The air is cold, but clear - Gravel lining the familiar, well-trodden path that leads from the school. It's a grey day; The sunlight wan and oddly muted by billowing clouds, the unseasonal show dusting everything with white. Your breath fumes as you look up, a faint blur at the corners of your vision - To you, it'd only been minutes...But hours have passed since your meeting with Bishamon.

You've lost the rest of the schoolday - And, the funny thing is, you don't see how it could be any different.

As according to Kazuya, rehearsals have been cancelled, today - Now, it's the mid-afternoon, shading to late. Plenty of time left...Though there's - As always - plenty to do.

"-See you tomorrow, Anon," Kazuya's saying; The usual grin on his face, cheery from *all* the sleeping he's been doing in class. He waves, his hands clasped behind his head in a distinctly casual way as he saunters off - Seemingly without a care in the world.

Around you, you can hear the low chatter from the other students filing out - Making their way through the gates, indiviually or in little knots...It's probably about time you should be going, too.

The question is...Where?

[ ] You should...
- [ ] Visit the Papillion.
- [ ] Investigate the SHEOL STAR ARCADE.
- [ ] Find the Black Tri-Stars.
- [ ] Investigate the Rift.
[ ] Mio's birthday is coming up...
[ ] Asuna went home early today...Maybe you should visit.
[ ] Natsumi's probably at practice...You could visit her.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>22162159

God damn, Op. That IS a lot of choice.

We should probably handle:

> Mio's birthday.
> SHEOL STAR ARCADE
> Find the Black Tri-Stars

as the top priority.

>>22162223

That's not really narrowing it down.

> [ ] Visit the Papillion.

Ask her out directly. Maybe book something at that restaurant, the one we went to with AP?

>>22162159

Gotta unlock those Social Links.

So, in order;

Head to Akira's old safehouse to recover our recording equipment. Call Natsumi and get her opinion on the Tri-Stars agenda and have her forward Argent Prominences number to us. Call Prominence and ask him if he wants us to drop off the equipment anywhere in particular.

Visit the Papillion to see if Mio is at work, if not, bug her coworkers into revealing what her interests are and then base a present off of that.

>>22162299

Works for me.

> Head to Akira's old safehouse to recover our recording equipment.

The events of the last night are - To your mind - surreal, almost hallucinatory. It's odd, to remember what happened there; The charred ruin of the building, desolation within desolation - The colorless, seared corpse, curled into a fetal huddle...

-And Akira himself, of course.

You find yourself retracing your steps; The late afternoon sun glowing an emberous red in the sky, through the clouds. The dilapated building still stands, unchanging - The wrecked vehicle from yesterday has been removed, but the streets are still eerily empty.

The journey is a quick one - Made more so by your reluctance to linger. The door to Akira's apartment is ajar; Seemingly *just* as you left it, but...

The hairs stand up on the back of your neck.

It's gone. The stench of death is ripe, vile in the air, but...The corpse is gone. No; There's more than that. The air doesn't just smell of mounting putrefaction, but *ozone*. It taints the air, like static; You can feel it against your skin, the aftermath of lightning. There's new scorch-marks on the ground, deep scars that may have once been molten, and now scabbed-over...

-What could have done this?

(Continued.)

File: 1356150794422.png-(1.43 MB, 1366x768, jokerhouse3.png)

You check the nooks, the crannies where you concealed the cameras, the recording devices - The results aren't encouraging. You find one (An old-model camcorder, with a recording life of twenty-four hours) that's been sheared *cleanly* in half - The edges of the cut so sharp, so perfect linear, that it nearly gashes your hand before you drop it.

As for the others-

...They've been burnt out. Every one of them. Not exhausted, not broken - Burnt out. When you turn one over, when you try to play the video...It's an incoherent squeal of white noise. Utterly scrambled.

Someone's been here to clean up. They've been very thorough - Though it's a puzzle as to *how* they did it. Your guess it that an...EMP pulse?...*could* have fried them - But how did they do it without blacking out the entire building?

Another mystery.

(Continued.)

>>22162559

If it was emp, then the camera wouldn't even turn on.

Hmm..

We have an electromagnet running around.

Which is not encouraging in the slightest. Fucker probably has railguns or coilguns.

File: 1356151726664.jpg-(158 KB, 850x531, jokermaid.jpg)

>>22162623

(My apologies - I meant burnt-out and scrambled.)

> Call Natsumi and get her opinion on the Tri-Stars agenda and have her forward Argent Prominences number to us.

You're on the train, when you call Natsumi - The rattle of the tracks underscoring the patient beep-beep-beep of the line. She isn't answering - Of course, she's at practise. Still, you leave a message; She'd probably get back to you in a few hours.

It still feels strange, talking to her about things like this - There's still so much you *don't* know, but...It never seems to be the right time. As for Argent Prominence - You wonder what *he's* been doing; He's been oddly silent since your release from hospital...Or perhaps he's just busy.

> Visit the Papillion to see if Mio is at work.

It's been a while since your last visit - A visit that ended rather more abruptly than you'd intended, with Bardiel lurching out into the pounding rain. Still, the warm glow from within the cosplay restaurant - Half-concealed by the lacy drapes at the frosted window - is strangely comforting, somehow, the silver bell chiming as you step in...

Odd - Usually, you'd be greeted by a (rather amusing) "Welcome home, Master~!" or an "Ohayo, Master~!" but today-

"-just want to know where he is," you hear someone saying, his voice taut with worry - A slender, rather intense-looking young man, his eyes narrowed behind his glasses. "...know he came here - And I haven't seen him after that."

