Scene #9410: The Lunatics That Raised Me

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Angela	Angela is feeling ... Well she's been feeling a lot of feelings and she wishes most of them would just quit it and go away. But one emotion that is lingering positively with her is White kicking a scheming villain really hard. She's not sure what to call the emotion exactly for White kicking a scheming villain really hard but it feels good so she's all too happy to explore that a little more by inviting White to drop on by again for the purpose of 'meeting the family'. In this case, Angela didn't mean the family she chose, exactly, though at one point she did choose Benjamin. In this case she means the people who made her who she is. This broadly means the Sephirah but mostly means Benjamin (and to a lesser extent Tiphereth). Angela greets White in the lobby as ususal, with Harriet riding on her shoulder before leading her into the elevator and pressing the button for one of the highest floors in the Library. Second to Keter and, above that, where Angela keeps her personal room. "Benjamin--well he calls himself Hokma now, as per his Sephirah name, but I've always called him Benjamin. He is one of the people responsible for my creation but he ran away from Lobcorp at one point and eventually ... deemed to see me as a dangerous harmful woman to both the plans of the facility and also in general, but we were close once. And I admit I've never been able to entirely shrug him off. Lilian says I shouldn't be quick to forgive him so I'm not. But I haven't decided to throw him away either." She shakes her head. "He was very close to Ayin but Ayin's gone now. I have no idea what he's really like anymore but he raised me far more than Ayin did. I only even have a real name thanks to him." Her thoughts dwell on Ariel for a moment. "I think a little bit about you and Ariel and how you've changed each other and how that makes you family. I suppose in that respect, that still holds true for Benjamin and I." It's a long ride up.
White	White has been feeling plenty of feelings herself, lately, albeit of a relatively different variety. If anything, a nice visit to see Angela and properly meet her family is something of a pallette cleanser for her, to help her stop thinking so much about the persistent pattern of discovering isolated supernatural people in miserable states of being. When she arrives directly in the lobby via teleportation she strides over to Angela with a slight bounce in the first two steps, greeting her with the usual nod before very, very daintly and slightly pumping her fists at her sides. It's an important day, it deserves a little hype! She's nervous about this kind of introduction meeting, but she spent all night psyching herself up too. She'll survive! Following Angela into the elevator from there, White listens closely; her gaze is on Angela's mouth, though it might be hard to tell since her eyes are still shut and she's not squarely facing her, just angled toward Angela generally while standing beside her. "... Anyone... Can be dangerous... When they... Aren't treated... Well." she tries to softly reassure, before nodding again and momentarily glancing off into the corner of the elevator like she can see the horizon. "You're... Right. The Demon Lord... And I... Were wary of... Each other. For years. But eventually..." She gestures vaguely palm-up, as if to say 'it is as you see'. "Because... We both... Made each other's... Lives easier. Mostly." It's a little nervewracking to wonder about how Angela's family might feel, if they haven't had the dedicated time to change their relationships with her like White did with Ariel. She'll just have to ascertain that herself, starting today.
