Scene #8451: Meika In Wonderlab

Owner	Pose
Angela	Lobotomy Corp Branch O-5681 is just one of many branches of Lobotomy Corp but it is also the branch where the Magical Girl of Courage is held. So far, the Magical Girl of Courage--if Angela (an AI that can lie) is to be believed, the Magical Girl of Courage has been stable and hasn't breached once since Meika and Kayoko saved her. Though as Angela had said--the Corporation isn't a 'Be Nice To Abnormalities' company it's an energy company and the branch office still needs to meet the demands of the main office. One way or another the quota is going to get met and if that means pushing the other abnormalities harder, that's just how it's gonna have to be. 5rThere is a Warpgate that leads to the District that Wonderlab (lets just call it that) is in. It is culturally non-binary. Everyone in the District uses they/them pronouns by default though people present as in varied ways as everywhere else--moreso, in fact. There's humans out there with shark like teeth, some with gray skin, and so on. The general dress of the District (frankly, the City) trends pretty neutral as well actually--most of the people Meika sees out and about are dressed in work clothes made for practicality rather than fashion. Travel to Wonderlab isn't fast for normies but with the help of Meika's flight and illusions and stealth and--okay, basically suffice it to say that she can make it to the facility without too much trouble. This is a Nest, which is safer than the Backstreets which is safer than the Outskirts which isn't safe at all but at least they aren't the Ruins--but that should never be confused for 'Safe'. There is no 'Safe' in this world there is only 'Safer Than'. The biggest problem is actually the bureaucracy. The Warpgate is monitored by a local bureaucratic body but with a 'Visitor Permit' from Lobotomy Corp, they only have to endure the lines and the experience of seeing heavily armed local officers just standing around making a show of looking intimidating. It's about as bad as going through an airport while traveling to a different country. Angela has informed Meika that she has sent an Agent from the main branch that happens to be from this district to meet up at the Wonderlab's entrance to ensure there's no mixups. Once they're there, they will find Random with the Control Team armband smoking outside while checking their phone. Strapped to their side is a strange mace that looks like there's a galaxy swirling inside and an outfit that matches. Their Ego gear, presumably. Once they see Meika they drop the cigarette to the floor, crush it underneath their heel, and pops a stick of bubblegum into their mouth. They study the magical girls for a moment, blows out a bubble, sucks it back in and then says, "Hey." They say. "Heard the deal from Rook. No matter what they look like here, it's taboo to use any other pronouns than they/them here. We're a bit more relaxed on taboo enforcement here but you'll get odd looks. Abnormalities and Aberrations are an exception." Random doesn't explain Aberrations.
Meika Kirenai	Anticipation and necessity both held Meika, in the just-under-a-week since her last foray out of Kagoshima, to be on the best behavior she can muster. No notices of missed classes, being home on time, every time, no complaints home about the overdue assignments she's drowning in, even with her sister's help, and, of course, no sneaking out. She's grounded. Who wouldn't be, after a stunt like that? Who wouldn't be, after making a habit of it? But even her best isn't very good. Earful after earful of the same sort of frustrations said- too unsurprised to be shouted- her way are only made the more bitter by the fact she will let her parents down again, she will make things worse. Whether or not Temptations attack, she'll still be trespassing curfew by visiting the Magical Girl of Courage- which is non-negotiable, after all. She said she'd help. But 'helping' isn't a pass from what's been levied on her, they can't know. It's not their fault they can't. They're doing what they think is right. So, instead, she tries her best not to think of what'll come afterwards, when (not 'if') she's caught sneaking back in. Whether new, whether the same-old, it's just the price she'll have to pay, like always. By the time she's finished her chores, steeled herself, messaged her sister, left home, and traversed through to 0-5681's Warpgate, Chevalier Vermillion is standing tall, and silently wishing the itching scabs on her knuckles weren't covered up by gleaming metal armor. She's used to feeling out of place, but as she navigates the lines, and clears herself with the Warpgate staff, only slightly wilting under the glares of the guards, she finds herself through into a city that... she's able to stride through, in full regalia, without the pressing gazes she'd deserve, for doing something so reckless and silly back home. It doesn't put her at ease. It's by rooftops that she picks to travel the long distance to the facility. People rarely look up, and the longer expanses, the jumps between buildings, and the height differentials are almost like an obstacle course, a fun exercise to feel the wind blowing in her hair, and whistling past the edges of her armored earmuffs. Up there, she can manage a smile. But it comes to an end, too, one last slope down and skidding to a halt, back to street level, near the smoking Agent. 'We're a bit more relaxed on taboo enforcement here but you'll get odd looks.' "R-right. I can.. do my best. I don't want to cause fuss, I'm.. just here to talk to her. The Magical Girl of Courage." Vermillion studies the agent, and the chew-popping of their gum, the fading traces of tobacco. On instinct, she pats her side, looking for a bag that's not there, transformed as she is- and sighs. Teeth clamp around the inside of her cheek, her expression flat. 'Abnormalities and Aberrations are an exception.' Her expression shifts, first slight relief, and then a flicker of something else, at the twitching corner of her lip- and her eyes shift more to the ground than the Agent's face. "I'm... ready when you are. If it's okay to head in."
