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After a few more minutes in which Areta, MANIA, and Shimabuku all failed to get anything you move on. You let Durga lead you where ever she likes and she eventually drags you to the fortune teller's game. In this one you draw a fortune and you get a prize based on what you draw. You can only draw one however.

Your group draws your fortune and they read as follows.

Chen:Don't strain yourself: Average luck
Durga:That which you seek is closer than you think. Good Luck
Luna:Well... Watch where you step. Little luck
Areta:You are working too hard. Bad luck
MANIA:Sometimes thinking about life choices is good too. Worst Luck
Shimabuku: You are a child of God. Everything you try will turn out perfectly BEST LUCK

Shimabuku looks around confused before a mysterious looking shop keeper hands him a small golden ball. "huh, I don't get it but I win?" He laughs as you move on to the rest of the festival. As you look around the stands you see the ring toss is pretty empty so you get along it.

Who will go after the top prize?
[]MANIA, maybe she is good with rings?
[]Areta, She is good at putting things around shafts, ha ha ha
[]Luna, it seems easy enough for her to have fun with
[]Durga, She already has her eyes on a few of the prizes like a mad woman
[]Other, please specify
(2/2)

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((Going to work on emails and setting up a pastebin for characters and other such fun things. I will also try to get an item list since shopping actually matters again.))

>>25266354
If MANIA could poke out someone's eye on her first try, maybe she has good hand-eye coordination?

[X] Areta, She is good at putting things around shafts, ha ha ha

Why not?

And judging by your cord for your laptop not working... are you sure that it isn't your laptop trying to kill everything?

>>25266746
Eh... I think MANIA is a little better at something else...

>>25266762
Probably.

Anyone remember the list of challenges?

To:MANIA
Subject: Re:Favorite food
>Raw? Stewed? Stir-fried? Baked? Salad? Pickled? Steamed in one of those Chinese cakes you find at a dim sum place?

I like raw radishes. They have a bit of a bite to them and taste quite nice.

[]Spicy Foods?
[]Vegetarian?
[]Other, please specify


To: Areta
Subject: Re: Your type?

>My type? I don't really think I have a type.

>...I sounded just like a pervert or a desperate person, now, didn’t I?

>To be honest, I don’t know about my type or if I’m stringing MANIA along. It’s been a long time since I gave a damn about anything in my life, and that pattern only broke after I signed up for the World.

>“All aboard the USS Chen! Impervious Fields Set! Density levels maximum! Black Hole engine ready for ignition!

>Destination: school and work. Mission: START.”

>That is the lump sum of my childhood and adult life right there. I believe I’ve been robbed.

Sucks, bro. Neat way to avoid the question. Human beings re creatures of sexuality. We are born for the set purpose of passing along our genes, everything else is just tassels and glitter. It is only when we lie to ourselves, or lie to others, that is the whole point beyond human progress. "Oh, we aren't just lumps of meat with a long ass expiration date. We should discover the nature of the universe! Reproduction isn't the only reason for us to continue." Not saying that is a bad thing mind you, but. The skinny of it is that's bullshit. I told you my type so you tell me yours.

[]Nihilist?
[]I like your type
[]I prefer the domestic type
[]I like the difficult ones
[]Wait, do I have to pick more than one?!

(1/2)

To:Lotus
Subject: Re:Favorite saying
>What made you able to break through?

Who says I have? The fundamental point of the saying is, perhaps, that you never stop suffering, but you don't have to be unhappy about it. Though I finally got promoted due to lots of work my sister is now in a coma. Though I have a partner, i.e you, people are still falling into comas around me. Though we try we fail, yet we try again. That is proof you are alive.

-CHAIN END-

You can write 5 new cards

Card to send
[]Favorite food?
[]What's your type?
[]How are you?
[]Fight me!
[]What are your dreams?
[]What is your favorite saying?
[]Nice to meet you!
[]Follow my lead
[]What do you look like?
[]Event Item!(3) Let's go on a date


Can send to:
People:
Shimabuku
Luna Blackthorne
Vividor
MANIA
Durandal
Durga
Lotus
Areta
Hatsu
Again, you can post an idea for cards to send or for a reply at ANY POINT during the thread. This way even people who do not stick around till the end have a chance. Just link your reply or the new greeting cards to send out to this post.
(2/2)

>>25266779
>>25266762
>>25266749
>>25266746

You have noticed the games listed are "Carving game" where you attempt to use a knife or pointy object to cut a design out of an easily breakable tile like substance, a shooting range*, goldfish scooping, fortune drawing*, Ring toss, water balloon yoyos, and other such common festivities are around you.

A * means you already won the best prize at it

>>25266779
> "Carving game" where you attempt to use a knife or pointy object to cut a design out of an easily breakable tile like substance, a shooting range, goldfish scooping, fortune drawing, Ring toss, water balloon yoyos,

>>25266749
I am pretty sure the rocket fish screwed something up when it melted.

So Areta? Writing up now

>>25266839
>Carving game
MANIA.

>Goldfish scooping
Durga, innate skill + racial cat fishing bonus

>water balloon yoyos
Luna, but we'd be better off seeing if we can't find a haiku contest of some sort...

>>25266791
MANIA
>Spicy food

Areta
>Someone who can challenge me to examine and better myself. Helping them do the same, if they wish.

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You look to Areta and give her what you hope is an encouraging thumbs up.

"Thumbs up? Really? Who does that anymore? What does that even mean in this context?" She asks seeming confused.

"I mean you should go for the ring toss. You look like you would be good at it." You explain making her frown further.

"How does that even... How does someone look like they would be good at it? Jeez, you old people and your weird ideas." She sighs and you hold back the dirty joke you wanted to make.

She looks over the prizes and sees the golden bell on the head of a sleeping owl like doll. She gives a smirk before casually tossing the ring at the owl. It soars through the air gracefully, spinning in a perfect arc. Before it can land however the owl awakens and smacks the ring back at her face. You hold back a laugh as you see her plucked eyebrow twitch in irritation. She throws down a lot of GP and picks up several arms full of rings and starts throwing them wildly at the owl, the owl entering a martial arts stance and batting them away with frightening precision. The vendor seems about to get between the two of them but an Owl karate chop, and about a dozen rings striking his head making him back away. This is their duel.

You look over at the others to judge how they are doing. Shimabuku has managed to get one of those fat bellied good fortune cats whose paw moves up and down on its own and seems delighted. Luna and MANIA seem to have won nothing, however Luna is standing next to Durga, directing her at prizes she wants while MANIA stands back and observes.
(1/2)

>>25266807
>Favorite food
To Vividor, just to see how he can avoid giving a coherent answer

>How are you?
To Hatsu, surprised to still see him on

...And it's time to head into the danger zone

>What's your type?
To MANIA

You let out a worried sigh before glancing back at Areta and see the field is a mess and she is down to her last few rings, both her and the owl letting out heavy breaths of exhaustion. You think you have a moment to go talk to MANIA before you feel your headache flare for a moment, and you can almost swear you hear someone mutter "Skeith" Before Areta returns with the gold bell, the small kung fu own from before foaming at the beak back in the stand.

"I won the prize grandpa." She informs you and the group gets back together.

Wat do?
[]There seems to be something going on in the center of the festival
[]Go to the carving game
[]Water Balloon yoyos
[]Goldfish scooping
[]Other, please specify
(2/2)

>>25267340
>Something going on in the center of the festival

Let's investigate gang!

>>25267340
>[]There seems to be something going on in the center of the festival
Ooooh, shiny.

>>25267340
Can we go over to Durag and ask her about the company we work for. It's been a few works, shouldn't we have heard something from the new boss?

"The other events can wait. Let's go see what is going on over there.!" You point out a large group of people and make your way over to it.

After pushing your way through to the middle you see a vital vista dressed as a priest holding a mic and standing next to a ripped man with four arms. The Vista clears his throat before speaking. "Ladies and gentlemen. I welcome you to this festival. The age of gods has past, so what is it we are celebrating? Peace, good will? No, strength! With our might we drove back the gods from this world! We told them we are not your play things, and we shall be free to make our own destiny! IN honor of these ideals, we have a special challenge for you here tonight. This man, the champion, will take anyone in unarmed combat. You may use any magic you like, so long as you do not have a weapon with it. Any is welcome to challenge us here, and as a special prize, we are offing a gold ball for the firefly event! You can even claim this prize if you have already won one! Just remember, this is a one on one battle." He raises his arms to the crowd. "So, any takers?" He asks with a sneer.

