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>>26747441


Welcome back, Sir.

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>>26747474

(It's great to be back. And that's an excellent picture.)

The back rooms of the Papillon are - As you've previously observed - all built along the same plush lines: Like the inside of a very expensive chocolate box, with a wrap-around couch, a coffee table, and a flatscreen television at the end - With a karaoke machine and several game consoles set in a glass-panelled shelf of lacquered wood.

It's classy, especially given the cost...And, more importantly, it's quiet.

The soundproofed walls lend a private, almost intimate air to the place - A tiny alcove of comfortable serenity.

The previous times you visited, you were here alone...For however briefly, before you'd hear the soft scrape of silk, the scent of perfume and brimstone -

Not this time, however.

It's strange. This place was where you first met Mio - In here, though, with her...You feel oddly out-of-place. Like a intruder.

There's a soft *clink* as she sets her tray down; Ice cubes against frosted glass, soda and slices of white cake. The light catches the faint gleam of her silver barrette, skirts rustling as Mio eases herself into the seat next to yours with an easy grace - Concern in her eyes, echoed by the flat press of her fox-ears against her blonde hair.

"Anon-kun." There's a warmth to her voice - A kind of restrained happiness - as she turns your hand over; A slight tremble to her shoulder, as she bites back a little gasp. Her head tilts back, her eyes meeting yours-

"...Does it still hurt?"

You can sense that there's a lot unsaid, but there's a sweet softness to her expression - Just on this side of a blush, as she cradles your left hand (The new bandages still stiff) - in both of her own, her touch feather-light, delicate.

[ ] "A little."
[ ] "-Not any more."
[ ] "Naoya did a good job."
[ ] "Don't worry about it."
[ ] "I'm fine...But how about you?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

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>>26747441
'lo OP. Have a productive weekend?

'lo Anon. Bit of bad news, I'm nowhere near done with the event summary, partially due to RL and mostly due to mission creep. It's somehow turned into a comprehensive primer for the quest. Right now it's at six pages, it'll probably be between twelve and fifteen when complete. I'll post what I have of it before the thread 404s.

Pic unrelated, except for the way my eyes feel.

>>26747588

Wow, her dere is really stronk.

> [X] "-Not any more."
> [X] Free: "I'm sorry I didn't call you. I losst my phone, the same place I got injured."

>>26747588

"Getting stabbed in the hand? Nothing to it.... I've suffered worse injuries before," in a complete deadpan say, "I even lost a leg. Once."

"Pour us some drinks. It's been a trying day."

>>26747588
[X] "I'm fine...But how about you?"

"It's good to see you again. It's been a long week."

>>26747588
>[X] "I'm fine...But how about you?"

>>26747639

Oh god do not fucking roll dice OP. Cosgrove and his taint are here. This is a wonderful escape from full kubo.

>>26747588
"It's just a scratch at this point, nothing worth worrying about."
"How are you?"

>>26747629

haha no don't do this. She's not a player, remember!

>>26747588
>(It's great to be back. And that's an excellent picture.)

I have a soft spot for those games :3
Given the nature of this one, I feel like I should ask if you've experiened Warframe at all lately? They have a lot of neat exo-suit ninja combat stuffs, and some nice art.

>>26747588
"Only when I squeeze it. I think I owe Naoya an apology, he was much nicer to me than I was to him."

>>26747650
No tears now, only kubo. Besides, it's much too late, I introduced him over a month ago.

>>26747668

You never hammed it up? Plebeian.

>>26747588
[ ] "-Not any more." (implying she's causing it)
> [X] Free: "I'm sorry I didn't call you. I losst my phone, the same place I got injured."

I like that one, and we should also mention

>[x]Free: "I was worried when I didn't see you at school. Are you ok?"

>>26747705

Mio's not from the same school as us, is she? She's from the all-girl's one.

>>26747705
She doesn't go to the same school we do, remember the tennis matches.

>>26747692
>You never hammed it up? Plebeian.

Nah, if anything, i was thinking make it an Arm and a Leg joke.

>>26747441
>NAOYA SHIGA..

I... i want to say we've heard this name before, somewhere, in the labryinthine backstory of this quest.
I will LAUGH if that was mio's dad popping into work to say hi to his kid

>>26747724
>She doesn't go to the same school we do, remember the tennis matches.

... who was it that we noticed wasn't at school yesterday, then?

>>26747732
Asuna.

>>26747732
That was Asuna who wasn't at school.

>>26747726
I checked. New character. It's always funny when these pop up, you'd think they'd stop coming since we barely have time to keep up with the characters we already do S. Links with.

>>26747746
>>26747751

Ah! librarian lady, right?

>>26747680

(Not yet, unfortunately.)

>>26747602

(A busy one, mostly. Also, that sounds like an epic undertaking.)

>>26747628
>>26747633
>>26747639

> [X] "I'm sorry I didn't call you. I lost my phone, the same place I got injured."

She shakes her head. "-That's all right." Mio's voice is soft; Her hands holding yours, as she faces you - A slow blush blooming in her cheeks, her gaze so very intent. "It doesn't matter, as long as you're all right."

Her smile becomes just a shade tremulous, her green eyes lowered.

"...As long as you're here..." Mio murmurs, almost to herself - You're pretty sure you weren't supposed to hear that, as she blinks...A kind of pleasant embarrassment shading her words.

>>26747658

> "It's just a scratch at this point, nothing worth worrying about."
> [X] "I'm fine...But how about you?"

A pause. It's a very significant one.

"...I missed you," Mio says, at last - Her voice very, very small.

When she looks up, her eyes are moist; "I was...so *worried* about you, Anon-kun. I didn't see you for a week, and when you turned up..." There's a little hitch in her words, her fingers folding around yours.

"S-so, now that you're here...I'm really happy."

You can tell that Mio means it; The slight stammer to her words only accentuating the softness to her voice - Her lips-ever-so-slightly parted, a simple joy in her eyes.

"I...*really* missed you, Anon-kun. So much that - I was a little scared..."

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>26747780
>[ ] Free
>YOU HAVE CONTROL

Give her a hug.

>>26747780

Awwww. Awww, that's so sweet.

Give her a hug.

>>26747762

Doh! oh well.
I think my wires got crossed thinking of..... didn't we get a tip that Bardiel knew someone at the papillion/had someone that went there? I seem to recall a doctor coming up before.

Also would someone please remind me what happened remind me what happened last time we saw mio?
Was it the car-crash-with-argent, or something else?

>>26747688

You bastard. You've killed us all! Eventually!

>>26747780

Hug. The other anon's couldn't said it better.

You know, I'm actually really curious now if her butterflies have an affect in the Red and the Real. You know - The Butterfly Effect. Of course I may be overthinking it.

>>26747824

She visited us at our school. Kouichi met her and went full spaghetti. We learnt that cats hate mio, and almost got hit by a car.

The car was apparently smashed out of the way by a corrector that refused to attack us, and just fled the scene. A corrector we'd killed before.

