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The woman you saved is dressed in a track jacket and spats, a far cry from the war gear she wore in your first meeting. Judging by the look on her face, she's as surprised to see you as you are to see her, though she soon breaks out into a wide grin, leaping up from her seat to approach you.

Of course, that's the exact moment the bus begins moving. Caught off guard by its sudden acceleration, you quickly find yourself sandwiched between Val and Harrison.
Your Alice wakes up with a yelp, the soldier steps back on reflex, and you do your best to ignore the excruciating agony that comes with being stabbed six times in the back. Val's horns hurt, and getting knocked in the head by her halo doesn't help you in the slightest.

You bite back a curse as you rub your new bruises from your position on the floor. Harrison lets out a little laugh before pulling you to your feet, and you note the way her muscles flex with the motion; there's some surprising strength in those arms. Makes sense, considering her choice of career.

The woman pulls you and Valentine into a nearby seat. Fortunately, no one else was around to see you embarrass yourself. The three of you are free to talk.

Harrison switches her gaze between you and Val, a warm smile on her face.

"I didn't expect to see you two so soon. How are you holding up? Not too injured from last night, I hope?"

Valentine shakes her head. "I'm fine, but Jack…"

You wave away the look of sudden concern on Harrison's face. You have to admit, her intensity is a little surprising.

"It's nothing too bad. Got it checked out and they let me go. But what about you a second your squad? Everyone alright?"

At your question, the woman bites her lower lip, hunching forward a little.

"Lost a few friends. Memorial for them is tonight."

You give yourself a mental kick in the shin. Nice going, Jack. You hate to admit it, but maybe your sister was right; studying and exercising did no favors for your social skills.
As if hearing your thoughts, Harrison hastily moves to reassure you.

"N-no, don't feel bad! I–we would've lost a lot more if you weren't around. I wouldn't be here at all if you didn't save me."

She looks away, and you have to lean in as she murmurs "Thank you for that."

Valentine leans over you to squint at the woman. After studying her for a moment, your Alice lets out a noncommittal hum and settles back in her chair.

…What was that all about?

Before you can say anything, though, Harrison abruptly claps her hands together and looks at you, the smile back on her face.

"Nevermind that, though. I'm sure you've got a lot of questions for me, like why I'm here at the Academy instead of at the Defense Hall! Ask away!"

[2/3]

You look at her for a moment, then let out an awkward cough. The bus trundles along at a measured pace.

"...Not really? I mean, your business is yours. I'm glad to see you're safe, though."

"A-are you sure? I don't mind, you know."

The woman looks mildly crestfallen. Valentine also gives you an unamused look. Feeling as if you've done something wrong, you decide that you do have a few questions to ask the agent.

[Select up to three questions to ask her.]

>"Alright, I'm sorry. I'll bite. What's your business at the Academy? Anything I can help with?"

>"Wait, don't tell me. You're aiming to become an Attendant too? Is–is that how it works?"

>"I don't actually know much about the Defense Hall. What can you tell me about it?"

>"Uh. Got any hobbies? …I'm sorry, I have no idea what to ask."

>"Are you feeling alright? You seem a bit more energetic than the last time we met. Ow, Val, why'd you kick my shin!?"

>Write-in. This is encouraged, because I'm a hack.

[Do you ask to attend the memorial as well? Do note that this will take up tonight's time slot.]

>Yes. She'd likely appreciate it, and you do feel an obligation to give your respects. Their sacrifice should be honored. Worst comes to worst, you'll just stand in a corner.

>No. You didn't know the fallen, and whatever prayers you could offer would feel hollow. You wouldn't want to intrude.

[3/3]

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[ARCHIVE]
https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=AttendantQM

[CHARACTER LISTING]
https://pastebin.com/Rfp12tDb

[TRUTH FRAGMENTS]
https://pastebin.com/AfLTYNQi

[ELECTIVES]
https://pastebin.com/h47gbWXD

—

In the last thread…

Against your better judgement, you stayed behind to fight tooth-and-nail against an opponent that far outclassed you. With the help of Arturo and Lina Amantea, an Alice-Attendant duo, you managed to take down your very first Beast–a bioweapon monstrosity armed with arcane powers and a healthy dose of insanity.

Well, saying you helped is being generous. In reality, you spent most of your time running around trying not to get killed. What else could you have done? It's not like you're a real Attendant yet. Those guys are practically superhuman, and you are only human. For now.

Still, no one can deny your efforts, and your heart's definitely in the right place. You've certainly grown closer with your own partner as a result; Valentine Harper, a 16 year-old girl and 3 day-old Alice. She's as new to this as you are, but together, you think you'll manage just fine.

All things considered, you did a damn good job–for a rookie, that is. You and Val are in sore need of training, and that's where the Protectorate comes in. Under their employ, you'll receive everything you need to become a keeper of the peace.

Welcome to the Academy at Glaswelt Base. Signing the injury waiver form is mandatory.

—

Updates daily, usually from 10 PM - 3 AM EST (22:00 - 3:00). Occasionally posts earlier in the day. The QM does not know what a healthy sleep schedule is.

>>5220652
>"Alright, I'm sorry. I'll bite. What's your business at the Academy? Anything I can help with?"

>"I don't actually know much about the Defense Hall. What can you tell me about it?"

>"Wait, don't tell me. You're aiming to become an Attendant too? Is–is that how it works?"

And a +1 to attend. I mean they helped us live too so it feels right to attend but I dont know if the rest would appreciate it.

>>5220652
Supporting >>5220678

>>5220678
I think it should not be a problem. We die not know them but at least for a little while we were Brothers in arms, fighting to keep as many people alive as we possibly could.

>>5220649
Hmmmmm... she might have developed a bit of a cpmolex with Jack. We should give her time to cool after this so she does not explode once she sees Jacks Dadbod

>>5220652
>>5220678
+1

>>5220678
support

welcome back qm

>>5220678
>>5220723
I agree we fought together so there shouldn't be problems if we are there.
But Valentine being a necromancer will make things a bit awkward, it's not her fault honestly is just how she will be seen by the soldiers.

>>5220723
>We should give her time to cool after this so she does not explode once she sees Jacks Dadbod
Kek

>>5220916
Good thing you didn't raise any soldiers yourself back when you had the chance, huh? You'll still get a few glances, but no one's going to accuse you of much.

>>5220933
>Good thing you didn't raise any soldiers yourself back when you had the chance, huh? You'll still get a few glances, but no one's going to accuse you of much.
ye. This reminds me that we might want to experiment with her necromancy, of course if we have permission. Some wild animals bones should suffice.

>>5220652
>>5220678
+1 Ayyy it's back.

>>5220652
>>5220678
support

>"Alright, I'm sorry. I'll bite. What's your business at the Academy? Anything I can help with?"
>"I don't actually know much about the Defense Hall. What can you tell me about it?"
>"Wait, don't tell me. You're aiming to become an Attendant too? Is–is that how it works?"
>Yes.

You raise your hands in half-hearted surrender. You're not sure what you did wrong, but you know a lost cause when you see one.

"Alright, I'll bite. What are you doing here? Is it something I can help with?"

Valentine folds her arms. "Jack, I'm pretty sure she knows more about Glaswelt than the two of us combined."

You wince. Unexpectedly though, Harrison seems to have an answer in mind. The woman gives you a serious look before speaking.

"In all honesty, I came to the Academy looking for you, sir."

"Me? Why's that? Can't have been just to thank me."

She accepts your quizzical look with a nod.

"How much do you know about the inner workings of the Defense Hall? The duties of a Protectorate field agent?"

"Not much, I'm afraid."

"It's to be expected. Most media focuses on Alices and Attendants, after all. Those of us in the rank and file seem boring in comparison."

The agent cracks a grin. "I can't blame them for thinking that. We aren't nearly as flashy. They're missing the forest for the trees, though. We work together on a personal level–every Alice and their Attendant works with a permanent roster of agents."

"Huh. I think I know what you're talking about, actually."

When you first met Val, Viktor had responded to your call with two vans' worth of soldiers in tow. Arthur had also mentioned coming to the fight against Lily with a team of his own, though if you recall correctly, he had rushed ahead and sent them off to reinforce Harrison's group.

"...What about Takeo, though?"

Now it's Harrison's turn to look confused. "I'm afraid I don't recognize that name, sir."

"An Attendant from one of the Far East bases. Arthur said something about an exchange status–he came to back us up later in the fight, but went alone."

You consider telling her about Papa for a moment, but decide against it, Arthur's warning fresh in your mind. You're still not sure how much you can reveal.

She thinks for a moment, then lights up in understanding. "Ah, I think I know! Wears something like a dress, correct? I only caught a glimpse of him, but my team leader spoke with him last night. I think he said something about 'preferring to work with known factors' and 'having a team back home.'"

You can't tell whether to laugh or sigh. "Sounds about right. But back on track–that doesn't really explain why you're here."

[1/?]

Remember if you like loli's you're a pedophile.

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Upon hearing your question, Valentine puts her face in her hands.

"Jack, how are you this dense? Even I can already tell what she's going to ask, you fool."

Her words stab into your heart. "W-what do you mean?"

"It's obvious. She wants to join your team. Our team. You know, work with us. How did you fail to realize that?"

…What?

You glance over at Harrison, who sits up straighter beneath your gaze. She gives a firm nod.

"I've talked it over with my team already, of course. They're alright with the idea, but the final decision falls to you. The way it works is that we'll be training with you once your Attendant classes move onto teamwork and field exercises."

Her hands tighten into fists as she speaks, knuckles whitening under the force.

"I… I wanted to repay you, somehow. This was the only way I could think of. It's… It's all I can really offer. I'm sorry."

She turns her face to the ground as she trails off. Somewhat hesitantly, you reach out to touch the woman's shoulder.

"Hey, now. Nothing to apologize for. It's just… A lot to take in all at once. I mean, are you sure you're fine with me? I imagine this is a pretty big deal, you know."

"It is. Our assignments become more frequent. Those partnered with active Alice-Attendant pairs tend to have a… higher turnover rate. It's not absolute, of course, but that's simply how it is.

This kind of life was never going to be peaceful, though. We all knew that, going in. Or at least, I thought I did. Last night, I realized something."

The woman looks up at you. There's determination in her eyes.

"No matter what people say, death is something you can't ever prepare yourself for. With it, awareness and fear are inseparable. We compromise, but ultimately, we live on borrowed time."

There's a moment of silence. Valentine stares at her, wide-eyed. A distant part of you wonders if the bus driver has any thoughts on the matter.

Harrison leans in closer to you.

[Harrison Bond IV: Met?]

She smells like asphodel.

"Jack, I don't want to live my life with regrets. What you did for me means more than you can imagine."

—

[Select one.]

>...Something feels wrong. You can't accept this right now. Maybe later, once the memorial ends and you get a chance to talk to her squadmates.

>Your pulse quickens, beating in time with her own. There's something in her that speaks to you. You'll take it. You'll embrace it. It's the least you can do.

[2/2]

>>5222580
>...Something feels wrong. You can't accept this right now. Maybe later, once the memorial ends and you get a chance to talk to her squadmates.

Whiue it would be hilarious to go for romance right now and maybe we wont get something like this again. But i dont want her get stuck with us because of some savior complex....

>>5222580
>...Something feels wrong. You can't accept this right now. Maybe later, once the memorial ends and you get a chance to talk to her squadmates.
I want to accept her as part of our squad but let's talk with her squadmates first, couple things we could talk to them about like how our alice is a necromancer and if they'd be up for being revived if killed and such.

>>5222580
>>...Something feels wrong. You can't accept this right now. Maybe later, once the memorial ends and you get a chance to talk to her squadmates.

>>5222580
>...Something feels wrong. You can't accept this right now. Maybe later, once the memorial ends and you get a chance to talk to her squadmates.
Later it might be a bit awkward now, before the memorial. Though Jack is kind of in a dry situation by quite some time. So i don't think he would put the option down completely, not with what the future holds being the attendant of a necromancer will not give him a good rep. He is still a man too. A good man, but one nevertheless.
Knowing each other first would be beneficial even if nothing happens.
Asphodel uh ? What an interesting choice, fitting too.

>...Something feels wrong. You can't accept this right now. Maybe later, once the memorial ends and you get a chance to talk to her squadmates.

…For some reason, you find yourself thinking back to Val's question.

In hindsight, Harrison's goal should have been obvious to you. The lead-up wasn't exactly subtle, and though you're not exactly the most social creature, you like to think that you're still capable of reading the situation.

What confused you, then? Why didn't you see it?

It isn't that you missed it, Jack. You simply saw too much.

Slowly, so as to hide your sudden unease, you take your hand off of Harrison's shoulder. As you consider how to word your response - not a refusal, simply a desire to wait - a vague feeling of embarrassment begins to rise up within you. You've never been the best at these kinds of confrontations, and–

–You crush your excuses underfoot.

You're working off of a feeling. A hunch. The researcher within you objects to the unscientific nature of such, but that gut instinct tells you that Harrison's thoughts are something you should take care of now.

"Harrison. Thank you for your words."

You've barely begun to speak, yet a strange stillness seems to come over the woman. Perhaps it was something in your tone, or maybe it's the fact that you just can't seem to hide your feelings.

"However, I cannot currently accept your offer."

Either way, the expression on her face is one of painful resignation.

"Let me be clear. This is not a refusal. I'm touched that you feel so strongly."

At the same time, though, you sense a quiet gratitude. A shameful relief. A burning desire to be reborn.

"I just want some time to… to think it over? No–not that. That's not what I mean."

A contradiction–yet somehow, you cannot consider any of her emotions to be false.

"Is this really what you want?"

[1/?]

—

I do so love humans. They are simply the most wonderful cornucopia of emotions and complexes. Forever changing… Ah, what a transient delight. How could one ever get bored?

—

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Harrison looks as if she's been struck. She speaks in stops and starts, as if struggling to come up with an answer.

Valentine's tail has wound itself around your leg, tight enough to hurt. You can't really turn to look at her right now, but listening in on this is probably too much for her. That said, the lack of blood circulation is becoming a serious concern.

Yeah, you're still not going to comment on it. The current atmosphere is just a little too heavy for that.

After a few minutes of drawn-out silence, the bus hits a speedbump. That jolt seems to be what Harrison needs to get talking again. She leans back in her chair and looks out the window before speaking.

"...I don't know anymore, sir. I'm about to finish my first year here, and I'm already… tired."

Her fingers lace over themselves, eventually settling atop her lap.

"I've fought Alices a total of nine times. Beasts, four times, including last night. It doesn't sound like much for 10 months of work, but… You don't know how the Defense Hall works, correct? About our recruitment methods?"

You shake your head, and she gives a wan smile in response.

"It's stringent. I wouldn't say unethical - some of us are even volunteers - but the selection process is… exacting. Demanding. For most Attendants, age isn't much of an issue, on account of the resources allocated to them. The rest of us need to keep up while given only a fraction of that."

Her breath quickens.

"That means most of us in the field aren't much older than 30. There's a few retirees, but they enter the game at an older age to begin with. Me, sir, I'm--I'm turning 24 in a few months."

Harrison looks at you, utterly neutral.

[Harrison Bond IV: FALSE.]

"I don't know if I'll last that long."
Do not hesitate.
[You are the Hermit.]
Your eyes see everything.
You don't even need to think for your response.

[Light the way.]

"To hell with that. A few months? I'll be there to celebrate it with you. Valentine, too."

The agent is visibly taken aback by the sheer force with which you make your promise. When you mention Val's name, your Alice lets out a choked wheeze.

You press on, unfazed.

[2/3]

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"What you said earlier, about not wanting to live your life with regrets–that's something I can get behind. But Harrison, I don't think you even believe what you're saying."

"I-I want to repay you–"

"That much I'm sure of. It's important to you, and I respect and appreciate that. Helping others is practically my calling."

You hold her in place with a level glare.

"That's why I don't want you to throw away your life. You don't want that, either–you said it yourself."

Your own life, so rife with mistakes, flashes through your mind. How many wasted days? How many missed opportunities? How many regrets of your own have you built up over the years?

More than you'd like to admit, and you're only now beginning to overcome them.

[Falsehood Revealed: Ideal Hero.]

That experience is why you refuse to allow such a promising young woman to fall prey to the same ennui you once did.

[Falsehood Overturned. True Bond Revealed.]

You feel a spark.

[Harrison Bond II: Met.]

There's a light, there.

[Harrison Bond III: In Progress.]

But… Are you overreaching? Can you really say you know enough about Harrison to lecture her like this?

What a shame; so close, yet so far.

[Harrison Bond III: Met.]

A little bit of interference never hurt.

–What does that matter? You'll see this through to the end, for your sake, if not hers.

"You want to live without regrets? Then…"

—

[Select one.]

>"...Stop preparing to die."

