>>43406859

So you sit, all the while watching Amelia with a guarded caution. God or lunatic, it won't matter much if she proves to be violent or dangerous. If she started to gnaw on your throat like a rabid dog, you wouldn't waste the effort on wondering if it counted as divine intervention or not. You'd just scream and, well, and then you'd probably die.

You're in a pretty morbid mood today. Understandable, given the circumstances.

“First off, I can't prove to you that I'm God,” Amelia begins, “But I CAN prove that I'm no ordinary human. It's simple really – just take my hand.”

You stare at the outstretched hand, not extended like someone offering a handshake but palm up. You've known her for all of five minutes, and she's already asking to hold your hand? This is all so sudden...

“Can we skip the coy jokes and get on with this?” Amelia asks, rolling her eyes, “I assure you, I've heard that one before.”

Uh, right. Without any further attempts at humour, you reach out and try to take Amelia's hand – but you can't. Your hand just slides straight through her without ever making contact. It's like she's a hologram or... or a ghost. Or maybe she was telling the truth. Maybe she really is God. The realisation that you might really be sitting next to God slowly starts to sink in but, before you can succumb to existential terror, Amelia speaks up again.

“So that's that sorted,” she nods to herself in apparent satisfaction, easily brushing the issue off, “Next. That creature you saw today was a demon. Demons are... Hell, do you want the long version or the short version?”

>Long version – knowledge is power
>Short version – you're in a hurry here

>>43406865
>Long version – knowledge is power
Nothing really to be in a hurry about. Cass said Marco will be here and she is kind of friends with God it seems.

>>43406865
>Short version – you're in a hurry here
"I don't want a long version of anything until we find Marco."
insert appropriate joke here.

>>43406865
>Long version – knowledge is power

File: I've been waiting for this.png (96 KB, 376x238)

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>>43406865
>Long version - Knowledge is power

Ha! Ha! Time for SM/tg/!

>>43406865
>Long version – knowledge is power

>Petra can't touch Amelia ;_;

Damn, that must be bummer for her.

>>43407066
>nice ass
>Damnit Petra, you've been waiting this whole timeline to say that, haven't you?

>>43406896
>>43406967
>>43406977
>>43407016

The long version, you decide. Marco always taught you to do your research, and you see no reason to change your mind now. If there's a test on this later, you want to ace it.

“Man,” Amelia sighs, “Boring. I know all that stuff already.”

“But she doesn't,” Cassandra reminds her gently, and with a certain degree of patience.

“Right then, demons,” Amelia begins. “Essentially, demons are mystical beings that are given life, power and cohesive shapes from human belief. That's why they typically take the shape of gods or beings from folklore. The problem is, once they get powerful enough, they don't need humans to give them life any more. They believe their own hype, basically. That's usually the point at which they start to develop their own minds and personalities – as well as trying to kill or enslave humans.”

None of that sounds particularly good.

“That's because demons, in general, are shits.” Amelia shrugs, “Some of them are trustworthy enough, and others can be beaten into cooperation but most of them have an innate desire to seek out new power. That's why I created a border between the human world and the demon world. In theory, what happened today should have been impossible.”

So, if it was supposed to be impossible, how did it happen? Was she sleeping on the job? Did she spill her coffee in the machine?

“Mia...” Cassandra warns you, but Amelia just laughs.

“You know, you're the first person who dared to talk shit right to my face,” the deity before you says with a smirk, “I'm actually impressed. No, truth be told, I don't know why this is happening. I have a few ideas, but I'm still looking into those. I don't want to show my hand too early. Now, before I move on, do you have any questions?”

>What's it like being God?
>How did you become God?
>Do you know where my father is?
>Other

>>43407146
>>How did you become God?
>>Do you know where my father is?

>>43407146
>Do you know where my father is?
>Why am I so important in this situation?

>>43407146
>How did you become God?
>Do you know where my father is?


>Did she spill her coffee in the machine?
Hehe

>>43407146
>What's it like being God?
I'm curious to how she is doing. Seems a bit more jaded but thats to be expected considering.

>How did you become God?
>Do you know where my father is?

>>43407201
>>43407146
I'll add
>What's it like being God?
to this vote if you don't mind writing an 'all of the above'.

>>43407146
>Do you know where my father is?

How did she become God, you ask slowly, or was she God all along? Had God always been a teenage girl with a swagger in her walk and a hard face?

“Now that IS a long story...” Amelia leans back on the couch she “sits” on – you notice her back phasing through it slightly – and smiles wistfully, “Long story short, by being the biggest badass on the planet. I fought and I killed for it, crushing anyone else who would have taken the True Divinity for themselves. I earned this.”

She makes it sound so... brutal.

“It was,” she tells you simply, “But we shouldn't dwell on that for too long. That's the stuff that would give a girl like you nightmares.”

You consider telling Amelia that you already suffer from nightmares – bad ones – but decide against it. This is no time for a therapy session. Instead, you decide to satisfy a little bit of your curiosity. What's it like, you ask, being God?

“Not much fun, to be honest,” Amelia frowns a little, “Imagine it like... you don't need to eat, sleep or do anything like that. You don't have a physical form, so you can't really DO anything. All you've got to kill the time is an ant farm. You watch it, every minute of every day, to make sure that nothing goes wrong. You can zoom right in and watch an individual ant for as long as you like, or you can watch civilisations rise. You can even skim some of their little ant thoughts off and learn about them that way. At the end of the day though, you're just watching ants – it gets boring.”

Boring as it might be, it sounds a lot better than being one of the ants being watched. You don't say that out loud, but you notice a faint smirk pass across Amelia's face. She literally JUST told you about reading thoughts, and you let a thought like that cross your mind? Foolish move. Still, you ask the next question out loud: Does she think of humans as ants

“It was just an example,” Amelia replies, but the smile that accompanies it is a cold one.

