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Sylvia was not feeling the vacation any more, or at least, as much as when they were informed their situation would be one. Though she knew it was petty, if not even immature, of her to let a third party spoil it, the unfortunate incident reminded her of the responsibility she had; not only to her local Beacon cell in Penrose, but the magical world at large. No matter how many tasty drinks she sipped, she couldn’t forget that sinking feeling in her heart. And the more she looked out into the sparkling sea, the more images of the city being invaded by vile forces popped up, and her being powerless to prevent it from this tropical paradise. Of course, Sally and Tabitha did not need to be burdened by such worries, so she simply engaged in light chatter with them as she lounged next to a pool, slightly covered by a couple of palm trees with umbrella-like leaf shading.

But then, something unexpected happened. A mature woman, one whom Sylvia did not recognize but did happen to spot at the initial gathering in the main island but who carried an ominous aura about her, appeared in a swarm of rose petals that  seemed to rain from the sky. Sylvia turned with an apathetic look at first, reflexively moving her cup away. “I’m not in the mood for-Huh?” When she saw her, she was surprised; she had seen her a couple of times, and every single time she had changed her wardrobe. Unlike the mysterious, borderline hostile demeanor she had displayed before, she now looked like your typical celebrity, with flower-themed hair accessories, cute bows, and a general style designed to catch the eye. Unlike the majority of Beacon’s forces, Sylvia did not care much for female beauty, at least  not to the degree more impressionable members like Tabitha would, as she noticed the bright blush forming on the shy girl’s cheeks. However, she appreciated the effort on the mysterious stranger’s part to assume a more approachable appearance. At least it meant she wasn’t there to attempt to irritate her with narcissism.

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[color=#bd71e8]“Hello Sylvia. Would you like to play Twister with me?”[/color] 

Sylvia wondered about the magical effect the woman had produced, and decided to give her a quick, cursory glance with her Third Eye. Though her face didn’t twitch a single muscle, in her mind she let out a curse. [i]It’s...Darkness? But it’s not exactly...It’s something more powerful. Who is she? And why haven’t I heard about someone this magically talented in Penrose before?[/i] She had no reason to be afraid of the woman attempting anything dangerous: Dan made it extremely clear that no attempt at malevolent violence would be tolerated on the islands, and he had the capability to enforce that order. And so, she stilled her emotions faster than she realized. Still, she was now very curious, and was willing to engage in a simple physical game. “Oh, well, this is sudden, but it is fine. It is as good of an opportunity to perform some organized exercise that I can get without seeming forced, heh. Also, the last time I played Twister was as a wee child, so this should be refreshing.” She stood up from her seat, and offered a handshake to Veronica. “I believe we have not been properly introduced. My name is Sylvia Starlight. It is nice to meet someone who doesn’t attempt to steal your drink.”

[color=#bd71e8]“I did not realize that was a problem people struggled with.”[/color] She took Sylvia’s hand and gave it a firm shake. She didn’t let go of her hand. Sylvia made the first blink when the grip on her hand had stayed, but resisted the urge to give her a look about it; you meet all kinds of eccentric people in the magical community, so she decided to ignore the faux pas.[color=#bd71e8]” I’m Vermillion Veronica. I’m glad you’re not concerned about me stealing your drink. I consider my own cocktails to be among the best, so I have little reason to take them from others.”[/color]

Upon hearing her name, she blinked again, and forcibly removed her hand from hers. “Well isn’t that...Nice.” In the years she had served in Penrose, she remembered a single report mentioning that name as a suspect in a local ring of Balck Coin trafficking, and other magical crimes. Of course, the person who gave it disappeared from the face of the earth mere hours after it was delivered to his office, with no other leads. Frankly, it might have even been a miracle that such a leak happened, considering that she later learned the coverup to have been done by the Ebon Mint, an organization the Beacon is sworn to stamp out. [i]Now I get how she knows my name, and why she is so ridiculously strong; she’s a Beacon-damned Mint Broker! Well, this just got a whole lot more interesting.[/i] She gave a polite smile. “So, have you prepared the mat somewhere? Or will we make our own in the sand?” She asked, now a bit more cautious in her behavior, but not to an alarming degree. With luck she might be able to learn more of the Mint’s inner workings.

[color=#bd71e8]”I don’t see any reason why we can’t play here. Why don’t we do something like this.”[/color] Veronica reached behind her back and pulled out a twister mat. The walkway around the pool was a firm surface that would be good for playing twister. [color=#bd71e8]”Since you haven’t played in a while, here’s a refresher on the rules. We each step on the edge of the mat, and then a designated referee spins a spinner.”[/color] In a cloud of black smoke, the aforementioned spinner appeared in Veronica’s hand. [color=#bd71e8]”The spinner has four quadrants, which are each divided into four sections. Each quadrant represents a hand or a foot, and each segment represents a color. The referee will spin the spinner and call out the color and body part that needs to be moved to a circle. After that, the players have fifteen seconds to get into position before the next action is called.”[/color] Veronica tossed the spinner to Tabitha, who happened to be standing nearby. 

