Lynn
"I'm afraid I still cannot trust your word even now."

Valio looked at the girl's eye, she had done this many times when looking at policemen. But this isn't authority, this is just a kid. 
Blue twitched and bled as she stared, the lid of her eye lowering alone with her brow in a narrowing motion. 

"Do not be mad at them, I asked them to keep quiet. They're a good person and they don't need to be interrogated like a tool, because they aren't."

Valio nods at Margo at least hopefully she has a chance of keeping this secret a secret. Valio is all too ready to admit that she is scared that Annika will get hurt because of a slipped word. The last thing she wants is to see Annika in worse condition than she was when she found her in the industrial district room. It wasn't a pretty sight. 

Valio mulls over Margo's words for just a moment, putting everything she could think of to the test. Valio opens the door further and takes one back step to move herself away from the door to let them in. She stares at them and makes a motion with her head knowing they're allowed. 

"Don't think of trying anything, just say what you have to and leave quickly."

She sets down what she expects mostly. Hopefully they know not to test her, she expected looks were enough. 

"If I hear that word spread around I'm pinpointing it on you two, you both promise to keep quiet. Immediately." 

She needs to make sure nobody will go willy nilly after seeing that she is in fact housing an ex-Angel. God forbid she actually found out what had happened to her. 
Uriel had told her that they were murderers and that she'd be housing one, Valio was one too how does that change the fact they were talking to one. 
Annika isn't Killing people on a whim anymore.
Maybe they don't trust Annika because they know.

*What if they knew what Valio did.*

*Would they hate her?*
Jeannie
◆ "I'm not mad, just hurt." Very matter-of-factly, she shot down the notion that she was *Pissed* At Uriel for keeping her in the dark. It was less anger and more heartbreak, an unspoken trust built between them now peppered in bandages. "And I understand your lack of trust, Val. I promise to, under even the greatest duress or torture, keep everything that happens here a secret. Now give me a moment to talk to my partner."

□ Stepping away from the door, she also gave its knob a light tug to tell Valio to close it for a moment. Irregardless of what happened with the door Margo would wave Matti down the hall, to in-front of a pair of doors whose occupants she'd never met. She'd seen one, a girl with short black hair and a very skater look, but en lieu of conversing she was just another ghost haunting the halls of the Cradle.

▪︎ Once Matti made his way over, Margo would let out a deep sigh.

◆ "I'm not mincing my words, Matti. You are utterly *Incapable* Of lying." Margo started, at once minding her tone and trying to come across as non-confrontational, yet also trying to make sure he knew she was firmly set in her abilities. "And you'd get yourself hospitalized by Valio at the very least by the end of the week with all this... Information. You know the gist, and... Apologies if this is mean, but I think it's all you should know for now. It's safer that way; I may prefer honesty as well, but unlike you I've learned that deception and lies are powerful tools. So... Head on back. I'll catch up with you at some point, okay?"

• "Also, I'm not taking no for an answer. Your lips are loose. You've already got contact with Frida, it'll be safer if only I go in and talk to Annika."
Madeline
*Ow.* Okay. It was okay. They understood. It made logical sense. 

They'd gotten over, momentarily, the fear that Valio was going to kill them both. Margo, with all her inevitable, magnetic persuasiveness, had handled it. Really all *They'd *Done was act as a bug to confirm what Margo already expected. Their role had been minimal. There wasn't anything that qualified them to be trusted with the knowledge of whatever when on in that room. And even if they *Did* By chance learn about whatever Annika knew, it'd be risky. More people with information meant a higher chance of a leak. Margo thought that *Matti* Would be that leak. The sting of hurt conflicted with the knowledge that she was right— they wouldn't lie, even if they could— and the sinking feeling of being shut out. Again. 

Which was fine. Everything was fine. 

They didn't bother with platitudes or arguments, recognizing Margo's conviction. They knew if they really, *Really* Wanted to, they could just linger in the doorway and listen in. But without Margo to lean on (how in such a short time had they become dependent on the support of others through their 'episodes'?) they weren't confident in their ability to make it back to their own room after using their abilities twice in such a short period of time. Besides, it felt too much like deception— like lying— for their taste. So instead they just nodded, quietly, and moved their handbook back into their satchel. With a short, stilted wave of goodbye, they headed back to their dorm. Maybe this was a good thing. They needed time to sort through their thoughts, anyway. They sat at their desk and began the painstaking process of transcribing their writing into their larger journal, doing their best to keep Margo, Annika, and Valio's conversation out of hearing and out of mind.
Jeannie
◇ Well, that was easier than she expected.

