>>1080942
Agreed. Use intuition. Winning numbers 1 & 4.

Maybe stick to the smallest items if we're going to be carrying them around. The ring, say.

rolled 2, 5 = 7

---

Target Spell Card: IDENTIFY
Winning Numbers: 1 and 4

Intuition has been used. Fate has been cast.

(1/5) OMNI 2024/01/30(Tue)13:18 No. 1082143 ID: 32f4b5
File 170664948063.png - (66.25KB , 1000x700 , dh45.png )

When you examine the old ring, you note the tentacle carvings in the silver that slowly curl into a held pearl. You can intuit that there's likely some type of enhancement magic stored inside. That's usually how it is with rings. People like subtlety with their power, whether it helps them charm another person or lets them jump 30 ft higher than normal. Though there's a staticy feel to it when you run your thumb over the metal. It's intriguing, the other rings you have tend to be more plain.

You pocket the ring easily. It's small enough and sleight of hand is one of your fortes.

Comparatively, the music box is plain. The wood is a polished oak with simple gold paint that's faded and chipped in certain areas. You can even make out the grain. You open it just slightly to test and hear a few unrecognizable notes play, then a slight vacuum of pressure. A balloon inflating. You quickly shut it. Just in case something comes out.

You're unsure about taking it, but you leave it close to you as something to bargain over.

Lastly, you examine the ceramic frog. It's small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It's painted a minty green and in its hands it holds what looks like a crystal. It's clear, polished and pink like a typical quartz.

The magic inside it is more subtle. You wouldn't have noticed it at first if you weren't taking your time. This one also feels like it has some type of enhancement.

Your curiosity is piqued. These items feel like they've been dropped here over time from other interdimensional travelers. Maybe this dimension is more of a focal point than you first thought. Strange. You're not the only one getting away with things here.

Just to be sure, you take out your magic deck. The deck shuffles itself when you move to try and draw IDENTIFY. You can never cheat the deck, it's always luck. You close your eyes, taking a deep breath as you try to feel for the right card.

Instead, you draw DANCE.

(2/5) OMNI 2024/01/30(Tue)13:20 No. 1082146 ID: 32f4b5
File 170664960393.png - (79.12KB , 1000x700 , dh46.png )

Like all your spells when drawn, the DANCE card glows then disintegrates as the magic is activated.

Immediately, you are compelled beyond your meager mind to dance like no tomorrow. The shopkeeper is also hit with the effect and starts to do a novice tap dance routine. He's so startled he doesn't even speak.

Huh, you wouldn't have expected him to be the tap dancing type.

Your limbs meanwhile punch in and out. Hands and feet flying and flossing. Doing some type of DDR shit right now. Abruptly, your body drops to the floor with your hands on the ground as you start to do the worm.

On principle, you no longer have shame, so the routine is of little effect against your mental state.

(3/5) OMNI 2024/01/30(Tue)13:21 No. 1082149 ID: 32f4b5
File 170664971444.png - (75.06KB , 1000x700 , dh47.png )

"WHAT'S GOING ON????" the shopkeeper is practically screaming as his tap dancing feet carry him away, "SKIES ABOVE HELP ME"

Your expression is deadpan despite your gyrating form. "Chill out. Take some deep breaths."

Your bodies magnetically pull towards each other into a type of tango. Hells alive. Your hands clasp as your other holds his hip. Looks like you're leading this one.

The sweat pouring from his frazzled face glints in the warm light of the antique shop. He looks terrified as you lead him in step. His breaths just barely getting even as you move.

The magic compels you both to dodge out of the way of the various shelves and items all around the shop. Shoes clattering in rhythm against the wooden floor. Some dust kicks up in a cough from the unusual movements of its dancing patrons.

"Would you believe me if I said that this is a dream?" You spin him around and he surprisingly does well on his feet.

The shopkeeper blushes, "I don't. Maybe? No!"

(4/5) OMNI 2024/01/30(Tue)13:24 No. 1082150 ID: 32f4b5
File 170664988757.png - (32.04KB , 1000x700 , dh48.png )

You start to laugh at the absurdity of it all. A breathless ha, ha, ha followed by the shopkeeper's own nervous voice. Looks like it's getting to him too.

Your magic is always like this. You want one thing. One simple spell at a convenient time. Yet, fate decides where you step, where you go, what you do, what you say. There is no escape for as long as you live.

