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-During the first week-
[sub]-Dealing in the Dark-[/sub]
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Penny checked the time on her phone again before she snapped it shut and sighed. She was currently at Penrose park, sealed up and sitting on a bench that overlooked the pond closer to the center of the Park. Nervously awaiting the meeting she had set up with Olympia. It hadn't seemed like it would be this nerve wracking a few days ago, when she set it up during a lax patrol she had filled in for the Beacon.

She opened her phone again to check the time, again, noting that it had only been a minute since she last checked, thus she was still a few minutes early to the meeting. Once again she snapped it shut and shoved in her pocket. She tried taking a few deep breaths to try and calm her nerves and it would work until she remembered why she was here.

Hunting Thalia. The runaway fox girls name still tore her up inside, but she was moving past it. Penny couldn't tell why, exactly, she was looking for Thalia. Closure perhaps, revenge maybe, she just felt she needed too, even though she had no idea how she would react to meeting her old friend again.

Phone check again, another minuet had passed, and it away it would go again.

After a couple more minutes passed, [img=https://i.imgur.com/15mOieB.jpg]a figure[/img] emerged into the lamplight of the park, originally obscured by the mantle of night. She was short, wearing what appeared to be the school uniform of a local establishment, over the top of which was a red jumper, flanked by a pinkish red backpack. Shoulder length, brown hair fell across her face as she approached the bench Penny sat on, her eyes casually, and somewhat purposefully, flicking across the darkness, scanning the park around them.

As she approached, she pulled out a pocket watch from the jumper, and pushed in the button on the top, allowing the metal casing to flip up and reveal the clockface. For a second she watched it tick, when, seemingly satisfied, she closed it again, and pocketed it.
[colour=OrangeRed]"You're Penny?"[/colour] she questioned, almost monosyllabically. Waiting for the response, she pulled her sleeves down over her hands, seemingly cold.

Considering Penny's nerves it was hard for her not to notice the other girl when she stepped in to the light, the girl’s appearance finally forcing Penny to calm down as she watched and took stock of the girl as she approached. She knew very little about the newspaper but had read over a few of their articles thus was more than a little curious about the types of girls that worked for them.

[color=9e0039]"Yeah, that's me"[/color] She would answer, moving so that there was room on the bench incase the other girl wanted to sit. [color=9e0039]"That should make you Olympia. Thanks for agreeing to meet."[/color] she would go on leaning back in to the bench as she spoke.

[colour=OrangeRed]"You work with Beacon..."[/colour] she responded, seemingly ignoring her comment, while looking Penny up and down, [colour=OrangeRed]"And you're a Monster Girl. You're a Monster Girl, working with Beacon."[/colour] their eyes locked as Olympia repeated her words, carefully selecting and speaking them, as though testing them out in some fashion, [colour=OrangeRed]"You're a very strong Magical Girl, who was involved in both the Justine Incident, and, just a few days ago, the Stadium Assault."[/colour]

Olympia's eyes flittered to the space on the bench, and she moved to sit - removing the backpack and gingerly smoothing out her jumper and skirt before she sat.
[colour=OrangeRed]"You're one of the strongest girls I've seen."[/colour] she said, simply, unfurling the top of the backpack, exposing a large amount of documents. Some appeared to be school books, while others were kept in various binders, kept neatly stacked and organised, [colour=OrangeRed]"You must get tired, being connected with so many threads in Penrose."[/colour] Even with a joke, the girls face remained neutral, almost weirdly so, [colour=OrangeRed]"You want to to talk about the Vixen... do you have information, or do you want it?"[/colour]

Penny wasn't surprised that Olympia knew about her, she had been talked about in one of the P.I. articles after all, but she was bemused at the oddly specific way the other girl was talking. That didn't stop her from snorting at the attempted joke though, as she did seem to be wrapped up in everyone else’s business.

 Everything else was noted, but didn't seem to stand out to the monstergirl.

[color=9e0039]"I'm looking for information..."[/color] Penny would reply after a moment [color=9e0039]"And I might have a little bit of information about them, but no proof if I'm right"[/color] She would add shrugging away the odd way that Olympia talked, figuring it had something to to with the girls magic, something that Penny was never going to understand. [color=9e0039]"I'm trying to... Hunt her down. Anything that will help is apprecated."[/color]

[colour=OrangeRed]"Hunt..?"[/colour] Olympia asked, tilting her head slightly to the side as she said it, looking at Penny offhandedly in her peripherals, [colour=OrangeRed]"You want to hunt the Vixen?"[/colour] she reached into her bag, lifting one of the smaller binders out from its flap. With it removed, she shifted to keep the documents inside hidden, and flipped through a couple pages. 

