>>43770447

“What's in it for me?” he says eventually, a slight smirk crossing his face.

“You...” Cassandra blurts out in surprise, “The world is in danger, don't you realise what's at stake here? If you don't help us, the world might be destroyed!”

“Aye,” Leon nods sagely, “And?”

“The world!” Amelia snaps, with such emphasis that time seems to stand still for a moment, “Is that not getting through to you? Honestly, I would have expected a little more humility from someone who got killed by a little girl...”

“Fuck you!” Leon shouts back, the smile dropping from his face in an instant, “I'll have a rematch with that wee shite, and I'll kick her fuckin' arse, just you watch!”

That... doesn't sound like anything to boast about, but you decide against mentioning that out loud. All you can do is watch this trainwreck unfold with a kind of fascination that borders on the masochistic. As your eyes flicker between each member of the group, Cassandra speaks up, this time in a placating tone.

“Leon,” she says with a visible effort to remain calm, “What, exactly, would it take to get you to help us?”

“Well, she's God, aye?” Leon smirks again, looking over at Amelia, “Go and magic up a stack of cash, that's a good startin' point!”

Scowling hard, Amelia slams her fist down onto the table – at least, she tries to. Her intangible fist passes straight through without making a sound. A moment later, Petra approaches and slams HER fist down onto the table, making all the cups bounce precariously. “Thank you,” Amelia mutters, before raising her voice, “Nobody is magicking up anything, understand? That's not how this works.”

>>43770452

“Are we talking about conjuring up some money?” Elliot asks suddenly, sticking his head around the door, “Because-” Before he can finish that sentence, a hand – Joseph's, you assume – grabs his collar and pulls him back out of the room. It's probably for the best, the situation is terse enough without Elliot stirring things up even more. The difficult silence returns as Elliot leaves, nobody quite willing to be the first to blink.

This could go on all day, but then what else are you supposed to do but watch? Leon, you quickly realise, is not stupid – he's just trying to exploit the situation as much as possible. Amelia can't – or won't – bend the rules to suit him, and Cassandra seems unwilling to put forwards any suggestions at all. How did these people ever manage to work together?

>Leon, you're nothing without us. Just a thug without a purpose
>If you want that rematch, you need us
>Keep silent
>Other

>>43770457
>Other
"You picked a fight with Alice too huh? I guess we have something in common."

>Leon, you're nothing without us. Just a thug without a purpose
With us though, you are of the few people that can summon and fight other demons. Hell of a lot more interesting no?"

>>43770457
>Leon, you're nothing without us. Just a thug without a purpose
and if the world does end, this time you have any demons to borrow strength from. You won't make it to Alice, heck I doubt you make it a day.

>>43770457
>Ask about what this dying to a little girl business is about
>Alice? Oh, I played with her. I'm alive, by the way.

>>43770504
>>43770517
>>43770562

So what, he picked a fight with Alice as well? You suppose you have at least one thing in common with the brash young man – although you rather suspect that he didn't throw a snowball at her. No, somehow you imagine his efforts were altogether much worse. Unless, of course, he got beaten up by some OTHER little girl demon – you've got enough on your team to know that Alice isn't the only one out there.

Leon turns in his seat to glance your way when you ask him about it. Behind him, you see both Amelia and Cassandra wincing at the unsubtle question, but you don't let that deter you. You played with Alice once, you tell him, and you're still alive. She's not so bad, really. You hope.

“You?” Leon looks at you for a moment longer, confusion spreading across his face, “Aye, and who are you?”

One of the few people in this world who can summon and command demons, you tell him with a firm voice – speaking with resolve you don't feel. If he joined your numbers, he could be somebody. Without you or Amelia, he'd be nothing, just another pointless thug. Doesn't it sound more interesting this way? If Cassandra was wincing before, now she's practically hiding her face in her hands – she can't bear to watch this.

If this world does end – which it will, if he does nothing – he won't make it a day, not without demons of his own to command. He doesn't have a hope in hell of meeting Alice again, let alone fighting her. So that's his choice – he could join up with you and make something of himself, or he could back down and be nobody.

“I'm no backin' down!” Leon snarls, his pride wounded. Getting scolded by a fourteen year old girl, you imagine, must sting.

Well, if he's not backing down...

>>43770719

“Aye, fuck, you got me,” he curses, “Bet you feel real smart right now, don't you lass?”

Well, you have your moments...

“Don't push it, Mia,” Amelia warns you.

“So, I'm joinin' up with a bunch of crazy fuckin' Satanists or whatever,” Leon begins, “That means I get a monster, aye? Some fierce bastard to throw at any bugger who talks shite to me, aye?” Laughing harshly, he rubs his hands together as if he can't wait to get started. “That'll make collectin' debts a whole lot easier, know what I mean?”

“This was never going to end well, was it?” Amelia mutters, heaving a heavy sigh, “Look, if you start mauling random people with demons, I'll have to take direct action. Trust me, I took direct action once, and it really didn't end well for, ah...” she pauses here, “Well, it didn't end well. Let's leave it at that.”

You take his phone out, you'd still been holding onto it ever since Joseph found it, and slide it across the table. All Amelia needs to do is... whatever she does to them, to grant them the power to summon demons. There was the small – or not small, in this case – matter of Leanan Sidhe, however.

