>>39021487
“I’m sure,” you explain and retrieve your headphones, “If I find myself in the mood for something else, I can always go down to the convenience store,”

“Alright,” she offers tentatively before making a declaration, “Wish me luck. Date number 3!”

Nodding to her as she returns to her preparation, you smile. Its good seeing her like this. Happy. Usually the knowledge that she was a mother caused men to not ask her out for follow up outings...at least when you were younger. You think you’ll quite like to meet this Jo when your mother brings him home for dinner some night, if things get that far.

Still, its a friday afternoon. Plenty of time before you need to be anywhere with school still closed. It suits your present purposes just fine.

Restarting the music, you contemplate it as you let the soft and sugary tones wash over you. Your mind drifts as you shut out the rest of the world. Thinking back to yesterday, how it made you feel as you left the hospital. The other boy left soon after you, but the petty upset and jealous feelings remained. Perhaps more than that, a certain anger.

Its like she’s come back to life...but much has changed, hasn’t it? Perhaps all you want is definitive closure on the matter, but a part of you clings to the momentary hopeful nature of your exchange over the card before she again turned cold. Stupid mouth saying words. Being young is confusing, and if you could sever yourself from these feelings you would wash your hands of all of it. You certainly could make use of current position to drown out these unsorted frustrations with offered debauchery.

>>39021514
Is such pettiness you? Hard to say. Pettiness doesn’t suit you, you resolve. You will not turn to that, in your mind It would be wrong and disingenuous.

This pettiness turning within you, however, does provide you with a certain spiteful energy, and you know exactly where to channel it.

Your focus returns to the looping sugar and pop of the CD. Pencil pressed to paper, you resume this work.

And that is life.

Interlude End

>>39021531
Quest Start

Heart and respiratory monitors chime and beep along steadied rhythms. The EKG screen remains a static line, revealing no brain activity...everything happening before you in the glowing tube of shifting hue liquid must be automated after some fashion. You lean in close, to marvel at her face...and the similarities it bares to your own. Especially the eyes.

Those eyes. Perhaps that is what Jewel Thief meant. Perhaps he is someone raised from the dead, reincarnated, or simply a survivor of that time before recorded history...when all the nations of the earth were one. When they were Elysion.

Red, vibrant as and as full of life as a rose. Red, as important to life in the vibrant ichor of fresh blood when it met the open air. Red.

Her still exposed bones are black, no doubt tainted by either the designs of the enemy or by the hand of Queen Metallia so long ago. How would such a thing live? Even now you can watch as the muscle and sinew creeps from beneath ragged flesh over the ebon endo structure only to boil off for the most part. A few centimeters have managed to survive this culling and the attempted expansion starts again before it suffers the same fate. Little by little, flesh tries to reclaim this skeletal frame. New skin hangs loose at the edge as frayed tendrils whipping to find muscle and fat to grab hold to; ends burning when it instead finds the tainted surface.

You can feel Kunzite and Zoisite tensing in disgust at the display before you. This clone in progress grown over the bones of the mother of their master and friend. Queen Kalyke, mother of Prince Endymion...you guess she is your spiritual grandmother.

>>39021550
You are Mikage Chiba, second year high school student age 15, and when you were younger you were the Champion of Love and Justice. Serving as the third woman to bear the title of Sailor Moon, after your mother and older sister, you defended your home from evil machinations...leaving the role behind when the danger was clear. New dangers have arisen, tied to your own final victory and failure, and your younger sister Koyomi stands as the fourth Pretty Guardian of Love and Justice.

In the past few weeks, you have aided her from the shadows...which has proven difficult. Now while investigating the last place where you were Sailor Moon as suggested by the Guardian of Time, Sailor Pluto, you have found something the enemy considered too delicate to attempt to move until now.

Clad in the White Raiment of Endymion, you consider what to do next. Zoisite, in uncharacteristic anger, suggests burning this desecration and giving the bones a proper burial. Kunzite remains quiet. You, expectedly, stare at the blackened bones and wonder if you have the power to cleanse them...or consume their corruption.

It is certainly corruption...we could try to contain it...I don’t think we should destroy it. Its alive. It has a heartbeat. That means something, right? your id worries.

>Contact someone. Your father, Captain Osaka, Tomoe Sensei, or someone else?
>Destroy these machines now and attempt to destroy this thing. Suggestions as to how?
>Get in there and attempt to use magic to purify or your fangs to consume the corruption.
>Step back, this is too much. You need to clear your head.
>Write in

>>39021567
>Contact someone. Your father
I don't think this is something we can decide on our own, and he Definitely has a stake in this decision.

>>39021567
>Get in there and attempt to use magic to purify or your fangs to consume the corruption.

It's a bit late man. I don't know how many people you're going to get.

>>39021567
>Destroy these machines now and attempt to destroy this thing. Suggestions as to how?
It has to be powered by something, right? Pull the "plug".

I'm with Zoisite. It has been dead for time beyond counting, It's not alive now, and thanks to the corruption, it almost certainly can't continue to exist if it's mechanical support is removed.

>>39021971
We originally burned the late night oil, I'm sure we'll have player count tonight comparable and functional.

>>39021806
2nding this

Call Dad

Writing

>>39021567
>Contact someone. Your father, Captain Osaka, Tomoe Sensei, or someone else?

Naru Osaka. Sorry I'm late.

>>39022274
I think contacting PIT might be a bad idea, and this is kinda a family thing.

>>39022447
Honestly, I'd rather spare the family this, if I can. I also don't think we should leave the remains here, and I fear we don't have a lot of time.

PIT would be a reasonable compromise between securing the location, the remains and not burdening Dad with this right before he's set to leave Earth.

And it'd give Naru a leg up too, discovering something that was previously missed.

>>39022502
I don't think Dad's leaving is he?

Anyway, I don't care who it is as long as we at least call somebody before we start fiddling with the damn thing.

Turning away from the tube with a flourish, and dismissing the physical manifestation of Zoisite and Kunzite, you draw your phone and dial a familiar number. Its faster to do it that way than it is to search through your contacts.

It doesn’t even finish ringing once before a familiar, frankly needed and calming to your present situation, answers.

“Mikage,” your father asks, “Is everything okay?”

No....nothing is okay. As balming as you find your father’s voice, it knocks at your walls. Threatens to tear them down.

~I’ve found something,~ you say as a slight tremble begins to take you.

Your free hand raises to clutch across to your opposite arm. Even in the white and almost ceremonial armor of Endymion...you feel insignificant.

~Daddy,~ you choke a bit, ~I found what they’ve been doing. What they’re really working toward. It’s-~

You pause, and turn to look back into the clear glass or plastic. Into her eyes. Piercing red. It means so many things...so much of what the enemy you’ve been facing wants for the earth. Why they’re turning people into weapons. Why they’re trying to collect psychics. Why they wanted control of Helios and his remaining dream of Elysion.

This...she...is their lynchpin. You can’t have a new kingdom without a ruler.

“What is it?” your father asks softly, “Mikage, are you okay,”

~No...daddy,~ you tighten your physical hold on yourself, ~They were making her, cloning her from old bones,~

Steadying yourself, it slips from your mouth.

~your mother,~

For a moment, he’s quiet. It stretches in the dark, time marked by the steady chime of the heart monitor.

>>39023056
“Where are you?”

~Magician’s Lair,~ you say, ~Pluto told me to come...I found a secret room,~

He’s quiet again, but this time there is activity. Either he is preparing something or he’s on the move.

“PIT has been monitoring the entrances among other sites of interest in their main command room,” he explains without stating the likely compromise of your position.

~I entered with an active disguise field,~ you assure him and quickly rattle off, ~but...Kairi came with me. We found a monster and purified her, she was invisible,~

“A response detail might already be on their way. Osaka-san has been there before, that should be easy enough to explain away. I’ll probably be getting a call from them soon. We can assume the enemy is already watching as well,”

PIT might already be on the way. You could easily just close the door and keep this secret between you and your family, waiting for your father to arrive. You could also leave the door open for them to find. What about the enemy trying again to retrieve this?

“I’m coming, Mikage-chan,” he says in response to your silence, “Are you okay?”

~I don’t know, daddy,~

>~We’ll be gone before security arrives~
>~I’ll have Kairi get the girl out and I’ll stay~
>~We’ll stay until they, and you, arrive~
>Write in

&

>Leave things alone
>Try to drain the corruption
>Try to purify the corruption
>Investigate the equipment
>Write in

>>39022769
Mamoru Chiba is not leaving earth.

>>39023071
>~I’ll have Kairi get the girl out and I’ll stay~
someone has to keep a vigil

>Leave things alone but
>Investigate the equipment

>>39023071
>~We’ll stay until they, and you, arrive~

>Investigate the equipment

>>39021487
>>39021514
>>39021531

Okay...Yoshi just seems too normal.

