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The sky is cold and grey, today; The pale sun casting rays of wan illumination through thick banks of cloud, the chill hanging in the air - The window frames of the classroom rattle in the gusts that come and go, adding a dangerous sway to the fan blades circling serenely overhead...

And when the end-of-school bell rings, at last - The electronic buzzing echoed by the clatter of feet and desks and chairs - you're just glad *that's* over.

> "Say, did you hear-"
> "-That's awfully close, isn't it?"

...Is what you've been hearing a lot, today. The mysterious explosion downtown, all things considered, could have been a lot worse - About six people were injured in the panic, in the rain of falling glass...

But only four - At ground zero, in the building itself - were killed outright. In the news, it's been labelled as an accident of some kind - No mention of the train breakdown that happened at around the same time, you note - but there's a worrying uncertainty to it, an undercurrent that you can sense-

...These are dangerous times, the whispers go. And looking to get a lot more dangerous.

Well, so much for that. Beyond a light dusting of plaster dust, and a headache that still lingers - You're all right. Lucky, even by your standards...It's hard to believe you were *right there*, and walked away with little more than a ringing in your ears...

Still. It's troubling, to say the least.

(Continued)

>>24914599
15 minutes, eh OP?

And nice, looks like we managed to keep civilian casualties to an absolute minimum. There still shouldn't have been ANY at all, but I doubt the Smilers are at all happy with what they got from Enfer. Problem is, he saw us with the Sphere. And he survived. I doubt he'll survive letting Pazuzu know, but in the absolute worst case scenario there's going to be a lot more players out to take the sphere from us by hook, by crook, or by random acts of terrorism.

Enfer needs killing, preferably before he can spread the story around.

You look around. The classroom is mostly empty: Kazuya's been missing for most of last period, and Natsumi's at practice - She seemed rather more animated than usual, though. When you glanced over at her, she even smiled. So that just leaves you and a few stragglers, dust settling quietly on the chairs and desks.

Rehearsals for the day have been cancelled, too; At least you won't have to don your shark suit again, for the rest of the week. Now you're free, you should...

[ ] ...Visit the Library.
[ ] ...Visit Kouichi, at the Kendo Club.
[ ] Head off, and...
- [ ] Meet Mr. Fumito.
- [ ] Meet with Asuna.
- [ ] Visit the Papillion.
- [ ] Visit the Salvation Children's Home.
- [ ] Meet with the Black Tri-Stars.
- [ ] Check in on the Hollow Sun.
- [ ] Go home.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24914971

> 15 minutes, eh OP?

(My bad, my connection was down. The service gets cut for some reason.)

>>24914974

Holy shit, that's a lot of choices.

>>24914974
Library.

>>24914974

> [X] ...Visit Kouichi, at the Kendo Club.

I look forward to seeing Mr. Spaghetti do more spillin'.

>>24914974

So many options. Oh man..

Let's hit up the Hollow Sun, do a quick once over to see if it's behaving. Make sure everything is in order. Then let's go hang out with the Tri-Stars. Mainly as I want more Spaghetti-san screentime.

>>24914974
Whelp, I'm just in time.
Also, tough choice. I'm split between meeting Argent and hammering an iron rod into Kou.

>>24914974
I'm torn. I've got a pep-talk for Kouichi, but I want to ask Fumito and Asuna some questions.

Ah, fuck it. [x]Kouichi, at the Kendo Club.

>>24914994
Shit sucks. Saw your twitter, saw OP and the timestamp on it, started wondering if you'd tripped the banfilter on the first post.

>>24915033
>>24915051

Which one should we go for? It's not that I don't want more Asuna screentime, it's that I kind of want to find out what's the deal with Kou.

> [X] Kendo club.

We really should see Asuna soon, IMO.

Gotta say, OP.

I'm glad you're back to running regularly. I was worried for a while there. Nothing worse than a story without an ending.

>>24914974

>Social Link
>Social Link
>plot
>route progression
>plot
>PLOT HOOK
>Social Link
>side quest
>???

Let's get those Social Links boss. Hit up the Tri-Stars at the arcade. Kouichi won't be home in his body. He'll be most certainly in the other world.

Go visit Sir Spaghetti. Maybe shoot the breeze with the Tri-Stars.

After that, we should go see Argent.

Then more Hollow Sun shenanigans. See if it's stabilised itself, and get those defenses back online.

>>24915051
>>24915094
>>24915101

> [X] ...Visit Kouichi, at the Kendo Club.

The school really *feels* empty, as you descend the steps: The corridors are quieter than usual, now the initial rush of students has filtered out - As you'd noticed...There's just something in the air.

>>24915133
>>24915067
>>24915190

That sounds like a plan. You know - For a fact - that Kouichi's a stickler for practice: Three times a week, as regular as a military drill. Even when there isn't a session, he spends a few hours there after school, every day...Just making sure that things are in order.

As you'd expect from the school's Kendo champion, *and* Team Captain.

Of course, you've begun to wonder - Was it ever really Kouichi at all? A stranger in his own body...It's an uncomfortable thought, and not one you're unfamiliar with. Your breath smokes in the cold air, as you cross the concourse - Today's one of the 'off' days, so you should be able to catch him rather eas-

But then the *clack* of bamboo swords reaches your ears, even from outside the practice hall. As you slide the door open, you hear the faint *squeak* of bare feet on polished wood - Two figures are circling, anonymous in Dō cuirasses and face protectors...Closing, striking, breaking away-

...It's a spirited match.

(Continued)

One of them - The one in blue - is *definently* Kouichi. He moves the same way Bishamon does, fluid and professional; There's something familiar about the other one, though, despite the thickly quilted beginner's uniform - Though his motions are slightly less practiced, he has Kouichi on the back foot, until...

It happens *really* quickly. Kouichi sidesteps the next thrust; His practice sword clacks against his opponent's cuirass, a solid impact that sends the breath whooshing from the other side's lungs. "My point," he says, stepping back - You can hear the smile in his voice, though he's breathing hard; Lowering his sword, as he reaches back to pull his mask off... "Five-four, my favour - Well done."

The faint *squeak* of the door's rollers must've alerted him, because he turns; Mild surprise flitting over his face, as he registers your presence. "Anon!" he says - "...I didn't know you were coming by."

[ ] "Neither did I."
[ ] "That was a good match."
[ ] "Who's your friend?"
[ ] "-Am I interrupting something?"
[ ] "Next time, I'll knock."
[ ] "Actually, I was hoping to talk to you..."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

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>>24915442

(Apologies, forgot my picture.)

>>24915112

(Ah, I've been busy with essays recently, unfortunately - I'm just glad I have some breathing space between them, now.)

>>24915442
"No problem, just wanted to hang out. Didn't want to interrupt. New member?"

>>24915442
>"Neither did I."
>"Who's your friend?"

>>24915442

"Pretty good match to my unpracticed eye. The new guy held his own pretty well. I think."

"You free Spagh- Kouichi? Was thinking of checking out that one arcade we went to last time. Hollow Sun was it, I think. Care to come along? That is if you are not busy here beating on the new guys, that is"

>>24915442
"That was a good match."
"Who's your friend?"

>>24915536
Subtle. I like it.

>>24915509
>>24915522

> "No problem, just wanted to hang out. Didn't want to interrupt. New member?"

He makes a face. "So I keep hoping, but..."

>>24915536

> "Who's your friend?"
> "Pretty good match to my unpracticed eye. The new guy held his own pretty well. I think."

