[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/gYLVHtj.png[/img]

[color=778899]“Tetrad, is that a Greek name?”[/color]

[color=turquoise]“French?”[/color]

[color=75c159]”It’s a call sign, ya frickin’ nerds!”[/color]

[color=888888]— Tetrad, Emily, and Amaryllis[/color][/center]

Tetrad had a functioning game room in her interdimensional home, but she had to admit the one at the Golden Trove was a bit cleaner. The Chinese motif didn’t impress her, but that could be easily overlooked. Darts, pool, and air hockey were largely the same game no matter where you played. It didn’t matter if they took place under a neon glowing beer sign or a paper lantern. 

Not that Tetrad was interested in gaming at the moment.

[color=75c159]”…I had this really sick card combo. I was like, woosh! And then I was like, yea! And then I had my strongest card…”[/color]

Tetrad was regaling Emily with tails of her heroics. Namely what was involved with chasing down her respective necromancer.  

[color=75c159]”…I was basically the world’s best grandma for an hour. Quite the reward for saving everyone’s butt…”[/color]

Possibly embellishing a bit.

[color=75c159]”…And that’s it. There’s only one way to tell that story, and that’s the way it happened. ”[/color] Tetrad folded her arms.

Emily had a brilliant glint in her eyes that betrayed her innocence. It was clear to see that she was nothing more than a star-struck girl, innocently believing every word Tetrad spoke. She trusted a friend more than anything else. [color=turquoise]"Wow!"[/color] she could only stare in awe at the incredible individual before her.

[color=75c159]”You must have fared well, being in one piece and everything.”[/color]

Emily’s expression dampened a bit at the mention on how her fight went. [color=turquoise]"Um, well... I didn't really do much."[/color] She confessed. [color=turquoise]"I didn't even touch the Lich, and I nearly croaked."[/color]

[color=75c159]”Hmph.”[/color] Tetrad made a sour expression and patted Emily on the back. [color=75c159]”Unlucky, but then again, you can’t really help it.”[/color] She danced behind Emily. [color=75c159]”You work for a puchuu. One who hates your guts. I find it kind of interesting how they are supposed to have the largest squads of magical girls, but It seems like half the time they just send their girls in without backup. It’s almost like they want ‘em to die.”[/color] A pause. [color=75c159]”Sorry, just remembered why you were still with Jethro, or whatever his name was.”[/color] 

Emily's mood soured when Jonald was brought up. It was a painful topic for her. [color=turquoise]"I know I should cut ties with them, but I don't know where I'd go, and..."[/color] 

Jonald was Claire's friend. She found it hard to sever such a link, even though they were on terrible terms. 

Tetrad pulled out her phone. [color=75c159]”I feel like I should call Amaryllis to hang out, but she seems pretty busy. Have you talked to her recently?”[/color]

Emily did not wish to make things awkward around her friend. She smiled, [color=turquoise]"Um, I haven't gotten a chance to since we split up."[/color] she told Tetrad. [color=turquoise]"I think she can handle herself, but I still worry..."[/color] As if remembering something, she perked up. [color=turquoise]"Oh, but I'm glad we got all of them! Nobody else has to suffer, and the kitchen is safe!"[/color]

[color=75c159]”The kitchen?”[/color] Tetrad needed a moment to think. [color=75c159]”Oh right! That one where you do community work or whatever.”[/color] She chuckled. [color=75c159]”That’s actually really cool. I have a hard time doing anything that doesn’t involve making money.”[/color] 

Since the topic of discussion was pretty light Tetrad decided to approach one of the dart boards. She had become accustomed to real dart boards with wooden targets and sharp darts. That was what she had in her apartment. But Tetrad was starting to warm up to the “kiddie” version of the real thing. The golden trove’s dart boards were made up of plastic buttons filled with tiny holes, and the darts themselves had rubber tips that posed a much lower chance for injury. It was fully digital, and lured in onlookers with a dot matrix display, urging them to play a game. Neither of the girls were transformed, so it wasn’t like one had an advantage over the other. Beyond skill, and Tetrad played darts frequently in her apartment. She didn’t ask Emily if she wanted to play, she just started setting it up. [color=75c159]”501, double in disabled, double out enabled.”[/color] She flexed her fingers before pressing the start button and jogging over to Emily. [color=75c159]”So the dark magical girl party, have you heard about it?”[/color] Tetrad offered Emily a dart while she spoke.

