>People wonder why I missed Tuesday's thread.>Don't worry, I have a hell of a story for you, those of you who revel in my suffering.>Previous threads here: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=AC%20QuestYOU ARE ALEX RASTON.You and Laurie have just been reunited with Dave, who apparently was sitting on the ground watching the fight with the guy he took out, and the with the enemy captain when he joined them in the dirt.Currently you're on your way to the hangar."So, hell of a day huh?" Mooch comments. "Though I think you surrendered the 'fly smart' high-ground with your sister."[ ] .... It was a calculated risk.[ ] 'Do as I say, not as I do'.[ ] I can't imagine how.
>MY NAME!>I forgot I had it off, now I must go commit Sudoku.
Aw yeah here we go.[X] I can't imagine how.Deny everything.
>>19142965>[X] .... It was a calculated risk.CRAZY IVAN always works for some reason
>>19142965I wouldn't say I revel in it, but I'd be lying if I didn't get some degree of schadenfreude from it.Anyway:>[ ] .... It was a calculated risk.
>So, I guess I'll storytime while I wait for everybody to arrive.>Tuesday, I was asked by my mother to help a friend of the family out, since said friend was getting up a bit in years and wasn't in the best physical shape.>So we go to the house, and help clean up bits of shed from the ruins of the one that collapsed due to snow over the winter. We had a carpenter come in and build a new one to replace it, this is a bit of cleanup around that.>While we're there, she asks me to put together a little shelf thing together to go in the new shed, hold canned goods that fear not the cold.>It's some shitty piece of furniture. A cheap Ikea knock-off. That's right, they actually managed to make a shittier, cheaper version of Ikea furniture.>This story features this shelf prominently, or more accurately the true culprit behind the coming shit-storm of epic proportions. A little device made by Satan, who is the the devil, lord of lie, and prince of all evil. A little thing known as the 'compression dowel.>In case it isn't apparent, I have something of a dislike. By which I mean actually saying the words 'compression dowel' actually triggers my gag reflex.
[ ] .... It was a calculated risk.
So, hey, as someone who loved AC 2, can anyone recommend which of the later games are good?I've got AC 4, though I haven't played it much at all.
>>19143069>Anyway, it's got this stupid ass method of assembly: There's these lock-bolts that can withstand exactly zero twisting on either side of the shelf, and a compression dowel (That's right, just one) to help support it.>So I get the self assembled.>Inside of shed there's some sort of powder on the floor. Baking soda or something that the carpenters put down, to pull moisture out of the wood and prevent rot.>Shelf is put in. Canned goods are stacked. Compression dowel gives out after exactly .3 milliseconds after we turn our backs on the fucking thing.>Shelf twists and buckles, collapses INTO another, only SLIGHTLY less shitty shelf.>Particle board shrapnel flies out, elderly friend is thrown from the shed, and dislocates her hip.>At this point, a can of varnish on the second shelf spills down into a hamper of clothes intended for the salvation army. From there it goes to the floor, hits the powder, and the real show began. I'll let you guess at the next turn of events while I type up the next part of the quest. Did the powder/varnish mix: a) release some sort of toxic fumes, b) eat through the floor like some sort of acidic mix, or c) burst into flames, or d) ALL OF THE ABOVE.
>>19143191Gonna have to go with D
>>19142965It was a calculated risk.I spent the first two matches of the Tournament playing it safe, doing things by the book being a sane but rather good pilot. I set up a pattern for my opponents to expect of me and then I broke it when they thought they had me figured out. Now they aren't sure what I'm going to do in the next match, it was calculated.
>>19143191By giving the ALL option, it must be the case.
>>19143110Well, 4 was okay, sorta... but 4A seems to be more popular, gameplay wise. 5 is another reboot, and probably more to your speed. But the storyline for 5 is rather disjointed, at best.So, I'd suggest you just finish off 4 and then try out 4A. Unless you hate the speed, in which case skip to 5.
>>19142965[x] .... It was a calculated risk.
>>19143191I'm gonna have to go with D, Regis.
