You are Akari Takamichi, and you're currently trying to keep your girlfriend from delving into a conversation you don't wish to have.

You're accomplishing this by shoveling waffles into her mouth.

You're seated at the table in the apartment you and your elder sister share- you're sitting on Mato's leg, because she's showing off and flirting with you... because she can?

You're not 100% sure why she's doing it, but... hey- what'll ya do?

…

You note, with some small degree of alarm, that Mato's beginning to outpace you.

Soon, she'll be able to speak without waffles muffling the sound.

And then she'll tell you all about your sister's unnervingly in-depth knowledge of what titillates you.

This is a time for action!

What will you do?
>SHOVEL FASTER!
>... Surrender. There's no shame in knowing when you're beaten.
>Try to hold out for a convenient interruption that will only happen if you choose this option!
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>36898332
>... Surrender. There's no shame in knowing when you're beaten.

>>36898332
>SHOVEL FASTER!
Oh, I'm late.

>>36898655
It's the first vote of the thread after our longest pause yet.
I'm givin' y'all a bit of extra time.

>>36898676
I'm sure people will trickle in throughout.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>36898532
Cut your losses!

>>36898655
DEATH OR GLORY

...

I'll just flip a d2, I guess.

>>36898809
Haha, well I'm fine with surrender too.

>>36898809
I missed the start of the thread, but I am okay with this result.

Part of you wants to keep on going. To keep fighting.
To never give up and never surrender.

But... you can't win.
Not against the Mato train, which has no breaks.

Also, you feel kinda bad, keeping her from talking like this.

It feels kinda Orwellian... except also rather chipmunk-y?

…

You brush the thoughts away and stop shoveling waffle into Mato's nutrient receptacle, resigning yourself to defeat with a soft sigh.

As Mato chews the last bits of waffle, a thought occurs to you- perhaps you could change the subject!

Yes... that might work!

It's a classic play for a reason, after all!

>Ask Mato what she thinks you should wear today!
>Change the topic in another way! (What to?)
>Let her keep with the current line of discussion.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>36898980
>Ask Mato what she thinks you should wear today!
This absolutely cannot backfire in any way! Let's do it!

>>36898980
>Ask Mato what she thinks you should wear today!
Dress-up? Dress-up!

>>36899057
Hopefully she keeps it tasteful in front of the family.

>>36898980
>Let her keep with the current line of discussion.
Sorry Akari, but this will be just too fun to switch.

>>36899044
>>36899057
>DRESS UP

>>36899238
Unconditional surrender

Okay, writing!

>>36898980
>Ask Mato what she thinks you should wear today!
Dammit, we're late. Oh well, when in doubt distract!

>>36899285
>>36899294
...and just to add insult to injury, it would not have mattered anyway.

>>36899285
Awww, I wanted embarrassment. Well, of the slightly lewd kind. But this will be good too.

You weren't sure what to wear, anyways!

It's like killing two birds with one stone!

…

Except, y'know, you haven't killed any birds!
Because you've nothing against them!

…

“So, Mato,” you say, coolly, casually, calmly, and otherwise in a not-at-all suspicious manner, “I was wondering...” you pause as she swallows down the last of the clump of waffle-material, then- when her esophagus is unobstructed- continue, “What should I wear today?”

Mato scratches her chin.

“Well, your powers are stronger, now, right?” You nod, and she continues, “So you should wear something... y'know... fiery!”

…

You blink. You suppose that was a good, er, 'point', but... it's not really helpful.

She speaks up again before you can ask her to be more specific, though. “Maybe something that isn't overtly fire-related, but, y'know, still /is/ related? Like...” She pauses. “Captain Falcon, or... one of those fire-bender guys. Or maybe Ghost Rider?”

She shrugs.

She only really suggested cosplay.
… Does she want you to dress up... or does she think you prefer it to normal clothing?

…

>Yeah! Cosplay time! (Any preferences?)
>No, you wanna pretend like you're a normal person!
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>36899685
>Yeah! Cosplay time! (Any preferences?)
>Redhead Azula

>>36899685
Seconding >>36899718
>>Yeah! Cosplay time! (Any preferences?)
>>Redhead Azula
Because it encourages our character development in all the wrong ways.

