Shifter_Master

Tiny and the Terminator [Mistress Dizzy & Shifter_Master]

Gizmo would just let out a defeated sigh at that, but despite all of his grumbling he at least always seemed to suck it up eventually and trudge through it. And this seemed to be no different, though Jinny could tell that Gizmo was taking his time packing away his own gear. Resigned to getting his ass handed to him he may be, but that didn’t mean he was in any way in a hurry to make that fight.

---

Over in the center of the mat Slade was, despite his seeming bored stature, very much aware of the surrounding students. Most all of them weren’t worth noting in his opinion, biased as it was, but that did still leave a few notable faces. He wondered if it was just luck of the draw that had most of them in this class, or if it was just a quirk of these kids having had lunch more recently.

Either way he did have to give this class some credit, he had yet to need to start calling people over to the mat. Still the third fight had gone about as far as he had expected it too. Sixty-five seconds was the record for the class so far, and he had a feeling that a only few people here, mainly the twins and the girl with her hair in buns, might be able to make or break the ninety second hurdle.

Before he could muse further his next examinee announced herself. With a casual nod of acceptance, he waited for his daughter to make her way into the ring with him. Of all the student’s here he was curious about her performance the most. Especially after her demonstration with the guns earlier. It was a sly plan, and he was curious what her plan was here.

“On go, fight until a five count or you’re off the mat.” He reiterated, waiting for Jinny to settle into her stance. Once that was done, all that was left was “Go.”

Slade came in quick, or what was quick to most of the students here. He was holding back, a fairly large amount as well. All of his attacks were single moves. A straight or a sweep, a hook or a jab. Honestly the number of students that would fail in the first thirty seconds shouldn’t be high, as out side the speed it was far too straight forward.

Jinny breezed through the starting seconds, to her it was more akin to a warm up then anything to note. If anything, the simplicity of her father’s attacks was throwing her off. As they lacked any follow up. Not that meant it was any easier to land a hit, but Slade was never easy to hit.
Then the first shift came. Thirty seconds after the start. Slade’s speed didn’t much change, but the weight behind his blows got heavier. But more than that was the combinations’ he was now employing. Now each block had to be followed up with another, from a different angle, or a dodge. The window for retaliation shrinking.

For Jinny it was more like the ‘light spar she was used too, but he was still holding back. Still, she held her own. She was able to make attempts at striking back to try and steal the initiative in the fight, and in some cases succeeding. She was still a participant in the fight. And so far, was demonstrating that she was the best fighter in the class so far.

Another thirty seconds passed, one minuet since the start of the fight, and a roundhouse kick snapped out that, even blocked, took her off her feet. There was the strength she was used to facing from her spars. Rolling back to her stance, the fight continued. It was harder now; Slade was precise as always and even holding back he was hitting hard enough to leave bruises if he managed a clean hit. Something that was becoming more of a trend.

His reach, his speed, his strength. All of those factors kept Jinny on the back foot. Something she was fairly accustomed to when it came to sparring Slade. But her own skill and small stature were still things she had at her disposal. She was losing, but it was a slow decline for now.

But she knew that would change. And change it did, thirty more seconds. One minuet and thirty since the start of the fight. Slade’s speed and strength were now beyond what Jinny normally faced. But worse than that, she could see him now actually using his style of close quarters combat. And it hurt. Each strike was bone jarring, and there was scant time to even think between attacks. She had been pushed entirely onto the defensive, relying on near misses and mad scrambles to remain on the mat. But she did stay on the mat, bruises on bruises, ache on ache, she stay on the mat.

Thirty seconds passed agonizingly slowly, as each second required another desperate defense of some kind. But pass they did. And exactly two minuets after the start of the fight. Slade blurred past her defenses. And with a single, powerful, palm strike. Threw Jinny off the mat and into the crowd of students.

Even if she hadn’t been thrown so far, she wasn’t getting up in time, the wind having been violently expelled form her. Taking her ten painful seconds to get the ability to breath back.

