With the cup put back down, Kite reassumes the position she had taken up upon first removing her gloves, her hands laying palm up on the table to either side of them, though without the mask of false calm. She is pensive, nervous... afraid. She does not know whether or not to hope that she can follow this New Path, whether it leads to something good or bad, but it leads somewhere, which is more than she can say for how things currently are.

"It is apparent that you can see through me, Miss Matsumoto, but i can see the phrase 'Why has this been made my problem?' has been writ large in your stance, mostly your shoulders." Kite was not going to SAY 'the part that made you look like you wanted to punch my lights out.' She's prosecutable for thought crime anyway, but for everyone the whole point of polite is the difference between what is thought and what is said. "And the question of why they would release me at all has preyed on me as well. Particularly when, while i required assistance for my greatest transgressions, i was the instigator. i was," Kite laughs bitterly, "the tip of the sword."

"All i had been able to conclude was that they had some manner of failure of the equipment in which i was enmeshed, and wanted me out from underfoot. You have offered me something other than 'destroy everything' or 'lay there and accept being nothing but fuck-meat.' " Kite smiles grimly, "You are the first to suggest there might be a solution to the problem of me other than a bigger stick. On my way down here, i had wondered how it could possibly escalate further. i do not intend to waste this chance, Miss Matsumoto, and i thank you for offering me it." For the moment, Kite's emotions go no further than genuine gratitude, if she reaches the point of truly trusting Vera, there's no doubt that the consequences of this will be immediately apparent, and if not, well, why mention it? Although, she probably should mention... "Is there any sphere of construction other than the immediately weaponizible which i should not bother to offer up for evaluation?"

"i had previously thought i was exerting appropriate effort to avoid confrontation, Miss Matsumoto. Obviously not. But departure when threatened only invites pursuit. Does the school still permit refereed sparring between students to settle grievances in the gymnasium, Miss Matsumoto? If so, insistence that if they desire a fight that such is the appropriate venue will deter all but the most belligerent, and as they are public, the matter should... resolve quickly." Kite actually hesitates, looking almost... diffident? "Or, am i still failing to understand how to deter them, Miss Matsumoto?" It is a genuine question, and her body language reflects it. An unusual area for ignorance, save perhaps for one whose 'social interaction' has never been anything but sex, violence, or planning of one or both.

She knew why this was made her problem. A more accurate question would be why they let this woman out in this state in the first place? It did not matter, what was done was done and it seemed Kite was capable of being corrected. Apparently this student needed this. The past sessions were no doubt with creatures who were far less understanding and forgiving. No whips or chains, simply talking and some water. The guests of this island did like creating their own chaos here on the island which too also becomes Vera's problem.

Reading the woman's aura which still had its issues, Vera could not sense anything that could be considered lying or manipulation. Kite truly needed this more than any other troublesome student. With the device in the student's head, it was doubtful the woman would take advantage of this act of kindness. This was going to give Kite purpose again instead of simply surviving day to day on acts of violence and sex. Of course, the sex was not going to stop and she was allowed to fight the guests as much as any other student. But, there was something to do during the wait for the next attack now.

"We will deal with it on a case by case basis for now, Miss Kite," Vera answered, "As long as it does not involve producing arms, you are free to produce the request. If I deem a topic too dangerous, I shall adjust the requirement from there or ask that you work closely with the school staff or myself on the matter. Sparring is allowed as long as it is not in the classrooms and the hallways. It will also remain as sparring and not become some brawl or deathmatch. If a student is foolish enough to follow you that far into a designated area, you may offer to spar with them. If they refuse or back away, you can consider it your victory."

The matter about the requests was simple enough. The issue with the fights was not entirely how she wanted it but it was a minor concession. If Kite did not have the potential of being useful to her, she would not have been so lenient. This was a delicate matter and required a different touch. Of course it was nothing she was not familiar with. As a business woman, Vera knew how to make offers and counter offers until she got what she needed. For now, this was more to ensure Kite's behavior and gradually earn the woman's trust.