But you've accepted this long ago.

Fate decides, but it is yours. It has always been yours. You might as well go with the flow of it. And when you need to defy it. You will.

The spell ends just as you dip him. Much sooner than the typical spell due to this archaic world suppressing it. At least there's a small benefit to that.

He looks at you. You don't look back. The time on the grandfather clock is more eye-catching.

It's now 5:15 PM.

(5/5) OMNI 2024/01/30(Tue)13:26 No. 1082152 ID: 32f4b5
File 170664999949.png - (88.42KB , 1000x700 , dh49.png )

You unceremoniously drop him to the floor. The shopkeeper yelps as he lands on his back. Looks like no ones taught him how to fall properly.

You stand straight, hand moving to wipe your forehead. The physical exertions of the day have been compounding on your body. You'll need to eat again soon before you pass out from exhaustion. What a mess.

The shopkeeper pants, unused to the exertion. Adrenaline courses through him as he examines himself. His hands pat his clothes then his face. Checking for puppet strings.

"I. That. That was magic? Magic right? What the wolves use?" His hands grasp his face tightly in almost panic, "I haven't felt it before but I saw it once. That felt... I don't even know!"

"Yeah, it was magic. You feeling alright?"

He stares at you and laughs nervously, "I don't know. Yes? Was that because of you?"

This could get tricky.

You have the OLD RING and the CERAMIC FROG. It's enough spoils to get by and dip. A new spell card has also appeared in your deck that you can check at any time.

You could ask him more specific questions since he seems receptive. Maybe at the cost of revealing things about yourself.

What do you do?

Just tell him you're really bad at magic, so just trying to identify what to buy kind of backfired on you. It's a harmless effect, luckily. Don't tell him you could have drawn FIREBALL instead.

Also don't cast any other spells unless you're sure you can deal with the results when you inevitably draw FIREBALL.

(1/3) OMNI 2024/02/02(Fri)15:53 No. 1082345 ID: 32f4b5
File 170691803281.png - (52.62KB , 1000x700 , dh50.png )

The half lie comes easily past your lips, "Yeah, but it's not what I wanted to happen. I'm not that great with magic, so things like this happens sometimes. No real harm, though."

He buys it easily and nods. Can't argue when your knowledge is as deep as a drop. "Oh, oh that's cool! What did you want to happen?"

"Just wanted to check a few items you had in here. Some of them could be useful to me." You eye the music box.

He looks at you with a curious eye. It's clear he wants to understand what useful means to you. His gaze then drops to the bloody bandages around your waist, like he's just now noticed them, the perspective from the floor helping guide his eye.

You note the way the shopkeepers brows twitch in an attempt to hide his reaction.

He moves to stand quickly and brushes himself off. What he's noticed is quickly compartmentalized away, in favor of being in a better mood. It's a wise decision. "I see. Well, depending on what it is I could give you a discount. I don't know how it'll go with the Wolves, but if you have magic, you should be able to do anything."

You open your mouth to say otherwise but you quickly close it. Instead, clearing your throat, "Right. Now we're talkin. I was eyeing this music box actually." You gesture to it, "All I have on me are gift cards, if you're willing to take them."

(2/3) OMNI 2024/02/02(Fri)15:56 No. 1082346 ID: 32f4b5
File 170691821814.png - (56.25KB , 1000x700 , dh51.png )

His brows furrow as he moves to pick up the music box. With one hand holding the bottom of it he opens it without fear. The magic inside does not activate. Magical objects tend to be rendered moot, even with their passive effects, if they're handled by someone with no magical knowledge or talent.

The tune starts to play. It's a slow.. almost melancholic rhythm. One you don't recognize.

A small golden figurine of what looks like a cherub rotates as the song plays. It holds a trumpet up to its lips, posed mid dance, or maybe mid flight? It's a cute thing. Intriguing. What kind of enchantment does this have? Is it holy?

The shopkeeper's voice interrupts your thoughts, "If it's a debit gift card, I can take it. Can you do 50?"

Your own bargaining sense is triggered, "How about 30?"

He looks at you in surprise at the lowball number, voice surprisingly firm, "45."

"40."

There's a pause as he stares at you with a slight squint. You hold steady. You're both shopkeepers when it comes down to it.

"42. I haven't had that many sales."
Not too bad. He did just get robbed, "Okay, deal."