Slade from his place, again in the center of the mat, looked out to her. “Impressive.” His voice shockingly loud in the silence that had descended as Jinny fought. It even sounded like he might mean that. “Next” No one seemed willing to test their own mettle so swiftly after the display. “Suit yourselves.” He would say after a moment, before calling out a student’s name.

---

Once Jinny was able to get her feet back underneath her, and Slade’s testing had continued. The first thing she hear was a familiar voice “Damn girl, I figured you had some skill but that was something else.” Bee was standing not far with a look of open respect on her face.

“Indeed, my brother wasn’t wrong when he said you were skilled, but that was still an impressive showing.” Came another voice, one of the twins this time. And judging from the stiffer more formal pattern it was likely Kiri. “Two minuets even. Something tells me that will not be an easy feat to meet or surpass.”

Tiny and the Terminator [Mistress Dizzy & Shifter_Master]

Gizmo would grumble without any real heat at Jinny’s words. He didn’t like them, but was far too intelligent to not recognize the truth in them. “Damn it all.”

At some point Slade had left, once again with only bare minimum for manners. Though Jinny’s grade was posted along with his parting. ‘B. Skill with throwing weapon’s is notable. But you are pulling your shots too far before the recoil in regards to firearms.’

Gizmo would regard Jinny’s grade with narrowed eyes, something about it not lining up with him. But he seemed to decided against asking. Instead, he would ask something else. “He’s the guy with the eye patch, isn’t he?” Though it was stated more than asked. There would be a moment before he shrugged off that personal revelation.

“Mammoth is going to be happy; I’m finally going to take him up on his offers to hit the gym.” He would mutter to himself as he went back to shooting. Though it was somewhat clear that he was distracted, his accuracy wasn’t dropping but he was taking more time between shots.

After a while more. Slade’s voice would cut across the chatter and gunfire. “I have concluded with all the fire arms testing. You have a few minutes to pack up your chosen weapons, they are yours. Failure to bring them to class when they are required will result in docking of grade and inability to participate until you retrieve them.”

As he spoke the firing range would fold away into the floor leaving them once again with the large padded area that had been in place when they first arrived.

“We have the final test for today, once you have been examined you are free to leave.” He would move to the center of the padded area as he continued to speak. “The test is quite simple. Last as long as you can in a spar with me. Hand to hand only. Being down for a five count, or being forced off the mat both signal the end of your test.”

That declaration sent a wave of mutters though out the class, most of the students wary or resigned to this announcement. With the exceptions being Gizmo, who looked unsurprised. and the Twins, who looked excited.

“If anyone wants to step forward to undertake the test early you are freed to do so, otherwise I will be calling you up in alphabetical order. And anyone who fails to come forward for this testing will automatically be failed for all of today’s tests. Regardless of what scores I’ve given out already.” Jinny could hear the soft sadistic glee in her father voice as he laid out that last bit of information. “You’ve had your chance to back out, now it’s too late. You have three minutes before the last test is open.”

“Figures” Gizmo would say with a sigh as he started to disassemble his guns. “Think he’d appreciate it more if I just threw the first time, he knocks me down. Or if I just walked out of bounds the moment it started more?” He’d ask. “Save us both the time, either way.

March of the White Rabbit: A Roll-Your-Own Magical Girl Roleplay

_{.:⋮[Dissemination]⋮:.}

Penny would nod her consent to the Interdimensional home. She’d been there once before after all so she knew what to expect of the place. Still, she didn’t waste any time. The moment to way in was closed she would start talking.

“I still have information to give” Penny would state as she pointedly met everyone’s gaze, or at least everyone but Aurora. As Penny did so, the person she was looking at would feel their phone vibrate. “I wasn’t wanting to hand out this information out in the open, partly because I was already thinking like Mariette was before she showed up, mainly because I don’t trust the Mint worth a damn. But back at Bolorton I caught a POW. They were the one in charge of the sleep spell put onto the city and were a part of the inner court of Wonderland.”

Upon checking their phones they would find a bleak report. A rough approximation of Wonderland’s military might, showing that they were out numbered at minimum five to one. In addition to the fact that the conjuration eggs were being mass manufactured.