>>26747834
>We learnt that cats hate mio, and almost got hit by a car.
>>26747834
>Red and the Real. You know - The Butterfly Effect. Of course I may be overthinking it.

Oh! Right!
And she was freaking out and blaming herself for the car wreck.

Right!

We... may want to broach that subject with her, or something, sometime. But how! watashiwa, to the rescue!

>>26747857

I was mainly curious what form they manifested in the Red. Are they the same butterflies in this world or are they larval Correctors

>>26747780
>I was a little scared..."

Softly, as we hug.
"Scared? Of what?"

>>26747780
It's really not too bad, I'm just easily distracted.

"...I'm sorry. Sometimes I forget that other people worry about me. If I disappear again, could you be brave? I'll be all right, you don't have to be afraid. It'll be over soon."

Four-thirty. I gotta bail. Actually want to be awake when I put up drywall later.

Don't get us too fucked now folks.

>>26747911
>It'll be over soon."

this makes us sound like an axe murderer

>>26747924
>Four-thirty. I gotta bail. Actually want to be awake when I put up drywall later.
>Don't get us too fucked now folks.

Same. 2:30 and I work in the morning.

Remember, when playing this strange game, the only winning move is not to roll!

>>26747925

We.. we kind of are though.

>>26747943
>We.. we kind of are though.

But not in the Real.

>>26747954

>But not in the real

Semantics.

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>>26747810
>>26747813
>>26747834

> Give her a hug.

Mio stiffens - A little squeak teased from her lips - as you hug her; It's an instinctive response, but not an unwelcome one. She feels...So *soft* - Soft, yet firm, as she almost melts into the hug; A startled "A-anon-kun...?" sawing from her throat - Her body trembling slightly in unalloyed surprise...

-But then she melts into you, and you hear the soft surrusation of her breath as she exhales...A long, slow sigh that seems to lift an invisible burden from her shoulders. Her own arms come up, returning your embrace - Her honey-blonde hair tickling your cheek, as she leans her head against your shoulder.

She smells - Like vanilla, like sugar, something clean but sweet at once. You can feel those fluffy ears twitch, as a slow heat tingles beneath Mio's skin...But she holds you tight, as if she never wants to let you go.

"Anon-kun, I lov-" she says - But then she starts, a brief flicker of motion; Breath warm against your ear, as you actually *feel* the renewed flush of heat radiating from her skin.

>>26747910

> "Scared? Or what?"

"I...I don't know." Mio's voice catches; A little shiver runs through her. "-It feels...I just feel so *strange* sometimes, a-and..."

Her arms slide away - Fingers curling lightly against your chest. She looks a little mussed, a little short of breath - But her eyes are moist, as she dabs at them with her sleeve.

"-I'm just being silly."

>>26747911
>>26747925

> "...I'm sorry. Sometimes I forget that other people worry about me. If I disappear again, could you be brave? I'll be all right, you don't have to be afraid."

"Mmmmn." Mio makes a wordless sound of affirmation - Her hands folded on her lap, her smile just a little tremulous for a moment...But then it firms, and she seems to gather herself.

(Continued)

>>26747925
I thought about that, but these are pretty significant words to Anon. Maybe even The Words given that it's just about all he specifically remembers of his time with the previous Red Joker. A bit fatalistic for a high schooler, but very in character.

>>26747989

"-I trust you," she says, that sweet lilt to her voice...Before she drops her gaze, almost *red*, now. "Ah...That's - kind of embarassing to say, isn't it~?" Mio admits, scratching at her cheek; She seems much calmer, however, a kind of quiet happiness in her expression...Leaning ever-slightly towards you, as if hanging on every word.

"So..." For a moment, she seems to be casting round for something to say, as the fox-tail of her costume swishes against the seat. "...I'm *really* happy you're here, but - Did something happen?"

She tilts her head to the side, regarding you sidelong; "...Anon-kun seems...*different* today, somehow."

[ ] "Different? What do you mean?"
[ ] "Really? I feel the same as always."
[ ] "-I just felt like visiting you."
[ ] "How's school? Are the other girls treating you better?"
[ ] "Actually, I was wondering about 'Naoya-kun'..."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

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>>26747989
Dear Lord, that dere is deadly.
Admittedly, a man needs titanium nerves to hold himself back in such situations.

>>26747989

> "Anon-kun, I lov-"

Oh boy. The girl has it bad for us.

Really, REALLY bad.

>>26748028
>titanium nerves

BALLS OF Steal[/spoiler by hecate]

>>26748027
>[ ] "Different? What do you mean?"

"I 've been feeling... bolder. Like a have a purpose. But I think its just that feeling when you get over a cold."
"Thankfully, no more run-ins with automobiles. Do I have you to thank for that?" (teasing)

>>26748027

> "Those fluffy ears...They brought me back. I must know their secret."

>>26748027
>[ ] "Different? What do you mean?"
>[ ] "Really? I feel the same as always."

I think its important that if something is noticeably different about us, we know about it before it comes back to bite us for being ignorant of it.

>>26748027
"Am I? Didn't notice, really." Pause
"Though, I guess I'm a bit off my rocker now. Been a rather hectic week."
>>26748070
Don't tease her about the car incident.

>>26748027
"In a good way I hope?"

"And you? Are things... better for you at school?"

>>26748070
You realize that second part seems to imply Anon thinks she's to blame for the car almost hitting us? Vetoed.

>>26748112
>You realize that second part seems to imply Anon thinks she's to blame for the car almost hitting us? Vetoed.

I meant more playing off the fact that it's ridiculous to think that's actually possible, and just be an ~actual~ tease, than making fun of.
Possibly get her to open up to us about it, since she did show us butterflies.

>>26748128
Asking her straight out is better. Coming at it obliquely has a much higher chance of backfiring. The thing to do is wait for the next incident and use that to broach the subject.

>>26748128

Also, if she has the power to cause misfortune, and has been thinking positive, hopeful thoughts about us (and our kawaii-est future together!) we may.... actually have us a guardian angel that doesn't know it

>>26748128
That's not how it works, /a/non. The gitl is naive and extremely sensitive, so even if she understands the joke, she will still get worried and blame herself.

>>26748167
>Asking her straight out is better.
What, like
"I missed you and your beautiful butterflies!"

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>>26748090

> [X] "Different? What do you mean?"
> [X] "Really? I feel the same as always."

"I'm...Not sure, actually~" Mio admits; Her eyes narrow, as if she's trying to stare right through you...But then she sighs, her shoulders lifting in a little shrug.

"-Aaann, it's hard to be sure..." she says - But then, she touches a hand to her chest; Favouring you with that meltingly-soft smile again. "-Still...M-maybe it's me. I might be looking at you...A-a little *differently* now..."

The words linger in the air, for a long moment of pleasant discomfort - Until Mio stirs, flustered, taking a long sip of a cold drink. Condensation beads on the glass, but the flush to her skin eases a little - She seems slightly...overheated.

