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Previous threads: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=MGDF

You are not Elizabeth Wyvern. You are Leshi, a magical boy of the southwest sector. Currently, you're in the process of dealing with a lost child and her pill chomping habits. By in the process of, you mean impatiently waiting in the lobby while the doctors run check ups on the girl. Over the next two hours a series of increasingly frazzled doctors and nurses occasionally walk out and ask you questions such as, "What's your relation to this girl." and "Where did you find her?". Not like you have an answer to most of those considering you've been stonewalled by the standard kid answer of "I dunno" since yesterday yourself. Now its your turn for that it seems. Never mind that the doctors seem very reluctant about telling you anything that's going on or how she's doing, but it doesn't seem good from what their expressions give away.

All the boredom immediately fades away when you hear the sound of shattering glass and wrenching metal from behind the lobby doors. The shouting and sense of panic you can see on the staff further down the hallways makes you jump up and ready yourself. Something bad is definitely happening. And then, just to add to the pile, your phone starts ringing.

>Charging into the breach
>Proceed with caution
>Answering the call and multi-tasking
>Write-in

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 66 (1d100)

>>4597384
>Answering the call and multi-tasking
>>
Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>4597384
>>Answering the call and multi-tasking
>>
Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>4597384
>Answering the call and multi-tasking
>>
>>4597384
>Answering the call and multi-tasking
>>
Both your phone and scythe are flipped open as you begin to carefully walk forward through the halls.

"So hey, Leshi... Something going on over there? A lot of noise."

"Yeah, I'm the middle of something, can you make it quick?"

"Oh, sure I guess. To make it brief it's about that girl you have with you. A lot of people are thinking she isn't entirely human. It's ranging from she's a vampire, to a genetic testing subject, to a homunculus. I'm kinda agreeing with them, something just didn't feel right about her. That drug tolerance is weird too. Still trying to pin down what she is though."

"Anything el-" A sudden fit of coughing comes over you and interrupts your sentence. Just now you've noticed that a hazy purple cloud is drifting along the floor. Is this a chemical attack? Good thing you're better than most at resisting toxins. You take your shawl and cover your nose and mouth.

"You alright there? Well, it's not much. Still working on what I can learn about drugs and stuff." Right as you turn a corner you meet eyes with two men in what look like hazmat suits standing a decent distance away from you. They quickly raise shotguns at you and you duck back behind the corner as buckshot whistles past.

"Going to have to call you back later." Things have escalated very quickly.

>Charge them down
>Spell attack
>Make a new path
>Write-in

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 73 (1d100)

>>4598117
>Make a new path
We forge our own!
>>
Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>4598117
>Spell attack
>>
Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>4598117
>>Make a new path

>>4598190
Well, that's unfortunate.
>>
>>4598202
Knowing how MGQM does things my choice won't be used so it shouldn't matter unless crit failures/successes work differently than I think they do
>>
>>4598190
>Lechi goes feral again

Damn, what does the dice have against Lechi?
>>
This is the second time Lechi rolled a one, he's really gonna have a bad year huh.
>>
1 - Deer of ill omen

Running through a firing squad isn't a good idea, so it's time to make a new path. You slice up the thin hospital walls with your scythe and bust into the next room. They don't stop shooting though, and the shotgun fragments fly through the walls as well. One shot hits you right in the side, making you sprawl over on the floor. You quickly flip over an empty bed and take cover. A short pause and the door to the room opens with a can being tossed in. It bursts, spraying a foamy liquid everywhere, and burning where it touches your skin. These guys aren't some regular thugs, they're well organized. Hell of a spot you've been put in here. Hard to breath through the damn haze and it's making you a little light headed...

>Get into melee range
>Spells out now
>Put up some walls
>Magia break
>Write-in

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>4598877
So it seems I did misunderstand how crits work, sorry guys.

>Spells out now
>>
Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>4598877
>>Spells out now
>>
Rolled 81 (1d100)

>>4598877
>Spells out now
>>
>>4598877
>Spells out now
>>
81 - Great success

They may be smarter than the average criminal, but there's one thing that they'll never have over you. Magic. You clutch at your catalyst and peek out from behind your cover to get a view on them and speak your spell. "Strangle Lash."

Tensile, thorny vines rupture from the walls and snake out at the aggressors. They grab at their guns and bodies, ripping gashes in their suits and forcing them to try and struggle out. It's enough to give you an opportunity though, and that's just what you needed. You leap out from your cover and cast your follow up spell. "Autumnal Harvest!" Air sharpens and slices, leaving their weapons in pieces. After that you strike them both as hard as you can with the blunt end of your scythe to knock them out. You might be able to kill monsters without a second thought, but these are still people that need to face punishment alive. Not gonna be like that pink haired psycho.

Heavily doubting that those two were the only ones that came in judging from the noise and shouting still going on. They're here for a reason and well prepared for it, but what would that reason be? You look around and see several people either collapsed or stumbling and coughing from the fumes. If it's only something disabling that's bad by itself, and if it's something lethal it's much worse. Shit, this was supposed to just be a regular hospital visit, why is your luck the worst...

>Specifically look for the girl
>Rush through to try and find all the attackers
>Try and help the vulnerable civilians
>Write-in

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>4599526
>Specifically look for the girl
>Try and help the vulnerable civilians

One of the two, I really can't choose between which.
>>
Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>4599526
>Specifically look for the girl
>>
Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>4599526
>Try and help the vulnerable civilians
The girl will be fine if she's immune to chemicals.
>>
>>4599526
>Try and help the vulnerable civilians
>>
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46 - Minimal Failure

As much as you hate to get dragged away from what you came here for, you can't help it. There are people that need your help and could die without it here. So you quickly set about dragging people back into the lobby and outside where it's safe. Hard with your stature but you have more than enough strength for it in your vestments. It's an uphill battle though since either this hospital doesn't have any rebreathers or didn't have the time to scrounge around for them. Kinda wishing that you had one yourself right about now...

On your fifth trip back in you run into a group of four more hazmat mooks in the middle of carrying boxes full of supplies somewhere else. They quickly drop their cargo and draw weapons on you forcing you yet again to take cover from the hail of bullets. You're thinking about your plan of action when you double over and hack up some purplish froth. Placreci might have blessed you with a robust body, but running around and breathing in the chemical haze has been taking it's toll on your health.

>It's time to run and call for help
>Try to tough it out and fight
>Feral constitution
>Write-in

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>4600742
>>Feral constitution
This time without rolling 11 times at once
>>
Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>4600742
>Feral constitution
>>
Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>4600742
>Feral Constitution
Well, let’s see if this ends really poorly like the last time.
>>
76 - Good Success

There is one way you can force yourself to endure this stuff but you don't like it. Still, running away now or collapsing later is just as bad as if you lost control... Screw it, It's time to take a chance.

"Magia break, Evolution: Wolpertinger."

Wings sprout from your back, and your legs shift into those of a rabbit's. Clawed hands covered in fur and larger horns grow. The change is significantly less powerful than the one you usually resort to, but it's much easier to control and more than enough to force the toxins out of your system. Definitely feeling a lot more pissed off at these thugs for what they've done though. Attacking a hospital like this is just despicable. Going to have to be careful that you don't get too emotional and lose it...

