>>1435261
“Don’t go sneaking up on me like that,” the older girl huffs as her smile turns toothy and sinister, “Because while that hair of yours is a lot shorter, don’t think I won’t tie you to this swing set by it again,”

So, identities are coming down soon. You can feel Midori stiffen at Hisako’s teasing, but she clicks her tongue and stands her ground.

“I like the big cape, honestly,” Zoisite Knight offers drolly, while leaning against the slide, “Welcome to the team,”

“Well, if it works it works,” Kunzite Knight laughs from her seat upon the schoolyard wall, “Like these dramatic entrances,”

You nod, sharing Kairi’s laugh, only for it to be interrupted by Saori stumbling out of the shrubberies. Wearing a plastic oval mask.

“uh...I’m here too,” she offers.

Hisako, and the others, release their disguises and begin to make more personable introductions. Kairi is being decidedly friendly and welcoming to Hisako as Midori hangs back a bit.

As Koito breaks out the snacks, Saori hurriedly provides a picnic blanket. As you dismiss your robes and take your place among them, there is a friendly atmosphere that belies what uncertainty you still have left to face tonight.

Though you are drawn back into things as Midori and Hisako seem to warm up to one another, your Knight Marshal getting over her longstanding fear of the white haired girl. Time moves quickly as you are amused at how Koito has no patience for your newest Knight’s sense of posturing.

She has questions, of course. About what happened the other night, about each of you and...it’s just an introduction as everyone finds their dynamic.

>Saori is being a bit quiet. That’s natural for her, especially after earlier but you do want to help draw her out more.
>Kairi seems to be very social, trying to offset her earlier adventure at Gai’s. Take her temperature and catch up.
>Midori still seems a bit nervous around the newest of the Knights. Focus your attentions on her and remind her that you have her back.
>Koito seems to be on the outskirts of this social situation, maybe because he’s the only boy. Continue to build your repertoire with him.
>Spend more time chatting with your newest Knight.
>Write in

(30 minute voting window from first vote cast for Opening post. Subsequent posts will have some variable of time for voting)

>>1435269
>Koito seems to be on the outskirts of this social situation, maybe because he’s the only boy. Continue to build your repertoire with him.

>>1435269
>Midori still seems a bit nervous around the newest of the Knights. Focus your attentions on her and remind her that you have her back.
Can't have our Knight-Marshall feeling cowed by thr new recruit.

If we have time for a second, I'd say talk encourage Koito to join in as well.

Best girl is getting better with the social stuff, I'm sure Saori'll jump in at the least socially acceptable time on her own.

As tired as I am, this might be it until I've napped a bit. Good seeing you!

Nap well, we will be back later on Sunday after a few updates I will be breaking tonight.

How is everyone tonight?

>>1435413
I’m good, though I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stick around tonight myself.

Extending vote by a tad.

>>1435545
I’m willing to switch to >>1435398

Writing.

Midori’s history with Hisako Ito roils up to the front of your mind as you observe the various interactions. It wouldn’t do for your Knight Marshal to appear weak or faltering in front of an old foe turned ally, especially considering that playful opening threat between them.

Biding your time, popping a few gyoza for your trouble, you wait for an exchange between the pair of former delinquents that feels...right. Like the right time to intercede. You don’t have to wait long.

“This isn’t just about being tough,” she retorts back to an offhand and dismissive remark Hisako made about feeling invincible, which you think might have been intentional bait on her part, “It’s about being aware of our strengths and weaknesses together,”

There it is.

“And that kind of stubborn maturity is why Jade is my number two,” you lean over to interject and throw an arm around your blonde friend’s shoulder.

You can feel that nervousness you detected in her evaporate to a swell of pride, and maybe a tinge of annoyance.

“It’s a big responsibility to be the big sis,” Hisako reasons at Midori’s attitude and your vote of confidence, “Guess you have come a long way since you tried to press on my turf,”

She hums to herself, before slamming her hands on her crossed and seated knees and laughs.

Its momentarily unnerving as you talk up how Midori has handled being Knight Marshal so far, to her obvious embarrassment. The biting exchange that follows between you perhaps helps cement your intended manipulations.

