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>>3536214
Emerald’s falling strike comes in perfect sync with his step forward, the hilt in his hand snarling to life like a plunging meteor.

Refusing to fall back, you move to meet him, powering the gauntlet ahead with a driving punch from the shoulder. Plasma shimmers in the air as fist and beam glance off at odds, the two of you streaking past, each turning back to joust again.

His beam dims, only to lash back out in a wide crossways slash, each move measured with a single resolute footfall. You come back in beneath, twisting just around the lashing beam and throwing a long, low strike at the edge of your reach. He rolls his wrist, forcing you to divert or lose yours, and takes a step back--

You surge forward, inside his guard, his strike too slow--

And realize just in time as he swings an empty blade, twisting low and letting your momentum carry you into him. You feel your chest crunch into his shoulder as he deflects you over--even with that, though, your sheer mass overcomes his, Em using the last of his grounding to push you up and over before his feet leave the ground.

You try to twist around, but he’s already recovered, coming in with a dizzying lateral slash as you tumble through the air. You catch it, but barely, hitting the ground on your side and scrabbling to get your boots beneath you. He doesn’t pursue, but you both know he didn’t have to.

“Okay,” you finally comm privately. “What’s up? Did you know Higurashi?”

“Yeah,” he replies, rolling his arm and examining his shoulder--you straight-up crushed the pauldron in just with that collision. He stares at you in silence like an unblinking housecat. “Not that, though.”

“What, then?”

“You, dumbass,” he replies exasperatedly. “What am I gonna do if you get yourself killed?”

>Don’t sell yourself short, dude.
>Go insane and die, probably.
>Dunno. Let’s talk about it.
>Other?

>>3536219
>Go insane and die, probably
Afternoon Hunter Command, How was your weekend?

>>3536219
>>Dunno. Let’s talk about it.
Maybe talk about the moloch thing in general. The mission was massive, but while Moloch was the worst of it, we managed to do a lot of good as well.
Plus side, we managed to do something to Em with that counter. Not much, but something.

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>>3536224
Pretty good, actually. I got a lot more done than I thought I would. Feeling a bit better now--sorry about the delays, etc etc etc, take your shots, etc etc etc.

>>3536214
>Dunno. Let's talk about it.

>>3536219
>>Dunno. Let’s talk about it.

>>3536219
>Don’t be sosell yourself short, dude.

>>3536219
>Dunno. Let’s talk about it.
Therapy through fighting!

>>3536219
>Dunno. Let’s talk about it.
Rather than Moloch, we should talk about Tanker.
>I dunno what I'd do if my sister dies, either.

>>3536459
Our old therapist would still be alive if he was a S rank.

>>3536478
He would clearly have gone mav then, though

>>3536591
but if we beat him, we could get his power! We could be our own therapist!

>>3536478
>>3536591
>Die
>Or go mav
Maverick Hunter Quest banner found

>>3536648
We all die, you either go mav or get killed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWz-PY8qXZw

>>3536219
>Throw a party?

>>3536219
>Dunno. Let’s talk about it.
"First make sure Cathode doesn't do something stupid, like try to avenge me or fuse with my corpse to become Diode or something. Then, find the BB a new officer, somebody who sees them as something more than cannon fodder, After that: settle down with Flares, buy a house with a white picket fence, and build a sword bug hybrid child (electric element obviously)."

Actually, do we have a will? I assume all our stuff goes to the parents but should we make a proper one?

>>3536478
Judging from past experience, our S rank therapist would be horrifically killed by a bigger, more evil therapist.

>>3537158
Don’t be ridiculous, all our stuff goes to Captain Fullmettool.

>>3536219
>Other

"Then help me NOT get killed, dumbass. Teach me how to 'footwork' like you were yelling 30 seconds ago, let me learn from your motion data, I don't know! I've only been online a few months, help me out here!"

>>3537158
>I assume all our stuff goes to the parents
that would actually be a terrible idea. You're encouraging manufacturers to build maverick hunters that die after 1 or a few years, whereupon they receive the hunter's belongings as profit.

That's not even getting into purposely making hunters that go mav then self-destruct for similar reasons.

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Literally just got home, doctor's appointment (that started over an hour late), straight into capitol city traffic.

Getting some food in me and cracking open the WIP.

>>3536219
>>Other?
Pick someone else to torture and tsundere mancrush on?

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Gah, no go tonight. Partly done, will try to double-size it tomorrow.

>>3539126
who are those in the back? I think top is Prairie, but the bottom is....Ciel?

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>>3536219
>Dunno. Let’s talk about it.
"Like you could get rid of me that easily."

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are those yellow blocks actually there to measure the energy of the reploid they're on?

If so Anode and Emerald have really small health bars.

>>3539386
its not the length that matters, but the girth

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>>3539386
Not in their cases, but you're definitely right about Em having a really small health bar. Fun fact; we track those. Em lives a unicorn giggle away from oblivion, and Anode's brick shithousedness has kept him alive on multiple occasions.

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>>3536226
>>3536256
>>3536311
>>3536459
>>3536461
>>3537158
“Not sure,” you reply honestly. “What do you think?”

He scoffs, and examines the side wall rather than meet your gaze. “Take a guess.”

“Not well,” you hazard.

