>>42288488
>>"...Alright. Let's wait. I can't promise that I'll be happy, but... damn it, I'll try. If that's what you want."

>>42288488
Geez Kimiko, why you gotta put us in a tough spot?
>"Can't we think of a plan or something? If we work together, then I'm sure we can get you out of there, Kimiko."
Worth a shot.

>>42288488
"But... it's not certain, is it? I remembered something about Aiko, after she died, she smiled at me, forgave me, because she believed that, because I could see ghosts, because ghosts were there to be seen, death wouldn't impede us. But she was then eaten by a hollow, almost immediately. I'm scared, I'm scared of what could happen in a hundred years."

>>42288488
>>42288546
This is pretty good, I'll support it. Really, considering all the shinigami and hollows Clarissa has already met, the idea that she'll reach a natural death without the threat of having her spirit destroyed multiple times seems quite unlikely.

>>42288488
"But you never let me see your face, hear your voice, you never even told me your full name. How do I know you're not trying to make sure I forget about you, just like you were before? Also, are you fully recovered from that hollow? Is that part of why you didn't want me to see you? I don't think we ever went back for your lower half."

>>42288546
>>42288488
Supporting.

>>42288488
"But it's my fault you got caught in the first place. When that Urahara guy showed up and asked me how I got my powers, I didn't want to get you in trouble so I... led him to believe that Mayuri was responsible. I thought by then you would already have finished your business with him, but I must have led Urahara right to you. I have to make up for that."

>>42288623
If it does go 100 years, that would be one awkward meeting, Clarissa never having REALLY met her and all.

>>42288659
I dunno if Kimiko would really care about that though, seems like she could easily brush that off.

>>42288488
"It's not fair damnit, I'm not worth waiting a hundred years for, but I know you have to think I am because that's all you'll have.

If I did deserve that, I'd be at your side by tomorrow but I'm... scared. If I do burst into soul society to rescue you, I'm not scared that I'll be defeated, but that I might kill my opponents, who would be shinigami just like you who were doing nothing but defending their home from an invader. And I could say that I don't think the Clarissa you love would have her hands stained with the blood of her former comrades, but the truth is that I don't want to be the person I'd become if I had to kill again.

What's even more shameful is that I'm even scared to die for you. I'm scared to leave my friends and my parents and even my brother behind, even though you're in a place where you're not allowed friends, and you never had a family that loves you. This hesitation is so selfish and cowardly I can hardly stand it.

That's why I need you to remind me of the promises I already made to you, so I can be the Clarissa I am in your heart."

>>42288546
>>42288623
>>42288659
>>42288810
Most of these can probably be delayed for later, but I wasn't sure how much more time we had so I thought it would be best to just dump them all now, and maybe link to them if the conversation continues.

I've been thinking about this quest entirely too much.

>>42288835
No such thing anon. That's how you know you're a real quester.

>>42288761
Maybe, but it matters to Clarissa, and I'd like to know one way or another if it really was our fault (it totally was)

>>42288852
Yeah, it would be interesting to find out.

>>42288835
Yeah I think a lot of them are good point, but well, there's so much there's no real way Clarissa could get all of it through in messages before Kimiko gets a word in and probably derails the conversation.

Really, would be a lot more convenient talking face to face, but obviously not being able to do that is the whole reason we're conflicted in the first place.

>>42288488
"Is Urahara monitoring this conversation? Did he ever leave your room after giving this phone to you? Remember when I got that letter to go to the park at six, and you followed me even though I told you not to? What did I do while I was there?"

Time for at least a little classic paranoia.

>>42288938
Yeah that's why we shouldn't say all of them now, and probably can't, unless Kimiko's responses happen to perfectly line up as prompts, which is unlikely. I'm just not sure what to go with first, or how to condense all of it into something more managable. Man, now I'm feeling really guilty about laying all this crap on Mushroom to deal with.

>>42288985
Well, other anons mostly backed the first one, although I also think the point about being guilty WRT not wanting to leave friends and family for Kimiko is good. Presumably Mushroom will go with the most supported one.

>>42288997
I'm not sure if that was just becuase that was the first one I submitted or not.

I guess I just want to do something for once instead of alternate between moping and being "normal" even though the real truth is that Clarissa is neither a shinigami nor a human.

>>42288488
Voting over, writing!

This might take a little while, but please bear with me!

>>42289120
Don't worry about it Mushroom!

>>42289120
Don't worry, I'm the one who's sorry for making this really inconvenient.

>>42289154
It's not inconvenient at all, don't worry about it!

>>42289120
I hope you're not trying to answer ALL of them, that'd be an all-night endeavor I imagine.

Don't die one me

>>42288546
It's just... not right.

