[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/jEwlaTZ.png[/img]
[sub][@Vocab][/sub][/center]

The gothic girl did not remove any of the documents from the folder. Rather, it went into her matchbox in a smooth movement, almost as if the file itself shrunk to match the small opening. A moment later, her gray eyes flashed, and she nodded. From that same matchbox came a seamless cube, its coloration swirling from purple to blue and then back again. There was a light hum emanating from it, nigh imperceptible in the rumbling of the amplifiers outside the room, and in Dolly's hand, it floated inches from her palm, gently rotating as if it floated upon the ocean's surface.

[color=ccddee]"The receptacle,"[/color] she said. She tapped her finger against its surface, and it hovered over to Eden. There was something warm, moist about the object; though its surface was hard and did not give, if the Boss of the Penrose Independent were to press her hand against it, she would still feel her flesh sinking into something soft, no matter what her eyes told her.

The second item that was withdrawn from the matchbox was a hexagonal rod of the same shifting hue as the box. This one exhibited no anomalous properties compared to the receptacle, and Dolly physically passed it over to Eden instead. [color=ccddee]"The key. Per prior instructions, establish magical connections with the receptacle, press the key into the receptacle, grip the receptacle tightly, and envisioning the magic you wish to cast utilizing the magical energy you have gathered. Safety restrictions require a thirty second charge time, but you may shorten that to ten seconds by exclaiming 'Popipa pipopa popipapapipopa' and jumping upwards while raising the receptacle above you."[/color]

She slid her matchbox back into the folds of her dress, before placing her hands over her stomach.

[color=ccddee]"Al Sharpe will contact you following the end of the rave for future payment details, as per the contract. Do you have any other questions or requests?"[/color]

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/CkHZy6X.png[/img]
[sub][@BrokenPromise][@PlatinumSkink][/sub][/center]

[color=778899]“If the stars align and the heavens stand with us, we won’t require reinforcements,”[/color] Amaryllis replied, inspecting the sheen of her Sword in the moonlight. But that was doubtful, and it would be disappointingly pleasant too. Her Sword wanted blood, and in a way, Amaryllis did too. For once, Wielder and Weapon were alike in their desire for violence.

But this wasn’t revenge. If they could get Sammy out without slaying any others, that would be for the best. For the best…

[color=778899]“Evening, Mariette,”[/color] Amaryllis tilted her head in the direction of the Mirror Sage, a half-surprised smile on her face when she brought a cat with her, rather than her Bunny. [color=778899]“I’ve no complex thoughts on the matter myself. Though it is regrettable that the perpetrator was merely a pawn, it is similarly expected. Our goal remain the same, though now our enemies are likely to expect our arrival.”[/color]

The Knight of Rose caught a petal with the tip of her finger, then flicked it off into the winter wind.

[color=778899]“Either we strike with vengeful immediacy, discombobulating their defenses and preparations with shock and awe and precisely extract the Super Sleuth in the chaos of our arrival, or we slip in with the Mirror Sage’s assistance, avoiding detection in the corona of the Rave’s magical density, and perform our operation subtly. I lean towards these two extremes; half-measures seem insufficient for the quest we aspire to accomplish.”[/color]