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

You are Elizabeth Wyvern, a new member of the MGDF. You work together with your fellow magical girls to protect the innocent civilians of south west sector. Said co-workers are; Your chain smoking boss who looks like a vampire, A disgustingly pink girl and her pet hell spider, A tiny deer boy with anger issues, and most recently a former hobo dragon.

Today hasn't been the been the best day though considering that you're currently about eighty feet underground covered in the bloody viscera of some mistake of nature and sword fighting with some kind of card based homunculus summoned by a dandy. It's better than working retail or something like that at least. You'll die before you get a desk job. Behind you the a pillar of white fire darkens the room with its incandescence and the weakening wail that follows tells you that Lucy is just about finished up with her job. Can't let her show you up so it's time to get serious.

You can tell that your opponent is strong physically. If you sat there and just dumbly tried to strike her head on you most likely wouldn't get anywhere. Luckily she seems dim and you can quickly break her stance with a kick before following up with a jab that catches right between armor plates. Keeping up the momentum you continue harrying them with counters only to be forced to dodge as a thin blade slides past your head.

"Quite the fighter aren't you? But I think you forgot every queen has a king." Dominic the card master taunts you from the back. The new regally dressed foe jabs at you with his rapier, advancing upon you and dancing about annoyingly. Two on one is a bit disadvantageous for you.

>Back me up my minion
>Zap!
>Fear my bushido
>Write-in

Tension lvl 1 - 21%

1d100 Bo3
>>
>>4562940
>Zap!
>>
>>4562940
>>Fear my bushido
>>
Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>4562940
>Zap!
Armor plates make for a great conduit.
>>
>>4562940
>>Fear my bushido
>>
Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>4562940
>>Back me up my minion
>>
94 - Excellent result

Use your sword or your some magic... It's a hard choice really. But what if... You used both at the same time? Damn you're a genius! This thing channels power anyways so what's the matter if you send lightning through it?

"Spark!" The blade immediately crackles and hums with energy in response. You parry a thrust from the queen's halberd and are pleasantly surprised by the minor spasm from their body and the little melted furrow in their polearm. The rapier of the king flies over your head and a sweeping movement sends the edge tumbling through the air, severed off at the middle. It's a simple matter to send them sprawling down with a stab through the chest.

That's one down and one to go. Your sword's blade glows bright orange with heat and the next cut slices the queen's polearm clean in half. He armor is nothing to you now and you cut her in half, like a hot knife through butter. Gotta love magic. Knees are feeling a little wobbly though, seems like that trick takes a lot out of you. Probably isn't the best for the sword's condition either.

"I suppose I've seen enough entertainment today. I'll just take my leave like my companion did a while ago. Jack, keep them busy will you?" He's standing next to some weird painter figure now. A few strokes of an oversized brush and there's a hole in the wall behind him. He tips his hat to you and begins to walk off. The dismissive attitude these guys take with you is starting to get on your nerves.

>I'm not letting you go
>Death to the painter
>Bullets for you
>Write-in

Tension lvl 1 - 29%

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 58 (1d100)

>>4563239
>>Bullets for you
>>
Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>4563239
>Bullets for you
More Dakka is always a solution
>>
Rolled 3 (1d100)

>>4563239
>>Bullets for you
>>
60 - low success

Snap shot time. You bring up your gun and the frame opens up switching into a revolver. Three shots you fire, but none seem to connect frustratingly enough. Maybe you should have set aside some time for firing range practice... You turn your aim toward the jack and open up, leading to splotches of paint bursting out from their back, coloring the drab floor. Several bolts of fire sear through them, and with a quiver they pop into a multicolored mess, leaving nothing behind.

You run to chase after the man, but when you reach the passage he left through you find out that it's a completely flat painting on the wall. The bastard actually just pulled a cartoon move on you. You sigh and kick the wall, regretting your action a moment later when your toes begin to hurt.

"Well that was fruitless..." Lucy says, walking up to join you.

"At least we stopped whatever they were doing here. They're good at running away if anything else." You'll need to update your spreadsheets, this wasn't a deepstate operation. Where does south sector fit into all this though? Perhaps foreign terrorists, but which country?

"I'd probably be more surprised if they didn't have an easy way to get out of these kinds of situation, they seemed pretty experienced at this sort of thing. Might have been better to get more information out of them first instead of playing games with them, they liked to banter for sure." She's going to keep holding that against you isn't she... Well, that resolves this situation either way. You look over the now busted up room. The massive charred pile of flesh makes the place smell awful, and Lucy's skeleton friend is rattling in place over a pile of crumpled playing cards.

>Let's head back
>Want to take a lunch break first?
>Gonna look around this place first
>Write-in
>>
>>4564110
>Gonna look around this place first
>>
>>4564110
>Gonna look around this place first
>>
>>4564110
>Gonna look around this place first
>>
>>4564110
>>Gonna look around this place first
>>
>>4564110
>Begin filling out the proper paperwork you have to for this inspection
>Gonna look around this place first
>>
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Best to look around in case they left behind any important evidence. Even if it smells terrible in this place. You undo your transformation and sigh in annoyance as the grime sticking to you doesn't go away.

From looking at the crew quarters you can see the four staff members that were operating this plant are long dead, no doubt murdered by those guys. The computer in the administrators office has been sending out false info saying that everything is fine too. What's most concerning though is the main water treatment area. Inside that place where the abomination burst out the walls are covered in squishy purple growths. It's like a plant was growing in this place, and its tendrils are poking into the metal vats and processing equipment around it. Definitely not good considering this is something to do with south sector. You take as many pictures of the place as you can and head back to the office.

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

"Not good is an understatement." Katya tells you after your report. She gathered everyone up for a meeting after you told her, apparently finding this that much of an issue. "This is an organized group and I'm certain they're trying to replicate the second great crisis in our city."

The second great crisis was an event that shook your country. You weren't alive during the time, but as the documentation goes fifty years ago an object fell from the sky right in the center of south sector. Whatever it was, it grew and spit out monsters, corrupted the landscape, and destroyed everything pure and good around it. Not only that, it let off a huge plume of some substance that caused a large chunk of the population in every city to mutate and become monsters. Luckily, this for some reason also triggered the existence of magical girls, and the subsequent formation of your organization during the cleanup. The damage was catastrophic and a massive containment zone effort was established around south sector after that, and any sign of it leaking is taken extremely seriously.

"So what, should we call in the Blight Watch?" You ask, still drying your hair off from a quick shower. The Evilmass as it's now called by most people isn't a subject you've really researched that deeply into besides the cause. There's a lot of theories behind who or what was behind it, but you're under the belief that it was an attack by aliens on the moon. They government is hiding something up there that's for sure.

"No, that would cause a mass panic." Katya sighs and taps her cigarette in the ashtray on her desk. "Besides we have no idea where they operate out of, their number of members, or much of anything about them. It would probably make them go further into hiding than they already are now."
>>
>>4564799

"And so we have to search for them manually, how annoying..." Pecha mumbles, seeming disappointed at the prospect of having to run about investigating. "Why can't they just make things simple for us and just outright attack?"

"You just want to fight people is all." Leshi comments. "By the time they're ready to openly fight us we might just have another south sector incident in our own city..."

"I'll need to inform the upper districts about this. Otherwise I think that's enough for this meeting, you all can go about your business for now. Remember that it is paramount that this issue doesn't get out of hand. You encounter anyone of this group, you take them in immediately. No screwing around."

It's noon by now, so there's still daylight out. Maybe you could get something else done today. Tomorrow you're going to have to go be bodyguards with Katya for that noble.

>There's still the rumor list to go through
>You did tell Leshi that you would help him
>Hey Pecha, firing range time
>Research the nobles of south west sector
>Write-in
>>
>>4564802
>You did tell Leshi that you would help him
>>
>>4564802
>>Hey Pecha, firing range time
>>
>>4564799
>Hey Pecha, firing range time
Fuck yeah potential bonuses
>>
>>4564802
>Hey Pecha, firing range time
We never gave Leshi a specific time frame, and getting good at ranged attacks isn't a bad idea
>>
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"Hey Pecha, Mind coming with me to the firing range? I really need some practice." You've been sort of dissatisfied with your firearm performance lately. It's not that surprising since this week is pretty much the first time you've used one. They gave you the option of one when you got your belt, but the sword looked so much cooler.

"Hmm? That would be fine by me I suppose. It's been a while since I've been there myself." It would be nice to spend some time with her as well. She's always going out, and most of the time when you talk to her it's very surface level.

And so the two of you take a trip to a small firing range right on the edge of the west side outskirts. It's pretty quaint but there's a surprising amount of people around. Mostly scruffy looking guys in military surplus, but that's fine. You take your time plinking away at targets with each one of your weapons for a couple minutes. Pecha just uses that submachinegun she used against you before, and when the time comes to collect the results hers are much better than yours. The next round she guides you along, pointing out your mistakes. This is the right way to shoulder a rifle, don't try to rapid fire a revolver if you can't handle the recoil, your sights aren't even aligned correctly, etcetera. Overall, pretty informative. By the time you start trying out moving targets you manage to at least not embarrass yourself and have a much easier time than before.

>Make small talk about something?
>Continue focusing on practice
>Try to make it a contest
>Write-in
>>
>>4565216
>>Make small talk about something?
>>
>>4565216
>>Make small talk about something?
Ask her about how she became a magical girl
>>
"So... What's your reason for becoming a magical girl?" You ask her, and she suddenly stops her shooting for a while as if to think.

"That's a strange thing to ask me. It's not like I had a choice in the matter when dear Walter and I met." Oh yeah, Leshi told you about that didn't he? Witches are made after a person suffers an emotional break or something like that. She's carrying a literal case of emotional baggage on her back... You take a glance at her sticker speckled guitar case and see those red eyes staring back at you through a slight crack. How does a giant spider hiding in an instrument box fit in as a part of her mind? Probably should have payed more attention in that philosophy class instead of sleeping through it... "Don't get me wrong though, I don't hate that it happened to me. I enjoy this job and it let me get away from my family. That's all you need to know, the rest isn't important."

>Becoming a witch seems like it would be pretty important
>What's wrong with your family?
>Back to shooting
>Write-in
>>
>>4565825
>Becoming a witch seems like it would be pretty important
>What's wrong with your family?
Essentially, get as much of her backstory as she's comfortable sharing.
>>
>>4565825
>Becoming a witch seems like it would be pretty important
>>
"Oh come on, that sounds pretty important to me. And what's your deal with your family? They can't be all that bad."

