File: 1389508662699.jpg-(48 KB, 530x750, jokerhellions.jpg)

48 KB JPG

>>29451686

HOLLOW SUN: 17.7%

http://pastebin.com/z93fyLYa

RED COMET GUIDE:

http://pastebin.com/7vzY4Zp2

>Literally, just finished reading the archives less than a minute ago.
>Thread starts
WOOO!

>>29451864
Nice timing.

Evening OP. Free on Sunday for once?

>Joker Quest time!
Woo! Sleep? Who needs it?

>>29452007
Evening OP.

File: 1389509889769.jpg-(115 KB, 1280x720, jokerredworld.jpg)

115 KB JPG

>>29452007

INTERLUDE:

Umbral space. Cold, infinite.

Above: The perfect orb of the black moon. The faint, pearlescent gleam of the Hyades spheres, a false constellation - Each distant light a world unto itself, an artificial paradise suspended in the stuff of the infinite.

Below - The Red World. A dark strip of shadow marking the planet's terminator, where vermilion day oozes into crimson night, seeping across the endless city like a great, hungry parasite.

The first sign of the manifestation is a bright blue glow: A sun-flare corona shrouding the silhouette of a glittering shape, a ghostly ion trail shimmering in it's wake. An oscillating band of microwaves tightbeams between two processors, as distant optics turn to focus on the shape taking form on the planetary horizon-

The construction is only visible through powerful magnification filters, through arcane and distant sensors. There's a brilliance, at it's core: The golden glow of a tachyon reactor, in a pre-fabricated housing - Vernier thrusters flaring, keeping it on course. Then comes the hard neon gleam of schematics, sketching themselves into existence: Plumes of hard-light streaming out behind it, encircling, coalescing...

The final apportation event creates a vicious pulse of infrared radiation - A brilliant, blinding flash, a star going supernova. The sound - if there was air to carry it - would be a thunderclap, an plosive bang, of mass suddenly and inexplicably *there*-

It is steel and silver and platinum - Angular, rigid in it's cold sterility, great banks of Essence accumulators rotating like solar panels, the distant satellite riding the wave that boils up from the crimson-streaked sphere below.

And, faintly - Printed on the superstructure's primary column, as it begins it's slow, graceful orbit...

L-0189 LEUKOCYTE

Below the great block letters:

SIDE 3.

(Continued)

File: 1389510586080.jpg-(166 KB, 1200x675, jokerredsky2.jpg)

166 KB JPG

>>29452227

Outside the Bastion, the wind howls. The air is dense and gritty with abrasive matter: Particulate debris, released by the sudden and violent re-emergence of COCYTUS, the aftereffects still scourging the crimson city.

The great blast doors - Black steel with silver inlay - rumble shut, behind you, as you emerge. In your crimson plate, you can hear the mournful wailing in the storm: Echoing between the cyclopean skyscrapers, scouring and flaying like a wind of knives. Dimly - Through the jade-green buzz of your optical visor - you glimpse worse things, too: Shapes, forms that ride the maelstrom, half-glimpsed then gone...

The tempest buffets you, the Sinistral humming fitfully as the protective field deflects the worst of the storm - It makes an eerie sound, one that would set your teeth on edge...

If you had teeth, that is.

By your reckoning, several hours have passed since your arrival. Time flows strangely in the Red World: Gathering densely around moments of significance, thin and attenuated anywhere else.

Your meeting with Palladium Rook is very soon - But perhaps there's some time left.

[ ] Travel to the meeting place. (Through the Red.)
[ ] Travel to the meeting place. (Through the real world.)
[ ] Visit the Hollow Sun.
[ ] Visit Cocytus.
[ ] Visit the Memorial.
[ ] Visit the Papillion.
[ ] Visit the Salvation Children's Home.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

File: 1389510749964.jpg-(58 KB, 905x530, jokerleukocyte.jpg)

58 KB JPG

>>29452227

(My apologies, forgot my image.)

>>29452546
>[ ] Travel to the meeting place. (Through the Red.)

[x][ ] Visit the Hollow Sun, ask Tyrian about the Leukocyte

Traveling through the Red World will get us into trabl and make us late for the meeting

>>29452546
Visit the Papillion. If we've got some time we can see if anything's changed at the Tower there, and check to see if Mio's got any clues as to where Hellebore's gotten to.

Just to check, Side 3 is in geosynchronous orbit? So we're not going to have to time our battles for when it's actually over the city?

>>29452546

We don't need anything else from the jokercave at present.

> [X] Travel to the meeting place. (Through the Red.)

>>29452684
I really hope not. Otherwise it would be a huge waste of rescources

>>29452684

(Yes. Side 3 keeps you 'in it's sights', so to speak, as most of the targeting input comes from you. It fires at what you can see.)

File: 1389511175398.jpg-(51 KB, 409x352, 1327121597147.jpg)

51 KB JPG

>>29452227

FUCK YES.

>>29452684

I kind of want to visit the papillion, but didn't we just see mio yesterday? Does anyone else want to take the detour, or should we just skip it?

If OP says we've got time, we've got time. I say Papillion just to use the event slot properly.

Wata, you said in the last thread you had a plan?

Son of a bitch, I just remembered - we should have asked Argent about Hellebore. I knew I forgot something last thread.

Anyway, moving on. We really need to inform Spaghetti-san about Regios' impending date with destiny. Trigger the Tri-Star's emblem and have them meet at the Joker Cave I guess. If we have the time.

File: 1389511344337.jpg-(52 KB, 196x270, 1326914740153.jpg)

52 KB JPG

>>29452546
>[ ] Travel to the meeting place. (Through the real world.)

And Call natsumi at the same time.

We need to arrange that cover story about the rescue so that we can run that raid.

>>29452807

Take the detour. There's no need to be too early.

>>29452838
Adding this to my vote

>>29452770

>most of the targeting input
>most

Neat. Which means the Tri-Stars have marginal control over the Colony. Do we have the Colony Drop override for an emergency?

>>29452838

I'll veto this, simply because we told Tyrian that we wanted them to hold off. I don't want to circle the wagons just yet, in case it's a false alarm.

>>29452807
We're not really going to see Mio, I want to check out the tower. Secure it before Argent or the Smilers get to it.

>>29452825
Kinda? It's a big change to the mission, and it all revolves around the how much Palladium wants to hurt the Smilers and how much he wants to assuage his hurts.

>>29452849
We're not letting Natsumi in on the lie. Getting Rook and his crew out of the trouble with Argent they're starting involves tricking Natsumi, and the rest of the faction.

>>29452838
>>29452878
>>29452902

What if we had the Tri-Stars meet at the Papillion instead? Cover both of our bases in the same action. Save us time.

This probably isn't particularly relevant, and I'd be shocked if people haven't already figured it out, but the obvious way to find Hecate is to unite the two nihl spheres, and then we still need to explore those coordinates at the bottom of the hell-pit once we can.

File: 1389512273945.jpg-(64 KB, 660x371, jokerrider (2).jpg)

64 KB JPG

>>29452885

(Unfortunately, not at present.)

>>29452684
>>29452807
>>29452870

The Papillion, then. The Manifold Tower isn't far - Or at least, not far from *here*, if your memory holds true. Walking through the storm is a surreal experience, your boots crunching through the grit as you pick your way forward, one lumbering step at a time. Flying, it seems, might be out of the question in this weather...You're not sure how long the Tempest Scrander might function, before the turbines become hopelessly clogged - If at all.

The last time there was a maelstorm like this - You remember slogging forward, head-down, your sensory input reduced to a thin line, the endless, maddening, mournful howl of the winds muted at last. One foot in front of the other, again and again - Hydraulics groaning, the low whirr of servoes drowning out all thought.

Like sleepwalking, each stride clumsy yet heavy with import.

You remember seeing things in the storm. Visions, half-glimpsed - Mirages. Faces, there then gone: Glimpses of an impossible blue sky. And once - Moving shapes, a shambling procession, lead by a shadowed shape that may have been a rider...

This street is familiar. Enfer's weaponry did savage damage to the surrounding buildings, and this place still bears the scars. You tilt your head back, to regard it: If you were standing *here*, and he was standing *there*, that means the Manifold Tower should be-

-It isn't.

The earth has healed over it, fused it into an unrumpled scar - Like scales, the black cobblestones of Dis have interlocked into place, closely fitted like the pieces of a puzzle box. It doesn't give, when you bring your foot down: The ground is *solid*, all the way through.

(Continued)

>>29453031
We'll see if anybody knows more about that flying player. Maybe we can trick Pazuzu into gloating the next time we meet hm, revealing more info.

>>29453207
Do you mean Bardiel, the one who's dead?

>>29453258
No, Phyxia, or something like that. A connection to Hecate was hinted at.

>>29453312
Pythia, and I'm pretty sure but not positive that's Asuna.

>>29453312
Pythia. The only connection to Hecate I saw was knowing to call Red Joker Anon. The powers she had reminded me more of Asuna than anything else.

It's worth noting that Pythia was the name of the Oracle of Delphi, who could see the future in Greek mythology. Asuna's displayed some predictive ability herself.

File: 1389513465319.jpg-(197 KB, 1200x900, jokermaidren.jpg)

197 KB JPG

>>29453165

You kneel - Canting the Sinistral's fizzing hard-light field, the ghost-steel forming a palisade, a break in the storm: Just enough, for a scan with the Argus System...

-Rock, all the way down. At least three meters of it, perhaps more. No room for a vast space underneath, or a great cavern below.

Has it moved, maybe? Or been filled-in, somehow...Burying everything in solid stone? The thought occurs to you that maybe - Just maybe - it no longer exists: The Manifold Tower's energies discharged, it's purpose fulfilled.

Maybe.

>>29452986

You reach up, to your pauldron. The black-and-white emblem - Pounded in place, like gold Tridents onto a coffin. There's an unfortunate image: But your armoured fingers press down, anyway. The signal for 'gather'.

As the moan of the storm-winds rise in your audio receptors, you take one last look around, and-

Beneath your hand - Lacquered wood. Light, through stained-glass inlay, warm and comforting. A silver bell chimes, as you push the door open: It swings open, dust rustling across the entrance steps as you step it.

It feels like a long time since your last visit-

"Ohayo, Master~!"