He exhales sharply through his nose, turning back to you. His eyes are bleak. “Pretty fuckin’ much.”

You sit there in silence for a moment, until, finally--

“So cool,” whispers Flak, leaning forward and pumping his fists with radioactive earnestness.

The two of you turn to face him as you realize you’ve been staring each other down in utter silence, speaking only by comms. Susan facepalms and shakes his head as his friend flusters.

“I just thought…” Flak mumbles. “That you were doing the dramatic standoff thing…”

Em turns back to you with a shrug of his battered shoulder as he stows his saber, before rolling his neck and raising his fists.

And somehow, just like that, you wound up in a fistfight with Em just for the hell of it.

“So let’s actually talk contingencies,” you say--out loud, this time--throwing a lazy haymaker that Em all but drifts around. “If only so you’ve got something else to focus on. If I cack it--”

“I do this so you don’t cack it, numbnuts,” he points out.

“Well, I was gonna tell you to look after my sister, give you a great big opening to joke about, there,” you reply.

“A great big opening? Your sister?” Em asks, wheeling to clock you with a heel kick.

You catch it on your bracer and skid back. “Dammit. She’s taken anyway. … By a bat, which brings me to my next line item--you have to destroy him in a way that makes him only wish he was dead.”

Em snickers, despite himself. “Anode…”

“But seriously, man. We gotta get you into therapy.”

“Didn’t your therapist die?” He asks.

“Fuck you.”

“Maybe later.”

“Do you promise?”

In short order, you add ‘lariat by a fun-sized jolly rancher’ to the list of things you have been struck by.

Rolling back up to your feet, you continue. “What I’m getting at is that you don’t want to hitch your little red wagon to me. Not just to me, anyway--what about Sapphire, speaking of sisters?”

“I can’t dump this on her,” he says exasperatedly. “And she’s better off without me dragging her down with.”

“What, and I’m not?” You chide, giving him a brass knuckle noogie.

“That’s not…”

“I know,” you reply. “And I know that reason has no place in the land of Emistan.”

He snorts. “Pretty much.”

You jerk a thumb over your shoulder. “Take five?”

“Sure.”

You dismiss the squad as he trots over and pulls up some wall to sit against. You join him, and while you’re not rightly “tired,” per se, you’re suddenly very aware of how much hard moving you were doing with half your body out on an IOU to Lifesaver Central.

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>>3540501
“How’s the arm?” You ask him.

He waves it off. “Cosmetic. I’ll ding it out.”

“Mm. So, you knew Higurashi?” You ask.

“Yeah. Sc--You know who introduced me. He was nice. Respectful. Didn’t treat me like shit. Good for a spar.”

“Yeah?”

He nods distantly. “Pound for pound I could take him. Up until the fancy shit came out, that is. Never held a candle to that, but neither of us really expected me to. He said that fighting me was like fighting a human ace, except he could use his void-a-ma-whatsit. That was fucking flattering.”

“I bet. Also, ‘void-a-ma-whatsit?’”

“Something local matter translation something quarks something vermions something Ikehara gaps.”

“How the fuck does that work?” you ask.

“Do I look like a multibrane physicist to you?”

You chuckle. “Em, I still have trouble believing you have one brain.”

He snickers and elbows you in the side. “Jackass.”

Craning his head back, he stretches out and stares at the ceiling. “I missed this.”

You nod, as much to yourself as anything. “I did too.”

“I just wish it wasn’t because… you know.” He gestures vaguely. “Dime baggie of baggage.”

And, of course, that’s always the trouble with Em. He knows how fucked up he is, and he still keeps on taking tilts at the salt windmill.

>Out is through. Take it head on and talk about it.
>Distract, detract, diffract away from grimdark.
>Sometimes, the best thing to do is nothing at all.
>Other?

>>3540503
>Out is through. Take it head on and talk about it.
Fact is, Em is in a dark place right now, and if he doesn't get it together, he may drag all of Overland down to hell with him.

>>3540503
>Other
>"Ever had an artilleryman buy you a drink?"

>>3540510
Then again, few things are more irritating than when someone tells you to take care of something you're already taking care of are are aware of. We just don't have enough evidence that Emerald is fully aware of how deep his darkness runs. The guy is visibly torturing himself just dealing with Rezador (I can scarcely remember how that relationship even started).

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>>3540518
If that's because of my horribad schedule-keeping and timeliness, I can and should provide a recap. If it's just "holy fuck how did that happen," better not to.

>>3540503
>>3540515
I'll back this

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>>3540503
>Other
Out and through works, but sometimes we have to look at both the good and bad. The Moloch mission was full of that. We were unable to save the people on the train, but we saved countless more by stopping that train. Moloch got away with Higurashi, but we saved the scientist and his family, and got the Sifer who caused the ambush on the Saetos op ammong other mavs.
Not only that, Em's lessons helped a bunch. Against Hutchins, Moloch, and even the mooks. We walked back out of that BECAUSE of the help of Em and others. He's helped Anode survive and grow, he's helped the Berets learn more and grow. He made us this awesome grappling hook gauntlet.
Its easy for stuff like the war to cover up the good. Incredibly easy. So don't forget Anode is here because of Em. So once we dust ourselves off, go talk to your sis, have a nice conversation with her, tease her if she has a boyfriend who thinks swords are dumb, and thank her for being a good sister.

