[center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/COlSgMa.png[/img] [color=PeachPuff]“Pyre was an amazing game, yo.”[/color] [color=888888]— Su Fang [/color][/center] Helga and Su had returned home from their meeting in the overcity. They had learned a bit, but they needed time to discuss things on their own, without Vivi breathing down their necks or Askefye egging them on.  [color=peachpuff]”I probably could have ended things on better terms with Vivi, but I’m only willing to hold down my pride for so long before-”[/color] Su noticed Helga was examining the room. [color=peachpuff]”Oh, yea!”[/color] Su smiled. [color=peachpuff]”I had a new girl move all of your things into my room. I thought it would be good to make room for more guests.”[/color]  Helga seemed to ignore Su at first as she sighed heavily and sat with a slouch on one of the chairs, looking tired. "My stuff? It's in those boxes, right? I'll need to sort those out at some point." [color=peachpuff]”It shouldn't be too bad. All of your furniture was moved without being emptied out, that’s just what was in the closet. I normally wouldn’t have done it.”[/color] She placed a hand over her mouth. [color=peachpuff]”If something happens now, we’ll be there to watch each other’s backs, like if someone tried to attack us while we were sleeping. We can also save on water if we shower together.”[/color] She folded her arms. [color=peachpuff]”Do you agree?”[/color] Helga nodded, a smile on her lips. "That sounds both efficient and lovely. But, uh...About that whole purification stuff…" She sounded insecure. "Are you sure about that, Su? I thought you were happy like this. Ever since the rave you've been acting differently." The question seemed to make Su just as tired as Helga. [color=peachpuff]”It feels like something I have to do.”[/color] She sat down on a chair across from Helga. [color=peachpuff]”About the rave, something happened, and I’ve been thinking about it a bit. I wanted to tell you earlier, but I wanted it to be at a time we weren’t both rushing around.”[/color] She folded her hands in her lap. [color=peachpuff]”I’m sure you remember the music at the rave, how it seemed to trigger our, um, corrupted instincts?”[/color] It wasn’t really a question. That wasn’t the type of thing that you just forgot. Helga nodded, her eyes squinting at the memory. “I do. That music got my fighting instincts to flare up. It wasn’t pretty.” [color=peachpuff]”As I’ve mentioned a few times, I think my corruption makes me envious of others. It’s a difficult thing to just release at will, and at the rave I was unable to find an outlet for my negative emotions.”[/color] She sighed, but Su never took her eyes off Helga. [color=peachpuff]”Until I saw you with those two shrine maidens. It filled me with anger, and I was determined to get even with you, with a shrine maiden of my own. I’m sure you saw Lei Zi before you left for Mika?”[/color] As uncomfortable as Su felt, she didn’t move an inch. She then looked confused as Su explained how it affected her. “Wait, I thought you were-” Her eyes opened wide. “Ooh. That’s why.” She averted her eyes, looking uncomfortable. “S-So, just to let you know, I didn’t intend to make you jealous by hanging out with them. We were fighting together at the time, it was pure chaos…” She twirled the tip of her hair drill. ”...I’m sorry.” [color=peachpuff]”You didn’t do anything wrong Helga. If someone's at fault, it's me.”[/color] Su looked at the floor again. [color=peachpuff]”I feel horrible for having felt that way. Especially since those girls are dead now, or so I was told.”[/color] She lifted her head again. [color=peachpuff]”I’m just tired of being controlled by my corruption. I could have fried with everyone else in that room if I didn’t snap out of it in time. I’m always going to be in Beacon’s cross-hairs so long as we house monster girls. But I want to be rid of this corruption for our relationship.”[/color] She folded her hands under her chin and leaned forward. [color=peachpuff]”But that’s me. What’s best for [i]you[/i] and if we should trust Beacon are the only things that are up in the air right now.”[/color] Helga nodded, biting her lip. “I don’t know...This is a lot to take in. I mean, it’s Beacon we’re talking about.” She crossed her arms on her lap. “But...Whatever you want to do Su, I’ll support it, all the way.” She stood up, and walked over to Su, taking her hand. “You’ve been there for me through thick and thin, and I’ll do the same for you.” [color=peachpuff]”I don’t feel too strongly about it one way or the other. If you’re more comfortable as a monster I certainly won’t force you to cleanse yourself. The girl I want to be with is right here.”[/color] Su smiled. [color=peachpuff]”Oh! I was visited by someone an hour ago. Penny, of all people...”[/color] Su filled Helga in on her encounter. She left nothing out. [color=peachpuff]”Boteg might not be the last of his kind! What do you think?”[/color] Helga immediately brightened up at the good news. "That's wonderful! I always figured there were other gold dragons out there. Did you tell him yet?" [color=peachpuff]”Not yet.”[/color] Su stepped away from Helga. [color=peachpuff]”I don’t want to get his hopes up. We need to talk to the terrible one to confirm Penny’s story.”[/color] She tapped her fingers together. [color=peachpuff]”Um, Helga.”[/color] Su turned to face her. [color=peachpuff]”You’re still okay with Penny having Amber’s ship, right?”