Scene #9469: Streelight Homecoming

Owner	Pose
Angela	Until Trideag accepted Lulu's plea, there hadn't been a victorious battle against The Library and the idea that someone could be rescued from their 'Booked' state was largely supposition. Mars, while he hadn't risen to a Grade befitting his mother's reputation, was--is--well known as a result of that familial connection. The news of the victory is impossible to hide. The good news, aside from the obvious, is that Trideag's reputation rises accordingly. The Library is expected to ultimately be labeled a Star of the City, just like Rita, and The City is more accustomed to dragging a Star down after its rise--not forestalling one's ascension. Applications to Trideag have risen and Olivier has sent a request asking who was part of The Library team so new Grade evaluations can be provided. There's decent odds that Sarracenia will make it to Grade Five. The Zwei Association is talkative again and the leader of Zwei operations for operations in District 12, Walter, isn't above shamelessly inquiring about details of their investigation and rescue party, framing it as knowledge necessary to improve the Liu-Zwei-Trideag allied operations in District 12. The Association has access to some treasure from Nonon's latest escapade and some U Corp navigational codes that could be used for ... something as well. The bad news is that Lilian's warning has run its course. If a Grade Eight can both escape The Library and then rescue another from its clutches and win the challenge, well, sure she had help from an Association but how tough could it really be? Zwei is expected to begin incursions into The Library soon and offices are starting to see it as their chance for glory and power and whatever else the Library offers. The ability to resurrect the dead even after the head has been destroyed--or the body transformed into paper and ink--is unheard of in The City. And if the mechanics of The Library can do that, then maybe what it promises is no empty boast. The ugly news is that the Streetlight Office is still shuttered. The applications coming in vary widely in terms of quality and, more importantly, in terms of the sort of people Lilian wants to bring in. There's a lot of interested applicants to go through. Nelly has sent word that Knifty's training is just about complete, there is a former Color in Joanna who has already betrayed Trideag once asking to join as well as Weather Report, the Stray Dogs are still picking fights with Trideag, the Thumb Index conflict is about to break out into all out war, Distortions are becoming more common rather than less, and Sasha has sent word that she'll be arriving with Finn's sister in a few weeks. It's going to get busy before long and it doesn't seem like quiet days are returning any time soon. Ceri has even broached the topic of ... delegation.
Angela	San, the operator and leader of Streetlight Office, is the sort of person who doesn't bust down doors to seek audiences with Associations. He beseeched the aid of his friends in Zwei and was stonewalled despite his friends having some inclination to help. He wants to meet with his friends Mars and Lulu. The letter he sent was stained with tears of worry. And a party on the day of his arrival seems inevitable. Pete has suckered Cheer, Soothe, and even Lenny, Mang-chi, and Knifty to set up a 'celebration table' in the courtyard. It's full service today. Soup, salad, a main course, then a Welcome Back Mars cake. "Spoons and knives on the right, forks on the left--no you're putting the salad forks on the inside--!" "That's what makes sense doesn't it?" Pete asks. "You eat salads and soups first." "No it's based on where the hands naturally rest while sitting, dummy dummy dummy!" Odds are Knifty also made this mistake in training but is now pathologically opposed to these sorts of errors. "The bread plate shouldn't be on top of the dinner plate you're going to get crumbs everywhere! Dessert fork and spoon out front and you folded these napkins all wrong! Ahhhh! The Chief Butler's going to be so upset she's going to make me carry plates on my head again--!!" "It's okay, it's okay, we'll redo it, please stop freaking out!" The menu of the day is SOUP: MINESTRONE SALAD: PEAR SALAD WITH MIXED GREENS AND WALNUTS WITH BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE DINNER: LASAGNA IT'S LASAGNA DESSERT: WELCOME BACK MARS CAKE Cheer and Soothe have helped with decorations, setting up balloons and drawing up little pictures of various Trideag and Streetlight Office people to place around the table serving as indicators of where people should sit. Cheer obviously handled the balloons, Soothe did the little drawings. There's a bit CRUDE--he only had a week!--but they are adorable and everyone is reasonably recognizable. Solace is busy helping out in the kitchens today--she's one of the better chefs and she's been wanting to prepare a meal for the team. Ceri is escorting San in. San is a Grade Six Fixer wearing the Streetlight Office uniform, such as it is, with well kept hair but other than that he looks exhausted and his eyes are a little red. He has composed himself before his arrival. He looks like an every day professional for the sort of work that is expected in The City--it's no wonder he kept to a small territory to look after and focused on doing that well. His gear seems fine by City standards. "The Director is bound to have some questions." Ceri warns San. "But I appreciate you not busting your way in while swinging your weapon around." San looks horrified. "She didn't..." He shakes his head. "I'm sorry. I'll take responsibility for not training her properly. Just please don't be too harsh with them."
Riku Asakura	In his Trideag uniform, Riku looked worse for wear from the incident at the library. He was spouting some newly formed bandages across his face and body, and he walked with a slight limp, but that's the price you pay when you go all out against an opponent. He was also glad to sit down in the courtyard, ready to take a load off his feet. "Hello, everyone!" he says to greet people who were already there. He hasn't met San before, so he turns towards him and offers a bow. "I'm Riku Asakura. I don't think we've met before. I'm a fixer for Trideag, I don't think I've seen you here before..." he says, unsure who the man is other than someone new. He turns towards the food and watches Knifty tear into Pete. "I guess you sure learned a lot at the other place with the maids," he says to Knifty. "I'm glad to see your training is going well!" he says to Knifty, giving her a beaming smile, and looks at the food a bit closely. "I've never had minestrone soup before. I can't wait to try it!"
Petra Soroka	Of course, Mars and Lulu weren't just freeloading at Trideag for the past week since the Reception. Once Lulu cried herself into unconsciousness and Mars awkwardly excused them both, the pair of Fixers vanished back into the urban jungle of District 12 together. As relieving as Mars' rescue was, though, it was inevitable that they would have to pay the piper. Lulu's assault on the Trideag Headquarters got her exactly what she wanted, with assistance from beyond her wildest dreams, and in the City, nothing comes for free. A million other Fixers, in this scenario, would take the fact that they were allowed out of HQ after being kicked out of the Library as an unbelievable stroke of luck, disappearing off of the radar and keeping their heads down forever to simply hope that a lowly Grade 8 isn't worth the resources of an Association to hunt down. Lulu just sort of shows back up. Her bat is securely strapped onto her back, but even lacking a weapon, her entrance into Trideag's courtyard isn't any less rowdy, though this time, rather than being directed at 'everyone around her', her stream of violence stays beamed at her companion. Mars looks quite a lot better now that he's had a week to recover from, essentially, his resurrection. A handsome and serious-looking guy about Lulu's age, for the most part, his presentation is much more subtle to the City's aesthetic tastes than Lulu's is, with one notable exception: a giant brick of a sword, smoky dark metal blending in a seamless gradient to bone-like extentions of steel near the hilt, seeming far above the pay grade for a Grade 8 Fixer. Though, whatever seriousness he might seem predisposed to presenting, he's not doing it right now. Instead he's got his hands folded behind his head, one eye open to squint down at Lulu while she stretches up on her tiptoes to shout at him. "I woulda won! I woulda! I earned that victory!" "Butcha didn't. You lost." "Only 'cause you cheat!!!!!" "Nuh uh. You've got no proof." "One card! One card in the whole goddang deck that coulda saved you there! And you just happened to draw it, huh?!" "Luck's a skill, Lup-de-lu. Better keep up." "Rrrrrrr--!!!! You!!!! I'll tear you apart-!" Their bickering escalates into Lulu pounding on Mars's chest with her fists, until both abruptly stop when they see, of all things, a party. Being met with a light atmosphere rather than a deadly serious declaration of Lulu's permanent enslavement to the Association or even her execution sets Mars on edge, though for Lulu's part, it just makes her awkwardly self-conscious. The smugly unaffected expression slides off of Mars's face, probingly turning his gaze around the courtyard with a brief flex of his hands, but unlike Lulu, he doesn't react so strongly as to reach for a weapon. "Toldja it'd be fine. Idiot." "Just... keep your head on straight, alright? Nothing comes for free." "Wait, is that...?" Upon spotting San, Lulu dashes away from Mars's side, relief clear on her face. "San--!! Look! He's really back!" She swivels around to point at Mars, who approaches the leader of their former office more slowly with an apologetic half-smile on his face. "Hello again. What a month it's been, huh?"