>>3540557
their weren't people on the train, the damage was strictly economical. Mr Mayor was kind enough to let us off the hook.
>>3540557
>>3540503
backing this, his kung fu training saved our bacon and we should let him be smug about it.

>>3540565
The mavs killed the people on the train before loading it full of explosives.

>>3540518
Emerald started studying under Rezador so that he could hunt down ex-Seventh mavericks to avenge Diamond. Em is also looking to surpass the mantis, as Rez has proven himself to be the next plateau in Em's quest to be Sword King. Rezador took to training Em because he wants his own Maverick-death-pact, and probably to ensure that the Mortales' views on Reploids outlives them.

>>3540503
>Other?
Big ol' hug. It's cheesy, but sometimes you gotta show people you care.

>>3539386
The lengths of those are all over the place. Slash Grizzly only has a 3-bar meter, for instance, but Storm Eagle has like ten different ones, each with at least 5 bars. Also the one in Anode's portrait in the OP extends to the back of his helmet.

Just finished rereading this quest. Seatos is still my favorite maverick out of the entire rogues' gallery.

>>3539386
Methinks originally they were supposed to be power meters, like on Rock's Mega Buster, but then people went 'this looks cool' and put them on everything like chrome trim in the 50's. Note that X doesn't have them, probably because he was built from the ground up for combat.

As for Zero... I think Wily was going through a car phase in his last few years, would explain the chest orbs.

>>3540609
Liable to get Anode punched again, but worth it.

>>3540609
Yes, it's a winning partnership, isn't it?

Hello to all, by the way. Been much too long.

>>3541022
heya Cain, I wanted to ask a lore related question.
What model of reploids were produced specifically for the 10th, if any.

>>3540503
>Distract, detract, diffract away from grimdark.

It's usually not great to avoid your problems, but he pretty much just admitted he got too worked up with grimdark revenge, and forgot how to relax. Seems like he really needs to drop his baggage for a while.

And there's one way to do that that's suicidal and insane enough for both Em and Anode.

We need to find a way to prank Gopher.

>>3541083
So this is how we become a maverick...

>>3540503
>You take what you can get
>Welp, off to my DATE.

>>3541091
Yesssss
Give in to the dark sssside...
We have epoxy... AND GLITTER BOMBS

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>>3541173
thinking about it, Emerald HAS been in a relationship before, he'd be the one to ask for dating advice. be better than going in blind.

>>3540503
>>3540557
Mention this, especially the part about Em's training saving our ass, and then talk about chicks, man

>>3541201
Pretty sure we know that it went poorly, though we don’t know the details.

Speaking of things we don’t know the details about, I wonder if there is any non-meta way to learn about Rezador’s plans for Em here.

>>3540503
>>Out is through. Take it head on and talk about it.

You'll never defeat your demons if all you do is let them tear strips off you.

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>>3541198

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>>3541198
>>3542331

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Oh, right, I seem to be down a CL for tonight. Bloody Thursdays.

So, uh, hey. How's it going?

Almost 100 threads, huh? We should probably do something with that. Anyone got any requests?

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>>3540503
>Distract, detract, diffract away from grimdark.
I personally don't know how to deal with these kinds of situations. Welp.

>>3540557
This also sounds good

>>3542446
Bat hunt, maybe?

>>3542361
Wait a minute... WAIT A MINUTE!

I'm now obligated you little bastard.

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

>>3542446
I'd have to be a prick and say one of those end of season 1 style character hop around's. It was a ton of fun.

>>3542446
Either shenanigans, movie night with color commentary, or the first annual 'who can make seven's life hell'athon.

>>3542446
Saetos' personal commentary on each of his upgrade paths for Anode.

>>3542742
I remember you floated, once, Dead Mav's Round during a break. I'd honestly like something like that.

>>3540503
>Out is through. Take it head on and talk about it.
Gotta let him know that we got his back. His training has kept us alive so far, after all.

>>3542446
A build-a-reploid thing? Instead of the quick chargen at the beginning, go into the making of a reploid from start to finish? All the little bits, concept, etc.
And then fight them after they went mav later

>>3543320
>>3542446
Build your own Maverick day? Already? Christmas comes early boys!

Really though, that would be fun to make a single reploid In great detail and just throw him out Into the world somewhere removed from the Immediate plot, let time and the machinations of HC and CL turn our creation Into something beautiful, and terrifying.

>>3542446
Side character art Sketchaganza--or a least just a group sketch of the Bravely Broken.

>>3543379
>TFW you already have like eight concepts for Reploids that are admittedly at least half-decent.
Shitty fanfic projects come through yet again.

>>3542446
The Bachelor, only it's Anode being courted by all the Mavericks he's put down. Hosted by either Nicholz or Mac.

>>3542446
Musical episode/thread, including a violent, angsty duet between Em and Rezador while they try to stab each other.

>>3542446
MHX homebrew games character cameos?

>>3542361
You know, thanks to Shooting Star, this little bugger gets to live to the ZX era. If he hasn't glitter bombed at LEAST one political figure in each era, I would be disappointed.

>>3544051
>>3542446

Ooh, thats an idea. Thread to epic pranking of prominent leaders, deserved and undeserved?