When Tabitha was handed the spinner, she made a cute little yelp, and held the spinner close to her chest, as if she had received a bouquet of roses. “I-I can work as the referee, no problem,” she quickly stated. Sylvia could tell that Tabitha has been swayed by the femme fatale’s feminine wiles, but there was little she could do before Veronica continued to explain the rules. 

[color=#bd71e8]”Each circle can only be occupied by a single body part, so two players can’t share a single circle. If a player touches the mat with anything but the specified body part, or otherwise falls down, they lose. Pretty simple.”[/color] Veronica stepped to the edge of the mat and waited for the first color to get called out. 

Sylvia nodded, glad to see they didn’t have to relocate far to play this game. And with the bit of privacy that the shading provided, it hopefully helped lull the Mint official into a feeling of security, and divulge some valuable intelligence. She of course knew the rules, but did realize she forgot about the timer rule. “So each player has to complete their move in fifteen seconds? Sounds reasonable.” 

Veronica brushed a rose peddle off of her face. [color=#bd71e8]”So Sylvia, you’re a Seraph right? Three years if I recall? You were promoted after a display of leadership wasn’t it?”[/color] Veronica placed her hands on her hips so that she could stretch her back. 

“How do you...Well, I suppose some P.I article has spoken about it,” she quickly corrected herself, not wanting to seem at the very least vulnerable before the dangerous lady. “Yes, I am the commanding officer for the troops present,” she would state with a straight back and confident cross of her arms; it looked quite ridiculous considering their current state. “I must say, you are quite well read when it comes to these things, miss Vermillion.”

[color=#bd71e8]”Information is my specialty, yes.”[/color] Tabitha called out left foot blue, and Veronica took a step forward. [color=#bd71e8]”Though it is harder to come by nowadays. They aren’t happy with some of the things I’ve done, and now they hunt me..”[/color]

Sylvia was shocked, but hid it by nodding to the call of red right hand on the mat, right next to Veronica. Was she in bad blood with the Mint? She hadn’t considered the possibility, and wondered how she had come to earn their ire. She crouched down at the edge of the mat, and placed her hand down while craning her hand up to look at her. “If you don’t mind me asking, who is hunting you? The Beacon is sworn to protect those who need protection.” 

Tabitha called out another action, and Veronica was on all fours. Sylvia and her looked a bit like two cats circling each other. [color=#bd71e8]”The Mint has turned on me.”[/color] The rounds seemed to be speeding up, but it just didn’t take them long to get into position. Veronica had to cross her arms to get her right hand over her left one, giving the appearance that she was creeping closer. 

“I figured as much. I would have heard of someone as attuned to the arcane arts as you if you wouldn’t have been hiding in the employ of the Ebon devils.” 

[color=#bd71e8]”You’re perceptive, but I’m not sure how I feel about your proposal. Beacon has sworn to kill dark magical girls and mint agents alike, and I was both until a few weeks ago. Not that I even need protection, as you can likely see.”[/color]

Sylvia sighed, not because of the revelation as she called it right, but because of Veronica throwing her words back at her. “So you admit you have been a coin broker.” she simply stated back, having decided to make an attempt to not repeat the argument from yesterday. The next call was a green leg, and with little time to decide, placed it sliding under Veronica, looking like she was performing a low kick. There was a slight change in the atmosphere, as the two magical girls were but inches from each other, yet without a trace of embarrassment or hesitation. It had turned into an actual competition of who could keep their composure the longest, even in such compromising positions. “But this is strange; it seems you were too much even for the coin crooks. What did you do to piss them off, make a wish at a well?”

[color=#bd71e8]”I would say it’s what they did to me, but if you were to ask them, they would tell you I created my own faction and directed their resources into it.”[/color] 

Sylvia did not expect that answer. She assumed that while the Mint’s base agents were controlled by debt and blackmail, their brokers were happy as can be spreading around Black Coins and raking in the cash. “A faction?”

Veronica threw one of her legs over Sylvia’s, as if to dodge the incoming kick. [color=#bd71e8]”I was forced to. You see the Mint does not have have an oath, they have contracts. Contracts have conditions when they are broken. It’s not quite like Beacon where they change their outlook on corrupted magical girls at the drop of a hat. But if we’re being honest, Beacon has worked with monsters plenty of times before that. Penny, the portal witch, there must be more.”[/color] The next call had Veronica half sliding under Sylvia. Their faces couldn’t have been more than a few inches away from each other. 

She grit her teeth at the Beacon-bashing. “It was not my choice to make. If the Beckoners have deemed for change to better serve this world, then that’s how it will be.” When it was time for her to place a hand right under Veronica, she purposefully pressed her elbow up against her hanging chest; Tabitha struggled with reading the next result on the spinner, as the poor girl witnessed the heightened levels of tension between the two. 

[color=#bd71e8]”I do not feel that is a bad thing, mind you. If I’m being honest, Sylvia, that’s why I think it might be possible for us to work together. Or at the very least, stay out of each others way.”[/color]

Sylvia subsequently lowered her elbow so it only lightly swept on her skin as Veronica gave her a surprising offer. “Are you suggesting cooperation?” She asked. “Do you want to use the Beacon as a tool in your revenge against the Mint? If so, that’s not happening.”