Xion	Xion didn't really think the job was any different than the rest, despite the enemy. Sometimes, she didn't have the head for the big motions of people far removed from her. The City was vast, and even having held a faded echo of the three birds of lore she had a strangely top-level storybook view of the place... But apparently the fingers were fighting and the various corporations were maneuvering about and things weren't becoming a massive crush towards the Library, which seemed to be... all's well? Somehow, a decent ending was found for everyone? It was, somehow, an operation Xion was nothing but happy about the results for. Every party seemed generally helped or enriched in some way, and the noirette had gotten away without committing her whole self to the task. Sarra and Riku had to push hard - Riku quite hard - but even Roland surprising Xion hadn't meant Lulu went down, and so... Xion usually hated parties, but she decided to show up to this one and try again. Dressed in a black sleeveless dress with black gloves and subdued black boots, Xion's use of the Trideag jacket over top hangs more like a cloak to be shouldered off but remains resolute on her back while tucked around shoulders. Around her left wrist, a charm bracelet jingles faintly with a cross and an empty star danging off individual chains that intertwine about arm. Arriving for a full course dinner means that Xion had dressed a little formal style (borrowed something with advice from Larxene) and sits down where she's assigned or led to with a faint apology (she does not normally attend formal dinners) from the Trideag party organizers, stepping carefully into chair and settling in to observe a thoughtful array of knives and forks and the bickering of Mars and Lulu while wearing a dim smile. "Lup-de-lu is a fantastic nickname." She asides, not quite laughing but chuffing nasally. Then, shifting gaze to Riku, Xion quirks a brow. "You feeling okay? You went real hard, so if you're sore, make sure to rest up. A complete win was the best result, though, so nice work." She offers to the young hero with a nod and smile at the end.
Sarracenia	Sarracenia is dealing with a bit of a paradox after the attack on the Library. She was rescued by Xion, but...she didn't actually want to be rescued. Or at least, she didn't want to need to be rescued. It seems like it will be hard to become a shining star of hope is she can't manage to stay on her feet long enough to deal a final blow to an enemy. Being back in Trideag brings the thought to the front of her mind. It causes her to be a bit distracted as things are being set up and people being escorted in. She is wearing the same outfit she wore to the raid. Well...not the -same- one. She's had another outfit made to the same specifications. A white silk button-up blouse with ruffles down the front, a black velvet vest with golden buttons and green lapels, and a long and slightly airy black skirt with flowing green ivy-like embroidery. The skirt reaches just past her knees, where broad-striped black and green leggings can be seen before disappearing into pointed black boots with gold zippers along the insides. Hanging from her back is a white knee-length cape where the Trideag insignia has been embroidered proudly as large as it can be, with gold trim along the edges of the cape. Sarra can't help a slight giggle at Knifty. She doesn't seem like the same person Sarra first met. She offers Knifty a friendly wave and a smile when she can. Ceri arrives with San, and Sarra approaches. She greets San with a curtsey and a smile, though her cheeks puff a bit and she frowns lightly at the mention of Lulu's treatment. "The Director was quite rough with her, actually. But, I suppose she was less rough than I have seen her be toward such intrusions." Riku receives a wave when Sarra sees him, and as he introduces himself to San the princess join in. "Oh, yes. Introductions. I am Princess Sarracenia Sundew, Crown Princess of the Sundew Kingdom, Aspiring Heroine. Grade 6 Fixer of Trideag. Pleased to meet you." Her one good eye appraises San. "Despite your small office, it seems you were doing well for yourself before this tragedy. Have you applied here?" As Lulu and Mars join them, Sarra smiles warmly to them. "Hello! It is good to see you both! It seems you have recovered quite thoroughly, Mister Mars. And how are you, Miss Lulu?" When Xion shows up, Sarra gasps in delight. "Xion! I did not think you would attend!" Sarra says, moving to give the noirette a firm hug. "I quite like your outfit!" 'Lup-de-lu is a fantastic nickname.' Sarra giggles in agreement. "Very cute!" she says, then nods at the words to Riku. "I did not see all of it, but you were very impressive, Riku!"
Lilian Rook	Oh how much Lilian would prefer that nobody knew Mars ever went missing. She'd considered trying to arrange him and Lulu vanishing offworld, 'never to be seen again', of course, but there are no small number of obstacles to that for a high-profile Association like Trídéag; and before that, she'd already made up her mind about how to use this event in the first place. Doesn't mean she has to like everything that follows, though. No matter how much she conveys what a brutal slog the entire affair was; and, frankly, how disappointingly touch and go it was even with a relatively tight strike group up against 'less than the Library's best', Lilian knows perfectly well that she's doing nothing than easing her conscience; the world will keep turning, humans will be humans, and everyone will assume that if she can do it, anyone can. She delays Walter by insisting he send an official inquiry and request for joint information access 'so that there's a paper trail'. Olivier gets a truthful accounting, due to the Code and all, but one that insists that credit go to Xion and Riku instead. Nonon's treasure has been hastily added to the 'rainy day' fund, until the next big need becomes clear. Weather Report et al. are on 'peer review' hold until Lilian can get Rita in to opine. Finn's sister is another serious concern of morale, and has to take priority over the Distortions, which are business as usual insofar as that Lilian is already trying to train her Fixers to handle them without it being obvious. The bulk of applications have been set aside 'pending restructuring' as she hastens to lay the necessary groundwork to start pouring these into a ring of ablative Offices. Lilian's free time noticeably diminishes. But the party, however stupid, is necessary. The City is an evil pudding universe, but Lilian is very well acquainted with the dynamics of releasing tension and processing difficult experiences into strength-forming milestones instead. It's not like word could really get more out. 'No it's based on where the hands naturally rest while sitting, dummy dummy dummy!' "My my. She really has shaped you up. But are you certain that 'dummy' is the sort of . . . ? Ah well, you're old friends." Lilian says, about two people who just sort of glommed together less than a year ago. "There's still time. Slow down and get it right. Pete, listen to Knifty." There's no real severity to her commands. In fact, drifting around the courtyard, watching all of her little scrunklies work together like this, Lilian seems to default to a state similar to a smiling daydream. Even San's ignominious arrival can't effectively dampen her mood like this. 'I'm sorry. I'll take responsibility for not training her properly.' "Oh? You will?" Lilian says, looking back over her shoulder. "That's a bold thing to say in the City; especially the Backstreets. Are you planning to take responsibility for your absence, too? I could be persuaded." Unfortunately, her cheerful apathy to the whole idea probably makes it more nerve-wracking to hear instead of less. Lilian doesn't seme to notice. Xion showed up to a party. Wearing a dress. Today is already too special to be ruined by anything short of a Sarracenia-grade melty. 'Lup-de-lu is a fantastic nickname.' "They're adorable." Lilian adds, as if it were an answer to some sort of question, almost bouncing a little on her toes. "I feel like I'm always saying so, but I really do mean it ever time, Xion. Thank you for letting me rely on you. Especially after . . . well, all the other times you let me rely on you." Lilian says, then laughs, short and only briefly morose. "You look nice. I mean that too. How does it feel?"