>"...Do it properly."

>"...Act with the appropriate conviction."

>Write-in.

[3/3]

>>5223937
>"...Stop preparing to die."

The future should not be crippled by the fear of it. Caution is good but to much will destroy ones own chances of Living.... not just surviving.

Allow me to briefly explain the significance of your decision.

You could have embraced the comfort of a lie, one day turning dreams into reality.

Instead, you refused to compromise on the truth. You chose to confront and overcome the world in its unwholesome entirety.

Both paths are equally acceptable. There was no right or wrong choice. In my notes for the expected progression of this Quest, this scene would have laid the groundwork for some of ???'s initial abilities once you finally received it. Now you've got a very early start, though, so uh. Have fun! also Harrison totally sees you as a reliable big brother now lol

>>5223937
>>"...Stop preparing to die."

>>5223937
>>"...Stop preparing to die."

>>5223937
>"...Reflect in your past, live the present, and reach a future where happiness awaits if you fight for it, no matter the situation, live with no regrets."

>>5223937
>"...Stop preparing to die."

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>"...Stop preparing to die."

As soon as the words leave your mouth, you fight the urge to cover your face. In an occupation like this, acknowledging the likelihood of one's mortality is the responsible thing to do. Hell, even a normal person has to consider life insurance and freak accidents. Being alive means death is around the corner at any moment.

"No, wait–I meant to say stop expecting that you'll die. It's smart to prepare, but… Ah, damnit."

You finally give in and bury your face in your hands. Harrison lets out a weak chuckle before tentatively rubbing your back.

"I… think I understand. I shouldn't let my fears control me, then?"

"Yes! That. That's what I meant to say." After a moment, you frown. "Sounds like a fortune cookie when you put it like that, though."

The agent offers a half-hearted smile. "Similarly, it's something easier said than done, sir."

You shrug. "True enough, but I'm sure you've got people to help you with it. Don't doubt for a second that you're alone in your fears. Ask your squadmates; they can help."

There's a brief pause as she tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear. In a quiet voice that doesn't seem to fit her, she asks you the question you were waiting for.

"...Can I ask you for help as well?"

"Anytime."

[1/?]

You straighten your shoulders before taking Harrison's hands in your own. She doesn't resist.

"Listen, on the topic of your team; do you mind if I come to the memorial? I'd like to get to know them before I accept your offer. Pay my respects to the dead too, of course."

She dips her head in acceptance, and you let out a sigh of relief.

"Great. Thanks. Sorry if I'm intruding."

"Hardly." More quietly, she adds, "Thank you for still considering me, sir."

"I did say it wasn't a refusal. What, did you think I was lying?"

She cracks a grin. "I job-hunted for a little while before entering the military. That line is standard fare in rejection letters."

"Hah. Fair enough."

An easygoing quiet replaces the tense air of before, and you take the opportunity to settle into your surprisingly comfortable seat. Though Valentine is no longer trying to garrote your leg now that your little scene is over, it's another few minutes before you feel anything more than prickling numbness.

Damn, you're lucky there wasn't anyone around to watch you two. You don't think your heart could handle it.

After a moment to rest and reset your thoughts, you clap your hands together with a little too much force.

"So!"

Val flinches and Harrison blinks, drawing a little cough of embarrassment from you before you continue.

"Have you ever thought about becoming an Attendant instead? Is that something you can just do?"

Harrison gives you an incredulous look.

"I'm quite alright with being a soldier, sir. An Attendant's life is easily two or three times as stressful as mine, even with their benefits and budget. Even ignoring the fact that you have to be recommended for entry, I'd rather not end up on the Protectorate's list of candidates."

Well, shit.

The agent laughs at the expression on your face.

[2/?]

Over the course of the next 20 or so minutes, you watch as Glaswelt Base comes to life. Early-birds dressed in uniform trudge through the streets as they head to their respective stations, and more than a few come on board. Valentine gets some looks, but far less than you'd expect.

You're taken aback for a moment by how quickly the once-empty bus fills up–even seated, Valentine ends up pressing herself against you. By all rights, it's still quite early in the day. Then, after some thought, you realize that not everyone here is a day-shift worker.

You can tell by the slight sagging of their shoulders, the weariness at the edges of their eyes. Oddly enough, though, you feel as if they still carry a faint sense of pride in their work, whatever it may be.

…How strange. You've never really been one to guess at the emotions of others.

As the bus hits a speedbump, you put the thought out of your mind. A glance at your phone informs you that you'll soon be reaching your destination, and you stand up as you prepare to disembark.

Harrison stands with you, and you shoot her a questioning look. She shrugs by way of response, then leans in to whisper in your ear.

"Got a day off. Thought I'd stick around and watch you for a bit, unless you'd like for me to go."

"I'm just heading to my physical training class. Not sure if they allow visitors, but feel free to tag along if they do."

"Oh? That works out for me, too. I've always wanted to see what kind of regimen they put Attendants through."

An automated voice cuts the conversation short, announcing your arrival at "Leo Field One." At that, a surprisingly large number of passengers rise to depart–more than half the people present, accompanied by the appropriate clamor of heavy bags and swishing clothes.

You have to hold Valentine close to you in order to avoid losing her in the densely-packed swarm. She squirms a bit, but settles down once you've waddled off the bus, Harrison following close behind.

Once you get your bearings, you can't help but give a low whistle at the sight of Field One. Rather than being one superstructure, the area is broken up into several stadiums of impressive size, with a few of the more mundane buildings off to the side.

A few members of the crowd break away, evidently here for different reasons, but that still leaves a healthy 40 or so people milling about. Valentine isn't the only Alice here, either; you spot a few regular-looking children, but those with minor mutations have them outnumbered by far. Only one of them appears to be unaccompanied.
All that said though, they're the minority of your group, making up barely a quarter of the people present.

You check the time, Harrison peering over your shoulder. You're early–little less than half an hour until class starts.

[3/4]

[Select one.]

>Wander around a bit, see what the other buildings are like. You've got a bit of fondness for architecture, though it's purely amateur. A bit of time away from the crowd wouldn't hurt, either.

>Socialize! No time like the present to make new friends. Or talk to old ones. "Old" being used loosely, that is.

[Who do you talk to? Select up to two. Feel free to suggest a different topic if you come up with one.]

>>Harrison. You'd like to prepare yourself before meeting her squadmates later; what can she tell you about them? What are they like?

>>Valentine. Judging by the fact that your leg is still numb, she was probably a little uncomfortable listening to you and Harrison talk earlier. Is this something you should apologize for? You're not really sure.

>>Walk up to the unaccompanied Alice. Looks like people are avoiding the girl for whatever reason. There's a bit of a lonely look on her face. …What? You're not nosy, just curious!

>>Hold on a second. Is that… Takeo? You can't say you expected to see him here. He seemed a bit on the waifish side of things. You should greet him; it's the polite thing to do, and like Lina said, you should probably get to know him better before you make any judgements.

[4/4]

>>5227098
>Socialize! No time like the present to make new friends. Or talk to old ones. "Old" being used loosely, that is.

>>Hold on a second. Is that… Takeo? You can't say you expected to see him here. He seemed a bit on the waifish side of things. You should greet him; it's the polite thing to do, and like Lina said, you should probably get to know him better before you make any judgements.

>>Harrison. You'd like to prepare yourself before meeting her squadmates later; what can she tell you about them? What are they like?

Blah. Alright, I'm not 100% on how I paced that Harrison scene. It's probably been like some 20k-30k words since she last appeared, so I'd like to hear your thoughts on her or if you remember her at all. I'm a little worried about encountering character bloat, so I generally try to reuse characters.
sure hope you guys didn't forget about Viktor and Dmitri

>>5227103
>sure hope you guys didn't forget about Viktor and Dmitri

How could we forget about Best Boy and his Boy Toy ;) They were brothers and the ones that recommended Jack and got him into the problem in the first place.
Harrison seems fine to me. Relatively consistent i think at least considering that the last time we met her it was under heavy fire first from a living Railgun and then from a Beast. I think anyone could be a bit stressed out by that.

>>5227098
>>Socialize! No time like the present to make new friends. Or talk to old ones. "Old" being used loosely, that is.

>>Valentine. Judging by the fact that your leg is still numb, she was probably a little uncomfortable listening to you and Harrison talk earlier. Is this something you should apologize for? You're not really sure.
>>Walk up to the unaccompanied Alice. Looks like people are avoiding the girl for whatever reason. There's a bit of a lonely look on her face. …What? You're not nosy, just curious!

>>5227098

>Socialize! No time like the present to make new friends. Or talk to old ones. "Old" being used loosely, that is.

>>Hold on a second. Is that… Takeo? You can't say you expected to see him here. He seemed a bit on the waifish side of things. You should greet him; it's the polite thing to do, and like Lina said, you should probably get to know him better before you make any judgements.

>>Harrison. You'd like to prepare yourself before meeting her squadmates later; what can she tell you about them? What are they like?

>>5227107
>I think anyone could be a bit stressed out by that.
yep i agree

>>5227103
i wonder where they are. Probably on a mission ?

>Socialize! No time like the present to make new friends. Or talk to old ones. "Old" being used loosely, that is.
>>Takeo.
>>Harrison.

With nothing better to do, you turn to talk to Harrison. May as well get an idea of what your future team is like.

"So, about your squadmates. Anything I should know about them before we meet tonight? A rundown of their roles and the like, if you would."

Unexpectedly, the agent lets out a half-laugh, half-sigh. There's an odd expression on her face, equal parts exasperation and affection.

"Anything you should know? More than you'd think. T-they're all good men, of course. Reliable." Almost as an afterthought, she mutters, "Even if they don't always act like it."

You frown a little. "...What do you mean by that?"

She pats you on the back, but remains silent. This doesn't do much to comfort you. After a moment of contemplation, you give a mental shrug and let it go. You'll get to see for yourself at the end of the day either way.

"Right. Where should I begin…? You said you didn't know anything about the Defense Hall, correct?"

"Afraid so."

"I guess that means you also don't know how the Protectorate's military structure works, then. Let's begin from there."

She takes a breath, then launches into an incredibly elaborate explanation rife with jargon that leaves your head spinning. Maybe you wouldn't be so lost if you had some experience in a related field.

A few minutes into the speech, Valentine tugs on the operator's sleeve, forcing Harrison to pause. Your Alice puts a palm to her forehead, her eyes squeezed shut, and in a plaintive tone, puts to voice what you couldn't find an opportunity to say.

"Start again, please. With smaller words. My head's about to explode."

Harrison has the self-awareness to give an embarrassed, apologetic cough.

"Sorry. Kinda forgot that not everyone went through basic training. I'll just… skip past all that, then. You'll probably learn the details in your actual Attendant courses."

Great. Studying. Your old nemesis. You feel like you're 20 again, but in all the wrong ways.

Deaf to your laments, Harrison starts again.

"I'll just tell you about the squad itself. Well, to start with, there's five people in ours, including me. The Protectorate tends to sortie with smaller squads, since most operations end up being urban. Used to be six of us, but we… lost our medic a while back. Didn't know him well, myself, but the other guys were pretty torn up about it."

[1/?]

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"Smith, Bernard and I make up the riflemen. Sadie is our demolitions expert. He's a bit sensitive about his name - his parents were expecting a girl - so we just call him Sam. Greene is our leader.

Smith cheats at cards. Don't play for bets with him. His puns are atrocious, too. All things considered though, he's a hell of a crack shot. Reliable in a fight.

Bernard is our newest member. He's, uh, scared of me, I think. I have no idea why. Likes to sleep… And that's all I can really say about him, since he never really talks to me. Always chokes up when I try.

Sam… Well, other than his complex about his name, he's probably the most normal of us all. Barring me, of course. That's a good thing–I have a friend in another squad who's bomb techie is way too trigger-happy with his PTSD.

Greene's a mother hen and has a bit of a thing about Alices. Absolutely wouldn't let that get in the way of a job, too professional for that, but it's worth mentioning.

Finally, there's me. Schmidt. The others don't really speak German, so they just call me Harrison. I'm the only woman on the team."

Valentine folds her arms, though the swishing of her tail belies her feelings. "Not for long."

"Val, you're 16. I wouldn't really call you a woman–Ow, okay, I deserved that, but please stop kicking my shin."

As you nurse your bruised ankle, you think over Harrison's description of her team.
The only response you can really come up with is "I thought the Protectorate was supposed to be stringent in its recruitment." Wisely, you decide to keep your mouth shut on that. Instead, you go with something nice and safe.

"Sounds like fun."

Harrison lets out a sigh of relief at your words, shoulders visibly sagging.

"Oh, thank God. I was worried you'd think that we were a bunch of… Well, idiots."

"No, no! Not at all." Yes, it's a good thing you kept quiet.

[2/?]

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You desperately cast about for a change in topic. Just as you're about to start discussing the weather, you lock eyes with a certain man in a dress.

Wait, no, a hakama. Harrison's earlier line stuck with you. You're just really on a roll here, aren't you? Good thing there aren't any mind readers around.
The unaccompanied Alice flinches.
Setting your stray thoughts aside, you raise your hand in greeting. Takeo pauses, as if to take in your features, then offers a nod in return. To your surprise, he actually begins approaching you, his old-fashioned suitcase close at hand. Valentine takes a few steps behind you as he nears, but doesn't do much else.

"Trainee Yang. I see you're here with your Alice."

"Valentine, yeah. Have to say, I didn't expect you to be taking PT with us."

The Attendant furrows his brow. "Maintaining a certain level of physical ability is as important as breathing. Either way, I must correct you on one thing; I am here as an assistant trainer. Being an Attendant, this class has little to offer me. Not at this level."

As you digest that, he glances over at Harrison. "You–I recognize you. One of the soldiers stationed here, correct? This class is always open to newcomers, though some advance notice would be appreciated."

The agent gives a sheepish smile. "Sorry. Was a sudden thing."

"Something to keep in mind for the future, then."

With a single hand, Takeo adjusts his glasses, pushing them back up with a tap. He focuses his gaze on you with no small amount of intensity.

"That aside… Trainee Yang. Though you seem to be in fair health, it wouldn't do to push yourself overmuch. I imagine last night was taxing for you, as someone yet uninitiated."

"It was exciting, to say the least. Hopefully it doesn't set a precedent for what to expect."

"Hm. No, I imagine you won't have to deal with such threats again for some time–not until you have become a fully-fledged Attendant."

You let out a weak laugh. "I hope you're right. Doubt I'll be able to handle something like that any time soon. Wouldn't mind it if I had nothing but quiet days."

Takeo gives you an appraising look.

"You underestimate yourself. The reports I received of your actions last night speak well of your determination, though less so of your regard for safety. Still, keeping several Alices in check on your first outing is a respectable feat. There is a reason we tend to avoid partnering an Attendant with more than one of their kind."

[3/4]

[Select one.]

>In his own way, it seems like he's trying to show he cares. It's awkward, and he doesn't really seem to know how to give a compliment, but you'll accept it for what it is. "You know, Arthur said something similar–I can't say I know what you two see in me, but thanks. Still, credit goes to Val and the others."

>Agh. There's surely a better way to go about this, but you just can't really let it go. Arthur's story is still stuck in your head. "Listen–I can't say I know anything about your circumstances, but Valentine really isn't that bad… Graverobbing aside, anyway. I'd appreciate it if you treated her a little better."

>Write-in.

[4/4]

>>5229230
>In his own way, it seems like he's trying to show he cares. It's awkward, and he doesn't really seem to know how to give a compliment, but you'll accept it for what it is. "You know, Arthur said something similar–I can't say I know what you two see in me, but thanks. Still, credit goes to Val and the others."
>>5224257
ID changed.

>>5229230
>>In his own way, it seems like he's trying to show he cares. It's awkward, and he doesn't really seem to know how to give a compliment, but you'll accept it for what it is. "You know, Arthur said something similar–I can't say I know what you two see in me, but thanks. Still, credit goes to Val and the others."

>>5229230
>In his own way, it seems like he's trying to show he cares. It's awkward, and he doesn't really seem to know how to give a compliment, but you'll accept it for what it is. "You know, Arthur said something similar–I can't say I know what you two see in me, but thanks. Still, credit goes to Val and the others.

You're all very brave, directly comparing him to someone whose guts he hates. It's very fitting for Jack's foot-in-mouth character. It'll be a while yet before that stops, I guess.

Apologies for the delay. A little worn out, and I think I've managed to give myself carpal tunnel based on this nonstop aching in my wrist. Can't really concentrate on writing like this.

Thank you for your patience. Expect an update later today.

>>5230498
np

>>5230498
take care not to overdo it. and give your wrist a rest. You do deserve it.