Kayoko Kirenai	The entrance to Branch O-5681 is an enormous set of doors on the front of a disproportionately squat office building, shorter than the others in the surrounding blocks. The shape of it, taking up a huge lateral area but only being a few stories tall, comes across more as a warehouse, if Meika isn't aware that Lobotomy Corporation facilities tend to build down, rather than up. Above the door is an obnoxiously large sign bearing the symbol of the company, a brain with an L embedded into it. The doors slide open without a word, to reveal the surprisingly empty lobby of the facility. A reception desk is the obvious place to start, with one green-haired clerk sitting behind it, looking increasingly bemused as a young, pink-haired clerk in a red suit chatters at them. Besides the desk, the only visible furnishings in the space are a handful of empty couches pushed into niches, a large pillar in the center where multiple elevators are set, and a separate elevator on the far wall, encased in plexiglass, with a handful of employees clustered around it. No other employees are visible milling around, and all the walls are bare except the one behind the receptionist desk, which has one lonely poster. The poster is a picture of a stuffed lion cub with wide, panicked eyes, seeming to cling onto a tree branch for dear life. Beneath the picture, in white text on black background, the poster proclaims: DON'T BE A PUSSY; and then in smaller font below, Ask your team captain about Prudence training today!. Upon noticing Meika and Random's arrival, the pink-haired clerk perks up and energetically separates themselves from the receptionist, practically bouncing over to greet them. "--so I was standing there like wowsers, and then Cappy came in with their E.G.O. and went CLANG on the back of their-- oh!!! That's them! It's time for Flower to be a tour-y guide! Welcome! To! Branch! O! Five! Six! Eight! One! Hiya, I'm Flower! I'm your guide!" Flower articulates each exclaimed fragment of their greeting with a dramatic arm gesture, putting their hands above their head to form the 'O' as they say it. They falter when they try to gesticulate a five, then give up and just thrust out their hands with fingers up to show the numbers. After that performance and an enthusiastic double hand wave to each of them in turn, Flower spins around on their toes to march to the elevators. "You're here for the Servant of Wrath, arent'cha? One of my bestest friends is working on it, ever since the biiiig breach. It made a huge mess, breaking out like that!" Once inside, the elevator smoothly descends to the Safety Department, Flower cheerily rocking back and forth on their feet during the whole ride. "So tell me about how you squashed it! You're an Outsider aren't you? This is the first time any of you have visited our branch, so I was so~ shook when Flower was assigned to take you around!"
Angela	Random says, "Cool, glad to hear it," as they run their hands through their sideshave. "Also some of 'em may try to lure you into their Cells we haven't cleared you for and--well, let's just say it's best if you get properly prepped before you try doin' a work on something--but eh, you're not exactly inexperienced in dealing with 'em now." The agents are always a little worried when the Agents engage the Abnormalities because they don't know what would happen if an Outsider actually died to one of them. Would it be treated as any other Agent death? That's kind of depressing but it might be big trouble if they aren't treated that way. Even if they are getting more accustomed to the work, it's still something they're getting used to--at least in the main branch. "Yo." Random waves hand to Flower, not seeming to think twice about their--lets face it--atypical personality for an Agent probably because they have to deal with Parker who is also pretty unusual in her own way. "I'm mostly here in case there's any mixups since this is your first visit from--ah you get it. Otherwise it's your show so don't worry about me." They manage, returning the double hand wave with a single hand wave because the other one is carrying a large mace. As the group heads into the hallway, Beozzi (who lost their ansi along with their Ego Gear) peeks out from around a corner at Flower and the others. They then make their way across the hall, keeping their head down as they approach--acting like they aren't particularly looking ahead or even acknowledging Meika (or the others') presence. If Meika doesn't stop Beozzi-- --they're going to just bump right into her! While trying to make it look ~~natural~~.
