>>33186102
>[ ]Bring Vasa here.

>[ ]Check with Beard for some work.
>[ ]Go artifact hunting.
Whichever is the safest steady cash flow, ask Ice and/ord Beard on which they think it is, we need that gear, but we don't want to get killed before we can buy/use it and we don't have the little knife demon to throw at enemies right now.

I'm heading to sleep now so good luck fellow anons, don't get us killed.

>>33186102
>[ ]Bring Vasa here.

>[ ]Check with Beard for some work.
We can at least handle simple jobs, right? Kris won't die or anything if Ice is babysitting her I hope.

>>33186102
[ ]Send Loli there.
Grab Viktor. Those two can keep each other company and freedom site as hell isn't going to risk pissing off the kid now that she's on their side.
[ ]Check with Beard for some work.
We could do it the same way. maybe.

>>33186251
>Grab Viktor.
why send Loli and bring Viktor when Vasa can come with Viktor? why make 3 trips instead of 1?

>>33186102
>Leave them both where they are

>Check with Beard for work
>Go artifact hunting (if we can find some low-risk ones)

Vasa and Loli should be in good hands for now, but we may as well try and get some extra gear. And he might be crazy, but I feel like Dave can help, provided we point him in the right direction.

>>33186274
Freedom base is safe. Giltiné pissed off some people in this area who won't have forgotten that and Beard basically just lets whoever in here. Shit could go down.

>>33186102
>OP pic

Damn you Kris, stop changing hair color already. I know you're doing it just to confuse us.

>>33186102
>[ ]Bring Vasa here.

>[ ]Check with Beard for some work.

>>33186102
>[X]Bring Vasa here.
>[X]Check with Beard for some work.

"We'll bring them here, I think. Vasa and Loli can keep each other company while we get some more work in." Ice nods once.

"Sounds good. Send the tank for them?"

You hrmm, furrowing your brow. "Yeah, that works. Mind telling Dave to get her on it?"

He grumbles out a response. "Do I have to? I hate that guy."

You smirk, "so do I. That's why I'm asking you to do it." He groans, then slinks off towards Dave. That dealt with, you cross the bar to Beard, he greets you with a tilt of his head.

"Hey. Is the lass okay?"

You calm his apparent worries quickly, "yeah she's fine. I just want her resting up is all. She took on a chimera, you know. With a knife." You say this louder than necessary, noting the attentive ears from the table behind you.

"Really? Well that's something. Did you mange to get the Fireball?" You produce the artifact from your pocket and hand it to the large man. He inspects it quickly, then drops it into a box beside him and moves to hand you a wad of cash. You wave him down.

"Not yet," you tell him. "Keep it for the Doc. I don't know how much he'll want for stitching her up." Beard shrugs and pockets the money once more. "Have you got anything else for us to do, while we're here?"

The barman leans forward, crossing his arms on the bar. "Nothing new I'm afraid. It's either supply run work or hunting for specific artifacts that a client has requested. IF you'd like, I could try to contact some folk further out, see if they need anything in the other areas."

[ ]Artifact hunting will do for now.
[ ]Supply running seems safe enough.
[ ]Try working further out.

>>33186658
>[ ]Supply running seems safe enough.
lets get some easy cash in before Vasa and Viktor turn up, then we can take Vik with us for better paying jobs

>>33186658
>[ ]Artifact hunting will do for now.
Your turn to get hurt, Kris.

>>33186658
>[ ]Supply running seems safe enough.

>>33186658
>[X]Supply running seems safe enough.

"I don't wanna try anything too risky without our best players," you muse. "Running supplies seems safe enough."

Without another word, Beard walks into his store room and returns carrying a duffel bag in either hand. He hefts them up onto the bar with a grunt, before briefing you. "There are two camps, one of them about a half-hour's walk to the north of here. Through the bog, past the burner and keep going until you reach the edge of the forest. Watch out for radiation pockets while you're out there. The other is another fifteen minutes west of that. I'll transfer the positions to your PDA." You take the details, then lift one of the bags to swing onto you- OR NOT!

You yelp at the heavy strain through your arms and let it go. It hits the ground with a thud. "What's IN this thing?"

Beard snorts. "Food, water. Ammo. Supplies." He offers no further assistance. You sigh, and try again. You can barely lift even one, but somehow you manage to heave it onto you back, then drag the other over to Ice. As soon as he sees you struggling over, he rushes to take it from you.

Dave saunters over after him. "Ie have, sent Eliza as requested. She, shalle have returned whithin a few hkours." You force a smile to your face and thank him; noting as you do he's made no motion to help you with the load.
You quickly send a text to Viktor, telling him that his ride's on its way. Then together, the three of you head out for the first camp.

Two steps into the bog, you realize the issue you're going to have here as the weight of the bag sinks you down to your knees in muck.

"Ughn. We need hard ground," Ice grumbles. You agree, but looking around... the only hard ground is the high ground above. You'd be silhouetted and without much cover for most of the walk.

[ ]Put up with the bog.
[ ]Take the high ground.

>>33187160
>[ ]Put up with the bog.

>>33187160
>[x]Take the high ground.

Yeesss. Take the high ground, Kris. Take the high ground and this will be over!

>>33187160
>[ ]Take the high ground.
With the slow pace, we'd just be at even greater risk of getting murdered. Go high, keep one man (or if we're persuasive, one girl) on the lookout constantly.

>>33187160
>[ ]Take the high ground.
take the trip in leaps and bounds, with at least one person stationary and providing cover, and if we do get contact'd, drop the bags and re-position, we can pick them up after we deal with whatever comes along

>>33187272
You are bad anon, stop being bad.

