It's a beautiful December day. The sun is partially hidden by clouds, meaning the ice crystals in the fresh-fallen (and still falling, for that matter) are only dazzlingly bright, rather than blindingly so. Your breath is visible- little puffs of fog that seem to be taunting you with the knowledge that each one is the result of some fraction of your body heat being transferred to the air in your lungs and expelled- and each step you take makes an odd squelchy-crunch sort of sound.

Your arms and legs- or, more specifically, the remaining flesh-and-blood portions of your arms and legs- are wickedly cold, despite the scarves you've wrapped around each border separating flesh and steel, and even the warmth-hug you're sharing with Mato-chan, the Twins, and Tomoe-san isn't adequate to keep you from shivering.

Ahead of you, Mokarin, Strength, and your mother are walking along, chit-chatting and having a grand old time, completely unfazed by the cold. Behind you, Chariot, Sayaka-chan, and Sakura-san are walking (err, walking and rolling?) along and talking about what you can only assume is magical stuff.

Akari and her sister are already at the place, getting things ready, as is Mato's sister.

You are Fate- Fate Testarossa, now- and you're on your way to what may well be the biggest Christmas celebration you've ever even heard of, let alone been invited to.

…

Well, you suppose you weren't so much 'invited' as you were 'told that you would be attending'.

But, hey- it's not like you wouldn't have accepted the invitation. These guys are your friends- no, your family.

You wouldn't miss this for the world.

…

Where were you headed, again?
>To Miku's vacation 'home'. (A huge mansion-thing is technically a 'home', right?)
>To Akari and Akane's place. It's not particularly big or interesting, but you're not complaining.
>To the small settlement those genetically-engineered pointy-eared dudes made for themselves after the whole thing with those alien guys.
>To the palace. It's not completed, yet, but it /is/ Akari's. Not choosing this won't make any sort of 'route' or 'ending' or whatever unavailable, so don't feel like you have to pick this one to become the god-empress or what-not, okay?
>To Mami and the Twins' new place. It's like a combination Christmas/Housewarming/New Years/whatever-else party!
>Somewhere else? (Write-in!)

>>37026509
>To Mami and the Twins' new place. It's like a combination Christmas/Housewarming/New Years/whatever-else party!
Mami knows how to party hard!

>>37026509
>>To Miku's vacation 'home'. (A huge mansion-thing is technically a 'home', right?)
I take it this is set a ways down the road, given the presence of the palace?

>>37026614
It's in the 'near future', as far as I'm concerned.

Rolled 4 (1d5)

>>37026490
>>These guys are your friends- no, your family
Does that by any chance happen to include Precia?

>>37026728
Yup.
>You are Fate- Fate Testarossa, now-

>>37026591
Mami and the Twins' place!

>>37026614
>Miku's big house-place-thing!

I think I'll go ahead and go with Miku's place.
Mostly 'cause I just realized that the other one's probably too small...
Don't you judge me. I can't into architecture.

Anyways, writing!

>>37026865
Eh, long as they still booze it up it's fine by me.

>>37026914
>booze it up
Half of the cast is underage, man.

Wait, that IS a reason to booze it up. Go ahead!

After a few more minutes of walking, Mokarin and her bunch come to the crest of the hill you've been trudging up.

[I HAVE ACQUIRED VISUAL CONFIRMATION OF THE DESTINATION,] Mokarin buzzes, and, sure enough, as you come over the hill, you see it.

“Holy shit,” you breathe, taking in the sight of what can only be described as the biggest house you've ever seen. It dominates the landscape, making the trees surrounding its wall/fence seem like deformed toothpicks by comparison. More than that, it's rather beautiful. You don't know how to describe it, if you're honest.

As you all stand and gawk at the place, a colossal jet of flame shoots up into the sky.

You can't help but think of how gloriously warm that must be...

The others seem to be of a mind with you, as they join you in making your way to the bastion of warmth that is the big house-thing with redoubled effort and resolve.

Before you know it, you're there, at the doorstep. The gate was left open, presumably because you and your comrades were expected, but the big double-doors of the front entrance are closed.

Closed, and also large and imposing.

…

>Knock. It's only the polite thing to do.
>Barge right in! They're just keeping the warm air inside... well, /inside/.
>Open it enough to poke your head in and look around.
>Move aside and let someone else do something. (Who?)
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>37027173
>Knock. It's only the polite thing to do.
Never barge in into a mad/angry scientist's place.

