[H2][i][color=9b83de]R[/color]onin and [color=violet]A[/color]manda[/i][/h2][hr]On the streets of Penrose... Ronin had JUST arrived back in town, and already had made a pact with super-horror girls and gotten to ask if she could tag along her traveling companion to visit her other friends! The little samurai-themed Magical Girl couldn't be happier!

[color=9b83de]‘I'm so happy to be being brought along~! Now, where are we going?’[/color] Ronin asked super-happily.

 [b]"Meeting up with the rest of my group. We've been figuring things out before this party happens. It's cliche now that I think about it."[/b] Amanda shrugged, leading the way back to the coven's hideout. [b]"Miss Natalie might be busy, so it's just going to be us girls."[/b] Once they had arrived to the appartment, the dream mage opened the door for Ronin.

 Inside, the rest of the group wasn't as busy as they were at day one. Among them was a pair of [url=https://i.redd.it/o913306izs611.jpg]twined souls[/url] in the middle of a conversation, a young [url=https://static.zerochan.net/Cirno.full.2553457.jpg]bluenette[/url] with wings made of icicles, and a [url=https://i.redd.it/s806twbep4821.jpg]girl[/url] with a gray cape.

[color=9b83de]‘Oooooh,’[/color] Ronin made a happy noise as she followed in behind Amanda. Her eyes just excitedly darted from the red-haired twins, the blue-haired fairy-looking one and the surprisingly normal-looking girl. So, at the risk of being too forward, she stepped forward with a wide smile and waited just a little to see if she'd get their attention. [color=9b83de]‘Hello! I'm Ronin, and I'm new. Amanda is super-nice and let me come along. I hope I'll get along with you all!’[/color] Ronin told and gave a grin and a bow as she did.

Once Ronin got everyone's attention, the first one to react was the ice fairy, darting to and around her. [b]"Yo, I didn't know we had a guest!! Are you normal or are you a monster? Got a patron? What are you doing here anyways??[/b] she rapid-fired asks as she flew.

[b]"Er, Ronin, that's North."[/b] Amanda started to introduce the others, scratching her head. [b]"The twins are Cereza and Cerise, and over there is Evelyn."[/b] the mage looked over to the twins. [b]"Is Eliza and the others busy?"[/b]

 [b]"Yes, but Valerie should be arriving soon."[/b] Cereza said, both walking over to the others. 

 [b]"Did something happen?[/b] Cerise asked.

Ronin was super-happy with having the excitable fairy's attention, smiling all the while as she and those around got introduced. [color=9b83de]‘Hi, North! I'm normal!’[/color] She actually was normal, hah, felt weird to say. A monster that had become normal...  [color=9b83de]‘I'm a solo girl for now! And I'm here because I wanted to make friends! Will you be my friend?’[/color] Ronin asked, excitedly. She also waved to Cereza and Cerise and Evelyn as they got introduced in turn. Ronin, too, then awaited the answer to the previous question.

 [b]"Of course!!"[/b] North stopped to pick Ronin up in a hug. [b]"Oh, maybe Maura can let you join us since you're solo, but that's up to you, we won't mind either way!"[/b]

 Amanda explained what happened during her trip to the Overcity and back as the two talked. [b]"We have a possible culprit for the monster attacks. Ronin here and I have to find her. Though she'll need help."[/b]

 [b]"Oh my. Maybe we should join you then. Never know when you'll need healing, right?"[/b] Cereza suggested.

[color=9b83de]‘Woo!’[/color] Ronin made a happy noise as North picked her up and she happily hugged her back. [color=9b83de]‘I'd like to remain a solo girl until my mission is complete! After that, we'll see! I can certainly consider it!’[/color] Ronin said, but that depended a lot on Eli. Honestly, Ronin was a little fed up with patrons by now, would be nice to be duo solos with Eli for at least a while.

[color=9b83de]‘Aaah, healers!?’[/color] Ronin happily skipped over during that comment, because, limited amount of her to go around. [color=9b83de]‘Absolutely! It'd be a great relief to have some support, should something happen! Cereza and Cerise, right? Will you be my friends, too?’[/color] Ronin asked, basically on a high because of how wonderfully new this was being.

The twins giggled in unison. [b]"Sure, we'll be glad to."[/b] Cereza patted Ronin's head with a warm smile.

