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Penelope blushed at so much attention given to her, and if she hadn't been trying to fool the rambunctious boys then she would have hastily corrected Sirsce and pointed out some real veterans. For all of her experiences, she still turned to those who had guided her thus far to take the lead. Some she respected; many she loved. Maybe Sailor Leda would benefit from coming to a Jovian meeting... bu thtat would have to be another time.

The teenager tensed up whenever Sirsce grabbed hold of her hand, but she played along as she gasped, "Not again... okay, just hold on!" She moved down the alley at her ally's pace, keeping an appropriately worried look on her face. Penelope placed a hand on the other girl's back and began to rub it gently, as anyone would do trying to soothe someone not feeling well. She might not be good at lying, and they might be caught anyway... but she was going to do her best!

The sound of leaving laughter made her breath a sigh of relief, although a short-lived sigh given that due to their still interlocked hands she was pulled up and down with her excited partner. "It's...it's quite alright...r-r-really. Almost-st home now, and a sh-shower will help."

The dark-haired girl was a little more cautious, scanning the alleyway for any sign of someone to spot them before deciding to continue onward. She was pretty certain that they would not have another encounter like their recent close call... but she did not want to take any unnecessary risks, either! At Sirce's question, she immediately protested. Penelope waved her hands in an effort to disappate any misconceptions as she replied hastily, "No, I'm not... I took no offense! Just... not quite used to bouncing up and down like that, so if I sounded funny... that's probably why!"

The rest of the trip was relatively uneventful, moving from alley to alley with her home coming ever closer. She could not help but notice that her new, excitable ally had decided to hang back a bit, and she tried to reassure her, "You can walk closer. It's right over there--do you see, with the camilla bush? That's where--

Sirce's announcement made her stop, and a smile appeared on her face, "Really? Only three blocks? I had no idea anyone was that close!" "Anyone" being another Senshi, of course!

Penelope accepted the high five and brightened at the mention of a team. She didn't want to be too forward or too pushy, but she felt she had to mention, "I'm always happy to help! I'm actually part of a larger team--" and here her voice dropped, just in case someone could possibly overhear, "the Jovians. If you want, I'll introduce you to them?" Afterall, the Jovians had far more experience than Penelope did alone. They had trained her, cared for her, and she cared for them. She was positive that they would support Sirsce too.

The other girl's open, exuberant demeanor was a strong contrast to Penelope's own more demure personality. It was a tad overwhelming, in truth, but she tried to get a word in as she pushed the door open, "I go the mall sometimes, to walk around and visit the comic shop--and oh, I couldn't trouble you to make me anything, really!" So much attention was rattling to her. She wanted to help and to please, but she certainly didn't want her new companion to feel like she was taking advantage!

Her house was remarkably quiet. Lived in, but tidy, a staircase could be seen from the door and the living room sprawled out to the left. From said living room trotted the only member of the family home, and Penelope smiled at the sight of his familiar, slobbery face. "My parents are out for the day, so long as Minotaur lets you in, I think we'll be okay?"

Judging from the way his little nub of a tail wriggled, it was safe to say the English Bulldog liked the new, fishy friend just fine!

Minotaur considered the crouched stance to be an open invitation to waddle over and recieve some pets. His nub tail wriggled all the faster, and he moved to lick the new lady--no easy feat, given his drooly jowls. He was cute alright, and in his own plump little way, he knew it.

Penelope closed the door while her dog made introductions. She had to clear something before they went too much farther.
"I consider all Senshi and Knights my team, really," the teenager replied quickly. She didn't want Sirsce to get the wrong idea! Penelope had always believed strongly in the power of unity; the fights that occurred between her allies distressed her. Yet... even in their fighting, at least they all came together. No one she had ever known was abandoned. "I'd help any of them, and I have many friends who aren't part of the Jovians. It's just..."

She tried to think of a way to explain it, but all her debate training had never truly prepared her for trying to define the best friendships she had ever made. How could she adequately explain how much it meant for her to be approached by Tallulah and Christa and given direction, and a connection developed from their moons? To know Paris had her back, not only on the battle field, but in the shopping arena? How welcoming Chris had been, trusting her with his identity so quickly after they met? Sessrumnir had saved not only her, but her best friend--Harper was even an honorary Jovian, in her mind.

What eventually came out was a smile and a small, almost apologetic shrug, "There are so many of us, and others... grow attached to their friends, too. We all work together, but because of what certain people experience... they become smaller teams, closer knit. Like... the difference between a cousin you love, and who you get along with, and a big brother or sister. The connection is... it's hard to explain, but I'm sure you'll find a group that you get along with too, and then you'll understand."

The request for a tour was a welcome reprieve from her own ramblings, if a little unexpected. The dark-haired girl nodded and motioned towards the stairs, "Of course! We'll do the upstairs first--I need to get you a change of clothes anyway while we put yours in the wash. If you'll follow me?"

