[center] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/190313/8f36699659ebb5d021c7238610ff6b7b.png[/img] [b]&[/b] [img]https://i.imgur.com/z6cC6JC.png[/img] [b](Plus some Beckoner)[/b][/center] It had been a busy day today. A big fight and saving the world from a Horror, a party, training, and making new allies. Yet for Alicia the day had not yet concluded as she found herself downtown. She was here for another meeting, one which was a bit more ambiguous than the one she had had earlier in the day. Katarina had been up front about wanting a partnership. But this Rebecca? Just needing help was a lot more broad. At the moment she was loitering a bit, idly pacing around near one of those cardboard cutouts that they used to advertise movies. Her chosen location for this meeting had been an art house, one of those places that showed avante garde and indie films in addition to the blockbuster hits. It wasn’t the busiest place most of the time, but if you knew how to position yourself right then you could have a conversation somewhat masked by one of the movies playing in the theater. Not that it would make a difference to a determined magical girl, but she was at least making an effort.That had to count for something, right? Her gaze drifted, sweeping across people as they walked by whilst wondering just who would end up approaching to speak with her. They had set a time and place, and she was at the place and it was almost time. [color=aba000]“When did I become Beacon’s diplomat?”[/color] she muttered to herself with some amusement. It felt like she had done more talking than smiting darkness recently, world ending Horror aside. Still, she could afford to be a bit patient, especially for someone who said they needed help. [color=aba000]“Fifteen minutes? That sounds good.”[/color] Alicia checked her phone to make sure of the time, just in case she was off. Which she was not. Well, she’d give Rebecca this, to a reasonable amount. And if it was a trap after all, well, that was just going to be really unfortunate. Some seven minutes passed before the presumed girl in question arrived. Rebecca had spent the time checking, double, triple, the exact location, ensuring without a shadow of doubt that it was the correct place. For one of the first times in her life, Rebecca wanted to be no part of the engagement - to run somewhere far away, where she would neither have to meet with Beacon agents and The Boss. The recent complications had made it all the worse. In the hours prior, she had returned to the apartment shared with Charlotte, to find privacy for privacy's sake, and to figure out just what would happen from this moment forth. From the doors into the lobby of the theatre stepped Rebecca, already transformed. The white of her uniform, and the formality of such a thing, laid bare a stark contrast to the patrons of the establishment. Awkwardly, Rebecca thumbed with her Soul Jar, and the brown orange locks that fell over her epaulettes, casting a cautionary, and anxiety riddled gaze over the scene. Without backup, entering into hostile territory, and without her weapons at hand, her expression was that of fear. And yet it didn’t dull her sense. Every look was a full body scan, every glance was an observation - be it the nerves, or a subconscious mechanism. With a white gloved hand, she reached into a side pocket, and removed a touch screen device, outside the standard issue of The Penrose Independent. It was new, free from any bugs or tracking devices. In the hours prior, Rebecca had gone through, meticulously, everything she owned, leaving nothing to be linked back to the Independent more than identifying her as a person being tracked. She reread her notes, checked the time, and replaced the thing. This wasn’t the first possibly dangerous meeting she had been on, Rebecca thought, though it barely helped. So she resigned herself to the fear, and took point in an obvious location. Any human would mistake her for a lost cosplayer, but a Magical Girl would easily make the distinction. It was simply a matter of waiting. It wasn’t all that hard to identify who she was looking for when the time came. A transformed state that made one look like a cosplayer tended to stand out, at least outside of conventions. That was undoubtedly what the other patrons thought she was, but Alicia knew better than that. After all, they were both magical girls. She watched her a bit, sizing up the girl that she was supposed to meet, and making sure that everything felt right. There was a lot of anxiety radiating off of the girl, which fit with her attempt to acquire help.She was probably easier to satisfy that there wasn’t an ambush planned than Rebecca was though such things weren’t really Beacon’s style anyway. Not that that discounted a third party, but that was the risk one would have to take. Stepping away from her position against the wall and near the cardboard figure, Alicia waved as she walked over to the white uniform clad girl. [color=aba000]“So, you must be Rebecca,”[/color] she said once close, offering a hand to shake. [color=aba000]“Glad to see you could make it. Though I figured you’d want to be a more circumspect.”