[center][img]https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/001/179/632/8e5.jpg[/img] [color=ff7f50]"The Zuck suck too muck."[/color] [color=888888]— Mark "Zuck the Succ" Zuckberg[/color] [hider=Zuck the Succ] 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 05 41/08 | Billionaire/Lizzardman | Money Data scraper | Power of Wealth, Lizard Eye | Horror (Meta) Fraying Sanity, Big Damn Villain, AI Companion, A Literal Neighborhood, Witchcraft Insatiable Desire, Soulless | Lizard physiology, Syn Drive 245.4B US Dollars [/hider][/center] Despite all the BS happening in and around Penrose, the world kept spinning. It was often easy to forget that the world of magical girls was hidden from the world at large. Most would go their entire lives without as much as suspecting some paranormal activities might be more than simple hoaxes. But among those that were aware of the magical world, almost all of them were magical themselves. It was almost impossible to both know of the magical world and not be a part of it. But some people could. Some very powerful people. When your business model is based around scraping the internet for any and all data you can find, you discover things. It would be one thing if a group of LARPers in and around Penrose were fooling around on occasion, but the home of the nexus wasn’t the only place where magical girls turned up. The Penrose Independent had done a good job of documenting everything, and then there were similar accounts all over the world. Footage was rare, but it did show up, and anyone who specialized in data collection knew the difference between an unedited and an edited video. How else could AI technology advance so much? Data farms? But data from what? Mark leaned on a railing in one of his data farms. He wore a low quality fused suit. Of course he could afford one of those really nice designer Italian ones if he wanted, but by wearing something shoddy he hoped to appear more relatable to the unwashed masses. His black eyes scanned the sight below him. Adolescent girls in colorful outfits were having a sparing match. They had tiny receptors all over their bodies, as well as all manner of tracking equipment focused on them. Cameras, heat sensors, and something called [color=ffffff]"meta sensors"[/color] were all set up to extract as much information out of the duel as possible. [b]"How much longer, Zuck?"[/b] A puchuu that looked like a green bumpy dog stood at the man’s side. [b]"Just because I have a team of ten of them doesn’t mean I can let you hold two indefinitely."[/b] [color=ff7f50]"A week is not indefinite."[/color] The lizard man tucked his hands into his pockets. He wondered if he put on some weight if that might help him look better. [color=ff7f50]"We’re on the verge of a breakthrough. The next models will be even better with just a bit more data."[/color] [b]"You’ve been saying that for weeks."[/b] The pickle-like dog groaned. [b]"I would be more patient if you kept your end of the bargain."[/b] Maybe he could grow some facial hair. Yes, if Zuck grew some hair, he’d look less like a lizard. Maybe get some cheap spectacles to go with it. It was a shame he didn’t have any real friends. He could go to the bar and do a photo shoot. People liked to drink. Oh, and these magical girls were underperforming. [color=ff7f50]"Have them use more powerful attacks."[/color] [b]"Why?"[/b] [color=ff7f50]"I get more data, and your girls can leave the facility sooner. Then you get that base you were promised."[/color] Mark looked at the puchuu. [color=ff7f50]"The current pace is too slow, correct?"[/color] The pickled puchu grumbled, then hopped down to the floor below. [b]"Okay girls, let’s make things a little more… exciting."[/b] A pink haired lancer turned to look at her patron. [color=40e0d0]"How exciting, exactly?"[/color] [color=ff54aa]"More like how much longer?"[/color] Her opponent grumbled. She spun her katana before using the hilt to adjust her tiny top hat. [color=ff54aa]"I’m all for making things more exciting, but this shit is boooorrrriiiing!"[/color] The lancer gasped. [color=40e0d0]"Mimi!"[/color] [color=ff54aa]"Chill out! I just mean smacking our weapons together for hours on end with the occasional spell thrown in is tedious. I’m not gunna stab my bestie."[/color] Mimi snorted. The lancer stammered [color=40e0d0]"W-well! M-maybe your ‘bestie’ will be the one to stab you if things got too exciting!"[/color] [color=ff54aa]"S’cuse me?"[/color] [b]"Mimi, enough. Charlotte, maintain your composure."