>>2108195
>‘It means that I’ll be able to manage all of you. More efficiently.’ (Adamant)

>>2108195
>>‘I’m aware of the implications.’ ( Show Awareness)

>>2108195
>‘I’m aware of the implications.’ ( Show Awareness)

>>2108195
>‘It means that I’ll be able to manage all of you. More efficiently.’ (Adamant)

>>2108195
>>Write-In
Take her hand in ours and look her in the eye.
"Go on then."

Let her pour out her fears and fustrations. Don't complete stonewall. Talking it out will be a method for coming to terms with this for them.

>>2108266
Going for this

>>2108238
>>2108239
>>2108248
>>2108257
>>2108266
>>2108323
All right, let's go by elimination. And we have a winner.

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‘I’m aware of the implications,’ you assure them.

The looks on their faces tell you that they’re anything but assured, however.

‘I know how the Shamans work,’ you declare confidently, turning and stepping towards your wardrobe, before pausing and adding, ‘or at least, I have a good picture of how it is.’

‘That’s not what we’re worried about,’ Houshou sounds, more annoyed than you had ever heard her before.

‘Commander, we’re sure that he has a solution that’s more than adequate,’ Nagato furthers voices her discontent, ‘but you’re taking a lot of risk just to keep us together. A lot of unnecessary risk.’

‘I thought you were on board with this,’ you counter, bending over and diving into your underwear drawer—formerly Kaga’s. ‘That this was supposed to be a decision that I made and that we came to an understanding over? Why the sudden change on this? You’re acting like what we’re doing is any different from what we agreed it to be.’

Nagato snorts—over your shoulder, you catch a glance of her nude form spreading her stance and narrowing her eyes at you while Houshou places her hands behind her own head as she throws a tired gaze towards the ceiling.

‘Because, dear,’ she wears a forced, annoyed smile, ‘there is a very marked difference between having a Shaman over to consult and assist with a problem than having a title of subordination put on in association with one.’

You sigh—you were down to one piece of clean underwear. It crosses your mind to go and ask Samidare if she would know when your clothes would come on back; even if the maintenance crew was slow, they were usually punctual when it came to the laundry. From an off-hand remark by Tenryuu, it looked like they had slackened on the pace since you went into your short coma. Maybe you’d pay them a visit soo—

‘Are you even listening to me?’

‘I am,’ you reply tiredly as you straighten your back, ‘but you’re really considering that I’d take this leap based on blind faith?’

Technically, you were, but … hey, that was you.

Believing in the best of those around you was something you’d never take for granted again.

‘I’m not saying that, but …’

Nagato looks to the floor, her expression downcast.

‘I’m worried.’

You wince as you get a fix on her expression, the feeling of guilt instantly multiplying by the gross. Whether Nagato knew it or not, you valued her as both your Sub-Commander and confidant … and you were more than aware of the strings she’d pulled and the ink she’d scribbled in keeping the bedlam to a minimum. Which, of course, with you in charge, was a God-sent miracle—compounding with your inexperience and tendency to play things by ear.

‘Naga—’

There are three knocks on the door.

‘Commander?’

It’s Iowa.

‘Can I … um, come in?’

>>2108405
>Let her in
>Tell her to wait
>Tell her to go away
>Write-In

>>2108408
>>Let her in

>>2108408
>Let her in

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>>2108408
>>Let her in

>mfw shes coming into a room filled with nude people.

>>2108408
>>Let her in

>>2108405

>Let her in

>>2108408
>Let her in

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You unlock the door to let her in—if anyone had anything with weight to say in these barracks on the matter it would be her … although, a part of you was curious as to why she’d be knocking on your door at this hour. Dawn had barely broken an hour and change ago … and you’d only elected to have a shower this early was because you really couldn’t find the fatigue to snuggle under the covers for a nap. The cold shower and the colder air had you more awake than you’d ever been at this hour. Sure enough, Iowa stands there, clad in her towel …. and wearing a slight blush and grimace as her head turns downward to find that you had foregone bothering to don a pair of briefs or boxers.

‘This early?’

You cough into a fist, opening the door further to allow her inside.

‘Sorry, just getting changed.’

You close the door behind her with a sigh—maybe you were getting too comfortable for your own good. Perhaps that was why Houshou and Nagato still lorded over you—you don’t think you’d respect yourself if you’d seen your Commander-by-default butt in all its bared glory.

‘Iowa.’

‘Morning, dear.’

You see her expression wrinkle slightly upon—and it couldn’t be anything but—realizing that she was the only one that had any measure of decency in the room … albeit in a white towel that barely kept her extremities in check.

‘I’m not,’ she pauses, sparing Nagato and Houshou a glance, ‘interrupting anything … irregular, am I?’

‘No, we’re,’ you sigh, scratching the top of your head, ‘we’re just reviewing a decision that was already made … nothing important.’

The other two grumble under their breath.

‘We’re talking about our esteemed Commander’s decision … to take up a post as a Disciple to a Heretic Shaman.’

‘Oh, that’s—YOU WHAT?!’

You wince. You hadn’t expected that shrill, judgemental cry from the one woman that had a bird’s eye view on the current situation. Glancing at Houshou and Nagato, however, you can’t help but feel a tick of annoyance as you observed the smug looks of satisfaction that they now wore. Rubbing your temples, you move to the centre of the room … feeling the scathing light of Iowa’s glare in all its glory.

‘You … do you know what you’re getting yourself into?’

You’re thankful that she had lowered her voice to that of a hiss … although you could do without the hands on her hips and the dissatisfied scowl upon her face.

‘Do you know how dangerous the Shamanistic Arts are?’

‘It’s a calculated risk,’ you try to reassure her—just as you did the other two, ‘and you three could afford to give me a little more credit to my deliberative abilities.’

‘Like the one that got you into that coma?’

‘Or … the one that got you into that other coma?’

Iowa blinks in surprise as she turns to the other two.

‘It’s happened more than twice?’

>>2108499
>'Iowa, there must have been a reason you wanted to see me this early. What's this about?' (Divert)
>'I know how it looks like, but if there's anything that'll give me a leg up, it'll be this.' (Pragmatic)
>'All right, all of you out. Out!' (Dismiss)
>'Sure, ring on the guy who just wants to keep us all together.' (Guilt Trip)
>'It's not the best course of action ... but it's the best of what little we've got.' (Plea)
>'Iowa, you ... have more experience with Heretics than I do. Is this something that I should be doing?' (Inquire)
>'I might as well put a ring on all three of you. You got the nagging part down pat.' (Sarcasm)
>Write-In

>>2108504
>>'I might as well put a ring on all three of you. You got the nagging part down pat.' (Sarcasm)

>>2108504
>>Write-In
"Thing is his heresy is based on regret for cutting off the bonds to his family for his shamanistic powers. Its why I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and seek his help.

It's a different kind of heresy."

(Divert back onto the main issue, away from our multiple multiple failings.)

>>2108504
>'I might as well put a ring on all three of you. You got the nagging part down pat.' (Sarcasm)

>>2108505
>>2108509
Flipping a coin. Coin flipped.

>>2108517
Oh, we have a tiebreaker. Never mind.

>>2108519
RIP. I don't think they'll appreciate that.

>>2108504
Yes. Okay, look. I realize I am taking a risk, and admittedly it’s larger than I thought it would be given the heresy business. However, the main reason has not changed. I don’t want to hurt any of you more than I already have, and I want to get better at what I do. I realize that seems bizarre reasoning considering possible punishment, but I trust the man’s references and his motivations and believe me that among clandestine shit taking place around here this one is among least morally reprehensible.

>>2108509
Going for this

File: Bride.jpg (295 KB, 850x1183)

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‘I might as well put a ring on all three of you,’ you mention pointedly as you take a seat. ‘You’ve got the nagging part down pat.’

Their expression don’t change … except for probably Houshou, who you couldn’t make see. She was practically curled up in a ball, her arms and knees obscuring whatever she had on her face from view. Nagato approaches you with a stern look in her eyes … before placing a reassuring hand on your shoulders, her gaze immediately softening as you rose to meet it.

‘We’re not trying to nag you into complying with what we have to say.’

You don’t answer, but you wanted to sound off that it sure did feel like it.

‘There’s a whole different risk just associating with a Heretic Shaman and actually pledging yourself as his Disciple,’ Nagato takes a warning tone as she takes a knee, her voice taking an almost-heartfelt tone. ‘I won’t … I won’t rebel against your decision, Commander, but you have to be careful. There’s more at risk here than just the Division’s status. You’re consorting with a declared defector and enemy of the Admiralty’s benefactor. This isn’t just about us being worried if you’ll be able to handle the strain of our connections, this is …’

‘Nagato’s worried.’

Houshou’s voice prompts you to raise your head to the huddled KanMusu.

‘It’s one thing to just impart techniques, skills, arts, disciplines,’ Houshou points out, ‘but the fact that he’s taking you as a Disciple … Shamanistic Arts are dangerous. KanMusu are just … the surface of it; I think that—we think that—there’s a lot of undue risk you’re undertaking in proceeding with this decision. We just want you to make sure that this is what you’re … willing to proceed with. It’s a big ask, but we’re willing to head in there with you should you wish to do so … but we won’t go ahead with you if you take this risk uneducated and unchallenged.’

You pause, taking in her words.

‘Objection noted, Houshou,’ you offer her a fond smile, which she returns weakly. ‘I’m sorry that you’re all stuck with me on this boat.’

Nagato snorts, rolling her eyes … and giving your limp member a playful flick.

‘That makes us even,’ she laughs, getting to her feet, ‘and … we’re with you, even if the part of us that thinks that this is violating every tenet of common sense in existence is practically screaming at you to turn your hat in.’

You grimace. Part of you wanted to smack yourself for le4tting things spirals this far, too.

Specifically, the part that was the remnant of an Abyssal Princess that had taken residence in your head.

‘Um, Commander?’

You look to Houshou.

‘Yeah?’

‘If you could … would you actually marry us?’

You feel your toes practically turn to stone as three sets of eyes bear upon you with an intensity to be believed.

>Write-In

>>2108565
>>Write-In
"Yes. Yes I would."