[/color] Not that she minded, it was merely an observation. Although she knew what to expect, Rebecca still eyed the girl with unabashed caution. She wanted to take the untransformed state as a sign of amnesty, that Alicia giving away the upper hand so easily was enough to trust her and the situation. But Rebecca had been taught better than that, for better or for worse. Her eyes trained Alicia for every step she was worth, a year of rigorous training crossing her mind in an instant. If she wanted to live, a fuck up was less than unacceptable. [colour=Thistle]”Aye, tha’s, tha’s me,”[/colour] Rebecca replied, removing the rightmost glove to take Alicia’s hand. [colour=Thistle]”Durability’s me best attribute, so… y’know, bein’ Transformed. Ah’m fuckin’ nervous, aight? - this isn’t, this… shite, ah’m sorry ‘bout this, ah need you’s lots help, ah don’t ‘ave a choice. D’you’s ‘ave anywhere more private to talk or anything?”[/colour] Wow, that was an accent. Alicia had to take a second to mentally parse things, glad that it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. After a moment she shrugged, accepting the explanation at face value. [color=aba000]“Fair enough.”[/color] She’d probably do the same thing if she was as nervous as Rebecca appeared to be. As for her request, that could be arranged. [color=aba000]“Sure. Follow me.”[/color] She led Rebecca over to an elevator, which would take them to the second floor. There was a small lobby area there, meant to allow handicapped persons to get to the top of the big theaters. Because of that people didn’t usually go up here. She only knew about it because she’d worked part time here some time ago, so she knew the layout. Upon arrival Alicia walked over to a locked door, entering the code on a keypad and admitting them into the crew break room. Fortunately the code hadn’t been changed since she worked here. At the moment the room was empty, and it would probably stay that way for at least a bit. Good enough for what they intended to do at least. Closing the door behind them, she then turned to face the other girl, relaxed and ready to get down to business.[color=aba000] “So, what’s this all about then? What kind of trouble are you in?”[/color] Another cautionary glance was cast about the outside, as Rebecca entered into the break room, and then a third once within. For the moment, the plan had gone smoothly. But she lacked the wherewithal to continue, Rebecca realised. This kind of work was more in line with Christine and The Boss’s expertise - espionage was the least bit her talent. Anxiety had left her balance unsteady, and a headache drastically different from the one at the graveyard wracked her stressed brain. For a moment, there was silence, as Rebecca dragged herself to a nearby chair. [colour=Thistle]”Before, uh… anythin’, ah should get this outta’ the way,”[/colour] Rebecca began, and summed elsewhere a weapon: the Odachi, its sheath still clung to the blade. She reached to the side, and placed it on a nearby table. [colour=Thistle]”Ah was at the graveyard, fought that, uh… Abigail. Ah got caught in this, ah dunno, explosion ah guess. Ah think it was, like, mana or some shite. But… Ah know you’s don’t like Dark Magical Girls, but, ah think ah might’ve been corrupted. Just… thought you’s should know.”[/colour] Alicia’s gaze narrowed for a moment, examining Rebecca more closely as she admitted to what had happened to her at the graveyard fight. However, after a moment she seemed to relax. [color=aba000]“We’re trying to judge people for their actions rather than their nature these days, and if you’ve been a dark magical girl for all of half a day then I doubt that’s something to worry about. But ultimately it depends on what kind of help you need,”[/color] Alicia decided. This was new ground to some extent, and while she was willing to hear her out, she didn’t want to make promises. [colour=Thistle]”Ah… ah need ta’ ask you two things,”[/colour] Rebecca replied, shifting somewhat more uncomfortably in her chair at the sight of Alicia’s glare. [colour=Thistle]”First, see… Ah know some people. Ah dunno really much about ‘em, but ah guess they’re, like, human Mages or somethin’? Call ‘emselves Runners - definitely aint Magical Girls. But… they’re gettin’ killed cause that magical protection wish that was made a few week back ain’t protecting ‘em. They asked me ta’, well, pass the message onta’ Beacon, see if they’d be willin’ to help at all.”