[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/0h4wSOC.png[/img] [h2][color=red]S[/color] i l h o u e t t e & [color=#bd71e8]V[/color] e r o n i c a[/h2] [color=#bd71e8]”There has to be a chastity belt in the cradle somewhere.”[/color] [color=888888]— Veronica [/color][/center] Silhouette had been called to personally meet with Veronica. She was given coordinates to a random location where they could meet. This one was an apartment in a run down complex. When Sil got there however, it was not Veronica who was waiting for her. Instead, there were two black double doors, the same kind that lead into her international mansion. Recently Veronica had been trying to minimize her contact with the outside world, so it was rare for her to appear anywhere by herself. When Sil entered, she was transported to the same familiar hallway. Though the banquet at the end looked different. There was just a small table that could seat two people with a red tablecloth thrown over it. There was nothing else on the table, but Veronica was sitting opposite to Samantha. Her arms were folded in her lap, and she seemed to be looking off into space. [color=#bd71e8]”Be seated.”[/color] Veronica did not look at Sil when she spoke. Silhouette pulled a chair out from the table and sat on it as requested. She found her eyes being pulled across the interior of the mansion in curiosity as it had only been the second time she had seen the place. This lasted merely a second, however, and she soon rested her eyes upon the vampire before her. [color=red][s]”Shouldn’t we be wearing masks?”[/s][/color] [color=red]“It has been some time since we’ve gotten to have a private meeting in person, hasn’t it?”[/color] she said, crossing her arms as she came to this realization. [color=red]“Usually we have a bit more space…”[/color] Silhouette almost seemed disappointed by this. Veronica gave a small nod, but continued to avoid making eye contact with Sil. [color=#bd71e8]”Your thoughts on the operation?”[/color] A cup of tea rose out of a shadow in Veronica’s hand. Sil seemingly caught on to her reluctance to meet eye to eye, but responded, albeit with a hint of bitterness in her voice. [color=red]“Perhaps our worst one to date.”[/color] she confessed. [color=#bd71e8]”I’m glad you feel that way.”[/color] After sipping from her glass, Veronica set the cup on the table and turned to Sil. Steam waved over the cup of black tea, and filled the air with its scent. [color=#bd71e8]”Almost every aspect of the operation failed or backfired somehow. Even Hyun managed to be brought down in a way that strengthened Beacon’s numbers.”[/color] She folded her hands under her chin. [color=#bd71e8]”But I didn’t bring you here to talk about just any failure. What do you think the largest setback was?”[/color] Sil took a moment to reflect on that night before giving Veronica her answer. [color=red]“Our numbers aren’t particularly large to begin with. I think losing an agent to Justine was the worst part of the night.”[/color] She seemed confident in this. Veronica was about to sip her tea again when she froze. [color=#bd71e8]”Incorrect.”[/color] The table sunk into a shadow on the floor, and Silhouette’s body was clamped in the black hand of the cradle. Her limbs were frozen in place, unable to escape. [color=#bd71e8]”Losing agent Betty was unfortunate. It is certainly my greatest error of the night. The one I share the most in.”[/color] Veronica stood up, and her chair, too, sunk into a shadow. [color=#bd71e8]”But Betty will give away Justine’s location in time. That is the power of the contracts you all sign.”[/color] The hand of the cradle changed shape. Silhouette’s body was now encased in a black coffin. Only her head stuck out of the top. [color=#bd71e8]”You should know by now that I didn’t call you in here today to talk about my own failings.”[/color] She stood in front of the coffin. [color=#bd71e8]”You are close though. The reason why Cindy’s death and Hyun’s conversion bother me less is because while they weren’t wholly desirable outcomes, they will cost me nothing in the long run. Mariette’s escape is only problematic because I saved her pet and Trixy opened fire on her. She may have reversed Betty’s sacrifice.”