>>28358812
>Try to think-talk to it. <What part of this suggests that? At all?>

>>28358812
or we could team up and rule the world

>>28358878
Hmmmmm...
But that sounds like a ton of work, anon.

>>28358812

>Try to think-talk to it. <or we could team up and rule the world, no uiniverse>

>>28358932
but murder hobo doesn't get us a harem of robot girls, now does it?

>>28358812
>Try to think-talk to it. <I doubt that.>
This thing is paranoid.

>>28358957
There will be no harems of robot girls.

>inb4 "quest dropped."

>>28358957
Well, how about instead of world domination, we just stick to, I dunno, billionaire or something. We can make the robot-girls ourselves!

>>28358969
That's nice. Glad to see you're the 'ignore/overrule stupid votes' kind of QM, rather than trying to reason with them.

>>28358969
I, just don't know any more......what can we do

can we get robots? like the fighting kind?

>>28358812
>Try to think-talk to it. <What part of this suggests that? At all?>
Let's give him the benefit of the doubt, for now at least.

>>28358969
fine lets let RICHARDS!!! I mean Richard just kill us Life is no longer worth living.

>>28358812
Fuck yeah, more of this.

>>28359005
You're a tactician/mathematician/detective/eidetic/etc, not a gadgeteer. Batman, not Richards. If you've read Worm: you're a Thinker, not a Tinker.

You try to communicate with the cephalopod-thing mentally. It's awkward, and you catch yourself mouthing a bit of it at first before you get it right. <What part of this suggests that? At all?>

<We discussed this already. He's like you. I told you that people like you were threats. Therefore, probably, he has also been told that people like you are threats.> There's a pause for a few seconds. <Further, note the demands for secrecy and meeting him? That is a good way to lure you into a trap.>

<It's also a good way to collude.>

<Which is more likely?>

<Would he kill me at school?>

<He might. It would be unexpected, and you aren't immune to a knife. He likely knows where to stab you to make it quick and quiet. Best to avoid the risk, don't you think so?>

><No, I don't think so.>
><Fine, we'll do it your way.>
><You're paranoid. I'm talking to him.>
>Write-in.

>>28359110
><If he has received the same advise that I have, then he must surely also know that you'd be warning me of this, and any chance of catching me unaware or it being unexpected is zero. Why then take the risk of trying to kill me now, rather than wait and plan it through thoroughly?>

>>28359110
><I'll be careful. But, it's not like I can avoid going to places he knows of - such as this class - in the future. Wouldn't avoiding him just means he can plot out a murder-plan with us being none the wiser? At least we might get some information out of him by talking.>

>>28358812
Starting early again today, eh? Oh well, I'm sure it'll pick up.

<If he is planning on killing me, wouldn't he want some time to prepare? And he's just learned that I have powers, which means he hasn't had time to prepare.>

<Right now, you are at your weakest. You've had less than a day to start amassing knowledge. He's had...> that nauseating feeling rakes across your mind again, <about a year. Delaying only allows you to reduce his advantage.>

<I might get information out of him by talking.>

<He might be able to get blood out of you.>

<If this whole similar mind line of thought counts for anything, he'd know you'd be going into paranoid conniptions right now.>

<That is unavoidable. No matter what move he makes, the moment I recognized him as like you, I would tell you that he was a threat. It doesn't matter if you do it now or tomorrow.>

<It'd be more risky to try to kill me now, than do it, say, tonight, when he's had a chance to get ready.>

<Thus you won't expect it.>

<I can't avoid him forever! We share two classes, just for starters.>

<You could drop out of school.>

><This is ridiculous.>
><I don't buy your arguments and am going to go talk to him.>
><Why are you so afraid of him?>
>Write-in.

>>28359333
><Yeah, I could just leave town, find a nice anonymous place in a good neighborhood, and emulate mom, as well. That'd keep me safe I bet, not very happy though.>

>>28359333
><Why are you so afraid of him?>

>>28359333
>><Why are you so afraid of him?>

<I could just leave the city, find a nice, anonymous place in a good neighborhood, and emulate mom, as well. That'd probably keep me safe. Not happy, though.>

<Fine, then kill him. I'm not asking you to throw everything away. I'm asking you to get away from this one highly dangerous individual.>

<Why are you so afraid of him?>

<Because he could kill me, and he probably will, if given the chance! I don't want to die. Do you? Is this so strange a desire to you that you can't understand it?>

<As I outlined, there are many reasons to consider it likely that he will not try to kill us.>

<Wrong reasons.>

><Calm down. He's not going to kill us.>
><This is ridiculous.>
><I don't buy your arguments and am going to go talk to him.>
>[Lie] <Fine. Fine. I'll kill him. Happy now?>
>[Truth] <Fine. Fine. I'll kill him. Happy now?>
>Write-in.

If we talk it should be where there are people, witnesses.

>>28359488
><We're not getting anywhere here. Your arguments have merit, but I'm still going to talk to him.>
Agree that we should insist on talking in public though.

<If we talk to him, we'll do it where there are people. Witnesses.>

<He'd be stealthy, kill you in a way no one would notice.>

You sigh, audibly. <We're not getting anywhere here. Your arguments have merit, but I'm still going to talk to him.>

<No, don't,> is all the thing says before you cut off its line of communication.

History class is pretty dull now that you've got the entire contents of your history textbook memorized. Still, you manage to absorb what little novel information your teacher gives out at the same time as you work your way through The Scarlet Letter. She calls on you a couple times more than average, but your prompt answers seem to convince her you're paying attention or at least know the material.

After class ends, you meet Richard in the halls. He's leaning against one of the walls as the flood of students moves through the hallway, and you do the same.

"I'll keep it brief," he says, avoiding facing you directly. "You're an Incubator, the thing inside you is a Cambion, and it's going to kill you, but there are ways to delay that." He hands you a piece of paper. "That's a phone number you can contact me at. Do not talk about this to anyone else, at least not until we've talked more about it."

>"Why not?"
>Think-talk to the "Cambion". <Were you aware of this? The killing me thing?>
>Write-in.

>>28359652
>Think-talk to the "Cambion". <Were you aware of this? The killing me thing?>

>>28359652
So, maybe the Cambion is lying, maybe Richard is lying. Pump both sources of information, compare and contrast.

Careful not to get stabbed, of course.

>>28359652
I assume we have a cell?
>Ask if we can call him later today, then do so from a public place (food-court or something) without returning home between now and then. Maybe use the time to discuss Tracy's brother with her if she has time, or just shopping or something. Also be wary of him following or attacking you - no reason to be careless.

We can ask the "Cambion" about stuff after this.

>>28359717
>I assume we have a cell?
I considered this very question in between this thread and the previous one.

My judgement was thus: you have a cell, but you don't take it to school because they aren't allowed and it might get confiscated. I didn't mention you picking it up when you went to the grocery store from home because I hadn't decided on that yet.

>>28359747
So, not here. Hmmm.
Well, we got the number on a note, so the solution is easy; just search for people we know after school, until we find someone who has theirs, and ask to borrow it!

Somehow the idea of returning home before calling does not appeal.

Mentally, you start communicating with the Cambion again. <Were you aware of this? The killing me thing?>

<No, of course not. I would have mentioned it to you. He's probably making it up to sow discord between us.>

You glance at him again. He didn't look like he was lying.

He rolls his eyes when he catches your gaze. "It's fucking with you. Mine tried something similar. They're all like that."

"Uh huh," you say, noncommittally. "I can call you later today, right?"

"I'd prefer it that way," he says, and turns away to leave.

Next period. Spanish. The one class you're not in the high-ability track for. Your grasp of the language, once on unsteady ground, becomes quite a bit firmer over the course of the period. You still can't roll your 'r's though. That might represent some limit to your abilities.

When lunch rolls around, Ned's already seated at the cafeteria, and you can't see Tracy anywhere.

>Go look for Richard and try to get more answers out of him.
>Look for Tracy.
>Sit down with Ned. "Ned, have you seen Tracy?"
>Sit down with Ned. "Ned, out of curiosity, what are the Church's beliefs about possession, spirits, that kind of stuff? In 50 words or less."
>Sit down with Ned. "Hey, Ned, do you have tickets?" Pause, flex. "To the gun show?"
>Write-in.

