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(And so it appears that the best of the portraits has been saved for last! My old partner in QM, Grandflaw, was responsible for Samson here)

Heavy of heart still with the loss of Gerard, Dyrus and the rest of his party sail for Darton. If they can rally the considerably powerful population of the area, they MIGHT stand a chance in their impending battle with Director Waldrick. Thankfully, if rumors on the ocean's winds are to be taken seriously, chance is this Fortune woman's specialty. It would be folly to bank on luck alone, but she has the hired muscle to back it up.

Rene's turn this rotation is up, and Dyrus' was just the other day, so by default you are now Samson.

On the border of Noba and what was once Holmstead, your mother regales your party with more tales of her mercenary past. You're spending the night at Philean Outpost, as it's known, currently stuck in a meal (Jack was right, the stuff they offer here is garbage).

"There was this group of bandits, made up of traffickers from the archipelago who got away from the seas, basically had all of Darton by the balls," your mother very eloquently says. "Then, this girl... Think she'd be a bit less than your age now, Samson. Anyway, only person she's got in the world is a nephew half her age and they take him. I happened to be blowing through town right around then, and you know how I am about kids. I don't hesitate to hunt these guys down to this warehouse of sorts on the outskirts of town... Not only was the nephew alive and unharmed, but the kid and I managed to sweep up nearly every member of the group. That was the last real job I did before meeting August, actually."

>A. What's she up to these days?
>B. She left them to fend for themselves?!
>C. You don't care enough to comment.
>D. Write-in response

>>46717691
That... Sure is a picture. Not sure what it has to do with this quest beyond "characters from the series this is based off," though.

>>46717576
>B. She left them to fend for themselves?!

>>46717576
>C. You don't care enough to comment.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>46717754
>>46717785

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>>46717826
"Wait, did you just... Leave two kids to fend for themselves?!"

"I didn't leave them with nothing!" Your mother says. "I took a few weeks off of my travels to teach her to fight and defend her nephew, make sure she could handle herself right..."

"Wouldn't bringing them to an orphanage have been more prudent?" Fabrice asks. "Certainly safer than a life in the gutters..."

"Hey, they still had the boy's parents' house," she defends. "They weren't completely messed up, just... On the end of a bad streak of luck. Even told that girl when I left, 'Mallory, you and Felix's luck has turned around.' I even gave them a rare sword of mine as a parting gift! One that you NEED good luck to master!"

"Y-you mean THAT'S what you did with the Devil Sword?!" Your father exclaimed in shock.

"And she used it well," your mother shamelessly says. "Last I'd heard, she'd changed her name and become the head of this whole mercenary company out there."

"Wait, a... Devil sword?" Millie asks, noticing Dinah, Adam, and Fabrice recoil at its name's uttering.

"That's the cursed sword that can harm the user, isn't it?" Dinah asks.

"And I knew she could handle it," she responds. "And she did."

>A. Just let the conversation end
>B. That could have killed her!
>C. She did turn out correct...
>D. Write-in response

>>46718148
>A. Just let the conversation end
"There's no point in arguing with her, I'm afraid."

>>46718148
>A. Just let the conversation end

>>46718148
>>A. Just let the conversation end

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>>46718201
"There's no point arguing with her..." you warn the trio of newcomers. "Just let her have her points."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Marion snaps at you, starting a whole other argument in the ashes of the one you just tried to bury.

Afterwards, you need a moment to yourself, looking out from the edge of the nation and the newest territory of the Empire.

Not really aware of your internal longing for privacy, that same man you sort-of know, the brown-red-haired soldier by the name of Jack, approaches alongside his sword-touting companion, a more orange-type redheaded, ponytail-wearing woman about his equal in height and build.

"Going back so soon?" Jack asks. "I understand you. Holmstead's Holmstead, right?"

"Don't say that, Jack..." the woman responds. "It'll never be the same now!"

>A. Do you know them?
>B. Who's his friend?
>C. You'd prefer to be alone with your thoughts
>D. Admit that your mother's got a fight in mind
>E. Write-in response

>>46718389
>>A. Do you know them?

