Shifter_Master

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

_{.:⋮Rising to the Throne⋮:.}

In the lower levels of the sanctuary, those that Cindy had spent most of her time overseeing, sat the majority of the housing space that had been added. Down here sat Cindy’s room, still untouched since she last left it. Her death had left a void within the City, and as of yet it hadn't been led to anything. But that wasn’t a case that Penny was willing to hope on maintaining itself for long.

And that led to the reason why Penny was down here, as in truth she didn’t have a room down here, having always preferred to stay in the main area, even more so now that sleep wasn’t an issue. No she was down here seeking someone else. Goblina, Cindy’s right hand. Penny needed to talk to her first, before she went ahead with her plan. Because the goblin girl deserved to know, and deserved the right to choose before everyone else.

So when Penny came across the door to Goblina’s room, she didn’t hesitate in knocking. “Goblina” Penny would call out through the door “Do you have a moment?”

Penny heard Goblina’s feet pitter patter as she rushed to open the door. “Penny? Come in, come in!” She gestured in a hurried fashion to her before shutting the door behind her.
“Did anyone follow you?” She asked, peeking through the keyhole before shaking her head.
“Doesn’t matter. What is it?” The robot girl could tell that the shorter monster girl has also had it rough ever since Cindy’s demise, having spent all her time preventing the Sanctuary from falling apart in more ways than one.

“No one that I was aware of” Penny would answer regardless of the smaller girl dismissing her own question. At the same time it wasn’t like Penny was keeping an eye out for people following her, she hadn’t tried who she was or what she was doing for the Sanctuary. On the other hand following Penny without her noticing within the Sanctuary was no small feat, all the metal here spoke to Penny as she had put herself into it back when she was first building this place.

“I wanted to talk.” She would go on “And I wanted to thank you.” Quietly she would move further into the room “Without you things would have been much worse off, I wouldn’t have been able to do half as good as you at keeping this place together” Penny just didn’t have the same rapport with most of the girls here, and there hadn’t been the time to try and build it before everything went to hell.

As she spoke she reached out her hand and three Silver Coins appeared “Payment. At the very least you deserve it for all the help.” She would explain, and Penny knew that she owed Goblina much more than this, but she couldn’t give everything she had, as she very well might need it. Considering what Penny had to say next however it was best to at least do so now, as doing it after felt too much like it would end up being a bribe.

Goblina's mouth opened wide at the sight of magical coins, and she snatched them off Penny's palm. "Thank you so much, Penny! This is going straight to the emergency budget." She pocketed the coins, and patted the pocket with a somewhat uplifted smile.

“I also wanted to talk to you about Cindy's title.” She paused here, uncertain about how painful this next part might end up being “I was thinking of taking up the mantle of Queen. Before Mint steps in, or any one like them tries to do so.” Never had she wished that Jason spent more time caring about the people here then Chloe, then she did right now, things would have been so much easier if they had.

Goblina blinked, but then nodded. "I figured. It's your place after all. Well, I was never going to corral these wild horses, so maybe you'll have a better chance at it. So, uh, what's our plans in the long term?"

Penny would sag with relief for a moment, she had been afraid for naught it seems “Long term is hard to pin down. There is a lot going on in Penrose, but that’s nothing new. My main goals, outside of keeping this place and the girls here safe, would be more renovation, working on our exit strategy and possibly getting some trustworthy allies.” Renovation would be easy, or at least not any harder than anything else going on here. The allies bit would be the hardest, but Penny already knew most, if not all, of the major factions in Penrose. The exit strategy would be the most tricky, as it involved summoning the Earth Bastion.

“Short term, I was planning on making an announcement to everyone here about picking up the title of Queen, so I could field their concerns, yours as well if you have any.”

Goblina took out a phone and jotted down notes. "Got it. I'll get everything set up for that. As for recruitment, I have a couple of ideas. Based on what I've heard, a lot of girls have been drawn to the Golden Trove hotel. It's run by magical girls, so we should get on amicable terms with them." She put the phone back in her pocket. "Another place is the Cradle; heard good things from them, though the Mint has them on a blacklist, so might be dangerous to be associated with them."

Penny couldn’t resist a snort when the potential allies were listed. She wasn’t too surprised that her networking habits would come in handy now that she was actively working to make allies, more just surprised at who it was that was first in line. “Trove might be an issue, might not. I’ll head over there in a few days personally to work that one out. If they have an issue with me I want it to stay with me. Which they might, seeing as I accidentally stole something from the Dragon that lives there.”

Goblina cringed. "Yeowch. Dragons hate it when you steal from them."

“And I’m not going to be turning away the Cradle. Any enemy of Mint is a friend of mine, after a fashion. Plus I’ve met with some of their members. They are decent people, if a bit odd. There is also the fact that I’ve talked with Veronica before” To say nothing about having the vampire on speed dial effectively. “I can definitely try talking to them a bit more once we have gotten better settled here.”

"Okay, that sounds better," Goblina responded, still typing notes.

Penny would fold her arms as she started cycling though what they had and what they needed. They had safety, for the moment, and decent, if basic, supplies. What they needed was stability, and a greater sense of safety. Comfort wouldn’t be a bad thing either, but that could take time. “After the announcement, think you could help me round up some of the Metal girls and Builders?” Penny would ask as a possibility to improve the situation they were in came to mind, to say nothing about how it dovetailed into the exit strategy she had mentioned before. “I have a project that I would like them to work on.”

"Consider it done," Goblina answered with a casual salute, before she turned a bit meek. "Not to, uh, be snoopy, but what kind of project is it?"

“Ties back into what I stole actually” Penny would reply with a snicker “I own a ship, which is also a tank, that's the size of a baseball stadium. But back before it became mine, it used to be able to fly. I’d like to get it airborne again.” She would explain with a mischievous grin.

“That would give us an immense advantage. As we could take the Sanctuary anywhere we needed too and land anywhere we needed too. It’s not going to be an easy task though, the original Sky engine’s already been scrapped, but I have a copy of the blueprints and a bit of what the original engine was turned into as well so it should be doable.”

Goblina's tooth poked out from her mouth, opened wide in surprise. "Oh wow. I can't wait to see that!" She took Penny's hand and shook it repeatedly. "I'll do my best to keep us rolling, Boss! You can count on me!"

“Of that I have no doubt” Penny would reply with a nod as she went along with the handshake. “Off to let the rest of the Sanctuary know what’s up I suppose, before that got any questions for me?”

"Well, uh…" Goblina scratched the back of her head. "I know Cindy wasn't the most fun girl around. But she really did care about us, about keeping us safe. So, uh, could we hold a memorial for her, or something like that? Nothing too fancy, of course."

Penny would blink at the question, granted it was more of request but still. "Of course. I may have built the foundation but Cindy was just as passionate about keeping the girls here safe."

She'd reach up and rub at the back of her neck "I'm more upset that I hadn't thought about it before, now that I think about it" Drawback of her mechanical nature she mused internally, focusing too much on her chosen task and all else falls to the side.

Shaking her head she'd push that aside for now. "I can make a statue in her image for it. We can set up a small area either in the main room for it as well, that way we can give everyone a chance to mourn everyone that was lost due to the Rave."

Goblina nodded with a bittersweet smile. "Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks, Boss." She made a few more notes. "Well then, that's all from me. I got a lot of work to do, but call me if anything comes up." She waved a bit, then left the room.

Penny would be right behind Goblina, glad that things went well. Now she just had to hope that her next course of action would work just as smoothly.

---

When Penny once again reached the main room she would start walking towards it’s center but as she did metal stairs would begin to fold out of the ground along with a small circular platform and as she ascended the stairs her presence would suddenly draw everyone’s eyes to her, Because Gravity was so much more than just a force for determining weight.

“Everyone!” She would callout as she reached the center of her platform, the stairs folding back into the ground. “I have some announcements to make.” Her voice would echo deep within the Sanctuary, a mix of Gravity and Metal only doable because of how much of herself she put into this place.

“The first, is long overdue. We all have lost people, friends and close ones, over the past few days. Either at the Rave or due to the ongoing riots.” She would slowly walk the perimeter of her platform as she spoke, unafraid to meet the eyes of the girls and boys that would gather to listen. These were the people she was going to be pledging herself to protect, and she was going to use this time to make sure she knew each of their faces. “Each of those losses is a tragedy, and after I’m done up here I’ll be setting up a memorial. Everyone is free to add to it, be it pictures, or keepsakes, or any other way you can think to honor those that you have lost. I personally will be making a statue in tribute to Cindy. For without her many of us wouldn’t be here.”

“The next announcement, and well this is one that I feel will become a discussion so feel free to speak up.” Hopefully by now most of the Sanctuary had arrived, she wanted to give them all the chance to speak up for their opinions to be heard. “We have lost Cindy to the Mint. A fierce protector, and one who always looked to keep us safe. I hope to keep that Ideal alive. To that end I am taking up her mantle as Queen of Penrose. My goals are not different from hers, to keep you safe from those that would abuse you. This Sanctuary is open to everyone who needs a place to be safe, that has not changed, but there will be people that come here to try and take advantage of us. That I will not allow. There are those that will try and dismantle this place. That I will not allow. And there are those that will try and endanger this place. That I will not allow.”

