>>2057312
>'Um, how personal?'
>'Tenryuu, we're connected. I think we left boundaries some time ago.' (Reassure her)
>'Right. No.' (Decline)
>Write-In

>>2057320
>>'Tenryuu, we're connected. I think we left boundaries some time ago.' (Reassure her)

>>2057320
>>'Tenryuu, we're connected. I think we left boundaries some time ago.' (Reassure her)

>>2057320
>>'Tenryuu, we're connected. I think we left boundaries some time ago.' (Reassure her)

>>2057320
>>'Tenryuu, we're connected. I think we left boundaries some time ago.' (Reassure her)

>>2057320
>'Tenryuu, we're connected. I think we left boundaries some time ago.' (Reassure her)

I already proposed you for us to run away together.

>>2057320
>'Tenryuu, we're connected. I think we left boundaries some time ago.' (Reassure her) Time to slake her THIRST?

File: Not Bad Not Bad.jpg (158 KB, 850x1020)

158 KB JPG

'Tenryuu,’ you begin, giving a reassuring smile and placing your hands on her shoulders, ‘we’re connected—any boundaries between us on this level … we’ve left them behind, in the past.’

‘Way to ruin the mood,’ she snorts, playfully flicks you on the nose. ‘Has anyone ever told you how corny you can get, sir?’

You only shrug in response. It hadn’t failed you so far. There was no reason to stop now.

Yes, there is.

Shut up.

Tenryuu sighs as she takes a step back, turning her head skywards as her chest heaved up and down with every breath she took. Her form trembles slightly, as though she is struggling with something, throwing a ponderous glance your way every instant that she could manage. You notice a light pink on her face as her breathing goes more and more ragged—you’d never seen a KanMusu out of breath or even tired just from standing still … and Tenryuu’s mannerisms and lack of words had you a little bit more worried than usual. She finally kicks some sand into the water before placing her hands on her hips and puffing out her—considerable, even with your experience—chest, marching right up to you.

‘I’ve been in this business for a while—and while I don’t think it’s very applicable out where my brains can get shattered on a glancing thwack,’ she begins, sounding more like she was rambling than anything else, ‘so you’re going to have to be really honest with me, because from what I’ve seen, I really can’t … tell properly because you’re such an outlier in this sense and it just doesn’t make—’

She stops, letting out another breath before grabbing—grabbing—your shoulders and steadying you like a mother scolding her child, her one eye practically shimmering with the essence that made her tick as you try to discern whether she was glaring or just at a loss for words at her own actions … or your lack thereof. You couldn’t tell that well.

‘All right, sir,’ she clears her throat. ‘Why do you do it?’

You blink, confused … before locking on to what she had meant by personal.

Your convictions, your cause.

‘Because someone has to—people have to,’ you declare seriously … to which, for some reason, her eye widens and her face goes pale. ‘I know I’m not first choice—I think we both know that, but … I think I’ve already made it clear. I’m here to do a job. The why doesn’t matter … only that someone has to suck it up and put the work in’—she turns even redder at his, oddly—‘and that if it has to be me, so be it … but there’s no one I’d rather do either of those beside than you guys. Nagato, Takao … everyone.’

Corny.

Tenryuu stutters, struggling for words.

‘I didn’t think you thought of sex to that extent. You make it sound like some sort of civic noble duty.’

‘Of course I—’

You freeze.

Oh. So that’s what she had meant by personal.

>>2057530
>‘Oh, uh … there’s a bit of a miscommunication here.’ (End the topic)
>‘You were … asking about … sex?’ (Verify)
>‘Of-Of course I was.’ (Stubbornly power on)
>‘The Hell, Tenryuu?’ (Outrage)
>Write-In

>>2057541
>>‘You were … asking about … sex?’ (Verify)

File: shitty admiral.jpg (123 KB, 589x318)

123 KB JPG

>>2057541
>>‘You were … asking about … sex?’ (Verify)
"Somebody's gotta give some loving."

>>2057541
>>‘You were … asking about … sex?’ (Verify)
>No tenryuu, I have sex for a completely different reason

>>2057541
>‘You were … asking about … sex?’ (Verify)

>>2057541
>>‘You were … asking about … sex?’ (Verify)

>>2057541
>>‘You were … asking about … sex?’ (Verify)

>>2057559
This

>>2057559
this

>>2057559
I support the write in even though I already voted.

>>2057541
>‘You were … asking about … sex?’ (Verify)

File: Opinions.jpg (66 KB, 636x826)

66 KB JPG

‘You were … asking about,’ you cough into your Kantai Steel fist, steadying yourself, ‘sex?’

She furrows her brows, as if she was confused you had mistaken her words to be pertaining to anything but the topic she had in mind.

‘Yeah?’

You laugh—louder than you had intended—as you rub the back of your head, feeling a sense of embarrassment coming upon you like the outer layer of a storm. Tenryuu’s brows furrow further as a scowl makes its way onto her features before looking away, mumbling something unintelligible.

‘Oh, uh … sorry, just, uh, I think we got our signals mixed up here,’ you apologize nervously. Perhaps they had been right about your tendency to gravitate towards the corny and nonsensical … but to be fair, she had been quite vague with her terms—it wasn’t as if she’d come right out and blurted why you’d found good reason to stick your unmentionables with that of the—

You throw a glance to the KanMusu by the boxes, blissfully unaware of the conversation between their supervisor and your person. War machines they may have been … but it was hardly something you wanted to just undertake so casually. You never knew who had ears.

Especially a certain Submarine that still lurked about.

‘You know what? I think we should talk in private,’ you declare, smiling brightly. ‘This is hardly the place for a … discussion of this magnitude.’

‘You said you were all right with it.’

Your smile disappears as you let out a sigh, grumbling. Tenryuu may have been smart, but sometimes you wondered if the tests weren’t just rigged to satisfy her ego. It wasn’t a frequent thought, of course … but still.

‘I said that I’d be open to you asking me something personal on the grounds that the boundaries between us’—you gesture to her then back to you—‘are practically non-existent. We’ve been in each other’s heads and … well, no boundaries. The rest of the world, though, uh …’

She snorts loudly.

‘Are you really that embarrassed about it?’

‘Yes,’ you counter bluntly, before hurriedly backtracking—the implications of the declaration covered more than just your sense of shame. ‘I mean—not that because I’m doing it with Nagato or Kaga or Houshou, but—’

Out of the corner of your eye, you spy Shimakaze fixing the both of you with an odd stare.

‘Look, let’s just talk somewhere less … open, all right?’

Tenryuu doesn’t retort, leading you to the spot behind the tents, a sense of nostalgia immediately washing over you. This was where you’d first met her.

‘Look, I’m just … curious,’ she follows up, still scowling and not missing a beat. ‘I know that humans … you guys are like rabbits and’—you don’t know whether you should take offence to that—‘for you, it’s as much pleasure—maybe more—than it is for propagation.’

She wrinkles her nose, fixing you with a look.

‘I guess what I’m getting at is,’ Tenryuu sighs, ‘you’re an oddity—an outlier. You go at it like a carrier, but as a human, data dictates that this amount of … unmitigated pleasure-seeking … goes in line with the desire of continuation of the species. To breed, more than it is to seek pleasure.’

You frown, wondering what she was getting at, but nonetheless, keep your silence.

‘What my question is, though … is that you’re fully aware that our reproduction faculties are hardly viable for any sort of thing you have in mind. Breeding, birth, rearing … it won’t happen. It never will. In the event the war is over, you’ve sworn yourself to revenants who can’t give you what you’ll inevitably crave. There’s nothing more to it than what you get … even I don’t know what’s going to happen after all this is over. If it ever does end.’

She sighs again.

‘But you act like you’re … fine with that,’ she eyes you curiously, ‘or, if I’m being pessimistic, you’re putting up a front to present yourself in a manner that is outwardly satisfying … but ultimately contains the possibility, despite all evidence to the contrary via our connection’—she taps the side of her head—‘of an emotional distance that is kept constant.’

‘I … follow you, I think.’

‘I’m sorry, Commander. Getting things aligned on my end is a lot harder when,’ she shakes her head, letting out a growl—more to herself than anything else. ‘Look, what you see is what you get. You don’t get more. You get a KanMusu, you get an artificial construct, so …’

Tenryuu bites her lip, looking away.

‘How do you … find pleasure and indulgence in that? Do you even expect it to last beyond tomorrow? Beyond the hour?’

She chuckles darkly.

‘Don’t get me wrong, though—either way, you’re still my Commander,’ she shrugs nonchalantly before continuing in a sing-song voice. ‘Just satisfying my curiosity, is all …’

>‘I never thought about it.’
>‘I don’t know.’
>‘Satisfy your curiosity?’ (Pry – Roll a 1d6 each)
>‘It’s not just about seeking pleasure.’
>‘I don’t. After this … nothing’s certain.’
>Write-In

>>2057843
>>‘It’s not just about seeking pleasure.’

>>2057843
>‘It’s not just about seeking pleasure.’

>>2057843
>>‘It’s not just about seeking pleasure.’
>Yes carnal pleasure has a bit to do with it, but it is more than that. Its hard to explain but...it's the emotions too, the bond you develop. You kind of just sink in together, wanting norhing more than to make your partner feel good. The level of feeling, from becoming one as you feel nothing but pure love and affection and attraction all balled in one, giving and getting as much ad you can, feeling at your most vulnerable but also your most tender, your most loving. Sex is sex but, when it comes to love making, it's honestly just indescribable. There's a reason it's so glorified in human history, it just....irmt feels really good together with someone. I probably explained that really weird, but do you at least kind of get it?

>>2057843
"Sex is not just about only about hedonism and its tendencies, nor it is just romance, you can consider it both, is more about the bond you develop with the someone during that moment where you both share that experience, the problem is that bond may not rest until the next day."

>>2057843
>Its simple tenryuu, its love. You girls have wormed your way into my heart as more than just my division. Even if nothing comes from it, even if it doesnt last forever, those moments of intimacy are irreplacable to me, reminding me of how close we are.

>>2057843
>>Write-In
"Well you'll have to consider what I was before I even joined the admiralty. A fat lardass noname cook without anything to his name? I don't think any lady would have given me a second look. That... that I have what I have right now is nothing short of a miracle and I am blessed to have been afforded the closest thing to a family I think i'll ever have.