>>33187426
The Monolith! We destroy it and this will be over!

>>33187458
that game was awesome

>>33187160
>[X]Take the high ground.

"Yeah," you agree with him. "Let's head up that way and take the road. It should be easier going and we'll get there faster. We'll just have to keep our eyes open."

The three of your move up to the road and start of the journey on much easier footing. The going is pretty easy, apart from the massive weight on your back. Thankfully, Ice seems to notice you lagging and keeps his own pace slow to let you match. Dave just wanders ahead, keeping to himself and looking anywhere but at the two of you. You shrug him off. At least he'll act like a lookout.

Five minutes into the walk, once you've steadied your pace to an easy walk and got your breathing regular, your thoughts once more turn to Vass, and the promise you made with her. You glance at Ice, he's walking with his eyes tracing the surrounding landscape. Despite the circumstances, he looks almost content.

Bleh. You've never had to have a talk like this before. The Zone's always stopped you from having to. You're not really sure how to tell him. You really don't want to hurt him. He deserves better than this.

You look away from him, seeing Dave ahead again. This really is the best time you're going to get, you think. It's been a long time since you've had Ice to yourself alone like this. Well, sort of alone.

[ ]Try to find suitable words.
[ ]Tell him bluntly.
[ ]Talk about something else first, then edge it into the conversation.
[ ]Forget it. You'll find some other time to tell him.

>>33187530
>[ ]Try to find suitable words.
then
>[ ]Tell him bluntly.

I've no idea what the promise is so this is probably gonna go swell...

>>33187530
>[ ]Forget it. You'll find some other time to tell him.
no seriously, in the middle of nowhere and with a heavy bag on your back is probably the worst time to talk about anything and relationship issues are even worse
i say, we deliver the first package then when we can take a breath we tell him

>>33187530
>[ ]Talk about something else first, then edge it into the conversation.
In other words, get interrupted before you actually get to it.

>>33187586
It might just be exactly what the haters didn't believe when I suggested it some time ago when people got really mad at HK in qtg.

>>33187586
bet it was about them doing something when vasa loses her cherry

>>33187530
[x]Tell him bluntly.

Yesss. Alienate everyone, Kris. Do it and you will be free!

>>33187637
>It might just be exactly what the haters didn't believe when I suggested it some time ago when people got really mad at HK in qtg.
what would that be anon?

>>33187530
>[X]Try to find suitable words.
>[X]Tell him bluntly.

"Hey, Ice, listen. Um, I need to-" Ugh, how do you even start something like this? Great, now he's looking at you and you can't think. He raises an eyebrow. "We- we need...to," you stammer out haltingly.

He takes a breath. "Ah. We need to talk?" He looks straight ahead. "Are you pregnant or dumping me?" His pace doesn't lessen.

The casualness of his question sends a stabbing shock through you. Well, yes that was the- but still! You collect yourself quickly and carry on, trying to force the words out quickly while you can.

"Well I'm not pregnant," you state.

That brings him to a standstill in the road. "Oh."

"Thing is, Vasa's sort of in love with me," you tell him, trying to inform him fully before he can try to object. "And I turned her down, saying I wasn't like that. She asked me if I could at least try. So I asked her if she'd ever tried being, you know." Ice is nodding along numbly, not really looking anywhere.
"And then I said I'd think about it if she did try. I didn't think she would, but she- she did. With Viktor. So..." You trail off, not sure how to end that. You're not even sure what you're intending yet.

Ice's eyes come back into focus a little, and he turns to face you. "So that's it? That's..." You reach out an arm, ready to support him. He brushes you away. He shirks his duffel bag, letting it drop to the floor. A huge cloud of dust billows up, forcing you to blink away from it. "That's BULLSHIT!" Anger sears across Ice's features. "You're just going to- No. No, I'm not doing this."
He swings his rifle around from his side, gripping it angrily and storming off back along the road.

"Ice! Ice please! Just wa-"

"No. Fucking Christ. Don't follow me." Your bag still on, you don't have a hope in the Zone of keeping up with him. In moments, he's disappeared into the bog back towards Skadovsk.

[1/2]

>>33188171
Dave wanders over to you, a most curious look in his eyes. "Whell, that was interesting, at the very least. Now shalle we carry onwards? We have a delivery, to make~!" Finally, he makes a move to help. With no sign of exerting himself, he casually grabs Ice's bag with one hand and flicks it onto his shoulder, humming a tune you don't recognize as he sets off down the road. You look once more after Ice, but he's long gone. With a hopeless sigh, you turn after Dave.

The next twenty minutes pass in silence, Ice's twisted, hurt face seared into your mind as you walk. You're only pulled out of your thoughts by your Geiger counter clicking at you. "This, may be a problem." Dave is squatting beside the path a few yards ahead.

"What? What's a problem?"

"Whell, the road ahead is irradiated. And," he gestures out across the land ahead. On the left, an area that to your eyes somehow looks... wrong. And on the right, a pack of blind dogs are brawling like they do when hungry, asserting dominance over each other and getting ready for a hunt.

"Oh. Well that's just great."

[ ]Go left. Pick your way through the 'off' ground.
[ ]Go right. Try to sneak past the dogs.
[ ]Pop some pills, mask up and risk the radiation.