>>28359846
>Sit down with Ned. "Ned, have you seen Tracy?"
I'm sure she's just delayed due to talking with a teacher or something. What could go wrong?

>>28359846
>>Look for Tracy.

>>28359846
Oh boy.
>Look for Tracy.

>>28359846
>Sit down with Ned. "Hey, Ned, do you have tickets?" Pause, flex. "To the gun show?"
Too good to not do

You look for Tracy, fairly worried. A whole host of increasingly ridiculous but also horrifying scenarios go through your mind. Did Jim...? Or maybe Richard, somehow...? Or someone else...?

Finally, you notice Tracy at about the same time she spots you, and she brightens up as she hustles over to join you. She looks... relieved to see you, yet nervous about something.

You head back to Ned with her in tow. She sucks in a deep breath before she starts speaking. "Okay. Um." There's a long pause. "I told Jim about me and you," she says, and visibly deflates, tension leaving her shoulders. "He didn't take it that well, but he just needs some time. I hope."

You close your eyes and hastily bite your tongue.

Seeing your expression, Tracy starts to talk. "Oh, jeez, I'm sorry, I did it wrong, didn't I? I should've asked you first, right? It's just, he's all the family I have, and I wouldn't have mentioned it if it hadn't come up, and I don't want to treat you like an embarrassing secret," she says, nervously wringing her hands. "Sorry," she says, voice tiny.

>"It's fine. It's just, he's a little... overprotective of you."
>"You shouldn't tell people about us without talking to me about it. It's rude. And dangerous."
>"Goddammit, Tracy! He sicced a bunch of his guys on me! I'm lucky to be alive! You could've at least told me."
>"I should probably meet him soon."
>Write-in.

>>28360011
>"Well he sent a bunch of guys to beat me up. So that happened. Good thing someone scared them off or I'd be dead or bedridden"

>>28360011
>"It's fine. It's just, he's a little... overprotective of you."
and
>"I should probably meet him soon."

>>28360011
>"I wouldn't usually mind telling your family without consulting, but...he IS rather overprotective, I'd have appreciated a heads-up first. Kind of had a run-in with some of his goons while shopping last night. I'll have to have a talk to him soon."
Let's see how long it takes her to notice Abgail's suddenly quite buff.

>>28360011
By the way Tartarus, you know this quest is pretty awesome right?

>>28360011
T-this means we can still use
>Sit down with Ned. "Hey, Ned, do you have tickets?" Pause, flex. "To the gun show?"
when we go to Ned right? It's too good man.

>>28360099
Thank you kindly.

>>28360117
Eh, sure. I actually was thinking that you were sitting down with Ned, but during editing I removed the "after sitting down" so, welp, guess it didn't happen.

So, voting, seems to be towards:
>Be polite, avoid blaming her or getting mad.
>Mention thugs.
>Don't mention beating up thugs.
>We should meet him soon.

>>28360183
Looks good to me

>>28360183
Yeah, that's about what I want.

>>28360183
sounds good.

"It's fine, I'm not angry. It's just, he sent some of his guys after me."

Her eyes widen at that. "Oh, God, really? I'm so, so sorry," she says, eyes downcast.

"It's not your fault, and there's no serious damage. I feel pretty good today, actually," you say, taking one hand and gently putting it on her shoulder. She looks up at you with a nervous smile. "But I should probably meet him soon."

"Yeah, I guess so," she says, swallowing. "I told him after I got home from school yesterday, so he might have just sent them after you in the heat of the moment."

"Maybe," you agree. You sit down with Ned. He's happy to see you and Tracy, but a little confused at Tracy's clearly lowered mood.

>"Ned, out of curiosity, what are the Church's beliefs about possession, spirits, that kind of stuff? In 50 words or less."
>"Hey, Ned, do you have tickets?" Pause, flex. "To the gun show?"
>Write-in.

>>28360297
>"Hey, Ned, do you have tickets?" Pause, flex. "To the gun show?"
Well, does he? No he doesn't! Hahaha

>>28360297
>"Hey, Ned, do you have tickets?" Pause, flex. "To the gun show?"
Yiss
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwMtBhh5Yg0

>>28360297
>"Hey, Ned, do you have tickets?" Pause, flex. "To the gun show?"

it seems the most stupid option.

so perfect for our best friend, just make up a story about spending some time working out recently if questions are asked

>>28360297
>>"Ned, out of curiosity, what are the Church's beliefs about possession, spirits, that kind of stuff? In 50 words or less."
codsob excuses

>>28360342
Well they'd be sure to notice sooner rather than later. Well, Tracy at least. But it's probably obvious even just looking at Abby right now that she suddenly buff.

>>28360363
hence having an excuse ready

>>28360384
Indeed. Not sure if they'll buy it, but I guess if either mentions looking not so buff yesterday or whatever we can deflect by teasing them about looking too closely.

>>28360363
Why would Tracy notice any more than Ned?

>>28360446
Yeah, it's not like her and Abby have any sort of physical contact

>>28360446
Actually Ned might notice quicker, depends on how intimate we were with Tracy

File: 1384802147951.jpg-(Spoiler Image, 79 KB, 402x564)

79 KB JPG

>>28360459
>>28360478
Are you implying that they may be having... premarital relations?

>>28360487
the might even be holding hands

>>28360487
N-no sir. But I mean, maybe they hug more?
Spoilered for too lewd.

File: 1384802261460.png-(312 KB, 397x834, 4358968693.png)

312 KB PNG

>>28360499
>>28360511
>hugging and holding hands

THAT'S HOW YOU END UP PREGNANT.

>>28360487
see >>28360511
Also, didn't you mention that Abby got a bit taller?

"Hey, Ned, do you have tickets?" You pause for a moment, and confusion registers on his face. Then you flex. "To the gun show?"

Ned and Tracy both laugh at that. "Oh, no, I don't have tickets!" Ned cries in mock horror. "Does that mean you're going to throw me out?"

"Mmm... maybe, maybe," you say. "You could pay the fine."

"Don't push your luck, Abby," he responds, giving you a look.

"Come to think of it..." Tracy's brow furrows as she inspects you. "You seem different," she says, rolling the words out slowly, "healthier, kind of?"

"I've been working out some, recently."

Her brow is still furrowed. "I guess?" There's a pause. "Weird. You definitely look different. In the face, too."

"Different good or different bad?"

"Good," she says, and leans back in her chair, still analyzing you. At least her mood is better.

>"Ned, out of curiosity, what are the Church's beliefs about possession, spirits, that kind of stuff? In 50 words or less."
>"So, Ned, I got beat up."
>"Anyone heard anything interesting about Richard?"
>Write-in.

Seriously though, just need an excuse even if it's shit.

>>28360529
>"Well, why worry about a good thing? I just realized if I'm going to consider dating, I might as well make sure I clean up nice. Anyway Ned, I totally got beat up."

>>28360524
No. I said that she was "gangly," an adjective which implies she was tall, but in an unattractive way. Now she's "wiry and tall," that is, tall in an attractive way.

File: 1384802456018.png-(169 KB, 555x641, too lewd.png)

169 KB PNG

>>28360529
>"Ned, out of curiosity, what are the Church's beliefs about possession, spirits, that kind of stuff? In 50 words or less."

>>28360517
pic related, this thread is going to dangerous places

>>28360529
I can't think of any option that's relevant right now. Well let's
>"Ned, out of curiosity, what are the Church's beliefs about possession, spirits, that kind of stuff? In 50 words or less."

>>28360561
But what if Tracy has a gangly-fetish?

I'm sure they're out there.

File: 1384802740079.jpg-(Spoiler Image, 179 KB, 728x1030)

179 KB JPG

>>28360561
>tall in an attractive way.

>>28360529
>"So, Ned, I got beat up."
>>28360587
Hmmmm...
>I'm sorry...you're just too well-toned for me...and your proportions - they're normal! I can't deal with this.
...I've heard of stranger stuff.