>>46718389
>B. Who's his friend?
wink

>>46718389
>B. Who's his friend?
;)

>>46718389
>D. Admit that your mother's got a fight in mind
I'd rather not be rude. And don't fucking wink, that's his waifu, it's creepy.

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>>46718424
>>46718440
>>46718523
"Er... Do I know you?" You ask, more than aware who it must be. You just don't particularly care for him. Don't hate the guy, but just not that big of a fan.

"Hey, I thought we established a bit of a rapport back in Alder," Jack says. "It's Jack, remember? Town guard turned border guard?"

"Ah, right... Sorry, it's hard to remember things with how my traveling crew can be, have a lot on my plate with how mother acts..." Turning towards the girl, you say, "now I know we haven't met."

"I'm Riley." Grabbing his arm, she frowns. Did you slight her somehow? "And don't get any ideas, alright? We're engaged!"

"Hey, hey," you say, raising your hands, "I'm not a man with wandering eyes! Jack, you've met Millie, right?"

"Ah, yes, Millicent! Spoke to her earlier, actually!" He turns towards Riley, explaining quickly. "Samson here and that Millicent girl are both into that girly stuff you like... Songs and dances and everything."

"Ah... My apologies for being rash, then," Riley says, folding her arms and cocking her head towards the outpost. "You wouldn't have been the first to try something is all."

After again reassuring her awkwardly that you would never, Jack clears his throat. "Anyway! What was that about Lady Marion dragging you all back to fight? Is... Is she mad?"

>A. Absolutely
>B. She makes it seem almost doable
>C. Room for two more...
>D. You lose your nerve whenever you try to back out
>E. Don't say that about her!
>F. Write-in response

>>46718641
>B. She makes it seem almost doable
Almost.

>>46718641
>B. She makes it seem almost doable

>>46718701
>>46718766
"She's so... Stubbornly convincing in nearly everything she says or does," you answer. "I almost think it can be done when she says it can be done..."

"Ahah, I don't envy you..." Jack says, shaking his head. "I should probably try to stop you or something..."

"She'd end up assaulting someone and having us all labeled fugitives in Noba," you reply, not sure whether that's an exaggeration or not.

"I wish we could support you further," Riley says, "but I won't abandon my post again, not after what happened to Raleigh."

"Should you really be so brazen about him?" Jack asks, aware that you considered him at least close by acquaintance standards. "I mean... You know."

>A. Better than never mentioning him at all
>B. Millie's the one who's sensitive about the issue
>C. Yeah, let's not talk about him
>D. You know, you DO have one of his final unpublished works...
>E. Write-in response

>>46718878
>A. Better than never mentioning him at all
>D. You know, you DO have one of his final unpublished works...

>>46718878
>A. Better than never mentioning him at all
>D. You know, you DO have one of his final unpublished works...

>>46718967
"It's better than never talking about him," you say. "Raleigh wasn't the kind of man who warrants dying with the end of his life."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYe2ClOi0Ow

"That's... actually a really good point," Riley says with a smile.

"The hell do you mean?" Jack says, not a man of metaphor. "Do you want him to be brought back to life?"

"No, no, it's... He left a legacy behind, basically," Riley says. "His works, his impressions on all of us, who he influenced... He'll be talked about long after all of us have passed on."

"You could've just said 'he'll be famous forever,' you know," Jack says, "but... I do get it now, yeah."

From there, the three of you go into some more awkward small talk, you telling Jack you absolutely see his point about this place's food. "Aha, it's reason enough to make me excited to stare down the damned Empire."

"Ugh, I know, right?" Riley says. "Did they put an embargo on flavor or something?"

>A. Say something more (write-in)
>B. Move on

>>46719095
>B. Move on

>>46719095
>B. Move on

I hate my laptop. I'll just be a moment until it decides to behave.

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>>46719417
"Remember," Fabrice says to you all as you pass by, bidding Noba farewell once more, "we are simply... Seeking to return to Holmstead now that the fighting has ended. That is our story, and will get us into the city with minimal trouble."

