>>892945
You smile slightly. You’re not sure whether he was trying to intimidate you or not, but either way, you feel like he could be...fun. To mess with, that is. “Got ‘em off a dead guy,” you say nonchalantly. You can see the man tense slightly. “Figured he wasn’t gonna use ‘em anymore, so I helped myself.” To be fair, they WERE pretty comfy.

The man locks eyes with you, his expression promising a thousand things, and none of them pleasant. “That so.” It wasn’t a question. “Wouldn’t happen to know who caused his passin’, now do ya?” Cute. He was going for the full monty in intimidation. “Y’see, me n’ him were close...so whatever done ‘im in…” He scowls harder, which you didn’t think was possible. “I might have an issue with ‘em.”

You shrug casually. “Everyone’s got an issue with someone.” And it’s only then you meet his eyes, grin still on your face. “Why would you have an issue with me?”

His hand slams on the post right above your head as he leans in close. “Now listen ‘ere, gal! I got an’ eye for this, an’ I can tell you an’ me are gonna have PROBLEMS real soon! Bentley weren’t the best of folks, but he was proud and he was kin! I come round lookin’ for ‘im, nowhere to be found, an’ now I see you wearin’ his stuff- his gloves what he made himself and said he’d be buried with- and you say he’s dead, and by thunder you’re all but sayin’ you caused it!” His face is red, there’s spittle flying everywhere- it’s great. If messy. “Now, I know Bentley weren’t the best of fighters, so I can accept he got in over ‘is head, even by a pretty little thing like you. But you AIN’T keepin’ those gloves so long as I’m still breathin’! So hand ‘em over, or else!”

“Or else what?” WOW, you didn’t get to use that line too often, surprisingly.

“Or else you an’ I will have to find some other way ta settle accounts…” He shifts his shoulders in a clearly aggressive manner. Wow, this guy is really steamed! He’s red-faced and everything...kinda reminds you of a tomato about to explode.

> “Spoilsport.” Fork over the gloves. They’re not THAT comfy.
> “Nah.” This could be fun.
> Just laugh. The puffed up face he’s making is hilarious.
> Other

>>892946
>Other
>Ain't no one ever parted with a pair of gloves they found fair and square just 'cause someone said so pretty please. Maybe we don't got no particular attachment to them, or maybe we do. But either way, he's gotta offer us something in return, 'cause no one's ever gotten anything for free.

>>892946
I'll support >>892966 as a variation if "Nah". We are supposed to be talkative after all.
Sounds like he really wants these gloves!

>>892978
It's a variation in that we're not giving the gloves to him straight off, but I read "Nah" as intending to deliberately aggravate him, as opposed to attempting to swindle him of shit, which is why I wrote it in as another option.

Weeeeelllllll...what do you got for me?

Writing!

If the gloves can be set with stones, they'd be a better fit for Miranda.
Still good on Lorelei, though, as they are a pretty subtle weapon.

>>892946
You resist the urge to pat him on the shoulder, but you do let out a bit of a titter. He’s sounding like he REALLY wants those gloves, mind. Of course, you’re not too big on giving them up, but maybe you can get something out of it...

“Now, now,” you tut condesendingly. “Ain't no one ever parted with a pair of gloves they found fair and square just 'cause someone said ‘pretty please’.” You can see him start to speak, but you halt him before he says anything. “Now! Maybe I don't got no particular attachment to them…or maybe I do. But either way, you gotta offer me something in return, hun.” You wag a finger in his face. “No one's ever gotten anything for free.”

The way his face is scrunched, you can practically hear his teeth grinding. But he remains silent, as you meet his stare with your own.

This holds for about 5 more seconds, before you waggle your eyebrows at him. It’s a pretty good waggle, in your opinion.

He doesn’t seem to think so, and slams the post above your head again. “You got SOME NERVE! I oughta pump ya full a holes here an’ now!”

“But you’re not.” you note. He’d have done it by now if so.

Eventually, however, he snarls...and leans back, his face changing back into something a bit resembling calm. “Fiiine,” he says, drawling out the word. “You want pay?”

“That’s the idea behind it, yeah.” You confirm.

I’ll getcha pay. But not here n’ now. Tonight. Right here. We’ll trade. Else I’ll be lookin’ for ya.” Hm. Sounds like a fun trap. Presuming it is a trap, anyway. “I got a few things what might be interestin’.”

He walks away before you can say anything else, and he disappears around a corner before too long. Neato.

Well, that’ll be something for later, then. For now, you still have a bit of time left- you can probably get one or two things done before the evening if you’re a mind of it. A couple of options spring to mind, actually...

>Head to the Town Hall, just meet Miranda early.
>Try to look more into those two strangely dressed siblings.
>See what you can do with these gloves, maybe. It’d probably piss the guy off.
>Other

>>893135
> try to look into those two strangely dressed siblings.
They were wearing a uniform, someone just know something.

>>893135
>See what you can do with these gloves, maybe. It’d probably piss the guy off.
Appraise gear before it's out of reach. If it's good enough... well, it won't matter after the trap is defused.

>>893135
>>Try to look more into those two strangely dressed siblings.

>>893161
Yfw it isn't a trap. That guy has gone off to the bank to take a second mortgage out in his family home so he can afford to buy his bff's most favored possession back and honor his memory by giving him the burial he always wanted.
Damn that sentence got away from me a little.

Looking in the Mystery Twins.

Writing!

Man i almost hope he tries to start shit

>>893135
Hm. Just thinking about it, you’re wondering what’s up with your ‘benefactors’. They seemed rather too put together, and the way that they were dressed is what is curious for you. That was too similar than what you’ve seen. Looked like uniforms more than anything. Maybe you could look into them a bit more, see what they’re all about. Might not be a good idea to go back towards the saloon, however. You’d need to try and find information about them somewhere else…

The way they were talking, you’re wondering just what their boss is after that doesn’t mesh with Cain’s. There’s a lot of options for that answer, mind, but still.

At any rate, your mind flits through various ideas for investigation.

>Ask the sheriff. If he’s good at his job, he’s at least got a word on most folks. If he hears you think they’re suspicious, he might be willing to give info.
>Look around the inns. They’ve got to be staying somewhere- you’re fairly certain of that. You could ask either the other people or the innkeeper.
>Ask around stores. They have to be getting their supplies from somewhere. Might could get some info from what they’ve purchased.
>Other

Sorry for the delay. I'll be running all night off and on. Probably into tomorrow, too.

>>893457
> Ask the sheriff
A little worried this might rip them off if he is working with them but then again if we were on the level we could be reasonably expected to be curious.

>>893476
Agreed.

>>893457
>Ask the sheriff. If he’s good at his job, he’s at least got a word on most folks. If he hears you think they’re suspicious, he might be willing to give info.

>>893198
I don't know if it's escaped your notice, but we are in no way shape or form nice people. Unless we're being paid to, which we aren't right now.

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>>893717
>>893198

>Lorelei’s reaction if she ever learns about it.

>>893932
>>893717
I fail to see how I managed to imply that we were nice.

>>893457
>>Ask the sheriff. If he’s good at his job, he’s at least got a word on most folks. If he hears you think they’re suspicious, he might be willing to give info.

>>893457
>Ask the sheriff. If he’s good at his job, he’s at least got a word on most folks. If he hears you think they’re suspicious, he might be willing to give info.

>>893457
>Ask the sheriff. If he’s good at his job, he’s at least got a word on most folks. If he hears you think they’re suspicious, he might be willing to give info.

Back, writing.

Off to see the sheriff.

>>893457
Well, best idea you can think of is to head towards the Sheriff’s. Chances are he’d know a thing or two about the locals- at least, you hope he does. Man like him should have at least some basic information on folks conducting business in town; and you had to believe that with how they behaved, they’d have turned a couple of heads here and there.

