With Al MIA, Chloe had her work cut out for her. She’d love nothing more than to just relax in her home with a girl or tree, but she had meetings to attend and strings to pull. She always heard that being the boss was a lot of vacation time and getting paid a lot. And while that might have been true, it was also a lot of time wasting. Meeting people for conversations that could happen through her crystal ball, discussing strategies everyone was on board with, it was all so annoying. But that was to be expected when war was on the horizon. 

She was walking around an overturned garbage can when she noticed what she thought was an ornate potion bottle sticking out of some trash. [color=violet]"Hmmm?“[/color] It might have been a purification potion, or some other artifact, but Chloe had little use for it. She started to walk away when she had a thought. 

It might be fun to see if she could break it. 

The slender neck of the potion slid between Chloe’s fingers, and with a mighty heave, she tossed it as far down the alleyway as she could. 

While the throw looked good at first, it veered to one side and bounced off a wall, an adjacent dumpster, the floor, and a trashcan like a pinball which sent it careening back toward Chloe. The throw might have been enough to crack the glass though as a trail or red smoke billowed out of it. It looked as though it might smack her in the face when a hand emerged from the plume and caught it short. Chloe’s raised arm to block the object would find a golden bracelet clasped around the wrist. 

[center][img]https://a.l3n.co/i/9ErpWm.png[/img][/center]
[color=crimson]”I would appreciate it if you were more gentle with my home, Master Chloe.”[/color] Though she didn't quite look the same, it wasn't hard for the DMG to connect the dots that the one before her was a more mature Ruby, the one that had helped facilitate some of the city's more light-hearted events.

There was an opportunity here to tell Ruby that she hadn’t disturbed the trash can she found her in, but perhaps it would be best to keep that derogatory humor to a minimum for this encounter. That was what MDP would insist on. [color=violet]"Right, it was a simple misunderstanding. Had I taken a closer look at you, I’d have probably avoided that mistake. woops!“[/color] she picked up the lamp and rubbed her arm on the side of it. [color=violet]"Looks like you’re a full fledged genie now. I won’t ask you how it happened. I suspect that’s the sort of thing people don’t stop asking about. But is there a reason you chose my path in particular to appear on?“[/color] 

Shaking her head, Ruby would simply reply. [color=crimson]”I do not choose to be anywhere. The wheels of fate decide whom shall be my master so long as there is need.”[/color] Crypic, but it seemed that Ruby didn't have much if any say on where she ended up. 

[color=violet]"I could have used something like you about a day ago. But my remaining problems are too big for you to solve, or too small to waste a wish on.“[/color] She grunted in annoyance. Though after studying Ruby for a moment, a smile crept across her face. [color=violet]"Now remind me; genies typically grant three wishes. Is that how many I get?“[/color]

Nodding again, Ruby would put a hand on her hip and return the smile, even if it was just for formalities. [color=crimson]”That is correct. With your typical fare of limitations. Though some have been known to be creative.”[/color] 

[color=violet]"That should make this easy. Let’s get them all out of the way.“[/color] Chloe’s grin grew further. [color=violet]"I wish for you to have a second lamp. This lamp will be a magical artifact that will summon you to the side of whoever holds it, but does not require you to grant them any wishes. You will come when you are called at any time unless it would interfere with your duty of granting wishes for others. Perhaps there is a portal or something in one lamp that lets you move between the two? I don’t know, I'll let you figure that out. But the important part is that the lamp cannot be stolen from its owner, but it may be freely given to someone else.“[/color]

The smile was mildly disconcerting, but the job did not guarantee that someone wouldn’t try and be sneaky with their wishes. However, the wish itself wasn’t the worst thing in the world. If anything it offered at least some additional level of freedom. More importantly she could feel that it was doable. [color=crimson]”As you wish.”[/color] Leaning forward she would take hold of the existing magical bottle. As she drew her hand back the glass and gold began to glow a hot orange as if liquifying and split into two identical objects.

Ruby would hold it up to look it over. [color=crimson]”Interesting.”[/color]

Chloe swiped the second lamp out of Ruby’s hand, only for it to teleport back into the genie’s palm. While this seemed to annoy chloe at first, she placed her hands on her hips and smiled. [color=violet]"Working as intended! I hope I don’t have to expend a wish to ask you to give it to me?“[/color] She held out her hand. 