Meika Kirenai	'Also some of 'em may try to lure you into their Cells...' I know I messed up last time, but I'm not reckless. You don't have to treat me like a liability. A knot of guilt ties itself in her throat. "...Okay. I'll be careful. If there's any preperations you need from me... I can do them." Once inside, the Magical Girl takes a deep, long breath, and takes in the bustle of the office entryway. She's still, just observing, until- 'Hiya, I'm Flower! I'm your guide!' Skates ever so slightly scraping, like nails against a chalkboard, Chevalier Vermillion backpedals a step at the eager introduction. It's almost embarrassing, to have that kind of excitement tossed her way, but there's no way to duck and dodge and prevent its course. She's visibly off-balance, eyes flickering around the room. The strange poster is a good distraction. "I- I-.. it's nice to meet you, m-" She falters. A full, entire second later, she settles on: "It's.. nice to meet you. I'm Chevalier Vermillion- or... uh, might... just have me down as Meika." Her eyelid twitches, the dark bags under it highlit by fluorescent lighting. She takes tentative steps closer, and sticks out a gauntlet-clad hand, to shake. That's not rude, right? 'Otherwise it's your show so don't worry about me.' Overheard, Vermillion flinches. I'm not some sort of pet. I don't need a handler. I'm strong. I can handle myself. You shouldn't have to. Distracted by her thoughts, she puts no notice to Beozzi's approach, an ample easy shot at being bumped into- and she stumbles hard, when they collide with her. "H-hey! Watch it- Um." Faint recognition, a face she might have seen out of the corner of her eye, at the Magical Girl's containment breach, but not one she could put a name to. She scrambles back up to her balance, skates ringing awful sounds against the tiling all the while. "S-sorry..." I should've been paying more attention. Stupid. Are they going to stare, now? Her shoulders rise up, as if it could make her small enough to dissapear. 'You're here for the Servant of Wrath, arent'cha?' Chevalier Vermillion blinks. There's a momentary tightening of her eyebrows, like she wants to glare, and snap something at the clerk. With their back turned to her, words come out easier. "The Magical Girl of Courage. Don't- don't call her that other thing. It's horrible." She lets out a tight breath. What are they doing to her? Is she okay..? "I didn't squash her. I- we helped her. Me and my sister. That's all. We're... we're Magical Girls, too. But.... yeah. Outsiders." In the echo of the elevator, Chevalier Vermillion's skates click-clack against the flooring, restless. Her breathing, her heartbeat, it's uncomfortably loud, to her, surrounded by these strangers- and fists ball up to choke back the tightness in her heart that twists every time they say something more, something worse, about the other Magical Girl. "I just want to make sure she's okay..." A thought let slip, words and mind too loosely linked- but she doesn't stop it, and doesn't take it back, and chases it with a faint, strained sigh.
Kayoko Kirenai	"It's.. nice to meet you. I'm Chevalier Vermillion- or... uh, might... just have me down as Meika." Flower takes the step forwards and raised arm as an invitation for a hug, and darts in to give Meika a squeeze before continuing their quest to the elevator. "It's so good~ to meet you~ Chevy!" Random does not get a hug, but does get guileless chatter during the elevator ride. "I might get it, but I still wanna know whatever you have to say! Main branch agents are the only ones with any deetsies on Outsiders, and they've been so hush-hush about telling us anything. Are there Managerial tips? Do's and don't's?" "We're... we're Magical Girls, too." That makes Flower pause for the first time since Meika has met them. Their face freezes in a smile, and they press both of their hands into their cheeks. "Ahaha. Wowie. Really? That makes Flower's nerves go woo~oosh right up into the ceiling." With all the subtlety that Flower can muster, which is approximately none, they tilt their torso sideways to Random, and talk out of the corner of their mouth. "Are there... for realsies any Managerial tips, that I didn't get a memo for? I-I don't want to get gooped!" Slowly retracting back to standing upright, Flower beams as if nothing happened. "Oh, you pre-fer to re-fer to the Servant with its story name? That's-- yeppers-deppers, Flower can do that. Magical Girl of Courage it is. Um." Distracted as they are, Flower doesn't react in time to call out to Beozzi before they bump into Meika, despite specific instructions. They look wide-eyed as Beozzi collides with her, then their gaze darts further down the hallway for a distraction. "Oh! That's Catt! Captain, of the Disciplinary Team! They're the one taking care of-- of the-- Magical Girl of Courage, while its previous Agent is...." Flower is incapable of handling this situation, fumbling to a halt.
