>>40976551

Rin Kumada, a potent priestess gifted with supernatural visions and powers beyond her role as a magical girl, serves as Sailor Mars. Aiha Mizuno, possessed of powerful and potentially unstable psychokinetic abilities besides transformed affinities for water, is Sailor Mercury. Kanari Kino, a rough and tumble girl who today seems to be swallowing her pride, is the thunderous Sailor Jupiter.

Kanari’s questions hang in the air. Briefly you are reminded of the warning Aiha’s father, a potent precognitive psychic, to not be offended by someone’s pride today. You thought it might have meant Kanari’s, but given her actions so far it seems unlikely.

>You have no idea. (lie)
>The truth, how do you phrase it?
>Half of the truth. What parts?
>Say that it's complicated...Who wants to see this bear I wrestled?
>Write in

&

>The Vet first
>The Hospital first
>Write in

>>40976612
>Say that it's complicated...Who wants to see this bear I wrestled?
>The Vet first

>>40976612
>>The truth, how do you phrase it?
"Because that's where I retrieved the last piece of the Golden Crystal from a bear I was wrestling.."
>Half of the truth. What parts?
Ok, glossing past any bits that would point to our knights or Eclipse would be a bit half truthy.

Let's start with the hospital, was the last sighting of her by Rin.

>>40976612
How clean do we want to come here?
Against lying, but unsure how far to got with the truth. At this point we're just holding back for dramatic effect.

Hospital is still fine by me, gives us time to try and figure out what we want to say/tell Sasha.

>>40976612
>>You have no idea. (lie)
Its not a lie, its a short cut. If we answer her questions, sooner or later this is the inevitable answer

>>40976978
Don't really need to end up in lying.
And is counterproductive to our cause today.
The parts we want to avoid we just skip, or don't answer when asked (alternatively, "Eclipse found out.." which still isn't technically lying.)

>>40976948
Guess I'll go with >>40976762
to get two votes in one thing so QM doesn't go mad.

Calling and writing

>>40977173
Bless your fucking soul, anon.

Bless it.

>>40976762
>"Because that's where I retrieved the last piece of the Golden Crystal from a bear I was wrestling.."
Let's expand that train of thought:
"Look, just because I'm not jumping back into things.. the Beast biting off too much at the Tower being a further sign that isn't my place yet.. doesn't mean I haven't been looking into stuff."

Actually, now that I think about it, do the rest of the Scout know about the Crystal? I mean, I know the main family knows, but I just realized we haven't really brought it up before if no one else has.

~Because that’s where I found the last piece of the Golden Crystal,~ you finish the last bite of your pancakes, ~from this bear I was wrestling,~

“Koyomi said something about you getting your mother to officially appoint your the Golden Crystal’s owner before she lef- wrestling a bear?” Aiha turns to look at you confused.

Kanari stares at you, eyebrow quirked. Rin stops trying to scrape up the last of the powdered sugar on her breakfast plate and her focus zeroes in on you. Beneath their scrutiny you shrug as though it wasn’t anything important.

Yeah, you are just that badass. Wait.

~So you guys know about the Golden Crystal?~ you query to their assorted stares of confusion, scrutiny, and feigned contempt.

“Koyomi-chan gave us the short version at the picnic,” Kanari finally sighs and breaks eye contact, “It's to earth what her silver crystal is to the moon,”

“Err, yes,” Aiha confirms, “That’s right. We’ve been slowly getting caught up on everything that came before, both in regard to ourselves and the events preceding our parent’s present lives,”

“Gives me a headache just thinking about it,” Kanari groans.

“I’ve always thought it was interesting,” Rin pushes her plate aside and lays down a few paper charms on her place mat, “So, where do you want to head first? This vet or the hospital?”

~You know,~ you think on it, ~Our trail is probably freshest at the hospital,~

“Alright,” Aiha Mizuno smiles as you all set about taking care of your bill for breakfast, “Then let’s head out,”

“Just going to ignore the line about a bear?” Kanari asks openly to the assembly.

“She’s telling the truth,” Rin acknowledges, “I saw it in the fire,”

Kanari is at first shocked, then levels an envious glare at you. Her competitive streak shining past the building green of jealousy at your proposed wrestling. It doesn’t matter that she doesn’t know whether you won or lost, just that you did.

>>40977846

~I have pictures,~ you offer with a smile.

“Later,” she says through gritted teeth.

As you leave the establishment, Kanari’s father and brother both offer your assembled group pleasant goodbyes. Your thoughts linger on Koito, that he had earlier seen that you had more than one shadow. That this was an indicator to him being a potential compatible hosts to the remaining two Shintennou whose soul’s you harbor in your body in inert crystalline states.

He is among two people you know for certain to possess potential compatibility, which would allow them to awaken to borrowed power from those stones and serve among your Knights and protectors. There is another you suspect, but you have no real connection to him or any reason to reveal anything of yourself about to.

As the four of you find your pace toward the hospital you recently were discharged from, Kanari poses another interesting query.

“So, if the Golden Crystal is like the Silver one,” she asks in a feigned casual tone, “Does that mean you’re supposed to be the Guardian of Earth, and its Princess at that after your old man?”