It’s not very long before you get to the sheriff’s office and town jail- you head inside with a casual look towards the deputy on duty, who eyes you careflly, but says nothing.

It’s not exactly a complicated building, and he’s immediately in the room to your right, reading some sort of letter at his desk. He quickly puts it down when he sees you, and fixes you with an even look. “Miss,” he acknowledges. “Can’t say I was expectin’ to see you here right again. Something the matter?”

You casually turn the seat around as you sit down across from him, resulting in your front leaning up against the back of the chair as you tilt it over. “Ohh, nothin’ much, sir,” you say with the airs of someone who clearly doesn’t mean it. Your words flow smooth and syrupy, and you make sure to keep eye contact as you talk. “I was just hopin’ you might be able to tell me a few things about some oh-so-curious folks I had the fortune of meetin’ earlier.”

“That so?” he asks slowly, putting the letter away. “Mind tellin’ me jus’ what the issue is?”

“Ohh, just an...interesting pair,” you airily comment. “Boy and girl, both about the same height, dressed in a lovely little light blue getup, finish each other’s sentences sometimes?” You figure that’s about enough information for them.

The sheriff shakes his head. “S’pose yer talkin’ about Mark and Charlie. Yeah, I know of ‘em. Showed up not too long ago, couple adays. Went and startin' talkin’ business with some of the shops. Brought a whole host of fancy tonics and gears with ‘em, for trade. ...Impressive stuff." You notice that his eyes suddenly dart to the side. "Haven’t done nothin’ wrong, so don't you worry much."

Well, maybe in a certain way, but…

“Was that it, or anythin’ else?” He's still not looking directly at you- rather at a point right above your head. “‘Cause otherwise I got other things I need ta deal with. Gonna need to talk with the mayor soon.”

>Awww, you SURE you can't tell me anything else? (Use Fact or Fiction)
>Well, do you know who they’re working for?
>Who have they been selling to?
>Other

>>895683
>Who have they been selling to?

>>895683
>Who have they been selling to?

>>895683
>Awww, you SURE you can't tell me anything else? (Use Fact or Fiction)
Not asking if they have done anything wrong, just about who they represent.
Just read her techniques, I look forward to impressing some rubes with fireworks.

>>895683
>Who have they been selling to?

>>895683
“Weeelll, can you tell me who they’ve been selling to?” you poke. Might be worthwhile seeing if there’s any sort of pattern or the sort to their methods. “I might be interested in seeing what wares they’ve been throwin’ out for myself, y’know?” You give him a wink, quick and subtle and maybe a bit flirty.

He hmms for a bit, before shaking his head. “Heard Nathan n’ Geraldine both talkin’ up wares. Dunno if you know ‘em. Nate runs the general store- Geraldine runs the tailor’s.” Huh. That must’ve been the lady you bought your hat from. You don’t recall getting a name from her, but she was the only tailor you’d seen in town.

“Alright, then, miss, now-” Before he can say anything else, however, someone bursts in- the deputy from earlier!

“Sheriff! There’s a bit of an’ issue!” He yells. The man’s spindly and a bit pale for having been out here in the hot sun so long. Kinda curious. “Needja to come quick out to tha’ Big Bull! There’s a to-do in the streets!”

The sheriff gets up, grumbling, and grabs his rifle and sidearm. “Dangit, now what...” you can hear him grumble under his breath. He gives a sharp look at you, and simply mutters a quick ‘pardon’ as he brushes past, the deputy already gone and leading the way.

...As if you aren’t gonna follow, of course.

When you arrive, you can see something has attracted a number of spectators. A brawl of some type’s broken out in the street- you recognize one of them as the big guy who you talked to earlier- Benson. The other fellow- who’s not quite as large, but seems to have as much muscle and beard. They’re trading blows, but neither seem to be mindful of the crowd they’ve acquired. Before long, Benson rears back and tackles the two of them, sending them both to the ground, where they try to roll for position.

It’s a pretty funny moment, honestly. Suddenly you hear a yell and a gunshot go off, as the sheriff fires into the air for attention. He gets it, too, as nearly everyone jumps and looks towards the source of the sudden sound. “Alright! You lot best calm yourselves down!” To their credit, they both ease off each other after a moment of hesitation. “Now the BOTH of ya are comin’ with me ta sort this out. The rest o’ ya, get gone!” he shouts with all the authority he has. Fortunately, the masses comply with little deliberation. He and the deputy start leading the duo back to the prison, although now…

>Continue looking into the twins- head to Nathan, the General Store.
>Continue looking into the twins- head to Geraldine, the tailor.
>See what was up with the fight.
>Other

>>897661
>>Continue looking into the twins- head to Nathan, the General Store.

We already dismissed the peasant uprising as inconsequential, I'm aure it doesn't matter too much.

>>897661
>>Continue looking into the twins- head to Nathan, the General Store.

>>897661
>Continue looking into the twins- head to Nathan, the General Store.

Shopping for gossip it is!

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Is it time to call it doctor? Is the quest ded?

>>899309
Man shut up. Handler takes breaks all the time, you clearly haven't been here long enough if you think no update in a couple hours means the quest's over.

>>899541
>clearly
Or maybe I am just bored and shitposting, retard.

>>897661
Bah, whatever happens to them happens. You’ve got other things to deal with. Like checking in with that store owner the sheriff mentioned. Hopefully he’d be amendable to your questions...elseways you might have to do a bit more ‘convincing’ somehow.

Fortunately, it’s not a difficult place to find- it’s right off the side of the main road, at the beginning of one of the side streets. It’s surprisingly large- two stories, although you wager the top part might be living quarters. Struck you as the kinda place where that might be necessary. You can see a one or two folks headed in and out- one with a little bag of presumably foodstuffs, a larger man with an old saddle in their hands. Wonder if this was more a trading post than a store…

There’s the tinkling of a bell as you head in, and you immediately scan the place. It’s a fair size, for an old store, and it seems as though there’s a little bit of just about everything set up in one place or another. At the moment, you can quickly see the grizzled, bushy eyebrowed owner- presumably Nathan- already talking with a customer. They’re haggling over some food, as far as you can tell. Or at least, they were- they both look at you after a second or two, and the man buying just shakes his head and puts down the money. “You’re bleedin’ me dry, Nate.” is all he says before he walks out, arm full of what seemed to be canned beans.

“Doggone it…” the man grumbles a bit, but looks to you and tries to give you a pleasant smile on his aging face. “Sorry about that, miss. Can I help ya with anythin’?”

“Weeellll…” you slide up to him, smile wide and friendly and possibly a bit dangerous. “I was wondering about some folk, and I was told you’d had dealin’s with ‘em.”

He arches an eyebrow. “I get dealin’s with lotsa folk, ma’m. You’ll have to be specific.”

“A pair o’ twins,” you elaborate. “Both wearing lovely blue ensembles, same hair, speak kinda funny?”

“Ah.” He nods once. Honestly, that was quicker than expected. “Those two. I know who we’re talkin’ about. Came in, promisin’ me they’d bring me some major business so long as I dealt with ‘em.”

Hm. Interesting… “and did you?”

“Sure I did!” He looks prouder than he probably should be. “An’ business has been boomin’! They’re suppliers, y’see! Came around with some real good tonics n’ salves.” He leans on the counter with the air of a self-assured. if exhausted man. “Been hot stuff lately, but we got us a system!”

Huh. Merchants? Salves? You gotta be kidding.

>So, what kinda tonics and salves?
>System? What system?
>And you had no suspicion of them?
>How many have you sold?
>Other

>>899985
>System? What system?

>>899985
>So, what kinda tonics and salves?

>>899985
>So, what kinda tonics and salves?