Angela	''I'm glad to see your training is going well!'' Knifty is startled, confused, and then giggles a little manically at Riku, pressing her hand to her cheek and says, "Gosshh..." She wiggles from side to side. "Just you wait until I show you how I polish windows, eheheh...." She takes a washcloth out from her uniform and wrings it tightly. San hears Lulu and Mars before seeing them. He spins on his feet and his eyes widen--particularly once he sees Mars standing there, better than ever. "It's true..." He says. "You really got him back. Not just his book, but Mars himself...!" Tears threaten to well up in his eyes again but he steadies his breath and steps forward, placing a hand on a shoulder each of theirs. "I'm sorry for leading you into that mess. It was beyond what we could handle and I should've given the call to flee earlier." Apparently you CAN just run away from your reception sometimes. #-1 FUNCTION (ASNI) NOT FOUND He sighs. "Not that I've had any luck with the Zwei. Even Isadora and Julia weren't any help, it feels like Walter's just interested in cutting his losses. But maybe now..." ''She offers Knifty a friendly wave and a smile'' Knifty doesn't wave back but she does give Sarracenia a biiiiig smile with sharp teeth and a dangerous glint in her eye. Well she still IS Knifty after all. She's biting on her little rag while staring at her until Pete coaxes it out of her mouth by poking her chin and snapping his finger back before Knifty can bite it off. ''The Director was quite rough with her, actually.'' San turns to Sarracenia. "Ah...Well, Associations take their reputation seriously. All Fixer offices do, but it's a much bigger deal for Associations." He hesitates and adds, "Oh--you're a Grade 6 too? Er, applied here?" He is caught off guard by the idea but, well, his Office has been shuttered. He is essentially out of a job. But his initial instinct is that a joke is being played at his expense. ... Or maybe he's gone mad, what's with all the balloons? And the KIDS? Even with Fixer ages being as young as they are, that's too much. ''My my. She has really shaped you up. But are you certain that 'dummy' is the sort of . . .?'' Pete and Knifty do get along like it's old hat at this point, somehow, despite them knowing each other for only about a year. Pete is, of course, accustomed to Rats coming and going in his life and is the sort that needed to forge strong bonds quickly and Knifty, well, it's hard to know if she's capable of appreciating Pete's looking out for her but she does seem to linger by him a lot anyway. Knifty is uncertain about how to answer the question of 'dummy' and starts to ask, "Should I be calling him--" Sensing peril, Pete interjects, "Yeah, yeah, sorry Dame Commander, just getting used to fancy arrangements We'll get it right." ''Oh? You will?'' San stiffens and folds his hands behind his back at attention. "Director, ma'am. San Grade Six formerly of the Zwei Affiliated Streetlight Office, served as Operator. Thank you for taking care of my subordinates, ma'am." He's tense, clearly. "Vice-Director Ceri asked me to deliver a full report of my experiences seeking Zwei's aid, ma'am."
Petra Soroka	Unless specifically directed, neither Mars or Lulu will even think to look around the crayon drawings on the table for one of themselves in the seating arrangement. It's impossible to imagine an organization in the City not only accepting a pay-less task for something as intangible as 'a person's happiness', but then following that up with a celebration of some sort, unless that person happens to be a billionaire and not a measly Grade 8. 'Being called up in front of a long dining table while a multi-course meal is served' is, to Mars, an indicator of the Thumb, and their brutal methods of dismemberment as punishment. Lulu knows better, and has insisted on better to Mars, but... still. A Fixer who feels owed things for free is either one with the power to take them, or one who'll be found dead soon enough. Even with all of that, though... it's impossible to resist easing up a little bit, seeing the faces of everyone here. "Lup-de-lu is a fantastic nickname." t"Urk-- you heard that? He's-- he's just-!" Lulu turns her nose up and huffs, arms crossed. "I can't get him to stop. So it's whatever." "Hey, we could play another round and make it a wager." Mars easily snipes back at Lulu, before offering his hand out to Xion, and Riku, and Sarracenia. "I'm Mars, Grade 7, by the way. It's a little late to be saying it, but... thanks for saving me back there." "Hahh?! Don't forget I saved you, idiot!" "And I'm grateful to you most of all, Lulu." "Ack-?! Don't be so serious! Don't be so serious about it! Hey!" "It seems you have recovered quite thoroughly, Mister Mars. And how are you, Miss Lulu?" "He's doing pretty good." "She's right back to usual." "Huh?! Who asked you?!" It's a wonder that San somehow survived working with these two for so long. Their arguments flare up with nearly every sentence and then die down again as quickly, in perfect synch in... fucking with each other, or something. "Oh? You will?" "Ghh--!" Lulu slips in to intercept Lilian's gaze at San, stiffening up and choking. "D-director! I specifically didn't give him a clue what I was doin', y'know! Because I knew he'd disagree! It's not on him at all! Just... whatever price you need... it's all on me."
Riku Asakura	'You feeling okay? You went real hard, so if you're sore, make sure to rest up. A complete win was the best result, though, so nice work.' "I'm a little sore..." Riku admits, "But I've had worse. I'll be good with some rest, like you suggested." Riku continues to admit to Xion. "But thank you for the compliment. I'm glad we could recover Mars like we were able to." He offers his own smile towards Xion, remembering that Lilian wanted to take what she said as gospel. 'I did not see all of it, but you were very impressive, Riku!' "Thank you!" Riku beams at Sarracenia, "You did well, too! I'm glad I could fight with you and everyone at Trideag." 'It's a little late to be saying it, but... thanks for saving me back there.' To Mars, Riku stood up to bow to, "Riku Asakura, Fixer for Trideag. It's nice to meet you finally. I'm glad to see you back in human form. I don't know what happened in the Library that caused it to happen, but I'm glad you're here with us now..." To Knifty, he pauses. "That'd be nice..." he's not sure if it'd be nice at all, but he's at least friendly to her.
Petra Soroka	"I'm sorry for leading you into that mess. It was beyond what we could handle and I should've given the call to flee earlier." Lulu slumps a bit with San's hand on her shoulder, looking immensely worn-out. "... Couldn't have known it'd go down the drain that way. Don't apologize for it or else you're saying you shoulda expected me to be even weaker, y'hear? If anyone's tossing sorries around, it should be..." Lulu sniffs as she tries to think of anyone. She's not about to volunteer herself, saying 'Mars' is a little tasteless even for her, the contacts at Zwei are frustrating but ultimately too distant to blame, so.... "Those sickos in the Library and their freaky rustbucket boss. Puh." "I don't know what happened in the Library that caused it to happen, but I'm glad you're here with us now..." "'Human form'...." Mars marvels while inspecting the back of his hand, as if there might still be some text inscribed on it somewhere. "Well, what happened was that I was killed. It was... the last thing I remembered, but I still knew time had passed, if that makes sense. Like dreaming. Whatever the power was that made 'killing' into something like that... I don't know, but that's why it's the Library, right?"