>>43407465

“Maybe we should move on,” Cassandra says softly, clearing her throat to break the awkward silence that follows Amelia's little comment.

That's right, you've got more important questions to ask. Marco, your father. Does Amelia know where he is? She must know – after all, she's the one looking down on this “ant farm” of hers...

“I don't know where he is,” the deity tells you.

She doesn't know where he is.

“Don't give me that look,” Amelia adds, “I'm God, that doesn't mean I'm not infallible.”

Actually, you're pretty sure that that IS what being God means, among other things. Shouldn't God be all knowing? Then again, you were also told that God was supposed to be kind and compassionate, but you could never quite bring yourself to believe that. Not the God they talked about at school, anyway.

“I believe some force might have taken steps to hide him from me,” Amelia explains, “Again, this shouldn't be possible. Any other force capable of such things should be blocked from intervening in the human world.”

You fall silent as her words sink in. Marco might still be alive, but... what “force” would go to the effort of abducting him, and why? He's just a normal man, just a scientist – not even a famous one! It's not like he was building the atom bomb or anything!

“Mia, calm down,” Cassandra tells you, leaning over to put a hand on your shoulder, “Calm down and listen. This is important. YOU are important.”

Why, you snap, why are you so important? Why does this have to happen to you?

“Later,” Amelia says, “I want to be sure before I tackle that subject. It's not just you though – there are other people involved in this, and I'm going to need to talk to them as well.”

“I don't suppose you'd like to help us with that?” Cassandra asks, with a hint of a plea in her voice.

>You're on your own
>I'll help however I can
>Will this help get my father back?
>Other

There probably going to come a point where we are going to have to metaphorically slap Amelia upside her head. She seems to have gotten a bit...deluded in some places.

>>43407520
>Will this help get my father back?

>>43407520
>Will this help get my father back?

>>43407520
>Will this help get my father back?

>>43407559
Petra would probably have the best effect doing that.

>>43407559
A little bit mad from the isolation, maybe? She HAS been around for billions of years now...

>>43407620
I mean I can't blame her, shits rough, but Season 1 Amelia would have at least mentioned she also had two other badasses behind her. Wasn't just her fighting.

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>>43407559
>>43407560
>>43407602

They've got God – the actual, literal, capital G God – on their side, and they're asking for your help? No, this isn't right. This can't be right!

Focus. Focus on what's important. Right now, that's finding Marco. Finding your father. If you help them, you ask cautiously, will you be working towards getting him back?

“He's on my list,” Amelia says cautiously, “So yes, we'll be trying to track him down before long. I'll cut you a deal – you do the work on the ground, and I'll see if I can catch his scent, how does that sound?”

That sounds like she knows just how desperate you are. She knows that you can't do anything on your own, and she's more than willing to use that as leverage to get you running errands for her.

God is a jerk. This is not information that you're particularly happy to have received.

“Mia, I know how this must sound,” Cassandra murmurs, her hand still a comforting weight on your shoulder, “But we've all got to be pragmatic in times like this. We're not asking you to do anything... violent. I'M not asking you to do anything violent, or anything that you're not comfortable with.”

She talks a nice game, you'll give her that, but her kind words can't hide the fact that they've got you right where they want you.

“Besides,” Cassandra continues, “Wouldn't you rather be there when we find your father? Don't you think he'd want your face to be the first one he sees?”

…

You've got something in your eye, that's all it is. Stupid emotional blackmail.

>Fine, you win. I'll help
>I'll do this on my own. I don't care what it takes

>>43407735
>Fine, you win. I'll help.

>>43407735
>Fine, you win. I'll help
Yeesh

Looks like Cass picked the "bully her and make her cry" option. Seems like New Cycle Cass is ice cold.

>>43407735
>>Fine, you win. I'll help

Give God a break. Better transparent and up front with the bullshit rather than spookily hidden behind priests and facsimiles of parents.

>>43408025
Fair

>>43407759
>>43407761
>>43408025

Fine. They've won this round, you'll help them with... whatever they needed your help with.

“Excellent!” Amelia announces, her face brightening, “Now Mia, you look like you could use a break. Perhaps you could make some tea? You look like you could use a drink!”

Maybe she's right. You need a moment to let all of this sink in. You excuse yourself, promising to bring Cassandra a cup of tea this time, and head numbly through to the kitchen. Although you weren't expecting to find her there, you're somehow unsurprised to see Amelia standing there as well, her arms folded like someone waiting for a bus.

“Cassandra doesn't know I'm here,” Amelia says tersely, “She can't hear this conversation either, so try to keep your voice down. Whisper, and act naturally.”

Is this... secret? Are you supposed to be keeping this a secret from Cassandra?

“This is just a friendly little warning,” Amelia tells you, “Before all this, Cassandra was a very... devout girl. Church was a pretty serious part of her life. Now, unfortunately, she might have transferred all that faith to me instead. Keep an eye on her, just in case she starts to... worship me or anything.”

A strange request. Doesn't she want to be worshipped?

“Hell no!” Amelia snaps, “I didn't become a God to be worshipped! I became God to do what's right. You don't understand the power I gained, do you? If I wanted to be worshipped, you wouldn't have a choice in the matter. I could have built a world without free will, if I wanted – but I didn't.”

Okay, okay! You have to stop yourself from snapping back at her, delivering your response as a demure murmur instead. It's so unfair – she can shout at you as much as SHE likes, but you can't raise your voice above a whisper?

>>43408114

You're still seething as you bring the tea back to the table and push Cassandra's cup towards her. You don't ask if she wants sugar with it – a small victory, and a spiteful one, but you'll take whatever you can get right now.