Angela	It is maybe more common than Angela actually expected herself. The way that Angela sees the world is, sadly, limited to what she can see and while she can empathize with similar circumstances, she can't really put those similar circumstances before her own goals. It's nice that White has broken free and helps run a demon army now and can enjoy the multiverse without worrying about some dumb sword boy jumping in the way of her scythe or something. There's just something soothing about that. Her eyes catch sight of White's double little fistpump though she doesn't immediately seem to react to it. ''Anyone can be dangerous when they aren't treated well.'' Angela smiles. "I suspect that's why Lilian and Petra got along so well with me early on." Still a fond memory, Angela realizes, what a relief. "Perhaps we are still wary." Angela decides. "I suppose we are a little more even now." He abandoned her and fought against her but she did kill his loved one (well Petra did, but Angela feels plenty responsible). The doors open up to the Floor of Religion. Angela gestures forward for White to step in but Angela takes a little extra moment when she thinks White isn't looking to-- --she double fistpumps at her side with both arms. Does a little hop, and then repeats the fistpumps. Then she lets her arms drop to her side and walks normally, if a little hurriedly, to catch up to White. The Floor of Religion is full of whites and greys, dominated by long hallways with pillars filled with books and tomes. There are some on the floor, books yet to be stacked, and there's a singular desk near a long spiraling staircase that heads up. Globules of golden light hover around the staircase and an older man with a monocle covering one eye is seated there. He wears a labcoat around his shoulders and a grey suit, a small ornamental cloth is fastened to his left pocket via a chain and button. When he looks up, his eyes widen faintly. "Angela and .... Commander White. This is an unexpected surprise." "It seemed appropriate." Angela says. "Since we are dating now-" Hokma's mouth hangs open for a moment and then quietly admits, "I did not think you were the type to date." "I am growing more powerful by the day." Angela retorts.
White	White steps out as indicated, but her prowess has been underestimated; she sees Angela behind her even without turning back, and makes the important decision to pretend she hasn't seen anything. Embarrassing Angela would be incredibly mean of her after all... Even if an itty bitty smile has still crept up into the corners of her mouth by the time Angela catches up. Moving on into the Floor, White takes in the aesthetics of the area just like she usually does. She hasn't seen every floor in detail within the Library, and committing as much of it as possible to memory feels important! She's quick to notice Benjamin too, already looking in his direction by the time he's noticed their approach, and she's ready to give him a slightly deeper bow than usual (while holding her hair back). Her mouth opens once she's straightened up again, but what agility she managed to manifest while alone in an elevator with Angela has partially slipped away, unfortunately. "... Hello... Mister Benjamin." She looks at Angela, then back to Benjamin, but can't quite muster a witty, silly response alongside Angela's retort, so she has to settle for just, "... She is." It's not for a few more seconds that she manages to aside to Angela, "You like... To surprise him." as an observational statement; she hadn't quite expected Benjamin to be unaware of the visit in advance, and she still remembers Angela timing a comment to make him sputter on his drink over the radio.
Angela	Angela can throw herself down an elevator shaft if she really wants to she's got options now to deal with being mortifyingly embarrassed. She isn't eating at the moment. In truth, she doesn't have much of an appetite in this moment, even relative to her usual small appetite. Neither she nor White are big on talking, though Angela does have an easier time speaking at length (without TTS) because it's a trait she had to learn but she's comfortable enough with low to moderate noise that she isn't strongly compelled to get chatty. As she told Roland, she dislikes overly roundabout manners of speaking. She likes to get to the point when she has a choice in the matter. ''You like... to surprise him.'' "I ... like to tease too." Angela says. "I know him well enough that it comes easily." Benjamin chuckles at that, unoffended, but he does stand up from his desk and move around to the front of it. He offers her hand in a manner eerily similar to the way Angela extends her own. Like it's an important ritual. "That is... good. Yes, that's good. I am glad she is building a life for herself even when she's still struggling to crack the egg's shell, so to speak." "You are...? That seems unlike you." "...You should allow me some magnanimity in defeat. I have no reason to oppose you anymore." Angela visibly hesitates. Despite her presenting a hard shell she's still a little softer around Benjamin, a little more insecure--she can't really help it. "...Yes. I suppose that's true. If it pleases you, then." "I know you are a Concord partner." Benjamin tells White. "But how did you end up meeting? And getting to know one another?"
