[Hider=Evil girls beware round 2]

Lily and Alex were patrolling as usual, but this time around she had the idea of looking in secluded places like under bridges and in shadowy alleyways, hoping they would find Mariette.
[color=fff200]"Hmm, looks like she isn't here, either...Well no matter! I'm gonna keep on trying until I-Iih!"[/color] 
She summoned her bow as a reflex when she heard the mysterious girl's voice. 
[color=fff200]"Who goes there?"[/color] She hastily asked, before she lowered it at the sight of Penny walking into the scene.
[color=fff200]"Wait...Is that you Penny?"[/color] 
When she next saw the monster girl who called out to her, with her fluffy tail whipping behind her, she turned more confused.
[color=fff200]"Now hold on just a second....I didn't get a chance to ask you about Beacon before, but why do you hang out with both them AND a monster girl?"[/color]
 
"[color=aba000]I'm honestly amazed they let you get away with it[/color]" Alexander said to Penny "[color=aba000]In my experience, Beacon would never tolerate having an friendly relationship with a monster girl. I mean, you were at the meeting in the park that went horribly wrong, so you saw how the Beacon girls reacted to the monster girls[/color]"

Alexander turned to the other girl "[color=aba000]I'd be careful around Beacon if I were you. They [i]really[/i] hate anyone with monster traits. One of them tried to kill Lilly because she has a berserker form that's just a little bit beastly. Penny was there too, so she saw it.[/color]"

Thalia followed on behind Penny as the two approached the newcomers, doing her best to keep behind her friend so that she wouldn't be seen. Of course, her tails were an issue, and every so often, one would flick out from Penny's behind, and the Kitsune would be identified quickly brushing it back into formation with the others.

She was somewhat surprised when the male talked directly to her. Or, at least, she pretended to be. Cautiously, she poked her head over Penny's shoulder, doing her best to look innocent, with a forced blush and all.
[colour=Silver]"U-um... I-I'm..."[/colour] she stammered, playing off a naive Mahou, [colour=Silver]"I-I'm Th-Thalia... I-I only became a M-Magical Girl a f-few days ago..."[/colour] she glanced towards Lily, forcing back a smirk, [colour=Silver]"P-Penny offered to sh-show me the r-ropes... S-since we're, u-um, similar..."[/colour]


Penny just looked over her shold at Thalia with a disbelieving stare [color=9e0039][b][u]"Really?"[/u][/b][/color] she asked resisting the urge to face palm [color=9e0039][b][u]"If any one here gets to pull the newbie card it's going to be me, I've yet to hit my sixth month as a MG."[/u][/b][/color] she said dryly before rolling her eyes and turning back to Alex and Lily.

[color=9e0039][b][u]"From everything I've heard the deal my Patron struck with Beacon is incredibly odd, but hey, they were the ones to approach me so I've got no idea whats going on with their organization"[/u][/b][/color] She answered with a shrug [color=9e0039][b][u]"And that partial answer your questions Lily, I hang with Beacon because My patron made a alliance with them, I hang with Thalia here"[/u][/b][/color] She replied giving Thalia another pointed look [color=9e0039][b][u]"Because we are friends, despite the hadful she can be"[/u][/b][/color] Neither the look nor her words held any heat, in fact one could note a small amount of mirth in them.

[color=9e0039][b][u]"So I'm kinda in the middle of every thing, it's weird. Especially after all the rumours that I heard about them"[/u][/b][/color] she finished with another shrug, more weirdness wasn't going to phase her much at this point. She was still dealing with all the weirdness of becoming a Mahou in her opinion.

