[center][h2][color=cyan]Janet[/color] and [color=9e0039]Penny[/color][/h2]

During the later half of the first week[/center]

Coming in for the day with Alicia, Janet tried to avoid the people that had clearly shown disdain for her. Thus far it hadn’t been too bad being back at Beacon. At least no one was trying to kill her, though that was only because the higher ups had made a verdict. Break a rule though and that could reverse pretty quick. Not that she had any plan to make that happen.

Through the hustle and bustle that was Beacon HQ she spotted her friend, Penny. Or Janet hoped that they were still friends. Before coming back to Beacon she hadn’t really returned any texts or calls which was pretty rude of her. Shuffling up she spoke quietly. [color=cyan]”Hey Penny, sorry about not responding to you. I was uh… I’m not sure really. Scared I guess.”[/color]

Penny would be startled from the book she was reading with and look up in confusion, at least until she saw who it was, for while Peny was slowly starting to be treated better by the majority of Beacon it had only progressed to the point she was ignored rather than treated with suspicion. [color=9e0039][u][b]”Hey Janet”[/b][/u][/color] she would reply with a smile as she closed the book. A glance at the cover revealed that it was an introductory book to the types of magic. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Don’t sweat it, things have been rather crazy for you the past bit, and being put on trial can’t have been easy”[/b][/u][/color] she would add brushing aside the apology as unnecessary.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“What’s your plans for today? I’m on standby till Five or so”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would ask glancing at the clock on her HUD as she did. She often floated around Beacon’s schedule, filling in for injured or sick girls and when no one needed to be filled in for she stood on standby for a block of hours, doing research unless she got called for. 

Penny not seeming to have been worried about the issue made Janet feel a little better. Glancing at the clock across the room the blonde shrugged a bit. [color=cyan]”I don’t really know. I’m supposed to stay with Alicia when on mission. I don’t think they really want me out of sight right now.”[/color] She said frowning. [color=cyan]”I can’t blame them though. I hurt them all, even if it wasn’t me in control.”[/color] Dropping her hands to her sides. [color=cyan]”Might be nice just to go out and chill. Haven’t been able to do that in a while.”[/color]

Penny didn’t bother trying to hide her snort [color=9e0039][u][b]“I can blame them”[/b][/u][/color] she started standing up [color=9e0039][u][b]“You were tagged by some seriously messed up magic and they have the audacity to pin the blame on you”[/b][/u][/color] she let out a huff and shook her head. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Thank the Gods for people like Alicia”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I’d be down for a hang out if you want, here or elsewhere. They’ve got my number if they need me”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would offer, she knew from personal experience just how exhausting it could be to always be on edge around people who are supposed to be friends.

It wasn’t surprising for Penny to take that stance. But Janet really didn’t want to talk about that experience, not here and now anyway. [color=cyan]”I think I need a break from this place. I could stand to just get something to eat out somewhere like a normal person.”[/color] Heading to the exit, Janet stealthily slipped her backpack off and left it inside thanks to her Incognito. After getting outside and down a couple blocks she summoned it back to herself, putting it back on her back. That bit wasn’t as sneaky but she didn’t really care if Penny saw it. 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Lead the way”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say leaving the book on the couch she had been resting on, someone would return it to the library they had here. She held off in pulling on her disguise till they were closer to the edge of Beacon property, trying to make sure they had as much time as they could get out of Penny’s time limit.

Stretching and looking up into the sky Janet let out a heavy sigh. They were walking about, the people around them not thinking anything of the two girls even as they talked. [color=cyan]”You know, when I originally became a magical girl I thought it would be a second chance to make a difference. But so far it’s almost as much of a curse as it is anything else.”[/color] 

[color=9e0039]“I take it Beacons recruitment department has better funding than their PR department then?”[/color] She would joke, double taking at the reappearance of the backpack, before shrugging it off. [color=9e0039]“Still, I get what you mean.”[/color] She would continue after a moment [color=9e0039]“Especially as I wasn’t given much of an option, just dropped in to the deep end.”[/color] with a silent sigh Penny pushed away her thoughts, she was here to help out Janet, not revisit her growing list of grievances [color=9e0039]“Mind if I ask what brought this up?”[/color] she would ask [color=9e0039]“Or is it the obvious?”[/color]