She frowns at you, changing from her usual constant half smile. "I am from the noble family La Croix of the central sector. I do not care for their customs and nature. In fact I despise them and they feel the same of me. Every moment away from those smug wretches and their sycophants is a genuine breath of fresh air to me. Yes, I would say they are that bad." She takes up her gun and begins quickly firing upon her targets. "It is because of them that I am what I am." She practically spits those last words and then says no more. You might have touched a bit of a sore nerve there. You'd like to know more of what they did to make her hate them that much. Family is supposed to support each other aren't they? Pushing her probably isn't the best idea right now though...

The rest of your time at the firing range is spent in relative silence and the walk home is the same. A heavy atmosphere like that isn't something you're used to so it's sort of relieving when the two of you separate to your rooms. Lucy is already asleep in a messy ball of blanket and curled around a space heater, so you're just left to yourself. You lay back on your bed and open up your phone looking to while away some time until you're finally tired.

>Look up stuff about nobles
>Name searching yourself
>Catch up with your conspiracy forum
>Force yourself to sleep
>Write-in
>>
>>4566097
>Look up stuff about nobles
>>
>>4566097
>>Force yourself to sleep
>>
>>4566097
>Catch up with your conspiracy forum
/cr/ - Conspiracies & Reptiles
>>
>>4566097
>Look up stuff about nobles
>>
Best to do some research about the people you’re supposed to be guarding tomorrow. Don’t want to get out on doing something wrong. You spend a good while searching up all you can about the Suzume clan. Apparently they’re one of the seven founding clans of the south west sector. They’re relatively small compared to the others, but have a reputation for being particularly testy. Some people even recommend that you don’t look a Suzume in the eye because they take it as a challenge. They made their bones through aggressive patent acquisition and now mainly operate as a biological research group for the military. The wars your country had with the Laoshan and the second great crisis gave them a firm foundation to boot.

Not much on this Hatane girl you’re guarding besides that she’s next in line to inherit the clan. She hasn’t made much of an appearance, but likely has the same standoffish nature as the rest of her group.

While you’re searching your mind wanders back on the time at the firing range with Pecha and you decide to look up the La Croix as well to find there’s pretty much no record on her. Sure she’s there in the extensive list of family members, but that’s about it. No events of any significance to suggest anything bad happened between her and her family. Weird and not all that helpful, but you are getting tired finally.

>sleepy time
>dig deeper. You know a guy for this stuff
>>
>>4566917
>dig deeper. You know a guy for this stuff
>>
>>4566917
>sleepy time
Better conserve some energy for tomorrow.
>>
>>4566917
>sleepy time
>>
>>4566917
>sleepy time
Big day tomorrow. Pecha's family disowned her
>>
You’ll need your sleep. As much as you’re getting nostalgia of when you ran off four hours of sleep and dozens of energy drinks, it’s not too great of an idea to go back to that. Even if you do miss the taste of energy drinks...

When you wake up the first thing you notice is the paycheck slid under your door. Glorious funds to fuel your life at last.

>New credit total: 16

When you get downstairs you see everyone going about their business. Katya is well dressed in her suit and seems to be sharpening her axe while enjoying some coffee, Pecha is heading out to do who knows what, and Leshi is tending to a small potted evergreen with ribbons draped around it. That reminds you, Crispin’s day is coming up. Gonna be weird not spending it with family... Maybe you should buy some gifts for the office?

After waiting until the proper time to meet up with your client, you leave with Katya and hope that Leshi can handle Lucy while you’re gone. And so here you are on a street corner, ten minutes early and waiting for the girl to arrive as was told.

>Do you think anything bad is going to happen?
>So were you always a magical girl?
>Any idea what the others might like as gifts?
>Write-in
>>
>>4568441
>Any idea what the others might like as gifts?
>>
>>4568441
>Any idea what the others might like as gifts?
>>
>>4568441
>Any idea what the others might like as gifts?
>>
Should get more information on what your co-workers like. It would suck to get a bad gift for one of them.

“So Katya, you’ve been with them for a long while. What would you say that Leshi and Pecha would want?”

“Crispin’s day gifts huh?” Katya leans against a wall and hums for a moment in thought. “Well, Leshi obviously likes natural stuff, but he already has all the tools he needs and a store bought plant is probably insulting. Maybe livestock would be better?”

“I don’t think I can buy a farm animal anywhere in the city Katya...”

“Right, right, well... Despite the front he puts up all the time he’s surprisingly tender. It’s the intent that matters most.”

“That’s pretty vague and unhelpful boss.” You tell her bluntly.

“Hey, I’m giving valuable advice here!” She laughs to herself and continues. “As for Pecha, she’s simple. A nice drink would be as good as the next thing. It’s not like the girl is lacking in money for herself. As for your pet lizard, I’d say a good meal is the best choice, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, you’re probably right on that. Need to show her the joys of fried food... What about you boss?”

She simple shrugs and gives you a short answer. “I’m not giving hint, surprise me.”

Shortly after a fancy looking black car pulls up. Out of it steps a tired looking old man dressed in a sharp suit and white gloves. He opens the passenger door and gestures for you to get in the backseats. “Good day, I hope for a pleasant evening as you keep our dear lady Hatane safe.” He has that old kindly grandpa energy to him, so you sorta like him already. You feel the opposite as another voice speaks up from inside the car.

“I have high expectations of you. Do not disappoint me as the others did.” The woman's voice is firm, and as you climb into the car with Katya you get a look at her from behind. Long blonde hair, an expensive dress, and a sharp tone makes it safe to assume this is your girl. A bit irritating that a girl who’s much younger than you has such an uppity tone when talking to you, but that’s just the nature of social classes.

“Ah, do not mind the young lady’s words. She is simply concerned with the matter of her clan’s future. Oh, where are my manners... I am Daniel, her humble servant. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

>You remind me of this one old guy...
>Just smile at him
>Firm handshake for this old man
>Write-in
>>
>>4568795
>Firm handshake for this old man
>>
>>4568795
>>Just smile at him
>>
>>4568795
>Just smile at him
>>
>>4568795
>Firm handshake for this old man
>>
>>4568795
>Firm handshake for this old man
Old man servants are always bros
>>
This guy deserves a nice firm handshake. He has a surprisingly nice grip for an old guy.

“Oh, why thank you.” Katya shakes his hand as well and he clears his throat. “Well on to business. The young lady is going to an event tonight dealing with the ownership of a new technology patent our group has developed. Your job is to simply act as security and make sure that nothing untoward happens this night. I’m sure that it will go smoothly, but you can never be too careful.”

It’s a quiet but pleasant ride to a fancy upper district building. The place exudes a wealth that you probably couldn’t afford in your life time.

“There are six floors to this building including the basement.” Daniel explains, leading you about the place. Only the first two floors will be used for the main event however. We would like one of you on either floor to keep watch. A simple matter for you I’m sure.”

>I’ll watch the lobby
>I’ll guard the main room
>>
>>4569773
>>I’ll watch the lobby
>>
>>4569773
>I’ll watch the lobby
>>
>>4569773
>I’ll watch the lobby
>>
>>4569773
>I’ll watch the lobby
>>
>>4569773
>I’ll watch the lobby
>Talk to the head of security and get on the security teams radio/comms thing
This mansion is bound to have local security or other security just due to sheer size so let's work with them
>>
>>4570290
+1
>>
You choose to deal with the first floor. It’ll be more quiet down here anyways. Katya is probably going to be jealous considering the smoking room and bar are down here, but she can deal with important people better than you. The dozen or so security guards spread about means that you’re essentially just supposed to mill about down here. Why do they wear sunglasses indoors anyways? They did give you a radio earpiece either way so you can stay alerted to anything going on.

Soon various people begin to filter in, passing by the door checks. A varied menagerie of the upper class. Some mill about the first floor socializing and drinking while others walk upstairs to the main room. There’s even some cowboy looking girl wandering in with a guitar and a musical group. Seriously hires a band for an event about patent ownership? And country music at that! She did tip her hat at you though, so that’s cool.

The event is supposed to start at about five PM regardless, so you got a long night ahead of you. Regular intermittent chatter fills your ear and you feel slightly inadequate surrounded by all these fancy outfits in your old jacket...

>Eavesdrop on random people
>Let’s wander about
>Maybe one drink...
>Write-in
>>
>>4570703
>Eavesdrop on random people
>>
>>4570703
>Eavesdrop on random people
>>
>>4570703
>Maybe one drink...
And before you know it you have 500 dead and are wanted in 12 nations
>Eavesdrop on random people
>get a good looking suit
>>
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Time to just stand about and wait. And what better way to spend your time than listening in on other peoples conversations? You take to standing in random corners of the first floor, eating those tiny free appetizers and trying to make out sentences through the noise.

"Hmph, you know we don't deal in these types of technology, why even waste our time in a shabby place like this."
"It's about keeping up appearances dear, these things are important. Even if they're small fry it's our obligation to stop by."
"Last time we tried to deal with these 'small fry' they spat in our faces and threw out our offers. I don't see any reason to give them our respect." A woman argues with her husband about their time here, talking in circles with passive aggressive words. Too boring.

"What's with that girl... She's been constantly stuffing herself on the cocktail shrimp all night. She smells strange as well, and certainly doesn't fit the dress code."
"Try to ignore her, it's one of those magical girls. They tend to be unhinged, trust me. I'm speaking from experience."
"And yet there are people trying to make more of them with patents like this? The world needs less chaos in it, not more." You do not smell strange, and you're the second most level headed in your office damn it! You eat your shrimp and walk away before you get upset.

"With this research we can fully begin with your future plans, right? I expect to be paid handsomely for this... Listen, I don't care for your lofty dreams and aspirations, I'm in this for the money." A woman talks with someone on her cellphone. She notices you looking at you and stares for a moment before walking away. Funny, she seems familiar for some reason.

The strum of an acoustic guitar reverberates through the rooms as the band begins to play. It's a pleasant surprise that they're playing flamenco and not country. In your earpiece you hear that someone has already begun throwing up in the bathroom and has been in there for ten minutes. What a lightweight. An old clock chimes, signaling the start of the main event. Wonder how Katya is doing up there...