>Leon, there was someone who wanted to join you...
>Keep her for yourself
>Other

>>43770762
>Leon, there was someone who wanted to join you...
Hehe.

>>43770762
>>Leon, there was someone who wanted to join you...

>>43770762
>Leon, there was someone who wanted to join you...
she can be the probationary demon? This is his "initial" demon until he's proven to play nice.

We don't tell him it's a test, though.

>>43770762
>>Keep her for yourself

>>43770809
>Leon likes to fight
>Give him a demon that barely fight
It's like poetry
Though it makes me wonder what Leanan would have done if she beat all Mia's demons. Brainwashing?

>>43770776
>>43770795
>>43770809

Hey Leon, you begin as you take your own phone out, there was someone who wanted to join you. In fact, they were pretty insistent about never wanting to be apart from him. You said you'd hold onto her for a while, but now that he's here...

“Wait, wait a fuckin' minute!” Leon blurts out, “You better no be talkin' about that... that...”

That what? It's pretty amusing to watch the violent young man splutter in search of the right words – he's actually speechless – but eventually you decide to put him out of his misery. His “wife”, yes. It's okay though, you stress, she'd be under his command. She'd need to obey his orders at all times.

“Oh yeah?” Leon cheers up surprisingly quickly at that, “Aye, that sounds about right. Fine then, I'll take her off your hands. She better no give me any lip though, or her arse is gettin' divorced.”

“Fine, great, everyone's happy!” Amelia cries, throwing her hands up in the air, “Throw those phones over here, I can swap the necessary demons about. Can we do is quickly though, before the world collapses around us?”

You think she's exaggerating a little, but you push both phones across the table regardless. Amelia dips her fingers into both and, her eyes shuddering and twitching beneath the lids for a moment, focusses. A few seconds later and she is finished, letting Cassandra pass the phones back to you and Leon. A quick check reveals that, yes, Leanan Sidhe is no longer in your possession. That's good – Lilim will be pleased.

“Now, can we please stick to business?” Amelia asks, “Marco. What have we learned?”

>>43771095

You give Amelia a condensed version of what you know. Your father is trapped within a fortress, one belonging to the Intoxicating One, located far north of the demon version of London. It's a pretty bleak place, and it's said to be guarded by a beast that can't be killed. Cu Chulainn, sent by queen Titania, tried to slay it, but to no success.

“And the area is blanketed in thick storms,” Cassandra adds, “Possibly worse than the ones we fled from earlier. I learned that the storms are created by a demon lurking beneath the earth, known only as the “Lady”. We'll need to take her out before we can get close enough to even think about getting into that fortress, let alone fighting the bastard that...” She stops herself there, pressing her lips tightly together for a moment, “I mean, fighting whatever creature is guarding the fortress. However, there are tunnels beneath the ground that might give us a way into the fortress – or at least get us close.”

“Okay then, so we've got plenty of work to do,” Amelia says, pausing as Elliot and Joseph file in. They must have been listening, waiting for the air to clear before making their entrance. “Plenty to do, and not as much time as I'd like. Okay boys and girls – ideas?”

She's asking you? You thought she was supposed to be the expert here...

>Gabriel might know something, perhaps?
>I'd like to see what Mister Black knows
>The fairies have been helpful so far, so...
>Other

>>43771155
>>Gabriel might know something, perhaps?

All good options...

>>43771155
>>Gabriel might know something, perhaps?
>>I'd like to see what Mister Black knows
either of these, poke them for a way to navigate a way through the tunnels straight to the Intoxicating One and surprise him. IC for Mia to not give a fuck and skip boss, and not tactically unsound to strike them unawares.

>>43771155
>Gabriel might know something, perhaps?
Could always split up too.

>>43771155
>I'd like to see what Mister Black knows
while some other check with Gabriel I doubt her boss wants that fortress in existing any more than we do.

>>43771197
Gotta take down Lady first so we can stop the magic storms. Finding out her identity and a safe way to attack her should help alot.

>>43771155
>>Gabriel might know something, perhaps?
Just to clarify. Can we send other people to check out the other options? Cass might not want to see Gabby after last time

>>43771224
Did you not read the "skip boss" part? That said, I don't know if the magic storms extend underground, the main issue that decides if it's even possible.

>>43771240

>Yes, there will be the option of having other characters checking other sources of information.

>>43771240
>Cass might not want to see Gabby after last time
Actually I wouldn't be surprised if she wants to now that she remembers. Just to talk.

>>43771252
I see your point but, taking down the boss that creates the storms will help throughout the entirety of this quest. She ain't optional.

>>43771286
>She ain't optional.
but she can wait until Marco is saved. At least by Mia's logic, which may or may not be overruled by the other members.

>>43771304
>At least by Mia's logic
Ehhhh not really. Mia's smart, she wouldn't risk compromising her Father's rescue by not beating the only thing that can stop them from porting back.

They get to Marco then suddenly Gateway stops working cause Lady started a storm? Bad news.

>>43771155
>I'd like to see what Mister Black knows.

Ha! Ha! Time for SM/tg/! Shame I have to go to work in fifteen minutes...

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>>43771168
>>43771197
>>43771205
>>43771240

You'd like to see if you can track down Gabriel again, you say slowly. She might know something about what's going on, and she seemed willing to help when you met her earlier. Either way, you'd like to speak with her again – information or no. You kind of liked being around her, although you couldn't really say why.

