[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/waJPaen.png[/img] [color=violet]"So far so good."[/color] [color=888888]— Chloe Irving[/color][/center] This was not the first time Chloe had returned to Penrose. The last time she returned was from some beach dimension. All in all, she had enjoyed her time there. It got her a lot closer to Penny. Though she would have proffered it if time flowed at the appropriate pace in there. Being dropped into a frozen city after she had become accustom to the summer sun was just cruel. She remembered it just like it was yesterday. ... ... ... [color=#bd71e8]“Tell me Chloe.”[/color] Veronica was reclining on a beach towel, unashamedly letting her skin absorb as much sun as it could. [color=#bd71e8]“What do you do for fun?”[/color] Veronica had been getting a bit more comfortable around Chloe ever since the drink challenge picture they took. It was probably because Chloe had an embarrassing photo of her, or maybe it was because she had gotten drunk again. Chloe didn’t press for answers. She didn’t really care. Or at least, she only cared that it could benefit her. [color=violet]"I enjoy talking with pretty things like you."[/color] She placed a finger on her chin and grinned. [color=violet]"Though I enjoy doing a great deal more than talking with the [i]especially[/i] pretty ones. So long as I enjoy their company we could really do anything."[/color] [color=#bd71e8]“So no propper hobbies then?”[/color] [color=violet]"I’m anything but propper."[/color] [color=#bd71e8]“I mean to ask if there’s anything you enjoy outside of people.”[/color] The Astolpho doll appeared in Veronica’s hand. [color=#bd71e8]“I think my favorite thing in the whole world is collecting dolls.”[/color] [color=violet]"Is it because you like the way they look?"[/color] [color=#bd71e8]“Aesthetics aren’t the only reason, though that’s part of it.”[/color] She turned the plush over in her hand. [color=#bd71e8]“Dolls do exactly what’s expected of them without fail. They don’t care what you dress them up as, they won’t complain if you abuse them. They don’t get jealous or sad.”[/color] Chloe took a seat beside Veronica. [color=violet]"I have my underlings for that. Sure, they can be inadequate at times, but they all do exactly what I want in the end."[/color] [color=#bd71e8]“As do my agents. But sometimes you just want something that wholly falls under your will and can’t resist.”[/color] Chloe grinned. [color=violet]"Seems we have quite a bit in common. If we were any more similar, we’d be twins."[/color] [color=#bd71e8]“How fortunate that we aren’t then.”[/color] Veronica looked directly into Chloe’s eyes. [color=#bd71e8]”If I thought for a moment we had the same ambitions, we’d be fighting right now.”[/color] She averted her gaze. [color=#bd71e8]”Or at least, once the dolphin was gone.”[/color] [color=violet]"I was about to say."[/color] Chloe laid down in the sand and folded her arms behind her head. [color=violet]"But it sounds to me like you aren’t looking hard enough if you think dolls are so great. I think I’ve found someone that bends to my whims just like one of your dolls. I'll always prefer something that bends to my will than something that has no will."[/color] [color=#bd71e8]”I would agree, but people like that can change. For your sake, I hope they don’t.”[/color] … … … [color=violet]"Where’s the Mint when you need them?"[/color] It was aggravating how difficult it was to get in touch with the Mint. Sure, Al himself couldn’t be everywhere at once, but for an organization that knew what was going on everywhere at any given time, they were difficult to get a hold of. By now Chloe would have expected to be confronted by them. But it seemed they weren’t as far reaching as she had originally anticipated. Perhaps they just ran a tighter ship in new york. Or maybe she wasn’t being patient enough. [color=goldenrod]"Chloe Irving?"[/color] Hearing her full name was enough to make Chloe turn her head. Who she saw was a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f8/ac/a2/f8aca209faecfe73b48a770e34c16911.jpg]girl dressed like Julie Andrews in the sound of music.[/url] Albite with a lower neckline to allow a view of her cleavage. Though there were some other big differences too. Notably her darker skin and black hair. [color=violet]"My my. Penrose has really gone to hell recently, but all the girls are just as cute as I remember them being."[/color] Cloe’s grin only widened as she drew closer to the mysterious girl. [color=violet]"I don’t suppose you have a name I can call you?"[/color] [color=goldenrod]"I appreciate the compliment, but I’m new here myself. Can’t count myself among your lot."[/color] With a nod, she folded her hands together. [color=goldenrod]"I do not think my name is too important, given the bit role I’m going to play in all this. But how about you just call me Wisdom?"[/color] [color=violet]"Wisdom, hmm?"[/color] Chloe lowered her eyelids. [color=violet]"If you don’t want to tell me your name, maybe tell me why you’re calling mine?"[/color] [color=goldenrod]"I think it would be easier to show you."[/color] Wisdom turned over her hand and revealed an ebon coin. [color=goldenrod]"Just got back from my last operation. Same as you I imagine?"[/color] She hid the coin in her sleeve. [color=violet]"Ahh, you didn’t strike me as a bad girl. Phu phu phu!"[/color] With a roll of her shoulders, Chloe stretched her arms out and wrapped them around Wisdom’s neck. [color=violet]"You said you were new here, but do you know where Al is hiding? We need to have a talk."[/color] [color=goldenrod]"I can get him. Can’t say he’ll drop everything he’s doing just to see you though. But that’ll be his call in the end."[/color] Wisdom ducked out of Chloe’s embrace. [color=goldenrod]"I have someone [i]else[/i] who would like to speak to you too."[/color] [color=violet]"Oh? Another mystery girl? If she’s even half as cute as you are, I can probably make time for her."[/color] Wisdom nodded. [color=goldenrod]"Al take’s priority of course. I’ll come back with someone regardless."[/color] She blew Chloe a kiss before stepping into a back alley. [color=violet]"I do think she’s playing hard to get."[/color]