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[The bin is at about 6,000 words now. It's really gotten away from me. I didn't want to release it half-finished, so I'm afraid you'll have to wait just a little longer.

Blame the advice I read from Miyamoto. "A delayed game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad."]

>>2816730
Miyamoto is a hack!

>>2816730
What about breaking it into part 1 and 2? If there's a natural breaking point that is.

How's the new job treating you?

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“Hana, I appreciate that, but it was my fault. I’m the head chef, and that makes it ultimately my responsibility.”

Gobble bows deeply to you, looking ashamed. There’s a tear in his eye.

“Gobble. It’s okay. We’ll figure out what happened together, alright? Let’s retrace your steps.”

The chef watches curiously. “So you expect a second chance, then?”

“Well, no, that’s not why. I just want to teach Gobble and also learn where I missed it, too.”

He says nothing, but you can see him thinking. There’s a look in his eyes. He decides to stay in the kitchen for now and just watch.

“I’ll help.” Hana says.

“Great! Thanks. Just do what you did before, and I’ll work with Gobble on this step, and we’ll all get it right together. And Hana, don’t be afraid to come to me with any questions. Even if I look busy.”

She waves off your concern, smiling. “I’ll be fine. Don’t stress on my account.”

You and Gobble go through everything he did. He looks ashamed, but presses on and honestly answers every question you have about what he added, and how. You have a few small notes to help him out, but can’t seem to find what he did that caused the issue in his part of the dish.

“I just don’t get it.” You say, feeling defeated. You check the ingredients individually, closely inspecting them. “Wait. Wait.” It finally hits you. “These are mislabeled!” You can’t blame Gobble for what happened. These two things are very similar in appearance. “And this one is passed the expiration date!” You show Gobble to let him know what went wrong.

The chef just stands there, watching you. “You saying I keep a sloppy kitchen?”


>Yes. I am. This is below acceptable standards for making people’s food
>Well, no. It could use a little work. I have some tips if you want
>Ask for a second chance. The recipe going wrong was his fault, not yours
>Let’s not play the blame game. You’re just glad you figured it out. Let’s go, Gobble, Hana.
>Something else

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>>2816740
[I respect him, even though I wouldn't call myself a Nintendo fanboy or always agree with some of their choices. He's accomplished a lot.]
>>2816766
[There are a few breaking points. If I don't have it ready tomorrow, I'll do that.

The new job is rough, but I'm managing. It's not where I want to stay, but it's a step in the right direction and I can't deny I've been learning a lot. It's toughening me up a good amount, that's for sure.]

>>2816809
>>Let’s not play the blame game. You’re just glad you figured it out. Let’s go, Gobble, Hana.

>>2816809
>Yes. I am. This is below acceptable standards for making people’s food
>I also noticed how you splattered grease on the wall when we came in.

>>2816809
>>Yes. I am. This is below acceptable standards for making people’s food

>>2816809
>When was the last time this was organized?

>>2816809
>Yes. I am. This is below acceptable standards for making people’s food
Herb takes cooking very seriously.

>>2816830
I did contract work for around 7 or 8 years before getting the job I have now so I feel you. Just keep moving forward, you'll make it eventually.

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>>2816870
[Thanks. To be honest I've been pretty bummed about it. I put a lot of work and effort in and have very little to show for it, yet. Years of effort and money and it's just taking two steps back for every step forward. But I guess it could be a lot worse.

That's encouraging to hear. Thanks.]

>>2816809
>>Yes. I am. This is below acceptable standards for making people’s food

DON'T FEED PEOPLE BAD FOOD FOR FUCK'S SAKE.

Also hey Gobble! I missed you way more than I'd thought. Hope you're having a good night!

>>2816892
Yeah, that's rough Gobble. Thanks for making time for us. I'm a big fan of your writing! Hopefully you reach your goals. We believe in you!

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You stand up tall and just announce your honest and direct thoughts. Your tone isn’t rude, but it’s not apologetic either. “Yes. I am. This is below acceptable standards for making people’s food.”

“Really?” He raises one eyebrow in a way very reminiscent of Laki. “Got anything else you want to say?”

“I also noticed how you splattered grease on the wall when we came in.” You say “When was the last time this was organized?”

He steps forward now, nearly pressing his chest to your face. Loanan’s aren’t the tallest people you’ve seen, but those on this island, and especially this person, have all had some respectable heights. “It takes a lot of nerve to tell a chef how he should handle his own kitchen.” His voice drips with implications. “My kitchen might not be fancy, but a competent chef doesn’t need that to make a good meal.”

That insult really caramelizes your carrots. His intimidating nature and way he keeps strong and piercing eye isn’t something you can pretend doesn’t get to you, either, but in a scary way.


>A competent chef keeps a clean and organized kitchen
>Back down, apologize, and try to approach giving him kitchen advice from a nicer angle
>You don’t want to learn a recipe from someone who treats his kitchen this way
>Forget it. Just leave
>You stand by your words, but you’re just trying to be helpful. You can show him some tricks to make it easier
>Something else

>>2816976
>>You stand by your words, but you’re just trying to be helpful. You can show him some tricks to make it easier

>>2816976
>A competent chef keeps a clean and organized kitchen

>>2816892
My field is IT. I also worked in a warehouse for 6 months where they thought I wouldn't know how to break down boxes and generally treated me like an incompetent. As long as your making money it isn't a step back. Even if that money is just making up for some you've lost along the way.

You'll be fine, it just takes time. We're all pulling for you.

>>2816976
>A competent chef keeps a clean and organized kitchen
Doesn't matter if only he knows HOW it's organized, as long as there is a system. You do, however, need non expired ingredients.

>>2817004
Yeah, having a dirty kitchen is just looking to make people sick no matter your skill level. Anyone who calls themselves a chef should know better. I agree the system doesn't matter, but this guy should know better than having expired ingredients. Maybe it's some crazy mind game test?

>>2816976
>>A competent chef keeps a clean and organized kitchen

>You could get someone sick with that grease or that expired ingredient, someone could die of anaphylaxis if you don't label the ingredients properly and you put something in there that they are allergic too, and most importantly with all this grease everywhere you could burn down the entire ARCEUS DAMNED TEMPLE !

>>2817025
That's exactly what I'm thinking. We had no issues when we made our souffle the first time, now things are expired and mislabeled? Something ain't right and it isn't just his rotten ingredients.

>>2817033
That's the stupidest, most hyperbolic shit I've ever heard.

>>2816976
>You know what, fair point. I'm sure you know your way around this mess pretty well, and you're entitled to handle your kitchen your own way. That's fine, even if I like keeping my area cleaner. But it's unrealistic to expect people that aren't familiar with this set-up to know their way around the place right off the bat. How the hell were we supposed to know these two labels were mixed up, huh? How can you honestly expect us to cook properly when you've changed the rules without telling us?

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>>2816956
[Thanks. I missed you guys too!]

>>2816965
[Thanks for making time to participate! It's a team effort, after all. I appreciate the kind words. I'll do my best!]

>>2816994
[I appreciate that. I'm glad you got out of there. And you're right. I'm just going to keep at it and be ready and for opportunities so I don't miss any, and make my own if I can.]

>>2817056
>How the hell
Haha, Herb is mad for sure, but he's not mad enough to say something this rude.

>>2816976
>A competent chef keeps a clean and organized kitchen

>>2817056
>That's the stupidest, most hyperbolic shit I've ever heard.


having worked in a kitchen, it's really not. Grease fires are nasty, and mislabeling ingredients get a health inspector coming down on you hard.

>>2816976
>It’s not about how fancy it is. I don’t exactly carry an oven with me. It’s about maintaining what you have.

>>2816976
>A competent chef keeps a clean and organized kitchen


Rancid food can kill people. You would have made yourself sick.

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“A competent chef keeps a clean and organized kitchen.” You retort. You brace yourself for a violent reaction. In the absence of one, or any, you press on. “You could get people sick! Expired ingredients? Messes like those on the wall will bring in bacteria and pests. Mislabeled ingredients don’t just mess up dishes, they can cause people real harm. Think about allergies or how these foods react! Or the fire hazards! And this disorganization would be a problem even without the bad labels or grease stains! I'm sure you know your way around this mess pretty well, and you're entitled to handle your kitchen your own way. That's fine, even if I like keeping my area cleaner. But it's unrealistic to expect people that aren't familiar with this set-up to know their way around the place right off the bat. How the macaroon were we supposed to know these two labels were mixed up, huh? How can you honestly expect us to cook properly when you've changed the rules without telling us? It’s not about how fancy it is. It’s about maintaining what you have.” You let your hand fall to your old trusty frying pan. Not as a threat, but just because it was on your mind.

He breathes heavily. He has a few false starts as he can’t quite decide what to say. You expect to be hurt, or to be yelled at, or all sorts of terrible things you don’t want. But you’re ready for them. You had to say what you said. You respect the responsibility of handling food too much to do anything else. Abandoning your responsibility as a food handler is worse than whatever price you have to pay from him. You’re ready.

“Well, you don’t know what it’s like!” He sniffles. A tear wells up. “This isn’t an easy job! And nobody trained me! I had to learn this all on my own!” He turns away. “I didn’t even want this job!”

“Are you...crying?” This is worse than anything you could have predicted. Oh no. You caused this!

“No!” He turns around, showing wet, red eyes. No tears on his face, technically. “Just go away. Leave me alone.”

You and Hana exchange a look. She looks as surprised and confused as you feel.


>Why doesn’t he just ask for a different job?
>Leave
>Hey, you still want to learn that recipe, but let’s clean and organize this kitchen first
>Stay firm. Tell him to clean this kitchen right now. You won’t stand for it staying this way
>Something else

>>2817276
>Leave
What a bitch.

>>2817276
>>Hey, you still want to learn that recipe, but let’s clean and organize this kitchen first
Let's have some compassion people.

>>2817276
>Hey, you still want to learn that recipe, but let’s clean and organize this kitchen first

>>2817276
>Hey, you still want to learn that recipe, but let’s clean and organize this kitchen first
I thought he was some master chef? Was he just talking out of his ass before? Now I'm just confused.

