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"Rebecca, can you get in touch with Nike? He's planning on going back in to clean up the pocket dimension and once we're all healed up and restocked here, we're going to help. Anything you can learn about how the keystone works, Dirk's quicksave ring, all that good techie stuff will help a ton. We'll talk more in person later." e: yeah lots of stuff to talk with Rebecca about, but let's not overwhelm her over a phone call. McSpanky fucked around with this message at 05:26 on Apr 18, 2024 |
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Apr 18, 2024 05:23
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Instead of killing Dirk can we could rescue the NPS and leave Kirk trapped in a pocket dimension that resets every four
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Apr 18, 2024 05:28
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Outrail posted:gently caress'n square, if she's old enough to tear the fabric of reality apart like tissue paper she can have all the drugs if she wants except the coke. I'm working on the next update, but if people really WANT Josei to talk about how he blew thousands of dollars on drugs to Rebecca, I'll have him straight up mention it. But a friendly reminder that her last drug-related Josei experience was seeing him rip off his clothes while screeching like a banshee, so he made a judgement call to not overshare at that moment.
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Apr 18, 2024 05:33
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JessAlias posted:I'm working on the next update, but if people really WANT Josei to talk about how he blew thousands of dollars on drugs to Rebecca, I'll have him straight up mention it. But a friendly reminder that her last drug-related Josei experience was seeing him rip off his clothes while screeching like a banshee, so he made a judgement call to not overshare at that moment. There's such a thing as being too honest.
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Apr 18, 2024 05:37
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McSpanky posted:There's such a thing as being too honest. Just say that you have problems with the bank and you'll her 3 soulmarks and the other 3 is effectively an IOUs. Edit: Also say that you're sorry for leaving her behind. You wouldn't be in this situation if you took her into the dungeon. Sorry for under estimating her Ghost Armor 1337 fucked around with this message at 05:49 on Apr 18, 2024 |
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Apr 18, 2024 05:41
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Yeah let's keep that on the down low. Not a lie of omission if she doesn't ask, but be straight with her if she does. Ask Becca about setting up a secure *Sami's Murder Squad* group chat thingy with the video call and texting stuff. We want to be able to share important info with everyone real fast even if they're not on the job with us. Very handy for quickly comparing skill sets and availabile resources. Like if we were to have a bounty setting us against a mystery fae creature we could put a request for "How do I off this bastard?" And despite not sharing jobs for a while Ryder chimes in with some vulnerabilities and we buy him a case of really good beer later or something. It's going to be fun to see Becca explain Discord to Josie like he's a child.
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Apr 18, 2024 05:48
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Ghost Armor 1337 posted:
What? Nope! We decided not to risk giving her that burden of knowledge she could have saved the day but...welp. She doesn't need that in her head, she's already constantly worrying about her mom.
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Apr 18, 2024 05:51
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Ghost Armor 1337 posted:Just say that you have problems with the bank and you'll her 3 soulmarks and the other 3 is effectively an IOUs. Also with you suggesting telling Rebecca we're sorry and Blasphemaster suggesting the opposite I'm going to have those cancel out in a wash. Blasphemaster posted:Yeah let's keep that on the down low. Not a lie of omission if she doesn't ask, but be straight with her if she does. Outrail posted:gently caress'n square, if she's old enough to tear the fabric of reality apart like tissue paper she can have all the drugs if she wants except the coke. Blasphemaster posted:Text Sami about the Kiara/Thomas situation, maybe we need an exorcist? Ask Becca if she wouldn't mind taking a look-see at our fancy new magical cyberpunk gun with her knowledge of Illuminati stuff. Ivan had a lot of good info, maybe she can help with the access code thing. . We probably bought it on the relatively cheap due to it being locked up tight and secure. The rifle seems a wonderful find if we can get it to work. Bullets of Slaying, maybe we can leverage that to take on some otherwise impossible targets. Maybe we can expel Thomas' shade/spirit at some point and kill it forever with the new gun. McSpanky posted:"Rebecca, can you get in touch with Nike? He's planning on going back in to clean up the pocket dimension and once we're all healed up and restocked here, we're going to help. Anything you can learn about how the keystone works, Dirk's quicksave ring, all that good techie stuff will help a ton. We'll talk more in person later."  JOSEI: First off, I managed to pick up an Illuminati cyberpunk-style computer-gun-thing. It's supposed to be able to turn bullets into anti-weird-stuff bullets. I'm gonna check in with Richter about it because I think I bought it from him, but I was wondering if you wanted to look at it afterward? REBECCA: ...how do you THINK you bought something from someone? JOSEI: I had a busy night last night.There's a confused pause. REBECCA: Oookay. Anyway, hell yeah, I'm up for taking a look at it. JOSEI: Cool. I've got some other stuff I wanted to talk to you about as well.An ancient memory surfaces in your mind. JOSEI: ...wasn't I supposed to take you out to a fancy ice cream place? How about we do that, then you look at my gun. Sound good? REBECCA: Oooo- yeah! I'm game for that. JOSEI: Awesome. We'll work that out later. Anyway... other than that, uh, can you get get in touch with Nike? He's planning on going back in to clean up the pocket dimension and once we're all healed up and restocked here, we're going to help. Anything you can learn about how the keystone works, Dirk's quicksave ring, all that good techie stuff will help a ton. REBECCA: Noted! I'll see if Nike has any info for me. JOSEI: Actually... can you set up a group chat? Like, something we could share info on, collaborate, stuff like that. I feel like we all end up talking separate all the time. REBECCA: No problem... that seems easy enough. I'm thinking we could use Discord. JOSEI: What's Discord? REBECCA: ...you don't know what Discord is? Jesus, you really are an Old Person.That stings a bit. You decide to just move on. JOSEI: ANYWAY, thanks Becca, I really appreciate it. I'll see ya around, alright? REBECCA: You got it, boss.You hang up the phone, smiling a bit. She's a nice kid, even if she razzes you about your age. You're looking forward to going out with Rebecca and then having her handle your gun. It'll be a nice little team bonding exercise, you figure. You whistle for Goodboy to follow you into your car, and drive over to Richter's. *** The pawn shop is exactly as you remember it. Sandwiched in a slightly-less-good part of town, with a garish neon sign. You walk into the shop and find the squat Jewish shop owner there waiting for you with an arched eyebrow.  