“I will state I am an enemy of the Mint and their manipulative ways, and the same can be said of the Ascendency for their acts of wholesale slaughter. I will not bow to them, and will always place myself in between them and any who call this place home. Because this is my home too, the first one that I have had since I became part of this world. And I will die before I let them take it from us.”

By the end of the speech, every Sanctuary resident's eyes were on Penny; their expressions ranging the spectrum of emotions. Whispers ran amuck, but soon enough, a single pair of hands clapped, as hard as they could; it was Goblina, crying with a scrunchy mouth.
"The Queen is dead. Long live the Queen!" She blurted out. Then, others joined in the clapping and cheering. "Long live the Queen! Long live Penny the Builder!"

It didn't take long before the entire Sanctuary rang with cheers for the new queen, the robot girl having succeeded in giving faith and hope to the downtrodden bunch.

---

&

Dina Denisova

_{.:⋮First of many⋮:.}

Before large events there were signs. A flood would be preceded by heavy rain and thunder and a choking atmosphere. Animals being restless would be signs of earthquakes, and a red moon was a sign of a heavy fire nearby. One who could read the signs and anticipate events would no doubt end up in a privileged position.

And for Dina Denisova, the Stray Empress, it was a life that she was loath to part with. Ever since being bereaved by her highborn cradle and forced to work like another cog in the system, she had yearned for the dances of lords and ladies, of princesses, kings and queens. Her new rebirth in this world of magic and events, could provide the strike of luck she needed.

If only people weren’t so wanton and haggard. Abandoned to fend of by herself, she was well acquainted that rulers had to isolate themselves if they were to be effective. Yet a ruler without associates was essentially worthless. What was she, then, nothing more than a girl with a knack for attracting stares and some magical powers? She had to put herself in a position where she could exert the lessons long ago learned in statecraft.

Penrose would offer a nice canvas, as she had read the whispers. Change, strife, vacuum. Cindy had not been amenable enough to her presence before in her court, perhaps now it would change. A talk had to be made.

And thus, she treaded the so-called Sanctuary, an allegorical hallowed ground for all monsters. She was bearing her human disguise, as a further sign of caution… The warehouse was hushed as many of the people there huddled together in mourning. And Cindy seemed to be gone.

Yet there was one person who seemed to easily slip between the separate bands of people within the sanctuary. Bringing food and blankets, or a soft word and a moment of compassion. Her presence was both impossible to miss yet seeming sublimated into the very foundation of this place thus easily relegated to the background. After all Penny wasn’t going to simply ask these people to assist the city and sit back and forget about them. No, they were in just as much need of support as those in Beacon who had lost friends.

It was while she was getting ready to head back for some more blankets that she would lay eyes on Dina and in that moment she would go deathly still. A deep red would bleed into her eyes for a moment as all compassion flowed away from her. Yet before she would move, her entire demeanor screaming of danger and hate, she would tilt her head to the side ever so slightly.

And just like that, she would blink and the soft caring look would be back and the red vanished, with a small hint of embarrassment mixed in as well. Rubbing the back of her neck for a moment Penny would slowly approach the new girl “Sorry about that” She would apologize first and foremost “Thought you were someone else for a moment there”

“Mm.” The newcomer assessed the situation, looking right and left. She tilted her head, and in a blink… the cat ears and tail sprouted from underneath her clothes, swishing vigorously. “Whoever that must be, must be someone regal… and dangerous.” She said, purring softly as she did. It was then when the people surrounding her noticed her monstrous nature.

And they weren’t disturbed… more like, they were enraptured by it. The newcomer seemed to exude a fair aura, someone who could be helpful in these trying times. “The city seems to be in turmoil… I see many downtrodden stares, and people in need of comfort. Furthermore, whoever I wished to meet… is not here. Mayhaps...I delayed my entrance too much.” Dina tilted her head.

“No matter… I am not going to be unsympathetic to this plight, It would not be fit for my station to do so.” She added, concentrating as a luminous aura parted from her, reinforcing, healing, invigorating as she walked by. The aura of radiance of those born to occupy a throne. “Assuage your fears, you are not alone in this. I am the Empress of Strays, Dina of the Denisov…I seek your Queen. Where might I find her Highness Cindy Ford?”

“She played the part of appearing regal” Penny would agree with a hint of distaste at the thought of Chloe. Some wounds ran deep, and even though it wasn’t truly her that Chloe had betrayed she held that scar nevertheless. She pushed those thoughts aside and refocused on the newest girl to visit the Sanctuary just in time to feel Dina’s aura unfurl and blanket the area. In which Penny would only raise an eyebrow.

“Cindy is dead” She would answer solemnly “Assassinated by Mint operatives a few days ago” It was a sad truth, but Penny was more interested in the reactions that Dina might have, as the timing was just a tad suspicious considering the catgirl’s aura “For now I’m in charge of this place. Penny Asimov, the people around here call me The Builder.”

Dina’s poise wasn’t broken upon hearing the news, although she casted her gaze down, her ears and tail following suit. “Is that so… truly a pity. Then again they are profiteers.” Dina said. “To be a Queen is to sleep with a dagger under a bed, always waiting for the one who will plunge into you from the shadows.” The cat girl answered. “We had… our differences, but she shall be missed. Not many people left with her veterancy nowadays.” She said, her gaze recovering and setting herself on to Penny.

“Asimov huh? Should it not be Asimova? Has no one taught you about ancestry?” Dina said, as she then was distracted by a trembling girl by her side, and decided to kneel and whisper a couple of words of encouragement, before rising once more.

“Originally I had come to seek a spot in the court, as this situation brought forth opportunities. I have no shame in admitting that. Hm.” She added, eyeing Penny. “Are you going to aim for that throne, I wonder…”

Penny simply watched Dina as she spoke, it would be perhaps noticeable to the other girl that Penny never seemed phased by the enchanting aura.and instead simply kept her gaze clear and focused. “Considering my ancestry, Asimov fits much much better then Asimova, and I can’t help but think that more than just Queens live a life in which they must watch the shadows, so you’ll have to excuse me for finding you rather suspicious. All things considered.” She would say after a moment.

“Regardless, I built this place to act as a safe haven. So you are welcomed to stay. As for seeking a spot in the Queen’s court...” She would pause and give Dina a piercing look, one that seemed to measure all there was about Dina, and when Penny next spoke there was weight behind her words that had been lacking beforehand. “Prove yourself to be for the girls here, to be willing to give back to those that have nothing but this roof over their heads and I will consider listening to your council. For whilethey call me Builder, That does not mean I have not claimed Queen as well.”

Dina looked at Penny, raising an eyebrow. Well, sometimes people were guarded like that. Being confused for that other person, whoever that was, probably had soured her disposition. “Hmm….” She purred, looking at the girls, and then at Penny. “Magic does queer things.” So, Penny had once been a boy. “Mayhaps I should share a bit of personal history. Denisov family was once one of the noble retainers of the Tsar. Roughly a hundred years ago, the Bolsheviks took everything and kicked us from grace. I’ve raised five children on my own, and then I became a magical girl. Believe me when I say, I know what it feels like.” Dina added, as she turned her back on Penny eyeing the other girls.

“Food is mostly taken care of. Healing and blankets are too. Now we need to fortify, and gather resources.” She said to herself and nobody in particular, as she put her hand on her mouth… and whistled, a second specialization briefly becoming active over her aura. Beast.

A score of eyes peered from the dark that surrounded the warehouse, before rushing past the entrance. Half a dozen cats of all sorts of pelts and sizes surrounded Dina, eyes staring. But these cats weren’t definitely normal. Each and everyone of them had two tails instead of one, as well as vivid eyes betraying abnormal intelligence.

“I have a task for you, Bakenekos. This haggard place, make it more amenable.” Dina commanded firmly, as she swished her tail, eyes peeking at the magical creatures.

“Um, what about the reward?” One of them, the apparent leader, talked back in a woman's voice.

“Fine, I will treat you all to fatty tuna Sushi once we’re done here. These poor girls don’t have much on their own.” Dina grumbled. People always were demanding things upfront. Did they not trust her word anymore?

“Yay!” Every single of the creatures said, before activating their magic… and becoming something taller and more human(safebooru.org//samples/1880/sample_c0… ). Complete in a maid suit.

Dina let the cat maids do the job that Penny had been doing earlier. “Hmm, that should make it a little better.” She added, before beginning to pick all of the youngest magical girl refugees by the hand and getting them to a secluded corner, before clearing her throat.

“Been a while since I did this, so...ahem.” She began to sing a Lullaby.

youtube.com/watch?v=IfBPo7cLWFw

Penny hadn’t been expecting such an immediate and direct response to what she said and was knocked back onto her heels at the sudden influx of assistance. “Well, now I feel like an ass” She would comment to herself while she waited for Dina to finish her lullaby. Snoopy floating about watching the catmaids wandering around helping comfort people.

“Seems I owe you another apology” Penny would say as she strode forward once the song was tapering down. “Hopefully that doesn’t become a habit on my part. Thanks for the help though.”

“Didn’t mean to be so suspicious of you, just timing, appearance, and skill set just seemed too good to be true.”