Delivered without hesitation.

>>2108569
Yeah this, I see no difference

>>2108565
>Implying we're not a family already.

>>2108565
"What do you think, when I refuse to cut those bonds."

>>2108569
yep, this one

>>2108565

>>2108569
This

Will we actually get a Shaman Robe if we survive all this mess? We are considered a disciple

>>2108615
dunno
i think we look better in uniform, it be unnecesarily weird to go reviews and briefings in a robe

>>2108619
Would be stupid to wear it in the open, but I wouldn't mind it in the closet

>>2108620
Interactive lewd scene where the commander puts on his robe and wizard hat when?

File: Where De White Women At.jpg (290 KB, 715x1000)

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‘Of course I would.’

Houshou makes a noise between a squeak and a mewl, burying herself into her arms, clearly flustered even from your vantage point. Nagato spares you a glance, scrunching her lips before looking away, her arms crosses under her supple chest. Iowa merely groans as she rolls her eyes, not the least bit affected by the casual declaration … and rightly so. Had they expected for you to have any words that didn’t confirm a factor so obvious? Two months of bearing more than just your mere souls to one another … and they thought that you would be joking about your desire to make your union physical fact if given the chance to do so?

You’d build a yellow brick house and lay down your own garden if it meant their happiness.

‘Well,’ Nagato coughs into a fist, trying her best to show her disapproval of your statement … to a poor degree of success. She might as well have presented a form. ‘That’s … back on topic, if it’s a decision that you’re willing to proceed with, Commander, we’ll respect it … and do our best to make sure things don’t’—she and Houshou share a tentative nod—‘get too out of hand.’

Something strikes you.

‘We’re the only ones that know about him, right? What about LEIA and Loudmouth?’

‘I trust the Specialist,’ Nagato nods, ‘but I think it’s best that we keep your attendants in the dark—they’re still kids, and … we don’t know how things’ll slip.’

Houshou gets to her feet.

‘She’s a professional and she tends to stay out of things that exclusively deal with our … oddities,’ she vouches further. ‘Unless there’s reason for her to, I don’t think she’ll pry any further as to the current … situation.’

You give a grim nod. You’d have to come to a decision about those two sooner or later … or you could just hope that the Shaman—despite his rambunctious nature—was as good as he was implied to be in keep his presence from being unnoticed. You don’t think he’d be going around like he just to break the First Admiral’s own precautions on her association. Would he?

‘Right now, we’re acting on faith,’ you grimace, sighing loudly right after. The irony of the situation isn’t lost on you. ‘If the cat gets out of the bag, though … implications not going to look good on anyone.’

Nagato raises an eyebrow at you.

‘I know; I know.’

She laughs lightly, planting a soft kiss on your forehead.

‘Hope you know what you’re doing, sir.’

Houshou bites her lips, hesitant … before giving a respectful bow. The both of them exit the room … leaving just you and the towel-clad Iowa, seated on your mattress as she gave a casual wave of goodbye, the door closing behind Houshou with a light thud.

‘Right,’ you sigh again, turning to Iowa. ‘You wanted to see me, Iowa?’

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Iowa wears a troubled expression, staring at the foot of your table. You find a frown making its way onto your features yourself, wondering just what was on her mind for her to wake up this early for a heart-to-heart when she could have chosen any other moment to do so. You observe her still form, going back and forth on whether it was of a personal nature … or something that required your immediate attention. The fact that she had eased into the discussion between you, Houshou and Nagato, however, told you that it couldn’t have been that urgent that it would require a chat before day even broke.

So what could it be?

Iowa looks up towards you, rubbing her neck.

‘Yeah, I, uh … I …’

This was strange. She had never been hesitant … except when it came to a certain topic.

‘Is it about Saratoga?’

She sighs, bringing her hands to her knees.

‘No, not … directly,’ she admits through a muffled noise, ‘at least, but, um … this is hard.’

‘Been there.’

The both of you laugh nervously. For some reason, it only added to the awkwardness of the situation.

‘So,’ begins slowly, ‘when were you going to tell us that you had an Abyssal Princess’s remnant in your head?’

>‘I … don’t know what you’re talking about.’ (Deny)
>‘How did you …?’ (Disbelief)
>‘Actually, I was hoping to carry that secret with me to the grave.’ (Confirm)
>Write-In

>>2108633
>Write-In
"Wow, thats two in a day. More than i expected in this life time. How did you find out?"

>>2108633
>write in
not here, not now

>>2108644
this

>>2108633
>I...what.
An act of disbelief, neither confirm nor deny.

>>2108633
>Write-in
honestly I don't know, she's the reason I'm still alive despite my stupidity I'd.. had hoped you never would of found out

>>2108644
This seems good

>>2108633
I don’t honestly know. I didn’t realize she was there after Nagato and Kaga helped me deal with her... original self’s intrusion, but she did save my life several times since, including from...

(Did we tell her about the Saratoga encounter? Now might be the time.)

>>2108657
This

>>2108657
going for this

>>2108633
>>2108644
This

>>2108657
this is close enough to my write in that I'll support it

>>2108657
Support this.

>>2108657
support, and yes we should reveal

File: You're Dead Without Me.jpg (86 KB, 850x1133)

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Your blood runs cold. Your mind spins and whirls as Iowa looks at you with a determined look in her eyes … and a visage that only communicates further that you wouldn’t escape her queries; queries that you’re sure that are only piling up with every second that passes. You let out a breath, telling yourself to calm down. Avoiding the issue wouldn’t do you any good—in fact, it’d probably make things worse. You offer her a nervous smile as you feel age come upon you by the decades, sheer panic beginning to creep upon your back. Your throat tightens further as times goes by, almost constricting what little air that you’re already able to take.

Calmly getting to your feet, you place your eyepatch over your closed eye, meeting Iowa’s gaze as you realize that … it was a good run while it lasted.

‘I … didn’t know how she got in here in the first place,’ you sigh, picking out a piece of underwear and donning yourself. If you were going to step in front of a firing squad, you’d do so with at least a shred of decency. ‘You already know that she’s a remnant, of course, I don’t have to … go over the details of what she is.’

You pause with the snap of your underwear’s elastic band.

‘She’s been really helpful, though. I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for her—saved my useless ass more times than common sense has cared to kick in.’

She throws up a reassuring smile.

‘I know,’ Iowa laughs lightly, ‘she told me.’

‘She—’

It would be more of a visual spectacle if you’d bother to cover up, I assure you.

You almost jump at the arrival, whirling around to find your tenant’s ethereal form walking in a casual manner across the floor, making not so much as a sound as she did so. If your blood had run cold before, right now is was practically frozen. However, upon finding Iowa’s less-than-surprised features—and the presence of an apprehensive stare in lieu of one of fascination and interest—you find yourself calming down.

‘You can see her?’

She can. The others are still … unaware.

Nee-san turns on her heel, looking straight at you.

If possible, it would be ideal for my presence to remain anonymous to the one with the big guns and the tiny one with little sense of self-control.

You frown. Houshou wasn’t that small.

As if in answer, she pats her hands on her sizable bust.

Perhaps she was.

Her presence almost crushed your form the night before—I told you that I would do my best to keep things stable from my side until you’re able to find a more permanent fix. Any further pressure, and I believe I will have to expand more than I can afford to keep myself concealed.

‘Wait, what? Iowa, she—’

I took care of it. You were asleep … it wouldn’t do you well to meet such an end, snoring and dreaming of nutrition.

>Write-In

>>2108973
>You're taking this a lot better than most Iowa, I'd have thought people would go ballistic hearing about this.

>>2108973
It's a bit of a relief actually, to have someone else know.

Sorry Iowa. It seems you got even more than you thought you bargained for by joining with me.

regarding the ghost girl: "I haven't heard of you since last dinner. What's your impression of the Shaman?"

>>2108985
>>2108991
Flipping a coin. Coin flipped.

>>2108991
this.

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‘You’re … taking this a lot better than I would’ve expected from anyone.’

Nee-san snorts, puffing out her chest and placing her hands on her hips as she hovers inches from the floor.

She didn’t, I assure you.

Iowa narrows her eyes at the apparition.

‘Well, you try and,’ she shakes her head before furrowing her brows and looking up at you, ‘look, I came to see you this early for a reason. I thought I’d be able to catch you before anyone else did. I didn’t expect Houshou and Nagato to be practically on stake-out: why didn’t you tell me about Sara?’

If the alarm bells were mild before, they were definitely going off right now. It wasn’t as if you had meant to leave it on your desk this long—you’d intended to tell her as soon as the opportunity presented itself; but with your recovery from the attack—which you had thankfully survived by the intervention of one benevolent entity in the form of Neesan—you’d been swamped from your toes to your nose in activities and tasks that it had remained for pick-up but was never even given a glimpse. The last time you’d even thought about it was when Iowa had—

It honestly slipped his mind.

You pout—a childish response, even by your standards.

It did.

You throw her an accusing glare

‘And you told her?’

She sticks out her tongue, bopping her hat-clad head with a soft fist.

It slipped my tongue.

You roll your eyes before pinching your brow, mumbling under your breath.

‘Sure it did.’

Iowa’s stare doesn’t lighten up, even after that exchange with your hopefully-temporary—Hey— annoyance of a tenant. Her lips are thinned and her cheeks are slightly sucked in, watching you expectantly, more than likely waiting for whatever terrible excuse that you could cook up to crawl out of this hole. It was one thing to keep information of her sister from her—even when not on purpose—it was another thing to do so when she herself had opened up the crux of the circumstances to you in complete confidence in the first place.

Crawl you would.

‘Iowa, I really, really meant to tell you about it—I was going to, but,’ you make an odd gesture with your hands in an attempt to placate her, ‘things came up. I know it’s hardly an excuse, but that’s the truth. I wasn’t going to keep it from you … but with everything that happened since I got back … it just …’

It was no use, really, at this point.

You give up, dropping yourself back onto the chair.

‘You’re angry with me, aren’t you?’

