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/qst/ - Quests


LAST SEASON ON FUCK QUEST:
-Cerise had a Sand Reckoner implant installed in her head, but the operation left her in a catatonic state.
-Dr. Renee Carte, Whitney's biological mother, woke Cerise up by putting the implant in a low-power mode.
-The operation wasn't a complete success. Sometimes the implant would come back online -- and with it, Cerise became the host for the disembodied consciousness of David Darkbloom.
-The cyberterrorist formerly known as Camelia mysteriously returned under the name Amber Catachresis, ostensible younger sister to Rose "Rose2" Catachresis, your weeby flame from high school. Only you and Vivian recognized Amber's true identity. Everyone else remembered Camelia as a different person.
-Your mother, dead for five years, also reappeared -- as Scarlett Catachresis, mother to Rose2 and Amber.
-You engineered attempts to get close to the Catachresis family and figure out what's going on. In the process, you got Mom to remember her old life with you and Cerise.
-Amber was more of a mixed bag. She claims to remember being Camelia, but only hazily.
-Sable Guiteau, on the run from -- well, from just about everyone -- met with Alex Best again. She convinced him to help with her plot to destroy Darkbloom Analytics for good and bring the technology of Sand Reckoner, as well as its sister project Diogenes, to the public.
>>
>>3757772
First for Rose!
>>
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>>3757772

FIRST FOR EVERY SINGLE BEST GIRL
AND THAT IS ALL OF THEM
LET'S DICK
>>
I LOVE ALL OF YOU

LET'S GO BOYS
>>
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>>3757772
it's time
>>
IT'S BEEN SO LONG
>>
IT'S FUCKING TIME
ALL ABOARD OP STUDIOS
>>
A man of his word.
>>
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LAST SEASON ON FUCK QUEST (cont'd):
-Dogged reporter Kay Vera found the location of Renee's old research partner Gustav Eichmann -- he's living in seclusion on the island nation of Palau.
-David Darkbloom convinced you to let him speak in private with Whitney and Vivian. During this time, he secretly passed Vivian instructions to help him break free from his virtual imprisonment under your watchful eye.
-Vivian, however, sided with you. She took Cerise to Galatea's loft, and -- getting in touch with Gustav -- removed the implant from Cerise's head entirely. With that, Cerise was freed from being a host to David's consciousness.
-Whitney's tenure as CEO of Darkbloom Analytics has been marked with strife and scandal, none of which is helped by the increasing interest that outside forces are taking in Sand Reckoner.
-The Russians, Chinese, and Japanese have all made attempts at pilfering the technology -- the latter, by sending a double agent to Darkbloom Analytics in the form of idol singer/actress Makoto Kikuchi. When caught red-handed trying to steal secrets from the DA campus, Makoto committed suicide.
-The FBI investigation into the corruption and intrigue at DA has also been a sticking point. But after things came to a head, lead investigator Noelle Keki was removed from the case and fired. It seems the FBI is backing off to appease your company and keep its working relationship with the US military strong.
-Russian mobster Stasi Lebedev got into a firefight with street gangster turned DA board member Tyrus Kang. You were caught in the middle -- and so was Rose. The bloodbath ended with Stasi dead, Tyrus on the lam, and you and your first cousin (once removed) in dicey legal waters.
-To shield yourselves with spousal privilege -- and for absolutely NO other reasons, whatsoever -- you and Rose got married. Rose Mallory is now Rose Soliloquy. Legally speaking.
-Alex's subterfuge against DA ended with an accidental bombing at one of the company's off-site server farms. Innocents died and Mara Darkbloom was sent into high alert.
-Mara kidnapped Renee and Alex, and took them away to an unknown location for unclear reasons.
-Dalton Cantor, DA board member and a toady to Mara, murdered Sable in front of Alex's eyes -- with the promise of more to come if Alex and Renee refuse to cooperate.
-Amber witnessed Sable's murder. She also managed to sneak away from the scene, undetected, with the Sand Reckoner implant storing David Darkbloom's consciousness in her possession.

---

Season 2/3/4 Smut Pastebin: https://pastebin.com/u/CeriseSoliloquy (content not allowed on /qst/ will go here)
Season 1 Smut Pastebin: https://pastebin.com/rkSCNTEa

Season 1 Episode Index: https://pastebin.com/u/DirtyCeriseFaggot
Season 2 Episode Index: https://pastebin.com/iDiki7kt
Season 3 Episode Index: https://pastebin.com/FAC5emid
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CeriseSoliloquy

---

AND NOW, EPISODE 1 OF THE END OF FUCK QUEST:
"5 Petabyes per Second"
>>
>>3757772
>It's my evil eye.
What did he mean by this?
>>
TOOT TOOT
ONE MORE RIDE
>>
>>3757791
>Petabyes
>1024 terabytes
>1024
>4201
AAAAAAAAAAAA
>>
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Chart anon here. As a reminder, here's all the pairings we've had for lewd scenes from Season 1 to Season 3.
>>
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Armstrong roars with laughter and then slams back a bracing shot of bourbon. He pounds a palm on the bartop. "Of course! That dumb broad is gonna be the death of me!"

Nelson laughs, too, the bitter laughter of someone facing his imminent doom. The greenish light of the bar glints off his cokebottle glasses. "You got that right. Without Mara... man, we're screwed. Big league. Whitney can't run this company on her own."

"Did you have any idea about this?" Armstrong asks Dalton, swiveling in his stool.

Dalton waves a bartender over for another gin & tonic. He sips his drink, contemplative. "I did not. It is rather a grim situation, isn't it?"

"Grim. Fuckin' A. We're hemorrhaging board members here. First Tyrus screws off, now we've got Mara tendering her resignation out of nowhere -- it's last summer all over again. Darkbloom Analytics is finished."

Nelson, cradling his forehead in the crook between thumb and forefinger, and staring hard at his bottle of craft IPA, says: "well. In fairness. We thought the same thing last summer."

"This time it's true," Armstrong says. "Delayed reaction. She's like a goddamn cancer eating this company alive, Whitney is."

"We have to get rid of her," Nelson says.

"Have to," Armstrong agrees. "If we could just install Vivian -- or, fuck, ANYONE --" he turns again to Dalton. "Did Mara even tell anyone where it is she fucked off to? Maybe Vivian knows. Maybe we could get Mara back at the helm if we booted Whitney."

"Just a few months ago you two were adamantly against an ouster," Dalton says with a frown.

"That was before Mara decided to take a permanent vacation to the ass-end of oblivion!" Armstrong yells. "Whitney was a nice face for the public when she wasn't all nigger this, nigger that - but she can't be left to her own devices as CEO. We have to get rid of her."

"Have to," Nelson agrees. "We might still have a job this time next week... but only if we can get Mara or Vivian at the top."

Dalton shakes his head. "I think Mara is gone for good. And Vivian won't want the role if we force her sister out. She's fully camp Whitney now -- or more like camp Alabaster, I suppose."

Armstrong huffs. "Alabaster Soliloquy. That stupid fucking -- God do I hate that little wimp."

"I have a close friend at Lloyd's of London," Dalton says, "who used to specialize in asset liquidation -- take over a failing business, sell it off piece by piece -- you know."

"You mean --" Nelson begins.

"We call an emergency meeting, force Whitney off the board -- Vivian, too. Install the new CEO -- and start the process of shuttering Darkbloom Analytics for good. We can move on to greener pastures, as it were."

"I'd like to meet this friend of yours before I agree to anything," Nelson says. "What's his name?"

"Rowan Hamilton -- I can arrange to have him come over from London this week, if you're open to it."

"Do that," Armstrong says. He puts his hand up and twirls his index finger. "Next one's on me," he tells the bartender.
>>
>>3757791
>kaguya hiding on the bottom right
OH SHIT IS HE ADDING THE BEST GIRL TO END ALL BEST GIRLS?
>>
>>3757808
And just for the record, I know that this is currently missing the new girl, but I won't be able to edit the table for two weeks. Please wait warmly, etc etc.
>>
>>3757821
no one wants you here, namefag
>>
>>3757813
You motherfuckers.
>>
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Okay I was baited. You got me.
>>
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The three men stumble out of the bar, to the parking lot, towards their cars.

"Are you really sure you don't know where Mara is, man?" Nelson asks Dalton. He loops an arm around Dalton with one clammy hand up near Dalton's shoulder. Bracing him.

"Haven't the faintest idea... I'm quite sorry to say." He tries to wrench free of Nelson, but Nelson is weirdly tenacious in clinging to him as they walk. He's all buddy-buddy with the liquor in him.

"You were always her huckleberry," Armstrong says. "I gotta level with you... it's hard to believe that you don't know where she is." He steps past, turns and faces Dalton directly, forcing Dalton to stop.

"Be that as it may," Dalton starts. He does not even see the haymaker Armstrong throws.

It hits him square in the left eye. Nelson lets him go and he collapses to the grimy blacktop like a crumpling marionette, prone and unconscious.

"Fuck!" Armstrong yells. He shakes his punching hand limply, fingers flopping around, trying to dissipate the pain. He grabs his wrist and massages it. "Age isn't on my side anymore. I need some cyborg augmentations or something. Maybe that should be our pivot, huh?"

Nelson grabs the unconscious Dalton by each armpit and tries to haul him backwards, like lugging a bag of cement mix, but the dead weight is almost too much for him. The back of Dalton's suit is darkly smeared with oil and dirt from the ground. His head lolls to one side as Nelson pulls tugs.

"Will you shut up about your damn hand and help me?"

"I did my part. You can manage this part. I believe in you." He knocks twice, hard, against the back door of a panel van parked there. Vivian, receiving the cue, opens both doors from the inside.

Nelson is worried. "You better not have killed him with that punch, Steven."

"He'll be fine. Probably."

Nelson steps aboard the van, past the opened back doors. He turns, squatting, to lift Dalton in. He strains -- tugs and pulls, puffs and draws labored breath, all to no avail. The back end of the van's suspension sags with the load.

Bemused, Armstrong watches Nelson fumbling. "This is pathetic. You're weaker than a male barista... here." Finally he relents and assists Nelson in getting Dalton into the van, taking him by the feet and lifting, lest any lookie-loos stumble across the scene and make an even bigger problem for them all.
>>
>>3757838
MOTHERFUCKERS
HELL YES
>>
>>3757838
HAH! Get rekt Dalton.
>>
>>3757813
Is it bad that I'm strangely excited by this?
>>
>>3757838
This power duo must never be broken.
>>
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"Thanks," you tell the odd couple, as Nelson, gasping for air, slides down the side of the interior wall and to his butt. "Sterling work with those jukes, both of you."

Vivian closes the doors again, walks primly to the front, and gets into the passenger seat. Beside her, Saul puts the key in the ignition and fires the engine.

"Where... to...?" Nelson gasps between gulps of air.

"Get the fuck over it, Nelson," Armstrong says. "Did your pussy fall off trying to lift something heavier than your pet Schnauzers?"

"My house," Saul says, in answer to Nelson's question.

"Slumming it with the upper-middle class, great," Armstrong grumbles. "I hope you all understand the monumental risk Nelson and I are taking. This means all-out war with Mara Darkbloom. And your mother is one vicious fucking cunt, Vivian."

Vivian regards you, Nelson, and Armstrong from the rearview mirror. She says nothing -- only nods. Saul is already entering the on-ramp and speeding towards your destination, perhaps the final destination your hostage will ever visit: the Mallory household.

"We're betting everything on you," Nelson says. He's slowly regaining his breath and the red flush is draining from his sweaty face. "Not just our livelihoods, but our actual lives, too."

"Not to mention prison," Armstrong adds. "Even if we do survive, we could still wind up fucked."

"Aye," you say. "And we super appreciate it, Army."

"Uh huh," Armstrong grunts. Then, to Vivian: "That's another thing. Why are we involving this random teenage girl, again?"

"Because," you say, gazing down at Dalton's supine form. "I know how to get things done."

"Amber is a friend," Vivian says. "She will be an absolute benefit."

"I just hope you know what you're doing," Nelson says. He stares blankly ahead at nothing.

"I do," you say. "Mara won't be the first Darkbloom I've killed."

This grabs Nelson's interest. He arches an eyebrow.

"Long story," you add.

"Thank you, Amber," Vivian tells you. "We should focus on what comes next, now. There is a long day ahead of us tomorrow... and an even longer one for Mr. Dalton Cantor."

SEASON 4 OP: https://vimeo.com/354421891
SEASON 4 OP (Creditless): https://vimeo.com/354421989
>>
IT'S TIME

>>3757813
Do we still die if they take down the servers?
>>
>>3757838
>I need some cyborg augmentations or something
Kek
>>
>>3757867
>Amberquest
AAAAAAAAAAAA
>>
>>3757867
oh SHIT
>>
>>3757867
>"Alabaster...You're Camelia."
>>
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>>3757867
Time for best terrorist!
>>
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OH SHIT OH FUCK OH SBKT
>>
>>3757867
OP, you will always be far better than what we deserve. A blessing in this dark night.
>>
>>3757867
>"I do," you say. "Mara won't be the first Darkbloom I've killed."
A-Are we fucking Amber?
>>
>>3757867
>OP studios makes an actual OP
Incredible. Truly incredible.
>>
>>3757867
>that OP

Holy fucking shit, you outdid yourself
>>
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>>3757867
I'm speechless at everything in this post.
>>
>>3757867
Nice OP OP!
>>
>>3757897
No, we were fucking Amber last season. No we ARE Amber
>>
>>3757867
That OP is actually fucking amazing. Doing God's work
>>
>>3757907
*Now
I can't type on my phone for shit
>>
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You are Alabaster Soliloquy, hot-shit destroyer of anime pussy and hot-shit destroyer of pussy.

"Here's one for you. Do you know what the word 'perk' is actually short for?"

In times of crisis, you default to old habits -- trivia.

Whitney thinks for a brief moment. "...Perky?"

"Perquisite."

"That's the stupidest thing I ever heard."

Rose2 pokes her head into the office. "Hey Whitney, they were out of coffee. So I got you some popcorn instead."

"I take it back," Whitney tells you. "THAT'S the stupidest thing I ever heard."

Rose2 looks hurt. "Do you... not want popcorn?" She murmurs.

"Fuck yes I want popcorn," Whitney says, motioning with one hand, "bring it here."

Rose2 beams and delivers the goods.

"Our board problem should clear up soon," Whitney says. She takes a handful of popcorn from the white paper bag, shakes it around like dice, and then shoves it into her upturned mouth like an addict popping pills.

"So I hear," you say. "Any word on where our missing CFO is?"

"Nnnf," Whitney says, spraying kernels.

Grimacing, you dust the ones that hit you from your shirt. "Then what makes you so confident?"

Whitney swallows hard. "Viv is on it. And Amber -- Darkbloom hunter extraordinaire, apparently. If Dalton knows anything, they'll figure it out. We'll have mom and Alex back by sunset."

Somehow, you're skeptical.
>>
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>>3757867
i'm (not) ready
>>
>>3757927
>whitney doing whitney things
god i've missed this
>>
>He even made an ending
Sasuga OP
>>
>>3757959
Now now, save endings for endings~.
>>
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Saul wheels Dalton on a dolly down a long flight of stairs, and into the fully finished basement of the Mallory home. Lush white carpet and a low stucco ceiling focus attention on a cozy fireplace, a pool table, and a red sectional that faces a theater system. An area in one corner tiled with slate holds diamond-shaped racks full of wine bottles, a minibar lit with bluish overhead mood lighting, and beer taps.

When Cerise Soliloquy lived the life of a NEET down here, she lived in the lap of luxury, you think.

"Jesus Christ," Armstrong says, "a rec room? Is the plan to... what -- aggressively bore him with Yahtzee until he fesses up?"

"I could go for a nice game of Yahtzee," Charlotte says, stepping forth from the minibar with her glass of chardonnay.

"God help me," Armstrong says.

Charlotte gulps the rest of her drink in one mouthful, and sets the now empty glass aside. Its base tinks against the counter. "I'm glad you're back," she tells Saul.

"No thanks to these idiots," Saul grumbles, jerking his head in the direction of Armstrong and Nelson. "They almost got us seen, fucking around trying to get Dalton in the van."

"Oh, I'm sorry," Armstrong says. "But while we're taking part in some constructive criticism -- let's just say I fail to grasp the the brilliance inherent to using the basement from the Brady Bunch as the setting for a high-stakes interrogation."

"We're not going to keep him in the rec room," Saul explains. "Quit your bitching."

Dalton is starting to come to, right on time. He shakes his head dazedly this way and that, realizing that he's bound hand and foot, and strapped vertically to the dolly. "Wh--whuh?"

Charlotte strides purposefully to the other end of the basement now, and Saul follows, wheeling Dalton. Charlotte lays a hand flat against a small divot in the wall that you wouldn't see unless looking for it. A secret door slides open, and the Mallorys, hostage in tow, enter the room beyond.

It's a miniature concrete dungeon. Complete with a steel table in the center, a torture rack on the raw brick wall, and a pegboard with various implements for inflicting pain arrayed about.

"Holy shit, you two are freaks," you can't help exclaiming as you take it all in.

Dalton, only now fully cognizant, stammers and sputters: "I-- what is th-- M-Mrs. Mallory? What is the meaning of this?"

"Welcome to the rumpus room," Charlotte says, smiling sadistically.
>>
>>3757927
>Whitney and Rose2
This seems comfy, a little too comfy
>>
>>3757964
Oh god holy shit
>>
>>3757964
we never really saw the full power of rose's mom haven't we?
>>
>>3757964
Um.
>>
>>3757964
...That's some kind of fucking Rumpus room the Mallory's have got going on there.
>>
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>>3757964
>the rumpus room
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>>3757964
>>
>>3757964
uhh boys, what's the safe word?
>>
>>3757964
>Charlotte lays a hand flat against a small divot in the wall that you wouldn't see unless looking for it. A secret door slides open, and the Mallorys, hostage in tow, enter the room beyond.
>It's a miniature concrete dungeon. Complete with a steel table in the center, a torture rack on the raw brick wall, and a pegboard with various implements for inflicting pain arrayed about.
The fuck?
>>
>>3757964
God, I hope we get to fuck in here before everything goes south and we go north.
>>
>>3757993
Dalton doesn't get a safe word.
It's more fun this way.
>>
>>3757964
Oh fuck oh god
>>
"One crisis after another after another," Rose murmurs, sitting across from Whitney in her office.

"It's such a goddamn mess," you groan. You're at the window, peering down to the brass globe atop the fountain at the front gates. Every time you see it, you remember the night it toppled from its pedestal and crushed a man to death... not the only death you saw that night. You grimace. "We've got too much shit coming at us from every side, all at once..."

"Don't worry about a single thing, Ally. I've got it all taken care of."

You turn back. "How? Enlighten me."

"Step one: I'm going to China."

You have no earthly idea what to say to this, and tell her as much.

Whitney's response is a question: "Did you see the news this morning?"

When she's keeping better abreast of current events than you are, something is wrong. You shake your head.

"Check it out," she tells you. She swivels her monitor around. You go to her desk and peer at the headline with Rose:

>CFIUS Blocks Chinese Conglomerate's Historic $1 Trillion Acquisition of Alphabet Inc., Parent Company of Google

Which in turn sets off a typical argument between you and Rose:

"Wow. This administration actually did something right for once."

"There it is. Couldn't help yourself, could you."

"Please. Don't tell me you're still a supporter -- after all this--"

"Go fuck yourself. Literally, go fuck yourself."

Whitney groans. "Jimminy Christmas, you two. Shut the fuck up. If I have to listen to you argue politics one more time, I'm seriously gonna blow my brains out. No lie."

"Fine," you say. "So China isn't going to buy Google. It's not like they won't still be coming after our intellectual property. Sand Reckoner--"

"P'yeah," Whitney says. "I might be ignorant as shit, but I know one thing -- Sand Reckoner needs data, even a Chinese knockoff. They didn't want to buy Google for fun, they needed it. For whatever bullshit copycat they were working on. And so now we've got leverage... as they say in the biz."

"The biz," you repeat flatly.

"Yeah. That's biz lingo. Look it up."

"Leverage for what, precisely?" Rose prods.

"China's the biggest market old bio-dad couldn't break into. He made some accusations but he never got a foothole."

"Acquisitions," you correct, at the same time Rose says, "foothold?"

"So we can buy them out and get this chinky monkey off our backs," Whitney finishes.

"You shouldn't use that w--" Rose begins, but stops, sighing. She rarely bothers anymore, these days.
>>
>>3757959
>>3757963
I've been honestly debating in my mind whether to watch it now or wait till the end for the past 10 minutes. I've stayed strong so far but God is it tempting
>>
>>3757993
Kimochi warui.
>>
>>3757964
I want to have a rumpus with Charlotte
>>
>>3758008
I want to talk biz lingo with Whitney!
>>
>>3758008
petite smug Chinese waifu inbound
>>
>>3757993
I'll let you in on a secret.

There is nO SaFe WoRd.
>>
>>3758008
>>CFIUS Blocks Chinese Conglomerate's Historic $1 Trillion Acquisition of Alphabet Inc., Parent Company of Google
Damn
>>
>>3757772
we're back, baby!
>>
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"And you've got a trillion dollars just lying around?" You sneer. "That's what they were going to pay for Google. So you can assume that's the starting offer if you want to buy them out."

"Buy low, sell high. That's another principle of the biz. We've got what they want, so they're gonna have to bend over and take it." She helpfully pokes an index finger in and out through the hole made by her other hand's fist.

You don't think DA's current monopoly over Sand Reckoner based technology has got anything to do with the stock trading acorn to buy low and sell high, but you don't argue the point.

"Please explain, as plainly as possible, what your plan is," Rose says. The patience of a saint when it comes to Whitney -- you envy it.

"If we own the rights to Sand Reckoner in China, we don't have to worry about any competition from them. At least not right now. More competition is the very last thing we need. We have to focus all our energy on Mara."

She has something like a point. Still... "We can talk about this when we've got your mom back safe," you try.

"No bueno," Whitney says. "I've already got the trip set up."

"You -- want to leave while your mother is still missing?" You breathe. "When are you planning on going?"

