File: 1344148384446.jpg-(86 KB, 800x600, ClassRoom.jpg)

"...she said yes?"

"Yeah!"

You've never seen Kazuya this happy. He has the broad, embarassed-but-pleased grin of someone who can't *believe* his luck; Trying to contain his excitement, and failing. You can tell he's been itching to tell you all day - His delight palpable from the other side of the classroom, his face almost glowing with sheer delirious happiness.

Still. You couldn't help but notice Natsumi glancing in your direction, more than once - An odd look, pensive and a little troubled. The moment the bell rang, she was out of the class...Leaving you and Kazuya in the slowly-emptying classroom, footsteps clattering in the hall outside.

"I can't thank you enough, Anon - I didn't think she'd actually, you know..." Kazuya pauses for breath, raking his fingers through his hair - "Sorry, it's - I still can't believe it." Just for a moment...Then his infectious grin is back, as radiant as ever.

[ ] "I'm happy for you, man. I knew you could do it."
[ ] "Good job."
[ ] "Told you it'd work."
[ ] "Exactly what did she say?"
[ ] "So, when's the first date?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20188143
First and foremost
[X] BROFIST

[X] "I'm happy for you, man. I knew you could do it."
[X] "Exactly what did she say?"

File: 1344149223049.jpg-(93 KB, 1280x720, brofist.jpg)

> [X] BROFIST

You tap fists - The sheer joy, relief, delirious happiness he's clearly feeling...It's rubbing off. He looks like a massive weight has been lifted right off his shoulders - A weight Kazuya didn't even know was there before.

> [X] "I'm happy for you, man. I knew you could do it."

"Yeah, well - Not without you to get my ass in gear," he chuckles, a little sheepishly. "Thanks for that, by the way. I'd have gotten around to it...eventually...But you were right. I should've just *told* her, all along."

> [X] "Exactly what did she say?"

He pauses, the train of thought momentarily derailed at the station; "-She said she'd been thinking it over, that she'd been waiting for me to work up to it...Really, she said it was a little embarassing to be asked *so suddenly*..." Kazuya laughs again, and shrugs - Mimicking Natsumi's lilting voice, just for a moment.

"Anon-kun put you up to this, didn't he?"

You can't help but chuckle at that, too. You keep forgetting that she's sharper than both of you, *combined*.

(Continued.)

>>20188143
> Natsumi glancing in your direction, more than once - An odd look, pensive and a little troubled.

Oh man, there is trouble abrewin'. Glad Joker Quest is back.

>>20188330

[ ] "Yeah, that sounds just like her."
[ ] "-She knew it was me? Ah, well~ Guess we couldn't keep it from her, anyway."

"About that..." Kazuya reaches into his shirt pocket, displaying a handful of tickets, with a flourish; "My boss came through; I've got four tickets to Nara Dreamland's grand opening, this weekend...I've been thinking of asking her to come along."

He glances to the side, just for a moment - Lowering his voice conspirationally. "-How about we make it a double-date? It's the least I could do, after, well...*Everything*."

[ ] "Nara Dreamland?"
[ ] "Yeah, I'd love to come along. I had someone in mind..."
[ ] "-The thing is, I'm not actually sure who to ask."
[ ] "...You sure about that? Remember what happened the *last* time."
[ ] "Sorry, I...kind of have something on this weekend."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20188410

She clearly has a thing for us. This doesn't bode well at all.

>>20188410
That's because she had eyes on us while kazuya had eyes on her.
Shitstorm a brewin

>>20188420
[ ] "-She knew it was me? Ah, well~ Guess we couldn't keep it from her, anyway."

[ ] "-The thing is, I'm not actually sure who to ask."

I actually am not.... I doubt Hecate would come, but after sweetening it up like last time with her it would be kinda weird to ask that librarian chick.

>>20188420
[X] "Yeah, that sounds just like her."

[X] "Nara Dreamland?"
[X] "Yeah, I'd love to come along. I had someone in mind..."

[X] Free.
I'll see if a certain lady happens to be free this weekend, I'll get back to you.

Taking Hecate out on a date might be fun, we'd have to check with her of course.

>>20188420

Remember the last time we went to a concert with kazuya and natsumi? We ended up killing the lead singer. But we're not going to say that.

> [X] "Nara Dreamland?"
> [X] "Yeah, I'd love to come along. I had someone in mind..."

Why don't we ask hecate to come along?

>>20188420
She knew it was me?

You sure about that?

>>20188484
In our defense he started it and was a bit of an asshole.

>>20188445
>>20188430
We shall avoid said shitstorm through reasonable mature conversation. If Natsumi expresses a desire to go out with us we'll calmly tell her that we are going out with someone else and that while we are flattered we can not reciprocate her feelings.

>>20188488

> "You sure about that?"

sounds a little bit dickish. Don't dash his hopes, though we'll probably end up fighting horrid mimes or something.

Seriously, what about the library Girl? We didnt see her since Death Calibre died in front of here, and we heard that that hit her hard. I am kinda feeling bad about that.
I actually am not.... I doubt Hecate would come, but after sweetening it up like last time with her it would be kinda weird to ask that librarian chick.

> [X] "Yeah, that sounds just like her."

"...I know, right?" He settles back in his seat, letting out a slow sigh; "I'll never understand girls, I think. All the same, I'm glad it worked out."

> [X] "Nara Dreamland?"
> [X] "Yeah, I'd love to come along. I had someone in mind..."

"The...you know. The amusement park. In the news?"

Ah, that's right. Now you remember; You must've read the article at some point - One of the mega-amusement parks of 'the future', featuring the 'World's Largest Ferris Wheel' and 'thrilling rides', thanks to ample funding from a certain mouse who must not be named. It sounds like an admittedly fantastic place to visit.

Of course, it'd be rather pathetic if you went alone. You can't help but wonder, idly, if Hecate would be interested in coming along...You'd have to ask her later.

Kazuya catches the considering light in your eyes, and smiles. "...You too, huh? Don't tell me who the lucky lady is; I'll look forward to the surprise." There's the metallic *scrape* of his chair's legs against the floor, as he pushes his seat back - Glancing down at his watch, with a little wince.

"Crap, look at the *time*...Sorry to cut and run, but there's something I need to do. Look forward to it, yeah?"