Rocking her head back and forth a bit Janet tried to form her thought into words. [color=cyan]”I didn’t choose to take on this whole thing to be put on trial again. I never wanted a repeat of my first life. Now the people I’m suppose to be working with hate me. Or some of them do anyway. I figured you would understand coming in from the outside.”[/color] Relaxing a bit after looking tense she waved off the issue. [color=cyan]”Is what it is though, I guess. Things are changing. Just kind of wish I wasn’t a part of it.”[/color] 

[color=9e0039]“The obvious, and yeah I definitely get the ‘hate from people you work with’ issue. There is a reason so few people in Beacon know what I look like when I’m disguised after all”[/color] Penny agreed nodding as she did [color=9e0039]“Upside, You know for fact that Alicia’s always got your back and it’s always good to know who your friends are.”[/color]

[color=9e0039]“Not much I can say in regards to being the lynch pin for change, other then I know it sucks, and having one of the Gods responsible for it on speed dial doesn't do much to help with that”[/color] Penny would remark scowling at the sky as she did so. [color=9e0039]“All we can do when faced with change is choose to grow or to break”[/color]

[color=cyan]”I suppose.”[/color] The detail wasn’t something that was new to Janet. It was something that she had intended to live by. But at the same time she didn’t expect to be corrupted and made to do terrible things and face the consequences. Can’t really plan for that. 

Janet walked silently for a minute. The conversation had taken a negative turn as far as she was concerned. Her thoughts went back to everything that had happened up to this point. Damn would it be nice to start over. No guarantee that would turn out much better though. Remembering the Coin she had the thought crossed her mind that she could use it. There were many unknowns to that. It was being tested after all. 

So lost in thought for a bit the small girl was run into by a passer by. That wasn’t entirely uncommon, but it startled Janet and she yelled out. [color=cyan]”Watch where you’re going!”[/color] Even though she was in the body of a little girl she showed for a moment that that had not always been the case. The guy glared back briefly but didn’t waste his time responding. [color=cyan]”Dammit.”[/color]

[color=9e0039]“Jackass”[/color] Penny would call out as the man continued his way. She had been tempted to force an apology from the guy, knowing she likely could easily, but refrained, he wasn’t worth the effort. Didn’t stop her from picking up a pebble at tossing it at the guy though.

[color=9e0039]“You mentioned food”[/color] Penny would say after checking that Janet was okay [color=9e0039]“You pick the place I’ll pay”[/color] she offered figuring they could use a break from the topics they had just left.

[color=cyan]”Right, I was already kind of getting us there.”[/color] The place Janet had in mind really wasn’t that far from HQ. In this case it was a burger joint. That wouldn’t seem too amazing but it was something that she, when she used to be a he, had much when in prison. Odd how a craving doesn’t die even after being free for a while. 

They were seated in no time and waiting for their orders. Which left the time between to talk again. [color=cyan]”Sorry about just dumping all that on you. I just needed to vent.”[/color] Putting a couple fingers on her temple she shook her head. [color=cyan]”Enough about me for a while. What’s been going on with you?”[/color] 

Once again Penny would wave away the apology “I get it, trust me I do. As for me” the monster girl sat back in her chair and thought for a moment, there was a fair amount she had going on that Beacon didn’t know about. Not that she was intentionally hiding most of it from them, just that it didn’t often come up.

[color=9e0039]“Well, at the moment I’ve been following some leads on The Vixen. She’s a monster girl that has been targeting Beacon girls for some reason. I’ve been building a computer as well, partly because I find it fun and partly to track the Dragon that wants me dead and I’m rediscovering the joys of having a crush and having that in the back of my mind all the time.”[/color] She would shrug [color=9e0039]“And I still find it bizarre that that sounds perfectly normal for me now.”[/color]

Managing a smile after a bit Janet seemed to relax. Aside from the magical nonsense it was nice to hear something kind of normal for a change. Leaning her elbows against the table she scooted forward. [color=cyan]”A crush? Anyone I know?”[/color] 

Penny couldn’t help but chuckle, the fact she had a crush was the most interesting thing at the moment, not that she was tracking down a mass murderer, or that there was a dragon that was trying to kill her. No it was the crush, and sadly she would have to agree.