Whitney checks the time on her phone. "About two hours," she says.

Rose clutches her face and stifles a groan of frustration that instead comes out as a loud exhalation through her nose.

"You were planning on telling us this, when, exactly?" You demand.

"I literally just got off the phone with the CEO of Broad Dynamics like two minutes ago. He wants to meet now. Now as in yesterday. Said if we don't work something out pronto, he'll move forward with his other plans. Which means the time is now. We have to do this. And I'd appreciate it if you two were more, like... supportive... and shit."

"How are you even going to communicate with the people at Broad Dynamics?" You ask. "We would need someone with us who speaks Chinese. Not just any random translator. Someone we can trust -- someone who we can discuss company secrets in front of."

"Huh?" Whitney says. "That's no problem. We've got someone."
>>
>>3758025
Synergy!
>>
>>3758034
this reminds me: i miss makoto
>>
>>3758034
Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no.
>>
>>3758034
Ohh shit, here she comes.
>>
>>3758043
Poor girl forgot that Japan is an American vassal state, and payed the price for it.
>>
>>3758034
>"Huh?" Whitney says. "That's no problem. We've got someone."
I swear to God, if it's Rose2
>>
>>3758034
I'm ready for the pain.
>>
>>3758043
oops

>>3758041
>>3758058
>>
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"...You know Chinese?" You ask Fazil, stunned. You, Whitney, and Rose sit with him in the executive dining hall, where Whitney had him meet you.

He takes a sip of his coffee. Thanks a lot, Rose2 -- apparently you weren't out after all. He says: "To a conversational level. However to say, I am not knowing the Chinese as well as I am knowing the English. But I do knowing."

"That's just -- really surprising, is the thing. You never mentioned it."

"Ah!" Fazil cries. "I see now the miscommunication. You are worrying of yet another double agent fiasco."

"That isn't th--"

"Do not worry, my best man." He puts a hand to his heart and raises the other aloft. "Solemnly I say: I hate the Chinese. If a djinn were to grant me three wishes, I would use the first to stamp that entire nation from existence."

"Maybe keep that to yourself while we're there," Rose says.

"Yes, of course."

"We need to go pretty quick," Whitney tells him. "Sorry for such short notice. Can you be packed and back here waiting within the hour?"

Fazil leaps to his feet. "You can depend on me. I will be back post-haste."

"You're the best, Fazil," Whitney says. "High five."

"High fiiiiive!" Fazil cries, sticking out his tongue and meeting Whitney's upheld hand.

He goes. On his way out, he passes Rose2 -- who's standing at the threshold of the dining room watching you like a bashful kitten.

"China?" She says.

"Who the fuck invited you?" Rose spits. You give your wife a disapproving glare, but she doesn't apologize.

"It's just a day trip," Whitney says. "We'll be back by Wednesday. You ok with staying at home by yourself? You'll have plenty of security."

"I... I guess so..." she sighs.

"We should head back together," Whitney adds. "I gotta get packed anyways."

"I need to get packed too," Rose says. She's intently focused on her phone's screen, clacking out an email, as she adds: "and let the rest of our board know about this. The ones we don't think want to murder us, anyway."

"Are -- you gonna go too, Ally?" Rose2 asks timidly.

[ ] I need to go too.
[ ] I'll stay behind to keep Rose2 company and take part in interrogating Dalton.
>>
>>3758072
Blessed boy.
>[x] I'll stay behind to keep Rose2 company and take part in interrogating Dalton.
>>
>>3758072
>[x] I need to go too.

It's time for Fuck Quest to go international.
Amber can handle Dalton and her sister.
>>
>>3758072
[x] I'll stay behind to keep Rose2 company and take part in interrogating Dalton.
>>
>>3758072
>[X] I need to go too.
Let's go meet Qiangxiang Xi.
>>
>>3758072
>[ ] I need to go too.
>>
>>3758072
>[x] I'll stay behind to keep Rose2 company and take part in interrogating Dalton.
Let's not put all of our eggs in one basket, someone should be stay here to deal with all of the other problems while they're gone
>>
>>3758072
>[ ] I'll stay behind to keep Rose2 company and take part in interrogating Dalton.
ahhhhh both are good
>>
>>3758072
>[x] I need to go too.
Alabaster Soliloquy, sex tourist!
>>
>>3758072
>[X] I need to go too.
How does Fazil keep getting more based?
>>
>>3758072
[x] stay behind
PROTECC BETTER ROSE
>>
>>3758072
I trust in Fazil. He has not done wrong by us, and we should afford him this.

>[x] I'll stay behind to keep Rose2 company and take part in interrogating Dalton.
>>
>>3758072
>[X] I'll stay behind to keep Rose2 company and take part in interrogating Dalton.
>>
>[X] Hang back in America
I think I trust Rose, Whitney, and Fazil to handle anything that could come up. Plus it'd be good to be able to mobilize immediately if Dalton gives us any intel
>>
>>3758072
>[X] I need to go too.

>>3758091
It's a hard choice, but I think we could be of some use in China.
Amber will take care of Dalton just fine, I think (I hope).
>>
>>3758072
Damnit. On one hand, Renee and Alex are here, on the other hand, it's China.

>[ ] I need to go too.
We'll just have to make sure Whitney returns to actually reunite with her mom.
>>
>>3758072
>[ ] I need to go too.
>>
>[ ] I need to go too.

let’s see what happens in China.
>>
This was a really hard one. As fun as fucking around in China sounds, staying here to deal with everything is also very viable. The only reason I swayed one way is because of Rose2
>>
>>3758072
>[ ] I'll stay behind to keep Rose2 company and take part in interrogating Dalton.
>>
>[x] I need to go too.

By one vote. Closing and writing.
>>
>>3758153
You nerve-wracking motherfuckers.
>>
>>3758153
YESSSSSSSSSSSSS
>>
>>3758146
>>3758153

...Which is now a tie vote, right under the wire.

I'll have to account for this like with all tie votes, but Ally will fly to China for the time being.
>>
>>3758163
AAAAAAAAAA
>>
>>3758163
Fucking wew
>>
>>3758153
>By one vote
And I almost wasn't able to make it here.
>>
>>3758163
I was fucking curious to see what would happen in the event of the tie but I didn't think it would actually happen. I'm in for a wild ride
>>
>>3758163
Never change, FQ
>>
>>3758174
This quest has repeatedly, over and over, proven how important our singular choices our. If any one of us weren't here the way we are now, this quest as a whole would be in an incredibly different place. Stackleford could be dead. Who knows what would have happened with mom in ANY season? Every single choice creates a reckoning.
>>
>>3758163
I have no idea how we're going to choose to both go to China AND stay here with Rose2 but I'm willing to bet it'll be incredibly entertaining
>>
>>3758185
>Stackleford could be dead
I was born in the wrong reckoning
>>
>>3758185
i just wish that it was the reckoning of my choosing
>>
Alrighty, /fq/. What's your sin tonight while we all wait warmly?

For me, I'm watching TI. Probably some Diebuster later. Maybe grind a bit in FFXIV or work on a Mario Maker level in the meantime.
>>
>>3758236
Rewatching that God tier OP over and over again
>>
>>3758236
Playing TTYD with the boyfriend! Who's /fq/'s favorite partner?
>>
>>3758242
Count the 421s! There are a lot!
>>
>>3758163
>but Ally will fly to China for the time being.
I can only hope that Noelle and Kay are already involved in the search for Renee and Alex, which should give the home team enough expertise and manpower for this task.
>>
>>3758236
Work on two Makoto demo units to send to my friend travelling to Nippon this week so that I can hopefully actually sell hardware I'm making in retro computer stores in Japan!
>>
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Charlotte tightens the leather strap around Dalton's chest, and takes a bit too much pleasure in doing so. It knocks the wind from him with a wheeze.

"Vivian..." he pleads. "You -- cannot be serious about this. Please see reason. This is a crime!"

"Where is Mara?" Vivian demands. Her diminutive stature places her head just a little bit above Dalton's where he lies on the cold slab. She grips the edge of the metal and peers contemptuously down at him.

"How should I know?" Dalton cries. "She resigned. She didn't tell me where she went!"

"We got two for the price of one," you say, circling the table, and peering down also. You're quoting Dalton's own words from earlier in the day, back to him -- the words from when he murdered Sable Guiteau: "We wanted only Dr. Carte, but we received also for our trouble Alex Best. You complete the trifecta."

"I don-- I--" he stammers. "I don't know what you're talking--"

You give him another of his greatest hits: "Somebody has to die. You or him."

"She saw everything," Vivian says. "Forego the dissembling. We know you were there. We know you helped take Ms. Carte and Alex Best. Now tell us where she took them."

"Vivian... Viv..." he's breathless with panic. "I've known you since you were only little. This isn't you. You're not a monster!"

"You are the monster," Vivian spits. "You murdered innocent people in cold blood. And you kidnapped a woman who is very dear to me... I will make sure you pay for that. With your life if needs be."

"This isn't you!" Dalton insists, again. His voice is nasally and bourgeois. What a pathetic wimp. "Your sister is making you do crazy things. She's putting crazy ideas in your head. Don't you remember when you called her an unreliable dullard -- a liability and a ticking time bomb? Those are your words! For the love of God... don't let that ticking time bomb make you into a killer too!"

Vivian's glare is icy and unflinching. "Whitney and I do not always see eye-to-eye. She has her way of operating, and I mine. But we are sisters -- Darkblooms, through and through. This company is our legacy to manage jointly. If need be, I know she will kill to protect it. And so will I."

Dalton gapes at her.

"Where is Mara?" Vivian repeats.

"I don't know."

You pick up the damp rag from a nearby table. You kneel over him and coo. "Army really fucked you up, huh? You should see the shiner he gave you. Holy shit."

You dab the shiny black bruise around his eye as if to help soothe it. He's trembling.

"See?" You say. "We're nice. Aren't we nice?"

You fold the rag neatly, and lay it over his face. "Charlotte, go get a pot of cold water."

She hurries out.

"What are you doing?" Dalton asks, his voice muffled by the terrycloth.

"Where is Mara?" Vivian says.

"I don't know! I don't know!"

"Bad answer," you tell him in an empathetic tone. "Sorry, Dalton. The next few minutes are gonna really suck for you."
>>
>>3758236
Finally watching Symphogear. Just got to G and holy fuck the animation is so much better.
>>
>>3758255
Please, that's the first thing I started doing. I'm just surprise it wasn't uploaded on 4:21

>>3758258
Kay definitely is but I doubt Noelle would be. We aren't enemies anymore but we aren't allies either, we're moreso neutral with her right now. At least not yet
>>
>>3758269
Hooo boy.
>>
>>3758269
God, I sure wish that were me.
>>
>>3758269
Jesus
>>
>>3757772
Fuck off and die OP

Also Rose2 ending pls.
>>
Just for reference, water boarding (if done correctly) isn't just like having water dripped on you, it's broken terrorists who were ready to die in seconds.
>>
>>3758316
To be fair, just having water dripped on you can do that too.
>>
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When you come out of the rumpus room a little later, you find Armstrong and Nelson huddled over a table, playing Yahtzee. They're deep into their drinks -- and an intractable argument.

"I'm telling you," Armstrong says, "there's no fucking reason. There is absolutely NO reason to do it."

Nelson is beside himself. "What do you mean 'no reason'? It's hygienic, you maniac."

"Do you wash your hands every time you touch your face? Every time you touch your arm? No. You don't. So why in the hell do you need to wash your hands just because you touched your dick?"

"You are disgusting. You are, without question, the stupidest, most disgusting man I have ever had the displeasure of knowing."

"Unless you're splashing yourself with your own piss, you don't need to wash your hands after using a urinal. Period. Is that your issue here, Nelson? Is your little Jew dick too tiny to piss out of without dribbling all over your fucking fingers?"

"The handle of the urinal alone--"

"When was the last time you used a manual-flush urinal? They're all self-flushing nowadays. Anyway, chrome is a natural disinfectant. It's harmless."

"Oh my god. I've been shaking hands with you -- for YEARS -- but NEVER again."

"Your fucking problem is that you're too clean. You damn germophobe. This is why you had eight sick days last year. I had zero, by the way, in case you were wondering. Your autoimmune system is weaker than Tom Hanks at the end of Philadelphia."

You clear your throat to get their attention.

"Hate to interrupt you lovebirds," you say, "but I've got bad news. Dalton says he doesn't know where Mara went."

"He's lying," Armstrong says. "Go torture him some more."

"He's half-drowned as it is," you tell him. "He keeps losing consciousness. Seriously... what a fucking limp-dicked weasel. Why did you ever let him into your company?"

"Wasn't my choice," Armstrong says.

"Ask Vivian's dearly departed father," Nelson adds.

"He made a lot of questionable decisions, didn't he," Vivian muses. She sits on the red sectional, kicks off her black flats, and rests her besocked feet on the table. Her head slumps against the backrest. Poor thing is wiped.
>>
>>3758356
Good lord, Armstrong. Nanomachines are only going to take you so far.
>>
>>3758356
>Is that your issue here, Nelson? Is your little Jew dick too tiny to piss out of without dribbling all over your fucking fingers?"
I love these two
>>
>>3758356
Really though, you should wash your hands BEFORE taking a piss.
>>
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"Any case, that fucker knows more than he's letting on," Armstrong says.

"Obviously," you say. "But we need some time to rest -- and strategize. We'll give him a couple hours to think about his situation and then get right back to it first thing in the morning. Meanwhile--"

You hear the roar from the rumpus room: Charlotte putting on your CD.

"What in the--" Nelson says.

"True black metal!" You chirp. "Neat, huh? He'll have that to keep him company, looping on repeat, all night. Full volume, like God intended."

Charlotte scurries from the room and closes the hidden door. The sound of Burzum's inhuman wailing now is muffled through the thick brick walls.

"My what interesting taste you have in music," she says, voice fluttering, but trying to put a positive spin on it. "Does your mother know you listen to that?"

"She doesn't know I'm torturing someone in your sex dungeon, either," you say, frowning.

Charlotte turns neon red. "W-well... I'm doing this because Mara needs to be brought to justice..." She swipes a strand of hair behind her ear and smooths her mom jeans. "I like to believe I'm a very forgiving individual, but Mara... Mara Darkbloom deserves to die." Her voice begins to develop a crazed hitch as she continues: "She deserves to have the life snuffed out of her... to get strangled, or stabbed, or crushed.... slowly, slowly crushed, from the feet up, in an industrial grinder..."

"Charlotte?" Saul says.

"Sorry. I'm okay."

Nelson is peering at his phone. "Uh... Steven. Did you see this?"

"See what?"

"Check your email."

Armstrong does. His phone looks like a doll's accessory in his grip. "China?!" He hollers. "That dumb little -- goddamn it..."

He heaves himself up and hurries towards the stairs. "Thank you, Saul, for your hospitality," he says distractedly, "but I have to go stop our CEO from fucking us. You understand..."

Nelson follows like a puppy after his master when he thinks it's walk time. But Armstrong wheels on him and says: "You stay here."

"Excuse the hell out of me?"

"You stay here. The last thing we need right now is for our only halfway competent tech person to go missing. If those goddamn slants nabbed you the way the slavs did with Alex, we'd be royally screwed. Big time."

"Gee. Thanks for looking out for my well-being," Nelson says sarcastically.

"Anytime," he barks sarcastically back.

Vivian turns her head on the sofa's backrest, to half-face Armstrong: "Sincerely, Steven -- thank you. For helping us... for being on our side."

He laughs in his macho way. "Well. Your dad once told me if anything ever happened to him, to keep you safe."

"You took this command to heart, then?" Vivian murmurs.

"Fuck, no. I'm keeping me safe. But -- I do like you, kid."

He leaves.

Nelson stands there for a beat, looking uncertainly up the stairs leading from the basement, before turning back towards you. "Do you know how to play Yahtzee?"
>>
>>3758398
Cast your votes now, which MILF is going to kill Mara?
>>
>>3758413
They're going to tag-team her, after they finish tag-teaming us.
>>
>>3758398
I just can't hate armstrong
>>
>>3758398
Damn, just when I was thinking this quest was Yandere-free
>>
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>>3758425
That mistake could be your last~
>>
>>3758451
yeah i really think rose2 is a secret yandere, that's why i keep trying to pay attention to her to make her easier to tame

sadly other anons just don't understand
>>
>>3758425
Remember Rose2's theater outburst, or the cookie flashback.
Or, more leniently, God rest her soul, Sable's gunplay lewd.
Alabaster's frequently one step away from being yandere'd, even if it's just for the sex.
>>
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Vivian, her arms looped over the couch's back, is peering at a sign on the far wall that says "Live, Laugh, Love" in a faux cursive font.

"These trappings are dreadfully gauche..." she says.

"Yahtzee!!" Charlotte cries, picking up the red cup to reveal her dice. She either didn't hear or didn't care about Vivian's remarks, because she's busily shaking her balled-up fists excitedly and grinning ear to ear over her sudden luck.

"This damn night gets worse and worse," Nelson sighs. Charlotte marks her points down on her score sheet, but it hardly matters -- she was already running away with it.

"She cheats," Saul tells him. "I know she does."

"I'm not a cheater!" Charlotte pouts. "I just get lucky. That's all."

"Uh huh."

They scowl at each other.

"Amber..." Vivian says. "Are you as tired as I am?"

You shrug.

"Would you like to stay in the guest bedroom with me tonight? Some shut-eye would do wonders for me, I think. And to be frank, I would enjoy the company."

"I was just gonna crash on the couch down here," you say.

"With this awful music to accompany your rest?"

"Sure. I mean.... what... are you saying you want to sleep together?"

"I believe I am, yes."

Vivian Darkbloom, that pint-sized little capitalist, has a way of leaving you a bit speechless.

[ ] Stay with Vivian for the night.
[ ] Stay here with Charlotte, Saul, and Nelson.
>>
>>3758465
>[x] Stay with Vivian for the night.
Time for cute
>>
>>3758465
>[ ] Stay with Vivian for the night.
>>
>>3758465
>[X] Stay with Vivian for the night
>>
>>3758465
OH FUCK OH SHIT

>[x] Stay with Vivian for the night.
I ACTUALLY wonder what could possibly happen.
>>
>>3758465
>[x] Stay here with Charlotte, Saul, and Nelson.
>>
>>3758465
>[ ] Stay with Vivian for the night.
>>
>>3758465
Oh god oh fuck oh
>[x] Stay with Vivian for the night.
>>
>>3758465
>[X] Stay with Vivian for the night.
I want Vivian to dom Amber
>>
>[x] Stay with Vivian for the night.

Please wait warmly.
>>
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>>3758465
>[ ] Stay with Vivian for the night.
>>
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>>3758484
I feel like I'm being pandered to specifically and I love it.
>>
>>3758484
Oh how I’ve waited for those sweet words
>>
>>3758465
>[ ] Stay with Vivian for the night.
What if it's super chaste
>>
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>>3758465
>[X] Stay with Vivian for the night.
>>
>>3758492
>What if it's super chaste
Famous last words
>>
>>3758459
>secret
If she's trying to keep it a secret she's doing a terrible job. We've kept her happy so far but there have been of times where she's snapped
>>
>>3758510
> ... she's doing a terrible job
As expected of the candy-coated cringe with her adorably room-temperature IQ.
>>
>>3758514
>room-temperature
The funny thing is that this probably isn't even true during the summer
>>
>>3758465
>Char/Saul/Nelson
>>
>>3758484
>00:04:20
A near-miss for disaster.
>>
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It sure is warm in here.
>>
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>>
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https://pastebin.com/7RvXdh7u
>>
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>>3758720
>>
>>3758720
The time has come and so have I
>>
>>3758720
This is
Wow
Oof
Oh wow
>>
>>3758720
Those succubus genes are no joke.
>>
Whitney is snoring near the front of the plane, and a few seats down, Armstrong is guzzling his way through bottle after travel-sized bottle of Jack. An airborne SMATTERS unit, propelled by mini stabilizing rocket thrusters, drifts lazily up and down the aisle of the lush, wood-paneled private jet. It's being piloted by a bored Fazil, who sits somewhere in the back.

Sitting alone at one of the small, somewhat private tables, the high bright Pacific sun beating against you, you examine the silver band on your left ring finger. You consider it, its import and meaning. You think through hypothetical future introductions: "yes, nice to meet you... I'm Alabaster, and this is my wife" ... "I'd like you to meet my wife -- Rose" ... "and I assume you've already met Rose Soliloquy, my wife?" ... "Rose and I got married in September... well no, we're not trying, but we're not NOT trying -- if you know what I mean..." Though somewhat tarnished by wear from the years it belonged to your father, it glints, and you idly twist it back and forth with your right hand's thumb and index finger. Then you settle on merely staring at it; you turn your palm first one way, then the other, and back, over and again.

"Alabaster?"

Of course. Rose settles across from you. You quickly let your hand fall to the tabletop.

"How are you feeling about this?" She asks.

"About what? Flying to China on a whim? Renee and Alex getting taken hostage by Mara fucking Darkbloom? Or dead people who keep reappearing?"

"Start with China," Rose says. She pulls out a thick three ring binder. "I thought Whitney might want to have a summit with the people at Broad Dynamics, so I've already been gathering information about the company. There's not much here, unfortunately..."

You nod at the binder. "That looks like much."

"This is the sum total of everything I could find. Bear in mind we're discussing a mega-conglomerate that had $1 trillion of liquid capital available to purchase Google outright. It could very well be the most cash-rich corporation on Earth. This? This binder is nothing on a corporation that size. It's like they're ghosts."

You shake your head. Rose begins to go into the details -- such a detail-oriented person, which annoys the hell out of you, but in times like these, it's a boon. But right now there's something else that's been bothering you. All day, all week -- all year.

[ ] Ask her if she remembers her love confession in the sewers beneath Darkbloom Analytics.
[ ] Don't ask.
>>
>>3758746
>[ ] Don't ask.
>>
>>3758746
>[ ] Ask her if she remembers her love confession in the sewers beneath Darkbloom Analytics.
>>
>>3758746
[x] Ask her if she remembers her love confession in the sewers beneath Darkbloom Analytics
>>
>>3758746
>[x] Ask her if she remembers her love confession in the sewers beneath Darkbloom Analytics.
The sooner we get this done, the sooner we get to avoid the bad end that was foreshadowed last season.
>>
>>3758746
>[x] Ask her if she remembers her love confession in the sewers beneath Darkbloom Analytics.