Behind the counter, Mio looks like she's been caught in a spotlight - Those fox-ears drooping, as she bites her lip in agitation...Pressed nearly flat, as she nods, clearly trying to placate him.

"-Sir, I don't know *where* he is," she answers, sounding upset; "We didn't even get his name-"

(Continued)

He sighs - His face lined, as he rakes his fingers through his dark hair, absently adjusting his slate-grey jacket.

"...It was 'Shindo'. 'Hiroshi Shindo', okay? I've looked *everywhere* - He hasn't been answering his phone, and..."

It seems to have been going on for a while, now - With no sign of subsiding. Mio's intent on the new arrival...Though she looks like she'd *much* rather be somewhere else.

Anywhere else.

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>22162821

What's that name supposed to mean? It sounds kind of familiar.

>>22162821

Oh boy here we go....

>>22162868

It's Bardiel. The one with the gunship we did the Leap of Stupidity against.


Typing...

>>22162821
Okay, Hiroshi Shindo was Bardiel, he's dead now but this guy doesn't seem to know that. We should pretend like we don't know anything about it, I don't trust this dude.

Also, how does she make her ears droop like that? I'm suspicious.

Go up to Mio, use her working name of Eri, and get her some breathing space by asking her to show us to a table.

>>22162892
>Also, how does she make her ears droop like that? I'm suspicious.
TECHNOLOGY!

>>22162821

Approach the two and intercede yourself in between them.

"Hiya Tomomi. Long time no see. Is this man bothering you?"

Give a smile to her. Then turn your attention to the man.

"Excuse me, sir. But you are bothering my friend? And what is this about a 'Shindo', is he a friend of yours?"

Perfectly blank expression of course. We can't give away the fact we know the man or that we killed 'em.

"

[X] Wait for two minutes or so. If the gentleman doesn't get bored...
-[X]"Sir, have you tried inquiring with people of greater authority? Police, hospitals, his school or his employer...?"

Should be a means to get him moving without being TOO obvious.

It goes on for a while longer - You can tell that he's getting frustrated, though he's still talking in those strained, and immensely reasonable tones as you approach.

>>22162993

"A...anon-kun~?"

Mio's face lights up, as she sees you; Her eyes widening ever-so-slightly, in glad surprise - Relief flitting over her face, as you move to interpose yourself. "N, no, it's all right - He's just..." she says - Her voice trailing off, as she gives a helpless shrug.

> "Excuse me, sir. But you are bothering my friend? And what is this about a 'Shindo', is he a friend of yours?"

He sucks in a slow breath, looking momentarily embarassed. "-Sorry, my bad," he apologizes - As if realizing, belatedly, that he may have been. "...It's just - Yes, you could say he is." There's a catch in his voice; He's genuinely worried, genuinely concerned.

"-I was hoping...Since I'd heard that he was hurt *here* - Someone could...Well, tell me *something*."

> [X]"Sir, have you tried inquiring with people of greater authority? Police, hospitals, his school or his employer...?"

He gives a frustrated little shake of his head: "I've *tried* - The hospital, his school, the orphanage...No-one's heard from him. He's just...gone."

The words hang in the air, for a long, leaden moment - Before he straightens, visibly composing himself.

"...'Anon-kun', right? I'm Suoh; Izumo Suoh," he says, adjusting his glasses - The lens glinting slightly in the light, as he manages a wan smile. "-Again, I'm sorry for troubling your girlfriend."

[ ] "Actually, she's not..."
[ ] "Don't worry about it."
[ ] "His school?"
[ ] "The orphanage?"
[ ] "-I was there at that time, actually."
[ ] "I hope you find him."
[ ] "-It sounds like you didn't really know him well."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>22163223

> [ ] "Actually, she's not..."
> [ ] "The orphanage?"

Don't want eri to get the wrong impression. 'The orphanage'? Hmmm, Bardiel was an orphan?

>>22163223
If they got Bardiel out of an orphanage they might have gotten others from the same place.

"We're not going out.

I'll keep my eyes open and look you up and tell you if I find anything. How did you know him? What was this about an orphanage? Where did he go to school?"

>>22163223

Time for MISUNDERSTANDINGS.

Snap your fingers as if in remembrance.

"Ah! *That* was Shindo? The guy who ran out of here with his arm nearly burned to a crisp? I hope he found medical treatment. It looked serious."

Quickly glance at Mio to see if she's catatonic yet.

"Mio, you're blushing. And your mouth is hanging open. And your tail is lifting your uniform. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so damn..." pretend to stifle a laugh. ..."cute."

Back to Suoh.

"So you're friends? When did he disappear if you don't mind me asking, sir? It wasn't that long ago if he went missing between the time he was injured to now.... Have you tried contacting his acquaintances?"

Pause in thought.

"...he has had to of been working with other people or known other people. Have you tried getting in touch with them? I know you said you've tried everything, but have you really?"

Shake your head.

"Who knows, maybe he got caught up in a dangerous game and was killed in the process."

>>22163397

Now, this one's a little too obvious. We have no reason to believe that this guy has anything to do with players.

>>22163289
>>22163313

> "We're not going out."

Mio - Watching the two of you - doesn't say anything, before a soft exhalation; Though you can't help but notice the way her fox-ears twitch upright, before drooping flat again.

"-My mistake," Suoh says - He dips his head, in a little aside glance to Mio, an apologetic one.

> "Mio, you're blushing. And your mouth is hanging open. And your tail is lifting your uniform. It would be hilarious if it wasn't so damn..." pretend to stifle a laugh. ..."cute."

