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.:⋮War and Peace⋮:.Once Robert had fully left and Tina was shadowing the strange diplomat. Penny retired to her room.
She let the door swing shut behind her as she walked into the back section of her room. Tucked into a corner, behind her nest of blankets that she hadn't used in weeks, was a larger tub.
She pulled this tub out from the corner and settled down on the floor just next to her bed before opening the tub. It was filled with computer parts, though none of them were in any semblance of good condition. Nevertheless Penny set to picking through the parts she had placinging various of them off to the side when they met her criteria.
“Wow, that’s a lot of computer thingies.” said a familiar face, or rather familiar attitude with a new face. The dragon maiden, to her chagrin. Sakura. “Oh, right I have to be in character.” She would add. “The regent requests an audience, your Highness.”
Penny only gave Sakura a glance as she spoke, continuing her perusal of trashed components instead.
“My door is open to the regent, but let her know that I shall be continuing my work regardless. Time sensitive work at the moment.” The monarch would reply.
“And if you would contact one of the maids to have refreshments sent down that would be appreciated.” Penny would add before Sakura could fully leave.
"Booze. Got it." Sakura would say, before correcting herself. "I mean… as you command, your Highness." She would then bow slightly before leaving Penny's presence. The room seemed to grow more eerie and dark for the time being, before a mature voice triggered Penny's senses.
The Regent, Dina was standing in the doorframe, swishing a cup of a red, viscous liquid.
"Sorting out your hoard, your Majesty?"
“Preparing to reap the benefits of my latest weapon” Penny would counter. Dina warranted more than a simple glance, but as warned Penny continued her work. Penny had met with Dina for a short moment before she went to deal with Robert, but now she had time to take fuller stock of Dina’s new appearance and presence.
“Settle in alright?” She would ask, she was under the impression that such a radical shift had the chance to be rather unpleasant.
Dina would stir the cup one last moment, before taking a long dedicated sip. She was standing tall, perhaps as tall as Penny, and the room seemed to gravitate towards her. "The thirst is quite the issue." She would say, her crimson orbs piercing into Penny, beckoning her.
"But It is nothing entirely unmanageable." She would add, before silence came for a second. Those lips seemed very kissable, and that dark dress of hers seemed to cling in all the proper places.
"You set him free." She would say.
Penny would take special note of how Dina’s presence now washed over her, without the protection of the ShineSpark it was impossible to miss. Penny wasn’t one to bend knee to anyone however, it was why she was how she was after all. regardless there was an outward indication of Penny’s defiance, even if it was only a small indicator. The innermost ring of her eyes, normally an electric blue, turned a vibrant crimson.
Because it was others' control that Penny always sought to break.
“I did.” Penny would agree, shifting her eyes back to her work.
“He himself wasn’t worth keeping or killing. They sent him here to die, and he doesn’t know enough about the inner circle to be of any use.” She would explain.
“I did keep his pocket watch however.”"A pity. It would have made a snack for our dogs of prey." Dina would callously answer, as she polished the glass and drew closer to Penny. There was a certain intoxicating perfume scent lingering in the air, mixed with a faint iron touch as Dina advanced towards Penny. Her arms slid on Penny's shoulder… a delicate, soft touch, like a breeze of air who left people gasping for more. Up until she realized the struggle in Penny's eyes and withdrew.
She didn't want her to become a witless follower of all things. "What does it do?" She added, her attention shifting to the contraption.
“Nothing for the moment.” Penny would reply, taking no note of Dina’s reaction.
“But I’m planning on making it be the connection, and routing, point for the worm I’ve added into Robert’s camera. I don’t know how much I’ll be able to get from it, but I’d prefer to be on the safe side and not have myself be the main point of contact with it. Wonderland is shaping up to be messy.” She would explain.
One of her spider limbs would unfurl before reaching into her leg compartment and extracting a letter and handing it to Dina.