He's out of the room with commendable speed, leaving you alone in the classroom. It's a lazy late afternoon, and the rest of the day is yours...The question is, what should you do?

[ ] Find Natsumi.
[ ] Go to the library, and chat with Asuna; Isn't that book due soon, anyway?
[ ] Head downtown, to the Papillion, and find Hecate.
[ ] There's no rush. Go home for now, and think about things.
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20188602

No reason why we can't drop in on her.

>>20188620
[X] Go to the library, and chat with Asuna; Isn't that book due soon, anyway?

We should at the very least say hi to her, even if our romantic interest may be pointed elsewhere the girl saw someone burn and fall to their death in front of her, we should check in, make sure she's doing alright.

>>20188640

Wait, we're pursuing hecate now? she's immensely appealing, but isn't it a little early to make a choice?

>>20188620
Go find Natsumi, get things sorted out before they turn into a shitstorm.
Then
Chat with Asuna.
We should probably finish that book sometime as well.

>>20188653
We've been remarkably sweet on her, we can still switch if we want of course but that does seem to be the general direction we're headed.

She has stockings and high heels, I mean damn. Also my previous worries about her goals and so on regarding us have been alleviated somewhat.

>>20188727

Well, my vote's for hecate, too. For now, let's jsut visit librarian-chan and return her book. Wonder if she's feelign better.

>>20188727
We haven't actually set anything in stone yet though.
And we have only gone with Hecate lately because she was the last girl we were in contact with

File: 1344151551029.jpg-(79 KB, 400x600, asuna.jpg)

> [X] Go to the library, and chat with Asuna; Isn't that book due soon, anyway?

...Come to think of it, it's been a while since you last seen Asuna. In your defense, the past week has been a *very* trying one, what with one thing or another.

Decided, you pack up - You've been carrying that book, 'The Myth of the City' with you for a while now, and if you think about it, this should be her shift...

-You're not wrong. The library's welcoming bell chimes, as the sliding doors hiss open, born on a wave of cool, climate-controlled air. As always, it's mostly empty - Barring a few people using the computer booths and meeting rooms at the far end...

"Ah, Anon-kun."

Asuna's at the counter; A little smile touching her lips as she looks up at you, carefully closing the novel she'd been reading. As always, her voice is a little soft - Pitched not to carry down the rows. "I knew you'd be visiting, soon." she says, wide brown eyes framed by her glasses.

[ ] "Afternoon, Asuna; You're looking a lot better."
[ ] "Oh? Why is that?"
[ ] "How are you feeling?"
[ ] "Sorry, it's been a while."
[ ] "I'm hoping to return something..."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20188854
[X] "Afternoon, Asuna; You're looking a lot better."
[X] "How are you feeling?"

>>20188854
You're looking better
Sorry it's been a while

>>20188842

True dat. She's the only one who knows what she's getting into. It woudl be unconscioable to bring the other girls into whatever we're mixed up in.
Except the maid, maybe.

>>20188891
Well we don't actually know that.
It could be that Natsumi or Asuna are the chrome cypher and Kazuya is entirely oblivious to it all

>>20188972
I'm pretty damn sure that Kazuya is Chrome Cypher, too much fits for him not to be. They may know more than they let on, Asuna especially, but it'd still be rather impolite of us to get them involved in our life considering that we don't know that for sure and we haven't been given any reason to suspect that they're involved.

>>20189001
I actually think that Asuna could well be the cypher and Natsumi is another competitor.

The reason I don't trust it being Kazuya is simply because it fits too well

> [X] "Afternoon, Asuna; You're looking a lot better."
> [X] "How are you feeling?"
> [X] "Sorry, it's been a while."

"Mmm-hmm." Asuna nods, a small motion; "-N, no, it's all right...I needed some time to myself, after..." Her voice trails off, her smile slipping a little - Clearly, she doesn't want to think about *that* too much.

"...After what happened to that, that poor boy."

She adds - a little hastily, though - "-But, it was really nice of you, Anon-kun; I'm glad you accompanied me...And I'm sorry I didn't tell you anything..." She does look slightly downcast, for a moment...But then Asuna clears her throat, sitting up in her swivelling chair.

"It's almost due, anyway...How was the book?"

[ ] "Interesting."
[ ] "It was a little hard to understand, but I liked it."
[ ] "I, uh, didn't actually read it."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20189089
[X] "I, uh, didn't actually read it."
Honesty is best people.

[X] Free.
I have had the most intensely hectic week that the world has ever seen, I'm sorry for not reading it. Could I ask for an extension?

>>20189089
Interesting.

>>20189107
>>20189089

OP, can you clarify? Did we in fact not read it, or is this one of the backstory choices?

>>20189107
>>20189109
>>20189132

(If you say you read it, I'll assume that you did, at some point during the past two weeks. My bad, I shouldn't have out a [ ] Free choice box there.)

>>20189146
Ah, okay. I never remembered us reading it so I wasn't sure.

Changing
>>20189107
to
[X] "Interesting."

> [X] Interesting.

That's right. A lot of the book was...Well, let's be honest. *Really* dry; About half of it was long-winded discourse about how mythological trends informed architecture.

The other half, though - That was indeed interesting. The author postulates that every city has a spiritual reflection (where, he doesn't say), an astral 'mirror'. With careful planning, a city can be built to be/shapes itself into (Again, he's not clear) a mechanism: Perfect axial alignment built into the design, a combination of occult order and lines of power.

In other words, buildings can be designed - By accident or by purpose - to resonate, channeling nebulous power through their structure...With people as the fuel, like water running over a prayer wheel. The primeval Babel, for instance is postulated to be a (failed) example of such a megapolis.

All-in-all, hardly light reading. It's the last part, however, that caught your eye: According to the writer, it is 'inevitable' that a critical mass would be reached - And an indiviual in the right place, at the right time, could control and direct it. Exactly *how* one would go about doing that is (Perhaps fortunately) excluded.

"-I thought so too," Asuna muses aloud ~ A little giggle teased from her throat. "...Well, I'm not sure what it means, but - As long as it's an interesting read."

She turns away, just for a moment - scanning the book, an electronic *beep* echoing tinnily as she swipes it, busying herself with looking for the filing card. "I'm not sure why it's so popular, though...It seems like *everyone* was looking for it..."