"I'dunno," Adam says, "speak for you and Dinah, but they saw're me back durin' the battle."

"Then allow me to disguise you!" Fabrice says, opening up the large bag he carries around and rifling through it as the lot of you walk. "Why, with just a little concealer, some rouge..."

"I'd sooner take a cold, wat'ry grave than wear any of that," Adam grumbles.

"Fine, then, suit yourself..." Fabrice sneaks over to you and Millicent, whispering, "at least there's SOMEONE with a sense of style here... Where, dearie, did you get that coat?"

"This? It, uh, was an uncle's..." Millicent says, in reference to her usual emerald overcoat.

"And it looks as though it could conceal a great many secrets... Practical for one with your set of skills... It's a fabulous shade of green, as well!"

>A. Suggest that he stop bugging her
>B. "Fabulous?"
>C. What skills can her coat help?
>D. Write-in response
>E. ...

>>46719642
>B. "Fabulous?"
>C. What skills can her coat help?

>>46719642
>B. "Fabulous?"
>C. What skills can her coat help?

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>>46719893
"I mean the coat's cute on her, but... Fabulous?" You ask. "That's laying it on a little thick..."

"Some like it thick..." Fabrice responds, giving you a slight grin. "What about you, Sam? How would you prefer it be laid on?"

"I... What?" You shake your head, having a feeling that you should quickly change the subject. "What did you mean by 'her set of skills?' She can't very well dance in that coat..."

"O-ho, unobservant as well... Why, darling Millicent here has the makings of a great thief in the making!"

"Wh-what're you saying?" Millie says. "I'm not any kind of thief!"

"You were sloppy the other night, dear," Fabrice responds. "Left your lockpicking kit out where any cleverly beauticious dark mage could see it!"

"So I can pick locks with the right tools!" Millie admits, embarrassed. "That... Doesn't mean anything... I'd just always thought it could be a nice skill to have!"

"Well, then, if you want my advice..." Fabrice produces a hand mirror and starts prodding his face with some item once more, smacking his lips, "keep up the trade. The skills of a thief AND a magical dancer, handy enough with an Iron Sword to boot... You may well be nearly as useful to this group as me..." He looks at you in his mirror, and the light reflected as a result hurts your eyes. "Er, no offense, Sam. Your refined air is certainly a spring breeze when spending ample time with Dinah and Adam..."

>A. You're the one who taught her that stuff!
>B. Is he always this insufferable
>C. Thanks?
>D. Write-in response
>E. ...

>>46719982
>C. Thanks?

>>46720011
"I... Thank you?" You say, not really sure what the proper response was there.

"I, uh..." Millicent clears her throat, "sorry, but Samson and I needed to go figure out an excuse to leave."

With that, Millie drags you away from that talk, sighing before Fabrice can object.

"So," you say, "what's the excuse we're thinking of?"

Embarrassed again and turning a bit red, Millie says, "I just... couldn't think of a reason to leave, but something about that guy's attitude just rubs me the wrong way!"

>A. Yeah, he's a prick
>B. Why was he talking weird?
>C. She's cute when she's embarrassed
>D. That stuff about thief skills...
>E. Write-in response

>>46720126
>C. She's cute when she's embarrassed
>E. A bit of a jerk

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>>46720182
"He's a bit of a jerk, but at least it's better than a debate with a wall," you say before turning the topic to her, grinning playfully. "You're cute when you're embarrassed, though."

"Samson..." Millie says, smiling despite her attempts to sound exasperated and lightly grasping your arm.

At the edge of Holmstead's city, several imperial pegasus knights patrol. Noting your approach, two shout from above. "Halt!"

Flying down, they approach your parents, accurately pegging at least one of them as the leaders of your group. "State your business."

>A. We live here
>B. We fled to escape the fighting and were informed that had concluded
>C. Silently pray your father is the one who takes their questions
>D. Write-in response

>>46720360
>B. We fled to escape the fighting and were informed that had concluded

>>46720512
"When we heard that fighting was imminent in Holmstead, we fled North," you interject. "Now that it's ended, we'd like to resume life under new management, I suppose."

