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There were many things that the twins had hoped to accomplish. Most of those things seemingly impossible with the various people and factions as they were. A number of things had changed though, not the least of which was the leadership in the Cradle. Maura seemed to be much more... open to dialog with those that weren't necessarily friends. If nothing else Kayli had left a good enough impression to act as a mediator for leaders in both Beacon and the Cradle. Though just as likely they could, and likely would, use the encounter to size each other up.

Whatever the case a place of meeting was struck in the Overcity. Given the circumstances a private room at a bar was booked where they could be uninterrupted but wouldn't be in some shady corner of nowhere. Arriving early Kayli would protect the room with what she could. Can never be too careful. Her guests would arrive and find drinks provided. 

At the designated time, Alicia strode into the bar with a confident and formal demeanor. This was strictly business, and she held little illusion that things would go smoothly. Veronica might not be in charge of this particular group anymore, but no doubt her influence still loomed. That was why she had agreed to this meeting. She wanted to see what the new head was like. 

Directed to the private room, she nodded to Kayli as she entered. "Hello Kayli, nice to see you again. I guess you've been pretty busy since we last saw each other."

Penny's warnings still rang true to Maura's head. Should she be doing this so early? Could she make a good impression at this point? She didn't know, but she trusted Kayli could help things run smoothly. Besides, Maura had her own questions in mind.

 Not opting to shadow-hop this time, she'd enter the room a bit after Alicia, Betty in tow. [color=crimson]"Good evening, everyone."[/color] she waved, then turned to the Beacon leader. [color=crimson]"You didn't have to meet with me if you didn't want to, so thank you for coming."[/color] she smiled.
 
Betty was standing at Maura’s side. The girl was armed to the teeth, and she had her palm resting on the hilt of a sheathed sword. Unless someone had seen her fight, they might have found it curious how she had so many swords, and only two hands to hold them in. Her brow was crossed, and she eyed the two other girls carefully. Her fingers twitched, and her breathing was deep.

The keeper gave a nod to Alicia and stood from her seat. [b]"Penrose has a lot going on. I said I would work on things like this and I seek to keep to my word. Suppose it's a surprise to both of us it was so soon."[/b] She would step up as her other two attendees arrived. [b]"Hello again Maura."[/b] She noted tense girl next to the patron. Clearing her throat a bit she gestured to the mearby table where they could sit. [b]"Yes, thank you all for coming. I don't have specific topics for us to discuss other than perhaps one, but we could get to that later. I though it best if we use this time to sit and talk over some tea or coffee. Or if you would prefer we could order something more specific."[/b] She would offer as she guided them.

Alicia took a seat just before Maura arrived, and the meeting could begin. She nodded to Betty out of respect but otherwise didnt pay her too much attention. She seemed to just be here a a bodyguard, so that was what Alicia would treat her as.

She then turned back to Kayli. "Coffee would be good." she decided. It would let her keep her nerves calm. Having made her order, her attention finally settled on Maura as she sized up the Cradle leader. "Well, the cradle is one of the major players in Penrose. With Veronica heading off for greener pastures, I figured I should learn who I would be dealing with from now on." 

Maura hummed, sitting down across from Alicia. [color=crimson]"Well, I'm sure you have your questions. I'll answer them the best I can."[/color] she looked over to Kayli. [color=crimson]"I'll take some tea then."[/color]

Kayli would check with Betty, but she did not appear to be in a very talkative mood, and just shook her head. With that, Kayli stepped off to one side briefly to pour the drinks. Coming back over she would set the respective drinks before each. Any fixings they might want would be there on the table for them to use. Sitting down herself across from Betty the girl would sip her tea. For the moment she would let the other two speak.

Alicia nodded gratefully to Kayli as she took her drink, gently blowing over the surface to cool it off before she made any effort to actually drink it. Just because she had the superhuman ability to regenerate from burning her mouth didnt mean that it was an experience she enjoyed inflicting upon herself.

While holding on to that, she began the question and answer session. "I suppose my immediate question is what your intentions are for the Cradle. Veronica told me what she had in mind, but she's not here anymore. So what do you intend to do with all this power?"