Of course apologizing for what we said afterwards isthe obvious choice after. She knows why we said it, cuz she pulled the same thing on us. I feel she'd understand.
>>
>>3758746
>[X] Don't ask.
>>
>>3758746
>[x] Don't ask.
>>
>>3758746
>[ ] Ask her if she remembers her love confession in the sewers beneath Darkbloom Analytics.
This prompt coming out of nowhere is incredibly suspicious
>>
>>3758746
>[ ] Ask her if she remembers her love confession in the sewers beneath Darkbloom Analytics.

It has actually been almost exactly a year since that happened. Sasuga OP.
>>
>>3758746
>[x] Ask her if she remembers her love confession in the sewers beneath Darkbloom Analytics.
>>
>>3758746
>[X] Ask her if she remembers her love confession in the sewers beneath Darkbloom Analytics
We might as well. But, if we do, we might as well be tsundere about it.
>>
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>[x] Ask her if she remembers her love confession in the sewers beneath Darkbloom Analytics.

"Hey," you say softly, interrupting Rose's description of the company's CEO -- a politburo higher-up turned capitalist named Li Xi. "Listen. There's something I wanted to ask about. Something that's been on my mind for the past few weeks..." you glance down again at your wedding band. "Maybe it's not a good time, but I just have to ask..."

"Go ahead," Rose says, kind of wagging her head in an expectant circle.

"Last year after all that insanity with Camelia, and Tyrus... and the bombs I had under the campus... when I had to go down into the sewers to defuse them. You remember all of that?"

"I'd be hard-pressed to forget it."

"Well. There's another piece of it, too. My memory of that night is..." You take a deep breath, pause, and then begin: "I was down there, working on defusing all the bombs. I was way behind, I was never going to make it in time. And there I was with the deadline about to hit -- when you showed up. You came down into the sewers."

Rose's eyes search your face, and her lips are partially parted in mute bafflement, as you go on.

"I told you to go away, but you insisted on staying. You said you wanted to help me defuse the bombs. And I kept saying -- go away, go away -- I said awful things -- but you told me you wouldn't go. You said you were in love with me."

A long moment passes.

"Do you remember that?" You ask.

Her answer is flat. "No. I rather think I would."

Another, even longer moment passes.

You ask, bluntly: "Is reality broken? Do you think?"

"Yeah. Reality is broken."

You rest your forehead in your palm.

"Wait," Rose drawls. "You mean to tell me you knew for over a year that I was in love with you? And you never--"

"Oh for f--"

"--never bothered to say, even once: 'by the way, Rose, me too'?"

"Will you stop already?"

"You unbelievable ass. You fucking prick!"

"I asked you about it!" You insist. You throw your hands up. "I asked you about that conversation just a few days later and you said you didn't remember."

"I didn't!"

"So in my head, at the time -- I'm thinking, well, she doesn't want to deal with that right now. How the fuck was I supposed to know that we got sucked into a tear in the fabric of spacetime? Tell me."

"Extraordinary. You are absolutely extraordinary, Alabaster. I cannot believe you."

"I'm extraordinary? No. You are."

Rose mockingly quotes your own words: "'She doesn't want to deal with that right now.' Wow. The one and only time you decide not to pester me with a conversation you think will get under my skin--"

"This is what you choose to bitch about? Fan-fucking-tacular, Rose. Reality is literally coming apart at the seams and you're still nagging at me because I didn't do exactly what you want."

"I really, honestly don't know why I bother with you sometimes."
>>
>>3758782
>Li Xi
Oh no.
The new girl is Chinese Vivian.
>>
>>3758789
Sorry:
Oh yes*
The new girl is Chinese Vivian.
>>
>>3758746
>Armstrong drinking Jack
watch out Senator, might get ripped.
>>3758782
>"Extraordinary. You are absolutely extraordinary, Alabaster. I cannot believe you."
>"I'm extraordinary? No. You are."
Alabaster Reeves.
>>
>>3758782
Maybe she actually does remember but she's feigning denial to one-up us.
>>
>>3758782
I can tell this is going to be a long trip

I love it
>>
Sorry I missed it, was watching the new Invader Zim.
>>
Rose2 strides by. "Hey, I'm going to the snack bar. Do you two want anything?"

"I'll take some Shasta," you say, hardly glancing up.

"Diet for me," Rose says.

"Mkay," Rose2 hums. She scuttles past.

"Anyway," you go on, "it's not like you were throwing me any signals or anything. There's playing hard to get and then there's whatever the fuck it is you do all the time."

"You're such an ass. You are such a miserable fucking asshole."

"Bitch, bitch, bitch. We're married now. What else do you want?"

"For you to not act like such a--"

She stops mid-sentence. She turns in her seat, and gazes down the aisle. You poke your head out, too, realizing the same thing she just did.

"Didn't we leave her at home?" Rose breathes.

"Jesus Christ."

"I can't even -- how?"

You stand and stroll down the aisle to intercept your stowaway.
>>
>>3758808
>Rose2 in China
This? I like this
>>
>>3758808
Oh god dammit.
>>
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>>3758808
>>
>>3758808

Make that 3 Roses in China.
>>
>Thesis
>Antithesis
>Rose(2)this
>>
>>3758808
I, for one, am quote excited to see Alabaster, Rose, Whitney, Fazil, and Rose2's political adventures in China
>>
>Fuck Quest
>AmberQuest
>KayQuest: Palau

Season 4 is going to be one hell of a ride. The Fuckening can no longer be contained to one point of view.
>>
>>3758746
>[X] Ask her
>>
>>3758832
Same
>>
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Rose2, arms full of snacks (for her) and drinks (for you), is startled when she turns away from the fridge to find you looming over her.

"Ally! Oh hey!"

"Hey."

She tries to hand you your drink, awkwardly shifting the rest of her goodies to one arm pressed against her prodigious chest to keep them steady. But you ignore her outstretched offering.

You frown at her. "Have you ever seen in an anime series, when the girl does something really stupid, and the MC whacks her over the head?"

She gazes vacantly up at the low, curved ceiling. "Hmm? Oh, sure. Yeah, I've seen that."

You whack her over the head.

"Oof-- what th-- rude!!"

You whack her again.

She steps back, curls her lips to one side of her face and stares reproachfully up at you. "That hurts! What the heck!"

"You're an idiot. Why aren't you back at home?"

"Cuz I wanted to come with you!"

You whack her.

"Oof-- stop it! That really hurts!"

"How did you get here?"

"I snuck into your suitcase!"

You peer around the thin partition of the snack bar towards the rear of the fuselage. Your suitcase lies on the ground in front of the luggage bin, open -- and empty. There wasn't room enough for both Rose2 and your personal things in one suitcase, apparently.

You whack her again. She drops her snacks. "Ow! I get it, okay? Geez."

[ ] She needs more punishment.
[ ] That's enough. Debrief with Whitney and Rose on the upcoming summit.
>>
>>3758849
>[x] That's enough. Debrief with Whitney and Rose on the upcoming summit.

She wants the punishment, and does not deserve it.
>>
>>3758849
>[ ] She needs more punishment.
Time to bully
>>
>>3758849
>[x] She needs more punishment.
Has Alabaster joined the mile high club yet?
>>
>>3758849
>[ ] That's enough. Debrief with Whitney and Rose on the upcoming summit.
>>
>>3758849
>[x] She needs more punishment.
I can't resist.
>>
>>3758849
>[ ] She needs more punishment.
>>
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>>3758863
Surprisingly not
>>
>>3758849
[x] she needs more punishment
BULLY
>>
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>>3758872
It happened in Season 1, there's no way we were getting off this plane without earning our wings.

But what's the next step of OP's master plan?
>>
>>3758863
Not this run, no. (I don't think).

>>3758849
>[X] She needs more punishment.
It's time for whacking heads, and bapping heads (figurative).
>>
>>3758849
>She needs more punishment.
>WHILE we debrief with Whitney and Rose on the upcoming summit.
>>
>>3758889
I voted expecting a tie vote that steered this direction desu. It's what I've come to expect of /fq/ at this point.
We're greedy fuckers.
>>
[X ] That's enough. Debrief with Whitney and Rose on the upcoming summit.
Not fucking her is the real punishment here.
>>
>>3758889
Oh yoooou
>>
>>3758849
Pitching in my support.

>>3758889
>She needs more punishment.
>WHILE we debrief with Whitney and Rose on the upcoming summit.
>>
>>3758889
100% this
>>
>>3758889
[x] This
>>
>>3758889
Smart, I'd switch my vote to this from
this (please be me) >>3758869
>>
Are we really doing this? Fuck it, I'll support >>3758889
>>
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>OP right now
>>
>>3758927
>Implying he doesn't like it
>>
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https://pastebin.com/d7WvMFAE
>>
>>3758968
Here we go again.
>>
>>3758968
Fuck yeah
>>
>>3758968
holy fucking shit
>>
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>>3758968
>>
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Rose2, still sniffling, lies curled up, her head in your lap, her fists balled. You pet her hair tenderly with long, gentle strokes.

"Behave yourself while we're in China," you tell her.

"Y-yes..." She nuzzles your crotch.

"What's this guy's name again?" Whitney asks. She's kicked back, still naked, legs crossed, sucking on a Tootsie pop.

"Li Xi," Rose replies. She's got her blouse on, but she hasn't bothered to clothe herself from the waist down yet.

"Luigi?"

"Li Xi."

"It's, like, where's Mario? Right? I don't wanna deal with second banana here. Gay."

"Whitney, what did we say about using that word that way?"

"Gaaaay."

Rose purses her lips and gives you a look as if to say "are you going to do anything?" You shrug at her.

Armstrong heads back. He's no longer anything like shocked to see such uninhibited displays -- just bemused. "We're touching down in a few minutes. Might want to grab some fig leaves, huh? There's gonna be press there. Don't wanna have your bare asses plastered all over international news."

"Why not?" Whitney says. You're a little disturbed that she seems genuinely curious.

You force her to her feet and toss her clothes at her. Reluctantly, she dresses.
>>
>>3758968
Okay, that was a lot meaner than I was expecting. I kind if feel bad now
>>
>>3758990
Less mean than what I wanted. I was all for shoving her back in the suitcase with a vibrator up her cunt, THEN fucking Whitney and Rose on top of her.
>>
>>3758990
Guess we're gonna have to fuck her later to make up for it. It can't be helped
>>
>>3758994
I don't know anon, I was all for punishing her but as soon as I read:
>Rose2 paws at your knees. "Alllyyyyy," she cries pathetically. "I came all this way 'cause I wanted to be with you..."
I felt pretty guilty. She's like a small animal that doesn't know any better. That type of shit is my weakness
>>
>>3758316
Torture of any variety is as likely to give you false confessions/information as real information

They'll say whatever they think will get you to stop, even if it's not true.
>>
From the very first lewd scene of Season 2:

>"Yes!" is all she can say, loud enough to wake up Beijing, "Fuck yes! Fuck!"

Hello, Beijing! Thanks, Whitney.
>>
You wake up nude, with Vivian's head still in your crotch. That's how she slept: with her nose nestled right where the sun don't shine. On her dreaming face she wears a goofy grin. You've come to with whatever the female equivalent of morning wood is -- a first, for you at least. And as Vivian stirs, she can't help noticing it. She begins again to get to work, and you run your fingers through her silken hair, and it all promises to turn into a redux of last night.

Unfortunately then, you hear a buzzing noise from somewhere down on the ground, and Vivian, getting up, tells you it's her phone. She digs through her purse, looking as disgruntled as you are, and finds it.

"Well? Who interrupted us?" You ask.

"Ms. Kay Vera."

"Ugh. Journalists."

Vivian frowns at you. She shows you the screen:

>There's a famous mathematician I always liked by the name of Georg Cantor. I read that he spent most of his time doing research in his university's basement... and the conditions down there were real torture.
>You know a lot about him, right? Let me in, maybe we can have a chat.

"Subtle," you say.

"Shall we invite her inside?"

"Well, that depends on how much ol' Charlotte feels the spirit of hospitality this morning."

"I am asking you," Vivian says. "Not Mrs. Mallory. What do you think?"

[ ] Let her in.
[ ] Keep her out.
>>
>>3759028
>[x] Let her in.
>>
>>3759028
>[x] Let her in.
She already knows, may as well put her to work.
>>
>>3759028
>[ ] Let her in.
>>
>>3759028
>[x] Let her in.
Kay v. Amber? Fuck yes.
>>
>>3759028
>[ ] Keep her out.
CHAOS ROUTE
>>
Not that I dislike the pairing (it's my favorite, I love it), but Vivian's obsession with Amber is slightly concerning to me.
>>
>>3759038
Same, it seems weirdly excessive
>>
>>3759028
>[ ] Let her in.

A team and B team are both pretty great here.
>>
>>3759028
>[X] Keep her out
Vera's got a place in this story, but I don't think it's here.
And, the fact that she's here is highly suspicious.
>>
>>3759028
>[x] Let her in.
>>
>>3759038
We did get a slight peek into Viv's mindset during the bachelorette party, and at the time I had attributed it to her inebriation, but that doesn't seem to be the case. She really is obsessed with her for no reason. It's off-putting.

Of course, this is the same girl that was obsessed with Alabaster for the dumbest reason in the universe, so...
>>
>>3759047
meant for
>>3759042
>>
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>[x] Let her in.

Kay barges in just as soon as you unlock and open the front door.

Charlotte, rushing in from the kitchen, is aghast. "Who invited you?" She turns to you. "Why are you letting a reporter into this house at a time like this?"

Kay shuts the door behind her. "I'm not here as a reporter," she says.

"Bull," Charlotte cuts in. "People like you are always looking for a scoop."

She laughs derisively. "'What a scoop!' Is that the kind of thing you imagine I sit around saying at a time like this?"

"Yes."

"Well, it's not."

"You literally just did," you counter.

"Literally go fuck yourself. I -- who even are you? Lord in heaven."

You smirk at her.

"Are you people insane?" Kay demands. "Did you honestly kidnap --" she glances this way and that, leans in, brings her voice to a whisper. "Did you honestly kidnap a member of your company's own board? What the fuck?"

"Dalton Cantor murdered Sable Guiteau," Vivian says. "He helped kidnap some of our own, as well. Renee Carte and Alex Best. This is retaliation -- and a search for information."

"So this place is your own personal Abu Ghraib now, huh?" Kay says.

"Know a lot about that place?" You say.

Kay wheels on you. "What?"

"I said, do you know a lot about that place? Abu Ghraib?"

"Yooou..." Kay drawls. "Do I know--" but she stops, trails off. She moves on: "Where is he?"

"Downstairs, not that it's any of your business," Charlotte says. "Keep yourself out of this."

"I can't. I'm gonna get killed too over this shit. I'm in way too deep as it is. You're going to have Mara Darkbloom bringing the wrath of god down on all of us. You fucking psychos!"

You somehow can't help but notice the barest hint of a smile on her lips despite her accusatory words.
>>
>>3759050
Oh my, now THIS is interesting.
>>
>>3759047
I think the reasoning is cause their implants are naturally connected but yeah I didn't expect that to lead to something bordering on obsessive
>>
>>3759050
Oh she likes it.
>>
>>3759054
It's definitely gotta be implant related, but remember that Amber isn't even WEARING Catachresis. So there's another layer to it.
>>
>>3759050
Kay's gonna get herself shot one of these days
>>
>>3759057
I know she doesn't currently have the implant but I'd be surprised if her connection to it isn't still there. Stored somehow
>>
>>3759060
Eh, she could probably catch the bullet.
>>
>>3759066
Yeah, but it sure as hell wouldn't be a good time
>>
The time is now 4:21 AM.
>>
>>3759050
>Did you honestly kidnap a member of your company's own board? What the fuck?
How in the everloving shit does she know about the kidnapping already?

This is bad news.
>>
it's 4:21
>>
>>3759078
She has a nose for scoops, of course! Having someone like that firmly in our pocket is probably good... as long as she stays in there.
>>
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Charlotte turns off the music. Dalton is half-batty, shivering like he's got hypothermia. His gaze is unfocused and jumpy, jittery. He shakes his head this way and that as if delirious. He tries to speak through chattering teeth: "P-p-p-please... I... know nothing..."

"Fucking Christ," Kay breathes.

"I d-d-don't know where she is, but... I'm in c-c-contact... she... expects a c-c-call from me t-today..."

"She's not getting it," you say.

"If she doesn't get that call, she'll know something's up," Kay says. "She'll know we know -- she'll know we've got him. And then what happens?"

Charlotte frowns. "She's right."

"Yeah?" You say. "And who's to say he's telling the truth. Maybe he's trying to talk his way out of it with a load of horseshit. How is it he doesn't know where Mara went, but he's still in touch?"

Kay flicks your forehead. "Dolt. Isn't that how you would do it if you were Mara? Exactly for this fucking situation? She left him at DA knowing this could happen. Of course she didn't tell him where she went."

You growl at her, but even Vivian is against you on this one: "Yes. That makes sense. That being the case -- maybe it is time to dispose of Mr. Cantor."

"N-no!" Dalton cries. "No! I -- can help. I'll help you!"

"Shut up," you tell him.

"I don't know where she is -- but I'll stay in touch with her -- and help you find out -- please! I swear it. Vivian, you know I have a wife -- I have children -- please..."

"Fuck..." Kay breathes. She ushers you all from the room and shuts the door behind her, shutting off Dalton's continued pleading too. Out in the main area of the basement, with Saul and Nelson crowding around, Kay explains:

"The way I see it, we have three options. Option A. We take Dalton up on his offer. He says he'll turn triple agent. Of course the risks there are obvious. Option B. We get whatever info we think we can from him, and --" She draws a finger across her throat. You get the message. "Of course as soon as he's dead, Mara will know it. And who knows what she does in response. She could kill Renee and Alex, for a start."

Vivian winces.

"She won't do that," Nelson says. "She took them because she needs them."

"Fine. Then she'll just kill us, then," Kay says.

Charlotte shakes her head.

"Option C," Kay says. "We keep or kill Dalton, but in any case we keep him out of contact with Mara. And try to make Mara think he's still alive, by posing as him."

"How?" You ask.

"Fucked if I know. I'm just spitballing. If you fuck that up, the risks are the same. And by the way, you need to convince his family he's still around too. Because as soon as there's a missing person report..." She trails off. "If there isn't one already. Morons."

"Well?" Vivian asks. "What is our course of action?"

You all glance uneasily around.

[ ] Option A. Turn Dalton into a triple agent.
[ ] Option B. Finish interrogating Dalton and kill him.
[ ] Option C. Keep Dalton alive for now, and pose as him for any contact he needs with Mara.
>>
>>3759078
Reporter powers?
>>
>>3759083
>[x] Option A. Turn Dalton into a triple agent.
>>
>>3759083
God dammit, these are all terrible ideas, but I can't think of anything better.

For want of a nail...

>[x] Option A. Turn Dalton into a triple agent.

It's the least risky, even if fucking sucks.
>>
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I'm going to call it for tonight. Please stay tuned Sunday evening at 9 PM EST / 6 PM PST for the conclusion of the episode! The voting can continue until then, since this is a big one!

>>3759078
>>3759085
I usually don't answer questions of this nature, but you can assume she saw the kidnapping and followed them back to the Mallory home. Then staked the place out all night waiting for more activity, before finally sending the text.
>>
>>3759083
>[ ] Option C. Keep Dalton alive for now, and pose as him for any contact he needs with Mara.

Triple agent would be mechanically easier but I can't see any way to effectively threaten him more than Mara would be able to, and killing him is probably a wasted asset.
>>
>>3759083
>[ ] Option C. Keep Dalton alive for now, and pose as him for any contact he needs with Mara.
>>
>>3759083
>[X] Option A. Turn Dalton into a triple agent.

It's all a shit sandwich, but at least this option can be managed the easiest.
>>
>>3759095
Goodnight OP, glad to have you back
>>
>>3759083
>[x] Option A. Turn Dalton into a triple agent.
Safest bet, I'm thinking

>>3759095
Thanks for running, you blessed soul
>>
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>>3759095
Good night and welcome back.
Joker Quest alongside you is awesome.
Now where is Deculture.
>>
>>3759095
Thanks for the hard work OP!
>>
>>3759095
>[x] Option A. Turn Dalton into a triple agent.
Easily the least bad, but still fuckstupid.

>>3759095
Nighty night, OP.
>>
>>3759095
It's amazing to have you back, OP-sama. See you tonight~! (Tonight, tonight!)
>>
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>>3759104
>Easily the least bad, but still fuckstupid.

Custom options are, as always, also accepted! You've all got time to strategize.
>>
>>3759106
You heard him lads, we have time to think of an Option D. There's gotta be a better way to spice up this shit sandwich we've been served.
>>
>>3759106
I'll try to think something up in the morning but I'm way to tired to start brainstorming now. Glad we're getting the extra time
>>
>>3759095
I"m sweating over the choice--nonetheless.
Thank you for your work, it's good to have you back, OP.
>>
>>3759083
Plan C is tempting, if only because we get to incorporate three components to pull it off:
1. Sand Reckoner
2. Gal
3. Deep Fake

Oh well, might as well go big.
>[ ] Option C. Keep Dalton alive for now, and pose as him for any contact he needs with Mara.

>>3759095
G'night OP.
>>
>>3759111
Sure, that works digitally. But what about his family?
>>
>>3759106
Option give him the D: Wait until Ally gets back and get him addicted to the old Pheromone X-11.

>>3759115
We could probably have him call and say he's out of town or something.
>>
>>3759083
>C.
>>
Option C seems much safer than A; the risk of Mara finding out is awful either way, but this way Dalton can't go quadruple agent on us. There's still probably a better alternative, though.

