File: 1475856231294.png (39 KB, 366x561)

39 KB PNG

>>1029831

For any new players:

Welcome to Gorgon Child Quest! Where-in you take up the role of a magical talking artifact being wielded by a young gorgon girl named Cici. Living out of the remains of a once great dungeon, the game will focus on exploration, character interaction, and learning as the voices of the players within the amulet help guide her along.

For news about quest updates, my twitter can be found here:
https://twitter.com/bananon_QM

And the archive can presently be found here:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?searchall=gorgon+child

>>1029831
We can look to spreading more flowers around the tower, cemetery, and forest to foster better relations with the bees.

How has Jasmine been taking to being a guest here? We should check on her, and see if she needs a bed or something.

>>1029831
You should spend some time with Jasmine and Okku. Okku got himself into some trouble. Jasmine is still a growing girl and could use some good play.

>>1029831
And remember to eat breakfast because it's the most important meal of the day.

>>1030196
Eat breakfast and play with your animals and monster friends. No need to work hard everyday, you are still young.

>>1030221
Yeah, I'm feeling like today should be a fun day.

File: Garden-Veg.jpg (50 KB, 425x282)

50 KB JPG

>>1030221
>>1030227
>>1030196
>>1030078
>>1030042
>>1029831

[“Mama said Okku was in time out today.”]

But it only takes another minute or so for the reliable Din-Din to come scrabbling up the stairs for his morning meal, the fluffy hare’s nose twitching as he takes in the dew-laden air. That still left the question of where Jasmine was, however.

“Jasmine!” Cici calls down the stairs. “Jasmine, it’s time for breakfast!”

Unfortunately, there is no mewl of understanding nor the sound of flapping wings forthcoming.

“She may have already left on a hunt,” Mama points out. “I checked her nest on my way out, and it was empty.”

“Maybe…”

Cici just hopes that the cub hadn’t gotten herself in trouble, like Okku had. Come what may, however, she needs breakfast first. Berries, milk, bread, and honey hit the spot in short order as the three of them enjoy each other’s company.

“So why are you up so early, Mama?” Cici finally thinks to ask, recognizing the peculiarity of her mother being up before the sun.

“Hm?” she mumbles through her tea. “Oh. Well, we’ll be having some new neighbors from now on, Cici. Not close, but a little to the south of here.”

The voices can catch the slightest tremor as she explains.

“Really!?” Cici asks, suddenly excited. “Can I visit? Are they nice?”

“No!” Mama’s voice betrays a bit of panic before she calms herself. “I mean, no, Cici. I don’t think they’d enjoy company just yet.”

[“But what kinda people don’t like company?”]

> Write-in

>>1030240
If it's the two I'm thinking about, it's because they were hurt and bullied by humans and they aren't used to dealing with people who won't harm them yet.

They need time to reflect on the bad choices they've made and get used to the idea that they don't have to fight everyone they meet.

You could ask your mom about visiting the bee kingdom; we can translate for you.

>>1030240
"Rhey are dangerous monster Cici, listen to your mother."

File: Vivi the Crow.png (452 KB, 1280x1431)

452 KB PNG

>>1030240
>>1030283
>>1030312

[“Oh.”]

“I understand, Mama,” Cici promises. “I promise that I’ll leave them alone.”

“Same,” Vivi adds, “but does that mean that we’re going to have to be careful when we’re out in the woods?”

“I’d prefer you stay close,” Mama says, “or at least have Yesh or I accompany you.”

“Can we still visit the bees?” Cici asks. “They seemed nice, an’ they aren’t too far away…”

“Well, I suppose I could take you there later with the workers, but you’ll still need to be careful. Okay?”

“’Kay.”

“Shame I won’t be able to go as well,” Vivi pouts, “but I’ll have other days, I guess. For now, I just better get to work.”

“Oh, just one thing,” Mama says as the harpy begins stretching out her wings. “If you could deliver this work order to the town before you go, it would save me quite a lot of time. I’ll even give you a little bonus over the normal rate.”

“Just remember it on our next trip into town, okay?” The harpy takes a moment to give Cici a quick hug before pocketing the letter. “No sense running up debts in the household, you know?”

“I suppose, but-“

But the harpy is already taking to her wings with a laugh, waving back and almost losing her balance before departing toward the north.

“I guess that just leaves you and me, then, Cici…” Mama comments.

“Hey bitch!” And whoever that was.

As the coarse, feminine voice shouts from below, Mama bolts for the stairs, hardly giving a glance to Cici before she disappears.

[“She said a bad word… Should we go down and say hi, though?”]