 [color=crimson]"I don't exactly have a huge goal in mind. Mostly just getting Penrose back to normal at the moment, and preventing the apocalypse."[/color] Maura took a sip of her tea. [color=crimson]"Things may be calm now, but who knows what may happen next."[/color]
 
Betty took a deep breath and smiled at her new employer. [color=A15EC0]“Whew! For a second there, I thought you were going to bring a big sweeping change over the organization. Boss always had faith in your style.”[/color] Betty took her hand off of her sword and sat down beside Maura, totally enamored with her new employer. Then she turned to the others, at which point her eyes darted between the two other girls she had yet to introduce herself to.  [color=A15EC0]“Right."[/color] Betty twiddle her thumbs and looked off into space.

It was nice to hear that Maura had no plans beyond preserving peace and preventing general doom, Alicia was not content to just accept that answer on simple faith. Too many things had happened for her to trust a complete stranger. Particularly someone Veronica trusted enough to take over for her. 
 
While Betty spoke with her boss, Alicia took the opportunity to sip her coffee. The bitter liquid kept her mind focused for the conversation, and she prepared to resume. 
 
“That’s good to hear,” she agreed with a  small nod. “At least the Cradle is being consistent.” That had been Veronica’s self professed goal after all, or something like it. But having confirmed it, that led to a natural follow up. “And how do you feel about the Ascendancy? Veronica wasn’t exactly fond of them after the Rave. They weren’t fond of her either.”

Maura sighed. [color=crimson]"I'll be honest with you, they're not exactly my cup of tea either, er, no pun intended."[/color] she let her head rest on her hand. [color=crimson]"Though from what Penny told me, you guys didn't ask for their intervention did you? Y'know, with the whole 'vacation' thing?"[/color] she appeared concerned.

"Thats right," Alicia agreed, not surprised by Mauras opinion in the slightest. It was hardly unique. "With so many of us gone the city was being overrun by monsters. They stepped in to keep things under control. I had hoped that I could convince them to leave once we had returned, but the attack at the Rave made that unviable." 

Truth be told, she wasn't sure what it would take to get them to leave now, short of a directive from the central organization. But that didn't seem likely to happen any time soon. 

Betty threw her hands onto the table and stood up. [color=A15EC0]“Well maybe the rave wouldn't have been a problem if they didn't insist on playing directly into the PI's hands!"[/color] She spit out her words like they were venom. [color=A15EC0]“Also, maybe don't ally with someone who nearly destroyed the world? There had to have been better choices than Justine, right?"[/color] Her body was trembling. [color=A15EC0]“Go ahead, say something about Mariette! The only reason we allied with her was to get at Justine. And you know what? It worked!" [/color] 

Maura recoiled slightly at Betty's sudden outburst, but tried to calm her down regardless. [color=crimson]"Easy there, tiger..."[/color] she patted the girl's back., causing her to sit back down. Her gaze lost all intensity as she let out an exhausted sigh.[color=crimson]"I'm sure they were as unaware of the PI's involvement as we were, at the time."[/color] She turned back to Alicia. [color=crimson]"Look, they may have good intentions, but the Ascendancy's methods contradict that. You know how the saying about the road to Hell goes. That's my only gripe about them."[/color] Maura took another sip of her tea.

 [color=crimson]"You're still angry about Mariette, aren't you?"[/color] She frowned.

Alicia did her best to keep her calm, sipping her coffee through the bodyguards outburst. "As Maura said, we had no idea that they were anything more than a tabloid. Unless you're saying that Veronica knew and decided that a magical bomb would be a useful part of her plans." It wouldnt have surprised her for a former Coin broker after all.

Betty rubbed her head. [color=A15EC0]“I'm saying they involved themselves in something that they were ill equipped to face."[/color] She looked off into the distance. 

[Color=crimson]"Technically, we all weren't. But I get it."[/color]

Alicia chose to ignore Betty for now, with that line of conversation seeming like a waste of time. What had happened, happened. They just had to live with the outcome. 

Personally, she had not had any intention of bringing up Mariette, since that was another legacy of Veronicas leadership rather than Maura. But since it had she felt obligated to address it. "As a matter of fact, there weren't," she replied simply. "No one else was willing to acknowledge the threat she posed. I did what I felt I had to."