“If I may,” Joseph says quietly, “Would you mind if I joined you? I've heard people speaking about this... this angel, and I'd like to see her for myself. That is, unless...” he glances over at Cassandra, who hurriedly shakes her head.

“Ah, I'd, um, rather not,” Cassandra says awkwardly, “It's still... too soon. I think Mister Black could help us though – I'll check out the Hellfire Club and see what information I can gather from there.”

“Club?” Leon looks up at that, “Wait just one fuckin' minute, aren't those the guys that...” He falls suddenly silent, a sly look crossing his face. “Aye, I'd like to see this club. Have me a little look around, see what's what.”

“So that leaves us, yes?” Petra looks across at Elliot, her face cast in something that is neither a grin or a frown, but has elements of both, “Are we to sit about here, playing cards? As much as I'd like to take the dandy's money, he has very little left, yes? We'll ask around as well, maybe go back to the fairies.”

So that would split everyone up into nice neat pairs. How very... convenient.

>Alright Joseph, we'll go together
>No, I'm not happy about this. We should try something else (Write in)

>There will be a character choice after this, to decide which path to follow first.

>>43771444
>>Alright Joseph, we'll go togethe

>>43771444
>Alright Joseph, we'll go together

>>43771444
>Alright Joseph, we'll go together

Leon's going to Hellfire huh? This'll be...something.

>>43771444
>>Alright Joseph, we'll go together

>>43771467
Up to no good I bet

>>43771476
>>43771467
>>43771456
>>43771453

Okay, you nod, you'll go with Joseph. You're a little unsure of how he'll react to her when they meet – she's not exactly a shining example of God's mercy, after all – but that remains to be seen. At the very least, Joseph seems generally calm enough not to lose his composure when he sees her. The other pairings seem to work well enough as well. Petra and Elliot might clash a little, but you think they work together well enough. Leon and Cassandra though? Well, they USED to know each other...

“Good, great,” Amelia's hand clips through the table, as if she was trying to mimic Leon's earlier impatient twitching, “Now, under the circumstances, I think you shouldn't waste any more time. I'm sure you'd all rather wait until tomorrow, but...”

“No,” Cassandra shakes her head, “I'm ready. I want to go now.” The rest of your group murmurs their various agreements, Amelia nodding in satisfaction at the display. “So, should we just...”

Time to go, you tell her as you prepare to hit the Gateway icon on your phone. Exchanging one last glance around the rest of your group, you press the icon firmly. The now familiar shudder runs through your body, and the world around you fades to black. Any minute now, the darkness will pass and you'll wake to find yourself in the demon world once more.

Any minute now.

Oh, not again...

>Please choose a character
>Mia
>Cassandra
>Petra

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>>43771612
>Mia
Goddamnit...

Rolled 3 (1d3)

>>43771612
Dice, decide for me

>>43771612
>Mia
I assume we'll get to them all eventually.

>>43771679
>>43771640

This is great, really fantastic. The first time you were caught here, in this black void, you were scared. Terrified even, at points. Now though, knowing that the worst that can happen is that a nameless, bodiless voice will rant at you for a while, you're just frustrated. You've got other things to be doing. Important things!

“Hello again, child,” the voice, right on cue, calls out to you, “Still following the same path, I see. Doesn't it bother you, knowing that you're creeping ever closer to disaster?”

You say nothing to that, focussing on looking straight ahead – as much as you can do anything like that, without anything that could be described as a physical body – and waiting for this diversion to come to an end. They can talk all they like, whoever they are. At the very least, they could give you their name, something you could call them...

“A name?” the voice sounds amused at that, “I seem to have forgotten my name. They serve no purpose here, in this space outside space. But, I suppose human communication is easier, with such conveniences in place. You may call me Source, in that case. I'm here to help you.”

You doubt that very much. If this “Source” really wanted to help you, it would just let you carry on without these irksome distractions.

“I have a gift for you, a gift of two prophecies,” Source purrs, “The first – You will find your father, and then you will lose him again. Will you be reunited for good? Ah, that future has not yet been revealed to me. The second – your current path will lead only to destruction and chaos. This is the fate that your false god will lead you to. There will come a time when you must decide whether she is worthy of such a title.”

>>43771975
>Source
Half Life 3 confirmed.

>>43771975
Remnant of the old Outsider maybe?

>>43771996
At least that means this thing will never actually show up

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>>43772038

>>43771975
>Prophecies
As we learned in the last cycle all they are, are glimpses of what COULD happen in all the variables of the timeline.

Still I bet the first one is going to come true just to make Mia start doubting.

>>43771975

Destruction and chaos... The words would have slipped from your lips, had you possessed such things in this place. Source laughs slowly in response.

“Choose your own path, Mia Vespucci. There are other gods, ones more worthy of your service than any human could ever be. Or why not claim the right to rule this world for yourself? It was done once, it could be done again...”

Claiming the right to rule? That must have been what Amelia did, in order to create the new cycle – the one you currently live in – but what, is it suggesting you replace her?

“Ah, but our time grows short,” Source tells you ruefully, “Any longer, and those in the outside world might notice some inconsistency. I look forwards to the next time we can have a conversation, young human, and I hope that soon, you will see my words for the truth they really are.”