She wasn't *quite* blushing before - But she *definently* is, now. Mio clasps a hand over her open mouth, going even *redder* still; Her other hand going behind her back, checking that her tail is *right* where it should be. "Mmmmhh!" she manages, sounding half-choked and embarassed at once; She glances down at the counter, pretending that there's something else she should *really* be doing.

> [ ] "The orphanage?"
> "What was this about an orphanage? Where did he go to school?"

Faintly abashed, Suou clears his throat; "We're from the same school, actually - Mitakashi High, second-year." He looks like he wishes he hadn't mentioned the orphanage - There's still something of a stigma, after six years.

"...Shindo, well, he didn't talk about it much - But he was staying at the Salvation Children's Home...Until recently, I guess."

He looks away. "-They haven't heard from him, either."

(Continued.)

>>22163414

He got caught up in the wrong crowd and paid ultimate price for it.

It's a bit of my pessimism leaking through the cracks. Only reason that last line is there. Dude probably won't think nothing of it. it's an ordinary high school student with a bit of dark humour.

>>22163478
For crying out loud, with all the mysterios "accidents" that have been going on thanks to player battles that's just downright insensitive.

> "Ah! *That* was Shindo? The guy who ran out of here with his arm nearly burned to a crisp? I hope he found medical treatment. It looked serious."

He goes pale, eyes wide behind his glasses. "S-serious?" Suoh echoes; It seems that he hasn't heard *that* part. "I'd heard that he'd been *hurt*, that's all. I didn't think..."

> "...he has had to of been working with other people or known other people. Have you tried getting in touch with them? I know you said you've tried everything, but have you really?"

His eyes narrow; "-Now, I don't like what you're imp..." He begins - But then *something* flits across his face...Like belated realization, some revelation that's formerly eluded him. "Excuse me," Suoh says, abruptly - He takes one last, long look at you, and turns on his heel.

The bell chimes once, then twice, as he leaves without another word; The last you see of him, he's lengthening his pace...Going from walking, to striding, to something approaching a jog as he vanishes into the crowd.

"Sir, wait - You left your..." Mio begins...Then apparently thinks the better of it - Her gaze going to you. "Aaah, thanks for that, Anon-kun..." she sighs, sounding relieved. "-I kept trying to tell him I didn't *know*...But he just wouldn't listen. You really saved me there..."

Then, distantly: "...But still, I wonder what *that* was all about..."

(Continued.)

After a moment, she shakes her head - Visibly banishing that unwelcome thought. "A-anyway...It's been a while, Anon-kun." Her full lips curl in a mock-pout; Though the effect's somewhat belied by the way her fluffy tail sways from side-to-side, the warmth in her gaze. She's glad you're here, and it's hard for her to hide it. "-I didn't know you were coming, today..."

[ ] "How have you been?"
[ ] "...It's a bit quiet today, isn't it?"
[ ] "How long's your shift?"
[ ] "-I'd like to rent a room."
[ ] "Actually, I heard your birthday was coming up..."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>22163626

> [ ] Free.
> "I wanted it to be a surprise."
> "I've found this really nice restaurant, and I was wondering if you'd like to have dinner with me. In, say, (on her birthday/days) from now?"

>>22163626
[X] "How have you been?"
[X] "...It's a bit quiet today, isn't it?"

>>22163626
[X] Free.
Check what the guy forgot.

>>22163678

What? Are we really asking this girl out?

That's not a bad way to do it, actually.

>>22163626

Hm.. Orphanage. Something to look into later once we get a hold of AP. And Izumo. It's probably a pseudonym, but still. he's given us more information than he might realize. His reaction alone is suspect in my book. He's a fellow player for sure. He might even suspect us of injuring his friend on top of it with our description. If only we had AP's number we could have one of his goons tail this guy and see where he goes.....

Anyway....

"Ah, i was just dropping in to say hello."

Crack a smile.

"Hello. It's been a while since I last saw you. Decided to poke my head in and see how you were doing. You doing fine? Your... 'other' friends treating you well?"

>>22163720
>>22163678

No, you fool. You will anger the Brimstone Goddess. As much as I joke about the harem route, one must not anger the Yandere. Unless you have sufficient chocolate and candy.

>>22163812

In all fairness, we're going to have to ask her out today. This is the perfect opportunity, and we want to arrange something for her birthday, anyway.

>>22163678

Nice restaurant? We could go to that one we went with AP. La Tombolana, was it?

>>22163841
Holy crap, how the heck would we afford that? It sounded like the kind of place you'd need celebrity status just to get a reservation.

>>22163872

It is... if you're referring to the expensive one AP took us too.

Anon could be referring to a nice sit down mom-and-pop shop. Which are common enough. The one across the street from me serves the most delicious pancakes I've ever had the privilege to eat. Buttery soft and homemade.

>>22163872

We could check it. You know what? We could ask AP about it, too. He owes us a meal, at the very least, after all the dirty work we've done for him.

>>22163933
Ehhh, no. I'd rather not call in a favour from AP just to take Mio out on a date.

File: 1356157527227.png-(155 KB, 364x501, jokermegumi.png)

>>22163710

You glance over - As it turns out, Suoh's left a photograph behind; He was probably showing it to Mio, as a visual aid. It looks like a family photo, almost - A frozen snapshot, forever capturing Shindo's startled face. He's seated at a rather rickety-looking table, caught in the act of turning away as a girl throws her arms around him, flashing a 'V' at the camera.

It doesn't mean that much to y-

...Wait, the girl looks *familiar*, somehow. It takes a moment for things to click, but when it does...It's the girl you saw in the hospital, the one with the silent, burly companion; Megumi, was it?