>>28360633
I imagine that's what we would've looked like if we went for the spikeball/physique

>>28360587
>>28360654
If she breaks up with you because you have a different physique, how can I use her as a plot hook and waifu war-preventative? Think before you post, people.

"Ned, out of curiosity, what are the Church's beliefs about possession, spirits, that kind of stuff? In 50 words or less," you add quickly.

"50 words or less? Harsh."

"But fair."

"We believe in something kind of like spirits. Elements of the Triune Goddess can be broken off - that would be a simple way of putting it - and survive anyway. That's not quite it - you can't break the Goddess, obviously - but it's close enough. Shards of her act in ways that are something like traditional spirits and can possess people. Was that under 50 words?"

"It was 59, actually. But I appreciate the try."

"Damn," he says. "Close, though, right?"

"Oh I see. Is that how you do it?" Tracy asks.

"Do what?" Ned responds blankly. You can't tell whether or not he's faking it.

>"I'm just trying to clean up nice, Tracy."
>"So, Ned, I got beat up."
>"Anyone heard anything interesting about Richard?"
>Write-in.

>>28360675
thats true.

but once a female character gets introduced that people want to waifu then their going to try for the option of cheating.

so lets establish that Abby hates cheating early on.

>>28360702
>"Anyone heard anything interesting about Richard?"

>>28360702
>"I'm just trying to clean up nice, Tracy."
Whatever that means

>>28360702
> Wink at her. "So, Ned, I got beat up."
We can deal with any lingering suspicions in Tracy when we're alone - bringing it up again now risks putting Ned back on the trail.

>>28360732
Really anon? I can't remember any non-monogamous quests that weren't explicitly stated (or at least implied) to be non-monogamous by the QM. I don't think this is a worry.

>>28360746
I thought we already said this?

>>28360768
I don't see it anywhere, and it's an option in the poll listed, so...

>>28360746
We didn't actually I think it lost out in the votes.

>>28360768
>>28360805
>>28360859
Yeah, it was a tie but you went for the possession question first so I went with that.

>>28360932
Ah, alright.

>>28360932
I meant, we already said that we encountered thugs, so that we got roughed up is a given, besides, what's Ned got to do with this?

>>28360995
We told Tracy that we had a run-in with thugs. Ned didn't hear it.

>>28361040
Oh, okay. Guess I got confused

"Anyone heard anything interesting about Richard?"

"Oh God," Ned groans, "you're back on Richard again?"

"Again?" Tracy asks. "Who's Richard?"

Ned puts his head in his hands. "I thought she was over it. Richard is the academic ubermensch to her academic untermensch, and she used to whine about him all the time."

"The only thing worse than whining, Ned, is whining about whining."

"What about whining about whining about whining?"

"Look, just answer the question."

"No! I haven't heard anything interesting about Richard."

"Tracy?"

"I don't even know who that is."

>Time-skip rest of lunch.
>Write-in.

>>28360459
>mfw both girls are going through the "I'm bi so deal w/ it" stage of their lives

if we don't get some lesbian sex in here, OP, this is my headcanon

>>28361136
>"I'll get him some day. Then I will be top of the class!" Lose yourself in fantasies of dumb students asking you for help, and the pride of walking back to your seat with an aced test.

>>28361151
Abby and Tracy are both seventeen, so they can't really get married without parental permission (which isn't going to happen). Are you suggesting they have sex before marriage?

>>28361192
I think he is! What a blatant troll, no-one really thinks that way. Just ignore anon.

>>28361136
time skiiiiiip

>>28361136
>Time-skip rest of lunch.

>>28361188
But seriously, he's been putting off weird vibes lately. If you hear anything let us know.

"I'll get him some day. Then I will be at the top of the class!" You cry, half-jokingly. Tracy finds it funnier than Ned does.

"But seriously, he's been weirder than usual lately. If you hear anything, let me know."

With that done, you spend the rest of lunch talking about nothing of consequence. Some flirting with Tracy, some joking with Ned, some talking about school or gossip.

English comes after lunch, and it's trivial. You can quote the books for half the remaining semester from memory, making the class quite boring. Has Richard been dealing with this the whole time?

Math is actually one of the easiest subjects, now. It's not even about memorization, your brain has just transformed into a lightning calculator, great at even the more abstract stuff. You share Math with Richard, but you don't manage to catch him before he leaves the class. He seems very set on not having a face-to-face conversation with you right now.

Science is a continuation of more billiards-ball physics, some discussion of molecules. What is an electron. That kind of thing. It ends, fortunately, before you die of boredom.

That's it, school's over. What now?

>Go with Tracy to see Jim, and talk your problems out.
>Talk to Ned about [whatever]
>Talk to Richard face to face.
>Go home, get your cell, call Richard.
>Go find a shop, get some change, then go find a payphone and call Richard.
>Write-in.

>>28361382
>Go with Tracy to see Jim, and talk your problems out.
Then we can borrow a phone afterwards to call Richard.

>>28361382
cell call

>>28361382
>>Go with Tracy to see Jim, and talk your problems out.

We said we were calling Richard tonight, we can handle other things until then. For example, making sure we don't get jumped again.

>>28361382
>Go with Tracy to see Jim, and talk your problems out.

this needs to be sorted out first. If we make a good impression on Jim he could prove an ally.

>>28361382
>Write-in.
Buy a prepaid cell to call Richard. He's probably marked all the payphone locations.

>>28361493
>prepaid cell
>payphone
Are there universes where these both exist at the same time?

>>28361571
You better believe in them, anon.

You're living in one.

You find Tracy as school ends, maneuvering towards her through the mass of bodies. When you tap her shoulder, she actually yelps in surprise as she turns around. Once she realizes it's you, she flushes red in embarrassment. "You surprised me."

"Sorry," you reply. "I want to get the Jim problem out of the way as soon as possible."

"Oh. Okay, yeah, that's probably for the best." You walk alongside Tracy on her way home, mostly in silence.

"If there's anything I can do to make it up to you," she starts, "ask, okay?"

"I'll keep it in mind. But," you say, holding her hand, "it's really not your fault. It's Jim's."

"I guess..." she says, obviously not convinced.

You get to her house. She's fiddling with the keys to the door, clearly pretty nervous.

So, what's the plan?
>Straightforward. "I like your sister and she likes me and you need to accept that."
>Placating. "I understand that this may be difficult for you, but all I really want is for Tracy to be happy."
>Threatening. "I beat up your guys, and I'm going to date your sister whether you like it or not."
>Write-in.

(Roll 2d20 for Perception/Charm, best of first three)

Rolled 15, 7 = 22

>>28361632
>Straightforward. "I like your sister and she likes me and you need to accept that."
Well, we should obviously try being nice about it first, for Tracy's sake. Then we'll see how he reacts. That said, don't make it sound like it's up to him, that he has any power to decide.

>>28361632
dice+2d20
>Straightforward. "I like your sister and she likes me and you need to accept that."

Rolled 12, 4 = 16

>>28361695
I need to sleep better so I don't tard out again

>>28361632

Okay you sent the crazy brigade to beat the shit out of me and that's not worked and it's not going to work and to be frank mate it's just plane rude.

Now can you state your problems with me dating your sister so I can dispel them and leave?

>>28361632
straightforward
we hero now

Rolled 12

>>28361732

shit muh dice

Rolled 6, 13 = 19

>>28361673
>>28361695
As good an option as any.

>>28361753
no bad anon, I'm the only one allowed to fail at dice today

Rolled 9, 10 = 19

>>28361739
forgot dice

Rolled 10, 3 = 13

>>28361632
>Straightforward. "I like your sister and she likes me and you need to accept that."
Do we have a pair of classy shades to put on as we say the last part?

These are some real fucking mediocre rolls.

>>28361753
>>28361798

I bring great dishonor to the Quest

>>28361844
With rolls like that it wouldn't help much.

>>28361849
15 for perception isn't bad, and if charisma fails we just grab a kitchen knife and threaten to take his balls.