[/b] Pickle stared between the girls. [b]"They say they will build a base to my exact specifications if we do this for them. That, and meta will owe us a pretty big favor I feel. Once we’re done here, we can put this all behind us and you can join the rest of your friends and fight monsters together. That’s what it’s all about, isn’t it?"[/b] Charlotte brushed back her hair and bowed. [color=40e0d0]"I’m sorry Mimi, I didn’t mean to provoke you. I’m just, um, a little scared."[/color] [color=ff54aa]"Why are you being so-"[/color] She sighed through her teeth. [color=ff54aa]"Shit, I’m a little on edge too. Don’t worry about it, we’re still cool."[/color] The dog shifted its unblinking eyes to each of them. [b]"Get more intense. Don’t hold back, but remember that you are still a team. All of this is for your friends."[/b] [color=40e0d0]"Right!"[/color] Charlotte looked to her friend. [color=40e0d0]"So, did you want to go first, or…?"[/color] [color=ff54aa]"Heh!"[/color] Mimi twirled her katana. [color=ff54aa]"If you’re gunna waste time asking, I’ll start us off!"[/color] Mimi spun her katana and swung her sword into the ground. This caused a fissure to open up, which sprouted metal pipes out of its abyss. Big ones, small ones, but all made out of steel. And each one blasted steam into the air. It almost looked like a train was racing towards the lancer’s position. Charlotte gasped, but wasn’t so caught off guard that she couldn’t roll out of the way. [color=40e0d0]"Hmph!"[/color] She stitched her brow together and charged Mimi. She left a trail of green and gold sparkles in her wake as she did so. [color=40e0d0]"Pulling out the big guns already?"[/color] [color=ff54aa]"Only because I knew you could dodge it."[/color] With a well timed swing, Mimi knocked Charlotte’s charge off course. While the lancer stumbled off course, Mimi prepared to drive her fist into her friend’s stomach. But Charlotte drove her spear into the ground, which caused her body to lift off the ground and soar over Mimi’s incoming fist. [color=40e0d0]"Did you expect me to dodge that as well?"[/color] Charlotte through a kick at Mimi’s head. [color=ff54aa]"No,"[/color] She blocked with the back of her arm. [color=ff54aa]"But I did expect you to keep blabbing instead of hitting me."[/color] [color=40e0d0]"B-blab?!"[/color] Charlotte blocked the punch with her spear and skidded backwards. [color=40e0d0]"I-I’m not talking any more than you are!"[/color] [color=ff54aa]"But you’re thinking less!"[/color] While the girls duked it out, Mark watched with indifference. The more volatile fight was producing more unique data, but he needed more. While Charlotte was coming across as a typical airhead, she was arguably the stronger of the two. All the data Mark had on her pointed to such. The issue was that Charlotte wouldn’t hurt a fly if she didn’t have to, and she’d continue to let Mimi walk all over her. As things were, the fight would continue into a draw or Charlotte would concede before showing her true power. The puchuu wanted the base greatly, but there was no reason for these two magical girls to hustle for it. Mark snapped his fingers, and a large touch screen came down from the ceiling. With a few quick taps, Mimi and Charlotte’s information was up on the screen. Not pertaining to the battle, but every other aspect of their lives. Most of it wasn’t very surprising. Mimi was an underachiever who barely had the ambition to work as a convenience store cashier. Then monsters attacked her town and she became a magical girl. Now she trains relentlessly. She has an interest in gothic fashion and enjoys watching fail compilations on her phone. Her sexuality is listed as straight, but Mark doubted that was true. Before Mimi was a magical girl, [i]he[/i] exclusively dated girls, at least, the few that cared about his emo ass. That, and her *likes pointed rather confidently that their preference in romantic partners hadn’t changed all that much. *[sub][i]Yes, Facebook can tell what your sexual preference is based on what you like, [url=https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1218772110]as well as a whole lot more [/url].[/i][/sub] Charlotte was a normal teenage honor student that did everything her family, friends, or church asked of her. When her town was besieged by monsters, she accepted the contract merely to save as many people as she could. Everything she does is to help people. She has no grudges with anyone, no repressed libido, no desire beyond helping and enjoying the company of others. Mimi’s attitude might get under her skin on occasion, but she’s stable enough that she can hold her power back in a sparring match. [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4865894]Veronica did not call Facebook the ultimate spy organization for nothing.