Yes - You can't be *absolutely sure*, but it looks like her. That...smile's...certainly distinctive.

(Continued.)

>>22163971
>>22163933
>>22163925
Honestly a place that high class might actually serve to ruin any mood. Just the feeling of being out of place, you know? Better to find somewhere a highschooler would feel comfortable.

(Apologies, some internet trouble.)

>>22163812
>>22163812
>>22163679

> "You doing fine? Your... 'other' friends treating you well?"

"Mmmmnn~!" Mio makes an affirmative noise, her head canted slightly to the side; Her honey-blonde hair framing her face, in the brief instant before she brushes the stray tresses away.

"-I've been a little busy, recently...Catching up with things, that's all." Her cheery front wavers, just a little, at your mention of school; "Ah, well..." Mio hedges - It's clear she doesn't really want to talk about *that* - her voice going softer, almost a whisper, as she leans towards you.

"There was a, an...accident at school," she confides, reluctantly. "-One of the girls, she..." From the way Mio's eyes flick away, inhaling a shallow breath, you can infer the rest. "...Her sister's really upset. But, at least - For once, no-one's paying attention to me."

Mio's smile becomes rather more brittle, her fingers tapping against the varnished wood of the counter. "But o-other than that...I'm used to it, Anon-kun. It's fine."

> [X] "...It's a bit quiet today, isn't it?"

"-It is, right?" Mio agrees - This place is a fairly popular one, but today seems to be an especially slow day. It's...What, a quarter full? At most?...with the customers seemingly already well-attended to. Certainly, no-one's interrupted your chat with Mio...Though it doesn't stop her from looking faintly troubled.

"You know - It's been like this ever since *that* happened," she goes on, by way of explanation "When he came in today - Suoh, that is - I didn't know what to say..."

(Continued.)

>>22164263

The Papillion is one hell of a quest/plot hub.

>>22164309

On that note, I gotta run temporarily. Will be lurking from my phone. Friend hit black ice and ran off the road.

She goes silent - Her eyes clouding over, a troubled expression stealing over Mio's face. It's clear that Shindo - Bardiel's - bloody outcome still disturbs her; You can't help but glance over your shoulder, remembering the scream of ultimate agony, the way the scorched figure reeled through the door, limping away...

-But he's dead, now. You made sure of that.

"Anon-kun?"

There's a soft rustle of fabric - "...Are you - You're really quiet, all of a sudden...?"

>>22163678

The reversal's immediate, and startling - For a moment, Mio looks stunned; Entirely tongue-tied, as she just *stares* at you...Looking as if she's expecting the punchline, or a hidden camera.

But then - She goes pink, then red, her fluffy ears going rigid; "R-really...?" Mio manages - It comes out as a faint squeak, her voice cautious...At first, until she sees something in your face that seems to convince her that you're not joking.

Surprisingly, she takes it really well, all things considered ...Averting her gaze, rather shyly, shifting rather self-consciously. "Really?" she says again - "R-really nice, that is?" She peeks at you - Her hair half-hiding her face, now, her eyes downcast.

"S, since Joker-kun's the one's asking, I don't m- I mean, I'd love t - be *happy* to!" She looks like she's about to start babbling, when she looks up - But the happiness...The unalloyed *joy* on her face - Even though she's tripping over her words, her answer's all-too-clear.

And when Mio *smiles* - It's like the sun coming up. She has one hand clasped to her chest, just over her heart; Something infinitely soft, infinitely fragile in her expression. She just nods, this time - Though she doesn't look away from you, the moment stretching...Enough to make you feel pleasantly uncomfortable, beneath her regard.

[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

Now you guys have gone and done it.

Watch, when the date rolls around, somewhere and somehow, we're going to have to launch a fucker clear off a roof to cockblock us eternally. Because nothing ruins the desire to date like flaming dead people, and I'm not talking about what happens when you stab a random person in the throat in the middle of a gay pride parade.

>>22164435

> And when Mio *smiles* - It's like the sun coming up.

Wow. This girl is obviously in love with us, or has a severe crush at the very least.

>>22164482
I wish Wata was here to help with this. Crap, do we even know any classy places that are in our price range?

>>22164435
This date is going to end in tears, we're going to end up killing someone and they'll probably catch on fire and land right on our table.

>>22164495
And we got her hopes up and she'll be devastated when we find Hecate again and go out with her. Such is life.

>>22164435
Ask for our usual booth, some coffee, and maybe a parfait or small cake.

>>22164482

Speaking of flaming. Does anyone else think that Izuno is gay? As in, homosexual. Why else woudl he be so worried about his friend?

>>22164435
WELP it looks like we're on Mio route now! Not that I'm complaining.

"Sorry I can't stay longer, but I'm pretty busy today. See you soon, though!"

Lets exit and see if Natsumi's out of club practice. Then let's finally investigate the SHEOL STAR ARCADE.

>>22164435
If I had images right now I'd post hnnnnnggg.jpg

>>22164482
Let's not forget Hecate isn't going to share.

>>22164509
It doesn't haft to be classy. The food has to be good and the atmosphere must be homey. A high class restaurant doesn't provide homey. It provides wealth and opulants. We want a nice Mom-and-Pop restaurant that serves pancakes.

Hello from the side of a road in the middle of nowhere.

File: 1356160687636.png-(96 KB, 400x436, Metatron-Drinking-coffee.png.png)

>>22164509

>>22164528
We have absolutely nothing to go off of as far as assuming he's gay. They might just used to be really good friends.

>>22164435
"D-Don't look at me so seriously. It makes me afraid I won't be able to live up to you.