>39023071
>~We’ll stay until they, and you, arrive~

>>39023071
>~We’ll be gone before security arrives~

>Investigate the equipment

>>39023071
>>~We’ll stay until they, and you, arrive~

>Investigate the equipment

Also, sorry guys about the lead up to tonight's thread.

And due to panels, concerts, battery life, and generally being busy, I didn't get quite as many pictures as I had hoped to from the small con I wound up going to today because my wife's ride bailed.

Writing, give me Arcane Lore

dice+1d20+9

best of 3, 1s and 20s wild.

DC 25

Rolled 10 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>39023413

Rolled 11 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>39023413

Rolled 14 + 9 (1d20 + 9)

>>39023413

>>39023457
23 - Surge it?

Here ye here ye

I have heard the call to surge.

Spend yon planet power?

Y/N

>>39023480
Eh, why not.

>>39023493
Y

>>39023493
Y

>>39023493
Y

Rolled 6 (1d8)

SURGE

~We’ll stay until they, and you, arrive,~ you resolve.

“Alright Mikage,” your father says softly, the activity surrounding him pausing, “


As you end the call, a notification reminds you of the unread text sitting in your inbox. Your sister’s lengthy explanation of her calling you in the middle of the day.

>Read Koyomi’s text now
>Do it later

Well, nothing to do now but wait...and perhaps to parse through the magical nature of this equipment. If it can contain the corruption and taint of Metallia, there must be a supernatural element. So you search.

Careful not to disturb the controls on the monitors and devices, you slowly realize there are no external components to anything. No wires or any pipes extending into the walls or floor. Its all self contained. The devices sit on raised feet, enough to see beneath them. There you notice a subtle glow...so you squeeze behind the consoles.

Pressed between it and the wall, you slide the back paneling aside and see a crystal set into a silver labyrinth of inlaid circuitry and symbols.

The crystal itself is not a power source...its reactionary. A loop in a circuit. You understand it easily enough, its processing and running off whatever energy is bleeding off of the taint within those blackened bones. Could it run off lesser taint, like the monsters you’ve encountered?

Food for thought.

Returning the paneling to its place, you leave the room but leave the door ajar. Returning to where Kairi-chan and the Umeki girl are still talking. The lanky young woman is seated back in the chair you had tied her shadow too, this time facing and leaning on the backing. Arms crossed over the top and resting her chin she seems annoyed as she recounts her experiences.

>>39023954
“It was weird,” she rolls her half lidded eyes, “My wants and needs were skewed...but what little free will I had was subsumed. It’s cruel, isn’t it, leaving enough to know I wasn’t free,”

“Yeah. It is cruel,” Kairi-chan agrees.

“What was it like for you?” she lolls her head from side to side, “I mean, did it hurt? My body was mostly the same, but you were something else entirely,”

“For me...it was- Oh,” Kairi-chan looks somber for a moment, but perks up in surprsie at your return, “What did you find?”

~PIT likely knows we’re here,~ you explain, ~And I found what the enemy wants to take from this place,~

“What was it, anyway?” Umeki-san asks with certain boredom, “I’m kinda curious,”

~Something long dead,~ you sigh and maintain the regal composure befitting your armor, ~And nothing you need concern yourself with,~

“Maaaaaan,” the girl draws out her words, “Touchy. Like the new outfit though, actually memorable,”

“PIT will be coming?” Kairi-chan asks in concern.

~They’re monitoring this place,~ you explain.

“Great, guess we better get going. Hopefully my mom can smooth that over,” she huffs.

~She will, but we’ll be here,~ you explain and turn back toward the room.

“Eh?!” both Kairi-chan and Umei-san exclaim.

~We cannot leave this unattended,~ you decide, ~Now we just need to decide if PIT will find us here,~

Kairi-chan bites her lip in thought. Umeki-san continues to look impassively through her drooping gaze.

>Suggest you wait in the open and reveal the secret room on their arrival
>Suggest you wait in the open and hide the secret room
>Suggest you hide in the secret room until your father arrives
>Write in

anyone else get a weird vibe from the interlude?

>>39023973
>Suggest you hide in the secret room until your father arrives
>Read Koyomi’s text now
I still don't trust PIT. I trust Naru and General Kobayashi, but I don't trust the organization as a whole.

>>39023973
>Read Koyomi’s text now
>Suggest you wait in the open and reveal the secret room on their arrival

>>39023973
>Read Koyomi’s text now
>Suggest you hide in the secret room until your father arrives

>>39023973
>Read Koyomi’s text now.

>Suggest you hide in the secret room until your father arrives.

Hiding in the room with the creepy thing doesn't seem like a great idea, but it's better than waiting on PIT turning up and then finding out it's gone walkabout.

>>39024074
Or we could meet PIT at the door.

File: Kek.png (380 KB, 1500x1000)

380 KB PNG

>>39024132
>Trusting the Government agency

>>39024147
Naru Osaka is the only person from that agency that we know, and we have no reason not to trust her,

>>39023973
>>Suggest you hide in the secret room until your father arrives

>>39024177
>Naru Osaka is the only person from that agency that we know

Just because I know nice trustworthy people in the CIA, Masaad, the KGB, SADSOG or the NSA(hi!) does not make them nice and/or trustworthy organizations.

Writing

Wait, while I'm in favor of hiding ourselves there, are we suggesting dragging her there as well?

Operational security etc?

>>39024258
Well it seems to me that if we're doing that, we can't exactly leave her to wander off on her own.

>>39024258
Either she's a liability or a civvie to be protected.

Either way, it's a risk.

>>39024258
I see now, that was covered in choice before that.
Just woke up from a short rest to find us live.

Crystal seems super useful, we may want to call either Luna or Artemis in to help look the tech over.

Given the heartbeat, I'd like to try a cleanse, but if we half wore ourself out just on Umei, I'm concerned whether we have enough juice, and for something this deep Restoration seems the way to go. This is not something to simply gnaw on, and Moon magic somehow seems wrong for this (also didn't clear our own out, and it doesn't seem near as deep as this).

Question is, how to proceed, though I imagine Dad will have something to say as well.

>>39024504
don't we have a Heal SLA?

>>39024524
Hm, could help, should remind myself what was on that list..
Looks like Cure Critical is the strongest we may have with that at the moment.

Very nice for lifesaving, not certain the effect on Shadow from us.

>>39024524
What does Heal do?

>>39024703
Referring to our Spell-Like Ability to cast spells from our own Divine domain of Healing, which we could access up to the 4th level of.
Though we may not be aware of the Healing side yet?

As for what healing does, there does seem to be extra effects to healing powers in this setting beyond the simple returning of lost hit points or ability scores, so I'm not certain what some of these higher-tier ones might do.

>>39024782
Don't we count as two tiers higher?

>>39024793
Bwuh.
>rereads Mythic Paragon.
Snap.
Ok, up to 6th. Dayum.

Opening the message, you find a rambling explanation from your little sister about her attempt at making a move on Kanari’s brother...only for a confused and really stupid response. Apparently, he couldn’t give your baby sister a proper answer until he resolved something first. To which she then accused that he was still hung up on his ‘Osaka-senpai’. She explains how he didn’t respond, but left her alone on the rooftop. She then goes on to explain that teenage boys are stupid, and they’re stupid, and she doesn’t know what else to do and needs some sisterly advice. Particularly if she should have been more forceful in her approach.

That problem...its something normal. It amuses you and grounds you against the glowing translucence.

>Respond now, with what?
>Leave it for later
>Write in

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~We should hide in the secret room and wait to see if PIT does a sweep. If not,~ you spare Umeki-san a glance, ~Someone else is coming,~

You turn away from the other girls and head back toward the entrance into the next room, your cape swaying behind you.

“Who’s coming?” Kairi asks, “And why hide?”

~I trust your mother,~ you say simply, ~That trust does not extend to the whole of PIT…~

“If we’re on the subject of mothers, what about your mother,” she steps forward, “She was willing to-”

~She trusts your mother...Kairi Osaka. I am being pragmatic,~ you say sternly before directing your thoughts toward your friend, -We are working with her in secret. I don’t want this being found and prodded like some science experiment,-

-And this act is for Umeki-san’s benefit?- she mentally responds.

-Of course,- you smile.

Umeki looks back and forth between the two of you in the oddly prolonged silence.

“Should I not be here for this or something?”

~Follow me,~

“You didn’t answer me about who would be coming,” Kairi says plainly.

~My father,~

>>39024851
Moments pass, you pull the book case closed and then close the hidden wall in turn.

“So weird,” Saori Umeki muses as she looks into the vacant face behind the glass, tapping at id idly.