>>2817276
>>Leave
I don't want to learn anything from someone who has no pride or desire for their work, and I don't think Herb can really show too much empathy with someone doing something they have no love for.

>>2817276
>>Hey, you still want to learn that recipe, but let’s clean and organize this kitchen first

Honestly, the more I see of this island and its temple, the less I care about winning their approve. They're as much about posturing as anything else.

>>2817304
The fighting temple probably consider cooking to be woman's work. It sounds like a job they would just shove onto someone that doesn't have much standing. It is a bit confusing, but I think he was bluffing before and trying to appear like he knew more than he did. Heck, Loanan food is so different from mainland food he could give us a the recipe for their version of buttered noodles and we'd still probably learn something since we are working with new ingredients.

>>2817276
>Hey, you still want to learn that recipe, but let’s clean and organize this kitchen first.
No man is an island unto himself, Sometimes when you don't know ask. This is easily fixable. Let me help.

>>2817276
>I’m sorry if I sounded harsh.

>Why don’t we clean up together, and we’ll talk about it?

>>2817314
All the temples posture in different ways. They feel like the end of their culture is happening one day at a time. I think this island is just very honor centric kinda like Klingon culture in Star trek.

>>2817309
>Thinking Herb won't have empathy
He had empathy for Max. He'll have empathy for someone in a situation they never asked for.

>>2817314
Yea I loathe this island and all its bluster as well. It's a pretty backwards philosophy.

>>2817276
>>Hey, you still want to learn that recipe, but let’s clean and organize this kitchen first

have we had any of his food? I mean this temples members have a lot high energy expenditure and there hasn't been open bitching so hes not doing that bad. Cooking is a skill that takes training just like martial arts.

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“I thought he was a professional chef.” Hana whispers to you, confused.

“I am!” He says, having heard that. “It’s all I’m trusted with. I can’t instruct on fighting, or bookkeeping, or sewing or scouting or sailing. This position though, is what I’m good at. I’m not the best in the region, but I’m good enough for the temple to have me in charge of it.” He sighs. “Ah, you’re outsiders but you’re not stupid. They just don’t care about how good it is, as long as I let people have extra or make requests. The new recruits always complain but I just cover by saying a man learns to like what he’s given to eat. But I still try! And I might not be like you but I still know more than anyone else here!”

Well, you can’t deny that he tries. You might not be a fan of how he does things, and think he’s used most of his effort learning things like how to flip spatulas in a showy way, but there is still pride there, as misguided as it is.

“Hey. I still want to learn that recipe, if you want to teach it. But let’s clean and organize this kitchen first. How’s that sound?”

He sniffles. “You’re going to show me how?”

“Sure. Come on.” You say. “First, we need to toss this.”

“All of it?”

“Everything that’s expired.” You begin. You move on to clarifying the labels, going over good storage practice, and all the boring, logistical stuff that never gets any attention in most cooking shows. You learn a bit more about him, and how he came to be in this position. He originally didn’t qualify for scouting, which you’re told is something the Fighting temple does as one of its side courses. He took a job assisting the old chef as a way to get his foot in the door before he tried again, and he just sort of gave up on that and fell into complacency here. The old chef retired fairly soon after he joined and he enjoyed the minor prestige of being in charge of this kitchen.

You finish cleaning, having transferred most of the mess from the kitchen to your clothes and skin. Still, it’s done. Hana and Gobble put in a lot of effort too.

“We’re going to need to take a long shower after this.” Hana tells you with a smile on her face.

“So.” The chef begins. “There are a few variations for this meal.” He gathers up his supplies. He looks a little unsure now, and re-arranges them on the counter twice. His confidence is shaken. “You can probably figure out the other ways, but we only have ingredients for one of them. Which version do you want to try?”

The one you learn about here will be the one you’re probably best at to start with.


>The hearty version that helps people and pokemon recover their strength faster
>The bold version that seems to inspire strength and physical action
>The spicy version that gives puts hair on your chest and toughens you up
>The zesty version that gets your mind moving
>The comforting version that protects you from negative energy
>Something else

>>2817460
>>The hearty version that helps people and pokemon recover their strength faster
>Tell him to have some confidence, he's still great for someone self taught, it took us years learning from our grandfather to get where we are, and he had no such teacher.

>>2817460
>The comforting version that protects you from negative energy
Very slight metagaming here, but w/e.

>>2817460
>The bold version that seems to inspire strength and physical action

Whatever happened to the chef who spoke very little English? I thought he was the head chef.

>>2817460
>>2817475
I'll support this.

>>2817479
Another bluff? Maybe Gobble forgot. I sure as hell did.

>>2817460
>>The hearty version that helps people and pokemon recover their strength faster
This seems to be most practical for a group of training fighters, so probably the one he'd know best. Feels like he needs the confidence boost from good, solid footing right now.

>>2817506
I was wondering this whole time dude, we needed a translator first

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>>2817479
>>2817506
[Yeah I'm just dropping the ball a bit. My bad.]

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“Let’s try the hearty version.” You ask.

“Yeah, that’s the one most of the guys here like best. Especially the newbies. They always go too hard.”

He’s not a great teacher, if you’re being honest. For somebody who just exposed a lot of their confidence issues, he still comes off as a little rudely blunt and short with instructions. He didn’t talk much when you first met him, and now after letting that out, he’s back to being conservative with how much he says. Still, you have to admit, this is a unique and surprisingly nice recipe. Simple and modifiable, too. This is a solid and unique base.

You try a bit of it to taste test. He raises an eyebrow, as if to ask what you think.

“It’s great!” You’re just as honest as you were when you were criticizing his kitchen.

He flips his spatula. A small streak of grease flies against the wall. He sighs, then goes to the cleaning supplies.

“Well, habit are hard to break.” You tell him. “I still have a bunch of bad ones. I had a lot of great lessons from my grandpa and you never even had a teacher.”

He looks a little proud. He’s thinking. Without telling you what exactly he’s thinking, he gives a bow. You return it. Then you, Hana, and Gobble share the dish and a few other small quick things you whip up.

The chef cleans up a bit, then starts getting ready to leave. You take that as a sign that you should probably get going too. It’s only mid-day. Keira and Laki are with Abigail while she does her penance task for the temple.


>Look for the local fighting gym
>Find Keira, Laki, and Abigail
>That shower with Hana sounds like a nice idea
>Meditate and work on your aura focus
>Try to learn something from one of the classes
>Call someone you know for a chat
>Train train train
>Something else

>>2817656
>>That shower with Hana sounds like a nice idea

>>2817656
>That shower with Hana sounds like a nice idea
Cleanliness is next to godliness.

>>2817656
>That shower with Hana sounds like a nice idea.
We should start giving Hana massages like we do with Laki. Or find something similar that's just for her.

>>2817656
Wasn't something weird going on with Abi?
>>That shower with Hana sounds like a nice idea

>>2817689
Abi went to confess pretending to being a boy and is probably doing some hard labor as punishment.

>>2817689
Yea but she's currently being punished because she dishonored the temple. We can figure out what her deal is later.

>>2817656
>That shower with Hana sounds like a nice idea
Time to get dirty

>>2817656
>>Find Keira, Laki, and Abigail
Might as well get dirty before we clean off.

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“Whoo. I feel filthy. That shower you mentioned earlier sounds like a good idea.”

“I...really?” Hana glances around. “Okay! But I don’t know about finding a shower here. We might have to settle for that stream by the campsite.”

Well, that was private enough. At least during the night. You’re sure it’ll be fine. “Let’s go!”

“So, you were pretty take charge back there.” Hana says, grabbing your arm and cuddling it for a second. That draws a few envious eyes in the temple, and she gets self conscious and stops. “Where’d that come from?”

“I take cooking seriously.” You feel a little embarrassed now.

You, Hana, and your pokemon begin the down to the secluded bathing area by your camp outside the temple. It’s a little bit of a walk, but you don’t mind. On your way, you pass Abigail lifting two buckets on a stick over her shoulders. She barely grunts an acknowledgment as she passes. She looks very worn. Laki and Keira are there, but they look bored.

“Don’t help her, Soft Hands.” Laki warns.

“We’re going for a bath.” Hana tells Laki and Keira. “Want to join us? I can get your backs.”

Laki offers half a smirk, but goes back to watching Abigail. “Tempting, but no. I might miss seeing Abigail break and give up!” She shouts that last big at the poor redhead. Abigail reacts by gritting her teeth and picking up her pace. Laki looks pleased and a little proud.

“It’s my job to look after the soon-to-be-departed.” Keira jokes as she follows the miserable looking Abigail. But her thoughts and voice wander quietly after. “For now, at least.”

“Well, the offer is always open. Good luck, Abigail!” Hana says as she grabs your hand and leads you away before you can get sidetracked. “I hope she does well but that doesn’t mean I have to miss out on some vitamin D.” She mutters to herself as you barely manage to stay upright from her fast walking.

The bathing area is remote enough, but you can still faintly hear the sounds of people off in the distance. The temple and its surrounding area has a decent amount of foot traffic around it.


>Let’s go further into the woods
>Wash up and chat. Be clean in both ways
>Put the moves on Hana. Little did she suspect you were planning to be dirty all along!
>Give her a nice, long, sensual massage. Spoil her the way she deserves
>Something else

>>2817885
>Give her a nice, long, sensual massage. Spoil her the way she deserves

>>2817885
>>Give her a nice, long, sensual massage. Spoil her the way she deserves

>>2817885
>>Give her a nice, long, sensual massage. Spoil her the way she deserves

>>2817885
>Give her a nice, long, sensual massage. Spoil her the way she deserves
Then
>Put the moves on Hana. Little did she suspect you were planning to be dirty all along!

>>2817885
Massage, then moves.

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“Shall we?” You ask

“This is so risky.” She says, sounding surprised. “You’ve been pretty bold since the aura mixing last night.”