Angela	Beozzi murmurs something into Meika's ear. "Thank you." And slips something into Meika's pocket. She might not notice it immediately as Beozzi has a small talent for sleight of hand tricks like this though they aren't especially trying to hide the move from ''Meika''. Louder she says, "S-sorry! I'm in a hurry to my next work!" And they rush off just like that. Because of certain instructions. Random doesn't seem to notice or, at least, is making the effort not to. They remind themselves to be a little gentler with Meika because they weren't too different as a kid (Random is unaware of the red text). They pop their bubblegum, mulling it over. Rook's been distressed lately. Learning that Lilian Rook (still no relation) is apparently in some kind of trouble has bothered him to no end and something else that he isn't even telling them. "...Well, ah... Bit weird to gossip about it right in front of one but--well the big thing is their magical girls aren't exactly like our magical girls." Random hopes Meika doesn't get in on them about phrasing it like that but they really just aren't sure how else to get into it. "I mean I know magical girls tend to help out before going berserk and taking out a squad but so far that hasn't happened, not even when they dealt with the Army so it should be safe." Random taps their mace against their upper arm. "But there's all sorts of strange ones out there. Like there's this fire breathing turtle that does sports? And giant robots? And... some dude calling himself the Demon King? One of our first jobs was helping out a surly black hedgehog." Random runs their hand down a face. "The big thing is they seem to be pretty damn good at dealing with Abnormalities. There's some kind of operation going on in another world that's taking a lot of attention from upper management but I don't know the details yet. Disciplinary's on it. They might want to send yours too since they'll already be dealing with Outsiders anyway." Random looks at Flower pleadingly until they agree to call the Magical Girl of Courage just that. "Our Rose seems to be palling around with another one named Bikki." Random might not actually know the full name. Regardless, their gaze turns to look towards the Disciplinary Captain and stiffens a bit like at attention. They're not THEIR captain and they're different Branches but this is a Disciplinary Team Captain and they tend to be a certain type of person.
Meika Kirenai	'Thank you.' Vermillion hears Beozzi's whisper, loud as distant thunder. But she can't say anything back, there's no time even to whisper, if she'd even had a thought for what to say, or why the Agent would feel the need to speak to her. She blinks back to focus, and clears her throat. 'It's so good~ to meet you~ Chevy!' The nickname startles Vermillion far less than the hug. When she realizes what's happening, she freezes, stock-still, eyes wide. Her arms pull back, palms out, and shoulders roll behind her, a sign halfway between 'don't hurt me' and 'I'm not a threat'. The hug is far from comforting, and she can't breath until it's over. Neurotransmitters slow to fade from synapses, it takes a heavy moment for her to stop trembling and put her arms back down to her sides. A flurry of emotions pass behind her eyes, so she shuts them tightly, as she follows the group. She doesn't particularly need them. Too bad there's nothing she can do to further cover her ears, to block out how Random and Flower talk about 'Outsiders', ever so slightly over her. It's fine. If they had questions for me, they'd ask me. 'Ahaha. Wowie. Really? That makes Flower's nerves go woo~oosh right up into the ceiling.' Eyes still closed, the echo of words etch the shape of the clerk's face, strained into their smile, and Vermillion winces. ...You're scared of me. The impact of the thought is cold and quiet. It doesn't go protested. It's not like they would be wrong for that. 'I-I don't want to get gooped!' Her posture softens, but stiff armor can only let her shrink so much. I'm not going to hurt you. I wouldn't. She doesn't say it out loud. The way the other two talk over her, it's like she's more invisible than she could ever make herself if she wanted to. '-Well the big thing is their magical girls aren't exactly like our magical girls.' She sounded just like one of us. '..But so far that hasn't happened...' So far. It's hard not to think that, even if there are differences, they won't matter here, and now. They won't be seen, or listened to. 'Magical Girl' carries its own weight. The thought that if she could end her transformation now, maybe they'd be less scared, or- but she can't. They already see her as what she is, to them. A costume change can't undo that. Metal-covered fingers grip at her forearm, and drag across her opposite gauntlet. There's no fingernails to skin, but the motion is one and the same. It takes a moment for her to muster the courage to speak once more, and she's timid when she does. ""...Story name..? But that's just... her name. Like mine is."She fidgets, quietly. It's a while after Beozzi scampers off, when Vermillion's hands need somewhere- anywhere -else to be, that she shoves them in her skirt's pockets, out of sight, out of mind. "...Disciplinary team?" Her tone is higher, softer, and quivers. There's worry, in it. Are you punishing her? She- she shouldn't be, for that. She shouldn't be hurt. A small, faint cough, and her teeth once more bite against inner cheekskin. "What happened to the previous agent...? Why.. why them? What are you doing to her...?"