[color=9e0039]“Yes, you know them, no I’m not going to say who.”[/color]  Penny would reply [color=9e0039]“Just realized it the other day, and no idea if she’d feel the same way”[/color] 

Stopping to think for a moment Janet tried to think over who all she knew. Not that it was all that important to her per se, but it was something to occupy her at the moment. Penny tended to be all over the place though so it was hard to say what she was doing when not at HQ. The only thing that came to mind was that Penny and Alicia had gone out shopping recently. And Janet only really knew that because Alicia was supposed to keep an eye on her and was informed. Might be reaching to assume. [color=cyan]”Well I hope that goes well. Honestly never thought I’d have the opportunity to see young love again.”[/color] 

[color=9e0039]“It’s just as interesting to experience it again as well”[/color] Penny would say unable to stop the smile spreading across her face as she indulged in the feelings for a moment [color=9e0039]“Also interesting to be able to keep a mostly steady head while crushing on someone”[/color] she would add setting aside her thoughts on Alicia, as best as she could at any way. She was also surprised that Janet hadn't tried to pry more, but was going to take the minor blessing.

[color=9e0039]“Heard you encountered a new coin of some type, if the rumor mill is to be believed”[/color] She would bring up instead [color=9e0039]“What’s the word on those?”[/color] though allied with Beacon Penny was often the last to be let in on the goings on that didn’t involve a fight of some sort.

Really shouldn’t be a surprise that Penny had heard about the new coin. Seemed information was hard to keep under wraps. Hell her own trial had leaked out hours after it was over. [color=cyan]”I don’t know all the details exactly, but supposedly it’s supposed to be able to change a magical girls, well, magic. We haven’t seen anyone use one yet though so hard to say exactly what that means.”[/color] Doing her best not to let on she had one at one point. During her original encounter with Binky she’d put the coin in her backpack and had been kind of hiding it. Beacon girls couldn’t have Black coins so she wasn’t sure what Beacon would do should they find her with a Red one. Thus far though it appeared that Beacon had taken interest in what the coin could do.

[color=9e0039]“Sounds interesting, wonder how the Beckoners are going to view it?”[/color] she would muse aloud. The robotic girl wouldn’t deny her curiosity in regards to this new coin, both as to how it worked and how common it would become.

Janet shrugged, not really able to offer any insight on that front. [color=cyan]”Who knows. Having a Black Coin is big time against the rules at Beacon, so they could take a similar stance.”[/color] Their drinks arrived and Janet took the opportunity to sip a bit of her sweet tea. [color=cyan]”Kind of hard to tell what the Beckoners will do right now.”[/color]

[color=9e0039]“With the Black Coin’s connection to Mint I don’t blame them”[/color] Penny would say as she fished out a piece of ice from her water to chew, pointedly ignoring the metaphorical weight her own Black Coin seemed to gain. There was also the point about the Beckoners, that gave Penny pause, as she did have a little insight about something that was coming due to her Patron, though she wasn’t sure if she should say anything.

Taking her time to much at the ice she came to a decision [color=9e0039]“I know a little about what they are up too”[/color] She would mention after crunching away her ice cube [color=9e0039]“Laat made another deal with some of them, and told me about it the other day. I don’t know all the details”[/color] Penny would lean forward talking a little lower as she did [color=9e0039]“But part of the deal was that I protect Alicia, from anyone, other Beacon members included. I think there might be a schism in the upper echelons of Beacon, and that it’s going to get messy, likely soon.”[/color] 

Sighing and leaning on one elbow against the table the blonde shook her head. [color=cyan]”Not sure I need that many clues to see that potentially happening. I’m not sure how the leadership works internally, much less between other cities that Beacon occupy. But I can see at some point there being a conflict. It’s only a matter of what kind. I would hope cooler heads prevail. Beacon has huge potential to include more people. But it isn’t easy to turn such a large ship.”[/color] Pointing to Penny and then herself. [color=cyan]”Exhibit A. We’re allowed in but we aren’t quite part of the whole thing. Kind of makes sense for you, you do still have another patron so there is some potential for conflict of interest. But I think you get what I mean.”[/color] The waiter came back to take their orders and Janet stopped. 

Ordering a full size bourbon burger seemed to confuse the man, but he took it nonetheless. Moving over to Penny he took her order, a double bacon burger, and promptly left. [color=cyan]”One advantage to being a little girl, eat a third of the meal and save the rest for later.”[/color] Janet quipped for a little lighter mood.

[color=9e0039]“All to well”[/color] Penny would agree to Janet’s statement about Beacon’s treatment towards them. She still saw the value of Beacon, living on the streets as she had before she came to Penrose taught her a lot about the rougher side of the magical world, but working alongside The Beacon reminded her that people are still people, magic or not.

