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>>33672110

“beryl,”

The name the voice gave her. Beryl. Its leaves an unpleasant ring in your ears. You had long been held in confidence by Keiko about her problems with this voice, this impulse, and even if you worried for your friend’s health, you kept quiet.

After the attack in school and after seeing the crown when the monster attacked, you share her belief that the voice is something real. It isn’t a hallucination. It is a thing. A thing inside of Keiko.

“Don’t lie to me, Keiko,” you say simply and sternly, “this isn’t like when you’re having problems with her at all. This is you, just like…”

She wilts beneath your stare. The unspoken words simultaneously a comfort and rebuke.

Sitting beside her, you wait a moment in silence as she gathers herself.

“Miki said you’d brought your problems to the group,” she turns to face you with a determined look in her eyes, “Why didn’t you bring your problems to me?”

It stuns you. Were you standing, you might have had to stagger back a few paces. True, you had kept your frustrations with your own behavior away from anyone at school and vented with the group. You were safe there, and free to be introspective.

She’s asking you. Her determined eyes bore into you and fill you with the slightest bit of guilt.

Her determination, it makes her eyes sparkle.

You think its pretty.

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>>33672139
“I didn’t because,” you take a breath to compose yourself, “I didn’t want you to think I could doubt myself so much,”

“Doubt yourself? About what?”

“About the way I treat other people, how harsh I am with anyone I don’t like or think is a waste of-” you catch yourself and look around the train. You remain dressed as Jade, so that’s who you need to be right now. Being dressed like this gives you a different confidence than you normally have, and maybe you can use that to talk about the feelings you have trouble expressing with her like you do with the Fashion Circle. After a moment you are able to continue, “especially-”

“Osaka-san and Chiba-san?”

“Yeah,”

Two friends, you are both laden with shopping bags and sitting silently on the train. Your admission over with and it clear that you still don’t want to talk about it, Keiko drops the matter. So you sit. And you wait. The cars empty save for a few people and you look up at the news screen set high below the corner of the ceiling.

“Speak of the devil,” you mutter.

>>33672157

“Huh?” Keiko perks up from somewhere deep in thought...possibly conversation.

“Chiba-san and her family are on the news,” you point out the photo beside the anchor of a much younger pink haired girl and her family.

“So they are. Wow, I’d forgotten how huge her mom used to be, but why are they on TV?” Keiko laughs and muses.

“You didn’t hear? Her dad’s the UN assigned Negotiator between The International Think Tank & JSDF Task Force and the original Sailor Moon,” you explain.

“No,” she whispers and looks as the still is replaced by video of Mamoru Chiba greeting Sailor Moon at the base of the Metro building a few short days ago, “He’s kinda cute for a da-”

She stops suddenly and the color runs from her face. Her pale features then contort in fear as her vision focuses on the empty space ahead of her. Then, her expression falls vacant and she slowly pitches forward. Panic grips you. Did she pass out? It doesn’t matter, you catch her and push her back. Resting her against the back of the seat you shake her lightly and check to make sure she hasn’t swallowed her tongue.

In your mind, you’re back in the classroom. She isn’t moving. Why isn’t she moving.

“Keiko!” you plead and draw the attention of the few remaining fellow passengers.

You repeat yourself a little louder as a groan escapes her throat from deep inside her chest. Her eyes focus on you as tears well and make them glossy.

Some girls are beautiful when they cry. Keiko was one of them and it always made you jealous of her. Now, on the verge of beautiful tears, there is something else consuming her visage other than sadness.

There is fear.

“I know what she is,” she whimpers and grabs at the color of your jacket and pulls herself close to your chest, “I know what she did. Its clear now, all the dreams are clear,”

“Calm down Keiko,” you pat her back as she keeps repeating to herself that she knows, “Its okay, I’m here,”

>>33672178

She knows?

What does she know?

Right now, right now you are becoming scared. The tighter the fear tries to grip you, you hold her that much closer.

She stops crying and pulls away enough to look you in the eyes.

“I’m dangerous,” she concedes in worry.

As the train comes to another stop, not the one you need, the two of you sit there while passengers file out and others file in. She glances at the door and back to you. You can see she’s calculating something as she tenses.

Its all you can do to grab her hand. She’s thinking of ditching you, running off alone because she thinks she’s dangerous. You’ve known her long enough to see the desperate plan play across her face. Her eyes widen in shock as your fingers tighten around her own.

She is staying. You are staying.

Interlude End

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>>33672193
Interlude: I want to Meet her part 1

Four walls. One door. A simple monitor. Bookshelves. Your bed. your clothes. Your table. The toy bin. This is your world. It hasn’t always been your world. You remember the first place was warm and wet. You remember the room in white and who you would come to know as mother holding you in her arms as she drifted on the edge of sleep. Inside of her or in her arms, those were safe places.

The men in green came then, and this became your world. You do not fault them and you have no anger for your situation, what they did makes sense. Their fears make sense. Their need for you makes sense.

In traveling here you had the opportunity to see the sky, it was beautiful and you have never forgotten it. Some pictures you have seen in your books do it justice, some do not, and fewer exceed your appreciation of its beauty. Art is fickle, isn’t it.

Mother comes often. You know she wishes she could take you home, but now is not the time. They do not trust you entirely yet, nor do they believe they fully understand what you are. You do not fully understand what you are either. When you know enough to put your mind to the task, you would like to help them find answers. Answers to so many questions.

>>33672207

Setting down your extremely fluffy tailed plush squirrel effigy down on your bed, you walk slowly and with difficult balance to your bookshelf. There are composite notebooks on the lowest shelf. Those that you write in for your studies since learning to read and those you receive already written in.

The ones already written in are a journal of letters, started before you were born but after your father disappeared. Letters to someone expected, letters to you. Letters that she at first believed would not be read until years later. Letters that she later believed would be read by no one, but she continued to write. To lose a father. To lose a brother before even born. To then lose herself and find herself in isolation from those she cared about.

Though she did not start with this loneliness, it eventually came to her. The diaries became an obvious coping mechanism, and to your interpretation it is obvious there is something she wants to write about within the pages of these notebooks that mother brings you but does not. She is lonely and you are lonely.

You would very much like to meet your sister, one day.

>>33672217
Interlude: I want to Meet her part 2

After parting ways with Dan, you parked your bike and took a walk around town. Following up rumors, asking question of punks, and getting look at weirdly by most people because of the way you stand out by looking different.

Eventually, you come to the arcade where they say Red Eyes once thrashed a whole gang of men and hung their dismembered corpses from the rafters. Surprisingly its still open, there are even a gaggle of giddy and loud middle school girls congregating by one of the dance games.

You don’t dislike dance, coach always said dancing and footwork were similar, and when you had gotten around to playing one of those machines...it didn’t particularly challenge you. Sure the advanced difficulties looked interesting...but all footwork and nothing else felt cheap somehow. After asking a few questions from the guy behind the counter, with a certain familiarity as you noticed from his nametag that he was an outsider here.

Hmph, cultural hegemony. If not for their magical girls, and fictional media about magical girls, giant robots, and boxing then this country would be a waste of land in your opinion.

The words of the attendant, a Korean you think, leave you let down. Red Eyes perpetrated no great slaughter here, just put a rowdy punk’s head through the boards of the drop ceiling, played a few video games, and ordered a sunday with way too much strawberry syrup.