>>899985
Well, that was strange. “Ohh?” you lean against the desk, looking him in the eye with just the right amount of pout, just the right amount of squint. “What kind of tonics and salves?”

He grins a wide grin full of surprisingly well-kept teeth, as he relaxes. “They say ta me, ‘Nathan, pal, we’re lookin’ to offload product, good stuff!’ and they show me some strange orange bottle. ‘This stuff will change your lives- make you all healthier, hardier! And we need someone with th’ gumption to sell it! Think it might be you!’ Well, I try the stuff out myself- I ain’t no fink, what you get from me works, right?” You nod. “And whaddya know- it does! I had a bad cut on my arm from a misstep, slapped some of that gel on it, healed it right up! Downed one of the tonics, and hoo boy- I feels like I could go for days! So I take it from em, agree to split the profits.”

Oh? Hmmm. “And you’ve been feeling fine?”

“Better than ever!” He crows. “This arm can take a real poundin’ these days! Why, I suspect I could break a wall with ‘er!- uh, not like I’ll be trying that any time soon…” He trails off, mumbling to himself about upstairs.

“Well! Doesn’t that just sound amazing!” you fawn. “I’ll bet you could impress quite the number of folk like that!”

“Oh, yeah! Limited supply, though! Real limited! But not to worry- I’ll be gettin’ some more from ‘em in a week or so. They sell out awful quick! Of course, can’t blame ‘em!” He chuckles, flexing his arm.

That sounded...curious. So these guys were selling health stuff? Hm..

You take a careful look at Nathan’s arm- wait.

It takes a bit of focus, but you can see a strange orange blotch on his arm in a long streak. It’s very faint, and almost melds into his skin, but it’s there…

And you can see what looks to be some kinda tendrils of orange color faintly spreading. Wonder if he’s noticed...and you wonder just what it does- if anything.

>Tell him about the discoloration?
>Don’t tell him about the discoloration.
and
>Any other questions?

>>900562
>Don’t tell him about the discoloration.
>Questions
Who's been buying, and what are they using it for.
And what did they offload at Geraldine's?

>>900562
>Don’t tell him about the discoloration.
>Any other questions?
Are they independant traders? Where do they source this stuff? Maybe I'm not so brave as you but I don't know that I would trust some stuff some stuff cooked up by a couple of unknowns.

Is this another mind control setting? They are priming all these people to respond to some signal and get all violent and lay the beat down on some robots. Meatbag uprising!

>>900000
scouter_exploding.jpg

>>900562
>Don’t tell him about the discoloration.

Back, ready, and writing!

>>900562
You’ll keep quiet about it for now. Whatever might happen, the results could be...interesting. If there were any results at all. Heck, for all you know, you might just be being paranoid- not that that was unhealthy in your line of work.

He’s still flexing and showing off his arm as if it was some sort of competition, and doesn’t seem to register you staring at one particular part of said anatomy. Still, his answers bring up a lot more questions. “Sooo, who all’s been buyin’ this stuff? I’m wonderin’ what might they have a use for...”

“Ha! Mostly youngins what can’t stay out of trouble, and some folks in the more dangerous professions what want a bit o’ extra help on their side.” the man says. “The former more n’ the latter, really, but it’s lookin’ like word’s spreading more n’ more. I’m getting a good number of folks comin’ in here askin’ for the stuff.” He affects a tone awash in false sympathy. “It breaks my heart to tell ‘em I’m out, it surely does.” The cheeky grin on his face tells you otherwise.

“My oh my,” you exclaim with all the sympathy of a con artist. “I do have to say, it looks like you might’ve fell into fortune! You’re quite the bold one, takin’ a risk with those two on a brand new substance. Even tryin’ it yerself!”

“Oh, now, doll, ain’t nothin’ to it.” Nathan brushes off. “I’m a hardy fellow- didn’t grow up in a store, nosiree! I grew up out on the road, and on the plains! Real nature boy, one hell of a shot, and I could bust a man’s chops with the best of ‘em!” He throws a fake punch, his eyes already going back to his glory days. “Why, I traveled place ta place with my old man, learnin’ the ways of the land and seein’ a new place every morn. A real man’s life, I tell ya.”

“Fascinating...I wonder if those two could compare,” you hazard. “Living life alone and on the road...every day your own…”

“Bah, doubt it,” he grumbles. “They got too much airs. Besides, they said somethin’ about their boss lovin’ the possibilites. Prolly a buncha stuffed shirts what hardly had to have a real hard day’s work in their life.” He doesn’t sound that vitriolic, surprisingly, just annoyed.

“How would they make those mixtures, then?” you further question, cocking an eyebrow.

“Heck if I know- didn’t sound like they made ‘em themselves.” He shrugs as he leans back on the counter. Then, his eyes narrow slightly- as if something just came to him. “Here now, missy, you’ve been pokin’ around a bunch, eh? Were ya in here at all ta buy somethin’, or do I gotta shoo ya?”

>Well, maybe you could pick SOMETHING up…
>Time to take your leave.
>Other

>>901858
>>Well, maybe you could pick SOMETHING up…
dispel some suspicion

>>901858
“Well, of COURSE I was going to pick something up!” you protest in a huff. The man just kinda gives you a strange side-eye, and leans away slightly, giving you space to browse a bit. You’re...really not needing for anything in particular, but considering this guy’s watching you like a hawk? Better to just get something, if only to dispel suspicion. If he let slip to others that you’d been grilling him, that might not end so well.

A quick scan, though, and nothing major catches your eye. You end up buying little more than a trifle- a few pieces of parchment, and a better holder for your shotgun. It comes out to about 15 Bills, not much.

With a quick nod and a ‘safe travels’, you head on out, and quickly book it towards Geraldine’s. She has a nice little shop, and it smelt of jasmine. Had a great eye for fashion, too.

When she sees you, her lips break out into a smile, although you can see some concern in her eyes as well. “Ah, hello again, dear! Come back for a bit extra? I daresay you’ve got quite the complete look as it is.”

“Not quite, Geraldine, hun.” You’d at the very least talked at length with her before, so you didn’t need to be quite so indirect with your questions...at least, you hoped not. She hadn’t mentioned getting any new salves or the sort before, and she seemed like a rather gossipy lady. “I was just wondering if you got any new things in recently.”

She cocks a playful eyebrow, looking at you curiously. “Sweetheart, I don’t get new cloth for about a week or two more! Is it that bad of a fashion emergency?”

You shake your head. “No, not really. I was just curious since I heard that you’d bought something from some twins. Call me curious!” You say with a lilt and a shrug. Hopefully that was enough to keep her placid.

It seems to do the trick, as she just laughs lightly. “Ohhhh, you mean those two! Oh, well, yes, but it wasn’t anythin’ clothing related- jus’ some skin cream and oils they suggested I put forward to some customers.”

“Is that what you were offering me the other day?” you ask. She HAD suggested some sort of lotion, you recall, but you’d dismissed it out of hand. No real need for the stuff.

“That’d be it,” she nods. “Guaranteed to make you feel like you’re as soft a cloud, and floatin’ on the air- or so the pitch goes!” She chuckles at that. “Kinda funny line there, but I told you then it felt heavenly, and I still stand by that! Like it was just mmm...bliss. Couldn't even think for a minute there..." She gets a faraway look in her eyes, suddenly, as though dreaming, as she mumbles lightly. "...really need more of it...” She suddenly snaps out of her reviere, then looks at you with a knowing (or so she thinks) grin- and blush. “Oh, sorry about that, hun! Anyway, changed your mind? Still just five Bills.”

>”Sure.” Maybe you could see what it’s about with Miranda...
>”Nah.” You’ve got all you need to know.
>Other Questions?

>>902208
>>”Sure.” Maybe you could see what it’s about with Miranda...
Addictive?

>>902208
>>”Sure.” Maybe you could see what it’s about with Miranda...

