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Recap: You are ANON, the RED JOKER. In our last instalment, you dealt with a mysterious stalker - Revealed to be the THIEF, a player seeking to exchange the JOKER'S MEMORY for the FATAL ABYSS, the sword of PHANTOM EDGE. Shortly after the fight, however, a spirited tennis match seems to have been interrupted by an unfortunate occurence...

File: 1344496513365.jpg-(46 KB, 410x308, BG21e.jpg)

When it comes to tennis, there's nothing *quite* like a good, honest accident. You've heard that from somewhere - Probably your nosy friend, Akira - but it's another thing entirely to *be* there. The shrill echoes of the referee's whistle still echoes in your ears, a heartbeat after the solid THWOCK of a high-speed serve connecting with a girl's skull...

Around you, you hear the muffled gasps and boos of the small crowd, as Eri crumples to the ground; Her opponent looking startled, then mortified, as a murmur churns through the watching students. It's a kind of slow-blossoming confusion - The sound of people wondering whether to take a picture, call an ambulance, run away...

The slow osmosis of the people around you has pushed you near the front of the muttering crowd; Close enough that you can make out Eri's limbs twitching weakly, as she struggles to sit up - She looks dazed, possibly hurt.

[ ] Check on her, see if she's all right.
[ ] Hang back; Her teammates should take care of her.
[ ] Leave; You've heard the Thief's message, after all - There's no reason for you to stay.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20245299

Fuck yeah, joker quest. Op, just to ask, is Eri the girl from the cafe, a few chapters ago?

>>20245299
[X]Check on her, see if she's all right.

We should take this as a chance for studying the results of our actions in the red world. Supposedly the thief shunted the influence of the red world onto an innocent bystander. While Eri isn't DEAD, there could still be some unknown side-effect from the red world affecting her. It is in our best interests to help her out and make sure she gets to the hospital in one piece.

>>20245348

(Yes, she is - You think so, at least.)

File: 1344497728160.jpg-(154 KB, 1024x768, EriFall.jpg)

You push past the crowd - Not without a glance over your shoulder. It could have been *any* one of them; There's an oppressive sensation of being watched, but it might just be your imagination...Or the knowledge that someone, somewhere, knows who you *really* are. You notice, with an odd stab of disquiet, that the people around you are only now beginning to stir...A strange, dreamy slowness, a delayed response, the initial confusion giving way to coos of concern...

When you kneel besides Eri, she stirs...Her eyes fluttering open, a hazy, dazed light in her gaze. There's a fair-sized bruise just above her temple; Her first words, though, send a chill of alarm up your spine.

"J-joker-kun?" she manages, muzzily - Wincing, as she turns her head to the side. "Wh...why are you...?"

Ah, that's right; She must've remembered your handle name, at the Papillion. That's all it is...Probably. Still, the effort seems a trifle too much for her, as she lapses back to the ground - Her head thumping lightly against the green baize of the court...

-It's weird. You've noticed some of the girls edge a little closer; They don't seem that sympathetic, the occasional snicker or whisper flitting through the white noise - Before you feel a hand on your shoulder, and turn...Looking right into Reiko's - Miss Tennis Team Captain's - worried face.

"-Sorry, but could take her to the sickbay?" she glances away, just for a moment, biting her lip - "...The others say they want to continue, as soon as the court is cleared..."

[ ] "-Shouldn't you do it?"
[ ] "...I'm sorry, I'm not..."
[ ] "Aren't her teammates going to help her?"
[ ] "...Wow, what's *wrong* with everyone today? That's cold."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>20245299
Check on her, it looks like we caused this with our battle against the thief

[ ] "...Wow, what's *wrong* with everyone today? That's cold."

>>20245502
[ ] Sure, we can't leave her like this
[ ] "...Wow, what's *wrong* with everyone today? That's cold."

>>20245502

> [ ] "Aren't her teammates going to help her?"

Wow, what's wrong with these people? They're dicks.

>>20245502
[X] Leave Eri's side for a moment: Stand up and walk across the court to pick up the tennis ball that hit Eri. Bounce it against the ground deliberately a few times, just enough to make sure everyone is looking straight at you. Snatch the ball up on the last bounce and walk right up to the captain and hand it to her. Turn away from the captain, find the student that was Eri's opponent and motion for her to come over. "You heard miss Reiko, let's get a move on." Pan your head across the crowd and make eye contact with every person that doesn't have a look of concern on their face. "Practice makes perfect, right girls?"

leave with Eri and her opponent.

> [X] Sure, we can't leave her like this.

Yeah. It's probably the right thing to do; *Did* you cause it, though? You can't be sure. A relieved sigh parts Reiko's lips - The quick smile of someone who's successfully pawned off an unpleasant duty. "Aaaah, thank you - It's settled then."

> [X] "...Wow, what's *wrong* with everyone today? That's cold."

You've never really believed in 'school spirit', but the way everyone's acting...It's rather more callous than you're used to. In fact, you can feel the interest fading fast, as you move Eri to the side; The crowd diminishing slightly, parting itself with blithe unconcern.

"I - I don't know what you're talking about." There's a little edge to Reiko's voice, now - Then again, maybe she doesn't like talking to some random underclassman, like yourself. "...I'll leave it to you."

All the same, you can't help but be a little startled when she pushes past you, as if this little incident has already been forgotten...And maybe it has.

Thankfully, the sickbay isn't *that* far away. At this time, the halls have mainly emptied out; Which is probably for the best - It's hard enough to carry a half-conscious girl, without dealing with awkward questi-

You catch yourself. There it is again: The strange, unwholesome sensation. You can't help but feel an odd dislike for the girl you're supporting - You want to wash your hands of her, to walk away. Like an instinctive revulsion that makes your skin crawl...

(Continued.)

>>20245682

(Apologies for the delay.)

You pause, weighing the ball in your grasp - There's a faint red smear on the bristles, as you bounce it in your hand - then against the hard court, each hard bounce landing like the *crack* of a rifle shot.

For a moment, there's absolute silence. Dead silence, utter and complete. You've done the impossible; You've shut them all up. The odd, dreamy sensation lingers - Like a haze of confusion, hanging in the air, as Reiko's nerveless fingers close around the ball, emotions cycling across her face...

-And when you glance over at Eri's opponent, she can't quite meet your eyes. At last, the oppressive atmosphere seems to fade; Enough to make out embarassement, and a vague puzzlement - As if wondering momentarily: 'Wait, why were we...?'

*******************

"...She'll be all right; She just needs to sleep it off."

The in-school doctor, thankfully, doesn't ask questions - Or share the strange malaise that took hold on the court. She smiles, a polite, sympathetic smile, as she glances over at Eri's insensate form - Now placed on the crisp white sheets of a cot bed, the curtains half-drawn for privacy; A linen bandage wound around the fair-sized bruise.

"-You're free to wait here, if you like," she offers, possibly mistaking your concerned glance; With a knowing little tilt to her head, as you stand to the side. "Seeing a friendly face couldn't hurt..."

[ ] "Thank you, but I have to head off."
[ ] "I appreciate it, Doctor."
[ ] "...Downstairs, everyone was acting a little strangely..."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>20245693

> You catch yourself. There it is again: The strange, unwholesome sensation. You can't help but feel an odd dislike for the girl you're supporting - You want to wash your hands of her, to walk away. Like an instinctive revulsion that makes your skin crawl...