White	White watches The Ritual in polite silence, keeping her thoughts to herself for that moment. She's focusing on Benjamin initially, trying to evaluate his tone (something she's bad at) and his expressions (ditto) to infer more about the two of them, but she doesn't reach much more of a conclusion than 'things are probably okay'. She silently lets out half the breath she was holding in her focus, and once again focuses on Benjamin; she's not trying very hard to hide her closed-eye sight, it's more important to be attentive right now. Her right hand shifts as she considers reaching for her phone, but she stops it and twines her fingers together with the other hand, slowly piecing together her words aloud instead at a naturally library-appropriate volume. "She sent... Someone with a... Video pad... To my welcome dinner. I was... A little overwhelmed... And distracted. So we didn't... Speak... Very much, then." is where she starts. "But she hosted... A meeting, for me... And Miss Lilian, Miss Petra, and herself. Back when Lobotomy... Corporation was around. We exchanged gifts." She then pauses, struggling a little more with how to address what came after that, and momentarily untwining her fingers to adjust her hair, and sweep her braid around to the front of her right shoulder. "... I was... Out of the loop, for... The 'war'. And Miss Angela wanted... To have a friendship that... Didn't involve... Those matters. So I tried to... Respect that. We've worked together... Helping Miss Audrey since... Her Partnership. And I was... Surprised how much we... Had in common." Not all of the commonalities were good, of course, but... It does create understanding. She seems to waffle about where to go from there though; this kind of aimless recollection isn't her strength, and she's not quite sure what's most appropriate to mention.
Angela	''But she hosted a meeting for me.'' "I see. Yes, first meetings can often fail to dictate the meetings that follow." Benjamin says. He does remember the space being cleared out for such a meeting but he doesn't know what was going on. Or what that talk was about. And honestly, he didn't even particularly care at the time. Angela was often making deals with people and setting up meetings and it happened at Lobotomy Corp with some frequency because it was the only place she could have a meeting. Angela didn't know how White was feeling at the time but hearing this from White makes her feel a twist in where her stomach would be. She was ready to go hostile at her right then and there--maybe it worked out, but she can easily imagine her... And what, because of her father? Maybe she should be more patient. Maybe people are just overwhelmed. She hadn't even considered that before. "She also gave me this precious and perfect creature." Angela says, nodding to Harriet who waves a forearm. "Her name is Harriet." ''I was out of the loop for the war. And Miss Angela wanted to have a friendship that didn't involve those matters.'' Benjamin thinks about that for a minute. The instinct is there to accuse Angela of just wanting to only show her best sides off, not the darker aspects of her work and who she became, but he stops himself. He can't keep doin that. This is a different time and, more to the point, he had much more of a hand in that than he used to think. No, it makes sense to him. "I suppose you arrived near a culmination point." He says. "She'd seen a lot of her relationships deteriorate because of that place. I understand why she wouldn't want to risk it." This might explain Angela's anxieties around involving White with the 'Abnormality' missions but she hasn't asked about it again since thanks to some helpful advice from Petra even if sometimes that means biting her tongue. Stop asking if you'd still be loved if you were a worm, Angela! She can do it! "We were both had to fight to see the sun, but there are other similarities. I couldn't say them all. But she has been considerate and endearing." "I am honored." Benjamin says. "I don't know Miss Audrey at all just yet, but it's good to help others with their projects. It is important to show interest in your friends."
White	White nods again. "... I don't know... Many ways... To support friends. Other than helping... With their problems... Or keeping an eye on them. So it was... A little hard to adjust to." But, if it was what Angela needed from her... She's glad she stuck with it. Harriet has been the most she's intruded into Angela's daily life, and even then she's let the little spiderling go without her direct interference or control for far longer than most. The personality Harriet has developed over time as a smug, praise-sponging sub-boss to Angela is more elaborate than the ones most of her horde maintain as a result... But it brings Angela joy. Enough joy that sometimes White feels guilty to check in on her through Harriet's eyes. Not many of her spiders get treated like pets by White herself, but Harriet gets a gentle scritch on the bum, as White reaches over delicately for only a moment. She offers one more small nod of agreement at Benjamin's reevaluated interpretation of Angela's actions, though it takes half a second longer than normal for her to revert to meeting his gaze after her chin dips down. "I'm still learning. The friends... I had before... Have been very different... From the ones I've made... Since leaving home. I..." She pauses, seemingly particularly thinking about Audrey. "... I haven't figured out... What to do about... Her, yet. I hoped... Sophia and my... Help would make her... More confident. But things keep... Happening where I am... Not watching, it seems..." Which, implicitly, makes it feel really bad to leave people to their privacy.