After a slow blink, Ruby’s gaze would drift down to the open hand of the magical girl. Rolling the bottle in her own palm, the Djinn would hold it up. [color=crimson]”A wish? Nonsense. Those were not the terms or transaction.”[/color] She would give a cheeky smile but it didn't stick around very long. Putting her hands on her hips she would add. [color=crimson]”However, you are free to make your case. What benefit is there for me to give you the lamp? I could think of worse candidates.”[/color] Though she hadn't pulled many punches with the terms of a wish in the past, most of those happened before she became a Djinn and few even less potentially amounted to entrapment. Already bound to servitude it did not behoove her to give up something so valuable to her own autonomy lightly. 

Chloe folded her arms and gave Ruby a sideways glance. [color=violet]"I don’t think I specified you should have the second lamp either. I’ll never understand why djinn behave the way they do. It’s not that important though. We can talk about that later. At least I have a few wishes left, right?“[/color] She thought a bit before speaking. [color=violet]"My second wish, let’s see…“[/color] The gears were turning. [color=violet]"I wish for your genie magic to never inconvenience or harm me, be it from your wishes or the magic that grants you your powers. If someone makes a wish, it cannot be granted or should exclude me from its effects if it would be unwanted. If a wish is made for something unrelated to me, it will be enchanted or granted in a way so that it cannot harm me. And…“[/color] She sighed. [color=violet]"This protection should extend to my friends as well.“[/color]

[color=crimson]”Mhm. And who are your friends so I can be sure they are included?“[/color] 

[color=violet]"Ummm...“[/color] Chloe rummaged through the trash until she found a little note pad. She shook it until the banana peel fell off of the back of it. [color=violet]"I don’t have many friends right now, but I plan on changing that. So how about you give me something like [i]this[/i] that I can write their names in? A notebook or something where I could jot their names down and you would know to protect them from your magic. Like a sort of, uhh…“[/color] She raised an eyebrow. [color=violet]"Friend note?“[/color] 

Reaching over, Ruby would take the scrap of paper. Raising her hand up she would bring the paper down against her other hand. In a puff of purple sparkles and a solid thump, the single page turned into a small purple hardback notebook, complete with a pen, small clasp, a locket, and a set of keys. Aesthetically, it matched with Chloe’s eldritch theme, but there was no writing on the outside. Handing it back to the magical girl, Chloe would feel the magic imbued within it release and surround her as her wish took effect. [color=crimson]”As requested. You shall be protected from the negative effects of my magic and the wishes thereafter. For your friends, you may write their names in this notebook and they will receive the same benefit. You are the only one who can write in any names. I will clarify that if you enter the name of someone that is not actually your friend then it will fade away and not provide them with protection.”[/color]

[color=violet]"So I can’t just write anyone's name in hea-“[/color] Chloe looked at Ruby with a raised eyebrow. [color=violet]"Hold on, wasn’t the entire point of this to inform [i]you[/i] of who [i]my[/i] friends are? If you can make artifacts that already know this information, was something so convoluted really necessary?“[/color]

[color=crimson]”I thought giving you the choice was what you meant. I was simply explaining that you can’t just put anybody’s name in it if it doesn’t apply.”[/color] The woman seemed a little taken back by Chloe’s question. It didn’t seem like that many more steps for such a trivial amount of effort as writing a name.

[color=violet]"...Makes sense, I guess.“[/color] Chloe said, in a tone that very much made it sound like she didn’t think that made sense. [color=violet]"That’s two wishes down anyway. Now for my third!“[/color] Chloe grinned. [color=violet]"I wish for Penrose’s mundane population to be protected from supernatural threats. The power source for this protection should not vanish just because a magical girl leaves the city. I am aware that any form of protection can be overwhelmed with enough effort, but with your newfound power, I’m sure you can bring it back better than ever!“[/color]

[color=crimson]”I believe so.”[/color] Waving a hand through the air, she would pull on a magical thread. At first there was a rebuff to what she was trying to do, but the force backed away once the intent was understood. A wash of magic would pass over the both of them as Ruby weaved the wish into the very fabric of the Nexus. So long as the Nexus stood, the ordinary citizenry of Penrose would remain safe from magical threats. [color=crimson]”A noble wish, Master Chloe. I wasn’t sure anyone would ever try to bring that back to be honest.”[/color]

[color=violet]"There’s no need to call me master anymore. The wishes are gone.”[/color] Chloe opened the “friend note” Ruby had given her and she wrote “Violet Covington” on the first page. Under it was “Aurora Mackenzie.” She tapped the page with her pen a few times before adding Ruby’s name, but shut the book before she could see if it faded away or not. 

