> Previous threads here: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Homeless%20Quest
> Sessions will be announced on twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/CirrusandN

> 95, 89 rolls for training: well done!

You are Dylan, and you're still wondering how it got to this.

You've only been a Psych for, what, four days? And things have changed so quickly. There's now a flat that's yours. Friends, acquaintances - even lovers. And you have used your powers to... some pretty bad ends, come think of it.

You are still wondering how to train your physical abilities here in the College cafeteria, when you overhear some thoughts from a group of guys - foreign students from Southeast Asia, it turns out - sitting in one corner. Apparently they're from the squash team, and they're talking about that. Draining their ideas stealthily, you soon decide on what to do.

Half an hour later, having finagled your way into the basement squash courts, you start with a clutch of balls which you bounce off the wall and then catch. All this while you are reading the thoughts and instinctive actions of the other squash players, incorporating their ideas into your own movements. This goes on for nearly an hour, until you can bounce four balls off the walls and catch all of them within two bounces.

And then, in the court next to yours, someone lets out a yell of pain and there is a crashing sound. Oh shit. You withdraw your mind, knowing you've over-drained in your excitement, as you hear the calls of concern. Squash must be pretty popular here...

> What do?
> You gain 3 points in Enhance Dexterity! You have ED 1, 1 point to ED 2.

> Argh wrong trip! Well, here I am now.

Skills:
> Self Control: SC 6, 4 more points to SC 7.
> Sense Proprioception: SP 2, 2 more points to SP 3.
> Pinpoint Presence: PP 2, 1 more point to PP 3
> Obfuscation: Obf 5, 3 more points to Obf 6.
> Influence Sound and Sight: ISS 1, 2 more points to ISS 2.
> Implant Mental Image: IMI 2, 3 more points to IMI 3.
> Anaesthesia: Ane 1, 1 more point to Ane 2.
> Enhance Dexterity: ED 1, 1 more point to ED 2

Money:
> $1,280 in bank, $183 in hand (you got breakfast, and the weekly payment's in)

Tasks:
> Investigate incipient Creation in Mayne Parish High School
> Continue building up social circle in the local area, probably
> Find other leisure activities, perhaps?
> Any other things?

What day is today anyway?

>>19290904
When are the drawing classes again?

rolled 39 = 39

Go train the last point elsewhere. Take three balls. We will try and learn how to juggle.

Can we scan the minds around for someone who knows how ? Or is there internet available near there ?

How much metagame is too much ?

It's Monday, and drawing classes are Thursday afternoon.

... man, that's a lot of free time, Dylan.

Let's go and look at the injured guy, hope it's not too bad.

Socialise with the other squash players. Maybe play a match with one of them, try to gain that point.

rolled 59 = 59

>>19290952
That roll was for scanning, btw.

>>19290970
Won't it put too much drain on those people ?

>>19290970
I like this. Removes the likelihood of driving some poor juggler crazy. Plus it's our fault they're hurt anyway.

>>19290970
Wait you mean you want to try to get another point in ED? Yeah let's NOT do that

>>19290998
shit good point

>>19291035
Nothing else to do this morning, we might as well train.
But we should drain other people to help our training.

>>19290983
>>19290952

Oh, you don't need to scan to know what juggling is. You were a hobo, there's those street performers that do that with bowling pins and stuff.

>>19290970
>>19291017

You take three balls and hide them away, then go over to the next court, though the pain signals are already fading away. By the time you get there both players are on their feet, though one of them is limping and the game is definitely over.

'Bloody ankle, always does this at the worst moment,' the guy says. He's a pretty well-groomed and handsome guy, you have to say. There's some chatting, the atmosphere of thoughts chills out a little, and you look around at the people sitting around on the courts. Some of them are actually thinking about studying, with books open on their laps.

Why do people study in a squash court?

'Library's crowded,' a voice says behind you, and you turn to see a guy looking a bit confused while his two female companions look at him quizzically.

'Huh?'

'Did I just say something? Man, my brain just farted!' Ooh, awkward...

> What do now? You've got the balls for juggling, and you could probably talk to people around here. As a Psych, you find you can make people interested in talking to you - it's like the reverse of Obfuscation, really.

>>19291076
Maybe we should work on keeping our actual thoughts from leaking out.

>>19291076

Let's go talk to someone. Maybe look around for someone who does psychology?

>>19291096
Yeah that'll be good to have when we get into the high school. Don't want to think about how my balls itch in this skirt and then broadcast it to the world

>>19291096

Don't worry about it - it's not so much keeping your thoughts in your head as thinking a bit too loudly. You're just rather surprised people study here with all the WHAP WHAP WHAP going around in the squash courts.

Also, while you were looking around, some people have occupied your court, wondering how it was left empty in the first place. You're getting pretty comfortable with your powers, Dylan... also, you can sense the presence of Amanda, that girl on crutches, in the area.

>>19291149
Odds are the she studying for something due to the Library being packed

>>19291096
Text Dawn, asking advice how to keep that particular aspect of our powers in check.
I don't really see how to work on it.

>>19291169
Don't worry about it listen to op>>19291149

>>19291149
Wander over, look surprised that she is here, then greet her.

rolled 36 = 36

Actually, let's try something. Announce our presence to someone here we don't know, and see what the reaction is.

Let's go with a pretty girl or something. Just think at her 'Hey it's me, Dylan!'

rolled 64 = 64

>>19291118
Looking for a psych student in the squash courts ? Well, if we find one he'll probably be more interesting to talk to than one we might find in the lecture halls.

Rolling to find him.

>>19291149
We often meet amanda. Must be fate. Let's go talk to her.

>>19291204
Second this to move things along

>>19291204
>>19291194

> 64: close success

As you scan around, you find that there's someone who is indeed studying psychology, and that he sits in the same direction as Amanda. But his mind is intensely focused on something now - something about... dissertation? Whatever a dissertation is, he's got a week to write 8,000 words, and he's definitely, fucking, boned.

... Wait, you have to write 8,000 words in a *week* in college? You are on the verge of reconsidering the whole college thing, and then Amanda suddenly turns around just as you pass.