"Hey!" Kazuya's voice is faintly muffled, but mock-outraged as he fumbles his own helmet off - Tucking it into the crook of his arm, his face sweaty but proud. "-That's pretty cold of you, Anon. I totally *had* him."

"...Well, you *might* have; If you practiced regularly-"

"Ah, save it." Kazuya rakes a gloved hand through his spiky hair - Flashing you a crooked smile. "-He's always at it, you know. Never stops shilling for the team."

> "You free Spagh- Kouichi? Was thinking of checking out that one arcade we went to last time. Hollow Sun was it, I think. Care to come along?"

"Why not?" To his credit, Kouichi merely shrugs - As if it was nothing at all. He returns his sword to the nearby rack, looking oddly bulky in the padding; "-I was about to head off, anyway. Kazuya, Anon - Excuse me for a moment."

He pads off, light-footed; Hooking a towel in his hand, wiping at his face. Kazuya sighs, rolling his shoulders to work out the kinks in his muscles - "Almost got him that time," he mutters, sounding amused. "-I tell you, Kouichi's getting slow..."

[ ] "...Kazuya? Now, *that* was unexpected."
[ ] "-You know each other?"
[ ] "When did you get so good at Kendo?"
[ ] "I was wondering where you'd turn up."
[ ] "I thought you'd gone home early."
[ ] "I thought you were at work."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24915840
>"If I know Kou, he's not getting any slower at all. Maybe you're getting faster?"

>"I mean, I didn't even know you did kendo."

PARANOIA RISING

>>24915840
"He's probably not getting slower, you might just be getting slightly better, or lucky.

When did you start Kendo? You don't really seem like the sort to swing swords around all day."

>>24915840
"Are you sure you're not just getting faster? Anyway, why'd you take up Kendo? Is it related to your role in the play?"

>>24915840

Hey, i just finished catching up the quest, start to finish the other day.
Op! Fantastic read, thank you very much.

However! some things are fresh in mind, and I would ask to put them on the agenda for today....

1) Investigate the dominion vtolank, and whether it is real enough to travel about the red world
2) See if the nihl_sphere could be used to power it - we have that cryptic hint that (presumably both) spheres could be used to find a ship that could rescue hecate.

3) Think about showing argent prominence the hollow sun - or at least its design/manufacturing capabilities. We last asked him to work on a sensor system, and its unlikely - though plausable that his works would surpass the argus system.
We know the hollow sun requires/is low on resources, so we should ask if he has some scraps and leftover relics we could feed to it to make an argus system of our own.(we handed out the last one to some of spaghetti's crew) - its a waste of time/resources to work on the same thing in two areas, we might as well combine resources there...if we trust argent prominence that much.
Also, the sidenote in the equipment faq that says he's going to upgrade something or other has been there for like 20+ threads. Not notpicking, just a detail that stands out through the rush of catching up.

>>24915840
"First Natsumi's into MMOs and now you're leaving the go home club. I don't know my best friends anymore."

>>24915946
>Argent + Hollow Sun

Interesting thought. There's no risk of subversion since the Sun will only answer to the Red Joker. If we let Argent access it's facilities, the sky is the limit.

>>24915946
About AP, Next time the option comes up to go see him we need to remember that we commissioned a replacement shield.

>>24916001
I wonder if Argent has a way to refuel the core. From what I recall there's only so much power to go around. We bought some time by shutting down the factory so it could focus on repairs but that doesn't change the limited resource problem.

>>24915840
>Was thinking of checking out that one arcade we went to last time. Hollow Sun was it, I think. Care to come along?"
Hey, what do we do if Kaz wants to come to this "new arcade"?

>>24916050
I don't think it's finite, just somewhat slow to recharge. We had to get those breaches sealed ASAP, before the Hollow Sun shut down completely, so we diverted everything to repairs.

> "He's probably not getting slower, you might just be getting slightly better, or lucky."

"Faster, eh?" That seems to delight him. He chuckles, as he sets his helmet down - Easing off the padded cuirass, with a small hiss of relief. "-Can't breathe in this thing," Kazuya complains, "It's stuffy, and it *itches*...I don't think they wash them regularly, you know?"

> Anyway, why'd you take up Kendo?
> When did you start Kendo?

"It's nothing like that," he snorts. "-Back when I was a kid, my grandad was big on it...You know how he was."

You nod. You *do* know how Kazuya's grandfather was like.

"I've been out of practice for *years*...Still, it's amazing how much you remember, you know. Like riding a bicycle, yeah?"

> Is it related to your role in the play?"

"What, is it *that* obvious?" he laughs. "-Yeah, you could say that. If I'm going to look good, I'll need to know how to *use* this thing." Kazuya tapes the sword's hilt, with a finger - "...Really, though - It's not going to be a regular thing. Perish the thought!"

His expression goes slightly thoughtful, for a moment. "I just felt like...Doing something, y'know. For a change." But then his smile is back, and he shrugs. "...Who knows? Maybe I'll get bored, too."

>>24915950

"Oh, you'd be surprised," Kazuya says, loftily. He retrieves a spare towel, and begins towelling at his hair vigorously - "...I didn't know she was into that. Recommend me something she likes next time, okay?"

[ ] "Want to come along?"
[ ] "You're heading back?"
[ ] "How's things with Natsumi?"
[ ] "I'll see you later, then."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24915946

(I'll keep those in mind.)

>>24916060

(Ha, I saw that right after I hit post.)

>>24916104
[X] "How's things with Natsumi?"

>>24916104
[X] "How's things with Natsumi?"

>>24915946

> Also, the sidenote in the equipment faq that says he's going to upgrade something or other has been there for like 20+ threads. Not notpicking, just a detail that stands out through the rush of catching up.

which one is that?

>>24916104

Is Kazuma a player? Has it ever been confirmed, either way?

If he WAS a player, what kind of form would he have? We know he can use two guns at once, and that he's good with a sword now.

>>24916170
To the best of our knowledge he's not. Back when Hecate was checking our friends she only pointed out two potential players, that was Natsumi and Akira.

Though with Akira being Totenaz and Hecate's nebulous relationship with him it's possible she was covering for him and Kaz actually is a Player.

>>24916130
>>24916152

Surprisingly, he goes red - Though he can't help but laugh. "-It's going...*Well*, actually." There's a long pause, as he seems to fidget slightly under your gaze...Before his expression softens, and he offers - In a more serious tone, now - "...Natsumi seems a lot happier, recently. We've both been keeping busy, but...Yeah, it's going well."

Affection flickers in his eyes. "-She's a great girl, you know. Sometimes, I feel like I'm the luckiest guy alive."

Then he shoots you a rather sly smile, as his fist thumps lightly against your shoulder. "-But you're better with the ladies, aren't you?" Kazuya sighs, sounding mock-envious. "I swear, you really have *all* the luck. My lips are sealed, but if I were you, I'd be-"

"Anon."

You turn. Kouichi's back, with the faintly damp look that comes from a hot shower - His bag slung over his shoulder, an oddly casual gesture that belies his ramrod-straight bearing. He tilts his chin towards the door, his expression serious - "...Shall we go?"

[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24916282
"Alright, Iet's go. Catch you later Kaz."

>>24916155
>which one
ADJUDICATOR: (DESTROYED)
>Unfortunately, this Relic was destroyed in your battle with Bardiel. Argent Prominence has promised to create a lighter version of the shield, with greater defensive capabilities.

