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[worldexecute]

USERNAME: librarian Angela Library of Ruina TEXT • AUDIO • VIDEO • ACTION • OVERFLOW

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few days after their stupid post...... action

[ignoreher]

[ malkuth had let her cool for a while before seeking her out again, knowing... exactly where her head librarian is likely to be, in the valentia's bibliotheque once lights have gone out, and she stands by the other's seat before clearing her throat. ]

Angela, can we talk? I'd like your opinion on something.

sighs.... our girls

[worldexecute]

( she's right, and angela only grimaces a little for being so easily found. her fingers tighten on the book she's picked up from her stack, then she very pointedly closes it and sets it aside. )

You have five minutes. Go.

[ignoreher]

[ more than she thought she'd get, and so malkuth inhales softly as she pulls a seat closer across from the other woman as she flips to a tabbed page. ]

So there's a few Districts in Karteria that require some TLC, but one of the worst off is East Sophia -- a friend and I toured around it a little since I was curious, and there's a lot of buildings that are either unfinished, left to rot, or poorly planned in an effort to turn a quick buck on tourists that never ended up coming in. A lot of the hotels-turned-apartments tend to cut corners to make up for the loss profit, but it's the abandoned projects that I'm most interested in. The fact that they're the most... I won't say welcoming, but the ones who're the least interested in making Augmented lives a problem anyway is a big sticking point, so I feel that we'll be able to come and go a lot easier than we might anywhere else.

To point: I'd like your advice on some key matters in reviving East Sophia, particularly in delegation of necessary tasks and penning down some firm ideas for where to begin in terms of outsourcing material, wealth, and labor.

[ a pause, and malkuth smiles a little more sheepishly. ]

I mean, I have some possible ideas, but I don't know how well it'd work out... I don't want to alienate those living within East Sophia already, but I do want to better their lives while at the same time seeing if those of us interested in running a business, clinic, or whatever else might be able to do so with their support and goodwill.

[ being able to... make a difference, however slight, here-- where she hadn't been able to before, would make her happy. but malkuth does know it will take time and effort, which is exactly why she's reaching out to angela. that, and to talk on something else, but this is the explanatory build up. ]

[worldexecute]

( angela listens quietly, not looking at malkuth. putting that architect dream to good work here, isn't she? another big project to better a city full of people who don't deserve it, but--

there isn't any room for human sacrifices in this one, as far as she can see. that already makes it better than what the research team had tried so many years ago. )

If you don't wish to alienate those living there, seek help or counsel from them first. Survey the populace and find out what they consider important, whether they're locals or Augmented that have decided to stay there. That's your first step.

After that, things should be easy. ( she spreads a hand, curling her fingers as she talks. ) You put out a call or find others who already have an interest in revitalizing East Sophia, you make a list of what they can do, and you organize manpower. That's all simplified, of course, but that's essentially it. The most important part of this will be getting those staying in East Sophia's thoughts and permissions first, and if they'd like to help out or start their own businesses, it's important to support those as well. We are intruders to their city, Malkuth. Even if the people in that area are less bothered by us -- or rather, the aspects that reveal themselves -- we are not from here. It can easily turn against us if you simply go rushing in bullheadedly.

( she folds her hands in front of her, watching malkuth from her peripheral. )

Do you understand?

[ignoreher]

[ when angela begins to speak, malkuth's pen moves against the paper. things that are obvious-- things she would've remembered a moment too late, or would've slipped through the cracks with her own good intentions at the forefront, this is what she needed angela for. someone outside, who can pick it apart and see clearly... ]

Yup! Got it all down. I know the people in Basileios might be willing to put money into it if we could pitch it just right, [ being bored rich folk has its perks, ] but I don't feel like that's quite the right answer, either. They wouldn't have the interests of East Sophia at heart...

[ so accruing any necessary funds would be... hmmm. she taps her lips with her pen, humming softly. ]

Well, I guess that's where a little gambling and some sweet talking comes in. We'll coast free until we can't and use what money we've got to spare, whether from the businesses that set up shop or out of pocket from the jobs we've picked up, for the unavoidable. Thanks, Angela! I knew I could count on you.