'Hey! Um... Dylan, yes!' She's still got her crutches, and is in a group of four, two guys two girls, around a pair of laptops. 'What's up?'

You wonder if you should try to talk to someone as tense as that psychology student. Man, his thoughts are seriously jumbled right now... shit, better not drain from him or he'll be even more boned...

> What do/say? You could talk to Amanda, or the psychology student, or something else. It's about 11 in the morning now; you thought these guys had classes, why're they just sitting around here...?

>>19291283
Man Amanda what are you doing over here? Are you studying or something?

>>19291283
Talk to Amanda, let's not bother the poor guy.

>>19291283
Leave the poor sod alone, his life is hard enough with a dissertation coming up without us mindfucking him.

Hey Amanda, what brings you and your friends here?

>>19291283
Doesn't everyone know that college time is separated in two parts, one being hanging around procrastinating with friends and the other rushing up to finish overdue papers ?

>>19291283
Let's talk first.

"Didn't have anything better to do on a monday morning, so I came to throw balls at a wall. What about you ?"

>>19291393
Yup Dylan has nothing better to do but throw balls at walls

>>19291319
>>19291320
>>19291336
>>19291348

> Most 17 year olds who've been in school would know that, true. But Dylan hasn't seen the inside of a school since he was like 13, so it is a gap in his knowledge.

'Hey, Amanda! Didn't expect to see you here.'

'Yeah, just studying,' you then notice a sudden spike of hostility from the guy sitting next to Amanda - very closely next to her, come think of it. He gets up, and gives you a glance that leaves a tingle in your face. 'Eh? Where're you going?'

'I've... got class. Catch you guys later in the library, maybe?' He hasn't got class, and he isn't going to the library, and you sense frustration. Actually, you sense a lot of frustration around here right now. The atmosphere does not quite appeal to your mental senses.

'Right, sure. And yeah, we're studying. This is Terry by the way, and this is Emma.' Terry is a wiry, tough looking guy with a beard and glasses who nods at you.

'What're you studying, then?'

'History. There's a graded test next week on the dynamics of Arab-Israeli relations in the 1970s. Why did I even take this course?'

'Should've taken Russian history,' Terry says. He speaks, and thinks, in a soft but intense voice. 'Teachers are better too.'

'Too laaaate,' Amanda sighs. 'And you, what're you doing here? It's almost lunchtime, isn't it?'

> What do/say?

>>19291424
I was bored so I decided to check out the squash court, do you know why it's called squash. I'll probably get lunch soon, care to join me or are you too busy studying?

>>19291424

'Yeah... just been slacking a little, I guess.'

Does she know we don't study here? Maybe we should tell her?

Also, let's go for lunch if she wants. Then in the afternoon, let's go scope out the girls in the high school and continue our investigation.

>>19291424
I would have thought that russian history was pretty boring. I mean, if it covers the last 50 years.

>>19291478
She'll probably eat with her friends. It's uncouth to ask her to leave them, especially in front of them.

By the way, ask her "who was the annoyed guy ?"

>>19291424
Yes, it is. Is the cafeteria here opened to non-students ?

>>19291393
>>19291478
>>19291483
>>19291533
>>19291500

She doesn't know you aren't from Saffron; you've never told her before.

'You are *slacking*? Man, you're lucky. Do you guys not get graded tests?'

Terry cuts in when you mention lunch. 'It's only 11 in the morning, man. But, but, the free lunch guys are apparently back. At the lakeside garden.'

'If we want the free lunch, we better start queuing at 11,' Emma says.

You could probably join them. They'll be eating together, probably. You ask about Russian history, and Terry smiles, pushing up his glasses. 'Oh, it's not the communist stuff. More of the 18th and 19th centuries. Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, the war.' All that flies overhead like so much jargon.

'Also, who was... that guy? I didn't, um, interrupt anything, did I?'

'Hmm? Oh, Cooper. Nah. He gets moody like that.' Amanda shrugs, and Emma nods cautiously. You poke Emma's mind and gets the real answer quite quickly - Cooper's been having a crush on Amanda for months and months now and is being jealous, or so Emma guesses.

You sit down, listening half-heartedly as they talk about Middle Eastern history. Their enthusiasm when they talk is tinged with apprehension, but it's still a nice feeling. You like basking in the glow of active minds. You wonder if every Psych is like that - maybe some like feeding on terror?

> What do/say? Yeah, cafeteria's open to non-students - you just spent your morning there having breakfast.

>>19291618
Some do I bet like the serial killer

Ask the people how they like studying in Saffron, and whether there are other good colleges around the city. We better start planning for that.
Also, let's scan minds around us for scandal, we need things to do, poke around.

>>19291667
For scanning don't you need to roll?

rolled 65 = 65

>>19291667

Rolling for it, then

rolled 75 = 75

>>19291618
Oh right.
Are we hungry ?

If not, talk with Amanda and her friends a bit, ask two or three basic questions, enough to act interested without being annoying. Try to acquire a bit of their knowledge with brain powers (I'm rolling). If it comes up in the conversation again, tell Amanda you're not a student here.
Then go outside to an open area and try juggling.

If yes, ask to join them instead of going juggling.

>>19291667
>We better start planning for that.
Not really. There's more than a year to go before we can enroll. Seeing how fast things happened around us these days, we're in no hurry to make solid plans for our academic future.

>>19291729
>>19291667
>>19291684

> What sort of questions/topics are you going to ask them about?
> 75: success!

You're not all that hungry, so you just sit down and talk to them a little. Meanwhile your mind is trying to make sense of the information that you're getting. Wars... dispossession... occupation and protesting... man, it all sounds like a nasty business. But also interesting, in a morbid way.

Terry is mostly quiet now, tapping away at his laptop and producing study notes. Amanda and Emma are slightly surprised when you admit you're not a student here. 'Oh... so why do you come around here then? I mean, you aren't creepy, but it sounds... potentially creepy, you know?'

'Yeah I guess it does... well I'm interested in studying here. Or maybe some other college. What good ones are there in the city, for... psychology?'

