Somehow, Tetrad's offer to play a game of Keijo made her merry group of friends totally disband. Which, kind of sucked. She wasn't sure when she was going to see Eliza, Emily or Samantha again, so it was a bit disheartening to see them split after what she imagined must have been a small misunderstanding.  Luna hadn't been out of Penrose long, but for some reason her interactions with the new magical girls in the northern outpost felt hollow somehow. Normally she loved to meet new people, but that "new" feeling wore off faster with some than others. even mingling along with people at this party didn't fill her with as much joy as she would have liked. Did she drink too much? Had Penrose become more boring in her absence? It seemed like the cliques that existed outside of the party were still in effect here. Cradle primarily interacted with its own members, same for beacon and whatever Penny called her legion of monsters. Even someone as outgoing as Lily had little use for people outside her immediate vicinity of friends, like Alexander and... Justine? Well alright, at least Lily seemed to be treading unfamiliar territory. Not that Tetrad could really judge anyone. She was hoping to see Will again, but it seemed he wasn't here. Catching up with Emily would have been okay if she wasn't trying to Engauge Sakura in a slapping competition. [s]Like the kind critical moist is always going on about.[/s] [color=75c159]”Why did I even show up to this? Maybe Trixy made the right call staying behind.”[/color] Of course there was someone at the party that Tetrad had been meaning to meet. She didn't have a ton of memories of them, she had just heard a bit about them from Eliza. She had no idea what the horror's long term goal with all this was, but she didn't really care. It wasn't often you got the chance to talk to someone who died.  ... ... ... Among all the excitement going on, Cerise seemed to have been obscured into the background. Sure, she hung out with Valerie for awhile. She caught up with North and Evelyn. But for the most part, she seemed content staying in the petting zoo with the snowbuns and harebringers. Unfortunately Dan called everyone back inside for the Feast and White Elephant, the latter she forgot to sign up for. Oh well. Cerise did join everyone else in the Feast Hall, but with everyone else joining others in groups; Even Valerie went back to Amanda,  She was alone. The scarlet medic frowned slightly. Times like this, she wished her sister was still here. She looked around for a seat, and decided to forget about it and just eat- [i]WUMP[/i] [b][color=DE3163]"Eek?!"[/color][/b] A wooden serving platter hit the table like the fist of an angry god. The medic wouldn’t be the only one startled by Tetrad’s sudden arrival, but she was the person she chose to sit in front of.  [color=75c159]”So we get wished into this place, and then after a single conversation we get cast aside like a bad hand.”[/color] Tetrad had a sip of eggnog. [color=75c159]”I’m Tetrad by the way, an agent of Cradle.”[/color] she extended her hand to shake. Cerise had jumped at the sudden appearance of Tetrad, just as irritated as she was disappointed. Though her reason for being in the background was different from hers. She tilted her head in confusion. [b][color=DE3163]"Uh, sounds bad. But I didn't have any trouble like you did, I just stayed at the petting zoo.[/color][/b] she said. When the other girl introduced herself, the medic shook her hand.   [b][color=DE3163]"Cerise. Though I guess you already know that."[/color][/b]   [color=75c159]”Yea. Like you, I’ve been keeping an eye on the other people around here. Listening in on conversations and and all that junk.”[/color] Tetrad winked. [color=75c159]”I’ve heard a bit about you, but I figured I had to see the real deal for myself, and all that.”[/color] She propped up her chin with her hand. [color=75c159]”Do you miss your sister? Was she a good one?”[/color]  [b][color=DE3163]"Oh. Yeah..."[/color][/b] Cerise glanced down to the cup of hot cocoa she grabbed on the way to her seat. [b][color=DE3163]"I know we were the same person once upon a time, but I guess that helped us stay in sync. It feels weird, not having your twin around. Kinda lonely..."[/color][/b] She said, her voice reduced to a mumble near the last sentence. However she didn't seem sad or anything. Just lost. [color=75c159]”Well as someone without siblings, I can tell you that there are people I’d like to be with too.”[/color] With a sigh, Luna looked away from the medic. [color=75c159]”Where would you rather be right now?”[/color]   The medic looked back up with a shrug. [b][color=DE3163]"Dunno. Doesn't look like I'm needed here... Got any ideas?"