Scene #9734: Known Racial Supremacist Pedra Sorok--

Owner	Pose
Timekeeper	Madam Z has been quite clear about the fact that Pedra of the Mankind Caucus isn't super likely to view her favorably without a lot of supporting evidence-- it's easy to believe that, because Lilian and Tamamo know they won't be either. Sonetto's hands are kept full trying to gather as much material against the Chicago branch as possible, and Madam Z's with navigating the unspeakable tangle of bureaucracy that nests atop the Foundation, and the latter tries to keep you up to date on both as she can. Apparently, bills that pass through the House of Integratus have three chances to be amended and voted upon by the Joint Council before they're discarded entirely. The first vote happened obligatorially when Madam Z first proposed it, as a preliminary measure to slow down the machinery whirring up in opposition to the Suitcase Rebellion. The second, she tells you, was forced more recently, by the Vice President herself pressuring the council members to call for a vote while knowing that Madam Z hadn't yet completed her schemes to buy enough support from the other factions to pass it. That means that there's only one chance left to get the Storm Reformation bill through with a majority vote, or she'll have to start from scratch, and the rebellion will lose all the thin political protections it has. Like it or not, they'll have to approach the Mankind Caucus now, with the evidence Sonetto's gathered, and hope that they can somehow get him to promise to support a bill that goes against everything he stands for. Before going to the conference room where the Mankind Caucus is gathered, Sonetto is with Madam Z in her office to present to you the results of her investigation. Stacks of manilla folders filled with photographs and faxed copies of accounting sheets and bland internal correspondence are stacked up on the coffee table between her grey armchairs, but as Sonetto begins to rotely go through the impenetrably dense and dull information, Z pats her on the shoulder and encourages her to summarize for the sake of time. In short, her findings are thus, with a paper trail to support them: in order to integrate the head staff of the Chicago Branch of 1929 into Headquarters, several stages of conversion from 1929 USD to 1999 Foudation Sterling Standard have to be done to accomodate salaries and budgets. At each stage of this currency conversion, the officially stated before and after values don't match up, suggesting that they laundered money illegally gotten through bribery during the 1929 era. Audits of the branch's budget and subpoenaed internal documentation tracks their allocation of local, federal, and Foundation-supplied funding for aid, showing a heavy skew in what they provided for assisting arcanists, versus reparations for 'victims of arcanum', the latter of which seems to be thinly veiled payoffs to corrupt government individuals. Their annual budget appeared reasonable on a quick glance from reviews at Headquarters, but closer interrogation showed promised projects that went nowhere, simple things that apparently cost tens or hundreds of times more than they should, and so on. Going through all of this, Madam Z sighs in relief, pushing up her glasses. "Thank you, Sonetto. This is quite a lot of evidence you've found. Hopefully, it is enough to convince Councilor Pedra to vote our way, and additionally, to restructure the mismanaged Chicago branch as well. Before we speak with him, is there anything you are unsure about?"
Timekeeper	The meeting room is several floors lower, and Madam Z guides you through the elevators and hallways to reach it. Sonetto has her own business to attend to-- which is partly an excuse for her not attending this meeting, as everything she could say would be both more fitting and more acceptable coming out of Z's mouth. Down here, the furnishing is oddly more personable than it is in Madam Z's office, but only just. It's dominated by the traditional Foundation grey and white, but painted over with the tan haze of 80s corporate interior decor. One long beige table bends at ninety degrees to form an L, and brown and grey office chairs line the sides of it, four of which are occupied. One man sits near the head of the table, smoking a cigar with the window open, just out of arm's reach of the single scraggly houseplant in the room, talking while the other three men listen. Madam Z doesn't knock when she opens the door, and her presence isn't noticed until she strides up to the table and interrupts their conversation. "Good afternoon, gentlemen. You all seem to be in good moods today." The man-- Pedra, presumably, sits up in his chair with his eyebrows raised, disbelieving expression on his face. "Well, I can't believe my eyes. Z? Are you sure you're in the right room?"