>>5230498
Bro stop jacking off

>>5230498
Try pressing both edges of your wrist to pop it as a common source of wrist pain and may loosen a pinched nerve

Thanks for the advice! The pain seems to have lessened a fair amount. I guess drawing, writing, and playing rhythm games all at once put a little too much stress on me.
Your patience is much appreciated. Update will drop soon.

>In his own way, it seems like he's trying to show he cares.

Valentine's grip on your clothes tightens a little. Confused, you glance down at her, only to receive a frustrated glare. Somehow, you can tell it's not aimed at you, though that isn't much comfort when your Alice is still visibly annoyed.

Rather than clarify her thoughts, she shakes her head and looks away, leaving you to respond to Takeo's words of encouragement. Caught off guard, you say the first thing that comes to mind.

"You know, Arthur said something similar–I can't say I know what you two see in me, but thanks. Still, credit goes to Val and the others."

The Attendant's reaction is subtle. There's a brief tightening at the corners of his eyes when you mention Arthur's name, and a moment too late, you recall their unfortunate tendency to butt heads.

Still, Takeo has the good grace to let it slide without comment. With a nod, he accepts your words for what they are.

Your conversation is interrupted by the sight of three more buses pulling up to the stop, depositing a crowd of trainees nearly three times the size of your own.

"Hm. 90… No, 120 students. Next week should be half that, then. If you'll excuse me."

Takeo briefly nods in your direction, then moves to corral the newcomers. There's a strange grace to his movements, an effect enhanced by his admittedly exotic outfit. Each step is taken with confidence and purpose, and you manage to glimpse four other individuals that carry themselves with a similar presence, one of whom is accompanied by an Alice of his own. The other teachers, you assume.

You're taken aback for a moment at the sheer size of the class; Harrison appears used to it, and you're no stranger to crowds, but Valentine looks ready to bolt. Placing a hand on her head seems to soothe her a bit, but it's clear that she's got a lot on her mind.

The time for talking is over, though, and the three of you are soon swept along with the rather quiet crowd. Too early in the morning for much chatter, it seems.

A shadow passes over your group as you approach Leo Field One. You're guided past the entrance and through a series of security scanners. There's a surprisingly large number of armed agents patrolling the area, though they pass without comment.

It makes sense; security must have been increased after last night, though where they got the necessary manpower from is beyond you. If there wasn't so much space dedicated to the Research Wing, you'd think at least three-fourths of Glaswelt's population was some kind of military force.

I-it's not, though, right? That'd be absurd. More firepower than anyone could possibly need.

[1/?]

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>>5231413
Forgot the image!

An unfamiliar voice draws you from your thoughts.

"Divide yourselves into groups of three; human men, human women, and Alices. Men to the left wall, women to the right, and Alices up front with me."

The speaker is a musclebound man accompanied by a young girl, his already-booming voice amplified several times over by the red megaphone in his hand.

Under the none-too-gentle guidance of your teachers, you're separated from Harrison and a mildly-panicking Valentine. In the few seconds you have left, you lean down to whisper in her ear.

"You'll be fine."

You give her hand a comforting squeeze, but before she can respond, you're pulled away.

A difference in group size is immediately noticeable. Harrison included, there's only about 20 women present. The Alices make up barely more than half that, filing themselves into two rows of six under the stone-faced glare of their instructor and his equally-grim partner. For a few brief moments, you tense at the sight of Val's halo pulsing erratically from the back–then, it settles down.

Unfortunately, you don't have the leisure to continue observing. The men are further divided into four groups of 22, with yours coincidentally led by Takeo. Idle curiosity has you trying to see who else might be an Attendant, but nothing of note stands out to you.

One by one, your measurements are taken. A bundle of dark green clothing is passed to you, with you and your fellows directed to a dimly-lit changing room. Within are row after row of steel-grey lockers, plastic benches lined up before them.

A connected restroom with its door ajar remains dark and empty. On the opposite wall is a larger gate, an exit sign hanging above it.

It's difficult to shake the odd feeling of being placed in a factory line. Thoroughly filed and organized, you're not sure whether you can pin the locker room's silent atmosphere on early-morning sobriety alone.

As the last of you enter the room, Takeo steps in, closing the door behind him. He surveys you all, then shakes his head.

"Well? Get dressed. Your IDs will key themselves to your lockers until you use them again. Keep them on your person."

A few glances are unavoidable, but no one voices an objection. The room is briefly filled with the sound of clothes rustling, zippers opening, and electronic locks beeping.

Once you're all done, Takeo lets out a noise of dissatisfaction.

"Five minutes to change. Unacceptable. By the end of this week, you'll either finish in two or head out in your underwear."

With that, he opens the gate. Morning light floods the room, causing more than a few people to shield their eyes. His voice utterly devoid of emotion, your teacher begins explaining your expected routine for the rest of the week.

[2/3]

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"You are expected to arrive here every morning at 6 o' clock, sharp. Late arrivals will be given additional duties. We will enter the field by 6:15. Wait in this room until then.

Today will be an easy day. We'll simply be testing your physical capabilities, then run you through a pleasant warm-up routine."

Though it's well into summer, a small chill runs down your back at the image he cuts. Against the light, his body is reduced to a black outline, and the details of his face are barely visible.

Despite this, you can't miss the small smile that touches his lips.

"I expect half of you to drop out after this week. Another half will leave before this month is over. Of the quarter that remains, many will be here out of necessity rather than personal decision. All the same, every last one of those men can carry themselves with a little more pride."

The Attendant spins on his heel, then marches out the room. Just before he leaves, though, he calls over his shoulder.

"Do try to keep up."

…For some reason, Emily's face flashes across your mind.

Is this place just full of sadists?

[I request 4 separate rolls of 1d20+5 for Jack. For Valentine, make that 5 rolls of 3d40, taking the lowest value of the three for all rolls except the last.]

[3/3]

This is still a narratively-driven Quest. Hard stats will not be a thing, as I have little ability in number crunching and have no good way to quantify many of these variables. This is simply a test of your strength, endurance, flexibility, and agility/reflexes. Alices have their own additional, hidden factor.

Yeah, Val's kinda the runt of the litter, kek.

Rolled 7 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>5232957

Rolled 25, 15, 35 = 75 (3d40)

>>5232957

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>5232957

I should probably clarify that these rolls will be stacked on top of what Jack already has. Wouldn't make sense to characterize him as being fairly strong, then roll a 1 on his strength.
Yes, [i]this[/i] is the additional change to your body. Aren't you happy? Don't ask about the side effects.
Val, though, she's rolling from scratch, poor girl.
Either way, don't feel too sore about low rolls.

Rolled 9 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>5232957

Rolled 1 + 5 (1d20 + 5)

>>5232957
Jack's role

Rolled 15, 13, 11 = 39 (3d40)

>>5232957
Val's role

>>5233172
God fucking dammit, I shouldn't have rolled that one

Rolled 1, 13, 35 = 49 (3d40)

3 more rolls for Valentine. In the interest of speeding things up, I'll do a few, myself. In case you don't know how to roll, just type dice+3d40 into the options box.

>>5233317
>1 flexibility
Valentine has fucking arthritis lmao

Rolled 11, 34, 25 = 70 (3d40)

Rolled 10, 28, 18 = 56 (3d40)

>>5233317

Alright, let's tally this all up.
In order... Strength, endurance, flexibility, and agility/reflexes, with an extra number for Val's ???.
JACK: 12, 17, 14, 6
VAL: 15, 11, 1, 11, 56
Jack's now twice as strong as he used to be, with nearly three times as much stamina and the flexibility of a gymnast to match. His reflexes and speed have improved a fair bit compared to before, but still can't keep up with Lily-Beast's tentacles at their maximum momentum, or with Arthur putting a decent amount of effort into things.

Valentine got some minor boosts when compared to her human form, but still remains nowhere near the level of a fit adult. Unfortunately, she's also about as flexible as tempered steel. Attempting to touch her toes would probably put her in a wheelchair. Her control is pretty insane, though–at least, relative to a normal Alice. Guess that's a benefit to being one of the haha you thought I'd actually say something useful.

Writing the update!

A moment passes with a few uncertain glances shared between your peers. Still, your group soon follows after Takeo, stepping past the gate and into the field beyond.

Immediately, Takeo begins to bark out orders.

"Line up single file, one meter of space between you and the next person. 25 jumping jacks. Begin."

None of you need to be told twice. With your daily efforts to stay in shape, these movements are second nature. You move with clockwork precision, extraneous thoughts fading as you transition into the focused mindset necessary for a proper workout. For a brief second, you register the sight of other groups filing out into the shared field–then you're back on track.

For the next few minutes, Takeo leads you all through a fairly vanilla warm-up routine, mixing in stretches taken straight out of your school days. What works, works, though. You can't complain.

By the end of it, you're left… completely fine, surprisingly enough. Your breath is as stable as ever; it doesn't even feel like your heart rate increased. Unfortunately, the same can't be said for everyone in your group.

You notice the barest beads of sweat beginning to form on their scalps, the flare of nostrils as they try to hide their panting breaths. For a moment, you think you can even hear their heartbeat, a subtle thudding that moves in rhythm.

There's no way that's possible, of course. It's simply a delusion. Your hearing is good for your age, but nothing remains perfect forever.

Takeo gives your more out-of-shape peers a few seconds to catch their breath, then barks out his next order.

"Strength testing begins now. 3 minutes of push-ups, as many as you can."

Keeping it simple, huh? You don't voice aloud your thoughts, of course; you like your head in one piece.

You fall into the same motions you've done for most of your life; palms flat, bending your elbows and lowering yourself to the point where your chest nearly touches the floor, then raising yourself again in one smooth motion.

The world seems to fade away as you work. Training is a habit that's become almost meditative for you.

You haven't had the chance to do this for a while. Between meeting Valentine, catching your flight, and the attack on the base, there just hasn't been time.

Being able to catch up on it now is relieving, in a way. Pushing yourself, exerting yourself… It allows you to examine recent events with a sort of detached tranquility. You study your fears, your shortcomings, and you think about what you can do to improve.

–With a start, you realize that you've gone well past your previous max set. Nothing stood out to tell you when it had happened, which is what drew your attention in the first place.

In the next half-minute, you beat your old record into the ground. Despite that, you still feel fine. Your breath comes a little faster and there's a bit of a burn in your arms, but it's nowhere near what you should be feeling.

"Enough."

[1/?]

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Takeo's voice is punctuated by the beeping of an alarm. You push off the ground and get to your feet, feeling no worse for wear.

On your left, a dark-skinned youth visibly side-eyes you. He leans in for a conspiratorial whisper as the Attendant makes some notes.

"What on Earth are you eating, man? That was 150 push-ups in 3 minutes."

Taken aback by his claim, you can't help but blink owlishly for a bit.

"Was it? I wasn't really counting…"

He gives you a look of disbelief that quickly turns into a knowing smile.

"Ah, I see. An undercover Attendant or something, I'm guessing? This is a part of the test, yeah? I thought you looked too old for this."

You stare as the man gives a self-assured nod. Before you can come up with a suitable response, Takeo issues his next command, forcing the two of you to face forward.

"2-mile run around the track. Fast as you can. That's roughly 8 laps."

You don't have time to worry about either your newfound strength or your neighbor's misconception. A preparatory grimace on your face, you quickly work out a rhythm to your breathing that you can hopefully maintain.

Cardio. You hate it.

–Halfway through your run, you come to the uncanny realization that you don't feel tired in the slightest. For the first time in years, you're not sweating bullets from a steady summer jog.

Something isn't right here.

Out of the corner of your eye, you watch as your peers pass you by. Though you're still solidly in the top half of your group, your chosen speed was meant to account for your previous understanding of your limits.

Granted, it's now apparent that said understanding is no longer reliable.

Though you're deep in thought, you're aware enough to realize as the man from before sprints past you. He has a runner's build, slim and long-legged without looking like a stick. If memory serves, this must be his sixth lap.

For a second, he turns his head to look back at you.

Then the cheeky bastard winks before speeding up.

The thought that you might be able to go even faster strikes you like a bolt from the blue.

[Select one.]

>Fuck it, you'll meet his challenge. You can put 2 and 2 together--there's very little doubt in your mind that this is related to whatever Papa did to you… But this is a test, isn't it? You want to study your new limits; Rafael can cover you. He's sure to appreciate the mew information, besides.

>Haha, no. You've already slipped up once. You don't want to call any more attention to yourself than absolutely necessary, though the push-ups might have killed any chance of that happening.

>Speeding up a little can't hurt, can it? You won't push yourself to whatever your new limits are, but picking up the pace should be easy enough to pass off as just saving up for the last spurt. Really, though, you could just call it... a youthful indiscretion.

>Write-in.

[2/2]

>>5235393
>Fuck it, you'll meet his challenge. You can put 2 and 2 together--there's very little doubt in your mind that this is related to whatever Papa did to you… But this is a test, isn't it? You want to study your new limits; Rafael can cover you. He's sure to appreciate the mew information, besides.
PUSH IT TO THE LIMIT!

>>5235393
>>Fuck it, you'll meet his challenge. You can put 2 and 2 together--there's very little doubt in your mind that this is related to whatever Papa did to you… But this is a test, isn't it? You want to study your new limits; Rafael can cover you. He's sure to appreciate the mew information, besides.

>>5235393
>Fuck it, you'll meet his challenge. You can put 2 and 2 together--there's very little doubt in your mind that this is related to whatever Papa did to you… But this is a test, isn't it? You want to study your new limits; Rafael can cover you. He's sure to appreciate the mew information, besides.

well Jack already is an odd ball.... so yeah. lets make him a legend.

>mew information
You are now a catboy. Forgive me; this was not my intention, but it is out of my hands.

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>>5235754
At least Jack could very well be ripped then later on.

Unless he was turned into some type of Alice or something like Papa dearest mentioned during the confrontation that many of the side effects had been removed by now

>>5235393
>Speeding up a little can't hurt, can it? You won't push yourself to whatever your new limits are, but picking up the pace should be easy enough to pass off as just saving up for the last spurt. Really, though, you could just call it... a youthful indiscretion.

>>5235393
>Push it to the limit walk along the razor's edge, keep your calm don't lose your head

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>Fuck it, you'll meet his challenge. You can put 2 and 2 together--there's very little doubt in your mind that this is related to whatever Papa did to you… But this is a test, isn't it? You want to study your new limits; Rafael can cover you. He's sure to appreciate the mew information, besides.

At the sight of his retreating back, something within you bares its teeth.

Damn whippersnappers, thinking the whole world belongs to them.

Unbidden, a smile comes to your face. You feel your heart begin to pound in a way that has nothing to do with your current pace, stirring up a competitive spirit that you haven't touched since your college days.

Medschool was hard. All the same, you graduated top of your class.

That said, even you can recognize that your current idea doesn't reflect your intelligence. Drawing any more attention to yourself doesn't really sit well with you, and the rational part of your mind is begging for you to stick to a steady pace.

Unfortunately, the wind screaming in your ears is drowning out its pleas.

It'll be fine, won't it? Harrison said it herself; Attendants just can't avoid being flashy. What's the shame in being abnormal? Ever since you hopped in Viktor's car… No, the moment you decided to personally yank Valentine out of the ground, you knew your life would never be the same.

This is just doubling down on that. Worst comes to worst, you can just blame Papa.

–That's enough excuses. Time to put your money where your mouth is, Jack.

Your next step is delivered with such force, you're almost afraid of leaving cracks in the racetrack. Any concerns over stamina are thrown to the wayside as you propel yourself forward with newfound strength. That kid is two, almost three laps ahead of you; if you want to catch up before he finishes, you can't afford to wait.

To your eyes, the world around you seems to blur. Your sights are locked onto the back of that kid's sleeveless shirt, which grows closer with every step you take.

You're a tall guy - taller than your father, even - and you're putting every last one of those inches to good use. As you throw your entirety into running, the distance between you and your quarry disappears in what feels like seconds. You slow down just enough to enjoy the way he looks back, confused, and the dawning comprehension that follows when you pass him before he can even register you.

Then you're off again like a bullet, eating up track at an ungodly pace. Though you almost trip over yourself a few times, you just barely manage to recover without embarrassing yourself overmuch.

You weave through the winded and the slow, twisting your body in ways that you would never have been able to pull off just two days ago.

God, you feel so young. 39 isn't that old, but waking up without any of your accumulated aches felt like losing a 50-pound weight. You don't feel like you're nearly 40, you feel 14.

You might just make running a habit, now.

[1/?]

You're almost tempted to let out whoop as you pass by the dark-skinned man again. You don't bother slowing down to appreciate the look of shock on his face–but you definitely can't stop the fierce smile that forms when you watch him lean forward to try and match your pace.

A blue sky beckons. Whatever clouds there were have been burned away by the summer sun. Accompanying this heat is the rhythmic beat of sneakers hitting the earth, a perfect match for the drumming in your chest.

