[color=C41E3A]"Damn, does this place even have a phone signal??"[/color] Finn mutter to himself, having grabbed his phone out of his hammerspace. Well, tried to, with Oliver hitching a piggyback ride at this point. Idly walking to somewhere with less people, he attempted to call someone. [color=C41E3A]"... Hey, Riona! Is there a chance you know a town called Penrose?"[/color]
 
 Dina's aspect had degraded considerably ever since she had set foot in the Christmas party. While her regal cat-girl self was still present, she was frazzled and nervous, and the usual stoic demeanor had been replaced by deep frown. Furthermore, her tail was showing signs of being pretty on edge, as it curled against one of her legs.
 
 "May I have a moment of your time?" She said, corteusly as she approached Finn from a safe distance.
 
 The two looked back to Dina, though Oliver appeared slightly worried for the regent.

 [color=C41E3A]"I'm gonna have to call you back, Rio."[/color] Finn said to the phone, then hung up. [color=C41E3A]"Do you require the both of us, or myself alone?"[/color] He simply asked her.
 
"It matters not." Dina sighed."It would have been good if Maura was here as well." Dina did say.

 [color=C41E3A]"Hmm..."[/color] Finn hummed in thought, looking behind himself, and to his shadow. [color=C41E3A]"Give me a moment."[/color] He told Dina, calling Maura through their mental link. A couple of seconds passed when the witch in question appeared from behind him, albeit appearing shaken. Maura glanced up to Dina.

 [color=Crimson]"Miss Denisova?"[/color] She tilted her head, then frowned. [color=Crimson]"...How are you holding up?"[/color]
 
"I have had better days." Dina would then say, offering a tired smile. "We all have had better days."

Maura managed a crooked smile. [color=Crimson]"Happens to the best of us."[/color] Though the empty feeling of failure didn't fade easily, she had to carry on. [color=ed1c24]"Now, you required our audience for...?"[/color] She asked next.

 Meanwhile Oliver had climbed off Finn's back to stand next to him. [color=faed27]"I think we might already know."[/color]
 
 "That makes this a bit...faster. Sanngridr has informed me of your intentions." Dina would then say. "Therefore I must ask. Is it really necessary to do it? Regardless of how bad the situation is, something like that must not be taken lightly. Is there no other way to solve it?"
 
 Oliver blinked. [color=faed27]"That quick? Geez."[/color]

 Though Finn didn't react as strongly, instead folding his hands behind his back. [color=C41E3A]"Lady Denisova. Has Asimov ever planned a retaliation against the Ascendancy? Or the Mint? Has she tried to find the whereabouts of the latter, or done anything that could lessen their grip on Penrose? Whatever this sanctuary is, does she expect to just...hide everyone away until either one's persistence fades off and they screw off the ruin the next town over?[/color] He asked. Then frowned. [color=C41E3A]"Do you really believe she's fit to make things right? For heaven's sake, I'm not sure what this branch's stance on Cradle is-"[/color]

 [color=Crimson]"As far as I know, Alicia and I have settled on neutral terms."[/color] Maura spoke up.

 [color=C41E3A]"Still though, there's gotta be more people can do besides sit on their asses for the next wave of God-Knows-What. Do you even have a plan, at all?"[/color] Finn asked. [color=C41E3A]"Does anyone...?"[/color]
 
"The Sanctuary is a haven. What would a haven have to do with proactively rooting out threats? That is not our goal. It never was. However, lording up a lot of people has made both Queens...lose focus. And people have lost focus." Dina would then reply."It's not that she is fit, but who else can dissuade those who look for a quick stab and brownie points at monster girls? You seem to be unaware that most girls who get turned into this... become fragile in their minds, and they do need guidance. They're easy prey."

"Penny is still nominally Beacon, and she won't retaliate against the Ascendancy. But that also means that Rachel has to excommunicate her before making a move. It's not straightforward." Dian would then say. "And as you say, Alicia is a moderate."

Dina would then say. "Also, the Mint strength is that it operates in subtle ways. Rooting them out would be a task only someone in the level of the Ascendancy can undertake." She then elaborated. "I'm not even sure what's left of this city can handle that." She paused. "I do have an inkling that if we keep Sanctuary up and running, despite the last Mint raid, we will eventually get someone to turn the coat and talk."

"What I have been told is that Penny is willing to forfeit her claim on the whole mirror and tournament if you're willing to compromise." Dina would then add. "Even if that means I lose this dimension and my patron's favour if we end up with so few people on it."

Finn's brows furrowed, though he remained silent. [color=C41E3A]"...As far as I know, we've both lived as this for a very, very long time. And yet you act as if I don't understand."[/color] He crossed his arms, an act to keep himself calm. He didn't want to argue with her. He didn't... [color=C41E3A]"Friends, both humane and monster, slaughtered and used, and I couldn't do a damn thing about it but try and get stronger. Even I had close calls for getting corrupted."[/color] Finn moved the bandages that covered his other eye out of the way. It appeared to be a burn scar, but looking closely it appeared magic in origin. More notably, it turns out he was half blind. His other eye nearly whited out completely.

 He quickly covered it back up. [color=C41E3A]"I know what I'm getting into. I've been here long enough to know. I'd think you of all people would get that.[/color] He refused to elaborate further into his title of Sinner, lest he'd be made an enemy by the corrupted magicals as well. The mention of a compromise regained his attention for a second. However, the mentions of possible costs, possible lives to be lost soured his mood. 

 Finn scowled coldly. [color=C41E3A]"If you two only wish to speak just so you can disway me, then forget it."[/color] He turned to walk away.
 
"It's never worth it, sir Finn." Dina would then elaborate. "I understand what you are getting at, but I cannot abide by it."