“Yeah. Weird,” Kairi-chan observes and looks to you in soft concern, “Especially the eyes,”

~I’d noticed,~ you sigh and sit against the door and grip the black case to your chest, ~I’d noticed,~

>Leave the case closed
>Open it…
>Write in


A few awkward moments later, you can hear a troop of footsteps on the other side of the door. Your gloomy rescued girl leans against the console, eyes ticking back and forth between you and Kairi, the steady beeping of the heart monitor makes the tableau remind you of one of those cat clocks where the tail and eyes move in time with the clockwork clicks and pops.

You briefly considering doing something to the body...but you think better of it. You at least want to consult with your father before doing anything.

The all clear sounds beyond as you sit quietly. Could they even hear you if you spoke to one another? In the next room you couldn’t hear any of the devices sounding until you opened the door.

“Alright. Head back to command. I want to take one last look around,” a familiar voice echoes through the room, “I want to know what my daughter was doing back here,”

After a flurry of steps and voices, the room beyond is silent. Kairi seems nervous.

“You can come out,” she says quietly.

>>39024863
You sigh and rise. You did say you trusted Captain Osaka, no reason to renege on your word.

“Am I slipping that much?” a familiar voices sounds with mirth and dramatic flair.

A tone you rarely hear in that voice, a presence that is a clarion call to victory when all seems lost. You sit up with a start, for beyond the door your father likely stands in black with tails. There would be a mask across his face like the one you wear.

>Get out there right now, excitedly greet your Tuxedo Papa
>Get up and compose yourself, greet your father and Captain Osaka with dignity
>Keep here for a few moments more, listen to their exchange
>Write in

>>39024876
>>Get out there right now, excitedly greet your Tuxedo Papa
Who needs dignity? We called in our own personal superhero, and daddy came.

>>39024876
>Get up and compose yourself, greet your father and Captain Osaka with dignity

>>39024876
>Get up and compose yourself, greet your father and Captain Osaka with dignity
Assuming this isn't some kind of stupid illusion, then this is too neat.

2x Chiba
2x Osaka

>>39024936
>>39024923
>>39024910

And the other short votes?

>>39024851
>>Leave it for later
That will take more thought.

>>39024863
>Open it.
It is a good day to face difficult things.

>>39024876
>Get up and compose yourself, greet your father and Captain Osaka with dignity
>Keep here for a few moments more, listen to their exchange
We can do both, compose, listen for a moment, greet with dignity- and allows us to pick a suitably dramatic moment to greet them.

File: Teppu Maids.jpg (313 KB, 760x775)

313 KB JPG

So, in my head I imagine Saori as a combination of the middle girl in this image from Teppu crossed with Tomoko from Watamote.

>>39024910
Yup but we're trying to keep the squee factor under control in front of Kairi's mom

>>39024876
>Get up and compose yourself, greet your father and Captain Osaka with dignity

Writing

Give me a Will reaction test related to opening that case.

DC 20

dice+1d20+7

Rolled 1 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>39025041

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>39025041
>>39025041

File: 68 (27).jpg (39 KB, 640x480)

39 KB JPG

>>39025046

Rolled 3 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>39025041

>>39025041
Please 20...

Rolled 11 + 7 (1d20 + 7)

>>39025041
>>39025078

>>39025083
I guess the whole house of cards finally came tumbling down...

>>39025083
If we surge, would it be from this roll or the one?

>>39025046
>>39025066
Surge

>>39025098
1s and 20s are wild. They take precedence over other rolls in their sets.

>>39025100
LO DO I HEAR A CALL FOR SURGE

Y/N

>>39025109
Can't win outright, but mitigating the margin of failure would be great.

>>39025109
N

>>39025109
Y

>>39025109
N

If it isn't adding to the 18 roll then fuck it.

>>39025123
Margins matter we REALLY want to reduce this one.

Hopefully the 3 allies with us can Aid us as well.

>>39025109
Y

Rolled 7 (1d8)

SURGE

Better

>>39025136
Hm, 3 aid another checks could get us a +6, rolled 8, so a 6 or better could win this..

>>39025163
I don't think we have 3 people who can cast that. I think Kairi can, and Dad probably can but I think that's it.

>>39025160
>>39025150
>>39025163
Hope lives?

>>39025174
Cast what?

>>39025204
Aid another. At least I'm assuming it's a spell or else people would be using it for us all the time.

I figure Kairi can use it via Nephrite, and Dad can use it because he's an old school earth kingdom boss. That's still only plus four though by my count.

>>39025257
its an action...can it be used for saves or reactions?

>>39025270
If they could reasonably help. I recall Kairi helping us through one before.

>>39025270
Fuck if I know. If they can, they will - that's how I'm choosing to look at it.

>>39025339
It'll be quite the show of teamwork, and reminding us very very firmly that we can't go off on our own.
Eventually, that lesson will stick.

File: 253362_108773-mens-just-b(...).jpg (79 KB, 519x648)

79 KB JPG

>>39025380
Yeah, Batman has trouble with that one too.

