>>31098215
Wake up sylvia and make sure she's presentable and ready.

It's best to be sure that everything with Sylvia is in good order, so after wiping the crust from your eyes, you head over to your room. You slowly open the door, and for all your attempts at doing the job quietly, you see Sylvia stir. She rolls her head over to you.

"What time is it?" She mumbles.

"It's seven thirty-five," you say, with a quick check of your watch. "I wanted to make sure you were up and ready for George's people to pick you up."

"Pick me up?"

"Yeah, I called him last night to ask him to send some folks to pick you up so you can go do some healing while I'm at school." She seems to brighten a bit at that. "Get ready, okay?"

She nods and starts moving. She's not your size, at all, so you suppose she'll just have to wear these clothes for a bit longer than she really ought to. Your job done, you exit the room, letting her have the first shower today and sitting back down on the couch; a book you've been idly reading recently is sitting on the coffee table.

>Just read until she's done with the shower, then take your own. [Timeskip]
>Call up George, tell him to send somebody over now.
>Write-in.

>>31098690
>Call up George, tell him to send somebody over now.

Can we arrange a rendezvous point that isn't our house? I don't like him knowing where we live. We can also pick her up there when we're done for the day.

>>31098690
>Just read until she's done with the shower, then take your own. [Timeskip]

You decide to call up George. You inform him of the general status of Sylvia, ask for him to send someone over, and say that she'll need some changes of clothing. You also give him an address that is a few minutes walk away from your house, to try to make it at least marginally more difficult for him and/or his people to track you down.

When that's done, Sylvia steps out of the bathroom, her hair still wet and her clothes slightly damp as well, clinging to her in places where her toweling off was insufficient. She sits down at the dining room table, since it's nearest, and starts idly staring at her thumbs. "Shower's free," she says.

>Tell her about the car that's coming to pick her up.
>Go take a shower.
>Discuss something with her. [Write-in]
>Write-in.

>>31099000
>Go take a shower.
We can walk her over and tell her after the shower.

>>31099000
>Tell her about the car that's coming to pick her up.
>>Go take a shower

>>31099100
This is fine too.

You tell Sylvia about the car that'll be showing up shortly, then head into the shower with your own change of clothes. There's not enough time for a long shower, so you work quickly, and then rub the towel all over your body until you're dry.

In total, it takes less than fifteen minutes, and you're out again, and walking Sylvia to the place the car's supposed to show up. You arrive with a few minutes to spare.

>Ask her to not say where you live because [write-in]
>Talk about something. [Write-in]
>Just stand around awkwardly and silently. [Timeskip]
>Write-in.

>>31099313
Timeskip

>>31099313
>Ask her to not say where you live because

She already agreed to keep our identity secret, and this is an extension of that. We could also mention fears that the last time we picked her up we were attacked, and if that happens again you don't want it happening at your house.

>>31099340
I'd rather just confirm that she knows to keep it secret. Considering that there might be a spy in the church who knows or is a ballista incubator, it's very important. We don't want that person knowing where we live or who we are.

>>31099313
>Ask her to not say where you live because you want to maintain your privacy.
Probably too late, but I just got home so.

"Hey, Sylvia," you start, and she looks up at you, curious. "Please don't say where I live. I want to maintain my privacy, and I'm worried that whoever attacked you at that facility will also attack you at my home, and it's best to make that as difficult for them as possible. They might have spies within the Church, or be spies, or something else to that effect."

She just nods. "Okay."

You see her off, then head home, getting your things together for school and heading out. The first few classes are boring, but then comes lunch. You settle in with Ned and Tracy to eat.

>Ask Tracy for advice on handling her brother.
>Discuss something with Ned. [Write-in]
>Discuss something with Tracy. [Write-in]
>Timeskip
>Write-in

Does it seem like I'm phoning in the updates?

>>31099681
>Ask Tracy for advice on handling her brother

She knows her brother best

>>31099681
>Ask Tracy for advice on handling her brother.

Updates seem fine, don't notice anything unusual about them.

>>31099590
Lucky you, posting from my phone.

>>31099681
>Ask Tracy for advice on handling her brother.
Definitely needed.

"Tracy," you start, turning to your girlfriend. "How would you recommend I handle things with your brother?"

"Well, like I said earlier, you should kind of... be a bit deferent to him? Respectful, you know? If you're not willing to do that, then..." she trails off, trying to put words to her thoughts. "I guess treat it like he has some right to care about what goes on in my life? He is pretty much all the family I've got, you know? He's important to me, and I'm important to him."

>Write-in.

>>31100181
"That sounds reasonable, even if he does go overboard 'protecting' you."

