under Tamamo's stare the same way she does. Tamamo's reputation is so spotless and positive that Petra could have video evidence of being promised an agonizing death at her hands and no one would believe it. If this is to be the last day of Petra's life, then at least Audrey will be coming to hell with her. "Go on, then."     Petra hangs her head. Evading a second time would guarantee that the third is a command, and it'll burn up any small leeway that she still has. Without explaining even a little bit of her reasoning to Audrey, she starts awkwardly answering.     "Er... I do know who did it, because it was me. Sorry."
Audrey Basque	"Er... I do know who did it, because it was me. Sorry."     Stare.     "Petra what the *fuck*?!"     Pause.     Audrey covers her mouth and turns ghostly white.
Tamamo	'It is... y-you know. Certain. Activities. That adults sometimes perform, and...'     Not for a moment is Audrey spared Tamamo's attention. Golden eyes hold her captive throughout. Only by Petra's motion will the sharp-fanged -- no, that was surely an illusion -- the gently smiling fox's gaze track another target.     'Surely you do not mean to make me... explain.'     "Yes, of course, I do understand such things."     'I would be happy to... get you that tea, if that is all you wished to know about my... proclivities.'     Fingers steepled, just showing above the long sleeves. Her lips part in the barest motion.     'Er... I do know who did it, because it was me. Sorry.'     Tamamo considers asking Petra what she's apologizing for, but decides to draw her own conclusions, instead.     She doesn't look surprised. There was a moment where she could have feigned such, but that's already passed. No, she must have known, anyone with a clear enough head to think about it would assume.     "Well, now, there are many ways to show one's adoration, after all, as 'adults sometimes perform,' as was said. If such was only a foolishness of impropriety, but marks were carefully -- carefully, mind you -- left with affection, that would not present a problem requiring more than admonishments toward carefulness. Yes, certainly."     And then she asks the very worst question, which is, to her, the greatest question, and one she could by no means avoid, given the nature of Tamamo-no-mae.     "Tell me, Petra. That to which you have confessed, was it done with love?"
Petra Soroka	"Petra what the *fuck*?!"     "L-look...." For once it's Petra struck helpless and speechless, avoiding Audrey's eyes when she stares. She looks slightly queasy, fidgeting with and crumpling the end of her tie with nervous energy. "Tell me, Petra. That to which you have confessed, was it done with love?"     "Oh, god no." The truth, undeniable as it is, bursts out of Petra's mouth as if this is the only accusation Tamamo could make of Petra that would make fucking Audrey *worse* than it already is. Shifting from merely 'shameful' to 'repugnant', Petra blurts it out and then covers her mouth with her hands. Her eyes flick off of Tamamo to Audrey for a moment, adding being embarrassed for normal reasons on top of all of the many abnormal reasons.     "Er-- I mean, not that I-- there's still... compared to most people...." Since Tamamo's geas doesn't give any warning of when Petra's words are untruthful enough to trigger its very painful consequences, Petra starts and stops several further elaborations to her answer. She can't really say that she *likes* Audrey, not even placing her 'above average' without risking dying.     What she ends up settling on is an objective description of the truth, rather than anything emotionally burdened. "... We were friends before, though."
Audrey Basque	"Tell me, Petra. That to which you have confessed, was it done with love?"     Audrey's stare moves slowly from Petra to Tamamo. There's a certain indignation to her, like 'you can't ask that'. Why? Because she doesn't want to hear the answer, either? Or because she knows the answer already, and it's not a flattering one for herself or for Petra, in front of a goddess whose one true goal is to find out what love is. Because whatever it is? It's not this.     Audrey herself wouldn't be able to say she 'loves' Petra. The words haven't escaped her mouth once, even by mistake, and certainly wouldn't anytime soon either. She's... addicted, and hopelessly attached to, and functionally dependent on, Petra. But love? "Oh, god no."     Yeah.     But Audrey still didn't want to hear it. It's plain. "... We were friends before, though."     "It was... accidental," Audrey says, truthfully, though in her version of the story it's entirely her fault, even if that's not the objective truth. "Now, I... do not know what it is. But it is not that sort of..."     Audrey fidgets with the collar of her shirt nervously.     It's for the best any marks on her are days and days old and not fresh, for what little of a blessing that is at this point.     "Lady Tamamo. I must implore-- *beg* you, not to reveal this. To anyone, not even Miss Rook. Whatever the cost of this may be in your eyes, I will bear it. Please." It's sincere, and if she thought getting on her knees would help she would. And it's just as much for Petra's sake as her own in this, considering.
Tamamo	'Oh, god no.'     This couldn't possibly be a genuine surprise to Tamamo, but she still manages to look disappointed. Is it feigned? Perhaps Petra is just 'disappointing' in a general sense.     'Er-- I mean, not that I-- there's still... compared to most people....'     Neutrally, "I see." She doesn't have to hear more to get the full picture. The geas enforces damnation by faint praise.     Audrey's reaction doesn't escape her sight, though she doesn't call attention to it, either.     'Whatever the cost of this may be in your eyes, I will bear it. Please.'     "Ms. Basque... are you quite certain you should be making such a plea to someone like myself? The price that could be extracted, by someone of my talents, if they cared particularly little for your well-being, would be... well, I do not know the limits of your imagination. Nevertheless, I would suggest that the price of keeping a secret from my fiancee is beyond anything I have reason to wish of you."     She's still going to want that tea. Even with this one curiosity resolved and fully answered, Petra's not off the hook for showing her around, but she can get to that in a moment. "I do not know why you would be willing to sell your soul merely for one person in particular not to know the, if I might be so frank, for your own sake, utterly horrifying dearth of value in your relationship, unless there is--"     Tamamo's eyes narrow for a moment, in yet another evaluation that will strip Audrey's dignity, "--some desire in you to be held in the bondage of debt by a divinity. There are some people with such interests, I know, and they are..." She avoids saying 'closer to normal (positive) than you two,' "...no more strange than some."     A pause. "That was only a turn of phrase. I do not buy souls, and my ambitions are humble."