So there is something about her. Weird.

[X] "I appreciate it, Doctor."
[X] "...Downstairs, everyone was acting a little strangely..."

>>20245774
[X] "I appreciate it, Doctor."

Don't mention the atmosphere, she won't know the reason and if she does than we don't want to reveal anything about our suspicions.

Mainly I just want to ask her some questions, I suspect that she's somehow involved with the Thief.

[ ] "...Downstairs, everyone was acting a little strangely..."
[ ] "I appreciate it, Doctor."

We can't just leave her, she might know something or may have seen something that can give us a clue to how thief managed this

>>20245836
>>20245814
>>20245813

> [X] "...Downstairs, everyone was acting a little strangely..."

...is what you meant to say, before you catch yourself. No; She probably wouldn't know. It'd be strange to bring it up, too, come to think about it.

> [X] "I appreciate it, Doctor."

A polite nod, and she circles back to the main desk, with a promise to check back later. As for you - You pull up a chair, and settle into it to wait. It doesn't take too long; You've been waiting anywhere between fifteen to twenty minutes (your best guess,) when you hear the soft rustle of heavy cloth.

Her slim fingers pushing at the blankets, Eri stirs - A little wince teased from her lips as her eyes flutter open, then narrow again at the light. She moves like her head weighs a million tonnes, her hand coming up to graze against the bandage - Before falling to her side again.

"...What happened?" she manages, her voice still confused, faintly disorientated; "-A...and...Why are you *here*, Joker-kun?"

[ ] "You don't remember?"
[ ] "How are you feeling?"
[ ] "You hit your head; I brought you to the sickbay."
[ ] "It's 'Anon-kun', not 'Joker-kun'...it's a little embarassed to be called like that."
[ ] "-So it *is* you. I wasn't sure at first, not without the, erm..."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

[ ] "You hit your head; I brought you to the sickbay."
[ ] "How are you feeling?"

>>20245949
Here forgot to add
[ ] "-So it *is* you. I wasn't sure at first, not without the, erm..."

>>20245940

> [ ] "It's 'Anon-kun', not 'Joker-kun'...it's a little embarassing to be called like that."

We don't want her inadvertently blurting out our identity to anyone who might pick up on it. Once was enough.

>>20245940
[X] "It's 'Anon-kun', not 'Joker-kun'...it's a little embarassed to be called like that."

Really, I didn't expect to go to the same school as you do.


[X] "-So it *is* you. I wasn't sure at first, not without the, erm..."

So what is your name, I doubt it's Tomomi Eri? If it is you probably shouldn't be giving out your name to strange men at cafes.

[X] "You hit your head; I brought you to the sickbay."

Well technically you got hit in the head by a tennis serve.

[ ] "You hit your head; I brought you to the sickbay."
[ ] "It's 'Anon-kun', not 'Joker-kun'...it's a little embarassed to be called like that."
[ ] "-So it *is* you. I wasn't sure at first, not without the, erm..."

> [X] "You hit your head; I brought you to the sickbay."
> [X] "How are you feeling?"

"-I see." Eri nods, slowly, and bites her lip to hold back a gasp - Her eyes close, for a moment, as she lowers her head back to the cool pillow. "...It still hurts," she confesses, her eyes opening and closing slowly, as if trying to blink the pain away. "It's all right, I have a hard head..."

> [X] "It's 'Anon-kun', not 'Joker-kun'...it's a little embarassing to be called like that."
> So what is your name, I doubt it's Tomomi Eri? If it is you probably shouldn't be giving out your name to strange men at cafes.

A soft chuckle - "That's a nice name." She's quiet, for a while - Her eyes still closed, long enough for you to wonder if she's gone back to sleep. But then she says:

"-It's Mio. Saeki Mio."

[X] "-So it *is* you. I wasn't sure at first, not without the, erm..."

"-Ears and fluffy tail~?" Eri...Mio - She dips her head, just a little, the tufts of her honey-blonde hair momentarily resembling her cosplay accessories - sounding slightly amused, the confused fog to her eyes slowly clearing.

"...Yes, people tend to notice that, first - Especially the tail."

There's a mischievous note in her voice, as her gaze darts over to you...Before Mio moves to sit up, failing, trying again.

"It's...nnnghhh...Harder than it looks," she mutters, as she stirs - Another abortive attempt depositing her back onto the bed, a pained gasp sawing from her throat.

[ ] "Wait, where are you going?"
[ ] "You shouldn't be up yet."
[ ] "Whoah, there's no need to rush. Your team's doing fine."
[ ] "Forget it, they don't deserve your help."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20246050
[X] "Wait, where are you going?"
[X] "You shouldn't be up yet."

You took a nasty hit to the head, you should rest.

>>20245990

> Really, I didn't expect to go to the same school as you do.

(My apologies: To clarify, she's not from the same school as you - She's from Seisin High, a prestigious all-girl's school on the other side of the city.)

>>20246089
Is that the school with the uniform that girl we found at the Joker's grave was wearing?

>>20246124

(Yes.)

>>20246089
Right, you mentioned that last thread, I just didn't remember.

>>20246072
[X] "Wait, where are you going?"
[X] "You shouldn't be up yet."

By the way, do you know a girl called Kotone? I think she went to Seishin, and she seemed to be your age...

[ ] "Wait, where are you going?"
[ ] "You shouldn't be up yet."

> [X] "Wait, where are you going?"

"-Back to the match; I'm not going to..."

Mio sways, alarmingly - Half-out of the bed, she nearly topples over as her legs give way, pitching her towards -

You catch her. It's an instinctive gesture; She sprawls against you, just for a moment - Long enough for you to feel the silken strands of her blonde hair brushing against your arms, the soft pressure of her form against yours -

...And then, thankfully, you've eased her back to the cot - Her skin tingling with a new heat, as Mio draws away, just a little; An embarassed squeak - A muffled "Sorry!" - sawing from her throat.

> [X] "You shouldn't be up yet."

"...S-so it seems," she admits, a trifle shakily - "You're right; That was...a bit too much for me." You can see her hands clench against the blanket, all the same, as she shoots a glance at the distant window - You can tell that she wants to be down there, out on the court, playing.

That's when a thought strikes you...

> [X] By the way, do you know a girl called Kotone? I think she went to Seishin, and she seemed to be your age...

(continued)

>>20246211

"-Kotone?" Mio seems caught off-guard by the sudden question, her voice faintly puzzled as her brow furrows in thought; "N-no, I don't remem...Wait." Then, softly - "I think...I think, but I can't be sure - There's this girl who went missing a few weeks ago, in my year...Her name was - Corone? Kokoro?"

"...It may have been. S-sorry, that's all I remember." Still faintly puzzled, her gaze meets yours; "-Why? Is...is it important?"

[ ] "...I think I met her a few days ago."
[ ] "No, never mind; I was thinking of something else."

AND

[ ] "-So, why would someone like you be working at the Papillion?"
[ ] "...Your teammates don't seem to like you very much."
[ ] "That was a nasty hit you took."
[ ] "-You're pretty good at tennis; It's rare to see someone winning against the Captain."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20246222
[ ] "...I think I met her a few days ago."