There was a whole division of R&D at Wonderland producing more advanced weapons as well, with rumors of a superweapon in at least the prototyping stage. All under the auspice of ‘The Mad Hatter’.
But there was some potential for use and good as well. A rough map of Wonderland was included, along with various notes. Such as the factory that the Eggs were being made at, though it was unfortunately one of a potential three places rather than an exact location. And a hidden route into the Castle proper, somewhere on the west side of the building. Plus, a list of the all people in the Queen’s court. Their names, titles and, pictures.

“Furthermore, projections seem to indicate we have at most a week before their next attack, but I can’t narrow down where they are planning on deploying the eggs.” Penny would go onto state, after people had had a chance to look over some of the data she shared, folding her arms as she did. “So, whatever plans we have are either going to need to happen fast, or be put on hold until after the next assault.”

“On that Sanctuary is open for support, but outside of myself and perhaps one or two others, we are unable to provide much combat assistance. As most of the girls living there are non-combatants. Triage and shelter is all we really have to offer other then scouting and a information network.” She would add “Other then simple man power for anything that we might need to build that is.”

“So we need to decide if we want to go forward with the Fake city plan now, or if we just want to evac everyone and build the fake city for when the full invasion hits. If the former we need to set up who is doing what, if the later we need to determine where we are putting everyone.”

March of the White Rabbit: A Roll-Your-Own Magical Girl Roleplay

_{.:⋮[Looking Left, While looking Right]⋮:.}

“Yet I always seem to be the last to know that you’re back.” Penny would mutter bitterly to herself as Chloe turned to leave. For all the girl’s talk, and flowery reassurances, her action were deafening in comparison.

”Either of those options are fine by me, I can also assist with protection from more mundane means where ever it is we end up as well. She would speak on the topic of the next location. “As for late arrivals, we are on a time limit as it is, I’m not sure if we can host this somewhere easy for them to make it at this point. We can easily spread the word of what happened later of if needed.”

Part of her was tempted to offer up Cradle’s HQ as well, seeing as where ever it was they had hidden themselves seemed to be decent enough considering that it had kept them hidden from the Mint so far, which meant is had top notch security in that regard. But honestly she doubted that they would be willing to open their doors.

---

As she touched down, where ever it was she had teleported away too, Chloe’s phone would chime out an incoming text

If you bring me, signed and notarized paperwork stating and confirming the nullification of all Debt for Everyone living withing Sanctuary’s boundaries for the past three weeks, up to and including today.

I’ll be willing to come to the negotiating table in regards to Contract terms for Mint presence in Penrose.

This annulment is not, and will not, be considered as part of the contract at large if you choose to comply. It is simply for you and Al to prove your good will.

I will give you three days to make a decision.

Queen Asimov The Builder.

March of the White Rabbit: A Roll-Your-Own Magical Girl Roleplay

_{.:⋮[Thrice Shy]⋮:.}

Penny watched the discussions with a detached air. One that was only partially an act. Binky’s words had slid off her without much impact, she didn’t think she was any paragon of morality after all, nor would she have claimed such. That wasn’t the reason she was so adamant against the Mint.

Absently she wondered if she would have been more willing to negotiate with the Mint if they had sent anyone other then Chloe. The betrayals she had suffered at the dark girls’ hands were more than a slight weight against the dealings after all. Minor though the actions themselves were in the grand scheme.

But the offer of home, just to be abandoned not once, but twice. Penny would not give Chloe a third chance.

“My stance is unchanged.” She would state as attention shifted back to her. ”All you have brought are words Chloe. And putting stock in your words nearly killed me once already. If you want me to be on board, in any capacity, I’ll need proof first.” She shook her head. “Debt annulment for those living at Sanctuary for example.” Her tone conveyed that she knew it was an ask too far, but also that she didn’t much care.

“Beyond that, I have nothing more to say on your contract.” Again she would dismiss Chloe, her regard for the dark girl falling even further, not that anyone would notice. But then again no one would pick up on just how far the girl had fallen, giving up on her beliefs so easily to Kayli.

She wonders where the girl she used to love had gone. If she had ever been real in the first place.

