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Kayoko Kirenai	<X-Paladins-Chatter> Kayoko Kirenai connects without saying anything at first, chair scraping across the ground. "... Hi." She hotmics the soft rasp of paper tearing. "... Drop came back, and told me stuff." <X-Paladins-Chatter> Kayoko Kirenai transmits more methodical tearing. "Sister Kurokawa wants to meet with you all later." <X-Paladins-Chatter> Kale Hearthward says, "Understood. Are you holding up okay, Kayoko?" <X-Paladins-Chatter> Kayoko Kirenai says, "I'm fine." Tear. "I'll get mom and dad to cancel to funeral arrangements whenever Meika's out of... jail?" <X-Paladins-Chatter> Kayoko Kirenai says, "It's fine. It's just an update." She pauses, and there's the sound of paper rustling, then continued tearing. "As long as she's not gone for another couple weeks, there's time." <X-Paladins-Chatter> Trudy Grimm says, "Oh? Time for what?" <X-Paladins-Chatter> Kayoko Kirenai says, "To... cancel? I just said." <X-Paladins-Chatter> Kayoko Kirenai says, "But she might need a funeral anyways when she comes back, haha." <X-Paladins-Chatter> Trudy Grimm says, "Oh, right. I somehow presumed it was unrelated. But why would you ever cancel something as delightful as that? If you find yourself short something for the casket, I could certainly provide." <X-Paladins-Chatter> Kayoko Kirenai says, "Okay. Thanks, miss."     Colorless school days pass into grey club meetings into silent dinners with Kyou in their parents' empty house, into dishonest interviews with cops and secret fights with Temptations. Even since Love and Justice came back from Lobotomy Corporation after the Walpurgisnacht, Kayoko hadn't let them help her during the nights. Two weeks of fighting alone, for the first time in her life, only broken up by one night with Satsuki and Arina, and even *that* felt terrible, because she was a wreck and they were so professional, and it took her three tries to even get a picture that would let her transform right.     She'd barely visited Love and Justice at *all*. She'd barely talked with them, barely asked about anything that happened over the long night, and only went down to the sewer hideout to restock their food and supplies. Being around them didn't make her feel excited or even relieved at all, especially not with Meika still gone, and not being able to tell anyone why. She thought that the Lobotomy Corporation Magical Girls would at least be people she could confide in since they could understand what's really going on... but looking at them, she can't really believe they understand anything. Not after how they abandoned her to make everything worse for Meika's sake. It's just her, as usual, who has to do everything right.
Kayoko Kirenai	Kayoko steps off the train onto the busy platform, the closest one to the police station. Kyou is already standing up from her bench, slouching towards the train with her hands in her pockets. The family resemblance with her youngest sister is only recognizable with their shared hair color-- pure white; Kyou's eyes are green where Kayoko's are blue, and her hostile demeanor is a step even beyond Meika's, and even more exacerbated by where she's leaving from. Her eyes are bloodshot and bruised with exhaustion, the red and purple more present than the green.     "Kyou, hold up. Mom wanted me to take the train home with you, just to be safe."     Kyou tilts her chin up at Kayoko when she calls out, and there's the very real sense that she might just ignore her and keep walking. "I can take the train myself. Come on, don't give me that shit." "Hey, language, come on. Look, I mean... yeah, it's not just that, but you know... Mom thought you could use company. I'll make dinner for you when we get home. Until--" "Yeah? 'Until'? Until what, sis? You know they're not even looking for her anymore, they're just being thorough to keep Mom and Dad hoping." "No-- no, Kyou, okay, look... hey." "I just wish they'd *stop*."     Kayoko catches Kyou's sleeve before she gets onto the train, pulling her back a bit. It's true, the police have been saying that missing people almost never turn up after twenty four hours, with the *heavy* implication that Meika was dead. It was only because of their parents' insistence that Meika disappeared like this regularly and always turned up that this was still going on, but Kayoko had heard whispers about funerals already, and if Kayoko had, then Kyou certainly had too.     The problem, of course, is that Kayoko *knows* Meika isn't dead. The radio, stashed in her crossbody bag, and the monochrome Cherub similarly crushed inside of it, had told her so. She just can't *tell* anyone that, so it all continues like this, for however long Meika stays gone. "Hey, Kyou. I'm serious, okay? It's going to be okay. I can't-- I can't tell you why I know that, or how, and I can't tell Mom and Dad, but... you can just trust me on that, okay? I'm going to take care of it, I promise."     Kyou tears her arms out of Kayoko's grip and glares at her, and Kayoko can't help flinching. "Yeah? You fucking 'promise'? Why don't you tell the fucking *police* that, sis?"     Seeing the shift in Kyou's demeanor, Kayoko's stomach drops, even before Kyou raises her voice and clenches her fist. "You never tell *anyone* *anything*! You're *always* hiding something! Both of you are-- were! *Were*! Why would I trust you at all?!" "I barely even *see* you. I barely even *know* you. So how about you just keep to yourself and stop trying to fucking reassure me like I'm some kid. Go do whatever you're always doing."     Kayoko's expression goes flat, neutrally disappointed, even while a dull, low noise bubbles up from the back of her throat. Without saying anything more, she calmly withdraws a thousand yen note, and shoves it into Kyou's hands to buy herself something from the convenience store on the way home. The train leaves without Kayoko, and with a flash concealed in an alleyway, Cobalt flies, invisible, all the way back to Our Lady The Second Eve, to wait for the Elites.
Kayoko Kirenai	You don't remember why Kayoko would ask you to meet in the dirt side-street behind the school. For those of you with mental defenses, you're at least able to put a finger directly on the irregularity of being unable to remember, and the reason behind it, but the information itself remains absent. Chevalier Cobalt is waiting against the chain link fence, already transformed, and popping into view only when you get close. She looks fine.     "Hi, everyone." Her voice *doesn't* sound fine. She sounds like she might've been crying even literally up until the seconds before she switched off her invisibility, but there's no sign of it on her face. "Thanks for coming. Even though it's on short notice. Sister Kurokawa really preferred to do this all in person."     What she means by that isn't elaborated on even if you ask; she just shakes her head and says it's better to let Kurokawa explain. She unlatches the gate and ushers everyone through, and Spot is perched on one of the ruined buildings tucked away into the forgotten back corner of the field behind the school. It giggles in its terrible, scratchy voice, then leaps over onto Kayoko, spreading thin bat wings, to scurry down her arm and pull open her bag.     Drop scampers out, and the two Cherubs together pull open the doors, even though you feel like you shouldn't look at them or touch them. The Cherubs guide you inside to overcome that mental block, and when they do, the Holy Refulgence meeting room is just as it was before.     The scratched-up but repaired gym is unrecognizable from how it looks on the outside, A folding table surrounded by folding chairs is set up with tea, and a woman in starched white and a professional black blazer sits at the head of it. She has a severe look in her tired eyes, though her glasses conceal the bags under them, and her hair is held in a high ponytail by a purple ribbon.     "Welcome back, Paladins. Or rather, for those of you who I haven't met yet, it's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Sister Kurokawa, the multiversal representative for the Holy Refulgence."     None of it is delivered with any energy at all. She lifts up her cup and takes a slow drink, eyes closed, clearly dragging out the time. Her shoulders slump slightly. "In either case, I wish it was under better circumstances. Please feel free to take a seat."
Kale Hearthward	MUCH EARLIER PHONE: Tamamo says, "I shall remember it, and tell you something she has said that is important to consider, though I cannot ask you to act upon it just now. It is this: She does not seek 'a response' so much as she seeks to see others 'act without prompting.' This is, of course, more difficult, in practice. You are versed in rescue efforts, as I recall? In such, one goes to answer a call, but for Lilian Rook, I believe she wishes to see others act before any call has been made. ...think on it, perhaps, should you have time." EARLIER <X-Paladins-Chatter> [4] Kale Hearthward says, "Anyone joining in for this, I'm going to arrange transportation. Arriving in a group instead of staggered, and especially not by any means that will cause a stir. Muster point is in the warpgate adjacent region, and then we'll have hired cars take us to the meeting with Sister Kurokawa. Please do your best to remember to... fit in." Indeed, Kale's waiting at the muster point, with his human glamor already in place and a nice but not overly ostentatious outfit on. Anyone arriving gets at least a bit of scrutinization for proper attire, and then pulled into the nearby East Wind (which has appropriate clothing in a variety of sizes ready) for remedial outfitting, if necessary. There's a pair of window-tinted vans waiting on the other side of the warpgate, provided by a Paladins-vetted transport agency... though Kale silently directs James Bond and Ishirou to quickly doublecheck for bugs anyway. The interior's setup with two sets of seats facing each other, and a video telecom system in the middle that's already connected with the other van (and also connects via radio to whoever's making their own way in). "I think we need to assume the worst case, and that this is going to be an adversarial meeting," he says. "I'd *like* to be pleasantly surprised that it won't be and that this is solely or mostly about Chevalier Meika Kirenai's well being, but an assignment of blame and a renegotiation of the Refulgence's relationship with the Paladins is likely on the table." "Sister Kurosawa has met with me before, and probably isn't terribly fond of me - if need be I'll accept being thrown under the bus for recent events if it'll keep the relationship intact for the Kirenais sake. If that happens I may play it up a bit, to make sure it's convincing." "Trudy, I mean this with no disrespect, but you're the least-read-into for this situation. We're glad to have everyone we can assisting, but... follow someone else's lead, if you would." "And again - no magic and no futuristic technology unless you can be subtle about it, and those of us with nonhuman features cover them as best we can. It's not fun, I know, but it's for the Kirenais."
