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With Rachel having given them an “opportunity” for the sanctuary, the twins mostly made themselves busy prepping for that. They didn’t really know how much time they had exactly. To an extent they may have bought time since in all likelihood they would be tracing them like Penny said they would. That meant they couldn’t be the ones taking anything to the sanctuary and Cindy wouldn’t be making any personal grand entrances. With their friend being the new Queen and all they let her know they needed to talk about what the Inquisitor told them.

For the third time in a week Penny would find herself weaving into the depths of Beacon. The first time was worried, the second time was relaxed, but this time she seemed angry. To be fair her anger wasn’t very apparent, more just focused gleam in her eyes as she walked. Time forever seemed to be set against it since she got back from the beach, or maybe it was just the Ascendency.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Janet, Jenna”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would greet when she got into the Lab proper [color=9e0039][u][b]“What’s this about The Ascendency and the Sanctuary?”[/b][/u][/color]

Janet would stand and approach. [color=khaki]”We’ve been given something of an ultimatum. Not that it was all that surprising considering who it was coming from.”[/color] She admitted with a sigh. [color=khaki]”But it’s an option and would hopefully see the Ascendancy chill out a bit in the meantime.”[/color] 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I’m listening”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would reply, her hands balled tightly in the fists at her sides.

[color=khaki]”Cindy worked out a deal so we can provide those at the Sanctuary the option of purification. I don’t really think the gesture is altruistic at the moment, but should help keep some of them safe and out of the Mint’s greedy mitts.”[/color] She took a White Coin out from a stack on the workbench.

Before Penny could say much edgewise, Jenna spoke up. [color=plum]”We have been considering that only offering the coin is not really fair though. Forcing people to join Beacon isn’t why we went into this kind of work. So we were thinking about providing some of these as well.”[/color] She would present a vial with the same clear sparkling liquid they showed Alicia. [color=steelblue]”Same purification, no strings attached. It’s not a perfect option but it’s what we can do short term.”[/color] The twins would watch and wait for Penny’s response.

Penny’s anger was still visible, but it wasn’t a tangible thing, it was contained and controlled. Still when she spoke her voice was tight and flickers of red would flash across her eyes. [color=9e0039][u][b]“This is why I have issues with Cindy.”[/b][/u][/color] She would step forward to take a closer look at the purification potion however. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I don’t trust the Ascendency.”[/b][/u][/color] She would say bluntly as she examined the plethora of purification paraphernalia scatter about. [color=9e0039][u][b]”And If I’m honest this sounds like a trap. If  you go there, they will be tracking you. If you don’t they will record the number of sparks that suddenly show up and then go there.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“The potions, these I trust, because I trust you two.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say giving both of them a hard look [color=9e0039][u][b]“But you have to understand that there is no guarantee that anyone there will want to take either of these options. Not everyone hates what they turn into, and few of them have any want to be part of Beacon at the moment.”[/b][/u][/color] She would shake her head [color=9e0039][u][b]“They are offering a poisoned chalice at the moment. No matter what happens we lose. We take it, the Sanctuary is found. We deny it, they have justification to purge us all. We subvert it, we have proven to be untrustworthy.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“There is no way that this offer comes across well, on either side.”[/b][/u][/color] She would say sadly with a hint of disgust.

The two would be silent for a while. They knew what they were proposing was not ideal in any shape or form. They were not in a good position, and potential only made things worse going about things the way they did. [color=khaki]”I didn’t help by pressing the matter sooner than I should. I’m sorry. I should have…”[/color] She shook, irritated at herself for putting them in this position. [color=khaki]”Of course it’s a trap. We don’t have to give them the coins. We don’t even need to go there. We’ll find a way to get them delivered if we have to. I know they won’t all want it and I’m not trying to purify everyone. I want them to have a choice. I’ll get these out and leave if I have to.”[/color] She grabbed the coin and tossed back with the others where it belonged. She paused for a moment to calm herself. Shortsightedness was something she and Cindy were going to have to work on.

Turning back around Janet had composed herself well enough. [color=khaki]”Even so, we’re not there yet. We still have to make the things which will take time and are easy enough to delay. My thought was in the meantime we try and reach the others in Beacon and maybe even the Ascendancy by showing them that not everyone is the way they think they are. Rachel probably wouldn’t admit it, but Cindy kept her cool and made a pretty decent case. At least gave her something to think about. We can’t get too caught up in their hate. There is still hope, else I still wouldn’t be alive talking to you right now.”[/color] She wasn’t going to let things get too far off mission. Not like this was ever going to be simple. [color=khaki]”Also, at some point we’re going to need to let everyone else know that Cindy is still around. I feel like that’s a good opportunity to set the tone.”[/color] 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I’d keep Cindy disconnected from this.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny’s voce would be notably softer as she replied. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Cindy is at the moment a martyr, but if the first thing she did when she got back was to try and get the Sanctuary abandoned what they are, to join Beacon it’s going to get messy.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I can take some of this stuff now and see how the girls there are feeling about it. The White coins are risky, but to help sever from a few worse off Patrons it might not be a bad idea. The potions will go a long way for those who don’t want what it is they have been forced into having.”[/b][/u][/color] She would walk over and pick up one of the White coins for emphasis. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Keeping it disconnected from the idea that the Ascendency put forth does still work as a token of good faith. I can also tell them that I stole it putting more distance away from the Ascendency.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“And people of Beacon, our Beacon, would likely be easier than the Ascendency. As I don’t think Rachel cares. She is obsessed with the eradication of monsters and everyone connected to them.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would shrug as there wasn’t much she could really offer on that front. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Best of luck regardless.”[/b][/u][/color]