>I'll just wander about and watch people
>Listen to the band preform
>Booze...
>I'm sure I've seen you somewhere
>Write-in
>>
>>4571257
>I'm sure I've seen you somewhere
>>
>>4571257
>I'm sure I've seen you somewhere
Maybe when we were looking up nobles?
>>
>>4571257
>I'm sure I've seen you somewhere
>>
Got a weird feeling about that lady. You're certain you've seen her somewhere but you're not sure where. You follow her at a distance to make sure you're not noticed like last time. She continues to talk on the phone and walk around the floor making it hard to hear anything properly. Soon though, she walks out into the open hallways and quickly enters an elevator. Before you can do anything the doors are closing as she smiles at you. That elevator isn't going up either, it's going down to the basement. It's incredibly suspicious, and so you report it on your earpiece and head to the staircase and move to meet her downstairs.

The basement is barebones compared to the rest of this place. Just plain concrete floors and empty space for storage. It's further in that you see the girl, sitting on top of a container. That's when you realize where you've seen her before. She's the girl that Lucy described to you during the bank heist in the outskirts. The purple rose emblem on her dress you've seen elsewhere too, on that goo man and the card guy.

"I don't appreciate stalkers."

>Ok, what is the deal with you guys?
>Any reason why you cornered yourself down here?
>What's your business here?
>Cause violence
>Write-in
>>
>>4572254
>What's your business here?
>>
>>4572254
>Ok, what is the deal with you guys?
do the evil monologue were you tell us the name of your super secret evil organization
>>
>>4572254
>Ok, what is the deal with you guys?
>From my perspective, you guys are the stalkers.
>>
"I'll bite. What the hell is the deal with you guys? And from what I've seen you're the ones stalking me."

"It's not like I want to be here, either." She complains to you. "But of course the boss says 'I've gotta interrupt them for once. If I don't they'll think I'm some pathetic easily foiled coward! It's important to take the initiative.'. And he's the one who pays me, so no choice but to deal with you. Besides, your midget gave me a nasty scratch last time I had to face one of you, so revenge in some form is going to be nice."

"Didn't answer my question about what you're doing." You say a bit irritated at her easygoing tone "Give me the whole monologue, come on, let's hear what your evil plans are all about."

"Fine, fine, If you're going to be so insistent about it... We are a little organization that calls itself Corpse Bloom. We're currently here to take the research documents little missy upstairs is planning to give out for ourselves and leave at least one of you dead. Simple as that."

>So you got yourself cornered, what's the next step of your master plan?
>Come on you could at least be more theatrical about it
>Good joke. I'm gonna kick your ass now
>What's to stop me from getting my boss and curb stomping you?
>Write-in
>>
>>4572873
>So you got yourself cornered, what's the next step of your master plan?
>What's to stop me from getting my boss and curb stomping you?
>>
>>4572873
>>Come on you could at least be more theatrical about it
>>
>>4572873
>>Come on you could at least be more theatrical about it
>>
>>4572873
>So you got yourself cornered, what's the next step of your master plan?
>What's to stop me from getting my boss and curb stomping you?
If she attempts an attack, report into the earpiece.
>>
>>4572873
>Come on you could at least be more theatrical about it

I'm sure the ear piece is on and Katya hears us ranting about stalkers and theatrics.
>>
>>4572873
>Come on you could at least be more theatrical about it
>>
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"Come on, you could at least be more theatrical about it. This is just disappointing."

"I don't get payed enough for that." She says. "But if you insist, maybe this will make you happy." She puts a hand on a tall metal cylinder next to her and snaps a lever down. Purple mist spills out and for some reason water begins to rise up from the floor. The concrete walls around you begin to develop splotches of raw black stone that spread along them. Light dims as the room slowly shifts into some kind of damp cave.

"So Katya, I think we have a problem down in the basement..." You begin to say into your earpiece. "Would appreciate you coming down to help."

"What do you mean a pro-... You!... Sorry, but I think I'm going to be occupied up here for a while. Hold on as best you can down there."

You're about to ask what's going on when a tiny whirl of metal hurls itself at you, cutting up your arm as you barely bring it up in time to guard your face. It flips off and lands in the woman's hand where you can see that it's a little dolphin looking trinket. "I didn't come here alone for your information." She pulls out a belt and snaps it around her waist before sliding it inside. "Henshin."

You quickly use your own belt, as she transforms. Hey body is now covered in a sleek body suit, accented by fin shaped armor plating similar to your own suit. The girl really seems to love her fish motif. She extends a trident and points it toward you. "Theatrical enough for you now?"

>Spell casting
>Sword to spear
>Tactical retreat
>Gun
>Write-in

3d100 Bo3

Tension lvl 1 - 6%
>>
>>4573461
>Sword to spear

Hell yea!
>>
Rolled 1 (1d100)

>>4573461
>Sword to spear
Time to fillet a fish
>>
Rolled 22 (1d100)

>>4573470
Forgot my roll
>>
Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>4573461
If we can avoid the shock
>Spell casting to electrocute her
else
>Sword to spear
>>4573502
Looks like we're the ones getting cut to pieces today.
>>
>>4573461
>>Tactical retreat
>>
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You move to clash with her, but the first problem you encounter is learning just how difficult it is to move and fight in ankle deep waters. She however, has no so such difficulty. She's fast and strong as well, and the effort of parrying and swinging out through heavy feet quickly begins to tire you out. Not only that, you're starting to feel unexplainably nauseous; like a bad stomach bug. One slow move, and you catch a jab to your gut. Your armor protects you, but the force has you bending over coughing and you catch a kick to the side of your head soon after. You fly back and land flat on your ass, sputtering up water trying to catch your breath.

"What's wrong? You were acting like hot shit a few moments ago. I expected a fight, but you come at me with a shoddy driver like that. Where did you get it from, the bargain bin?" This bitch just insulted your belt! "Guess today is my lucky break."

By now the room has been completely converted into an entirely different place. It feels familiar to you... You stagger up to your feet again and grip your sword. The feeling of sickness is still there and that hit stings like crazy. "What was in that can of yours? It wasn't your magic, so what was it?"

"A person." She says simply and looking back on the canister. "Though I wouldn't really count it as a person now... More like a living soup really."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"It means we made an anomaly in a can. Torturing a person until they break and they're just a thumping organs in a pile of meat jelly, then stuffing them in a bottle to go. You can even customize it for whatever type of nightmare you want, or so I've been told." She smiles after saying such horrible things and pulls a glowing card out. "Unless you're a witch or specialize in neutralizing these things, you won't live long inside them. I've got a little gift that keeps me safe, but where does that put you friend?" She raises her trident at you again, and taps her catalyst. "Shit out of luck. Riptide." A series of bursting water pillars begins rapidly crawling along the ground towards you while she lunges forward at the same time.


>You're going to pay for that
>And you're just okay with something like that!?
>No words, only disgust
>Write-in


>It's do or die now
>Run and gun
>Play defensive and call for outside help
>Write-in

1d100 Bo3

>Tension lvl1 - 49%
>>
Rolled 41 (1d100)

>>4574479
>No words, only disgust.
>Play defensive and call for outside help.
Tell them to call Leshi, maybe he'll get here before the girl defeats us. If that's not possible, we'll have to destroy the canister, iirc these anomalies had a core we had to obtain and neutralize.
>Try to snatch the card from her.
>>
Rolled 93 (1d100)

>>4574479
>Knowing your friends, I only hope you aren't next.
>It's do or die now
>>
Rolled 54 (1d100)

>>4574479
>>You're going to pay for that
>It's do or die now
>>
>>4574479
>No words, only disgust
>It's do or die now
>>
93 - great success

Never before have you met someone that made you hate them so much just minutes after meeting them. She shows up on the job and attacks you, insults your belt, and tortures people. Maybe it's that or the fact that you're in mortal danger with no safety net to pick you up if you lose here, but your blood is boiling.

"Jolt!" You surge forward avoiding her spell as it chases after you. Thankfully it has poor tracking, giving you the opportunity to lash out at her with your sword. Swing after swing makes contact with her, some hit her spear and ring off the metal but you're quick to keep it up, thrashing her with repetitive strikes.

"Damn, looks like you have teeth after all. But don't think that empty bravado of yours is going to be enough! Splash!" High pressure water bursts out around her, knocking you back and nearly into that chaser. You have to scramble to the side to avoid getting hit and draw your SMG. A spray of bullets draw up smoke and make her flinch from the impact on her body. She won't go down easy, and since she's the same kind of magical girl as you this fight is only going to get more intense.

Panicked chatter fills the earpiece. It seems fighting has broken out upstairs. Around your feet little skeletal fish begin to jump around in the waters as the anomaly spreads itself and develops.

>Sparking
>I will cut you
>Annoying gun fly
>Rider kick
>Write-in

Tension lvl1 - 70%
>>
Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>4575685
>Annoying gun fly

We need to try and finish this quick-ish.
>>
Rolled 47 (1d100)

>>4575685
>Flip the anomaly switch back up
If that doesn't work
>Destroy the metal cylinder
>>
Rolled 74 (1d100)

>>4575685
>>Sparking
>>
>>4575685
>Sparking
>>
>>4575685
>Sparking
>>
74 - Minor success

“Spark” You set off a spell, sending electricity flowing towards the girl. All the water around here unfortunately makes it difficult to direct the flow. Good thing you’re insulated otherwise you’d be screwed.

“Aqua filter.” A wall of water pops up and blocks your bolt. The high energy projectile swelters on contact, billowing out steam as the liquid boils and evaporates. Not a working hit, but you make use of the cover to get up close. You swing upwards and catch them in the chest, getting a low growl of frustration. You try to follow up, but she quickly slaps away your sword and smashes down, pinning it to the floor. She grabs a USB looking thing from her side with her off hand and slides It into her belt. “Let me show you what a real transformation looks like.”

“When Leviathan rises...” A deep robotic voice begins to speak and you’re hit with a wave of pressure that knocks you back. Shards of armor materialize and snap on to her body. A dragon styled helmet forms around her head and a long sleek tail whips behind her. “Every last man shall shake to the core of his soul!”

A sudden clawed fist to the gut sends you flying. Why does it always have to be the god damn stomach!? While you’re trying to catch your breath the room shakes and a large crack appears in the ceiling as the sounds of loud combat mixed with muffled flamenco spills down below. Across the room the canister’s lid cracks open and some scaled mermaid creature crawls out singing a distorted terrible song with its misshapen maw. A skeleton eel nibbles ineffectually at your foot.