>>902208
>”Sure.” Maybe you could see what it’s about with Miranda...
No way in hell we're using it, but I am curious.

>>902208
More mysterious goop. Writing!

>>902324
There be drugs? Mutagenic agents or such.

>>902208
You do your best to affect a casual air as you shrug and nod. “Sure. Couldn’t hurt, I guess...” But already you were trying to connect some dots. You’re not sure what their game was, but it seemed clear there was something going on there with that cream. The blankness in her eyes was something you’d seen before- not a product of hypnosis, as one might think, though. That was a look people got when they just stopped thinking and started relying on instinct.

As she rings you up, and sees you off with a wave, you walk down the street, eying the small bottle carefully and the label on it- a simple stylized name on a black background.

<i>Dr. Sullivan’s Miraculous Dream Skin Cream!</i>

Catchy name. Wonder if this Dr. Sullivan was their boss’s name? If so, why not say it outright? Wouldn’t have hurt anything...

Not to mention the big question here: why? Why do this? Some sort of addiction scam? You could see that. Or maybe this is a case of trying to mentally manipulate people...some sort of mass hypnosis, maybe? Hm…

“Grace.” The sound of your name nearly shocks you out of your boots as you turn around. You’d nearly passed the Inn. Miranda’s standing in front of you, face initially impassive- but a mild look of curiosity asserts itself as she notices the bottle. “I’ve got some info on our boss, and got a good idea of where he’s headed by now.”

“Oh? So we heading out soon?” You ask.

“Tomorrow morning,” Miranda confirms. “Then we’re headed for Motlay. We’ll be skipping Redrock, if only because he should be leaving by then. We’ll get there before he does, ideally.”

Well, it WOULD give you a chance to drop by Greenwater…

“Anyway, what do you have there?” She asks quizzically. “You were looking at it rather close.”

> “This might be trouble.” Explain everything.
> “Just something I bought. But it’s suspicious.” Explain only the strange products and your thoughts on them.
> “Nothing too important.” Keep it to yourself for now.
> Other

>>902569
>Other
>"Just something I bought. Let's get a move on, I can always tell you about it later." Explain everything once you're away from prying ears.

>>902569
>> “This might be trouble.” Explain everything.
make sure nobody listens in

>>902569
> “This might be trouble.” Explain everything.
Where not even the dead can pry in.

>>902569
>“This might be trouble.” Explain everything.

Alright, here's the skinny.
Writing!

>>902569
“To be frank, it might be trouble,” you admit in a low voice. “C’mon, we’ll talk about it private.” She nods, and you both head back into the Inn- you quickly close the door, and you both trigger your advanced hearing, speaking as quietly as possible. You quickly give her the rundown on the lotion, and the medical get the storekeep had. When she asks about it, you give her the details on your little excursion, meeting the twins, and them offering you a deal- Miranda balks at that for a second, and briefly looks like she wants to yell at you, before she calms back down, all in the space of a second.

“Presuming you’re trying for internal sabatoge?” She questions, her face the picture of perfect calm. You nod. “Makes sense. Get rid of a potential thorn in our side early. That just makes getting to Cain all the more important.”

That’s when something hits you. “Actually, I just remembered- they want ME to go to Redrock. They’ve got a contact there that I’m supposed to get orders from.”

Miranda frowns. “Hm...if you pass it up, that might tip them off. We might have to keep separate for now." She doesn't exactly look happy about the thought, honestly. "I’ll go on towards Motlay, you get to Redrock and see what they’re planning. Sounds good?”

“Sounds like it’s the only real plan we got right now.” You note. "I dunno how I'm suppose to get word to you, but..."

She just shrugs. “I trust you can handle it."

...oh.

She continues easily. "Come morning, I’ll go to pick up my sword. You should go ahead and leave before me.” She looks back at that parcel that’s still sitting next to the bed. “I’ll take that, too. It’s not exactly on my way, but it’s less out of the way than your traveling.”

“Fair enough,” you admit. “Who’s taking the cream? I can imagine either of us would be able to use it for something…”

“I’d like to take it as well,” Miranda admits. “It’d probably be better to show to Cain directly.” Once again, you can’t fault her logic.

The rest of the day passes fairly mildly, and before you know it, you’re just about asleep. Interesting, however, that you’ve come across someone that’s opposing Cain like this. Wonder what they’re up to...hopefully you didn’t miss a chance to nip the problem in the bud. If you could’ve just killed them and saved all this mess…

>Continue as Lorelei
>Return to Miranda

>>902935
>>Return to Miranda

>>902935
>>Continue as Lorelei

>>902935
>Return to Miranda

>>902935
>Return to Miranda

Back to the main gal, then. Writing!

>>903124
Did Lorelei talk about the gloves-seeker?

>>903177
Briefly.

>>903184
can we opt to give miranda the gloves?

I'm assuming Lorelei was planning on killing the guy who wanted them anyways, and Miranda could 100% make better use of them.

>>902935
>You are once again Miranda Styles.


As you wake up, you quickly prep things. Yesterday had been fruitful, if dull...well, relatively. You’d managed to get some information on a few things; most notably the issue regarding Cain and his ilk. As he did say, he wanted inroads to all the major frontier towns, in the hopes that he could not only build his railways and essentially corner the market, but also put his Metallo-brand robots to major use. You suspected that no matter wherever he was building these things, he wanted them all deployed at a similar time. In the meantime, he’d been putting out smaller bots in an effort to ‘get folks use to the sight of them’ as well as for apparent ‘helpful observational purposes’. At least, that was the line the mayor had been given.

You suspected otherwise, not that you cared.

What you cared about was the news that Lorelei had brought. Some rival was looking to nix Cain’s plans, somehow, and enact their own, it seems. Likely through the strange cream she’d gotten, which apparently had some sort of mental effect. Your current guess is that it’s some kind of addictive psychotrope, but it could be just about anything, which was why Lorelei was going to go to Redrock and play insider, while you went to Motley, in order to brief Cain about the situation and possibly get instructions.

Like hell you’d let anyone get in the way of a pay day like this.

You exit your room, and quickly knock on the neighboring door just to check if Lorelei ACTUALLY left or not.

There’s no sound, and after five minutes, you can presume that she has indeed left. Satisfied, you head downstairs for a quick breakfast, and soon you’re on the road down to the jeweler’s.

cont.

>>903574
She’s quick to greet you. “Ah, hi there! Seems like you’re the punctual sort. Glad to say I finished your modifications late last night!” And with a bright, if tired smile, she presents you your Flamebringer. It’s a good-looking job, with a fairly reasonably sized divot in the pommel, with a double-clasp for where the gem should go. There’s a couple of extra metal lines attaching to the blade itself, right at the end, that feeds from said clasps, but they’re small, and the grip’s not too much different. Fortunately, it seems like the stone’ll be out of the way, and at little risk of getting cracked, unless you tried to bash someone over the head with said pommel- which, to be frank, you figure your fists will be better at. “As you can see, it took some working, but I managed it!” She seems rather proud. “The metal itself was harder to carve than I thought- but it was surprisingly conductive! I didn’t have to use quite as many materials as I’d guessed.”

“Interesting.” You give it a quick turn-over. “Thanks for the work.”

“Oh, anytime!” she beams. With that business settled, you leave. Heading down the street, you ponder. First thing would be to-

Someone drew a blade. Rustling of movement- a brief impact. Behind you, off your left. No footsteps.

>Keep walking. Don’t let them know you heard. Just keep your eyes open.
>Stop. Might spook them. Throw them off.
>Other

>>903584
>Keep walking. Don’t let them know you heard. Just keep your eyes open.

>>903584
>Keep walking. Don’t let them know you heard. Just keep your eyes open.