>>36899685
>No, you wanna pretend like you're a normal person!

>>36899685
>Yeah! Cosplay time! (Any preferences?)
Something lewd. That's right, you heard me.

>>36899718
>>36899745
>Redhead Azula!
Let's get sexy! And by 'sexy', I mean EVIL!

>>36899781
Naw, man!

Okay!

>Roll d10 for COSPLAY AUTHENTICITY!

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36899971
Sexy cosplay time?

Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>36899971
C'mon dice!

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>36899971
You didn't count my lewd vote so here's a helpful roll showing the power of lewd.

>>36899988
>>36899990
Damn, that's one hell of a cosplay, quite possibly literally.

>>36900006
Akarin cosplays so hard, she just goes straight up crazy.

>>36899988
>>36899990
So does this mean we get lightning powers now?

>>36899988
>>36899990
I hope we don't get to into character. Unless it means Mato has to kiss us out of it I guess.

>>36900037
>kiss us out of it
Spank. Spank us out of it.

File: BURN.gif (496 KB, 500x245)

496 KB GIF

>>36899988
>>36899990
>>36899996
...
Oh my.

That... will be interesting.

... Writing!

>>36900061
Mercy, boss?

>>36900101
Does that look like the face of mercy to you?

>>36900060
I like the way you think anon!

>>36900101
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lv2cqH-Vcw#t=17
>implying mercy in any situation
Azula only went crazy because reasons, anyways
And you're the best at burning stuff
So what do you have to worry about...?

You scratch your chin.

…

You suppose you could do 'one of those fire-bender guys'.

You can't help but grin a little.

You cock your head and quirk an eyebrow. “A fire-bender, you say?”

Mato nods. “Yeah! Like, uh... Azu...” She frowns. “... Azu... err...” She scratches her head, then shrugs. “Azu-something? The fire-princess-lady?”

“I think I can do that...”

…

…

It took you... maybe a bit longer than it should have.
But you've done it.

And it's /perfect/.
You can almost FEEL the princess-ness flowing through you.

You're wearing...
>Azula's normal outfit!
>Azula's 'swimsuit' outfit!
>Some other outfit that the QM doesn't remember/know of! (Write-in!)

And, as for your hair, you...
>Did it up properly, complete with the little fire hair-tie thingie.
>Let it down! IT'S CRAZY TIME.
>Left it normal! ODANGO POWER.

>>36900493
>Azula's normal outfit!
Come now.
>Let it down! IT'S CRAZY TIME.

>>36900493
>Azula's normal outfit!
>Did it up properly, complete with the little fire hair-tie thingie.
For maximum imperiousness!

>>36900493
>>Azula's normal outfit!
>>Did it up properly, complete with the little fire hair-tie thingie.
Our subjects will never kneel if we do not assert ourselves properly.

>>36900493
>Azula's 'swimsuit' outfit!
>Did it up properly, complete with the little fire hair-tie thingie.

File: Princess_azula.png (413 KB, 720x480)

413 KB PNG

>>36900516
>>36900524
>>36900544
>Normal outfit!

>>36900680
Swimsuit

>>36900516
Hair down

>>36900524
>>36900544
>>36900680
>Hair up!


Okay, writing!

Yes, that's right.

You went all the way.

The outfit, the hair...

The only things you've got 'wrong' are your hair and eye colors, but, honestly, you don't care.
And no-one else will be courageous- or foolhardy- enough to care, you think.

…

Mato's looking at you from the table, her mouth a bit agape and her cheeks a bit pinked.

You raise an eyebrow.

How should you address her?

>“Don't just sit there gawking- you should be showering me with praise.”
>“As much as I enjoy basking in the knowledge that my radiance has left you speechless, we have things to do, places to be, people to see, aliens to burn, et cetera.”
>[Snap your fingers]
>[Do something evil-sexy] (Write-in!)
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>36901045
>“As much as I enjoy basking in the knowledge that my radiance has left you speechless, we have things to do, places to be, people to see, aliens to burn, et cetera.”
I can't think of something sexy, so I guess this'll do.

