>>1786577
>Harita has the right mindset here, wasting energy making comments and showing off is not going to decide who the winner is. Double down and focus on outrunning them both.

Cool, this is up. How're you doin' qm?

>>1786577
>Harita has the right mindset here, wasting energy making comments and showing off is not going to decide who the winner is. Double down and focus on outrunning them both.

>Honestly, you’ve already beat your previous record and couldn’t care less if you won or lost. You’re more curious to see who would win between Rachel and Harita.

>>1786596
Pretty good, got some new art I'm hoping to show off for this thread!

>>1786577
>>Honestly, you’ve already beat your previous record and couldn’t care less if you won or lost. You’re more curious to see who would win between Rachel and Harita.

>>1786604
Nice, looking forward to it.

>>1786577
>>Harita has the right mindset here, wasting energy making comments and showing off is not going to decide who the winner is. Double down and focus on outrunning them both.

oh boy, it's time for our weekly doze

>>1786577
>Honestly, you’ve already beat your previous record and couldn’t care less if you won or lost. You’re more curious to see who would win between Rachel and Harita.
>You still want to run however, just don't take it that seriously. Banter a bit with the gals.

>>1786577
>Harita has the right mindset here, wasting energy making comments and showing off is not going to decide who the winner is. Double down and focus on outrunning them both.

Welcome back to "Purge the Xenos" hosted by Pixel. What'll happen to day? I hope to God that it isn't five Sectopods in one mission

>>1786577

>Harita has the right mindset here, wasting energy making comments and showing off is not going to decide who the winner is. Double down and focus on outrunning them both.

>>1786596
>>1786597
>>1786639
>>1786667
>>1786671
Don't stop running for anything it is then, writing!

File: XCOM Gym.png (520 KB, 1505x312)

520 KB PNG

Rolled 15, 19 = 34 (2d20)

If there’s anything that can throw off Rachel more than anything else it’s not responding to her banter. That, and outrunning the pair is in fact the real deciding factor here, not taunting each other. You quietly are in agreement with Harita as you turn to face the wall and focus on bringing one foot in front of the other.

“You two are no fun!” Rachel complains and you have to suppress the urge to get distracted and laugh at that. You imagine Harita, if she had heard, would have had a hasty apology. However, Rachel is not one to give up in your little race and doubles down. “Fine then, bring it on!”

You concentrate on running, ignoring the pain swelling up in your lungs and legs as your body reaches it’s limit, the rest of the gym fading out around you and it’s only yourself and the treadmill and it’s endless gauntlet.

>Roll 1d20

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>1786711

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>1786711

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>1786711
No whammies

>>1786717
>>1786711
Well, at least we didn't embarrass ourselves.

>>1786714
>>1786715
>>1786717
good start to the night. this will be fun, at least

Rolled 9 (1d20)

>>1786711

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>1786711

Rolled 16 (1d20)

Yeah well the jokes on them because no one beats our vertical leap.

File: DFzj2l2UIAQMoDx.jpg (57 KB, 544x565)

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>>1786717
>it's whammy, not whammies
I fucked up

File: rachel.jpg (504 KB, 830x900)

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Rolled 7, 15 = 22 (2d20)

You run and run, but eventually the screaming within your lungs is too much. Perhaps it’s the fatigue from the Green Fog or perhaps there’s remnants of the Thin Man acid having acted up. However you just quickly realize to yourself that you’re just plain tired and finally relent, slowing down to a slower pace to cool down. This gives an immediate reaction from Rachel.

“Better luck next time, Dozer!” Rachel says. And while she still has the competitive air on her, she doesn’t rub it in, as she’s not out of the woods yet.

Harita however doesn’t even register you’re out and keeps running. Rachel, realizing who her remaining opponent is begins to hastily scramble to keep up. She attempts to banter with her, to try and play mind games with your fellow Assault, but Harita is not having any of it. She’s in her own little world and isn’t looking like she’s winded at all.

Rachel gives a solid effort but eventually she runs out of gas herself, slowing down and panting for breath. “It’s... gotta be her sword training. It’s given her... zen like focus!”

The both of you slow down and just watch Harita who soldiers on for longer than both of you expected before she eventually reaches her limit, slowing down. She seems distracted for a bit, seemingly not realizing you’re both there until you get her attention, causing her to snap out of her focus.

“Well done, you won.” You congratulate her and Rachel shoots a thumbs up coupled with a joking pout.

“Wait… I did?” Harita blinks in surprise. You simply chuckle and Rachel drops her jaw at that. Harita hastily tries to act humble, more embarrassed than anything. “You both did well yourselves! Ah… there’s always the next time?”

“Hey hey, nothing wrong with being humble but you gotta at least have some pride with the winning there Harita!” Rachel says, shaking her head and reaching over to take a swig from her water bottle. After taking a few gulps, Rachel absently hands the bottle to you which you accept and take a sip yourself.

For whatever reason this causes Harita to go beet red, nearly stumbling off of her treadmill in embarrassment. You nearly have to catch her but she manages to correct herself. You and Rachel look confused and worried at your friend but she’s quick to compose herself but her cheeks remained flushed. Maybe her exhaustion has caught up?

“Here.” You say offering the water bottle to Harita. It looks like she needs it after all, however that only causes her to react again as she vigorously shakes her head, blushing brighter from the exhaustion

“You… Americans are something else!” Harita stammers. You and Rachel exchange a look and shrug. You have no idea what Harita is on about. It's probably nothing.