>>903584
>Keep walking. Don’t let them know you heard. Just keep your eyes open.

Man I love squash matches.

>>903584
Keep moving. Writing!

>>903584
No footsteps. Means they’re not actively chasing you. You know better than to stop walking.

...and it’s sheathed again. Good. Wonder what that was about...most likely someone under the other guy’s payroll, or someone taking umbrage to something you did in particular. You sigh slightly. You’ll have to be more careful now. Wouldn’t do to take a bullet to the brainpan if someone got lucky. That’d sting, to say the least.

It’s been long enough, otherwise. Fortunately, you don't sense anyone or anything else out of the ordinary on the way back. That's good, at least. Might've just been scouting you out- fine with you. You'll just have to try and scout them right back.

But, that'll come later. Right now it’s time for you get your horse and get goin-

…

...Where’s your horse?

...No. No way. You give the area a quick once-over, and ask a few people, but nope, no one can tell you where your horse went off to, or even if there was anyone nearby.

Which means that in the time between you leaving for the jeweler’s and coming back, someone actually stole your horse. Wow. That feels...well. You can purchase another one, sure. That shouldn’t be a problem with your funds. But it’s the principle of the matter, is why you can’t help but be rather irritated. And in such a big town?! Really?!

Juuust great. Well, you’ve not got too many options at the moment…

>Buy another horse.
>Walk.
>Or Run, you suppose.
>Other

>Current Mana: 8700/9999

>Current Funds: 4,035 Bills

>>904115
>Buy another horse.
I want to hunt down the horse thief that did this, but we are on a schedule here.

Wrapping it up for tonight. I'll resume tomorrow.

Also, just because I feel like saying it:

There will be more plot for this quest. This mission is just a long one. (although a large part of that was my absence).

>>904115
>Buy another horse.

>>904115
> steal a horse

>>904115
>other

GET YOUR GODDAMN HORSE BACK.

MIRANDA AIN'T NOBODIES BITCH

>>904732
HELL YEA

>>904732
Track the smell of that naked blade grunt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn05qpn2e1Y

>>904115
>Buy another horse.
we got the cash, let's just get going.

>>904115
>Buy another horse.
Money solves everything!

>>904957
REVENGE MOTHFUCKER NO ONE STEALS OUR HORSE AND LIVES.

>>904732
>>904957

NO THIEF SHALL GO UNPUNISHED

My head's been killing me and making it impossible for me to focus. I can't seem to stay healthy. I'm gonna load up on painkillers and try to run later today.

>>906286
Please refrain from socializing with Nurglite cultists, Handler. While it's the season of sharing (diseases), they don't want your wellbeing as much as that of what's inside of you.

>>906311
l-lewd

H-hello?
Handler? You ok?

>>908620
Surprisingly, yes!

Run resumes in an hour. Getting a late breakfast, because every day is pancake day.

Also, seems like the end result is we're going thief hunting.

>>904115
Screw it. If need be you can run faster than a horse can gallop. At the moment, though, you’re more interested in the fact that someone had the audacity to steal a horse in public, and right from under your nose. THAT was something that you couldn’t bear to see stand. Hopefully, you could make this little investigation quick. First thing’s first- anything in particular out of order at the scene of the crime…?

Nothing that you could see major- you could see hoofprints, but the time period was too wide to really say anything…

“Ey!” Hm? That voice sounded familiar… “I didn’t think you were still here!” Oh. Isabelle? Hm.

You turn quickly to see her jogging up. “Hey, caught up with Grace earlier. Said you two were on your way out, but you were leavin’ later towards Motley. I figured I’d drop by an’ letcha know- got word maybe a day ago that Motley’s not in the best of shape right now. Didn’t see your horse, though, so I though…”

“When did you last see it?” you quickly ask. If she could narrow down the time frame…

She shrugs. “Iunno, right before I went to the store. Was pickin’ up some supplies. Not that long ago- a few minutes.”

Which means they’d barely done it before you got out of the store, at the least. “Someone took my horse.”

The look of shock on her face is surprising- but you can also see a bit of concern there. Considering you’re visibly pissed off about this, you guess you can underst-

“Lookin’ for somethin’?” You quickly turn around to face whoever spoke out like that.

It’s a duo. A brother and sister pair, by the looks of them- they don’t match the description that Lorelei gave, however. They’re both dressed in old gold colors, in matching hats and cowboy vests. The male has long, black hair, a frock of it covering one eye like a true emo. He glares at you with a smoldering hate out of the one remaining dark green eye.

The girl has short hair, also black, with sparkling green eyes, and a puckish smile and a cock of the hips that’s intended to tell the whole world she means business...at least, you presume that’s the intention. Frankly, she just looks like a tart to you.

“If it’s your ride outta here, someone took it. Just as well fer you, though. Can’t have you runnin’ from justice.” the boy spits. "Not after learning what we learnt."

Isabelle turns to you curiously. “Uhh...Glory? Who are these people?”

Frankly, you have no clue, but it seems like they think they know you.

>Response?

>>908882
"You appear to have mistaken me for someone else. I would appreciate you telling me anything useful about my horse's whereabouts, though."

No need to be the aggressor here. Self-defense justification and all that.

>>908882
"The fuck?"

Writing.

>>908882
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” You’re already giving them a quick look-over; the guy has a sword sheathed on his back- no gun, though. The girl has some kinda whip on her hip, but that’s about it, as far as visible stuff. You appear to have mistaken me for someone else. I would appreciate you telling me anything useful about my horse's whereabouts, though."

To only your mild surprise, the boy shakes his head. “Sorry, but we’ve put too many clues together. You’re not going anywhere...Umbra!”

“Umbra?” Isabelle raises an eyebrow in confusion. “The heck do you mean Umbr-” Suddenly, she pauses, and looks over to you with what amounts to some sort of awe on her face. “Wait, naw...that’s...well, that’d make a sort of sense, but…she don’t look anythin’ like-”

The girl lets out a surprised sound, interrupting. “Oh! ...so you’re aware of the legend, too?” The girl raises an eyebrow. “Interestin’. Then you oughta know what’s what, and why gettin’ near her is a bad idea.” And then she turns to you. “Maybe you do or don’t know you’re Umbra, but either way, you’re comin’ with us! Can’t have you n’ your siblin’ bring down hell around our ears!”

“What. are. you. talking. about.” You enunciate with clear and slow speech. If they were going to mistake you for someone out of some stupid prophecy...

The boy sighs, shaking his head. “I doubt she even realizes what she’s doing," he mentions to the girl. "Those old-timers never said anythin’ about her doin’ it on purpose. Shame though. Makes this harder.” And then he draws his sword- to your surprise, you can clearly see strange engravings on it, as if it were runic. Ugh. Probably something special behind it, then.

He plants it into the ground lightly in front of him, as if trying to show his strength without causing too much of a commotion. “Now, if you’re ignorant as you claim, then you come with us somewhere quiet and we’ll explain.” It’s then he fixes you with a hard stare. “But you have to understand- for the good of the frontier- hell, for the good of the whole damn world...we can’t let you alone. You have to come with us. There might yet be a way to save you...”

Great. Fucking prophecies. Again. Isabelle just looks baffled.

> ”No. You tell me here and now what the hell you’re on about. Else there’ll be problems.”
> ”You ABSOLUTELY have the wrong person. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
> ”Whatever. I doubt you’ll listen otherwise.” You’ll kill them when you’re out and alone.
> Other

>>909119
>> ”No. You tell me here and now what the hell you’re on about. Else there’ll be problems.”

>>909119
> ”No. You tell me here and now what the hell you’re on about. Else there’ll be problems.”
AND GIVE ME BACK MY HORSE!
Channel some REAL power.

>>909119

> ”No. You tell me here and now what the hell you’re on about. Else there’ll be problems.”