Expecting a smack of sorts … you’re surprised by the scent of her bosom in your nose and her arms wrapping around your head, holding you close in a comforting embrace. You open mouth to say something … before your common sense kicks right in and shuts it right back up. You close your eyes and take in her presence, finding yourself easing away from the mode of panic you had shifted into not moments before. Her embrace is calming, soothing … and you find yourself returning it, gently raising your hands to hold onto her torso. Your lips kiss against the thick fabric of the towel while your nose makes do with the soft skin of her chest, the valley between her supple breasts. Calm comes upon you again … and as if sensing this, the blonde Battleship pulls back, although she doesn’t quite move away from you.

Her hands cup your cheeks …. and you look up to observe a half-smile and an unsure visage staring back down at you.

‘Not … that angry,’ she admits, albeit with some reluctance. ‘You should thank her—she put in enough of a good word that I’m considering letting you off with lighter punishment.’

‘Punishment?’

‘I said I wasn’t that angry—I never said you didn’t annoy me for being irresponsible with your priorities.’

You couldn’t argue with that.

>‘What do you want to know about … in regards to that mission?’
>‘You said that it happened when I was sleeping … why didn’t I feel like I was in danger at all? I should, shouldn’t I?’
>‘How did you find out about her? I mean … did she just pop out out of nowhere or something?’
>‘Since we’re on the topic … do you have anything to say about the Shaman? You’ve dealt with Heretics before.’
>‘Can we talk some … other time?
>Write-In

>>2109103
>‘What do you want to know about … in regards to that mission?’

>>2109103
>>‘What do you want to know about … in regards to that mission?

>>2109103
>>‘How did you find out about her? I mean … did she just pop out out of nowhere or something?’

>>2109103
>‘What do you want to know about … in regards to that mission?’

>>2109103
>‘What do you want to know about … in regards to that mission?’

>>2109103
>What do you want to know about … in regards to that mission?’

>>2109103
>‘You said that it happened when I was sleeping … why didn’t I feel like I was in danger at all? I should, shouldn’t I?’

File: Abyssal Sara.jpg (314 KB, 846x1200)

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‘What do you want to know about,’ you sigh, ‘the incident?’

‘If possible … everything.’

You nod.

‘Well,’ you begin, ‘the mission was a standard capture and hold for patrols to make their rounds … and as expected, we got into some heavy resistance. Took a bit of trial and error, but other than the fact that they hit harder and smarter, there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary except for a stationary signature on the edge of the grid. Hoped to clean house proper, but … we ran into something weird. A bunch of Abyssals were … frozen. As if they were in suspended animation or something.’

‘Sara.’

You look up to see Iowa’s gasp, her expression troubled as she covers her mouth. Her eyes were wide … more horrified than anything else. You extend hand in an attempt to comfort her, but find her raising her own in a reassuring gesture, adjusting her towel and moving over to your table. You cast a worried gaze upon her, seeing her mumble under her breath as she adopts a troubled and thoughtful furrow of her brows, as if she was trying to contain her own disbelief at the sheer reality that you had brought to her.

However, that also prompted your own curiosity.

‘You know about it?’

‘It’s,’ Iowa replies quickly, before biting her lip in hesitation, ‘when she went on her rampage … when Dad and I went to hunt her down, we noticed … corpses. Like they were caught in the middle of running … burning … dying. We put a report in to explain just what we saw, but it was as if time … stopped for them. I don’t know how she does it, but … Saratoga, she … that’s her. That’s definitely something that she’s capable of. It’s what she can do.’

‘What is it?’

‘I don’t know,’ she responds quietly, ‘the Heretics … if they didn’t die there, they disappeared. Whatever they did in Sara’s summoning, it—but I don’t understand, you’re saying that Abyssals were caught in that same state?’

‘Yeah,’ you nod grimly, ‘it was downright scary seeing that … but it’s nothing compared to when she actually showed up. I don’t think I ever want to go down that road again.’

You were fortunate to have me fend off her invasion … although I must commend her on her flavour. It is more than invigorating.

You make a disgusted face as she winks back at you.

But, to pursue the issue … I am able to discern a little of what she is. She is in pain.

‘In pain? How can you tell?’

She grins widely—uncanny and frightening, baring her teeth like a pale doll.

By her taste, of course. I wouldn’t mind partaking again … but I doubt that there’s enough space in your head to fully accommodate what I would to her should I be given the opportunity. After all … as bountiful as she is as prey, I have survival as my preference over indulgence.

‘Commander,’ Iowa cuts in, catching your attention, ‘if she’—she glances at the ghostly form of Neesan—‘was able to survive as a remnant, theoretically, would Sara be able to—under the same circumstances, of course—be able to …?’

>‘I’m not even sure how she managed to keep herself from being fully killed.’ (Feeble)
>‘Theoretically, yeah, but … Iowa, I can’t recommend or encourage it.’ (Gently let her down)
>‘I’m not sure if there’s anything left of her in there … or anything that was there in the first place.’ (Discourage)
>‘The possibility exists. I won’t discount it.’ (Concede)
>‘She’s a Princess, Iowa. You know that.’ (Blunt)
>Write-In

>>2109195
>>‘The possibility exists. I won’t discount it.’ (Concede)

>>2109195
>‘I’m not even sure how she managed to keep herself from being fully killed.’ (Feeble)
This is a beyond awful idea. One that's going to get Iowa or other Kanmusu killed.

>>2109195
>‘The possibility exists. I won’t discount it.’ (Concede)

>>2109195
>‘Theoretically, yeah, but … Iowa, I can’t recommend or encourage it.’ (Gently let her down)

>>2109195
Ask the ghost girl. Also ask her to be a bit sensitive when talking to others. Please.

>>2109195
>‘The possibility exists. I won’t discount it.’ (Concede)
far as i know, could be
but im not that hopefull

>>2109195
>Write-In:
"If a Ru-Class did it when a "certain someone" came to live with me, then the possibility exists."

>>2109195
>‘The possibility exists. I won’t discount it.’ (Concede)

>>2109195
>The possibility exists but I wouldn't recommend it.

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I'd like to know if Saratoga can be salvaged. Ghost girl will probably not know but Shaman might. I wonder how much he'll know of those other heretics, but probably not much.

>>2109298
(also this is not a new vote, already voted in >>2109205 (You))

>>2109298
Oh the irony and I just started playing Homeworld Remastered

>>2109195
>‘Theoretically, yeah, but … Iowa, I can’t recommend or encourage it.’ (Gently let her down)

>>2109195
>>‘I’m not sure if there’s anything left of her in there … or anything that was there in the first place.’ (Discourage)

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>>2109298
How many corvettes would you need for that

>>2109195
>‘I’m not sure if there’s anything left of her in there … or anything that was there in the first place.’ (Discourage)

Having a session in a bit. Currently troubleshooting some issues with my word processor.

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On one hand, you didn’t want to depress her any further pertaining to the situation. On the other … you really didn’t want to do anything that would encourage her on the matter. Sparing a glance to the only ghostly occupant of your room, you then turn to Iowa.

‘The possibility exists,’ you admit—albeit a little more timidly than you had intended, ‘I won’t discount something that I’m able to verify with definite proof … and her being here doesn’t disprove the assumption that Saratoga could, under ideal circumstances.’

The ideal circumstances being Nagato and Kaga beating down Nee-san’s larger copy into a pulp within the deep recesses of your mind … and you finishing her off by linking Kaga’s nightmares to your own Stream to consume her more deadly attributes. You hadn’t even noticed that she was still around until you found yourself being beaten to a pulp by a Kantai Steel-enhanced Senator from Haszad—her discovery and assistance was out of necessity. You don’t doubt that she would’ve preferred to have remained hidden for as long as possible. Not that you minded her much at this point, of course. Dangerous by title and venomous in her tongue, she still remained a helpful ace in the hole when you needed her to be … and you only needed your last outing with your Division as evidence.

‘I don’t know how she ended up surviving, though—but if there’s anything that I’m not banking on, it’s that a cockroach and a cat crossed up would have less lives than an Abyssal Princess.’

Nee-san tilts her head.

Cockroaches and felines are not the pinnacle of evolution.

You roll your eyes, pinching your brow.

‘It’s a figure of speech.’

Have cockroaches and felines achieved immortality?

‘They might as well have,’ you chuckle, ‘it’s hard enough to kill the former and I swear, I’ve probably seen the same cat in two different places years apart.’

‘Can you,’ Iowa raises a trembling hand, ‘not talk about … those please. I’d rather, really … not.’

‘Cats?’

Iowa frantically shakes her head.

‘Cockroaches?’

You wear a smirk of smug amusement as Iowa gives an uncomfortable nod. That seemed to be an … oddly common source of discomfort. War machines from across worlds and stars … and yet the topic and the sight of vermin; of roaches and their ilk seemed to send the bunch of them into a state of shell-shock. Shaking your head, you try to suppress the little snicker building up in your nose.

‘If,’ Iowa takes point in the conversation, ‘no, he definitely would, wouldn’t he?’

‘Who?’

‘The Shaman,’ Iowa clarifies, slowly finding the firmness in her voice, ‘he’d … know how to recreate the situation that lead to her, wouldn’t he?’

>‘Doesn’t hurt to ask.’ (Encourage)
>‘Iowa, I’m not even sure how she survived. I really tried to kill her.’ (Discourage)
>Write-In

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>>2110501
>Nobody here but us trees...

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>>2110504
"It's called hiding battle brother."

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"Their... machine spirt calls to me battle brothers"

>>2110501
>Write-In
iowa, trust me when i say it be the best to recreate her
but we are talking abyssals, not even the greates shaman out ther knows whats up with them. im willing to try, but, and this is important, i cant asure you of it working in any way

>>2110501
>>‘Iowa, I’m not even sure how she survived. I really tried to kill her.’ (Discourage)
or at least kaga did

>>2110501

>‘Iowa, I’m not even sure how she survived. I really tried to kill her.’ (Discourage)

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>>2110501
>>‘Doesn’t hurt to ask.’ (Encourage)
"Hello, and season's greetings how goes the work on this...'Forge World'?"

>>2110508
in case of not understanding that clustefuck of a post, i meant "accept, but tell her that is very likely to not work"

>>2110513
"Worry not the emperor's angels are here to help."