The second floor was as neat as the first floor had been. Penelope led Sirsce to her bedroom first, the room at the farthest end of the hall and cloest to the stairs. Behind the door lay a fairly unassuming room, at least to Penelope's mind. The bedspread and pillows were soothing shades of purple, blue, and gray. A small desk with a laptop computer had an owl calendar hanging beside it, with a neat to-do list and important messages on a corkboard. A book shelf full of graphic novels and fantasy books stood against one wall, a few action figures and toys adding a decorative touch at the top. Two extra doors could be seen; one led to the closet, and the other led to the small bathroom that connected to Penelope's room.

The only two items that might be seen as unusual were both near the clothes dresser. A bit of statue in the form of a mask rested on the top of the furniture; on the wall above the dresser was a picture of Jupiter and a list of its moons. Penelope walked towards it, immediately growing a little flustered. It wasn't often that she had visitors in her room--of any type, much less another Senshi. "I think we're about the same size, anyway? I have some big nightgowns, if nothing else, that should fit..."

Minotaur climbed the stairs more slowly than the two girls, but his huffing and snuffling clearly indicated that he was on his way!

Penelope nodded as she pulled out the nightgown she had been reaching for, a pale blue cotton piece decorated with fluffy, white owls. It was a little big on her, so she hoped it would fit Sirsce! "Of course. If I can find a team... then I think anyone can."

She turned to hand the girl the garment, the question unexpected but one that she would certainly answer. "Oh... I... um, I didn't really find them. They... they found me." She brushed some of her thick black hair behind one ear, explaining, "Europa and Kallichore found me and... thought I had something to offer. So I went to a meeting and... well, the rest just sort of happened. Now we're all friends and have done so much together...I can't imagine doing this without them. The same with all my friends, really." She paused and offered, a soft smile on her face, "If... if you want, I'd be happy to introduce you to--"

Her guest's excited comment and motion made her pause, and marroon eyes widened. Leda... a moon of Jupiter? She looked to where the other girl pointed and yes, sure enough. Penelope excitedly clasped her hands together, nightgown and all, "You're another Senshi of Jupiter! I mean... yes... all the moons have Senshi, I think. Although we haven't found them all. This is so exciting, Sirsce!"

Penelope looked over the list of moons, and she unclasped her hands to trail her fingers down the list with an ease that bespoke much practice. She listed the names in order that they appeared, alphabetically, "Callisto, Cyllene, Europa, Ganymede, Kallichore, and then there's me, Pasiphae. There are others not on the list--Valhalla, Sessrumnir, and Babylon are all Knights. Vindamitrix is a Senshi. Tomlin is a Guardian Cat. Then there are others that I would consider part of my team... Nyx, my best friend, for example." The discrete girl stuck only with powered names, not personal. It was not her place to break their trust, and she would certainly not dare.

Then the enegetic Sirsce was off suggesting things again, and the more reserved girl felt herself blushing. She wouldn't lie--she had thought about it. Some token to show that they were all Jovians... but what? All she had been able to think of was a "4"-shaped symbol of some sort... maybe everyone could pick their own thing? "Oh, you really don't... have to go through such trouble! I mean, not that we wouldn't be grateful or... anything, but it's such a burden on you..."

Penelope was ready to offer Sirsce a spot then and there, but... well, it wasn't her decision alone to make. She could act as a sponsor, though, as Kallichore and Europa had been for her. So, she smiled softly and assured her, "Well, we'll have to meet the others, but... you can always count on me, Sirsce."

"Oh, I'm sorry!" The flustered girl pointed towards the back of her room, to the door near the closet. She had gotten overwhelmed by Sirsce's enthusastic energy and caught up in the excitement... which had led her to neglecther guest! "If you go through there, I have a small bathroom--feel free to use anything you need! There should be towels in the cabinet, and I have plenty of soap and shampoo."

Penelope knelt down to scrach at her dog's ears. Now that Sirsce had been shown the way to the bathroom... perhaps she should get to contacting the other Jovians? She took up her phone, but bit her lip as she stared at it. The girl has always been discrete... and she would hate to contact them without her new friend's permission. So, she called out, "Sirsce, um... before you go... would you mind... if I told my other teammates about you? I mean, I won't tell them your real name or anything if you don't want me to but just... that Sailor Leda has been found? I know you wanted to meet them..."

But maybe she didn't want to do so right away and would feel overwhelmed. Penelope didn't want to push her anywhere she didn't want to go.

The instant permission was given, Penelope felt a weight lifted off her shoulders. She would have gladly kept the secret, if Sirsce had called it such. While her new friend showered, the dark-haired girl used her Senshi cell phone to send out a text to her teammates to inform them of Sailor Leda's emergence. She couldn't wait to see the looks on their faces! It reminded her of how long it had been since she had seen Paris, Chris, Christa... or any of her Jovian friends. But that would change, and soon. She hoped.

Minotaur plopped down beside his owner and kept her company until Sirsce emerged again. She smiled at her, "You're very--" The text message sound cut off her pleasantries, but she took no offense. Penelope had been contacted by her mother several times to run off and get goods that she needed but had forgotten to retrieve herself.

The demure girl immediately replied, though her voice was somewhat shy, "Anytime you want to come... well, I might not be here, but you can call or text me. I'll be more than happy to help in anyway that I can... even if it's not much more than being able to offer another shower."