'Our social psych faculty's great,' Emma says. 'In fact I did a module there. There's also Royal College, and the School of Humanities, both out in the city centre. But those schools are all off now, because of the protests.'

'Isn't there going to be a march from Saffron to the centre this week?' Amanda asks, and Emma nods. 'And then there's going to be the big party as well, right, the Central Festival or whatever that is...'

> What do/say, before going out to juggle? You can see by the windows that it's a lovely day outside.

rolled 39 = 39

>>19291820
A march ? When is it ? ... Are you guys going ?
Well, meet you there maybe.

Then let's go juggle and train our dexterity enhancing. Rolling for it.

>>19291820
Ask about the Central Festival and the March, it might be interesting and I have a feeling something is going to happen at one or both of those events.

>>19291820

Let's just go outside and juggle.
Also, let's get art supplies! We should totally practice our drawing as well. Is there art school in here?

rolled 96 = 96

>>19291901
Not much... but we've got the time to try again if we don't see much progress. These balls are probably too light, though.

>>19291903
That's an idea. We'd need a bag, too.

>>19291930
>>19291901
Where are you going to practice

>>19291971
Some place in the open with not many people, preferably where balls we don't catch can't roll too far, or onto a road.

>>19292000
But without a lot of people we could do some damaging draining if we train ED

>>19292036
But it might be better at a place with no cars

>>19291901
>>19291902
>>19291930
>>19291903

The March is going to be on Friday, apparently. As for the Central Festival, it's just a big unofficial protest thing - there's going to be student bands and other acts filling up the Westgate Square, the main square in the city centre.

'Huh. Isn't that... like, illegal?'

'Yeah, but I guess they're not going to arrest a hundred thousand people,' Amanda shrugs. 'Anyway, I can't really go, what with my leg. But Emma's going, right?'

'I'll have to,' you catch that she's from the school's Student Council.

> 96: massive success!

You bid them farewell, saying maybe you'll meet up for lunch. Then, going outside, you start to juggle.

For a moment you consider going elsewhere to practice, rather than the quadrangle field where so many students are relaxing in the sun; but it's their very energy that's fuelling your ability, so you stay. You pick up other things and juggle them as well, and it does not seem like long before, satisfied with your ability, you stop...

... and realise there are about a hundred pairs of eyes on you. The streams of energy, are again being directed towards you as you gain the centre of attention, such that you actually feel some stress in your brain. They begin to clap; the clapping turns into a torrent of applause totally inappropriate to the situation. People are laughing, wooping, and you sense the atmosphere reaching a slightly feverish pitch...

> What do/say? You don't sense anyone you know in here - but this is getting a bit creepy. Their attention is no longer turned at you in particular, but you notice the mirth continuing to grow. It's not technically a bad thing...
> You gain 2 points in Enhance Dexterity! You have ED 2, with 2 points to ED 3.

>>19292085
Take a bow, then leave. Things are happy now so let's not screw with it until it breaks.

> Also, for art supplies - you know the college has an art school, and it's at H block, what they call the weirdo block. There's a big storage area there with supplies that students have access to...

> Ah, the powers of gleaning people's minds!

>>19292085

Let's enjoy the mirth without pushing it too far. Go chat up someone at random; if they're happy they're more likely to talk, right?

>>19292085
Small bow and get away.

>>19292085
The festival happens on friday too ?

Let's go buy a bag, then art supplies.

>>19292132
>>19292103

They're not looking at you now, though; they're just being very talkative among themselves, joking and laughing.

In fact some people are beginning to start running around the field playing games, throwing water bottles at each other. Another guy is giving a piggyback ride to his girlfriend, before the collapse into a giggling heap.

>>19292176
Is this normal?
Oh well, let's leave.

Maybe go to the storage building and try to convince an art student to let us in?

>>19292176
Oh. Then let's watch them for a while, should be fun.

>>19292216
Second this but from a distance I think we are in the middle of the crowd let's go to the edge of the crowd

>>19292202

This, before things get nasty.
Also, shouldn't we get in touch with more people? Let's ask someone out for dinner, Dawn maybe?

>>19292254
We need to get in touch with normal people not psyches and why Dawn?

>>19292214
I see a man who never opened a new box of pencils.

>>19292254
We'll meet Dawn soon enough.
Let's text her to say sorry about going to that restaurant without her, though.

>>19292243
>>19292216
>>19292254
>>19292202
>>19292157
>>19292131

You edge out to a corner of the crowd, where you lean against a pillar and watch things unfold. There's people singing 'HERE COMES THE SUN' now, while dancing around in circles and throwing off their clothes; meanwhile the free lunch queue has dissolved as people just sit down and talk and guffaw.

'This is seriously funky, man, isn't it?' A voice addresses you. You turn and see a girl with long, black hair, recording the whole thing with her handphone. She's quite cute, large eyes, an amused grin.

'Uh... I guess?' You search her mind and realise neither she, nor anyone else, actually seems to remember the juggling. Maybe that's your obfuscation working...

'I've never seen you before,' she says, still filming. 'You don't do art, do you?'

'No, but I'm guessing you do?' Well, you already know. She nods. Well, here's your ticket to the art warehouse, perhaps...

> What do/say?

>>19292279

... huh?

>>19292263

Then maybe let's text Laura. Ask where she's going for dinner.

>>19292327
Interesting, I've been interested in picking art up. Would you mind showing me around, I've heard the art program here is nice and there's plenty of supplies lying around.

>>19292327
No, let's go buy (or steal) new things rather than steal them from a college warehouse.
But let's talk to the girl, maybe she'll have the time to counsel us.
"No, I'm not even a student here, and won't be at least until after the next year ended.
I do follow drawing courses with a student here, a guy called Diego, you know him ?"

File: 1338336064316.jpg-(42 KB, 337x337, it6727103472.jpg)

>>19292339
It's a pleasure in itself to get new art stuff and imagine what you can do with them. It's so clean, and there's so much potential awesomeness in these simple things.