>>2110504
>>2110505
>>2110507
>>2110512
I don't know why you're trying to put this here, so you're either trying derail this or just on the wrong thread or board. I'll take your vote, but anymore posting, and I'll just cut it off and ignore any of your posts/votes after. Do we have an understanding?

>>2110516

"Whatever you need to work, shall work... the Omniessnia wills it"
>Happy Sanginlala

>>2110508
>>2110513
Supporting this

>>2110501
>>‘Iowa, I’m not even sure how she survived. I really tried to kill her.’ (Discourage)

I really want to ask shaman about this but I’m not sure how badly babbling will mess up. But we’ll its not like we’re not letting him mess with our head as it is.


Let’s ask him. What can be done about Saratoga situation in general aside from putting her out of misery with overwhelming force we do not have. Not really fan of purposeful ghostification, it seems like making just another aberration to natural order, no offense onee-san.

>>2110513
>>2110508
This pretty much.

>>2110508
>>2110521
>>2110536

>>2110510
>>2110511
>>2110522
Coin flip time. Coin flipped.

Congratulations to the write-in

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You consider your response.

You didn’t want to encourage this. Not at all. You weren’t even sure if recreating the reaction that had led to your gaining of Nee-san was anything that you’d advise for anyone else. Selfish as it sounded, you thought that the less prevalent cases like yours were, the better it would turn out in the end. It never slipped your mind just what Nee-san was, and even if she was a benevolent guardian entity, the circumstances were hardly what you would call a shake of the hand and an exchange of business cards.

However, you also understood that Saratoga was Iowa’s family. In all but blood bonds, the KanMusu held a camaraderie that you wished that you had the empathy and selflessness to replicate, once upon a time. Even if you wanted to, you couldn’t ignore how you knew Iowa’s approach to the matter was. She wore her heart on her sleeve every time Saratoga’s name came up … and even under that veil of death and destruction, the frightening utterance of Iowa’s own name … was a small light shining through. One you couldn’t forget.

You approach Iowa, placing your hands on her shoulder as you stare straight into her shining blue eyes, struggling with your words.

‘Iowa, I know that you want her back,’ you begin, to which she turns her head down, a guilty look etching itself upon her visage. ‘Believe me, if it were up to me, I’d be asking the same thing … but even I’m not sure how she survived; back then, we really did try to stamp her out the best we could. Thankfully, it didn’t work out as we intended for it to turn out.’

You ignore the snort from the hat-clad loon floating on the table.

‘An inquiry with the Shaman wouldn’t hurt … and I’m sure that even if he can’t help, he’ll at least be able to give you a clearer picture of what your options are,’ you pause as Iowa’s eyes glimmer in hope as she turns her head back up again. You feel like you’re tip-toeing on shards of glass now. ‘Not that I’m encouraging this, of course, but … you deserve answer; and if there’s a way to turn her back to our side, then I’m all for shoring up our forces again. Until then …’

You thin your lips. This was the heart.

‘It doesn’t change the fact that at this moment, Saratoga is an Abyssal threat, even an artificial one,’ ‘I won’t ignore my duties as a Commander if I encounter her again—I can’t afford to … especially when something of her threat level is involved. I … can’t.’

‘I know.’

‘I’m sorry,’ you reply softly … before finding yourself wrapped around the waist by her strong arms, her cheek nuzzling against yours as you awkwardly try to return it.

Iowa lingers as your hands hover above the small of her back, her warmth unexpected but welcome.

‘Thank you,’ she breathes. ‘I’m glad that you’re my Commander.’

>Write-In

>>2110604
well, thats gotta be the highest praise of my carrer so far
i cant promise you a good answer or one you like, but i break a leg to give you one

>>2110604
>bring her in
>"And I'm glad to have you here, with me"
>"I'll do what I can, just please don't raise your hopes up too high"

>>2110612
this works.

>>2110604
"It may be a little bit off-topic for the moment, but what else you two talked about?"

>>2110612
I support this, but also want this >>2110658
If it's not possible then just >>2110612

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You slowly return the hug, holding her closely.

‘I’m glad to have you here with me, too.’

Affection—such a curious manner of communicating one’s satisfaction.

You wear a ghost of a smile as you look over Iowa’s head to see the playful scowl of the ghostly Abyssal as she fades from this world; no doubt taking up residence back in that apartment of hers. Iowa pulls back, and so do you, regarding her fondly as she did the same right back. Your hands linger on her shoulders … and you find the friction of your two bodies rubbing against one another had loosened her towel, somewhat, the sheet of cloth unceremoniously falling to the floor to reveal her bountiful chest and her chiselled abdomen.

‘Not going to pick that up?’

‘I think,’ she laughs softly, staring up at you—the touch of her hand gently tracing the crook of your prosthetic, ‘that at this point I’m going to have to get used to it. Not that I’m endorsing any preference for your present physical state, of course.’

You scrunch your nose as you look down at your underwear-clad form. You thought you’d lost a lot of weight. You think that at there was probably enough of the fat that had been shed that you’d practically gained an inch down there. That wasn’t to discount that you were quite some way away from an ideal body of course … but you believed that credit was due where it was due, at the very least.

‘I think that Nee-san’s done a good job regulating me for optimal operative capacity,’ you joke, bringing your foreheads together. Her hum of delight sends shivers up your spine as you wheel on the spot, Iowa’s form following you in your arms. ‘I mean, I know that I’m not—’

You’re silenced with a tender kiss.

Iowa pulls away, eternities into seconds later, wearing a melancholic smile.

‘You don’t have to be,’ she reassures you, a guilty look encroaching upon her visage, ‘but I won’t deny that it’s a bonus that you’re trying your hardest.’

‘Nee-san’s doing the best she can, too,’ you joke with a wink of your good eye, ‘and believe me—she’s … earning her rent.’

You damn right I am.

You mumble under your breath.

‘Iowa, I … I can’t promise if he’ll have answers or if it’ll work—I just don’t want you to get your hopes up too high.’

‘I know.’

It happens so fast.

You find yourself pushed onto the mattress, your legs sticking over the edge. Iowa licks her lips as she crawls between your legs, before hovering mere inches from the front of your crotch.

‘I-Iowa, what’re you—’

‘I told you I was annoyed with your irresponsibility,’ she fixes a flat stare upon you as finger teases the tip of your member through the cloth. ‘Keep quiet and take your punishment like a man.’

>‘Iowa, I think that, um … this isn’t the time for it.’ (Ask her to stop)
>‘Aye, aye, madam.’ (Allow her)
>Write-In

>>2110728
>‘Aye, aye, madam.’ (Allow her)

Overlapping mayday noises

>>2110728
>‘Iowa, I think that, um … this isn’t the time for it.’ (Ask her to stop)
i had to try

>>2110728
>‘Aye, aye, madam.’ (Allow her)

>>2110728
>‘Aye, aye, madam.’ (Allow her)

>>2110728
>>‘Aye, aye, madam.’ (Allow her)

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These are your lewds from your first time with her to tide you over until I come back.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yDqJyONei7UeaWNOQc6GCeFnwOwRSJdnytv8OnBwvc0/edit

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>>2110728
>>‘Aye, aye, madam.’ (Allow her)
>>2110738
It's not that I don't respect your efforts anon, but I do laugh at its insignificance

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>>2110728
>‘Aye, aye, madam.’ (Allow her)
I wonder what Nee-san is thinking when we do shit like this. Is she watching?

>>2110728
>‘Aye, aye, madam.’ (Allow her)
I managed to catch up from the archives!

>>2111379
And you're not bored at all?

>>2112050
Theres lewds to be had.

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‘Aye, aye, madame.’

You prop yourself up on your elbows as Iowa strips you of your underwear … and after so much effort to find a clean pair, too. Upon finding your limp member, however, she fixes you with a dissatisfied look, to which you have the decency to at least show some measure of embarrassment for. All that changes, however, with a smirk and peck on its tip. Iowa gives the underside of your recently-washed cock a tentative lick with her wet, warm tongue, trailing gentle kisses from the glans to where it met your sack, gently suckling on the loose flesh and staring mischievously with those bright blue orbs of hers.

‘I thought you weren’t,’ you take a sharp intake of breath, ‘inclined towards this sort of hanky-panky?’

She hums in amusement as she makes out with the base of your shaft, her lips and tongue sucking and pecking while her fingers roll along your tip. You find your breathing beginning to get laboured … until something comes to mind, right as her breath teases the head of your cock.

‘Nagato gave me some tips,’ she reveals, much to your surprise. ‘Thought it’d be a waste if I didn’t at least put some practice in.’

‘N-Nagato did?’

Iowa smirks, before engulfing your member with her mouth, downing as much as she was able … which was practically—and to your embarrassment—the entirety of your member. At this point, however, you hardly minded. She messily slobbers over your cock, her tongue expertly sliding and coiling as much as it could manage as she bobbed her head up and down in a slow, controlled rhythm. You clutch the sheets of the bed, finding your breathing growing even more laboured compared to before. Iowa stares at the unsteady rise and fall of your chest, your body completely under her spell. She drags her lips to the glans again, sucking on it like a cold popsicle on a hot day. It’s hard not to notice her beauty, radiant and primal. It takes every inch of you to not just give in to immediate defeat—to not relinquish what pride you had.

‘It’s different,’ she comments, popping the head out of her mouth and giving the tip another sopping wet kiss. ‘It’s not bad at all.’

It hits you just what she was referring to.

You cast a worried gaze upon the blonde Battleship.

‘Iowa …’

‘You keep quiet,’ she winks, tucking her hair behind her ear, ‘I do believe that I said this was your punishment, my beloved Commander.’

She engulfs your cock again, working her pace. You find your tongue lolling out and your eyes rolling into your head with every loving pump of her head, every slide of her tongue. You can’t take it anymore. Mumbling for forgiveness, you clutch either side of her head and force her down—and to your surprise, she makes a delighted sound at your sudden aggressive stance, working on you furiously and desperately. You feel yourself building up towards your climax, your breathing haggard and all knowledge of restraint chipped away by the bobbing head and the eager tongue of a woman that loved you more than you did yourself.

It’s too much.

‘I-Iowa!’

You cry out her name.