>>26748112

> "In a good way I hope?"

"Mmmmmaybe~" Mio allows, sounding slightly dubious. She doesn't really pursue the issue, however.

> "And you? Are things... better for you at school?"

"Well..." She seems to sober, a little - Her slim fingers curling around the glass, as she gazes contemplatively into its depths. "...I *suppose* so."

The pensive moment passes. "-Everyone's excited about the Cultural Festival, you know? There's only about a week left to go, and...I heard it's only held once every ten years. Soooo...It's a *really* busy time for everyone."

Beneath your gaze, Mio fidgets - "I'm...really excited too," she admits, with a little laugh. "...All kinds of people will be visiting, and, well...It's - really something."

>>26748070

> "I've been feeling... bolder. Like a have a purpose. But I think its just that feeling when you get over a cold."

"Maybe~" Mio says ~ She can't help but giggle, softly...You feel that she's probably reading something into that.

(Continued)

>>26748231
>The pensive moment passes. "-Everyone's excited about the Cultural Festival, you know? There's only about a week left to go, and...I heard it's only held once every ten years. Soooo...It's a *really* busy time for everyone."

Here we go. Nara dreamland 2.0. Important events? Once every ten years?
Claim dat red world energy spike for US, not whomever's trying to jack them all this time.

Also, she's totally gonna ask us to go with her.

>>26748261

..... you know, this may actually be what the Emblems are for. They're like a faction flag that allows dominance of areas.
we know kraken's been out and about gaining power, and we just recently discovered he serves alura...

so he's been feeding her power, and his unkillableness comes from her influence - which may mean cybele's healing powers are more of a class feature than any unique power of her own.

>>26748105

> "Though, I guess I'm a bit off my rocker now. Been a rather hectic week."

"Ah, you must be busy too, right~? With the play and all..."

Her free hand rests against the couch's overstuffed surface - Slowly but surely sliding towards yours.

"I'm...looking forward to seeing it."

(Vetoed: > "Thankfully, no more run-ins with automobiles. Do I have you to thank for that?" (Teasingly))

> "Those fluffy ears...They brought me back. I must know their secret."

"Wha-" Mio...blinks. "Oh, you mean these...?"

She reaches up, her fingertips just grazing them. "I don't understand *all* of it, but...They read brainwaves, somehow. When I think *really* hard...They move like this, see~?"

Her ears perk up, as if in echo of her words. They look *very* fluffy indeed.

"Anon-kun...Y-you can touch them, if you like." She ducks her head, her hair momentarily hiding her green eyes - "I mean...If you *really* want to..."

[ ] Touch fluffy ears.
[ ] "Did you make them yourself?"
[ ] "Tell me more about the Festival."
[ ] "You know about the play?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>26748321
>[ ] Touch fluffy ears.
>[ ] "Did you make them yourself?"
>[ ] "Tell me more about the Festival.


Cannot resist fluffy ears or tail.

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>>26748321
She wears a tail doesn't she? Touch that instead.

Also, just throwing this out OP, but didn't Anon become a Player ten years ago?

>>26748403
>Anon become a Player ten years ago?

Oh snap.

>>26748321
>They read brainwaves
Wat?
[X] Free
"Really? You must be really good with them then, given how well they seem to follow your mood."

>>26748478

Google 'Necomimi'. It's actually a thing.

>>26748473
Checking again, seems I might be off. The thread where Anon talks with Hecate has him saying he became a Player six years ago, the city-wide disaster was ten. Somehow I got it into my head it was the other way around. Could be retcons; I've tripped myself up by relying on material in the older threads over the new a few times now.

>>26748403

(It was six years ago, to be precise.)

>>26748343

> [X] "Tell me more about the Festival.

"Anh, well..." Mio's eyes close for a moment, and she says - Rather solemnly, as if reciting; "...The Inter-School Cultural and Educational Festival For the Promotion Of Artistic Achievement..." she pauses. Breathes out.

"It's - really a mouthful." she admits, with a giggle. "Anyway, it *is* a really big event...They change schools *every* time, so I'm really lucky it's at ours."

She taps a finger against her chin - "What else was there...It's a two-day event, which meant that some people might be staying over - But Seien's an all-girl's school, so that means the guest dormitories..."

Mio seems to be musing over the logistics, for a moment...Before she shrugs, seemingly dismissing it. "...I'm surprised you don't already know this. Last time was at your school, after all - But that was before your time, right?"

She favours you with a quick, shy smile. "I'm...happy you'd be visiting. And - I'm looking forward to Asuna-chan's play..."

> [X] "Did you make them yourself?"

"Mmmmn~!" Her ears perk up, as if in answer. "-They were antennae at first, but...That wasn't cute at all. So..."

> [X] "Really? You must be really good with them then, given how well they seem to follow your mood."

"Haha, well..."

> [X] Touch fluffy ears.

"Ah~" Her breath catches, as you reach up - Your hand brushing lightly against her ears. They're amazingly lifelike, moving beneath your touch; The fur is startlingly soft, with only furthers the illusion of life.

"That tickles..." Mio's voice is hushed, as you stroke them - Her honey-blonde hair glossy in the light, silken beneath your fingers. She seems to relax and tense at once, breathing just a little faster, now...

> [X] She wears a tail doesn't she? Touch that instead.

(Continued)

>>26748596

-And when she's distracted, you strike. You run your hand along the fluffy softness of her tail, and the response is startling and immediate: Mio starts, in a kind of involuntary full-body ripple - A squeak teased from her lips, her eyes going wide.

"Nyaaaa - N, not *there*...It feels *really* weird~"

She squirms - One hand coming up to cover her mouth - as her heels thumps against the couch.

"That's-" she manages - "That's - *nnnn*~"

It sounds like she really *is* very sensitive there...Or ticklish. Mio's certainly not pulling away, and...

And then, there's a knock on the door.

"Eri-chan, is everything all right~?" Rena calls - Sounding a little dubious, but ever-so-amused at the same time. "...Joker-kun isn't doing anything - strange - is he~?"

Somewhere close by, there's a *click* - The sound of a cassette player changing tracks.

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>26748606
(whisper) "Unless you want Rena to know I'm doing lewd things to you, I suggest you tell her everything's fine."

Of course we keep one hand around her tail, kneading it with our thumb. Left hand goes for that damn cassette player, it'd better not be counting down.

Actually, come to think of it, this place probably has any number of headphones. Why not find one that fits it?

>>26748606
>>26748596

Oh god, I feel like we're committing a crime.

>>26748606
Put on a tone of mock injury.

"Me? Doing something strange? I'm surprised and offended that you think so little of my character."

Keep on playing with fluffy tail. Check out the cassette player.

>>26748660
Seconding this

>>26748660
>>26748668
>>26748677
Personally I'd suggest ignoring Rena and softly kissing Mio while she's distracted

>>26748715
>>26748696
>>26748677
>>26748668
>>26748660
It's funny, Mio is our "official" girlfriend but this totally feels like cheating to me.

