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HOLLOW SUN: 27.7%

http://pastebin.com/SPt2b30r

RESEARCH:

[X] SIEGEBREAKER CHASSIS
[X] PHOTON SHIELD GENERATOR
[X] TELEPORT HOMER
[X] SAMAEL CIRCUIT
[X] GOSPEL RELAY
[X] SOLARIS GENERATOR

VOID ANCHORS:

ORIGINAL HIVE
THE TRIBUNAL

RED COMET GUIDE:

http://pastebin.com/7vzY4Zp2

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>>31702129
> a revelation of his own...

Welcome back, sir. I've been waiting for this, ever since i had a massive hoshit realization at the end of last thread.

I see the curve ball you threw our way, JQOP. I see it, and I say: Not This Time, sir. I won't stand for it. Here's what's actually going on:

Naoya is not actually interested in mio. This is just another prong of the smiler plan.
They want her for her power, or megeara's power. His true loyalties are to the smilers and megumi, who called us earlier on his say-so.
This entire thing is a multi-pronged, yui-level trap in order to drive her away from us and into a Cradle, and right into the smiler's endgame.

HE MAY BE RIGHT about anon-kun's feelings - he's an educated, perceptive dick - but actually admitting that is going to get her killed, or turned into an abomination that we have to put down like a dog.
So, we say no. That's the only option. We say no now, and figure shit out with Mio later.
Anything else and she gets into some serious shit.
Hindsight: of course the smilers would need a doctor to handle the medtech for their cradle project.

... and he also doesn't know she asked us to go to the culture fest with her. He thinks he still has a chance when she's already decided.

"No, I don't. I'm not convinced, naoya. I see what your game is. You don't actually have any interest in Mio. "
"All the kids at school just cannot stop talking about some biiig event, about the smiler gang experimenting and torturing on people. Your girlfriend's gang. You've been loyal to her before you started making eyes at Mio."

"The thing is... I had someone I genuinely cared about, once. The smilers took her away, and probably killed her. Maybe my heart isn't as big as it could be, but I don't see why I should help you. Especially after your girlfriend stole from me. "

"Maybe I'm wrong about you - but I hope you didn't come here empty handed. Why don't you cut the crap and tell me what this is really about?"

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>>31702160

Pardon for the early post! i wanted to get this stuff in here as soon as possible so people can discuss it and not be taken advantage of.

In the meantime, i've found some neat art.

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>>31702175
>http://pastebin.com/7vzY4Zp2

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>>31702183

>>31702147
No research completes? Darn.

Voting for Jet Scranders this time. The base Hellions are the only ones described as having flight abilities, this could get the others airborne.

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>>31702206

>>31702208
void anchor first. Gonna need that stuff!

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(Gentlemen; My apologies for the abrupt end to the last session, but I was unable to post anything on /tg/ during the interval. I've read through the responses to the previous post, but I feel - In the spirit of fairness - that I should continue right from where I left off, to give players the chance to revise their answers and for fresh input, especially as there doesn't seem to be a clear agreement on how to proceed.

I'll do my level best to take the spirit of the majority vote into account for the response, where there isn't a contradiction. The repost is as follows.)

>>31702160
>>31702175
>>31702183


(Also, those are excellent designs.)


> "Admittedly, that's the last thing I expected you to say."
> "I can't say that I can blame you. But this situation might be problematic."

"-I'm aware." Naoya looks away - That pained, faintly appalled smile lingering, surprised at himself. "It's not something that I was expecting, either."

"And yet."

> "I certainly understand that feeling. Thank you for telling me, but I don't think that suit will succeed."

Silence; A silence that speaks volumes.

And then, very quietly-

"I...have reason to believe that it might." He seems embarrassed, all of a sudden - Clearing his throat, with a deliberate cough. Naoya looks up, at the dark skies - Thick grey cloud shedding flakes of pale snow.

"More than that - I'd rather not say."

The pause that follows is long and intensely awkward - Made more so by Naoya's level gaze, one black-gloved hand resting on seat of his motorcycle. There's a sense of an internal struggle, a careful and deliberate choosing of words-

"To be blunt; I don't think you love her."

(Continued)

>>31702217
Nah, with this and meeting Megumi there's one more thread to build charge. We can have the Void Anchor before the shooting starts, easy.

Actually we should start the Cobalt Laser weapon research as well. We'll pick up at least 20% before the next thread, and Pazuzu was weak against the pure laser beam.

>>31702208

(I feel, for this session, it would be inappropriate to count things for research. I'll admit, the nature of each session makes time intervals an uncertain thing at best - However, as this session continues directly from the last one and spans a relatively short amount of time, it would feel strange for it to count.)


His voice is mild, almost thoughtful in timbre.

"Please don't take this as an insult - It's not meant to be." His smile is gone; His expression carefully composed. "-I think, perhaps, that you consider yourself to be fond of her...But, to tell the truth-"

"...I don't think you care. Not *truly*, at least - Not in the way that matters."

Naoya draws a slow breath.

"In fact - I doubt that you even like her. From what she's told me..." He cants his head to the side, ever-so-slightly; White mist swirling in the freezing air.

"-She's a burden to you, isn't she?"

His words hang in the air, as Naoya pushes the hair out of his eyes.

"From the first time I saw you together, I was almost sure. You treat her like-" His lips press together into a thin line, as he searches for the right words; "-Like a pet. It's patronizing, demeaning - But I couldn't ever say so, not in front of her."

"Still - It's the truth, isn't it?"

He laughs - A light chuckle, without humour, as he shakes his head.

"Now that I've spoken my mind - I'm certain." His gaze returns - Focused, critical, gauging your response. "-You see? You're already thinking of it as a problem, something to be fixed...It gives you away."

Then, very quietly:

"-Don't you think that's cruel?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

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>>31702226
>(Gentlemen; My apologies for the abrupt end to the last session, but I was unable to post anything on /tg/ during the interval. I've read through the responses to the previous post, but I feel - In the spirit of fairness - that I should continue right from where I left off, to give players the chance to revise their answers and for fresh input, especially as there doesn't seem to be a clear agreement on how to proceed.

That is entirely fair, and I didn't intent to try to force it through by getting here early.
You should probably know that I wrote it/realized it AFTER seeing your pastebin last time when 4chan posting was down.

>>31702160
is supposed to be a continuation of

>>31702247
>"Now that I've spoken my mind - I'm certain." His gaze returns - Focused, critical, gauging your response. "-You see? You're already thinking of it as a problem, something to be fixed...It gives you away."
>Then, very quietly:
>"-Don't you think that's cruel?"

So I think I'll revote it.

"Do, I don't think its cruel, and I'm not convinced naoya..."

>>31702247
I'll repost the spirit of Watashi's post from the last thread: Laugh in his face. He doesn't know Joker at all. He's right that we've not been good enough for her, but wrong about everything else.

>>31702247
>[ ] Free
Maybe you're right. Maybe I don't know what to do with the fact that she likes me that much. Any tips ?

>>31702279
>but wrong about everything else.

Yes, but if he's also really, really in league with the smilers, making the cradle system, torturing people in the red world -

then this is an opportunity. If his interest in mio is genuine, we can potentially get information out of him.

I kind of want to propose a Mio/Hecate(i don't want to waifu her just save her from pazuzu) trade - and then betray him because fuck smilers.

If he's also a Player and a smiler to boot?

he's away from his friends, alone, and a perfect opportunity to get information on. by beating him up, or by using Reap+verbatim to get info on how to derail their endgame plans.

All i'm saying is : play this smart, don't trust him.

>>31702279

Seconding this. Keep your filthy hands away from her, you son of a bitch.

> Laugh. Laugh kind of laugh where you start choking because you can't breathe and have trouble standing.
> While still laughing: "I can't even hate you because you're so serious about this. For once in my life I've been overestimated. Here is the truth as straight as I can say it: I have no idea how to act around her. I am in love with Tomomi Eri, real name Saeki Mio.
> "How do you act when someone loves you without reservation? When just seeing your face makes that person shine brighter than the sun, and a touch washes away their sorrow and replaces it with joy?
> "I have no idea how to treat her. I have no idea why she loves me so much. I have no idea how to respond to her love. I have no idea if I can answer her feelings as they deserve to be. But so help me god I want to try. I want to make her happy, and I can do it better than you."

>>31702334
Unnecesarily antagonizing someone trying to help you and her ? Seems pointless and self-destructive. Veto this.

>>31702347

Well, leaving out the 'filthy hands' part. I'm just supporting Watashiwa's post, which sums things up pretty well.

>>31702329
>I kind of want to propose a Mio/Hecate(i don't want to waifu her just save her from pazuzu) trade - and then betray him because fuck smilers.

You realize that we've never gotten anything out of the Smilers re: Hecate?

>>31702347
Don't make me veto your veto. He's not trying to help.

>>31702307

That is totally not suave. Are you trying to taunt him, or come off as smug, or appear kinda loserish?

>>31702334
better-ish, but ugh.

You're totally allowing yourself to get trolled by him. Don't bite the bait!

Also.... that's not how I see the joker at all. Save those lines for telling our girlfriend directly, not being a dick! Near has it right. For once, a namefag i'm in agreement with. Wow.