[ ...

but she will still just be. sitting here. ]

[worldexecute]

( angela doesn't open her book back up. she waits, and waits, and finally, )

Is there something else?

[ignoreher]

[ she hasn't gone back to her book, and malkuth hasn't moved. there's a quiet comfort in that; angela is the same as she has ever been, even surrounded by a radically different crowd. ]

Do you remember what we talked about before? The cultural exchange thing.

[ that should be an easy enough start, after speaking about something far larger. it... is going to lead into something else, but she can't push herself to state it -- just because of who they are to each other -- without a bit of structure. ]

[worldexecute]

The one you decided you'd rely solely on your income as an idol manager to finance and promote?

( tell her you decided on a better course of action than that. )

[ignoreher]

Before you chewed me out in front of my idols, yes. [ god. ] I can't handle it and the restoration project at the same time, much less finance any of it on my own -- 3kon included in that budgeting process, in and out -- so... will you oversee it?

[ this is the closest angela is getting to "you were right i was wrong" ]

[worldexecute]

( )

...And just what am I getting out of this?

( she gets to be right, but what's the profit margin for her putting her time into this instead of, say, anything else. )

( text ) un: noisybee

[hanabee]

[This message... comes entirely out of nowhere!]

hello, miss angela~☆ do you remember me? I'm rinne-kun's friend/unitmate/wallet/etc. shiina niki is the name!

it's been a while, so I wanted to see how you've been doing! have you been well? if you like, I'd be happy to treat you to coffee or something sometime. ☆

SORRY FOR THE LATENESS i've been so tired..... new job..........

[worldexecute]

( ...oh, she remembers him and his rather kind offer. )

Hello, Niki. I've been fine, or as fine as one can be here. It is somewhat distressing how quickly one becomes corrupted by Natural Souls... but I suppose it is the same back home.
Regardless, I would enjoy catching up over tea.

omg CONGRATS!! I'm so happy for you! DON'T EVEN WORRY ABOUT IT, I will prob always be slower LOL

[hanabee]

yeah, no kidding. [He hadn't noticed it right away... Or maybe he didn't want to.] I thought it would take longer, but then it was like things changed overnight.

[She says it was similar to back home, but Niki understands that that may not necessarily make it less distressing. It's hard.]

why don't you come by the cafe I work at? I'm not working today, but I can still hook us up~♪

[He sends the address along, too, just in case she needs it.]

THANK YOU...!!

[worldexecute]

( heck yes... the secret menu. )

I'll be there soon.

( and, true to her word, she'll go. her corruption is... more than someone who might have been here just barely a month, with dark feathers already beginning to take over her scalp beneath her hair; it gives her the impression of having dyed it a shiny black. her digits, too, resemble more closely the talons of the raven she embodies when she fully shifts than the fingers of the human she always wished to be.

beneath her clothes are more feathers, but she's dressed conservatively as always: long dark coat, tights over a skirt, blouse and ribbon. if she doesn't have to look at them, she doesn't have to acknowledge them. they itch beneath the clothes, but she can ignore that, she can, it's fine, it's fine, it's f )

Shiina. ( she'll greet him as soon as she sees him. ) I expect you to show off your tastebuds today. You can't let Rinne beat you in the food recommendation department, after all.

on the night of takasugi's birthday party

[hanikamu]

ayo miss ange are you like a writing desk?
coz i wanna put your right end on my front

[ malkuth can explain ]

[worldexecute]

( hello? )

May I say something, Rinne Amagi?

[hanikamu]

yea

[worldexecute]

Official PUL Score.
Originality: 2
Length: 3
Grammar: 1
Vocabulary: 1
Coherency: 1
Total: 8/20

It was a good effort, however there is room for improvement. Your vocabulary and grammar are both lacking, showcasing a rather simplistic approach to flirting. I acknowledge some people might appreciate that, even if I don't. The length of it was quite nice but could have been snappier. Finally, I personally feel as if you could have been clearer about what the "right end" is to you, as that also may be personal preference.