Tamamo	As is now her standard camouflage for the area, Tamamo arrives in her most office-like and colorless attire, quite nearly appropriate for an OL of some part of the 1900s, with that bit of cyan complementary accenting being the one strike against Foundation grayscale she insists upon. That, and her ears, her now-ghostly tails, her golden eyes, her hair a fiery pink that, yes, extends to even her eyebrows... It can't be helped. "Chairman Pedra? My card. Mizukume Rook, Paladin Chevalier." Tamamo presents a business card that says just that, glossy in its laminate, along with contact details that include 'Earth' followed by a numbered designation. Together with the kanji that spells out 'Tamamo-no-mae,' it's a mixture of what she expects to be expected and what wouldn't be. "We," meaning the Paladins, obviously, "were contacted by our liaison regarding an internal investigation into a Foundation office that may have been related, indirectly, to certain disastrous events involving both Paladin and Concord personnel. A chance to help out an ally was just a happy coincidence, really." She smiles. It's a business smile, on purpose. It says 'our interests, principles, and means of profit align, and I can help you because this isn't zero-sum.' It, and her matter of fact tone, and her well-mannered diction, suggest trust through predictability. Misttrusting her would just be unreasonable. "I am given to understand that you held your own suspicions regarding the Chicago office, and would appreciate being brought into the loop sooner than later. You will find we have been thorough, in both collection and analysis." The words chosen are part of it. The Charm in her eyes is a subtle thing. It's better that there be no memories difficult to rationalize.
James Bond	Bond had chosen a bold color and cut of suit for his meeting with Z, but Pedra is a different matter. A modernized version of the London cut suggests the masculine shape without emphasizing it nearly so much as its original iteration; the shoulders are relaxed, the chest full, and the lapels softly rolled. The black gabardine and the underspoken cut conspire with the plain black tie to send a message. 'I am just like you -- sensible, serious, normal.' His handshake is firm. "Chairman," he says nodding. "A pleasure. Chevalier James Bond. I'm sorry to say that I was part of that disaster that Chevalier Rook mentioned. But if you've had the chance to review my report on it, you'll know that I value nothing so much as transparency and accountability." "When I heard about the concerns you've been raising, I thought that I might find a kindred spirit. Was I right?"
Lilian Rook	Lilian loathes these three tries no takesies backsies structures as a rule, but right now, she has no room to complain. Between the semi-intentional yet still-disappointing ineffectuality of the rebellion and the naked antipathy so much of the Foundation holds towards Vertin, for the first time she can remember, bureaucratic 'best of five' is working in her favour; at least from the perspective of being attached to realizing Vertin's ambitions and not running away with her to the proverbial circus (black and klein blue). Constantine forcing the issue the other week hardly even pisses her off. It was the obvious move to pressure Madam Z into folding, and little more. So obvious, in fact, that it hardly means anything that she did. Such are the terms of engagement. Lilian has hardly found time to check in on Sonetto, but has insisted on making it where she can (and encouraging Tamamo to go as well), and using the rest she can spare to review her mission notes, selective Paladins bodycam footage, the Artificial Somnambulism data pertaining to the Walden that still exists (her own, mercifully, deleted), and much to her displeasure, her unrequested thirty hour stay in Chicago outside of any official deployment. Chicago 'of 1929' is gone. She can't go back there to do more legwork even if she tries. That reality sits strangely with Lilian through her entire process, following her into the building even after she's compiled her abbreviated binder of complaints regarding the Chicago branch's sluggish and inconsistent responses, appalling lack of material support, and ostensible invisibility within the city; all things she'd commented on in the moment, reviewed and double underlined now that a criminal investigation is underway. The thought that follows as its close twin still clings stubbornly to her through the doorway: That she'd have looked into this herself at the time, if she weren't so blindly certain about everything she'd been told. 'Before we speak with him, is there anything you are unsure about?' "If anything, if he's really willing to vote against his own sensationalist bias just to catch petty bureaucratic criminals that have nothing to do with him. I can't make heads or tails of the principles of a man like that." . . . . . . . . Lilian, by continuing to dress the same on each day she spends at the St. Pavlov Foundation campus, actually comes across as perhaps slightly more arcanist than her wife, discounting all other features. The palette was chosen long before she had any mind for kissing the ring, so her (second) chosen colour accent is subtly reactionary. 'Well, I can't believe my eyes. Z? Are you sure you're in the right room?' "Oh? How surprising." Lilian says, mock-curious, deniably snide, not-quite on autopilot. "I'd always assumed that the Foundation's staff were simply always they meant to be, but I suppose it is a big building . . ." Being around Mesmer so much may have caused some of the psychological damage responsible for her attitude by now, but she's always had her troublesome habit of starting negotiations by holding a match to the elephant in the room from the getgo. She blinks as if she's just caught her mind wandering. "Ah, I beg your pardon." Lilian says, and smiles, because her wife is trying so hard and she looks so pretty and good.
