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[Sub].:⋮Mending Bridges⋮:.[/Sub]

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Penny took a fortifying breath as she once again scanned the surrounding area. It was while into this vacation and as much as she would like to avoid it, now would be the best time to handle this latest snag.

Hovering just on the edge of her vision was a picture that she had gotten from Chloe. It was sent the same day it had been snapped and it promised to make things difficult if she didn’t come to terms with it soon.

It was the picture of Chloe and Veronica.

What troubled the hidden cyborg was that it meant she was likely going to have to deal with Veronica again, because Chloe was going to be dealing with her. Meanwhile Penny was very undecided on the Ex-broker, as she simply didn’t have as much information as she would have liked.

That had all lead to this, Penny actively searching for the wayward shadow witch, as she needed to get an answer or two.

Fortunately, tracking down Veronica was not hard. She was moving all over the place, and it was just a matter of time before Penny and her bumped into each other. She was reclining in a chaie by one of the island’s many beaches. Her swimsuit had changed again, it seemed.

[hider=Can’t stay away from mixes][img]https://i.imgur.com/ohgcpmo.png[/img][/hider]

Her middle and index finger were pressed against the side of her head, eyes staring intently at something in the distance. But it wasn’t long before she looked at Penny out of the corner of her eye and pulled her hand away from her head. [color=#bd71e8]“Yes?”[/color] She used her other hand to pick up a drink 

[color=9e0039]“You have a moment?”[/color] Penny would ask [color=9e0039]“Figure we need to have a talk. To clear the air between us.”[/color] It was obvious that the mechanical girl wasn’t looking forward to this. She still felt as if she had been betrayed by Veronica, as she had given her ‘tainted’ metal, but the truth was that she didn’t know if it was intentional or not.

The internal strife was momentarily forgotten however when a different fact made itself known. [color=9e0039]“Did… did you really change swimsuits again?”[/color] she would ask with a notable amount of incredulity in her voice.

Veronica nodded. [color=#bd71e8]“Of course, you sound surprised that someone like myself would-”[/color] She suddenly raised an eyebrow.. [color=#bd71e8]“Wait, again? That implies I changed it more than once.”[/color] 

[color=9e0039]“Yes, again. That’s not what you were wearing when you were talking to Amaryllis, nor was it what you were wearing when you were with Chloe.”[/color] Penny would explain as she took a seat in one of the lounging chairs next to Veronica her eyes towards the ocean.

Veronica stroked her chin  [color=#bd71e8]“I see.”[/color] She placed her hand on the arm of her chair. [color=#bd71e8]“It doesn’t really matter I suppose. Regardless, what exactly needs clearing?”[/color]

She was quiet for a moment as she worked to order her thoughts, when she spoke again her voice was quieter than normal but was otherwise neutral [color=9e0039]“Did you know that Elroy was an enemy of mine when you bought the Metal from him?”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]“I knew that Elroy and you had fought once. But I was not aware of any long standing rivalry between the two of you.”[/color] She placed her hands together. [color=#bd71e8]“It’s not like I hand selected the person who made the supplies you called for. The bates were in Penrose and capable of crafting the materials you requested, so they were commissioned for the work. It was probably an oversight on my part to tell them who the metal was for, but I needed to make sure that they weren’t going to attack you down the road. And they didn’t the entire time they were employed for the mint. It was only because they decided to start a world ending ritual that Elroy was able to take advantage of you  There was time to warn you about this, but between avoiding mint assassins and managing my own faction, I was unable to recall the fight you two had a month a go. I did not foresee the possibility that you two might be squaring off against each other in a sea of other magical girls.”[/color] She held the glass to her lips. [color=#bd71e8]”It certainly wasn’t a ploy to eliminate you. I would dispatch Silhouette instead of some rambunctious punk if that was the case.”[/color]

Penny nodded at the explanation given. She didn’t like it, her white knuckled fists was proof enough of that, but she understood it at least. Especially since her hate towards Elroy was mixed up in her emotional issues.