Kale Hearthward	NOW The vans drop people off at the dirt side-street. Kale frowns, wondering why they're here - oh, right. Kayoko asked. And- - There's Cobalt, not Kayoko. Huh. > "Thanks for coming. Even though it's on short notice. Sister Kurokawa really preferred to do this all in person." "We're glad to oblige," says Kale, who's gotten much better at lying when he puts the effort into it. In he goes, and... there's folding tables, and tea, and Sister Kurokawa, who certainly doesn't *look* adversarial or about to bite heads off of shoulders. Kale feels like maybe he overprepared, for once. "Sister Kurokawa." He sits, and has some tea. "Unfortunate circumstances, indeed." He waits for her to bring up the topic du jour (or for someone else in the party to).
Meika Kirenai	If Drop was fazed from being crumpled like an empty soda can in Kayoko's bag, the skittering creature doesn't show it. Overlong fingers bend and crinkle in uncomfortable ways as the Cherub goes to help with the door, and it quickly disappears within.     The ushering comment, spat out like metal across dusty chalkboard, of "It's going to be okay." isn't reassuring to anyone- especially not Kayoko, whose earlier pleading words the Cherub overheard, and is now copying just to jab with. But that's all the little welcome the familiar offers, uncaring.     It fits, that when it perches near the head of the folding table, the way it licks at the back of its spindly hands feels more like an irritating fly grooming itself, than the cat-like posture should indicate- which itself is hard to see, the static stripes wrapping around it don't move with it as it shifts and scampers, like wallpaper seen through a window. The Cherub doesn't even glance the way of the entering Elites.     "Unfortunate circumstances,-?", the Cherub starts up, in echoed response to Kale, pasting on a questioning inflection- "It's a Meltdown. It's still a Meltdown." A horrific distortion of Lilian's words, stripped of context and stitched such to demean Meika's actions, purely because their speaker is present here, and she has to listen.     Only after this does Drop turn to look at the incoming Paladins, with a silent, obvious yawn. It's not even laughing, not even snickering. It might be bored.
Ishirou	In one of the vans that Kale has arranged to have them driven to the meeting, Ishirou sinks into his hoodie and baggy pants again.  He knows it's for them, but he's already self-conscious enough about his looks without wanting to stand out any more than necessary here.  This place just screams something... some quietly oppressive force that makes you want to remain the same.   He doesn't argue against Kale's taking charge of the situation, though he does look concerned when he says 'Throw me under the bus'.  They don't know exactly what's going to happen, right?  At least, it's probably not... Okay, it's bad.   When they arrive, and are standing in the dirt road, he isn't sure /why/ they are standing there until Cobalt arrives with the other creepy-looking Cherubs.  He's led through the path toward the meeting place with the sister and quickly moves to sit down.   Right now, Ishirou isn't exactly sure what to say or how to say it.  The words are hard to find because these are people who care about Meika right?  They're worried for her, right?  He's sure what they want is what is in her best interests, but... he knows this meeting is going to be hard.   "Good evening Sister Kurokawa," he greets in return, taking the tea into his hands to... well not drink it, but to have something in his hands.  "Yeah..." he says about the circumstances. Drop, who continues to freak him out, gets a glance but he tries to keep his eyes on Sister Kurokawa instead.
James Bond	EARLIER      Kale's silent gesture is responded to with a nod. He checks an expensive-looking analog watch; the face winks out, replaced with a readout. Like Kale, he isn't expecting to find anything, but if he does, he'll convey it just as subtly as Kale had made the request.      Once the transportation and the surrounding area are vetted, he heads to his own transportation. It's not out of place for this world, even if it's nice.
James Bond	NOW      An expensive-looking black grand-tourer with the lines of a seventies muscle car pulls up to the nearest intersection of that dirt side-street and actual pavement--not otherwise occupied by one of the vans, anyway.     Emerging from that familiar (perhaps unfamiliar, for Kayoko) black V8 Aston, a man with dark hair and steely blue eyes straightens a grey-blue striped tie. Shutting the door with a soft 'whump,' he strides towards and down the dirt side-street in a tailored, double-breasted, grey herringbone drape suit.     I can't seem to remember why this is the meeting spot, over the school proper. Am I getting rusty? ...I don't feel any different. It's probably not important.     Brushed metal cufflinks gleam slightly in the ambient light, as his even-paced stride takes him towards that chain-link fence.     "Chevalier Cobalt," he says professionally, extending a hand for her to shake. Professional. Reserved. Closed-off. Is that what she needs? Of course not. His expression softens. But what would I even say? Something, for God's sake. Don't you hear it in her voice?     "Chevalier Bond," he says, introducing himself. "I've met your sister, worked with her a few times. You must have been worried half to death. Our best are working on it, I'm sure you know. ...Don't hesitate to call, if there's something I can do in the mean time."     He does ask about the circumstances, naturally--and tries to satisfy himself with the explanation given.      His deep pleated trousers, that distinctly 80s extended natural shoulder, and the matching slip-ons might be a little anachronistic for this world--but the ensemble is nevertheless clear in its message that Bond is here on business he takes seriously.     He tries not to look at the Cherubs, or acknowledge the barbs that Drop makes on its way in. Awful things. Like something you'd find scurrying away under a log--just without the redeeming qualities. I'm Sister Kurokawa, the multiversal representative for the Holy Refulgence.     "Bond. James Bond." He offers her a handshake as well, then takes a seat, unbuttoning his suit jacket as he does. "In this line of work, we don't always have the luxury of better circumstances." He notices, too, the way that Sister Kurokawa seems tired. "But something tells me that you have bad news, besides just the circumstances. What's the matter?"
Trudy Grimm	@emit > "Trudy, I mean this with no disrespect, but you're the least-read-into for this situation. We're glad to have everyone we can assisting, but... follow someone else's lead, if you would."     "My, my, you actually used my first name?" The witch's eyes close in the dim lighting of the van, "This truly must be severe, then."     She remains quiet for the remainder of the drive; her choice of outfit more modern than her usual furs and linens, an ordinary black dress with ruffled hems and black lace across the collarbones. Her fingerless fishnet gloves and tall lace-ups make a return, and the witch still positively clatters with charms and beads fastened on braided ribbon or leather cords; all dangling from her hip, her wrist, and her neck. The usual skull ornaments are, at least, gone. The Grimoire is present, though out of sight; tucked into a messenger bag.     The entire lecture about maintaining some sort of oppressive status-quo masquerade gets a little eyeroll from the witch that melds into looking out through the tinted windows. She clearly disagrees with it, but has no reason to violate it either.     Stopping and disembarking, she takes a moment to ensure her ruffles are suitably chaotic and only then noticing Cobalt. A glance shoots towards Kale, as if to ask 'And you got on us about what we wear?' > "Thanks for coming. Even though it's on short notice. Sister Kurokawa really preferred to do this all in person."     "And you must be our darling Chevalier Cobalt," the witch hums with her eyes closed, "This must be the first time we've met in person, no? So I certainly don't mind."     When the cherubs announce their presence and open the door, though, Trudy keeps her eyes on them. Drop's antics once inside are also observed as she takes her seat. > "I'm Sister Kurokawa, the multiversal representative for the Holy Refulgence."     "Trudy Grimm, pleased to meet you," is all she says to Sister Kurokawa. It's actually a bit unusual for her not to volunteer her witchy nature by way of introduction-- being more cagey than usual. The smile is just shy of genuine, a forced grin that she has a great deal of practice with.     Told twice now to mind her own business, though, the witch instead occupies her attention with Drop's behavior and unusual, otherworldly appearance.