>>31702160
>>31702247
[ ] Free
>"No, I don't. I'm not convinced, naoya. I see what your game is. You don't actually have any interest in Mio. "
>"All the kids at school just cannot stop talking about some biiig event, about the smiler gang experimenting and torturing on people. Your girlfriend's gang. You've been loyal to her before you started making eyes at Mio."
>"The thing is... I had someone I genuinely cared about, once. The smilers took her away, and probably killed her. Maybe my heart isn't as big as it could be, but I don't see why I should help you. Especially after your girlfriend stole from me. "
>"Maybe I'm wrong about you - but I hope you didn't come here empty handed. Why don't you cut the crap and tell me what this is really about?"
Anyone have actually better/more interesting options than this? because its winning in my mind.

>>31702364

Don't mention the Smilers to him. If he knows that we know, we are fucked.

>>31702358
>Don't make me veto your veto. He's not trying to help.

Yeah, he's not trying to help, and that post bites his bait so goddamn hard and totally misses the point:
He had his girlfriend call us begging for help, then tracked us down across town to hit us in our emotional jimmies, JUST TO get rid of mio's bodyguard during the hyades endgame event.

Fuck Naoya.

Calm, controlled, call him on his shit and take it to the red if we need to

>>31702334
>>31702279
Please, don't destroy Anon's characterization. I don't mind the laughing and telling him wrong part, but proclaiming love for Mio is just a lie.
>>31702247
"Maybe? Not sure. But from my perspective, you may be a lot more cruel." chuckle "I would hate to play a game of chess against you. And I don't intend to play now. "

>>31702364
>That is totally not suave. Are you trying to taunt him, or come off as smug, or appear kinda loserish?

We can use some friends, instead of turning people into enemies. There's nothing wrong woth being civil. There's no need toact like some retarede alpha male wannabe in this situation.

>>31702371
>Don't mention the Smilers to him. If he knows that we know, we are fucked.

That's false. The smilers are a well-known street gang.
The entire school knows, everyone involved with the red world has been whispering to their friends, the website that keeps track of deaths just got a page full of player fatalities, the red joker mark is appearing in the red world because of locations we've claimed....


There's no need to keep the word Smiler secret.

What we don't want to let onto, more precisely, is that we're the red joker, and that we were there. We want to call him on shit we could very reasonably have heard through the grapevine - and then give him a 'you want me to help a mass murderer?" reaction

>>31702392
>We can use some friends, instead of turning people into enemies. There's nothing wrong woth being civil. There's no need toact like some retarede alpha male wannabe in this situation.

>We can use some friends, instead of turning people into enemies.

Yeah, exactly. Thats why i agree with you regarding 'lol throw love in his face and be a dick about it'.

>>31702247
Reposting this.
>"You actually aren't the first person to point this out to me. Well, not this specifically, but... Love, as a whole. I've been told that I'm not capable of love. Not like a proper human being, anyway. I didn't really know how to respond to it then, either. Maybe I -should- be insulted. I don't know. Maybe the fact that I don't know is more telling than anything.

>I never wanted to be this way, though. Not really. If I had more time for introspection, I might be able to work it all out, eventually. But all the same... Yes. Were I in your shoes, I suppose I would probably say yes, it's cruel. But I don't -want- to be this way, and Mio... Well, she helps. More than she knows. She helps keep me anchored. I feel happier when she's around, like I'm actually here to stay, and not... Just visiting.

>Maybe you understand that? I don't really expect you to get the details, but... There's something about you. Right from day 1, I've felt that you're hiding something, just like me. Hey, might as well air it out while we're honest, right?

>So even if my ability to love and to care is not real, and not up to your standards, I'm still not going to just roll over. Not until I know that she is safe, and happy."

May need to edit it for less drama.

>>31702358
>You realize that we've never gotten anything out of the Smilers re: Hecate?

We've also never asked - or asked in any situation where talking is an option.

Whether he'd be WILLING to betray his side to help someone else in the name of love is a very telling test of character, though.

>>31702364
Oh god no, don't use this. What if he's completely uninvolved? Like Kazu was/is when we thought he was Chrome.

>>31702392
Laughing isn't being a dick, it's being amazed at how wrong he is. Joker wants to get this one right, and Naoya can't see that.

How I see it at least.

>>31702423
We have. At several points. If he is Pazzy he'll react just like Kraken and Bardiel.

And he wouldn't betray his side are you kidding.

>>31702424
>Oh god no, don't use this. What if he's completely uninvolved? Like Kazu was/is when we thought he was Chrome.

Then he's still a jerk for dating a smiler, cheating on her, and FYI if he wasn't in league with megumi - he's still sacrificing her to a cradle, which is why he called us for help earlier.

ALL signs point at naoya being a twat.

If you want to be sure, then transform and challenge him, and see which player he really is

>>31702445
>Then he's still a jerk for dating a smiler, cheating on her, and FYI if he wasn't in league with megumi - he's still sacrificing her to a cradle, which is why he called us for help earlier.
You do realize that them dating was never confirmed? It was something Megumi mentioned.
>If you want to be sure, then transform and challenge him, and see which player he really is
That won't work. We already tried and Akira also tested him. It'll just leave our body in the Real vulnerable.

>>31702445
>If you want to be sure, then transform and challenge him, and see which player he really is

Transform ing near him is practically asking th Red World to force a vs battle, anyway.

>>31702364
>>"No, I don't. I'm not convinced, naoya. I see what your game is. You don't actually have any interest in Mio. "

>"All the kids at school just cannot stop talking about some biiig event, about the smiler gang experimenting and torturing on people. Your girlfriend's gang. You've been loyal to her before you started making eyes at Mio."
>"Maybe I'm wrong about you - but I hope you didn't come here empty handed. Why don't you cut the crap and tell me what this is really about?"

This looks way better if you cut out the third line.

Supporting

Anyway, this shit is too important and potentially world-altering to just (potentially) straight up give a hyades-involved girl to the smilers.

I don't care how it's brought up, but these concerns need to be brought up, and I trust JQOP to do a decent job with the conversation.

>>31702445
>he's still sacrificing her to a cradle
Eh? Megumi doesn't use a cradle. And she didn't call for help, something else is going on there.

We've tried transforming to catch him in the Red before, he didn't show up.

>>31702480
>Eh? Megumi doesn't use a cradle. And she didn't call for help, something else is going on there.

See her call for help last thread/thread before last.

Also further proof of Naoya's jerkitude from last thread:

"Wait a second. Megumi. Did he tell Mio to show up at the mall so she'd see Anon with Megumi?"

This is another setup!

Do Not Fall For The bait!

Also, IIRC we actually didn't transform in the red last time - we just missed him leaving due to hesitation.

>>31702480
>Eh? Megumi doesn't use a cradle

Cradles are for turning people into amalgams, anon. The humm of wirring machinery in the background and all that...

>>31702530
We're meeting her in a mall. She won't be in a cradle there.

>>31702517
That wasn't a call for help, she wants to meet at a mall "to confirm something". Check the thread.

>>31702537
>That wasn't a call for help, she wants to meet at a mall "to confirm something". Check the thread.

yeah, and have mio think we're cheating on her. AGAIN.
fall for the same trick twice, yeah? no wonder the smilers think we're dumb.

>>31702129
Good evening OP. Hope you're well.

I had a question about the Positron Designator. Would it also reduce the time to fire? Or is it just to remove the need for the Argus lock/Harrow?

>>31702247
I guess I'll repost my post from last time. >>31702334 I know several others disagree with it, but I think Joker should try and make a positive change in his personal life. Admitting to being out of his element is one step, trying to do right by a girl who loves him is another.

I'll try another version of the same statement, see if I can't phrase it better.

>>31702517

We need to go anyways.

A better method would be smsing to Mio that we're meeting Megs at the mall for abit. Keep her in the know.

>>31702537
>We're meeting her in a mall. She won't be in a cradle there.

Why the hell are we wasting time on the smiler bitch?
We have barely any time before Shit Gets Real?

If you want to waste time on a girl, waste time on the RIGHT girl.
We shouldn't even meet her megumi! The hell, anon, don't get sidetracked, we've got better things to do!

>>31702602

Potential Intel.

Anything she lets slip will be of use. We might even be able to get her to get out of town and run.

>>31702581
>We need to go anyways.

Why, exactly?

>>31702613
>Anything she lets slip will be of use. We might even be able to get her to get out of town and run.
Are you totally ignoring the fact that megumi and naoya are -working together to set us up and walk into a trap?- by the way?

There is no 'potential information'.

>>31702613
>Potential Intel.

If you want potential intel, we need to start thinking tactically. Ice everyone smiler we can before the event tomorrow and use Reap for endgame clues as to what they're doing.

Less problems for us, more problems for them

>>31702625
just defuse the trap by calling or messaging mio that we're meeting her

Was playing Brutal Legend just now, this song came up and I thought of JQ. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1B_pZC8aWU Was surprised to see there was a thread up.

I'll throw in with >>31702334, seems okay.

>>31702561
>fall for the same trick twice
Jesus, why DID Naoya miss seeing Megumi at the mall? It couldn't have been planned because we didn't know anon was going there, but something happened there.

>>31702247
>[ ] Free

The more I read about this situation, and the events behind what's going on:

Call naoya on his deceit. he's trying to make this about a girl when its not

(My apologies: I lost the connection for a moment. I'll point out, however, that you can't transform here - There isn't a Red World area for you to manifest into. The whole area is a massive chasm.