"Did you know, Kimiko? When Aiko died, she wasn't angry. She was smiling. She forgave me. She was happy that death wouldn't separate us. But even as a spirit, she still..." You stop tapping the numpad for a bit, pausing. You take a deep breath and push through that unpleasant memory, concluding the sentence and continuing with your point. "...So much could happen over those years, Kimiko. Is it really all as certain as you think?"

Her reply comes after a short while. "It's certain. No Hollow or Shinigami can get you. I felt how strong you really are, and I've never felt anything like it. And me? Nothing will happen to me whether I want that or not. You won't die, and neither will I."

Even in this silent conversation, Kimiko's determination seeps through. Even in her mute words, it feels like she's speaking with unshakeable confidence. A belief in both your strength and her own, a strength of both wills and spiritual might; and yet at the same time, a desperate certainty in her persistent stagnation.

And where does that leave you, as the only catalyst of change? Should you hurry and gamble on your life, or should you really just take your time like the girl persistently asks you to do?

...This is another one of these, isn't it? A riddle with no answer. If only things went back to being as clear-cut as they were when Kimiko was here. You only had to do as she said, didn't you? It's always so much easier to just let someone else decide for you. There's no responsibility. If the consequences are unpleasant, blame it all on the person who guided you. But not yourself. And... only now, after everything you've been through, do you truly understand the value of a clear conscience.

It'd be like a breath of fresh air, to be ridden of those sins. A breath taken with an unimpeded throat and clear lungs. The fresh, chilly air that would cool the worries boiling in the blood.

It truly would be like heaven.

>>42290226
Well Mushroom did say it was gonna be a while anon!

>>42290253
...Could this be what Naoko feels like? Maybe she wants you to choose everything for her as well. She might believe that her own choices brought her nothing but regret and blame that she could place only on herself, and so she doesn't want to be responsible for anything ever again. And once again, you think you can relate to that more than you wish you could.

Does Kimiko feel the same way, too? Is she too afraid to tell you to go after her, knowing that it'll be her blame to take if things go wrong, since she convinced you to do it? Or is this really the choice she's made, what she truly and without a speck of doubt or cowardice desires?

There's too much to lose for you here, but also a lot to gain there. Deciding on anything is hard, that's only to be expected. But at the same time...

Is not choosing anything... really so wrong here? Is Kimiko really in the wrong?

The phone beeps again. "Are you there? I'm sorry if I said something bad."

Looks like Kimiko is growing a little impatient. Or worried. Either way... her point still stands, in a sense. Even taking the danger of Hollows into account, it's still more likely that you'll survive if you don't go to Soul Society. And, if you can actually trust him, you have Urahara to keep the Shinigami off your back.

...

>"You never let me see your face, hear your voice, you never even told me your full name. How do I know you're not trying to make me forget about you, just like you were before?"
>"I'm sorry. It might be my fault that you got captured. I told Urahara about Mayuri, and that might be how he caught you."
>"I'm really not worth the wait, Kimiko. If I were, I would have already rescued you. I would have already been with you. But I'm just a coward."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>42290286
Hmmmm...tough decision for sure.
>"I'm sorry. It might be my fault that you got captured. I told Urahara about Mayuri, and that might be how he caught you."
The last one just doesn't feel very productive. The first would be, but I don't like accusing her of anything. So I'll go with this.

>>42290286
>"I'm sorry. It might be my fault that you got captured. I told Urahara about Mayuri, and that might be how he caught you."

>>42290286
>"You never let me see your face, hear your voice, you never even told me your full name. How do I know you're not trying to make me forget about you, just like you were before?"
I'm pretty much set on not agreeing with Kimiko overall at this point. Waiting a 100 years is just insane. That said, while taking it slow and waiting for a good opportunity would be ideal, Mushroom saying we're nearing the end means I'm open to something more rash.

>>42290286
>>"I'm sorry. It might be my fault you got captured. I told Urahara about Mayuri, and that might be how he caught you

>>42290286
"I'm strong, but even that strength doesn't mean anything. If I cut loose, I could destroy my home, sending a horde of hollows against me. Even if I did find a way to soul society, and I am strong enough to defeat everyone who opposed me, I don't think I don't think smashing anything would lead to getting what I want. But I learned that I can do things with my power beyond destruction, even if I'm not that good at it yet. But I can practice, hone my skills, it might take months or even a year, but I think I can make it so I can reach you without getting in a single fight. But I need your help to do it. I know you don't want to be where you are, but that you'd rather miss me than lose me forever, but it's never as simple as that. So can you trust me to not just blindly rush in?"

>>42290286
>"You never let me see your face, hear your voice, you never even told me your full name. How do I know you're not trying to make me forget about you, just like you were before?"

>>42290286
>...Could this be what Naoko feels like? Maybe she wants you to choose everything for her as well. She might believe that her own choices brought her nothing but regret and blame that she could place only on herself, and so she doesn't want to be responsible for anything ever again.
She may have, but I'd say her seeing the weaker sides of Clarissa has somewhat alleviated this behavior - it's not like Clarissa knows what's best (heh) all the time. On one hand it feels like an important lesson to learn, but on the other the situation is a lot different with Kimiko. She should obviously have some say too.