RICHTER: Back again already?You walk up to the counter and unfold the cyberpunk rifle out on it. He snorts when he sees it. RICHTER: Buddy, I told ya, no refunds. JOSEI: I wasn't looking for a refund, I- hey. Wait a second. What's up with your eyes? RICHTER: Eh? JOSEI: They're not all... wall-eyed, anymore. RICHTER: Oh. I got 'em fixed when you threw all those soulmarks at me. Bought that witch like... fifteen goddamn crystal balls. So she lifted the curse an' all.He snorts at you. RICHTER: So lesson learned. JOSEI: Well... I'm happy for you. Anyway. So. This gun.You pat the stock. JOSEI: What's the passcode?Richter rolls his eyes. RICHTER: Already loving told you I don't have one. What, you didn't hear me the first time? Gotta clean your ears out or something? JOSEI: How the hell am I supposed to use it, then?The pawn shop owner gives a shrug. RICHTER: Not my problem.You sigh. Really... he's not being unreasonable. It's just a bit frustrating. JOSEI: OK... what about this ring? I forget what it does.Richter nods at it. RICHTER: Ring a' slashing resistance. Makes you immune to mundane slashing weapons, and reduces the damage a' magic ones.Your eyes widen. JOSEI: Jesus, isn't that overpowered? RICHTER: Not really. Who the gently caress uses swords anymore? If a street punk pulls a zip gun, it's worth about as much as tits on a boar. JOSEI: Alright. Got it.You slip the ring on. Nothing happens. You frown a bit, and Richter grunts and gives a sigh. RICHTER: Needing a demo? loving seriously.He rummages around in his pocket and pulls out a pocket knife. You grit your teeth, remembering how bad a stab wound felt the last time you didn't have this ring on, and watch closely as he flicks it open. Richter swings in a wild arc toward you with the blade... and when the sharp edge reaches your arm, it just skitters off uselessly. There's no pain or nothing -- he just didn't get through to your skin. You stare at your arm in delight, and Richter smirks a bit and runs a finger along the knife to test how sharp it is. RICHTER: Told ya-Then he swears as he makes a cut into his own skin, causing himself to bleed. RICHTER: poo poo, forgot how sharp that one was. God drat it!He grabs a handkerchief out of his pocket and staunches the bleeding, muttering more swears. JOSEI: You okay? RICHTER: I'll be fine. Anything else?You pause, and remember the whole... Kiara being possessed thing. You send a quick text to Sami explaining the situation. RICHTER: Rude. JOSEI: Hey, sorry, I had to send Sami a text. Anyway. Do you know any good exorcists? RICHTER: What? JOSEI: Ex-or-cists. People who do exorcisms? Get ghosts and demons out of bodies?The pawnshop owner squints at you and tilts his head to one side. RICHTER: Are you stupid? You think I'm a goddamn priest or something? Talk to Sami about it, maybe she's got someone in the Church...He snaps his fingers. RICHTER: Hey, I bet that goth chick you got hanging around ya could help. She's actually a Catholic. What's her name?With a sinking feeling, you supply it to him. JOSEI: Kiara. And uh, she's the one having...You trail off, not sure how much to share. To your surprise, Richter seems to instantly pick up on what's going on. Rather than making fun of the situation or just shrugging it off, you see the fat stogie in his mouth fall out, bouncing on the floor in shock. RICHTER: No poo poo?? She got possessed? JOSEI: Er- didn't say that-The squat fellow gives a snort. RICHTER: I won't tell nobody, ain't anyone's business but hers and yours. But you gotta get it fixed quick, buddy. The longer you let it stand, the more comfy the possessing spirit gets squatting in her. RICHTER: If the right wind blows, it can even send her tumbling off into who-knows-where. Then you don't just gotta do an exorcism, you gotta FIND her too. JOSEI: That's... awful. So she could get lost forever? RICHTER: Depends on the type of demon or ghost that did it to her, but yeah, could happen. If it's a strong enough spirit, like a proper demon or an old or angry ghost...He just trails off, and scratches his nose. RICHTER: All I can say is, you better get a specialist on her, stat. JOSEI: Could Sami just... rip whoever-it-is outta Kiara?Richter squints at you with his beady little eyes. RICHTER: Let me get this straight. You want ol' Sami, the boss herself, to just reach into your goth girlfriend with her eldritch might and TEAR out the offending spirit? JOSEI: She's not my girl- whatever, anyway. Yeah? RICHTER: Do you have ANY loving clue how much damage that could end up doing? Do you have any idea how delicate human anatomy is? The boss isn't exactly known for her bedside manner. She'd tell you that up-front. She ain't that kinda-He catches himself. RICHTER: She ain't that kinda person, alright? Not her specialty.You always thought people weren't sure what Sami is. At least, non-Gorelax people. You feel tempted to press him. Alternatively, you could just change the subject and ask him about respirators, or other stuff. Character Sheets & Inventory USD ACCOUNT BALANCE: $391,961 SM ACCOUNT BALANCE: Ω6.55
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Apr 18, 2024 06:15
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So could strong emotions get Kiara back into her body? Cause I suspect that the trama from the last misson is what allowed her to be possessed. Ghost Armor 1337 fucked around with this message at 12:47 on Apr 18, 2024 |
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Apr 18, 2024 06:42
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The wedding might be enough to make him leave on his own
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Apr 18, 2024 06:56
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Our use our soul like a dishrag.
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Apr 18, 2024 07:02
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What about bullets for this thing?
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Apr 18, 2024 07:15
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Ghost Armor 1337 posted:So could strong emotions get Kiara back into her body? McSpanky posted:What about bullets for this thing? JOSEI: So could strong emotions get Kiara back into her body? Because I suspect that the trauma from the last misson is what allowed her to be possessed. RICHTER: gently caress if I know. That's a question for an exorcist.He shrugs. You decide to move on to another topic. JOSEI: How do I get bullets for this thing?You pat the Illuminati cyberpunk rifle. RICHTER: 100,000 bucks. JOSEI: For a box of ammo?Richter gets an amused expression. RICHTER: This is a restricted-access prototype military weapon system. They make 'em by hand in a machine shop in France somewhere. They have an exclusivity contract with the Illuminati and it ain't cheap. RICHTER: That price is for one 5-round magazine. JOSEI: Jesus. Do you want an arm and a leg too?He shrugs. RICHTER: If you don't like the price, you can try begging for some from the Illuminati. See how far that gets ya.You run a hand through your hair. Right now you have 0 rounds, so this thing is a paperweight. Lovely. Character Sheets & Inventory USD ACCOUNT BALANCE: $391,961 SM ACCOUNT BALANCE: Ω6.55
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Apr 18, 2024 14:32
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Don't buy anything for our shiny, expensive and turbo illegal paperweight until Rebecca's gotten a chance to jailbreak the thing at the very least.