>>36901045
>“As much as I enjoy basking in the knowledge that my radiance has left you speechless, we have things to do, places to be, people to see, aliens to burn, et cetera.”
>[Snap your fingers]
Come Mato, there's work to be done!

>>36901045
>>“As much as I enjoy basking in the knowledge that my radiance has left you speechless, we have things to do, places to be, people to see, aliens to burn, et cetera.”
>>[Snap your fingers]
Burning aliens will always have my support.

>>36901045
>“Don't just sit there gawking- you should be showering me with praise.”

Rolled 1 (1d5)

>>36901045
>her mouth a bit agape and her cheeks a bit pinked
Is that lust or terror in her eyes?

>>36901219
>1
>ERROR: NOTES NOT FOUND

It's... I don't know if 'lust' is the right word?
It's one of those sorts of feelings, though.
Definitely not 'terror' or anything like that.

>>36901129
>>36901142
>>36901161
>B

>>36901142
>>36901161
>also C

>>36901213
A

Okay, got it!
Writing!

You give her another moment to stare, then cross your arms. You're unable to keep a smug grin from forming on your face as you speak, “As much as I enjoy basking in the knowledge that my radiance has left you speechless, we have things to do, places to be, people to see, aliens to burn, et cetera.”

Mato's cheeks redden further, and, after a moment, when it becomes apparent that she isn't gonna budge, you snap your fingers- a few blue sparks leap from your fingertips as you do so.

The brief shower of sparks- and their brilliant blue color- is something you file away in your mind to address later.

As fascinating as that was, it does nothing to render your earlier words any less true.

Fortunately, your snapping seems to have snapped Mato out of her stupor. She now stands before you, her posture like that of a well-trained soldier- she stands straight upright, with her feet together and her hands held together behind her back.

It looks rather silly, to be honest, given that she's wearing a bikini and short shorts, but, hey- that stuff's of secondary (or maybe even tertiary) concern.

After a brief pause, she looks down and makes eye contact with you. “Where are we headed first?”

You consider it for a moment before giving your answer.

>Mato and Miku's place.
>Mami's place.
>The Office.
>Precia's big building where her teams are doing their R&D and such.
>Somewhere else? (Write-in!)

>>36901707
>Mato and Miku's place.

>>36901707
>Precia's big building where her teams are doing their R&D and such.
Time to test out our upgrade!

>>36901707
>>Precia's big building where her teams are doing their R&D and such.
That way if anything bad happens with the Psi-Amps we'll have the experts on hand.

>>36901707
>The Office.
Resist the urge to touch her tummy.

>>36901757
>Resist
How heretical! Give in I say.

>>36901789
We cannot let the lewd overtake us, we'd never get anything done!

>>36901728
To the home-away-from-home!

>>36901747
>>36901732

>To the SCIENCE!

>>36901757
Takin' care of business...

Okay! Writing!

>it didn't post
The new captcha is odd, methinks.

You contemplate it for a moment, then, upon coming to a decision, you place your hand on Mato's flat, pale stomach- when she doesn't outwardly react (besides the further reddening of her cheeks, but that doesn't count!)- you 'walk' your fingers up her torso, beginning at her navel and ending at her collarbone, at which point you reach behind her and re-tie her bikini.

“We wouldn't want any of those scientists and engineers and researchers and what-not to see parts of you that are for my eyes only,” you say. “After all,” you add, after a moment's pause, “I'd hate to have to punish them. It's so hard to find good help these days, you know?”

…

You and Mato make your way to the building where you received your Psi-amps, where the 'MUSUME' is being developed, and where you gave Testarossa a big dose of Reality™.

Nothing hinders you during your walk. Not even the wind, which was at your backs the whole time.

You reach the... facility(?) and enter. Nothing you see surprises you- people in lab-coats are scurrying about, writing on white-erase boards, typing at computers, or working at machines you don't particularly recognize.