>>31100181
>"I can work with that, definitely. I'm certainly not planning to be confrontational at least."

>>31100181
>"I have no problem with respectful but deferential might mean he thinks he can tell us not to see each other, and I'd rather not have to kick his ass to stay as your girlfriend."

"That sounds fair enough," you say. "Even if he does go overboard 'protecting' you, I'm not planning to be confrontational."

Tracy nods, clearly somewhat pleased at your decision. "That's good to hear, Abby."

>Discuss something with Ned. [Write-in]
>Discuss something with Tracy. [Write-in]
>Timeskip
>Write-in

>>31100521
>Timeskip

Time to talk to Jim again

>>31100581
This

>>31100521
Sure, timeskip.

You eat with Ned and Tracy, occupying your time discussing absolutely nothing of importance, and eventually the bell rings. Soon enough, the school day is out and you're free as a bird. Free to go meet up with Jim. It'll be an awkward conversation, but at least you've had some time to think about and plan for it.

You walk with Tracy, largely in silence, to her home, until, after what feels like an eternity, you're standing in front of the door.

What are your goals for this conversation?
>Write-in.

What is your general attitude going to be?
>Write-in.

Anything else?
>Write-in.

>>31100905
Goals:
-Find out why Jim dislikes us so much
-Find out if he sent that woman to spy on us
-Subtly inquire as to the exact nature of his relationship with Tracy. Do not openly state that you suspect he might be molesting her.

Attitude:
Tired of his shit but wishing to reconcile.

>>31100905
Not really a fan of these kinds of prompts, gonna pass to someone else.

>>31100905
>What are your goals for this conversation?
Find out his relationship with Tracy
"So must be pretty lonely with just the two of you huh?"

>What is your general attitude going to be?
Respectful and polite, but not a doormat, willing to stand up for ourselves if he's gonna push us around

>Anything else?
Use Tracey as a weathervane for his moods - she'll be able to pick up his feelings better than we can, and she tends to wear her heart on her sleeve

I'm this guy >>31101078

>>31101122
I'll change my attitude to this, it's what I was going for but couldn't think of the words. The anything else sounds good too.
>"So must be pretty lonely with just the two of you huh?"
seems a bit direct though, maybe at first we could skirt around it a bit more?

>>31101159
>seems a bit direct though, maybe at first we could skirt around it a bit more?

It's a conversation starter: they'll probably be thinking the hidden agenda is 'How do you survive without parents?'

Jim will probably give a non-commital answer about how it's 'fine' or how he can handle everything.

But it gets us started on the topic of what they are to each other.

>>31101231
gnnnhhhh ok
it's not the only topic we wanna visit though
it's probably not even happening
I say that last line from the perspective of a very sheltered life with a loving family so I could be wrong.

>>31101362
>it's not the only topic we wanna visit though

of course not, but it's a tough topic to broach.

Asking Jim about having us followed is easier - I mean he tried to have us beaten up, we can just ask if he's given up on using force.

There's an unnatural silence as you walk into Tracy's house with her, settling down at the dining room table. "I'll go get Jim," she says, and you nod politely. She scurries off to get him.

"Come on, Jim," she whines, "Abby is here and you know it!"

"How am I supposed to know? Magic?"

"Maybe because you planned to meet her today? Oh, just come on, don't be such a big baby!"

Jim sullenly comes into the dining room, sitting across the table from you, and Tracy sits in between you two, a bit nervous. Jim stares at you. "Well?" He asks.

"You seem to have a problem with me," you start. "Why?"

"Why do you think?"

"Jim," Tracy says, voice a little hushed. "You said you'd try and have a real conversation."

Jim rolls his eyes for a moment, but looks back at you. "You're a bad influence on Tracy."

"I'm a nerdy, introverted girl who doesn't pick fights. How, exactly, do you feel that I am a bad influence?"

Jim crosses his arms. "Key word: girl."

"Mmhmm," you murmur, not wanting to start a fight over this point. There's a long period of silence before you move on to a new subject. "Do you know anything about a woman who was following Tracy and me on our last couple dates?"

There's a moment of reaction on his face, an expression of recognition, that appears just long enough for you to notice before vanishing again. "No, I don't."

>Press him on this point. "I think that you do."
>"I see." Let it go, move on to the subject of his relationship with Tracy. "So, Tracy feels that you're an important part of her life. I take it she's quite important to you, too?"
>Return to the previous point. "You do realize that Tracy is gay, right? If you do manage to push me out somehow, some new girl will take my place sooner or later."
>Write-in.

>>31101530
ok, I just reread some old threads for perspective. Jim does seem to care about Tracy a lot, I'm almost certain he's not abusing her in any way. He is very overprotective though, so I think the main issue is the stalking.