[color=violet]"All that’s left now is to convince you to hand that second lamp to me.”[/color] Her mischievous grin returned. [color=violet]"Before I do, why do you think I wished for something like that?”[/color]

Giving a slight shrug the woman would look up and give it some thought. There were a lot of reasons one could choose to do such a thing. [color=crimson]”Hard to say. You have something of a reputation, but I don’t really keep up with why or the goings on. Gets in the way of what I do. Could be turning over a new leaf, could be the logical ‘good thing to do’, or maybe just appearances.”[/color] She would shake her head. [color=crimson]”Not sure I am the best judge of character given what I am.”[/color]

Chloe clicked her tongue. [color=violet]"I wasn’t looking to be psychoanalyzed, but fair enough. You don’t know. It could be any reason. Though it’s none of the reasons you mentioned. As fun as it is to mess around with authority figures, I don’t have the luxury of messing around any more. Nor do I think I could turn over a new leaf or do the right thing. I wished for Penrose’s safety because I care about the Mint’s future prospects. I wish to protect myself and my friends from your magic because who knows what will happen if the queen gets you. And my first wish… ”[/color] She shrugged her shoulders. [color=violet]"I can’t pretend to know what your life is like, but spending an eternity in a bottle sounds kind of dull to me. I can’t wish for your freedom, so I wished for a reprieve. Anyone who has that bottle can walk around with you like you’re friends. You can experience everything the world has to offer, with wish granting being your only interruption. But also…”[/color] Chloe inhaled.

[center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/8832ab6c-c340-4f56-97e4-c5b8a8979eb4.png[/img][/center]

[color=violet]"I weawwy weawwy weawwy think thawt we couwd be something speciaw. something abouwt the way uwu wook makes me think thiws couwd wowk. we'we juwst two wonewy souws destined tuwu be wonewy fowevew. But if thewe's something i've weawned fwom my time as a magicaw giww, iwt's thawt wove cawn bwidge any divide awnd make the impossibwe possibwe. But if uwu down't twust me, then maybe uwu shouwd howd onto thawt wamp untiw uwu find someone uwu duwu.”[/color]

Well it did seem as though she hadn’t landed on the answer. Listening to the explanation regarding the wishes, they seemed reasonable. Really, there wasn’t anything against Chloe. Ruby was cautious before becoming a Djinn, but since her transformation she was even less trusting. Even Mariette and Penny would be a stretch for her. The heel turn to some strange baby talk caught her off guard and took a strange turn.

Shaking her head slowly, Ruby would sit mid air with an amused smile. [color=crimson]”While I appreciate the compliment, you should know that if it is love that you desire then I will not be able to provide such comforts. I am by my nature chaotic and mischievous, not unlike some Puchuu. And unlike a magical girl that is not something that will change with time. I would enjoy the freedom, but I've no capacity for real affection. Does that understanding change anything?”[/color] She would pause and await for Chloe's response. 

[color=violet]"Thawt iws fine. I incwuded the condition thawt awwowed uwu tuwu be twaded so thawt i couwd hawnd uwu tuwu someone mowe fitting if things didn't wowk out. Sowme peopwe  wouwd considew me a chaotic awnd mischievous as weww. But i duwu nowt mean tuwu impwy thawt we have tuwu be wovews. Uwu have youw fweedom now awnd may choose how uwu spend iwt. I'm nowt weawwy wooking fow a owne awnd onwy. Iwt sounds wike uwu won't get jeawous if i find my favowite, which iws a pwus!”[/color]

Though she wasn't entirely asuaged on the matter, she wasn't sure she ever would be. They did have things in common. And realistically if someone decided to abuse the bottle, protection from her magic or not, she could make life a living hell. Something less important was bothering her as well. [color=crimson]”Why are you talking like that all the sudden?”[/color] 

[color=violet]"Talking like what?”[/color] Chloe raised an eyebrow. 

