[center]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/z6cC6JC.png[/img]
[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/200312/bd228c426d0da7459764cb788d45b1cd.png[/img]

[/center]

Penny felt that there was something uncomfortably final about stepping back into Penrose and letting the Overcity passage snap shut behind her. She was only just now returning from getting let go by Beacon’s higher ups and it was starting to truly settle that she had turned away simply because she wasn’t human. 

Her mind raced as she contemplated everything that would need to change now, Beacon couldn’t be counted on as a resource for supplies anymore. She needed to open up her own network more now, rather than piggy backing on others, there was just no end to the work she had to do once more.

[color=9e0039][i]‘I need to tell Alicia.’[/i][/color] the thought slipped in through the blizzard of other thoughts, and just as quickly stilled all of them. Penny doubted her friend would turn on her because of this, but that didn’t mean it didn’t bring a fresh wave of hurt. That her friendship with Alicia put Alicia at risk from Beacon.

Penny drew up Alicia’s contact ready to send out a text with an explanation, when she hesitated. This wasn’t something to leave to just text. She waited a few more moments just looking at the number wondering if the risk to Alicia was worth the comfort of hearing from her friend.

The desire to hear from her friend, perhaps for the last time won out, and a moment later she placed the call.

Penny let out a tired greeting the moment Alicia picked up. [color=9e0039][i]“Hey, I’m back.”[/i][/color] her voice crackled on the line, her emotions disrupting the connection despite her normal flawless control.

Alicia answered on the third ring, and although she did not know what had happened, the crackling did indicate to her that something was amiss. “[color=aba000]Hey. Alright, what happened?”[/color]

[color=9e0039][i]"I was given an ultimatum."[/i][/color] Penny answered softly. [color=9e0039][i]"I was told that I had to give up Beacon's blessings or give up my mechanical nature."[/i][/color] She started walking after that, though where she was headed was anyone's guess.

[color=9e0039][i]"I don't know if they realized that it would probably kill me to try and remove my machine qualities at this point."[/i][/color] She would continue on, another crackle skittering across the line. [color=9e0039][i]"Or that the Sanctuary would lose all faith in me."[/i][/color]

[color=9e0039][i]"Not entirely sure that they cared either."[/i][/color]

[color=9e0039][i]"They were kind enough to let me leave without incident though."[/i][/color] Silver linings, sometimes you had to keep them in mind as they were the only solace you got.

Silence descended for several moments, Alicia simply processing what Penny was telling her. The emotions that rose in her were a clash of aligned ones, sadness and anger and all besides. Eventually it was a self-assigned task that provided focus [color=aba000]“Where are you? I’m on my way.”[/color]

[color=9e0039][i]“I’m…”[/i][/color] It took a moment for Penny to look around and find the answer to that, partially due to her disorientation, partially due to the main Overcity passage in Penrose having a habit of moving around. [color=9e0039][i]“I’m on twenty third and Cobalt avenue.”[/i][/color] She would answer as she jumped up onto the roof of a nearby building. [color=9e0039][i]“On the roof of the axe throwing place.”[/i][/color] She found a little niche where she couldn’t see the road and sat down to wait. 

[color=aba000]”Hang tight, I’ll be there ASAP.”[/color] Alicia told her with all the force of a command. She then hung up, if only so she could focus on getting there faster. This was not the sort of conversation she wanted to have over the phone, not with someone so close to her. 

True to her word, she soon arrived at Penny’s location. Clambering up the fire escape, she gracefully swung onto the roof of the axe throwing establishment. [color=aba000]“Penny, you still here?”[/color] she asked as she oriented herself. 

[color=9e0039][u][b]"Here"[/b][/u][/color] Penny would reply. She was sitting next to the rooftop AC unit, her knees drawn up to her chest and she leaned her head back on the AC unit. Physical Penny looked fine, if not for the exhausted slump of her shoulders. 

Her eyes were blue however, not gold. There was a bit of solace in the fact they weren't red however.

Making her way over, Alicia sat down with her legs crossed next to Penny. At least she didn’t seem to be angry about how things were going, which was a bit more than the Paladin herself could say in these circumstances. [color=aba000]“On behalf of all sane people, sorry.”[/color]

Penny gave a snort at that. [color=9e0039][u][b]“We willingly live in Penrose, not sure any of us can still be called that.”[/b][/u][/color] Her voice was a bizarre mix of flat and watery. [color=9e0039][u][b]“And It’s not like I didn’t see it coming.”[/b][/u][/color] She would continue on [color=9e0039][u][b]“It took the girls at Beacon HQ here months to get used to me and I got the feeling the Ecclesiarch hasn’t changed her mind on something in closer to years.”[/b][/u][/color]

[color=aba000]“True,”[/color] Alicia agreed with a sigh of her own. Her head fell, gaze drifting downwards as it became wrapped in visions that drifted past. [color=aba000]“Still, they were willing to let you in there and even give you an audience. I duno, I guess I kinda hoped that things might be turning for the better.”[/color]

After a moment she looked over to her friend. [color=aba000]“I suppose this whole plan of mine was going a bit too well, yeah?”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I hoped the same thing”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would admit. [color=9e0039][u][b]“I was just too chaotic, too controversial, I guess.”[/b][/u][/color] A large part of the reason it hurt so much was because it felt like it was targeted at Penny as a person rather than just because she was a monster girl.