“Kanari!” Aiha starts in concern as you turn around in a stop and find your fingers tightening into a ball of a reflexive accord.

“What? Its an honest question. She found the damn thing on her own and besides; she helped out at the tower by going all Red Eyes on the big bad at the top before she went berserk,” Kanari explains, “Just trying to figure out if we’re going to be a team of six or seven moving forward,”

>~Time will tell~
>~Stop bringing this up, Kino-san,~
>~When I’m ready, and not a moment before,~
>Take bait, throw punch
>Say nothing, proceed to hospital
>write in

>>40977859
>Say nothing, proceed to hospital

>>40977859
>~When I’m ready, and not a moment before,~

>>40977859
>~When I’m ready, and not a moment before,~

>>40977859
~You are my sister's Court, and I will always be your ally. Time will tell what else may come.~

>>40977859
>~Time will tell~

>>40977859
Six. I'm just an ex-magical girl with issues to work out.

>>40978047
Guess I'll back >>40977995
as closest to my own vote, can we get third so the QM doesn't take back that blessing?

>>40977859
You know, the biggest way to mess with her at this point is to just say "Yes" to her question and nothing else, and proceed to hospital.

>>40977994
Alright, I’ll switch to >>40977995

>>40978161
Here you are.
Keeping one’s QM happy is important.

>>40978282
Less intensive than some of the other ways of messing with her I guess. Doesn't really admit anything since she said supposed to be.

Time! Writing momentarily.

Dang it, got people liking my write-in while I'm feeling amused by the 'yes' suggestion. Guess I have to stay the course now.

File: Black Lady by Kaminary.jpg (491 KB, 707x1000)

491 KB JPG

Meanwhile, I dig through the internet in search of art.

Writing after momentary delay has commenced

>>40978411
"I have no plans to make anybody curtsey anytime in the forseeable future, if that's what you're worried about."

File: Queen Beryl - heather37.png (3.06 MB, 1205x1772)

3.06 MB PNG

I think she could have persuaded me to join her way too easily.

File: Black Lady Elsa.jpg (105 KB, 1000x1200)

105 KB JPG

Considering that we have our hair braided at the moment, this amused me.

With a calming breath, you relax the fist you made and walk up to Kanari. Though you continue to have doubts about yourself and the future, one thing shines clearly in your mind. Settling this thought into words to sooth over whatever ills the young girl clad in green still bears for you, you speak with a serene yet dispassionate nirvana.

Perhaps using up the last of yesterday’s good vibes, you speak as truthfully on the matter as you can.

~You are my sister's court, and I will always be your ally,~ your hand falls on Kanari’s shoulder to her surprise, ~Time will tell what else may come,~

She pauses at your assertion, shocked and a tad embarrassed. She quickly regains her usual grit and scoffs.

“Yeah,” she mutters and walks past you, “Let’s find your ghost,”

Aiha and Rin stare back and forth between the two of you. You catch a smile creep across the young priestess’s face as she nods. The four of you hurry on.

It doesn’t take long for the four of you to arrive at the hospital. Given that it's the weekend, the staff is on a skeleton crew. The lack of any VIPs in the hospital means you can enter the front door rather undisturbed. Every so often, Rin lags behind. You notice she seems to be offering polite words to empty air and passing.

Briefly you are reminded of Kanari mentioning that Rin could see dead people.

Soon enough you find the find your former room, presently occupied by a sleeping young woman. Kanari hangs back against the wall, eyes narrowing and sweeping the hall. She’s guarded.

>Investigate the immediate area psychically with Aiha
>Ask Aiha if she could perform some kind of reading
>Search around the floor for signs of the supernatural
>Eavesdrop on nurses and doctors for anything strange
>Talk to one of the girls about something else, what?
>Write in

>>40979443
>Search around the floor for signs of the supernatural

>>40979443
>Kanari hangs back against the wall, eyes narrowing and sweeping the hall. She’s guarded.
"Problem, or just watching our back?"
>Investigate the immediate area psychically with Aiha
Sounds like a start, and from there we can move on to
>Search around the floor for signs of the supernatural

>>40979189
Ours is bigger.

>>40979443
>>40979560
Do all the things! Ok, just some.

>>40979443
>>40979560
I'll back this guy.

Sorry I've been missing threads left and right dude. Life is not accommodating questing atm

>>40979852
We look to be havin' an all nighter tonight, glad you could join us!

Writing

Interlude: Bored Bunny

You woke up late this morning, and found the house mostly empty. Your oldest sister apparently was feeling well enough to spend some time in the garden, so you didn’t want to disturb her. Your dad probably is still at the Metro building, as evidenced that his bed wasn’t slept in. Your cat isn’t home, even though she is awesome…

There is nothing to do today. You could fret and worry about everything bad that’s happening, or your could find something to do.

You are Koyomi Chiba, the fourth woman to carry the title of Sailor Moon. Quickly retrieving your phone, your shoot off a text to a young man who is both a friend and a boy. Things haven’t moved so quickly that you feel you could use the combined terminology, but soon.

Yes, soon you will have that which you want.

Snickering in delightful planning as you type, you experience dejection as he responds that he needs to help his dad with the Cafe today.

Okay, that’s one option down. There is still the matter of hanging out with your best friend, his twin sister!