Tamamo	BEFORE:     Tamamo has put on something ordinary for the occasion. The sweater-jacket is not special in any way. It's normal autumnal clothing -- or late winter, early spring, as the case may be. She has not shapeshifted to hide her tails, despite this being an ability commonly ascribed to foxes, though unlike the last time, she has flattened her ears under a felt cap. It should look odd and terribly eye-catching, but the more one focuses any attention on her, the more ordinary and unremarkable she seems. There is no particular reason to give her any further scrutiny, clearly.     '...but an assignment of blame and a renegotiation of the Refulgence's relationship with the Paladins is likely on the table.'     "We should strongly consider the possibility, at the least." A LITTLE LATER:     'Thanks for coming. Even though it's on short notice.'     "Of course, Chevalier Cobalt." Neither Tamamo's voice nor expression betray anything but geniality. They are equally well-controlled. Besides, she really does want to help.     That would be why she's looking at Kayoko a little too closely, as if her eyes could see something Cobalt had failed to hide, but that she chooses not to mention.     She definitely hasn't, of course. It's her ears that are sharper than most. NOW:     'Or rather, for those of you who I haven't met yet, it's a pleasure to meet you.'     "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sister Kurokawa. I do not believe we previously had the opportunity to speak. I am the one known as Tamamo-no-mae."     'It's a Meltdown. It's still a Meltdown.'     "Come to that, I have not had the opportunity to ask after these familiars. I may have only heard them speak as a distorted mirror. Is that usual?" She sounds purely, and only vaguely, curious, in the middle of moving herself toward a seat.
Lilian Rook	For once, Kale is sincerely emphatic about the implicit decorum and humility of 'blending in' (though Lilian would use another word), and Lilian herself is only somewhat able to follow, and not even entirely invested. No matter how excellent she happens to be, especially amongst Elites, at concealing the signs of traumatic emergencies, there's only so much to be done about the events of Walpurgisnacht.     She can find a green contact for one eye, but the colour is just slightly mismatched. She can apply heavy concealer to her cheek, but the Sister has already seen her scar. A high collar is easy enough to justify in winter, but she's made a habit of avoiding them lately. Long sleeves are fine as well, but the right angle still shows the bandages wrapped up her entire left arm. Disguising the stiff imbalance in her gait is simple enough for someone who has practised it, but an asymmetrical glove on her right hand would be ludicrous; she simply has to let the faint reminders of burns show on the surfaces that contact a sword.     It isn't easy to see the signs of her being a little too hurried with all the extra prep, and a fatigued mindspace filled with scattered thoughts, but they're there. Her pendant resting on the outside rather than tucked away properly, incidentally reminiscent of a solar cross at a bad time. The lower effort hairstyle, letting far more length show. The absent-minded omission of removing her nail polish, still black with near-invisible, dull-glittering gold ripples. Being unable to chase down a purse in time, and arriving with her usual messenger bag instead.     It's still her best effort to date at listening to or caring about a single thing Kale says, though the smile she forces for Kayoko's sake is as clouded as it is reassuring. Someone used to concealing her battle-wounds with magic probably couldn't miss how bad it is. Or how bad it is compared to everyone else.     "I would too." Lilian says to Kayoko, in a way that is meant to convey this is all ordinary and fine. "I'm glad to see you're holding up." Light is not mind control. "You're stronger than you should have to be, you know. I'd like to . . ." 'Help however I can?' "Have this all over with as soon as possible. Even if it's going to be sting, it's better than dragging it out any further." She had to arrive a little after the group. Not quite 'fashionably late', but notably separate; without camaraderie. She doesn't have it in her to get ahead so casually. Lilian has been grateful to herself several times already that she hasn't fully packed her schedule to replace school just yet.     "Hearthward?" One look up and down. "I forgot how normal you look like this." Careless choice of language. It's meant to be muted surprise and approval, but the sheer fatigue in her eyes makes her stare even more overpenetrating than usual. That gaze wanders unpleasantly to Drop, and the leaden clouds in it briefly flicker with a stormy urge. Her newly fouled mood creeps into the passing word she barely gives Ishirou as she goes past; intensely prettied up to make up for the other night, contrasted against hiding it all at once under clothing.     "You look like a street rat. I suppose that's 'normal', but you could clean up. We're at a school for Christ's sake."
Lilian Rook	It'd be easy, and mostly correct, to assume that Lilian is caught in an emotional vortex of pure negativity; one that she is bravely fighting just to be here. The thing that throws off that impression is the moment she gets to catch up with Tamamo, plough her way through the assembling crowd, and throw her arms around her on sight; the way she squeezes around her waist, buries her face against her comfy sweater neck, and refuse to move until the sound of relief finally escapes her, betrays that something more dangerously complicated is going on.     She hesitates to actually let go, having to move in stages. "Sorry." she says, only a little ruefully. "I was worried. Even though it hasn't been that long." Lilian does her best to laugh, and it comes out thin and unstable. "You . . . worked very very hard. So . . ." Reaching for words, Lilian looks up and down her casual outfit, and manages to smile a little without forcing it. "Your outfit is fantastic. Better than mine. I'm so relieved to see that you're in a good place." Her eyes glance only once over her shoulder at Kayoko. "It would be horrible if all of our most valuable members came away in the worst state. It'd be unfair."     Once inside, Lilian gracefully pulls out her seat the moment it's offered. Crossing one leg over the other, as if she's here as a parent, she blinks and scrapes the chair slightly on purpose to disguise the wince.     "Of course, Sister. We all do." says Lilian, on behalf of some who probably don't mind that much either way. "Please go on. I'm more than aware of how difficult this is for everyone involved." She removes her hands from her lap just long enough to half-gesture. "You may ask anything you like. I'm an open book." Just one more Kayoko glance. Just a little peek. "Now isn't the time to be keeping secrets."
Tamamo	EARLIER:     ...she squeezes around her waist, buries her face against her comfy sweater neck...     The way Tamamo holds Lilian is plausibly similar to that of a loving mother. The my, my and there, there are, too. "I... did work quite hard, yes... if, perhaps, not as hard as... no, I suppose we both gave it our best, to be honest. If I am whole, it is because you did well in protecting me."     She's so normal.
Ishirou	EARLIER: "You look like a street rat. I suppose that's 'normal', but you could clean up. We're at a school for Christ's sake." Ishirou doesn't say anything about it, or make any excuses, instead, he seems to shrink on himself. He takes a breath, and then he says with a whisper of a breath, "Sorry Lilian." There wasn't much else to think about it, other than he needed to find someone to help him with attire who /wasn't/ trying to hit on him creepily. Maybe he should talk to James or Kale about it..? However, what was he supposed to do about the other elements that wouldn't fit in..? Well maybe they could pass as headphones and he could tuck the tail in..?
Kayoko Kirenai	"I've met your sister, worked with her a few times."     Cobalt shakes Bond's hand, as if this is the most natural thing in the world, and she's completely, utterly fine with his attitude. Like before, though, the hollowness of her voice betrays how that line in particular struck her. "I'm glad to meet you, sir. I'm glad that... Meika had your support." "Of course, Chevalier Cobalt." "Your outfit is fantastic. Better than mine. I'm so relieved to see that you're in a good place."     Visually transmitted magical influence isn't anything Kayoko has particular resistance against, despite her powerset. In fact, while invisibly slumped on the ground beside the fence outside, face buried in her armored knees, her surveillance of the car as takes the Elites through the city, miles away, does the exact opposite for her. Tamamo-no-mae is perfectly unremarkable. The hug Lilian gives her is unremarkable too.     Kayoko still can't meet her eyes, but that's normal. She sees everything anyways, even the sour look Trudy gives Kale the moment that Cobalt comes into sight. She doesn't have the context for it, so it just twinges a bit. "I may have only heard them speak as a distorted mirror. Is that usual?"     Spot perks up, an awful little grin crawling across its upsettingly humanlike face. Before Kayoko can catch it, it darts over to Tamamo, the flash of garishly bright colors through the air more eyecatching than it should be, and it spreads its clownishly-bright wings wide and hops from foot to foot on the table in front of Tamamo.     "Ahahaaaa! Do you want to hear me talk? I can say *lots* of things!" Unlike Drop, Spot's voice is like sandpaper dragged through broken glass, scratchily grating with every word. "If you wanna hear *my* thoughts, boy, have I been waiting for this. Or how about I tell you about how our sweet, perfect Cobalt's been using her magic to--"     Spot goes invisible in the instant before Kayoko grabs it around its entire head with her gauntlet. Fist tight enough that it might look like it hurts the Cherub if you could actually see it, she stiffly explains, "Spot is rude."