□ Matti had seemingly come to understand – or inherently understood – her harsh truths, and had taken it with grace instead of anger. Once he'd waved her goodbye she followed suit, then took a few moments to linger in the hallway, leaned against the aforementioned skater chick's room door, and mulled over what to say. Obviously any suspicion Valio cast upon her was due to be far worse when it came to Annika, so she'd need to mind her tone. Her words. The inflection and intention of them. She'd need to also always keep on the cautious defensive, and with all of this settled out in her skull she let out a sigh.

▪︎ Sighed, said a prayer to God for protection, and signed the cross.

◆ "Val." Margo knocked again, three firm and one soft. "It's Margo. I've sent my partner away, as he cannot keep a secret for the life of him. I'm ready, if you'll still let me in."
Lynn
"It was before you came here."

Valio paused at the door.

She mulled over something in her head while looking down to Margo. 
Valio thought better and shook her head while closing the door. 

She stood close to the door slightly listening to the conversation. She only heard that the other was horrible at laying, which she noted. Though she looked at Annika who in turn looked at her. Valio pursed her lips glancing to the door. 

"I'm sorry Annika."

She probably lost trust within Valio. She's nothing more than a fraud in her dull eyes probably, it's not far off from the real thing after all. 

When Valio heard Margo's knocks she turned back to the door. Valio already had her hand against the hot knob of the door and turned it gently. 
She opened the door greeting Margo to the inside of her door. 
The lights were on showering the room in a array of bright colour. 

Valio's part looked catered to her tastes, various animal skulls and papers and books. She looked like to be working on a carving in a corner as to the wood shavings littering the desk. 
There was a larger bed opposed to the regular standard and it was covered in blanket sheets. It looked homely almost as if you entered a cabin. It smelled of wood and something else really, something burned. 

What broke the illusion was the other side bland except scattered clothing which Valio had probably gotten for Annika. There was that crude cardboard mask sitting on the corner of the messy bed. 

Annika was sitting on Valio's side in the corner. Staring with widened eyes at the entrance. 

"Come in. Remember. Keep a secret." 

Valio warns Margo. Her voice dropping an octave or two.
Jeannie
◆ "My lips are sealed."

□ Assuring Valio that she wasn't going to be any trouble, and that she was going to keep her word, Margo stepped into the other girl's dorm room and took a few moments to look around first. A large bed against the far wall, coated in quilt and campfire incense. Animal skulls and wood shavings on the other. A cascading blitzkrieg of lights. It was all very opposed to each other, wilderness and neo-civilization, and it was all very interesting to Margo, to say nothing of the saucer-eyed Annika staring both at her and through her.

▪︎ Moreso than even the noticeably leery Valio, *This* Was the girl she had to work to gain even a sliver of trust from.

◆ "Hej, Annika. Jag heter Margo, och... Innan vi börjar prata, föredrar du att jag pratar med dig på svenska, eller föredrar du engelska?" **["Hello, Annika. My name is Margo, and... Before we begin to talk, do you rather it if I talk to you in Swedish, or would you rather English?"]**
Darlene
Annika jolts for a brief moment at being spoken to, even more so in Swedish. She stares at Margo, wide-eyed, and stammers out a weak, breathy "...Svenska, tack så mycket."

**["...Swedish, thank you."]**
Lynn
Valio stands against the door after closing it. Valio stares at the two. She crosses her arms. She then looks to the floor. 

"Jag låter er båda prata om informationen."



She says. 

"She needs to know." 

A second later Valio says although it's said quietly.
Jeannie
◆ "Jag ska börja med... Att? Att. Att berätta för dig vad jag vet, Annika, innan jag lämnar dig i fred och låter ditt ansikte försvinna i mina tankar..." **["I'll start by telling you what I know, Annika, before I get out of your hair and allow your face to fade into the mists of my mind."]** 

□ Margo began, speaking to Annika directly in her native language, in her court, blessed by a natural gift for learning languages. 