“What? Kanari-chan is busy too?” you mutter as you read her reply.

She doesn’t say what she’s busy doing, just that she is busy. Its a bit unlike her, but you understand that she’s been tense lately.

“Argh, so bored,” you grouse and fall back into the couch.

With nothing better to do, you flick on the tv and proceed to flick through channels. Boring drama, boring romance, boring sports, maybe interesting animation? Nope, drawn on a slim budget. Argh, nothing.

Even the new is-

Wait! What?

Why are Neechan and Sugimoto-san...WHAT?!

End Interlude

>>40980289
>Why are Neechan and Sugimoto-san...WHAT?!
Geeze, we really hit the media circuit there.

Rolled 9 (1d20)

As the other girls look about, careful not to enter the room and disturb the occupant, you walk over to Kanari.

~Is there a problem?~ you ask her glancing down the hallway, ~Or are you just watching our backs?~

“I don’t have any cool powers outside of the magical skirt,” she shrugs, “You guys have more talent than me on this. I’m just along for the ride and trying to make myself useful,”

You nod and turn back to face the girls.

Alright then. Time for action.

~Aiha-chan,~ you call over to the girl quietly, ~Come over here, I want to try something,~

“What is it, Mikage?” inquires the young girl.

~I want to see if we can feel out any lingering impression,~ you smile.

“I’m not sure if I can do that,” she laughs nervously, “I’m still trying to get a full handle on my abilities,”

~Which is why we’ll work together,~ you say seriously and reach out for her hand.

Kanari doesn’t react to this as you take the surprised Aiha’s other hand as well and take a deep calming breath. Rin steps back in otherwise subtle shock, then glances away from the two of you in slight embarrassment and indecision.

-Just relax and do as I do,- you explain psychically, -Just reach out calmly with your sixth sense and see what you feel. Let whatever come naturally come naturally,-

-Ah,- Aiha blushes a bit and responds to you mentally, -Y-yes Mikage-chan,-

>Roll me 1d20, best of 3.

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>40980421

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>40980421
All is well.

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>40980421

File: 194ec54744515aa80a5c55706(...).jpg (670 KB, 680x702)

670 KB JPG

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>40980421

You take in the ambient presences around the hospital, you feel Aiha do the same, though her perception doesn’t add to your own reaching. Its a bit out of synch with your own. Besides the mental presences of the girls around you, you become briefly aware of the nurses and doctor on the floor. More than that, there is some barely there remnant of something where Rin stopped earlier in the hallway.

An echo, weak and fading.

However, there is something louder. An echo that moved. The faintest remnant of its passing remains, crisscrossing in front of the room you slept in.

Pathways of motion fading away, it hasn’t been here in a while...but it was here for as long as you were.

Breaking contact, you reassure the younger girl for her labored attempt to aid you.

~You did great, Aiha,~ you say and step away.

“Ah,” she nods, “Thank you Mikage,”

“Did you two find anything?” Rin inquires nervously.

~Maybe,~ you say, ~Come on,~

The four of you head to one of the vending machines on the floor, following a well worn path as it fades from your vision. Unable to discern anything else, you stare through the glass at the various snack foods. Nothing out of the ordinary appears before you.

“Whoa,” Rin and Aiha whisper in awe, in unison.

>>40980958

“What?” Kanari asks after them, “It's a refrigerated vending machine. Nothing special there,”

“No,” Rin smirks and claps Aiha on the shoulder, “Of course you guys can’t see it, but we can with our special eyes!”

~What do the two of you see?~ you ask curiously.

Rin take out a small plastic cup and runs the lip up the surface of the insulated plexiglass, giddily.

“Residue,” she says as a matter of fact, “Residue from our apparition. This stuff is rare. I almost never see it!”

“I see stuff like that fairly frequently,” Aiha sighs, “A bit of an annoying problem,”

“Huh?” the dark haired girl turns to look at the blue one.

“Things other than the dead make such invisible slimes,” she ticks off, “Sometimes it looks quite icky,”

~Does this stuff look icky?~ you venture curiously.

“No, its just clear and a bit viscous,” Rin shrugs.

“What is it anyway?” Kanari asks confused.

“The sometimes corporeal remnant of a spectral creature passing through solid matter,” she says proudly, “Experts in the field have dubbed such phenomenon Ectoplasm,”

“Alright,” the thunderer nods, “What do we do with it?”

>Go to the Shrine and let Aiha do a fire reading on it
>Go to a place of psychic resonance and meditate on it
>Pocket it and carrying on our investigation at the Veterinarian
>Ask a nurse if anything strange happened with the vending machine
>Write in

>>40980974
>Pocket it and carrying on our investigation at the Veterinarian

>>40980974
>>Ask a nurse if anything strange happened with the vending machine
Is strange that it was so focused here.
Ask the girls if it is concentrated anywhere in particular.

>>40980974
>Ask a nurse if anything strange happened with the vending machine

File: 20150703_022544_Richtone(HDR).jpg (1.98 MB, 4128x2322)

1.98 MB JPG

>>40980974
Ask about the vending machine.

Are there peaches in there?

File: 20150703_022459_Richtone(HDR).jpg (1.69 MB, 4128x2322)

1.69 MB JPG

>>40981231
Knowledge for the day: peach juice makes a really sticky mess.