In any event, we need to leverage his family against him. He must know there's no good end for him by now, but if we promise safety for his wife and kids (or threaten them if he doesn't comply), it should be a lot more effective than if we just torturing him.
>>
>>3759138
The problem with simply just threatening him is that no matter what we say, we all know Mara can do much worse
>>
>>3759138
We really are becoming the bad guys. :(

>>3759139
This too. Amber might play at being ruthless, but even she has a line to draw somewhere, I'm sure. Mara has no such line. The use of Sand Reckoner technology is steering me away form A towards C, however.
>>
>>3759144
>We really are becoming the bad guys. :(
Not sure about you guys, but I'm totally willing to embrace this for the Amber route at least
>>
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Right after the spats in the OP.
>>
>>3759144
It felt bad to type, honestly. That's basically what actual terrorist interrogators do, though (assuming they want to be more effective than torture). And at the end of the day, even if we've been pretty brutal, it at least feels like a tit for tat. What Dalton did to us was just as bad, if not worse.

If we hadn't waterboarded him he might've been more willing to cooperate, I imagine, but you find me a teenager who hasn't committed a few war crimes in her day
>>
>>3759153
I do admit that Dalton is NOT a good person. A menace to society that should be removed. And we should harden our hearts to deal with that. It wasn't just Sable he killed - that warehouse was a fucking slaughterhouse. Who knows what other crimes he's been complicit in.

We need to find Mara. ASAP. We don't know her plans, we don't know where she's keeping Renee and Alex. The irony that we don't know a DAMN THING is really fucking terrifying, after spending a season knowing nearly everything (and the season before that being the subject of scrutiny. Fun dynamic.)

... we're already resorting to desperate measures. Is Catachresis a viable option here? Would Amber willingly subject herself to that again?
>>
>>3759083

>[X] Option C. Keep Dalton alive for now, and pose as him for any contact he needs with Mara.
>>
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Also, I don't speak russkie, can anyone translate this? The top line is definitely "TOP SECRET", but I'm really bad at this.
>>
>>3759083
Option A, keep him on round the clock security. If he betrays us we will have Alabaster fuck his wife infront of him.

We should try to avoid murdering to many people, especially non-important people.
>>
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Also, this frame in particular spooks me for some reason.
>>
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>>3759217
This, though.
This is the scariest frame of all.
>>
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>>3759221
>>
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>>3759221
Please no
>>
>>3759083
>]x] Option C
>>
>>3759221
RIP AND TEAR
>>
>>3759083
God, I hate this situation. But I gotta choose whatever I can to prevent Renee from dying.

>[x] Option C. Keep Dalton alive for now, and pose as him for any contact he needs with Mara.

>>3759221
And I REALLY hate these implications
>>
>>3759083
>[X] Option C. Keep Dalton alive for now, and pose as him for any contact he needs with Mara.
Time to bring back the evil eye.
>>
>>3759083
>[ ] Option A. Turn Dalton into a triple agent.
>Hold his family hostage so he complies.

I mean we're already torturing him, would this be any worse?
>>
So does anybody think of anything ideas on how to approach this yet? I was thinking along the same lines as >>3759763 and kidnapping his family, that way we have leverage that Mara doesn't. I'm open to any other suggestions though
>>
>>3760041
I can't think of anything at all. But I am swinging my vote >>3759094 from Option A to Option C. It at least seems more viable taking what >>3759111 said into account, even if I still think it's entirely too risky.
>>
>>3760041
What would Alex like the best? Working together with Dalton might fuck us over when we join up with Alex again. Outright killing him might also backfire with Alex because he probably wants to get his revenge.
>>
We could put an implant in and body snatch the fool.
>>
>>3760297
... putting David Darkbloom’s consciousness in Dalton? Do you think he would help us? He wants Mara dead too.
>>
>>3760282
I don't think he'd care about us using him. The only problem would arise is when we don't need him anymore Alex is probably going to wanna off him and won't like it if we stop him
>>
>>3760318
With Vivian on our side I'm pretty sure David would help us but getting the implant working might be tricky without Renee. Gal might be able to help us out uf OP is lenient enough. Another problem would be the personality switch. If David has permanent and complete control it could be pretty worthwhile but whenever Dalton gets the chance he'll ask Mara to bail him out resulting in us losing two of our trump cards.
>>
>>3760297
That takes an expert, though. The only person available that's remotely qualified for that is Cerise, and that's only if you consider circuit bending as a qualification for surgical ocular/nerve integration with cybernetic implants.
>>
>>3760431
Can Cerise even do that, I don't remember her showing that to be the case. And also we have Vivian, she helped remove the implant from Cerise IIRC so she's more than qualified
>>
>>3760377
>>3760431
>>3760493

Galatea knows the implant procedure, I think. The main issue is whether David would appear at all, considering that he only showed up in Cerise after a year in a coma. If he does, we could just keep Dalton confined until David pops out, and have him contact Mara at that time.
>>
I wonder how Alabaster himself will react if he comes back from China to find David Darkbloom is back, again. I’ll bet he gets triggered and paranoid as fuck.
>>
Fuck yes, Fuck Quest!
>>3760595
David a good guy (compared to S1), and I feel bad about jerking him around.
his in-joke with Vivian is still solid gold.
>>
>>3760595
I honestly don't think he'd even be surprised at this point
>>
>>3760493
>>3760554
I really should have reread seasons 2-3 before it started up again. Vivian I'll forgive myself on, but considering how significant our (Alabaster's) grudge against Gal was, and how that operation and it's consequences was such a punctuation for season 2--well, I don't even know how I forgot.
>>
>>3760682
You weren't rereading season 3 in anticipation for season 4? You really should, there's a lot of easy to forget details
>>
>>3760690
There's details even I forget! But when I bring back things that I think readers may not easily remember, I do try to slip in some expository reminders.
>>
Option D of using David to pose as Dalton is a genuinely good idea. His motivations are the same as ours and he can redeem himself.
>>
>>3760745
It certainly sounds fun, I'll give it that. Seems kind of dangerous but there isn't really a safe option here, I suppose
>>
>>3759213
[Top secret]
CONFORMAL BORDER PROJECT
UN official meeting
42nd midterm report
Conformal border committee.
2021 business plan summary
>>
>>3760847
The Russians are trying to declare the lighthouse as part of their territory so they can legally claim what's inside. Fuck.
>>
>>3760847
>>3760856
Guess we're going to Russia next
>>
>>3760847
>>3760856
>>3760896
This is the still from the original Evangelion opening (+ translation) that it’s based on. The original was about the Human Instrumentality Project.
>>
>>3760928
>Human Instrumentality Project.
This somehow makes me even more scared
>>
>>3760930
Big hmmmm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformal

I’m not big brained enough for any of these pages
>>
>>3759083
I'm all for this Darkbloom as Dalton idea.
>>
>>3759083
>>3759101
Changing my vote to
>[x] Option D. Darkbloom as Dalton
>>
>>3759104
>>3760745
Workposting to change to this too.
>>
>>3759096
>>3760745
For sake of clarity I'll also note my vote change to D.
>>
>>3759083
>>3760745
>[X] Option D.
>>
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"Me personally?" Nelson says. "I vote option C."

"I agree," Charlotte says.

"How can we thread that needle?" Saul says, hands on his hips. "Kay has a good point here. We not only need to fool Mara. We have to make everyone in his life think he's still around, even though we've got him chained up in the rumpus room."

"Would you please stop calling your fuck-dungeon a rumpus room?" You say. "That's some Mormon cult shit."

"I don't recall asking you a goddamn thing," Saul spits. "If you don't like this house, there's the door."

"We have Sand Reckoner, don't we?" Nelson says. "SR can make the world's most convincing deep fakes. We can use it to string his family along for at least a week or two. Make them think he's on business somewhere."

"I just got the government to climb down out of our assholes," Saul says. "You want them back up there again? Turning Sand Reckoner on is a great way to do that."

"I have an idea," Vivian says. "But I will need to confer with Cerise Soliloquy. Did she depart for China as well?"

"No," Charlotte says. "She's at her girlfriend's, getting ready for the wedding."

"That's one way to put it," Kay says. "But how many times do you have to practice for the honeymoon before you're ready?"

Saul snickers, and Charlotte tsks him.

"Please tell her to come at once," Vivian says. "And tell her to bring Anna with her. This is paramount."
>>
>>3760745
>[X] Option D
I think this is probably the best option, provided we can keep the implant (ie Daltbloom) away from Mara as much as possible
>>
>>3761192
And here we goooo
>>
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The plane sets down and taxis across the runway. Before she puts on her undies, Whitney straddles the sides of your chair with both feet -- half-standing, half-squatting in the cramped space above you, with one hand braced against the curved ceiling to stay balanced. She presents her naked mound to you. "Kiss my cunt for good luck," she says playfully.

What else can you do? "Muwah."

"Heeeh. Awesome."

They've rolled out the red carpet for you. Literally. You descend red-carpeted portable stairs leading to a red-carpeted runner, at the end of which sits a podium lined with mics and group of dignitaries who bow and shake your hands each in turn. Alternating Chinese and American flags serve as the backdrop to the tableau. A few yards away on the tarmac, behind a cordon, are reporters, mostly Asian but with several foreigners mixed in -- European, American, Latin, Arab, African even -- jostling and snapping flashbulbs. When the last dignitary shakes Whitney's hand and someone informs her that this is Chen Jining, mayor of Beijing, Whitney finishes the handshake by stepping back, standing tall, and saluting him.

Rose gently presses the crook of Whitney's elbow and lowers her salute on her behalf. "Don't do that," Rose whispers.

"Ms. Darkbloom! What do you think of Beijing!" Comes a shouted question.

Whitney takes the podium, gripping the edges and leaning into the mics. "Beauitful airport," she says. "Definitely a high class airport. One of the best."

You glance back. Rose2, who you told to wait inside until the press junket is over, watches sadly from the portal atop the staircase. Maybe you were too rough on her back there.

"What do you plan to do at Broad Dynamics?" A reporter asks.

"Many things. We're looking at many different things," Whitney says.

"Do you know about the death of Sable Guiteau? Is this trip related? Are you still working on Sand Reckoner?"

Armstrong jumps in lest Whitney say something fatally stupid here. He's got a fantastic skill: making himself be heard without microphones. "We're going to have a fruitful, mutually beneficial trip. The discussions we have tomorrow should strengthen the bond between our companies." What bond? Oh well, it's a nice-sounding bromide.

"Are you discussing a buyout? Does Broad Dynamics want to buy Darkbloom Analytics?"

"There is no talk between our companies of a buyout at this time," Armstrong answers -- technically true.

"Would you be open to a buyout, Ms. Darkbloom?" Another asks. Sneaky sneaky.

Whitney laughs. "We have a lot to talk about. We're looking at a lot of different things. A buyout is a very complicated process, you know... not many people know this. But that's something that if we were to do it, it would take a big process. We'll see what happens."

Rose is doing her best not to literally detonate like a shaken phial of nitroglycerin. She doesn't like to let Whitney off the leash to speak publicly in such an uncontrolled environment -- for good reason.
>>
>>3761192
Well, at least this time there is a near-zero chance that Alabaster's cock will end up in David's mouth.
So, good for him.
>>
>>3761192
Ohhh man
>>
>>3761226
That sounds like a challenge to me
>>
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A softball coming Whitney's way, now: "Will you sightsee in Beijing while you're here? Anyplace you want to go?"

"I dunno. Sure. Maybe."

"We have a beautiful city here," the mayor says, laughing jovially in a way that's also patently fake. "We would graciously accommodate your sightseeing tour. I recommend the Forbidden City."

"Bwahaha. I was reading about that place, on Wikipedia. Did you know it gets like 20 million visitors every year?"

"I am well aware of the popularity--" the mayor begins. He's visibly a bit annoyed to have Whitney regurgitating infodesk stats at him.

But Whitney has even less social grace than her little sister does, and is undeterred. "20 million! So I dunno what's so forbidden about it. 20 million tourists. That sounds like the least forbidden place on Earth. They should call it the Not-Forbidden City. The Allowed City." She points at the mayor. "Write that down, you can use that. The Allowed City."

Leave it to Whitney to fuck up a pitch lobbed gently over the plate. And then it gets worse:

"I'd rather see somewhere less touristy, you know?" She says. She rubs the back of her head. "I'm sure there's lots of stuff to do in China. Maybe I could even go to a different city... Shanghai or Taiwan or something."

Rose's eyes bulge when she hears this.

"Taiwan?" A Chinese reporter asks.

"Sure."

"Shut up," Rose whispers. "Shut up, shut up, shut up."

Another reporter presses her: "Are you saying Taiwan is part of China, in your view?"

"Shutupshutupshutup"

Whitney stares at the clouds for a moment. "Huh? I think so? I mean... Taiwan is part of China, right?" Whitney must find encouragement in the expressions on the faces of the majority Chinese press corps gathered here because she adds with much more conviction: "Yeah. Taiwan's in China."

Rose, rubbing her eyes with the heels of both hands, turns and goes back into the plane. As she pushes past Rose2, she mutters: "This is a nightmare. This is a living nightmare... I can't..."

"We appreciate your curiosity," Armstrong booms, "but we're extremely jetlagged, as you might be able to tell, and looking to kick our feet back. Please understand. Direct any further questions to our designated press department -- we really need to go and settle down in our hotel now!"

He laughs, but his tone communicates quite clearly that there will be no more live Q&A. He's as well aware as Rose that Whitney already screwed the pooch enough for one day.
>>
>>3761238
Bless this girl
>>
I have been at work all day, SCREAMING internally, as the epiphany suddenly hit me and literally made me dizzy and lightheaded as the brilliance struck me. And then I found out my mobile IP was range-banned and I wasn't able to post it.

But it looks like the same idea hit all of us at the same time.

>>3760297
>>3760318
>>3760377
>>3760431
>>3760493
>>3760554
>>3760745
>>3760791
Thank you based Anonymous-tachi for making my screams heard through the ether.
>>
>>3761238
Also GOD DAMMIT WHITNEY
>>
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As the dignitaries direct you towards waiting limousines, Rose2 steps out -- and behind her, Rose The First. Descending from the plane, Rose is pale and frightened. "Whitney... there's a-- phone call, for you... in the plane..."

"Huh?" Whitney says, one hand already gripping the open back door of her limo. "Tell whoever it is that they can fucking wait. I'm on important business."

"It's the -- it's the President."

Whitney sighs. "Fuck. Always calling at the worst times. Fine... guess I better go take it, huh."

She trots back up the stairs. You and Rose watch her, then turn to face one another and share an uncertain, lingering look.

"Should I go in there, or do you want to?" You finally ask.

She thinks for a turn. Then: "Maybe it would be best to let Whitney handle this one on her own..."

Rose is probably right. Those two have some kind of weird special rapport, and trying to artificially guide Whitney through their interaction could only make that interaction turn out worse.
>>
>>3761220
God, Whitney's Trump voice is great. I'd say it's like she took notes watching him, but note taking is the last thing Whitney would ever do
>>
>>3761238
I guess this finally settles the Taiwan issue.
>>
>>3760847
>>3760856
>>3760896
... Alaska. Those motherfuckers.
>>
>>3761238
Somewhere out there, Chalmers senses a disturbance
>>
>>3761260
Aha. Ahahahahaha. Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
>>
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>>3761238
>>3761260
>>
>>3761260
This is going to so badly
>>
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Cerise sits with elbows propped up on the dining room table of the Mallory house, expression severe from behind interlaced fingers.

"I gave the implant to Alabaster Soliloquy," Vivian says. "That is the last I saw of it. Has he destroyed it?"

"No," Cerise says. "But he doesn't have it anymore."

"Where is it?"

"He gave it to Renee. We were gonna put it inside a -- nevermind. She still had it with her when she got taken."

"Oh God," Charlotte says. "That means Mara has it now, doesn't it?"

Nelson reels in his chair, like he's been pushed back by a gale. He runs his hand through his long, frizzy hair. "Just when I thought we couldn't get any boned-er."

"There goes Plan D, huh?" Kay says.

"Maybe it's for the best," Cerise tries. She hugs Gal close, who's staring madly at the grain of one of the table's legs. "Doing this surgery is a little rough for her... for obvious reasons..."

Vivian is far from pleased. "This is unacceptable. We've let our enemies abscond with father's consciousness."

"We didn't do shit," Cerise says. "Don't go finger-pointing now. It's not helpful. Besides, even if we could get that thing inside Dalton, there's no guarantee of when or if that asshole father of yours would rear his head. It's not a reliable way to keep Dalton under control."

"i could do it" Gal offers.

"What?" Cerise says.

"dr. carte modified the device... to lower its power output... but if i removed the limiters... maybe darkbloom would be there on a permanent basis..."

"This is all academic anyway," Saul says. "We don't have it. And we need to make a decision now."

[ ] Tell the group that you have the implant. (Sub-choice: Put it in Dalton / Don't put it in Dalton)
[ ] Don't reveal it.
>>
>>3761286
>[x] Tell the group that you have the implant
>[x] Put it in Dalton
I did not expect us to go down this route but fuck it, this seems like it'll be a blast
>>
>>3761286
>[X] Tell the group that you have the implant.
>[X] Stick it in.
>>
>>3761286
>[X] Tell the group that you have it (and put it in Dalton)
>>
>>3761286
THANK YOU BASED ANONYMOUS-TACHI

>[x] Tell the group that you have the implant. Put it in Dalton.


Darkbloom has likely been humbled by this horrifying experience. Mara wants to destroy his entire legacy, his family, everything that leaves his mark on the world. He has one last chance to get back at her and redeem himself, removing a greater evil from existence. Dalton's family has the potential to still retain a father figure of some kind, even if it's replacing one murderous bastard with another - but at least one has a chance at being redeemed.

It's an abstract kind of horror in some ways, but it's the least objectionable option we have.
>>
>>3761286
[x] Tell them we have it and jam it in
>>
>>3761286
>[x] Tell the group that you have the implant
>[x] Put it in Dalton
No brakes!
>>
>>3761286
>[X] Gently insert it into Dalton.
Maybe we'll also be able to figure out what the fuck is up with Dalton.
>>
>>3761286
>[ ] Tell the group that you have the implant. (Sub-choice: Put it in Dalton )

#daviddidnothingwrong
>>
>[x] Tell the group that you have the implant.
>[x] Put it in Dalton

Closing and writing.
>>
>>3761286
>[X] Tell the group that you have the implant.
>[X] Put it in Dalton.
It's not like we know how to pull out anyway
>>
>>3761296
I'm not even doing this out of trust that David will redeem himself or has now changed into some good person. I'm doing this cause I know that if there's anyone who hates Mara more than us, it's him. Also seeing him interact with all of the other characters after all he's done will be incredibly interesting
>>
>>3761286
>expression severe from behind interlaced fingers
As far as I'm concerned David is already here.

>[x] Tell the group that you have the implant
>[x] Put it in Dalton
>>
>>3761307
Holy hell, I still can't believe we're actually doing this
>>
>>3761307
It's actually happening. We're weaponizing this great curse.
>>
>>3761311
See, I was thinking "It's time for us to finally trust Darkbloom," but Amber killed him and Ally last interacted with him by fucking his lover in front of him, so... well, he hates Mara a lot anyway.
>>
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"Where have you been, missy?!"

You try to sidestep past Mom, but she blocks your path. You try to sidestep the other way, but she blocks your path the other way.

"I told you, Mom. I went to Raisin Brant's place to plan the culture festival with him. Important StuCo bullshit. You know."

"Is that so? I called him last night and he said you weren't there!"

Raisin Brant, you little fucking snitch. You make a mental note to fuck him up the next time you see him.

"He's mistaken. I was there."

"What kind of answer is that? Do you think I'm stupid?"

"It's true. He's got this memory issue. It's very sad. But we need to be understanding of his condition -- it's the right thing to do."

Mom sniffs at the air, and makes a sour face. "You smell like a whorehouse, Amber. Have you been prostituting yourself?"

"Yes," you say, seriously, and without hesitation.

Mom is gobsmacked.

You lace your fingers behind your head, arching your back. "This gig economy is vicious. It's why we need to overturn capitalism."

She swats you with her ladle.

"Ow! Fuck!"

"You're grounded."

"You cannot be--"

"No backtalk!"

[ ] Tell her what's going on.
[ ] Sneak out without getting her involved.
>>
>>3761347
>[X] Tell her what's going on.
>>
>>3761347
>[x] Sneak out without getting her involved.
This is more fun than it has any right to be
>>
>>3761347
>[X] Tell her what's going on.
>>
>>3761347
[x] don't get her involved

I love Mom but I feel like getting her involved is only going to result in her making some rash decisions
>>
>>3761320
>[ ] Sneak out without getting her involved.
Just feel like it's what she would do. Also it's sort of poetic that it's Amber reviving Darkbloom.
>>
>>3761347
>[X] Sneak out without getting her involved
If we tell Kaasan she's going to march on over to Mara's house and demand she stop bullying us
>>
>>3761347
>[ ] Tell her what's going on.
>>
>>3761347
I missed mom.
>[X] Sneak out without getting her involved
>>
>>3761347
>[X] Sneak out without getting her involved.
>>
>>3761347
>[ ] Sneak out without getting her involved.
>>
>>3761347
>[ ] Tell her what's going on.
I want to see her involved in the plot this time
>>
>>3761347
>[x] Tell her what's going on.
>>
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>>3761238
>"I'd rather see somewhere less touristy, you know?" She says. She rubs the back of her head. "I'm sure there's lots of stuff to do in China. Maybe I could even go to a different city... Shanghai or Taiwan or something."
>>
>>3761347
>[ ] Tell her what's going on.

Remember that Mom has the highest powerlevel out of the cast and can easily oneshot Mara if she chooses.
>>
>>3761347
>[ ] Sneak out without getting her involved.

Okaa-san has suffered enough ;~;
>>
>[x] Sneak out without getting her involved.

Closing and writing.
>>
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The ride back to the hotel is awkward and silent, with Whitney wearing a disgruntled expression the entire time. Sitting beside her in the limo, you finally ask: "Well? How did it go?--"

She punches the sidewall on her right. "This white house is horseshit! It's a horseshit white house, Ally--"

"But tell us how you really feel," Rose says.