>>3544051
Because of Skittles, anti-stick coating on armors is a standard feature after X6+.
Which of course prompted Skittles to make a new line of glitter that stuck to /anything/ to extend their claim to terror. Super Scattered Jeweling 2

>>3542446
Cathode's first mission.

>>3544293
That should be interesting. We've only seen Cathode in action on one op, and that was the prelude to X3 before we got ganked by Doppler.
>I lost my eyes on my first op. What happened on yours, Cath?
>Well...

>>3544329
alternatively, we could play out Blast Hornet's final mission. or the one where Seven gets his buster damaged.

>>3540503
>Out is through. Take it head on and talk about it.
Always best.

>>3544999
That's what VR sims are for.

>>3544756
>You are Seve-
Kill self
>You're not allowed to do that, it's metaga-
KILL. SELF.

>>3545095
>Kill self
>Seven raises the buster to his head but nothing happens, apparently it got fucked without him noticing

>>3542446
X and Zero on a major op, maybe retiring one of the Philosophers?
The Philosopher gets a couple of hits in, so they don't really one-up Anode and Emerald

>>3542446
>You are Blinky and FOR FUCK'S SAKE PINKY SHUT UP FOR FIVE GOD DAMN SECONDS-

>>3541065
Models used by the 10th included the D-Tain, the Alight 77, and (briefly) the ReN4 Guardian T-Model. Commissioned for the 10th but not entered into service due to the unit crumbling was the upcoming RSK Cerca line, a 3rd Generation model who are now looking to join up.

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>>3546635
woo! new recruits. what were they doing before, police work?

That could be a good anniversary episode, the 10th getting up and running proper,.

We could either play as Grach in his advisory role or the newly appointed officer in charge of the unit.

>>3546720
Speaking of Grach, we should try to get some lessons from him. Much as I love Em, I don't think screaming 'footwork' while flipping us across the range is going to be as effective as actual teaching.

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>>3540515
>>3540553
>>3540557
>>3540609
>>3541268
You try, yet again, to find the magic word-bullet to put Em’s demons to rest. Just piling on the pity party isn’t going to help, he’s a stormy sulk elemental. But just shitting unicorns and sunshine at him will probably get you a saber to the sphincter.

… You have missed just hanging out with Em. It brings out the poet in you.

Either way, though. You need to keep things real and grounded without just feeding the downward spiral.

“You know, you’ve already helped me,” you say.

He flicks an eye back up at you. “Yeah?”

“Sure. You should’ve seen me throw hands in Vancouver. Hell, before--” You pause. Damn.

“Classified?”

“Yeah, that. Before…” you gesture down at your battered torso. “This, I was taking him to the cleaners. Before him, too. I was hanging ‘em out to dry.”

He smiles at that, a little. “Good.”

You nod. “It was rough going, but… did you see the train?”

Now that’s a smile. “Hell yeah I did.”

You grin. “Couldn’t have pulled that off without you. I mean, I totally could have, but in the abstract probably-would-have-died-before-then way...”

He chuckles. “Can’t even let me have that, huh?”

“Giving you shit’s my job,” you return good-naturedly. “At least until Sapphire can take over. You really should go see her.”

“I…” He sighs. “I’ll think about it.”

“No you won’t,” you say flatly.

“Ouch.”

“Look, the invincible elder sibling thing is tough, I know,” you reply. “You know, trying to hide all your problems and play it all off--”

Em bursts out laughing at ‘you’ and ‘invincible’ in the same airspace.

“Okay, true. But, if I may offer a rebuttal, eat a dick.”

Em’s laughter redoubles.

“A big one.”

“Everything’s big to me,” he replies, indicating his height with a flat wave of his hand.

“You’re over your self-awareness quota for the week, Em,” you warn. He seamlessly transitions his gesture into a middle finger with a flourish.

“I’m trying to keep you alive, please don’t compel me to end you,” he warn-pleas.

“Hey, speaking of, let me give you the seeds of my destruction.”

“... Lewd?” He asks.

“I’m going on a date.”

He stares. “Oh. Oh god.”

“There’s no God here,” you reply. “Just pleasant conversation.”

“Oh god,” Em whispers again. “And you’re going to go like that?”

You grimace. “Well I was gonna go in for repairs first. Or, I dunno, maybe she’d like the battle-scarred thi--”

“No, I mean, this-ish,” Em replies, pointing at your face.

“Har-har. So what do I do?”

“Anode.” Em says seriously, laying a hand on your shoulder. “I need you to understand that you are coming to me--me--for advice on your love life.”

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>>3547310
“Well you see, my plan was to look at what you do, and then do anything, everything else.”

“It’s a solid plan,” Em admits. “But, okay, for real, let’s start over. What’s the story?”

You give him the story about her fragging you (“yeah, that tracks”), being offered the drink, and the general improbability of it all.

Em leans back, resting his head against the wall as he thinks. “Okay, right. So she’s invited you, so let her steer. Even still, she’ll probably want to do what you wanna do, do you know what you wanna do?”

You shrug. “Em, I’m three years old and what is this.”

“Fair enough. Yeah, so just follow her suggestion. Talk about shit that isn’t work, unless she wants to talk shop.”