File: Most talent.gif (216 KB, 500x374)

216 KB GIF

>>40981305
Well now I feel bad for tiny dream Kairi.

File: Makoto Kino is talented.jpg (108 KB, 347x480)

108 KB JPG

>>40981320
I'm sure she went down very smoothly with a coating of that on her.

>>40981410
And just like that I regret everything I put in that sequence.

Writing after I post next interlude.

Interlude: Explanations and half truths

Sunday morning, even after stowing your costume kit and then rousing Daigo from the fruits of his libations, it took far too long for you to get home then you are comfortable with. Coming home from one of your shows the night of the show is usually something you can easily explain away, the morning after is a new experience.

Well, perhaps the only new experience since whatever happened after that feedback forced you to take a knee. Despite your willingness to stay for the afterparty, you remained stoic and stood by yourself. The ever present shadow of your characterization drove away most people who you found boring or insincere.

It doesn’t matter now. all you can do is hope that your mother didn’t notice your absence.

Pray that she didn’t notice your absence.

Entering the front door quietly, you slip off your shoes and close the door behind you. With a click it closes and the hallway light comes on.

“And just where were you last night?” your mother stands there in a bathrobe, her arms crossed.

Hmm, this isn’t good. Perhaps it is time to deploy your usual confidence and self assuredness. Its not like you are too worried about retribution.

“I was with Diago last night,” you shrug and don your house slippers, “Did you know he recently purchased the new Rock Band game?”

Neither of those are lies.

“I did not,” she sighs, “Did you seriously stay up all night playing videogames?”

>>40981531

“Guitar, actually,” you shrug, “And vocals. I’m afraid it's left me a little hoarse,”

“You didn’t bother to call me,” she accuses with a sigh.

“I lost track of time, mother,” you smile and shrug in embarrassment, “I won’t let it happen again,”

“Alright then,” she nods firmly, “Do you want any breakfast?”

“No,” you say while heading for the stairs, “I think I’ll work on adjusting my sleep cycle to get ready for the resumption of classes tomorrow,”

“Alright Yoshi,” you mother gives you a hug, “Just, please let me know next time. I worry,”

Interlude End

File: 20150703_022519_Richtone(HDR).jpg (1.61 MB, 4128x2322)

1.61 MB JPG

>>40981320
Wait, you didn't feel bad for her already?!?

>>40981476
I suddenly feel like you didn't realize how disturbing that sequence was. That was some creepy stuff going on there.

File: Batman Moon.png (167 KB, 480x640)

167 KB PNG

Setting the girls off to see if they can find more of the invisible slime residue, you approach one of the floor nurses making rounds and prepare to ask a few questions. It's only then that you notice that Kanari is following you.

“What?” she notes your surprise, “I don’t have magic eyes,”

~Okay, then watch this,~ you smile and snicker.

Taking on a mildly embarrassed body language, and a worried expression, you close the distance between yourself and the mildly busy nurse.

~Excuse me,~ you say cautiously, ~Miss Nurse,~

“Yes?” she turns to face you, Kanari trails a bit behind you.

~Um,~ you glance back toward the alcove where the vending machine waits, ~I was just using the vending machine...and...well, has anything strange ever happened to you while using it?~

She looks up and down the hallway before leaning in close.

“Its best not to make a fuss and use one of the ones downstairs. Last time I tried to use it, the rice ball floated back up to the dispensary row after it was dropped. One of the other girls said the keypad display was sending her strange messages while the food rearranged itself,”

~Why is this happening,~ you say, worriedly.

“I don’t know, but just use one from another floor for now. We’re petitioning the owner to allow a new ritual purification of the grounds,” she assures you.

She returns to her duties as you and Kanari mull over what you’ve learned.

“So, playing little tricks on people?” she offers.

~Looks like. Guess she got bored waiting for me to wake up,~ you sigh.

“I don’t really like mysteries,” she pouts and crosses her arms, “No direct solutions,”

~Eh, you make due,~ you shrug, ~Sometimes its worth it to approach things laterally,~

>I am crashing, unexpectedly.
Thread Pause until I wake up. We’ll start things up with the continuation of this post and then the third interlude. See you guys in the morning. Keep us afloat.

>>40981692
Rest well.

File: Chibiusa & Setsuna.png (701 KB, 954x556)

701 KB PNG

Random topic: We should hang out with Setsuna more too.
Though I guess we may have already during the Side Quest.

>>40981775
I always enjoy anything with Kanari. Favorite character tbh.

Now that you mention it there seems to be a gap in player knowledge about what happened during a portion of the time stop.

>>40983509
Messing with time can get, well, messy. Humans have a few million years of evolution teaching them to expecting continuity of cause and effect. They can get quite confused when effect preceeds cause.

>>40983509
That"s since that quest seems to have gone on hold and we aren'tg getting hung up waiting for it.

>>40983594
As messy as Yoshi avoiding lying to his mom?

>>40984302
There is not a single lie in anything he said there, I'd call it very cleanly done.

Waking up. Grabbing shower. Writing again soon.

>>40984892
Going all day or just a bit more?

>>40985082
Until I run out of content, energy, motivation, or free time.