Lilian Rook	"Chevalier Lilian Rook. Or Commander Rook for the sake of clarify, if you prefer." With James and Tamamo handling the two-pronged approach so magnificently, she allows herself to hang back and openly take the room in with a quick visual scan. "You may have heard of me, actually. I'm the field operative responsible for returning the Foundation's 'suitcase' from the Storm of 1929." That'd obviously be Vertin, actually. She's being euphemistically obvious. Playing the foreign professional who covered for Your organization's problem child comes easily. "Madam Z caught me on the way to your office, seeing as I'd just finished compiling my intelligent report; both on Manus Vindictae and on the unusual behaviour of certain personnel I happened to document on multiple counts. I was on my way out to hand it off to the Paladins, actually." Lilian says, fibbing in a way that doesn't matter at all. She looks for a chair, expecting to find none, and not really caring. "Do you mind if I sit in on your chat? I was told it'd be a convenient time, given your preexisting business."
Timekeeper	"We were contacted by our liaison regarding an internal investigation into a Foundation office that may have been related, indirectly, to certain disastrous events involving both Paladin and Concord personnel." That makes Pedra's expression shift from disbelief, to very interested, over the course of one sentence. He leans forwards and folds his hands in front of him on the table, flicking his eyes over to Madam Z for her to confirm what Tamamo's saying. With a smooth smile, Z reaches out to grab the back of one of the empty seats, tilting it to suggest pulling it out to sit. "As Chevalier Rook says; I believe we have much to offer each other. Shall we speak, Councilor?" One of the other men, a heavier guy wearing a white button up instead of a suit, scoffs and slaps his hand against his thigh. "Please. Are you mad? You won't find any support for your bizarre little conspiracies here." Pedra shakes his head, and the other man goes quiet, chewing on something with an uncertain expression. He takes Tamamo's business card and flicks it habitually, like he's testing its construction. His introduction in return is professionally obligate, but curt. "Pedra Paul Gonzales-Rosa, sitting councilor and legislative committee member." That's enough leeway for Z to take the chance to sit, facing Pedra from across the table, with each of their supporters arranged to their sides. Pedra glances at his watch, then at the clock on the wall, opening the miniature impromptu meeting with a crude comment. "No, it's too early in the day for me to be drunk, and I'm sure I haven't lost my mind. Have you, my honorable comrade in the committee?" "No. I'm interested in a mutually beneficial partnership." "You want me to canvas for you," Pedra repeats what Z left unsaid, looking side to side at his companions in the Mankind Caucus as if to confirm he's not hearing things. Another one of them, in thin rimmed glasses and a wispy moustache that makes him look twenty years older than he is, takes the side-eye as encouragement to speak. "Of course she does! It's all she's talked about for weeks now, that daft proposal of hers. Yes, yes, let's flood our sanctuary with uncontrolled, unvetted, un-accounted-for arcanists, to appease some rioters! Why, I feel my pen leaping from my hand to sign the page already!" Bouncing off of that, but with comparatively a more even, if gruff, tone, Pedra says, "Let's not joke around. You and I both know we've never agreed on anything before. Neither your arcanists or the Paladins are my concern." The particular term of 'your arcanists' slides off of Madam Z with so little concern that it must have been said a thousand times to her before. "The Paladins are all of our concerns, if I may remind you. The greatest weakness of the Foundation through these eras has been our solitude, and our allies from other worlds are instrumental to moving forwards effectively and collectively. They are entangled already in our internal operations, as you can see."
Timekeeper	Pedra hrmphs, then finally turns his attention directly to the Elites. "Don't stand on my account." There's plenty of extra chairs, actually. The four men could've probably found a much smaller meeting room for whatever they were doing before you arrived. "But if you've had the chance to review my report on it, you'll know that I value nothing so much as transparency and accountability." He hasn't had the chance to review them, Bond can immediately see off his face. He's not planning on saying that, but the assessments on Bond's character are happening in real time-- and Tamamo's too. "Well, that's right. If those bastards-- ah, pardon my language, ma'am," That's to Tamamo specifically for some reason. "If they're already catching heat from your organization, then I'd be pretty damn pleased to hear about your own investigations." "Or Commander Rook for the sake of clarify, if you prefer." "And here I thought it was 'Doctor', same as Z." So he definitely has heard of Lilian, but not the other two, which suggests his own investigations have been pretty much stalled when it comes to the information out in the field. Now matched in personnel on either side of the table, Pedra adjusts the square glasses that are too small for his face, trying to peer out at the papers Z's got securely tucked in front of her. "Huh. Well, I don't know where you heard it, but you got me. That place is mismanaged like crap. It's a blight on our organization, for humans and otherwise; just a pit of greedy corrupt politicians that spoiled themselves rotten. I've been sueing for a total restructuring, and personal oversight." He leans back, chair creaking uneasily under his weight. "But here's the thing. You Paladins, you're already gunning for them, right? Z's brought you to me, but we're already aligned. If they're in as hot water as you say, it seems like only a matter of time before their money grubbing schnozzes are out of here anyhow, with my people and the Paladins on their case. What can you offer me?" Madam Z shuffles the papers without looking at them, just enough that a glimpse of color photos comes through to catch Pedra's eye. "These three, along with an informant of my own, have promised to be witnesses on the stand in the trial against the Chicago branch's management on your behalf, in exchange for you and your coalition's votes."