Whatever lay ahead of you is important, responding to your sisters mostly self induced relationship problems will have to wait until you see her in person.

~~~~~~~~~~~

As you sit waiting for the search to end, you carefully regard the black case in your arms. Within is an object which you...sullied. Even if you didn’t actually use it to kill Umino Sensei, you still used the once beautiful instrument within as a weapon of aggression.

Its use once brought you peace...maybe it could do so again?

Carefully you move it away from your chest, fingers sliding to the two clasps that seal it shut. With a minor pressure you flip them open. Umeki looks on, disinterested. Kairi watches, in slight confusion.

The sight of the simple flute grips you. Your heart beats anxiously in your chest as you remember the weight in your hands as you forced your way through all resistance, clean through to the scarred cement floor. Clattering to the ground, you stare at the black lacquered wood flute and feel...judged. Its judging you from within its padded case.

Your heavily covered shoulders shake beneath the tasseled pauldrons as you grit your teeth. The glow lit room around you begins to grow dark at the edges of your vision. You feel like screaming, but manage to bite your tongue, letting your very real fear and worry cry out soundlessly as psychic ephemera.

>>39025458
Its too much, you’re going to lose it, until you tug on the power resting inside of your core, letting it surge up and grant you will enough to find sure footing. A hand grasps at your own, and you glance up to find Kairi looking at you with pleading worry in her eyes. It helps you find strength.

As all this happens, you don’t notice the subtle twitch in the face watching you from behind luminescent fluid and glass...nor the brief silent spike of previously flat activity on the EEG. Neither of the girls with you do either.

With some semblance of stability restored, you snap the case closed and wince. Kairi lays a comforting hand on your shoulder. Umeki-san watches, a bit disturbed by what she had seen.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Rising with cough to clear your throat, you set about securing what parts of your dignity were just left bare to this strange room.

~Let’s go,~ you say with some authority before facing the door and speaking, ~***~

It opens at your words, and you push aside the obscuring book case to reveal the strange glow of the room behind you to the open. There, waiting opposite one another are PIT Captain Naru Osaka and the mysterious thief turned hero Tuxedo Mask.

She is clad in full urban tactical gear and dark gray camouflage patterns, vest, and armaments. The gun at her side sports an attached light, her helmet has a raised night vision goggle visor.

Your father is resplendent in a black tailcoat, red interior lined cape, and otherwise pressed and immaculate suit. His white mask sits upon his eyes, and there sit a top hat and cane tucked under his arm.

They turn to face you.

~Saying that she noticed you because you were slipping is a bit self indulgent, father,~ you cross your arms and sigh as your step forward, ~A woman of Captain Osaka’s position and profession might take it to be an insult of her skills,~

>>39025468
“Hi mom,” Kairi offers from behind you.

Umeki-san follows behind her, though only peering out from behind Kairi. Somehow she has made her tall frame slouch enough that she appears at equal height to the girl she hides behind...if not smaller.

“Hmm,” your father regards your words and offers a small bow to the Captain, “I don’t suppose you could forgive my lapse in manners, Captain,”

“Well, it isn’t like you haven’t help save my life on multiple occasions,” she exudes sarcasm as she unhooks her helmet and hangs it at her side.

She steps past you and to her daughter.

“Kairi, are you alright?”

“Yeah mom,” she reassures her somberly, “I...I just needed to come back here. Where it happened,”

She pulls her daughter into a one armed hug, her large firearm pointed to the ground and out slightly, away from everyone.

“I get it, I know,” she says softly, “Are you going to be okay,”

“I think I will be,” she says with a smile.

“If that’ll be all,” your father interrupts, “I believe we have pressing matters which we must deal with,”

Kairi escorts your classmate out into the main room while you fill Captain Osaka and your father in on what you’ve discovered. The supernatural mechanisms. The likely taint. And the identity as revealed to you by the ghosts of the Shintennou.

You articulate their concerns with its existence as your father stares fixated, though stoic, at the figure within. Offering your potential solutions of purification by means of magic or consumption...both adults strongly suggest you not attempt to sate your thirsts upon the darkness in the blackened bones.

“After what happened at Tokyo Tower,” Captain Osaka says sternly, “I don’t think you should try eating anything metaphorically bigger than your head,”

>>39025480

Your father nods at that assertion, to your mild annoyance.

“While I take Kunzite and Zoisite do not come to their proposed solution lightly...I think to do so is a rash action,” you explains as he returns his collapsed top hat above his brow, “While I have a potential place to hide this, I don’t suppose either of you have any suggested safe locations in mind,”

“I have a black site we can use,” Captain Osaka explains, “Though wherever this goes I don’t know how I’m getting all this past surveillance,”

“Leave that to me,” your father smirks, “And speaking of leaving it to me, Mikage, bring the other girls back here. I’ll get you out of here in a similar fashion,”

>Offer your own ideas about what to do. What?
>Protest, perturbed, that they’re making decisions without you
>Comply with a convenient way out of this place...you can’t stand to stay any longer
>Write in

I'm sorry, I missed the thread.

>He started at 12 AM my time

Wait wait wait wait

What? Why would you do that?

>>39025490
>Protest, perturbed, that they’re making decisions without you
>Comply with a convenient way out of this place...you can’t stand to stay any longer

>>39025532
Thread is Live now.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

Saori Umeki, thinking thoughts with her brain meats.

>>39025490
>Write in
"Is this Black Site one we can access without PIT knowing about this?"
Express concern about tech involved and being a bit of a family matter.
No issue with Dad as an escape route, just want to be sure about where we are going with this.

>>39025532
I think everybody would appreciate it you just voted on the update that happened like 15 minutes ago instead of whining that you 'missed the thread'

Just saying

>>39025490
We need a proper hideout.

Alright, let's see what kind of hideaway Dad has got.

>>39025532
did you not follow his twitter this weekend? Out of sheer spite for having a life.

Writing, final update of the night

>>39025568

I'll second this

~I’m mildly concerned you seem to be making this decision without my input,~ you pout a bit.

Captain Osaka and your father share a glance.

“And what would you suggest?” your father offers.

~I’m uncomfortable with this...finding being under PIT control and storage. Its a family matter,~ you sigh uncomfortable, ~I’m concerned about our being able to come and go without PIT knowledge, and even studied by the government I think that tech would prove dangerous. Though where would you even put it, father?~

“We have an expandable space. I can show it to you and Captain Osaka later, if you’d both like,” he smiles and lays a hand on your head to ruffle your hair.

“That would be acceptable,” Captain Osaka nods and clicks her tongue, “but I want to be kept in the loop on this if we’re keeping PIT command out,”

“But of course,” your father smiles.

~Now, how are you getting it and us out of here,~ you ask.

“Fetch the girls, it’ll be easier to show than to explain,” he smirks with confidence and bravado.

Nodding, you retrieve Kairi-chan and Umeki-san from the next room. The two talking about inconsequential things, leaving behind their discussion of their now shared monstrous experiences.

“If we’re leaving, then why are we going deeper into this place,” Umeki asks nervously.

Your father heralds your group’s arrival with a flourish of his cape, hurling its swirling mass toward you. It covers and engulfs all three of you, and when it is withdrawn…

When it is withdrawn, you three stand in the light. Somewhere in the industrial park, for sure, but amid the open air of an empty lot. Not a soul in sight.

“Well...that was...weird,” Kairi observes, emotionally exhausted.

~Still, no small victory,~ you smirk and test furling your own cape a few times, giddy at the possibilities.

“So, wait,” Saori Umeki offers, “If Tuxedo Mask is your dad...and your mom also trusts Captain Osaka…”

>>39025753

You and Kairi turn to the slouching and now musing girl, sunken eyes following her own fingers counting off the information she has at hand in an almost lazy fashion. There is a sudden worry and dread at the back of your mind. She’s your classmate. She saw the flute. Your flute. Mikage Chiba’s flute!

“A-and you know Osaka-san. Not to mention I totally can’t remember what your face looked like even when you were right in front of me. A-nd you made me myself again and not a magical monster slave,” she balls her fingers back into a fist and hesitates, waffling back and forth as she sways a bit before springing into action and pointing an accusatory finger at you with suddenly wide eyes, “Y-y-you’re Sailor Moon!”

Eclipsed Moon Quest Episode 75
Pause or End? Only sleep and thread life will tell.

No interlude vote yet, talk about stuff...keep us floating and I’ll come back later to run a bit more this afternoon.

So...go ahead.

Talk. Shadowrun. Make assumptions. And react to that last scene.

I've got an appointment with a pillow.

>>39025763
Probably a more painful accusation than accusing us of being Mikage.

>>39025784
Have a good rest Art, I shall get what rest I can as well.

>>39025763
Nah, we're totally not Sailor Moon. That's just crazy.

>>39025841
How does one even react to such an assertion or charge?

Huh, Principal Sakurada is happy.

The show taught me that she can't have nice things.

>>39026686
Well, looks like it gets passed down generationally.

>>39025763

PANIC.

>>39026896
Oh man, anyone have any aloe for that burn?

>>39027066
Oh god, do we have our pills for that?

Or would that out us as Mikage Chiba!?

>>39026896
I think he's up to something.

The universe didn't want me sleeping more than an hour and a half at a time...which is bullshit.

At least there was brunch, coffee, and a surprise visit of my pops.

See you guys in the afternoon.

>>39021531
Ces'la vie?

>>39025763
> “Y-y-you’re Sailor Moon!”
Good job. We should have had Kairi take her out of the CZ at soon as possible.