Narrowing here yes for a moment, Ruby would take the extra lamp and hand it over to Chloe. [color=crimson]”I like you. I think this could be a fun little adventure.“[/color] 

Chloe accepted the lamp. She turned it over in her hand before passing it to one of her tentacles, which coiled around her waist like a ghetto tool belt. [color=violet]"I’m running behind schedule, but we can have some fun later.”[/color]

[color=crimson]”I will see you later then.“[/color] She would disappear in a cloud of smoke and her original lamp would vanish. 

[hr]

Chloe was starting to understand why secretaries were so important. When you had so much to do, sometimes it was nice to put scheduling and ordering events in someone else’s hands. It freed up her head space to think about the current task. She had enough things to juggle without also needing to worry about who she was supposed to meet up with and where. The downside was that it meant there could be a development without her being aware of it.

[color=violet]"I thought the lunch time slot was supposed to be cleared out.”[/color]

[color=goldenrod]"I’m not sure what happened."[/color] Aurora apologized over the phone. [color=goldenrod]"I don’t remember a lunch meeting being scheduled. Maybe one of the other agents put it here?"[/color]

[color=violet]"You sure you didn’t lean over the keyboard and press a bunch of keys with your new assets?”[/color]

Aurora coughed. [color=goldenrod]"T-that only happened once! Either way, it’s too late to cancel. I’ll let Cradle know that you got held up with an emergency."[/color]

[color=violet]"Where did they want to meet up?”[/color]

[color=goldenrod]"I’ll just e-mail everything to you. Sorry about this."[/color]

[color=violet]"Okay, well, take care.”[/color]

She’d be a lot more sorry if- No, this is your friend. Deep breaths. More contacts is a good thing. Her phone prompt beeped and she looked to see what she had been sent. 

The meeting was set at an old Cafe and cigar shop. A local favorite for hush talks as they had private rooms and didn't ask questions. Al had been known to use it on occasion for things on the fringes of Mint business. The invite didn't look to come from the former Broker though, less formal and the footer had little emoji like some kind of social media post. 

Upon arriving, Chloe would be directed to the room. Upon entering she would find a magical girl she'd never seen before. She looked like a hologram sitting across on the other side of the table. Some things were obvious, but her magic and Third Eye picked up on Spirit and Light. There was a third less obvious component, but clearly deeply intwined with her being. The table had some smaller hors d'oeuvres set out that hadn't been touched. 

[center][img]https://c.l3n.co/i/mxR0We.png[/img][/center]
Standing up, the girl's legs phased through the chair she'd seemingly been sitting in. [color=magenta]”Chloe. Good to finally get to meet you. I hope putting the meeting on your calendar wasn't inconvenient for you. Seems you've become quite busy since Al left you in charge.”[/color] 

[color=violet]"I almost didn’t show up.”[/color] Chloe picked up a creampuff and took a bite out of it. [color=violet]"Seems you’ve heard of me though, which I can’t say surprises me. Care to tell me who you are and why we’re here?”[/color] 

[color=magenta]”Of course. My name is Harmony. I've recently taken over management of the IT infrastructure in Penrose Mint and since you are lead here I thought it necessary to meet up and be sure that operations are meeting expectations.“[/color] 

[color=violet]"I see.”[/color] Chloe had taken quite a few college courses, but it was mostly just to get grants and delay the inevitable. That was to say she didn’t retain a lot of what she had learned. She didn’t even fully understand what IT infrastructure was. [color=violet]"It hasn’t been an issue for us. Well…”[/color] She thought out loud. [color=violet]"We’ve had to change how we do things in Penrose. Presently we are developing a game and using a take out joint to cater to the programmers. It’s an attempt to cut development costs and have enough income to fund the project via serving the public. Infrastructure hasn’t been much of an issue. The developers all operate on a closed wired network and internet service is not important to them at this time. Nor is it important for the takeout joint as most sales are to walk-in customers.”[/color] She closed her eyes and sighed. [color=violet]"That said, I do have some concerns about future operations. We will be distributing the game digitally and will need a server with 24 hour internet access to function properly. This would not be an issue, but our greatest threat is a certain magical girl that starts with a ‘P’ and ends with a ‘Y’ and has a penchant for hacking anything in her ‘kingdom.’ Our contract forbids us from dealing with her using conventional methods, not that Mint has been too successful doing that in the past anyway. So tell me, can we defend our project from a magical super hacker?”[/color] 