> Write-in

>>1030448
>Sure, why not?

>>1030448
...Well, better now then later, hopefully with Yesh too...

Just remember to speak when spoken to, and to be polite.

And don't stare!

>>1030448
If it is someone who is familiar enough that your mother went there with surprise rather than anger, you might want to say hello.

>>1030448
>Write-in
Ah, it's the neighbor from the south. I think it's better if you stay here for now.

Don't want her getting ideas of taking hostages or something stupid like that.

>>1030448
I'm a bit iffy on meeting the new neighbor right this second.

>>1030448
The neighbours don't seem rather happy... Your mum did woop thei- Forget it...

File: oni3.jpg (454 KB, 1000x1200)

454 KB JPG

>>1030569
>>1030557
>>1030516
>>1030506
>>1030502
>>1030470
>>1030448

[“What’s a hostage?”]

Cici doesn’t really wait for an answer before heading downstairs, Din-Din hopping along beside her as she makes her way down to where someone peculiar is standing among the tombstones. Tall and red, with long horns and tremendous muscles, the women in question is presently bent down to the ground with Yesh’s nails dug into her ear.

“Ow ow ow! Let go ya little-“

“Yesh, please release her,” Mama commands as she arrives on the scene, sighing as the giantess rights herself with a hiss. “Just please try to moderate your language.”

“Why the fuck would I-“ Her eyes flit to Cici slowly descending the stairs, and as a couple of gears click into place and she begins panning between Cassandra and her child, her expression loses something in its aggravated edge. “Well, sh- I mean f-… I mean… I mean, we need a house…”

“How b-“ Mama begins, but is cut off.

“Yeah, you know, a house? Those things with a roof on ‘em to keep out the rain and let you take a shi-IT in private…”

She groans as with the expletive, Yesh jabs a finger into the back of her leg, forcing her to her knees.

“I believe she knows what you meant…”

“I just need to know how big of a house, you need,” Mama explains. “Your brother and you are a bit… larger than average.”

“Sh- I mean, no kidding?” she balks. “Just like that? No strings attached or anything?”

“I don’t see why not,” the gorgon sighs. “I did ask you to stay, and it wouldn’t do to have you wandering the woods like nomads.”

“However,” Yesh interjects, “if you were to want to express your gratitude, the passes down south have been riddled with danger of late. Bandits and the like.”

“So what? You want me to kill ‘em?!”

Mama and Cici put on the same horrified expression, but Yesh just sighs and presses on.

“No,” he explains. “A pile of corpses won’t endear you to the townships. Of that, I’ve no doubt. Bringing in a pile of captives for due process, however…”

“So, beat them unconscious?”

“If you must…”

“Great! I’ll get right on that!” She smiles, voice dripping with sarcasm as she stands back up. “Anything else I can do for her majesty, today?”

“You could start with dropping the attitude and just calling calling me, Cassandra,” the snake woman answers. “I’m not a queen, barely a baroness, and all I want is for all of the people in this region to be safer and happier in the coming months. And I think you and your brother could help, if you have a mind.”

“Right, so it’s Cassandra for you, and what about for the runt over there?”

File: gorgon_child.jpg (117 KB, 457x700)

117 KB JPG

>>1030824

Cici flinches as the fanged smile points her way.

“Um, I-I’m Cici,” Cici introduces herself, feeling her knees wobble a bit as the woman takes a couple of steps toward her. “A-and you’re r-really p-pretty…”

And like that, with just a few words, Cici did what thirty men and a team of horses probably could not, cause the imposing woman in question to stop dead in her tracks.

“Heheh,” she snorts. “Gahahahahaha! So you really think so, huh?” Cici manages a nervous nod as those intimidating eyes filled with amusement come down closer to her level. “How come?”

“I… u-um… Cuz you’re red an’… an’ real strong, like Uncle Gal… Plus, your horns look n-neat…”

As Cici shivers, the demonic woman just laughs all the louder, apparently finding this whole situation too hysterical for words as she stands back upright and almost comes to eye level with Mama.

“They’re always cute when they’re younger, ain’t they?” she inquires of the gorgon, getting a hesitant nod before letting the last of her laughter peter out. “Well, guess I’ll leave off for now then…”

“But wait, your house!” Mama calls after the still smiling oni.

“Eh? Just double it all up from whatever a human needs. Make it thick, sturdy, but it doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Two rooms is a plus, and a shitter indoors.”

She doesn’t even bother turning around as she drifts off into the forest, a bounce in her step as she leaves everyone else behind in various degrees of shaken and confused.