"That fucker pisses me off. I'm not supposed to be here in China all of a sudden, why? 'My poll numbers. My poooooollllll nuuuuuumberrrrrs.' Fucking A. Like I give a shit if you're more unpopular than you already are. You know what I said? I said look at my fucking poll numbers, buddy. No. Look at them. More people approve of the common cold than approve of Whitney J. Darkbloom, how do you like that? So fuck anyone else's poll numbers. Christ on a bicycle. It's not my fault no one else knows how to deal with China."

"I guess it didn't go so good, then!" Rose2 summarizes, and tries to force a laugh.

Armstrong raises his palm just above his lap, and waves at Rose2 while shaking his head, to silently communicate: "don't try to defuse this."

Fazil clears his throat. "I for one eagerly await the hotel," he says. "I am being told it is a five-star establishment. In the past when I have gone on holiday abroad, I have only been capable to afford two- or occasionally three-star lodgings."

"Huh?" Whitney says, gawking at him. "What am I paying you?"

"I receive a salary of $150,000 per annum," Fazil says. "A tidy sum, although the cost of living in the city is quite high."

"Okay. I'm multiplying that by 10," she says absentmindedly, and turns again to stare out the window, chin on palm.

Fazil is speechless.
>>
>>3761437
>"That fucker pisses me off. I'm not supposed to be here in China all of a sudden, why? 'My poll numbers. My poooooollllll nuuuuuumberrrrrs.' Fucking A. Like I give a shit if you're more unpopular than you already are. You know what I said? I said look at my fucking poll numbers, buddy. No. Look at them. More people approve of the common cold than approve of Whitney J. Darkbloom, how do you like that? So fuck anyone else's poll numbers. Christ on a bicycle. It's not my fault no one else knows how to deal with China."
Fucking gold

>"Okay. I'm multiplying that by 10," she says absentmindedly, and turns again to stare out the window, chin on palm.
Good for Fazil, he deserves it
>>
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>>3761437
The common cold must be an incredible boss.
>>
>>3761437
You're really taking advantage of this dual storyline, huh OP? Writing one scene while waiting on the poll results of another. Good shit.

>giving a raise to best boy
The best reckless use of money possible
>>
>>3761437
Wait, I don't get it. Why is trump mad about notgoogle CEO visiting china
>>
>[x] Sneak out without getting her involved.

You open the safe in your bedroom, the one behind the photo of everyone's favorite war criminal. Inside are the two implants, just as you left them, still glowing creepily. But something's not right. The single stand of your own hair that you stuck to the inside of the safe's door is missing. Someone, not you, has been inside this safe since yesterday. Couldn't have been Mom, since she could never keep a secret that big. Couldn't have been Will, either -- he knows there's a safe here, but he's too much of a moron to get inside it. That leaves only some really disturbing possibilities.

Downstairs, you find Mom in the kitchen, stewing over a pot of stew. It smells rank and looks even worse. She should really stick to dessert. You once read about a man who lived on nothing but Twinkies and maintained his weight. If he can do it, you can definitely live on nothing but her confectionery. But that's a conversation for another day.

"Mom... I've reconsidered."

"Your life as a harlot, I hope?"

"No. I'm still a slut. Which is why I've decided to move into Alabaster Soliloquy's sex mansion. Will you be so kind as to join me?"

"I..." she stammers. You're laying a lot on her, here, so best to give her a few moments to process.

"We'll be safer there, I think," you add.

"That's what I tried to tell you!"

"Congrats. I'm convinced."

"Hmmph. You are unbelievable."

"Can you be packed tonight?"

You're pressing too hard now -- she's suspicious. "Why are you so antsy about this all of a sudden?"

You try for only half of the truth. "I'm scared. I've been scared." Then, a total lie: "I saw some weird guys on my way back home, and I think maybe they were following me." You reiterate the main point: "I know we've got security, but I'm sure we'd be safer at Alabaster's..."

She blows a stray bang from her face. "Fine. We can go live with Alabaster. But don't you let me catch you doing shady things with him!"

"Of course not."

"That boy is a pervert."

"Oh, trust me, I know it."

She squints at you.

"I'm gonna go take a nap," you tell her. Of course you climb out your window as soon as you're back upstairs. Clyde, one of your family's security detail, is really cool, and likes Big Macs. Freshly printed, fraudulent coupons for free Big Mac combos are all it takes to keep him quiet about the fact that you're sneaking around.
>>
>>3761491
Relations with China aren't exactly great, especially under Trump, and she called Taiwan China (which is a very complicated political situation that the US doesn't reaaaaally want to be involved with)
>>
>>3761491
>implying it's Trump
The beauty is in the ambiguity. The president could literally be anyone, and not only are they irrelevant to the matter at hand, but Alabaster and Rose will argue over it anyway.
>>
>>3761496
>The president could literally be anyone, and not only are they irrelevant to the matter at hand, but Alabaster and Rose will argue over it anyway
This. There's a reason why it was left ambiguous over who praised the administration over preventing the Google buyout.
>>
>>3761494
This is great
>>
>>3761494
... and here I thought we'd hired some decent guys. They really will be safer with us.
>>
>>3761509
>>3761496
Who is Whitney taking notes from then you dinguses
>>
>>3761579
We already went over this. Whitney doesn't take notes.
>>
>>3761544
>implying you've never had a Big Mac Attack
Dude has to eat, don't hate him for it
>>
On the way to the room you're sharing with your girls, Rose wheels her beige suitcase behind her (how you envy having a suitcase of personal things to take along). Whitney lets her bellhop tote her suitcase, which is almost as big as the poor, likely underpaid sap is, and possibly heavier than he is too. His knees buckle and wobble as you traverse the long, gilded and brocaded corridors on the top floor of this Chinese Ritz.

Whitney's eyes light up when she sees the suite.

"Holy fuck. There's... fishes! There's fishes above our heads!" She points excitedly upwards.

She's right. Above you, the ceiling is glass, and an entire aquarium of exotic tropical fish flit to and fro.

"Sugoi!" Rose2 chimes in, clapping.

"There's a Jacuzzi!" Whitney squeals. Again, she's right: it sits at the top of a short rise in its own slate-tiled corner, the walls on either side made entirely of pristine glass, with a view to the evening cityscape.

"Kakkoii!" Rose2 squeaks, jumping up and down.

"Shut the front door!! An entire bar!!" Whitney yells. Yep, an entire bar. The bellhop, setting Whitney's bag down at the head of the room and rubbing the small of his back, says in broken English that you can have a bartender come up and mix drinks too, if you like.

"Maybe later," you tell him, and give him a generous tip, and send him on his way.

As you shut the door, Rose warns: "We can assume anywhere we go on this trip is bugged. This room especially. So watch what you say." She gives Whitney a meaningful look -- that warning was principally for her sake.

"Bugged?" Whitney repeats. She blinks a few times, then, getting a devilish look on her face, she says: "Whatever. All they'll see is a lot of fuckin'."

She jabs Rose in the side, near her tummy, with both index fingers. Rose jolts back -- ticklish there.

"I don't really want to put on a peep show for Chinese spies," you say.

"I agree with my husband," Rose says. You're far from 100% used to hearing yourself referred to that way.

"Psh," Whitney says. "Prudes." Without warning, she quickly strips -- bare-ass naked -- and marches around the room literally slapping her own butt.

"Get a load of this American ass!" She calls to the skies, turning in circles, to make sure she picks up on any listening devices. "Feast your eyes, 'cause it's as close as you'll ever get!"

When she's had her fun, she falls back on the mega-king-sized bed, arms and legs akimbo. Her body sinks down into the super-soft mattress. She stares at the fish swimming above her, laughing to herself. "Heeeh. I bet they're all jizzing in their pants right about now."

Rose is appalled. "Haven't you ever heard of kompromat?"

"Kom-what?"

"Blackmail material," you say.

"Can't blackmail a girl with no shame!" Whitney chirps. "Ohhh nooo, Whitney Darkbloom got naked in her own hotel room. Scandal of the century. Pff. Let the world see my tits. I'm proud of 'em."

You sometimes wish you had a mind as simple as Whitney's.
>>
>>3761606
Shut the front door, Whitney is capable of self-censorship?!
>>
>>3761606
I do envy this girl sometimes.
>>
>>3761606
I hope whitney runs for president this season.
>>
>>3761618
shut the front door is kind of fun to say though, i feel like it's more that than any degree of self restraint on WHINEY'S part of all people
>>
>>3761606
Whitney gives zero fucks
>>
From the north window of your hotel room, you can see way down to the mosaic tiled thoroughfare of an open-air mall. It's as ritzy as the rest of your vicinity, with high-end stores of designer fashion and bespoke art. It's got the chintzy sort of luxury sheen that new money goes nuts for -- new money like Whitney, say. Save of course for one glaring eyesore: right in the middle of it, like a thing dropped from the sky, sits a ramshackle thatch house. You guess it's one bad storm away from collapsing under its own weight. Shoppers route themselves around it like a stream splitting around a boulder and converging.

"Whoaaa," Whitney breathes, sidling up -- still naked. "Is that a museum, or what?"

"Just a house," you say, staring down at it. "I assume the owner is a holdout. When they built this place, he wouldn't sell to the developers... so they built right around him."

"Freaky deaky," Rose2 says.

"Happens all the time. It's called a nail house."

"Heeeh," Whitney wheezes. "I love it. From now on, our mansion is officially the Nail House."

"It's getting a little late," Rose says gently. "We have a big day tomorrow."

"Buzzkill over here," Whitney says, jabbing a thumb over her shoulder to indicate Rose. "I'm not sleepy. How about you?"

You shrug.

"Rosie?" Whitney asks.

Rose2 shakes her head. "I'm too excited to sleep!"

[ ] Go out and see the surrounding city a bit.
[ ] Stay in.
>>
>>3761660
>[X] Go out and see the city
>>
>>3761660
>[x] Go out and see the surrounding city a bit.
I feel like you'd only offer a choice like this if you had something in particular in mind
>>
>>3761660
>[ ] Go out and see the surrounding city a bit.
I've been waiting for this
>>
>>3761660
>[x] Go out and see the surrounding city a bit.
>>
>>3761660
>>[ ] Go out and see the surrounding city a bit.
>>
>>3761660
>[x] Go out and see the surrounding city a bit.
>>
>>3761660
>[X] Go out and see the surrounding city a bit.
We've had PLOT, now time for plot.
>>
>>3761660
>[x] Go out and see the surrounding city a bit.
>>
>>3761660
>go out
time to explore the entire china
>>
>>3761672
Adding to my own vote:
[x] Take Whitney and keep her on a short (metaphorical) leash
>>
>>3761660
>[x] Go out and see the surrounding city a bit.

I wanna see how hard this specific choice can fuck us.
>>
>>3761660
>go out
I want to take Whitney to Taiwan!
>>
>>3761724
>not visiting Tiananmen Square.
>>
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>[x] Go out and see the surrounding city a bit.

"Atsui... atsui..." Rose2 sighs as you walk. She trudges along theatrically to show her enervation, shoulders slouched, head drooping.

"God, why is it so hot here?" Whitney groans, fanning herself. "It's 11 PM! Isn't China supposed to be cold?"

"China is -- it's huge," you say, almost disbelieving what you're hearing. Where did she get the idea into her empty skull that China is 'cold'? "It's... so big. It's one of the biggest countries on the planet. It has... a range of different biomes--"

"Biomes, pfft. Well this biome is giving me a major case of swamp ass."

You shudder.

---

Fazil helps Whitney navigate buying a number of $20,000 suits and accessories. She wants you to get some stuff too, Rose also, but you share the same aversion to this profligate spending -- and you're sure the quality isn't up to par even despite the enormous pricetags. Rose2 is less averse and ends up with a pile of new cosplay options that she can't wait to change into. Pretty soon you're wandering from shop to shop with a candy-cotton-pink catgirl in tow.

Fazil himself, newly flush with cash, also makes some purchases. In one corner shop, he finds a fez that costs -- no joke -- $15,000. He waxes poetic about its quality as he lifts it from the display case and turns it over in his hands. You cannot tell the difference between it and the fez you see him in every day. But the way he lights up while stroking its velvety material, the way he beams when he fits it to his head, the way he exclaims that he feels like an entirely new man wearing it, makes you almost support his purchase. Almost. No matter, though. He gets it anyway, at Whitney's behest.

In a shop of life-sized statues, Whitney falls in love with an intricately carved onyx horse. It's about 8 feet tall, rearing back on its hind legs, depicted with sinews and veins so lifelike you expect the flesh to give when you touch it. In the saddle sits an intimidating onyx man in full armor, with a sword, and a scowl, and a Fu Manchu stache. Doubtlessly some storied Chinese general of a storied Chinese dynasty back in the days of fending off Mongol invasions. Which is why you cringe when Whitney, clambering atop, hollers loud enough for everyone in the store to hear: "Check it out! I'm Genghis Khan!"

"Whitney, get down--" you start.

"I'm gonna buy this thing! How much is it?"

Rose is pale green when she reads the price tag: "$100,000..."

"Fuck yeah! Giddyup!"

She kicks her feet. The statue totters -- one way, then the other -- then it falls. Whitney falls with it. And then she's lying amidst shards of onyx. The goddamn thing was hollow all along. Some value for six figures.

"I'm going to vomit," Rose says.

You help Whitney to her feet even as stunned patrons and livid employees surround you. Thankfully she's unhurt, just a couple scrapes -- and she's smiling stupidly. "Guess I did buy it, huh?"

You whack her the same way you whacked Rose2 on the plane.
>>
>>3761799
God dammit Whitney.
>>
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>>3761799
>>
>>3761799
>Fazil gets a new Fez
This is a historical event
>>
On your way back to the hotel with more shopping bags than any person should ever need to carry, your path takes you past the nail house you saw earlier. You and your little coterie make like the rest of the people here, and route yourselves around it while pretending like it doesn't exist.

On your way past, you glimpse a grizzled old man sitting out front, on a tattered old stool, smoking a cigarette. He looks like he's got a bad case of cataracts, maybe bad enough to render him fully blind. But beneath the milky white film coating his eyes -- the irises are a brilliant blue.

You're not a geneticist, but you know that's not a common trait in this part of the world.

He looks at you -- although it's more like he's looking through you. You wonder again whether he sees anything at all. It freezes you in your tracks all the same. Rose is the first to notice, and stops alongside you, touching your arm. "Alabaster?"

Whitney, Rose2, and Fazil stop now too, several paces ahead already, and turn back.

The man stands, and goes into his house.

[ ] Go speak with him.
[ ] Leave it be.
>>
>>3761838
[x] Leave it be.

I am not falling for your trap, OP! I mean, I've already fallen for one of your traps, but he isn't here at the moment
>>
>>3761838
No
We're just being paranoid, right?
There's no way it's
oh fuck

>[x] Go speak with him.
>>
>>3761838
>[X] Go speak with him
This is a trap and I'm falling for it.
>>
>>3761838
>[x] Go speak with him.
>>
>>3761838
>[X] Go speak with him.
>>
>>3761838
>[ ] Go speak with him.
>>
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>>3761838
>[x] Go speak with him.
>>
>>3761838
>[x] Go speak with him.
>>
>>3761838
>[ ] Go speak with him.
If we ignore it now it'll just bite us in the ass later on
>>
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>>3761838
>[X] Go speak with him.
>>
>>3761838
>[ ] Go speak with him.
Just like one of my Malaysian moving pictures
Time to meet the master!
>>
>>3761838
>[x] Go speak with him.
>>
>>3761838
>[ ] Go speak with him.
Why yes I will follow the trail of candy.
>>
>>3761838
>[ ] Go speak with him.
>>
>>3761838
>[ ] Go speak with him.
Is this our old Asian sensei who's gonna teach us his secret techniques?
>>
>>3760950
>Boundary conformal field theory
You're on to something.
>>
>[x] Go speak with him.

You knock on his door. There's a long, long moment of rustling from within, as he shuffles through the tiny house, and finally opens the door. The smell of the dingy home beyond is without compare to anything you've ever experienced -- not unpleasant but not pleasant either, just alien, in a way you can't pinpoint. You're not sure if it's food or potpourri or something else, but it's definitely tinged with cigarette smoke as well.

Fazil translates for the man: "He asks why we have come."

"I just want to ask you a couple questions," you tell him. "Can I come in?"

He steps aside.

---

You're situated across from him at a small, round wood table, hands on your knees. He hacks and coughs, and you take in the rest of the house while he struggles against his own lungs. The olive green stucco walls, the grimy linoleum of the kitchen peeling at the corners, the framed photos so yellowed with age that they look like they were taken in sepia tone. A stained stainless steel pot of something sizzles on the gas stovetop.

"What happened to your eyes?" You ask him.

He considers this. Through Fazil, he responds: "He is blind. He has a medical condition."

"Ally, let's go," Whitney says -- but you wave her off without looking at her. "What kind of medical condition?"

His voice is a dull monotone, without any apparent emotion to it.

"He says it is caused by his evil eye."

You slump your head and let out a long breath through your nose.

"He wishes to know whether you also have an evil eye."

"I do."

He asks something, and Fazil answers for you -- then informs you -- "he asked if you were also blind."

"Where did your evil eye come from?" You ask him.

The man's voice becomes a droning hum that blends with the electric fan in the living room to create an awful static in the background of Fazil's on-the-fly translation:

"He is not sure. He volunteered for medical tests some time ago. He was in need of money, to fight the development of this retail area... one day he was taken somewhere far away... put under sedation... he woke up with his evil eye, and never again did he see the people running the medical tests."

There's a pause, before the man adds something: "He says he is not truly blind. But he sees differently."

"How?"

"He says he does not see the world as he did when he was a young man. When he was young, he saw the forms of things, as all people do, but could never discern what was beneath. Now in his old age, he sees only what hides beneath. But for this he has lost sight of the forms. It is like living life beneath a smoky glass."

"You see us?" You ask.

"Yes. You have here a wife who loves you very much, and two more who love you maybe even more. A diligent and devout employee who is loyal--" (Fazil stops to thank the man in his own tongue) "--you are on an important trip, which will determine the course your future life takes."
>>
>>3761938
>a wife who loves you very much, and two more who love you maybe even more
Rose2 > Rose confirmed.
>>
>>3761938
... fuck.
>>
>>3761938
What a nice man.
>>
>>3761938
welp...

how many Greek heroes had happy endings?
>>
>>3761938
Shit's starting to get exciting
>>
>>3761938
I don't think he's talking about Fazil.
I think he's talking about Alex.
>>
>>3761986
No, he's obviously talking about Armstrong.
>>
>>3761986
Anon...
>>
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"What do you see for me?" You ask.

"He says you have lost and gained so much that you must be dizzy with it. You are stranded on the top of Mt. Everest. You cannot come down. So what will you do? The only choices left are to await the end... or to build for yourself a ladder as tall again as the mountain, and pierce the dome of heaven."

"What's in heaven?"

"God -- he supposes." Fazil glances your way. "He cannot say for certain. He has never been."

Rose pipes up. "The people who experimented on you -- were they Chinese or American? Or something else?"

"Chinese."

"What did they tell you about themselves?" She asks.

"Nothing."

"How long ago was this?" She asks.

"He estimates a decade."

"We should go," Whitney says again, and more seriously this time.

"I want to give you some money," you tell him, in a sudden convulsion of charity. This man was victimized, just like you and so many others. "You should live somewhere better than this."

"They offered him plenty of money to leave when they built this place. He wants to remain here. It is where he knew his wife. Now she is gone, and he is at the end of his life as well. He does not wish to leave."

You purse your lips and nod. You heave yourself up, turn for the door. As you get towards the threshold, the man speaks again.

"He wishes to know whether an evil eye can be fixed."

"I'll let you know if I ever find out," you promise him.
>>
>>3761993
>"You are stranded on the top of Mt. Everest. You cannot come down. So what will you do? The only choices left are to await the end... or to build for yourself a ladder as tall again as the mountain, and pierce the dome of heaven."
... this is fucking terrifying.

>a decade
So is this.
>>
>>3761993
>or to build for yourself a ladder as tall again as the mountain, and pierce the dome of heaven."
LEAVE THE FIRMAMENT, ALABASTER
>>
>>3761993
>>3762001
When Whitney is getting serious, then shit is starting.
>>
>>3761993
>The only choices left are to await the end... or to build for yourself a ladder as tall again as the mountain, and pierce the dome of heaven."
So I'm not the only one who's imagining him as Kamina now, right?
>>
>>3761986
Context, my dude. He's taking about everyone he can see.
>>3762009
The thing is she might be uncomfortable because she knows something. And that's disconcerting.
>>
>>3762019
... okay yeah, that was a little dumb. I'm reading too deeply into a literal reading too deep.
>>
>>3761993
Kino
>>
>>3762016
No. Our dick is the dick that will pierce the heavens.
>>
>>3761993
This brings back a question I often ask. What exactly is it that makes an implant fuck up its host? Darkbloom, Gal, Vivian, Mara, and us were all fine as well as seemingly this guy, besides his blindness. Amber was driven to the point of insanity and Cerise was knocked the FUCK out. What is it about the implants or the people wearing them that makes them act differently?
>>
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You sit Indian style on Dalton's chest. His eyes are saucers, but there's not much he can do about the view he's got.

"Charlotte can paddle your balls again," you tell him, "or you can be nice and tell us what we want to know."

His breath is ragged. "I don't know... I don't know... I... owwww! Ow!"

You yourself wince at the sound of it, Charlotte doing exactly what you warned him she would.

"Vail!!" He cries, straining against his bonds. "Vail! Vail! She's in Vail!"

"Stop!" You call, holding up your palm behind you. But there's a couple more thwacks before Charlotte heeds the command.

You turn. She takes a woozy step back from the table, face flushed, sweat beading around her brows. "Sorry."

"Lies," Vivian says. "I had people check her winter cottage already. She is not in Vail."

"Not her winter cottage!" Dalton says. "Somewhere else... where exactly, I don't know... I don't! And I'm not sure she's in Vail. I just think she must be... she's not many timezones away, for certain... and she owns half that damn city..."

"Why isn't she in Russia?" You ask.

"She isn't welcome there. She fell out with the Kremlin. That's why I think she must be here in the states... please, that's all I know!"

"Why isn't she welcome?"

"How should I know! She only said she couldn't go back."

