What's New:

The Tumblr will be posting images and fluff related to the Quest setting as it runs today.

AskFM exists to take questions for anons with a hate of twitter.

Finally, I apologize for the continuing use of youtube to post music. It’s the easiest way for me to find the music I want sometimes but I will try and turn it over to Soundcloud when I can.

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Orientation Post

Vincent Esperanza is in an “english-style” pub not far from where he works, accompanied by Amanda Chen, the spunky British-Chinese boat captain who helped him tame and reel in a large sea monster today. The bartender is actually an enormous Chinese enforcer for an unnamed criminal organization that the players made a deal with two threads ago. His name is Zheng and he has discreetly given Vince a coaster with some kind of message on it along with his drink.

Vince is highly concerned about saving his sonfu, Jeremy Yu, who is currently imprisoned in the building where he works. He has a plan for how to do this but he must get back there before 3 pm so he can roofie a prominent scientist’s lunch.

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In the corner of the pub a drunk grapples with an antique jukebox. Amanda rests her arm on the bar and her face on her hand, alternately charmed or bemused by your obvious discomfort.

“So, tell me about yourself. How on Earth did you come to be an exterminator?”

You don't answer right away, your eyes focused on the antique analog clock behind the bar.

1:55 pm. You have an hour and five minutes to head into GEC HQ and drug Dr. Xi so you can rescue Jeremy.

“I just kind of fell into it,” you say, “I don't have any special love for it.”

“Really? I really thought you enjoyed yourself today.”

This woman, who you just met and captured a sea monster with, is ruthlessly pursuing eye contact. You indulge her.

“I guess. It was a nice change from the work I usually get.”

“I'd imagine so! I mean, you reached out and tamed that thing with rotten chicken and your bare hands, it's inconceivable to me that that would be normal for anybody.”

You snort derisively and she raises an eyebrow.

“Is something funny?”

“Oh nothing.”

“Tell the truth!” she says as you raise your glass of Guinness to your lips in an attempt to be evasive.

You take a theatrically long sip, watching her face as you do so. The drunk finally picks a song.

>https://youtu.be/WGU_4-5RaxU

>Roll 3d6+1 awareness

Rolled 1, 1, 3 + 1 = 6 (3d6 + 1)

>>42782470
Rolling to recognize showtunes

Rolled 5, 5, 5 + 1 = 16 (3d6 + 1)

>>42782470
Should we boost with allt his booze?

>>42782599
>>42782527

Your current Nerves are [9/13], the sip you're taking will restore that to [10/13].

Boosting once would cost 2 nerves, twice would be 4.

The DC is unknown, so I'll let you boost retroactively if you want.

Rolled 5, 2, 3 + 1 = 11 (3d6 + 1)

>>42782470

>>42782634
>>42782599
>>42782527
>6,16,11

Okay, quick vote.

Use the following template:

0 for no boost
1 for a single boost
2 for a double boost

>>42782631
Well we got time to drink more for a while anyways.>>42782649
2

>>42782649
2

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>>42782679
>>42782687
>double boost

“Sorry,” you say, lowering the glass. “It’s just the way you Brits talk.”

She glowers for an instant as your barb hits home and then recovers her composure.

“The way you Yanks talk isn’t especially endearing either in this day and age,” she admits, “But I might make an exception for you.”

She rubs her finger gently across the rim of your glass.

You feel your cheeks warm but Zheng catches your eye from the far end of the bar and the feeling disappears.

Amanda is very obviously interested in you and you can feel her eyes on you. It’s a little too easy for your comfort.

“You know, I’m normally a big fan of loopholes and exceptions but maybe you should tell me a bit about yourself first.”

“What there to tell that I didn’t mention on the boat? I came out here to take over the old family fishing business, like I told you.”

>I guess that’s reasonable. (buy her another drink)
>Riveting. Why don’t you tell me some more? (buy her another, stronger drink)
>I can see that you’re interested in me but I just don’t trust you.
>Yeah? And what’s the real story? (attempt to intimidate)
>I’m not sure I believe that but I can’t stay here terribly long anyway. Maybe we could discuss this another time?
>Signal Zheng with your eyes to create a distraction.
>Surreptitiously check the message Zheng passed you on the bottom of your coaster
>Write-in

>>42782780
>Nerves [6/13], the day's mental fatigue is setting in.

>>42782780
>>Riveting. Why don’t you tell me some more? (buy her another, stronger drink)
The first level of distraction!

>>42782780
>>Riveting. Why don’t you tell me some more? (buy her another, stronger drink)

>>42782780
>>Surreptitiously check the message Zheng passed you on the bottom of your coaster
He knows something about the old sea captain we don't?

>>42782780
>>Riveting. Why don’t you tell me some more? (buy her another, stronger drink)
Hey Simmons sup?

>>42782880
>>42782828
>Tell me more!

"And that's genuinely admirable of you. You know, my own father was a blue collar worker."

"And you seem to have followed in his footsteps."

"In a way," you respond, thinking back to the lengths you went to avoid taking after your father and his wretchedly bent over back in your youth. "But it wasn't my goal. Like I said, I kind of just fell into the extermination business..."

She's chugging away at her drink as you talk, steadily bringing the black line of Guinness closer to the bottom of the glass.

"Would you like another one of those? And maybe you can tell me about your own father.."

She looks sheepish as she finishes the glass but she lets Zheng begin refilling it on the spot.

"Well, he was an immigrant to Great Britain of course but he was charming enough to marry my mum and have me. He worked for the government and was sort of caught in the initial decapitating strike by the Russians... I was out of the country at the time and only heard the details years later, once they got all the records from the war in order."

"Tragic," you say taking another sip of your own drink, "The war was bad on the Isles... I knew a few men that went there to fight."

>Nerves [7/10] You're still steady on your feet.

"It was very brave of them to do that."

"Yes. Yes it was."

You keenly leave off the fact that they were in a penal battalion.

"Would you have gone?"

"Well, I wasn't really in a position to do so but-"

>I would have without hesitation. Anything to fight the Ruskies.
>I don't think it would have solved anything if I had. The Americans getting involved only helped level the country.
>Hah! Things would have been different if I had been on the front lines! Ida' crashed right through their tin cans with an acid thrower and a few grenades. (pretend to be more inebriated than you are)

>>42783128
>>Hah! Things would have been different if I had been on the front lines! Ida' crashed right through their tin cans with an acid thrower and a few grenades. (pretend to be more inebriated than you are)
Ahahaha. Con Man Trait go.

>>42783128
>>Nerves [7/10]

>10
Oh fug his maximum has shrunk, we've been drugged.

>Hah! Things would have been different if I had been on the front lines! Ida' crashed right through their tin cans with an acid thrower and a few grenades. (pretend to be more inebriated than you are)

>>42783128
>>Hah! Things would have been different if I had been on the front lines! Ida' crashed right through their tin cans with an acid thrower and a few grenades. (pretend to be more inebriated than you are)

>>42783182
>>42783256
>>42783298


"Pffft. Things would have been different if I'd been there."

"Excuse me?"

"Those Russians could never bring game like me. I'd blow right through them with an acid thrower and a couple of tanks of good old American nerve gas. They'd be burning and writhing in their own shit in no time."

You gesticulate wildly with one hand while sliding the coaster out from under your drink with the other, shielding it from Amanda's view with your body.