[“She seemed kinda weird… but not bad?”]

> Write-in

>>1030830
...Wooooooow.

Rude words aside, that went...a LOT better than I was thinking it would.

Just...stay being you, Cici, and I think you and her will be okay, mostly.

>>1030830
I guess I should have expected that, seeing how she's been taking care of Mishael...

Well, it seems you've got an auntie of a sort.

Actually, I don't think we've gotten her name...

Anyway, she and her sibling lived a hard life, so be gentle with them. Just because a person is strong, doesn't mean they can't be hurt in other ways.

>>1030830
Let's go play now. Maybe look for for a ball or something?

File: TOO CUTE.gif (1.87 MB, 320x240)

1.87 MB GIF

>>1030830
Cici needs to meet Baphy and then I will curl over and fade from existence in bliss.

>>1030830
Maybe she'll get better, but I don't think her attitude will improve. It's a Monster Evolution thing.

Anyway, time to find Jasmine, or visit the bee kingdom if your mother is going to get the workers.

>>1030877
The bees seems safer.

File: manticore_cub2.jpg (16 KB, 285x350)

16 KB JPG

>>1030967
>>1030877
>>1030866
>>1030861
>>1030857
>>1030835
>>1030830

“Do you presently have the funds to make good on that promise?” Yesh asks calmly, waiting after the oni has long since cleared from ear shot.

It’s only then that Mama releases her daughter from a tight hug, setting her down to face the small lizard man.

“Of course,” Cassandra assures him. “Granted, it may cut into our short-term budget before the remainder of the reparations arrive, but I think if you look at in the long term…”

The adults were talking about finances again, a subject which Cici had no real understanding of or an interest in learning as of just yet. Instead, she just opts to wait on the stairs, allowing her mind to wander as she gazes toward the heavens. The morning grogginess had cleared by now, the sun shining above through a sea of fluffy white clouds that take on a variety of shapes and figures to her imaginative mind.

Over there, there is a bunny, and over there, a person taking a nap. That one kind of looks like a bear, the other like a snake, and if she squints just right, that one looks just like Mama. She continues this for a good, little while until something else catches her eye, a dark blur caught by the snakes somewhere in back of her that prompts her to turn just in time to see Jasmine zooming in.

Lithe and lively, the tiny manticore almost seems to hop as she lands, her tail happily wagging to and fro as she releases the contents of her mouth at Cici’s feet, a greyish furry blob that-

*Squeek*

That apparently had a mind to be anywhere other than here at this exact moment as it goes bounding down the steps on its mad dash for freedom. Jasmine proves the quicker, however, as with a quick pounce, she brings the shivering blob right back.

[“Gah! What do I do?”]

> Write-in

>>1031029
I think she might be trying to get you to play with her. Either that, or attempting to teach you how to hunt like her.

Either way, if you'd like to save the mouse, you should take it away from her and release it into the tall grass a little ways away from the house. You might also want to warn your mother about mice getting in the food.

>>1031029

"Well, do you want yo play or eat?"

Pet Jasmine and call her a good girl, look the other way if she wants to eat the small creature. Tell her that you already ate.

File: mouse.jpg (41 KB, 532x351)

41 KB JPG

>>1031153
>>1031054
>>1031029

“Jasmine, no!” Cici chastises in a whisper, palms closing around the pitiful, damp creature before she cradles it to her chest. “No bullying!”

The cat, unaware of any wrongdoing on its part, simply mewls upward at the picky eater, watching curiously as she rises to her feet.

“I’ll catch my own breakfast someday,” Cici promises as she walks over to the bushes at the edge of the woods. “So you don’t have to bring me food.”

With extreme tenderness, Cici then places her cupped hands into the bush, holding them still there until the tiny mouse finally seems to realize that it’s free to go. Naturally, at that point, it wastes no time scurrying away. Jasmine’s eyes seem to narrow on the fleeing form for an instant, but Cici doesn’t give her time to rush off again before scooping her up into her arms.

“You’re a good girl,” Cici assures her, kissing the cub’s soft fur as she hugs her close, “even if you are a little mean, but I’m not hungry right now, ‘kay?”

Jasmine mewls again, ears twitching curiously a few times before she finally seems to relax and begins purring in Cici’s arms. Seems a bit of pampering on a full stomach is a perfect combination, even if her plans to educate her friend didn’t go so well.

“Mama…” Cici interjects gently as she walks back to the tower. “The voices said we might have mice in our food.”

“Don’t worry, sweetling,” Mama promises, patting her daughter and the kitten in turn. “I double check every day to make sure our food is safe.