>Ceiling smash
>Try to stall for your second form
>Run away
>Gun and fist
>Write-in

Tension lvl 1 - 89%

1d100 Bo3
>>
>>4577037
>Ceiling smash

With all the hits we're taking to the stomach, we'll have ads in no time! That's how it works, right?...
>>
Rolled 92 (1d100)

>>4577044

Also, dice!
>>
Rolled 9 (1d100)

>>4577037
>Ceiling smash
We'll probably build up enough tension to transform either way.
>>
>>4577037
>Ceiling smash
>>
>>4577086
You want to roll, or should another have a go?
>>
Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>4577187
I will roll
>>4577037
>>
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96 - Excellent success

It's time to give this area a skylight. Not much you have to break that dense rock except for one thing. You hit your belt and sprint at the girl only to jump up at the last second, avoiding getting impaled and aiming a kick directly at the roof, making sure to put as little power as is needed to break through.

"Hissatsu overdrive: Rai-jing strike!" The foundation shakes on impact as rock shatters. Electricity is quickly drowned out by a downpour of water and rubble flow down from above in an improvised waterfall. You're lucky enough to be out of the way of the falling debris but the other girl isn't, being forced to run as she's pelted by large stone shrapnel. Rock isn't the only thing that falls down though.

"And so the chaos of war leads us to another venue. Such is the nature of our strife." A sedated, sultry voice speaks up, and as the dust clears you see her. That same cowgirl from before, strumming her guitar nonchalantly. Katya stands across from her holding strange weapons in both hands, one you can only describe as a pillar of machinery and pipes stuck to the end of a stick visibly burning and humming with heat. The other is a large cleaver with a sharp edge, that is counterintuitively wrapped with chains and locks.

They both dash at each other, guitar meeting sword and blunt instrument and bizarrely remaining completely fine. They swing and clash a few times, and the force it creates sends up waves of water. "Can you speak like a normal person for five fucking minutes, Cecil!" The guitar swings by Katya's head by a thin margin as she jumps back, skidding right next to you.

"Hey, Boss. Good to see you so soon." You tell her. "You know that girl?"

She sighs and straightens up. "It's a long story. Our client is safe right now, so let's get this over with quickly." Seems things have turned into a two versus two now. Or so you think, moments before a skeletal shark jumps up and tries to bite your head off. You duck and kick the thing away, shattering its skeleton. Discordant singing has begun to fill the room as the anomaly develops into it's fully realized form and more rotten sea life can be seen swimming in the water around you.

>Care to spare a weapon?
>How dangerous can a string instrument really be?
>Pick up where we left off
>Try to stem the anomaly first

Tension lvl 2 - 1%

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>4577542
>Try to stem the anomaly first
>>
Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>4577542
>Try to stem the anomaly first
>>
Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>4577542
>Try to stem the anomaly first
>>
94 - excellent success

Should probably attempt to stop that anomaly before it gets real bad. You sprint at the thing, firing away it with your revolver and blowing out chunks of scale and meat. Four bullets in though you're sidelined by a punch from your old opponent.

"I think you're ignoring someone very important right now!" You're sucked into a fist fight with her, trying to dodge as best you can. She's put to a stop however, when a series of chains burst out of the ground and hold her in place. Katya is holding off Cecil with that club and has her cleaver raised up towards your girl. The blade glows for a moment and then shatters into dust. Not gonna let this opportunity go to waste.

"Don't worry, I'll be sure to show you a real transformation now." You slide the pin key into your belt and its warning sirens play as you shift into calamity form. The welcome feeling of strength flows into you and you smash right into her with a roundhouse kick, snapping the chains and sending her tumbling backwards in the waters. You quickly turn back to your original goal, facing this twisted mermaid and putting a fist straight through it. The surrounding undead creatures seem to quiet down slightly after that. The mermaid doesn't seem to be permanently down though, it's slowly piecing itself back together around a glinting core.

Music echoes through the caverns over near your boss. Katya helping you has put her on the backfoot with only one weapon. The cowgirl seems to be getting into the swing of things herself and is getting faster with her pace. In other news the other girl has picked herself up and seems pissed off as all hell. She's retrieved her spear too, unlike you and your swordless self.

>Helping out the boss
>Finishing off fish girl
>Maybe if I try crushing the core?
>Write-in

Tension lvl 2 - 3%

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>4578306
>Finishing off fish girl
Don't feel like destroying cores, like the fool I am. Though we should send a few SMG rounds the cowgirls way, disrupt her rythem so to speak.
>>
Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>4578306
>Finishing off fish girl
Had to check if we hadn't already encountered a core in the previous thread
>>
Rolled 41 (1d100)

>Finishing off fish girl
>>
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68 - Moderate failure

Should take care of your target first, then you can help out Katya. She stands a fair distance away from you glaring daggers into you. She mumbles some words that you can't hear and an array of icicles appear in the air and shoot out towards you as she charges you. They're slow enough that you're certain you can dodge them, but soon after a reverberating tune echoes through the underground arena.

"The rhythm of war hastens in time with our hearts. Tempo up."

The projectiles smash into you much sooner than they should have. Through the daze of pain, you hear a violin playing and a mechanical voice. "Ready? Go!..." When you open your eyes she's nowhere to be seen. That is until she bursts out from underneath you. "Abyssal predator!" Bright blue light flashes as projected teeth bite down on your torso. You're seeing stars from the impact and are put flat on your back in the foamy wake from the sudden finisher attack. Of course, you kicking her ass makes her come back at you stronger. This is pretty much a viscous cycle of payback. The key factor though is that her belt is of a higher quality, and you're feeling that hit. That guitarist is going to be a pain to deal with too if she keeps interfering with her spells.

The room turns bright red for a moment as the water all around you boils away in an instant and the girl on top of you is knocked away by a wave of heat. A strong hand grabs you by the shoulder and you find yourself put back on your feet by your boss. "Serial chain: Numbers seven, twelve, eight." There's a glimmer of yellow and a heavy golden greatsword pops into existence in your hands. It's pretty messed up for a sword though, the thing is all lumpy and covered in mouths filled with gem encrusted teeth and- Oh hell, it's smiling at you now. You look over to Katya and see she's holding two entirely new weapons. A long and slender black sword and a comically oversized smoking pipe. Is this what her magic is like? Either way you're back to back with her and the showdown continues and becomes a much tighter brawl. Cecil seems completely unbothered as she slowly paces towards you and the other girl is slightly flagging in her fury.

>What can this ugly sword do?
>Finisher move
>I'm spellcasting
>Write-in

Tension lvl 2 - 32%

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 48 (1d100)

>>4580182
>>What can this ugly sword do?
>>
Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>4580182
>What can this ugly sword do?
Let's check it out before going for a finisher.
>>
>>4580182
>What can this ugly sword do?

Greatsword? In our girls hands? Have we become Guts?
>>
Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>4580182
>>4580376
Gotta get those dice rolls in.
>>
60 - Draw

Well, you should use what's given to you, right? Not sure what the practicality of a sword with mouths is though. You run foward with Katya and immediately realize that the heft of this thing is substantial. Even with your suit helping you out it's a task and a half to swing it. First strike you take against the fish girl goes wide by a large margin and you get poked in the gut for your efforts. You bring it up and use its bulk to block another stab when the blade just bites down on her spear and completely chews up the tip. Where there's teeth marks the weapon slowly transmutes into pure, soft gold. Taking advantage of her surprise, you slash out, and in seconds the spear is entirely devoured. With that out of the way, you slam into her with your shoulder, knocking her back with a strong blow.

Right next to you, Katya clashes with Cecil. Reverberating noise spills out and you suddenly begin to feel awful, like a ringing throughout your body. Every hit she does with that instrument makes you feel worse and worse. You're tasting copper too... Katya seems just fine though, how can she stand that thing? She takes that pipe of hers and strikes downward, pinning it to the floor for a moment, giving you a slight moment of reprieve.

>Stop the music while you have a chance
>Finisher on the other girl now
>Anything else this thing can do?
>Write-in

Tension lvl 2 - 49%

1d100 Bo3
>>
Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>4580497
>Finisher on the other girl now
>Anything else this thing can do?

Just put cotton balls in our ears, we'll be fine.
>>
Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>4580497
>Finisher on the other girl now
Not sure who the 'other' girl is of the two, but take out the musical one.
>>
Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>4580497
>Finisher on the other girl now
>>
>>4580497
>>Stop the music while you have a chance
>>
>>4580497
>Anything else this thing can do?
>>
>>4580497
>Anything else this thing can do?
>>
57 - severe failure

"So Katya, anything else this thing can do?" You ask your boss and she seems to hesitate for a moment before muttering a few words.

"El Dorado: Road to glory." The sword that seemed so heavy just a moment ago feels so much lighter in your hands now. So much so that you can't help but crack a smile at the prospect of slinging the thing around. The sword is happy too, just look at those grinning teeth! Got a perfect subject for it too. You jolt forward at the fish girl and take your first swing. Sparks fly at the satisfying grind of metal on metal. Two and three make an even prettier show. Four to five pieces of chest plate break off and you feel something break. Six, you lightly stroke upwards and clip her helmet. Seven, you bring it down, parting an arm. Beautiful red mixes with gold glitter while your blade shatters in your hands to light. Shouldn't stop there though, she's still breathing. You tap your belt and listen to the sound of an impending finish. Strength gathers in your leg, readying for the end.

"Speed of sound." There's a sharp pain in chest and Cecil stands right in front of you with the big end of her guitar smacking you hard in the chest. It's surprising in its own right, but for some reason the rush of clarity hitting you all of a sudden is much worse. It's like your mind was overcome with some less than wholesome urges. You cough and a splat of blood comes up and spatters on the inside of your faceplate, blinding you temporarily before it crumbles off. The sensation of torn muscles and aching bones makes you fall backwards. Were you really in such a bad state and didn't even notice?

A black blur swipes past the guitarist and forces her to tumble to the side. From your position in the waters you can see her swiftly grab the now unconscious and one armed fish girl. "The first blood shall be yours then. I concede this battle to you along with your goals."

Combat proceeds without you, colliding weapons mixed with splashing water. At least it's kind of cold down here. Makes it hurt a little less "As if I'd let you get away. Why the hell are you working with a group like that anyways?" Your boss angrily shouts out in the din sounding significantly more pissed off than usual.