[ ] "-So, why would someone like you be working at the Papillion?"
[ ] "...Your teammates don't seem to like you very much."
[ ] "-You're pretty good at tennis; It's rare to see someone winning against the Captain."

>>20246222
[X] "...I think I met her a few days ago."

Random chance meeting, she had the same uniform as you do. Kinda silly of me to assume that everyone who goes to the same school knows each other.


[X] "-So, why would someone like you be working at the Papillion?"
[X] "...Your teammates don't seem to like you very much."
[X] "-You're pretty good at tennis; It's rare to see someone winning against the Captain."

>>20246222

> [ ] "No, never mind; I was thinking of something else."
> [ ] "-So, why would someone like you be working at the Papillion?"

I get the weird, unwholesome feeling that she's either a prostitute, or she's been doing compensated dating on the side.

>>20246222
[] I met a girl named Kotone in a uniform of your school a few days ago... she said she was lost, so i called and payed a cab for her... You don't mean she could be the missing girl?

[ ] "-You're pretty good at tennis; It's rare to see someone winning against the Captain."

>>20246281

Funny, was thinking the same thing too. That place doesn't seem especially sleazy, but that might be true.

>>20246222
[ ] "No, never mind; I was thinking of something else."

[ ] "...Your teammates don't seem to like you very much."

>>20246313
>>20246281
I'm not feeling it. She goes to a prestigious school, it's unlikely that she needs the money and Papillion seems like a pretty nice joint, more classy pervert than sleazy pervert.

Given that she made the tail itself I'm thinking that cosplay and working there is a hobby rather than an obligation. She enjoys it.

>>20246329
Maybe it pays well and she does it to pay her way through the school.

It would make sense for why they look down on her if she is poorer.

>>20246338
Well it depends on how prestigious a school it is but paying for that might be outside the money gained from working at a maid cafe.

If she is poor it could be that she has a tennis scholarship, she is good, got in through that and this covers other expenses.

> [X] "...I think I met her a few days ago."
> [X] Random chance meeting, she had the same uniform as you do. Kinda silly of me to assume that everyone who goes to the same school knows each other.

"R-really? Aha, that's true; I - I don't really know about her. I hope she's all right - Maybe you should tell someone..." Mio's voice trails off; You can tell that her concern's a fleeting one - As she said, she probably doesn't know her well...Or perhaps she simply doesn't care.

> You don't mean she could be the missing girl?

"I...guess she could be," she admits - sounding faintly puzzled by your interest in the topic. Perhaps it's just as well.

> [X] "-So, why would someone like you be working at the Papillion?"

"-Ah, about that..." Her voice lightens, just a little - Clearly, Mio (or Eri, if she'd prefer) doesn't mind *that*. "I like it there; It's a nice place, and..." With the faintest touch of mischief - "...I've never had a job where I'm *paid* to dress up, after all." She smothers a giggle, with her hand - Lowering her voice, so her words don't carry.

Then, more softly: "-Thank you for not mentioning it, Jok...Anon-kun. It's...I'm not really supposed to be there." She bites her lip, glancing to the side - "...The other girls are really nice, but if someone found out..."

> [X] "...Your teammates don't seem to like you very much."
> [X] "-You're pretty good at tennis; It's rare to see someone winning against the Captain."

(Continued.)

>>20246409

A shadow passes over her face; Apparently, you've touched on a sensitive subject. "...I see. It's that obvious..." Absently, Mio brushes a stray strand of hair back from her eyes - Sitting up, now, her legs drawing up to her chest.

"-They don't want me there, you know?" she muses aloud, almost to herself; "I'm not really like them - N, not rich. When I got the scholarship, I thought it was a dream come true, but..."

She goes quiet. "...as I thought, it wasn't like that. It's bad enough when we win; When we lose, it's..." Mio laughs, a faintly bitter sound. "Aaah, I don't even *know* why I'm telling you all this..."

[ ] "-I don't mind."
[ ] "I guess I have a trustworthy face."
[ ] "Don't worry about it; Everyone needs a chance to vent."
[ ] "...Wow, that's terrible. Do they always treat you like that?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20246420
[X] "I guess I have a trustworthy face."
[X] "Don't worry about it; Everyone needs a chance to vent."

[X] "...Wow, that's terrible. Do they always treat you like that?"

[X] Free
"If it's any consolation I liked watching you play, you're extremely good and very graceful on the court."

>>20246420
>>20246409

Shit. How do we fix this, guys? Is there anything we can do without digging ourselves deeper into this mess?

[ ] "Don't worry about it; Everyone needs a chance to vent."
[ ] "And I guess I have a trustworthy face."

>>20246420
[ ] "Don't worry about it; Everyone needs a chance to vent."
[ ] "...Wow, that's terrible. Do they always treat you like that?"
[ ] you deserve to be there more than them anyway, just because they have the money to get there means nothing

> [X] "I guess I have a trustworthy face."
> [X] "Don't worry about it; Everyone needs a chance to vent."

She smiles, wanly ~ "...I guess so ~ I'm sorry for, for...For laying it on you." It's a weak smile, but a smile all the same, as Mio wipes at her eyes, fighting down a faint sniffle.

> [ ] "...Wow, that's terrible. Do they always treat you like that?"

"Always."

Just a single word. Somehow, Mio makes it sound exactly as leaden and dull and *heavy* as you'd expect it to feel - Like the endless grind of each day, again and again, over and over. Outside, the sun hangs low and heavy in the sky - It's later now, shading to evening, the air growing cooler, then colder.

"...They're always like that," she says, and you can tell she means it.

> "If it's any consolation I liked watching you play, you're extremely good and very graceful on the court."
> "You deserve to be there more than them anyway - Just because they have the money to get there means nothing."

(Continued)

File: 1344506821593.jpg-(36 KB, 768x400, eri6.jpg)

> "If it's any consolation I liked watching you play, you're extremely good and very graceful on the court."
> "You deserve to be there more than them anyway - Just because they have the money to get there means nothing."

"-You think so?" Her voice is soft; Her words seeming to hang in the air, as Mio turns towards you - Silhouetted against the setting sun, through the gauzy curtains (just for a moment) - the sight of her, with that hesitant, shy expression - almost, but not quite a smile- It's breathtaking. Lovely, beyond simple attraction.

Then the perfect moment's gone, as she looks away. "It's not true, but...But thank you for saying that. It means a lot to m-"

A thought strikes her, and her eyes widen; Below, you hear the faint growl of an engine, the rumble of a large vehicle pulling away. "The bus is..." Mio begins, then - "...as I thought. They didn't even wait for me..."

[ ] "-Don't worry about it. You should just rest up, for now."
[ ] "...They're leaving without you?"
[ ] "I'm not going anywhere, anyway. I'll wait with you until you're feeling better."
[ ] "-I'll walk you back...Or I'll call a cab."
[ ] "I may have to go in a while - Is there anyone I can call? Anyone who takes care of you?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>20246451

Even the whitest white knight who pranced past a KKK parlor can't fixed everything. I feel sorry for her, but let's not go crazy here.

>>20246588
[X] "-Don't worry about it. You should just rest up, for now."
[X] "I'm not going anywhere, anyway. I'll wait with you until you're feeling better."
[X] "-I'll walk you back...Or I'll call a cab."