I dunno, it's tough because on one hand even without the romance angle, Clarissa should want to help her get away from her family's abuse. But on the other, if she genuinely doesn't want to be saved then we can't really force her to be, either.

I think we should probably just do away with all the other details and shit and just ask her again straight-up if she wants to live like she is right now. And if she doesn't, we head over (uh, up) there.

>>42290286
Voting over, writing!

>>42290609
Oh boy, well let's see where this goes then. I'll have to rev up my custom for next vote.

>>42290609
It really sucks, I feel like we're being talked to directly here, even though we kind of did the opposite of what Kimiko wanted a lot of times. It's just that I feel so beaten down that I'm not sure real success is even possible.

>>42290689
Have faith anon. We're not done here yet. I at least know what I'll be voting next time unless Mushroom throws us a curveball in the update.

>>42290713
He could and probably will. I mean the reason I submitted all that stuff at once is I have no idea when the conversation with Kimiko would cut off, maybe forever. LIke I don't know if any specifics about Kimiko even exist, or if she's just meant to be like some kind of metaphor that we've only interacted with through Aiko's body or through words on a cell phone.

>>42290760
I think that's a bit heavy on the paranoia, there's no real reason to think she doesn't exist. SOMEONE was using Aiko's body after all, and more people than just Clarissa interacted with her in that form (Mayuri and Naoko for example).

>>42290499
I think at best she'll give an ambiguous answer, since it seems really important that we decide for ourselves.

I guess the thing is, that if we do agree to leave Kimiko where she is, all that's left is fixing things with Paul, and then we'll probably just try to be normal to avoid getting the attention of the new local shinigami.

And is that really okay, to leave things there? I really feel like it isn't, but I'm wondering if that could just be because I'm ignoring the main theme of the quest.

>>42290801
I'm talking out of quest anon. Like has Mushroom written anything about what Kimiko's family or house is like, or was she only meant to interact with the MC through these distanced vectors? Would going to Soul Society with their wide cast of characters who have been butterfly effected in unpredictable ways be something Mushroom has any interest in doing?

>>42290828
>I think at best she'll give an ambiguous answer, since it seems really important that we decide for ourselves.
I don't think that's the right way to look at it. Her quality of life is absolutely vital to our decision. Obviously we know she's not super happy but making sure is just courtesy. Heading up without knowing is just acting on false information.

>>42290867
I think it's pretty clear now that we won't be seeing a trip to SS in the quest no matter our decision, since that would surely take a lot of threads even if it was a successful infiltration approach rather than a combat clusterfuck like Ichigo's attempt. I assume the story fade-to-black ends as Clarissa prepares to go or something. But it's still an important decision for Clarissa.

>>42290884
One of the things I do want to ask her is if there's anything she can do to improve her situation. Like even if it means swallowing her hatred and playing along with her situation, would she be allowed some more freedom? Can she text others or even talk online with them in Soul Society? Or even just practice her kidou?

>>42290912
I agree, but I'm not as optimistic as you are. I think that because the Seireitei isn't actually game content, going there immediately triggers a bad end scenario. And that just makes me feel really miserable because I want to do more.

>>42290938
I doubt that but maybe.

>>42290938
I think part of the reason I feel so strongly about this is because it reminds me of Hollow Quest Redux, where the MC's vast, almost limitless power couldn't help our friends, and how we did nothing but let people down but were still praised for trying. It kind of hurts.

>>42290320
>>42290335
>>42290369
"I'm sorry. It might be my fault that you got captured. I told Urahara about Mayuri, and that might be how he caught you." You send her the confession, and anxiously wait for her answer. It takes a painfully long time, or at the very least, so it feels like to you.

"No way, that doesn't seem right. I was on my way to Mayuri's after I left your house when Captain Urahara caught me. Not much time has passed after I left, maybe twenty minutes? When did you talk to him?"

...When exactly was it? Was it before or after you noticed Kimiko's absence? It wasn't that long ago, but stuff just kept happening after that and you forgot the precise details. You think you... noticed the absence and went to look for her, and that's when you stumbled into that giant obelisk of a Hollow and the mopheaded scientist in black and white.

Yes, that's how it went, wasn't it? If Kimiko says it's impossible, then she's probably right. She... wouldn't make stuff up, right? No, wait, she's probably right. The order of events is mixed up if you are the supposed 'culprit', isn't it? Yes, that must be it.

Well... that's good. It's great, honestly. It's at least one thing you don't have to worry about or blame yourself for anymore. You feel relieved.

But knowing that it wasn't your fault still won't bring Kimiko back. You need to figure something out. It doesn't have to be a brute-force invasion, but neither does she need to wait for a century. And at the same time... why is she so stubbornly against this? Could it be that she's trying to make you forget her again? Your pondering over what to write her next is interrupted by the girl's new message.

