>>28655655
>pump ned for more info about her and her condition

>>28655655
>Pump Ned for more information about her condition. Are there any downsides to being 'possessed'?
Oh boy, time for cults.

>>28655655
Sure, go with >>28655795 combo

You turn the situation over in your head, and start with your questions. "The girl - how is she?"

"I honestly don't know. They're keeping her locked up tight. People aren't allowed to even see her. They have to wear blindfolds and be taken to a separate facility."

"What about her condition? Are there any side effects?"

"Um," Ned says, hesitating in thought. "She's supposed to be possessed by a shard of the Goddess, so probably? All three aspects, which means the Destroyer is in there too. The Destroyer is supposed to be bad for humans."

"Do you know any details about her as a person? Name, appearance, anything like that?"

"No. Everybody just calls her the vessel, and only a few people have seen her. At first, they let people see her, then I guess they figured out people were after her and started to keep things much more controlled."

"Can I get in contact with her somehow?"

"You'd have to go through the Church hierarchy, and they probably wouldn't let you anyway, not unless you were sick or something. Jeez, Abby, are you writing a report on the beliefs of the Church or something? Why are you so interested?"

>Dodge the question.
>"I'm trying to get a better grasp on the practical side of the Church, since it's so important to you."
>"Faith healings are a crock, so I was wondering if anyone could actually confirm it. Obviously not."
>Write-in.

>>28656015
>"I'm trying to get a better grasp on the practical side of the Church, since it's so important to you."
Hmmm, well Ned might not be that accommodating in getting us in contact with her after all. Though I guess we've got the resources to infiltrate ourselves. Probably.

>>28656015
I'm interested in what you claim is a case of real faith healing is all.

>>28656015
Yeah, maybe ask about evidence of faith healing without being quite as confrontational.

"Well, you're claiming that this is a legitimate faith healing, so I'm interested. That would be rather substantial evidence in favor of the Church."

"It's not faith healing, it's just the regular kind. Not everyone who's been healed started off as a believer. Though I guess that's not proof in and of itself..." He sighs. "Sorry. I wish I could point you at some clear defining piece of evidence. But there have been a lot of people who say they were healed, and that includes things like cancer, broken bones, chronic pain... I'm not 100% sure of it myself, to be completely honest."

>"If I needed to see her for some reason, who would you recommend talking to?"
>"Really? I thought you were 100% convinced of the Church's truth."
>"Oh well. Thanks anyway, I really appreciate the call. If that's all, though, I should go."
>Write-in.

>>28656328
>I thought u backed church 100%

>>28656328
>"If I needed to see her for some reason, who would you recommend talking to?"
Bit forward I suppose, but eh.

>>28656328
> "Well, either way, this doesn't sound very good. They're keeping the kid effectively imprisoned because of all this? Where's CPS at?"

Have you considered starting a little later? I've noticed pretty much every thread starts picking up around 13:30 - 14:00 4chan time, and you run long enough that it wouldn't be a huge loss time-wise anyway.

>>28656612
What would be the advantage of starting later?

>>28656694
More replies in the opening posts. Admittedly these aren't exactly ground-breaking decisions this time, but I'd be surprised if ones didn't start popping up at the start soon, and leaving them in the hands of the 2 - 3 people around early on is a bit risky.

Of course, if you don't mind the smaller player-base early on in threads, there's nothing particularly wrong with continuing.

"Really? I thought you were 100% convinced of the Church's truth."

"I am. But there's bullshit in false religions too, no reason it can't worm its way into the true one. People can believe in true things and false things at the same time, you know?"

"I suppose. If I needed to see her for some reason, who would you recommend talking to?"

"One of the priests would be your best bet. Brother McAlister or Sister Walters have pretty free hours, I could give you their contact information. Why? Are you or your mom sick or something?"

>"I kind of am, actually."
>"No, we're fine, just... curious."
>"This whole thing sounds like false imprisonment. If she's a minor, it'd be a job for CPS."
>Write-in.

>>28656782
>fine, just curious
>also locking up someone like this sounds mad sketchy dude. You sure this is legal?

>>28656782
>"No, we're fine, just... curious."
>"This whole thing sounds like false imprisonment. If she's a minor, it'd be a job for CPS."
Sounds good to me.

>>28656782
>"This whole thing just sounds like false imprisonment. If she's a minor, it'd be a job for CPS."

"No, we're fine, just... curious."