So when you ask me what I'm looking at after all this? I have say I havnt really look at it at all since it was never really something that had me there. I'm not even sure if I'll see the end of this war, with how long its gone.... So... I guess... I will take each day as it is, a blessing. With the hope that I will have the chance to live out the rest of my days after this war with this little home we've built.

>>2057867
>>2057889
>>2057891
>>2057961
Since you guys are giving me a creativity boner, I'll give you more time to delegate. Also, prayers. Be back in a bit.

File: carrier of love.gif (1.94 MB, 540x305)

1.94 MB GIF

>>2057843
>Write-In
"Because of love." KYUUUUUUUUN~

>>2057891
This

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>2057843
>‘Satisfy your curiosity?’

>>2057867
this gotta do

MECH's dealing with family matter right now.
how long will it take?
how the fuck would i know?

>>2057843
This first:
>>2057961
Followed by this:
>>2057867
With elements of this:
>>2057889
Although I think "rest" was supposed to be "last" (until....).

Essentially:
>Consider that I used to be a LiterallyWho before joining the Admiralty, and all this shit went down.
>I'm not sure how I waffled my way into having intense sexual relationships with shipgirls who may or may not be simulacrums of human beings, but that's besides the point. Both the part about waffling into the relationships, and the part about being simulacrums.
>Sex? Reproduction? Regardless of whether or not the war ends, I think I'm reasonably aware of the fact that it isn't possible. But the relationships aren't just about seeking pleasure alone. It's about the intimacy, the bonds, the moment....
>And yet the possibility still remains that all of that is reduced to nothing once the next day comes round. It's momentary and finite, just like everything else.
>From a purely rational perspective, yes, this makes no sense, but all relationships are filled with these kinds of contradictions, even if we humans aren't usually aware of that.
>For better or worse, the nature of those relationships, along with everything else, is a part of this team now. I'm not sure if I'd call this a family, but collectively, you guys are the closest thing to a family that I've got at this point.
>So, despite all of the irrationality contained within my rambling, this is how it is. Despite the illogical nature of the relationships, I'm okay with them. Maybe in some perverted, twisted way, that in itself is all I can offer to them in those moments that may not last, and that's okay too.
>All I can do is take things on step at a time, and try to keep this team together as the war runs its course.
>Can you accept that?

>I’m just a huge manslut who literally can’t say ‘no’

>>2057843

>On primal, carnal level it's easy to find pleasure and indulgence here, especially for someone who hasn't had any before. KanMusu are physically beautiful. More than that, corny as it might seem, your characters, as diverse as they are, are beautiful as well - kind, selfless, courageous, caring... those things are not lost when body judges attractiveness. Whether it can result in procreation is an afterthought to the instinct that draw us to it.

>However, and don't laugh at it because I mean every word: sex notwithstanding, you are wonderful *people* that are a pleasure being around.

>As for lasting beyond the hour, I'm not sure what to say. That is a question that transcends the issue you've originally asked about. We're in a war and an hour may well be more than what we have, but I for one do hope that I get to live and see peace restored to the seas, and people, regardless of what they're made of, free to pursue happiness on their own terms, as people in peacetime do. Maybe with veterancy pensions from the state, heh. Maybe I'll start a KanMusu restaurant of my own?

>>2058488
This guy gets it

>>2058026
This
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXqxawvJudk

Session in about 10-15 minutes.

File: Unimpressed.png (59 KB, 322x351)

59 KB PNG

‘Well,’ you chuckle nervously, ‘I won’t insult your intelligence and lecture you on the … more blatant aspects of the experience, but I think you’re following the line of too many assumptions using me as your focus. Too much textbook.’

‘Reproduction and carnal indulgence are aspects of it,’ Tenryuu continues dryly, bordering on condescending and judgemental in her tone. ‘You’re saying that you don’t look for either?’

You shake your head, a small laugh rumbling in your throat.

‘Of course I do,’ you confirm, making her furrow her brows in confusion. ‘I never said I didn’t take pleasure in it, but it’s not usually, no wait, for a lot of people it’s …’

You grumble, hanging your head and pinching the bridge of your nose, This wasn’t a question for you. This was a question for those millionaire sex therapists that gave those actors and actresses the okay to cheat on their spouses and sow their gardens wherever they pleased and made them feel good about it. You’d barely had—alright, you’d been wholly deprived of—the experience of carnal pleasure of the Houshou kind before you’d even donned the badge. Now, though … it was as much a part of the job description to you as it was chasing down Command Units and holding strategic choke holds. Peeking out from behind your fingers, you see Tenryuu wearing a stoic expression, still waiting for your answer.

Saying a prayer, you take a deep breath and look straight towards Tenryuu.

‘Yes, I enjoy it. I enjoyed it this morning with Nachi, I enjoyed it last night with Iowa and I enjoyed taking Kaga right in the hospital this morning—drowning in that pool of pleasure is like nothing else, it is great. Superb. It’s even better than all of you look like you belong on a magazine cover that’s probably worth more than the pages inside.’

Her good eye widens. She probably hadn’t expected you to be so brazen in your declaration.

‘But,’ you continue, smiling—true to your heart, probably the most honest you’d been the whole day, ‘when you share something with someone … everything changes. It becomes better … it becomes worse. Because you don’t think about tomorrow. There’s only the two of you—or, uh, in my case, all of us … and it just fits. It connects. For a lot of people, sex is an escape, a way out that they think is somehow …’

You see Houshou’s tearful face.

‘They get it wrong,’ you declare firmly, before faltering slightly as the memory of Akashi heats up your cheeks, ‘or at least I think they do. Maybe it’s because we have the Stream between us that this probably looks biological and sociological or whatever … but for me, this, sharing that moment, that pleasure with the one you love, that means as much to me as any psycho-magic mumbo jumbo.’

Tenryuu guffaws—so much for you trying to actually sound smart for once—before smirking up at you.

‘You said love.’

>>2059619
>'I did.' (Confirm)
>'You know, in the, uh, professional sense.' (Damage control)
>'Well, will you look at the time?' (Exit, stage left)
>Write-In

>>2059619
>>'I did.' (Confirm)

>>2059624
>'I did.' (Confirm)

>>2059624
>>'I did.' (Confirm)

>>2059624
>'I did.' (Confirm)

>>2059619
>'I did.' (Confirm)
>I love you, I love every last one of you

File: Tsunryuu.jpg (132 KB, 711x950)

132 KB JPG

‘I did.’

There was no thought put into your answer, no consideration, no hesitation. It leaves lips as if by instinct and mechanism … and you don’t feel any sort of weight or chains holding it down or desperately hanging it up as a protest; a plea. To you, it was the truth—and thus, not in need of thought or consideration. It came as natural to you as you opening your eyes in the morning and going to sleep when you were tired … only, admittedly, with less conflict attributable to it. Ups and downs, arguments, they were part of it. They would come, as potholes and cracks would to any road.

It is why it is so ingrained into your instinct: this confirmation, this simple reply.

Tenryuu’s flustered reaction was a plus, of course.

‘Damn it, Commander,’ she crosses her arms underneath her breasts, scowling as her voice goes a pitch higher, ‘you can really drop ‘em when you want to, I’ll give you that.’

You only shrug in response.

‘I thought the Submarine being around would’ve thrown you off for a bit,’ she hesitates, ‘but I’ve had a tendency to underestimate just what a weird package you’re wrapped in.’

That was probably an insult.

‘To be fair,’ you cough into your hand, ‘I’m kind of … given a free pass on my operation methodology—as long as I get results, I don’t think they’re going to hold it against me for, uh, performing Carrier duties outside the intended scope of assignment.’

Tenryuu laughs, loudly and without restraint. You feel your ears heat up, suddenly feeling embarrassed.

‘I think that’s … more than apparent, I think, given the evidence,’ she smiles brightly, her voice taking a playful tone before she steps back and sighs, ‘but … it doesn’t stop it from being strange. KanMusu run on a simulacrum of uploaded data—magical repositories, to eat, to breathe, even if none are needed, to synchronize us. At the same time, being human … it’s not encouraged. We’re taught the differences; between the both us, there’re differences, but you …’

Her smile dims … but for some reason, to you, it is only much more brilliant—defeated, melancholic, honest. All her feelings communicated through an expression etched upon her features. This was Tenryuu’s smile—not diplomatic, not disarming, it was just that: the convention of her emotions, for an instant, unguarded.

‘You have a tendency to blur that line,’ she continues in a softer voice, biting her bottom lip. ‘You do it a lot more.’

‘What line?’

‘That you’re a human,’ she answers softly, but at the same time, with clarity, ‘and that we’re not you … but for some reason, it doesn’t matter for you. I mean, I’m okay with a friendly smile and some jokes, yeah, but … well, what I’m trying to say is that I, uh …’

Her cheeks turn red.

‘Fuck it.’

She pecks you on the cheek, before drawing back.

‘Thank you, sir. For not.’

>Write-In

>>2059932
>‘That is a clear violation of rules, Light Cruiser.’ (Joke)
>‘You’re welcome.’ (Heart-to-Heart)
>‘You know that, uh, I didn’t mean it in that way, right?’
>‘I better get going.’
>‘Anything else you wanted to talk about?’
>Write-In

>>2059941
>‘You’re welcome.’ (Heart-to-Heart)
>‘Anything else you wanted to talk about?’

>>2059932
>>‘You’re welcome.’ (Heart-to-Heart)
>Though I bet now you're regretting not running away with me before

>>2059941
>>‘You’re welcome.’ (Heart-to-Heart)

>>2059954
use this, plox

>>2059941
>>‘You’re welcome.’ (Heart-to-Heart)
>>Write-In
>Tight hugs.
>Though I bet now you're regretting not running away with me before

>>2060027
this

File: Hore.jpg (179 KB, 850x850)

179 KB JPG

You hold a hand to your cheek, smirking as coyly as you could manage. Tenryuu huffs, snorting loudly as you try to hold in your laughter. You had to admit … coming here, the last thing you’d expected was a heart-to-heart with Tenryuu on where you stood with your Division—your KanMusu. It was such a strong word to say, to confirm, but at the same time … too deep for just one word to declare it. The bargain bin books had no idea, really, of what it was. No whirlwind, no throes of passion and forbidden tryst with the town on your backs; it was so simple and at the same time … so complicated to just sum up. It was in that argument that you had over losing weight. It was in that worry that you had when they stepped out onto the battlefield—for your sake, for humanity’s sake.