Sighing, you glance over to Saori trying to gossip about something or other to Kairi-chan...your spymaster clearly still wearing the plastic party mask. Mostly it seems to be several false starts, as she warily glances over to the far more open Hisako. Thinking better of forcing her forward, you decide to let the shy girl act in her own time.

Though you notice someone being a bit quiet. Koito Kino.

Not so surrprisng considering he’s the only boy here. Even if he regards Kairi-chan as his Senpai, there’s a different social dynamic at play here and now. Disengaging from Midori, your turn your attention toward the youngest member of your entourage.

“Say, your Gyoza is really good tonight Koito,” you question through the other conversation, “What’s your recipe?”

He responds rather mechanically, prompting Hisako to question one of his seasoning choices that she hadn’t noticed. You imagine being in college she’s probably mostly responsible for her own meals.

All in all things you smoothly, and all too soon this impromptu after dark picnic concludes…

And you do have business to attend to at home.

>Eclipsed Moon Quest Episode 148
Thread Pause

Back in the morning

Awake, writing.

>Eclipsed Moon Quest Episode 148
Thread Resume

The six of you splinter off from one another after cleaning up after this concealed and after dark meet up. A text to artemis informing him of Hisako’s need for a base keycard along with instructions to the girl for access close the gather.

Goodbyes are brief, and high spirited. Tomorrow holds the promise of a decided holding pattern while you sort your plans out to pursue Amazonite. Even with such at the end of your journey, which does admittedly make you a touch anxious, these could be days of calm.

Except for what waits for you tonight.

The house isn’t quiet. Your father still caring for the infant who is in truth the purified clone of ancient Queen Kalyke, the child wailing over a half full bottle she clearly isn’t drinking from. Appearing quite haggard, your father father looks up toward you from the couch where you see an exhausted Luna draped across his shoulder.

The black furred cat exhales and meets your gaze. Her nose crinkling, and her face expressing disapproval, probably able to smell the linger cigarette smoke on you.

“Evening,” your father waves unceremoniously with the baby bottle in his hand, baby Kalyke now reaching for it as he pulls it away.

“Hey,” you look at the situation before you, “Are you doing alright, dad?”

“Me, I’m fine,” he yawns, “Just fine,”

“Did Koyomi get home?” you question with a brief worry of uncertainty.

“She’s upstairs,” Luna offers a tired meow, “After she spent some time cooing over the baby,”

That seems like something she would do, even with the weight of whatever it is Aiha and Rin saw beside her when she...

>Head upstairs to unload and then sit down with your little sister.
>Stay and chat a bit with Luna, your father, and the baby, about what?
>Write in

>>1436480
>Stay and chat a bit with Luna, your father, and the baby, about what?
How’s the baby doing?

>>1436480
>Stay and chat a bit with Luna, your father, and the baby, about what?
Help get baby to drink.

>>1436517
Think we should bring them in on Koyomi? Make it a family effort to figure this out.

>>1436556
I can support that.

Writing

Artemis reports 4chan communication errors from the moon and/or twitter.
Let's see if I'm still working. Test?

>>1436909
I also follow Shinigami Savant Quest and the QM there is saying the same thing.
>>1436782

Testing short post?

Somehow I posted in QST

...THE FUCK!?

File: Empty Eyes Unravel.jpg (43 KB, 624x467)

43 KB JPG

Test post with an image?

Alright, yeah I can't write full posts. Gonna take thirty minutes to grab food and come back

“Then she can wait for me a few minutes,” you shrug and set your bag down before leaning over to take the baby from your father, along with the bottle.

“Be forewarned, she’s fussy,” your dad stretches and gets off the couch.

“And teething,” Luna laments as you catch sight of a bandaged tail curled under her paws.

Bouncing the child in your arms, impressed as she wails a moment before burbling in confusion while lifting her head toward you. She promptly screams again.

“Shh shh shh,” you offer while further bouncing the child as she turns and stares at random things and nothing in the distance.

“So how did things go?” your father asks after he and Luna return from the kitchen, with one of the juice boxes that usually serve as a lunch companion for you or your sister’s lunches and a small can of sardines he twists open and sets down for Luna.

Huh, you guess since the kitten she’s off the diet cat food.

