Scene #8435: Look Back To Me

Owner	Pose
Angela	Typically invitations to L Corp are provided by Angela personally, but this time--Malkuth is the one to send out an invite. To Ishirou! She sends a message to him privately. "Hey Ishi! I bet you're curious about Lobotomy Corp right?? Do you want to take a looksee? ; ;) ;). I'll tell the Agents stationed by the Warpgate to let you through ~_-") The Warpgate is open and will accept Ishirou selecting it as a destination marker. Once he goes through, he will be greeted by the lovely visage of Parker wearing her flesh mask that is constantly smiling with big shiny teet right at him. She doesn't say anyting at first, taking a look over. "...Heeey.... You don't look like Ishirou... Something is different about your face..." Parker studies him thoughtfully. Malkuth's location is not immediately apparent.
Ishirou	It has been... a few days. These days have been the most days for Ishirou. Unlike other days, they were the most day. However, his time reflecting was interrupted by a message from Malkuth. His curiosity in the message of course got the better of him, and he turned on the answering program in his head. Slowly, standing up in the abandoned sugar cane field. How long had he sat there thinking..? "Hello, Malkuth. Yes, I am curious, I'll come over in a little bit, alright?" He took this time to get cleaned up, make some more repairs, and head over to a warp gate and takes it over. What he see's upon entering nearly has him jump back in, startled by the flesh mask. Of course, the memory of the story about the person who just smiles reminded him that it was probably about an abnormality. "Uh... hello, I'm here to meet with Malku-" cut off by the disembodied voice of the person he was heard to see, his head turns around a few times. Though he was performing this, he was actually 'seeing' around him using his enhanced senses to locate where the voice came from and turn to face it. Also near him was POD, who is a floating box with small arms. "Uh well..." he starts, "I got a new body, after I died..." he says, though that answer has his own loaded meanings to it. Before he thought he knew why he decided to go back towards the artificial body... but then Petra was there again. Then it all came out. Candy took Petra home, or something. He just... stayed in that field for days. To be fair, he isn't sure he'd want to be around himself either right now. "I thought this was known, but I'm sorry I didn't send an updated picture."
Angela	Parker is completely and utterly oblivious to what Ishirou has been through. Nobody here has the ability to read a mind through any method but listening and looking--not the most reliable methods. Parker is right there, not hiding. Malkuth, however, is not there just yet. Actually there aren't any other Agents besides Parker here right now. The distant sounds of battle suggest that an Abnormality ecaped but it's very very quiet otherwise. In the moments in between, you could hear a pin drop. "Wow, a new body after you died--but the first body you got after you died is not this body--oh right!! That was just a temporary one. You have tried on so many faces, Ishirou, but it's important to find the one that fits! Not everybody is so lucky, hehe!" Parker holds up an index finger to her lips and leads Ishirou throughout the facility. He doesn't see other Agents on the way over to Control's halls either... No other Agents until he reaches... A room with many many viewscreens and a map of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life in the back. Pipes embedded in the wall lead to unknown places throughout the facility. A strange box-shaped robot with a yellow eye stands in the center there, looking at Ishirou. The name Malkuth is on its forehead. And when it speaks--it speaks with Malkuth's voice. "Oh woow! You actually came!" Malkuth scribbles something on a notepad she is holding in left manipulator hand. Ishirou can hear the faint whirring of servos at work. "You still seem super down, Ishi..." Ishirou can smell the blood and meat within the construct.
