[Center] [img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200312/bd228c426d0da7459764cb788d45b1cd.png[/img] [h1]&[/h1] [h2][color=purple]Roxanna[/color][/h2] [Sub].:⋮Belated Welcoming⋮:.[/Sub] [/center] Penny kept her gaze on the horizon as contemplated her next course of action. It had been a few days since the Wendigo attacks and she had found herself with a rare open block of time. Nothing needed her direct attention and she had no plans for the moment. She mulled going and seeing how Alex and Lily were, it had been a long time since they had a chance to simply hangout afterall, but that thought brought her to another person instead. Roxanna. Penny hadn’t had the chance to actually talk to the other girl before the group had broken up and went their different ways, but she had exchanged numbers. So seeing as she had time, she decided to give the girl a call. Penny had plenty of reasons to check in on the new girl, Beacon responsibilities, Sanctuary responsibilities, Queen responsibilities. But it mainly came down to the fact that Penny liked to help people, and she had a feeling that Roxanna was new to Penrose. On the outskirts of Penrose, where a quick walk was all that was required to leave behind the works of man and find oneself in the midst of nature itself, Roxanna unplugged her phone charger from the public terminal and started to walk back to her tent in the camp grounds. It wasn’t the most luxurious or comfortable of homes; the tent itself had enough blankets, pillows and cheap camping mattresses to try and combat the cold that she felt like a caterpillar making a cocoon everytime she got into it… but it was for the foreseeable future home. Without really any plans for the night beyond checking out the app on her phone to see what kind of critters and beasts needed their skulls smashed in… if they had skulls… Roxanna was slightly surprised as her phone started ringing. Not recognizing who’s number it actually was since… Well, she hadn’t gotten around to listing names for everyone who she had gotten the number of a week ago, she took a deep breath as she hit the answer button and responded “Hi, this is Roxanna. Who’s this?” [color=9e0039]"Hey Roxanna, this is Penny."[/color] Penny would answer [color=9e0039]"We traded numbers back in the aftermath of the mass Wendigo attack. I wanted to both check in on you and thank you."[/color] She was quick to explain. [color=9e0039]"I live not far from that attack with a few other girls and you being there helped them get away alive from the sounds of things."[/color] Even though they were having the conversation over the phone, Roxanna’s tone betrayed the fact that she was bashfully reaching up to scratch the back of her head. “Aww, you don’t have to do that. I like helping people… Hell, I didn’t even know that there was anyone in danger in the area at the time, but I’m glad to hear they’re doing alright.” Pausing for a moment, Rox was quick to add “By the way, have you checked out some of the jobs on the app lately?” [color=9e0039]"All the more reason to thank you."[/color] Penny would reply. [color=9e0039]"And no, I've not really had time either. Penrose is a madhouse at the best of times, and I've got a number of responsibilities on top of that."[/color] Beacon, Sanctuary, and personal projects all took time. And Penny needed to sleep one of the three would likely have to be cut. [color=9e0039]"Anything interesting pop up?"[/color] There was a slight click of the tongue on Roxanna’s end as she answered “Hard to say. I’m kind of new to Penrose so I don’t know what’s interesting, weird or day to day here. But I saw a job about helping a girl who seems to be dealing with the mental backlash of some kind of haunted house… Maybe my own psychic abilities can help her.” There was a small pause, likely Roxanna shrugging her shoulders as she asked “What are you up to?” Penny kept her satisfied smirk to herself. She had assumed that Rozanna was new to Penrose for a few reasons, but being right was still nice. [color=9e0039]“I really hope this isn’t the prelude to a rise of hauntings.”[/color] She would say with a groan instead [color=9e0039]“I had to exorcize a school a few weeks ago due to a ghosting calling gone really bad.”[/color] [color=9e0039]“And I’m not really up to much at the moment.”[/color] She would answer. [color=9e0039]“I’m patrolling I guess”[/color] Which was true enough after a fashion. [color=9e0039]“Oh! Since you're new in town you’ve likely not found Brittney’s shop yet have you?”[/color] Penny would ask [color=9e0039]“It’s an artifact shop for the most part, but they do have more mundane things in stock as well. Easily one of the best places to shop for the Maho here.”[/color] “Oh? Where do I find it?” Roxanna asked, a degree of curiosity in their voice as they took a seat at the front of their tent. [color=9e0039]“She’s got her store set up just off of Jackson’s and Summer street.”[/color] Penny would answer. [color=9e0039]“Give me a sec”[/color] A moment later Roxanna’s phone would receive a pair of texts. One was a map pin of where Brittney’s show was located. The other was a picture of Penny herself waving. [color=9e0039]“There we go.”