[X] Perfect Lie - "No, but I've met her. Sailor Moon isn't something you get to be because of an accident of birth"

>>39029038
I'm not sure if that perfect lie has entirely too much truth in it to count as a lie.

I wonder if she could qualify for Shittenou powers.

>>39025763
> “Y-y-you’re Sailor Moon!”
[X] Perfect Lie - No, I'm the next ruler of Earth. Sailor Moon is my little sister.

You know I remember us talking about getting more info on Yoshi Sakurada, or at least his position, perspective, and actions.

Now we get it, and a major slap in the face hint...and we're not talking about it.

>>39029141
That's not a lie.

Resumation of quest delayed because I have been requested to help with some house cleaning despite my punch drunk state.

Keep us alive, discuss things. Shadowrun. Please, I enjoy watching your theories and paranoia unfold my dear friends.

>>39029878
It's cool, I have to go to class in 30min anyway, and I'll be out of pocket most the rest of the day.

>>39029950
Pockets are surprisingly flexible these days.

>>39030033
Not in the bowels of the Science and Engineering Library with no cell reception they're not.

>>39030046
A fair point, a fair point.

Is it bad that I kind of want to bring her into the know, so we can continue interacting with her a bunch?

I also kind of want that fujoshi personality interacting with her, just to see what would happen

>>39026524
"YES I AM!"

It takes the heat off the real one.

“Y-y-you’re Sailor Moon!” your slouching and mildly emaciated classmate, Saori Umeki, worriedly declares as she levels an accusatory finger at you.

No doubts cloud her assertion, and Kairi-chan glances at you in worry. None of her secrets are on the line here, but worry for your own spurs her...and she is right.

While you may be able to admit that you were the third Sailor Moon, that knowledge existing outside of your own few trusted friends fills you with sudden terror. That people were suggesting that your savage state as the Dark Lady was upsetting enough, but someone pointing at you, declaring openly that you are in fact Sailor Moon when you have left that title behind causes something to shift within you.

>PANIC!(Will reaction test to resist)
>Enrages you! (Will reaction test to resist)
>Ignites a warmth within you
>write in

&

>PANIC!
>Lie (Mundane or Perfect, What do you say?
>Deflect, what do you deflect with.
>~...I was,~
>~I am,~
>...would it be so bad so bad to let someone else in. Someone else who is lonely?
>Write in

>>39030385
>Ignites a warmth within you

>~...I was,~

Bueller? You were just all here?

>>39030385
>Ignites a warmth within you
>~...I was,~
... but I haven't been for awhile now, that was the place where I stopped being Sailor Moon.

>>39030645
Went to get lunch

>>39030385

>Ignites a warmth within you
>...would it be so bad so bad to let someone else in. Someone else who is lonely?
>~...I was,~

Counting, writing

The accusation, it ignites something warm within you. A pleasant confidence that undercuts the rising tide of panic within you. You cannot help but smile as you approach the girl, who reels back a bit in awe at your approach. By the time you are in front of her, she’s uncurled back to her full height and leans back, her feet frozen to the ground in her own shock.

~...I was,~ you nod to her, to a sudden sparkle in her eyes, before turning to Kairi, ~See her home...her family might be worried to suddenly remember a daughter who isn’t there,~

This causes Umeki-san to snap back into a slouch and to pitch forward a bit as her hands slap against either side of her head and physically steady her sudden state of panic.

“Oh no! what do I even tell them. How do I explain being gone? Would they even notice?” she starts loudly before mumbling to herself as you walk away.

Kairi nods as you round the corner of a nearby warehouse and lean back against the wall. Exhaling a difficult breath, you hold the black case to your chest with one hand as your other snakes up and removes the white mask from its perch on your nose. The white raiment vanishes, and you are again yourself. Relaxing the hold of your disguise field, you let a bit more of yourself creep back into the world.

Arm still pressing the black case containing your long abandoned musical instrument your hand rests above your heart. It beats with a strong warmth. It reminds you of a feeling you got when you briefly met Koito Kino as Miki several nights ago. When Saori Umeki accused you, rightly, of being Sailor Moon it opened your awareness to something.

In similar fashion to how the ambient fear of the city over the Red Eyed Beast granted new strength and power over shadow and darkness to you...the belief in the Sailor Moon that you were envelopes you. Prayers, worry, trust, and belief. People still believe in you.

Well... I'd have voted different, but I'm busy being at work.

>>39031292
Even if you didn’t...

People hope you are okay, that the return of the others alongside the fourth meant that you’d be seen again. That your fate would be known...and that you’d be okay.

You become acutely aware of a new way to utilize the power of your Starseed. Much like the expanded potential for Shadow afforded you beyond the reach of mortal sorcery...so too have you gained powers of healing and purification.

Tears slide down your cheeks, you didn’t even notice your were crying as you lean there smiling. Tilting your head up to the sky you utter a prayer of your own.

~Thank you,~ you let your eyes close and bask in the fleeting awareness before the pulsing power inside you is your only reminder, ~truly, thank you everyone,~

Drying those tears, you steady yourself.

>Head back out there to Kairi and Umeki-san, you need to talk to Kairi about Koyomi’s text
>Offer Kairi a short apology and go clear your head somewhere else
>Give Koyomi a call, see how her young heart is dealing with these matters
>Clearing your head is overrated, get out of your head. Be someone else, who?
>write in

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40 KB JPG

"I'm not wearing a Sailor Fuku".

>>39031308
>Head back out there to Kairi and Umeki-san, you need to talk to Kairi about Koyomi’s text

>>39031308
>Give Koyomi a call, see how her young heart is dealing with these matters

>>39031308
>Clearing your head is overrated, get out of your head. Be someone else, who?
Fujoshi time. it has waited too long

>>39031308
>Offer Kairi a short apology

>Clearing your head is overrated, get out of your head. Be someone else, who?

Fujoshi tiiiiiime! Then,

>Give Koyomi a call, see how her young heart is dealing with these matters

>>39031308
>Give Koyomi a call, see how her young heart is dealing with these matters

Voting to NOT be someone else.

Final Destination in a minute. Everyone get on deck.

Final Destination!

Please reply to this post with ONLY THE NUMBER ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR CHOICE
No comments, linebreaks, greentext, or punctuation. No dice. No images.
Replies must be within 4 minutes of this being posted to count.

1 Give Koyomi a Call
2 Clear your head, disguise pen!

Ready? GO!

>>39031924
1

>>39031924
1

>>39031924
1

>>39031924
2

Called. Writing delay, called to help clean more.

>>39031308
Nice work in there. Awesome, actually.

Looks like we're chatting with the current Moon about love and maybe justice.

Good luck folks, my break is short, but looks like we're in good hands.

>>39032846
I'm still itching to meet that part of our self, but this is an acceptable reason to defer.

Once you’ve found your bearings, you decide to take out your phone. Kairi sent you a short text telling you that she thought your theatrics were on the spot and she gets why you needed to pull the disappearing act; she’ll catch up with you later.

That burden removed from your shoulders, you resolve to apologize for dropping out like that next time you see her. For now though, you need a distraction from everything that happened down in that place. TIme to trade the realm of paranormal family drama for the realm of mundane family drama.

Time to respond to your little sister’s text, and get a more clear picture of exactly what’s going on.

Rolling through your contacts list, you find your little sister’s cell phone, and in the process you balk at the time. How long did you spend hidden down there? Classes should already be out by now...and you’re feeling famished.

“Mikage!” your sister squeals from your speaker, “Where have you been! What do I do about Koito!” you can practically feel your little sister gripping her cellphone with both hands.

~Slow down Koyomi-chan,~ you sigh, ~and tone your voice down. I was out getting some stuff in order. So, walk me through what happened from the beginning?~

Your sister takes a few deep breaths and recounts, with flowery prose and likely embellishment, the events upon the rooftop. How her maidens heart couldn’t bare Koito’s uncertainty regarding his mother and sister’s secret. Offering herself to be a point of comfort for him in his coming uncertainty, pleading him to bare her no ill when he knows the truth. How he was stunned...and then seemed uncomfortable and guilty before heading off to resolve something.

The entire time, you’ve been making your way out of the industrial park. Your carefully honed senses bringing you toward some semblance of civilization and something to settle the quiet murmur creeping up your throat.

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14 KB JPG

>>39034250
“And I just know WHO he was going to try and resolve things with,” you can hear the groaning pout and imagine her slumping back on a chair somewhere, “And to make matters worse, once Auntie Makoto and Kanari-chan tell him the truth tonight...he’s going to be completely hung up on you too!”

~Sounds like quite the complicated situation,~ you remember what Kairi told you about her plot and little date with Gai.

“It iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis,” Koyomi whines, “And now I’ve got all these bad cliches in my head about him going out with Kairi-chan, me retaliating by going out with Gai, and you spying on both of us and...ARHG! Help me Mikage-neechan, I need guidance. I’m this close to washing my hands of Koito-chan and throwing myself at Yeon-san at the Crowne!”

>Write in your sisterly advice or sabotage.

&

>Acquire Lunch from a stand or convenience store
>Go home and acquire food.
>Go to the Crowne Arcade. Get Koyomi to meet you there y/n?
>Write in

Dinner inbound. So plenty of time to vote and what not.

File: 0da1221f5b8958e251c1dd351(...).png (751 KB, 827x1103)

751 KB PNG

>>39034276
~Sis, you're hungry. And being hungry makes you paranoid. Let's get something to eat and talk about it there. ~

>Go to the Crowne Arcade. Get Koyomi to meet you there y/n?
Y
Y
Y
Y
Y

>>39034276