I'll give things about five more minutes before I start typing up a response.)

>>31702334

This is crappy and loving Mio is really a lie.

Not Wata's best work.

>>31702226
>My apologies for the abrupt end to the last session, but I was unable to post anything on /tg/ during the interval
No need to apologize.
A Australian guy hacked 4chan and moot froze it.

>>31702653
>Jesus, why DID Naoya miss seeing Megumi at the mall?

He didn't, anon. He's the one who tipped mio off that we would be seeing a movie 'with megumi' at the mall, which is why she stalked her and broke into her house.

>>31702646
Thats not defusing it, that's asking for girldrama. Mio is INSANELY JEALOUS of megumi, and we're supposed to meet mio in an hour.

THATS why naoya+megumi = hell devil manipulatrix pairing. They're working together to drive us and mio apart, and acknowledging their games is playing RIGHT into their hands.

We shouldn't be worried about megumi at all.
we should be worried Mio's alone.

>>31702566
>I guess I'll repost my post from last time. >>31702334 I know several others disagree with it, but I think Joker should try and make a positive change in his personal life

I agree that the joker should do that positive change thing

But just NOT RIGHT NOW holy shit do not have a fucking life crisis right before the endgame tomorrow.

Stick with our guns. stick with the friends/allies/choices we've made, and do not get sidetracked.

worry about that shit later

>>31702334
Voting for this. Not because it's perfect or because Mio is mai waifu, because neither is true, but because this is the only response that I can read without something about how it's written setting me off.

>>31702695

Telling her is a sight better than hiding the thing.

Tell Mio that megs seemed to be having some trouble with her love life and needs some help or something.

Problem is RJ has shown to have taken steps to prevent hurting Megumi, even at the assault on the Black Tri Star Base. Suddenly stopping that would be abit ooc. We have to at least make the effort to turn up.

>>31702334

(Gentlemen: This seems to be in the majority. Writing now.)

>>31702646
>just defuse the trap by calling or messaging mio that we're meeting her

A better play is to meet up with mio and go somewhere with her ourselves

Guys, just a note:
Naoya had trouble bringing the topic up. He was hesitant.
It's likely that he's NOT lying.

>>31702731

Seriously, JQOP?

Check the responses to that post. They're ALL negative.

how is that a majority?

>>31702731

Can you at least tone down that waifu bullshit in there. Wata's bias is seeping into it too badly.

>>31702731
No it's not! People only replied to it to say that it isn't suitable for now!

>>31702729
>Telling her is a sight better than hiding the thing.
What? No. How bout we don't tell her, and we ignore megumi.

install the RJ memory and head for the culture festival

>>31702731
>(Gentlemen: This seems to be in the majority. Writing now.)
What the hell jqop?

>>31702744

(My apologies, I may have misread it. Gentlemen, I understand this is a sensitive issue - But if possible, I'd like a general consensus on this one, to avoid misunderstandings.

I'll admit; I can't seem to find a majority decision from the various choices listed, unfortunately.)

>>31702754
>Wata's bias is seeping into it too badly.
Yeah, that's the biggest issue.

The trouble here is that we have two factions that are totally opposed to each other.
One wants Mio, the other Hecate.

>>31702731
I think that >>31702160 and >>31702364
have more votes, particularly the: "No, I don't. I'm not convinced, naoya. I see what your game is. You don't actually have any interest in Mio. " part.

>>31702772

Call him on his bullshit but leave out the waifu stuff.

>>31702687
I had a lot of trouble with saying everything I felt I wanted to say without speechifying, and I failed on that count. Needs to say "Yes, I have not done this right" and "I want to get this right", with a side of "I'm going to do it right."

>>31702712
Not a crisis, an epiphany. A realization of "I can/should do better." Timing could be better, but nothing like crisis to make you decide what you want.

>>31702665
This looks more like a plurality to me.

>>31702731
>(Gentlemen: This seems to be in the majority. Writing now.)

A -5, a veto, and +3(one of which is watashiwa voting the thing he wrote originally) so really a+2, is a 'majority' now?

>>31702772
>I'll admit; I can't seem to find a majority decision from the various choices listed, unfortunately.)
See >>31702776
I'm not sure if it will even be possible to get a consensus.

Hell, I'm probably the only dude who doesn't suspect the guy of being a murdering child rapist and actually thinks that he's genuine.

Fuck, how the hell do we get a proper compromise? There isn't exactly a harem route for Joker.


Anyway, I vote for confronting him about Megumi.

>>31702791

You missed the follow-up post. But yeah, this is a thorny issue.

>>31702772
>(My apologies, I may have misread it. Gentlemen, I understand this is a sensitive issue - But if possible, I'd like a general consensus on this one, to avoid misunderstandings.

I'm going to go with general themes/concensus I see people agree on.
1) Confront naoyao some
2) leave the waifu stuff behind
3) speak out to our feelings for mio as not being fake
4) use all of the above to hit him with the guilthammer for cheating on megumi
5) see what he reveals about his girlfriend/plans/smilers
6) play it by ear. Dont' go all in heavy handed on anything

>>31702772
If there is no majority decision, try to find a compromise between the various opinions

>>31702772
>>31702793
>Anyway, I vote for confronting him about Megumi.

Yeah let's not solve the waifu problem right now. I think that >>31702160 has the right idea minus the Hecate parts:

>"No, I don't. I'm not convinced, naoya. I see what your game is. You don't actually have any interest in Mio. "
"All the kids at school just cannot stop talking about some biiig event, about the smiler gang experimenting and torturing on people. Your girlfriend's gang. You've been loyal to her before you started making eyes at Mio."
>"Maybe I'm wrong about you - but I hope you didn't come here empty handed. Why don't you cut the crap and tell me what this is really about?"

>>31702793
>Hell, I'm probably the only dude who doesn't suspect the guy of being a murdering child rapist and actually thinks that he's genuine.
I'm pretty sure he's on the level, on this count.

>>31702808
He's not cheating, he broke up with Megumi before she raided Holophusikon.

So Just general tone of the reply:

1) Call him on bullshit [Signs point to yes]

2) Call him a hypocrite and ask him what about Megumi, did he toy with her feelings too?

[Yay/Nay]

3) Declare undying love for Mio

[Yay/Nay]

>>31702821
>>Hell, I'm probably the only dude who doesn't suspect the guy of being a murdering child rapist and actually thinks that he's genuine.

If he is, then there are ways to test him for that.

Most of which involve a level of honestly that anonymous clams up and vetos whenver people try to tell anyone anything secret

>>31702824
>3) Declare undying love for Mio
And that's the issue.
I would be totally okay with Mio as a good friend to brighten the day instead of our girlfriend, with Hecate being the real girlfriend.
However, that would depend on Mio's decision. And for that we'd need to have a proper talk with her.

>>31702824
1)Yes
2)Yes
3)Nay

>>31702821
>He's not cheating, he broke up with Megumi before she raided Holophusikon.
So he's a better person than anon. He's mature enough not to lead anyone on.

>>31702838

are you mixing up hecate and cybele?
if so, this is now a 3-way battlefield

Anyway, I vote to table talk of waifus and engame preferences because a)everything may change tomorrow and b) we should deal with what's right in front of us right now, and not let it cloud or judgement

>>31702824
1: yay
2: yay
3: nay

>>31702847
If he's not lying.

>>31702847
>Implying they reeally broke up

My little anon can't be this pure!

>>31702851
>Anyway, I vote to table talk of waifus and engame preferences because a)everything may change tomorrow and b) we should deal with what's right in front of us right now, and not let it cloud or judgement
Wait for fate to remove candidates from the harem, like happened to Cybele?
...I'm pretty sure that will cause Anon to end up alone and full of regret.

>>31702824
>3) Declare undying love for Mio
Maybe not undying, but definitely SOME kind of love, even if it's not romantic.

>>31702772

Just do the most IC option you can at this point.

Build on our relationships, all the information we've witnessed, add in a bunch of mistrust(soured my megumi and carried over by relationship), add in a dash of urgency and the RJ being fed up with this stuff and do what comes naturally

>>31702877

We're already been walking the path of regret. Everything RJ has done can be traced back to the loss of something or someone.

A happy end for RJ may not be likely.

>>31702838
>However, that would depend on Mio's decision
why would we let someone else's decision confuse our life further ?
If Joker is leading Mio on, he deserves all the bad things that are going to happen to him.

Guys, just something I wonder about:
Did we see Asuna's redesign with the Black Joker emblem before or after the Hollow Sun detected us as the Black Joker?

>>31702887
I can agree on a "she's important to me" at least.

>>31702890
That's a good idea.
Would everyone else be okay with leaving the choice up to JQOP?

>>31702890
>Just do the most IC option you can at this point.

Eye gouging Naoya isn't really an option here.

>>31702912

No, we smash his brains out with a rock.

We've done that before after all.

>>31702896
After.

>>31702896
That was Rook, moron. Whatever the Black Joker did to Anon, the Hollow Sun hasn't detected it.

>>31702887
>Maybe not undying, but definitely SOME kind of love, even if it's not romantic.

Okay, fair. I'd be willing to change my vote away from 3)nay to some sort of moderate admissing, because damn, mio IS special

>>31702877
That's gonna happen if Argent wins anyway.
We're on a timelimit to:
Get our hyades out of the red
Free Mio from being trapped in the red
Do a fuckton of work and see if Hecate is still alive, much less in a saveable state.