Dina let herself rise, while tucking the tired and now sleeping girls under the blankets, as she rose once more, her ears twitching upon the mention of apology. “Hm.” She paused as she saw the maids she had summoned going on and about. “No need. I am doing this for myself too. It’s highly unlikely I will go anywhere in this town without building a good rapport with certain factions. This one seemed a good starting point.” She tilted her head. “Don’t you think so, Builder? It also helped my past resonated with your plight a bit.”

She added. “I was to be an aide of Princess Anastasia at some point. But the Bolsheviks meddled. I too suffered the lash of unchecked potential, even if my feline features are often more a boon than a curse. And as a result, I was left alone.” She said, performing a good curtsy.

“Offer me a court, and I shall give you my best statecraft. That’s all I can say”

“I would agree that this place is a good place to start” Penny would say, offering Dina her hand. “And call me Penny. Come on, I’ll introduce you the the rest of the girls that are part of the court”

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

Penrose harbor was an interesting place. During the peak seasons it was a surprisingly sedate place despite the fact that there was a decent beach for people to spend time at. Perhaps it had something to do with the small shipping company that held warehouses in the area that kept people away, or perhaps it was simply not a very often thought about location due to the lack of good seaside activities.

Either way, with the city in lockdown, and it being winter, it wasn’t a very visited part of the city. So when a flash of light deposited a rather plan looking kid atop one of the warehouses overlooking the water late one evening no one was around to see it.

The kid in question was exhausted, not in a physical sense, more in a mental one, and he had come here to get a piece of solitude. A rare thing for the normally affable member of Beacon, but if Kyle was being honest, and he did try to be so to himself whenever he could, he needed a break from the normal ebb of the city. It was depressing, doubly so when one could actually feel the emotional flow of the City. The rave, the Riots, the everything. It wasn’t a good place at the moment, but Kyle knew that was only temporary, just sometimes it takes a moment for things to start getting better.

… Of course he shows up on top of a building. Why wouldn't he? He finally appears where she’s been waiting for him, and he appears where she can’t get to without transforming. It's like he's intentionally annoying her.

Freya closed the phone she'd been dragging along, hurried over to grab the ladder they’d prepared just in case, and placed it on the opposite side of the warehouse in question. She ascended, sighed a bit as she reached the roof, and then started her calm walk over. Still, based on her past experience, he likely already knew she was here…

Some time into Kyle's respite, gentle steps could be heard from behind him. It was the sound of sandals walking across the roof towards him.

‘Don't turn around. I’m not here to fight, but I'd still rather you do not see me. I wish to speak to you, trickster,’ Freya said, untransformed, wrapped perhaps oddly in a traditionally eastern outfit, for that was her attire of choice untransformed.

True to Freya’s assumptions Kyle did in fact know she was there before she started talking to him, though it had more to do with the fact that moving a ladder around isn’t exactly a quiet affair, than anything magical. On the other hand the only reason he was able to hear the ladder being moved from up here was due to innate magic so it was perhaps a moot point.

He would let out a contemplative hum at Freya’s request, but he didn’t bother to move from his seated position, not seeming to care overly much that she was advancing towards him. “Well, I can tell that you have in fact met me” He would say after a moment a smile on his face at being dubbed trickster “And I’m fine with a conversation. Normally I’m the one hunting others down so that I can try and get one started, refreshing change of pace if I do say so” He was still facing towards the water as he spoke and it seemed like he would honor the request not to turn around.

That hope was quickly dashed as he turned his head to look over his shoulder at his new guest. “Not going to go without knowing who I’m talking to though” Kyle would say with a shrug. Taking in Freya’s untransformed appearance for a moment before turning back to watching the sunset “What is it you wanted to talk to me about?”

Freya, in her untransformed state, had short black hair, brown-yellowish eyes, and wearing this definitely Japanese-inspired garment, in addition to that she was pretty short and underdeveloped, her stature disguising that her body was as old as a Magical Girl’s body was normally allowed to be… and she gave him a mildly unhappy frown as he looked over her, but not acting past that until he had finished. As a reply to the question…

‘… I see that your arm is back in its socket. That’s good. I’d prefer if you didn’t hold a grudge against me for it,’ she said, and then kept quiet for the simple reason to gauge his reaction to her reveal.

Kyle would chuckle slightly at Freya’s annoyance of him looking at her “Face for a face is only fair” He would say before waving his still healing limb “Nah, no need for a grudge. I mean I kinda figured it was what was going to happen with how focused you were, and I’m just not the type to hold grudges, I don’t like carrying around the toxicity” He would explain, not bothered too much on if it tipped his hand with his magic, he pulled some pretty esoteric tricks back at the park as it was, not to mention they could have had a Third Eye there as well.

He wasn’t too worried about his question being dodged, she had come to him after all, he was confident they would get around to it eventually.

Freya nodded slightly in reply, her initial annoyance quelled by how accepting he was about having had his arm ripped out on the field of battle. Then she could go straight to the point.

‘You trapped me with your magic, and made me feel what you feel being part of Beacon. I had a less than positive reaction. You told me that one can still find warmth within this world. This made me wonder, how you’d react if I told you my story. I wanted to speak to you again. It’s been a long time since I’ve actually wanted anything. I’m not going to tell you anything that may give Beacon an edge against my companions, and this includes my name, but… do you mind if I tell you a story?’ she asked, standing in place, looking intently at Kyle.

Internally Kyle had already decided he was going to stick around and listen. Honestly it wouldn’t really matter who it was on the other side of this conversation, Kyle liked helping people. The only reason his response wasn’t as instant as his decision was so that he had a moment to temper his hope and his dread. He doubted that it was a pleasant story(‘Duh’) but he also needed to remind himself that there was no guarantee that he would be able to do anything more than be a willing ear.

Still “I’m willing to listen to anything you want to say” Would come the honest reply “I’ll let you know that I’m likely to turn around during the telling at some point though. I don’t like talking to people without seeing them, it always feels disingenuous, dubbly so when they are telling me something personal.” He would tack on as a warning, even if he hadn't turned back round to face her just yet.

‘... Alright, that’s fine. You’ve already seen me, after all, and there’s probably a high likelihood some representative of Beacon is watching me now, anyway, so the reasoning of keeping my untransformed appearance secret probably didn’t apply anyway,’ Freya said with a sigh. ‘Alright. Here goes. So…’

‘I'm from a different world. That world looked a lot different from your world, as the existence of Magical Girls was public knowledge and our governments were employing us as military. This, of course, meant we had villains upon villains doing anything they could to take control of the world's magic, to make themselves more powerful. But time and time again, we were sent and successfully destroyed the villains. I was a part of a mighty empire, I was one of their strongest warriors, I had friends and family, all of that. All of that which you were offering me, I had plenty. Yet…’

‘A sort of creature appeared. We called it the were-lamia. It was created from some sort of mad magic scientist experiment. It was a fast, ferocious beast, and anyone they bit also became a were-lamia. Each one of them was so strong it needed five magical girls to reliably destroy one without casualties. We acted as we always did. We sent a massive force to destroy them at range with powerful magic, rendering their physical might useless. What reason did we have to think this was anything but just another threat to deal with? We were dealing with these things once a fortnight…’

‘We eliminated the first batch without issue. Yet, one of them must have gotten past us, and entered a city. The next day, we woke up to havoc, with the were-lamia’s numbering thousands. We tried to nuke them, but they were so fast, they’d already reached neighboring cities. They tore apart our world, sparing nobody. We battled them in a long, arduous war, with far more setbacks than victories. I faced them more times than I could count in bloody battles to save our world, to defend the last walls defending everyone I cared about. Yet, I wasn’t enough. I was finally bitten, and the last I saw as the beast’s transformation overtook me was how the were-lamia were breaking through the walls of the last bastion of my people…’

‘I was spared. The patron I now serve stopped the transformation part-way, giving me the strength of a were-lamia yet retaining my own mind… as long as I feed regularly, that is,’ she said, shuddering a little as she shared that. She didn’t know what Kyle thought of devourers. ‘… Yet, I was alone. Should you visit my world now, it’s dead. The were-lamia devoured everything until there was nothing left, and when other sources of flesh vanished they started preying on one another, until finally the last ones starved to death. And I had lost everything.’

‘What I learned then is that we only need to fail once. One time is all it takes, then all we care about vanishes. I’d been part of the force that stopped each apocalypse-of-the-month for decades, winning hundreds of battles… yet one loss. One loss, and it was all ruined. With this in mind, I decided never to feel companionship again, not to care about anyone. I am but a warrior fielded by my patron, surviving as I can, for there is nothing else left for me. I don’t want to feel that pain, ever again,’ she said, breathing out, feeling… a tad miserable.

‘… And that’s why I declined your offering, that day in the Penrose Gardens. I hoped to make you understand my reasoning a bit more with my story.’

And that was the story of how Freya became known as the Union Beast. A union between Freya’s human mind, and the murderous beast known as the were-lamia. With that told, Freya looked to Kyle, once again looking to gauge his reaction.