Oddly, she doesn't seem too displeased by your show of bravado. She's actually laughing.

"I don't *quite* believe that, Vinnie, but I appreciate your patriotic spirit. I've always admired a willingness to devote oneself to the national good."

"Uh, thank you."

You're blushing now, for real, and you can see Zheng watching all this with no small amount of amusement.

Amanda turns back to her drink and begins to talk a little more quietly.

"You know, I hoped I could make him proud by coming here."

You take advantage of the distraction and look at the bottom of the coaster. There are no words, just a scrawled image of a urinal.

>Make who proud? Your father?
>Drink in silent solidarity
>Maybe you can tell me about this all in a minute... I have a pressing need to attend to. (Go to the bathroom)
>Signal Zheng with your eyes to create a distraction.

>>42783367
>Drink in silent solidarity
need dem nerves

>>Maybe you can tell me about this all in a minute... I have a pressing need to attend to. (Go to the bathroom)

>>42783074

Not too much, been enjoying myself lately.

>>42783000

She's actually significantly younger than you.

>>42783256

My bad.

>Nerves [7/13]

>>42783367
>>Drink in silent solidarity
Finish this beer get halfway through the second and then go to the bathroom.

>>42783367
>>Drink in silent solidarity

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>>42783443
>>42783473
>>42783599


You raise your glass in a toast to your fallen comrades in the Anglo-sphere which Amanda silently acknowledges. Then both of you begin to drink seriously, communicating only through glances between drinks.

You've already tucked the coaster into your uniform pocket and Zheng has wasted no time in replacing it with a duplicate.

You finish two additional glasses of alcohol (switching from Guinness to something you can drink a little faster) before excusing yourself to go to the bathroom.

>Nerves [11/13]

Amanda is all to happy to let you go so she can focus on her own drinking, which appears to be a serious hobby for her.

The bathroom itself is pretty standard for a chinese bar, complete with the "trench style" urinals you hate so much. How are you supposed to avoid getting drips on the bottom of your white pants?

Still, you really do need to piss. You unholster yourself and begin to unload when the urinal behind you bursts open and you narrowly avoid pissing yourself.

Instead, you crane your head around and spot an old man sitting on the toilet behind you with his feet in the air. Crusty John Chong.

Crusty is holding a silenced Chinese spec in his hands, identical to the kind you were provided with.

<How are you doing, Gwai-lo? Please, finish piss, be comfortable.>

>How can I be comfortable with you holding a gun to my back, Crusty?
>What's this about?
>How the hell did you plan all this?
>Write-in

>>42783608

>toilet stall behind you*

Dammit, Crusty doesn't burst out of a urinal.

>>42783608
>>How can I be comfortable with you holding a gun to my back, Crusty?

>>42783608
>How the hell did you plan all this?

Seriously Vince walked into the one bar they had taken over?

Did they implant subliminal suggestions in his brain?

>>42783608
>>How can I be comfortable with you holding a gun to my back, Crusty?
>>What's this about?

>>42783621
That would have been much more impressive.

Maybe they're just suspicious because we got blasted with a cop yesterday.

>>42783673
>>42783636

<How can I be at ease with you holding a weapon in my rear, Crusty?>

Crusty chuckles.

<Apologies, both for my transgression and your Chinese.>

He lowers the gun. Your stream becomes a little more steady.

<It was not my idea to confront you like this.>

<Who had the idea then? And how they know I am here?>

<Eh, you do not have a history of keeping a low head, Esperanza. And like Confucius say, man with large fish always in need of chips.>

"You mean fries."

<Same thing.>

<No, not->

<Anyway, I am here to discuss a number of things. Let you choose what first.>

>establishing "business relationship"
>relationship with Scyths
>the woman waiting for you outside

>>42783841
>>establishing "business relationship"

>>42783841
>>establishing "business relationship"
One or more contagious humanoid specimens may be breaking loose from GEC today just after 3pm.

Any ideas on how they might get away with a minimum of employee accountability?

>>42783841
>>establishing "business relationship"

>>42783841
>>establishing "business relationship"

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>>42783841
>chips.>
>"You mean fries."
><Same thing.>
><No, not->
in AMERICA

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>>42783879
>>42783880
>>42783917
>>42783925

<We can begin with business. I plan to liberate at least one humanoid specimen today, maybe more. Transport may be required.>

<Transport can be arranged. Are you done?>

"Uh."

You give it two shakes and zip up.

<Good.> says Crusty. He's behind you before you can turn around, gently depositing something into your hands.

<Coordinate with us using this,> he says, <It unlocks using your fingerprint and iris and Zheng and I are both in there. Big and little boys.>

It's obviously some kind of sophisticated communication device.

<Zheng will get off his "shift" in a few minutes, once I release owner. Then we can help.>

<How?>

<However you need within practicalness, at least outside GEC.>

<Could be helpful.>

<Now, about your relationship with Mr. Lopez...>

>He's just a friend, I have no intention of telling him about you.
>You could use me as a liason, for a fee.
>I'll kill him if you need me to.
>Surely you don't expect me to steal Scyth intel too?

>>42784029
>>He's just a friend, I have no intention of telling him about you.

>>42784029
>He's just a friend, I have no intention of telling him about you.
>Surely you don't expect me to steal Scyth intel too?

>>42784029
>Big and little boys.>
This sounds like innuendo.

>>42784029
>>You could use me as a liason, for a fee.

>>42784080
>>42784114

<He's just a friend> you state quickly.

<That's good, we like that you have friends. Or my boss does anyway.>

Crusty waves the gun lazily to the side to emphasize his point.

<So what then, you want me to exploit him for intel too? Because that might be crazy even for me.>

<If you can. The bonus would be substantial if you did.>

You grimace. The love of money is one thing but messing with the Scyths, even if they are buffoons it seems like a risky proposition.

<I'll think about it.>

<You do that. And last, the girl outside. Do not tell her anything about us. If you insist on dragging her along, then Zheng is just a friend from your apartment building.>

"Comprende?"

"Si. <I didn't know you could speak Spanish.>

<I can't, I thought that was English, from a movie. Yes or no, do you understand?>

<Yes, of course.>

<Very good. Now get back out there and finish what you were doing.>

>do as he says
>ask one last question

>>42784238
>do as he says

>>42784238
>>ask one last question
This might be an unusual request, but I'd like if the specimen was treated humanely. And I could see him regularly.

>>42784303
>ask one last question

<Before I go, I want to know, what happens to the specimens you take in?>

"Hmm?"

<The humanoids. How do you treat them?>

<Depends. You're smart enough to know that we'll be studying them extensively, much like GEC.>

<I see. Would it be unusual to request that you treat a specimen I turn over to you well?>

<It would be... but I could pass the message up for you.>

<Thank you.>

You take your leave of the bathroom, abandoning the old man to his thoughts.

Amanda is sitting in front of several empty glasses when you return.

>Hey! Those are on my tab!
>You okay? (try to console)
>Hey honey, I've got to get going. You should get a ride home. (pay tab and leave)
>If you're not too fucked up, want to help me pull off something crazy? (try and bring her in on your plan to free Jeremy)
>Try and sneak out behind her.

>>42784238
>>do as he says

>>42784436
>>You okay? (try to console)

>>42784436
>>Hey! Those are on my tab!