Sarracenia	For a moment, Sarra considers saying something to Lilian. But, this is supposed to be a celebration and at least on this world they have been able to be cordial to each other. They even completed an entire operation without attacking each other, verbally or otherwise. So, Sarra just listens as Lilian thanks and compliments Xion. Sarra's cheeks do puff a bit at not being thanked at all by Lilian, but she at least has Mars's thanks. The princess smiles brightly to Mars. "I am just happy I was able to reunite such a cute couple!" she says, then blinks and covers her mouth before giggling. "Oh dear, forgive me. Such cute 'friends'." 'You did well, too! I'm glad I could fight with you and everyone at Trideag.' Sarra had of course given Olivie her account of what happened if asked. Ironically, hers also would have highlighted how much Xion did and how valiant Lulu had been. And of course she would have bragged how she acted as Lulu's shield so that the maiden could avenge her beloved's death. She is still unsure just how much she is allowed to tell though, so if asked she only relays details about that specific incident. To Riku though, she smiles. "Thank you! I still have some work to do, though. I intend to be able to stand side by side with Xion properly one day."
Riku Asakura	'Whatever the power was that made 'killing' into something like that... I don't know, but that's why it's the Library, right?' Riku is uneasy that killing has become something so casual and easy to erase by the Library. At the same time, he's happy that Mars is here and Audrey is likely just fine physically. He's also trying to come to terms with the emotions of his part in creating the Library. So at the end of things, all he manages is an uneasy laugh and a "Yeah..." aimed at Mars. 'I still have some work to do, though. I intend to be able to stand side by side with Xion properly one day.' "Yeah, me too. I have more work to put in to be able to stand up with people like Xion and Lilian both. I can't keep using the excuse of being new to the multiverse forever!" Riku says with upbeat energy.
Angela	Olivier didn't ask Sarracenia her account, of course. If he was the sort of person to be satisfied with self evaluations, he wouldn't have made it as a Hana Administrator. None of this is a call he'd make by himself but Lilian is broadly seen as objective enough for an Association Director. Frankly, he'd consider it rude to go around asking Lilian's team without her express permission. ''Or else you're saying you shoulda expected me to be even weaker, y'hear?'' "Maybe I should be saying you're stronger than I thought. I know you had an Association's aid, but you still made it back with our comrade." He's also not inclined to blame his team or the Zwei, but he's the sort who prefers to have the weight on his own shoulders rather than go around pointing fingers. Despite the ordeal of the Library being what it was and how it turned out, the fact that Mars is standing here now proves that as far as The City goes, it's about as fair a menace as he can expect so it's hard for him to work up that kind of hatred. It just makes him depressed and blame himself harder. ''Human form.'' "It's really surprising." San admits. "I hoped to retrieve your book but I had no idea it could actually bring you back to life. Or ... if you weren't actually killed, back from a state like that. It's not normally like that with the Anomalies, I hear." He's a Grade Six but he still mostly has dealt with human problems in keeping the peace in a two block radius. "I suppose since we were let go by Zwei, we have no obligation to report something like that to them but it feels irresponsible not to." Though he's frowning because this is a group that turned its back on his team, he's ultimately too responsible of a guy not to consider it anyway. Besides, he's got former Office-mates to consider the safety of that now work with the Zwei. He'd ask Sarracenia to not 'rile up those two' or to 'not get them started' but he's practically nostalgic for their arguments right now. This bickering now reads as peace to him. Once a true harrowing situation comes upon you, the little pains of yesterday become a comfort. He is supressing a smile because he is presenting himself to Lilian right now.
Lilian Rook	'Just you wait until I show you how I polish windows, eheheh....' Lilian stares into the middle distance, smiles faintly, and keeps walking. For reasons. 'I'm sorry for leading you into that mess. It was beyond what we could handle and I should've given the call to flee earlier.' "Hmm? You think you get to apologize 'as a leader' now?" Lilian says, single brow arched. "He died and she went AWOL. The fact that we pulled off a miracle doesn't un-ring the bell now does it?" 'The Director was quite rough with her, actually.' "Hey what-- Don't say it like that. Say something normal instead." 'Oh--you're a Grade 6 too? Er, applied here?' "And stop listening to her, actually. Oh my god." 'Director, ma'am. San Grade Six formerly of the Zwei Affiliated Streetlight Office, served as Operator. Thank you for taking care of my subordinates, ma'am. Vice-Director Ceri asked me to deliver a full report of my experiences seeking Zwei's aid, ma'am.' Well, if nothing else, a solid 'ma'am' from that posture puts Lilian back into a business mindset. San's mantling of professional deference is like a ritual that clears her perception as a piece of irrelevant trivia who incidentally enables Lulu's suffering by passivity and could be politely considered 'baggage', and settles him clearly in her field of vision as a Fixer. Slowing her roll before him, Lilian turns, folds her arms, adopts a posture of 'make it worth my time', and says, "If it's Ceri's wish that you do so, then continue. Make the verbal report brief and file specifics in hard copy." 'Hahh?! Don't forget I saved you, idiot!' 'And I'm grateful to you most of all, Lulu.' 'Ack-?! Don't be so serious! Don't be so serious about it! Hey!' Okay. So she still smiling a little bit. What of it? 'D-director! I specifically didn't give him a clue what I was doin', y'know! Because I knew he'd disagree! It's not on him at all! Just... whatever price you need... it's all on me.' "My my, aren't you being greedy now?" Lilian says, not quite fully taking her eyes off of San. "Everything that's happened to you since coming here should be like a miraculous dream. You've gotten everything exactly your way, and been given a second chance the likes of which simply doesn't exist in the City for anyone else, yet, still, you're eager for more?" she says. "If I didn't know better, I'd draw the conclusion that you think I'm the sort of person who does anything someone asks nicely of me." She is perhaps fucking with Lulu for fun at an amount greater than zero. 'Those sickos in the Library and their freaky rustbucket boss. Puh.' Unfortuantely, she has to address that. Ever so unconcerned, finger tapping on her upper arm, Lilian says, "About that. Are you certain that woman is really a taboo? I understand you were in dire straits the first time, so I don't believe that you lied to me. It's only that . . ." Lilian spreads her hands apart, and shrugs. "We all saw her bleed. Perhaps it'd be best if you kept those suggestive terms to yourself, lest the wrong person pay attention, and be 'disappointed' by the reality." She gestures at the table. "Go on. Sit."