[ ] "Everyone?"
[ ] "What do you mean?"
[ ] "-Maybe it's just a fad."
[ ] "Actually, Asuna, I was meaning to ask..." (Invite her.)
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20189271
We should remember to research these theories *very* carefully. It's a little too relevant.

>>20189271

> [ ] "Everyone?"

How many people are playing the game, anyway? My guess is that anyone who's interested is at least involved, but the number may vary.

>>20189271
[X] "Everyone?"

[X] "What do you mean?"

>>20189271

[X] "Everyone?"
and
[X] "What do you mean?"

This could give us info on future opponents, if she gives examples.

>>20189271
Everyone?
What do you mean?

Actually Asuna I was meaning to ask you.

>>20189411
I personally would prefer to invite Hecate.

> [X] "Everyone?"
> [X] "What do you mean?"

"...Yes. The other eight copies have already been checked out - And there's a waiting list of, of at least *fifty* people." Asuna's slim shoulders rise, in a little shrug - Her voice quietly contemplative, now. "-I'm not sure why, but...It's rather strange. I've even had some upperclassmen inquiring about ordering more..."

Fifty people. You don't need to be a librarian to know *that's* excessive. Just one glance around the mostly-silent library informs you that this place probably hasn't seen fifty people in here *at once*, since its construction.

"Ah, Anon-kun...I almost forgot. Someone left a letter for you."

When you look back, Asuna's holding out a manilla envelope - It's actually rather small, your questing fingertips encountering the soft crinkle of an additional layer of paper within.

There's nothing on it except your name, typed in block letters.

[ ] "Someone? Did you see who?"
[ ] "A letter? How did they leave it here, anyway?"
[ ] "Did you read it?"
[ ] Open it.
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20189411

It's a really tough choice, but I would sort-of prefer to ask hecate instead. At the very least, we should check with her first, to see if she's willing.

>>20189434
[X] "Someone? Did you see who?"

[X] "A letter? How did they leave it here, anyway?"

Don't open it here, it probably relates to the Red Joker side of our life and I'd rather not bring that up.

>>20189434

>A letter? How did they leave it here, anyway?

Don't open it for now. Lets do that after seeing Hecate.

[X] "Someone? Did you see who?"
[X] "A letter? How did they leave it here, anyway?"

"-Someone left it in the bookdrop, yesterday..." For the first time, Asuna frowns a little, brushing her braids back from her face - "...I keep telling them not to do that."

There's clear curiosity in her voice, all the same, as she glances over at you; "Anon-kun...What's it about?"

[ ] It's private.
[ ] Let's find out. (Open it.)
[ ] I'm not sure...I'll take a look later.
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20189434

We should make our excuses, and then open it outside. We have to read it sometime, and it doesn't look like a ltter bomb.

>>20189503
Just open it. We can still make stuff up if its about joker.

>>20189503

>I'm not sure...I'll take a look later.

Lets do it after we have done the things we wanted to. I get the feeling something will happen when we open the letter.

>>20189503

> [X] Free.
> "I really appreciate that you held it for me, but it's a private matter. I'd love to tell you more about it, but it's between me and a friend."

Fuck, this is hard. Open it outsidde.

(Op here: So, you're going to read it outside?)

>>20189503
[X] I'm not sure...I'll take a look later.

>>20189579

Yes, let's say goodbye to asuna, then read it outside already.

>>20189556
Sounds good

>>20189612

Go for this.

"...I see." Asuna seems to catch your hesitation, and smiles warmly. "It's all right, I won't intrude." A hint of mischief creeps into her voice, all the same; "-Just tell your friend not to do *that* again, next time...Or I'll have to think of a penalty."

She giggles, faint color in her cheeks - Favoring you with a little wave, as you step out into the late afternoon sun...The letter clasped in one hand, the paper rustling as you open it, after ensuring that you're alone.

Inside is -

It's a single piece of paper, about palm-sized. On it, a message, typed out in red font...

> I KNOW YOUR SECRET.

Someone, in a fit of apparent humor, has added a smiley face to the 'O' - And a series of digits beneath. It takes you a moment of contemplation, to realize...

-It's a phone number.

[ ] FREE.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20189671

Yeah, that person is definitely baiting us. Lets call him after we have talked to Hecate.

Let's go see her.

>>20189671
Don't call it. Look up the phone number first, then find out who lives there. Take a visit unannounced.
Lets not walk into a trap, mmk?

>>20189671
I'd rather not start with a call, that might be overly panicky.

Get to a computer, look up the phone number, see if we can get any details on it. If they're smart it's a burner phone but they could have screwed up somewhere.

Later we can text them with "Good for you." No need to be hasty about this.

>>20189671

Fuck. At least know that
1.) The guy is probably a student.
2.) He knows we were visiting asuna.
3.) He knows who we are.

We should probably call him.

>>20189721
>>20189718
>>20189713

The school has a few stand-alone information terminals - With internet connections, fortunately, though they're technically not meant to be used for more than browsing through the catalogue. A quick search reveals that it's a handphone number...Probably a pre-paid SIM card, or simply a disposable phone.

A slightly *longer* search confirms that yes, it *is* a prepaid SIM. Purchased less than a week ago, too, on-campus (Most likely from the adjoining store) - And that's as much as you can get from it, for now.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20189790
Well it's most likely another student or possibly a teacher/staff here.

I'd like to text them but they already know who we are and if we call we might get an accurate voice which could give us gender, accent, that sort of thing.

>>20189790

Let's cut through the bullshit and just call our stalker. We can simply stomp him if it comes to a fight, and i'd rather deal with this now rather than later.

well he did fuck up after all to the store where it was bought from. but keep our eyes open never know if he planned it that way.

>>20189790
Call him. Its better negotiating than him trying to start shit with our friends.

>>20189790

They're probably a student, a teacher, or one of the staff. Since they already know who we are, it's time to return the favor.

> [X] Free
> [X] Call back.

You dial the number, on your handphone. It rings once, twice, thr-

...Someone picks it up, before the third ring. You hear an electric buzz, as an oddly modulated voice comes over the line.

> "Joker. I have something that should be yours."

Pause.

> "Care to do business?"

The sound is tinny, crackly - But if you listen carefully, you can hear running water in the background. Is your caller in the bathroom, or at the school's garden? That's what leaps immediately to mind.

[ ] "Who is this?"
[ ] "How did you find out?"
[ ] "You have the wrong number."
[ ] "What do you have?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20189790
Call him, but be all casual about it.
Don't be like "Who the fuck are you"
instead be
"Oh. sup. Nice bit of detective work there."