>See if there's something you can do to assist.
>Look for Testarossa.
>Check that everything's going well, then move on.
>Find someone to help you test your powers.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>36902391
>Find someone to help you test your powers.
Let's see what we can do with that spark, shall we?

>>36902391
>>Find someone to help you test your powers.
This is Academy City, power development ALWAYS comes first.

>>36902391
>Find someone to help you test your powers.
Explain the awesomeness of our cosplay, science!

>>36902391
>Look for Testarossa.

>>36902441
>>36902470
>>36902472
>But... will it burn?

>>36902503
Oh where, oh where has my lolibot gone?
Oh where, oh where could she be~?

Okay, writing!

…

It doesn't take much effort to find something in need of swift and fiery annihilation.

In no time at all, the lab-coats have a dozen panels of metal lined up before you, in a surprisingly large empty portion of the building.

Apparently, they were just getting into a rather heated discussion over what materials they should use in the construction of their 'MUSUME', and, given the way the Tau's weapons seem to work, high resistance to extreme heat is rather desirable.

…

And that's where you come in.

You're to burn each panel to hell and back, and then they'll see which panel you devastated the least.

Easy!

The only question is- how will you approach this?

>You /are/ fire. If you want the panels burned, then they shall burn.
>The fire is inside of you. A part of you. Unleash it.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>36903050
>The fire is inside of you. A part of you. Unleash it.
Our power is a part of us, but it doesn't define us!

>>36903050
>>The fire is inside of you. A part of you. Unleash it.
We control the fire, not the other way around.

>>36903050
>The fire is inside of you. A part of you. Unleash it.

>>36903050
>You /are/ fire. If you want the panels burned, then they shall burn.
I'll go with this one.
Also off to sleep, so thanks for the thread EQM!

>>36903183
Goodnight, anon!
Be sure to bite the bedbugs before they can bite you!
Gotta assert your dominance.

>>36903102
>>36903130
>>36903160
>THE FIRE BURNS WITHIN

>>36903183
YOU ARE FIRE


Writing!

You take a deep breath and close your eyes.

Fire is a part of you, yes, but only a part. You are Akari, and fire is only one aspect of your being.
It is important, yes, but it does not define you.

With that out of the way, you open your eyes and point your open palms at two of the panels.

An instant later, something roars within you, and you direct it, will it to burst forth and lash out at the panels.

>Roll thrice the hundred-sided die!

Rolled 4 (1d100)

>>36903475
Ha HA!

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>36903475
C'mon dice!

Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>36903475
What will the dice gods say to this?

>>36903526
>>36903561
>>36903664
>78

'Kay

Writing!

File: Spoiler Image (480 KB, 500x301)

480 KB GIF

Your aim is knocked off-center by the kick produced by the bursts of electric-blue flame that erupt from your palms and reduce the panels you were targeting to cherry-red slag- however, it seems that the brunt of both attacks wasn't directed into the panels, as you hit them off-center.

You realize that you'll probably need to only use one hand at a time if you want to retain any sort of accuracy, and, before the (metaphorical) smoke has even cleared, you're applying your theory to the next two targets.

You thrust your right hand forwards, pivoting on your left foot whilst moving the right forward in the same motion. The roaring blue flames hit the panel you were aiming for dead-center, leaving a white-hot hole, nearly a meter in diameter, in its center.

You mirror the process with the next panel, thrusting your left palm forward and pivoting on your right foot- the end result is the same- a nice hole burned into its center.

You can't help but smile at what you've wrought.

…

There's eight more panels to go.

>Shampoo, BURNINATE, Repeat- if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
>Mix it up- if at first you succeed, why not goof off a little?
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>36904226
>Mix it up- if at first you succeed, why not goof off a little?
We'll never know what else we can do if we don't try!

>>36904226
>>Mix it up- if at first you succeed, why not goof off a little?
If there's one thing /tg/ is good at, it's being creative in incredibly off-the-wall ways.

>>36904226
>Shampoo, BURNINATE, Repeat- if it ain't broke, don't fix it!
Do the SCIENCE! properly.