[colour=OrangeRed]"I have..."[/colour] she reached into her sweaters left pocket and removed a small recording device, and switched it on, [colour=OrangeRed]"...some information regarding it. I have permission from the Boss to give it to you."[/colour] Olympia briefly scanned a page she has stopped at, then flicked her eyes towards Penny, [colour=OrangeRed]"But... Only if you can give her something as useful. I want to know what you know first."[/colour]

[color=9e0039]"Yeah, she's been killing Beacon members and they are my allies"[/color] Penny would explain at the obvious questioning lilt to the reporters statements. [color=9e0039]"Plus if I'm right, I have unfinished business with her"[/color] And If Vixen was Thalia it was going to be a messy affair, but it was going to be that way if Penny met up with Thalia at any point from here on anyway.

The fact she had to offer up something in advance a shake of her head and a shrug of her shoulders. It was seeming like no one actually used money in the magical world except for the Mint. Never the less [color=9e0039]"Not much admittedly, at least not of who she is now, And as I said I might be wrong, but I might know who she was before she became a pyscho."[/color] Pausing a moment Penny shifted her attention to the lake before continuing [color=9e0039]"She started off as a Monstergirl, and she's not from Penrose originally. She was Patroned under a Deity, a Goddess of the Hunt by the name of Lothreen, and back then her drive was combat. I know she used to have a healing artifact and a purification one. Healing is in the shape of a flute, Purification is in the shape of a whistle, and she has a pair of dagger that were telescopic and I think the amulet she has was magical but I never asked but her magic is Beast and Fire."[/color]

She had tried to keep the hurt from her voice as she spoke, but wasn't too sure how succsseful she was. As the longer she went on about Thalia the more memories that would float to the surface. She stayed silent after she was done speaking for a few moments just focusing on breathing. [color=9e0039]"That's most of what I know about who she used to be. It going to be enough?"[/color] she would ask once she was sure she had pushed down the hurt again.

Olympia lifted one of the pages to look at the next, leaving the conversation in an uncomfortable silence for a half minute as Penny concluded her recount, seemingly oblivios to her discordance. She then tore both pages out of the binder, and placed it on the floor, to take out a flip phone.
[colour=OrangeRed]"Lothreen... Goddess of the Hunt..."[/colour] she repeated idly, whilst typing up a series of messages with rapid speed, [colour=OrangeRed]"I have engaged with her once. She's faster than me, possesses Fire magic, and wields a pair of clawed guantlets."[/colour]

With the final word she closed the lid of the phone, and turned back to Penny.
[colour=OrangeRed]"The trackers haven't detailed anything regarding a Deity Patron, a flute, a whistle, daggers, nor Beast magic. Though..."[/colour] for the first time since the meeting had begun, Olympia displayed some kind of emotion - hesitation, [colour=OrangeRed]"The same day as the Stadium attack she forced her way into the Overcity, and we lost track of her for a number of hours."[/colour] her hesitation seemed to turn to anxiety as she looked down at the phone in her hand, [colour=OrangeRed]"I... I... I've..."[/colour]

The anxiety tunred to fear, and, suddenly, Olympia stood up, and walked a short distance away from the bench, breathing rapidly. With her arms wrapped around herself, she attempted to bring the anxiety under the control, still constantly glancing at the phone.
[colour=OrangeRed]"I-I... need the Boss to confirm if any of that is useful..."[/colour] awkwardly she turned back, still hugged into herself, [colour=OrangeRed]"How did... you know this person? Describe her."[/colour]

[color=9e0039]"The gauntlet's are new"[/color] Penny would comment as she watched Olympia have a minor freak out [color=9e0039]"So is the Shift, sounds like she might have changed Patron's."[/color]

[color=9e0039]"Back when I knew her, If it is her, she was my friend, one of my closest ones. She looked to be young, she had a bundle of tails, whiskers and a pair of fox ears."[/color] As she spoke Penny would stand and surveying the surroundings, it would be just her luck for them to get attacked right about now [color=9e0039]"She was a Kitsune. Her fur tended to be black or at least dark. We used to go hunting together, even split a lair for a bit."[/color]

[color=9e0039]"She's got a full transformation as well, only saw it once, It's a massive canine covered in flames, though with her beast magic I wouldn't be surprised if she can change it."[/color] It was hard for Penny not to recall Thalia's Demon, considering what it told Penny about her friend, shortly before her heart was broken.

Shaking her head to clear it of old thoughts she took a step towards Olympia still clearly watching out for whatever might be in the darkness [color=9e0039]"Also, feel free to transform if it will help you feel better"[/color] Penny offered to the other girl, feeling tempted to drop her disguise as well [color=9e0039]"We can also have this conversation on the move if you want."[/color]

Olympia eyed her informant warily. Her gaze flickered between Penny and the lake, then back to the phone, and back again to Penny a number of times before she dropped her arms to her sides with a shaky, seemingly rattled sigh. After a cautionary moment, watching for Penny's sincerity, she dropped the disguise. There was no transformation sequence - no catchphrase, or glittering lights - as she did so, and before even a second had passed, standing there was a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/bc/2b/9a/bc2b9acd844616c5bbd496ea6e6297b6.jpg]hooded, tanned skinned girl.[/url] The shoulder length brown hair shifted to white, and a metal tail extended from her back, but most notable was her arms. Halfway down her upper arm on both sides, they widened utf into a series of metal connectors, leaving the rest and her hands replaced with giant metal fists. This was a Monster Girl.