>>20189893
[x] Free
"That Depends. What are you selling?"
We aren't falling for some scam.

>>20189894

(Unfortunately, I missed that. I'll take it into account in the next post, though.)

>>20189893
[X] "What do you have?"

They won't answer who it is or how they found out.

>>20189907
That sounds good

> "Oh, sup. Nice bit of detective work there."

There's a staticky blurt on the other end; It sets your teeth on edge, for a moment, before you realize that it's laughter.

> "I'm in the business of knowing.

> [X] "That Depends. What are you selling?"
> [X] "What do you have?"

Pause. Then, at last:

> "Your predecessor's memory."
> "Interested?"

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20189948
"How did you get that" then
"What do you want?"

>>20189948
I'm somewhat interested.

How did you acquire it?

What are you looking for in exchange?

> [X] "How did you get that?"

Silence, which is just as well. It gives you time to think; *Could* it be possible? You don't know. You've never heard of something like that before...But in all honesty, upon careful contemplation -

...Yes. Yes, it's possible.

It just may be.

> [X] "What do you want?"

> "To meet."

There's something in the background, a rush of sound, of air. The person on the other line, whoever it is; He's moving. You can hear the dull roar of people in the background...A crowd? Students, filtering out of the school gates?

> "The tennis courts behind the school. You know the place?"

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20189995
Ok. this is a bit of a dangerous situation. It might be a trap, so I say we transform and scout the area first. anybody agree?

>>20189995

Smells like a fucking trap. Let's spring it, all the same.

My gut tells me that we don't need our predecessor's memory and that this dude just wants the mantle of the Red Joker for himself.

>>20189995
I know the place, I'll meet you there in half an hour.

Don't head to the courts yet, see if we can find a vantage point above them and observe the courts. Get an idea of who it is.

>>20190058

That may be true, but he may also be legit. Has anyone been able to beat us in combat, so far? Like, one-on-one?

I agree with

>>20190050

if we go in transformed, we'll be ready for a fight.

>>20190051
Spring the trap, transforming is useless since the other likely wouldn't resort to a fight in the other realm when he can attack us here. Do we have our knife with us?

>>20190074
>Has anyone been able to beat us in combat, so far? Like, one-on-one?
Just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean that it won't happen. I'd rather not run the risk this dude is going to pull off some seriously cold-blooded execution styled killing on us.

(OP here:

No, you're not carrying your knife today.

I assume that you guys want to scope out the place from a distance, before going in?)

>>20190106
Thats the idea.

File: 1344159892497.jpg-(555 KB, 1024x768, tennis.jpg)

> [X] I know the place, I'll meet you there in half an hour.

> "Acceptable."

The line goes dead, and then there's only the flat drone of a dial tone.

You begin the descent to the tennis courts, taking a circuitous route; From the second floor, you look down, hearing the THWOCK of the rackets, the rustling noise the cage at each stray ball...And the occassional cheer?

Ah, that's right; It's the inter-school girl's tennis competition, today...Which is probably the person on the other line picked the place to meet. There's a small crowd watching the match - Well, *mostly* the match, not the alluring combination of short skirts and a strong breeze...

-You dial the number again, but you don't hear a phone ringing. Below, multiple people are using their handphones; There's a guy in the corner, one of the Tennis Club's girls, a teacher...Slightly less than a dozen. And there's the chance he simply didn't pick up, too...Which pretty much renders it a crapshoot.

[ ] Head down.
[ ] Transform here.
[ ] Wait and watch a while longer.
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20190176
Wait and watch
If we see anything at all we can see as strange then transform

Otherwise go down

>>20190176
[X] Wait and watch a while longer.

We said half an hour, don't rush it.

See if anyone looks like they're waiting for someone, if they look out of place.

>>20190176
Head down. I dont think he can attack us in the real world here, too many people, and when we get attacked in the other world we will be transformed anyways.

We look benevolent if we dont start shit first.

File: 1344160868877.jpg-(55 KB, 800x600, tennis2.jpg)

You wait, leaning against the railing. It's a spirited match, between a blonde player from Seisin High - And your school's own team captain, Reiko. About three minutes into the set, and it's 2 - 1, with the challenger leading...Until Reiko evens the score with a surprise backhand, to the cheers of her teammates.

...You're fairly certain Reiko will win - Though it'd probably be a hard-fought victory all the...

-Wait a minute.

The other girl...She *does* look kind of familiar, doesn't she? You've seen her before somewhere - And recently, too! She almost looks like...

...What's Eri doing here?

Well, it might just be your imagination - Though you're fairly certain that if it *is* her, they'd hardly approve of her other job. From the roar of the crowd, it's hard not to be caught up in the excitement of the match...

-Except you have a job to do.

(Continued.)

>>20190192
Screw benevolent we want to survive.
We don't want another black joker scenario again

File: 1344161275026.jpg-(440 KB, 1024x768, tennis3.jpg)

>>20190256

You go right back to scanning the crowd, as the minutes tick by. The problem is - While there are *plenty* of people acting a little strangely (By anyone's standards), there's so much going on that it's hard to keep track.

Eventually, you head down to the courts, with less than thirty seconds left into the match...

-Then there's a THWOCK, as a fast-paced serve slips past Reiko's defense, and bounces off the court. 3 - 2, to the challenger; The referee's shrill whistle almost drowned out by the cheers from the away team. Further down to the ground, it's even harder to pick out anyone - But you're sure that you've been seen at some point...

When the world shifts into red, you're expecting it.

In the space of one heartbeat, the courts are empty, except for vaguely, flickering shapes; You're standing before the spined, granite edifice that's the school's shadow in the crimson world - The tennis cage bristling with spikes, humming with electricity...

-And there's something else in the air, too. A resonance, on the very edge of perception, like a frequency only you can hear.

(Continued.)

>>20190291
Well, fuck. We're in an electrified cage match.

The last place we want to be, if we want to get in a fight.

File: 1344161733517.jpg-(11 KB, 704x396, skullmask.jpg)

You turn, looking for the source of the noise...

And you see him.

There's a shape seated a floor above you, poised precariously on the railing. A figure in black, with a floor-length coat draped over light armor; From the glimpses you can catch, it's grey-panelled, styled like the flaring ribs of a skeleton, lighter even than your plate.