You can do better, Amagi. Try.

un: yesod; early on between october 8-12

[wordchain]

[ It begins with seeking to confirm who was collected by Patho-Gen due to the Augmenter recall, which only leads to more questions. The rising tensions surrounding the situation remind Yesod of his conversation with Momo last month, as well as what Angela shared when he arrived.

It's unfortunate that she presumably can't locate the Librarians as she did in the Library. ]

Could I speak with you in person, Angela?

sniffles... yesod...

[worldexecute]

( she can't. if she could, she would have already cinched malkuth, taking care of anyone who might have stood in her way.

because malkuth is her employee, you see. nothing else. not friends, not imprinted.

it's nice to know yesod is not one of those stolen away though, and she smoothes her feathers before responding. )

Yes. My room. I'll prepare tea.

( she's been practicing, remembering how binah did it. she's sure they taste similar enough by now, with luck. )

angela feelings... lies on the floor

[wordchain]

I appreciate it. I'll set out shortly.

[ Rather than the prospect of tea, he appreciates the chance to resume discussing Patho-Gen with Angela — and to stay aware of her whereabouts and Malkuth's as much as possible, considering how much is withheld from the Augmented. Soon enough, he arrives to announce himself with a knock, as though this is simply a visit to another floor of the Library.

Perhaps no location is genuinely private while they have Patho-Gen technology on their person, which Yesod means to keep in mind, but their rooms in the Valentia are a better option than Patho-Gen facilities or the Syntrofos. ]

lies with.... my ruinas

[worldexecute]

( it may as well be, as when angela opens her door, there are dozens of books strewn about her room in an orderly sort of chaos. the delicate scent of tea wafts from two cups on the table, freshly-poured, and she motions him inside. after giving a long look outside both ways, she shuts the door, locks it, and fixes the dark feathers at the back of her neck. )

You may begin.

( tell her what's up, yesod, and enjoy the rosehip tea she's tried to prepare. it's a little understeeped, but that can be fixed with time. )

[wordchain]

[ Watching Angela as she checks the hallway and closes the door, Yesod notices her movement before she addresses him. He can't help but wonder whether it's deliberate — Angela's appearance is usually perfectly tidy as it is. Given the permanently visible physical changes that Malkuth has undergone more recently, what else lies in store for all of them has crossed his mind, as far as the progression of their Corrupted traits is concerned.

Once he and Angela are seated at the table with their cups of fragrant tea, which might make for a conversation topic itself in different circumstances, Yesod turns to the matters that have brought him here today. He gestures toward his neck, the left side where some scarring remains. ]

What do you make of the explanation that Patho-Gen has provided regarding the apparent need to carry out their corrective procedure without prior notice?

[ It's odd, he thinks, that the affected Augmented were all evidently summoned overnight, and by the sound of it, the extent of this manufacturing fault is unusual. ]

[worldexecute]

It's bullshit.

( flat and immediate. )

It's taking Augmented from all points of time--wouldn't they have caught this on those pulled long before Malkuth? ( her feathers puff slightly, irritation evident despite her neutral tone. ) They're certainly hiding something, and I am going to find out. Whatever it takes.

( no one is going to be put through a repeat of--

angela cups her drink in her hands, letting the warmth ground her. she shouldn't get so riled up. a slow exhale. )

...I do believe regular employees aren't aware of the extent of Patho-Gen's machinations, so they may be spared our inquiry. We'd have to go higher.

[wordchain]

[ Yesod agrees with Angela's succinct opening statement. Once again, it's an all too familiar situation, the truth obscured behind some pretext, and questioning it is discouraged. It must pick at Angela's own memories, too, he imagines. ]

Yes... I doubt that Malkuth and the other Augmented were collected arbitrarily.

[ Albeit not for the nonsensical reason that Patho-Gen has presented as their convenient excuse. As sudden as it is, that very fact may indicate that they selected specific Augmented in advance, according to certain criteria. Something else, in turn, may have precipitated it.

Studying Angela, Yesod continues: ]

You won't be alone in seeking answers. [ And Malkuth herself. ] How do you plan to pursue them?