It isn't surprising to see how shocked they are when you hurtle towards them without any concern. Normally it would be suicidal to just run into a line of gunfire like this, but as you are now it's not that concerning to you. Those few precious seconds of shock give you half the distance before they actually start firing again, and by then it's too late. Most of the shots miss and the few bullets that do hit you are grazes that are already healing over. You grab the lead man by the head and slam him down hard enough to crack the tile floor. It feels incredibly satisfying. There's a single moment of hesitation before the three other men start back pedaling in different directions and booking it. The hunt is on.

>Chasing down the cowards
>These guys aren't a concern, find the girl
>Push for spells to catch them
>Write-in

>Do not hold back your strength
>Staying non-lethal as possible

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>4601785
>>These guys aren't a concern, find the girl
>>Push for spells to catch them

The girl is the priority though.
>>
>>4601785
>Staying non-lethal as possible

Also this, as they deserve justice, and we deserve information on their activities!
>>
Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>4601785
>These guys aren't a concern, find the girl
>Staying non-lethal as possible
>>
Rolled 36 (1d100)

>>4601785
>These guys aren't a concern, find the girl
>Staying non-lethal as possible
>>
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85 - Great Success

Focus. Even if you want nothing more than to grind these thugs into the ground you have to think clearly about this situation. Them attacking hours after you came in with the girl isn't a coincidence, it can't be. They must have been waiting for you to leave and take her, but since you didn't they got worried and tried to grab her quickly in the chaos. That's why they're armed and ready for a fight. They would need a quick way out prepared since staying around after attacking a hospital of all things would be a death sentence. You don't know exactly where the room she's in is, but that isn't important. You spent time trying to help people, so they likely reached her by now. What is important is the way this chemical hazard is billowing and the direction those mooks were moving before you ran into them. If your reasoning is sound then it has to be this way! You break for the east and sprint through the hall, jumping up and then stomping down on the hazmat man that was fleeing in this direction. You can feel a satisfying break, but he isn't important, so you ignore him and springboard off him and continue down the hallway.

It opens up into a T-shaped path with windows to the outside. Further north is a massive hole in the wall and a canister blowing out toxic fumes. The thing your gaze is set on though, is further north behind that. A stairwell with several figures walking down. A massive man in a hulking armored suit that looks like it could survive a direct hit from a tank round. In one hand is a chainsword that probably weighs more than you, and in the other he carries the unconscious body of your lost girl. Surrounding him are six more individuals, each in a lighter form of sealed combat suit and carrying bayoneted rifles. You successfully intercepted them, but this is... A formidable force to say the least. Even with the adrenaline pumping through you, you can't help but feel doubtful about your chances fighting them head on.

>LET'S GO
>Try some ranged spells
>Block off their exit for now
>Discretion is the better part of valor!
>Write-in

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 85 (1d100)

>>4602624
>Try some ranged spells
>>
Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>4602624
>Try some ranged spells

Time to save the gal!
>>
Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>4602624
>Try some ranged spells
>>
Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>4602624
>>
85 - Decent Success

The thing about this form is it doesn't only making you physically stronger, it amplifies your spellcasting as well. To run at that group is death so that must be your only option right now if you're going to stop them. "Strangle lash, Rust cap!"
Thorny brambles rupture from the tiled floor and whip at the group viscously. Below a crop of brown mushrooms puff out a cloud of decaying spores that eat away at metal armor. It's not all that effective though, while the guards are busy enough with the vines that they can't quite get a shot on you, the big guy presses on and easily cuts his way through at a steady speed walk towards that hole in the wall. He doesn't care about you, all he wants to do is leave with his prize. You've got a limited amount of time to stop that juggernaut from leaving, but on the plus side you've saved yourself a few seconds before the gunfire comes.

>Try to snatch her away
>More spells will work, right?
>Try to stop their means of escape
>Write-in

1d100 B03
>>
Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>4603156
>Try to stop their means of escape
>>
Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>4603156
>Try to snatch her away
>Try to stop their means of escape
>>
Rolled 65 (1d100)

>>4603156
>Try to snatch her away
>>
65 - Moderate failure

This has to be your chance right here. The gunmen are occupied and your target is right there. Even as you sprint into action, that big guy continues at his steady, brisk pace. Tensing up, you leap directly at them, aiming right over their shoulder. With how fast you're moving, all you need to do is just grab her by the clothing and-

The noise of an engine fills the air and you sail over the mark and tumble to the floor. A wave of pain hits you, making you look down and see it. A long grisly gash on your left leg. Shit, he's faster than he looks. The blood loss isn't going to kill you, but it's going to take a minute to heal... A minute with a bum leg right next to this butcher! You look up and see the bastard going for a downward swing to finish you off.

"Arbor weave!" The roots surging upward fend off that deadly chained weapon just long enough to toss yourself out the nearby window. The glass stings a bit, but does little other than frustrate you more. It was stupid to think that this would be that easy! Shit, shit, why did you put yourself in this situation! Argh, think! Gotta look around and... There it is! A large moving truck with its doors wide open parked just a little distance away. Their means of getting out of here. But that doesn't get you out of the woods. This is still a terrible place to be in...

>Frustration is getting bigger...
>More walls, keep them away!
>Need to hide right now
>Limp away to live another day
>sneak attack
>Write-in

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 29 (1d100)

>>4603808
>Frustration is getting bigger...
>More walls, keep them away!

Placreci, please grant us your blessings. The girl doesn't deserve this, no one does.
>>
Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>4603808
>Frustration is getting bigger...
>More walls, keep them away!
>>
Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>4603808
>Frustration is getting bigger...
>>
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95 - Excellent Success

It pisses you off to no end. Today was supposed to be a simple and peaceful job, and yet these assholes had to go and ruin that. You can feel the transformation slipping further and let it continue. What was it that Rana said? You can't bottle up your aggression? Well, fine by you, some venting is just what you need right now. A wall of intertwined roots raises up and covers the windows, blocking their exit for at least a few seconds at least. Enough time for you to fully heal yourself and let the transformation progress. For now, you are in control.

An engine whines as that chainsaw shreds through wood and sprays pulp everywhere. Through the growing gap you see the blank plate of his helm staring fixed at you. Loud popping noises followed by sizzling leads you to understand that the others are melting them down with caustic materials to get out. You can't hold them back forever but that's just fine. You'll show them just how big of a mistake they made.

>Brutal force on the leader
>Prepare the area with spells
>Rush down the hanger-ons first
>Try to steal the girl away again
>Write-in
>>
>>4604332
>Brutal force on the leader
>Try to steal the girl away again

We shouldn't forget what we came here for, but some venting of frustration is in order.
>>
>>4604332
>Try to steal the girl away again
Focus on the arm and shoulder being used to carry the girl. When it finally gives, we can grab the girl and get away.