>>36904226
>Mix it up- if at first you succeed, why not goof off a little?
Heheh.

>>36904266
>>36904296
>>36904321
>Laissez-faire!

>>36904301
If it ain't broke, ya ain't doin' yer job right, y'hear?

Okay, writing!

File: Akari contemplating.png (289 KB, 1000x1051)

289 KB PNG

…

You might as well have a little fun with it, right?

The only question is... what do you want to try for?

The possibilities are endless!

…

Well, maybe. You suppose they're only as endless as your imagination and your ability to apply it to your powers, but, hey, things like that are just technicalities.

…

Er, anyways- what'll you try for?

>A continuous stream. Just like you used to do with that pathetic excuse for fire you used to toss around.
>More fire per... uh... fire. If you can't saturate everything in at least a 60 degree arc in front of you in burnination and fire, then there's no point to anything, is there?
>Precision. You should be able to put tiny holes in things, should you so desire.
>Control. Pyrokinesis is what you do. But you've never done much with the whole 'telekinesis that applies only to fire' area of that. Also, 'firebending' would go really well with the costume.
>Utility. Propulsion, cooking, and, uh... there's probably other stuff you can do with your fire, too. You just can't think of 'em right now!
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>36904824
>Control. Pyrokinesis is what you do. But you've never done much with the whole 'telekinesis that applies only to fire' area of that. Also, 'firebending' would go really well with the costume.
We already have plenty of power, time to work on the next bit!

>>36904824
>>Control. Pyrokinesis is what you do. But you've never done much with the whole 'telekinesis that applies only to fire' area of that. Also, 'firebending' would go really well with the costume.
Power is useless without the ability to direct it properly.

>>36904824
>Control. Pyrokinesis is what you do. But you've never done much with the whole 'telekinesis that applies only to fire' area of that. Also, 'firebending' would go really well with the costume.
Can we turn the Fire Warriors' weapons against them? Sign me up!

>>36904919
>>36904943
>>36905122
Control!

Sorry for bein' a few minutes late with the tallying.
That mirror couldn't go uncleaned a minute longer!
I swear!

Anyways, writing!

You decide that you want more control.
You want to use these flames of yours as efficiently as possible, and the best way to do that is 'situationally'.

Which means you need to be able to make fire do what you want it to do.

…

It's not really something you've worked with all that much in the past.

You take another deep breath.

You'll be doing this from scratch.

You're not entirely certain you can do this, but, hey- you've gotta start somewhere, right?

It was Lao Tzu, you think, who said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

>Start small. A small flame will be easier to work with than a raging inferno, right?
>Don't bother scaling things down. If you can't apply it practically, then it doesn't matter, right?
>Start with a pre-existing fire. Cut out as many extraneous variables as you can and all that.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>36905554
>Start with a pre-existing fire. Cut out as many extraneous variables as you can and all that.
I like that controlling Tau weapons idea and this seems like the best way to do that.

>>36905554
>>Start with a pre-existing fire. Cut out as many extraneous variables as you can and all that.
Assuming direct control of the flames.

>>36905554
>Start small. A small flame will be easier to work with than a raging inferno, right?

>>36905613
>>36905639
>Start with a fire already ready

>>36905782
babby fire

Okay!

>Roll d100

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>36905806
C'mon dice!

Rolled 28 (1d100)

>>36905806

Rolled 59 (1d100)

>>36905806
Not exactly on point here, are we? Dice gods do as they will, I guess.

>>36905822
>>36905859
Best so far is 62.
Might another of you toss a die?

>>36905908
Ah.
Nine seconds.

>62
Okay, then, writing!

You decide to start with a fire that's already lit. Just to allow yourself to focus wholly on manipulating it.

You will a flame into life in the palm of your left hand, which you hold out in front of you (palm-up).

It's nothing special, as flames go- just a normal fire brought about by not-so-normal means.

You close your eyes, take a deep breath, and, upon opening your eyes, begin to move the fire. First a few feet forwards, so that it's floating in mid-air a meter or so off of the ground. Then, you begin moving it in circles, and back and forth, and side-to-side. You move it slowly at first, then begin to speed up as you get the hang of it.