>>909119
>"Sorry, I'm busy."
Magi-blast x2

>>909119
>> ”No. You tell me here and now what the hell you’re on about. Else there’ll be problems
And what the fuck is my horse!!

>>909119
Explanations. Now.

Writing!

>>909119
>”No. You tell me here and now what the hell you’re on about. Else there’ll be problems.”

>>909119
Hmph. Yeah, no, you’re not playing this game. It’s a stupid one. “No. You’re tellin’ me exactly what the issue is here and now.” You can see Isabelle start to shift away as the tension in the air rises. “Else there’ll be problems.” Your tone leaves no room for argument whatsoever.

The two look at each other, and around the streets- people are still walking, a few looking at the both of you, but never for more than a couple seconds. They’re clearly frustrated- you can see the girl flinch towards her whip once, but stops herself- she might just be worried about collateral damage. The boy just grips his sword tighter, not wanting to acquiesce.

There’s a tense silence between the three of you as you stare each other down. Suddenly, Isabelle shakes her head rapidly, focusing on you. “T-there’s this old folktale from some natives. I heard parts of it before. Something about how ‘two beings in the guise of the tall ones, and they will walk the land, destroying the great beasts of the earth, and turn the living day into soulless night’. Gave a name to the two- ‘Umbra’, the shadow of pain, and ‘Inani’, the heartless smile.”

“Thank you, Isabelle,” you say flatly. That wasn’t so hard. You turn on the both of them again. “And I can tell you two that you’re still wrong. I’m just someone doing a job. So get lost…and give me back my damn horse.” And you flare your mana, with a smidge - a small spike of power. It’s barely a flash, but with how they react- eyes wide and moving to defensive stances, you can tell they’re still not inclined to do as you ask.

“You’ll excuse us if we don’t believe you…” the boy says. The girl just has her hand on her whip now.

“An’ you need to stop worrying about that horse…” She grumbles.

Great...

>Flare up, and try to just walk past them. They wouldn’t. Not in public like this, huh?
>Just cut them down now, audience or no.
>Gutshot to the both of them. That should learn them.
>Other.

>>909641
>"And you'll excuse me if I don't put overmuch faith in folktales, 'specially vague ones you weren't even bothered to properly remember. If you've no proper problem with me that ain't based in fairy stories, then kindly hand me back my horse and stop standing in my way. Unless that's actually going to be your reason for starting a fight?"

>>909641
>>Just cut them down now, audience or no.

Yeah, not today. While it's flattering to be a part of some ancient prophecy or whatever, we have enough on our plate already.

>>909641
>>Just cut them down now, audience or no.

>>909641
>Just cut them down now, audience or no.
Ah I see you are a horse killer as well as a thief.

>>909641
while on the topic of prophecy'n'shit, could we get a look back at sword'n'sorcery world at some point?

I want to see if our reputation as a demon had any religious reprecussions also I want to see how geegee is doing, I still regret not suggesting we bring her to the intersection

>>909641
>>Gutshot to the both of them. That should learn them.

>>909641
>Just cut them down now, audience or no.
I guess they know us better than we know ourselves. Time to wreck this world.

>>909641
>Gutshot to the both of them. That should learn them.
I'd prefer to break their necks by stomping on them rather than simply cutting them down, anyway.

Slashy slashy.

Writing.

>>909641
The way Isabelle is looking at you both, she’s about a half-second away from either screaming or pulling her rifle out- you’re not sure which. It’s something that it looks like some of the townspeople are picking up on as well, considering the way some are starting to slow and gawk. Seems like folks around here can sense a fight coming, alright.

It’s just a matter of which one of you is going to make the first move…

…you can see the girl’s hand tighten- and that’s when you move, darting forward and drawing your own sword. A couple of swings and this should be done...hopefully.

Before she can ready her whip, your sword is brought down- and the sound of steel rings out much to her shock as the boy just barely intercepts your blade. You can see sparks fly off his sword as the two connect, the bladelock right in front of the girl’s shocked and stupefied face. You can hear a few folks shout and yell for the sheriff as you lock blades.

“Y’know...this don’t help your case none,” the boy tries to quip, fighting back against the strain of your efforts.

You’re only using the one hand.

He gives a mighty shout of effort as he tries to push you back- and you see the runes on his sword glow, filling up with a glowing blue light. A sudden flash, and you’re blown back- but still on your feet and none the worse for wear as the man takes a fighting pose.

Quickly, the two of them leap into action, the girl shaking off her momentary stun to rear back, and lash out her whip- you dodge, but you notice at the last second the tip of the thing swings around and attempts to strike you from an unnatural direction. It’s a close dodge, but it doesn’t come around again- it clears the way for the boy to take a swing at you again- you block once, twice, three times, then parry a swing and respond with your own- netting a solid cut across his chest as he backs off. You can already see the blood flowing- that one cut deep.

He grimaces hard, and you take that opportunity to lunge forward again with a stab, intending to skewer him and get this over with. There’s suddenly a brown object- the girls whip manages to snake around your sword, and it QUICKLY yanks it off course, allowing the boy to leap out of the way, hitting the ground hard. You’re not sent toppling by the force of the tug, but you fix the girl with a brief scowl as you figure out what to do here as she tugs at the whip ineffectively.

> “Last chance you two. The boy needs help. Get gone.”
> If she wants to hold onto that whip so bad...well, start swinging.
> Close distance and punch to the gut of the whip girl. Wrap this up while you’re at it.
> Other

>>910777
>Close distance and punch to the gut of the whip girl. Wrap this up while you’re at it.
We've already drawn in public, no going back now. Win or die.

>>910777
> Close distance and punch to the gut of the whip girl. Wrap this up while you’re at it.

Fuck'm. We gave him a few chances already.

>>910777
>*Bluff* Boy you are already dead without care I usually coat my blade in manure in order to cause serious infections more easily. Now if you want to leave here with all your limbs intact you better start by telling me where my horse is.

>>910777
>“Last chance you two. The boy needs help. Get gone.”

>>910777
>Close distance and punch to the gut of the whip girl. Wrap this up while you’re at it.

>>910777
>> “Last chance you two. The boy needs help. Get gone.”

>> “Last chance you two. The boy needs help. Get gone.”

>>910777
>> Close distance and punch to the gut of the whip girl. Wrap this up while you’re at it.

FINISH HIM

...I passed out. (not in the health way, I just fell asleep) Apparently I was tired. I'll call it here and write the last one for tonight.

>>910777
Her efforts aren’t wasted, mind- but only because you decide to not waste them. You suddenly slacken your arm, letting her own force pull you closer as she tries to yank you in. Before she can react, you let loose with a heavy fist to the gut from your loose hand. Heavy for you, that is.

And what’s heavy for you is deadly for her. You can feel something inside her give, and her eyes bulge badly as she instantly crumples to the ground clutching her stomach, much to the gasps of the crowd that’s surrounded you all. She looks up at you once, her eyes bloodshot and wild, before she pukes up her guts- almost literally as she vomits up blood and what you’re sure are pieces of something else. She doesn’t, can’t say anything else, merely gasps for air- all that comes forth is a curdling rattle. Another small river of red dribbles out of her mouth before she collapses in a pool of her own sick and blood.

The shock of it causes civilians to suddenly flee, screaming bloody murder (which to be frank is what just happened)- and you see the young boy trying to stand up- the wound had cut him deep, and he’d been on the cusp of unconsciousness. He barely manages to lay eyes on his departed ally before you’re on him; you can see rage in his shaking eyes...rage and fear. Shame he seems to have gotten the message too late.

He opens his mouth to speak, but you’re not having it. You quickly grab his sword hand and squeeze, hearing bones crack, and he yells- a short one before you take your Flamebringer and, in one fluid motion, shove him back for space, and a quick horizontal slash cuts his neck cleanly.