A Lie would never be something to show in Kite's aura. To Lie is a Sin against the Path. Lies are one of the greatest causes of regrets. It did make her somewhat gullible at times, as it was difficult to remember that others generally WERE capable of perfidy until a specific individual or environment was shown to be so tainted. The basement was, without a doubt, one such environment. And yet... true to her word, the implements of the basement had stayed on their shelves and in their drawers. Her blood had stayed within her body, this time. She did not know what to do in this situation. If Miss Matsumoto was telling the truth... to have purpose. She did not want to get excited. Not yet. Not without seeing at least a little more than words.

"i can... i can do these things, Miss Matsumoto." Kite takes a few deep breaths, excitement, or, anticipation, at least does not seem inclined to hold off, "i... i will do these things, Miss Matsumoto. i hope... i hope that i will not disappoint you."

Vera gave a soft smile at the woman's breathless response. "With how quickly you have improved, Miss Kite," she replied, "I am most pleased with you. I have no doubts that two of you will try very hard to not disappoint me. But what of your more... aggressive self? Will she be in agreement with this or will she try to lash out once more?" The Head Girl looked at those hands holding the cup. "You have been without your gloves for several minutes, Miss Kite. How do you feel?"

Those gloves were still where they were left at the beginning of this basement session. Kite was not exactly calm but she was not hostile at least. The woman seemed eager. Was the student eager to please the Head Girl or simply eager to be put to work? Either was possible with the experience and knowledge this one had. Putting trust in someone with such mental issues was not exactly the best of situations but Vera had no reason to keep the woman much longer if she is willing to comply. She would keep her promise of not sexually or physically punishing her this time.

"At this point, I am willing to assign you a small task," Vera said calmly, "Consider it a simple test to see how well you perform and follow directions. If you find this satisfactory, you may see me for additional work if you need something to keep yourself busy or if you wish to help in matters in general. But first, I wish to see what you have learned, Miss Kite. Please recite all the rules you have violated and how you will correct these mistakes and behaviors for the future. Do this and I will deem you ready to return to the student body."

"She will definitely lash out, Miss Matsumoto. But she desires purpose just as much as i do, and has no interest in easy fights, ignoring more or less everything, until blood is actually spilt." Kite pauses, closing her eyes tightly, attempting to prevent memories from rising, "We have lost quite a lot of blood in these rooms. In truth, she hopes that forcing any student who wishes to fight us to do so publicly rather than privately might attract the attention of those good enough that she can learn from them. She knows that is exceedingly unlikely that we will ever again defeat one of the clients, particularly with some of the other functions of the device. But all three of us devoutly believe that if a thing is to be attempted, excellence in that thing must also be sought. She will abide by the agreement, Miss Matsumoto. She has as much to gain from it as any of us."

Kite winces at mention of her gloves, smiling wanly, "In honestly, Miss Matsumoto, i was trying not to think about the fact that i don't have them on. i... i would very much like to put them back on. They are calming." Kite shivers, starting to twitch again, "They are not symbols of my violence as a whole, Miss Matsumoto. They represent simply two acts. And i know, far more absolutely than i know almost anything else, that those acts were Right. Though i am certain neither of us will be permitted to discuss them in detail... both of those 'guests' killed multiple students. My sisters and i took in our eyes the only appropriate action, and both times were made to pay dearly for it."

The word 'task' has an obvious calming affect on Kite, instilling an immediate and visible yearning. eager to please, eager to be put to work, in many ways one and the same phenomenon when one seeks Excellence In All Things, for surely to perform excellently when put to work should please the one doing the placing. "All, Miss Matsumoto?" Kite swallows, "i will need a few moments to tabulate." Kite closes her eyes while doing so, and has not yet reopened them as she begins to answer, "pending defragmentation of additional memories, four-hundred-thirtyfive counts of misappropriation of school property. One-sixty-three if only instances in which access to the materials was unauthorized are counted, as opposed to just my use of them. Two-hundred-nineteen counts of what is officially termed vandalism. Majority client-related damage, although seven instances logged in which i was framed, and never actually present at the site in question. Eight-hundred-fourty-one counts of locomotive use of non-transit surfaces. Eightynine violations of Rule 18 Subsection A. Fourtyfive violations of Rule 18 Subsection B. Sixteen violations of Rule 18, subsection C. One-sixtyfive violations under Rule 18 Subsection D, eighty-three retroactive." Kite pauses, and shrugs, "i think i'm responsible for Subsection D. Four-hundred-three counts of violent behaviour with another student. One thousand six hundred sixty two counts of carnal relations with another student. i think. That one's hard to quantify, no one ever enforces that rule unless someone complains, and how does one count contiguous polyglot sex-acts in which individual participants leave and join, or rejoin, regularly?"