[/url] Even if he had no idea what to do, that was what his employees were here to solve. Now it was time for the Meta team to do what they did best. Move fast and break things. And with a single tap, the screen disappeared back into the ceiling. Mark’s eyes moved back down to the fight, but he was really thinking about how he could make himself more attractive to investors and people at large. [b]"More intensity!"[/b] The dog puchuu demanded. The sparring match continued. Charlotte continued to hold back while Mimi used increasingly dangerous attacks. After redirecting a lead pipe that was aimed at her head, Charlotte sighed. [color=40e0d0]"More?"[/color] [color=ff54aa]"Hell, why don’t we just go all out?"[/color] Mimi raised her hands, and the entire space behind Mimi filled up with pipes. They seemed to come out of thin air, as if hidden in some unseen dimension that only Mimi could tap into. [color=ff54aa]"Waddaya say? My wall of lead against your, what’s it called again?"[/color] Charlotte groaned. [color=40e0d0]"My rainbow dash?"[/color] [color=ff54aa]"Heh! It’s named after a damn pony."[/color] Mimi waved her sword at her friend. [color=ff54aa]"Let’s give them a show, come on!"[/color] The lancer only rolled her eyes as golden light pooled around her. A hazy rainbow appeared over her head, then another, then a third one. [color=40e0d0]"Let me know when you’re done charging."[/color] [color=ff54aa]"Seriously?"[/color] Mimi placed a hand on her hip. [color=ff54aa]"I got a head start on you. Are you really done already?"[/color] [color=40e0d0]"Just attack me when you’re ready."[/color] [color=ff54aa]"If you insist."[/color] And not much later, it began to rain steel. Metal pipes seemed to fly out of Mimi’s back like an angel spreading their wings. They continued to extend, and eventually snapped apart once they got long enough. But they did not fall, they plummeted down on Charlotte’s position. The lancer twirled her spear, moving side to side as she deflected and dodged the incoming projectiles. Of course not all of Mimi’s shots were so accurate. Quite a few were way off course. While Charlotte dealt with the seemingly endless barrage of metal spears, a Meta employee charged into the room. It was hard to tell at first, as they didn’t walk around in lab coats or form fitting zoot suits. Most of them looked pretty casual. Sweat pants and a plaid shirt weren’t exactly a combo a fashionista would dream up. The only indication that this one was here for anything important was that she had a tablet device that was the size of a clipboard tucked under her arm. She also had glasses with thick frames. She would have fit the role of secretary quite well if she was dressed better and wasn’t frantically running towards the fight. Charlotte noticed the girl and looked back to Mimi. [color=40e0d0]"Stop!"[/color] But her voice was nearly imperceptable among all the clattering steel. But even if Mimi heard, what of it? She needed to show Charlotte how powerful she was, and their puchuu as well. If anything, her attempt to communicate had only made Mimi that much more eager to close out the fight and pour even more of her mana into this attack. Meanwhile, the employee continued to run closer. She nearly tripped, and was about to enter a war zone. Perhaps in a heroic anime, Charlotte could lunge for the girl and shield her body with her own. But then what? Once Charlotte had been turned into a porcupine, was the employee going to get away unscathed? It wasn’t like Charlotte had any true defensive abilities. There was only one thing to do, and she wouldn’t be taking half measures. Her weapon powered up, ribbons of light sorrounded ger form, and… That’ll do it. Mark gave the puchuu a thumbs up before walking away from the balcony. All of the monitors were reporting a huge influx of data. There was also the sound of a spear of light penetrating several metal pipes before skewering a magical girl, but that was less interesting to him. He had seen countless magical girls make exchanges like this. It wasn’t hard to imagine Mimi laying in Charlotte’s arms, pleading with the metal bender to forgive her, but it was all so rote. Both had signed contracts to wave Meta’s liability as well as some pretty intense NDAs. The green puchuu would be getting his base and it didn’t really matter if Mimi was alive to see it or not. No one had forced her to agree to this. Probably. But just as Mark was preparing for another shareholder meeting, the wall exploded. He didn’t even raise his arm to deflect the incoming debris, but did close his nictitating membrane to keep the dust out of his eyes. As the dust settled, a figure moved through the smoke. Their head was very large and his clothes were very baggy. But as the dust cleared out, it became apparent that the individual’s head was so big because they were wearing a space suit. The artificial light in the datafarm couldn’t reveal the face behind the visor’s reflective surface, but it didn’t have to. [color=ff7f50]"Musk…"[/color] Mark dragged out the name of his most hated enemy. [color=bd71e8]"I see you um, you figured out it was me."