>"Koyomi. Breathe. .....Are you taking deep breaths? Good. Ok, now you need to relaaaaax. It's too early at this point to tell anything about the situation. You've made your feelings clear to him, and you've put the ball in his court. My advice is to take a step back from the situation and see how it plays out, as you've done all you can to influence his opinion on the matter. If it helps, I think you made the right call."
>Go to the Crowne Arcade. Get Koyomi to meet you there y?

>>39034440
this sounds good.

>>39034405
"Dial it back a bit. What are you actually trying to achieve?

Heading home for lunch. See you there?"

>>39034276
>Go to the Crowne Arcade. Get Koyomi to meet you there y/n?

Y

>>39034405
>>39034276
I second the fooding at Crowne idea. Good sisterly bonding and/or video games and/or mountain of icecream.

Ultimately, I think we should lean toward honesty, though that might be a bummer for the littlest bunny. Kairi is interested, so we can't get between them on this, we care for our friend and our sister. And Yeon is likely taken and way too old for her, she needs some9ne with the energy to keep up with her.

Back, tallying and computing.

>>39034911
I don't think there are any boys in that universe who can match her for insanity. Better just find her someone really patient who's into wild bunny love.

>>39035553
>I don't think there are any boys in that universe who can match her for insanity.

We'll have to find some then!

SIDE CHARACTER HUNT IS A GO

>>39036239
I hate to say this, but I don't think that is something we can do for her. Unless she wants to wrastle a bear. We could probably arrange that.

~Okay, Koyomi. I need you to breathe. I need you to relax,~ you rub your temples at her rampant paranoia, ~School just got out, right? You know how you get when you’re hungry,~

“Food isn’t as important as this is right now!” she moans, “I can’t relax right now. This is the most important thing in the world...well, I guess not as important as saving the world,”

~Okay. I’ve got some ideas, but I’m not doing this over the phone. I’ll meet you at the Crowne Arcade. We can eat something and unwind with a few games, then go home for the big family dinner mom wanted before she leaves. Okay?~ you offer as none of the vendors you pass in your trek home strike you as inspirational meal choices.

“R-really?! You and me, hanging out at the Crowne! Like when you were still in Junior High with me?”

~Yeah, like back then,~ you sigh and smile.

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!” you pull the phone away from your ear, “Mikage-neechan that’s brilliant!”

You aren’t certain if it really was the brilliant, in retrospect.

It doesn’t take long to find your way there, and waiting there outside is your baby sister. She’s still in her school uniform, and she’s bouncing up and down in excitement.

Her enthusiasm is contagious. Despite everything that has happened so far, she’s still really happy to have her big sister back. She practically tackles you in a hug, you spin her, set her down, and the two of you head in. Sisters in long bun topped pigtails together for the afternoon.

A young woman behind the snack counter blanches as the two of you take a booth. You catch her waving down Yeon, who is standing on the floor of the arcade with a change belt. She gestures in the general direction of the two of you in a panic as the color drains from her face. Yeon looks thoughtful for a moment as Koyomi happily hums over the menu, before nodding and trading his change belt for the girl’s apron.

>>39036838
“And this, maybe this! Oh I need to try this,” your sister muses as she pours over the menu.

“Good afternoon Chiba-san and young miss,” Yeon Sek asks with pad in hand, “What can I get the two of you?”

“Oh! Yeon-san Yeon-san, this is my Oneechan, Mikage!” your sister boasts proudly before ticking in embarrassment, “And...ummm, I guess I need a minute,”

There is a momentary widening of Yeon’s eyes at her declaration of your familial status. You’ve been here on occasion, rarely as yourself. Those few times you were, you avoided conversation with anyone. His eyes shift over to you, and linger. It isn’t a sexual leer, but his momentary scrutiny before returning to his smiling wait staff demeanor puts you a bit on edge.

~I’ll just have the crepe parfait cone,~ you order with a smile, no sense in starting on something heavy, ~to start,~

“Oh, I’ll have that too,” she nods firmly in agreement.

You both continue to hold your menus.

“Alright then,” he nods and heads back over to the snack counter.

Its after school, so the place is starting to fill up. He makes a few trips back and forth between tables and orders at the counter.

“So…” Koyomi awkwardly twiddles her thumbs, “Not over the phone?”

You sigh and lean forward, placing both hands on your little sister’s, facing her with a serious but soft expression. Her eyes widen.

~Honestly, I think its too early to tell anything about the situation. You've made your feelings known, so the ball is in his court. Try take a step back from the situation, be patient, and see how it plays out,~ you feel a slight pang as you think about the past, ~You've done all you can to influence him without crossing any serious lines. If it helps, I think you made the right call...just try to keep relaxing and don’t get too far into your own head,~

>>39036862
She stares at you a moment, and looks like she’s going to say something before you cut her off again.

~And since I’m being honest,~ you groan, ~I shouldn’t have told you Gai was off limits. You’re my sister and Kairi is my best friend...I shouldn’t have put myself between you two like that...and I won’t with Kino-san. I should, and do, want both of you to be happy,~

“Mikage-neechan,” her eyes are watering and lip is a quiver.

Her near waterworks are shattered as Yeon returns with your crepe cones filled with fruit, yogurt, and nuts. Thanking him in unison, the two of you snatch up your snack and enjoy it will all due justice. To your surprise, as you lick your fingers clean, Koyomi is only half way done her parfait.

“Whoah,” she hides a derisive laugh behind her hand, “Somebody was hungry,”

~I skipped lunch,~ you sigh and pick up your napkin, ~And I passed up two potentially amazing meals at the same time,~

“The daughters of the Chiba household sipping meals?” she all but cries out in faux scandal, “Preposterous!”

...hooking two fingers and raising your hand in front of your mouth, you pantomime your fangs. Your sister goes rigid.

~Wrong kind of meal,~ you drop the charades vampire act and slump into the cushioned booth as the activity and sound of the arcade increases around the two of you, ~I burnt out half my energy on purification spells instead,~

She sits awkwardly and slack in her chair, a bit uncomfortable.

“Well,” she muses, “I guess its good that you’re actively trying not to...back at the tower...you were scary,”

>How do you respond and where do you want to go in this conversation?

>>39036862
>just try to keep relaxing and don’t get too far into your own head
Mikage giving this advice seems hilarious.

>>39036885
I don't know respond with humor? After all Koyomi's eating habits are probably just as scary to other people in a completely different way.

>>39036885
*skipping meals

>>39036885
"What happened at the tower was a complicated scenario involving temporal shenanigans. It probably won't happen again, but I honestly don't really remember what happened after I flipped, so care to enlighten me about what was scary about it?"

>>39036885
>Give her the disguise pen.

I know, it was a fun toy. But it seems like something that should really be in the care of Sailor Moon.

>>39037157
She's got her own toys, and we're far too fragmented to go without it.

>>39037157
I think you mean "Not in our hands where it can do more psychological harm?'

>>39037182
>>39037157
I almost want to do this,but are we really ready to take that leap?

I mean. That's how we don Eclipse.

>>39036885
I agree with MAG's reassurances. >>39037104

Do not give up the pen. Don't even mention or think about the pen.

>>39037332
Not really actually. We have a legit regalia that we don. We only used the pen the first time.

counting

>>39037332
I feel like we can probably pull off most of our personas without the pen. Just, not off the cuff. We'd need makeup time and the clothing.

>>39037476
And Dan?

>>39037484
Chest Binding?

>>39037503
That's quite a stretch, Art. One might even say painfully so.

>>39037503
Would that work out for us? I always felt Mikage was a little too

gifted

For her to play the opposite gender that way.

>>39037585
It was a lot easier before the recent growth spurt, I would wager.

>>39037596
Eh, with some baggy clothing we could pull it off.

>>39037596
Let me assure you, as someone who knows & is friends with numerous cosplayers, bandage and compression bra chest binding is viable up to a little over triple D.

Not comfortable, as I've been told but viable.

>>39037640
Is that Dan's style, though? I had the impression he was a little more fabulous.

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>>39037596
I thought it was pretty obvious Mikage were playing the bishie?

>>39037699
Dan's not fabulous, he's dandy. There's a difference.

>>39037699
Dan would probably just wear whatever he pulled out of the closet that morning.

>>39037723
What ever he pulled out of the closet that looked good in whatever way he was going for that day.

>>39037719
The impression I had was like one of the more relaxed JoJo heroes.

>>39037104
I like this idea, but in part as a train exercise for Koyomi, quiz her and help her notice/details about events. A clue here or there could be key.
And we are kinda curious about what went down.

>>39037361
I think one day we could pen on the pen, but not right now.

>>39037699
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPDlv3zr_cM&

~What happened at the tower was a complicated scenario involving extradimensional shenanigans,~ your sit upright and fold your arms, ~It probably won't happen again, but I honestly don't really remember what happened after I flipped, so care to enlighten me about what was scary about it?~

She hesitates. Finishing her crepe in three quick bites, she swallows hard and wrings her pigtails a bit. After finding her center, she speaks.

“You were gone…” she dips her head down to look at the table, “You were right in front of us, but you weren’t there,”

Her suddenly dour mood drifts over you.

“You’d come back to us, come back to me,” she shakes a bit, “but the you were this snarling and hungry thing, and I was afraid of you,”

“I was afraid for you,”

“You almost hurt Kanari...and it took all of us together with those swords women just to slow you down. If Sugimoto-san hadn’t been there...someone could have been really really hurt. Worse than you and Usa-neechan wound up hurt...”

You glance away, embarrassed.

“I was excited when you first dropped in and latched onto that big thing’s arm to help Kanari-chan,” she looks back up and reaches across the table for your hands, “I was excited that we were finally fighting side by side...but you weren’t there,”