At once a large man steps out of the crowd and takes off his outfit so he is only standing in a loincloth before charging the four armed man. It lasts about ten seconds, with the four armed man tossing the overly large loincloth wearing man around like a rag doll before throwing him aside like trash. He lets out a massive roar before beating his chest.

"So then, any takers?" The Vista smiles looking over the crowd.

EVENT: Anonymous temporarily takes control of one of your companions if you choose them during this fight, giving a chance to get a peek at their thought process and personality.

Wat do who pick?
[]Shimabuku, he is a man's man!
[]Durga, she could use a knock to her pride
[]Do it yourself
[]Areta, she needs the practice
[]MANIA, fighting seems about all she is good for
[]Pass on it, you are here for fun not fighting
[]Other, please specify

>>25267653
>MANIA

It's about time she got a win. Doesn't seem like she's been having a good time so far.

>>25267687
Huh, you know, I was going to say carving or goldfish for MANIA.

Well, well.

>>25267687
>>25267726

I kind of think we should skip it or give it to Shimabuku. I just got a feeling that if we send MANIA out there it will be like saying as AE put it. "Oh, you are no good to me unless you are fighting."

Keep in mind how poorly we do with MANIA even under ideal conditions

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>>25267653
>ripped man with four arms
>champion
MORTAL KOMBAAAAT

>>25267653
[X] Shimbuku

Time for the world's luckiest. And if he isn't so lucky...

>>25267838
I'm not really sure if we ever indicated we thought that with her.

Like the first time we really pissed her off she did the opposite of fight when she investigated Kite.

I just thought that she seems to genuinely enjoy violence, and right now she's barely done anything with the ring toss and rifle, and she got the worst fortune possible.

>>25267838
Honestly I just want to play as MANIA for a bit.

>>25267925
Like for all I know, she'd be insulted if we didn't pick her.

Goddamnit why is this so complicated.

>>25267925
Right. But she got dressed up in a nice outfit, and is having a relaxing day with her friends. It just seems we are making her "prove her worth" to me.

Then again I have been aiming for MANIA end for about three threads or so.

>>25267976
It's MANIA and Chen. wololololol

>>25268007
Oh really? I thought I was alone.

You do have a point about the outfit though.

Despite being a Tribal Grappler, she's wearing a nice robe instead of something more aimed for fighting like Shimabuku and Durga.

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I have yakisoba. Will wait for consensus

>>25268069
Can we just like, ask for any volunteers, and if more than one, have them play rock paper scissors or something?

So much pressure.

Move on unless one of our party members says otherwise.

>>25268105

Yeah. Let's ask our party members if any of them want to compete here or if they want to move on and do more games. There's plenty of fighting in the World, but only a handful of carnival games.

>>25268105
Thirding.

You look back at the group. "Look, does anyone want to do this? I mean, we have a whole festival here. Not like we came here to fight." You explain.

"Seems like a pain in the ass. Bukey?" Areta asks looking over to him, his body giving you a faint headache as he munches down on cotton candy.

"Hrf dahl mah srf" He articulates pointedly.

"How vulgar. The least you could go is close your mouth when you speak." Luna chastises making him take a few chews then swallowing his cotton candy.

"I said 'Nah, I'm good bro'." He explains before biting into a fried squid, his AIDA transferring the sensations from his character to his real body.

"MANIA?" Durga asks glancing over to her.

She glances down at her outfit before shaking her head. "I would rather not."

"Alright then, let us move on." You say before turning and leaving.

You are now walking around the stalls, you notice Shimabuku is eating everything he can, likey happy to be able to eat without having to worry about how he looks on stage.

You hear the gentle clopping of wooden sandals as you walk along the stone walkway and eat some takoyaki Shimabuku brought back.

Well now what?

[]Go to the carving game
[]Water Balloon yoyos
[]Goldfish scooping
[]Talk to someone(Bout what?)
[]Other, please specify

>>25268474
[X]Goldfish scooping
Come onnn~

>>25268474
Ask Durga about the company if we get the chance. I'm really really curious about the lack of responses.

And goldfish game is always fun.

>>25268631
To clarify, ask about why we haven't heard anything from the new boss after the Chief's death.

>>25268631
What do you mean by company and responses?

>>25268659
Ah.
No no nooo.

Save that for when we're not playing the game anymore.

Who knows who's listening.

oh jesus I remember playing this game when I was 10 something. This brings me back. Thanks anon, I'll take a look at the precedent quest logs.

>>25268503
Yeah why not.

>>25268669
We work for the government, our boss took a vacation down Arakawa River.

We are going to get a replacement or laid off.

>>25268899
There already was a replacement. You sort of don't like the guy and Haruko went in to do the formalities of changing hands and all that.

You are still on paid vacation

>>25268899
Yeah I saw your second response.

I mean... TECHNICALLY we're on vacation and have shitloads of it since we never used it before for the last five years.

((Sorry for the delays, working on a pastebin for the characters and realized I didn't include their ages in my notes for some reason. Yay me!))

You make your way over to the goldfish scoop. You examine the paper nets, and decide the man is on the level so you start looking for the gold ball. In the center of the tank is what looks like a catfish of some kind with the golden ball on it's forehead. You are about to object but then decide better of it.

"Chen. What is this?" MANIA asks looking over the fish tank.

"A goldfish scoop." You answer trying to figure out how one is supposed to get the giant fish.

"You auction fish off as prizes at your festivals? Making them be caught on small hoops of paper?" She asks further as you examine the nets, trying to find some way to construct a single super-net.

""Obviously, what's the problem?" Durga asks.

"How very barbaric." MANIA states sadly.

"Barb- What? It's a game! For fun!" Durga protests, her Japanese festival pride not letting her back down.

"I very much doubt the goldfish feel that way." She counters.

"Huh? Wha-? Come on MANIA. It's not that bad. They are not even real fish." Shimabuku explains.

"So at the real festivals they also use fake fish?" MANIA asks as you glance back.

"No, they're real if I remember right." Areta explains.

"How barbaric." MANIA continues.

"I don't want to hear that from you sadist girl." Durga protests.

"This and that are totally different things." MANIA sighs.

Who shall go for the gold ball?
[]MANIA, she will learn to like it
[]Luna, she seems to be overly quiet so that is maybe a sign of something.
[]Durga. Time to put her money where her mouth is.
[]Other, please specify

Also if you want to talk to anyone while you play you can.

Wat say?

>>25268958
[X] Durga.
Durga is a catgirl. Cats like fish. Hence, racial bonus to catching fish.

QED.

>>25268958
[X] MANIA steals all the goldfish and starts digging a koi pond.

;_;

>>25268958
Durga looks like she's got this.

Also it's not like we eat the goldfish.

Normally.

Though admittedly most of them don't really become beloved household pets.

I mean the whole point of pet fish is to teach children about the inevitability of death so...

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>>25269016
>I mean the whole point of pet fish is to teach children about the inevitability of death so...

I'm in despair. Japanese gamess have left me in despair!

>>25269038
That particular concept is hardly exclusive to the Japanese though.

>>25268958
Use Durga! Cheer from the sidelines as she has fun.

>>25269060
Yes, yes, I know, farms. Doesn't make it less gloomy.

>>25269088
I would, but then it might make MANIA judge us more.

>>25269112
One day MANIA will have fun that doesn't relate to some weird fetish...
One day.

>>25269150
...Part of me thinks she was having fun just then with Durga.

You look at Durga and nod to her. "Seems to me that it is time for you to put your money where your mouth is."

"Heh, alright. Just wait till you see the special technique I invented just for this game." she smiles before grabbing three nets and starting.

You take the chance to look around. Areta seems to have agreed with MANIA's reasoning and seems to be avoiding playing, though she is shouting words of encouragement to the others. Shimabuku seems to have gotten into a contest with Luna, his raw power for catching fish versus her "graceful artistic skill". It usually ends with Shimabuku's nets breaking at the handle and Luna's nets getting soggy and failing to catch anything, but they are having fun with it at least.

You are almost afraid to glance back at MANIA, but before you do you hear someone shout with shock and turn back to Durga. She is standing proudly with the giant catfish in her tiny bowl and having evidently only used two nets to do it. "I see, I've been caught. Hm, fine then! Have my treasure young warrior!" The catfish explains before vanishing and leaving a single golden ball in the bowl.