Emily had been watching Tetrad with piqued interest, having no experience with darts herself. But she had no problem playing it with a friend, that always made things better, she thought. [color=turquoise]"Yes!"[/color] she said. [color=turquoise]"It seems a lot of people are excited for it. It sounds really fun!"[/color] she looked at Tetrad, tilting her head. [color=turquoise]"Why? Are you excited, too?"[/color] she asked.

Tetrad chuckled. [color=75c159]”I’m surprised you even need to ask. We met at a party, remember?”[/color] She set down the darts. [color=75c159]”But I’m glad you did, because that means I get to fangirl about parties again!”[/color] With a swing of her hand, Tetrad snatched Emily by the torso and pulled her in close. She gave her friend a sideways glance and put on the biggest grin she could muster. [color=75c159]”I frickin’ love parties! The food, the dancing, the out of this world energy levels, only gambling and fighting monsters gives me a high quite like it.”[/color] Tetrad frowned, and her eyebrows settled a bit. [color=75c159]”But, now that I think about it, it’s kind of weird for you to be interested in something like that.”[/color] Tetrad stood up. [color=75c159]”I mean you like making people happy, sure, but you also seem kinda quiet? Doesn’t really loud music bother you?”[/color]

Finding herself being brought close to Tetrad caused her pause, and she was a bit embarrassed, too. But Tetrad seemed so happy talking about parties that Emily dared not to disrupt her for selfish reasons. So she listened intently, until Tetrad mentioned that she didn't look like one to enjoy parties.  

Emily shook her head fervently. [color=turquoise]"Um, I don't party often, but I don't hate them or anything,"[/color] She explained. [color=turquoise]"It's just that I haven't really gotten to go to one with other magical girls before, though, so that sounds fun to me."[/color] She might not contribute too much to conversations and such, but just being around her sisters filled her with glee, assuming they weren't fighting, of course. [color=turquoise]"And, I do like concerts, so loud music is good, if anything!"[/color]

[color=75c159]”Oh hoh! The more I know about the mysterious Emily.”[/color] Tetrad took a step back. [color=75c159]”Are you familiar with 501?” It’s a pretty simple dart game. You just need to score 501 points to end the game. But what makes it tricky is that your last dart has to ‘double out.’ As an example: If I needed 20 more points, I can’t just hit the 20 zone. I need to hit the outer ring on the 10 zone. The last dart has to hit a double to count. Otherwise you bust, lose your turn, and then the other player gets to go.”[/color] Tetrad pointed at the darts on the nearby table. [color=75c159]”The game is set up for 3 dart turns. I’ll let you go first.”[/color]

[color=turquoise]"Umm..."[/color] Emily didn't catch all of it, but she was apparently supposed to throw it and hit the board until she scored exactly 501 points. And then something about the last throw being off? Well, she'd focus on getting to that number, first. 

Emily picked up her darts and examined them. Surprisingly, they were darts. The flight was smooth, but unfortunately for Emily, she was inexperienced and didn't realize that would make the angle needed to actually stick a bit tighter. Or at least it would with a normal dartboard. Since they were using a plastic one, things should be a bit more forgiving in that respect. 

That aside, the only other thing of note was the flight. It had a gorgeous Chinese dragon design on it, and she thought it was beautiful. It even had some Chinese characters on it, too, but since she couldn't read it, she had to guess. Maybe it said "friendship" or "fun"? Probably not. 