“So, this brings me onto my next issue,” Amelia begins, and this time her voice is solemn, “There are demons breaking through into your world, and I won't always be able to intervene in time to keep things from getting out of hand. Cassandra here wants the ability to defend herself.”

“Not unreasonably, I should think,” Cassandra adds, shooting a vague look at Amelia. There's certainly no worship in THAT glance.

“I've said this before, but it looks like I need to repeat myself,” Amelia sighs, “Yes, I could pass down the knowledge to summon demons, but that would mean breaking my own barrier. You'd be able to defend yourselves, yes, but you'd see a great many more demons breaking through. That's not the only problem, either. If the barrier breaks down completely, this world will end.”

What! No, that's... No!

“You heard me,” Amelia says wearily, “This world should have ended already, and it was only MY power that stopped it. I drop the barrier, the world will slide back towards its natural end. It won't happen immediately, but there will be no stopping it.”

You're about to raise your voice in protest when Amelia cuts you off. “However,” she says, “If... When I've solved the problems on my end, I'll be able to raise the barrier again. Your job will be to gather a certain group of people together before things... end. So, here's my point. There's three of us here – I'm putting it to a vote.”

She's putting what could be the fate of humanity, of Earth itself, to a vote?

“What, you'd rather I carve my decision into a stone tablet and give it to you that way?” Amelia snaps, “We vote on it.”

So we have to let Polaris begin to eat the world to summon the dragon stream to beat Mizar. Okay, but I'm gonna go with Anguished One, Hotsuin.

>>43408137

“It shouldn't need repeating, but my vote is to keep the barrier up,” Amelia adds, “Sure, I'm not infallible, but I've kept things from getting out of hand this long, right?”

“Amelia,” Cassandra's voice has a note of a warning in it, “People have died. Things are not under control, no matter how many times you tell yourself that. We NEED to be able to fight back – to choose our own destiny. Doesn't that sound familiar? Humans shouldn't cower and wait for God to solve all our problems!”

“So I suppose I don't need to ask which way you're voting,” Amelia sighs sadly, “I'm disappointed, but I'll respect your decision. That leave you, Mia, with the deciding vote.”

This... this is crazy! They're asking you to decide, right this very moment?

“You're a part of this,” Amelia reminds you, “That means you have a say. Your opinion matters just as much as mine or Cassandra's. We're all equal here, after all.”

Equal. Right.

>Keep the barrier up
>Lower the barrier
>I can't vote for this. I refuse.
>Other

>>43408188
wut?

Wouldn't releasing the barrier get ALOT of people killed?

>>43408240
Just ants, anon!

>>43408250
Well its Cass who wants that one.

>>43408237
>>Other
Lets get Elliot and see what he thinks.

>>43408237
>>Lower the barrier

That thing was sent after me and my dad as a distraction. I'd imagine the devil if he or she is real did it to deny you something. There are going to keep running down the same list you are Amelia

>>43408237
>Other
Tell me more about Demon summoning and who gets access to it.

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>>43408237
Can we do pic related with the barrier?

>I'm sorry, I think I should clarify. Choosing to lower the barrier won't instantly remove it. It'll lower it enough for summoning demons to be possible but, as a consequence, the remains of the barrier will start to break down.

>>43408370
Do all humans get Demon Summoning Programs or just the few Amelia gives it to?

>>43408380

>Just the few with Amelia's blessing.

>>43408394
Can we get the list of blessed humans?

>>43408237
>Lower the barrier
Goddamnit...well we all know its going to come tumbling down anyways, might as well do it on our terms so we can at least be prepared for it.

>>43408409

>Right now, it would be:
Cassandra, Petra, Mia, Leon, Joseph and Marco
>Spoilered in case anyone wants to keep the surprise intact

>>43408237
>Lower the barrier

As much as I'd like to trust Amelia, not even God can best narrative causality.

>>43408470
>narrative causality
A powerful force.

>>43408459
>...Elliot's gonna die, isn't he?

>>43408486
Elliot isn't important. At least not to Amelia.

Yet.

>>43408459
Wait, now, i know we just met the guy. But he didn't seem like a douche. Can we get him, and like two or three of our school friends added to the list of blessed humans?

>>43408539
Why are trying to shove power into some random guys hands just because he was named.

Be patient and give it time. He might become a player, he might not.

>>43408539

>school friends
>Mia

>Seriously though, Elliot should start pulling his weight soon. He'll be involved.

>>43408558
Because he could get eaten by a demon if we don't give him powers? LIke, I thought the whole demons start murdering people was the whole downside to this option. Amelia should bless max capacity humans.

>>43408593
Which leads to the 'putting a loaded shotgun in everyone's hands' issue. Its a shitty situation either way, but since it won't get super bad over night we could be a response force to incidents until Amelia gets her shit straightened out.

>>43408630
I didn't say give him powers and then not tell him. While we're on this subject, would Mia really want these powers? I don't think she would. She doesn't seem the type. She's 14.

>>43408673
I think she just wants to find her dad and not be helpless.

>>43408291
>>43408413
>>43408470

This is a big decision, and you're just a kid. Sure, you've always been considered smart – smarter than most people with a few years on you – but you couldn't exactly be considered mature, no matter how you try and act. Either way, you're certain that this decision will have terrible consequences. It's just a matter of choosing how you want things to go wrong.

Lower the barrier.

You hear your voice whispering those three words, but you can't quite believe that it was you who spoke until Cassandra pumps her fist and grins. Amelia looks... expressionless. Not angry, so much, but... nothing.

“I see. Then you win,” taking a deep breath, Amelia looks between you and Cassandra. “I have just two things to tell you, before we get started.”

Two things?