[color=9b83de]‘Tihi. Awesome,’[/color] Ronin said happily, a slightest bit of a happy blush on her cheeks from being patted on the head. [color=9b83de]‘Alright, so, uh, we've been tasked with finding Mariette, the possible culprit Amanda mentioned.’[/color] Ronin figured she could say, because "Jill" already told Amanda, so. [color=9b83de]‘... But something you need to keep in mind is that Mariette is [i]very[/i] good at eavesdropping. It's how she stays informed. So, at any time you're under an open skies, [i]assume[/i] she hears what you're saying. Get indoors when you're plotting against her. Okay?’[/color] Ronin shared, hoping she wasn't over-sharing.

They all nodded, but Evelyn had asked Amanda something through their telepathy link. [b]"Hm? Oh, Eve wants to know if Mariette can listen in on people's thoughts and all.[/b] the mage shrugged. [b]"She's kinda mute."[/b]

Ronin looked over and blinked a bit. Had not ever considered that. [color=9b83de]‘Er, nope,’[/color] she said with a smile, looking over at Evelyn. [color=9b83de]‘I think you're pretty safe there. By the way, [i]will you be my friend!?[/i]’[/color] Ronin skipped over to the last one in the room, hands together and eyes positively shining at Evelyn.

Evelyn's eyes widened in surprise. Then she thought for a moment before nodding.

[color=9b83de]‘Awesome! I look forward to being your friend...!’[/color] Ronin said, grabbing to shake Evelyn's hand if it was at all possible. With that, she then spun to everyone here. [color=9b83de]‘So, well! Other than your names, who are you all? You mentioned a Valeria, a Maura, an Eliza, there's quite a group here! So, what's up?’[/color] Ronin asked with interest, smiling at them as she asked.

[b]"Well, Valerie is our hacker, and my partner in gathering information regarding current events."[/b] Amanda begun to explain. 

[b]"Miss Maura is our boss-  Er, second boss. I guess we're a second branch of the Cradle now, since she's working for or with them? Maybe?? We never thought of naming [i]our[/i] group though."[/b] North shrugged with her arms crossed, still flying in the air.

[b]"Both her and Eliza."[/b] The dream magician added, turning back to Ronin. [b]"Eliza's our illusion specialist; Looks like a witch with wings. She's been busy since coming back to Penrose, so you might be able to catch her while she's working."[/b]

[color=9b83de]‘Second branch of the Cradle, huh?’[/color] Ronin just grinned. She'd gotten a bunch of info on the various members, which was all interesting. Buuuut... [color=9b83de]‘What's the Cradle?’[/color] Ronin had to ask.

[b]"Oh, the Crimson Cradle? Well, it ain't run by your normal patrons, ya see? Maura, and by extension, we work for Vermilion Veronica. And from what I can tell, she's a really powerful magical girl."[/b] North grinned.

[color=9b83de]‘Oooh. A Magical Girl organization. Cool! Alright. Yupp. Appears that I'll be working with you. I look forward to it! I'm going to be staying with my other new friend, Valkyrie, because she offered, but I'll come over and talk and stuff. Oooh, and I got a new phone from Jill! We got to share all kinds of numbers! ... If we have phones here, anyway, hahaha!’[/color] Ronin laughed a bit about that.

[b]"We do. I've already given you my number, so I can send you everyone else's if that's alright."[/b] Amanda suggested.

[color=9b83de]‘Nice! I'll take those and then send a message so you all get mine! Thank you!’[/color] Ronin called happily. [color=9b83de]‘Now, then. I'm sort of new in the Magical Girl world... so what do we do for fun towards the end of the night around here!? Games!? Plays!? Anything like that!?’[/color] Ronin asked, eyes shining.

Evelyn motioned to the game consoles by the TV, as to ask Ronin if she wanted to binge play some video games.

[b]"We also have movies, if that's more your style."[/b] Cereza said.

[color=9b83de]‘Oooooh, I haven't gotten to play games with others in so long! Let's play!’[/color] Ronin basically bounced over to the consoles, because how would one otherwise make friends other than play a bunch of games with them-!?

[b]"I'm in![/b] North followed Ronin. Amanda, and Evelyn joining her while the twins decided to just watch.

And so, the group then played happily throughout the evening, having a bunch of fun. This until eventually Ronin figured it was time to go home, way too late. She waved her new friends goodbye, and then eventually departed to go back to Valkyrie, smiling the whole way because... she was so happy to finally once again have true friends~!