"An unfavorable scenario has lead me to this twisted fate. Dishonorable combat and allies such as this do not please me, but it is required. Now, hear my sorrowful scream..." You hear a string snap, followed a second later by the most gut wrenching, horrifically high pitched noise you've ever heard in your life. Stars fill your sight and ears ring in disorientation. It takes a while before you regain your senses and when you do you're left sitting with Katya in this murky cavern. Those two girls are gone, minus an arm of course. Your armor has completely fallen off a long while ago and you feel like a chewed up shoe.

>Haha, this sucks man
>Who the hell was she?
>Did I at least do a good job?
>Write-in
>>
>>4581404
>Haha, this sucks man
>>
>>4581404
>Haha, this sucks man

Not to be a downer, I feel like a continuous failure.
>>
>>4581404
>Haha, this sucks man
>Who the hell was she?
I wonder whether Cecil is op or we made retarded choices or this is actually a victory and we're simply exhausted.
>>
>>4581404
>>Who the hell was she?
>>
>>4581404
>Did I at least do a good job?
>>
You just lay back and bask in the pain, weakly laughing. "Haha, this sucks man..."

"Don't worry too much about it. Surprised you lasted that long near her anyways. Sure messed up the other girl too." Katya glances over to the severed limb laying in the water and forcefully helps you up to your feet.

"Who was the hell was she? You seem to know her pretty well."

"Cecil, a fairly infamous mercenary that I became well acquainted with during the war with Laoshan. One of the many reasons the war accomplished nothing but stagnant battle lines. We fought many times but it always ended in a draw or me being forced back. The way she talks in that flowery language pisses me off too. She has this weird thing with honorable battle though, so why is she with some terrorist organization?"

"You were in the military during that war? How old are you?" She lightly hits you on the head for that question.

"Thirty-nine, I was eighteen when I joined. Too bad they need magical girls elsewhere so I was force into this line of work instead. Either way she's serious stuff. Just fighting near her is enough to kill most newbies like yourself. Going to need to get you to a doctor too, those vibrations can mess up your insides bad." Oh so that's why you're tasting blood right now.

Something bites your foot lightly and you look down to see a decaying fish thing nibbling on you. A simple kick sends it flying. "Should call Leshi, need to contain this anomaly as well. Can you deal with that? Kinda in intense pain right now."

The next half hour is spent with you sitting in the water while Katya repeatedly mashes a poor creature into the ground until shorty arrives along with someone else who you've seen before. A white haired girl with a heavy fur coat named Misha from the upper district. You've briefly encountered her before during that heist. When Leshi and the girl walk near, you feel an immediate sense of relief as the nausea from before fades away. Seems that he really is important for dealing with anomalies. She immediately begins poking and prodding at you, occasionally saying a quiet spell and replacing a painful spots with chilly relief. "Internal hemorrhaging, symptoms of anomaly corruption, and low quality driver feedback. Recommending one to two days bedrest and a high iron diet."

>I really don't want to stay in bed for a whole day
>Enemy plan theory crafting
>What did you just say about my belt?
>How was your day small deer?
>Write-in
>>
>>4581914
>What did you just say about my belt?
>How was your day small deer?
>Enemy plan theory crafting
>>
>>4581914
>>What did you just say about my belt?
*Angry Injured Meguca Noises*
>>
>>4581914
>>What did you just say about my belt?
>>
>>4582080
+1
>>
"The hell did you just say about my belt?" You begin attempting to get back up from your sitting position, but she takes out her rifle and lightly taps you on the head with the butt making you fall back down.

"It's incomplete. Very common occurrence." She reaches down and pulls the pin out of it's slot on your belt showing it off to you. There's scorch marks and soot covering it. "A rush job results in rough mana refinement mechanisms. Extended use of an elevated form will result in muscle tearing, damage to the body, and mania. Fix it or do not use that form." She says it all to you in a very quick and clinical way that it's hard to process. All you can do is just groan. It's all starting to give you a headache. A sharp prick stabs you making you flinch a little. "Take a dose of morphine. I'm leaving now." What an irritatingly simple and deadpan girl. The drugs definitely make you feel better, though so that's real nice. Nice and comfy...

"How's it feel to get thrashed around again?" Your teammate speaks up next to you holding a tiny glistening crystal bound in copper coils. You didn't even notice but the room is back to barebones concrete floor and ceiling.

"Like I'm covered in warm cotton and want to sleep, how's the view down there?"

He immediately frowns and sighs "Of course I had to walk right into that one..."

"Hey, at least you won't ever walk into doorframes. How did your day go?"

"Grhh... Well, I got into a heated argument about candles with your pet dragon, had to chase her out of my garden, and found a neat moth while walking around the town at night."

"Candles? What could possibly be controversial about candles?"

"You would never understand the importance of proper lighting aesthetics..." He huffs and turns away from you. Seriously what's so important about candles?

Katya bends down and helps you up and help you walk. "Whatever it is you can talk about it once you're back to the office. I'll handle whatever after work clean up needs to be done. They probably won't be happy with the property damage but they're not out on their goods." You look up and see the big hole in the ceiling. Definitely won't be cheap to fix, but hey they're still alive so that's what counts.

"What did they even want with research documents anyways?" Leshi asks walking next to you, using his height as excuse not to help.

>Foreign nation terrorism
>Evil alien plot to destroy humanity
>Doomsday cult
>Another deepstate operation
>I dunno
>Write-in
>>
>>4582573
>>I dunno
>>
>>4582573
>Why not all?

I'm sure there's a theory out there to explain it.
>>
>>4582573
>Another deepstate operation
Might as well be consistent, damned deepstate probably trying to keep cutting edge tech to themselves.
>>
>>4582573
>Foreign nation terrorism
>Doomsday cult
>>
>>4582573
>>Another deepstate operation
THE GOVERNMENT IS CONTROLLED BY THE MAGI LIZARD CYBORGS AND THEY ARE TRYING TO KILL US HONEST HARD WORKING HUMANS
>>
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"Those anti-humanist lizards in the government are always trying to hinder our progress as a species. Still upset that we stole the surface from them. Something similar happened in Operation Fish Hook. I'm still not sure what connection the reptilians would have with the Evilmass and south sector though, that's moony territory. I need to recheck my notes... Does the office have a whiteboard?" You take out your phone and begin shuffling through folders filled with notes you've made on various conspiracies.

"Did she hit her head or something?" Leshi looks at Katya with a confused expression on his face.

"Probably... Let's just get her back home already. I need some nicotine." Katya lights up a cigarette and continues to carry you back to the office, eventually just giving up and princess carrying you all the way. The poor fools just don't see the connections. They'll understand in time though.

The first thing you see when you get back to the office is Lucy standing on top of a chair attempting to grab an exceptionally large moth from off the ceiling. The thing is huge, almost the size of your torso and covered in puffy pink and purple fuzz.

"I know you thought that it was a neat moth and all Leshi, but did you really have to bring it into the building?" You ask, still reading up on various articles and reports.

"It's not just any moth, It's a Great portence moth. They say these things are only seen when a disaster is soon to strike. They're extremely rare."

"So something terrible is going to happen soon is what you're saying?"

"Nope, I don't believe in that stuff. I'm going to cook it for Crispin's day. They're considered a delicacy by most. I still remember the one time I had some during a fall harvest festival..."

Lucy stands on one foot, precariously stretching out to try and grab the animal. "Get down from there you delicious bastard!"

Katya dumps you on the couch and immediately heads to the coffee machine, making a phone call. "If it starts eating our fabric I'm mounting you on the wall Leshi."

>Eating a bug sounds disgusting
>So you're cooking for us?
>But it's so cute...
>Maybe we should be slightly concerned about that
>Write-in
>>
>>4582789
>But it's so cute...
>Maybe we should be slightly concerned about that
>>
>>4582789
>>But it's so cute...
Feel bad for the adorbs moth boi
>>Maybe we should be slightly concerned about that
and fear the catastrophe his fluffy presence brings
>>
>>4582789
>>But it's so cute...
>>
>>4582789
>But it's so cute...
>Maybe we should be slightly concerned about that
>>
>>4582789
>But it's so cute...
>Maybe we should be slightly concerned about that
>>
>>4582789
>But it's so cute...
>Maybe we should be slightly concerned about that
>>
"But it's so cute..." That soft, fluffy, purple fuzz just begs to be stroked. "Why would you want to eat such an adorable moth?"

"Lot's of people think chickens are cute too. Doesn't stop them from eating them though, does it?" Well he's got you there. Wait does he slaughter those chickens he has?

"Regardless that sounds pretty ominous. Maybe we should be slightly concerned about a disaster predicting animal appearing?"

"Terrible things happen every week in every city, I wouldn't be too worried about it. That's like seeing that it's raining outside and being concerned when someone tells you that it's going to be raining tomorrow too. Remember how your very short work record here has gone?"

"Well it's not like he's wrong..." Katya comments before quickly sitting down when her call finally goes through.

"Doesn't matter, it's tasty and I'm hun- Aagh!" Lucy turns to speak to you but ends up falling off the chair she's balancing on. You just shrug your head and walk past her as she grumbles angrily on the floor. Your comfy sheets are extremely welcome as you lay down to rest on your bed. You can't help but think back on what the upper district girl told you. A faulty driver and at least two days bedrest. Maybe you should get a head start on fixing your belt?


New revision to the way workshop purchases function
>You can custom order items from workshops or browse through a premade selection of items. Custom made items cost 5 credits plus 1 for every keyword added. Keywords can be added to add power and new functions to an item, but only during creation. Certain rare keywords from high-end workshops can cost more. Keywords can be found by spending time browsing workshops online or through talking with others.
>Items start at level 1 and can be upgraded for 5 credits plus 1 for every level afterwards. Leveling increases its base capabilities and gives a selection of up to three upgrade paths.

[Current equipment]
>Shocker Driver - level 1: The base driver you started off with. Builds up a middling level of tension that increases when you're struggling in a fight. Can change to calamity form at tension level 2.

>Gaider sword - level 1: A fairly standard sword. Made with a conductive alloy and compatible with your driver for finishers.

>Combi-gun - level 1: A form-changing gun that can be a revolver, SMG, or carbine. Uses a mix of magnetically accelerated ammunition and white prosperous.