[/color][/b] she asked. [color=75c159]”I didn’t mean like that”[/color] Tetrad smiled. [color=75c159]”I mean like, where would you rather be? What place comes to mind? A mall, a bar, stuff like that.”[/color] [b][color=DE3163]"Oh. Hm..."[/color][/b] Cerise thought for a moment. [b][color=DE3163]"First thing that comes to my mind is a movie theatre."[/color][/b] [color=75c159]”You like movies, eh?”[/color] Tetrad straightened out her posture. [color=75c159]”I typically enjoy more interactive experiences. I remember going to the theater with my parents once, and they kept telling me to ‘shush’ because I was being too noisy. I think that’s why I have a preference for watching them at home. Though it’s always better if you watch them with friends, isn’t it?”[/color] She pulled off her hat and set it off to the side. [color=75c159]”You must have a favorite movie then, right?”[/color] With a giggle, there was a small grin on Cerise's face. [b][color=DE3163]I- Luciel, really, had a cousin who used to work in theatre. We used to make time to go to the movies together, mostly for horror ones so we can laugh at how stupid the main characters are. Though he had a soft spot for old movies like Grease. Y'heard of it?"[/color][/b] She asked. [color=75c159]”Mmmmm, it sounds familiar, but I haven’t watched many classics. What is it about?”[/color] Cerise's eyes widened. There was a moment of silence, before she took a deep breath. [b][color=DE3163]"S'basically a musical romantic comedy about a local boy named Danny Zuko, and a vacationing Sandy Olsson who fall in love durin' the summer of 1958..."[/color][/b] She'd go on to explain the movie to Tetrad. From scenes like the drive-in movie theatre and the race, to eventually the theory that it was all in a dying Sandy's head, and what went into the making of the movie.  Soon enough, the medic caught herself amidst her rambling, and looked away in embarrassment. [b][color=DE3163]"S-Sorry, I got carried away didn't I?"[/color][/b] [color=75c159]”Juuust a bit. But it’s clear that movies mean a lot to you, or at the very least, you enjoyed this Luciel person.”[/color] She pulled out her phone. [color=75c159]”Wait one minute, I gotta check something.”[/color] And with that, Tetrad stood up and darted out of the lodge. Roughly fifty-five seconds later, she returned. [color=75c159]”Sorry about that, there’s no internet connection here.”[/color] Tetrad sat down again. [color=75c159]”I was kind of curious about that movie, so I googled it. Particularly the fan theory you were talking about.”[/color] She showed Cerise a web page she had saved onto her phone. [color=75c159]”It looks like people came to the conclusion that it was a ‘death dream’ because of how strange the ending was. Just with it being so happy and the couple flying through the air in a car. But the director said that was just a throw back to the shop teacher who said ‘If it were in any better condition, it would fly.’ and is just a representation for their happy ending.”[/color] She lowered her phone into Cerise’s hands. [color=75c159]”The creator personally denied the theory was true too, though I guess that’s the nice thing about head canon, right?”[/color] Tetrad’s grin got wider. [color=75c159]”If you want to believe a movie has a message or meaning, and it works with everything that’s been established, it’s a valid interpretation. I think that’s why you can have polarizing movies that seem to get just as much love as hate.”[/color] She tipped her head down. [color=75c159]”Though I’m pretty simple in that regard. I’m down for anything that puts me in a good mood. Kind of like this chance encounter. But I think it can be made even better.”[/color]   Well, if Tetrad was looking to get a jaw dropped reaction from Cerise, she definitely did. The medic's eyes were lit up in glee as the other girl gave her two cents on the theory. Though there was still something she had to address. [b][color=DE3163]"Oh, uh, Luciel's me actually. Or was me. Was me and Cereza- Y-Y'know how twin souls work."[/color][/b] She clarified with a grin. [b][color=DE3163]"Ya' kinda' sound like my cousin right now. Too bad he disappeared to Timbuktu, would've loved to introduce ya'll to 'em."[/color][/b]  Then Tetrad suggested they'd do something to make their meeting better. Cerise was already in a good mood, so she was willing to hear her out. [b][color=DE3163]"'Aight then, shoot."[/color][/b]   [color=75c159]”Let’s make it a surprise, follow me.”[/color]    …   …   …   They didn’t have to walk far. As soon as they got outside, tetrad sighed. [color=75c159]”Sorry, the noise everyone was making made it hard to concentrate.”