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[quote=@Ponn][color=Gold]“Hey, I’m completely lost when it comes to this formal stuff, too,”[/color] the energetic Norban told her roommate with a grin. [color=Gold]“But it’s still pretty cool to meet all these high-ranking people, and who knows? Maybe we can even make some new friends?! Or maaaybe a new [i]boyfriend?[/i]”[/color] she added mischievously while gently elbowing her bespectacled friend under the table. [color=Gold]“That group of guys from the officers’ academy over there are lookin’ kinda bored,”[/color] she noted, gesturing at a small cluster of young men with her thumb. [color=Gold]“I’m sure they’d love to meet two genuine Ars Magi, so why don’t we go over and introduce ourselves?! And don’t worry about feelin’ embarrassed,”[/color] she added as she got up and proceeded to pull Penny to her feet as well. [color=Gold]“I know ya might not be the best in social situations, but just think of this as another kinda battle! If ya go in there with that good ol’ Penny Grenoble confidence, I’m sure everything’ll work out!”[/color][/quote]
Penny sighs at the boundless optimism of her teammate. This is definitely one of those times it could be a little exhausting. Right now, she could come up with almost a dozen excuses of varying strength so as to ditch the dance and why she's worried she'll screw it up somehow, but she suspects the Norban would just shoot down each one with her usual cheer. She only halfheartedly resists when Dana pulls her to her feet, not wanting to go through this ordeal but eventually giving up on changing her teammate's mind.

As they got up, a white-haired girl came up and said hello, giving Penny some rather formal greetings, before moving on to address Nichole.

[color=39b54a]"And hello to you too,"[/color] Penny replies, a little surprised. She studies the newcomer. [color=39b54a]"Wait, are you Astrelle's replacement?"[/color]

Astrelle hadn't been around in the past few days. Dana was worried that Astrelle had been expelled, but in truth the dark-haired girl was probably just transferred to a different dorm and class. Still, the move had been surprising, and the group felt a little empty without her.

She raises an eyebrow in amusement as Cordelia, as the girl introduced herself, asked Nichole for a dance. She looks to see if the Hastian girl accepts.