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[color=39b54a]"Yeah, I think I've seen a few of the posters over the past weekend, when I was out with the girls,"[/color] Penny replies, thinking back. [color=39b54a]"But yeah, okay, we'll talk about that later..."

'Assuming we get to see each other, that is,'[/color] she thought to herself. [color=39b54a]'Not sure if I'm ready for a steady relationship yet... Wait, why am I even thinking about this?!'[/color]

She catches Nichole looking at her, the Hastan social butterfly seemingly busy with another girl, this one a fancy-looking officer, maybe even a Duodecim from the way she carried herself about. She sighs; the redhead seemed to just ooze natural charisma that pulled others in. Nichole may not be an attention-seeker, but she seems to be in her element here.

[color=39b54a]"Hm?"[/color] she turns back to Dima when he asks about her mother. [color=39b54a]"Yeah, like I said, she's a Seargent First Class, 3rd Platoon, 51st Infantry Division. Her troops call her 'Iron Jane', and yeah, she's a tough old bird. Great mom, though.

"What about your folks? Any military among them?"[/color]

Looking at the camera crews and the bigwigs, Penny gives a slight frown.

[color=39b54a]"Ah, I dunno about that,"[/color] she replies. [color=39b54a]"I suspect I'd just get nervous as hell. Probably just follow the lead of my teammates and pray I don't leave a bad impression."[/color]

She then realizes her dance partner left her, but finds herself awkwardly looking around, not sure what to do next. She thinks about rejoining her table before she catches sight of a familiar Hastan redhead - not the chic social butterfly, the [i]other[/i] one. Blair McKenzie was spending the dance down at a table scarfing down food and drinks, talking to her teammates, generally nonchalant about the whole thing, an interesting contrast to the bubbly Dana or the adaptive Nichole. Penny chuckles as the rough Celt scares off a few sorry bastards who try to work up the nerve to talk to her.

[color=39b54a]"Oh man, those guys didn't know what hit 'em,"[/color] she mutters under her breath. She then realized there was someone behind her - Dima was back with drinks.

[color=39b54a]"Oh... thanks, I was really getting thirsty,"[/color] she says, taking one of the drinks. [color=39b54a]"It's not alcoholic, is it? Ah, screw it, old enough to fight, old enough to drink, like Mom always says."[/color]

She takes a healthy swig, grateful for the hydration. She then guides Dima to a table for the two to sit down and relax a bit.

[color=39b54a]"You know, I think we should take a seat,"[/color] she says. [color=39b54a]"I think my feet are beginning to kill me..."[/color]

She engages in pleasant talk with Dima about an assortment of topics, mostly casual conversation. She pauses a bit, trying to see where her teammates had gone. Vanna's off to the fancy section (well, the [i]really[/i] fancy section), the new girl is... somewhere, she finds herself wondering what happened to Astrelle, whereas Nichole and Dana were...

Oh, there they were. Nichole's the star attraction at the table of a few officers, drinking a whole champagne flute as the eager young men cheered her health. And Dana was at Dima's old table, chatting up a storm and generally being hard to miss.

[color=39b54a]"Nice to see them fitting in so well,"[/color] she says. [color=39b54a]"They seem to be having a blast. Yeah, never really gone to a formal occasion like this before. Always thought I'd flub something big, being this working-class girl stumbling along among a whole room of fancypants nobility. Hell, I kept trying to find ways to get out of this shindig, but Dana kept dragging me back here. Don't ask me where the off switch on her is, I gave up trying to find it. Not that I mind really; she's... well, she's got the sort of energy to brighten up a room, if you noticed. It's nice, actually; makes you feel like the world's a bit brighter with her in it. Maybe some find it annoying, but eh, screw 'em. She's fine by me.

"And Nichole... I don't know how she does it. She already had the city mapped out by our third week here and just seems to turn heads wherever she goes. It's like she's born for the spotlight, y'ask me. Me? I'm just fine with trying to get along, but I'll be honest, it's nice to be in this bunch. The other two, Vanna - sorry, Lady Khay Vanna - and Astrelle are more aloof. Yeah, Vanna of Diane. It's kind of intimidating around her sometimes, to be honest, the way she constantly carries herself, but then again, she's Duodecim, so I can't imagine how her life's like, so I'm not passing judgement. Astrelle... I dunno, she just... she got transferred one night, that's all I know. No news, no goodbyes, just... she's in a different dorm and a different team."[/color]

At the end of the ball, she bids Dima good night.

[color=39b54a]"Thanks for the dance, Dima,"[/color] she says. [color=39b54a]"It's been a fun night, maybe we can meet again soon. Thanks for the company, it's helped me keep my mind off my anxiety."[/color]

She then notices they're passing by a vending machine as she moves to leave. She crackles her knuckles as a mischievous grin draws on her face.

[color=39b54a]"Hey, Dima, wanna see a neat trick?"[/color] she asks. [color=39b54a]"Here's a drink on me, hope you like surprises. Oh, and keep a look out in case anyone notices."[/color]

She snaps her fingers, summoning an arc of electric, before smacking the machine with the palm of her hand, causing it to shudder strongly (Penny is clearly seriously strong for her size) before a clatter of cans results, spitting up two free drink cans without Penny having to insert a single coin.

[color=39b54a]"How's that for a magic trick?"[/color] she says to her partner, giving him whichever flavor he prefers. [color=39b54a]"See you around..."[/color]

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The fresh breeze on the walk back to the dorm was sobering and soothing, allowing her to relax properly. Overall, the dance wasn't as bad as she was worried it would be, so she guesses she owes Dana an apology. She spends the walk savoring the outdoors, the sights, and slowly sipping her root beer along the way, thinking about the stars and her folk back home. She should really write soon. She almost misses the approach of a particularly bubbly girl.

[color=Gold]“So, how are ya feelin’, Penny?”[/color] Dana asked her roommate during the short walk across the campus. [color=Gold]“Did ya have at least [i]some[/i] fun?”[/color]

[color=39b54a]"Well, it certainly wasn't as bad as I thought,"[/color] admits the Siscian. [color=39b54a]"It was actually sort of fun. Dima's a nice guy, good to talk with, bit dorky, but I think it's nice, really. Though I clearly didn't have nearly as much fun as you or Nichole. Don't think I didn't see you at Noah's table, chatting up a storm like you always do. And Nichole being the toast of a table of officers. Seriously, I have no idea how she does that, just catch all the attention like that."[/color]