 [color=fff200]"Oh, is that so?"[/color] Lily asked with a raised eyebrow, and let her bow scatter into the air in small sparks. She furroved her eyebrows.  [color=fff200]"That is actually...Amazing!"[/color] She bounced right over to Penny, leaning over with her hands behind her back.  
 [color=fff200]"I didn't think it was possible at all for the two sides to have a common friend! You're amazing, Penny! You can solve one of our problems!"[/color] She stepped back a bit.
  [color=fff200]"By the way, have you seen a dark magical girl with an eyepatch holding a stuffed bunny? Or someone who can shift to Overcity? We need to get there."[/color]   

[color=9e0039][b][u]"What problem can I solve?"[/u][/b][/color] Penny asked slightly bewildered, she knew her alliance with Beacon was weird but it was sounding like it might have been a lot more then she had been thinking [color=9e0039][b][u]" And can't say I have meet a dark magical girl recently, last one I knew skipped town after the disaster at the park."[/u][/b][/color] Penny replied as she though about the request [color=9e0039][b][u]"This is also where I get to pull my newbie card and ask: What is the Overcity?"[/u][/b][/color] She asked genuinely unaware of what that was. She had zero apptitude in magic due to Laat's intervention, so had never encountered the Overcity, neither had the God explained it to her.

"[color=aba000]Some kind of plane of exsistence that's like a magical version of this one. Lilly and I found out that the crazy Beacon girl from the park was actually being mind controled by someone, and they have a castle in the Overcity. So we're trying to get a party together to raid the place, and stop her before she can do whatever else she's planing on doing. The girl Lilly just asked you about has portal magic, so she should be able to get us there. But if we can't find her, then we just have to find someone else who can shift to the Overcity.[/color]" Turning his attention to the other girl, he asked "[color=aba000]what about you? Can you move to the Overcity? Or do you know someone else who can?[/color]"

Thalia stayed behind Penny as the three conversed about some magical girl and portals. She didn't care too much; she only got involved in matters that directly concerned her or her friends. But what really disappinted her was the way that [i]nobody[/i] except Penny even reacted to her comment! But there was still time. One of them would fall for it. They [i]had[/i] to. And, if she had any inclination towards the way people acted, it would by the girl that would.
[colour=Silver]"U-um, th-the Overcity..? I-is that, l-like, some kind of p-parallel dimension..?"[/colour] she queried, poking over Penny's shoulder a tad more so she could be seen beter.

"[color=aba000]I think so...kind of. I just imagine our world as a coin, and we're living on the heads side. Meanwhile, the Overcity is on the tails side.[/color]" Alexander shrugged "[color=aba000]Not sure if that's actually how it works, but it makes sense to me.[/color]"

 [color=fff200]"We don't actually know much about the Overcity other than that this Justine girl behind the park incident lives in there. Hmm, yeah, Chloe...Right, I should explain: I'm sure you've noticed from hanging out with Beacon, but they and monster girls have started fighting even more after the park incident. And based on what happened at the hospital, I think it will blow up into a huge war!"[/color] Lily said, emphasizing the  *blow up* part with her hands raising.
  [color=fff200]"But you can talk to both sides, so  you should try to negotiate, or at the very least stall them until we find proof that the Beacon girl was mind controlled!"[/color]
  
  It was at that point that Lily glanced behind Penny, and her eyes opened in shock.
[color=fff200]"Oh, I'm sorry! Thalia, was it? I almost didn't hear you. But that's strange,"[/color] Lily then said, eyeing up the fox girl.  [color=fff200]"I'm sure I heard your voice calling us, and it was a lot more confident back there. Oh well, you might just be shy seeing me and Alex. What are you doing here?"[/color]

[colour=Silver]"H-hello, Miss..."[/colour] Thalia began as she peaked around form behind her friend, giggling uncontrollably insid that one of them actually took the bait; there wasn't any point to the exercise, but she just wanted to play around with the new people, [colour=Silver]"P-Penny was sh-showing me around P-Penrose... I-I've only been l-like... this... F-for a few weeks..."[/colour] she sputtered, reaching around to one of Penny's free hands in order to take hold of it like a small child, [colour=Silver]"S-so... A-are you two P-Penny's friends..?"[/colour]

Penny mulled over Lily's statements, she couldn't say one way or the other if the fighting had gotten worse as up untill comming to Penrose she had avoided interacting will people if she could avoid it. Outside of Chloe, Isanna and Thalia, Penny didn't really know any one in the magical world and that was mainly due to running in to them over and over. Granted she could add a few more names to that list now.