James Bond	Bond takes a seat. "Thank you, Chairman." Folding his hands politely over the table, he waits patient and composed for Pedra's answer. If they're already catching heat from your organization, then I'd be pretty damn pleased to hear about your own investigations. "As I'm sure you're aware, these things can be difficult to pin down, not just because they're being perpetrated by people with their hands on the organizational levers, but because they've had time to establish themselves." "There are a lot of tactics for hiding graft," he says. "If you're familiar enough with them, you can have a reasonable expectation of when they might be used. For instance, waiting until an organizational restructuring to slip something in." He pauses, to allow Pedra's mind to drift where he wants it to--towards the integration of the Chicago branch. These three, along with an informant of my own, have promised to be witnesses on the stand in the trial against the Chicago branch's management on your behalf, in exchange for you and your coalition's votes. Bond nods. "The Foundation has a proven record of results, even with everything working against it. We'd like to do our part to ensure that bad actors and shortsighted people don't gum up the works. The nature of an outfit like this means that there will always be that kind of work to do, but that's no reason to shy away from doing it."
Tamamo	'...you'll know that I value nothing so much as transparency and accountability.' "Things Chicago could certainly use in greater quantity," Tamamo says, with conservatively calculated heat. They're still getting to that. 'Or Commander Rook for the sake of clarify, if you prefer.' Tamamo knows how she usually says that, but this isn't at all the time to call attention to it. 'Do you mind if I sit in on your chat?' 'Don't stand on my account.' "Well, then." Tamamo moves to sit as soon as it's offered, legs crossed and with a hand over her knee. The immaterial nature of her tails in this form is, obviously, so she can scooch more comfortably on ordinary seats. 'And here I thought it was 'Doctor', same as Z.' "I am certain she could fill your evening with war stories, if you preferred." She's not certain he would, but thinks it more likely than not that he's more tired of doctors. No need to mention her own healing arts or Bond's experience. 'seems like only a matter of time before their money grubbing schnozzes are out of here anyhow, with my people and the Paladins on their case. What can you offer me?' '...in exchange for you and your coalition's votes.' "Now, that may be the short of it, councilor, but if you will allow me a moment, it is like this." She spreads her hands, allowing her smile to turn steely. "We would not like a repeat of Chicago, 1929. A crackdown on corrupt and grossly negligent offices is a start, but there is no guarantee that future challenges can be overcome using only a philosophy of 'try harder, but more carefully.' We are committed to placing our people into harm's way, and would be neglecting our duties if we did not take all appropriate steps to ensure they can complete their missions with reasonable safety." She says that as if she wasn't right there, too, and wouldn't be there again, phrasing it like she's only concerned with taking practical, well-principled steps for hypothetical, subordinate field agents, because that's the perspective she expects most people in this room to best relate to. Lowering her hands, "There are a few reasons why the Storm Reformation bill works in our favor. Most importantly, it remedies the reported shortage of staff." She moves on too quickly to dwell on 'reported by whom.' "Second, it places responsibility of those arcanists avoiding direct Foundation association squarely onto the Timekeeper. Now, the realities of field work are such that one cannot always have things proceed in a squeaky-clean manner. It is unfortunate, but the world at large is a messy place. Given that such things are both unavoidable and, on occasion, operationally critical..." She learned some of this just from listening to Lilian. "...is it not better to make matters of accountability clear? There are some who will only rise to the occasion when given that sort of burden of responsibility." With a circling gesture, "To return this to Paladin interests, in clarity, it benefits us to keep things simple for those recruited. With countless lives at stake, they should be kept on task with a clear and close chain of command, rather than be distracted--" She pauses, meaningfully, to not say 'in rebellion' out loud, but imply disapproval of all chaos, "--by vague uncertainties."