“I would never cheat on you,” you reply solemnly, and he snorts.

“If all else fails, crash a bar, pour up, make some bad choices.”

“Me? Never.”

“Indeed.”

“...But what should I--”

“Anode,” Em says firmly, turning to face you. “Just calm down, stop overthinking it, and have a good time. Look, I know this is one of those ‘do as I say, not as I do’ things, but for real. Just be yourself.”

“What if she doesn’t like me, though?” You ask, feeling vaguely like an idiot. An extra-idiot. Moreso than usual.

The blank stare he fixes on you confirms it. Yep, extra idiot. “Then she doesn’t like you. What’s better, bullshitting her by being someone you’re not? The worst-case, you just don’t click, you have one awkward night, and then I mock you about it for centuries.”

You roll your eyes, pushing down a chuckle. “Fuckin’ Cyrano de Bergerac over here. All right, thanks. I got it.”

“Good, because I’m not going to follow you around on your date, the fake mustache tickles my nose.”

You glance back at him, agog. “Holy shit, was that a PG-rated joke? You ARE feeling better.”

Em stares right back, eyes dull. “Cunt piss gargle fuck dick shit intestinal polyps.“

“THERE we go.”

He socks you in the shoulder. “Anything else before I boot your ass out and go back to brooding, sparky?”

>

>>3547315
>Can you distract Indy from said date? Please? For the love of everything?

>>3547315
>Run interference on Indy and The fox for me during the date

>>3547383
>>3547452
You fools! Do you really want him to narrate as well? He'll criticize our footwork while we're walking up to the bar.

>>3547463
Ah but isn't that better than whatever Indy and Firefox will do?
Especially if they team up for some reason

>>3547452
Yesss. This.

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>>3547315
>"I went through Green Screen notes. Think that could work in a scarf form. If not, my Corporal could probably get some use out of it if it's not too expensive."

>>3547383
>>3547452
>>3547536
don't you guys think this will only serve to tip them(Foxfire) off and given ample time to mess with us?

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>>3547789
Your paranoia is like little baby, watch this:
What if Em joins them?

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>>3547792

>>3547310
>that fucking framed photo

>>3547315
>"You're still quartermaster, right? I need a barrel of industrial-strength adhesive, a bag of feathers, and a metric shitton of glitter."

We'll never be able to outmaneuver team Star Foxy, but we can sure as hell start planning our revenge in advance.

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>>3547310
>pic
Look, it's either husbandoposting or waifuposting, which would you prefer?

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Probably no update today, errands and a possible social excursion. Trying to NOT make this an every-other-day kind of thing, apologies.

>>3547452
Seconded.

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>>3547383
>>3547452
>>3547463
>>3547508
>>3547536
>>3547789
>>3547792
>>3548740
“One more favor to ask,” you reply.

Em nods. “Sure.”

“India and Yiffmaster Flex are out there, somewhere.”

“Isn’t your date a bear?”

“I hate you.”

Em pulls himself back up, dusting off his shins. “Cool, just checking.”

“I need you to screen for me. I’m already nervous enough about this, I don’t need those two assholes doing what they do.”

Em mulls it over a moment, before reaching down and offering a hand, which you take. “Yeah, all right.”

“Thanks.”

“Yeah--oh, before I forget, let me get that back.” Em points at the gauntlet as he hauls you up. “I’ll get the back half finished, it’ll be ready for your next op.”

“Ah, right--thanks again.”

He catches the knuckle, waving it at you in salute. “Any time.”

“See you, Em.” Rolling your neck, you turn for the exit.

“Hey, Anode?” You glance back, Em tapping the knuckles against his palm. “I’m not… Never mind.”

“No, what?” You ask.

He sighs. “I was gonna say I’m not going to let them take you.”

“Hm?”

“The mavs, the hunters, life in general, whatever. I lost Diamond, I lost S--Schwarz,” he forces out. “I’m not losing you.”

“Unless I go after your sister?“ You offer.

He ignores it completely, eyes still laser-focused. “I mean it, Anode. They can’t have you too.”

“Really, man,” you promise. “I’m not going anywhere.”

He nods, satisfied with that. “Yeah.”

And with that, he’s off. You should be, too--you could go crash another friend, finish up some repairs and installs, go stop in for a drink, or even just gun right for the dreaded date.

>?

>>3552756
>Check in on your date. It'd be kinda awkward if she was off on a mission, too.
>Square away the schedule and finish up repairs

>>3552756
>Get repaired before the date
Well, I'm glad Em seems to be in a better place now.
On a side note, does Anode know in character about mantis man's tutelage of Em?

>>3552765
This sounds reasonable, I'll back it

>>3552810
>>3552756
Forgot to link my vote

>>3542446
A bit late to reply, but how about a alternative path where Anode did go Maverick when Cathode was injured or a Maverick Anode+Cathode episode?

>>3552765
Nothing is sexier than thoughtful scheduling and preparation.

>>3552765
I'll support that.

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>>3552756
Visit Frog, learn wrasslin'
Also check if that Ride Armor piece is getting put to use.

>>3552756
>>3552837
Best if you don't look like crap, too, get repairs

>>3552765
Backing this, too. Don't wanna get ready for a date when the date ain't even home yet.