Veronica swung her outside leg over Sylvia’s, trapping it in place. [color=#bd71e8]”I doubt we could just start working together. All I want is some transparency.”[/color] With a groan, Veronica moved her hands behind her back. This propped up her torso a bit higher than it was before. [color=#bd71e8]”I am no longer affiliated with the Mint. I only control a small force of magical girls, of which I’d rather not spread too thin. I just wish to know where we stand, and if there can be a truce now that I am no longer affiliated with the Mint, and Beacon has changed its stance on corrupted magical girls.”[/color]

Sylvia seemed to concentrate more on the discussion than the actual game, and made the mistake of placing her other foot in an awkward spot, causing her to wobble a bit. “It is true we are more tolerant of those with signs of corruption than before,” she admitted, and arched her back, causing Tabitha to fan her face. “But we won’t tolerate any force in Penrose who intend to harm the city or its inhabitants.” She grit her teeth, and made a heavy sigh. “What is your organization’s name, and how do you operate?” She asked, showing some flexibility in her limbs as she adjusted her position. “Do you still use Black Coins to control your members?”

[color=#bd71e8]”Black coins are not very good tools for controlling people. Not strong girls anyway, which is what the entirety of my organization is made of.”[/color]  Just a few rounds later, and Veronica was able to get out from under Sylvia. [color=#bd71e8]”When I founded Crimson Cradle, I had transparency in mind. If I became disgusted with the Mint, others eventually would too. My girls are bound by contract. One that they can fully read and understand. We don’t pretend to be Beacon, but we are unified. As for harming the city or its people, I can safely say my girls have yet to blow up any hospitals or bases of other magical girls.”[/color] Veronica was practically draping herself over Sylvia’s back. Her stomach was resting in Sylvia’s arch, and the two could make eye contact by looking over their shoulder. [color=#bd71e8]”Well, maybe one base. But that was when we wore the Mints colors.”[/color]

Sylvia turned her head the best she could, grunting from slight pain. “So you’re basically offering an employed shelter. That makes sense-hrk!” She could no longer hold her balance as Veronica’s weight pushed her down, and she finally fell down on the mat. “Um, miss Veronica won,” Tabitha spoke in a low voice, but Sylvia simply stood up. “Not only do you possess magical prowess, you are no slouch in athleticism as well,” she stated matter-of-factly. “And you are a charismatic person, I admit. I can see why those forsaken by all others would flock to you.” She stretched her arm, and bent her neck, causing an audible cracking sound. “Very well then; as long as you only keep to hunting monsters and don’t disrupt the public order of the normies then we can agree to a non-hostility agreement.” She offered her hand. “And as long as our common goal of eliminating the Mint exists, I suppose we can tolerate communications with your agents. But we will not be openly working with the Cradle on the field. And, the moment you break that promise, we won’t differentiate between you and the mobsters.”

Veronica did not move much at first. She also seemed more enthralled with the conversation than the game of twister. Once Sylvia was done speaking she replied, [color=#bd71e8]”I thought for sure you would need to speak with the Beaconers before getting back to me.”[/color] 

“The Beckoners are not omnipotent, even if they want to give that image of themselves,” Sylvia stated, looking up with her arms crossed. “I’m tired of having to waste my time trying to get approval for every little thing our local cell can and can’t do in Penrose, which results in us often arriving too late at the scene of the crime to save people, let alone prevent atrocities from being committed in the first place. Note that I don’t trust you, miss Vermillion,” She said as she glanced back. “After all, you’ve already betrayed once, and it is likely you might do so again. But...Your words are honest; I’m no Light girl, I just have a knack for telling that. That’s why I’m giving you a chance.”

[color=#bd71e8]”I see. Well, this works for me.”[/color] Veronica stood up and dusted herself off. [color=#bd71e8]”The non-hostility agreement was the most I expected. I can arrange for some form of communications between us, I’m sure it would be useful.”[/color] She stepped over to Sylvia. Veronica was slightly taller, but Sylvia wasn’t about to get intimidated so easily. That was when Veronica leaned in and whispered in Sylvia’s ear. [color=#bd71e8]”You’re not so bad yourself, by the way. You almost had me. If the changes at Beacon ever become too much for you, I would consider taking you on. Provided you learned to trust me of course.”[/color] Sylvia did not respond, instead choosing to watch Veronica approach Tabitha and extended her hand. [color=#bd71e8]”I’ll take that back now, unless you wanted to play?”[/color]

Tabitha nearly fainted from the busty woman approaching her, her face like a ripe tomato. “N-No, I’m not...I would lose immediately. My legs seem to s-shake too much for this game.” 

Sally giggled and lifted her hand. “I could play if you’re still up to it.”

[color=#bd71e8]”Hmmm.”[/color] Veronica stepped back towards the mat. [color=#bd71e8]”Very well. One more game.”[/color]