Kayoko Kirenai	Time presses inevitable forwards, and eventually there's none left before Kurokawa has to finally get to the point. She sets down her cup, steels herself, and straightens up in her chair-- resisting the urge to get up and pace as a lecture, even though it'd do a lot to vent her restlessness, because she's well aware of how important it is to strike the incredibly narrow presentation of power between dismissive and submissive. She settles into being rigid, stern, and ramrod straight in her chair.     "As refreshing as pleasantries are, I don't want to take up any more of your time than I have to. We're here, of course, to talk about Chevalier Vermillion. Not just the most recent event-- though believe me, the Holy Refulgence has had plenty to say about that-- but the effect that being associated with the Paladins has had on her as a whole."     'Associated with'. Every time you come back to this world, it's always like this. No matter how much you try to keep your heads down when going through the city of Kagoshima itself, when face to face with Kurokawa you can only submit to being seen as what you really are.     "... The hope was that she'd benefit from having the guidance of people somewhat more like her. As much as I try, there's only... so much I can do to understand her mindset, when it's filtered through the Cherubs. And through her." The implication that the latter is less trustworthy isn't something she needs to say. It's not something she even *implies*-- aren't you making that up?     Kurokawa clasps her hands together on the table in front of her, purple eyes flicking across the Elites at the table. "Not to say that you've misled her." 'On purpose'. 'Corrupted'. The rest of you sling those words around all the time, right? "But I think we can all agree that what's happened is... less than preferable. Not only that, but her continual avoidance of bringing her Cherub with her has left us, and even Kayoko, in the dark on a lot of her... ah, doings, on other worlds."     "It's thanks to Kayoko sending Drop through the warpgate after her that we know as much as we do." Kurokawa nods to Kayoko, standing stiffly behind her rather than taking any of the seats. Light isn't mind control. She looks queasy.     And now Kurokawa looks more serious, rather than just tired. Finally giving in to the urge, at an appropriate time she hopes, Kurokawa rests her hands on the edge of the table and pushes herself to her feet. "Meika being responsible for *three* people dying-- not counting however many might have been lost in the mess she caused at that company-- is a deeply, *direly* unacceptable outcome."     "The disaster she's caused goes far beyond that, too. The school, her parents, the police, are all in disarray at her apparently inexplicable disappearance. The Holy Refulgence has had its hands entirely full managing the fallout. She's *still* not back, after two *weeks*. As her counselor, I know for a fact that even when she returns, she's missed enough school to qualify for expulsion."     "None of her behavior would've degraded this severely if not for leaving our world. We, the Holy Refulgence, and Kayoko, could have kept a handle on her if she'd stayed." Cobalt's response is like a flinch without moving. Her blue armor flickers orange, dark skin limned with luminous shadows, flipped into negative image for just the blink of an eye.     "So I'm sorry, but the Holy Refulgence has made the decision to remove Meika Kirenai from the Paladins, effective immediately when she comes back. Whether this is permanent, despite her sister's affiliation... well, rather, it's only a decision being made a few months earlier than it otherwise would've been."
Tamamo	'...boy, have I been waiting for this.'     "Were you awaiting permission?" The twitch of Tamamo's pained ears is hidden by her cap.     'Spot is rude.'     "A curious choice." What is? Whose choice? She doesn't elaborate.     '...the effect that being associated with the Paladins has had on her as a whole.'     "Pardon?" Tamamo looks at Kurokawa, then glances around the table, as if to determine whether everyone heard the same thing. "I am not certain that I understand -- or, perhaps, is it that we had assumed the topic to different incidents? Are you suggesting that her decision to infiltrate a Concord facility, with no Paladin association, against the instruction of Paladins present, was the fault of that same instruction, and of association with the Paladins? Please correct my understanding, if there is some matter that has escaped my attention."     She spreads her hands. "Please be assured that I am not suggesting her affiliation must remain as is as a matter of course. I am only concerned over whether the decision is being made in regards to the facts of her case, given, particularly, the difficult circumstances."     'Meika being responsible for *three* people dying--'     Tamamo leans back in her seat, spending a moment in thought, before asking, "Beyond the reports given for this particular case, sister Kurokawa, were you already familiar with Lobotomy Corporation?"     A glance toward her. "Ah, please pardon me. I know that protracted discussion of the background is rather tiring, as well as an expense upon our time. I have a rather good blend if you would like your tea caffeinated, but I cannot make up for the spent time."     In fact, she does. It's in a thermos in her purse, and she has several travel cups. It would only be strange to bring it out because there's already tea, which is why she offered it as a 'good blend.'
Lilian Rook	'how about I tell you about how our sweet, perfect Cobalt's been using her magic to--'     Lilian's eyes widen despite herself. Whatever she's imagining is clearly far more scandalous than the truth probably is. She slowly looks away with her eyes on rails, looking every bit as if she's vigorously forcing herself not to ruminate.     '... The hope was that she'd benefit from having the guidance of people somewhat more like her.'     Lilian's focused, neutrally pleasant, interview-like expression loses warmth by the second already. "That was my hope too, Sister." she says.     'As much as I try, there's only... so much I can do to understand her mindset, when it's filtered through the Cherubs. And through her.'     Lilian tries not to sigh in any way that suggests exhaustion with this entire line of discussion. She fails.     'But I think we can all agree that what's happened is... less than preferable.' 'Meika being responsible for *three* people dying-- not counting however many might have been lost in the mess she caused at that company-- is a deeply, *direly* unacceptable outcome.' 'The disaster she's caused goes far beyond that, too. The school, her parents, the police, are all in disarray at her apparently inexplicable disappearance.'     Lilian taps her burnt finger against her inner arm. She can't help the habit, this mentally fried. Listening, but patiently waiting for her turn to speak, rather than actually caring. None of this is new. None of it is unexpected at all.     'I know for a fact that even when she returns, she's missed enough school to qualify for expulsion.'     Lilian tries not to let her breath hitch. She fails at that too.     'None of her behavior would've degraded this severely if not for leaving our world.'     "That is, regretfully, likely true." says Lilian. "However, if you've called us here to speak on the matter, and not 'hold a meeting that could have been an email', so to speak, then I would be remiss if I did not provide any further information after you've already admitted to hearing too little for comfort." she says, ever so helpfully; just stinging with how selflessly concerned it is.     "Meika's recent actions are a direct result of being contacted and incited by a known terrorist unaffiliated with our organization." Half-Truth: 20. "Of course, as a counsellor, I'm certain you're aware of how distasteful organizations can prey upon, deceive, even radicalize, especially vulnerable youth. This outcome is indeed beyond tragic, to put it lightly. But I'd be a liar to say that I don't have any concerns as to how Meika, a seventeen year old girl with God's blessing, working for the Church to save lives, could have arrived at a state wherein she would be a natural target for predatory organizations."     Lilian begins to count on her fingers. "Extreme alienation from her peers. Extreme mistrust of authority. Extreme mistreatment by trustworthy establishments. Extreme emotional instability. Feeling as if something is direly wrong, that is impossible to explain and be taken seriously. Feeling as thought guardians and benevolent authority cannot be turned to. Visible desperation to correct or escape one's current circumstances. An obvious urge to retaliate against perceived injustices. These are the attributes that gangs, cults, radicals, and so on, look for in youth they plan to recruit." Lilian says, with clinical, encyclopedic recollection.
Lilian Rook	"Not to say that you've mistrated her." she says, in barely deniable, exact imitation of Kurokawa. "But, as a counsellor, and as a Sister of God, I know that you couldn't possibly fail to understand my concerns as to how Meika arrived to our organization in this extraordinarily vulnerable state." The character of her eye contact somehow changes. "I understand the struggles you must be facing with her guidance. It almost felt as if she were being shoved off onto us so that she might break down where it would be our responsibility." Sarcastic laugh successfully suppressed. "It must be difficult for you, too, as someone who must have experienced what it is like to be charged with tasks that parents and teachers don't expect you to actually be able to solve. As is the life of any counsellor."     'So I'm sorry, but the Holy Refulgence has made the decision to remove Meika Kirenai from the Paladins, effective immediately when she comes back.'     "I'd hoped so." Lilian says. She coughs to disguise the vocal slide, pushing herself back out of the red zone by act of will. Or rather, by the reassuring warmth that Tamamo is on the same page as her. A sideways glance is unmistakably, if silently, grateful. "I've no objections, as a Paladins Chevalier. She'd only suffer an extensive inquiry by the organization, here, as part of tracking down the inciting individual." Lilian breathes deep. A switch in tempo. A hunter having sighted the target's tracks.     "However."     "Shortly, Meika will be an adult, will she not? Even as soon as her expulsion, you will have no further hand in her life; not if she wishes it so, and I'm certain she will. From the moment she turns eighteen, she will have every opportunity to leave this world and return to the greater Multiverse." Lilian says, leaning forward. "That was always on the table. From the moment of Unification, there was no avoiding that possibility. And given the treatment she will no doubt be receiving upon her return to a school that expels her, a Church that disavows her, and a family that is planning a funeral for her, I have no hopes that she might stay for long."     "Then what becomes of her? In an even worse state than before, with no reason to stay, and no true memory of why she is even receiving the treatment she is about to. We, of course, have no authority to stop her from continuing this downward spiral; not from the moment she is removed, at least. As her counsellor, and as a Sister, I must urgently ask to know what measures you plan to take to retain her; or at least to pull her back from accelerating into self-destruction and sin."