Xion	Xion hadn't really known she was going to attend either, as she normally avoided such events. Really, she had been rarer still in person since the Dark Days and White Nights, but she came to this. She had made a point of it, though appointment had been made with her. 'I quite like your outfit!' Xion is just about seated and settled when Sarra heads up, standing again to accept the princess' hug and going about with a bit of a sideways return, trying to smile and being a little overwhelmed. "I'm just borrowing it, because I had nothing to wear that was fancy enough! A whole rack of black on black and nothing formal, it was a little maddening." Xion admits at a brush of a sigh, releasing Sarra after a moment. "Thanks, though. I guess I'm pulling it off if you like it." 'Thank you for letting me rely on you. Especially after . . . well, all the other times you let me rely on you.' Split with Sarracenia, Xion looks at Lilian as soon as she begins with 'They're adorable', expression moving from pleasant at the agreement, to a seeking expectation, to... Falling as a sheet might, or a curtain over an empty breeze, Xion's shoulders come down, and she leans forward. The full feeling is not positive, but also, she's done it, and, now, perhaps feels it too much afterwards, but she smiles and the crookedness is lost in the refining tightness of her expression towards a nod and words. "I would be the most terrible of liars, to you and also myself, if I hadn't come. Instead, I can be proud enough to say that you've always been able to rely on me," Xion attempts, the words a little fast for her, and then halting she swallows and smiles and nods, and leaves it there. A Heart is a terrible, belligerent thing that can frustrate the tongue. Xion looks up at a hand being offered to her, and is almost up again to shake it, a tiny bit startled, a tiny bit stiff on the expectation, but rolling with it. Taking it in gloved hand with the rattle of her soup spoon in her periphery from motion, she shifts from one-handed shake to bowing two-handed when Mars thanks her for saving him. "Xion, um, I think Grade 8?" Bashful as she forgets what she had been rated at during the big party to hand out numbers. It had been something Sarracenia had pursued and Xion had been negligent considering. "It was hard work, but in the end saving anyone always is. Lulu did the hardest work, and Riku put the most in, so I certainly can't credit myself entirely..." The routine, tired as it is, gets old for Xion faster than usual. Straightening, she lets her hands loosen and a defaulting-faint smile rest on her face. "As long as you use the Light that was brought back well, it's no problem." 'Her Justice' meant that she had to accept this, and also, the rest. 'I intend to be able to stand side by side with Xion properly one day.' Xion is forced to consider something else rapidly, and turns to look at Sarracenia with a 'what did you say?' quirk of the brow, but softens and emits a soft 'oh' and shifts to smile before getting all the way there. "Sarra, you're plenty powerful and you've really moved up around here. Aren't you the higher grade Fixer, even? I've just got..." Diffusing praise became hard, because she couldn't claim it was her reputation doing the heavy lifting or anything. "Well... More experience in these kinds of situations. I'm not exactly standing at the head of things, Lilian had to call me in, so..." It had been too narrow and bloody for being confidently cavalier about the situation. Her smile threatens to tear, then she swallows and settles back down into seat to enjoy soup before it's disappeared. "I think it just worked out. I can just get into swinging a punch faster than most."
Petra Soroka	"Maybe I should be saying you're stronger than I thought." "You should!" Lulu sticks her thumb into her chest, puffing it out haughtily. "I'll be comin' for you soon enough, Grade 6...!" "I suppose since we were let go by Zwei, we have no obligation to report something like that to them but it feels irresponsible not to." Ever practically-minded, Mars's gratefulness for what is essentially a second chance at life hasn't turned him around to make him into a saint. "Hey, only if they pay appropriately. That's the cost of cutting off an Associate Office that way; or else there'd be even less reason than there already is to keep us small fish around." "Even if Isadora's asking. You know what they say about Fixers and bonds, right?" He falls awkwardly silent for a moment, due to the obvious irony of what, in fact, saved him. "... Well, either way, I'd be surprised if the information on the Library wasn't proprietary to the Trideag after the contract Lulu made." "I am just happy I was able to reunite such a cute couple!" "--...!" Mars falls silent and stiffens up, a faint pink flush entering his face. He braces himself for Lulu's inevitable punch, but after a few seconds, it doesn't happen. He glances aside to her as if to silently ask 'aren't you going to protest?', only to see Lulu beet red and gripping the hem of her jacket with her fists, staring square at the ground. "Hah?! You got something to say?! Spit it out!" "Er... n-no, I was just expecting you to...." "Me to what?! If you're gonna say no, then say it! 'Cause I won't!" "?! ... Well... I won't either."} Somehow Sarracenia has managed to... ask both Mars and Lulu out on the others' behalfs at the same time, or something. It's not as if it was really in question, but Sarracenia's use of the word 'couple' forced them to indirectly use it for each other. "My my, aren't you being greedy now?" "Er-- maybe? Or, y-yes, ma'am." Lulu's dogged determination to intercept harm for her coworkers has only been intensified in the aftermath of the one time she didn't insist on it being the Reception where Mars sacrificed himself instead. "I'm just sayin', there's no way he could've trained me right in the first place, 'cause I've always been a little too wild. So it couldn't be his fault that I ran off on my own and made a mess." "You've gotten everything exactly your way, and been given a second chance the likes of which simply doesn't exist in the City for anyone else, yet, still, you're eager for more?" Lulu's shoulders slump and her head hangs, burbling out a mangled mixture of 'that's true' and 'yeah, thanks' with a worried side glance at San. Mars slides in to join shoulder to shoulder with Lulu, putting a hand to his chest and bowing lightly at Lilian. "Director, may I say, you have my utmost gratitude for lending yourself to the mission into the Library personally, as well as your treatment of Lulu when she was beside herself with grief." "Hey!!" "Whatever price it was that you wanted from Lulu, I can help pay it." Only seconds after smacking him upside the head, Lulu gives Mars a worried look. "Pay it? But we're broke. Or do you mean...?" "With help from my mother, if I need to." "Ueh... but you hate having to rely on her."} "It's not fair if I can't put aside my pride after you did so much, is it?"
Sarracenia	'Oh--you're a Grade 6 too? Er, applied here?' 'And stop listening to her, actually. Oh my god.' Sarra lets out a haughty 'hmph~' at Lilian when San listens to her. "Why yes! Your group seems quite closely knit, capable, and not afraid to work. Such things are valued by Trideag!" 'If I didn't know better, I'd draw the conclusion that you think I'm the sort of person who does anything someone asks nicely of me.' Sarra gives Lilian a bit of a side-eye. It is hard to tell if Lilian is being funny or not. "Well, perhaps after slapping them around a bit." Sarra decides on, but with at least an attempt to not sound super serious about it. 'Sarra, you're plenty powerful and you've really moved up around here. Aren't you the higher grade Fixer, even? I've just got...Well... More experience in these kinds of situations. I'm not exactly standing at the head of things, Lilian had to call me in, so...' Sarra blinks in surprise at that 'what did you say?' look and starts to ask what's wrong when Xion speaks up. Sarra smiles appreciatively but shakes her head. "I am not plenty powerful. If I am going to become a shining star of this world or any other, I need to at least reach the strength of a Color if not a Star. Being able to rely on my friends and allies is wonderful, but if ever it happens that I am the one left standing while somehow you or Rita or Lilian are not..." Sarra's expression turns more serious. "...I need to know that I can shoulder the burden. Otherwise, I will always merely be an aspiring heroine instead of a proper one." Sarra smiles lightly at Riku after. "Riku understands, I think." 'Those sickos in the Library and their freaky rustbucket boss. Puh.' 'About that. Are you certain that woman is really a taboo? I understand you were in dire straits the first time, so I don't believe that you lied to me. It's only that . . . We all saw her bleed. Perhaps it'd be best if you kept those suggestive terms to yourself, lest the wrong person pay attention, and be 'disappointed' by the reality.' Sarra hmphs softly and crosses her arms. She gives Lilian a slightly questioning look. She is still protecting Angela? Sarra supposes she can sort of understand. Maybe. Lilian actually likes Angela. "Yes, how are you so sure that Angela is a taboo?" she asks. Lulu's and Mars's exchange makes Sarra practically swell up with d'aww, and her warm smile and sparkling happy eye projects it completely. "If you two ever need anything, do not hesitate to ask me! I am happy to help!" she says. She probably means non-Trideag types of things like picking out outfits and rings and venues, judging by her tone. The princess looks to Mars after that. "By the by, who is this mother of yours? Apparently someone of some importance within the City." If Sarra has heard just who Mars's mother is, she's forgotten already. But, she feels like it must be a Color.