He collapses without a further sound.

“Uhhh...” Oh yeah. Isabelle. You look at her neutrally, and she jumps slightly. Quickly looking around, you can see her start sweating. “...probably ain’t a good idea for either of us to stick around here much longer cause they know I'm partner ta this so I’mma gonna go maybe see ya later BYE!” And she’s already turning tail and running as fast as she can.

She’s right, though. Sheriff and his will likely be along any second now, and you’re not a fan of dealing with the business end of a gun right now. It’s well time to get out of here. By foot will have to do.

You still don’t know what they did with your goddamn horse.

>Head to Greenwater, finally deliver that package. Risks more trouble with Saint Augustine being so close by, but...
>Abandon the Greenwater parcel, head straight to Motley. No extra money, but likely safer in a sense.
>Other

>>911085
>Head to Greenwater, finally deliver that package. Risks more trouble with Saint Augustine being so close by, but...
We don't stop till the job's done.

>>911085
>Head to Greenwater, finally deliver that package. Risks more trouble with Saint Augustine being so close by, but...
Goddammit. We should have went with the option that didn't cause violence. Things are only going to get worse from here.

>>911103
>Things are only going to get worse from here.
We're here to kill everything that gets in the way of our client. While the mana regeneration rate of this world is slow, we are still capable of killing any human enemies that come at us with ease.

>>911085
>Head to Greenwater, finally deliver that package. Risks more trouble with Saint Augustine being so close by, but...

>>911110
Yes, but...
>While the mana regeneration rate of this world is slow
This worries me. I hope we don't run out until we finish the mission

>>911085
>Head to Greenwater, finally deliver that package. Risks more trouble with Saint Augustine being so close by, but...

>>911085
>Head to Greenwater, finally deliver that package. Risks more trouble with Saint Augustine being so close by, but...
This is the Wild fucking West. Those arseholes were threatening you and you had given them plenty of chances and they had most likely killed your horse. I don't see the problem.

>>911295
we covered the numbers earlier in the quest, assuming miranda just use her physical augmentation which is more than enough for this world we aren't in any danger of running out of mana.

File: Get 3 Coffins Ready.png (120 KB, 320x462)

120 KB PNG

>>911319
>I don't see the problem.
It's considered polite and proper manners to let the undertaker know how many coffins to get ready.

>>911336
350 mana per rest
150 per day for constant physical augmentation
That's right.

Checking to see if people will be around in an hour and a half.

>>915488
I will.

>>915488
I'll try me best

>>915488
Aye aye

Writing! We're headed to Greenwater because damnit, we fulfill the jobs we take.

>>911085
Well, damn them and damn the dangers. You still had a job to do. At least, you certainly still had a side job to do. That parcel wasn’t going to deliver itself, and you were already behind on daylight.

Tensing yourself, you crouch... and for a half second you can see the few remaining civilians gasp in shock as you spring forward, clearing several houses in one bound, and quickly making way for the town exit. You look behind you once mid-jump, and you can see the sheriff and his looking at you in shocked surprise. No doubt they’ll be after you sooner than later, but nothing you can do about that right now.

It takes all of maybe one or two more jumps before you’ve cleared the town’s borders, and with a mind towards Greenwater, you set out. Keeping in mind the limited mana recovery here, you do your best to make haste towards the town of Greenwater- the journey shouldn’t be too long at all at the rate you’re moving- shallow, but long jumps across the dry, sandy frontier.

Honestly, you kind of missed moving at this rate- but it’s to your fortune that you don’t see anyone on the way there. You know there’d be more than a couple of questions and concerns. Still, the wind rushing past you at speeds you actually considered fast was refreshing.

Soon, after what you’d estimate to be about an hour or two, you’re already seeing Greenwater in the distance. You inwardly sigh as you hit the brakes, so to speak. It was fun while it lasted, but it was time to stop and start walking. Greenwater’s much smaller- actually kinda reminds you of Credo. Simple amenities, simple layout. That’s good for you, actually- means that finding that lady...Wilcox, was it? Finding her should be pretty easy.

You quickly locate a man busy dusting off some old leathers. “Pardon. I need to take this to a Besse Wilcox. You wouldn’t happen to know where she is, would you?”

To your surprise, the man rears back as if shocked. “Besse Wilcox? ‘Batty Besse’? SHE got sent somethin’?” Well. That was mildly curious. “If you’re sure about it...she lives on the edge of town, next ta the dead lake.” He points in the direction. “Jus’ be careful. Girl ain’t right...”

>What’s her problem?
>Thanks. (Leave)

>>915755
>What’s her problem?

>>915755
>What’s her problem?

>>915755
>>Thanks. (Leave)

>>915755
>What’s her problem?

>>915755
>>Thanks. (Leave)

>>915755
Inquiring minds want to know. Writing!

>>915755
“Hm. What’s her problem?” You can’t help but ask.

“Her problem is that she’s nuttier than a bag of trail mix,” says another voice. You turn to see a larger woman in a petticoat/vest combo and hat. She walks up to you and the man imperiously, who you notice is starting to sweat a bit. “She’s been here since small times, right? But she swears up n’ down that she got taken up by ‘spirits’ when she was younger. Description changes every time she mentions ‘em, dang girl. Can’t even keep her mind straight enough for that. Constantly distracted, always lookin’ fer unusual trinkets, says she’s tryin’ ta call ‘em back. Said she went on an adventure with ‘em once, but can’t remember exactly what IT was, either.”

“We mostly jus’ give her space,” the man says. “Honestly, she’s pleasant enough so long as you don’t mention nothin’ about the sky or spirits or anythin’ like that.” He’s looking carefully at the woman, as if wordlessly warning her about something.

The lady just sighs and shakes her head, looking back at you. “You jus’ be careful around her. Girl HAS been known to get a mite violent once or twice. S’another reason we let her live all by her lonesome. Than an’ no one wants to catch her crazy.”

“You can’t catch crazy, Barbara.” the man chastizes.

“I know that!” she responds. “I’m just sayin’ what most say. I still say it was somethin’ in the water. She loved drinkin’ the lakewater.”

Well, that was enough for you. Nodding to both and giving a quick thanks, you make your way down the street. You had to be quick, either way. You wouldn’t be surprised if the folks from Saint Augustine had already started to try and put the word out- especially in a town so close.

cont.

>>915923
Soon, you can see what’s clearly her house. It’s really more of a shack with a porch, along with several others surrounding it. It’s situated on the very end of town, and indeed, there’s a dried up lakebed near behind the place- actually, no. Peering in, you can see there’s still a small bit of water still collecting at the bottom, there. You can’t imagine it’ll last for much longer, however. The front is covered with various strange knickknacks and- no.

Putting that out of your mind, you walk up the steps to the porch, and are about to knock when you hear a crash coming from inside, and a rapid fire-stumbling. Suddenly, the door flies open- you’ve got the sense to move to the side as spindly woman barrels out the door, in a long dress coat, and a strange hat. She quickly moves to one of the strange baubles on her front lawn- some kind of metal ornament that reminds you of a peacock with a lightbulb on its head- and starts cooing to it as she straightens it up.

“Careful now, caaaareful. Just need to- that’s right, up you go! Need to be just right, don’t worry…they’ll love you...”

Hm. Well then. She doesn’t seem to notice you at-

“Spirits.” Hm? “I’m talking to you.” Oh.

“Pardon?” you ask, raising an eyebrow. She hadn’t made any motion showing she’d acknowledged you.

“Spirits. Beings beyond time and this world, creatures that look upon us and see only ants...if you were to meet one, what would you do?” She sounds oddly eager for your answer, despite never once even turning towards you.