>>40985299
Though come tonight, I may or may not need to run a pathfinder game, waiting to hear back from people on that.

Okay. Seated, relaxed, showered, fed, and hydrated. Getting my written word on.

Also, heads up. There may come a time soon where I am recovering from surgery in a hospital, in which case I would like to run a thread every day of that otherwise boring stay...however I am already well aware that all of 4chan is blocked on their guest wifi, so there is that.

I'll figure something out.

>>40985560
Maybe see if they'd authorize you for just this board during your stay?

>>40986092
I'm pre drafting a lengthy query to the IT dept about all the non porn boards.

“I know how to approach things laterally,” Kanari sighs, “I’ve been practicing martial arts since I could practically walk; its just always been easier for me to take things head on,”

~Can’t fault you there,~ the two of you fall in step, moving down the hallway to the other girls.

Soon after you find Rin and Aiha starring together at a spot on the wall. Whatever is there, you can’t quite see, through their scrutiny of that which is invisible to you is thorough. The two haven’t noticed your and Kanari’s approach.

“Its fresher than the vending machine,” Rin observes.

“Yes, but that still is more than a day old. It will all completely dissipate soon,” the psychic nods.

“Is this one solid?” she queries and pokes at the invisible mass with her finger, “Cool, I’ve never felt it before,”

“I have,” Aiha shudders, “I hate the stuff. I convinced myself that it wasn’t actually real for a really long time,”

“But it’s so cool, Aiha-chan,” Rin smiles as she touches her finger to her thumb and pulls at the unseen resistance.

“Ugh,” Aiha groans, “Keep it away from me,”

“What? Scared,” Rin snickers and hovers her finger toward Aiha.

“Ew, no,” the blue haired girl stumbles back making a rather high pitched cute sound.

“That look on your face is adorable,” Rin teases with a smile.

~Ahem,~ you clear your throat and both girls turn to look up at you.

“Oh, hey Mikage,” Rin blushes at being caught in her teasing and takes out a tissue and wipes off her seemingly clean finger.

~The two of you find anything,~ you ask as Kanari walks around you and helps Aiha up.

>>40986545

“N-nothing but more residue,” the blue haired girl shudders as Kanari helps her regain her balance, “Your spirit hasn’t been here for a while, it would seem,”

“So, what’s our next move,” Kanari wonders aloud before chiding the two girls, “If the two of you are done playing around?”

>Fire reading with the sample at the shrine
>Go where it woke up, the Vet, see if we can find something there
>Would it have tried to make contact with...him?
>See if Tomoe Sensei could analyze the sample and help. She has a secret magic lab, right?
>Write in

>>40986558
>Go where it woke up, the Vet, see if we can find something there
>Would it have tried to make contact with...him?
>See if Tomoe Sensei could analyze the sample and help. She has a secret magic lab, right?

>>40986558
>Would it have tried to make contact with...him?

>>40986558
>Would it have tried to make contact with...him?
>Fire reading with the sample at the shrine

Well, all the votes are different save for one common thread between them.

Would it have tried to...

Writing.

>>40986576
>>40986558
We should get some of that to her at some point anyway. Along with the shadow stuff.
Science!

>>40986991
Do the girls know about Sasha knowing about Koyomi being Sailor Moon?

>>40987716
You don't know.

>>40987716
Depends on what Motor-mouth let slip when explaining things.

>>40987716
>>40987748
In either case, before they meet him we should verify that with them and ask if they want to hang back, since it is real easy to start connecting the dots once you see one clearly.

>>40987760
Koyomi?

What is your next move. Its odd, she hasn’t been haunting you since you left the hospital. Shouldn’t it have continued hounding you, or did she think it was too much trouble after the priestly protections put upon you when you were put in here?

~Would it have tried,~ you wonder and take out your phone, ~to make contact with...him?~

Kanari wonders aloud at your curious assertion.

“Him who?” she crosses her arms as you search through your contacts and make a quick call.

Calling the young boxer, whom you’ve befriended amid curious circumstances of some concealed and some revealed identities, you step a bit away from the other girls and their curiosity at your call. Thanks to all the things that happened at Tokyo Tower some days ago, he became aware of your former identity as Sailor Moon. More than that, he knows your little sister is the current Sailor Moon.

You haven’t actually talked to him since he subtly alluded to this when he came to visit you at this very hospital. Honestly you’ve been avoiding it, and you’ve had so much to do.

“Hello?” he sounds out of breath and frustrated when he answers the phone.

Well, you know he takes morning runs like you do. It is getting late in the morning, maybe you interrupted a workout.

~Hi, Sasha, it's Mikage,~

“Oh, hey,” there is a sudden nervousness to his voice, an awkward tic that he quickly covers with his usual bravado, “How have you been, with everything that’s going on,”

~Oh,~ you shrug and lean against the wall with the receiver to your ear as you feel the girls close in on you and scrutinize, ~Nothing really, just continuing to do what I do,~

“Yeah, you were trending on Lurk into the morning,” you can feel him roll his eyes about something before barking something away from the phone, “Hey, back off. I’m on the phone,”

>>40987832

~Oh, which part. I had a busy day yesterday,~

“Oh, photos of you apparently crashing backstage at some show,” he says casually as a reverberating roar sounds behind him and it sounds like something heavy falls on top of him, “GET OFF OF ME!”