Rena's voice is light, cheerful - Carefree as ever, as she sketches a curtesy. Red ribbons flutter, as she ducks her head; Her eyes bright with mischief, a soft giggle teased from her throat as her gaze lights on you.

"Ah, it's Joker-kun~" she trills, clearly delighted. "-Haaa, I didn't think you were coming~!" She leans to the side - Sneaking a glance past you, a little laugh thrumming from her lips. "...Is Mio-chan with you~? After all-" her voice is hushed, now, almost a whisper, as she inquired - sotto voice - "...you've been - *together*, right~?"

[ ] "-Uh. I think you have the wrong idea..."
[ ] "You never change, Rena."
[ ] "She's not here? Doesn't she have a shift today?"
[ ] "Sorry, a gentleman never tells."
[ ] "...Did she tell you that?"
[ ] "How have you been?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29453588

(Apologies for the delay: My connection cut out.)

Rolled 14

>>29453588
>[ ] "You never change, Rena."
>[ ] "She's not here? Doesn't she have a shift today?"

>>29453588
>[x ] "She's not here? Doesn't she have a shift today?"
>[x ] "Sorry, a gentleman never tells."

>>29453588
>[ ] "Sorry, a gentleman never tells."
"Now you're trying to get me in trouble with Mio's fa--wait, she's not here?"

>>29453588
>[ ] "She's not here? Doesn't she have a shift today?"
>[ ] "Sorry, a gentleman never tells."

File: 1389513819515.jpg-(28 KB, 640x360, shirou.jpg)

28 KB JPG

>>29453588

"Of course we've been together, Rena. Are you implying something?"

"And whadya mean she isn't here? Did you scare her off with lewd stories?"

>>29453717
I don't think Shirou's a dense enough image. Mio needs one syllable to tell Anon she's in love with him. This calls for Natsuru.

File: 1389514124780.jpg-(2.88 MB, 5000x5000, 1387385895733.jpg)

2.88 MB JPG

>>29453749
>>29453749

>shirou is not dense enough

Now you're just bullshitting.

>>29453819
Shirou got the point or gave it eventually. Natsuru misunderstands outright confessions.

Come to think of it, Ichika probably would work as well, but he's a siscon so there's that mental block.

> [X] "You never change, Rena."

"-I'm just curious, that's all~" she says - With a huff, a mock-pout...But of course, she can't stand to look faux-offended for too long. "...It's kind of exciting, really ~ To see Mio-chan so happy...Haaaa, it must be really nice."

>>29453717
> [X] "Sorry, a gentleman never tells."

"Hmmmph." Rena tosses her head - An absent flick of her fingers brushing her glossy brown tresses back from her face. It's an oddly elegant gesture, as her hand comes to rest on the curve of her hip; "Fine, be that way~" she says, loftily...Though she *does* color, just a little - And only for a moment.

"Spoilsport." she doesn't seem to take it to heart, though; Her eyes brightening with the possibilities.

"I'll just get Mio to tell me *e-very-thing*...Be prepared for it~!"

> "Now you're trying to get me in trouble with Mio's fa--wait, she's not here?"
> [X] "She's not here? Doesn't she have a shift today?"

"Hmmm~?" Rena frowns, just a little - Her brow furrowing ever-so-slightly. "I thought...She's staying over at your house, right~? Since the day before - Wasn't it?"

A pause, then:

"...Joker-kun, is something wrong?"

[ ] "When did you last hear from her?"
[ ] "-No, she left in the morning."
[ ] "You mean, she didn't go back to school?"
[ ] "...It's nothing."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29453922
Knew we shouldn't of trusted that slimy fuck. Even if he is an older version of us.
>[ ] "-No, she left in the morning for school."
>With Nyaoko (or however his name is spelled)

>>29453922
"She left for her dorm with Naoya..." Freeze. Quietly: "I'm going to kill him." Pull out cellphone and call her number.

>>29453922

"She left with Naoya that morning and then I went out with a friend to clear up something.."

Oh boy oh boy are we raiding the Orphanage?

>>29453922
>[ ] "-No, she left in the morning."
Call Mio immediately. I'm sure we have her number.

File: 1389514922103.gif-(574 KB, 250x164, NTR.gif)

574 KB GIF

>>29453922

>>29453922

Uh-oh.

>>29454046
Looks like it's going to be a choice between finding Mio and helping Rook. Amusingly, this takes care of a problem I was having in my plan quite nicely.

>>29454159
I don't know, we might still be able to heroically burst onto the scene at the last second to help Rook's gang. Only to find most of them already dead.

>>29454190
That's what I expect would happen, actually, which is why we needed to change the goal from an invasion to an espionage mission. Having something for most of Argent's Players to do means we can keep things simple.

>>29454159
We help Rook. If not, many players will die, and we will be blamed for it. Do we have Naoya's number ?

>>29453922

>since the day before

Wait a second, Rena believes Mio has been staying at our dormroom when we watched her leave with Naoya. I bet if we call her school and ask if she's there, we'll get a generic message along the lines of she's been out sick for a few days.

We know Naoya has something to do with the Smilers even though Akira pointed out he wasn't a Player what with his interactions with Megumi... oh god, was he sent to retrieve or eliminate the driver behind Hellebore? Time for speculah. It'd make sense as the only Smiler that knows us as the Joker is Megumi.

>>29454259
We don't have his number.

And I agree, we do help Shuya, and his three strongest friends plus Haze. Everyone else goes looking for Mio. Or rather "a non-Player girl in distress with an emotionally charged super Corrector keyed to her Essence signature."

>>29454333
To be completely honest, I'm not certain Mio isn't the corrector. Think about it.
>We know for a fact corrector/player hybrids can function normally out of the Red World. Recall the former student council president
>Everything and everyone (except us, and even we weren't immune at first) reacts to Mio with disgust and contempt
>After being overcome with self-loathing, sprouted out in burns. Maegara (sp?) is a fire-empowered corrector.

>>29453962
>>29454046
>>29454065

"With...Naoya-kun?" Rena considers this for a moment, her head canted to the side: "-Ah, I se-"

She sees your face, and gets a second opinion.

>>29454023

Your phone rings, once: Then-

> "The number you are calling is currently not available. Please leave a message after the beep."

The prerecorded message is smooth, delivered in dulcet tones, as the words fade into a series of rapid beeps. Her phone's off, or in a no-service area.

Rena's expression is curious, but unworried; In fact, she actually looks slightly relieved. "-Joker-kun, don't worry," she offers, by way of explanation. "Naoya-kun's quite reliable, so...I'm sure it's all rig-."

> "I'm going to kill him."

She blinks, once - Looking momentarily alarmed - but apparently decides that you're joking. She goes quiet, for a moment; Clearing her throat, a trifle awkwardly. "Haha, well..." Rena begins, "...Really, it's probably nothing."

A pause, and she frowns, slightly - Putting two and two together, with commendable speed. Her lips shape a small 'O' of surprise, her slim fingers going to her lips;

"Joker-kun...Don't tell me-"

And, very carefully, Rena goes on-

"...You're not - Jealous, are you?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29454461
>"It's just something about that guy in particular sets me on edge. He seems... sleazy."
>"Plus, his girlfriend stole my wallet."

>>29454461
"Extraordinar--Wait, are they friends?"

>>29454333
>Everyone else goes looking for Mio.
The issue with this is that, from what we've seen, Hellebore isn't exactly so concerned with keeping Megaera on it's best behavior around anyone but us. It's nothing as bad as a Smiler hideout, but we ALSO know that Megaera has been able to do actual Real World damage from inside the Red, which isn't exactly something we want people messing around with without an idea of what they're getting into.

>>29454461
Take a deep breath. Even if our suspicions ARE right, it won't help to freak Rena out.

"...Maybe I don't have the whole picture. Mind filling me in before my friends arrive?"

>>29454516
>>"Plus, his girlfriend stole my wallet."
I like throwing this in there eventually.

>>29454461

"He's a playboy, I know that. Mio's smart enough not to fall for his wiles. No, it's the company he keeps that has me worried. Some of them are... extraordinarily ruthless and will do *anything*. Do you have his number on you? It would help assuage my fears."

>>29454623

>Mind filling me in before my friends arrive?

We may as well get a private booth while we wait. Put our reservation under 'Joker' of course when the trio of miscreants arrive.

>>29454461
"No. But suddenly some things I've found out recently have started to fit together a little too neatly."
Clenched jaw.
"If you see Naoya, be very, very careful. eep your eyes open, and don't get caught with him alone. I'm sorry about this, but I'm running out of time. I really have to go."

>>29454776
Have Rena on our lap when the Tri-stars arrive.

>>29454776

Damn it, we're really acting kind of jealous, here.

>>29454815

Spaghetti-san's reaction would be priceless. Plus, we never did get an explanation as to why he hates nicknames. All we got out of him was that the other boys would bully him and throw him into lockers or something.

>>29454892
That's pretty much it. He dislikes nicknames because he was bullied as a child.

>>29454958

I'm starting to get the suspicion that that orphanage had something to do with it. Everything seems to be subtly connected to the orphanage or church. Church moreso as it's a breeding ground for the old cities' malice.

>>29454516

>"It's just something about that guy in particular sets me on edge. He seems... sleazy."

Rena makes a noncommital sound - A thoughtful "Hmmm~" as if she's not *quite* sure what to believe. "Well, I don't know..." she begins, looking a little embarassed. "I, ummm, I never thought that..."

>"Plus, his girlfriend stole my wallet."

"-She what?" Rena blinks, wrong-footed - "...I didn't know he had a girlfriend. And, Joker-kun, your *wallet*?" She seems rather startled by this: "I'm...I'm not sure what to make of it, really - It just sounds really strange. Really, *really* weird..."

>>29454523
> "...Maybe I don't have the whole picture. Mind filling me in before my friends arrive?"

"Ah, well..."

She has the good grace to look embarassed, now, scratching at her chin. "...I don't know, but - Naoya-kun comes in all the time, during the week...He talks to Mio-chan whenever she's around, soooo..."

"-Ummm...It's nothing serious, but - I guess so?"

Rena winces, slightly - Aware that it's probably not a reassuring answer.

She falters. "That's...That's about all I know, really. He's a private person - He doesn't talk to me much, really."

>>29454633
>>29454776

> "Do you have his number on you? It would help assuage my fears."