"The vast majority of these are no longer relevant, being no longer possible, or meaningful. Since my release from internment in the labs, Seven counts of violence with another student, 2 of sex, 2 of misappropriation of school property, four of non-transit surfaces, and difficult to enumerate offenses pertaining to my neurological alterations." The recitation complete, Kite opens her eyes, and leans back, thinking, rather than processing, as to the other half of the task. "...i am uncertain whether or not my gloves count as a uniform violation, or merely unstipulated. They, or something like them is necessary for function, however. There are... things we cannot touch directly. In terms of violence, i will restrict any acts of violence to defense against the advances of the school's clients, and official sparring matches in designated locations. i will cease and desist actively searching for incidents in progress to interfere with. i will present project proposals for things i wish to attempt to construct to you for evaluation, Miss Matsumoto, rather than attempting to action them immediately myself. If the hallways in the dormitory building are too crowded for me to safely transverse them, i will go around the building to the fire-escape, rather than directly climbing the face of the outer wall at the most convenient vector."

"i do not know what to do about the device, Miss Matsumoto. i will cease attempting to design weapons, but it is a certainty that this will not prevent it from triggering. Many processes generally considered innocuous produce readily weaponizible byproducts, and my knowledge of such things is exhaustive. i have no inention, nor have had one at any time, of attempting to induce physical or electromagnetic interference into a device so intimately enmeshed with another electrical system to which i am far more attached."

She was referring to just the rules broken after her release. But, Kite recited her entire log to the Head Girl before reaching the matters of importance. It was impressive that the student was able to remember all the rules she has broken. Now, if the woman could retain how to correct each of them would make her into the perfect model student. The unstable woman seemed to understand these rules and that she should obey them. Even the aggressive one of the trio seemed to be compliant at least according to the other two.

"Very good, Miss Kite," Vera replied with another soft smile, "You may put your gloves back on. As for the matter of sex with students, there are proper times and places for it. What you do in your dorm rooms is your time as long as it does not endanger the students or the school. Of course, your partner should be giving consent for such things. I will speak with NICE labs about the false positives and see if there is something that can be done about it. If there is not, you reporting your projects and research to me should be enough to let us know you are doing nothing to endanger the school. I will trust that you will keep such reports fully accurate, Miss Kite."

The Head Girl took both cups and puts them back where she found them in the shadows. "Your first task will be to assist in a setting up the stage for this week's play. I will let the head manager know you are coming and you will work with her in organizing everything involved in the event. When finished, she will let me know if you did a satisfactory job or not. If it is satisfactory, you need not worry about being called again unless you wish to see me again. Are there any questions, Miss Kite?" Vera did not return to her chair and instead remained standing as she looked down at Kite. The task would allow the student to put that intellect to use in making things efficient and organized. But at the same time, it was going to test the woman's ability to communicate her ideas to a superior in a way that will make her accept the suggestion or to learn how to take denial and criticism. If there are no questions, Kite would be dismissed and allowed to be on her way.

Kite actually moaned with relief as she tugged her gloves back on, clutching both hand to her chest and almost panting, the sort of expression one would expect to see on one who just got to plunge a burn into frigid water, rather than donning a rather simple garment. "No, Miss Matsumoto, no relevant questions at this time."

--------

At least Performing Arts types tended to be highly strung, so one more person being twitchy as fuck wouldn't be all that out of place even if bringing her own toolbox was. They had seating and such already sorted, mostly what they seemed to want her to do was mend sets and props that weren't in the condition they should be. Kite did not make any friends with the statement that she could learn to sew faster than the problem could be solved by screaming at each other about it, nor her robotic intonations of "please do not touch my tools" whenever someone so much as looked at her toolbox, but this was largely forgotten when the lighting test before the actual performance failed, and she was halfway up the gantry before the shouting had gotten to "we don't have time to lower it down before we need to let people in!"