True to his word Kyle would have turned around mid story. but he didn’t speak up, he just sat there attentively letting Freya tell her story. No smile on his face, as he knew going in that it wasn’t going to be a happy one. He would take a moment to more fully digest what he was told before saying anything but when he did “I think you and Penny would get along”

“Or at least she could be a good friend for you.” He didn’t seem too worried about the seeming non sequitur “But I also think you took the wrong message from what you went through, or at least you’ve not thought it through very deeply since.” He would go on to say as he leaned back on his arms, letting his gaze drift up to the darkened sky. “I can’t say I can really grasp the enormity of what you went through. I could understand the emotions sure, but I know well enough that wouldn’t do it justice. Closest I can relate it to would be the Rave I suppose, but that’s getting a bit off track”

He would shake his head before returning his gaze, soft and to a degree understanding, to Freya “As I said I think you took the wrong message, closing yourself off while it will make it so that you never feel the pain of sudden loss that is true. Yet I don’t need my magic to tell that you feel miserable, I mean it helps, but we are ostensibly enemies. You don’t owe me an explanation for why you turned me down. Yet you must have been looking out for me with not an insubstantial amount of effort to find me so quickly after touchdown. To me, that seems like you're lonely, and as an Empath take it from me, I know how self destructive that can be.”

“And yeah, you are right about only needing to lose once to have everything fall apart. But Apathy? That’s not a solution. Because it spreads. And eventually not even your own life is worth anything anymore.” He would explain with a shake of his head and a shrug “I’ll take the ups that come with the downs over that bleak grey any day, because there is always a chance of things getting better but only so long as you are willing to keep trying.”

Freya kept quiet and listened, raising an eyebrow at the mention of Penny but otherwise remaining as she was. When Kyle got though the bulk of his point her expression looked unconvinced. She spoke first after numerous moments of silence.

‘I’m just going to say my process of thoughts out loud right now,’ she started with, and then opened her mouth again.

‘It would have been so easy for me to write you off as just another naive child. So often have I seen my companions play together, and I'd seen them as children yet to mature from a proper tragedy. I even encouraged a hesitant one to take part in their innocent games, likening myself to an adult telling a child to play before they grow up and no longer have the capability. All this time, I viewed their random bonding as setting themselves up for disaster, distastefully distancing myself from all forms of entertainment and companionship for I knew what reward eventually awaited them. I did not envy them in the slightest, but kept quiet knowing I wouldn’t change their ways by simply talking to them. But you’re saying, all this time, I’m the one that held onto the wrong lesson? I feel a bit insulted,’ she said and sighed at the end, but then removed her frown and stared at him decently blankly.

‘But now I’ve gone through all the effort to find and talk to you about this. This because I couldn’t possibly have spoken about this with one of my companions, they’d have felt obligated to try to befriend me, and want it or not, I’d potentially have grown fond of them by virtue of the connection forged by me opening up to them. With that in mind, let’s take this experiment a bit further,’ she said, taking a break again now.

‘So. What would you have me do?’ Freya asked, seemingly serious.

“In my opinion, yes” Kyle would say sitting more forward “Because you are either still consumed with the pain or are still ruled by the fear that stemmed from your loss. You haven't moved on. To borrow your analogy. You’re still a child, now simply using a nightlight because you are afraid of the dark”

“So it shouldn’t be very surprising that I would recommend finding a friend” He would go on to say shrugging as he did “I'm a rather big proponent of the power of friendship after all. I’d offer, but even though we are talking at the moment I get the feeling that we are still on opposing sides.”

‘Ugh,’ … Yeah, that didn’t feel good to hear. She wasn’t even convinced he was right. ‘… Not going to happen in one day. I’m going to need to sleep on the idea, if it’s going to go somewhere.’

She then looked over Kyle a bit, her expression blank. ‘We don’t really have anything against Beacon. It’s just, we’re monsters, you’re typically hunting us, so it’s good reasoning to research what new stuff you acquire to possibly use against us… I think the reasoning was. I don’t know. I was just following orders,’ Freya said, shrugging at the end.

“Yeah I get that” Kyle would agree with a nod as he leaned back “If you do find out that you want to try making a friend I would once again recommend Penny. She’d understand where you are coming from better than most, as she went through something similar” He would explain.

“And the White coins aren't weapons. They are for purification. Granted they override Patron connections, but that is more to help those stuck with Horror’s as Patrons then anything.”

‘Yeah, I understand. I don’t particularly believe my companions would do anything to mess that business up for those who actually want to use one,’ Freya said about the White Coins, and then looked out over the view again.

‘Penny, huh. I’ll keep that name in mind. … Do you have anything else you’d like to say before I leave?’ Freya asked, because she felt pretty done.

“Thank you” Kyle would say after a moment of thought “For being willing to come and talk to me. With the Ascendency in town I was afraid that no one was willing to talk to Beacon anymore.” He would say with a nod and wide smile.

Those words said, Freya’s look at Kyle softened somewhat, breathing out lightly from her nose as she turned away from him. ‘I will say the same. Thank you for being willing to talk to the likes of me, as well. If everyone was a bit more like you, it would have solved a lot of problems,’ she replied.

“Anytime” He would say as he turned back to the water, his smile having grown due to the compliment.

With that, Freya started walking back over the roof of the warehouse, and eventually descended the ladder on the far side again, in order to depart away into the city and out of sight.

Kyle would wait until he heard the ladder being retracted before he would vanish in a small flash of light. He had come here to get a bit of solitude and received something much more valuable. So it was time for him to get back to work.

That and paperwork, once again he was thankful that he had the foresight to add in a clause about non hostile interactions in his contract but the paperwork always sucked.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

“This’ll teach ya to knock me out and wipe my memories like some disposable side character!”

— Binky

Penny would take a moment to herself as she stood outside the door that led to Binky’s lab. A moment to reflect on just how fast it was that her life had changed in the last forty eight hours. It wasn’t as much of a surprise anymore when it happened, she understood now, better then she had ever done so before, that she was likely forever touched by that ever changing chaos, and if she was honest she had taken solace in that fact.

But that had nothing to do with why she was here.

Pushing open the door Penny would take a look around for the wayward scientist, one she held a debt of gratitude towards. “Hey Binky, it’s Penny” She would call out as she moved further into the lab in her search.

Binky jumped at Penny’s sudden appearance, but regained their composure quickly. After so many surprise visits, she must have been getting used to Penny.

”Oh hiya bud.” Binky greeted Penny with a wave. ”You keep getting better with every incarnation huh?” She rubbed her chin. ”So it was a success then? No pains or abnormalities?” The green haired girl gestured at Penny with a smile. ”Except for the appearance, of course.”

“As far as I can tell yeah.” Penny would answer with a nod “Ran a full diagnostic shortly after the reforging and everything came back green. There was one bit that was odd.” It was hard to put into words, even though Penny’s aura plainly told the story, but it was easily apparent to the robotic girl that she was locked in, for lack of a better way to describe it, as a Monstergirl now. “But it’s more a result of how I went about fixing things I think. Other than that I feel great, so I’d call it a complete success. Thank you again for the help” She would reiterate placing a hand on BInky shoulder as she spoke. She didn’t want to contemplate where she would be right now if not for BInky’s assistance.

“On that, I was wondering if now would be a good time to fulfill my end of the bargain” Taking a step back she’d give Binky an easy going smile “It’s the least I could do at this point”

”Oh, I don’t think that that will be necessary anymore.” Binky placed a hand on Penny’s. ”I mean I think if she really wanted to find me, she’d have done it already. That was why I didn’t press going with you last time you were here. It doesn’t matter that much to me.” Binky grinned. ”But if you feel you owe me, it might be interesting to take a closer look at you.”

”Totally!” A second Binky who looked just like the first stepped into the room. ”Like, I sooooooo wanna peak under the hood!” Binky prodded at her metal frame.

A third Binky, like a silent assassin, dropped down from the ceiling and attempted to hug Penny from behind. She would both run afoul of one of Penny’s new passive systems as a gravimetric barrier would repulse the surprise hug, at least until Penny fully realized what it was and let her through. ”It could probably help with research! Yes, there’s a lot here to research. Everything needs to be thoroughly examined.”

A forth binky was darting around with a camera, taking pictures from every single angle. ”I am genuinely curious what’s under those metal plates myself. Especially the face, it’s so smooth compared to everything else!”

One of the closets made a muffled noise. Penny’s heat sensors could pick up something roughly Binky’s height on the other side of the door. Oddly it was floating off the ground, like it had been pinned to the ceiling somehow.

All things said Penny was giving all of the gathered Binky’s with a suspicious look, one that only got worse when she noted the hidden Binky sized reading.

“Uh huh” Penny would give the gathered Binky’s another once over “Going to take more than that to get me to bare it all for you” She would say as she walked towards the closet, not bothering to allow any of the current Binkys to stop her, before opening it.

To say that she was surprised to see yet another BInky tied up and hanging within the closet, would be something of a lie, the fact that the other four Binkys instantly fled once she opened the door was something of a surprise however. “Do they do stuff like this often?” Penny would ask the Binky in the closet as she set about getting them down.

”Quite often, yes.” Binky stood upright, but her arms were still bound to her sides because of all the rope wound around her. She almost looked like a spool. ”They hate me, so they’ll do things like this. The twins usually catch on quickly enough, but they’re getting better at impersonating me.” Binky looked up at Penny. ”And hello.” Binky didn’t smile. There were giant bags under her eyelids and her hair shot out in every direction. ”The coin does appear to have worked. I take it the second you is alright as well?”

“They got the peace they’ve been wanting” Would be Penny’s reply to the real Binky’s question, as she set about freeing Binky from her cocoon of ropes.