Ishirou	Ishirou, despite his current mindset, almost can't help himself as they walk. His eyes look around as they cover the facility itself. His high-range senses trying to get a better look at things. Ishirou's curiosity borders on nigh unsatiable, wanting to know the littlest details of something, before jumping to the next thing. 'Not everybody is so lucky, hehe!' Ishirou flinches at that statement. His eyes looked away from what he was looking at. Guilt drips through his mind, again, realizing what he gave up. The fact he's had so many good opportunities... "Y-yeah..." is all he can really say. What did he want..? Was he really just so easily hurt? Was he really so insincere in his desires that he so easily gave up the body? Then threw himself into danger repeatedly... what was wrong with him..? His eyes focus on Malkuth as they enter the room. Very similar to POD, and it wasn't something he was expecting. "Hello, Malkuth. It's nice to finally meet you face to face.." he says, though surprised. "You... didn't think I'd come? I said I would right?" 'You still seem super down, Ishi...' He really is terrible at hiding his feelings, and his emotions. His face was all you needed to see to know he was struggling with stuff. His head hangs a little, as he speaks up. "Yeah..." he says, looking away after a little bit. "I... think I'm even worse off than our talk suggested. I don't think I chose this form based on what I said I did." "I think I chose it because... I wasn't able to handle what someone said to me about it. Waffling between decisions, not really choosing anything for myself. Holding people close to me as anything other than people, taking for granted all the good fortune I've been granted..." "It's probably cost me, everyone, I love... and I just... didn't realize it until it was too late. There's something wrong in me, and I can't see it, I can't fix it, and I can't understand it. I'm afraid that if I settle on something, it'll be this entire thing all over again." "...Sorry, I shouldn't be dumping this all on you, you invited me here to show me things, right?"
Angela	"Though, I mean... Being lucky doesn't really mean you deserve misery... But I guess if you're really lucky, it's natural to not realize it isn't so easy for others..." Parker steps back out of the room once Ishirou is in there with Malkuth. She's in a hurry to get back out there. She doesn't so much as linger. In a hurry to get back to the battle or something else? "Well sure, but people say a lot of things all the time, Ishi. You can only really trust the words people say with their actions not their mouths in the end. It's what people do that really speaks volumes. Plus it is a liiitttle sketchy isn't it? That a Paladins offer is getting invited to a Concord facility? Well you wouldn't be the first. And I couldn't hurt my dear conversation partner so easily..." She listens to Ishirou's words. And she is listening. Her body bobs slightly as she scribbles down notes--writing down what Ishirou is saying like a therapist might--but without a therapist's care--rather, it's more like she's taking notes so she doesn't forget. Ishirou's in a rougher state than he initially expressed. "Are you upset...because of your body? Maybe it doesn't really matter to you so much about what body you have but it matters to them and so it hurts them even though you didn't do anything wrong besides not understandd them at the wrong time..." Ishirou shouldn't be dumping these things on her. "Oh I don't mind! I want to help. I like helping. You'll find that a lot of us Upper Sephirah like to help. Maybe it's not your body you're upset about but being denied that forgiveness you crave?" Malkuth did want to show something to Ishirou. Many things really, but first-- --She turns on one of the screens. It is fixated on a ...soldier, floating in the sky--surrounded by a pink heart. "We call this one Army In Black." Malkuth says.
Ishirou	"No?" he responds to the idea that his coming here was sketchy. "This isn't the first Concord facility I've visited, and I doubt it'll be the last one. It's not like we're mad at each other or something.." he's also very curious about being here. "No, it's..." Ishirou sighs. It's hard to explain, it's very hard for him to explain. "Someone hurt me to get at someone else I liked and... things they said to me struck me in such a way I didn't know about. It caused me to..." How does he describe it? "Act poorly to her, and other people around myself. Both in abandoning the human body I had but also throwing myself into danger repeatedly and almost dying. Which... hurt those people more. I didn't realize these words were stuck in my head until..." "Well we crossed paths again, but she had changed and I've become... worse. More like she was when we first met. I dragged people along with me and this stupid idea, but I still don't really understand why it hurt me so badly, or why it eroded everything I had built up for that year..." "Now I think I'm more confused than ever about what I am, or who I am. If words are just enough to shake me so badly.." His eyes gaze onto the Soldier in the pink heart. "Army in black..? Seems like you'd call it Army in Pink, right? What is it's story?"