“First. You've gone against the word of God – never forget that. Second,” Amelia's face breaks out into a wide smile, “I'm so very proud of you both.”

Wait, what does she mean “proud”? She lost the vote, right?

“It's what I would have done,” Amelia shrugs, still smiling, “Way back when, I made the decision to go against the word of God, and anyone else that tried to control me. It's a hard path to walk, but that's no reason not to choose it. If this is truly what you think is right...”

“It is,” Cassandra insists, already taking her phone out and putting it on the table before Amelia, “So, um, how does this work?”

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>>43408739

Wordlessly, Amelia touches her spectral finger to the surface of the phone, the tip of her digit sinking into the device for a moment before she removes it. “You next, Mia,” she says simply. You're just rising to retrieve your phone when Cassandra stands.

“No!” she shouts, “You can't be serious! She's just a child, and you want to turn her into... into a soldier?”

“She can choose her own destiny,” Amelia says quietly, “Isn't that what you were arguing for? Mia is involved, like it or not, and that means she'll need to fight. I can't protect the whole world all of the time, and you can't guard her all day either.”

“But...” Cassandra begins, but Amelia cuts her off.

“It's her decision,” this time, Amelia's voice is firm, “Mia, it's time to make a choice.”

>I'll fight. Just try and stop me
>No... I'm no soldier
>Excuse me, but I have this friend...
>Other

>>43408759
>>No... I'm no soldier
>>Excuse me, but I have this friend...

>>43408759
>I'll fight. Just try and stop me
"Though one of these times you'll need to tell me why I am so damn involved."

>>43408759
>I'm no soldier
"But..."
>I'll fight. Just try and stop me
"Like you said, if things are about to go really bad I'll need to able to defend myself."

>>43408759
>>43408833
This

>>43408759
>I'll fight. Just try and stop me
>Excuse me, but I have this friend...

>>43408833
>>43408759
Thirded

Is the friend Elliot? It would feel kinda random to bring him up if it is.

>>43408759
>I'll fight. Just try to stop me
>Excuse me, but I have this friend...

>>43408805
>>43408833
>>43408858
>>43408867
>>43408950
>>43409102

You're not a soldier, you tell Cassandra in a voice that is quiet, but determined, but it's just like she said – if things are about to get messy, you'll need a way to defend yourself. You'll fight, and you'll like to see Cassandra try to stop you.

“You've got fire in your belly,” Amelia tells you, approval filling her words. You're not sure if you want her approval, but... well, maybe it does feel a little bit nice. As you're fetching your phone, you think about Elliot, and that business card he gave Cassandra. Maybe you should... warn him, or something. Things might be going terribly wrong soon, and he helped you when you needed it. The least you can do is repay the favour.

When you return, setting the phone in front of Amelia, you mention his name. You call him a friend – you're not sure why – and ask if there's anything that Amelia can do to help him as well.

“Elliot Cosgrove,” Amelia murmurs the name to herself, “Never heard of him. I doubt he's anyone important. On the other hand, it might be useful having someone else around to lend a hand...” She falls silent for a while as she thinks, “Alright Mia, I'll cut you another deal. Take this Elliot along with you tomorrow – I'll give you the details in a moment – and if he can handle himself, I'll take him under my wing. If he can't, well, it won't matter either way, will it?”

That's cold. Still, you can tell that she won't have a better offer for you. You can call him later and test the waters. A decision to be made later, perhaps. As you're thinking it over, Amelia reaches across and does her thing with your phone. You half expect to feel something, a tingle or a shudder, but nothing happens. How... boring.

“Your first task, then,” Amelia says, settling back and preparing to direct the troops, “I need you to find an old friend of mine...”

>>43409160

“Eirin Petrushka,” Amelia pronounces the foreign sounding name without difficulty, “Although she'll probably go by Petra these days. That's the name she used to use, at least. Just find her and convince her to work with me. It shouldn't be difficult.”

“Uh, actually...” Cassandra scratches her head, frowning awkwardly, “It might be. The last time I tried to talk with her we had, um, a difference of opinions. Things got heated.”

Heated. You repeat the word with dull surprise, your eyebrows lifting in surprise as Cassandra holds out her palm to show you a short scar. That looks like a knife wound. Is she trying to say that, the last time they met, this Petra girl tried to STAB Cassandra?

“She was very... emotional,” Cassandra tries to explain.

Emotional – you've heard that one before. That's adult speak for “drunk”, isn't it?

“Well...” Cassandra doesn't answer, but that's fine. That's all the confirmation you need. “She's not a bad person, really!”

“Oh Petra,” Amelia sighs wistfully, a strange smile playing around her lips, “Still up to your old tricks.”

“What I'm trying to say is...” Cassandra lowers her head, looking somewhat embarrassed, “It might be best if I leave this to you, Mia. She might not want to see me right away.”

Oh sure, you'll meet her. You'll meet the erratic girl who tried to stab her “old friend”. No problem. No problem at all.

“Glad to hear it!” Amelia announces, “Cassandra, you have the address, don't you? Leave it here, and you should try her in the morning. It's been a long day, so you might want a night's sleep beforehand. We're not in any kind of hurry.” There is a brief pause before Amelia adds: “Yet.”

Wonderful.

>Give Elliot a call and arrange something
>Get some rest and tackle things tomorrow
>No reason to waste time. Go now
>Other

>>43409350
>>Give Elliot a call and arrange something

>>43409350
>>Give Elliot a call and arrange something
>No reason to waste time. Go now
Meet Elliot afterwards. Either tomorrow or right after.