Angela	''The fact that we pulled off a miracle doesn't un-ring the bell now does it?'' "No ma'am, but as a miracle did happen, I should take the opportunity." San says. ''And stop listening to her, actually. Oh my god.'' "Yes ma'am." He adds. ''That'd be nice...'' As San is collecting himself, Knifty smiles bigly at Riku and assures him, "Eheh...don't worry, you'll get to see me put those dirty windows in their place..." And then bites the air at him before turning back to her work. ''Xion, um, I think Grade 8?'' Cheer clucks her tongue in annoyance as she ties ball as she kicks her feet in her chair. "They need to hurry up or you 'Grade 8s' are going to start showing up their 'Grade 1s' and they're gonna be SO embarrassed." Cheer is completely on Team Trideag here. She wants to join in on missions but even by City standards she's not quite old enough to do so legally. Though Xion admitting she had to call her in gets her to siiigh and say, "Come ooon, even you part timing is still more than what Zwei did full time." She's heard some of the complaints about Zwei's handling of this situation from the others, she's just not too shy to say it in front of god and everyone. San grimaces. He is a former Zwei affiliate after all and it's ultimately him who kept the Office as a gateway into the Zwei Association proper. "From the mouths of children..." He murmurs. "But she's not exactly wrong. The leader of Zwei operations in handling District 12 isn't even in District 12. He's still in 22. And it was his call to shutter our office and refuse us aid." San hesitates, then decides he's already begun so he should keep going, though he's clearly uncomfortable about talking about a Director this way. "I'm not the sort of Fixer who can typically call the attention of an Association Director, but I know two people who work directly for the Director, Walter, formerly of our office. Their names are Isadora and Julia. Isadora said that Walter wasn't interested in taking on job like that--it's... not exactly lacking in custom for Associations to refuse to deal with threats that aren't ranked Urban Legend or above, but as I was leaving Julia caught up with me. She said that Walter was more concerned with mapping out the Nest of this District." He realizes he's not exactly being brief but he swallows and adds, "And, ah, she swears she caught him talking to a member of the Stray Dogs." Lenny, who had been impatiently waiting for food. "What-- Those bastards??" Her head jerks up and judging from Pete and Mang-chi's expressions, they're really upset about hearing that name leave San's lips. "It's not against the rules or anything. Syndicates and Fixers occassionally collaberate. I'm not sure what he was getting out of the deal, but I'd bet the map is for the Stray Dogs." "And since the Stray Dogs work for The Thumb... That means that they are planning on escalating in District 12." Ceri concludes. "I'd bet my sword on it." San relaxes after. He's come to say what he came to say, though he looks like he does want to say more--he seems to be holding off on it for now. He finally smiles at Lulu. "Just don't forget about me once you've soared past me, eh Lulu? I want to see what the good diners are like at least once. Bada is too busy to return calls half the time." San gives a nod to Mars, though he grimaces when he's called out on his friendship. "You've got a point, Mars. It should be in their hands." He's maybe too softhearted to make harsh choices and that might be why he keeps tabs on a neighborhood rather than anything bigger than that.
Angela	''It's not fair if I can't put aside my pride after you did so much, is it?'' "...I hate to ask are you sure again but..." He looks to Lilian. "Mars' mother is a famous Fixer. If we introduce you, could that make our debts square? Along with what I reported?"
Xion	'Come ooon, even you part timing is still more than what Zwei did full time.' Xion hangs spoon between thumb and forefinger and leans cheek on opposite palm-perch. "Ooo-kay." She drawls, before resetting a little to sitting straighter and set aside spoon. "I think the ranking is just that, a recognition, and the reality can be different than what the number is. You get hit, or you don't. That's what matters, when it really comes down to it." Pulling off of that, she pauses, considering. It was the same thing she had said to Roland, but there was a different meaning when not fighting someone of Roland's level while 'hiding' her own behind her own low rank. Then, her expression falls, and breaks into a little smile, and Xion nods down into her soup. "But I hear you. Maybe it'd be better some 'Grade 8' or 'Grade 9' accomplished great things, and maybe not. I don't want to romanticize this sort of dangerous work. It's... Well, it'll consume you entirely if you let it." A beat-pause and Xion shifts her shoulders back though her chin remains lowered. "I'm glad we could help. Really, it's the kind of work I wanted to be doing, though I didn't imagine I'd be. . ." Fighting Angela? Taking on Roland in 'lightning round hide-and-seek'? Would she be brave enough to say it out loud? There had been some release of who and what, but the sickness of accepting this praise she had tacked into the winds of to tolerate and show for remained hard. Her frustrating heart made it very difficult to just coolly accept everything and act with empty clarity and candy-sootheable conscience. "I feel a responsibility to make the City better, because it shared its Light with me." There's a glance to Sarracenia, and to Riku, but her eyes finish forward. "So, sorry that I'm a little awkward about accepting praise for this." '...I need to know that I can shoulder the burden.' Xion looks back to Sarracenia, worried now on behalf of the princess. "Sarra, it's --" A frown flickers on her lips. "It's not something you can know you can shoulder until after. I think you've done well, and I know you've put in the training to improve. I think if we stop aspiring..." A platitude she doesn't mean dies on her tongue. Xion blinks, and then forces a smile. "If you think you've got room for improvement, I look forward to seeing it. I think you've been reliable, Sarracenia, for every time I've asked of you." Lulu brings up the Streetlight gang's broke status and brings up a powerful mother. "Your mom?" She asks, as Lulu drops hating having to rely on her. "It's okay if you're not on good terms with her..." She begins, then remembers its not her reward she's playing off and returns to the course in front of her.