The way I see it:
Mio is the best gal - for our non-redjoker mannerisms, and the prospect of being cut off from the red forever is making us think as a human bean.
Cybele we have a deep connection and feel sorry for due to similair experiences being trapped in the red, even if she is wierd and offputting and tried to brainwash us. The RJ thinks its fair to rescue her and put her on even footing with the other, real girls. Cruel, but its the law of the red and the wild to take what you want.
Hecate: We've moved past her, found other connections which would make going back to her hard, even if she would have us - she warned us not to stray, and we have, but she still saved our life. She's the one who accepted the Joker, and opened the door for others. I don't see this working out, but I DO think we owe her a rescue attempt

>>31702896
>I can agree on a "she's important to me" at least.

i can get behind this, and i've been vehemently arguing

>>31702939
So it all boils down to:
Save all the girls, because all of them are important, and only decide for one of them afterwards.
You can mend a broken heart. You can't repair an obliterated and processed soul.

Rolled 35

>>31702939

> moving past hecate

Doubt that though. All the little things RJ has done still hows he has yet to move forward from the loss.

Asking Pazuru. Kissing mio on the head, endless replies of hecate to 'who is it', that answer to yui, etc.

He hasnt let go yet. Not at all.

>>31702995
But he needs to. Because it's the villains in this quest who can't let go of the past.

>>31702477
>>31702160

>"No, I don't. I'm not convinced, naoya. I see what your game is. You don't actually have any interest in Mio. "
>"All the kids at school just cannot stop talking about some biiig event, about the smiler gang experimenting and torturing on people. Your girlfriend's gang. You've been loyal to her before you started making eyes at Mio."
>"Maybe I'm wrong about you - but I hope you didn't come here empty handed. Why don't you cut the crap and tell me what this is really about?"

A silence descends, as powdery flakes of snow drift down from above - Each one perfect, unique, an impossibly intricate crystal that lingers for the space of a breath. Naoya glances to the side, with the slightest shake of his head; He seems embarrassed, somehow, but more for you than for himself.

"-We broke up," he says, quietly - In the pale light of the moon, his expression is carefully composed. "I told her - Everything. The truth; How I felt about her, and her past. How I feel about Mio."

"And she-"

He draws a shuddering breath, then exhales; White vapour curling away from his mouth.

"You see, I can't abide secrets. Let's be honest; They're lies. The thing is, people are - there are too many - greedy, mean, selfish liars. It's the way things work; It's the way things are."

"And because that kind of behavior is rewarded year after year after year-"

"...That's why the world is filled with them. That's why our world is..."

"-Well."

He casts around the desolation, taking it all in with his gaze. Naoya's shoulders slump, slightly, as his gloved hands tighten on the grips of his motorcycle. "-You need to learn this, and learn this fast."

"Because someday, you're going to grow up."

(Continued)

>>31703006
Wait, so wata was right?

Rolled 10

>>31703002

Whoever said anything about RJ being a hero.

>>31703006

He looks at you - Directly at you - for a moment, and there's something keen-edged and discomfiting in his gaze. "Megumi...She wouldn't tell me anything. That's what came between us. Secrets - They take a life of their own, until-"

"...One day, you can't remember who you're supposed to be."

Naoya's eyes go distant, his lips setting in a thin line. For a moment, he seems lost in a reverie of his own - Then he breathes out, a little sigh. "-I don't know you. Not really, at least. You're not of the Church, either; And so, I can only speak to you as one man to another."

"You are wracked with doubt and uncertainty because, I think, that you fear the truths others require from you. Very often, it's easier to resent the silence and begrudge the ambiguities, than to confront the questions that must be asked; To acknowledge your own culpability."

"So - I'm going to give you a chance to do the right thing."

He glances down, for a moment - At his watch.

"The festival ends in...Three days, I think. At the end of it, one way or another - I'll tell Mio how I feel. And the answer I'll receive, I think..."

Naoya meets your gaze again, briefly.

"-That's all up to you."

(Continued)

>>31703123
You don't have to be a hero to not be the villain.

Let go. Begin again.

>>31703134
>>31703006
I like where this is going, jqop, and here's my response.I get the feeling you were going to try to head thigns to a close at the end of next update- and I don't think that's right, because there's still a chance to have a good talk here.


>>31703006

>>31702995
>He hasnt let go yet. Not at all.
yeah. hrmn. Lets explore this.

put a hand to our foerhead, and sigh. Find someplace to sit, brush the snow off, and do so - make it clear that we're here to chat for a bit.

Sigh, as his words hit home.

"You're telling me to grow up - but I already have. So much I've come around again* *lazy circular gesture with a finger*.
had someone I could have opened my heart to, once. Not in a high school crush way."
"The smilers took her. I'm pretty sure she's dead. "
"I'm sorry I snapped at you. "
"Its not that I don't care for mio. Its that all I have left is second best."

Don't say anything else. Just..... just drop that cannonball into the pool.

Be quiet a moment. naoya wants a heart to heart, watashiwa and others want positive progress...
...so, now seems like a really good time to just be simple, honest, and try to puzzle things out.

I'm not saying let him have mio, just.... talk. We're nearly at the endgame, we might as well review the steps that led us here.

>>31703134

He turns the key in the ignition, and the engine rumbles to life. The sulphurous yellow headlights cut shimmering passages through the gloom, as Naoya turns his face-concealing helmet in his hands - He's smiling, a little wan, as he archs an eyebrow.

"-That's only fair, I think."

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>31703161
Walk away and not say anything, we have a meeting to go to.

>>31703148
>[ ] Free

wave at him to turn the ignition off.
do >>31703148

Open up to the guy

>>31703161
"As one man to another I'll say that you did the right thing in ending your relationship with Megumi when your feelings changed. But you'll regret leaving her for a chance at another's girlfriend.

"Naoya.. thank you. Good night."

>>31703167

we can spare like 5 more minutes

>>31703161
>[ ] Free

Hell.
I feel bad for naoya, now.

Might as well tell him

>>31703148
>>31703168
>>31703181
>Open up to the guy
Fuck no.

Either do >>31703179 or >>31703167

>>31703179
seconded

>>31703181
>Might as well tell him

Fuck hit enter early.

Might as well tell him what we know about megumi's secrets. just the basics. She plays the red, do you play too, etc

>>31703189
>Fuck no.
Why not? He's clearly trying to help us at the same time he helps himself.

>>31703181
>>31703181
>>31703148
>>31703168

Nope, we aren't saying anything of the sort.

Do this>>31703167

>>31703179
I think it's funny that your last speech would have ended that entire challenge.

Can we still do it, OP?

>>31703197
Seems he's not a Player at all.

>>31703148
>>31703168
>>31703181
God you guys are such bleeding hearts. There is no need to tell him anything.

>>31703197
>Why not? He's clearly trying to help us at the same time he helps himself.
>Implying he is trying to help us
I am almost certain the he knows about Mio's red world self and that the only thing he cares about.

Rolled 78

>>31703148

I'm still hesitant about trusting this guy now.

Not yet at least.

>>31703205

(My apologies: What do you mean?)

>>31702566

(It reduces the time to fire, and can also be used as an alternative way to lock-on. Of the three options, however, EXEC_HARROW is the best because it's extremely hard to shake it off.)

>>31703198

Why not?

All these downvotes because people play their waifu cards close to their chest, and are afraid for -any- progress.

Just moments ago we had some good stuff
>>31702851
>>31702939
>>31702566
>I think Joker should try and make a positive change in his personal life


fucking every NPC in joker quest ever is telling us we need to man up, make a decision - from naoya to the tristars - everything is going to hinge on us making a decisions.

NEWSFLASH: THIS IS A BIG FUCKING META-LEVEL HINT THAT WE NEED TO GET THIS SHIT SQUARED AWAY AND NOT MAKE LAST MINUTE DECISIONS.

Get on the train before we get crushed under it. Get this shit out of the way NOW.

>>31703247

I vote for >>31703167 instead of the others. We have time, people. We can think this over, and not make any drastic and insane decisions.

>>31703238
This here. >>31702334

>>31703234
This. Why the hell do you guys are so quick to trust him? Just because he said that he hates lies? Remember that lies are sometimes also used to protect people.

>>31703247
Stop sperging out idiot, this has nothing to do with waifus. Naoya might be the most fucking suspicious person in the whole fucking quest and you want to spill everything out? Fuck no.

>>31703179

This is good, but we don't NEED to say anything now. Just wave him goodbye, and get on with the meeting.

>>31703167
>Walk away and not say anything, we have a meeting to go to.

I'm going to veto this.

What meeting? The one with megumi? Again: we do NOT need a fourth girl messing stuff up.
Meet with Mio - after all, everyone here is so viciously defending her! - and dump the smiler like a rock.

>>31703272
We've already been through that. No.

>>31703279
>What meeting? The one with megumi? Again: we do NOT need a fourth girl messing stuff up.
Are you retarded? Did you miss the thread we talked with Megumi?

>>31703247

It's not being afraid of progress.

Hes said alot.

But Talk is Cheap.

Hes done nothing to vindicate that he truely loves mio for who she is and not what she is and if I am truely wrong, I think anon would be more than happy to apologise.