(1/2)

>>42291475
"None of this is your fault, Clarissa. Can we stop talking about that kind of stuff now? I really think we should just wait it out. I don't want to waste this chance to talk to you on figuring out how to break me out. We might not get another one. If this is the last time we get to talk, I don't want to waste it. Can we please talk about each other instead? I want to know more about you, the things you like and hate. We didn't have the time to talk about it back then. Let's do it now, okay?"

...

>Other. (Write-in).

>>42291475
>...When exactly was it? Was it before or after you noticed Kimiko's absence? It wasn't that long ago, but stuff just kept happening after that and you forgot the precise details. You think you... noticed the absence and went to look for her, and that's when you stumbled into that giant obelisk of a Hollow and the mopheaded scientist in black and white.
>Yes, that's how it went, wasn't it? If Kimiko says it's impossible, then she's probably right. She... wouldn't make stuff up, right? No, wait, she's probably right. The order of events is mixed up if you are the supposed 'culprit', isn't it? Yes, that must be it.
>Doubt.png

>>42291508
Because I never got to see it, tell me about your hair. What kind if place should we go to once we're together? Are there mountains in soul society?

>>42291508
"That depends, can you do the same with me?"

>>42291508
>"I'll be happy to talk with you about all kinds of things, Kimiko. But I also know this might be the last time I'll be able to talk to you for a very long time. That said, we've been mostly talking in circles about this, gettig nowhere, it's true. So before we go to lighter topics, I'm just gonna ask you Kimiko, not as a lover but as a friend. Are you happy, locked up in your room? Will you be happy there for 100 years? I'm not asking if it's 'worth it in the end' or 'better than the alternative' or any nonsense like that. Not about the result, but the process. In the end, I'm the only one who can decide what I want, and what I do. I just need to know if you're happy where you are, Kimiko. Please tell me."

>>42291559
Didn't she already say she wasn't in the last thread? Like she said she hated it there. Also we could do that under the guise of sharing information with each other. Like asking her is there anything about where she is now that there is to like?

>>42291588
Yes, she's clearly expressed distaste of it before. The idea is to clear it up once and for all, assuming she does reiterate her previous opinion on it.

>>42291588
>>42291559
Here's what she said
>I really hate them. I'm back to how it was before I became a Shinigami. They don't let me go anywhere or do anything. It's awful.
also
>Of course it's awful. I hate every minute of it, and I often wish it'd all just end. But I always hoped that there was more to life than just sitting around like this, coddled into uselessness and sheltered from the whole world. Before dying, I wanted to at least see that world, and be able to tell for myself if it was worth the effort of continuing it all. And it was, Clarissa.

It's literally so shitty that we're pretty much keeping her from killing herself. I don't think we need to rub that in more, or leave her where she is.

>>42291508
>Sure.
I like the questions in >>42291555!

Yeah, pretty sure I'll vote for breaking her out, or failing to.

>>42291508
"Is that really okay? You don't want to tell me about yourself, and beyond that I don't think there's a single thing you like about where you are now. So won't I just be listing things you won't get to experience?"

>>42291753
We can ask her what she looks like, what her habits are like. Update her on what's happened since we last saw her. That kind of thing.

>>42291790
Yeah but I don't know if she wants to tell us those things. I guess we could check first.

>>42291832
I doubt we'll get anything more to make our decision from at least, so might as well chit-chat with her.

You writing, Mushroom, or still waiting for more votes?

>>42291508
Voting over, writing!

>>42291862
I guess, but I don't know, I just really want to get the fire back, though I'm not sure how.

>>42291530
I just remembered something. When Urahara and Mayuri encountered another, they fought. Mayuri was able to escape by doing two things, paralyzing one half of Urahara's body and unleashing Urahara's full power, with disastrous results. Also when we finished our fight with the Menos Grande, and returned to our apartment, it was already almost 4 PM when we called Ren, and I don't think we woke up that late, or fought the Gillian for that long. We probably would have run into Urahara had we accompanied her, which would have been either better or worse.

>>42293065
Also, re-reading the quest makes me sad, no matter where I look.
>It feels like tomorrow you'll go to school again, listen to lectures, talk to friends, have lunch with them, hang out with them after school, go home, maybe spend the evening chatting with her on the phone, maybe collaborate together on homework and ultimately get nothing done because you were having too much fun, or maybe if there's nothing to prepare for the next day go and visit her and only leave when her or your own parents lose their patience and tell you to get going because it's ridiculously late, and then go to sleep, chuckling at today's amusing parts before you really end the day.