Lilian Rook	'Instead, I can be proud enough to say that you've always been able to rely on me' Lilian winces. Leaving it there was, indeed, enough. "I can't imagine that there may ever come a day where it's your heart or your loyalty that I question." says Lilian. "But I might hope for the day where I don't worry for the risk of my becoming a fairy curse on both." 'Xion, um, I think Grade 8' "Only for a little while longer, if Olivier has any sense." Lilian says, a little bit meddlesome-proud, though. "Everyone sensible knows that ranking is only a measure of accreditation, not competence, but even still, it doesn't sit well with me for it to not reflect the other for so long. You're saying 'just' as though that experience of yours is something that simply happens to most people over time." 'Hey, only if they pay appropriately.' Lilian glances off to the side at Mars. Her expression conveys a very small rep gain. "I'll be honest; I'd simply assumed that you were in charge of Streetlight." 'Even if Isadora's asking. You know what they say about Fixers and bonds, right?' "If you'd do me the favour of saying it in your own words." Lilian says, extending a hand, palm upturned. '... Well, either way, I'd be surprised if the information on the Library wasn't proprietary to the Trideag after the contract Lulu made.' "That much hardly needs saying. I don't think Lulu is quite stupid enough to spread anything around on her own. I'd like to imagine that she's had quite enough trouble of that calibre." Lilian says. "Not that keeping quiet will prevent everyone and their grandmother from swarming that field; being the first ones to crack the Library isn't a small accomplishment, and the fact that it's still there is ample reason to consider the future years in which it will continue to distort the Fixer business around itself. But, frankly . . ." Lilian glances at Lulu and Mars blushing and fidgeting at each other. "I wouldn't have accepted such a ridiculous request if I didn't already have plans to make use of that sort of thing." 'Er-- maybe? Or, y-yes, ma'am.' Lilian snorts despite herself. "I'll be unhappy if you're too eager to throw your life away after the pains I took to preserve it." she says, as a way of winding around the question instead of directly answering it. She clearly begins to think of something, but then . . . 'Director, may I say, you have my utmost gratitude for lending yourself to the mission into the Library personally, as well as your treatment of Lulu when she was beside herself with grief.' Lilian dismisses the unspoken thought with a shake of her head. And says "I suppose that's why you two are partners." unelaborated. Shrugging her shoulders, eyes closed, Lilian continues with an airy tone, "To be honest with you, I'm still undecided. It's obvious that, in my haste to put various things into motion, I let her off too easily, without investing enough time to set a proper example. Now that we're all out the other side, however, it's difficult to think of anything that I want." Her eyes open just enough so she can stare at Mars out of the corner of them as his mother is mentioned. "But you're not exactly about to run away; you know better; so I can take my time. I'm not going to think about it at a celebration."
Lilian Rook	'Well, perhaps after slapping them around a bit.' "I see that you're still much too soft." she says, rolling her eyes. "If you could get someone brought back from the dead for the price of a hard slap across the face, who wouldn't do it?" 'I am not plenty powerful. If I am going to become a shining star of this world or any other, I need to at least reach the strength of a Color if not a Star.' The conversation tree is now terminated. Mostly because Lilian starts laughing, tries to cut herself off by pressing the back of her hand to her mouth, starts coughing, and excuses herself teary-eyed. 'The leader of Zwei operations in handling District 12 isn't even in District 12. He's still in 22. And it was his call to shutter our office and refuse us aid.' What fascinating information. Lilian makes a mental note of this. 'And, ah, she swears she caught him talking to a member of the Stray Dogs.' "Ah." There is the point that Lilian actually holds up to listen. 'And since the Stray Dogs work for The Thumb... That means that they are planning on escalating in District 12.' "It was going to happen eventually." Lilian says, trying to sound as airy as before, and having to make up the difference with a gesture. "Zwei's business is public order. If they're choosing the devil they know over the devil they don't, that's not so surprising." she says, leaving a hanging pause. "But I'd like to make sure all the same.
Angela	''The reality can be different than what the number is.'' "Yeah... I know... But you deserve it! And it means you get higher paying jobs, which you also deserve, and more respect from the people around you, which you also deserve. Until you hit Grade Five you're a nobody, and until you hit Grade Three, nobody's gonna think twice about your skills unless they know the truth." Cheer protests. "I know you all don't always have the same priorities as us Cityfolk, but..." As a denizen of the Outskirts, she is less naive than most her age. ''I don't want to romanticize this sort of dangerous work.'' But this is something Cheer is a little uneasy about. Her mother has always made her business working as first a Hunter and then a Fixer. She's her hero. Maybe the work shouldn't be romanticized, but she can't help it--she wants to make her mom proud. Solace, of course, wants Cheer to live a peaceful life and is largely training her how to fight so she can protect a peaceful life. She worries about Cheer's interest in the work. She wouldn't be able to handle Mars the way his mother is doing it. ''I feel a responsibility to make the City better.'' "...You do. That's why you should be Grade -100." Cheer mumbles, feeling chastized... BY AN ADULT. ''I'll be honest. I'd simply assumed that you were in charge of Streetlight.'' San doesn't seem offended. "We're all hoping great things for him, ma'am, I expect he'll outrank me in no time." He is a little sad that his little group here might one day fall apart. ''But you're not exactly about to run away.'' San is hesitant to ask about where they'd be staying but presumably Lulu and Mars had figured something out during the week. He'll just have to join them. It feels like what he had to report isn't really news to Lilian which gets San to grimace a little, he was hoping that'd be enough to repay some debts. "We won't leave the District and let you know where we are staying." He says. ''But I'd like to make sure all the same.'' "It's about time we shut down the Stray Dogs. They've been bothering us for nearly a year." Ceri says. "But...perhaps we can put some eyes on the Stray Dogs, see if there are any more meetings. And after Zwei dropped the ball with Streetlight here--there might be one coming up."
Petra Soroka	"And, ah, she swears she caught him talking to a member of the Stray Dogs." "Khhh... dropping Mars in favor of working with those low down bastards...." Lulu grouses, but, it's like San said. The Stray Dogs would be cut off as easily as Streetlight Office was, with nary a look back, if they caused trouble or needed more aid than their contract with the Zwei offered. That's just the way things work. "I'll be honest; I'd simply assumed that you were in charge of Streetlight." Mars shakes his head, a slight roll of his shoulder in a shrug. "Nah. San's got connections, a good head on his shoulders, and besides, he's a higher Grade than me. If I've got the intuition, it's because of the advantages I've had, but... even with that boost, I've only amounted to what I've amounted to." "If you'd do me the favour of saying it in your own words." "Right, Director. Er...." He looks aside at Lulu, fussy and residually clingy, and at San. "It's a common saying that Fixers shouldn't make close relationships, because they'll never last and they'll drag you down. Deaths, betrayals, fights over contracts or money... it's said to be equally true at the bottom and at the top, though in different ways. Personal affection's how you get... blindsided." "I wouldn't have accepted such a ridiculous request if I didn't already have plans to make use of that sort of thing." Lulu reacts to the word 'ridiculous' by automatically opening up her mouth, hackles raised, but she closes her lips before retorting. After getting over her first reaction, "... 'Course I won't go blabbing about everything. But if you've got plans to 'use' that for taking down that Library, then... I don't wanna leave it sitting there swallowing people up either. I wanna help." "By the way...." Lulu tilts her head like a curious dog, finally recalling something that had been mostly irrelevant while focused on Mars. Everyone's questioning on the nature of Angela as a taboo reminds her... "... Why did it seem like she knew you? Not just as a Fixer or anything." Mars hastily puts his hand on Lulu's head and just palms her downwards, forcing her knees to bend while she goes 'huh?! what's your issue?!'. Mars swallows and shakes his head, and Lulu quickly falls silent. "If it's not our business, it's not our business. That's all there is to it; taboo or otherwise." "It's okay if you're not on good terms with her..." Mars chews on the inside of his lip for a minute. His hand slips down his side, trailing backwards to the rectangular edge of his greatsword, pressing the pad of his finger into the corner. "... It's not that we don't get along. I'd just... rather be the kind of son who's able to stand up on his own, too." He sighs and folds his hands behind his head, looking up at the open sky above the courtyard. "My mom's the Verdigris Aegis. Streetlight's the first work I did as a Fixer in my own right, so being the son of a Color and only ending up Grade 7, and having my office go down the drain so quickly, it's...." Lulu pat-pats him on the elbow, tugging him towards the table to sit down. "We'll pick ourselves back up again. Your mom's sorta a character, but she's never been anything but proud of you. And if I'm goin' up in the ranks, then you've got no choice to either, mochi-face." Come to think of it, seeing him now, that nickname starts to make a little bit of sense: his face is kind of round and pale.