"Okay. That's good to hear."

"This whole thing sounds like false imprisonment. If she's a minor, it'd be a job for CPS." There's a long moment of silence. "Ned?"

"Still here." Another long pause. "I'm pretty sure she's voluntarily doing this. Please don't call anybody at CPS. Or any other government organization."

"Why?"

"Look, there are basically two ways it goes for NRMs when somebody gets the law involved: either the law smashes up everything they hold dear and they only get some part of it back by fighting tooth and nail, or the law smashes up everything they hold dear and they get it back because the press was there to take photos of police ripping children from their mothers' arms. The entire early history of the Mormon Church comes to mind, plus what's happened to the little break-off versions, like the raids on Spring Creek and YFZ Ranch. Please, Abby, don't call anybody. It'd be my fault if you did and..." He lets out a deep breath, a mix of frustration and tension. "Please."

>"Okay, okay, calm down, Ned, I won't call anyone."
>"I can't promise that."
>"If I can get in contact with her, that would help assuage my concerns."
>Write-in.

>>28657009
>"I get your worry, and it's not like I'd do anything just because of some rumours Ned. But if you've never seen her and few people have, how can you be so sure it's voluntary?"

>>28657009
Fuck me, it's Short Creek, not Spring Creek. You have no idea how bad I feel about this mistake.

>>28657009
>okay, I won't call anyone, but if I could contact her, that would assuage my concerns

>>28657064
noobs gonna noob

>>28657064
Don't worry, at this time of the day half your readers are Europeans that don't know the first thing about Mormons anyway.

"Okay, okay, calm down, Ned. I won't call anyone. Especially not over rumors." He sighs in relief. "But if you've never seen her, and few people have, how do you know it's voluntary?"

"I don't know for sure, she might be being involuntarily held. But I don't even know if she's real either, to be honest. From what I've heard, she sounds... resigned?"

"If I could contact her, that would assuage my concerns."

"Okay, um..." he pauses, "you got a pen and paper?"

You don't actually need one (eidetic memory), so you give your assent and he gives you the contact information of Brother McAlister. "If you're looking to get in contact with her, I don't think either of them have the... clearance, I guess, but McAlister would know who does, and could refer you to them. He'd probably be more helpful to an unbeliever like yourself than Walters."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. This call has been a little... stressful for me, so I'm hanging up now. No offense."

"None taken."

>Back to studying.
>Get in contact with McAlister right away.
>Confer with Richard.
>Write-in.

>>28657433
>Confer with Richard.
It's not like we could keep another incubator secret from him if we decided to get her out anyway, might as well get his thoughts.

>>28657433
McAlister

>>28657433
>Confer with Richard.
We need a plan, but I don't think we should move on this just yet. Cults are serious shit, especially when they're mostly right.

>>28657503
I suggest going to the place and just asking or look around the church. Maybe pose as someone who is willing to convert.

>>28657433
>Confer with Richard

>>28657525
Assuming Ned doesn't tip them off. I don't want to set foot in the building until we have a way to level it.

>>28657624
To be fair, random cultists are unlikely to pose a threat to an incubator directly. If they involve the girl, or try to go after Tracy, or even plan a trap, they might be able to. But just trying to take us out or kidnap us or whatever when we come for an unannounced visit is very unlikely to work.

>>28657503
I should probably note that I don't like the stereotypical portrayal of NRMs/cults in media.

>>28657676
I should also note, for the record (because some people seem to be underestimating your abilities), that it is functionally impossible for an untrained human to beat you in hand-to-hand combat, and very unlikely for them to beat you at a range. Your mental abilities do translate to substantial advantages in combat, as illustrated back in thread 1, plus you now have much better knowledge of anatomy/pressure points/etc.

>>28657714
>because some people seem to be underestimating your abilities
You're the one who said we didn't have the hand-eye coordination to spill soda on someone.

>>28657759
The exact proposal:
>Buy a large cola, turn around to walk back to the theater, then trip and fall, launching the cup so that it 'accidentally' lands on our stalker.
Your stalker was very diligent about keeping her distance. It would be really, really hard to do that without making it obvious what you were doing.

Maybe I was misreading that, but the use of the phrase "launching" makes it sound like you wanted to throw it several meters away (possibly behind you) while purposefully losing balance and fucking up your center of gravity and making it look like an accident.

>>28657759
Spilling soda is hard work anon. You know any professional soda-spillers? Didn't think so. Don't demean their abilities.