>>31101557
>Return to the previous point. "You do realize that Tracy is gay, right? If you do manage to push me out somehow, some new girl will take my place sooner or later."

>>31101557
>Return to the previous point. "You do realize that Tracy is gay, right? If you do manage to push me out somehow, some new girl will take my place sooner or later."

One thing at a time

>>31101578
>>31101588
Yup.

You decide to return to his previous point. Not much you can do, other than accuse him of lying and turn this into a big fight. "You do realize that Tracy is gay, right? Even if you manage to push me out of her life somehow, some new girl will take my place sooner or later."

He leans in, his hands steepled. "I don't believe that."

"So, what do you believe, then?"

Jim stares at you for a long moment, then glances at Tracy, who's clearly quite antsy about this line of discussion. He turns back to you. "I think you're a bad influence on her. She's young and doesn't really know what a relationship means. You're the one who asked her out, you've pushed her into this," he pauses, his face twisting up for a moment in a mixture of disgust and anger, "'lifestyle,' when she's far too young to be getting into anything of the sort."

>"That's just completely inaccurate, Tracy came to those conclusions about herself before I asked her out. Right, Tracy?"
>"I haven't pressured her at all. Right, Tracy?"
>"Why don't you tell us what you really think?"
>Move on to your suspicions of abuse, be subtle about it.
>Write-in.

>>31101875
>Move on to your suspicions of abuse, be subtle about it.
Link topics together
"You seem awfully sure she doesn't like girls..."

>>31101875
>"That's just completely inaccurate, Tracy came to those conclusions about herself before I asked her out. Right, Tracy?"

I really doubt he's going to listen to us on this. He'll have to hear it from Tracy.

>>31101875
>"Why don't you tell us what you really think?"
Might as well get it out there.

>>31102124
>Might as well get it out there.
It's intended to be sarcastic.

>>31102124
>>31102154
yeah, that one seems a bit snooty
we're trying to take the high ground and be reasonable here

Rolled 1

1 - >>31101922
2 - >>31101930
I'll just flip a coin, then.

>>31102243
This won't end well

>>31102243
oh god
please tread carefully

>>31102267
you should have backed me uuuuup

You roll your tongue across the back of your teeth, trying to figure out how to word your question. You fix your gaze on Jim, ready to search it for the slightest sign of a reaction. "I don't see how you could possibly know your little sister's sexual predilections better than she does."

His reaction isn't pleasant, but it's far more angry than afraid. "She's young, she's-" he stops himself, "she's immature, she's not an adult. She's not ready to make that kind of decision." He makes a dismissive gesture in your direction. "Certainly not with you."

>Keep up the pressure on your suspicions.
>Turn the topic back to something else. [Write-in]
>You've gotten as much as you're liable to get, time to get out.
>Write-in.

>>31102351
Keep up the pressure
>"Certainly not with you."

"And why not with me?"

>>31102409
I'll second these exact words but not the suspicions. After rereading thread 2 I seriously doubt any abuse is happening.

>>31102351
Yeah, let's pursue that final sentence in a more self-centered way. Might as well.

>>31102409
I'm not very suspicious either, but regardless we shouldn't make this sound accusing as much as indignant.

>>31102516
yes
Tracy knows her brother pretty well, and she's told us his problem is most likely a hatred for the gays.

>>31102558
Which his answer should reveal.

If it's that he really isn't a fan of gays he'll probably just say so.

If he responds about how 'no one' is good enough for his sister, then we'll still be suspicious re: molestation

>>31102597
maaaybe
In a post from thread 2 though

-----------------------------------

"Tracy, you tell him. Maybe he'll listen to you."

This confuses Jim for a second, and he blinks, a lot of his momentum stopped.

"Um. Okay. Jim, I lo-" she stops herself. "I like Abby. A lot. It makes me happy when she's around. I've never felt this way about anybody else. Please, Jim. Just calm down." She stands up, standing next to you and wrapping her fingers around yours. "Please, Jim, don't do this."

Jim's face twitches in displeasure. He growls, balling his fists. Tracy flinches in response, and Jim's demeanor instantly changes, worry creasing his face. "Fine. Fine. Fine!" He throws his hands up in the air. "I'm trying to protect my little sister, but I guess you're so good at carpet munching that you've got her wrapped around your little finger."

Tracy blushes. "Um. I wouldn't know."

"Thank God for small favors, I guess." He gives you a look, and it's not difficult to interpret. Something like 'I'll fuck you up if you hurt her'. Then he sighs. "If, hypothetically, I were to have told anybody to beat you up, I would now stop them. But since I didn't do that, I won't. Instead, I'll go into another room and make a completely unrelated call on my phone. Claro?"