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Apr 18, 2024 15:48
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Aesculus posted:Don't buy anything for our shiny, expensive and turbo illegal paperweight until Rebecca's gotten a chance to jailbreak the thing Richter, what ammo types are available? E: also, we apparently acquired a lifetime supply of improbable dildos. Did that come up while I was here, and if so do you remember if they're magical or or not? If they're just regular dildos mail them to Kyle one at a time Outrail fucked around with this message at 15:54 on Apr 18, 2024 |
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Apr 18, 2024 15:51
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Outrail posted:Richter, what ammo types are available? Aesculus posted:Don't buy anything for our shiny, expensive and turbo illegal paperweight until Rebecca's gotten a chance to jailbreak the thing at the very least. JOSEI: ...what kinds of rounds does this thing fire, anyway?Richter holds up one pudgy finger. JOSEI: Just one? RICHTER: If you see more 'n that, something's wrong, pal. That thing doesn't need more than one kind of round, because the rounds have special magitech that makes 'em homing, and then gives 'em the ability to penetrate supernatural poo poo, even deactivate it if you tune it right. RICHTER: It's a one-size-fits-all wizard, wig-wog and monster huntin' gun. JOSEI: ...wig-wog? RICHTER: Woggily things. Y'know.You shake your head slowly, clueless, and he stares up at the ceiling. RICHTER: Dear Lord, why do I gotta be surrounded by these dumbasses?He looks back down at you. RICHTER: Eldritch poo poo. You know. Shoggoths, Cthulhu, Nyarlathotep, you catch my drift? JOSEI: Wait, so I could use this to kill a god?He holds up his hands, snorting. RICHTER: Didn't say that, just was explaining what I meant by wig-wog. JOSEI: You know, that word sounds kinda offensive.Richter gives a derisive laugh. RICHTER: What, you friends with an eldritch monster? Good one.You almost mention that you're actually close friends with Gorelax, but then reconsider it. Your mouth decides to fill the silence while your brain is distracted. JOSEI: So... with the lifetime supply of dildos, were they magical?The pawn shop owner blinks, obviously not believing his own ears. RICHTER: What?Before your brain can intervene, your mouth continues. JOSEI: The lifetime supply of dildos that I bought? You know, like there was one this big-Somehow, your arms get in on the conspiracy, and decide to make a gesture indicating exactly how huge THAT dildo was. RICHTER: Woooooooaaaah, WHAT. Hold on there buddy, I didn't sell you no fuckin' lifetime supply of dildos.He stares at you with a raised eyebrow, and leans forward . RICHTER: Listen, pal, I'm not judgemental. But there's a thing people call "too much information," alright? Whatever you do in the bedroom, stays in the bedroom.You sputter a bit. JOSEI: They weren't for me-He interrupts. RICHTER: Yeah, yeah, they were for a friend. Hey, it's no skin off my nose what you have your goth girlfriend uses on ya alright?He scratches his nose, then pauses while you're busy sputtering. RICHTER: Wait, I thought you were datin' that dhampyr chick...Richter squints, and there's a curious expression on his face. RICHTER: Jesus, your rear end must get-You decide it's high time for another change in subject to something else you probably need. You do need some gas masks or respirators if you ever decide to use those super soakers you decided to fill with ipecac and Everclear, for whatever reason. JOSEI: ANYWAY. SO. I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD BUY SOME RESPIRATORS?!Richter leans back at the sudden increase in volume, but seems willing to move on as well. He shrugs, and taps a display case nearby, revealing it to be full of gas masks of all shapes and sizes. Some look old and war-torn, others are modern and sleek. RICHTER: Any specific kind? Got everything from a cheap Russian model that's about 60 bucks to an advanced Israeli one that's 300 for the full kit. The Israeli one's good against anything nuclear, biological or chemical, the basic Russian one... well, you're taking your chances with anything that isn't chemical.> Richter's got a variety of gas masks and respirators. What would we like to buy, and how many? We'll be picking them up later since we don't have any cash on us at this moment. A) $60: Basic Russian gas mask. Provides protection against chemical weapons, SUPPOSEDLY protects against biological and nuclear threats. Incredibly uncomfortable, but at least the filter refills are cheap. A) $100: Basic Czech gas mask. About as comfortable as the basic Israeli model, and comes with a drinking tube. However, the filter refills are difficult to get and expensive, it's not compatible with NATO standard gas masks OR the cheap Russian ones. B) $175: Basic Israeli G.I. gas mask. Lightweight, portable, and for use only in emergency situations. Fairly comfortable to wear. Has a speaking port, and a connection that allows use of a canteen for drinking fluids. Uses a NATO standard filter canister. C) $300: Advanced Israeli M-15 gas mask. Designed for maximum comfort, with large eye ports that provide excellent visibility. Has an integrated mouth piece for drinking, an air supply system, and a speaking port. Also uses a NATO standard filter canister. Richter will also throw in a carrying bag for free! What a nice guy. Character Sheets & Inventory USD ACCOUNT BALANCE: $391,961 SM ACCOUNT BALANCE: Ω6.55 JessAlias fucked around with this message at 17:15 on Apr 18, 2024 |
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Apr 18, 2024 17:07
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C. Get a Dozen. Better have and not need, and we're amassing pals left and right here.
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Apr 18, 2024 17:48
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Blasphemaster posted:C. Get a Dozen. Better have and not need, and we're amassing pals left and right here. This "What kind of special ammo do you have for shotguns? Explosives, tear gas? Anything fancier?" Ipecac is not a contact poison, and while Everclear would certainly suck to get in your eyes and is flammable, I'd prefer to have more flexible and longer-range options. Also, we may be able to get a decisive first strike against Dirk with something he's not expecting, given his arrogance and belief that firearms present no significant danger to him (both currently entirely reasonable). Just in case the ultrakill gun doesn't work out.
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Apr 18, 2024 18:51
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Dragon's Breath, White Phosphorus, Slug, AP Slug, taser, Buckshot, Birdshot, HPSlug, Bladed Net Rounds. If it fits in a shotgun shell, it's ammo.