Finally deciding to throw her darts, she raised one hand and tossed one. It... did not land on the board, falling to the ground with a light thud. [color=turquoise]"O-oh, sorry... I'm new to this,"[/color] she said. But she tried again, and managed to hit the board the next two times, scoring a total of 12 by hitting the triple ring of two, and a flat six. She looked at Tetrad, and smiled, proud of the feat. [color=turquoise]"I hit it!"[/color]

[color=75c159]”Not bad, you’d be in some serious points if that tipple was on either side of that two.”[/color] Tetrad hardly needed a moment to focus her aim, and threw each dart one after the other. Her grouping was a little loose, hitting the 5, 20, and 1 zones on the board. [color=75c159]”Hmm.”[/color] She walked over to retrieve her darts.

It was at this moment that both Tetrad and Emily’s phones pinged. Upon checking, there was a text message sent to them by Amaryllis.

[quote][color=778899]Hello Tetrad and Emily,

I was able to take down Billy with the assistance of some of my contacts. The Ascendancy came over afterwards though, and caused some trouble. How did your lich hunts go?

Regards,
Amaryllis Evenings[/color][/quote]

Tetrad looked at her phone while pulling the last dart out of the board. [color=75c159]”Oh no! Work texts!”[/color] Tetrad danced off to the side and her lightning fast thumbs beat out a response. 

[quote][color=75c159]”Short version: Kicked some ass, took some names. Hard battle but everyone made it out alive. Save the necro but he was already dead :hehe 

Ascendancy showed up here too. Ended up needing to retreat. Not too hard.

Staying at Golden Trove. Breakfast was good. Lots of entertainment. Possibly too Asian.”

~4[/color][/quote]

Emily looked like a 10-ton weight was lifted off of her. She was relieved to see her friend was okay. She could easily sympathize with Helga when she was worried about Su. [color=turquoise]"Oh, I'm so happy she's okay! Do you think she'd want to come over?"[/color] she asked Tetrad, then retrieving her phone. After typing for a minute, Amaryllis would receive this: 

[quote][color=turquoise]Hello, Amaryllis! I was wondering if you would like to hang out with Tetrad and I over here? I'm sure it could be lots of fun! Tetrad is showing me how to play darts right now, but if you're willing I'm sure she'll show you, too! Unless you already know how to? Oh, but if you're too busy or don't want to, then that's fine, too! 

I'm glad you're alright, 
Emily :)[/color][/quote]

With that out of the way, Emily looked back to the board. [color=turquoise]I'll do better this time, I'm sure!"[/color] she promised, picking the darts up again and taking her turn.

Another ping sounded after five minutes.

[quote][color=778899]Glad to hear that everything went well. I’m still busy with work, but I can use a break too.

Could you send me the address to the Golden Trove?

Thanks,
Amaryllis Evenings.

[/color][/quote]

Tetrad looked at her phone with a grin, and mashed out another response.

[quote][color=75c159]”https://lmgtfy.com/?q=What+is+the+adress+of+the+Golden+Trove+Penrose%3F&iie=1

~4”[/color][/quote]

Tetrad’s attention was snatched away when Emily hit a tipple 7. [color=75c159]”Oh? Looks like things are heating up!”[/color] It was probably luck though. [color=75c159]”Let’s see if we can finish before Amaryllis gets here.”[/color]

[hr]

From the outside, the Golden Trove didn’t look all too promising of a place. Most of the lights that lit up the sides of the building were either burnt out or covered by snow, while the brutal architecture made it appear much more grim than the name suggested. Was this address truly the right one? Dressed conservatively in a long down jacket, a ribbed sweater, and sweatpants, Amaryllis looked over the app on her phone again. It had been a good thirty minutes since she headed off for the place, and the lack of public transportation due to the evacuation meant that it was a cold thirty minutes too.

Would be a real shame if this was the wrong place, huh.

Switching her bag of snacks and sweets to her other, less-cold hand, she rapped the door twice, before patiently waiting for it to open. Didn’t knock too loudly, of course. It would be bad if she made it seem as if she were impatient or pissed or anything. Because she wasn’t. She was just perpetually tired and hungry.