But on the off chance we're wrong, and theres that anon that goes on about megumi+Naoya being this conniving duo, we've put mio in a very very bad position.

All because Anon was a bleeding heart.

>>31703215
>I am almost certain the he knows about Mio's red world self and that the only thing he cares about.
Do you have any evidence?

>>31703274
Dude, read the posts he linked. He wants to make a solid decision about Mio, not spill his Anon's story.

>>31703291
Ehhh... I say yes. Time to prove we're serious about growing up.

So Naoya mimics our relationship with Mio.
A player keeps their secret until their significant other gives up and moves on.

>>31703279
>he things the meeting is a Megumi waifu flag

Kindly stop posting.

>>31703302
>>31703311
>He wants to make a solid decision about Mio, not spill his Anon's story.
Read >>31703292
>But on the off chance we're wrong, and theres that anon that goes on about megumi+Naoya being this conniving duo, we've put mio in a very very bad position.
>All because Anon was a bleeding heart.

There is absolutely NO reason to keep talking to Naoya about Mio. In fact there are reasons to NOT tell him anything else!

>>31703292
>All because Anon was a bleeding heart.

I don't think that means what you think it means.

>>31703302
>Dude, read the posts he linked. He wants to make a solid decision about Mio, not spill his Anon's story.
has the right of it, but not even a solid decisions!
i feel that MANY of our options in this quest are subpar and biased by people doing anything they can to not rock the boat when it comes to their favored interests.

And I think that JQop kind of wants to have us what we really, actually want ahead of time and not on the spot.
that means.... just going over everything that's been good about our love interests so far - if not making a decision, then a refresher course.

Because the OP can weave words like a pro, inspire boners for an entire case of girls, and sometimes the audience needs to be reminded why they're here

>>31703274
>This. Why the hell do you guys are so quick to trust him
Because he is probably not a player, and doesn't seem that we have anything to fear from him. Look where paranoia got us with Argent.

Trusting people has brought us good things (Argent, the Tri-stars, the raiders except Rook)

>>31703279
>What meeting? The one with megumi? Again: we do NOT need a fourth girl messing stuff up.

>GUYS DON'T SAVE AN INNOCENT PERSON BECAUSE SHE MIGHT START TO LIKE US
Holy fuck, you are probably the most heartless bastard among the players.

>>31703325
>>he things the meeting is a Megumi waifu flag
It actually is. There's another part to it as well, but like with Yui this is where we choose to romance her or not.

>>31703326
While I kind of agree with the sentiment, you've expressed it poorly here, and that's the kind of thing you do alone and not with your major romantic rival.

>>31703247
>NEWSFLASH: THIS IS A BIG FUCKING META-LEVEL HINT THAT WE NEED TO GET THIS SHIT SQUARED AWAY AND NOT MAKE LAST MINUTE DECISIONS.
Can we maybe count votes or something?
...Then again, it would lead to samefags.

For me it's:
- Mio as a good friend, because she'll never understand the heart of a player.
- Hecate as the girlfriend, because she's the one who understands us and constantly risked her life with us.
- Cybele as our protege. I want her to be happy, but that doesn't require us to be her boyfriend.

>>31703330
>>INNOCENT PERSON

Turned holophokuson into a hive
helped kidnap/kill hecate to make us single
goes along with the Soul Refinery plan
murderer
soon be be mass-murderur with the oil-spill ship
steals from the joker and won't give it back
set us up for her murdergang friends

Holy fuck no she's not innocent.
Shes a giant fucking duplicitous cunt

I want to ignore her becuase she's cancer and deserves her fate

>>31703354
>and that's the kind of thing you do alone and not with your major romantic rival.
This. Can we just say nothing and move on with the fucking plot? God I hate you people sometimes.

>>31703357
>- Mio as a good friend, because she'll never understand the heart of a player.
>- Hecate as the girlfriend, because she's the one who understands us and constantly risked her life with us.
>- Cybele as our protege. I want her to be happy, but that doesn't require us to be her boyfriend.

That seems like a desirable outcome. Too bad that Cybele sees it otherwise.

>>31703354
>It actually is. There's another part to it as well, but like with Yui this is where we choose to romance her or not.

We did so well with yui, why are we splitting attention and trying to bang megumi now?

anyway, i'm curiuos what you think the other part of it is? you seem to be on a roll tonight

>>31703357
>>NEWSFLASH: THIS IS A BIG FUCKING META-LEVEL HINT THAT WE NEED TO GET THIS SHIT SQUARED AWAY AND NOT MAKE LAST MINUTE DECISIONS.
urgh now i'm worried.

>>31703374
I want to say "thank you" to him, because it did give the playerbase some kind of revelation.
Even if he was our mortal enemy, I'd vote to say that.

>>31703382

I'm one of those voting to meet her and even then I'm not advocating her as a waifu.

I'm trying to see if we can get her to leave the smilers.

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>>31703167
>>31703189
>>31703198
>>31703215
>>31703257
>>31703278
>>31703292
>>31703325

> [X] Walk away and not say anything, we have a meeting to go to.

Naoya settles his helmet in place - Anonymous once more, as he pulls his coat closer around him, against the cold. You take a step back, as snow and slush funnels into the air; He raises a hand in a silent gesture, something that might almost be a salute...Before he turns his attention to the road, once more, and guns the throttle.

The engine roars, and - Trailing a crimson wake - his motorcycle accelerates into the distance, the pools of illumination shed by the headlights preceding him, racing away into the distance. He turns the corner, the echoes dopplering away into the night.

It's dark. Cold, and getting colder.

And overhead, the silver moon...

Once again, you begin to walk.

********************

It's not far, to the nearest bus stop - And then it's a shorter ride downtown, to 'Verde'. In the day, the magnificent edifice of spun steel and glass gleams in the afternoon sunlight; At night, it glows from within, with the golden radiance of a hundred hovering lights. The plaza before it - Adorned with abstract representations of the zodiac animals - is a place of transition, with people bustling in and out: With music playing, the mood is oddly festive.

Reassuring, somehow. Like looking through a window, into a good home where fires burn merrily in the hearth. Even the cold doesn't seem quite so oppressive, here; Not with this many people around.

The question remains - How are you going to find h-

Distantly, with a tinny, fractious buzz, your phone begins to ring.

(Continued)

>>31703377
>Too bad that Cybele sees it otherwise.
She will see it differently once she has contact to more human being than Anon.
We will actively help her to get back on her feet in the real world.

>>31703382
>We did so well with yui, why are we splitting attention and trying to bang megumi now?
Because you are a strawmanning cunt.
NO ONE advocates waifuing her.

>>31703403
>She will see it differently once she has contact to more human being than Anon.
My god you actually believe that.

>>31703382
>urgh now i'm worried.
Don't b-
>We did so well with yui, why are we splitting attention and trying to bang megumi now?

Please stop posting.

>>31703412
Yes, I do believe that.

>>31703418
Because meeting new people in the real world really helped Alura, right?

Good grief.

>>31703403
>NO ONE advocates waifuing her.

And yet, everyone is rushing to her aid on a moments notice instead of doing ALL THE MORE IMPORTANT SHIT WE COULD BE DOING

Red joker memory?
NOPE MEGUMI TIME
See mio becuse she's more important
NOPE MEGUMI TIME
check in on the tristars after the black joker dream/death flag?
NOPE MEGUMI TIME
kill smilers for XP and leveling up daegal, utting down the opposition before Festival
NOPE MEGUMI TIME
Pre-plant a void anchor at the festival stage for when the Hyades event breaks out
NOPE MEGUMI TIME

etc

You guys are pussywhipped bitches and I seriously hope that megumi is worth it, and/or is willing to betray the smilers for us.

Otherwise, put a bullet in her and exec_reap her for all she's worth

>>31703424
We don't even know exactly what the fuck Alura is. She is far more inhuman than Cybele.

>>31703426
stop posting

>>31703424
Kraken is even less human than fucking Red Joker and that's says alot.

>>31703426
>kill smilers for XP and leveling up daegal, utting down the opposition before Festival
Actually, THAT'S WHAT WILL LIKELY HAPPEN WITH SAVING MEGUMI

Man, OP seems to have the patience of a saint.

>>31703426

oheah.

and

not hunting down pazuzu, the theif, or phantom edge, all of which are serious problems.

Nope! its megumi time.

Seriously guys. Step it up a notch.

Guys, the answer is clear.
We need to tech the Shroud so much that it can become a 1:1 copy of us and transit into the real.
Then we can be at two places at once.

>>31703447
>not hunting down pazuzu, the theif, or phantom edge, all of which are serious problems.
>Nope! its megumi time.

Yeah, it's too obvious you are trolling right now, I'm just going to ignore you from now on.

>>31703458
>[ ] "-I'm alone."
>[ ] "Where are you now?"
>[ ] "...You still haven't told me what this is all about."

>[ ] Enter the Mall.

>>31703458
>[ ] "Where are you now?"
>[ ] Scan the crowd for Megumi.

"If you could see me then you would know that I'm alone."

>>31703399

> "Anon-kun~"

Megumi's voice is light, playful - Without a care in the world. She's somewhere close by; You can hear the murmur of conversation, the white noise of people in the background - An echo of the music you're hearing.

> "Thank goodness ~ I was afraid you'd forgotten about me."
> "But, Anon-kun...Are you sure that you're alone~?"
> "After all..."