“Heh, well, I guess I’ve been feeling a little different.” You say, putting your hand on her shoulder. “Hey, how about a massage?”

“Oh. Um, sure.” She looks a little surprised, but not displeased. “But, y’know, after, could we...”

“Yes we can.” You say quietly but enthusiastically. Oh boy!

You end up very naked very quickly, in the most remote part of the bathing area. It’s a midsection high pond with clear water. Your pokemon swim about and enjoy themselves as you work Hana’s shoulders. You’ve been on them for awhile, but rather than lay down, she ended up pressing against you until she ended up on your lap. Things are getting heated, quickly.

It’s thrilling and exciting. There’s nobody around, but every little rustle in the bushes or distant noise keeps you on edge. Somebody could come by at any point.

“So, you can stimulate a lot of stuff with your aura powers, huh?” She asks. “Like, you can enhance how it feels when we...do stuff.”

You think you see where this is going.


>Take it slow, smooth, and loving. Show her your sensitive side after being so take-charge today
>Use your aura power to have the most mind blowing naked time she’s ever experienced. Go nuts.
>Play around and be teasing. Be more fun than mind-blowing. Keep it giggly
>Be quick and subtle. Somebody could be along any second
>Something else

Am I being impatient or did Gobble die?

Then again this is clearly a contentious vote.

>>2818113
>Use your aura power to have the most mind blowing naked time she’s ever experienced. Go nuts.

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>>2818117
[Sorry, died a little. People seem to hone in on whenever a quest is running and decide that's when they need my attention for things.]

>>2818113
>Take it slow, smooth, and loving. Show her your sensitive side after being so take-charge today
>Play around and be teasing. Be more fun than mind-blowing. Keep it giggly

Go strong and slow but keep it fun.

>>2818117
I knew as soon as I posted I'd be hoisted by my own petard.

>>2818113
>>2818117
It still works

>>2818113
We did that at laki’s famiky’s House while herb was drunk, remember?

>>2818113
>>Play around and be teasing. Be more fun than mind-blowing. Keep it giggly
>>Be quick and subtle. Somebody could be along any second

>>2818143
[Yeah, but Hana is asking a sober Herb now. She remembers, but she wasn't super sure about how it all worked. Sorry, I phrased her dialogue a little poorly.]

>>2818113
>Play around and be teasing. Be more fun than mind-blowing. Keep it giggly

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[Give me some rolls, please!]

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>2818178
Time to fuck up!

Rolled 63 (1d100)

>>2818178

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>2818178
Fuck yeah!

Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>2818178
Dice don't fail us now!

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>>2818180
>>2818181
>>2818186
Huh.

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>>2818180
>>2818181
>>2818186
How slightly above average.

>>2818198
We were all trying for 69 but we fell a bit short.

>>2818149
Sorry, I didn’t realize she was being coy.

>>2818202
67 can still be sexy, I guess. I don't know what position that would be tho.

>>2818221
Herb just... you know tries dirty talking. Aw yeah Hana we're about to... uhh... 67!.

Rolled 79 (1d100)

Rolling for round two.

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You give Hana a nice, sensual massage. Instead of letting the massage end with her insistence on sitting on your lap, you lay her down on a towel near the water and just work over every non-erogenous spot. You tease around her, using only subtle touches of aura to lightly stimulate her, as well as only cruel and tormenting proximity to the spots and ways of being touched that you know really get her going. Because of how sensitive and primed this makes her, you end up finding quite a few more of those.

“Herb Johnson! You are the meanest man I’ve ever met!” She playfully scolds you, giving a fake pout. She’s a lot more out there and open than usual today. She laughs and smiles, but then she’s suddenly just done with being teased for the last hour. She’s on her front, but her metal legs can still pull you towards her and keep you there. “Seriously though. I’ve never needed it more than right now. Please. I need you.” She whispers that last part in the most desperate and pleading and needy voice you’ve ever heard from her.

Well, alright then. You can’t exactly say no to that. You adjust your position a little bit and-

“Ah!” You foot, that was in the water, gets cold and you pull it out just in time to avoid getting it frozen. Glaceon was enjoying the water nearby, but something spooked her and she froze a few feet of water rock solid. You look around and spot the vague outline of people walking very nearby. Any amount of noise could get them to look closely through the tiny seperation of trees and notice you. You’re sure you missed being stuck in a very vulnerable position just now.

“I don’t care.” Hana says. “Please! I’ll be quiet~” Based on her history, you’re not sure you can trust that promise.

Oh gosh. You glance around for options here. Gobble is sitting down with Sorbet sharing food, and they look like they’re getting along. Dice, while keeping most of his attention on the people walking by who haven’t noticed you, is also listening to Cubone who appears to be really spilling her guts out, from the looks of it.


>Proceed with Hana, but be quiet
>Stay perfectly still until they pass
>Quick, get dressed! You’ll make it up to Hana later
>Ask one of your pokemon to distract those people so they go away
>Something else

>>2818331
>>Stay perfectly still until they pass


On the one hand I reaaaaally wanna proceed. On the other hand I don't trust the dice.

>>2818331
>Proceed with Hana, but be quiet
Also gag Hana with her underwear I'm sure she'd love that. Plus no way she'll stay quiet for long.

>>2818331
>Stay perfectly still until they pass

>>2818350
>>2818354
No balls. =P

>>2818331
>Proceed with Hana, but be quiet

>>2818331
>Proceed with Hana, but be quiet

>>2818331
>Clamp a hand over her nose and mouth.

Yay breathplay!

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[Alrighty! A few more dice, please!]

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>2818394
Oh boy!

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>2818394
I have a bad feeling...

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>>2818331
>Go back to just teasing her.
What could go wrong?

>>2818404
lol, you bad feeling means nothing

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>2818394
Awww, dice and cubone are being cute

they can breed

Why is moon the hottest pokegirl?

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You reach for something to gag Hana with, and oblige her request.

It’s hot, it’s eye-rollingly intense, and it’s completely silent.

“Wow.” Hana says, laying in the afterglow. “Seriously. That was just, wow. I was getting worried.”

“Yeah, I thought they might hear us.”

“Oh no.” She waves that concern away. “I stopped caring about that. Or any consequences. I was worried you were going to leave me teased. If you didn’t give it to me I think I was actually going to break down.” She confesses. You both laugh, but the look in her eyes tells you she’s not really exaggerating.


You and Hana find Laki and Keira still hanging around the same spot, watching Abigail carry those pails of water up the hill. Over and over again. Gardevoir is there with the angriest, most stubborn looking face you’ve ever seen on her. When you see Abigail, her clothes somehow torn up and her face covered in dirt, determinedly carrying the buckets up, it makes sense.

“Hey Soft Hands. Just in time to watch Abigail admit defeat.”

Abigail mumbles something incoherent and barely audible, but the glare on her face gives you a pretty good idea of the sentiment behind it.

Abigail stumbles. She’s barely managing to get this load up the path.

“How much more does she have to do?” You ask as Hana beside you hums to herself, not paying much attention. She’s just fallen into this sort of blank contentment and chipper mood.

“She’s almost done. One or two more trips after this.” Keira says. “This punishment is usually done by men her age. And most of them are taller Akaneki men.” You get a strong visual as one of the adult martial arts students walks by Abigail, looking confused at the scene but not enough to slow down. She barely comes up to his belly button. This must be incredibly hard for someone so small. “I didn’t think she’d be able to do it.”

“I never had a doubt.” Laki says quietly.

But just as Laki says that, Abigail stumbles forward.

You all rush over. Mace is there first, using a burst of speed.

“Abigail! Are you alright?” You reach for the stick with the buckets to get them off of her.

“Don’t touch that.” She mutters. She pushes herself up, but stumbles some more before righting herself. Her buckets are all but empty, meaning she has to go back down and refill them again. “I’m almost done.”

“I’ll say.” Keira whispers. It’s a comment of concern more than mockery. Abigail looks rough. Really rough.

“Forget about he. She won’t finish. Just leave her to nap in the dirt.” Despite her harsh words, Laki looks concerned.

(continued)

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>>2818608
Abigail leans on you for a second to get her balance before hitching her buckets up. It’s hard not to be worried about her right now.

Abigail pauses for a second, looking discouraged.


>Encourage her. She can do it!
>Sneak her a little healing energy. Just a small boost. She won’t notice
>She’s done enough and this is going too far now. You’ll take her side if the temple has a problem with her stopping here
>Taunt her with Laki. That will get her moving
>Do nothing
>Something else

>>2818618
>>Encourage her. She can do it!
I about added the sneak bit but feel like Herb would be against it, feels like Abi's doing it more than as just a punishment now.

>>2818618
>Ask Laki/Keira quietly if you're allowed to encourage or if that's breaking the rules

If it's cool cheer her on. But I think it's against the spirit of it. "Yay go you and your atonement." seems super off.

>>2818618
>Is there a time limit or something on this? Can’t you sit down for a while? I don’t think the purpose of this is to hurt yourself...

>>2818618
>Encourage her. She can do it!
Yeah, that's the hot-blooded spirit of youth! Beautiful!

>>2818618
>Encourage her. She can do it!

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>>2818622
[It's fine. Laki just thinks Abigail will be more motivated out of spite.]

>>2818627
[Herb doesn't know this, but the water up hill is drained in the mornings. She can take a break, but she can't do it over the course of more than a day.]

>>2818618
>>Encourage her. She can do it!

>>2818641
Well, that’s why he should ask!

Hey, Gobble, while I’m (you)ing you, I just wanted to say thanks for keepin’ on. I haven’t been able to participate as fully as before since I’m working evenings during the week and pretty busy on weekends, but it’s always a real fun read, even if it’s just seeing what happened after work.

You’re kinda a rock star, y’know?

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>>2818675
[Well thanks! I'm glad to be back after that time away from the quest. You're great for participating! I hope your job is treating you well.]

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“You’re almost there, Abigail.” You encourage. “Just a little more.”