"She was asking us, son," your mother says, embarrassing you in front of the evil empire.

"No need to be testy, dear," your father says, turning to face the pegasus knight once more. "What he says is correct. I'm an anthropologist and a mage of some regard in this place... Lazare is my name. My wife, Marion, son Samson, and family friends, Fabrice, Dinah, Adam, Millicent, and Norman... All of us had sought refuge from the conflict North, and now seek to return to our homes."

The pegasus knight goes over to talk to one of her fellow sentries for a few minutes before flying back over. "You may enter."

Let through with relative ease, you're quite thankful in that moment that nobody really gives a shit when people walk around armed to the teeth.

"And now," Fabrice says once you're all in the familiar hometown, "we must acclimate ourselves to this setting once more... Surely eyes will be on our returning selves until we've proven our lack of suspicious intent."

So in other words, you have a short time of just... Seeing how Holmstead has changed under the foot of the Empire. For one thing, it's immediately clear that there's way more Imperial soldiers around, both just doing their business and acting casually...

First order of business...

>A. Go home
>B. Check out your old academy
>C. Go shopping?
>D. Check out the pier
>E. Write-in action

>>46720841
>A. Go home
Let see if it's still there.

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>>46720882
You and your father share very similar first priorities: checking out the site of your old home.

The wealthier districts of Holmstead are nigh-unrecognizable from what you and your father called home. Many of the houses are still, surprisingly, standing (a few were leveled or partially caved in), but many of its homes are devoid of people, or the old neighbors have been replaced by enterprising Imperial Agents.

"I wonder... How many of our neighbors were slain by the Tyarm Bandits?" Lazare asks. "Who stayed, fought, and died? Who is simply never going to return?" They're... Strangely sobering thoughts considering how warm his train of logic typically is.

"Ah, there we go! It looks like it's still standing as well! I suppose the Empire wouldn't want to damage their little trophy by the waterside's nicest district too heavily..." Your father muses, approaching the place.

Pacing in the streets nearby your house is a woman, blonde-haired, tall, bulky, the sort you figure is an island berserker. She has a quite heavy-looking axe that she twirls around in one hand like it hardly weighs a thing, but doesn't seem particularly hostile for the moment.

>A. Ignore her and follow your father
>B. Approach her for conversation
>C. Try to see what she's up to...

>>46721075
>B. Approach her for conversation
>C. Try to see what she's up to...
Might be friendly or might be not. Best to see what she wants since she's so near our home.

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>>46721157
"Er... Hello, stranger," you say, approaching the woman.

"...this your house?" She asks, swinging her axe behind her and resting it on her shoulders, as she gestures towards the home that your father just entered.

You nod. "Yes, my family and I spent some time in Noba... Fill me in before my father does, how are things?"

"Well, we made this whole public works project out of cleaning up the city in the aftermath of the battle, but I'm pretty sure looters have hit this district hard... Part of why I'm patrolling it, honestly. Hate to see people go back home to find... Nothing."

"But there are Imperial Officers living on this street now."

"To our knowledge, the previous owners of all the houses appropriated died in the battle, or had some report of being cut down in the woods just North of the border... Damn shame, all that."

"You're with the Empire, then?" You ask.

"What, I'm not famous?" Seeming offended for a moment, her scowl gives way quickly to a lighthearted grin. "No, no, I can't expect you to know me without even meeting."

The woman tosses her axe into the air, it landing in the middle of the road and embedding itself as she approaches you, holding out a very muscular hand. "I'm Hera, second-in-command to Director Waldrick. I'm overseeing Holmstead's integration into the Gerxel Empire."

>A. Accept the handshake
>B. Give as firm a handshake as you can muster
>C. Don't even acknowledge the hand
>D. Write-in response

And as for a verbal response...

>E. Pleasure to meet her
>F. So she's responsible for what's happened!
>G. She's... Quite fit.
>H. You should really get inside with your father...
>I. Write-in dialogue
>J. Awkward silence

>>46721337
>A. Accept the handshake
>E. Pleasure to meet her
>I."So, do you know what's the Empire's plan for Holmstead?"