-And her voice takes a turn for the hushed, pensive, as a warning creeps into her words.

> "...They'll only get in the way."

[ ] "-I'm alone."
[ ] "Where are you now?"
[ ] "...You still haven't told me what this is all about."
[ ] "Don't you trust me?"
[ ] "How can I trust *you*?"

[ ] Scan the crowd for Megumi.
[ ] Look up.
[ ] Enter the Mall.
[ ] Wait.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>31703474
There is no need to delete the whole post just to post "you have control" op. Anyway, my vote was >>31703472 .

>>31703474

Mine's >>31703469 btw

>>31703474
"You are sounding very creepy right now.
Do you actually need my help or can I concern myself with more pressing matters?"

>>31703474
3 an 1 for opt 2
Scan for more smilers Rio

>>31703474
>[ ] "Where are you now?"
>[ ] "...You still haven't told me what this is all about."
>[ ]Look up
>[ ] scan the crowd

>>31703437
Actually, we do. She's a Hyade, one who's older than Cybele. There are twelve Hyades, if Asuna's art can be trusted. When one leaves for whatever reason, a new one is installed. Cybele is new. This is her first game. Where the other Hyades are cold, jaded and dangerous, she's sweet and cutesy-creepy.

Seeing so many loves killed and hopes dashed... well, you can only take so much of that before you'll do anything at all to make it stop.

>>31703458
>>31703474
[X] "...You still haven't told me what this is all about."
[X] Scan the crowd for Megumi.
[X] Look up.
"Megumi... you're not very good at playing that kind of character."
While we're at it, see if anyone else we know is here. Keep an eye out for Mio in particular.

>>31703474
Hell text mio, ask what she Is up to now

>>31703522
>Keep an eye out for Mio in particular.
If we see her, we will have knife support.

>>31703522
Forgot to say, can we text Mio? Say that we're doing a favor for Father Yasuda and we'd like to see her once we're done.

>>31703538
Do you count the memory as part of the "favor"?

>>31703546
I thought we were shelving the memory for tonight? Whatever that does is going to be stupidly big, do not schedule next to any other events.

>>31703562
I guess I misread the time of the day. I thought it was already evening.

So just a side topic now that we're past the most contentious point.

I wanna get Isao a relic from the Hollow Sun to help improve his firepower. I was thinking the Hellion Launcher. His fighting style probably has him knowing when and how to fire a lethal payload to make his shots counts since he only has 3 of his missiles.

The revolver type weapon (hi acc, high dmg) would probably be a good fit for him.

>>31703562
But we don't have anything else to do tonight other than meeting Megumi Its only logical to open the memory after the meeting.

>>31703580

Might pop by to meet mio and get Isao's answer but thats about it.

>>31703578
Good idea.
I'm in favor of this. I want to unlock the thing and have it lying in the armory for when he decides to join us.

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>>31703469
>>31703472

> [X] "Where are you now?"

> "Anon-kun...That would be telling."

> [X] Scan the crowd for Megumi.

You look around, surreptiously. There's a lot of people, to be sure; Even so, Megumi would probably stand out. There's no-one you recognize - Not immediately, at least, until...

Wait.

-A familiar face, at last...Though one you certainly weren't expecting to see. Leaning against a support pillar, Aoba Sakaguchi checks his watch: He holds a bouquet of flowers against his chest, secured with a twist of ribbon. It's a large one, and he cradles it awkwardly, like someone who doesn't really know what to do with his hands - He reaches up to tug at his stiff collar, looking ever-so-slightly nervous.

He looks like he's just come from work, his clothes slightly rumpled - Still, his expression is earnest enough, and he doesn't even spare you a glance.

> [X] "-I'm alone."
> "If you could see me then you would know that I'm alone."

> "That's not what I'm..."

Megumi cuts herself off, mid-sentence, and sighs.

> "Ah, well...If that's what Anon-kun's concerned about - I guess I don't have to worry, either."

(Continued)

>>31703610
>-A familiar face, at last...Though one you certainly weren't expecting to see. Leaning against a support pillar, Aoba Sakaguchi checks his watch: He holds a bouquet of flowers against his chest, secured with a twist of ribbon. It's a large one, and he cradles it awkwardly, like someone who doesn't really know what to do with his hands - He reaches up to tug at his stiff collar, looking ever-so-slightly nervous.
That's cute.

>>31703610
>> "Ah, well...If that's what Anon-kun's concerned about - I guess I don't have to worry, either."
She was wondering if we are being followed...

Man, we are really bad at reading people.

>>31703578
He actually has a new permanent weapon, his plague gun. We should give him our LFC'd Arc Gun. We're not going to be needing fusion cells anymore.

>>31703580
I think it might take a full day it's so important. We're inviting Natsumi and maybe Isao to the Hollow Sun tomorrow, but other than that it should be free. It's too late to do any substantial exploration this day, and OP's expressed a desire to [montypythonGETONWITHIT.gif] get on with it already.

>>31703598
No relic purchases. Still more research to do.

On that note, we're gaining over 20 HS energy every session. Let's start some. Anyone willing to second the support-Hellions?

>>31703628
Close, she was worried that we'd brought someone with. Agree on that second part.

>>31703648

Yea but thats probably a built in one. I don't think he'd risk a relic roulette and its also likely to be weak and cause damage over time.

A hi alpha-dmg relic weapon for him would help.

>>31703648
>We're inviting Natsumi and maybe Isao to the Hollow Sun tomorrow, but other than that it should be free.
Keep charge ready for that situation. So today we'll need to have at least 5% left if we want to give Hisao an item.
I would love to give both of them presents, actually. But most people will likely veto me.

Oh, yeah, something immediate:
Change Hellion production to basics on low and Virtues on off.

>>31703666
We haven't seen what it can do yet. I agree that he needs some building up, but who knows if a very accuracy dependent weapon, like the Launcher seems to be, is a good fit.

Besides, I thought we'd agreed that the Red Joker doesn't give away guns?

>>31703682
We should go back to the original hive and pick up the LFC we dropped. Give one of ours to each of them. It's admittedly not much, but it drastically improves Haze's loadout and could round out Cypher a bit.

>>31703703
>Besides, I thought we'd agreed that the Red Joker doesn't give away guns?
I see this as an initiation rite for real friends. Our true allies all get a relic.

>>31703714
The only way you're getting a gun from Red Joker is if you prise it from his cold, dead metal hand.

The Launcher works better for Chrome.

>>31703736
The items seem to be listed somewhere.
Let them into the foundry and each can decide on one item.

File: jokermegumi2.png (512 KB, 800x600)

512 KB PNG

> [X] Look up.

From the viewing gallery, above - You catch a glimpse of gold. Leaning against the railing, a coat draped over her school uniform, Megumi smiles, faintly - Her handphone still cradled against her ear - and waves.

>>31703498

> "Ah, don't be like that~"

Her voice crackles faintly, over the speaker.

> "Megumi... you're not very good at playing that kind of character."

A pause. Then - Much more softly now, almost to herself, Megumi says:

> "...I suppose."

She sounds a little sad, the flirtarious note gone from her voice:

> "-Is it really that obvious?"

Her words linger, for a moment. And then:

> "Anon-kun...There's a nice cafe on the first floor, just inside the doors. I'll meet you there."

> [X] Enter the Mall.

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

Megumi's right. The cafe *is* a nice one; Even with green umbrellas indoors, over the smoking section, for no particular reason. The name is French, unpronounceable - But you're sure it's fairly significant. The aroma of fresh-baked bread and coffee lingers, like a pleasant haze...

"Anon-kun~" Megumi's voice is a sweet, pleasant lilt ~ She looks like a girl about to meet her boyfriend, her smile teasing and a little coy; One hand resting on her lap beneath the table, the other tapping lightly against a glass of something fizzy and fruity - A straw curling out of the frosted glass.

You can't help but notice that - On the table's varnished surface - there's an old-model cassette player, a pocket one; The green telltale of power flickers fitfully as it plays without sound.

"-It's been a while."

[ ] "It has. It really has."
[ ] "How have you been?"
[ ] "-You look well."
[ ] "Let's get to the point, shall we?"
[ ] "What's *that* for?"
[ ] "Have you eaten yet?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>31703756
>[ ] "It has. It really has."

>>31703756
"I was almost expecting you to be the victim of some inhuman experiment by now.
I'm glad that you still seem to be okay.

So, are you intending to give the cassette player back or did you just like the idea of decorating the desk with an old-school item?"

>>31703756
>[ ] "It has. It really has."
>[ ] "-You look well."

>>31703703

For someone we're considering as a successor? Maybe.

>>31703792
>For someone we're considering as a successor?

When did that happen?

>>31703756
>[ ] "Let's get to the point, shall we?"

>>31703775
Ignore this post, the poster has no sense of tact. Or good taste.

>>31703792
>For someone we're considering as a successor? Maybe.
But we're not. Like, at all.

>>31703806

Still a thought but a few anons were talking about Isao as perhaps being one who could inherit the RJ armour. Mostly it was about taking him under our wing and training him up. The first bit is really just something still up for consideration.

>>31703807

Lets play it nice first? No need to start getting fully down to business immediately.

>>31703815
You want the guy whose combat experience can be charitably described as "GAS THEM ALL" to kill us and become public enemy number 1?