She glances back. Her dead eyes and dried face look very displeased, but they looked like that before you started talking and haven’t changed. You assume she just doesn’t have it in her to summon the energy to change expressions.

“Wasting your breath, Soft Hands.” Laki drapes herself on you. “I’ve been telling her all day how slow she was being, and all she’s done is go slower. She’s finished. She doesn’t have another trip in her.” She puts her arm around you. “Let’s go. I’ll show you what a real woman looks like.” She stops herself. “Hana, I didn’t mean anything against you about that.”

Hana is still humming to herself with a big dopey smile. “That’s fine.”

Abigail grunts and goes back to moving her bucket. She fills it up, goes up the hill, and dumps the water. Then she repeats the act, barely managing. One more to go.

“Come on Abigail!” You cheer. “You’ve come so far!”

“Yeah! Go Abigail!” Keira cheers.

“Woo!” Hana adds. “A few more steps.”

Abigail pushes herself forward. Each step up the hill is slow, long, and agonizing. She’s got a few blisters on her hands and a rash and some splinters on her shoulders. She looks like she was hit by a truck made of loose wood.

Laki looks conflicted. She isn’t sure if she should join in or taunt Abigail. Or stay out of it. She glances to you to see if you have any input. You’ve become close enough to be able to communicate things like this with just looks.

>You have no advice to offer. Shrug
>Encourage Laki to cheer Abigail on. It could mean a lot coming from her.
>Abigail is spiteful, for better or worse. Taunting her seems to be working
>Something else

>>2818718
>>Encourage Laki to cheer Abigail on. It could mean a lot coming from her.

>>2818718
>Encourage Laki to cheer Abigail on. It could mean a lot coming from her.
As funny as I think taunting is, lets get real. Abi needs all the energy she needs for this spirit bomb.

>>2818718
>>Encourage Laki to cheer Abigail on. It could mean a lot coming from her.

>>2818718
>You have no advice to offer. Shrug

No breaks for poor Abi then.

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You give Laki a look that communicates the need for support and cheer.

Laki sighs. “Come on, Abigail. Even you can move two more buckets.” The group looks at Laki, and Laki shrugs her shoulders defensively. She’s trying.

Abigail looks confused, and takes another step.

“Seriously. You can do this.”

Abigail looks at Laki, waiting for the follow up. The punchline. She looks confused when it doesn’t come. When Belladonna picks up Laki’s intent and gives an honest and encouraging cheer, Abigail’s dead, tired, glazed eyes go wide.

Dice and Gobble cheer. Gobble somehow got his little grass skirt from forever ago and he’s encouraging Abigail.

Abigail pushes on. Her knees tremble and her last bit of sweat falls off her chin. She’s struggling so hard. Her tiny stick legs give everything she can force them to give and then some. Each step looks like an ordeal, and takes smaller and easier ones as she works that last distance up the hill.

“You’ve got this.” Laki encourages with unmistakable sincerity.

Abigail smiles, takes another step, then collapses onto the dirt.

The monk from before comes pushing passed you to examine her. You didn’t even see where he was standing. He checks her over and nods to himself a few times. “She’ll be alright, but she needs to rest.”

“She can rest and still finish before the water gets emptied, right?” Laki asks.

“My medical training doesn’t allow me to say yes to that. In fact, I shouldn’t have let this go so far.”

“But, that still counts, right?” Hana asks. “She only needs to put in these two buckets, and the pool is right there!”

His face is stone blank. “My oaths don’t allow me to say yes to that either. We must adhere to what we agree upon. She has failed. For now, I have no choice but to ban her from our temple.”

“That’s not fair!” Hana objects.

“Our temple teaches otherwise.” He counters. “Adhering to your word is what separates justice and injustice. Adherence to the rules without exception or wiggle room is what keeps corruption from our temple and protects our way of life from subversion and tyranny.” He offers Hana a water bottle. “Make sure she has plenty to drink. She’s worked very hard.”

“The challenge wasn’t fair.” Hana protests weakly. “She’s so small. It’s harder for her than one of your guy students.”

“We also teach that while we may wish otherwise, reality favors results over intentions, and that the challenges we face in life don’t care for the concept of fairness.” He sounds a little annoyed at Hana, but isn’t intentionally trying to let it show. “I respect your friend’s resolve, but I cannot condone her actions towards the temple or her overlook her failure to complete her penance. It would be a great dishonor to bypass the word she gave us or embrace a lie for convenience.”

(continued)

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>>2818859
Keira bows towards the monk and takes the water bottle Hana is too stunned to take. “The grass temple kept making exceptions and started picking and choosing what tennants to follow. I understand and support your decision. Thank you.”

He bows back.

“If you use your powers to help her, it still violates the challenge.” Keira warns you. You were already hovering over Abigail, but that makes you stop in your tracks.

Hana looks to you. You don’t need to hear the question. She wants to know what you think about this.


>Stay out of it. It seems complicated
>Abigail tried her best, but rules are rules. Let’s get her fixed up back at the camp
>This isn’t fair. This temple is too dogmatic and rigid. Their philosophy is wrong
>Heal Abigail and encourage her to finish anyway
>Something else

>>2818866
>Abigail tried her best, but rules are rules. Let’s get her fixed up back at the camp
She knew that the challenge was going to be unfair. Abi did good, even if she is banned.

>>2818866
>I’ve heard over and over that it’s the intent behind the rules that matters. If this is supposed to be a punishment, or prove she means her apology, it’s served it’s purpose.

>But it’s not my choice to make. We still have most of the day and night before the pool is drained. We can let her rest and ask what she wants to do when she wakes up.

>I’m not really sure what the purpose is behind all male or all female temples. Maybe it’s a reason I’d understand, maybe not. I just wanted her to make up with you and Laki.

>>2818866
Does calling to her pysche count as violating the challenge? If we were allowed to cheer physically, I don't see why not. If it's fair game, try and call to her spirit.

>>2818866
>We still have most of the day and night before the pool is drained. We can let her rest and ask what she wants to do when she wakes up.

Wait...

So, the punishment for going somewhere she was banned from going is to ban her from going somewhere? Why would they think it’d work the second time?

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>>2818918

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The sun is setting. You and Hana spent quite a awhile away, and the walk back here took a little time. You feel awful for Abigail. She came so close.

“She still has until morning, right?”

“Medically, I cannot give an answer that encourages her to take any strenuous activity.” The monk answers back. “But yes. That is technically true.”

“Well, didn’t someone before teach that it’s the intent behind the rules that matter? If this is a punishment or to prove she’s sincere in apologizing, it service its purpose, right?”

“You’re correct, but not in this particular case. The purpose of this exercise is the dedication required to keeping your word. She had the rules explained clearly before she started and agreed to the exact parameters of of success and failure. When a party is wronged, as she wronged our temple, the intent behind restitution is to fulfill your obligation entirely, not partially. It’s for both parties. Emotions run high when someone is wronged, and so the strictness of objectivity is paramount. Guilt can be used as a powerful weapon. We cannot protest or deny she has kept her word if she completes it, which means we could not use it against her as a matter of shaming or to ask for further restitution. Once she completes the task, it’s settled. This protects her honor as well as ours.”

He seems pretty steadfast in his ruling.

“She can still technically finish it though, right? Medical advice aside?” Hana asks.

“Yes.” He repeats. “But there’s no need to push any farther. She is welcome to try it again after resting though, and hopefully some physical training. She was close. I’m sure in a year-”

“Laki?” You ask as she takes Abigail’s stick and buckets.

She doesn’t say anything. She just takes the buckets up the hill.

“Young woman. This isn’t how the challenge works. You can’t just finish it for her.”

“I know that.” Laki responds.

He rubs his eyes. “If you violate the temple and your friend’s honor intentionally like this, we will have to give you the same punishment.”

“I know that too.” She says, lifting the buckets up so she can pour them.

“Then what are you doing?” Unfiltered frustration sticks to his words. “Put the buckets back to the exact spot you lifted them. You won’t get another warning.”

(continued)

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>>2818947
“She’s done. You’re right to discourage her from pushing on. But that doesn’t matter. She didn’t do the challenge for the temple. And I don’t think she really cares about making it up to anybody at the temple. She did this all day until her puny little body gave out because of what it meant to Keira and I.” Laki holds a bucket over the reservoir. “She failed. I can't ask you to make an exception for her. But I’m going to lessen the burden of her shame by sharing in it.” She braces herself. "If that bitch wants to be my friend, I'm not going to let her have the satisfaction of making the bigger gesture."

She’s getting herself banned too! That’s touching, but is it a smart idea?


>Try to talk Laki out of it
>Don’t stop her
>Grab the other bucket
>Wait. You still have an argument in Abigail’s defense (write-in)
>Laki, wait! Abigail can still rest up and try before morning. Have faith!
>Something else

>>2818954
>Don’t stop her

Yeah, that tracks. And if it’s going this way, might as well also:

>Heal Abi.

Not like Laki can’t get unbanned any day she wants, anyways.

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[That is the last update for the night. We won't be running Sunday, but we should have a thread either Monday or Tuesday and the bin ready for then. If for some reason further delays happen, I'll release it in half so there's at least something. It's a fairly long one.]

>>2818965
Goodnight!

>>2818954
>Don’t stop her
>Heal abi

>>2818965
Night gobble, thanks for writing.

Good luck with all the work stuff.

>>2818954
>Laki, wait! Abigail can still rest up and try before morning. Have faith!
It's not our place to decide whether or not she fails the challenge. What if she manages to get up before morning? Doing this would be undoing all the work she did in order to keep her word!

>>2818954
>Laki, wait! Abigail can still rest up and try before morning. Have faith!

>>2818954
>Don’t stop her

This temple is lame anyway

>>2818965
Thanks for running, Gobble. I fell asleep before the last post, but this was a good thread. Definitely seems like we are wrapping up this arc. Can't wait till next time. Have a good week!