>>26748715

Go with this. Let's play with Mio for a little while.

>>26748715
So you're voting on giving up on Hecate for good then? I'm not at all interested in supporting attempts to create or exacerbate Anon's harem situation. The only way I'm okay with this is if you're willing to stop chasing other girls completely.

>>26748728
I didn't want to romance Hecate in the first place, this is just as planned so far as I'm concerned.

>>26748715
Nope. Let's keep this light-hearted. Besides, we're at Mio's workplace. Getting too caught-up would be a bad idea,

>>26748715
Kissing seems a bit much.

>>26748660

> (whisper) "Unless you want Rena to know I'm doing lewd things to you, I suggest you tell her everything's fine."

Mio goes red at 'lewd', then whimpers - Or is that mewls? - as you begin to knead her tail with your thumb, the soft fur yielding beneath your touch. She shoots you a Look - One ever-so-slightly pouty, but not *displeased*.

"E-everything's fine, Rena-chan~" Mio calls out - Though the shivery note to her voice rather belays that. She has to bite her lip, to hold back a squeak; She's panting a little, now, her fingers biting into your shoulders as she holds you back and tugs at you at the *same time*-

You go over. It's a...surprisingly comfortable position, once you get everything sorted out - Mio's beneath you, her skirts rustling against her coltish legs; Her face tilted back, lips parted in a soft 'O' of surprise - Which means you have one hand *beneath* her, and...

> "Me? Doing something strange? I'm surprised and offended that you think so little of my character."

There's a long, *long* silence. You get the feeling that there's celestial dice tumbling, just out of sight.

It's muffled, but you can distinctly hear Rena sigh; "...Well, as long as it's like that..." she says, or something along those lines - A lilt to her voice, her dress swishing as she walks away...Her footfalls muffled as she draws away from the door.

>>26748715

"Anon-kun~" Mio murmurs - A hushed, stage-whisper; "-You *really* are the worse~" she says, primly...Her words belied by the lilting chuckle in the back of her throat, the soft, limpid light in her eyes: Already half-closing as you lean in towards her-

...And the lights go out.

(Continued)

>>26748728
To be fair, it was never "official", it just happened due to "someone". though using that as an excuse is gonna make RJ like an ass.
Still, we should keep things low for now in order to ensure some freedom.

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>>26748841
>...And the lights go out.
EVERY. FUCKING. TIME.

>>26748786
>So you're voting on giving up on Hecate for good then?
Says the guy who started the flirting and teasing with the tail.

Personally I don't really give a crap. I already know how to get Hecate back, get Pazuzu's Nihl sphere eye. Right now we're on the way to losing her, just like Asuna's story.

>>26748841

It happens at all once.

Darkness, utter and complete, descends. It's hard to make out the sounds, but...You're fairly sure you heard a plate smashing. In a room with no windows, the dark is *absolute* and total...The almost subliminal hum of the radiator dying to nothing.

Black.

You hear Mio inhale, sharply - She almost collides with you, as she tries to sit up; You can just *barely* make out her white apron, the slight suggestion of movement as...

There's that sound again.

> Check out the cassette player.

It's odd how clumsy the dark makes you: You fumble for the cassette player in your pocket, and find it at last...The tape within is moving, or at least you think so, rotating serenely against all laws of electricity...

"-A blackout~?" Mio's saying - She doesn't sound scared, just surprised. "How did that-"

> Actually, come to think of it, this place probably has any number of headphones. Why not find one that fits it?

Headphones. That's right. There's headphones in the armrests, like on an aeroplane. Plastic crinkles, as you get your hands on one - Miraculously, the plug's a fit.

And you hear -

For a moment, there's white noise. But then-

On the other line; Growls. Snarls. And a sound, alien and unmistakeable at once-

The *hiss* of pistons, and the growl of servoes - The clank of heavy footsteps...

-Player armour.

"Anon-kun~?" Mio's face is pale in the gloom. Her questing hand settles on your elbow, then your arm. "...Are you all right~?"

Her voice is still playful, but there's a touch of concern from your silence.

"-You're not scared of the dark, are you~?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>26748913
"Not in the least. I'm fine. I'm just wondering what caused the power to go out like this."

Keep on listening to the headphones.

>>26748913
"Nah, hardly."
Give a reassuring smile and keep listening.

>>26748913
"Not this kind. All you have to do is look outside or find a light. Here, come on, let's go check what's happening or people really will think I'm taking advantage."

But that's just to get her mobile while Anon transfers to the Red World.

What is up with this tape deck? It triggered around Cybele's domain and we got it near Alura's...

>>26748944
>>26748945

"-Oh." There's a brief silence. If Mio notices your headphones, she doesn't say anything - But you feel her hand squeeze yours. However, you hear - Through a staticky blur...

> "...so many?"

The voice is a flat, filtered electronic buzz.

> "...easier this time. Thought...appreciate them."

The other voice: Rough, raspy and somehow familiar, like a thousand-year smoker.

> "-primed the area? How...set charges?"

A pause.

> "...don't like, either. Get to it."

More growls. The beat of leathery wings. The shrill, exhaling *hiss* of a hunting screech...

>>26748951

"R-right." Mio sounds faintly puzzled, but - From the slight tug, the shift in her stance - you can tell she's standing, as her eyes adjust to the gloom. She casts around for something - There's a tension to her, as if she's contemplating something, and then...

The room lights up.

Or perhaps 'lights up' is the wrong word - Instead, it grows *less dark* where you are. Mio's holding her hand out, palm facing up; And *something* squirms and boils in the space above.

Not a butterfly, this time. It's a simpler shape, one that your eye can't quite hold...Ghostly, shifting, the gloom only growing, becoming closer and more oppressive, beyond the immediate area.

"What are you-" Mio says, confusion in her voice; You see her brow furrow, her eyebrows go up. "...Anon-kun, is this really the time~?" she asks, playfully - But there's a growing alarm to her voice, as if she's beginning to catch on that something's not quite right...

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>26749050
>> "-primed the area? How...set charges?"
Son of a bitch. Enfer.

"It's a police scanner. Mio, you have to evacuate the cafe, someone just reported a bomb threat."

>>26749050
>"Don't worry, I'm just checking something."
Keep intently listening

I have a really bad feeling about this.

>>26749064
I almost forgot, transform and engage.

And holy shit we've hit the motherload, it's a Relic that allows you to hear the Red World, and it apparently exists exclusively in the Real World.

>>26749050
"Long story, I'm pretty sure something unpleasant is going to happen soon."

>>26749050
Transform for a moment, scan the immediate area with the Argus System and go back.
>"This is bad... Mio, it seems like something is about to go down and I'm talking literally."

>>26749050
[X] Free
Transform

"Remember our date? When you made that butterfly, and I said it was fairly tame compared to what I usually deal with? I'm just going to zone out for a minute."