Brute force or magic, whatever works. If we can use those roots to get in his armor and simply cut his arm off, that’d be best. There should be some gaps in the armor we can take advantage of, if there weren’t then he wouldn’t be able to move his arms.
>>
In my haste to get somewhere i forgot to mention the dice rolls are still needed
>>
Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>4604341
>>4604467
Got ya mate.
>>
Rolled 82 (1d100)

>>4604394
>>4604332
Was wondering about that. I’ll chip in then.
>>
Rolled 25 (1d100)

>>4604467
>>4604332
>Try to steal the girl away again
>>
82 - Good Success

Sure the first attempt went badly, but that was then and this is now. Tenacity is one of the most important factors of survival and often separates the dead from the living. Time to show the big bastard what that means. You're tensing up and lunging at him the moment he busts through the window. Normally a four foot eleven person jumping at you wouldn't be too effective, but by now you're a monster of pure lean muscle. Your claws grip his helmet tightly while your other grabs the girl as carefully as you can afford. He stumbles back from the newfound weight and swiftly raises the deadly saw to remove you, but you simply let go of his head and grab it in your hand to hold in place. Does it hurt? Oh yes it does, horribly in fact, but some grit is needed for big gains. You move to press your foot firmly against his face and you kick away, holding both the poor little girl under your arm and a chainsword in your newly mangled hand that is currently in the process of stitching itself together.

A flurry of bullets from the side makes you instinctively huddle down and scramble behind a nearby car for cover. You get shot up plenty in the process and it stings like hell, but you can heal. You put her down gently on the ground and notice something that makes your blood boil. She got hit in all that gunfire. Her blood is strangely multi-colored like a muddy rainbow...

"I don't have time for this." You hear a deep voice shout and peek out from the corner of your shot up car. The big guy and his entourage are all outside now, and for the first time he seems to be out of that calm demeanor. His faceplate is cracked and despite disarming him, the cleaver he just pulled out of a sheath shows he has back up weapons.

>Full berserk
>Spell casting
>Hit and run
>Just take her and flee
>Write-in

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>4605139
>Just take her and flee
Goodness knows I want to go berserk on their asses with the chainsword, but if she got hit now's not the time. We need to get her away and get her triaged- and discreetly at that,
>>
Rolled 55 (1d100)

>>4605139
>Just take her and flee
>>
Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>4605139
>Just take her and flee
>>
You could go for their throat right now. It would so satisfying to crush these bastards for what they've done, but... You have to be responsible here. The girl you were supposed to keep safe got hurt and you can't risk anything else happening to her. You hold her close and make a break for it, sprinting off and blocking bullets with your body. You don't stop running until you're in the cover of an alleyway.

There's the sound of sirens wailing through the air minutes afterwards while you're sitting there panting and shaking like crazy. Pushing into that state is easy, but coming down from it is the complete opposite. While you normally would take care of the girl's injuries since she got hit, there actually isn't a need. The gunshot wound in her side has completely clotted over already. You touch a finger to it to take a closer look at the colorful blood and immediately feel dizzy. The world looks a whole lot more colorful and blurry for a while after that. After seeing all this, you're certain that this girl isn't human. She eats medicine like candy, heals quickly, and has hallucinogenic blood. If that homunculus theory is right, that's the worst case result. By now those guys have already fled the scene and this is all you're left with. You can only hope that they get caught... Ugh, what is this all supposed mean?

"Rolling around in the trash with an unconscious girl? How scandalous~" That voice. Of course, she's all you need right now. You turn around and see Pecha leaning into your alley way.

>Isn't it convenient that you only found me just now?
>Just help me carry her
>I'm really not in the mood for taunts
>Write-in
>>
>>4605640
>Just help me carry her
>>
>>4605640
>>Just help me carry her
>>
>>4605640
>I'm really not in the mood for taunts
>>
>>4605640
>Just help me carry her
>>
>>4605640
Lets have some more fun taunting.
>I needed some help carrying her and figured I could find you here.
>>
>>4606044
Based interpretation. Will support!
>>
"Well I haven't seen you around the office lately so I wanted to find you. Figured the dumpsters were the right place to look. Just... Help me carry her, okay?"

"Oh, that was the closest thing to a scathing insult you've said to me yet~" She helps you, and as much as you hate admitting it, the help is welcome. Getting very tired from the adrenaline crash. Still, you'll die before you get carried back home again. Well maybe the other girl can, she isn't horrible...

--------------------------------------------------------

Back at the office you find yourself flopped on the couch trying to stay awake and blearily giving a report to Katya. Cleanup is a chaotic affair, but although there was a lot of most likely expensive damage there weren't any casualties thanks to your decision to help. From other witness reports and your own account the group that attacked was identified as the 'Merry Lads' gang. A drug peddling group that split off from one the countless crime syndicates of west sector and has been infesting the south west for about a year now. Very well funded and established it seems.

The other subject concerns the lost child. The medical documents that weren't destroyed in the attack explain a lot. Internally, she is completely different from a normal human. Almost all of her bodily processes are dedicated to producing countless different types of drug that are pumped through her veins and stored inside various bladders. The most important fact is that she's not human, and a clear violation of the ban on creating artificial sentience. So yeah, no parents or anything like that, just a test tube baby. Elizabeth said that from a few of her sources there's been a surge in the amount of drugs available on the streets and you can very easily see why that group wanted to take her. That leaves the problem with what you're supposed to do with this girl.

>I'll take care of her for now
>Organize her transfer to another city
>Write-in
>>
>>4606864
>I'll take care of her for now
Look, it’s possible that people will try to grab her wherever she goes. She’ll be safest under the watch of several, somewhat unhinged guardians
>>
>>4606864
>I'll take care of her for now
>>
>>4606864
>I'll take care of her for now
>>
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You offer to take care of her for now. Maybe it's guilt for letting her get hurt, or maybe you just feel like it's safer if she stays with you. You're not quite sure yourself why you're choosing to do this, but it feels like the right decision. Katya mumbles something about overcrowding and begins to shuffle through cabinets for papers and making calls, Pecha makes more jokes at your expense before leaving to do who knows what. Elizabeth just welcomes you to the stray adoption club, much to your own dissatisfaction. The paperwork you have to handle for this is mentally exhausting in its own torturous way, so you're ready to drop by the time you're back in your room even if it's only a few hours past noon. You'll probably have to make another bed if 'Tram' as she's being nicknamed is going to be sleeping in your room now... Why must you do these things to yourself? That's all you can ask yourself as you flop face first on to a pile of hay and pass out...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You are Elizabeth Wyvern, and you are very antsy. For two whole days you've been confined to your bedroom by social obligation, medical instruction, and a manlet, but now you are free! It might have been nice to catch up with old forum friends for the first few hours, but laying around for that long takes a toll on the brain. You practically dance down the steps on your now non-shredded leg muscles, only to find out that there's no active work to be done besides minor administrative stuff. You ask Katya if there really is nothing and she just responds with a shrug.

"Our jobs either come from directly responding to crisis, or people sending in their own problems. About eighty percent of the stuff sent in is garbage by the way and filtering through them is a nightmare. Most of the rumors we actually get pinned on the board over there are actually brought in by Pecha. It's why she's almost never around. She has an annoying tendency to be vague on her reports and keeping certain bits of information to herself. but she also has a weird knack for finding things of note."