Fat chance of that ever happening, you think to yourself as you start to feel a curious sense of movement. The black abyss around you starts to fade, growing lighter until the real world – the demon world, rather – is visible as though through a thick veil. A few moments more, and you find yourself standing in the snow, with Joseph at your side. You made it.

“Mia, are you alright? You look a little ill,” Joseph says, his hand touching lightly against your shoulder.

Fine, you tell him as you look around you. You're standing in what seems to be a desolate city street, as thickly covered with snow as ever. Yet, it isn't long before you're able to place where you are in the city, and where the church where you last met Gabriel should be. Telling Joseph to stay close, you make your way off into the gloomy streets. You walk in silence, and soon the warm glow of a candlelit building rises up before you. You're here.

>>43772135
>“Choose your own path, Mia Vespucci. There are other gods, ones more worthy of your service than any human could ever be. Or why not claim the right to rule this world for yourself? It was done once, it could be done again...”

Okay, now I am really believing this is the Old Outsider salty as fuck at Amelia. So salty that it doesn't care who does it, as long as Amelia gets usurped.

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>>43772135

Slowly, cautiously, you push open the church door and let yourself in. Joseph follows behind you, and this time you both work together to close the door behind you. This time, you won't be running away – you can afford to show your host a little courtesy. The church itself is as warmly lit, and generally warm, as you remember it, with countless candles flickering away on any surface flat enough to take them. Gabriel herself stands by the altar, already turning to greet you. She smiles, and once more you feel at home.

“Mia, I'm glad to see that you're safe,” the angel tells you, “And... you have a companion with you. Another one of God's children.”

You glance to the side. Joseph looks pale, ill at ease. Her wings, you realise – or the lack of them. Those gruesome wounds would send a shiver down anyone's spine.

“Have you come seeking my assistance?” Gabriel asks calmly, “Or just some sanctuary against the storms outside? I would be happy to accommodate you, as best I can.”

>Could you tell me about God? Your God, I mean
>We're going to fight The Shackle. Can you tell us anything about their defences?
>Joseph, was there anything you wanted to ask her?
>Other

>>43772209
>We're going to fight The Shackle. Can you tell us anything about their defences?
>Joseph, was there anything you wanted to ask her?

Could care less about a 'God' that leaves his servants mutilated for 'humility'.

>>43772220
>>43772209
Actually scratch that.

Add
>Could you tell me about God? Your God, I mean
to that vote.

Knowledge is power.

>>43772209
>We're going to fight The Shackle. Can you tell us anything about their defences?
>Joseph, was there anything you wanted to ask her?

Then
>Could you tell me about God? Your God, I mean

Talking about YHVH might be a good way to lightly start poking holes in her loyalty. Which child innocence and logic!

>>43772264
>Which
*With

woops.

>>43772209
>>Could you tell me about God? Your God, I mean
>>We're going to fight The Shackle. Can you tell us anything about their defences?
>>Joseph, was there anything you wanted to ask her?

>>43772236
>>43772220
>>43772264
>>43772281

You're preparing the fight The Shackle, you tell Gabriel, and that means taking the fight right to their fortress. It's going to be difficult, however, so you were wondering if there was anything she could tell you about their defences?

“I would gladly help you against those slavers,” Gabriel tells you, “But I fear all I can offer you are rumours and speculation. The surrounding wasteland is guarded by a demon that cannot be killed. It is said that most of the time, it cannot be seen let alone fought. However, I have one piece of information to offer you, given to me by a wandering soul. He said to me that the guardian beast is vulnerable at one time only – under the light of the full moon.”

The full moon? So it's just a matter of waiting, then, for the right moment to strike. That might not be possible, considering the time limit that Amelia claims you're on. You're sure you've got a lunar calendar on your phone...

“It won't be that easy, I'm afraid,” Gabriel says ruefully, “The Intoxicating One has been careful with his defences, layering them upon one another. While his fortress is wrapped in storms, no light will ever touch it – moonlight especially.”

So, the storms protect the guardian from moonlight, and the guardian protects the fortress from anyone who would attack it.

“Ah, excuse me. There was one other thing he mentioned to me,” Gabriel adds, “This might prove to be nothing, but it is said that the Intoxicating One cannot bear the storms themselves. He never leaves his fortress because of them. In his own way, he is as much a prisoner as the slaves that serve him.”

Nodding slowly, you file the information away for later use. True, it might be nothing – or it might be a mortal weakness. As you think, you ask if Joseph had anything he wanted to ask.

>>43772443

“Your wings...” he murmurs, not quite able to bring himself to look Gabriel in the eye, “Oh, I apologise, that was rude of me. I'm training to be a doctor, you see, so when I saw your injuries...”

“My scars are my own, my burden to bear,” Gabriel says this with a patient sigh, like someone used to explaining an obvious abnormality, “God left me with them, to teach me humility. On the day that I return to His good favour, I will be healed.”

“I see...” the young man looks unhappy with that answer – or is he unhappy with Gabriel's quiet acceptance?

That does remind you, you say hastily to fill the awkward silence, you were wondering if Gabriel could tell you about God. Her god, you correct yourself quickly. Would Amelia get mad at you for saying that, you wonder, would she get mad at you for even asking the question? It does make you wonder...