> ”Ma’m, I just have a package for you…”
> ”Probably ask if it had a job for me.”
> ”Fight it?”
> Other

>>915925
>”Ma’m, I just have a package for you…”

>>915925
>> ”Probably ask if it had a job for me.”

I'll be back later to continue running in a couple hours.

>>915925
> ”Probably ask if it had a job for me.”
Ah ah.

>>915925
>> ”Probably ask if it had a job for me.”

>>915925
> ”Probably ask if it had a job for me.”

>>915925
> Ask if it had a job for me
IT'S BEEN A COUPLE OF HOURS

>>915925
>”Probably ask if it had a job for me.”

>>915925
>”Ma’m, I just have a package for you..."

Make that a couple and again. Writing.

>>915925
You hold back a snort. “Probably ask if it had a job for me.”

The way she whips around, nearly cracking her own neck in the process makes you think that may not have been the best response. Her eyes are wild and yet laser focused on you- it’s only now you just realized she’s bald as a bean. Why on earth is she...

“AH-HA!” She scuttles up to you surprisingly fast, and before you know it she’s doing full body check with her eyes, somehow. “You understand!” She looks like she wants to shake you, but she refrains at the last second- which is good, because you might’ve had to use force to pry her off otherwise. “You’re amenable! Understanding! A soul willing to divest yourself of base beliefs and surrender yourself to its higher vision!”

Wow, they were NOT kidding when they said she was loony. “Look, I-”

“-just need proof! Of course! Wait here!” Before you can get another word in edgewise she sprints past, completely ignoring the package. Before you can call after to remind her, or even just leave before more crazy happens, she suddenly skids out, holding onto some...metal...thing. She quickly thrusts it into your hands. “Look! Look! Feast your eyes and acknowledge the greatness that is the un-verse!”

There’s a brief moment of mutual quiet as you try to figure out what she meant. “...you mean the universe?”

“NO!” The manic grin on her face is practically stuck there. “The UN-verse! A realm outside of everything- where things exist, but shouldn’t! Creatures beyond knowing, with endless knowledge! Experiences incomprehensible to the unlearned of mankind! And THIS has SHOWN me that knowledge! Those experiences! And it can show youuuuu...” She even gives the wiggly hands when she says it.

Giving a snort, you finally look down- and your breath catches slightly. Because you recognize that busted up piece of metal, the way it shines unnaturally, the glimmering visuals the screen gives off. "Behold, true WISDOM!"

That’s a FutureSight. Slightly dusty, and you can see strange stains on it...but it still works, just like new.

What the actual FUCK?!

>Questions?

>>918216
"Who did you work for? Dynamic Methods? Flashpoint? Interdiction? Who was your Handler?"

Miranda has demonstrated that she is far more empathic to multiversal travelers and people who have dealings with the Intersection.

>>918216
>Do you remember who you got this from?

Our communication with sal is more or less telepathic right? Because this seems like an extreme circumstance in need of council.

>>918216
(whatever we do, shouldn't we also remind her that we have a package for her? since that's the reason why we came here in the first place.)
>Interesting. How did you get this?

>>918259
Basically, yes.

Hooooow did you get this?

Writing.

>>918216
An immediate question floats through your mind as you snap your head up, and you quickly voice it. “How’d you get this?” The fact that a FutureSight was just lying around in some random dimensional plane...that was a MAJOR violation of protocol. Leaving gear behind that you didn’t acquire there without making a trade was...not looked upon well. Of course, they may HAVE traded, but what the hell would be considered equal to value to a FutureSight? It literally had universes’ worth of data on it…

Actually, if she’d been looking at it a lot, that’d explain her kinda losing it. It would pretty much be as she said- knowledge that might be amazing, but irrelevant for her to know, or stuff that might make her...think certain ways that’d be inapplicable to her own universe in every way possible. You suppose you can imagine that knowing it but being able to do nothing with it might make someone a bit...iffy.

“Ohhh...oh, I was a young thing when I first encountered the spirits that would change my life…” She gets a wistful look on her face, as if she’s expecting something to happen as she looks in the distance. “Back then, I was always the excitable one, wanted to really go around the frontier, wander, y’know? My sis Holly and me, we’d been inseparable for the first couple years of my life, but I starting wantin’ more. Different than her. Folks weren’t gettin’ on too well either. Eventually, she hitched a ride one way with pop, I went another with ma, and that was that...for a while, anyway.”


cont.

>>918423
She starts walking as she talks, hands moving to try and frame the scene. “It was one night me an’ ma an’ the rest of the caravan was takin’ a rest. I couldn’t quite sleep too well on account of some mess earlier, so I went n’ decided to take a walk. Nothin’ too far, we’d still be in sight of the fire...but that was far enough. I noticed the wind whippin’ up something fierce...but before I could warn anyone...there she was.” Wow, you swear there’s sparkles in her eyes. “Tall, and looked like the wind and dust wrapping around itself, all in the form of a girl my height! I swear, I thought I’d been goin’ crazy. But she jus’ looked at me, n’ said… ‘Unless you want to see things that you could never believe, you should probably get back to your folks.’ and then she was off.” Bessie has the grace to blush. “So o’course I followed her. Never saw me, but she didn’t go far. Ended up in a cave, and oh, gracious. She really was somethin’. So many beasts and animals, and she just...tore through ‘em like they weren’t nothin’.”

Sounded par for the course so far… “So what happened from then on?”

“Well,” she continues, “She was lookin’ for some kinda...massive staff thing, I dunno. She picked it up real easy, even though it was more than twice her size and solid gold! I had to ask her what she was! It weren’t a great idea, though...turns out she’d been followed by a buncha ornery folk. Dunno why to this day, but they saw me and figgured I might make a good hostage…” she shudders at this memory, clearly not her favorite. “They woulda put a hole and a half in me if’n she didn’t fork the thing over. So she did. But then...somethin’ happened! The thing started lightin’ up! Before I knew it there was a flash, and the whole place started cavin’ in! I...the rest is a blur, but...I remember...I remember waking up in a place...somewhere amazing. It was like, all the colors of the rainbow and some besides in the air! Like...like a town, or even one of those cities on the coast, but ten times as large and-and the stuff there, and…”

Okay, that’s enough for you. ”SAL!” You needed to call this one in.

“Iiiiiiiii hear ya, superstar. This is quiiiiiite an interesting development…”

>"We’re gonna have to take this FutureSight back."
>"You wouldn’t happen to know about her ‘savior’ would you?"
>"Any ideas for how we should handle her? She probably actually has knowledge that she's not supposed to!"
>Other

>>918431
>"Any ideas for how we should handle her? She probably actually has knowledge that she's not supposed to!"

>>918431
>"You wouldn’t happen to know about her ‘savior’ would you?"
>>"Any ideas for how we should handle her? She probably actually has knowledge that she's not supposed to!"

>>918431
>"Any ideas for how we should handle her? She probably actually has knowledge that she's not supposed to!"
Yup. This is way out of our hands.

Iiiii'm gonna pass out for the night. Back tomorrow!

>>918431
>"You wouldn’t happen to know about her ‘savior’ would you?"
>"Any ideas for how we should handle her? She probably actually has knowledge that she's not supposed to!"

>>918431
>"You wouldn’t happen to know about her ‘savior’ would you?"
>"Any ideas for how we should handle her? She probably actually has knowledge that she's not supposed to!"

>>918431
>"Any ideas for how we should handle her? She probably actually has knowledge that she's not supposed to!"

>>918431
>"You wouldn’t happen to know about her ‘savior’ would you?"
>"Any ideas for how we should handle her? She probably actually has knowledge that she's not supposed to!"

>>918431

>"You wouldn’t happen to know about her ‘savior’ would you?"
>"Any ideas for how we should handle her? She probably actually has knowledge that she's not supposed to!"

These don't seem to be mutually exclusive so I'm voting both