The sound of struggling continues a moment, until you hear him breathing heavily and a loud thud and soft growl echoes beside your ear.

“Sorry,” he sighs, “And I saw some clips of your fight. Is everything okay?”

~Yeah,~ you explain, ~Nothing to worry about. Say, has anything strange happened to you recently?~

He pauses, and slumps against something that lets out a heavy and lazy beastly grunt behind him. You imagine him leaning or sitting on his giantly adorable pet. Perhaps it's good you didn’t visit the vet, you would have run into him.

“Strange how?” he queries carefully.

~Oh, just things that don’t make sense. Moving around. Something following you that isn’t there?~ you pose your question, ~Anything like that,~

He is quiet for a few moments. Rin, Aiha, and Kanari close in around you in curiosity. Trying to eavesdrop on you.

“Nothing to me directly,” he says cautiously, “but there was something up with your friends from the other day, Nakajima-san and Ueda-san,”

Momoko & Moe-chan?

~What happened?~

“Nakajima-san has just been...extremely moody at school. She and Ueda-san got into a shouting match by their lockers. Could have sworn some of the lockers were shaking. I didn’t think anything of it then. Actually I saw Ueda-san really going to town in the gym afterwards,” Sasha explains.

~Thanks, Sasha,~ you sigh, ~You sound busy, I’ll let you and Boris get back to sparring,~

“Yeah, okay,” he seems hesitant to end the conversation, but now you have a potential lead to follow.

Though, you don’t actually know where Nakajima-san lives. You end the call.

“Well that was interesting,” Kanari smirks.

>>40987854

“Kanari-chan,” Rin chides, “You really shouldn’t tease,”

“That’s quite funny coming from you after what you just did,” Aiha scolds Rin.

The two of them arguing is kind of adorable. You definitely notice a certain tension along with Rin and Aiha’s friendship. Briefly you wonder if there is anything there relevant to Aiha’s recent confession to you.

~It was, interesting,~ you agree.

Its late morning now, and you have three different places or people you could check out next. Who or where do you take things next as you move into the afternoon.

>Moe-chan might be a lead, though why would she and Momoko have a fight?
>It happened at Tomoe-sensei’s school, maybe we could search there after we touch base with her and her lab.
>The fire reading with the sample may still bring us new information
>Maybe there is still something worth checking out at the vet, even if Sasha is still there
>Write in

>>40987789
Even if we don't tell them that he knows about our family secrets explaining the presence Rin (a shrine maiden) and Aiha (a psychic) would be easy. Kanari would be more difficult to explain.

>>40987876
>Moe-chan might be a lead, though why would she and Momoko have a fight?
Shame Kinto's quest is dead.

>>40987876
>It happened at Tomoe-sensei’s school, maybe we could search there after we touch base with her and her lab.

>>40987876
>Moe-chan might be a lead, though why would she and Momoko have a fight?

>>40987908
But he's met the three of them already, twice.

First time at the Arcade in the first Koyomi thread, and again during the group jogging sequence where we panic moded and turned into Dan in the bushes.

Tallying and writing. Not much to tally, rather clear cut for once.

>>40988419
Yeah, and if he hasn't put that together yet, it probably wouldn't take much to make him suspect.

>>40988468
Good that I missed it, would have voted for the school and made a mess of things.

~I’ve got a lead to check out with a friend,~ you say quite simply, ~She’s apparently been acting weird recently, could be possession. The ghost was angry, so maybe there is a connection or a possession,~

“Okay,” Kanari asks plainly, “Though why call up Sasha?”

“Couldn’t you hear the sounds in the background,” Rin says excitedly, “He was wrestling a bear! Was it the same bear you wrestled? Was it cute!? Is Sasha why you wrestled a bear?”

~Since when are you so excitable?~ you joke with the young priestess.

“Bears are just cool,” she says and smooths out her skirt before returning to her normally reserved, if a touch playful, demeanor,”

At the discussion of Sasha, Aiha seems a bit withdrawn from the group as you make to leave the hospital.

“So, about this friend,” Aiha asks, returning from her withdrawn shell.

~You guys don’t know her, but apparently she’s been acting out of her expected character,~ you being and put your phone away, ~Apparently to her best friend, who you have met. One of the girls in my Ganguro Fashion circle. Moe Ueda, she had the Teddy Bear Backpack at Akiyama-san’s garment studio,~

“Oh yeah,” Kanari snaps her fingers in a smile, “She was cool, she’s a powerlifter, right?”

~Yup, and she goes to Infinity Academy,~

>Call Ueda-san as Mikage
>Message Moe-chan as Miki, you might not get a quick response
>Head to the gym at Infinity Academy, she normally does training sunday afternoons
>Write in something else
>Write in previously considered location exploration options

>>40989326
>Head to the gym at Infinity Academy, she normally does training sunday afternoons

>>40989326
>Head to the gym at Infinity Academy, she normally does training Sunday afternoons

>>40989326
>Head to the gym at Infinity Academy, she normally does training sunday afternoons

>>40989326
>Head to the gym at Infinity Academy, she normally does training sunday afternoons

Alright, writing...wait.