[color=turquoise]"Oh, I'm so happy you came!"[/color] Emily lit up like a Christmas tree upon spotting Amaryllis, having waited like a puppy near the door. Two friends in one place, all having fun, without a current worry about monsters or lichs? She was beginning to feel like she was spoiled. She encouraged Amaryllis to come in. [color=turquoise]"We just finished our game, would you like to play something?"[/color]

Tetrad straightened out her cocktail dress before coming to the door. [color=75c159]”I think Emily needs a job here. This is the first time I’ve seen someone beat the manager to the door.”[/color] She peeked over Emily’s shoulder. Her costume might have had platform shoes, but she wasn’t wearing heels right now. [color=75c159]”Hey is that junk food?”[/color] She reached her hands past Emily. [color=75c159]”Gimmie gimmie gimmie!”[/color]

[color=778899]“Ah, yeah, here,”[/color] Amaryllis thrust the bag over to Tetrad. It was filled with such stuff like Pocky, Oreos, Hershey’s Kisses, and other sweet affairs. Savoury chips, it appeared, were not part of the snack array that the bespectacled woman brought over. [color=778899]“Thought you two could share it and all, since, y’know, you’re hosting.”[/color]

Emily gave a small nudge to let Tetrad know to back up, and then cleared the doorway. [color=turquoise]“Thank you,”[/color] she said. She glanced at the bag momentarily before turning back to Amaryllis, and then motioning her to come in. [color=turquoise]“I hope your work isn’t too stressful?”[/color] Emily imagined it to be hunting monsters or the sort, but if that was the case, she thought Amaryllis would have no real trouble there. But perhaps she was mistaken.  

[color=75c159]”We can talk about work once we’re out of the lobby.”[/color] Tetrad hurried off. [color=75c159]”Quick, to the game rooooooom!”[/color]

[hr]

The three girls were gathered around a table designed for Chinese checkers. But Tetrad had removed all of the marbles so that they could use it as a meeting space. In addition to the provided snacks, Tetrad had gotten everyone a can of soda. 

[color=75c159]”To the best necromancer slayers in all of Penrose!”[/color] She raised her can before popping it open. some of it ran down her arm, which she promptly shook off. 

[color=778899]“Yeah...necromancer slayers…”[/color] Amaryllis raised her can as well, feeling pretty awkward about getting rowdy when this was a three-person party. She sipped at the bubbly drink, noting the peppery undertones and the cinnamon spice in it. Weird, but good.

[color=75c159]”I really like game rooms. It’s much quieter here.”[/color] She sipped her soda. [color=75c159]”So now that you’re here, did you want me to regale you with tales of my exploits? Or did you encounter something interesting?”[/color]

[color=778899]“And, um, as far as Billy went, I sorta ended up eating him, so it wasn’t like there was anything left behind…”[/color]

[color=75c159]”You ate Billy? Metal!”[/color]

Emily was munching on some Pocky as she listened to Amaryllis. [color=turquoise]"Ate?"[/color] she asked, puzzled. Billy didn't seem like he would taste too good. But she was not about to press her own eating beliefs onto someone else, so maybe she should just drop it?

Amaryllis’s eyes flickered up to the corner, as she wondered briefly about whether or not the whole Hilaria business should be shared, before deciding that it was probably harmless knowledge.

[color=778899]“Oh, but the Ascendancy that I told you guys about? They invited this Dark Magical Girl over, but then she returned unpurified afterwards. Then we sorta ate. And now I’m here. Eating more.”[/color] As if to demonstrate a point, Amaryllis popped open a bag of choco balls and tossed them in her mouth.