>>33188207
>[ ]Go right. Try to sneak past the dogs.
God fucking damnit, Ice better come back because fuck me if the party just pathetically dies away right now, damnit where's Loli's FRIENDSHIP rays when we need them

>>33188207
first, call beard and warn him that ice might try to do something stupid

>>33188246 here

also, Kris is a slut, so why's she gotta dump Ice before trying things with Vasa and be that way, I imagined the promise being that she's try it out with Vasa and not just dump Ice immediately when its pretty clear she still cares about him some

>>33188207
>>33188283
and second,
>[ ]Go right. Try to sneak past the dogs.
ah, if only doggy was here...

>>33187938
That Viktor would serve as means to guilt Kris into Vasa, allowing the shippers to get the lesbians they wanted. I think I may have even claimed to have been working towards that end for a while.

I didn't mention that I just wanted to spread Vasa's suffering to everyone.

>>33188207
>[ ]Go right. Try to sneak past the dogs.

Dogs seem like the lesser evil here, I think.

>>33188528
>suffering
why's there got to be suffering :(

>>33188554
Because relationships are hard. Doubly so in the Zone.

>>33188554
Ah, don't worry anon. All of my plans throughout this quest have been foiled by votes anyway. You're probably only going to get a Kaleun-sized dose of suffering at the end.

>>33188207
>[X]Call Beard.
>[X]Go right. Try to sneak past the dogs.

A thought crosses you mind, and you pull out your PDA, dialing in Beard's number. He answers on the third ring. "Beard, listen. I just really pissed off Ice. Just so you know, in case he tries anything stupid."

Beard's voice comes back a little uncertain. "Right, right. I'll keep an eye on him if he comes back."

"Wait. If he comes back? He's not back already? He should've been there at least ten minutes ago." Beard's shrug is almost audible over the phone.

"Don't know what to say. He isn't here, I can tell you that. Anyway, take care out there." He ends the call.

You frown, pocketing the device. Where the heck could he have gone? Dave pulls you back to the present with a sharp jab in the ribs with his toe. "Ow! Don't you kick me."
He nods his head to the dogs again. "Yeah, yeah right. I agree. We'll go right."

Letting him lead, you fall into the brush beside the road and stalk after Dave, carefully placing your feet exactly where he treads and staying as low as you can, keeping the long grass between you and the pack.

[DC 11 Low'n'Slow check]

>>33188301
>so why's she gotta dump Ice before trying things with Vasa
But anon, that would be NTR!

>>33188618
>spoiler
Hehehhheeeeeheee. I love you Kaleun. All of the Homo!

Rolled 6

>>33188596
Who the hell kicks someone to get their attention instead of just poking them with a finger?

Rolled 1

>>33188596

Rolled 3

>>33188578
>You're probably only going to get a Kaleun-sized dose of suffering at the end.
That is even more worrying...

>>33188596
D6's?

>>33188618
There is such a thing as a consensual 3 person relationship you know, but who am I kidding, with your relationship expertise and experiences at the helm ain't nothing happy ever gonna happen.

>>33188660
>>D6's?
>Yup. Still need one more.

>>33188686
right then, with the 5 from a d20 not counting we need a 5

we are so going to fail...

>>33188744
Thank god for degrees of failures, then. Night seems slow, could samefag the last roll if someone doesn't come along in a few.

File: 1396379908991.jpg (63 KB, 768x768)

63 KB JPG

Rolled 1

>>33188596
LOLIS GUIDE MY DICE

>>33188779
You could've stopped this!

I'm glad you didn't. Goodbye, Kris.

>>33188786
Snrk.
>>33188660
>>33188655
>>33188644
>>33188596
(6+1+3+1) -4 = 7
7 -11 = -4 degrees of failure.

Wroitan.

File: 1395949309500.png (17 KB, 302x336)

17 KB PNG

>>33188786
>>33188660
>>33188655
>>33188644
FUCK.

>>33188786
fuck you anon

>>33188779
>Thank god for degrees of failures, then.
You were saying?

>>33188819
This just gets better and better...

Rolled 1

>>33188814
Well, let's see if I really could have. Just for fun.

The BBEG can't die here.

>>33188868
Nope, it was fucked either way. Time for doggy.

So many ones, clearly the dice gods are displeased with us for dumping Ice.

Rolled 6

>>33188891
Of fucking course it's fucked either way, nothing can ever go to plan or be happy in this quest.

I'm finding it hard to remember but I doubt we've ever succeeded in any of our first rolls in a thread, and it seems that ever since switching to the new system we've only managed to just barely scrape past a DC11 once before.

>>33188944
Well I didn't want to dump him, I didn't even have the faintest idea what the fuck the promise was or what we'd say, which we kind of should fucking know, seeing as we are playing the fucking character, but nooo we can't share can we?

>>33188596
>>33188819
Dave apparently doesn't seem to notice, or just doesn't care, that you're struggling to keep up with him. You push yourself harder, trying to keep pace but your breath is coming ragged now. You're managing to stay low though, keeping out of sight and matching his movements as he slithers through the underbrush. It's not until you're coming to the closest point to the pack that you realize why rushing yourself was a terrible idea.

One of the blind dogs suddenly breaks from the pack, bounding over to the grass near you. Instinctively, you draw in one last breath and hold it tight. It sniffs twice, then tilts its head as if listening intently. Then it waits. And waits. And waits.

Pain screams through your chest, your body silently choking as it implores you to take a breath. Twenty seconds pass. Twenty five. Thirty... You break, hissing the breath out, ready to draw another. The blind dog swivels its head directly at you, and growls menacingly.

[ ]Open fire.
[ ]Pull a knife.
[ ]Drop the duffel and run.

>>33188944
In my experience, LSQ has low rolls in general.