The anons talking about it cannot have brains.

>>31703815
Are you sure you aren't making things up?

>>31703815
Who the hell talks about a successor?
We want him as part of our faction.

>>31703831

Won't that be fun. He can kill all comers with impunity.

More to the point, its just a potential book end if we don't end up with any waifus (actually very possible). We still don't know if either us or Isao will survive to the end of the war.

>>31703766

> [X] "It has. It really has."

Megumi's gaze darts to the side - She can't meet your eyes, for a moment.

"I know," she says. "...That's why I wanted to meet with you. This might - It really may be the last chance."

> [X] "-You look well."

The slightest smile; It's different from Megumi's usual cheeriness, which - As you've realized - is just a facade. This one; It's exhausted, full of distant and lingering pain, but infinitely more honest.

"So do you. If I didn't know any better..."

Her lips curve, just a little more-

"...I'd say that Anon-kun has grown into a fine man." She laughs, at her own words - Rubbing at her temples, for a moment. "-But then, we're not who we used to be, are we? Neither of us."

A sigh. "I - shouldn't be talking to you, you know," Megumi says. "If the others knew..."

Her voice trails off, as she leaves the rest unsaid.

"It's strange, isn't it? At this point - I don't know why, but...It feels like I need someone to talk to. Someone who isn't..." She catches herself, biting her lip in momentary agitation.

Then, quietly:

"You have questions, don't you? I know you do."

A glance, down at the cassette player. "It's not the same one, you know," Megumi says - "...This one stops other people from listening in - As if they ever would." A pause, a hesitation, and she adds-

"...Hecate did good work."

[ ] "Where's Kou?"
[ ] "Where are the other children?"
[ ] "Father Yasuda's worried about you, you know."
[ ] "What are the Cradles?"
[ ] "What is the black oil?"
[ ] "Why are you working with the Smilers?"
[ ] "Why did you attack the Holophusikon?"
[ ] "What are you *planning*?"
[ ] "Wait - You knew Hecate?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>31703756
>[X] "-You look well."
>[X] "What's *that* for?"
"Sorry, not up to the usual games. Did something stupid on the other side, and then someone over here brutally savaged my usual attitude. Got something valuable from each, but you're not seeing me at my best.

"But that thing... it feeds on essence doesn't it? How does it draw enough to operate over here?"

>>31703885
>[ ] "Wait - You knew Hecate?"
>[ ] "What are the Cradles?"

>>31703885
>[ ] "Father Yasuda's worried about you, you know."
>[ ] "As am I. Even with how things have gone, I don't want to have to fight you."
>[ ] "Wait - You knew Hecate?"

Too slow. Been a while.

>>31703885
And we had someone advocating torture just last thread.

Just, "Where are the others?" should do.
>[X] "Father Yasuda's worried about you, you know."
>[X] "What are the Cradles?"
>[X] "What is the black oil?"
Besides another C reference.
>[X] "What are you *planning*?"
>[X] "Wait - You knew Hecate?"

So Hecate really was a Smiler.

"Hecate could make those?"
"Why bring back Phantom Edge?"
"Who is the Thief?"

>>31703885
>[ ] "Wait - You knew Hecate?"

>>31703841
Wouldn't be the first time. Others have invented such fabrications as "Man, remember all those times we wished we had Red Comet in the Hive?" Or, we had to bang Cybele, there was no other way!

>>31703870
>don't end up with waifu
>kill self and install new Red Joker
Yeah that makes se--what the fuck dude.

>>31703938
>So Hecate really was a Smiler.

The thief was also made by the Smilers, don't forget that.

>>31703965
I haven't.

I also haven't forgotten that Hecate knew the Red Joker, and that the Smiler emblem looks like the Joker's.

>>31703885
So the question that we should have asked all along but never did: "Who was my predecessor, and what did he have to do with the Smilers?"

>>31704006
>"Who was my predecessor, and what did he have to do with the Smilers?"

Yeah, might as well throw that in.

OP, can we start any research this thread? I'd like to go with the Scranders.

>>31704006
>I also haven't forgotten that Hecate knew the Red Joker, and that the Smiler emblem looks like the Joker's.

>Open memory
>Find out that old RJ founded the Smilers
>We have been trampling his hopes and dreams all this time

>>31704041
We just had a talk about saving the energy up.
Please don't bring up *another* topic that might result in bickering.

>>31704058
No one agreed to that that I saw. There's no plan.

>>31704070
Exactly.
Everyone dropped the subject.

>>31704058
>Please don't bring up *another* topic that might result in bickering.
Interceptors.

>>31704041
Better than letting it do nothing. I'll support.

>>31704080
Don't you start.

>>31704090
Interceptors!

>>31704090

Lucifer Bits!

Not now of course

>>31703897
>>31703909
>>31703938

> [X] "Father Yasuda's worried about you, you know."
> [X] "As am I. Even with how things have gone, I don't want to have to fight you."

Her expression turns inwards, troubled.

"...I know," she says, simply. "-I know."

> [X] "Wait - You knew Hecate?"

"Pazuzu's favourite?" Megumi allows herself a small, wry chuckle. "Anon-kun...It's hard to imagine a Smiler who didn't." Her gaze turns pensive, her fingertips resting lightly on the table's polished surface; "-She was with him from the start."

"The rest of us - Bardiel, Rust Kaiser, Enfer - we came later. Maybe that's why..."

> "Hecate could make those?"

"-And more besides."

She shakes her head, lightly - "...I wonder what she knew. Why she ran. If I'd known, too..." - But then her lips twist, and she shakes her head. "-No, I'm not sure I would have."

> "Why bring back Phantom Edge?"
> "Who is the Thief?"
> "Who was my predecessor, and what did he have to do with the Smilers?"

A hesitation - The first one.

"I...don't know," Megumi says. "Anon-kun, I don't know *everything*. I..."

"-I don't even know *why* I'm talking to you..."

She swallows. Takes a slow sip from her drink, more to cover the silence than anything else.

> [X] "What is the black oil?"

"It's..." Her brow furrows. There's something sensitive, here - Something she's treading lightly around. "...It's - A catalyst, really. A thing from the Red World. It - I don't really understand - it *changes* people, somehow..."

Megumi breathes out, shallowly. "You could say that it - *activates* them. When extracted - When properly prepared - it can do different things, but..."

Her nails bite into her palm, and she says:

"-It's the Black Joker's blood."

(Continued)

>>31704093
There's a fine line between being funny and being obnoxious, and you're leaning towards the not-charming one.

>>31704096
Not until we've taken every last research option. And even then I can see the Hollow Sun after the battle, gutted and empty, safe for the Lucifer Bits in the Relic depository, with a placard on it that says "Not even in case of apocalypse".

>>31704082
50% is required to make two relics for our visitors.

>>31704123
We're not giving them Relics.

>>31704115
So the Black Joker's veins are filled with Phazon Tiberium.

But those relevations about Hecate...
...What if her death was faked?

>>31704123

Not just for visitors.

Maybe only Isao.

>>31704115
>"Pazuzu's favourite?"
Oh god she's used goods, and the villain's chief researcher. Well done waifufags.

>>31704115
>Pazuzu

whens the last time we saw this faggot.

>>31704148
>...What if her death was faked?
They chopped off her arm.

And they gave up the Nihl Sphere.

And Red Joker could feel the hate between the two.

There's shadowruns and there's full retard, and your post is the latter.

>>31704153
Agreed with the other guy, we're not giving them Relics.

>>31704041

(By all means, if there's a consensus.)

>>31704115

Her words - They seem to linger, in the air. To echo. A superstitious shiver, as Megumi's gaze settles on a stain on the tabletop; Her voice a low murmur, now.

"I didn't know...I didn't *know* what it would do-" Something of her present situation seems to return to her, and her breath catches - She falls silent, a heartbeat later, her brow furrowing in agitation.

> [X] "What are the Cradles?"
> [X] "What are you *planning*?"

"That-"

For a moment, you think that she's about to say more. But something stops her, despite the rebel impulse that cries out for Megumi to unburden herself; The tension that winds through every fibre of her being.

She breathes.

"Anon-kun...You'll find out when everyone else does."

Her eyes meet yours, her gaze a little sad.

"-When it's too late."

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>31704176
>(By all means, if there's a consensus.)
If there's no way to prevent people from feeling the need to start something right now, I vote for Guardian AI.

>>31704176

Great, we bombarded her with too many questions.

>>31704171
i like the idea of passing a more potent weapon upgrade to hazes though

lets see when he comes with his answer

we can probably get him something better than the hellion stuff since hes actually motivated unlike what natsume said of the rest who will likely follow

And after those revelations we'll unlock the memory.
I think everything will make much more sense then.

>>31704176
I'm pretty sure that it's about bringing players into the real. Just like we saw after the refinery.

>>31704176

"...what will happen to you though, when its all too late. How will you survive in a completely Red World without going insane?"

>>31704176
"Can you at least try not to fight me?
I don't want to kill you. But you know just as well as me that I'll do it if it's necessary.
...Will you even be able to make that call when the situation arises?
I hope this entire scenario can still be salvaged."

Afterwards, we should go and activate the memory.

>>31704115
>"-It's the Black Joker's blood."
...Is this a surprise? I thought that was obvious after we said the Black Joker was the remnants of the old city.

Wait, it is a surprise: Who knew it had blood?