Iowa doesn’t move away, eagerly and greedily drinking from you as though you were her own private—and personal—stock. Strands of release, ejaculation, shoot out of you with all the ferocity that your lust could muster, your hands firmly by the sides of her head as she swallows it all with little to no resistance, her eyes closed … as if savouring every smidgen that your essence had to give.

Her eyes suddenly spring open as she leaps back from her bowed position, gagging and coughing and stumbling onto the wooden floor. You rush over to her side, placing a hand on her shoulder to help her steady herself. You had been too forceful—your lack of inhibition had no doubt taken all semblance of enjoyment out of it for her.

‘Sorry,’ you apologize with a grimace, gently rubbing her back, ‘

Iowa leans against your form, frantically shaking her head.

‘N-No, it isn’t that,’ she manages, looking up at you. Her eyes are wide with fear, uncertainty; you can feel the entirety of her form trembling as she huddles closer to you, shock more than evident in her voice. ‘I … I can taste it.’

INTERLUDE END

>>2112134
>iowa can TASTE things now
you are fucking with me aincha?

>>2112134
>taste
How
Since when

>>2112134
The plot thickens. Along with some other things.

>>2112134
Oh boy

>>2112134
nee-san what the hell did you do beside talk to iowa.

>>2112134
>go make breakfast for her
We gotta test this shit!

>>2112138
Yeah, you might want to get that checked.

>>2112210
Commander will get to see Kasumi after all... when the time comes for paternity tests

>>2112228
And you wonder why the Shaman wants you to keep it in your pants...

>>2112239
>not going full science and having lots of human/shipgirl kids
they would even call us papa!
i dont see how that could be bad

>>2112243
Considering how the Discord keeps getting excited about starting an Outer Heaven, keeping you players away from even the most remote of possibilities of this occurrence is of immediate concern and at the top of the list of priorities for me as your GM.

It's not happening and I will gut people to make sure it damn well won't.

>>2112245
The heresy train has no brakes.

Well, shamans training better involve metabolic controls to ensure we don't accidentally force a vessel vixen to choose between a horrible trauma and decommissioning.

Also buy some rubbers.

>>2112245
Tell the discord to stop trying to pull a snake. We got a war to win and if somebody ends up pregent they gotta go live with the old lady and bismark

Posting invite to Discord since it's been a while: https://discord.gg/DXsehSp

Several unforeseen problems have cropped up IRL and I'm doing my best to try and get back to this thread as soon as I can. Hang tight until then, folks.

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This was the first time ever that you’d led a girl down a busy street holding her hand. Although girl would start getting into all sorts of technical nonsense if you’d declared its liberal use so blatantly. Your usual staff members had agreed with Nagato to give you about a week of reprieve to recover from your experience—and you had about two days more before you’d hit the stacks again … which was fortuitous because you needed all the “free time” that you could get.

You look behind you to see Iowa with a whole banana burrito—heated and ready for eating—in her mouth, chewing it rather than biting it off piece by piece, while the hand that wasn’t occupied by your clasping digits held … another banana burrito. Soldiers, crew members and civilians gave you odd looks, several guardians of accompanying children bringing their pointed fingers down and averting their eyes from the sight that the pair of your made. You look left and right, mumbling as you try to scan for the Shaman, hoping to catch a glimpse of him if he was anywhere closer to you than the designated meeting spot. The faster you could sort this mystery and file it away, the better.

Turning into an alley from the main street you realize that your companion, however, didn’t share your sense of urgency.

‘I don’t know how you humans can stand this,’ Iowa mutters thickly as she finally bites the burrito off, her mouth slobbering with saliva, oils and melted butter—ecstasy is more than evident in her eyes. ‘It’s so un’—she takes another gigantic bite of the wrap—‘healthy, but it’s so sweet and chewy and mushy … how can you love it? How can you hate it—Oh, the world, this doesn’t have a right to be this good.’

You sigh, turning back to see Iowa’s tearful face. It looked like she’d been given Mithra’s personal blessing.

‘How can you humans make something so terrible but so incredible?’

‘We try.’

Your dry comment drags a smile out of you, but you otherwise say nothing else, holding Iowa’s hand and pulling her down another corner … before finding yourself almost stumbling over from a pull in the other direction. You frown, about to chastise Iowa … and find her standing still, staring at what appeared to be a middle-aged man and two children: a boy and a girl, sitting on the stoop of a large building with no door. They looked cold and unkempt, even with the military-issued supply pack next to them, devoid of its standard contents.

‘Iowa?’

Iowa lets your hand go, stepping over towards them … and opening the satchel that dangled from her arm like a purse.

‘Here,’ she opens it, revealing the rest of the wraps … the four that you had cooked up after she’d devoured the first from the palm of your hand. The children shrink away slightly, likely intimidated by her approach … not that it deterred her at all. ‘Go on—one for each of ya … they’re really bad.’

The children’s hands hover apprehensively over the offending objects, looking confused at Iowa’s odd attempt to pawn off the rest of her food. She scrunches her nose, tilting her head, as if trying to find more … appropriate words of encouragement.

‘They have high volumes of glucose, too much vegetable oil for optimal digestion and conversion, carbohydrates that are too artificial for proper palatability and have more than enough butter to warrant the onset of an immediate heart attack,’ she declares proudly—and much to your amusement, ‘but … they’re really good.’

To your surprise, the older man laughs, before giving your companion a thankful nod.

‘Go ahead, you two,’ he gestures towards the bag, ‘two for each of you … and thank you, Miss.’

The children are quick to follow suit.

‘Thank you, Nee-san.’

Satisfied with her work, Iowa straightens her back … before dropping into a respectful now and trotting right back to you, hooking her arm around yours and wearing a coy smile.

‘What’s with that face?’ she comments with a giggle, poking your cheek.

>'Nothing.' (Stay quiet)
>'It's just nice to see that you don't have a sense of urgency ... or worry about these changes.' (Sarcasm)
>'I just ... I guess it's nice to see that you're still you, even with the changes.' (Observant)
>'Did you seriously just give away all the food I made for you?' (Annoyed)
>'Just thinking that ... well, that was a nice thing you did. Especially after ... you know, your first experience with the civilians.' (Comment)
>Write-In

>>2118478
>>'Just thinking that ... well, that was a nice thing you did. Especially after ... you know, your first experience with the civilians.' (Comment)

>>2118478
>>'I just ... I guess it's nice to see that you're still you, even with the changes.' (Observant)

>>2118478
>>'I just ... I guess it's nice to see that you're still you, even with the changes.' (Observant)

>>2118478
>I just ... I guess it's nice to see that you're still you, even with the changes.' (Observant)

>>2118478
>'I just ... I guess it's nice to see that you're still you, even with the changes.' (Observant)

>>2118478
Nothing, just... it warms a heart to see someone happy. Thank you for being good people, Iowa.

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‘I just,’ you wear a small smile on your lips, shaking your head, ‘It’s nice to see that you’re still you, even with … the changes.’

Iowa crinkles her nose, her confusion more than apparent.

‘Huh?’

You decide not to pursue it.

‘Nothing.’

However, by the fond, faraway look on her face, it looked like she was more than prepared to.

‘I had to help with relief efforts back in Vanzer,’ she reveals—you’d expected as much, even if she was; no, especially because she was the only KanMusu around. ‘If I wasn’t stuck in the lab, fighting or taking a nap in the living room … I’d try to help out at soup kitchens or try to get supplies out to the cities that were, well—too stubborn to fall. After Metropolis, though … haven’t had much of a chance to go back to that line. Nothing but holding action after that—Admiralty got desperate, you know, scared … and the King and the House of Arms … you know what happened after that.’

You nod in response—a gesture that she takes as a prompt to continue with her words.

‘If nothing else, you get to see what people really are like when the chips are down and there’s nothing in reserve,’ Iowa comments dryly, rubbing the stain in the corner of her mouth and making a delighted sound as she sucks it off her thumb, ‘and going around the conflict zones … you get to see more than just your fair share of how ugly things can get.’

Your first day comes to mind, almost immediately,

‘Been there,’ you comment dryly, ‘done that.’

‘But,’ Iowa goes on, ‘it’s times like that that you see … just how big people can be, you know?’

You raise your eyebrow in interest as Iowa turns to you, wearing a wide, serene smile.

‘I’m not saying that there weren’t times where I wish that I could just smack two skulls together for fighting over a soup can crate … but I think that in the worst of times, it’s not just the worst of humans that comes out, but the best of you that does too..’

‘I guess that’s true,’ you shrug nonchalantly, not thinking much of it at all.

Her smile fades a little as she looks forward. Her lips are tighter now, her expression a little bit darker compared to before—which was a little surprising, considering the fondness in her voice from witnessing such optimism. You peer at her curiously, her gaze looking more troubled by the moment … before she stops in her tracks.

You notice familiar graffiti on the wall across the street—the park would just be around the corner.

Iowa, however, doesn’t look like she would be willing to move even a centimetre.

‘Is it really … like that?’

You frown, confused by her sudden line of questioning.

‘Like what?’

‘That the best—and the worst—of people could only come out at a time like this? That this would be the only time they’d become … more than what they are?’

Her voice is firm, but at the same time, uncertain.

>>2121552
>‘You’ve seen what people are like. Comfort comes easy—take that away and you get a mess and fingers pointing everywhere but at themselves. This is the only time you see what humans really are like—like you said, right? At their best and worst.’ (Pessimistic)
>‘It’s neither best nor the worst of people—it’s merely them shedding what they think they think they should be into being who they are.’ (Realistic)
>‘It can’t be anything else—no one will change unless given a prompt to change from. Desperation makes people consider things they never did before … for good and for bad. I guess you can say that … yeah, I do.’ (Encourage the thought)
>‘Belief is what changes people. Not desperation … not times like these. Human nature has always been selfish and easily contented, but when someone wants to, they will—with or without the input of the times they’re in.’ (Optimistic)
>‘I don’t know, really. Never thought much of it.’ (Dismissive)
>Write-In

"Think very carefully or write-in to cover your bases." - GM

>>2121553
pepole are both good and bad, they just need a push to act on it, hard times are such a push, as these are, and sometimes, they do bad things not because they are evil unfeeling bastards, but merely because they can see any other way.

as the ones that can actually do something in the big picture, we gotta push for the good, to help as many as we can, as well as we can, its hard, but we have to try, to do something good not for us, but for the many, even of the many will not understand it, for example, this city, i and the crew are doing the damnest to make it not just a base, but a city, somewhere to live, i know its a dangerous place to live, but it is a home for many right now, and i will be damned if i dont try to make it a good home for those that live here

>>2121553
I don’t know, Iowa... before I came here, I might have had my opinion on how it works. Ever since, however, this view of mine has been challenged in more ways than one, both by actions of people, myself included, in situations when maintaining a facade became a luxury, as well by my contact with the supernatural that left me with wonder at how far it goes past the surface we can glimpse just by looking.