You cared. They did too.

So you take the path that was least corny, lest you end up another embarrassment on the wall of male cliches.

‘You’re welcome,’ are the words that leave your lips to go with that coy smirk of yours. Tenryuu clicks her tongue, looking back out to sea. The afternoon was beginning to dip, but sunset was a long way off … and you still had time for some idle chatter before you had to be off to catch up with whatever workload you had left behind.

‘Yeah,’ she sighs again, placing her hands on her hips. ‘It helps that we look like supermodels, huh?’

‘Borderline,’ you tease, garnering a swift fist to your metallic forearm. The both of you share another laugh as she lets out a breath and steps right back, her lips thinning into a line as she continued to observed you.

‘Well,’ she runs a hand through her hair, ‘now that we’ve got that settled … I guess that this should be okay.’

‘What should be okay?’

‘Right, uh,’ she pauses, sounding deep into thought, ‘I like things quantified … so I think that even if your data ain’t exactly, uh … concrete, to say the least, I think I can accept it as the excuse as to why you can’t exactly keep it in your pants. Even when it comes to Nachi.’

Your cheeks turn purple as you struggle to contain your desire to combust on the spot into ash from embarrassment.

‘I mean, I won’t say it’s not an anomaly, seeing so many normal KanMusu acting like,’ she coughs, throwing an apologetic look your way, ‘you know, Carriers … but I’ve only seen about eight, ten cases tops, and they’re usually not reciprocated positively. So you’ll forgive me if I see you as an … opportunity for study and observation. It’s rare to see it so … thriving. Healthy.’

>‘That’s definitely the smartest KanMusu on record talking.’ (Sarcasm)
>‘Commanders and non-Carriers have had relationships before?’ (Inquire)
>‘I forgive you.’ (Joke)
>‘I’m not sure I’m okay with that.’ (Discourage)
>Write-In

>>2060357
>>‘That’s definitely the smartest KanMusu on record talking.’ (Sarcasm)

>>2060357
>‘Commanders and non-Carriers have had relationships before?’ (Inquire)

>>2060357
voting for:
>>‘That’s definitely the smartest KanMusu on record talking.’ (Sarcasm)

since for this:

>‘Commanders and non-Carriers have had relationships before?’ (Inquire)

We only need to look at kongou and VA.

>>2060357
>Why Tenryuu, I didn't realize you found me so interesting. Are you regretting not taking up my offer on not running away together?

>>2060407
this THIS

>>2060357
Support>>2060407

>>2060407
this

>>2060407
This

File: CONGRATURATION.jpg (108 KB, 850x1022)

108 KB JPG

‘So does that mean you’re going to take up on that offer of elop—’

You don’t get to finish your tease, instead reeling back from the flick of Tenryuu’s finger snapping against your forehead to go with her less-than-amused glare. You hiss in pain as your hand rubs against the spot where her nail had scraped, pouting and glaring at your Light Cruiser, who doesn’t back down at all.

‘I could put in a request for you to be banished, you know.’

‘Uh-huh,’ she nods, her tone dryer than a desert. ‘Pull the other one.’

A scowl makes its way to your face as you bring your arms down to your sides. Confessing love or whatever it was … it was still refreshing to see that despite the revelation that you were in no way any different in Tenryuu’s books, oddity that you were to her. She still had that impatient streak to her when it came to your vacuous attempts to kid around. Especially when it was uncalled for and sometimes because your joking tone was most unwelcome—and perhaps that’s what, ultimately, made them so endearing to you … that they’d keep you in check when you played the idiot much too severely for their liking, and you hoped, in return, that you showed how much you appreciated the occasional thwack on the forehead.

That did not, however, stop it from being painful. KanMusu were strong, after all … and you had no doubt that even Samidare on her worst day could pull your arm right out of your socket without breaking a sweat.

‘All right,’ you gather yourself, ‘so aside from being your Commanding Officer, I’m also … an object of interest. That’s definitely the scientist in you talking, so I’ll take it as praise … or should I be worried?’

‘Just take a compliment, Commander,’ she jibes, extending her finger and stopping it inches away from your nose. ‘What it means for you is that you better start acting the part of a whole Division that’s investing something in you that they’ve never done before.’

Your scowl doesn’t subside.

‘And what would that be?’

‘Our faith.’

You instantly stiffen. Tenryuu, as if satisfied with this reaction, steps back again, turning her chin, as if in triumph.

‘I’m not used to it, this way that you’re doing things … if I were going to put orthodox at one end of a graph and unorthodox on the other,’ she jerks up a thumb. ‘Your direction would be going sideways.’

Your mouth forms a grimace—that sounded about right, you supposed.’

‘But at the same time,’ she coughs, crossing her arms across her chest, ‘I think I can speak for everyone … when I say that this is something I can believe in—selfish as it sounds.’

She grins widely.

‘So, congratulations—you finally got something right … even if you got everything else wrong all along the way.’

>>2060698
>'I think that's insubordination, but I'm clueless as to which part.' (Confused)
>'Thanks, I guess.' (Begrudge)
>'Well, I better get going. You have some work to get back to, I believe.'
>'Anything else?'
>Write-In

>>2060703
>>'Well, I better get going. You have some work to get back to, I believe.'

>>2060703
>>'Anything else?'
>what are you guys doing anyway?

>>2060703
>'Thanks, I guess.' (Begrudge)

>>2060698
>>'Well, I better get going. You have some work to get back to, I believe.'

>>2060703
>'Well, I better get going. You have some work to get back to, I believe.'

>>2060698
That’s all I could ask for.

File: __tenryuu_kantai_collecti(...).jpg (169 KB, 850x1133)

169 KB JPG

‘Well, I better get going … and you have some work to get back to, I believe.’

Tenryuu throws a look to the Destroyers sitting around the empty boxes and chatting about something inconsequential.

‘Just wondering when the next batch of supplies is coming in,’ Tenryuu reveals, rubbing the back of her neck as a frown etches itself into her brow. ‘The Army’s doing what they can to help with what they’re bringing in … but you’ll be surprised how much it takes to feed a third of a city left.’

‘A third?’

She sighs again.

‘More people are leaving than they are coming back … word’s getting out that the Admiralty and the Army aren’t doing as good a job as they can with relief efforts. Not many people are willing to come back … not that we’re managing splendidly as is.’

You blink, surprised. As far as you were informed, things looked like they were going smoothly. Most of the rubble around on the roads and pavements were now distant memories, and while the town wasn’t prosperous by any measure, you would have at least thought that things were stable by now. They sure looked that way, save for a few pockets like the Old Woman and the Pastor’s children … and the shelters you’d passed by, but you’d thought that it was more for convenience and out of preference than anything else.

‘There’re delays?’

‘Not delays,’ she shakes her head, her lips thinning ‘but because the Army’s effectively running their own thing—the MPs aren’t cooperating their schedules and making things more backed up than they should be … and according to Ooyodo, the new Security Chief—sorry, MP Chief—doesn’t get along with the Army enough to properly delegate a proper working schedule. The only thing that’s happened since the Army’s gotten here is some relief on the supplies coming in, but … well, without everything in order, you got a mess.’

You wince. Maybe you should have told the MP Chief and the Major to play nice.

‘You have my condolences.’

Tenryuu nods grimly.

‘Anything I can do to …’

‘Nah,’ she shakes her head. ‘It’s nice for you to offer, but I’m used to these kind of problems. Bureaucracy’s the unqualified man’s way of making the simple complicated and eloquent to cover the truth of the simplicity and effectiveness.’

You tilt your head as she grins at you.

‘That’s one way to put it,’ you stop for a moment as the thought finally comes, ‘that’s from Lionheart’s author.’

‘He’s a smart man,’ she nods. ‘More cynical than realistic, but he’s not entirely without his points.’

Tenryuu turns about face, throwing one last glance over her shoulder as she raises a casual hand in a gesture of goodbye.

‘I’ll see you back at the barracks, sir!’

You give a casual salute, turning your head towards the shops lining the outer city, sitting innocently on the streets above.

>>2060946
2/4
>EXECUTE TASK: EVERYBODY WAS KUNG-FU FIGHTING
>EXECUTE TASK: FONT OF KNOWLEDGE
>Look for KanMusu (Specify)
>Seek out Officers/Staff (Specify)
>Visit Location (Specify)
>District Management
>Write-In

>>2060953
Before you guys pick an option, you can choose a [SECTOR] in the Visit Location option and choose the [WANDER] to see if you can get any chance encounters to occur just walking around.

>>2060953
>>Seek out Officers/Staff (Specify)
VA
See if we can help with things out there.

>>2060955
Also, I seem to have forgotten to mention that I am streamlining the [DISTRICT MANAGEMENT] option so that it's not so confusing as I have been using an old excel formula to tabulate your current worries. I'm sorting it out now, so please don't pick it. Your [District] will be stagnant and you will still get your payment as I come to a new method to calculate your District's perfomance.

>>2060957
If we go meet the VA, can we ask him for suggestions about the book raiser, or would that require >executing the task?
iirc we wormed the kung-fu permission into a meeting with the admiral like that though so I guess it should be fine.

>>2060996
The EXECUTE TASK option is meant to be more of a shortcut. You can still talk about what you wish to undertake if you have the relevant person in question within your presence.

>>2060953
>Visit Location (Specify)
the magitech deptartment, we need them for the kung fu adn yamato umbrella
plus its them go makes the upgraes, so might as well make friends there

>>2060953
>visit magitek department

>>2060953
>>Seek out Officers/Staff (Specify)
Visit VA

>>2060953
>>visit magitek department

I'm getting Solas vs Varric on Cole issue vibes here.

I wonder how pissed the shaman will be when he sees how Commander treats the summons. Although given he was friend with FA, maybe he'll approve. On that note, I wonder where he stands when it comes to current dogma.

are we wooing Tenryuu?

>>2062242
i dont think so?

>>2062215
i THINK the chances are good on that might be an loyalist/normal shaman
a heretic one might be better or worse, but depends, really

>>2060953
>>visit magitek department

Just a reminder that it's the in-game weekend, but you lost your extra action points by sleeping with Iowa and KOing yourself for a longer duration.