(Part 1 / 2)

File: Peppermint.png (49 KB, 504x1089)

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>>1786854

After winding down and from your workouts, you opted to cool off and take a quick shower to wash away the sweat you had worked out, your companions opting to do the same as well. Upon finishing without issue you made your way out of the showers and note that your squad mates haven’t finished themselves. Walking over to grab some of your stuff you left behind in one of the lockers in the main room however you feel notice someone enter the gym. You look over to see Peppermint make her entrance, in her kit of all things.

Her presence makes the others in the gym part ways as your Russian teammate scans the room, not wanting to be interrupted with whatever her plans are. She then spots you, makes eye contact, and promptly makes a beeline to you with something in her hands. One of the other troopers in the room nearly does a spit take on his drink as you see what she has in her hands.

It’s a letter, a cutesy pink one at that.

“Here.” Peppermint says simply, presenting the letter to you without hesitance… just as you notice Rachel and Harita exits the showers out of the corner of your eye. You look down at the pink letter in Peppermint’s hands and then at her. Is… this really happening right now? You look about and see the rest of the room is floored as well, it seems that whatever is happening is in fact happening. Peppermint clears her throat and you snap your attention back to her, she motions for the letter again, getting annoyed.

“Well?” She says waiting expectantly.

You accept the letter, more out of a lack of really anything else to say at what’s happening. Seemingly satisfied, Peppermint makes her leave, wordlessly exiting the gym and leaving everyone else to just kinda gape and try to process the scene that happened.

“Wha- what the hell was that?” Rachel exclaims utterly flabbergasted, speaking for the room. This has only made Harita look even worse as she covers her face in her hands.

>You have no idea. You’re just as confused as she is!
>It’s probably not what everyone thinks it is. There’s probably a good explanation.. right?
>...Jealous?
>Other.

(Also didn't mean to roll that dice on the first part of the post!)

>>1786861
>...Jealous?

>>1786861
>>...Jealous?
But no really
>You have no idea. You’re just as confused as she is!

>>1786861
>>...Jealous?
Accompanied by an appropriately smug grin, followed by
>You have no idea. You’re just as confused as she is!

>>1786861
>You have no idea. You’re just as confused as she is!
>...Jealous?

Also, flustered Harita is best Harita. We need to think off additional ways to unintentionally ramp up the ramp up the romantic subtext to see more.

>>1786861
>...Jealous?
>You have no idea. You’re just as confused as she is!


>>1786898
Rachel is best girl tho.. she'd have given up X-com for him.

>>1786861
>You have no idea. You’re just as confused as she is!
>You'll still read it of course, but it's probably best to do it away from the watchful eyes of curious onlookers. Y'know, if it's something private.

>>1786861
>>You have no idea. You’re just as confused as she is!

>>178690
I mean ramp it up with Rachel obviously. We already got an indirect kiss - imagine how much we could fluster Harita if we held hands!

Seems to be a combination of both confusion and banter it is then, writing!

File: These two aren't smiling.png (132 KB, 1038x1107)

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Clearly there’s a misunderstanding going on and while you want to throw in your piece of being just as confused as everyone else is in the room… you see an opportunity and take it. Suppressing a devilish grin you compose yourself and begin to idly look at the pink letter in your hands. You turn it once--twice--over inspecting it before shooting a glance over to Rachel.

“What? ...Jealous?” You say to her in wryly and waggle your eyebrow suggestively, trying to keep a straight face. You only just manage to do so.

A moment pauses as the girls register what you just said.

You are then rewarded with the most amazing series of emotions and faces from both Rachel and Harita as they process what you said, a rapid fire barrage of reactions. Really, the only shame about all this is you don’t have anything to take a photo with on you as these reactions are utterly priceless.

“I-I, hell no! I’m just confused and… wait is this some prank you set up with that damn Princess!?” Rachel even manages to say angrily while Harita is… you’re pretty sure she went back into the little world she was in when she was running on the treadmill. You think she’s shut down form all that happened. Rachel notices this and begins to shake her out of it.

Not wanting to have this escalate into violence you quickly throw up your hands, pink letter still held. “I’m joking, seriously, I’m just as confused as everyone else!”

“Uh huh sure! W-well why don’t you just go and laugh it up with that Princess then! Or… or whatever! C’mon Harita we’re out of here!” Rachel stammers not buying it. She shoots a pissed off glance at you before grabbing Harita by the arm and storming out with, your fellow Assault seemingly shellshocked as she’s towed behind Riot.

You stand there for a moment and scratch your chin thoughtfully, while you are going to get hell for that and totally deserve it and should probably apologize later… you can’t say that it wasn’t worth it.

Yep. Totally worth it.

Taking the letter in hand you grab your stuff and leave the gym, walking over to somewhere off to the side to read the letter in privacy. While the thought crosses you it might be what you think it may be or not, you aren’t going to cause a further scene with it. You open the letter and look at the text within, reading it carefully.

‘Shooting Range, 45 minutes from now or sooner. Don’t keep me waiting.’

Uh…

(Part 1 / 2)

File: Logo.jpg (32 KB, 400x400)

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>>1787156

OK, that just only brings up more questions than anything else.

The penmanship you will admit is quite skillful, it’s clear Peppermint put the time and effort to write it. The writing is precise yet flowery in it’s style. It contrasts with the rather blunt message that it’s stating to you. You look further and there’s nothing else you can glean with the note.