What is this? Some kind of witchcraft? Such...consensus.

>>40989890
It happens sometimes, try not to be weirded out by it.

>>40989890
Missed it, but I too would have voted gym. So yeah, I'm gonna go with witchcraft.

Also, Rin finding bears adorable is awesome.

>>40990678
Rin finding bears adorable is cute

At your own mention of the Academy, you smile. Moe-chan usually does weight training today.

~And that’s where we’ll find her,~ you turn to the elevator.

“So we’re going to ask her about what happened with your other friend?” Rin follows after you as Kanari and Aiha fall into step as well.

“So, should we stop by to see Tomoe-san while we’re there?” Aiha asks.

~Maybe,~ you murmur and dig through your purse and wallet, ~but for now we’re going to the infinity academy gymnasium and athletics complex,~

“Don’t you need a school id to get in there?” Kanari asks, “I’ve had sport meets there and I know its pretty locked down to non students,”

~Tomoe-Sensei gave me this a while ago,~ you flash a red and green card with a magnetic strip, ~She was my private tutor,~

It doesn’t take long for all of you to arrive there by rail. Its close to lunch time, but considering the plot of events you’ve been following you all decide it better to save an afternoon meal for after this meeting.

Crossing through the garden framed archways, you come to the athletic building and swipe your card. Leading the three of them through the labyrinthine halls of this state of the art institute, you soon come to the weight training room. It's mostly empty, save for a group of three girls. Two of them are watching and spotting the third, Moe, who is the middle of performing a squat.

The four of you are leaned around the corner, watching the display. Kanari offers a low whistle.

“That’s almost three hundred pounds,” she whispers, “How are we approaching her?”

>Wait out here for her to finish her workout
>Head in as you are and talk to her, what do you say?
>See if Kanari would be willing to make contact with her
>Don your makeup, magically, and pretend at being Miki for the first time since she came home
>Write in

>>40991007
>Wait out here for her to finish her workout
then
>See if Kanari would be willing to make contact with her

>>40991007
>Don your makeup, magically, and pretend at being Miki for the first time since she came home

I miss Miki.

>>40991007
>Wait out here for her to finish her workout

Summer Classes are a special kind of hell.

>>40991007
>Wait out here for her to finish her workout

>>40991007
>Don your makeup, magically, and pretend at being Miki for the first time since she came home

Writing. looks like we're waiting.

I wonder, can we out-lift Moe using our powers?

>>40992481
That would trample over someone's pride.

I wonder how much Kanari can lift.

>>40992599
About 1040 Lbs.

>>40992755
Right, natural heavyweight.
Does that girl realize how superhuman she is?

>>40992780
Wait. Do kids count as size Small or not?

~Yeah, its a heavy load,~ you agree with how impressed Kanari seems to be, ~So we should probably let her finish with it first,~

The four of you hang around for a bit outside of the weight room. There is a vending machine there with water, sports drinks, protein drinks, and a few snacks waiting there. Rin and Aiha assure you and Kanari that there is no slime across this vending machine, so you grab a few drinks and snacks together to pass the time.

After a while you see the other two girls who were spotting leave the adjoining locker room. They don’t know you so they pay your collective presence no mind. A few moments later, Moe-Ueda strides out, looking tired and more than a little upset.

“Hey, Ueda-san,” Kanari calls out from your collective position around the vending machine.

She pauses to look your group over. She recognizes all of you rather quickly.

“Kino-san?” she pauses and then looks the rest of you over and then settles on you, “Oh, Chiba-san, I didn’t know you guys knew each other,”

There is a towel across her shoulders, she pats the back of her short hair with it in thought. Likely, she just got done taking a shower in the weight room locker room.

“Wait, what are you guys doing here?”

~Its kind of a long story,~ you explain, ~I heard from a friend that Nakajima-san was acting weird,~

Moe looks down, a shadow falls over her eyes. When she looks back up, her cheeks are puffed in frustration.

>>40992975

“I don’t know what her problem’s been lately,” she complains through a tough exterior to cover her pain, “Was it Sasha who told you?”

~Yeah,~ you smile and set down you purchased drink.

“We think we might know,” Rin explains and steps forward, “I am an apprentice shrine maiden at the Hikawa Shrine. I can’t say for certain, but I suspect your friend of being possessed,”

“huh,” Moe looks between the four of you, “Okay then...good luck with that,”

Moe is backing away a few steps, she must not believe Rin’s assertion.

You need to convince Moe that you are here on sincere purpose, or lie...think fast!

>Attempt to use your silver tongue to convince her of your earnest (Persuasion)
>Quick, make something up, WHAT? (Deceive)
>You didn’t come all this way for someone to be weirded out (Intimidate)
>Out yourself as Miki, the shock value should stop her in her tracks, and gain her trust
>Cast a spell or use a power
>Write in

>>40993001
>>Out yourself as Miki, the shock value should stop her in her tracks, and gain her trust

I see this as an idea that's so crazy that it has to work.

>>40993001
Our persuasion is superhuman, but lets load it with some ammo
>Out yourself as Miki, the shock value should stop her in her tracks, and gain her trust
Just respond in the manner of Miki about teddy bear should trust an old friend.
Let her adjust to the mismatch of hearing miki and seeing her body language on another face.