[color=9e0039]“How confident were you that Thalia was Vixen?”[/color] She would ask next, her voice still steady and quiet

[color=#bd71e8]"After our discovery in the cave, and your confirmation that the flute belonged in the Thalia, it is only reasonable to assume she was a victim or the perpetrator."[/color] She took a sip from her glass. [color=#bd71e8]"But given how the vixen was described, the chances of her being the latter were fairly high."[/color]

Another nod and a repressed sigh. Penny’s thoughts had been along the same lines as Veronica’s when she had first learned about it. Hence why she had been cautious about giving up any information about Thalia back when she had been searching for her.

[color=9e0039]“Why, Chloe?”[/color] She asked, her voice wavering as she did. For at the heart of it all that was what Penny was most worried about.

Veronica looked at Penny out of the corner of her eye. [color=#bd71e8]"I'm not sure I follow. We're not an item, if that is what has you concerned."[/color]

Penny scoffed lightly, that wasn’t her worry [color=9e0039]“Why did you seek her out?”[/color] She would clarify [color=9e0039]“I don’t believe that she’s only one that you’ve been talking with, but considering our track record she’s the one I’m worried for. After all every time we meet something bad tends to follow.”[/color]

With a deep sigh, Veronica placed her glass in the sand, where a shadow promptly swallowed it. [color=#bd71e8]"Penny."[/color] She spoke without making eye contact. [color=#bd71e8]"You`re talking to me the same way a brat might talk to their older sister. Do you feel our relationship is that intimate?"[/color] She turned her head. [color=#bd71e8]"Because it's not. What we had was a simple employer/employee relationship that should have been terminated as soon as I left the Mint."[/color] Veronica looked away from Penny again, her eyes were soft. [color=#bd71e8]"I`m not sure why I decided to keep helping you afterwards, but it clearly wasn't appreciated."[/color] With a blink, her expression hardened. [color=#bd71e8]"My meeting with Chloe was supposed to be secret. We were the only ones who knew, so the only way you could know is if she told you."[/color] She reclined in her seat. [color=#bd71e8]"If she didn't tell you, she probably doesn't want you to know. Regardless, I have no intention of speaking about our encounter."[/color] Her glass appeared in her hand again. [color=#bd71e8]"You`re Beacon now anyway. It wouldn't be very good form to share too much about Chloe with you."[/color]

[color=9e0039]“I agree that our relationship should have ended with Mint”[/color] Penny would agree still looking out towards the ocean [color=9e0039]“And my lack of appreciation has a lot to do with the outcomes of things that you helped put in place, getting one’s back ripped open tends to do that.”[/color] Anger bled into her voice and Penny stopped to take a calming breath. Veronica was good at getting under Penny’s skin and the robotic girl wasn’t sure why.

[color=9e0039]“And while true she didn’t tell me, but a picture of you two sitting on a throne of shot glasses speaks loud enough. Besides”[/color] Penny would finally turn to look at Veronica [color=9e0039]“I’m living with Chloe.That means that we are going to be running into each other more often regardless of how we feel about each other.”[/color] She would explain, the tension draining away from her leaving only weary resignation. [color=9e0039]“I’d prefer that it those encounters at least be amicable”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]"Amicable..."[/color] Veronica's hands slid over Penny`s shoulders, at some point during their conversation, she must have teleported behind her. But Penny hadn't noticed when. [color=#bd71e8]"So let me see if I understand this correctly. You have done nothing but take from me. The metal was cursed gift, sure, but it did work without a hitch up until that point. The other items you asked for worked perfectly, not to mention that I helped you figure out a few things about the vixen despite having no obligation to do so. Since then, you have complained tirelessly about my most minute failings and allied yourself with one, possibly two organizations that wish to kill me. And you have the audacity to approach me during my vacation for an interrogation. Telling me how little my help is appreciated, that you don't trust me, and hate me for events that were beyond my control."[/color] Veronica's tone held little emotion, but Penny might have been able to feel her grip tighten on her shoulders. [color=#bd71e8]"But you want me to be nice to you regardless. Am I understanding that correctly?"[/color]