>>26749064

Let's not panic the poor girl. I'll veto this, because we're going to deal with it immediately afterward.

>>26749148
Enfer's bombs hit both worlds. Getting people outside means fewer people caught in the blasts. I'm sorry but her peace of mind will weigh on the conscience less than people's lives.

>>26749161

It still feels like jumping the gun a little.

>>26749064

(Vetoed by
>>26749148

>>26749078

> "...necessary? It's not-"

There's a dull metal-on-metal CLANG, rendered tinnily through the earphones.

> "...spare them the Departure. If...taking it alone?"

A sullen silence settles.

> "...didn't think so."

>>26749093
>>26749081

"-I don't..." Mio begins - But she's taking you seriously. Something in your voice impresses on her the urgency of the moment.

"But I don't..." she says, again - "...Anon-kun, I don't *understand*~!"

>>26749080

Then reality shifts sideways, and the Red World unfolds.

STAGE: PANDEMONIUM

From darkness to ruddy crimson light: The change is a startling one, made more so by how abrupt it is. There's no adjustment period, no subtle shift from one state to the other - The change comes immediately.

You stand on a street paved with ebony tile, overlapping in a perfect, intricate mosaic; If you looked, you'd notice shapes that could not possibly exist - Defying basic mathematical laws through their mere existence, yet somehow precise and perfectly flat.

Behind you - A structure of obsidian and iron rises, a house without windows or doors...Like the cyclopean, singular skyscrapers that loom overhead, clawing through the suppurating skies.

You're not alone.

(Continued)

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>>26749226

The stench of ozone lingers in the air - Air that has been *folded*, warped and twisted upon itself, opening up in new, eye-hurting configurations.

Around you - The street is crowded with vague, half-glimpsed shapes; Like coils of black smoke, vaguely lupine, ember-red eyes and flowing forms, growling and hissing and *shifting* like a mirage. It's a disorientating side, an optical illusion - Like a photo-negative, one image overlapping the other.

You blink, and the coiling black forms fade away - To the very edge of perception.

Before you, however-

Brass armour. The rattle of chains. The emerald glow of a grotesquely swollen left arm.

"...Everyone's favourite meddler," Enfer drawls, in that growling rasp of his - Nodding to you, with a slope-shouldered weariness. The brilliant slash of the scar over his left eye glowers with it's own internal light.

"-Right on time."

(Continued)

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>>26749301

And next to him -

A tall figure, angular helm tapering to two sharp points. Sulfurous yellow light flares in a gunmetal-grey mask, segmented tail lashing against the ground; His colours are red, red and brown, oddly patchwork - Except for the raw gleam of metal dappling his form.

There's a decoupling *hiss*, as a ring expands from his right arm - Rotating slowly, hovering, ratcheting as two metal struts extend; The outer edges barbed, with the gleam that can only come from a slicing edge.

And a name:

ASURA

His head swivels, with the smooth motion of an integrated target-lock.

"Explain this," His voice is flat, filtered and vaguely accusing. Those sulfurous eyes settle on you.

HP: 150.0%
COBALT BOOSTER: 150%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 150%
METER: 12% (TIER ONE WEAPONRY UNLOCKED)

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>26749425

(My apologies, lost the connection. It's also exceedingly late on my end.)

>>26749425
Oh god, its a Mangabarrel! Quickly, play some ALI Project, maybe that will drive it away!

>>26749425
Be ready to fight, but don't attack quite yet.

"I'm not sure I can help you with that.

I just got here myself, all this stuff, it wasn't me."

>>26749425
"Enfer. And you brought a friend this time. Well, I guess I did prove you couldn't take me alone last time we fought."

Scan with Argus.

>>26749425
"Well a little bird told me my favorite pyromaniacal bomber was planting charges in Pandemonium and I just had to race to kill him myself.

"Really, it's like someone on your side is using me to deal with... inconveniences. First they fed me Bardiel, then the four you sent to the art museum, and then they told me how to find Alura. Makes you think, doesn't it? Out of curiosity, who stands to gain if either of you perish?"

Once the battle starts: "Oh, and Enfer, EXEC_Disrupt."

There's no better feeling than spreading chaos among your enemies. Even if they survive they're going to spread the news that someone's helping the Red Joker.

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>>26749540
Watashiwa, you're waifu may be a shit, but sometimes you have style. Seconded.

I can't decide what weapon to start with, we have so many.

Oh, and Enfer was saying something about laying charges, so we should scan with the Argus in case it can pick them up.

Goddamn missed the thread, hope all went well, I'll read it in the morning

>>26749603
>>26749530
Scan with Argus, use >>26749540's paranoia talk to buy time while we scan.

>>26749530

The Argus system hums, the milimeter-wave sensor sweep rippling outwards. Telltale lights, targeting information winks to life on your screen.

Enfer - Exceedingly heavy armour. Dual power sources - A high-energy reaction in his left arm, another one set in his torso plating. Some kind of explosive cache on the right arm...And a *third* fusion core beneath his spinal plating, yet to be activated.

Asura is simpler. Endosteel and myomer muscle; From his stance, his oddly-jointed limbs, your systems chatter with each other, and come to an initial diagnosis - Fast, but not well-protected.

Enfer shrugs.

"-You're like a bad penny, Joker. Turning up at the worse of times." He sounds almost amused, somehow - "...Funny thing is, I was almost beginning to miss you. It'd be a shame not to try conclusions, eh?"

As he speaks, your vision begins to light up with new telltales. It's like there's...a *part* of him scattered around the perimeter - The buildings on either side of the street featuring momentarily lighting up with false signatures and ghost images...Before fuzzing out, uncertainly, as if defying the analysis of your sensors.

> "Well, I guess I did prove you couldn't take me alone last time we fought."

He chuckles. It's a grinding sound, like an autoloader cycling.

"-Says the man with no friends at all. A little lonesome where you're standing, isn't it?"

Asura looks at him - Just *looks*.

Then back at you.

"The Red Joker," he says, at last. You're not sure if he's impressed, or simply stating the obvious.

"...He's smaller than I thought."

The yellow light in Asura's eyeslits flicker.

"-And not part of the deal."

(Continued)

>>26749663
>And a *third* fusion core beneath his spinal plating, yet to be activated.
Methinks we're gonna want to somehow disable this before he can activate it.

>>26749696
That's why we use DISRUPT.

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>>26749540

Asura seems to consider that. The vanes of his helmet angle upwards, taking this all in...Even as Enfer merely chuckles, shaking his head with the same weary dignity.

"-A bit late for that, isn't it?" he says - "...I was never really one for jawing, though. Step aside, and you get a fre-"

> "Oh, and Enfer, EXEC_Disrupt."

You've already targeted him - It takes the merest twist of effort to channel the spike of corrupt code. Spontaneous violet lightning erupts, and Enfer flinches - He actually checks a step, nearly losing his balance as he staggers back...Barbed electricity crackling across his armour, the pulse generator in his left hand spitting sparks -

...Then going dead.