“Mariette did some scouting and felt it prudent to warn us about them”Dina would begin to read the letter, and her expression went slightly deadpan. "So no wonder why Robert was so deluded. Living in a feverish dream of a children's cartoon can do that to people." She put the letter aside, becoming lost in thought.
A clattering of a tray and cups shook her as a couple of figures entered the room. One was a relative new
maid who was trying to reach in vain a tray that was held by none other than Sanngridr, who kept the tiny pale maid at arms' length in a classical bully pose.
"Oh so granny kitty dropped the kitty and got sexy. Sann is pleased for what she sees." said the cheeky Valkyrie.
"Hey, that is for lady Tepes and her Majesty, you bully!" The maid protested, flailing.
Penny sent an emotionless look in Sann’s direction but otherwise continued to work. She was no longer digging for parts that passed her inspection, now she was giving her secreted parts one last look over before melding with them. From there she was directing her mana to start regenerating the damaged components. It was the work of moments to have everything she needed to build a fully functional computer, one that was even on the higher end of things.
“What brings you here Sann?” Penny would ask her tone bored. Because in truth she really didn’t want to deal with the Valkyrie. Hell she wasn’t in the mood to deal with Dina either, today hadn’t been a good day after all, but the Regent at least had a good reason to want to talk to her.
She kept that frustration hidden however, just as she kept her ever present anger, all of it simmering just underneath her outer casing. No need to make every room smell like ozone after all.
"She was bored." Dina would then reply. "And she saw fit to see how best to serve me… Well, go on, serve the drinks, Sanngridr. Valkyries do that, don't they? And stop bullying the new maid." The Russian vampire said. "Phila, you may leave."
Sanngridr just let a soft giggle as she began to pour refreshments. The vampire maid bowed with a curtsy and saw herself out, not before throwing a glare at Sanngridr.
"In a way this is quite convenient, your Majesty." The Regent drew closer to the valkyrie, eyeing her up and down. "Mayhaps we will need to conduct raids." She would say, as her fingers playfully curled around Sanngridr's hair. The valkyrie didn't seem to repel the touch in the slightlest.
"So we get to raid Wonderland? Sann is pleased." The winged deviant cooed.
"Mayhaps." Dina would draw even closer, and in a swift, yet playful move, snatch Sann's crown. "This tool protects against mental turmoil, doesn't it?"
"Yes. But if you want to borrow it…Sann" The valkyrie began to trail off.
It was then when Dina's ethereal presence underwent a significant change. The atmosphere became heavy, almost unbreathable as her gaze pierced the valkyrie.
"KNEEL." She said, her crimson eyes glowing as the Valkyrie felt a phantom weight pushing her down. And down she went, trembling like a puppy before her master. There was not much she could do but gasp for air.
"We have suffered you long enough. Sanngridr the Valkyrie. You take everything as a game of self aggrandizing. But you only ever think of yourself." Dina would go. "You may have talent and Odin's favour, but your discipline is lacking."
Sann shuddered, emiting a subhuman growl, as she rose to reach for her sword, the drinks clattering. Dina for her part, reached for a wine cup, unconcerned. "Do it and consider your life and status forfeit, petulant child."
"Or should I say… Reaver?" She added after a sip.
"How did you!?"
"It was a gamble." Dina would then smile smugly. "You fell for it just now."
Penny stopped quietly as she turned fully to face the confrontation that was happening not even five feet from her. She knew she wasn’t the target of Dina’s magic, but the potential loss of self control was always something that set Penny on edge.
She was content to stay a silent observer in this latest turn of events, but that was a far cry from Penny being content with the revealed information. It was just one more thing to add on to this day. truly it was on for the books.
Were either of the other visitors within Penny’s room to look over at her they would be greeted with a good indicator of just how fed up with this day their queen was. Her eyes were now fully crimson, as well as flat and emotionless. Her color was nearly gone, only pale faded hints of blue left, all else had been rendered gray.