You lock eyes with Vivian.

"I believe him," she says. "Mother told me some time ago that the situation with the Kremlin was becoming untenable. I believe they wanted access to Darkbloom Analytics intellectual property... and she kept stonewalling them. Wanted it for herself, obviously."

"If she can't be in the valley," Dalton says, "and she can't be in her homeland... it has to be Vail. But I don't know that. It's just my speculation... please, please stop this... I cannot bear it..."

"All right," you sigh. "That's good enough. Say ahhh."

"What?"

You hold up a pill bottle. "Say ahhhh."

"Please! Please stop!"

"We are stopping," you tell him. "Quit whining."

Vivian turns and motions towards the main area of the basement, and Cerise and Gal enter.

"We're going to give you an implant," you say. "These are Ambien. Hopefully they keep you asleep through the operation. We aren't sadists, after all."

"Implant..." he says.

"It's going to be a long sleep," you tell him honestly. "But you won't feel a thing. Thank you for your cooperation."

You force a handful of pills down his gullet.
>>
>>3762050
>"We're going to give you an implant," you say. "These are Ambien. Hopefully they keep you asleep through the operation. We aren't sadists, after all."
So getting an implant is worse than everything we've done to him until now, got it.
>>
>>3762050
>Dalton is Sebastian
Wow, I did not expect him to be so Bishounen
>>
>>3762050
More terror, but it's the best we've got.
>>
>>3762048
I think the implants for Gal, Alabaster and Camelia were under the pretense of therapeutic or psychological testing, if I remember flashbacks correctly. Darkbloom's was self-imposed. Mara's is presumably either from Russians or opportunistic/beneficial for business, and I can't remember the reason for Vivian's, but I think it was under Darkbloom's suggestion. (I'm speculating highly for the last three, and can't recall).

The Nail House man's is probably for testing purposes from the Chinese government.
>>
>>3762070
Vivian's IS Darkbloom's and was literally forced on her by Mara, abusing her grief for her own twisted purposes. Darkbloom had nothing to do with the decision-making process.
>>
>>3762075
God, I really need to re-read the last two seasons before next Saturday.
Thanks for clarifying.
>>
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You all don surgical masks and disinfect your hands, plus the surrounding area, as well as the implements you'll be using.

Cerise rubs Gal's shoulders soothingly, her head nuzzling Gal's neck, while Gal fiddles with the resistor at the end of the implant's long, thin wire.

"You okay with this, babe?"

"im ok"

"Are you sure?"

"im sure"

You sort of remember Gal. And you sort of remember that implant. And you sort of remember what it's like, the thing that's about to happen.

Charlotte puts a leather belt in Dalton's mouth, and secures it to the table beneath, so that he's biting down on it in his sleep.

Then the moment of truth. Gal uses a melon baller from the kitchen, to scoop out Dalton's eyeball.

He was asleep. Now he's awake.

Through the bit, he shrieks -- bloodcurdling shrieking, agonizing shrieking, and his eye, still attached by the nerve, flops around on his cheek. You fight back vomit.

>"MY EYE! MY EYEEE! I SEE EVERYTHING!!! MY EYEEEEE!!!!"

That's not what Dalton is saying, but it's what you're hearing, internally -- like an echo -- you try violently to shake it loose from your mind, but it won't go.

Charlotte holds his head steady, while Gal works quickly to get the thing installed. But quickly isn't quick enough, and it feels like an aeon with Dalton's wailing. What you're doing to him now is on a level entirely removed from even the worst of what you've inflicted on him prior. He's out of his mind with the excruciating horror of it.

And then it's over -- he tenses, arches his back the inch or two he can with the straps holding him down, and passes out.

Gal is working again in peace and quiet. She's crying. Cerise is stroking her hair, also crying -- and your eyes, you realize, are also wet. Charlotte is the only one in this room even close to unaffected. She's cringing at the sight before her, but she isn't sparing Dalton any sympathy.

Back into his head goes his eyeball. His eyes now are blue.

And then a few moments later he has consciousness again. Not Dalton. Him. And you remember him too. And he remembers you.

"Camelia," he says.
>>
>>3762083
Also, Mara doesn't have one that we know of, and wanted Penelope for herself. Stasi had one, which is currently, presumably, in Tyrus's possession.

Everybody is racing for this technology, and we've reached the nexus point.
>>
>>3762089
I know we literally choose this, but I'm still fucking screaming.
>>
>>3762083
Best of luck anon, there's a lot to get through
>>
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>>3762089
>>
>>3762089
And there we go.
>>
>>3762093
Saved.
>>
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>>3762089
>>
>>3762089
Holy fuck
>>
>>3762089
>"Camelia," he says.
Kino
>>
>>3762089
Everything went better than expected!
>>
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Men filter into the conference room, all dour and besuited and old and grey. These are the executives of Broad Dynamics. Armstrong greets them with laughing bows and handshakes, but there are no smiles on their end.

Whitney salutes them.

Rose can take a lot when it comes to Whitney, but even she has a tipping point, and this is it. She grabs Whitney from the front, holding her by either shoulder, and walks her backwards into the empty hallway. You follow them out.

"What the hell?" Whitney says, wriggling free.

"Stop. Fucking. Saluting people. They're not American! You're not in the military!"

Whitney salutes Rose. "Aye aye, captain. And sieg fucking heil. Man you're annoying."

"This is serious," Rose says. "You need to remember that you're representing our company and our country here." She points to the doorway. "And that what happens in that room is going to be really fucking important for all of us."

"Ally, tell your cunt wife to shut up."

"She's right," you say.

Whitney huffs, mad, but finally getting the message. "Fine. I'll keep a lid on it."

A very tall, very fat man approaches from the end of the hall, along with a short, cute girl holding a notepad. This is Li Xi, you know, from Rose's description.

"It is so nice to meet you," he says. Not dour like his underlings -- he swats Whitney's shoulder and laughs before shaking her hand.

"Back at you," Whitney says. "You're Mr. G, right?"

"Correct. Li Xi. I am so pleased to have you here today. We have been so looking forward to this meeting." He motions for you to enter the conference room.
>>
>>3762116
She's here!
>>
>>3762116
I can't believe we're going to rail Li Xi's daughter before this is all over.
>>
>>3762089
I teared up a bit.
>"MY EYE! MY EYEEE! I SEE EVERYTHING!!! MY EYEEEEE!!!!"
tfw we trauma'd Amber back into Camellia
If so, she might have an idea or two about fixing the old timer, since her evil eye left her blind at one point.
>>
"We can get started right away," Xi says, taking his seat at the center of the long table, opposite to the side where you and your people sit.

"Whoa," Whitney breathes, looking Xi over, seeing him more clearly now that they're sitting level with one another in the bright light of the meeting room. "Did you have acne when you were a teenager?"

So much for keeping a lid on it. But maybe this is leverage: he can't help reaching up and touching his own deeply pockmarked cheeks. "Ah--"

Realizing herself, Whitney adds: "I had some acne, too, when I was just starting puberty."

"I see," Xi intones.

"It cleared up, though."

"Ah."

"No scars even."

"..."

"As opposed to you."

Xi's cute little secretary salvages things. She introduces you all to the now abashed and sullen Xi: "Right. This is Steven Armstrong, CHRM; Fazil, the group's translator; and of course you know Whitney Darkbloom, the woman herself."

"And these two?" Xi asks, pointing to you and Rose.

"Of course. Alabaster Soliloquy, chief adviser, and --" she stammers, stops short, seems to be mentally checking her notes.

"Rose Soliloquy," Rose herself says.

"What is your role?" Xi asks her.

"I--"

"She's my tradwife," you cut in.

"Tradwife?" Xi asks.

"I am NOT y--"

"She's my wife, but more of a traditional type. You know. Wants to be a homemaker, leave work and take care of the children."

"How wonderful!" Xi says. "An ideal woman. Keep her!"

"I am NOT your tradwife, you demented APE," Rose hisses.

Xi seems to take offense to this, even though Rose's insult was towards you. You try to smooth things over: "I'm sorry, Mr. Xi. She's with child, and the hormones are really something else. You know how it is."

"Oh my god... you can't be-- oh my god..." At this rate, you're going to short her brain out entirely.

"It's not such a traditional marriage anyway," Whitney says, coming to the rescue of Rose's frayed nerves. "They're cousins."

Xi gives a displeased frown. But his secretary, saying something to him in Chinese, makes it go away. "Oh," Xi chirps. "That's not so bad, then."
>>
>>3762116
Oh shit, she's here
>>
>>3762124
What's Chinese for once removed
>>
>>3762124
I love when we bully Rose
>>
>>3762124
>"They're cousins."
ONCE REMOVED
>>
>>3762124
Based "secretary".
>>
>>3762124

一旦删除
>>
>>3762124
>Xi gives a displeased frown. But his secretary, saying something to him in Chinese, makes it go away. "Oh," Xi chirps. "That's not so bad, then."
I'm dying.
>>
>>3762124
>Xi gives a displeased frown. But his secretary, saying something to him in Chinese, makes it go away. "Oh," Xi chirps. "That's not so bad, then."
She knows the importance of being once removed
>>
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>>3762124
God damnit Whitney.
>>
>>3762141
In Chinese society, cousins can marry as long as they don’t have the same surname.
>>
>>3762148
Based China
>>
So am I the only anon that's really concerned our deutagonist this season is Amber? There has to be a specific reason she specifically is and every small idea I have screams not good from mind merging with Alabaster to other things.
>>
>>3762161
Wasn't she basically living like a genderbent Ally? It makes sense to be her IMO.
>>
>>3762161
I mean if I had to choose between the people who stayed behind I'd choose her too
>>
"I'd like to buy your technology out from under you," Whitney says.

Dead silence descends.

"Well, our CEO is a bit brash, you might be able to tell," Armstrong says. "It's the American way. We speak frankly. But yes. We would like to purchase the rights to all Sand Reckoner technology you are currently working on, and we are prepared to offer $20 billion for it. In addition to making you a trusted partner and a distributor of platforms derived from our proprietary architectures, developed for Chinese markets."

"I think you have misunderstood your bargaining position," Xi says.

"Maybe you have," Whitney says. "You got fucked up the ass on the Google buyout, didn't ya?"

"We do not need Google," Xi says.

"Big words for the guy who tried to pay a trillion bucks for Google."

"We do not need Google," he repeats. "But you clearly need us." He sips his water.

"It's not a need so much as a request for synergy," Armstrong says. "Your technology is obviously plagiarized from ours, and we know you're struggling to cross the finish line. Why bother trying to reinvent the wheel? Just become a partner, take your paychecks and go home. We'll handle the tech. Isn't that the easiest thing for you?"

"Here is a counteroffer. We will pay you $200 billion to hand over all your intellectual property, your servers and your existing research into Sand Reckoner. Along with that, Darkbloom Analytics will cease to exist as an entity."

"I can't say I'm not seeing dollar signs!" Armstrong says. "But that would be entirely illegal. I think the US government would have something to say about that. I'm sorry, we simply can't."

"Then perhaps there is nothing further to discuss," Xi says.

"$50 billion," Armstrong says, "and we'll work on getting our militaries to work together on this one. Hey, the American century is old hat. How about the Sino-American century? Eh?"

"How has your company persisted for so long?" Xi's secretary wonders aloud.

"Luck, mostly," Whitney says.

"A can-do attitude," Armstrong adds, pressing his fingertip against the mahogany table for emphasis. "And of course, having the brightest minds in the world working for us."

"These are the brightest minds?" She says.

"Absolutely," Armstrong says.

"Maybe you will understand better," Xi says, "if we show you our production facility. Do you have time to visit our factory a few kilometers from here?"

[ ] Yes. See what they're working on.
[ ] No. Press them harder to become partners.
>>
>>3762161
On one hand, having another POV for the narrative split is inconvenient, while also giving OP room to write for one scenario while tallying votes in the other, like one Anon already mentioned. So narrative convenience certainly comes to mind.

But on the other, >>3762165.
The parallels have been too big to be ignored from the outset. There's something big at play here, and your concerns are definitely shared. Especially since OP took it upon himself to establish the fact that, yes, there WILL be lewds with her involved going forward and she is a full force POV with actions and decisions that ALREADY HAVE A HUGE IMPACT in this, unlike the last time we went RoseQuesting or CeriseQuesting or WhitneyQuesting.

We are Camelia.
>>
>>3762170
>[x] No. Press them harder to become partners.
>>
>>3762170
... fuck. Kininarimasu.
>[x] Yes. See what they're working on.

Then we can pull the Jet Alone on it.
>>
>>3762170
>[X] No. Press them harder to become partners.
Having China on our side -- and in our pocket -- is essential. And obviously we can't let ourself get bought out, so...
>>
>>3762171
I think my biggest one is that we might be Darkblooming Alabaster and Amber with ourselves as darkbloom in this analogy.Which scares me honestly
>>
>>3762170
>[x] No. Press them harder to become partners.
I get the feeling we might not be getting a quick tour if we go.
>>
>>3762170
>[ ] Yes. See what they're working on.

No reason to drop a chance at more information. We can still press them more afterwards.
>>
>>3762170
>[ ] No. Press them harder to become partners.
We need to keep an eye on them so the don’t do something really fucking retarded.
>>
>>3762170
>[ ] No. Press them harder to become partners.
This choice feels suspicious, seems like a trap
>>
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>>3762170
>[x] Yes. See what they're working on.
He said "maybe". We take a look and then tell them to suck it and offer even less.

>>3762181
>>
>>3762170
>[x] Yes. See what they're working on.
My curiosity, anons
>>
>>3762170
>[X] Yes. See what they're working on.
Intel is key, even if it's surface-level.

Fuck selling the company for $200 billion, that's chump change. We want Trump change. Whitney change, even. A hundred million billion dollars.
$200 Billion is a joke. We could buy a tissue company with that, and we'd wipe our asses with those tissues. Our actual, literal asses. ASSES. PLURAL.
What's at stake? A hostage situation in China? We're (She is) Whitney Darkbloom. Try it. ASSES. OUR ACTUAL ASSES. (Please have security, really, please).
>>
>>3762170
>[ ] Yes. See what they're working on.
>>
>[x] Yes. See what they're working on.

You folks are cheeky. I was writing with No winning, but this has come out ahead. I'll close the vote officially so I don't have to reverse a second time.
>>
>>3762239
You're gonna have to let us know how much of a pain this episode was after it's over lmao.
>>
>>3762239
Gomen.
>>
>>3762239
It's your fault for giving us schizophrenia
>>
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>[x] Yes. See what they're working on.

"We don't need to see your factory," you say. All eyes turn to you -- the air in the room is one of surprise, that you, an adviser, would speak out of turn.

"Ally?" Whitney breathes.

"We know what you're working on. You have implants of your own. But they don't fucking work, do they? They blind people."

Xi's poker face is hard to read, and so are those of his underlings, but his secretary is smirking.

"I'm working on it," she says.

...She's working on it?

"Who are you?" Armstrong asks. "I don't remember seeing you on the list of executives here."

"Qiangxiang Xi," she says, bowing slightly. "I am the head of R&D."

"Huh?" Whitney says. "Chingchang?"

"Qiangxiang," she corrects. "Xi."

"Say that again."

"Qiangxiang Xi."

"More slowly."

"Qiang. Xiang. Xi."

"Okay. I'm gonna call you Chloe."

Qiangxiang smiles confusedly. "...Chloe?"

"It's either that or Quack-Quack. Take your pick."

Her tone is polite, but biting: "Do you have dyslexia? A memory condition? Are long words difficult for you in general?"

"No, no, and no. Names are like whatever. I'm just not gonna bother with yours. Sorry Chloe."

"I will have to think of a fitting nom de guerre for you as well," Qiangxiang says, utterly unfazed. "I am thinking maybe Shǎbī."

"Is that Chinese for idiot?" Whitney asks. Fazil gives her a nod to confirm.

"Literally translated," Qiangxiang says, "it means stupid cunt."

"Let's see your factory," Whitney says.

"Whitney--" you begin.

"No. We need to see it. I have to know what I'm buying, right?"
>>
>>3762264
Ooooohhhhhhh man.
>>
>>3762264
Hot.
>>
>>3762264
>when the post ends as a perfect inverse to how it begins
Ffffffuck, I am so ready for this tour!
>>
>>3762264
>"I am the head of R&D."
Oh shit, is she China's Sable?
>>
>>3762282
She's like some kind of Chinese vunderkind. A Rose, a Vivian, a Sable, all rolled into one.
>>
>>3762264
I like her already. Hope we don’t have to kill her off early.
>>
>>3762285
Also likely a hard S seeing as OP tends to use chars that aren't really true to the char they originally come from but that have the most amount of visuals that confer the char OP already wants. And what does Kaguya have?

"How cute"
>>
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>>3762285
The ultimate weapon.
>>
>>3762299
A weapon to surapss metal gear?
>>
>>3762285
I bet she's Vivian on steroids, Vivian is a prodigy but I don't think she could make the implants from scratch. Whether or not she's smarter than Sable is yet to be seen though
>>
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You walk alongside Rose, Armstrong and Fazil on a wrought steel mezzanine above a clean, white, modern looking factory floor.

A few paces ahead of you: "Our implants improve by the day," Qiangxiang says to Whitney. "I will be honest -- yes, I am struggling with some specifics as regards implementation. Those will sort out as I continue my research. With or without your assistance."

"How old are you, anyway?" Whitney asks.

"Do you ask for prurient reasons? I am given to understand you have strange tastes."

"Don't flatter yourself."

"I am 16."

"I get it. So you're the Chinese Vivian. Is Mr. G your dad?"

"He is my uncle. The less said of him, the better. He just manages accounts. A piggy little nothing of a man."

"Yep. Chinese Vivian. Not as cute even."

You whisper to Rose: "Can I say something that's protected by spousal privilege?"

"Sure."

"I honestly love Whitney."

Rose makes a face. "What a wonderful thing to tell your wife."

"You love her, too. How many power plays has she made since getting here? And she doesn't even realize it. Think about that. You and I have to consciously decide if we're going to fuck with someone. Whitney just kinda does it."

Rose shrugs. "You're awfully effusive today."

"I'm trying to see the positive side to all of this. And stay optimistic. Because... this could really go bad."

"It already has." She pulls out her phone and shoves it into your hand. You read the email. Darkbloom Analytics' main parts supplier for its server facilities is canceling all your accounts, effective immediately.

"What the fuck," you mutter.

"They're a Taiwanese company. They didn't take kindly to Whitney's little faux pas yesterday.

"Goddamn it."

"I hope none of our servers go out." She smooths her skirt. "We need to get that thing out of you as soon as possible, Alabaster. Like I tried to tell you."

You don't want to admit she's right, so you say nothing.
>>
>>3762316
... oh god dammit.
>>
>>3762316
>Darkbloom Analytics' main parts supplier for its server facilities is canceling all your accounts, effective immediately.
ffffuck
>>
>>3762316
Well, shit. It shouldn't be too hard to get a new supplier, I guess, but who knows how many opportunities that'll create for disaster down the line...

On the other hand, though, that scene was pretty funny at least
>>
>>3762316
>"I am 16."
FUCK YEAH
>>
>>3762316
>Darkbloom Analytics' main parts supplier for its server facilities is canceling all your accounts, effective immediately.
Imagine knowing this feel.
>>
>>3762328
Haha, I wish. The global server grade computer supply chain, at least at the scale Darkbloom Analytics is at, is heavily dependent on drives and parts manufactured in Asia, *especially* Taiwan and Korea, both of which are very much not friendly with the Chinese.

Whitney, in one quip, fucked over the entire cloud part of the company.

So an average afternoon for her, really.
>>
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Qiangxiang stops as if suddenly realizing something. She turns, hands demurely in front of her. "Alabaster," she says.

You stop, too, surprised.

"You have an implant, yes?" She asks.

You decline to say.

"What do you see when you look at me?" She asks.

"Just a snooty little girl who thinks she's the smartest person in the room," you say.

"I have watched you with interest, Alabaster Soliloquy," she says. "It is so nice to finally meet. And yet -- it is such a disappointment. You do not use your implant."

"All it does is aid memory," you say. No use denying what she already knows. "Its effects are passive."

"We could upgrade it for you."

"And make me blind?"

She smiles. "You would still see, just in a different way. No interest at all in trying it?"

"None."

"Of course. The supplier shouldn't dip into his own supply, yes? You've done enough as it is." She turns and continues walking. You can only follow. "As for us, we are already entering mass production."

"Mass production on implants that maim the wearer," you say. "Some business plan."

"That is the problem with short-sighted entrepreneurs like you. You see only what people will buy for themselves. But what about what people will buy for those they employ?"

You tilt your head.

You all turn a corner, and now you have a view down to the main production floor. An assembly line of dozens of workers in full body cleansuits, at stations arrayed around enormous industrial microprocessor fabricators -- pulling hundreds of grain-sized circuits at once from outfeed trays, snipping and crimping wires and attaching them, spooling them, packaging them, putting them onto pallets. At the rate they're working, even if this is the only production area, they could be making millions of Sand Reckoner implants a day. Whitney, visibly disturbed, grips the railing to steady herself as she takes it all in.

Qiangxiang goes on. "Laborers or soldiers, or prisoners perhaps -- in any case, people who have no say, but who might be more efficient with an augmented data processing capacity. It is said the human mind receives five petabytes per second of sensory input, and yet our brain's processing power is less than that of a first-generation home computer. So much of what we receive as input is never processed into useful information. That won't do in such a fast-paced world, will it?"

A worker down on the floor glances up towards where you all stand. Through his goggles, you see his eyes -- a milky white film, and blue beneath.

"What are you doing here?" Whitney sputters to Qiangxiang.