But it's the mask that draws your attention, first and foremost. He has a full-face helm, the polished ivory of bone; It's a skull, bare and unadorned, except for the red lens of his eyes...A spectre of stark and grinning death.

In one gloved hand, the figure cups something - Like a flickering flame, a fluctuating light that pulses in constant motion...Tongues of illumination straining towards you, like flowers turning towards the sun.

"You're here at last."

The voice issuing from the mouthpiece is rich, mellifulent. The skull-helmed shape pushes free, and drops down before the open cage; Boots clacking against the ground, as he straightens. You make out no apparent weapons, only the lightest of armor...Still, appearances can be deceiving.

"I was right: It *is* resonating with you. You really are the key."

[ ] "Is that...The Joker's Memory?"
[ ] "You're the one who called me here?"
[ ] "...So that's what you look like."
[ ] "Now we've met, what do you want?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

File: 1344161800284.png-(408 KB, 728x840, skullhelm.png)

(My apologies, the full image.)

>>20190256

what, the maid?
The maid is in the tennis team?

edit: In the tennis team from the black joker's school?

>>20190331
You seem to have the advantage of me. You know who I am and I haven't the slightest clue of your identity. Could I get a name so I don't have to just call you skull dude or you?

[X] "...So that's what you look like."
[X] "Now we've met, what do you want?"

>>20190361
Yeah, this sounds good.

>>20190361
That.

>>20190331
Is that the jokers memory?

File: 1344162689330.jpg-(361 KB, 850x469, skullman5.jpg)

> You seem to have the advantage of me. You know who I am and I haven't the slightest clue of your identity. Could I get a name so I don't have to just call you skull dude or you?

"Of course. Some know me as 'Totenaz', and others as 'The Skull. But to you..."

You sense that he's smiling behind the mask. The wind picks up; The white scarf coiled around his neck billows behind him, as is dramatically appropriate, the only streak of color against his dark coat.

"-I am simply 'The Thief'."

> [X] "Now we've met, what do you want?"

"Your mere presence confirms the Memory's worth: It will respond only to you."

He closes his hand into a fist, and the light snuffs out. "However, I am a businessman. To simply *give* you an item of incalculable price - That is beneath me. And if I could defeat you so easily...The terms of my offer would mean nothing."

Red-glowing gaze. "So...Now? Now, we see if you're as good as they say you are." Is he smiling? Or is that just the grinning skull?

[ ] "You *want* to fight me?"
[ ] "If it's a fight you're looking for..."
[ ] "-Are you serious?"
[ ] Free.

>>20190447
>The thief
>Fuck yes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je84VupqD58

>>20190447

> HP: 100%
> METER: 5%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 100%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 100%
> INTERCEPTORS: 3/3.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20190447

"You *want* to fight me?"

>>20190447
[X] "If it's a fight you're looking for..."
Alright.
Lets thrash this business man.
We have a reputation to uphold after all.

>>20190469
I was thinking the same thing.

>>20190447
I thought just for once I could have a nice talk with someone, just once. But no, everyone seems to want to try and kill me.

Fine, bring it, let's do this.

Bring our Vulcans to bear, spin them up, keep our distance, try to evaluate his capabilities and open fire.

>>20190484
>>20190478

RED JOKER

VS

TOTENAZ

The neon words flicker to life on your HUD, as things begin to happen *very* fast. Your forearm sheaths snap open, as your Vulcans deploy; All four barrels spinning up, the charging element winking to life as you wrench the triggers, plasma bolts gnawing and scorching through the air...

Totenaz - The Thief - The Skull, or whatever he chooses to call himself - is moving, too, his hands coming together, then apart; From somewhere within the folds of his cloak, he's drawn a bulky-looking carbine - A disc of orange energy expanding to the size of a buckler, then a full-body shield as he darts to the side.

Your shots slam into the energy cocoon, raking him - They splinter against his shield, striking furious sparks from the surface. He flinches within the defense, levelling his pistol at you...

A fiercely buzzing round hisses past you, striking the crackling cage; It *screams*, making the air around itself distort with soundwaves. Caught on the edge of it, the shrieker shot makes your ears ring, sets your teeth on edge...Right before the Thief lofts three - four - stick-handled grenades into the air. Tiny vernier jets ignite beneath the explosive heads; The projectiles weaving through the air on unpredictable arcs, as they plunge down towards you.

> HP: 97%
> METER: 9%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 100%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 100%
> INTERCEPTORS: 3/3.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20190550
Blow them out of the air with our vulcans and look for cover from them.

Play cautious and defensive, once we've dealt with the nades focus on pinning this guy down with sustained Vulcan fire. This guy probably knows a fair bit about us and we know nothing about his bag of tricks so don't get cocky or assume anything.

>>20190550

He's a tricky one, that's for sure. Tyrant burst, one brilliant flash, right in the face. Then run forward to dodge the explosions.

>>20190550
Additional to the other suggestions we might want to send out one Interceptor to keep him busy and test him.

You switch your aim, snap-firing at the descending explosives - Like a skeet-shooter, blasting the targets from the air. Rattling chains of fire swipe the first two from the air, chewing them apart before they can land; The unpredictable trajectories making them perversely hard to target.

A lucky burst of fire catches the third. It weaves to the side, detonating harmlessly against the electric grid...

-The fourth, short-fused, explodes. A hail of flechettes rain down on you, most of them glancing from the Assault Shroud; You feel two of them punch past your guard, rattling off your armor as you sprint forward, sustaining a furious rate of fire. The Thief's shield is absorbing the majority of your shots - His shield fracturing beneath the impacts, shrinking as he hunches down beneath his diminishing field...

Your plasma shots scorch his shoulder, his black duster charring further beneath the heat. You hear him yelp - A startled "Nnnngh! Upgrades!" - before your Tyrant Burst system triggers, in a brilliant flash of eye-searing light.

His carbine barks, and the chambered round - Inordinately lucky - slams into your Shroud. The impact splatters into seething, bubbling acid, jarring you back a step; You see wisps of smoke rising from the nanomaterial, beneath the corrosive fluid. He's sprinting to the side, firing his weapon as fast as it can chamber - Rounds whining and zipping past your helmet, coming perilously close.

He seems to be heading for the side of the cage - *Why*, you're not sure.