“Which things?” you question as take a moment to adore the pinkening scrunchy face of the cutie who you’ve taken.

“Well, all four of their stones are gone,” he muses with a tired and wistful smile, “So what I’m asking is, how did finding your last Knight go?”

You nod, as Kalyke finally takes hold of the bottle from you and bites down onto the nub eagerly.

“She was actually the friend of a friend,” you explain, “She helped when our friend in common turned into a dragon, I think she’s pretty cool and we have a solid rapport,”

He nods.

“Well, if it’s all the same to you I would like to meet your retainers assembled,” he fiddles with the straw, “When you have the chance,”

“Feeling nostalgic, old man?” you playfully jeer at him as the baby has gone quiet and is finally eating calmly in your arms.

“Hey now,” he pouts, but then smiles back as he sits back on the couch, “And, maybe I am. Also, I’m not old until my hair is shock white,”

That joking correction makes you laugh, and Kalyke seems to have quickly finished her bottle. Setting it down on the coffee table next to Luna, the baby looks up at you with watery and large eyes making uncomfortable burbles.

“Sure, sure,” you rub and gently pat the baby’s back, “I’ll see if I can have them all over some time soon,”

“Careful now,” Luna offers up from her sardines, cryptically.

>It's time to head upstairs
>Tell Dad and Luna about what might be happening upstairs
>Ask Luna what she means?
>write in

>>1437148
>It's time to head upstairs

>>1437148
>>It's time to head upstairs

>>1437148
>Ask Luna what she means?
Maybe concern about secrecy or drawing attention? Or disturbing the baby?

>Tell Dad and Luna about what might be happening upstairs
Think we're agreeing on this, bringing in family seems fair, a little less secrecy.

We're back.

>>1437148
>>Tell Dad and Luna about what might be happening upstairs

Leaving this vote open for the full 30, so there's about 15 left.

Sorry for slow thread two days in a row.

Alright, let's get writing and it seems combining.

You continue to bounce and pat at Kalyke, intending to get her to burp for the sake of alleviating her obvious discomfort, though you decide you may as well let your father and Luna know what is about to happen upstairs.

“Oh, so if you hear anything strange upstairs,” you offer in nonchalance while still holding the child, “It’s because Koyomi and I are exorcising a weird spirit or chaos infection she picked up when using some kind of empathic healing power on me,”

The cat stares at you. Your father stares at you. The baby spits up on your shoulder, and then burps.

“Eww,” you exclaim in surprise.

“I’ll get a paper towel,” your father shakes his head and sets down his drink, “Don’t make a mess dispelling evil spirits,”

He is taking this surprisingly well, you think while cringing beneath the slick sliding down your arm and back. Ugh, it’s in your hair.

“Well, we don’t know if it’s evil yet,” you muse and take the offered towel from your father as Luna resumes her humanoid form and takes the baby from you to clean her up, “Or what it is...just that it’s there,”

Baby Kalyke seems much happier. Good for her, you think as you wipe away the brief and unexpected sick.

“We’ll be here if the two of you need help,” Luna offers while cleaning up the child.

“You two are taking this pretty well,” you offer while balling up the paper towel.

“Yeah, well,” your father yawns, “What’s old is new, and if I’ve learned anything its that I can trust you and Koyomi to see things through,”

“You aren’t worried about what happened the other-”

He lays a hand on your shoulder, it’s balming to any confusion or worry.

“I constantly want better for you and Koyomi than what your mother and I went through, kid,” he sighs, with soft and regretful eyes, “And knowing that you can do for one another what we didn’t know what your mother could do to herself once upon a time...all I can do is believe in the both of you,”

Nodding, as he wipes one last bit of spit up out of your hair, you give your father a hug and head upstairs. Koyomi’s door is open, as she sits hunched over her desk drawing with fervor as cute bunny headphones pulse with LED patterns to the music she listens to.

Her hair is down, unbound and long. As she sits it just brushes the floor. There is no worry or apprehension on her features, just concentration as she draws.

>Remove headphones
>Hug the imouto
>Telepathic attention grabber
>Wait for her to finish this drawing and snag it
>Write in

>>1437531
>Hug the imouto

>>1437531
>Hug the imouto

Writing momentarily

>>1437531
>Hug the imouto
Hugs make everything better

>>1437674
Aye, hug powers, activate!