Rena shakes her head, no. She draws an unsteady breath:

"I don't - I'm not sure what you're talking about, but...You're looking so *serious* all of a sudden. Is there...?"

And behind you, the silver bell chimes again.

(Continued)

>>29455017

"Ah, welcome home, Master~!" Rena chirps - The glance she gives you is a little harried, now. "Please, take a seat-"

"There's - uh - there's no need." The voice that comes from behind you is very familiar, as boots trail dust onto the red carpet. It's strident, but a little standoffish, which means...

You've never seen Kouichi look less at ease before, as his gaze takes in the Papillion: He looks faintly embarassed to be here, and he can't quite look Rena in the eye - Instead, he nods in your direction, a cloth carrying case rising over one shoulder.

"-I'm with him."

[ ] "-About time."
[ ] "That was sooner than I expected."
[ ] "Wow, you got here *fast*."
[ ] "Rena, this is Kouichi. Kouichi, Rena."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29455162
>[X] "Rena, this is Kouichi. Kouichi, Rena."
Time for Spaghetti-san to live up to his name, at least for a moment.

>[X] Free
Ask Rena if there's a private booth available.

...in retrospect, asking him to meet up with us at a maid cafe prooooobably wasn't the most considerate thing to do.

Oh well. The (lesser-known) perils of associating with the Red Joker, I suppose.

>>29455162
[ x] Free
I reserved a booth over there. Let's talk business.

>>29455162

"It's fine, Rena. I'm.. it's been an incredibly harrying week... Kou, glad you could make it! Rena, private booth, if you don't mind? And a glass of water for my friend here before he hyperventilates"

>>29455162
"Kouichi, relax. Girls don't like boys who are too uptight. How'd you get here so fast?"

>>29455162
>[ ] "Wow, you got here *fast*."

> [X] "Rena, this is Kouichi. Kouichi, Rena."

She curtsies, and Kouichi swallows, hard - His Adam's apple is very large. "It's a plea - honou - *good* to meet you," he manages; His expression never changes, but he's turning red with alarming alarcity, the stiff collar of his shirt looking far too tight for him. You can just *tell* he's already kicking himself, for fumbling his first words - As his mind catches up with his body, it seems like he's wondering if he should bow, or shake hands...And how cripplingly awkward either would be.

Rena doesn't laugh, or titter - But from the way her lips twitch, her eyes bright with mirth, it's a struggle.

>>29455206

"Yes, Master~" she chirps, and bustles off, vanishing behind the counter - Kouichi, at last, begins to breathe again.

> I reserved a booth over there. Let's talk business.

"Here?" Kouichi's voice is a little louder than he expected - Filled with honest surprise - and he winces, sharply. "I thought..." He seems about to go on, then just shakes his head. "...All right, then."

It's not far, to the private room: The lock beeps as you swipe the electronic card, beginning the slow countdown. Soundproofed, comfortable, inconspicuous - There are worse places to meet.

Kouichi slumps - Rather gratefully - onto the overstuffed couch, uncinching the straps of his carry back from his shoulder. He exhales, slowly - His eyes squeezing shut for a moment, as he rakes his fingers through his hair. From the looks of it, he's had a hell of a day.

(Continued)

>>29455467

> [X] "Wow, you got here *fast*."

"I was in the neighborhood," he says - But he doesn't elaborate. His initial embarassement seems to have eased, as he dusts himself off; "...Besides, I had a feeling it would be important."

Kouichi doesn't quite smile - It's a tightening of his lips - but there's a kind of resigned humour to his expression. "-So, what's the emergency?"

[ ] "Are you all right? You look exhausted."
[ ] "Did Tyrian Edge brief you?"
[ ] "Are Volt Regios and Tyrian Edge here, too?"
[ ] "It's just you? Where are the others?"
[ ] "-I have a meeting with Palladium Rook."
[ ] "I need you to help me find Mio."
[ ] "Do you know what Argent Prominence is planning?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29455483
[x] "Did Tyrian Edge brief you?"
[x ] "Are Volt Regios and Tyrian Edge here, too?"
[x] "I need you to help me find Mio."

>>29455483
>[ ] "Did Tyrian Edge brief you?"
>[ ] "-I have a meeting with Palladium Rook."
but
>Mio is missing That sorta has a ring to it.

>>29455467

"Regios is going to die unless we break his death flag. My girlfriend has gone missing and I think she's been kidnapped by a man who is in league with the Smilers. Palladium Rook is going to start a full scale war between Argent's faction and the Smilers. I escaped the mother-of-all sandstorms and witnessed Akira transform into the fucking grim reaper when we killed the future hacking bastard - and nearly died in the process. I think the Black Joker is making her move what with the number of dead players turning up as husks.

And my alarm clock didn't wake me up this morning. I think that about covers it. How has your day been?"

>>29455467
>Soundproofed, comfortable, inconspicuous - There are worse places to meet.

Precisely why I wanted to meet in a maid cafe. Or karaoke bar.

>>29455483
>"...Besides, I had a feeling it would be important."
"More than you realize. Here's what you have to know: The Black Joker is real. We've had a truce of sorts--though it's off now, I'm pretty sure--and it says that Volt Regios is going to die within a week. I'm guessing it's set for the Cultural Festival. I was forewarned as a comfort; I'm telling you so we can try to spite it."

"I'm about to repeat our raid on the Hollow Sun, except with more prospective corpses and less of a plan. And I desperately need your help. Not with the raid, that's a suicide mission, but Mio--pretty blonde girl, pink sweater, showed up at school?--She's gone missing. She needs to be found, not just for me, but because there's an emotionally charged Corrector attached to her. She gets too emotional and the Corrector charges up. She was last seen with Naoya Shiga, med student, or doctor in training, not sure which, but he works at the hospital. Find him, maybe find her."

"Oh, and there's a non-zero chance that he's Pazuzu."

>>29455610
>witnessed Akira transform into the fucking grim reaper when we killed the future hacking bastard
Vetoing this, it's probably not true.

>>29455704
Maybe a "do not engage, when found,and try not to be seen ? Bishie doesn't stand a chane against Pazuzu and might have trouble with the Corrector

>>29455704
>>29455610

Oh, and let's not forget that Fatal Abyss is probably loose in the real or red world right now just begging to fall into the wrong hands. Namely, Pazuzu or Argent or some other three-bit player.

>>29455802
If his Hyade power is as spectacular as he claims, he can probably take Megaera. Pazuzu is on a different plane of existence though.

>>29455818
The sword is "safely" in Akira's hands. Any faction that wants to take it from Akira is going to have to dedicate a LOT of manpower to the attack, and they're building up for their endgame plays. The sword probably is worth it, but neither faction is in a position to take a shot at grabbing it yet.

>>29455802
Yeah, definitely tell him to not engage the dude if her turns out to really be Pazuzu.

I wouldn't be surprised if "hide your player status" is one of his special powers. He might very well be a trickster archetype (I don't even remember how he fights).

>>29455900
We should mention what happened to the sword, though. Just so he's informed.

>>29455900

>Pazuzu is on a different plane of existence

Not if we gouge out his Nihl-eye he isn't. Anon has experience with that. He may even get that legendary +6 bonus against eye-gouging.

> [x ] "Are Volt Regios and Tyrian Edge here, too?"

"No. We try not to meet in person, like..." He grimaces. "-Like this, in fact." Kouichi shifts in his seat, as if uncomfortable. "Too exposed. And then there's the storm..." His words trail off, and he shrugs, expressively.

> [X] "Did Tyrian Edge brief you?"
> [X] "-I have a meeting with Palladium Rook."

Kouichi nods - Quick, certain. "He's kept us informed." A frown flits across his face - His voice thoughtful, distant. "I'm surprised I didn't hear about it before, actually. That's good: It means that this 'Rook's' being discreet. If he's telling the truth, getting *that* many Players together, in one place...That's an achievement in itself."

> [x] "I need you to help me find Mio."
> [X] Mio is missing

"-Oh." He considers this, and clears his throat carefully: "...I, uh, I don't really know anything about her, Anon. Even if you tell me, I - don't know where to start, actually." An awkward pause lingers.

"...Sorry," he adds, a heartbeat later.

>>29455610
>>29455704

It's interesting to see how Kouichi changes colour - His jaw drops, until he catches himself, and shuts it with an audible *click*. All of a sudden, he's gone very, very pale: Before, he was reaching for a glass, to pour himself a drink - His hand shakes so much he nearly slops it all over himself, the ice cubes rattling.

"Wait," he says. Then "Uh," and then "What."

He has a *lot* of questions - They're chasing each other over his face - before he settles for the sanest one: "...There's a *what*?" Kouichi begins. "-It told you *what*?" he manages, a moment later - And then -

"Wait, Regios is *what*?"

>>29455818

He chugs down his drink - One swig - but when you say *that*, he actually loses his grip on the glass: It hits the ground, rolling slow circles on it's side, a stain darkening the carpeting.

(Continued)

>>29455957
>>>29455610
>>>29455704
>It's interesting to see how Kouichi changes colour - His jaw drops, until he catches himself, and shuts it with an audible *click*. All of a sudden, he's gone very, very pale: Before, he was reaching for a glass, to pour himself a drink - His hand shakes so much he nearly slops it all over himself, the ice cubes rattling.
>"Wait," he says. Then "Uh," and then "What."
>He has a *lot* of questions - They're chasing each other over his face - before he settles for the sanest one: "...There's a *what*?" Kouichi begins. "-It told you *what*?" he manages, a moment later - And then -
>"Wait, Regios is *what*?"
>>>29455818
>He chugs down his drink - One swig - but when you say *that*, he actually loses his grip on the glass: It hits the ground, rolling slow circles on it's side, a stain darkening the carpeting.
I guess it's Tuesday.

>>29455957
>He chugs down his drink - One swig - but when you say *that*, he actually loses his grip on the glass: It hits the ground, rolling slow circles on it's side, a stain darkening the carpeting.
"Well you DID say you thought it was going to be important."

"...isn't being right the -worst-?"

>>29455972

>only Tuesday

Some would call the events the Red Joker participates in as suicidal or insane. For him. It's another day marked off on the calendar.

>>29455924
Gravity manipulation, summoning other Players. Had a bunch of barriers too.

>>29455943
>Not if we gouge out his Nihl-eye he isn't. Anon has experience with that.
Heh, now I'm looking forward to this encounter. Jests aside Pazuzu is wildly powerful, he didn't use the eye in his fight with Joker.