On the rare occasion that it is useful, being able to splice and solder cabling while hanging upside down by the knees and ankles is an invaluable skill to have. Having no one realize that you have had what could perhaps be called a 'feline moment' and gotten stuck in such a position until they are cleaning up after the audience's departure is less laudable, but at least it permitted Kite a new perspective on the play. There was a satisfaction in it. This no doubt would still have happened without her, but it would have been less complete. Certainly less well-lit, at a minimum.

Kite knew that this was not her world, this jovialiaty and laughter, that she was trespasser here, welcome in precise and exacting measure correlated with how useful she could be. No great surprise, what right have shards to mingle among real people? But that was still something. Perhaps even enough. She could pretend to walk under the light as though she belonged there. At least, if the performance of her task met with approval.

Once Kite was dismissed, Vera left soon after as this was perhaps the first basement session that did not require any clean up afterwards. She made her report to NICE labs and staff, mentioning the supposed false positives. The Head Girl did not know the details beyond that thought could trigger them according to Kite. Assuming it is an issue, she hoped the labs would make the effort to find a way to get more accurate readings from the device so she will not have to call the student down to the basement again.

She let the matter rest. A day or so after the performance in the auditorium, the Head Girl received her report from the stage manager. Apparently Kite had performed her duties though was not exactly approachable. But give her a task and you could leave the student along to work on it safely. The grad student apparently took a bit of a risk though by climbing up alone to the lights without any form of safety equipment. Kite had stayed up there the entire play and had the lights fixed by the time it began. With how crazy it was, it was difficult to say if the manager was relieved it all worked in the end or frustrated by the risky act Kite did. Still, the performance without any issue and the only thing to note was the safety issue.

Vera saw no reason to call Kite on the matter. She would be sure to mention it when the student came by. She was certain that Kite would come to see her. Whether it was one or all three of the shards, the Head Girl felt she made at least a small impact with the disturbed woman. In any case, her offer for more tasks was still there as well as the offer to look over any requests for projects and experiments. The only question was when she would come.

Kite is beyond what is generally considered 'adept' in many technical disciplines. None of them have anything whatsoever to do with hair. Mirrors, occasionally, but even Kite could tell that a laser comb was a Bad Idea.

"You're primping masino. The fuck are you doing primping?"

"i'm what? i'm just evaluating the query. i certainly didn't ask 'How do we look?' "

"Neither did i masino, she did."

"...Oh. Well, fixing our hair isn't that noticeable. It might be further than we usually go, but it's just hygeine to most. That was usually-"

"Stop it! Don't go there, masino!"

"Still?"

"Fuck you and your 'still.' "

There were too many possibilities. Too many ideas, as there always were. Just a little push, was all it had taken. It was visible, now. She had always had to defend herself, to go from that to defending others had been easy. Simple queries direct the flow and spin and draw coherent shapes from the chaos. Coherent to her, anyway, and coherent to others once built. Most stayed in her head. Stayed in pieces, until needed. Once they stayed whole and neatly filed, until learning that way was too easy for others to read, once they got inside. Until a 'System Idle Process' could be read by a larger, and less friendly system.

But still, Kite selected a few different thoughts to propose, transcribing them to paper perhaps more shakily than would be preferred, but then, would to attempt to hide her nervousness also be a Lie? Or would it be attempting manners instead? Regardless, some few hours later, three clipped bundles of paper in one arm, while the other knocks upon a door, for some reason far more nervous in this knock upon a domicile than when she had been knocking to meet the same person in what was explicitly a torture chamber.

Whether she tried to hide it or not, Vera would notice the nervous aura lingering at her door. Getting up the tower was easy enough, the woman at the lobby simply allowed Kite through once she said who she was going to see. The knocks at the door were light, as if afraid of what was waiting on the other side. As tempting as it was to let whoever was waiting stew in her nervousness, she decided to call out. "Come in."