>And then it'll happen all over again. Those days will keep repeating until the weekend, when you have to do nothing but the enjoyable things. And there is nothing wrong with those repetitions, and you never found those days similar or stale. New things happen on a daily basis, life is always interesting and entertaining, even while the outlines of your days look like they're completely the same. Saying something like 'I wish those days would go on forever' would mean they'd get boring eventually for sure, so you've never really thought about it in that way before, and neither did you wish for your life to keep going in a self-contained, peaceful cycle.

>That's something old people would probably wish for, you thought. Or maybe someone like Paul. But not you. You've always wanted excitement in your life. You're one of those people who fantasized and wished to be a hero when you were a kid, waiting for that special moment when a cute little talking animal fell on your head and gave you magical powers to fend off monsters with. When you grew out of that age, you were fine with the idea of just being famous, like a rock star or some other kind of idol or popular person. And when out of that phase, you were content with just seeing new places, experiencing new things, meeting new people.

>>42293119
>It might seem like a bit of a downgrade in enthusiasm, but it's pretty normal. The ambitions just took a more realistic shape, that's all.
I've seen morals like this a lot, like at the end of the book where all the magic leaves and the heroes go home and get normal jobs etc. But is that really okay? Is it okay to let the world erode our dreams even though within us lies the power to grant wishes?

>>42293163
Well, that's up for everyone to decide for themselves.
Of course, Clarissa has a pretty golden opportunity to keep going.

>>42291559
>>42291555
>>42291745
"Kimiko, just tell me honestly. I want to be sure. I'm not talking about the future or anything like that. Are you fine as you are right now?"

The reply is nearly immediate. "YES!!!!" It says. Surprisingly brief and to the point, though it feels more like she's annoyed and just wants you to stop talking about it already. Well... damn it, this isn't really conclusive or anything. But, at the same time, she's already said everything she thought about it before, so... you guess she doesn't want you to bug her any further.

"Alright. I want to know something about you that you've never talked about with me before. If you don't want to talk about it, just tell me, alright? Anyway, I really want to know what you look like, Kimiko. I never got to see it, so could you tell me about your hair?"

"I have black hair. It's a little longer than yours. I spend a lot of time taking care of mine but I still think yours is smoother and prettier. Your hair is golden and beautiful. I love it." You smile a bit, feeling a little sheepish. "I want to know more about you too, but I don't know what questions to ask, so I'll just ask everything I can think of: what's your favorite color, flower, activity and hobby? Sorry for the quiz."

She's a noble, so she probably has a himecut, or, well, something like that. Maybe it's somehow different in Soul Society, or you are having horrible misconceptions on what the nobility's hairstyles are really like. But you like that color, and you're of the opinion that the longer the better. If you could get away with it, you'd grow your hair way more, too, but it's a pain to take care of as is. And your hair isn't that smooth, either, Kimiko's probably just flattering you or something.

...But it feels nice.

(1/2)

>>42293291
"Blue, red roses, eating cakes with friends, martial arts. I want you to answer all of those, too!! Also, where should we go to when we're together? Are there mountains in Soul Society?"

"Mine is black, tulip and my activity/hobby is probably painting. I liked being a Shinigami, it was scary sometimes but also fun and exciting. They tell you to kill your emotions but I didn't care about that, it was more like stress release for me! But besides that I did all sorts of stuff to keep the boredom away, but I think only painting's really stuck around for me. Reading is okay sometimes depending on the book, and I even tried writing once. I didn't like it. And I don't really know where we can go."

Is it your turn to reply, or is she going to add something else? Her last message reached the character limit. What else could you ask about her?

The phone suddenly beeps again. "And there are mountains. I've never been near them, though."

...

>"Let's visit the mountains when I get there."
>"I can't wait to see your paintings, Kimiko."
>"So is being a noble really nothing but downsides? Do you at least get to eat tasty food and wear expensive clothes? Oh yeah, what are you wearing right now?"
>"Are you sure you don't want to discuss a plan of some kind? This really might be our only chance."
>Other. (Write-in).

>>42293330
>"I can't wait to see your paintings, Kimiko."
>"Let's visit the mountains when I get there."

>>42293216
Here's some advice for ourselves that we'd probably be good to remember
>The man's red eyes carefully scrutinize you for a brief while before continuing. "If you don't have the resolve for it, you simply won't make it. You won't be able to save her." He flatly declares and shrugs.

>"I told you to do what you want, that's right. I just suspect that you don't want to do it. You want your Kimiko back, but you don't think she's worth the trouble of risking your life and abandoning everyone you care about. Am I wrong?" He seems confident in what he says, and that angers you more. "Judging by your lackluster response, it'll be hard for you. You're not good at using your powers, so unless you dedicate yourself entirely to the cause, you won't get far. And can you achieve that state when you're worried about the people you've left behind?"

>>42293330
>"So is being a noble really nothing but downsides? Do you at least get to eat tasty food and wear expensive clothes? Oh yeah, what are you wearing right now?"
Smooth, Clarissa. Real smooth.