>>19292368
>>19292377
>>19292398

'What, is that your pick-up line?' She finally puts down her handphone and looks at you intensely, before laughing and slapping your shoulder. 'Man, you tensed up hard!'

But you aren't tensing up hard because of the flirting - you didn't sense the intent to flirt, not much, after all. It's more that you are sensing, in the girl, a certain... thing, something on which she is focused. And yet it's fuzzy, and she guards it so well even you can't figure it out.

At the same time, you are sensing a strange presence, of similar nature, among the crowd, where the mirth is finally dying down. Dear god, it's the first time you've had a critical success without making a riot!

You tell her about yourself, and she nods. 'Oh, Diego! Yeah Diego's nice. He doesn't do art though, he does anthropology. Surprising, eh? Also, if you want to go to the workshop - I'm headed there too. My name's Katharina, but you can just call me Rina.'

> What do/say? Follow? Or go elsewhere?

Oh, also, text Laura? Or Dawn, or someone else?

>>19292474
Is there a reason you aren't you called Kat ?

Follow, talk to her about her art project, if she has one.

Maybe we could drain the happiness? Or is that not in our repertoire of psychic abilities?

I could totally see a psychic doing a comedy routine and making them laugh their asses off, then feasting on the ambient emotions.

Damn, its starting to sound like we're a daemon.

>>19292474
I don't really see what to do at the workshop, but I'm curious about what's inside that girl (reminds me of a song...).
Ask what she's gonna do there. Maybe we can go take a look at what she does, it might be good.
Chat with her on the way.

I'd dig into her, mentally of course, but I think we better wait for a more controlled environment, in case we fuck up.

>>19292546
Let's not go out of our way draining people. We do enough damage when we do it passively.

Well, though maybe we'd have more control over draining actively than passively and end up doing less damage on the whole.

Hm... If we send that text to Dawn, let's ask her about that too. Is it less dangerous feeding directly, or letting our brain pick from the environment according to our immediate need? Can we stock up psychic energy, by the way?

>>19292546

> It's what you've been doing all this while. You do feel very invigorated now; but you always are in Saffron. Also, you're sure there's some who use that tactic, whatever the emotions or thoughts... it's something you could consider, yes.

>>19292512
>>19292529

'So why aren't you called Kat?'

'There's a Kat already, in the sculpture class. And Prof Thickie can't remember long names, so Rina it is.'

'You do sculpture then?'

'I do everything. Sculpture... sketching... set design, stuff like that.' Soon you're at the art warehouse. 'You interested in that sort of thing? Also, you're coming in?'

Your mind peers into the warehouse - oh, this isn't the warehouse but the workshop! It's got just a few people in, but the energy that radiates from inside is... oddly intense. Maybe it's the creative process that makes them radiate so hard, a bit like Lynn...

> What do, go in?

Meanwhile, you've texted Laura, and she's replied.

'Dinner... probably going to be at MacInnister's pub! Wanna join? Lynn's coming along too ;)'

>>19292627
"will it bother people if I just come in to take a look ?"

>>19292627

Let's go in! See what she's working on. Ask if they palm stuff from the warehouse.
Also, she does sketching, ask her for tips on that too. Maybe we'll go sketch something together?

>>19292672

'Nah, they're deep in work mode now.'

You sense a certain frustration, emanating from that fuzzy lump of thought inside her, that she should bloody well be in work mode now as well.

>>19292627
The two of them ? Let's go !
Their friends too ? Let's not.
Was Laura always close to Lynn ?

Text her something like that.

>>19292688
Then let's go in, look at what they do, and keep our draining in check. A little is fine, but let's not overindulge.

Go in and draw or something
Also if we get skills and points for juggling, we get some for drawing and other art studf?

rolled 5 = 5

>>19292727
We didn't train juggling, we trained our ability to enhance our juggling with brain powers.
We don't need that for drawing, we're talented enough naturally.

Though now that I think about it, enhancing our dexterity might help us to make straighter lines, rounder curves, and more regular shading.

Okay, after we took a look around, let's do a portrait of Rina working, trying to steady our hand with our brain.
Make an effort not to drain the people around to the point that they'll be significantly affected..

rolled 36 = 36

>>19292786
Shit.

>>19292727
>>19292723
>>19292672
>>19292674

> Roll d100 for self control; it's hard to resist the temptation to drink deeply from such powerful thoughts.

You feel yourself almost trembling with hunger when Rina nonchalantly opens the door and beckons you in. The smell of work - of wood, paint, thinner, dust, labour - hit you square in the face. You notice Rina's wearing ripped denim bermudas, whatever that implies. No, that doesn't imply anything, you're just trying to keep your mind distracted!

'Hey there, Rina,' a man says, looking up from behind a large glass case from which cotton fetuses are suspended.

'Hey you. Doing fine?'

'Need more fetuses.'

'I'll get back to you in three months,' Rina says, and walks off. You ask if the fetuses are real. 'Nah, just latex. He's good at casting them properly, though, it's a damn lot of work.'

You see all sorts of other art. Someone is filling a whole room with slanting wooden posts and pillars, a great artificial forest. Another couple, two guys with sharp features, are trying to trim an artificial lawn on which a bishop is playing golf with a baby doll's head. What the hell?

'Don't cut the grass too short, it won't grow back.'

'It's already fucking too short! Fuck!'

Rina takes you into her own space, where you see a small pile of soft, plastic cubes, some plywood boards, and not much else. She clearly hasn't done much compared to the others...

> What do/say? Bit of a silence there... more incoming.

>>19292801
>>19292786
We do that naturally I think it's only when we been around people long enough OR know them for awhile that it becomes an issue. We didn't need to roll at all

rolled 26 = 26

>>19292824

rolled 96 = 96

>>19292842
Well it look like I was wrong time for rolling

>>19292853
This is a good thing right?

rolled 9 = 9

>>19292842
The rolls were for using Enhance Dexterity.

Rolling for self control.

>>19292853
Hey not bad a 96 we got this under control

>>19292857
It's for self control a.k.a. for things to not to get out of hand so yeah

You won't get skill levels in real-world skills; those will be enhanced by practice, but they haven't really got levels like your Psych skills.