[ ] "-Don't worry about it. You should just rest up, for now."
[ ] "I'm not going anywhere, anyway. I'll wait with you until you're feeling better."
[ ] "-I'll walk you back...Or I'll call a cab."

I don't think she will be going anywhere for a while anyway

>>20246588

> datface.jpg

HNNNNGGGGHHH. Curse you for rustling my jimmies, op.

> [X] "I'm not going anywhere, anyway. I'll wait with you until you're feeling better."
> [X] "-I'll walk you back...Or I'll call a cab."

>>20246588

> [ ] "-Don't worry about it. You should just rest up, for now."
> [ ] "I may have to go in a while - Is there anyone I can call? Anyone who takes care of you?"

Yes, it's a dick move, but we're wasting time here. Weren't we supposed to meet Hecate?

>>20246588
[ ] "-I'll walk you back...
>Red Joker piggyback ride tier skill unlocked
>Poorfag moe meter: 100%

> [X] "-Don't worry about it. You should just rest up, for now."
> [X] "I'm not going anywhere, anyway. I'll wait with you until you're feeling better."
> [X] "-I'll walk you back...Or I'll call a cab."

Her face relaxes - The tension draining away, as Mio lowers herself back to the bed; Sinking gratefully into the soft, soft bed, with a gentle sigh. Maybe it's relief, for being away from her teammates - Or just not having to worry about her pounding skull.

"-Then that's all right; I'll just...I'll just rest for...a while longer..." She's already sounding drowsy, as her eyes close - The white sheets crisp and cool against her skin, as she snuggles up into the pillow, her cheek pressed against the surface.

It's not long before her shoulders slump - Before she dozes off entirely, chest rising and falling in slow, even breathing...

-You can't help but think; You've been around sleeping girls a *lot* recently. Come to think of it - It *has* been a long day, what with one thing or another, and you're feeling pretty tired yourself...

[ ] Take a nap.
[ ] Try and stay awake.
[ ] Take a walk.
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20246641

Well we wanted to go see Hecate but we didn't ask her out so it should be all right.

I wanted to see Hecate too but, call me a white knight if you want but, you can't leave a girl in a situation like this.

>>20246693

[X] Take a nap.

>>20246693

[X] NAPTIME AHOY.

Watching girls sleep is weird. Let's take a nap too, to make it less socially awkward.

Man, this girl hits close to home for me.

[x] Try and stay awake.

>>20246693
Take a nap

>>20246701

We can always go see her another day.

[x] Take a nap.

>>20246693
[X] Take a walk.

Tell the Nurse that we're going out for a little bit and if she wakes back up to let her know we'll be back real soon.

Then go outside, get a tiny bit of fresh air, stretch, move around a bit, pick up some coffee from a vending machine on the way back.

I advocate against sleeping, there's some bad hoodoo going on with the Thief and the way our life goes we'll be attacked by some dream eating scorpion with obsidian teeth.

There is something wrong with this girl, i think she somehow influences emotions. First she repulses those she hates, then we literally feel her pain and at last she is able to take the breath of the Joker of Swag... It may just be OPs writing but i am kinda not comfortable with that.

-That's right. You're feeling a little tired, yourself; What with the Thief and everything that followed...You could use a nap. Part of you wonders where the Doctor went - The rest of you, a little drowsy, pushes the thought aside.

There's a faint creak, as you lean back in your chair ~ Making yourself as comfortable as possible. You find that if you sit against the wall like *this*, and slouch like *that*, it isn't awkward at all...

In fact, it's really quite comfortable. It's so comfortable that you find yourself moving less and less, as your head droops down to your chin and-

Zzzzzzzzzz.

You dream, a little. It's not too bad; Just normal dreams, not the night terrors that leave you twitchy and restless in the morning. Ever since that time you fell asleep in the crimson world, you've grown a little more cautious...

"...Hey."

A nudge, to your shoulder, through a haze of sleep. Again, more pointedly this time; Then someone takes hold of the web between your thumb and forefingers, and *pinches*. The motion's so startlingly painful, you come awake with a *yelp*-

...As the blur in front of you resolves into Akira's face. He grins his insouicant grin, letting your hand drop - Steam coiling up from a cup he sets down on the side table.

"Having fun, Anon?"

[ ] "Wha...Akira? What are *you* doing here?"
[ ] "What time is it?"
[ ] Check on Mio.
[ ] "How did you find me?"
[ ] "...That's one hell of a way to wake someone up."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20246731
I think that is part of the thiefs effect from redirecting the damage to her

And joker isn't a heartless bastard so something like that would sway him to some degree

>>20246741

(Apologies, my trip fell off, sorry.)

[ ] Check on Mio.
[ ] "Wha...Akira? What are *you* doing here?"
[ ] "What time is it?"

>>20246741
You brought me coffee, you wonderful wonderful person, I forgive you for waking me up like that.

[X] Check on Mio.
[X] "What time is it?"
[X] Akira? What are *you* doing here?"

[ ] "Wha...Akira? What are *you* doing here?"
[ ] "How did you find me?"
[ ] Check on Mio.

> [X] Check on Mio.

As you rub the grit from your eyes, you glance to the side; Mio's still fast asleep, curled up in a nestled ball beneath the blankets - With only the faintest glint of silky golden hair showing, her warm breath dimpling the pillow.

> [X] "What time is it?"

"Late." Laconic or not, he's right. Outside, the late afternoon has shaded into true twilight; A quick glance at the shadowed clock tells you it's...Around 7:30 PM. "The doctor didn't want to wake you; Still, it'd be *such* a scandal if you just stayed the night, right?"

> [X] "Wha...Akira? What are *you* doing here?"
> [X] "How did you find me?"

He 'tsks' patiently, offering you the plastic cup. It's coffee; Rather bitter, just the way he likes it, but enough to moisten your parched throat.

"-Newspaper club, remember? I was covering the match earlier." The black bag of his camera - Neatly folded away - rests to the side, as you take another sip of cooling coffee, clearing the awful taste of sleep from your mouth. He drags up a chair, with a *scrape* of metal legs - Plonking himself down into it, clasping his hands together.

"You know..." Akira muses aloud, his head cocked to the side; "-That's quite a scene you made there, Anon-kun. Egg on their faces, and all that; I even have pictures."

(Continued.)

You're sure he does. And you'll equally sure they won't be making their way into the monthly student newsletter.

You're spared from answering, though, when he looks over at Mio - As if sensing his regard, she shivers in her sleep, scrunching up a little tighter.

"...Oh, so she's the one; Now I see why you had a sudden attack of conscience. Pretty, too..." he chuckles, at that. "...But then again, you always liked the pretty ones."

[ ] "...I'm not sure I like what you mean by that..."
[ ] "Someone had to do something."
[ ] "-I didn't see you rushing to help."
[ ] "So, why the visit?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20246807

[ ] "Someone had to do something."
[ ] "-I didn't see you rushing to help."
[ ] "So, why the visit?"

>>20246807
[X] "Someone had to do something."
[X] "So, why the visit?"

[X] Free
Akira, all of us like the pretty ones, it's why we call them "the pretty ones". Though I seem to have been the only one there with the decency to help someone who got a concussion.