"What's your favorite food? I know a few good places, but I want you to get something you'd enjoy eating rather than try and impress you with my tastes."

>>22164528

Uh, no. He's trying to find an old friend.

>>22164541

Hello~ take over for me. I am in the middle of negotiating payment (Two bottles of Vodka) for pulling my friend out of a ditch on the side of a road.

Such is the troubles of having a Russian for a friend.

>>22164528
I'm guessing you've never suddenly lost a best friend.

(Apologies - More connection trouble.)

>>22164586

Mio giggles - A soft, low chuckle, as she lays a finger against her cheek. "Wellllll~" she muses aloud, drawing the word out - Gazing at you sidelong, that warm smile lingering. "Annnh, where to start...? I'm okay with anything, but - If I had to choose...Maybe pasta? It comes with *all* those different shapes and sauces, and..."

There's a faint buzz - The intercom coming across in a barely-decipharable *squawk* of electronic noise. Mio starts, visibly surprised...But then she listens, as another quick blurt comes over the channel.

Whatever it is, she looks momentarily annoyed - But then she nods, answering with a quick: "-All right, one moment. I'll be right there."

When she glances up, there's an apologetic smile on her lips. "Sorry, Anon-kun; They're calling for me again." For a moment, it looks like she's not *that* happy to be interrupted...Then her expression softens, and she flashes you that secret smile. More softly:

"-But...I'd *definently* look forward to it."

With a little curtesy, she's off - Her replacement's probably that excitable friend of hers, come to think of it. It'd be a good idea to excuse yourself, before she gets here...

(Continued.)

File: 1356163891979.png-(1011 KB, 1020x574, jokernight.png)

>>22164539

It's late - Shading from late afternoon, to evening - by the time you reach the place. The address, in a decrepit and largely deserted corner of the commercial district in the East End, announces itself by a flashing neon sign - SSA, SSA, SSA - against the background outline of a star.

It's the brightest light on the block, against the faded colors - Bright, actinic, enough to make your head hurt. Beneath it, letter by letter, a message spells itself out:

THIS WAY TO THE MAXIMUS.

The place is still-running, run-down as it is...Perhaps all arcades look like this, though, tinny music funneling from the doors, flashing lights pounding against the half-light coming from the open door. You can catch a glimpse of the machines within, the people hunched over them...The smell of cigarette smoke, of sickly-sweet soda, of ozone and sweat - All jumbled up within.

Perversely, the rickety, rusty exterior seems to have made it even more popular; As you look on, you can see an irregular flow of people in-and-out - Chatting, laughing, or walking alone. To all intents and purposes, it doesn't seem *that* different from other arcades you've been to...Though the ugly cinderblock building reminds you more of a converted warehouse, than actual real estate.

[ ] Go right in.
[ ] Check the card.
[ ] Access the red world.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>22165147
Check the card. If there's no useful information, transform. The worst thing we could do is let the smiling assholes know Anon's base world identity.

>>22165147
[X] Check the card.

Check it out, if it doesn't have anything useful we should probably TRANSFORM, this place is probably full of nasties and I'd rather not transform into a horde and instead get to observe it a bit first.

>>22165195
>>22165229

That card - It seems so long again, when you retrieved it. It's stiff plastic; Orange and black, not that different from the colors of the building before you. It's embossed with the pastel image of a hideous-looking clown...Some trick of the light warping the proportions, making it look leering, monstrous.

...You've always hated clowns.

At first, you'd thought that it was one of the membership cards - The kind that make you eligible for bonuses, discounts...But no, it's a staff keycard. You've wondered if the girl - The one who died - was someone who'd worked here before...Or if it'd simply been given to her.

And that begs the question; Exactly what's *in* there?

There's plenty of people coming and going - The counter manned by a single, bored-looking clerk. A part-timer, probably, with a permanent slouch...Currently turning crumpled notes into star-embossed tokens. Behind him hang various cheap, ratty-looking objects...The 'prizes' the tokens can be cashed in for, after being expended by the fitfuls at the slot/shooting/gambling machines.

There seems to be an inordinate amount of carnival masks.

You're fairly certain that no-one's paying you special attention...The place is dark, muddied, with the weird light that comes with every arcade. There aren't any windows, and no clocks - Furthering the sense of distortion.

[ ] Walk right in.
[ ] Transform.
[ ] Sneak in.
[ ] Approach the counter.
[ ] Look for a staff door.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>22165323
[X] Look for a staff door.

We might be able to find something in there without having to transform.

>>22165323

> [ ] Look for a staff door.

If we have access, we should be able to get it. Ought to be careful, though.

If not...

> [X] Sneak in.

>>22165323
[x] Look for a staff door.

It doesn't look like they have very tight security here...

You turn the card over in your hand, as you pace around the perimeter of the building; It's actually larger than you expected, like two cinderblock prefabs sited back-to-back. Behind, you can hear the low *hum* of the generators, thick black cables snaking down from the roof...The staticky feel is tangible, a coppery taste in your mouth.

You find what you're looking for, at last - A grimy glass door, set in the corner of the building. Someone's splashed paint against it, which has been scraped off, leaving long scratches against the glass. A stroke of luck - There isn't a keypad, just a standard swiping mechanism. With bated breath, you scan the card...

-And hear an answering beep.

The electronic locks disengage, and you push open the door - S-l-o-w-l-y - recycled air gusting out towards you, as you slip in. The corridor beyond has rough white walls, sloping slightly downwards - You can hear the uneven tempo of the music, of the noise, even through the whitewashed brick.