[color=9e0039][i]'Though I'll likely have to take a pair off'[/i][/color] shaking her head to chase away those thoughts she acknowledged what Lily was saying, or was planning on it, till she noticed that Thalia hadden't dropped her naive act and was starting to rope the other lightning user in, once again she resisted the urge to facepalm.

Penny opened her mouth to say something, likely some deadpan remark in regards to Thalia's acting, when she felt the girl grab her hand. Her mouth shut with a click as she turned her head to regard connected hands. She carefully refused to look at Thalia as she returned her attention to Lily and Alex. She wasn't quite blushing, thankfully, but could easily figure that was what the vixen next to her was attempting. Quietly she began planning on a way to turn the table on her friend.

"[color=aba000]Ehh...we only met a few times, so I'm not sure if that's enough for us to be friends. Then again, maybe it is. I don't know, I'm kinda new to this whole 'friend' thing. My social life before getting magic never really existed.[/color]

[color=fff200]"So you're brand new! Well, I'm glad that Penny's here to teach you about being a magical girl. Yeah, we're Penny's friends, right Penny?"[/color] She spoke energetically with her hands to her hips. Seeing Penny so happy now reminded Lily of her own happiness. 
[color=fff200]"Yeah, you are certainly a rookie when it comes to friendship, Al, so I just have to teach you! Anyway, do you two sleep together like me and Alex?"[/color] She said inncently, not realizing her euphemism.

Alexander quickly corrected her "[color=aba000]She means living together. We aren't having sex.[/color]" 

[color=fff200]"EEEEHHH? Pervert!"[/color] Lily screamed, and slapped Alexander's cheek.
[color=fff200]"How did you even come to that conclusion!? Hnnnn!"[/color] She pouted as her own cheeks blushed.

Lucky for Alexander, his helmat protected his face (that, and his force-field) "[color=aba000]Lilly, 'sleeping together' is a euphemism for having sex. I'm actually amazed that you don't know that. When someone says that they're 'sleeping' with someone else, and it's not sex, they usualy have to clarify that they're not talking about sex.[/color]"

Thalia forced upon herself a blush when Alex corrected Lily, attempting to strengthen her innocent and naive facade. To her amazement, Penny still had yet to correct her in any way. The Kitsune couldn't quite tell why, but there was something she did know. Penny had yet to figure out why exactly she was putting on the act.

It wasn't something as simple as trying to mess around with their new associates, although that was a bonus, but something much more fun. And, as luck would have it, the next part of her plan fell into place; from somewhere near the ally, a loud car horn sounded, elliciting a squeak from the Mahou as she grabbed Penny in a tight hug.

From there, she proceeded to grip her hand tightly, smiling to herself from behind her.
[colour=Silver]"U-um... Y-yeah..."[/colour] she murmered from behind her friend, [colour=Silver]"W-we have been..."[/colour]

The interaction between Alex and Lily did cause Penny to facepalm, seems that crazy was just the default for being a Mahou. While she could understand where Alex is comming from in regards to Lily's comment, the reaction was overplayed if you asked the cyborg. She did nod in response to Lily's question of being firends however.

The blush she saw Thalia sporting out of the corner of her eye brough her back to planning on how to make it a real blush, or if it was real, which she doubted, making it darker.