".... It was a calculated risk.""You calculated a Heavy Drop, pulling a sling-shot maneuver off of an armored Zeppelin you were using for cover, to try and cut someone in half?"".... Yes.....""Shit man. Worst I've ever done was the orbital bacon cannon, and Morgan won't even let me build that."This is the point where Ari enters the room."Hey." you say. "You do realize that just because I do the occasional crazy stunt...""That doesn't mean I get to. Yeah, I understand."[ ] No really, I mean- wait, what?[ ] Really? I'm impressed, Ari.[ ] Good. Also, never do what I just did.[ ] .... Orbital bacon cannon?
All of the above. Too easy.
>>19143268"Good. Also, never do what I just did. Ever."
>>19143268[X] Good. Also, never do what I just did.May as well make sure it is abundantly clear.
>>19143268[X] Really? I'm impressed, Ari.Crazy stunts are to be used in moderation, for them to be effective you must lure them into thinking you are a sane right thinking person.
>>19143268>[ ] .... Orbital bacon cannon?
[X] Good. Also, never do what I just did.
>>19143241>>19143232>>19143202>Bing bing bing! We have a winner.>So while this madness is going on, I call the fire department, and then do the only thing I can to try and contain this: Try and shut the door. Which is when one of the neighbor's cat decides to attack the back of my leg and then run INTO to burning shed, which is currently filling up with what looks and smells like Mustard gas (I'd rather not go into how I acquired this bit of knowledge).>So I make three mistakes in the next few minutes.>First, I go in after the cat.
>>19143268[x] Really? I'm impressed, Ari.
[X] Good. Now about that Bacon cannon, I could really go for some right now...
>>19143327I'd say there was no need for that, and that a cat will know to get the fuck out of a burning structure, but I also know from experience that is not true.
>>19143327...Can I work for you as a henchman or something? Such crazy shit happens to you all the time.
>>19143327Yeah. That was stupid. Also: Do tell.
"Good. Also, never do what I just did. It was an incredibly stupid plan, even by the standards I normally set."Elsie walks in with a smile. "I thought when it works it got reclassified as 'daring'.""There is a line where that ends. And with THAT we've clearly crossed it.""Heh." She sits down next to you. "Your snappy one liners need work.""I thought it was good.""It was decent. But you're never going to get a setup that good for a Led Zeppelin reference."".... Son of a bitch."At which point Dave cuts in. "So I was talking with the other guys who got thrown out of the mile high club. They seem pretty cool. I kinda sorta implied we might be willing to get drinks with them in the near future if they picked up the tab. Anyone game for that?"[ ] Sure.[ ] Later, we have things to do first.[ ] Nah, we've got a tournament to focus on.
>>19143409[X] Sure.I'm always game for drinking on someone elses tab.When is our next match anyways? If it's tomorrow we're obviously not going out tonight.
>>19143409Sure.Though it may be awkward if their Brenner is Laurie's dad.
>>19143409Sure.More allies is always good.
>BRB, dinner.
>>19143409[x] Sure.
[x] Sure.
>>19143327You poor, poor thing.
>>19143409>[X] Sure
>>19143327>I know to hold my breath and keep down in a situation like this. I still got some smoke in my eyes, and it felt like somebody putting a cigarette out in it.>So then I make the second mistake: I GRAB the cat.>>19143574>I probably deserve it at the end of the day, what with Karma and all.>>19143360>I don't pay well, and your workplace/job description would violate the Geneva convention.
>Sure seems to be the consensus.
"Sure." you say. "Any idea when?""Now is probably the best time actually. Give us time to be sober before our next match.""Call 'em up then."As the provided air-transport touches down back at your hangar, you notice that Laurie seems... distracted.[ ] Talk to him.[ ] Give him some space.
>>19143699If there is one thing I have learned from dealing with unruly cats, if if you go in, go all the way in. Don't go in, try to grab it and pull your arm back. If you are grabbing the cat push into the claws and teeth rather than pulling back and letting them rake you to hell.>>19143751Talk to him.