Once Penny untied Binky, she rubbed her arms. ”The longer we linger here, the more desperate my clones will be to, um, examine you. That is what I feel at least.” She rubbed her eyes. ”That is to say I would appreciate you escorting me to Penrose Middle School. It’s just a crater now, but I’m sure she’ll drop by if we go there.”

“Sounds like a plan. Don’t really want to get into a position where I am forced to banish a clone of yours” Penny would say as she turned to lead the way to the middle school “You want to stop by the cafeteria or a gas station and pick up some coffee? You look like you could use some. I’d recommend some sleep but I get the feeling that would be ignored.”

”Meeting with Betty would fix a lot of this.” She pointed all over her face with her finger. ”I’m also strapped for cash. I don’t think I could afford a cup of coffee.” She tapped her fingers together. ”Unless...”

---

Binky and Penny had arrived at the old site for Penrose middle school. The green haired researcher had gotten a small coffee to go and was now leaning against a charred fence post.

”I don’t like relying on coffee, but thank you. This is a lot better than what I can make myself.” She slurped from the cup and wiped her sleeve on her arm. It was cold out, and Binky’s uniform wasn’t the warmest. There were goosebumps all over her skin. ”We shouldn’t have to wait long. Thank you again for bringing me out here. The outer alliance makes going outside troublesome.”

“Yeah I can see how that would have made going out and about solo rough” Penny would agree as she scanned the surroundings. She had to admit she wasn’t sure if this place had been blasted before or after the Ascendency showed up but the desolation that it evoked was the same regardless.

“Hard to say if it will be better or worse considering what happened at the Park a couple of nights ago.” It was too early to gauge what the loss of leadership within the Outer alliance would lead to, to say nothing about Penny picking up Cindy’s title.

“Why are you so certain that they will find out that we are here?” She would go on to ask bringing her gaze back around to Binky “Because without a coat it’s just going to get worse, would have stopped for you to grab one if I had known you didn’t have sealing”

”It’s alright.” Binky slurped their coffee again. ”You could say we have something of a connection.” She forced a smile.

Not long afterwards, something bubbled in the center of the crater. Dark forms took the shape of humans as they ventured into the light. The first shape shrugged the darkness off of itself, revealing the person underneath.

Veronica.

“Binky, I was wondering when you’d come out here.”

”It’s been hectic.” Binky looked around. ”I’m surprised you didn’t come for me sooner.”

“The ascendancy has made doing anything with Beacon difficult. But your stay wasn’t that bad was it?” She turned to Penny. “Who are you?”

”That’s Penny..”

“No. No she is not.”

“I’m starting to see what you meant Binky” Penny would say with a sigh. A few questions she had now have been answered, just not in the way she had been expecting.

“Hey Veronica” she would greet with a half hearted wave “I am Penny. got a systems update a few days ago hence the new look” She would explain before pinging Veronica with the comms unit she had gotten from the vampire to further prove she was who she said she was. Because Penny had a feeling Veronica could tell that which most others wouldn’t or couldn’t.

Veronica squinted her eyes. “It has been a confusing few weeks. Perhaps the full story can wait.”

Binky looked to the second shape coming out of the inky darkness. While a magical girl emerged from it, it was not one that Penny recognized. A white haired girl carrying an assault rifle.

”H-hello Remedy!” Binky lifted a hand to her chin and looked around. ”Excuse me Veronica,I’m glad to see you, but I was really looking forward to seeing Betty.”

Veronica looked at Binky for a moment. The same way an office drone might look at a stack of paperwork on a Monday. She slid a ring off of her finger and held it out to Binky. It looked like an ordinary ring, save the large ruby it was decorated with.

Binky shuffled closer and held out her hand, to which Veronica lowered the ring into. ”I don’t understand.”

“It’s her soul stone.” Veronica folded her arms behind her back. “Justine was going to attack an innocent magical girl, and she rushed to her defense. Her body was corrupted, but her soul remains safe inside that ring.”

Binky’s hands trembled. She curled her fingers around the ring and sunk to the ground. ”Justine has her body then?”

“I’m not sure. She left with it, I know that much.” Binky hung her head, but Veronica continued to speak. “Justine bit her, so she was likely corrupted like the other girls who worked under her were.” The green haired girl sniffled, Veronica started to pace. “Best case scenario, the body doesn’t function without the soul, and Justine sees fit to destroy it. If she does that, then Betty will return with her body in a month’s time. Though I think it’s far more likely that Justine would have other uses for her body. To display it as a trophy, among other things.” Veronica stood behind Binky. “Perhaps Justine’s curse doesn’t need Betty’s soul to work, in which case she would still have control over her body. If that happened then we may never get Betty back. She’s turned girls into monsters before, she might decide to do something like that again.” By this point Binky was balling. Veronica gave her a moment to grieve before kneeling down and wrapping her arms around Binky’s neck. “But I don’t plan on letting her keep Betty. I have a score to settle with her. She will pay for every atrocity she has ever committed. When I’m done with her, she will regret every action that led up to this point. Her entire life will feel like a string of bad choices.” She hugged Binky against her chest. “You and Betty will be reunited, like you would have been tonight.” Binky sniffled, but she seemed to be calming down. Veronica let go of her. “Would you like to help me save Betty?”

The timid magical girl didn’t need time to think about it. She wiped away her tears, wiped the snot off on her arm, and stood up. She turned to Veronica and clasped her hands together. ”I will do whatever it takes to bring her back!”

The former coin broker rose to her feet and looked to Penny. “I’m not sure what’s off with you, but it’s clear you don’t want to talk about it. Quite honestly, it doesn’t interest me.” She folded her arms behind her back. “What interests me is putting an end to the Mint, Justine, and any other forces that would harm this wonderful city. For that I will need magical girls. Strong ones.” She spread her arms. “Would you be interested in joining the Cradle’s cause?”

It was interesting to watch Veronica convince Binky to come back into the fold, a mix of cold fact, emotional plea, and the answer to a desperate situation. It stung to see because Penny had fallen for it herself once, yet Veronica had left the Mint, so Penny didn’t feel the need to speak up against Binky’s choice, besides from the sounds of things Binky had been cut off, rather than tried to flee so she doubted that she could do much to keep them apart other then turning Binky into an actual prisoner.

Penny would simply raise an eye after she was addressed again, silently expressing her doubt at Veronica’s claim of not wanting to know, before shrugging “I doubt that many people get to hear more then one sales pitches from you” would be her reply as she loosely crossed her arms in front of her “And while I can see the benefits, not to mention my own personal interest in keeping Penrose safe, last time I dealt with you I jumped in without reading the fine print so I would prefer to know what the catch is up front this time. If you don’t mind?”

“Veronica the Mint coin broker is a different animal than Veronica the Cradle mother.” She placed a hand on Binky’s shoulder. “The Mint keeps secrets from everyone, including their own people. The Cradle is much more open about its work. We have a Glimmr account and everyone knows who my agents are. This makes conventional espionage tricky, but not impossible. We don’t disclose active operations to the public, but we declassify missions much faster than the Mint does. We’re a tightly knit group that’s proud of what we do.” Binky had stopped sniffling by this point. “Also unlike the Mint, things are set up so that agents don’t become debtors. I don’t gain anything by penalizing my agents for requiring special help. You’ve worked with Beacon, correct? Then you probably understand some of the Cradle’s capabilities.” She shrugged. “You can imagine the drawbacks. Being so exposed does put a target on you from other organizations, We’re not nearly as large as Beacon or Mint, and our numbers even pale to most puchuu. On a more ‘personal’ level, I’m connected to everyone’s thoughts. Technically I can dig up anything that is housed in your mind. This is in place to ensure traitors do not emerge in our ranks rather than some pointless display of mental voyeurism.” Veronica lifted her hand, and a contract appeared with a puff of smoke. “If you wish to see the ‘fine print’, you may inspect the contract.”

It would be easy to see the exact moment that Penny found the deal untenable, and it was the moment that Veronica mentioned that she would have free access to Penny’s mind. Penny flinched away at that, as it was perhaps her greatest fear at this point. Someone having more power or influence over her mind then she did. It didn’t matter how well she understood on an intellectual level that wasn’t the case, the simple existence of that back door being a requirement shut down any chance of Penny joining the cradle. Not that the odds were very high in the first place.

That said she would still take the contract and read it over before speaking. “I know that you are a different person from when you used to work with the Mint. Otherwise I wouldn’t still be a part of this conversation. I agree that Mint and Justine need to be shut down and to that end I am willing to work with you, When it comes to working towards keeping Penrose safe and reversing the disastrous state the city has fallen into I am willing to work with you.” She would raise her eyes off the contract before rolling it back up unsigned and offering it back to Veronica.

“But I can't agree to giving you, or anyone, free access to my mind. For any reason.” She would meet Veronica’s eyes “Until that changes I will never join your cradle, but I will still work alongside you towards the betterment of this city, if you would allow that.”

“More or less what I was expecting.” The contract was swallowed up by a shadow. “Though you must understand why that is necessary in my line of work. The Mint is everywhere, and the privacy of my agent’s thoughts is not worth more than their safety. My terms will never change.” She pointed at Penny. “Especially for you. You were working for the Mint, Laat, and Beacon all at the same time. You were double and triple crossing people right out of the gate.” She gave Penny a sideways glance. “Or were you? I’m not convinced that Jason is the one rattling around in there. Your mind looked familiar, but-.”