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Apr 18, 2024 19:13
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Blasphemaster posted:C. Get a Dozen. Better have and not need, and we're amassing pals left and right here. McSpanky posted:This Blasphemaster posted:Dragon's Breath, White Phosphorus, Slug, AP Slug, taser, Buckshot, Birdshot, HPSlug, Bladed Net Rounds. JOSEI: I'll take a dozen of the most expensive ones. Can I pick them up later, though? I need to get a new Infernal debit card. RICHTER: Yeah, sure. I'll need to special order 'em if you want that many of the nice ones. Anything else?You rub your chin. JOSEI: Do you have any other kinds of shotgun shells, besides the incendiary rounds and the tear gas grenades I bought? Explosive rounds... other stuff? RICHTER: That's kinda specialty. I can ask around, but that'll take time. You actually interested? JOSEI: I'm interested. I want to make sure my team's fully kitted out, you know? So anything you've got... armor piercing, net rounds, just whatever you can find. RICHTER: Alright. I'll need a day or two to talk to some folks.With that task done, you head to your new penthouse along with Goodboy. While you feed him some lunch, you decide to try calling up your bank- Then you pause, realizing that you have no way to call them, because you don't know their number. And it's not like the Bank of Hades has a local branch. You chalk this up as another thing to discuss with Sami. Instead, you spend the rest of the evening moving crap from the rented farmhouse to the penthouse. You're not sure if you really need the farmhouse anymore, though you suppose since it's paid up through the end of the month, you may as well keep it in your back pocket for the interim. Besides, the fact Ivan set up a shooting range there was kind of nice. By the early evening, Sami finally calls you back. JOSEI: Hey there, boss lady. SAMI: Hello. I hear that Kiara is possessed? JOSEI: At least I THINK she is. Either that or she has forgotten like, 99% of the stuff she used to know about our companions. SAMI: Mmh. Interesting. Thomas must have been quite subtle, I didn't pick up on anything while she was unconscious. And, well... after that, I did notice she was keeping her distance, which wasn't unusual due to the recovery process. SAMI: I can say I'm interested in helping, for obvious reasons. Though I can't do so directly. I don't quite have the ability to perform an exorcism neatly anymore. JOSEI: "Anymore?" You mean you used to?Sami ignores your question, and moves on breezily. SAMI: You'll need to reach out to the Knights Templar, they have connections with the segments of the Catholic Church that still handle things like this. I'll hook you up with someone, but it'll need some time. SAMI: Meanwhile, I'll also drop by and give "Kiara" a reminder that her debt has increased and the importance of adhering to the terms of the contract. That should frighten Thomas into staying close at hand.There's a thoughtful pause. SAMI: If you want, you could probably take - her? Him? Them, I suppose. You could take them along on the mission. Thomas was an exceptionally skilled necromancer, and if they are studiously trying to appear like Kiara... it would be a very, very bad idea for them to try to backstab you. They're no fool. SAMI: Their only chance of making it right now is by convincing everyone 100% they are definitely Kiara so there won't be any kind of suspicion. JOSEI: But... Richter said that it gets harder to restore Kiara if we take longer, is that not a thing? SAMI: In the LONG run, yes, and in GENERAL terms he is accurate. But Kiara is bound to me. She can't just scatter to the winds. In fact... I suppose she is rather vigorously haunting Thomas right now, in almost the same way that Thomas used to with her. Turnabout is fair play, after all.You wince. JOSEI: Oof. So they're... fighting over Kiara's body? SAMI: That is one way to put it, yes. She might even successfully kick him out on her own if he is sufficiently compromised. I wouldn't put a lot of money on that outcome. JOSEI: Okay. Got it. Mhf. Uh, Sami, can I get some help getting money, also? I kinda lost my Infernal debit card due to the dying thing. SAMI: Yes, just drop by and I'll give you the necessary funds. I'll also reach out to Naomi Inkspinner to get you a replacement card. By the way, you're still planning to go back in, yes? JOSEI: Of course. I need to wipe out Dirk. SAMI: Just checking. I want to point out that since you've lost the brooches, it's going to be a little harder for you to get guidance from Odin and Athena. You might have noticed that already. JOSEI: ...yeah, I kind of did, actually. SAMI: You could always try praying to one or both of them tonight. That way you could get a little guidance. That's up to you, though.You give a nod, then remember you're on the phone. JOSEI: I'll figure that out, sure. Admittedly I'm still kind of pissed about Athena not warning me about how bad things were gonna go, though. You'd think she'd have done that. SAMI: I can't speak for what Athena does or doesn't do, but I can understand your frustration. JOSEI: Yeah. Anyway. I'm gonna go out with Rebecca, I promised her I'd get her some ice cream. I might buy her dinner too. SAMI: ...you're going out with Rebecca? JOSEI: Yeah? SAMI: Hmm.You blink, unsure why she's acting all weird. JOSEI: What? SAMI: Nothing! It's not any of my business.You snap your fingers, remembering something. JOSEI: Actually... speaking of Rebecca. I'm thinking that she kinda needs more survivability. Would it be possible to sign her up with a contract like ours? She might be okay with it, if it means she has a better chance of saving her mom.You hear a tick-tack sound, and realize she's drumming her fingers. She either must have some long nails, or talons. SAMI: Yes. I could. But you'd better be aware that her father would have an apoplexy if he found out. Something to consider. JOSEI: Alright. Just curious, like... I'd need to get her buy in first. Thanks Sami, that should be it. SAMI: You're welcome. Enjoy your dinner date. JOSEI: Haha, yeah, I will.You hang up the phone cheerfully, and check the clock. It's about six. You ring up Rebecca. REBECCA: Hey, what's up? JOSEI: Hey. I was just thinking, you wanna get dinner? We could go to a fast casual place, then grab the ice cream and head to my place to take a look at that techno-gun. What do you think? REBECCA: Sure! Can you bring your dog? He's such a good boy! JOSEI: Haha, sure. That's his name after all.You bounce ideas for a few places to go, before settling with some modern pizza place that just opened up that's supposed to be pretty good. Goodboy trots alongside you as you walk into the place. Rebecca shows up wearing a bomber jacket and some jeans, and excitedly pats Goodboy's head as soon as she sees him. The dog's joyful tail wags back and forth, and he accepts her attention like the good boi he is. You and Rebecca get some pizza and take a patio seat. The waiters even bring out some dog biscuits and a bowl of water for Goodboy. After some time just shooting the breeze, you clear your throat and glance around to make sure nobody is sitting all up in your business. Seeing the coast is clear, you adopt a more serious tone. JOSEI: Hey, Becca... I was thinking. Rebecca pauses between bites of her pepperoni pizza and blinks at you inquisitively. REBECCA: Ya? What is it? JOSEI: Um... anyway, remember how I said I'd help you find your mom? REBECCA: ...uh-huh?She looks doubtful, and you realize she thinks you might be backing out of your promise or something. You hold up your hands. JOSEI: I'm still good with that. I just wanna ask, though, maybe it would help if you have some survivability? Like... I'll admit, I'm really hesitant to take you somewhere where you'll get hurt, that'd just be too much on my conscience.Rebecca sits back, and absently breaks off a piece of her pizza to hand to Goodboy. The golden retriever scarfs it down greedily. REBECCA: Yah, but I dunno what you can do about that. There's not any kind of pill or armor or anything that'll make me instantly able to fight vampires or monsters or whatever. JOSEI: Well... I was actually talking to Sami, and she could probably give you the same kind of reviving ability that me and Ivan and Kiara have. If you're interested.She makes a face. REBECCA: Yuck, but I'd have to pledge allegience to that demon monster lady, yeah?You realize she's never really talked to Sami, and mostly heard about your boss third-hand. JOSEI: Yyyyyeah. She's not that bad though. It's not like you're joining the Illuminati.Rebecca considers, and you're surprised by her giving a decisive nod. REBECCA: Sure! Let's do it.She picks up her pizza slice again. REBECCA: This sounds totally punk rock. So you really think she'll do that for me? JOSEI: That's what she said when I asked her... Sami's not a liar. Um. But you're sure you don't want to give this some more thought?The 18-year-old rolls her eyes and snorts. REBECCA: Why not? I've got a full life ahead of me, so I'll have plenty of time to pay her off if it just means I gotta run bounties.You nervously crack your knuckles. JOSEI: I'm not... saying you HAVE to do this right away, though, you can think- REBECCA: Nah, I'm good, you can stop the concerned father routine. It's gonna be fine! Just gimme her number and I'll take care of the rest.She takes a big bite of her pizza and shrugs at you after chewing and swallowing. You shrug back helplessly, and provide her the phone number for Sami. After you all finish the meal