Raising a hand Jenna would try and clarify just a bit. [color=plum]”I’m pretty sure Cindy only ever said she would offer purification. Obviously Rachel has other ideas but they can’t say she won’t be holding to her word. There’s no real rush on connecting Cindy to the potions or the coins. Or any reason to at all to be honest. If no one knows where the potion comes from for a while it would probably be better. We were mostly talking about revealing that Cindy was still around.”[/color] She would make a gesture to Janet. [color=plum]”One way or another once my sister is out doing things normally they’re bound to switch and cause some kind of scene.”[/color]

Janet would frown slightly for a moment and take a seat again. [color=khaki]”Maybe. There are advantages to letting it just happen organically. I’m reasonably well known as Beacon on the outside though. If we go public that Cindy and I have come to a mutual agreement for peace it could potentially disrupt the Ascendancy’s narrative. To those in Beacon that there is a chance to work together, to those outside that Beacon is not all who they believe them to be.”[/color] She would sigh. [color=khaki]”Perhaps though I should wait until I can talk to Ishtar. She holds a position that the Ascendancy can’t ignore.”[/color] She would brush her hair back out of her face. [color=khaki]”We have a couple more of the potions if you would like to take them.”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“That could work”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say nodding to Janet [color=9e0039][u][b]“Letting people know that you and Cindy have come to an agreement would also help separate Beacon and the Ascendency more. As a lot of the girls out there don’t really view the two as separate. Which granted they aren't, but we here in Penrose are operating under very different interpretations of the Vows then the Ascendency is and that’s eroding the support that Beacon has here in the city.”[/b][/u][/color]

As she was explaining that she would be storing a few of the potions and Coins. She didn’t know the full extent of the troubles that the girls under her rule were dealing with but she doubted that there would be no one in the Sanctuary who wouldn’t want at least the potion.

[color=khaki]”I guess we’ll see about coming up with something to put out publicly then. We’ll let you and Alicia take a look at it so we can be sure we’re putting out the right message. We’ll also see about speaking with the Cardinal. She’s still recovering so I doubt she’ll be available for very long.”[/color] Looking at their friend she would smile again. [color=khaki]”I think we’re still in a good position. People know that Penrose needs to be defended, we just have different ideas of how it should be done. Common cause is a good first rally point. Perhaps we should work toward that initially.”[/color] She would say tapping a finger against the side of her head. To some extent she was thinking out loud. If they wanted to succeed they were going to have to frame this correctly to avoid setting off the wrong people.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Common cause isn’t easy to come across at the moment”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would point out as she turned to face her friends, leaning against the counter as she did so [color=9e0039][u][b]“At least not without an obvious target. Finding something from the Mint to point people towards will go a long way in helping people band together.”[/b][/u][/color] Unity in hate was hardly the best idea to start with but it was one that was proven to work.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“We could also blame Justine possibly, though at the moment that would be nothing but hot air”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would toss out, at this point also simply thinking aloud. It wasn’t an easy problem to solve especially with the way that the City had been rocked back to back so recently. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Shifting attention to internal affairs also might not be a bad idea. Get everyone to work on shoring up their foundations while we try to work on getting a peace of some sort established.”[/b][/u][/color]

A thought occurred to her then, in regards to the Cardinal and the Inquisitor. [color=9e0039][u][b]“It might not be a bad idea for me to try and talk to the Cardinal as well. Let her know that the new Queen isn’t opposed to peace.”[/b][/u][/color] She would give a thoughtful look to Janet as she went on [color=9e0039][u][b]“You could also bring that information to her, get the dispensation of an ambassador of some kind. Have Alica make it a title then all of can move in the open much more easily.”[/b][/u][/color]

Janet would lean against her own fist while she thought. [color=khaki]”Those are both good ideas. Alright, I’ll let her know.”[/color] Clearly she was thinking. It would be a bit before she spoke again. [color=khaki]”I think that’s a good direction to go for now. We could sit here and come up with plans until we’ve lost our minds.”[/color] She would ponder just a bit longer before getting up and stepping over to Penny. She would embrace her in a hug. [color=khaki]”Thank you, Penny. All this is really stressing me out. I promise we’ll do everything we can to help keep everyone safe.”[/color] 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Once again if I thought otherwise we wouldn’t be having this discussion”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would reply returning the hug. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Let me know before you send out the PSA. I’d like to let the Sanctuary know first before the rest of the City does.”[/b][/u][/color]

Janet would nod. [color=khaki]”I was thinking you should be the one to send it out anyhow. So you’ll be the first to know.”[/color] She would pat her friend on the shoulder. [color=khaki]”We should get back to work. Let us know how the potions are received so we know better what should be the main focus.”[/color] The twins went back to what they were working on before as Penny headed out. 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Thank you, by the way, for everything”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say over her shoulder before she left in a much better mood then when she arrived.