>>43409350
>Get some rest and tackle things tomorrow

>>43409350
>Give Elliot a call and arrange something

>>43409350
>Give Elliot a call and arrange something
>Get some rest and tackle things tomorrow

>New Cycle Petra has reverted to an angry drunken slav

Should have expected this desu

>>43409350
>Give Elliot a call and arrange something
>Practice squatting so Petra will feel comfortable with us

>>43409671
Somehow, I suspect it was an argument over junk food.

Pizza is serious business, yo.

>>43409766
>Say Chinese takeout again Cass, I dare you.

>>43409396
>>43409403
>>43409419
>>43409450
>>43409689

You'll see if Elliot is willing to help out with this – after all, he'll need to earn his place under Amelia's care. Then, once you know what's what, you'll get a good rest and tackle things tomorrow. It's late afternoon now – almost early evening, now you think about it – so you'll have plenty of time to rest. You're absolutely certain that you'll have no bad dreams whatsoever. Yes.

“Here's his card,” Cassandra tells you, handing the slip of card over along with a sheet of folded paper, “And this has some useful information. Petra's address, for one thing, and my phone number. Don't hesitate to call me if you need help and, well, take care!”

Wait, you ask as Cassandra rises to her feet and brushes down her blouse, she's leaving already?

“I have some work to do,” the blond girl explains, in an apologetic tone of voice, “Research, among other things. We've all got to do our part, if we want to get this finished before... Well, we've all got lots to do.”

Right, you say softly as Cassandra hurries out, stopping only to pull her shoes back on. You can't be sure, but it feels like she was running away from you. Fleeing, almost. Curious.

What's even more curious is Elliot's business card – if such a grandiose term is really appropriate here. It's a tastefully decorated thing, but infuriatingly vague. It has his name, printed in neat capital letters, and a phone number. The reverse has a single word: “Consultant”. That's it. You're not quite sure if you WANT to know more. Putting the dubious connotations of the word out of your mind, you punch the number into your phone and listen.

“Elliot Cosgrove, speaking,” the crisp voice on the other end of the line announces, “If it's about the money...”

The money, you blurt out, what money?

“Ah,” there is a pause, “Never mind that. Mia dear, what can I do for you?”

Something is up with this dude.

>>43409835

It is at this moment that you realise you have no idea how to break the news to Elliot. Hey there, did you know the world might be ending soon? God told you, and now you need his help to... do something. Wrestle with a drunken slav, perhaps?

That'd get his attention, sure, but it's hardly going to convince him of anything.

“Sorry, I think the line might be bad,” Elliot says, “Did you say something?”

You might have grunted some exasperated noise, but it certainly wasn't anything developed enough to be called “talking”. You decide, instead, to take the plunge and ask him if he's busy tomorrow morning.

“My schedule is currently empty,” Elliot's voice brightens as he hears the offer, “Of course, I'm a busy man, so if you're here to make me an offer...”

You could use his help, you explain vaguely, you've got something to do that you'd rather not do alone. It's... sensitive. Not the kind of thing you can explain very well over the phone. What you don't mention is that it's not really something you can explain in person either. Maybe by tomorrow, you'll have a decent excuse.

“Sounds mysterious. Fortunately for you, I like a bit of the old mystery,” Elliot chuckles softly, his voice lilting and musical, “Alright, you've got my attention. Shall we meet, oh, ten in the morning? I do like a good long lie.”

Ten, you tell him, is fine. You give your address as well and try to ignore the impressed murmur that you hear. It's not like it's the richest part of London or anything – in the top five, maybe.

“I'll be seeing you, then,” Elliot announces, “And, eh, forget about that little joke about money, won't you?”

...Right. You'll put that right on your list of “things you don't want to get involved with”. Now, to get some utterly calm and undisturbed sleep.

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>>43410042
>Now, to get some utterly calm and undisturbed sleep.
Uh huh. Sure.

>>43410042

Three in the morning finds you waking suddenly, a scream building on your lips and a crushing tightness in your chest. You were suffocating this time, you're sure of it. Suffocating in some dark place, with no hope of rescue or escape.

You wish you could say that it gets better with time, but it never does. How many times have you had that same nightmare, only for the next night to bring it again to the same horrific effect? You've lost count by now.

The rest of the night/early morning is spent, as usual, with your head in a book. You tried reading some of Marco's scientific journals – they sometimes help lull you back to sleep – but this time just looking at them is enough to send a stab of fear into your heart. While you're sitting in your warm house, reading terrible literature, Marco is... somewhere else, undergoing who knows what. All you can do is wait for some irresponsible deity to MAYBE find him for you.

Frankly, you're glad when Elliot knocks on your front door and provides a suitably foppish distraction. You walk together, alternating between awkward silences and awkward attempts at conversation, for a while until Elliot suddenly vanishes down a dark alleyway. Hiding?

A moment later, as you're gazing in confusion into the pool of shadows, another young man passes you by. He's got a rugged look about him, not helped by the bandage covering what might be a broken nose. He's talking on his phone, but his accent – a rapid fire Scottish slur – is so thick that all you can make out is the frequent profanity. When he has passed you by, Elliot emerges from the darkness, smoothing his suit down with petulant care.

“Little bit of bother, that's all,” he says nonchalantly, “Shall we be off?”

>Was that something I should be worried about?
>You've not even asked why we're here yet
>...Sure, let's go

>>43410207
>Was that something I should be worried about?
>You've not even asked why we're here yet

Hey Leon.

>>43410207
>>Was that something I should be worried about?
>You've not even asked why we're here yet


He's Leon's brother isn't he?

>>43410236
He must be really hiding his accent if thats the case. He probably just owes money.

>>43410207
>Was that something I should be worried about?
>You've not even asked why we're here yet
>...Sure, let's go

No need to stay where we are and talk when we can get moving and talk.