It was the closest to a Monster that either of them had ever seen from Penny, in truth it was the closest to a Monster she had ever been since she had gained her independence.
Her flat gaze rested on Sann, or Reaver, Penny wasn’t sure which she wanted to classify the intruder as, it was a gaze lacking in mercy as well, but this was the Regents showing at the moment. The Queen would wait and see for now.
"So it is true. The mighty valkyrie's identity is a brat who is throwing a tantrum at the world for it not giving him spoon fed success." Dina would say. "Even if your actions are heinous… I consider myself merciful enough. You wanted to be a warrior and knight peerless." She would add. "So you can be showered in affection."
Sann's resistance seemed to stop. Apparently Dina had struck deep with mere words. She blinked.
"No. Nonnononono." Sanngridr, the valkyrie, was feeling as if Dina was slowly but surely prying her ugly inner self open.
"You aren't as vicious as you seem to think you are. I bet you had regrets too." She would then kneel and softly caress Sanngridr's face with a motherly touch.
"You desire a mother. A lover. Perhaps both. But all the people you want are bad girls." Dina would then say.
"I have a mother." Sann would weakly protest.
"And where is she now, Sann…" Dina would add.
"Probably eating people." The valkyrie said with no small hint of bitterness."She is a monster."
"Well isn't it grand? She can join us." Dina would then say and stand tall once more. "You are beyond lucky. Your chance to become a warrior of renown is here with Wonderland conflict. Serve us and you will lack nothing. Love, fortune, recognition.." She would say, emphasizing her figure.
Sann looked at Dina. A bizarre, longing look.
"But there is the matter you need to take a punishment for Cindy's death." Her eyes would turn to Penny. "How about her being impaled for everyone to see for a lesson? I do not think she can die from that anyway."
Penny was slow to answer, as in it took her a solid five seconds to actually reply. During those seconds Penny never looked away from Sann, nor did she blink.
“Most humans have at least three locations that they can be completely impaled that won’t lead to immediate death.” She would say at last, her tone disinterested
“My issue is that I doubt that a public impalement of someone who is, ostensibly, part of Sanctuary would reassure the girls here that they are safe.” She would go on to say her tone not changing, even as she tilted her head to the side.
“At the same time banishment wouldn’t do well at this point in time either.”“If I am to be honest as well I don’t see the need to punish them for that. Seeing as that I didn’t personally care for Cindy, and might have even done myself had circumstances been different.” Penny would stand slowly.
“Though I do suppose that letting such an action go unremarked upon is setting a bad precedent.”Slowly Penny stalked closer to Sann, her unblinking gaze simply observing her.
“Tell me, do you still delight from pain?”Sann did not say a word. There was confusion, elation, fear and longing all mixed on her face… her face contorted, then relaxed.
"I don't know. Stop this, please. I just…don't know."
This was Sanngridr at her most pitiful, as Dina kept staring with her crimson eyes at her. "Unfortunate. My coercion seems to have shredded what was left of her ego." Dina would frown."I should be very careful about this power." She added with a hint of bitterness.
Penny had stopped advancing shortly before Sann had replied, the disjointed bleeding of her wants let Penny know that something was wrong before anyone spoke.
“Yes. You should.” She said to Dina her tone was soft but speckled with concealed malice.
Penny’s gaze was no longer resting on Sann, it was leveled at Dina.
“She has been punished enough. Release her.” There was no mistaking that Penny’s words were an order, one she expected to be followed. Penny didn’t think that Dina meant for that to happen, and for that reason alone she was sticking to words.
But Penny had a very short fuse when it came to mental warfare, of anything that robbed one of their free will in all truth, and with the Engine so close to the surface at the moment it would not take much for Penny to make her displeasure known physically.
Dina's fist would clench, before breaking eye contact with Sanngridr, and the crown would once more find its way to the Valkyrie's head.