You fold it up and place it back in your duffel bag and consider your options before you spot a rather anxious looking Engineer turn around the corner at the end of the hallway and make his way towards the gym. He stops to ask one of the other trooper leaving the gym and manage to overhear that he’s looking for you before the hardhat spots you himself. He moves over to you with intent. He stops in front of you and idly adjusts his hardhat

“The boss wants to see ya’” The engineer says in a South African accent. “Wants ya’ to help him test something out, one of your other squaddies is with ‘im.”

“Which squaddie?” You ask him as you start to wonder why everyone wants your attention all of the sudden today.

“The short one who always lugs around the rocket launcher.” The engineer states. That pretty much fits the description of Naru, your squad’s Rocketeer. Satisfied to have given his message to you the engineer begins to make his leave before stopping to add, “Don’t keep the boss waiting.”

Huh. You consider what to do…

>Well with the letter and everything that happened after it, you need to know what’s going on with Peppermint. Shen and Naru would understand if they saw what just happened.
>This letter stuff is giving you a headache, heading over to the friendly faces in Engineering sounds like a better idea.
>If you’re quick and efficient, maybe you can do both? Everyone wins so long as you don’t stick around. (Pick where you want to go first)

>>1787158
>>Well with the letter and everything that happened after it, you need to know what’s going on with Peppermint. Shen and Naru would understand if they saw what just happened.

>>1787158
>Well with the letter and everything that happened after it, you need to know what’s going on with Peppermint. Shen and Naru would understand if they saw what just happened.

It's poor form to make a woman wait.

>>1787158
>>If you’re quick and efficient, maybe you can do both? Everyone wins so long as you don’t stick around. (Pick where you want to go first)
guns first

>>1787158
>>Well with the letter and everything that happened after it, you need to know what’s going on with Peppermint. Shen and Naru would understand if they saw what just happened.

Make up an excuse--tell the hardhat to tell Shen we feel we mighta pulled something while doing PT and wanna take it easy until our next op.

>>1787158
>Well with the letter and everything that happened after it, you need to know what’s going on with Peppermint. Shen and Naru would understand if they saw what just happened

>>1787161
>>1787162
>>1787167
>>1787209
Getting to the bottom of the mystery of Peppermint it is, writing!

>>1787158
>Head to the range in 45 minutes

>>1787233
Assault x Sniper? What a weird ship

Inb4 through the power of dice gods we wipe the floor.

>>1787158
>>Please tell Shen that we can't come today
AND
>>Well with the letter and everything that happened after it, you need to know what’s going on with Peppermint. Shen and Naru would understand if they saw what just happened.

File: Shooting Range.png (1.64 MB, 1918x1046)

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There’s always next time when dealing with Engineering. As tempting as it would be to see what new fancy toys are in the works to help kill aliens, it is poor form to have a woman wait. That and you are just plain old curious what is up with the enigmatic Peppermint. You begin to make your way over to the shooting range nearby, but not before stopping the Engineer to let Shen and Naru know you have other plans right now.

The engineer shrugs at that and will relay the information. You do notice him shake his head and mutter something about a fire extinguisher to himself. With that sorted, you make your way to your destination.

Whoever had built XCOM HQ were keen enough to understand just how important a good training area is for it’s soldiers. Even the best of the best need to keep their skills sharp, and not skimping on the shooting range is one way to help keep troopers happy. It’s a state of the art sort’ve deal, with a collection of stationary and mobile targets, alongside the ability to custom make one’s range with raisable cover and other such variables one can add to fine tailor the right experience.

However, given the time (which you can only really tell with either checking your own PDA or the like these days) the shooting range is unoccupied except for one other, Peppermint. You hear her rifle before you see her as the distinct shots from her sniper rifle echo in the range. Snipers in XCOM are a rarity from what you had gathered. Partly because of XCOM’s extremely strict recruitment requirements and the usual engagement ranges, XCOM Snipers operate more like designated marksmen or sharpshooters than your traditional sniper.

After donning some hearing protection you cross the distance across the range to the very last booth at the end, where Peppermint resides as you see her waiting patiently with her rifle at the ready for the next target.

(Part 1 / 2)

File: The Floater.png (153 KB, 400x300)

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>>1787382

You stand behind Peppermint not wanting to interrupt her concentration. A few moments pass before she is obliged as a new shooting target springs up down the range. The target a picture of the latest alien enemy. A Floater. Half-machine and half-alien the Floaters are utterly ferocious, alongside the very serious problem of them being able to fly. They were encountered shortly after your last mission and are once again a new threat to deal with. Once again showing your enemies are much more varied than expected. You don’t look forward to dealing with them and the Thin Men for sure.

The Floater target zips around erratically, mimicking the unpredictable flight paths of it’s real life counterpart as Peppermint patiently waits for the perfect moment… but just as she fires, she begins to cough and hack. The shot rings out in the range. The target’s movement stops immediately and hangs there before Peppermint presses a button to have it move back to the booth to examine all the while coughing.

Getting concerned you announce your presence which causes Peppermint to glance over with a flash of surprise in her eyes before holding up a hand up to wait. You notice she has a mask of some kind connected to a cannister that’s clearly from Dr. Vahlen’s labs. She glances back over at the target and you note that it’s a solid hit… on the Floater’s shoulder. Peppermint removes the breathing mask and sets that and her sniper rifle on the booth table and turns to you.

“You’re earlier than I expected.” Peppermint states, clearing her throat.