Kale Hearthward	Kale is momentarily confused at Tamamo, who's usually more circumspect, going tails-out. In reality he hasn't quite realized that his Persephone-provided mental shielding is keeping him from really realizing that she is in fact properly hiding them, he just can't see that he can't see them. He spends unfortunately too long looking at her butt in the process. .... The cherubs are still all sorts of offputting. He remembers he still doesn't have a straight answer on just *what* they are. >>> "The Cherubs are humanity's guardians against the Temptations, granted to us by God." What *kind* of a theodic god would choose to send things like these...? He tunes back into the Sister talking, just in time for her to get to his worst case scenario. "... Certainly, we aren't pleased with the situation either," says Kale, after a moment. He sets his (long since empty) teacup down on the table. "The Paladins are only as good as our worst member, and we take ourselves very seriously." "Dereliction of duty. Negligence. Failure to maintain contact. Probably quite a lot of other things, and that's just before we conduct a proper investigation into all that's happened. Meika would be facing a lot of discipline, including the organization taking constructive disciplinary steps regarding her academic failures - attendance issues included. We'd have a lot of work on our hands, but it's work we'd have as a major focus for everyone in the organization, and a focus we wouldn't take half measures on." "... If she were to remain in the Paladins, that is." "I think taking Meika Kirenai out of the Paladins at this juncture would be a mistake, Sister Kurokawa. At times like these, someone in her situation would need more structure, not *less*. The Paladins can provide that, especially now that Meika has shown what areas she needs correction in." "... But if you're set on withdrawing her membership, then aside from feeling the need to voice my advice to you, I don't have any objections either. You're her authority in these matters." He looks over at Lilian. "At least until she's 18, as the Dame Commander says."
Ishirou	Ishirou attempts to avoid the Cherubs.  They are so disturbing and he rather pretends they weren't not only so disturbing, but seemingly accepted by this world, unlike the rest of them.  A point that is hammered home by just existing in this world.  He takes a breath, trying to steady himself.   Especially because the next part was very hard to take in.  He doesn't miss that they are being held accountable for what Meika has done, if not wholly, then at least in part.  He looks towards Lilian, knowing those words might sting more than some because she had done everything for the girl, but she chose to leave on her own.   What does one say to this..?  He digs in his own heart and his mind for the right words.  Even if she chose, Meika was still a child in the eyes of the law of this world.  On the other hand, what were they to do..?  Lock her up?  Inflict curfews and punishments?  That wasn't the job of the Paladins, was it..?   He is about to say something until Lilian starts.  Something catches in his throat... the idea that when she turns an adult she will forget.  He didn't know... he was never told, but he got glimpses of the truth during the incident at Lobotomy Corp.  There was so much going on he never thought to question it... He's stunned back into silence, it makes sense now to a degree.  The question of what sent her over the edge.  He takes a breath, and nods, "I can't find argument in that, but... Lilian is right...what happens next?"
James Bond	Spot is rude. "I noticed," Bond says reservedly. ...but the effect that being associated with the Paladins has had on her as a whole.     Bond undergoes a subtle shift in demeanor. Lilian recognizes it, because she saw it with Rita and Katrina. The way he goes from matter-of-fact professionalism to professionalism-as-a-shield; the straightening in his seat, the interlacing of his fingers, the change in expression, nigh imperceptibly, from neutral to stone-faced and impassive.     It is a pre-emptive defense, made to survive an environment of suspicion and harm; a way to let accusations of being 'emotional,' or 'compromised,' slide off, until the storm dies out and he can leave, having weathered it. Not only that, but her continual avoidance of bringing her Cherub with her has left us, and even Kayoko, in the dark on a lot of her... ah, doings, on other worlds.     Tell me that you'd take one of the little bastards with you, then. Scurrying around your house when you think you have a moment alone. Listening for your worst moments, to repeat them to the people you're supposed to trust. We, the Holy Refulgence, and Kayoko, could have kept a handle on her if she'd stayed.     Yes, you could have. Until she burned out, and wasn't your problem any more. Until she has to join the ranks of normal people, without what she needs to survive. His hands squeeze subtly together, pressing white spots into the webbing between his fingers. So I'm sorry, but the Holy Refulgence has made the decision to remove Meika Kirenai from the Paladins, effective immediately when she comes back.     Bond nods. Don't let any of it show. Calm. Collected. Like you're waiting for her to reach the obvious conclusion. Please correct my understanding, if there is some matter that has escaped my attention. But I'd be a liar to say that I don't have any concerns as to how Meika, a seventeen year old girl with God's blessing, working for the Church to save lives, could have arrived at a state wherein she would be a natural target for predatory organizations.     Thank God for Lilian and Tamamo. "Of course, she was a Holy Refulgence asset before a Paladin." He's good at using implications, too--the surface level is courteously acknowledging and respecting whose decision this is. The implication is that he's agreeing with Lilian--that the Holy Refulgence 'keeping a handle' on Meika instead of meeting her needs is probably why her behavior was degrading at all.     "And, as you noted, the decision would have been made when she burned out, anyway." His tone remains coldly professional. I won't let you sanitize this. "Still, the decision is deeply regrettable, even given the circumstances. In a past line of work, I struggled with the kind of oversight and scrutiny you ask of your assets--all of whom are minors, to my understanding--in my twenties and well into my thirties. Under that kind of pressure," he concludes, "I'm sure you can understand that as a private citizen and a Paladin, I'm very concerned about what constitutes 'keeping a handle' on them."      Bond pauses. "I'd like to express my agreement with Dame Rook's concerns, in short. You'll forgive me for agreeing with Chevaliers Tamamo and Hearthward's observations--I'm confident that the Holy Refulgence is well-suited to fighting Temptations, but not to gracefully retiring its assets. Your decision is final, of course--but it's my personal and professional opinion that decision is premature."
Trudy Grimm	Sister Kurokawa skips the pleasantries and gets right into business. Trudy's attention briefly leaves Drop's fascinating appearance when it shifts from a statement of matters to a series of accusations. How baselessly pathetic.     She catches her hand reaching for the bag containing the Grimoire and stops herself.     Ultimately it's Lilian, unfiltered as she is-- and Bond, with his worldly experience-- who lay the best cases thus far. Shoving the blame right back at its source. Where it belongs. The witch inhales softly, her eyes closing as she lets it out in a low sigh.     And of course wise Tamamo, bringing up that the elder Kirenai's behavior was strictly against everything that involved Paladins were saying. She finds herself nodding a few times in thought.     After a moment, Trudy opens one eye, fixated on Sister Kurokawa, "I must echo my compatriots' concerns for her future, yes." A mercifully quick death or will you make her suffer first?     The mentions of not remembering-- is new to her, though. The witch's face grows thoughtful, pensively staring at the wall for a moment before her gaze shifts to the table before her, a hand tapping at her chin.     She had picked up that a magical girl loses her powers at some point, but her memory as well? Trudy has to think that one over for a moment.
Meika Kirenai	'Ahahaaaa! Do you want to hear me talk?'     Drop's response is horrible, awful, metallic-ceramic screeching sound, parodying Spot's own followup to match the point. "I can say lots of things!" There's no laughing followup, where there really ought to be. Drop slinks where Spot darts, and stares up as Kayoko inevitably snatches her own Cherub up to get out of the picture.     Drop dissapears under the table, and pops up near where Bond sits, uncomfortably close, staring uncomfortably directly, with that uncomfortably human face, right towards Bond's own. It waits a while, watching and studying his shifts in mannerisms, slight as they may be, and- "I noticed." His just-said words, back a moment later, in his own mannerisms- and that grating, awful record-scratch of a voice. '...not if she wishes it so, and I'm certain she will.'     "Beyond tragic," Lilian's former phrase parroted back barely above breath-quiet, but still shrill and jabbing- like cluing someone in to a mean spirited joke barely explained, and still bitterly distasteful. '...What happens next?' 'I'm confident that the Holy Refulgence is well-suited to fighting Temptations, but not to gracefully retiring its assets.'     A patched collage of words, overlaid from obvious repitition, comes with the scratched-out tone of Meika's mannerisms, when Drop echoes "Don't worry about it." It's awful how much Drop's face feels like it *should* twist into anything but that flat, beady-eyed glare.