Lilian Rook	'As Chevalier Rook says;' God that's going to get confusing. No matter though! It's still enough to pleasantly fill Lilian's head with sunshine and fluff for a few seconds at a time. 'Please. Are you mad? You won't find any support for your bizarre little conspiracies here.' And now Lilian gets to be glad that Madam Z is the diplomatic lead here, because she's pretty sure she just looked at that guy like the ash tray just voiced an opinion. 'Pedra Paul Gonzales-Rosa, sitting councilor and legislative committee member.' "Naturally, I've heard quite a bit." says Lilian; without any particular implication. It's just a fact. "It's a pleasure to meet the man behind the title." 'No, it's too early in the day for me to be drunk, and I'm sure I haven't lost my mind. Have you, my honorable comrade in the committee?' It's not. It's so not a pleasure. She hates this guy. There's no way he'd get away with saying that to a human committee director. 'Why, I feel my pen leaping from my hand to sign the page already!' "I'd appreciate it if you allowed Madam Z to speak her piece nevertheless." Lilian says, all smiles. 'Neither your arcanists or the Paladins are my concern.' Eyebrow up. Lip quirked. Lilian doesn't need to practice 'Oh? Is that so? Very interesting.' writ silent. The saccade right back to Madam Z, confused and lightly startled, is the exact opposite, but Lilian pushes it out of mind straight away. 'Well, that's right. If those bastards-- ah, pardon my language, ma'am' §Should I be offended he saved it just for Tamamo? Or is that just vanishingly rare common sense?§ 'And here I thought it was 'Doctor', same as Z.' Finally. Something is fielded directly at her; and right when she's most distracted. Lilian double blinks, turns her head back, and smiles in a vague and meaningless way. "Ah. Though my doctorate sees plenty of use these days, I tend to think of myself as of a military woman first. The lovely people at Laplace are just very clear about which they prefer." It's be empty pandering if it weren't also completely true. Lilian spend years avoiding mentioning her doctorate on the public bands so that certain 'personalities' wouldn't insist on using 'Doctor' over everything else. As to why it feels like a gesture of inclusion from the LSCC-- Who cares, it's politics right now, haha. Though she may be surprised at the vitriolic gusto with which Pedra slanders the name of the Chicago branch of the Foundation, Lilian has an easy time aligning "Hear hear." with the tone of the room. Even if he's another human in a suit to her, he can at least be one of the good ones, because he hates the same people she does. 'These three, along with an informant of my own, have promised to be witnesses on the stand in the trial against the Chicago branch's management on your behalf' "That I have." Lilian says, airily, only getting around to pulling out a chair and seating herself shortly after. The fact that she promised to testify on several other subjects as well goes unsaid. Instead, she treats herself to the tabletop as a place to rest an arm and elbow, resting her chin on the back of her hand. "I currently have several motions I'd like to put by the Foundation; so long as your organization intends to continue cooperation with mine, of course." She looks at the guy she looks at on purpose; a glance, then a wander away. "It's fortunate that I've been able to hear your concerns just now, seeing as I intend to address one of them myself, actually." she says, as if it could possibly be a happy accident.
Lilian Rook	She does wait for an opening to speak, permitted explicitly or implicitly. Then she begins with "First," closing one finger into the half-fist under her chin. "None of the arcanists in the proposal will be unvetted, uncontrolled, or unaccounted for." Lilian raises her voice a hair with the necessary speed to preempt rebuttal. "And I don't mean 'well of course they'll be watched over by the Timekeeper', mind you." She pauses to clear the air. "It'd be an understatement to call it an open secret that many who sympathize with the Timekeeper's views also share sympathies with the Watch; I'm certain you've come across the name. My organization happens to share your belief that it would be irresponsible to leave a major development like this completely unchecked." Never mind that nobody from the Paladins actually ordered her to do anything. "As you know, the bill makes several stipulations as to the use of 'the suitcase', pertaining to the proposed new division and its engagement with outside contractors. I would ordinarily be against them," Half-true. "But it so happens that I've already been offered a permanent residence on the property aforementioned in the proposal." Which Vertin will definitely agree was legally binding. "I've confirmed, and had notarized, my express intent to take on official oversight duties regarding the 'Timeekeper unit'; on behalf of the Paladins, and on behalf of the Foundation if you'd so like. Though I believe it was likely the Timekeeper's intent to demonstrate goodwill and transparency in the first place, I see no reason not to have it in writing." Lilian says. "I'm fully prepared to take administrative responsibility for the goings-on within the proposed refuge facility for contracted arcanists; as an intelligence and counter-terrorism operative of seven years, mind you." Lilian smiles about it, because it's a handy little separation of her worldly, 'boots on the ground' ways, and the abstract vagueries of 'those bureaucrats' to her side; but also it's just something very tangible too. "In other words, I personally support the Storm Reformation Bill because it will allow me to be physically present and involved, as a veteran Paladins officer, in monitoring and regulating arcanist external contractors with the cooperation of the Timekeeper." Lilian says, punctuated with a little sigh. "If you're curious about my record, my employers will be happy to make it available." She presses her lips together in half-real indecision, and changes her tone. "Between you and me, I'm a bit sick of the mischief they get up to already. At this point, I feel like the extra workload is a small price to pay for getting to crack down on that behaviour myself."