The door was unlocked, allowing Kite to enter once she gets up the nerve to do so. Vera looked up from her work to see the woman from the basement carrying numerous packets of paper. The student apparently wanted to get to work quickly whether it be on projects, experiments, or otherwise. The Head Girl had been working most of the day outside of class. She had been typing away at her computer and writing reports and memos to send as well as recording demerits. Despite being in her own room, Vera was still dressed in her well kept uniform and she was wearing her sash though it would not be seen around her hips due to the desk in the way.

"Miss Kite, a pleasure to see you again," Vera said with a soft smile, "Please have a seat. From the many papers you are carrying, I assume you have much to talk about. Would you like some tea?" If Kite accepted the offer or asked for water, Vera would rise to her feet and provide her a cup before returning to her seat. The silver haired woman folded her hands infront of her, giving the student her attention. "Now, what can I do for you, Miss Kite?"

Kite entered as soon as instructed, nervousness no match for the driving desire for utility, for focus. And if focus could come in a fashion that didn't involve regular anaemia...

"G-good afternoon, Miss Matsumoto." The usage appears to be unfamiliar for her, but then, she did used to have a reputation for being a brash, uncooth savage for a reason. "Thank you, Miss Matsumoto, tea would be good, i would...actually, may i just have some water? Tea would be relaxing, which is not inherently the same as good."

Gratefully accepting the water, Kite places the three bundles on Vera's desk, turning them out from each other slightly so the front of each of the top two is mostly visible, one a panoply of indecipherable maths, the other a somewhat crude drafting of a device which Kite secretly wished did not look as much like a miniature of the NICE Labs MagnaCage as it did, but there are only so many prime shapes, and she wasn't going to go the rest of her life predjudiced against cylinders.

"i was hoping to take you up on your offer, Miss Matsumoto. There was...a strange satisfaction in seeing the play happen and knowing my role in making it so. So, i sought to know either if you have other tasks for me, or if any of my own projects might be suitable. This one is meant as an educational aid for the physics department, and this one a personal matter, my research project for my degree has stalled. You are no doubt aware of how little a postgraduate program there is here, Miss Matsumoto."

"There is no need to be nervous, Miss Kite," the Head Girl said calmly, "Despite what others say, I do not bite." If she did, it was doubtful that would deter Kite much really. Still, it was amusing seeing the woman be all nervous and remaining formal. She let the student sip (or gulp) her water for a moment before sliding the bundles towards her. "You did a good job with assisting in setting up, Miss Kite," Vera replied, "Though I do hope you take more care for your own safety in the future. Falling from that height would have cause numerous issues including serious injury. But I will let the matter pass as nothing happened in the end. Let us get onto business."

The bundles were certainly large but at least the font was readable and spaced properly. The first had no real use beyond what the woman mentioned, a means for physics students to study the refraction of lasers through a clear jelly as well as added effects of radar probes. It was certainly a very expensive visual aid. The second was merely parts to upgrade a calculator. The necessary simulation algorithms required did raise the question of what Kite was working on. Both were reasonable requests, especially for a grad student. The only issue would be some possible limitation for the hyperplanar flux visual aid. But there was still one more request hidden beneathe the other two.

Vera was neutral while quickly skimming through the three requests. The third one was perhaps something NICE labs would be interested in though she was uncertain why Kite would want to create such an accessory. After several moments, the Head Girl looked up and gently slid the bundles one by one. "Getting you parts for your calculator should be simple enough, Miss Kite," the silver haired woman began, "Your unique visual aid may be slightly more difficult. I will put in a request to the college of science to speak further with you on the matter. At the very worse, you may be loaned the necessary parts long enough to perform your experiments and record them before those resources must be put elsewhere. Or you may impress them enough to keep it. It will depend on next years budget."

With two bundles slid away, that left the one Kite did not say much about verbally. "As for this one..." Vera tapped her fingers a bit, "I must say, you picked a rather... powerful title for this device. It is certainly very advanced and I must ask what the purpose of this device is. Do you have a method of testing it? You seemed oddly quiet about this one, Miss Kite. Can you tell me a bit more about it?"