File: Welcome Commander To Nerd(...).jpg (816 KB, 5120x2880)

816 KB JPG

The Sergeant hadn’t been kidding when she’d said that no buggies had proper road designation from this end to your destination. You’d lucked out, however, by being allowed to hang—literally hang—from a military truck’s cargo hold until you’d reached the familiar hillside. You rub your hands as the truck thunders off towards the Operations Center, the loaded soldiers giving you a friendly wave as you grumble and trudge towards your destination. Tenryuu hadn’t minced words about it, either—while hostilities were virtually non-existent, it would seem that your decision to partition the two forces had somehow trickled down to an amalgamated chaos of established logistical norms and oddities. There is consideration there, right now, to backtrack on your previous decision to do so … but you doubt either party would be willing to listen after resting into this odd arrangement. Nor do you expect them to, anyway—the MP Chief would probably just blow you off as he had before … and the Major was practically a ghost now. You hadn’t seen him save for the odd glimpse of him jumping on a truck and zooming away with another Officer.

It’s not long before you arrive at your destination.

The MagiTek Testing Facility stood there, as always. A curved box of a structure, unremarkable on the surface and lacking the hallmark of the Admiralty’s usual call for the bombastic and eye-catching. It wasn’t surprising, of course, as it was just a repurposed car factory, refurbished and given new life in the service of the Admiralty. The fence stretched all around it, but save for one or two MPs that you saw sitting in the dirt and just as many doing idle patrols, there weren’t many people on the outside. Forklifts and small generators were littered on the wayside … and as you come to the entrance, you find even less resistance: the lone guard gives you a mere nod as he lets you pass.

Shigure had been adamant that the MagiTek Department didn’t work here, of course … and you weren’t sure how you could find where they did, but this looked like a good place to start. Entering the compound, you notice that the place is virtually deserted—and the present company looking more like bored zombies—save for the looming hangar that was the factory, stretching end to end. The place looked abandoned from a glance.

You move to approach the glass door by the side … it looked like an office. You place a hand on the door, only to find it locked. Peering inside, all you see is darkness. Not a soul. There looked to be quite a few shutter doors around, but no one manning them either. It was as though—

‘It’s the weekend, what do you want?’

You jump, turning around to see…

>An angry-looking bespectacled man
>An old man a full head shorter than you
>A young lady wearing an annoyed glare
>A boy that looked like he still belonged in junior high
>A middle-aged woman

>>2063274
>>A middle-aged woman

>>2063274
>>A middle-aged woman

>>2063274
>A boy that looked like he still belonged in junior high

>>2063274
>A boy that looked like he still belonged in junior high
Is that you Shinji

>>2063274
>>A boy that looked like he still belonged in junior high

>>2063274
>>A middle-aged woman

>>2063274
>>A boy that looked like he still belonged in junior high

>>2063274
>>A young lady wearing an annoyed glare

>>2063274
>An angry-looking bespectacled man
please be otacon

>>2063274
>An angry-looking bespectacled man

File: 1482018211721.jpg (252 KB, 1200x802)

252 KB JPG

What are the thread's thoughts on Azur Lane, getting Mikasa earlier than KC, and flaunting it all over Japan with ads?

>>2064213
reminds me of a younger nagato
aint that a bullet hell game anyway?

File: nagato sheet.png (429 KB, 1089x757)

429 KB PNG

Made something of a character sheet for Nagato. I have no idea what the Shield Drive or Conservation Drive do.

>>2065196
Neat!

File: Low Res Nerd.jpg (47 KB, 451x329)

47 KB JPG

You blink, momentarily wondering if your eye was playing tricks on you … before realizing that, indeed, what was before your person was a boy that looked like he still belonged in junior high, and at best, a freshman in high school. He wasn’t short or small, but he certainly looked the part of the—and you’re loath to say it—a stereotypical nerd, with glasses that were too big, a lab coat that was stained with brown coffee stains with the stale odour of something you probably didn’t want to know about permeating from his dishevelled state. He had a fluffy collection of hair on top that could have used taming which he hadn’t bothered with at all and had what appeared to be one of those fancy magnetic keys in his hand, no doubt for the purpose of unlocking the trial facilities doors. Turning downwards, you see the tag barely hanging onto the fabric of his coat and make out the code clearance and designation of his posting: he was one of the facility’s techies.

His eyes widen as he looks up at you, accompanying his softening features.

‘Oh, hey,’ he clears his throat, ‘you’re that Operations Division Commander, huh?’

They narrow again as he steps towards you, sizing you up.

‘Talk about not meeting the criteria,’ he smirks, ‘things must be looking really bad out there if they’ve cut it down this much.’

You wince. It had been some time—well, not really—since you’d heard critique that was so brazen.

>‘I wouldn’t talk, kid.’ (Remark)
>‘You work here?’
>‘This is the testing facility, right? Shouldn’t there be more guards stationed around here?’
>‘Nice meeting you, just came here to have a look-see.’ (Leave)
>Write-In

>>2065640
>>‘You work here?’

>>2065640
>‘You work here?’

>>2065640
>>‘You work here?’

>>2065640
>>‘You work here?’

File: Messier.jpg (48 KB, 464x330)

48 KB JPG

‘You work here?’

He nods.

‘If you wanna call it that—excuse me,’ he shuffles past you, inserting the electric key into what looked like a panel built into the frame of the glass door. ‘I mostly just come around to make sure the magic engines’re running fine, that no one incurs unnecessary cost’—he raises his voice a pitch at that, as if in mockery—‘to the already-sky high bill. You’d think that people would learn that a bill wouldn’t matter at the end of the day if you’re six feet under with no one to put a tomb stone on—help me pull on this, will ya? This stupid thing always gets stuck.’

You give the thing a yank … and a dull ping hits your ears. The door had opened.

‘Thanks,’ he places the key back within his coat. ‘Come on in, it’s freezing out here.’

He gestures for you to enter. You follow with no hesitation into the room, dimly lit. The young man makes his way, grumbling like a curmudgeonly geezer, to a corner of the room and flicks on the light, revealing … a mess. A true blue mess.

Stacks of papers, contraptions that looked like they were half-finished, diagrams and notes and all the sort were wrapped in an environment of pure chaos. Files weren’t in place, the shelves were lined with boxes that were upturned and on the ceiling was some sort of model ship whose make you didn’t recognized. It looked futuristic and sleek, more of a rocket than anything else, dangling from thin wires. The office was huge—larger than the common area back at base. You close the door behind you, wondering how many trees had died to fill this place with so many sheets of diagrams, graphs and forms.

If you hadn’t known better, you would presumed the place had been robbed.

‘This place used to be an automotive factory,’ he states nonchalantly, ‘but after the war came along the Admiralty converted it into a localized testing site for the new tech the MagiTek guys come up with and the higher-ups want to slap on.’

‘Development doesn’t happen here, yeah,’ ‘Shigure told me that.’

‘She’s that crazy one, right? The one that can’t keep it down?’

‘Eh, they’re all crazy anyway,’ ‘Most of the crew, engineers, techies, idea-men, they’re all over the place. The only time they come here is when they wanna see what sticks. Ooyodo-san and Yuubari-san usually come here to have a look when they think we got something that’s worth checking up on. Nagato-san used to come here a lot, but we’re lucky to see her nose during the testing phase since the attack. We still get lots of notes, though. Requests, modifications, you know, to make the girls more comfortable. Still, this isn’t where the heavy lifting is done.’

He waltzes over to a … computer. You hadn’t seen one of those in a while. The techie clatters his hands all over it, mumbling to himself.

‘Tomorrow? Seriously? It’s the weekend!’

>>2065823
>‘So where is the heavy lifting done?’
>‘Pardon if I sound rude, but you look a little … young.’
>‘Any testing going on around here right now?’
>‘Considering it’s the weekend, what are you doing here working?’
>Leave
>Write-In

>>2065827
>>‘So where is the heavy lifting done?’

>>2065827
>‘So where is the heavy lifting done?’

>>2065827
>>‘Considering it’s the weekend, what are you doing here working?’

inbefore its not!CSGO

>>2065827
>‘Pardon if I sound rude, but you look a little … young.’

>>2065827
>‘Considering it’s the weekend, what are you doing here working?’

>>2065827
>>‘Considering it’s the weekend, what are you doing here working?’

>>2065823
>'So where is the heavy lifting done?’

>>2065830
>>2065833
>>2065894

>>2065835
>>2065879
>>2065886

We have a tie. Flipping a coin. Coin flipped.

File: SO MUCH WORK.jpg (39 KB, 400x300)

39 KB JPG

‘Since you’ve been talking about the weekend non-stop,’ you begin, stepping around a waste paper basket to make your way around the room, ‘mind if I ask what you’re doing here working?’

‘We’ve been running some tests on a new request from the Admiral and Vice-Admiral—don’t worry, we have you in mind, too,’ you barely catch his words; he says them in a manner that reminds you of a manic beaver, chattering and clattering his teeth with every syllable, ‘but a lot of the calibration kinks haven’t been working properly so I thought about getting a head start on the data review. Magic’s not exactly consistent when it comes to synchronization. You put a little, give a little and they can still end up on the wrong side of a demon’s asshole.’

You tilt your head. That was an expression you hadn’t heard of before.

‘Excuse me?’

His eyes still fixed on the computer—the monitor—and his fingers clattering away on the device, he mumbles to himself. He scowls as he pulls out a chair from the desk … and puts his foot on it, typing at a more furious pace upon the console, before throwing you a brief gaze, finally catching on to your state of confusion.

‘You learn a few things mixing science, magic and the unknown—no instructions, no warning and sometimes just a prayer,’ he babbles almost incoherently, lifting his foot from the chair and straightening himself ‘I don’t think anyone working in the MagiTek Department’s been more affirmed in their belief then—oh for goodness’ sakes!’

He slams his fist down onto the table … although it barely registers as a thud.

‘You know, you have the easy part,’ he grunts, stepping away from the console and picking up a stack of papers from one of the open file drawers. ‘All you gotta do is go around telling a bunch of revenants to smash heads . Us? One wrong move and we have something akin to a teraton bomb.’

‘A what?’