To your right, there's a room marked UTILITY - Further up, there's another door with another scanning card, labelled STAFF ONLY. You can almost smell the staticky ozone in the air - Hear a low, subliminal humming, as if an incredible amount of power is being channeled. Another path winds to your left; That's probably the entrance to the counter, from the sounds emanating in that area - And further on has a room marked MANAGER'S OFFICE.

At the far end of the corridor, there's a pair of rusty doors - Resembling fire doors, meant to swing outwards - with red LOADING symbols stenciled on them.

[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>22165520
Let's check utility. Staff only is liable to have people in it, and we want to get as far as we can without starting any fights.

>>22165520
First check the utility room, if there's static staticky ozone around and it sounds like there's a lot of power going on the utility area is where we'll get some info.

This IS an arcade though; it's got to be using a lot of power.

Which is almost certainly its cover for whatever power-hungry evil activities are going on here. On our way out I say we do something to take out the power, out of spite if nothing else.

File: 1356166812520.png-(561 KB, 691x572, jokercoffin2.png)

Your footsteps sound awfully loud, as you pace down the hallway to the door - It's a short distance, but the thought that you're in enemy territory...It makes you distinctly uneasy. Another strange thing - No security cameras.

In fact - And you look up, to see the stump where one should be, trunctuated wire hanging forelornly from it - they've been explicitly removed. From the outside, the UTILITY room seems innocous enough - It's not locked, and it opens inwards with a smoothness that tells of long use...

-Into a deep and cavernous darkness.

It's so complete, so total, that you can barely discern any patterns; Outlines of a broad, open floor supported by naked I-beams slowly emerge from the even black. An abandoned factory floor, almost...But you knew that when you walked in.

Thick cables snake across the ground - You can hear the low, mournful hum of generators in the white plastic boxes...And more, still, the right angles and straight lines crumpling into less distinct shapes.

There's a light switch on the wall - *Somewhere* - amid all the confusion of electronics...But it's the unidentifiable *thing* right in the middle of it all that catches your attention.

(Continued.)

>>22165662
>inb4 Jenova

Anyone have a better guess?

At first glance, you think it's a pod of some kind...Or an enclosing arcade cabinet, like something you'd see for one of those games involving primitive virtual reality and shooting. But it's not - This chamber isn't just for power, it's a storage room of some kind; You finally make out the aged, abandoned arcade consoles pushed against the walls, tilted over on their sides in ramshackle disarray...

This one is different.

This one is *plugged in.*

The humming - It's coming from this thing, which reminds you of, of...An incubator, perhaps. A coffin, definently. It's a garage setup, like a kludged-together kit; Slightly askew, tilted back, the tinted glass cover scratched and deeply scarred. As you draw closer...You can tell that it feels *warm*, somehow - Heat's radiating off it, leaving it active.

Is there something inside? You can't tell. You're about three meters from it, when...

-You hear footsteps. Somewhere, a door opens - Somewhere, someone's moving. More footsteps, clattering on the tiles outside; A door slams. It sounds like - Someone's coming this way.

[ ] Take a closer look at the pod.
[ ] Look for somewhere to hide.
[ ] Get out, *now*.
[ ] Stay quiet.
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>22165734
[X] Take a closer look at the pod.
Then
[X] Look for somewhere to hide.

>>22165679
Hecate in suspended animation?

I think we ought to crack it open regardless. It seems important and anything that fucks with the Smilers isn't totally bad.

We could also try Transforming. If this thing has any significance to the Red then it will likely have a counterpart on the other side.

>>22165734
Find somewhere out of direct sight and take a seat. Someone's coming to check on the coffin-pod, and just watching them might give a clue to what it is. It's amazing how people just overlook you if you're quiet, still and out of the way--and if they're distracted.

>>22165679
I don't know who you are but I want you to shut up.

Hecate?

>>22165734
[X]Hide

>>22165734
[X] Take a closer look at the pod.

We have no time. A sillent alarm could have been triggered by that card or some security might have noticed that a dead girl just entered the building. Let's find a way to crack the pod and go from there.

>>22165791
There could be cameras with night vision in the room.

>>22165791
>>22165836 again
Also you forget that any player looking for an intruder can locate them fairly easily by Transforming and pulling them into a battle.

>>22165836
..Then there are cameras with night vision in the room. Working on the assumption that there aren't, however, this gives us a chance to avoid detection and the advantage of surprise if it fails.

>>22165858
True! Even so, if their primary concern is the pod then Anon should be fine, or get a surprise round.

>>22165762
>>22165786

Aware of the footsteps coming closer, you know that you're on a time limit; As you peer through the fibreglass 'shield' shrouding the pod, you see that...

-It's empty.

No. That's not true. It may *be* empty, now...But you could *feel* a presence, solid, respiring - As palpable as breath. What you see inside, however, isn't encouraging - It's a straight-backed seat, that looks distinctly uncomfortable, with no joysticks or keyboards...Just metal cuffs.

You suck in a breath, as you realize - If you were seated, they would go around your neck, your wrists, your ankles - literally locking you into the seat. But *why*? You don't see any control surfaces...The pod itself is notoriously bare of them, though all kinds of arcane mechanisms and jury-rigged systems pulse and throb at it's humped back...

-And your skin begins to crawl, when you realize that the seat is partially charred...Rusty stains on the restraints. Through the glass, the view is almost red.

(Continued)

>>22165879
Welp this is getting terrible. Just as I predicted.

>>22165879
...

Transform.

>>22165879
>>22165911
That was exactly my thought. Shame we're in the middle of an update.

A flicker of motion catches your eye - A reflection in the glass - and you turn, alertly - But there's nothing there. When you look again...The feeling of *wrongness* only increases. There *are* shapes in the glass, yes; Half-formed, sliding, mutable - Like a trick of the light, when you tilt your head *just so* to see. An impression of hands, faces, pressing against the thin barrier...