Lilian Rook	'Second, it places responsibility of those arcanists avoiding direct Foundation association squarely onto the Timekeeper.' Now she gets to smile about her beautiful and very clever wife making such a good impression and making her job so much easier. "The proposed structure of accountability happens to be convenient for the Paladins. Even if a hypothetical individual contractor can't necessarily be trusted to respect what they've been given, the new draft gives the Timekeeper every incentive to cooperate with an observer from the Paladins in preventing 'unfortunate' behaviour before it develops into an incident." Lilian shrugs. "I personally have a high opinion of the Timekeeper, mind you," Pedestrian knowledge in these circles. "But I hope you'll understand that I'm not one to stick my neck out casually." Yes she is, unfortunately. 'To return this to Paladin interests, in clarity, it benefits us to keep things simple for those recruited. With countless lives at stake, they should be kept on task with a clear and close chain of command,' Lilian nods at this as if she isn't married to the person saying it. "I sincerely believe that recognizing an official affilitate of the Foundation, where new arcanists can be onboarded, monitored, and organized all in on place, is a much cleaner, more stable solution to the currently pressing issue than embedding scores of untested individuals with distinctly non-political sympathies in just as many places all around the Foundation. For the same reason I'd like to testify in your case as well; I despise organizational obfuscation and rot."
Timekeeper	"For instance, waiting until an organizational restructuring to slip something in." Pedra scrunches up his nose, chewing on the inside of his lip to think about, hopefully, exactly what Bond wants him to. His glasses slip down his face, and he pushes them back up. The fact that he's talking on this subject at all is another notch slipping towards his acquiescence. "The funniest things have the habit of happening around that branch. Evidence goes missing, and things that were just days before lying in plain sight are suddenly private internal documentation right when my people send an inquiry. A pimply teenager at a gas station couldn't get away with refusing to open the register, but a thousand limp-wristed bureaucrats in the most important institution in the world can't do anything about it." He pauses, because the obvious follow-up to say is 'except you lot', and he doesn't want to say that. So he harrumphs instead. "Good to meet a man with a spine and a sense of propriety." "We are committed to placing our people into harm's way, and would be neglecting our duties if we did not take all appropriate steps to ensure they can complete their missions with reasonable safety." This room might be one of the only places in the Sector Tamamo could step into where people would be surprised at her suggestion that she isn't one of the boots on the ground. To nearly any other society, the trappings of her image that would jump out would be her femininity, her (aspirational) motherliness, her (performative) demure and refined nature, the lack of any visible weapon or ability to use one; here, she has ears and magical tails and sharp teeth. Arcanists are, regardless of their personal inclinations, disproportionately soldiers first within the Foundation, and only otherwise if they can't be. Pedra isn't so suave that he can adjust without comment, but he's not so crude as to blurt anything out. "You're speaking, you mean, of the Paladins field agents?" He's also not super familiar with the structure of the Paladins at all! "...is it not better to make matters of accountability clear? There are some who will only rise to the occasion when given that sort of burden of responsibility." Here's where he starts to tug on the reins a little bit, refusing to let the pace of the conversation be dictated by Tamamo. "Now, we can put aside the issue of low staffing. The whole Foundation's been wrestling with that forever, and we'll solve it like we always have, step by step. But that, see, that's where I'm having trouble swallowing Z's suggestion." He pushes his tongue into his cheek, double checking to survey his audience, both on Z's side and his own. "A group of arcanists, responsible to none other than their own, and the Timekeeper no less-- well, that's hardly accountability at all. The Field Agent Administration, now that's accountability. Training, discipline, supplies, organization: the Field Agent Administration's been honing that system for decades, and the Timekeeper, let's be frank, can't even handle her own. I don't know about you, ma'am, but I wouldn't trust my own people's lives to that."