>>29455996
>>29455972
It really could be worse. What if it were Monday?

>>29455996
I have a little book with one quote for each day.
Today it's Beethoven:
"Gaze at the beautiful nature and calm your mood."

I wonder what Joker's says. Maybe he has an abbonement for an SMS service that sends him one quote per day.

>>29455957

"Oh *god*," Kouichi says, hoarsely - His gaze snaps over your shoulder, as if he's considering making a lunge for the door. He's a little wild-eyed, as his head snaps to the side; As if he's expecting the Thief to crawl out of the dark corners of the room, *any moment now*-

For a wild instant, you can tell he's fighting the urge to run. Just...run.

Forever.

Carefully, very carefully - To hide the way his hands are shaking - he laces his fingers together, in a white-knuckled lattice.

"All right," he says, at last. "All right." There's a faint sheen of desperate sweat on his brow, as he clears his throat...Then swallows, again, giving himself time to think.

"The, uh, thing. With Regios." His gaze fixes on your face. "...Did - Did *it* say...How long have you been - I mean..."

It comes out as a croak.

"Are you...*sure*-?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29456023
>What if it were Monday?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Kobdb37Cwc
That's called Nara Dreamland. People tend to die when it's Monday for Joker.

>>29456052
>"The, uh, thing. With Regios." His gaze fixes on your face. "...Did - Did *it* say...How long have you been - I mean..."
>It comes out as a croak.
>"Are you...*sure*-?"

"I've had a few encounters with the Black Joker. Or rather, his host. Happened occasionally when I left the Red. Turns out she died six years ago and then her father tried to revive her.
In our last meeting, she told me about that death flag. She thought it would make me regret it less when it happens."

>>29456092
Wait, why are all those Red World bitches crazy?
Kotone is as far removed from mortal thought processes as the Hyades.

Hecate really was special.

>>29456056
>"Are you...*sure*-?"
The person who told me wouldn't lie about that. Still, I'll do anything to prevent it. I don't like Fate anyways.

>>29456052

"Well, I'm pretty sure the entirety of the dead cities' malice masquerading as a nun in a church wouldn't lie about that. Plus, she's saved my ass a few times in the past. All I know is he's got a week tops, but I can't be certain now. I'd ask the one guy who could divine meaning and see if there's a way to raise the flag, but I killed him for that material to craft the killsat in orbit."

"You really need to get Tyrian to modify that. If we can run our comms through it, we'd be in business."

>>29456114
>"You really need to get Tyrian to modify that. If we can run our comms through it, we'd be in business."
Atemporal communication?

>>29456052
"I've known the host for some time now. Helped her out once and then she returned the favor several times over."
"The Black Joker's power corrupts the mind in more ways than one, but she told me about the death flag whilst still sane. I trust her, but also believe that with this knowledge it's possible to save him."

>>29456052

I'm dieing with laughter. Spaghetti-san's reactions are comedy gold. He even asked if it was an emergency and then we dumped the literal shitpile on him. Poor guy is literally dealing with a once-in-a-lifetime crisis six times over while it's another day for Joker.

>>29456111
It's a crazy world and RJ himself is a bit insane.
I don't that it's a bad thing.

So does anyone have any idea how to handle NTR dude?
For all we know he might be raping Mio and transforming her into some kind of Super Corrector to fight us. Or he might just be having a friendly chat with her after she fell into a river and her phone got soaked.
Bishamon doesn't want to go. I would love to call Natsumi, but that would likely just hurt her.
...Can we ask Kazuya *and* Natsumi to search for her?

>>29456140

Pretty much. It'd keep Tyrian busy while Spaghetti and us fight crime.

>>29456052
"If it makes you feel any better, you had a death flag raised the entire time we were in Holophusikon. You survived that."

"Time for a philosophy lesson. People have free will, yet destiny is immutable. Why? Because people act and react according to inborn tendencies and how they were raised. These are determined by history, which is made by people acting and reacting as their upbringing and inborn tendencies dictate. The circle is closed, so the future is destined.

"How does one change the future? You change it by knowing it. Knowledge of the future provides new directions for action. Knowing that Regios is in mortal danger, we can arm him to survive, or direct him in how to survive. I don't know if this is enough; all it took for you was my presence and a new weapon. This is different, but I have to try. I hate losing."

>>29456092
>>29456143
>>29456114
No information about Kotone gets transmitted. Just say "We've interacted; the warning came to make me regret the death less when it happened."

>>29456207
Problem: Tyrian might get matched up and drawn into a battle vs another Player.

>>29456092
>>29456113
>>29456114
>>29456143

"Okay," Kouichi says. His gaze is fixed at a point about three inches above your left ear. It's quite worrying, really - Especially the way his face has gone pale and waxen. "Okay," he says again, to fill the great, blossoming silence left in the aftermath of your words.

You get the feeling he's dubious. It's not that he doesn't believe you, it's just that your truths are too big, too terrible, for him to grasp all at once.

> "You really need to get Tyrian to modify that. If we can run our comms through it, we'd be in business."

"I'll..." his mouth is dry. He tries again. "-I'll see what I can do."

Kouichi's shirt is beginning to wilt with cold sweat, his teeth making a distinctive sound as they grind together. He reaches for another glass, brings it to his mouth: Then sets it down again, abruptly, when he realizes that it's empty.

"I'll tell - I'll tell Regios to, to..."

His expression is a complex thing: He's clearly wondering what he *can* do, in any event.

"-to be *careful*," Kouichi finishes, sounding rather defeated. He grimaces, at the thought. He's rattled, and doing his best not to show it.

"What," he begins slowly - His eyes are big and round, like a deer in headlights. "Does..." He flutters a hand, a vague gesture. "...Does it - Does she - tell you anything el..." Kouichi shakes his head, as if to push the thought out of his mind. He hunches over, slightly, as if he can't wait to launch himself out of his seat, back to somewhere *safe*.

(Continued)

>>29456265

Still would be in the Sun. Or actively using our jetpack to access the satellite directly.

>>29456200
We've got thirty guys lining up to take a shot at the Smilers. Taking them all into the Hive means most of them are going to die. Instead we lead a small group of five and demand the other 25 look for Mio. It's not ideal, but it's better than getting Argent's people killed.

>>29456304
Aww. Welcome to the big leagues, Bishamon. Cast aside any thoughts of mortality if you wish to survive.

>>29456304

"We can't break fate, Kou. But we can fight it and bend it to our will so its outcome is not as devastating. Look, chin up. I've been here longer than most people would believe. I've fought fate and won. We can beat this too."

>>29456339
>We've got thirty guys lining up to take a shot at the Smilers. Taking them all into the Hive means most of them are going to die. Instead we lead a small group of five and demand the other 25 look for Mio. It's not ideal, but it's better than getting Argent's people killed.
...And then we find out that it was all harmless and Mio is kind of weirded out due to finding 25 dudes trying to hunt her down.
By that point, she will wonder if we are members of a Neo-Yakuza organisation or something.

>>29456455
It's 28 if you include the Tri-Stars. But yeah, here's hoping it's nothing.

Kouichi swallows, hard. His tongue is thick in his mouth, from the looks of it: Either that, or he might be having heart palpitations. Absently, he rubs at his chest, in a circular motion that is hopefully calming.

"Rook," he says, addressing his words to your left ears. "What *can* we - I mean, what do you want us to do, there? Tyrian said - You wanted us to stay in the Hollow Sun with the Red Comet right?"

He's remembered that *very* well, because it's clear that's what he's hoping for. But Kouichi's conscience is the cross he has to bear: You can literally see the struggle between his nature and his survival instinct, as he adds - "...If you need our help-" he begins; His jaw clenching, as if he's chewing rocks. "-We're here for you, Joker. We owe you, if you want to call it in."

From his expression, he really, devoutly hopes it won't come to that.

>>29456371
>>29456232

He nods. It's safer than speaking.

"I...I don't know who 'Naoya' is," he confesses. "-But we can check the hospital. To see if he's...You know." Beads of sweat have formed on his brow.

"...Find one girl. Right. That - We can do that. I think." Then, rather more hoarsely. "If he's - you know - what do we...what do we *do*?"

He's waiting for an answer, when an even less pleasant thought occurs to him -

"You said..." Kouichi begins, slowly, with the air of a man reaching out - Tentatively, the flaming match extended - to light a leaking gas grille. "...Akira, right. That - friend of yours. The Thief."

Feeling his way forward, through a verbal minefield:

"-Did you see...what *happened* to him? With - with the *sword*?"

Then, with poorly-concealed hope:

"Are you sure - He's not dead?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29456487
>"Are you sure - He's not dead?"
"No idea. I only saw a storm, got kicked out of the Red and then had to fight three dudes."

>>29456487

>"Are you sure - He's not dead?"

Wow. Woooowwwww. That's pretty fucking dark of you, bishie.

>>29456487
>"Are you sure - He's not dead?"
Don't think the sword will let him die after all that.

Heheh.

>>29456538

Can't blame him. If we were in his shoes, we would be perfectly happy to throw people to the wolves, too.

>>29456487
>"Are you sure - He's not dead?"
"No real way to tell. Things were kind of hectic.

...but if anyone would still be alive through all that, it'd be him.

Besides, he can't be dead yet. He still owes me."

>>29456487
>"Are you sure - He's not dead?"
"No idea, but considering both mine and his luck, he's either alive or now has a split personality. The evil kind."

>>29456487
"He is dying, actually. The sword was to be his cure. Last words I heard from him were 'It's not working'. Idiot needed a doctor, not a sword. No, he's alive, for better or worse. If it's better he'll show up needing help again. If it's worse... he'll come looking for my Essence.

"Either way, my problem, not yours. Put him out of mind, you're chasing blondes for the rest of the day."

>>29456487

"Akira? Dead. Deader than dead. Phantom Edge? Probably overwrote his Player avatar. Edge is a parasitic avatar from the little I've been able to glean and speculate. It's probably a good thing you gave up that shard when you did. God only knows what would have happened."

"We're getting horribly sidetracked about things. Two things at a time. Breaking Regios' death flag and providing backup for the upcoming clusterfuck - for it will be a clusterfuck. Those are the two main things right now. You cannot tell Tyrian and Volt about this, period. Telling them may speed up the temporal juju surrounding this event and bring it on sooner than we can prepare for it. Hell, even my telling you could spell disaster. Baby-steps when dealing with fate."