“I think there was more syrup than ice cream by the time she said ‘it looked bloody enough,’” he sighs as he concludes the tale.

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>>33672243
You consider his words. You consider how much you have searched tonight. She has yet to respond to your latest batch of messages, though you do know she was looking to start something with a specific girl gang this weekend. It was one of the reasons you decided to screw your two weeks notice and get your ass to Japan before the weekend.

Still, you had only just arrived this afternoon and your best friend and training partner was still being held in customs until you made long term arrangements for his lodging.

Gruffly, you end the conversation and stew in your anger. You cannot find her and she may be having fun thrashing little wannabe gangsters. Having heard all you cared to hear, you turn to leave only to stop dead in your tracks. How did you miss that glorious thing on your way into this place?

There, by the door, was a genuine Fist of the North Star Arcade Punching Machine.

“Omae wa mō shindeiru,” you say in reverence.

You want to meet that girl, you really do. However, the itch in the back of your mind and the call of the coins already clutched in your hand need to first be answered to.

Interludes End

Quest...Start?

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>>33672256

You sit there, curiously holding the Crown Lounge Pass against the room’s light in different ways trying to figure...anything out. The glossy card is strange, and for some reason a smiling caricature of your Cat’s smiling face rests at the bottom center. As you inspect it, the only thing you do discover is that it is inordinately thick. Hmmm, the laminate around the edges is a bit loose.

Surrounded by your friends as you are, they share in your confusion over this perplexing issue. Kanari Kino leans in over your shoulder and taps the screen in front of you, evidently not as enthralled by the mystery as the others of your unique fellowship.

“Might want to leave your mark before you waste too much time figuring out your prize,” Kanari smirks while tapping the screen.

“Oh!” you snap back to attention and back to the screen.

The cursor blinks on the completion board, you’ve managed to become the 7th highest score to beat this machine. Sailor V arcade cabinets were neat like that, though they had a scoreboard that reset daily they had a battery saved completion board that apparently lasted for years. Rin plucks the card from your hand as be begin to cycle through the characters to leave your name forever etched into the machine. It fills you with some pride to have beaten this game, despite the fact that you may have spent WAY too much of your arcade budget on this game alone.

You are Koyomi Chiba, and today you spent all your time out with your friends at the Arcade. Its only been a few days since all five of you became a team, so you’ve been bonding.

Aiha was a bit nervous, but the only person in the group, but Rin’s done an awesome job getting her to come out of her shell. Still, you see the blue haired psychic spending a lot of time with her nose stuck in her phone.

>>33672280

Kanari got over her weird one sided competitive thing with your sister, which is good. That face she made whenever Mikage was around was disturbing. She’s been struggling with cutting back on her extracurricular activities to spend more time prepping for Sailor Senshi related business, but you really hope she doesn’t give up the things she loves.

Rin was fun, she’d been your friend for almost as long as Kanari but not as close. Like you, she knew the truth from when she was little. Auntie Rei saw no point in hiding things from her. Though as fun as she was to be around, she could get really pensive and quiet.

Venus was non stop, and just being around her amped your own energy up and vice versa! Also it was so cool that she was a star and had so much cool stuff going on in her life. Though she seemed to have a problem with the concept of personal space. Speaking of which.

Venus herself had just landed in your lap after flipping over your other shoulder. It knocks the wind out of you momentarily as she leans forward, hands splayed across the button console and eyes inches from the screen.

“WOAH! This is so cool BB-chan!” she leans back and sits in your lap with arms crossed, “Mom has one of these at home and I haven’t gotten this far!”

“Really, keeping an arcade cabinet where she’s the main character,” Aiha sighs, “seems a bit egotistical. Wait, BB-chan?”

“She thought saying Blondie Bunny-chan all the time would take too long,” you smile and drop an open palm on top of Venus’s oversized hat as she too looks up at the blue haired girl with you, “and if I had a videogame where I was the main character I would totally try and keep it in the house,”

>>33672290

“YEAH! It isn’t egotistical. Its cool! Besides, mommy actually owns all the IP rights to Sailor V,” the younger girl in your lap muses, “Though I guess the secret shrine to all her old merch is an ego stroke. Hmmm, you maybe be onto something B-chan,”

“...you know Blues-chan isn’t very difficult to say,” huh, you guess Aiha must have actually liked the nickname Venus gave her.

“Secret merchandise shrine?” Kanari laughs before clicking her tongue, “does being famous make you weird or is it a requirement-er...no offence Venus-chan,”

“Non taken because, I’m SUPER WEIRD!” she hops off of your lap and onto the arcade machine in front of you, pivoting to face everyone while punching her fist in the air to match her declaration.

Your eyes sweep behind to in slight embarrassment for Venus’s antics. You REALLY don’t want to get banned from the Crown because one of your friends was standing on the machine. You quickly notice two things. First is that the little dark skinned blonde girl arguing with Yeon, the cute arcade attendant, has turned to look at the commotion in your direction as their eyes possess a burgeoning sense of recognition. Second is that Rin is tearing open the laminate edges of the mysterious Crown Pass.

>”RIN, NOOOOOO” Dive at Rin, protect Crown Pass.
>”v-chan, get down” whisper and snatch her down into her lap to prevent the other little girl from noticing Venus is a big time star.
>Say nothing, shrink in your seat and hope to be invisible.
>Stand on your chair and laugh. Distract everyone with a declaration of your Sailor V-ictory!
>Use this Chaotic Opportunity to ask Yeon out. How?
>Use this Chaotic Opportunity to hint to Yeon that he should ask you out. How?
>Write in.

>>33672110
Waking up procedures in progress. x.z
One moment.

>>33672484
Take your procedures, Its here and so am I. Good morning.

>>33672305
>>”RIN, NOOOOOO” Dive at Rin, protect Crown Pass.

Rolled 14 + 2

opposed acrobatics tests if you please.

1d20+4 vs above roll

Rolled 18 + 4

>>33673021

Writing

Rolled 4 + 4

>>33672178
Well, that should be interesting..

>>33672217
Interesting becomes understatement.

>>33672256
Amusement. Hope they can fix the machine.

>>33672305
Amusement intensifies.
Alright, got to thing from Blondie-Bunny-chan's perspective..
>>33672800
Panicked, not thinking, and ignoring a possibly large problem. Sounds right! I support this.

>>33673021
Is it strange to hope for a comedic failure?

>>33673051
That does not look failurey, let the grapple for the pass begin!
*cue Star Trek battle theme NananANNAANanananaAAAA*

Too much is happening around you, but you are able to zero in on the most important aspect of the situation. Spinning on the stool you lunge forward with arms outstretched. Something precious in in imminent danger and you’ll do your darndest to save it.

“RIN, NOOOOOO!” you dive.

A rocket from the seat, everything thing else about the Crown Arcade fades into nothing as you give yourself over to fate mid flight and close your eyes once you realize what you have done. No matter how this ends, it will be spectacle. Still, it is a big action for an object you have no clues about yet. Certainly it has something to do with the Crown Arcade, but the Crown Pass remains an oversized laminated mystery.

It may be a bit reactionary, but you don’t care. The world slows down. Only you and Rin exist in void.

Rin sees you coming a few seconds too late and indecision finds her as she can neither dodge left or right. She pulls the pass into her as your hands snatch at it and it is pulled into your grasping fingers. Momentum carries you forward, and as your head passes over her shoulder you collide.