“The Great Will, as we angels often call Him, is a hard master. I strayed from His Law, and you've seen my punishment,” Gabriel sighs, turning away from you and lighting a splint from one of the candles. She avoids talking for a while as she lights some more of the little wax objects, the motion carrying the suggestion of ritual. “We believe that His Laws give men the strength to overcome all obstacles, to endure all hardships. His word is strict, but the rewards are great. Heaven, paradise for all men...” the angel forces her voice to remain steady, covering up whatever her true feelings might be. “Would that I could see it again!”

Well, you think to yourself as neither you nor Joseph can think of something to say to that, this is awkward. Her God, this Great Will, doesn't exactly sound like the forgiving sort, but His intentions sounds... well-meaning, perhaps.

“Forgive me,” Gabriel tells you both, “I wish not to burden you with my complaints.”

>Linger a while and talk
>Thank Gabriel and leave (Go to Cassandra/Petra)
>Other

>>43772540
>>Linger a while and talk
Why don't we help Gabriel with getting back in God's favor ? She helped us last cycle and this one

>>43772540
>Linger a while and talk
"Its fine, you seem like you need someone to vent to. "

>>43772590
I'm thinking more in the opposite direction, but we'll see.

>>43772540
>Linger a while and talk
"You know after we met for the first time I talked to Amelia about what happened. She seemed pretty guilty about what happened. You should talk to her sometime. Well if its possible."

>>43772540
I keep remembering the scene where Marco shows Mia's corpse to Metatron and he says she was nothing.

How the fuck can Gaby say that with a straight face, I would like to see her explain that to Marco when/if he remembers his past life.

>>43772669
I think Gabby was dead/in limbo at the time.

But yeah I agree.

>>43772669
I wonder if we'll see Metatron again. He was suffering from a pretty bad lack of a face last time we saw him

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>>43772847
I wonder if his brother has taken his spot.

>The next post might be delayed a little. Something important called me away from the computer for a while. Thank you for your patience!

>>43772907
No problem.

>>43772590
>>43772624
>>43772659

You glance back at the door – you should really leave and relay the information you've recovered, but... something compels you to stay here a while longer. You don't mind talking a while longer, you tell Gabriel, she looks like she could use someone to vent to. She probably doesn't get much in the way of friendly company in this world.

“I...” the angel seems surprised, pleasantly so, by your decision, “True, there are very few demons who stay long, or show an interest in what I have to say. Nevertheless, I offer sanctuary to all who cross my threshold. I would be honoured, then, if you wished to stay longer.”

So formal! If anything, her calm voice makes you feel like you're the one burdening her, rather than the other way around. You take a seat in one of the few empty pews and fall silent for a while. You said you'd talk, but you end up sharing a companionable silence instead. After a while, you mention that, after you first met Gabriel, you talked about what happened with Amelia. For her part, Amelia felt guilty about it as well – remorseful, even. It was all a brutal and pointless waste, she claimed. If it was possible, you think the two of them would do well to speak. To clear the air.

“I wonder,” Gabriel tucks her arms behind her back, and you can't quite shake the feeling that she's touching her open wounds, reminding herself of their cause, “I would speak to her, if the opportunity presented itself – yet I don't know what I would say to her. Regardless... I'm glad that she has not fallen so far as to glory in her deeds. Even now, I do not believe she is beyond redemption, no matter what my fellow angels might think. Perhaps that's why I remain this way, maimed and broken.” A sad smile passes across her face, reaching all the way up to her weary eyes. “Please, I would be alone now, if you don't mind.”

>Choose a character
>Cassandra
>Petra

>>43773067
>Cassandra

>>43773067
>Cassandra

>Leon's already dead when we switch over, impaled by Alice again.

>>43773148
He probably tried to start a barfight and got thrown out of life. But yeah:
>>43773067
>Cassandra

>>43773113
>>43773148
>>43773169

Your name is Cassandra Einhart, and you knew this was a bad idea. You knew this was a bad idea from the moment Leon opened his mouth – a fairly common occurrence, come to think of it. Right now, as the two of you look up at the Hellfire Club, a slow curse escapes the brash young man.

“Fuckers,” he says, stretching the word out until it sounds more like a wave than any single piece of profanity. He says it just the once, but the emphasis he puts on that single curse is particularly venomous. Then, with his hands clenched into tight fists at his side, he squares his shoulders and barges his way inside. Groaning softly – bad idea, bad idea! - you follow him inside.

Right away, you see that Leon has found Nebiros – Mister Black – and started to “talk” with the rail thin gentleman. While Leon is gesturing angrily, Nebiros is entirely still, looking down at Leon with a mixture of confusion and amusement. Preparing to apologise on his behalf, you hurry over and start to catch their conversation.

“Aye, I just walked in here – you gotta problem with that?” Leon barks, glaring darkly up at Nebiros.

“No,” the tall demon says politely, “Should I?”

“But...” Leon scowls, “Aye, you fuckin' should! Don't you remember me?”

There is a long pause as Nebiros thinks, tapping a blackened finger against his chin. Then, with the slightest of mocking smiles, he answers again: “Should I?”