"For the raid, sitting in the Armoury Guardian while I try and diplomance this group of chucklefucks out of getting themselves killed by a Corrector hive to search for my GF will be the next event cleared."

>>29456635
>to search for my GF
Why would they ? What can you say that will motivate her ? And 25 players stomping around town looking for her will alert everyone pretty quick.

>>29456635

I thought we were only getting the black tri-stars to look for her?

>>29456697

ANYTHING at this point will be better than having Argent and the Smilers going to war over some stupid kid's revenge trip.

>>29456567
>>29456579
>>29456593

"-Jesus." Kouichi's hand settles on a stack of paper towels: He mops at his brow, heedless of the way shreds of paper clings to his forehead. His cold sweat is rapidly soaking through them, the balled-up wads settling to the table.

"Jesus," he says again - Rather more empathically this time.

>>29456635

> "Either way, my problem, not yours. Put him out of mind, you're chasing blondes for the rest of the day."

The mention of Phantom Edge makes his legs jerk in place - Actually *jerk*, as if they're trying to run away without conscious input - but his complexion regains a bit of his colour, at your words.

"Right," he says, feelingly. "Right, I can do that." He swallows.

"-I'll tell Tyrian to keep an eye on things, while I'll get Volt to..."

Kouichi stops, then starts again. "I mean, *I'll* look for Mio." He's clearly nervous about telling Volt to do anything, now, after your proclamation of imminent doom. "-Do you *know* what's going to hap...No, of course you don't. You said." he mutters to himself. You've never seen Kouichi look more uncomfortable.

"Anon, all of this-" Kouichi flaps his hand, in a brief gesture. "...I just - I hope you know what you're doing. I *really* hope so."

[ ] "...You know, Tyrian said the same thing."
[ ] "Why is everyone telling me that?"
[ ] "I know what I'm doing."
[ ] "It's under control, Kouichi. At least, I hope so."
[ ] "I'm...kind of making it up as I go along, actually."
[ ] "Let me worry about that."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

Guys, how the hell will you motivate those guys to stop their revenge and disassemble their squads to search for Joker's girlfriend?
And how likely is it that are DON'T taker her hostage if they do?

>>29456749
>"...I just - I hope you know what you're doing. I *really* hope so."
"I'm always improvising in the best possible way.
Just look at the Hollow Sun."

>>29456749
"The important thing is that no one else figure out what I'm doing.

"And use Volt for gods' sake, if it were happening today she would have said so. He's safe for two days, it's after that he's in danger."

>>29456749
>[x] "Let me worry about that."


>>29456773
We don't? The plan is retarded.
>okay, you guys who I don't know
>forget about landing the big bounty in the enemy HQ
>find this here girl you don't know
>because I said so

>>29456749
>[x] "Let me worry about that."
"I myself can't see the future, Kou. The best I can do is try to guess it and do my best to reach the best result I can. I'll make sure that is something I can do."

>>29456749
>[X] "...You know, Tyrian said the same thing."
"Just gotta get Regios to tell me to watch it for the full set."

>[X] "Let me worry about that."
"...don't worry. I hope I know what I'm doing too."

I can't help but imagine him trying to find Mio by wandering around, using his anxiety as some sort of reverse dowsing rod. The antsier he feels, the closer he's getting.

>>29456822
>>29456773

Frankly, I don't think we should mention this at all. the other players simply will not give a crispy shit about mio, and it's not a good idea to expose her to more influences.

You'll terrify the poor girl.

>>29456749
>[ ] Free'
"I'm doing everything I can. Now let's get going"
Call Rook now. Convince him that our plan is better

>>29456846
>You'll terrify the poor girl.
She already knows that we killed people.
28 men beating up that guy would convince her that we've got Yakuza contacts. Or, rather, that we are building our own syndicate. Real Yakuza don't have ring fingers, after all.

>>29456860

What plan?

>>29456749

"Kouichi, nobody has a handle on this situation except for the ones running the performance behind the scenes. All we can do is throw a wrench into the gears and derail some of the set-in-stone plot. Regios is *fine* right now. Act normal around him and give him your normal orders. If he or Tyrian get suspicious, simply tell them *I* told you to keep quiet about it and to bring their complaints to *me*. That will get the heat off you."

"You're the closest one who has the best chance of breaking fate right now. Has Regios been acting out of character lately? Taking greater risks? Family issues? Enemies? What could escalate into his probable death?"

>>29456881

It's also really dumb. We're seriously overacting, and we have absolutely nothing to offer them at present. They're here for the raid, nothing more.

Vetoing it because it's dumb.

>>29456846
Pretty much, yeah.

She's actually met Kouichi in passing, at the very least, so he's at least got the plausible deniability of saying we asked him to see if she was at (insert place she ends up being) while he was in the area because we ran into Rena when we dropped by the Papillion before a prior engagement, and she got us worried.

>>29456897
>Vetoing it because it's dumb.
I agree that sending the Tri-Stars is the best idea.
And tell Bishamon to take his Boken with him. He might have a murderhobo incident.

>>29456881
>She already knows that we killed people.
She doesn't. We told her that we did worse things than just hurting people, but she doesn't know what and while she might have thought it, she likely doesn't actually believe it.

>>29456887

He considers this, frowning. "...No," Kouichi says, finally. "-He's angry, but he's not stupid. If you didn't say anything...I wouldn't have thought twice about him." His brow furrows, deep in thought.

"...In a week - There's the school festival, but there's going to be hundreds of students, there. I..."

He shakes his head, at last.

"-I just don't know. Forget a week: I don't know what's going to happen *tomorrow*."

>>29456820

A grimace. "...If you think it'd help," he says, with a rather sour expression: Clearly, he's not quite sure what to belief. He's taken your words to heart, though - It seems that he's taking the bad news for granted, in a - "Sure, why not? How can things get worse?" - way.

>>29456794
>>29456820
>>29456832
>>29456845

Kouichi sighs. He sinks another drink, not even tasting it.

> "I'm always improvising in the best possible way. Just look at the Hollow Sun."

"If that's true-" he sags forward, until his chin rests on his hands. His lips twitch upwards, in a grin - It's a smile that bares teeth, mirthless and absolutely without humour; A bright flash of white enamel, as a coughing laugh thrums from his chest.

Kouichi shakes his head, again - A edge of gallows' humour to his voice.

"Anon, if that's true: At this rate, well..."

"At this rate, you'll probably end up king."

(Continued)

>>29457118
The king of shit mountain.

>>29457118

"I'm not a King, Kou. I'm a Joker."

>>29457118
>"At this rate, you'll probably end up king."
I think we found our first subject.

>>29457118

His words hang in the air. Close by, through the soundproof walls, plangent notes of faint music echo through the half-light; With a grunt, Kouichi heaves himself to his feet, bracing his arm against the couch. He holds his cloth carrying case in one hand, as he re-fastens it to his back...

"-Anon," he says, as if the thought has just occurred to him.

"I...heard about what happened, six years ago. Living through that...I can't imagine it."

"If it happens again..." Kouichi shakes his head, as if he doesn't have the words.

"-Do you think *anyone's* going to survive this? Anyone at all?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29457184
"I don't want to find out. I'm going to stop it, no matter what it takes."

>>29457208
Wow, drama queen.

>>29457184
"People survived then, people will survive now. Whether the game will continue, we shall see."

>>29457184
"How the hell did you hear about that so fa-- You know what I don't care. What happened six years ago happened for a purpose that was fulfilled. It won't happen that way again. The triggers aren't there anymore.

"To answer the question you asked, yes, I do think people will survive: Us and the people we choose not to kill. You're in my hand Kouichi. It's up to me to make sure it's a winning one. Now go find Mio, I'll be much happier when I know she's sleeping in her own bed."

>>29457257
With great power comes great responsibility.

>>29457184

"Kou. I'm just happy to be alive today. I'll be happy when I'm alive tomorrow. And the next and the next. Don't think too hard on it. We'll cross that bridge when the times and detonate the C4 on the support columns to collapse it. We'll survive this one or another or make damn sure this death game doesn't keep going so others may live."

>>29457184
You are favored both by me and a Hyades. You have a very good chance to survive. But it'l take teamwork.

"I have a sattelite that can shoot down big threats"

>>29457184
"There's a lot of people trying to make sure it doesn't come to that. Probably even more than I know about. But if it does?

Well, I'll be doing my best to see that at least someone makes it out. It's the least I can do."

>>29457308
>You are favored both by me and a Hyades.
I wish we could use Harrow like a Hyades symbol.

It would grant a limited amount of people some kind of bonus related to us and work against brainwashing.

>>29457208
>>29457250
>>29457257
>>29457277

He exhales, slowly - But some of the colour returns to his face, as Kouichi draws himself up to his full height. "You keep at that, Anon," he says, gruffly: "-I'll find Mio for you, I promise." His expression is slightly pained, but sincere enough - He nods at the door, crossing the narrow distance in three long strides.

"I'll leave first - We shouldn't be seen departing together. Just in case."

Kouichi nods - Just once - and lets himself out, the door swinging shut behind him - Leaving you alone with your thoughts, for now. So much has happened, in such a brief span: A few days, no more. Matters, it seems, are accelerating...Racing towards a conclusion.

You can't help but wonder when - And what - the end will be.

In a few minutes, it's your turn. A glance at your watch: There's just enough time to reach the meeting place. You'll be early, if you hurry. The question is...What approach will you take?

[ ] Get there early. (In the Red World.)
[ ] Get there early. (In the flesh.)
[ ] Get there on time. (In the Red World.)
[ ] Get there on time. (In the flesh.)
[ ] Don't show up.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29457394
>[x] Get there early. (In the Red World.)

>>29457394

> [X] Get there early. (In the flesh.)

It's WAY safer to travel in the flesh than through the red world. Let's hoof it.

>>29457394
We should get there early. We should.

But what I want to do is pull up Anon's hood and have him walk over there as anonymous teenager #1138 and hang around until they're mostly all there, just drop into the middle of them in the Red World. It'll be a good way to find out if Players can still go into cardiac arrest.

>>29457394
>"I'll leave first - We shouldn't be seen departing together. Just in case."
It's funny how he's so paranoid while we even use our player name IRL.