"Son of a-" he begins, sounding genuinely upset - His helm shows no expression, but there's a frustrated malevolence in his voice, now. "Asura, put some *holes* in him!"

Asura is already moving. A...*realness*...gathers at the floating halo that rings his right arm - A ring that extends outwards in concentric phantom echoes of itself -

Something streaks past you, at roughly the speed of light. You don't even *see* it - But you hear the thunderclap, feel the distortion wrench at you as (Behind you) the wall explodes. Fist-sized chunks of debris hammer into your back, your Tempest Scrander taking the impact: It happens without warning, even before Enfer finishes his sentence.

You don't fall, but it's close - The two of them are already moving, Asura's tail lashing at he *springs*; That curious weapon - His *bow* - levelled at your head with unerring accuracy - Even as Enfer wrenches himself upright, the humming whirr of his rotor-drones filling the air as they deploy.

"Wrong night to mess with me," he growls - His right arm drawing back, the first wave of flying bombs vectoring towards you as Asura takes aim...

HP: 144.6%
COBALT BOOSTER: 90%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 139%
METER: 16%

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>26749832
"Really? I think tonight's my night to get lucky!" Activate the Carnifex and the Crisis Arm to smash Asura's bow and then BREAK HIM.

Deploy two Rifle Bits to intercept the rotor drones. If they start getting overwhelmed, deploy more.

Okay I've got to go, but the best way to kill Enfer is going to be the Phase Blade. He's resistant to energy and smashing attacks, which is most of our arsenal. Make sure his system stays dead so that he can't bring his bombs to bear. If the Phase Blade is destroyed then pin him down with a Cobalt Boosted lunge and use EXEC_Consume.

Luck Anonymous, night OP, thanks for running.

>>26749832
Get the Interceptors active and intercepting, Tyrant burst 1 to disrupt Asura's aim prep the Tau.

>>26749832
Activate Afterimages and Tempest Burst past them.

>>26749832
Turn on Afterimages from the Assault Shroud. Activate 3 interceptors and have them deal with the flying bombs.

Open fire on Asura with our Vulcans. Keep moving, find cover if possible but don't stay behind any piece of cover for long.

It's probably best to take out Asura first. We can't avoid his projectiles.
On the other hand, Enfner will soon recover his system access.

>>26749912

Your Assault Shroud's nanofibers disperse, your Tempest Scrander roaring to life as afterimages trail in your wake. At your mental command, Interceptors undock from your wing binders and back - The Rifle Bits already firing, blitzing the air with their particle guns, zipping forth to engage Enfer's rotor-drones-

The criss-crossing lines of energy fire take out the first drone. The fracticidal explosion sets out an overlapping chain of detonations, a concussive blast that hurls flint-edged sharpnel through the air; Shards clatter from your crimson armour, as you drive *right towards Asura*...

He's lined up the shot, but the Tyrant Burst is faster. The flash of light is eye-searingly light, bleaching all colour to nothing: Mid-leap, Asura flinches, momentarily blinded-

He fires anyway.

This close to him, you can actually make out the shots - Projectiles, moving so fast they're just lines of light, like laser fire...Too quick for you to track. Flightless arrows, three of them at once - The first two bracket you, slicing through your afterimages, curling contrails of nanofiber trailing in their wake.

The third impacts.

It's like taking a sledgehammer to the chest.

(Continued)

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>>26750097

It doesn't penetrate - Though it comes close - but the sheer force of the impact is ruinous. The torso-shot flings you down, so hard you smash into the unyielding tiles at an angle - Like a crimson meteor, trailing a crackling shroud of electricity in your wake. Your armoured boots scrape against the surface, leaving long, deep furrows with a tooth-grinding sound...

-As your forearm sheaths snap open, and you *open fire*. Chains of plasma bolts erupt across the shrinking distance; You hit Asura once, twice, again, your shots like slugging punches - He reels back, scorched, his next shot going wild; The streaking spear slicing skywards, a powerful linear distortion that rattles the world. You have target lock...

And then you hear the hissing suction of an igniter, and your world becomes fire.

Flame, hellish red flame erupts, as you're bathed in pellucid blue napalm; Heat warnings flaring to life, your sensors momentarily overwhelmed by the relentless fires that scorch into your Assault Shroud, that char your armour black-

Three of Enfer's rocket-propelled grenades plunge down at your feet.

The explosion hurls you away. It picks you up, and *throws* you - Hungry chemical flame licking at your form - as the world tumbles over and over, until you slam into the far wall hard enough to leave a crater.

"I tried to warn you, Joker," Enfer crackles. The pilot light of his flamethrower - The nozzle extruding from the wrist-guard of his right arm - flickers with fitful flame, as he lumbers forward.

"-Out here, a man needs all the friends he can get."

HP: 130.3%
COBALT BOOSTER: 83%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 114%
METER: 24%

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>26750198
Fire a bunch of missiles. Some ordinary ones to distract Enfer, additional Cobalt Boosted ones to murder Asura.
Use the Vulcans while the missiles are on their way to keep Asura fixed on his position.
(Basically, herd him into the killbox with the Vulcans)

>>26750198
"Be with you in a second."

Hit Asura with a blast from the Graviton cannon, Bring up the Sinistral to deflect more fire from Enfer and put more interceptors in the air

Hey, aren't mines perfect for a weakly armored speedpussy like Asura?

>>26750336
Yeah, the Phalanx could be very effective too.

We could Phalanx Asura and Graviton Enfer?

Though I kinda wanted to keep Asura alive briefly since he seems more like a mercenary

>>26750270

You wrench yourself upright - The Triskelion Launchers at your back spinning to life, like a revolver's cylinders - and suddenly the air is filled with missiles.

You have target lock - Enfer and Asura, as no less than eight projectiles loft towards them. You split your fire - Four each, rocket thrust propelling them forward on wings of jetair and flame...

Enfer vanishes in a volcanic eruption of smoke and debris. But as your missiles speed towards Asura, his arm draws back, as he kneels in an unsteady crouch-

A scatter of half-visible darts - A *flurry* of them - zip forth. To his credit, still reeling from the one-two punch of your Plasma Vulcans, he picks off three. The last one erupts in a roiling fireball of pellucid blue flame, and you momentarily lose sight of him...

Which is just as well, because you have your hands full with Enfer.

(Continued)

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>>26750422

The Sinistral's energy field flares to life, linking with the charging element in your left gauntlet; Just in time, as another swirling gout of flame engulfs you. Your shield flickers, tarry napalm clinging to the surface as the firestorm breaks around you: Beyond the flickering wedge of your solid-light barrier, flames lick at your armour - Consuming more of your Assault Shroud by the moment, a half-dozen small fires smoldering on the surface...

-Even as the Graviton Cannon purrs to life in your grasp.