You pick up the phone and dial Richard.

"What is it?" He asks, sounding a little irritated.

"I have information that might be relevant."

You relay the contents of your conversation with Ned to him.

"You think the girl is a Healer Incubator, I take it?"

"She might be."

He lets out a long, steady puff. "I suppose. It's more likely than your typical faith healings. The concern about outsiders and the possible physical imprisonment do make it more likely. I mean, if you had a faith healer, you'd probably want to put her front and center, get some attention. But if you had a Healer Incubator... you have to worry about Partial Manifestations, Etna, other Incubators. All good reasons to keep her under lock and key..."

"So you think so too?"

"No. I don't. It's more likely than most faith healers, sure, but that doesn't mean it's likely. If she were a Healer Incubator, she might be a potential comrade, which would be very nice. If you want to pursue it, that's your prerogative, but I wouldn't get my hopes up."

"I guess that means I won't be getting any help from you."

"If you need anything in particular, feel free to ask."

>"Actually, there was something I wanted from you..." [write-in]
>"Could I run this plan past you?" [write-in]
>"Why are you so consistently abrasive?"
>"Well, thanks anyway." Hang-up, get started on [write-in]
>Write-in.

>>28657825
>Write-in.
"Let me bounce an idea off you, Richard. When an incubator manifests, there should be some kind of measurable change in brain activity, right? Like if you an ECG hooked up, you'd see some kind of spike right before it happened?"

>>28657825
> "Well, I'll look into it myself then. Was planning to go there and ask about really, unless your experiences with this kind of investigation says it's too dangerous?"
Also I'll support >>28657866, but I don't know if you can answer all this in one update.

>>28657825
>"Well, thanks anyway." Hang-up, call McAlister.

"I'll look into it myself, then. I was planning to go there and ask about it. Unless your experiences with this kind of investigation says it's too dangerous?"

"Nah, it should be fine."

"When an Incubator manifests, is there any kind of measurable brain activity? Like, would an ECG notice anything weird beforehand?"

"Hmm. Maybe? Cambions don't have a direct physical existence without Manifesting, but there might be a perceivable secondary effect from the sensation of an imminent manifestation."

"What do you mean by a 'direct physical existence'?"

"Cambions... basically exist outside of the material world. They aren't really physically there except when they're Manifesting. I mean, they still have an observable effect, but you're not going to find any electrons that belong to an un-Manifested Cambion, if that makes sense."

"I think I understand. Well, thanks for the help."

You hang up.

Contact Method:
>Call McAlister
>Head to one of the Church's temples.
>Write-in

Approach:
>Tell them you believe you have important information regarding their healer that will help her to live.
>Pretend to be interested in converting, pump for information.
>Pretend to have a sick family member.
>Write-in

>Or do something else entirely?

>>28658149
>Pretend to have a sick family member.
"Ol' mumsie 'as the brain problems, guv."
People trust cockney accents. It's just science.

>>28658149
>>Call McAlister
Let's start with a call, and go see them afterwards.

As for how to handle things...The second seems unlikely to work well since I don't think they'd be willing to divulge anything without any incentive. The first would be more likely to work, but also more likely to blow up in our faces. So
>Pretend to have a sick family member.
mom is technically sick anyway, it's not even a lie!

You call up McAlister on the number that Ned gave you.

"Hello, this is Brother McAlister speaking. Can I help you?"

"Ah, yes, I'm calling about..." you hesitate for a moment, trying to find the right words. "My mother is very sick, and I heard from a friend that you do healings of some kind. I'm sorry, this is probably stupid, but is there anything you can do to help her?"

There's a pause on the other end of the line. "I see. Could you hold for a moment?"

"Um, okay."

There's a long, long period of music playing over the line. You flip through some studying materials as you wait.

"Hello," a new voice says from the other end of the line. "This is Brother Robinson. I'm afraid we have to screen people rather carefully. May I ask who you are, who your friend is, and the exact nature of your mother's illness?"

>Write-in.