>>37027173
>Knock. It's only the polite thing to do.
Too polite for her own good, but that's Fate for you.

>>37027173
>>Knock. It's only the polite thing to do.
Fate is nothing if not polite most of the time.

>>37027258
>>37027279
>>37027308
>knock knock!

Okay, writing!

You reach up and rap the cold metal of your knuckles on the rightmost door, and, after a few moments, it swings inwards to reveal a smiling Akane-san, clad in a Santa costume only slightly more revealing than her usual attire.

“Come in, come in~!” She sings, stepping aside to allow entry.

You all shuffle inside, and find that the front room is even prettier than the outside of the place is. Before you can spend too much time gawking, you find that Mami and Akane are leading you and Mato to a fireplace that seems a bit larger than is really necessary, with a nice, warm-looking rug covering the floor in front of it.

“You look like you're on the verge of freezing solid, Fate-chan,” Akane comments, her arm looped through yours and her smile giving way somewhat to reveal a rather concerned look directed at none other than you yourself.

Before too long, you and Mato are huddled up together before the fireplace, with a large and fluffy blanket wrapped around the both of you.

Akane gives Mami directions to the kitchen when asked, then, after the blonde has decided to prepare hot cocoa, Akane pats both you and Mato on your heads. “I'll go fetch Akari-chan, okay? She'll warm you up faster than any fireplace~!”

Mato perks up a bit at the mention of her red-headed girlfriend, and you can't help but grin a little at how puppy-like the girl is.

The others begin to congregate around the fireplace, too, providing even more body heat for you and Mato to bask in.

…

>You are Akari~n!
>You are Mato!
>You are... someone else? (Who? Write-in!)

>>37027872
>You are Akari~n!
As if this is even a question!

>>37027872
>>You are Akari~n!
Agreed.

File: akari intro party.gif (938 KB, 500x281)

938 KB GIF

>>37027944
>>37027960
>Aka-riiin!

Aye-aye, Cap'n!
Writing!

You slip between Chariot and Strength, step over Mami's outstretched legs (and nod understandingly at the apologetic smile she gives you- the Twins are sitting on either side of her, with their legs crossed across each other's over Mami's lap, and their heads resting on either side of her bosom- she couldn't move her legs if she wanted to) and pat Mokarin on the head as you pass by where she and Precia are discussing... whatever it is they're discussing.

You reach the pair of twin-tailed heads- one blonde, one as black as night (and uneven)- sharing the fluffy blanket and huddling together closer to the fireplace than anyone else, and, after standing behind them for a moment to assess how best to do this, you...

>Tap them both on their shoulders. No surprises.
>Try to slip into the blanket between them.
>Give them a cheery greeting!
>Nestle up against their backs (without warning).
>Move to their side and sprawl yourself out onto their laps!
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>37028473
>Something else? (Write-in!)
>Glomp Mato, tackle-hug a best

>>37028473
>>Give them a cheery greeting!
We are go for maximum cheerfulness, I repeat we have a go.

>>37028473
>>Give them a cheery greeting!
>>Nestle up against their backs (without warning).

Welcome back QM!

Rolled 3 (1d5)

>>37028473
>the pair of twin-tailed heads
Wait a second, are they asleep? That might be important in a minute.

>>37028624
>3

You're not really sure!

>>37028665
Guess we're not changing the plan then. Full speed ahead!

>>37028532
TACKLE-HUG

>>37028569
>>37028608
>GREETING

>>37028608
CAT MODE

If you've a vote to cast or wish to change your vote, speak now or forever hold yer piece!

Okay, then!
Writing for cheerful greeting!

You smile, then greet the two, “Mato~! Fate-chan~!” They both turn their heads to look up at you, and your grin widens. “Merry Christmas!”

Mato immediately nuzzles your thigh with a cheerful “Akari!”

Fate, on the other hand, scoots over a bit, giving you room to sit between herself and Mato, which you quickly take advantage of, plopping yourself down between the two and draping an arm over Fate's shoulder, pulling her closer to your body- and your warmth. Mato doesn't need to be pulled, and is already pressed against you and rubbing her cheek against yours by the time you've brought Fate closer.

“Akari~” Mato hums, “I love you~!”

You nuzzle her back a little and give her bottom a squeeze. Uh, er- completely by accident, of course!