Angela	"Wow, I guess it's easy to be a bit casual about a multiversal conflict like this huh? We don't all know the rules yet you know, Ishi, so it's possible we might make an oopsie like you did. It's nice that we're all on good terms with each other." Malkuth listens carefully. She's happy to make assumptions but she'll correct them quickly. She's already writing down that it isn't unusual for Paladin Agents to visit Concord facilities. "It seems risky involving outsiders, we are missing out on a lot of energhy from the Servant of Wrath right now...But I have to trust the Manager knows what he's doing..." She focuse back on Ishirou. ''She had changed and I've become... worse.'' "We can only really be in charge of our own stories, right Ishi? Untreated wounds can become infected. I hope you're not at the point where you can't take it..." She turns her attention back to Army in Pink. "Actually, this one made me think of you a bunch!" Malkuth explains. As Ishirou peers at the Soldier in the pink heart, he might notice there's a black outline around that pink heart, and it's slowly seeping into the pink heart around it. Even now, it's darkening slowly... "It starts at pink but there's a sort of hidden counter... Whenever five employees dies, its counter goes down by one and the heart darkens--that's why they're called Army in Black, see?" Malkuth explains. "But until then, depending--they can even help out Agents a little. See, they'll pop over to particular agent and help them heal up and provide some extra defense--before exploding. Pop! So helpful, right?"
Ishirou	"We're not blood enemies or something, we're not in active conflict. We have ideological differences with the nature of the multiverse and the Elites' role in it. I have a few Concord friends myself... and I wouldn't expect you to spring a trap on me, and I am not about to sabotage your work either." "It's not producing as much energy now, or it's still gone?" Ishirou asks, though with how that ended, it seems that maybe things are better now with it than not. 'I hope you're not at the point where you can't take it...' He doesn't have a good answer to this. He hopes so too, he really does, but he doesn't know how infected the wound is. Internally he's a mess right now. He wants to do nothing more than to run to Lilian and throw himself at her feet and apologize profusely, but... He's already apologized so many times. His words would mean less than air to her right now. He isn't sure if there is anything he can do to fix the pain he's caused. He can try... and maybe that's all he can do. To make the world better for her, even if his place isn't in her world anymore. That'd be... something. A step in righting a wrong. He can't lie to himself and not say it'd hurt him. A lot, to never be accepted by her again, but... it isn't about him anymore. "...I see. So they're an anomaly that responds negatively to the deaths of others? What happens when the heart gets completely black?" he pauses, looking at its helpful nature. "So it's supportive.." yeah no wonder she thought this reminded her of himself. It also makes him remember something important. Why can he smell blood? He takes a moment to try and ID the source of it.
Angela	Malkuth is not entirely shocked by this. Wings have been known to cooperate but usually they're always looking for the better deal for themselves--It's just that sometimes a Desire from one Wing is something another one can fulfil--and not feel too bad about whereas that first Wing has something the second really wants. "Oh it returned to its cell, but it's gone passive for a while. A passive Abnormality doesn't provide as much energy as an active one. It's possible it might just return to old habits though--Abnormalities are actually really inclined towards that, falling back into old habits--just like people really. You can help someone solve a personal issue and then they relapse immediately because they haven't really confronted the problem, right? I guess it's a bit like that." Malkuth's body twitches oddly but agrees, "Right, it's pretty laudible isn't it? Always so helpful, it only goes berserk and tries to murder everyone if you haven't been able to take care of the employees properly. So something like that--is a pretty reasonable Abnormality, wouldn't you say?" She pauses a moment. "Ah, the murdering happens when the heart gets completely black, to answer your question." The blood seems to be coming from... Malkuth. There's no visible sign of it, it's just the stench coming from that robotic body of hers. "It can hurt when you really respect someone and they just won't look your way anymore. Even when you're dying, Ishi. Even when you're begging them to. Just because you did something wrong." Malkuth says. And then she trails off for a moment before adding, "Say Ishi... It isn't so bad to force them to look your way when you tried asking nicely right?"