It seems there are only two more events left.

[]Carving Game(Luna or MANIA)
[]Water balloon yoyo(Luna or MANIA)
[]Other, please specify

>>25269407
Carving game sounds good.

>>25269407
Oh has Lotus signed on yet?

>>25269451
She has not

>>25269407
[X] Carving Game
Can't decide. A battle between artists?

>>25269407
Ask MANIA if any of the games look good to her. And congratulate Durga.

"So any of the games look good MANIA?" You ask making her shake her head.

"I am not overly fond of any of them, nor do I have experience enough to know which will be appealing." She answers

You then turn to Durga. "Hey, good job on catching the giant fish with only two nets. I knew you being a cat would give you a racial bonus to the game." You nod.

"Wait, what?" She asks looking confused.

"Nothing, anyway to the carving game!" Yo lead your troupe onward to the stands where you see a large number of players hunched over the small tiles and are using blades similar to ice picks in order to slowly chisel away at the sides.

"Huh, a girly game huh? Well can't be helped. Should shimabuku show you how it's done?" Shimabuku laughs.

"This game requires a delicate hand, and grace. You lack all of those traits." Luna sighs.

"But I'm manly!" Shimabuku protests.

"Vividor is manlier." MANIA points out.

"L-lies!" He takes a step back seemingly unable to come up with a good counter.

Who to send in?
[]Luna, let the artist to her thing
[]MANIA, she seems to be the type with talent in handicrafts
[]Other, please specify

>>25269719
[X] MANIA, she seems to be the type with talent in handicrafts
Hummm...

>>25269719
This seems like Luna's element.

Though that leaves MANIA with the last thing.

>>25269719
...Can we take a look at the balloon yoyo thing?

That's the one activity I don't really get.

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More consensus would be cool~

>>25269757
Eh, let's try MANIA.

She's definitely got grace, and she never indicated that she was incapable of a delicate hand.

>>25269970
My reasoning was kind of that the carving thing seems like it'd be the least 'fun' in the traditional sense, unless you already like arts and crafts.

But MANIA probably wouldn't like the other activity any better, and for all we know she'll be pretty good at this one.

>>25269719
>[x]MANIA, she seems to be the type with talent in handicrafts

We must include her in the group's activities! Even if she doesn't win, it shows that she's a part of the group and not just an observer.

>>25270019
Speaking of that, why have we just been standing around like some supervisor instead of trying our own hand?

Were we supposed to specifically say otherwise even though everyone else was doing it?

We kind of seem like a jackass.

>>25270059
By which I mean that everyone has participated in every activity, whilst we've just done the pop-gun and the fortune thing, and have just kind of stood around judging everyone since then.

>>25270059
We give some effort, but mostly you have been making sure everyone else is having a good time since you were trying to build them up

>>25270100
Fair enough.

>>25270019
The only problem is that it requires patience and precision, which makes cheering her on kind of... counter-productive.

>>25270130

Who says we need to cheer her on?

Rolled 69

MANIA rollan

>>25270171
We don't need to, but I thought it could be a good gesture.

Maybe she doesn't like cheering though.

Hell, she doesn't like sweets and meat so she can't even enjoy the food.

Hold up. If she fails won't she feel like she might be holding the group back? Or maybe it will make her have a hard time with Durga?

Why is she so difficult?!

>>25270333
I think she passed, unless the DC was like 80.

But yeah, Anon attempting any relationship would be jumping into the deep end.

Attempting a relationship with MANIA is skydiving into the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

"Alright MANIA, time to show your stuff." You point dramatically at the carving stations but MANIA just frowns.

"What on earth makes you think I am capable of this?" She asks as Shimabuku starts picking out designs with Durga.

"You... seem like you would be good at handicrafts?" You offer but she just stares at you.

"Uh, er. Yes?" You offer but she eventually breaks eye contact and makes her way over to the golden ball section.

She grabs a design at random and grabs the tools at random as well before sitting down and starting to chisel away at the design. You grab a design as well and start working on it, the only one still making noise in the area Shimabuku, evidently being able to concentrate through anything.

After twenty minutes you finish making a cat like cutout. You glance over at MANIA and see she is almost done as well when she hits on a point at the end and the image fractures all the way through.

She blinks at it once before standing.

"I am finished." She says simply causing you to regroup.

"Ah, how did you miss at that part? Come on, the edge was frayed, you had to go at it from the other side." Durga sighs.

"You should have used the curved chisel around the sides there, it would have saved you time." Luna adds on.

"I see" She offers, evidently done with that line of discussion.

LOTUS IS NOW ONLINE

Wat do?
[]Go wait for the firework show.
[]Go do the water balloon yoyo anyway
[]Buy a mask or something.
[]Go tour the festival with someone and meet up at the fireworks later
[]Other, please specify

>>25270441
So did she pass or not?

Also send Lotus the location and tour the festival with MANIA.

It'd be nice if there was at least one thing she enjoyed.

>>25270441
Masks are fun, buy some for our friends as well. I bet it could help lighten the mood.

>>25270497
She failed at the end. The DC for MANIA was 70

>>25270524
...Of course.

So does that mean we failed the quest, or can Luna do the carving thing instead?

>>25270524
Can we still fight that guy?

>>25270545
I amusingly said the same thing when I rolled.

I was going to say no, but I don't actually see anywhere where I said someone else can't. Just people who already have earned a golden ball can't challenge for another.

So if you want to stick around and have luna have a go at the carving then you can.

>>25270441
Grab some masks, PM Lotus, and let's carry on.

>>25270693

Hmm. Perhaps we can try a little bit of a friendly competition between Luna and Durga for the golden ball?

If not, then let's go see what the yoyos are all about.

>>25270693
Get Luna to do it.

Find something you think MANIA would like so she's not left out.

>>25270693
Ask her if she'd like to?

Though I'm not sure about all of us sticking around, since it might sting even more for MANIA to see someone succeeding at something she came so close but fell short.

>>25270740
Durga already won once.

Also when Lotus shows up, I'm not sure if she technically counts as a party member for the purpose of this mission.

>>25270725

Actually, let's just go with this. There are other golden balls that we can acquire, and having fun is the most important objective here.

>>25270740
Durga already has one from the goldfish scooping

>>25270741
>>25270768
So you are torn between the potential for prizes vs fear of annoying MANIA

>>25270840
Aaaaand of course auto update didn't show me the other posts. writing up now.

>>25270840
Worst luck indeed.

>>25270840
Annoying isn't the right word.

It's just that she seems to have had a shitty time so far, and we're not sure how to make it better for her.

Like there's a chance that she might blame herself for us not getting anything, even though she did really really well for someone on their first try, which would make her already bad experience even worse.

Avoid carving by beating champion? Spells are allowed so we keep distance and constantly debuff him while running him through with rocks and such. Either that or we just cheat via Snark. I have a feeling we would've needed to have bribed him with the quantum magus core for that to work though.

>>25271064
Not sure if that was a one-time only thing or not.

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You send a PM to lotus and tell her where you are and she replies she will be there soon. You grab some masks and nod for the group to move on. You eventually find Lotus after wandering around for a while. She is wearing a red yukata with while flowers printed on it and has her long silky air tied up. She gives you a small nod as your approach. "Hello Chen and company. This is certainly an interesting event. For what purpose are we gathered?" She asks.

"There was an event to get some gold balls but we lost it I think." Durga sighs, evidently sad about the way things went.

"There are also to be those explosives that one launches into the sky. Tis to be wonderful." Luna sighs wistfully.

"Damn vampires are yer freaky way of talking." Shimabuku complains before biting into a fried squid on a stick.

There is still some time before the fireworks event.

Wat do?
[]Wander around with someone.(Who?Wat talk about?)
[]Wander around as a group
[]Leave, fireworks suck
[]Swap MANIA out with Lotus for the quest. See if you can't get the golden ball that way.
[]Other, please specify

>>25271178
Sorry using past tense since it is schrodinger's magus core bribe that has yet to have been observed to happen or not.

>>25271227
Swap MANIA for Lotus. Send someone to see if the Fighting Competition is still going on.

>>25270914
I mean... pretty much the whole point was to give everyone a chance to relax and have fun, and she isn't.