[/color] Helga closed her eyes and smiled. "Having it be in the hands of someone who truly cares for it is better than I could possibly hope for." She opened her eyes, and gave a thumbs up. "I've come to terms with it, so you don't have to worry about it." Unfortunate. Su did her best to hide it during the talk of an alliance, but Penny having Amber's ship did not sit well with her. It was made a bit more complicated by the fact that she couldn't give it back. Of course there had to be a way, the real question was if Penny was just taking the easy way out because she refused to surrender it. Regardless, it seemed like Helga was still okay parting with it. But she didn't know Amber as long as Su did. Perhapse her attachment to it just wasn't strong enough for that reason. "With that said," She lifted her finger, "Once we confirm if the rumor is true, we could try to contact the other dragons and see if they could help us." Su’s mind was emptied of Amber's ship. It was now flooded with images of lightning dragons threatening to eat her, her family, and even people who were of no relation to her whatsoever.  [color=peachpuff]”…I’m not so sure that would be a good idea. But that should be left up to Boteg.”[/color] *knock knock* Su turned to look at the door. [color=peachpuff]”It’s unlocked, you can come in.”[/color] The door was shoved open and Mika made her presence known, smiling at her parents as she entered. [color=tomato]”I’m ready!”[/color] Mika had told Su and Helga that she was leaving the night before, and was going to go tell all of her friends in the beach dimension what was going on.  [color=peachpuff]”You packed all of your things?”[/color] Su hadn’t always enjoyed Mika’s company, but regardless if it was a few weeks or forever, she was sure she was going to miss her. She had come to enjoy her role as a mother, and wouldn’t have minded if it lasted a bit longer. [color=peachpuff]”You’re sure about this?”[/color] [color=tomato]”Yup!”[/color] Mika nodded. [color=tomato]”We can keep in touch! And I’m sure it won’t be as dangerous as Penrose.”[/color] Su let out a defeated sigh. [color=peachpuff]”Probably not.”[/color] She wrapped her arms around Mika. [color=peachpuff]”You’ll always have a home here, Mika.”[/color] [color=tomato]”I know mommy!”[/color] Mika backed away from Su so that she could hug Helga. [color=tomato]”Keep mommy out of trouble. She worries about me, but she gets herself into trouble too.”[/color] Helga also hugged Mika with tears in her eyes. "Mom's gonna miss you so much she'll be unable to cause trouble." She sniffled, and then pat Mika's head. "Remember to brush your teeth every day, and to be safe. And remember that we will always love." [color=tomato]”I know daddy! I’ll always love you too!”[/color] Su was about to say something, but thought better of it. [color=peachpuff]”She’ll figure it out eventually.”[/color] She reassured Helga. [hr] [center][color=pink][h1]The Great Penrose Movie Marathon[/h1][/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/LhL4ffS.png[/img] [b]”Drop the fish! I brought a friend!”[/b] [color=888888]— Faith[/color][/center] [sub][@Ariamis][@AtomicNut][@Ponn][@FamishedPants][@Card Captor][@twave][/sub] Those in Emily’s humble apartment would no longer crave warmth, as even [i]more[/i] people were about to show up.  The next one in was Faith. The eccentric demigoddess chose to disguise herself as the blond haired gremlin Mia and Connie had spotted. She was still keeping a low profile, otherwise she’d have come in as herself. [b]”Greetings friends~!”[/b] She took Mia and Connie in each of her arms and gave them a squeeze. [b]”Thank you for inviting me! I’ll have to get to know everyone in time. And also-”[/b] She hoisted her creation above her head. [b]”I hope you all like my nutty banana bread!”[/b] Just as she said that another head poked its way in. Full of long, white hair, adorned with two cute ribbons and clad in her coat, Hilaria made her debut. [color=F65772]"Itsh very good~!"[/color] she spoke while chewing on what was likely a loaf of that very same bread. Hilaria held a glass container with a cloth draped over it, presumably her contribution to the gathering. [color=F65772]"Hello~"[/color] she called out to the people Faith had started speaking to, only to realize something. [color=F65772]"Mmm, they look familiar~"[/color] [hr] [center] [img]https://i.imgur.com/HcglKdi.png[/img] [color=tomato]”Setting Sail, Coming Home.”[/color] [color=888888]— Mika[/color][/center] [color=chocolate]”Ready to go?”[/color] [color=tomato]”Just one more lap.”[/color] [color=chocolate]”It’s gotta be past midnight now.”[/color] [color=tomato]”Just one more lap.”[/color] Mika and Rina were riding the nimbus a few feet over the ocean in the beach dimension. The speed at which they traveled was enough to create a wake. Flying high was fun, but flying over the water offered a more dynamic experience. But neither of the riders were paying attention to that. Rina was looking at Mika, who was turning a red coin over in her hand. [color=chocolate]”Alright, I just don’t want you to get cold feet now.”[/color] Rina looked ahead. [color=chocolate]”You have a lot of friends here, and a family that loves you. I wish I had that.”[/color] Mika stashed the coin in her swimsuit and looked to Rina. [color=tomato]”I know I’ll miss them. I also know we’re going to help them by looking at A-toy-kia.”[/color] Rina laughed. [color=chocolate]”Ethiopia! That wasn’t even close!”[/color] She hugged her knees against her chest. [color=chocolate]”Anyway, thanks Mika. It’s… It’s nice to have a partner again.”[/color] [h3][right][i]Mika &Rina ~ Fin[/i][/right][/h3] … … … A black lotus attached to a flesh bud soared after the low flying cloud…