Having said what she needed to there, her focus returned to Maura. "What is there to be angry about? Everything was resolved, assuming the eldritch Horror doesn't notice she's been reverted from her brainwashing of course." Alicia was skeptical of how viable that solution was, but everyone else seemed to be confident that things would work out. 

 [color=crimson]"Guess that depends on if she decides to break off of Asengav completely."[/color] Maura shrugged. [color=crimson]"They could try and get more magical girls free from the mind-control shtick, but he's bound to piece things together if they're not careful."[/color]

The subject changing to something she felt more involved in, Kayli would sit forward. [b]"I need to try and get in contact with Mariette if I can. I can see how someone like her could be conflicted about things when they were taken in at such an early age. She needs guidence, idealy from someone that she doesn't feel is trying to use her. Though talking about it makes the whole thing sound fishy."[/b] She would admit. Several steps had been made, but it was hard to tell if the efforts would turn out for anyone at this point.

"Regardless, its not my business anymore. You've dealt with the major threats. I intend to focus on making sure nothing steps into that void," she replied. She did her best to be calm and reasonable about it, but she was not entirely content. Still, if Maura was anything like Veronica then being up front about that would only be a weakness. 

[color=crimson]"Alright. But if you don't have any further questions, may I ask you something?"[/color] Maura asked Alicia. [color=crimson]"Are you okay? I mean, with everything that's happened, it's bound to strain people, but I can't help worrying."[/color] She appeared genuinely concerned.

An eyebrow rose as Alicia looked on Maura in surprise, but her response was about as automatic as breathing. They might not be enemies anymore, but that did not mean they were friends. Especially with Betty being so hostile and being right here. "I appreciate your concern for my well being, but Im fine," she replied, leaving things like that without a desire to elaborate further.

Maura would blink, unimpressed, before it turned into a mischievous grin. [color=crimson]"Come on, you don't got anything? Don't want to beat something up for your frustrations?"[/color]

Betty’s hand came to rest on the hilt of her massive odachi. Or to those unfamiliar with swords, a two-handed katana. [color=A15EC0]“Maura, if someone layed a finger on you, I’d cut that finger off, along with the hand it was attached to."[/color] Betty fret her brow. [color=A15EC0]“But if you insist on having Alicia punch someone, I can take it! She can hit me!"[/color]

Maura pouted at Betty. [color=crimson]"You know I can take a simple punch! And I don't want you accidentally cutting her hand off either."[/color] she turned to Alicia. [color=crimson]"It's up to you though, dear. If you have anything else in mind, we can try that."[/color] she smiled.

[color=A15EC0]“I won’t cut her, because I’ll be letting her hit me!"[/color] Betty leaned in front of Maura while pointing at herself. With both hands. her sheathes lightly bumped into Maura as she did so.  [color=A15EC0]“Do it!"[/color]

Listening to the exchange, after several moments Alicia interjected. "I don't intend on punching anyone," she protested firmly. Or venting, or doing anything that could make its way back to Veronica's ears. "I'm fine." 

 [color=Crimson]"Alright, I won't prod you any further. [sub]Bettymoveoutoftheway.[/sub]"[/color] Maura shrugged, moving Betty back to her seat. [color=crimson]"Well then, what do you want to do now?"[/color]

With questions of her emotional stability resolved, Alicia returned to the matter of business. There was not much left to do, at least as far as she was concerned. She was getting a read, though whether it was a read that was correct was an entirely different case.  
 
For now she returned to her coffee, which  was mostly finished by this point in the conversation. “I suppose the only thing I’d want to know at this point is your relationship as head of this portion of the Cradle to Veronica herself. Does she have access to your memories too?”

Maura hesitated to speak. This tick did not go unnoticed by Betty, who jumped onto the table and pointed at Alicia.

[color=A15EC0]“Classified information!"[/color] Her finger was hovering a few inches over her head. [color=A15EC0]“As an intelligence gathering organization, you can’t expect us to give away all of our secrets all willy nilly- Hey, I didn’t notice, but you have nice hair."[/color] She kneeled in front of Alicia. [color=A15EC0]“It’s so shiny! I could have shiny hair, but it’s white so that would be kind of annoying. But yea!"[/color] She fret her brow. [color=A15EC0]“Revealing information like that would be like me asking you what kind of shampoo you use, it’s never gunna happen!"[/color]

 To be fair Maura didn't know what her relationship with Veronica was exactly. So when Betty intervened before she could work out an answer, she mouthed a "sorry" to Alicia before moving the bodyguard back to her seat.