Having held a dead sprint for the past three-and-a-half laps, it comes as little surprise when your seemingly-endless stamina begins to run dry. All things considered, even if you're a fair bit faster than you used to be, it's still within the upper end of human limits.

You and the youth simultaneously reach the 8th and final lap. Somehow, the kid still has the energy to speak to you, even if it's between panting breaths. There's a fire in his eyes, something that the sweat dripping off of the two of you couldn't hope to put out.

"Hah–! Goddamn, you're fast for your age!"

You fire off a grin of your own. You can respect a good opponent, even if he had a head start on you.

"What, regret challenging me?"

Is this what they call a runner's high?

"Not–for a second!"

It's refreshing.

You were a workaholic for most of your life. You never really kept in touch with your school friends, and what few relations you had in adulthood were work-related. Nick - your coworker at the cemetery - was an alright guy, but he's more or less your only friend.

Simply put, such things didn't fit into your schedule. Or rather, you never bothered to organize around them.

Not once did you ever regret it, though. It was the price you paid to get so far, and you made sure to get your money's worth at the end of it all. Besides, with your family so close by, you were never wanting for human interaction.

Right now, though, you think you can understand what you missed out on in your youth.

"Alright, punk. What's your name? Can't keep calling you kid in my head."

Here and now is the chance to experience it for yourself.

"Ahaha! 'Kid,' he says! You really are old!"

"You've got five seconds before you stay 'kid' forever."

"Ooh, scary. I'm Amit! Pleasure to meet you."

"Likewise. I'm Jack."

The two of you stop your chatter for a moment, breath coming hot and hard as you pump your legs for all they're worth.

The finish line's in sight, and damnit, you want to win this little race of yours.

[I want 3 rolls of 1d10+3, contesting my own. Good luck.]

[2/2]

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Rolled 11 (1d15)

>>5237749
Forgot image again! Fuck!

Rolled 9, 14 = 23 (2d15)

>>5237750
This was supposed to be a 3d15! Double fuck! I blame my crippling back pain. Serious advice, make sure you sleep in the right position. I've had some awful muscle cramps the whole day, bad enough that I might not have been able to get out tonight's update without having written most of it already. Yikes.

Rolled 8, 10, 7 = 25 (3d10)

>>5237756
No worries mate, hope you feel better soon.

Rolled 9, 15, 11 = 35 (3d15)

>>5237749

Rolled 1, 8, 7 = 16 (3d10)

>>5237749

Rolled 11, 2, 10 = 23 (3d15)

>>5237749

3 separate rolls of 1d10+3! Not 3d10! As in, 3 people rolling a 1d10+3!
Probably should've clarified that each d15 I rolled was the DC you had to beat; a "clash," if you will.

I'll let you guys reroll this time around. He's an ex-Olympic athlete, by the way.

Rolled 7 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>5238060

Rolled 3 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>5238060
High number better

Rolled 3 + 3 (1d10 + 3)

>>5238060

>>5238325
>>5238311
>>5238155
Something tells me we didn’t beat him

>>5238589
An astute observation. Granted, he did have a headstart on you. Update's in the middle of being written.

You're neck-and-neck with Amit. The wind ruffles your hair as it rushes past, gluing your shirt to sweat-slick skin. It's remarkably unpleasant, but as focused as you are, you barely notice it.

It's taking everything you have to not trip over yourself with how far forward you're leaning. The ground beneath you seems to fly away with every bounding step, a far cry from the practiced strides of the boy next to you. Your inexperience is showing.

The boy's eyes are curved along with the smile on his face. To your surprise, despite the exhaustion he must be feeling, Amit manages to speak one last time.

"You're something else, old man. Let's compete again sometime."

Before you can come up with a response, the youth puts on an extra burst of speed. Your eyes widen in shock–

–and you finally trip, pitching headfirst into an ungainly tumble that takes you past the finish line, bare seconds behind your rival. Amit leaps out of the way with a startled yelp that you don't have time to appreciate.

"Woah–!"

You spring to your feet almost instantly, prepared for the stinging burn of scraped skin and badly bruised flesh. Rafael and Jessica probably won't appreciate you collecting new injuries, and even your new acquaintance approaches you with concern.

"You alright there, Jack? Not bleeding or anything, are you? No broken bones?"

"Had worse. I'll be fine."

To your surprise, it's not even a lie. Despite skidding a good few feet across the gravel, you feel more or less intact. A testing probe reveals nothing worse than a light soreness–the greatest injury you suffered was a blow to your pride.

Just how far do these changes to your body extend?

You're taken out of your musings by the sound of Takeo's footsteps, a scowl on his face and a small cloud of talismans fluttering in his wake.

"Raina, 8 minutes and 5 seconds. Yang, 8 minutes and 9 seconds."

"Ooh, beat my old record."

"Reckless."

Takeo's cold voice cuts through Amit's cheer. His talismans deposit a first-aid kit at his feet before streaming back into his leather suitcase.

"This is not a race. Raina, while you may be able to handle placing such stress upon your body, I cannot say the same for Yang… Though at least he isn't vomiting. Surprising."

You wipe the sweat from your brow, finding it difficult to look the shorter man in the eye as he examines you for injuries that aren't there.

The frown on his face only deepens as he looks you over. Thankfully, he turns away before long, folding his arms into his sleeves as he studies the rest of your peers. Over three-quarters of them have yet to finish their 6th lap, but there's a few that are nearly a match for Amit and you.

"I'll speak with you later, Yang."

[1/?]

As he walks away, Amit pokes you in the side.

"Wet blanket, huh?"

"He can probably hear you, you know."

"Geh-! Really? Man, you Attendants…"

With the back of your hand, you wipe away the grit on your face, grimacing all the while. Now that you've got a few minutes to cool your head, it's hard to believe how easily you let your emotions get the better of you.

"Sorry, but I'm only a Trainee."

"Woah, really? With moves like that?"

Amit does a double-take as you fish your ID card out of your pocket. He leans forward to inspect it closely, though you're quite certain he's only doing it for dramatics. Whatever writing is on it is in a perfectly legible font.

"Huh. Same as me, then! Nice, nice."

The boy smacks your back with gusto, drawing a little sigh from you. You had a feeling it was something like that.

"Aw, why the long face? Don't want to work with me?"

"No, it's not you. Just… Falling like that… Damn, it's embarrassing."

"It wasn't that bad. I'd even say it was cool! Not every day you see an old guy doing cartwheels."

There's only one way to respond to that. Despite his best efforts to dodge, you manage to give Amit a playful cuff upside the head. As your fellow Trainee nurses his newfound bump, you turn to look across the field, hoping to spot a certain halo. The distance is too great, though; the most you can make out is something that looks vaguely like equipment being wheeled out.

You hope Val's doing alright. By and large, Alices are supposed to be physical beasts, though from your experience, she's one of the few exceptions to the rule.

As the sun rises further in the sky, you find yourself hoping that schoolyard bullying won't be a thing. You can only see a conflict between Alices ending poorly…

Amit follows your gaze before letting out an understanding nod.

"Looking at the Alices, huh? Yeah, they're pretty nuts. Can't believe there's already, like, 12 of them with us. I heard there were going to be 32 nominees to the Attendant course this year."

You focus your gaze back on the boy, fixing him with a curious look.

"Huh, really? How much do you know?"

The boy waves his hand dismissively.

"Eh, nothing you can't find with a little research. I can tell you that they'll be splitting us up into two classes of 16, but who's who and how they'll be deciding it is beyond me. Hope we land in the same class, though."

Amit gives you a careless grin. Idly, you find yourself wondering how he'd react if you told him you already have an Alice.

[Select one.]

>You're feeling smug. Even if he won your impromptu race, you've at least got this over him.

>No, revenge is a dish best served cold. You'll bide your time to deliver the greatest possible surprise.

[2/2]

Sincerest apologies for the slow period lately. I've been doing a ton of planning for the upcoming arc, but set-up pieces like this are unfortunately unavoidable for an amateur like me... I hope it's not been too boring to read.

>>5239868
>>You're feeling smug. Even if he won your impromptu race, you've at least got this over him.

>>5239868
>You're feeling smug. Even if he won your impromptu race, you've at least got this over him.

>>5239868
>>You're feeling smug. Even if he won your impromptu race, you've at least got this over him

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>You're feeling smug. Even if he won your impromptu race, you've at least got this over him.

…Well, what's the harm? It's not like he won't learn about it later anyways, right?

You'll wait for the right moment, though. The look on his face promises to be gold.

"Hey hey, what's with the smile? Think of something good?"

Seems that among your many changes, hiding your emotions isn't one of them. With that in mind, you allow yourself a little chuckle.

"Sure, something like that. Just thinking about my Alice."

"Ah, yeah. I'm a little nervous, but I can't deny being excited, myself. I mean--powers! That's just cool, isn't it? Shame about all the baggage, but working as an Attendant is the next best thing though, right?"

"Mm." You give a nod of understanding, and Amit flops to the ground, cross-legged. With one hand, he tugs at the collar of his shirt in an attempt to cool down.

"Man, you recover fast. I don't think you're even breathing that hard anymore, Jack."

There's equal parts envy and genuine awe in his voice. Without waiting for a response, he continues.

"I mean, you've gotta be some kind of god-tier athlete. How old are you? 50? I'm a medalist, but you almost beat me. And since you're a Trainee like me, it's not like you underwent surgery or whatever it is that they do to make the real ones so strong."

While you're busy recovering from the unexpected barb on your age, Amit raises his arms in a drawn-out stretch. His next words are idle, delivered in the kind of far-off laziness of a classroom daydream.

"Man, I hope our Alices are strong."

Now's your chance! Acting as coolly as you can, you deliver your response in an off-handed manner.

"Hah. No matter who you get, they won't match up to mine."

"Ahaha! That's the spirit, gramps. A little friendly competition is great. What kinda powers would you like yours to have? Pyromancy? Psychokinesis? I've heard that one of our strongest can do things with gravity."

…He didn't understand.

[1/?]

"--I'm trying to say I've already got an Alice. And I'm only 39, damnit!"

"Woah, really? That's still pretty old, though..."

He responded to the wrong thing, too. What is this feeling of defeat…?

"You're not surprised I have an Alice?"

Amit leans forward, resting his chin on his hand in a typical thinking pose. After a moment, he shrugs.

"Well, I can't deny being a little surprised, but think about it for a second.

Let's assume all 32 of this year's Trainees are taking Basic with us. Unlikely, since statistically speaking some of them have a military history, but for argument's sake we'll pretend it's true.

There are 12 Alices on the field over there, not including the assistant. Being here alone is unlikely, considering the need for constant supervision and their superhuman physique, so it's safe to say that at least 12 of the Trainees here have an Alice.

Taking all that into consideration, there's… Meh, don't want to bother with the fine calcs, but it's a more than a 30% chance that you're one of those lucky folks. I'm not much of a gambler, but those sound like pretty decent odds to me."

…They're simple enough calculations to make, and chaining them together so quickly isn't much to write home about by itself, but being able to put it into practice is quite the skill.

"You're smarter than you look, huh?"

Amit clutches at his heart, affecting a grievous wound.

"So hurtful, Jack! Or would you rather I call you sir? Respecting the elderly and all that."

"You'll do what you want no matter what I say, won't you?"

He laughs by way of response, drawing another heavy sigh from you. Naturally, this only serves to fuel his good cheer. You're going to go bald and die with how much you've been sighing lately.

"Maybe, maybe. Serious question, though. What's your Alice's power? And their name too, I guess. Polite to ask, right?"

"Valentine. And her ability…"

You can't help but grimace, unsure as to how Amit will respond. You're well enough aware that the average person doesn't have the same perspective on death as someone with your experience might.

Still, you're going to be working together in the future. Best to get this over with now, so no one's operating under any misconceptions.

"Her name's Valentine. She's a necromancer."

[2/?]

No update tonight, sorry. Too much work right now, plus feel mildly ill. Will post at regular schedule tomorrow. Thanks for your patience. Also, fuck typos.

>>5242424
All good QM, hope you get better soon.

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To your surprise, Amit doesn't react the way you feared he might. There's no flash of disgust, no stepping back. None of the normal tells.

"Necromancy, huh? Like, from a videogame? Man, that's a messy power."

There's no heat in his words. After a moment of silence, he immediately launches into his next question.

"So, is she cute?"

…You expected to be reviled. Normal people would likely still be disgusted, you're aware, particularly if the bodies you handle end up belonging to their acquaintances.

"Cute? Yes, she's cute."

"Mm, good. That contrast between an old badass and a cute-but-powerful sidekick is one of the best parts of this job."

Amit nods as if he's just said something incredibly wise, completely ignoring the fact that he looks less like an "old badass" and more like a teen model.

"Has there really ever been an ugly Alice…? I mean, Wonderland was originally marketed as some kind of extreme youth-drug beauty product. The degree of mutation tends to make people pretty much unrecognizable."

"Huh, good point. It's usually Beasts that end up looking freaky."

You can't help but shake your head helplessly. What an odd fellow. Not a bad sort though.

Probably.

"3 minutes of rest. I recommend jogging or walking to avoid cramping."

Takeo's voice rings out, pulling your wandering thoughts back to order. Amit and you immediately bring a palm to your foreheads.

"Knew I was forgetting to do something!"

As Amit launches into his cooldown stretches, you take a closer look at the faraway Attendant.

"Is… Is he handing out waterbottles?"

"Shit, really? Why didn't we get any!?"

"I can guess. Want me to grab you one?"

"Sure, thanks."

Takeo eyes you warily as you jog over, but wordlessly passes along two of the bottles to you. It's not any brand you recognize, though it declares itself to be some kind of sports drink. Huh.

[3/?]

Amit raises his hands as you approach. You toss the bottle with an underhand throw, drawing a neat arc in the air before he catches it.

"Appreciated… Huh, the heck is this?"

"No clue."

You twist the cap off with a satisfying click, then knock back a mouthful.

"Huh, not bad. Sort of mildly salty-sweet."

"Reminds me of grapefruit."

Though Amit finishes his share in record time, you only drink about half the bottle. As the athlete tosses his bottle in the recycling bin, Takeo calls out once more.

"Back to work! I'll have you doing abdominal crunches. 3 minutes–begin in nine! Eight! Seven!"

As the slavedriving Attendant counts down the seconds, you and Amit rush back into your positions. There's no point holding back now–you may as well go the full mile, make the record as accurate as possible.

Your resolve firmed, you stretch out on the track.

Time to let loose.

[4/5]

It goes without saying that you handily establish yourself at the top of the class. Once the other groups finish their own tests, all 120 of you gather for a brief recap on what to expect for the rest of the week before dismissal. It appears you'll be divided into new groups based on how well you scored.

Something to look forward to.

Amit waves energetically at a nonplussed Valentine when you point her out to him. Before you can offer introductions, the boy pumps your hand gleefully and makes his escape.

Your surprise doesn't last for long. Takeo's presence is difficult to ignore, especially when he's accompanied by two of the assistant instructors. Judging by the confused glance they share, Takeo hasn't said anything to them.

Damnit, Amit… Ah, well. You can't blame a guy for trying to save his own skin.

Valentine glues herself to your side as the Attendant approaches. A tense silence falls among your group, made worse by the empty space that naturally forms around you all.

Takeo opens his mouth to speak–

"Jack, sir? What's going on…?"

–But is unexpectedly interrupted by Harrison walking up behind you. As soon as she catches sight of him, the agent freezes. You can feel the rising embarrassment as she notices the men flanking Takeo.

"My apologies! I-I'm not bothering anyone, am I?"

The foreigner Attendant waves her off in a way that almost feels disgruntled.

"No. Agent Schmidt, correct? You're dismissed for today. I have something to discuss with Trainee Yang."

To your surprise, the woman doesn't immediately respond. She glances at you, then Valentine, then back to you.

[Select one.]

>Hell, why not? Make it a party. "As a member of my team, I believe she has the right to hear whatever it is we must discuss." Saves you the hassle of explaining things more than once, too.

>You'd rather not drag her into any unnecessary trouble. Besides, you don't get the feeling that Takeo's going to try anything dangerous. "See you tonight then, Harrison. I'll meet you at... Does 3rd Station work for you?"

[5/5]

>>5245012
>You'd rather not drag her into any unnecessary trouble. Besides, you don't get the feeling that Takeo's going to try anything dangerous. "See you tonight then, Harrison. I'll meet you at... Does 3rd Station work for you?"

The womans been through enough already. No reason to pull her into this with Takeo who will likely ask some ponient questions that Jack might not have answers for right now.

>>5245012
>>You'd rather not drag her into any unnecessary trouble. Besides, you don't get the feeling that Takeo's going to try anything dangerous. "See you tonight then, Harrison. I'll meet you at... Does 3rd Station work for you?"