together, the three of you stop by a gourmet ice cream place. Rebecca gets an elaborate milkshake with a massive swirl of whipped cream on top, and you get some espresso-flavored frozen treats. After you're done, you drive her back to your penthouse suite and show her the Illuminati cyberpunk rifle you managed to saddle yourself with. Rebecca looks excited by the gun, and immediately starts taking it apart on your dining table as you feed Goodboy dinner and then scrub him down in the penthouse shower with some dog shampoo, since he's started to get a little doggy smelling. As you emerge from the shower with a damp dog, you see Rebecca taking a look at the computer components inside, and she whistles with obvious admiration. REBECCA: Man, it's not often I can barely understand how something works. Some components are sealed and I'm pretty sure if I crack them open, they'll melt my hand off or something. This thing is the real deal. JOSEI: Any luck figuring out how to get past the passcode thingie? REBECCA: Hmm? Oh, yeah. I just bypassed that, it's just a basic activation key. Though I'll warn you, this gun is genelocked. JOSEI: What's that mean?Rebecca tilts her head, obviously trying to figure out how to sum it up. REBECCA: Like... when you activate it, it locks onto your DNA and makes it so it only works when you're holding it. It's a security measure. I can get past the passcode easily, but it's supposed to be that after you type in the passcode, it then activates the genelocking. So basically... like, if you boot up the gun right now? It'd be yours forever. JOSEI: Can't you just disable that? REBECCA: Uh... it's a hardwired security feature. Like... if I bypass it, I have to basically rewrite the firmware and everything from the ground up. It constantly checks the genelock before doing ANYTHING. In theory I could fix that, but in practice it'd take a LOT of time and effort. Like... more time than we have available probably. JOSEI: Is there a way to reset the gun to factory settings if we need to change who it's assigned to? REBECCA: Resetting the rifle wouldn't be too hard, I guess. But I'd need proper tools and down time to do it, I can't do it in the field.You frown a bit, rubbing Goodboy's tummy gently. > Who do we assign the rifle to? Or we can procrastinate on a decision. Character Sheets & Inventory USD ACCOUNT BALANCE: $391,961 SM ACCOUNT BALANCE: Ω6.55 JessAlias fucked around with this message at 21:11 on Apr 18, 2024 |
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Apr 18, 2024 19:29
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Hold off on genelocking the gun, since whoever it gets locked to essentially owns it at that point. We don't even have ammo for it right now. "Can you figure anything out about the anti-paranormal feature? Does it have some kind of scanner or something to adjust the rounds, or however that works?"
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Apr 18, 2024 20:20
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Discuss the genelock with Ivan. Also check how it takes note of the genelock: We might not be able to spoof it internal to the gun's mechanisms, but we might be able to spoof it externally.
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Apr 18, 2024 20:31
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OK, writing an update now. Day will be coming to a close, and we can make a couple more choices before it ends.
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Apr 18, 2024 20:54
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AJ_Impy posted:Discuss the genelock with Ivan. Also check how it takes note of the genelock: We might not be able to spoof it internal to the gun's mechanisms, but we might be able to spoof it externally. McSpanky posted:Hold off on genelocking the gun, since whoever it gets locked to essentially owns it at that point. We don't even have ammo for it right now. JOSEI: Let's take a pause on locking it in. Can you figure anything out about the anti-paranormal feature? Does it have some kind of scanner or something to adjust the rounds, or however that works? REBECCA: Oh, haha... it's manual, actually? It looks like you need to key in some parameters to help define what you're fighting. JOSEI: What, like... VAMPIRE, WEREWOLF, things like that?Rebecca shakes her head, giggling. REBECCA: Bit more complicated than that, which makes sense. Rather than calibrating to just a generic vampire setting, it's more like... you calibrate it to the TYPE of threat. So a lycanthrope would be under shapeshifters, changelings, weak to silver... et cetera. Vampires are undead and weak to sunlight. So on and so forth. REBECCA: I'm guessing the more parameters you use, the more powerful the gun gets. Just putting in "undead" will make it middling-to-okay at hurting or killing ALL undead beings. But it won't excel at any single one.She tilts her head, thinking. REBECCA: I think I saw some hints that there's supposed to be a scanner functionality added to it, but the program comments just vaguely reference that. Nothing concrete. Though I might be able to figure out something if given time. JOSEI: OK. So how does it handle genelocking? Can we spoof it, make it think I'm Ivan for example? REBECCA: Mmmmaybe? Let's see...She gets distracted for a good twenty minutes, digging into the code and the hardware components in the gun. When she's done, she sits up and blinks at you. REBECCA - TECHNOLOGY ROLL: 9 +4 PERK BONUS (TECH) = 13 VS DC 12. SUCCESS! REBECCA: Yeah, since this is a prototype, I might be able to spoof it. it looks like they were actually working on getting it to soullock along with genelock, so it'd be a one-two punch of verification. But since the soul detection stuff hasn't been added, all it has to work off of is DNA.She holds up a finger. REBECCA: It'll take time to get it working with 100% efficiency, though. Like... if I jury rig it? Sure, maybe we could lock it to you and then Ivan bothers it. But the spoofing could fail, and suddenly Ivan's gun turns into a paperweight.You wince. JOSEI: Ouch. Which reminds me...You ring up Ivan, and he answers promptly.  IVAN: Yes? JOSEI: Ivan... Kiara says this gun can only be locked to a single user. We're working on how to circumvent it. Would you like to have it?Ivan grunts, thinking. Then he says something you aren't expecting. IVAN: Not really. I think it's a waste. JOSEI: Uh... what? IVAN: Josei. It's a self-aiming rifle with homing projectiles. Yes, I could use it to excellence, but those properties are wasted on me versus someone less skilled. IVAN: I'd suggest you or Kiara - though, right now, with Kiara's "condition," maybe just you. I wouldn't recommend the child, what with her pacifist nature. JOSEI: Alright. I'll table it for now. Thanks Ivan. IVAN: No problem.You hang up, and turn your attention back to Rebecca. JOSEI: So I guess this will be a project, then. Um. I guess you can come back tomorrow?Rebecca pauses, and gets a small frown. REBECCA: Sorry, what? Do I have to go? I thought I'd be spending the night here.You rub your chin, thinking. JOSEI: There's a guest bedroom, but like... this place is only partly furnished, I don't have a guest bed yet...Rebecca folds her arms and gets a sulky expression. REBECCA: But I wanna keep working on this for at least a few more hours! Pleeeease?You purse your lips, as Rebecca starts giving you puppy dog eyes and a pleading expression. REBECCA: Please? Pretty please with whipped cream and ice cream and a cherry on top? JOSEI: gently caress.You rub your face tiredly. Goodboy is already zonked out on the couch. You suppose you could just try to evict him from it... JOSEI: Alright. Fine. How about you sleep in my bed, and I'll hold the fort out here, okay? Also the gun stays out here because you, young lady, are going to bed at 10PM.She blows a raspberry. REBECCA: Pbbbt! Wow, okay, DAD, I didn't know you had a curfew.You ignore her ribbing and look at your watch -- it's already 8PM, anyway, so that should give her some time to keep fiddling with the gun before hitting the hay. You feel relieved at finding a compromise that will hopefully keep everyone happy. As you consider your next steps, you feel your phone vibrate. You glance at the caller ID. It's Bomber Joe, calling you for the 157th time. You COULD answer him... or you could let him continue stewing in his own prickishness. > We have several different things we can do to close out the night. Options will be selected based on the consensus seen. If an option gets only ONE vote, it is probably not getting selected. 1) We can pray to our godly patrons. Select some, all, or none. a) Athena, our primary patron. b) Odin, our (usually) silent patron. c) Thor, our godly sparring partner. 2) We can talk to Bomber Joe, or just leave him hanging some more. 3) We can distribute soulmarks. We can do one of these, or both. a) One person suggested giving one each to each of our friends. b) Another person suggested giving three to Rebecca. 4) We can do other stuff. Call Nike, bug "Kiara" some more to gently caress with Thomas, there are many choices. Character Sheets & Inventory USD ACCOUNT BALANCE: $391,961 SM ACCOUNT BALANCE: Ω6.55
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Apr 18, 2024 21:00
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Don't let Rebecca literally sell her soul just yet. Is Sami good with some kind of 'If Rebecca dies she will be brought back as a country hunter with 50 soulmark debt and xxxx conditions' contract? Also Rebecca met Sami at the BBQ Ivan gets the rifle.