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33 KB JPG

Sneaking up behind her, and reaching low through the curtain of her hair, you tightly hug your baby sister. Chest pressing into the back of her chair, she yelps at the sudden arms and her pencil clatters on her desk. With a raised hand she stumbles to take off her headphones and turns to see what has grasped her.

“Oh, Mikage-nee?” she questions with sudden ease of mind, “You scared me,”

“Yeah, well you were so deep into drawing your-” you pause as you rise up and look over her shoulder at the latest drawing of a few stacked before your younger sister, “what are these?”

Geological patterns. Mathematical fractals. The swirls of a magic eye poster. At a glance they don’t make any sense or shade of reason.

“Things I wanted to get on paper that don’t make sense...before we take care of things tonight,” she explains with a pout, “but...”

You nod and release your hug, expecting this to turn serious, only for your sister to spin in her chair and leap out to tackle you in a similar fashion.

“SNEAK ATTACK!” the young bunny cries out whilst you have the forethought to catch her in a counter hug under her arms, which you imagine was her intention as you again hug and are hugged by your baby sister.

She leans back and on her knees, after disengaging the hug, her smile settling into an apprehensive but serious expression.

“So, how do we do this? What are we even doing?” she asks.

>We could do this in dreams
>Can we talk a bit first, what to talk about?
>I could, maybe try the fangs?
>We could use the crystals to double down on purification magic
>write in

>>1438028
>>We could use the crystals to double down on purification magic

>>1438039
>We could use the crystals to double down on purification magic
Suggest follow-up with >fangs

>>1438028
>>Can we talk a bit first, what to talk about?
What are these drawing your trying to get down?
>>We could use the crystals to double down on purification magic

>>1438028
>We could do this in dreams
Dream walks haven't failed us yet

>>1438028
>We could do this in dreams

>>1438028
my god that is a cute picture.

glad to see your still running this Art.

been a long time.

thank you for your persistence.

>crystals
>fangs

So, we got

4 for Crystal
2 of which chase with fangs
2 Dream walks

Writing

>>1438119
You are welcome anon.

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>>1438119
>glad to see your still running this Art.
>been a long time.
>thank you for your persistence.

“Well, I was thinking we could use the crystals double to down on purification magic,” you offer as you sit on your little sister’s bed, “To start, and fangs to test the aftermath,”

She sits, and nods.

Purification will take care of shadows, you imagine. However there is something that was making you sick drawn into her. You were having a panic attack and entirely out when she used her power on you and you haven’t had one since.

She, however, has been alright. Maybe a little more focused and capable…

One person’s malady may be another’s strength…but not for the dreams she has seen. The awareness and connection to the enemy.

It makes her vulnerable, this touch of chaos.

“Do we have to do the fangs?” she closes her hands into her lap and asks nervously, “I mean I understand why, but do we have to?”

You nod firmly. You need to be sure about this after the fact of action...not later when you sleep. It would be easy to check her out with a walk through the dreamscape, but you would rather be sure in the moment...and with that in mind.

“I’m sure, if there’s a chaos taint within you I’ll know as soon as I bite,” you assure, “And I’ll make sure it’s out of you,”

She pouts.

“Then again, I could go into your dreams?”

“..but then we wouldn’t know right away,”

“That’s right,”

“Okay, fine. You can bite me when we’re done,” she rises off the floor and retrieves her locket from the desk, while you unclasp the broach.

Both open revealing silver and gold stones. Faceted and gleaming. There remain a few faint seams on your stone, the Golden Crystal.

“Let’s do this,” she offers, sitting back down opposite of you.

Whatever is inside of her...it’s not like what you fought together inside of Kalyke…

>Bid all of your MP
>Bid ¾ of your MP
>Bid half your MP
>Write in

&

>Do you want to bid any Vitality?
>Do you want to bid any wounds?
>Do you want to bid any stress?

>>1438523
>>Bid ¾ of your MP
>Do you want to bid any stress?
like 50% stress

>>1438523
I’ll back >>1438542

Writing

It isn’t as dangerous a situation, you hope, as it was before. This isn’t in the lab, its home.