>>3552765
Backing.

>>3552756
>Go get repaired

>>3552870
Honestly, Flares would probably be better if we want to continue hand-to-hand training.

We should really try to get that Fourth Fight Club idea going, give Em more people to socialize with and a chance to show off his weapon designs.

>>3553674
Emerald himself told us that we should get tips from Frog on how to handle big boys. He's good at teaching us how to saber, but we still need to practice the other essentials.
We could do with a bit more shooty bang under our belt too.

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>>3552765
>>3552776
>>3552810
>>3552814
>>3552848
>>3553118
>>3553674
That lingering ache from being run down and battered is starting to catch up with you--you get the distinct feeling Em wasn’t entirely dropping the hammer on you, but you’re still feeling pretty damned wrecked notwithstanding.

Plus, no sense showing up dressed to impress when you’ve been beaten to shit.

All that in mind, you decide to head back in for the last of your repairs.

‘Last of’ is only relative, of course--the lion’s share of the work is still ahead, fixing what was damaged and replacing what was lost. The parts and the human (well, ‘human’) backfill were all ordered and prepared, and you’re bemusedly entertained by the idle thought--how much money have you cost to replace and rebuild, over your misadventures? How much of your original chassis is left?

Rather than let yourself lapse existential about it, you just make tracks for the repair bay and register yourself for the last of your recuperative work.

It takes them twelve hours.

When you wake up, nothing’s different, and at the same time, you feel… not off, but different.

“A moment, Captain,” one of the Lifesavers says. “We need to calibrate your new enhancement.”

Right. That Lateral Interpolator system. “Okay… any trouble?”

He shakes his head. Instead, he asks a question. “A man approaches the center of a field with an unopened package. The closer he gets, the more certain he is he will die. Sure enough, no sooner than he arrives at the center of the field, he dies immediately. Why?”

You blink. “Uh… it’s a battlefield? No--” The package is relevant, the wording is ambiguous, he dies on arrival--

“It’s a parachute,” you reply, almost instinctively.

The Lifesaver nods. “Correct.”

You balk. “Was that…”

The Lifesaver nods. “Your scans came out clean and within bounds for the exercise, Captain. Your interpolator is online.”

So… you spent a few mortgage payments on a way to ruin trivia night for yourself, apparently. Still, the ability to connect dots is definitely something you wish you’d had a few times in your career. You nod. “Anything else?”

“Your new ailerons are installed, and your superstructure repairs are complete. Aside from your capacitor damage, you’ve been given a clean bill of health.”

You don’t need a lateral interpolator to read the tacit ‘so get the fuck out’ in the Lifesaver’s tone. “Erm. Right, thanks.”

Your Interpolator does, however, cheerfully remind you that you’d read that it trends towards either optimism or pessimism, and perhaps you could have chosen a better time to install a neurological mod than before your first date.

Oh well!

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>>3554849
Ukumari picks up after the third ring, looking perplexed and vaguely nervous as the video link establishes. “Oh, uh, h-hey, Captain.”

“Anode’s fine, honestly,” you reply. It’s kind of reassuring to know she’s as nervous as you are.

“Right! Sorry, just, uh… would you believe I’ve never been on a date before?”

>Tease her.
>Be forthright.
>Keep cool.

>>3554850
>>Be forthright.
gah, go away chill penguin

>>3554850
>Be forthright.
"Honestly, that makes two of us.

>>3554850
>Be forthright.
Anode's been as many dates as he's had perfect mission runs where he came home physically and mentally unharmed
Pretty sure that's 0

>>3554850
>Be forthright.
but tease her just a little bit, may as well let her know what she's getting into.
a simple "Why, your so cute." will suffice

>>3554850
>>Be forthright.
Anode asked a surly green leprechaun for advice. I think he understands.

>>3554850
>Be forthright.
>We will be learning together.

>>3554850
>Be forthright.
Anode's not cool.

>>3554850
>Be forthright.

>>3554929
New plan: we make both parties drop as much spaghetti as possible

>>3555131
>Spaghetti Coil
A G class weapon only recently approved by Hunter Command to face the rising threat, in its primary firing mode it releases a large, seemingly random mass of coils with a seemingly limitless capability of absorbing energy and plasma attacks.

On triggering the secondary fire, red-hot "blush" spots appear all over the coils, and graboid ends erupt from the mass seeking any and all hand-related appendages, user include. Once the "handholding" phase is entered, the target's energy is quickly drained while their temperature regulation systems are sabotaged to form similar "blush" spots on their own faces.

Due to the extremely short range almost guaranteeing that the user is caught in his own attack, it is a powerful but costly weapon.

>>3554850
>Be forthright.

>>3554850
>be forthright
If she's the one who asked US out, she's obviously not looking for 'cool.'

>>3554850
>>Tease her.
Just enough to know we're 'only human' (there has got to be a better way to put that) but not so much to be taken as a jab. A little bit of a joke relieves a lot of the tension. Also matches what she probably knows of us so far.

>>3555131
The three amigos can't troll us if they feel spaghetti from our sheer amount of spaghetti.

The thing I worry about is how focused we are on our trolls. We haven't considered interference for the trolls on her side.