Rina is rummaging around at her table for something, telling you to sit down on a stool. You see that the work desk is a mess; and also that there's a thin mattress rolled up to one side. She sleeps here, and she doesn't like that, as you sense.

'Hmm. Don't stare at me like a seventeen year old,' she says. 'Even if you are.'

'Sorry.' Mind, she's worth staring at. She takes out a box of pencils and slaps it down on the table, then grabs a cup of coffee on the table. You can feel her mind wince as she swigs the bitter-ass shit. The things one does to keep awake!

> What do, accepting more rolls for sketching!

rolled 88 = 88

>>19292885
Something simple
The Park where we stayed for a good time when we were a hobo.
Bonus points for Blonde Jogger

>>19292853

Is this roll for self control or sketching? Doesn't seem to say... because the quoted post is about sketching, fundamentally.

Anyway, I'm taking rolls for self control as well, specify your rolls.

rolled 95 = 95

>>19292909
Hey not bad rolling for this

>>19292924
This is my self control roll over here
>>19292853

>>19292930
and this one is for sketching

>>19292909
Sketching a park with a jogger from memory (is that sketching if it's from memory?) is simple ?

We better try to draw Rina.

>>19293006
Without asking and she just told us not to stare man

>>19292930
>>19292853

> You lucky, lucky bastards.

You pick up a piece of drawing block, and from memory start to trace the outlines of the park where you slept before all this happened. Soon you are leaning back against the wall, and lazily imagining Rina within the park - slouched on a chair, painting something with a palette on her lap.

Working on the strokes and outlines, it is an indeterminate time before you suddenly snap awake and realise you've fallen into a trance. A panic washes over you as you wonder if you've killed anyone, but instead you turn round and see Rina looking, closely, over your shoulder.

'Woah!'

'Eh? Were you concentrating that hard?' Rina pats your shoulder. She smells like the workshop, come think of it - which makes sense since she's sleeping in it.

'Um... is everyone all right?' Your senses come back into focus; you hear loud swearing, some violent kicking and scuffing. Oh shit, oh shit!

'Yeah, why? Oh that. Don't worry. It's normal work mode rage.' You are still amazed that the only thing you've managed to exhaust is Rina's pencil - well, three of Rina's pencils... 'also, I say, that's a nice sketch. Is that me? Did you just think this up?'

> You gain 2 points in Self Control! 2 more points to SC 7.
> What do/say?

>>19292960
>>19292944
Did I specify well enough?

>>19293021
I didn't take that seriously, I thought she would ask us not to draw her if she had a problem with it.
Okay, then it depends on the tone she used.

>>19293067
>>19293068
What the hell I always post after you post

>>19293067
Yeah, it's you. I tried to do the park from memory.

>>19293120
Well we might as well answer truthfully

>>19293067
"It is you...I was drawing a view that i'm very accustomed with, and you just fitted so well, i guess"

>>19293067
Look at how her stuff progressed. Also, look at the time.

>>19293147
Add a shrug to that as well

>>19293170
Yeah what time is it?

>>19293147
Remove the last "so".
Compliments shouldn't be too strong.
Especially when they might not be taken as compliments.

>>19293147
>>19293131
>>19293120

'Yeah... well, it's a scene I'm accustomed to. I thought you'd fit nicely in it.'

'I kinda do, yeah,' she says. 'But this isn't a park from around here. Well, so... what're you doing now? Do you just want to watch me work, because I'm... not really doing much work. Shit.'

'Hey there Rina,' a woman says from outside. 'Still doing your stacks and plywood thing? Ditch it, man.'

'Piss off,' Rina says, to be met with laughter. Then she sits down on a stool opposite you, looking at you. She seems a little confused as to why she let you in in the first place, why she was so friendly with you. 'Hmm. Do me a favour, uh... whatever your name is. Give me a colour, a tree, a woman's name, and a book name.'

'Huh?'

'Just give it, I need some ideas,' she says, more softly. She's still confused. You wonder what you can suggest to her.

> What do/say?

Tell her (at some point) that we're going to buy our own supplies later today, and ask if she has a few advices for us about that?

>>19293196
>>19293170

It's actually 1.30 already, now. You didn't quite feel it, but sketching something that complex took some time.

Also, you texted Laura, and she says 'it could be just the two of us... don't be a perv! We're getting Tina along too. She's Lynn's club-mate. You coming?'

>>19293211
Azure, Elm, Elizabeth, The Three Musketeers.

>>19293234
Let's go, I'd like to get to know Lynn better, it's like getting on good terms with an all you can eat buffet.

>>19293211
Maroon, chesnut tree, lynn, Blonds Etaient Les Bles D'Ukraine .

Purple. Fir. Emily. A Crown of Swords.

>>19293211
By the way, for simplicity's sake, I'm called Dylan.

>>19293211
Indigo, Mahagony (the best wood), Leslie, The Call of the Wild.

>>19293234
I don't want to intrude... too much. I'll come if they're okay with it.

>>19293397
No we know Laura man Don't to be so shy man let's say this "Sounds great I just gotta know what time I need to be over there"

>>19293234
How's our hand btw ?

>>19293407
Ugh one to many "Mans" over there but yeah my point is we don't have to be so shy especially over a text message

>>19293301
>>19293291
>>19293259

> Going to mix these up, if you don't mind!

'I'd say purple. And... chestnut tree.'

'I've never seen a chestnut tree before,' Rina mutters. You know that's quite impossible - there's thousands of the things around the city, she's just never noticed.

'As for name... Emily. And then... the Three Musketeers.' You've never read that book before, just heard of it as a kid. Well, whatever. Rina looks deep in thought, as if she's being given profound advice. Then she nods, scratches her head.

'Yeah... yeah, that'll do. You know what, sorry, but I need to get cracking now.' She asks your name, and then gives you her contact number - with a tiny bit of prompting from you.

> Gained contact: Rina, art student

'As for art equipment, I'll say just get some nice paper and good pencils and start out for now. No need for the fancy shit yet. You need practice - you've got the construction down, but it's still blurry... you know, amorphous? Like lemon jelly.'