The slightly younger girl has the wind knocked out of her as your chest impacts against her. It hurts the both of you as you become entangled in gravity and she begins to fall back in line with your airborne arc. Hitting the ground in a heap of confusion, you hold your prize high, the edge of plastic torn slightly.

“KOYOMI WHAT THE HELL!” Rin exclaims beneath you once she regains her breath.

“You were going to rip up my prize,” you accuse despite your embarrassment.

The smaller girl relaxes beneath you as you look down into her eyes. You feel like you are about to cry because you never really win anything before and it was your prize so...sniff.

>>33673517
“Hup!” exclaims Venus as she pulls you up and off of Rin.

“Jeeze Koyomi, what was that?” Kanari scolds.

Aiha says nothing, she seems suddenly frazzled by these proceedings and is blushing in embarrassment as hard as you are.

“She was ripping up my prize,” you admit in a very small voice, “I panicked. I’m sorry Rin,”

Kanari leans down and helps Rin up as Venus sets you down. You tuck your knees under yourself, sitting up and holding up up the Crown Pass. Its torn.

“Its a pouch,” the dark haired girl deadpans and dusts off her red miniskirt.

“A pouch?”

So it is a pouch. Interesting. Hmmm…

Oh, Yeon and the Blonde kid are coming over?

>Open Crown Pass with reckless abandon
>Open Crown Pass carefully
>Pocket the pass, acquire snacks. Suggest everyone come with.
>Convince Kanari back on your side, you don’t like it when she scolds you.
>Greet Yeon on the little girl he was arguing with. What do you say?
>Write in

>>33673323
I am pleased by player amusement

>>33673534
Hm, must channel inner Usagi..
So.. start looking at pouch and prepare to rip it open like a reckless savage, then see Yeon coming and forget about it entirely in favor of talking to him. Tell little girl she better not be causing Yeon trouble.

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Rolled 10 + 4

>>33673737
Yes, commence next level fawning over Yeon.

>>33673737
>>33673873

I will need two charisma tests of the persuasion variety.

I'll add your modifiers.

First DC is 15, second DC is 20

Best of 3 roll. 1s and 20s wild.

My mental construct for Koyomi seems to be young Usagi but more okay with the Sailor side of things while being bouncier (energy wise, no where near Venus though) and perhaps a touch more derp socially. Guessing smaller number of close friends (secrets and heroing), lot of people she's friendly with (friendly happy girl).
How close to the mark am I?

Rolled 20, 9 = 29

>>33674041
Dice time!

>>33674143
Pretty close

>>33674160
Good start, I still need two more posts of rolls.

Rolled 4, 3 = 7

>>33674041
Rollin'! Sorry for delay.

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Rolled 7, 18 = 25

>>33674041

25 vs 15
2 Degrees of Success in chatting to Yeon.

23 vs 20
Success, no degrees
You have successfully expressed your hope that the little blonde girl isn't causing Yeon trouble without inciting a reprisal.

Writing

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>>33674160
>>33674328
> 20, 18
Oh yeah.
Bunny diplomacy.

>>33674362
>without inciting a reprisal.
Darn!

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>>33672484
Awake, roomie down, full focus engaged.

>>33672193
So Keiko may have just gotten a serious knowledge dump, wonder how deep it went. At least that may make explaining things easier later.

>>33672217
Strange and sweet. At least the Miracle Child doesn't seem to be a monster. That's good, though I fear the future Feels.

>>33674376
Arty where'd you vanish to?

The Crown Pass pouch in your hands suddenly calls to you. You stare upon it and at what mystery it might contain. Mystery enough to rend friendships apart like a seeking missile.

Gripping both sides tightly you pull and rend with all of your might. With a certain pop and the shearing of plastic your arms stretch wide with no resistance as a clatter of plastic cards rain upon the ground at your knees as they slide out of a folded sleeve of cardboard.

“Is everything okay over here, girls?” Yeon-Seok asks while brushing a lock of shiny black hair out of in front of his eyes.

Scraps of laminate and cluttered cards forgotten, you are on your feet and in front of the boy with your hands snapped behind your back before anyone can blink. Rolling on the balls of your feet you look up at him with the biggest eyes you can muster.

Somewhere behind you, Rin complains about you being a spaz and Kanari agrees that you can be pretty spastic sometimes.

“Everything is fine, Yeon-san,” you bubble and brim with effervescence and smiles that could give a vegan type two diabetes, “Is everything okay with you? We didn’t get much of a chance to speak today because we’ve been having so much fun. It must be so cool to spend you day working in a place with such great energy, what do you do for fun when not working here?”

Yeon smiles and laughs a bit.

“I actually don’t have much time to myself for fun. I’m split between here, my studies, and taking care of my dog,” he sighs and lays hands on his hips above the money belt set over his apron.

“You have a dog? That’s so cool. Does she help you out with your veterinary homework?”

>>33675582
“Nah, Kuro’s just my home support,” he laughs, “I don’t think he’d be much help for any of my project work,”

“Can you finish talking to this frivolous woman and get back to plugging in that machine for me,” the little blonde girl grouses in a demanding and accented tone.

Yeon seems annoyed and turns to face the smaller kid.

“Listen, its out of order. The tech is coming tonight and it should be up and running tomorrow unless we need to ship it off for bigger repairs,” Yeon states matter of factly.

“But if it needs more repairs it’ll be gone for weeks and I might never get another chance,” the little girl all but shouts, “Just one round,”

“Hey,” you interrupt stepping between them and tower over the dark skinned girl, “You shouldn’t bother Yeon-san so much. If he says he isn’t turning something on, then he isn’t turning something on!”

Aiha gasps.

Kanari stifles a laugh.

Venus asks what’s so funny as Rin shushes the youngest girl as the two of them collect the fallen cards and inspect them.

The dark skinned blonde girl stares at you a moment before unleashing a monstrous stream of laughter. Clutching their gut, they wipe a tear from their face and compose themselves with a breath. A chill runs down your breath as the figure is suddenly expressionless and cold.

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>>33675602
“So many funny people in this country. So funny in fact that I’ll forget you spoke down to me like some child, little girl,” his stare is total and complete.

Though he is heavily accented, you can quite clearly hear his verb tenses and the manner he refers to himself as well. This foreign midget is some kind of delinquent, and that puts you in a tight spot as you hate fighting. He is waiting for something, and he seems unreadable. From the corner of your eye you see Aiha clenching her fist while leveling a wary and unemotional eye between the two of you.

>Push things with this kid, no one passively threatens you in your own local hangout.
>Turn around and ask Yeon out, as friends because you are so interested in the veterinary sciences.
>Turn around and ask Yeon out, be blatant in your intentions. You’ll show this punk who is frivolous.
>Wait, see what the girls or Yeon do.
>Ask Yeon about the prize
>Call out to Kanari for help, he’s scary
>Write in

>>33675551
I've been here the whole time.

>>33675715
Dropped my Trip

>>33675715
Gasp! There's invisibility afoot!

>>33675582
Amusement continues!

>>33675632
Jump into Yeon's arms for protection, obviously!

>>33675632
>Call out to Kanari for help, he’s scary

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>>33675852
>>33675849
¿Por que no los dos?

>>33675918
I like this plan.

Writing

>>33675632
>Wait, see what the girls or Yeon do.