>>42784436
>You okay? (try to console)
>Hey honey, I've got to get going. You should get a ride home. (pay tab and leave)

>>42784460
>>42784483

"Everything okay?" you ask, looking with concern and amazement at the drained glasses in front of her.

"I'm ffffine."

"You don't sound fine. Maybe you should catch a ride home."

"Hey!" she turns around and prods you drunkenly in the chest, her cheeks rosy with alcoholic warmth.

"I thought you said... you'd be there for me! There for Great Britain!"

You'd be amazed that she got this drunk so quickly but you've seen how poorly the Chinese tolerate alcohol sometimes.

>You're right (give her money for a ride home, $30 and your address so she can find you again)
>You'll be fine. (send her home with no information about you or money)
>Keep walking

>>42784583
>>You'll be fine. (send her home with no information about you or money)

>>42784583
>You're right (give her money for a ride home, $30 and your address so she can find you again)
Could we take her home ourself?

>>42784583
>>You're right (give her money for a ride home, $30 and your address so she can find you again

>>42784617

You could. Actually, consider that and this an additional option:

>Tell Zheng to take her home for you.
>Tell her you'll be back for her

>>42784617
No you dumbass. It's almost 3pm.

>>42784664

You have a self-driving vehicle. You'd just have to find another way to transport Jeremy or transport both together.

>>42784583
>>42784646
>>Tell her you'll be back for her

>>42784615
>send her home on her own

>>42784617
>>42784639
>pay her way, give her something to remember you by

>>42784711
>tell her you'll be back

Because the last two options got added late, I'm going to hold another vote.

1 for making her go it alone
2 for giving her some money and personal info
3 for telling her you'll be back

Wish they had said how long this hypno drug dose lasts. How long will we have a puppet?

Gotta wonder how much we can milk out of Xi, like lab database backups, other humanoid specimens docile enough to transport, and more doses of the hypno drug. Or its original fungus.

>>42784782
>3

>>42784782
2

>>42784782
>3

>>42784795

I think Clarissa told you 20 minutes, I'll check that for you while this vote goes on.

>>42784815
Wait, it's better.
>>41966126
>"This is a byproduct of one of the fungi we keep in containment, which is itself the product of some old PRC research we managed to capture years ago. It makes a person extremely responsive to suggestion for about an hour

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>>42784815
Glad I checked.

>"This is a byproduct of one of the fungi we keep in containment, which is itself the product of some old PRC research we managed to capture years ago. It makes a person extremely responsive to suggestion for about an hour and the best part is, when it wears off, their brain automatically restructures their memory as though it never happened."

>>42784798
>>42784814
3

>>42784810
2

Calling it for telling her you'll be back.

Got mafia friends, cop friend, exterminator bosses.

Vince just needs a hacker friend and doctor friend to round it all out.

>>42784798
>>42784810
>>42784814
>>42784711
>>42784639
>>42784617
>>42784615

"Listen, I'm going to come back for you when everything is over today, alright?"

"You Americans always say that! But you never did come back when the war ended, did you!"

"Nonsense, the President Bishop has many rebuilding initiatives he plans to implement in Europe, just as soon as the waters are cleared with the Ruskies..."

She descends into sobs and turns away from you.

Well, you tried. You walk over to Zheng and try to pull a favor.

<I know you're leaving soon but...>
<Crusty takes over after me. He can take care of crying Chinese girls.>
<Good. I'll give you a call later, maybe.>

He nods.

As you leave the bar you check the clock: 2:45pm

You're almost out of time!

You run over to the GEC building, recklessly sprinting through an intersection along the way. The wait for the elevator is agonizing but when it finally comes you quickly plug the button for the office level, where the cafeteria is.

Amazingly, you accomplish all of this and arrive in the cafeteria in just five minutes. The downside is you're not exactly sure what Dr. Xi looks like and there's a dozen people in labcoats wandering around in here. And they're all a little blurry...

>Roll 3d6 for an awareness check! Nerves to boost, you've lost your +1 due to your mild inebriation!

Rolled 1, 5, 5 = 11 (3d6)

>>42785065
Boost???

Rolled 5, 3, 6 = 14 (3d6)

>>42785065
If only we had had coffee candy again!

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Rolled 1, 5, 5 + 1 = 12 (3d6 + 1)

>>42785065
Dr. Xi, I'm GEC.

My escape plan lists me, my wrangling stick, and cocaine, but only one Yu.

Rolled 6, 5, 4 = 15 (3d6)

>>42785065

>>42785065
Wait Vince is IN the cafeteria. Get some coffee man.

>>42785084
>>42785097
>>42785135

>Success!

You're able to steady yourself mentally and do a quick survey of the scientists on line as you pretend to join the rear of the que.

As it happens, Dr. Xi is right in front of you. You wait until you you both get your food and then, when she's getting ready to return to seat, it's fairly easy to just reach out and...

<Oops.>
<Watch where you're going, you brute!>
<I'm sorry, you dropped this->

And like that, the fungus is sprinkled almost invisibly into her mashed potatoes.

<-let me return it to you.>
<Oh, thank you.>
<Maybe I could eat lunch with you?>
<Possibly...>

Her eyes drift to your badly torn-up ear.

>Roll 3d6+1, gain an additional modifier if you can submit a charming write-in about your ear.

Rolled 4, 1, 4 + 1 = 10 (3d6 + 1)

>>42785235
>que
Do you hate the English so much, Vince?

>>42785235
>Roll 3d6+1, gain an additional modifier if you can submit a charming write-in about your ear.
>(In a playful voice) "Don't give me an EARFULL about my ear, please"

Rolled 4, 1, 1 + 1 = 7 (3d6 + 1)

>>42785263
Whoops, roll

Rolled 3, 5, 2 + 2 = 12 (3d6 + 2)

>>42785235
>I promise I won't talk your ear off

>>42785235
>something about specimens they're studying,the price of science

Rolled 84 (1d100)

>>42785290
>>42785263
>>42785261

>Success! No additional modifier!

"Oh, this?" you say, reaching up and gently touching the bottom of your ear.

"I understand it may pique your curiosity but please, don't give me an EAR-full about it."

"That's awful. Lucky for you, I'm thirty three. Come on, let's eat. We can speak in English if you want."

"That'd be wonderful. I promise I won't talk your *EAR* off."

"Ugh."

The lunch is actually fairly entertaining at first but you're swiftly turned off when Dr. Xi begins to talk about her cats. Thankfully, she suddenly grows stiff in the middle of telling you about her most favorite and fluffy one and her eyes lose their emotion.

Looks like the fungus has kicked in.

>Tell her to bring Jeremy to the loading bay in 30 minutes and to take all necessary precautions. Touch nothing else.
>Tell her to meet you by the loading bay in 10 minutes, you have to get something from your van before sending her to see Jeremy.
>Tell her to get Jeremy and all the intel she can duplicate. Meet you at the loading bay in 30.
>Tell her to get Jeremy and all the other humanoid specimens she can free.
>Write-in

>>42785441
>>Tell her to get Jeremy and all the other humanoid specimens she can free.
Aren't the crime guys paying us per specimen?

>>42785441
>>Write-in
Tell her to get Jeremy, two other docile humanoid specimens, and some of the hypnotic fungus, in that priority.

>>42785441
>>Tell her to meet you by the loading bay in 10 minutes, you have to get something from your van before sending her to see Jeremy.
The vodka, of course.

Also that gives some time to get some data and hypno drug in that 10min.