>>33188972
DAMMIT ANON YOU WASTED OUR NEXT 6.

DICE GODS DON'T JUST HAND THOSE OUT.

Rolled 3

>>33188986
And yet the DC's are always stupidly high relative to how we roll and how we perform...

>>33188973
>[ ]Pull a knife.
Fuck it, fuck this, let's hope and pray that we can be menacing and make it back down or that Doggy saves us but we're fucked and Ice stomped off and Dave abandoned us.

Fuck this.

>>33188973
>[ ]Pull a knife.
a gun's noise would only make things worse

>>33188973
>Pull a knife
Let's channel our inner Giltine.

>>33188972
God, you are retarded. It was obvious that was what she'd say. Women don't skirt any issue, but the one of relationships.

>>33188973
>[ ]Open fire.
Kris is our worst fighter. What'll happen is the dog will tear apart her arm and all the others will come rushing at us just the same if we fired a shot anyways.

>>33189111
I know it was going to be about the relationship, but not what she was planning or going to say or fucking anything else, I didn't think she was going to flat out dump him when she very clearly cares for him right then and there, which is all kinds of stupid QM'ing, and the reason why I don't like PoV switches, because we need to know what the character knows, and I don't know shit about what Kris knows or intends or is going to say, and that would have fucking helped massively if we could have been voting IC instead of just randomly OOC going "I dunno, lets throw darts at it"

Goddamn every thread these characters get less and less fun to play.

>>33189205
it sounded pretty easy to figure out for me...

>>33189320
The do please share with us next time so those who don't think like you aren't running around like headless chickens.

>>33189205
You really should stop participating in anything that requires any though, because once again: You are retarded.

>>33189205
Seemingly just about everyone else who voted disagree with you, anon.

>>33188973
>[X]Pull a knife.

You pull the knife you keep in your boot for emergencies, bringing it up to guard just in time to jab it deep into the snarling mass already leaping at you, tearing at your face. As the two of you tumble back into the grass, you pull the knife out and stab again, twisting into the dog's ribcage. With a pained whine, it judders and dies atop you.

You have no time to breath though, as already you can hear the other dogs responding to their pack mate's sudden demise.
You heave the dog's body off yourself, and try to pull yourself back to your feet. The duffel slows you down. You look to Dave, desperate for help, then mentally kick yourself for wasting that heartbeat. He doesn't carry a gun. You reach around to pull your own rifle up, but you're not going to make it in time. The biggest of the pack is coming down on you.
Its jaws open, ready to tear you apart.

[1/2]

>>33189024
>And yet the DC's are always stupidly high relative to how we roll and how we perform...

Not really. DCs are pretty consistent with what you'd realistically expect. You do something difficult, the chance of failure gets big. I'm not sure why this is always surprising, or why someone always interprets every failure as if an evil QM just forcefed them a thousand dragon dildos. Why would you play a quest just to get angry?

>>33189205
Have you never been in or witnessed a breakup? Every single hint was there. Fuck, I didn't think the anon who claimed not to understand was even being serious. Look, I'll promise next time I'll believe you when you say you don't understand something simple and I'll take the time to explain how shit works, okay?

>>33189447
>Have you never been in or witnessed a breakup?
Yep, and they didn't go anything like that.
>I didn't think the anon who claimed not to understand was even being serious. Look, I'll promise next time I'll believe you when you say you don't understand something simple and I'll take the time to explain how shit works, okay?
I was that anon, so thanks for being civil about it unlike >>33189340

>>33189443
With a CRACK, the dog's head explodes open, showering you in brain matter. Before the thing even has time to realize it's dead, its corpse is riddled with three more bullets. A half-second pause, and the sound of the rifle firing barks out once more, its leaden death scattering through the pack. Immediately, they break off their attack on you and make a break across the open ground away from you.

You scrape some of the dog brain off your face and look to the road, seeking the source of your aid. Kneeling at the edge of the irradiated area, Ice still has his AK trained on the fleeing mutants.
"ICE! I, I thought you'd left us!"

He shouts an indignant response back. "Don't be stupid. I'm not gonna leave you alone with him." You blink a few times, then look over to Dave, who's chuckling to himself.

"Hke never left, girl. Hkad you not been so, self-absorbed, you might hkave noticed hkim following us. Hkave more trust in yhour friends. Hnn~." You'll never get used to that annoying laugh-squeak of his.

You pick yourself up, and Dave begins forging ahead through the long grass towards the forest again. You glance back at Ice, who makes no move to close the distance between you.

[ ]Ask him to come walk beside you again.
[ ]Let him have his distance. Thank him and follow Dave.
[ ]Other.

>>33189501
>Yep, and they didn't go anything like that.
ah, you two got the girl who just ignores you more and more while cheating on you?

>>33189520
>[x]Let him have his distance. Thank him and follow Dave.
He almost certainly wants some space right now.

>>33189520
>[ ]Other.
Thank him then ask if he wants to walk beside us while we follow Dave, if he wants to, he's welcome to.

>>33189520
>[ ]Let him have his distance. Thank him and follow Dave.

>>33189520
[x]Let him have his distance. Thank him and follow Dave.

>>33189551
Nope, her retarded religious family got their hooks sunk in and one day I was suddenly the devil incarnate.

>>33189603
ugh, sorry for you, dude

>>33189501
Here, let me just list up the hints you somehow didn't catch. I'll limit myself to just the ones in the relevant update, not any of the ones in previous threads. They should be sufficient.