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Kanari vs Sasha. Hm.
Gotta say I favor Sasha there.

Hell of a rivalry that would be.

This is running again? I have a reason to visit /tg/ again. Time to rearrange my schedule

>>33677593
bring your friends.

It strikes you and your eyes narrow at your foe. Opportunity of this kind rarely strikes, but you utter a silent prayer to whichever gods have smiled upon you this day and communicate to the small delinquent boy you had previously mistaken for a girl a silent thanks for enabling this sure fire plan of action with your eyes alone. This tense moment continues as your friends and Yeon watch with worry for imminent menace.

That small and aggressive boy’s confusion doesn’t bother you as you spin away from him and cry out, flinging yourself into Yeon. He raises his arms in reaction to your unexpected impact as your arms slide around his waist while you bury your face into his chest.

“KANARI! He’s scaring me!” fufufu today your tears will land you the attentions of the cute older boy who you haven’t been warned against with threats of violence from your big sister.

You tune the world out as you bask in your moment of victory. Strong hands find your shoulders and you exalt in his hard chest and the sound of his beating heart now increasing because a cute girl is so close.

“I’m going to have to ask you to stop scaring the other customers,” he’s so calm and diplomatic, “And I’m sorry the game isn’t working. If you’d like I can take down your cell number and let you know if it’s back in working order tomorrow or if it’ll be out for a few weeks,”

The stunned shorty mutters something about you being shameless. Ha! Fortune favors the brave, and today your boldness has favor coming to your aid.

There is a certain fury entering your closed eye awareness as Kanari approaches the three of you. That loud jerk seems to have noticed her approach and you can see him in a reflection of a nearby screen. While Yeon is still shocked by your forward assault, it looks like your best friend is going to pick a fight. She has THAT look in her eye, and just as scary he has that look as well. A euphoria to welcome incoming violence.

>>33677593
Yeah, it's been popping up fairly regularly around fri or sat the past few weeks.

>>33677815
You didn’t want this, but you have Yeon in your arms so everything will be okay and Kanari will forgive you later like she always does when something goes wrong. Worry strikes you as you snap your eyes shut and don’t know who you should worry for. The stranger you’ve thrown under the potential violence of your best friend or the friend you have exposed to an unknown enemy when she was already spoiling for a fight.

Cracking your eyes you see Venus is standing in front of Kanari with a serious look on her face and her hand pressed in a halting request to the older girl. She walks up to the three of your quite seriously. She shares a single long stare with the delinquent whom she stands at equal height with before she turns to tug on Yeon’s apron.

“Mister Yeon-san, sir,” she says way too cutely and demurely, its a stark change from how she was just a second ago...what’s her angle? “What are these?”

Unfolding the hand of plastic cards before the two of you, Yeon moves you off of direct contact with you gently to kneel down and take a look at your now opened prize.

You are left a bit deflated by the end of your first move to obtaining your exotic beefcake. Still, the thought of his chest against your cheek warms you until there is a snickering behind you.

“I haven’t seen these in a while. We used to have a popular Karaoke parlor upstairs until the owner decided to remodel it. We never actually opened it back up for some reason. I think these seven are unlimited pass Karaoke Lounge keys,”

>Write in

>>33677850
And Venus saves the day!
Though I'm sure Sasha and Kanari are both disappointed.

>until the owner decided to remodel it. We never actually opened it back up for some reason.
Hmm, wonder who the current owner is..

>I think these seven are unlimited pass Karaoke Lounge keys,”
>Write in
Let's see, so we have fleeting warmth, irritation at snickering, "There's karaoke?!?" excite, followed by bemoaning "There's NOT karaoke?" and sadness for having been super awesome and winning but the prize being defunct. SADNESS AND MOPING!

>>33678169
Can't think of anything better.
Coffee is on the way though.

We need a bat-signal to draw people in for votes. Getting lost between poses.

>>33677850
is there another option? Exploring the karaoke parlor is the only thing to do. we even have a genuine idol!

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>>33678541
Will this do?

>>33678169
defunct, remodeled, closed? none of these will stand in the way of our spectacular five scout choir. Besides, a opening the karaoke parlor could be a great draw for the arcade.

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You cling to the fleeting warm sensation on your cheek and try to ignore the snickering shrimp. Hmph, some people.

“There’s Karaoke!” wait, no, “There’s NO karaoke!?”

“Afraid not,” Yeon sighs and rises.

“Then…THEN I WON A WORTHLESS PRIZE,” you loudly bemoan fate and its cruelty.

You can practically feel that shrimp’s mocking eyes on your back. It doesn’t matter everything is bad and will never be good. Such a waste of your wonderful talent and amazing focus. Looking over your shoulder he is actually sauntering over to the snack counter, grumbling about shameless and insane girls. If he wasn’t such a jerk he’d be super cute. I mean cheek pinching cute. You mistook him for a little girl earlier, if he weren’t so short he would be some kind of super exotic foreign pretty boy.

“I wouldn’t say worthless,” Yeon holds his chin, “I’ll give my boss a call and see what we can do about it. Okay?”

Yup, Yeon is so nice and that makes him TEN times better. You stick your tongue out at the retreating shrimp’s back before turning back to face everyone, sadness and momentary hurt still darting across your face.

“Okay, I’m done for today,” Rin sighs, “This mood whiplash is making my neck hurt,”

“I’ll walk home with you,” Aiha smiles tiredly.

“Well, have a good night Kumada-san, Mizuno-san. We always appreciate your business,” such a gentleman, “Ah, Kumada-san, do you know when you’ll be meeting your dad here next?”

“Oh, we won’t be meeting here anymore. He and mom got back together,” she smiles.

>”Wait, Rin, you have a dad?”
>”Awww, you guys have to leave so soon?”
>”Can we see the Lounge?”
>Write in

>>33679099
>”Awww, you guys have to leave so soon?”
followed by
>”Can we see the Lounge?”

because emotional whiplash isn't necessarily bad. Regardless of what Rin says as an excuse.

>>33679099
”Awww, you guys have to leave so soon?”
Then, because if she is uniformed enough to to not know, me must ditz. ”-Wait, Rin, you have a dad?”

Once that dies down, then bug Yeon, "Can we see the Lounge?"

Maximum whiplash.

>>”Can we see the Lounge?”

>>33679408
Somehow ended up with an extra green at the bottom.
Madness.

>>33679090
We must bemoan the worst and hope for the unobtainable. Such is the bunny life.

>>33679408
Bunny life, be awkward and have rapidly changing moods all day every day

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So, did we get a bike yet?
http://youtu.be/4edsmT_XG8Y

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>>33679855
We didn't choose the Bunny life, the bunny life chose us.

“Awwww, do you guys have to leave so soon?” you ask your friends.

You feel like you barely spent any time with Rin and Aiha, well that was mostly your own fault for getting so caught up in the Sailor V game after you felt marginalized at the dance game. Let this be a lesson to you, about friendship.

“Yup,” Rin smiles.

“A-and I have to study,” Aiha admits, “My school opens back up on Monday and I want to be caught up,”

“Goodnight girls,” Kanari smiles as she and Venus flank you,”You have a safe walk home,”

Rin smiles at that.

“Hey, if anyone wants to mess with us then they’ll end in fire,” she jokes before musing, “though I think Ice would suffice,”

“D-don’t misquote Robert Frost’s poetry,” Aiha is blushing.