>>43410236
>Leon having a camp English brother
I want to believe

>>43410319
This sounds hilarious, actually; I'm picturing them in my head as Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.

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>>43410224
>>43410236
>>43410281

Was that something you should be... worried about? You ask the question as you give Elliot a rather sceptical look, as though he's about to take flight and run like a gazelle at the drop of an immaculately tailored hat.

“Oh, that?” amazingly, he manages to sound perfectly casual despite the fact that he was just hiding in an alleyway, “Had some bad luck with the cards not so long ago, ended up borrowing some money from your average rough types. Seems that gentleman is out there looking for me, probably to introduce my fine little legs to a cricket bat.”

Uh...

“No need to worry, dear, I'll win it all back tonight, just you wait and see,” Elliot offers you a brilliant – and somehow worrying – smile.

Right then. As you start to walk, you point out that he hasn't asked you about why you're here.

“True, that,” Elliot shrugs indulgently, “Figured you'd tell me eventually, or I'd see it for myself. I like a nice surprise every now and again.”

A surprise, huh? Like if the world happened to just... end tomorrow? That would be a surprise, wouldn't it?

“Too bloody right!” Elliot laughs, “Wouldn't have to worry about my little money troubles then, would I? Silver linings and all that...” Then, his face grows solemn – or, at least, as solemn as it ever gets. “You don't happen to have some inside information, do you? Maybe something about that little fracas we ran into yesterday?”

He knows more than he's letting on. Or, and you have to consider this possibility, perhaps he's just good at guessing. Well, you say in an attempt to keep things on track, you're just here to talk with someone. Convince her to, well, give an old friend a second chance.

“So we're on a mission to mend a broken heart?” Elliot laughs aloud, ignoring your attempts to correct him, “Bloody good! I only hope she doesn't fall for me herself!”

You finish the rest of your journey in silence.

>>43410536

When you reach the address you were given, you can't help but feel rather intimidated. It's an old – very old – block of flats, probably build some time after World War 2 if the monstrous concrete construction is any indication. If the Germans were to come over and blow up this building, it would only make the city a better place. They'd need to bring a damn big bomb though.

“Charming place,” Elliot announces cheerfully, “I can imagine the roaches already. Well, at least they might be too busy fighting with the rats over which of them gets to eat our bodies!”

It's not... that bad, you lie pathetically. It really is that bad. Covering up your distaste, you step around an overflowing bin and scan the list of names. Scrawled on in a red marker is the name “Eirin Petrushka”. That must be her. The inside of the building, as you work your way through it, is just as bad as the outside, covered in scrawls of graffiti and littered with, well, litter. When you reach Petra's door, Elliot is the one to knock.

It takes a while, and then the door swings open. The girl – woman – who steps out is probably the tallest girl you've ever seen, and probably the most muscular. Her hair is long, violently red and worn in a braid that just about reaches her hips. A sneer passes across her lips as she locks eyes with Elliot, the few inches she has on him forcing him to look up at her.

“What do you want, fuckboy?” she asks, “I don't recall asking for any fashion advice, yes?”

“I can tell,” Elliot shoots back, “Old jeans and, what is that, a vest? Going for the white trash look, are we?”

This is not going to end well. Maybe Elliot's knees have something else to worry about.

>You're Eirin, right?
>You're Petra, right?
>Excuse me, Cassandra sent us to find you
>Other

>>43410657
>You're Eirin, right?

>>43410657
>You're Petra, right?

New Cycle and dormant memories did a number on her goddamn. She was an abroad college student in the last cycle.

>>43410657
>''Elliot, shut the fuck up, you're here for moral support.''
>''You're Petra, right? An old friend of yours told me to find you.''

>>43410657
>You're Petra, right?

>>43410657
>Tall, muscular Petra
Dick status: muh

>>43410782
I'm guessing just like Cass suddenly stopped wanting to go to church, Petra suddenly wanted to become stronger.

>>43410782
Same.

>>43410657
>You're Petra, right?

>>43410709
>>43410742
>>43410757
>>43411014

Hastily, before the pair of them can come to blows, you force yourself between Petra and Elliot, telling the latter to stay quiet. He's here for moral support, not to antagonise the girl you came here to find. He obeys, stepping backwards and straightening the perfect knot in his tie.

Now, you turn to the tall redhead, looking up so that your gaze isn't pointed straight at her, well, so you can look her in the eyes. She's Petra, right? You say this with the intention of getting a reaction, and you're not disappointed.

With her eyes growing wide – and somehow frightened – Petra grabs the collar of your coat and drags you into her slum of an apartment, pushing you down into a chair. You cry out in pain at the rough treatment, your heart hammering wildly in your chest. Elliot hurries forwards, but stops short of actually intervening. The fact that Petra could probably break him in half might have something to do with that.

“Who gave you that name?” the redhead snaps, “Nobody calls me that! Nobody, except...”

That's right, you croak, you're here on behalf of her old friends. They need her help.

“They need me, yes?” Petra's voice turns hollow as she crosses to her fridge and yanks out a can of beer.

“Bit early for that, isn't it?” Elliot asks, but falls silent when Petra points at him, blatant violence in her glare. Having chastised your escort, Petra lets herself fall into a chair and squints at you, taking in your features.

“Always thought you looked like her,” Petra drinks from her slick can and grimaces, “You've seen her, yes? Amelia?”

You've seen her, yes. You nod and wait for Petra to react, but she simply falls silent. Thinking hard about something - no, trying to remember something.

>Amelia needs your help
>How did you know her?
>Are you okay?
>Other

>>43411067
>>How did you know her?
>Are you okay?

>>43411067
>Are you okay?
>How did you know her?

Then
>Amelia needs your help

>>43411067

>Are you okay?
>Amelia needs your help.