Angela	Angela spends a lot of time around Harriet. Sometimes she talks to her about her insecurities or about things she's happy about. Sometimes she asks the spyder if she's broken, if she was flawed from the day she was made. And sometimes she insists she isn't she can't be and that Ayin never talked to her and thus couldn't possibly know her. She certainly gushed to Harriet about the date, though she doesn't usually talk to her about White specifically--any insecurities regarding White she'd feel awkward sharing with White's minion pet daughter. Angela isn't exactly sure on the particulars sometimes but for any of those she imagines it'd be a bit awkward. She does know she can use them as spyders of course but she doesn't really DWELL on it enough to consider she might be getting spy(der)ed on. The normally meticulous Angela lets down her guard around Harriet. Of course most of the time, Angela is just quietly petting Harriet or doing little dances with Harriet or trying to put various forms of hate or clothing accessories on Harriet. This is the bulk of her activity with the spyder. Maybe in some ways, the forms of affection she struggles to express to others are just easier around a cute spyder that has learned to play for the attention. Benjamin nods absently, lost in his own thoughts as White speaks to her experiences since leaving home. It strikes a chord with him, truly, as someone who essentially has lost all his friends from within his own world--he wasn't exactly CLOSE to the other Sephirah. His biggest friendship is, practically, with Woz right now. Feeling a little sad about that he says, "Well some relationships do take time to settle. I hope to get to know her myself, soon. May I ask what you think of her?" It feels a bit rude to ask her how she thinks of Angela while Angela is standing right there. Angela gets her own thoughtful frown as the topic of Audrey comes up. She's not really sure what to think either. Sometimes she thinks she's fine, sometimes she quite likes her, and sometimes she wants to strangle her until her head pops off. Right now she's actively trying not to think about it after that situation with Petra. But White thinking about it makes her wonder--should she team up with her? To do ''something'' about Audrey? Whatever it is? "Perhaps we can brainstorm about that sometime." She tells White though she's worried Petra will kill her before they make any progress. ''Things keep happening where I am... Not watching.'' Angela, who is very keen on leaving people to their privacy, is forced to maybe reconsider it specifically for Audrey. She frowns again and adds, "She does ... alarmingly struggle with confidence. I feel like she's gotten more skittish rather than less over time. Lately I've been reminded of the last days of Carmen." Benjamin grimaces. "Oh dear. That does not sound good."
White	White takes another thoughtful pause when asked her opinions on Audrey, but does give Angela a "Mhm." when she offers to brainstorm together. White is out of her element trying to coach someone on anything beyond combat, hunting, or magical technique, and even if Angela isn't a total expert she has more time spent with Audrey and probably more emotional awareness of her as well. When she finally answers Benjamin, she says sofly, "Miss Audrey is... Indecisive, but skilled. Nice, but a pushover... Who probably couldn't... Choose a side if she... Ever had to. Between any... Two people. She's extremely focused... On how other people... Think of her. So she's... Easy to use." That last line starts out as flat as the rest, but trails into a faint sense of unease. "Mister Benjamin... Have you met Sophia... On one of her... 'Part timing' days here, yet?" she asks next. "She was... My pupil. But she's been... Trying to train Miss Audrey. They seem to get along... Rather well... And that worries me. Because Sophia has to try... Not to be a bully. Even if she... Means well." Or in other words, the fact that it's so easy for Audrey to get along with Sophia and let herself get pushed around is probably a bad sign.