>How hard can searching for trouble be?
>This is a day for training
>Crispin's day is coming. Time to shop
>Let's socialize with someone
>Write-in
>>
>>4607558
>Crispin's day is coming. Time to shop
>>
>>4607558
>Crispin's day is coming. Time to shop
>>
>>4607558
Clothes for Tram would be nice.
>>
>>4607558
>Let's socialize with someone (Katya)
We still don't know what kind of present she wants. We could gift her training gear or something, but surely there's something she's interested in besides working out.
>>
It might not be action packed, but Crispin's day is three days away and it's a good way to get fresh air. For some reason Lucy has been hovering around Leshi lately, so you're on your own for this trip. So many places to look through, and so little time... You did ask Katya what people wanted before, but the answers were vague. Going to have to go off of intuition for this, but you're smart. First let's go with Leshi. Apparently it should be something with thought behind it, whatever that means.

>Look for plants
>A new shawl
>Trinkets?
>Write-in
>>
>>4608127
>A new shawl
>>
>>4608127
>>Look for plants
>>A new shawl

Why not both? Some exotic plant that goes with the temperature in his room.
>>
>>4608127
>Since he is in charge of the kid maybe something they can both enjoy like a simple boardgame that still requires some strategy
>>
You haven't seen him a day without that shawl of his, that must be it. Going day in, day out wearing the same thing is just weird so you're doing him a favor. There's plenty of clothing stores, but then comes the problem of finding the right thing Finding a good quality product is important, but you always have to look out for overpriced stuff too. Can't break the bank too hard. Buying a plant might be a good idea, but you aren't too educated on the whole botany subject. Poinsettias are in season this time of year though.

All your searching has the benefit of letting you think too. He's decided to take in girl now, so maybe a little something for her too? Eh, you'll just pick up this pack of UNO cards for them to play together. It's only pocket change at the checkout line. Maybe you can think of something better later. The shawl you did pick out for him was a seasonal one. All shades of orange and reds dotted in maple leaf patterns. It has some cozy fur lining too, and all that on sale. He better appreciate your supreme shopping skills. Okay, with that out of your way it's Pecha next.... Absolutely stumped on what she would like. Can never get a good read on her.

>Something grim?
>Something cute?
>Alcohol is always the answer
>Write-in
>>
>>4608668
>Something grimly cute?
Some keychains for her weapons? If all else fails, alcohol is an answer.
>>
>>4608684
Supporting
>>
>>4608668
>>Something cute?
>>
>>4608668
Grimly cute sounds good to me
>>
>>4608668
>Something cute for her spider.
Grimly cute for the spider also acceptable.
>>
>>4609158
Gifts for both, +1.
>>
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There's only one thing that you can be for sure matches her. Something that matches her cutesy outer appearance and that weird feeling you get off of her. She wears gaudy pinks, and most of her stuff is plastered in stickers. There are places just for that type of aesthetic too, even a thousand years after their founding those store chains still survive somehow.

She might like trinkets, so... How about some keychains for her weapons? Yeah, that'll do. Some spooky stuff done up in that contrasting cute style for clipping on to her weapons. You'll even get a couple ribbons for her spider friend. Does Walter have the same tastes as her? Maybe, who knows. Hopefully, this will please her. Either that or she'll be disappointed, but hey that's those are the kinds of gambles we all take in life! Can't blame you for trying that's for sure.

Now Katya is the confusing one. When you asked what she might want, all she said was 'Surprise me'. All you've really done with her is work out, and during that she didn't say much at all about herself. What would your chain smoking coffee addict boss like? That hardboiled attitude of hers is hard to interpret.

>Booze is the answer to life
>Weapon maintenance kit?
>A neat mug
>Some cigars
>Write-in
>>
>>4609272
>Booze, coffee-flavored, in a neat mug

Have the mug reveal some art or inscription when it gets filled with warm liquids, it'll be a neat surprise.
>>
>>4609288
That's super cool sounding, supporting
>>
>>4609272
>>Weapon maintenance kit?
>>
Booze is always a good choice for a gift. That's what you're thinking as you walk into a liquor store. You've seen her drinking a lot of coffee, so why not a coffee flavored liquor? You've never tried kahlua before, but you've heard its very sweet despite being a coffee drink. Lots of sugar for taste. Can't just leave it at that though, so you decide to pick up a mug too. One of those temperature sensitive ones that shift in color to make a special pattern. Hope she doesn't try to put in a washing machine though, that tends to ruin these things...

So that just leaves Lucy. You get the feeling that she is very simple in her thought process. From the week and a half you've spent as a glorified roommate with her you know that much. A food lover to the end. Well, that and warm things, but what should you do about that? Maybe it would be better to get her something else, like clothes. She has a real limited wardrobe after all.

>Pick up some sweets
>Scour around for restaurants lunch time anyways
>Scented candles
>Decent clothes
>Write-in
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>>4609936
>Decent clothes
>>
>>4609936
>Decent clothes
>Scented candles

The scented candles are just as much for us as it is for her, as we are living together.
>>
>>4609936
>Pick up some sweets
From what we've seen she mainly eats ramen, let's give her a taste of something different.
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>>4609936
What sort of cooking options exist at our base? If we can cook proper meals there then pick up a cookbook with basic recipes. If not, then clothes since they’re something for her to actually own.
>>
>>4609936
>>Decent clothes
>>
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Let's just hope that she'll appreciate your style of fashion. Stuff like custom T-shirts have become cheaper due to technology with 3D printing and such so it's not too hard to find something good. This one t-shirt has that dragon eating it's own tail, can't remember what it was called though... Into the bag it goes anyways. It's getting cold so surely she'll appreciate this warm coat as well. You're not really sure how she would actually wear pants with that tail to be honest... Skirt and leggings it is then. A full outfit for your dragon friend to wear. Everything is set and your Crispin's day shopping spree is finished, and all at a decent price. Still no major work at the office, so... What's next?

>Take a walk
>Training for the rest of the day
>Socialize with [Character]
>Write-in
>Write-in
>>
>>4610646
>>Take a walk
>>
>>4610646
>Take a walk
Let's see what we can find in the city
>>
>>4610646
>>Training for the rest of the day
BECOME SWOLE
>>
>>4610646
>Take a walk
>>
>>4610646
>Training for the rest of the day
>>
Now that you think about it, you haven't really explored around the city that much. Sure you've seen a bit, but you didn't really pay that much attention while moving from point A to B. So today will just be you enjoying yourself and taking in the sights.

That is to say, as much as there is to see in a city. Normal shops, tall stacked up apartment buildings, etc... It's less cramped than the west sector that's for sure, but you can still feel the city life here. There's a certain flare to everything though, you can say that much. Bright colors and highlights are a constant here, and you find yourself noticing them more and more. A lot more demi-kin here too, you see their animalistic ears and features poking through crowds of pedestrians occasionally. There's for sure more here than back home. Wasn't there an eco zone town pretty close to here on that map you saw when moving here?

There is something cool you do see on your walk. On the side of a run down building you catch some movement in the corner of your eye. When you go to examine it, you learn that it's living graffiti. Magical girls aren't the only magic beings in this world, and this is one of them. Over the years more and more magical things have begun to crop up all over the place. The stylized spray paint tiger stretches out and gnaws on someone's name, devouring the color from it. You watch it in fascination for a long while, taking pictures the whole time. It's strange watching a 2D being go about its life like that. Eventually it finishes and settles back into place, completely stationary and lifeless looking.