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>>42785441
>Rolled 84 (1d100)
I'm not sure if that's a good or bad roll.


Or where the cameras are in GEC.

>>42785505
>>42785538
Or combining these?

Though don't limit it to two.

>>42785477
>>42785505

Counting these as one vote.

>>42785538

You had the right idea.

Writing.

>>42785625
>You had the right idea.
Wait which one.

>>42785625
We could use our spywatch to ask Zheng what data is worth to ya, and if they have a discreet Internet dropbox to send it to.

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>>42785625

"Dr. Xi, listen carefully."

You whisper to her to bring you Jeremy Yu, with all the proper safety precautions. You also request she bring two additional specimens (estimating that this is how many you'll be able to fit into the getaway vehicle) and another sample of the hypnotizing fungus.

"The what fungus?"

"The stuff that makes you listen to other people and then forget everything. You can get that for me, right?"

"Yea-uh."

"We'll meet..." you think for a moment. There are cameras in the bay, so maybe you should meet her elsewhere.

"On the street. Try and make the specimens look innocuous."

"Yea-uh."

She seems a little dazed by the drug. You watch as she toddles out to fulfill your orders and consider your next move.

Using the van for this is out of the question, as its use would be immediately traceable back to you, so you'll need a getaway vehicle. You should also go debrief, that'll make for a handy alibi.

Actually, if you really wanted to create a distraction, maybe you should talk to Clarissa about creating some kind of red herring in the lab... She should be having lunch right about now.

>Go debrief
>Call for a getaway vehicle
>Look for Clarissa

>>42785625
Go drink some coffee, Vince.

>>42785798
>Call for a getaway vehicle
Then Vince can
>Go debrief

>>42785798

>>42785798
>>Go debrief

Going to take a quick pause while I make a phone call here.

Keep voting, the windows going to remain open a little longer than usual.

>>42785798
>>Go debrief
I want a bigger bonus for this spec, the recommended equipment alone merits reimbursement when Vince managed to take it in completely alive and intact, and quickly.

>>42785798
>>Go debrief
>>Call for a getaway vehicle

>>42785798
Take those panties off boy

>>42785852
Call getaway, then debrief

>>42785899
>>42785970
>>42786013
Debrief, then maybe call getaway

>>42786118
Get nude and in the mood

Writing for debrief and then maybe call Zheng for your getaway.

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>>42786150

You decide the best thing you can do right now is debrief so you can establish an alibi. It shouldn't take very long-

----------------------

"What do you mean only $25 dollars!"

"It's only one speck, Esperanza! You know the rules!"

You've been going back and forth with Devlinson like this for at least 15 minutes after finishing your initial debriefing. He seems unwilling to budge on this...

>try and negotiate for at least $100
>let it go, you don't have time for this

>>42786260
>>let it go, you don't have time for this
Well that was predictable.

>>42786260
>>let it go, you don't have time for this

>>42786260
Let it go we're getting paid elsewhere we have some roofied titties to talk to

>>42786260
>>let it go, you don't have time for this

>>42786353
>>42786410

You realize you don't have time for this and concede.

"Fine. I'm not stupid enough to keep running up against a brick wall."

"Glad you could finally see the light, Esperanza. If it's any consolation, you know I'm in your corner whenever possible, right?"

Yeah, yeah.

Leaving Devlinson's office, you consider your options. If all is going well, Dr. Xi should have all three of the humanoid specimens you requested and the fungus and be heading for the street right now.

You slip into the nearest bathroom and call up Zheng from your new mobile device by selecting the larger of two stick figures presented under your "contacts".

The device doesn't ring but rather hums softly as you wait for him to pick up.

His face appears on the screen. It looks like he's already in a car of some sort, having anticipated your need.

<Pick up required?>
<Yes, look on the street outside GEC for a group of four people. The scientist with them is drugged, don't take her.>
<Alright. Should I wait for you?>

Should he?

>Yes, you'll want to reassure Jeremy personally.
>No, have him head to somewhere near your house. You'll catch up after you pick up Amanda from the pub in your van.
>Write-in

Rolled 1 (1d8)

>>42786588

Again, this is an innocuous roll.

>>42786588
>No, have him head to somewhere near your house. You'll catch up after you pick up Amanda from the pub in your van.
Plus we'll have some sort of deniability if it goes south right?

>>42786588
>>Yes, you'll want to reassure Jeremy personally.

>>42786588 No, have him head to somewhere near your house. You'll catch up after you pick up Amanda from the pub in your van.

>>42786588
>>No, have him head to somewhere near your house.

>>42786605
Totally innocuous. No relation to Jeremy running off down the street away from Xi at all.

>>42786588
>>No, have him head to somewhere near your house. You'll catch up after you pick up Amanda from the pub in your van.

>>42786689
>>42786660
>>42786610
>>42786701

>Nope

>>42786644
>I need my sonfu right nowwww

Seems pretty clear cut. Writing.

>>42786720

<No, go to the park by my house. Get alcohol for Jeremy on the way.>
<Jeremy? Who is Jeremy?>
<You'll know him. Cute kid, loves bugs. And alcohol. Get him a drink, it'll calm him down.>
<Okay. But it's coming out of our payment.>

<...Fine.>

It's worth it for the kid.

You head down to the parking garage after that and summon up your van. It looks like they cleaned it inside and out to get rid of the mucus before giving it back to you.

You do a quick check and find that all your equipment is still intact and your cocaine is undisturbed. Oh thank god it's okay.

Maybe just a little bump, to celebrate everything going so well.

>STR/STA [12/12]

>Roll 3d6 to try and resist your inner coke demons! STR/STA to boost!

Rolled 2, 2, 4 + 2 = 10 (3d6 + 2)

>>42786853
Not again.

We have to save the cocaine bender for when we meet our cop friend again.

File: snowflame-ignites.jpg (200 KB, 350x351)

200 KB JPG

Rolled 4, 3, 1 + 2 = 10 (3d6 + 2)

>>42786853
Is boosting not futile, when the dice gods' will is so clear?

Rolled 2, 6, 5 = 13 (3d6)

>>42786853
We don't need the coke we don't need it

Rolled 4, 6, 4 = 14 (3d6)

>>42786853
Hes' gonna do it.

We all know he's gonna do it.

Why are we even rolling.

>>42786923
>>42786968
>>42787000
>failed.... jesus you guys

>>42787003
>I don't know, guy, I don't know

Writing...

>>42787027
Well whatever. We can use our drug fueled superpowers to clean Vince's shitty apartment and make a healthy homecooked meal, and go jogging and do pull-ups again.

Coke is sure to make him /fit/.

>>42787126
Or at the very least skinny

Ignoring the betraying them from today, I wonder what GEC's attitude is to exterminators moonlighting with a second job selling specimens to someone else for higher bonuses, unrelated to official assignments.

Let's hope the other specimens didn't infect Jeremy with anything.

Or get infected by Jeremy.

>>42787027

You cut two neat rows on a dollar bill in the middle of the van with your GEC nametage and then use another bill to snort it all up. You were just gonna do one but...

Ahahahahaha.

>COCAINE is in effect!
>Nerves [15/15]
>STR/STA [15/15]
>Awareness +4

Time to go pick up Amanda!

You set the van to manual and take off from the garage with a screech of your tires. It's a pointless burst of speed; the bar is just a block away.