Angela	''So she's... Easy to use.'' Angela seems troubled by that statement. "She said she wanted real relationships. She thought that what she had in her own world wasn't real. Defined by ... politics and the like. I suppose I am 'violating privacy' a bit myself here by bringing it up." She tries to think of a defense for her bringing it up in spite of that but ultimately fails to come up with something. All it is, is that the latest events with Audrey have reached a point where she's more worried than the ideal can handle. But is she just worried because she needs Audrey to be able to leave? That she represents a hope for her escape? "I suppose if every relationship I had before was fake, I'd be worried about any future ones too. Relationships are a bedrock for how we grow as people and without it, we can easily fall into any sort of ... I hesitate to use the word disorder so let's say trouble instead." Benjamin says. "It surely isn't easy offering yourself as a new bedrock. But at the same time, if she never lets herself just trust those relationships... She might make the ground shaky herself before too long." He looks at Angela for a moment and Angela, sensing the attention, pushes her own negative feelings behind. ''Have you met Sophia... On one of her Part timing days'' "Not yet I'm afraid." Benjamin says. "I've only been up for a few days. I've been focusing on ... getting accustomed to having a proper body again." ''They seem to be trying to get along rather wel and that worries me.'' Angela is feeling like she's listening to two parents worried about their single daughters and their troubled friends right now. At first she's a little annoyed about that, but then ... that annoyance is normal right? Not even the really bad annoyance or the really bad normal. This is a thing people who are people do. She smiles for a moment thinking about it. "Sometimes we have to rein in our worst instincts. When we fail to, other people can end up being hurt. But we can't rein it in all the time, and sometimes we hurt people." Benjamin thinks on this. "What's important is what comes after, no? How one treats the little accidental hurts we inflict on each other." "I think the concern is more that Audrey might naturally fall into a number two position and fail to stand on her own two feet." Angela murmurs. "But they already are working with each other." "Ah, is that it?" Benjamin asks.
White	"Mm. I thought her... Biggest issue would be... Getting distracted in a fight, and... Dying preventably. So I've focused... On trying to help her avoid that. But I think I'm... Unqualified... For much else. Miss Audrey is pleasant, usually... But I don't understand... The way she thinks very well." There's another pause, and White finally admits, "... I started trying to... Help Miss Audrey... For Miss Angela's sake, anyway. I can't help her... Resolve her hangups... About Miss Lilian, or Miss Petra." Maybe she's not being entirely honest; she doesn't dislike Audrey necessarily, so distancing herself like this might seem a little strange. But now her thoughts are wandering a little, considering Benjamin and Angela's back-and-forth, inserting a quiet suggestion to "Stretch as much... As you can, Mister Benjamin. It helps." out of personal familiarity with the struggles of changing forms. It's frustrating for her to keep having to focus on something she feels like she's going to keep failing at, so jumping topics is easier; after her suggestion she reaches into her sleeve and pulls out another scarf, like the ones she made for everyone during that meeting she mentioned before. Right now it's still plain and white, but as she spreads it out on Benjamin's desk she lets the silk change into a vivid rainbow of colors underneath her fingertips. "Before I forget. Do you... Prefer any particular... Colors, Mister Benjamin?" It's easier to do something she knows she can do easily.
Angela	For her sake, Angela thinks, which means... ...There's nothing she can do. There's no magic bullet. She can be there for her but eventually she has to be there for herself. It seems like everyone's butting up against the same wall. Sometimes you just have to wait for the Meltdown to happen and with that thought, Angela stops worrying about it. She can handle meltdowns. Meltdowns are normal. Once the break happens, the bones will heal. That's how it's always been. "It will work out. One way or another." She attempts to reassure White, now that she's feeling a little more confident by assuming something awful will happen. She can handle awful, it's the points before that that are difficult in her experience. ''Stretch as much... As you can, Mister Benjamin.'' "I'll be sure to." Benjamin smiles. Angela supposes that he's getting along with White. That's ... good right? Maybe she wanted her to secretly not get along with him? Or maybe because she's knowing him after the Meltdown, he is ... more fine? She pushes the thoughts out of her head. Future Angela problems. Benjamin scootches forward to observe the shifting scarf and he marvels at it. "Incredible... Do you mind if I keep it as colorful as this? It does not fit my current wardrobe but--if a myriad like this is not acceptable, I think a white scarf is just fine."