[/color] The second picture couldn’t help but get a small, playful smirk. “Thank you for that. If there is anything Penrose has going for it, the presence of so many beautiful girls makes it amazing.” [color=9e0039]“I know what you mean”[/color] Penny would reply [color=9e0039]“It feels like the only karmic balance in the city sometimes.”[/color] Not that Penny actually disliked the chaos of Penrose most days. Though she figured that had more to do with her monstrous nature more than anything. [color=9e0039]“In the interest of full disclosure, I do have a girlfriend, but this city is honestly filled with beauties.”[/color] [color=9e0039]“You can normally find a few girls loitering around Penrose central.”[/color] Penny would go on to say, another pin popping up on Roxanna’s phone as she did. [color=9e0039]“It’s the closest to a completely neutral zone as you can find here. East side of the city is more Beacon, but you can find them all over the place since they’ve got teleporters. The west side is understood to be the Sanctuary’s domain, but they are pretty relaxed so long as you don’t stir up trouble intentionally.”[/color] “...Forgive me for sounding silly but… what exactly is the Sanctuary?” Roxanna asked, slightly embarrassed. [color=9e0039]“It’s not silly.”[/color] Penny would counter, her smug grin not translating over to the phone at all. [color=9e0039]“The Sanctuary is a Penrose exclusive thing as far as I know. And it’s what it sounds like; The Sanctuary is an open sanctuary for anyone who needs it. It’s a home and refuge, free of charge and expectation.”[/color] [color=9e0039]“It tends to cater more towards the more corrupted members, Monstergirls and Dark magicals. But that's more because we don’t have as many people looking out for us, or at least we tend to have more people actively out to abuse us. That said, The Sanctuary doesn’t turn anyone away. Not if they need the help.”[/color] There were a few moments of silence from Roxanna’s side of the phone… before something of an amused puff of air escaped her nose with a distant ‘I’ll tell her’ before she spoke directly into the phone again. “Sorry, my patron was just talking to me for a moment. He wanted me to inform you that they are proud of the work you do Penny. Not the magical girl side of things, but your work with the Sanctuary. Ideally the world would be filled with people willing to offer the disenfranchised and abandoned comfort and respect because humanity is only as grand as it treats the least of its members. Even if you didn’t know it, there are powers that admire the work you do.” “That being said…” Roxanna continued with some amusement “They haven’t actually told me what kind of work you and the Sanctuary does because they felt like I was better off asking you that question.” [color=9e0039][i]‘Welp, busted I suppose’[/i][/color] Penny would think to herself as she dropped her face into her hand. She couldn’t blush, but that didn’t mean she didn’t feel the phantom sensation of an embarrassed one on her face. [color=9e0039]“Fair enough, since I built the place.”[/color] Penny would reply, her tone a tad bashful [color=9e0039]“And my first patron was a near forgotten deity. So while I don’t know who your patron is, I’m aware that there are all sorts out there.”[/color] [color=9e0039]“As I said, the Sanctuary is open for anyone who needs it. We offer shelter, food, protection and solace.”[/color] She’d explain a bit more in detail [color=9e0039]“I’m working on finding a way of being able to employ some of the girls who live there so that I can pay them. Setting up a scholarship program with the Overcity college has been another idea that I’ve been tossing around as well.”[/color] [color=9e0039]“Honestly I’m just trying to give all of them a way to get their life in order, and a safe, stable place to fall back to if they need it.”[/color] Her voice was wistful as she spoke. [color=9e0039]“My first six months in the magical world wasn’t pleasant, my patron was a prime asshole, but I have the capability now to make it better for those that get dropped into here. So I am.”[/color] Roxanna… couldn’t help but smile a little as she listened to Penny saying her piece. “...I admit my patron has gone by a few different names over the eons, but as of late he has been going by the name Socialism. I might be speaking for him [i]just a little[/i] Penny but you’re the exact kind of person that he adores and believes brings out the best in humanity… and I would love to help you do that.” There was a slight pause… before she glanced around at her tent before saying “I mean… if you’ll have me. I don’t want to impose or anything…” [color=9e0039]“Do you need me to repeat the part of everyone being welcome?”[/color] Penny would ask and Roxanna could almost swear she could feel the look Penny had to be sending her from her phone. [color=9e0039]“Many hands make even mountains small”[/color] Penny would go on to say. [color=9e0039]“I welcome any help you wish to offer. And even if there isn’t anything you can do, the door is open anyway.”[/color] Another map pin would follow that declaration. “Okay then… I guess I’ll see you there soon then.” Roxanne offered after a few moments. [color=9e0039]"I'll meet you there."[/color] Penny would retort before ending the call. Seems she had found something to do after all.