Why is she blushing. Your eyes scrutinize the two of them and you eventually decide to drop the issue, unable to discern anything of value or sense. Venus had the right of it earlier, you guys are super weird. All of you. No exceptions.

>>33680404

Aiha and Rin depart with a wave and hurry off in a race against the dying light of the sun.

“So, Yeon, could we see the lounge?” you ask slyly as he gives a few kids some change as he puts a bill into his belt.

What! When did he get back to doing work?

“Well, the lounge door has been locked for while,” he considers, “but you do have the key cards. As long as they actually work then sure, I don’t see the harm,”

“Haha! Awesome!” Kanari exclaims.

“Let’s go!” Venus leaps in excitement.

Yeon has one of the two attendants at the snack bar take the floor, you momentarily swoon at how talented he is in a leadership role. Soon he leads you into a back hallway with eight card key locked rooms. He counts his way through and scratches his head.

“Huh, they say lounge nine,” he muses aloud, “but there are only eight room?”

>Test a card on a door discreetly
>Test a card on a door openly
>Suggest Yeon test a card on a door.
>Lament the unfairness of the situation
>Ask Yeon if he’d like to go out some time.
>write in

I keep grinning a this situation.

>>33680436
>Test a card on a door discreetly
Doesn't hurt to try.

The bat signal brought up earlier could just be discussion. We could emulate more active quest and argue minutia. Debate for and against assorted Husbandos or Waifus for Mikage. Talk about how we want to sort out her massive personality issues.

>>33680583
Private research! We are smart!

>>33681065
Bah, her personalities are fine. We should separate them further so we can multitask. Yeah, no problems with that plan.

>>33680436
>>Lament the unfairness of the situation
Hell, as long as we're playing an idiot, let's play an idiot properly.

>>33681065
Perhaps. We seem to agree a lot though.
Biggest arguments we have is over power choices.

What else do we disagree about?

>>33681247
Hm, that is a good point.

>>33681326
>>33681065
Heaven or Hell: Gai or Sasha?!?

>>33681326

This apparently.

Final Destination. Four minutes from this post. No line break, no green text, comments, or dice. Number only

1. Discreet card swipe
2. Lamentations

>>33681433
Could lament then think of trying the card?

>>33681433
2

>>33681433
2

>>33681433
1

>>33681065
If you want to use a bat signal more than once a thread you 'll need to change it the board wont let you post dupes.

>>33681426
Keiko?

>>33681426
Well, we don't actually know much about Sasha at this point, other than from an alternate universe.

Gai seem like a nice and open, if naive, guy.

Then there's the principal's son, who we know nothing of.

Choosing right now? I'd lean toward Sasha though.
Intensity is good.

>>33681656
You, I like you.

>>33681656
If Mikage is experimenting, I can only really see it with Kairi.

Broken birds of a feather.

>>33681656
Honestly, I'm feeling the straight route more, while stirring up as much confusion on the matter as possible as we go.

>>33681693
I don't into that other universe,(what universe?) so I can only judge him as he appears here. Not without merit, but not quite as peachy as some of the other candidates.

>>33681693
We know he likes punch

and we like punch

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>>33681881
Based on the MC of Cherno Alpha Quest, borrowed with permission, after a conversation early on wherein someone shipped Mikage and Sasha, to Artemis' confusion.

>>33681900
So far we know he likes to punch and fight and has a very tough trainer back in Russia, and he he has a very large close friend he trains with that we played as once.

>>33682040
I guess that answers my question, but it only raises another. What does he bring into the link?

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"Aww man," you lament, "This is so unfair,"

You stomp a bit and roll your eyes. Kanari rolls her eyes at your stomping and faux tantrum. Venus seems equally disappointed in the lack of a Karaoke Lounge.

"No singing?" The nine year old idol's lip quivers.

"Looks like. Come on, let's grab some parfait," Kanari sighs and lays a hand on the younger girl's shoulder, "you coming, Koy-chan?"

Before you can answer, you look down the hallway at Yeon. He's still looking at the door at the end of the hall and holding the card with some frustrated curiosity. He looks so striking in the dimly lit corridor.

You may have a terribly brilliant idea.

>you girls go ahead. I'll catch up...Fufufufu
>screw the parfait, MEGASTACK SUNDAY WITH TOPPINGS!
>parfait does sound good,
>Kanari, I'm going for it. Wish me luck.
>write in

>>33682348
Glad I could help.
I feel like the old timer on the porch, full of tales of yore. Whatever yore is.

>>33682779
Megastack Sunday with all the toppings for me!
*glance back at Yeon*
But you girls go ahead, I'll catch up.. fufufu~

>>33682779

>parfait does sound good,

What could possibly go wrong

>>33682779
>>screw the parfait, MEGASTACK SUNDAY WITH TOPPINGS!
What's the point of having a bottomless pit stomach if you don't put it to use? Besides, if we don't pig out on sweets, we don't get to fight the dentist youma.

Come on guys, we could catch up and eat piles after chatting with Yeon some.

Gah, I can't tell if I'm metagaming, I mean, bothering Yeon more while he fiddles with the card does seem like a thing Koyomi would do..

I'm >>33683068 so this isn't a second vote.

Consensus seems to be for following the girls, but your menu choice is up for contention.

>Mega Sundae or Partfait?

>>33683721
And now we have a definitive pull ahead.

Okay. Chat THEN Snack

>>33683783
Mega.

>>33683822
Unless I missed one, I think we're leaning toward snacking, sadly.

>>33684013
Yes...yes we are.

Locking in. Time to snack. Writing

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“Well-” your stomach grumbles loudly at the merest mention of food, especially sweets, “Sounds like a plan!”

You pivot and look down the corridor at Yeon. There would be more opportunities and you didn’t want him to think you some kind of truly immoral young woman, you have a reputation to keep up as the Pretty Guardian of Love and Justice. Love, to your dismay, will have to wait as you answer the call of justice.

Ice Cream is justice.

Leaving the back corridor offering the still frustrated Yeon with a thanks for his efforts, you follow the girls to the snack counter where the bronzed blondie is still working on a cup of coffee and a square of lemon pound cake, you can tell from your extensive experience with the Crown Arcade’s menu.

Kanari and Venus each order small parfait, extra raspberries for Venus.

You, you walk a different path.

“Massive Mega Sundae, one scoop vanilla on the top the rest chocolate. Skip the cherry and apply Hot Fudge and Chocolate cookie crumble. Banana quarter slivers instead of halves. Rainbow sprinkles. Extra whip,” you rattle off to the shock of Kanari and the wide eyed impressed stare of Venus.

“Wow, BB-chan, that sounds tasty,” Venus exclaims.

“Yeah, it is, but it’s meant for five people,” Kanari scolds you.

“Please Kanari-chan. This is my Sailor V-ictory since my prize turned out to be a dud,” you grouse flipping the card between your fingers.

“Whoa, that’s a lot of ice cream,” Venus’s wide eyes grow even bigger and behold you, “Our leader is impressive and ambitious,”

The loudmouth who is trying to start something earlier pauses in his drink.

>That’s right, I’m our group’s fearless leader and don’t you forget it. OAH~HOHOHOHO!
>Ah, you’re flattering me.
>Ice Cream is Justice and Justice is the true heart of all young girls who are in love. And I am in love with Ice Cream.
>Ambition has nothing to do with it girls, this is manifest destiny
>Write in

>>33685309
All these options are wonderful.