‘Don’t sweat it,’ he waves it off quickly, zipping around behind his workstation. ‘We may be crazy, but we’re not stupid around here. Although, I’d like to sock the guy who thought mixing elemental incantations with electron particles. As if we don’t get enough headaches just agreeing on a thesis rewrite.’

You frown. It doesn’t take long for him to notice this time.

‘Sorry, rambling a little there, but yeah—just came here to, uh, get some things sorted before the heavy duty work comes along. Magic ain’t bound by the same rules as physics … or at least, I don’t think it does. All this concentration, mental will, everything is living and bound bull … makes me wanna cry, sometimes.’

He turns a little pink, picking up the mess of papers—where wasn’t there one is here, really—before lifting his gaze to you again.

‘Sorry, rambling again,’ the techie sighs. ‘So what’re you here for, uh, Commander?’

>>2065998
>'Actually, I was wondering if I could hand in a request.' (Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting)
>'How old are you, really?'
>'Who're your usual test pilots around here? Other than Shigure?'
>'I heard the Admiral--the Admiralty's--pretty hands off. Is it a good environment?'
>'Just wanted to say you guys have been doing a pretty good job.'
>'Nothing, just wanted to get a look of the place.'
>Write-In

>>2066013
>>'Who're your usual test pilots around here? Other than Shigure?'

>>2066013
>'Actually, I was wondering if I could hand in a request.' (Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting)

>>2066013
>>'Actually, I was wondering if I could hand in a request.' (Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting)

>>2066013
>>'Actually, I was wondering if I could hand in a request.' (Everybody Was Kung Fu Fighting)

File: WTF DUDE.jpg (9 KB, 165x171)

9 KB JPG

‘Actually. I came here to make an … extra-curricular request,’ you start, catching his attention. ‘My Division’s planning to organize a melee-oriented weapons training course and because of how the KanMusu are, normal weapons aren’t going to cut it for any of the sessions. I was wondering if I’d be able to procure some simple melee weapons or training equipment to help out.’

He smacks his hands onto the table. It barely sounds. His hands were so … small.

‘A requisition request off the books?’ he practically hisses, raising a fist and slapping a tied string of forms onto the table before glaring up at you. ‘Are you crazy? Do you know how much time that’s going to eat into our schedule? You don’t think we need to sit down and catch some zees?’

‘You don’t have to rush on the order,’ you continue calmly, raising your hands in an attempt to pacify him as best as you can—this was one conversation you couldn’t afford to screw up, ‘but the class isn’t going to go over well using normal gear—and you know better than me on just how much a KanMusu packs by default.’

‘That’s not the point,’ he counters angrily, his voice rising until it was more an audible shriek of words than it was a proper formation of a sentence. ‘I mean … first off, you’re asking me to put aside projects and putting it on me to tell my colleagues that we have another schedule realignment. Do you know just how much is on our damn plate right now,?’

‘Look, I get that you’re busy … and I appreciate that you’ve been holding the fort better than anyone could’ve expected,’ you go on, pressing onwards, ‘especially with things that have been going on, it’s not been easy for any of—’

‘Do we look like we have the time even say yes?’

If it was anyone else, you’d probably have backed off a little … but even with his position, his status, you didn’t find yourself intimidated. He reminded you, vaguely, of a scurrying squirrel defending its hoard for the winter than he did someone with any actual capacity for physical intimidation or harm.

‘Like I said, I know it’s a hard request,’ you don’t miss a beat, ‘but the Admiral’s already given us his permission to move forward with this.’

He runs a hand through his hair, clicking his tongue as he glares through his glasses, straight at you.

‘We have a massive backlog of testing and orders … and even if we do say yes, what do we get out of it, anyway? Loss of materials, loss of manpower, a whole workaround that we have to put together; you do know just what kind of stuff we put together here, right? We’re not one of those …. what do you call ‘em again? Pick up and sit down restaurants where you can just drop in your order and leave in fifteen minutes. Do you know how much margin for error is allowed? None! Zero! This job does not allow for the word margin—nor the word waste!’

You don’t retort, staring at him as he glares back at you.

‘So why would I want to put forward or consider a request to waste time and resources when we’re facing a backlog and that we’re standing on the threads of our sanity just trying to keep up with?!’

>‘Because we’ve done so twice without complaint.’ (Special Option: Reputation)
>‘It’ll help in the long run.’ (Rational)
>‘The Admiral already gave his approval. You going to just ignore that?’ (Authoritative)
>‘I can assure you it won’t get any worse.’ (Appeal)
>‘You’re right, sorry.’ (Drop the issue)
>Write-In

File: kongou shrug.jpg (126 KB, 666x775)

126 KB JPG

>>2066131
>>‘Because we’ve done so twice without complaint.’ (Special Option: Reputation)
yolo

>>2066131
>>‘Because we’ve done so twice without complaint.’ (Special Option: Reputation)
Well, we have done the magitek department a couple of solids in the past. It IS fair

>>2066131
>>‘Because we’ve done so twice without complaint.’ (Special Option: Reputation)
we do appreciate the work they do though

>>2066131
>>‘Because we’ve done so twice without complaint.’ (Special Option: Reputation)

>>2066131
>‘It’ll help in the long run.’ (Rational)

>>2066131
>‘Because we’ve done so twice without complaint.’ (Special Option: Reputation)

File: Kaga's dream of you. It's(...).jpg (131 KB, 858x931)

131 KB JPG

You find your patience wearing out faster than you had thought—you were never one to call out a favour, but the fact that he was talking down to you as if your side—you refuse to take sole credit—had done nothing but waltz in and filled out demands for them to fulfil. The boy leans over the table, scowling and glaring up at you in an almost laughable attempt at intimidation. While you were the last person to throw assumptions on the real potential for damage—as you yourself were the walking example of what happens when people didn’t think much of the fat man in unflattering military fatigues—the boy just didn’t look the part. Still, you could understand his position. You wouldn’t be any less annoyed at a bunch of notes dropping onto your work desk telling you to drop whatever it is you were doing and turn your focus onto something you felt was a total waste of time.

As your old boss would say, however: you didn’t give a fuck.

‘You know, we didn’t complain when you put out your requests,’ you mention pointedly, giving him an unimpressed stare for emphasis. ‘I’m not going to devalue your work here. If you guys are going right by the girls I have no complaints whatsoever … but if you’re going to talk down to me as if I’ve never considered or complied with the madcap schemes your department’s given out, then I’m going to have to stop you right there. We didn’t have to go out there thinking about helping you guys out and hunting a Command Unit or working in Abyssal-infested hot zones without so much as a whine. The least you could do if you’re going to say no is to do it with at least some degree of professionalism and courtesy or make up a valid excuse instead of moaning and groaning about a requisition that isn’t even on your table yet.’

He stiffens, the scowl instantly fading to make way for distress.

‘Look, I didn’t mean to—’

He really still was just a kid, whatever his posting here was.

‘I know you didn’t,’ you interrupt him with a nod; you feel pretty bad about it as far as rude gestures went, but now that you had traction, there was no chance whatsoever of you relinquishing that hold. You cross your arms over your chest, observing his shrinking form with your good eye.

Finally, you hear a defeated sigh.

‘Fine,’ he manages, ‘I’ll put in the approval … you’ll find one on your desk in two days. Just fill that out then, and …’

He trails off, before looking away and picking up his

‘I’m busy right now,’ he mutters crisply. ‘I’ll push it up, so … let me sort what we got first.’

He turns away from you, going back to his work.

That was an indication for you to leave.

>‘Thank you.’ (Leave)
>‘I actually have some questions.’ (Stay: Roll a 1d6 each)
>Write-In

>>2066718
>Thank you. Don't be mistaken, though, I appreciate your work. We all do. Keep on shining, we're all counting on you.

>>2066718
what this guy said>>2066745
They do good work, we gotta at least give them that much

>>2066745
This

>>2066718

>>2066745
This

>>2066745
this is good

File: no pressure.gif (1.62 MB, 480x270)

1.62 MB GIF

>>2066745
Supporting

>>2066745
this

File: On The Other Side Of The Door.jpg (540 KB, 1920x1080)

540 KB JPG

‘Thank you.’

He doesn’t acknowledge your reply with anything more than a grunt. You feel a compelling sensation to add on more—you hadn’t made that stellar an impression, coming in and practically turning a guilt-trip up on the young man to get your way. You move to—while not make amends, as you don’t think you hadn’t done anything particularly offensive—at least soften the crash.

‘Don’t get me wrong,’ you grunt loudly—if he notices, he doesn’t show it, so engrossed he is in his work, ‘I appreciate your work … and I don’t think we’d be here without you and the others helping us staying in the fight. I know how hard it is, working behind the scenes, so I …’

You trail off, shaking your head. He didn’t seem to be listening at all.

‘Thank you for your hard work; and thank you for listening to this paltry request.’

He doesn’t answer. You take that as your cue to leave, shutting the door behind you right as you step outside, the chill of the air causing you to rub your arms for warmth. Turning up to the sky, you see clouds beginning to gather: a clear indicator of a cold drizzle or freezing rain, and if you were any more unlucky, some form of hail that’d poke your other eye out of its misery.

It wasn’t even winter yet.

1/4
>EXECUTE TASK: EVERYBODY WAS KUNG-FU FIGHTING
>EXECUTE TASK: FONT OF KNOWLEDGE
>Look for KanMusu (Specify)
>Seek out Officers/Staff (Specify)
>Visit Location (Specify)
>District Management
>Write-In

OP, are you somewhat subtly hinting that we should visit the gym with that previous pic?

Maybe mentally ask the resident princess whether physical strain would put a further strain on her should we opt for that.

>>2066928
It's just a joke from the Discord. I wrote a few omakes that Kaga, while being more inclined to spiritual attunement, is still very much a sort-of-human woman and she'd very much appreciate if her man had some six pack or something that she could just, you know, do stuff with. Like her dream man has rippling pectorals and a defined set of abdominal muscles. Somehow the conclusion came to that if "you" ever got to that phase, you'd be pretty much Chris Redfield.

>>2066945
Alright, cool. Although I suppose Akashi did suggest Commander to not let up anyway.
Although people wanted to visit the VA previously, and we might also want to check the barracks, maybe the Mysterious Stranger made an appearance.
Also given it's weekend evening, it might be opportunity to socialize in whatever place people hang out for fun... do we know of any such place aside from the places military have set up? Maybe that's another idea what to set up in the city to lift the spirits a little.