>Is she alright? You are a concerned with her coughing and the cannister more than anything else.
>You didn’t want to keep her waiting.You’re wondering what she had in mind with you after all.
>Compliment her shot, Floaters are apparently difficult to hit and it looked like she wanted to make the most difficult shot possible.
>Other

>>1787387
>>Compliment her shot, Floaters are apparently difficult to hit and it looked like she wanted to make the most difficult shot possible.
>You didn’t want to keep her waiting.You’re wondering what she had in mind with you after all.

>>1787387
>Is she alright? You are a concerned with her coughing and the cannister more than anything else.

>>1787387
>You didn’t want to keep her waiting.You’re wondering what she had in mind with you after all.

>>1787387
>Is she alright? You are a concerned with her coughing and the cannister more than anything else

>>1787387
>You didn’t want to keep her waiting.You’re wondering what she had in mind with you after all.

Is she intentionally gassing herself to mimic being poisoned by thinmen?

>>1787387
>You didn’t want to keep her waiting.You’re wondering what she had in mind with you after all.

>>1787387
>>Compliment her shot, Floaters are apparently difficult to hit and it looked like she wanted to make the most difficult shot possible.
>Is she alright? You are a concerned with her coughing and the cannister more than anything else.

Tell her she's...pretty good

Though the canister is an obvious conversation piece.

>>1787414
finger gun her

>>1787387
>>Is she alright? You are a concerned with her coughing and the cannister more than anything else.

>>1787387
>>You didn’t want to keep her waiting.You’re wondering what she had in mind with you after all.
>>Compliment her shot, Floaters are apparently difficult to hit and it looked like she wanted to make the most difficult shot possible.

>>1787387
>>>Compliment her shot, Floaters are apparently difficult to hit and it looked like she wanted to make the most difficult shot possible.

It's looking like all of the above, Dozer is one helluva thorough conversationalist, writing!

File: Sniper Rifle.jpg (59 KB, 1024x579)

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“Didn’t want to keep you waiting.” You answer, holding up the pink letter in your hands in front of Peppermint. You want to know what she wants to do with you after all. She glances at the letter for a moment and back at you without batting an eyelash, her face her usual scowl. It’s perhaps even more intense after her coughing fit.

“Good, you are punctual. An... acceptable trait.” Peppermint says with a nod. She keeps her cool for a few seconds before going into a coughing fit again, much to her own disappointment.
You take a step forward holding a hand out ready to steady her lest she loses her balance as she braces her opposite hand on the booth’s table, jostling the cannister slightly. You put your desire to know more aside for a moment as you are more concerned at the state of your teammate.

“Hey, easy there.” You say worried as your gaze is back on the cannister. “...Is that what I think it is?”

“Dr. Vahlen and her team had managed to artificially recreate the Thin Man’s acid. It is not perfect however. They could not make a 1:1 as the substance would corrode the containers.” Peppermint answers once again. It’s clear she’s trying to get accustomed to the acid. The thing though you notice is that her speech is very professional and somewhat… stilted. For a moment you wonder if Peppermint is ever not so serious before stopping.

You barely know her and that’s a bit too immediate to judge her just yet. Peppermint however just… stands there, waiting and expectant for you to speak back. To make matters more awkward is that she keeps her scowl at you, as if you’re at fault for not contributing to the conversation. You scratch your head as you look for something to add, glancing at the target.

“...Uh, nice shot.” You say, motioning to the Floater target. Peppermint raises an eyebrow at that suspiciously, you opt to continue, “That looked like a tough shot, especially under effect of the acid, well d-”

“It’s not good enough.” Peppermint shakes her head. “That was not a kill shot. Not good enough.”

Right… you’re about to fumble for another topic before your conversation is suddenly deemed enough to Peppermint as she begins to walk over to the adjacent booth where a weapon’s case is resting on it's table. She opens it and found within is an XCOM Shotgun and a box of shells. She takes a step back and motions for you to take them.

“Time for practice.” She states, walking back over to her rifle, double checking it over as she takes her station. You blink.

>Woah slow down there, you need a bit more than just that. Like why you’re here and how the hell she managed to get Vahlen to OK a can of imitation Thin Man Acid. You want some answers.
>Well… alright. Peppermint either doesn’t care or will probably tell you why you’re here afterwards. She’s hard to read so it’s probably best not to interrupt and just do what she’s said.
>The letter. You want to ask her about the letter. Why go through all of that when she could’ve just asked you?
>Other

>>1787535
>The letter. You want to ask her about the letter. Why go through all of that when she could’ve just asked you?

>>1787535
>Woah slow down there, you need a bit more than just that. Like why you’re here and how the hell she managed to get Vahlen to OK a can of imitation Thin Man Acid. You want some answers.

remember rule 1: don't fuck with crazy

>>1787535
>>Well… alright. Peppermint either doesn’t care or will probably tell you why you’re here afterwards. She’s hard to read so it’s probably best not to interrupt and just do what she’s said.
Actions are louder than words.

>>1787535
>The letter. You want to ask her about the letter. Why go through all of that when she could’ve just asked you?

>>1787535
>>Well… alright. Peppermint either doesn’t care or will probably tell you why you’re here afterwards. She’s hard to read so it’s probably best not to interrupt and just do what she’s said.

>>1787535
>Other
>why?, why the gas, why the letter, and why me

>>1787542
First off. This is XCOM crazy has left the building. Second, she's a tsundere. Not crazy. Thirdly she's a sniper which is our opposite. Good to have at your back. Not deviating from the Protect Rachel's Smile Path, yet. Still, don't just write her off.