>>28658460
>"Of course. My name is Sarah Jameson (or whatever pseudonym), and I'm afraid I couldn't tell you the name of the kind person who referred me - they're actually a friend of a friend, and when my mother came up in conversation she mentioned the healer off-handedly, and referred me to you after I asked her about further info. I believe her name was...Claire? Something like that I believe it started with a C at least. As for my mother, it's some sort of mental illness - the doctors and psychiatrists have all been stumped, and are unable to offer any help. She refuses to leave the room under normal circumstances, rants and raves frequently, treats me like crap despite giving no hints as to why in conversation she certainly recognizes me, and has never given any reason for this behavior whenever seemingly even slightly lucid. She raised me all on her own, and her examinations took all the money she had saved up - as a poor young woman only recently out of college myself, I can't afford anything else that might help, I barely make enough for the flat and food as it is. You're my last hope!"

Let's lay it on thick.

>>28658557
Sure, I'll support the wordy choice.

"Of course. My name is Sarah Jameson. Well, it was technically a friend of a friend, she mentioned it when my mother came up in conversation. Her name was... C-something? Claire, maybe? Sorry."

"I see. And your mother?"

"She has some sort of mental illness, the doctors and psychiatrists aren't really sure what. It's pretty severe: she won't leave her room under normal circumstances, she treats me like crap, she's barely lucid. All the examinations have gone through our savings and I don't have any money for anything more, since I'm just out of college. I'm at the end of my rope here; you're my last hope."

There's a good period of silence. "First of all, I have to warn you that our healer is good with sicknesses of the body, not of the soul. She has had some successes, but your situation sounds like it would not be one she's well-suited to. The more physical the problem, the more likely it is that she can deal with it. Even if she can heal it, it might be impossible put all the pieces back together where they once were."

"Oh..." you say, your voice falling.

"Now, that doesn't necessarily mean that your mother is beyond help, but I wouldn't get your hopes up. If you're still interested, we might be able to arrange something, but someone would take your mother to the site, and she'd have to be restrained until she returned home. We'd hate for her to hurt herself or someone else, after all."

>Write-in.

>>28658841
Wait I'm confused how this idea was suppose to work when our mother won't even talk to us, much less plot with us.

>>28658841
Hmmm, do we bring the old bat to the healer, and risk things going bad? Something to think on. Well, for now:
>"I don't know, she doesn't take too kindly to strangers. I'm able to calm her down somewhat but...I don't have to come in with her, but could I at least follow her to wherever it is, keep her calmer in the car?"

>>28658918
Knockout drugs in her food, tracking device in her anus, then off she goes.

>>28658919
Works for me I suppose

>>28658918
Well for now, we can just pump them for info; we've not given away any info on us/Ned except our gender after all.

"I don't know. She doesn't take well to strangers. I'm able to calm her down to an extent. I don't have to go with her the whole way but could I at least stay with her in the car?"

"That would be very irregular, Sarah." He pauses. "I would have to confer with others. It might be possible, but if it were to happen, you would have to be very thoroughly searched to ensure you aren't carrying any weapons and be blindfolded for the duration of the trip. I'm sorry, but we have to take those kinds of precautions. The vessel is very precious and we'd hate for someone to hurt her. I hope you understand."

>"Why would anyone hurt her?"
>"Of course. So do you have any idea when you can let me know if I can accompany her?"
>Write-in.

>>28659153
>"Why would anyone hurt her?"

>>28659153
>"Of course. So do you have any idea when you can let me know if I can accompany her? Obviously I can wait for however long you need to discuss it."

"Why would anyone hurt her?"

"I don't know. People lash out at the new, the strange, the different. Many infant faiths have been crushed by people who were certain that their own was right, even when in retrospect, that was hardly certain. This country has a long and proud history of persecuting new religions, ours is hardly new in finding itself victims of that neophobia."

"I think I understand. Do you have any idea when you can let me know if I can accompany her? I can wait for however long it takes."

"A few days at most. The vessel works very quickly and we are concerned she won't be with us for long, so we'd try to get through that as quickly as possible."

"What do you mean she won't be with you for long?"

There's a moment's hesitation. "The threats I mentioned before are very persistent and very determined. They aren't just paranoia, we have good evidence that people want to hurt her."

>Write-in.

>>28659510
Still reading, but no clue what to say.
Yup

>>28659510
>"That sounds awful! If she's doing such good for the world...why would anyone want to harm such a wonderful person? I certainly understand your worries. I'll wait for your decision then, thanks so much for considering it!"
Pretty much definitely an Incubator then, should call up Richard again and tell him that, see if he wouldn't mind planning now.