Audrey Basque	"I do not know why you would be willing to sell your soul merely for one person in particular not to know..."     Audrey tenses.     "It isn't... for my sake."     She can't say it out loud. 'Because it would get Petra in unspeakable trouble, harm her own relationship with Lilian (probably), and cause her an endless wall of trouble. Probably.'     That much is probably obvious to *Petra*, at least, that it's why Audrey's bargaining at this point. To 'not let her down'.     It might be obvious to Tamamo, even.     She'd surely have no trouble piecing together how much more harmful this is for Petra than Audrey, if it gets out.     But she deflates; that there's 'nothing Tamamo could want from her' is evident, in most respects, and she has no argument.
Petra Soroka	"The price that could be extracted, by someone of my talents, if they cared particularly little for your well-being, would be... well, I do not know the limits of your imagination."     Despite the joy she took in Audrey sweating besides her, this is not a cross Petra wants to bear with her. Not only has Audrey not done nearly enough wrong-- a distinction meaningfully separate from how contemptible Audrey is, because Petra's sins were cosmic and unforgivable-- to deserve a geas like the one Petra has on her, but because also she doesn't *deserve* it. Punishment is a concrete record of wrongdoing. The prison sentence, the scars, the Silver, the knotted sunburst, are all valuable to Petra because-- 5r"--some desire in you to be held in the bondage of debt by a divinity."     ... That's not exactly why, Petra reassures herself. She's scared of Tamamo. It's because of the nobility found in suffering and repentence, which is a good thing despite the fact that it doesn't undo or make up for her crimes. "It was... accidental,"     This pisses Petra off, though. Now that the terrible truth is out, Tamamo can basically just demand any amount of elaboration from Petra and she'll be forced to comply, so she might as well compulsively elaborate on the stuff that *doesn't* make her look worse.     "God. You threw yourself into my arms. You insisted I come back to your dorm room. You literally *begged* me--" Shame catches up to her a moment later, and she turns her head away and coughs weakly. "... Well, I'm not absolving myself."
Audrey Basque	"God. You threw yourself into my arms."     "I meant... the first time. That morning. Not... everything that came after. Because... yeah. I kind of did all that, after."     Well now they both look ashamed!
Tamamo	'It isn't... for my sake.'     'God. You threw yourself into my arms. You...'     'I meant... the first time. That morning. Not...'     "Well!" Tamamo says, clapping her hands together. "That little mystery has been fully cleared, I think. Thank you for indulging my curiosity." As if there'd been a choice. As if they hadn't just handed out the kind of secrets that would ruin anyone who still held enough of a reputation to ruin. "After all of this chatting, some tea would be lovely, thank you. I am not particular about vintages, so long as it is something I have yet to sample."     As if nothing at all had happened. "And then, you may continue us on to the next floor, Ms. Soroka. I should like to have at least the most passing familiarity with the new environs, even if the other floor managers should happen to be busy."
Petra Soroka	"Thank you for indulging my curiosity."     Though her adrenaline is running too high at the moment to feel it emotionally, these words from Tamamo are ones that strike into her heart and bury themselves there, waiting to rear up when she tries to go to sleep tonight and ends up burying her face in the pillow in shame instead. Petra's shoulders slump, defeated. There's no outlet for it, no relevant thought to conceptualize into words to herself much less speak out loud, but Cinder is palpable pressure on her mind, to add more of a guilty malaise. "After all of this chatting, some tea would be lovely, thank you."     Dully, Petra shifts over to the side of the break room to start boiling some water. "... Yes ma'am, of course. If you don't have any other order in mind, we'll just... go down the floors in order."     After a minute, when the tea is ready and being brought over, Petra hesitates. "There's, um... one reason, I can suggest, that you might actually want to not tell Lilian yourself. And that's, uh... the more time I spend with *her*," Petra jerks her chin in Audrey's direction. "The less time I'm around Lilian."
Audrey Basque	There's nothing left for Audrey to say.     Her head perks up, for half of a moment, when Petra implies she has a purpose for spending more time with her, but... even that is an immensely small comfort right now. Rather, she manages to meekly ask:     "Am I... required, for the rest of the tour? I need to get these books to Netzach," She doesn't, really, Netzach won't do squat with them. "And then to borrow parlance from Petra, find a very high place to ponder my options at." Well, she doesn't intend to do that, either.     Or rather, she might well head to the roof and stare out for a while, but certainly nothing more dramatic than that.     Barring being told she's needed for the tour, anyway.
Tamamo	"Naturally, I would not keep you longer, Ms. Basque." A polite dismissal.