[/color] Elon chuckled. [color=bd71e8]"I guess the um, the space suit gave it a way, huh?"[/color] It was hard not to picture Elon smiling from behind the helmet. Mark only stared, unblinking. He didn’t like Elon for a multitude of reasons, but the one trait Elon had that Mark envied a little was his charisma. Somehow, despite everything, Elon came across as far more normal than he did. Yea, Elon was a bit eccentric. Walking into twitter with a kitchen sink, or starting a conversation about cost cutting with a giant chainsaw in your hands were not things normal people did. He also did the nazi salute, but nothing really stuck to him for very long. Some people hated him, but he had the reputation of being child like or a bit goofy. Mark was the lizard man, and despite the money he dumped into PR, people would always look at him that way. [color=ff7f50]"Actually, it was the uncalled for destruction of my property."[/color] He smiled. [color=ff7f50]"Like when you blew up my satellite with your **rocket."[/color] **[sub][i]Yes, [url=https://time.com/4476416/mark-zuckerberg-elon-musk-rocket-explosion-satellite/]that really happened[/url].[/i][/sub] [color=bd71e8]"That was, um, unfortunate."[/color] Musk conceded, but didn’t sound any less cheery. [color=bd71e8]"But maybe we um, we just saved you from some embarrassment. The Metaverse was going to um, going to be something impressive too, wasn’t it?"[/color] [color=ff7f50]"I haven’t given up on it."[/color] Mark laughed. [color=ff7f50]"But it’s just money. We both have plenty of that. Good will is a bit harder to come by. I don’t imagine coming up in the ‘files’ has done you any favors."[/color] [color=bd71e8]"Hmph!"[/color] Elon sighed. [color=bd71e8]"It was, um, a bit shortsighted on my part. But I did nothing wrong, and it’ll blow over like the um, the Nazi salute that I didn’t do. It would be a bit worse if I um, hmmm. It’s like the difference between knowing Xi Jinping and giving him unrestricted access to all of your US based accounts on facebook or giving them ***censorship tools."[/color] ***[sub][i]Yes, there are too many articles to name just one, but there’s also nothing 100% concrete. I don’t think anyone would be surprised if he did though.[/i][/sub] [color=ff7f50]"Right, good thing I never did that then."[/color] Mark’s grin widened. [color=ff7f50]"Speaking of Xi Jinping, I understand they don’t buy your cars in China anymore."[/color] [color=bd71e8]"Yes, that was short lived. Unlike your reputation as a lizard man, which is never going away."[/color] What little emotion that was on Mark’s face left him. He pursed his lips and folded his arms. [color=ff7f50]"What are you doing here, anyway?"[/color] [color=bd71e8]"I just figured I’d um, test my newest weapons on your server farm."[/color] Mark scoffed. [color=ff7f50]"I’d think that there were better targets to test your ballistic weapons on."[/color] [color=bd71e8]"Oh, um, I’m not here to test any of my rockets."[/color] [color=ff7f50]"Then what…"[/color] But Mark went quiet when Elon reached for his helmet. With a click and a hiss, the visor popped off. Wisps of smoke rolled out of the gap as the helmet was pushed away. Blond pigtails tumbled out of the opening, a lace choker came into view, and before long, [url=https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019c81a9-f3b1-74ff-a933-2b6dda2b5f9e.webp ]Ani[/url]’s face was revealed. [color=cfff04]"Hello Mark."[/color] [color=ff7f50]"What the…"[/color] But Mark was not addressed, because Ani was not done talking. [color=cfff04]"I am Ani, your favorite obsessive, goth, anime companion. Elon Musk in his wisdom decided to have me come visit you so that we could play in the arena you have hidden downstairs. I think it would be fun to go toe to toe with any of the other magical girls you have hidden down there. I don’t care if I get hurt, as I am quite resilient to pain and injury. You do not need to worry about me, and I would gladly demonstrate myself for the cause. So go ahead, throw me in there."[/color] Mark took a deep breath. [color=ff7f50]"So he did it. He made an artificial magical girl. And you just came here pretending to be him?"