[color=turquoise]"The Ascendancy let a Dark Magical Girl remain one? Am I wrong, or isn't purification their entire thing? That sounds strange."[/color] Emily thought about it. [color=turquoise]"Did she come back weird, or something?"[/color]

[color=75c159]”I’d wager they did something to her. I could probably figure out what if I met her.”[/color] Tetrad reclined in her chair. [color=75c159]”Anyway, probably not worth theorizing about. Whole city’s bat shit crazy, maybe they decided dark magical girls are cool now.”[/color] She sloshed her soda. [color=75c159]”It’s just a matter of time before there’s a revolution of some kind and something else takes Beacon’s place.”[/color]

[color=778899]“She was always, sorta weird, so…”[/color] Amaryllis thought about it, then decided that, yeah, whatever. [color=778899]“It’d be nice if the Ascendancy did suddenly think dark magical girls were alright though. At least enough that, y’know, they won’t do anything like start a big war over it.”[/color]



[color=75c159]”It would be, but I still say they’re nut jobs.”[/color]Tetrad set down her drink and pulled a stack of tarot cards out of her tool belt. They were normal tarot cards and didn’t have the Cradle logo on the back of them. [color=75c159]”We were talking about ourselves post necromancer right? I’ve literally just been enjoying the hotel. Work’s a little slow at the moment, but I’ve been making connections with some of the people here.”[/color] She leaned towards Emily, [color=75c159]”Hey, wanna give me a kiss?”[/color]

As if she'd been zapped, Emily jolted up, and her face turned scarlet. [color=turquoise]"K-k-kiss?!"[/color] she shook her head repeatedly. [color=turquoise]"N-no, we haven't even held hands or anything...!"[/color] she declined.

Amaryllis double-blinked. [color=778899]“You...want me to leave the room for a bit then? Uh, didn’t know you guys became a...c-couple and all…”[/color] What did Sammy say about magical girls again? That they became lesbians really fast due to necessity and the lack of magical boys? 

Tetrad squinted her eyes, casting a glance between the two girls present. [color=75c159]”Didn’t realize it was such a big deal. Fine, I’ll just take one.”[/color] Tetrad leaned forward and stuck her hand in Amaryllis’s candy bag, and pulled out some Hersey kisses. She held them up for the girls to see before giving them a wink.

[color=turquoise]“O-oh, that’s what you meant…”[/color] Emily seemed relieved, closing her eyes and placing a hand on her chest to catch her breath.. 

[color=75c159]”Dark magical girls seem to have a lower chance of being totally nuts. Our hostess is a dark magical girl, not that you’d ever know. But then you have complete psychos like Chloe.”[/color] Tetrad unwrapped one of the chocolates. [color=75c159]”Monster girls though, now those are bad news. Our organization has one and they are responsible for half of our problems. It’s a lot harder for them to function like normal people, and they’re a lot stronger to boot. I don’t think they need to be killed, but if they’re up for purification I’d be okay with that.”[/color]

Finally catching her breath after a slight misapprehension, Emily looked up. [color=turquoise]“Um, isn’t that a bit cruel, though?”[/color] she asked with the crimson on her face slowly fading. [color=turquoise]“I think the idea of being able to be purified may be great to some, but to force it on people…”[/color]

Tetrad was about to shove a chocolate kiss in her mouth, but stopped. [color=75c159]”If someone forces violence on others, having purification forced on them is the [i]least[/i] cruel thing we can do. Right?”[/color]

The conflict was reflected in Emily's countenance, her hesitation only betraying the fact she had to think hard on the subject. [color=turquoise]"Um..."[/color] she eventually gathered her thoughts, then spoke. [color=turquoise]"If they've actually done something, then I suppose it can't be helped... But are the Ascendancy doing just that? It sounds like they're not making a distinction between the good or the bad sisters..."[/color]

As the heat left Amaryllis’s cheeks, she began to unconsciously pop chocolates in her mouth too, listening in on the conversation between Tetrad and Emily. Did they even really need her opinion? Probably not, right? So she just kept on eating, shrinking into the plushiness of her chair as she silently mulled over their respective positions.

[color=75c159]”You’ve been a little quiet, Amaryllis. What’s your take on all this?”[/color] Tetrad had a few cards set up in front of herself, like she was going to begin a reading.

[color=778899]"Uuuuh… "[/color]

Shit. 