However, I still don’t think it would be fair to say people actually *need* to be put into extreme stress to manifest their best, or worst. It can be that such an impulse helps to push us, sometimes maybe the circumstances also provide additional contrast. But at the end of the day, it must come from within. We make our choices, not just react to the prodding of destiny.

>>2121561
>>2121572
I'll try to combine these two the best I can since there doesn't seem to be any sides taken between the both of you.

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‘I think I’m the last person that you should be asking this sort of question,’ you reply, your lips forming a lop-sided grimace as you consider Iowa’s words again, ‘but I don’t deny that people have needed a rude awakening to actually start getting their stuff together and show the world what they’re made of—not a lot of people make that breakthrough. I’m sure you’ve seen and heard enough of that without me waxing your ears with the obvious.’

To your credit, she looked a little satisfied with your answer … if only for a moment.

‘Sounds kinda wishy-washy to me, honestly,’ she comments, wearing a slight scowl. ‘Can’t really pick one out?’

You could.

You also know that you’d be dead wrong.

After everything that you had done, everything that you had been through … you’d rationalized that it’d be hard to argue that change was only seen as a necessity in the most desperate of times. Watching everything here, however, put a major damper on any traction you would be inclined in that direction. You’d seen the worst of the lot try to be better and seen polite society collapse to make way for more immediate concerns. To put it all under one ceiling and slap a label on it would hardly do it justice.

Turning to Iowa, you find that … perhaps this was why there had been such a separation between the KanMusu and the humans.

There was being idealistic; there was being realistic and there was just being plain ignorant.

‘To tell the truth, I … probably had a fix on how things worked—one what made people change; what made them all the worse for it and how some of them came out of it all the better. Being here, though … I think the both of us are in the same lost boat trying to find the right stars to go by—and at this point, following an assumption on the topic of human nature’s probably the most incorrect action that I could take—oh Mithra, I must sound like Tenryuu by now.’

Your gripe prompts an amused chuckle from your companion as you rub your temples.

‘Point still stands, though—it’s not easy to manifest the extremities of the human condition, and maybe you’re right that our worst and our best peak at times like this, but I believe that at the end of the day, we make the choice to become the best that we can be … or take the easy way out and jump into that hungry crowd. Take your pick on whichever opinion you want to take: chances are, we’re both going to end up heading in a dead end on the hypothesis anyway.’

Iowa opens her mouth to say something … and you find the world slowing down, colour being drained from it. Your eyes dart left and right as something takes you over. You find the world thick and hard to move in, your muscles constricting and decompressing at the same time.

There.

No,

Here.

>Instinct (Roll a 1d6 each)

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>2123503
here we go again

Rolled 6 (1d6)

>>2123503

Summon nee-san~

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>2123503
What the christ

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>2123503

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>2123503
Taking out my bad rng

Rolled 1 (1d6)

>>2123503

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You push Iowa into the wall.

You can feel something coursing through your lower torso—something that enables its ability to withstand the sheer strain from the speed you find yourself moving at. It’s as if a haze had been lifted from your mind … and had fallen back down—but at the same time, that it didn’t matter … because for the first time in your life, you could see beyond what your eyes allowed you to see. The veil was merely a distraction, misdirecting you from you needed to look—no, where you needed to feel.

As the world speeds back up again, you raise your prosthetic to block the oncoming attack, right where Iowa was before.

The staff hits your metallic wrist with a dull thud—and smacks right next to Iowa as you push back.

You wince in pain as you feel another strike just under the back of your pain and stumble forwards … only to turn around—with great effort—to block the next hit with your metallic elbow, but ultimately dropping onto the ground with an unceremonious excuse of a landing on your buttocks. The world, briefly grey, returns to colour as you look up to see the raised eyebrow of your hooded Master, pointing the end of his staff at you.

‘Your body is adapting quickly,’ he comments nonchalantly as you grab the end of his stick. He pulls you up with little effort, ignoring the frown of disapproval that you gave him for the unorthodox greeting. ‘That’s good … that means we’ll see much more progress today.’

‘Is this going to be standard from now on?’

‘You’re implying that I do not know my Disciple enough to know the thresholds that you are able to cross and the ones I am unwilling to allow you to.’

‘Do you?’

‘It’s an uncertain science.’

You grumble under your breath.

Iowa appears to share your sentiment, grumbling as she approaches the both of you with a look that spelt pure annoyance. You chalked that annoyance attributable that you had shoved her into a brick wall in panic.

‘I couldn’t help but overhear your discussion,’ he chirps, gesturing for you to follow him—which you do, ‘and I have to say, young lady, that talking about human nature and trying to find an answer is going to get you no further than trying to order a triple decker meat sandwich at a vegetarian deli. Chaos, pure, pure, chaos … you’re better off sticking to what you know. Do what you will. We’re a chaotic, brainless bunch of morons huddled together—no need to—’

He stops in his tracks, turning around with a confused expression.

‘Wait, why is she here?’

>‘Actually, she’s just here to oversee my training. Make sure I don’t come back with broken bones.’ (Distrust)
>‘She, uh, can taste food now … and she knows about my—our mutual friend.’ (Disclose)
>‘We were hoping to get a question answered … what would it take to activate a KanMusu’s tastebuds?’ (Sly)
>'None of your business.' (Dismissive)
>Write-In

>>2123586
>>‘We were hoping to get a question answered … what would it take to activate a KanMusu’s tastebuds?’ (Sly)

>>2123586
>‘We were hoping to get a question answered … what would it take to activate a KanMusu’s tastebuds?’ (Sly)

>>2123586
>>‘She, uh, can taste food now … and she knows about my—our mutual friend.’ (Disclose)

>>2123586
>>‘We were hoping to get a question answered … what would it take to activate a KanMusu’s tastebuds?’ (Sly)

>>2123586
>‘We were hoping to get a question answered … what would it take to activate a KanMusu’s tastebuds?’ (Sly)

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You don’t think it would be best to relieve that information just yet. Throwing Iowa a brief glance, you fix the Shaman with a determined stare.

‘We were hoping to get a questions answered, actually,’ you breathe, hoping he didn’t catch on. ‘The both of us … we were wondering what could—what would it take to bring a KanMusu’s taste buds back.’

‘An odd inquiry,’ he nods, ‘one that delves into the theorems of homunculi attribution—why the sudden curiosity?’

>‘It’s something I’ve had a vested interest in for quite some time.’ ([Convince] Roll a 1d6 each)
>‘Because … she can. She can taste now.’ (Admit)
>Write-In

>>2123602
>‘Because … she can. She can taste now.’ (Admit)

>>2123602
>>‘Because … she can. She can taste now.’ (Admit)

>>2123602
>>‘Because … she can. She can taste now.’ (Admit)

>>2123602
>‘Because … she can. She can taste now.’ (Admit)

>>2123602
>>‘Because … she can. She can taste now.’ (Admit)

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‘Because … she can. She can taste now.’

There was no use hiding it. If the Shaman was even half as observant as you thought he was—or a third as capable as you believed him to be—he would have connected the dots in regards to your inquiry with no problem at all. It was best for you to have it all out in the open now—and the quicker you could get things across and have whatever fire he had to spit at you over and done with, the better. The Shaman’s features tighten considerably at the admission … and you brace yourself for the storm to come …

Only to find him smacking his palm into his head, mumbling something under this breath.

‘I expected as much,’ he grumbles, throwing you a tired gaze … before looking to Iowa with an apologetic gaze. ‘How you operate, it was only a matter of time before chance struck … but I suppose that this one’—he jabs a thumb in Iowa’s direction—‘was as close to a sure thing as we could have expected. Conjuration and alteration are so much more unpredictable the more complete the blueprint and structure are—and KanMusu are remarkably human in that aspect, whether you know it or not.’

You frown, not quite following where he was headed with that statement.

‘It’s a recent change—is that what you’re saying?’

‘Yeah, it was,’ you halt mid-sentence, remembering the incident of the discovery, ‘this morning.’

The Shaman groans, rolling his eyes. He probably got the gist of it by the look of annoyance that began to carve itself from his temple and all the way down to his chin.

‘Don’t get into the details … I don’t want to hear about what lunacy that you deem is passable as far as relations between a guardian revenant and her commanding officer go, but reminding myself of your track record, it would be ludicrous of me to think that you’d be anything approaching sensible.’

You content yourself with the fact that you had at least the decency to not retort to the accusations.

‘Why couldn’t you just confess to some pretty thing and get shot down and settle somewhere? Is that really so hard to do?’

You also content yourself with the fact that you had enough self-awareness to not argue with the Shaman’s line of argument … even if you could vehemently protest that you’d confessed to several pretty roses already, and as far as the dynamics were concerned, you thought that you were doing quite well for yourself.

He glances at Iowa, letting out a heavy sigh—a multitude of curses stringing themselves together under his breath.

‘Come on.’

You follow behind him past a corner, the park was just there.

‘Any other changes that you have felt since, my dear?’

‘No,’ Iowa shakes her head, ‘I don’t feel … any different to when I did before—other than the fact I think I like food a lot more now that I can, you know, tell the difference.'

>>2123652
>‘She also knows about my … tenant.’
>Let them continue to talk it out
>Write-In

>>2123653
>>‘She also knows about my … tenant.’

>>2123653
>‘She also knows about my … tenant.’
This is such a bad idea

>>2123653
She’s also been introduced to our mutual acquaintance...