>>28659510
>"I'm sorry to hear that. Of course it takes as long as it takes, and I still need some time to convince mother to go"
Then do >>28659653

>>28659653
>Pretty much definitely an Incubator then, should call up Richard again and tell him that, see if he wouldn't mind planning now.
Ned mentioned she was under threat last ep, and you relayed that information to Richard.

>Apparently some enemies of the Church want to hurt her, which, I don't understand why anyone would, so they have to keep her locked down tight.

>>28659993
That was before we tried to organize a meeting. We need a backup plan if it goes south and I think this is one situation where a suicide bomb is not the answer.

>>28659993
Well sure, but if it was a false faith-healer they'd be worried about regular loons, and wouldn't be taht worried about keeping hold of her surely. The phrasing 'she won't be with us for long' screamed Incubator to me.

"I'm very sorry to hear that. I mean, such a wonderful person... why would anyone want to harm her? I certainly understand your concerns. I'll wait for your decision, then. I'd still need some time to convince mother to go, anyway. Thank you very much for considering it."

"It's no problem, Sarah. Just trying to do the right thing."

"Thank you again. Goodbye."

You hang up the phone, then dial Richard back.

There's an audible sigh on the other end of the line as he picks up. "What is it?"

You recite the conversation back to Richard. You can almost hear him rubbing his forehead as you speak.

"Okay. It sounds marginally more likely that she's an Incubator than it already was. What do you want from me? I'm not even sure what your plan is. Are you going to fake this thing and meet with her that way? Because I doubt your mother is going to pretend to have dementia or something just so you can recruit an Incubator onto your Incubator-murdering team."

>Write-in.

>>28660233
>"Honestly, not sure any kind of pretending will be necessary. Regardless, I'm keeping it open as an option, while I look at other approaches. What I want from you is some help tailing high-ranking church-members to see if we can find the spot they're probably holding her, or however you do this kind of information-gathering."

>>28660233
>You've not met my mother, have you? She doesn't have to pretend"
>"Anyway, I'll tell you when we're going. If you don't hear back from me a day after that I want you to contact CPS, FBI, Etna, anyone you can think of and get them to shut it down"

>>28660233
>>28660309 sounds good to me.

I should note that your mother does not have dementia, she's just a hikkimori.

>>28660405
It might still be decently convincing. We can ask her first I guess, not that I think she'd agree to anything.

>>28660405
I'm pretty sure she'll freak out convincingly when we blindfold her and drag her into a car.

>>28660405
I don't really approve of this plan but I don't have any better ones.

Just saying.

"My mother doesn't need to pretend, she's plenty crazy already. Anyway, I'll tell you when we're going. Then you can be my dead man's switch; if you don't hear back from me within a day or so, you call CPS, the FBI, Etna, whoever."

"Okay then, duly noted."

You hang up.

>Back to studying.
>Write-in.

>>28660640
>Call Tracy and hear what she's doing
Should we ask mom about this, or not? If we do she MIGHT agree...but if she doesn't she might tell on us when they arrive.
And still think stakeout->follow to likely hiding place->stealth infiltrate is a better plan of action.

>>28660640
Study
I want skills

>>28660739
but studying is so boring anon.

>>28660640
>>Back to studying.

File: 1386200364452.jpg-(819 KB, 1920x1200, Thrax.jpg)

819 KB JPG

>>28660718
Like I said, tracking device in the anus. They may be thorough but I doubt they'll be rubber gloves thorough.

Speaking of rubber gloves, let's add microbiology to our study list. It's not a nuke, but if things go south it'll be the next best thing.

Your current study plan:
>Spanish: almost complete, missing some pronunciation
>Electronics+Wiring
>Cyber Security skills (anti-hacking)
>Cyber Security skills (hacking)
>Lock-picking
>Wilderness Survival Manuals
>Auto maintenance

You've already learned:
>All school courses save Spanish
>Psychology and Speaking Skills: begun. Maybe 15% completed.
>A lot of chemical engineering
>Some cooking
>First Aid
>Other computer skills: typical American teenager with their own computer
>Anatomy and Pressure Points

Update at all? If so, how?

>>28660822
I dunno anon, shoving things up our mom's anus before we send her off to (seemingly, for her) crazy-town doesn't sound like a very nice or palatable course of action.

>>28660856
Looks fine to me.

>>28660874
Nice? Palatable? Do you even know where you are?

>>28660906
Well Abby has been pretty nice so far in this quest. This would seem a bit sudden if it happens.

>>28660856
Let's add firearm maintenance and safety to that list.