“I heard parts of an evacuation plan being discussed, and a housing issue that coincided with it. I’d like to shift back to that topic, but again somewhere more secure.” Penny would go on to say. “It does not need to be the Bastion if elsewhere would be preferable, but I would prefer that we move sooner then later. So that Wonderland’s spies don’t track down the new location if nothing else.”

Tiny and the Terminator [Mistress Dizzy & Shifter_Master]

“Well, the first time you hand in a correct answer you’ll have made it in his good books.” Gizmo would mention as he kept pace with his shots. “If you want to find the symbols go looking into ballistic physics, you’ll them in other books as well, but all of them are in that field.”

“As for your free period, I don’t know practice? I use my free spots in what ever workshop class is open. They don’t care if you’re not on the role so long as you don’t give them more problems to clean up at the end of it. Only works while classes are in session though, once the day is over only certain gyms and labs are open.”

“Also, not a bad time to try and find some hidden rooms. Less people to find it alongside you.”

Before Gizmo could continue to give ideas. Another voice would speak up behind them. “Well, the rig means your going to have to run the test twice.” Came Slade’s bored drawl. “Once with and once without.”

The sudden appearance of the teacher had Gizmo jumping, though he had good enough instincts to try and draw on the one surprising him. It was doomed to fail considering it was Slade, but the soft amused hum that came from the assassin was probably a good thing.

From there the test would take place. It was a simple enough thing; three sets of firing, one with each of the selected weapons. Each set had fifty-two targets spread out in the weapon’s optimal ranges. With one located a fair bit closer listed as a ‘Sighting target’ and one at extreme range for the weapon listed as ‘Bonus’. The students had five minuets to shoot as many of the targets as you could, then thirty seconds to prep for the next set.

Slade, for his part, gave no indication of how well or poorly any set went. Just calmly listing the time taken per set, and the number of targets hit.

Still, it was rather clear that Gizmo was actually a talented shot. His rig only acting as additional recoil compensation, as other wise his two runs were rather similar. Though the one without the rig did score worse.

Once Gizmo was done Slade would move onto Jin with barely a word, just a simple “Very well, next up.”

It was only once Jinny had finished with their sets and Slade had moved on would both her and Gizmo notice that Slade had, at some point, placed their grade on one of the monitors at their stalls. With Gizmo having gotten a B+. With a note stating that points had been taken off for Gizmo having ran the test twice.

“Really?” The pintsized student would grumble under his breath, “You’re the damn reason I ran it twice asshole.”

March of the White Rabbit: A Roll-Your-Own Magical Girl Roleplay

_{.:⋮[Invalid Credentials]⋮:.}

Penny’s gaze was drawn towards the artifact as it was thrown into the air. Noting absently that it was roughly next to Snoopy high above them, so much side dealing was happening tonight, and none of it currently from the Mint. How curious.

Still Alex had a point, Penny was one of the leading voices in Penrose. If for no other reason then she chose to pick up Cindy’s mantle. It was time to put her Crown to use it seemed.

“You know You’ve still not given us any reason to trust anything you say, you realize that Chloe.” Penny would say at last as she turned to regard Chloe “And while for most of the people here they’ve never met you before. You really seem to think that I’ll be willing to brush off your past actions for some reason. In smells of desperation.”

“You abandoned me three times, each time promising it would never happen again, yet it did. And each time you came back, it was never made known to me until it was unavoidable. And that was before you somehow failed upward and became a Broker.” She took soft steps towards the petite Necromancer. But stopped before she got very close.

“You lie and cheat and steal, and before you sold out, you at least had a strong reason to do so.” She would say shaking her head at the girl before her. “Now you bring offerings rife with blatant strings at the behest of callous Masters who care not for any of us save for what they can carve from us.”

“Sanctuary denounces you Agent of the Mint. We shall not deal with you, not before we have reason to believe, though action, not word, that you seek to better the City.” The Queen would declare. “Your actions past and attitude current do not show one who is acting in good faith. So, I will not condone you to be one of the pillars to defend us.” With that said she would turn away from Chloe. Having nothing more to say to her. And nothing save a dull ache in her chest for having needed to say it in the first place. It might have only been remnants from Jason, but Penny had still harbored some manner care for Chloe, buried under hurt and anger. But seeing what had become of the girl all she could feel was pity and a vague loss.

