>>28204936

Lucky refresh!

Welcome back sir. We've missed you.

Time for shit to get real!

>>28204936

Smoke.

The stench of it - the bitter chemical reek of charred plastic - clings to you, a sour taste in your mouth that refuses to go away. The late afternoon of the day is beginning to shade to early evening, the sky going dark early: It looks to be a cold, fog-smeared night ahead, your breath already beginning to steam in the air.

Your lungs ache - There's a faint wheeze to your breath, an ache in your left palm where the wound must've broken open again. Patchy red spots stain the bandage, a twinge running through your wrist and down your arm each time your hand settles against something.

You're several blocks away from the fire, now - The dry clamour of it has faded into the distance, as you punch the last string of numbers into the machine. The ATM whirrs obediently, disgorging a sheaf of bills: Everything in your wallet can be replaced, but still - it's still inconvenient.

Dark spots dance at the edges of your vision, the world wavering slightly at the edges; For a moment, you think it might be motes of ash, until you blink them away.

You should...

[ ] Meet with Palladium Rook, at the 'Lucky Strike'.
[ ] Call the Thief.
[ ] Call Natsumi.
[ ] Head to the Sterling Industries building.
[ ] Visit the Papillon.
[ ] Find somewhere to catch your breath.
[ ] Head home to rest and recover.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28204936

Is that an image of Kraken?

>>28205115
>Dark spots dance at the edges of your vision, the world wavering slightly at the edges;

Check the sphere really quick. This shit is ~wierd*

Remind me what's up with Sterling Industries?

Anyway: Priorities.

Call natsumi. We need to deal with argent's AUGH IM MAD GO SEE HIM and we need to get rook and his army available for a counter-attack.

Both of these things start with natsumi

>>28205115

Also, we know where the last piece of Phantom Edge is. we should at LEAST send akira a text.

He's always up for gaining xp, and *might* help is with our Smiler problem if it helps us get to his agenda faster.

>>28205115

Meet with Rook. Got to curb his revenge streak before he gets himself killed.

>>28205115
[x] Call Natsumi.
[x] Meet with Palladium Rook, at the 'Lucky Strike'.

We need to let AP know asap the smilers can drop Corrector hives and just did.

>>28205115
[ ] Call Natsumi.
[ ] Meet with Palladium Rook, at the 'Lucky Strike'.

Natsumi might already know there's a nest there, but she might not know its Kraken's new Den, too.

>>28205115

Sir, I have a game plan for this session. Depending on how things go, well....

I'd like to get these plans rolling into motion:

Somehow meet with Rook and the tristars and lay plans to smackdown some smilers in force like rook wants.

Tell AP that people are ~making fucking corrector hives on purpose, by destroying stages~ and we've been in the thick of it, which is why we haven't gotten back to him. He may or may not help.

Manufacture two more void anchors at the exclusion of all else. Our plan for these is simple: We're going to plan them at corrector hives - the one just made, the one in the smilers main gang base, the one the thief built his hideaway over - and then build the dominion in a special way. A slow-manufacture pulling resources from just the void anchors.
The dominion is so cost-intensive it is said to leech energies from entire sections of the red world.
So we set things up to use that to our advantage - set up anchors in the lairs of our enemies during the assault, and literally suck the misfortune and despair out of the world to make our hovertank.

We also need set void anchors in two other places: 1) School, because lots of player infighting happens there and nobody's claimed it
2) the place the Big Culture Festival is GOING to be in a week or three. Get the void anchor in place AHEAD of time so we profit from the unevitable madness happening there.

>>28205208
[x] Call Natsumi.
[x] Meet with Palladium Rook, at the 'Lucky Strike'.

Call Nats on the way to th lucky strike

Good evening OP. Enjoy your week?

>>28205115
>Dark spots
That isn't good. Even though we've got to meet with Rook, inhaling enough smoke to start seeing spots is symptomatic of larger problems. Unfortunately, we also said we'd meet him today. Take a break, catch your breath, then go bowling.

>>28205326
>That isn't good. Even though we've got to meet with Rook, inhaling enough smoke to start seeing spots is symptomatic of larger problems. Unfortunately, we also said we'd meet him today. Take a break, catch your breath, then go bowling.

use our Emblem to heal ourselves up.

Cybele could have healed our hand, and gave her powers to us by sticking them in our soul, and we KNOW that red world stature carries over - So just heal ourselves up ourselves.

>>28205295
Seconding this.

bring the tri-stars with us

>>28205326
I'd assume that AP has a doctor or medical professional on staff who can give us a check-up while we update Argent

>>28205161

The Sphere feels bitterly, bitterly cold against your hand - You'd think that it'd numb the ache, but it merely makes your fingers stiffen. The Nihl Sphere's un-light is dim, but you can make out the same strange visual effect: Black motes swirling, sifting down, like grey snow. You can't be sure, but - If you had to guess - you'd say that it's the debris kicked up by the Hive's eruption, raining down from above.

A glimpse through the fabric of reality: A grown thinner, more attenuated by the moment.

Or it might just be you.

>>28205367

You try - Feeling for the trigger point in your mind...

-No, you're not in your armour. For a moment, you forgot that - Your thoughts feel slow, sluggish somehow, running out of sequence.

Your lungs ache.

The black spots go away when you close your eyes, but opening them again is an effort. It's appalling, how tired you feel.

> [x] Call Natsumi.

Your handphone rings once, twice, again; There's a patchiness to the signal, a fuzzing noise that tells of an uncertain connection. It's not just you - Across the street, a bank of monitors in an electronics shop shows only snow, the image on an overhead screen flickering fitfully in bursts of white noise.

NO SERVICE.

...You get the feeling that plenty of people might be experiencing difficulties, right now. Nearby, the ticker-tape line of a newsfeed shows scrambled numbers and letters, hot points of neon in the gathering gloom.

> [x] Meet with Palladium Rook, at the 'Lucky Strike'.

You begin walking. One foot in front of the other - pause for breath - do it again. It's not far: A short bus ride, or slightly longer on foot.

NO SERVICE.

You'll be slightly late by the time you get there, but - Palladium Rook should still be there. Fashionably late, if you would.

(Continued)

>>28205404

Well.

The thing is....


okay. Argent was FURIOUS with us when he told - not asked, told - natsumi to bring us to him.

And we know he's up to Seriously Mad Genius Things he's Keeping Secret - like dicking with manifold towers and making Cyborg Correctors.
And he just lost a tower and his cyborg corrector army after our encounter at his tower which we blew up.

So........ he clearly knows more than he lets on. And wants a source of correctors to continue his hybrid cyborg experiments.

What I mean to say is he may be the one backing the Smilers.

When you're in the business of killing correctors and making a name for yourself as a non-lethal, third red world option community support teamwork guy - it pays to have a steady source of correctors.

What i'm saying is we should be incredibly wary that we're walking into AP's lair as a trap.

And when we go, we need to bring an Anchor with us, JUST IN CASE he decides to attack us.
Planting one in the middle of his essence harvesting operation's powerbase is a hilarious way to supercharge the hollow sun.

>>28205326

You sink - gratefully - into the flat metal bench at the bus stop. It's not much, just a roof framed by plastic advertisements, and rust cakes the spots where the chrome has been worn - Or scraped off - but it's somewhere to catch your breath. The pounding in the back of your head, the one you didn't notice before, slowly fades, and your pulse slows to something approaching normal.

>>28205176

You key in a brief message to Akira. It's startling, when you hear the low chime of a successful sending: The interference, whatever it is, must've worn off.

> [x] Call Natsumi.

This time, she answers by the fourth ring.

> "Hello?"

Natsumi's voice sounds tight, strained - But distracted, as if there's something else occupying her attention. There are odd sounds in the background: It sounds like heavy machinery. An industrial drill, the whirring, gritty noise that makes you think of dust in the air and hard-hats.

> "Anon-kun, is that you?"
> "Are you all right?"

The bus doors swing close with a hiss of pistons, the overhead holders clattering lightly together as it drives off.

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28205511
>And when we go, we need to bring an Anchor with us, JUST IN CASE he decides to attack us.

We should definitely discuss this possibility with the Tri stooges and the Thief, and see what they think about it. Maybe even ask Natsumi and Rook how it's going in AP's organisation lately.

But I still trust AP.

>>28205563
>[ ] Free

"No, I'm not. I have some heavy news. Where are you?"

>>28205563

Straight to the point.

"Kraken and crew unleashed another hive. Barely got out by the skin of my teeth. Took out an eight, maybe a quarter of his Correctors before I had to run. Going to meet Rook and head off his revenge-slash-suicide attempt. Look for the burning theater downtown. You can't miss it. Gotta run. Tell Argent I'll meet him when I can... IF I can."

"It's been one of those days."

>>28205563

"Theres a new hive in town. Near the cinema. Looks like Kraken ability is to summon totally new hives."

>>28205563
"I'm a bit dizzy. Considering I was at Corrector Ground Zero, it's a miracle. Balestier Cinema was just incendiarily renovated, the stage it paralleled is our city's newest Hive. I'm guessing your guy has contingencies for this."

>>28205630

Voooooting against this.

We're in a public train. Be wary about people who can hear us.

There may be smilers ON THE TRAIN WITH US.

Are you forgetting megumi's warning - that if they found us in the real, they would kill us?

>>28205616
Open with this instead.

>>28205563
"Would you like a ride in my new tank ?"

>>28205616

This

Then >>28205630
or >>28205667

In that order - make sure natsumi's in a position where she can actually help us first.

Heck, just straight up say is Ebara there? Can you put him on the phone?

>>28205674
>>28205667
>>28205641
>>28205630

>>28205563
>You sink - gratefully - into the flat metal bench at the bus stop.

At least check if anyone's paying attention at the bus stop first. Beware eavesdropping smilers!

>>28205672

I would assume Joker would have the common sense to use a hushed tone to relay his message. Plus, if anybody looks to be taking extra entrance in us, he can pull them into the Red and get.. friendly with them. Most of the Smilers there were Red Shirts to begin with. A few words here, a couple Coil Gun shots there should get them talking. Plus we can threaten to turn their soul into clothes.

>>28205770

>entrance

>interest

Damnit autocorrect.

>>28205606

>trusting AP
>laughing Hyades.jpg

>>28205616

> "No, I'm not. I have some heavy news. Where are you?"

"-Near a Sterling construction site." Despite the clear tension of the moment, Natsumi laughs, softly - "You could say...it's guard duty, Anon-kun." Then: "Something's happened, hasn't it?"

>>28205630
>>28205641
>>28205667

There's a momentary silence on the other line - Then a low hiss.

"...Kraken was there?" she murmurs, under her breath; "We know about the Hive - That's why everyone's on alert - but you were *ther-*"

Natsumi's voice catches, and she exhales, slowly; Clearly, the thought's distressed her.

"-It's good to know. So that's the epicenter..." she sighs, sounding very, very tired all of a sudden. "...That's going to be trouble. Aaaah, it couldn't have happened at a worse time..."

>>28205674

"Your new..." Natsumi's words trail off. You can imagine her shaking her head, smiling wryly. On the other end of the line, the pitch of noise changes, slightly: You can hear the faint clatter of her phone against a hard surface, the babble of conversation.