Timekeeper	"Ah. Though my doctorate sees plenty of use these days, I tend to think of myself as of a military woman first." "I am certain she could fill your evening with war stories, if you preferred." Tamamo does seem half-right, at least. Pedra might not be keen on sitting down with Lilian for an evening's chat, but 'military' is a noticeable upward tick from 'doctor'. He clicks his tongue, and tilts his head towards the heavier man who spoke up earlier, raising his eyebrows to communicate something wordless. "I'll admit, I had a different image of you in mind, Commander." What was that image, and what feelings are behind the extra sauce he puts on that title? He doesn't say either way. His opinion of Laplace, at least, is very clear, though. "The LSCC's a bunch of crackpot children mixing together cleaners until they knock themselves flat on chemical gas. And they suck a quarter of our budget yearly to do it. You know, their fondness for that shiny doctorate of yours probably cost proper military men new gear, or engineers the tools they need to work." "I currently have several motions I'd like to put by the Foundation; so long as your organization intends to continue cooperation with mine, of course." When the moustached man is looked at, he sweats lightly, clearly very bad at dealing with women like her. "Ah... would that be the LSCC, or the Paladins...?" The idea that this guy could, on first contact, even entertain the possibility that Lilian might walk in here and begin bartering with the entire cooperation of Laplace as her wager, really hammers in how narrow of a view any person within the Foundation has of the whole operation. "None of the arcanists in the proposal will be unvetted, uncontrolled, or unaccounted for." "Hm." Pedra shifts in his chair, noting the change in tone from 'promises and reassurance' to 'concessions'. It is exactly the point he'd brought up himself earlier, so he can't say it doesn't matter, and despite his attitude, it seems like the one thing he does most is stick to his guns. "It's better to hear that there's at least some plan to keep an eye on what could go on in there," Bringing up being against the Watch on an organizational level is definitely a point scored, but maybe not for the reasons Lilian expected. "But, as you've already admitted, that's a position you're only in because of the Timekeeper's personal whims. I don't see how that's not just more of the same, besides you being a Paladin." "The Timekeeper's thrown in with the terrorists in the Watch and not the Paladins, and you've thrown in with the Timekeeper and the Paladins but not the Foundation. Chevalier Rook brought up the point of organizational vagueness, and I'm of the mind to think that's a pretty damn good point. What hoops would you have to jump through, for your oversight to mean much at all to us in the Foundation?"
Timekeeper	Madam Z jumps back into the conversation at this point, talking over the table at Pedra without so much as looking to the side at Lilian to confer with her. "That will be my responsibility, Councilor. As I am the supervisor to the Timekeeper, I will also maintain Team Timekeeper's position between the Paladins and the Foundation; Dr. Rook will be free to report her concerns to me directly." Madam Z looks to her after that, with a hard to read but definitely pleased expression, while Pedra is stymied in his protests by how acceptable that seems to him on its face. "... Well. You can't expect me to convince the entirety of the Caucus to vote your way, on a bill they hate to the core of it, just on secondhand promises." "I'll facilitate your correspondence with the Paladins to verify all three of their field histories and credentials. You may present them as proof to your followers, and the updated Storm Reformation bill with the relevant amendments can be on your desk tomorrow." Madam Z smiles, catlike, and her glasses gleam in the light when she turns to look at the other three men on Pedra's side of the table. "I'd even speak with each one of them personally, if you would like. Are you three quite convinced, Councilor Edmond, Mr. Teddy, Mr. Wilson?" Not coming up with any good reason not to be-- that they feel comfortable voicing out loud with the momentum of the meeting, each of the men reluctantly shake their heads. Madam Z turns to Pedra again finally, tapping the folder with the compiled evidence against the table decisively. "And as for yourself, I hope these documents will help it go down more easily. I am sure you've had trouble retrieving any useful information from those with direct field experience with the Chicago branch, so the Chevaliers' testimonies ought to prove very helpful. Thank you very much for your time, Councilor."