>>2066945
Damn, all this time I thought Kaga was into fatties

>>2066981
You've got a beautifully-structured spirit, according to her. Little by little, pushing forward, evolving from who you were the day before. That kind of mental determination is kind of the spiritual equivalent of rock hard abs, I guess?

File: 1510459861620.jpg (38 KB, 317x505)

38 KB JPG

>>2066921
>Look for KanMusu (Specify)
Mamiya, recruit cook kung-fu boat, also the winter is coming

>>2066921
>>EXECUTE TASK: EVERYBODY WAS KUNG-FU FIGHTING
we must recruit the Raiden
and maybe the Yasen

>>2066921
>>EXECUTE TASK: EVERYBODY WAS KUNG-FU FIGHTING
Getting that done as soon as possible is a good idea

>>2066921
>EXECUTE TASK: EVERYBODY WAS KUNG-FU FIGHTING
Side quest HO!

File: Light Cruiser vs Light Cruiser.jpg (374 KB, 1441x919)

374 KB JPG

TASK INITIATED

OBJECTIVE LIST:

>Recruit Ikazuchi
>Recruit Sendai
>Find someone to help endorse and gain support for the class

SELECT OBJECTIVE TO ATTEMPT TO COMPLETE

>>2068724
>>Recruit Ikazuchi

>>2068724
>>Recruit Sendai

>>2068724
Addendum to 3rd option:

>Find someone to help endorse and gain support [Optional] (Specify)

>>2068724
>>Recruit Sendai

>>2068730
>>2068731
You guys can vote again, I made a doodoo with the third option.

>>2068739
>>Recruit Ikazuchi
recruit the RAIDEN

>>2068739
>>Recruit Sendai

>>2068739
>recruit sendai
I definitely want to do the endorse option, but let's save it for last so than we can make sure to have all the kanmusu willing to teach the class first.

>>2068724
>Recruit Sendai

>>2068731
>>2068736
>>2068751
>>2068860

You don't a clue of where she is. Where do you want to try your luck/who do you want to ask to find her?

>>2069350
Look for her sisters.

Or wander about calling for yasen.

>>2069356
You don't know Naka and Jintsuu in-quest, though.

>>2069350
find and ask Tenryuu if she knows where the Yasen is

>>2069350
>>2069360
Look for ooyodo then. She might be able to point us in the right direction.

File: orange.jpg (16 KB, 480x360)

16 KB JPG

>>2069350
Ask somebody if they've seen an orange ninja

>>2069366
We were just with tenryuu though. Lets try not to look like an idiot.
>>2069376
This, its not like she wouldnt stand out

>>2069374
Voting for this.

File: __ooyodo_kantai_collectio(...).png (597 KB, 850x1200)

597 KB PNG

You catch your breath, placing your hand on the wall. You’d foregone waiting for an Army truck. You weren’t familiar with your schedule and there was hardly any time left for you to afford to test your luck to see if a buggy would zoom on by from the checkpoint and succeeding in ticking the major off for violation of a previous agreement. Surprisingly, it hadn’t taken you much time. Jogging here was actually a lot more refreshing—if slightly more exhausting—than you had previously though. Straightening yourself out, you roll your shoulder, almost hopping on the balls of your feet. You had never felt like this before. Sure, you were tired, cold and annoyed at your previous decision to keep the partitions separate … but you had also never felt so fine after taking such a brief pace. You remember Akashi’s words—your body must have been adjusting itself to the mutation of your metabolism, your blood flow and muscle reaction, weight distribution. It felt a little bit like cheating, actually … most people would kill for weight loss this—

‘What’re you doing?’

You stiffen, realizing that you’d fallen into the trap of vanity … and were flexing your currently not-quite-visible-but-touchable muscles by the brick wall across the MP HQ. You sheepishly put your arms down, crossing the street with your cheeks pink, feeling a little bit embarrassed that you’d been caught in such a situation. Running a hand over your considerably-smaller belly, you manoeuvre yourself past several MPs carrying boxes filled with files and enter the tent … where you catch Ooyodo, hastily-scribbling upon a piece of paper on her desk, one amongst the thousands of sheets that seemed to have taken residence in her in-and-outboxes. Yet, she goes through them with frightening efficiency, the immediate space around her desk practically clear of distractions and annoyances, save for the odd look from the edge of her bubble or the wary gaze passers-bys cast her. None of them dare go over, though.

Even standing here, you see the reaper hovering over back.

It helped that you were a gambling man, anyway.

‘Hey, Ooyodo.’

More automaton than being of flesh, her pen stops mid-stroke, mid-sentence on the form before her. It doesn’t clatter to the surface, however … and as she raises her empty gaze to meet your attempt at a friendly stare, you wonder if you’d made a terrible mistake.

The respectful tip of the helmet from a passing MP does you no favours.

‘You’re in charge of the timetables,’ you clear your throat, ‘do you know where I can find Sendai?’

She stares at you blankly, before turning her attention to her work again.

‘She’ll be at the Prep Dock around this time. It’s near the end of the day, though, so if you want to catch her, you’ll need to be quick.’

You’re gone.

>Run, run as fast as you can (Roll a 1d6 each)

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>2069528
>>Run, run as fast as you can (Roll a 1d6 each)
LEG IT BOY

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>2069528
gotta go fast

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>2069528
dont trip

Rolled 3 (1d6)

>>2069528

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>2069528

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>2069528
>Run, run as fast as you can (Roll a 1d6 each)
Gobba go fast

File: __ooyodo_and_t_head_admir(...).jpg (22 KB, 418x180)

22 KB JPG

This was meant to be the picture I was going to post. Not that one.

>>2069538
That ooyodo is fine too

File: Contemporary Sendai.jpg (142 KB, 707x1000)

142 KB JPG

You leap off the buggy, throwing up a hand in thanks as you rush towards the compound. The evening was fast approaching … and you don’t know how long Sendai would still be within the vicinity, nor do you know where she would be at any other time. Your feet noisily stomp on the dirt of Admiralty HQ as you rush towards the prep dock, taking shallow breaths as you put one foot before the other. There wasn’t much time left before the sun went down, and as you zoomed past the maintenance crew members and the other staff members leaking out of the new buildings, you realize you must have looked like a fool clattering about the base with your face practically purple from the sheer urgency of the situation. The Prep Dock loomed on your shoulder, prompting you to turn … and promptly duck under a hairy man in a jumpsuit carrying several cables and other knick-knacks, barely keeping them from spilling as you dash right past him, but not before you’re able to catch a glimpse of him kicking dirt towards you in sheer ire with a string of unintelligible curse words leaping into the air, all of them directed at you.

The courteous part of you implored to give the man an apology, but the pragmatic part of your brain said he wouldn’t be receptive of it anyway. That, and, you had to catch up to—

Sendai.

There she was.

The large bay doors closing behind her, you see her leaving with a KanMusu you recognize as Inazuma, the both of them exchanging goodbyes as the smaller one walks away carrying what appeared to be a paper bag in her hands the former moves to enter the Prep Dock once more. You yell out her name, raising your hand to catch her attention.

‘SENDAI!’

It doesn’t work the first time.

‘SENDAI!’

Neither does the second.

‘SENDAI, HEY! SENDAI!’

This time it does.

She stops, turning around right as you skidded to a halt in front of her, almost tripping over your own feet as you try to actually stop the built-up momentum. Sendai’s eyes go wide as she observes you, probably surprised that you of all the Commanders, Admirals and Vice-Admirals on the base had sought her out. You cough, grunting and clearing your throat and raising a hand. Your face must have been positively flushed from all that running. You could even feel the onset of a cramp coming along, crawling from your thighs to your belly.

Perhaps another session in the gym wouldn’t be one you would write off so quickly next time.

‘Commander?’

Sendai stares at you with a confused—and worried—light in her eyes, stretching her hand out so that it hovered practically inches from you, unsure of your presence.

‘Sendai …’

You cough and grunt again.

‘Deep breaths,’ she instructs. You comply.

‘Sendai, uh …’

>>2069568
>'Murakumo, she ... she wants you to take part in a small class of hers. A melee weapons training program.'
>'So, how've you been?'
>'I've actually been wondering ... who're you assigned to?'
>Write-In

>>2069571
>>'Murakumo, she ... she wants you to take part in a small class of hers. A melee weapons training program.'

>>2069571
>>'Murakumo, she ... she wants you to take part in a small class of hers. A melee weapons training program.'

>>2069571
>'Murakumo, she ... she wants you to take part in a small class of hers. A melee weapons training program.'

>>2069568
>'Murakumo, she ... she wants you to take part in a small class of hers. A melee weapons training program.'

alternatively, deseperate love confession, fits the whole running for sendai

>>2069571
>>'Murakumo, she ... she wants you to take part in a small class of hers. A melee weapons training program.'

File: YASEEEEEEN.png (633 KB, 840x1120)

633 KB PNG

You decide to cut the fat out. If Sendai was anything normal—even with her tendency to leap at you from buildings—she probably wanted to get going back to wherever her barracks were right about now. You dust yourself off, grunting your thanks as she gives you a comforting pack on your back, standing to full height and finding your own form practically dwarfing over her. She was barely taller than Ikazuchi and Inazuma, now that you actually thought about it. Murakumo could probably even give her a decent comparison to size.

‘Murakumo,’ you start, ‘Murakumo’s planning to run a class on melee combat training … she asked me to ask you if you’d like to’—you take a sharp intake of breath—‘help her get a class organized.’

She tilts her head, confused.

‘Ara?’

‘Murakumo’s hoping—planning—to run a class on melee weaponry,’ you repeat, placing your hands on your hips, ‘she told me that you had experience with melee combat. Is she right about that?’

‘Melee weapon—oh, you mean external weaponry,’ she hits a fist into an open palm, ‘yeah, that I do. Is Murakumo-chan really trying to run up a class? I didn’t think that there’d be enough around to start to organize one.’

‘Well … she kind of left that up to me,’ you rub the back of your neck. ‘She’s got everything else sorted out, but I’m supposed to be the backstage hand or something, moving things around, you know? I’ve already got Yamato and the Admiral’s pretty much said that he’ll rearrange timetables to make sure nothing eats too badly into the pre-determined schedules … so how about it? Are you on board?’