[color=9e0039]“Nice”[/color] she would chuckle at the frugal advantage of being a kid again, before chiming in with [color=9e0039]“I’ve seemed to gained the ability to eat just about anything it seems. Everything from glass to copper wire, and I can’t even say it tastes bad, just different”[/color]

[color=cyan]”Really? Guess I never thought about stuff that isn’t food tasting like anything.”[/color] Pondering it a moment she tried to figure out how that would give much energy. Then again, Penny wasn’t your usual magical girl. Often times she seemed more machine than anything else. The robotic girl was probably the most modified magical girl she’d seen. And that only ever seemed to be more true as time went on. Janet furrowed her brow a bit as something came to her mind. She wasn’t even quite sure how to put it and her tone conveyed it just a bit. [color=cyan]”What’s it like being mechanical?”[/color] Glancing up she was genuinely curious.

Penny opened her mouth to reply, but stalled out when she fully processed the question. [color=9e0039]“It’s… Hard to explain”[/color] She would get out finally a look of concentration on her face as she spoke [color=9e0039]“I’m aware of a lot more of what’s going on in my body for starters. A lot of the things that a body does naturally I can pull up information on, and watch the data in real time as it happens. Body modification works differently as well, I've got a lot more options, for example I’ve installed a chainsaw in one of my arms.”[/color] Penny would explain raising her right arm up a bit as she did.

[color=9e0039]“Senses are changed too, sight is cleaned up so I’ve got 20/20 again”[/color] She would smile at the reminder that she no longer had to wear glasses, they had always annoyed her when she was the one wearing them [color=9e0039]“Hearing I think is better, but it could be that I’ve just got better capabilities when it come to processing sound now. Touch and taste are screwed up when I’m unsealed“[/color] She would explain tilting her head side to side as she recalled the things she was explaining [color=9e0039]“Everything tastes really bland, and it feels like i’m wearing heavy duty gloves all the time and smell is in the same boat as hearing.”[/color]

[color=9e0039]“There is also some really weird things, like I can hook up to anything that’s electronic if I’m close enough. Doesn’t matter if it’s got wifi or not, but I think that has more to do with the magic than anything else, and most of my memories are stored in my head like a computer drive, and if I try I can pull them up and re watch them, but otherwise my memory is the same. I’m better with numbers, unsurprisingly, as I literally have a calculator in my head”[/color] As Penny talked it wouldn’t be hard to see her genuine enjoyment of these weird quirks that came with being robotic.

Thus her hesitation before bringing up the next thing would be rather notable [color=9e0039]“The weirdest thing is that I think that I could pull up my own code, for lack of a better term”[/color] She would say face scrunched up as she knew that wasn’t right, but didn’t know how to explain it any better [color=9e0039]“And I think I could edit it if I wanted to but I’ve been afraid of finding out, as I have no idea what that would do to me.”[/color]

[color=cyan]”Damn. That’s covers a lot of stuff.”[/color] Pondering the last part that sounded pretty risky. [color=cyan]”I don’t think I would mess with the code either. Take it from me, having your brain tampered with is not any fun.”[/color] Obviously Janet was referring to Justine.

[color=9e0039]“That’s only the stuff I know for fact, I’m pretty sure that there are still hidden systems built in, as my gauss system turned on back at the hospital for the first time so it wouldn’t surprise me that there are more surprises for me to find”[/color] Penny would reply taking a drink [color=9e0039]“And I know as well”[/color]

[color=9e0039]“One of the things I have learned is that my Monster is different from most, and it affects me differently because of it. When I Redline, I don’t ‘lose it’ like other monster girls do, I don’t go berzerk and black out.”[/color] As she spoke Penny would lean forward and clasp her hands together as she stared at the table as she seemingly got lost in the recollections what what it was like for her [color=9e0039]“Instead all of my emotions get a hard and forced shutdown, along with my humanity and all the other things that makes me human. When that happens all that is left behind is logic and the goal of destroying whatever pushed me over that edge. Nothing else. But I’m still aware, inside my own head and I can’t forget what I did or the reasons I had for doing it either.”[/color]

[color=9e0039]“So I know what it’s like to have my head messed with, it’s why I can blame beacon for blaming you. You're not you when stuff like that happens.”[/color] Penny would have a distant look on her face as she gazed at some memory from her past, before she gave a full body shake and put on a smile [color=9e0039]“Sorry. Didn’t mean to bring the mood down”[/color] she would apologise. Mentally berating herself for moping again.