“Hmm. Uncle Yesh?” she adds.

“Yes, dear.”

“How do I play with Jasmine without mice?”

“Ah, well, I can show you how to make a ball,” he offers.

And so, for the next hour or so, her Uncle walks her through the basics, beginning with a wicker base and then wrapping the resulting cage in twine. It was a lot like making a basket, she reflects, and thankfully that makes the process easier. In the end, the duo have a pair of springy, soft throwing spheres for the bright eyed kitten to chase or to bat at as they are dangled in front of her from a string.

To his credit, Din-Din holds out quite a while as the other pet gets all of the attention, but eventually, he can’t help but crawl into Cici’s lap and assert his dominance, luxuriating in a bit of well-earned attention and grooming as the sun climbs toward its summit.

Before lunchtime rolls around, however, a whoop and holler catches the attentions of the gathered three, a courtesy call from a group of swarthy looking foreman before they make their way past the tree line with shovels and tool bags in hand.

Cici waves back with a smile as she tries to think of all the things she or the voices might want to ask them.

> Write-in

>>1031221
Ask you mother if you can go over with the men to meet the hive. You've got us to talk to them, so you'll have a chance to meet them.

File: IxrKYGQ.png (250 KB, 700x1000)

250 KB PNG

>>1031221

Morning classes mean I'll have to leave off here, I think, but I'll pick back up tomorrow. Until then, take care.

>>1031221
Ask your mother if you can go with the men to talk with the bees.

And we can also provide translations services and mediation between the bees and the workers, assuming that the bee royalty can keep their arrogance in check.

>>1031993

Yes, let's go talk with the talkie bees.

>>1031993
yep, say to mom you are going.
You can also try to learn construction too!

File: carpenter_tools.jpg (19 KB, 420x200)

19 KB JPG

>>1032367
>>1032229
>>1031993
>>1031265
>>1031221

“A pleasure to meet you,” Mama greets as the men draw near, four in total with the visible grit of their profession ingrained on their surface.

“I reckon that’d be us,” the bearded man and presumable leader says with a smile. “Not every day ye get called in by a noble, now is it?”

“Reckon that means we oughta charger her double?” one of the tubbier men jokes, but gets a swift palm to the back of his head.

“Nah, no need to worry yerself, lass,” the lead man assures her. “Ye’ve been better’n most folks know to we common folk since you arrived. So, we’ll deal at a fair rate. Name’s Jared by the way. The loud mouth’s Sten. Roderick’s the redhead, and Larry’s the one with the stupid look on his face in the back.”

“Well, a pleasure to meet all of you,” Mama repeats courteously, “and for those who may not know, my name is Cassandra. And this is my daughter, Cecelia.”

“Nice to meet you,” Cici greets, “but you can just call me Cici.”

A rush of air whistles behind her before something warm and purring is crawling through her arms.

“An’ this is Jasmine.”

“Well, I’ll be…” Sten breathes, as the other men take a step back.

“An honest to god, manticore!” Jared adds to the chorus. “That’s a hell of a house cat, ye’ve got there!”

“I realize that must be rather shocking, gentlemen,” Mama notes, “but if you would please mind your language and follow me.”

With a few murmurs of assent, the men fall in line behind the lady of the manner, eyes alternating constantly between her swerving tail and the emerald eyes gazing back at them over Cici’s shoulder.

“An’ this is Din-Din,” Cici introduces as they pass the tower, the rabbit hopping to her side as they walk onward into the woods.

Though before they are quite out of earshot of home, Cici could swear she can just barely make out the sound of scratching paws and impatient whines coming from within the confines of a certain barrel.

File: Bee-Swarm-.jpg (29 KB, 636x359)

29 KB JPG

>>1033357

“So, as I hear tell, we’ll be throwing up a fence,” Jared offers after a ways of walking.

“A little far in for a pig pin,” Larry adds.

“Well, you aren’t wrong,” the gorgon confirms. “As fortune would have it, I’ve come into some… unexpected neighbors recently, and our little bear cub, Okku, has been making quite a mess of their hives.”

“Hives!?” Sten interjects, but quickly reconsiders his statement as Mama pulls back the last curtain to a nearby glade and the sound of a thousand buzzing wings fills the air to a far more frank: “BLOODY HELLS!”

The men stumble over themselves leaning back as the swarm makes synchronized motions in the air, forming something like a noble crest at the behest of an all-too exuberant orchestrator.

“Welcome, builders, to the majesty of our kingdom!” Brienne shouts proudly over the horde, cackling in triumph at the apparent awe she is bestowing on her visitors.