Anyway, I don't think we'll get her in on any plan so let's have fun. Clarissa can plan on her own.

>>42293330
>"So is being a noble really nothing but downsides? Do you at least get to eat tasty food and wear expensive clothes? Oh yeah, what are you wearing right now?"
Also ask if they broke her sword or made it so she can't use magic?

>>42293383
Yeah, all our doubt is probably counterproductive when you get down to it. Same for our power - the less convinced and decisive Clarissa is, the less her plotrock powers can do. Might as well channel its forcefulness into something productive instead of mind-raping chicks into wanting a roll in the hay with her like it tried to for a while.

>>42293330

>"I can't wait to see your paintings, Kimiko."
>"So is being a noble really nothing but downsides? Do you at least get to eat tasty food and wear expensive clothes? Oh yeah, what are you wearing right now?"
I'm not sure the mood is right, but hey!

>>42293330
>"I can't wait to see your paintings, Kimiko."

>>42293330
Voting over, writing!

>>42293447
But at the same time it feels like we can't really do anything right. We kept fucking up with Paul until the hougyoku gave us the answer, we blew it with the dream girl forever, and even our full power seems like it causes more harm than good. Like if we do storm in, what will we actually be able to do? Where would we go? I doubt Urahara would still cover for us if we made a huge mess of things.

>>42293447
I'm actually really surprised that our inner world hasn't fogged over again, since even the plotrock is trying to talk us out of it. Or, could the fact that he remains not shrouded by uncertainty be that despite her misgivings, Clarissa still hasn't abandoned her resolve? Like when we said we'd just give up he said
>"This wait will drive you mad. Delaying yourself without a cause in your case is the same as stabbing yourself in the gut. How can you not understand that? If you keep at this and try to turn yourself into a lifeless husk again, you'll lose your powers. And then it'll be too late to change anything. Even if she returns one day, there won't be any point, as you will be unable to ensure her safety."

>>42293728
The details and exact plan are still up in the air for sure. But I think we can decide to do it (or try at least) before having that ready. Most of the situations where we fail, we have been wishy-washy overall - sure we end up trying something, but only after hemming and hawing and not being confident or sure about it at all (the Paul plan most obviously). Even if we did something, we had no real conviction or confidence in it, either we straight-up doubted it would work or it was more of a spur-of-the-moment reaction born from frustration, in dream-Aiko's case.

>>42293783
And finally this, the thing we promised to do a long time ago, but never did.

>You can tell that it's dangerous; you really didn't need anyone to spell it out for you. It'd be great if you could manage without it, but it seems that you're rarely given a choice in the matter.

>Rather than completely avoiding its use, it'll be better to learn how to keep it in check and under control. You... don't even know where to begin with that, honestly. It's been working largely of its own accord, emerging whenever you needed it. That's sort of convenient and all, but you need it to be more reliable. You can't be relying on luck alone to keep people safe; to keep her safe.

>You've promised Kimiko safety. You've promised to give her a life she's never had, and not as Aiko, but as herself. This is the only way - through you and your strength. This is not just about keeping your word. She's important to you. You've never seen her, but that means nothing. You know what she's like, and that's the only thing that matters.

>You'll never let her come to harm. She's yours, and you won't let anyone take her away from you. You need to find her.

The last part is a bit worrisome, but I feel like on the whole, that's the resolve I'd like to see again.

>>42293784
I feel like it's really a self-fulfilling prophecy though. Like the more things go wrong, the more foolish it seems to believe things will ever go our way. I mean even when we tried practicing our abilities with Naoko, we barely were able to do anything, and certainly couldn't accomplish what we wanted.

>>42293926
Yeah, pretty much. But that just means we gotta stop connecting dots that are entirely separate and don't make a picture at all, and just go for it. Clarissa has already decided she'll give Aiko a better life, so why doubt it now? Might as well go all in on it. Doesn't mean we have to go straight for the worst plan (dying) after all.

>>42293976
It's Kimiko, anon. It's too late for Aiko, and if anything Kimiko's fate is harsher.
But back to your larger point, I guess it's mainly because as I said earlier, I'm not sure we'll ever be allowed to see Soul Society in the quest. Our best bet is a hopeful ending, our worst is a bad one. Despite resolve being important and all that, you can't take the story in a place the storyteller won't bring it.

Additionally, I think we might have been more bold if there were more people here.

>>42294066
Yeah, just messed up the names.
I dunno anon, 6 players isn't so bad! Of course, seems like there's about 2.5 of us chatting but...

>>42294094
I meant more in the past, in the longer doldrums period. But even now while there are more voters, there aren't a lot of people wanting to discuss things. Though even that's more a way of wanting to offset responsibility, in bigger quests oftentimes one vote isn't really enough to sway things, so responsibility is diffused, but here, my choices really can make a difference with potentially disastrous repurcussions. Being the one responsible for messing up hurts just as bad as being the outvoted dissentor, and it makes participation really a struggle for me.