20 is perhaps an exaggeration, I'm not sure when the nail was put in bardiel's coffin.
Then again, i also get the feeling that not a lot of realtime has passed recently, and creation takes time

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>>24916050
Doesn't the Hollow Sun draw power from the Red World's core? The problem is that most things don't stay realized after leaving the Hollow Sun. The trick would be developing a relic we could integrate into the Hellions to increase how long they can stay materialized.

>>24916104
>>24916194
Kazuya in the Red World is the metaphorical sword of Damocles Joker Quest OP has over us. He's going to wind up caught up in this somehow and it's not going to be pretty.

>>24916282
"Sounds good. Hey Kaz, take care alright? Say hi to Natsumi for me."

>>24916170
Someone theorized that Kazuma is potentially the next Red Joker.

>>24916359

It's not a typo, actually. There's a shield that we haven't collected yet.

>>24916050

I feel that we should keep the Hollow Sun and Nihl Sphere secrets, for now. We really do not need to give Argent Prominent more power. Especially the Nihl Sphere.

That one stays with us.

>>24916365
I can see it coming: We're gonna cross into reality again like we did at the arcade, and Kaz is gonna see us and flip his shit.

>>24916368
As if we would even consider giving that burden to Kazuya.

>>24916382

I agree with this, however, showing him the hollow sun could be potentially amazing in terms of relic creation - and at little risk of subversion due to ID Locking.

Regarding the nihl sphere, though, that....librarian who has prophetic dreams of the red world, did mention the spheres being involved with a ship to cross worlds, and a place hidden away.
I have a naggling suspicion that the Dominion tank may just be that ship, since it matches some of detail-lite description - depending on how much of a flying tank it is, anyway.
Still doesn't solve the problem of needing both eyes, tho

>>24916282
Yes, we've got some catching up to do.

To Kazuya: I'll see you later. Let me know if you want to go a few rounds sometime, I'm not that bad with a sword myself. (what? don't look at me like that, you know how fun it'd be to troll Kazuya with that fatal abyss shard.)

Once we're alone: Call the rest of the tri-stars, I'd like to invite a guest of my own while we're on our way- cue visit to argent prominence.

>>24916382
We can show him the Hollow Sun. We have total control over it, anyway.

>>24916438
>>24916425

I have to veto this one. I say we should take this easy, for now. While AP has been very generous with his gifts, I do not trust the fucker.

Not one inch.

There is something he's not telling us. I don't buy that he has amnesia.

>>24916124
>(I'll keep those in mind.)
Thank you - In the interests of preserving mass and power, I was thinking that could upgrade existing artifacts, or possibly consume their mass to turn them into things it knows how to make.

We don't really want to sap its reserves any more.

Though we do need to see how it is doing, if it has gained any power since repairing itself - hopefully it was made on such a scale to sustain industrial output; and is just missing a few generators and had leaky power lines.

>>24916459

Yeah, no need to jump the gun. Just meet up with the cannon fodder trio for now, and see what they make of things. The rest can come later.

>>24916459
>There is something he's not telling us. I don't buy that he has amnesia.

That's what got me started on this train of thought in the first place, actually.

I think he may have actually been involved in the creation of it. The coincidence that he just 'found' bardiel's wings, that happen to match the constructs in the Hollow Sun..... well, that's too much.

My guess is that he actually does have amnesia - and is chasing after recovering his own secrets that he doesn't remember.

After all, the Thief has proven its possible to take someone's memory.

Amnesia doesn't have to be naturally created if someone took it.
When we get the Red Joker's memory from the thief, we should ask how it was made/obtained. It might shed some light on how plausable this is.

>>24916418
Dunno. We best make sure he doesn't get his hands on the knife. We do NOT want him to wield that in case things go south.

Rolled 84, 54, 75 = 213

>>24916516


We should stick the blade in the Sun's vault. Among with the piece of the pig sticker The Thief is after. Have a Hellion set to come and earn us if the facility comes under attack.

>>24916459
>>24916503

Fine, we'll keep the reveal tabled for now. I still want to meet with Argent and tell him about Kraken- I know, I KNOW we told Natsumi but it'd still be nice to get some input and advice on what to do about him from Argent.

>>24916575

>warn us

God damnit autocorrect.

> "Alright, let's go. Catch you later Kaz."

"Count on it."

>"Sounds good. Hey Kaz, take care alright? Say hi to Natsumi for me."

"When I see her," he agrees, amiably. "-Kou, I'll return the keys once I'm done, all right?" There's a faint chime as Kazuya jingles the keyring, with his usual smile; "I'll look forward to our next match, then," Kouichi agrees, rather gravely - With a stern little nod of his head. It seems like he takes things rather seriously...Possibly a bit too much, in your opinion.

For a while, you walk in silence - This late in autumn, the trees are nearly bare, now; A mantle of dead leaves covering the ground, crunching beneath your shoes. Ahead, the school's gates loom before you, students still filtering out in a desultory trickle...

"-I'm surprised by your timing," Kouichi says, abruptly - His breath smoking in the air. "You really do have a knack for being in the right place, at the right time." He takes long, steady strides - Still, you keep pace easily enough.

Fragments of conversation come to you, as you keep walking.

> "...waiting outside?"
> "...Seisin High uniform, isn't it?"

Kouichi grins - A flash of teeth, a sidelong smile. "...Sounds like you've been keeping busy, though. Tyrian's told me about what happened yesterday...We'd have come to help, but the storm..."

His voice trails off, and he makes a 'what-can-you-do' gesture.

> "-yfriend must be...ky bastard."

His voice lowers, as - at the very edge of your vision - you catch a faint gleam of gold. "-Did you get him, though?"

[ ] "Yes."
[ ] "I think so."
[ ] "I'm not sure."
[ ] "He got away."
[ ] "I was a little distracted at the time, actually."
[ ] "Now's not the best time, Kouichi."

[ ] "-Excuse me for a moment."
[ ] "Who's that over there?"
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24916575

We did actually get it, right?

I recall it was part of the bargain with the black tri-stars, but I don't recall if was officially handed over.

>>24916589
Thank you.
Mind you, I'm not saying we do a big grand reveal full-steam-ahead immediately, but we should definitely pry more information out of him and evaluate if it's worth bringing up.

Discussing Kraken is something we should do anyway, but also a possible lead in.

>>24916589

I agree. Kraken's power is totally and completely broken, holy shit. Not to mention the fact that he has a FLYING HORSE and a GIANT AXE.

And DOCTOR OCTOPUS'S TENTACLES.

>>24916615

What, Kotone's here?

> [ ] "I was a little distracted at the time, actually."
> [ ] "-Excuse me for a moment."

Go and check it out.

>>24916615
"Maybe. I'm not saying anything for sure until I see a body though. Too genre savvy for my own good."

>>24916615
"Probably, I think so, but I didn't see a body so I'm not going to assume anything. I've killed Rust Kaiser twice and I'm still convinced he's going to come back."

Does Kou have his shinai on him?

"By the by Kou, do you hear that? Sounds like some ruffians are up to no good with a presumably perfectly nice lady. We ought to check it out."

>>24916615
>>24916685
Probably Mio, what with the implied blonde hair we spotted out of the corner of our eye. She's from that same school. (As is the surviving half of Inox Fang, IIRC?)

>>24916615
I'd like to think so, he was barely clinging to what little life he had at ground-zero of quite possibly the biggest explosion I've caused since the Spire. I'm still on edge about him coming back, after what happened at the Sheol arcade... I don't think Pazuzu -lets- his players die. Not permanently, as far as I can tell.