[/colour] The second request came with more difficulty to the girl. Without exception, Rebecca knew it would test her mettle. For one of the few times in her life, she was scared of something - and rightly so, with the cleansing fangs of Beacon glaring down upon her in the form of their Seraph. The meeting would be off if Alicia smelt even a hint of a lie. Rebecca’s hand balled into a fist, her knuckles growing pale under her stark white gloves, and her foot drummed nervously against the floor of the break room. [colour=Thistle]”Second,”[/colour] she began, [colour=Thistle]”The Penrose Independent ‘as this suspension program. When you’s fuck up a story too badly, they send you on somethin’ they’s call ‘training’. M’ah sister - Twin Soul, whatever - got put on it a few weeks back… she’s alive, but I canne find her. Ah don’t even think she’s in Penrose anymore. We’s joined up to try and ‘elp some people, but… ah dunno if she’s safe, ah’ve been threatened with the same thing recently. Please, contact your Beckoners or… somethin’, I need to join Beacon. Ah might be able to help some people, an’ find me sister, an’ ah won’t have to worry so hard ‘bout fucking things up.”[/colour] Alicia was quiet as she followed along with what Rebecca wanted to say. “Okay,” she said to the first request. This was new to her, but since Beacon’s job was to protect people anyway it didn’t seem like it was far out of their wheelhouse.[color=aba000] “I’ll see if we can set something up to help there.”[/color] She was sure that Sylvia would be willing to at least give it a shot, even with all the other distractions they had on their plate. But Rebecca probably understood that anyway. An eyebrow rose as they turned to the second, and much more important request. It was possible, though it wouldn’t be easy. But if Rebecca really wanted to try, and she seemed sincere in her belief, then there didn’t seem to be a reason to disagree. She caught herself before agreeing though, curiosity sparked as she scratched an itch on her cheek. [color=aba000]“That seems awfully grim for a news agency,”[/color] she noted aloud, a hand coming to rest upon her hip as she sought to appease her curiosity with what had been relayed. [color=aba000]“Is the place a front for the Ebon Mint or something?”[/color] [colour=Thistle]”Not that ah’m aware of,”[/colour] Rebecca chuckled, somewhat nervously. Though the initial anxiety remained, she appeared to have settled into the conversation a bit more - her foot tapping less and less for every second that passed since Alicia had agreed to the first request. [colour=Thistle]”Ah canne say ah know what the training’s about… Hell, it might [i]just[/i] be training, but… Ah don’t trust em’. Not with mine or me sister’s life.”[/colour] Alicia could hardly blame Rebecca for feeling that way. After everything that had happened to her, she would go to great lengths for any of her sisters too. She was more concerned by the Mint being behind this, but it looked like it was just a company with shady business practices. Still bad, but a lot easier to deal with than something as pervasive as the Mint. [color=aba000]“Alright.”[/color] She took a few steps closer to Rebecca, firm without being confrontational. But this was serious stuff, not something to be taken lightly. [color=aba000]“At this point a dark magical girl joining Beacon is a bit too out there for most of the common members to accept.”[/color] Even she wasn’t sure whether she was ready to accept it, without time to get to know a DMG like she had with Penny. She continued that train of thought fairly quickly. [color=aba000]“That leaves us with two options. Either you stay on your own and I’ll try to assist you in finding your sister on the side as best I can. Or you’re going to have to let Beacon go through with purifying the magical corruption, and then we can begin the membership process.”[/color] She had a suspicion as to what Rebecca would choose, but she wanted to offer some options anyway. [colour=Thistle]”Um,”[/colour] Rebecca started, fidgeting on the spot at the idea of purification. There was no lie she could tell - being a Dark Magical Girl didn’t suit her, nor did the migraines that seemed to accompany it. The prospect was a frightening one, placing her life in the hands of the people she was actively deceiving. Even though it was her second objective, being away from the Independent, and outside The Boss’s orders appealed highly. It felt correct. And more importantly, it satisfied Rebecca’s mission parameters. [colour=Thistle]”Could you’s… tell me what’ll ‘appen to me durin’ it? Wha’does “purification” even entail?”[/colour] Uncertainty was to be expected in a situation like this. The purification process was something that didn’t tend to get much attention, mostly because of the restrictions on it and because of their reputation. But with it the subject now, she was more than willing to discuss it. [color=aba000]“Purification is a fairly simple process,”[/color] Alicia explained, remaining in place in a slightly more relaxed stance. [color=aba000]“You’ll be placed inside of a magic circle, where a complex ritual is formed that lasts for ten minutes. If you leave the circle, the ritual fails. Usually this happens by consent, or because we’ve managed to incapacitate the magical girl beforehand. Given how difficult that tends to be, that’s why Beacon is more likely to go for a short term permanent solution to the problem.”