>>19143751>[X] talk to himnever again will he go untalked to
>>19143751[X] Talk to him.
>>19143751Talk to him.
>>19143751Bad things happened when we weren't talking to our best friend, so...[x]Talk to him.
>[x] Talk to himAlso, as a henchman I bring my own armament and equipment, and I've always wanted to see Alaska.
"Hey." You say as you walk up to him."... Hey. We're really gonna go and hang out with those guys?""I thought you looked like something was bugging you. Talk to me.""It's just... what if it's him? What the hell do I say? Do I want to say anything? Do I even want to BE there? I'm not sure I could even be in the same room as him, after all that's happened."[ ] It'd be good for you to go and make sure.[ ] I'm not going to force you, you can stay if you want.
>>19143865[X]It'd be good for you to go and make sure
>>19143865[X] It'd be good for you to go and make sure.It might be cheesy, but what if he showed up just after you and your mom left?
>>19143865[x] It'd be good for you to go and make sure.
>>19143865[x] Are you sure you want to miss the opportunity? This may not happen again. Will you regret this?
>>19143865It'd be god for you to go and make sure.
>>19143865I'd rather not force laurie into this position
>>19143865[x] I'm not going to force you, you can stay if you want.Forcing this seems like a bad move.
>>19143865Goddamnit, AC Guy, I want to pick both. Well, combine them, really, but still.I pick tiebreaker, if it comes to that.
>[ X ] I'm not going to force you, you can stay if you want.Maybe he'll stick around anyway. Either way, I'd rather not potentially lock two large cats in a box together.
Now that I think about it doesn't Laurie have like seven different issues that will make this little get together go horridly wrong?
>Force Laurie to talk to Brenner, or let him leave if he likesDo we at least get an "Are you sure?" AC-Guy?
>>19144048If your paying attention the "Are you sure?" has already been given
>>19144070>If your paying attentionOkay.
>>19144048>The dangley bit was to give Laurie a chance to voice his anxiety, as opposed to you ignoring him and him just following along feeling obligated.>Now you have the chance to either try and make him feel better, or sit this meeting out since he doesn't feel ready for it.>There's a difference between informing you of the risks, and never letting you fail.
>>19144087Chill the fuck out, I was kidding to begin with. Jesus.
>>19144116>Chill? What part of that post suggested I was anything but?>No really, I've re-read it twice and I can't see how it could be interpreted as hostile.
>Alright, I just did a vote count, and it looks like 'go' is winning, but at the same time there's a lot of 'wait, do we want to do this?' after that.
>>19143970Man, this doesn't make any damn sense at all.I vote Go.
>>19144161Voting for [x] I'm not going to force you, you can stay if you want.Take a picture of Capt. Brenner, bring it back, and Laurie can see if it's his dad or not. If not, he can come and have a beer next time. If it is, then he gets more time to get his mind in order.
>>19144161we want to encourage him to go but let him know he doesn't have to, neither of those quite to that
>>19144161Lessee.Go>>19143883>>19143888>>19143890>>19143895>>19144175Don't>>19143899 I think>>19143932>>19143977>>19144181I don't know what this is>>19143891>>191440105-4-2 go-don't go-what?
>>19144189>That's kinda what the 'not gonna force you' option was. I figured being encouraging and supportive was a given, what with you guys being close friends.
>>19144225AC, what was your third mistake in your latest instant? I don't see it posted.
>>19144225yes but he also really needs to go and that seemed like the not go option. if he still goes afterwards I'd be all over saying that
>>19144268>I haven't yet.>The story does get worse before it gets better.>On an unrelated note, have you seen the giant depressing back-story thing at the end of your last thread yet?
>>19144315yes. it was incredibly nonsensical, except for the last part.Something about getting drunk on cactus juice.Also they used the wrong name for the girl
>>19144339Drink Cactus Juice!It'll quench ya!It's the quenchiest!
>>19144272>He also clearly doesn't want to go. That's why the options boil down to make him go or let him stay.>Unless you guys say otherwise in the next few minutes, I think I'm gonna have to go with the original vote.