>>24916717
Also, would mention that the snippets of commentary don't seem like they're being said belligerently (like when we ran into Megumi, for example.) This is just our schoolmates being gossipy about who this girl from a school across town is here to see, and so on.

>>24916688
>>24916732
I like a combination of these as far as talk on Enfer goes.

But similarly, I think we probably shouldn't be getting too terribly involved, as I think we're about to get a surprise visit from a certain aforementioned someone to throw things off the current line of conversation.

>>24916615

"Doubt it. Bastard's bomb is how I killed the Corrector. If he'd died it either would have been registered to me or vanished.

"Also, excuse me, I think this is me. Hold that thought about timing, I have a theory on that."

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>>24916642

> We did actually get it, right?

(Yes, you have a shard of the Fatal Abyss - Part of the blade.)

>>24916688
>>24916685
>>24916717

"-Of course," Kouichi agrees - He sounds faintly approving, at that. "It pays to be sure." There's some self-deprecating about his smile, now, as his gaze turns inwards. "...We learnt that the hard way, actually. It's never really over until you're *absolutely certain*."

> "I've killed Rust Kaiser twice and I'm still convinced he's going to come back."

"Like a bad penny," he laughs - But he sounds uneasy, all the same. "...Maybe you'll be lucky, Anon; Maybe it'll stick."

> "By the by Kou, do you hear that? Sounds like some ruffians are up to no good with a presumably perfectly nice lady. We ought to check it out."
>>24916779

You're closer to the front, now - "Really?" Kouichi echoes; He draws himself up a little straighter, shading his eyes with a hand. "I don't see-" Then you hear him inhale, sharply, as if he's been poleaxed.

She's leaning against the guardrail, at the side of the road; The wan light catching the shimmer of honey-blonde hair, her green eyes intent, expectant, and with just the slightest hint of trepidation as she scans each passing face-

And when Mio's gaze settles on you, her eyes light up - Pink sports jacket fluttering in the breeze, as she waves to you. "Anon-kun~!" Mio calls, that sweet (and very familiar) smile on her lips - "Anh, *there* you are~!" she laughs, coltish legs eating up the distance - Her face aglow with simple happiness, as she hurries over.

"Is she-" Kouichi says, sounding stunned; "Is she your...?"

[ ] Free.

>>24916864

Wow.
Quick refresher: Who's she again?

>>24916864
"Dude, not so directly! Am I blushing? Uh, anyway, this is Mio. Mio, this is Kouichi, the captain of our Kendo club."

>>24916882

That's Emi/Mio. She's a girl on a tennis scholarship and also a waitress at a meido cafe. She's the first girl we ever kissed.

>>24916864
"That's a very good question my friend, and one I'm sure you'd absolutely love to know the answer to."

Don't give him an actual answer, watching him spaghetti is hilarious.

"Hey Mio, what brings you here?

Mio, meet Kouichi, Kouichi, meet Mio. Captain of the Kendo Club meet magnificent Tennis Player."

>>24916864
[X] Free.

"The way I act around women is going to get me killed eventually..." (Sai quiet enough that Mio won't hear)

Should we greet her with a kiss? Maybe not, if we don't want to encourage rumors. Dang it, still need to take Asuna to that show too

>>24916901
I think we kissed Hecate at least once, and then when we were about to do a seriously dramatic kiss everything went to hell.

>>24916917
No, that would have been our first kiss.

>>24916917

We were going to. We never actually did do it, though.

>>24916917
God damn it.
Just, fuck.
Fuck this gay red earth

>>24916907
I feel like if we're going to joke to him about this, I'd want to make it a joking response to
>>24916864
>"Like a bad penny," he laughs - But he sounds uneasy, all the same. "...Maybe you'll be lucky, Anon; Maybe it'll stick."

"I'm using up too much luck out here to save any for Rust Kaiser, I guess."

Only if we can say this to him before Mio gets within hearing distance, though.

Then introductions as normal.

>>24916907
And frankly, I kind of want to miss telling him that nobody but Kazuya knows about us and Mio, mostly because I think the spaghetti he'll unleash when he accidentally blabs about it to one of our uninitiated lady friends is probably worth the backlash we'll get from not having told them ourselves.

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>>24916886
> "That's a very good question my friend, and one I'm sure you'd absolutely love to know the answer to."

"I don't-" Kouichi begins. He's gone stock-still, though his adam's apple bobs as he swallows. "-I mean, I'm not..."

>>24916902
>>24916907

You have the distinct feeling that Mio's about to hug you - But, fortunately, she draws up short instead; Returning your greeting with a soft smile, and a softer - "I missed you."

> "Mio, meet Kouichi, Kouichi, meet Mio. Captain of the Kendo Club meet magnificent Tennis Player."

"Oh..." Her slim fingers come up - Brushing a stray strand of blonde hair back from her eyes, as she turns her devastating smile on Kouichi, next. "Ah, you're Anon-kun's friend, right? It's nice to meet you~!"

"-It's a pleasure," Kouichi croaks out. His hand rests limply in Mio's for a moment, as his throat works again.

"Hmmmm..." Her eyes narrow, consideringly as she looks up at him. "...You're really very tall, you know. But - Kou-kun, was it? - Thank you for taking care of Anon-kun."

"'es," he manages, faintly. His fingers twitch.

> "The way I act around women is going to get me killed eventually..."

"Mmm?" Mio cants her head to the side, making a soft sound of incomprehension - Thankfully, she didn't hear that. She giggles, lightly, as she clasps her hands behind her back; Seemingly waiting, with a faintly expectant air...

> "Hey Mio, what brings you here?

"Tennis, actually," she says. "-There was a friendly match today...We won, too~!" A shadow passes over her face, gone as quickly as it came - "Afterwards, since we were in the area...I thought I'd wait for you." Her gaze flits down, and to the side; "T, that is...If it's okay..."

[ ] "Of course."
[ ] "-I don't mind."
[ ] "I appreciate it, but you shouldn't have."
[ ] "People will talk, you know. Should you really be here?"
[ ] "Did you wait long?"
[ ] "You could have called ahead, you know."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24917051

>Seemingly waiting, with a faintly expectant air...

Awww, that's adorable. She wants us to kiss her, doesn't she?

>>24916950

(Apologies, I missed that one.)

>>24917051
"Congratulations on the match, I'm happy for you. And it's good to see you again, I never mind you coming by."

We're in public so we probably ought to restrict it to a hug and a kiss on the cheek instead of trying to cram our tongue down her throat.

"You okay there Kou?"

>>24917051
[X] "-I don't mind."
[X] "Did you wait long?"
[X] Free.
"I guess it's a good thing I waited for Kou or we'd have missed each other."

We need to get her out of here without letting on that we want to get her out of here. This also wrenches our Hollow Sun plans. Don't really want to go zombie for a prolonged period while someone who really does deserve our attention is with us.

>>24916917
Man, I hope wherever she is doesn't let her see all of this. It would be rather heart-breaking if she could see Mio becoming a replacement for her.

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>>24917051

> sweatingintensifies.gif

That .gif

THAT .GIF

>>24917123
She knows we love her, she can see it in every enemy we slaughter in her name, every piece of revenge we take, that's our special way of telling Hecate we love her and are going to find her.