[“They look scared.”]

Cici thinks to the voices as she nudges toward the terrified workers.

[“Are the bees mad?”]

> Write-in

>>1033362
I think they're attempting to impress them, although it seems to have the opposite effect.

Cici, put you best foot forward and greet them politely. We'll act as translator for you.

Also, might want to give the bees some applause. Coordination like that takes lots of practice and effort.

>>1033362
They're strutting for all they're worth, but their intentions aren't hostile. They just want to awestrike the workers, and they've succeeded, perhaps a little too well.

Explain to the workers that the bees aren't hostile or angry, they're just proclaiming themselves rather ostentatiously.

>>1033362
No they are not.

File: angry_bee_girl.jpg (178 KB, 900x1842)

178 KB JPG

>>1033415
>>1033385
>>1033362
>>1033525


“It’s okay,” Cici promises the workers, the child offering them comfort, much to their disbelief. “The bees aren’t mad. They’re just trying to say hello.”

Disbelief then quickly turns to horror as the young girl casually walks into the surging swarm of her own volition. Even Cassandra, who’s mostly used to this strangeness at this point looks concerned, reaching for her daughter before realizing she is already too far away. At that point, she simply remains frozen there on the sidelines with Din-Din, likely due to the shared fear of tipping this situation out of control with their presence.

Jasmine on the other hand, won’t let anything as fleeting as a swarm of insects scare her away. She just squirms her way out of Cici’s arms and begins walking beside her, eyes curiously darting every which way as she contemplates if she’s ready for lunch yet.

“H-hi,” Cici offers to the swarm as she nears the foot of the tree, and more specifically, to the cackling bug person standing on its lower bows. “I’m Cici, and… Umm, could you stop, please? I think you’re scaring the builders who came to make your fence.”

{“Ah, come to visit again, then, have you?”} Brienne inquires curiously. {“I don’t imagine there’s any way you could spare me a trip down there, either?”}

> Roll 1d100 for Special Action
> Write-in, assuming Brienne comes down

Rolled 99 (1d100)

>>1033530

>>1033543
Wow.

>>1033543
We stablish a telepathic link or what? Make the bee queen Cici sized? Uh?

She evolves?

>>1033543
>>1033551

Suggestions are welcome. Also, don't forget dialogue.

>>1033561
I wasn't at all sure what she intended.

Try to introduce her to the workers, I suppose?

>>1033530
Hello, Brienne, it's good to see you doing well. These men are here to help build the hive box we mentioned last time. They'll leave your hive alone until the box is ready, so please don't sting them.

>>1033543
So...

That's either really bad or really good.

>>1033561
"Hello little bee queen, do you want to become big?"

>>1033561
Human sized bee girls?

Bee girls gain the ability to form human sized bee girl when combined?

>>1033570
>>1033574
>>1033566

I was thinking more on you guys' end than hers. You know, that whole pep talk back then with the armor.

>>1033574
BEE GIRLS COMBINE!

GO SUPER MAGICAL GIRL BEE CHAN! (Who looks like a Chibi)

>>1033583
Everyone present can now permanently speak bee.

>>1033583
Eh, we are just a bracelet, what are we gonna do? Turn into armor and scare everyone?

Although changing the bracelet into something more cute that Cici would love would be okay.

>>1033591
We already could speak bee, and for the others, what would be the point? The queen speaks the common tongue.

>>1033595
If everyone else here could speak bee without the need for a translator, that would help us not get swamped with requests for bee related matters. As it is, if Okku gets back in the hive again or wasps or things like that, the only people who could understand would be Yesh and Cici, and that would be a bottleneck.

>>1033614
Okku is a really troublesome cub isn't he?

Also the queen does speak common, and understanding the workers would be kind of useless.

>>1033614
Unless you mean to make it so eveyone can understand the queen? Does she speak common or we can just understand her? Most smart monsters can speak it.

>>1033622
I thought she didn't? Or am I thinking of Brienne?

File: Spoiler Image (20 KB, 320x320)

20 KB JPG

>>1033543
>>1033551
>>1033570
>>1033574
>>1033585
>>1033591
>>1033592
>>1033566
>>1033569

So many thoughts, and so little mental space. As the voices clamor over this situation, a number of thoughts come to mind. What if we make her bigger? What if we make it so that everyone speaks bee?

Whatever the logistical probabilities, or lack thereof, the thought of making the queen bigger seems to take a decided root in the discussion. And so, with as much mental effort as they can bear, the voices try to imagine the bee girl growing bigger, willing their peculiar, internal vision to distort in an effort to bend reality.