>>43411067
"Always thought I looked like her? But this is the first time we've met."

>>43411067
>Mia is at eye level with Petra's bust
This keeps getting better and better

>>43411161
>>43411164
>>43411182
>>43411272

Is she... okay? You ask this cautiously, well aware that someone as tough looking as her would be unwilling to show weakness without a damn good reason.

“My memory,” Petra says bluntly, “Is not so good. I have moments, blackouts, where I forget everything. My family, my homeland, everything. They always pass, but they've been getting... longer. More frequent, yes? I'm losing myself.”

But why, you ask, is she ill? Is it a brain thing?

“This is how I was before,” Petra answers, “And now it's coming back to me, yes? Because of what SHE did. God, Amelia, gave me my past life. A life where I WAS somebody, yes? There was glory and battle, and then I wake up to what? This?” A contemptuous snort escapes her as she looks around her awful apartment, “And then I'm abandoned like a soldier once the war is over.” She grunts, looking back to you, “You're Mia, yes? Say what you came here to say.”

She knows you. She said that she always thought you looked like Amelia, but you've never met her before. Something isn't right here. Something is definitely not right here. Maybe she should start with that – is this, or isn't this the first time you've met?

“We met once, not for long,” Petra explains, her mouth twisted with some bitter regret, “In a past life. A world where Amelia was human, fighting to become God. The world I remember when I forget this one. Now those memories are coming back, yes? To all of us.”

Well... that answers your next question. You were going to ask about how she knew Amelia but... there's no need now. Gathering your resolve about you, you tell Petra the reason you came here. Amelia needs her help. The world is in danger, and Petra is an important part of straightening things out.

“Of course,” Petra mutters, “Now I'm needed. Now I'm useful. Maybe I don't want to help, yes?”

>The world might end if you don't!
>Tell that to Amelia yourself
>Fine. I'm leaving
>Other

>>43411456
>Tell that to Amelia yourself

>>43411456
>Tell that to Amelia yourself
"Tell her off, speak your mind, whatever. She seems like she needs someone to give her lip every now and then. At least she seemed to like it when I talked back. Just give it a shot."

>>43411456
>Tell that to Amelia yourself

I never thought the dormant memory stuff would mess Petra up so bad. So she's losing her old memories instead of getting new ones like Cass? That's got to be rough

>>43411497
>>43411538
>>43411591

Well maybe she should tell Amelia that herself, you shout, surprising even yourself. Tell her off! Speak her mind! Just... just do something, rather than brooding in this pit all day!

“I'm not brooding!” Petra begins, but you're quick to cut her off.

Amelia needs someone like her around, someone who can take her down a few pegs every now and again. You talked back to her – a little – and she didn't damn you to Hell or anything. In fact, you're pretty sure that she LIKED your little show of defiance. It's worth a shot, isn't it? And even if it isn't, it has to be a better choice than ranting at the errand girl!

“And it does look like you're brooding,” Elliot adds helpfully, causing Petra to growl some colourful foreign profanity at him.

“So, you think I should go and yell at her, yes? Give her a piece of my mind?” Petra muses on the idea, playing with the beer can in her hands as she does so, “Last time I vented, Cassandra got a new scar. Maybe... No drinking this time, yes?”

Probably a good idea, you tell her carefully, reaching across to take the can of beer from her hands and taking it over to the sink. Somehow, you manage not to flinch at the sight of a machete left haphazardly on the kitchen counter as you pour the beer away. If anything, the sour stink of alcohol is worse.

“Very well!” Petra announces, “I'll go and have words. Loud ones, perhaps, but maybe that is not so bad? Catharsis, yes?”

Sure. Catharsis. You can all yell and scream at each other, and then later you can hug it out. It'll be great. Fun.

Petra laughs as she stands, plucking a heavy winter coat from where it was left – crumpled on the floor. Before leaving, she turns to look again at you. “You look good,” she tells you, “For a dead girl.”

What.

>I think that's a good place to leave it for today. Next thread on Tuesday, and I'll lurk for a while in case of any questions.

>>43411948
>You look good,” she tells you, “For a dead girl.”
Jeez Petra, ease into it why dontcha

Thanks for the run boss.

>>43411948
Thanks for the run boss. What demons did we get?

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>>43412122
>What demons did we get?

Mia currently has Nadja, while Cass has something special!

>>43412016

Subtlety is for "other" people!

>>43412174
>Cass has something special!

Cuh cuh or Sentata?

>>43412174
Do you have any plans for any new "party member" type characters other than Elliot. I like him and I'd like some fresh blood on the team.

>>43412271

Neither! She has an angel, but not a YHVH kind of angel. An angel of the Goddess Amelia, I suppose it could be said.

>>43412301

I have ideas for a couple of characters that might end up being either allies or enemies. It all depends on how things unfold!

>>43412333
Undine?

>>43412333
>An angel of the Goddess Amelia, I suppose it could be said.
Its just Cernnous with wings taped on.

Speaking of which, now that the barriers down a little are we going to see Secretary Undine?

Calling it now. Elliot and Petra are either going to kill each other or fuck. Maybe both

>>43412363
Just cause two people shittalked each other doesn't mean they are going to become a couple. We aren't THAT anime over here.

>>43412333
So an angeled up Undine?

>>43412363
Prolly.

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>>43412345
>>43412360
>>43412392

Undine might pop up to deliver a message every so often, but she's no angel! No, Cass' new demon is something new, called Wingless

Because she has no wings, you see? Brilliance!

I mean, I don't know exactly how much Moloch listens to what we say in the thread to guide the plot, but I'd like to throw out the fact that I don't think there is any underlying sexual tension between Petra and Elliot, Petra and Mia, or Mia and Elliot. In fact, I feel like all our opinions of each other are platonic.