[Current credits: 16]

>Create a new item. Available keywords [High energy: 1] [Form change:1]
>Upgrade an item
>Browse through premade items
>Leave it be
>>
>>4583380
>>Upgrade an item
>Shocker Driver - level 1: The base driver you started off with. Builds up a middling level of tension that increases when you're struggling in a fight. Can change to calamity form at tension level 2.
>>
>>4583380
>Upgrade an item Shocker Driver
>Browse through premade items
>>
>>4583380
>Upgrade Shocker Driver
>Browse through premade items
>>
Shocker Driver - Level 2
>Dai-shocker driver - Move the feedback to a very powerful third form and intensifies the effect. Increases tension cap to lvl 3.
>Bond driver - Choose an acquaintance and make a bond with them. Gain bonuses based on your relationship with them.
>Forecast Driver: Splits second form into Storming and Haze forms. Second form form can be accessed at Tension lvl 1 80%. These forms are slightly weaker but more specialized.

New credit total: 11

Current selection
>Shatter shield - A weak defensive energy shield that can blunt most ranged attacks. Breaks easily but recharges quickly. [6 credits]
>Faraday cloak - Fitted cloak that is treated to dull the impact of most energetic and thermal attacks. [5 credits]
>Dyna-charge - Small throwable device that release a potent plasma explosion on impact. Powerful, but one use. [3 credits]
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>>4583663
>Dai-shocker driver - Move the feedback to a very powerful third form and intensifies the effect. Increases tension cap to lvl 3.
>Shatter shield - A weak defensive energy shield that can blunt most ranged attacks. Breaks easily but recharges quickly. [6 credits]
can pre-made items be upgraded
>>
>>4583758
Except for one use consumables yes
>>
>>4583663
>Storming and Haze forms
In what ways are they different between each other in comparison with the original?
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>>4583803
The original is more all around strong, but the two new forms are essentially strength and dexterity. They're much better at their specialties than the original was at being a balanced mix
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>>4583663
>Forecast Driver
Let's see how this'll do in battle. Most fights are over before we even reach tension lvl 3 anyway. Also
>Shatter shield
>>
Shatter shield buy is locked in. Only need a tie breaker for what driver upgrade will be chosen
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>>4583663
>>Dai-shocker driver - Move the feedback to a very powerful third form and intensifies the effect. Increases tension cap to lvl 3.
>>
>>4583663
>Forecast Driver: Splits second form into Storming and Haze forms.
Shatter shield - A weak defensive energy shield that can blunt most ranged attacks
>>
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I think I'll end this tie by going with the first vote. Dai-Shocker it is. Don't want to linger too long on stuff like this.

New credit total: 6

"Will be done yes." The gruff man on the phone informs you. "Delivery by tomorrow noon at latest. Will send driver technician as well. Is good business."

With that all settled and your orders put in, the only thing left to do is sleep. Going to be in bed for a while though, so that's like a wasted day and a half for you while your muscles heal up. So boring... Maybe you could browse your forums and catch up on some news or something while you wait around? Maybe there's even something that could help you get better quicker, who knows.

>Who needs bed rest? There's stuff to be done
>Short cervid
>Pink spider
>Hungry dragon
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>>4584809
Mistyped something, that's 5 credits left
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>>4584809
>>Pink spider
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>>4584809
>Short cervid
We promised to help him somehow, although I still have no idea what we're supposed to do.
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>>4584809
>Short cervid
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>>4584809
>Short cervid

Time to help a friend in need!
>>
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You are Leshi, a reluctant magical boy. Today is a good day, nice and quiet with no real rush or danger. Something that you wish every day would be like. Things are simple like this, get dressed, feed the livestock, tend to the crops. Could have been a farmer at the lodge, but no you had to be forced into this life. Risk getting brutalized every day like Elizabeth did just yesterday. Maybe you should visit her or something... Then again being around her is probably a bad idea. Stupid instincts...

You open up the door to your little hovel and step out to the fields. The moth is there gorging itself on the nectar feeder you left out for it. Gonna be nice and big by the time you'll cook it. The chickens and goat get their feed as well. Highland breed hens really are the best, just looking at how large they've gotten reminds you of that. A short round trip of the garden finishes up your daily chores, leaving you pondering what to do.

>Exotic plant cultivation
>Training yourself
>Visiting the injured idiot
>Write-in
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>>4585115
>Visiting the injured idiot

I am still committed to helping him, even if exotic plants sound cool as all hell.
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>>4585115
>>Training yourself
>>
>>4585115
>Exotic plant cultivation
>>
>>4585115
>Visiting the injured idiot
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>>4585115
>Visiting the injured idiot
>>
As much as you hate to do it, you should really check on her. Better bring some food as well, goodwill towards others and all that...

You open the door to her room and step inside. Looks like her pet is out at the moment so you're all alone with her. "Eh? I didn't expect you to visit me. Good to see you though I guess." Elizabeth is laying there in bed with her easily slittable thr- no stop that brain. Deep breaths, control yourself.

"Well, it's the nice thing to do. Here take this." You place a basket with some fruit on her lap. She immediately begins devouring the food at a surprising pace. You notice that there's papers covered in incomprehensible scribbles and webs of lines between them spread and pinned up all around the room.

"Oh, that reminds me. I've gotta help you train! What, should we do though..." Is she seriously thinking about that while laid up in bed?

>Trick her into something that isn't physically demanding
>Rest you idiot
>Just stay quiet
>Write-in
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>>4585830
>Rest you idiot
>>
>>4585830
>Rest you idiot
>>
>>4585830
>>Rest you idiot
>>
>>4585830
>Rest you idiot
>>
"We can do that later, just rest for now you idiot." You nudge her back down when she tries to get up." She pouts at that and sighs.

"I did promise to you though, it doesn't really feel too good putting it off for this long." It's both distressing and sort of cute how eager she is to horribly damage her body. Like an energetic puppy running around and accidently smacking its head into walls. Probably has the same mentality too.

"I'm not going to get upset that you're taking the day off. Besides you don't even know what you want to do for this supposed training, do you?"

She looks away sheepishly at the mention of that. "No... But I'm sure I'll think of something."

"And you can think of what to do while in your bed. I've got stuff to do so enjoy that." You turn to leave and wave behind you. Gotta keep it brief around her for your sanity's sake. Still better than the sadist...

Returning to your room, you find that you're not alone and that a pest has wandered into your garden. The lazy dragon girl sitting down and munching on strawberries is a grim reminder of why you need to buy a lock one of these days.

"Hey." She says, and then eats another. You were going to make preservatives with those.

"Remember when I said that you're not supposed to come here without my permission?"

"Yeah, but I'm sort of trying to avoid paperwork, and if Elizabeth decides to give me another lecture on the shadow government running everything and leading us to ruin I'm going to go crazy." Fair enough...

>No food without work freeloader
>You know food is better when it's cooked right?
>Why must you torment me so creature
>Ignore the pest and get to gardening
>Write-in
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>>4586040
>No food without work freeloader
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>>4586040
>No food without work freeloader
>>
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"No food without work freeloader, either help around or get out."

"Eh, sure better than whatever else they'll have me do. What do you need?" Huh, that was easier than you thought. You've never gotten help with your own personal work before... It's a pleasant surprise to say the least. The wheat is ready for harvest and it's pretty labor intensive for you to process. You lead her to a small patch of golden stalks and begin unpacking your scythe. "Pretty big place you've made here. Wish I had a room like this."

"It took me a long time to get it this big." You say with a little bit of pride. Ever since you learned how you've worked your ass off expanding the place. It's still only the size of a house with an exceptionally large yard, but it's yours. "You should have one though, shouldn't you? You're a witch, all of your type have their own domains."

"I should? I never knew about that..." Oh right, she hasn't had any training of any kind has she...

"Well, uh... Ask Pecha about it maybe? As far as I understand it every witch has their own personal realm given that you're all essentially stable anomalies." Hate to point the girl towards Pecha, but she's the only witch in your group. You take a deep breath and with a swift motion you reap through all the neatly tied up bundles of wheat, severing them for your use. "Now, your job is to help me thresh and mill all of this."

She grumbles about it, but helps with the tedious work despite that. Beating out the chaff and grinding up grain into usable flour. It's simple enough that anyone can do it. She even summons up her familiar to help her, leading to the jarring experience of doing farm work next to a demonic looking skeleton. Maybe your experience with witches has been poisoned being near Pecha so long, but it's actually a relatively pleasant time.

>This reminds me of home at the lodge...
>How much do you actually know about magic?
>You know if you eat too much you'll end up fat
>Small talk about [Write-in]
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>>4586538
>How much do you actually know about magic?
>>
>>4586538
>How much do you actually know about magic?
>You know if you eat too much you'll end up fat

Can't miss a chance at being snarky.
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>>4586538
>How much do you actually know about magic?
>>
"How much do you know about magic? I assume just what you've learned yourself, right?"

"Yeah, pretty much. I saw a girl using it one time and just eventually learned how by copying what I saw. It was hard at first but Igni kind of guided me through it." So that's what she named her skeleton buddy.

You sit up from your grind stone shuffle the flour you made into a bag. "Okay then, since you were so cooperative, I'll give you a little lesson. In layman's terms, magic is the ability to force reality into what you want it to be. It's powered by mana which is pretty much blood for the soul. We can preform magic because our souls have developed and been turned into these catalysts. Sort of like an external organ." You take out your green teardrop shaped gemstone, and show it to her.

"Really seems like a design flaw doesn't it?" She takes out her own and looks at it. "We'll die if these things break won't we?"

"Yeah, so keep it safe. Anyways..." You quickly gather up a bundle of sticks and dry grass, making a small pile out of it. "Can you light this up for me?"

"Char." She points a finger gun at the pile of tinder and a little bolt of fire sets it ablaze.

"That's also why we're tied to specific types of magic. It's what our souls are used to and made for." You take out some left over meat and vegetables and dump them into a pot, setting it over the fire for an easy soup. "The more you practice and get accustomed to spell casting the better. I could help you practice some time. Maybe learn a spell that burns all the calories you're gaining glutton."

She huffs at that and a puff of smoke comes out of her mouth. "Don't worry, I've got a very good metabolism. Suddenly gained a craving for venison now too." She looms over you intimidatingly and then pats you on the head.