Kayoko Kirenai	"Are you suggesting that her decision to infiltrate a Concord facility, with no Paladin association, against the instruction of Paladins present, was the fault of that same instruction, and of association with the Paladins?"     The slow grind towards pacing is irresistable. Kurokawa buttons up her blazer, takes a breath, and starts addressing the questions. "I'm afraid that I lack the first-hand familiarity with the dynamics of your work that you have. I'm not unaware of the Concord itself, but whatever... allocation of fault might be involved between your two organizations, isn't something the Holy Refulgence has any particular say in. Involvement in the Paladins is what places Meika in the wider multiverse, and subsequently in the danger she keeps throwing herself into." "Beyond the reports given for this particular case, sister Kurokawa, were you already familiar with Lobotomy Corporation?"     "And my response about the details of which company is similar. I've only heard what Kayoko and Drop have told me about Lobotomy Corporation, besides a brief interaction with one of their employees in an earlier meeting." Kurokawa tugs at her jacket cuffs, readjusting them as the politest fidget she can manage while her loafers clack across the scuffed wooden floor. "And, similarly, it hardly matters to the Holy Refulgence. Ah-- thank you, actually. I'd normally avoid caffeine at this hour, but... I don't think I'll be getting a restful night either way." ". . . and not 'hold a meeting that could have been an email', so to speak, . . ."     The thin, tired smile that Kurokawa gives Lilian might be indicative of familiarity with the subject, or weary admission that she's probably right. "Your input is more than welcome, miss Rook." "Meika's recent actions are a direct result of being contacted and incited by a known terrorist unaffiliated with our organization."     This is where Kayoko pipes in, still lingering uncomfortably in the background of sightlines without being the focus. "I saw. Hibiki Tachibana approached her when she was skipping school, just a few days before Meika ran away. Miss Tachibana encouraged her to break a bunch of laws and do vandalism. It's not the first time Meika's done something like that, so I didn't interfere, but..." She shifts in place, armor plates sliding across each other like they're not made of metal at all. She's purposefully drawing some attention, and subsequently some blame, to herself.     "I should've. I saw the reports about all the people miss Tachibana was involved in getting-- hurt. I saw what they talked about and how it make Meika act. I didn't expect it to lead to this. I'm sorry."
Kayoko Kirenai	"Not to say that you've mistreated her."     Kurokawa stops pacing, turning to face Lilian with the tensest expression she's worn all night. Looking a little bit down at Lilian sitting, her glasses slide slightly down her nose, shadows reemerging from where the frames had hidden them.     "I'd advise that you be careful with what you're implying. I understand how much we ask of our magical girls, and I can't find it in me to resent them for feeling frayed and unhappy at times, but if you were talking to any other member of the Refulgence, they might not be able to intuit your *intended* meaning." The assumption, facetious or otherwise, being that there's no way Lilian would accuse the Holy Refulgence of being at fault.     "Meika's always had a lower threshold for responsibility than even the non-magical girls. Adding what we ask of her on top of that is only more of a burden. It's a lot to put on a child who's already fragile." Kurokawa drums her fingers on her arm, glancing over at Kayoko. "As was putting her in the Paladins. Giving her responsibilities beyond the ones she already had in Kagoshima was irresponsible. I'm not angry at her for snapping, I'm saddened by the results." "Then what becomes of her? In an even worse state than before, with no reason to stay, and no true memory of why she is even receiving the treatment she is about to."     In response to that, and to the other collective concerns about Meika's imminent burnout, Kurokawa smiles in a bitter, halfhearted way. A section of the back of her blazer seems to peel off, becoming a shadowy, wispy-edged humanoid shape with punctured holes for eyes and no other distinguishing features. It clambers onto Kurokawa's shoulder, silently staring at the Elites.     "I have very little control over what happens after, besides what I do for her now. *I* won't remember Chevalier Vermillion either, you know. I'm not on the school board, I'm not close to her parents, and I'm hardly even a decision maker within the Refulgence. My hope today was to help ease Kayoko's coming days in the Paladins, by addressing any kind of complaints or gossip up front. What happens to Meika will be much the same as what happens to any girl after turning eighteen: surprisingly little." "If she wants to leave for the multiverse when she becomes an adult, all I'll be doing is advising her career opportunities as her counselor. Whether she leaves the Paladins or not... a decision I'm only the mouthpiece for, mind you, we have to start planning for that eventuality. I'd like to see her alive for it."
Meika Kirenai	Drop leaves Bond be, and dissapears, scampering off again until it's near where Kale has situated himself. Drop is the kind of vile creature that'd look at home toying with a seagull's corpse. It looks threateningly like it wants to hop up onto his lap. It doesn't say anything for a long while- it's a dare to pay attention to words, really. Silence only lasts so long, however- 'The Paladins can provide that,'     "Can you imagine what it'd be like if they *didn't*?- -Gangs, cults, radicals, and so on." Kale ought to remember the first stitched words- he said them, here, months and months ago, and earned himself a dislocated jaw. The second set is more recently borrowed. Together, it's the impression of a gotcha- a calling out of failure, extra distrust and distaste.     "Oops." A word, too, that winds up as a collage, simple enough to be picked up and layered on from many, many different instances, or even sources. Now, the Cherub looks like it's laughing.
Ishirou	Ishirou looks at Kayoko, "Hibiki encouraged Meika to do what she did..?" he asks, shocked to hear this.  This is the first time that he heard that, and if Hibiki /did/... Ishirou shakes his head, even if it happened that way, what's important is what happens to Meika next.  "If Meika is going to.." he swallows, "Burn out... if she forgets everything that happened... and you forget everything..." then nothing happens.  She lives on living her life as if nothing happened.  But something /did/ happen.   She burned her childhood to protect people and ruined her future to make sure people went on ignorant about the threat of the Temptations.  It was unfair, so very unfair and he was starting to understand Meika's pain... and of course her seeming distrust of people asking about her.  Or at least he thinks he does.   Ishirou rubs his face, money isn't a superpower Ishirou has, but the idea is that Meika should get something that helps her move on with her life.  "I don't know what to do.."
Lilian Rook	'I'm afraid that I lack the first-hand familiarity with the dynamics of your work that you have. I'm not unaware of the Concord itself, but whatever... allocation of fault might be involved between your two organizations, isn't something the Holy Refulgence has any particular say in.'     'And my response about the details of which company is similar. I've only heard what Kayoko and Drop have told me about Lobotomy Corporation, besides a brief interaction with one of their employees in an earlier meeting.'     For some reason, those answers seem to ease some sort of tension in Lilian. As if she's glad to hear them, even. "Thank you. This meeting has been very informative on my part as well." says Lilian. "As a guardian figure in her life, to whom her future has been entrusted, I expected that conferring with you would be a valuable opportunity to learn things about Meika, and her life, that I couldn't otherwise hope to be privy to." The little flash in her eyes. She's moved from tracks to the deer itself. "So it tells me a tremendous deal that you know far less about her than even I do."          'Giving her responsibilities beyond the ones she already had in Kagoshima was irresponsible. I'm not angry at her for snapping, I'm saddened by the results.'     "As someone who has been able to sit with her, speak to her at length, see her laugh, and smile, and discuss her hopes for the future, this has been an invaluable assistance in knowing where I might stand with Meika currently." says Lilian.     'I saw what they talked about and how it made Meika act. I didn't expect it to lead to this. I'm sorry.'     The difference in tone between Lilian speaking to Kurokawa and Lilian speaking to Kayoko is somehow, in some difficult to place way, like night and day. "None of us thought it would, Kayoko. Please don't blame yourself. Thank you for trying to be as gentle with your sister as you could. It means everything that you respect her as much as you do."     'What happens to Meika will be much the same as what happens to any girl after turning eighteen: surprisingly little.'     The great unburdening of care is something recognizable in the space of the ensuing exhalation, for those who know Lilian enough to feel the hair-raising tingle that simple breathing sound can elicit.
James Bond	Can you imagine what it would be like if they *didn't?*     I know what you are. Bond's index finger, resting between the knuckles of the opposite hand, twitches slightly, his brow flicking briefly upwards as the notion of testing the strength of its trachea, or seeing how quick it might flee from-- Don't react. Turn it to your advantage. Tamamo was talking about the real reason--so give Kurokawa an excuse. See if she bites. His blue eyes sweep towards Sister Kurokawa, his face a convincing facsimile of a courteous, businesslike inquiry.     "I understand the Cherubs are protocol for field agents. For a briefing, they're unnecessary bordering on distracting. Maybe we could dispense with them, given the circumstances--my colleagues and I aren't with the Holy Refulgence," he says, nodding towards Kayoko. "And Chevalier Cobalt is right there." I didn't expect it to lead to this. I'm sorry.     "Thank you, Chevalier Cobalt." Clipped. Stop that. I've leapt in front of too many bullets in meetings like these to see a girl young enough to be my daughter doing it. I'd like to see her alive for it.     Bond's fingers relax. Only slightly. "We all would. It's my understanding that she's secure, at the moment, and the company isn't going to risk the fallout of changing that. Arranging her release is the easy part."     "Coming in from the cold is always the difficult part. The only difference between the Holy Refulgence and the sorts of places I come from is that you have the luxury of being made to forget, instead of being the force that compels it. I can respect that your reach is limited. I'd like to ask, regardless, that you use that reach, limited as it might be, to help Meika be the most prepared version of herself she can be--so that the Meika who leaves this place can have something resembling happiness."     "She's owed that, for what she's spent, no matter what she's done."