>>2123653
>‘She also knows about my … tenant.’

We are the worst disciple.

>>2123653
>‘She also knows about my … tenant.’

>>2123653
>>Let them continue to talk it out

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As you step onto the grass, you decide to reveal one last tidbit of information. Considering everything that you had put out there, a little more wouldn’t hurt … and as a Disciple, it wouldn’t be respectful to one who played the role of your Master—especially with the risks involved—to keep this secret anymore than you had the reveal of Iowa’s newfound abilities … if the ability to gouge a banana burrito could even be called that.

‘She also knows about my tenant.’

To your surprise, Iowa is the one that lets out the gasp.

‘He does?’

‘Wait, you didn’t know he knew?’

You feel like smacking yourself at the back of your head right as the words leave your mouth—in processing all the information and Nee-san’s presence being made available to her, you’d … forgotten to put forward that the reason Nee-san was able to do what she was able to do now was thanks to the Shaman and his stick.

‘I … assumed, but,’ Iowa bites her lip, glancing at the Shaman, ‘how does he know?’

‘Because I was the one who gave her some breathing room from that cramped excuse of a hiding spot,’ he gruffly replies, ‘but really, it’s not hard—your signature is just so fractured in my eyes that any Shaman with sufficient training would have been able to tell that—if not in specific detail—that something out of the ordinary was going on … and until you learn to keep things under control, what you essentially have on you is a very visible point of interest. Thankfully, there’s so much chaos going on that getting a fix on you is—’

‘DECHI!’

The loud, loud sound of something big—and containing a variety of objects—falling over and its contents spilling and raking against each other reach your ears … and you turn to the skyline of tall buildings, where several birds flew away, as startled as you are.

‘Wh-What was that?’

The Shaman scoffs.

‘I’m surprised that you’ve failed to notice that you’ve had quite the fanatic on your tail.’

‘Fanatic?’

‘The Submarine …’

‘As far as her own awareness levels go, however, I’m thankful that she isn’t on the same level as the Cruisers—she’a dangerous hunter in her own right, of course, but,’ he shrugs, ‘well, I suppose that you’re able to realize that you’re not her usual quarry.’

You frown.

‘She’s been following me?’

Another stupid question. One that Iowa isn’t hesitant at scoffing at with a raised eyebrow, just to hammer the point across at how utterly deplorable your ability to consistently retain information was. To be very fair, however … it was hard to keep the presence of someone who had only shown up for a brief few minutes in your life in mind, even if she was the shape of a busty pre-teen with an almost maniacal streak when it came to her—for lack of better word—jurisdiction.

The memories of her warning and how callously she had treated your Division, however … that wasn’t something that you could forget. Not at all.

‘You expected that she wouldn’t? For someone under scrutiny, you don’t seem to be so … worried.’

Despite the truth to her words, you only manage a nonchalant shrug. Ever since Musashi’s retrieval had made a—for lack of better word—asset out of you, you’d taken a more liberal approach to your day-to-days. Even your plan to throw her off the scent hadn’t actually seen much action because of the circumstances that had piled up—and your stature had cemented that the most that she could be to you was a growling dog on a leash: intimidating, but otherwise not at all in your way. The Shaman wears a satisfied smile at the sound of breaking glass in the distance and the faint sound of swear words … and you somehow suspect that he had something to do with the bout of trouble the Submarine was more than likely going through right now.

‘Well, she will not be bothering us if that’s your worry—as one of the Hunter’s Lodge, she’s inclined more to her own habits than actual effectiveness as a manhunter without her Den Mother ordering her around, ‘and as far as her Den Mother goes … well, I’m more than happy her machinations haven’t reached here.’

Taigei. He was talking about Taigei.

‘We only have a day to get you back on track … if she was able to notice the presence of your guest, then the others will be following through,’ he declares hurriedly, marching—the both of you in tow—towards the middle of the empty field, ‘and I doubt that you’re going to score a home run with your whole Division. I’m surprised she hasn’t ripped your head off your shoulders, considering that’s what she was brought here for in the first place.’

Iowa visibly stiffens at the comment.

‘My weapons systems, they’re … not operational.’

He raises an eyebrow interest, his eyes glinting despite their flat quality.

‘Are they now?’

His deep chortle has you rolling your eyes. You toss your shirt onto the grass below, ready to get back to work.

‘At least there’ll be a very visible indicator to see if this works at all.’

You frown.

‘What?’

‘Your training,’ he declares, ‘I promised that I would address your more immediate concerns, wouldn’t I?’

>‘Before that, I think Iowa has … a few things to ask you.’
>‘I have some things to ask before we proceed.’
>‘All right, what’s next?’

>>2125803
>‘I have some things to ask before we proceed.’

>>2125803
>‘I have some things to ask before we proceed.’
might as well get this extra heretical stuff out of the way

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‘I have some things to ask before we proceed.’

‘Very well.’

>‘How do you keep doing that? I mean, showing yourself up out of nowhere … and being able to find me?’
>‘I’d like to know how Iowa was able to actually get her taste buds back. Is it replicable?’
>‘I’d like some details on what this … training’s going to involve. More running?’
>‘Aren’t you scared of being found out? You haven’t been exactly … subtle since you got here.’
>‘How long would it take me to be able to do what you’re able to do?’
>Write-In

>>2125836
>‘I’d like to know how Iowa was able to actually get her taste buds back. Is it replicable?’

>>2125836
>aren’t you concerned with being found out? You don’t seem to make any effort to conceal yourself...

And After double checking nobody’s listening
>Is it possible to save a kanmusu whose summoning has been... perverted?

>>2125836
>I’d like to know how Iowa was able to actually get her taste buds back. Is it replicable?
Then
>Is it possible to save a kanmusu whose summoning has been... perverted?
These then straight to training for me

>>2125836
>I’d like to know how Iowa was able to actually get her taste buds back. Is it replicable?
>Is it possible to save a kanmusu whose summoning has been... perverted?
>Ask about solutions to Yamato's problem with her core
Then train

>>2125878
Supporting this

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‘I’d like to know how Iowa was able to actually get her taste buds back,’ you press. ‘As far as I know, it’s pretty much a KanMusu staple, but if it’s replicable, then—’

‘It is,’ he answers quickly, but nods slowly. ‘As you have asked, replicating the acquisition of sensations such as taste … are achievable.’

‘So you’d be able to do it?’

‘Not with what I have at my current disposal … nor will I, even if I was able to procure what would be needed in order to achieve the result you so desire,’ ‘But before you roll your eyes at me and think that it is all about how I waxed about purpose, you must realize that for me to tamper with the theorem of homunculi wouldn’t just be heretical, even considering the irony of the situation, it would be dangerous.’

‘But you’ve—’

‘There is truth in that I possess the knowledge,’ he interrupts, sounding as diplomatic as he could manage, ‘but to proceed on this endeavour without supervision would have consequences disastrous … and unforeseen.’

‘How does it even work?’

‘KanMusu are summoned and made flesh by the arts pertaining to the school of spiritual housing—homunculi, as you would, by a sub branch. Bringing them knowledge is not hard, feeding them with what we know of the world—and the human perception of it’—you notice an annoyed scoff leaving his throat—‘is even simpler, but spirits require certain sensations to come to them … and to over-exposed them on purpose, on initial contact or to modify it can lead to certain extras that even the most versed wouldn’t want to risk. We upset the balance by moving our hands in a world that has turned to us in desperation … and when this is all done, the question of what comes after; it is a consideration we take great pains to not allow to happen, and in my ignorance … you know the rest to this tale, Disciple.’

You know. Bismarck. Prinz. The First Admiral.

Yet you find yourself dissatisfied, even after all of that.

‘What’s wrong with being able to … you know, just munch on a burger?’

‘Nothing,’ he responds coolly, ‘but I will not risk upsetting things unless they come of their own volition, and I suspect that right now … they don’t have a need for it either.’

‘Even for something as small as this? You’re not going to put them out of commission or anything.’

‘Her form responded in kind with a resonance within the Stream, and unlocked things that were once unknown to her—and fair play to her, she achieved it in her bond with you, accidental as it is: from an incomplete and dormant state triggered by a new connection. It morphs itself by its own volition from a state of inactivity; dormancy. Would you put any of your KanMusu through the traumas that she certainly has, perhaps even greater, to replicate the conditions necessary?’

You stay silent.

‘Then that is your answer. I am sorry.’

>>2125911
>‘How do you keep doing that? I mean, showing yourself up out of nowhere … and being able to find me?’
>‘I’d like some details on what this … training’s going to involve. More running?’
>‘Aren’t you scared of being found out? You haven’t been exactly … subtle since you got here.’
>‘How long would it take me to be able to do what you’re able to do?’
>Write-In

>>2125914
>do you think you could help with yamato's core?

all that sounded awfully persona-like
but they get the benefits, aparently

it DOES sound like rebuiling a broken down machine to a priscine state, all that said

>>2125914
>Is it possible to save a kanmusu whose summoning has been... perverted?
>Ask about solutions to Yamato's problem with her core
then train

>>2125911
(Hmm... I was not really thinking of magicking the girls into growing taste buds, especially if doing so would make them more vulnerable, it was more an issue of long term perspective
>implying we're gonna win the war
>implying they won't get banished en-bloc even if we do
however...)

>You speak of upsetting the balance... balance of or between what? How does imbalance manifest itself? Is emergence of abyssals related to this?

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‘We have a KanMusu with a,’ you pause trying to come up with the proper terminology, ‘damaged—traumatized—core. As she is, she can’t even summon her gear properly or even skiff on the water. I was hoping that you could have a look … or if you have an opinion on what it’d take to fix her.’

‘Another one?’

‘It’s … Yamato,’ you reveal, ‘she was badly damaged on a mission time ago … and she wasn’t recovered until about three weeks from before. Would there be anything to help her magic catch or something, so she can go back out there?’

‘Akashi couldn’t fix her? Most curious.’