> HP: 92%
> METER: 15%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 88%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 94%
> INTERCEPTORS: 3/3.

TIER ONE WEAPONRY UNLOCKED

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>20190660
Launch interceptors. Block his path, then keep shooting at him. I don't know why he's going that way, but I like him just fine where he is.

>>20190660
Keep on firing on him with the Vulcans.

Launch two interceptors, one going around his left and the other his right to cut him off from reaching his destination and to chop him open.

>>20190660
Send out 2 Interceptor to interrupt and annoy him. Continue shooting. It seems his corrosive stuff is not really that effective against our Assault shroud, make sure the Shroud is between him and us.

Shoot two rockets into the cage (where he is) if he tries something funny with it like charging his shield up.

With the whine of potent electromagnetic fields, your Interceptors streak away from you - Criss-crossing in scissoring paths, speeding off to intercept him. Totenaz ducks the first one, as it hisses past his head; Still, it forces him to draw up short, momentarily cut off as the other two flash towards him.

You have to admit: He's quite fast. But he doesn't seem to be anywhere near as protected as *you* are. A hasty buckler-swipe bats one of the slicing drones away - The last one connects with his helm with a solid CLANG, sparks flying as the cutting field whines against his skull-mask. Your HUD pings with the sweet sound of a target lock, plasma tracers chewing across the floor as they hammer at him...

-You hit him once, twice...Two clean body hits, his shield shattering into fragments of cohered energy, a device on his left wrist flickering with fitful electricity. He fires back - A ray slicing past you, as fizzing acid eats into your Shroud, then-

You're suddenly and unaccountably on *fire*. Blue flames lick at you, as if you're plunged into the heart of a sudden, spontaenous inferno...A sticky fire that clings to your, scorching at your armor like napalm. The foul smoke boils out around you, obscuring your vision - You can make out frantic motion directly in front, but you can't tell what he's doing...Or where he's going.

> HP: 86%
> METER: 20%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 88%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 82%
> INTERCEPTORS: 3/3. (3 ACTIVE.)

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20190734
OH shit. Stop. Drop. Roll. use your interceptors to keep him busy while rolling. also, shoot some missiles first.

>>20190734
Don't shed the Assault Shroud to get rid of the fire, it might not work and it's our primary defense.

Keep on blind firing in his direction, put out the flames maybe stop drop and roll will help.

Keep him off the walls he can probably charge himself up from electricity

Shooting some missiles (say 4) blind in his direction as well as the 'Ceptors should keep him busy. otherwise put fire out.

Bathed in raw flame, a flickering second skin of liquid fire, you stagger forward - dropping to the ground, rolling with a shrieking clatter of crimson plate, trying to smother the flames, to scrape the burning substance off...

As you rake your gauntlet over your helmet, the pellucid blue fire clears from your vision - Your red armor squealing as you wrench yourself to one knee. You fire, Vulcans spitted cohered hellfire as the flames lick at your ankles; Your Interceptors coming perilously close to the sparking, fizzing cage, as...

-Oh, *come on*.

You hear the *zipppp* of a nearly-invisible length of cable; A grapplehawk swooping with metal hooks and taser-spikes unsheathed, looping around the baroque archs of the cage...The *one* part of the fence not sizzling with charge. Totenaz is sprinting across the sparking cage, horizontally - His racing form perpendicular to it, as the ultra-fine cable plays out.

Two of your Interceptors slam into the detonation grid - The last one banking away from a collision, still following him. Your rockets spiral out from their launchers, exploding in massive plumes of flame; You see him stagger, buffeted by the concussion, but he doesn't fall - Still in motion, reaching the very apex of his nigh-vertical sprint...

> HP: 78%
> METER: 16%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 88%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 74%
> INTERCEPTORS: 3/3. (1 ACTIVE.)

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20190847
Activate Cobalt Booster System. Let him come closer, and give him an Enhanced Plasma Caster shot to the center of mass.

>>20190847

He can wall-run?
Aim for the grapple, see if we can blast it free from the whatever it's attached to.

Pop interceptors and harass him. He is up to something

The Thief's boots - Insulated, you realize - spark against the cage, the cable snapping taut; Even as you stomp out the last of flames, your shots chewing into the raised spike, blasting the grapple free. You actually *see* the metallic shape twitch and buck as it takes fire...Until a long, satisfying burst of plasma fire superheats it into steel gobbets and metal vapor, the *shriek* echoing hollowly through the enclosure.

Without an anchor, Totenaz *has* to leap - It's that or fall. Your skull-headed opponent kicksprings off the wall, diving towards you; The shimmering edge of an electromagnetic blade hissing forth from his free hand, his carbine clutched in the other...

In the frozen split-second of falling, you swing your Plasma Caster up, the coils going from white-hot to molten blue, as the Cobalt Booster supercharges your capacitators. When you wrench the trigger, the recoil is *tremendous*; It doesn't discharge in a single meteoric blast, but an expanding fan of white-cored blue flame, almost punching you back to the ground, servoes whining as it takes the impact.

The shotgun blast catches him dead-on. You hear his breath punched from his lungs, his dive turning into a plummeting faceplant as he plunged groundwards; His black coat - Strikingly similar to your Assault Shroud - catches light, the very substance igniting as he hits the ground so hard he *bounces*. You hammer him with plasma shots, as his recharged shield engulfs him...But not before the tracking bolts sear into him, pummeling him backward.

(Continued.)

With a spastic motion, he wrenches his coat free, flinging it at you; It expands as it comes at you, like a net, still burning, a momentary visual baffle...then wider still, as its fibers disperse, going from thick cables to infinitely fine threads...

...Your last Interceptor - caught in the path - falls to sliced pieces before you, fizzing with sparks.

> HP: 72%
> METER: 13%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 78%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 66%
> INTERCEPTORS: 0/3

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20190960
>>20190954

(Apologies for the delay - It's a bookkeeping nightmare to track multiple Damage Over Time effects, and multiple Relics.)

>>20190960
Activate Cobalt Booster to enhance our Speed and evade to the side. Fire Vulcans.

>>20190960
Well shit, monowire. But at least he should be in bad shape after that shotgun blast. Maybe after we stomp his face in we can steal his coat.

Continue to fire at him, dodge to the side of the murdernet. Given how thin it is we ought to be able to deal with the edge which will hit us by applying our Vulcan fire to it.