What ever plans she was constructing fell apart in the wake of the car horn, not that the sound suprised Penny, she hardly registered it in the first place. It was the fact she was suddenly wrapped up in a tight hug by Thalia, in addition to implying they were sleeping together. Blushing she stammered [color=9e0039][b][u]"L-l-iving together. S-s-she means, we are living together."[/u][/b][/color]

Taking a steadying breath, something she has gotten a lot more used too in the past few day, Penny turned to look at Thalia [color=9e0039][b][u]"How long are you planning on keeping up the cute and innocent act?"[/u][/b][/color] She wasn't planning on asking why, she could guess why.


Lily pouted with chipmunk cheeks.

[color=fff200]"Waah, stop embarrassing me in front of my new friends!"[/color] She playfully drummed Alex with her balled up up hands. 
[color=fff200]"If you don't stop being mean
I'll doodle on your face in the morning!"[/color]

"[color=aba000]How am [i]I[/i] embarrassing [i]you[/i]?[/color]" Alexander asked confused  "[color=aba000]And doodling on my face? Really? You know I'm a light sleeper. Not only that, but my outfit comes with a helmet. Also, could you stop hitting me? It's making me feel...funny[/color]"

[color=fff200]"Anyway, I'm happy to know Penny is in good hands. Huh? What does she mean, Thalia?"[/color] Lily then asked her, still punting Alex' shoulder.

Thalia pouted at Penny for mentioning it. Why couldn't she have played along? It would have been a lot more fun for both of them. Well, fun for Thalia and embarrassing for Penny. But that was still fun.
[colour=Silver]"H-huh? Wh-what act..?"[/colour] she queried, leaning back around to look at Lily, [colour=Silver]"Fr-friends..? W-we can be friends?"[/colour] her face was lighted by a slight smile, [colour=Silver]"Yay! N-new friends!"[/colour] the Kitsune chirruped, smiling warmly.

Penny saw the pout and could tell from that Thalia wasn't going to drop the act just yet. [color=9e0039][b][u]"Good hands, right"[/u][/b][/color] Penny grumbled quietly as she begin trying to get out of the hug, though it was a token effort at best, otherwise Thalia would likely just hang off her for the rest of the day. There was no guarantee she wouldn't do such anyway. [color=9e0039][b][u]"You're dealing the fallout from this"[/u][/b][/color] She added as she turned back to the others.

[color=9e0039][b][u]"What else have you two been up too, or has it just been trying to find a way in to the Overcity?"[/u][/b][/color] She asked curiously, the week had been rather quiet as far as she had seen, not counting the nightly hunting expiditions.

"[color=aba000]It's pretty much just been looking for a way into the Overcity[/color]" Alexander answered "[color=aba000]We don't have anything nearly as important as stopping whatever that nut job has planed. I'm not sure what he end goal is, but I don't think the city will be intact by then[/color]


[color=fff200]"Yay friends!"[/color] Lily repeated after Thalia, and joined in the hug briefly, giggling to herself. 
[color=fff200]"Yeah, we're currently just doing that, but we did get a new member to our party!" She put her hands to her hips. "She's a pirate magical girl with a magical pirate ship! Once we can get to the Overcity, we're gonna use it to storm Justine's fortress! And it's gonna be awesome! So I don't mind if it's a bit boring right now. Will you guys help us?"[/color]

Penny flinched when Lily moved to hug her, not that it would be really noticable to anyone other then Thalia, as Penny's grip would have tightened as she flinched, the mechanical girl wasn't the most open to hugs, but she didn't really point this out to people, she felt it was to difficult to try and explain why. 

That did nothing to stop her blush from deepening when she was in the middle of the hug, partially for the embarrassment, most due to the discomfort of the situation. Thankfully it was short and the mention of a pirate helped focus her thoughts away from it. [color=9e0039][b][u]"Wait, you met a Magical pirate? With a ship and everything? And you are planning on using it to siege a castle? In an alternate dimention?"[/u][/b][/color] she asked in bafflement, then she realized they were asking for her help. They were asking her to help destroy a castle. Some black part of her mind stood up at attention at that realization and her eyes sharpened dangrously.