.... nope, didn't understand. Her thoughts are fixated on a lemon jelly, and you hear her stomach growl. She ignores it.

Soon you're back out in the sunlight, and you realise you need lunch. Then you can slack off until 6, when you meet Laura - she sure doesn't seem to mind. The memory of Laura's last evening in your place makes you blush, made more intense by all the thoughts you've absorbed today. You feel you could run on this for a whole week, probably...

> What do for lunch? Somewhere in Saffron, or somewhere else? What do you want to get? It's nearly 2 now, and there's people going all around the place in Saffron, students between classes and the like...

>>19293259
This sounds good

>>19293425

Still scalded, still feels a little raw when you stop the anaesthetic. But it seems to be recovering.

You're definitely keeping the bandage on, though your fingers can still move somewhat, so that's not too bad...

We should get a nice meat sandwich. Don't have a preference if it's from saffron or from somewhere else.

>>19293431
We've gotten plenty of brain food from Saffron, lets get home and make some lunch. Then practice some more.

>>19293431
Let's get something simple.
Head to a mall to buy ourselves a bag, we'll find food there or on the way.

>>19293476
that sounds alright

>>19293461

What might you like to practice?

>>19293456
>>19293476

You get a nice, ham bacon and chicken sandwich with a smattering of rocket leaves for decoration, from Resno. Then you go to the small art supplies and stationery shop, and get a bag that cost $20 - the cheapest one you can find.

> Get cheap bag, or look for a pricier, nicer looking one?

Also, while you were at Resno, you overheard people talking about a sandwich cart that goes around the area selling food. Huh. That's... maybe that's a business idea...

rolled 83 = 83

>>19293445
Try to tune the anaesthesia.
Try to shut off the pain from the burn, without shutting off the pain from other sources - try to pinch the skin lightly to see if it works.
If that's too difficult, try to locate more precisely the anaesthesied area, so our fingers can feel pain, and other stimulus, without pain fron the burn.

rolled 46 = 46

>>19293534
Go for something practical, but sturdy too, so not too cheap probably. Scan around the shop for someone who knows where to look for quality, and use that info.

>>19293534
Let's get some PP down, it's good to be able to pick specific people out of a crowd or see who's coming from a distance.

rolled 47 = 47

>>19293578

>>19293541

> 83: success!

Ow! Okay, okay, it works. Let's not pinch yourself too many times in a shop.

> You have Anaesthesia 2! With 3 more points to Ane 3.

> 46: unfortunate...

Well, the people in the shop now... aren't looking for bags. Come think of it, they're high school guys, but they're not in uniform, and they're from another school. You see their bags and look for the same brand. Woah, $50!

... well, if it's quality... also, you buy some pencils, and a drawing block. God, these things are expensive!

> Money: $1,280 in bank, $122 in hand

Also, while you don't glean much bag-related information, you do sense that these guys are also thinking about the school carnival thingy. Oh yeah, Laura did mention it's not a single school that's holding the festival...

Bag in hand, you head home, and then put everything to one side and flop on the couch. Been quite a day! You don't mind that the whole building is emptied of people now.

> Well then. What practice now?

>>19293578

Between now and dinner you have time for two dice rolls, so roll for that.

If rolling to practice something else, specify the skill in question while rolling!

Also, as you're about to get started, Laura texts you again. 'Hey. How're you? Saw you're on the Cold Dew list now.'

Oh, oh, not Laura, Lena! Oh, it's nice to hear from her...

>>19293680
"Hey. Fine, Eh i transformed a bunch of hippies into a souless army, so i probably deserved that.
I also heard you was in that list for quite some time"

rolled 2 = 2

>>19293643
Influence sound and sight.
Let's have a kid hear a bee just besides his ear. Then see it. Then losing it. Then hearing it again passing behind the other ear, seeing it, losing it, hearing it again.

rolled 3 = 3

>>19293723
Oooh. Does that mean he doesn't hear or see anything ? Let's say it does.

rolled 12 = 12

>>19293680
Pinpoint Presence.

rolled 19 = 19

>>19293680
We need more Self Control. Discipline!

>>19293723
>>19293735

You'll have to go downstairs again to practice that, so you do. (You don't have any little boys in your apartment. And I don't want to hear arguments for having them in. Numsang would throw a fit.)

Your first try fails utterly and completely; a young girl just sits there as you try to push bees into her mind. But you are yourself distracted by the thoughts fed into you all day long, and nothing happens.

On your second try, on a little boy toddling along, you try to push, but still nothing. Damnit! You frown, focusing on the- what the hell was that, what, OH GOD IT'S BEES- jumping from your seat, you try to swat the damn things off your face and the back of your neck, before tripping on your own feet and busting your lip open on the ground. You look up to see the little boy staring at you.

He sees the blood and starts to cry, then his mother comes along and offers you some tissues which you take. Well, that didn't.... go well. And now you have to go to dinner with a busted lip...

> Go to dinner? Or don't go? It's three (presumably) cute girls, man...

File: 1338342162223.jpg-(187 KB, 450x416, 1262063294867.jpg)

rolled 76 = 76

>>19293723
>>19293746
>>19293799

>>19293817
Clean ourslef up a bit, and yes to going to dinner.

>>19293817
Go. The busted lip doesn't look like it would need sewing, right ?

>>19293710

'I heard about that. And yeah, almost every Autumnal's been there... also, were you in Saffron college today? There was a Creation incident there. Someone punched two people out and nearly jumped off a building, before someone caught him.'

... wait, that didn't have anything to do with the laughing thing, did it...?

I'm under the impression that illusions aren't really our thing.

rolled 100 = 100

>>19293817
Do we have to go to dinner with a busted lip? We could make it seem fixed, or maybe obfuscate it so it doesn't attract attention. Just a little bit.

>>19293922
"...I was... but I don't think I did anything that could have led to that.
Though I have a feeling... the guy wasn't called Cooper, right ?"