Fate's head gently comes to rest on your shoulder, and she yawns, “You two are so... gay,” before trailing off into sleepy babbling that quickly gives way to the slow, deep breathing of sleep.

You show Mato, and she agrees that Fate's cute when she's sleeping, with the 'Awwws' and 'So cutes' one would expect of a girl observing something of that nature.

After several minutes of quietly conversing with Mato, a form that can only be Mami's leans its back against yours. “Akari-chan,” she whispers, “thank you for being so warm.”

You tell her it's just what you do, but realize that she's already fast asleep, with the Twins cuddled up against her and sleeping soundly in her lap.

Mato yawns into her hand and leans her head on your shoulder. You stroke her hair gently, and she falls asleep in no time at all.

>Sleep. Everybody's doing it!
>Stay until you're satisfied that Mato and Fate have warmed up, then go off and do something.
>Stay awake, but stay there.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>37029280
>Stay until you're satisfied that Mato and Fate have warmed up, then go off and do something.
Surely there are some holiday preparations that still need to be done!

>>37029280
>>Stay until you're satisfied that Mato and Fate have warmed up, then go off and do something.
Let's compromise between helping out and getting shit done.

>>37029280
>Stay until you're satisfied that Mato and Fate have warmed up, then go off and do something.
How odd that Fate and Mokarin aren't together.

>>37029347
>>37029374
>>37029498
>Stay until warm, then get the heck outta Dodge

Okay, writing!

Goddammit Boss, why do you have to run just when I'm in the middle of a trip, with limited internet connection and just about ready to hit the bed aftr a day and evening of traveling and partying?

And it's a Holiday Edition! AND you're teasing me with God-Empress Akari too!
God, why do you make me suffer so?

Theatrics aside, I wish you all Happy Holidays and an amazing New Year. You can be sure I will catch up with this tomorrow, so have fun.

And if you guys can squeeze some God-Empress Akari shenanigans in, then all the better

>>37029686
We'll do our best anon!

After a half an hour or so, when the color has returned to Fate and Mato's faces, you carefully extract yourself from between the two, leaning them against one another- as well as against Mami's back.

Impressed that you managed it without waking anyone up, you admire your handiwork for a moment before planting a gentle kiss on top of Mato's head and making your way out of the front room.

As you step into the next room, you're greeted by several sights.

The first is Chariot, whose wheels are being swapped out (for what you can only assume are tires that once belonged to a small bicycle) by Precia and Mokarin. Chariot herself is seated on the looooong table that dominates the room, which probably isn't all that polite, but you can't really blame her- a chair would've been too short; her wheels would've been on the floor, which would make removing them a pain... probably.

The second sight is the humongous tree that dominates the room even more than the table, which, up until you considered the tree, had the room absolutely and completely defined by it. Sayaka and Kyouko are working with Nee-chan to decorate the colossal thing.
If you were asked, you'd say the tree was winning. They seem to have made very little headway.

The third involves Miku sitting in Strength's giant metal hand, messing with something in the wrist or forearm, by the looks of it, while Strength herself seems like she's trying very hard not to look at what Miku is doing.

>See if Chariot could use an extra hand.
>See if Nee-chan could use an extra hand.
>See if Miku could use an extra hand.
>Chat with Strength. (Anything in particular you want to talk about?)
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>37030015
>See if Chariot could use an extra hand.
Precia and Mokarin don't strike me as the best choices for manual labor, but I guess they can't exactly help with the tree either.

>>37030015
>>See if Chariot could use an extra hand.
The tree can wait and we would probably only be getting in Miku's way.

>>37030015
>See if Nee-chan could use an extra hand.
Help Nee-chan decorate the tree!
...Wait, what do you meam fire ISN'T a traditional christmas decoration?

>>37030140
One extra-large Yule log coming right up!

>>37030060
>>37030074
>Chariot!

>>37030140
Nee-chan!

Okay, writing!

You make your way to Chariot, Mokarin, and Precia. If nothing else, they're the closest.

“Hey,” you greet them, “you guys need any help?”

Chariot nods. “The cold's made the bolts in my legs really difficult to remove,” she says, gesturing at her wheels. “If you could warm them up, this'd be a lot easier... and a lot less... uncomfortable.”

You begin heating the metal that makes up her legs, taking it nice and slow, so as to avoid any possibility of breaking anything.

…

After maybe an hour, you've got Chariot's bladed wheels off of her, and replaced them with the (admittedly quite silly-looking) bicycle wheels, one of which needed to be aired up a bit.