You park outside, mounting the curb (only a little, you tell yourself) and enter the bar where Amanda is conversing busily with Crusty, her face still red with tears.

<And then... and then... THIS DOUCHEBAG!>

She points at you.

<This douchebag?!> Crusty exclaims, <This stupid Gwailo right here? Tell me what he did, honey.>

<He just gets up and LEAVES ME HERE after I came out all this way for him. Just leaves me here!>

<Unbelievable.> Crusty replies, shaking his head sympathetically while making eye contact with you. <I can't imagine why he would do such a thing.>

>Give it a rest, you two. She's taking a nice trip back to Tseung Kwan O, courtesy of my foot and gas.
>Geeez, okay. Maybe you'll feel a little better if you come with me on a little errand.
>Look, here's cab and tab money. I'm not actually going to deal with this craziness.
>(abruptly turn around, walk out)

Rolled 6, 3, 3 = 12 (3d6)

>>42787245
>>Geeez, okay. Maybe you'll feel a little better if you come with me on a little errand.
Rollin for reconciliation

>>42787245
>>Look, here's cab and tab money. I'm not actually going to deal with this craziness.

Can't let someone else witness us in contact with Shady and Jeremy.

>>42787245
>>Geeez, okay. Maybe you'll feel a little better if you come with me on a little errand.
But I did come back like I said right?

>>42787245
>>Give it a rest, you two. She's taking a nice trip back to Tseung Kwan O, courtesy of my foot and gas.

>>42787245
>other
Come back to my place and I'll make you something.

>>42787274
>>42787323
>GEEZ

>>42787301
>Cab and tab

>>42787324
>Send 'er home

>>42787344
>Creepily invite her to your place

Calling it for trying to make things right.

>>42787356

<Hey, hey. I can make this right baby!>

<No! You can't!> she flails at you in an accusatory fashion, not actually making contact.

<I haven't let her have more than one drink since you left, Gwailo.>

<Look baby, why don't you come with me and we can spend a little time together in my van. It'll be good for us, you'll see.>

She glares at you.

<It's too late.>

<Oh come on, give the stupid Gwailo a second chance. You made him sound very nice when you were talking about him before.>

<She was talking about me before?>

<No!>

<She was.>

<I was not!>

The back and forth continues until Amanda starts calling you as a character witness... against yourself.

<You're not a nice person, right?>

<Not at all. But you should come with me.>

Crusty waves off your cash and gives you the thumbs up as the two of you leave.

Setting Amanda down in the passenger seat of your van, you check in with Zheng.

<How are things going over there?>

<I've picked up the specimens, like you said. Headed to the park now.>

<And you gave Jeremy his booze?>

<You're in trouble for that. When I gave him booze they all wanted booze. You owe me big time, Vince.>

Fair enough. You tell Zheng you'll see him soon and to say hello to Jeremy for you before plugging in the coordinates for your home and let the car drive you back. On arrival, you look over to find that Amanda has fallen asleep beside you.

>wake her
>let her sleep

>>42787590
>>let her sleep
Well that's convenient.

...Unless Chen, like Vince, is a master ruseman.

I wonder what we'd see if we hooked up mindreading glasses to her.

>>42787590
>>let her sleep
We should get some water or Gatorade for her, so she isn't too dehydrated when she meets the sonfu.

>>42787590
>>wake her
Sleeping in a car is not comfortable come up and you can at least have a couch.

>>42787652
>meets the sonfu.

Now anon you know that can't happen.

>>42787632
>>42787652
>sleep

>>42787662
>wake her

You'll try and get her some water or gatorade from the nearest corner store and you'll have a chance to wake her up and bring her inside on the way back.

Writing.

File: honda_minivan_concept_by_(...).jpg (138 KB, 1264x632)

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>>42787691

You call up Zheng and confirm his location. He tells you he's right around the corner from the park and in a silver minivan. You're surprised that someone like him would drive a minivan but it's probably for the purpose of discretion.

One your way, you drop into the corner store and pick up an extra large gatorade ($2) for Amanda to drink on your way back. You figure she'll appreciate it.

Zheng lowers the window as you approach.

<So, 3k? For all of them?>

>Yes, 3k for all of them.
>No, just 2k. I'd like to keep Jeremy.
>Not yet, let me see them first.

>>42787782
>>Yes, 3k for all of them.

>>42787782
>>Yes, 3k for all of them.

>>42787782
>>Not yet, let me see them first.
but then
>No, just 2k. I'd like to keep Jeremy.

We should let them have custody of Jeremy for a week or so maybe, we don't have our own safehouse.

Or ability to scramble our implanted GPS.

>>42787782
>>No, just 2k. I'd like to keep Jeremy.

>>42787852
>>42787840
>>42787813

You guys are voting pretty fast but I'm going to hold this window open just a little again. It's a potentially major decision and I want to make sure everyone who wants to give input gets to give it.

>>42787782
>>No, just 2k. I'd like to keep Jeremy.

>>42787852
We can always sell Jeremy to them later. Or rent him out for science, in exchange for medical supplies or a place to hide once in a while.

>>42787889
>>42787912
>>42787852
>Take a look, ask to keep Jeremy

>>42787813
>>42787840
>3k for all

Calling it for the former. Writing.

>>42788054
<Let me see them first.>
<Alright, open up the back and say hello.>

You pull open the backdoors and find three specimens, as expected, but are surprised to realize that you've met not just one but two of them before.

[1/?]

>>42788120
A former coworker who got infected in the line of duty?

Cuz it can't be the british janitor, or one of those people at the bat church.

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>>42788120

Jeremy is the first to greet you. He leaps forward and hugs you tightly. You return the hug warmly.

He looks up into your eyes, his own watering at the sight of you. Someone has strapped a complicating mask to the lower part of his face, covering his mouth and nose but his expression of gratitude is clear as day.

"It's good to see you again," you say, running a hand through his hair. "Did they fix your eyes?"

"They did. Aren't you worried I'm contagious?"

"I didn't think you'd hug me if you were still contagious," you tell him, setting him down gently.

"Where's my hug?" rumbles a voice from deeper inside the minivan. Someone has stuffed a giant into this tiny car. It's the bearded man with blue fungus growing on his face that you saw long ago when you took a tour of GECs Humanoid Specimen Containment area.

"You remember me? I thought specs couldn't see out of their holding cells."

"My cell is next to Jeremy's. I figured if you saw him, you saw me. And he wouldn't shut up about you once he got the booze, since he knew it was from you."

Logical.

[2/3]

>>42788309
Okay I discarded blue man group guy because it's a stretch to count "seen through oneway glass" as having "met" him.

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>>42788309
The last person in the van you don't recognize.

"She's a sprouter cast off." says the blue man, "Totally impotent and barely talks."

A Sprouter... you know how many mutant variations on the original Sprouter strain there are, as well as how dangerous they can be. You briefly thought Jeremy might be one but he didn't show the usual external symptoms, whereas this woman clearly does.

<So, you going to take your pet boy and give me the rest or what?>

<You're taking us away to be experimented on again?>

<You speak Chinese?>

<I won't stand for it!>

The blue man reaches forward and attempts to strangle Zheng, who struggles for moment while retrieving something from his pocket. Jeremy wimpers and the woman screeches but Zheng manages to get what he needs from his pocket and jam it into the blue man's arm. He falls slack almost instantly and Zheng takes a moment to recover his breath.