>>42294242
Hell, I think the biggest problem with the quest for me at least is wanting to avoid the blame for ruining a fun thing.

>>42294242
Trick is to just stop worrying about bad ends and consequences in general too much. Any decision can have terrible consequences after all.

>>42294307
>Any decision can have terrible consequences after all.
That's kind of my problem though? That from the outside, what does and doesn't (usually doesn't) work seems mostly arbitrary. Like I still dont understand what this quest is about, what kind of story the QM is at least trying to tell.

>>42294353
Focusing on the 'type' of story just seems like missing the point to me. Just figure out what you want to do. Like here, either Clarissa tries a daring heist to free Kimiko from 100+ years of boredom, or she waits patiently until she has a chance to meet Kimiko going through the proper channels. Do you think Clarissa would want and be able to wait, or would she take risks to help her out? Just go with the answer that feels right instead of running cost-benefit analysis on the odds of each or trying to figure out if the QM is gonna screw you for picking one thing or the other.

>>42294404
The former, rescuing Kimiko, whether through brute force or through unlocking the stealth path both seems more like what Clarissa would do, and also much more like what -I- would enjoy doing.

But if Clarissa were to do that, would it be okay to ignore what Kimiko is saying, even if we've done that a lot of times by insisting to fight hollows?

Can we even push the Hougyoku in ways it hasn't been before, to do more than Infinite Blade Works? And more importantly, can we do all that with the impossible restriction of either avoiding or enchanting the new shinigami sent to patrol our area, without Urahara moving in on us?

For me the answer is yes, actually the answer is hell yes.

...But I don't know, I feel like QM intention is still important though, since he's really taking a lot of time to do this for us.

>>42294528
Well to be fair Mushroom should be more than used to his players missing the point by now so more disappointment wouldn't make him flinch!

>But if Clarissa were to do that, would it be okay to ignore what Kimiko is saying, even if we've done that a lot of times by insisting to fight hollows?
That's the main problem, if you want to call it that, with going. If she doesn't agree to be rescued, can we force her to be? But in the end, even if Clarissa can't force her to come along if she shows up outside her mansion or whatever, I still feel like Clarissa would go through with it for her OWN sake. So she knew she tried, knew she didn't leave Kimiko to suffer out of fear Clarissa would die, or simply being used to living life like a doll. In many ways her logic reminds my of someone rationalizing abuse in that way, but I digress. I think if Clarissa showed up at Kimiko's doorstep, Kimiko would join her in a heartbeat. And I think if she didn't and refused to come along for some reason, that would be a bummer, but Clarissa would still get her peace of mind, or at least know she tried.

>>42293391
>>42293436
>>42293551
"I want to see your paintings, Kimiko. I can't wait for it."

"No way. I won't show them! It's embarrassing!! They're not good at all, so you're better off not looking."

You smile widely. So she's embarrassed all of a sudden? Well, there's probably no way she's actually anywhere near as bad as she claims if she really is over a hundred years old and had that as her most favorite timewaster. And she probably has a lot of them, too. A hundred years' worth of paintings.

"I'll look through them all and you can't stop me!!!"

"Nooo!!!!"

And her reaction is cute. You tap in your next question. It might be a little unpleasant for her, so you decide to tease her a bit to lighten it up. "So is being a noble really nothing but downsides? Do you at least get to eat tasty food and wear expensive clothes? Oh yeah, what are you wearing right now?"

"I guess. Our cook is an old lady who's really good at her job. Well, age is weird in Soul Society, so she's not actually that much older than me. And sure, I get all kinds of fancy outfits and jewelry so I can look good in public. I used to be able to pick out my own things but I picked something really inappropriate once just to mess with my parents and I don't get a choice in the matter all that often anymore. And I'm wearing a yukata with nothing under it right now. What about you?"

(1/2)

>>42294636
Ha, well, that sounds like the kind of thing a rebellious teenager (?) really would d-

Wait, what?

"A gray shirt and panties." You reply. Wait, hold on, actually. Did you really reply with that? Why? This isn't...

"So the stuff you usually wear at night? I like it, it's simple and cute. Clarissa, are we really doing this? It'll be a bit slower to type with just one hand, warning you. And my bodyguard will probably notice. But who cares about her, actually?"

S-stop! Hold on! You were just messing around, it was just a joke! There's not even enough time for this sort of thing, you should be talking about something else, something more important instead! Are you misinterpreting something? Does she actually mean something completely innocent? That has to be it. How would she even know about this kind of thing?!

...

>Other. (Write-in).

>>42294653
Oh Clarissa, surely you can't be that innocent.
>"You better not let her see though, alright? That's just for me you know!"