By the time you, Mokarin, and Precia have Chariot and her floor-safe wheels all ready to go, Miku and Strength have joined in on decorating the tree, which is... still mostly barren.

A glance at the clock tells you it's about time for dinner preparations to begin, too.

…

>Help with the tree!
>Start making dinner!
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>37030620
>Start making dinner!
Our powers might actually be useful for that one!

>>37030620
>>Start making dinner!
This way we can work on our fine control some more.

>>37030620
>Start making dinner!
We'll save the apron for later.

>>37030655
>>37030674
>>37030803
>Akari cook!

Okay, writing!

You decide to get started on dinner. After all, you're not exactly the ideal tree-decorator, given your predilection to turning things into horribly burned versions of themselves.

You are, however, rather an ideal cook, given your status as a human oven.

You make your way across the dining room (tree room?), through the old-west saloon-style doors, and into the kitchen.

You take a moment to admire this monument to places where food is prepared, then cross the (checkerboard-patterned) black-and-white tile floor. You put the ham into the oven and place the turkey on a pan on the countertop and begin cooking it with your powers, slow and steady. You also begin peeling potatoes.

More people join you as time goes on- Chariot rolls in and helps you with the potatoes, Mami starts baking all sorts of sweets in the other ovens, and, after awhile, Sayaka comes in and starts making... well, you weren't really paying a lot of attention. You were busy mashing potatoes and cooking a turkey, at the time.

Everything finishes at just about the same time, and, by the time everything's set out at the table, the tree is covered in lights and tinsel and those fragile glass ornaments and all sorts of fun stuff.

The food is great, and, after finishing with the post-meal cleaning and what-not, it's pretty late.

>Hang out with everyone in the main room.
>Go off and do something with Mato.
>Find a bed. Fall into the bed. Sleep.
>Something else? (Write-in!)

>>37031503
>Hang out with everyone in the main room.
>Something else? (Write-in!)
>Alcohol
It's not a New Year's party without busting out the booze!

>>37031503
>Go off and do something with Mato.
Offtopic, but that mention of checkerboard-patterned black-and-white tile floor made me wonder if Miss Monochrome is around. A twintailed android idol would be all up Miku's alley.

>>37031503
>>Hang out with everyone in the main room.
>>Something else? (Write-in!)
>>Acquire beer
Quick question, where's the mansion located? I don't think AC has the space to spare for that sort of thing, though I could be wrong.

>>37031586
>>37031617
>alcohol
>as an underaged cop
>whose girlfriend is an underaged cop
>in a room with co-worker cops

Also, you have super-destructive fire powers. And it's Christmas Eve.
... though I don't recall if I mentioned the date, now that I think on it.
...
Oops.

The mansion's out in the middle of nowhere.

>>37031612
Go and do sappy couple stuff!

>>37031586
>>37031617
>hang out with everyone else!

Alright, writing... I guess.

>>37031923
Guess that makes sense, we just prioritized potential hilarity over logic. And how were we able to all get out of the City so easily? One would think that Crowley would be even less likely to let Akari and co. leave than usual if they were instrumental in beating the Tau. Then again, it's not like Academy City makes a whole lot of sense anyways.

You and Mato head to the front room, joining everyone else in sitting around and socializing. You catch up with Strength and Chariot, tease Mami and the Twins by asking when they're getting married, and take turns swapping stories of your exploits and experiences a few months back.

The latter takes up quite a long time, as everyone present was involved in the conflict in one way or another, and there are lots of questions being asked and answered.

It's a bit of an eye-opener. You never realized how involved the whole situation had been. Hearing the different perspectives, finding out what everyone else was doing when you were doing the things you were doing at the time.

It makes you appreciate how many variables there are involved in a conflict of any sort. How many people were involved. How many people you relied on, and how many people relied on you.

…

After that conversation, everything seems to die down a bit.

It seems everyone's reflecting on things the same way you are.

…

It's odd, the way a little perspective can change the way you look at something entirely.

>Take Mato out to look at the stars. They'll be nice and visible out here, away from the city.
>Take your Mato and go find a bed to sleep in. You can do sappy romantic stuff later, after you've slept.
>Stay here with everyone else awhile longer.
>Something else. (Write-in!)

>>37032496
>Take Mato out to look at the stars. They'll be nice and visible out here, away from the city.
This doesn't seem like an opportunity we'd get very often, so let's take advantage of it while we can.