‘I,’ you pause again, wondering if you should reveal the details of your … excursion anymore than you should. ‘Musashi sustained the same damage, but … she kind of forced herself into my Stream and kickstarted herself back into an active state. She did that on the spot. Yamato, though … Akashi said that she pieced her together, but that her core’s too stubborn to open back up and allow her weapons system to achieve an active state. They’ve tried practically everything, but as far as her performance and attributes are concerned … she’s practically a normal girl in all but designation right now, and … she’s not happy at not being able to go back out there on the front lines. Nagato and Musashi are there, but … as much as they’re there for her, I think she’d rather be out on the sea again rather than moping around on-base.’

‘If it’s core damage, then as her Commander, you should be more than able to assist in this problem.’

‘I’m not her Commander,’ you state, ‘but she’s been put in my Division because Nagato and Musashi are part of it. Akashi … she kind of made me take her in in the meantime so that the both of them made sure that she didn’t do anything … drastic.’

The Shamans eyes widen slightly.

‘Then where is her Commander? Her Admiral?’

‘I’m … I don’t know.’

He peers at you curiously.

‘Is there something that you’re not telling me?’

>‘She’s … currently assigned to me, but otherwise, she doesn’t have an official Commander.’ (Discrete)
>‘Her Admiral was lost running some tests on new gear. They ended up in Haszad’s territory. The core damage was sustained from Haszad’s actions.’ (Reveal)

>>2126129
>‘She’s … currently assigned to me, but otherwise, she doesn’t have an official Commander.’ (Discrete)
i dont think its a good idea to go telling that
it IS a black-ops, this-never-happened kind of deal
if we go talking we gonna get WAY too much trouble

>>2126129

>‘She’s … currently assigned to me, but otherwise, she doesn’t have an official Commander.’ (Discrete)

>>2126129
>She doesn't have an official Commander as far as I know, ever since we've recovered her.
>She has suffered horribly before that.
>The details of the circumstances are politically charged and I'd rather not tell much more, unless you *really* want to hear them.

>>2126210
Lets go with this

>>2126210
Yeah this sounds good.

>>2126210
this works

>>2126129
>>2126210
this is fine

>>2126210
Supporting this

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‘She,’ you pause ‘as far as I’m in the know with it, she doesn’t have an official Commander … or one that’s active, at least. The damage to her core, to my understanding, isn’t the … typical sort you’d get from battle.’

You don’t know what kind of damage would constitute typical core-related damage, but from what Akashi had told you, it wasn’t something that she was in any way confident of fixing on her own. The details were vague. That much you did know. Aside from her asking for your permission to take on Yamato and that she hoped that the Battleship would somehow kickstart her own recovery in a mores table environment than she or anyone else could provide, you had done little to put substance into action—a fault you hoped to make amends with in asking someone who had more than a foot in in the business of KanMusu and their physiology.

At the same time, however, discretion was your confidant.

‘Then what sort would you say it is from, Commander?’

‘I’d,’ you glance at Iowa, more for comfort than a semblance of support, ‘rather not say. I’m sorry, but the only things I am allowed to say on the matter is that the incident that led to her state pre-dated my appointment as Commander and … her recovery is of, um, well, it’s best not to talk about the circumstances.’

He frowns, but otherwise doesn’t comment on the lack of information.

‘I will see what I can do,’ he relents, ‘but core damage … if it’s closed, a Commander will be needed to open it—if she doesn’t have one, it’ll be more than just a mere chore to re-activate her systems. I will help, but I cannot guarantee anything.’

>‘How do you keep doing that? I mean, showing yourself up out of nowhere … and being able to find me?’
>‘I’d like some details on what this … training’s going to involve. More running?’
>‘Aren’t you scared of being found out? You haven’t been exactly … subtle since you got here.’
>‘How long would it take me to be able to do what you’re able to do?’
>'Should we get to work now?'
>Write-In

>>2127937
>>‘How do you keep doing that? I mean, showing yourself up out of nowhere … and being able to find me?’

>>2127937
>‘How do you keep doing that? I mean, showing yourself up out of nowhere … and being able to find me?’

>>2127937

>‘How do you keep doing that? I mean, showing yourself up out of nowhere … and being able to find me?’

>>2127937
>>‘How do you keep doing that? I mean, showing yourself up out of nowhere … and being able to find me?’

>>2127937
>>‘Aren’t you scared of being found out? You haven’t been exactly … subtle since you got here.’

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‘How do you keep doing that?’

‘Doing what?’

You make a gesture with your hands, waving and flapping them in an odd manner, prompting Iowa to throw a frown your way, ‘You know, that … the illusion, the transporting thing, the magic.’

‘Just as you described it,’ he smirks, ‘with magic, by your own terms.’

‘So you’re going to teach me to do those things?’

His expression immediately becomes serious, contemplative, ‘Not until I believe that it is absolutely necessary. For now, however, patching your skull to make sure that your Division doesn’t turn you into a vegetable is at the top of my list of concerns … as it should be yours.’

‘I was just thinking that it’d be, you know, pretty great to learn something that could keep me concealed and just project me across the country,’ you comment, ‘because, you know, I mean … I admit, I’m a little kid at heart—’

Iowa snorts in amusement, before covering her mouth to suppress her giggle.

‘Little.’

You turn back to your mentor, ‘With all the crap I find myself knee-deep in, can’t go wrong to have a few aces up a sleeve, right.’

‘You have a sufficient one’—he taps your head lightly with the head of his staff—‘right here; from what I can discern from your relationship, she is fond enough of the idea of your continued survival to provide you out of the odd hole. Besides, to morph oneself into the shroud, into the Veil, even in a minute manner … it takes years and years of training. Thankfully, what I’m about to help you with is merely helping a baby enunciate a vowel … so no worries there.’

You shrug—it had been worth a shot.

The Shaman thins his lips, giving his staff a brief stare, before turning back to you.

‘However,’ he begins again ‘should you still wish to—and I discourage this as I have seen enough of you to know you wouldn’t last a day on your own once you leave my study—I might be willing to give you a few tricks should you so desire. Nothing too costly for one of your scarce position, of course.’

You let out an amused snort of your own.

‘So what would the cost be like to be able to hide behind the veil or shroud like you do, then?’

The Shaman opens his mouth, wearing a triumphant, smug smirk … only for it to fade as an inquisitive, thoughtful look etches itself upon he features. He mumbles something under his breath, knuckles clutching the head of his staff as his brow furrows deeply, as if he was trying to tabulate, to calculate an answer to your question. A moment passes before he look up at you, his mouth opening and closing as a sound rumbles from the depths of his throat, but no sound leaves.

Finally, he stares at the head of his staff, slowly turning it in his hand, looking more absent and confused than

‘I … don’t remember.’

>>2127985
>‘I’d like some details on what this … training’s going to involve. More running?’
>‘Aren’t you scared of being found out? You haven’t been exactly … subtle since you got here.’
>‘How long would it take me to be able to do what you’re able to do?’
>'Should we get to work now?'
>Write-In

>>2127985
>>‘Aren’t you scared of being found out? You haven’t been exactly … subtle since you got here.’

>>2127987
>>‘Aren’t you scared of being found out? You haven’t been exactly … subtle since you got here.’

>>2127987
>>‘Aren’t you scared of being found out? You haven’t been exactly … subtle since you got here.’

>>2127987
>Aren’t you scared of being found out? You haven’t been exactly … subtle since you got here.’

>>2127987
>‘Aren’t you scared of being found out? You haven’t been exactly … subtle since you got here.’

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‘Sham—um, Master,’ your words catch his attention again, this time trying to press onto a more urgent matter—you don’t know why it hadn’t crossed your mind before. ‘You’ve been roaming around the town without so much as a cover—aren’t you scared of being found out? Since you’re a … heretic?’

‘I am more than capable of taking care of myself, Disciple.’

‘I know,’ you reply quickly, ‘but you haven’t been exactly … subtle about your presence here. If you’re caught, then …’

‘I will not be caught unless I allow myself to be,’ he reassure you, ‘and I have an understanding enough with most of the KanMusu on this base in that as long as I don’t raise a fuss or kick up a ruckus, they’re more than willing to just see me as an old man nostalgic for Mamiya’s cooking.’

You give a slight wince, remembering your first experience with KanMusu cooking. You’re not sure if you’d be giving Mamiya’s food enough stars on a restaurant for it to constitute being edible, but you supposed that was what the chef was there for … and you’d seen the ruckus that people kicked up just to throw flak at cooking that wasn’t even meant for them in the first place.

‘I find that hard to believe,’ you grumble.

‘What she lacks in flavour she makes up for in volume and preparation—and with a good burger, you have no need to dip your tongue in salt anymore than you do a fist in a salad.’

As an assistant cook, you wanted to sound off that there was much more that meets the eye … but you decide to keep quiet. There was no sense ticking him off more than you could afford … and right now, you needed him to be more than willing to impart his knowledge to you. You instead give a nonchalant shrug, deciding that if there was anything that you had to say about his lack of culinary know-how, it could wait until you weren’t flirting with being a vegetable.

'So, are we ready to get to work? The faster we can get this over and done with, the less I have to worry on if you're going to last another night.'

>‘I’d like some details on what this … training’s going to involve. More running?’
>‘Aren’t you scared of being found out? You haven’t been exactly … subtle since you got here.’
>‘How long would it take me to be able to do what you’re able to do?’
>'Right, let's get to it.'
>Write-In

>>2128010
>>‘I’d like some details on what this … training’s going to involve. More running?’

>>2128010
>'Right, let's get to it.'

>>2128010
>>'Right, let's get to it.'

>>2128010
>‘How long would it take me to be able to do what you’re able to do?’

'Oh, you're just going to do a hundred push ups, a hundred sit ups and maybe run for about 6 or 7 miles, no biggy.'

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>>2128025
Are we gonna go bald

>>2128028
I wonder if our girls would like the bald look. At least we would have abs

>>2128032
Girls like to run baldish or crewcut heads.

>>2128010
>Write-In "Most of the KanMusu? As in, Anyone other than the submarine?"

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‘Right,’ you declare, lifting your arms in a stretch, ‘let’s get to work.’

An afternoon and a half after, you regret your words.

INTERLUDE END

>>2128052
you gotta protect ALL the smiles, man.

>>2128032
'When in doubt, abs are the answer.' - Kaga, Houshou.