>>3556383
>Her trolls are basically the fursona versions of our group of friends
>Foxfire's counterpart is the only humanoid Reploid of the group

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>>3554865
>>3554870
>>3554872
>>3554929
>>3554946
>>3554982
>>3555031
>>3555074
>>3555533
>>3555744
You give Ukumari a dopey grin. “Me neither. I’m friggin’ terrified.”

She sits back in her chair, grinning back. “Would you also believe that’s relieving to hear?”

“I get you. Nice to know we’re both completely out of our depths here.”

“Depths, wits, and minds,” she replies. “I almost wish you’d said no, I’d be less nervous.”

“Right?” You agree. “It reminds me my first day.”

She taps her chin with a silver-white claw. “It was only a few years ago, but with everything that’s been going on lately, I don’t even know if I can remember that far back.”

You shrug. “It’s only been a couple months for me.”

“A couple months?” She asks, agog.

“What?”

“I, er--”

“She peeked at your service record!” Singsongs a voice from her end, off-side. Ukumari’s face instantly snaps to the kind of murderous rage reserved only for siblings and the very closest of friends.

”Raine!” She roars.

“She just couldn’t be-lieve how many hunts you’d squirreled away~” ‘Raine’ trills.

“Raine I swear I will end you if you don’t shut up and get out of my booth--”

“Did I hear that right? A few months? So, Ukie, you’re a cradle robber on top of a frag-and--”

The line dissolves into static as Ukumari actually ripples with lightning, the EM surge interfering with the video codec as they scuffle. Somewhere in there you hear laughing, cursing, and the words “bent fin, bent fin--”

“ANODE I WILL CALL YOU BACK,” Ukumari snarls gracefully.

“So we’re still on?” You ask.

Raine’s wheezing laughter redoubles as the line goes dead, and you’re legitimately unsure whether the call dropped or the room exploded.

“So, that went well,” you declare to yourself.

>?

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>>3556784

>>3556784
Chill for a few minutes, see if she calls back. Listen for the sound of artillery fire. Consult Fullmetool for dating advice.

>checked our service record
Well, if she didn't run screaming from seeing that, this date should go fine. Kind of tempted to call Wellington up to see if we can get Arc's records, but that's probably a bad idea.

>>3556784
So, she looked at our service record, assuming we must have been online about as long as she was, huh? Considering how many messes we've been involved in, that's probably not too wild of an assumption to make. No wonder she was gobsmacked.

Anyhow...

>While we wait for her to call back, let's ponder what sort of movies to show for the Movie Night that may never actually get to happen.

>>3556784
>So, Ukie, you’re a cradle robber on top of a frag-and--
I had to do a double-take, because the first time I read that as her being a grave robber. It doesn't count yet, we only died those couple of times!

She completely fried that call booth though. This is going to be great. It's pretty hot when a girl can shoot lightning over the horizon.

If we need to defuse any awkward moments, remember: ELECTRIC PUNS!

>>3556784
>Pull out fullmetool, and set him beside you for the next call.
>Check our service record.
Don't we spend more time in repairs than in a hunt?

>>3554849
>Pull out fullmetool, and set him beside you for the next call.
>Check our service record.
>>3556916
I wonder if Foxfire has "enhanced" our record.

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>>3556904
oh god, there's even a term for hooking up after a engaging in friend;y fire. makes you wonder how often a 15th 'accidentally' hits someone they're crushing on.

"Notice me, senpai!"
*KABOOM

>>3556784
Actually
>>3556916
>>3556963
Yeah, if we can, peak at those records ourselves. Should be amusing.

>>3557035
>senpai
It would be funny if Arc really thought we were the longer serving Hunter despite her being around since literally before we were born

>>3557105
We have fought 3 Ss, a former S, and a enemy with S rank artillery with either As or S ranks constantly trying to mess with our missions as an A. We also survived a G. Anode is surprisingly active when you consider Showa, who fought more in her own weight class.

>>3557105
I wonder what the average number of missions and the kill:capture:escape ratio is for most normal A rank hunters is.

>>3557120
I think we have survived 2 Gs. Through all this we have only "died" twice: once to an S and once to a P's surprise attack.

>>3557120
having Seven trying his damnedest to kill us has its upsides I guess.

>>3557105
Aren't we like 2/3 years old? We were in traing and development for a long time before actually starting active duty. Emerald said he'd been hunting since before e were born but I don't think Ukumari's quite that old.

>>3557137
As per the wiki, she's a 2nd Generation reploid, which start being produced after Sigma's rebellion (Emerald is I think a borderline Gen 1/Gen 2). Meanwhile, Doppler taking our kidney was on our 3rd birthday. time for /ss/

>>3557137
A thing to remember is that after X2 there was a lull in maverick activity as well. If I were to guess, the first eight would likely take some time in that period. Gives them time to properly train, upgrade, figure things out. Anode has been thrown to the robo wolves plus Seven making sure the situation was as bad as possible. I honestly wonder what the average first 8 are like for hunters. A rank below? More support? Losing a A early sounds bad on paper.

>>3557189
The quest began explicitly between X2 and X3. We had eight hunts, including Saetos, plus the special ops with X and Zero each, and the Grach headhunting job, among others. Then X3 started, and we're now in the middle of that.

It cannot be understated that Anode has been through the wringer more than most other Hunters his age or length of service.