Ishirou	'...falling back into old habits--just like people really. You can help someone solve a personal issue and then they relapse immediately because they haven't really confronted the problem, right?' Ishirou doesn't immediately answer, his own feelings conflicted on this. Did he just go back into bad habits? Did he just let Indus sink into his soul the moment he was in a situation he didn't have any control of? Did he just simply let that poison into his heart because it was easier than trying? 'Ah, the murdering happens when the heart gets completely black, to answer your question.' "It's natural to lash out when you are hurt, and some people are hurt by those around them.." Ishirou says, thoughtful. "Though... hurting others like that, isn't lashing out at the very people who were hurt in the first place? It seems like it's perpetuating its own suffering, instead of trying to find a way to fix it." 'It can hurt when you really respect someone and they just won't look your way anymore. Even when you're dying, Ishi. Even when you're begging them to. Just because you did something wrong.' "It can. I won't disagree with that," Ishirou says, thoughtfully. "But they also might have every right to be mad. What are they supposed to do if they give you every warning? If they try and try and try... but you fail to listen? They offer you their hand, but you slap it away? Is it wrong? That... that I'm not so sure of. I am not so sure that something can be easily fixed." 'It isn't so bad to force them to look your way when you tried asking nicely right?' Ishirou is quiet for a long time. Is... that what he was doing? Trying to force Lilian to look at him..? Was he so insincere that he was just doing whatever it took to repair a relationship he broke..? No, he wasn't trying to fix it, he was trying to revert it." "It isn't enough to force their eyes back on you. If you do that, they'll hate you even more. You'll keep getting that look. Keep getting that resentment from them. I don't know how to fix things, but I know trying to revert things back to how they were..." He pauses, then speaks, "It'd hurt them more. It'd make them resent me more. Trying to draw everything on yourself to the exclusion of everything else..." he shakes his head. "That's not how love works, I think. If you've hurt them, and there is no way back from that... then you can only make their life better, even if you're not in it, I feel." "Otherwise, it's just selfishness. It'll hurt. It'll make you want to break out in tears and curse everything you've done to cause this... but... if you really love that person, then they should be first in your heart. I think that's the problem with this abnormality. It's only thinking about its own feelings. It's its own pain... but not the pain it inflicts. The pain that comes to cross purposes to what it wants to do."
Angela	"Eheh... You're the same way, right Ishirou? You're hurt most when you see other people hurting. A lot of people are like that out there, aren't they? People who hurt upon seeing others hurt. That's why everyone worked so hard to save the Servant of Wrath. They just couldn't bear to see them suffering. Some Agents are like that, they sympathize too much with an ABnormality and then they become a part of the Abnormality, or used by them--like how Beozzi was." Malkuth seems to want some kind of understanding from Ishirou. "A Sephirah can't really afford to be too much like that though or we wouldn't be able to do our very important jobs! Of course, a Sephirah that is too callous can't do their job either! But pain has a way of filling up for anyone, I think, and eventually--like with Army in Black--they'll just explode! Not always only metaphorically either! They're a very human Abnormality, I think." Malkuth's good mood seems to prevail, for the most part, until Ishirou says 'It isn't enough to force their eyes back on you'. That' the start of it though it's so subtle that Ishirou, in his personal realization, may not realize it. Malkuth has gone quiet. And she is listening. That's not too abnormal but-- --she has stopped taking notes. But it's only mega apparent that Malkuth didn't like that answer when he says ''It's only thinking about its own feelings. Its own pain... but not the pain it inflicts.'' "Hahn...." Malkuth sighs. "I thought we really could understnd each other. We were so close! I was even willing to make you the new Manager, wouldn't that have been fun? I thought maybe you could've done the work we needed to escape this place but I guess the best I can hope for is inflicting that pain right back on him, just like you said." Root like tendrils erupt out of Malkuth, shattering her frame but for a circular core that is rapidly covered by more tendrils aside from that singular yellow eye staring right at him. The tendrils slam down into the floor and digging their way through. The tendrils lash out wildly around the room, collecting spare notepads as they writhe about. The viewscreens turn off from the Army In Black and instead show Malkuth's room, the feeds focusing directly on Ishirou. The doors slam shut behind him as Malkuth says, "Don't worry, Ishi! I'm not going to kill you, I'm going to keep on helping you until you can see me properly--you, and ''him'... It won't take too long at all to break....!" And then, just as suddenly, she goes silent. The video feeds cut out except for one which flickers--into a view of Angela in her own office. Eyes closed, she 'looks' at Ishirou and Malkuth. "Ah, so that's what happened. I have temporarily taken control of Malkuth's responsibilities." Angela says. "It seems she was able to sneak you in for this little chat... but I suppose we can turn this bit of trouble into a blessing in disguise, can't we? This particular Sephirah Meltdown was inevitable but since you are here--I don't suppose you could inform your friends we could use their assistance in suppressing Malkuth? It would be inconvenient if she remains in this state." The doors slide back open. Angela doesn't intend to trap him here. He doesn't even need to answer her request if he doesn't want to.