>>20246807
[X] I don't suppose I could take a gander through your pictures? I know it may sound like an odd request, but... did you happen to be taking pictures -before- the accident? I don't know if you had the same perspective as I did, but lots of stuff was happening right before the Tennis ball hit Eri.

>>20246807
[X] Free
"Hah, get your mind out of the gutter. She is nice, though. I think the other students at Seishin may be jealous.

In fact, one of them may have caused this. I wouldn't put it past them... They sure didn't seem sad when they left her there. Have any photos that may prove me right?"

Caught a Joker Thread, creativity's flowing, and I don't feel tired. Let's do this.

>>20246865
I wouldn't be surprised if the Thief is from Seisin and shunted the backlash from getting her ass kicked to our unconscious friend here. Though I suppose she could be another person who was at the match, maybe the Captain for our team. The other possibility is that Mio/Eri is the Thief but that really doesn't fit.

> [X] "Someone had to do something."
> [X] "-I didn't see you rushing to help."

Akira snorts. "Oh, you're a joker all right - A real white knight." His light tone takes the sting out of his voice, his face going pensive. "Well, if that helps you sleep better at night...I'm not about to knock it."

> [X] Akira, all of us like the pretty ones, it's why we call them "the pretty ones". Though I seem to have been the only one there with the decency to help someone who got a concussion.

"Yes, yes." He brushes your words aside with a dismissive flick of his wrist. "You're not that different from Kazuya, you know - It's a different girl, but she has you jumping through the same hoops. Still...I guess you consider it worthwhile."

> [X] "So, why the visit?"

"Oh, maybe I just felt like checking on the distressed damsel - Make sure she was still alive, and not up to anything *improper* with her rescuer." He catches your expression, and chortles. "No, I'm kidding. Seriously, though...A good reporter follows a story through to the end. Guess I was wasting my time, though..."

>>20246840
>>20246865

Akira pauses, already on the verge of rising - Hesitating for just a moment, as he pats himself down...Finally withdrawing a digital camera from a hip-pouch.

"...Girls will be girls, eh? I guess it can't hurt if you take a look..."

He doesn't have photos - But he had a video recording of the match, unplagued by the curse of shakycam. Your attention isn't on the game, though, but on the crowd - Checking to see if anyone's acting strangely...

(Continued)

There's nothing. Sure, Mio's opponent flinches before she lands the rocketing serve - One of the girls in the background seems to turn aside a second earlier than expected, a guy in the crowd angling to take rather candid photos...But again, there's too much visual distortion.

A lot of things are going on - But none of them are suspicious in their own right.

[ ] "Wow, that's pretty poor quality video."
[ ] "You used this to record? A mounted digicam?"
[ ] "...Man, guess it was a waste of time."
[ ] "-Nah, not the video; I meant the photos, Akira."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

[ ] "Wow, that's pretty poor quality video."
[ ] "You used this to record? A mounted digicam?"
[ ] "-Nah, not the video; I meant the photos, Akira."

>>20246888
Addendum, I'm only assuming female if it's Seisin, could still be male, possibly Akira.

>>20246908
[X] "You used this to record? A mounted digicam?"

[X] "-Nah, not the video; I meant the photos, Akira."

Akira, you're a professional, you're going to have some high quality photos to put in the newspaper and probably sell around here and there.

>>20246908
>He doesn't have photos - But he had a video recording of the match, unplagued by the curse of shakycam.

>"-Nah, not the video; I meant the photos, Akira."

What? Does this mean Akria took photos but didn't process them yet? Could it be that he's holding out on us?

>>20246908
I swear to only use [X] Free.

"As expected of you, Akira; you have video and photos of a scandal just as it happens. Perhaps Mio just made a mistake.

Hey, would you know where The Captain is? I thought I'd let her know that her opponent is alright.

You wouldn't mind keeping watch over a pretty girl for me for a while, would you? As long as you don't take any scandalous pictures."

>>20246888
... Gentlemen. Remember what these fights in the other world are like; quite symbolic to what's happening in the real world.

The Theif was getting better by the second, and The Captain was getting better and better in the tennis game.

I think The Captain is The Thief, sending the repulsion over to Mio until it showed in her accident.

>>20246936
Akira is smart enough to take photo's he could sell as a sideline or even for himself.
He is a journalist after all

>>20246966
Sorry, instead of asking where the captain is, just ask if we could catch up with her tomorrow.

(Apologies, rewriting.)

[ ] "So you *did* take photos."
[ ] "Just let me take a quick look, it can't hurt."
[ ] "Video *and* photo? Must've been hard pulling double-duty."
[ ] "I thought *that* was the Club's only camera."

Thought that would come up really

> [X] "Wow, that's pretty poor quality video."
> [X] "You used this to record? A mounted digicam?"

"Yeah, well...The AV club snatches *all* the good cameras, first. I had to fight tooth-and-nail to even *get* this one, my friend."

Akira sounds mock-offended by your insinuation - Still, he retrieves the digital camera with appropriate care, powering it off reverently as he sheaths it back in its pouch.

> [X] "-Nah, not the video; I meant the *photos*, Akira."
> [X] Akira, you're a professional, you're going to have some high quality photos to put in the newspaper and probably sell around here and there.

Yeah, that's right. The school camera-hound, relying on a half-baked video camera? That's unlikely. Come to think of it - What *is* in that bag? He probably wouldn't lug that heavy thing around for no reason...

Akira shifts the large leather bag to his other shoulder, his voice light - As if brushing your words off. "-Hey, you know I can't do that. If the plates get exposed...It's more than my job is worth, you know? It'd come out of my own pocket."

> "Hey, would you know where The Captain is? I thought I'd let her know that her opponent is alright. You wouldn't mind keeping watch over a pretty girl for me for a while, would you? As long as you don't take any scandalous pictures."

(continued)

"You're asking *me*?" he seems startled, for a moment - Before he shrugs, casually, as if it means nothing to him. "At this time...She's probably in the Student Council room - After all, *someone* has to fill out paperwork for this fiasco."

Akira nods; "-Well, when you put it like *that*...I guess it wouldn't be *too* much of a chore. What should I tell her when she wakes up?"

[ ] "So you *did* take photos."
[ ] "I thought *that* was the Club's only camera."
[ ] "Just let me take a quick look, it can't hurt."
[ ] "Video *and* photo? Must've been hard pulling double-duty."
[ ] "...Yeah, I see what you mean."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20247025
This one I already posted
>>20246979

>>20247025
Thank yooou OP. You're so good to me, including rewriting the 7th (I think?) Chapter ending for my post.

[X] FREE AGAIN

"Just tell her I'll be be back soon, I just have some business to finish up here. Thanks man."

Get up, than pause.

"...I won't push the matter if it will get you in trouble. However, Mio here is definitely not the most liked person in Seishin High. You know how I am. I can't stand stuff like how they treated her."

>>20247025
[X] "So you *did* take photos."

Look, I'm not interested in exposing the plates or otherwise messing with your job, but I would like a copy of the all the photos you took once you get them developed. There was something hinky going on during that match and I'm curious. Knowing how you love mysteries and accidents you're also curious and just hiding it.

If she wakes up while I'm gone tell her that I'll be back in a bit but to feel free to rely you for anything she needs. Also give her my phone number so she can call if she needs anything.