>>24917051
[Oh Christ. Fuck man, y'know I'm all for moving on and shit... I just wish we had a body to bury first. I can't do this without concretely knowing Hecate's fate. I don't even, just call me when we get to the hollow sun.]

>>24917051
>[ ] "People will talk, you know. [...]
>[ ] "Did you wait long?"
Drop the "Should you really be here?" bit, because that's a dick thing to say to ANYBODY.

The first line should be said light-heartedly, because otherwise it could be interpreted as that we're embarrassed to be seen with her, which is definitely not the implication we're going for.

Got a feeling that this
>A shadow passes over her face, gone as quickly as it came
is covering for more derision from her teammates, though, since this is what happened last time the topic came up.

Not sure we should bring it up, though, especially in front of a third party.

>>24917107
And no worries.

>We won, too~!" A shadow passes over her face, gone as quickly as it came - "Afterwards, since we were in the area...I thought I'd wait for you."

Wonder if they left her behind again? Weird how she attracts animosity like that. Course it's also weird she can drain light out of an area and turn it into a construct.

>>24917123

The worst part is that Mio is a really, really sweet girl. She's cute and nice and friggin' hot: The kind of girl you want to bring back to your parents.

But damn, I don't know either.

>>24917142
Things really were simpler with Hecate. Asuna had been potentially chased off by that traumatic event on our first date, Mio was just a sweet girl who may or may not have had a crush on us, Natsumi was hooked up with Kazuya and we didn't know Megumi yet.

>>24917051
Hahaha, poor Kou. Hell, poor male population of the world, we keep attracting the hottest chicks.

"Of course it's okay, I like seeing you. We can call it a surprise visit, in which case I am pleasantly surprised... though not as much as Kou seems to be. What, all the boys in your club make you forget that the other half of the world is prettier?"

>>24917141
>every enemy we slaughter in her name, every piece of revenge we take,

We've totally been slacking on that front and you know it. There really would have been no downside for us if we let the Tri-Stars fend for themselves and went all out on Kraken that time. But we decided to be all noble. Well, noble for the Joker anyway.

>>24917109

Let's just be cool about this, for now. I'd much prefer that we didn't commit either way.

>>24917141
We could be Vali incarnate in the name of Hecate and it still won't stop how much it hurts for her to see us dating Mio.
>>24917158
I guess that's the point. We're walking a tightrope above a chasm and whichever way we fall will bring happiness to one, and sadness to the other.

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>>24917109

"Really~?" There's a lilt to Mio's voice - She might have taken that as an invitation. "-I'll definently remember that, next time~"

> [X] "Did you wait long?"

"-Just a little," she clarifies. "About fifteen minutes...A little longer, and I'd have left. But," Mio goes on, hastily, "I didn't mind it or anything - I'm just happy to see you...Anon."

> "I guess it's a good thing I waited for Kou or we'd have missed each other."

"Aaah, *lucky*~!" she giggles - There's color in her cheeks, now; A warmth, tingling just under her skin. Mio sobers just as quickly, though - "If I'd known, I'd have waited," she offers. "...As long as I had to..."

> [X] "People will talk, you know.

She shakes her head. "-I don't mind," Mio says - With just the faintest tremble to her voice. "...Even if other people *do* say things about me, I don't-"

> "You okay there Kou?"
> "Of course it's okay, I like seeing you. We can call it a surprise visit, in which case I am pleasantly surprised... though not as much as Kou seems to be."

Mio goes pink, then red, and falls abruptly silent. You get the feeling that Kouichi's presence had completely slipped her mind - Let alone the curious looks you're getting, from loiterers and professional eavesdroppers on all sides.

Oh boy.

"'es," he says. He's gone an interesting shade of puce.

> What, all the boys in your club make you forget that the other half of the world is prettier?"

That seems to jar him from his reverie. He blinks. Swallows. Begins to breathe again.

"No," Kouichi says. Monosyllabic, now. That's an improvement. He clears his throat, looking halfway near normal; "-I don't mean...I mean, I don't - Don't want to...To *interrupt*. Please, carry on...Miss."

He dips his head in a grave nod, his shoes scuffing against the path - Giving you a sidelong glance. "Uh, Anon, what about the..."

(Continued)

You can tell he's...rather uncomfortable, to say the least. He avoids looking directly at Mio, his words stiffly formal - But the collar of his shirt is slowly wilting, and it's not the heat.

Rather than finish, he gives you a silent, urgent - And, to your mind, rather pleading - look: One that says, quite simply...

What now?

[ ] "Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you later."
[ ] "Go on ahead. I'll see you next time."
[ ] "Hold on a moment, I won't be long."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24917325
As amusing as it is to watch Kou suffer...
[X] "Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you at the arcade."

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This is a whole nother level of spaghetti.
Goddamn.

>>24917325
"Mio, as much as I hate doing this to you, I DID tell Kou we'd hang out. Would you be okay with meeting later? I'll buy you dinner to make it up to you."

The secret to sustaining any relationship is communication, and establishing clear "together" and "other" rules is useful in minimizing the chance of miscommunications.

>>24917337
I think we stole his love interest. Same way Kazuya was pining for Natsumi and Akira Hecate. If we hadn't intervened with both situations they'd have danced around one another for a long time.

>>24917315

I get the feeling OP really enjoys writing Mio's dialogue. That, and Mr. Kendo's crippling social awkwardness.

>>24917325
Let's not torture the poor guy, it's cruel.

[X] "Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you later."

"I shouldn't take all that long, feel free to go ahead, I'll catch up.

Take care of yourself Kou."

>>24917352
I don't think she really counts as his love interest, he might think she's very pretty, but this is the first time they've ever met and given Kou's spaghetti I don't think they would've even started talking in most cases.

>>24917354

I don't know about you, but I would do terrible things to Mio.

Like hold hands

>>24917352
>>24917357

Which one should we go with, guys? Hang out with mio, or follow kou? I sort of want to do both.

>>24917372

You monster, this is a blue board.

>>24917395
Well, we expressly asked Spaghetti if he were free to talk. It'd be a little rude to leave him hanging

>>24917365
How about this: This wasn't a normal "I saw a pretty girl and developed a crush", this is "Saw a pretty girl and didn't move my eyes until I walked into a utility pole". Love at first sight, with the creeping horrified suspicion that she's head over heels for someone else.

Interestingly, this is another piece of evidence for what I think Kou's problem is: He thinks too much. When he's in the zone he's cool, competent and charismatic. Once he starts thinking about what he's doing he trips. We need to get him to take up Zen.

>>24917352
Ah, don't go making plans when we still haven't taken Asuna to that gallery.

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>>24917395

(Going with the majority.)

>>24917336
>>24917357

> [X] "Go on ahead. I'll catch up with you later."

"Yes, well..." He mops his brow, hesitating just a moment longer - "...I'll be seeing you, then." Kouichi's retreat, such as it is, is *entirely* dignified; You can tell he's glad to be away, from the slow exhalation that pulses from his chest.

"Is he...all right?" Mio wonders aloud - A little doubtfully - as she glances in his direction...Before dismissing it, with a little shake of her head.

"-But, thank you," she says; With a soft, secret smile. "Somehow, that makes me happy..." Her hand slips into yours, her slim fingers cool against your palm - Then the slightest pressure, as she deals a little squeeze.

"...It's too early for me to go back, a-and I don't have work today..." Mio goes on - The flush of color spreading to her cheeks at her words...You have to admit, that sounds slightly dangerous. "-Sooooo...Anon-kun, I guess that m-means..."