>>28361877
Spaghetti time i guess

>>28361849
Eh. Success on Perception, failure on Charm, about as expected.

>Writing

>>28361962
A-are you saying Abby isn't charming?!

>>28361984
Let me just check her character sheet...

Physique: 3, Perception: 4, Intelligence: 6, Charm: 0

Yes, that seems to be exactly what I'm saying.

>>28361192
Obviously these kids aren't american, or they'd have lost their virginity by the time they were 12.

>>28362061
>>>/pol/ is thataway, anon.

The actual mean age of loss of virginity is like 17.3 for girls in the USA nowadays, and it's on the rise.

>>28362029
Well fuck your sheet, charm isn't an objective stat, maaan. On my sheet her charm is 10.

>>28362093
>not sensing the blatant sarcasm
>not enjoying snark

do you hate fun, OP?

>>28362181
I do, that's why I run a Quest.

Perception: Success!
Charm: Failure!

Tracy opens the door, slowly. "Jim?" She yells inside. "Is there any company over?"

You hear a groan from inside, followed by a shout. "No, Trace, I was sleeping. What is it?"

Tracy turns to look at you, and you give her a nod. "I need to talk to you."

You hear him flop out of bed, loudly. You and Tracy enter the house, and Tracy sits, nervously, on the couch in the living room. At last, Jim comes out, obviously half-asleep. "Who's this?" he asks with a yawn.

"That's Abby." He looks at you, suddenly wide awake, and with no small amount of contempt on his face. "You know, my girlfriend? Who you apparently sent guys after?"

"I don't know anything about that," he says, as if rehearsed.

You stare at him, not amused. Tracy looks from him to you for a second, before choosing to remain silent. "I like your sister," you start, "and she likes me. You need to accept that."

"I don't need to do anything," he replies, curt, a note of indignation in his voice. "She's my sister, I'm not letting you turn her into a fucking dyke."

"Are you planning on stopping me somehow? I believe you tried that already. How did it work out?"

"Like I said," he repeats, anger in his voice, "I don't know anything about that."

"Uh huh," you respond, making the fact that you aren't convinced very clear.

>(1/2)

>>28362192
the only possible answer

There's plenty enough raw data here to turn it into information. He's angry at you in particular, but not Tracy at all. Tracy is innocent, in his mind. He doesn't seem to have any respect for the physical threat you represent, so his guys apparently didn't tell him how their attempted beat-down ended. He's used to being powerful, and doesn't like it when things don't go his way, especially when people don't listen to him. From the way Tracy is reacting, this kind of anger isn't unusual for him, though it's never been directed at her.

>"What excuse did your boys give you for me beating the shit out of them?"
>"Tracy, you tell him. Maybe he'll listen to you."
>"Tracy would be a lot happier if you stopped what you're doing."
>"You don't have to like it, you just have to not send guys to beat me up."
>Write-in.

Rolled 7, 8 = 15

>>28362192
tru stori
10/10

Rolled 6, 5 = 11

>>28362328
>"u tellim trac"
also she's already a dyke

>>28362328
Oh, to clarify: he's used to being powerful, but he's a member of a larger organization so don't mistake that for being unable to accede to other's demands.

>>28362328
>"You don't have to like it, you just have to not send guys to beat me up."

>>28362328
Have tracy back us up here, I don't think streats will go well

>>28362328
>"Tracy, you tell him. Maybe he'll listen to you."

Let's try and reason with him before we go all out assault.

>>28362328
>"You don't have to like it, you just have to not send guys to beat me up."
Maybe the lack of injuries or limping will tip him off before we need to come up with stronger stuff.

>>28362328
>"Tracy, you tell him. Maybe he'll listen to you."

lets confront him with his sisters feelings

>>28362378
threats*

>>28362328
>>"Tracy would be a lot happier if you stopped what you're doing."
>>"Tracy, you tell him. Maybe he'll listen to you."

Rolled 6, 20, 8 = 34

Rolling for Tracy, then.

>>28362503
lets hope that the natural 20 is something good

>>28362310
OH god, we're so dead. All the information gathering in the world isn't going to help us from not dying to a bullet to the head.

"Tracy, you tell him. Maybe he'll listen to you."

This confuses Jim for a second, and he blinks, a lot of his momentum stopped.

"Um. Okay. Jim, I lo-" she stops herself. "I like Abby. A lot. It makes me happy when she's around. I've never felt this way about anybody else. Please, Jim. Just calm down." She stands up, standing next to you and wrapping her fingers around yours. "Please, Jim, don't do this."

Jim's face twitches in displeasure. He growls, balling his fists. Tracy flinches in response, and Jim's demeanor instantly changes, worry creasing his face. "Fine. Fine. Fine!" He throws his hands up in the air. "I'm trying to protect my little sister, but I guess you're so good at carpet munching that you've got her wrapped around your little finger."

Tracy blushes. "Um. I wouldn't know."

"Thank God for small favors, I guess." He gives you a look, and it's not difficult to interpret. Something like 'I'll fuck you up if you hurt her'. Then he sighs. "If, hypothetically, I were to have told anybody to beat you up, I would now stop them. But since I didn't do that, I won't. Instead, I'll go into another room and make a completely unrelated call on my phone. Claro?"

You nod.

He heads into his room, slamming the door behind him, loudly.

What now?
>Write-in.

>>28362751
>"That went well."

>>28362751
>See if Tracy needs our support
>Keep alert to any groups of people/cars arriving outside

>>28362751
>"Well, that might have gone okay. Just gotta hope he isn't calling in a sniper squad instead.

I'm kidding!"

>>28362751
I don't suppose we can dismantle his alarm clock and attempt to McGuyver a device to intercept and decode his cellphone signal?

>>28362751
go to tracys room and show her how good we are at carpet munching

>>28362751

"He he he sweet God! Tracy have I ever told you that I love you?"

>>28362803
Oops, forgot my other bracket. Oh well.

>>28362751
Let's just hug it out with Tracy to calm things down some. Chastely hug.

>>28362751
>>28362826
seconded

>>28362899
>>28362826

Let's not do that.

>>28362949
How about we just initiate sloppy makeouts and wait for Jim to come back? Hilarity will ensue.

>>28362821
You're not really any more able to turn an alarm clock into a cell-phone signal receiver than your average 190 IQ 17-year-old. Your schtick is "lots of skills," "support abilities," "super-perceptive" and "high accuracy," not "build weird gizmos," and definitely not "build weird gizmos without any pre-existing knowledge of how."

>>28362949
>>28362826

And thus the Waifu wars became the "How to waifu wars".

And in this way Tartarus was punished for defiling the laws of nature and reason.

>>28363007
B-but it would be cool.

Oh well.

>>28363007
And here I was hoping we'd have the Knack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8vHhgh6oM0

Can we at least use perception to hear what he's saying?

>>28363203
When genitals are involved, you bet your ass the topic's going to be derailed.

>>28363271
It's not really derailed. I'd imagine OP is just ignoring lewd voting, as long as non.lewd stuff gets votes and discussion it should be fine.

>>28363210
On a related note, now that we've done all our school work for the next year we should really start reading up on electronics, organic chemistry and metalworking.

>>28363296
This is both dumb and against my religion.

>>28363310
This actually might be a good plan. Lockpicking as well.

And I'd like to point out that there is no consensus yet about a course of action aside from the two guys making the lewd suggestion

>>28363310
Lofty plans anon.
Still, survival-knowledge seems prudent at least.

>>28363296
god damn guys it was supposed to be a joke based on what QM had jim say. If anything is getting derailed it's because everyone took it too seriously.

You use Tracy's tight grip on your hand to turn her towards you, pulling her into a hug. She quickly leans into you, and you pat her on the back. "I think that went quite well," you say. She chokes back a laugh.

"If you say so."

"You okay?" You ask as she pulls away a little from your tight embrace.

"Yeah," she says, sighing a little. "Yeah. I know he'd never hurt me, but it was still a little scary when he..."

"I know," you say. "But it's okay. He wouldn't hurt you, and I'll be fine."