Nodding along with each item, it seemed as though she had a decent grasp of most of the things listed. Giving a brief moment to check in on something, Harmony would give a confident smile. [color=magenta]Good to hear that the transition happened transparently on the user end. I have already taken steps to secure the Mint's electronic assets and should prove to be more than a match to prevent unwanted intruders. Speaking of the Queen of Penrose, I am meeting with her as we speak. I believe I can build that bridge so that hopefully we won't have to come to a one-on-one scenario and be on more cooperative terms.”[/color] She would rattle off each thing rather casually, moving on as if it wasn't much of a problem. 

[color=magenta]”The launch of the game shouldn't be too much trouble. I'm not sure how present you are on social media, but I have a fairly large following online that we should be able to leverage for some viral publicity.”[/color] She continued checking things off. 

Chloe blinked. [color=violet]"Hold on, you’re, talking, with her?”[/color] She rubbed her eyes. [color=violet]"Uh, why?”[/color] 

[color=magenta]”A couple reasons.”[/color] She would hold up a finger. [color=magenta]”First, she and I are are both digital in nature. I would like to get to know her if I could. That is more a personal thing.“[/color] Raising a second finger. [color=magenta]”Second, I have reason to believe that she presents a danger beyond her hostility toward the Mint. If my prediction is sound and nothing is done with she could succumb to vulnerabilities that could put Penrose and beyond at risk. I am hoping to find a resolution to that.“[/color]

[color=violet]"That’s fine, what I don’t understand is where IT infrastructure and diplomacy overlap. Was Al aware you were going to do this? Why wasn’t I notified?”[/color] 

There was an awkward silence for a moment. Harmony's eyes wandered for a moment. [color=magenta]”No, Al was not aware. Thus far I have done what I believed was necessary. It later occurred to me that I needed to update someone, and that was you. So I'm trying to get to fix things.”[/color] She stood there somewhat awkwardly, but at the same time it didn't really seem like she regretted anything. 

Chloe growled through her teeth. [color=violet]"Just now, huh?”[/color] She folded her arms. [color=violet]"Finish your little meeting. Do know I have no intention of allotting any more resources to satisfy her highness. So long as things don’t get botched further I’ll be willing to overlook this incident. But in the future, you will report to [i]me[/i], and you will ask [i][b]me[/b][/i] if you can act above your station. Mint doesn’t need any more rouge actors.”[/color] Chloe stood up. [color=violet]"That said, you seem to have a rare kind of competence. Keep doing a good job, and diplomacy may very well become your station.”[/color] 

[color=magenta]”Oh...”[/color] She would give a reassuring smile. [color=magenta]”I do not anticipate allocating further company resources for this encounter. That would definitely need some kind of approval outside my own capabilities. The only reason I considered it was because of the already agreed to terms. Otherwise, well… hard to say. I will make an effort to keep you better appraised in the future. I got carried away with all of… this.”[/color] She would wave her hands from top to bottom. Presumably referring to herself or her magic. 

Chloe stared at the woman a moment longer. [color=violet]"I do have another meeting coming up later, but since I haven’t had lunch yet, let’s finish our date.”[/color] She picked up another pastry. [color=violet]"Must be nice being able to multitask like you can.”[/color] She popped the treat into her smiling mouth.

Harmony would take a seat as well. [color=magenta]”It has it’s benefits. Some other things not so much.”[/color] She would try and pick up one of the items and pass right through it. [color=magenta]”I’m mostly okay with that though. Feel free to order whatever you like. My treat.”[/color]

[color=violet]"Alright, but you’re ordering for two!”[/color] Chloe pulled an ornate bottle off of her hip and rubbed it. Shortly afterwards, Ruby appeared in a puff of smoke. [color=violet]"Harmony here can’t interact with the physical world, so you’re going to have to help me eat this food on her behalf.”[/color] Chloe stood back up. [color=violet]"I’ll order us some tea, be right back!”[/color] 

[hr]

After Chloe’s two surprise meetings, she was finally able to attend the one that she had actually planned for. 