[colour=OrangeRed]"I can't confirm if the person you knew, and the Vixen, are one in the same."[/colour] Olympia replied, with slightly more emotion in her words than before; her fight or flight response appeared to be wearing off, though a slight reddening to her face remained, [colour=OrangeRed]"What was her name? If the trackers get caught up in a fight with her it may help to calm her, or drive her away."[/colour]

Penny would tilt her head to the side upon the reveal [color=9e0039]"Huh..."[/color] she would say before following suit and shedding her disguise as well with her traditional flash of lightning and screech of torn metal. [color=9e0039][u][b]"Can honestly say I didn't see that coming"[/b][/u][/color] Rocking back on her heels she would take another moment to once again look over Olympia gauging her again with this new piece of information, before shrugging.

[color=9e0039][u][b]"And I'm not sure I want to give her name away."[/b][/u][/color] Penny would answer after thinking over the question [color=9e0039][u][b]"I'm hunting Vixen down to try and confirm if they are the same person, I don't want her to get a blamed for Vixen's actions if they are different people. I can give you my number though"[/b][/u][/color] Penny would offer crossing her arms over stomach as she spoke [color=9e0039][u][b]"To pass off to the trackers. In case they want to call for back up, or if they have a potential sighting."[/b][/u][/color]

Between the sound of Penny dropping her disguise, and her reply, the phone in Olympia's hand buzzed, and released a small ringtone. The bleeps ran in sequence, filling the empty space of the park. When before she was racked with anxiety at the phone, this time she casually opened her giant hand, and let her tail flick out and open the lid.
[colour=OrangeRed][i]"'The Metamorphosis is interesting, as is the possible secondary magic type and Deity Patron. But we have no interest in engaging The Vixen in direct combat. I need more than this.'"[/i][/colour]

The metal tail quickly flipped the lid closed, and then wrapped around it to keep it out of the way.
[colour=OrangeRed]"The Boss doesn't normally ask for favours in kind. She... believes in the truth being available for free; that's why she published the Janet Howell Trial so soon after its conclusion. Which means... She thinks this information is valuable somehow..."[/colour] as she spoke, a kind of confusion washed over her as she reread the two documents in her hand, [colour=OrangeRed]"I can give you this now, but... She will call upon a favour from you in the future. Do you accept these terms?"[/colour]

Penny's gaze was drawn to the metal tail, and she openly watched how it moved while Olympia used it to manipulate her phone.

The robotic girl also had no surprise at all when she was offered a deal, it would make the Independant the fifth group Penny now had ties to [color=9e0039][u][b]"Sure"[/b][/u][/color] she would reply with a shrug [color=9e0039][u][b]"So long as it doesn't go against my established allies."[/b][/u][/color]

Without an emotional tick or response, Olympia took a step forward, with her gauntlet outstretched, for Penny to take the documents. Taking things at face value might have been the sign of foolishness in some circles, but for the Independant, one's word was all anyone had. When Penny had taken it, she took a step back.
[colour=OrangeRed]"We don't have much. Her lair location's are unknown, since she tends to relocate within a week, if not a couple of days."[/colour]

While Penny read, Olympia went about setting up to leave. She put her disguise back up, sorted her documents back into her backpack, sent a quick text message, and picked up the recorder from the bench.
[colour=OrangeRed]"The notes also have the locations of her different attacks, most of which have been cleaned up, but there are a few more recent that our team has kept near enough pristine. And..."[/colour] she quickly glanced up at Penny's robotic form, which stood vastly taller than her, [colour=OrangeRed]"I've... Seen her first hand, so... What you described? I... Can't speak for much, but that's what she looks like. Lots of tails, with burnt black fur."[/colour]

Not only did Penny skim over the documents as Olympia packed up to leave, she also took silent photocopies of the documents. She knew it would take a bit of time to fully scour the information she had been handed, but hopefully it would give her a lead.

[color=9e0039][u][b]"I'll admit I hope they aren’t the same person"[/b][/u][/color] Penny would reply as she looked back at Olympia [color=9e0039][u][b]"If they are, you'll likely hear about the aftermath on the news, as she's not the only one with a Metamorph"[/b][/u][/color] shaking her head Penny pocketed the documents.

[color=9e0039][u][b]"Regardless, thanks for the info"[/b][/u][/color] she would wave before turning to leave [color=9e0039][u][b]"Catch ya round"[/b][/u][/color]

[colour=OrangeRed]"Uh... Penny?"[/colour] Olympia said as she turned to leave, [colour=OrangeRed]"If... if she really is your friend, then..."[/colour] she shifted uncomfortably on the spot, finding the words awkward and painful to say, [colour=OrangeRed]"Th-then... I'm sorry..."[/colour] and as she finished, she turned and scurried off into the darkness.

[color=9e0039][u][b]"Same here"[/b][/u][/color] Penny would whisper to herself as she started her trek home, she had a computer to finish and things to read.