>>46721337
>A. Accept the handshake
>J. Awkward silence

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>46721490
>>46721498

>>46721498
You accept the handshake, not saying a word out of the situation's awkwardness. Her grip is firm, but loosens soon after.

"Look, I know this must be hard... The Independent Territories love to cook up stories about how evil the Gerxel Empire is."

You grumble a bit as the handshake ends, rubbing your slightly-sore-now hand.

"Sorry 'bout that," she flexes her handshaking arm and chuckles. "Sometimes I don't know my own strength..."

"It... Happens," you say.

"Finally two words!" She says, chuckling. "Can I get one more, then? A name?"

"Samson," you compliantly say.

"Samson... A very smart-sounding name, that."

"Well, I do college," you do college. Way to say words, Sam.

"Then lemme fill you in with some real wisdom, smart guy," she says, no real hostility to her tone so much as a whole lot of casualness for her station. "The Gerxel Empire's been the best thing to happen to the coast of Teege in a very long time. Director Waldrick's been working his hardest to eradicate the pirates and bandits that have plagued the place for ages, and the Southern Archipelago is safer than it has EVER been under his eye."

"Uh huh," you say, detecting that 'you will in no way stop me from stating my point' tone.

"See, when I was growing up, the Empire hadn't expanded beyond the shores yet. The islands used to be... Hell, in short. Human traffickers ran the entire area instead of any real government, raising people from birth for whatever the hell they happened to want out of someone. In my case, I grew up in an arena... Messed up stuff that no one should be forced into. Director Waldrick conquered the place, turned it into a very nice place to... Be, in general."

>A. And yet more monsters keep popping up on the coast
>B. That is impressive...
>C. Could do without the brutality
>D. You never asked for her life's story
>E. Does she try to sell EVERYONE on the Empire like this
>F. Write-in response

>>46721767
>B. That is impressive...
but
>A. And yet more monsters keep popping up on the coast

>>46721767
>I just want to live my life, if the empire lets me do that, I'm good.

>>46721799
Switching to this one.>>46721860

>>46721799
>>46721860
"That's... Pretty impressive," you say, before shaking your head. "I keep hearing stories of pirates and bandits and former slavers hiding out on the coastline, though..."

"Coastline's a big place," Hera says, "and driving them out of the archipelago is just a first major step in wiping them out for good... You can't just destroy evil overnight, you know."

"Of course, of course... Forgive my inquisitiveness. Skepticism is a scholarly habit. I just want to live my life, study magic, not starve to death... Whoever my taxes end up going towards, world politics aren't my concern."

"That's fair, that's fair... Director Waldrick does put a lot of value in innocent folk being allowed to live honest lives..." She looks over to her axe, picking it up and twirling it again. "Holmstead here's a beautiful city. Never had all that strife and horror to be purged like my old home... Long as I'm watching," she takes a wide-arced swing at nothing in particular with her axe, "I'll gladly cut anybody who tries to disrupt that down to their smallest parts."

"N-noted," you say. "Thank you for your time, Lady Hera..."

"Not a problem. I'll be around if you need anythting... Not one for formality, so just walk on by and say hello."

And with that, Hera shows herself away.

>A. Actually check on your father now
>B. Skip forward to tomorrow and spend time with (specify)
>C. Skip forward to the next plot point
>D. Ponder why you're bothering to fight

>>46722062
>A. Actually check on your father now

>>46722062
>A. Actually check on your father now

>>46722132
You head into your home to find that, despite Hera's claimed best efforts, very little of what you didn't bring along with you remains.

A torn-up, no-longer-functional wind tome, the box your cat, Tiltyu, used to do... cat things, some apple cores from fruits finished off long before you left, and the wastebasket in the corner of your room that held them are some of the few things left in the house that you notice.

Your father, noting the poor state of your home's interior, wonders aloud. "By the sound of things, the Empire restored order to Holmstead soon after the battle's conclusion. Either someone was able to get this far into the city purely to rob our neighborhood, or the Imperial agents living on our streets came to realize they have very similar tastes to us."