She set aside those feeling for later. There was still a meeting to deal with. “Ronin, Miko. It’s an interesting idea. And Mariette that is potentially vital intel to know, thank you. Before we cover either of those topics, I would suggest we relocate.” She would go on to state, turning to face the majority that was gathered here as she spoke.

“As we’ve been told our privacy is on a time limit." A nod toward Nefer to remind them all "And since we have turned down Mint’s… Offer. I am unsure if they can be reasoned as allies. After all they have agents deep in Wonderland’s forces, by their own admission. It wouldn’t surprise me if what we plan out with them present ends up in their hands sooner rather than later due our choice.”

“To that end I offer up The Bastion as the next meeting place if everyone is willing.”

March of the White Rabbit: A Roll-Your-Own Magical Girl Roleplay

_{.:⋮[Request denied]⋮:.}

Despite her regal demeanor Penny allowed a smile to slip out at Lily’s words. And she replied to the curtsey with a light bow of her head. “I thank you for the invite.” Penny knew it wasn’t really an exclusive invite by any means, but she was thankful nonetheless.

Penny’s smile only grew when her girlfriend bounced over. She let her attention be drawn to Melisa, someone that Penny had done her best to keep up to date on since she had been part of the Sanctuary for a bit. “I’m glad to hear that Melisa.” She would reply to the fairy girl, “And sadly not everyone is like Alicia and her group, but they are making that less so all the time.”

Sadly, the next person to approach Penny wasn’t so warmly received. As Chloe would be faced with narrowed eyed suspicion by all but Penny. But even if Penny didn’t visibly react, the smell of ozone that would swell around her told its own story.

And while Belladonna would growl none to softly in response to Chloe’s taunting, and Monica would be turning her knuckle’s white with how tightly she was tensing her fists, Penny let an honest and sincere look of confusion settle onto her features.

“You really let yourself go after I killed Iesud didn’t you?” She’d ask with a bemused shake of her head. “That has to be one of the worst attempts at public slander I’ve seen and I’ve met Eden.” She stood proudly and gave Chloe a look of pity. “I’ve never hidden what I am, but your claim that I’m soulless is laughable. More then one person here has seen proof that reveals your lie. Whoever, or whatever, it is that’s pulling your stings now is doing you no favors.” With that said she brushed off Chloe as a pale imitation of who she used to be.

Afterwards Penny stayed silent as she listened to everyone else talk, Sanctuary wasn’t known for having all that much after all. Something that wasn’t exactly true anymore, but there was only so much she’d be willing to tip her hand on with the Mint standing just off to the side. Overall, it also seemed like most of a plan was already fashioned without her input.

She’d approach those in charge of various parts of the plan later, to fill them in on what Sanctuary would be willing to do to assist. They had way’s of helping keep the town asleep, assuming dormouse would be willing, And the Monarch was willing to spare a lot of effort to shut down the Nexus. So, if Kayli knew anything about that Penny would help to her full extent.

There was also the fact she knew where Wonderland was, but that was not relevant for the moment at hand. But something that Kayli might want to know with her constructs.

Unfortunately, it was at this juncture that the Mint had to make themselves a problem. Honestly Penny had expected it to happen earlier. Penny’s eye roll at the audacity of the Mint’s claim was easily visible to anyone that looked her way.

That isn’t to say she wasn’t thankful for when Mariette showed up with a very good point. “She’s got a point.” Penny would say stepping forward, “So even if you do have that information Chloe, you’ve potentially vastly reduced its value. I’d not be willing to negotiate until we know that anything you bring to the table is actually worth it.” Granted Penny wasn’t willing to negotiate with the Mint regardless, the business itself was far to corrupt for her to trust in any capacity.

“Tell us where the eggs are first, as they might be moving them now due to you.”

March of the White Rabbit: A Roll-Your-Own Magical Girl Roleplay

_{.:⋮[Recursion]⋮:.}

Penny stood silently as she scanned the memorials. The sudden leaving of the warehouse wasn’t part of her original plans, but no plan remains intact for long in Penrose. Still, she had made sure to bring over everything that had been left behind due to her actions. And that included the memorials, as their weight of memories was worth more than ever now.