>>19293933
>100

One hilariously successful obfuscate later, everyone points and stares at the boy with no lips.

>>19293933
Well, that wouldn't have been so much of a problem. It's a good conversation opener. Especially for the guy who scalded his hand with tea the day before.

>>19293876
>>19293858
>>19293933

Sewing, probably no. But it hurts when you move your mouth too much. Oh well, more anaesthesia! And also a slight tweak in the features... you don't really see how far you've changed it, it looks a little repaired to you.

Going back, you take a hasty shower before heading down and to the McInnister pub. Come think of it, you're all underaged aren't you? Laura messages you to say they're upstairs, and you squeeze your way up the stairs to see and sense them in a corner table, near the large windows.

The pub downstairs is packed with white-collars who have just knocked off, and their thoughts make you feel slightly sleepy already. But upstairs, it's much quieter, and you can sense romancing going on, as well as plenty of friendly ribbing.

'Hey Dylan! Boy, you're looking pretty good today,' Laura says. 'This is Lynn, and this is Tina.'

'I've seen you before,' Lynn says. Her eyes are doubtful, her fingers long and thin. 'How's your hand?'

'Better...'

'You look better, is for sure.'

You are gradually aware that they seem... attracted to you. In fact, from the next table, you sense that too. Huh. Did you change yourself rather more than you thought you did...?

> What do/say?

>>19294011
I would sort of hope that "doesn't attract attention" and "just a little bit" would save us from that terrible fate, but... we'll see, I guess. Clearly, psychic powers are not toys.

> Also, given we've had two 100 rolls for fixing our looks...

> You have Facedance 3! 3 more points to FD 4.

>>19294018
I never really got a good chance to thank you for helping with my hand. It's lovely to really meet you, I've heard quite a bit about you.

File: 1338343134654.jpg-(12 KB, 221x378, 1308014735684.jpg)

>>19294039
>Facedance

...So what does THIS skill do?


We have too many damn skills.

>>19294066
A page on pastebin with a skill list and explanations of what they are would help.

>>19294018
> What do/say?
Don't worry about the attraction thing for now, but keep an eye on it. Hopefully, since our attempted modification was focused on ourselves rather than others, it won't be strong enough to make others do anything... rash.

Try to get a conversation about them going- ask what they've been up to, ask questions which will make them inclined to talk about them and their own events, and so forth. The more the talk focuses on us, the more opportunity there will be for our glamour to have unexpected and out of control results.

>>19294039
Two ? When was the other ?

>>19294066

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_Dancer

Also, yes, try to distract from ourselves, talk about them. Ask Lynn about the festival.

So like I just thought, remember that time when we made a terribad fear wave that scared everyone around us shitless? IIRC we used our memories on fire to cause it.

What the fuck happened to us with fire that was enough to traumatize Laura and several other people?

>>19294140
I think our parents use fire or lighters to hurt us or something. I don't remember could just be cigarettes. You know like a punishment.

>>19294140
Hm... I assumed one of our parents like to scare and hurt us with a lighter.

>>19294101
>>19294061
>>19294130

> Yeah, that. You can change your looks and disguise yourself. You're becoming quite a spy build, actually, between that and obfuscate...

'It's nice to really meet you,' you tell Lynn.

'Really meet? Oh yes, we've met.' Her mind, this time, seems far less intense in its emanations. You're not sure why... it seems more... far away. It's a little disappointing, really, but perhaps also safe - you don't feel the need to feed as strongly.

School's been a bit boring; Tina and Laura tell you some stories about the girls and the stuff they say, and then Tina says something about Marina and their gang always going to the school clock tower. Laura goes quiet.

To change the subject, you bring up the festival, and this time Tina goes a bit quiet as Lynn talks. 'Yeah... just... considering the layout, I guess. Decorations, paintings, artworks... everything comes together.'

Somehow, Tina is... jealous? You glance at her as she drinks her lager. Then you see Laura looking at you admiringly, and she starts footsie-ing you, while Lynn, apparently oblivious, goes on talking about the plans. 'We need help, man. We need help, and those guys from Rendon Hill are great at flexing their muscles and then just pissing about. It's ridiculous.'

> What do/say?

>>19294127

Way back. You tried to make your hands look like a pianist's, and they did. Very convincingly so.

>>19294203
Offer our help with the festival, it'll mean we get contact with the girl's school and can check stuff there. We also get to snack on Lynn's delicious creativity. We're a good artist, reasonably creative and willing to help.

>>19294216
Oh, that. Right.

>>19294203
I'd thought most guys would be eager to impress you. What do you need muscles for ?

>>19294203
> What do/say?
"If that wasn't an invitation to spend a great deal of time in the company of lovely ladies, my ears have utterly failed me."

This is a great opportunity to get into the school and check things out there without even needing to be a sneak. Let's jump on it.

>>19294240
Isn't it uncalled for ? What we can achieve on our own, her friends might as well. I don't want to sound like I'm in a hurry to do her chores for her.

>>19294265
>lovely ladies
How smooth.

No, just make a very vague offer to help one afternoon, if she thinks we can make a difference... and as we've got not much to do these days.

Respond to Laura's footsie for a short moment.

>>19294314
Second this

>>19294240
>>19294259
>>19294265

'Eh, I thought most guys would be rushing to do work for you,' you say. Lynn looks at you with a hard, long gaze, and you can't tell if it's sizing you up or admiring you. Then you offer to help.

'You can't, you're from another school.'

'Not really, I'm... not in school now. Long story.'

'Huh. Don't tell me yet...' you feel the light from her brighten a little as she mulls this over. Then Tina just nods and puts her hand on yours, and Lynn decides. 'Well, why not? But I'm warning you, there might be blood sweat and tears. And wankers. The guys from Rendon are wankers.'

'I spent my life around wankers,' you say, only half joking, and Lynn smiles. Ooh, she does have a lovely smile. Meanwhile Laura's still playing footsie, and you know that the four tables near yours who have more than one girl are all talking about you. There's college students at two of the tables, and aunts at the other two. Oh dear.