It's awkward. Very awkward. And, as you follow the flame with your eyes, you realize that, while you have little trouble actually moving it about, its movements are imprecise and... clunky.

You need to improve your control...

But... how?

>Practice, practice, practice! But.... what do you do? (Write-in!)
>Try it with a bigger flame.
>Try it with a smaller flame.
>Try it on the floor- thus eliminating movement in one of the three dimensions.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>36906243
>Try it with a bigger flame.
MOAR POWAH!

>>36906243
>>Try it with a bigger flame.
We tend to deal in bigger flames more often, so we should be ready for that.

>>36906243
>Try it with a smaller flame.
Precision training.

>>36906405
>>36906429
>big

>>36906533
small

Okay!
>D100s, please!

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>36906548
C'mon! DICE!

Rolled 91 (1d100)

>>36906548
Rollin'

Rolled 12 (1d100)

>>36906548
Dice gods?

>>36906565
>>36906600
>>36906699
>91

Okay, writing!

…

Right. It might seem counter-intuitive, but you think you'll do better with bigger flames.

Bigger things are harder to move, after all, so you'll just have to worry about momentum, rather than acceleration... or something.

…

You're not sure if that's exactly why, but, hey, it sounds good to you!

You snuff out your reasonably-sized flame and replace it with a roaring column of blue-hot fire, which you almost instinctively reshape into a spherical /ball/ of blue-hot fire.

And, as you begin moving the flames around, you find that it's much... better?

It just feels more natural, okay?

It's less responsive- the right amount of responsiveness, in fact.

You find yourself weaving the flames in and out and between the panels. Faster and faster and faster. You can only assume that this is what the thing with the cones that they do in Drivers' Ed. is like.

More strangely, you find yourself swaying and moving your arms and legs as you direct the flames- you and the flames are... moving together.

Synchronized.

…

You could hit all of the panels in rapid succession- almost at the same time. Too fast for the human eye to see.

>Turn them all into slag, completely and entirely.
>Weave the flames back and forth, just like before... except punching straight through each panel instead of going between them.
>Burn a message into them. (Write-in! [8 characters or 8 words])
>Spare them. Keep this knowledge to yourself... and then terminate them with individual jets of flame.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>36907368
>Turn them all into slag, completely and entirely.
Everyone, BURN.

>>36907368
>>Turn them all into slag, completely and entirely.
No restraint, no survivors.

>>36907368
>Turn them all into slag, completely and entirely.
They said "burn each panel to hell and back", let's deliver.

>>36907368
>Weave the flames back and forth, just like before... except punching straight through each panel instead of going between them.

I was thinking about something sappy to write but that seems entirely pointless now.

>>36907488
>>36907517
>>36907543
>BURN 'EM

>>36907584
I don't understand what you're talking about, comrade.

Alright, writing!

You move almost nonchalantly, sweeping your arms from left to right, and send the electric-blue streak that is your flames across the panels, which seem to disappear of their own accord.

As your eyes struggle to make sense of what just happened, you see the last few tongues of blue fire flickering out a couple of meters to the right of the right-most panel.

…

You can't melt stuff indefinitely with a single jet of flame, you guess.

…

That seems fair, you think, which is odd, because life is generally pretty unfair.

You shrug and go to look for Mato while the lab-coats try to figure out which panel you brutalized the least.

…

You don't envy them that task.

File: Ending Image.png (70 KB, 395x553)

70 KB PNG

Okay, I think we'll end it here for today, because I've officially hit snail-pace.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EsperQuestQM
Ask.fm thing: ask.fm/EsperQuestQM

Archives:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Raildex
http://archive.moe/tg/search/tripcode/!!qoqPha6r78V/type/op/order/asc

Be sure to vote in the archives to stroke my fragile ego, and feel free to ask questions either here or in the LAND OF ASKING, which I linked up above.

Thanks for playing, and have a good night/day/morning/afternoon (but not a good evening)!

>>36908590
Night Boss, see you in question-land!