Her lips wrinkle and her cheeks puff as she hums and throws her head back, evidently considering your proposal … before finally straightening her stance and nodding cheerfully, and more importantly, agreeably.

‘Okay,’ she answers, throwing a thumbs up. That was good—you didn’t need to jump through any hoops for this one. ‘But’—you groan internally, of course you had put your hopes up much too soon—‘I don’t specialize in just melee weaponry. I’d like it if you’d be able to requisition some shuriken from the MagiTek guys. Not sure if they’ll say yes, though …’

‘Don’t worry about it,’ you answer with a wave of your hand. ‘I’ll sort that out.’

‘Okay!’

Her cheerful reply is accompanied by a clasp of her hands around yours, with a smile that was much too sunny for such a gloomy day.

‘I’ll check with the Admiral, Commander,’ she calls out, beginning to sprint away—without care for formality or attention, ‘but you got me on board, okay?’

You wave her goodbye.

She definitely had the energy to spare, if nothing else.

You lift your head up to the sky. Rain was definitely—

Here.

You turn around. Was someone there?

>>2069635
>'Nee-san, you say something?'
>Look around (PERCEPTION: DC 16 [ROLL A 1d6 EACH]
>'Head's playing tricks on me. Hope that guy reaches here soon, whoever he is.' (Ignore)
>Write-In

>>2069636
>>'Nee-san, you say something?'

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>2069636
>>Look around (PERCEPTION: DC 16 [ROLL A 1d6 EACH]

>>2069635
>USE THE MAGIC EYE
now you cant give me the "too far away", mech

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>2069635
>>Look around (PERCEPTION: DC 16 [ROLL A 1d6 EACH]
Ruh roh

>>2069636
Can I change mine to >>2069639 instead?

>>2069641
Sorry dude, all votes are final. :(

>>2069641
no changes, mate
mech said so

>>2069639
Upboted.

>>2069639
Supporting this

>>2069639
This seems like a good idea

>>2069639
>>2069650
>>2069654
>>2069657
This is this quest's "Weaver forgot Ruby still had the wrench" for me.

>>2069664
well if it's the Mysterious Stranger, we were going to ask him about the Eye anyway sooner or later.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwhx2gZ5fBE

>>2069636
>>2069639
This

File: [Here].jpg (14 KB, 590x350)

14 KB JPG

It wasn’t me.

A chill goes up your spine. Something feels off with your surroundings. The sound of the vehicles, the din of working men cease. The world is dull, cold … void of life, but not completely absent of colour. Still, strangely enough, you don’t feel any threat—no, not even threat, you don’t even feel a presence. The air isn’t stale, far from it, the variation of scent and sound is all around you, but it seems to be cut off, dulled. You feel the skin of your eyepatch, pulling it up.

There are strands, roots, branches and rivers everywhere. You can hear them, dancing, singing … much like Musashi and Yamato had reached and grabbed in their state of desperation, you see yourself entangled—but not quite—in ethereal branches and rivers, flowing through you as if by influence, by request and at the same time … their own volition, not command. There is no hostility, but you can feel a … curiosity about it. Absently, you lift your metallic fingers, touching the floating river about you. You feel something course through your arm, the Kantai Steel briefly glowing blue before the river, the branches, twist themselves away from you. There is no one around. The sight of the maintenance crew, of the KanMusu and whoever else, were nothing more than shadows in this mix of dull greys and colours. As if on instinct, you whirl around … and immediately see the rivers twist and turn, moving, but at the same time, remaining in their current positions.

You follow your gut, heading to a stack of a few large containers, something egging you to head towards that location. Feeling no hostility but a sense of curiosity overtake you, you turn around the corner to see … nothing.

Here.

There is no one there.

The world shifts and turns—and if your eye wasn’t there to compensate for the whirl of senses, you don’t doubt you’d be vomiting from the sensory overload. Instead, you take in the senses, the changes … and a sense of familiarity, of home, comes upon you.

You arrive at your Barracks. By the crumpled gazebo, surrounded by mist with a stale, petrified air all around you.

‘Nee-san, you seeing this?’

I … I can’t see anything. It’s as if I’ve been …

That wasn’t good.

Here.

You turn around. Again, nothing. Shadows and colours and mist is all you find, all you can see and feel. Your eyes practically throbs, but you don’t sense hostility, no danger. The whispers are menacing, taunting … but at the same time, they are distant, untouchable. You whirl your head, again and again … and walk towards the door to your barracks.

The world bleeds again, and you find yourself standing in sand, overlooking the bleak, bleak waters of the vast sea.

Here.

‘No,’ you mutter to yourself, clenching your fist. ‘There!’

File: Space Tone.jpg (98 KB, 700x700)

98 KB JPG

>>2069716
>The prophecy is true

File: Spoiler Image (148 KB, 980x1471)

148 KB JPG

You hit something with a dull thud. Wood. It was wood.

Something hits you back … square on the forehead. A flick, right to the front of your skull.

It is as if a prize fighter had used you as a punching bag for his famous hook. It’s strong, it’s fast and it’s painful. You feel your brain practically rattling in its shell, rolling and rolling away. You cry out as the world returns to you … and you taste the saltiness of wet sand, crashing against where the beach met the wa—waves?

Beach?

You’d been here before.

This was the Southern Beach.

You move to get to your feet, only to find yourself being swept by the waves, rolling over and finding your face planted in wet muck. You spit the rank flavour of foam and wet sand out of your mouth, wiping away the muck from your cheek as you look up to see the hooded figure of your assailant, a balled wooden staff in hand … and resting on your shoulder. The water comes in again, splashing against your thighs and knees … and the brown cloak that they wore. They weren’t bigger than you, although they probably had an inch or two by height advantage. Colour had returned to the world. Everything was as it was before. The world roared around the both of you … but at the same time, you felt paralysed. The staff was wooden, thick … but it didn’t look any more durable than any other tree branch you’d come across. If you squinted, it would’ve been more akin to an awkwardly long club than anything else.

You couldn’t move.

Whatever the contraption was … it was keeping you stunned and in place.

‘I would have thought,’ he—the voice obviously male—begins with obvious attitude and amusement, ‘that she’d given those contact details to someone less inclined to recklessness.’

‘She?’

He lifts the staff from your shoulder … and you find your functions returning, quickly getting to your feet. Despite being practically knocked onto your feet, you didn’t feel any danger. You did, however, feel a sense of embarrassment, bordering on humiliation to go along with some angry confusion as to why it had been necessary to lead you around like an idiot and tossing you face-first into foam-covered sand. The man jabs his staff into the ground, lifting his cloak … and revealing a face that was at the same time etched by the carvings of experience, amusement … and a certain fatigue, barely held back by the sheer steadiness of his form. He stood like a giant, despite his lanky experience, proud and curious in stance, even by a glance.

He taps the side of your head.

‘Cheating, young man,’ he laughs, prompting a scowl. ‘That is cheating.’

>Write-In

>>2069736
>>Write-In
"What...What is?"

>>2069736
>Hey, I use whatever I can get. Its saved my life a few times too.

>>2069736
>Sorry sir, I wasn't aware of the rules... what just happened?

>>2069736
Seconding >>2069743

>>2069743
...maybe "any rules" would be more appropriate than "the", on second thought

>>2069743

>>2069743
going with this along with
>Hey, I use whatever I can get. Its saved my life a few times too.

>>2069743
This

File: Come Now, Young Man.jpg (20 KB, 298x243)

20 KB JPG

‘I wasn’t aware there were rules.’

You stare up at the man, who merely raises an eyebrow at you.

‘An uncommon mutation,’ he observes, drawing back his staff as you stumble to your feet, glaring at him. ‘For many humans, a potent venom, for few a cure and for a select chosen a window to change. Although, considering your background, I’d be lying to call myself surprised.’

‘You’d be …?’

‘You should know,’ he wears half a smirk, lifting and stabbing his staff into the sand. ‘You’re the one to whom I can thank for such an unwanted addition to my telephone bill.’

‘You’re’—you spare his staff a glance, backing away in surprise—‘you are one, then? An actual Shaman?’

‘Shaman?’ he muses, rolling his staff in his hand, absently staring at the head. ‘Now that is a title that I haven’t heard in quite some time. Nor did I ever expect to hear someone utter it with such reverence in application!’

You open your mouth, unsure of where to start. You had so many questions. Could he help you? What did he know about the war with the Abyssals? How did he and the First Admiral communicate all this time? How was he able to track you down so easily? Could he summon more? Would he be able to solve the issue of your Stream being way past its limit? What was that spell that he had cast just now? Did he commune regularly with spirits? What had he meant by the title of Shaman not being one that had had been called by—was he not one after all?

‘I have—’

‘Hello there!’

He raises his hand in a friendly wave, prompting you to wear a frown. You’d already given each other greetings, so why had—

‘It takes some getting used to,’ he utters, looking right past you, ‘but considering how much stability you have achieved as a fragment, this shouldn’t be much of a problem, would it, young lady?’

Young lady?

You whirl around … and find yourself stunned as you come face-to-face with a familiar hat, scowl. Your blood immediately runs cold as the hem of the dress dances with the wind, its owner mussing up her hair.

‘N-Nee-san?’

Your mind spins in a panic. She was out here—out here; not in the crook of your mind between your spirit and mind. She was on the beach, treading upon it like any other living being and looking none too pleased about it.

Your eyes fearfully glance at the streets above. They could see her. They would—

‘We are the only ones who can see her. She is no more visible to the eyes of mortals than the wind and our thoughts,’ he assures you calmly, folding his hands behind his back, staff still in hand. ‘Now, I believe Mamiya’s should still be open at this hour, come now.’

You look between the retreating back of the Shaman … and the shrugging form of Nee-san, unsure of what to do next.

>Write-In

>>2069987
you know of abyssal fragments?
you know what abyssals are?!

>>2069987
Grab nee-san hand (fail to touch her) and then follow after the old man.

>>2069987
Well we may as well follow him.

>>2069987
"How did do this?"

>>2069987
Catch up with the Shaman.

Try to reach out to Nee-san mentally (so we don't attract attention speaking to ourselves)

Ask the shaman what he can tell us about such phenomenon, did it happen before?