<So what's it gonna be, Vince?>

>take Jeremy
>take Jeremy and the Blue Man
>take Jeremy and the woman
>take none of them

>>42788456
>>take Jeremy

>>42788370
>>42788197

That's fair, I didn't really expect you to remember him.

>>42788456
>>take none of them

>>42788456
>>take Jeremy
Hey that mask filter solves the last hurdle.

>>42788456
Hey wait.

Dr. Xi had something with her. A vial. Did Zheng get that?

>>42788456
We take our 14 year old alcoholic insect son

>>42788456
>>take Jeremy and the Blue Man

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>>42788541
Hey he's just a social drinker!

>>42788456
>>take Jeremy
Can't leave him. Not after going so far to get him.

>>42788483
>>42788524
>>42788566
>>42788541
>Take Jeremy

>>42788546
>Make it a blue man group

>>42788537
>Where's my vial?

>>42788493
>Cold hard cash

Calling it and writing.

>>42788309
>he wouldn't shut up about you once he got the booze, since he knew it was from you."

Ha, what would he even have to say about him.

This guy gave me some booze back when I was blind and then blew up the basement of my school to get rid of roaches?

File: Spoiler Image (375 KB, 656x668)

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>>42788593
<I'm taking the kid.>
<Odd choice. But I have a feeling boss will be happy with the other two. Here's money, minus what you owe >

>Gained $1960

<See you later.>

He drives off as the sun begins to drops towards the horizon.

Jeremy stands beside you, his hands in the pockets of his old uniform.

"You smell horrible kid."
"They didn't let me shower. Something about trying to measure epidermal spore levels."
"That sucks. Since we're here, want to fuck around in the park?"
"Hell yeah. Do they have swings?"

They do.

The two of you spend the next hour in the park, doing stupid kid shit that you haven't done since you were a stupid kid. Jeremy seems overjoyed to finally have some freedom at last and he takes off running like a madman towards everything.

You're watching him on the monkey bars when the mantis lands behind him.

>call out
>run forward, try and fight it off
>(mute shock)

>>42788775
>>run forward, try and fight it off
Oh boy. Shit just real.

...The giant mantises seemed non aggressive before, oddly. Very self defense focused, preferring to intimidate.

>>42788775
>>call out
Rub kid run!

>>42788775
>(mute shock)

It'll be bad if it damages his mask. Even if it mindslaves the mantis, we can't exactly repair it.

>>42788775
>>(mute shock)

>>42788775
>>call out
Stop drop and roll, sonfucius.

>>42788835
>>42788907
>(mute shock)

>>42788811
>>42788925
>warn him

>>42788803
>Fight it off

Rolling to determine victor.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>42788936

Stupid /tg/ dice...

1 is mute shock
2 is warn him

>>42788953
dokidoki intensifies

>>42788953

"Jeremy!"

He turns towards you as the mantis slides its body down through the monkey bars behind him, mandibles dripping with saliva.

"Run!"

To his credit, the kid listens. He takes off like a shot towards the slide and jungle gym. But the mantis is fast and follows him. He manages to make it under the gym and out of sight but the mantis just crawls in after him.

Your heart sinks but you run forward anyway, casting caution to the wind. You'll kill that mantis with your bare hands if you have to, your feet pound the rubber safety surface of the playground....

"It's okay!"

You pause.

"I'm okay, Vince. It's not hurting me."

You approach Jeremy's hiding place cautiously to find him seated beneath the jungle gym unharmed. The mantis is curled up into the space with him. You'd say it was staring at you if it wasn't for, you know, compound eyes.

"It's like a big roach, I think."

"A big roach?" you say, and think back to your time in GEC training. You vaguely recall something about roaches and mantises beign vulnerable to the same group of pesticides.

"I guess it's possible that they're closely related enough..."

"I think that's what it is, Vince. Look, he's totally harmless!"

Oh god, he's petting it.

"Jeremy, do you think you could send him away?"

"I'm not sure how, Vince."

"Well how do you control your roaches? Pretend he's a roach."

"I think it's a she, Vince. But okay, I'll just.... think real hard about food." Jeremy closes his eyes real tight in concentration

Food....

"Wait! Wait! Don't think about food!"

"Think about, uh...returning home. Like to a nice dark place."

"Ooh, I can definitely do that."

After a few seconds the mantis begins to stir and then climbs out of the space before taking flight.

"That worked!"
"It did work, kid. But I think I preferred the roaches. Now come on, we should get going."

>make a stop somewhere on the way home to pick basic comforts up for Jeremy
>Go home, stop only to check in on Amanda

>>42789187
I figured.

But was it really attracted to him without being already fungally infected?
>>make a stop somewhere on the way home to pick basic comforts up for Jeremy

>>42789187
We should check up on Amanda also is anyone else reminded of the pheromone pod from half life?

>>42789187
>make a stop somewhere on the way home to pick basic comforts up for Jeremy

Oh boy, now we only need to meet giant termites.

File: Careful.jpg (256 KB, 640x481)

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>>42789233

Good question. If only you had my notes. Or his file from GEC. To be fair, he should know a little more about his condition than he did when you first met him.

>>42789264

Now that you mention it, just a little.

>>42789233
>>42789286
>Pick up some basic creature comforts

>>42789264
Check in on Amanda.

Calling it for the former, though you can still do the latter on your way home. Writing.

File: twinkies.jpg (34 KB, 300x220)

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>>42789344

You decide that Jeremy is going to need some basic stuff if he's going to survive in your apartment. For one, he's only got one pair of clothes.

You walk over to the nearest Megamart (about 20 minutes away) and pick up a few packs of basic shirts ($8), underwear ($5), socks ($5) and a couple of pairs of shorts ($25 dollars). That should keep him dressed for a little while.

He seems able to eat and drink through the mask well enough (he was definitely a little tipsy when you picked him up from Zheng) and you figure you've got enough in your fridge right now to keep him alive. Still, after that long captivity you have a hard time refusing him a box of genuine, American made Twinkies ($2).

Last, you pick up some toiletries ($5) and a futon+pillow ($75 deal) for Jeremy to sleep on.

Just as you're making your way to the checkout, Jeremy tugs on your sleeve and points towards the electronics department.

"Look, they've got the new Nintendo Holo!"

Great, just what the kid needs. You remember your own portable game system and what a time suck it was. On the other hand, you do want the kid to stay inside all day....

>Buy Nintendo Holo ($250)
>Don't Buy

>>42789485
>>Don't Buy

>>42789485
Must resist.

Can't resist.
>>Buy Nintendo Holo ($250)

>>42789485
Of course Nintendo survives World War III kids had a hard life he deserves some fun

>>42789485
>>Buy Nintendo Holo ($250)
We must protect his smile.

>>42789519
>>42789555
>>42789565
>Buy

>>42789514
>Don't buy

You give in and purchase the item. It's not the same as pre-war Nintendo gear (your pre-war systems would all be worth a fortune now, if you still owned them) but Nintendo of America does an honest job of carrying on the legacy of their fallen comrades.

Luckily you're wallet avoids taking a second hit- Metroid: Zebes Invasion comes packaged with the system. Jeremy already has the whole kit out of the box as soon as you leave the store.

"Hey, you can't play that in the street. You'll walk right into traffic."

"I just want to see the intro! Then I'll put it away."

Too fucking precious.

He fiddles with the thing all the way back to your block, where you find Amanda still sleeping in your van...