"...I have to go," she says - Then, urgently: "Anon-kun, you need to be careful. A new Hive means that the streets aren't *safe*...Not even for you. There's been trouble already: It's going to be a rou-"

She stops herself. "-Just don't stay out too long. And - Take care."

The connection terminates, abruptly.

>>28205761

You look around - The bus is mostly empty, the passengers drowsing or staring out of the window or doing one of a myriad other things. No-one's paid any attention to you, so far - Let alone heard you.

You think, at least.

Your luck's held up so far, anyway.

(Continued)

>>28205901

If we enter the red world, will we turn up on the new hive stage or back at our base?

I want to check in on the Hollow Sun.

>>28205920

We were just there, anon.

And we don't have ANY charge left because watashiwa fucking wasted it all grandstanding last thread by whining so hard we gave spaghetti a sword artifact - which he didn't actually attack anyone with cuz we ran away - and then throwing our void anchor in bomb mode.
The man's singlehandedly responsible for wasting 50% of hollow sun charge.

There's no reason to go unless we want to change weapons.

>>28205920
Neither, it'll be whatever stage the city's transportation system represents. Like the train from thread 3. That or Red Joker'll show up somewhere in Dis.

>>28205920

We're leaving the area entirely. New stage.

>>28205976

We left out several things on our todo list.

Turning on limited production for the command helions and turning the essence of the speedster into an artifact.

>>28205920
If only we could get a teleporter device to go straight to the Hollow Sun.
Checking up on it is a good idea. Who knows when the Smilers will want to jack it too.

>>28206012

Having a couple shells set up to ALART us whenever the Joker Cave comes under attack would be smart to do. After the Tri-Stars lost there Batcave, gotta protect ours.

>>28206012
>If only we could get a teleporter device to go straight to the Hollow Sun.

Armory beacon upgrades, anon, armory beacon upgrades.

Why didn't we get that thing anyway?

Oh right. Fucking watashiwa.

>>28206036
>After the Tri-Stars lost there Batcave, gotta protect ours.
Oh shit.

>>28206036
Did we have the Hollow Sun all figured out or can we use the tech guy from the Tri-Stars to help us fgure it out ?

>>28206061

Comeon guys, with what we were up against, I say it was not a totally bad decision.

At least now we two emblem holders have something of an alliance until all the rest are dead and nothing says we can't pick it from his cold dead hands when he finally dies.

>>28206067

We've barely had the chance to even delve into any of it's blackboxes.

>>28206036
>After the Tri-Stars lost there Batcave, gotta protect ours

Also, something to consider.

We.... need to install someone we trust as a backup admin to the hollow sun.

We idlocked the sun to the Red Joker. Not frost cestus, the joker.
The Joker Armor can change hands.

Nobody's realized it yet, but if we die, whomever frags us gets the hollow sun.

If you think being hunted for the armor was bad BEFORE

>>28206010
also, we need to check on the Gold Sargophagus self-assembly, since kraken wanted it so bad.

Iunno, tho. I kinda want a level up :(
Tier 5 weaponry is sooooo close i can fel it.

The biggest thing we need to do is wire Garm's essence accumulators to the pilot chair, though, so we get essence while flying it.

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>>28206087
>We idlocked the sun to the Red Joker. Not frost cestus, the joker.
>The Joker Armor can change hands.
>Nobody's realized it yet, but if we die, whomever frags us gets the hollow sun.
>If you think being hunted for the armor was bad BEFORE

aw shit. Good thing its something of a secret, for now.

>>28205976
>The man's singlehandedly responsible for wasting 50% of hollow sun charge.
I'd say they both paid off. The Apex Blade was intended less as a weapon and more of a death-flag breaker, and the Void Anchor killed a fuckton of Correctors.

I'd have preferred using it as a charger for the Hollow Sun, but I don't know how much the Red World works on videogame logic. Holophusikon might end up deleted or consumed instead of destroyed.

>>28206036
>After the Tri-Stars lost their Batcave, gotta protect ours.
Not an issue. The Hollow Sun's phased out of local space-time; we're the only one who can interact with it. Anyone else just sees an empty space.

>>28206087
>We.... need to install someone we trust as a backup admin to the hollow sun.
Volt Regios. He's the only person we know who's spiteful enough to use it correctly.

Was the void anchor a one time thing?

Or did we just unlock production and now Hollow Sun can churn them out. I thought it was the latter.

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>>28205920
>>28206010

(You're some distance away from both. At present, the Hollow Sun is low on energy - New options should be available once it's done analyzing the Red Comet. You're heading for a new area/new stage, further away from Dis.)

>>28205901

The rest of the ride passes in relative silence: The rhythm of the bus is oddly soothing, though you don't have too long to appreciate it - You're moving away from the 'better part' of the city, and towards the older area...The ones that rode out the disaster in better condition.

The change - Where the new city meets the remnants of the old - is palpable. While every effort has been made to renovate and reclaim these zones, some of the damage still lingers: Streets that end in abrupt dead-ends, sloping alleys that slant down into the gloom, buildings sealed with metal shutters and plastic barricades with the usual 'WORK IN PROGRESS' signs, now faded and peeling.

The Lucky Strike is an older building, square-cut and stocky, reassuring solid. The animatronic atop the roof - A bowling pin, canted to the side as a ball slams into it, the stylized edges of an explosion expanding from the point of impact - is pure kitsch. The place has received a new coat of beige paint, but there's no disguising the dilapation of the buildings on either side.

It does seem to be in fairly good order, however: The smell of floor polish rolls out towards you, on a gust of climate-controlled air, as the automatic doors slide open. Your footfalls are muffled by the slightly ratty-looking carpet underfoot, with the faint musky smell that comes with age.

(Continued)

>>28206087

I was thinking more along the lines of turning it into a Chrono Miner. Jam a couple Void Anchors into it's personnel bay, send it off to murder players in the starting zones. Once it's bays are full, have it port back to HQ to unload essence.

>>28206155

Doesn't the armour itself absorb essence for self-repair?

We'll not get anything from it.

>>28206119

(It's the latter.)

>>28206125

The place is two-tiered: Steps wind upwards to a raised balcony, with plenty of seats overlooking the bowling lanes - And half-closed booths, complete with a small store selling food and chilled drinks.

All-in-all, the atmosphere's fairly relaxed - It seems to be modestly popular, with a higher-than-average scattering of students: Each time strike, the reels of an on-screen slot machine spin...Occasionally proclaiming EXTRA CREDIT or FREE GAME!, but mostly 'TRY AGAIN!'

Behind the lanes - On the lower tier - there's a collection of slot machines lining the walls, with the mint-condition look that comes with a primary source of income.

(You're surprised that there aren't any Pachinko machines, but you suppose it's just a matter of time.)

[ ] Head down to the lanes.
[ ] Go up to the balcony.
[ ] Check out the mini-casino.
[ ] Just wait and watch.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28206170

Hence the retrofit to the Chrono Miner. It'll take a bit to set up, but once we do, so long as we make sure it has enough charge to port out when it comes under fire, we'll have one way to continously gain essence/mass/tiberium/whatever.

>>28206172
>(It's the latter.)

I love you.

>>28206172

[x] Go up to the balcony.

Privacy?

(As a side note, I'm fascinated by some of the ideas in the thread. I'll definitely be considering them - For balancing issues - for the upgrade tree.)

>>28206172

Ask the attendant running the cashier if there's a reservation under Rook's name.

>>28206119
>Or did we just unlock production and now Hollow Sun can churn them out. I thought it was the latter.

They've very expensive tho.

Our next order of business is to get TWO of them, set them up, then get an armory beacon and a small source of them in the armory so we can break them out on demand

>>28206189

Sounds like a fairly interesting idea.

Thing is im not too sure how much time we'll have to go and grind since everything is coming to a head.

>>28206106
>Volt Regios. He's the only person we know who's spiteful enough to use it correctly.
This guy knows what he's talking about.

>>28206221

Are they? How much do they cost a piece?

>>28206155
>Jam a couple Void Anchors into it's personnel bay, send it off to murder players in the starting zones. Once it's bays are full, have it port back to HQ to unload essence.

Haha.

A better bet is to hook its Essence Accumulators up to a battery instead of its ammo fabbers.

Anyway, something I"VE been thinking

Rook+natsumi mentioned 'the silver' as something that links them up and lets them share essence.
Its clearly an essence web-sharing artifact

But

We know the red joker processes essence instantly, unlike everyone else, but 20-40%(i forgot how many levels) more efficiently.

What i'm saying is we need to be the central hub/host for this when we do the raid with argent.

>>28206155
That's not how the Anchors work. You kill someone, then trigger it. The Essence gets sucked up into the Anchor, which after a minute remotely synchs with the Hollow Sun and starts mining the area for energy. We're not sure if the Anchor is stationary or moveable, but more than one in the same area is probably going to be inefficient.

>>28206172
Casino! Joker's are wild.

So wait, if we went back to the Hollow Sun we could pick up another Void Anchor without paying the charge cost?

>>28206155

What about a bypass circuit?

Rewire parts of it so that essence can be redirected to a charging port, one where we can put Void Anchors.

So we kill something, essence can be temporarily redirected to the Void Anchor, it activates and primes, and the Red Comet can just shit out a ready Void Anchor.

>>28206155
>send it off to murder players in the starting zones
Yeah, because we're not content with antagonizing only the evil players. We want the entire alignment spectrum of the Red World to go after us.

>>28206252
>Joker's
*Jokers
Fucking apostrophes how do they work.

>>28206245
That involves Argent tampering with the Red Joker. Given the SOUL RENDING AGONY involved with any external modification to the frame, I think this would kill Anon.

What we might look into is whether or not the golden energy we saw in the Hollow Sun's core could be used to improve on Argent's work.

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>>28206252

I don't see why not. Having a positive essence/mass income is a sure sign you're not using it effectively, afterall...

Now energy on the other hand. Can never produce enough of that.

>>28206272

A bypass circuit would be a good start too. We've just gotta figure out how to keep the Anchors from eating our tank.

>>28206287

Nobody knows, except the Tri-Stars and Smilers, that we have it. And Nat since we referenced it. We can send it after Smiler strongholds after we work out the kinks and quirks in it.

>>28206172
>[ x] Head down to the lanes.
>[ x] Check out the mini-casino.
>[ x] Go up to the balcony.

Check out the place, then position ourselves where we have a good overview of the place. Check where the exits are.I'm not sure we're in shape to survive another Smiler gangbang.

>>28206209
>(As a side note, I'm fascinated by some of the ideas in the thread. I'll definitely be considering them - For balancing issues - for the upgrade tree.
Then please consider the essence sharing idea posed in >>28206245. If the consensus is that we don't want to link up with AP's organisation, we can try it with the Tri-stars.

>>28206306
>We can send it after Smiler strongholds after we work out the kinks and quirks in it.
Agreed. Although we could gain reputation by only fighting opponents at our level and sparing those who are benath

>>28206303
>That involves Argent tampering with the Red Joker. Given the SOUL RENDING AGONY involved with any external modification to the frame, I think this would kill Anon.
>What we might look into is whether or not the golden energy we saw in the Hollow Sun's core could be used to improve on Argent's work.