Lilian Rook	Lilian grips her sleeve and pulls it all the way up to the elbow. The arm beneath is not so slender as the Sister's. A twister of residual burn shadows coils up it halfway, punctuated with deep muscle bruising, and matching the burns and cuts on her fingers and inner hand. She must have asked Tamamo not to thoroughly heal it just yet. Laying her arm out on the desk, she forces Sister Kurokawa to look.     "These are from saving the life of Meika Kirenai." Lilian says. "I wonder if you can even begin to imagine how hard it was. How scared she was. I wonder if anyone has ever risked so much for her in her entire life."     Her free hand dives into her messenger back, retrieves a folder stacked with papers, and slides it across the desktop next, disordering partially visible pages of writing and photography of the town.     "These are the reports submitted to me by my subordinates. The trusted adults who have looked after Kayoko Kirenai and helped protect this town in Meika's absence." she says. "After the abysmal performance the Refulgence has displayed in taking further steps to safeguard lives in absence of her selfless support."     Flipping open the folder, Lilian's fingers easily find an ID card-- an intern pass with Meika's name and photograph, printed for her days before the breach. She holds it in her visibly wounded arm, up to Kurokawa's eye level.      "This is a guarantee of apprenticeship placement within the company that I now own. One that she was all but star-struck to agree to, after-- I couldn't help but notice-- having no future plans otherwise." The look in Lilian's eyes can simply only be considered as 'killing intent'. "A good thing, too. Without even a highschool graduation to her name, now, her prospects for a real career otherwise are completely nil. A happy coincidence that I can save you effort of 'career counseling' such a difficult case."     Her pendant's silhouette as a celtic cross is purposeful on behalf of the maker, irrelevant to Lilian herself, and something she takes advantage of with intent when she lifts it up in injured fingers to the light. "I understand that we are from different worlds, Sister, and have different interpretations of what Godliness should mean, so I wished to take a moment to reassure you that, once she turns eighteen and you have promptly forgotten all about her, Meika will be in thoughtful, capable hands." She lets the chain fall heavily back to her breast.     "Thank you for making the responsible decision, Sister Kurokawa. I would also very much like for Meika to reach her birthday safely." Lilian only barely suppresses a second round of black laughter. Instead, her eyes cloud over with exhaustion, mismatching a far-away little smile. "I'd actually come to this meeting to suggest the same. I'd expected it to be rather open and shut, actually. After all, there's no denying what's happened. None of this is right for her; and we all bear some of the blame."     She pushes out her chair by standing up, scraping over the gymnasium floor. She's done sitting while the Sister looks down. "So thank you very much for helping me better take care of her in the near future." Translated furigana: 'thank you for driving her into my arms'.
Lilian Rook	"Is this all we need discuss? If so, then I believe the Paladins have no further business to communicate with your people." The angelically polite smile means something else entirely: You've expended as much leverage as you possibly can. "My subordinates will remain in the city for a while, to ensure that Meika stays out of trouble." Read: to watch you. "And to ensure that Chevalier Cobalt continues to receive adequate support for her ongoing duties until a time at which the Refulgence is able to resume their minimum level of operations."     "I advise we mingle affairs as little as possible from here on out."
Trudy Grimm	Drop starts moving. Trudy's eyes shift to follow the cherub when it skitters over to Kale and starts mocking him with his own and Lilian's words. For a split second, the affable veneer on the witch's face fails. She isn't particularly concerned about Kale himself; he's a big bird, he can stand up for himself. But hearing the creature try to twist Lilian's words raises her hackles. Shortly after James calls attention to the Cherubs' distracting tendencies, she takes that as an invitation to act on the urge.     The hand Trudy isn't using to touch her chin is brought down, resting on the table with her fingers splayed out. The shadow Drop casts on the tabletop grows darker. Abruptly, the Cherub falls into the darkness as if a hole was opened up under it. Somewhere behind Kurokawa near the ceiling, the cherub sails out through a different opening, spinning wildly.     Trudy's eyes shift back to the Sister right as this happens, "That's quite convenient, isn't it? That you get to forget."     She pulls her hand from the table, clattering about with her beads and charms. After a few moments, she casts a handful of carved wooden(?) bits onto the table in front of her. With a thoughtful noise, Trudy traces her finger between where they fell, "I suppose there are worse fates."     Without elaborating, Trudy scoops up the items and reaffixes them amidst her various carvings and charms.     Lilian goes off. As she's reattaching the bones she had read, Trudy pauses and glances her way with a curious noise. Even with how exhausted, hurt, and strained the woman is-- Trudy recognizes that preparation to pounce. A sniper with the target in the crosshairs. A tripwire brushing against calves. Her lips part into a broad smile. A genuine one. Once the Dame Commander wraps up, the witch lowers her hand and laces her fingers together as her gaze swings back to Sister Kurokawa.     Her mixed thoughts on the matter seem to have been resolved by Lilian's forethought and wisdom.
Kale Hearthward	>>> Can you imagine what it'd be like if they *didn't*? Ah. Kale understands now. God sends his strongest heathens his worst messengers. > -Gangs, cults, radicals, and so on. "..." Kale stares at Drop for a bit. He hates this thing. Thoughts of reaching out and squashing it filter through his mind. Does Meika have to deal with this thing day in and day out? "There's two other things you'd want to keep in mind," says Kale, addressed to the Sister but not taking her eyes off of the Cherub. "The first of which being, Meika may leave into the multiverse anyway. Before she turns 18, I mean. We can keep an eye out for her, but we have other priorities besides apprehending and returning runaway children. As opposed to bringing an errant member of our organization in line." "I'm sure you've thought about the same already, and have in mind steps to keep her corralled here, but should those steps prove to not be enough and she slips free... then the situation might yet become *more* dire, without the safety net she had in this past incident." Only then does he realize he's been staring at the cherub instead of paying full attention to the Sister, and moves his gaze towards her... mostly. "The second is that even if Meika Kirenai leaves the multiverse alone, the multiverse will likely not leave Meika Kirenai alone." "*We* follow the rules you've laid out for us, as best as we're capable. We're not perfect at it, Sister Kurokawa, but the difference is we try. Someone may want to come check on her, may want to visit her or 'rescue' her, or in the worst case seek retribution for what she's done. Someone who doesn't try - and, really, doesn't *care* about your rules. Which there have been several examples of such in the past already, haven't there?" "That's the new reality you'll be facing," he adds. "With Meika out of the Paladins. Which, again, no objections to at this juncture." At this point, he gets up and politely moves to start leaving.
Tamamo	'Involvement in the Paladins is what places Meika in the wider multiverse, and subsequently in the danger she keeps throwing herself into.'     "I wonder as to whether this is true, or if the events have merely occurred at once. Without sanctioned involvement, without keeping a place for her, what stops Meika Kirenai from going outside? The multiverse will continue to exist, no matter our personal feelings on it. I have spent some little time studying matters of securing worlds against travel, and found a curious tendency toward failure, as if there were a divine law prohibiting isolation. We must be practical about such things."     'And my response about the details of which company is similar. I've only heard what Kayoko and Drop have told me about Lobotomy Corporation, besides a brief interaction with one of their employees in an earlier meeting.'     "Ah, in that case--" Tamamo pauses for effect, indistinguishable from genuine difficulty in approaching such a heavy topic. "While I do not say this as if it excuses her mistake in trespassing, I believe the context of the work of L-Corp to be relevant in this judgment. In briefest terms, the corporation is a hellish place -- indeed, some there have referred to it as a living, eternal hell -- wherein death is a daily occurrence. I understand that it is not terribly uncommon for entire teams to be wiped out in the normal course of their work, and their notion of a highly praiseworthy manager is one who manages to keep all of their subordinates alive for a period of weeks."     This is all delivered with the same sort of distress as discussing a neighbor whose observed behavior is equal parts suspicious, dangerous, and sinful, but about which there's nothing presently to do, direct confrontation not being considered practical.     "Assigning blame for harm occurring under such circumstances is somewhat fraught, though it is clear that, at minimum, she caused an increase risk of lethal danger to many employees and emergency responders with her actions. You may see, by the same token, why we might warn someone against... leaping into that same danger, shall we say."     'Ah-- thank you, actually. I'd normally avoid caffeine at this hour, but...'     Tamamo retrieves the thermos, a pair of cups, and pours just an inch of steaming, fragrant green tea into each.     The second cup is quietly passed to Lilian, rather than taken, herself. "Drink slowly, if you please."     The caffeine is much less important than the ancient herbalism, tantamount to magecraft, that went into its construction, but there's no need to mention that. It won't be nearly as hard on the imbiber's body as straight espresso shots, and that's the important part.