You glance out the windows, but there's no sign of any unusual activity. Jim seems to have been true to his word.

What now?
>"Can I borrow your phone? I have someone I need to talk to." Call Richard.
>"You want to go out? On a date, I mean?"
>Write-in.

>>28363310
Let's get the Anarchist Cookbook in there if we can and some martial arts training/videos. You never know when you need that shit

>>28363339
Then call me Simon Magus and crown me the Anti-Pope.

>>28363344
If the survival plan doesn't involve homemade scud missiles I don't want to know about it.

>>28363389
>"You want to go out? On a date, I mean?"
Call Richard after, don't ruin the mood.

>>28363424
Time to make a call to the GLA postal service.

>>28363425
Being scared makes for wet diddlies. Let's go get some munch and maybe a little desert afterwards winky wink.

>>28363389
>"You want to go out? On a date, I mean?"

Date idea is good idea.

also something tells me plot lies that way

>>28363389
them dates

>>28363406
>190 IQ
>trusting the Anarchist's Cookbook
Let's start with Introduction to Chemical Engineering and work from there.

>>28363467
>also something tells me plot lies that way
Exactly the wrong direction, actually.

>>28363537
QM suggests another course of action...

paranoia level rising

last time a DM suggested something to me it was 'Your character is certain he can make the jump'

>>28363537
...I'm still for it. We can have the date another night, right?

>>28363579
In the options list, I meant a date right now. I guess that was unclear. Since everyone seems hell-bent on dates, I guess an additional vote is in order:

>Date now.
>Date tomorrow.

>>28363611
>Date tomorrow.
Gotta have preparation time man! Also we can now call Richard.

>>28363611
>Date tomorrow

Let's give that cunt Richard a call

>>28363611
>Date now.
Victory date, stickin' it to the man. or the lack therof

>>28363611
>"Ugh, all this worrying about Jim has been frustrating, how about we hit the movies tomorrow or something? Go out a little bit and have some fun.. just the two of us?"
need preparation time for richard so we wont get mind raped by his cambion.

>>28363511
At the moment I think knowing how to do stuff quick and dirty is better than needing a lab and access to actual chemicals.
Science! can come later.

>>28363726
Chemicals can be bought in most supermarkets if you know what you're looking for, and we're less likely to blow our hands off if we know how it works.

"You want to go out? On a date, I mean?"

Tracy laughs a little at that. "You're asking this now?"

"What can I say? I seem to be incorrigible."

"When?"

"Is tomorrow good for you?"

"Sounds wonderful. I need a nice long sleep in order to get back to my normal bubbly self."

"I wasn't going to say anything..."

What now?
>"Can I borrow your phone? I have someone I need to talk to." Call Richard.
>Same, but call Ned instead.
>Just hang around and chat with Tracy.
>Go buy something from the store or whatever.
>Write-in.

>>28363855
>"Can I borrow your phone? I have someone I need to talk to." Call Richard.

>>28363855
>Go buy something from the store or whatever.
Buy a prepaid phone and use that.

>>28363855
>Just hang around and chat with Tracy.
we need to be polite

>Go buy something from the store or whatever.
After saying goodbye to Tracy, we buy a prepaid phone and use it to call Richard

>>28363892
>>28363906
This, but use text. I don't want to find out he has hypnotic powers or some bullshit.

>>28363928
good addition

>>28363928
Hypnotic powers that work over the phone? I'd say he probably got a similar one to us, higher iq an all that.

>>28363961
We don't know how cambions develop yet. Safer to assume the worst.

Counterpoint to this ridiculous hypnotic powers bullshit: text messages are much easier to track and monitor, since they get saved for a substantial period of time on central servers, are easier for a computer to read, etc.

Also I have to rewrite some of my pre-written stuff if you go with text messages, and rewrite it in text format and just come the fuck on.

File: 1384815126729.jpg-(40 KB, 600x480, shadowruns.jpg)

40 KB JPG

>>28364063
pic related

>>28364174
Then we'll go with the phonecall

but remember that sometimes quests devolve into serious cases of the shadowruns

>>28364174
Morse code.
Final Destination.

>>28364198
I mean, if he could hypnotize you over the phone, why wouldn't he do it in the classroom? You're not even shadowrunning right!

>>28364220
perhaps his powers only work over the phone, and thats why he gave us the number.

>>28364220
Like a good whiskey, paranoia must be aged properly.

>>28364274
Oh, a very clever trap in that case. I almost got you.

I'm just going to have you call him on the phone rather than texting him, because it's not actually such a bizarre and bullshit-y trap as that.

>>28364274
After he gave us the number he avoided us. The only possible explanation was to force us to use the phone and hypnotize us!

>>28364220
Shit,you're right. We should take to wearing an MP3 player with noise-cancelling earbuds when we think he's nearby.

You hang around a while longer, talking with Tracy about things other than Jim, who graciously - or, more likely, because he can't stand to be around you - leaves you alone. The subject matter is varied but inconsequential. A bit of light flirting is mixed in: you're her "knight in shining armor" and she's your "beautiful princess" and other such disgusting lovey-dovey crap.

After nearly an hour, you give Tracy a goodbye kiss and head to the phone store, where you manage to find an incredibly crappy pre-paid cell phone for a mere $25.00, well within your spending budget. You fish out the piece of paper with Richard's number on it.

You call him up.

"Richard?" You ask, tentatively.

"Speaking."

"You said I could call you later today..."

"Okay. Right," he says, and you can hear him start to move. A door opens and closes; then there's the sound of cars on the street. "Anything in particular you're curious about, or should I just start from the top?"

>"You mentioned something about a way to delay my imminent death?"
>"Why should I trust you?
>"Just start from the top."
>Write-in.

>>28364368
>"Why don't you return home first, or I'll be ending this call."

>>28364368
>"Just start from the top."

>>28364368
>"Just start from the top."
Let's here it out before we decide whether it's bullshit or not.
But keep on the move and go to a public area

>>28364368
>"Just start from the top."

stay aware of our surroundings though. He might be looking for us

>>28364404
This is a better option, actually.

>>28364368
>>28364404
This

>>28364447
I'm this guy changing my vote to this>>28364404

>>28364604
Likewise
>>28364416
No reason to stop being paranoid now.

Well the way I see it, we have two sources, either of which could be lying.

However, one source is not only giving us powers, but also has an incentive to keep us alive, as it presumably needs a host. I mean, if it didn't need a host, then why did it pick one?

>>28364678
but it might not actually be a symbiote but a parasite that needs us to develop in

>>28364707
But Richard wasn't in any hurry to get rid of his.

"Why don't you return home first, or I'll be ending this call."

"I'm not staying at home because I don't want my parents to overhear this conversation. It's called discretion. If I stay at home, I'll have to use a whole bunch of metaphors and other such bullshit instead of straight language. It's difficult to come up with a metaphor that gets across the idea that a Ballista Incubator has a 20 meter range, or that you're going to get your brain splattered all over the pavement by government agents if you don't keep your head down." He sighs, loudly. "Are you really going to be so childish as to get annoyed that I'm seeking a better place to speak than at a home with two helicopter parents? Sufficiently annoyed to stop me from giving you information vital to your continued life?"

>"Apparently." Hang up.
>"Unless you turn around, you're going to find out."
>"I guess not."
>Write-in.

>>28364707
Yes, but it would still presumably need a LIVE host, and for quite a while. Unless Richard is telling the truth and he did something to delay it (which I doubt, as >>28364730 makes a good point), then we have at least a year of it needing us alive, even assuming its something that will kill us.

>>28364797
>"Childishly annoyed? I'm taking this seriously enough not to discount the possibility that if one day with this shit can make me some athletic supermensch, who knows if a year can give you the ability to track people through radio-waves. I don't trust either you or that thing in my head more than the other - no offense intended if that helps - and it's pretty adamant not to take any risks where others like it are involved. Now, how about you explain why you can't just shut yourself in your room, and if your parents are the kind of people who'll sneak a listen at the door, you just play it off as discussing a game or something with a friend."