>>2818954
>Don’t stop her
>heal Abi

She’s right, also what that anon said, the dudes here are butts.

poor abi

>>2818954
>Laki, wait! Abigail can still rest up and try before morning. Have faith!
"If she can't by then, I'll grab a bucket right alongside you. But as much as she'd appreciate this gesture, she'd still be pissed if you didn't wait to do it."

And we mean it about the bucket. This temple really hasn't impressed us for a whole bunch of reasons, not least the stupid gender thing. Getting banned to show solidarity with a friend isn't really much of a hardship.

>>2818954
>>Laki, wait! Abigail can still rest up and try before morning. Have faith!
ya no stopping now would kind of just drive home that she failed.

>>2818954
>Laki, wait! Abigail can still rest up and try before morning. Have faith!
I'll vote, even though this is super late.

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>Thread Monday or Tuesday
>Waitin on gobble like

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>>2822911
[Thread tomorrow starting as early as I can.]

>>2823324
Awesome, Poke-hype!

>>2823324
So... in another couple hours then?

>>2824131
I don't know what your time zone is anon, but just guess around 24 hours from when Gobble posted.

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>>2823324

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>>2824344
>>2824131
>>2823386
>>2824386

[Ah, sorry. Maybe about 14 hours from now. I'll have a few things I need to hammer out in the morning and maybe afternoon, then it's questing from then until sleep time. If I can start earlier I will. There might be a quick food break at some point so I have something other than quickly fetched snacks, though.]

>>2824391
Oh, cool! That's an early thread alright!

>>2824391
this pic is also a gif

>>2824869
Post it then.

>>2824888
I don’t think it’s been released from Diive’s patreon (the most powerful eeveelution) exclusives list yet. It would be rude to post the whole thing. And harder to censor, too.

>>2824914
Ah, I see. No worries then.

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[Thread in 1-2 hours]

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[And he's part one of the bin. Hana's adventure in Herb is almost done and wll be the primary focus in part 2, exploring some things Laki didn't get a chance to.

https://pastebin.com/PjxQKCK1

Enjoy! New session starting right away!]

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Tuesday Arc Wrap-Up!

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Pokemon%20Island%20Adventure%20Quest
https://twitter.com/GobbleQM
Character info pastebin in progress: http://pastebin.com/iB0tb7rz
Dice odds for best of 3: http://pastebin.com/994WTT3g

General rules:

There is a 10 minute voting period after each post. Non-contradictory votes will be combined as best as possible.
Write-ins for all votes are always welcome and encouraged. They may not all make it into the post or be altered to fit in, but I'll do my best to at least try to address the spirit of the write-in.

Very important or contentious votes may be redone in a stricter voting system as circumstances warrant.

Combat mechanics involve three rolls of 1d100, taking the best, and using the base accuracy and crit ranges of the the PTU system, roughly, but the 'turn order' will be more like the anime, where sometimes you can do a few moves in a row or be hit by a combo of moves yourself, all depending on circumstances. Stronger moves tend to take more time and have more cooldown than weaker moves and also may leave you open to an interrupt, so beware of that timing. Speed is more important for closing ground, intercepting, and other things and doesn't necessarily mean going first.

Pokemon and trainers are unique, and may have certain specializations, skills, or other things that the video-game mechanics might not allow. Some examples: That kung fu Bellsprout in the anime, that crystal Onix, or a Roggenrolla that can fly. Herb's perception skills, pokemon knowledge, context clues in general, and other things will hopefully come into play to avoid completely unfair, unforeseeable bullshit, but expect more bullshit from more advanced trainers.

Call me out on a mistake and receive a suggestive picture, mostly likely a butt.

Pokemon:
Gobble (Munchlax)
Mace (Roggenrola)
Belladonna (Roserade)
Dice (Croconaw)
Sorbet (Vulpix)

Location: Akaneki, Fighting Temple grounds

>>2825897
I'm here, just wrapped up in reading the bin. What a roller-coaster of emotions. Really touching stuff, Gobble!

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“Laki, wait!” You shout out after some hesitation.

She’s holding the bucket out, ready to pour. The interruption of her moment gives her a little glare of annoyance in her eyes, but that vanishes quickly and she looks concerned. She pulls the bucket back so her arms don’t get tired, but she doesn’t move from the spot. She opens her mouth to say something a few times, but each time she stops herself to think it over. Eventually she settles with “What’s up?”

“Abigail still has until morning. She can rest and finish it.”

“You heard the monk. It’s not ‘medically sound’ to encourage her to do anything else, even with a short rest. Her sails are out of wind. Her body couldn’t keep up with her spirit.”

“But she still has a chance. Have faith.”

“I...wait. Soft Hands. You’re not trying to heal her and have her continue, right?”

The monk’s head turns between you and Laki for a moment.

“No.” You say. “I just think that you should wait until she’s done trying until you do that. If you still want to, after.” You add on quickly.

“Yeah but...” She hesitates. “Alright, Soft Hands.” She takes the buckets and stick, and brings them back down to where Abigail is. “She’s still in, right?”

The monk hesitates.“ Technically, yes.. But I really can’t-”

“Medically condone blah blah blah.” Laki interrupts in frustration. She realizes what she’s done and immediately shoots up, then down, in a deep bow. “I apologize!”

Belladonna runs to Laki’s side to offer an extra bow.

He looks uncomfortable. “It’s alright. But your friend really should get some bed rest.”

“This dirt is more comfortable than that raggedy sleeping bag she got from who knows where.” Laki says. “As long as nobody helps her, she can still wake up and finish, right?”

“....Yes. But I have obligations to attend to.”

Keira comes in, bowing. “If it’s alright with you, I can officiate. I give my word I would honor the rules of the temple.”

He looks between Keira and your friends. “Well, you’re beginning to earn a certain reputation, Priestess Keira. But nobody can say you are untrustworthy. Very well.” He bows. Keira returns it. “Now that I am relieved of my duties, I can freely say that your friend’s efforts were truly inspiring. Please see she is well taken care of after this. Water and rest. Thank you.” The monk leaves.

You, Keira, Hana, and Laki, and all of your pokemon, stand around while Abigail snoozes and the sun sets.

“So, what should we do while we watch over her?” Laki asks you. “We can’t even get her a blanket.”


>We’ll take shifts while everyone else sleeps. Tomorrow is a new adventure!
>Let’s do something fun while we stay up!
>Meditate and do some light aura practice
>Train your pokemon
>Study
>Something else

>>2825975
>We’ll take shifts while everyone else sleeps. Tomorrow is a new adventure!

>>2825975
>We’ll take shifts while everyone else sleeps. Tomorrow is a new adventure!
I feel like it's been a long day, we can more intensive activities tomorrow. We should continue our exercising with Laki before bed tho.
>Something else
Continue our exercises with laki before bed

>>2825975
>Study

>Set out a training plan for tomorrow and get an idea for what the fighting gym will be like. Maybe we can challenge it to a triple battle?

>When Abi wakes up, we’ll talk to her, and she can try to finish if she wants. Otherwise, I’ll just shunt a ton of healing energy into her.

>Actually, while we study, I should start up some of that hearty soup I just learned. It’ll do Abi good, and also I kind of want to show it off.

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>“Giant Herb! Show me your giant dick!”

>>2825975
>>Train your pokemon

>>2825975
>>2826005
This

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“I was thinking we could continue our exercise a little, then maybe a little reading and setting out a proper training plan for tomorrow, but mostly sleep.” Your mind is already going over a few ideas. Maybe a triple battle. And maybe you should get some of that hearty soup ready for Abigail.

“‘Light exercise’, huh?” Laki gives you a funny look. Her gaze falls to the passed out, tiny redhead. “I don’t know if I’m in the mood for that right now, Soft Hands.”

“Seriously. He’s on fire today. Get yourself in the mood. You won’t regret it.” Hana whispers to Laki. You don't think you were supposed to hear that, but your ego is sure glad you did.

Laki tries to look upset, but a small smile cracks on her face. “You guys are so typical. Alright. I guess Soft Hands and I will take the first shifts and you two can take over later.”

Keira nods and hops down off the little rock she was standing on. The uneven ground on this slanted hill path makes it hard for people to properly face each other.

You spend the first bit of your shift just sitting around Abigail and thinking. You play a little game with Mace where you drop a leaf over him and he tries to use a gentle bit of energy to keep it in the air without blowing it away or destroying it. Dice and Sorbet are curled up together, and Gobble is looking bored. Bored enough that he’s sitting with Cubone.

You look down at Abigail. She seems fine, but she’s deep asleep. Her robe seems to have fallen open a little. Just the teensiest bit.

Oh jeez. Should you fix it for her? Can you? You’re asking both in the sense if you’re allowed to touch her for the challenge, and also if you have the hand skills to do it without accidentally brushing anything. How can you fix it if you keep averting your eyes?

“Hey Soft Hands. Can I ask you something?”

You shoot up as Laki approaches from behind. “Sure. Ready to exercise?”

(continued)

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>>2826117
“In a second.” She sits down next to you. “Ha. Titless.” She comments at Abigail casually.

As if she can hear, the redhead stirs and turns over.

“Anyway. I’ve been thinking. About Kai. He’s...growing up. I don’t know if he needs me more, or less, or what. He just let Abigail run around in the temple without saying anything, -although I guess I did the same-, and he’s thinking about staying at the temple for a while to train and learn. I just...don’t know what my role in his life is supposed to be right now. I don’t know how to be a good older sibling. I don't know if I'm guiding him or in his way or what.”

“You want my advice on that?”

“Nah. I’ll figure it out. Besides, I’m always coming to you for advice. It just got me thinking. How are things with you and your brother? Let’s talk about you for a change.”

Huh. Now that she mentions it...


>You miss him, but things are otherwise great
>You feel a little guilty, like you’ve abandoned him for your journey
>You feel a little useless. He’s been fine since you left. Did he ever really need you?
>You hate to admit it, but it’s sort of nice to have a break from always looking after him
>Things are good now, but when you were younger you felt like you were the only one there for him. More like you were his mom and dad than his big brother. Vent your feelings about that
>Something else

>>2826131
>You feel a little useless. He’s been fine since you left. Did he ever really need you?
I like the guilty one too, but it seems like lil bro is doing pretty good.