>>37032496
>>Take Mato out to look at the stars. They'll be nice and visible out here, away from the city.
Sleep is for the weak.

>>37032496
>Take Mato out to look at the stars. They'll be nice and visible out here, away from the city.
We see the other girls every day anyways.

>>37032586
>>37032611
>>37032683
>Show her the giant plasma balls

Okay!
Roll d20 to know things about the stars

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>37032715
Star knowledge is a go?

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>37032715
Stars, much like Mato herself, are hot.

>>37032761
Well then. Looks like Akari's going to be making shit up.

File: Mato WHAT.jpg (126 KB, 800x485)

126 KB JPG

>>37032757
>>37032761
Pffff-hahaha

This'll be enjoyable.
Writing!

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>37032802
And she's going to get called out on her shit.

"So, stars? They're actually HUGE Tau ships"

>>37032845
What if Raildex!Earth is actually a Necron tomb world and that's where all the advanced tech came from?

You grab Mato's hand and give it a squeeze to get her attention. She gives you a questioning look, and you smile. “C'mon,” you say, giving her hand a tug as you rise to your feet and lead her to the double-doors that separate inside from out.

She pulls her coat tighter around herself as you lead her outside, and asks, “Where are we going?”

Your only answer is a wink. You walk around to the side of the house and, with a somewhat-liberal application of your powers, turn a patch of snow into a patch of dry (warm, even) grass.

Mato seems confused until you lay down on the grass and pat the ground beside yourself, at which point she blinks, shrugs, and joins you.

She keeps her eyes on you the whole time, looking for direction. Trying to figure out what it is you've brought her out here for.

After a few moments, you bring your lips to her ear and whisper, “Look up.”

“Look... up?” She blinks. “What? Why-” she seems to lose her train of thought as she looks up at the night sky, unobstructed by the lights of the city, for the first time.

“Wow,” she breathes, after what seems like several minutes of silent wonderment.

“I thought you might like it,” you say, looking over at her.

“It's gorgeous,” she says, before glancing at you and asking, “Do you know any constellations or anything?”

…

You blink.

Uh.

Um.

…

You point at the moon. “That one's the moon...?”

She looks at you and blinks. “... Akari, I don't think that counts.”

…

>Try to show her the North Star!
>Try to recognize a constellation or something!
>Admit that you've no knowledge of this sort of stuff.
>Something else. (Write-in!)

>>37033533
>Try to show her the North Star!
Even if we crash and burn, we at least have to try dammit!

>>37033533
>>Try to recognize a constellation or something!
Much easier to fake in a pinch, especially if Mato doesn't know her astronomy either.

>>37033533
>Try to show her the North Star!
You're already dead.

>>37033565
>>37033737
>North Star!

>>37033576
Constellations!

Okay, writing!

You look around for a few seconds, then pick one of the brighter stars. “That,” you say, trying not to sound as apprehensive as you feel, as you point out the star to Mato, “I think that's the North Star.”

Mato looks at the star, then frowns. “Uh... you sure?” She looks around a bit, then points out a significantly-brighter star in an entirely different region of the sky. “Unless the 'North Star' is East-Southeast, I think that this one,” she indicates the brighter star again, “is the North Star.”

…

Well, even if you don't know constellations or anything, you still showed her a beautiful sight, right? “Merry Christmas, Mato,” you say, after a longish pause.

Mato rolls over and positions herself on top of (or, rather, just above) you, a smile on her face. “I love it, Akari.” Her grin widens. “Maybe even more than you...?”

You punch her in the shoulder, and she kisses you.

“Merry Christmas, Akari,” she says, “but I think we should head inside.” She yawns, and, as yawning tends to, her yawn makes you want to yawn. And, as soon as you do, she yawns again.

It's as you're heading back to the front door that you see Nee-chan throw open a window and shout, “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!”

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

70 KB PNG

Okay, I'm pooped.

G'night, everyone.

Feel free to ask questions at the land of asking, ask.fm/EsperQuestQM
You can ask questions here, too, but I can't guarantee I'll answer them.

Oh, and be sure to vote in the archives http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?tags=Raildex

It makes the quest look good, I think.

Anyways, that's it for tonight!

>>37034234
Night Boss, we'll ask 'em as we think of them. Kind of a slow thread tonight, but good show nonetheless.