"How do you think the Ascendancy was born? What makes you better than Rachel, if you begin to think that all the suffering that might happen now is worth a sense of security which we may never have?"Dina would then answer back.

 [color=C41E3A]"..."[/color] His expression broke for a moment, a moment that he didn't wish for anyone to see. He won't be dissuaded. He can't be. The comparisons of him to Rachel pissed him off enough to bounce back though. He sarcastically laughed. [color=C41E3A]"Hah! You really think an enemy of Beacon would follow the same whims as they? And here I thought them seeing me as naught but a brute was bad enough, but you guys are too??"[/color] Finn sounded slightly hurt. Nevertheless, he walked off, Oliver following behind in a worry.

 That left Maura, who admittedly didn't know what to say.
 
"I lost my family to the Bolsheviks, sir Finn. Zealots are never good!" Dina would then say. "Please, come back! I'll give you anything!" It was Dina's turn to break... as she fell to her knees in a slump. "...anything."

 [color=Crimson]"The Russian Revolution..."[/color] Maura whispered. She quietly stepped over to comfort Dina.
 
"Please... stop this. It's bad enough for me to lose my patron and fight the Ascendancy for the dimension. It's bad enough that there's people hurt. I never wanted any of this, but they overrided my whims." She curled up to her knees, her grace gone. "Don't make me witness a revolutionary war in Penrose all over again."

 It felt nauseating trying to figure out what to. At this rate, Maura might as well join Dina in her despair. She didn't know who's side to choose. Hell, being accused of choosing sides was what kickstarted this fresh hell in the first place. Whatever happens in the future, she wholeheartedly dreaded it. [color=Crimson]"I'll...see what I can do."[/color] The witch hesitantly said, going off to follow the other two.
 
"Guess negotiations have failed. I'm just a joke of a diplomat, aren't I? What use are these powers of friendship to begin with..." Dina would then sob for a moment, before standing up. "I guess it can't be avoided, It'll be a long conflict then." Dina would then say.

Dina would then feel another presence nearby. [url=https://cdn.donmai.us/original/fd/08/__hijiri_byakuren_touhou_drawn_by_oshiaki__fd08e6ceb3e54c38f0c72405a448dbca.png]Rowena[/url], having overheard the attempted negotiation, walked up next to her, ever silent. Though in this case it was a comforting silence. The witch of Life gently patted Dina on the head, hoping to reassure her.

...

..

 Believe it or not, the boy overheard her pleas. Guilt struck Finn dead in the heart, but he kept going. He had to keep going. He had to. He won't be dissuaded, he won't be dissuaded, even if he's trembling he won't be-

 [color=faed27]"Finn! Finn!!"[/color] Oliver snapped him out of his stupor, jogging up next to him. The ghost's eyes widened at the other's expression, one Finn didn't even know he had. [color=faed27]"Hey, are you okay?"[/color]

 [color=C41E3A]"We're leaving."[/color]

 [color=faed27]"Weren't we already heading out-"[/color]

 Then Maura appeared again by them. [color=Crimson]"Hey, I don't mean to question your crusade on it's planning phase, but I reeeeally suggest you go find Penny before Dina has a mental breakdown."[/color] She told Finn.

 [color=C41E3A]"...Are you kidding me? Do they really believe I'd automatically resort to violence with this?! How much of a brute do they think I am?!"[/color] Finn was trembling in place through a mix of emotions.

 [color=faed27]"Well you did charge into the stadium like guns akimbo."[/color] Oliver spoke up.

 [color=C41E3A][i]"Shut it. Oli."[/i][/color] The other boy said through gritted teeth.

 Maura sighed. [color=Crimson]"Look, both you and Dina been through Hell, but you gotta throw her a bone here. Please, don't make me order you to do so."[/color]

 At this rate Finn gave up on thinking straight. On one hand, his guilt told him to go ahead and negotiate and be reasonable. On another, the risk of innocent lives lost told him it wasn't worth it. On another, something told him that all of this wasn't worth it. To just grab Oliver and go home and forget about all of this if people won't trust him.

 He stood frozen, trying to decide which emotion to follow.

 [color=C41E3A]"... Goddamnit, you both owe me for this.[/color] Finn conceded, heading back to look for Penny. He grabbed a cigar from his hammerspace and lit it up. [color=C41E3A]"Let's go, Oliver! Gonna need someone to keep me from wringing throats..."[/color] He groaned. The ghost in question followed behind, as tired as he is.
 
Dina's ears would perk up, as she would rise up, approaching Finn. She eyed the rest of the people. "I thank you for your mercy...This shall not be forgotten." She said, her voice almost choking.

"Before you do, there's something I must tell you in private." She added.

Finn's eye darted back to Dina. He could only muster a nod through the emotions he was sorting through. Though when she asked to tell only him something, one of his brows rose. What now? Taking a puff away from Dina's direction, the boy nodded to Oliver for him to go ahead of him.

Dina would then approach Finn, from one side. Her usual demeanor was present, with one subtle difference. Her tail was now standing upright, but it wasn't precisely due to fear. It was something else cat owners could identify.

"I don't really do this in public, you know." She said, as she gave Finn a kiss in the cheek, before nuzzling her cheek against his neck. "Once this is over...you could use a dinner, sir Finn."

Finn flinched at, once again, the sudden affection given to him. [color=C41E3A]"Er, I-I'll consider it..."[/color] He muttered, flustered.

"Now, if you would excuse me..." Dina then said, doing a curtsy before taking her leave.

The boy took a second to watch her go, then placed his cigarette back into his mouth. [color=C41E3A]"..."[/color] He grazed a hand over his cheek, then shook his head. [color=C41E3A]"Man."[/color] With that, he finally hurried off to catch up with Oliver.