[/color] Veronica kicked the casket, causing it to fall backwards onto the floor. [color=#bd71e8]”As you said, you know that our numbers are small, you know that we aren’t as strong as Beacon yet.”[/color] She planted her foot on top of the coffin. She looked down at Sil as if she were nothing but an insect. [color=#bd71e8]”Why have you given them a reason to attack us?”[/color] Sil vainly struggled in the coffin, but Veronica’s question seemingly triggered something in her. [color=red]“That is absurd,”[/color] she retorted. [color=red]“So long as we have any ties to the corrupted, they’ll be hostile. My only wrongdoing there was underestimating my target, which I will not do a second time.”[/color] she declared. [color=#bd71e8]”There is a difference between being hostile towards someone and actively hunting them, Sam.”[/color] Veronica kneeled. [color=#bd71e8]”Beacon are a lot of incompetent fools, and for all the Ascendancy’s strength, they are no brighter.”[/color] She drove her fist into the top of the coffin, Samantha could feel the vibration all over her body, causing her to grunt in pain. [color=#bd71e8]”You attacked an [i]inquisitor.[/i] It would be so easy for them to rationalize that we were in league with the independent. Why didn’t you attack the real target? Why didn’t you get out when I ordered it?”[/color] Her second fist came down, also shocking Sam’s entire body. Veronica’s face was inches away from hers. Her irises were shaking in her eye sockets. [color=#bd71e8]”You don’t have to answer. I know you let your emotions guide you.”[/color] Sil was panting heavily from the rough treatment. [color=red]“You’re wrong…”[/color] she denied through her labored breaths. [color=red]“Sooner or later, we’ll have to… deal with them... I believe I saw an opportunity in the commotion that would benefit us down the line, so I took it, that’s all…”[/color] Silhouette almost sounded like she was trying to convince herself instead of Veronica. [color=red]“...I don’t let emotions control me…”[/color] [color=#bd71e8]”Normally. That’s what makes this instance so strange, and infuriating.”[/color] Veronica stood up and stepped off of Silhouette. The casket that housed her body dissipated. [color=#bd71e8]”We will deal with Beacon, Samantha. But we will do it when I am ready. When Cradle is ready. The ascendancy alone is more than twice our number.”[/color] Placed her hands together. [color=#bd71e8]”During the last meeting, I said that I would leave Penrose. I am ready to depart shortly.”[/color] she turned to face Silhouette. [color=#bd71e8]”But this behavior of yours is disconcerting.”[/color] A black orb appeared in between her hands. [color=#bd71e8]”You are the finest tool I have.”[/color] She looked off to the side. [color=#bd71e8]”I’d rather sharpen you than throw you away.”[/color] Silhouette opted against spending more time than necessary on the floor, rising to her feet with a defiant look about her as she caught her breath. [color=red]“I am a blade that does not dull, Veronica.”[/color] she shook her head in denial. [color=red]“I had… far too many chances before we ever met for that to happen.”[/color] Sil remained silent for a few seconds. Eventually, she broke the silence with a question, or what appeared to be an attempt at one. [color=red]“...you’re confident in your company while you’re away from Penrose?”[/color] Veronica continued to dodge Samantha’s eyes, but she didn’t seem as wooden as before. [color=#bd71e8]”If I’m going to be perfectly honest with you Sam, I am not. But my hands are tied, I’ll think of something.”[/color] The black orb started to drip like hot tar. [color=#bd71e8]”I’ve been thinking that your second piece of cradle gear isn’t very good. Now that Shade is sentient, it’s not especially practical.”[/color] Once all the tar melted away, all that was left was a basketball. It looked pretty average, except the brand logo read “DUNK MASTER” with a butterfly separating the two words. [color=#bd71e8]”The Dunk Master. This is the oldest weapon in the cradle. This will replace your gauntlets in your arsenal.”[/color] She extended her hands. [color=#bd71e8]”Go on, try it.”