[/color] If Rebecca was willing, then this wouldn’t be an issue in the slightest. Having explained the method, she addressed the other facet of the question. [color=aba000]“Essentially, Purification uses the power of the Spark to attune your magic and remove dark magical energy. Monster girls are returned to normal, mental mutations are healed, That sort of thing. The only side effect, from what I’ve observed, is that any physical changes tend to linger beyond their original form. Which doesn’t seem like it should be a problem for you.”[/color] Rebecca gave an understanding nod. Her eyes drifted over to the weapon, the Odachi that had she had just recently obtained. Under no reasonable circumstance was Rebecca willing to draw it, but ‘reasonable’ as a Magical Girl was few and far between. If it came down to the wire and there were no other options, Rebecca wanted it with her. [colour=Thistle]”Any idea’s what’ll ‘appen to me new sword? Guess it’ll vanish with the magical energy, huh.”[/colour] Following her gaze to the sword, Alicia could only shrug. [color=aba000]“I don’t know, for sure. It tends to depend on how connected it was to your magical overload,”[/color] she admitted. They would only find out for sure once it had been completed. [colour=Thistle]”Aight…”[/colour] Rebecca sighed. Her left hand reached to her own head, and ran through her hair, as she leant back into the seat. [colour=Thistle]”I canne say ah’m too excited ‘bout going into somethin’ kinda vague like this, but… ah’ll do it. This ain’t what ah wanna be, an’ the headache hurts like a bitch too. Aye, ah’ll do it.”[/colour] [color=aba000]“It’s magic, we try to figure out what we can,”[/color] Alicia explained with a shrug. At least things had gone in the direction that she expected they would, and Rebecca soon agreed with her proposal. Nodding in approval, she moved on to the actual details of what they needed to do. [color=aba000]“Alright, well, I can tell the Beckoners. Would you prefer to do this now? Because I can get them to set a date for the next couple days or so and relay it to you, if that works better.”[/color] She wasn’t sure how Rebecca’s current mood would influence how they went about this, so best to leave it up to her. Alicia was right. Magic at its best was a crapshoot, and relevant information about it was at worst impossible to make sense of. Half the things in the world didn’t make sense, and the other half were inconsequential - Rebecca vaguely remembered The Boss mentioning something similar. Regardless of what Rebecca understood, there was always more complexities she didn’t understand. [colour=Thistle]”Ah’d, uh… ah’d prefer sooner rather than later. Quicker ah get purified, the better, ah’d say. Whenever you’s can fit me in, ah guess?”[/colour] Rebecca laughed - an uncertain chuckle, disjointed from her actions, and marred in anxiety. [colour=Thistle]”Jus’ gimme a call, an’ ah’ll be there. Really, thank you’s for this. Mean’s a lot.”[/colour] [color=aba000]“Of course, I’ll do that,[/color]” Alicia agreed, taking a step off to the side. It seemed they were about done here, at least for now. But they would definitely be seeing each other in the near future (if nothing happened to Rebecca in the short term). [color=aba000]“Beacon is always willing to help those in need, if they’re willing to accept it. So I’ll be in touch once I’ve gotten things worked out with the Beckoners..”[/color] If there was anything else Rebecca wanted to add, she was free to do so. Otherwise Alicia wasn’t going to stop her from leaving as their meeting came to an end. [colour=Thistle]”Yeah, please. Guess ah’ll, uh, see you’s around?”[/colour] Rebecca replied awkwardly, and stood up from her chair. Her fingers brushed gently across the wooden sheath of the weapon, and it vanished from sight, while she continued on to the door. Before Rebecca left, and as something of an afterthought, she turned back. Bravaan would have her head for abandoning him as a Patron in favour of Beacon, but his wrath would be all the more if she neglected her rites. Arms to the side, and rigid in body, Rebecca bowed in Alicia direction, and quickly took off in slight embarrassment. [color=aba000]“See you soon,”[/color] Alicia agreed with a wave as Rebecca departed. She waited until the girl had departed and the door had swung closed, giving it a good five count just to make sure she didn’t come back for some reason or other. Only then did she let out a sigh, shaking her head. Well, that had definitely not been what she was expecting from this meeting. But hers was not the only opinion that mattered, and now it was time to take stock of the meeting. [color=aba000]”So, what do you think,”[/color] she asked, leaning against the table as the Beckoner who had been observing appeared. [color=aba000]“She wasn’t lying, but that’s not infallible. Are we going to go through with this?”[/color] “We will, for it is the path you have been fated to walk.” The Beckoner, resembling a red panda, scratched the table with its tiny claws. “Archangel, only you can pave the way for mankind’s hope, every good deed a stone to step on. Stay vigilant, and may the light of Beacon guide you.” The Beckoner then vanished, as they were wont to do. But that day, Alicia could feel a bit more proud than usual. [@Vocab][@Armiamis]