And for a moment, they think they succeed. Something like a rush of air blasts against them, they feel their power temporarily wane, and… and…

Well, she certainly looks bigger now, but as the voices regain their bearings, they realize that they are fluttering in the air, their vision bobbing up and down as small wings keep their roiling collective of chaos afloat in the light breeze. And as a gasp catches their attention, they look back to spy Cici looking at them with wide-eyed wonder.

[“It’s a fairy… Guys! Guys! Lookit!”]

> Write-in

>>1033649
We are a fairy? How does that help?

>>1033649

"Hello Cici, what do fairies do?"

>>1033649
Oh great, now we're a little ball of well-intentioned madness and chaos. I wonder if they can hear us now though.

Uh, do not panic, this is not normal, but it might as well be. I hope we don't get lost in this form, that would be a pain in the ass.

>>1033698
*And try to translate for the bees as intended.

>>1033656
You FOOL! Don't you see the possibilities with this form?!

With this new mobile form, THE HIGH SHELF CAN NO LONGER IMPRISON US!!! WOO-HOO!

>>1033715

"I prefer the bracelet. I wonder if we can hug Cici like this?"

>>1033715
Huh, that's true, we can also do unspeakable things to our enemies without needing the mental link.

>>1033738
"We are a fairy not an unstoppable juggernaut. Even the bees could trash us."

>>1033783
Never underestimate a well-timed distraction.

File: bee girl 2.png (244 KB, 1045x1178)

244 KB PNG

>>1033783
>>1033676
>>1033656
>>1033698
>>1033715
>>1033735
>>1033738

“Wait, huh?” Cici says. “How do you know my- Oh wait… It’s you guys! But when did you learn to-”

{“BE GONE, DARK SPIRIT!”}

The voices barely manage to flap out of the way as a miniscule blast of magical lightning leaves the hands of the tiny bee girl. Of course, miniscule is all a matter of scale, and even that close brush seems to be enough to send ripples through the floating ball of light. Seems this new form is far from stable, and so the voices waste no time flexing their thought muscles at the startled bee.

>>1033569

{“Ah, so you seem to have learned a new skill since last we met. Interesting… And, very well, I suppose if they can’t appreciate our elegant display, we best not waste our workers’ stamina.”}

With a concise series of buzzes, and a few shakes of her stinger, it seems the collective gets the point, slowly dissolving back into the hive until the air is once again clear.

{“Hmph. Tell her that I bid her and her mother welcome to our domain. I’ll return shortly with my-“}

{“Sister!”} As Brienne turns to the hive, a pair of excited, notably smaller bee girls are already swooping down.

{“Did they like it, sister?”} one inquires eagerly.

{“I hope so. We practiced for hours!”} whines the other.

{“And what about this one?”} A finger points toward Cici.

{“She’s not the same as the one from yesterday.”}

{“Not at all. She’s so much smaller, and so ~cute!”}

{“Besides, I think that’s her mother, over there, isn’t it?”}

{“Do you think that’s her mother?”}

{“It should be.”}

{“But she has legs!”}

{“Oh, you’re right!”}

{“Would you two please-“} Brienne begins, but the chatter only seems to gain tempo as they ignore her.

{“Maybe she’s her niece-“}

{“Or she’ll grow her snake legs later-“}

{“Come now, sister, snakes don’t have legs~”}

{“True, but she does look similar, you have to admit…”} she insists, nuzzling a curious snake head with both arms.

{“Oh, that goes without saying!”} agrees the other as she grabs a serpent of her own on the opposite side. {“So smooth and warm~”}

But at this point, their older sister has had it.

{“Enough!”} Brienne buzzes angrily. {“Thizzz izzz no way for you to be acting!”}

{“Oh! She’s mad!”}

{“Super mad!”}

{“Also, hi, Mr. Fairy!”}

> Write-in

>>1033809
Hello, the workers were quite overwhelmed by your display.

>>1033809
"Miss... flying fairies are female. Males don't have wings... or maybe they do?"

>Hug Cici.

>>1033809
Ah, we were wondering if we would meet Brienne's sisters! A pleasure to meet you, miss...? (bow, wait for their names)

(Anybody want to flirt with a bee girl?)

>>1033833
Yeah sure, though I think we're just a ball of energy or something.

>>1033833
"No flirting, we are basically a projection and crazy."

File: bee girl 3.png (319 KB, 600x865)

319 KB PNG

>>1033886
>>1033872
>>1033833
>>1033831
>>1033822
>>1033809

The voices try to bow in their new form, a feat which proves quite difficult for a ball of condensed chaos inexplicably given wings. In the end, they just succeed in pulsating weakly as they ask the two girls’ names.