>Ambition has nothing to do with it girls, this is manifest destiny
>Ice Cream is Justice and Justice is the true heart of all young girls who are in love. And I am in love with Ice Cream.
I think these two could work together.

>>33685309
>Ah, you’re flattering me.
False or true modesty? That is the question.

>>33685309
"OAH~HOHOHOHO! Venus-chan you're just flattering me. I'm just a regular girl, a girl in love with ice cream and definitely not the leader of anything."
Smooth, we're real smooth.

>>33681900
But does he like knife?

And Gai is so.. expressive.

>>33686057

Yeah, but Gai is just junk food, empty calories.

>>33686057
Let's not use interest in knives as a relationship builder.. that could get strange.

Voting over,

FINAL DESTINATION

In like 10 minutes once everyone has had a chance to notice this and come back.

I know we've been slow today guys, but how are you enjoying things?

>>33686099
Given our heritage, junk food seems fine.

>>33686343
Having a good time.

FINAL DESTINATION

Quote this post. No line break. No comment. No green text. No dice.

Just the number corresponding to your choice posted within 4 minutes of this going up.

1 Manifest & Justice
2 Flattery
3 OAH~HOHOHOHO! & being 'smooth'

>>33686599
3

>>33686599
3

>>33686599
3

>>33686343
Been chillin' here most of the day, no complaints.

With a proper demure hand over your mouth, you laugh.

"OAH~HOHOHOHO! Venus-chan you're just flattering me. I'm just a regular girl, a girl in love with ice cream and definitely not the leader of anything."
“AH! Right,” Venus crosses her arms and nods sharply, “Nope, you’re no leader at all. And we’re perfectly normal girls who aren’t out of the ordinary in any way,”

“...its like there’s two of them now,” Kanari sighs in defeat as her shoulders slump.

The jerk continues to drink his coffee and eat his pound cake.

After a few minutes of idle chatter your orders arrive. Your own is a small mountain of slick chocolate chill with a crown of vanilla. The heat rises from the molten fudge syrup drizzled about its every curve and crest, speeding the melting process of both the frozen cocoa and the fluffy whip cream. The prism of sprinkles across the dark concoctions slide and roll alongside black crumbled cookie piece boulders, some snowcapped with the remains of icing once sandwiched betwixt those two decadent cookie halves.

It is a mountain. It is a marvel. Your lips tremble and your mouth waters with anticipation at the imminent cool flavor and the bitter, smooth, and sweetness so promised by so much chocolate. Slick, gooey, creamy, and you only have so much time to take it to task before it melts into a slightly less cool soup.

You lift the spoon and turn to the attendant with a serious look on your face.

“I’ll need a second spoon,” you say quite plainly.

He sets it down, “Waiting for someone to share it with?”

A fleeting day dream strikes you, of sharing ice cream with Yeon, Gai, or Koito. Sigh, no. No one can come between you and this true and pure love.

“Nope,” you smile and lift the second spoon.

Against this challenge, you dual weild.

>>33687462
The first spoonful coats your tongue and the electric sensation of chocolate fills the whole of your being. You let it persist and refresh the burst of flavor and the sweat spark coursing through your veins.

Left, right, left, right and the rhythm continues. Speed is key. If you don’t go fast enough then you’ll have to drink this bowl and not be able to appreciate each subtle flavor. Cookie crunches in your mouth, the creamy ice melts, the cooling magma of fudge fills each contour of your tongue.

Nothing else around you matters.

>Go faster!
>Keep your current heading
>Slow down, you need to pace yourself
>Write in

>>33687484
>>Go faster!
Speed is key!

>>33687484
GOTTA GO FAST

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>>33687484
>Go faster!
We shall become one with the icecream.

Writing

>>33687845
Apparently we can answer fast for ice cream.
Our brain freeze shall be epic.

>Ultimate Tsukino Constitution Perk activated

>>33688147
Now the true power of our bloodline shall be revealed!

>>33688291
They shall know the power of this fully armed and operational eating station?

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It is a blur, a delicious blur. Quickly clearing each spoonful as you pull them back out of your lips and swallowing before the next you scoop and slurp and savor in your own time the creamy coolness of your chocolate conquest. Scaling the mountain by pick and piton you must reach the peak and plant your flag in victory.

This is an endurance trial and you cannot afford to make a basecamp. You climb to the top, the frostbite nipping at your lips. You will not yield, you will not cease, and you will be victorious.

The chill spreads from your center, your stomach grows cold against the unceasing avalanche. Brave it, survive it, embrace it.

You are brought out of your reverie as your spoons click as one against the glass bottom of wide bowl. You don’t even remember tasting the banana as the rest of your conquest fell.

Your mind is on fire the moment the shovel stops as blood flow returns in speed to the roof of your mouth. Pitching back, you howl.

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH HAH!” you screech and rock forward as your sight returns from the searing icy brand of your victory.

Your vision is blurry but rapidly returns, reflected in the glass beneath the chocolate remains of your war. There is certain madness in your eyes. Doesn’t matter.

With one spoon you clear a mass of melted soup remains and enjoy the final taste of your victory.

Kanari looks at you with a defeated sigh.

Venus looks at you with wide eyed excitement and is impressed.

THE JERK is looking at you confused.

You lick the chocolate stain from around your lips and smile.

Only to realize that Yeon had come back from the back room and bore witness to your true face in all its glory.

Awwwwwwwww nuts.

Eclipsed Moon Quest Episode 29 End.

Interlude Vote

-Flipped upside down.
-Preheated
-Enrollment
-Telemetry
-I’m a monster

>>33688745
>-Flipped upside down.

>>33688745
-I’m a monster

You can't leave us hanging like this!

>>33688745

-I’m a monster

Dis gun 'b gud

>>33688745
Maybe he will be impressed by our prowess?

>>33688745
>-Telemetry
>-I’m a monster
These both tempt me mightily.
Though I must wonder about I'm A Monster.
Gaah, something is happening in space and we keep choosing the people around us when we have a chance at it!

I kind of wish we went home with Keiko now.

Yeah, cookies and everything, and Sasha, but at the same time she's falling apart inside and we're way too far away to even know it's happening.

>>33689272
Well, I was hoping we could try dropping by as Eclipse in the middle of the night to see if we can ditch PIT enough to chat with her about Beryl.

>>33689105
SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE

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>>33689866
I lol'd.

The terrible secret of space.

>>33689866
Fact: The space core will never go to space.

>>33688745
>Telemetry
It's an interesting word and I am interested.

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So, we ran for about 12 hours today, but with not quite so many updates. Seems we've hemorrhaged some players due to last week's debacle, and I didn't want to write something up without at least two or three votes.

So. How was this light hearted slice of life session.

Over the rest of the quest we'll take time away from Mikage to walk in the other young Sailor's shoes.

So. What do you guys, the player, think is currently going on in the plot?

Also, if we're still around in the morning, I'll post an Omake.

And last bit for this post next thread will return to Mikage.

>>33690468
We lost players because of what again?

Also it was great. Thanks for running Artemis

>>33690468
I don't think we hemorrhaged anyone, really. At least not from that, just building up steam again. Not enough people follow the twitter, I think. Each thread we see a couple posters excited to see it again that didn't know.