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Apr 18, 2024 21:05
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Outrail posted:Don't let Rebecca literally sell her soul just yet. I can have Josei text that question to Sami when I do the next update. Outrail posted:Also Rebecca met Sami at the BBQ ...oops. Let me amend that to never really TALKED to Sami. Rebecca was basically hanging out with Athena the entire time and they had no real interaction, probably because Sami is frightening. Editing that now. JessAlias fucked around with this message at 21:12 on Apr 18, 2024 |
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Apr 18, 2024 21:10
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1a - Check in with our favorite patron goddess, let her know the news of the world. No hard feelings, she did tell us our heroic obligation was satisfied before we met Dirk head-on. 2 - We should talk to Bomber Joe, even if only to gently caress with him some more. If he gets either too desperate or too ignored he might do something crazy like come after us, better to keep that leash from slackening too much. Otherwise, try to relax, it's been a long day. Ivan made some good points, Josei should keep the rifle.
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Apr 19, 2024 01:19
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also we should check on Kiara Hopefully she wasn't rough up too bad
Ghost Armor 1337 fucked around with this message at 03:24 on Apr 19, 2024 |
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Apr 19, 2024 02:48
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Ghost Armor 1337 posted:also we should check on Kiara Hopefully she wasn't rough up too bad I am confused, are you wanting us to check on "Kiara" (who is being possessed by Thomas) to make sure they are okay?
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Apr 19, 2024 03:27
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Ghost Armor 1337 posted:also we should check on Kiara Hopefully she wasn't rough up too bad Ghost Armor 1337 posted:
I am all on board for Operation: Embarrass Thomas out of Kiara's body. Ask "her" how the preparations are going, if "she"'s still thinking about that cruise ship ceremony, so on.
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Apr 19, 2024 03:45
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JessAlias posted:I am confused, are you wanting us to check on "Kiara" (who is being possessed by Thomas) to make sure they are okay? Yeah Josei kinda need to check on since after that incident, Thomas probably knows the jig is up after, and having an angry necromancer running unsupervised is pretty high on the list of Josie bad decisions. Ghost Armor 1337 fucked around with this message at 03:50 on Apr 19, 2024 |
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Apr 19, 2024 03:46
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Ghost Armor 1337 posted:Yeah Josei kinda need to check on since Thomas probably knows the jig is up after, and having an angry necromancer running unsupervised is pretty high ob the list of Josie bad decisions. OK, I had interpreted it as a wellness check where we are kindly checking on Thomas and trying to make them feel better, and my confusion was great. Aesculus posted:I am all on board for Operation: Embarrass Thomas out of Kiara's body. Ask "her" how the preparations are going, if "she"'s still thinking about that cruise ship ceremony, so on. Noted. OK, if consensus stays around this then we can definitely do it.
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Apr 19, 2024 03:49
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+1 low key loving with Thomas's head if it comes up
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Apr 19, 2024 03:53
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1. All. Never not get a triple layer divine aid cake. 2. Hey Joe, do you believe in spooks? Did you know that they are statistically very unlikely to haunt Kyles when Joseis aren't labeled terrorists? 3. ...how about we table it for now and if Becca joins up with Sami we offer her the gun in lieu of the 6 soulmarks? We're most likely going to get our assegai back once Dirk is humbked and this thing is right the heck up her alley seeing as she has practically zero combat ability and oodles of tech affinity. She's got that kind of fast detail oriented brain that can load up on the identifying characteristics and really exploit the gun's abilities. 4. Get 1 magazine of fancy gun Ammo from Richter. It's a brick without it and we'll need it sooner rather than later. If we need more than one in a short timeframe we done hosed up. Now that we have a bag of holding it's time to enact plan ALL THE GRENADES. It shall be the Bag of Unreasonably Excessive Firepower. Maybe a couple M-72 LAW launchers. Semtex ,C4, detcord Definitely not a terrorist, just well prepared. We should probably get some healing potions if those are a thing.
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Apr 19, 2024 05:45
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This is what I am getting out of the consensus: 1) We can pray to our godly patrons. Select some, all, or none. a) Athena, our primary patron. (2 votes) b) Odin, our (usually) silent patron. (1 vote) c) Thor, our godly sparring partner. (1 vote) For the above, I'm interpreting this as DEFINITELY praying to Athena, and then maybe praying to Odin or Thor depending on it goes. 2) We can talk to Bomber Joe, or just leave him hanging some more. (2 votes for calling Kyle) a) One person suggested giving one each to each of our friends. b) Another person suggested giving three to Rebecca. We will also buy 1 magazine of supergun ammo, and pack as much heavy ordnance in our Bag of Holding as possible. Assigning the gun will be left up in the air for now, due to a split between Josei, Ivan, and (tentatively) Rebecca. Working on an update now.