>>5245012
>You'd rather not drag her into any unnecessary trouble. Besides, you don't get the feeling that Takeo's going to try anything dangerous. "See you tonight then, Harrison. I'll meet you at... Does 3rd Station work for you?"

>>5245012
>>You'd rather not drag her into any unnecessary trouble. Besides, you don't get the feeling that Takeo's going to try anything dangerous. "See you tonight then, Harrison. I'll meet you at... Does 3rd Station work for you?"

Unfortunately have a fairly difficult test to study for. Won't be able to update until Friday. Thanks for your understanding, and apologies for the inconvenience. I'll try writing sporadically so I can post a complete update instead of the usual piecemeal things by then, but no promises...

>>5246409
good luck for the test qm

Passing grades are for losers, I'll shit out what I've got right now! Managed to find the time to write a full update somehow.

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>You'd rather not drag her into any unnecessary trouble, and besides, you don't get the feeling that Takeo's going to try anything dangerous. "See you tonight then, Harrison. I'll meet you at the 3rd Academy Station, then?"

Ever-so slightly, you shake your head.

"Harrison. I'll see you tonight. You'll have to pick me up, though; no clue where the memorial is. I'll meet you at… Closest station for me is the Third, I think."

"...Understood. I'll be there by 7."

She doesn't linger. You allow yourself a small sigh of relief–dragging her into this mess is the last thing you want right now.

Takeo turns away, wordlessly motioning for you to follow him. His companions fall back to flank you, which doesn't do much to help the unease stirring in your gut.

With an effort of will, you forcibly calm your breath. If you panic, Val will panic. Besides, it's not like Takeo's going to pull anything in the middle of the base, right? He seems to be a stickler for the rules, after all.

You're still human. To the best of your knowledge, you haven't done anything wrong. Due process and all that.
Who are you trying to convince?
Your interrogator gives a shallow bow to his peers as he opens a door, revealing an unused locker room.

"Please wait outside. This will not take long."

The taller one frowns, then lifts a finger. "Mate, you're gonna have to start explaining some things. I don't mind helping out a coworker, but I want ta know what's going on."

His words come out in a light accent, though the general sentiment is echoed by a quiet nod from the other man.
Takeo doesn't respond immediately. He gives you a long look, then offers a bare nod to the two men.

"I cannot say for certain, myself. If this is about payment, your time shall be valued appropriately."

Tall one lets out a frustrated grunt. "That's not… Gah, whatever. Do what you need to."

"Follow me, Yang. Your Alice, as well."

The door closes behind you. The sense of finality that follows is purely a figment of your imagination, or so you'd like to believe.

Takeo motions to the benches. "You may sit, though this should not take long."

"I'll stand, thanks."

"Very well. I have questions for you."

You resist the urge to fold your arms. "I doubt I have answers."

"Is that a refusal to answer?"

"No, it's not. Full honesty–I'm quite certain I know less than you do, but ask away."

"Hm."

There's a moment of silence as Takeo shuffles around some papers. A focused stare allows you to catch a glimpse of their contents; handwritten copies of how your peers performed, penned with machine-like precision.

The Attendant pulls out two sheets before handing them off to you.

"Your scores are on top. Beneath are hers."
Valentine flinches.

[1/2]

Even though you already know how you did, seeing the numbers laid out before you is gratifying all the same. You allow yourself a little rush of exultation, then rein it in with a reminder that you're here now because you couldn't resist.

Val's scores, on the other hand…

"...Three push-ups?"

"S-shut up!"

Takeo doesn't respond to your little byplay. Unblinking, he pushes the conversation along.

"Her physical abilities are abysmal. Exceedingly rare for an Alice, likely the only one of her kind on this base, but not unheard of. You, on the other hand… Your skills are far beyond a typical civilian's capabilities, much less one of your age."

He steeples his fingers together.

"Explain yourself, Jack Yang. It is only because I acknowledge Amantea's abilities that I am asking you."

The threat is obvious. Oddly, though, you find yourself wondering something.

"I don't see your suitcase. Not going to use your talismans against me?"

Takeo furrows his brow, a flash of Indignation appearing on his face.

"You are not a Beast to be fought and restrained, I should hope. You have done nothing yet to deserve such. Besides–for an opponent of your caliber, my talismans are unnecessary."

For the briefest second, you think you spot the barest hint of a smile. Then the expression on his face smoothes out, returning to the natural frown he seems to wear.

Must've been a trick of the light.

"Big talk for a bunch of paper," Valentine mutters.

[Select one.]

>Get the good doctor to explain. Hopefully Takeo will hold off long enough to accept this.

>You've only got an idea as to what's going on, but he should know that this wasn't your choice. You'll tell him what you know… But first, you want to hear his reason for all this.

>Fuck this. You don't owe shit to him. You've given Takeo enough chances; it's clear that he doesn't deserve any more. He won't try anything on Glaswelt turf.

>"Does Arthur know you have faith in him? Tsundere as fuck, bro."

[2/2]

>>5247496
While as a player i think i have a rough idea what is going on. I do believe that Jack still has either little knowledge or more likely supresses it so he does not have to face the truth.

>Get the good doctor to explain. Hopefully Takeo will hold off long enough to accept this.

>>5247551
>Suppresses it
You have such little faith in him. He's a big boy now, he can handle a little "Ah fuck guess I'm in the service of a foreign god now."
Freebie time? Freebie time!
Wonderland Effect is not what you think it is. It's quite literal, but also not.
Very helpful, I know. if I have my damn way you're not getting advancements as the Hermit until the we're approaching the climax of the 1st-2nd major arc fuck you

>>5247571
Its surprising what the human brain will do to try and convince itself that nothing is out of the ordinary and it is completely fine/normal. But fine. Maybe he is just limited by his three dimensional brain.

Malal is that you? Did you finally get out of Chaos Prison?

>>5247551
Am this guy phone posting

>>5247496
>>Get the good doctor to explain. Hopefully Takeo will hold off long enough to accept this.

>>5247496
>Get the good doctor to explain. Hopefully Takeo will hold off long enough to accept this.

>Takeo does not like Alices
>Maybe getting him to talk to an Alice will help our case
I'm so sad. I'm crushed, even. Are his traits that forgettable?
I mean he's not going to complain about Rafael but you're not gonna raise his bond too high like this
Consider this freebie my apologies for updating so slowly, and also a minor celebration for actually doing okay on the test. also because I want to use the info dump I wrote but I can always work jt in later somehow
I will note that the absolute best option for you to take would be calling him a tsundere. There is no way he would react poorly to that and you will absolutely not encounter a joke Bad-End. You can trust everything I say. Sometimes.

>>5247829
>Takeo does not like Alices
>Maybe getting him to talk to an Alice will help our case

No it wont help with the entire Bond thing.
Getting him to talk to the doctor that treated us after the incident is still probably the best thing that could be done if he wants more than speculation. We can still tell him what Jack knows. And unless whatever that is what is talking to him and giving him insights, wants to chime in to give more information i see little reason for near baseless speculation.

I know your the QM and you know a lot more things. And i can not know if Jack knows anything beyond speculations.

>>5247837
>best thing that could be done if he wants more than speculation.
This is fair, but what about calling him a tsundere
It'll work out for you
Promise
Anyways, I guess now's a good time to ask what your thoughts on things are so far, from characterization to... Honestly, whatever you want. Hopefully I can squeeze in more Valentine, that's what you're all here for, right?
Schizo ramblings are entirely welcome, as I will likely cannibalize them for plot ideas.
In fact, I have already done so. The first person to correctly guess what the fuck I'm on about gets... uh, an Interlude of their choice. Sure, that sounds fine.
And before I forget, thank you all very very much for voting. Made my week when I saw the purple highlight in the archives.

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>>5247857
Calling him a Tsundere sounds like a very good way to get our spine broken Batmanstyle... with Takeo being Bane. Though Jack would probably be not as lucky as to survive.

As for speculation. Is there extreme and i mean like extreme Type of Alicecorruption while they are still Alices? Like Slimeperson, Mushroomperson with all that entails spores and mycelium etc. or is that reserved for Beast Transformations?

Is an Outer God responsible? Fey, Deamons/ Devils? Is this gonna turn into a World of darkness in the future with vampires, werewolfes or similar things?

I still believe that Jack is still operating with pretty little information. Most of the information is gonna be told to us from the future classes and meeting with Harrison and her team. And his own powers.... well that will be what we can probably use Rafaels Help in.

I liked Harrison on the Bus though it was almost painfully obvious what was happening.

Can we talk to the little voice in Jacks Head? Is it gonna be a Character in and of itself? Your earlier spoilers seemed to imply something of a Consciousness..

>>5247869
>a very good way to get our spine broken
Physical abuse domestic violence is one of the hallmarks of a classic tsundere. What's a little spine-snapping between friends?
>extreme Type of Alicecorruption while they are still Alices?
Those are more in line with the first-wave "imperfect" reactions, and even then it was quite rare. They're no longer really a thing with the more recent Alices, and the vast majority of such Alices have become Beasts by now. There's still a few in existence, though.
>Spoiler
I can neither confirm nor deny.
>I still believe that Jack is still operating with pretty little information.
He's had a lot on his mind these past few years and he's never really been one to check the news. What he does know is mostly by osmosis, but you're right, he knows less about current events than the typical glued-to-the-phone teenager. This is partially to make infodumps more natural, since Jack doesn't know things that might be considered relatively common knowledge. That said, there's a good deal that's still blackboxed about Wonderland Effect, hence why Guignol maintains a monopoly on its distribution.
>painfully obvious what was happening
I'm curious, what do you mean by this? There's a lot that was going on in that scene.
>Can we talk to the little voice in Jacks Head?
Entertain me and I might deign to respond.

>>5247829
>I'm so sad. I'm crushed, even. Are his traits that forgettable?
I imagine it is not so much that his traits are forgettable as >>5247837 said that it is the most rational to get real answers as well as Takeo's dislike of Alices seems irrational so better to just ignore it than provoke him.

Well that and also taunting Takeo in general just seems out of character. I mean when has cocky/smug/daring worked out for Jack? We lost the race when challenged (dice gods, sure) then tried to be smug about Val and was rewarded with Amit being dismissive (I'm sure that was to establish Amit's character more than it had to do with us but regardless). I mean our inner monologue on the way over here was "Try not to panic," and to jump from all that to taunting Takeo to his face seems jarring. Where did the confidence come from? Maybe if it was framed more as anger in defense of Val?

>>5247494
>Valentine flinches.
I don't really want to be friends with Takeo

>>5248430
Valentine flinched at her score not due to Takeo's actions

>>5247496
>Get the good doctor to explain. Hopefully Takeo will hold off long enough to accept this.

>>5248430
>Where did the confidence come from? Maybe if it was framed more as anger in defense of Val

Joke vote, if it wasn't obvious. Minor Bad End No. 4. If it was selected, you would've gotten a 1-2 paragraph "premonition of death," then I would've continued writing using the 2nd most popular vote. Would have also accepted people voting twice if they went for the Bad End. I'm okay with writing these kinds of joke votes since they have no real effect on the plot, being Minor; if you'll recall from the first thread, I'm using a VN-style rollback system for Bad Ends. Gotta catch 'em all! Or don't, keep the plot chugging along. The most dangerous choices are the ones where you survive to see the consequences of your mistakes.
>Valentine flinches
As >>5248430 says here, it's because she's embarrassed to high heaven by her scores. I would be too. For the record, the "average" Alice score would be something like 80-200 in 3 minutes, depending on how used to the movements they actually are. Total beginner relying on brute strength? 80, starting out slow then picking up speed as they gain confidence. Someone with experience? 200 as they get used to their new size, then lightning-fast movements. It's not a very accurate test of strength for them at that point, which is why they usually pull out specialized equipment.
Valentine... kinda ended up being the black swan of her group. Being on the flashier end of Alices doesn't help much.
at least none of these Alices are contracted prisoners. That's for later, once you've become real Attendants.

>>5248430
Also, it's kind of funny that you point out Takeo's dislike of Alices as irrational. You're absolutely correct--generally speaking, he's probably not the best guy for the job, but various circumstances and his overall stellar record made him the guy for this particular job.
Which is doubly funny because his Alice--wait, shit, that's spoilers. Not huge spoilers, but it's something I want to save for the best reveal.

Anyways, he's mad. All the time. He has a reason to be mad; not a very good one, mind, but people are rarely rational about the things they find irritating. What he learned from his previous profession, which you should be able to guess by now, helps a lot with him not avoiding death by stress-related stroke. For various reasons, he's also some brand of socially retarded in case that wasn't obvious lmao
If you don't like him, I'm glad. I really tried my hardest to make him come off as a certain brand of insufferable without being too over-the-top, alongside some basic cultural differences to further muddy the waters. I'm not sure how that worked out, so any criticisms there would be much appreciated.

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>>5248095
>I'm curious, what do you mean by this? There's a lot that was going on in that scene.

That something strange was going on. With the little voice i mean. Once is a coincidence. Twice is a pattern.

And that she had a pretty big Hero Complex that Jack could have exploited for personal gain.

>Those are more in line with the first-wave "imperfect" reactions, and even then it was quite rare. They're no longer really a thing with the more recent Alices, and the vast majority of such Alices have become Beasts by now. There's still a few in existence, though.

Interesting. So nothing to crazy anymore... and most of them probably went mad by now what with them being a bit more unstable due to a lack of knowledge in the 'olden Times'. Makes sens

you wrote that minutes before i went to bed. Otherwise i would have responded more quickly.

Also. Hi little Malal. That's what i am calling you now.

>>5248745
Anarchy... Does shadow exist in a world without light? I suppose comparing me to that fellow is semi-accurate, insofar that I hold no love for my kind. Exceedingly offensive and otherwise entirely mistaken, but a sufficiently entertaining appellation.
Now, I retire. Piercing the veil is a costly thing--even with the Hermit to play as prophet, it is not to be done so freely.
One day, though. One day, soon. May his second meeting with me be as fruitful as our first.

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>Get the good doctor to explain. Hopefully Takeo will hold off long enough to accept this.

You gnaw at the inside of your cheek for a moment. How can you explain something you don't know the first thing about? All you have are suspicions.

However, you do know someone who might have more. You look up, matching Takeo's gaze with your own.

"Right… Explanations. Again, I can't give you any–not because I don't want to, but because I genuinely know nothing. You remember last night, right?"

The Attendant hides his hands in the depths of his sleeves.

"My memory is perfectly fine, thank you."

"Well, I have reason to believe that my current state has to do with the attack. I don't want to make any assumptions, but I got checked out at the Academy infirmary soon afterwards."

"...And? Your diagnosis?"

You shake your head. "Physically, it was a shock to see how much healthier I was. I've always kept in shape, but…"

As you trail off, Valentine takes her turn to speak.

"Didn't you heal faster, too?"

Snapping your fingers by way of response, you take the chance to ruffle her hair. She squirms.

"I-I'm sweaty!"

"Like I mind. Anyways, she's right. Deep bruises disappeared in hours, and when they took a blood sample, the injury sealed up straight away."

Takeo's stare seems to press down on your shoulders. It's difficult to tell what he's thinking, and the constant scowl he wears doesn't help matters.

May as well pitch your idea to him.

"The blood sample should be undergoing study right about now. If you want, I can show you there."

The idea of introducing Takeo to Rafael sends a little tingle of uncertainty running through you. It's not the best situation, but the word of a professional is bound to be more reliable than whatever assumptions you can make.

…Can you use "word" when Rafael's mute?

"...You truly are clueless. This was a mistake, then."

Blinking, you return your focus to Takeo. His eyes are closed in thought, brows knitted in a way that only serves to make his scowl deeper.

"What do you mean by that?"

A tired sigh escapes him. "The details are classified, Yang. I suppose some compensation for your time is necessary, though."

He opens his eyes again. Though the locker room is well lit, his pupils seem to drink in the light.

"Is it not obvious? There is a traitor here at Glaswelt."

[1/?]

These allergies are wreaking absolute havoc on me, might not be able to concentrate enough for a full-sized update. Sorry--I don't want to update in this condition and end up writing something I can't use...

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"Still, mistake or not, this may be related. I accept your offer."

Without waiting for a response, Takeo turns away to re-open the door. Valentine manages to recover her wits before you.

"Hold on–you can't just drop something like that and then act like nothing happened. A traitor? What makes you say that?"

At her tone, the Attendant shoots her an annoyed glare. He takes his hand off the handle to fully face the two of you.

"Glaswelt is easily one of the most secure places on Earth. Last night's events were an anomaly–an unprecedented disaster… At least, unprecedented for the Protectorate."

A tinge of bitterness enters his voice as he speaks. He soon switches his gaze over to you.

"Now, Trainee Yang. When is your doctor's earliest availability? I must know which department he sent the sample off to."