>A. Are those really the only two possibilities?
>B. It was probably one of them
>C. The second most powerful person in the region tried to sell you on these people
>D. You doubt agents of the Empire would do that...
>E. Probably just random wartime looters, then
>F. Write-in response

>>46722290
>A. Are those really the only two possibilities?

>>46722290
>A. Are those really the only two possibilities?

>>46722370
"Are those... Really the only two possibilities?" You ask.

"No, I suppose not," father admits, "but they are still the likeliest circumstances... No sense speculating about it, though, I suppose! Let us be thankful our home is still structurally sound, repurpose our camping equipment into household furniture until I can sort out our financial situation once again... the Magical Academy of Holmstead is still fully intact, if admittedly with a bit of its library confiscated, so we should be able to resume our work!"

It turns out, tragically, that Norman and Millicent's home district was left in FAR poorer condition, their childhood home no longer fit for being inhabited. Coupled with Dinah, Adam, and Fabrice genuinely not living here to begin with, everyone is currently staying under the same roof: yours.

"So Lady Hera's in charge of this town!" Your mother says over a deliberately-late dinner. "That's perfect. If we can find an opportune moment to challenge her..."

>A. Whatever. Let her plan whatever out.
>B. What's the point to fighting her?
>C. We'll have the Empire back out in no time!
>D. Write-in repsonse

>>46722290
>A. Are those really the only two possibilities?

Glad to see your still around octo

>>46722571
>B. What's the point to fighting her?
>D. Besides, I doubt she would risk the occupation of Holmstead for a duel.

>>46722604
QMing's a great time!

>>46722571
>B. What's the point to fighting her?
>D. Besides, I doubt she would risk the occupation of Holmstead for a duel.

>>46722623
>>46722765
"So you're going to fight her... And then what? Do you think she'll risk Holmstead's occupation over a duel?" You ask.

"We don't just 'fight her...'" Your mother starts to explain, "we use the element of surprise, round up as many participants as possible to take down any Imperial soldiers. Drive them out of the city by any means necessary, restore the rightful order."

"Your plan is... Really shortsighted," Dinah criticizes.

"It'd get us all killed or worse," Adam agrees.

"So will most actions against the Empire, I'm afraid," Fabrice says, having barely said a word since he arrived due to the house's current state of disarray. "But... I am not just a fabulous magician and beautician, I'm also a fabulous tactician! Marion's blunt and foolhardy plan holds some gold, but I will require the cooperation of your collective company for it to do anything but end in our collective demise."

"As long as you take your time working it out," Dinah says. "We can't afford to act yet as it is, both as new faces in town and with the occupation so heavy..."

"Aye," Fabrice agrees, "we'll need to wait for... Something to call the attention of Coastal's main forces Eastward. Perhaps, in the meantime, we can find some way to relay this plan to Sir Jovan... Our knight in shining armor will be ready to strike when the time is right."

"...so just do normal stuff," Norman clarifies, "until it's time not to."

"Effectively, yes... We mustn't draw suspicion to ourselves."

"So the plan hasn't changed at all," he says.

"Well, the pre-planning stage... And it's certain that SOMETHING will call their forces Eastward, with the greater anti-Gerxel resistance currently cutting through the coastline. It's only a matter of time before they require further attention, calling people away from Holmstead!"

>A. But how long will that be?
>B. You think you can live with that
>C. Sounds like you won't be needed anymore!
>D. This is all crazy
>E. Write-in response

>>46722866
>A. But how long will that be?
>B. You think you can live with that

>>46722866
>D. This is all crazy and quite outlandish even for us.
>E.Well, I'm making a back plan for when this plan blows up in our faces.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>46722955
>>46722961

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>>46722990
"How long will this be?" You ask.

"It will be at... Least a few weeks, at the rate that Sir Darren's group was traveling before. Months, perhaps."