Sarracenia	'It's not something you can know you can shoulder until after.' Sarra nods lightly. "I know." she says, then smiles genuinely as Xion says Sarra has been reliable. "Reliable is a good start, I think." 'Lilian starts laughing.' Sarra is -immediately- glaring at Lilian, fists clenched at her sides. "Do not laugh!" she demands, then huffs and crosses her arms. Sarra of course has no idea she may be a Grade 5 soon, but even if that does happen she has had her doubts about the value of the grading system ever since Roland appeared. What people have been saying here today hasn't lessened her worry. Lilian laughing makes her determined, though. She will reach that point someday. '... Why did it seem like she knew you? Not just as a Fixer or anything.' "We Outsiders and those close to us have encountered...Library forces before." Sarra says a bit cryptically. 'Verdigris Aegis' Sarra hasn't heard of that one. But, Lulu's determination makes the princess smile. "I have no doubt that you will, Lup-de-lu and Mochi-face." she says affectionately. The princess pulls out her phone, sighs softly, then puts it away. "I am afraid I must take my leave. It was lovely meeting you. San. Do think about what I said. I have no doubt that all three of you could be valuable to Trideag. Or, if City life no longer appeals to you, you could always move to the Sundew Kingdom~" Sarra says before taking her leave.
Angela	''I have no doubt that all three of you would be valuable to Trideag.'' San isn't quite desperate to move to Saturn just yet but he almost does answer Sarracenia's comment on that before remembering that he was told not to listen to her by her own boss. He is quiet for a moment but ultimately it feels irresponsible to not say, "I'm not so shameless to be blessed with the return of my friends and then ask for more favors. But we are at your disposal, ma'am." ''Dropping Mars in favor of working with those low down bastards...'' San shakes his head in agreement. He's not exactly a fan of that either but he's already been chastized for making a scene at Zwei. He's not about to do so again. ''Fixers shouldn't make close relationships.'' He clenches his fists tightly. He knows he hasn't exactly stuck to that philosophy and they nearly all paid the price for it, didn't htey? ''We Outsiders and those close to us have encountered... Libary forces before.'' While this doesn't exactly feel like an illegal answer that'd get one in trouble with their Director, it does suggest to San why Lilian told him not to listen to Sarracenia. It may not be spilling the beans, but it is gesturing towards the idea of spilled beans. Still, if she can bicker with a DIrector... ''and having my office go down the drain so quickly...'' San's shoulders hang low as does his head. Of course he feels responsible after a comment like that--but his spirits are bolstered by Lulu's bravado and he finds himself smiling again. "That's the story." He says of the Verdigris Aegis.
Lilian Rook	'If I've got the intuition, it's because of the advantages I've had, but... even with that boost, I've only amounted to what I've amounted to.' Lilian stares at Mars for several seconds, seeming to see him for the second time; or perhaps she's only sizing him up. "Now I'm even more surprised." she says, after a period of silence. "No, perhaps that attitude is exactly why the City didn't want to keep you." She's just about to turn away, but then, 'It's a common saying that Fixers shouldn't make close relationships, because they'll never last and they'll drag you down. Deaths, betrayals, fights over contracts or money... it's said to be equally true at the bottom and at the top, though in different ways. Personal affection's how you get... blindsided.' "Far be it from me to insist that those fighting to claw up the ladder should deprive themselves of that aegis. In many ways, it's better to shield your heart before the world hardens it for you. But . . ." Lilian looks over to Lulu, slowly and meaningfully. "Didn't personal affection get you this far?" '... Why did it seem like she knew you? Not just as a Fixer or anything.' "I'd like to find out why she said that myself." says Lilian, scoffing. Her tone alloys baffled irritation with bitter reluctance because that's exactly how she feels all of a sudden. This is a huge lie without her actually saying anything she doesn't mean. "And here I thought your helping was a given. You're obviously not safe outside of Trídéag for much longer, you know." 'Do not laugh!' "Tell me that when you're about a hundred times stronger." Lilian says, smirking on purpose and tossing back her hair dismissively, like a pallet cleanser. "I'm going to go and check on Solace. Let's shelve this for the day, shall we? The entire point is to close the back cover on all this, and make it a foundation for the next thing, and not just a cloud of anxiety. That doesn't work if you don't enjoy yourselves."
Xion	Xion causes a wince, and it tears at her. Lilian doesn't deserve her it-has-to-be-okay struggle to accept the marking and joy of a party. 'I'm causing this again', Xion thinks, having fretted about her drag upon parties in the thin hours between things. The tension in others hurts more because she came to it, and found it in herself, due to the topic and the atmosphere. It hurts more because she came to it, and, she cares deeply about the tears and marks against her cloak. Against her heart, when it came to Lilian. She had such dreams, to be perfect, and to fall short... Well, she had reached back from the edge of those feelings, and now was sitting across from Liliana wondering if she still needed to cross swords and be sure about it... to be sure about it. "You're not a curse on either, Lilian. Instead of needing to settle anything at the edge of a blade, maybe I'd just like to talk things out with you again, um," Xion looks around. "In private? I had been trying to reach a feeling, to tell me I was on the right path, and it wasn't until helping Lulu that I got back to it. The feeling that lets me swing the Kingdom Key. . . I think it's something close to the feeling I get protecting others. So, even if it's been difficult," "Thanks for calling me in, Lilian. I think it worked out best of all worlds, less a few bruises and a bit of soreness. I think I prefer to be at your shoulder than across, being honest." She finishes, but the 'being honest' is puffed out as an exhale of breath, and truly unnecessary. It was day-plain to see. "I think I'm feeling humble after that Librarian pressured me. And maybe that's my ego talking, that no amount of hanging my head and trying to dodge it can avoid. I don't think you could call what we did a rank eight and nine fighting." The noirette admits, grin lopsided as she remembers fighting Binah, Gebura, Angela, Lilian and Rita. "So if it gets recognized I suppose I'll have to find a second dress for another party or something." Xion had low expectation of being recognized, historically, and twiceover didn't expect such from the City, but she had also retreated from public eye for various reasons. "I'll be unhappy if you throw your lives away too. We all fought hard for those - Lulu included. Don't squander what you worked on!" Xion adds on, forking through lasagna. The celebratory cake must be just around the corner, and she's managed to sit through the whole situation! It as a small party, but Xion would take a small victory as far as parties were concerned. And as for small victories... "Grade negative a hundred? Well doesn't that sound like it's wrapped back around, where it's much lower than nine?" A little nasal laugh bounces out of the noirette with that, leaned over plate and shaking head. "Being underestimated's a nice advantage, but being disrespected is annoying! Can't win every battle, and that has to be okay." 'Verdigris Aegis' "That's a lot to live up to, and, harder to take an early loss. But, maybe finding some powerful allies is its own sort of strength that shows around here if your mom is a Color!" Xion begins, but Sarracenia makes the Trideag pitch first, and Xion waves to the departing princess before returning to the trio, lingering with a gesture back at the Sundew princess. "She's right that you can probably work with us. It might be good to have some experienced Fixers in the middle grades around to help spread experience around? We'll get a lot of new applications and knowing the secret dirt on them would be nice too, of course."