[color=778899]"I guess I have this thing going on where I usually give people a chance when I encounter them? So like, if it's a monster girl or a dark magical girl that I see for the first time, I'll play nice until they end up doing something crazy, in which case I kill them."[/color] A blink. Bit psychotic, isn't it? [color=778899]"Or, I dunno, get Beacon to purify them. That's basically it, yeah? Innocent before guilty. Though that changes, like, if they were obviously perpetrators of really bad shit before? Such as whoever did that spirit summoning to attack random civilians, way back when."[/color]

The Sword pierced her left index finger thrice, and Amaryllis balled up her fist.

[color=778899]"Honestly, don't think it's that big of a problem when we cause trouble to our own kind. Just changes when you bring in outsiders."[/color]

[color=turquoise]"Oh, that was so terrible! Those poor people!"[/color] Emily remembered the destruction wrought upon the civilian populace that day, and the pain it brought. She even lost a fellow volunteer due to the attack, and the position was not easily replaced. [color=turquoise]"I can't imagine why people would do such a thing. I don't ever want to be forced to kill a sister, but I don't want that to happen again either, so purification might be the way to go..."[/color] she took a long sip of her soda before turning to Tetrad. [color=turquoise]"A-anyway, s-so, um, are you going to do a reading?"[/color] she expertly (not at all) attempted to change the subject to something less serious.

[color=75c159]”Oh this? Yea, I was just playing.”[/color] She shuffled all the cards together. [color=75c159]”I don’t really think Tarot cards on their own are very magical. But Here, let’s try this…”[/color] She handed the cards to Emily. [color=75c159]”So you’re just going to shuffle the cards up and hand them to me. Then I’m going to draw three cards and make a reading based on your past, present, and future.”[/color] She looked at Amaryllis. [color=75c159]”Did you wanna try? It’s a big deck, I can probably do two readings.”[/color]

[color=778899]“That sounds...fun,”[/color] Amaryllis said, edging her seat closer to the table as she examined the deck. [color=778899]“Maybe we can all do a bit of a talent show or something?”[/color]

[color=75c159]”Of course, if you have talents I wouldn’t mind seeing them.”[/color] After Emily shuffled the Deck, Tetrad drew three cards and placed them face down in front of Emily. Then she handed the deck off to Amaryllis. Once she had shuffled the deck, She drew three cards and placed them face down in front of her. With everything set, she shuffled the cards one last time and placed three cards in front of herself. 

[color=75c159]”And now, let’s turn over our first card to reveal our past. This is going to pertain to something we’ve been thinking about recently. Something that may affect our future.”[/color]

Tetrad turned over her card. [color=75c159]”Ah, the high priestess, a card that deals with knowledge and intuition.”[/color] She scratched her chin. [color=75c159]”It must be referring to the last mission I took for my Puchuu. Prior to my employment in Cradle.”[/color] She did not waste any more time dwelling on it and looked to Emily’s card. [color=75c159]”The seven of cups. Confusion, a need to get your priorities in order.”[/color] She looked at Amaryllis’s hand. [color=75c159]”The five of cups. Disillusionment, if you rely on the help of others.”[/color] She looked straight ahead without making eye contact with her friends. [color=75c159]”Do any of your cards sound eerily familiar?”[/color]

[color=turquoise]"Um, I don't know..."[/color] Emily kept her eyes locked on the card. [color=turquoise]"It can't be that I don't have my priorities straight, right? Protecting people is number one!"[/color] She then turned to Amaryllis, urging her to give her piece. [color=turquoise]“No, not familiar in the least…”[/color]

Disillusionment...Amaryllis stopped half-awkwardly-smiling for a while. [color=778899]“Yeah, considering the whole Annabelle thing, I guess that sounds about right. But then again, disillusionment sorta fits no matter what happens.”[/color] She laughed again, nervously, before slurping up some gummy worms. [color=778899]“We live in a society, after all.”[/color]