She hates crowds, she hates the food, probably the smell, and hasn't really shown any interest or proficiency in any of the games.

It'd be a miracle if she wasn't miserable, I mean who wouldn't be in her shoes.

>>25271227
Swap MANIA out with Lotus and then drop out ourselves, appointing Durga in charge.

Then wander around with MANIA.

>>25271294
This sounds nice.

>>25271294
Or maybe just hang out with MANIA.

>>25271294
Don't we have one of the golden balls?

>>25271294
This sounds good. Ask her if she has any questions about these types of festivals, because, frankly, it seems she's more interested in learning about the culture around it rather than actively participating.

>>25271375
Yeah, and?

I meant drop out as in, don't stick around to see how everyone else is doing, but instead try to give the girl who seems to really really like us at least one good memory.

>>25271421
I misunderstood, thought we were still going for it.

But when you put it that way it sounds like we have been contracted to kill her.

"Let's give her one good memory. One last memory with us before we put the dame out of commission permanent like"

>>25271421
The only problem is that part of me is afraid it might make our friends think that we're still afraid of MANIA flipping out, instead of us just wanting to see her happy.

>>25271487
Well I mean technically someone else can retry the carving thing, and the balloon thing is still free.

But we can leave that with Durga.

>>25271513
>>25271421
We should just walk around with her, not tell them the reasons behind us going with her.

No need to explain our friends to our friends.

>>25271553
Durga already got a ball.

>>25271669
Yeah that's the best solution.

Nice phrasing too.

>>25271676
I meant "leave that with Durga" as in "she's in charge, we out"

Don't wanna break the immersion/discussion Azure but can I get an ETA on the next session of hollow quest? tomorrow? Saturday? just want to know. Good luck here with this.


on a side, I really should rewatch .hack

>>25271815
Very good show, more about the characters than the action of an online game.

>>25271815
Tomorrow

>>25271983
Thank you

>>25271815
As a side note to your side note know any good places to stream .hack?

Can we just stop a moment to appreciate how what was supposed to become a fun breather has instead become a stressful balancing act where there's no ideal solution.

All thanks to one fucking point short.

"Durga, you are in charge. Make sure nothing horrible happens. MANIA, want to go take a walk around?" You ask making her glance at you before tilting her head slightly.

"I do not mind." She answers.

"Seriously A- Chen?" Durga asks raising her eyebrow at you.

"IF you feel you must go then you should, Sir Chen. Pity you shan't see my victorious form." Luna sighs.

"Leaving already? Well, we can meet up later I suppose." Lotus nods as you drop out of the party and Lotus is cycled in.

You walk off into the festival with MANIA. As you wander around you decide to try and get a feel for her. "So do you have any questions about these types of festivals, because, frankly, it seems you are more interested in learning about the culture around it rather than actively participating." You say but she shakes her head.

"I understand it well enough. A former festivity to the gods is commercialized and then brought to the modern era in a form vastly different than originally planned. Further developments make it lose all meaning save the original idea." She answers.

You can't exactly say she is wrong.

"I apologize for failing at the activity." She offers before looking around.

Wat say wat do?
[]Tell her not to worry about it
[]Say what's done is done
[]Go get some food(Noodle dish, octopus dish, candied apples, shaved ice, etc.)
[]Play a game(Game list from before including an arm wrestling contest)
[]Buy something (More masks. YOU ARE THE RIDER. Dolls, picture artist, haunted house,)
[]Go for a walk by the lake, might be nice
[]Other, please specify

>>25272064
nope, i picked the DVD set for $12 at some gamestop knockoff

best luck is torrents

kat.ph
bay of pirates

good luck with that

>>25272083
Agent anon never takes time off! A moment he isn't struggling between life and death is a moment he won't know what to do with himself!

Or maybe it's because he hasn't had enough coffee. There is coffee at the festival if you want to get some.

>>25272087
"There's no need to worry, it's only a game...well a game within a game."
Haha clever...I'm sorry.
"Would you enjoy this more if the original meaning was more...there?"

>>25272087
Apologize for pressuring her into something she never practiced before.

Maybe try the lake?

>>25272087
[X] "I'm the one that should be apologizing, MANIA. I shouldn't have forced you to come - you don't seem to be having any fun at all."

File: 1370490366807.gif-(37 KB, 256x192, Godot_Worried_Coffee_Catch.gif)

37 KB GIF

>>25272120
[X] Get some coffee.

>>25272087
Maybe try dolls?

She seemed to like cuddling Trap-Grunty, so it's possible that she's interested.

Or would stuffed animals be a better analogue?

>>25272083
>>25272120
>What normal people see:
MANIA kind of bummed out that she failed.
>What Anon sees:
A TICKING TIME BOMB THAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO RUIN CHRISTMAS IF HANDLED INCORRECTLY

>>25272236
We really need a chen handpuppet to give her

>>25272264
Call up Snark and mug him.

>>25272120
Yeah get some coffee.

Maybe ask MANIA if she has any ideas regarding how exactly this sensory stuff is supposed to work?

Like is the way coffee tastes actually programmed into the game as code, is it some kind of hallucination based off our expectations?

Is there an actual answer or is it just a matter of philosophy?

>>25272087
"Don't worry. It was suppose to be fun. I mean, getting the big prize is cool and all but it's more about being with friends and family, trying the games, and having fun. Besides, your sculpture was great! You have alot of artistic talent."

>>25272243
What? No.

It's just that her being kind of bummed out bums us out a bit too.

It's not like we've been enjoying ourselves all that much either, given that we've mostly been focusing on everyone else being happy.

>>25272331
I get the general idea is to tell her not to worry about it. But what do after is sort of all over the place. Will wait for consensus or close enough.

>>25272408
Coffee first.

>>25272408
I like asking her about if more of the original meaning of the festival should be there.

>>25272306
>Being with friends and family

>We know her family is dead.

Going to go out on a limb here and say not to include that line, or to remove the family bit

>>25272458
Eh, there IS no original meaning here.

It's not like this was based off a traditional ritual, but later became commercialized.

This event was added into the game as-is, like the meaning is exactly how it appears.

>>25272487
That's a good point.

>>25272512
I know, but I was thinking about asking if she would enjoy if more of the old meaning, from the old festivals in real life should be there.

"So, any bets on what the theme of the next one of these kinds of missions will be?

My money's on an Onsen."

>>25272568
Maybe a better question would be if she thinks that that's strictly a bad thing, and if so, why?

>>25272596
Why yes I do believe AIDA grunty has just the one for that theme. [/spoiler] it involves a camera

>>25272408
How about getting coffee, browsing through the dolls, and finally walking by the lake, using the potential dialogue lines throughout the thread as you see fit to emulate a conversation?

First things first. You walk over to a vendor and throw out some GP for cheap coffee in a paper cup. You take a drink of the bitter swill and frown. No one makes coffee like you do. While sipping you turn to MANIA. "Sorry, you do not look like you are having fun. Er, would you enjoy festivals more if they were based on their original meaning?" You ask making her tilt her head.

"Not particularly. As I have said I have no particular need for any god or goddess in my life, and would almost consider the notion of such a being offensive, if I considered them at all." She explains.

"Why?" You ask draining more of the coffee.

"Is this how you spend your time with women, Chen? Asking them about their ideas on god and their opinion on spiritualistic rituals?" She asks calmly, her velvety voice as soothing as ever.

"No not really. I just... it's like there is a senate in my head sometimes. And sometimes when dealing with you it sends a good number of them into a panic. There are fires, and looting, and burning. It is horrifying." You explain before gesturing for her to walk with you.

"That sounds troubling." She says as you walk around the doll area.

"It really is, more so when half of me wants to do one thing and the other half wants to do something else but I end up doing a third thing. Then no one is happy." You explain looking at small stuffed animals and hoping they make her jump for joy like you remember one of your ex's did.

She does not give any indication of if they matter to her or not. If you want to give her a gift you will just have to guess and hope for the best, or maybe she doesn't know you are shopping for her?
(1/2)

Wat do?
[]Go get some food(Noodle dish, octopus dish, candied apples, shaved ice, etc.)
[]Play a game(Game list from before including an arm wrestling contest)
[]Buy something (More masks. YOU ARE THE RIDER. picture artist, haunted house,)
[]Go for a walk by the lake, might be nice
[]Doll options(Cat, crow, a small girl in a traditional dress, an impossibly irate seal, other please write in. There are no chen dolls)
[]Other, please specify
(2/2)

>>25272972
Let's get some silly masks and go for a calming walk by the lake.