[color=9e0039]“Considering that you have lied to me, demeaned me, and are even now making assumptions of me. it seemed like the best place to start.”[/color] Penny’s voice had gone near completely flat, with only a whisper of anger noticeable as under Veronica’s hands she would feel razor sharp spikes starting to grow as electricity openly crackled along Penny’s arms. [color=9e0039]“After all, You were the one to first start hostilities. You invaded my lair, my space and my past. Yet even now, the only person who knows that we know each other is you. I have complained tirelessly about the Mint, never you specifically, yet you seemed to take them as personal attacks regardless.”[/color] Slowly Penny’s body started to shift and rotate around in decidedly inhuman ways, till all but her head was now facing towards Veronica, the illusion glitching out due to the unnatural movements. [color=9e0039]“I have also thanked you for your help and not complained about the tasks you have delegated to me, but you seemed to not care about that either, so I guess that I shouldn’t be surprised that when I asked to talk you took it as a command, rather than a request that went both ways.”[/color] At last Penny's head world rotate around to once again face her conversation partner her eyes a blazing crimson [color=9e0039]“I came here to try and understand what was circumstance what was poor judgment and what was malicious, but if I am just wasting our time I can leave, because no I don’t trust you, and you have given me little reason to do so.”[/color]

Penny`s interesting way of turning to face Veronica did not seem to rattle her much. But she did notice the coin broker`s face was noticeably more red than normal. [color=#bd71e8]"I see."[/color] She nodded. [color=#bd71e8]"The way you describe me, I don't sound like a trustworthy person at all. I would regard someone like that as an enemy. A threat at the very least. I'm surprised you haven’t attacked me yet."[/color] She looked away from Penny. [color=#bd71e8]"And it is that you haven't done so yet that I am intrigued. I can`t think of a single reason why you would keep giving me more chances. Unless… Unless..."[/color] Her hands slid up Penny's shoulders and onto her head. When Veronica's head snapped back towards her, she was wearing a vicious smile. [color=#bd71e8]"You want to get closer to me?"[/color]

The spikes under Veronica’s hands would roll and flow with her changing grip, and there was a moment of stunned silence from the mechanical girl, but it didn’t take long for Penny to slowly reach up and take hold of Veronica’s hands and firmly remove them. [color=9e0039]“You left the Mint of your own volition”[/color] Penny would state as she stood and stepped away. The glow of her eyes dimming as she did. [color=9e0039]“And then you helped me learn the truth about Thalia. Those actions are why I’m giving you a pass, because as I said we are going to be seeing more of each other due to Chloe.”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]"Of course."[/color] Veronica pulled her hands free and walked back over to her chair. By this point her smile had become a distant memory.  [color=#bd71e8]"My interests and Chloe’s appear to align for the time being, and she is someone I’d like to keep as an ally. Naturally I will need to cooperate with her allies if we are to make any headway together, which includes you."[/color] She sloshed her drink in her glass before looking at Penny.  [color=#bd71e8]"Any other concerns?"[/color]

Penny just stared at Veronica for a moment before letting out a frustrated huff [color=9e0039]“I’m never going to understand you, am I?”[/color] she asked rhetorically pinching the bridge of her nose, the electricity and spikes retracting as she did so.

[color=9e0039]“None more on my end”[/color] She would add as she returned to her own chair, choosing to recline in it this time [color=9e0039]“I’ll admit I’m not fully sure what you or Chloe are planning, but I’ve been working on starting up a… Sanctuary I guess you could call it. A place where Monster girls and Dark magicals who don’t have any real support can find some help. That’s my goal in all of this right now.”[/color]

[color=#bd71e8]"It sounds like a mess and something that is going to create a lot of drama in the magical world."[/color] Veronica downed the rest of her glass before tossing it into a shadow. [color=#bd71e8]"I’m intrigued. I’ll need some time to think about it however. Between waging war on the mint and keeping my faction together, I don’t have a lot set aside to donate to charities."[/color]

[color=9e0039]“There is always drama in the community”[/color] Penny would reply with a shrug [color=9e0039]“I hardly think my Sanctuary will cause all that much more. Regardless I only just recently got the refits done anyway, so you’ve got plenty of time to think.”[/color]

[color=9e0039]“Any other grievances you want to air out or situations you want to get straightened?”[/color] Penny would ask after a bit of silence.

[color=#bd71e8]"If I had any to begin with, I’d have approached you first."[/color] She reclined in her chair. [color=#bd71e8]"Be careful who you tell about Chloe and I. The mint is trying to kill me, and it would be a shame if they decided to kill her too, you know?"[/color]

[color=9e0039]“I know”[/color] Penny would reply simply. She was accustomed to keeping secrets, she had plenty of them at the moment, after all, one more wasn’t going to be difficult.