"So months' worth of going back to business as usual, living semi-normally, just waiting for when this all gets easier?" You ask, smiling with a VERY cautious optimism. "I think I can live with that."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4QJiKNL2pA

"When you get back to the academy," your mother says, "you'd better take your tome studies more seriously."

"And Millie dearie, you're a regular old social butterfly like me," Fabrice says, "but also one much more willing to associate with the dirtier folks in life..."

"I don't know what you mean by that but I know it should get me mad!" Millie barks.

"Oh, no no no, I did not mean to insinuate negative things about your history... I simply meant that you ought to speak to the darker side of town if you may, find who might take interest in our cause."

"Grh, y'can call the people I talk with into question, pretty boy, but leave the lady outta it. Her home's been leveled an' her parents are a country away!" Adam defends.

From there, yet ANOTHER argument breaks out, ending only when Dinah quite literally grabs both parties involved and tells them to shut it.

During the early days of your time trying to live semi-normally again, you primarily spend time with...

>Specify person to have the last conversation(s) of this particular chapter with

>>46723161
Millie

>>46723161
>Millicent

>>46723180
Millicent, of course. You never get tired of her company.

That seaside cafe you, her, and Raleigh visited in the past apparently ended up tragically burning down, and the pier has an uncomfortable lack of the vibrancy to it that Millicent felt so good about discussing. Every boat that passes into or out of Holmstead is on official Empire business, typically military.

Still, though, it's where she likes to go to think, which leads to it being a place where you go to think together.

"I'm glad my brother's been handling this well," Millicent says. "Just back to hunting as usual..."

Trying to keep the topic away from events set to happen in the near-future, you mainly speak of mundane happenings!

"The musical instructor at the academy got sacked... Can't stand the new guy. He can't carry a tune or play any instruments for the life of him, and ONLY really seems skilled at the refreshing aspect. There's no... Life to it."

"At least the school's running again," Millie says, "even if a few teachers are dead or fired... Wait, no, that's horrible."

>A. It's just annoying
>B. It boils your blood!
>C. Eh, you didn't know anyone that well
>D. It's only temporary, right?
>E. Write-in response

>>46723323
>E. Write-in response
"No use in dwelling on the past. We must look with optimism towards the future!"

>>46723343
+1

>>46723343
"Nothing worth dwelling over, though..." You give her another optimistic grin, offering her a hand. "We need to look towards the future and hope for the best at this point, right?"

She accepts your hand, her slender dancer's digits wrapping around your larger but still quite bony fingers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSMJBsi6MWE

"As... Intimidating as all these Empire boats are," Millie admits, "they're pretty impressive to look at."

You take in the scent of the seaside, the ambiance of the waves, birds squawking, people walking around and about, as you take a seat at the edge of the pier once more.

"It'll be nice to see this pier clear of them, though, don't get me wrong..."

You nod. "Yeah, definitely..."

"Both of us... Let's swear to live to see that, alright?" Her grip on your hand tightens. "You've gone out of your way to help me out a lot lately, and... I'd very much like to see the end of all this with you."

>A. You can't promise that
>B. ...
>C. It's a deal
>D. Write-in response

>>46723580
>C. It's a deal

>>46723580
>C. It's a deal
Give wink.

>>46723611
>>46723613
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXmLRHnoSAs

>>46723611
>>46723613
"It's a deal," you promise, closing one eye and grinning.

"I figured you would say that..." Millicent relaxes her head against your shoulder and neck a moment, scooting closer to you by the moment.

The moment shared is one tender and private, away from your worries a moment and readier to face them than ever in the near-future.

Next time you and your companions will be checked on, the time Fabrice planned for will be upon you, Director Waldrick ordering his forces east to stop resistance fighters.

>To be continued next thread
Samson's chapters have, with one exception, been pretty low-intensity in terms of actual danger.

He's not getting out of this one, though!

Thanks for playing, as always. Update twitter and ask.fm are qmgrandflocto, and I'll be around in-thread to chat for awhile.

>>46723782
And thank you for running. It's always fun.

>>46723802
Always a pleasure. I have a good time writing these!

Bit peeved that that foot art some anon posted at the start of the thread is in the archives now, admittedly.