Lilian Rook	'Good to meet a man with a spine and a sense of propriety.' Lilian has said almost those exact words to Bond before. Hearing them spoken by the Mankind Caucus in the Foundation's marble halls still sours her mood just the same. 'You're speaking, you mean, of the Paladins field agents?' Conversely, even as shocking as it is that anyone would assume Tamamo has anything to do with 'field operations', Lilian had actually been expecting this one. She needn't even say anything; simply looking at him with an expression of faint startlement, as if thinking 'Hm? Am I misunderstanding him?' does enough. 'A group of arcanists, responsible to none other than their own, and the Timekeeper no less-- well, that's hardly accountability at all.' Of course she knows better than to say anything. It's just that, given the upper hand Lilian is confident that Madam Z's group has and all, it's worth suggesting something that she would like this group to think about in the future, is all. That's all it is. Really. "Beg pardon, but by 'their own', we are of course referring to 'unaffiliated era-natives', yes?" Lilian says. "I wouldn't like to suggest that all arcanists must be opposed to the St. Pavlov Foundation 'a priori' should I go on to agree with your premise; at least in spirit." Fortunately, she decides to lay it on no thicker after that. She had lines ready to go. 'I'll admit, I had a different image of you in mind, Commander.' §Don't think about it. If you start thinking about it now, you're going to go crazy.§ "I understand, trust me." Lilian says, leaning slightly to one side rather than try to imply a patient smile. if I said that Laplace isn't a bit of a madhouse. I requested access to their facilities because it was smart business. With apologies to your budget committee, I don't have to pay for anything at the LSCC, and everything I work on there is of indirect benefit to my research firm." Hear that? Business owner. Jingle jingle! "They'd offered me an enormous sum of cash, but that'd be taxable income, so all I'd accomplish is funneling your budget into my government's pockets." Lilian sighs. "Plus it just seemed rude." When she shakes her head, she forces the little smile successfully this time. "If it's of any help: I graduated a military academy; I finished the doctorate later because it didn't sit right leaving something half-done. I have an O-5 commission, and I'm a volunteer instructor." Then her smile leaves again, tactically timed only by accident. The way it slides off her face isn't rehearsed. "If Laplace is costing your men that much, you have my condolences and nothing else. Eight months ago I was being treated for multiple gunshot wounds sustained in the line of duty on a St. Pavlov Foundation field mission. Two months ago it was for exposure to enemy arcanum in live combat during the Storm of 1929. I prefer not to introduce myself by my doctorate because I don't like being underestimated. I'm certain you can imagine why that might be." 'The Timekeeper's thrown in with the terrorists in the Watch and not the Paladins, and you've thrown in with the Timekeeper and the Paladins but not the Foundation.' Lilian allows herself a pallet-cleansing groan about it. The position of her head lets her rub her temple with her fingertips by only unfurling her fingers. "To my great displeasure, as I vividly recall. This isn't the place for my faint aspirations of convincing the Timekeeper otherwise, so I'll limit myself to thanking you all in advance not to underestimate my unfondness for Watch sympathizers." Namely 'all of them but Vertin' as a matter of public record. Still, Pedra is actually asking a good question; Lilian makes a Noise about it.
Lilian Rook	'That will be my responsibility, Councilor.' The roll Lilian passes not to react to that isn't the hardest she's ever made, but it certainly isn't one of her easier ones either. Lifting up up head, she tilts back her palm to gesture Z-wards, communicating 'and there you have it', and says, "I plan to do more than report if the Paladins will have it, too, but there's no point in discussing my clearance before the bill even passes." Lilian sighs. "Call it the Timekeeper's whims if you like; I certainly wouldn't blame you; but I would feel more comfortable with an arrangement that allows the Paladins to insist on something at least resembling military discipline with these outsiders, where incidents like the current one can be prevented by swift application of appropriate force when necessary instead of being bogged down by red tape." Lilian intended to appeal to Pedra's obvious sensibilities with this, but, honestly, she's gotten into it at this point. She sort of wants to jackboot Regulus a little. Maybe even a lot. The Laplace thefts were just insulting. "If the soldiers and engineers are shorthanded and underfunded, let the Timekeeper and her sympathizers pull their fair share of the weight. I don't want to hand them off to every other department in the Foundation and make it everyone's problem; I want these contractors accountable a chain of command, clearly established, with both Foundation and Paladins oversight, and I'm willing to be legally responsible for it." '... Well. You can't expect me to convince the entirety of the Caucus to vote your way, on a bill they hate to the core of it, just on secondhand promises.' Madam Z had already won this negotiation some time ago, though. Lilian looks like she's just been interrupted from a rant when Pedra finally agrees. Z has her riposte in and lodged between his ribs before she can even speak. 'I am sure you've had trouble retrieving any useful information from those with direct field experience with the Chicago branch, so the Chevaliers' testimonies ought to prove very helpful.' "Goodness am I ever so grateful that I lodged so many complaints with the Paladins in my reports." Lilian says, then laughs to herself. "I suppose it always pays to stay organized."