~Koyomi-chan...I’m sorry about that. I didn’t want to scare you,~ you sigh.

>>39037897
“And now...now because of that, I bet you won’t be coming back,” she tightens her fists back around her tails, “You’ll be here, you’ll be my sister again...but I understand if this all means you need more time before you come back out there,”

She’s struggling through her words. You’ve been running around creation all this time to protect her...and she just wants you by her side.

“Chiba sisters,” Yeon chimes in, “Let me get your plates. Can I get the two of you anything else?”

The two of your look up at him, he staggers at the upset in your shared expressions. Your heavy hearts crying out for justice.

“Ice Cream~ you and Koyomi say quickly and in unison.

He nods, seeing the looks on both your faces and retreats from the table. You didn’t specify anything other than ice cream...but from the way the girl reacted when Koyomi came in...she has a reputation. It isn’t a stretch to imagine what she has a reputation for.

The two of you sit in a suddenly awkward quiet.

>Assuage her worry, you’ll be fine
>Tell her you want to come back
>Tell her you’ve been back, to protect her
>Tell her why you stopped being Sailor Moon
>Stay quiet
>change the subject
>Write in

>>39037926
>Assuage her worry, you’ll be fine
>Tell her why you stopped being Sailor Moon

NOW IS THE TIME.

>>39037926
>change the subject
To Ice Cream.

>>39037926
>Tell her why you stopped being Sailor Moon
>Tell her you want to come back.

Keeping secrets hasn't helped anyone, even if I doubt she'll understand why.

>>39037926
>>39037989
this

>>39037926
>Assuage her worry, you’ll be fine
>change the subject
Ask about how the sailor senshi are handling the new job.

>>39037926
>Tell her why you stopped being Sailor Moon
>Write in
A day may come when she hits the same sort of wall, because being meguca is suffering. She deserves to know.

I really wanna start a food fight.

>>39037926
>>change the subject
Food is a good subject.

>>39037926
"You're the right person for that. I'm not. Not anymore. Maybe I never was.

There's only one Moon. But you don't have to do it alone."

>>39037926
>Tell her why you stopped being Sailor Moon

Changing venue, slight delay.

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>>39038758
TO THE CATMOBILE!

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>>39038831
See your problem is that it's not best batmobile.

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>>39038919
>>39038831
What was that, I can't see your cinematic bat mobiles over the definitive dark deco blinding me with the promises of the jet age?

>>39039046
I concede to your superior batmobile.

>>39037926
Koyomi.. bad things happened that.. that last day.
I made a promise to someone, then thought I failed that promise in the worst possible way imaginable.
..and I shut down, but you know that.

Maybe here isn't the best place for those details, I should tell them to you, so that you know, because it is important for the threats we face now, even if I would prefer to spare you those details.

But know one thing here and now, I can't hate having had the job you have now, I did too much good and too many people cared in return for me to shut my heart to that any more, even if there are some painful memories and motives attached to it.

(Light explaination and a reassuring tie-in to our recent breakthrough)

Okay, lappy back online in a new location, going to count em up and get cracking.

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>>39039198
Meep-meep!

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>>39039046
Beep-Beep.

>>39039229
I feel like there's a time travel joke somewhere in here.

>>39039272
Roadrunner is so fast he broke the time-barrier. Now the Tasmanian Devil didn't eat Bugs and trash the city, but now Wile E. Coyote has formed a team of hunters that may never be stopped.

>>39039350
...and just like that, Loonatics Unleashed actually makes sense.

Fucking Meepoint reboot event.

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>>39039568

~This...this is hard to talk about, Koyomi-chan,~ you say softly and sadly, ~Hardest of all, I think...telling you. It started at my junior high graduation...after I had saved Kairi-chan,~

“Neechan?”

~It starts with a promise made to someone I cared about...a promise I didn’t know I couldn’t keep. A promise I thought I broke in the worst way,~

Her entire attention is on you. Beneath the din of the arcade, you tell the tale quiet and slow, activating your disguise field just in case anyone else might be listening. Even if you stood and screamed out who you really were...everyone would only remember a blank faced stranger.

You quiet down when Yeon returns with two sizable multi scoop sundaes. They aren’t quite the Crowne Arcade’s mountain challenge...but to calm your nerves they’re enough. You and Koyomi don’t eat them nearly as fast or as attentively as you imagine you both normally would.

Like when you told Luna...like when you told dad...like when you eventually told everything to mom, you start shaking up when you get to repeat Tiara Action. Koyomi slides out of her booth and sits next to you. Holding your hand, she silently asks you to continue.

And you do. You finish crying a bit about the end of the fight. The final blow against magician. The failed promise...and believing yourself a killer despite Umino Sensei having been a puppet corpse for months. About thinking yourself a monster, more than a year before conquering a monster you could have been and inverting it’s power.

~And...and after what I thought I did. I couldn’t deal with it. I couldn’t deal with me,~ you sniff and shovel a melting glob of cold chocolate into your mouth, ~So over time...I made Miki, the Beast, and others to be when it was all too much. When I wasn’t them, I was the living ghost of a girl I didn’t know how to be anymore...until…~

You hang your head.

>>39040176
~I made the choice to break out of that living death before I knew I wasn’t a killer,~ you explain heavily, ~To do what I could to protect you and stop hiding from what I thought I had done...what I thought I had failed to do,~

You lift the glass dish and shotgun the remaining icy soup in a single draw. Cold fills you, as does the euphoric sensation chocolate provides your taste buds. Its soothing, but not as steadying as Koyomi’s grip on your arm.

~Even learning I wasn’t a killer...it didn’t just magically fix everything,~ you sigh and let the dish click back against the table, ~This...me...its a process. So, even if I’m this monster...just be patient with me, okay. And know that no matter what, never push your friends away, and that everything I’m doing now is for the sake of trying to protect you,~

She’s quiet. Her own sundae melted and unfinished. After what feels like hours...she speaks up.

“They told us about Umino Sensei at the briefing,” she says quietly before hugging you tightly, “Neechan. Thank you for telling me this on your own terms,”

You sit there, shocked and on the verge of being overwhelmed by those simple revelations.

“I’m sorry I was scared of you,” she whispers into the crook of your neck, “You don’t need to push yourself so hard for my sake. Even if you’re strong and even if you think you need to protect me...please...please let me be the one to protect you Mikage-Oneechan,”

The din of the arcade falls away. Tears brimming at your sister’s eyes hold fast mid fall. Time stands still.

Eclipsed Moon Quest Episode 75
End

Interlude Vote:
>Cherry Road (Aside Interlude)
>Rail Shooter (Aside Interlude)
>Unnoticed absence (Normal Interlude)
>Venue Booked (Normal Interlude)

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>>39040198

>>39040198
Normal? Aside?

Thanks for running.

>>39040198

>Venue Booked (Normal Interlude)

>>39040337
No context will be provided at this time.

>>39040198
>Cherry Road (Aside Interlude)
Thanks for running Arty.

>>39040198
Sweet mother of mercy and all that is good.

Koyomi didn't finish her sundae.

>>39040198
>Venue Booked

>>39040427
Madness.

>>39040198
Drawn between Cherry Road and Unnoticed Absence.

>>39040198
>“They told us about Umino Sensei at the briefing,” she says quietly before hugging you tightly, “Neechan. Thank you for telling me this on your own terms,”
>You sit there, shocked and on the verge of being overwhelmed by those simple revelations.
Damn, wonder how much they told them.
Even bare details would probably leave the girls a little unnerved.

>>39040394
If Pluto chastises us for calling what happened "temporal shenanigans" I vote for a 'I stand by my wording.' response.

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>>39038831
>>39039046
>>39038919
>>39039229
Best Batmobile

Also, on the topic of pic related...Hidden Agenda, and how it relates to current events. Think about it. Just...less clown and more Detroit

>>39040198
>Cherry Road

>>39040198
>Cherry Road (Aside Interlude)

Kitty, I have to ask.
What happens when that 1d100 in the OP hits a 1?

>>39040559
Would have been nice to have GONE TO THE BRIEFING but I guess some people are just smarter than me.

>Rail Shooter

Color me curious.

>>39044932
No, this makes it even more clear that not being there was a good idea. We would not have been able to deal with that at the time.

>>39045273
We weren't there, someone was concerned, so they filled in a few gaps for the Scouts.

Had we been there, they probably wouldn't have been told.

>>39044921
Oh, you know.

Stuff

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>>39046325

>>39044921
>>39046361
Probably hugs and sunshine.
100 is probably Godzilla with Cthullu as a hat busting in on the scene.
..and proposing marriage.

>>39040886
Detroit?

>>39040707
but we didn't. Artemis changed it to Extradimensional in the text of the update.

>>39046850
>Spurn them both, run away with Nyarlthotep.

Keep us alive, and I'll try to get an Omake posted after EST lunch time.

>>39046361
>>39046850
>>39044921
More specifically, 1 & 100 are both bad things for this start of thread roll. Both are different ignition points for a known in game time bomb...metaphorical time bomb.

So, having read your twitter, what about that fake series your wife & her friend made costumes for?

>>39047079
Anime Nyralthotep?

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>>39047883
strictly speaking Nyaruko is only AN Nyarlathotepian.

Which, I guess kinda makes most of our hideous unknowable things from outer space? Complete with insatiable hunger?

>YFW when you realise that we've been to the Dreamlands.

>>39047216
In my experience, the hardest thing about inventing an anime show is finding something bizarre and unusual that the japanese HAVEN'T yet made into an anime.

>>39048913
It could always be generic genre stuff.

OMAKE