{“I’m Itsy!”} one announces.

{“And I’m Bitsy!”} declares the other.

{“No you are not!”} Brienne objects. {“Our mother named you Isabelle and Beatrice!”}

{“She’s always so rude!”} Itsy wines.

{“And so mean!”} Bitsy adds.

{“It’s like she has a bug up her butt…”}

{“Like a termite?”}

{“Ha! A termite!”}

Their laughter turns into yelps of pain, however, when Brienne unleashes a wave of electricity on their backside.

{“I’m telling mom!”} Itsy threatens.

{“And I’ll tell her you two were being idiots again.”}

{“Thinks she’s so much more mature because she’s a few seconds older…”} Bitsy complains.

{“And cuz she can use magic…”}

{“Picking on our little sisters again?} Another voice sighs, a taller, more slender bee girl emerging from the tree and surveying the scene. {“I told you, you’d terrorize them with your theatrics, didn’t I?”}

{“Shut up, Flora!”} Brienne buzzes. {“They need to understand who we are!”}

{“We are bees.”} Flora says firmly. {“And they are humans. And if you terrify them, it would take a single torch to our nest to kill us all.”}

Her sisters all shudder, the smaller twins clinging to each other. Meanwhile, the voices and Cici just float there, confused.

> Write-in

>>1033944
Uhhhhhhh...pleasure to meet you all, yeah. And we're...uh...hmm. Well. Not sure what we are. Gestalt? Sure. Everyone else likes the name Gestalt?

And for what it's worth, I thought the display looked very cool and awe-inspiring. Coordination like that is impressive!

But yeah, these are the workers here to mark where your land begins and ends. And Cici IS the other one's daughter, make no mistake about it. As was said earlier, we trust so long as they don't disturb you, you won't disturb them, right?

Also Cici? Yeah, this is kinda a new one on us, but we think we've managed to physically manifest ourselves. We're not just VOICES anymore. We're...a thing. We live.


...kinda want to really feel water again now. I miss that stuff.

>>1033944
Well, then. Princess Flora, I take it?
Yes, the human workers were awestruck into terror, but Cici here has mollified their fears.

Are there any specifics to the fence you would like the workers to take into consideration?
Where it should be laid out, how high, and any particular shape?

>>1033955
We aren't alive, you dolt. We're still a projection of an arcane tesseract generated by a complex runic circuit. Don't go putting misconceptions into her head.

>>1033962
Close enough.

>>1033944
A pleasure to meet you, Miss Flora. Rest assured, our liege has no interest in setting your home alight, nor any thoughts of using your hive for her gain. Why, as the one who has slain the dreaded devil bear who once terrorized your hive, I would imagine quite the opposite.

File: Spoiler Image (2 KB, 168x116)

2 KB JPG

>>1033944
>>1033974

{“If such an arrangement is within your mercy,”} Flora says. {“Then we will consider it a blessing.”}

{“Bleh. Don’t be so serious all the time, Flora.”} Itsy complains.

{“Yeah, they seem nice!”} Bitsy insists.

{“Show some pride at the very least!”} Brienne huffs.
>>1033962

{“But for the fence, there are animals that dig and some that fly,”} Flora continues. {“A deep foundation will keep out the latter, and we’ll deal with the former somehow. The men, of course, are welcome to go wherever they need in their work.”}

{“And add a gate!”} Itsy insists.

{“So you can come back and visit sometime!”} Bitsy finishes. {“Also, what’s a tesseract?”}

{“And arcane? Does that mean you’re a wizard?”}

“I, um, I don’t know,” Cici says when the voices relay the question back. “Grampa says I could learn.”

{“You and Brienne should get along great then!”} Itsy laughs.

{“And our mom can teach you a ton!”}

“I’d like that…” Cici agrees. “First though, I need to tell the workers and Mama that everything’s alright, okay?”

>>1033955

{“Okay! And glad you guys enjoyed the show!”}

{“Just knock on the bark if you need us.”} Flora insists, and with that, the sisters flutter back inside.

Cici waves as they depart and then begins moving back toward the group, the workers apparently having decided it’s safe enough to break out their instruments and begin surveying the land. The voices move to follow, of course. However, fate seems to have other plans in store as dark eyes settle upon them.

With cat-like grace, it comes on them without warning. Like a shadow, silent and deadly all they know a second before their demise is the flutter of bat-like wings, a mouth filled with razor-sharp, tiny fangs snapping closed around them before they even have a chance to react.