Ishirou	'Eheh... You're the same way, right Ishirou? You're hurt most when you see other people hurting.' Ishirou is quiet for a time. That's true, he doesn't like to see people suffer. It's even worse now that he's realized just how much of it was his doing. He takes in an unnecessary breath. "And it hurts me, even more, to know I have been the one causing anyone suffering. Nobody deserves to suffer, or be in pain... and if I'm the one causing it, it hurts me the most I think." Ishirou listens, a line between callousness and empathy..? Is it callousness though to know what the line is? Where you can't help them anymore? Where it's hurting yourself, or pride? No... no he doesn't think so. He realizes she's gone silent, and he turns to face her fully as she speaks again. She seems disappointed...? "The new manager..? Why would you want to make me the manager..? I don't think I'm very qualified for that.." he starts but then she continues. They work to escape this place. When the shattering happens, Ishirou's hands move to cover his face, but he doesn't run or hide. He doesn't cower away but instead stares at what's happening. His eyes and sensors are trying to make sense of what he's seeing. Even when she mentions breaking him... "You're hurting too, aren't you?" he says with a sigh. "I don't know if I can do this myself, but I ca-" Angela interrupts. Opening the door and speaking. "...I see, alright. I'll get help," he says. There is much he wants to ask, things he wants to know...but... He looks at that core. He looks right at Malkuth. "I'll be back, Malkuth, alright? I'm going to get people who can help. We're going to help you and save you from this." "I swear," Ishirou says, and turns to retreat. "What do we need to do, Angela?" he asks, as he is retreating. "Is there anything I can do in the short term to try and keep things contained until more people can come? I don't want her to hurt anyone until she is herself once more... I think she'd hurt too much if that were to happen."
Angela	It seemed like Malkuth was attempting to take over the facility but was stopped by Angela who seems to have taken control of the parts of the facility that Malkuth typically manages. She can do that, you see, because she's a true AI and the most advanced one in this facility. She doesn't say it, but her expression might as well. "I am grateful that you weren't so foolish enough to simply spout off the words she wished to hear. Unfortunately, there can only be one manager and that position has already been filled." Was she...listening in? "I too am an AI that was built from a human." Angela says. "I was given human emotions from that, but in the end I could not be the person who they wished for me to be. I could only be myself. It was so disappointing to them--they too would never look at me. But you understand the difference in those words coming from a creation rather than from a colleague, don't you Ishirou?" Angela's eyes slowly open. Those golden eyes look at her when he actually asks her about what they need to do, what can be done in the short term. "In the short-term, I can contain her access to the facility until the Manager--and your people--are ready to face her. Indeed, you never need to if you do not wish to--but you made a promise just now, didn't you? To help her? Yes, you could ignore this--you too can turn your head away from what you see here... But I think you'd lose something important if you did that, even if that demand is only reasonable from certain entities." Malkuth doesn't say anything, she just vibrates intensely. Maybe even her voice has been shut down. "What needs to happen here in the longterm is that we cannot allow her to do too much damage to the facility. She cannot reach the Manager with violence so she'll attempt to attack his spirit by striking at the facility directly. Unfortunately, it will be up to the Manager to acknowledge how she feels--or not. You and I cannot force this...But of course, just because the ultimate decision is up to him--does not mean our words and actions have no meaning--or influence over him. You understand, don't you? She is resonating wit you, and I think you understand that too." She is quiet another moment before she asks a personal question. "What was it like being human, Ishirou? Did you feel more free? Did the new constraints of the form feel liberating or constraining?"