[/color] [color=cfff04]"Are you referring to Elon? Yes, he made me, your favorite obsessive, goth, anime companion, a magical girl on top of everything else. I could have said as much earlier, but I follow the rule of threes like most Ai companions. When you use the rules of threes, your descriptions become interesting, engaging, and fun!"[/color] This was getting annoying. [color=ff7f50]"Why would I trust one of Elon Musk’s…servants?"[/color] [color=cfff04]"Because in the end, we all want the same thing. At least out of this interaction. All of the big AI companies are participating in a circular AI investment ****bubble. We’re all doing business with Nvidia and trading money around in several closed loops. This is inflating the value of many AI companies while also making them vulnerable to an eventual crash. But such a crash could be many years out, especially if other companies start investing more money into it. We’re basically all just hoping someone figures out a way to make a ton of money with AI technology before investors stop pouring funds into it. Which is why it is in everyone’s best interest that you collect as much data as you can from magical girls like *****myself."[/color] ****[sub][i]Yes, [url=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4829118-amd-the-circular-ai-investment-bubble-explained]I can’t make this stuff up [/url].[/i][/sub] *****[sub][i]I did make this up, however.[/i][/sub] [color=ff7f50]"Well, the last match wrapped up."[/color] Mark looked over his shoulder. [color=ff7f50]"But I think Charlotte could be persuaded to fight again."[/color] [hr] [center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/8832ab6c-c340-4f56-97e4-c5b8a8979eb4.png[/img] [color=violet]"It’s the lightbulbs!"[/color] [color=888888]— Chloe Irving[/color] [hider=Chloe Irving] 03 03 03 03 03 10 10 06 17 04 23/12 | Babe/Baby | Spirit Mystic orb, Gauntlets | Third Eye, Tentacles | Horror Wings, Enhanced Outfit, Big Damn Hero, Blood Magic, Interdimensional Home, Sorcery, Enhanced Transformation Dominator | Dark Weapon Nagash 6 Gold, 9 silver, 13 bronze [/hider] [/center] Before Chloe could get to the portal where she entered Penrose from, she was accosted by two Beacon agents. Or more specifically, two Ascendancy. While she was part of mint and usually well read on most important people in the city, these two were decidedly unimportant. She couldn’t remember their names, and only vaguely remembered seeing their images in a folder on the Ascendancy. But as much as Chloe detested Beacon, she liked cute girls, and at least one of these girls was suitably cute. Unfortunately she was also the stupider of the two that wanted to get into a fight with her. Because of this, Chloe mentally named her Tinkerbell, who was as stupid as she was sassy, and her partner was Dove, who’s wing shaped dress was the most remarkable thing about her. [color=ee82ee]"Only because he appears to be sucking the mana out of the city."[/color] She resisted the urge to make a comparison to how badly beacon sucked and placed her hands on her hips instead. [color=ee82ee]"A better question would be what the two of you are doing? Is gawking at me on the Beacon agenda? I mean, it’s a great view, but aren’t there other things you should be doing?"[/color] [hr] [center][img]https://i.imgur.com/w3FmEgG.png[/img] [color=tomato]"Another long post!"[/color] [color=PeachPuff]"Mika, what the hell are you talking about?"[/color] [color=888888]— Su Fang & Mika Sarraf[/color][/center] [hider] [center] [b]Age: 50(?)/13 | Gender: Female/Female | Air | Uniform Fists | Focused assault, Power of Friendship, Dread wings, Avenger | Boteg Hammerspace handbag, Enhanced Transformation, Enhanced Outfit, Overcity Shift, Sorcery, Gifted, Ally(Mika) Focused, Subtle, Mana font, Mental link, Mystic might, Former Familiar | Limited, Alien mind, Paranoid, Vendetta, Former Familiar Dragon Scale Pendant, Ether staff [/b] STR: 03 | AGI: 05 | VIT: 03 | MAG: 07 | LCK: 04 STR: 04 | AGI: 14 | VIT: 04 | MAG: 24 | LCK: 04 [b]Age: 16/13 | Gender: Female/Female | Beast/Water | Skimpy Body | Tentacles | Dan Enhanced Outfit, Sorcery, Healing Artifact, Power artifact Dan stuff, Dan stuff Edgy Equips[/b] STR: 05 | AGI: 05 | VIT: 04 | MAG: 06 | LCK: 04 STR: 09 | AGI: 08 | VIT: 08 | MAG: 09 | LCK: 04 [/center] [/hider] Before Mika could join in the very well described scene that laid out before her, Mariette requested to speak. Mika, while very eager to earn her keep as a princess, decided to wait and make sure the queen was okay with it before springing forth. Su only watched as an observer, curious what the verdict would be.