You back away, and wrench the trigger - There's a thunderous impact, a grinding, crushing sound as the street in Asura's vicnity...It just *flattens*, as if an invisible, impossibly dense weight is *compressing* everything beneath it - Engulfed in blue flame, Asura smashes down, cracks skittering through the tiles around him, his armoured form juddering as he tries to push himself up...

And then a magnetic charge clamps onto the Sinistral, and shorts it out in a fierce blurt of electricity. The field flickers, and dies with a squeal of staticky noise - Your sensors momentarily thrown off-kilter, reading only multiple incoming projectiles, from in front and *above* at once-

You hurl yourself to the side, and the rocket grenade misses, clean - Smoke trailing in it's wake, as it streaks past you.

The cluster munitions don't. You actually *see* the honeycombed explosive come to pieces before you - Before you're peppered by countless flechettes, a hard rain that punches shallow holes in your cuirass and helmet. Your mono-optic sensor whirrs, refocusing-

...Just as Enfer's flamethrower washes you with another belching gout of hellfire.

HP: 115.7%
COBALT BOOSTER: 49%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 91%
METER: 18%

GRAVITON CANNON PRIMED

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>26750546
Time for Sinistral lvl 2.
Let's gain some fire resistance.
Is this possible while shooting the cannon at Enfer or do we lack the charging elements required?

>>26750395
>>26750336

(My apologies: There wasn't sufficient Meter to use missiles and the Chain Mine, unfortunately.)

>>26750599

(The Graviton Cannon is a two-handed weapon. You need both hands - And charging elements - to fire it, which means you can only use the Sinistral at Level...While you're firing the Cannon.)

>>26750546
Were all our interceptors downed?

The Graviton Cannon will need time to recharge. EXEC_Swarm Enfer using the shroud, that should cut some of his armour integrity and make it easier to damage him without having to use boost on a weapon to get more penetration.

Next, I say equip the Carnifex and rush him with a Boosted blow from the Crisis Arm right into the armour weakened by EXEC_Swarm

>>26750629
Well, we are in immediate danger.
So it's best to go Sinistral lvl 2 and shoot the tau gun at the same time.

Does lvl 1 Sinistral retain the elemental property that we gain from lvl 2?

>>26750667
Swarm sounds good. Carnifex I'm not sure.

>>26750546

God, that flamethrower is so ANNOYING. Use the Sinistral level 2, so we can block the incoming attacks. Then RUSH the bastard and punch him with the Crisis Arm.

>>26750679
If we're going to use the Carnifex it should be for a close combat attack, and because it cuts our health it needs to be used while we're still mostly healthy.

>>26750546
>>26750667
If our interceptors are down put any we have remaining into the air we can't risk a hit from those homing bombs of his.

>>26750693
>God, that flamethrower is so ANNOYING. Use the Sinistral level 2, so we can block the incoming attacks. Then RUSH the bastard and punch him with the Crisis Arm.

Agreed. Cobalt boost both attacks?

>>26750730

We're hemorraghing HP. This isn't a good time to use the CArnifex

>>26750763
We're at 115 and we started at 150. We're doing fine.

Also, the speed boost from the Carnifex with help us avoid any attack Asura tries to throw from the gravity distortion.

>>26750796
Carnifex REMOVES ARMOR.

Wait, I just remembered something.
Cobalt Booster can boost OURSELVES.
If we want to charge, we just need to spend some Cobalt Energy.

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> Were all our interceptors downed?

Your HUD paints a bleak picture - Two of your three Inteceptors have melted to slag, the third one lancing particle beams at Asura as he staggers to feet; You hear the splintering crash of metal fragmenting, as a tachyon arrow smashes your last Rifle Bit to flinders.

"You can do better than that, Joker!" Enfer's gravel-and-ashes voice comes from somewhere behind the lancing spears of flame - The fires lick at your heels, as you mag-clamp the Graviton Cannon back in place...

-As your fist squeezes down on the stirrup grip of the Sinistral.

The crackling hard-light field *expands* - From a crackling buckler to a pane of force. As crimson flame crashes against the barrier, your shield catches light; A hellfire illumination that parts the inferno before you like the red sea.

You drive forward, your limbs stinging with cold strength - The Cobalt Booster's azure light flaring as you burst through the swirling smoke of countless detonations -

"Son of a-" Enfer growls - His flamethrower cutting out, as contact-fused cracker bombs sketch themselves into being; He brings his left arm up, the pulse generator kindling with fitful life...

As the Carnifex's crusher snaps down around your helm.

(Continued)

>>26750805
For a massive speed and damage boost. You realize the EXEC_Disrupt we hit Enfer with won't last forever right? And when it ends he'll be able to trigger the explosives he's layered around the field in all those buildings? We need to take his detonator arm off again really.

>>26750840
>As the Carnifex's crusher snaps down around your helm.
Well, time to rape.

>>26750763
>We're hemorraghing HP. This isn't a good time to use the CArnifex

The best thing we can do at this time is REPLENISH our HP with Consume.
Which means a Crisis arm punch followed up by a Consume once it's inside.

And if we're going melee, we want the Sinistral charged so we don't take a lot of damage closing - and we can put enfer between us and asura.

Since its a melee game, we may want to tempest crash someone .

>>26750840
>as a tachyon arrow smashes your last Rifle Bit to flinders.

We can't really dodge his shits, but we can anticipate his aim.
We should try reflecting one of his uber-arrows back at him.

The world slows.

The world slows, and you accelerate. Your armour fragments, explosively vented in a lacerating cloud of micro-sharpnel; Behind you, a heartbeat too slow, the shaped charge in a building detonates - The directed blast hurling forth a horizontal hail of pelting shards.

You come through at an impossible velocity - Myomer fibres venting the blue flame of the Cobalt Booster; Your Assault Shroud trailing behind you like a ragged flag...

But that's all Enfer gets to see, as your right fist comes around-

...And the Crisis Arm smashes into his helm like a battering him.

You hit him, quite possibly, harder than you've hit anyone else - *Anything* else - in your life. The sound of your gravimetric fist's impact is a thunderclap of it's own; A miniature sonic boom, the impact so stupendously loud your aural receptors cut out...

He curls in on himself. His super-heavy armour is dense enough to be utterly immune to flame, to shrug off concussive blasts and the razor-rain of sharpnel - But your punch lifts him off his feet.

A human's skull would've been liquified by the impact. A Player has integrated shock-absorbers, myomer muscules with many times the tensile strength, servoes and pistons instead of bones...

-But even then, it's a close thing.

One moment, he's there, right in front of you - Turning to meet you.

The next, he isn't.

Thirty meters down the street, a block of solid black obsidian comes to pieces, as Enfer's brass form collides violently with it. The effect's like a wrecking ball, swung into an unsuspecting building - The splintering *crash* eclipsing all other sound you've heard that day, cracks skittering across the unyielding surface. He actually rebounds from it, and slams back to the ground-

...As Asura takes the chance to shoot you in the back.

(Continued)

>>26750959
We can do that?

>>26750996

Its an energy weapon, and sinistral in boost mode gains not only damage mitigation, but deflection/reflection.