She looks up, biting her lip lightly - "...I'm all yours today..."

Mio giggles, but - Suddenly, you're really glad no-one else heard that.

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24917480
You're right, I'd forgotten about that. Next school scene for sure. Next to whatever was up with Hecate, the nature and causes of Asuna's insight into the Red World is my most burning question.

>>24917500
"I suppose it does.

Did you have any idea of what you wanted to do with me since I'm at your disposal for the time being?"

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>>24917500

There's only one answer.

Not really serious. But boy does she want it.

>>24917500
Oh man. I saw this coming from a mile away and I *still* have no idea how to weasel out of it without making Mio sad.

>>24917500
Whoops, so much for that Kouichi centered post.

>"...I'm all yours today..."
"Never, ever say that to a guy who isn't family. Those words are a magic spell that turns men into beasts.

After a pause for reaction,"Besides tennis and cosplay, what are you into?"

>>24917500

Oh, jesus FUCK.

RED ALERT

>>24917534

Go with this.

>>24917500
I swear to God, this girl is a hundred times harder to handle than Hecate just because of how terrifyingly strong here dere is.
We're in a critical situation, folks.

>>24917500

Dealing with Mio is like tapdancing over eggshells filled with TNT. Part of me wants to absolutely ravage her, the rest wants to take a step back. I'm very reluctant to commit ourselves, either way.

>>24917500
I thought she'd have noticed the implication we'd made plans with Kouichi already, oh well.
"Hmm... Well, if you don't mind waiting a little longer, I'll finish up what I have to do first. That way there's the rest of the day to look forward to."

>>24917695

(I'll keep this in mind for later.)

> "Never, ever say that to a guy who isn't family. Those words are a magic spell that turns men into beasts.

"Ah-" Mio's hand goes to her mouth, her eyes going wide- "I, I didn't mean it like..." she says, hurriedly, hastily correcting herself - Then pouts, faintly put-out. "Haa, you're teasing me *again*, aren't you?"

> "Besides tennis and cosplay, what are you into?"
>>24917534
>>24917626

"Ah-" she didn't expect that, clearly; A thoughtful expression flitting over her face, brow furrowing ever-so-slightly.

"Well," Mio begins, at length. "For a start, there's..."

A faint miaow interrupts her reverie - Then another. The bushes rustle, slightly, as something moves within the undergrowth...To a soft gasp from Mio, as she leans forward - Tilting her head towards the sound.

"Oh..." she says, distracted - Her voice a soft lilt, as she reaches out...To more rustling, and another low miaow. "-I thought I heard a..."

The bushes part, as a rather bedraggled-looking kitten pokes a whiskery head out; It miaows, again, as she reaches out for it...And leans away from her hand. "...Ah, it's a kitty~!" Mio says, sounding delighted - Though there's concern in her gaze. "-Is it all right?"

[ ] "It's just a stray."
[ ] "Mio, you're scaring it."
[ ] "We should leave it alone."
[ ] "I think it likes you."
[ ] "...I think it's hurt."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24917756
"You have to be gentle with cats, let them approach you.

Just hold your hand out, let it sniff you a bit and come closer to you of its own accord."

>>24917756
>...And leans away from her hand.
Oh man, her weird anathema thing affects ANIMALS too? Jeeeeeez, that's harsh.

"Probably a stray, I think. Though it IS kind of cute..."

If we have any food left over from our lunch, we could probably try and tempt it out with that. It's definitely going to be hungry if it IS a stray, and it might help overcome whatever weirds people (and cats, apparently) out about Mio long enough for it to acclimate to her.

>>24917834
It could just be that it's a cat. Stray cats tend to be skittish as all fuck, she's lucky that it's gotten this close.

In my experience with stray cats or otherwise very shy cats if you hold a hand out and let them approach they are sometimes friendly, if you try to move your hand towards them they back off or run the fuck away.

I'm >>24917787 by the way.

>>24917756
[>] Free
"No, it doesn't seem to be. Carefully now, see if you can lure it out a bit more so we can pick it up."

>>24917787
>>24917893

"You mean..." Her legs fold beneath her, as Mio lowers herself to her knees - Making that soft, cooing sound, holding her hand out. Rather cautiously, the kitten - It's a brown-black-white tabby, with wispy fur and a notch in one ear - scoots forward, tail held high...

-And hisses. It's fur comes up, and it begins to back away - Bristling as it goes, never quite taking its blue eyes off Mio...Even as she looks back at you. "...That's strange," she murmurs - "-Do I smell bad, or...?"

>>24917834

You have...About half a tuna sandwich left over, from lunch. Giving Mio a wide berth - Claws tapping lightly on the ground as it skitters sideways - the kitten looks ready to bolt...But the temptation's too much. As it flinches away from her, it also flinches *towards* you - Brushing lightly against you, one paw tapping against your hand as a low, needy purr echoes in the air...

"Aaaann, it likes you," Mio sighs - Looking a little sad. "...It must be a *female* cat..." she goes on, though her words are faintly troubled. And, you can't help but notice - even as the kitten takes a tentative mouthful of tuna filling and white bread...It keeps turning it's head to keep an eye on her, between bites - Even as it rubs against the back of your hand, in an oddly friendly gesture.

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24917918
"Might be, animals are strange, sometimes they like and dislike people for no discernible reason.

And you smell fine Mio, that's not it."

Keep on petting the kitty, move our hand back over time so it approaches us bit by bit as it nuzzles our hand. Once its close enough see if we can see any wounds or big scratches, don't try to pick it up, that won't go well.

>>24917918

>"...It must be a *female* cat..."

She KNOWS.

>>24917966
Huh, judging from that, her anathema aura probably only affects female of any species then. I wonder how she gets treated at work.

>>24917918
Ok, so I feel like we should probably broach the subject of whatever this weirdness is.

Maybe start by asking if she's ever had a pet before, or if she's had much interaction with animals or something along those lines. See if we can ease her into the topic with some sort of prior experience to corroborate the theory.

>>24918003
Nah. This is from while we were carrying her to the nurse:
>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 try and bring her into the topic gently; maybe mention that it could help explain the way her classmates seem to treat her, and end it by bringing up the fact that even WE felt it for a bit while we were carrying her to the infirmary, and as she should probably know by now, we DEFINITELY don't hate her. Her classmates even seemed to snap out of it slightly when we gave them the staredown.

>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...?'

And we can probably suggest that maybe it even explains some of Kou's awkwardness around her... Though there's even money on him just being a total spaz who can't keep his composure around gorgeous ladies.

If she objects, we can bring up that it'd hardly be the most intriguing thing we've learned about her in the past few days. (What with the light butterfly thing.)

>>24918059
Knowing what I do of Eisenhorn and Bequin, she won't react well to this.

>>24918059
Mostly, we just want to reassure her that, even if there IS something weird going on, it's by no means a proverbial death sentence. We already know that it's not insurmountable, and that the jerks at her school are probably just too biased against her for other reasons to try and see past it.

And if we want to get our flirt on, maybe tell her that hey, it's a shame because they don't know what they're missing out on.

(Also her friends at the cafe have obviously worked around this. We should probably talk to them a little bit about whether they've felt this instinct at any point in order to confirm/deny.)

>>24917954

A purr is finally coaxed from the kitten, as it draws forward - Almost despite itself. It has some scratches through its thin fur, and seems a little unsteady on it's legs - Nothing deep, though, enough that they were probably inflicted by the thorny branches. It seems more hungry than anything else; Licking your fingers placidly, as you pet its head - Tilting to the side, as it nuzzles up against your hand...