>>28364797
>Write-in.
"Okay, first things first. Mine was very insistent that I kill you, even before we started talking. Why is that?"
If we know where he lives, start walking the other way.

>>28364797
turn around boi
voices in my head say u wanna kill me

>>28364797
>>28364936
seconding this one

>>28364936
Thirding
maybe also a combination of >>28364906

ANYWHO
ULTRA-SPECULATIVE POWERS - GO

Okay then. these might be completely wrong, they are after all just rambling thoughts I had.

First off: We didn't find any evidence of 'incubators' online at all, even with investigative powers. This means that these Incubator things are a big secret. Richard has had his for about a year-ish, right? So they've been around for a bit, but not too long.
Second: If they're such a big secret, how does Richard know so much about them? This implies that either A) he has a source of information we've missed/we haven't spent enough time online researching, or the more likely B) He has prior experience.

If B), then what happened? We might want to ask. If he says that he helped/was helped by someone, ask him to get into contact with that person, who might then be able to talk to us and maybe convince us to stop being so damned paranoid. If he can't, then we have no real reason to trust him, since we don't know what would have happened to said person, i.e. if Richard killed them.

There's 4 ways this could pan out, as I see it: 1: Richard is a lying asshole. Well, shit, we're up against someone with a hell of a lot more expierience in this kind of shit than us. 2: Our symbiote/parasite/partner/whatever is a lying scumbag. Well, shit, we have something inside/bonded/grafted to us that is screwing us over, and probably no effective way to deal with it. 3: They're both wrong, somehow. Well, shit, no one knows anything, what the fuck is going on? Finally, 4: They're both telling the truth. Response: FUUUUUUU----- We're not only stuck with another genius who has more experience than us try to kill us, but we ALSO have an Incubator in us screwing us over!

"Okay, first things first. Mine was very insistent that I kill you, even before we started talking. Why is that?"

He sighs in apparent relief. "Simple version, it wants you to kill me because I'm an Incubator. Cambions go bugfuck crazy around each other. They don't get along great with humans either, but they're even worse with each other. Since I'm an Incubator, that means I have a Cambion inside me too. Cambions, by their instincts, violently eliminate other Cambions and any Incubators, then proceed to kill any humans still around. You got the 'luck' of getting stuck with a Scholar Cambion, which means the thing is smart enough to tell you all kinds of lies. What did it say to you, out of curiosity?"

>"That you probably planned to kill me, that I should avoid you at all costs until I could kill you, that sort of thing."
>"I'll ask the questions here!"
>"You mentioned that it would kill me? How and why exactly?"
>"You mentioned something about a way to delay my supposed imminent death?"
>"Why should I trust you?"
>"Just start from the top, I suppose."
>Write-in.

>>28365359
To clarify, the "I'll ask the questions here!" should be followed by one or more of the questions.

>>28365287
>We're not only stuck with another genius who has more experience than us try to kill us, but we ALSO have an Incubator in us screwing us over!
The cephalopod in your head is a Cambion. You're an Incubator, Richard is an Incubator. Richard's own (presumable) magic head monster is also a Cambion.

>>28365359
>"That you probably planned to kill me, that I should avoid you at all costs until I could kill you, that sort of thing."

>>28365359
"And how did you find all this out? I'm guessing you didn't just ask yours politely"

>"You mentioned that it would kill me? How and why exactly?"
>"You mentioned something about a way to delay my supposed imminent death?"

These seem like the most important.

>>28365359
>"That you probably planned to kill me, that I should avoid you at all costs until I could kill you, that sort of thing. Still gonna be watching out for that by the way, so I'd recommend you don't make any sudden moves near me or really approach me much at all. How did you learn all this, exactly"

"That you probably planned to kill me, that I should avoid you at all costs until I could kill you, that sort of thing."

"Ah. Mine said something similar when I met Walter."

"How did you learn all this? I'm assuming that you didn't just ask yours politely."

"Well, I tend to be more suspicious of squid monsters living in my brain than ordinary, flesh and blood humans. Maybe I'm a bigot in that way. But hey, you're not supposed to trust the voices in your head, right?" He gives a little laugh. "Anyway, a lot of it's from Walter, a bit's from Penelope - my former comrades-in-arms, before their lamentable deaths - and the rest is from Project Etna herself, in documents liberated from their computers and databases."

>"You mentioned that it would kill me? How and why exactly?"
>"You mentioned something about a way to delay my supposed imminent death?"
>"Why should I trust you?"
>"Just start from the top, I suppose."
>Write-in.

>>28365705
"What's Project Etna? Actually, just start from the top and give me a quick overview, it'll be quicker than jumping around. I'll ask for detail where I need it."

>>28365705
Whoa whoa you're mentioning a lot of things I want to know about all at the same time,
What is this project Etna, and these people who helped you?

First though, you mentioned it would kill me, how, why, and how do I stop it?

>>28365705
WOW FUNNY HOW BOTH YOUR TEAMMATES DIED HUH. WHAT A WEIRD COINCIDENCE.

"What is Project Etna? Actually, quick overview: Etna, Walter and Penelope, the Cambion killing me, last one in depth."

"Etna is the government task force tasked with getting rid of Incubators and Cambions. They aren't particularly malicious, but, you know. We're dangerous. Walter was a Ballista Incubator, that means he had a very particular form of telekinesis, and Penelope was a Marshal Incubator, that means she could create these loyal little servants."

"And the Cambion?"

"It feeds off your psychic energy until it gets nice and fat. It will use your body as a focus for physical manifestation. It does that four times until the last one, when it just burns you out completely, killing you. Then it goes on a total rampage - not that it won't the first four times - and kill lots of things."

"How do I stop it?"

"You can delay it a lot by killing other Incubators and Cambions, a little by hanging around other Incubators."

<You see? He admits to having motive to kill you.>

"To stop it? No way. Unless you count death. I mean, if there's a cure, it isn't around yet, and probably won't be for at least a decade or two, and neither of us will be aronud for it. Fuck, they don't even know where Cambions come from, where they dwell before they manifest, simple things like that."

>"Isn't it weird how both your teammates died?"
>"Why should I trust you?"
>"So there are multiple kinds of Incubators, with pre-existing names? What are they?"
>Write-in.

>>28365997
>"So there are multiple kinds of Incubators, with pre-existing names? What are they?"

>>28365997
>Etna
"Makes sense. The government doesn't want such powerful creatures to be free in the public. I ran a few searches with the help of proxies and I found almost nothing. If it did exist, government black out would be the only thing able to snuff it out this well.
This is concerning though. If they fell to that project, why didn't you? Were you simply too smart, and quiet? Or did you let them die to save yourself? Again no offense intended, but I feel it's important to know the trustworthiness of a potential ally."

"As for the news about Combion...that is....extremely disheartening. How are we suppose to live that way? And what is the approximate time frame we have between each larval stage?"
To Combion: "Shut your mouth, I'll hear nothing from you currently, parasite."
To Richard: "If the only way to keep death far away is to kill others, why would you help me at all? Wouldn't this be cause for you to kill me to save yourself another few months of time? Or perhaps you see the benefit of us working together to find a way to stop the madness. I for one don't intend to live for the parasite."

"If they died, why didn't you?"

"Walter had a Partial Manifestation. Me and Penelope tried to take him down until his Cambion went back, but his Cambion wound up sawing her leg off and Etna started to circle, and, well," you can almost hear him shrug, "I didn't want to die and didn't see any way to save them."

"What's the time between... manifestations?"

"A month, maybe, if you don't do anything. Can stretch it up to a couple years by killing."

"Why would you ally with me, then? You could kill me and live another month or whatever."

"Being in a group with other Incubators does increase your life expectancy by a fair margin. Ten percent, or something. It lso makes it easier to kill other Cambions and Incubators."

"You suggested there are multiple kinds of Incubators, with pre-existing names?"

"Yeah, there are eight kinds of Cambion. Ballista, Chariot, Exile, Healer, Knight, Marshal, Monarch, and Scholar-- oh, fucking, fuck a duck. I can't talk about this anymore. My stalker just showed up."

"Stalker?"