>>25272991
...Get the cat?
She seems okay with cats.

>>25272991
>YOU ARE THE RIDER
This seems interesting, go for it

>>25272991
>[x]Other, please specify
Have Snark come up in a cheap disguise selling Chen dolls. If that doesn't work then we just buy a doll

>[x]Doll options(impossibly irate seal and cat)

>>25272972
>>25272991

... do they sell anything resembling hand puppets? We're not going to find a Chen or Mania one, but she'd probably enjoy one at least. Otherwise, roaming sounds fun. Offer to let her lead - let's see if she can lead us to anything interesting.

>>25273242
they do not

>>25273312
Well then we'll just have to mug snark for his

>>25272972
"So I've realized something. I don't think I like carnivals very much. Do you want to try walking by the lake?"

Think now would be an okay time to give her the cat equipment we got from that mission?

Maybe say something like, earlier today we decided to finally investigate how there could be a 'find cat' mission ranked level fifty, and we were reminded of her a bit?

>>25273589
"Hey, I know you are having a bad time, so why not dress up like this to fuel my fetish?"

>>25273656
Yeah thought so.

Never mind.

I can't help but feel like there's an easy course of action here that we just keep missing, but I'll be damned if I know what it is.

>>25273686
Some idiot has to say this in response to that, no matter how bad an idea it is:

Kissing her.
[X] Cat doll
[X] "So I've realized something. I don't think I like carnivals very much. Do you want to try walking by the lake?"

>>25273686
The dialogue choices AE's going with doesn't help.

Never tell a woman that you have two diametrically opposing views of her, or that you frustrate her, that's just common sense.

>>25273740
If we're going to go that far, it'll be the fireworks first.

I mean duh.

>>25273791
But yeah the next two things sound pretty good to me.

>>25273686
I think part of the problem is, we don't know much about her personal life. We know about Haruko's likes and dislikes and can make judgements off of that. Hell, we know Shimabuku and Luna better than we know MANIA.

I think the QM might be writing her as bipolar too with how she radically shifts from Manic to almost accommodating. If we assume her manic episodes are her being hardcore S and her depressive episodes are her being accommodating then she sort of makes more sense

Not all of the sense, but more. She is an emotionally troubled girl who is pretty high bred and has some emotional issues. And likes radishes.

Us not knowing about her is whats hurting us

>>25273820
I don't know, we've never really seen her transition from one to the other. It seems more like it's more a matter of adrenaline.

Maybe we can try to delicately branch out into that direction regarding who she is by the lake?

Not sure how to do that without being blunt though.

Like would starting out with sharing something about ourselves and hoping she reciprocates be good, or does she not work like that?

>>25273897
We've seen it before I think. Back when we first got her she stabbed her fingers into our collar just to make a point and seemed to get really excited and then mellow.

There might be other times but that one sticks out at me.

Is there a radish doll available? If so I suggest we get that for her

>>25273936
>>25273897
>>25273820
Oh and AE, it goes without saying that we're not going to talk about what we think her mental/emotional problems are.

>>25273991
I assumed so. Post inbound

You grab the small cat, noting the irate seal glares at you as you do before handing it to her. "Here." You say making her tilt her head.

"It is not necessary to ply me with gifts." She explains as you press the cat into her arms.

"I see. What would you like in return then?" She ask, not seeming to like or dislike the cat.

"Nothing at all! Hey, look masks." You say walking over to the stand and looking them over.

You eventually see one you like and put it on. "Hey, MANIA look. RIDAAAAAAH... KICK!" You shout.

"I am sorry, I am afraid I don't get it." She says making you feel a bit deflated.

You buy a few masks before looking around.

"So I've realized something. I don't think I like carnivals very much. Do you want to try walking by the lake?" You ask making her shrug.

"If you want to." Is all she offers.

You take your time and stroll around the lake. The full moon being the only illumination as it reflects gently off the large surface. You hear the gently cry of cicadas and see other people walking close together around you, the stary sky providing an infinite canopy above your heads and the far off sounds of the festival being the gentle background music of life. It should be romantic. It is supposed to be romantic. So why is it you are not feeling any level of romance at all from her? You clear your throat and look around. "Ah, the lake is really beautiful tonight." You offer trying to go with the moment.

"Oh? I am glad you enjoy it." She says and you feel your heart sink for some reason.

"Yeah, and the cicadas are pretty loud, huh? Guess summer if finally around the corner." You smile but this time she just nods and you feel like sighing heavily.

Clearly she is not taken by the romantic aesthetics.
(1/2)

Wat do?
[]Ask her something about herself. (Wut?)
[]Ask why she isn't so pk crazy any more
[]Tell her if she is having such a miserable time with you, she can just leave.
[]Try and strike up conversation about the people around you
[]Kiss her you fool!
[]Other, please specify
(2/2)

>>25274105
[X] "...You're not having fun at all, are you?"

>>25273820
I'm not seeing her as bipolar - more like ... wary, I suppose would be the best way to put it. I honestly don't think she knows how to react around us. When we got stuck on the mirror server, she reverted to the persona she puts up in the real world for a bit, and began to act like a lady.

But seeing as she was still "MANIA", and was dealing with real people in the World, it created a weird amalgamation between her sadistic and refined sides.

You're right about us not knowing her hurting us, though. I'd say she's on guard about why we're so ... forward, I guess. Especially since we just not to long ago saw a side of her she probably didn't intend to show us yet, if ever.

>>25274105
"Did you know that making someone happy can be an end and not solely a mean?

Unless you want to raise the point that ultimately all altruistic acts are selfishly motivated by the endorphins it makes you feel which just... might as well, at this point."

>>25274105
[X]Tell her if she is having such a miserable time with you, she can just leave.

This is supposed to be fun. She is not having fun, and we are not having fun with her. Drop her and go play with Durga, we can still have a good time with this

>>25274160
Wait, are you saying that there's a possibility that she's almost as lost as we are, but is just way better at hiding it?

>>25274136
I'm voting in favor of this and asking what she finds fun

We could also try asking what is making MANIA uneasy/uncomfortable.

>>25274244
Possibly even more so. We at least had family around to help mold us even when were broken - it sounds like she didn't even have that if what I remember and what I read earlier in the thread are right.

>>25274408
I would say plus friends, since Haruko was there for us, but we again don't actually know if she has any friends

We've already seen two of Anon's closest relationships (Haruko and Snark) come to the breaking point due to a lack of communication.

It seems like that same lack of communication is preventing us from truly forging a bond with MANIA.

>>25274485
Like how hard is it to convey that the reason we care so much about whether she's happy or not isn't because we're afraid of her, or because she's useful to us, but because we like her?

Or does she already know that and there's a completely different problem?

Is there anything we can do to at least make her consider smiling?

>>25274561
Clumsily admit it to her face while asking if she's as clumsy as ourself?

"...You are not having fun at all, are you?" You ask making her glance at you before resuming looking in front of her.

"I am fine." She offers.

"No, fun. Proper fun! Things you enjoy doing." You say making her shrug. "Fine, what do you think is fun?" You ask making her tilt her head slightly at you.

"I am not certain I understand the question." She asks making you shake your head.

"No, I already have to do this with Snark, not you too. What do you find fun?" You insist, not letting the matter go.

"For what purpose are you asking and whom exactly are you directing the question to?" She ask making you shake your head.

"People can be genuinely interested on other people! It is expected of friends. I am asking you, MANIA, what do you find fun?" You ask placing your hands on her shoulders and looking at her.

"What does 'MANIA' find fun... is it?" She asks her voice carrying more emotion than she has shown through the night, almost mocking.

You smile slightly to yourself, relieved you are finally getting through to her when suddenly your headache flares and you are thrown onto the ground. You try to get up but MANIA's foot slams into your chest pinning you down there. You look up at her and see her cyan hair gain two long gray streaks in it as her hands crack and shatter, being forged into the claws she had when you fought the last time. You look up at her face and see her eyes are alight with mad glee as she sticks her tongue out of her widening mouth, her tongue a long prehensile thing.