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Apr 19, 2024 20:53
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You pick up the phone and answer Kyle, AKA Bomber Joe, cheerfully. JOSEI: Hola! Como estas? KYLE: WHAT THE gently caress DO YOU WANT FROM ME!?You wince, holding the phone away from your ear. The guy is obviously not doing well. You can hear him breathing heavily, and he sounds hoarse. JOSEI: Wow... hey, dude, are you okay? KYLE: NO I'M NOT OKAY! That thing, whatever it is, is following me EVERYWHERE! It - it goes through the walls, it even came up through the floor.There's a long pause as his voice drops to a shaky whisper. KYLE: It's standin' out there outside my door right now. I hear it walkin'.You really should feel bad about this. Alas, you are not a saint, and instead feel a certain level of sadistic glee. JOSEI: I dunno, man, maybe you should let him in. He probably just wants to have a nice conversation. KYLE: C-conversation? What about? How to gut a squirrel?You pause. JOSEI: Uh, what? KYLE: T-that shadowy bastard ripped up a squirrel and left the bits in front of my back door and I STEPPED on it. It's obviously a, a sign! JOSEI: ...or it could be a neighborhood cat? KYLE: SHUT UP. You don't get it. I can hear it in the walls still. It's... it's growlin', but sometimes it whispers too. Whispers really quiet like, almost inaudible... it's saying a name, over and over again. But I, I, I can't make it out...You decide to be merciful, and throw him a bone. JOSEI: You know what... I think I know how to make it go away. KYLE: Wh- HOW? TELL ME!! JOSEI: Weeeell... according to scientific studies, I hear that ghosts are statistically very unlikely to haunt Kyles when Joseis aren't labeled terrorists. KYLE: You... sent this thing here just to blackmail me to get your name off that list, huh? Seriously!? JOSEI: drat right. Think of this as an educational experience. If you don't do this, you're going to learn about a lot of things. Like... how to not get rid of ghosts, and how to survive without sleeping anymore, and maybe just a LITTLE about what it's like to get your body hollowed out and used as a disguise by a vengeful- KYLE: gently caress. Fine. FINE! I'll pull some strings, you little poo poo!You hear him sob pitifully. KYLE: My wife left me, you smug, evil bastard. I've been living off instant coffee and McDonald's breakfast biscuits for the past week. AND now I'm going to lose several contracts unless I get some goddamn sleep and stop hallucinating! JOSEI: Sac-re-bleu, no! We absolutely cannot have that happen! I guess you'd better get on the horn with your friends in the Three Letter Bureaus, eh? KYLE: gently caress YOU.He hangs up on you, and you sit there, smiling widely. That made your day. You're going to rest easy tonight. You decide to go on a tour of 'people you dislike' and dial up "Kiara," AKA Thomas the bastard who is possessing one of your best friends. She picks up after a few rings, obviously not recognizing the number.  KIARA: Hello? JOSEI: Hey!There's an awkward pause. KIARA: Who is this? JOSEI: It's me, Josei. Just wanted to check in, how are you feeling?You can't see her, but you have the strong suspicion she's blinking. There's a long silence as she tries to process who you are. KIARA: Oh! You're, um... right. Sorry, it's just hard to uh, recognize you on the phone instead of in person, you know?She laughs lightly, like that's a normal thing and you should also TOTALLY agree with her. JOSEI: Sure, yeah. So... how are the preparations going? KIARA: Prep...arations? For what, going back to kill Dirk? JOSEI: Noooo. You know. For the big day? KIARA: T-the big day? Um... did I... did we- did we forget something important? JOSEI: Relaaaaaax! It's just the same thing we were talking about the day before yesterday? YOU know. KIARA: I, er, um, yeah, uh... what was it we were talking about with it, um?You struggle to keep from laughing. JOSEI: Remember? The date? We agreed on the 16th of May, I think. It's not far away now... KIARA: Date? Like... like dinner?! JOSEI: Pfft, no, the date on the calendar. I was thinking a cruise would be great afterwards, but I remember you said something about... what was it? Can you jog my memory? KIARA: U-uh, yeah! That- a cruise s-sounds, awesome! Um, whatever idea I had was obviously, er, obviously bad in comparison, hahaha! JOSEI: Alright. Any preference on where to go? KIARA: Er, uh, Jamaica? JOSEI: I thought you hated Jamaica. KIARA: HAHA! That was a joke! Of course I wouldn't want to go to Jamaica, I'd want to go to, er, to... Mexico. JOSEI: Okay. Sounds good. Oh, uh, don't forget to send me the link. KIARA: ...the link to what? JOSEI: For the dress? At the website we looked at together? KIARA: Eeeeeer, right. Yes. That jogged my memory.You hear the sound of frantic tapping. She's obviously trying to search online. KIARA: Ahahaha! Um. Can I send a, a, a few links? I actually was doing some comparison, er, shopping? JOSEI: Sure thing, pumpkin. KIARA: Haha! That's so cute, when you call me, um, that. I love it. Er. I need to go use the bathroom. Bye!She hangs up on you abruptly, which is fine. You set your phone aside and give your dog a pat. Rebecca is sprawled on the floor, still tinkering with the gun. REBECCA: What was that about? Who're you getting married to?INSIGHT ROLL: 4 +1 PERK BONUS (LUCK) = 5 VS DC 12. FAILURE. You get a blank look, then snort. JOSEI: Oh, uh, just... joking around with Kiara about getting married.Rebecca blinks. REBECCA: You two are getting married...? JOSEI: Pfft - no, don't be ridiculous. We're just friends. It's a joke, let's leave it at that, okay?You look at your watch. JOSEI: It's also getting late. Time for you to get to bed, Rebecca.Rebecca makes a whining noise and sighs. She pushes herself up and stretches languidly. REBECCA: Mmphk! Fiiiiiine...She pouts at you, as if you're being unreasonable. You just roll your eyes and get up slowly, popping your joints a bit before opening the door to your bedroom. JOSEI: You're in luck, I had actually changed out sheets this morning because they got kind of doggy. Have fun.Rebecca nods in acknowledgement and lets out a jaw-cracking yawn as she shuffles inside your bedroom. She flops onto your bed without even bothering to undress or even remove her shoes, and you just sigh and gently shut the door behind her. You don't want to piss her off by being too fussy. You look at Goodboy. He's passed out right now, with his eyes rolled back in his head and his paws twitching. Must be having a dream about running through a field, or something else very mundane and simple. You can't help but smile fondly at him and give him a little pet before hoisting yourself up onto the couch with a big stretch of your own. You contemplate something Sami mentioned earlier. She had talked about praying to Athena... and the other patrons too, of course. You decide to give it a shot. For lack of a better idea, you get on your knees and clasp your hands, and try to think of a way to pray to her so that she'll decide to actually speak to you face to face. JOSEI: Uh... Great Athena, Goddess of Wisdom!You cringe at your awkwardness. It doesn't help that the living room is mostly empty except for the dog and the TV, and you feel like some crazy person doing this in the middle of the night while someone else is sleeping in your bed. In your head, praying really should be done in a shrine, or at a temple, or something. JOSEI: Please... um... show your benevolence by... uh... answering my prayer?Nothing seems to happen. You clear your throat, and try again. JOSEI: I am, um, a person of... little and pathetic wisdom, compared to the great... radiance of... er... yours? You're awesome and stuff?You hang your head down in consternation and let out a growl. This is stupid. Maybe she's not even listening- You stiffen, suddenly getting a strong sense that you're being watched. Then you hear something. A giggle.  