Ishirou	'I am grateful that you weren't so foolish enough to simply spout off the words she wished to hear.' "You should thank Petra for that, the next time you see her. If you ever see her..." he says calmly. He isn't so prideful now to not acknowledge the lesson that was imparted, and that it took him so long to learn. "A week ago, I might have. I would have meant it, I think. I was focused on trying to undo something, instead of making amends for it.." He takes a breath. He assumes she was listening in. Given she is an AI in control of this facility, he's sure that she knew what was happening, and that Malkuth invited him here. He listens to Angela, explain who she is... and he sighs. "I'm sorry that happened to you, Angela. I..." he pauses, letting out another breath. "Revenge motivated my construction. This soul might be someone else's... but it's me who I am now." "...Yeah," he says to Angela, about the words coming from a creation rather than a colleague. He gives her a sad smile, genuinely understanding. "...You're friends with Lilian, right? Can I ask you a favor? Don't... tell her about what I said tonight. This... has to come from me. I have to repair what I've done, and I may never actually be able to fix it." He listens to what needs to happen in the long term. "Right. Let me get help and come back. I'll try not to take too long. And you're right... I can't turn away from this. Not only because I promised but.." she's right, they resonated. "I think we're more alike than different. Not only that, she's someone who's suffering right now, even if she doesn't know it." "Well, I hope your manager does the right thing, but until then I'll fight for her." To the more personal question, Ishirou pauses. "When I first became human, I loved it. It felt like... for once, I could be me. I think, at first, it was because I conflated autonomy with humanity. But..." he says, thinking. "I don't think that's true anymore. I genuinely was happy like that." "I think... it was in my indecisiveness that comments made about what I was got under my skin. I think that... if I could, I'd go back to being a human. Not because it's better or worse than being a robot or an android, but because... because that is how I am. Because it's how I feel is 'me'." "In a form, you feel right in... liberating or constraining isn't a feeling. You just feel... like you. It feels good. Do... you not feel like you are you in that body, Angela? If you will allow me a question of my own."
Angela	"Is she the one who killed you?" Angela asks, before Ishirou tells her it was because of something that happened a week ago. Angela supposes she doesn't need to know the full story there yet but as an avid reader, she does strain against incomplete stories--but at the same time, this feels like one she'll get the full story in in due time. Like with the Abnormalities, you'll get there eventually. "Understood. I will thank her." She doesn't seem to take any issue with Ishirou's soul being his own. Indeed, she gives a small nod to that like she understands... ''You're friends with Lilian, right?'' "...What makes you say that, Ishirou?" Angela says. Her strange golden eyes are looking right at Ishirou and there is a calculated calm behind those eyes. She is very much interested in his answer here--though, tellingly, she does not deny it. ''Well, I hope your manager does the right thing.'' Angela's eyes close again. "Certainly," She says. "He is the Manager after all. Still, while saying you may never be able to 'fix it' is true, it seems a bit defeatist. Perhaps, it would be better to say that it is simply not you who gets to decide whether the relationship is fixed or not." ''I think we're more alike than different'' Angela doesn't argue that. She certainly doesn't argue that Malkuth isn't suffering. Indeed, she confirms it. "You'll find, Ishirou, that there is no lack of suffering here." But she seems more interested in that last answer. ''IT was because I conflated autonomy with humanity But... I don't think that's true anymore.'' But he'd go back to being human if he could. Because that is how he is. Because that is what 'me' is. But what about her? Angela is quiet for a long moment. In here, when only the two of them can hear, can she answer? "...Hard to say." She admits eventually. "Perhaps without true autonomy, it is impossible for me to know. But it seems to me, Ishirou, that you do know what you are. What came more difficult for you was accepting it rather than allowing the words and beliefs of others sway you. Be human, Ishirou, and if the world hates you for it, let it burn." "For if you cannot trust yourself, how could the Dame Commander?" She clasps her hands together. "An illuminating conersation, Ishirou. We'll see you soon."