"Isn't is obvious Chen? MANIA loves hurting you, hurting others, hurting herself. Pain is the reason for being and the reason for being is the only thing which can get me off. Hurt, sunder, destroy, rape, tear, ravage! I want to sodomize you with my heel and hear you call me your god as you break!" She laughs putting her hands on her head as the insane sound echos along the lakeside.
(1/2)

You feel yourself instinctively grab hold of your own AIDA and throw her off of you as her body cracks and morphs more. You panic reaching for Snark as her hands cover her eyes and she laughs madly, her teeth sharpened to a fine point as the AIDA swells and then... nothing. You blink as the AIDA vanishes and the cracks on her body morph away, her smile already gone and her bored expression from before on her face. "And that, Chen, is what MANIA finds 'fun'." She explains.

You feel your chest throb from where she stepped on you as you look over the area. No one seems to have been hurt or infected by her, which is always a good sign. You ease your grip on Snark before staring at her.

Wat say wat do?
[]You are too dangerous. Give me your AIDA
[]What was that for?
[]'MANIA'?
[]Call the others, you might need help
[]Other, please specify
(2/2)

>>25274716
Yeah, I know that already. What does the real you find fun? Or hell, which one even is the real you? Are you the Lady who came out during the time we were stuck in the world, or the MANIA that's present normally?

>>25274731
"So... I take it 'safe, sane, and consensual isn't in your vocabulary?"

Heal ourselves, and call upon our own AIDA, assume fighting stance, maybe crack neck for emphasis.

"Well... alright then. Let it not be said that I don't know how to show a girl a good time."

>>25274782
this

>>25274782
This.

>>25274561
Now that's a question: Do we honestly like MANIA? Because we said in our e-mail response that "I don’t know about my type or if I’m stringing MANIA along". I know we're interested about her, and want to make a connection of some sort with her, but are we actually interested in her?

>>25274716
>>25274731
And she's back to hiding behind 'MANIA' again. I honestly think the only way we'll ever make progress is if we can get her to offer something up about her personal, off line life, like a name.

>>25274731
[x] Heh. There's more to you than just that. Shall we continue this dance and let our fists do the talking?

>>25274797
Hold your cowboy there anon. She could have freaked out, she didn't. If anything she was proving a point.

>>25274859
I am. Dunno about the rest of anon.

>>25274797
>>25274860
We specified 'MANIA'. So she showed us what the 'MANIA' role finds fun.

>>25274859
We already know her name.

It's Alexandra.

>>25274860
Again, this is a bad idea. She doesn't want to fight. She wants to make people suffer. She wants agony, not manly duel to settle your differences. This might be a chance to actually prevent a future breakdown here. Let's not mess it up by just letting her hide behind being 'MANIA'.

Let's think this through calmly, and talk for a change before we have another Haruko/Snark situation.

>>25274859
We have her name. It's Alexandra.

>>25274879
Idea inbound. Good or bad?
[X] So, what does Alexandra like? Does she get along with MANIA?

>>25274731
"Yeah. I'm pretty sure that's already been established. I suppose what I meant to ask was... What does Alexandra find fun?"

>>25274911
Closer, but that makes it sound like she has multiple personalities or something

>>25274904
Yeah that's a good point, she seems to be specifically into pain, not violence. And there's a potent difference between the two.

Consider >>25274797
Withdrawn.

>>25274890
>>25274911

Ah, right. Forgot about that. Asking about Alexandra sounds good then.

So are we agreed that regarding tone, Chen should regain his composure and be as blase as possible about saying that the fact that MANIA is a sadist had not eluded him.

Because really, is her being able to hurt us and making erotic threats supposed to frighten us?

If anything, it's nice to know she still cares.

>>25274782
Maybe this only add in a part about Alexandra.

Like "and who is Alexandra? Both? Neither?"

>>25275047
I guess the general idea is to convey 'we already know that, and do not necessarily consider it a dealbreaker'

Post inbound

>>25275142
Watch as it turns out that what we chose was the exact wrong thing.

You take a deep breath and calm down. "Okay, so MANIA is a hardcore sadist from hell, I get that, not even a deal breaker. So the question is what does Alexandra find fun?" You ask, and you can't help but notice she seems to wince when you use her real name.

"Need you ask, Mr. Chen?" She asks, her tone shifting to the proper young lady tone from the AIDA server incident. "Reading books, and communing with nature! Of course, the cherry blossoms are coming in soon, we should all go visit them together, I can make a meal for us to share. Why, what ever do you mean sensei? I am afraid I know nothing of men, so you must forgive my silly questions. Of course I would love to be the student council president! I am sure everyone working together can make this a wonderful year. Of course I am taking the Tokyo entrance exams, best in the year? Ara, ara, you are too kind. I have to walk this way, it is only proper for a lady. I have to talk this way it is only proper for a lady. Of course I know how to make proper Japanese tea, I love my adoptive homeland's culture. Why don't we all join in prayer for our classmates who were made victim's by this tragedy?" She asks, her tone getting more and more frantic as she goes on.

She pauses instantly and places an index finger to her forehead as she starts thinking things over and then slouches over slightly. She turns to look at you, tilting her head so she is looking at you sideways, her long hair brushing against the ground. "Do you know Jung?" She asks, her little episode evidently over.

"Can't say-" You start but she evidently thinks that is enough.

"He was a psychiatrist, a contemporary of Freud, except for the fact he wasn't totally full of shit." She explains before leaning back, the perfect arch of her back making your eyes get drawn in places you feel you shouldn't.
(1/2)

You shake your head as she continues. "He came up with two very good ideas. The Persona and the Shadow, both simple ideas. A persona is sort of like a mask you wear. There is a mask you wear for your family, a mask for work, a mask for school, a mask for lovers, blah blah blah." She shakes her head. "The shadow is, in some thoughts, the dark half. The half we never admit to knowing, the part that is willing to kill someone. The cruel, twisted animalistic part of our brain that if it came down to it, if they stakes were high enough, would kill several million people for what we view as the greater good. It is the part that hides all the bad things we think, all the kinks we don't have quite worked out of our system." She laughs.

"So who is ale-" You start but she glares at you making you shut up and listen.

"There are instances, again based on some Jungian schools of thought, which say if a certain persona is too far... off base as it were. Too far away from who you generally are a person will make another one. One in the exact opposite direction and just as far away. If I am as far away from my darkest impulses in the real world. If I am recovering well from my families death, if I am pure and chaste and oh so willing to help others, then my Shadow would be?' She asks you making you nod.

"MANIA. Insanity, Sadism. Someone who is twisted up all sorts of wrong inside." You answer without thinking, covering your mouth at the last second but she doesn't seem to care.

"Exactly. Both of them are me, just being pulled mentally in two different directions. Not two people, just one broken, monstrous thing. They should be kept separate, they shouldn't coexist. I already learned that. But..." She answers, her eyes still holding a mad glint to them.

[]When did you discover 'MANIA'?
[]What sort of person are you in the real world?
[]You are too screwed up for me
[]Say nothing, let her go on
[]Other, please specify
(2/2)

>>25275372
Let her go on.

So far I'm not really impressed. The only real difference between what she's doing and what Shimabuku and Luna are doing is kinkiness.

Like... Welcome to the human condition sweetheart!

>>25275359
>>25275372
We should hang out with her in the real world. She seems fun.

>>25275451
I know right?

Though part of me is worried that she's quite a bit younger than us than we thought.

>>25275372
She's talking about the mirror server. When she had that weird, sadistic Ojousama personality. She's seems like she honestly confused herself about how she was acting when everything went to hell right before the reboot.

.>>25275451
Might be viable - she definitely needs to hang around people who have no preconceived expectations of her
and will just let her be ... whatever.

[x]Let her go on. Let's see where she takes this...

>>25275419
yeah.....seems like she hates being so submissive, or its inspired this more controlling role inside her, since there isnt an even balance

>>25275372
Part of me feels like asking her what Areta is to her.

I mean Alexandra would never stoop so low as befriend a prostitute, perish the thought. But the very idea of friendship seems a foreign concept to MANIA.

Best to wait for her to finish though.

>>25275372
>you are too screwed up for me

As if.

At least she has a personality, bordering on two.

We barely have one, cobbled together by a capricious AI.

>>25275638
I think it's Areta's easygoing nature that's the thing. She readily accepts MANIA, Alexandra, and would probably not blink an eye at a third or fourth identity if it showed up.

