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[color=cfff04]”I’m smiling, but only on the outside!”[/color]

[color=888888]— [s]Mac[/s] Ashley[/color][/center]

Mac was content to just sit back and let the discussions sort themselves out. As far as she was concerned, she was here to help with the mission and get out. She had been pretending to be other people for years, and it was too late to turn around and make friends now. So when Melisa waved to her, she gave only the slightest hint of a smile and nodded back to her. Polite enough to not be rude, but not so polite as to invite a conversation. It was clear she was here to talk to others anyway.

There wasn’t much to be done about Penny. Of course the iron queen was going to be her paranoid self, but it wasn’t like Mac had anything to fear. She had good intentions for being here, and she really had helped Alicia as MDP attested. Perhaps in the past they might have exchanged blows, as Mac did not like her monopolistic hold on Penrose. But there was too much on the line for there to be infighting. Even so, there were plenty of nonviolent routes to deal with that particular can of worms. 

Nefer was also here, and while Mac had some doubts about her choice of disguise, she was glad she wasn’t Iron Mouse right now. In fact, the comment about throwing whipped cream on [i]a literal child[/i] was probably more cringe inducing than anything MDP could do. Yes, MDP had finally met her match. She did feel a little sorry for Melisa though. Nefer’s sexual harassment [i]and[/i] having to deal with Lily’s mile high energy simultaneously was not something she could do for long stretches of time. 

Alicia was also here. Was that a concern? Not really. She had spoken with Alicia in the past as Suwako, and she was sure that even if Alicia saw through her illusions, she would understand it was the monster girl she made peace with that day after wonderland attacked.

Unfortunately, no good deed went unpunished. While many of those present conversed among themselves, many more had chosen to acknowledge her. It was to be expected. The group was small, and most were unfamiliar with Ashley. 

[color=cfff04]”Of course!”[/color] She had responded to the excitable MDP before she was taken aside by her girlfriend, which only gave Connie and Mia a chance to speak with her. [color=cfff04]”I figured you could use an extra pair of hands!”[/color] She was going to introduce herself when MDP came in front of her again with Penny. This was going to get awkward if she was forced to talk with Penny. Fortunately, one great thing about MDP is that if you’re quiet long enough, she’ll just fill the silence with her babbling. And just like that, an awkward interaction was intercepted when MDP demanded more of the queen’s attention. She stepped a bit closer to Connie and Mia while Penny was distracted. With Nefar, Lily, and MDP present, their part of the group seemed to be the more relaxed part of the group. [color=cfff04]”Seems like everyone knows each other!”[/color] She said while looking at the two, pleading with her eyes for them to keep her in their conversation.

She hadn’t received any orders on her coms yet, but hopefully someone would speak up soon. It was kind of nice to have people not in her immediate surroundings who could keep an eye on things.