"You are far too lenient." The Regent said in a harsh whisper. "Wonderland won't budge at these half measures." She added, before taking a sip of the iron-smelling drink that had been brought earlier.
“I will not become a blood stained tyrant to the people I have sworn to protect” Penny would say the malice seeping away from her tone, once again becoming flat and lifeless.
“Twisted as she is, Sann is a member of Sanctuary. I will spare them the depths of my wrath.”“Starting off this conflict by brutalizing our own people will have them simply welcome Wonderland with open arms.” She would go on
“We will have plenty of opportunity to display what it means to declare war on us when Wonderland comes in force. When our enemies come I will not hinder you against them. If anything I will strive to out strip you.”“But” Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, her flat look nearing a glare as a result
“Only so long as you keep your fangs barred at our enemies. The hungers are not easy to leash, I am well aware of that, just keep them trained on those that have deserve such enmity.”Dina's eyes would meet Penny's. "She committed
Regicide, Penny. I am not catering to my newfound thirst." She added, finishing the drinks. "For the last time, Penny, Chloe and I are different people. Stop comparing me to her."
"Chloe…" Sanngridr seemed to react to her name with a wishing expression… then her visage became twisted. "Chloe…left us. Justine is weak…" She would trail off.
Dina's words choked on her, before she cast a last glare at the Valkyrie. "You are sick."
“I nearly committed Regicide” Penny would state having no outward reaction to Dina’s outburst.
“Cindy was one incident away from declaring war on Beacon. I would have killed her myself had they not done so first” She would gesture towards Sann. And it was true, to an extent, Penny had been fully ready to Challenge Cindy for the throne. A fight Penny was fully willing to take to the death if it needed to be so.
“I am not comparing you to Chloe, if I had been you would be against the wall with my hand around your neck. I compared you once, stop assuming every disagreement is the result of that.” Emotion was flicking in Penny’s eyes annoyance and frustration, but it never leaked into her voice.
“Cindy is dead, Reaver killed her. Sann is broken, you shattered her. I know which I consider to be the greater crime. So take solace in that I’m attributing your newfound willingness to maim my subjects to growing pains rather than active malice.”She would turn her attention to Sann for a moment.
“Chloe abandoned us for her own selfishness, Justine was purified against her will. But you still live. Do not linger too long on them, do not wallow. Stagnation is death, and the past can easily mire you in it if you stay there.” Dina's eyes narrowed at the mention. "We need more discipline to resist Wonderland's brainwashing effect. It is better to be feared than to be loved." The regent would say.
"Chloe Penny is also gone." Sann would mutter, shaking her head.
“Yes, they are” Penny would reply to Sann even as she returned her focus to Dina.
“And it was fear that killed them.” Penny would slowly close her eyes and color would surge back into her as she held them shut and when she opened them once again they were back to their normal gold and blue.
“You’ve changed Dina. I don’t know if it is the war on the horizon or your transformation, but you have changed.” “Sanctuary is a sanctuary, why do you want to alter that?” Dina cast her sight away for the first time. “I haven’t changed that much, Penny.” The vampire would say. “In these trying times, we need to be shown that perhaps, Justice still reigns. That perhaps peace is worth striving for. That no deed goes unpunished.” She let a long breath, after resuming her talk.
“But I see your point. Perhaps some of the girls might get shocked at the brutality of war. They have no need to see it…yet.” Dina would grudgingly concede, before she squatted down to Sanngridr’s level.
“Heed me, Varangian, whom I chose despite her Majesty’s reticence.” Dina would add, her hands reaching for Sanngridr, as she grasped the Valkyrie’s.
“Thy fate hath been chosen.” She would say. “Odious warmonger who brought mayhem to this land, it is through war your sins will be washed. You can spend your days in pallor and stupor, or take up your arms until your last breath.”
Sanngridr seemed to perk up at the mention of war. Dina’s crimson orbs would then look for a second, before uttering a phrase in the most chilling contempt she could give.