>>42294653
Hmmm, that's kinda worrying actually - specifically, if the bodyguard notices Kimiko enjoying herself, would she notice the phone too, and remove it?
> Won't she take away your phone? But yeah, it'd be nice...I've had some annoying urges since you left, you know! Of course I've controlled them just fine, but you should still take responsibility.

>>42294653
>"...I've REALLY missed you."

>>42294653
"It's either that, or I listen to you vent about your family more, since you probably don't really have anyone to do that with."

>>42294653
>Hope your yukata isn't sitting too snugly. I just wanna slide my hands under it and touch you again, first your arms, your shoulders, your back and stomach...
I have no idea what I'm doing, texting-sex is an alien concept to me. I assume Mushroom's gonna FTB though so I won't embarrass myself any more than this.

>>42294653
I don't know, this seems like a dumb idea, but I really doubt we can pester Kimiko into telling us anything. And if she is, then awkward teenage ERP is the place people are least likely to look.

>>42294875
Well it's a bit dumb, but they're teenagers, so. Also I'm pretty sure when you have literally nothing to do for years at a time, kinda-sorta-sex is at the premium end of the entertainment-scale.

On the positive side, if our texts are being monitored we're technically better off showing embarrassing ERP than detailed plans about rescuing her!

>>42294917
Also they both kinda deserve some distractions right now.

>>42294653
>"Is she actually in your room? That sounds, ugh. Don't you get any privacy for, uh, this stuff?"
Don't want to back down, just find out more about her.

>>42294917
That is true, even if it might be dumb as hell, it could be funny at worst, and actually steamy at best, but then that could just be my defeatism talking because I feel like if we try to get back on topic all we'll get is
>"LET ME SAVE YOU!"
>"NO!"
The only other alternative is trying to chat with her in a way to milk her for information about where she lives, where her room is located like is there a window? But I don't know, I think Kimiko's smarter than us.

File: 'paintings' pronounced lo(...).png (319 KB, 817x817)

319 KB PNG

>>42294653
I'd like to end the thread for tonight, it's getting really late for me! The next thread will start off with the most voted actions!

Next thread is tomorrow, but keep an eye out on twitter, just in case:
https://twitter.com/Mushroomgami

If you have any feedback or questions, shoot them my way!

Thanks for reading!

>>42295031
Ending it on a lewd note huh, I see your plots.
Thanks for running!

>>42295031
Thanks for writing Mushroom.

>>42295018
We might be able to get some of that info through the ERP but yeah, I wouldn't hold out hope. Personally I'm resigned to rescuing her without her cooperation at this point. Or at least seeing her!

>>42295031
What did you think about the earlier discussion? Like you have been pretty forgiving with us messing things up in the past, but I really don't want you to feel like you have to take this in a direction you're not comfortable with.

>>42295157
I've said before that it's all up to you guys, and the amount of time I spend on doing something shouldn't influence your choices!

And I really don't think there were that many glaring or big mistakes made in the choices themselves over the course of the quest. I can only think of about two? The rest were all valid and a lot of conclusions ended up being better than I expected.

>>42295236
>a lot of conclusions ended up being better than I expected.
I don't know if I should be happy about that, or if we've just lowered your expectations by a lot. And only two big mistakes? That'll be hard to narrow down, there's getting that old man killed, not accompanying Mayuri, and hitting the dream girl off the top of my head.

>>42295236
>Naked yukata
Why are you so lewd?

>>42295329
Which old man do you mean?

>>42295356
You're the ones who are still going!

>>42295031
How long have you been labeling those closing images? I didn't notice that at all until now!

>>42295414
There was more than one? I thought there was just that guy skullhead was holding hostage where we miscalculated the situation and got him killed as a result.

>>42295414
Yes, but anons are contractually obligated to be indecent, unlike QMs.
>paintings pronounced loose enough sounds like panties
LEWD

>>42295420
Since the very beginning.

>>42295456
I just couldn't recall if he was old or not!

>>42295524
Lewd is good, anon.

>>42295420
>Thread 52:
>i thougth id finish this quest in around 30 threads at most but we're in our fifties already

>Thread 57
>The end draws near

Okay now I'm sad again. Because either saving Kimiko really is doomed to fail, or we've just been fucking up and around for half the quest's lifespan.

>>42295664
Don't worry! It has more to do with my posting speed than anything!

>>42295664
>Thread 48
>wish we had our own scientist that could gather a ragtag party of high schoolers and send them off on a suicidal rescue mission to the world of the dead

...Still having trouble regretting this though. Because Mayuri is gonna Mayuri.

>>42295694
I feel like you're too hard on yourself about the posting speed, sure you're definitely not the fastest, but I feel like it works, keeping your audience shivering with antici

>>42295694
That doesn't have much to do with the second comment. Like... even if we really are avoiding any of the bad ends, I feel like we're also avoiding the good ones. I guess I don't want to finish this quest lamenting all the things I wanted to do, but didn't get the chance.

>>42295929
pation