Areta doesn't have any expectations she'd pile onto AlexANIA. If nothing else, I think Areta's the only person at this point that she feels comfortable trying to find any semblance of herself around.

>>25275811
Yeah that makes sense.

Would still like to get around to asking her, if not for this conversation than eventually.

>>25275419
It's like... I still like her and think she's fun to be around, but I also kinda want to scold her a little bit.

You decide to just shut up and listen. "It wasn't so bad, really, more like exhausting. I had to constantly be the good girl while only sometimes indulging in my better half. I had to hold myself back so much, and let others think they were special as I carefully broke them, and then something amazing happened Chen." She turns to you a confused look on her face. "I was done. I had broken all the toys I had in the school. I was their god." She smiles at the thought while licking the tips of her nails. "Come to think of it. It was around then my family died. From there things spiraled out of control, and then I discovered The World." She explains tapping her chin.

"I was free to indulge as I liked. I could eat fat from the meat of the players and be as free as I wanted. I was free, and I was happy. I had people who, if they didn't worship me at least they liked me. I almost had friends. I could keep the two halves separate and still live a full life... but then they got all jumbled up." She sighs wistfully.

"So you aren't this meek in the real world?" You ask as she seems lost in thought.

"Meek? What a strange question. As a proper lady I am chaste, and pure, and humble before others, always respectful. Yet I still broke them with that level of handicap." She shrugs at the thought. "But I am not free in the real world. I am still bound by what I have built myself up to be. Even in this world I was bound by MANIA, but using the two of them together I could almost pretend I was free. But sadly I fear those days are over." She sighs sadly.

[]You 'Broke' them?
[]Er, how old are you?
[]You go to an all girls school don't you?
[]It doesn't have to end
[]You are seriously screwed up
[]Other, please specify

>>25275879
It doesn't have to end.

>>25275879
"So if this is who you are, who do you want to be?"

>>25275879
"Why?"

>>25275879
"...Is MANIA really your Shadow, or is she just a particularly fearsome Persona? Oni instead of Onna?"

>>25275879
>those days are over

Damnit, why does she have to make everything so difficult.

Also, considering she talked about the Tokyo entrance exams, I'm pretty sure she's 18 at minimum right?

Though the fact that she hasn't talked about college at all is worrying.

"Why? It doesn't have to end" You say making her laugh.

"Is that what you think? The mask is already cracking Anon. I can no longer keep things separate. I can't keep things different. I want you to-" She shakes her head. "I want others to know me as I am. I am sick of living a lie in both worlds, but at the same time there is a level of confusion as to who I am supposed to be. Thus, in answer to your original question, no, I do not particularly find this event overly fun, nor am I certain what I would consider fun in its entirety. However I possess a level of fear at having someone I am interested in finding my existence bothersome, and thus I complied with your wishes in order to better facilitate our relationship." She explains, narrowing an eye and smiling wide.

Well that was certainly a thing, wat do?
[]I am here for you. I know I like who you are.
[]Tell me more about you
[]Ask her something(Wut?)
[]This is too much, I can't deal with your identity crisis
[]Other, please specify

>>25275419
This seems a bit different than with Shimabuku and Luna. She isn't really running from who she is, she has sort of embraced it. A bit more than might be healthy actually

>>25276118
So to sum it up, she has no idea who she is, or what she's becoming. All she knows, is this scrapped mess of a personality is all she has to offer up to people. Especially to us.

Wonderful.

[x] Tell me more about you.

Also, did we ever give her our real name? Any part of it, at least? I imagine giving her some information about our real life will help make a connection, but I can't remember if we already did or not.

>>25276118
"So what you're saying is 'I am dissatisfied with who I am in the real world, so I shall make a new self complete with her own body, and act like who I want to be, but feel I am not allowed to.'

To which I have to say is darling, welcome to the World!

I mean... were you falling asleep when Luna made her speech? And as for Shimabuku... heheheheh, talk to him some time about the subject.

The only difference between you and them is you had a head start, and maybe you feel some kind of stigma towards sado-masochism? Because believe me there are far FAR worse things to be interested in. I've seen them. Sometimes through the sights of a gun."

>>25276287
She overheard us getting yelled at by Haruko. We never did a formal "Introduction"

>>25276287
She called us Anon, not Chen so she knows our real name at least.

>>25276118
"Let it crack. Let every mask in your collection shatter to dust. I promise you that the 'you' who will the open your eyes, will not be alone."

>>25276304
This. I like this a lot.

>>25276357
Again. I don't think it is quite the same as with Luna.

>>25276118
Be certain to explain to her that if she is feeling uncomfortable or does not like the group activity she is being brought along on for fun it is fine to object. We're still figuring her out and would rather hear complaint then just force her to come along on something she does not wish to do.

>>25276373
I don't know, to me MANIA's just another mask.

The only difference is she views it as loosing negative feelings instead of emulating positive ones.

But 'negative' and 'positive' are really a matter of perspective.

>>25276118
>>25276118
"You said earlier you felt like you were broken. Perhaps I can educate you on what that really means.

Broken isn't lively. Broken is dead, but still moving. A hole where your soul should be. Graduating with top marks, working your way to the top of your job, no vacations.

But none of the things that you did to vent your frustration. Because there is no frustration. There isn't really a 'you'. I... I dated girls. Because I was good-looking and it was expected of me. Do you realize what kind of absolute scum you'd need to be to do something like that?

I like to think that I back then I was able to care about my partner, Durga, like I really hope that I valued her as a person like I do now, but deep down I'm terrified that that's just wishful thinking. That I couldn't muster a single fuck about the woman who saved my life on multiple occasions.

And then Snark happened. He was the lightning that made my corpse rise off the slab. But I've been dead for so long I can't even remember what I was like when I was alive. Is this who I really am? Or have I been remade in the image of a naturally occurring artificial intelligence whose prime directive is to fuck with people?

So what I'm saying is, how could I possibly find your existence bothersome, or think I have the right to ask you to comply with anything?"

>>25276485
I get that. Mask part I am 100% behind. But she admits to letting herself indulge in the real world too.

Luna totally hides away from the world. Shimabuku does everything he can to make sure other people don't associate Yonchoobin with him.

But MANIA said she broke all her toys. As in people, in the real world. She isn't hiding who she is, just blending the two extremes of her personality together to make MAxandra.

She might have used the world, and AIDA, as a vent once she ran out of people to break. She didn't have friends in the real world when she blended the personalities, but in the world she did.

Then AIDA server happened and she blended again and she doesn't think she can unblend. Or, something like that anyway.

File: 1370503710613.jpg-(55 KB, 224x257, hope.jpg)

55 KB JPG

>>25276549
If you haven't written it up Azure, THIS THIS THIS FOREVER.

>>25276550
I don't know, I think she's still on some level hiding, because 'Alexandra' still exists, despite even hearing her real name making her wince.

Like you don't need the internet to try to be someone else.

>>25276569
Seems to be some going back and forth. Will wait for a bit while I tell my cat all my plot plans. She is a good listener

>>25276591
Here is where we disagree. I don't think she is hiding. She made a persona, or what ever, to deal with the real world and then another to balance herself out.

She doesn't have anyone to hide, I am saying her "real" personality as it were doesn't exist. She can't hide something that isn't there. I see hiding as an active process. She is not actively doing anything as much as reacting to the world around her.

>>25276549

[DECLOAKING]

I support this.

[CLOAKING]

>>25276605
Most of it's just armchair psycho-analysis at this point. I'll vote for >>25276549 too.

>>25276658
Honestly, you are probably right. I have been thinking too much on how to get the MANIA end.

>>25276674
Nothing wrong with that - I'm partial to her myself, even if I do think we should get to know the others before we decide anything. From my experience, all we can really do now is accept her for who she is, whatever it maybe, start trying to take her walls down brick by brick, and then see if we can patch up what's on the other side. Baby steps.

>>25276824
Part of me is a little afraid that WE might be too much for HER, seeing as we seem to be going with >>25276549

I mean she seems to be appreciably younger than us.

>>25276875
Really wish you'd stick with the idea of paragraphs for speech.

>>25276897
[X] Who knows?

"You said earlier you felt like you were broken. Perhaps I can educate you on what that really means.

Broken isn't lively. Broken is dead, but still moving. A hole where your soul should be. Graduating with top marks, working your way to the top of your job, no vacations.