>The Sinistral's contact field can be further supercharged by the Cobalt Booster - Forming a blazing phalanx of furious light, nearly too bright to look upon. At this level, the shield can actually reflect (or rather, deflect) energy attacks that fail to overwhelm it: More, the Sinistral's phase blades can shear through both matter *and* energy now - Ripping right through force fields of lesser magnitude in an arc of pellucid blue flame.

>>26750989
Ah, crap. I was expecting the gravity to slow him more.

>>26750989
>You hit him, quite possibly, harder than you've hit anyone else - *Anything* else - in your life.

Op, did we just roll a crit?

>>26750989
I kept saying to put the other interceptors into the air. But did anyone back me up?

>>26751027
>I kept saying to put the other interceptors into the air. But did anyone back me up?

We need eyes on him.
So yeah.
I just wish they were punchier. Pretty cheap to boost, right?

>>26751027
>>26751046
Keep in mind that everything costs ressources.
Though that supersonic punch should've given us a nice meter boost.

>>26750989

Even with the Carnifex. Even with your sensors and reaction time spiked to overdrive, tachyon arrows travel at something approaching local lightspeed - Accelerated to powerful linear distortions.

The first arrow punches through your left torso - A hair away from the Cobalt Booster's glowing sphere. The impact wrenches you in a violent rotation; So the shot meant for your helmet sears past your shoulder, instead.

His metal death's-head leers at you, as his arm draws back...

And a hail of metal shards sweeps across him like a flaying wave, like a swarm of razor-edged locusts that whirl and slash in every direction at once. Engulfed, he's momentarily lost from view...

As wings furl overhead. As a molten shape slams down before you, canine jaws slavering with white-hot spittle. A barbed tail lashes the ground, claws gouging deep furrows in the tiles underfoot-

It's facing away from you, but you recognize that shape - The black chain of the collar, cinching around the beast's throat, extending into infinity - at once.

MEGAERA

The Corrector fixes you with one burning eye, and snarls - Before the chain wrenches that flayed skull around, bringing it to orientate on Enfer...

It snarls.

HP: 61.4%
COBALT BOOSTER: 9%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 57%
METER: 40%

JOKER QUEST

EPISODE 57

TO BE CONTINUED

>>26751152

(Gentlemen: My sincerest apologies for the belated ending. /tg/ went down before I could submit the final post, but I've placed it here for the sake of completeness.

I feel that I was slightly under the weather for this session: However, you've been an amazing audience, and I hope to make it up to you in the next instalment.

As always, good night and god bless - And I hope to see you again soon.)

>>26751168

God damn it, I almost missed the end of the thread. Down to 60 PERCENT? Holy shit.

>>26751855
And our armor is weakened.
And re-activating the shield if it's taken down takes 5% boost.

But we do have 40% Meter. We can shotgun his ass.
And we have a friendly Corrector.

>>26751958

Exactly what's up with that Corrector, again? It keeps showing up at the strangest possible times. It clearly hates us, but something is forcing it to protect us.

While we're at it, making out with Mio was sweet, but it's a pretty awful thing to do. We ARE still trying to rescue hecate, right?

>>26752003

The problem is that it's incredibly hard to say no to her. The girl is obviously in love with us. Breaking her heart would be an incredibly dick thing to do.

>>26752051

the spirit is weak

>>26751958
Use the Crisis Arm instead. He's reeling from Megaera's entry so he can't lay down suppressing fire, and he's a speed type Player to Enfer's armor type. A hit with the Crisis Arm will probably one shot him.

>>26752003
Hellebore's using it to protect Anon. Megumi/Bell Zephyr is a Smiler so Megaera was targeting her, then Megaera deflected the car that was about to hit Anon, and now it's shown up here. I'm really curious how Hellebore knows to show up...

>>26752051

Basically this. No one wants to say no to her.
This is how abusive relationships start, right?

>>26752113

That's overthinking things. Even if we 'settle' for Mio, we're settling for a gorgeous girl who adores us, and has a penchant for cosplay. That's like the perfect girlfriend.

This has gotten complicated fast, however.

>>26752212
Imagine what Hecate will feel like if we save her but keep Mio.

>>26752334
The fact that this is the hardest decision I've had to make in a while probably speaks volumes about my life.

That said, I'm leaning towards Mio. After the Murder Rampage, I just don't think RJ could go back to Hecate and act as if he didn't move on after she 'died'.

File: 1377112741988.png-(547 KB, 1208x1500, azuki_azusa_vector_by_kyu(...).png)

547 KB PNG

Who else thinks of this girl with Mio?

That went better than expected. Although, it would have been smarter to simply back off after blinding them with the Booster and then Scrandering away to take up a firing position with the Tau. We're up against two top notch Players. Retreating is not cowardice if we can use the environment to our advantage.

>>26752736

Well, we're in a pretty bad situation. There's no way we can make BOTH girls happy: Someone's going to end up on the losing end, and in tears no matter what.

>>26753356

I don't know who that is, but d'awwww.

>>26753356
I can sort of see it. The difference is that Azuki does the Japanese maid thing and Mio has breasts.

Oh, and how much tsun to dere they have is flipped. Mio is as sweet a character as I've ever seen.

So I was talking with Watashiwa and I commented that all the girls who like Anon/Red Joker are either crazy or we're driving them there, which made him laugh at how true it probably was. Look at Natsumi, for example:

>*sigh* Anon-kun... Huh? Kazuya confessed to me? And Anon-kun encouraged him? B-but I thought... Well, it can't be too bad, Anon and Kazuya spend more time together than Anon and I do...

>Hey, Anon is nice. oh friend-zoned... alright?

>Dating Kazuya... a-alright.

>O-oh, You have a girlfriend, Anon...K-kay, though she seems untrustworthy.

>Y-you're red joker? Hahahaha... please don't be a monster.... Oh god my best friend, who is the guy I like, is the red joker, who is like the monster in the dark...

>and he's totally fucked up in the head and I don't know how to help and I don't know what to do because I should tell my boss about some of the things I know but I can't because-'

And around this point she's going to snap sometime soon with a BSOD and go into MURDERMODE.

The next time we see chrome cypher, she'll be covered red by blood or something and be going-

> AM I PRETTY ENOUGH NOW, RED JOKER/ANON?!

Because goddamn, the girls around Anon/Red Joker are all crazy.

>>26763620
This is my fetish like you wouldn't believe.

>>26763620
Best end

Always go for the yandere.

>>26763620

To be fair, only Cybele is genuinely crazy. Natsumi is simply under a LOT of stress. Stress like you wouldn't believe.

Asuna is upset at us, and Hecate was fairly well-balanced. She played up the 'seductress' thing a little, but was actually quite innocent when you got to know her.

>>26766785
Kotone is also slowing descending into the depths of insanity.

>>26769006
But that was the case from the get-go.

I'd also suggest saging. No need to bump a finished thread.