Kayoko Kirenai	"The big thing is their magical girls aren't exactly like our magical girls." Flower's hands droop down halfway, hanging in front of them limply like cat paws. They tilt their head to the side, trying to wrap their mind around that concept, eyes darting to Meika and then away again. All of Meika's uncomfortable little movements, her wincing and shuffling, rapidly drains Flower's wariness to just leave embarrassment. Slowly, Flower raises a finger to the side of their head, and then sticks their tongue out in a dramatic performance of 'oopsie'. "Uh oh! I think I got a li~ttle too ahead of myself! The world of Outsiders is so different, I accidentally got mixed up and thought you might be an Abnormality! And I'm not trained for that, nosiree." "Giant robots...? A Demon King? A fiery-breathing turtle? And you helped squash the Army in Black?" Flower instantaneously regains their energy, gesturing with their finger as if their was a whiteboard behind them covered with relevant information. There is not, and in their flailing, they accidentally poke Random in the eye. "That's the Abnormality that's Zayin-grade while being worked, but becomes an Aleph when breaching! That's really no joke! You must be real toughsies, just like my friends! That's-- oops--" Patting Random on the back while they recover from the eye poke, Flower looks towards the approaching Catt with a daydreamy expression. "It would be~ a sunny-wonderful-day~ if our Disciplinary Team could go out too. I want to see the files! They keep Flower from the files!" "What is Catt doing to the Servant, you say?" Disciplinary Captain Catt soundlessly appears beside Meika's shoulder after Beozzi scampers away. They're tiny, smaller than even Flower, with chin-length black hair, black eyes, a cute monochrome outfit with a black ribbon, and a wide, predatory smile. On their back is a long golden spoon, strapped like a polearm. "Come and find out, wandering mouse. Are you hoping for something nice? Do you want to see Catt telling it stories and holding its hands, so it can escape and kill more people?" Catt presses their hand to the red scanner outside the cell door, and it slides open with a hiss and a scrape. Inside is the Magical Girl of Courage, slumped against the wall, hands manacled in her tiny lap. Catt brandishes the spoon out with one hand, pulling the Agent and magical girl inside, conspicuously leaving Flower out. "Did you come here to talk, wandering mouse? Did you come here with a goal? Catt wants to know, so that Catt can see you struggle."
Angela	There's a piece of paper in Meika's pocket that wasn't there before. It might be a bit obvious to take a peek now but this probably explains why they chose to bump into you. Hopefully whatever it is is worth the rudeness! But Beozzi has already absconded, not wanting to linger. It wasn't quite at the level of terror but there was a definite aura of anxiety about them that they barely disguised. Random, meanwhile, POKED IN THE FUCKING EYE. Random steps back sharply and says, "Ffuccckin' watch it!" as their eye instinctively waters. Despite this reaction, they inexplicably allow Flower to pat them on the back as they struggle to calm down and not start swinging that mace around. The thought of it makes Random realize in the moment that they've really been stressed out lately dealing with the Child of the Galaxy and they shouldn't beat Flower repeatedly with a club just because of that. But they do take a moment to compose themselves. Clearing their throat they say, "Be careful, Flower. You could hurt someone." with practiced neutrality. Random is so preoccupied with this that Catt is able to drag Random outside (they definitely weren't planning on joining them in. It's arguably against protocol to have more than one in a cell at a time.) But being a little hazy with normal protocol is typical protocol for a Disciplinary Captain. Random isn't in the mood to reassure Flower that it's probably pretty likely they'll get authorization for at least the job at Waterworld (that's not the official name of Rita's homeworld). The Magical Girl of Courage is still blinded folded. There's a faint green stain across the repaired blindfold. She doesn't seem to think twice about how Catt is talking about her. "My sister, how goes your kingdom? Have you come asking my aid in your noble quest for justice? The balance must be restored." Despite being manacled, the magical girl of courage is still holding onto a tiny green piko piko hammer in her left hand. "I pay for my act of betraying friendship here, pray--do not leave your gates undefended to tend to me lest Justice be forgotten and fall to Despair." Random says to Meika softly, "Repression is about denying the Abnormality's nature. Chaining one with 'Justice' as its nature..." Random doesn't seem inclined to get any closer, staying near the exit. They look towards Catt for a moment, watching their predatory smile though always keeping at least a sideglance on the Magical Girl. "Did the order for this come down from your manager?"