Lighthearted and jumping around is good. Judging from the myself and the speed of others, it just took a bit to shift into the different character. I think we had it down with the ice cream choice. Hah.

As for what's going on in the plot.. I'm going to need caffeine.

>>33690468
I would have been here, but I was busy working. Unlike when you usually run while I'm at work, I was actually too busy to quest this time.

Also, fuck the sun. I hate fieldwork so much.

So, any more feedback or speculation?

Leave it here and discuss it among yourselves. I'm turning in. I'll see you all in the morning.

>>33689272
Nah, she'll be fine. She just caught a karmic headache.

Once she realises she's not condemned to repeat Beryl's mistakes, she'll be OK I think.

She's had Queen B upstairs for a long time.

>>33690468
>Seems we've hemorrhaged some players due to last week's debacle
I think it might just be you were running against MGNQ and Hero Quest.

>>33692211
The biggest unknown for me so far is whatever is going on in space.
Anyone got guesses on this one?

>>33690879
Caffeine is failing me.

Let's see how much I can remember and piece together while half asleep.

Queen of Elysium is killed by lynch mob rioters (Lunar survivors?).
By unknown means and unknown time, her Shadow is brought forth.
Shadow Queen, has powerful philanthropist and Jewel Thief/Hiddenite among her top agents. Presumably believing they are working toward the restoration of the Earth Kingdom, but Shadow Queen is majorly corrupted and whatever she is up to is 11/10 on the Oh-Fuck Meter. Primary suspicion on my part involves using shadow extraction on the shadow of the Earth itself during eclipse (which would also mean Moon access). This seems like a very bad thing. They were unaware of living Earth Kingdom heirs. Though seem to possess ability and knowledge to find/reach other Earth Kingdom linked persons (Such as Helios and Beryl).

Currently seeking power from crushed dreams and despair. May have knowledge of the Seven Yoma and their human selves (How? May indicate serious breech), or stumbled into Jo by accident. (Not to self: Debrief Crane Machine Jo, see what he may have overheard.)

Working with a doctor/scientist/researcher that is not part of the Earth group, but enjoys the research (on living unwilling people) even if fearing his employers. Besides the shadow-stuff, seems involved in the psi-drugs that can be traced to Umino's research (much of which was gone by the time his lab was found by PIT).

Something unknown caused Umino's lab 'accident', and the unknown crystal to the brain may have been according to someone's plan. The thing that wore Umino's face wanted to prepare the world for what was to come. The nanotech computer brain apparently believing a grave threat was coming. Description of the remains leaves suspicion that the shard that was the core of this thing may have been removed or got out.

cont

>>33694311
Interlude names, vague mentions of findings, and other vaguer hints indicate that something is going on in space. We do not know what. Perhaps the threat that the monster-maker had concern for.

The Miracle Child.. seems to be the child of Naru and Umino's.. nanocrystal-supercomputer infested body durning the brief time after the accident bu before he disappeared and experimented on himself more drastically, believed by the rest of the world to have been stillborn and raised under the watch of PIT. Judging from the time involved, he's growing fairly quickly, and it seems he possesses a true perfect memory. Despite the odd circumstances of his birth and life.. recent interlude seems indicate that he is human at heart. The enemy is also now aware of his existence.

The original Scouts are foreseen to be turned evil and killed by their grief-stricken children. Rin's father is foreseen to be killed at some point, leading to their seperation in the hope of avoiding that fate.
We seek to give fate the finger, and have already done a fair job of messing up the predicted time and order of the activation of the new Scouts, so at least it seems that fate can indeed be fought to some extent.

cont

>>33694334
Meanwhile we've taken on both the mantle of the shadowy helper of the new Scouts, as well as accepting our heritage as the Heir to the Earth Kingdom (rather than the focus on the Moon Kingdom).
As such we seek to help keep things together and take care of auxiliary problems for the Scouts (like how Tuxedo Mask gets the buses linked up and moving to escape the pocket dimension and the original Scouts didn't know he was there and could barely have gotten themselves out in time without that), as far as the Scout-side goes. On the Heir-side, we have additional responsibility to get these Earth-ruffians and protect the other people that are going after. As part of that we're looking at developing our own Shitennou, but on our terms without sacrificing the unfortunate previous set. While resistant at first, Kairi is looking to be the first inductee with Nephrite. We need to consolidate Earth Kingdom relics, artifacts, and people and keep them out of the Enemy's hands.

And I think there more I could say but my brain ends there. HOLY CRAP WHEN DID IT GET THIS LATE. Fuck me, needs must sleep.

Sleep is for the weak and well-rested.

Isn't rest nice. Sleep I mean.

Excellent break down of the things you have access to so far.

A note, they have been kidnapping psychics or seemingly supernatural humans as evidenced by Ami's activation, and Crane Machine Jo is a powerful psychic.

Working on the morning Omake.

>>33690468
I am normally about but I just have scheduling issues now since I have gone back to classes as well as work
I guess what I am saying with this is don't think we jumped ship for some readers it could just be we normally are catching up on the archives due to life

Liking everything so far though and the direction the players took here was spot on for what I would have voted

OMAKE

Turning the dial of the dimmer switch at the end of the hall, you exalt in ending the poor lighting of the Karaoke Lounge corridor and look upon the doors now lit. You still have one of the cards the girls won. Writ beside the cat caricature with the crescent moon on it’s brow is a designation for room 9.

Room 9. There are only eight rooms. This mystery confounds you. Could the boss have decided to print cards before the remodeling room count was finished? Maybe its a misprint?

“Hey, that might be it,” you smile and snap your finger.

The number might be flipped! Striding over to door 6 you swipe the card through the expensive key card lock. An led blinks red, then turns green as the locking mechanism retracts with a whirring click. A row of lights below shine Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, and White...weird.

Opening the door you are first met with the dark Karaoke lounge. Couch and chairs, small table, screen and microphones, and all of it untouched and a bit dusty. Before you can step forward a point of light shines suspended mid air in the doorway. This light spreads and fills the portal with gleaming silver and sparkling light.

Your eyes widen as the corridor flushes with the brilliance beyond.

NOPE.

1/3

>>33698146
Closing the door in a snap, you steady your now erratic breathing and lean against the wall. There was nothing in there, nope, nothing. You certainly did not see a far larger room with extremely modern decor and assorted astrological symbols and five color coded personal vanities and a big table with a glowing projected model of the city of Tokyo floating just above center and rotating slowly counter clockwise. And there was certainly no microphone stands and karaoke screen topped with a banner reading -Do Your Best, Girls!-.

Was...was it a dressing room or a war room? No, it was nothing, because it doesn’t exist.

Slowly you exit the corridor and to the back hub hallway that connects the Karaoke Lounge, the kitchen and storerooms for the arcade, and the upstairs offices and employee facilities. The counter for minding the entrance to the Karaoke lounge sits as always unoccupied, and you pass back into the kitchen from there.

The new girl, Shinju-san, is busy scooping out and decorating the arcade’s biggest Sundae on menu; occasionally she referencing an order ticket as she applies hot fudge, extra whip, and assorted sprinkles and cookies crumbles.

Okay, this is good. This is normal.

“Did we get an uptick in customers? Did a big party come in?” you ask.