Don't let up the assault, we don't want him to catch his breath.

>>20190960
Ooh, caught another one finally. I haven't joined one since I managed to get Hecate to join us for coffee with some honeyed words.

Anyway, use the brilliant flash, and leave the Assault Shroud as a clone in the net. Move as fast as we can to blindside him. Let's see if we can make him think we've been caught.

If so, charge up the Tyrant Burst for a blast as strong we can do without the meter.

The myomer fibres beneath your armor bunch - Momentarily empowered by your Booster, blue light crackling across the circuit-pattern lining the crimson surface. It makes your muscles sting with strength, all the power discharging itself into a single lightning-quick motion to the side, your Vulcans spitting death...

-Apparently, the Skull knew that was *exactly* what you were going to do...But nowhere near as fast. The trap he's hurled at you - Something small and furiously volatile, a miniature claymore - doesn't have time to land; It *clangs* against you without the chance to deploy, glancing off as the red sensor flickers fitfully. The mine is still mid-tumble when it *explodes*, sharpenel pinging and riocheting in all directions...But not, as he intended, towards you.
Your right-arm Vulcans chew through the monowire cloud, scorching the threads; It still snags against your right leg, glancing across the plate with a tooth-grinding squeal, but the rest of it simply passes by, scorched through. He's breaking in the opposite direction, your snap-shots stiching wide...

The volatile heat in your chest spews forth, in a barrage of curving, ice-white beams - Photonic lasers streaking across the distance, a spinning funnel of death. The random spread works against you, but one beam shears through the Thief's carbine, the barrel tumbling away - Another punches through his left leg, two splashing against his armor with a searing touch...

(Continued)

>>20190960
Dodge back the hell out of the way.
Keep the assault shroud on for now and only drop it if it is necessary

Keep hammering him with the vulcans and see if we can box him in somewhat

>>20191059

He staggers, almost falls - But his left arm comes up, anyway, and the muzzle of a slate-grey rod spews a long tongue of dragon's-breath flame. The burning vapor sears across you - You narrowly avoid catching fire again, as his electromagnetic blade slices across the ground in a lightning-quick stroke, chunks of rubble hurled skyward by the shots.

The Thief breaks right towards you, springing forward - You make out the stylized 'ribs' of his armor beginning to glow with an internal violet light, as if parting to reveal a swelling core of heat...

> HP: 62%
> METER: 26%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 17%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 51%
> INTERCEPTORS: 0/3

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>20191059
I think using the Booster for Attacks is a bad idea - most of the times. It is far more efficiently used for boosting firepower or speed. The Light Lances are mostly only usefull against multiple opponents.

That said, carry on.

>>20191091
Create fake You via Assault shroud, then just jump back from Skully. Let him close into combat with the Fake, then give him a Plasma-Caster Shot, preferably through the fake.

>>20191091
Brilliant flash, make clone with Assault Shroud. Get out of eyesight, wait until Skelly-boy makes contact with the clone before letting him have it with the missiles.

>>20191091

This is a very interesting fight, so far. Thief seems to have a lot of items that mimick powers and abilities. So far, we've seen:

Rifle with different ammo types.
Grappling hook.
Some kind of powered melee weapon
A bootleg version of the assault shroud.
Mines/grenades?
A flamethrower.

No wonder he's called the thief.

>>20191091
Use a boosted plasma caster shot as he opens it up completely

As he lunges at you, your Assault Shroud unfurls - The fibres dispersing, leaving a shimmering decoy as you leap back. That isn't enough to take you out of reach...But your Tyrant Burst cannon *flares*, in a violet discharge of blinding light. It doesn't have the same effect as the first time - You see the lens of his helmet flick from red to black, as if auto-baffles have just cut in...

-But it means that he has to pick one of two targets, as his humming blade lashes out in a wild swing.

He picks wrong. A spear-fist, occluded with dark vapor, ploughs through your decoy - A moment after his crackling blade plunges into your copy's chest, falling short. Wrong-footed, he catches himself just in time...

To take another dose of your Plasma Caster in the *face*. It blasts him from his feet; You see Totenaz's arms flailing, as he's bodily flung back, crossing the ground on his back. Somehow, he turns his backward flight into a skidding, churning tumble, fetching up mere inches from the charged cage - But it's clear you've taken a *lot* of the fight out of him.

"Stop," he grunts - His voice choked, occluded with static, as he sways to one knee. "That's enough. I...nnngh...I'm definently *impressed*." You notice that his right fist is clamped around a faintly-glowing polygonal shape; Depressing it, holding it in place like a dead-man's trigger.

[ ] "-Had enough?"
[ ] "So, you surrender?"
[ ] "...Was that *really* necessary?"
[ ] "You're willing to talk things over *now*?"
[ ] "...What's that you're holding?"
[ ] Free.

> HP: 59%
> METER: 21%
> COBALT BOOSTER: 0%
> ASSAULT SHROUD: 0%
> INTERCEPTORS: 0/3

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20191186
>>20191112
>>20191127

(Apologies, I've had the Plasma Caster and the Flash Eye take priority - There wasn't enough Booster for a follow-up shot.)

>>20191204
[X] "...Was that *really* necessary?"
[X] "...What's that you're holding?"

>>20191204
[X] Free
"Why is the first thing people resort to here is battle? Jeez."

>>20191204
Was that really necessary?
So you are willing to talk now?

>>20191226
That. Also, do not put away the Plasma Caster and add. "You are a tricky guy. I am just making sure you are not trying to stab me in the bag. I am sure you understand."

>>20191259
Mein Gott. Stab me in the *back* was what i was trying to write.

File: 1344171688992.jpg-(13 KB, 300x400, skulldefeat.jpg)

> [X] "...Was that *really* necessary?"
> [X] "Why is the first thing people resort to here is battle? Jeez."

The Thief makes it to both knees, then to his feet. Smoke is still wisping off his frame, looking more skeletal than ever; "It *always* is," he allows, tattered scarf fluttering in the updraft of heat. "Cut twice, measure once; It's the only way to find one's worth."

"-It's enough. You've certainly earned your title, Joker."

> [X] "...What's that you're holding?"
> [X] "You are a tricky guy. I am just making sure you are not trying to stab me in the back. I am sure you understand."