Tamamo	'Miss Tachibana encouraged her to break a bunch of laws and do vandalism. It's not the first time Meika's done something like that, so I didn't interfere, but...'     Tamamo turns to look at Kayoko, the specific reason for her surprise made less apparent by asking, "You did not, because she had already... what?"     What had Meika already done, that Hibiki told her to do?     'So it tells me a tremendous deal that you know far less about her than even I do.'     Tamamo gives a vague 'mmn.' It's not disagreeing with Lilian, but more polite than many other things she could say in front of Kurokawa.     'She's owed that, for what she's spent, no matter what she's done.'     Without fully turning to Bond, "I would that we could give children more than only what they are owed, but I suppose it makes for an acceptable starting point, and that this is not the time to discuss that particular facet of philosophy."      'A happy coincidence that I can save you effort of 'career counseling' such a difficult case.'     A sidelong glance at Lilian. "I am sure the good sister is doing the best she can with the resources available to her." It's unclear whether this is an attempt at playing 'good cop,' or a damning of Kurokawa with the implication that this failure is the best she can do.     What is clear, and only obviously purposeful to someone very familiar with Tamamo's mode of speech, is the noticeable hint of insincerity. Just unsubtle enough to clearly carry through that she doesn't believe that Kurokawa really is doing her best, and that Tamamo's merely being polite, as is her nature.
Meika Kirenai	As Bond contemplates the Cherub, it's impossible to know if his twitching finger gets noticed or not. Drop just sits and stares, back- any of it could be noticed. Whatever malice he wants to return feels like it must be exactly what's expected. Was Kayoko gentle with her paired familiar, anyways?     Kale is, unfortunately, right. Meika has dealt with drop for the entire time she's been a magical girl. Kale is, also, unfortunate to have to be staring down this unpleasant creature as it examines its own hands, and basks in the uncomfortable attention- until Kale's eyes move away, and the Cherub scampers off.     Lilian gets another pair of beady eyes on her, as she pulls up her sleeve, as she starts her arguments proper. It cocks its head, perched for a moment up on the table, as if it's interested in her- or just cutting apart the things she's said for bite-sized repetition. Everything said risks being heard. Its fingers tap against the folding table's plastic, and it seems like it'll say something before-     Drop's own shadow seems to swallow it up. It scrambles weirdly, as it falls into its own manipulated shadow- it can't claw at the edges, or nonsense like that, to escape- but it still tries. Oddly- Drop doesn't make any sort of exclamation, no shout nor curse, as it tumbles-     -And flies out, spinning, across the room and from an angled shadow of a rafter, careening out and through one of the old gym's left-open windows, out of sight and out of mind for now.
Kayoko Kirenai	"Maybe we could dispense with them, given the circumstances--my colleagues and I aren't with the Holy Refulgence,"     The Cherub on Kurokawa's shoulder slowly starts dissociating into a hazy smudge with two hole-punch eyes, body coiling outwards like smoke. Kurokawa raises a finger up to its 'face', and when it starts crawling along the length of her finger, she shakes her hand, evidently annoyed. "Cherubs are God's gifts to enable us to combat the Temptations. Whether we want them around or not, their presence is vital to both the Refulgence and the magical girls."     "Besides," She adds, dropping her stiff tone for obviously reluctant disagreement briefly. She's not a fan of the Cherubs' behavior either. "We couldn't get into the building without them."     "... I wouldn't be able to do it, either. The gym was attacked before I was a magical girl. Vermillion too." So that's how it works. Being immune and 'around' in some sense lets you interact with the fallout from a Temptation's attack somewhat normally, but older information from before your awareness was brought to it is unrecoverably erased. "It's my understanding that she's secure, at the moment, and the company isn't going to risk the fallout of changing that. Arranging her release is the easy part."     Kurokawa exhales heavily, Tamamo's herbal teacup in her hand. Her shoulders droop, and her ponytail practically seems to too, as if it's an expressive limb all on its own. "Whatever else might happen after this, I'm really, truly glad to hear that. I haven't gotten confirmation before just now either way, you know. Who else would I gotten it from besides you?" [ansi(243,"I understand that it is not terribly uncommon for entire teams to be wiped out in the normal course of their work, and their notion of a highly praiseworthy manager is one who manages to keep all of their subordinates alive for a period of weeks.")]     Kurokawa isn't nearly jaded enough-- not on this subject, at least-- to not look perturbed by Tamamo's description of L-Corp. She takes another sip from the cup Tamamo poured for her, before setting it down at her place at the table, laying a hand on the back of her chair without leaning.     "Precisely my point that it's not somewhere a teenaged girl should make a habit of visiting. Whatever the circumstances, being directly responsible for multiple deaths will weigh on Meika's mind and soul, and that's far too much for a girl under eighteen to be exposed to." It's not clear whether she missed Tamamo's point, or just fully shielded against it. "Someone who doesn't try - and, really, doesn't *care* about your rules. Which there have been several examples of such in the past already, haven't there?"     "Your implicit threat is noted, Chevalier Hearthward." Her nerves are clearly fraying at this point. Probably long before this point, too, but the way she talks to Kale is a noticeable betrayal of her polite professionalism so far. "And I'm also quite sure you know that the Holy Refulgence will still continue to be associated with the Paladins through Kayoko, who, along with the remaining time that Vermillion has, will do her best to protect our city from whatever threats might come."     With the direly flippant gravitas of foreshadowing, she adds, "And I haven't known any of the students here who aren't traversing through worlds to be targeted by a multiversal threat, unless you're suggesting that associating with the Paladins has permanently damaged our stability and indebted us to you."
Kayoko Kirenai	"Without sanctioned involvement, without keeping a place for her, what stops Meika Kirenai from going outside?"     Kayoko's eyes flick to the side, betraying a spark of anger before she masks it. To her ears, it's the same as accusing her of failing all the previous times that Meika had wandered out. Of course she can stop her. "Thank you, Chevalier Cobalt."     Kayoko doesn't wince at all at his sharp tone. Masking her reaction with an illusion means she doesn't react at all, but that's better than showing an adult you're scared of them. Unless that's what they'd rather see. "Thank you for trying to be as gentle with your sister as you could. It means everything that you respect her as much as you do."     It'd be hard to place where the feeble, choked hiccup came from, with no visual indicator, if there wasn't only one possible source. Kayoko flickers invisible for just a moment, purely as reflex, and shivers, embarrassed that she did. She still doesn't say anything in response, back to being a neutral statue behind Kurokawa. "So it tells me a tremendous deal that you know far less about her than even I do."     Kurokawa isn't nearly professional enough to hide her flinch at Lilian's tone, certainly not at this point in the meeting, after however many meetings she had with the greater Holy Refulgence already today. She opens her mouth, ready to rise to the bait, before performatively sighing instead.     "Again, as I said. There's aspects of her experience that people like you will be more prone to empathizing with; ones I don't share. And you, on the other hand, know very little about her life here at home, and the *difficulties* that the Temptation's memory erasure places on the workings of the Holy Refulgence." "These are from saving the life of Meika Kirenai."     The look of mild revulsion that Kurokawa has at Lilian's wounds isn't anything new for a civilian. Even with Meika and Kayoko, she's almost never exposed to the wounds they get fighting for their organization. The girls never let her see, or anyone. "After the abysmal performance the Refulgence has displayed in taking further steps to safeguard lives in absence of her selfless support."     Kurokawa leans on the back of her chair, drooping posture to look down at the papers. She crosses her arms across it to support her chin, purple eyes dismal and dimly lit with loathing. "... I can't fight for them, miss Rook." What she means is that she's not able to transform and defend the city right beside them as combat support of her own. What she also means, to some degree, is the much more unhappy interpretation. "A happy coincidence that I can save you effort of 'career counseling' such a difficult case."     Kurokawa sighs, forehead on her forearms. Kayoko is visibly stressed behind her, seeing her local advocate looking so defeated by her multiversal advocate. "... You're projecting malice onto me that I don't feel towards her. Meika is a difficult child. She's let down nearly every duty ever handed to her, and I'd still do what I can to believe in her for the next. If you want to help her after she ages out, then may God be with you."     Meika's removal from the Paladins seems to have been non-negotiable, not with Kurokawa at least. She's far from happy about the situation, and certainly not reveling in the punishment due for Meika, but she is, after all, only the lowest rung of the hierarchal ladder of the Refulgence. Kayoko has no idea how to intervene in the thinly veiled hostility between Lilian and Kurokawa, and seems incredibly averse to taking either side. Maybe it could've been an email, but time will tell how little mingling is possible in the coming months.