"Not the sexy kind, I don't think. Professional experience - police, intelligence, something like that - but alone and obsessive. I'd rather she didn't know I knew about her, and I'd really rather she didn't learn about our mutual interests. If you have some unrelated questions, I could answer them. Otherwise, I'll call you back?"

>"I guess we can continue this conversation at a later time."
>"There's a sexy kind of stalker?"
>"You want some help with that?"
>Write-in.

>>28366455
>>"I guess we can continue this conversation at a later time."

>>28366455
>It lso makes it easier to kill other Cambions and Incubators."
>lso
>not also

No! No! Argh! I was doing so well, too!

>>28366455
"We'll continue another time. You're already made more sense then Scholar has. Allies is good, and I'll be sure to ignore whatever violent tendencies this one has."

then let's go home to study up on useful sciences and martial arts. Maybe we'll be able to apply some of it next fight or something.

>>28366455
>"I guess we can continue this conversation at a later time."

"Stay safe, I'll see you around."

>>28366560
I'd suggest Tai Chi for a martial art. I mean actual Tai Chi, not just exercise stuff, it's a remarkably brutal and efficient martial art.

"I guess we can continue this conversation at a later time. Stay safe, and thanks. You've already made more sense than my Cambion has."

"Not a great hurdle to jump," he replies.

You exchange farewells and hang up the phone.

You decide to head home to study up on some more of the sciences. You open the medical textbook you torrented this morning, and chew through it at a rapid pace. Your fingers strum the keyboard as you flip through it.

After you finish it off, you decide to look into some martial arts, starting with Tai Chi. You kick at the air, as shown in the videos, but there's something a little off. You try it again, and again. The sensation is at once familiar and foreign. It takes you a little while before you figure out what's wrong.

Your power doesn't seem to work quite as well for muscle memory. Possibly not at all.

THREAD END.

Any comments? Closing in on bedtime for Tartarus, but I'll be sure to read them in the morning if I don't catch them tonight.

Oh, yeah, and here's my twitter in case you forgot it's in the OP.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TartarusQM

>>28366824
No muscle memory? Man I thought we had like, the ability to learn anything.

Well I have no idea how we're gonna fight then.
Maybe we should just use our super brain to get super rich and build an Iron Man suit. Anyone else game?

>>28366824
Cool. When're you running next thread?

Also, you made it clear you disliked the Intelligence power. What're the plans for it since you didn't want us to take it anyway?

>>28366824
We should do the stock market. Observe and predict the highly probably outcome, invest all our money, get it all back double, repeat until success.

Or just go gamble and count cards.

>>28367068
Eh. Your instant memorization doesn't apply for physical tasks. It's not as bad as all that. There are still plenty of combat applications for extreme perceptiveness/eidetic memory/rapid data analysis. (Not going to tell you them, though.)

>>28367086
>Cool. When're you running next thread?
Dunno. We're still not through my prep work, so maybe Wednesday? Depends on whether or not I feel like pre-writing tomorrow. I've got to figure out interesting things for your date with Tracy, too.

>Also, you made it clear you disliked the Intelligence power. What're the plans for it since you didn't want us to take it anyway?
A) It's one of the least developed powers, along with Monarch/Body Control. Those two had/have the least developed analysis of all eight, coming in at under a paragraph. Ballista/Telekinesis, for example, has three big chunky paragraphs of dissection of secondary effects, weaknesses, limitations, creative applications, etc. Scholar has, like, half that, and a bunch of that was added after you picked it. I still haven't fully developed it.

B) Richard already has it, so if you decide to team up with him, you've got twice as much as you need.

>>28367113
On the stock market, you would be competing with machines that react to the market in miniscule fractions of a second. I wouldn't guarantee your abilities would allow you to win that particular game.

As for gambling, you're underage.

>>28367367
>Combat uses of super perception
Yeah, I know but none of them will let us disarm a guy's gun with a small twist of their arm.
Can we use pressure points? Far as I know that doesn't take muscle memory. Just smartness.

Also
>Beefy paragraph on Telekenesis
Really? that was the least interesting one for me. I'd have preferred teleportation, or Greed level body durability.
Still no problems taking the abstract choice. Intelligence gets you far in human society. Long as we play lawful, we should get through stuff just fine.

Oh speaking of, let's spend a good 3-5 hours memorizing the countries laws and basically be a rules lawyer. We'd be able to call any agents out on their bullshit.

Also, what's more deadly then one master mind? Two.

>Underaged
>Implying we wouldn't use our master intelligence to craft the perfect fake ID.
Comon man, we're basically Rainman

>>28367367
>Wednesday maybe.
Alright then. I don't get why there aren't all that many anons here. Pretty cool concept I think.

>>28367494
>Really? that was the least interesting one for me. I'd have preferred teleportation, or Greed level body durability.
I have big beefy paragraphs on teleportation and physique, too. I wanted to make sure they were all versatile enough to be worth playing with them (and ONLY them) for an entire Quest.

>Oh speaking of, let's spend a good 3-5 hours memorizing the countries laws and basically be a rules lawyer. We'd be able to call any agents out on their bullshit.
>implying that government agents obey "the law"
>2001+12
You're embarrassing yourself, anon.

>>28367582
>Alright then. I don't get why there aren't all that many anons here. Pretty cool concept I think.
It's waxed and waned. At times we had 7-8, others 2-3. It's probably because it ran for 9 hours.

>>28367730
So we only get one power?
Man.
This is gonna be rough with just super brains. No world ending conflicts for us. Just gonna spend most of it avoiding folks.
I hope we get more psychic powers and such from this. Like mind blasting people with our magnificent space brain.
Or we could become Alakazam. That'd be sweet too.

>Agents
Still, would be nice to be a lawyer on top of everything else.

Also you said we wouldn't be a tinkerer. I'm not sure what you're planning but...gadgets may have to be our thing, since super brain is our only power. Only so many ways you can explain to someone why they're stupid.

>>28367883
Yeah, one power does kinda stink.
Unless, of course, Richard's a lying bastard. Still a possibility here.

Still, I wish we had gone the Nilbog route. Even making just tiny minions would be amazing. I mean, come on, we'd be able to assassinate people a hell of a lot easier, just make a tiny poisonous spider minion or something.

>>28370809
Eh, I'm okay with just one Incubator, but the key here is creativity. And hopefully developing powers.
Brain powers are really good(a shame telekinesis is a separate power), nice and flexible. World's greatest computer hacker, and all that good stuff.

My fucking phone started dying and woke me up, so I guess I can comment a bit before sleep retakes me (if it does).

>>28367883
>I hope we get more psychic powers and such from this. Like mind blasting people with our magnificent space brain.
Don't hold your breath.

>Also you said we wouldn't be a tinkerer. I'm not sure what you're planning but...gadgets may have to be our thing, since super brain is our only power. Only so many ways you can explain to someone why they're stupid.
You can make gadgets, but not Reed Richard-type stuff. You could probably make, say, tear gas, or an improvised firearm, with a good amount of research and care. Nothing that's beyond your physical abilities (e.g. you couldn't make a nuke because you don't have the necessary materials), or the technical capabilities of society at large (e.g. you couldn't make a sentient AI because nobody in society can do that).

Your cognitive abilities are leaps and bounds above normal, but you won't be inventing anything too impressive without a laboratory, a lot of time, and a bunch of funding. You're very very smart, but you still can't *cheat*. You couldn't, say, sit down in your room and draw a map of NYC without any guidelines or previous research; and the same goes for technology. You can't summon the necessary skills out of the aether.

>>28370809
>Still, I wish we had gone the Nilbog route.
The fucked up thing is, Summoning/Nilbog/Marshal won. It just happened after voting closed.

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>>28371513
>Nilbog won
>But we still didn't get it
>MFW

>>28371513
>No psychic powers
Does Intelligence do ANYTHING else that will be handy?

>Gadgets and science
So...let's become a scientist then and get the funding.
We're smart enough to outsmart anyone else other then other Incubators right?
So let's just do that and find out how to make A.I. and nukes.
Why not, right?

