[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/waJPaen.png[/img]

[color=violet]"My precious Penny[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bdHBoG2bLY]...[/url]"[/color]

[color=888888]— Chloe Irving[/color][/center]

[hider=Chloe Irving]
03 03 03 03 03
10 10 06 17 04
23/12 | Babe/Baby | Spirit
Mystic orb, Gauntlets | Third Eye, Focused Assault | Horror(?)
Wings, Enhanced Outfit, Big Damn Hero, Blood Magic, Interdimensional Home, Enhanced Transformation
Dominator | Dark Weapon
Marked(?) ??????????????????????????????

6 Gold, 9 silver, 13 bronze
[/hider]

Binky’s eyes jumped between magical girls as they came forward with their requests. She pushed a sigh through her teeth once the conversation came back to the big two. Chloe had made an effort to change how the Mint operated in Penrose. Would that change things?

The way Alicia started her address didn’t make it sound so. Chloe was already rolling her eyes when she mentioned “shady people. But when she got to the end, Chloe looked at Alicia wide-eyed. [color=violet]"Wa- Really?“[/color] Chloe’s cool exterior had broken wide open as she stared at Beacon’s representative. [color=violet]"Oh, uh, heh.“[/color] She straightened out her posture and rubbed the back of her head. [color=violet]"Really? No extra conditions? But you’ll, sign?“[/color] Her voice trailed off into a whisper. Then she placed her hands on her hips. [color=violet]"I mean it’s a pretty good contract, so I can see you wouldn’t want to jeopardize things by making more demands. How about we do a charity thing then, eh? Like let’s have 5% of Penrose Mint’s profits go to a charity of your choosing. Just make sure it’s a good one, because way too many of those are just a scam created by terrorists or billionaires that want even more money. And uh…“[/color] Chloe looked away. [color=violet]"I’m pretty desirable with my new promotion and everything, and I don’t think it would ever work out between us, but I think we should go on one date some time. Just so that we can say there’s no hate between us. It’ll be a fun thing, nothing serious. Are you and the cat still an item? Were you ever an item? A-anyway, just something to think about.“[/color] 

As cool as Binky tried to be, even she could help but smirk at Chloe’s behavior. But it was warranted. Alicia wasn’t the type to go easy on anyone, but Binky was glad Alicia wasn’t a robot and was capable of changing her mind. 

The actual robot wouldn’t budge however.

[color=baddab]”Of course.”[/color] Binky said under their breath. In the end, nothing could be done to change Penny’s stance on things. She could claim whatever she wanted, but Binky knew that Penny desired her own power and freedoms above all else. Signing a contract that forbid her from fully controlling Penrose even if it saved lives was never in the cards.

[color=violet]"Debt annulment for those [i]presently[/i] living at Sanctuary.“[/color] 

Chloe tossed one end of her scarf over her shoulder. [color=violet]"That’s something I could do. The last thing the Mint wants to do is beat on your gates for debt collection. I think we can agree it’s a waste of everyone’s time. But making debt annulment a permanent feature of Sanctuary is a mistake. [i]Entities[/i] will cross dimensions just to stay at your home and you really don’t want that.“[/color] Chloe raised an eyebrow. [color=violet]"Satisfied? I’m sure Mint would be willing to sign this just to have Beacon and the others with us. But it would be nice to keep Mint out of Sanctuary too, wouldn’t it?“[/color] 

Binky groaned. Of course “proving she wants to better the city” meant “bettering Sanctuary” to Penny.

[color=violet]"Since you’ve chosen to publicly slander me, I would like to explain my side. Keep your back turned to me if you must. You may not like it but words and contracts are all I have right now.“[/color] Chloe smiled, but her eyes were cast at the ground. [color=violet]"It’s not a complete lie when you say I betrayed you. I have disappeared numerous times in the past. I never gave any warning, and I said it would never happen again. But you’re overlooking that I always came back. You forgot to mention the times I helped you. When I invited you into my home, when I saved you from Regina, even when I parted your conflicted souls. You would have met your end numerous times if it wasn't for me. But I never asked for anything in return because you were enough.“[/color] She raised her head. [color=violet]"You probably think you know why I disappeared. It was to acquire power, right? I was there to manipulate and control you, and I only returned when I realized I still needed your help. I don’t blame you for feeling that way. The first time you were probably right. But not the second or third time. Believe it or not, I had decided I wanted us to be together. I was thinking of our future.“[/color] She fret her brow. [color=violet]"But you are Laat'AlOfan’s champion, and leaving his side didn’t change that. Some might say that was part of his plan too. Bit by bit you were cut apart and replaced. Your connections, your body, your soul. You were a living Ship of Theseus and I wanted to put an end to it. But in the end… He won.“[/color] Chloe’s eyes softened. [color=violet]"I couldn’t save my Penny. There isn’t a single part of you that’s remained the same. After everything I still came up short. I don’t hate you. I don’t even know who you are. I’m just disappointed the one person I cared about is gone forever.“[/color] Chloe turned on her heel. She was done looking at Penny. [color=violet]"Aurora.“[/color] 

[color=goldenrod]"Y-yes!?"[/color] 

[color=violet]"I need to speak with Al for a moment. I trust you’ll hold the fort while I’m gone?“[/color] 

[color=goldenrod]"Will do!"[/color] Aurora hadn’t even finished speaking before Chloe and Sonia vanished in a flash. Sonia swiftly returned by herself. [color=goldenrod]"Um, well it sounds like the coins are the way to go for me! I’m not really corrupted or anything, but thanks for the offer!"[/color] he patted Rose’s shoulder. [color=goldenrod]"I don’t know what it’ll cost, but it’s something I’m interested in. Um, maybe we could talk again after the meeting?"[/color] Aurora hung around just long enough to hear Rose’s response before joining everyone else. [color=goldenrod]"I think that the more we move around, the more chances we give Wonderland to find us. If we’re all cool working together, we can just go prepare, right? Information can only get leaked when it’s shared, so if we do our preparation apart, it’ll be harder to figure out what we’re doing. Once we’re all done, we can share what we’ve been working on when they have no time to prepare."[/color] 

Binky shrugged her shoulders. [color=baddab]”Moving the meeting makes things more complicated for those arriving late. If we want to make sure there are no spies, we just need to make sure everyone here is a familiar face. But if we’re going to move, we should go to Beacon HQ. Their anti-scrying magic is top notch, and we can trust they are invested in Penrose’s protection. What do you think, Alicia?”[/color] 

[color=goldenrod]"Ah, it might be difficult for Chloe to join us if we do that."[/color] Aurora looked to Alicia. [color=goldenrod]"Just because the anti-scrying magic would make it harder to locate everyone. I’m not even sure how you get to Beacon HQ. Not to mention that even though I’m sure she’d love to meet everyone, there might be some issues with a literal broker showing up at a secret location. Regardless, we should pick a location soon. The longer this drags on, the less time we have to prepare."[/color]