"Americans are so funny," she says. She nods at Armstrong, who's as pale as Whitney is. "Speaking in terms of who owned the last century. Who owns the next. One paltry century of prominence on the world stage is nothing against 5000 years of history. No. It is not simply that the next century belongs to us. All subsequent centuries do also."
>>
>>3762362
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
>>
>>3762362
>It is said the human mind receives five petabytes per second of sensory input,
>FIVE PETABYTES PER SECOND
Sasuga OP Studios

Also who’s going for Chinese takeout first, Alabaster or Whitney?
>>
>>3762362
Is it time to nuke China
>>
>>3762362
>It is said the human mind receives five petabytes per second of sensory input, and yet our brain's processing power is less than that of a first-generation home computer.
I'm sure the IBM PALM appreciates the compliment but I'm at least as powerful as a 65C816.
>>
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>>3762362
So I hear Russia's looking pretty good this time of year.
>>
>>3762362
These chinks be fucking crazy
>>
>>3762362
China wants a million mass-produced knock-offs to conquer the present and thus the future.

Mara wants one fully-powered version to conquer the past and thus FOREVER.

What the fuck do we even do at this point?
>>
>>3762385
Let them fight each other
>>
>>3762385
Produce a handful of medium-spec models to conquer the present, and thereby stomp them out and conquer the past and future?

This may or may not be a garbage plan but think of the parallelism
>>
>>3762400
I admire the levity, but we kind of already broke the present as is. The real question is how do we FIX it?
>>
Whitney is hyperventilating on the bed of the hotel room, head in her hands. The panic is beginning to set in. "I want my mom. Fuck. Fuck. I want my mom... where is she? Is she back yet? She could help us fix this... she could help for sure... where is she?"

Rose rubs her back soothingly, but Whitney is beyond reason.

"Where is she?! Why haven't we heard from Viv yet? Are they okay? We need to go back--"

"Shut up!" Armstrong roars. He came back to your room with you for the powwow. "You're the CEO of a Fortune 100 company, Whitney. Start acting like it."

"You shut up!" Whitney shrieks. "What am I paying you for? Our competitors are going to eat us alive! And you couldn't make a fucking deal!"

"Is that my job?" Armstrong shouts. "What about you? You've been fucking us over since day one. I've just been trying to wipe up the mess. Maybe I should have sided with Mara after all. She's not a fucking idiot!"

"Go ahead, then! Fuck off and go work for Mara! You're fired!"

Rose2, in the corner, gnawing a stick of pocky and reading Shonen Jump, says: "if you wanna keep tabs on China, why not say we'll work with them on Sand Reckoner? Instead of one buying the other... that way you keep 'em close, so we can watch 'em."

All eyes turn to her. She senses this, and looks up. "Did I say something dumb again?"

"No... no," Armstrong says. "That might be the first halfway intelligent thing you've ever said. He looks at Whitney. "Our CTO position is vacant right now. If we told Qiangxiang that she could have mediated access to our research and work products, in exchange for working for us --"

"What about Alex?" Whitney asks.

"Oh, fuck Alex," you groan.

"Go to hell," Whitney tells you.

"Alex would understand," Armstrong tries. "The future of this company is at stake here."

"And so, what..." Whitney says. "We invite queen Hitler to walk right through our doors and peek at all our shit?"

"What else do you suggest?" Armstrong says. "Selling out? Can't do that, 'cause--" He motions at you, exasperated. "So what else can we do, then?"

"Ally?" Whitney asks you.

[ ] Invite Qiangxiang to be the new CTO.
[ ] Decline.
>>
>>3762406
>[x] Invite Qiangxiang to be the new CTO.
Obviously this is a terrible idea. But every decision we'll be making this season is going to be a terrible idea, and this is a particular one that will lead to more sex.

>"I want my mom. Fuck. Fuck. I want my mom... where is she? Is she back yet? She could help us fix this... she could help for sure... where is she?"
:(
>>
>>3762406
>"Oh, fuck Alex," you groan.
WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO ;_;
>[X] Decline.
There is no way in hell she doesn't out-espionage us
>>
>>3762406
... is there even a choice at this point? We're fucked either way, at least one gives us a SEMBLANCE of a chance.

>[x] Invite Qiangxiang to be the new CTO.

This is an awful, horrible idea, but Armstrong's right. We really don't have an alternative.

On the other hand, seeing her interact with 100% American Vivian should be incredibly entertaining.
>>
>>3762406
>[ ] Invite Qiangxiang to be the new CTO.

Then we hit her with the honeypot move, she'll never see it coming.
>>
>>3762406
>[ ] Invite Qiangxiang to be the new CTO.
YES YES YES

Also based work Rose2
>>
>>3762418
We should take some lessons from Noelle
>>
>>3762406
>[x] Invite Qiangxiang to be the new CTO.
>>
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>>3762406
>>[X] Invite Qiangxiang to be the new CTO.

oh baby, theres gonna be fucking
>>
>>3762406
>[X] Invite Qiangxiang to be the new CTO
This will work out. Just don't trust her.
>>
>>3762406
Rose2? More like Rose200 IQ

>[ ] Invite Qiangxiang to be the new CTO.
>>
>>3762406
>[]Decline
I mean, we unknowingly invited a mole into DA last season and we all remember how THAT turned out.
>>
>>3762444
We didn't know she wanted to steal our tech though. Vivian (Made in China) already stole it.
>>
>>3762406
>[x] Invite Qiangxiang to be the new CTO.
>>
>>3762444
But this time we're KNOWINGLY inviting a mole. The evil you know and all that.
>>
>>3762446
>>3762449
All I'm saying is if you want her, she better be on the DA Dental plan.
>>
>>3762451
It's less about wanting her, and more about needing her.

Also, reminder that the DA CTO position is fucking cursed. She likely won't come to a good end.
>>
>>3762413
>Obviously this is a terrible idea
Is it tho?
>>
>>3762444
The whole goal of inviting her is so that we can keep an eye on her
>>
>>3762456
What good could possibly come of it? Her alleigance is to China, and she's obviously smart enough to not help us more than she's helping them. Their endgame is very explicitly to fuck us
>>
>>3762459
Then we stall her. With our dick.
>>
>>3762460
Because it worked so well with Makoto!
>>
>>3762459
>What good could possibly come of it?
Obviously we earn the Mandate of Heaven and become the new emperor.
Alternatively, Chloe hasn't gone all transhuman on herself yet, so maybe there's still hope.
>>3762454
All the more reason to check her teeth.
>>
>>3762466
Knowing =/= unknowing
>>
>[x] Invite Qiangxiang to be the new CTO.

Armstrong returns to Broad Dynamics -- alone, this time -- and makes the offer. It happens so fast: by the time you're all checking out of the hotel, you have a new CTO. Qiangxiang plans to stay behind in China to close out her business, but the plan is for her to arrive in Palo Alto early next week.

There's another press junket at the airport. Whitney and Qiangxiang shake hands for the reporters -- Whitney's grip just about rips Qiangxiang's arm from its socket, tugging her forward so fall that she almost takes a vaudevillian pratfall, but Qiangxiang regains her balance and does her best to maintain composure. Then they bow at each other, and exchange platitudes for the cameras about how excited they are to be embarking on a new chapter of their careers together.

Whitney's smile crumples as soon as she's aboard the privacy of her plane. She walks up and down the aisles, punching the seatbacks, kicking the tables, and spewing obscenities. You and Rose share a disturbed look. The return flight is not nearly as fun as the departing flight was.

---

At the private airfield outside Palo Alto where Whitney's jet touches down, Vivian comes to meet you. She's accompanied by Nelson and Saul. You spy through the limo's tinted windows, sitting in the back, Dalton Cantor.

"What the hell is he doing out?" You demand.

"We need to talk," Vivian tells you.
>>
>>3762454
>caring about her ending
Love is war.
>>
>>3762471
Sadness covers me like a blanket. Tuck me in. Let me die.
>>
>>3762459
We aren't trying to convert her, the whole point is so that we can keep a close eye on her and establish a temporary alliance
>>
>>3762471
Hoo boy, Ally's sure to love this
>>
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>>3762471
Oh boy here we go.

Remember lads, no matter what Alabaster thinks, we made this choice.
>>
>>3762471
Oh boy, here we go
>>
>>3762471
Well, shit. As CTO she'll have access to everything -- as far as I'm concerned, the second she sits down at her (Alex's) (Sable's) desk China may as well have all our shit.

>>3762475
And how do we stop the CTO, a Chinese national who works for Beijing, from doing espionage? We can't exactly keep her from learning our classified technical information, since it's her job to direct it now, and we can't exactly prevent her from communicating with the motherland, unless we keep her away from all technology.
>>
>>3762483
What's there for her to steal? The closest thing we have to a finished copy is sitting in the back of Vivian's limo right now. If Alabaster doesn't throttle him first, she doesn't need to know about it.

There's no way she can ACTUALLY progress on anything without Alex or Renee. And once we get them back, we likely won't need her anymore anyway.
>>
>>3762485
Literally everything else at Darkbloom.

It’s a bastion of tech secrets and we’ve just let the Trojan horse in.
>>
>>3762483
Just cause bring her along doesn't mean she gets to do whatever she wants, this is temporary and she's a guest, we can still keep classified info classified
>>
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>>3762471
>>
>>3762487
>Literally everything else at Darkbloom.

Oh fuck, you're right, we have to hide our boomer T-shirts, quick!
>>
>>3762492
The CTO is the person in CHARGE of that stuff! Kind of prerequisite in doing anything as CTO is having access to all the technical information involved in DBA's various projects!
>>
>>3762495
We can give her Makoto's old WANT TO FUCK shirt.
>>
>>3762500
She's acting as CTO and will head developments further but we don't need to tell her much than what she already knows. Do you actually think the cast is retarded enough to give her full reins?
>>
Damn the bugmen horde really spooked Whitney
>>
https://pastebin.com/RjHvZU45
>>
>>3762519
whoa wait what
>>
>>3762519
What the fuck.
>>
>>3762519
damn
>>
>>3762519
Wew boy
>>
And after you're totally spent, you collapse. All the tension and strength drain from your muscles. You lie atop Rose, your entire weight bearing down on her oppressively. You feel the warm mess spilling out of her, all around your union. You're purring again, deeply and from the back of your throat -- sounding less like a cat and perhaps more like a percolating coffee maker. You gulp air through your mouth but exhale each breath hard through your nostrils. With your face resting against the side of her head, these forceful exhalations ruffle her hair. She snuggles against you. Her nose tickles your neck in just the way you've come to love.

When you finally find the energy to move, it's only to roll off of her. The sensation of pulling out sends an almost painful jolt through your over-sensitive dick. You flop onto your back, staring dazed at the ceiling. One hand is somehow pinned beneath Rose, who is similarly on her back, similarly dazed and similarly ceiling-staring.

"Oh, fuck you," she pants between jagged breaths.

"Goddamn it. Already with this shit?" You carry on your bickering, both of you still staring straight up, and struggling for air. It's hard to speak considering how winded you are, but you manage. You clasp a palm to your sweat-slick brow. "Can't even take two minutes to rest before getting right back to it, huh."

"Seriously... fuck you. You prick. You really intend to make me sleep on the wet spot?"

"I'm not making you sleep anywhere. Go back and sleep in your own bed if it bothers you so much."

"This is my bed."

"What do you--"

"We're married. This is my bedroom now. My bed."

"Oh Jesus. Make yourself at home why don't you."

"I already did, thank you very much. So I advise you to get used to it. I own half your shit now, Alabaster."

"Well, fine. You get the half with the wet spot."

She sighs in contempt. But underneath that is something you've learned to detect over the years, like a wine connoisseur appreciating subtle undertones in the bouquet of a fine vintage; hidden in the contempt is happiness.

"What are we gonna do?" You ask her after a long period of increasingly somber silence.

"I don't know. I think we're doomed."

"Maybe."

"Aren't we?" She says.

"I can't work with David Darkbloom. I'm so fucking beyond -- I can't believe they did this without even consulting us. Without consulting ME."

"Do you think he'll make a convincing enough Dalton to fool the man's family? ... to fool Mara?"

"I don't give a shit. David fucking Darkbloom is out and about in the world, walking around as a free man. I don't give a shit if it fools anyone."

Rose props herself up on her elbow. You're thankful to be able to pull your arm back, the one that was pinned -- it's already falling asleep, and it tingles like how TV static must feel.

"Alabaster," she says softly, peering down at you. "Do you think we're doomed, too?"

"No."
>>
B-BOOP
>>
>>3762541
I love them
>>
>>3762541
greatest love story ever told
>>
>>3762541
>"I already did, thank you very much. So I advise you to get used to it. I own half your shit now, Alabaster."

>"Well, fine. You get the half with the wet spot."
This little bit makes me smile a whole lot.
>>
Your phone dings. When you check its display, it's the last person you expected.

"What do you think? Should I go?" You ask your wife.

"You cannot be serious," Rose says, reading the text over your shoulder.
>>
>>3762558
WHO IS IT BOYS

PLACE YOUR BETS

NOELLE OR KAY
>>
>>3762558
Rose and Ally sleeping with Charlotte(!)
>>
>>3762558
Oh no, who is it?
>>
>>3762558
My heart can't fucking handle this
>>
>>3762561
I'm think Alex or Mara or something crazy
>>
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"Thank you for coming on such short notice," Noelle says. You sit on the patio outside the Coffee Bean. Chain coffee houses are nice. Bad things never happen at chain coffee houses. Not like those Mom and Pop places.

"No problem." You rest your cheek on one fist. "I had nothing better to do."

"Don't get shitty with me," Noelle warns. "I really needed to see you... this is important..."

You frown. She sounds serious about this. "What is it, then?"

"I don't know how to say this. So I'll just say it. I... I'm pregnant."

Your blood curdles. Your jaw hangs slack. "Y-you're --"

"Nahhh," she says. "But that would be pretty bad, huh?"

You rub your face, your breathing returning to normal. "Fuck, Noelle. Why would you -- don't fuck with me. I've got enough to worry about as it is."

She laughs. "You fuck with so many girls. Why can't I have a little fun, too?" Looking down, she notices your ring for the first time: "What the -- oh my god. Don't tell me you're actually married."

You nod.

"I leave for a couple days, and you get married on the rebound? That's kinda sad. Who's the unlucky gal?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but Rose."

She grimaces. "Rose... I'm not sure I even want to know which one."

"Which one do you think would be worse?"

"Hard to say. Rose2 is the human embodiment of cancer. But so is Original Recipe Rose, with the added bonus of being your own cousin."

"Once removed!" You groan. "First cousin, once removed! Why can NOBODY get that right!"

"So it's her," Noelle hums. You sigh. Noelle, mental cogs visibly spinning, reasons aloud: "You... did this to invoke privilege? You got... no way. You got caught in a sham marriage with an SJW to invoke spousal privilege!" You neither confirm nor deny; Noelle, cackling, adds: "this is just too much. Oh, this is perfect. Muwah." She bunches her fingers to her lips and gives a chef's kiss.

"This is all because of you, naturally," you add. "You ruined my life."

Another chef's kiss from Noelle. Peppier than before, she grabs a few packets of Splenda from the nearby porcelain holder, and flicks them repeatedly before tearing them open. She tugs her saucer and coffee cup towards her.

"There you go," you say. "You're so fake that even the sweetener you use in your coffee is fake..."

"Have to maintain that girlish physique somehow," she says, pouring the Splenda, stirring it. She draws her mug to her lips and blows.

"A couple packets of sugar won't make any difference. Live a little. That stuff causes cancer anyway."

"Clarion call of fatties everywhere," Noelle says. "'Oh, just ONE won't hurt...' Like that. And for your information? Sucralose is one of the most studied chemicals ever, and no causative link with cancer has ever been demonstrated."

"Whatever. What use is a good body on you? For what, exactly -- watching yourself ride a dildo in front of a mirror?"

"Exactly."

You raise your eyebrows higher than the noon sun.
>>
>>3762571
There's no way he would even be questioning it for Alex, though. And if it were Mara, the only question would be which guns to bring
>>
>>3762572
Called it.

:^)
>>
"Will you just get to the point already," you flatly grouse. "What's so important that you needed to see me in person?"

Noelle is serious again all of a sudden. "This is another one of those oh-shit moments," she warns. "I could get in real trouble being here."

You rise. Enough of this. But she reaches for your hand, staying you.

"Then again," she says, "I got royally fucked by the government, didn't I. Bent over and with no vaseline to boot. So if they want to tell me that I can't fraternize on my own time, as a private citizen, with a man they won't even call a person of interest -- they can go jump off a bridge. Sit. Please."

You do.

"I have a friend at the bureau still. He told me something that you ought to know. My replacement -- there was an ongoing IAB investigation into him. Key word 'was.' It got squashed and swept under the rug when he took my job."

"Internal affairs... what for?"

"He's colluding with someone to sabotage the investigation."

Adrenaline surges through your gut. "A spy...? For who, Mara? The Russians? Chinese?"

Noelle slowly shakes her head.
>>
>>3762572
>Bad things never happen at chain coffee houses. Not like those Mom and Pop places.

H e h.

Noelle is so great.
>>
>>3762577
Why not all three? The famed triple-double agent!
>>
>>3762577
aaaaaahhhhh
>>
>>3762572
>"I don't know how to say this. So I'll just say it. I... I'm pregnant."
>Your blood curdles. Your jaw hangs slack. "Y-you're --"
>"Nahhh," she says. "But that would be pretty bad, huh?"
That fucking scared me
>>
>>3762577
NOW WHAT
Don't we have ENOUGH enemies?
>>
>>3762577
THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TO FUCKING DEAL WITH?
>>
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Tyrus leads the way into The Sizzler. Closed for the evening though it is, he has a key to the premises, and unlocks the swinging double doors. Behind him, in handcuffs, is a Russian national -- Konstantin Federov, who was arrested by the FBI earlier this year on suspicion of working with the mafia. And behind Konstantin, corralling him, is Hugh Thurston, now the lead on the investigation that ensnared him.

Tyrus flips the light switches, illuminating the dingy red carpet and empty buffet troughs and grubby tabletops in the restaurant's dining area. It's too bad, he thinks -- that that Noelle bitch didn't get out of the way before he was forced into hiding. Things would be so much easier. Working with someone like Hugh is nothing at all. Grease his palms with enough money and, if you want, he'll even steal a major international criminal from federal lockup for the night.

Into the pristine kitchen now, staffed by a bunch of gangsters-turned-frycooks who have made the necessary preparations: pushing chrome tables together, disinfecting them, donning fine mesh hairnets and latex gloves in case they are needed as assistants. Tyrus graciously thanks them for a job well done: "shit's looking like a regular ER in here," is his assessment. He walks with a limp and winces with each step, still recovering from the wounds he sustained at his nightclub. This very kitchen was the site of an emergency surgery not too long ago that saved his life.

Tyrus hops up onto the ad hoc operating table and strips his shirt off like someone getting ready for his physical, baring the gauze still wrapped about his sinewy belly and shoulder. Hugh nudges Konstantin forward.

"Forgive me," Konstantin says, gruff, and thickly accented, "but I think there is misunderstanding. You want operating? I am qualified only to operate on humans. Not on monkeys."

Tyrus smiles. "That kind of thing don't faze me one bit. You can call me whatever mean name you want. Call me nigger with a hard R for all I care. Fact, you can have unlimited free lifetime uses -- and if anyone gives you any shit, just tell 'em Tyrus gave you a pass. Know why?"

He actually waits for a response, but Konstantin, stoic, refuses to play along.

"Because," Tyrus finally begins. He puts both his balled up fists to his pecs, drawing a deep, appreciative breath, and sighing theatrically. "--because I'm a free man, breathing free air, free air in the greatest country on the planet. And that's how I'll be until the day I die. You?..." He points at Konstantin. "You're getting shipped off to Florence ADX in a few months, and you'll be down there in a 6x6 concrete hole in the ground, forever, until the end of your natural life -- nothing to keep you company but memories of Das Motherland. So I feel bad for you. Don't worry, though. I got you covered. I'll send you some borscht every couple decades."
>>
>>3762587
motherFUCKER
>>
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"Das is German word, you stupid nigger."

Tyrus lightly swats Konstantin's chest with the back of his palm, laughs. "You didn't wait two seconds to use your pass! Goddamn." Then, grin crumpling, face instantly turning serious, Tyrus reaches for his back trouser pocket. Konstantin flinches, feeling the fear grip him; but Tyrus doesn't produce a gun. Instead he produces an implant. He holds it by the end of the wire, the grain dangling in the air between them. "I want you to put this inside my head."

"Do you even comprehend of what that device is capable?" Konstantin demands.

Tyrus shrugs. "Pretty beneficial shit I assume, or everyone and their moms wouldn't be gunning for one." Konstanin begins to say something, but Tyrus speaks right over him. "Your bitch Stasi had this in her. It's how she knew where I was all the time, isn't it? Don't you fucking lie to me, you Ruskie motherfucker. It was like a bad rerun of Tom and Jerry with that cunt, all the time. She had herself a built-in advantage -- literally. And this is it. You know something? It's a damn miracle Alabaster Soliloquy just happens to be dating Calamity Jane as a stalker." He grins at Konstantin "You into anime? I been watching a lot of animes recently. They call it yanyan. When you've got a bitch so hot for you that she just straight up murders a bunch of motherfuckers over it. Anyway. I'd be dead if not for that. And you should have seen the look on Stasi's fucked-up face when that midget bitch pumped her chest full of buckshot."

"I refuse," Konstantin says simply. He stomps a single time to punctuate it.

Tyrus nods at Hugh. Hugh spins Konstanin around a full 180 degrees -- decks him -- then as Konstantin is still regaining his bearings, the cuckoos still metaphorically circling his head, Hugh pulls a polaroid from his FBI coat pocket. It's a telescopic photo of Konstantin's wife and two young daughters on a shopping trip in St. Petersburg. The implication is obvious, and makes Konstantin's pale skin turn paler.

"Still refuse?" Hugh asks.

Konstantin snarls, but does not reply.
>>
>>3762587
FUCK
>>
>>3762591
AAAAAAAHHHHHHH
>>
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When Tyrus wakes up, he's a new man. Well. Newish. He sits up slowly, like Frankenstein's monster rising from the concrete slab in the dungeon. He's mostly his same self -- but augmented.

His first impression is simple, and practical: his left eye is viciously sore. Though he knows it's probably an inverse placebo effect -- the knowledge of the fact that it was recently outside his body playing a trick on him -- the eyeball feels loose in its socket. Like a bum wheel on a shopping cart. He reaches up as if to rub it with the heel of his palm, but thinks better of it.