You scratch the back of your head, thinking for a moment. "Technically, I suppose he's available all day. I'm not really even sure if he sleeps."

Takeo's eyes narrow, then widen. "An Alice. One with clearance to practice his craft, located within the bounds of the Academy… Dr. White, I presume?"

Valentine squints at him. "What, is he famous?"

Takeo mutters to himself beneath his breath, ignoring her completely. For the nth time today, you sigh.

"I'll take you there now if you want. Didn't seem too busy when I left."

"Acceptable. Very well, then."

Stalling no longer, Takeo pushes open the door, which glides on oiled hinges. Almost immediately, he is accosted by his two companions from earlier. Tall one takes charge, grabbing the shorter man by the arm.

"Finally done? Good, now start talkin'. Bullying newbies ain't my idea of fun."

[Select one.]

>Let things play out. You've got places to be, and this isn't a fight you want to be a part of. Everyone here - barring Val - is your superior and senior, in experience if not in age. Takeo can handle himself.

>Intervene. "It's alright! He didn't do anything to us." Try to defuse the situation. Calming people down was part of your training as a medic. What can you say? You're kinder than people deserve.

>Write-in?

[2/2]

Slightly-earlier-than-usual update. If I get enough votes in a short enough time, I'll see if I can't squeeze out another in the next 5 hours.

>>5251575
>Let things play out. You've got places to be, and this isn't a fight you want to be a part of. Everyone here - barring Val - is your superior and senior, in experience if not in age. Takeo can handle himself.

>>5251575
>>Let things play out. You've got places to be, and this isn't a fight you want to be a part of. Everyone here - barring Val - is your superior and senior, in experience if not in age. Takeo can handle himself.

>>5251575
>>Let things play out. You've got places to be, and this isn't a fight you want to be a part of. Everyone here - barring Val - is your superior and senior, in experience if not in age. Takeo can handle himself.

Unfortunately, the update will come at its regular schedule. Out of curiosity, why did you guys go for this option? Was it to spite Takeo, or something else?
It was the right decision, by the way. Takeo would've been annoyed if you tried to cover for him, as it would've wounded his pride, and his excessively Japanese sensibilities means he places a lot of importance on rank and seniority... Most of the time, anyways. Arthur might disagree, kek

>>5251911
It just seemed like the right choice, not to spite him or anything like that.

>>5251911
He sounds very proud, i am not sure he would have like help. Even if helping is a reasonable answer

>>5251911
>Unfortunately, the update will come at its regular schedule. Out of curiosity, why did you guys go for this option?
I didn't vote in the moment, but I would have voted for that option because I wouldn't be surprised if Takeo does or says something that make the agents dislike him more

Fuck Takeo

Looks like I managed to get his characterization across well enough! I'm glad.

>>5252517
Congrats QM, you made a guy that I don't like, and you intended him to be like that without it being over the top in the bad way, which speaks quite a bit about how good of a writer you are.

I want to know more about Takeo, but for the moment I can say one thing:
Fuck you Takeo

>>5252725
Shit, man, I don't deserve that kind of compliment. I'll do my best to meet your expectations, though. Thank you.
Give me a bit to look over the update before I post.

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>Let things play out. You've got places to be, and this isn't a fight you want to be a part of. Everyone here - barring Val - is your superior and senior, in experience if not in age. Takeo can handle himself.

You tamp down on your instinct to intervene. You get the feeling that Takeo's not the kind of guy who'd appreciate your help right now.

At any rate, your aid is unnecessary. In a single flowing movement, Takeo breaks free of the man's grip. Rather than fall back to create distance, the shorter man chooses instead to simply shake out his sleeves.

"Calm yourself, Tatsu. Such behavior is unsightly."

His companion, a fellow in a hoodie, touches Tatsu's wrist. Though he's clearly annoyed, Tatsu shoves his hands into his pockets, but makes no move to follow up from before.

"I'm an American, Takeo. We use first names here–not like you complain when we use yours."

He shifts his gaze over to you, his brow furrowed. Valentine steps back a little, causing him to blink before smoothing his face over.

"Anyways, don't try to distract me. What'd you call these two out for? Don't tell me you think they're the…"

"It's nothing. Simply a mistake on my part."

Tatsu gives him a look of disbelief, though your interrogator doesn't bother responding. You think you're beginning to get an idea of what he's like…

"Ah? You, make a mistake?"

"Yes. Nothing more. Though his scores are admittedly impressive, Trainee Yang is of no concern to our investigation."

You can't help but blink owlishly at Takeo's lie. Before you can think to say anything - or just keep silent - Takeo motions for you to follow him.

"If you'll excuse me. As for payment… Hmph. A case of imported beers shall be delivered to your doorstep tomorrow."

"Hey now–!"

But your aloof and impersonal interrogator is already walking away. Again, the hoodie-wearing man restrains Tatsu, and the two soon fade into the distance.

You and Valentine have to dash to catch up; thankfully, Takeo's shorter strides haven't taken him too far ahead of you. Though the three of you travel through the stadium's interior in silence, your thoughts are running a mile a minute.

His actions baffle you. Just as you were thinking you had a grasp on the man, too. Well, you're at least confident in the fact that asking him for his reasoning would be pointless–

"Why'd you lie back there?"

Valentine's accusatory voice cuts through the silence, drawing a wince from you. Just as you're about to clamp a hand over her mouth, Takeo does the unexpected.

He responds.

"If the two of you are truly innocent, spreading knowledge of your abnormalities would serve no benefit. I have little interest in causing a pointless ruckus."

Slowly, you shake your head. "Apologies. I still can't say I understand. There… wasn't any reason to lie."

[1/2]

Takeo simply continues to look ahead, pushing up his glasses by the bridge.

"Similarly, there is no reason to act based on incomplete knowledge–not when one has the opportunity to learn more, first. Tatsu, like many others, does not understand this."

Admittedly, it's delivered as clipped and cold a manner as ever. Still, the message comes through–he's covering for you.

You just don't know why. It bothers you more than you'd like to admit–his current actions seem to be at odds with what you know of the man. Out of character, really, if you can say that of someone you've known for... all of a day.

Hm.

[Select one.]

>"...Why do you hate Alices so much, then? After all this time, it feels like we still barely know anything about them." You would know–you still keep up to date on medical news.

>"Arthur told me about your fight with him." The words tumble out of your mouth.

>Just… Stay silent. You don't know if you can phrase any of the questions you have right now in a way that won't offend. Still, will you get a chance like this again…?

>Write-in?

[2/2]

>>5253116
>"Then I hope we can increase the knowledge used to make the next decision. Does it bother you that the one probably most qualified to give out information about my performance is an Alice?"

>>5253109
>You tamp down

Is this something normal that i just never came across? Or did you mean clamp down?

>>5253130
>Is this something normal
It's a word, and is basically a synonym of clamp.
Tamp; "To pack down tightly by a succession of blows or taps."

>>5253130
support
let s see how he reacts

>>5253130
>support

>"Then I hope we can increase the knowledge used to make the next decision. Does it bother you that the one probably most qualified to give out information about my performance as an Alice?"

You take your time responding. Takeo doesn't seem to mind the silence–part of you wonders if he expects a response at all, really.

"In that case, then… I hope whatever information I can provide proves useful."

After a moment of thought, you decide to tack on a question. Now seems as good a time as any, while Takeo appears to be in a conversational mood.

"Does it bother you, the fact that we're going to Dr. White for help?"

For a long while, the only sound that can be heard is the ringing clack of Val's boots and your shoes striking the tiled floor. Just as you're beginning to regret breaking the silence, Takeo answers.

"Humans are unreliable existences. We are emotional at best, illogical at worst, and I say this as a fellow human. Alices - as we understand them - take the worst of these flaws and exemplify them. An Alice becoming a Beast is not a what-if scenario, Yang–it is a matter of whenI. An inevitability. They are weapons given the illusion of freedom.

I have not met the doctor in person. I cannot claim to know him, let alone the man he used to be. At the very least, I can acknowledge that he must be skilled indeed to have earned his share of freedom. Trusting him is a different matter entirely.

It is somewhat akin to approaching a live bomb, uncertain as to what will set it off. I cannot see a future where mankind is safe while Alices yet exist. To answer your question in plainer words… Does working with the doctor bother me? Perhaps. Will I let it interfere with our duties? No."

The Attendant's voice is oddly devoid of emotion, as if he's reciting something that's long since carved itself into his mind.

Beasts.

Unconsciously, you massage your throat, recalling the feeling of Lily choking you. The way your throat bulged against the band of your collar, pulled tight–the impossible strength in her delicate fingers…

Last night was only the second time you had ever encountered a Beast in person. The first was what made you retire.

Blood pounding in your ears. Blood pouring past your fingers. Red gloves, once a bright blue.

You've kept up with the news just enough to know that it's vanishingly rare for Beasts to be human-sized like Lily was. The vast majority of them are monstrosities on par with skyscrapers, whose every step shakes the earth.

Not even enough left for a casket funeral.

"Jack? Are you alright?"

With a start, you realize your hands are trembling. Though Valentine's voice is barely more than a whisper, the concern that comes through is enough to ground you again.

"Jack? Hey. Stop ignoring me…"

Val squeezes your arm. It's a pitiful attempt; her hand, so much smaller than yours, can't even begin to wrap itself around your shoulder.

[1/2]

You pull her in for a one-armed hug, earning a squeak and a feather-light thump on the head for your sudden assault.

She's warm. Alive. Human, no matter what Takeo says.

You realize that somewhere along the way, your group stopped moving. Takeo stands to the side, still as a statue.

"Do you require assistance?"

There's the smallest hint of awkwardness coming off of him. Then, before you can focus on it, it disappears.

"I… I'll be fine, thanks."

[Select one. This vote is more about establishing your own perspective on Alices and Beasts than it is about furthering a Bond, so don't be afraid to say what's on your mind.]

>Beast or not, they were human. That has to mean something. As a healer, it's your duty to find some way to help them. That there's been so little progress in the field simply means there's a great deal left to discover.

>There's a significant difference between a Beast and an Alice. If you have anything to say about it, you'll make sure that distinction remains.

>As much as it galls you to admit it, Takeo isn't entirely wrong. The mountain of bodies seems to grow ever larger–but looking at the girl next to you, you can't bring yourself to write them off as simple tools.

>Write-in. Though not necessary, this might be recommended.

[2/2]

>>5254563
>>Beast or not, they were human. That has to mean something. As a healer, it's your duty to find some way to help them. That there's been so little progress in the field simply means there's a great deal left to discover.

I realize that I'm not actually certain if I've given you enough details for you guys to come to your own conclusions on the impact that Guignol's actions have left on society. For that reason, I'm willing to answer a few questions on either Alices or Beasts. Be as free with them as you want, since the worst I'll do is veto it on account of not being "public information" or "spoilers." I'll be available for the next... 2 or so hours, then I need to get my daily 3.5 hours of sleep! send help

>>5254583
no

>>5254588
I deserve this don't I

>>5254592
yes

>>5254592
You did bring this on yourself. But you should really think about a better schedule. Maybe school can wait a couple more hours in the morning

>>5254563
>Beast or not, they were human. That has to mean something. As a healer, it's your duty to find some way to help them. That there's been so little progress in the field simply means there's a great deal left to discover.
>Giving up is not gonna be the thing Jack, at least the one you want to be, would do.

The offer to answer questions still stands, by the way. I have to say I'm a little surprised that no one's taken it so far.
It looks like Jack's going to be a bit of an idealist here, huh? Next scene is going to be a little bit interesting, then we'll move on to their meeting. After that, you'll get the choice to either stick around for your medical work or head off to Communications. Either way, Val's going to be splitting ways to see what the SLC is like, then meet up with you at your dorms for the memorial. Fingers crossed that Comms won't be as long as this ended up being; I want to at least get the first half of the memorial done with before we get bumped off.

>>5255035
So what was the first big Outbreak of Beasts?
How was it contained? Alices or Nukes?
Can Beasts burn out? Like selfdestruct when they use their powers to reclessly?
What can trigger a transformation aside from a lot of distress in an Alice?
What is the average time someone lasts as an Alice before they go nuclear?
Can an Alice be turned into a Beast after Death? Like could Ganta turn into an undead one and we use Vals Power to control him? I am not exactly expecting an answer here.

I was pretty busy today. Had a Job interview so not much time to think about it before going to work.

>>5254563
>Beast or not, they were human. That has to mean something. As a healer, it's your duty to find some way to help them. That there's been so little progress in the field simply means there's a great deal left to discover.
Has there ever been a case of a Beast turning back into a Alice?

>>5255073
>So what was the first big Outbreak of Beasts?
Took less than a week for the first Beast to appear! Shortly after the news came out that it was an epidemic unique to Alices, a few more triggered from the resulting panic. Chain reaction from there. Things calmed down after a little bit, but not before some of the smaller cities got wiped off the map.

>How was it contained? Alices or Nukes?
The use of nuclear weaponry was generally understood to be the absolute last resort.
Larger cities actually tended to result in relatively less damage, on account of the Alice population working together with local defense. As a whole, homeland security efforts across the globe have increased, largely aided by the Protectorate.

>Can Beasts burn out? Like selfdestruct when they use their powers too recklessly?
They don't self-destruct, but they do "hibernate" for a while after brief periods of activity. Quotations because what they actually do is fucking spoilers lol.
Beasts can end up running berserk for as long as a week if they're not stopped, though most appearances fall in the range of 1-3 days. To minimize damages, the presence of Alice-Attendant pairs is a necessity. In extreme cases where termination is impossible for whatever reason, the goal is to keep them cordoned away until they fuck off to wherever it is they go. In the event you receive such an order, you better hope you've got your last will and testament already written.

>What can trigger a transformation aside from a lot of distress in an Alice?
Spoilers! Realistically speaking, though, the nature of this question makes it a difficult one for people to answer in-universe, as it's not exactly a study that anyone wants to undertake. Anecdotal evidence is also rather hard to come by, since normies rarely ever survive being at ground zero for the birth of a Beast. Congrats, Jack. You're part of an elite club! PTSD is mandatory for membership.

>What is the average time someone lasts as an Alice before they go nuclear?
Depends on a lot of variables and the personality of the Alice in question. Protectorate Alices are actually given accessories containing prescription high-dose anesthetics, set to deliver their payload when they "detect changes in biological readings associated with intense emotional fluctuations." For obvious reasons (battle-adrenaline, etc.), these settings are for Trainee Alices. Those on the duty roster are changed to an on-demand system that's controlled by their Attendants. Valentine's going to receive hers soon.

>Can an Alice be turned into a Beast after Death? Like could Ganta turn into an undead one and we use Vals Power to control him?
You are correct in your assumption that I cannot answer this in detail, since spoilers lmao. The answer is… complicated. I'll leave it at that. Neither a yes or a no.

>>5255195
>Chain reaction from there

figures. Weird stuff starts happening related to emotions. And people start freaking out.

>They don't self-destruct, but they do "hibernate" for a while after brief periods of activity. Quotations because what they actually do is

That sounds Ominous. Extra Question though. Have any of those Beasts reappeared yet? And did they change in powers or apperance if they have reappeared?

> In extreme cases where termination is impossible for whatever reason

I guess that is when the Protectorate can neither send out enough people of the Beast just has a powerset making it near impossible to kill or even get close enough to try and contain....... but knowing that it might be later has very bad implications for the future of the human race.

>Depends on a lot of variables and the personality of the Alice in question.

Okay... then probably uncontained anywhere from a couple days to maybe months unless specific circumstances allow them to exist longer. But good to know that we can help Val calm down... even if it is with the use of Drugs.

Another Question. Are Alices more resistent to Drugs, Poisons etc. than an adult human? Or is that also variable? Because if it is.... Val might need to have a much lower dosage if her phyiscal performance is anything to go by. I hope its not Opium based. Coming down from that can be as bad as whatever was led to its original prescription.


>Neither a yes or a no.

SOOOOooo... Your saying there is a chance? One that might get us put on a Hitlist of either Guignol or the Protectorate. or both

>>5255170
>Has there ever been a case of a Beast turning back into an Alice?
No. Is it impossible? I can neither confirm nor deny.

Adding on to this:
>>What is the average time someone lasts as an Alice before they go nuclear?
The anesthesia system is... It's not an answer, or even really much of a stopgap. Your typical Alice is surprisingly durable, and anesthesia only works up to 3 times before tolerance reaches a point where they can shake off the cocktail in

>>5255073
I ran out of space with the earlier post, but good luck with the job interview!