That said, she cared too much to let all hope die out here. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Louhi mentioned that an alliance might still be on the table.”[/b][/u][/color] It didn’t count as reaching out just by bringing it up did it? [color=9e0039][u][b]“And they did let me walk out. Even knowing about the Sanctuary.”[/b][/u][/color] She thought that was a nice precedent at least. It wasn’t even footing, but it was a step up compared to before.

[color=aba000]“One can hope,”[/color] Alicia agreed. At the same time, some part of her couldn’t help but wonder whether it was because they didn’t expect Sanctuary to be of concern for much longer, once Wonderland was done with whatever their scheme was. But she did her best to suppress such cynical views. Maybe authority was making her jaded. 

In spite of these difficulties, she did not want things to end here. Especially after the offer Penny had made when they were first addressing the Wonderland issue. [color=aba000]”Regardless of what my antique bosses say, I’m still your friend.”[/color]

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Never doubted that”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would say, her voice hitching in the middle. She’d reach over and place a hand on Alicia’s shoulder giving it a soft squeeze. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Never doubted you”[/b][/u][/color] Which was true. That didn’t help the fear that had cropped up that someone in Beacon would try and force Alicia out of Penrose. But Alicia abandoning her? That wasn’t something Penny allowed herself to think about.

Still, the reassurance did help soothe the hurt. Kept it a flowing sorrow rather than letting it stagnate into more anger. She had more than enough of that emotion in her systems without adding this into it.

[color=9e0039][u][b]“I have to say I’m kinda proud of myself.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would speak up after a moment, not really letting herself get dragged down by her emotions even as she did her best to work through them. [color=9e0039][u][b]“It’s a lot harder to process sa… Sa..”[/b][/u][/color] She would swallow down the words that she couldn’t quite vocalize. [color=9e0039][u][b]“This”[/b][/u][/color] she would gesture at herself. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Without the ability to cry.”[/b][/u][/color] It felt like it was just getting bottled up and pressurized, but she couldn’t let that happen, it wouldn’t end well if she did. [color=9e0039][u][b]“But I’m doing it, not a hint of red, nor a drop of Jason here. Just me”

“It’s just me.”[/b][/u][/color] She would repeat as she slumped against the AC unit. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Why? Why couldn’t they see that I’m just me?”[/b][/u][/color] Penny was shaking slightly and if one didn’t hear her they would never be able to guess that she was breaking down. Because her sorrow hardly touched her face. She shed no tears, her face did not flush. She just shook slightly, and silently.

Though there had been little doubt, Alicia was glad that Penny reciprocated the feeling. It would have been petty to hold this against her, but she also didn’t want her doing something like severing ties simply out of reflex. Cut and run, before any harm came down on either of them. So at least they didn’t have that to worry about.

Still, for how much Penny claimed she was alright, the fact that she was slipping into repetition was telling. Leaning over, she wrapped an arm around Penny from behind to provide the same support that her friend had shown her moments ago. [color=aba000]”Hey, hey, it’s alright. It sounds like you need to vent as much as I do. I mean, we are on top of a building that specializes in hitting stuff with sharp objects, which is preferable to some of the alternatives. I think.”[/color]

Penny let out a strained laugh. Wrenching herself out of a downward spiral was hard, but Alicia just being here and so willing to show support helped. Alot.

She also agreed that axe throwing probably was a healthier outlet than most options they had available. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Yeah, no need to hide the mess either, they’ll already know where it came from.”[/b][/u][/color] She was worried that it would cause her sorrow to bleed into anger, but hopefully with Alicia there it would simply blunt into frustration?

It would be an interesting challenge as well, keeping her attention on modulating her strength so that she didn’t chuck the axe through a wall or something. So perhaps all those factors together would keep her from drifting too far into the red?

“I guess I’m game if you are” Penny would say after thinking about it a bit more, sounding not normal, but steadied.

Nodding, Alicia smoothed her outfit as she rose to her feet. [color=aba000]”Sounds like a plan to me. I’ll try and keep up, Miss Aimbot,”[/color] She gave Penny a wink and a grin to indicate her barb was made in jest as she prepared to head down to ground level. She was curious to see how this would go. 

[color=9e0039][u][b]“Not sure how well that carries over if I’m honest.”[/b][/u][/color] Penny would mention as she followed after Alicia. She hadn’t ever fought or even used any skills close to that realm of possibility while sealed. [color=9e0039][u][b]“Besides, you’re the one with the hoodoo. No telling what you can get an axe to do.”[/b][/u][/color]