[color=cyan]”Don’t worry about it. I don’t expect we get the chance to talk about the things that haunt us all that often. I probably could with Alicia. But most of the others in Beacon I feel would turn me in for heresy or something.”[/color] Glancing around a second she sat up a bit more and leaned forward, lowering her voice. [color=cyan]”I know whatever was used to change me back from a monster girl didn’t completely get rid of the effects. I can still lose it if I go through metamorphosis or whatever they call it. It hasn’t happened yet, but I can feel it.[/color] 

Their food arrived and Janet sat back as they were served. Taking the knife there Janet cut up the food like she’d mentioned and waited for them to be alone again. [color=cyan]”Not that it is for everyone, but I kind of wonder if there is a way to replicate that potion.”[/color] Taking a bite of the burger she wouldn’t elaborate unless prompted.

Penny sent a grateful smile at Janet, as the small blond was right. Penny hadn’t really had much of a chance to talk about a lot of the things that weighed on her when it came to the magical world and her curiosity was piqued by what Janet had said, but the food had arrived before Penny could ask about it.

[color=9e0039]“Wait.. Potion?”[/color] She would ask visibly confused [color=9e0039]“What potion?”[/color] As Penny thought about it she would realize she didn’t actually know what had happened to Janet, other than the brain washing, as she had assumed that the other girl had gone through a purification ritual. It was what had prompted Penny to start researching the rites in the first place after all.

[color=cyan]”The one that…[/color] She paused absently eating and talking when she realized that Penny had no idea what she was talking about. Putting her food down she adjusted her attention back to her friend. [color=cyan]”That was used to purify me. As far as I know it was the only one that existed. But I was told it came from some magical twins here in Penrose.”[/color] Not wanting to get anyone they knew in trouble she omitted Alicia from the explanation. Maybe she was talking too much but it seemed she’d brought up something that Penny had taken real interest in.

[color=9e0039]“Didn't know there was more than one way to be purified”[/color] Penny mumbled as she turned over the idea in her head, moderately annoyed at her limited knowledge when it came to magic. She often wondered why Laat had intentionally left her so ignorant of magic. Was he trying to prolong how much time he had with his ‘Chosen’ or was it he just felt that the information wouldn’t have had any use to her due to her proclivities towards magic.

[color=9e0039]“What… What was it like getting purified?”[/color] She would ask after a moment.

That was an interesting question. How does one describe being purified? [color=cyan]”Hm. Give me a minute.”[/color] Sitting back Janet looked up at the ceiling as she pondered the question. After a couple minutes she piped up again. [color=cyan]”It’s um, hard to explain. I don’t know if it was because of the way I was purified but it felt like floating through space. Even though I was alone it was soothing and all the negative energies just seeped out into the void. It was amazing even though it was like being a speck in the universe.”[/color] It was surprising how hard it was to recall the experience. It was very out of body which was probably why.

Penny would smile softly at the imagery that the description would bring forth [color=9e0039]“Sounds like quite the experience”[/color] Sitting normally Penny would make sure to commit that description to memory; as it was now a lost hope for the robotic girl. Beacon could no longer help her become freed from her own taint, all because of their dealings with Laat. That fact didn’t hurt as much as she felt it should.

Watching her friend for a moment she poked at her food. [color=cyan]”Why do you ask?”[/color]

[color=9e0039]“I’m coming up on my first year anniversary of waking up as a monster”[/color] Penny would start, nibbling at her burger as she did [color=9e0039]“And due to the prick who is my Patron, I’ll likely never wake up as anything else. So I guess I’m just wondering what it’s like to be human again“[/color] she would shrug somewhat helplessly at the end, not really sure how to explain how that made her feel. As it just didn’t have much of an impact on her, even though she felt it should have. Perhaps she was just numb to it at the moment, or perhaps it was the monster in her that didn’t care, but it was frighteningly easy to just accept the fact that she would forever remain a monster.

[color=cyan]”A year?”[/color] Janet had only been a monster girl for a short time and she had hated it. She could only imagine if she had been that way so long. [color=cyan]”Well, if you want me to I can keep an ear to the ground for anything that can help.”[/color]

[color=9e0039]“Yup, same anniversary as me joining the magical community in fact”[/color] Penny would answer [color=9e0039]“And I’d appreciate it.”[/color] She wasn’t going to hold out much hope for anything being found, but she appreciated the gesture. 

[color=cyan]”Any time.”[/color] She said smiling as she picked up her food again and took a bite. While it was impossible to completely get away from the whole magical girl aspect, at least their time was more casual than the usual passing during some battle.