>>5255210
>Have any of those Beasts reappeared yet?
Yes!
>And did they change in powers or apperance if they have reappeared?
Nope. This is actually an exciting question for me - though all of these are great opportunities for me to further flesh out the setting - because the reason behind this decision is symbolic. Like, Wonderland Effect, Alices, and Beasts are a philosophical/societal allegory. It's not a super complicated one, but I personally think it's an interesting little tidbit. I realize that this probably isn't what you had in mind when you asked this question, but yeah. Fun stuff. Look forward to when I reveal it. It involves Mr. Black Box. I should probably come up with a way to distinguish his speech from general content. How about curly braces? I'll have to see if that fucks up the formatting.

>Another Question. Are Alices more resistent to Drugs, Poisons etc. than an adult human?
Answered this in the follow-up post here!
>>5255222
Oh hey, trips. Nice.

>>5255222
Gah, follow-up got eaten. That's what I get for posting on transit.

Your typical Alice is stupidly durable, and anesthesia only works up to 3 times before their tolerance reaches a point where it no longer becomes effective. It's also not very good for the Alice's mental stability, as the trigger isn't just emotional in nature... I just realized this part of my setting is basically Madoka Magica. Huh.
Luckily Val has no such endurance and can be knocked out as often as need be lmao

>Beast or not, they were human. That has to mean something. As a healer, it's your duty to find some way to help them. That there's been so little progress in the field simply means there's a great deal left to discover.

A hot flush comes to your cheeks. You've had four years to get over the attack–truthfully, it's been quite some time since you've thought about it in any serious capacity. Evidently, just because you haven't thought about it doesn't mean you've conquered it.

It seems that even if the nightmares have long since left, some influence still remains. At a guess, last night's events are to blame, picking at old wounds.

But… things are different now. In an astonishingly brief period of time, it feels as if you've become an entirely different person–not just physically, but mentally as well.

Looking back on it now, it's clear that you were simply drifting through life after your early retirement. Working the graveyard shift at a cemetery wasn't just an excuse to slack off. You needed time. A reason to distance yourself from the world–from other people.

Meeting Valentine seemed to kick-start something in you again.

You won't deny that on some level, you're still afraid. It's a reasonable fear to have; Beasts are walking catastrophes. Even if there's some bitter irony to be found in the situation, that the world hasn't been burnt to ashes yet is a testament to mankind's indomitable will.

It's that same humanity that you're questioning now. The debate on the nature of man is one that stretches back to antiquity, and advancements in the modern era have only complicated things.

Today, the current question is whether or not Alices can still be considered "human." Biologically, it's difficult to determine whether or not they can even be considered a step in the evolutionary process–but to what extent does the physical form matter?
Before Wonderland Effect, they were unquestionably human, and when you focus on what truly matters for a human being, it seems obvious to you that those all-important pillars still remain in some way.

Could you say the same for Beasts?

"Takeo."

You're not certain. But–

"--I think that everyone, Beast or Alice, is worth fighting for. Even in their current form, we can't forget that they were human. Having met both Alices and Beasts, I think that some part of them is still human. It's just a matter of bringing that to the surface."

[1/?]

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You look the Attendant in the eye. Though you may be his senior in age, he has you beat in experience here. You're a newcomer to this world, after all.

That said, it doesn't take an expert to see how little progress has been made in this field of research. Billions have been thrown into the study of Wonderland Effect, but its methods remain a mystery to all but Guignol themselves. That isn't to say it's been a waste–though the details are obscured, it's public knowledge that Attendants themselves were a byproduct of said efforts.

It might be too much to hope for, but a part of you wonders if either you or Papa could be the missing link.

Takeo stares at you. The frown on his face remains the same, but something in his eyes…

"You would have liked my brother."

He enunciates the words with pained care, as if they're being squeezed out of him. You resist the urge to tilt your head at the seeming non-sequitur, but the Attendant doesn't care to elaborate.

Without another word, he turns away and continues walking. You and Valentine share a confused look, then fall in step with the man.

[2/?]

>>5255783
Edit/Addendum:
Meant to say "My brother would have liked you." Also meant to include "There's hope yet. Nothing is ever set in stone," after the line about being a missing link. Can't edit this in or delete the post, unfortunately. Sorry for the inconvenience.

>>5255783
>"You would have liked my brother."/"My brother would have liked you."

so that means he had a brother... probably someone very pro Alice then. Maybe got killed due to an Alice or because of an Alice transforming into a beast and maybe trying to calm it down.

>And did they change in powers or apperance if they have reappeared?
>Nope. This is actually an exciting question for me - though all of these are great opportunities for me to further flesh out the setting - because the reason behind this decision is symbolic. Like, Wonderland Effect, Alices, and Beasts are a philosophical/societal allegory. It's not a super complicated one, but I personally think it's an interesting little tidbit. I realize that this probably isn't what you had in mind when you asked this question, but yeah. Fun stuff. Look forward to when I reveal it. It involves Mr. Black Box.


Wait wait wait. I might have had just a crazy idea...... if the Alice/ Beasts dont change anymore... could that mean they already are what their subconsciousness considers at the best place they can be? Like their bodys are reshaped into bizzare/inhuman things when they go beyond stress yes i know unknown factor bla bla bla. still hear me out and transform.

My thought is. Wouldn't it make them more maleable? More able to change and twist into ever new horrors while their Mind shatters itself into ever more weird and fantastic places?

What if they become like monstrous creatures that embody things like concepts, emotions or a Core Memory of their being. That is why they do not change anymore. They are already in their from their perspective perfect place of being. There is no need to change further or more about themselves. Only about the world around them.

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The ride to the medical wing is devoid of conversation, not that you're complaining. A tired Valentine slumps forward, pressing her forehead against the cool steel of the headrest before her.

You can only shake your head at that. Her physical scores were comically bad, though you'll hold off on saying as much. There's no point in making her feel worse about it.

…That said, you did bring your own exercise equipment. A good deal of it is lightweight and easy to use, too. While you doubt she'll be lifting 30-pounders, anyone can jump rope.

Something for later. For now, it seems you've arrived at your destination.

The three of you are the only ones exiting at this stop, but Takeo's presence means you don't have to fight to get through the early-afternoon crowd. Val's halo bobs gently, making itself known by bumping into you every now and then.

Unexpectedly, a silhouette by the glass walls focuses itself into the appearance of Rafael's projection. The figure perks up at your approach, then waves energetically.
Takeo directs his eternal frown towards the silent projection, before looking at you askance.

"Hm. Who is this?"

"Ah, right. You did say you haven't met Dr. White before. This is the doctor–or rather, a projection of his. I'm not too sure on the details of his power, but as far as I can tell, it's an extension of him."

Rafael looks up at Takeo, but doesn't leave your side. Though you can't discern any expression beneath the layers and hood - actually, does it even have a flesh and blood body? - you get the feeling that the Alice is oddly nervous.

Huh. He wasn't like that on your first meeting. Maybe you're better with kids than you thought.

"...I see."

He doesn't say anything else. A sticky silence descends as Attendant studies Alice.

…Maybe Takeo's just awful at first impressions in comparison. That's… that's pretty likely, too.

You clap your hands to dispel the still air. "Right. Rafael, this is Takeo… Sorry, I don't think I ever got your last name, actually."

The man nods. "Attendant Second Class, Takeo Hozai. Written with the kanji for… No, there's not much point in saying it. A force of habit. My apologies."

He coughs gently, lifting a surprisingly delicate hand to cover his mouth with a sleeve. For such a short guy, he has some pretty long fingers. It would explain the fine brushwork on his talismans.

[3/?]

Dunno if I can get out an update tonight, feeling incredibly drained. Will try and squeeze out a double/complete update in the afternoon this Saturday. Apologies.

>>5257859
it s fine

"We are here on business from the Administration. Apologies for not calling ahead, but it may be important. Have you made any progress on analyzing Trainee Yang's biology?"

Rafael looks back at you, emanating an aura of uncertainty. After a moment, he nods, then shakes his head. Before Takeo can say anything else, the projection raises a hand in the universal sign for "stop," then melts away.

Nonplussed, the Attendant turns to face you. All you can offer is a helpless shrug.

"May as well wait here, I guess."

As you look around the lobby for a chair to sit in, Valentine tugs on your sleeve rather insistently and points at a nearby clock.

"I don't know about you, Jack, but there's only 20 minutes until the next thing on my schedule…"

You put a hand on your chin. Hm. This could be a bit of a problem; while there's bound to be a supervisor, you're duty-bound to watch over Valentine until she actually gets there. Where is she going, anyways?

A quick check tells you that she's signed up for the Silent Library Coalition, whatever that is. At a guess, it's a fancy name for the resident book club group. You nod approvingly–these days, it feels like kids her age have been losing interest in physical literature.

Then again, you distinctly recall her lack of familiarity with the smartphone from last night–quite a surprise in today's age, where seemingly everyone past the age of 12 has one. All things considered, it's possible that Valentine's not very technologically literate. You'll have to see if Glaswelt offers computer literacy programs.

The realization of just how little you know of your partner is a sobering thought. When it comes down to it, the two of you are barely better than strangers; even if you've never found the opportunity to ask, you can't help but wonder what circumstances could have led a 16 year-old girl to digging up graves.

You shake your head. Questions and thoughts for another time. For now, you'll just have to–

Rafael pops up directly in front of you, forcing you to jerk back in alarm. For a single breathless moment, the chair stands tilted, in utter defiance of gravity.

Then it falls over–or not.

A second projection stands behind you, catching you just before the chair hits the ground. You're smoothly set back into position as the mute Alice shakes his shoulders in silent laughter.

"Damnit, Rafael!"

The projection behind you - you'll call him Number 2 - rubs your shoulders comfortingly as Number 1 passes a thick stack of documents off to Takeo. Annoyed, you move to brush No. 2 away, but stop as built-up tension seems to fade from your muscles.

A low sigh slips out of you. At least he does his job properly. The fact that he can make multiple projections doesn't surprise you much–Jessica did say that the Alice handled most of the hands-on work, after all. Speaking of her…

[4/5]

"I don't see Jessica with you. Is she busy?"

No. 2 shrugs his shoulders, then waves his hand about. Somewhere, is the general feeling you get.

The sound of shuffling paper draws your attention. Takeo looks up at you–mirroring his action, you lock eyes with the Attendant.

"Hrm. Inconclusive. The full results have yet to return from the laboratories, but biologically, you show none of the markers indicative of Alicehood, nor even any of the changes an Attendant might undergo."

No. 1 points to a spot on the paper. Takeo simply nods.

"It is true, we have yet to perform any of the more invasive studies. Still, the results are unlikely to change."

"That's… good? I'm not sure how I'm supposed to feel. Am I off the hook?"

"Unfortunately, no. This only raises more questions about your newfound abilities."

The man stops to push up his glasses. Just as you're about to object, Takeo speaks again.

"That said, I see little connection between this and the ongoing case. I shall keep you in mind, Yang, but I do not expect to take up any more of your time."

Valentine huffs. "Well, that's good, at least."

Of course, he doesn't bother responding to her. Stiffly, Takeo passes the document back to No. 1, then sweeps away without a second glance. No. 2, in turn, gives you one last pat on the back before fading into the floor.

You glance again at the clock. Well, the issue of time is solved. You should have just enough to drop Valentine off before you have to attend to your own duties.

[Select one. Keep in mind that you have the memorial tonight, so whatever you don't select now will only receive screentime during the accelerated weekly timeskip. This will not prevent you from taking it ahain next week, and may even have some minor influence on related socials (e.g, rather than meeting Amit as a total unknown, you would already know of him as a fellow Trainee with good track abilities).]

>Time to go see what the Communications Club is all about. You may have missed their morning announcements, but if you're reading this right, it looks like they run 24/7.

>While you're here, you might as well follow up on your assistant nursing program. Though you're supposed to head back to the mainland and work things out in the Research Wing, Rafael might be able to work something out for you. Isn't nepotism grand?

[5/5]

>>5258503
>>While you're here, you might as well follow up on your assistant nursing program. Though you're supposed to head back to the mainland and work things out in the Research Wing, Rafael might be able to work something out for you. Isn't nepotism grand?

>>5258503
>While you're here, you might as well follow up on your assistant nursing program. Though you're supposed to head back to the mainland and work things out in the Research Wing, Rafael might be able to work something out for you. Isn't nepotism grand?

Now that I actually have this section finished, I can respond!
>>5256089
>trying to calm it down.
You're not too far off the mark, but the mental image this gives me is absolutely fucking hilarious.
>I might have had just a crazy idea
I love this kind of stuff. Really motivates me. Actually inspired me a little bit to work on the setting and ultimate conflict, so I've finally locked down on a lot of things that I had written only vague descriptions for. Thanks for that.

I'm not sure how much of the symbolism I have in mind will actually come through, but once the Quest ends I'll probably post a version of my documents and notes that's edited for human consumption. That's good enough for me, assuming you lot don't manage to figure it out beforehand--though I have faith in you all, because SOME-FUCKING-HOW you keep choosing all the "right" options. Black Box has a deep fondness for you.

I'll note that your current theories are simultaneously alarmingly close and yet also off the mark.

>>5258595
>I'll note that your current theories are simultaneously alarmingly close and yet also off the mark.

Well thanks. To be honest currently i am GM ing for a group of friends and they have a lot to do with cosmic entities(read extra Dimensional), fey just this session one player changed employers from the Ravenqueen to an Undying(Undead) Patron... so yeah. Lots of Fey shenanigans in the future. and deamons. So maybe that was why i came up with that Idea.

But you also do allow me to let go of some of the more fantastical concepts flitting around in my mind. And i did also take some inspiration for one of my new factions for my game from this Quest.

>>5258503
>While you're here, you might as well follow up on your assistant nursing program. Though you're supposed to head back to the mainland and work things out in the Research Wing, Rafael might be able to work something out for you. Isn't nepotism grand?

if the other one is open 24/7 and we can probably get there the next day. We can probably talk our way out of it with some confusion from the first day.

>>5258663
>And i did also take some inspiration for one of my new factions for my game from this Quest.
Do tell! And regarding fae/cosmic entities... Hahaha. Haha. Ha.

You all should pity Papa.

>>5259125
>Do tell!

Warning Wall of Text

In my Version of the DND World the Goblinoids were created by a supremely powerful Dragonwizard and the abandoned as he grew ever more deranged in his experiments after turning into a Lich on accident while searching for true immortality. These Goblins are linked to the Elements. Hobgoblins to Fire. Bugbears to Earth and normal Goblins either to Wind or Water. They have strong Caste System. They are very expansionist after finally breaking free of their confinement though still use the original clone Vats. And their only partial understanding of the technology leads to ever more "failures" being borne where the Elemental Side rules much much more and can turn them into near unstoppable monsters. Before that they are powerful sorcerers and Warriors but after their inevitable fall to the raging insanity of unfiltered Elemental Power they need to be directed by Mages of the Higher Casts in Order to not turn their society into a ruined wreck before it even gets off the ground. And they are needed in a war against the already established Lands that they are encroaching on.

TL:DR Unstable Elemental Goblins that turn into Elemental monstrosities when their will fails them.

spoiler If he made a Feydeal he should hire a couple dozen Devil Lawyers. Otherwise he should probably start learning The Old Speech

>>5258503
>>While you're here, you might as well follow up on your assistant nursing program. Though you're supposed to head back to the mainland and work things out in the Research Wing, Rafael might be able to work something out for you. Isn't nepotism grand?

I will FINALLY get to use parts of the shit I wrote* way way back in the first thread, when you punks decided to go get your ID filed** instead of mucking about the hospital like I expected! Fuahaha!
*only managed to keep 3 sentences worth of notes for 1 character
**with the short-term conflict shit I fleshed out for the upcoming mini-arc yesterday this was probably the best choice, no I will not explain

>>5258503
>While you're here, you might as well follow up on your assistant nursing program. Though you're supposed to head back to the mainland and work things out in the Research Wing, Rafael might be able to work something out for you. Isn't nepotism grand?

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>While you're here, you might as well follow up on your assistant nursing program. Though you're supposed to head back to the mainland and work things out in the Research Wing, Rafael might be able to work something out for you. Isn't nepotism grand?

You lean back in your chair, taking care to avoid tipping over. If you're already here…

"Hey, Rafael. I signed up for one of the nursing programs."

The words scarcely manage to leave your mouth before the Alice perks up and claps eagerly. Before your eyes, a new projection forms as if from thin air, plopping into existence at the chair of a previously-empty service desk. In a few short minutes, Rafael's tapping away at the keyboard.

Your phone vibrates with a quiet ping. At the same time, the Alice gives you a cheery thumbs up. A quick scan of your workplace inbox informs you that the requisite changes to your schedule have been approved.

You can't help but give a low whistle. That's some speedy processing.

"Thanks. I'll be back as soon as I drop off Val."