>>1787535
>>The letter. You want to ask her about the letter. Why go through all of that when she could’ve just asked you?

>>1787560
I may have forgotten the fact that we are also suicidally crazy, and therefore the rules don't apply to us. Will opposites attract is the real question...

>>1787535
>The letter. You want to ask her about the letter. Why go through all of that when she could’ve just asked you?

>Well… alright. Peppermint either doesn’t care or will probably tell you why you’re here afterwards. She’s hard to read so it’s probably best not to interrupt and just do what she’s said.

>>1787571
You say crazy, I say driven. We have a gift, that gift is laying waste to the evil alien menace. Not using that gift would be truly insane.

>>1787535
>>The letter. You want to ask her about the letter. Why go through all of that when she could’ve just asked you?

>>1787541
>>1787550
>>1787561
>>1787573
>>1787581
Letter time it is then, writing!

>>1787578
Here's a man with his head on straight

The key to success is P R A C T I C E, so if you want to boomstick while poisoned ya gotta practice

>>1787585
also offer a cough drop

File: She may not in the mood f(...).png (24 KB, 272x419)

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You don’t know how to feel about this turn of events but there is one pink question in your hands you really want to know the answer to. Peppermint gets ready to fire again but senses you haven’t moved to the booth to start practicing. She reaches over to grab the canister of Thin Man acid and looks over to hand to you but pauses as she sees it’s not what you want.

“What was this letter all about?” You ask her, holding it up to her again. The pink paper seemingly shining brighter under the lights on the ceiling. Peppermint cocks her head back and gives you a confused look, as if you asked her some absurd question. You decide to press on. “Why didn’t you just ask me?”

“That’s what I had done.” Peppermint says, narrowing her eyes slightly. Either trying to counter you in annoyance or… does she not understand?

“But… pink?” You reiterate somewhat exasperated before considering things. With your temporarily changed eyes thanks to Dr. Vahlen’s testing, the pink is almost overwhelmingly pink. “Why pink? Surely you must have had some other colored paper. How did you even get that on the b-”

“It is all I had, American!” Peppermint snaps, suddenly fuming. Getting frustrated from possibly her clear dissatisfaction from her shot, the Thin Man acid, your questions, or all of the above. “Why does it being pink matter?! It is just a color!”

She really know then? What in the wor-

She stomps over and attempts to grab the Shotgun to likely place in your hands, although you notice her have immediate trouble trying to hold the solid and dense weapon. She sways a bit and you attempt to help her before she snaps at you again and holds the shotgun out to you, her hands wobbling slightly.

“You are going to take this shotgun and you are going to practice! Then you will practice again under effects the gas! You want to protect what you care for American? To not be caught by surprise again? Then you must outshoot the enemy! Now take this weapon and... shoot!” Peppermint barks at you, trying her best to not scream at you and mostly succeeding. You are taken aback by this and her sudden outburst and can only stand there as she plops the weapon in your hands and stomps back to her booth to get ready to use her Sniper Rifle again.

You’re pretty sure if you said or did anything else otherwise she might explode on you again in a higher magnitude. Without another word you load the shotgun with fresh shells and approach the booth and press the button to load in some targets. For the sake of yourself and the rest of the squad… you should probably humor her… good thing you have your temporary gene modded eyes at least.

>Roll 1d20+4

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>1787641

dice pls

Rolled 16 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>1787641

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>1787641

Is...is this a date? Is this the most ass-backwards attempt at a date while also pursuing your hobbies ever? She seems a lot more flustered than one would expect if this were just practice.

>>1787641

Rolled 11 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>1787641

Rolled 6 + 4 (1d20 + 4)

>>1787641
Rolling for posterity and for peppermint waifuism

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>>1787647

>>1787650
Don't worry about it, it's an obscure Russian Mating Ritual dating back to WW2 when a shitton of snipers for the Russians were female. Sooner or Later we'll be reenacting The Most Dangerous game with Us as the Hunted and Her as the Hunter. We'll only be a worthy mate if We turn the tables on Her and make Her the Hunted instead.

>>1787675
Is vodka involved in this ritual?

>>1787677
most likely

>>1787677
Most certainly, but it's more akin to a more quieter conversation than anything else really.

>>1787677
There is no proper Russian ritual that doesn't involve Vodka at some point.

>>1787677
Also us being butt naked in Siberia.

>>1787690
at least we'll be warm

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You go for a close-medium range set up for your targets and it takes only a moment for your range to set itself up for you. Just as quickly as it sets up, your particular range springs to life as a trio of Sectoids pop up from behind low cover. You spot the targets before they can even fully slide out from their dispensers. Your body reacting noticeably slower than your hyper keen vision which gives you more than enough time to level your shotgun to decimate all three targets with precision.

A trio of shotgun blasts equate to three destroyed targets. You turn your targets into chunks so quickly you’re able to glance over and watch Peppermint do her thing and with the same speed, she’s able to tag her targets in their heads with a successive trio of shots from her rifle. She glances over at your range when she finishes, spots your destroyed targets, and nods in approval.

“Again.” She orders.

You oblige her, and once again that’s another trio of dead sectoid targets on both your end and hers. You manage to keep up pace with Peppermint’s… for a lack of a better word… quick scoping. You can’t believe you just thought that.

“Again, except we raise the stakes.” Peppermint states holding out the cannister. You look down it and can practically see some of the black acrid smoke seemingly roiling within a small glass bit in the cannister. It would be good practice but you are pretty tired from your endurance treadmill race. Peppermint looks expectantly at you, holding it out.