He waits patiently at the corner near the safehouse, checking the cheap watch provided him every few minutes. You never really spent much time with him until recently...to be honest the first time you met him in person was the check up on his stability in the real world after his escape from enemy hands. There is a certain gracefulness to him, and a deliberate wisdom to his movements that belies his youthful appearance.

As you understand it, his age has been a static thing for eons in the timeless realm of dreams. It was only recently that he actively altered the flow of his own time so that he could age; and even so he was still a few years behind yourself and Usa.

Pulling to the curb, window rolled down, you motion for him to get into your car on the passenger side.

“Thank you, Hotaru,” he smiles genuinely and secures himself, locking the seat belt into place.

“We’re not on a first name basis, yet,” you sigh.

“That might prove difficult, a first name is all I have,” his eyes laugh as he props his arm on the ledge of the passenger side window, letting his fingers lazily drift through the air as you speed off into city traffic.

“That isn’t quite what I meant,” you say without emotion, “I am uncomfortable with that much familiarity with most people. I know she wants us to be friends...and in the time we’ve spent together since your escape, I believe that we will be. I just need time,”

“Understandable,” he nods and glances back over to you.

“And...thank you,” you say evenly through the difficulty of your customary mask, “I was beside myself after what happened at the tower. Thank you for being there for both of us, I think I understand better what she sees in you,”

“Doctor Tomoe,” his face softens into a smile after a moment of shock, “You don’t need to put so much effort into picking your words and hiding your feelings. In these past few days, I too I understand better the things she loves in you,”

>>39050269
You pull onto the shoulder and stop short. Staring daggers at him as he rolls his eyes at your reaction in mirthful amusement.

“She’s right,” he muses in wonder, “You are adorable when flustered,”

“Don’t,” you snap at him before calming your features with a deep breath before returning to driving; he seems suitably chastised by your word so you continue, “We’ll be visiting her a bit longer today; and we’ll be taking her home after discharge. Mikage Chiba found something and their father will be too busy sorting it out to pick her up. He asked us to bring her home...and invited the two of us over for their family dinner,”

“Hmmm...dinner with her parents,” he muses and crosses his arms.

The wind picks up as you get onto the highway. His white hair whips frantically, not that he notices, and you close his and your windows.

“You know I’ve witnessed many nightmares about that in the past century. More frequently than in previous,” he sighs, “It doesn’t seem all that intimidating,”

“I think that fear is more of a modern social construct,” you shrug, “though I think some would call it a memetic side effect of mass media,”

“Hmph, yes it seems like something to blame on the terrible glut of Romantic Comedies,” he huffs.

“Like that movie we saw,” you laugh a bit, “It was so contrived, and I could tell it made you a bit uncomfortable,”

“Really? You could tell? I tried not letting it show,” he sinks into his chair, “Usa-chan really seemed to love it, though,”

“Yeah. She did,” you agree.

You sit in silence until he broaches a difficult subject.

“How much longer before she is well enough to return to the future?”

“Not long,” you admit with some defeat, “Though she’s still weak from being just out of synch with our timeline,”

>>39050278
“She told me she wanted us to spend more time together while she was recovering there,” he ventures carefully.

“She said the same thing to me,” you look over to him through a guarded expression, “Don’t get any funny ideas,”

“I don’t have any, honest,” the frail looking boy protests, “but I did want to suggest taking you flying for our first solo get together after she leaves,”

For the second time this drive, you stop your car short and pull over to the shoulder of the road. You fix Helios with the most neutral and flat expression you can muster. Your voice is monotone, and betrays nothing of how you feel in response to that offer.

Not the coloring books of the happy parts of your childhood, vibrant in colors and wondrous things. Not when you and Usa-chan were younger and she would describe in excitement her wondrous dreams of flying with Helios which panged you with a two fold jealousy. One for his familiarity with her. One for her getting to ride on a pegasus. This expression denies the graphic lisa frank folders of your education. Your imagination soars now with white clouds, rainbows, and the wind in your hair. Holding on tightly as the galloping horse banks and rolls through the sky.

“I’ll think about that,” and perhaps only your eyes and the sparkle there in betrays you.

>>39048021
Sailor Moon lore is filled with Cosmic Horror.

>>39050278
So I guess we'll finally be meeting Helios then. That should be fun.

>>39050285
Hotaru thinks that this is a competition, but Helios knows from ages of watching their dreams that girls never really outgrow the love of ponies.

Swinging around with a bitch on each arm. He is determined to live that dream.

>>39054504
No no no, its Usa who who will have a bitch on each arm.

>>39050285
Hotaru is adoreable

>>39054504
We're not involved in that right? So we can just wash our hands of the whole thing.

>>39055008
Mikage is, I think, desperately trying to stay the fuck out of Usa's love life.

>>39055953
Though we should have a chat with Helios at some point.

>>39055953
I'm seeing us walking in, seeing Hotaru and Helios sitting at the dinner table and being like "Nope. I am too tired for this bullshit right now."

I got a question
Do you think we'll get an April Fools omake?

>>39057711
We have a magic pen that is useful for just that sort of escape.

>>39058610
Yeah, but actually saying that. Like this.
>Walk in door chatting with Koyomi
>See Helios and Hotaru staring each other down over the dinner table.
> "Nope."
> 'But Mikage-'
> "Nope."
> "Not even remotely rested enough to deal with this bullshit right now."
>Activate invisibility, turn 360 degrees and walk away
> "Nope."

>>39058709
I am still not a fan of that moonwalk meme.

Mikage probably is bitchy enough to do it just like that, though.

>>39058709
>Walk in door chatting with Koyomi
>See Helios, Hotaru, & Usa sitting on the couch; well Hotaru and Helios are sitting on the couch. Usa is sitting across the couch with you head in Hotaru's lap and her feet propped up in Helios's hands. She's playing with her hair while staring at Helios. Helios is massaging her feet. Usa, is living it up.
> "Nope."
> 'But Mikage-'
> "Nope."
> "Not even remotely rested enough to deal with this bullshit right now."
>Activate invisibility, turn 360 degrees and walk away
> "Nope."

FTFY

>>39059401
Haha, I like it. Thanks Arty.

>>39059401
In my mind, this is already a thing that we have done. Damn the consequences.

Her inner monologue
>I am a successful pediatrician
>I own a respected private school
>I RUN a semi public research institute where physicists poke at the secrets of magic
>This horse has got nothing on me, he's a drifter, a dreamer, and a slacker.
>I will not let him flirt with me
>and I will not let this horse defeat me! Gonna run my fingers through her hair and massage her scalp
>Was that Mikage? Oh, just Koyomi.
>And when I win I'm going to fly around the city on him, Neverending Story style.
>Pump my hand in the air and shout 'yeah' and everything.

>>39057711
One day, Mikage will have the self confidence and stability to be able to stop suppressing her swagger and embrace it like Usa did.

And on that day...Mikage will have all the bitches. She'll go mad with power! You know, provided Koyomi doesn't activate her grand swagger first.

>>39059316
>>39058709
And then she can go to the comic shop and binge read BL books in the back until we think it safe to go home.

>>39062099
It's like you read my mind.

So, who thinks Dad's hideaway is in the Depths of a certain Point?

>>39064699
In the ill defined polar region?

>>39062819
But then we miss the last dinner for a while as a family..

>>39065353
...well played, Mamoru, well played.

>>39064699
Mamoru is not using D-Point for that.

>>39060399
>>39060399
>>39059401
Koyomi chases after us, despite invisibility, and falls flat on her face.

Since we're almost to autosage, curiously must ask what everyone's feelings are regarding the various possible waifus and husbandos at this time.

Where does everyone stand with everyone?

>>39067707

Kairi, definitely.

>>39067837
even if it might not be entirely healthy...yeah

all that needs to happen is a first move at this point.

>>39068330
who is it unhealthy for? They're both big girls.

>>39067707
I'm still favoring Sasha. We need to talk to him soon.

>>39067707
Ultimately? I'm feeling Yoshi.
But Mikage is gonna stumble around for awhile yet. She still getting acquainted with her feels, and there are a lot of great people around her.

>>39070940
Well, we are likely going to a concert soon..soooooo

>>39072063
Nothing really happened in his interlude, other than we know we have history in music. He tried to reach out to us after we shut down, only to be rejected...because we couldn't let ourself be loved. He's upset because of the hospital.
His mom is still dating Jo
He's working on something, what?

>>39072296
I think he's part of band Venus is going to be taking us to see.

>>39072528
Wait, what? Explain further.

>>39059401
Worse outcome. If Koyomi learns that Usa can have two lovers; what's to stop her?

>>39072864
He's angry we brushed him off, and he's using those feelings to write music while listening to sugary pop, It's all right there in the interude.

>>39073427
and the last line of the interlude "and that is life," ces la vie means that's life. Shit. Yoshi has a side to him what appeals to Mikage's liking of bad boys...and it's kind of because of us? Not anything we've done in game, he has been at this long enough for Sugao to know their rep, but further enforced by our actions. Actually, I wonder if rumors that we attended Venus's launch with Keiko, Kairi, and Midori made him focus his creative talent on Venus's song? Though which band member is he? We've only had them described to is second hand.

>>39073674
I'm guessing he's the guy with the skull makeup and white hair. He's probably their leader.

It makes the idea of inviting Sasha to the concert pretty interesting, don't you think?

>>39072065
If Yoshi is in that band...doing this would also be hilarious.

>>39073427
I hadn't even considered that.
The idea that he leads a double life of metal band guy and upright class rep makes my theories that he's the guy for Mikage even stronger.