She was hardly the only girl here at the moment, but even with the small steady numbers that visited here normally, today was different. Sakura’s memorial was just put up, and while she kept her surprise at the sheer number that came to pay respect to the spunky yakuza, she was glad all over again that she had decided to make this space for them in the first place.

Though it hurt to realize that it would need expanding with the coming conflict.

She had talked with Dina about it more than once in the past few days. Once she had sat though what could only be considered a scolding that is. But now Sanctuary was ready to start making their mark on the face of the coming war.

Speaking of which, Penny pulled up the text she, and if she was right, most of Penrose had received. The monarch had to give it to Lily, the sparky girl was never one to worry about the worst. Though in this instance Penny could hardly blame her. While the last meeting closed under bad circumstances, the introductions that had happened there on the periphery had more than paid dividends so far.

So, who knows what this meeting could bring.

“Monica and Belladonna.” Penny would say, though her voice came out of the P.A. system running though the Bastion. “Meet me in hold three. It’s time to leave.” With a nod to the mourners who turned to regard her at that message Penny walked off.

Upon reaching her destination, she wasn’t entirely surprised to see that Dina, Goblina and Ashlyn had also arrived along side the two she had requested. “I take it you completed it then?” She’d ask with a raised brow.

“Indeed, though it hardly befits your status, it is better than nothing in these circumstances” Dina would reply as she gestured for Goblina to hand over the folded cloth in their hands. Upon which Penny would pick up to unfold a capelet.

It was a simple thing, fine gray silk with the simple heraldry for the Sanctuary on it. A circle with three diamonds in a vertical line running down the center of it.

Penny would run a hand over it before putting it on. This meeting was going to be rife with politics, even if not instantly apparent. It was as good a time as any to make this statement. “ Time to make an entrance then.” She would state. as she started to turn away.

“While we are out, it might be a good time to find another point for an entrance.” She’d add looking at Dina and Goblina, “The two we have right now are good, but a pair more wouldn’t be a miss either. Get the twins on it.” With that Penny would turn towards the wall.

Belladonna would stride up to Penny’s left. And Monica, once she was done hugging her goodbyes with Ashlyn would take up position on Penny’s right. And once the three of them were alone in the room the space just in front of the wall would shimmer before a portal would rip open. On the far side was the Park meeting.

Without any further delay The Queen of Penrose and her delegation would exit their home and join the rest of their contemporaries.

The Queen gave everyone present a simple glance, her reactions to anything kept hidden from obvious tells. But the way that Belladonna gave a sharp look at Chloe before a soft muttered ‘Understood my Queen’ meant that there was still a reaction to be had.

Tiny and the Terminator [Mistress Dizzy & Shifter_Master]

“Maybe you touched upon a new aspect of your meta ability. No one really has a full understanding of them, from what I’ve read after all. So maybe yours can do more than you thought it could?” He’d offer up as a possible explanation. “A lot of Meta’s figure one trick and decide that’s all there is to what they can do.”

“And the chain was just a lot of pre-running the numbers. It’s steel, which is common enough to have its metrics memorized from repeat use. So while I was putting that piece of junk together. I just ran the numbers to get the upper and lower ends of its reaction vectors. Then I just stayed within those bounds with rough approximations afterwards.” Gizmo would explain. All the while he too kept lining up shots as they talked, same as Jinny, slower targets with more time to aim. “Only worked as well as it did because I was controlling the force and fulcrum, and I still messed up at the end. It might have gone in my favor, but I still got the math wrong.”

“But if you keep up with me at all, Math class has got to be boring as hell for you. Unless you got Mr. Lawton.” He shakes his head at that, “The guy is familiar to me, but I can’t place it. But the equations he puts on the board every class for extra credit are always fun to tackle. Sadly I don’t have him myself, tested out of Math as soon as I frigging could, which was before he got hired, but Mammoth brings me the equations to puzzle out.”

"Honestly, you signed up at a great time. Plenty of good teachers on staff this year."