>>43412430

Ah, that was me. I was posting elsewhere.

>>43412434

Well there's certainly nothing sexual between Mia and anyone!

>>43412430
I kinda want to see Amelia and Undine's reunion. I bet its sweet.

>>43412434
OFFICIAL ROMANCE POWER LEVELS

PURE TIER
Mia

HAREM PROTAGONIST OBLIVIOUS TIER
Carnby

'BUSY SAVING HUMANITY' TIER
Amelia (Season 1)

'BUSY BEING A DEITY' TIER
Amelia (Season 2)

AMELIA TIER
Petra

STRAIGHT TIER
Cassandra, Leon, Joseph

BI TIER
Elliot

>>43412174
>Cute girl protagonist has cute elf girl demon
Brilliant.

>>43412490
>power levels
>proceeds to list tiers

Nah, fuck you. This is how it goes.

ASEXUAL AS FUCK MC TIER
Amelia
Mia

AWESOME DADS NO INCEST THIS IS FUCKING BONGLAND TIER
Carnby
Marco

PRETTY SICK SIDE CHARACTERS WHO WE AREN'T GOING TO FUCK TIER
Leon
Elliot
Cassandra

WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU? TIER
Joseph

THIRSTY AS FUCK TIER
Petra

>Amelia and Cassandra right before the New Cycle quest started

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r2lI1JsxOc&t=8m

>>43412490
>I bet its sweet.
Maybe not. This is the "everyone's an asshole" cycle apparently

>>43412522
Mia's alignment is moe

>>43412614
>"everyone's an asshole" cycle

The twist is, the only person who isn't an asshole is Leon.

>>43412642

>Sorry mate, but them's the rules. Now I have to bash ya kneecaps in. Please, don't move so we can do this quickly, aye?

>>43412642

Some twists are too far! I'm not M Night Shyamalan you know!

Or am I?

Ever think that maybe we're the bad guys this time around?

>>43412830
Not really. What makes you say that?

>>43412855
Petra is more openly aggressive, Cassandra is more manipulative. Amelia is, honestly, beyond human morality at this point. Together, we're trying to kickstart the end of the world on the hope of maybe fixing things before then.

My theory? Goddess Amelia is actually Nyarly trying to mess with the order of things. Cass and Petra are both desperate enough to believe it and Mia doesn't know any better

>>43412830
We were the bad guys the first time. Think about it, London still seems like London in this cycle. Say what you want about the bullshit of having to worship God or a world of strength under Lucifer, both are preferable to the shithole that is modern day London run by modern day man.

>>43412915
I think thats just your shadowruns going off.

I mean if you are right, you are right, but I'm not seeing it.

>>43412915
I think you are writing everybody off way too soon. Its only the 2nd thread. Amelia has said and done things that both make he doubt her and believe her in this thread alone. Petra's situation and temperament is understandable. Cassandra may have coerced Mia into helping but that doesn't make her Lilith manipulative bitch tier.

I think we all need a bit more time with them before we start jumping to conclusions.

>>43412987
You're probably right. I hope you're right.
Pretty easy to be paranoid when you've got Nyarly on the scene and a previous villain known for stealing identities

Still not sure if I trust Elliot

>>43413075
I'll admit. He is taking all this God, Amelia, Past lives and memories talk a little too well. That might just be him being quirky but...I dunno.

Come to think of it, how didn't anyone notice Heartless was Nyarly?

I don't know why we're having problems with Amelia at all at this point. Like, it doesn't seem like she's responsible for the demon that murdered a buncha people nor our father disappearing. She sort of showed up and told us, hey, yo, I'm God and shit's going wrong. i mean, i understand being upset that she needs a 14 year old's help or that things aren't going well with the world. But what has Amelia done that makes us not like her? She right now seems like the antithesis of the Outsider. In your face about the fact that she needs you to keep things running rather than barely being known to exist and using subtlety to trick her servants.

>>43413127
I am ashamed to admit I forgot Heartless was Joker's Persona in Persona 2 which was basically Nyarly. That game was a blur for me and its hard to really take in a design when its a small PSP screen.

>>43413132
I agree. She's more jaded but thats to be expected.

>>43413113
He's a consultant. Obviously, he's got some sort of Raidou Kuzonoha-esque job.

>>43413113

Elliot's London born and London bred, he's been dealing with deformed monsters and ultraviolence since his first birthday!

>>43413180
That'd be interesting.

>>43413199
This is also a very good point.

>>43413199
Did Amelia at least have enough power and forethought to keep the Pakis outs?

>>43413210
>'For better or worse, Humanity should decide its own fate.'
>Even if it is hard to watch it happen.

>>43413210
>Did Amelia at least have enough power and forethought to keep the Pakis outs?

She's God, not infallible!

>>43413252
kek

Hero Farage when?

I want to see Petra messing up Elliot's suit just to see how he reacts.

>>43413252
Hmm, if we DIDN'T lower the barrier, I think there still would have been two shots at actual fighting:

Petra can certainly put up a fight, but do humans turned demon but still sane count as a loophole? We never really got an explanation about HOW Marco turned, after all.

>>43413442
>do humans turned demon but still sane count as a loophole?

Marco's transformed form was, essentially, a demon. He had a human mind, but he could be summoned like any other demon.

Petra might be able to fight, but she'd need some kind of demonic weapon to do real damage.

>>43413505
Ah, right, the Penetrator is gone.

Are those two still at it in the demon realm?

>>43413536
>Are those two still at it in the demon realm?

Petra and Cassandra?

>>43413572

Banshee and Incubus.

>>43413600

They're together, but I wouldn't say they're happy about it. You know what they say - Hell is other people!