[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/7doaecd.png[/img][/center]

[quote=@Plank Sinatra]This time, Nicole let her laugh fly.

[color=ec008c]"C'mon, Penny, bask in your glory a little bit. Not every girl gets to be a hero before she even puts on the uniform. Sure sounds like an origin story to me."[/color] She winked. [color=ec008c]"You wouldn't believe how cool under pressure she was, either. Don't pick a fight with her, ladies, you wouldn't believe the nerves she's got. [i]Real[/i] crocodile."[/color][/quote]
Penny gives Nichole an annoyed look

[color=39b54a][i]Et tu, Nichole?[/i][/color] Penny thinks. Nichole's clearly enjoying the attention directed at Penny. [color=39b54a][i]I swear, that girl didn't [b]look[/b] like a troublemaker when she first came on board...[/i][/color]

Penny wasn't trying to be a hero when she tackled the Void. She just saw a man in danger of dying, and tried to help him, that's all.

[quote=@Inedible]“Oh, for real?” It’s clear that Cara’s a little disappointed with that answer, possibly having expected something more exciting with the rumors of disappearing girls swirling around. Nicole and Dana’s extra praise does seem to at least elevate the redhead’s opinion, and she adds: “You must be pretty strong, busted hand or not.”[/quote]
[color=39b54a]"Well, not to brag, but I am pretty strong for my size,"[/color] Penny replies, humorously flexing a bicep.

[color=39b54a][i]Sorry, Cara, I'd love to share the real story, but let's just say we were told to keep it hush-hush,[/i][/color] she thinks. [color=39b54a][i]And frankly, the circumstances are more frightening than boast-worthy.[/i][/color]

[quote]“A chair, huh?” Interrupts the spectacled blonde girl, taping her fork against the tray in front of her. “Was it her highchair?”[/quote]
This time, Penny barely gives her a cold sidelong glance.

[i][color=39b54a]No, it was the park bench I bent your mom over last night.[/color][/i]

This is going beyond poking fun at watching silly cartoons; Penny was perfectly willing to let blondie have that little cheap shot because she guessed most here would dismiss Gunslinger Alexis as a children's cartoon - even though more than half of them probably grew up on it.

Blondie, however, is clearly just trying to put people down. The only reason Penny doesn't insult her back is the fact that they're still making good first impressions, and she didn't want to make trouble for her group.

This is clearly, however, strike one.

[quote]Her olive-skinned friend snorts, a hand quickly covering her mouth. When she recovers she chastises her companion, sputtering, “Amanda!” The girl clears her throat, giving an apologetic look toward the Laurus crew before she offers: “I’m sorry. I’m Priya, nice to meet you. I’m super excited to become an Ars Magi too, being able to transform is going to be totally amazing.” 

“Yeah yeah,” Agrees Cara, “Ignore her. When you’re an Ars Magi you’ll be even stronger! And, you know, they wouldn’t use their most powerful weapons to just dig holes or clean toilets or whatever. We’re gonna be heroes!” The girl flexes a bicep, to indicate just how strong and heroic she intends to be in the future. 

Amanda, the blonde girl, makes a derisive snort. “We’ll see who gets that lucky.” She comments, returning to picking at her meal afterward. 

A chime rings out from somewhere in the distance, warning that dinnertime will be coming to a close shortly.[/quote]
Priya seems okay, and Cara's pretty cool, a sort of big boisterous bruiser sort. She decides to chalk Amanda up to being 'that one in every class'.

Either way, dinner is almost over, so she finishes up pretty quickly. She just hopes she doesn't see too much of Amanda - for Amanda's sake, that is.

[color=39b54a]"So what's next on the agenda?"[/color] she asks Cara.