[color=75c159]”Tell me about it.”[/color] Tetrad grinned. [color=75c159]”I know I said this before, but I wish I was there for that.”[/color] She looked to Emily. [color=75c159]”Really? Not your Puchuu or your friends? You’ve gotta have something.”[/color] Tetrad snorted. [color=75c159]”This is just for fun, and I’m a pretty shit reader if I’m going to be honest. That’s why I need as much information as you can give me.”[/color] She looked down at her second card. [color=75c159]”But let’s reveal our second cards and see if things don’t start to make sense.”[/color]

Everyone turned over their cards. [color=75c159]”Seven of coins. What’s that one again?”[/color] She looked through a pamphlet that came with the Tarot deck. [color=75c159]”Hard work, but I’m approaching my harvest. Hell yea, seems like Crimson Cradle is starting to go places. I’m sure I’ll be due for a promotion mission pretty soon.”[/color] She looked at the other cards. [color=75c159]”Emily got the King of Swords, and Amaryllis got the Six of Swords. Swords represent the mind and states of conflict. If your cards are to be trusted, Amaryllis is moving on from a negative situation, and Emily has won her war, but now needs to win the peace.”[/color] Tetrad grinned, waiting for their reactions.

Emily pursed her lips. [color=turquoise]"The closest thing I can think of to a war would be between me and Jonald,"[/color] she admitted. [color=turquoise]"And since you two are kind enough to hang around with someone like me, then I guess that'd mean I won..."[/color] she wasn't very confident when speaking, and scratched her head. [color=turquoise]"Um, but what would peace be in this situation?"[/color] she shook her head. [color=turquoise]"I'm sorry, I'm a bit dim, and am not good with these things..."[/color]

[color=778899]“Harvests are also followed by winter though,”[/color] Amaryllis mused to herself, tracing the borders of her own card. Swords were of the mind and states of conflict? Her hand slipped against her hips, for the Sword that wasn’t there. Did her card basically just symbolize her psychic, ever-violent Patron? That’d certainly be something, huh. [color=778899]“Not really sure about negative situations myself, cause, y’know, we all just came out of a beach vacation that was pretty alright, but, mm...Emily, in regards to war and peace, history is generally marked by discord rather than by concord. With that in mind, you may have won the war, but now, you ought to prepare for the next, y’know?”[/color]

Amaryllis scratched her chin. [color=778899]“Bit of an extreme example, but it’s like World War II and the Cold War that happened afterwards. If nothing’s bothering you now, it’s the best chance to ramp up.”[/color]

[color=75c159]”See? Amaryllis has the right idea.”[/color] Tetrad poked her forehead with a card. [color=75c159]”Everything moves in a cycle. After harvest comes winter, then it’s time to plant more seeds in the spring. After War comes peace, then you prepare for the next war.”[/color] She held her chin. [color=75c159]”But Amaryllis, didn’t you just [i]eat[/i] a necromancer? If the card doesn’t relate to the vacation, it might be something more recent than that. Or…”[/color] She turned a card over in her hand. [color=75c159]”This is just a bunch of silly crap that doesn’t mean anything. I dunno. Anyway!”[/color] She placed her hand on her card. [color=75c159]”We don’t have to worry about what comes next in the cycle, because we’re going to figure that out right now! One, two, three!”[/color]

Amaryllis’s card was the three of wands, and Emily was the five of coins.

[color=75c159]”Uh oh!”[/color] Tetrad grinned. [color=75c159]”Looks like you’re going to have unforeseen expenses, Emily! Better stock up now!”[/color] 

[color=turquoise]“Uuu…”[/color] Emily seemed down. She pulled out her wallet, and gazed into the nearly-empty pocket with dead eyes. [color=turquoise]“I don’t like that… not one bit!”[/color] she sighed. [color=turquoise]“Ah, um, well, I’ll find a way to deal with it, I suppose…”[/color]

Tetrad looked to Amaryllis’s card. [color=75c159]”And you’re going to lead by example. Cryptic, but I think it’s a cool future to have.”[/color] 

[color=778899]“Lead by example?”[/color] Amaryllis awkwardly went for another attempt at a joke. [color=778899]“Hope I don’t, like, start a new trend of eating monsters, right guys? Ahaha…”[/color] She wasn’t a good example to follow anyways. Not in Penrose at least, where alliances and schemes and making full sized armies of magical girls looked to be becoming the norm. 