'So. You must want to ask something if you've just offered to help?' Lynn swigs her beer. 'I mean. This is like a job interview, I guess, eh?'

> What do/say?

>>19294340
I can't say who's the candidate and who's the jury...

>>19294340
Respond to Laura playing footsie.

I don't really have much in the way of questions, I have a lot of time to fill and have never been involved in setting up a festival. What sort of things are required for that?

What can I say, you said you needed help with it and I'm in a position to help.

>>19294340
Not really. I rarely have ulterior motives. I often lack immediate motives too.

>>19294340
We are going to have to turn this glamour off soon. For now, though, trying to modify it would probably be worse than playing it cool, so keep our head on straight. Hopefully being accompanied by three girls will ward off random other women.

Smirk at Lynn and say that if it's a job interview, we'd best ask about pay and fringe benefits.

>>19294407
>>19294337
>>19294314

You respond to Laura, and she wriggles a bit in her seat. She's remembering last night too, you can tell. Well now all you can think of is doing Laura in the bed, and you can't really think of appropriate questions...

'Um... well... so what do I help with?'

'If you'd like to, designing and painting stuff I guess. Or maybe just setting up stalls. Really, Mayne Parish is doing all the work. Tina's been drawing up stall maps all day.'

'Yeah, well, you have more important things to do,' Tina replies, a little bitterly. Huh. Lynn doesn't seem to catch it. She does, however, look at you and shrug.

'So... yeah. Artwork... stall setting up... even logistics or communications, really. But mostly artwork, if you want. You're good at drawing?'

'Reasonably, yeah...' you are then cut off as Lynn looks up, and you turn around just as a hand lands on your shoulder. It's one of the college students, a tall, tanned blonde in a low-cut dress that doesn't look like pub attire.

'Hey there, footsie boy,' she says. Her mind is slightly fogged with yellow, and you can hear the giggles of her friends. Laura blushes and withdraws. 'What say you come join our table?'

'Uh...' you look back. Laura is eating her food very intently; Tina seems nonplussed. Lynn shrugs. Um, help, anyone...?

> What do/say? Your unintended charm is working... also, next post will be the last for tonight. Someone please archive this, and thanks everyone for playing!

>>19294442
I don't think that flirting with the glamour on is a good idea.
It would probably not be a good idea even if it wasn't on. We don't even know that girl, just because she's hot and bright doesn't justify unecessary double-entendres.

>>19294497
Ah... sorry, but I'm with my more or less friends now.

>>19294497

We haven't got much to say with them right? Let's go.

>>19294497
I'm dreadfully sorry miss, but I'm enjoying company with my friends.

rolled 33 = 33

We need friends
Talking with more ppl ismt bad
Just tell her to give ya a few minutes to finish up with laura and friends
Oh get lyn and tonas contact. Info

>>19294559
Why the roll? Did you forget to turn it off?

let's go along, get lynn's number and tina's also

>>19294497
Laugh and shake our head. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm here with my friends. You'll have to catch me later."

>>19294582
Second this

>>19294559
We need friends, not magically-sustained hookups.
Let's stay with the high-school girls.

If we want someone to fuck and Laura has something else to do, I'm sure we will be able to find someone on the way back. For now, let's not be rude or flightly, and stay with Laura and her friends.

rolled 13 = 13

Rollan for swagmancy to solve this problem (as in, let the girl down gently enough so that neither parties get insulted)

>>19294620
Hahahaha that what you get for rolling when not called for

>>19294620
Mundane swagmancy ?

>>19294620
Do NOT use psychic powers for this. That is just a bad idea all around. Our psychic powers never seem to really solve problems, and trying to use them for a quick and easy solution is just asking for something to turn around and bite us in the ass.

>>19294635
Not like it matters someone else rolled in this for a mundane solution and they rolled higher as well

>>19294575
>>19294559
>>19294545

'Well... I'm sorry, but I'm with friends here...'

'Awww, that's sweet of you!' The girl leans against your back a little now, staring at your face. 'But come on, they're your friends, you can talk to them another day. Make some new friends, pretty boy?'

'Um...' you turn around, and Tina's handing your cellphone to Lynn. 'Oi!'

'Just giving you our numbers,' she says.

> Get contact: Lynn
> Get contact: Tina

'Well... I'd still rather not,' you say, sensing the sexual hunger in the girl's eyes. This could end badly if you went with them, much as you might want to. The girl pouts, and then pats your face like a slap, but lightly.

'You're a bit of a wimp, aren't you?' she smiles, and then struts back. Pffft.

> What do/say? Responses will be considered in next thread. Goodnight then.

>>19294652
Dreadfully sorry for the interruption. Now where were we? You were wondering about my art skills.

If we kept our sketch from earlier today we should show her. Otherwise just say we're a reasonably talented amateur.

>>19294652
Shrug at Laura. "I just might be."

>>19294715
Ask for Laura's opinion.

rolled 41 = 41

Ses right change your mind and male nee friends.
Or get their numbers and talk layer when yo glamor wears off

>>19294652
It's still early, right ? Do the girls intend to actually have dinner here, and soon, or to go somewhere else ?

Maybe going to another place could help.

>>19294652
Look back at the girls at our table. "What? I'm not going to be stolen THAT easily. Back to art- I sketch a bit; I'd say I'm not bad." If we've got our sketch from earlier it would be good to show.

"Anyway, thanks for your numbers. You got mine, right? Feel free to give me a call whenever if you want me to show. No promises, of course, but if I'm not busy I'll try to come by."

From there, let's try to wrap up this meal quickly and extricate ourselves as quickly as possible. Once we're away from the girls, turn our Obfuscate on full blast and see if we can conceal ourselves through the glamour. If we can get our stealth up and running, I'm tempted to lurk in the area after leaving and see if we can monitor the thoughts in the restaurant remotely just to pick up on the aftermath of what we unintentionally inflicted.

>>19294793
Second this. It seems all sorts of fun

>>19294652
First time something like this happens to me. I almost feel like a monk.
A shame I can't enter college after this summer.

>>19294793
I'd like to take Laura home. Or maybe visit her place.