>>28660874
Yeah that was what I was thinking...why the hell would we ship off our mom as bait all of a sudden. We still love her, don't we?

>>28660961
Well to be fair, very unlikely they'd harm her in any way. But yeah, it'd still be very mean towards her, when we can just try another plan instead.

>>28660982
There's a chance it's all legit and this will help her, there's also a chance that it isn't and we get a lead on the new threat. It's a win-win situation.

>Spanish: Finished!
>Firearm safety and maintenance: 50%

You go to sleep, and have dreams that you can't remember in the morning.

>Firearm safety and maintenance: 100%
>Electronics and wiring: 30%

You make breakfast, eat it, and then head to school. Government, History, and Spanish are all boring and easy, and you spend most of your time daydreaming about other things.

You're the last to get your food at the cafeteria, and you sit down at the lunch table with Ned and Tracy. Tracy seems happy to see you, but less so than normal. Ned seems a little anxious.

>"Sorry about freaking you out yesterday, Ned."
>"You alright, Tracy? You seem less perky than usual."
>"What's up with my two favorite people?"
>Write-in.

>"You alright, Tracy? You seem less perky than usual."

>>28661081
>"You alright, Tracy? You seem less perky than usual."
Surely the cinema thing didn't affect her view of us THAT badly.

>>28661142
I think we will need to do bad things to Jim in the near future.

>>28661081
WHAZZUP WITH MAH 2 HOMIES

>>28661024
> There's a chance it's all legit and this will help her
It's a medical operation without the patient's consent either way.

>>28661301
consent is overrated

>>28661415
This isn't Monsterhearts Quest, anon.

"You alright, Tracy? You seem less perky than usual."

"Hmm?" She blinks a little, and looks down at her body, confusion playing across her face. "I'm fine, Abby." She gives you a confused, placating smile, like she's not quite sure where you're coming from. Or maybe that she's not quite sure how you noticed.

"Okay then," you say, awkwardly. You try to change the subject. "What's up with my two favorite people?"

"I mostly worked on homework and chatted with Jim some," Tracy says. "He's... I wish you and he had gotten off on a better foot."

"I attended church, prayed my ass off, and tried to sleep. Please tell me you didn't do anything stupid last night."

>"No, of course not, Ned."
>"I probably did, but not like you're worried about."
>"Tracy, what you were saying about Jim. He's... what?"
>"Seriously, Tracy, if anything happened... you can tell me."
>Write-in.

>>28661425
Yeah, this got a bit creepy. Will just have to vote against it when it's time unless I'm sleeping.

>>28661425
I actually don't follow that one.
But now I might.

>>28661455
>"What, given the circumstances I thought we did pretty well. He hasn't even done anything since we talked to him! I'm sure he'll come around eventually, unless there's some complication?"

>>28661455
ofc not ned
ay yo trac what u sayin about jim
he givin u trubl?
i'll fuck that nigga up

>"Seriously, Tracy, if anything happened... you can tell me."

>>28661455
"No, of course not...wait, why do you think I did something stupid?"

>>28661494
This is a work of art.

>>28661525
Using your elite perception skills, you manage to figure out the subtext. He's worried you called CPS.

>>28661552
Is that a vote in favor of it?

>>28661572
as long as it's phrased less gangster it covers everything I want to say, yes.

"No, of course not, Ned."

"Good," he says, breathing a sigh of relief, the tension going out of his shoulders.

Tracy looks from you to him, then back, confused.

"Tracy, what you were saying about Jim. He's... what?"

"Oh, I was just going to say that he's... I don't know quite how to put it. A really good older brother?"

"Besides the ordering some guys to beat up your girlfriend."

"Yes," she says, turning her eyes downward. "Besides that."

"He's not... giving you any trouble, is he, Tracy?"

Her vision flicks back up to you. "No, no, of course not. Why would you think that? He hasn't done anything to you again, has he?"

"No, not that I know of."

"Then why would you accuse him of doing something awful like that?" She seems quite irate.

>Apologize. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just worried about you."
>Point out you have good reason to be suspicious. "Look, I've had two interactions with the guy. The first time, he sent some guys to beat me up, the second, he barely restrained himself from doing it personally."
>Interrogate. "You seem awfully defensive."
>Write-in.

>>28661797
>>Apologize. "Sorry, sorry. I'm just still a bit upset he sent his friends to threaten me. Seriously, who does that?"