>What's the upper district like
>Move towards the outskirts
>Look for more strange occurrences
>Return to the office
>Write-in
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>>4611749
>Look for more strange occurrences
>>
>>4611749
>Look for more strange occurrences
>>
>>4611749
>Look for more strange occurrences
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>>4611749
>Look for more strange occurrences
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>>4611749
>Look for more strange occurrences
>>
That interesting sidetrack has gotten you motivated. It's time for some real urban exploring. That being said, it's not that easy. Weird stuff doesn't always pop out right away when you're looking for it. Have to be patient.

An hour in you spot your first strange occurrence. A pickup truck driving down the road. This wouldn't be anything of note normally, but what it's carrying is enough to make you double take. Three men sitting in the back surrounding a running grill. One wears a fedora and trench coat, another is exceptionally bald and in his boxers, and the last one is just a clown. They are unconcerned with the rest of the world as they enjoy themselves, only leaving confusion in their wake. If only we could all be as carefree as those individuals. What an absolute bunch of lads...

The second thing isn't really that impressive, but how could it be compared to that last one? While you're walking around the southern side, you see a bunch of crows following a man as he walks around carrying a bag of fast food. It's gotta be a murder of like... twenty-five crows or something like that. You follow the congregation for a long while. Half-way in he notices the birds and begins to move faster, causing the birds to do so as well. This results in a five minute long chase, eventually climaxing with the poor man getting pecked on all sides by the swarm and fleeing after dropping his bag. In your opinion he should have stood his ground. What a waste of a good meal.

You try to find more, but get no such luck. Well, you can't exactly force more stuff to happen on its own. Such is the nature of random events in daily life. Just like how the setting sun tells you to go home and sleep right now. All in all, it was a productive day. Got some shopping done and watched some entertainment. Days like this almost makes you forget about the horrible destruction that you're supposed to protect the city from. After returning to the office for some quality sleep, you're woken up by an alarm clock and ready to set out and challenge the day.

>Looking for work
>Socializing with [Character]
>Physical training
>Write-in
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>>4612776
>>Physical training
>>
>>4612776
>Physical training
we gotta get them muscles
>>
>>4612776
>Physical training
>>
>>4612776
>Physical training
>>
Another day of relaxation has left you still hungry for some physical activity. It takes you no time at all to get ready and pester Katya into taking you to the gym with her after helping out with some quick forums. This time you're actually dressed appropriately, even if jogging all the way there through the cold air is less than comfortable at the start. You'll never understand how someone who smokes as much as her can do all that running and not even be out of breath. Maybe an augmentation?

Regardless, it feels good to put your body through the exercise. Gives that wonderful euphoric feeling. Runner's high, isn't that what it's called? Anyways, you go through various routines, lifting weights and using the different machines before eventually ending up at the ring and sparring with Katya again. She's still very much ahead of you in this department and gives you a lot of leeway like last time.

>Focus on learning as best you can
>How about a real fight instead?
>Use this chance to chat about something
>Write-in
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>>4613657
>Focus on learning as best you can
>>
>>4613657
>>>Focus on learning as best you can
>>
>>4613657
>Focus on learning as best you can
>>
>>4613657
>Use this chance to chat about something
>Ask whether she does anything besides work and training
>>
She's a more experienced fighter than you, so now is a good opportunity to learn. You ask her about what to learn first and she gives you a simple response.

"Elizabeth, do you know what the first lesson most schools teach their students in martial arts?"

"I dunno, wha-" You're distracted by her question, and in that moment she quickly grabs and flips you down to the mat. You land roughly on your arm and are dazed by the sudden impact. It knocked the wind out of you, that's for sure.

"It's how to fall correctly. Landing the wrong way from even a light throw or trip can screw you up. I don't think I need to tell you how badly you can get tossed around in this job." She kneels down and offers you a hand up. "So how about we ingrain that instinct into you?"

1d100 Bo3 for your learning experience
>>
Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>4614043
>>
Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>4614043
>>
Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>4614043
One last roll.
>>
94 - Excellent Success

You aren't any stranger to getting hurt, and years of using decaying industrial areas as jungle gyms has given you some general experience in this area. You throw yourself at Katya repeatedly with renewed energy at the prospect and she tosses you to the ground in slightly different ways over the next hour.

There's a couple good things to know about hitting the ground the right way. First is that you want to keep your form loose as staying rigid is much worse. Without the give in your limbs the impact has less to work with and hurts you more. Second thing is obvious, protect your head at all costs. Dip your chin in and twist to avoid landing on it. Finally, always be rolling. People often try to stop a fall as quick as possible, but bleeding off momentum through movement like rolling is much better than taking something full force.

It's all easier said than done, but you take to it naturally, and by the end you're tumbling and rolling like a pro. After that you sit down for a quick break. It's always important to stay hydrated, and oh boy are you sweating. Also bruised, but that's not important, no pain, no gain!

>Do you not have hobbies?
>What was the deal with your magic?
>Tell me about the army
>Write-in
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>>4614804
>What was the deal with your magic?
>>
>>4614804
>>What was the deal with your magic?
>>
>>4614804
>Tell me about the army
>>
>>4614804
>What was the deal with your magic?
>>
>>4614804
>Tell me about the army
>>
"So, what's the deal with your magic? Seemed kinda weird when I saw it." You ask while drinking from a water bottle.

"Oh, that. I can just make weapons. Sorry If it seems boring, but I've never been very good at this magic thing." She fiddles with her lighter in boredom. At least she respects the sanctity of public smoking signs.

"Didn't seem very boring to me when I used one of those things." You shudder, remembering that creepy mouth sword. Even if it was effective weapons shouldn't be alive.

"Is that so? Well, It works like this. I use a weapon for a long time and it slowly becomes a numbered weapon that I can use. In terms of flashy spells I can break them to cast something, but it takes a long while to recover them." She opens up the duffel bag and she casually passes you the axe you saw her using when you first met. It's slight, but you notice a patch of scales growing on it. Must be a gradual process. You then realize what you're doing and quickly dump them weapon into the bag again before people start to stare. Most folks don't just openly carry weapons. Well, except for south east sector, but they're weird...

"Having fun over here?" The sudden voice from behind you makes you jump and you look up only to see Juila. She leans against the ropes looking down at you with a lazy smile at your small fright.

"An absolute joy. Hey-" Katya is interrupted by a buzzing from her pocket and she sighs. "How about you two share the fun with each other for a bit. I need to take this." She gets up slowly and flips out her phone, wandering off to a quiet corner. Then you're left alone with the leader of upper district. She smiles at you and you just shrug, tossing away your empty water bottle and climbing back in to the ring. Guess this'll just be another learning experience. Maybe a new opponent will help with variety or something like that.

>So how's the upper district been going?
>What's your relationship with Katya?
>Go intense try-hard to try and impress
>Write-in
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>>4616042
>What's your relationship with Katya?
>>
>>4616042
>What's your relationship with Katya?