-----------------------------------------

Doesn't seem like the abusive type to me.

That comment makes you a bit indignant. "Why? What's wrong with me?"

Jim's lips become a thin line as he stares you down before finally answering. "You're an ugly dyke." Tracy cringes a little at that, but Jim doesn't seem to notice or care. "You're some gangly, nerdy, pasty little girl who thinks that just because she looks like a man, she's got the right to try and seduce my little sister. It's disgusting."

>Turn this point into an argument.
>Turn the topic back to something else. [Write-in]
>You've gotten as much as you're liable to get, time to get out.
>Write-in.

>>31102691
Laugh at him, we've heard worse insults than that.

>Wow and I thought you had a real reason to hate me and have someone follow me around

We'll be all subtle and slip in the bit about the stalker in.

>>31102691
>"Well, Tracy doesn't seem to mind how I look, maybe you should respect that."

Ask Tracy if she thinks we're pretty later.

Also this is just his perception because he hates us right? We don't really look like a man? Ned's dad thought we were pretty. The Cambion made us really good looking, right?

>>31102815
Sure, let's go with this one.

>>31102815
>Also this is just his perception because he hates us right? We don't really look like a man? Ned's dad thought we were pretty. The Cambion made us really good looking, right?
"Tell me I'm pretty." Okay, anon.

The Cambion's alterations mean that Abby has symmetrical facial features without blemish (she basically looks kind of like an airbrushed photo/made up actress naturally). Her face is a bit androgynous, she's tall (179 cm), she's (now) muscular, she doesn't have much of a bust (A or B cup, depending on the particular bra), and her hair is cut very short.

Does that answer your question well enough?

>>31102981
yes?
I'm kinda sure we're pretty
We'll just ask someone unbiased later to make certain
like Sylvia

>>31102981
Confirmation bias on the part of Jim confirmed

"Well, Tracy likes how I look," you say, settling back in your chair, some of the tension moving out of your body. "Maybe you should respect that."

He just eyes you with distaste, then glances over at Tracy. "You really think this girl is pretty?" He asks, as though he was asking if she really thought that shit smelled good.

Tracy shrinks a bit under his gaze, but pipes up, her voice only just about a whisper. "Ye-yes," she says with a nod.

He looks back at you with a snort. "I guess there's no accounting for taste."

>Turn the topic back to something else. [Write-in]
>You've gotten as much as you're liable to get, time to get out.
>Write-in.

Actually, Abby is 181 cm, sorry.

>>31103197
>"I know, right? How about you leave us alone. If you hypothetically told some woman to follow us on dates and ruin any intimate moments, you should call her off. Stuff like that isn't going to protect Tracy, it'll just make her unhappy."

>>31103197
>Promise not to be confrontational
>This whole conversation
Just because he started it doesn't mean this is 'not confrontational'...

Also, way back when the idea of hanging out with them was first brought up, wasn't the idea just a casual evening of hanging out (frayed with tension or no), rather than some sit-at-the-table mediation-session sans mediator? This whole thing has been kinda off since we walked in...

Try to get things on less serious tracks I guess.

>>31103319
>Also, way back when the idea of hanging out with them was first brought up, wasn't the idea just a casual evening of hanging out (frayed with tension or no), rather than some sit-at-the-table mediation-session sans mediator?
Now that you mention it, I think it might have been.

>>31103360
Well, there's no going back now. I don't think we can really salvage this into a 'nice' evening, but might as well try.

"Look, I..." you sigh in exasperation. "Weren't we supposed to just... hang out? I feel like this has gone completely off the rails."

Jim seems to mock you with his facial expression in ways that are difficult to pin down but definitely annoying.

You rub at your forehead. "Is there anything to eat here? I'm getting kind of hungry."

"Yeah!" Tracy seems particularly enthused about this possibility, and dashes off to the kitchen, leaving you to awkwardly stare at Jim, who never takes his eyes off of you.

>Just wait for Tracy to get back.
>"Look, obviously you care about Tracy a lot, and I don't want to get in the way of that or anything."
>"So... do you watch Star Trek?"
>Write-in.

>>31103595
>"So... do you watch Star Trek?"
Hey, why not?

You're not going to just sit here awkwardly while he stares with you. Time to try to make conversation that doesn't revolve around the inherent conflict between how you enjoy playing tongue wrestling with his little sister and he enjoys sending people to follow you and/or beat you up. "So... do you watch Star Trek?"

"Yeah," he says, his voice carrying very little emotion. "Tracy likes it."