-It's cold. When did it get *this* cold?

It's not your imagination; The temperature in the room is dropping, palpably - It feels like the dimensions are shifting slightly, stretching and buckling, as if they have difficulty retaining their coherence. It's like accessing the Red World, only...

And, coldest of all, is the Nihl Sphere in your pocket. It's actively discomfortable, like dry ice against your skin - When you fumble it out, you can see that the color is *draining*...The violet fading out, going grey - As if something is greedily suckling the energy awa-

> [X] Hide

You've taken three long strides to the nearest available location - the debatable cover of stacked arcade machines - when the door swings open.

"-What the hell?"

It's the clerk from the front - Or someone who looks just like him. His breath puffs in white cloud, as he frowns at you - Spontaneous frost blistering against the dark screens, as it gets colder *still*...

"...Are you supposed to be here? You're a week early."

He takes a step towards you, apparently oblivious; The Nihl Sphere is cold, so cold it's actually stinging your fingers, now - It hurts to hold on to it.

[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>22165980
"...I am? Wait, what's today's date?"

>>22165980
Well fuck, now we'll have to recharge it and that's gonna be a bitch.

"Schedules change, long story, I'm as happy about it as you are."

>>22165997
Smart guy.

Wait for the guy to turn around, then transform.

>>22166015
We kill whatever drained its power and feed it to the Sphere. End of problem.

Unless it's Hecate. Then we have other problems, not easily solved with boolet.

>>22166039
If it's Hecate than she'll get it back and we'll give her the kiss she owes us.

You manage - Somehow - to drop the Nihl Sphere into another pocket; Resisting the urge to wince, aware of the frost-blisters on your skin. You keep your hand behind your back - You don't want him to see it shaking.

It's hard to keep your eyes on him - The room seems to be actively warping, now, space folding upon itself in a weird, wrenching distortion.

>"...I am? Wait, what's today's date?"
> "Schedules change, long story, I'm as happy about it as you are."

The clerk frowns, shaking his head with a disgruntled grunt. "-We weren't told. That's sloppy - You better believe I'll bring it up to..."

His eyes go wide. His jaw drops, and he takes a step back.

As the enormous shadow falls over you from behind, you realize - At last - that *he can see it too*.

The eerie red light is all around you - Solids becoming translucent, the walls unfurling like blossoming flowers. As you turn, you hear the whine of servoes...The taut pull of myomer muscles-

...You're in the Red World.

(Continued.)

>>22166054
Of course, you should remember the last two times we met something sealed in a coffi--Hey! Next time we meet Rust Kaiser, feed him to the sphere. Might be enough to kill him for good.

>>22166067
Of course we have slightly more immediate concerns.

[x] Fire everything.

>>22166073
Second feeding Kaiser to the sphere (But ONLY kaiser)

"Holy SHIT!" It comes out as a shout - Your head snaps back, and the clerk's no longer standing before you. Instead - You make out a fish-eyed helm formed from something with the consistency of blue plastic. It's mono-eyed, braced by steel.

In one world, you're aware that the lights have gone out, plunging you into darkness. You're aware, for one terrifying moment, that whatever behind you isn't some virtual figment - It's *real*, it's huge-

"You're the Red Jok-"

You're already moving. Your arms come up, your draw as fast as ever; The forearm sheaths snapping back, as he claws for his own weapon - Two prepostrously large old-model revolvers assembling themselves in his hands...

And you feel every breath anyone has ever breathed explode from your chest.

You're hit. You're hit, so hard your feet leave the ground; So hard you tumble and skid as you're slammed back down.

Part of your mind thinks, coldly - You were struck from BEHIND.

(Continued.)

>As you turn, you hear the whine of servoes...The taut pull of myomer muscles-

Find out if this is a player makeing these sounds. Find out if that player is taking a hostile stance, so we could transform immediately.

Also, we should go back to the Tristar guy later and figure out some way to call him and his buddies while in the red world. Same for Cypher.

File: 1356169780586.jpg-(65 KB, 640x480, fuckdamn shitcunts.jpg)

>>22166117
We're boned. We're about to get shoved into the torture machine.

>>22166161
We were the one making that noise. The Player didn't hit us. Whatever we woke up is the attacker, and this would-be Big Daddy is about to get shredded to show just how powerful this sucker is.

File: 1356169942446.gif-(71 KB, 242x336, jokergate.gif)

Behind.

You feel it before you see it. Behind you, the casket/prison/device stands like a black monolith; As real in *this* world as it was in the other. The presence is sharp and hard, and tastes of metal. Around it, fluttering and swooping like birds, are fractured voices an half-things; The vestigal remnants of the dead, hovering around the damned thing...

-It was *them* you realize. Their nauseating, intolerable hunger, sapping the fires of the Nihl Sphere. And there's something worse, something that's only just awakening: A heavy, throbbing trace, locked in the heart of the coffin's machine core. Dense, cold, like a lightless collapsed star...

Hunger, thirst, appetite, craving...

-It rises from the depths, wailing and yearning, a dark thing tearing up through the other trace energies; Filled with an awful, all-consuming need. The ground rumbles, as one splayed foot slams down; A corded arm lashes out, and closes around the fish-eyed figure...

You don't see what happens to him. You only hear him scream, and draw breath to scream again. As you struggle to your feet, names fill your HUD; Your sensors screaming that there are *countless* enemies before you -

BUSTER PILE
APOLLYON
PANDORA
PULSAR BLACK
ALEPHISTO

And many, many more...