>Leave the gatorade with her, let her sleep down here
>Wake her up, hopefully she's sobered a bit, introduce Jeremy and head upstairs so everyone can settle in for the night.

>>42789640
>>Wake her up, hopefully she's sobered a bit, introduce Jeremy and head upstairs so everyone can settle in for the night.

>>42789640
>>Leave the gatorade with her, let her sleep down here

>>42789640
Time to wake up belligerent drunken angel

>>42789640
This is awkward. Jeremy's kind of a huge and dangerous secret. We just met.
>>Leave the gatorade with her, let her sleep down here

>>42789665
>>42789715
>Wake

>>42789754
>>42789677
>Let her sleep

Yet another final destination.

5 minute window, then the winner should get an immediate prompt.

1 for waking
2 for letting her sleep

>>42789792
2

>>42789792
1

>>42789792
2

>>42789792
1

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>42789831
>>42789829
>>42789813
>>42789808
Dammit.

Rolling.

>>42789867
>Don’t wake her up

You reach across from the driver's side window and place the bottle of gatorade beside Amanda.

She stirs gently in her sleep, her eyebrows knitted angrily. Must be thinking about Russians… or you.

“That should keep her for the night, Jeremy. Jeremy? Turn off that game and help me bring these inside!”

An hour or so later you’re all set up and Jeremy is watching cartoons from his futon while you scoop the last of your iced cream into a bowl for him. He’d be a pretty normal kid you think, if it wasn’t for the cockroaches crawling out of the walls to welcome him to your home.

It’s about 8pm.

>stay awake, spend time and eat dinner with Jeremy
>Go to bed early, work will probably be hell tomorrow
>Go for a jog before your energy flags

>>42789913
>>Go for a jog before your energy flags
Don't leave the apartment and don't answer the door kiddo.

>>42789913
>>Go for a jog before your energy flags

We have a Getting Fit trait to upgrade!

We ate a meal at home right? Not so sure about this morning though.

>>42789973
Come to think of it, we need cell phones for Vince and Jeremy.

>>42789913
Bingogo must be on.
>>Go for a jog before your energy flags

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>>42789973
>Go for a jog

"Hey kid, I'm going to head out for a jog quick. Chain the door shut and don't go anywhere, okay?"

Jeremy gives you a roach-tipped thumbs up from the futon.

"Oka-ff" he says, his mouth already stuffed with ice cream. You hope he isn't giving any to the roaches as he eats...

You leave the apartment and find it a little easier to slide into a jogging pace. Maybe it's the last vestiges of the cocaine or maybe it's just that you have so much to digest right now... Like the fact that Jeremy is apparently catnip for giant Mantises.

And what about Amanda?

You mull over your feelings as you run. She's very attractive and obviously intelligent but you're a little worried by her drinking today, not to mention the somewhat unnatural interest she seems to have in you.

You wish sorely that she was an American. The accent wouldn't be as seductive but at least you'd be able to tell from her voice whether she's totally crazy or not.

You finish your run just as its getting dark and you're startled to see just how many creatures are taking flight in the evening around Lion's Rock. They're not all Mantis sized but you do see some large shapes swooping through the darkness. You would have thought GEC had cleared those all out after your report on the infestation there...

You check in on your van one more time before heading up. Amanda is asleep but the gatorade bottle is half empty. She must have woken up, drank, and gone back to sleep...

You leave her there, looking comfortable enough, and jog up the stairs back to your apartment. You're breathing heavily by the time you reach the top.

In your apartment, Jeremy has shut off the TV and is laying on his back with his Nintendo Holo held directly above his face. The glow from the game system drives back the bugs and he seems to be genuinely delighted to be blasting away Space Pirates.

>make dinner for both of you
>head to bed, you're exhausted
>order take-out
>show Jeremy how a real man plays Metroid.

>>42790204
>>make dinner for both of you

>>42790204
>>make dinner for both of you
Bring some down to Amanda afterwards.

>>42790204
>>make dinner for both of you
Today's work went great, what could go wrong tomorrow.

>>42790204
It occurs to me the fancy future Nintendo system is actually cheaper than the Wii U make some dinner

>>42790255
Second

>>42790240
>make dinner for the both of you

You start making some rice and beans like your mama used to, adding flavorful herbs and spices as you go along with a few cooked pieces of chicken for protein.

Testing it, you are delighted to find that the flavor is robust and prepare two plates for you and Jeremy who eats with an appetite despite having had dessert before dinner.

>Healthy meal achieved!

Once you're done eating you put Jeremy to bed (hiding his Nintendo Holo on top of the fridge) and gather up the leftovers from dinner into a tupperware container. You bring the container down to Amanda who is now at least partially awake.

"Wha?" she asks, blinking her tired eyes. You note that the gatorade bottle is empty.

"This is for you," you tell her, handing the container over.

"Thanks?"

She opens the container and takes a sniff of what's inside. Her eyes open up.

"Wow, this smells great."

She begins digging in as you watch.

"Well, glad you like it."

Eating the way she does, it's hard to see her as being very malevolent...

>invite her upstairs
>let her continue to spend the night down here (I'm having work done on the apartment, it's really a mess...)
>offer to let your van drive her home, with orders to return back

>>42790440
>>offer to let your van drive her home, with orders to return back

>>42790440
>>invite her upstairs

>>42790440
>>let her continue to spend the night down here (I'm having work done on the apartment, it's really a mess...)

>>42790440
Jeremy's asleep invite her upstairs it's safe enough

>>42790440
>>offer to let your van drive her home, with to return back

>>42790488
yeah "boy with roaches all around him" is kinda memorable isn't it.

>>42790480
>>42790523
>Upstairs

>>42790530
>Let the van take her home

>>42790499
Sleep down here.

I'm tentatively calling it, assuming >>42790488
was deleted to change their vote.

>>42790555
Yes that's what happened

>>42790523
Are you sure he's not sleeping with the roaches.

>>42790555
Didn't you miss one? >>42790459

But whatever, this breaks the tie.

File: Apartment1_after.jpg (119 KB, 1200x651)

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>>42790555

"You know, if you want you can come upstairs and eat the rest of that."

She looks up at you with her mouth full. Doesn't anyone chew around here?

"Really-ff?"

"Really-ff" you tell her, mimicking the sound of her speech.

"Alright... Only if you let me have a few more mouthfuls of this first. I'm starving."

"Sure."

A few minutes later and you're both taking the stairs up to your apartment (the elevator has been out since this morning) when you suddenly realize that Jeremy might still have his roaches out. You take off running, leaving Amanda behind.

"Where-"

"I have to hide my porn!"

You pull open the apartment door and nearly step right onto Jeremy's brand new Holo as it's carried towards his outstretched hand by a troop of roaches. You angrily snatch up the device.

"Jeremy, we have company! Send your roaches away and go to sleep."

The futon groans lamentably in your direction but the roaches scatter on cue.

"Keep them away at least until she's in my room."

"Okayyyy."

"If you do that, you can play your Holo all night. Just keep your headphones in."

"Nice!"

You head back to the door just as Amanda is climbing the last flight of stairs.

"Sorry about that, I just had to clean up..."

"It's alright, this isn't the first apartment I've been invited up to."

Despite this, she seems a little taken aback by your... stark decor.

"It's..."

"It could be homier. I just moved in."

"I can tell."