Actually, i'm fairly sure 'the silver' is an artifact he gives to his field teams.
It just makes more sense that way.
he's a tinker, not a hyades

basically the equivalent of that two-part-wolf-mask icon.

And if that's the case?
Hell yeah we just ask for one/how it works.

There's no reason not to inquire, though.

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With the sheer amount of Hives popping up, there's gotta be a Central Hive we can turn into a crater....

>>28206390
>With the sheer amount of Hives popping up, there's gotta be a Central Hive we can turn into a crater....
>>28205262
>Manufacture two more void anchors at the exclusion of all else. Our plan for these is simple: We're going to plan them at corrector hives - the one just made, the one in the smilers main gang base, the one the thief built his hideaway over - and then build the dominion in a special way. A slow-manufacture pulling resources from just the void anchors.
>The dominion is so cost-intensive it is said to leech energies from entire sections of the red world.
>So we set things up to use that to our advantage - set up anchors in the lairs of our enemies during the assault, and literally suck the misfortune and despair out of the world to make our hovertank.


I tihnk you mean 'dominion farm'

>>28206366
It's his medium. He used to upgrade the Assault Shroud and Tempest Scrander, and to make the Sinistral. Natsumi mentioned he made alterations to his faction members using it.

>>28206390
Yep. It's in the trainyard. It's also the place where Frost Cestus met and soon succeeded Red Joker, the place Natsumi was trying to solo/commit suicide, and the place Hecate marked in the Black Cardinal's notebook.

>>28206390
>Central Hive we can turn into a crater....
Problem is, how much damage is that going to cause in the Red World ?

>>28206241
>Are they? How much do they cost a piece?

As much as an artifact or hollow sun research unlock.
(though i think it was reduced slightly retroatively. forget exactly how much. 20-25% ballpark which is not fucking cheap.)

That's why we're fucking mad that dumbass wasted it by using it as a bomb

We're short on energy cause there's SO MUCH GOOD stuff - and not only did we not get More Income(which we so deperately need), we didn't get anything usable instead, AND pissed away a full fourth of our sun charge for jack fucking shit.

And then the smilers went and got MORE power with another hive.

We're so far behind now we need to play catchup and start making/planting these things like mad.

>>28206421
>It's his medium. He used to upgrade the Assault Shroud and Tempest Scrander, and to make the Sinistral. Natsumi mentioned he made alterations to his faction members using it.

And yet, natsumi said 'when we're linked by the silver'.
They're not always linked
ergo it can be turned on and off

Which means: Its an artifact, because logically it doesn't make sense to have to see argent in person every time they want to linkup.
ESPECIALLY with their Cell Operative configuration.
Its much more sense-makey that the people in their independent cell teams get one, and just whip it out and link up before operations.

Since that's the case, there's no reason we can't get one, or be linked into rooks team.

>>28206426

It's the adventure in finding out!

>welcome home, Joker.

>>28206455
Close.
>"...It doesn't work like that, not really. You see - The silver connects us. Each time...When we're working *together*, when one of us kills something...It's *shared*. Everyone gets a bit."

They don't turn it on and off, but when they're near one another the Essence is automatically shared between them.

>>28206172
>[ ] Free

Might as well give rook a text/call

>>28206209

JokerOP how much do void anchors cost apiece?

>>28206496

DA, COMRADE. WORK HARD. RECEIVE DAILY RATION. NEVER UPSET COMRADE ARGENT OR HE TURN YOU INTO INSECT. I SEE BORIS ONE DAY. BORIS SAY BAD THING ABOUT COMRADE ARGENT. BORIS DISAPPEAR NEXT DAY!

Seriously though. I'm waiting for Argent to start going on his mass purging spree.

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>>28206215

You don't have Palladium Rook's name - A precaution on his part, you suppose - but you have a number. "Table 24?" the front counter clerk says; "-Up the steps, and to the left. It's right at the end."

>>28206316

The place is...Well, it's a bowling alley. A gambling-themed bowling alley - You note that they're using a currency card for almost anything, with the games giving out electronic credit rather than cash - but, at a look, it all seems mundane.

There's an elevator up to the second floor, a staff-only door behind the front counter, and two flights of steps up to the balcony. Exits are at either end of the lane, with a discreet emergency door set in the far wall.

>>28206203

Upstairs. You get one or two odd looks - You still smell of smoke, after all - as you ascend the steps to the balcony: Overhead, the blades of a fan on slow rotation circle lazily, part of the stylings of the small cafe/vendor. You pass one of the counter staff making the rounds with a rattling tray, heading towards...

Table 24 is at the very edge of the balcony - The steel rungs of the safety railing at the side, affording the booth a good look at lanes below. It's already occupied - Two boys, with a half-eaten basket of chicken tenders between them, steam curling upwards in slow, misty contrails.

You catch snatches of their conversation, as you close in. Their voices are low, as they converse - Half-audible - carrying only slightly.

(Continued)

>>28206496
>They don't turn it on and off, but when they're near one another the Essence is automatically shared between them.

I don't buy it - for a businessman like Argent who hires players, there's no way it doesn't work with his clock-in clock-out punchcard payroll system.
Having an on/off switch - and the situation that happens when someone quits his company and the silver network - it just doens't make sense it works like you think it does.

But the details on it have been light, and while I disagree with you, I think we can agree we want to know more.


>>28206520
http://pastebin.com/c5Lu9D8e
> VOID ANCHOR - 20% COST
Takes money to make money, anon

>>28206558

wasnt that the research cost?

And JokerOP just said the Hollow Sun can churn them out now.

>>28206580
>wasnt that the research cost?

No. Foundry costs are per item.

20% per anchor, 10% per fusion cell.

This means we.... could, actually give armory beacons to the tristars.

Build stashes of anchors in the armory, and have our allies drop them when they kill stuff.

A sort of snowball effect

>>28206540
Ooh, are we actually going to approach them? Quick request then: put on the Carnifex, but don't activate it. Unless we have a bandanna to cover the lower have of Anon's face with, we ought to not go showing our face to everyone who cares to look at what Red Joker looks like.

>>28206558
He's a businessman who believes in Utilitarianism. Since everyone should contribute to the good of the whole, making his Players share experience for their kills with one another whole donatinh some of it to Argent's vault of Corrector material is still in character.

>>28206558
>I don't buy it - for a businessman like Argent who hires players, there's no way it doesn't work with his clock-in clock-out punchcard payroll system.
He's probably a philantropic businessman like Pullman http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullman_Company.

>>28206540

Hmn.

hey, Op....

Since priming weapons are around 10-20% booster, and using an arsenal beacon is 10%...

Could a light fusion cell power an arsenal beacon?

Having just watched kamen rider W, I'm thinking that we could get two cells and just juggle them around whichever weapons we want.

But it seems like it has the output to necessary amount of oomph to power the beacon, and that just makes the whole weapon juggling idea even more attractive.

tldr; light fusion cell plugs into armory beacon?
Or is this something we're gonna have to try in-character?

>>28206540

"...telling you, don't be so nervous," one of them - Taller, his coat a flash of red against seat - is saying, gesturing with his glass. "...not like they're making him out to be."

"...so sure?" the other asks - younger, looking faintly anxious.

"-could've left me to rot, right? It'd have been easier." There's a clink, as he sets his drink down on a coaster. "...carried me out. Only a good guy does that."

"...he isn't?"

"-why you're here, right?" he laughs, suddenly.

"The world's weakest Player," the other speaker sighs, with a long-suffering air. From the sound of it, they've had this conversation before.

"Look, I keep telling you - Don't sell yourself short. I know what you can do, and-"

He goes silent, abruptly, as he hears you approaching. He turns - He's lean, sharp-featured, his hair almost brown - frowning, slightly as he gets a good look at you. There's something hard-edged about him, even at rest: He has a face that clearly isn't used to smiles.

"-I don't know you," he says, curtly. "That means you have the wrong table..." His brow furrows. "...Or you already have my name."

He says it like a challenge, with a slight twist to his lips - Almost a sneer, unfortunately, but that's just the set of his face.

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28206654

(My apologies, I lost the connection - Sorry for the delay.)

>>28206654
"Cut the bullshit, I'm not in the mood. Kraken just summoned a Hive practically under my feet, not long after Rust Kaiser smashed me through a floor. Oh, and Bell Zephyr stole my wallet. If my enemies don't tell you what *my* name is, then I have better things to do with my time."

>>28206654
>[ x] Free
"Do I have to take you in my arms again before you recognise me ? "

>>28206654

"You could say that. I'll give you (small glance at the table, to indicate what we're talking about ) "24 reasons that jokers trump rooks?"

"Nice to meet you. Hope you guessed MY name" (slightly sing-song, to go with the song reference)

Extend hand. Compliment him on looking well

>>28206683

Hah!

"Man. I'm not sure I could drag you out of here if things got hairy again - and they might. I don't have time for shit right now. I just saw smilers *make* a hive out of a stage. I was at ground zero."
"They brought the whole party. Rust kaiser, kraken, an army of correctors. So.... I'm in. I want payback."


>>28206680
Coming of a liiiiitle strong there, dont you think?

Try not to vent on the guy so much. Save that for after the introductions.

>>28206654

Stare at him. Give him the Look that we are not in the mood.

"I just got done dealing with one clusterfuck and pulling three other Players out of the shit. Mind making some room so I can take a seat? Who's your friend Rook?"

>>28206715
>>28206707
>>28206680

Whoooooooooooaaaaaaa

guys, composure

take a deeeep breath. Focus. Remember the red joker's suaveness and way with words.

THEN unload.

Also, don't give him reason to think this was a Bad Idea.

>>28206680
"Cut the bullshit, I'm not in the mood. Kraken just summoned a Hive practically under my feet, not long after Rust Kaiser smashed me through a floor. Oh, and Bell Zephyr stole my wallet.
I like this part.
But not this part
>. If my enemies don't tell you what *my* name is, then I have better things to do with my time."

Though it would be fitting to mention he's paying for drinks, due to wallet theft

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>>28206680
>>28206707
>>28206715

He laughs. It's a startling sound - A brief bark of laughter.

"-Yeah, it's you all right," he says, waving you to a chair. "Didn't recognize you...But that's always the way, isn't it?" His voice is rough-edged, but the frown lines to his face have relaxed; He slouches back in his seat, folding his arms against his chest.

The other boy starts, "Shuya, that's-"

"...The guy I was telling you about, Isao," Shuya says - With an ironic little nod of his head. "-Be nice, all right?" He glances at you, winks; "Not used to strangers," he offers, though there's a clear fondness to his voice. "I keep telling him to loosen up, but he *never* listens."

(Continued)

>>28206654

>"...not like they're making him out to be."

We really ARE the boogeyman. I'm surprised our ability to turn other player souls into fashionable clothing hasn't gotten out as well.

>>28206788
Does anyone else know about our "souls to clothes" ability?

The main pull we have on our resident boogeyman status is that we can kill people really well, that's all I think.

>>28206771
>"I keep telling him to loosen up, but he *never* listens."

"I can relate to that, actually. Everyone I run into seems to be the 'shoot first, shoot some more, than maybe talk while reloading' kinda people. This is all backwards for me, too. ..Nice change of pace, tho."

laugh a bit, smile, so he knows we're joking.
Half joking.

>>28206788
>>28206817

Well, we also seem to have the ability to get drawn into other people's fights, like some idiot boneheading a camera shot.