You nod. "Any particular episodes you enjoyed?"

"Honestly can't remember."

Thrilling conversation, here.

>Just wait for Tracy to get back.
>Try to find some other mutual interest.
>"Look, obviously you care about Tracy a lot, and I don't want to get in the way of that or anything."
>Write-in.

>>31103595
>"Look, obviously you care about Tracy a lot, and I don't want to get in the way of that or anything. I care about her too, or I never would have asked her out. Both of us just want to see her happy, and there's no reason to get in each others way."

>>31103829
>"Look, you obviously don't like the fact that I'm gay. But to believe that I've somehow fooled Tracy into thinking she's gay as well is ridiculous. It's hard to mistake what gender you're attracted to. I promise I will do my best to make her happy."

If you could somehow combine this with >>31103835
I will love you forever even more than I already do.

>>31103829
>Try to find some other mutual interest.
"So...you ever beat up monsters?"

"Look, obviously you care about Tracy a lot, and I don't want to get in the way of that or anything. I care about her too, and I just want her to be happy-"

You're cut off by Jim miming vomiting while making loud 'gak' noises. A very mature response on his part, in your humble opinion.

You pause, take a deep breath, and just smile and shake your head. "You obviously don't like the fact that I'm gay. Fine, whatever. But the idea that I've somehow tricked Tracy into believing she's gay with some kind of... I don't know, lesbian mind magic, I guess, is frankly ridiculous. Heterosexuality isn't an identity that you just abandon at the drop of a hat."

"No, you do it when some big bull dyke strong arms you into it"

>"Is that actually what you believe, or are you just trying to stir up this argument further?"
>"No, I'm not doing this." Discuss something else.
>"Fine, I can tell when I'm not wanted." Leave.
>Write-in.

>>31104628
>"First I'm a gangly, nerdy, pasty little girl, and now I'm a big bull dyke? At least keep your insults straight."

>>31104628
>"No, I'm not doing this." Discuss something else.

>>31104765
Actually this is probably better than >>31104712
Ask him what he does enjoy, if he's not into star trek.

Time to take the high ground. "No, I'm not doing this," you say, shaking your head. "So, what do you enjoy doing, if you're not into Star Trek?"

"Reading."

You cock an eyebrow. "Oh? What sort of book?"

"Fantasy. A lot of Pratchett, lately." He seems to have been tricked into forgetting that he hates you, because the conversation actually passes fairly amicably for a while before Tracy comes back.

>Just try to make nice. [Timeskip]
>Talk about something in particular. [Write-in]
>Write-in.

>>31105019
>Just try to make nice. [Timeskip]
I don't have anything I want to talk about, so.

>>31105019
>Just try to make nice


I think we've said everything we can for now. We know he sends that woman to follow us, so next date we can tell Tracy one place, and then surprise change it. Plus the fantasy book discussion seems to have shown that we have the possibility of worming our way into him accepting us at the least.

You try to make nice for the rest of the night. Initial successes with Jim may have seemed overly exaggerated, since he's still quite laconic and standoffish with you, but at least he's not actively using slurs against you at every opportunity and/or calling you ugly and/or implying that you've somehow mind-magicked Tracy into being your love slave.

Eventually, though, the meal comes to an end, and you excuse yourself to head home and wait for Sylvia to show back up. She shows up at the same place you dropped her off, and she walks back with you. While you walk with her, you glance idly up at the sky and spot what looks an awful lot like a Chariot Incubator looming up there, as if it was shadowing you. And it doesn't look like Daniel.

>THREAD END

>>31105370
Thanks for running!

>>31105370
>While you walk with her, you glance idly up at the sky and spot what looks an awful lot like a Chariot Incubator looming up there, as if it was shadowing you. And it doesn't look like Daniel.

fuuuuuuck
my web of lies :(

Thanks for running man! Twitter tells me you're planning a double this week?

>>31105508
>my web of lies :(
It's Sylvia, not Tracy, who's walking with you there.

>Twitter tells me you're planning a double this week?
Planning, yes. I really don't want to run mid-week for my only episode that week, especially given my mid-day tendency.

>>31105584
It might be Sylvia, but if we're right about that being a chariot he knows what we look like and where we live now. :(

Aaaanyway, hope your plans work out! This is one of my favorite quests and I can't get enough!

>>31105648
> This is one of my favorite quests and I can't get enough!
The next thread or the one after that will probably be the "finale." I'm not going to let this one lamely limp to a very distant finish line, it's rapidly running out of steam.

I'm working on another quest which will hopefully have a better defined meta-arc, but no guarantees it'll ever see the light of day.

Sorry.

>>31105759
;_;