"Well... you can eat here or in the bedroom."

"Who's that on the floor?"

She's pointing at Jeremy, who is doing his best impression of sleeping.

"That's my... adopted son. He has a medical condition."

"You know he's faking sleep, right?"

"I know."

Jeremy snorts, so as not to directly break the fourth wall.

"I'll eat out here for the moment," she says, settling into the sofa. She seems to have sobered up but her eyes remain suggestive.

>try and put the Vincent Esperanza charm on.
>talk while she eats and then let her sleep on the couch
[1/2]

>>42790720
>just turn on the TV and zone out together, like you've already been married for decades
>Write-in

>>42790650

...I totally did. I feel stupid.

>>42790720
>>try and put the Vincent Esperanza charm on.

>>42790720
>>try and put the Vincent Esperanza charm on.
At least to put a door between Chen and jeremy.

>>42790827
>>42790781
>turn your charm on

You toss the Holo sideways into the futon. Jeremy catches it and vanishes underneath the blankets with it.

"While you finish that, I'm going to go ahead and take a shower."

"Be my guest," she tells you, "You smell like rotten chicken."

"That must be why you're so irresistibly attracted to me."

She gives you an irresistibly attractive eyeroll and you grab your favorite towel (the one with the eagle on it) and vanish into the bathroom to give yourself a good scrub.

You make sure to get the garbage chicken out of every pore and apply a little bit of cologne while you're drying off. Then you step out and give her the go time eyes...

>Roll 3d6+1 for go time eyes!
>Rolling theme: https://youtu.be/NqBY9V6sIW8

Rolled 1, 3, 4 + 1 = 9 (3d6 + 1)

>>42790930
Go time eyes!

>>42790720
>>try and put the Vincent Esperanza charm on.

Rolled 5, 5, 3 + 1 = 14 (3d6 + 1)

>>42790930
Ahahaaha inb4 failure yet again.

Rolled 2, 4, 6 + 1 = 13 (3d6 + 1)

>>42790930
Invisible DC again.

Rolled 1, 3, 6 = 10 (3d6)

>>42790930
boootyyyy

>>42790930
>>41940549
>Mediocre flirt - Your multiple failures with flirtation give you a -1 to flirtation rolls until you learn to do better

I think you forgot to ever add this to th epastebin.

File: soaringeagle.jpg (380 KB, 1920x1080)

380 KB JPG

>>42790963
>>42790949
>>42790977
>>42790985

>Success

The old reflexes just aren't what they used to be, you think. You've barely completed your trademark brow waggling procedure when she finishes looking you down and up. A sly smile takes form on her lips and a light comes into her eyes.

"Cover yourself," she tells you, "and you can show me again inside."

You look quickly to make sure that Vincent is thoroughly bundled up and do as she says.

The eagle soars again.

smut will be in a pastebin in time for the follow-up thread tomorrow

>End thread

Usual shutdown procedure is now in order. If tomorrow goes well, expect another thread around the same time as the one today.

Twitter is @QMsimmons

Comments, questions, and insults are welcome.

>>42791066
Actually all 3 of those are MIA.

>Pool Shark - progress [1/3]
>Driver - progress [1/2]

>>42791066
Eh, you pass with or without that modifier in this case. You passed at least a DC of 12.

>>42791084

I'll have to add them, especially since at least one is graduating into a full trait when Vince wakes up. And you're losing mediocre flirt, now that your bad luck has finally stopped.

>>42791075
We get a lot of new traits from all the hardcore getting shit done today right. The befriending the crap out of Nessie before betraying him. Manually driving twice. Vince being a master baiter. And best new dad.

And are DCs always hidden from now on?

>>42791120

Hidden DCs will be an ongoing feature. I feel like I'm generally fair enough in setting them and you guys played pretty wisely today.

I accidentally railroaded you on one thing out of forgetfulness but I'm not sure if I'm going to let it come back to bite you, since it's entirely my fault.

And yes, pretty much everything you listed is going to get loaded into your traits. You'll probably graduate to full traits on driving and animal taming/friendship.

>>42791075
>>42791167
>>42791098

Well, that's it for tonight folks.

We're all archived up:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive.html?searchall=Exterminator+Quest

Vote it up if you enjoyed or let me know here if you didn't.

Exterminator Quest will probably return tomorrow at 5 or 6 PM EST.

Bonus question: Was the new Tumblr worth it?

>>42791193
Well thanks for running mate. Looking forward for tomorrow's run!

>>42791167
The vote miscount?

It does seem worrisome if GEC checks every employee's alibis for the day, talks to Chen, and hears about adoptive son.

>>42791193
The fluff is good. I'm not sure why you queue posts for when the thread is live. It reminds people it's going down right now?

Of course, now we can't trust any food offered by GEC, which might be laced with hypnotic drug. Which might work as a truth serum.

>>42791193
How did GEC price bringing in seven specimens of the same type.

Does that count as 3 breeding pairs?

>>42791318

Some of those were pairs, some weren't. I forgot how I broke it down but you did have multiple breeding pairs in there that you got paid for.

Keep in mind that they're looking for things they don't already have and if you dramatically oversupply them with something, they probably won't pay you the full amount.

>>42791248

That que was a disaster that clustered all the actual fluff down at the bottom because Tumblr was designed by a colony of Blattidae. I'm resentful of it and will probably just post throughout the week instead next time, with a few bonus posts saved so people can read during the thread if it hits a slow point.

>>42791208
see:
>>42791273

He's pretty close to figuring out where I fucked up. It's just that the actual scenario is worse.

>>42791204

Me too. But now I need to actually go to sleep. It's 2am here.

Well.

At least you avoided directly showing someone the 13 year old boy with a GIANT SUSPICIOUS FACE MASK on him. Jeremy was under the blankets.

>>42791405
Yeah, there was no reason we couldn't have talked to Zheng about the vial of drug Xi had -and- avoided directly meeting up on the street outside.

Could've told him to nab it for us over the comm, or at least later demanded it while also asking to keep Jeremy>>42788593

Wasn't really mutually exclusive.

>>42791405
>the actual scenario is worse.
Xi left holding a vial of drug for no apparent reason, and knowing what it is, setting in motion terrible levels of scrutiny?

Clarissa panicking and weighing whether reporting suspicions about Vince are worth the trouble she'll get in by admitting she helped him do it?

Clarissa plotting to use the drug to make Vince confess?

File: what does that even mean.png (159 KB, 173x380)

159 KB PNG

>>42791405
>clustered all the actual fluff down at the bottom
It what?

>>42791167
>you guys played pretty wisely today.
Lessee.

Not jumping in front of mantis's venomous claws.

Making sure to steal multiple specimens, instead of making the theft mysteriously focused on one.

Not trying to recruit Clarissa.

Not pushing bonus negotiations too long.

Not meeting out on the public street.

And getting Jeremy a nintendo.

I don't see many other pitfalls there were to avoid here. Probably should have sent Chen home at 3pm though.

Vince will be slow to notice this. But properly motivated, Jeremy was capable of setting his bugs on a complex, long distance mission of search and retrieval that required a great deal of coordination. Not just 'flee to home' and 'find food.'

>>42791689
Soon our son will command an army of mantis men

>>42791405
>que

Is your autocorrect dictionary Spanish?

inb4 Jeremy slowly goes blind again over the next few weeks

How will he ice missile metroids then?!