>>2069987

>>2069996
This

>>2069996
Yeah I support this one too

>>2070025
same

File: You Have Questions.jpg (61 KB, 452x442)

61 KB JPG

The both of you stare at each other, confusion intermingling with shock in your thoughts. Absently, you raise your Kantai Steel arm … and true to form, it passes through her forearm, but not before a jolt of what felt like a chill on a winter’s day bites right through you like cold air. The edges of her ethereal body, invisible to all but you and the man that had somehow conjured this mode of existence, dances in a blur. She was like a ghost—and now that you’d considered the circumstances, you really couldn’t call her anything but. To her credit, she seemed less shocked and more … displeased with the development, however it had happened, with her crossed arms and stoic gaze towards the brown cloak that was the old Shaman, hastily marching up the stairs.

‘Come now,’ he calls out urgently to you. ‘Do you want to let an old man go hungry?’

You hastily follow after him.

Despite his age, he’s remarkably energetic, striding confidently through the streets with his eyes forward. You notice odd stares from passers-by, civilian and military alike: either confused by his presence or aware of what he was. You weren’t too clear on the stance of Shamans in the war aside of being aware of their support alongside the fairies. The Admiralty hadn’t exactly marketed them—and considering what The Admiral had told you, that was probably the way that they wanted it to stay.

‘Look, I—’

‘You have questions,’ he interrupts as the both of you make your way onto the pavement—Neesan trails right behind, dodging bodies even though she didn’t have to. ‘I promise you that they will be answered to the best of my ability; but this is hardly the time and hardly the place … and I am very much famished.’

You dial back on the curiosity, following behind the robed man as curious onlookers stared at the both of you—and you’re thankful it is only the both of you—while you dodged past Army gentlemen and civilians. It’s not long before you arrive at Mamiya’s—the so-called Shaman several stride ahead of you, disappearing into the establishment, only for you to follow right after. The place wasn’t packed. It hardly was at this point in time … but the clocks ticked by fast in Yokosuka, and soon it would definitely be. A brief glance of the eatery had you see that the Shaman had found a spot on small table by a newly-painted pillar, chatting with Irako as she scribbled his orders down.

‘—it is very nice to see you again, Irako; glad to see that you’re doing so well for yourself,’ he finally notices you on approach, the apparition of your freeloader—HEY—of a companion right next to you. ‘That’s three burgers, heavy on the soy sauce … and tell Mamiya not that brown is enough. No additives. Anything for you, young man?’

‘Water.’

Irako bows quickly, to both of you—and for the Shaman, deeply and with noticeable reverence—before making her way to the back of the restaurant.

‘Now,’ the Shaman begins, gesturing for you to take the seat. ‘I believe you have some matters you’d like … answered.’

>>2070078
>Ask away (Specify)

>>2070080
How can you see nee-san in me? And why do you not seem to care about the fragment in my head? Plus, how is she materialzing like this?

>>2070080
"First of all, who did you this? and you mentioned term 'abyssal fragments" this happened to someone before?"

>>2070095
this one seems important

>>2070095
>>2070102
Agreed, that one. I hope he can answer a lot of questions...

>>2070095
how did you did this*
fuck me and my grammatical errors

>>2070074
Hmm... I kinda want him to tell us more about nee-san, but need to word it carefully so she doesn't feel hurt.
>What can you tell me about the fragment phenomenon, has it happened before?

But I'm guessing the most pressing concern would be
>What was that... test?... that just happened? What did you find out?
>What can I do about my condition?


Other less immediately consequential question would include
>I heard KanMusu referred to as "spirits of conflict", what does that mean and what other kinds are there?
>Why are there such big differences between KanMusu of different nationalities? Is the difference in how they're summoned, or how they're treated afterwards, or is it something they bring with themselves into this world?
>What exactly is the "Grudge"?
>How does Abyssal hivemind work?

>>2070110
>>What exactly is the "Grudge"?
>>How does Abyssal hivemind work?
this ones are plot important, i feel
>>Why are there such big differences between KanMusu of different nationalities? Is the difference in how they're summoned, or how they're treated afterwards, or is it something they bring with themselves into this world?
this one is more minor but important nothernless

>>2070074

>>2070095
This

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaPf-MRKITg

File: You Know What They Call A(...).jpg (153 KB, 1509x661)

153 KB JPG

‘I heard you talk about … her’—you spare the spectre next to you a quick glance, before lowering your voice—‘being a fragment. I think that that’s what I’d like answered first.’

He gives the standing ghost of the Abyssal Princess a look himself, stroking his short white beard before leaning back in his chair and folding his hands into a tent.

‘A fragment, is what it is,’ he begins in a low voice, barely above a whisper, ‘a part—a splinter of a much greater being—but not the whole, and in this case, not the original. However you procured this young lady, it must have been under dire circumstances for the host, the whole, or it would not have occurred in the first place.’

‘You know that she’s a—’

‘Your voice sounded different over the phone—an artificial quality to it, an echo … however, at the same time, I could not find an inkling of malice or automation,’ he throws her another glance. ‘Every spirit, whether they know it or not, emanates an echo of itself through its host. It is heard through its voice, it is seen through its movements … it is expressed in laughter. Faded as she is, she is still her own creature as much as you are … to this old man, well, she might as well have sent me a letter say that she was here herself.’

You blink, surprised. All that from a simple telephone call?

‘Why didn’t you—’

‘Tell you?’ his eyes widen in amusement. ‘I am versed in the Arts—that doesn’t make me a mind reader. Men are prone to panic, fear and selfishness in the face of the unknown, in the darkness or the light. The best thing that I could do was come over as quickly as possible to see how you were doing. I am glad my assumptions were … mostly correct.’

‘So you’ve seen this before.’

He pauses, looking thoughtful for a moment.

‘Yes,’ he finally responds, nodding. ‘Many times.’

He looks up to the ghostly but silent form of your companion.

‘It must have been painful, being ripped from what you once were—a shadow of a shadow,’ he comments. ‘Can you still hear them?’

Nee-san regards him for a moment … and in that moment, you see something of a pained look etched onto her face. One that you hadn’t seen before. The edges of her form tremble, alternating between faded and opaque, before you turn back to the old Shaman, who wore a regretful stare of his own.

No.

‘I am sorry,’ he says in a quiet voice, briefly staring at the table … before wearing a smile and looking upward. ‘Ah, here, Irako dear! Here, here!’

Irako arrives at your table, setting down your glass of water and the … odd mish-mash of meat, gravy and bread that somehow qualified as food.

‘Tell me if there’s anything else you need,’ she chirps, to which the old Shaman returns with a kind, grandfatherly smile of his own. Irako walks right through Nee-san, oblivious to her presence.

>I have more questions (Specify)

>>2071201
>>I have more questions (Specify)

Attempt to grab and squeeze nee-san's hand. fail again.

"What happened to the others with fragments?"

>>2071201
>I have more questions (Specify)
>>2071249
Lets go with this for now, cant think of anything better

>>2071249
>"Why cant we touch Nee-san"

>>2071201
"I was told that someone's stream can only take so much before "before break" and only through continuous use of it someone can enlarge it, how will you help me to do that in so little time?"

>>2071201
Seconding >>2071249
The intention is what counts really.

>>2071249
I don't get this question. Could someone clarify what the intent is for me?

>>2071413
Hes seen it before in other people and multiple times at that. And we havnt heard of it. We're asking whats the end state of those with fragments in them.

AKA: Do we die or do we go mad.

File: This Is A Nice Picture.jpg (138 KB, 850x1133)

138 KB JPG

‘You said that there were other cases with fragments … what happened to them?’

He doesn’t answer, lifting the breaded patty and biting into it like a starving man having his first meal. From his reaction, Irako and Mamiya had either improved on their—admittedly limited—spectrum of pallet towards meal preparation or he was just so hungry that the squish of gravy-covered meat that was barely dark must have been the nectar of legends and myths. You yourself take a sip of water, turning up to look at Nee-san’s stoic features. She turns her head towards you, offering a clueless shrug, as confused as you were by the odd mannerisms of the old man seated before you.

‘There is a variation of outcomes, depending on the fragment,’ he begins thickly, although still keeping his voice low, ‘as in the cases where the fragments are not strong enough to sustain themselves, they go—thoughts forgotten, into the annals of where memories choose leave. There are those that mirror, that copy, but are ultimately without any identity of their own, seeking to eternally spectate and rehearse the life they had thought they had led. Fewer are attributable to those who you call in your stories as ghosts, some even join in the great commune of spirits, one of the world around us. To ask that question is to ask where does one’s life lead … the certainty is never, ever as sure as the step forward. Where she may go, however, your guess is as good as mine.’

The both of you share another look.

‘Still, she looks relatively … healthy, despite the circumstances, so I can only discern that even in the assumption of incompetency’—he takes another bite out of his burger—‘I believe that your presence is, at least, to her, tolerable and unacceptable.’

‘What if it wasn’t?’

‘Then we wouldn’t be here talking, young man.’

You bite your lip, staring at him as he takes another bite, swallowing and chomping as though the meal—as if to him it held more intrigue and mystery than the fact that there was a ghost that was a copy of an eldritch monster whose true, massive form laid at the bottom of the dark sea. You absently hope it stayed that way.

Oi.

‘Still,’ he wipes some of the crust—and bits of onion—away from his beard. ‘It is a rare instance that expulsion hasn’t been part of this conversation. I am neutral to this consideration, of course, but I would assumed that this is what you came to ask me to help you with?’

Expel Nee-san?

You hadn’t thought about that before.

Well, you had, but …

‘Well?’

It had been so long since it’d crossed your mind.

>Write-In

>>2071553
‘Still, she looks relatively … healthy, despite the circumstances, so I can only discern that even in the assumption of incompetency’—he takes another bite out of his burger—‘I believe that your presence is, at least, to her, tolerable and not entirely unacceptable.’

Some words missing. Correction.

>>2071553
>>Write-In
"No. No... That actually hasnt been a consideration for a while. Shes saved me several times already and I'd not see ne- her hung out to dry.

No my reason for seeking your help was to train and increase my stream potential. I've somehow managed to form so many bonds that the only reason i'm still standing is because of her help."

>>2071553
>not really
>insert Stream situation here

>>2071553
This >>2071584

>>2071584
this

>>2071584
this

>>2071553

>>2071584
This