Anyway, definitely go early. Probably best to do it in the flesh, in case the area is dangerous IRL.

>>29457394

OP, all these options are making me very, very nervous. Going with > [ ] Get there early. (In the flesh.)

which looks like the sanest one.

>>29457452
That's why we shouldn't be late. Otherwise they might think that RJ is crashing the party.

>>29457462

Or maybe he just wants to get the fuck away from us, after what we just told him.

Now we need are insane sales pitches like those of Stallone's Judge Dredd.

"The Pulse Carbine, created for CBQ, fires in one mode only: Full Auto and fires even faster the longer you hold down the trigger."

/short demonstration.

"Yours, if you choose it."

>>29457452
>. It'll be a good way to find out if Players can still go into cardiac arrest.
Upset players will be worse at cooperating with us-warn them that we are RJ before jumping in.

And don't forget that there might be a Smiler spy among the raiders

>>29457538
You just gave me an idea.
We arrive early and start spamming weapons from our arsenal beacon.
When people arrive, we let them select their stuff.

>>29457538
Oh dammit, now we have to do one for each Hollow Sun weapon.

>>29457562
Dude what, they already know we're coming. The Red Joker is the big stick that Rook is using to convince his people to show up.

>>29457570
Don't Hollow Sun weapons disintegrate if they're not attached to a Player?

>>29457538

quick, somebody write a sales pitch for each weapon

File: 1389529332624.jpg-(49 KB, 286x299, 1333041372936.jpg)

49 KB JPG

>>29457580
>Oh dammit, now we have to do one for each Hollow Sun weapon.

Just as Keikaku'd.

"The scatter laser. This baby uses THREE crystals to distribute its deadly payload in a wide arc for maximum battlefield suppression.

Yours, if you choose it."

>>29457597

"the gravity cannon, also known as the pancake gun, flattens anything you point it at, pull the trigger and watch your enemy become the perfect receptacle for syrup and butter.

yours, if you choose it."

File: 1389529509559.jpg-(45 KB, 683x384, jokerc.jpg)

45 KB JPG

>>29457421
>>29457452
>>29457462
>>29457465

Early it is, then. And in the flesh.

Rena's not at the front counter, when you make your exit: Outside, the sky has turned dark, early - A swirling haze of dust creating a thick bank of fog, thinned slightly by the chill bite of the air. It's clammy, rather than cold...It's like wandering through a ghostly city, as you make your way towards the rendezvous point.

Getting there is...It's an elaborate process. You take a train - The cars mostly empty, except for handfuls of people here and there - as it speeds through increasingly dilapated districts, the rattle and clank of the rail underfoot a constant reminder of the place where the new city meets the old.

Where's all the people?

Your breath curls upwards in puffs of white smoke, when you make the descent - This area was declared condemned, early on: The scaffolding and pylons of the great but half-hearted rebuilding attempt adorning the area, like monuments to thwarted ambitions and forgotten hopes.

Overhead, streetlights flicker, fitfully; You walk quickly, along increasingly dark paths, doing your best to stay out in the open - To avoid the twisted alleys and increasingly ominous byways. You cut across a maze of jumbled shipping containers - Rusting, now, piled out without rhythm and reason - as you hear the waters lap against the concrete of the abandoned pier...

Across the dark waters, the shapes of distant ships - Ocean-bound leviathans - flicker with fitful light. They know better than to enter this uncertain harbour, taking the long way around: Sometimes, it seems more than half of the city is condemned or abandoned, lost to the doom that descended.

(Continued)

>>29457607
"The Maser Emitter. Ever cook a Corrector in a microwave? No? What kind of organization is your boss running? Push the button and radiation superheats your target from the inside out. The more you point at the same sap, the faster it goes.

"Yours, if you choose it."

I AM BRING WONDERFUL WEAPON OF HOMELAND. FIRST DEMONSTRATION OF WEAPON IS ARC GUN. GUN MAKE ARC. VERY SATISFY. MAKE FELLOW COMRADE KISS FLOOR ENVY.

I AM BRING MANY WEAPON FOR SHOW. OTHER WEAPON CHOOSE IS EMP GUN. EMP GUN MAKE EMP! FRY FELLOW COMRADE. MAKE POPCORN! POP POP!

FAVORITE GUN OF CHOOSE IS GRAVITY. I NO EXPLAIN GRAVITY. GRAVITY OF GUN MAKE PANCAKE OF FELLOW COMRADE IF AIM CARELESS.

>>29457652

oh god yes

>>29457421
It was before a certain someone turned into a horrible leaching monster.

>>29457668

thats no way to talk about the black tri-stars!

File: 1389529945072.jpg-(50 KB, 480x353, 1325996352848.jpg)

50 KB JPG

>>29457652

dying.

"The Friction ax-. Bah. The HEAT HAWK. The trigger superheats it's nanoedge blade high enough to cut through armour like it was made of paper. Perfect for those not weighed down by GRAVITY.

Yours, if you choose it."

>>29457687
I realize that was a joke but I meant the thief.

This, too, is one of the dark corners of the earth. More and more, your life seems to be about plumbing the absolute depths. The place has borne it's relocation into the gloom with poor grace: Rows of abandoned buildings loom on either side as you walk on. You glimpse - But it may just be your imagination - pale faces at the hollow windows...

You don't look up. You've been in worse places before, and got out.

The place Palladium has chosen for the meeting is an anomaly: A street where the lights still work, with the harsh glow of magnesium lamps. The effect is oddly beautiful. You check the location you've been given - It's *that* building, on this street, the one with a streamers of long-faded yellow tape wound around the doors, secured with a stainless steel padlock...

Below, there is smoke. Beneath, there is music.

A crooked passage gives way to slanting steps, and - As always - you descend. It's not a long way: There's a sharp turn to the left, your feet scuffing against a long-overturned sandwich board.

A name, above, and an icon - Four arrows intersecting to make a cross.

THE CROSS CORNER.

(Continued)

PHASE SWORD DECEPTIVE. I NEAR CUT HAND CLEAN OFF WHEN SWITCH ON! CLEVER CHOOSE WHEN FIGHT IN DARK.

GLADIUS OF ELECTROMAGNETISM MAKE SHOCK OF PERSON WHEN TOUCH. CAREFUL WHEN HANDLE WET. GREAT CHOOSE IF FIGHT SURROUND BY EEL.

PHOTON LANCE RELY. MAKE MANY LANCE. RELIABLE LIKE COMRADE KALASHNIKOV. DIG GRAVE OF LANCE SEVERAL MONTH. KNOCK DIRT LOOSE. USE! SIMPLE!

FRICTION AXE MAKE FIRE IF SWUNG. NO EXPLAIN NECESSARY.

File: 1389531066005.jpg-(379 KB, 1024x576, jokerrook (4).jpg)

379 KB JPG

>>29457756

It's a pool hall. Dark, smoke-filled: Lit from above, by the shuttered glow of raw bulbs. There's a bar, but the bulk of the room is taken up by the tables - Green baize and...Black iron bars?

The room is filled with cages - Each one with a pool table, a rack of cues, the metal-on-metal *clang* echoing with leaden certainity at uneven intervals. Some trick of the light makes it hard to make out the people in each one; Sounds carry poorly, here, muffled and distorted.

A smear of black resolves into crimson - A battered red coat, worn jeans, the dust clinging to the fabric. The dust hangs in the air here, too, motes of it dancing in the harsh light.

"-Any port in a storm, eh?" Shuya says; He's smiling, his gaunt features as intense as ever - His eyes shadowed pits, within his hood. The heavy cloth of his coat flutters, as he beckons you forever with a wave - "Glad you could make it, Anon. I've been looking forward to this."

[ ] "Good to see you, too."
[ ] "Quite the place, this one."
[ ] "-You couldn't have chosen somewhere more...discreet?"
[ ] "Man, you look terrible."
[ ] "Is Isao with you?"
[ ] "Who are we meeting?"
[ ] "How's tricks?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29457963

(Also, the descriptions are absolutely hilarious. I'm loving them.)

>>29457963
>[x] "Quite the place, this one."
I like the vibes of it.

>>29457963
"I've not only made it. I also brought an armory. Do you think people would pay me money for some disposable guns? I've been thinking of sales pitches and I'd love to use them."

File: 1389531923829.jpg-(90 KB, 302x338, 1326911113074.jpg)

90 KB JPG

>>29457963
>[ ] "Man, you look terrible."
>[ ] "Is Isao with you?"

>>29457963

Rook is the edgiest motherfucker we've met so far. He literally dresses like Alex Mercer.

>>29457963

"Let's take a seat."

...

"Shuya. I know this will make me sound like a broken record, but what you are about to pull is going to create such a shitstorm and more collateral damage than anything. This is basically a declaration of all out war against the Smilers and Argent's faction if you go through with this. And a death warrant placed on your head by the Smilers and most certainly Argent's men. We need an absolute reason for being here. Something that would cement the Smilers as the aggressors in this soon to be clusterfuck. Something that will paint you positively in the light of the rest of the Red and justify your actions. If you cannot think of a reason, then this raid is pointless and is doomed to failure from the start."

"An information war is just as vital as an armed conflict."

>>29458140
>He literally dresses like Alex Mercer.
We ate more people than he did, though.
And I don't think that he's yet managed to shape souls into hats.

File: 1389532500449.png-(920 KB, 1021x574, congratulations.png)

920 KB PNG

>>29458140
Too true. Seriously, his appearance is based on Scrooge from Guilty Crown: Lost Christmas, who is basically a silent revenge-obsessed anti-hero. Wonder if he'll meet his own Hyades in case he survives this thing and drops his edge.

>>29458158

Hostage situation. Several "Smilers" have taken a couple of "Argent's" players hostage. Rook devises a ploy to to get them back and sends a runner through the Red to Argent's citadel. By the time the runner reaches Argent, we'll already be well on our way to "rescue" the hostage. Plus, when it's all said and done, we can safely dispose of the "hostages" to insure they don't speak.

>>29458272

Corrector Reemergence. With swift action and great diplomatic skills, Rook manages to recruit a mercenary strike in record time to quell the corrector threat and push to the Hive, thus eliminating it. And oh look, there was a Smiler base down there. What a coincidence, huh?