"[color=aba000]Pretty much[/color]" Alexander confirmed "[color=aba000]It's better than nothing. And we really can't affored to let someone trying to start a war like this do whatever she wants. All things considered, Having a ship to attack her castle with is actually pretty lucky for us.[/color]"

Lily nodded eagerly. 
[color=fff200]"Yeah, it's awesome! Oh, and if you do meet Shining Scale, telll her you're friends with me, and she'll understand."[/color]

At first, Thalia was unsure how exactly to respond to the sudden threeway hug that had just occurred. She stood awkwardly, holding Penny for a moment, before snuggling into her friend closely. Then, she leant over to Penny's ear and whispered to her, just quiet enough so that Lily would be unable to hear.
[colour=Silver]"Threesome anyone~?"[/colour] she teased, before looking over to Alex, [colour=Silver]"H-how do we g-get into the O-Overcity, th-then..?"[/colour] she questioned, reflecting an expression of thought.

While Penny would have seconded Thalia's question about the Overcity, and would have liked to know where to sign up to join in on crushing a castle to dust. She was currently unable to form words. The reason was really quite simple, system shock. Thalia's whispered question brought all thoughts to a screeching halt, and her face felt like it was about to combust.

 Her gaze immediately latched on to a crack in the ground, and the cyborg refuesed to move it, anyone she looked was likely to make it worse, not that the girl could imagine how, unless she literally did catch fire, which knowing Thalia ment that wasn't entierly out of the question. It wasn't soley the question that cause the blushing either, though that was a good part of it. It was the way in which she said it. Quietly, softly, just loud enough for Penny to hear, which meant she was forced to focus on what was being said. It reminded her of every morning when they woke up, which served only to reinforce the blush even more.

Lily frowned at Thalia's question. 
[color=fff200]"That's that we're trying to figure out as well. We do believe that Mariette Pedersen, the girl I was asking about before, could help us. If you guys can keep a look out for her that would be great!"[/color] She pulled out another piece of paper, having now made copies of her phone number expecting to meet more friends, and gave one to Penny.
[color=fff200]"Call me, gurl-frieeeeend! Hehe~"[/color], she giggled, and stepped back, waving to them.
[color=fff200]"Byeeee!"[/color] She then jumped up to a rooftop, with Alex soon following after her.

Thalia pondered for a little, considering how they could get the aforementioned Mariette girl to cooperate with their endeavour. She had never heard that name before until today; was she new to Penrose? Then again, there weren't too many people in city Thalia actually did know.

She waved the two off as they jumped up from the alley to the roofs, smiling warmly. As soon as they were out of sight and out of earshot, she danced away from Penny, and giggled at her sanguine countenance. 
[colour=Silver]"They seemed nice!"[/colour] she said, skipping about, intent on not standing still, [colour=Silver]"It's hard to think that Lily there caused that big lightning strike, huh?"[/colour] she smiled, glancing towards the direction the two had left in, [colour=Silver]"I wonder how strong she really is~"[/colour]

Penny took the slip from Lily woodenly still blatantly refusing to tear her gaze from the crack in the ground, and only quietly waved as both Alex and Lily took to the roofs. [color=9e0039][b][u]"I'm pretty sure the lightning bolt is her finisher, plus she Redlined right before she fired it. It was strong enough to vaporize the person I was fighting, so I would imagine fairly strong, you'll have to ask for a spar next time"[/u][/b][/color] Penny replied quietly. She was using the chance to answer less to pass information, and more to kick start her brain again.

It worked well enough as she was able to turn her thoughts back to the castle, as the dark corrupted part of her psyche started to fantisise about all the way she could tear it to pieces. With thoughts of wanton destruction floating, she finally pulled her gaze from the concrete and asked a simple question as she moved to also take to the roofs [color=9e0039][b][u]"I wonder if I can ask Laat for any Semtex?"[/u][/b][/color]
[/hider]