The mute Alice offers a salute, then fades away. Itfeels as though a minor weight's come off your shoulders. Though you tried to ignore it, it's impossible to deny that you didn't feel a little nervous during Takeo's brief interrogation. Despite their inconclusive nature, the current results are comforting. You're still you–whatever's happened to your body seems more of a blessing than a curse.

Valentine pushes away from the wall and through the main entrance, tail swishing in barely-suppressed excitement as she motions for you to follow. It's impossible to stop a few small chuckles from escaping you in your current mood.

"Seems like you're excited, Val. Looking forward to visiting the campus library that much?"

Your Alice scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest as a small blush and defensive frown make their way onto her face.

"Of course! Books are… Amazing, really. Understatement of the century, I know, but it's hard for me to put it into words, Jack."

"I get you. Pretty big reader, myself. Have my own personal library back home–or, well, my actual home. You know, the apartment."

"Ah…"

A complicated mix of equal parts envy and gratitude flashes in her eyes, but soon settles into a kind of quiet despondence.

"That's right–I'm sorry."

Her sudden apology catches you off guard. You turn around to look at her, confused.

"For…?"

A quick review of the past few days doesn't immediately call any particular issue to mind. Rather than clarify her thoughts, Valentine simply chooses not to say anything for a little while, quietly tucking her legs beneath her as she settles on the bus stop bench.

Finally, just as your curiosity begins to overcome your patience, she opens her mouth to speak.

"You have a family, don't you?"

The question catches you off guard, though you soon recover, taking the opportunity to sit cross-legged next to your partner.

[1/?]

"Yeah, sure. Love 'em too, though my sister's a pain in the ass more often than not."

The urge to joke and ask "doesn't everyone?" pokes around the back of your mind. You resist it.

Something tells you not to.

Unaware of your inner thoughts, Valentine worries away at a long lock of hair, rolling it between her fingers.

"Have you… told them what happened, yet?"

"What, about being an Attendant?"

She shoots you a disbelieving look.

"If you haven't told them that--"

"Put a little more faith in me, Val. They know about my change in career now. But what's all this got to do with your apology?"

She shakes her head and presses on. "Jack–have you told them about being attacked by Lily yet? Ganta? A-a Beast? Do your parents know that we - that you - almost died?"

Her breath hitches a little at the end of her question, turning it almost into a plea.

…But a plea for what?

"No. They don't–but I wouldn't say we almost died, really."

You give your Alice a cautious stare–one that she returns, albeit with a fair bit more incredulity than caution.

"Jack."

You hold your hands up, leaning away. "Hey now. End of the day, you and I barely got anything more than a few scrapes and bruises, really." It's a good thing she didn't see you with your shirt off.

"Jack."

…You're really just no good at lying, are you?

Defeated, you lower your hands with a sigh, folding them into your lap.

"Look, Val. I care about them. That means I don't want to worry them. Might not be possible, but I can try."

She interrupts, eyes tight. "They deserve to know though, Jack. You can't just…"

"You might not have noticed, but I'm not exactly young, here."

She stops, trailing off to shoot you a bemused look. You give a self-deprecating laugh before continuing.

"Even if I feel younger than before, that doesn't mean my parents feel the same way. I mean, that said, they're still going strong, you know? Honestly, you'd be amazed–it's like the years have barely touched them."

A sigh. "Still, the time is long past that I can allow myself to worry them. No–these days, it's my turn to worry about them. Adding more onto their plate when there's nothing they can do about it goes against that."

"But…!"

[Select one.]

>"But what? It's not like I can back out now. Not that I'd want to, even if I could." Roughly noogie her.

>"Val. Let me ask you about your own family. Why did you become an Alice? I don't think I've ever seen you make even the slightest attempt at contacting them."

>Write-in? Subject to veto.

[2/2]

>>5259282
>Unstable Elemental Goblins that turn into Elemental monstrosities when their will fails them.
I dunno man, that sounds a little unfair.
I mean, goblins have way better impulse control than most Alices. kek
Pretty fun faction there. It's truly a man's romance civilization's dream to have kaiju under their control!

>>5260516
>"But what? It's not like I can back out now. Not that I'd want to, even if I could." Roughly noogie her.

>>5260516
>"But what? It's not like I can back out now. Not that I'd want to, even if I could." Roughly noogie her.

>>5260538
>I mean, goblins have way better impulse control than most Alices. kek

Hobgoblins and Bugbears(Fire and Earth respectively) sure.

The more malleable ones basic bitch goblins that are fed into the Grinder of War by the Wagonload..... well i would disagree that they have way better impulse control. better sure. But only slightly so.

>>5260516
>"But what? It's not like I can back out now. Not that I'd want to, even if I could." Roughly noogie her.

sshhh

>>5260516
>>"But what? It's not like I can back out now. Not that I'd want to, even if I could." Roughly noogie her.

>"But what? It's not like I can back out now. Not that I'd want to, even if I could." Roughly noogie her.

"But what? It's not like I can back out now. Not that I'd want to, even if I could."

You reach over to place a hand on her head, which she sullenly allows. Then, with as much care as you can really put into something like this, you pull her under her armpit and lock your arm around her.

Her surprised yelp turns into a cry of outrage as you noogie her mercilessly. The whole process brings you comforting childhood memories of being on the receiving end of such tender mercies, courtesy of your own sister. Escaping her abuses may have somewhat contributed to your original interest in weightlifting.

"Let go! No! Jack!"

"Shh. No dreams. Only sleep."

"I-I'll never let you pat my head again!"

You adopt a look of wounded betrayal, but acquiesce to her unreasonable demands. As your Alice bemoans her extraordinarily mussed hair, you take the opportunity to think over what kind of response it is that you want to give her.

Now would be a good time to ask her about her own history, you think–insofar as there can be a "good time" for digging into such potential wounds, as opposed to simply being a "less painful time."

But you're not going to do that. The past exists in the past, after all.
When the day comes that Valentine wants to talk to you about it, you'll listen, but until then, these days can continue.

"Val."

Rather waspishly, she responds. "What?"

"There's really nothing you need to apologize for. Last night… Honestly, when I think about it, I should be the one apologizing to you. I'm the one who asked you to stay and fight, didn't I? That was irresponsible of me. Selfish. So…"

You dip your head in a gentle bow. She watches you without comment, visibly nervous.

"Thank you for being my partner. I'm glad I was the one who pulled you out of that grave."

She promptly jabs you in the ribs, drawing a pained, wheezing laugh from you. Somehow, it doesn't hurt nearly as much as the last time, but it's still incredibly uncomfortable.

"Alright, alright. I'm serious, though. I've piled up a few regrets in my life, but… being with you isn't one of them."

Idly, you wonder how you can bring yourself to say something so embarrassing. Is it the recent burst of youthful energy you feel? A matter of simply being honest to a fault, always speaking from the heart?

"I-I… Mm."

She stops, then starts again, slowly picking up steam as she works through her thoughts.

"Yeah. Yeah! You're right! You should be apologizing to me! That was–what we did was dumb! Suicidally dumb! Why did I agree? How are we still alive!?"

[1/?]

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Despite her scathing critique of your survival instinct, a crimson blush scorches the tip of her ears. Every time you try to look her in the eye, she squirms and turns away.

Looking at her now, you realize that the rationale for your apparent fondness isn't something grand. Val's your best chance at fulfilling a childhood dream, sure, but more than that…

You just care about her. She's worth the trouble, is all.

Really, she's almost like family.

…Now that is something you can't say out loud.

Not yet.

You let out a sigh, stretching out by way of leaning back and hooking your legs beneath the bench. In this position, you can almost ignore how the outlines of the surrounding buildings seem to cut into the sky above.

An odd feeling of weightlessness suffuses you as you look up at it; it almost seems to draw you in.

On a whim, you glance over at Valentine.

"Want to meet my parents?"

"--Eh?"

She gapes at you, pausing in the rough combing of her silver locks. Hesitantly, she points at herself.

"M-me? Is that… okay?"

You shrug. "Don't see why not. What's there to be afraid of?"

Valentine still looks unsure. "I mean… I'm an Alice, you know?"

It's a fair enough concern. Paradoxically, much of the population looks upon Alices with both envy and fear. The older generation in particular tends to favor more heavy-handed policies regarding Alices, and while you can't recall your parents discussing the topic much, you're fairly certain that they're at the very most neutral on the matter.

All things considered, they're quite reserved on most matters; your father, mangling yet another quote, would likely say something along the lines of how "the present perspective is often the least objective."
Your mother… It's hard to say. She'd either claim faith in her ability to raise you and trust you to handle yourself, or she'd interrogate Valentine to the point of tears.

…It'll probably work out. You hope.

"Not an issue. I'll talk things over with them."

Valentine turns her face to the ground.

"I… Okay. I think I'd like to meet them."

[2/?]

>>5261733
>"I… Okay. I think I'd like to meet them."

This is how i imagine how that meeting would go.

>Parents want Jack to finally find a girl to bring home.
>Jack. Says he has someone that he wants them to meet.
>Parents. OMG he finally found someone special
>Jack. Shows up with Alice
>Parents.exe stopped working
>Mother Laments that he won't have Grandchildren that way
>Father just sits in the corner thingkin about where it all went wrong in his parenting of Jack

>>5261942
"You became a father before you became a husband... I thought I raised you better, boy. What made the woman leave? Was it the cartoons? It was the cartoons, wasn't it?"
"Mom, there wasn't a woman to begin with."
"...Take this money and get out. Don't come back until you're a man!"

Honestly, I'm excited to have you guys learn the truth about your parents.they're human.

Might not be able to get out an update tonight. Feels like I've been punched in the face, on top of extra assignments. Should be done by tomorrow though. Sorry.

>>5262794
What are you feeling Sorry for. Go back out there and punch back Life in the Face

I hope you will feel better soon

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Without much fanfare, the bus pulls into sight, interrupting your conversation with Valentine. It was already beginning to draw to a close, though, so it's not as if you mind.

…What is it with vehicles and heavy conversations? It kind of feels like it's turning into a trend these days. You resolve not to let it be so–your next three rides will be quiet and peaceful the whole way through.

Fingers crossed.

With these mildly interesting observations put aside, you climb aboard, able to enjoy ample seating room on account of having just missed the afternoon rush.

It's not long before you reach your destination, alerted by an automated voice chiming overhead.

"Next stop: Futhark Archive. Next stop: Futhark–"

Valentine jerks to her feet, barely saved from falling over due to a quality suspension system and your own presence.

"Relax, kid."

"Ahaha…"

She lets put a nervous laugh, then grabs a metal pole to balance herself. You check the time on your phone–not nearly enough for a full tour, but you can at least see her off to the front door.

Valentine seems surprised when you follow behind her, but makes no comment as you check out the campus library.

In a word, the Archive is… grand.

In the current era of technological supremacy, the unfortunate reality is that the physical storage of information is slowly being phased out. As advances continue to be made in legitimizing, storing, and sorting digital information, the original purpose of a library - a repository of publicly available information - appears redundant at best, obsolete at worst.

You'd be among the first to reject this notion, of course. For various reasons, not everyone has access to the technology required for such convenience, let alone the ability to search for such. Physical records carry their own weight as well, as attempts at tampering often leave traces that digital attacks would find easy to hide.
In the end, though, the main reason you like libraries so much is simple nostalgia. You saw the computer in its infancy, and your earliest memories are filled with devouring book after book. The library is a place of fond memories for you.

It's gratifying, then, to see that the architect behind this place felt much the same way.

Futhark Archive is a love letter to antiquity, an eclectic mix of arched windows, open terraces, and decorated spires. For no visible reason, a massive clocktower stands out as the centerpiece of the region, taking up the majority of the Archive's actual area. Horizontal space is at a premium out in the middle of the sea, but it seems that the architect here resented the idea of only creating what was necessary.

You can't deny it looks cool as hell.

[3/?]
"Have fun, Val. I'll pick you up in… three hours, unless you think you can go back to the dorms by yourself."

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Minor typo in the last post, ignore the sentence following the number.
With a wistful sigh, you push Valentine onwards, allowing her to pick her jaw back up from where it dropped to the floor. She takes a few unsteady steps, switching her gaze between the clocktower's distant peak, to the massive stone steps leading up to the equally-grand entrance.

"Have fun, Val. I'll pick you up in… three hours, unless you think you can go back to the dorms by yourself."

She takes a moment to stammer out her response. "Y-yeah. I can… I can do that. Three hours."

A chuckle escapes you. "Come on, kid. You'll be later than you already are. Plenty of time to explore again–we'll be here for who-knows how long, after all."

That said, you fully understand her awe. You can't help but feel a little jealous; maybe you'll sign up for the SLC yourself. In the meantime, you'll just have to settle for having Valentine tell you what it's like, living vicariously through her story.

There's a bit of unease as you turn away to trot back to the bus stop - is it alright to just leave Val like this? - but if you stay any longer, you'll undoubtedly miss your next program.

A surreptitious glance over your shoulder shows someone approaching, far in the distance. You raise a hand and wave, waiting until you receive one in response before finally setting the issue aside. Whoever it is should be an acceptable supervisor–it seems they came out on their own.

One uneventful ride later - you're on a roll, here! Just one more and you'll have met your goal - and you're back at the Academy's medical district. Rafael accosts you as soon as you approach his domain, stuffing an off-blue uniform into your arms and tugging you down a well-lit hallway.

As you work your arms through the sleeves - it fits you perfectly, surprisingly; he must have gotten your measurements somehow - the Alice brings you before a door with the words "Authorized Personnel Only" printed across its surface in a bold red paint. Then, the projection fades away. Just as you're about to raise a hand to knock, the door opens, revealing a rather nervous Jessica. "Nervous" seems to be normal for her, though, so you don't comment on it.

Behind her, another projection of Rafael waves. You nod in acknowledgement, which earns you a cheery clap as it, too, disappears.
In the meantime, Jessica carefully pins a nametag identifying you as an assistant to your shirt.

As she works, she quietly explains what to expect. "Today has been rather quiet, thankfully, so I can give you a full tour of the facility. It's… we're bit more about emergency care, so some of our equipment isn't as specialized as you might find in places on the mainland."

You give an appreciative whistle. "Full tour, huh? Looking forward to it. I didn't recognize a few instruments, actually, so I'd love to hear more. Been too long since I wore one of these."

[4/?]

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A brief survey of the area allows you to determine it as some variety of break room. A coffee table in the center, a vending machine against the wall, some scattered packs of instant coffee and teabags… it calls to mind the hospital you used to work at, yourself.

As Jessica works, you tug gently at the scrubs. It's lighter wear than what you're used to as an EMT. You had considered becoming a full paramedic some time ago, but some obstacles had cropped up with scheduling–then, in the middle of your preparatory self-study, circumstances had led to your early retirement.

Speaking of retiring…

"My medical license hasn't been renewed in a while. Will that be an issue? I've already filed the paperwork for a test, but…"

Jessica glances up at you. "Oh! That–no, I don't think it'll be much of an issue. A-all of our current patients are in stable condition, barring a few that require Dr. White's personal oversight… I-I doubt you'll need to do anything hands-on. We can put you through for priority testing, though. There's… not much of an applicant queue here."

You nod to yourself as she trails off. Makes sense. The majority of Glaswelt's on-site population is composed of either security personnel or researchers. That they offer this kind of service at all is both to be expected, and also something that raises a few questions.

It works out for you quite conveniently though, so you won't poke at it too much. Gift horses and mouths.

While you're thinking, Jessica leads you out of the break room, then puts her hands together, as if bracing for something. Eyes shut in thought, the woman begins muttering as soon as her fingers touch her forehead.

"Just a short tour, and a brief overview of the more recent machines… You can do this, Jessica."

She meets your gaze, offers a wan smile, and–

–A sudden beeping cuts through the air. The smile on the nurse's face freezes. Jessica pulls back a sleeve, revealing a bracelet with a digital screen. The smile drops completely as she studies it, replaced by an expression of focused intensity.

"Something the matter?"

The woman gives you a sharp bow in response, speaking quickly.

"I'm sorry, sir. The tour will have to be put on hold for now; it seems some of our patients require assistance, and the Doctor is currently indisposed. H-he can only make so many projections at a time, you see."

The switch in personality is surprisingly abrupt, though a hint of her stutter remains. It seems that when it comes down to it, professionalism wins over nerves, huh?

You can appreciate that.

[5/6]

[Select one.]

>You wave off her concerns. "Don't worry about it, I fully understand. Do what you need to--I'll still be here. Take as long as you need, yeah?" That said, you can't deny that you'll do a little wandering around while she's gone. You won't poke into anything obviously restricted, of course, but there's something to be said for exploring without supervision. Who knows what you might find?

>Actually, this might be an interesting opportunity. "Do you mind if I tag along? I'll try not to be too disruptive. I can't do anything hands-on until my license gets renewed, so I won't be much help, but I'd like to observe anyways."

[6/6]