>It’s good practice and you would get better conditioned with the stuff you’ll take a breath of it. It would certainly be a challenge.
>You’re tired and that’s probably not what would be best for you. Declining and explaining why will make Peppermint understand, you’ll still make the target sets more difficult to compensate.
>What the hell, you’ll take a deep breath of the stuff AND make the targets more challenging. All or nothing!

>>1787698
What the hell, you’ll take a deep breath of the stuff AND make the targets more challenging. All or nothing!

>>1787677
>>1787680
>>1787688
>>1787690
Quick addendum: The Most Dangerous Game events will more than likely active during a Terror Mission when human casualties are extremely higher than the norm, and when this happens the Fight or Fuck Instincts kick in and You're gonna realize why Rook is staying in the Skyranger for this one.

>YFW when You're caught between suicide charging the Chryssalids and facing our Russian Sniper who's under the ancestral influence of Rape Mode.
>YFW You have no face because she raped it off of You.

>>1787698
>>What the hell, you’ll take a deep breath of the stuff AND make the targets more challenging. All or nothing!

>>1787698
>>What the hell, you’ll take a deep breath of the stuff AND make the targets more challenging. All or nothing!

>>1787698
>What the hell, you’ll take a deep breath of the stuff AND make the targets more challenging. All or nothing!

>>1787698
>>What the hell, you’ll take a deep breath of the stuff AND make the targets more challenging. All or nothing!
We already do this all the time, best get used to this.

>>1787700
>>1787700
>>1787707
>>1787710
>>1787713
>>1787714
I should not have expected otherwise, writing!

>>1787698
>>It’s good practice and you would get better conditioned with the stuff you’ll take a breath of it. It would certainly be a challenge.

Option 3 will land us in the medabay..AGAIN. ''specially if we roll bad.

>>1787698
>What the hell, you’ll take a deep breath of the stuff AND make the targets more challenging. All or nothing!
Let's go boys

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You nod to Peppermint and take the can. Holding in your hand you consider the hell you went through last time and remember how excruciating it was. However, you are nothing if not a risk taker and after a quick explanation on how to use the breather throw caution to the wind and go all in. You take one long breath of it, to the point where even Peppermint goes wide eyed in surprise. What could go--

Then it hits you and you nearly drop the can, that familiar familiar feeling of the Thin Man acid. You toss the can over to Peppermint and stumble to the booth, going for the most difficult option. Peppermint, not wanting to be out done throws caution to the wind herself and takes a large gulp of the acid. Her hacking and wheezing and the sound of the cannister toppling onto the ground shows you’re both in the thick of it now.

Both you and Peppermint scramble to try and out do the other and finally you manage to get the targets to appear after an agonizing few seconds of waiting.

Two Thin Men and a Floater appear, darting and moving randomly and quickly between heavy cover and in the ‘air’. Eyes blurry you raise your shotgun and take aim…! Fuck this sucks as much as you remember it!

>Roll 1d20. Good Luck!

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>1787734
'Ere we go!

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>1787734

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>1787734
>>1787735
>>1787736
Fuck. We had a good first roll too.

Rolled 4 (1d20)

>>1787734

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Rolled 19, 8, 4 - 2 = 29 (3d20 - 2)

>>1787734
...

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>1787736

Well. Rolling because why not?

Rolled 2 (1d20)

Getting high on acid with the princess...

...I hope Rachel doesn't walk in on us. Or Rook.

>crits override on d20

>>1787736
So we drop the gun and pass out or what?

>>1787752
Ricochet, knocks the gun out of someone's hands. Great anger ensues.

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You steady your aim and get ready to fire… and then you don’t recall what’s next. While you can still see, thankfully enough which is a godsend on it’s own but the combination of your previous exhaustion from your endurance run and the contact of the acid is too much. You are quick to learn that that and huffing Thin Man Acid shortly afterwards DO NOT go well together.

You drop the shotgun on the ground and drop to your knees, gasping and wheezing, your lungs burning like a firestorm. Breath… or not to breath, you are desperately struggling with that question. Peppermint rushes over to you the moment she realizes what is happening, her own rifle being knocked over on the ground like nothing. You have a moment of cognizance in the pain and feel a pang of guilt as you know just how lovingly Peppermint cares for her rifle, oops.

However even as Peppermint herself is hacking and wheezing she’s quick to drag you over to lean against the booth as she quickly reaches for something else in her bag, a high pressured oxygen breather. She jams it in your hands and manages to get the breather to your lips before she herself devolves into coughing fits.

Not hesitating, your lungs are immediately relieved as fresh oxygen enters your lungs. You’re not sure at the science of how it helps but you are NOT complaining, no sir. You just sit there as you take in every fresh gulp of air from the can. Peppermint slides down to sit down beside you as she herself deals with the acid. After some time you realize that Peppermint herself probably needs some and you offer it to her only for her to shake your head, insisting you need it more.

You try and cough a rebuttal but her glare is shuts you up immediately. Eventually you feel your lungs are only a dull throbbing pain and frankly… you don’t think you’re going to be up for any more training like that any time soon. Eventually Peppermint manages to compose herself and turns to you, eyes still watery from the pain.
“Why…? Did you… what is wrong with… you… American?” Peppermint says. managing to formulate that sentence with some difficulty.