“That’s because Jason is gone” Penny would interrupt. “Chloe’s latest betrayal finally broke him and when we used the Red Coin, he gave over everything before cutting himself out. He won't be coming back.” She didn’t want to be telling them all this, but Veronica already could tell the important part, and she could figure the rest out easily enough by looking into BInky’s memories if she was as intelligent as Penny assumed. So if people were going to learn, it was because Penny was going to tell them, she wouldn’t bury the truth that deeply.

“I am Penny, I have only ever been Penny. And while we have never directly met before now” She would say gesturing between herself and Veronica “I was there when you and Jason first did. I can’t claim that my actions would have been drastically different from his, but I can say that I am trying to learn from his mistakes and that I am trying to be a better person then he was.” For as much as she wasn’t Jason, she also was to a degree.

“I don’t begrudge you not trusting me, but at least understand that the only thing I have that is truly mine are a scant handful of memories and thoughts. I want those to stay mine, as I have nothing else.”

“Sentiment.” She rolled her shoulders before gesturing towards Binky. “I came here for Binky, and I won’t stay here any longer than I have to. You helped bring us together, intentional or not. We may work together in the future. Under special circumstances of course.” Veronica folded her arms. “Regardless, I hope you don’t repeat your predecessor’s mistakes. I may have betrayed the mint, but I have never betrayed my agents.” She stepped into the crater, and disappeared inside a shadow.

Binky’s eyes were still red from crying, but there was a strange look of determination in her eyes. She turned to Penny and bowed ”Thanks for the coffee!” She lifted her head. ”If you ever want to get in contact with us, just come here.” Binky followed Veronica into the crater, and the medic trailed behind her. Before long, Penny was alone.

“Gods be damned, you are still confusing” Penny would mutter to herself once she was alone, before shrugging and turning to leave. She would stop at the edge of the property simply looking back at the spot that Veronica and Binky had left. Wondering. She would eventually turn away and continue on her way. There were people that needed her help, and the only thing she could do at the moment was take things one step at a time.

Tiny and the Terminator [Mistress Dizzy & Shifter_Master]

No worries, as I said life everywhere is a bit shaky at the moment. Plus if there is one virtue that I have in ample amounts it would be patience.

Tiny and the Terminator [Mistress Dizzy & Shifter_Master]

Time is a cruel implement at times. Never is that truth more obvious as to when one is waiting for something to pass. Even as familiar with that fact as Slade is he finds himself counting the seconds as they slips past. Not to say that he wasn’t productive, there were dozens of things that he had to occupy his time. Working towards getting Jinayah set up as his ward for example. There was paperwork to fill out, people to bribe, information to fabricate.

Plus there were plans that he needed to adjust, supplies to acquire or put away, information to obtain and internalize. The hours that the most lethal man alive waited for his newly acquired niece to wake up were not spent idle. Yet that didn’t lessen the impact of the painful drag that time had. Nor did it lessen the temptation to allow his mind to wonder back to earlier times in his life, back when he walked this road for the first time.

Never the less he kept to his work, even as, like clockwork, he would step away to check in on the young girl that was now a part of his life on the hour, and it was during one of those times that he stepped away from his work to check on Jinny that he came across the sight of her crying, the sight of which tore at him.

Quietly he would move to sit next to her a gentle hand on her back rubbing soothing circles. He would not say anything. For there was nothing he could say, for even if he knew what it was that brought about her tears, how could his words have any sort of impact at this point?

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

_{.:⋮Reforged⋮:.}

Penny would take one last look at the mirror, her smile still tugging away at her lips as she appreciated her new look. It felt right, she finally felt like she belonged in her own skin, granted she didn’t truly have skin anymore, but that didn’t diminish the sensation. With a nod to her reflection she would walk out of the bathroom in the interdimensional apartment, stepping over the shattered remnants of the door, and move towards the front door.

As she walked she reflected on the fact that it seemed the anger issues were in fact hers rather than Jason’s, but that realization also brought a smile to her lips, even as she surveyed the demolished apartment. It was a stroke of luck that she had used the red coin here. The emotional rollercoaster would have been devastating out in Penrose. For it was not only the pain of Chloe betraying her human half that was dealt with, but also a much more subtle and longer hidden betrayal that had been uncovered.

Stopping at the door Penny would pick up the small backpack she had dug out of what was once her room. In it were the few small things that she still wanted to keep from this place. It held a few of her favorite tee shirts, the beginning of a handmade metal chess set, a golden necklace, and the doll she had recently purchased. Checking one last time to make sure that everything was in the bag Penny would once again turn her eyes towards the ravaged dwelling. She had no idea if the damage would stay, magical homes weren’t likely to obey any rules that one should expect after all, but she hopped it did.

For she had left a note, pinned to the mostly intact coffee table, her thoughts towards Chloe laid bare for the darkened girl to see if she were ever to come back. Her key to this place impaled into the wood keeping the note in place. Though she was rather sure that the destruction she had wrote would tell the message well enough on her own. She didn’t want to leave anything unvoiced, even if only in writing, for she was done with Chloe, done with a lot of how she used to be as well. And it would be within this little pocket of elsewhere she would leave behind her.

Finally she would turn and walk away from the wreckage. Her smile never wavering as she found herself once again within Penrose her eyes would flicker as she reestablished her connection to the various systems and networks within the city.
”All systems are green” She would say to herself as her hover jets would flare to life “Time to get to work” With that she would race off, using her newly acquired information network to find those that were in need of help.

---

_{>>Merry Maiden?<<}

Viva was a touch annoyed if she was being honest. She had been looking forward to tearing the Ent things heart into tiny scraps with her teeth, but someone else had chosen to intervene and had blown out the things torso. Normally that wouldn’t have annoyed Viva, she liked watching gore splatter as much as the next monstergirl after all, the critical difference was the fact that she had also nearly been blown away by said attack. Granted it had also blown out all of the fire, which helped Viva relax, but still she had lost her hand due to that.

Pouring out of the newly formed gaping chest wound Viva was fully prepared to start unloading gunshots at whoever it was that nearly killed her. Even as she leeched the dead flesh from Grosket’s corpse into patching up what wounds she had suffered, which was more the result of being engulfed in the fire and subsequent magical assault that ripped away her hand.

So imagine her surprise when she found herself swept off her feet and being carried to safety. Which as a quick glance over her saviors shoulder told her was away from the growing number of Beacon members.

”Sure know how to sweep a girl of her feet ” Viva would find herself saying before she put much thought into the situation even as she refocused onto Reaver. ”Got to say I’m digging the blood drenched look” she would go on to say as she suppressed the urge to lick her lips. Thankfully she had just had a few bites to eat so it wasn’t too difficult, but a small part in the back of her mind was cringing never the less. She was flirting with her own son, it felt both wrong and right, and that same small part wondered if she had been spending too much time in Mothers Company.
“This should help out a bit” she would go on to say attaching her healing amulet to the front of Reavers gorget. She could try and heal him herself, but she doubted that he would enjoy the feeling of his skin and muscles being individually stitched back together, nor the crawling static that came with her reinforcement. Never the less she would loop her arms around his neck as he carried her off to who knows where content to be carried, because why not?
She could always spawn her Bike if they needed to get away faster after all.

---

_{-=Ǝ No Rest for the Weary E=-}

Despite the fact he was still recovering, despite the fact his arm had only recently been reattached, despite the fact he was more or less running on empty. Kyle found himself waking up from his short nap, brimming with restlessness. A quick look around the medical ward told him the reason why as well.

There was a steady stream of wounded Beacon members being brought in, and with their arrival came the flow of emotions that were always attached to such events came with them. With a mumbled ‘Damn it all’ Kyle would push himself up to a stand and slip in alongside the normal people stationed to work this area.

He wasn’t in so bad a shape that he couldn’t help move supplies around, to be an extra hand if someone needed it.

---

_{None & @AtomicNut & None}

Tiny and the Terminator [Mistress Dizzy & Shifter_Master]

Hey no worries, life everywhere is on the rocks right now so no need to stress. Take care of you I'm fine with waiting.

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

_.:Kickback:.

It took more effort than she would have liked but Ashlyn was able to keep the biting retort on the tip of her tongue to herself. She hated dealing with the preachy types; they always seemed to forget that everyone’s got a sob story. That doesn’t mean everyone is going to go out and indiscriminately murder because of it.

Instead she would reply to the question that was posed to her “Yes, I don’t know anyone within the magical world who hasn’t killed someone” Would be the reply “And I am including you in that statement.” She would add on with a slight glare. “But I get the feeling you’re more asking if I’ve killed a civilian.”

To that, she would take a deep breath before replying. “I hope not. But I don’t know. I know I’ve wanted to. The asshole who was abusing my sister for example; I would have enjoyed ripping his throat out most likely. I didn’t though. Still thinking of dropping by when he gets out of prison in a few years though, might be worth see him freak out when he sees me across the street not aged a day despite the decades.”

“I do hope that you weren’t trying to insinuate that killing someone alone makes me a monster.” Ashlyn would say after shaking that thought away “As I’m almost positive you have a larger body count then I do.”