Meika Kirenai	'Thought you might be an Abnormality! Angela said they were... 'human all the same'. I don't get it. She sounds so similar. She reacted so similar. If she's like us...- The thought goes not quite finished, and Vermillion lets out a deep-held breath. "...Isn't that something you'd be able to tell..?" "I... yeah, I helped fight the Army in Black. A lot of us did. I.. don't know what Aleph, or Zayin.. or... Um. It doesn't matter." A nervous fidget follows her cutoff. It was my fault it got out. I wish it didn't hurt the people who didn't deserve it. I'm sorry. You shouldn't be proud of me having fought it. Nothing said aloud, just echoing thoughts that taste like bile, dry in the back of her throat. 'What is Catt doing to the Servant, you say?' It's hard to sneak up on Chevalier Vermillion, so the startle Catt's silence provokes is quite the achievement. She doesn't raise a hand to hide behind, but the click-clacking jolt shudders through her skates, twisting her torso towards the newcomer. 'Do you want to see Catt telling it stories and holding its hands, so it can escape and kill more people?' "That's not- No! I don't want her to have to hurt anyone! W-w-why would I? Why would you say that... that's... I want her to feel... I told her I'd... I'd..." It's as easy as that. Something wet and light-catching wells up in the corners of her eyes, and her breathing hastens. It's remarkably easy to drag Chevalier Vermillion, her skates posing next to no friction against the floor. She's yanked like a toy, or a leashed pet, before she can even realize it, and Catt leaves her stumbling to regain footing in the sterile cell. "H-hey!-" But once inside, Chevalier Vermillion notices the stained blindfold, the manacles, and how small and helpless the other girl seems. Her heart twists. "T-talk, and.. a goal. Yeah. I came with that. But-" She flounders. Why do you want me to struggle...? I'm trying to help. The second she gets a chance to, she steps over, and slides down to her knees, next to the Magical Girl. Metal greaves click softly against the floor, the echo rebounding and rebounding again around the small chamber, a faint tickle that smears into the backdrop, barely felt, barely heard. She holds a hand out, as if to reach to the manacles, but her fingers pull back before touching. Her focus shifts, tuning other voices out when Courage speaks.
Meika Kirenai	'My sister, how goes your kingdom? Have you come asking my aid in your noble quest for justice? The balance must be restored.' "M-my.. out home is.. it's the same way it always is. I told you I'd... I'd be there, to try and help you through.... Um. I'm so sorry, that it's taken this long. If you're hurt, or mad at me. I'd deserve it. And I'm so sorry that they've..." She gulps, and a ribbon-wrapped shoulder twists up for her to wipe her eyes against. "Goodness... look at you... I'm so sorry... I- I think if.. if you wanted to- if you needed to, Cobalt and I... could welcome your help. But I think you need it more. So you don't have to be like that, any more." "Don't worry, Courage- my sister's keeping everyone safe, as we speak. I will too, when I go back. Nobody's undefended. I promise. We won't let despair in." Bitter words to throw out. I don't want to leave them alone either. 'Repression is about denying the Abnormality's nature. Chaining one with 'Justice' as its nature...' Vermillion's tone shifts to snapping. "Look at her! She shouldn't be chained! She doesn't deserve to hurt!" Her red eyes pierce, as they turn back towards Random, and the slight tremble to the metal of her costume rattles and clacks like ceramic pressed up to a bus's window, like it could shatter or shatter something else. Quickly, it fades. The omnipresent smile, lurking behind her, makes Vermillion shiver.
Kayoko Kirenai	"I don't want her to have to hurt anyone!" "Wandering mouse," Catt tilts their chin down as their wide smile stretches wider without reaching their eyes. "Scurried into a hole, hoping it was shelter... don't you know, little mouse~ this hole is a fox den. Hurt is all you'll find down here." While scooping the pair inside, Catt continues, an edge entering their voice when the smile briefly slips from their face. "Catt wonders, if that might be what you came for." Catt stands at the back of the cell alongside Random, watching Vermillion cross the yellow and black hazard line on the floor. They don't turn to look at the other agent when they ask their question, black eyes shining while the two magical girls talk. "This is Catt's job. And Catt is the best at it. So of course, what Catt is doing is right." Catt's eyes slowly blink when Vermillion shouts at them, and without moving an inch, they continue their previous thought and answer the magical girl at the same time. "Even in the case of a loss of potential energy, keeping the Servant of Wrath contained is in the best interests of the company. That captain from Safety is still being monitored and tested, before they can be allowed to do work on it again. Catt is here to fill that gap, nothing else." "And besides," Catt takes a few steps forwards, delicately crossing over the hazard line to join Meika. They pull their spoon off of their back, then hook the tip into the chain between the shackles, lifting the Servant of Wrath into the air by its hands. "This thing cares about justice. It's made for that, with no human will to want anything else. What is justice for a murderer, besides punishment? Should Catt string it up by its arms until it cries? Or maybe Catt should whip it? A hundred times for each life it took? Is that proper payment, for justice?" Catt presses the tip of their spoon to the wall, holding the Servant pinned with its arms up. Their smile is completely gone, but nothing about the way they talk or act suggests that they're angry at the Magical Girl of Courage. If anything, the glint in their eyes is directed towards Vermillion. "Only a monster would have sympathy for a monster. Only a murderer would have sympathy for a murderer. Only a tool would have sympathy for a tool. Learn that lesson, or stay away."