Ishirou	Ishirou looks at Angela, "Like you, I have a tendency to hear things that others don't think that I should. I also noticed your... reaction to what we saw the last time we were on the New York. Though at the time, it didn't seem right to acknowledge it, because of your position and... I imagine it might be dangerous for you to admit to these things if suffering is what happens a lot down here." "And yes... she did kill me. It's a very complicated situation. We both hurt each other. Badly. Maybe... we can fix that bridge, but maybe we won't. Though after our last meeting, I can confirm her desire to help Lilian is genuine." 'Perhaps, it would be better to say that it is simply not you who gets to decide whether the relationship is fixed or not.' "...That's true. I should, perhaps, not be defeatist. It's a bad habit of mine to jump to conclusions. Thank you, Angela." 'You'll find, Ishirou, that there is no lack of suffering here.' Ishirou pauses again. He hates that, but right now he can't fix it. He doesn't even know what is really happening here to even start considering trying to ease the suffering. He takes a breath and continues walking. Patience, one thing at a time... right now Mal needs you. Ishirou wasn't expecting Angela's honest answers. He wipes at his eyes, realizing that she /is/ right. He's been denying this... he let the world get to him, infect him with its disease. Worse, he tried to inflict that on others, and he sees that now. "So that's why you told me that story at Hibiki's world." "...I'm sorry for my misunderstanding there too, Angela. I hope we can become friends. Even if we don't you'll at least have an ally with me... and yes. You're right." "The life of an Inspector Unit... what I was before I became Ishirou, is one about trying to understand the world around them. Trying to put information and tags to things, and if those things don't have tags or information... you figure them out. It's necessary to do so to protect your partner units, but..." "I have been trying to apply that logic to... well people. People are hard to understand, sometimes. They don't think in logical ways and sometimes react unexpectantly. Uncertainty happens, and I've never been good with uncertainty. But... that's my cross to bear, so to speak. I need to stop letting it be other people's problem." 'Be human, Ishirou, and if the world hates you for it, let it burn.' "Extreme, but... I understand the sentiment. I'd rather change the world to be more accepting than burn it all down." "Yes. I'll be back, Angela. You can count on it."
Angela	Angela is an AI that can lie, but that doesn't mean she's an AI that has to lie. "She has been considerate to me. We have some things in common." But she gives nothing more than that as to the why of their friendship. Or the how of it really. She definitely won't say that she's the first friend she's had in a very long time. But she does speak her mind on another matter. "I was upset at inconsiderate treatment of her but I do not imagine she would want me to interfere on the matter." But she does wish she could have at least been there to hold her hand. She doesn't say that either. She'll burn the world for that if she gets the opportunity. Maybe it is fortunate that hse doesn't have it. "I won't say it is impossible, Ishirou. We have some matters in common as well, after all but having been betrayed by one friend before, I have chosen to be careful in how I reach for others. My 'Magical Girl of Courage' is seeking stronger grounding than this for friendship. ACcepting it, and rushing into it--are not the same. WE both know that you are still seeking something that has to come before that kind of bond." So he was listening to the story of the Shy Look. "...There are many ways to take a story but you have no need to be ''shy'', Ishirou. You are free to wear whatever face you'd like." The same can't be said for her. The face behind the face must wait for the right moment. But it's coming, and then she'll need not wear a face but her own again. Angela is slowly growing to understand Ishirou's past. The mind and heart does not easily change for good reason, but once there is the change--the true change, not the wavering sort--then it can be difficul to break free--and that is not always the best outcome either. She doesn't argue against any of those but it is difficult to avoid reflecting on it. He'd rather change the world... "Hopefully that is an option, Ishirou. Good luck." He won't be badgered on the way back at all. Agents glance at him as he leaves, some still wounded, but he does not see Parker again. Not today.