---

_{>>Monster vs Monstrous<<}

Flying through the air due to the sudden onset of Vine Viva could only lament the fact that her bike would be unusable in the coming days.

Finding herself wrapped with the abmonial grasp of the twisted Ent. Viva had no fear. For it would be less than trivial to simply slide between the grip of the monster, as she was no longer restricted to the form she normally wore. She was much more a kin to a slime or a shape shifter than anything else at this point. She released her spell watching with a macabre fascination as the vines and fluids of the creature withered away.

Then she heard the tale tell sounds of fire. The popping and crackling of the inferno spreading, and that caused a fresh injection of fear into her heart. Her instincts screamed at her, as he mind blanked for a moment at the rapidly encroaching heat and the excruciation pain that the flames brought with them. In that moment of hesitation she would engulfed in the fire. It would be the longest moment of her life, but then came the cold focus.

After all, this thing still dared to attack her son. With focus came hate and hunger, and with those she was able to banish her fear and panic at least for now.

Grosket had hidden its twisted and debased flesh underneath a layer of plant life, but that layer of protection was gone, yet the flesh remained. That was what Viva dug into, like demented worm. She tore open an entry way and borrowed deep into the abominations body, ripping muscle fibers and tearing ligaments as she invaded its body with her own profane magic

”Taste a Mother’s hate as I feast upon your Heart!”

---

_{.:⋮Endings⋮:.}

“I will do what I can” Penny would promise with a nod to Goblina even as the mechanical girl turned to leave herself “But I fear we are already too late” She would add solemnly. “Keep those here safe, I’ll be back”

With that she Would race off into Penrose. He first goal was not the Park though, for she truly didn’t think she would be of any use there. No she was off towards Beacon HQ, she had a pick up to make.

---

Madness. That was a good way to describe this night. Utter madness. Penny was never more glad for her mechanized nature than she was right now. She was still tapped into the network of the entire city, feeding information to Beacon about hot spots that needed immediate help, or hijacking girls’ phone calls to get them out of harm's way if she could. All the while she was racing across the city at frightening speeds. Time was against her at the moment, which seemed to be a recurring trend for her this winter season, so many places to be and so many things to do and hardly enough time to get them all done.

Still, the madness worked in her favor in this one instance. Making it to the lab where Binky was at was easy, no one stopped her to ask questions, most barely gave her a second glance. Everyone was suddenly knee deep in the fallout of the Rave, and the truly horrific loss of life that happened there. Then there was the mess of what happened at Penrose Park adding yet more work to everyone’s pile. It wasn't going to get easier any time soon either, but that was one of the reasons why Penny was here.

Quietly Penny entered the Lab and a soft pulse of Sound she located her target and strode with purpose towards Binky, making her presence known shortly afterwards “Binky! Were you able to finish my request?” Penny would ask the moment she could see the perpetually tired researcher. Binky wouldn’t notice much out of the ordinary with Penny when she turned to regard her, save for the cloth bandage that the robotic girl had covering the majority of her right arm.

Binky was startled by Penny’s greeting, having been absorbed in her use of a microscope. “Aaah!” She screamed, spinning on her chair wildly until Penny stopped it with a precise grab. “Oh, Penny! It’s been a while!” She turned to search through the clutter on her desk. “So uhh, your request...Ummm...Yeah, the Red Coin.” She moved over to a large box filled with all kinds of junk. ”I think I put it here...” She haphazardly climbed into the box. “So, uh, was the party fun?”

“No,” Penny would say succinctly as she followed Binky. “Elvira triggered a riot using sound magic designed to incite Monstrous instinct to uncontrollable heights. Then the leader of the Penrose Independant triggered a psychic WMD, only for an unknown third party to reply with a large-scale Lightning assault.” Her explanation was curt, and painfully blunt, yet also oddly distant. The robotic girl seemed distracted, her gaze often darting around tracking things unseen.

“The riot is still ongoing, to say nothing of the other emergencies still taking place.” Penny would flinch slightly and grip her bandaged arm for a moment before shaking it off.

Binky paused at the brief but powerful revelations, and visibly cringed. “Oof, that’s rough, buddy.” She went back to her search, throwing out a kitchen sink from the crate. “So Penrose has gone to hell in a hand basket...” She paused with a sigh. “...Again. Well, what else do you expect to happen when you give magic to a bunch of people unaccustomed for them? It was only a matter of time before we started waving nukes around like big o’l di-Oh there it is!”
She stood up from the crate, and showed the Red Coin to Penny. “Now, in theory, this Coin should fuse you back with your other half without any side-effects...But I haven’t had time to test it on any twins or anything, so the practical result may differ.” She scratched the back of her head. “S-So yeah, best of luck in using it.”

“I’m in a position to assume that Penrose never quite left the first hand basket” Penny would say with no small amount of annoyance “At least that is what it seems like some days”[/u][/color] She would add as she reached out for the Coin, rolling it over her fingers as she listened to what little info Binky had to offer nodding her understanding as she did. She could feel the subtle changes in the coin, which reassure her it would work, but also knew that with magic most anything was possible.

“If you were to hazard a guess, what kind of repercussions could there be for using this coin?” Penny would ask returning her gaze to the sleep deprived researcher, which if she bothered to think too hard about would likely dampen her hope of this working out.

“Hard to say,” Binky answered, rubbing her eye with the back of her hand. “Maybe it refuses to work, or it blows up, or the fusion fizzles out half-way and you turn into a freaky Siamese twin thing, or it screws up the soul, resulting in you turning into a horrible abomination...Not that it actually would do that, that’s just in, uh, horror movies. And, uhh...If it does fail, at least then we’ll know, and the next girl who rips her soul in half but wants to recombine anyway will have a better chance with the next version, right?” She turned away and picked up a big stack of books.

“Anyway, I’m super busy, so I gotta get back to my work. See ya later.”

Penny simply nodded at all the various far end failure states that the coin could hold. None of them really settled in as true possibilities though. Closing her hand over the coin she slipped it into her chassis tucking it away until it was needed. “Thank you again Binky.” She would say as she started turning to leave so that Binky could get back to her work.

“I’ll be back in a couple days so that we can go looking for Betty” Penny would mention over her shoulder before continuing on her way out. It was time to meet up with her other half.

---

Penny hardly waited in putting her next step into motion, the moment she was off of Beacon property and away from scrutiny she dug deep into what little magical ability she had. Focusing everything she could on her other half, and the small vital piece of metal that they carried with them.

Had she another option she would have taken it, but they weren’t answering their phone. They weren’t responding to any of the messages, and they weren’t in Penrose. Penny didn’t have the luxury of waiting either. So once again she pushed forward with her magic in ways that she knew wasn’t human, but then again perhaps that was for the best as she wasn’t human. So, with eyes closed, she reached out for the call of Metal between her and a Key that had been once upon a time gifted to her and in some way was still.

Still, when the pain hit she wasn’t surprised. She didn’t falter however, just kept her focus and continued to harmonize with the Key to a lock that existed in the space between where she was and the far side of the door she was trying to walk through. An event that would normally take only a few seconds stretched into one that took minuets, but Penny was in fact rewarded with the tale-tell click of a lock being thrown open.
Blindly she walked forward feeling the world drop away behind her as she stepped into an apartment that was painfully familiar to her, and only once she had made it through the threshold did she allow herself to reopen her eyes and give any attention to the pain she was suffering from.

The jagged crack that ran the length of her arm now bleed freely, staining the sheets she had wrapped around it a vibrant red. An oddity to be sure, but Penny always knew that she was still connected to her other half, who was still fully human. This wound was just a warning of the increasing damage that their soul was being put through.

Looking to the rest of the apartment, it would seem as if it was untouched. But there was a heavy air of depression and a thick smell of oil. And it wouldn’t take her long to see why.

Sitting on the couch curled up into a tight ball sat her other half, eyes puffy and red from crying. The human half’s right arm was a mangled mess, as black viscous oil leaked from the various cuts that littered her arm. To say nothing of the numerous burns and bruises that littered her body. To add to the desolate appearance she seemed to be staring brokenly at a pendant that sat on the coffee table not far from her position on the couch.

“You were right” The human girl on the couch would say, her voice hoarse, and filled with devastation. Fresh tears would start to fall as she spoke.

“Jason…” The robotic girl would take a tentative step forward, her mind rapidly churning through all the possible reasons the scene in front of her could come to pass.

“She left me again. I killed Iesud for her. I tore away from you, and Alicia. Yet she never stayed. She was always off, talking to others, working with the Mint, or preparing things. Why didn’t she stay with me? She said she loved me. Why did she lie?” ‘Jason’ would ask not really expecting an answer her gaze still fixated on the once enchanted amulet that sat on the coffee table.

“Iesud. That’s why you forced the Power isn’t it.” The machine would ask instead of answering. There was no reason to retread old arguments. Not here, not now. Slowly it moved to sit next to its human half, even as Jason would simply nod their answer.

“We are dying aren’t we” They would ask in response. They were in pain, a deep unmistakable pain, that grew and faded as they both bleed out each other’s life sustaining fluids

“Yes. Our soul was always going to be unstable due to the split. Not it is falling apart.” There was no need for any deception between the two of them. Besides they knew each other too well for anything other than honesty at this point.