>>2826131
>You feel a little guilty, like you’ve abandoned him for your journey
>You feel a little useless. He’s been fine since you left. Did he ever really need you?

>>2826131
>You feel a little guilty, like you’ve abandoned him for your journey. However, he’s been fine since you left. Did he ever really need you?

Less feeling useless and more little bro is growing up faster than we thought.

>>2826131
>You feel a little useless. He’s been fine since you left. Did he ever really need you?
>You hate to admit it, but it’s sort of nice to have a break from always looking after him
>Things are good now, but when you were younger you felt like you were the only one there for him. More like you were his mom and dad than his big brother. Vent your feelings about that
Equal parts happy to have that job taken, shame for being happy about it, and annoyance that our hard work apparently doesn't make a huge difference.

>>2826131
>Things are good now, but when you were younger you felt like you were the only one there for him. More like you were his mom and dad than his big brother. Vent your feelings about that.

>Pretty sure he’s ok. He knows he can call me if he needs to talk.

>>2826131
>>You feel a little guilty, like you’ve abandoned him for your journey
>>2826143
I'll formally add this to my vote. I like a combo for guilt and questioning whether of lil bro needs us anymore.

>>2826131
>>You feel a little useless. He’s been fine since you left. Did he ever really need you?
Maybe feeling a bit guilty for not being a bigger influence in his life, if he hasn't really been affected by your absence in any way.

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“I don’t know.” You tell her. “It’s hard to sum up. I feel like I’ve just sort of left him behind. Like I had a responsibility to look after him and abandoned all of that to start my pokemon journey. But at the same time, it’s like it doesn’t make a difference at all. Every time I’ve asked or talked to him, he seems fine. Maybe he doesn’t need me anymore. Maybe he never did?”

She puts an arm over your shoulder. “You really need to be needed, huh?”

“What? Well, I don’t know. It’s nice.” Do you? You stir Mace a little with your sudden increase in heart rate.

“Relax, Soft Hands. It’s not a terrible quality. It’s not like you’re one of those crazy moms that gets their kids sick for attention.”

You’ve never subconsciously done anything like that, have you? No! No. The thought is foreign and repulsive to you. You’re just filled with this constant second guessing of yourself at the moment. You wonder if that’s the leftover aura influence. You sigh as you recenter yourself. “I’m just conflicted, I guess. Did I do a good job? Was it needed?”

“Is he a good kid?” She leans against you.

“Well, yeah. He’s great. He never gets into trouble, and he’s doing pretty well in his classes.”

“And who does he look up to the most? Whose example does he want to follow?”

“Well, I- Oh.” You feel a little warmer. “But I can’t take credit for every good choice he makes.”

“No, but he takes after you a lot. You’ve done well. Better than I have for Kai.” She puts up her hand. “Don’t let me make this about me and him though. I’m working that out. My point is, from an outside perspective, you look pretty good at the raising kids thing.”

“Heh. It’s funny you should say it that way. That’s exactly how it felt, sometimes. Like I was the only one raising him. Mom and dad were having some marriage problems.” You make an excuse for them. “Mom’s gambling. Dad’s feeling like he gave up on his dreams. Things did get better, though.”

She rubs your shoulder, then leans your head onto her chest to rest. “Well, I don’t know if you need to hear this. But you’re still very much needed.”

You don’t know if that’s a comfort or a new burden. Maybe both.

Abigail snores and turns over, breaking the mood.

Laki stretches. “So, exercise and study?”

Right. You almost forgot. You won’t have much time if you want to have the soup ready.


>Sneak off the grounds and see if you can put Laki in the mood for some ‘late night exercise’
>Talk about doing a triple battle with her and Hana against the fighting gym
>Ask Laki to teach you a little about fighting
>Study Fighting pokemon between exercises
>Study a different area of pokemon (suggestion)
>Something else

>>2826328
>Ask Laki to teach you a little about fighting
>Ask her about taking Hana on a date, just the two of them.

It's important to know how to defend yourself. Especially if we get in a situation like with Cubone again. She also should spend some one on one time with Hana.

>>2826328

>Talk about doing a triple battle with her and Hana against the fighting gym

>Study a different area of pokemon (mindgames/pokepsychology. Those flower girl’s poetry style, the move attract, and your own knowledge of fashion have you interested)

>>2826328
>>Talk about doing a triple battle with her and Hana against the fighting gym
>>Ask Laki to teach you a little about fighting

>>2826328
>Ask Laki to teach you a little about fighting
>Study Fighting pokemon between exercises

>>2826328
>Talk about doing a triple battle with her and Hana against the fighting gym

>>2826328
>>Talk about doing a triple battle with her and Hana against the fighting gym
>>Ask Laki to teach you a little about fighting

We can work with her on our "grappling techniques".

>>2826328
>Ask Laki to teach you a little about fighting
Maybe we could ask our pokemon to teach us a little bit about how they fight as well?

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Rolled 96, 34, 58 = 188 (3d100)

[Give me some rolls, please!]

Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>2826397
Here we go!

Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>2826397
Yeah, boi!

Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>2826397

>>2826397
>>2826398
Looks like we gave Laki a pounding but she came out on top in the end.

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>>2826438

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You ask Laki to help you learn a little about fighting. That will make for good exercise.

“Keep your hands up.” She says, putting you in a post. “The biggest factor in winning a fight is keeping your head. That is to say, don’t get decapitated.” She jokes.

You laugh. When you do though, she gets in a quick flick to your forehead. “Seriously though. Lesson one is to keep your focus. Don’t get distracted.”

“But you can’t punish me first and then teach me what I did wrong after. That’s-”

“Experience.” She finishes. “The best teacher. It’s not fair, I know. But fights being not fair is lesson two. Don’t expect everyone to obey the rules, agreed upon or implied. Now keep those hands up.”

This time you’re able to avoid a flicking. She lowers her guard and approaches to congratulate you, but you see through the ploy and are ready when she suddenly lunges again. Instead of being helpless, you’re engaged in a mostly even grapple.

“Nice.” She compliments before the two of you go down. The grapple and struggle remains.

And continues to remain. Wow. You’re lasting a lot longer than you expected. You’re doing pretty well!

“So.” You say, now that your face isn’t being mushed for the first time in a few long minutes of struggling. “I was thinking we could do a triple battle against the fighting gym.”

“Yeah? Well, Abigail isn’t a bad battler. And her pokemon is a good fit for that gym.”

“No, I meant with Hana.”

“Oh.” Laki gets distracted for a second. You use it to try to pin her. You succeed and force her onto her back with her legs up. “Hana is good too. But I don’t know if she’s up for it.”

“She’s been practicing lately.” You say as Laki manages to push back and get on top of you.

“It’s not that. She’s mad at me. Because of the aura thing. But maybe that will help.” She wraps both legs around you. While that was not an unwelcome feeling the first time she ever did it, at this point it’s become a trigger for putting you in a certain mood.

“Don’t get distracted in a fight.” She says, taking the chance to fully pin you. “

“So. Heh.” You say, feeling like maybe the mood might change without you putting the moves on her. “What happens now?”

“Now, we rest.” She gives you a playful kiss. “You won’t become a better fighter if I reward you for getting beaten. Plus I don’t want to get used to getting excited from wrestling.” She hints back to your wrestling match with Abigail. “Save that for tomorrow.”

“I don’t think it’s going to last until tomorrow.” You joke in a last second plea as Laki walks off.

She laughs in a way reminiscent of Keira, then goes to wake Hana to take the next watch. You should get some sleep too, but first, you want to have some soup ready for Abigail tomorrow.


(continued)

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>>2826501
You quickly get the soup made, making sure to take every precaution. Gobble helps too, looking like he wants to make up for last time. It wasn’t his fault, but you understand that feeling well and let him handle a lot of it. You leave it with Hana, who while half-asleep, promises to take watch over Abigail and the food.

Sleep is nice. Very nice. Laki turns you into the little spoon sometime during the night.

You stumble on the scene of Abigail struggling up the hill with two buckets. Keira and Hana are cheering her on quietly in the early morning sunlight. Gobble pulls on your leg to make sure you see it, then runs ahead to get a better view. Dice follows, caught up and a little overwhelmed in the excitement.

A group of early morning trainees runs passed her, knocking her buckets to the ground. They narrowly miss knocking over your soup, too. She sighs and picks it up, heading back down to the bottom to get more. Time is going to be short if she wants to finish.

To make matters worse for her, a large Machamp, who must belong to somebody at the temple since it’s carrying a letter and looks busy, decides to walk into her path, blocking her way. She could get around it, but that requires going up a steeper area.

“That doesn’t count as helping her until she interacts with it.” Keira says, seeming to read yours and your girlfriend’s minds. You look behind and see Gardevoir. That must have given your intention away. “I’m officiating. I can’t help.”

You’ve got to move that pokemon out of the way quickly, then!


>Stay out of it. Cheer Abigail on
>Try to push it out of the way. No time for diplomacy
>Have a pokemon steal the letter. Just for a second so it chases and moves out of the way
>It looks proud, but ask it nicely anyway. Maybe it’ll listen to your request
>Something else

>>2826504
>>Something else
Have Gardevoir ask it to move

>>2826504
>It looks proud, but ask it nicely anyway. Maybe it’ll listen to your request

Hope you’re having a good day Gobble!

>>2826504
>>Something else
Have Gardevoir ask it to move
She's cute, i'm sure she can be convincing if she tried.

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>>2826552
[Doing well! How are you?]

>>2826504
>It looks proud, but ask it nicely anyway. Maybe it’ll listen to your request
>mention it's for a temple test

>>2826504
>It looks proud, but ask it nicely anyway. Maybe it’ll listen to your request

>>2826504
>>It looks proud, but ask it nicely anyway. Maybe it’ll listen to your request
>>2826565
This too, if we can't get through to it.

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You and Hana and Laki exchange looks, seeing if anybody has a plan. You see a decent amount of shrugging.