>You did what came naturally for better or worse. Go big or go home. You can’t help yourself.
>Why did she follow what you did? That was stupid on her part for following your stupidity.
>You are frankly to out of it to comment. You probably had a good reason before but you just forgot, probably.
>Other

>>1787777
>Other
>Kiss her

>>1787777
>You did what came naturally for better or worse. Go big or go home. You can’t help yourself.

>>1787777
>'You wanted me to give it my all, so I gave it my all.'
>>You did what came naturally for better or worse. Go big or go home. You can’t help yourself.

>>1787777
>>You did what came naturally for better or worse. Go big or go home. You can’t help yourself.

>>1787786
this also

>>1787777

>You did what came naturally for better or worse. Go big or go home. You can’t help yourself.

Might want to call a doctor. Or Sweet.

>>1787777
>>Why did she follow what you did? That was stupid on her part for following your stupidity.

>>1787780
might not be such a good idea while we're both choking on alien gas

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You try to explain yourself, this is what you do. It’s why you signed up for the FBI, why you went for the one and a million shot to save your buddy being mind controlled back in Arizona. Why you almost gave Rook an aneurysm chasing after Burnout. You make the play so nobody has to, you go big or g--

You don’t get a chance to say it at first as cough and cough again, which only makes Peppermint look even more frustrated, as if wanting to wring you out herself for your actions if it weren’t for the fact the acid is doing it for her. However you take one last long breath of air, using the last of the oxygen can, dropping it on the floor. It rolls against your leg.

“You wanted me to give it my.. All… so I gave it my.. All.” You say. Peppermint looks at you for a long moment, trying to figure out how to react at that.

There’s nothing else to add besides managing to muster a sheepish look, what else is there to say really? You think she gets the idea as she groans and stands up, picking up her rifle and slinging it on her shoulders. With another grunt she walks back over to you and grabs your hand tightly trying to pull you up with hard yank.

“Wha--” You try and figure out what’s going on be she is having none of it and you’re not in a good state to say anything.

“We. Are going. To Medbay.” Peppermint grits her teeth as she begins to drag you to it, not letting go of your hand. You try to say or show that you can handle yourself, but Peppermint doesn’t give you an inch as she continues to lead you out of the shooting range towards the Medbay. She doesn’t let go of your hand, as you’re being led out your mind races at the explosion of rumors that may lead to this. Troopers are even more gossipy than old wives, and even you know this... Do you struggle lest everyone in the base gets the wrong idea?

>No way, this is just going to be a major headache. You can handle yourself for both your own sake and hers!
>You feel like utter shit right now, frankly you couldn’t care less what people think. Let them watch.
>Other

>>1787814
>No way, this is just going to be a major headache. You can handle yourself for both your own sake and hers!

>>1787814

>You feel like utter shit right now, frankly you couldn’t care less what people think. Let them watch.

She's a qt

>>1787814
>You feel like utter shit right now, frankly you couldn’t care less what people think. Let them watch.

>>1787814
>>No way, this is just going to be a major headache. You can handle yourself for both your own sake and hers!

>>1787814
>>You feel like utter shit right now, frankly you couldn’t care less what people think. Let them watch.

>>1787814
>No way, this is just going to be a major headache. You can handle yourself for both your own sake and hers!

>>1787814
>>You feel like utter shit right now, frankly you couldn’t care less what people think. Let them watch.

>>1787814
>>No way, this is just going to be a major headache. You can handle yourself for both your own sake and hers!

>>1787814
>You feel like utter shit right now, frankly you couldn’t care less what people think. Let them watch.

>>1787821
>>1787822
>>1787827
>>1787831
>>1787838
Let them watch then, writing!

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You consider trying to escape this fate, but frankly you are in physical state to free yourself from Peppermint’s grip. All you can do is be paraded to your fate. Immediately you get looks and glances over from some of the auxiliary XCOM staff. Stares from the Blueshirt Security before they are quick to look away and play dumb when you spot them, the works. And, as you had feared, the other troopers stop what they are doing as they are bestowed upon the sight of the excessively grumpy and standoffish Peppermint dragging you along. Seemingly either indifferent or not realizing the gravity of the situation, your Russian squad member being just as stubborn as you can be, which is a problem.

Already, like the old wives they all are, the troopers in the other squads begin to chat among themselves, it’s only a matter of time now before everyone knows.

However, be it a moment of clarity or an act of last minute desperation to escape the really really really annoying next couple of days, you begin to frantically try and steer or suggest to Peppermint particular routes or paths, in the vain hope of avoiding certain members of your squad. It’s going to be bad enough if they found out… but seeing it? You’ll never hear the end of it from them.

You grit your teeth and try for one last, perhaps futile, attempt of salvaging this situation that is spiraling out of control.

>Roll 1d20

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>1787859

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>1787859

Rolled 2 (1d20)

>>1787859

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>1787859

Rolled 17 (1d20)

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>>1787861
>>1787868
>>1787869

>>1787887

That's XCOM, baby.

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You manage to wrangle some control as you try and steer your stubborn squadmate through some side paths and less straightforward routes through high traffic sections of the base, like the main elevator system. Somehow managing to, through the coughing, explaining that you know ‘shortcuts’. Wanting to get this over with faster, Peppermint mostly follows your directions.

However, your luck can only extend so far as you cut past the armory only to see Babbler and Burnout who appeared to have been tasked with helping with inventory today, whether they liked to or not. You and Peppermint immediately make their day however as the pair spot you. A mixture of awe and confusion can be plainly read in Babbler’s face for all but half a second until he begins to have the world’s biggest shit eating grin you had ever seen.