>>20247056
Wait, you're the guy who helped swag Hecate? Sweet, you're back! I'll vote for this.

> [X] "So you *did* take photos."
> [X] "Video *and* photo? Must've been hard pulling double-duty."

"-Yeah, of *course* I did. The video pretty much covers everything, of course; I'm not sure what you're looking for. It was a boring game, and upskirt shots look *much* better in motion."

> [X] "I thought *that* was the Club's only camera."
> [X] "So you *did* take photos."
>>20247025

Akira snorts. "Only *modern* camera, I mean. There's nothing like old-model film for clear pictures; It's what I'm used to, anyway, and there's always a few lying around."

He gives the bag a fond little pat. "As for the photos...Sure, I don't see why not." Now that you don't seem minded to tamper with his camera, he relaxes, looking a little relieved. "-Yeah, that I can do. They'll be in the school magazine, anyway; I don't see what the rush is, but if you think it'd help..."

>> 20247056

His voice softens ~ "...Yeah, I'll take care of Sleeping Beauty if she wakes up. Don't keep her waiting, Prince Charming - It'd be a little awkward if you left me holding the bag."

And that, as they say, appears to be *that*.

The question is...What now?

[ ] Head to the Student Council Room.
[ ] Go home.
[ ] Call the Thief's number again.
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20247117
[X] Head to the Student Council Room.

Okay, my current suspect for Thief is the Captain, i vote we get within eavesdropping distance of the room, call it up, see if there's any response from inside. No matter the response, whether we confirm it as her or not we then move away and have the conversation somewhere more private. This is because if it isn't her it'd be silly to have the conversation near her. If it is her I'd like to know who she is but for her not to know we know who she is.

>>20247153
And by it I mean the Thief just in case it was unclear.

[ ] Head to the Student Council Room.
[ ] Call the Thief's number again.

Call the thief's number while we are walking

>>20247117
[X] Student Council Room
I still have this nagging feeling that The Captain is The Thief. We may have to HENSHIN to find out.

[X] Free, I suppose.
"Jeez, you're always fishing for some dirt, aren't you? Don't get ahead of yourself."

>>20247166
I'd actually believe it is Akira more than the captain.
They share the same sort of characteristics, both know more than they let on and carry a lot of equipment

>>20247166
This.

>Captcha: Arts of the thhbat

Well, we must get ourselves a melee weapon upgrade for that.

>>20247198
Hmm... All of the 'Other side' people HAVE been the same gender...

Let's walk outside, call The Thief's number, and look through a crack in the door. Then we can use the transform for The Captain, or vice versa.

> "Jeez, you're always fishing for some dirt, aren't you? Don't get ahead of yourself."

"...Have I ever?" Akira remarks - Then smiles. "Yeah, take care of yourself, too - Don't take *too* long."

He raises a hand in a farewell wave, as you step out from the room; You see him settling himself on his chair, pouring himself another cup of coffee from a thermos as he prepares - Apparently - for a long wait.

> [X] Head for the Student Council Room.

The Student Council Room is two storeys up, by your count; Walking through the empty halls in evening-shading-to-night is a rather eerie experience, especially since there's a cold touch to the air...

As expected, the door is slightly ajar, a thin line of light visible from beneath the doorjamb. Reiko must be hard at work, just like Akira said.

> [X] Call the Thief's number again.

You dial the familiar number again...

-And freeze, as a ringtone plays from somewhere close by, bright and tinny. At this range, it's unmistakeable; It's coming from the Student Council room.

The phone rings once, twice, three times-

...And then someone picks up.

"Yes?" the voice is still distorted, into the Thief's indecipharable drawl - "-Who is this?"

[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

>>20247230
You tell me.

>>20247215
Gender is a bit hard to tell because of their armour, Hecate is the only clearly female one we have seen and we have thus far only faced males to our knowledge

>>20247230
[X] FREE FALLING
Step into the room while talking.

"You know, if you want me to co-operate with your request, you may want to stop doing things that piss me off."

End the call, and stare the other caller down for a second or two.

"Why?"

That should be enough.

>>20247256
We Sherlock now. Nice work.

>>20247245
Yeah, fair enough.

>>20247230
Very very very quietly get some distance, keep our voice low, we don't want to reveal that we know she she is. If we keep that secret we can manipulate her more and pass on fake information that she has no reason to suspect is false.


"Take a guess. So, how'd you pull that little trick, I don't know who you are but you definitely aren't the girl who got knocked upside the head. You have a Relic that lets you shunt the bad juju from getting your teeth kicked in to someone else?

Just wondering before I go looking for your cosmic butterknife, what is your goal in this?"

>>20247289
I think we should just call him out on it. I don't think we would get anything more from just skirting around it. He needs us too much to annoy us further, so as long as we tell him not to do it, he'll stop

>> 20247256

You hear a hushed gasp, on the other side of the line; The *screech* of a chair being pushed back, as you step into the room, cutting the connection...

-And looking right into Reiko's eyes, half-hidden as she is by her table. She's frozen in the motion of standing up, a handphone clutched against her cheek; The color draining from her already pale face, her free hand clasped against her heart as she wheels to face you.

She meets your gaze head-on - She doesn't look away, furious color flushing in her face. "-You~!" Reiko chokes out, her hair - dark, almost violet - framing her outraged features; "-It was *you*? Who sent you here?"

[X] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

Reiko!

... Who was Reiko?

>>20247336

Tennis team captain of our school, apparently. One thing will confirm it: HENSHIN!

>>20247314
Come on now Thief, I expect seemed all people should know that.

We have a mutual acquaintance after all

>>20247347
Why blow our cover?
Make her think we are jokers lackey and we are much better off than letting her know we are the joker.

>>20247314
>>20247314
[X] FREEEE

"I was sent by a man called The Red Joker. He told me that I would find the person responsible for hurting that tennis player. He told me to give you this message.

'I am already uneasy enough about the Fatal Abyss without you harming my friends. If you continue affecting her or others, you can consider the deal off.'

I'm not going to start to ask what's going on, but I owe the Joker this much."

Let's pretend to be an accomplice of The Red Joker. He doesn't know that we are him, and wording it like this stops him from pinning any bad stuff on us.

>>20247351
There isn't meant to be a seemed in that sentence.
It should read "I expected you of all people should know that"

Goddamned autocorrect

>>20247361
You... Read my mind.

TELL ME YOUR SECRETS

>>20247367
...holy shit this works well. Thanks for coming back.

File: 1344515734004.gif-(481 KB, 141x141, good job bro.gif)

>>20247367

This! Good thinking anon! You have my support.

>>20247371
Ah, but where is the fun in simply giving away the tricks that are so useful

precognition is fun but I can't really claim that

>>20247314
Our mutual friend formally known as the Scarlet Harlequin, who else? Isn't that right Thief?

He told me that it was rather impolite of you to involve people from outside in this in that manner and is starting to reconsider getting you your precious butterknife of the gods if you keep on doing that.

He also told me to ask what your goal in all this is, why you have a bucket full of Relics and where you acquired them.

>>20247379
Thank you. You've posted that pic for me more than once, and I feel happy when I see it.