As much as I wish to impress, I'm afraid I lack confidence in our ability to be impressive. We'll work on it.
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>>4616042
>>What's your relationship with Katya?
>>
>>4616042
>What's your relationship with Katya?
>>
>>4616042
>What's your relationship with Katya?
>>
Your sparring with Julia goes a lot differently than with your boss. No matter what you do, she always twists or leans away from your punches by the slightest margins. She doesn't even catch them or block you. It's about as infuriating as one might think. Somewhere along the line you decide to not try as much and talk while putting forward minimal effort. "So, what's your relationship with Katya?"

"Would you believe me if I said we were dating?" She says pertly, causing you to stumble. She takes the opportunity to flip you to the ground. "Just kidding, she's way too old. She worked under me until the split between the lower and upper districts happened. Most effective field worker I'll say that much."

"Ow... You decide to actually fight back just now?" You complain while getting back up to your feet.

"Should always keep your guard up, you were phoning it in there. Anyways, she's always taken to conversation like a brick to water. Hated any kind of administrative work too, so how do you think she reacted when the higher ups shoved her off to be the leader of a new district office with only two misfits to work with?"

"Probably very upset," You say, throwing a punch with renewed purpose. "Also, misfits? A bit insulting."

She decides to actually block your hits this time and continues casually talking. "Don't take it too seriously. You can't throw a stick in our line of work without hitting a weirdo with a few screws loose." Your life has gotten exponentially stranger since you've joined, that you can say is true. Homeless dragons, fake humans, evil organizations... " She's got some anger issues too if you haven't seen yet. Hopefully the big population flood in your office I've heard of is a positive influence for her. How's she been for you?"

>Best boss I've ever had (You have had zero)
>She's very straightforward
>Don't you have your problems too?
>Write-in
>>
>>4617317
>Best boss I've ever had (You have had zero)
>Go intense try-hard to try and impress

Now is the time to strike! I doubt we'll win, but we'll catch her off guard!
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>>4617317
>>>Best boss I've ever had (You have had zero)
>>
>>4617317
>Best boss I've ever had (You have had zero)
>>
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"She's the best boss I've ever had." You can say that confidently as you've never been employed anywhere else before. Sure she's got that hard boiled attitude and doesn't really talk all that often about anything that isn't work, but she isn't terrible by any means. Also she took you to a bar for drinks so that was pretty nice.

"Good to hear. She can be such a buzzkill at times. Grumbling and not being able to say a sentence without sighing." At this point you notice that Katya has come back, standing right on the opposite side and behind Julia's back, listening in. She gives you a look and you get a very good idea.

"Yeah, that sounds like her. Why don't you tell me more." You say as innocently as possible, trying to get her to focus on you.

"Want some gossip, huh? Well, it's actually surprisingly easy to embarrass her if you know the right buttons to push. It's adorable how she tries to slip back into her super serious attitude but fails miserably. Want to hear about the Hallow festival incident?"

"I'd love to" Katya says happily grabbing her by the waist.

"Eh-" Is all Julia manages to get out as she notices Katya right behind her. Needless to say it's both incredibly satisfying and hilarious to watch her get suplexed. "Ghlk... A sneak attack is dirty..." You can't say she didn't deserve it.

The rest of your time at the gym is relatively uneventful, but you did leave feeling like you've made some progress. You also left regretting that you walked all the way here and your sore body hates you for it. Back at the office it looks like you weren't the only one who had it rough. Laying face down on the couch with a couple of bruises is Lucy.

"What happened to you?" You ask her and she looks up at you tiredly.

"Asked Pecha for help with stuff... She's a rough teacher." Is all she says before putting her face back down into the cushions.

>Yeah, life can get rough
>I can help you instead if you want
>You alright there?
>Write-in
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>>4618462
>Yeah, life can get rough
>I can help you instead if you want
>>
>>4618462
>I can help you instead if you want
>You alright there?

Did we ever get those freeze bullets for the goo-man?
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>>4618462
>>I can help you instead if you want
>>
"I can help you instead if you want, you know."

She makes a mumbly noise that you can't really hear well and shifts a little but doesn't do much else. Can't really tell if that is a yes or no... For all living together is worth, you still don't really know how to talk to her all that well. It's like unmotivated is her constant state. Maybe you should spend more time with her? While you're thinking about that, a tapping on the office front windows interrupts you. There's a pigeon persistently pecking at the glass. To most this would be confusing, but you understand it right away.

You walk back outside and calmly pick up the bird. It doesn't freak out or anything and sits in your hands quietly. That's what it was trained to do after all. The thing about your dad is he doesn't trust very specific pieces of technology, and phones are one of them. As long as you can remember he kept and bred messenger pigeons as a hobby. They're very smart things too, they can find pretty much any place you show them a picture of.

Up in your room you retrieve the tiny letter and read through it. The message is mostly rambling and filled with sidetracks, but that's normal for him. Asking how you've been, if you've made new friends, information on the movements and politics of your organization, just regular stuff like that. He even clipped one of those weird frog pictures he collected to the bottom too. It's sort of annoying how he never mentions what either him or mom are doing nowadays. It's been like what, five years since you've seen them face to face?

>Please get a phone already
>Everything is going fine
>Send back a collection of random images as a joke
>Write-in
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>>4620448
>Everything is going fine
>>
>>4620448
>Everything is going fine
>>
>>4620448
>Everything is going fine
Though that last one is a great joke.

Food can be a great motivator, but your absolutely right about getting to know her better. We should ask her what she would like to do/go when the socialize option comes up again (something that isn't good related I hope).
>>
You write up a quick response letter saying everything is fine and that no one has tried to steal your blood yet. It's been a while since you've exchanged letters with your parents, but the pigeon might have just had a hard time finding you this time. It's good to know they're still breathing. Well, unless they've just been replaced with mimics wearing their skin, but what are the chances of that? only like, thirteen percent probably. Now that's finished up and you're sitting at noon with a pigeon flapping out your hands to the sky.

You walk down to the main room to see if there's anything to do, and see that Pecha has come back for once. It's rare that she's around since she's always wandering around from what you've learned. In the news of new case you've got three subjects. An excessively strange and brutal death was discovered in an apartment yesterday. Apparently the circumstances are strange enough to give over to your office. There's also been a lot of noise complaints coming from a residential area near a certain workshop. Not sure why this would be your problem but maybe it's important. Last one is weird. A guy from a nearby eco zone outpost is requesting your help saying that fairy folk stole his wife. Now, that might be a big problem for the guy, but that's very much outside the city and seems like something for their local enforcement to handle. Why call your office for that?

>Handle a case
>Socialize with someone
>More practice
>Write-in
>>
>>4621986
>Socialize with someone
Lucy
>>
>>4621986
>Socialize with someone
Lucy
>>
>>4621986
>Handle a case
I'm ready to have my shit kicked in. We can even bring Lucy along to share the fun.
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>>4621986
>Handle a case
>>
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You should definitely spend some more time with her, and what better way than going on a case with her? She's not in the main room, so you check the only other place she could be. Lucy has been spending alot of time around Leshi for some reason. Maybe they just get along or something like that? Shortly after walking into the outside-inside room, you find her lazing about on the grass surrounded by chickens. The other two that live in this room are inside the house which is inside a room and... This gets more confusing the more you think about it, better stop.