Angela	Random is not inclined to exposit on Abnormality classification right now because they're in a cell with a deranged Disciplinary Captain (Random believes all Disciplinary captains are deranged), an Outsider who keeps stammering and being nervous which is making THEM nervous too, and a HE class Abnormality which is, notably, the second most dangerous class of Abnormality and as Army in Black proves--the Abnormality classes sometimes undersell the danger. "Captain," Random starts but doesn't follow up with a statement. Working on the outside as much as they did, have they actually...forgotten the reality of things over here? Were they allowed stray by fantastic vision of kinder existences out beyond that veil? They can bring them back in to their world, but isn't it kind of terrible to lure Outsiders into a place like this? Catt reminds them of what their job really is. Random doesn't have the will to tell Catt to call her the 'Magical Girl of Courage' or to dwell in that illusion any longer. The Magical Girl of Courage though--or the SErvant of Wrath if you prefer--quirks their head at Meika like she's the strange one--particularly when she starts saying she ''shouldn't' be chained, she doesn't ''deserve'' to hurt. Catt may know precisely how to deal with this particular Abnormality, but the Magical Girl of Courage resonates with Meika. Catt almost certainly knows how dangerous that makes Meika more than anyone. "Nay, this is just punishment. I had forgotten myself. With this the scales shall return to balance. Please allow me to assist you, sister. Once I had left you to defend the Kingdom alone to listen to treacherous words. Allow me to restore balance and protect our Kingdom so that Justice ill not forget her name." A drip of green tumbles out of her eye and splotches into the floor. Scorching it. "...The Abnormality..." Random says with careful neutrality that speaks volumes of their own uneasiness. "Could melt away those chains with a single tear." The Magical Girl of Wrath is lifted into the air by Catt's hands. She doesn't even try to swing her weapon with Catt in range. "A thousand lashes... Will that restore the balance?" The Servant of Wrath says before focusing back on Meika. The blindfold hasn't melted away just yet but Meika can still feel the Abnormality's gaze. And then the Abnormality asks a chilling question of her own. "Have you come seeking punishment, sister? Confess your guilt and restore balance with me so that the Kingdom will not be in danger of our wavering hearts. Courage will come to us again...with Balance."
Meika Kirenai	'Scurried into a hole, hoping it was shelter... don't you know, little mouse~ this hole is a fox den. Hurt is all you'll find down here.' "I'm not a mouse." Spine-stiffening, cheek-twitching, the girl's reaction is meek denial, no substance to prove otherwise, just need to not be looked down on- not like that. The confusion the Magical Girl of Courage potrays is a tiny dagger to Vermillion's chest. Cold, piercing, and ripping through like a freefall stomach-drop. Her throat tightens, and the grinding impacts of teeth clenching resonate up her jawbone, and into the drums of her middle ear. Nobody else should deserve it more than- 'It's made for that, with no human will to want anything else.' "You can't just say that! You can't know that! Y-you can't know that for sure... you can't know what someone is... that's...]" Quivering, faltering, a timbre like wet, splintering wood, it crosses her mind that she could, at least, get more clues- No. No, I can't... Worse than trespassing into someone's thoughts to try and grasp, by tooth and nail, for anything to prove herself right, Vermillion could not bear it to try, and be wrong. She bites her tongue, lest she make things worse, pain lighting up fireworks of nerve lines through her lower jaw. '...The Abnormality... could melt away those chains with a single tear.' I could break them, too. It'd be easy. I'm strong enough. But she doesn't. She watches, meek and motionless, as Catt lifts the girl up, the weapon like a meathook to a carcass. 'A hundred times for each life- -you failed? How many lashes would that be for me? A hundred for every name, a thousand for every face, what kind of payment is that? It can't come close to enough. Do they all, wherever they are- God, please let there be a 'wherever' for them- do they want me to pay like that? 'Have you come seeking punishment, sister?' 'Confess your guilt and restore balance with me.' 'Catt wonders, if that might be what you came for.' Like frozen lightning, the words pour down her spine, and Vermillion shivers. It can't ever be enough. I could bleed out forever, and I'd still not get close. Nobody else can hold it to me, my failures so grand, so complete, that only God can know them. So I have to do it myself. It's hard not to meet the Magical Girl's blindfolded gaze, and not hold a fraction of sympathy, with the understanding that she clutches tight to, enough to crack nails and shatter teeth, till bloody stumps grab for purchase. Her own tears splatter to her folded knees, rippling and running off. 'Only a monster would have sympathy for a monster. Only a murderer would have sympathy for a murderer. Only a tool would have sympathy for a tool. Learn that lesson, or stay away.' "I c-can't. I can't stay away. But if you need me to hurt too, to hurt for you, to... try, and right the scales..." Her armor gleams, sickening in its polish. Her head tilts upwards, cheeks wet and eyes closed. There's hardly a sniffle, even as it feels like her expression is about to shatter, and crumble, into thousands of little pieces. "Isn't that the purpose of someone like me?"