[/color] Tetrad folded her arms and bit the corner of her lip. [color=75c159]”There’s someone I think you should meet. But I’m also not really sure how this thing works. Apparently we were summoned here? So I don’t know what’s going to happen if we try to leave.”[/color] Tetrad wasn’t sure how much to tell Cerise. She didn’t seem to be aware of her own death, if this was even her in the first place. Tetrad wasn’t that close with Maura’s extended network of agents, so she didn’t know. [color=75c159]”I’m not sure if you’ll be able to come back here if you leave. If that’s okay with you though, I think she would really appreciate it.”[/color] [b][color=DE3163]"Huh...Well, we won't know 'till we find out right?"[/color][/b] Despite Tetrad's hesitance, Cerise decided to remain optimistic. [b][color=DE3163]"Who do I gotta' see?"[/color][/b] She asked. [color=75c159]”I could tell you her name, but she’s more someone you need to experience.”[/color]    With a snap of Tetrad’s fingers, the two were shifted away from Dan’s snow scape and to an equally cold, if far less inviting area.   Despite being the middle of the day, the clouds were so gray it might as well have been the evening. The wind was still, but droves of snowflakes rained from the sky. They were standing on top of a building, but the exact height was impossible to determine. The horizon was out of sight, so they had to be at least a half a dozen stories in the air. There were plenty of skyscrapers on either side of them that reached much higher into the heavens.    Their jolly Santa outfits had vanished, replaced with whatever they wore before coming to the party.    [color=75c159]”I miss that warming spell already.”[/color]    Not long after their arrival, the newly arrived could hear the sound of high lace boots beating a trail through the snow. [color=CCBFFF]”Is it Betty? Is it Sam?”[/color] An eyepatch wearing maid hopped from a nearby roof top onto the roof they were presently standing on. [color=CCBFFF]”Hmmm?”[/color] Her only visible eye seemed to expand in her head. [color=CCBFFF]”Wait a moment, I know who this cutie is.”[/color]   Tetrad stepped off to the side and gestured between them. [color=75c159]”Cerise, this is Trixy. Trixy, Cerise.”[/color]   Trixy blinked. There might have been sweat on her face, but the snow made it hard to say. [color=CCBFFF]”What’s going on?”[/color]   [color=75c159]”Long story.”[/color] Tetrad flipped through her cards. [color=75c159]”I’ll tell you all about it later. For now, just act natural.”[/color]   Trixy stepped closer to the medic. [color=CCBFFF]”Well um, hey!”[/color] She extended her hand. [color=CCBFFF]”You uh, you enjoyed the party? You got a chance to meet up with Eliza and those people?”[/color] [b][color=DE3163]"Uhm, yeah!"[/color][/b] Cerise shook Trixy's hand. [b][color=DE3163]"I know it ain't been that long, but I did meet up with Val and the others. Eliza on the other hand, well, guess she was too busy. The place did get chaotic at times."[/color][/b] She chuckled slightly. Though at the moment, there wasn't much to laugh about. [b][color=DE3163]"Kinda felt like I wasn't even there to most. Made me wish my sister was still with me... Gah, but enough of that! How've you been?"[/color][/b] [color=CCBFFF]”I’m hanging in there.”[/color] Trixy forced a smile. [color=CCBFFF]”I’m not surprised a lot of people looked over you. There are a lot of magical girls in penrose and they’re all equally cute. Most are fine just forming a small group of friends, but I don’t ignore anyone, especially if they’re cute!”[/color] she chuckled. [color=CCBFFF]”I’d have gone to the party, but I’ve decided I’m going to wait for Sam to come here. I don’t want to jinx it by seeing her early or anything.”[/color] after some fidgiting, Trixy looked over her shoulder. [color=CCBFFF]”I’m not having a party, but if you wanna hang around, I’m watching some Mary Poppins. Would that interest you?”[/color] [b][color=DE3163]"Oh, I'd love to! Do ya' got any popcorn? Snacks? Maybe some soda??"[/color][/b] She asked, hugging herself to stay warm. [b][color=DE3163]"Anything beats freezin' my tail off!"[/color][/b] [color=CCBFFF]”I think there’s a drink dispenser inside. It’s just cold beverages, but it’s a lot warmer inside.”[/color] Trixy led everyone towards the hatch. [color=CCBFFF]”Popcorn will be a bit harder, but I think we’ve got some jiffy pop laying around somewhere. It’s just going to take a moment to prepare.”[/color] [color=75c159]”Now [i]this[/i] is a party!”[/color] Tetrad closed the hatch behind them. The falling slow filled in their footsteps, and soon there was no trace of them. Unless you listened for the sounds of muffled laughter. … … … How unfortunate that head canon isn’t applicable to role playing games.