>>19144358yeah. that's definitely not going to be cannon in my later threads
>>19144371I'mma change my vote to [x]Not gonna force you
>>19144371Alright, screw it, changing to [x] Not gonna force you.
Sticking with letting him stay.
>>19144414Is that what your prior post was voting for? I honestly couldn't tell.
>>19144414>You voted?
>>19144429>>19144435Kinda forgot the actual voting part pologies.
>So what's the vote at? Stay or go?
>>19144554Don't know, but I'm chipping in for [x] Not going to force you
>>19144554With the recent vote switches, it looks like stay.
>>19144554It's like 3-7 Go-Don't nowWith one still at I-don't-even
>Looks like stay wins. Gimme a minute.
>>19144595>Sorry this is taking so long, I just got the coolest fucking thing ever in the mail, I'll talk about that as soon as I'm done with the post.
>>19144806Does it make up for the terrors of Tuesday in any way?
>>19144823>Almost completely. You'll see why I'm excited in a bit.
"You really don't want to go huh?""I just.... I'm not sure how I feel about this. I'm not sure I should be in the same room with him until I know.""Well, if you don't want to go I won't force you. But you don't even know if it's him?""Then it's better I don't get too worked up anyway. Kate's supposed to get released later, I think I should be with her instead of in a bar."You clap him on the shoulder. "Your call man. You change your mind give me a call.""Yeah. Thanks Alex."He goes to get his things, and then you realize nobody told Zack yet.[ ] Call him.[ ] Tell him later.
>>19144914Ask Laurie if he thinks it would be good to [x]call him.
>>19144914>[X] call him
>>19144914[X] Call him.Keep Zack in the loop, he's doing an awful lot for us and it'd be rude as all hell to leave him out of things.
>>19144914Call him.
>Alright, so putting the whole 'Tuesday' thing on the shelf, and waiting for you guys to make the next choice....>I have never owned a copy of AC4A. I borrowed a copy from a friend and beat part of it. His got stolen before either of us could beat it.>I mention this story in passing to my sister, who is in no way 'one of us' while telling her about the whole 'Mad Wizard Studios' plan, and this quest etc.>She tells me she's got a suprise for me in the mail on my birthday, about a week ago.>Today, I got a copy of AC4A in the mail from her.>Not just a copy, but a copy of the 360 version (of which considerably less copies were made) BRAND NEW, STILL IN THE PLASTIC.>She did this in the middle of planning her own wedding. My sister is currently sitting pretty at my favorite person in the world right now for pulling off what I couldn't do in four years in slightly less than 24 HOURS.
>>19144977That's awesome man
>>19144977Wicked.
>>19144977
You go to a terminal and give Zack a ring."Hey Alex." he answers. "What's up?""You catch the last match?""Yeah. Hell of a maneuver you pulled there with the blimp.""You catch that the enemy Captain's name was James Brenner?"He's silent for a minute. "No, no I didn't catch that. I'm guessing Laurie already knows?""yeah, only reason I didn't tell you-""Going into combat, didn't occur to you. I understand.""They kinda invited us to drinks in a little bit."".... Mind if I tag along?"[ ] Sure.[ ] No.[ ] Do you know why Laurie doesn't?
>>19145251Sure.
>>19145251[X] Sure.
>>19145251[x]Do you know why Laurie doesn't?
>>19145251[x] Sure
>>19145251>[X]Surecan we also mention Laurie isn't going?
>>19145313I think Zack is perspective enough to realize that Laurie isn't.Throwing mine in for Sure.
>>19145313I think that's covered by "Do you know why Laurie doesn't?" At least, specifically.
>>19143699>Getting back to this, I'll wrap this up quickly.>Cat goes up my arm and tries to eat my face.>Manage to get both of us out.>Small firetruck arrives, guy doesn't have a firm grip on the hose, takes out two windows and part of a fence, miraculously also puts out the fire.>Take friend to hospital, drenched and pissed.>Get home.>/tg/ won't let me even post to tell people WHY AC-Quest was cancelled.>End up dropping a quick note in MSQ, go to bed.>Wake up an hour later with a migraine so bad I actually spend most of the next nine hours blind, and apparently crying in a cold sweat. Easily the worst pain of my entire life.>FUCK COMPRESSION DOWELS.