>Messy murder
>Noise complaints
>Wife stealing
>write-in
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>>4623678
>Wife Stealing
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>>4623678
>Wife stealing
Amusing, plus outside of the stressful city? It'll hopefully be a calmer affair than before.
>>
>>4623678
>Wife stealing
>>
"Get up Lucy, We've got work to do!" You say, ushering away chickens and making them spread loose feathers everywhere as they run away.

"Do I have to?" She looks at you blearily and sits up. You sit down next to her and open up the case file you grabbed about those fairies stealing someone's wife. You're not really an expert on them, but at least half your forum think that fairies are behind almost all of the bad things that happen in the world. Ironically or unironically, it's hard to tell.

"Cheer up, this one is special. We get to take a trip outside the city!" The victim is named John Myse and his wife is Marion Myse. He claims that the fairies stole his wife away shortly after their wedding in the nearby town of Last Pine. It's a couple hours away by train. There's some problems with dealing with this case to start. Those problems being you only have a surface level understanding of the fae, have never visited the outer zone in your life, and don't even much about this guy since he's requesting your help from out of the city. Why is that anyways, can't their local sheriff or guard or whatever they have deal with it? There's also the fact that you'd be out of the city if anything went wrong, and you'll likely be stuck there investigating for a day at bare minimum. Maybe you could bring Leshi along as a guide, but he's in charge of Tram, and only Katya and Pecha would be left here. Crispin's day is two days away now, so that just makes things even more annoying. Sort of funny considering the fae are one of the many things Lord Crispin drove out from these lands all those years ago.

>Wait until the holiday is over then go
>Rest and then head over right away
>You can sleep on the train

>Take someone else along
>Only the dragon
>>
>>4626112
>>You can sleep on the train
>Only the dragon
>>
>>4626112
>You can sleep on the train
>Only the dragon

If we solve this quick we can celebrate Crispin's day!
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>>4626112
>Wait until the holiday is over then go
>Only the dragon
>>
>>4626112
>>You can sleep on the train
>only the dragon
>>
"Pack some clothes, we've got a train to take." You say, deciding on your course of action. If you need rest you can get some on the ride there.

"Right now?" Lucy looks at you a little exasperated.

"The sooner we wrap this up, the sooner we can get back home. Besides there's probably going to be plenty of time to relax in the countryside once we get there." And with that the matter is settled and walk downstairs to tell Katya about your decision. She's less than pleased about it.

"You do know that this shouldn't be our problem right? Our job is to handle matters inside the city. Whatever is happening in that town should be their problem not ours."

She has a point, but there's a reason why they reached out to your office and you're not one to avoid helping others. "It'll be fine, besides the three of you can handle pretty much anything here, right? I'd rather be missed for a day or two here than someone to lose a loved one."

Katya sighs and thinks for a moment before letting you go. "Fine, but if I call you back drop everything and get back here immediately." You thank her and quickly grab your duffel bag back in your room with a couple pairs of clothes. Together with Lucy you make your way to the station. The train itself isn't anything too special, but the seats are comfy at the very least. From what you've heard the one at east sector is something like a moving settlement.

>Talk with Lucy about something
>Look up stuff about fairies
>Just take a nap for now
>Write-in
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>>4628092
>Look up stuff about fairies
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>>4628092
>Look up stuff about fairies
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>>4628092
>>Look up stuff about fairies
>>
>>4628092
>Look up stuff about fairies
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>>4628092
>Look up stuff about fairies
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>>4628092
>Look up stuff about fairies.
Our conspiracy ways will probably hurt us here. May as well ask Lucy what she knows about fairies as well. I’m sure it’s not much, but I’d take her knowledge over what we’d dig up.
>>
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May as well read up on the fae while you're on this several hour long train ride. Fairies are one of those magical races that were present on this world since history has been recorded and just stuck around all this time. From what you've read the whole wife stealing is sort of tradition for them, only after child kidnapping and making people dance until they die. Also according to your friend Twiggly on the forum, they're all 'Knife eared degenerates who will stab you in the back at any opportunity and steal your gold coins'. You reply that you don't own any gold coins and this segues into a long argument between thirty members about how fiat currency is worthless and how you should buy gold. You have had this argument more times than you can count now. Enough getting sidetracked anyways. The 'fair folk' is kind of an inaccurate title now that you think about it, and from what you gather not many people like them, however any real attempt to remove them ends up in disaster. Well, except for Lord Crispin's purge, but that man was an absolute legend.

You pass the hours chatting, but it almost always turns to shit talking the fae and you somehow find yourself agreeing with it. When the train finally stops you look up to see that Lucy has been sleeping on her double seat this entire time. It's kind of making you sleepy yourself, but it's time to go. She mumbles begrudgingly but eventually you step off the train with her and into the town of Last Pine. The difference in the air quality is immediately noticeable. It's cleaner and better, but it's strange breathing it in at first. There's also the fact that there's almost no modern architecture. Actual wood and brick housing, vegetation, and even the occasional animal. Hell, the roads are made of dirt! You're almost convinced that you wont get a signal out here, but it's still there.

>Go and meet the client
>Find a place to stay at for the night
>Get a feel for the town
>Write-in
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>>4630559
>Go and meet the client
>Get a feel for the town
>>
>>4630559
>Go and meet the client
>>
>>4630559
>>>Go and meet the client
>>
Learning more about the circumstances of this whole deal is the best course of action here. And so you find your way to the address listed in the files. This whole place is rustic, and you notice that a big portion of the population seems to be demi-kin, so about what you expected. Maybe this is even the town that Leshi came from, never really asked.

Minutes later you come across the small house you're looking for and knock on the door. It takes a while but eventually the door cracks open and a man looks at you from the inside. "Hello?" He matches the description, so this must be John Myse. Seems incredibly tired though, he's got some heavy bags under his eyes and he's got a skittish demeanor about him.

"I'm Elizabeth from the southwest lower district. Came here to talk to you about your problems."

He perks up at that and goes a little wide eyed. "Oh, you actually came? Come in, come in, please!" The door is flung open and he leads you inside. It might be nothing special out here, but it's pretty good looking. Definitely not cramped like the usual city guideline housing. You sit down in the living room across from each other. "So... Where should we begin?"

>Why call us specifically
>What exactly happened
>Who exactly did this kidnapping
>Write-in
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>>4632098
>>What exactly happened
>>
>>4632098
>What exactly happened
>>
>>4632098
>>What exactly happened
>>
>>4632098
>What exactly happened
>>
"Okay, give me the quick rundown. What exactly happened here?"

He sits there not talking for a few seconds as if to find the right words. "Well... It was on the day of our wedding when it happened. Only hours afterwards while walking home, a group of those damn fairies came and grabbed her. There wasn't anything I could do about it..." He goes quiet again. Now that you're looking at him closer, the guy seems out of sorts. Messy hair, wrinkled clothes, and a general strung out look to him. It must be hitting him hard.

"And can you tell me anything about who did this? Looks, name, anything?"

"I'm sorry, but It's hard to remember that night. For some reason my memory feels very fuzzy on the incident. Must be some kind of enchantment..." He averts his gaze and sighs. "I remember orange wings and the name... Finnegan? Does that help?" A name and color isn't much but it's better than nothing at least.