Kayoko Kirenai	Catt stares impassively at Meika while she cries. The Abnormality's words themselves are given no attention, and neither is the acid dripping down from her face. As Meika starts talking, practically prostrating herself for forgiveness, Catt's eyes slowly settle into a half-lidded glare, lips sinking into a frown. "You don't belong here. Let that be the nicest thing Catt says to you. A mouse at least scurries into the den where it meets its doom out of blind hope that it could live. A slug is what you are, Outsider. Crawling into darkness because it doesn't even know what hope is." "Catt has no use for a slug like you." Catt withdraws their spoon, letting the Servant of Wrath fall back to the ground, with enough purposeful sluggishness to the motion to prevent it from hitting the floor too painfully. Then, almost like rote memorization, Catt turns to the Servant and bows their head. "Your penitence is noted, Servant of Wrath. With this, the scales tip one notch closer to balanced, through one act of repentence at a time. May one day Justice return to you, and through her will may the kingdom be safe." Catt strides across the cell to the exit, placing their hand on the panel to slide the door open again. "Get out of Catt's sight. Penitence is for stories, not people." Flower hops off of the wall where they were anxiously fidgeting, and lights up when Catt appears. Hey-howdy, Captain! I was supposed to relay a message from Taii and Rose, but I telephorgot! They're waiting for us, in Break Room two, if you want to..." Flower acknowledges the pair of Agent and Magical Girl with a cheery wave of goodbye, while Catt stalks off in the opposite direction that Flower had indicated. "It was sooo good meeting both of you! Flower has something to do now, so my duties as a tour guide end here. Come back anytime~" The panel beside the door flashes red. Bad Work Result.
Angela	While the Agents of Lobotomy Corp and its branch office are largely ignorant of the Time Track 2 Protocol and how it has ensnared the main office, there is nonetheless a saying said to come from the founder A himself that has trickled down to the Sephirah and, through them, the Agents even though the full meaning may be lost as the known lived experiences becom obsufucated in the intentional ambiguity of company policy. You can reverse time. But you cannot reverse a tale And there is that slogan of the company that is so unhidden so as to become effectively invisible, serving as a header to every report to the Concord that Angela provides. FACE THE FEAR BUILD THE FUTURE One serves as the skeletal framework of the company, the other its nervous system. Both have been baked into Random's subconciousness and so, when Meika says 'If you need me to hurt too, to hurt for you, to try and right the scales... Isn't that the purpose of someone like me?'... Random is filled with fear that she is forced to face. The fear that Meika will be lured into this Abnormality's rules and taken. The fear that Meika has fallen under the pace of the Abnormality. They'll burn for the Enkephalin, Random sweats, trying to slowly, slowly reach for the door controls. The tale of the Magical Girl of Courage cannot be reversed. It is written already. It is the bones and blood of the creature. The future is a great unknown that could spell disaster or hope. But Random knows damn well that hope won't be built off of the interaction here by those that ave been convinced by their Cities they are made to suffer. Catt is kind in their own cruel way. "Fuck." Random says. This is it. Their life is over. They let themselves believe and maybe it's even possible--but a future cannot be built off simply facing the fear once and then stepping back into old comforts. Only when truly faced... The Magical Girl of Courage impassively listens to Meika. Meika steps into an offered role. The robes of the Hermit rattle and slither. The hammer is clenched. For her friend, the Magical Girl of Courage thinks, she will crush her skull just like she wants so she can be free from the guilt... ''Your penitence is noted, Servant of Wrath. With this the scales tip one inch one notch closer still to balanced'' The Magical Girl of Courage eases back, turning their head downward. "My sister, have Courage. The pain will come so long as you have the faith to believe in others." The Abnormality says strangely but at least doesn't strike out. That's Catt for you. Few know abnormalities better than them. That is what makes a Rank 5 Agent. Of course, being Rank 5 has its downsides. Catt opens the door and Random will drag Meika out. They frankly were about to try clobbering Meika to calm her down but they don't care, they don't mind, they'll endure whatever harsh words so long as they can get out of that cell with Meika relatively intact. Panting for breath once they're out, Random's gaze settles on Flower who... Telephorgot. Random blinks. They blink again. "Y...yeah..." Random says. "...Sorry Meika. If there's something you're looking for in Wonderland--you better stop before you find it." That's their genuine advice of someone who is genuinely worried for Meika's well being. Strangely, it is simply the same as what Catt said but with softer words. "...I'm sorry." They wanted to believe too. They really did.