>Quickly changing the subject
>Could you not
>Headpats, my only weakness!
>Write-in
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>>4586927
>Headpats, my only weakness!
Gaahhh!
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>>4586927
>Could you not
Leshi has no weaknesses(outside of being vertically impaired)
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>>4586927
>Could you not
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>>4586927
>Could you not
>>4586990
This anon speaks the truth.
>>
No, you will not be bested by that accursed technique! Many demi-kin are weak to it, but not you, you've long since grown past it. Especially after your mother pulled that trick on you so many times. Even if it feels really good... "Could you not?" Give her your best frown, can't let anyone know.

"Hmph... You're no fun." She huffs again and the two of you get back to milling grain. Soon enough the soup is ready to eat and you both enjoy a lunch break. Turns out she carries around a bottle of chili flakes on her at all times. "What is it with you and farming anyways?"

"It's sort of my background. I'm here on obligation. Same as you, but without the crime."

"Must be nice having a place that you actually want to go back to." She mumbles into her bowl of soup.

>Reminiscing about the good times
>Opportunity to spread your faith
>Here is good though isn't it?
>Write-in
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>>4587536
>Here is good though isn't it?

Only non-awkward option available. Though learning more about his religion was tempting.
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>>4587536
>Here is good though isn't it?
>>
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"Consider this. It's pretty good here compared to what you had before isn't it?" She doesn't say anything to that. "The way I see it, you can either sit and regret all the things you don't have and can't do anything about, or you can learn to appreciate what you do have." You scrounge around in your bag and take out a bottle and two glasses.

"What's this?" She asks as you pour her a glass. "Smells fruity."

"Blackberry wine. One of the first batches I brewed when I got here. Back then this place was only a tiny hovel..."

"I don't think I'm even old enough to legally drink."

"So what? It's not like our job is to enforce regular law. I was something like... Sixteen when I started. Harvest festivals were really something. Anyways, take Elizabeth for instance. She seems to try and care for you the best she can doesn't she?"

"Yeah, I guess she tries in her own way. Still a weirdo." She sips from the glass you gave her and she coughs a little. "Maybe if you gave me some more food It would sway my opinion..."

"If you keep helping me out, sure." You rapidly drain your own glass and pour another. Wish that it did more for you than just some warmth. Feels like you're forgetting something though...

Oh damn it, the exchange with Rana was today! You check the time and see that you're going to be a couple minutes late. That's just great. Shit, what should you take with you...

>just grab some jams and call it good
>Alcohol is always a good idea
>take your time and gather up a decent plant

>Take the hanger-on
>Go it alone
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>>4588345
who's Rana now again?
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>>4588368
You wouldn't know her, but she's a friend of Leshi's from the outer agriculture zone.
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>>4588388
well describe her to us, we are currently playing as leshi so we should know what she's like and stuff
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>>4588345
>take your time and gather up a decent plant
Better bring something good to make up for being late.
>Go it alone
That's personal business.
>>4588400
I'd guess the QM was going to include her description in the next update anyway.
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>>4588400
Tall rabbit demi. Known her for about six years and shes a member of the hedge lancers which is essentially the outer zone's peacekeeping group. You've set a small meet up about ever two months since you've joined the MGDF to keep in touch with your home. Her personality can best be described as laid back.
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>>4588345
>take your time and gather up a decent plant
>Go it alone
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>>4588345
>take your time and gather up a decent plant
>Go it alone
>>
"I have places to be, so shoo. We wasted enough time here." You quickly usher Lucy out of your room quickly and head back to your hut. Looking over your special patch you think about what you should bring. Doesn't feel right half-assing this. Amber Berry is still just a sprout and too bitter. Rat Weed can't take any real toxins and you showed off Arbor Weave last time... Gonna have to be Strangle Lash. You set to carefully uprooting the prickly vine bush and transplanting it into a pot. It's a pain and the half to walk all the way to your meeting spot while avoiding getting poked by it but you hate public transport.

Eventually you get there twenty minutes late. It's a small bar near the outskirts named the Red Lemming. Relatively dirty, but she likes run down stuff for some reason. Inside you can see a girl with rabbit ears drooping down from underneath her wide brim pointed hat sitting at a corner table. Her drab green clothes are still somehow oversized for her tall frame and a spear is loosely strapped to her back.

"Ayy, finally showed up sprout?" Rana slurs at you in her relaxed voice. You just jump up on to your seat and place the plant down in front of you. She pokes a finger at it and the thorny vines wrap around it, drawing a little blood. "Ooh, how nasty. Seems much more elastic and feisty than the average one doesn't it?"

"Yeah, I've been trying to get it grow bigger, but it's just not working with me for that."

"Well, here's my present." She tosses a weighty bottle to you and you barely manage to catch it. "Royal Wood rum from your dear old Dad. Took everything I had to not crack it open while waitin' for ya." Even with the squabbling between you and your father you'll admit that he's a leagues better brewer than you. It's a very welcome gift indeed. "So, how's it been scamp?"

>Rough couple of weeks
>New co-workers
>It's the same as it always is

>Staying sober for responsibility's sake
>Need to sample this bottle
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>>4588636
>Rough couple of weeks
>New co-workers
>Staying sober for responsibility's sake

We'll crack it open when we have something to celebrate.
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>>4588636
>Rough couple of weeks
>New co-workers
>>
>>4588636
>Rough couple of weeks
>New co-workers
>Staying sober for responsibility's sake
>>
"It's been rough. Big ordeals, lots of fighting, the whole deal." You fiddle with the bottle in your hands and Rana orders another two drinks. "Ah, you don't need to get me anything."

"Nonsense, any second spent not relaxin' is a second wasted." She slams the rest of her drink and laughs.

"Got two new co-workers too. An unhinged girl, and a bum. We have such a great recruiting pool."

"Oh yeah, that reminds me. Yer dad is still askin' if ya have a girlfriend yet. What with bein' in an all girl field and all. Suspecting that nothings changed, yeah? Unless of course mean ol' pinky has a soft side~'

The thought of being with any of them horrifies you. Of course your parents are always asking when you're going to give them grandchildren. You're still only twenty-three! Oh sure, they did it when they were eighteen, but not everyone makes that kind of mistake damn it!... You needed this drink more than you thought... "Tell the old bastard that he can shove it and his chickens are scrawny. Everything at the lodge still going well?"

"Oh yeah, they're all busy bees goin' about setting up Crispin's day feastings and all that. Everyone's got high expectations of ya back there. The special little guy, born and raised in their little town and sent off to the big city to protect the innocents. Doesn't it make ya feel warm and fuzzy inside?"

>Was real nice of them to volunteer me without my permission
>It's kind of satisfying I guess...
>Any big things happening right now?
>Write-in
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>>4589484
>Don’t suppose that means any of them are willing to join me in this wonderful civic duty?
Sarcasm, of course, but I expect if Rana said “Yes” that Leshi would actually be horrified. They’d probably kick out either another newbie or someone completely intolerable.
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>>4589498
supporting
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>>4589484
>Was real nice of them to volunteer me without my permission
>>
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"Oh that's real comforting, especially after they volunteered me all on their own. I don't suppose any of them would be willing to volunteer themselves and join me in this wonderful civic duty, now would they?"

"Pfft, ya kidding me? Half those grazers are too soft for any kind of scrap. Probably faint the moment the cut up something that isn't a cow." Both of you laugh at that. It's a strange fact of life to you. There are some people that can't even stand the sight of blood, and others that don't feel a thing as they kill. Not quite sure where you land on that scale... "Ah, I'm sure you'd make a good lancer if ya weren't such a complainer, kid."

"Don't get your hopes up, I still plan to retire as soon as I can and take over the family land."

"Kuh, such a pansy. The settled life isn't as glamorous as ya think. Can guarantee you'll go stir crazy after the first few years. There's a natural fighter in ya. Remember that time ya went all feral on us? Took the whole town guard just to tucker you out, ya monstrous little beastie."

>That's not something I'm proud of
>Why are you always so happy to get into a fight
>Recent events make that feel even worse
>Write-in
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>>4589836
>That's not something I'm proud of
>Recent events make that feel even worse
>>
>>4589836
>Recent events make that feel even worse
>>
>>4589836
>That's not something I'm proud of
>Recent events make that feel even worse
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>>4589836
>Why are you always so happy to get into a fight
>>
"That's not exactly something I'm proud of..." It was a lucky thing that no one died that night, but plenty got hurt bad. Still that memory sticks with you as your worst moment.

"Eh? Got a sour look on your face there. What, did you go wild on one of your friends?"

"Yeah, I knocked around the new girl pretty bad. Was lucky that she brought someone else along. She doesn't really seem to care, but..." You look down into your drink and go quiet. Suddenly you feel her flick your forehead.

"And so she doesn't care. It's her job to deal with monsters every day, just like your other buddies do too. And yet you're all mopey that ya tried to chomp off her head. Seems pretty pathetic to me. The problem is that you're runnin' from it, thinkin' that it's wrong to give in to your instincts."

"Bullshit. How is going feral and losing myself going to help? In a job where I'm working in a crowded city full of people I'm supposed to protect I should just turn into a monster that wants nothing more than to eat anything that moves?" You're getting kind of upset now. The hell does she know about how it feels to go through that? "I just need to learn how to control myself more, or not use it at all."

Rana sighs and leans back in her seat. "Wrong. If you keep bottlin' up that aggression inside it's gonna bite ya in the ass. Temper and focus that anger into something useful instead. Ya might think that you're a big boy who knows what's up now that you've got this responsibility, but you're still a greenhorn with a lot to learn."

"I think we're done here... I need to head back." You push your drink away and get up.

"Good talk. See ya next time~" She cheerfully says her goodbye to you, but you say nothing. You don't look back as you head out into the crisp evening air. Deep breaths.

>Take a walk through downtown to clear your mind
>Head back to the office
>Write-in
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>>4590387
>Take a walk through downtown to clear your mind
nothing can go wrong taking a walk, yep totally
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>>4590387
>Take a walk through downtown to clear your mind
>>
>>4590387
>Take a walk through downtown to clear your mind
>>
You shouldn't get so worked up over a conversation, especially with Rana. She can keep calm the entire time so why not you? Even if she's wrong, she's still looking out for you. Why did your life have to get so complicated? At least the cold air is nice. Always preferred cold weather compared to hot. You can wear cozy clothes to warm up, but you can't peel off your skin to cool down...