Essentailly, we're the Secret Miniboss Pinata that occasionally shows up as a Random Encounter.

Hell, the reason people don't think the Red Joker is a random-encounter wandering npc monster is probably because the last red joker was, by all accounts, a GIANT bro to everyone.

>>28206715

"Him? He's my buddy - A good guy in low company. And-" Shuya gives Isao a look, a teasing note to his voice. "...The weakest player alive..."

Isao blushes. He fumbles with his scarf, as he goes red.

"...But seriously-" and his voice sobers. "He's my secret weapon."

He says it so flatly, so deadpan, you can't tell if he's joking.

>>28206685

Shuya takes the proferred hand, shakes. His grip is strong, but he doesn't do the compulsory squeezing - Instead, he pours you a drink from the pitcher, soda gurgling and bubbling as it fills up.

"-Help yourself," he says - "You look like you've been through the *wars*."

>>28206822

"Yeah, I can't help it - I give everyone shit, until I get to know them. I blame my upbringing."

>>28206732

A half-smile. "What, all three of them? You really are lucky...Or good. Either way, we could use more of that." He coughs, to clear his throat - "Yeah, I know the Hive erupted - If I wasn't in disgrace, I suppose I'll be on the line with the others."

There's a sarcastic twist to his voice. "...Nice of the boss to give me a vacation. This looks like a good place to wait it out, anyway - It looks to be a hot night."

"Anyway...Look, I'll cut the bullshit."

Shuya pushes a mostly-empty plate of pasta aside, dusting his hands off. "-Now, the thing is: How much do you know about the old city?"

[ ] "Not much."
[ ] "That it's filled with Correctors."
[ ] "It's not a good place to be."
[ ] "That you lost your entire team there."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28206863
>"...But seriously-" and his voice sobers. "He's my secret weapon."
-Do Rook or his friend have any healing powers
?
What is the Player name of Rook's friend ?

>>28206863
>"Him? He's my buddy - A good guy in low company. And-" Shuya gives Isao a look, a teasing note to his voice. "...The weakest player alive..."

"Let me guess... a moratorium?"

>>28206863
>[ ] "Not much."
but
>[ ] "It's not a good place to be."
and
>[ ] "That it's filled with Correctors."

hold the last one in reserve. See if he offers that last bit.
>[ ] "That you lost your entire team there."

If i'm remembering correctly, and The Thief's hideout was in the old city. "I was there once or twice. Friend of mine's house was right underneath a corrector hive."

>>28206863
>Yeah, I know the Hive erupted
Correct him.
"It didn't just erupt - they made it happen on purpose."

>>28206897
Cont.
>[ ] Free
And why is Isao his "secret weapon" ?

>>28206897
>>"...But seriously-" and his voice sobers. "He's my secret weapon."

Oh where are our manners.

Introduce ourselves

>>28206863

>[ ] "That you lost your entire team there."

Anybody who picks this option should be put through a tree mulcher. I still laughed.

"I know enough that shit there is not to be underestimated. At all."

>>28206863

"Secret weapon, huh?" Look his bro up and down. "Doesn't look like much too me. Of course, those are the ones you've gotta watch out for."

"So, what's the deal? What exactly did you want, Rook. I'm pretty beat from my last playdates, not really up to crash yet another party."

>>28206943
>"So, what's the deal? What exactly did you want, Rook. I'm pretty beat from my last playdates, not really up to crash yet another party."

nah. getting some essence and hitting hecate's seal a few times should get us right back in the game

>>28206863
>"It's a nice place to farm some essence.
>Unfortunately, I never got the chance to do that. There's always someone randomly trying to kill when I have free time."

>>28206906

A pause.

"I...don't know what that means," Shuya admits, a trifle reluctantly. "But trust me on this: When the time comes, we may need him. If we're really lucky, though - It won't come to that."

>>28206897

"It's 'Haze'," Isao interjects. He looks a little sullen, for some reason. "'Distortion Haze'."

> -Do Rook or his friend have any healing powers?

Shuya smiles, slightly - With a kind of dark, secret amusement. "Quite the opposite," he says. "...It's the other way round, really."

>>28206943

You look him up and down. Isao tenses, slightly, beneath your regard: Physically, he's ordinary. Of course - You know, as well as anyone, that doesn't really mean anything. Still, he can't help but puff up a little at your words, looking absurdly pleased.

>>28206912

"Right. As you know - I'm Shuya, and this is Isao. We go back a long way."

> "It didn't just erupt - they made it happen on purpose."

A silence descends, at that. Shuya's eyes narrow, slightly, lost in thought: "-You know," he says - "...I've always wondered. Each time a Hive erupts, it's all hands on deck. I have to admit...This was an awfully convenient time for it to happen."

In the same vein: "Maybe, that's what they're doing. Keep us off-balance, distracted, away from the big picture...I don't know." He takes a slug from his drink, as if holding a grudge against it. "Who knows what the bastards want, anyway?"

(Continued)

>>28206993

>Distortion Haze

Sounds like a stealth based character frame.

"Hm. Infiltration specialist judging by your Player name. Interesting. Information is absolutely vital in the field. I could use someone like you if you're ever free."

>>28206993
>>28207018

>> -Do Rook or his friend have any healing powers?

>Shuya smiles, slightly - With a kind of dark, secret amusement. "Quite the opposite," he says. "...It's the other way round, really."

If it's the other way around, then Haze would probably be a Player with poison/damage-over-time type of attacks.

Makes sense if Rook calls him weak, just because he could never kill Correctors fast enough with just his poisons, with other Players kill-stealing him.

>>28206993

"So, why are you on vacation, anyway?"
"I take it something happened between you and argent?"

>>28207044

Distortion Haze is most certainly a DoT Player. He'll have invested in being stealthy since he doesn't go toe-to-toe with other players. Hence, infiltration specialist.

>Railroad wnipmen

Captcha thinks we're being railroaded apparently.

>>28207064
That does make sense.

His normal modus operandi would be "stealth -> poison gank -> reenter stealth and wait for the target to die".

Except his kills always get stolen by... other Players who spot the poisoned target.

Further down the conversation, I want to ask them what kind of item Kraken's soul might be.
Just to freak them out. And make it seem like we are joking.

> "I know enough that shit there is not to be underestimated. At all."
>>28206987

"Right. Not like we ever get enough, though - Once we're done recharging the accumulators, after the cleanup's done...It barely gets us through to the *next* one." Shuya lifts his glass, as if considering whether to pitch it over the side - It's clear that rankles. "...The boss is a double-hard bastard, if you get on his bad side. Oh, he's never *angry* with you - But he can be a fucking snake."

Isao shifts, uneasily, in his seat.

"Anyway - We call them 'hives', but that's not the right name for it. They're passages, really - A tunnel, one that goes all the way to...Who the fuck knows. Satan's asshole, maybe. That's what they are, when you get down to it: It's a path *through*, leading down to wherever all the monsters come from."

"But I'm getting sidelined again."

>>28206911
>>28207018

"-I'm not sure I..." Isao begins, adjusting his scarf - With a plaintive look at Shuya. "I...I'm not good at getting close to people."

"'Close'," Shuya cuts in - "...only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades..." He's still smiling, but there's no amusement in his voice.

"And chemical weapons."

>>28207055

Shuya makes a face. "He doesn't like me," he says. "-A 'troublemaker', he calls me...'Doesn't take well to instruction.' The things I believe in...It makes me inconvenient. Can't have anyone starting a war, can we? Not without his say-so."

He exhales, sharply. "Enough about that. It's a long story, and the less said the better. What *does* matter, though..."

Shuya's voice lowers. "...I think the Smilers are hiding underground. They're there, in the old subway station and tracks - There's half a city down there, and no-one knows how far it goes."

(Continued)

>>28207100
>"And chemical weapons."

............ Why helllo enfer mk 2.

>>28207100
>(Continued)
(listen raptly)

>>28207100

He's right about that. They used to send rescue parties into the collapsed network - But the devastation was so total, so complete, that the rescuers kept vanishing. It's a thing of urban legend: The pitiable calls, fading into the dark, tales of 'impossible spaces' and 'spirals of madness', never confirmed.

"There's something *down* there that they want...Or they have, I don't know. Whatever it is..."

His fist thumps the table. "-We're going to fuck them up."

[ ] "That's the plan?"
[ ] "Are you sure?"
[ ] "Do you have any idea what might be down there?"
[ ] "How many Players do you have?"
[ ] "Does Argent Prominence know about this?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28207100
>"Anyway - We call them 'hives', but that's not the right name for it. They're passages, really - A tunnel, one that goes all the way to...Who the fuck knows. Satan's asshole, maybe. That's what they are, when you get down to it: It's a path *through*, leading down to wherever all the monsters come from."
I guess it's some for Red Joker style dungeon crawls.

>>28207124
>"There's something *down* there that they want...Or they have, I don't know. Whatever it is..."
>His fist thumps the table. "-We're going to fuck them up."

Go silent for a moment. Try to remember what we know of The Underworld. the corrector underworld, and our missing heart.
Then share it

>>28207124
>[ ] Free

"Just going to say now that I've just been on another dungeon romp a while ago. I barely managed to get out safely by the skin of my teeth. And that was with my... (cue small wistful smile) friends."

"I sure hope we're not doing this with just me, you and Isao-kun here."

Then there's the realization that, yes, even the Red Joker has bad days sometimes, despite his omnicider status.

>Captcha: Religion xaziin

Yes, those Smilers and their screwed up religion really bother me, captcha.

>>28207163
Nah, better:
>"So, were you there when a bunch of people was trapped in that place for a few subjective centuries?
I'd love to blow it up."

>>28207124

We're finally getting the Dungeon Crawl session we've been discussing for the past several threads? Hot ass.

"Hold on, Rook. We're getting ahead of ourselves here. We need intel if we're going to be hitting anything related to Smilers. And manpower. And a tank. But most certainly intel. What do you know about this place?"

>>28207200
On a meta level, we will definitely need the armory portals and possibly a void anchor.

We now need to look very closely at our available options. No point in keeping a Hollow Sun charge that might help us for this situation.

>>28207163
>>28207190

You're not sure *what* to tell him - Or how much of it he'd believe. The labyrinth slopes and pathways of the old city...They're not the underworld, not truly. Even shrouded in cyclopean darkness, the pathways are still aligned, however tenaciously, to the Red World.

The place you've been - Where you've come from - is somewhere infinitely worse.

The thing is - It's barely the beginnings of an idea, one you can't quite voice yet - you think you know where the Correctors are coming from. What the hives *are*, or what they might be.

Great spikes of pitted rock and flesh, gouging ever upwards, carrying with it the damnation swarms...

-The Hell beneath the world, glimpsed only through the cracks. Rising up to meet the reality you know.

>>28207200

Shuya glances up, when you mention the tank. His eyebrows rise, but he doesn't pursue the issue.

> "What do you know about this place?"

"-Very little," he admits, grudgingly. "We were scoping the place out, when that awful bitch caught up with us. It's dark and messy down there, Anon - Messy and mad. I'll swear that the place is alive...We just couldn't find out way out."