>>29458308

Artifact retrieval. With sensors in place, Rook discovers an anomaly down in the tunnels. With the recent battle with the C'hauliflower and Red Joker, what strange things lurk below the streets of the Red?

>>29457985

> [x] "Quite the place, this one."

"That it is," he agrees. "-Found it a while back, on a routine sweep. Standing orders are to mark all places like this, but..."

He turns his head. "...Guess it must've slipped my mind." Shuya chuckles, darkly - Pacing in the direction of one of the cages, the door already ajar.

"As you can probably tell - This place is *different*. Light, sound...They don't travel as far, here. Some kind of bleed-over, from the other side...Whatever it is, it's useful."

He glances back at you. "And - The storm can't reach here. A place like this...It's handy, when you need to lie low. Anything's better than being flayed by the winds, after all."

> [X] "Man, you look terrible."

Shuya grunts, in acknowledgement. "-Haven't been sleeping. After last night, there's plenty of people who aren't." He gives you a considering look: "...Haven't you heard? They say Phantom Edge is back."

His words - That name - it seems to echo, in a way that has nothing to do with the dimensions of the hall.

> [X] "Is Isao with you?"

The flesh around his eyes crinkles, slightly - "The nuclear option? Not this time, no." - Shuya grins, again; A grin that bares teeth, sallow. "It's long past his bedtime." His tone is faintly mocking...But then again, so much of him is like that.

"Just you and me, Joker. Simpler that way, don't you think?"

>>29458007

He laughs - A brief, curt bark of laughter. "Knew you'd come through. That should be good bargaining chip; Can't fight a war on promises."

(Continued)

>>29458322

Bar Fight Brawl. A "Smiler" beats the everloving shit out of a highranking member in Argent's organization. Leaving an obvious calling card pointing towards this location, Palladium Rook assembles a group of like minded individuals to seek vengeance for the slight against their superior.

I can keep going.

>>29458365

Ugh. I hate this guy. He needs a good kick in the ass and a shrink. This is why we can't save people and only eat them.

>>29458375
>I can keep going.
Those are awesome ideas.

>>29458411

Some of these are straight from my players "Notes of How to Make the GM Hurl Profanity". They've pulled the "beat the shit out of a high ranking official" one. Barely, barely passed their rolls. Derailed the plot so hard that my notes were useless. I've learned to adapt and adapt quickly or face even more shenanigans.

The cage door clangs shut behind you, as Shuya pulls it closed.

>>29458158
>>29458272
>>29458308
>>29458322
>>29458375

He listens without speaking, as he frees a cue from the rack: Setting up the pyramid, polishing the cue ball on his sleeve...The gleam of ivory almost painful in the harsh light. Shuya handles it with long practice, his features set in a frown of concentration as he sets up the first shot...

"I know," he says, finally - He closes one eye, curses, repositions himself. "-I know, Joker. I know what you're saying."

"-But. I don't know if I can *lie* to him." Shuya's wrist snaps forward - The *clack* of the breaking shot like an exclamation point, sending colored balls skittering across the green baize, in a sudden whirl of motion.

"The old serpent has...Ahhhh, I don't know. He's *good* at it, you know that? Not *telling* him something...Outright lying to him - It's different. He just *knows*, somehow."

Shuya grimaces, again - Chalking his cue, shaking his head at the poor shot. "-When he looks at you like that...Makes you feel all of five years old. Like with my dad-"

He stops. His jaw clenches.

"-I hated my old man," he adds, and takes his next shot. "That's the only good thing the disaster ever did, you know. Killed him stone dead."

[ ] "You're still going to need a reason."
[ ] "-And after that? What happens to you?"
[ ] "Do you know what Argent's actually trying to do?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29458478
>[ ] "You're still going to need a reason."
>[ ] "-And after that? What happens to you?"

>>29458478
>[ ] "-And after that? What happens to you?"
Seriously, this is a serious lack of foresight.

Not that the Joker minds.

>>29458478
"The other option I can give is having someone who knows nothing of this false information so that they give it to Argent when it's already too late to stop us."

>>29458478

"Then tell him the truth, Shuya."

"Shuya. You're a good kid. I told you that the first time we met. You're going down a very dark road that has no way back from. Once you set down this path, there is no turning back. If I'm reading the situation right, you've told Isao that the raid is off if he's not here. You don't want him hurt. That's admirable. No, that's practically noble. Protecting your friends. This revenge streak will not solve anything. It will not bring dead comrades back. It will not sooth the burning hole in your soul by doing this. Infact, it will only make it worse."

"Please reconsider this."

>>29458623
Veto.

File: 1389535206559.jpg-(17 KB, 400x322, wtfisthisshit.jpg)

17 KB JPG

>>29458623
I'm laughing hard here.

>>29458623
Double veto.

>>29458653
>>29458672
>>29458692

The reason being is RJ has already went through this with Hecate. It's pretty obvious OP set this up to be a mirror image of our revenge-trip with her. I'm going to laugh hard if the people wanting this raid to happen start hurling shit when Argent doesn't want to speak with us - no, actively bars us from interacting with his organization.

That includes Natsumi.

>>29458623
Either veto or this follow-up:
"This is what I would say if I wasn't eager to fuck those Smilers up. I have yet to kill all the dudes that killed a person important to me. I will not stop until I collected all their souls and transformed them into ashtrays.
And yes, I can do that. Just let me have the kill."

>>29458701
Argent needs the joker around attracting attention so no one bothers him.

>>29458701
Fuck off, drama. This is why players shouldn't have the chance for custom write-ins.

How did this even play out in your head? Dude invites you to a raid, you come in and start lecturing him? About protecting friends, no less. We're truly playing the most fearsome player of this generation. No, wait. We'd be playing a teary-eyed joke.

>>29458731
Its especially stupid when you take into account that spent a fair amount of time ourselves getting revenge on fuckers and are still out for the blood of some of the fuckers.

>>29458701
You are forgetting something.
The Red Joker has ALWAYS been at war with the Smilers. We make no judgement on this raid. We are only along for the ride because we can fuck those guys up.
The Joker is a wild card. We are not aligned with anyone.

File: 1389535686821.jpg-(22 KB, 500x281, jokerrook (2).jpg)

22 KB JPG

>>29458490
>>29458522

>[X] "You're still going to need a reason."
>[X] "-And after that? What happens to you?"

He's silent, for a long while.

"I could go off the grid," he says, almost to himself. "-Do what Bardiel did, play king of shit mountain." Shuya hawks, and spits dryly - As if the thought holds no enjoyment for him.

"If there's an 'after that', even," he says; With that grim, teeth-clenched smile of his. "Haven't you heard, Joker? The world's ending."

His eyes pinch almost shut, and his mouth sets in a painfully thin line.

"You know what I want?" he says, slowly. "I can tell you exactly what I want."

"I want to find out who it is that keeps reaching down into my life, and turning everything I touch into shit," Shuya says. "I want to *meet* him. I'm not asking for much: I want to share a little bit of pain with him, that's all."

He presses his fists against his legs, and says through his teeth: "I don't care if it's Pazuzu, or Phantom Edge, or that awful, awful plant-bitch. I want to get my *hands* on that motherfucker - Even if I have to *burn it all down*."

He exhales, sharply.

"That's *my* happy ending right there. Checking out with my *teeth* in someone's *throat*."

(Continued)

>>29458730

Argent trusts us, to an extent. if we go through with this, we're basically pissing what little trust we built up away. He showed us his inner workshop. Christ.

>>29458731
>>29458758

Are you so blinded by XP that you can't see the political shitstorm this single action will cause? C'mon, be smarter than that. Walk away from this situation.

>>29458758
The playerbase is full schizo. Nothing new there.

>>29458768

We're too far committed. The only thing we can do is make sure Argent gets a warning about what we're doing.

>>29458768
>Are you so blinded by XP that you can't see the political shitstorm this single action will cause?
The fuck do we care? We're aligned with no one. If Argent can't keep his players in line, his problems. We're here to make sure they do some damage before their inevitable deaths.

>>29458768
Why haven't you vetoed this plan ten threads ago?
We have been waiting for this for quite a while.

Those guys WILL go to war. It doesn't fucking matter what we do.
We come along for the ride because it doesn't fucking matter if we join or not. If we go along, we will be able to maybe turn this entire thing into something worthwhile.
If we don't go, there will STILL be a war. Just without us joining the first strike.

>>29458768
You should have just voted to skip the raid then, because there is no damn way we are going to change Rook's opinion. It's utterly stupid to even try.

>>29458623
Completely out of character.

>>29458709
Edgier than a jackknifed 18-wheeler full of food processors.

Just let him know that going through with this is pretty much going to alienate him from Argent and his people.

>>29458478
>[X] "-And after that? What happens to you?"
"I hate the Smilers as much as you do, but you know as well as I do that I'm here for damage control.

I let Argent know I'm in this to minimize casualties of his people, he probably lets me off with a slap on the wrist. But you said it yourself; he's going to know you're going rogue with this.

I'm not going to tell you not to go through with this; you just need to know that it isn't all blood and guts and then revels after you come out on top. There's a cost for all this, and you've got to be sure you and the rest of your guys are willing to pay it."

>>29458763
Little late; oh well.

>>29458768
>Red joker
>Being worried by politics
>Not wanting to kill smilers
I don't know what quest you have been reading so far.

>>29458800
>Just let him know that going through with this is pretty much going to alienate him from Argent and his people.
He already knows this, though.

But your version is the best.

>>29458823
Knowing it and actually thinking about what it means are two totally different things.

It's easy to go "Fuck Smilers, who cares what the Boss Man thinks.", but recognizing that it means that you're losing your whole support network (buddy system, essence sharing network and most importantly, an actual army at your back) at the same time you're declaring open warfare on the only other major Player organization?

That's a thing you deserve to have written out for you in advance, just to make 100% you're damn sure it's something worth getting yourself killed for.

>>29458783

>We're too far committed

No we're not. We're only committed WHEN we actively go into that tunnel and start shooting. We can still walk away from this. Plus our glorious leader is basically an unstable kid.

>>29458793
>We're aliged with no one

We're aligned with the Tri-Stars who we have a vested interest in keeping alive. We're aligned with Argent (well, were). He upgraded our relics, afterall.

>>29458799

I did vote. But the majority rule, yeah? Shiny loot. Revenge trip.