For a moment, you're certain that Leon is about to make a terrible mistake and try to strike Nebiros. You're not alone in that, apparently, as Belial – behind the bar as usual – stops polishing glasses and begins to watch the scene carefully. Then, when it seems like violence is inevitable, Leon spits at Nebiros' feet and turns to march out. He passes you by without a word, but you have time to catch the vile look he gives you. The door bangs behind him as he storms out. That... could have been worse.

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>>43773379

Sighing with relief, you lean against the bar and give Belial an embarrassed smile. You should really apologise to Nebiros, you think to yourself as you watch the slender demon take a rag and wipe down the floor. It would be a pretty big mistake to march over and start demanding information without making an attempt to clear the air. You're about to cross the room to speak with him – and really, part of you just wants to reintroduce yourself, since you have some strangely fond memories of the time you spent with him – when you hear a loud voice.

A loud and very familiar voice.

“Get me a fuckin' drink!” the voice shouts, shortly followed by the bang of a fist striking the bar. It can't be...

Getting up, you lean to the side and peer down at the rowdy drunk. Swaying gently on a barstool is a tall, leopard like figure. He carries two swords slung across his back, and snarls whenever anyone gets too close. This... isn't the first time you met this particular demon in a bar.

>Go and speak with Ose
>Make peace with Mister Black
>Check on Leon, make sure he isn't getting into trouble
>Other

>>43773379
Including Leon in the party and giving him Sidhe was bad. He gonna fuck everything up just like last cycle.

>>43773407
>Go and speak with Ose
Ose!


Seriously whenever I think of Cass's main demon I think of the leopard, not Choo Choo. Dude put in work.

Then
>Make peace with Mister Black

>>43773407
>Go and speak with Ose

>>43773407
>Go and speak with Ose
>Make peace with Mister Black

>>43773428
He'll be fine. He has people that can rein him in this time.

>>43773407
>>Go and speak with Ose
>>Make peace with Mister Black

>Ose time
Aw yiss. Didn't he have wings last time though?

>>43773602
Something probably happened to them. Maybe Michael payed him a visit.

>>43773602
Ose Hellel, the divine version has wings

>>43773447
>>43773461
>>43773475
>>43773482

You never would have expected to, but you missed the big guy. Seeing Ose back to his old tricks brings a broad smile to your face and you soon find yourself walking over to him. Slapping him on the back, you slip onto the barstool next to him.

“You gotta problem with-” Ose begins as he sways around to look at you, and then he pauses. Incredibly, he breaks out in a smile to match your own. “Hey, it's... you! Hey, look here,” he shouts to Belial, who ambles over to you, “Hey man, it's that boy I hung out with for a while. Shit man, never thought I'd see you again!”

You're a girl, you remind Ose, even if you're not, well, overflowing. But enough about you, you add quickly, what about him? Didn't he quit drinking?

“Ah, fell off the wagon,” Ose grins bashfully, swigging from the full glass that Belial puts before him, “It's so borin' being good all the time. You gotta cut loose every so often, right?”

And didn't he reclaim his divinity? You distinctly remember him having wings once.

“Sold it,” the devil chuckles ruefully, “Gotta get beer money somehow, and I ain't gettin' into the slavery game. Losin' game, that one.”

Your ears perk up at the mere mention of slavery. He's talking about The Shackle, isn't he?

“Right,” Ose sways as he gestures with his glass, “Bastards! They say they wanna work with you, but they'll sell you soon as they get the chance. If I ever took their damn job offer, it'd be so I can march in there and kick their asses!”

So, this is interesting. Certainly an avenue worth pursuing. First though, you want to make sure Nebiros isn't getting ready to have Leon killed over that little slight. You excuse yourself and slide off the stool, picking the tall demon out from the sparse crowd – an easy task – and approaching.

>>43773802

“Well, I had a feeling I might see you again,” Nebiros tells you when you draw near, delicately separating himself from the group of demons he was with and taking you aside. “Especially when two other humans showed up not so long ago. It very nearly turned into a full scale brawl. I imagine you don't need reminding, but I don't tolerate such things in my establishment.”

Oh no, you understand that very well. In fact, that's why you're here – to apologise for that nasty scene earlier with your, uh, companion. You didn't expect him to act quite so awfully. You did have one question though, if Nebiros could help you with it. Does he really not remember anything about Leon?

“I remember the young man well,” Nebiros tells you, in a conspiratorial whisper, “His life and, yes, his death. However, I don't see why I would give him the satisfaction of letting HIM know that. Rest assured though, you have nothing to apologise about. If there is a black mark to be made, it will be put against his name, and his name alone.”

Excellent! Well, not excellent so much, but not as bad as you were expecting! With that weight off your chest, you ask Nebiros if there was anything he could tell you about The Shackle, their defences in particular. Although, with what Ose told you, you've already got some good information to go on.

“Their soldiers often drink here – the lowest of the low, that is. I'm afraid that's really all I can offer you,” Nebiros says, “They rarely know anything of any real importance.”

That's fine, you assure him. You've got what you came here for.

>Try and recruit Ose
>Thank Nebiros and head back with Leon
>Other

>>43773934
>>Try and recruit Ose
I mean, of course.
>>Thank Nebiros and head back with Leon

>Ose sold his divinity for drinking money
HOW

>>43773934
>Try and recruit Ose

>>43773934
>Try and recruit Ose

Then
>Thank Nebiros and head back with Leon

>>43773983
I don't know, but the idea is hilarious.