He brushes his brown hair back from his eyes, his jaw setting in thought. "I marked the run-up with tachyon beacons - They haven't been discovered, yet. I'm still getting signals from them. Either way - The grinners are up to something. That whor - that bitch - had to come from *somewhere*, after all...She was down there for a *reason*."

Shuya's teeth grind together, his fingers curling into claws. That's clearly a sore point for him. Even in passing, you can tell that his pride has been hurt - And that he's itching to hurt someone right back.

(Continued)

>>28207317

"There's serious resistance down there. Motion trackers went insane: It's like a termite nest. And then there was that weird signal we never managed to trace..."

His voice trails off. "-They're up to something," Shuya says, again. "I just *know* they are."

[ ] "...That's it?"
[ ] "-Are your beacons reliable?"
[ ] "And how do we get out?
[ ] "'Weird signal?'"
[ ] "How many Players do you have?"
[ ] "How much firepower do you have?"
[ ] "Does Argent Prominence know about this?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28207327
>[ X ] "How much firepower do you have?"
>[ X ] "Does Argent Prominence know about this?"
"I can bring some firepower, but it would be nice if you also added some.
We also need to plan an escape route. No need to get killed down there."

>>28207327

"Who's this 'she' you're talking about?"

Hmn. "Tell me about your beacons. I may be able to get more. Or better yet... show me How was the signal wierd?"

"... and if we're going to do this, i know the people work with your boss 'link up' somehow. How's that work? Are we going to be doing it?"

>>28207394

He's talking about alura, the plantgirl who captured and slowly digested his friends.

>>28207327
>[ ] "...That's it?"
>[ ] "-Are your beacons reliable?"
>[ ] "And how do we get out?
>[ ] "'Weird signal?'"
>[ ] "How many Players do you have?"
>[ ] "How much firepower do you have?"
>[ ] "Does Argent Prominence know about this?"

These are all good things to say.

Perhaps take the meeting to the Red? Ask first tho

>>28207327

"Rook. Look at me. You're a smart kid with a drive. You want revenge for the C'hauliflower killing your team. That's great. Hell, even I want a piece of the Smilers for taking someone from me too. But this won't work. You're too hotheaded right now. You'll put yourself, me, your friend, and whomever else we scrounge up to kick the Smilers' ass in danger. I will work with you as long as you work with me and the rest of our motley team."

"Look me in the eye right now Rook. Tell me with due sincerity that you are not looking to get yourself killed. That you are willing to work as a team and not put the rest of the team in danger due to a revenge trip."

Then start going down the bullet points.

>>28207436
Maybe add that we are *also* emotionally invested in this. It's not like we don't understand him.

>"Oh and if we find Kraken, the killer clown or anyone else involved with Nara Dreamland, *I* will be the one to get the essence. I have ways of humiliating them post-mortem."

>>28207436

Oh snap.

and THAT's why the RJ is here.

Yeah.

You! stick around, wordsmith!

>>28207436

His jaw locks. But then he meets your gaze, holding it for a long moment as he takes your measure. Whatever he sees makes his brow furrow, drawing himself up a little straighter - An instinctive response to being challenged. But then-

"Fine," he says, at last - Reluctantly, as if the words taste bad in his mouth. It's a grudging admission, but an honest one; "-I'll play it safe. As long as it *hurts* them."

> [X] "How many Players do you have?"

"Three squads," he answers, immediately. "Three squads, and a few independents - Counting us, that makes almost thirty." A pause. "...Less, if some decide to bottle. I'd say - At least fifteen, for sure. But - If you're with us, your name's more than enough to sway the holdouts."

Shuya smiles, but it's not particularly pleasant.

"They'd be too afraid *not* to show up."

> [X] "How much firepower do you have?"

"A mix. Melee weapons and small arms - Especially the three line squads. There's some heavy-duty Players, but they're generally slower, more cumbersome...And you need focused fire to deal with Corrector swarms."

He taps a finger against the table. "The terrain doesn't help, either. There's no place to form a firing line: If we just march everyone down there, we'll be fighting every step of the way."

"Our best shot is to insert multiple squads through the various entryways, and rendezvous at the beacons...But that may mean getting picked off piecemeal. It's no-win, either way."

Shuya glances at you - "...Any help you can give, I'll appreciate. We need *more*, Anon: More of everything."

> [X] "-Are your beacons reliable?"

"Yes," he says - then hesitates. "...Mostly. They're still broadcasting, that is. We'll be able to find our way to them, easily enough. After that..."

He doesn't say - "We're on our own." - but he's clearly thinking that.

(Continued)

>>28207436
>>28207454

Next time we're at school....
.... we need to get asuna in on this. Insurance against anything terrible.

Buy her a drink, then Thank her for watching over us, and the reminder to be a hero - that we can't just stand around while things happen.
Then... call her out on still watching us. Cuz she couldn't have known that if she still didn't have her eye on us. (its okay, we understand we're like a trainwreck) - and offer that she could do some good herself, instead of urging others to do it.
Snipe that it would make some wicked inspiration for the play.

If we can get pythia to help with THE UNDERDARK....
it would go a long ways towards forestalling any unexpected shenanigans.

>>28207605

> [X] "And how do we get out?

"-I'll be setting markers on the way in. If all goes well, we'll retrace our steps." Shuya pauses. "...If it goes badly - I won't lie - it's going to be a lot more complicated. If we get split up, it's every man for himself. We'll regroup at the beacons, but..."

He goes on: "To be blunt: Once we start taking losses - And we *will* take losses - some of the Players are going to have second thoughts. If they break, others will follow. And that's when everything goes to shit."

A glance, in your direction - "If you can blast a path clear, though, that makes things a lot easier."

>[X] "Does Argent Prominence know about this?"

"-The plan? No."

Shuya grins, without humour. "...If he knew, he'd stop us. Put me on a charge, probably. I'm not going to sugarcoat it, Joker: He's not going to be happy. This is exactly the kind of shit he told me not to do."

"And - let's be frank - he's probably going to find out *after*, if not before. But better to ask for forgiveness than for permission, eh? If we bring him Kraken's head, maybe it'd improve his mood."

He draws a deep breath.

"So - What do you say?"

[ ] "Let's do it."
[ ] "I'll provide support, but I can't go along with this."
[ ] "This is a terrible plan. I'm all for it."
[ ] "This is a terrible plan. Count me out."
[ ] "I'll need time to think about it."
[ ] Free

>>28207605
>Shuya glances at you - "...Any help you can give, I'll appreciate. We need *more*, Anon: More of everything."
"I have guns.
Many guns with specialized effects. Like a gravity cannon to suppress enemies.
But it might take a while to set it up.
We can speed up the production if you help me set up some tools."

>>28207640

I think we shouldn't mention the Hollow Sun to him. We should bring him guns, a lot of guns, but stress that he should not ask where they're from.

>>28207652
Well, yeah.
Just say that we can produce guns. And the void anchors allow us to produce them more quickly.
I never intended to imply that we mention the Hollow Sun. The weapons are not a giveaway, as next to no one knows that the thing can do.

>>28207634

This has all the makings of an enormous clusterfuck. We're going to follow a ragtag team of players underground, with no easy hope of retreat, and fight what might be a million correctors.

Then if we get past them, we'll run into whatever the smilers have stashed down there, possibly including more amaglams which will fuck us up. If anyone is still alive by that point, we may end up fighting the Smiler Final Bosses.

Oh, and this is 100% certain to piss Fumito off. Win or lose, he's going to be furious. It's also possible that Rook is doing this specifically so he can kick off a war between the smielrs and the silver cyphers.

I really think we should sit this one out. It sounds like an impossibly terrible idea.

>>28207605
>Shuya glances at you - "...Any help you can give, I'll appreciate. We need *more*, Anon: More of everything."

"I have guns. Lots of guns. There's a catch, though - how many of you have secondary reactors, or extra powersources?"

I'm thinking we outfit everyone with Maser Emitters. While we don't have any flamethrowers to hand out....
>In combat, multiple Hellions focus their Emitters on the same target for a cumulative - And highly disruptive - effect.
... it has a cumulative effect.

"This is a terrible plan. But... I'll need some time to think about it, make it better, but I'm in."
"See if anyone can get their hands on some Tethers - its a one-use artifact that can pull you to another place. "

" Also.... Argent wants to see me for unrelated reasons. he's done some artifact work for me - but i'm going to be in the office. I don't suppose you forgot anything at the office I should grab while I'm there?"

"I have some questions, though. Tell me about your essence sharing link widget."

>>28207605

"Alright. Who out of these thirty players has an alternative energy generator? Because, I can provide heavy ordinance. They come with an activation charge, however, so not everyone can use them efficiently or at all for that matter."

Secondly, who do you trust the most out of these thirty? Who is most on board with this plan of yours? Who has leadership experience? We can put those ones in charge of teams."

"Thirdly, do you think there's enough room in those tunnels for a tank?"

>>28207683
>This has all the makings of an enormous clusterfuck. We're going to follow a ragtag team of players underground, with no easy hope of retreat, and fight what might be a million correctors.

THIS is why I want to pitch the idea to Pythia.

Future hacking quantum linking command and control is going to be *the* thing that saves this from going down.

If we can get the thief in for essence, and his help to manufacture some tethers for emergency evac - things will be maybe, maybe salvagable.

>>28207683
>This has all the makings of an enormous clusterfuck. We're going to follow a ragtag team of players underground, with no easy hope of retreat, and fight what might be a million correctors.
Can correctors use the essence upgrade system? This could be fun.

>>28207698

The thief would be in on this just as soon as we tell him we know where a piece of his pig sticker is.

>>28207640

(To clarify: The basic guns in the Hollow Sun are free. There are enough weapons to equip an army of Hellions, and more are produced when each hardshell is completed.)

>>28207711

I think we were planning on handing out some basic handguns to people who can use them.

>>28207711
But the gravity cannons are still limited in number, right?
Because the heavy guns will be really useful, especially for players with melee weapons. (Allowing them to be useful even when melee is not advised)

>>28206010
>Turning on limited production for the command helions and turning the essence of the speedster into an artifact.

I just checked out the new guide

and this now costs a significant chunk of a sun charge

What if we just deploy a void anchor in the tunnels near their base.

Will it start to melt down the surroundings and possibly bring it down?

>>28207758
Fuck no, fuck you for suggesting wasting it, we can't afford one anyway, and conventional weapons are better

Also add "Does argent prominence pay well? Because I know a mercenary with a hate-on for the smilers almost as big as mine. I'd need to find him, and I'm not sure what he charges, but...."

>>28207785

>deploy as in mining

>Not a fucking bomb

>>28207785
AP doesn't know about this, but Enfer might be useful.

Also, see >>28207793. We do not intend to use such an expensive bomb.

>>28207785

deploy it as a miner.

Because for one, it damages players and the surroundings.

If we do this. If we do this. We are going to piss Fumito - Argent off. When we next meet Argent, we should inform him shit is about to go down. Tell him that if this clusterfucker fails, that it was a radical group in his organization that finally barred their fangs and attacked a Smiler base. Argent can play up the crocodile tears as much as he wants to keep the peace after the fact. He's killed, literally, two birds with one stone. He's gotten rid of his problem members in his corporation as well as damaged the Smilers to boot.