The mouthpiece of his skull-helm clatters together, like chattering teeth, as he looks down the Caster's smoking barrel. "That's your insurance. This-" a gloved hand rises, slightly. "-this is mine."

It's...Well, you're not sure *exactly* how it works, but it's probably a bomb. Given the array of weapons and Relics he's wielded so far - It likely has sufficient yield to wipe you *both* away.

> [X] So you are willing to talk now?

"Yes." The lens of his helmet clicks and whirrs fitfully, as if damaged. "-I seek the Fatal Abyss, the sword of Phantom Edge." Slowly, as if tired, his mask swings towards you.

"A treasure like *that* is worth the Joker's Memory, don't you agree?"

[ ] "Phantom Edge?"
[ ] "...That's the first time I've heard of it. What's 'The Fatal Abyss'?"
[ ] "-And what makes you think I know where it is?"
[ ] "Why don't I just *take* the Memory from you?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

[ ] "Phantom Edge?"
[ ] "...That's the first time I've heard of it. What's 'The Fatal Abyss'?"
[ ] "-And what makes you think I know where it is?"

[ ] "...That's the first time I've heard of it. What's 'The Fatal Abyss'?"
[ ] " what makes you think I know where it is?"

>>20191315

"Phantom Edge?"
"...That's the first time I've heard of it. What's 'The Fatal Abyss'?"
"Why don't I just *take* the Memory from you?"

>>20191362
>"Why don't I just *take* the Memory from you?"

Big boom is why.

>>20191413
I agree. Asking that is kinda dumb.

>>20191413

ehh... you're right. Though that weapon does sound interesting. Maybe we should go look for that weapon and keep it for ourselfs.

Anyway, lets hear him out.

> [X] "Phantom Edge?"

He's looking better, now; The scorch-marks on his lightweight armor slowly fading, as he rises to his feet. There's the suggestion of ebbing shadow, like threads weaving back together as a hazy heat-mirage of his long duster takes form...

Another Relic? An innate power?

"-The greatest swordsman of the *last* cycle. For a time, he continued to fight, to *win* - Until, at last, he vanished from both worlds."

> [X] "...That's the first time I've heard of it. What's 'The Fatal Abyss'?"

The Skull makes a sound, that may have been a snort. "His weapon, of course. The pitch-black blade he wielded to victory *and* infamy. With it, he slew *hundreds*. The man is long gone; The sword remains."

> [X] "...What makes you think I know where it is?"

"Because you, my friend, are a shit magnet."

You swear he's smiling, behind the toothed mouthpiece of his helmet. "Yours isn't the only legacy, Joker; I have every confidence that it'd seek you out."

And then:

[ ] "-So, the blade for the Memory."
[ ] "...Yes, but what could it *do*?"
[ ] "Why do you want it, again?"
[ ] "A...black sword? I've run into something like that before."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>20191492
>"...Yes, but what could it *do*?"
>"Why do you want it, again?"
"-So, the blade for the Memory."

>>20191492
"Forgive my paranoia, but giving a seemingly ominous weapon to someone I just met sets alarm bells off in my head. I'll keep an eye out, but unless I can make sure either you and it won't cause trouble, I won't complete the trade."

I'd rather play it safe. Definitely find the sword, but not give it to him right away.

[ ] "-So, the blade for the Memory."
[ ] "...Yes, but what could it *do*?"
[ ] "Why do you want it, again?"

>>20191547
Seems good, for a custom post. Seconding.

>>20191492

Oh. Oh, shit.
Guys, I just thought of something.

What if it's like Death Calibre's gun? Another uberpowerful cursed item?

>>20191547
That sounds good.

>>20191561
Given the Thief's seemingly unparalleled experience with relics, I think he wouldn't go for it if it was cursed.

> "Forgive my paranoia, but giving a seemingly ominous weapon to someone I just met sets alarm bells off in my head. I'll keep an eye out, but unless I can make sure either you and it won't cause trouble, I won't complete the trade."

An irritated blurt of static, as he draws himself up.

"It belongs to *me*. It belongs *with* me, the same way the Joker's Memory belongs with you." There's a pause; The skull-helm quivers, as the Thief - apparently - composes himself.

Then, in a less severe voice: "It was...good to meet you at last, Red Joker. Give the Chalice Queen my regards."

The world blurs, and resolves out of focus. There's a lingering confusion, as wispy threads of soulstuff coil like smoke...

*THWOCK*

You come back to yourself, in a blur of noise and flailing arms. On the tennis court before you, Eri goes down, as a high-speed serve glances off her skull. Her opponent lets out a mortified *gasp*, as the referee's shrill whistle blows a foul...

You see her stirring muzzily, as her teammates hurry onto the court, the game momentarily suspended in light of the injury. From behind, somewhere close, there's the oppressive sensation of being *watched* - So strongly that you can't help but...

-To catch the faintest suggestion of a shape melting back into the small crowd, vanishing before you could get more than a glimpse of it. Perhaps it was just a trick of light...But you swear, for an instant, you saw the yellowed ivory of a bare and grinning skull.

JOKER QUEST

CHAPTER 11

END.

File: 1344174205179.jpg-(173 KB, 1200x900, tennis4.jpg)

(I'm sorry to cut off here, gentlemen; However, it's incredibly late, and I really have to stop here for now. My apologies for the sudden transition - I'll run the next instalment of the quest this Thursday, same time and same place.

Once again, thank you very much: Good night, and god bless. Also, have more tennis-related fanservice.)

>>20191674
Damn, i still wanted to find out how he knew our true identity. Damn that Thief, just walking away.

>>20191696
It was cool anyways man. Till next time.

>>20191703

My guess is that he might be the maid. Then again, I also think Asuna is secretly chrome cypher.

>>20191696

OP, these girls are incredibly hot. Where are the images from?

>>20191799

While I'm not the op, I know that the artist is Tony Taka. Be aware that he does a lot of porn.

>>20191712

The Thief was pulling an Ezio Auditore in the crowd. Meanwhile, the maid gets hit in the head on the tennis court and almost passes out. The Thief is anyone BUT the maid.

>>20192799

Wait, hear me out. Shit happens to the people who lose fights, right? But this battle 'timed-out', even though the Thief seems to have got the worse of it. Maybe instead of death, she just took a minor penalty?

>>20191799
The tennis girl images come from an eroge named fault!!

http://danbooru.donmai.us/post/index?tags=fault%21%21