Next thing they know, they are back in the bracer, and Cici is relaying the message.

“The bees say they won’t sting you,” Cici promises. “They just wanted to say hi.”

“Reckon we’ll take yer word for it, but the heck was that ball of light or the little things crawling around the trees?”

“Looked like fey magic to me boss,” Larry murmurs. “Ain’t nothin’ good gonna come of it.”

“Larry,” Jared murmurs. “We ain’t here to talk about fairy tales. We’re here to lay down fence work. Now, maybe they are and maybe they aren’t, but they ain’t done us any harm just by bein’ there. And if there’s one thing we oughta have learned over these past few months is that you sure as hell don’t try to hit first.”

“Aye,” Sten grumbles. “Sooner we get it done, sooner we can go home anyway.”

And that proves to be the end of the discussion before they’re back to work and Cici is looking around for the voices.

“Huh? Where did you guys go?”

> Write-in

>>1034096
>Jasmine tried to eat us but we were just a projection so we ae back home in the void.

>>1034096
We're back in your bracer, Cici. No need to worry about us.

Although we should have a little talk with Jasmine about dispelling our corporeal form...

>>1034096
We're right here, back in the bracer.

If you don't mind, please explain to these gentlemen that it was just the legion of disembodied voices in your gauntlet materializing for a stroll around the work area. That should set their minds at ease.

>>1034096

"What was the point of that anyway? It was useless. At most we would be a distraction."

Hey, listen!

>>1034096
We're back in the bracer, Cici. Our form was far more unstable than anticipated.

But now, how about some exploring this part of the woods with Jasmine? Don't stray too far in case the workers need a translator.

File: journey.jpg (6.27 MB, 2716x1810)

6.27 MB JPG

>>1034146
>>1034136
>>1034128
>>1034114
>>1034108
>>1034096

“Jasmine?” Cici questions, looking to the manticore presently licking her paws in the grass. “I'm sorry! Maybe she was hungry again…”

>>1034136

[“I thought it was kind of cute, but the bracer is fine, too. I just like having you guys around.”]

Cici does her best to give her braced arm a hug before a shadow of her own looms over her.

“Cici,” Mama says gently, voice tempered with maternal concern as she scoops her child up into her arms. “Sweetling, please don’t do dangerous things like that, okay? You could have been stung or hurt or…”

She leaves the thought hanging there.

“But Mama, the voices said it was fine…”

“Well, the voices don’t know everything,” she assures her daughter, “and I don’t want you getting hurt, okay?”

“Okay, Mama, I’ll be careful,” Cici promises, looking down to the bunny now propped against her leg. “You were worried too, huh?”

The ever-silent rabbit simply gives her a pleading look until he’s once again back in her arms.

And so, with everything taken care of, Cici spends the rest of the afternoon following the workers on their job. From how to line up a fence or flatten the land to how to dig a post hole and string boards together, she’s always over someone’s shoulder trying to learn. Of course, it only takes one or two earnest attempts at the actual physical labor to realize that she isn’t quite ready for that yet, but the adults all have a good laugh before helping her pat the dirt off and giving her a hug.

Mama promises she’ll teach her some gardening later and how to dig through soft soil to plant things. However, the ever-busy gardener seems genuinely curious in the men’s craft herself at the moment, jotting down notes, digging holes, and talking shop for long hours until the sun has started painting the world a shade of radiant gold.

It’s probably a preferable change from everyone being painted in dirt and sweat, of course, but the smiles are no less genuine before the sun sets than after. Maybe it’s that a day of earnest toil together somehow forges a special bond between people, or perhaps it’s the fact that they had somehow all born witness to the same strange series of events. Whatever the case, the goodbyes as they all drag themselves out of the forest feel warmer and more natural than the greetings that morning as the men depart into the dusk.

Perhaps, for a leader, that was the first step.

File: bun_nap.png (426 KB, 1135x1600)

426 KB PNG

>>1034297

And that's where I think we'll end it for the week folks. Hope you all had fun, and feel free to suggest, offer feedback, etc, below. I'll also have the thread up in the archive shortly.

>>1034312
Thanks for the chapter!

>>1034297
Cici, would you kindly, hug your mother.

File: dfc138bcd4fa0adaf781debba(...).jpg (36 KB, 500x403)

36 KB JPG

>>1034942

Hugs are a given, anon. Never fear.

>>1034937

And you're welcome. As I posted on my twitter for everybody, I think I might try to run a pilot for a new quest tomorrow or the day after. Just keep an eye on my twitter.