“Could you move, please?” You hurry to the Machamp, trying not to let the urgency in your voice be mistaken for anything else.

It looks at you, grunting.

You glance back to Gardevoir. She has a deep, determined glare that scares the toast right out of your bread. She softens to fear when she sees you, then confusion. Oh man, it’s really trippy when she’s picking up your emotions and also interacting with you.

Hana and Laki seem to understand what you need though, and start taking her closer to help you with Machamp.

“It’s just that, well, my friend is coming up this way.”

The huge, muscled pokemon stretches, taking your request as a challenge of sorts.

“It’s for a temple test. She’s attoning for something. Please. I’m not telling you to move, I’m asking you.”

It glances between you, then Abigail down the path. It looks a little moved by her struggle as she weakly forces one foot in front of the other. But it doesn’t move. It does see Gardevoir as she approaches though.

They share a long gaze, and he respectfully bows before he moves out of the way. The difficult path is extremely easy for him.

“What did you say?” You ask her.

“The same thing you did.” She answers, matter-of-factly. “It would not have worked without your words.”

You’re confused. If she said the same thing, why did he listen to her and not you?

“He would have listened to you.” Her voice comes both from her mouth and inside your head. “It would have just taken longer.”

Is that her opinion, or can she see the future? You wish you knew more about psychic pokemon.

She shrugs. What does that mean?

Your focus is taken away as you quickly have to move out of Abigail’s path. The small, older woman looks younger than you, but her grunts betray her otherwise difficult-to-pin-down age. She pushes and struggles. The buckets look so heavy for her. She clearly very exhausted. She doesn’t seem very aware of anything except for what’s directly in front of her. The cheering must be like noise to her.

Gobble runs out in front of her, trying to guide her way and cheer her forward. She follows his lead. More of your pokemon jump in front of her to keep guiding her forward and cheering her on. She pushes up, loses her balance, and starts to fall back.

“Abigail!” Laki shouts.

The redhead catches herself. The buckets spill a little, but most of the contents are still there. She struggles, then burns whatever energy she has left to move up. She reaches the top and just tosses in the stick and two buckets without bothering to dump them.

Keira takes the items out, and watches the water settle. You know she’s cheering for Abigail on the inside, but she won’t betray her word on this. “She passed.”

You and your friends all congratulate her, but Abigail just lets herself slowly slump down onto the group.

(continued)

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>>2826669
“Soup?” You offer.

She murmurs, but doesn’t move. Not knowing what else to do, you feed it to her. She slurps once you’re close enough with the spoon, and her eyes open, just a little. The angry glare in her eyes fade slightly. She mumbles for another. After a few more spoonfuls, she’s got the strength to start feeding herself. And she does, greedily.

You and Gobble share a swift little high five.

“Alright.” Laki says, brandishing an envelope. “I’m going to drop this off for my brother, then let’s get going.”

“Oh! I better go tell the monk.” Keira says, running off.

“I uh, have nothing I want to do before we leave.” Hana says. “I’ve had my fill of statues. I can stay here with Abigail if you have anything to do.”


>Stay with Abby. It’ll just be a minute
>Go talk to the chef one last time
>Go with Laki to see Kai
>Go with Keira to see the monk
>Something else

>>2826670
>>Go talk to the chef one last time

>>2826581
Doing super well now that work's all done and I can relax to the tune of pokemon adventures.

>>2826670
>>Stay with Abby. It’ll just be a minute

>>2826670
>>Go talk to the chef one last time

Maybe give him a few tips or ideas for some meaty and rich foods? Or even mix it up with some lighter meals or treats.
who knows, maybe he was meant to be a baker instead of a cook

>>2826670
>Go talk to the chef one last time

>>2826670
>Stay with Abby. It’ll just be a minute

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“I’m going to talk to the chef one last time.” You tell Hana.

He grunts as you enter into the kitchen. Wait, why is it all re-arranged? “Redecorating?”

He shakes his head and . “Quitting.”

“Oh. Uh. How come?” Are you responsible for this? “What are you going to do?”

“Don’t know.” He says. “Something different. Something I’m better suited for.”

Gobble and Dice share the same facial expression, but for different reasons. Gobble is only slightly less able to wrap his head around somebody not wanting to be a chef than you are. He becomes lost in confused thoughts. Dice just always has that expression.

He gets up from moving something under a cupboard, then twirls his spatula. You’re about to get frustrated, but you notice it’s clean so it doesn’t send grease flying. It’s also presented to you with the handle out.

“Wait, are you offering me the spatula, or your job?”

He shrugs. “I’m done with both.”

Well, you obviously can’t take the job, right? You have an adventure to go on. How would you even manage running your own kitchen if you-

The sentence 'running your own kitchen' makes your thoughts trail off for a moment.


>You think he should stay as the chef here. He’s good, he just needs to be inspired
>His style would be more suited to baking. He should try that
>Take the spatula but decline the job, wish him luck on finding something he likes better
>Recommend he try cooking at another place. It could be the environment, not the job
>You’ll take the job. At least, for now
>Something else

>>2826742
>>His style would be more suited to baking. He should try that
>>Take the spatula but decline the job, wish him luck on finding something he likes better
Man, probably knows better than us what he wants than we do, but I'm game to offer he try baking instead.

>>2826742
>>His style would be more suited to baking. He should try that
>>Take the spatula but decline the job, wish him luck on finding something he likes better
>Recommend he try cooking at another place. It could be the environment, not the job

>>2826742
>>His style would be more suited to baking. He should try that
>>Take the spatula but decline the job, wish him luck on finding something he likes better

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“Thanks.” You say, accepting the spatula. “But I don’t think you should depart too far from cooking.”

He grunts curiously.

“I think you should try baking.” You tell him. “It fits your style.”

The expression on his face becomes more expressive. You can’t really describe what it should be called. But you’re a cook, not a writer. “You’re all about timing. Down to the second. And I saw you sniffing the air when I was working on that recipe. You’ve got a nose for exactly when something is changing from raw to cooked to burnt. And you already know your way around a kitchen.”

“I’ll think about it.” He grunts, then gets back to separating his personal items from kitchen stuff. “What about you?”

It’s your turn to have that expression. “...huh?”

“Decent chef.” He points with a ladle he was sorting. “Better teacher.”

You...wait, really? A teacher? You look to Gobble. He’s already quick at work helping to sort the kitchen. Mace hovers him up to the high cabinet to put something away. Sorbet gives a quick bit of frozen breath to the inside of the fridge door that’s been left open a little too long. Belladonna follows Dice as he sniffs out something that fell under the stove, then uses her reach to get it since he can’t.

“Think about it.” He says, handing you a box. Inside is a nice collection of spices and rare ingredients. With that, he sends you on your way out.

Huh. A teacher. Well, you’ve never thought of yourself that way.

You come back to the girls. Everyone is ready to go. Well, Abigail isn’t ready for anything, but Laki doesn’t seem to mind giving her a spoink-back ride. Abigail is awake, looking a little embarrassed and glaring, but she’s not saying much.

“Where’s the gym?” Hana asks just as you get within earshot. “And um, I don’t mind carrying Abigail if you want, Laki.”

“Yeah I bet.” Laki jokes. Abigail smirks weakly. They look a lot closer now.

Hana looks a little annoyed at that. Usually she laughs at that sort of thing. She’s often eager to be the butt of the joke and has a self-deprecating sense of humor. You guess things between her and Laki are a little strained.

“The gym is about a day away by foot.” Keira says. “They like to keep some distance. Trainees visit between them a lot, but any rivalry issues between the kids wear out by the time they make the journey.”

“Nobody camps angry.” Laki adds in. SHe hitches Abigail up, and away everyone goes.


>Study as you walk. You and Laki only briefly touched on fighting pokemon last night
>Take Laki aside to talk about Hana
>Take Hana aside to talk about Laki
>Train as you walk. At least one pokemon can get something in as long as you combine training and walking
>Chat with Keira. What’s new with her?
>Volunteer to carry Abigail for awhile and chat with her
>Something else

>>2826830
>>Take Hana aside to talk about Laki

>>2826830
>>Train as you walk. At least one pokemon can get something in as long as you combine training and walking

>>2826830
>Take Hana aside to talk about Laki

>>2826830
>>Take Hana aside to talk about Laki
Nooooo festering, if she tells Herb that it just needs some time or distance to think over it then fine but noooooo festering.

>>2826830
>Take Laki aside to talk about Hana
I get why others want to take Hana aside, but really, this problem is best dealt with by Laki. She's the one Hana's feeling hurt by.

>>2826883
And I am waaaaay late. Thanks phone call.

>>2826830
>Talk with Gardevoir. She said she was going to see what she could learn from Abi and Laki and Keira. How did that go?

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“Hey.” You stride up beside Hana.

“Hey.” She adjusts her hair and blushes. She still gets a little flustered by you after she’s been lost in thought. “How’s it going.”

“Good. Good. How about you?”

“A little bow-legged.” She responds, her excitement and urge to be quiet both fighting each other. “Thanks again.”

She has this habit of thanking you after you get physical. Like you threw her a bone or something. “I had fun too.” You confess and blush. Of course she knows that, but you still feel embarrassed saying it out loud.

“Not as many times as me.” She hides her face with her hair, but it can’t hide her smile. It’s too wide. She picks up her Tirtouga for something to do with her hands. “Umm, sorry. What’s up?’

“I wanted to talk to you about Laki. What’s going on?”

“Oh.” She turns her head. “You’d have to ask her. I don’t know what I did, but she’s been so distant. I’ve been trying to figure it out.” She leans in closer. “I don’t smell bad or anything, right? Did I say something insensitive?”

“No, you smell great.” You assure her. “And I didn’t notice you do anything. When did this start?”

“Just recently. I don’t know exactly when. We were getting along well. More than well! It was starting to feel like we weren’t just both your girlfriends. It felt like we were developing something more. We even held hands!” She looks around to see if anyone heard that. “I don’t know. Maybe I misread it. Do you think she’s jealous since you and I have been having more...times together? Have I been too greedy? It’s not like I’m not trying to include her.”