>>20247351
>>20247367
>>20247391

Plastic shatters, as the handphone falls from Reiko's limp hand - You hear it hit the ground, bouncing and skittering across the hard floor as it comes to pieces. Fragments of plastic and metal fly out in all directions; Rotating like a spinner in a child's game, the battery comes to rest against the tip of your shoe.

There's a long moment of silence, as the Student Council President just stares at you. There's shock, naked and total on her lovely features - It's amazing she's not gaping like a fish as you speak.

Then, confusion and absolute surprise gives way to slow-dawning comprehension, and she says, softly, in a voice as sharp-edged and keen as a blade:

"...You mean the Red Joker's *in this school*?"

[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

File: 1344516230006.jpg-(76 KB, 1024x600, reiko.jpg)

>>20247422

(forgot my image.)

I think a simple "Who knows?" or something along that line would suffice here.

>>20247431

Shit. Shit.

Something's wrong. The Thief knew who we were, didn't he? Why would she ask if she KNEW?

>>20247422
I never said that. To tell the truth I have no bloody idea.

He helped me out with something important a while ago so I'm paying the guy back by acting as a messenger when he needs one, but he plays his cards close to his chest, never met him, or possibly her, in person. Thief doesn't tell you anything either? Welcome to my life.

Convey a message to him for me if you would. The Red Joker would like him to not interfere or involve anyone not in the game like that any more. Tell him that my boss will look for his shiny toy, but is going to want to know the Thief's goal before he hands anything over.

>>20247422
Who knows, he doesn't come see me face to face and he just calls with some weird scrambled number

>>20247422
[X] Ah, to be FREE.

Ooh, I can do something with this.

"He used to, a very long time ago. You probably wouldn't remember him. I used to see him after school. I couldn't help but like him.

All of a sudden, he vanished. I... I looked everywhere. He was like a mentor to me. Then, I got a text, sent a day before the one he vanished... Leading me to a grave. He left me a message at the grave to watch the tennis game today, and give the message. He said there is another now, but I have no idea about him.

Did... did you know the Joker? Or do you know the new one? Who is he? Does he know where my friend is!? Does..."

Pause for a while.

"I... I apologize. He meant a lot to me. Now, I've given my message. What is your response?"

What do you think? Too much?

rolled 64 = 64

(Don't mind me, just checking something.)

>>20247468
Dude... Wow.

Definitely voting for this. She'll think we're nothing but a random guy who knew the old Red Joker!

>>20247468
A bit too much I think.

>>20247468
Hmm, that will definitely erase any suspicion, and will probably stop her asking anything about us. Nice post.

>>20247468
I'm not sure if we should let her in on the old Red Joker dying, we don't know how common knowledge that is. Might be a bit too much and it'd imply we have information on Old Red which we don't, if Thief does know more about him that'll blow our cover wide open.

Making us look like a catspaw who the Red Joker made look like the Red Joker would probably be better, it'll make Thief thing that he was outplayed instead of looking further into us.

>>20247489
Not that guy, but The Thief seems like the person with more info on the Old Red than we do. Anyway, how would he have Old Red's memory if she didn't know he died?

She almost buys it.

Almost. You can see the hesistancy writ large on her features - An odd, complex combination of confusion, consideration...And, at last - a predatory greed, as she tilts her head to the side.

You're fairly certain she believes you; Most of it, anyway. But she's moving all the same, the papers on her desk fluttering to the floor. Her voice is soft, oddly coy - A light kindled in her violet eyes, as they lock with yours.

Again that whisper-soft voice, as her tongue darts over her lips in a slow, erotic curve - A shiver working it's way up her spine.

What she says, though, is probably not what you're looking to hear.

"...You're a Player too, aren't you?"

She straightens. You're aware of how very empty the school is, at your back - as she comes around the table towards you, in a predatory stalk.

"I didn't think there was *another* one here, the whole time..."

[ ] "...What are you planning?"
[ ] "-What do you mean?"
[ ] "You don't *have* to do this."
[ ] "Don't do anything drastic."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL.

[ ] "...What are you planning?"
[ ] "-What do you mean?"

>>20247524

Guys...I think she believes us. I also think that maybe she doesn't see anything besides another competitor.

>>20247538
Yup. Hold on a while, thinking up a response.

>>20247524
What do you mean another player?
The joker called me and told me to go down to the tennis court, I thought he wanted me to collect something and then I saw Mio get knocked out

>>20247538

Oh shit, we've gone balls-up, haven't we? I think we just blabbed our identity to an unaffilated player, and she's zeroing in for the kill.

We should TRANSFORM now, and prepare for a fight.

>>20247524
[X] "...What are you planning?"

[X] Free
Oh yes, that's an absolutely brilliant idea, go after the envoy of the Red Joker, that couldn't possibly end with your corpse alongside his logo.

I'm here to send a message from my boss to your boss, I doubt either of them would take kindly to us interfering in their communications in any way, shape or form.

[X] "Don't do anything drastic."

>>20247530

Voting for this.

Don't get intimidated by her, don't back away, stand firm. We can talk our way out of this.

>>20247553
We transform we reveal that we are the Red Joker, we just went through a fair bit of work to place Anon as NOT the Red Joker. We should try to talk to her first.

>>20247524
[X] Free. (Not that the choices aren't cool, I just like thinking up responses.)

Stare her down, with an annoyed look on our face.

"I left that part of me behind. I only hold his form out of tribute. "

Pause.

"You still haven't answered my question."

[X] "Don't do anything drastic."

>>20247569
Oh, so when we transform, she thinks that we disguised ourselves as Red Joker?

It just might work.

>>20247581
It could help, but it'd still be suspicious as all hell.

I'd like to hold off on Transforming for battle if at all possible, I don't doubt us being able to stomp her, but even with this lie it'd still be suspicious and they might look further. If we manage to resolve it diplomatically the Thief will start looking elsewhere for the Red Joker thinking we're just a pawn.

>>20247581
>>20247603

Oh, I'm not hoping that we transform, just that if we have to, she just thinks we're an Old Red fanboy instead of immediately thinking we're the Red Joker.

Diplomacy definitely.

>>20247581
Clark_Kent.exe

File: 1344518826074.jpg-(117 KB, 800x600, smile.jpg)

(I am really very, very sorry, guys - I really enjoyed the input, but the dice weren't in your favor, modifiers included. In all fairness, it was a bit of a long shot.)

>>20247556
>>20247530

> [X] "...What are you planning?"
> [X] "-What do you mean?"

There's that smile again - A smile you've seen on Hecate, on Natsumi, on Asuna before - but never like this. It's a grin that communicates nothing but hunger, made all the worse by the lovely girl coming towards you...With her eyes filled with black murder, as pitiless and sharp-edges as flint.

You wonder - With a quick stab of foresight - how long she's been at this. This is, you realize, the very first time you've been face-to-face with a potential opponent. Maybe, you think, with an unpleasant realization, that this is the face they see when the battle's done, and you come to kill them.

It's not much fun from this side.

> [X] "Don't do anything drastic."

"Are you afraid?" she asks, softly; Maybe this is true ugliness - To see something beautiful warp into a mask of greed and anticipatory bloodlust.

>> 20247569

She laughs. The sound is bright and brittle and cutting, and so very, very old.