Only then he realizes, without needing to consciously scan his memory banks, that he has an entire lifetime's worth of new memories inside his head now. It's the lifetime of Anastasia Lebedev, available for instant playback. So now he does scan his memory banks: he can remember Afghanistan in 1987, slitting the throats of Mujahadeen on the way out the door; he can remember Moscow in 1999, castrating a rival capo at his home while the newly minted eunuch's wife and children huddled caterwauling in the corner; he can remember Pyongyang in 2003, securing a lucrative deal in exchange for fusion-capable devices that fell off a truck when the wall fell.

Although he got closure, although he got his justice and revenge, Tyrus can't help himself. He's a dog gnawing at his own mangy hind leg. He immediately wants to see it, he wants to see what happened to the only man he ever really loved, wants to see what Stasi did to him. He thinks back to that night.

There it is.

Stasi's point of view, from around a row of server towers. Slipping stealthily away. Alex Best tied to a chair. Alabaster Soliloquy entering. Stasi stopping to watch, curious. Marquis looming, upset, accusing betrayal. A confrontation, a sudden misstep -- savage screams, a bloody bat raised high in the air.

Alex beating Marquis to death.

Tyrus exhales, and blinks hard, and rolls his jaw like a cow chewing cud. He's back to reality, Hugh is waving a hand up and down in front of him. "You okay?"

Tyrus meets his gaze. "No. I'm pretty fucking far from okay."

END OF EPISODE 1.

Season 4 ED: https://vimeo.com/353146718
>>
>>3762591
I DO NOT LIKE IT SAM I AM
>>
>>3762591
>"You into anime? I been watching a lot of animes recently. They call it yanyan
Fucking Kek
>>
>>3762597
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
>>
>>3762597
And the penny drops.
>>
>>3762597
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
>>
>>3762597
EVERYTHING IS FIRE
>>
>>3762597
WAIT WHY THE FUCK AM I IN THE ED
>>
>>3762609
Technically, we all are. This is great.
>>
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>>3762597
I HATE IT
>>
>>3762597
Well, shit. Great episode though!
>>
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>>3762597
Heh
>>3762609
immortalized

I really do love this
>>
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As a said note, I just watched the ED and apparently this is Will. Say something nice about him
>>
>>3762616
It reminds me that I still need to actually watch Nichibros.
>>
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>>3762616
EEEEEEH, YOSHITAKE-KUN! WHEN DID YOU BECOME AN ACTOR?!

Great episode as always, OP, and especially great OP and ED! I'm only extremely terrified. The split POV was probably a really good pacing decision, too[/spoilers]
>>
>>3762619
This
Shenanigans as Amber are fun as heck
>>
We're dead aren't we?
>>
>>3762619
>>3762621
I really hope AmberQuest is here to stay. It introduces a whole new dynamic to the quest that I actually love. This episode took us out of Alabaster's comfort zone to the extreme.
>>
>>3762625
Agreed it also allows us to make decisions that Alabaster as a character isn't comfortable with like waking up the Darkbloom
>>
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PROMINENCE BY MENTION:
Whitney: 154
Rose: 123
Vivian: 75
Rose2: 54
Charlotte: 36
Qiangxiang: 20
Kay: 17
Alex: 12
Galatea: 11
Noelle: 11
Cerise: 10
Renee: 8
Mom: 8
Amber: 8 (admittedly a misleading stat here)
>>
>>3762630
>Alex
I-I'm assuming Alex is counted by appearing in Tyrus's flashback vision?
>>
>>3762597
Thanks for a great first episode, OP. Looking forward to next time.

So, like, are those Sizzler coupons and that N-word pass still good, or..?
>>
>>3762630
Wait, when did Alex appear?
>>
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>>3762634
>>3762632
Yes, I always count flashback appearances for these purposes as well. As long as they showed up at some point in the episode, it counts as an appearance.
>>
>>3762632
>>3762634
This is how many times each name was mentioned, not how many times they actually showed up.
>>
>>3762636
He's marked as appearing in the list image.
>>
>>3762636
Not in the graph, ya dweeb.

>>3762635
Great fucking stuff, OP. Thanks as always. What the hell did you spend that $500 on?
>>
>>3762635
Damn, this episode was just short of top 5

>>3762636
Look at the pic anon
>>
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>>3762638
>>3762639
>>3762640
>>
>>3762640
It's a bit unfair of a comparison, since I've been counting post-episode bonus content with the episode thread in which it appeared. Most of the top wordcount episodes are because of that. And episodes 9/10 in S1 were across several sessions -- as you probably recall!
>>
>>3762644
Episode 10 even broke out of 'several' and entered 'plethora' territory!
>>
>>3762644
Sorry OP but numbers are numbers~

The only way to change that is if you were to do bonus content for this episode as well
>>
>>3762646
It may not be this episode, but I am well aware of some bonus lewds that were already promised. I didn't deliver in the season break because I spent my spare time working on the OP. That probably took me about 30-40 hours of work or longer!
>>
>>3762647
We really don't deserve you. Really well and truly.
>>
>>3762647
>I didn't deliver in the season break because I spent my spare time working on the OP
Actually, on that subject, I gotta ask, how long did it take you to make that
>>
>>3762649
A-Anonymous-dono...
>>
>>3762649
kek
>>
>>3762650

It's late and we're all very tired.

I will add however that a lot of that time was teaching myself how to use Adobe Premiere, and combing through various anime series for fitting scenes. I tried as much as possible to make it a frame perfect replica of the original.
>>
>>3762652
It's super impressive. Is there anyway you could make it downloadable somewhere so I can preserve it forever and ever and continue my frame-by-frame dissection?
>>
>>3762650
>>3762651
>>3762652
I'm retarded
>>
>>3762654

Not tonight, but I'll upload it to Mega or something soon.
>>
>>3762655
It's okay Anonymous-dono, OP's right. It's about time for the big sleepy.

>>3762656
Yayifications~
>>
>>3762656
Based
>>
>>3762652
Ah man, I miss having the Adobe suite for video editing. Everything I've tried since (older versions of Vegas, and the dreaded KdenLive) have been various levels of garbage. Maybe I should see if my school has it in one of the computer labs...
>>
>>3762362
Qiangxiang best girl. I love her ambition.
>>
>>3762597
10/10

Fuck quest is the greatest piece of literature of this century
>>
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>>3762656
Thanks OP, This is my first time actually being here for the thread.

Fuck quest is the best!
>>
>>3762597
This is the shit I've been waiting for. I'm caught between loathing and admiration for Tyrus, I can't wait to see how his story ends up playing out.
Great stuff, looking forward to next week.
>>
>>3762761
Welcome to this wild ride, anon
>>
You now realize that if we continue at this rate Fuck Quest could be in the top 10 longest books
>>
>>3763498
We've come so far
>>
>>3762657
Who the everliving fuck says yayifications?
>>
>>3763667
>he's never played Reccetear
Sounds like commie-speak, to me.
>>
>>3763667
Faggots
>>
>>3763498
LotR outdated
Harry Potter overrated
Long have we waited
Fuck Quest won’t be sated
>>
I just realized that Whitney tried to fire Armstrong in both season premieres and both times it was promptly ignored. Is Armstrong a new genre of tsundere, the business tsun?
>>
>>3763958
She tries to fire everybody anon, it's like her way of saying hi at this point
>>
>>3763958
>>3763961

In Whitneyese, they don't say "hello," they say "ya fired," which literally translated means "I'm super horny right now" and I think that's beautiful

(There were lots of callbacks this episode. I like doing them, especially for important milestone eps like premieres and finales.)
>>
>>3764014
What a beautiful language
>>
>>3764014
Hey OP, you might not want to answer this until the end-of-season Q&A, but what did you think of the choice to put Darkbloom inside Dalton? Did you see it as a possibility for option C, or were you surprised by the write-in?
>>
>>3764036
I usually don't answer these questions during the season, but why not. That single choice has taken the entire story in a direction I did not conceive or anticipate. I had something in mind for option C that was different, and something in mind for the implants in Amber's safe. But the idea of using the implant in Dalton to bodysnatch him just made so much narrative sense and there was majority support for it, so I had to do it.

It's going to be a very interesting next 12 weeks or so.
>>
>>3764040
Oh god. I love and hate that we may never know whether this choice was for the best or not.
>>
>>3764040
Can you confirm or deny that Qiangxiang's name is supposed to be written 强香?
>>
How does one pronounce Qiang Xiang?
>>
>>3764040
Oh, well there's one question of the list I was planning to ask at the end of the season. I have to agree though, as soon as I heard that idea I was filled with excitement about how the story would go from there. I'm really interested to see how he interacts with the cast now that we're forced to work with him, especially Alabaster
>>
>>3764077
蔷香
>>
>>3764086
Whoa, I've barely ever seen that character used in Chinese. That does make a lot more sense as a female name, and wasn't too far with what I assumed you were going for with the meaning. Nice.
>>
>>3764040
I can't believe this is actually happening.
>>
Hey, I went and tried making a Fuck Quest themed Mario Maker 2 stage.

VCR-S49-9WG

It's based around the shootout at the Sapphire Club that happened in Season 3 Ep 10. Hope you guys like it! Feel free to disregard the other levels I've made; two of them are shitposts I uploaded on my sister's behalf.
>>
>>3764222
Haha, time to snipe another world record. :^)
>>
>>3764083
Chyan Syan
>>
>>3764229
Yeah, you can keep it. I value my hands too much to try and optimise that one any further. Having that back and forth with you was really fun though.
>>
>>3764222
Can I kill Russians?
>>
>>3764349
You can kill one
>>
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Here are the OP/ED for season 4 in downloadable form, as promised.

https://mega.nz/#F!f5ZCTCLQ!OVyOhYn3Jbr7VzDzcjsilg
>>
>>3764665
You're a beautiful~.
>>
We face threats on three major fronts atm.

-The Chinese/Qiangxiang
-Russian mafia/Mara
-Tyrus and his gang

Minor threats include losing our source of server parts, a rocky relationship with the US govt and /csg/ tripfags.

I really hope David is agreeable and wants to help because I think he could be a huge benefit. I don’t know if redemption is in the cards but I really don’t want him to turn full villain again.
>>
>>3764726
>/csg/ tripfags
I was always curious if they were going to do anything after that steam

>I really hope David is agreeable and wants to help because I think he could be a huge benefit. I don’t know if redemption is in the cards but I really don’t want him to turn full villain again.
I don't think he's a good guy but if we know one thing for sure, it's that he hates Mara
>>
>>3764768
He hates Mara already yeah. He was also “there” when Mara kidnapped Renee. So for sure he’ll help us on that front. Just hoping he doesn’t simultaneously try to screw us over.

Question for OP: are we gonna have Eva style cards in the first post for every episode this season? I like it.
>>
>>3764882
>He was also "there" when Mara kidnapped Renee. So for sure he'll help us on that front.

... He was also 'there" when we came inside her directly over his field of vision over a urinal in a DA bathroom. There are a lot of wild factors here that are going to make this super scary (but also exciting). I still also think it's the absolute safest choice we have despite the risk because holy fuck Options A through C were just bad (A and B especially so).
>>
>>3764892
Let's hope he hates Mara more than he hates us right now. Not sure how bad of a grudge he can hold but at the very least he's always been very methodical so he'll probably prioritize her
>>
>>3764882
>Question for OP: are we gonna have Eva style cards in the first post for every episode this season? I like it.

I was planning on it. I really like them and it makes for a nice unifying motif for the season.
>>
>>3764960
At the very least, we both share the same goal: Mara needs to die. She wants to wipe us from existence, she wants to wipe his daughter from existence, she wants to wipe his name and legacy from existence and turn it all into a monument to her own ego. That alone, I'm sure we can get him to fight with us for.

Hell, he'll even have a position back on the board for even a short while. Maybe he can help us salvage things within the company for just a short while. Which will put our board at...

CEO - Whitney Darkbloom
COO - Vivian Darkbloom
CFO - (vacant) (I nominate Fazil!)
CIO - Nelseon Berenstoin (although the Galatea teaser makes me worry about this
CHRM - Steven Armstrong (hopefully he doesn't catch a disease from a toilet handle that renders him unavailable)
CSO - Dalton Cantor (David Darkbloom)
CPO - (vacant) (unless Tyrus comes back for the big fear) (either way, we need it filled ASAP to fix our Taiwan problem)
CTO - Qiangxiang Xi (filling in for Alex Best)

Advisor - Alabaster Soliloquy


What a fucking mess this company is. Maybe we really are doomed.
>>
>>3764990
Don't worry, w-we can bounce back for sure
>>
>>3764222
This is a really fun level. Lots of fun little moments and it stands on its own even if you don't read Fuck Quest. I think my favorite part though was all the stilleto goomba table dancers.
>>
>>3764990

It's hard to fathom after writing nearly 25k words over the span of 2 days, but I didn't cover quite as much as I wanted to in this episode (my plans often outstrip my output).

I pushed through most of it, but there was supposed to be another scene with Alabaster and Whitney, followed by a scene with Cerise and Gal, which would have answered some of these questions.

As it is now, we'll (likely) be opening episode 2 with a look at how the Darkbloom Analytics board is getting turned upside down. I actually sort of like it better this way because I've got some good ideas for how episode 2 will flow from that.
>>
>>3765121
Works for me. We already had the coldest of opens in a whole slew of new situations, looking forward to figuring out our new "status quo"!
>>
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>>3765121
Seriously I hope you write a novel, you know that I skim through all new novels at my book store comparing your writing to there's right?

DW even if I do find you I won't dox you.

>Unless it's post mortem, and then everyone must know the glory of fuck quest. They will teach fuck quest in schools
>>
>”She cheats," Saul tells him. "I know she does."

>"I'm not a cheater!" Charlotte pouts. "I just get lucky. That's all."

What did he mean by this?
>>
>>3765895
It's not teaching if they're blood related, everybody knows that!
>>
>>3757772
I remember reading this since ep 1, dropping it until like ep 6 because Alabaster was being too spineless and then the sheer insanity that was season 2's ride.

I still think season 2, of the 3 so far, has been the best.
>>
>>3766251
Agreed, season 1 & 3 were fun and all but neither had the same impact as season 2 did. It was wild ass ride
>>
>>3766288
>>3766251
I would agree S2 is the best but I think if this season continues on the track it’s on, it will end up being even better.
>>
>>3766352
But you can say that about anything at first, it's way too early to tell. Season 3 probably had the best beginning episode but didn't hold up to season 2. We'll have to wait and see before we can make that call
>>
It has been 4 months, 2 weeks, and 1 day since the Hong Kong protests began.
>>
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>>3766456
>>3766352
>>3766288
>>3766251

I spent the hiatus thinking a lot about this.

Each of the three seasons so far have had their own strengths and weaknesses.

Season 1's strength and weakness was being fucking wacky as hell. Addictive cum. Customizable sex robots. Anime instrumentality. It was bonkers. And that made it fun, but hard to do anything "more" than that with. It was literary junk food. Not that the new era of Fuck Quest is literary filet mignon, but I can do more impactful things in a more grounded universe.

Season 3's strength was a version of Fuck Quest that fundamentally altered the rules. David Darkbloom was around but he was far from the looming big bad. We weren't against Darkbloom's company, we WERE Darkbloom's company. We got to see characters in radically new situations, and that was fun. The season's weakness was being unfocused and at times without a clear sense of direction. If I had to tell you what the main conflicts of each season were, seasons 1 and 2 would be fairly succinct, but season 3 would take some dissection. In other words, season 3 didn't always have an easily discernible animating force moving the characters from moment to moment.

Season 2's strength was that it moved fast. It was the longest season by episode count, but every episode carried the story's momentum to the next level. Not a single episode passed without something that radically shifted the situation. Not because I was desperately throwing in "and then there was an explosion!!!" action moments but because it was a situation that naturally developed very quickly, as our understanding of it and our involvement in it deepened. It was the most narratively focused season because I went into it with some sense of where it would end, in the broad strokes. By contrast I didn't know where the hell seasons 1 and 3 would go at the outset. Season 2's weakness was moving so fast that I never felt like I had time to catch my breath. But as I took time to reflect on things, I got to thinking that maybe I wasn't outpacing myself after all. It still took 15 episodes anyway and I had initially planned for 13, after all.
>>
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>>3766955

With these ideas in mind, I knew that I wanted to make season 4 -- which I do intend to be the final season (as if the name didn't clue you in) -- a thing that combines the best aspects of what came before.

I'm planning things out more deeply, like with season 2, and I know at a high level what this story is doing. The details will take some sorting but I think I've got answers to the major questions. And I know where it may end. I used the inter-season break to "solve" Fuck Quest in my own head, to figure out what all of it means, so there's an endpoint we can reach. I've even written a few versions of what a final scene might look like -- of what the true End of Fuck Quest may be. (I'll do the JK Rowling teaser here and say that in one version I've got, the last word of the Fuck Quest is "break." Make of that what you will.)

But I don't want to get too attached to those because so much can change. My starting concept of a final scene in season 2 only came half to fruition (ish). I want to keep the strength of season 3, which was not tethering myself to the rails -- being willing to rewrite the rules. Such as shoving Darkbloom into Dalton's body. Darkbloom was supposed to figure into the story in a much different way. So already you've changed what the ending will look like.

And I want to keep the strength of season 1, which is being willing to go a little bit wacky. Not too much. I think I've got the right level.

And in the end, I want this to be without a doubt in everyone's mind the best season of Fuck Quest by a mile.
>>
>>3766955
>>3766962
I'll follow you wherever you take us, OP-sama! I have faith!
>>
>>3766962
I'm waiting warmly in anticipation to see where you take this OP, I trust you not to disappoint
>>
>>3766962
>break
I've got so many ideas swirling around already. Excited to see you live into your expectations.
>>
You are now aware that if this season has the same average length as prior seasons, Fuck Quest is now more than 80% over.

;_;
>>
There are 69,421 days until April 21, 2069.
>>
>>3767174
By the way this is a lie.
>>
Interesting parallel between S4E1 and S3E1. Noelle mentioned getting stuck on Everest too.

>"You like trivia, right?" Noelle says after a seeming eternity. "I've got one you might now know. Did you ever hear that the majority of climbers who die on Everest, die on their way back down?"

>"No," you say, truthfully.

>"It's true. They keep pushing for the summit despite inclement conditions, and they actually make it... they get to the top... but they run low on supplies doing it, and can't make it back."

>"Right. How do I fit into this metaphor? How am I supposed to turn back?"

>"The FBI has the world's best witness protection program. I'll make sure you're safe... you, and Cerise, and Whitney..."

>"I'll take it into consideration," you say tersely, and this terminates the conversation for the rest of the trip.
>>
>>3768553
Want some worry?
One of the most famous of Mt. Everest was one George Mallory, who was on the first three expeditions to the mountain.

He didn't fly so good. They found his body preserved in ice 75 years after he went missing on his final climb.
>>
>>3768553
I bet he was also a trap from the FBI to honeypot us, good thing that Alabaster is NOT gay
>>
>>3768777
Jackpot trips confirm it, not gay, just interested in the occasional woman (male).
>>
Just lined up the timeline and realized that we spent Tuesday, October 1st in China. Happy Palauan Independence Day!

Also, a detail I'm only just now picking up on:
Alabaster is wearing his father's wedding ring. Which was given to him by Scarlett, whose husband is, of course, no longer living. Yet somehow this seems off.
>>
>>3769178
>Just lined up the timeline and realized that we spent Tuesday, October 1st in China. Happy Palauan Independence Day!
Well there goes our beauty pageants and fireworks sex
>>
>>3769193
Now now, in Season 1, the celebrations took place over the weekend on October 3rd! There's still a chance to be trapped there forever once more!
>>
>>3769193
>Also also, Rose and Ally's anniversary is September 29th!
>>
>>3769206
Yeah but from the looks of things I doubt that we're going there any time soon
>>
>>3769303
That's fine, it's time for lesbians!
>>
>The Soliloquys welcome a new family member
Also apparently the wedding is next week
>>
>>3766962
I love you OP!
>>
File: For Jannies.webm (2.92 MB, 900x580)
2.92 MB
2.92 MB WEBM
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>>3764086
How does this work on so many levels
>>
>>3771524
Oh no, she's Elon Musk's illegitimate Chinese daughter!
>>
>>3762591
>He grins at Konstantin "You into anime? I been watching a lot of animes recently.

I did it guys. I found the moment Tyrus turned gay.
>>
Today’s FQ fun fact:

Whitney was the first girl Ally fucked in all 4 seasons.
>>
>>3771524
Imagine the smell.
>>
>>3772417
In all technicality, and going by the rules, Rose was the first in Season 3! And last!
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>>3772715
I wonder who will be the last fuck of Fuck quest.
>>
>>3771524
So does this mean she's officially Rose 3?
>>
>>3773126

It’s like a whole flavor line at this point!

Original Recipe Rose
Bubblegum Rose
Wild Cherry Rose
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>>3773101
I think the answer is all of us.
Because no more Fuck Quest.
>>
>>3773155
What true despair.
>>
>>3773126
>>3773142
Based
>>
I decided to read the past 2 seasons again to keep all the details in mind as someone suggested. I forgot how devastating some of the flashbacks are. I just got through the part where Cerise gets the news about mom and dad dying. Even though I know that mom comes back, it’s so upsetting to reread.
>>
>>3774195
>I decided to read the past 2 seasons again to keep all the details in mind as someone suggested
Good on you anon, you caught up quick
>>
>>3774195

I wonder if the scream OP studios had in mind when he wrote that was as terrifying and audibly expressed as much pain and anguish as the one I imagined does.
>>
>>3775140
I tried to convey the absolute most stomach-churning scream you could imagine. So if that's what you imagined, you got it.

The flashbacks surrounding the deaths of Ally and Cerise's parents were as difficult for me to write as they were for some of you to read. I was particularly miserable for this one, as well as the one where Ally and Cerise share the last of Mom's pie. Ally at Mom's grave was also pretty rough for me.
>>
Headset: On.
Knuckles: Cracked.
Onahole: Warmed.
Russia: Destroyed.

Yep, it's Fuck Quest time.
>>
reeeeeeeeee
>>
>>3775200



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