>>3557244
Never said that wasn't the case. Even agreeing with you. Anode had a eventful life and in doing so has gotten a shit ton of experience early before habits formed. We got training from Schwarz, but just enough we didn't fully pick up his style and weaknesses. We have em's sword training, but no issues with upgrades and guns. We also have a VWES and plenty of room to improve, plus a part that practically makes us a 3.5 gen. We are a small who can hit and take hits like bigs and have survived some messes bigger foes couldn't.
Em has the gist of it. Anode has a lot of synergy and in time is going to be a monster if he lasts that long. Hell, if Stellar Atlantica's shit is good enough, I say we use it to fix and improve our channels. Make it so we can fire a giant laser or something.

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Finally had the time to sit down...

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...and watch that new Pokemon trailer just now.

>>3557434
I don't see a new smug sun bird pokemon. Though a horned devil pokemon would be interesting.

>>3557105
>>3557120
It could be that Arc has a skewed view of average number of deployments due to being from the 15th. Artillery requires a lot more coordination and set up then the 4th generally needs, and 4th definitely gets a lot of jobs falling in their laps because the other units don't think it fits their purview. I'm wondering if 1st or 2nd Hunters would have the highest number of deployments on average.

I'm also wondering what the hell Emerald's record look likes, as he has cleared two rosters in the time it's taken us to take down 6 mavericks.

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>>3557440
But there is an Aegis Garm

>>3557441
>I'm also wondering what the hell Emerald's record look likes, as he has cleared two rosters in the time it's taken us to take down 6 mavericks.

Em's rosters likely didn't have Phantoms and secret G ranks. We don't really get "by the book" hunts.

>>3557441
If Em spent as much time getting put back together as Anode he wouldn't have finished a roster either
>>3556784
>Check our service record

>>3556784
> Let's look at our service record out of curiosity
And then look at her service record. Fair's fair.

>>3557837
nah, a gentleman doesn't ask a lady, let's look at Emeralds instead.

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No update today, guys--CL and I both have things to do tonight in the dreaded meat-realm.

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>>3558265
No worries HC, good luck

NOOOOOooooooo, Well finally I found an active thread since the last time I contributed to the quest was when it was back on /tg/.

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>>3560001
Shit nigga, welcome back. If you miss them because you don't know they're happening, set up an alert for HC's tweets. If it's because of real life getting in the way then RIP

>>3560004
Don't have twitter, and honestly that'd be all I would use it for. I've gone out of my way to distance myself from the social media world. Gives me the creeps.

Anyway, I was the one of the guys who was totally confused where we were trying to go on Guns Wallaby. I've kept up via the archive though.

>>3560006
>I've gone out of my way to distance myself from the social media world
I can respect that, no facebook or instagrams for this boomer. I made a twitter simply to follow HC and haven't regretted it. You don't have to put in a real name or anything. I'm sure there are other ways to get an alert when he tweets without making an account, though I'm not an expert on RSS feeds.

>>3560006
that's.....a LONG time ago

>>3560008
I did say that it was back on /tg/...

>>3560008
On a board far, far away...

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>>3560116
those were the days. it still tickles me that my idea for Anode's misericorde was not only well received, but continues to be a major part of his kit.

I'm glad HC and CL have stuck it out for so long, and I love all the material that's come out of this quest as a whole.

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>>3561306
Indeed, especially since we got two spinoff Quests from it and a TTRPG system to boot.

Speaking of RPG system, is it still being worked on?

>>3564306
I understand what that pic is and it's eminently discomfoting

>>3564306
Wait two spin offs? There was Meteor Showa but whose the other?

>>3564306
Not actively at the moment, but as free time comes and goes I'll probably make a few extra passes at it.

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>>3564399
Maverick Quest on Sufficient Velocity, although it hasn't updated in a while.

...Which reminds me, I still need to work more on that sketch of the main character again.

>>3564432
Glad to hear that!

>>3564436
I always imagined him with eskimo glasses like Captain Cold.

Hi guys. Still alive!

Probably no update today. This last week has been... bad. Like, bad bad. Hopefully back on track very soon. Thanks for patience as always, apologies for delays as ever, and take your shots.

>>3567440
Your pipes didn't explode again did they?

>>3567540
No, though I did have my mower die the death. Unrelated to the bad times, but certainly an annoyance.

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>>3567440
Life be that way, just keep on keeping on.

>>3567440
You're still a champion for getting through it, dude.

>>3567621
Good luck man.

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>>3567440
It's alright man, you're still a good dude. I hope things turn around for you soon.

>>3567440
been rereading the archives. Did Sam and Alice from the range die? The humans didn't trust Grach and the others enough to stay at the range, and that ultimately got them all killed. They were never refereed to by name, but I get the impression the human staff already at the range decided not to stick around.

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I've played with the idea of running a MH Enlisted quest, where you see things through the eyes of a grunt and doing grunt things. Haven't had the time to set it all up though.

It'll be nice to get back in the swing of things. I'm afraid both of us are a bit low on juice right now. Lot of story left in us yet though.

>>3570862
I'd definitely be up to participating in it.

>>3571873
Thanks for being the evil mastermind, Cain. Couldn't ask for a better robot devil!