You wander a while lost in thought before realizing just how much you've bumbled around. The sun is dipping low and you've been screwing around far too long. You're about to start the trip back when you hear a meow and see a cat in the shadows of an alleyway right next to you. Crouching down, you pet it and see that it's probably a stray judging by state of its fur and no collar.

"Kitty!" A high pitched voice calls out and a young girl comes running out from further down the alley sending the cat running in fright. Her hair is pure white, and her eyes are blood red like an albino. She looks like she can't be more than around... Eight or eleven tops? Why is she wearing nothing but a hospital gown too? She stops and stares at you for a moment and then rushes up to you smiling. "Hehe, you look funny! Fluffy like a kitty~" The entire experience overloads your mind and you just stand there until the little girl starts feeling up your ears and snaps you out of it.

>I hate children, I am running!
>Cease touching me small child
>So, are you lost or something?
>Yes I am fluffy, thank you for noticing
>Write-in
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>>4590721
>Cease touching me small child
>So, are you lost or something?
>>
>>4590721
>Cease touching me small child
>So, are you lost or something?
>>
>>4590721
>So, are you lost or something?
>Yes I am fluffy, thank you for noticing
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>>4590721
>So, are you lost or something?
>Yes I am fluffy, thank you for noticing
>>
"Yes, yes I am fluffy, thank you for noticing. Now please stop touching me." You try to push her away but she's very persistent. "Look, are you lost or something kid? Do I need to help you fi- Agh, hey don't pull on those!" She starts grabbing on your antlers and you have to pry the energetic goblin off.

"I've never seen a cat that could talk before. Or one that has horns!"

You put a hand on her face to hold her at bay which is difficult considering you're around the same size as her. Another reason why you don't like kids. "I am not a cat, I'm a deer! Listen and just tell me, do you know where your parents are?"

She stops and looks at you for a moment. "Parents? What are those? I'm on an adventure!" That's... Not what you would have wanted to hear. What, has she never hear that word before or is she just pretending? It's probably going to be near impossible to get a coherent answer for anything from a child. This is starting to give you a headache...

>Wander around looking for her parents
>Take her back to the office until you find her parents
>She'll probably be fine if you just leave her be. Like a wild animal, right?
>Write-in
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>>4591493
>Wander around looking for her parents
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>>4591493
>Take her to the nearest hospital
I'd say that's the most logical thing to do considering she's wearing a hospital gown.
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>>4591493
>Take her back to the office until you find her parents

Frankly, the hospital gown concerns me. We do need to at least notify some of our friends of this situation.
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>>4591493
>Take her back to the office until you find her parents
Someone in a hospital gown with no concept of parents makes me think of the vat-grown humans from SR: Dragonfall. Not liking that train of thought.
>>
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It's getting late running around all night looking for her parents doesn't sound appealing at all, so taking her back to the office it is. "Come along with me kid. I'm sure you're tired from your big adventure and all, so lets get you somewhere that you can get some rest."

"Huh? But I don't wanna go to sleep!"

Good lord she's going to be difficult. Okay different tactic. "Don't worry, I won't make you go to bed right away. Trust, me it's great there. I'll even give you some sweets when we get there." Ugh, this is starting to sound creepy and wrong even if you have good intentions.

She beams at you and seems even more energetic at the mention of that. "Candy!? Okay mister deer, let's go!" At least you know what motivates her now. The ordeal of slowly walking her back to the office while she bounces around is a whole nother thing that has you fingering the cap of your rum the entire time. Yep, not gonna have kids for a long time dad.

When you do get back to the office Katya takes one look at you with the girl and points with her lit cigarette. "Explain."

"She's a lost kid. I brought her here to stay until we can find her parents." The child in question is currently trying to jump on your back and asking where her candies are.

Katya puts a hand on her face and leans back with a groan. "For the love of... Are we a homeless shelter now? Couldn't you have taken her to a regular enforcer station or anywhere else?"

"Come on, it's not too big of a deal. I can keep her in my room if you want while we look around. Probably wont take that long even. Who knows, maybe you're the mom given the hair and eyes."

The kid looks at her and wrinkles her nose. "Mom smells like smoke..."

"Ghh... Just go already. It's your responsibility since you seem so keen on taking care of her."

You quickly take the hint and try to avoid giving your boss any further headaches and lead the little girl up to your room. A jar of some sweet jam is enough to get her quiet for now. She gets the bed in the house since you only have one, leaving you to sleep on a hay pile outside. It's not that bad though, you kinda like sleeping outside occasionally.
The problem you're encountering is what you're going do for a search tomorrow. You barely have any information to work on at all, and every time you asked her what her name was while on the way home she said "I dunno". In fact, every personal question you asked her that wasn't incredibly shallow pretty much got the same answer. It's all creeping you out a little.

>Search the residential areas
>Search hospitals
>Search the commercial areas
>Write-in
>>
>>4592053
>Search hospitals

We can take a picture of her, make some posters if we need to. On the plus side, we do know one babysitting who won't be doing anything tomorrow, and has a proclivity for strays.
>>
>>4592053
>Search hospitals
>>
>>4592053
>Search hospitals
>>
After turning for the night you wake up good and refreshed, ready to deal with the new headaches that come for you. You think on where to start with your search and decided that it's going to have to be the hospitals first. Why else would she be wearing something like that? It shouldn't take too long, but you don't really want to drag along a child with you, so you take her to someone you can shunt the responsibility off to. Even if leaving a young impressionable mind with her probably isn't the best of ideas...

You open up the door to Elizabeth's room and call out to her. "Hey Elizabeth, I got a new friend to keep you company."

She looks to you and the child with confusion. "Since when did you get a kid and why are you giving her to me?"

"Because, you're stuck in bed and I need to go looking for where she belongs. You don't seem to mind handling strays do you?"

"I resent that fawn boy!" You hear Lucy shout from her corner of the room.

Elizabeth lays back on her bed with a dissatisfied expression. "Well, I was sort of hoping to get back to work today. I've been feeling pretty good and laying about too much isn't good for me. Oh, maybe I could help you look around. It's not like its gonna be some taxing activity." She really doesn't like staying still does she?

>You know what sure
>Not a chance
>Write-in
>>
>>4593260
>>Not a chance
>>
>>4593260
>You know what sure
>You can help by searching online for anything regarding missing children. Head to the local library for a computer.
Get her hopes up only to dash them. More seriously, she might turn up something unusual on the net since we’ll be hoofing it.
>>
>>4593352
+1
>>
>>4593260
>>4593352
Support.
>>
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"Oh sure you can help out." You start and she begins to perk up slightly." By staying here with her and searching through missing children reports online." Immediately she falls back groaning in frustration.

"Gah, you're such a wet blanket... Fine, but what's her name?"

You're about to respond that you don't know when she cheerfully says. "Tramadol!" Both of you look at her in confusion as she holds up a pill bottle. "It's what these tasty candies are called, so I wanna be called that too!" Ah, ok then... What!?

"Leshi, did you give her those!?"

"No! Where did you even get these!? How long did you have these!?" You shout as you wrangle the bottle from her hands. Sure enough it's an almost completely empty container of pills that she was apparently chowing down on this entire time.

"Since... All day, yesterday? They're good, but I like the purple ones better." Oh good she's had even more since before you've met her that's absolutely wonderful and not terrifying at all.

"Do we call a hospital!?" Elizabeth asks you in panic.

"Probably, yes! Poison control or anything!"

At this point Lucy walks over and calmly picks up the giggling child and looks at her before shaking her slightly. "Well, she looks fine to me. If she's really been eating medicine constantly it's kinda weird that she isn't sick or anything. Maybe it'll be fine if we just leave her be? Probably should take the happy capsules away though." Lucy, as far as you're concerned is not a medical professional by any means or stretch of the imagination at all.

>Taking the drugged up child to the hospital now!
>Maybe it really will be fine if you leave it be...
>911, what is your emergency?
>Write-in
>>
>>4594029
We should look up what those pills really are, like what they are supposed to treat. also check her heartrate and maybe take her to the hospital.
>>
>>4594029
>911, what is your emergency?

Just to make sure she's alright. Also, panic.
>>
>>4594029
>911, what is your emergency?
>>
>>4594029
>Taking the drugged up child to the hospital now!
no panik
>>
So, internet search... Tramadol is a decently powerful opioid, meant for severe pain. The purple pill is pretty generic, but apparently morphine can come in a purple pill. The girl can eat powerful painkillers like candy.

Either they’re really ineffective on her, or she’ll get real bad without them.

So, I don’t like our options. I guess >take her to a hospital
and play down the number of pills she ate. I’d be curious what her measures come back as.

Also, as painful as this will be for everyone, we may be at this point...
>Elizabeth, what sort of conspiracy theories have you heard regarding secret government drug programs in the area?
>>
>>4594681
+1 for our resident conspiracy theory nut
>>
>>4594029
>>4594681 works for me
>>
>>4594681
Supporting
>>
Okay, okay. It's best to stay calm in situations like this. First things first is taking care of the drugged up child. "Change of plans, I'm taking her to the hospital now. Elizabeth, you just lay there and..." Probably gonna regret this last part later. "Research stuff on this whole problem here, okay?"

"yeah sure, I'll see what I can come up with. This is the second worst thing I've ever woken up to."

"Alright, come on and follow me, uh... Tram?" You take the cheerful little pill popper by the hand and lead her out the door and on a long walk to the nearest hospital. The entire way she seems completely fine. Maybe Lucy actually was right? Still, why did she have those meds, tramadol isn't like aspirin it's a heavy painkiller. From what you've read though she isn't having any of the overdose symptoms.

Regardless here you are giving telling a tired eyed receptionist that she "Ate a few pills she shouldn't have" instead of an entire medicine cabinet. They quickly take her in to get examined and treated, telling you that it's going to take a while and that you could probably leave her in their care and get a call when they've finished up if you leave your number with them. Additionally, when you ask they say that they've never seen her here before, so there goes that hope of this being an easy search.

>I'll wait here for her
>Time to go out and search
>Write-in
>>
>>4595012
>>I'll wait here for her
>>
>>4595012
>I'll wait here for her
>>
>>4595012
>I'll wait here for her
>>
Since the thread is nearing the corpse drop off, I think I'll archive here. The next thread will be up in a day or two. Thanks to those who participated.



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