ATHENA: This is just... adorable. Reminds me of a small child being forced to eat vegetables.You slowly lift your head up and look behind you. The goddess Athena is standing behind your couch. She's dressed in her familiar white tunic and armor, her golden hair cascading down her shoulders as she smiles at you wryly. You somehow hadn't noticed her, probably because you were too busy screwing up your eyes and praying your heart out. Your ears redden as you spring to your feet. JOSEI: Jesus. Were you there watching me the entire time? ATHENA: No. Only for most of it.You groan in embarrassment and run your hand over your face. Athena chuckles and pats your shoulder, her touch light and gentle. ATHENA: Don't be ashamed, it's a common problem. Alas, in the modern days, it is difficult for humans to recapture their sense of awe.She leans on the couch, and it creaks a bit. You still can't get used to how the goddess is so much taller than you, and moves around in her armor like it's a simple shirt and jeans. She notices you staring, and smiles charmingly at you. ATHENA: So you wanted something? It feels like forever since we talked.You contemplate what you want to talk about, and really, something jumps to the top of your mind. Something that has been eating away at you. You try to think of a way to put it diplomatically. DIPLOMACY ROLL: 6 +5 PERK BONUS (LUCK, DIPLOMACY) = 11 VS DC 12. FAILURE. Unfortunately, your mouth outruns your brain. It seems to be doing that a lot lately. JOSEI: So... is there a reason you just let Dirk murder me, Athena?She reddens a little bit and clears her throat. ATHENA: Excuse me?> Well, you just put your foot in it. Now what? Character Sheets & Inventory USD ACCOUNT BALANCE: $391,961 SM ACCOUNT BALANCE: Ω6.55 JessAlias fucked around with this message at 23:20 on Apr 19, 2024 |
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Apr 19, 2024 21:40
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Sorry, misspoke. Need a way to get that guy out of my head.
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Apr 19, 2024 21:55
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AJ_Impy posted:Sorry, misspoke. Need a way to get that guy out of my head. JOSEI: ...Sorry, misspoke. Need a way to get that guy out of my head.You grunt, and sigh. JOSEI: I'll be up front and say that it would have helped to at least get a hint that I was going down the wrong path? You always used to do that. It even saved my life once. What changed?Athena purses her lips, and then sighs in return. ATHENA: There are two reasons. First, your competence has actually increased. Josei.She holds up a hand. ATHENA: Not that you have grown to be a demigod. Don't get a swollen head. But usually, you were making the right call. And... much as it might seem otherwise, I'm not omniscient.The goddess drums her fingers on the back of the couch as she thinks carefully about how to explain things. ATHENA: Remember when I said I had to go do some research? I was busy with that, and I figured you had things well in hand. Then I turned my attention more fully to you, and... well. You and your friends were dying.Athena sounds surprisingly solemn for once. She's not putting up an air of grandeur, or presenting herself as a deity to be worshipped and respected, or acting all superior and knowledgable. Right now, she just looks like a person trying to make sense of something strange. ATHENA: There ARE pieces moving on the board that even I'm not fully aware of, especially in my... attenuated state. There are, of course, the usual rumors about a war between Celestia and Inferno, but while normally they seem like pantomime rather than true war... now they seem genuine.You stare at Athena. JOSEI: What, like, the apocalypse? The end of the world?The blonde goddess snorts, and shakes her head. ATHENA: Nothing quite so dramatic. But things have gone stagnant for too long. And change is coming, Josei. Whether it will be for better or worse is in question - it rarely is clearcut on which side things lean, even in the ancient days when heroes walked the Earth.You scratch your beard, wondering what to even say in response to that. Or what questions to ask. > We can either continue this line of dialog with Athena, or wind things to a close and try to reach out to Odin/Thor. Character Sheets & Inventory USD ACCOUNT BALANCE: $391,961 SM ACCOUNT BALANCE: Ω6.55
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Apr 19, 2024 23:20
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This is all... frustratingly vague. And way beyond my paygrade, it seems. What can I, or anyone, do about this crazy cosmic stuff?
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Apr 20, 2024 01:54
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McSpanky posted:This is all... frustratingly vague. And way beyond my paygrade, it seems. What can I, or anyone, do about this crazy cosmic stuff? JOSEI: This is all... frustratingly vague. And way beyond my paygrade, it seems. What can I, or anyone, do about this crazy cosmic stuff?Athena tilts her head, considering. ATHENA: Really, what can anyone? Even I'm a more minor player in the Great Game between the Powers That Be. What YOU can do is continue to keep an eye out for other things that you think are wrong with the world. Pieces that don't seem to fit, or more worryingly, fit together. ATHENA: In a way, I'm at the ideal position to put pieces together. The largest of the Powers That Be are... complacent? I'm not sure that is the right word. ATHENA: Arrogant, and proud, perhaps. The Demiurge's followers in Celestia are the worst of the lot. They divide everything into them, and not-them. Holy, and unholy. Some of them are able to have a bit more nuance, but most of them aren't, unfortunately. ATHENA: Lucifer's ilk are in some ways actually more tolerable, mostly because they're the eternal underdogs. But rest assured, if Inferno could get the upper hand, we wouldn't enjoy the outcome. In either case, 99 percent of the time, the demons are so busy wrestling with the angels that they forget the rest of the game exists, except for how they can extract a profit to finance their scheming.She gives you a look. Not a judgemental one, but a serious one. ATHENA: Anyway. Currently, I can say that your adventure with killing off two of the most powerful members of House Corvinus is causing ripple effects that YOU are not aware of. That instability is... under the surface, for now. But it will begin erupting into plain sight soon enough. ATHENA: There are forces which will take advantage of that... I am sure of it. If you see bounties pop up related to the Black Court and their trials and tribulations, I'd suggest taking them. They could give me more insight into what is going on. And you could actually use Charlotte as a resource. From what I've put together, she's looking to advance up the rungs of the Black Court... possibly by climbing over the bodies you stack up. JOSEI: ...you mean she's using me?Athena snorts, raising an elegant eyebrow. ATHENA: Doesn't everyone use everybody in the end? And is it such a bad thing if it is mutual? As long as she's helping you help her... it could be fruitful for all concerned. ATHENA: Of course, if you have no interest in the dealings of the Black Court, I would highly suggest cutting ties with her. Otherwise you'll just be stringing her along. Best not to do that with a dhampyr, mmm?Character Sheets & Inventory USD ACCOUNT BALANCE: $391,961 SM ACCOUNT BALANCE: Ω6.55 JessAlias fucked around with this message at 02:21 on Apr 20, 2024 |
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Apr 20, 2024 02:13
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