>your thoughts once more turn to Vass, and the promise you made with her. You glance at Ice,
Here we recall how some threads ago a conversation between V&K following Vs confession to K was partially obscured and all we got was to hear that V agreed to something K did not think V would agree to. We remember this as important because it was partially obscured. We also note how this promise immediately turns her thoughts to Ice, so the promise is about their relationship.

>Bleh. You've never had to have a talk like this before. The Zone's always stopped you from having to.
Now we think, what kind of talk would being in the Zone stop you from having? Well to answer that, let's recall what this Zone thingy is and what its main characteristics are:
1) weird shit happens a lot
2) aforementioned shit kills people
So basically, the Zone stops you from having to have the "I wish life was more exciting" talk because something weird is bound to happen, and it saves you from having to break up with people because the Zone is going to kill one of you. Seeing as weird shit is still happening, we cross number 1 off our list. On the other hand, neither K or I are dead.

>You really don't want to hurt him. He deserves better than this.
And here we confirm that, yes, it's a breakup. Shit hurts.

I've been trying to catch up on this series since bloody november, and now that I finally have I'm still halfway late for the thread.

I'm sure there's a punchline there somewhere but I'll be damned if I can figure it out

>>33190085
I'm pretty sure the ends of relationships are some of the most emotionally traumatizing things human beings can experience
I feel like I read that somewhere

File: Vasa.jpg (360 KB, 701x965)

360 KB JPG

>>33189520
>[X]Let him have his distance. Thank him and follow Dave.

"Well. Thanks, Ice. You saved my life, again. I owe you."
He grunts, standing and waiting for you to walk on. You smile gratefully, then turn to follow Dave.

The rest of the trip continues without incident. You make it to the first encampment, a set of bedrolls laid up underneath the trees, with the ashes of a campfire between them, and hand off one of the two bags to the stalkers holed up there. A fifteen minute hike along the edge of the forest brings you to the second camp, a small tent a few yards into the treeline, and leave the second bag inside the tent since there's no sign of life nearby.

Task completed, the three of you make good time in the hike back to Skadovsk, dropping into the riverbed for the last stretch. It's easier going without the bags, and you reach safety in no time at all.

You see Eliza parked up on the riverside as you approach, and as you follow Dave back into the bar you instantly spot Vasa waiting for you, leaning back against the wall. Her ghillie hood still hangs over her head, covering most of her features, though you note that now she's even wearing a mask that covers the lower half of her face. Viktor stands just a little distance away, clearly trying to pretend to be passive but keeping an eye open, ready to catch her if she stumbles even a little.

At the sound of your entry, Vasa's head swivels quickly to identify the newcomers, and when she clocks you her eyes shimmer. She reaches up, quickly pulling the mask down and revealing the ragged burns and shrapnel marks coating half her face, and the warm, welcoming smile that disregards the pain it must be bringing her, so pleased as she is at your arrival.

In that moment, you can't help but wonder how it is that you never realized just how pretty she really is.

[Part 36 Interlude]

>>33190276
Nice to see Ice not taking it quite that bad at least.
Of course, Dave is still bro-est.

>>33190276
>[Part 36 Interlude]
Does this mean I get to sleep tonight?

>>33190276
>finally ready to make first vote
>interlude
goddammit

File: 1368051889963.gif (2.7 MB, 480x270)

2.7 MB GIF

Awright, I'm feelin' about ready to crash out here. Plus I ran out of port, which is never fun.

I got some minor stuff to sort out tomorrow that shouldn't take up too much time, so besides that we should be good for more slow-paced questing throughout the day.

If the thread is still live, I'll pick up here in... say, 10 hours.

And now, the relationship drama'y stuff is complete! Sort of. Thanks to everyone for sticking with me through all of this.

>tfw this is the moment you've been trying to build up to for months, and no-one likes the reveal. ;_;

>>33190581
I still liked it! Just, not as much as I disliked the preceding events.

>>33190581
i did like it!
bacon fetish is rare

>>33190581
Thanks for running! I had fun anyway.
>Sort of.
Sort of as in 'the drama is done but there'll be a few more relationship scenes' or sort of as in 'don't put away those pitchforks juuuust yet...'?

>>33190671
Sort of as in, everything I had planned for this is now done and out on the table. Anything that happens from here on out is on you guys.

>>33190711
Makes sense then.
Hopefully the thread stays alive!

>>33190671
Sort of as in the next relationship scene won't technically be a relationship scene because you need two living characters for that.

>>33190711
Why do you spoil my fun?

>>33190581
So we finally got on the path where Kris and Vasa get together? Bout fuckin time.

>>33190581
Yeah, I hate this development, because now even more people will oppose me trying to get Kris killed.

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>mfw realizing the NTR scenes were a test of our willpower before we could get here.

Kaleun you bastard. I love you.

>>33190811
What did Kris do to you, anon?

>>33190811
Good, cause wanting a character to get killed is a horrible way to play.

>>33190763
No, we've been on that path for ages. This is the end of the path. It was much shorter than I calculated, actually.

>>33190811

I can make horrible decisions without ulterior motives just fine, thank you very much

>>33190971
...you calculated it?

>>33190936
She wants us dead for one point. She's also a massive cunt.

>>33191046
Earlier in this thread she literally said she wants Loli alive.

>>33191046
>She wants us dead
What, where the hell did you get that from?

>>33191086
>>33191090
>and you need her alive. For now.

Could you maybe read what you are participating in? This is not the first time either.

>>33191142
That in no way implies that she intends to kill Loli.
At best, it implies that at some point down the line, she won't care if Loli does something to get herself killed.