>>24918059

"N-no, never," she says - Her voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid of scaring it. "...I've never kept any pets before."

The soft miaow interrupts her; The cat's ears twitch, with feline wariness - It lolls back against your touch, forepaws relaxing, purring contendedly.

"Awwwww..." Mio's definently charmed. She sighs, a pleased sound, as the kitten's eyes squeeze shut - With the silent unconcern all cats have, once they've fed. "Maybe I should-" she begins - Easing her hand towards it, very, very tentatively...

-There's a *yowl*, and she pulls her hand back, three shallow scratches on her skin. "Ow~!" Mio yelps, beads of blood welling up from the thin cut - "What's..."

And it's off. It's a greased brown blur as - Without warning - the cat darts under the guardrail, onto the black; It's running flat-out to cross the street, absolutely *motoring* with all fours paws under it...Just as you hear the distinctive mechanical sound of an engine-

-As cars keep rolling on, entirely oblivious to the furry shape pelting away for dear life-

"I didn't-" Mio says - Her voice utterly, utterly shocked. "-Anon, you have to-"

[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24918059
This is a bad idea. It'll just cause needless worry and frustration for her. It would be best if we just kept quiet for now and analyzed everything without her noticing. Less trouble, no need to explain and no risk for the relationship

>>24918119
Whelp, time to play hero (and get ourselves killed).

>>24918080
>>24918140
I mean, yeah, it could easily be too forward of us to do this. No idea. Maybe there's an underlying reason behind it that she wants to keep under wraps, and she'll react badly to us noticing.

I think it's still perfectly manageable so long as we make sure she knows that it doesn't change our opinion of her. We already told her that we accept her even after everything she told us, and that we already sort of had a feeling about this at that time. This thing, whatever it is, doesn't change what we told her then. She's already showed us one completely unbelievable facet of her life, so she's definitely willing to open up to us if we talk to her.

>>24918119
FUCKIN' CAT.

>[ ] Free.
We should at least make a break for the street; there's no way a car will notice a kitten running across the street, but they'll almost certainly try to brake if they see an idiot schoolkid heading across the road.

And I know we're preternaturally lucky, but I still don't know if I want to risk going full Japanese-flavored Protagonist and throwing ourselves bodily in front of oncoming traffic to try and save this kitten.

I think we can probably at least help it play one successful round of Frogger: Kitten Edition, though.

Rolled 92

>>24918162
>>24918179

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>>24918223
Should we applaud?

>>24918223
>mfw this was the oncoming traffic's attack roll against us
>no face because it was smeared into an unrecognizable bloody mess across the asphalt by a speeding car.

Also, I'm done for the thread, I think. If someone else could archive it when the time comes, it'd be much appreciated.

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>>24918119
I get the feeling it's a little like pic related at this point.
[ X ] Run. Get the approaching cars to brake by flagging them down instead of doing stupid things like jumping into traffic.

The kitten has a lead on you, but three long strides eat up the distance; You turn your momentum into a forward leap, just a car - Horns blaring - clears the spot just *behind* you. You actually feel the wind of it's passage, as your scoop the little furball up in the exact same motion, like a catcher's mitt and a ball-

And there's another car coming.

From the *other way*.

You're already in motion, when-

There's a sound. It's an awful sound, metal being twisted and warped and bent like a steel pretzel - A sound of force, immense *force*, that rings in your ears, that hits you deep down in your chest and makes you very sick.

The speeding vehicle - Heading right towards you - *deforms*. You don't see what hit it, from the side - But you damn well see the impact. Metal crimps, then folds...Crumpling like a tin can, as the car veers to the side - No, *slides* to the side, rather, propelled by some irresistible and immense power. You catch yourself, just in time - Doing an impromptu spin as your feet find the curb, as you thump down on your back with the yowling kitten clutched firmly to your chest...

-And the world goes red.

(Continued)

>>24918284
Please be Bishamon, please be Bishamon, please be Bishamon.

>>24918301
the kitten was a Corrector all along

>>24918284

STAGE: YOMI

The transition is immediate, but jarring. Angry black sparks fizz and spit at the edge of your vision, like the beginnings of a migraine - The sounds of the colossal impact following you into the Red, distorted echoes ringing in your ears.

Your armored fingers cradle nothing - The Tempest Scrander sparks and judders at your back, as you crash down on an empty, ebony road, splintering chips out of the surface...

-And then the snarl, a metallic blade-on-blade *clash* comes to your ears, as several tonnes of brass smashes down at once. You hear a continuous clatter, as a blizzard of shards resolves into being behind a bestial silhouette, a hateful buzzing, buzzing that sets your teeth on edge.

You glimpse brass armor. Raw red muscle. Angry, predator-yellow eyes, a heat haze fuming from the furnace-heat that constantly boils around its form...

And a name comes up on your systems, a name that should be impossible:

MEGAERA

You can hear the Corrector thrashing in discomfort, shaking that canine head in distress as it claws at the black chain collar around its throat - Drool strings from slavering jaws, as it *howls* again, straining *towards* you yet away from you at once, head turning in your direction.

And you know - You just *know* - that this thing longs to incinerate you, to cook you alive within your armor and rip you to shreds - but it's being pulled away, by the chain that extends into nothing...Claws leaving long, parallel furrows in the ground, lines that glow with an internal heat of their own.

>>24918254

(I'm sorry, I missed that one when I hit POST.)

HP: 130.0%
COBALT BOOSTER: 150%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 150%
METER: 12% (TIER ONE WEAPONRY UNLOCKED)

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24918366
There's no other player around for us to babysit this time. Boost the Scrander and follow the chain.

It occurs to me that maybe we shouldn't have finished Meg with the Fusion Annihilator last time, what with her affinity for heat.

>>24918366
"Oh shit not you again."
Take to the skies! Fly upwads and try to gain some separation while raining vulcan fire.

>>24918406

Wait.

Something isn't right here.

I think the Corrector SAVED us. The car was hit from the SIDE, really really hard. Then we see this thing, here.

I think someone is controlling it.

>>24918393
Well it occurs to ME that we didn't even look for a casket last time. Alecto died when Rambling Feather died.

But sure, follow the chain if we can. Just remember to dodge.

>>24918421
Oh. And it's also unable to hit us. My bad, cancel that.

>>24918393
>>24918406
I wouldn't jump the gun QUITE so much.

We thought we killed Megaera before, but it seems as though it is being restrained by whoever holds the reins this time, rather than spurred on into attacking us.

Wait, in a defensive stance, maybe attempt to see where the chain leads.

Also, YOMI was the name of the stage where Bishamon first contacted us. Not sure if that's just the corresponding Red World area to this area of the world, or if this is relevant information.

>>24918430
Clarification: Cancel firing on the corrector.

>>24918439
Should bring this up, while it's plot-relevant again.

Note the name used; these have been suspiciously accurate before as to the character or abilities of the enemy, so I'd look at this again. (Could just be necessary after Alecto to complete a cycle, but doubtful.)
>Megaera is one of the Erinyes, Eumenides or "Furies" in Greek mythology.
>Megaera is the cause of jealousy and envy, and punishes people who commit crimes, especially marital infidelity.

When it first attacked, it was when we were shopping with Megumi, who later mentioned that she was waiting for her boyfriend when we ran into her. This could just be coincidental, but amusing nonetheless.