>>29458800
>completely out of character

Not when the raid group is an active threat against our character. Joker has survival instincts out the ass. If shit is going south, he gets out. Or fights it until he's a torso, arm, and head. So, not very strong survival instincts, afterall.. oh right, he ran and fought his way through the mother of all BETA hives. And then went on a revenge trip when his first girlfriend was kidnapped.

>>29458808
>I don't know what quest you have been reading

The one that is going to end up with us being on the shitlist of Argent Prominence?

I don't know why I bothered to respond to all of you.

>>29458883
Do you prefer to keep the status quo?
This right now is the chance to actually harm the Smilers. We haven't been a pain in their asses for quite a while.
It's time to remind them that there's someone hunting them down because of their dickish moves.

>>29458883
>The one that is going to end up with us being on the shitlist of Argent Prominence?
Not only do I not see how does that work, but I also have no idea how crying to Rook would've changed that if that was the case.

pls don't cry

>>29458917

Different anon voting to continue but yes, I can see how doing this will run counter to Argent's wishes as well. He'll definitely not be happy with what we're doing.

>>29458947
Doing what? Making sure that the idiots do some damage before croaking?

>>29458940

"Show me your crew. If they're going out with a bang, I'll arm them to take as many as they can with them."

>>29458883
Dude chumping out and suddenly becoming sentimental out of no where would be the most out of character decision we could make.
The red joker has always been about fucking up the smilers, Why wouldn't he jump on this? Even if we didnt want to do this do you think rook will magically decide to stop? fuck no. If we go along we can possibly turn this into something other than a clusterfuck.

This whole thing could help argent anyway, if the smilers are too busy dealing with us and rook they wont be looking at whatever he is doing.

>>29458940
>"-Now. Are you ready or not?"
"I'm all armed up. If I'm there, I can maybe keep some of you guys alive.
If I don't join, you won't rethink your position. Either way, it's best for me if I at least try to help you out.
Just promise me that you will drop this melodramatic attitude if we succeed and you survive."

>>29458904

Being dicks to dicks only makes their dick harder. You can't outgrief a dedicated griefer. Which is what the Smilers are. And we are more than a pain in their ass by existing. As long as we have REASON to attack them, I'd say go through with it. As it stands, we have no justification for attacking them with Rook and his men. if we attack with Rook, we are aligning ourselves to HIM in Argent's view. And thus branded a "disappointment". We do not want to be on the bad side of Argent. We are one man against several hundred. Plus, ARGENT KNOWS OUR REAL IDENTITY. THAT ALONE IS ENOUGH NOT TO WANT TO PISS HIM OFF.

>>29458917

>pls don't cry

Boo hoo.

>>29458955

you know.

starting off the hostilities?

Argent wants time. This sparks the beginning of the reprisal attacks.

>>29458981
>Being dicks to dicks only makes their dick harder. You can't outgrief a dedicated griefer. Which is what the Smilers are. And we are more than a pain in their ass by existing. As long as we have REASON to attack them, I'd say go through with it. As it stands, we have no justification for attacking them with Rook and his men. if we attack with Rook, we are aligning ourselves to HIM in Argent's view. And thus branded a "disappointment". We do not want to be on the bad side of Argent. We are one man against several hundred. Plus, ARGENT KNOWS OUR REAL IDENTITY. THAT ALONE IS ENOUGH NOT TO WANT TO PISS HIM OFF.
Again:
We tell Argent that we tried to keep those idiots alive. Nothing that we do could have prevented them from doing this. We can only make sure that it's less of a disaster.

Yes, AP won't be overjoyed. But that's far from putting us on his shitlist. At least as long as this doesn't end in a catastrophy.

>>29458994
We're not starting anything. We were invited to a raid. Organized by someone else.

I ask you again, what are we guilty of here?

>>29458981

he does have a point, argent is a shifty bugger but he does provide great support. I guess we just have to cover our ass by saying we only went along to try and reduce the death count

Guys, have you maybe considered that we might be able to divert the attention of the Smilers with this raid?
They will know that the Red Joker was there. So they will hunt US, not AP.
AP will be in their blind spot.

>>29458981
>we have no justification for attacking them
>killed our girlfriend
>attacked our friends
>constantly attacking us
I think we have enough reasons to attack. Plus a griefer cant grief you anymore if he's dead.

"'My guys'."

Shuya echoes the word, rolling it in his mouth - As if it tastes foul. For a moment, he looks tired beyond belief: Utterly and completely exhausted.

"All my buddies are dead, you know that? Sure, they were bastards. We're all bastards. But they were *my* bastards."

He looks away, a raw edge of scorn to his voice. "-The people out there? They're not even that."

"-You think good intentions brought them here, Joker? All they want is *everything*, and if they can't have it, they'll settle for *everything they can grab*. Cross is in it to get his rocks off, and god knows what Geist'll do with your guns-"

His voice cuts out, with the ragged scrape of a knife-wound.

"...It's all gone to shit," he mutters, his eyes bleak. "All that matters is power, and more power..." And Shuya laughs, without humour.

"...And a little revenge."

Shuya gives you that awful, teeth-bared grin again, a smile that isn't really a smile. "Go out with a bang, eh?"

He shakes his head, his voice going flat.

"-Now. Are you ready or not?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>29459011
I have been saying that.

>>29459027
Show me your crew.

>>29459008

It's still an attack by the argent's people on the smilers. and we're accepted the invitation to join in.

Doesn't matter what argent says, this sparks off a full confrontation.

>>29459027
>"-Now. Are you ready or not?"
"Show me your crew and let me do my sales pitch."

>>29459024

> with Rook and his men

You omitted the important part. Try again. That is THE most important part of the sentence. We have EVERY justification for killing Smilers. But not in this MANNER.

>>29459027

"As long as you have a way to cover your ass and mine, I'll play the hero. I'd prefer to not lose a source of upgrades."

>>29459047
You're making precisely 0 sense.

>Argent's loose cannons are attacking!
>Fucking Joker! [said by both Smilers and Argent]

>>29459027
"Then let's go say hello, kick down the door and let them all burn. It won't make things right, but it'll sure as hell make me feel a little better."

>>29459008
of not informing argent of this raid when he spelled out his plan and reasoning as to why he wants to prolong the temporary ceasefire.

We were invited to his stronghold and he came clean to us and yet we didn't inform him of this developing situation so he could rectify it.

This is what will make him lose trust in joker.

>>29459027

Edgiest motherfucker ever is right. It's like he's actively suicidal.

>>29459081
I don't think he's stupid enough to believe that he could've stopped his murderhobos from rushing to their deaths for long.

We're doing him a fucking favor.

>>29459062
I don't think the manner makes a difference. We still end up killing them.

>>29459105

no we couldn't.

he might. if we told him.

>>29459120
Nope.

>>29459120
Too late to cry over spilled milk.

>>29459135

I'm committed to this cause of action. All I am doing right now is pointing out exactly why this will lead to argent mistrusting us.

>>29459081
We can play it off as a plan of diversion.

The Red Joker is well-known.
AP mook #300 is not known. Those are not AP elite forces, they are just people that worked for him.
The Smilers will focus on "Holy shit, the Red Joker!" and not on "Holy shit, Argent Promince's low-level mooks!".

As someone who is ambivalent towards the Smiler Raid, I'm more concerned about the loot. We'll have to split it with 29 other people. We're going to haft to insure most of those are dead before we do loot the joint.

File: 1389537980108.jpg-(15 KB, 618x407, 618px-JeanLucPicardFacepalm.jpg)

15 KB JPG

>>29459155

I'm more concerned about getting out alive.

>>29459155
>We'll have to split it with 29 other people
>implying they will survive

>>29459027
>"...It's all gone to shit," he mutters, his eyes bleak. "All that matters is power, and more power..." And Shuya laughs, without humour.

>"...And a little revenge."

"Think you've got it backwards. If you didn't think the revenge wasn't the important bit, you'd be more worried about how much power this stunt is giving up in order for you to get it."

"Kraken and his flower child aren't going to be in there, you know. You're going to head in there, kill a bunch of grunts just like the chaff you're stuck raiding this place with, and you'll either die or come out feeling unsatisfied."

"If you're really ok with that—if you think your REAL guys would be ok with that—I'll see what I can do."

>>29459155
Don't worry.
This entire plan is supposed to blow up from the get-go.

...Not that anyone would dare to stop the Red Joker from taking the loot, though. Especially as we'll be responsible for the heavy lifting.

>>29459155
I dont think we will have to worry too much. Who ever gets the kills gets the loot.

File: 1389538213894.png-(258 KB, 421x500, 1328163717494.png)

258 KB PNG

All this loot hunger worries me.

>>29459198

>loot hunger
>implying

The real loot is in the Essence signatures of our fellow raid members. All of that delicious clothing.

File: 1389538346112.jpg-(8 KB, 330x280, 1328143215776.jpg)

8 KB JPG

>>29459215

yep. worry.

>>29459215

"they say on that day the Joker went mad. before he was a trustworthy if unstable wild card. that day he became overtaken with an unquenchable hunger for clothes, all he thought about was clothes, all he dreamed of is clothes and if you work with him you had better believe he's measuring you up to see how you would look as a new pair of socks"

>>29459219
If we backstabbed the raid, we'd get mad EXP and prevent the all-out war.
I feels kind of morally wrong, though.

>>29459219
What is this image from?

>>29459252
Rape factory

>>29459169
>...Not that anyone would dare to stop the Red Joker from taking the loot, though.
Given the description given for the guys accompanying us
>"-You think good intentions brought them here, Joker? All they want is *everything*, and if they can't have it, they'll settle for *everything they can grab*. Cross is in it to get his rocks off, and god knows what Geist'll do with your guns-"
you have to be really optimistic to think they're just going to let us take our share.

These are the same tier of schmucks that keep challenging the Red Joker to begin with. There's a payday in front of them, and they don't care that they're not the big fish in the pond. They're going to get their big, dumb mouths around it or choke to death trying.

File: 1389538621788.jpg-(30 KB, 300x300, 1326923946358.jpg)

30 KB JPG

>>29459249

Because it is.

Also about 3 teams are moving in from different directions so we're not going to be able to kill all 3 teams in any case.

See it positively:
We have an army of health pickups adding to our firepower.

>>29459261

>rape factory

Fuck you for making me remember that thread.