>>33190581
>tfw Kaleun has a heart and a soul

I don't know about everyone else, but that was exquisite~

Ice is still a bro, Dave still knows what's up, Kris just has a shocking revelation of /u/-ism, and Eliza is still best tank

Everything's going better than expected

Now I'm excited to see how Loli reacts to seeing Vasa-neechan happy

I expect adorability. Adorableness?
Cute-osity?
GRIMOE, but with less grim in relation to relationships?

THE FUTURE LOOKS BLEAK
BUT LESS BLEAK THAN BEFORE

NOW WE'VE JUST GOTTA GET OUT THERE AND KICK IT'S ASS

>>33191142
She clearly meant until we reach her objective in the North end of the Zone, after which we'd presumably go our separate ways. Loli is too sweet to kill Kris or screw her over afterwards, so there wouldn't even be a point in endangering herself over trying to get rid of her.

>>33191007
Well not completely off course. I obviously never knew for certain things would go where I expected them to. That would require that I know both where Kaleun is going and where my fellow players will go. My ambition was to guilt Kris into Vass and hope they actually stick (naïve but what more can you do) which I've been at for a while. I didn't realize the exact outcome of the conversation that occurred during the pseudogiant event though, and as a result this thread happened sooner (and more painlessly) than I calculated. So really I failed to property plot anything but I got close enough that I'm happy anyway.

>>33191363
Makes sense I guess.

>>33191227
>>33191272
Yeah, sure. I'll cackle in glee when Loli looks down the barrel of Kris' gun or gets shot by Vasa in the back, when the time comes, knowing that it was your fault.

>>33191142
She's not going to kill Loli. That doesn't make sense, she could have had vasa do that several times already and she would have happily obliged at the time. On top of that, unless Kris has the ability to lie directly to the players during perspective switch, we know for certain that she actually does like Loli, even if she's still going to use her to achieve her goals. As far as I can tell she's only using her to make enemies into dead enemies, nothing that actually requires Loli dying, it's just an increasingly likely outcome the closer we get.

Essentially Loli's death is optional and completely acceptable but not mandatory.

>>33191438
I think you're reading far too much into things that aren't actually there.

>>33191639
>>33191815
You keep telling yourselves that. I'll be here. Waiting. Watching.

>>33191849
Remember to screencap your posts so you'll be ready to gloat properly.

>>33191921
Nah. Too much work.

>>33191849
That's cool. I still haven't figured out what the actual endgame is so I'll listen to anything that might help me with that.

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>>33191973
Hold onto this, okay?

>>33192150
If you insist.

bump

bump

>>33191849
your fucking insane, go back to the QTGs

>>33190276
>She reaches up, quickly pulling the mask down and revealing the ragged burns and shrapnel marks coating half her face
Well its a good thing that low intensity flashpoint burns and shrapnel/fragmentation scars heal quickly.

>>33198091
But anon, they help her look more edgy. And that's cool.

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I have awoken. Reading through the chatter, breaking my fast and settling in to write once more.

>>33198091
>Well its a good thing that low intensity flashpoint burns and shrapnel/fragmentation scars heal quickly.
QFT. Six months down the line most folk won't even be able to tell it's healed skin.

I can't remember what I was going to do with Kris for the rest of this thread now, so instead I'm going to start thinking stuff up on the spot.

So, let's start out with some fun while I go eat food.

>Who shall we play as today!?

[ ]Loli
[ ]Kris
[ ]Doggy
[ ]Mystery Box

>>33201013
>[ ]Loli
lets have some fun playing around the boat with Vasa-neechan while the other healthy grownups go make money

Vasa-neechan could also be Vasa-sensei for a bit and teach us some more grownup stuffs

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>>33201013
THE BOX

I need to sleep after making this decision. I hope it doesn't bite me in the ass. Good luck, guys.

>>33201013
>mystery box
do you even need to ask?

But whatever you do, please do it quick. I've been catching up for a good 6+ months to actually be able to participate for once

>>33201013
>[ ]Loli
Hell no you're not making me miss out on giving Vasa her present.

>>33201088
>Vasa her present.
>The pendant and photo

holy shit I forgot about those, thanks for reminding me anon, we totally gotta do that

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>>33190276
>[x]Mystery Box

You snuffle around the corpse some more. It's pretty fresh, but there's a lot of hard skin between you and the juicy meat beneath. It's taking some work to crack this one open. It's a lot of work, and it's not even your kill, just something discarded by one of the other hunters. You're considering leaving it be.

The Alpha you stole this pack from slinks around near the back of your herd of females. He looks to be trying to woo one away, but you're not really concerned. You dominated him already, you can do so again if need be.

A noise catches your attention. Some yards away, in the long reeds around you growing from the watery basin, something is closing on your position slowly and carefully.

[ ]Ignore it, it's probably nothing dangerous.
[ ]Prepare yourself! It might be hunting you and yours!
[ ]Investigate it.

>>33201328
>[ ]Prepare yourself! It might be hunting you and yours!

>>33201341 here

I'm hoping that whatever goes on while we're playing a Boar apparently, that we get to see Loli give Vasa her gifts afterwards when we go back to Loli's PoV

>>33201328
>[ ]Prepare yourself! It might be hunting you and yours!
Fluffy's moving up in life.

this is going to end bad isn't it?

>>33201359
I hope we can gather all of Loli's pets and go get that pseudogiant to join in and worship Loli

where the fuck is nibbler?

>>33201328
>investigate it
Loli won over Fluffy's heart with love and curiosity, we should follow her example

>>33201328
>[X]Prepare yourself! It might be hunting you and yours!