>>43773966
>>43773983
>>43773995

Well, you were never going to leave here without trying to get your old friend back on side, were you? With that in mind, you return to his side and settle down on the barstool next to him. Wasting little time, you put the offer to him directly – how would he like to sign up with you again?

“Hell yeah!” Ose growls with apparent glee, “Old war buddies, rollin' together again! Sign me the fuck up!”

“Excuse me,” Belial interrupts you both, “But I couldn't help overhearing. Would you be planning on taking this drunk away from here? For a long time, perhaps?”

Well probably, you tell him with a shrug, you'd probably be back in every so often though. Is that a problem? Would the bar run into trouble, perhaps, without its best customer?

“Best customer?” Belial repeats with understated humour, “Not exactly. I would prefer, if possible, for you to settle his tab before letting him leave. He's worked up quite a bill in recent days. If he was to run off, never to be seen again, well... that would be quite the loss for us. If we could get back what he owes us, however...”

Wait a minute, you protest, you thought he sold his divinity for beer money! What happened to that?

“I didn't sell it for much!” Ose shoots back, “Took the first fuckin' offer I got, didn't I?”

But-

“I'm not good with money!” the devil wails, “Never have been!”

Sighing hard, you begin to wonder why you ever wanted Ose back on your team. He's a fool and a liability, but perhaps that's why you liked him. Still, unless you can dig up some serious cash in the next few minutes, he's not going to be leaving here with you. Maybe you can go salvage something, or offer to work off his debt for him. Then again, there was always that handful of gold you found at the auction house...

>Offer the gold
>Offer to work off Ose's debt
>Leave Ose here
>Other

>>43774287
>>Offer the gold
What else are you going to do with it ?

>>43774287
>Offer the gold

>>43774287
>>Offer the gold

We should walk out of the bar with Ose, showing Leon who Bloody Sister Cass's main nigga is.

>>43774559
>Cass has a giant sword wielding leopard man
>Leon has a titty monster
That's got to sting

>>43774316
>>43774364
>>43774437

You fumble in your pocket for a moment – a flash of panic crosses your mind when you start to suspect that you lost that handful of precious metal – before finding the glittering nuggets. Sighing with relief, you place them carefully on the bar before Belial. Would that be enough, you ask, to settle the debt?

“Hmm,” Belial hums, like boulders cracking off a mountain, as he examines the gold, “I won't ask where a girl like you got this, but this would certainly be enough to cover things. You're really going to pay his debts for him?”

Well, you say, what else are you going to use it for? Gold ore isn't really something you can spend in the human world, not without raising a whole lot of awkward questions. Besides, Ose was a pretty good warrior, back when you were travelling together – you kind of owe him this one.

“Your money,” Belial shrugs, sweeping the gold into his large hands and placing it in some hidden hollow beneath the bar. “You should probably check on your other friend,” the demon warns you, “He doesn't strike me as the type to wait calmly outside.”

Leon. You were so busy with Ose that you forgot all about Leon. You hope he doesn't get, uh, violent. Then again, if you walked out of here with Ose at your side...

In the end, after giving Nebiros your thanks, that's exactly what you do. The effect is ruined somewhat by Ose stumbling a little, but it's still pretty damn satisfying to see Leon opening his mouth – to say something vile and spiteful, no doubt – and then quickly closing it when Ose emerged from the club. Instead, when you suggested returning to the human world, he simply nodded silently, glaring at you with angry eyes.

He won't forget this in a hurry.

>I'm going to have to call this here. We'll pick up with Petra on Tuesday, and I'll stick around for a while in case anyone has any questions

>>43774722
>but it's still pretty damn satisfying to see Leon opening his mouth – to say something vile and spiteful, no doubt – and then quickly closing it when Ose emerged from the club.

Ha.

Thanks for the run boss.

Did Leon get another demon besides Sidhe?

>>43774750
>Did Leon get another demon besides Sidhe?

Nope! He would have got Barghest like the previous cycle, but the idea of sticking him with Sidhe amused me. I like to imagine Amelia didn't trust him with an attack dog yet!

>>43774784
Does Sidhe have any direct offensive capability? I remember she always a damn good healer in many games.

How did Joseph take meeting Gabby?

>>43774838
>Does Sidhe have any direct offensive capability?

She can heal, and she can use charm magic. She CAN attack people, but just by punching or kicking, she has no special attack powers. On the other hand, if someone was charmed not to fight back, she could probably strangle them!

>How did Joseph take meeting Gabby?
It shook him. On one hand, it suggested that there are kind angels out there. On the other hand, it didn't give him a lot of faith in YHVH.

>>43774879
>On one hand, it suggested that there are kind angels out there
Not that many really. Gabby and some of the lower tier angels, like the three Cass recruited.

So how is Leon doing? With Amelia and her being God, Cass, getting scolded by a little girl, and the situation in general?

>>43774923
>So how is Leon doing?

Overall? Platinum mad. Even at the best of times, he's not really the type to play nice but things are definitely not working out as he expected.

>>43775014
So how did Gabby take meeting Jospeh and Mia? She seemed happy.

Does she know that Joseph was Mastema's puppet last cycle?

>>43775088
>So how did Gabby take meeting Jospeh and Mia?

She doesn't get many nice visitors! Plenty of demons looking to take advantage of a warm shelter, but very few of them are willing to chat!