>>40993001
>Attempt to use your silver tongue to convince her of your earnest (Persuasion)

>>40993001
>Attempt to use your silver tongue to convince her of your earnest (Persuasion)

>Out yourself as Miki, the shock value should stop her in her tracks, and gain her trust

>>40993001
>Out yourself as Miki, the shock value should stop her in her tracks, and gain her trust

Counting and writing.

You let instinct take over as Moe Ueda turns away from your assembled group. As Rin regrets her forwardness, Aiha clenches in worry about a lost lead, and Kanari lets her eyes widen in shock; you step forward.

A hand falls to your now popped out hip as your other hand sweeps wide and dismissively.

~Like, really teddy bear?~ you drawl and unleash the power of your inner blonde, ~You totally shouldn’t turn it down when a friend offers to help, m’kay Moe-chan?~

She stops mid turn. Her posture and limbs take on a sudden rigidity. Her eyes look you up and down, uncertain and then in shocking realization. Mouth agape, her limbs retake their normal flexibility and she whips around to face you and closes the distance in two quick steps while making noises from her throat that are not cogent words.

Hands fly to your shoulders and she give you a slower a more scrutinizing once over without blinking. You giggle and wind at her while sticking out your tongue.

“MIKI-CHAN?!” she practically screeches as her fingers spasm and tighten their grip.

~Surprise, bitch,~ your giggle becomes a confident laugh.

Aiha, Rin, and Kanari just stare at the two of you in shock.

“Oh yeah,” Kanari snaps her fingers in realization, “Forgot about that,”

Eclipsed Moon Quest Episode 89
End?

Final interlude in writing and in progress. It will be accompanied by the next interlude vote

*wink at her

>>40994243
Thanks for the thread, Artemis.

>I'm like totally glad we went that way

Interlude: Through these Eyes

Sitting in the darkness of your monitor bank, you watch with great scrutiny at the distorted and hazy feed coming from the receptors behind this creation’s optic nerve.

You worked for weeks in conjunction with the puppet, but your work bore fruit. It angers you that this accomplishment was stolen from you before it was finished its long fermentation...but you’ll know enough about the girls and the mysterious figure who found it.

Whoever they are, they are connected to the masked man staring into your creation’s eyes. Her perfect red eyes.

He is Tuxedo Mask, somehow involved with and related to the original Sailor Senshi. A figure who hasn’t been seen in the public eye for quite some time.

How would you fare in combat against him, in your current form, you wonder. Since that shrinking violet of a creature injected you with your imperfect formula, you’ve had new perspectives on things.

Its not just about the work, but what you can do with that work. Unlike the others you are free from loyalty to the master, but serving him suits you all the same.

Through Queen Kalyke’s eyes, you watch and wonder. When he does unmask, you smile with cruel realization.

You are called Borealis, and you will soon know things that will give you the greatest of advantages.

Interlude End

Interlude Vote
>Green with envy
>Crescent Earth
>Dominion

>>40995179
>Green with envy

>>40995179
Well Fiddlesticks.
>Crescent Earth

>>40994428
>I'm like totally glad we went that way
Me too.
Also hope it help reassure the Beast. Being home again doesn't mean you're gone, we aren't gonna give up Miki anymore than we're gonna give up scaring punks into behaving.

>>40995179
Fuuuuuuuu-

>Dominion

Thanks for the thread /tg/

>>40995179
>>Green with envy

Thanks for running Arty!!

>>40995312
>>40995393
I am super-glad we went with third costume for dealing with that now.

They enemy must be in a tizzy over all these unknowns.
Shame one of them gets to be happy about all the new known he's finding out.

>>40995179
Curious that he refers to it as his work when it was left by Magician.
Curious, and worrying.

>>40996415
Puppet. I wonder how much of a puppet it was.

>>40996449
Umino's body was a puppet to something else that Borealis was working with on this project.

Doctor Borealis wants to take credit because he is an egomaniac now that he is his own id unbound.

>>40996688
Egomaniac Mad Scientists are the best kind.

>>40995179
>Crescent Earth

>>40997911
I just hope he's the kind that keeps his advantages to himself to make himself that much more effective than those around him.

>>40999324
He does note that he isn't auto loyal to the still unknown master. Though he does say serving him suits him.

He's probably going to pull a Starscream.

>>41001113
Starscream sounds a bit further on the betrayal-scale.
More of an Administrator Bradford, he's so superior that obviously the constraints placed on others are not meant to apply to him, that would be foolish.
Kudos to anyone that gets that reference.

>>41003948
No kudos for me

Merry Explosion Day!

Next thread will be Sunday Sunday Sunday.

>>41005549
Explosion day seems like something Koyomi would be into.

>>41007391
Japan also has summer fireworks festivals. Though in Different context from our American shooty sensibilities.

>>41009346
Sky flowers and dazzling colors.
Whereas we like the BOOM, whistle-ka-pow, and rattle-crackle-sizzle POP.

File: Spoiler Image (538 KB, PDF)

538 KB PDF

>>41004305
For extra fun, track down Machinations of Doom

>>41013954
Not the greatest OCR, but serviceable.