Now, if we succeed, imagine the fucking power shift that is bound to happen. We will have eliminated a Smiler stronghold, killed, destroyed, or captured the McGuffin, and placed Argent in an even more powerful position.

No matter what, it's a win-win for him.

>>28207825

Unless

Unless this is the case

>>28205511

If argent is war profiteering off of correctors, and partially in bed with the people who can make more of them, then this is a really, really bad thing to warn him of.

>>28207729

(There's still a substantial number.)

>>28207640

He takes the good news surprisingly well: Actually, Shuya looks faintly sceptical, but he nods anyway. "-It'll take two...Maybe three, to be safe...days to get everything in order. You have until then."

>>28207685

> " Also.... Argent wants to see me for unrelated reasons. he's done some artifact work for me - but i'm going to be in the office. I don't suppose you forgot anything at the office I should grab while I'm there?"

Shuya shakes his head. "Nothing," he says. "-Don't say anything, or act in *any* way that might make him suspicious; If word of this gets out, he'll come down on us like a house full of bricks." He raises an admonitory finger. "He *cannot* know about this, or the plan's fucked."

A pause.

"Don't fuck this up for me, Joker. I'm serious."

> "I have some questions, though. Tell me about your essence sharing link widget."

Shuya grimaces. "-It's less useful than you'd think," he says. "In the field, some squads have Links slaved to a Field Accumulator - When they kill something, it draws off the Essence released, to recharge the Accumulator instead."

(Continued)

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>>28207785

"Just enough," he answers. There's a brooding look in his eyes. "Sometimes, I think he doesn't *want* us to get too powerful, too soon. To stop us from doing anything...'provocative'. I've heard...Ah, never mind."

He shoots you a brief, searching glance, then looks away.

>>28207692

"We'll work something out," Shuya says, dismissively. "-Anyone who can carry a gun, we'll arm them."

> Secondly, who do you trust the most out of these thirty? Who is most on board with this plan of yours? Who has leadership experience? We can put those ones in charge of teams."

"The three squads already have their own leaders - Silver Cross, Vector Geist, Agite Striker." He grimaces. "...Let someone have a little power, and it goes to their heads. I couldn't pry them away if I tried."

Shuya holds up a hand, to clarify: "They work well together. They're the backbone of the plan; The ones we can rely on. I'll be leading the last squad - If there's enough for one more, we'll be over-strength."

He exhales, slowly.

"-You have a day or two to make up your mind. The longer we wait, the more likely it is that someone's going to screw it all up. If you can't make it - We'll have to go ahead without you."

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28207869

lol the plan was already fucked the moment you asked RJ to tag along

This op is going to be a disaster.

Force recon without a exit strategy and without a clear goal other then get in and wreck/capture stuff/

>>28207869
>"Don't fuck this up for me, Joker. I'm serious."
>" I've heard...Ah, never mind."

"No, go on. Even if its just a rumor.... I..."
"I'm serious. I saw some deeper, next-level shit he was working on in secret by accident."
"I'm not sure what it means, but... i'm suspicious. So any little thing.... well, you go first. "

>>28207889

I think that might be the point. You have a guy who got his entire squad murdered to death by monsters, and now he's leading a revenge operation. This is going to get a lot of people killed, either way.

He's about to throw a poorly-trained rabble of greedy bastards and opportunists into the dark, and all hell is going to break loose. The guy standing next to him is a weapon of mass destruction, that's how bad this is.

This guy is Blackwater to AP's Seal Team 6.

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>>28207889
I'm expecting this to end worse than your average BETA Hive infiltration mission.

>>28207921
We'll be needing someone to make a "OMG THE FLOORS ARE MADE OF CORRECTORS" comment later on.

>>28207921

Hmm,,

That might actually work.

If have the objective be to charge down and activate a Void Anchor.

We might have a chance of getting out maybe a squad alive.

>>28207877

"I'll ask around. I might be able to recruit a certain Thief if he's still after his pig sticker. Got some info he might be interested in. Plus I'm in contact with the Tri-Stars so there is them.. The one, Tyrian, he can do overwatch for us and make sure shit doesn't go full tits up. Plus I can get us an Armory Guardian for heavy fire support.... Isao, you've been awfully quiet. Speak up, kiddo. If you think any part of this plan is terrible, don't be afraid to voice it. We're all ears."
>>28207889

Tell me about it. I'm mulling over possible things that could turn this into a complete slaughter. And it's far too many to be comfortable.

>>28207877
>"Just enough," he answers. There's a brooding look in his eyes. "Sometimes, I think he doesn't *want* us to get too powerful, too soon. To stop us from doing anything...'provocative'. I've heard...Ah, never mind."

"No, go on."
"Hmn. A field accumulator. An essence accumulator. That's funny. The one's I've seen and used worked fine."
"I think I'll need to see one. It wouldn't surprise me if the ones he gives you are.... deliberately not as good as they could be"

>>28207889
>>28207911
We need a way in, and a way out, and a way to maintain communications.

Its gonna be a disaster, so its up to us to make it NOT a disaster.
If we DONT help, they're all gonna die and the smilers are gonna feast on their essence AND all the people who can stand up to them are out of play. Forever.

What this means is we need to play all our cards.
Get help, get allies, work together, hit the smilers with a diversion before the strike (i wouldn't mind taking the GARM for a ride through their club/base just to stir up shit, or even just dropping hints through megumi that they're gonna get attacked)

>>28207933
>If you think any part of this plan is terrible, don't be afraid to voice it. We're all ears."
I like that part. Don't mention the armory guardian, though

>>28207926
Who gets CHOMP'd?

>>28207942

It will factor into possible force deployment. That is if we bring it.

>>28207942
>"I think I'll need to see one. It wouldn't surprise me if the ones he gives you are.... deliberately not as good as they could be"

Forgot to add this.
"No, i was more hoping you had a way of maintaining communication with that link. That's gonna be crucial to living through this."

>>28207977

Everyone.

EVERYONE.

Question:
Now that we have the Red Comet stowed away at the Hollow Sun. Instead of having to warp at the Hollow Sun and bring it out manually, can we use the Armory Beacon to summon it into the field?

And probably shout something silly like CALL, RED COMET while we're at it.

Though now I think about it, it would be pretty hard to get into the Comet's cockpit in the middle of a firefight.

>>28207989

Arsenal beacon and GARM upgrades.

Guess what that needs?
MORE SUN ESSENCE

guess what we're really short on?
Sun essence

Absolutely no talk of wasting void anchors for anything less than harvesting from this point out.

Heres an odd question.

Does the Void Anchor continue to destroy the stage and surroundings after it has been fully deployed into the invulnerable mode?

Because if it is, we might set it up, and let it eat its way down as it corrodes/eats the floor and drops down to the next level of the corrector base and start fucking that up.

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>>28207989

"IT'S SHOWTIME!"

>>28208006


We don't know.

Because we've never managed to deploy one successfully.

Fuck with all this 'can we use the anchor for x' questions.

It won't do anything conventional guns - like the fusion blasters 'fuck the walls' mode - won't do better.

>>28208023

Please think about it if it works.

Invulnerable. Drilling. Machine. That corrodes everything near it.

>>28208033

Its a long-term essence drill, though, not a physical mining machine.

It has more in common with a vacuum than gurren lagaan

>>28208038

>Subsequently, the Anchor begins to rapidly drain Essence from the surrounding area (Damaging Correctors, Players and the surrounding area)

>>28207902

Shuya hesitates - Then, apparently decided, goes on.

"-The others don't like to talk about it, but...A long time ago, Argent was less - picky. Back in the bad old days, he had a squad for when he'd take to the field himself. Just to make sure things were in order, you know?"

"Well - They say that the squad leader was Argent's favorite. I think the old man was grooming him for command, but then...He went off the reservation. Tore the place apart, then bugged out."

"The thing is, no one knows why. No one has the balls to ask about it, either."

He exhales. "-The way I see it, he got greedy. Maybe he wanted it all, but you can't beat the boss. Maybe it was something...Ah, you know what? Forget it. We'll never know, anyway."

Shuya gives you a long, searching glance.

"After all - You killed him."

He sighs, shaking his head - As if to banish the unpleasant thoughts.

"Look, by all accounts - Bardiel was a jumped-up little shit. But...Sometimes, I just wonder, you know?"

(Continued)

>>28207977
Mio.

>>28208040

yeah. Vacuum, not drilling machine.

It gets settled in one place, then ghostbust ghosttraps everything forever.

>>28208078

>damages surrounding area

>>28208078
>>28208085

(Just to clarify: The Void Anchor, in it's primary form, can't really direct the preliminary Essence extraction. Basically, it drains Essence in a perfectly spherical area-of-effect - 'Soft' targets like Correctors and Players are easier to drain, but it also erodes the surrounding area, which causes it to gradually crumble/disintegrate as they're undermined. 'Hard' targets are a lot harder to destroy, since they're more resilient to damage.)

>>28207933

Shuya looks up - His sharp features a little dubious, as he thinks it over...Then he nods. "If you think they can be trusted..." His voice trails off. "-Why not? We can never have enough cannon fodder."

>>28207942

"I don't have one, not at present. They're only given out when an operation starts - Keeps us from walking off with the equipment." The sour twist to his mouth seems to indicate that this line of thought isn't new to him.

>>28207982

"-That's a problem. We have line-of-sight communication, but - Once we're down there - we're going to lose *all* contact. And I mean *all*. The closest thing we have to a rallying point are the beacons; We can flare them, send out a pulse, but that's going to draw everyone's attention."

> Plus I can get us an Armory Guardian for heavy fire support....

"You have an Armory Guardian?" Shuya whistles, under his breath. "-That's a hell of an asset. But-"

"-It's going to be cramped down there. If there's no space for it...Well, you might be walking home."

> Isao, you've been awfully quiet. Speak up, kiddo. If you think any part of this plan is terrible, don't be afraid to voice it. We're all ears."

Isao - doodling on a napkin, with a chilli packet - blinks, as he's directly addressed. He gives you a look that speaks volumes: It's all Greek to him. He's not holding out too much confidence in the plan - But then his gaze goes to Shuya, and he shrugs, looking resigned, with a weak smile.

The message is clear: He trusts Shuya.

(Continued)

>>28208147

>calling the tri-stars cannon fodder

Did this nigger do that?

"May I point out the Tri-Stars and I fought Rust Kaiser, Bell Zephyr, Kraken, and THEIR cannon fodder before we managed to bug out before being overwhelmed? They're no slouches when it comes to combat. I wouldn't refer to them as cannon fodder around them unless YOU want to be turned into mince meat. yourself."

>>28208173
Town down the aggression a bit.

But yeah. I share the sentiment.

They're not cannon fodder. Nobody here is. In fact, with argent keeping everyone deliberately progressing in check..... they're probably stronger than you.
>>28208147
"-That's a problem. We have line-of-sight communication, but - Once we're down there - we're going to lose *all* contact. And I mean *all*. The closest thing we have to a rallying point are the beacons; We can flare them, send out a pulse, but that's going to draw everyone's attention."

"Yeah. I can probably help make more beacons. I'm thinking we set them up to flare on command - morse code if we need to - and use them like radios. If we can talk, we have strategy and tactics, and we're going to fail without those. Plus.... Its a layer we can use to our advantage. Only a sending unit would flare up. I'm seeing uses for those."