>Are you sure that's all you can remember?
>Why would they do this to you specifically?
>Have the fairies been a problem recently?
>That's all I need
>Write-in
>>
>>4634030
>>Have the fairies been a problem recently?
>>
>>4634030
>Have the fairies been a problem recently?
>>
>>4634030
>Have the fairies been a problem recently?
>>
>>4634030
>Why would they do this to you specifically?
>>
"Have the fairies been a problem around here recently?"

He looks at you as if that was a stupid question. "They're always a problem. Most of time it's something that doesn't matter that much, harmless pranks, but look at what happened this time!... I tried to ignore them for as long as I've lived here, so sorry, but I don't keep track of what they do." What a useless answer. He isn't giving you much to work off of, so this will be difficult.

"Just mischief in general? Why would they do something big like kidnapping out of nowhere and to you of all people? There has to be a reason to it."

"I don't know why, it's just... They're all spiteful assholes and always have been, they don't need a reason!" He shouts and puts his head in his hands. "Maybe they saw I had a happy future ahead of me and thought it would be fun to take it away..." Jeez, it's like he's at his wits end here.

>Something else I'd like to ask [Write-in]
>Thank you for your time
>>
>>4635912
>Why contact our agency? This isn’t our usual jurisdiction.
The guy looking away earlier when explaining his lack of memory as “enchantment” and his vagueness about the fairy motive makes me wonder if he’s lying and not practiced enough with it to avoid tells. We’re out-of-towners too, so he (or someone who put him up to this) may think we’d take his statement more easily since we wouldn’t have the background to ask specific questions he wasn’t prepared for. Or maybe people around here won’t be as forthcoming with us so we can’t see the full story.

Either way, curious what his reason for dragging us out here is. If he gives an excuse along the lines of not trusting the locals or that he heard we do good work, I’d tag it into the “he thinks we’re easier to dupe” bucket.
>>
>>4635912
>Why contact our agency? This isn’t our usual jurisdiction.
>>
>>4635912
>Why contact our agency? This isn’t our usual jurisdiction.
>>
>>4635912
>Why contact our agency? This isn’t our usual jurisdiction.
>>
"So why did you contact us anyways. This isn't our agency's usual jurisdiction. We're only supposed to cover south west."

"It's not like anyone here is going to do a thing about it. I went to the local guards here and they refused to handle it. Said that It would only cause more trouble to mess with them. Hell, I even ran around asking whoever I could to help, but no one wants to deal with the fairies!"

"Seriously? Not even the people in charge of keeping the town?" That just sounds strange. Sure the fae sound like a pain in the ass from what you've heard, but isn't that a bit much?

"No, and when no one would help me I tried going to their grove myself, and look what happened." He angrily raises his right leg up and puts it on the coffee table, pulling up his pant leg and taking off the shoe. Where there would normally be flesh its been partially replaced by knotted wood, like a growing sapling was planted inside his foot. "You are my only option at this point! Do you think I'm happy about that?" That's... A very valid reason to be upset. Not sure what to say to that. The rule of law out in these greener pastures is far more lax than you thought if this just casually happens and no one lifts a finger.

>Something else before I go [Write-in[
>It's time for some field work
>>
>>4637410
>>It's time for some field work
>>
>>4637410
>It's time for some field work
I guess we start with the local guards? Figure they’ll have reasons for why they brushed him off. A missing person is pretty serious, unless they have a reason to think his wife isn’t “missing”.
>>
>>4637410
Supporting going to talk to the guards
>>
>>4637894
+1
>>
You've gotten some interesting information from this meeting, but at the same time not much. It's pieces you can work with though, and the next stop for you is going to be the local guard. "Thanks for your time. I'll do my best to get her back for you."

He frowns and closes his eyes trying to calm himself. "Please do, I've been at my breaking point these past few days..." You don't bother him any further as you exit the house with your underling in tow.

"Suspicious." You hear Lucy suddenly say while you search the unfamiliar streets for your destination.

"Eh?" You enunciate your confusion and stop to face her.

"He seemed more angry than sad at having his partner was taken." Was he? It seems like a reasonable response to have. "It's suspicious to me."

Lucy gives you a disinterested look as if she could care less about the outcome and says no more. You sigh and turn on your heel to continue. Strange girl. "Yeah, but the guard situation is more suspicious to me. Speaking of which..." Nailed to a shabby wooden building, you spot a sign that reads 'LP Hedge Lancer Office'. That's the local guard organization right? Inside, sitting with their boots up on their desk is a man with lightly twitching cat ears attentively working through a crossword puzzle. Pinned to his vest is a tiny tag labeled 'Sheriff Tom' "Mhmm?" Is his only acknowledgement that he knows you're there.

>You seem to be ignoring a kidnapping case. Why?
>Are all the officers here this lazy?
>Try to be friendly
>Write-in

Apologies for the delay, left hand was briefly crushed.
>>
>>4640262
>Try to be friendly
If nothing else, we can play Good Cop Bad Cop. Lucy may have some fun with that, I hope.

You alright OP? A crushed hand in no joke.
>>
>>4640359
No serious damage, just painful bruising thankfully
>>
>>4640262
>>Try to be friendly
No need to antagonize him. We’re a fellow professional doing a job, and we’re just trying to figure out right now what’s going on.

Now, just because we’re the friendly one doesn’t mean we can’t goad him. We have John fill that role for us so Lucy can pick how she wants to do things. Mention his dismissiveness of the guards competency and that he felt strongly enough to bring in a city-slicker like us. This has got to be annoying at least. Is he usually a handful like this? How about the wife? Think he has an angle in all this?

I figure the more suspicious of John’s story we seem, the more the sheriff will let down his own guard. Still can’t take his word at face value, but anything we can learn about local issues or politics gives us more leads to work with.
>>
>>4640262
>Try to be friendly
>>
The laidback attitude you can forgive, after all you wouldn't exactly call yourself professional at times. Good first impressions are important. "I'm here about the John Myse situation." You plainly state.

That gets him to sit up and put away his paper. "He botherin' you about the fae now?"

"That's right. When I talked with him about the issue he said that you've done nothing to help. Just let it be after his wife was kidnapped. It sounded strange to me, so I went here to get your side of the story."

"Now, I understand how an outsider might view the situation. You may think that were horrible and all for just letting this be, but simply put this is what we have to do. Its been the standard procedure for dealing with fairy folk since books have been written. Whether its spiteful mischief or something serious like this, doing nothing is almost always the least damaging outcome. Just have to sit and take it whether we like it or not. John as I recall, moved here about say... Three years ago. He just doesn't get the gravity of this whole deal." He speaks calmly, as if unaffected this is nothing special.

>That's ridiculous...
>And what I went to do something about this?
>Are you really that frightened by some winged short people?
>Write-in
>>
>>4642183
>That's ridiculous...
so after this vote i believe that it is time for a new thread
>>
>>4642183
>>And what I went to do something about this?
>>
>>4642183
>And what I went to do something about this?

>>4640429
Good to hear it isn't serious, OP.
>>
is it time to archive this thread?
>>
Archived, new thread eventually(TM)



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