Somewhere else, life continues as always. The sun sets and the moon rises, as cars trundle down the road - And you'd honestly rather be anywhere *but* here, here and now.

"-Will he come for *me*, then?" Reiko muses aloud; "Do you mean something to him, little Joker?" Then, soft as a whisper - "...Will you taste as *good* as he will?"

(Continued)

File: 1344519026983.jpg-(64 KB, 720x405, ALECTO.jpg)

The world goes outwards, and you bring your arms up just in time. The effect is...It's different, this time. It's like a shattering, a *splintering*, as a massive distortion rends through the fabric of reality - Deforming it, the colors drowned in red.

There's a massive *roar* of jetair and flame, a concussive force that pushes you back, back as the wall falls apart, a banshee *shriek* ripping through the night, so hard the air shudders.

You hear a sound like the beating of giant wings - A flying shape taking form in the air, a pitted iron angel, the great shape of a halo revolving overhead. It's twice - No, three times your size, silhoutted against the cold light of the full moon.

Lightning leaps between it's skeletal pinions, all carved marble and brushed steel, forking into the tremored sky.

RED JOKER

V

ALECTO.

File: 1344519170450.png-(1.31 MB, 1280x720, what the fuck.png)

>>20247653
>>20247634
Well.

Fuck.

It looms above you. It blots out the sky, seething with subtle lightnings, with electric wrath. The wind picks up, rippling with howling distortion - You feel the gale wrenching at your limbs, her laughter echoing again and again over the burgeoning storm.

TO BE CONTINUED.

(I am terribly sorry to leave things here - However, it's around 11 PM, and I'm utterly exhausted. I'll do my best to continue this game Sunday afternoon or Monday afternoon, next.

And once again - Good night, and god bless.)

>>20247653

what the fuck is that thing? It ain't remotely human.

>>20247653
Alecto? Interesting name. It's got quite the history.

>>20247653

Well fuck you then. She can say bye to that sword.

>>20247665

Till next time then OP.

>>20247672
Well, if the thing's anything like it's namesake, it's definitely a big thing. Alecto, in mythology, is a Furie created to purify anger (Usually by out-angering them). It usually took over bodies, and wreaked havoc to restore balance by sweeping the land in war.

If it is going by the namesake, that could mean one thing. Due to OP's roll, this girl has been possessed by Alecto, and is being used so that he can fight us.

>>20247653

holy shit.
Yeah, we definently fucked this one up, guys. Would this be a bad time to say that I thought it was akira, myself?

>>20247712
Given I think thief is Akira I don't think it is a bad time to say it.

Now the question is, do we have to kill her and do we want to avoid it?

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

WELP

>>20247712
Actually, if it is based off of Alecto, it could be that the girl is just being possessed by this guy.

But that leaves why her phone rang when we called The Thief.

Guys, I'm sorry for doing this.

I wanted to write creative things, and ended up like this. Maybe I'm just better off spectating, or reading the threads in the archives.

>>20247757
Man, everything can't be peachy all the time. Don't feel down about it.

>>20247665
Thanks for running it.

On the bright side it's big so we can't miss and those wings look like good weak spots to blow to pieces.

As amusing as it may be to try to go for the Singularity Cannon we probably shouldn't. But Cobalt Boosted Railgun shots ought to dismember it.

>>20247679
Yeah, we got one of the Erinyes after us.

>>20247707
I'm not so sure that this was a possession, she might not be in her right mind right now but I don't think this just happened recently. We just wondered how long she'd been at it.

>>20247712
Akira was probably Thief, he just threw us off the trail towards her. If she didn't pan out I would have put Akira as the number one possibility for Thief, but we kinda got interrupted. I think he was routing stuff through her, laying her out as bait for us, he even set up the tennis match incident somewhat to lead us towards the wrong conclusion.

>>20247728
I think we kinda have to kill her, she's currently completely bugfuck insane, unstable, likely to go after other targets if we don't take her down and she knocked Eri unconscious, while I'm not romantically interested in her she still hurt an innocent who wasn't involved in this shadow war. She has to die.

>>20247757
We like creativity and I don't think any of us saw her turning into that coming. Our creative writing gave us a small chance of avoiding this once we walked in the room, it didn't pan out, but if we weren't clever talkers we wouldn't have had any chance at all.

>>20247769
Still, Alecto is famous for possessing people for maximum chaos. If we can take him out without killing him, it may save the girl.

I helped us get into this situation, so I can't let us die from it.

>>20247794
Prioritize our survival over saving the Tennis Captain. She is not that likable and you don't get possessed by something like that if you're a sweet innocent angel.

Also I don't think the possession is at all new, I'd blame everyone at the tennis match after Eri/Mio got a tennis ball to the head being a callous jerk on her influence.

So, strategy tiem?

I see it has fuckhuge wings. Will that be our first target?

>>20247757

No worries; We really appreciate it, and the OP clearly liked it too. It seems the dice just didn't go in our favour today. Or maybe swag works better on girls like hecate, than evil, crazy harridans.

>>20247816

What's with the possession theory? Maybe it's just her other form, the way the red joker is our other form?

>>20247827
Oh, I certainly wasn't trying to chat up the homicidal chick. Just trying to not seem weaksauce so she wouldn't capture or outright kill us. Guess that went up in smoke.

>>20247835
The enormous monster thing we're fighting, Alecto, has exactly the same name as a Greek mythological creature of anger, who possesses people for the sole purpose of creating so much war and anger that there's nothing left.

>>20247757

OP here: Nah, I loved your inputs, and I enjoy creative solutions to problems.

It's just that there's an element of randomization involved in the quest, and things simply didn't go too well in this instance - I felt, too, that it'd be unfair to hedge things in the PC's favour, circumstantial modifiers aside.

Besides, the risk is meant to be part of the fun, after all.

>>20247852
I disgree with this theory. It's almost certainly just a mythological reference to a harpy because it has jets. Besides, even if she is possessed, >>20247816 makes a pretty good point.

Also, Akira's the only one that knows we're visiting Reiko, right? Not much we can do to keep our identity secret after she meets an unfortunate accident right after we went to go see her. Might be able to convince him the Red Joker sent us, but that's unlikely to work.

I have a plan for after the fight, but at this point it's planning too far ahead unless someone wants to hear it.

Really /tg/? I am disappoint. I thought it was obvious that Akira is The Thief. Nosy? Check. Knows more than he should? Check. Carries a lot of equipment around? Check.

And he just happened to have some intel we need while conveniently being out of frame? Hell he even taunted us

>>20246902
>>"Oh, you're a JOKER all right - A real white knight."

My god, it couldn't have been more obvious than if had slapped us in the face with his transformation trinket.

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>>20249587
Eryines had wings too, my dear eromenos.

>>20249663
>Nosy? Check. Knows more than he should?Check. Carries a lot of equipment around? Check.
...is he a jew?!

>>20249663
Don't blame everybody, I for one just got here too late. Also they seemed to be considering him until the phone rang, and at that point can you blame them?

>>20249855
It just galls me that we fell for such an obvious trap. The Thief has already proven that he'll take great pains to hide his identity. There was no guarantee calling that phone would've worked and even if it was him or just one of his agents like we were claiming to be.

Gah, damn this quest for running during my sleep hours...