>>31704176
"Are you sure you can't tell me?"

"Megumi, how do you extract the Black Joker's taint from a Player?"

"...This is about Naoya isn't it? And the secrets. You couldn't tell him, you know what happens when you tell someone who isn't involved, so you tell me instead.

"You really do love him. I'm so sorry."

>>31704237
>Just like we saw after the refinery
You mean the Amaglams?

>>31704176
"What IS Kraken?"

"What did they do to Rust Kaiser?"

>>31704289
>You mean the Amaglams?
I mean the cradles, the ones that we killed with fire.
One of them had something escape.

>>31704298

Questions are useless at this point. Don't bombard her with more.

>>31703002
She doesn't. That's what makes his character interesting. RJ doesn't let go ever. That's the basis of his personality. he was taught to survive, to never let go or die trying.
giving up right when we have the resources to reach the goal would be idiotic.

>>31704310
There's a difference between never letting go and never moving on. One keeps you alive. The other gets you killed.

>>31704310
Exactly.
It's the survivor mindset.

...We should go into gambling.

>>31704306
Those were Amaglams, not Players I'm pretty sure. We haven't seen any players in the oil. On the contrary, the players working near it wore hazmat suits.

Which, since Joker is apparently immune for super spooky reasons, means that we'll be able to do some really entertaining things with it.

>>31704310
You don't survive by never letting go. That's actually a poor survival strategy unless you're hanging from a cliff.

You survive by adapting. By changing and becoming better. Dynamic characters are the most interesting.

>>31704240
>>31704266
>>31704289
>>31704298

You're not sure if she's listening. Her head is down, her eyes going red - There's something impossibly bleak, impossibly distant, in her gaze.

> "What did they do to Rust Kaiser?"

And then, in a very small voice-

"...It's all my fault."

Megumi's shoulders tremble, as she retreats into herself; Her hands clenching against her lap, her voice growing thick and clotted - "I never wanted - I didn't *want*...I just-" Her breath hitches in a sob - "...I just wanted to *help* him."

Her voice is loud enough to carry; But around you, the peaceful clamour of the other diners continue. No-one even looks in your direction - The hum of conversation, the clatter of cutlery, continuing.

"-But now he's become like this...Now he's become this *thing* - He doesn't...He doesn't care any more. Without me, he'd..." Her eyes glitter with unshed tears, her voice harsh with self-loathing as she shudders, in a paroxysm of revulsion - "...I thought - I thought it'd be *okay*. I...really did."

"He's *sick* - A, and he *keeps getting worse*-"

(Continued)

>>31704357
Seems like another thing on our list:
Cure Black Joker infection

>>31704357

Her gaze settles on you, unseeing - Her words low, hushed.

"...Do you know what it's *like*, watching him? He's all I have - He's *all I have*, and he, he..." Her face *twists*, and at last - At long last - Megumi begins to cry. It's like a dam breaking, as she buries her face in her hands; Her hair coming undone, her body heaving with each harsh sob.

"I don't - I don't know what to *do*~!" Her voice is choked with misery - "Without them, he'll die - He'll be gone *forever*, but...*But*-"

Her fingers lock together, so tightly she rocks back and forth - Wiping at her eyes with her sleeve, which does nothing to stem her sobs.

"...I can't do it." It's a whisper. "-He's my only...I can't *give up* on him..."

"-Not now."

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>31704324
>>31704354
It's one thing to develop and grow as a person and entirely other to throw away all you've worked for right when it's in your reach.
RJ is obsessed with this, it would be more interesting if he actually finished it, succeed rather than just giving up to make his life easier. Finally reaching his goal is what will culminate all the established development that began in revenge arc. It's a lot more interesting this way than if he settled for the easy option.

>>31704441
>It's one thing to develop and grow as a person and entirely other to throw away all you've worked for right when it's in your reach.
Prove it. What does Red Joker know right this second that demonstrates she's alive? She's BRAIN DEAD and kept alive by a machine. There was nothing in her Cradle.

She's gone, anon. Just a ghost and a memory.

>>31704421

Hand her tissue, ruffle her hair, headpat.

"Megumi. What does he suffer from? What did they do to him.

Tell me. And if I can help, I will."

-----

This isn't waifuing btw. If we can do something about this, we can lure someone who has full knowledge on what the smilers are up to on our side, deprive the enemy of a strong asset and potentially gain one ourselves.

At the very worst, if we can't do anything, we at least gain an opportunity for Megumi to sneak us very close to Rust Kaiser to 'save him'. At which point we can possibly put him out of his misery.

>>31704421
"What does he need to stay alive?
There is a slim chance that I might be able to do something. A *very* slim chance. I might get you two away from them.
Would that help you?"

>>31704463
The black goo that we could ask one question.

>>31704421
"Then don't ever give up. You have to look for a way, try to find some method to save him. It doesn't matter how long it takes. If you truly mean what you said, you will succeed or die trying. Otherwise, you will live and die with regrets."
"That is at least one thing we share in common."

>>31704463
The whole Quest has been riddled with hints that she is alive somewhere and somehow.
>-You're in the Old City. A single streetlight flickers fitfully, askew at a crazy angle, blinking on and off with a low buzz of sound. It's dark, dreary - The sky above is still choked with dust, the rasping winds scraping the cracked streets and battered roads.
>-But now, as the Nihl Sphere warms beneath your touch, you have a star to light the way.
This also implies that with the Nihil Sphere, we can reach our main goal. RJs goal all this time was to find Hecate. He finally has the means with which to reach her, even though he's not sure where she is and how.

>>31704531

I still think we need to head to the hospital.

A fully charged Nihl sphere may show a path.

>>31704421
"What happened? You can tell me that much, at least."

"Megumi... I hate to ask this, but... why do you think that they would help him? He's strong as he is. And as long as he's here, you are. There's more in it for them to not help, and with the end approaching..."

"It makes me sick that I can think of that."

>>31704489
Didn't we see her death scene? We asked where she was right this second and were showed Nara Dreamland's end from her perspective.

>>31704531
I don't have a facepalm strong enough. That was a metaphor. The Sphere gives off a bright light, so of course it's compared to a star. And with the Joker having finally struck a blow against the Smilers, he's starting to find his path.

It's not a Hecate hint.

>>31704570
I think her being alive wasn't shown, but we heard her heartbeat right before being thrown out. RJ recognized her and felt that she was definitely alive in the Red somewhere..

Guys.
The enemy uses Black Joker blood.
We have the Nihl sphere.
What if we tried to summon Kotone in the Red? Maybe she has an idea for stopping them.

>>31704466
>>31704474
>>31704492

Megumi starts - Flinches, really - when you pat her head; Her hair is soft, silky to the touch, as she looks up at you. There's something wild in her eyes, something mad and frantic - The look of an animal in a trap, as the butcher approaches.

She laughs. It's a bitter sound, bitter and cutting.

"You don't understand - You *don't understand*-"

Her throat works, as she swallows.

"-The black oil...It's the *only thing keeping him alive*."

A kind of silence descends, wordless, plangent. For long moments, the only sound is Megumi's harsh breathing. "-I begged them," she says, in a small voice. "I *begged* them to use it on him. He was...in *so much pain*..."

Her small, perfect teeth work, worrying at the corner of her lip.

Then, dully; "He doesn't feel...anything, now. Nothing. He - He only eats when I put the food in his hand. Otherwise-"

A shallow breath. "-He just...waits. In the dark, with those things *growing* on him. Not sleeping, or feeling, or, or-"

>>31704570

"...Joker-kun..."

Her voice is a whisper. "Joker-kun - I...I know I shouldn't ask this, but-"

"...Can you please die?"

The pitch, the timbre of Megumi's voice rises by the moment. "If you die - Everything will be over. Kou-kun won't have to *fight* any more - And I'll finally, *finally* know...I'll know I can't do anything else. I won't feel guilty, or dirty, or *bad* any more-"

"So if only you could *die*-"

Her hands reach out towards you, her fingers hooked into claws.

[ ] Slap her.
[ ] Grab her wrists.
[ ] "Megumi, *stop*."
[ ] "Megumi, you're hysterical. This isn't doing any good."
[ ] "-Calm down."
[ ] "For god's sake-"
[ ] "Do you really think I'll let that happen?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>31704587
The metaphor can have several interpretations.
What the Sphere does is light secret paths and open locked doors. It let's the owner explore what is hidden and find what he is searching for. The black sea gave the hint that Hecate is alive, but hidden. The Nihil Sphere can light the way he chooses, so RJ has reason to believe that with it at full power, he can reveal the correct road to saving Hecate.

>>31704654
>[ ] Free
"I can't.

Not when you're doing this to yourself."

>>31704654
>[ ] "Do you really think I'll let that happen?"
"Don't disappoint me, Megumi. Looking for the easy way is exactly what got you in this situation in the first place. You will only end up regretting this even more."

>>31704654
"You wouldn't feel better. You'd just feel as empty as he already does. Don't delude yourself."

There is something that I don't quite understand:
We have a guy who got infected by the Black Joker. After being in Alura's cocoon.
How the hell does that fit together?

>>31704654
>Slap her.

>>31704654
>[ ] Free
"Well if thats the Black Joker's blood, maybe the Black Joker might be able to do something. And yes, we've met.

Argent himself too might have the capability to do something to help him."