“No, this is for the girl you were showing the lounge,”

“Really? Okay, that’s a little big for the three of them. Oh well, its their money,”

“No, its for the girl. Not girls. The blonde,”

“Chiba-san? oh...again,”

“Yup, pulling a faux noblewoman laugh and declaring her love for ice cream on top of it,” she grouses, “If she throws up all over the counter or the bathroom because of this I am not going to be the one to clean it u- again?”

Normal. The precious mundane of your life as an arcade attendant.

“Yeah. She won’t be throwing up. This is your first time seeing her in action then?”

2/3

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>>33698159
“So she’s a regular?” she chortles, “What, does she OD on sugar and fall face first into the mess?”

“You’ll see,” you shake your head.

Moments later you poke your head out of the kitchen as she stares dumbfounded at the teenage regular to your fine establishment. Defying your usual expectations of her oddly hypnotic attack pattern, the girl is more than halfway through the mountain.

Shinju-san stares dumbfounded. Kino-san looks about her usual level of embarrassment by association. The new girl, the younger one, just looks wide eyed at the spectacle and is practically bouncing whilst cheering Chiba-san on.

“Its not fair,” she mutters and turns to you, “And she does this all the time,”

“Yup,”

“I am experiencing a jealousy with which I am not accustomed,” she complains quietly.

“Don’t be. She tips well and is pretty friendly,” you smile, “She’s a sweet kid and her and her friends are some of our more well behaved regulars,”

Shinju-san nods as the girl at the counter continues to plow into the confection with reckless abandon and noticeable no earthly guilt. Your mind calms at this and you wonder and worry. How those girls might have reacted had they tested the card keys on any of those doors.

Was it dangerous to leave them in their care?

“Venus, it isn’t polite to stare,” Kino-san whispers to the effervescent child.

Chiba-san reels back in her post victory ice cream headache scream. Her joy fills the room and for the briefest instant you see something on her forehead. Something that isn’t there but exists only within that fractious happiness in her personal moment of triumph.

Maybe...it’ll be fine.

“Yeah, no,” Shinju sighs before heading back for the kitchen as she shoves her apron into your hands, “Still jealous. See you later, my shift is done,”

thanks for the thread Artemis!

this quest isn't grimderp, this quest isn't grimderp at all.

So, how did everyone like this week's thread and how did you like the Omake?

Also, everyone who is continually excited to learn that I'm back.

We have a twitter.

It is here: >https://twitter.com/Artemis_QM

Watch me there to bitch about life and announce this quest with the #thread hashtag, so adjust your filters accordingly unless you are interested in my day to day.

Good morning. x.z
Reading centers of my brain may come online shortly.

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>>33698146
Ah-Ha!
Alas, we did not chat.
Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

>>33698159
I should have expected her to be known for such feats of food.

>>33698202
Why do I feel like Shinju will be a 'rival' for Yeon's affections? or at least preceded to be at some point by Koyomi.

Either way, amusing times.

>>33699735
Been enjoying it!

>>33700098
Good. I'm paranoid that I suck.

>>33699735
It was fine, you just a poor turnout. Prior engagements and emergencies aren't just for QM's.

>>33703229
Aren't we all?

More quests' decisions should focus on ice cream.

>>33704879
The good news is there will be an ice cream based series of decisions in the near future.

>>33704994
I'm am certain that there are more sinister comments you could make, but not by much, and not without rolling dice.

Rolled 41, 51, 71, 36, 67, 65 = 331

>>33705422

You are absolutely right. Your decisions relating to what to do about that ice cream will be challenging, I'm not sure how challenging yet because I need to adapt templates and such.

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Next threads Interlude will be

"I am a monster,"

>>33708042
Will this be another two part one?
Monsters, monsters everywhere.

>>33710144
No, it'll be another installment of the troubled exodus of Midori Mori & Keiko Sugimoto as one divulges why she must be a monster

If we're still up in the morn I'll try for another comedic aside.

Let's face it, they aren't Omakes. They've been mildly relevant.

>>33713008
Looking forward to it!
Have a good night.

>>33713008
Relevance just adds to the fun.

Awake but not functional.

OMAKE

You sit in the dark of your living room, enjoying the evening of your impromptu vacation. Sure you spent a few days doing the necessary paperwork for repairs and dealing with Police, Fire, EMS, & PIT reports; but that was all done with. Now you were left to your own devices, and those devices involved introspection, annoyance, and feeling old.

This morning, during your slightly later than usual jog, you passed by a girl who couldn’t be much older than your students. She strutted about with a confidence in her body you had once...but forgot. The stress of being an educator and so many false starts weighed on your shoulders.

There was a time when you were younger that you almost broke under frustration and pressure, that prompted a snap decision that changed the course of your life. A decision you’ve never regretted, but one that made it a bit more difficult to get involved with someone new.

So you didn’t.

Now, your son is almost grown and has become incredibly self sufficient. Maybe its time to try again. Maybe you should try to flaunt a little and not let that little trollop from this morning leave you so upset.

Picking up your laptop from the coffee table, you lean back into the couch and pull up the website your secretary had suggested a few months back.

>>33719546

Down to Earth. A low pressure dating site that helps people in difficult situations find relationships. There’s a personality test, and a test to determine your current state of mind. Before long you’re lost to the test and filling out your profile proper. During this long and invested process, you fail to notice the front door open.

You fail to see shadows moving in the dark after it closes.

You fail to perceive the world around you until its just behind you.

“You really shouldn’t lie about your age on these things,” your son comments in deep thought behind you.

There is a moment of surprise where you jump and a sound only describable as a squeak passes from your lips.

“AH! Yoshi, don’t sneak up on me,” you try to calm yourself as your hearts continues to race before your brow creases, “And what do you mean lying about my age!”

“I didn’t sneak up on you,” he looks hurt by your comment, “I announced I was home and you didn’t respond. I was just curious what got your attention. And if you’re trying to get back into the dating scene you shouldn’t misrepresent yourself. So you’re in your forties, who cares,”

Staring at your darling child a few moments you sigh. He’s right, it could blow up in your face if you lied about your age. With a few quick keystrokes the truthful number of 47 appears in the designated field.

“Not so hard,” he smiles, “I’m going to go wash up. Would it be alright if I wanted to make dinner tonight?”

“I don’t see why not,” you muse, “though I’ll at least ask why,”

“I just want the practice. Besides, I think you could use the night off. You’ve been very stressed about what happened at the school,” he says while retreating in the corridor to his room, “Oh, and you probably shouldn’t lie about your dress size online either,”

Well, I doubt we'll have any more Omake today. I hope everyone had I good time and I return those thanks to those who thank me for running.

Thank you for playing.

See you guys later.

Offhandedly, do you think I've set up too many plot threads?

>>33719800

I rike it. My only complaint is that we can only follow so many before they go tits up, and I don't even mind as much as think it's a shame that they'll go wasted.

>>33722226

Oh, we'll get into the rotation of plot resolutions for the small ones.

Can you guess how many people so far introduced have a chance of being A monster of the week

>>33722770
All of them?

>>33719546
Amused/Glad we encouraged her into action.

>>33719800
>Offhandedly, do you think I've set up too many plot threads?
I love multiple threads of plot and slices of the other characters' lives.
Wish I could manage to run similar things.

>>33723077
This.

>>33725687

Its a careful juggle.

Will there be a monster of the week made of icecream?

>>33730459

Yes? No? Likely?