But none of the things that you did to vent your frustration. Because there is no frustration. There isn't really a 'you'. I... I dated girls. Because I was good-looking and it was expected of me. Do you realize what kind of absolute scum you'd need to be to do something like that?

I like to think that I back then I was able to care about my partner, Durga, like I really hope that I valued her as a person like I do now, but deep down I'm terrified that that's just wishful thinking. That I couldn't muster a single fuck about the woman who saved my life on multiple occasions.

And then Snark happened. He was the lightning that made my corpse rise off the slab. But I've been dead for so long I can't even remember what I was like when I was alive. Is this who I really am? Or have I been remade in the image of a naturally occurring artificial intelligence whose prime directive is to fuck with people?

So what I'm saying is, how could I possibly find your existence bothersome, or think I have the right to ask you to comply with anything?" You ask making her tilt her head.
(1/2)

>>25276895
I mean it's not THAT big a deal, no need to remake a post.

Just like consider it in the future.

Like sure you can just scroll up to the original suggestion, but still.

"You make the assumption there is only one way to be broken. That having parts ripped out of you s intrinsically worse than having parts of you twisted and rotten until you can't tell what's a laugh anymore and what's a scream. Broken is forcing yourself to maintain a facade for so long you are afraid there isn't anyone underneath anymore. Broken is making a freshman girl nearly get raped by a teacher just to make said teacher's life a living hell because he was playing with your toys. Broken is making the girl thank you for the privilege of being used by you and feeling nothing as they worship the ground the image of you walks on. You say you never gave a fuck about the women you have dated? I have never given a fuck about the ones I have used. You have a partner, you have Snark, you have so much. Imagine becoming warped with nothing to stop you instead of getting a magic lightning bolt. I have Areta, I have you, I have Shimabuku... at least I hope I do." She pauses.

"But it is too late. The damage is done and I can't even remember what it's like to be some one else." She seems to think about this for a few second before sighing. "We are pretty messed up, huh? Think everyone is as screwed up as we are?" She asks her soothing voice taking on a mocking tone.

Wat say wat do?
[]Who knows?
[]I still accept you
[]I have my own shit to deal with
[]Other, please specify
(2/2)

>>25276897

I do believe we've made fabulous headway with her.. Now how will we go about this conversation from here?

I'm kinda curious to know what she sees in Anon, why is it that she's let us into her head.. As this entire conversation is telling us.

>>25276939
Not an overly big deal. Looking back paragraphing it was the right call

>>25276942
"Who cares? They're them and we're us.

Only thing that matters is where to go from here.

I'd like to find out with you, if you'll let me."

>>25276972
Sounds a bit like we might be talking down to her? Like a shrink or something

>>25276984
Good point. Any way to rephrase it that shows 'where do we go from here' applies to us and our problems and not just hers, and that we want to find our own way instead of helping her?

>>25276972
>I'd like to find out with you, if you'll let me.
...You know we should really find out how old she is before we start hitting on her.

>>25277012
Without jumping onto the MANIA romance path? I am not 100%. Need to think about it. Maybe making the last part "But if you want, we can maybe find out together?"

>>25277022
She talked about Tokyo entrance exams, I'm pretty sure you have to be 18 to take those, right?

But yeah, that's kind of a delicate situation.

>>25277039
Woah woah woah? What's this 'without'?

Right now the only barrier is it turns out she's probably 19 at the oldest. Which... is admittedly a pretty big barrier. I have no idea how to broach the subject.

>>25276972

Let me edit this a bit..

"Who cares? They're them and we're us.

If we stick together, who knows what sorts of things might happen between us. Together, we can explore what it is like to truely not be alone anymore..

So how about it? Would you be willing to find out WITH me what having someone to give a fuck about is like?

Because I can honestly say Alexandra, I do give a fuck about you.

You're my friend. That's something that neither of us had before.."

Scrap/edit anything you'd like to.

>>25277042
Are... should... Do you want me to have Chen ask her to show some ID?

Maybe pull out a "you must be this tall to ride" sign?

Want... should snark cut her in half and count the rings?

>>25277042
>>25277066
Like do we say "So I take it college hasn't exactly changed anything?"

As if that wasn't transparent as fuck?

Just when we make some serious headway, now we have this.

Eh, I guess friendship isn't THAT bad.

>>25277066
>>25277042
We are clearly ignoring the harem route then? AE said it was possible.

Even were that not the case what about those who want Haruko?

>>25277022
>>25276972

I agree we should probably leave out that last line. We don't need to move that fast; we're just trying to get her to open up more right now.

And I think she's a senior at least, considering her entrance exams, and how she spoke of the freshman girl. Screams sempai/kouhai to me.

Might I suggest

"The only thing that matters is where do we go from here?".

Leave it vague enough that it sounds like we're talking about our own individual problems or that we're talking about how we'll help each other out through this.

>>25277081
Good sir, we are an officer of the law!

>>25277098
Yeah that sounds good.

>>25277095
I've seen what harem protagonists look like. It's not pretty.

>>25277090
Is 19 too young?

19 is consenting adult. Think of it this way, when you are 36 she will be 30. Doesn't sound too bad right?

>>25276942
[X] I once told a victim's mother 'Your daughter had likely already been raped to death. We require something with her genetic data to identify various fluids left at the crime scene?' I'd be surprised if they can match either of us.

>>25277080

I'd say this bit of dialogue, with a bit of tweaking perhaps, could provide a better route. It offers a chance to get close, yet as an adventure of sorts, a way towards them discovering eachother.

While still leaving the chance for other romance routes open.

Eh? Maybe?

>>25277118
19 is fine. 18's... okay. 17 and 16 are right out.

>>25277098

And this is fine as well.

>>25277128
Cut out the last line.

She's our friend, but she sure as fuck isn't our first.

And while I respect your position, we just had a heart to heart by the lake and the fireworks are going to go off probably any second now.

>>25277159

It's fine. Fireworks would be a brilliant end to this very enlightening discussion..

Anywho, back to invisibility.

Seem to be flip flopping around a bit. I will wait for an agreement on what dramatic thing to say as fireworks go off.

Is it bad people jumping around about her age is making me smile a bit?

>>25277095
Not necessarily. Friendship or something more - both need to have the same thing happen. We need to have her open up to us more. We have to make her as comfortable around us as she is around Areta. We can build on that from there, and decide later.

>>25277209
...Our sister didn't go to a prestigious all-girl school for high school did she?

>>25277209
Any way you can make the playerbase paranoid is a good one; especially if it's unexpected. I relish those myself.

>>25277220
I am just saying if we put her as friends it might make it hard for us to become lovers later, if not impossible.

She just showed more of us to her than ever before and she clearly has a thing for us. If we put her as friends now she might think that is all she is worth.

She is emotionally open right now but if we use kid gloves to deal with her then she might only respond with kid gloves. Some part of Anon wants her, the least we can do is be honest about that with her. As honest as she is with us anyway

>>25277242
She went to a shitty public school and was no where near as charismatic as MANIA

>>25277265
Yeah that's a good point.

I feel in the mood to aim for the jackpot.

I mean I am like 85% sure she's 18 or older.

>>25277284
I know she isn't, I was worried that she may have been one of the people MANIA bullied.

That'd just make things even more awkward.

>>25277296
Bullying isn't... quite the word I would use but don't worry.

From what you understand MANIA and her never met

>>25277265
So maybe >>25276972
but last line is "Let's find out together"

Maybe head into the danger zone with holding her hand

Or is that too lewd?

>>25277320
>Bullying isn't... quite the word I would use but don't worry.
Heartlessly toyed with for her own amusement and gain?

>>25277350
The victims certainly enjoyed it.

>>25277336
I mean I kind of feel like we shouldn't be the guy who stalls until the climax, or worse yet, the epilogue.

We are an adult damnit.

Also 'beginning of disc 2' means that it won't exactly be set in stone, but something we'll need to work at.

>>25277265
I see what you're saying, but it's not like she's demanding for us to decide right now. All she wants right now is acceptance, and we can offer that without committing to anything.

>>25277336
I think we should offer her our contact information outside of the world. In case she needs to vent - clearly she doesn't have anyone else to do that with. Or at least didn't...

>>25277388
Even if I'm pretty sure the rest of CC Corp isn't as psychotic as Hamelin, I'm pretty sure we're still undercover.

...Though then again she already knows "too much" so what the hell.