When there's only one.

(Continued)

>>22166117
Activate assault shroud and scrander. Evade and put some distance between yourself and both threats.
Deploy one rifle bit to distract the Smiler in front of you

>>22166186
No, cancel that.

>>22166163
Also I love that picture.

>>22166186
Yeah, uh, not the problem.

>>22166185
Hey, I remember those guys. We killed them alongside Argent Prominence, did someone duct tape them all together?

Is this guy going to be called LEGION?

Aren't these guys we killed with AP? I wonder what Pazuzu did to pull them into this thing.

File: 1356170442187.jpg-(180 KB, 850x1224, jokerfaces.jpg)

It is a thing that swirls with pustular flesh, spilling out like tumors from a black, corded torso - Sinew, muscle, ragged tissue and dozens of staring eyes.

And, oh, the faces - The faces are the worst. Helmets, faceplates, masks - Infinite in their variety, yet *familiar*...Enough to send a chill through you, as you think...

> But I've killed them before...

Another slow, lumbering step. A dozen faces wail and gash their teeth, pushing out through folds of suppurating flesh - Apelike arms bulging with artifical muscle grinding the tiles underfoot to powder.

It's a massive thing - Massive, impossibly dense, compressed and crammed into a single tormented shape.

It's been weeks, but after all this - in one frozen moment of cold, clear epiphany - you still recognize that distinctive shape.

The tormented thing that used to be Div-E Sepid - Now a confusion of babbling mouths and chattering teeth - roars so loud the world judders, and accelerates into a charge.

RED JOKER

VS.

ERROR

#@&*#$$
e440&**

AMAGLAM

JOKER QUEST

EPISODE 31.5

TO BE CONTINUED

>>22166210
I know, posted before OP's last update.

Retreat to maximum range for your weapons, deploy the shroud, and keep evading. We want to get the Fusion Annihilator.

Also, if it seems that we can't win, retreat. No more suicidal shenanigans like earlier.

>>22166251

(Gentlemen: Sorry to leave you at this cliffhanger. Unfortunately, I have to take a break here, for now - I'd love to continue soon, after Christmas.

Apologies for the long delays between posts: My rate has been badly hampered by my terrible internet connection.

Until next time - Merry Christmas. And, as always, good night and god bless.)

>>22166261
...You just can't win!

>>22166265
Night dude. Happy Saturnalia.

>>22166251

>The tormented thing that used to be Div-E Sepid

Oh, FUCK ME.

>>22166251
I was right, they did duct tape all the Smilers we killed together. This is going to be a fun fight.

>>22166266
You can always win if you apply enough Dakka to the problem. And hey we get to get XP from the same people twice, which is awesome.

We took these guys down once, we can do it again. They're vermin, weaklings. Them all being taped together just means we only have to deal with one target.

Basic strategy, turn on the Shroud afterimages, dodge like a mofo, fly, keep on hitting them with Vulcans and then introduce them to our friend Cobalt Boosted Fusion Annihilator.

We might also want to napalm missile them, just so that we can have the chorus of faces all scream together.

>>22166251

I wonder how OP thinks up all these new horrors.

This was just messed-up.

>>22166251
I was wondering if this was something we caused by massacring Div's forces while they were in the middle of warping out. But the I noticed Apollyon in the mix and that couldn't be right because AP cut him in half from crotch to skull. Huh.

>>22166320
Actually he was referencing how that guy always posts after OP...

>>22166348

We didn't kill all of them personally, I think. Argent Prominence accounted for quite a few of them.

No, I think it has something to do with the Ghost In The Shell pod. It looks like it was to restrain something?

>>22163223

The mood always lightens when eri's around. Remind me how we went from romantic shenigans to battling Legion, again?

While we're at it, you guys better treat Mio right, damnit. She's nice.

>>22166660
No promises, we'll probably break her heart eventually, our date will have a dead person face plant into her dinner, and once we get Hecate back we'll pay less attention to her.

>>22166660

Maybe there's symbolism in it. Hecate as the seductress, Mio as the good girl, and Asuna as the shrinking violet. Natsumi is the one who's friendzoned.

Are there any more girls?

>>22166731
Kotone, the Black Joker, who is the "unnatural abomination who occasionally has lucid moments".

>>22166757

An interesting question: What's the deal with Kotone, exactly? She's the Black Joker, but she doesn't seem hostile. In fact, she DUG US OUT from a pile of rubble, and holds off from killing us.

She actually seems to be on good terms with us. Have we ever seen her fight before?

>>22166768

Yes, in a nightmare. She kicked our asses.

>>22166768
It's been implied that the only times we see her are when she manages to maintain control over her Black Joker persona. Any other time she's a horrible abomination that is out to get us, which is why she always avoids us.

>>22166768

I'm more interested in the Black Tri-Stars.

How awesome is that? You have three guys, and they (OF COURSE) decide to call themselves the BLACK TRI-STARS. And they're lead by a guy who keeps spilling all his fucking spaghetti.

That's a buddy comedy waiting to happen.

>>22166815
Or a massive tragedy. We all remember what happened to the real Black Tri Stars...

>>22166815

Does that make us Char?

>>22166828

We're bright red, have a dead girlfriend, and we're armed with FUNNAHS. There's no resemblance whatso...

YES YOU FOOL

>>22166821
I'll admit that all my knowledge of Gundam comes from The Sage of Toad's Gran Tomino fanfic. What happened to the Black Tri-Stars?

>>22166815
Wouldn't Chrome Cypher be the idealistic good cop to Joker's hardassed bad cop?

>>22169477
They all died horribly.