White	White shakes her head gently like Benjamin is being silly by asking, and takes her hands off the scarf when he expresses his interest. "Feel free. As long... As you are happy... With it." She then turns back to Angela and, seemingly as a callback bit, pumps one fist slightly while Benjamin is looking at the scarf. Oh, wait, she was supposed to be hiding that she noticed that. Crap. Well, too late now! Another gift delivered, another happy customer- well, recipient anyway. She must be getting good at this. She has to get along with Angela's family, after all. She's not willing to let slothfulness lead to bad relationships and drama around Angela, that'd be the opposite of helping her. She may have no idea of Angela's complicated feelings on the subject, but there are few times where the term 'earnest' applies better to her than now. "If you want anything... New to wear, Miss Angela... Let me know." she suddenly thinks to offer, realizing that now the person she's dating has only been given the one scarf (plus a spider and some food here and there), and worrying that something is wrong with that. She taps her closed hand against her upper chest in a mild 'leave it to me' gesture, trying to make it seem like as little of an imposition as possible. Even if she didn't realize it until now, it's not good to let the person you're dating feel like they're treated the same as everyone else, right? She's going to have to update her social protocols...
Angela	''Pumps one fist slightly.'' Angela hesitates. Does she know? Does she know the dark truth? She had Harriet on her shoulder--did Harriet relay this important intel? What an incredible spy she is if so... It's a bit about faith, she remembers, it is always a risk. Therefore... She solemnly raises her fist into the air and pumps it down in a singular motion, right back at White. It's a ritual. The rituals are important. Benjamin hides his mouth with his hand for a bit but when he pulls his hand away, he says, "It looks lovely, thank you." Because he also believes rituals are important, he immediately wraps it around his shoulders even though it doesn't fit his current outfit, realy, though honestly the splash of color might be a rleief anyway. "Oh--! You know, I might have a few ideas on that, let me mull on it a little bit." Though she does suddenly break muster with a small laugh at the 'leave it to me' gesture. "Alright, I promise, I won't keep you long.#-1 FUNCTION (ASNI) NOT FOUND She has needed to get some new outfits, actually. It's not as if it hasn't ever been mentioned before. But she doesn't want to decide something like that while her attention is solely focused on making sure this meeting goes ... acceptably? Acceptably. Benjamin feelis a little different from before but she remembers the advice to not forgive the man that easily. Who knows? Maybe what he needs most is to not be forgiven for a while. They're talking, so that's something, and she still doesn't think like she should kill--or have him killed--too. "It seems you two get along splendidly." Benjamin says. Maybe he did worry too much in more ways than one. And either way, he has no position to place his hand on the scales. "I know it is not my place to say it, but it is nice seeing that you are reaching beyond that pit." "It isn't." Angela says quickly. But then, after a moment... "But thank you." She nods to White to indicate this was productive--at least on her part. "I appreciate you coming to see him too, of course."
White	"I've been happy to... Miss Angela." White says, wearing another tiny, subdued corner-of-mouth upturn of a smile, and nodding as Angela requests time to think on her offer. She can sense the tension vaguely between Angela and Benjamin, but... It doesn't feel insurmountable. Things are getting better for Angela, and that means things are getting better for White, too... That's what that's supposed to mean, right? Even if White can't solve all of her problems, she can help Angela, and Angela will help her back. It's... Nice to think about. Who knows when she'll figure out that saying 'Miss Angela' is kind of weird, but surely someone will just tell it to her face eventually.