◆ "Minst fyra gånger under de senaste tre veckorna har jag sett andra änglar som lurat runt, och... De dödar inte längre. Jämfört med tidigare, åtminstone från... Tidningsartiklar och vad som helst, har jag bara kunnat fastställa två mord under de senaste tre månaderna, när tidigare kvartal gav närmare tio eller tolv i genomsnitt. De letar efter dig och de vet att du är här. Annars skulle min partner inte ha Frida på snabbnummer på grund av det som hände tidigare, och de skulle inte lämna döda djur i lokalerna." 

○ **["At least four times in the past three weeks, I've seen other Angels lurking around, and... They're not killing anymore. Compared to the past, at least from the... Newspaper articles and whatnot, I've only been able to pin two murders in the past three months, when previous quarters brought closer to ten or twelve on average. They're looking for you, and they know you're here. Otherwise, my partner wouldn't have Frida on speed dial due to what happened earlier, and they wouldn't be leaving dead animals on the premises."]**

▪︎ She took a second to breathe after recounting all of that.

◆ "And as for you, Valio, I'll give you a rundown in English in a minute. I think she deserves to know first and foremost, and a chance to speak, and I can't exactly balance speaking *And* Live translating a language I've yet to master."
Darlene
Annika nods softly.

"...Jag vet."

**["I know."]**
Jeannie
◆ "Hur vet du det, om du inte har något emot att jag frågar?" Margo asked, her voice remarkably smooth and soft. "Jag har en massa frågor, men jag vill inte gå för långt eller förolämpa er."

□ **["How do you know, if you don't mind me asking? I have a lot of questions, but I don't wish to overstep or offend."]**
Darlene
Annika shakes her head.
Jeannie
◆ "Okay. I... Assume we're done here."

□ Margo might have been deadly curious, but she could also read the room, and it told her that Annika didn't want to talk to her any longer. She could understand it, and it was enough, so she looked back at Valio, her spine straightening itself out and her face twisting from attempted comfort to caution and docility.

▪︎ Now she had to tell the truth to Val.

◆ "Well, now I owe *You* Answers, so. Here's what I know." Margo took a moment to clear her throat and clack her lollipop around in thought. "Frida's been here once earlier this week. There's been others lurking around in the early hours of the morning. I've been seeing their glowing wings and halos out in the early dawn. They've got to be relatively certain that she's here, and it's only a matter of time until they change their tack." She spoke, her voice guarded and low to keep any passersby from overhearing. "And, like I said, I'm sure that they're planning to try and storm this place. It's all gut feelings, but my gut tends to be pretty good; after all, it's how I figured out that you've got a stowaway, so. Also, Mattias gave Frida a burner phone, so he has contact with her. I don't know if it's good or bad, but an unreliable insider is better than none at all."
Lynn
Valio pushed herself off the door and to the middle of the room. She placed herself in front of Margo to block her view of Annika. Her arms still crossed and a rather cold look across her features. 

Valio is owed a lot but, she'd rather die than ask favors. Better be a bystander than a burden. 

The slight noise of her lollipop makes Valio's eye twitch faintly. 
She leans down slightly to hear Margo better since her hearing really isn't the best, nor what it should be. 

"Alright. That's good to finally know."

Valio cracks her neck while standing back to her full height, a noise that cuts through the room.

"Anything else you want to say? Or are you going to start acting questions. You did come here for that. Didn't you?"
Jeannie
◆ "I'm sorry it's not *More,* Man. I do have a journal with all of my notes, observation, and research jottings from days spent cooped up with newspaper archives, but that isn't on me now. All I have is my phone, some candy, and a pack of cigarettes." Candid admittance for someone who was several years off of being able to legally buy. "But... Questions. Hm."

□ Leaning against a section of wall directly next to the door, she hummed. She'd been so consumed wifh a desire to see the light and to get answers that she didn't actually *Consider* The questions that would have helped her out the best. Maybe it was hasty, but weeks had passed with Uri's lips sealed and the angels lurking outside ever more, mongols on horses circling the chain link fences that encircled the Cradle, and she had just wanted to know what the hell was so secretive.

▪︎ Now, she had her answers, and she'd be remiss to have not asked a few questions.