>>28661797
>>Interrogate. "You seem awfully defensive."

What if he's mind controlling her?

>Write-in.

>Point out you have good reason to be suspicious. "Look, I've had two interactions with the guy. The first time, he sent some guys to beat me up, the second, he barely restrained himself from doing it personally. I'm sorry that you wanted him to get along with me... but he hasn't even given me a chance. I don't know what I could have done differently."

>>28661797
>sorry, worried about u

>>28661878
Second

>>28661878
Support but possibly include a bit on maybe if he actually shaped up we might be able to get along with him.

"Sorry. I'm just upset and worried." You sigh. "Look, I've had two interactions with the guy. The first time, he sent some guys to beat me up, the second, he barely restrained himself from doing it personally. I'm sorry that we aren't getting along, but he hasn't even given me a chance. I don't know what I could have done differently."

She closes her eyes in thought for a moment. "It's not your fault, it's probably mine. I should have handled telling him better, tried to get him used to the idea of me being gay before dropping my relationship with you on him."

"Like I said earlier, it's not your fault." You glance at Tracy, who's now meekly staring at her hands and wringing them. You reach out to put your hand on one of hers, and she looks up at you when you do. "If he actually shapes up, I should be able to get along with him." She smiles at that.

"Did I get sucked into a soap opera or something?"

>"Yeah, and you're the comedy relief."
>"Way to spoil the mood, asshole."
>Write-in.

>"Yeah, and you're the comedy relief."

>>28662192
>learn to read the mood, ned, geez.

>>28662238
Second

"Yeah, and you're the comedy relief," you say, shoving Ned with one arm.

He bounces back into position after you do so. "Well, that makes you two the lovey-dovey lesbian couple that dies to tug on the audience's heart strings."

"No, they stopped doing that stuff a long time ago. Nowadays they go for more typical teen drama."

"So you're going to cheat on Tracy?"

"I think I'll get involved with a gang instead."

"You can't, Tracy's already taken that schtick. You need something else."

"Drugs, maybe? But I hate drugs. Tracy, you got any ideas?"

"Jim and I don't own a TV," she says.

Well, that's a line of conversation pretty cleanly killed dead.

>Timeskip to the end of lunch.
>Write-in.

>>28662605
>>Timeskip to the end of lunch.

You finish up lunch with Ned and Tracy, chatting about nothing in particular.

It's English, Math, and Science, which are unbelievably boring once you've memorized all the material and then some. Oh well.

School ends for the day.

>Meet up with Richard immediately for tracking down the Chariot Incubator.
>Meet up with Richard immediately to discuss the possible Healer Incubator some more.
>Dilly-dally with Tracy for a while.
>Dilly-dally with Ned for a while.
>Write-in.

>>28662822
Dilly-dally with friends a bit
can't neglect our bros/ladybros

>>28662822
honestly if we are bored in class we can always use the time to study other things.

Or go get our GED. Test out of school completely. That will give us lots of time.

>>28662822
>>Meet up with Richard immediately for tracking down the Chariot Incubator.

You find Richard through the throng of people leaving school, and walk alongside him for a bit. "Hey, so, you about ready on the plan for finding that Chariot Incubator?"

"Yeah," he says, one eyebrow raised. "Thought you were pre-occupied with the Healer thing."

"It's on the backburner for the moment."

"In that case, we can get started immediately, though we probably shouldn't head out of school together. I'd hate for my stalker to start tailing you too."

"Hey, uh, does your stalker look like..." you describe the woman who followed you and Tracy on your date.

"Noooo," he says. "Why?"

"Personal stuff."

"Okay, whatever. I'll meet you with the petitions and whatnot at the department store off of 21st. You know the one?"

"Yeah. It's a bit of a walk, but I can take it."

You head off to the department store and lean against the rear bumper of an unattended pick-up, waiting for Richard to show up. When he finally does, he's got a clipboard and book for you.

"The booklet covers what the petition is about. Since you're a Scholar, you should be able to digest it pretty fast. Come on, read it as we walk. If we want to catch the next bus to where the Chariot probably lives, we have to hustle." He turns to leave, and you follow him.

THREAD END.

Sorry to end it on a somewhat abrupt note, but it's just about bedtime for Tartarus.

>>28662898
>honestly if we are bored in class we can always use the time to study other things.
Mmm, yeah, that's a really good idea. Don't know why you didn't think of it before.