“It feels like it” Jason would say before turning to look at Penny “Is it bad that I’m looking forward to the end?”[/b][/color]

“I don’t think so” Penny would reply after a moment her thoughts lingering on all the terrors and traumas that the human next to her had undergone within their year of magic. “I’m sorry” She would add after a moment of silence.

“You have a fix don’t you” Jason would say more then ask the crack on her voice at the thought of having to keep going on unmistakable.

“It can be used as a way to fix us both” Penny would agree with a nod “Or it can be used to fix one of us”

“I don’t have to go on Penny?” the Human would ask quietly after a moment, fragile hope lingering within their voice.

“Not if you don’t want too”

More tears, but these are at least tears of relief. “Thank you”

Penny moved to say something, but what eluded her. Instead she would simply nod, and let her human half take from that what they wanted. It was truly settling in, that here in a moment it would only be one of them left. The machine hadn’t fully comprehended what that would mean until just now. That Jason, the first person they had ever known, the person they had spent their entire life with was going to be gone. She wanted to feel sad, but instead she felt relieved, as soon Jason would no longer be in pain. She did build herself off of their mind after all, so perhaps it wasn’t that surprising.

“Are you ready?” Penny would ask softly as she offered her hand to Jason, the gleaming Red Coin sitting innocently within her palm, ready to start the process that would bring this chapter of their lives to a close.

Jason hardly waited, reaching to clasp her remaining good hand with Penny’s out stretched one almost before the mecha girl had finished asking. A charged red glow would engulf their hands the moment they were intertwined. “Set me free Penny” Jason would plead turning to catch Penny’s eyes finally looking away from the dead Hero token for the first time.

“Good bye Jason” Penny would say her voice catching slightly as she spoke. After all this good bye was much more permanent than any other would be. Then the red glow would flare up, drowning the room in harsh red light and words no longer mattered.

---

_{@Ariamis & @AtomicNut+@BrokenPromise}

Darkest Before the Dawn: A CYOA Magical Girl Roleplay [Completed]

_{.:⋮Construction in Progress⋮:.}

“Thank you” it was a pair of words that those in the Sanctuary would hear a lot as they started to leave, as Penny did her best to thank everyone who volunteered. “Make sure you can make it back, your lives are important as well” She would say as well. She wanted them to stay as safe as they could, but that was a risky thing at the best of times now. Once this was over she would do, something, she wasn’t sure yet, but she would find some way to thank them with more than just words.

Penny would only stop thanking people when the shy monstergirl poked her, and even then her drone would take over, projecting an image of Penny bowing in thanks with the words ‘Thank you, stay safe’ as it floated above her head. She listened carefully to the girl, and could empathize with the internal strife of trying to change how it was one used their magic. Thus even though her attention was dragged away by Goblina she would place a soft hand on the girl’s shoulder, for Penny knew she had words that would be able to help this shy troubled girl.

“Goblina” Penny would reply in greeting to as she too in the goblin girl’s obviously disheveled state, a sinking feeling forming in her as she did. She had seen Goblina at the Rave, Penny was sure of that; the goblinette had been with Cindy when the Queen left… Which was shortly before everything went to hell. It would take only a moment more for Penny to more deeply scan the dozens of reports flooding in from Beacon members across the city, and another moment to sift back to find what she was looking for.

‘The Cardinal is under attack by Cindy Ford at Penrose Park!’

Beacon reports

She had no proof, and nothing but a feeling of dread, but Penny was almost sure that Cindy was either dead or would soon be so. For it seems everyone had forgotten about the Mint, which the blackened organization used to masterful execution.

“One moment please” Penny would say to the second in command of Cindy’s queendom, turning back to the girl next to her. “Yes. Yes, you can used it to help. My first Patron made me a machine of destruction, gave me a deep and colorful measure of ways to break people and things. Yet look what I have done made a place for all of us to find a moment of peace and quiet. Nothing is stopping you from helping those that are injured. In some instances you might be the only one that can help.” Penny would give the girl a soft smile as she gently pats her shoulder, “Thank you for having the courage to come forward, and thank you for all the help you can give.”

Afterwards she would turn back to Goblina and move closer to the disheveled girl, she wouold start speaking as soon as she got close “Cindy left the Rave, shortly before it stared devolving into a massacre. Last bit of her I can find is in the reports I can access, in which it claims Cindy has attacked Beacon.” She would hold up a hand to stall out any response “I think the Mint orchestrated all of this, as I saw you at the Rave, you were with Cindy and I don’t think she would attacked without a good reason.” And even then once a mutation was triggered it would be hard to pull someone off their chosen, which Penny could only assume was what happened. “I am sorry to add that at the moment I don’t know where Cindy is or if she is alright. To make it worse the Park where she was last seen has become the sight of a Horror attack.” She would place her hands on the shoulders of the smaller girl as she spoke, thankful for her robotic nature as it kept her appearing calm and composed, even if internally that wasn’t completely true. Everything was going to hell, far too quickly, and Penny knew she needed to step up, thankfully she also knew she was up for the task.

“I won’t stop you if you want to leave, but I need to focus on this Sanctuary right now”[/i][/u][/color] It was a touch cold hearted, but also true. Cindy wasn’t someone Penny could bother with trying to help at the moment, not with all the others who were unsupported. “Once thing have calmed down I will do everything I can to help you find her, or find out what happened to her. But at the moment you know this place better than I do and I could use your help to keep it safe for tonight. It’s your call, I’ll understand either way.”

---

_{.:Culture clash:.}

“Right… Because the only reason anyone came to the Rave was to get smashed” Ashlyn would say sarcastically “Not like anyone there could easily tell things were going to get out of hand the moment the idea was tossed about and figure they could go there to help out right? Nah couldn’t be, just not in anyone’s nature to be a good person unless it is convenient, right?”

She would go on to say crossing her legs and resting her chin on her hand. “After all, we must all be drenched in sin. So much you can tell me at least one two things that I have done to lead to the death and destruction of humanity right? It’s not like I was given this form by my ancestors to keep protecting humanity from rampaging Yokai. That would just be ridiculous.”

Her tone was dry enough to evaporate lakes and her gaze was locked onto Sharron, but there was no reproach in her eyes, just simple disappointment. “And yeah we are all cowards aren’t we, I mean who else would try and evacuate as many people as they could from an obvious death trap at personal risk, obviously the cowards. It’s not like we can’t feel the lingering echo of when a spirit is rent from its mortal shell, or hear the last echo of a mind as it goes quiet and decided that we are fed up with the pointless slaughter. No, we are running away because we are scared, and wanted to hide. Guess it’s a good thing we shut the door and made damn sure not to open it even when someone was pounding on it huh?”

She wouldn’t move much as she spoke, nor would she raise her voice, she just simply stayed seated watching Sharron, but it was easy to tell that Ashlyn didn’t expect much from the Ascendency member, yet she was still disappointed, yet not suprised.

---

_{>>Now and Then<<}

The city was little more than a blur of lights and color as Viva raced through the streets of Penrose. Thin stream of her now viscous form trailed slightly behind her as she pulled more and more speed out of her now divinely powered motorcycle. Taking turns and lethal speeds and near blind angles, none of that garnered anything more than a passing thought.

There was much more important things on her mind after all. The plight of the city, the Rave’s outcome, none of it was known to the corrupted nurse, and truthfully neither would she care. Her family was in danger and that thought consumed her to near totality.

It was a warning, a gift, and congratulations all wrapped up in one given to her from Mother
‘Oh my dear Vivian, I knew that you were something special’ The goddess’ words reverberated within her mind even now ‘Why didn’t you tell me you already had a child within our world? And a Lover that’s not too far removed from it either, shame that it seems like one of them is about to die’

Viva couldn’t recall what she said in response, but she knew that she was lucky to not have been stuck down for her insolence as she demanded to know who and where.

‘Follow your heart’ The goddess had said with a coy smile as a moment later a stinging pain had flared up within Viva’s chest, as if something was tugging on her heart. The girl in question hadn’t stayed instead she had raced off following the sensation as best she could.

And it was only now, after what felt like an eternity that Viva was nearing her destination, if the growing pain in her heart was any tell at any rate. Conjuring a simple ramp with her magic, Viva launched herself off the road and in to the sky. Something that she was going to have to do regardless as she was rapidly running out of road, as her destination was Mayor Park.

Her divine guidance would fade the moment she laid eyes upon the magical boy within the park, and she would know with unshakable certainty that she had found her son. Her fear would quickly shift to anger as she shifted her attention towards the twisted tree that had dared to harm her child.

Once again her translucent gray barriers would spring into existence underneath the wheels of her bike, as she formed the road she would need to take her past Gtosket and closer to Reaver.

Her revolver would materialize and she swiftly would start unloading into the back of the abomination’s legs as she drove on. As she began her strafing run she started to prepare a more effective spell for the task of fighting this hulk of rotted wood. Most reinforcement is about building things up, making them better then they are, Viva's magic was much more the opposite, tearing things down and making them worse, but reinforcing the flaws inherent in all things. If she was given an opportunity she would take it, and place a withering disability upon Gtosket.

---

_{@Ariamis & @Ariamis & @AtomicNut+@BrokenPromise}

Tiny and the Terminator [Mistress Dizzy & Shifter_Master]

Post is away.

And hooray for new job?