Well, if we're going to be doing platoon level tactics, I think we could do with a few hellion hardshells for improved C3i.

I don't approve of the lack of a fallback plan, and we'll want something less suicidal in case shit does, in fact, go down. Do either of the two have any high speed or low visibility AoE gear?

>>28208226
>Well, if we're going to be doing platoon level tactics, I think we could do with a few hellion hardshells for improved C3i.

The problem is.... we can't. Hellions are an all or nothing type deal

>>28208233

We still have yet to hook up a Hellion to our Cobalt Booster.

>Communcation problems....

>Virtue Units

>Upgrades: [ ] AUDITIO ARRAY (Virtue-class units can now receive and relay orders from the Dominion to the rest of the flight.)


HMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

This might have potential.

Can we tear down hellion units for parts? Those basically are communicators. If volt (Hes the tri-star tech guy?) can use some virtue shells to get at those communicators and jury-rig create comm units, we might be able to use the hollow sun as a central relay for comms between squads.

>>28208233
I mean we pack a few on the way down for comms, unless you mean we have to deploy the entire swarm if we want to use 'em.

>>28208250
>I mean we pack a few on the way down for comms, unless you mean we have to deploy the entire swarm if we want to use 'em.

This is correct, tho.

>>28208249
>If volt (Hes the tri-star tech guy?) can use some virtue shells to get at those communicators and jury-rig create comm units, we might be able to use the hollow sun as a central relay for comms between squads.

Oh hell yes. Best idea so far.

>>28208247
except for this one.

>>28208249

Volt's the walking tesla coil. Tyrian is the tech guru

>>28207989

(There's an upgrade for that.)

>>28208147

Close by, you hear pins clatter as someone manages a strike: The video-reels spinning, coming up with a jackpot. There are a few cheers, some desultory applause as his friends congratulate him.

"-And that's the plan," Shuya says. He glances over the rail - "...There's plenty of unknowns involved, but - As they say - no plan survives contact with the enemy." A grimace flits across his face; He doesn't like the sound of that.

A faint beep-beep-beep breaks his reverie, as Isao looks down at his watch.

"Shuya-" he says, warningly.

"I know." The chair creaks, as he stands - A little stiffly. "-I'll be back before the curfew. I've done it before." Shuya pins his red coat back into place, doing up the buttons.

>>28208173

He cocks his head to the side, unsmiling.

"...But that was mostly you, right?" Shuya says, seemingly unruffled by your words. "Don't get me wrong - *Everyone's* cannon fodder." He rakes his hand through his hair, pushing it back; "Look - I have respect for you, Joker. The others, though? Respect has to be earned."

>>28208199

"I wonder," he says, a hand in his pocket - He tosses two rumpled notes down onto the table; They're large-denomination, almost double the bill. "-I suppose we'll have to see."

And then Shuya vaults over the railing. It's a swift motion - He's gone, in one blank moment, dropping the brief distance to the floor below. He lands well, his knees flexing beneath him to take the impact; The sound is startlingly loud, enough to turn heads - Isao, for his part, just sighs.

"-He's always like this," Isao mutters, as Shuya straightens, walking for the exit. "...One of these days-" He makes a face, apparently thinking better of whatever he was about to say. He looks unhappy, somehow, but doesn't say anything.

[ ] "What?"
[ ] "He's...quite a character."
[ ] "How long have you known him?"
[ ] "'Curfew'?"
[ ] "It's late. I should get going."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28208043
>"Look, by all accounts - Bardiel was a jumped-up little shit. But...Sometimes, I just wonder, you know?"

""No, there definitely was something there. He went off the deep end. Hard. I have to wonder if argent followed him off, too..."

"You two were pretty tight with him and his people, yeah? Do you know anything about Armaros - i think he worked for argent - or Pretas? The last isn't a player - prototype ex-someting tactics. Surge? Surgen..cy?"

"It goes deeper. They were working on a manifold tower. Not deactivating it - hacking and modding it. Weaving silver onto and into it."

>>28208287

>[ ] "He's...quite a character."
>[ ] "And why did you sign on for this suicide mission?"

>>28208301

(My apologies, I missed that one - Posted before it came up.)

>>28208279

Different guy, same intent then.

We need to see what he can do with an army of spare parts.

>>28208314

fuck my timing is bad :(

any chance of a quick backsies?

>>28208287

"Bit of an asshole if you ask me. Seems too full of himself - going to get a lot of people killed meaninglessly.. he's got a half-baked plan for this gig that's going to fall apart as soon as his followers realize they're way in over their heads. Those people will panic and end up getting themselves or someone else CHOMP'd. I can't work miracles, Isao, but I'll try to keep the biggest threats under control."

"Look? I know this be too much to ask of you as we've just met, but, keep an eye on him alright? He lost his squad to a Cthulhu plant horror down there. That shit does stuff to you. Messes you up inside. He's not normal right now nor is he thinking logically. Just insure he doesn't do anything too stupid before we all end up Corrector Chow."

>>28207869
>Shuya grimaces. "-It's less useful than you'd think," he says. "In the field, some squads have Links slaved to a Field Accumulator - When they kill something, it draws off the Essence released, to recharge the Accumulator instead."
Oh, wonderful, AP has his own secret base.

>>28208327

(Not for this one, unfortunately - But I'll be sure to keep it in mind for next time.)

>>28208304

> [X] "He's...quite a character."

Isao nods, in agreement.

"He is," he says, stirring the ice cubes in his glass with the straw. "He's...When he makes his mind up about something..." He shakes his head. "...There's no budging him. It's like...Shuya *always* have something to prove."

"To everyone."

He gives you a look.

"-It's not my place, but...I was hoping, you'd talk him out of it. Make him see sense."

>>28208366

He looks away, towards the doors.

> "Look? I know this be too much to ask of you as we've just met, but, keep an eye on him alright? He lost his squad to a Cthulhu plant horror down there. That shit does stuff to you. Messes you up inside. He's not normal right now nor is he thinking logically. Just insure he doesn't do anything too stupid before we all end up Corrector Chow."

"...He's angry," Isao says, quietly. "Angry, and hurt. He's...It feels like he's going all-out, on this one. He knows it's his fault, I think."

"You know, he won't tell me what happened, down there? He's not as strong as he looks - Not inside, where it counts."

He bites his lip - "I know it doesn't sound good. But this; It means a lot to Shuya. Putting this together...I didn't think he'd manage it." Isao lowers his gaze, as if to indicate exactly what he thinks of Shuya's 'followers'.

Isao shrugs, helplessly. "I'll watch his back, when he goes through with it. It's all I *can* do."

> [X] "And why did you sign on for this suicide mission?"

Isao sighs. Apparently, he's given up on toying with his food.

"There's no easy answer to that. He's my *friend* - If I didn't, I'll always wish I did." He sweeps the tails of his scarf over his neck. "-Look, I owe him. Other than that...I don't expect you to understand."

[ ] "Fine."
[ ] "-I do understand."
[ ] "Do you think he can pull it off?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28208431
>"I do understand. I already lost someone in a similar situation. And then I vowed to transform all of them into ashtrays."

>>28208431

"Friendship. Camaraderie.. it all comes for naught if we don't stick by our brothers side. You're a good friend for sticking with him. Better than I'll ever be at least... You seem like a good kid so I'll give you some advice. Don't get in too deep, alright? This life.. isn't worth it at times y'know? Sometimes, i wonder what I would be doing if I hadn't taken the Joker's mantel back then."

"Take care of yourself out there, Isao. I'll give you my number so you can call me encase something comes up."

>>28208431

"Wait, are the two of you dating?"

On second thought, don't ask that. But he really does give off a gay vibe.

>>28208431
"I think I understand... maybe in more ways than one" give a slightly melancholic smile "I also have someone to whom I owe more than I could possibly repay" shrug "Doesn't stop me from trying"
"Sorry for the stupid question."

>>28208431
>[ ] "Do you think he can pull it off?"

don't lead with this, but end with it as a capstone.

>>28208431
>"-Look, I owe him. Other than that...I don't expect you to understand."
"I met someone like that, once. She was with me when nara dreamland happened. And... didn't make it. I've been wondering what ever since - but i've been owing the smilers a beating for a while now because of it."

>>28208526
Its like you dont even understand being friends with people.

>>28208528
>>28208542
>>28208517

> "I do understand. I already lost someone in a similar situation. And then I vowed to transform all of them into ashtrays."

He doesn't laugh, but he does smile - Gravely, with a slow nod.

"So you *do* have someone," Isao murmurs, apparently mulling that over. His eyes go thoughtful, his hands folded on his lap. "...It's strange. We - I - built you up to something quite terrible, I think, in our minds. If you told me I'd be talking to the Red Joker..."

"-Well. You know."

>>28208518

"-I appreciate it," Isao says - More softly, now. "I'll remember that...Though we don't always *have* a choice." He gives you a sidelong glance, as if reassessing his initial appraisal of you. He stands up, his chair's legs scraping lightly against the ground - "I have to go, but...Take care of yourself."

> [X] "Do you think he can pull it off?"

"I hope so," Isao says, sincerely. "I really, really hope so." The tone of his voice doesn't exactly fill you with confidence. He sighs, slightly - "...Whatever you choose - I'll understand."

He gathers up his schoolbag, making for the stairs at a more sedate pace. That's the last you see of him; Threading his way past the other diners, between the tables and the chairs, without looking back.

(Continued)

>>28208632
>"So you *do* have someone," Isao murmurs, apparently mulling that over. His eyes go thoughtful, his hands folded on his lap. "...It's strange. We - I - built you up to something quite terrible, I think, in our minds. If you told me I'd be talking to the Red Joker..."
I tend to kill people because they randomly start shooting at me.
It seems like most players don't WANT to live. I even try to talk sometimes and they still shoot.

Then again, occasionally blowing up half of the Red World is at least sometimes intended.

>>28208657

The funny thing is this is true. We've only instigated one or two matches ourselves. Every other one has been a wild Red Joker appeared.

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>>28208632

Outside, the evening has given way to full night, a cold bite to the air - You're grateful for your lined coat, though it's not long before your hands and feet are stiff with cold. The bus arrives without incident, as you retrace the path home; The elevator coming to a stop with a low grumble, your footfalls echoing on the paving of the empty corridor.

-You stop. The familiar scenery of grey concrete and template-pressed, angular and slab-fitted, is a blank, bleak sight: The overhead fluorescent light casts a cold, steady radiance down, lighting your way forward...

...To catch the faint gleam of blonde hair.

Her knees drawn to her chest - Her bag tucked against her side - Mio's curled up in the alcove next to your door, her eyes closed; Chest rising and falling in time to her slow breathing, her head pillowed against her bag's surface. She has her pink jacket draped over her, like a blanket: She stirs, slightly, as you approach - Not waking, but drawing it a little closer, almost protectively, the ameythests of her silver barette gleaming in the light.

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28208709
um. odd. guess we should shake her a little, then invite her in for a little bit?

Oh god. I can think of maneuvers and tactics in combat but I can't stop myself from spilling spaghetti preemptively in RL situations.

Ah fuck it.

>>28208709
[ ] Free

Sit down beside her. If she wakes up:
"Good evening, sleeping beauty. Sorry I'm late, I didn't think I'd be receiving guests tonight."