Smiling from ear to ear he shoots two thumbs up at you and Peppermint. You hastily shake your head trying to explain wordlessly, but Babbler merely nods to you in reply. Your team’s Gunner is barely able to contain his excitement at the scene as you Peppermint scoffs at him. This only makes Babbler grin wider, how you have no idea.

Burnout’s reaction is a raised eyebrow and nearly dropping his cigarette. You feel a bit better at that reaction, but the frenchman is nothing if not brutally honest in his comments. Both he and Babbler begin to talk among themselves as you walk past and all you can do is groan and cough.

You nearly panic as you see Harita and Rachel exit the cafeteria, the former nearly fainting at the sight while the latter is looking away back into the cafeteria, boisterously chatting away with someone else. Harita tugs at her braids for a moment helplessly before, in one is probably the best luck you’ve had all day, your fellow Assault turns around and begins to push a confused Rachel back inside the cafeteria. She slams the door shut behind her while letting off a barrage of apologies to her friend. Peppermint cocks her head in confusion at the sight and shakes her head before yanking your forward again.

...You owe her. Assaults stick together it seems.

(Part 1 / 2)

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>>1787898

Eventually, you both manage to finish your march to the medbay without anybody else seeing you as an amused nurse leads you both to be treated. Peppermint is clearly relieved for a moment before shooting you an annoyed look for having to drag you over in the first place. You try and counter that it was her idea but decide it’s best not to comment lest she goes off on you in front of the medical staff Oddly enough as you both are situated you see another familiar face being treated for her own injuries.

It’s Naru, and judging by the ointment and bandages all around her right arm it looks like she’s being treated… for burn wounds? You also see her face is smudged with soot. Her rocket launcher resting beside her bed as your Rocketeer has a clearly a glum look on her face.

“Yo.. don’t worry about me, just 1st degree.” Naru groans idly feeling her eyebrows to see if they haven’t been burned off. They aren’t. You and Peppermint exchange a look and feel a pang of guilt, did something happen in Engineering? What the hell did you miss back there?

“What happened to you?” Peppermint asks with a raised eyebrow and a cough.

“I would ask the same thing...” Naru grumbles back. “But you know what? Don’t ask and I won’t ask what happened to you guys alright? I’m not in the mood to explain.”

“Works for me.” You say quickly before Peppermint can react and thankfully all she does is shrug, you are in the same boat as Naru after all. You can only imagine how you’re going to talk yourself out of this one, but frankly you’re too tired to care. Upon settling down on the bed to await treatment, you promptly pass out as the fatigue catches up with you. You’ll deal with it later…

>And with that we’ll call it here. Thin Man Acid might be shaping up to be Dozer’s main nuisance, hopefully that isn’t the case. At the very least you guys getting the bad luck out of your system before the next mission! So until then…

Thanks for playing!

>>1787901
Thanks man! Good thread!

Will we still get to test out engineer's new toys? I hope we didn't miss the chance completely.

There's no concept of personally delivered love letter in Russian culture, and I doubt there's a concept of indirect kiss in Nepal one.
Which means we're surrounded by raging weeaboos.

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>>1787911
Good lord...

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>>1787908
Not at all! You'll be having some more open ended free time next thread and there's always more opportunities down the line.

>>1787911
Ayy lmao

>>1787913
I bet the only trooper to not watch anime is Naru.

>>1787911
>yfw it really was just a letter and Peppermint only has pink paper because she likes the color

>yfw Harita is just a germophobe specifically when it comes to saliva-borne pathogens

>>1787935
Reminder that I said it would land us in medbay. Oh well, at this rate we will be developing a tolerance for Thin Man acid.

>>1788225
all we have to start doing now, is shoot ourselves will .22s, and work our way up. soon we'll be imune to bullets as well.

>>1788247
I thought you could build up resistance to certainpoisons (which admittedly are not insanely strong like Thin Man poison gas)

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>one day we'll be able to walk right up to Thin Men, unflinching as they Acid us
>Thin Man looks on in legitimate shock and horror as we walk straight up to it and choke it to death with our bare fucking hands
>doesn't even move out of the way or dodge because its that frozen in having its superiority broken beyond all possible repair
We better pull this shit off later Pixel.

>>1788410
>finally at the end of the conflict
>super Ethereal tries to mind control MC to stop him
>all the Ethereal sees is an empty world of salt and liquid hatred over the 1 that was just rolled
>Ethereal has Panicked

>>1788410
Why don't we just wear rebreathers on missions until we are immune to their gas. Surely x-com has such basic equipment.

>>1788470
>Surely X-Com can recruit people able to hit the wider side of a barn
>Surely X-Com has rifles able to shoot more than three bursts without reloading.
>Surely X-Com can issue troopers more that two grenades at a time

>>1787911
I can buy Peppermint just having happened to use pink paper, but Harita really is a raging westaboo

>>1788494
Sorry, my /k was acting up

>>1788470
Presumably the acid will screw up any standard rebreathers.

>>1788494
>>Surely X-Com can issue troopers more that two grenades at a time
If you need more than 2x6 grenades on a mission you're in deep trouble.

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>>1797717
I don't know, I'd rather err on the side of caution

also there's no overkill, there's only "open fire" and "need to reload"

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>>1797721
also it seems xcom way of handling things with liberal use of explosives has a long tradition indeed

>>1797717
I also need medpacks and scopes and other things.