The meeting with Cradle took place in one of Penrose’s many abandoned warehouses. Only a very thorough look would reveal that it, like so many others, was very much not abandoned. Everything that was required to make the Penny bots could be found here. From the equipment to the plans to the penny bots themselves. 

[color=violet]"I won’t lie."[/color] Chloe observed the Cradle agents as they worked. [color=violet]"I do underhanded things all the time, but I thought Maura held herself to higher standards than this."[/color]

[color=baddab]"Maura isn’t here anymore, in case you forgot."[/color] Binky took note of everything she saw. Behind her, Mac was taking pictures of documentation. Page after page was recorded on a digital camera. 

[color=violet]"I’m not judging you. It’s just that the lot of you are afraid of Penny. I’m surprised you’d sign a deal under the table that would let you make [i]more[/i] of her."[/color]

Binky took a deep breath. [color=baddab]"Normally, I wouldn’t dream of sharing this with you, but in the interest of cooperation..."[/color] She turned to look at Chloe. [color=baddab]"We were shown a vision of the future. Part of that vision had Penny cloning herself and taking over the world. After hearing about the penny-bots, I’m almost one-hundred percent sure that was what I saw and not Penny."[/color] Binky shrugged her shoulders. [color=baddab]"That said, I think one Penny is quite enough, which is why I’d never give her the means to make more of herself."[/color]

[color=violet]"Then wouldn’t destroying all the research be the best course of action?"[/color]

[color=baddab]"Unlearning things is not very easy. Once something has been discovered, everyone will realize it is possible. It may take years or decades, but the technology will resurface. It would be better to keep a record of it and acknowledge how dangerous it is than try to bury it again. Not only that, but we already have one Penny walking around. Should something happen, these schematics will help us deal with her properly should the need arise."[/color]

[color=violet]"I was just curious if we were going to see cradle agents walking around with their own personal penny bots."[/color]

[color=baddab]"I would prefer to have ‘Valorie-bots’ myself."[/color] Binky tapped her collar bone. [color=baddab]"But Penny isn’t the most dangerous one to Penrose. She’ll become a threat under the right circumstances, but there’s another that is stronger and even more emotionally unstable."[/color]

Chloe thought for a moment. [color=violet]"Lily?"[/color]

[color=baddab]"She was in the vision too. We need to make sure that she doesn’t do anything too drastic with her powers."[/color]

Mac approached Binky. [color=cfff04]”Amanda and Valorie reported in. They scanned everything on the upper floors.”[/color]

[color=baddab]"I guess we’ll be taking our leave then."[/color]

Chloe ran over to Binky. [color=violet]"Um."[/color] she sighed. [color=violet]"I’m going to do everything in my power to find them. It might take a while, but if they’re alive, I can bring them back."[/color]

[color=cfff04]”I’ll believe it when I see it.”[/color] Mac didn’t bother looking over her shoulder.

[color=baddab]"I hope you do."[/color] Binky walked after Mac. [color=baddab]"Samantha hasn’t come back, and I fear the worst. It would be nice to hear some good news for a change."[/color] 

Everyone piled into an elevator and left the lair. Once everyone was outside, Chloe lifted up her magic ball and looked into it. [color=violet]”We’re clear.”[/color]

With a crack, the warehouse caved in on itself. It was as if some supergravity anomaly had opened up beneath the building and crushed everything into nothing. All that was left was a pile of dirt and rubble. Maybe when Chloe’s business empire spread out this way, she could build another restaurant on top of it. But the contract had been maintained. The Penny project had been scrapped in its entirely, with the only surviving documentation being for an entirely different project that Chloe had no control over. There would be no Penny clones this day. 

Chloe opened up her notebook again and wrote down Binky’s name. She started to write MAc’s name but hesitated. Would Mac ever want to be her friend? Would any of the Cradle agents forgive her?

[color=violet][i]Would they really be friends if I only cared about them conditionally?[/i][/color]

She finished writing Mac’s name, and noticed it didn’t disappear. A grin crossed her face as she continued to jot down more names.