You alter your stance, lowering your head ready to charge at the slightest provocation and watch the wall of reeds. The rustling grows closer, then circles back a little way. You keep yourself facing it as it comes back in, and finally breaks the wall.

Gently, very carefully, one of the packmates of the carrion you're trying to feast on pulls the reeds apart and freezes, staring right at you. Its firestick rests at its side, though one of its paws slowly crosses its body to reach for it. Other than that, it makes no movement.
Your ears flicker, you make out the sound of another of its pack hissing and growling quietly at the one you're staring down. Without taking its eyes off you, it hisses a return.

You growl, letting your pack know that a threat is here and they all quickly press back behind you, ready to fight or flee on your call.

[ ]They're clearly here for you! Run them down!
[ ]They're clearly here for you! Run away!
[ ]They're probably here for their packmate. Lead them to the corpse.
[ ]Other.

>>33201455
>[ ]They're probably here for their packmate. Lead them to the corpse.
it wasn't even our kill, so let us follow the teachings of the Great Hunter and be honorable

>>33201455
>Stare them down and try to intimidate them to leave
there's no reason for this to turn to bloodshed. Let's give them a chance to walk away before we do anything rash

>>33201455
>[ ]They're probably here for their packmate. Lead them to the corpse.

Can Fluffy into diplomacy?

>>33201455
>[X]They're probably here for their packmate. Lead them to the corpse.

Stepping to one side, you reveal the corpse you'd been trying to feed on to the manbeast. Its focus immediately shifts, and you confirm your suspicion. You crane your neck towards the corpse, letting it know you'll grant it access.
Your motion causes a look of confusion to plaster the manbeast's face, and it doesn't move. You crane your neck in gesture again, then step up to the corpse, nudging it twice with your snout. Then you take two steps back.

You're not sure how much clearer you could be, but fortunately it seems to read your intent. The second remains where it is in the reeds. The first raises its hands slowly, leaving the firestick by its side and very carefully taking a step out into the clearing. When you make no move to stop it, it takes a few more shaky paces towards you. You take another step back, and this seems to stiffen its resolve. It crosses a little quicker to its former packmate and sets about its work.
In moments, it takes the dead one's firestick, as well as some tokens from its hide. Finally, it pulls a small shiny thread from around the corpse's neck, and runs its fingers over the face, closing its eyes.

It looks up at you for a moment, then back to its mate. With a steady hand, it runs its fingers down the middle of the deceased's hard skin, and you watch in amazement as the skin simply peels in two, opening the meat below to the world. You lower your head in thanks to the manbeast as it hastily scurries back into the reeds.

And you begin your feast in earnest.

[1/2]

>>33201729
dem feelz

>>33201729
Your females quickly disperse a little and go back to their casual foraging as you chow down on the fresh meat. It's good meat, though lacking in blood. You suspect you know which of the other hunters claimed this kill, and why it seems so untouched.

While you're cracking your way into the ribcage, the reeds around you rustle again. You barely have time to spin your head around to check the noise before a familiar wolf leaps from the foliage and barks happily at you twice. You shuffle over, greeting the Servant. He leans his head in to yours, quickly passing on an update: the Master is injured, but recovering. No movement for a few days.

You acknowledge the message, then offer the Servant a helping of your meal. He happily accepts, tearing a hefty chunk of flesh from the corpse before bounding away back into the reeds.

[PERSPECTIVE SWITCH]

You are Loli, and you're lying face-down on Doc's bed. He's been having at your back for the better part of two hours now, fixing up the terrible gashes the
"They don't even hurt," you whine, "why can't I just leave the- OW!" He jabs you with his needle again.

"Open wounds get infected. Infections are hard to treat. This is less work for me. Quit squirming."
From the other bed, Vasa sits watching you with amusement on her face.

[ ]Put up with it quietly. He'll be done soon.
[ ]Try to talk to Vasa about something. (Write-in)

>>33201935
let's ask Vasa how *she's* feeling, we've only heard her condition second hand.

>>33201935
seconding >>33201961 while we put up with the Doc's administrations

>>33201935
>[ ]Try to talk to Vasa about something. (Write-in)
We got her a present! But she can't have it yet (because it's private) and if she keeps laughing at our pain she can't have it at all!

>>33202036
>and if she keeps laughing at our pain she can't have it at all!
well we might say that, but we know in our heart thats not true, we are going to PRESENTS the crap out of her

>>33201935
>[X]Try to talk to Vasa about something. (Write-in)

"You know, I got you a present," you say to Vasa. That gets her attention. "But you can't have it yet because it's private. And if you laugh at me I might not let you have it at all!"

She smirks at you. "Sorry. Promise I won't laugh." You're not sure that even counts when she's still smirking at you like that. You harrumph, pointedly turning your head away. Doc finishes another line of stitches and moves on to cleaning the next of your gashes.

"How're you feeling now?" The question catches her off-guard, she takes a second to form her answer.

"Good. I'm good. Doesn't hurt too much now. Thanks. For asking." Something about the way she's smiling seems... really genuine. You feel like something really good happened and she's not telling you what it is. You pout at the thought.

"All done," Doc states. "Beard's already got the fee sorted for this so you're good to go. Now get the hell out of my office."

You roll off the bed and pull your shirt back on, gesturing for Vasa to follow you. She grips the bedside and pulls herself up, giving Viktor a sharp glare when he tries to move to support her from the doorway. He backs off quickly, letting the two of you through to the barrack area. This time of day, the barracks are completely deserted. With the two of you in a relatively private spot, you tell her to close her eyes and dig the presents out of your pockets.