As for Joseph, she doesn't know all the details. Mastema did most of his meddling behind the scenes. She does know that he was involved with Law in a big way though.

>>43775137
Counter Strike Source is totally the Outsider from the last cycle huh? Since remnants of the last cycle in our friends it wouldn't be impossible for it to still be around.

You don't need to confirm or deny since its probably major spoilers either way.

>>43775202
My guess is that its Buddha

>>43775274
>Buddha shows up
>Starts slapping both YHVH and Lucy
>Slaps the characters until they give up all their earthly desires
I never knew I wanted this until now

>>43775341
>>43775274
Thing about that though is Source claimed that any god would be better than Amelia or that Mia should take power for herself.

Doesn't seem like the thing someone who wants us to give up desires would say.

Best guess for me is Outsider or maybe Nyarly trying to stir things up.

>>43775274
>>43775341
>>43775412

Well, the one thing I can confirm - without spoilers - is that Source is definitely NOT Buddha!

>>43775451
Man, where's Buddha Moloch!

>>43775490

Tibet probably!

Honestly, I know very little about Buddhism, so I'm not sure how I'd work it into things. Although, I suppose, it's the fact that Amelia was unable to reject earthly desires that caused the new cycle

>>43775575
Shoulda listened to Buddha

>>43775575
Its fine. I noticed a lack of Chinese and Japanese deities common in SMT but I attributed it to the fact we are over in London and not Tokyo.

Norse gods when?

>>43775575
>>43775603
Speaking of. Did Amelia's Valkyrie get any recognition with Odin or Thor or someone for fighting to the end of the last cycle?

>>43775603

Exactly right. I always tried to focus more on European/British folklore when I started this. That's largely why the fairies are so important - here in the UK, most of our folklore comes down to fairy tales or Christian saints. As for the Norse gods, well, one of them is going to be pretty important pretty soon!

>>43775692

She's got a lot of respect among her kind - she leads a gang of roaming warriors these days - which is the closest thing to "official" recognition she could get

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>>43775791
Have you checked out Odin's new design? Its the one on the left. I dig it, the original feels a tad dated and underdesigned.

>>43775791
What does Ose think of Wingless?

>>43775855

I really do prefer the new design, when I compare it to the old one. I think a lot of the older Norse gods could do with putting on some pants!

>>43775903

They've not even had their first date yet, give it time!
Regardless of Ose's feelings, Wingless is all business, all the time

>>43775937
Scathach in the fairy kingdom still? Haven't bumped into her yet. She still using Girim as her beast of burden?

>>43775937
Will Elliot ever patch things up with Leon? I hope they build some bridges.

>>43776170
Thats going to be very awkward for everyone in a mile radius.

And it'll be hilarious.

>>43776041

Scathach is still in the kingdom. She doesn't get out much though - the perils of being a mad scientist! Girimekhala is her secret weapon, just in case things get rowdy.
Amelia still can't pronounce it's name

>>43776170
>>43776221
First, Elliot needs to pay his damn debts

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>>43776291
>Amelia still can't pronounce it's name
Some things even being a deity can't fix.

Hey is this .gif an accurate depiction of what Amelia does off screen, maintaining the barrier and getting DSP apps to run properly?

With Heartless in the corner drinking coffee?

>>43776365

Amelia's time is divided, 50/50, between that .gif and goofing off.

Heartless is currently, major spoilers ahead:
AWOL. Amelia hasn't had a chance to notice yet

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>>43776448

>>43776448
Why is Amelia so bad at being God?

>>43776448
So how is she goofing off? Hanging around Mia's house?

>>43776562
She is still the 17 year old troublemaker from the last cycle, whether she wants to admit it or not.

Still she's trying to have the world not end, which is saying alot more then any other demon deity.

>>43776641

Just doing other stuff, really. Watching the various party members whenever they're in the human world whether they know about it or not or otherwise scheming. Trying to think of a way to fix things!

>>43776562

She never expected it to be so difficult! And, largely, she's still human enough to make a lot of mistakes. She tries her best though!

>>43776448
>AWOL. Amelia hasn't had a chance to notice yet
because that's the line I want to wake up to in the morning.

Ose really doesn't have much ambition, does he? he could have been hanging with Moloch(not you), right?

>>43776739
Taking a guess here.

Did Mia's mom die in a car accident? And did that accident leave Mia weakened? Enough that just a sudden burst of movement will leave her out of breath?

>>43776793
>because that's the line I want to wake up to in the morning.
I wouldn't worry about it, he's probably just off bullying a certain unlucky Dominion!

As for Ose, well, he knows what he likes - drinking, mostly!

>>43776814
You're right about Mia's mother actually, also:
Mia does have a weak heart. That's what lead to her death in the previous cycle. She's pretty unfit because of it, although she doesn't know

>>43776895
Muh katawa shoujo. And Petra can be our Lilly! Best girl!

>>43776739
>Watching the various party members whenever they're in the human world whether they know about it or not

Mia mentioned having a guardian angel in the beginning of the New Cycle. Was that Amelia looking out for her?

>>43776988

I suppose it would be more accurate to say that Amelia was looking down on her, since Amelia's influence is pretty limited, but the basic idea is the same, yes.

>>43776933

Best Katawa was Rin