Kite is managing to actually sip rather than gulp this time. Whether that's the gloves' influence, or the change in emotional context, or something else entirely, who can say?

"It's less an experiment and more of a challenge, Miss Matsumoto. It's the contention of many that theoretical higher-dimensional interactions cannot be modelled in a form readily percieveable by three-dimensional beings, which is what makes teaching such things so difficult. i think this may prove that incorrect...if it works."

Ah. Of course she would focus on THAT one. Serves right for trying to hide it, perhaps. At least blushing doesn't show very much anymore, physically, anyway. "The...the Tsunami Probe is...a conjugal aid, Miss Matsumoto. It...unless this changed during my internment, multi-motor stimulators have focussed entirely on separateness of function. On simply being more stimulation, and little, if any, has been done with cooperative-state patterning. The name comes from the default pattern being a variable-speed oscillant standing wave." Maybe that one was amistake to bring. Sure, being told no would be frustrating, but a yes might be worse! She might have made hundreds of sex toys before, but she'd made them for her sisters! The people she shared her room, her bed, and her heart with!

Hiding it or not would not have mattered much. One way or another, this particular request would draw more attention. The attempt to hide it on the bottom may make it seem like Kite was not confident about this one but Vera did not really see it that way. She doubts Kite would think of slipping one by the Head Girl after their previous session together. Vera did give a soft smile as while she could not see the heat rising in the woman's cheeks, she certainly felt the change in her aura.

"I was certainly not expecting something like this. But, if you have such interest in creating these sorts of... experiments, perhaps I can find uses for your new inventions,"Vera replied, "This will require materials from NICE labs so I must pass it through them. They may provide enough for a prototype assuming your requested materials is accurate enough." The Head Girl simply left it at that before sliding the papers to the side. She will let that stew in the student. Kite may very well be making tools that will be used in the basement on students to break them faster. Until the device was made though, there was no need for further input on the matter.

"You mentioned wishing to help out further in organizing events before," The Head Girl moved onto the next subject, "With this semester ending, several members of staff, groups, and clubs will be preparing events for the next school year. If you think you can handle it, I can send you to speak with the student council and provide your guidance on setting the times and places for all the events this next semester. It will take time as many requests will not come at the same time and some may even be late. Being an isolated island, providing as many fun and stimulating events for students to watch and participate in is important. Would you do this for me, Miss Kite? It would certainly provide some relief knowing I will not have to worry about scheduling and space problems this next semester." This would be a far bigger project than just preparing a single play. Usually as a Head Girl, Vera generally stays out of the matter and leaves it to the student council. But things do go wrong and she finds herself called to clean up the mess if necessary.

Kite fidgets in the seat across from Vera, staring at the Head Girl. "It...it's less of an interest, and more that it's become an ingrained habit, Miss Matsumoto." She was no less prone than most students to the induced nyphomania that was the OTHER significant side-effect alongside the mental blocks Kite sometimes wished she shared in, but whyy would NICE Labs need to be involved? In the flux visualizer, sure, they'd be a hell of a lot faster at finding an appropriate gel than she would...she wasn't even sure one existed. But why in the Tsunami Probe? That was worrying. The components would have to be checked even more thoroughly than usual before use. The last thing Kite wanted on her conscience was the worry she might with her own hands build a toy that put some of the Labs' more insidious creations into someone. If they decided to produce it, it would be out of her hands, but the one she built herself would be 'clean.'

The organizational task sounds...harder. Significantly harder than the help with the play. But Kite was never one to back down from a challenge. "To do it, i will need at a minimum a proper computer terminal with a databasing suite, my calculator is sufficient for the data processing, but not so good at output others than me can read. Also, access to the school's official timetabling database would be of assistance, so as to be able to coordinate labour for setup and takedown of events, as well as to be able to ensure relevant staff are kept appraised of proposed scheduling. If it can be arranged, restoring my access to the student email system would also help in querying proposals for additional information. i am aware Miss Matsumoto, why that access was revoked. It wasn't me, i don't work in viruses, the island is an enclosed system, physical intrusion is the only system intrusion worth doing."