◆ "Honestly, I didn't come here with questions in mind. I just knew Uri was... Keeping me in the dark. Most people can't get a bead on them, but I can, and it was clear they were hiding. I hate being kept in the dark." She grumbled as politely as she could. "But, now I have my answers, and I only have one question, I believe: how can I help keep her safe? What do *You* Want me to do with this knowledge I have, this knowledge I had to dent my friendship with my partner over? Because this is on *Your* Terms, and now that I'm in on this, so to speak, I'm interested in helping out however you – or, Annika – see fit."

○ "So...?"
Lynn
Valio sighs and raises a hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose. 

Valio was always known to do more harm than good, always trying to help but it always ends up with everyone else being hurt. 
This isn't the first time and wouldn't be the last so she shouldn't act all mopey and sad over it. 

There are things waiting outside to hurt everyone here probably and knowing from that kid... They're bound to die and there's no bouncing back because *The wounds don't heal*. 
She wanted Uriel to be quiet because what if somebody thought they were doing the right thing by outting where Annika was. But, it already seems Valio was too late. 

She wonders if everyone at the cafe is alright, did she hurt them? 
Are they dead? There's things she needs to know. 

*She could've prevented it.*

"I told them to because I don't want the fact I'm housing in Uriels words "A murderer"." 
Valio said. 
"I'm sorry you had to deny your friendship but why are you angry with me? I don't know you Margo."
Valio let's her hand fall from her face. 
"I'm not who you should direct your problems to. You weren't here when I told Uriel."

Valio didn't raise her voice but there was a small lowering to her tone once more. 

"It's on my terms because I'm pretty sure they're trying to kill Annika. I found her curled up in a room full of boxes scared for her life. I don't know what else to say Margo."

Valio looks at Margo, she unfolds her arms the electric pulse in her arms beginning to grow uncomfortable. 

"I don't know how you can help other than to not share this information or sell yourself to the angels. 
That's up to Annika really."
Jeannie
◆ "I'm not mad at you, though. You had good reason to tell them to be quiet about it all, and now it's my turn to be quiet about it all." Margo spoke, trying her best to defuse any hostility that may have been rising. "But... I do have one last question, and it has to do with the angels and their... Chapel? Their house of holy? Whatever it is. It'll wait for another day, though, if such a day ever comes."

□ Margo was no fool. She could tell that she wasn't exactly welcome here no longer, and by all accounts she'd got what she came for, so there was no sense in forcefully stretching this tense, uncomfortable situation out any further. So, with a grunt she pushed herself off the wall, and reached out for the doorknob, clearly ready to leave Valio and Annika to whatever they were doing before Matti lived out the dreams of a thousand KGB agents and Margo faced down the crux of the troubles that lay on the Cradle's horizon.

▪︎ She popped the door open.

◆ "If you need to feed me any other information, send it through Uri, okay? And like I said, no amount of duress or torture will get this out of me."

○ With that, and a brief moment of preparation, she popped the door open a wedge, and in one fluid motion threw herself out and slammed the door behind her. Now, she had one last thing to do, but... She was going to need caffeine. Hopefully June would be willing to spot her another Monster.
Lynn
Valio stayed silent. It's not her fault right, right? 
She wasn't this big bad- maybe she was. Maybe that's all she will be. 

Margo loved opening herself to an entire new book of problems when she wasn't done with the first, huh. She'll get herself hurt, and as usual. It'll be Valio's fault and Valio will take the blame for it, she has to. Nobody else will. 

Valio opens the door and looks at Margo's form retreating down the hallway. 

"Hey. You play stupid games and you win stupid prizes, Margo Killjoy." 

Valio speaks out into the barren hall, her deep voice echoing along painted walls. 

"Don't trust anybody. And please. Stay safe." 

And with that Valio enters back into her dorm. 
Her back hits the door and she slides down it. She lets out a heavy breath. 
Valio pushes her hair back with one hand and after let's her hang hand between her legs. 

"By the gods Margo *Please.*"

Lest she fail again in protecting somebody, but it wouldn't be the last she'd be too late. Valio looks to Annika in the corner of the room. 

She lets out a breathless laugh standing back up, and brushes off imaginary dust from her baggy pants. 

"är det väl över utegångsförbudet?"



Valio checks her phone which was placed on the dresser. 


"Yep."

She says popping the p of the word. 
All things must come to rest eventually really, *Even angels.*

———————————————————