From the intro to that fight:

>The Corrector's collar - A length of oil-black chain, lashed around its neck, extending into infinity - wrenches at it, as corrosive drool strings from its slavering jaws. Feral instinct propels it towards you, but some invisible force tries to spur it towards Bell Zephyr's red-and-black form [...]

Happened again later in the fight as well, where it was made to go after Bell Zephyr rather than its preferred "instinctual" target.

So there's definitely something external trying to control Megaera's actions. Whether it's just trying to prioritize killing other people for an unrelated reason, or actually trying to keep us alive against Megaera's instinctual desire to kill us remains to be seen.

But now's as good an opportunity as any to try and figure it all out.

(Apologies, lost the connection. Re-typing the post.)

>>24918393
>>24918421
>>24918430
>>24918439


As the primal, bestial form snarls and claws itself in a frenzy of motion, your Tempest Scrander flames to life...And you take flight. The static charge propels you into the air, barely dodging the hissing chain as it whips around in wide arcs, a sinuous ripple of internal motion - Before it can turn to follow you, you surge forward, kicking in the afterburners.

Crimson sparks hail from your back, the boosters flaring - You catch a weird flicker of witchlight in the distance, as the chain draws taut; It's *retracting*, almost dragging Megaera off it's feet, the thing's barbed tail lashing against the ground as it makes those awful sounds of distress...

-But then it's behind and away from you, and you're speeding forward. Following the oil-black links to the bitter end. Before you - A small rift yawns open, a blistered tear in the fabric of reality; Cracks of light skitter forth from it, a wild *screech* coming from behind you - The first waves of heat beating against your armor, as the Corrector stops fighting the pull.

It bounds forward, talons raking against the ground as it coils to pounce at you from behind, maw opening impossibly wide; Hell-light gutters to life within its internal furnaces, a holocaust roar sounding in your ears as the rift continues to flicker and *twist* with eye-hurting illumination...

HP: 129.1%
COBALT BOOSTER: 150%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 150%
METER: 13% (TIER ONE WEAPONRY UNLOCKED)

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>24918750
Go evasive, throw out a few shadows as we jink, then route cobalt booster to the tempest scrander and DIVE DIVE DIVE, HIT YOUR BURNERS PILOT!

>>24918750

Dive through the rift.

DO IT.

DO IT.

>>24918750
We could always fly right into the rift, but I'm not so sure that's a smart thing to do, we don't know what's on the other side, could be an enclosed space.

If we dodge suddenly we could probably avoid harm and Meg would likely get dragged into the rift, but then what? The rift closes, another mystery unsolved?

>>24918831
We're at (near) full HP, max shroud and a fistful of luck, I say we dive through.

>>24918808

You can feel furnace-heat gusting against your armor, hear the harsh metallic clash of superheated brass as the Corrector *springs* - But then your Assault Shroud fills the air with strobing blurs, afterimages that swarm around you in a cloud of nanofiber. Trailing shadows, you *dive* - Cold blue light flaring from the Tempest Scrander's turbines, as the sudden kick of acceleration roars in your ears...

White-hot claws swipe through one shadowy doppleganger, than another. The creature has misjudged the leap - It can't move fast enough to stop you, though those shard-wings spew forth in a whirling cloud of sharpnel...

-But not before you lunge towrds the rift in a surge of speed, your gauntlet making contact-

And it REPELS you. An electric jolt surges through you, as lightning seethes across your form - Your HUD flares to life with ERROR messages, hexagonal warnings blotting out your fizzing vision as the force has you in it's grasp-

...It's like being hit by a brick wall.

A brick wall studded with tasers.

You're thrown - No, *hurled* - away. You hit the ground at an angle, and you cross it on your back. The scraping, skidding *screech* drowns out all thought, as wisps of smoke rise from your limbs, the reactor in your chest whining as it surges back to life...

-As Megaera, roaring and flailing, is dragged back from whence it came.

But - You've *done* something. The crack in the air yawns wide, the edges thrumming with eye-hurting light - And on the other end, you see...

(Continued)

>>24918990
I've got a REALLY bad feeling about this.

>>24919025
I hate it when you say that, Luke.

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>>24918990

It's a Player. Pitch-black, regal, without the faintest hint of illumination - An absolute blackness that seems to suck in all light around it. It reminds you of a chess piece, a stylized statue carved from ebony or obsidian - The only splash of color a white veil, one that twists and coils in unseen winds. The rattling length of chain unfurls like pealing ribbons from the form's shoulders, fanning out in an intricate, streaming web-

One piece, in particular: The Black Queen.

Your HUD locks on, humming fitfully. Odd, alien glyphs flicker at the edges of your vision, as it struggles to find a lock-

And then the inky wound in the air knits itself shut, and swallows itself up.

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

The world returns in a rush of color and sound. Somewhere, a horn blares. Beneath you, the sidewalk is cold and pitted with tiny depressions; The kitten squirms from your grasp, and darts for the shadows of the nearby alley.

It's always disorientating, to return - This time, the transition leaves you with a coppery taste in your mouth. You've skinned your elbows, and the small, petty pain informs itself upon you as you lever yourself to your knees-

You hear people exclaim - There's a few stopping to look at the crashed car; The driver stunned, looking distinctly shaken as he fumbles his airbags down. As you turn your head - Slowly, it feels like it weighs a million pounds - you can see Mio just...*standing* there. Her hand pressed against her mouth - Her eyes so very, very wide.

What was that?

What was *that*~?

You push yourself up to your feet, your head still seething with distortion. The eerie, alien runes you glimpse still swarm in your field of vision - Fading, but only reluctantly. You have no idea what that-

...No. That's not true.

In the moment before your connection was forcefully severed, in the instant before the walls of the Red World came slamming down, you glimpse a name...

HELLEBORE

JOKER QUEST

EPISODE 43

TO BE CONTINUED

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>>24919074

(Gentlemen: Apologies for running so late, but this session was plagued with some...Well, connection issues. Sorry for the inconvenience, thus far.

I would love to continue, but it is really, really late on my side of the world: However, you've been a wonderful audience, and thank you for putting up with me.

As always - Good night, and god bless. I look forward to seeing you again.)

>>24919074
Is that...who I think it is?
>>24919100
Thanks OP, hope to see you soon.

>>24919125
I don't know what you're thinking, but I suspect Hecate's player form.

>>24919182

More symbolism:

> Several legends surround the hellebore; in witchcraft it is believed to have ties to summoning demons.
> Helleborus niger is commonly called the Christmas rose, due to an old legend that it sprouted in the snow from the tears of a young girl who had no gift to give the Christ child in Bethlehem.

The two seem mutually exclusive, but when you think about it. A player named after a witch's plant, with a bound monster that takes the named of a woman spurned.

Sounds familiar.

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>>24919182
Precisely
This also brings about some disturbing thoughts.

>>24919182

Her player form? Doesn't she already have one?

I have to say, if Hecate and Mio ever meet, there's going to be the catfight to end all catfights.

>>24919336
She has one that we know of. Given that her moniker is Hecate though, I wouldn't be surprised to know she has more, though I'm a little wary of outright saying it's her, especially since we were dead set on Kazuya being CC and having Kasumi appear instead.

>>24919618

That was heavily, heavily foreshadowed, in hindsight. Not at the moment, but when you put it together, it all made perfect sense.

Boy, did I feel like a moron.

>>24919182

Does that mean Kraken is female? So far, all the 'control powerful corrector' players have all been universally female.