[ ]Give her the framed photo first.
[ ]Give her the locket first.
[ ]Give her a hug first.

>>33202228
>hug
the order after that is irrelevant
also can we reload our guns and maybe buy a couple more magazines at some point? We're not Chow Yun Fat and our guns will eventually run out

>>33202228
>[ ]Give her the locket first.
The full phote is kind of... it might just make her angry.

>>33202228
>[ ]Give her a hug first.

>>33202263
nah she'll love it, and will probably start a bounty on anyone found with a copy of it on them...

>>33202257
>also can we reload our guns and maybe buy a couple more magazines at some point? We're not Chow Yun Fat and our guns will eventually run out
yeah we need to stock up on ammo and supplies before heading out to get more dosh

we also need to give Vasa her armored vest we got for her, and then, Kris, Ice, Dave, Viktor and Eliza can go out on jobs to get more dosh for the other supplies and gear we need while we play with Vasa

>>33202228
>[x]Give her a hug first.
Biiiit late but eh.

>>33202228
>[X]Give her a hug first.

Her eyes closed, she's completely defenseless before you. You grin, leaping forwards to wrap your arms around her waist and press your face into her. She freezes up, her muscles tensing against you, but you hold her tight anyway.
"I'm glad you're okay, Vasa-neechan."

You hold her tight for a long time, and she simply stands immobile with you around her. After what feels like an age, she slowly lowers her hand down to rest on your head. "Yeah, you too."
You smile, and break the hug.

"Real present time now!" You take the photo out, but don't show it to her. "Don't... get angry, okay?" She tils her head quizically at you, but nods. You hand her the photo. She looks in confusion at it. Then glares at you. "Where'd you get this?"

"We dressed Kris-neechan up! I thought she looked pretty so I took a photo for you. I thought you'd like it."

Her eyes narrow, and she looks once more at the photo. Then she looks blankly at you. "How many others have pictures like this?"

"Uh. A few? But! Only you have one like this!"
You hand her the locket. She opens it, and all the anger drains from her face, to be replaced by a faint smile.

"I- thank you, Loli." She closes it, holding it close to her chest, eyes closed. Carefully, she sets the locket around her neck, before a cunning grin warps her mouth. "You know, the others are heading out on a job now. It'll just be the two of us. I think you're in need of a few more lessons on how to not get eaten."

[Part 36 End(?)]

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Sorry for the slow speed there, but I'm really not feeling it right now. Calling the thread here for now.

I still have an entire training scenario in mind to happen now, so I may or may not try to finish this up properly later after I sort out the stuff I want to get done today.

In the meantime, thread is open to Q&A, speculation, and whatever else.

>>33202692
Thanks for the thread HK

>(?)
?

>>33202755
S'all good dude, the threads been up for 16~ hours, thanks for the run so far.

>>33202755
Will we ever get any more dream sequences about Loli's past?

>>33202755
That's okay, thanks for running!

>>33202755
it's all good, thanks for running!

>>33202755
>Loli will never be this well armored.

>>33202692
>I think you're in need of a few more lessons on how to not get eaten."
I guess she is the expert on that subject, but is that actually a valuable skill?

>>33208162
are you saying that because she didn't let...
l-lewd

>>33205214

It'd just slow her down from moving quickly enough to shank whatever's attacking her.

>>33210476
Pic is not even that armored though. And really, until she starts parrying bullets with those knives, it would probably be better to have at least something more than a sailour sui- oh god the homu outfit probably didn't survive the chimera did it? I don't think HK mentioned that, but if the beastie was tearing her up that badly that's probably another outfit ruined.

Sage because HK has clearly abandoned us despite promising Q&A.

>>33211181
>QA
That was seven hours ago.

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I think I'm going to officially call an end to this thread as of now. I was meaning to come back and get us through Vasa-sensei's lessons at least, but then I didn't notice the time and things happened. And then it was family movie night. And then other stuff. In short, I'd like to go to bed now but I'm really sorry for disappointing you guys.

Watch my twitter for updates on when the next thread will be. As always, Wednesday is Racketeer day. I may try to get a thread in on Monday, maybe another on Friday but next weekend is a little booked up for me. We'll see.

>>33208162
>I guess she is the expert on that subject, but is that actually a valuable skill?
That's lewd, Anon.
But also true.

>>33202826
>Will we ever get any more dream sequences about Loli's past?
There are a few more minor ones left, but there hasn't been anywhere that felt good to slip them in yet.

>>33205214
>>Loli will never be this well armored.
That's about as armored as she would've been if you'd bought the vest for her instead of for Vasa. I believe you even still have some oversized cargo pants somewhere. I'll have to check back through my notes. They may have been lost.

>>33211181
>oh god the homu outfit probably didn't survive the chimera did it?
You got pretty badly mauled. Unfortunately no, your saifuku didn't make it.
You're down to a Vividred cosplay and the mafia suit. I took the liberty of choosing the mafia suit to redress Loli.

>>33211743
So basically

>Saber outfit (dead)
>Vividred outfit (alive)
>Homura outfit (dead)
>Gangster outfit (alive)
>Recette outfit (ruined though not that badly)

Cosplay outfit casualty rate is now at 60%. I think that number is even higher than our stalker casualty rate (number of stalkers not surviving meeting loli vs number of stalkers surviving meeting loli) Though really, that number is a little difficult to define.

>>33212389
>Cosplay outfit casualty rate is now at 60%
yep, but what do you expect when they are just frilly dresses with some kevlar holding them together

we need to cosplay someone who wears actual armor