Alicia resisted the urge to roll her eyes once more as Betty spoke up about classified information and whatnot. Perhaps it had been too much to ask, but she had nonetheless held out hope that it would work. As expected of an organization made by a Coin Broker, they had their fair share of secrets it seemed.

For now, shed just have to be more direct. "Fine. Then how likely is it that Veronica will swoop back into town one day and make all this talking pointless?" If she couldn't know how far her reach extended, she could at least know that. 

 [color=crimson]"Highly unlikely."[/color] Maura took a moment to finish her tea. [color=crimson]"Veronica had to disrupt something important when she first returned, I don't think she'll will again any time soon."[/color]
 
 Betty sensed Maura’s uncertainty again, and probably felt like she had to redeem herself. So she added on to what Maura had said. [color=A15EC0]“More importantly, Veronica surrendered the Cradle to Maura with the bindings of a magical contract. It’s impossible for her to get it back unless Maura signs it back to her."[/color]

There was some silence for a bit. Kayli would look at Betty for a little while before turning her gaze to Maura. [b]"I do have something that I'm sure several of us have questions about. Justine. I was able to confirm her purification and her profession of repentance. Have you worked out the details of your agreement?"[/b] Given Betty's direct encounter, the Keeper did her best to calm the room with her magic. Being under Justine's control was something she understood on a personal level.

Maura seemed to flinch when Justine was brought up. [color=crimson]"Erm, yeah. I was hoping to explain to the other agents next meeting, but to keep Father from corrupting her again, I took Justine in."[/color] She crossed her arms with a sigh. [color=crimson]"I'm more than aware my choice will not be...well-received. The purification potion kept her torn between life and death, thus I was able to negotiate with her. Look at this as her rehabilitation."[/color] She looked to Alicia. [color=crimson]"And I'm aware she may try to deceive me. I'm keeping a close eye on her for a bit to see that won't happen. If she dares to lay a finger on my agents, the contract will be nulled, and I'll drag her to the depths of Hell myself. I have a few friends down there that'd love to say hello."[/color] Maura looked into her tea cup and furrowed her brows. [color=crimson]"If anything, I can have Eliza babysit her instead.[/color] she joked.

[color=A15EC0]“She was already given a second chance, and she squandered it."[/color] Betty propped up her head with her elbow. [color=A15EC0]“She should have been executed."[/color] Betty’s reaction wasn’t very strong, but Kayli was being stressed to her limit. This was more taxing than the twin’s attempt to break into Abigail’s mind while it was protected by the spark. 

 [color=Crimson]"Why do you think I'm watching her closely?"[/color] Maura raised a brow. [color=crimson]"Not to mention that was when she was still corrupted. Call me curious, but I want to see how this new Justine ticks. If it doesn't work out, well, it's like I said. Not to mention Sonia's still out there somewhere. We may need the extra help against her."[/color]

An eyebrow rose as Alicia regarded Betty. "I believe that squandering is a matter of perspective," she noted, as the one who had been working with Justine up until now. Sure, she had done bad things in the course of that time, and there probably would have been some betrayals, but the actual cooperation itself was not, in itself, proof of her evil nature.

After a moment she shrugged and placed her now empty cup down on the coffee table. "Well, I dont have anything more to discuss," she noted, before falling silent to let Kayli and the others converse if they wished. 

Another silence fell, and as it seemed that everyone was done talking, Kayli would break the silence and wrap up. [b]"Well then, if there isn't anything else I suppose we can call this a close. I want to thank you again for agreeing to meet. Not everyone may agree with methods or decisions, but I think it's worth at least trying to work things out. If for nothing else for the sake of what remains of the city and its inhabitants. Given the last few months I don't imagine the area can take many more events like it's seen."[/b] She would try and bring them all to some common ground. If nothing else having the world burn around them was hopefully not the goal.