As a sidenote... are we going to invite a girl into our room? When it's already dark?
>implications

>>28208709
>Headpat to wake her up.
"Hey Mio. Isn't it a little late to be out? Do you want to come in?"
... Do we still have our keys?

Rolled 20

>>28208709

What.

Oh well. Wake her up nicely and ask what shes doing her.

If hecate wasnt the true love, so many silly stuff to be done like carrying her into thw room.

>>28208751

You check - Yes, you have your keys. It comes as a something of a relief.

>>28208752
>>28208723
> "Good evening, sleeping beauty. Sorry I'm late, I didn't think I'd be receiving guests tonight."

"Uuuuu-" Mio's long lashes flutter, as she stirs - Her skin is uncomfortably warm to the touch, her eyes opening, slowly; Bleary, red at the edges, a little gasp - A soft "Oh!" - teased from her lips, as she looks up at you.

"A...anon-kun..." she says - A hesitant smile touching her lips...But then it slides right off, her shoulders heaving as a sob saws from her throat-

...And she begins to cry. It comes without warning, her face screwing up - Burying her head in her hands, just for a moment, before she pulls them back with a sharp wince. Her hands are red, patchy - Looking, for all the world, like burns.

Mio cries without restraint, like a little girl; All that pent-up anguish flooding out of her, even as she tries to hold it back - Her breath hitching. "Anon-kun...I'm *sorry*. I'm so, so sorry..." she manages, between sobs - "I don't...I didn't know-"

"...I don't *have* anywhere else to go..."

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28208820
[X] Free
Hold her while she cries and tell her it's okay. Then ask what's going on.

Honestly I'm actually kind of happy, I didn't want her at the festival given what'll probably go down there.

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Rolled 12

>>28208820

[X] SPAGHETTI TIME

Now seriously,

Fumble with keys and get the damn door open and lead her inside. No sense letting everyone watch a show.

Seat her down on the bed and just gently let her cry it out.

When she calms down abit, ask her what happened. And get her a warm drink. Some tea, probably.

The hell?
Please don't tell me Mio (and her apathy aura) has something to do with the burnt down theater.
Or am I overreacting from her "burn" marks?
>>28208820

[ ] Free
Hug her but avoid the burns.
Then put on a serious face and use a soothing tone.
"Let's go inside. We need to treat those quick, or it'll get infected."

Once inside, look for the first aid kit we stashed in our room for emergencies.
Healing first. The interrogation/gentle Q&A portion comes next.


Oh right, she might want to eat or something. Cup ramen if available?

>>28208709
Fuck, we neglected her after our Red Sky stunt.

>>28208820
"Please don't tell me your house burnt down."

>>28208875
Most likely it'll turn out to be a fire at work or she was at the theater.

>>28208820
>"Your hands, what happened to them?"
>"... I think it'd be best if you came inside."

>>28208863

It seems to take especially long to get the door open - But you manage it, at last. There's no strength to Mio, at all; When you hug her, her slender arms come up around your shoulders - She clings onto you, her tears soaking into your shirt as she buries her face against your chest.

Your apartment - Really, 'apartment' is an exaggeration - is a small one; Small, but not cramped. She calms, slightly; Her breath catching, a spasm of pain flitting across her features as she winces - But she doesn't let go. Her hands dig lightly into your back, her body shivering; Her skin's hot, with the unhealthy flush that comes with fever.

>>28208856

You make soothing sounds - Mio's trying to say something, between sobs, but it comes out as a low, keening sound; When you tell her it's all right, she shakes her head, violently, almost pulling away...Only to go limp, a heartbeat later, with a wordless desperation.

Her knees buckle beneath her, when you manage to seat her down on the bed - But eventually, eventually, she calms down. Her hands rest on the mattress, palm-down: Not touching, but hovering, as if she's trying to hide them from you.

> "Let's go inside. We need to treat those quick, or it'll get infected."

She doesn't say anything - But she manages a teary-eyed nod, her throat working as she swallows. Her head's down, as she stares at the floor...Looking at nothing, staring without seeing as you unclasp the first aid kit.

"Nnnn-" Mio's quiet - mostly - as you dab her burns with cold water; They're minor, but patchy, all over her arms - Almost like a bad sunburn. She can't help but wince, biting her lip in agitation - Never looking you in the eye, even as you apply a cold compress.

>>28208982

She shakes her head, slowly. No.

(Continued)

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>>28209022

You've never seen her like this, before - Unresponsive, silent, almost catanoic. When you release her hands, she stares down into her lap, sitting still for a long, quiet moment - Except for the faint hitch of her sobs.

"Anon-kun..." Mio's voice is a low whisper, as if she doesn't want to be heard. "Anon-kun, do you...hate me?" the words seem to hang in the air, her hands curling into small fists- heedless of the burns on her palms.

"It's...all right if you do. Because-" her breath catches - "...I'm, a really terrible person. That's why...That's why, everyone else does..."

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28209052
[ ] Free

"I don't. I can't... I won't."

Add in a whisper, perhaps: "Besides, I have other people to hate. Other people who deliberately earned it."

Then ask what the hell just happened to her, in a non-threatening kind of way.

Rolled 10

>>28209052

"What?!

No, theres no way I could hate you. What happened?"

>>28209052

Hold her hands, look her in the eye and say:

"Mio. I could never, ever hate you. Ever. Tell me what's wrong."

>>28209052
"You aren't a terrible person.
You just happen to have an aura that makes many people feel uncomfortable.
At least you don't have people challenging you to duels to the death, despite everyone knowing that you can easily kill them."

>>28209182
>>28209137

Don't scare the poor girl, guys. She doesn't know anything about players, and we ought to keep it that way.

I'll second these

>>28209167
>>28209154

>>28209182
... now this choice qualifies for a Nice Breaking It, Hero moment, though.

>>28209052
>"I've learned to hate a lot of things, Mio, but I don't think I could ever bear to hate you."

>>28209182
I thought we were trying to keep her from the red world side of business?

>>28209137
>>28209182
You two pls stop trying to tell her about the Red World. It's counter-intuitive on every single level imaginable.

>>28209233
>I thought we were trying to keep her from the red world side of business?
In this case, it sounds like she did some supernatural shit.
Telling her about OUR supernatural shit will make us more credible.

>>28209249
The counter-intuitive thing here is telling the person with freaky powers in front of you that you understand them, while not having powers from that person's perspective.
It weakens your position if it comes to actually helping them.

And the "uneasiness aura" thing is REALLY fucking important. She REALLY needs to know that.

>>28209267
this is not the time to put more attention on us. We need to give her a chance to tell us what's going on before we go giving her even more to think about.

>>28209154
>>28209167
>>28209233

> "Mio. I could never, ever hate you. Ever. Tell me what's wrong."

Her hands are soft, warm under yours - She stiffens, slightly, as her eyes brim with tears. For a moment, you think she's about to cry again...But she's too exhausted. Instead, she looks away - Unable to meet your gaze.

There's a slight tremble to her form; Her blonde hair framing her face, her fingers gripping yours a little tighter.

> "I've learned to hate a lot of things, Mio, but I don't think I could ever bear to hate you."

"Anon-"

Mio swallows, her throat working.

"...what's t-the...what's the worst thing y-" she begins, then stops, mid-sentence. She exhales, her eyes half-closing - Steeling herself.

"-Have you ever..." For a moment, Mio just looks miserable - But she's past the point of no return. "Have you ever...hurt someone?" Her gaze settles on yours, beseechingly - Her heart in her eyes, now.

[ ] "-I've done worse than that."
[ ] "Yes."
[ ] "No."
[ ] "Mio, what happened?"
[ ] "I know you can't have."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>28209300
>[ ] "-I've done worse than that."
"Tell me what happened. You can't horrify me."

>>28209300

*sudden flashback sequence*
*us revealing our identity to Cypher/Natsumi*
*Asuna chewing us out for keeping too many secrets*
*our last moment together with Hecate before she got speared by Bardiel*

[self loathing intensifies]

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Rolled 5

>>28209300
>[ ] "-I've done worse than that."

Yes.

The worst things anon has ever done.

Is sitting right infront of him.

Stringing her along, using her for emotional comfort.


Fuck I need a drink.

>>28209345
>The worst things anon has ever done.
>Is sitting right infront of him.
>Stringing her along, using her for emotional comfort.
But we've never gotten to home base with Mio.

>>28209345
Good point.

What would be worse?
>"We tend to randomly murder people. Only sometimes intentionally, though."
or
>"My last girlfriend was killed in Nara Dreamland. I still love her and used you to remove that pain. I also have a secret identity that I won't tell you about."
For bonus points, we could mention our deal with the moon devil.

>>28209300
[X] Free
"Did someone try to hurt you, Mio?"

Guys I think she had to use her powers to defend herself. Intense enough light is very hot.

>>28209376
THIS.

>>28209369
OP, don't use any of that.

>>28209387
That post was speculation, not a suggestion.
Are you blind?

>>28209376
Later on, we might say something along the line of "I like girls that can protect themselves. Makes me less paranoid".

>>28209300
>[X] "Yes. Friends, enemies, and... you... I'm sorry I wasn't here when it mattered."

>>28209446
Also a potentially good response.

Rolled 11

JokerOP, I hope you're happy.

This thread made me start drinking. Cant deal with these feels.

>>28209329
>>28209345
>>28209446

> [X] "-I've done worse than that."

In your mind, you see the Adjudicator carve into Bardiel's chest. Fuesil, dragged through the black ice. Hear the roar of napalm flame, the way a scream turns to a long, drawn-out gurgle...

-And a lifetime ago, across endless plains of salt, the Red Joker shudders once, just once, as the Misericorde comes down.

Maybe it's something in your voice, but Mio seems to understand; Her eyes widen, slightly, a troubled expression flitting over her features-

> [X] "Did someone try to hurt you, Mio?"

Her features twist - There's self-loathing in it, a kind of quiet terror that comes with realization.

"-I...I didn't want to *hurt* anyone-" she says, brokenly. "But she - she just...She wouldn't leave me *alone*. They - she - they kept calling me things, and I, I..." For a moment, Mio's too overcome to speak.

"She told me-" her throat works. "-she told me, she'd cut off my *hair*. So I hated her, and hated her, and I was...just so *scared*..."

Mio sounds nearly hysterical, now. "-Anon-kun, I wanted...I wanted her to die. I wished - I wished for it, but I didn't *mean* it, I didn't~!" Her voice breaks, in a sob. "I *didn't* push her. I didn't..."

And then, very softly - "...But I *wanted* to. That's why...I'm being punished. That's why-" her hands unclasp from yours, as she holds her arms out. "-That's how...I *knew*. B, because I wanted something *terrible*..."

[ ] "I don't understand. Did someone do this to you?"
[ ] "Mio, you're not making any sense."
[ ] "She deserved it."
[ ] "Mio, it wasn't you. It couldn't *have* been you."
[ ] "...What did you do?"
[ ] "Where did you get these burns?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

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>>28209536
Oh lawdy.

>>28209536
Ok, everyone, listen:
The best course of action is to teach Mio how to handle her ability.
If she knows how to inflict harm, she will be able to avoid harming people and also feel more self-confident.

"Were you the only one hurt?"