“Dedicate yourself to this one command: Terra Mirabili delenda est.” Dina then released. “Do not stop by anything. Not even Penrose’s destruction. Not even Ragnarok. Not even our deaths. Only when they realize the height of their folly you may stay your blade.”
Penny’s attention was suddenly pulled off to the side.
“Damn” She would curse softly. She hadn’t expected Robert to get back to wonderland so quickly, nor was she expecting the March Hare to be magically connected to their networks. She thought she had more time to set up a computer to monitor and work on that front, alas.
It wasn’t a total loss however.
“See now the faces of your foes.” She would say louder and as she did Snoopy would project onto the wall the pictures of Wonderland’s inner circle that Penny had captured.
Sanngridr just shook her head, her vacant stare focusing all of a sudden. "Fine…I fucked up. You fucked up. Might as well do some noise while at it." The Valkyrie added, her voice now bereft of the childish glee it used to have. "If we had Tenebra around I could give these folks one hell of a party… but a certain midget with a foul mouth sent her away… before her term with us was due."
"A teleporter huh. True, it would help… but they are few in number. Mariette and Sonia, maybe?" Dina would then add.
“We won’t need outside assistance for that” Penny would say, a sharp grin appearing on her face.
“I let Robert walk, but I also forced him to actually walk.” She would go on reaching into her leg compartment and pulling out a simple golden pocket watch.
“I’ve not had the chance to let Britney look over it, but this was his, and he mentioned that it was how he normally got around. It allows one to create, or traverse, spatial burrows.” Was the explanation she gave.
“As much as I’d like to keep it for myself, I won’t be the one to get the most use out of it, nor was I the one to win it for Sanctuary.” Penny would offer it to Dina.
“I was planning on giving it to you, but Sann might make better use of it if she is planning on starting up asymmetric aggression.” "Hmm." Dina would raise an eyebrow. "Too risky. We need to build our numbers …" Dina would then add." My lord would also like to oversee… our defenses. But know this… Reaver. You will be in the first wave." The vampiric regent would add. "I will get to your…black hearted friends so you are not alone."
"And summoning a dragon."
“I’ll hold onto this then” Penny would state, pocketing the watch again.
“But let me know if either of you have need of it, in the meantime I’d be willing to take whatever advice your lord would be willing to offer, but the fact we will eventually be seabound might make much of it obsolete in the long run” "Seabound." Dina's words drawled with a scowl of disgust. "Sakura will have an advantadge here, but most of our tactics won't work. Still there are ways to work around the issue."
“A mobile fortress is harder to conquer than a stationary one.” Penny would point out, she was tempted to point out that Dina had approved of the move earlier as well, but decided against it. Just more proof that Dina had changed it seemed.
“And it’s not limited to the water, just harder to get at us out there during the invasion I’d assume.” "Still, this means abandoning the center of Penrose at the expense of Sanctuary. There is no sizable body of water around." Dina would point out.
“True” Penny would concede.
“But, seeing as Alicia is sticking around Beacon will still be on look out, and I might be able to make a work around for that issue anyway.” “I’ll need Britney’s help, but retooling Robert’s pocket watch into something bigger should give us access to wormholes. Linking it to the Earth Bastion means we can get to where we are needed from anywhere within Penrose.” She would explain.
"Penny, you can't rely on experimental technology in a war. I will oversee the barricades from outside the Bastion." Dina said, her frown accentuating.
“You can’t rely on it” Penny would once again agree
“But war does tend to force advancement in a lot of fields. And getting it past the experimental stages sooner rather than later is better in the long run” She would explain.
“Overseeing things in person is always going to be the better option. But we don’t know where Wonderland will be coming from, it could be over land from another city, or it could be from the Overcity and its numerous passages. Rapid response is something we are going to need sooner than later most likely.” "We will pressure Sakura and get a more reliable teleporter."
“Sounds like a good plan, you work your angle I’ll work mine.” The vampire sighed. "We don't have many options there either."