[/color] She was still looking away from Samantha. Sil took the ball in hand but her blank expression betrayed her confusion. Then, with a slight flourish, she spun the ball on her fingertip. Silhouette felt a surge of magical energy flow into her, though she felt physically drained. [color=red]“How does this work, exactly?”[/color] she asked, dribbling the ball before tossing it at a nearby wall. [color=#bd71e8]”The last person who used it was able to project their spells out of the ball from any angle. They used this to guide the ball with propelled flames. I imagine you can apply your stasis magic to anything the ball hits, as well as any other spell you can conjure up.”[/color] She looked past Samantha at the ball. [color=#bd71e8]”Perhaps you can slow the air around the ball? If done right that should cause its trajectory to curve.”[/color] She sighed. [color=#bd71e8]”It’s a weapon that invites creative use of its features.”[/color] She wiggled her finger at Sil. [color=#bd71e8]”You’ve likely felt the effect of the ball though. It redirects your magic, so you’ll become more potent magically, but even weaker physically.”[/color] She folded her arms behind her back. [color=#bd71e8]”Will you use it?”[/color] The ball bounced back Silhouette's way and she picked it up. [color=red]"Not really an orthodox weapon, is it?"[/color] she eyed the magical basketball with curiosity. [color=red]"Still, having extra options is always nice, even if it might cost me physically. I could see myself making use of it, yeah."[/color] she nodded firmly, then tossed the ball into the air. It would rise slowly but then fall down extremely fast, landing on Sil's finger and spinning yet again. She did not bother to attempt to do something more inspired than that at the time. [color=red]"...You've been avoiding looking at me,"[/color] she suddenly mentioned. [color=red]"Even after doing such things to my body, you won't look me in the eyes? Why is that? ...Was I really such a disappointment?"[/color] Veronica slowly turned to look at Samantha. [color=#bd71e8]”You are dating Trixy, correct?”[/color] She took a step closer to Sil. [color=#bd71e8]”Are you doing that to boost her morale?”[/color] Silhouette nodded her head in affirmation. [color=red]"We are dating, yes."[/color] she stopped spinning the ball and placed it under her armpit. [color=red]"But I don't think we started for that reason,"[/color] she said as she began pondering just why they were in a relationship. [color=red]"...well, I didn't see any particular reason to not do so. And, I suppose she's not always so bad. Anyway, why do you ask?"[/color] [color=#bd71e8]”Well, you are my top agent.”[/color] She placed a hand on Samantha’s shoulder. [color=#bd71e8]”I worry about things compromising your judgement.”[/color] Her other hand rested on Samantha’s hip. [color=#bd71e8]”If you need someone to fool around with, it would be best if they weren’t someone you were working in the field with. That could cloud your judgement. Though it should most certainly be someone who lives up to your standards.”[/color] Sam’s hand rested upon Veronica’s and she stared into the woman’s eyes, before turning away herself. [color=red]“When it comes to fooling around… well, I’m not entirely knowledgeable.”[/color] she said. [color=red]“I even had my first time earlier with Trixy, I think.”[/color] Veronica’s eyes shot open and she took a step back. [color=#bd71e8]”You. Did. What?!”[/color] She reached her hand up to her head, but then pulled her hand away sharply. Agent and employer didn’t make eye contact or speak for the next few seconds. Veronica folded her arms behind her back and walked away. [color=#bd71e8]”Trixy attacked Mariette and disgraced this organization as a whole. You will punish her in my stead.”[/color] she ordered without looking back. [color=#bd71e8]”Do not disappoint me.”[/color] Samantha did not seem to understand why Veronica reacted so flamboyantly but did not comment on it. The question mark above her head was almost visible, in fact. [color=red]“I see,”[/color] she said, thinking back to that blunder. She understood that Trixy meant well, but this mistake was fairly big. Since she had already been thinking on it already she did not need much convincing. [color=red]“Leave it to me and I’ll make sure you’re satisfied with my work. She’ll know not to do something like this again.”[/color]