[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/7doaecd.png[/img][/center]
[quote=@Ponn][color=Gold]“That’s kinda depressing,”[/color] Dana observed with a nervous giggle. [color=Gold]“But I don’t think it’s anything to worry about,”[/color] she hastened to add. [color=Gold]“I mean, we went through a buncha prelim tests back home, and I doubt they’d go through all the hassle of bringin’ us here, if there was any chance we’d just have to be sent home again.”[/color][/quote]
Penny thought it over.

[color=39b54a]"Yeah, you're right,"[/color] she sighs. [color=39b54a]"They'd probably have experience with which cases work and which probably don't by now, and know what to look for and when to do extra tests."[/color]

[quote=@Plank Sinatra][color=ec008c]"Besides, they're not really in the business of wasting time here,"[/color] Nicole pitched in, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees and head in hands. [color=ec008c]"You heard how early they blew the horn for us, and with the way things have run so far, I doubt they're going to waste time bringing a girl into where they do procedures just to bounce her out. If they were gonna go through all that trouble they'd be more likely to kill you just to shut you up."[/color]

She winked at her new friends and adjusted her newest skirt, glowering at it with an irritation she hadn't even directed at Astrelle at her worst yesterday.[/quote]
Penny made a face.

[color=39b54a]"Wow, aren't you all sunshine and rainbows right now,"[/color] she replies. [color=39b54a]"I mean, I don't think anyone here's above the age of 16. Would be pretty grim thing to do. Has Astrelle been rubbing off on you that fast?"[/color]

[quote][color=ec008c]"I wish they'd kill me, frickin' uniform..."[/color] she grumbled. [color=ec008c]"Hey, wait, I probably shouldn't say that, right? That's probably what they say in those shows you guys watch before things go bad. Forget I said that."[/color][/quote]
[color=39b54a]"Aw come on, they're not [i]that[/i] bad,"[/color] she replies, feeling the fabric. [color=39b54a]"Not the colors I'd have chosen, but I suppose that's a matter of personal taste.

"Then again, I suppose being from Hasta makes it harder to accept uniforms meant for mere mortals, doesn't it?"[/color] she teases Nichole.

Turning to Vanna and Astrelle, she gives them a wave.

[color=39b54a]"So how are you two today?"[/color] she asks them. [color=39b54a]"Slept well, I hope?"[/color]

[quote]They were on the subject of their favorite shows again, discussing how they hoped their transformations would be modeled after certain girls from certain Adjective Adjective Job Title Noun anime. She thought again of their discussion on the airship yesterday, and the innocence with which they'd discussed Ars Magi propaganda. Astrelle hadn't been fooled, and she was probably smarter not to be. But why go through all the trouble of being an Ars Magi just to feel like shit about it?

[color=ec008c]"You'll have to tell me who I'd be,"[/color] Nicole said with an apologetic grin. [color=ec008c]"I really only speak the language when it comes to over-the-top macho stuff."[/color]

[color=ec008c][i]God, it would be so sick if I became Eradicator. Or Demonetta or Roboslut.[/i][/color] She pictured herself, slinging a pair of pistols in either direction. [color=ec008c][b][i]I don't kiss magical girls. I turn 'em to slag.[/i][/b][/color]

[color=ec008c]"Maybe you girls could give me, like, a list of beginner's stuff to watch for nights off? Help [i]amica tua[/i] out?"[/color]
[/quote]
[color=39b54a]"I've watched a few shows, if you want inspiration,"[/color] Penny says. [color=39b54a]"Most are stuff you only watch when you're ten, but I know a couple others that are pretty enjoyable even to grown-ups."[/color]

[quote][color=Gold]“Yeah!”[/color] Dana added. [color=Gold]“From what I’ve heard, ya don’t really change all that much. Ya just get a super cool outfit, based on your personality and your mental image of your ideal magical self! So, like, I’ll probably look a lot like Beautiful Guardian Gunslinger Alexis! And my Gladius’ll probably be some kinda super cool magitech pistol, or somethin’! Whadya think, Penny?!”[/color] she asked her roommate excitedly. [color=Gold]“Wouldn’t it be awesome if ya looked like Magical Maid Altea?!”[/color]
[/quote]
"Weeeellll..." Penny starts. To be honest, she does like the costume in Magic Maid Altea, but the idea of going around in what was basically a costume from a kids' show would probably draw scorn - assuming of course someone else didn't have that same costume idea.

[quote=@Inedible]
“Gunslinger Alexis?” One of the nearer pair of girls asks, drawn by the stray bits of conversation from the Laurus bunch. The olive-skinned girl speaking turns to the group nearby, continuing, “I used to watch that all the time—” 

“Isn’t it a kids show?” The girl across from her, short-haired and blonde, peers over a pair of rectangular glasses at Dana and Penny, “How old are you two? That stuffs not like real life. You know that, right?”

[img]https://i.imgur.com/m0vHsWb.png[/img]  [img]https://i.imgur.com/kEc3atG.png[/img][/quote]

Penny looks over at the snarky girl, but just shrugs.

[color=39b54a]"You got me,"[/color] she says dryly. [color=39b54a]"I'm actually just 13 and lied about my age to get in here. Dana here, though, I think she's got her attitude permanently stuck to 'youthful optimism'.

"In all seriousness, though, I like to think of them as a teen girls' equivalent to the 'Join the Self Defense Forces' clips. I mean, they show them all shooting those shiny new guns, but never seem to mention 90% of soldiering is either cleaning your stuff, digging holes, sitting in a freezing foxhole, or cleaning latrines with a toothbrush.

"Hopefully, we won't have to do that bit - cleaning latrines with a toothbrush, that is."[/color]

[quote]Conversation is interrupted briefly by the clatter of a tray as another girl joins the table, taking a seat next to Vanna. Her roommate, Cara, offers a bright smile to the small group of girls gathered there. “Vanna, are these your friends? You all came in together, right?” It was clear she wanted to ask more the night before, but politeness kept her from pestering an obviously exhausted Vanna. 

It did not, however, keep the girl from remaining awake. It’s unclear when exactly or if she did sleep, but she doesn’t seem at all tired if she didn’t. 

“I’m Cara.” The red-haired girl introduces herself shortly after. “From Aquileia.” Her introduction is short, and she barrels on to more interesting things after: “I heard a few candidates didn’t show up, along with you all being late. Did something happen?” The girl leans forward, expecting some juicy gossip to be soon imparted.[/quote]
[color=39b54a]"Oh yeah, that's right,"[/color] Penny says, snapping her fingers as though to remind herself. [color=39b54a]"I thought Her Ladyship here got a room to herself, but apparently everyone gets a roommate.

"I'm Pennelope Grenoble from Ciscia, my friends call me Penny,"[/color] she says, reaching out with her left hand before remembering that's in a cast. [color=39b54a]"Well, the flight here's been a bit mixed. Service was nice, but we hit a bad bit of turbulence and I slipped and broke my arm on the way. Thinking of lodging a complaint about the flight, but so far too lazy to do so..."[/color]

She hides it, but the revelation that some candidates didn't show up makes Penny wonder. Is there a targeted effort against Ars Magi candidates? Or was it just her paranoia and air traffic in general is having trouble? She'd dismiss the concern, but the knowledge of an Ars Magi helping the monsters attack their airship leaves a nagging doubt.