Then Tetrad returned to her own card. [color=75c159]”Right I got so excited I didn’t even look.”[/color] She held her card up in front of her face. [color=75c159]”A second one from the major arcana? Having this many in your reading means something big is gunna go down.”[/color] After staring at the card for a moment, she started to push it back into the deck. [color=75c159]”Nothing particularly interesting.”[/color]

Scratching her head, Amaryllis offered her own card to Tetrad to shuffle back in, before asking, [color=778899]“So, uh, what did you draw anyways? I didn’t see it when you flipped it over and all…”[/color]

Tetrad shrugged her shoulders. [color=75c159]”Justice.”[/color] She blinked. [color=75c159]”A card that normally represents fairness, justice, balance and equilibrium. But I think it came up reversed.”[/color] She dipped her head. [color=75c159]”So it’s kinda boring, just like I said.”[/color]

[color=778899]“Justice in reverse?”[/color] Amaryllis wasn’t sure how cards like that [i]wouldn’t[/i] be interesting; in fact, something about the word ‘justice’ tickled her pretentious, edgy middle school self just a little bit...but well, that was fine. At least it wasn’t the Devil or the Tower or anything like that. [color=778899]“And hey, I don’t think you need to worry about it too much, Emily. Peacetime preparations are like, always filled with expenses, so I guess, like, just don’t eat out too often?”[/color]

Yeah, that was as much financial advice as she could give, really.

Tetrad collected the remaining cards and shuffled them all back into the deck. [color=75c159]” They’re just cards. The meanings are vague enough that they could mean anything. I’m sure I could draw three more cards for everyone and they’d mean something if we tried hard enough.”[/color] The deck of cards sat in the middle of the table, taunting them. Tetrad reclined in her seat and folded her hands behind her head. [color=75c159]”Weird question, but if I forgot who I was, like, everything. Total amnesia like some bad JRPG. You guys would still be my friends, right?”[/color]

[color=778899]“Well, I’m sure there’s magic for fixing that…”[/color] Amaryllis said, scratching her cheek, [color=778899]“But yeah, of course. Same if it happens to me, right?”[/color]

Even if Tetrad assured her otherwise, Emily still seemed a bit concerned. Money did not come easy to her, to the point where it'd break the bank if she had to care for even a friend! Of course, despite this, that wouldn't stop her. She treasured her friends, after all. So, when Tetrad and then Amaryllis brought up amnesia, she couldn't imagine why they had to ask at all. 

[color=turquoise]"Oh, I would never abandon you. Either of you!"[/color] she cried, even sniffling. [color=turquoise]"You were so kind to hang out with me... If you guys got amnesia, then that's all the more reason to stay by your side, isn't it? Friends shouldn't abandon each other in a time of need!"[/color]

[color=75c159]”Right, or course. I feel silly for even bringing it up.”[/color] Tetrad chuckled, and the corners of her lips curled into a smile. Even if she had been smiling all night, this one felt a lot more genuine. She leaned forward and folded her hands together. [color=75c159]”Feels kinda weird to use a call sign around friends.”[/color] Tetrad straightened out her posture. [color=75c159]”Luna Gallo. When we hang out like this, you can call me Luna.”[/color]

[color=778899]“Wait, Tetrad wasn’t your real name?”[/color]

As she wiped away one or two tears, Emily gave a small, inaudible clap in excitement. She repeated the name under her breath a few times. [color=turquoise]“Mmhm. Sure, I’m happy you told us!...Luna….”[/color] she tried out the name. [color=turquoise]“Oh, I suppose I should go next?”[/color] she asked, regarding the ‘talent show’. [color=turquoise]“Here…”[/color]