>>19145352Fuck compression dowels. You also might want to practice your panicked cat grabbing skills, I've gotten rather good at it over the years. Straight in, don't pull out, firm grip at the center of mass.
>>19145335Been burned by multiple choice responses too many times to assume anything.
>>19145352Fuckin' balls.>>19145375Fair enough.
"Yeah, sure. You at your office?""Yeah.""We'll pick you up on our way."Dave meanwhile signals you that they were willing to meet up at a nearby bar. One you happen to know well.Your team, with exception of Mooch who opted to stay behind and help fix up your machines, heads out the door. Laurie borrows Dave's Jeep and heads towards the hospital, while the rest of you pile in the van.You walk into Zack's office and see him grabbing his coat, while looking out the window. "My brother didn't come?""He figured it wouldn't be a good idea.""Probably for the best. Between his temper, his abandonment issues and the copious availability of alcohol...."".... I wasn't really aware that he had abandonment issues.""It's subtle, but there. He has a nasty habit of internalizing all the stress in his life until he up and tries to kill himself or something. Then he lets it out, acts like he's ashamed of actually showing emotion and begins the cycle anew." He lets out a sigh. "My fault really. I pretty much had to raise both of us, so he always did what he could not to be a burden."[ ] Talk about their growing up.[ ] Talk about Laurie's past issues.[ ] Go on to the bar.
>>19145529[X] Talk about their growing up.
>>19145529[x]Growing up
>>19144977So what I got from all this is not that your sister is awesome... but that you just simply don't understand how ricockulous NEXT's in 4A are, or what it feels like to stand over five of the best pilots the game could throw at you, who were working together simultaneously to simply make you die as hard as they possibly could, all of whom you just reduced to piles of sparking, sinking scrap metal, Kojima contamination, and the broken hopes and dreams of humanities survival.
>>19145529Growing upTime for a flashback!
>>19145529>[X] Talk about their growing up
>>19145552He might also not know precisely what is meant by the word, "despair." Which, I have recently learned, is to fight your way through great heaping piles of the deadliest war machines mankind has to offer, only to falter in the face of one lousy core whose designer was apparently trying to design an airframe. And then, simply to escape this demon's infernal wrath, to find a parallel path for advancement; only to learn that the invincible fuck stands in your way yet again, leaving you with no control over your future except a choice of where to die.
>>19145598Oh shit, are you talking about that one asshole from AC2 that hung back just to fuck with newbies?Because I fucking hated that guy and could never beat the little shit.
"Raised both of you?""Yeah. I started doing odd jobs to get us some money to eat with. Turns out there isn't much good pay for a kid in a conventional line of work. So I got a fake ID and started running Hope wasn't huge, but it was big enough that more than a couple of people had a vice they didn't want to talk about. I hooked them up, and pretty soon I had enough money to get us a small flat.""I made sure there was food on the table, and that Laurie got a decent education. Wasn't easy. Then Laurie joins the militia, and suddenly we're upstanding citizens instead of tolerated orphans. I was in the process of getting clean when all this shit hit the fan."You aren't sure what to say to this. Laurie never really talked about his problems, hell you didn't even meet Zack until Hope fell.He claps you on the shoulder and turns you back to the door. "Hey, let's get going. Got some beer to drink and some questions to ask." With that the two of you move back to the car.>Sorry, but I'm gonna have to cut this one slightly short. I'll try and do an extra thread or two to make up for missing Tuesday.>Also, can somebody do me a favor and tell me how many days it's been since Hope fell? I was keeping track, but I appear to have lost track of my count, and it's going to matter for the upcoming time-line.
>>19145816Was talking more about White Glint in AC4A, but I know who you're talking about, and I agree that he is an asshole.
>Those of you still here, feel free to post any questions or comments that spring to mind. I'll either answer them in the morning if the thread is up when I get back, or in the next thread.