Taking a deep breath, your little sister doing the same, the crystals begin to shine. Koyomi takes the gem from its setting, clasping it gently as she raises her hand.

You take it, completing a magical circuit. She turns her power into the silver crystal and then inward. You pour most of your energies into it. Digging beyond your magic and burning with the worry and uncertainty using up your mental strength and fortitude toward the same end.

These thoughts, and this situation, truly will leave you shaken in some manner.

In this process, you close your eyes to the blinding light. There is Chaos inside of your sister, weak and clustered inside of her at the edge of her heart and the core of her nerves. This power surely burns it away, your magics intermingling in precious sparkling power.

It is over quickly. There is no resistance, or great struggle. It just is.

When this brilliance fades, the two of you are again clad in pink and white. Elaborate and flowing gowns bunched up by your kneeling proximity.

“Is...is that it?” she questions as she withdraws her hand and lays it over her heart, “I feel a bit light headed,”

“I’ll find out,” you offer and lean over the distance between you and offer softly, “Close your eyes if you’re scared,”

She whimpers in worried anticipation and brief anxiety before she nods and acquiesces to this. Fangs that pierce no skin, but tap into the mind and spirit extend as you carefully bite where her neck meets her shoulder as exposed by the gown.

Tasting her superficial fear at being bitten, you find no trace of chaos within your sister. Just as well.

“You’re clear,” you offer her with a smile as you lean back, relieved.

“Yay!” she cheers, but you aren’t entirely certain.

Dismissing the assumed gowns for your actual clothes and bidding each other goodnight, you return to your room. Once there something grips you as you consider everything that has happened so far, even in this safe place. The walls become distant but far too close. Your voice dies in your throat.

With no clear source or trigger, all alone, you are again beset by panic.

Eclipsed Moon Quest Episode 148
End

Interlude in the morning.

>>1438943
Go downstairs and ask for a hug from your dad Mikage.

Thanks for running Artemis.

>>1438943
Night Art

Maybe 50% was way too much, damn

>>1438961
Considering how hard it has been to recover Stress, I'm surprised we went that way.

File: positive bunny.gif (40 KB, 552x552)

40 KB GIF

>>1438943
Thanks for the run!

>>1438961
>>1439060
Aye.

>>1439060
I may have forgotten that stress was hard to recover

Interlude: Man about Town

“And knowing that you can do for one another what we didn’t know that your mother could do to herself once upon a time...all I can do is believe in the both of you,” you finish as your daughter looks into your eyes apprehensively, before nodding and finding her resolve.

Giving your child a brief but tight hug before she bolts upstairs, you hold composure until she is out of sight. Turning toward Luna, she finds herself frozen by your expression. Briefly, in your youth, you thought distance and the martyrdom of isolation was the best you could do to protect those you loved from hardship or your own fears about the future. Time and time again, you have found instead faith in the family you have built together with Usako.

Kalunite, or at least his undead remnant, murdered Koyomi. For his transgression he was destroyed by Mikage after she used powers akin to her mother's and brought her sister home. Part of you wonders if Koyomi could have pulled herself back as Usako had so many times before. As she had pulled you back so many times.

Too many times, by your measure, in the past.

"What are you planning," Luna asks with the authoritarian tone she once used toward you and Usako when you were still young.

She sees it. The cold fury and determination to action.

"Kalunite was a puppet," you remember his face from that life, but don't remember him particularly well, "I'm going to cut to the heart of this, while the girls continue going as they have,"

Your girls have had to endure too much, by your measure.

Luna nods.

"When what ever they do now is done, and they are both asleep tonight, I am going to do something...decisive," you say with calm poise as the top hat rolls down the length of your arm and into your hand.

File: 1392702138750.gif (20 KB, 206x240)

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>>1439301
Now I really hope Mikage shows up to ask for a hug.
Doing something decisive sounds like a good bonding experience.

>>1439338
Looks like we left with an old fashioned panic attack. Best we can hope for is that we're catatonic.

I can't tell if it is from the stress we took on, or from whatever it is we're fighting in ourselves and Koyomi, or just getting back what Koyomi took.