Laki looks in your direction.

Hana looks away, embarrassed. “Is she looking? Does she know I’m talking about her?”
>Take complete charge. Take Hana’s hand and put in in Laki’s and tell them to talk it out
>You’ll figure it out for Hana by talking to Laki next
>Laki’s just been working things out with Abigail is all. She’s been distracted, not distant
>Maybe Hana did something to offend Laki after all. She should really think hard in case she’s missing something
>Laki probably got scared because she’s developing deeper feelings for you
>Something else

>>2826926
>You’ll figure it out for Hana by talking to Laki next
>Laki’s just been working things out with Abigail is all. She’s been distracted, not distant
>Laki probably got scared because she’s developing deeper feelings for you

>>2826926
>>Take complete charge. Take Hana’s hand and put in in Laki’s and tell them to talk it out

>>2826926
She’s probably just nervous about making herself more vulnerable.

>>2826926
>Laki’s just been working things out with Abigail is all. She’s been distracted, not distant
>Laki probably got scared because she’s developing deeper feelings for you
>Something else
"Honestly, you should just talk to Laki. No way of knowing really until you ask."

>>2826926
These
>>2826930
>>2826939

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“I don’t think she’s upset with you.” You tell Hana.

“She’s keeping me out. Maybe she’s not upset with me, but she doesn’t like me.” Hana says, more discouraged than bitter. “Sorry for making this your problem.”

“Hey. Don’t talk like that.” You hold her robotic hand. It’s the closest one. She never cares which one you use. “She likes you. Maybe even, more than she’s comfortable with. Maybe she’s scared of being even more vulnerable because you two have been getting so much closer. That, and you’ve seen how her and Abigail have been working things out. I think the timing is just bad because on top of her feelings, she’s dealing with that. That’s distracting. I don’t think she wants to be more distant with you.”

Hana kicks a rock as she listens. Her heavy metal legs make it go flying way faster and harder than anything you could manage. The unsafe projectile clangs off a boulder, then flies off into the air, almost hitting Chatot.

“S-sorry!” Hana shouts.

Okay, now Laki looks a little upset with Hana. But that looks softens. Abigail’s light chuckle is what does it. You’re a little weirded out at seeing Laki be calmed by Abigail laughing instead of enraged.

“You guys should talk it out.”

“Can you talk to her first?” Hana asks. “Or just come with me?”


>Wait, no. Hana should talk to her. Go on, Hana. It’ll be fine
>Sure. You’ll talk to Laki first
>You’ll come for support but won’t get involved
>Something else


[Sorry I wasn’t sure what the consensus was exactly]

>>2827083
>>You’ll come for support but won’t get involved

>>2827083
>You’ll come for support but won’t get involved

>>2827083
>>You’ll come for support but won’t get involved

>>2827083
>You’ll come for support but won’t get involved

Wow, this vote is really contentious. No need to get so heated, guys.

>>2827083
Nah you did it perfectly fine, sorry for any confusion.

>>2827104
Don't tell me how to vote!

>>2827104
Bithc don't tempt me to switch votes and make them all hold hands

>>2827083
Yeah your outcome was a good job, sorry if it was confusing for you Gobs.

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“So.” Hana says as you both approach Laki and Abigail. “Can we, uh, talk?”

“Sounds like you’re already talking.” Laki jokes. It’s not a malicious tone.

“Seriously. About us. Alone. Ish.” She adds, taking your hand.

“You guys already bump uglies in front of me. Loudly. I don’t mind” Abigail reminds them. “Besides, unless somebody else is carrying me, I’m sticking here.”

Laki smirks. But when she sees the look on Hana’s face, she calls out to your priestess friend. “Keira, can you carry her?”

“Sure!” Keira skips over. The tiny Abigail is lifted like a Meowth and placed on the slightly less tiny Keira. Keira struggles to lift with her skinny legs, but somehow she manages to keep moving forward with enthusiasm. “It’s like a backpack and a hug at the same time!”

“Don’t make this cute” Abigail warns as she’s adorably carried out of hearing distance.

“You guys aren’t breaking up with me, are you?” Laki jokes again. This time though, there’s a faint hint of worry.

“What? No! No no no.” Hana assures her. “The opposite. Well, okay, not the opposite, but I want to fix us, not break us up. Something’s wrong.”

“Ugh. Something’s always wrong.” Laki groans. “What’d I do this time?” She’s frustrated, but you don’t feel like it’s directed at anyone but herself. “I got too angry again, didn’t I?”

Hana looks uncomfortable. “N-no. I mean, maybe? I don't know. I don’t want to blame anybody. I just feel like we’re distant from each other.”

“Like I’m being distant from you.” Laki corrects Hana’s intent.

Hana squirms. “Well, yes. But I’m not blameless.” She cringes,using the blame word right after saying she didn’t want to do that. “I mean, I-”

“You’ve tried but made a few tiny mistakes and it’s something like 98% my fault but you don’t want to sound like you’re attacking me so you’re lying to spare my feelings and avoid a fight.” Laki interjects again, trying to cut to the chase.

“That’s not what I- stop interrupting me!”

Laki stays silent for a moment. “Well, go on then.”

(continued)

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>>2827166
“I... I don’t want you to be mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you.”

“You’re acting mad.” Hana kicks at a stone. Luckily this one doesn’t endanger anyone.

“Look, I’m keeping it under control, alright? I’m trying, here. And I'm not mad at you!” Laki’s voice raises just a little. “Sorry. You have something to say I’m making it harder. Like I always do.” She can’t stop herself from adding that last part in. “Sorry.” She makes a motion over her mouth. You don’t know what it is, but from the context it seems like the Loanan version of zipping your mouth shut.

Hana tries to center herself. She coughs, sighs, and thinks. She takes an excruciatingly long time to begin, then opens her mouth and has a second thought. “Did you want to go first?”

“Gah!” Laki explodes. She fighting her frustration, but she looks like going to lose it.


>Assure Laki this isn’t about her anger, and that her efforts to control it are noticed and appreciated
>This is going horribly. Just tell Laki what you think Hana wants to say
>Continue to stay out of it. They need to talk this out on their own
>Try to calm them down with your aura powers
>Something else

>>2827174
>Continue to stay out of it. They need to talk this out on their own
Stay strong guys. Just give Hana a chance to say how she feels.

>>2827174
>>Continue to stay out of it. They need to talk this out on their own
>hold both their hands

>>2827174
>>Continue to stay out of it. They need to talk this out on their own

>>2827174
>>2827181

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You force yourself, against all instinct, to not interfere. You just take their hands. That alone seems to help. Both of them are losing each other in this conversation, but you’re holding it together and filling in the gap just be being a common bond.

“Alright. I do have something to say first.” Laki says as she manages to let some of the tension fade off. “I’m always the bad guy, and I’m trying really, really hard not to be, and I hate how every conversation we always have is me screwing up. I hate that you’re walking on eggshells around me. Just say what you need to say. I’m trying so hard and I just need you to be honest and direct so I can stop messing up. I’m not good at reading things. Just leaving me with this tension instead of ripping the bandage off is torture for me. It’s infuriating to know I’m causing a problem and not knowing how to fix it!’

“Oh. Sorry.” Hana says. “That makes a lot of sense. I didn’t mean to make you feel like that. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.” Laki says, motioning for Hana to try to hurry it up. “Just, let me have it. Both barrels. Get it out.”

“Right. Okay.” Hana fidgets with urgency. “You’ve been uh, really distant with me, and you cut me off during the aura mixing thing, and, and and, and-”

Laki motions that she can slow it down a little if that will help. Now that she’s got her anger level lowered, she looks a lot more relaxed. She’d probably be amused if the topic weren’t the relationship.

“And I don’t know if I did anything, but I like you Laki. A lot. More than a lot.”

You feel Laki’s tension through her hand. “Well, yeah. I like you too.”

“More than like.” Hana says, pressing the issue. But her hand is getting sweaty. “I mean, if you don’t feel the same way, I understand. No pressure. I don’t want anything more from you. Well, I do, but I just don’t want you to like me less than you did before. I’m good with...whatever.”

Laki coughs. “Uh, wow. Alright.”

“So, now I’m the one that feels exposed.” Hana says. “I know I said no pressure, but I really want to know where you’re at. With me, I mean. Just...so I know how to be.”

“Hana. Be you.” Laki says. “I like you.”

Hana peaks up for the first time in the entire conversation. “Like like?”

(continued)

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>>2827266
Laki fidgets. “Yes! Jeez. I love Soft Hands.” Your heart goes into overdrive. You think you can feel Laki’s do it too. “And I really like you, and I feel awkward and like I’m doing you a disservice by having...” she really struggles here “feelings and junk, but still liking you second best. I don’t want this to turn into some competition or us running into issues. Or one of you accepting weird parts of me and the other not.”

“I’m totally cool with being second.” Hana says. “I knew what I was getting into and I sort of well, feel the same way. But we can still get closer and both love Herb. Laki, you’re my best female friend. Also sort of lover. I just, I feel great about you and want to get closer, and if you don’t, that’s fine. Just please don’t cut me off and make us more distant instead.”

“Alright.” Laki says. “I can do that. I don’t mind closer. Just, be as gentle with me as Soft Hands is, alright? And don’t expect me to be as gentle as he is with you. I don’t have that in me.”

“Me either. But we’ll just do it our own way.”

They share a nice look. You aren’t really totally sure what happened, but they seem to have mostly worked it out. You didn’t realize how complicated girls and relationships could get. You feel a little lost. But, you understand enough.

You understand this warm, magical feeling. And you know that as long as everyone tries, nothing will separate the three of you.

"Oh right." Laki says. "Did Soft Hands mention that triple battle idea?"

[That's it for tonight. Thanks for coming, everyone. It's been slow, but we should have some more fast paced sessions coming up. We'll be running Saturday evening next, and part 2 of the bin will be ready before then.]