>>28371674
Nukes I can see, but A.I. approaches Tinker-tier of equipment.

Really, we don't really have any special powers. We're basically Batman, except without the martial prowess, and instead of determination and badassitude, we're a host for an alien organism that gives us benefits. So really, I could see Batman-level tools and gear, stuff that would approach the upper limits of modern tech, but not Tinker-tech or anything else that would actually surpass it.
At least not yet, anyways. Wasn't it implied that our power will grow, or something?

>>28371804
Huh, actually that's a good point. Batman is the best hero anyway, he studies his enemies, gets their weakness, and turns it into a bat themed weapon.

Dear god, can we become a multi billionaire and have a underground hideout where we became a vigilante of justice?

>>28371674
>Does Intelligence do ANYTHING else that will be handy?
It is a fairly versatile power set, just like all of them. I can think of numerous applications for the extreme perceptiveness, rapid data analysis, and ability to learn new (cognitive, not physical) skills very quickly. But I wouldn't tell you my list of power tricks for teleportation if you'd gone with that, and I won't tell you the various tricks for this one either.

>So...let's become a scientist then and get the funding.
I think your time horizons are a little long, buddy.

>>28371804
>At least not yet, anyways. Wasn't it implied that our power will grow, or something?
I mentioned it last thread during voting. But it's a marginal effect; if you had gone with Summoning/Nilbog, for example, you'd gain more control over what you produce and be able to make a bit larger servants. Since you went with Information Gathering and Application, you'll become a bit more perceptive, get more detail faster from analyses, that sort of thing.

>>28371958
>Not playing the long game
Why not? Because of the Incubator shit? Fuck that guy, we'll be batman. Find out each Incubator's weakness and slaughter them while we build out batcave and earn out first billion dollars and nobel prize in solving every problem ever had by humanity.

Intelligence OP. We just need to spend maybe a weak compiling all the information that exists on the internet. Filtering out what is false and what is useless, so at least 60%

>>28371958
Yeah, Intelligence is a neat thing. If played right we're the most powerful Incubator. Problem is, you're playing with tg, and we can hardly be expected to be as smart as someone like that.

Hope you planned on that Tartarus.

>Funding
It's a sound enough plan, but really we'd be smarter gambling to get our money. Make a bench mark. If the casino swaps out the dealer, know that the big guys are watching, and we need to try a new casino. All that good stuff.

So money isn't a problem, and with proper funds, we will have access to a lot more resources. We need that, it's how we take full advantage of our Space brain.
First step, build our own super computer. Not an A.I., just a really powerful computer.

>>28372069
>Problem is, you're playing with tg, and we can hardly be expected to be as smart as someone like that.
Intelligence (the general factor) and intelligence (the social construction of "smart people") are not quite the same thing. George Bush has an estimated IQ of like, 125. It doesn't mean he's "smart". It just means he can learn things quickly, remember things well, is good at problem solving, etc. He's still a low-belief-mutability troglodyte with the political positions of a wannabe brownshirt.

Similarly, Abby can be incredibly smart, yet also incredibly vindictive or ridiculously forgiving (given that this is /tg/, probably both), very shortsighted or too concerned with distant worries, overly trusting or overly paranoid, etc.

>>28372280
...fine, fair enough.

I still say learning from the internet is a good idea. Seriously, just gather misc topics, any of which could be useful. Majorly hacking and such. That'll be handy for learning the entire world's secrets.

>>28371958
So wait I just thought, yeah we're smart as shit now, but do we have superhuman reaction time?
I mean if we actually got in a fight with a completely mundane person that isn't a retard and they had speed and power to their hits,sure we could predict where they'll go from observing, but can we actually act in time to get out the way and counter attack? I'd rather be able to not get our shitstomped by normals than think of instantly think of all the ways we could beat them but have a body too slow to keep up.

Man you nerds should have picked teleportation, that shits the coolest. Especially if we learned how to teleport other things.

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>>28374322
>Teleport is coolest
We are as one, anon

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>>28374391
TELEBROS WW@

>have knowledge to do horrible horrible things to a human body
>no muscle memory to function properly in melee
That's not fair

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>>28374919
Shoulda joined the Teleclub, nerd.

Seriously though who picks a noncombat power in a quest where you're likely to fight other superpowered people. The best we can be is Iron Man, as the QM said we can't be Batman. While you can pretty much predict my every move, I can teleport behind and clock you upside the head with a steel pipe before you can stop me, knowing it would happen. Hell if I was strong enough I could teleport your heart out.

Best superpower is still time manipulation though.

>>28374946
Well the way it sounded, we COULD be batman, but the QM isn't a fan of bullshit gadgets, so he wants them to be in the realm of reality.
So, we could know everyone's weakness, and build devices to handle them. But we wouldn't be able to have perfect physique unless we actually worked for it.

I am sad we didn't get Teleport.

>>28374975
Time to rev up those squatz and oatz so we can at least have a fighting chance against normals, then.

At least we can dodge bullets we know are coming by looking at the gun trajectory/angle/what the fuck ever, right?

>>28374946
Dude, I voted physique, I also have no idea what people had in mind picking INFORMATION ABILITY while being KICKED BY THE THUGS
OP DID make it look cool, but now we know that we don't have much going for us in combat in the future

>>28374985
That'd be sweet, if we had super reflexes. I hope we do.

>>28374990
QM basially told us we're the vitals guy. We know exactly HOW to fuck up people, and are really perceptive.
Problem is we need the ability to do so too. Since we can't auto learn martial arts, I'm hoping we can into pressure points.

>>28375001
>Since we can't auto learn martial arts, I'm hoping we can into martial arts
is what you're saying
I think ranged weapons is our best bet

>>28375013
I figured it was different enough, but you may be right.
Our super brain would be able to calculate so we never miss too, so that'd be neat, I hope

Damn, missed a full thread to damnable sleep. Thanks for running this quest though, I'm enjoying this take on superpowers so far.

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>>28375001
Brilliant, all we need to learn now is how to throw shit and we can be the rule of cool girl throwing needles into people.

Next stop, ATATATATA!

>>28375312
Good idea, we need to study that chinese niddle thing

>>28375312
I'm hoping our reflexes are enhanced, but yeah, basically that. Maybe we should just invest actual human time in learning martial arts. Seriously, with a brain like ours it's worth it.

Also holy shit are Incubator's Stands?

>>28375363
>spoiler
You wish

>>28374322
>So wait I just thought, yeah we're smart as shit now, but do we have superhuman reaction time?
You have good physical reflexes and bodily control as part of the physique package. Your Physique of 3 translates to something like 16 STR/DEX/CON in D&D terms (this is purely the noncombat stuff; combat scores are completely separate and I'm still not sure I like the combat system draft).

You have excellent mental reflexes (i.e. ability to go from "observe" to "act") as part of the informational package.

>>28374322
>>28374391
>>28374904
Where were you when people were voting? Even including the post-cut-off votes, I don't think anybody voted for teleportation. You have no one to blame but yourselves.

>>28375363
>Also holy shit are Incubator's Stands?
I don't know what that's a reference to, so probably not.

>>28375928
Didn't join the quest till you hit like, 200 posts after first quest started.
If by blame myself, you mean work, then I'm inclined to agree.

But it's too late I guess. Intellect is fine, just forces everyone to be more creative. You too.

>>28375967
>If by blame myself, you mean work, then I'm inclined to agree.
Well, who decided to have a job? Oh, that's right.

>>28375928
As someone who's never played a traditional game, does 16 translate to being able to analyze a normal person's actions and strike the weak point for massive damage in a split second? What about compared to other supers that don't focus on speed? Also I wasn't here until the first thread and >>28375363 is a Jojo's Bizarre Adventure reference.

>>28376024
Also since you're back-
New thread when?

>>28376105
It means your ability in that regard is somewhere between "top of your class in high school" and "olympic athlete."

As I said, combat scores are different and currently in limbo; right now your scores tend towards high accuracy and dodge.

>>28376122
Wednesday, probably.

>>28376185
>High Accuracy
Time to learn Archery.