He gives you a nod as you both head to the front counter to process the transaction. Thankfully, the giftcard doesn't decline.

You have 33C left.

(3/3) OMNI 2024/02/02(Fri)15:59 No. 1082347 ID: 32f4b5
File 170691839265.png - (59.95KB , 1000x700 , dh52.png )

>Also don't cast any other spells unless you're sure you can deal with the results when you inevitably draw FIREBALL.

That one's always the kicker. Though you don't draw FIREBALL as often as your other spells. The worst incident was in Dimension 2-73PP. You can still hear the singing.

You'll try drawing IDENTIFY again when you find a nice alleyway to hole up in.

For now, you tuck the music box under your arm. You don't trust this guy enough to see you use your inventory cards.

He wipes his forehead with the back of his hand and leans a bit on the counter, "So, um, what else can you do?"

You put a finger to your lips, "Well, I gotta keep that a secret. Who knows what kind of nose will smell it." You pause, thinking quickly, "Maybe I could tell you something interesting, if you have anything good?"

He squints again then nods, catching your drift, "Again, I'm not sure how useful my information would be, but ask me anything."

You're cutting close to an hour before Eiko might show up again. She did say 1-2 hours, but it's best not to overestimate.

To save time, pick two options.

Do you:
>Ask about the Wolf Bites (their compound, goons, or former leader Akito)
>Ask about the Bulls
>Ask about another location or person (to visit)
>Ask about an item
>Ask about Salt City
>Ask about Divine Balance

Ask about the Wolf Bites' compound, and maybe about the Bulls

>>1082347
Ask about the wolves.
He mentioned them already.

Frame it like you want to avoid them and that kinda trouble.

You may not be here for long but no need to leave yourself open.

Even if he hates them, he could call in to the bites telling them you were asking after them in an effort to gain credit with them before the next shakedown.

If you play the role of another potential victim looking to avoid them and frame any question around that, he'd have nothing to gain and may even empathise enough to answer.

(1/7) OMNI 2024/05/09(Thu)13:14 No. 1090641 ID: d1dff1
File 171528568981.png - (42.02KB , 1000x700 , dh53.png )

>If you play the role of another potential victim looking to avoid them and frame any question around that, he'd have nothing to gain and may even empathize enough to answer.

Pretending to be scared now will only seem more suspicious. Being avoidant though, you can work with.

"You know anything about the compound? Seems like if I walk anywhere near it they'll shoot me point blank."

The shopkeeper chuckles nervously, "Oh, that building used to be an old research facility before they took it over. It had two other buildings next to it before they demolished them." He pauses, "They got rid of them. But they didn't... do a good job of it..."

You gesture for him to continue.

"For a while... the sites were like sinkholes. They buried most of the debris, but you could watch them go down. Just... sinking the entire day."

Maybe there was more to that garage than you thought. If both buildings had deep enough underground floors they might have been connected.

"You think they were connected under there?"

He shrugs, "Maybe partially? I remember that shipment trucks would go down there, but only to the middle building."

There it is. Maybe the underground pathway isn't fully blocked out. If you're lucky, you could avoid anyone knowing how you got in entirely.

"You don't think they filled them in?"

The shopkeeper gets this troubled expression, "I can't say..."

"Right."

(2/7) OMNI 2024/05/09(Thu)13:15 No. 1090642 ID: d1dff1
File 171528570656.png - (63.18KB , 1000x700 , dh54.png )

"The Bulls, they been around recently?"

The Bulls are known for cage fighting. Mainly making their money on childish stuff like cock fights or desperate people. They've had it out for the Wolves for dwindling their fighter base by paying off their contracts. Purely just to piss them off. It could have been a symbiotic relationship, if their leaders weren't hard headed as hell.

"I don't see them as often as before. Sometimes they'll come by just to shop around, but they keep to themselves," he pauses, seemingly lost in thought, "One did come by in the past week and asked me a few things. Stuff about other gangs"

"Other gangs?"

He gestures, "There's been an uptick in 'tourists' lately."

Hmm.. Everyone seems to be sensing blood about to hit the water. The Bulls would massively benefit with the Wolf Bite leader gone. While the Bite's are fighting over who's going to take over, they can snatch up more territory and fighters. Maybe crush them entirely.

Your goals would align momentarily in that sense.

(3/7) OMNI 2024/05/09(Thu)13:15 No. 1090643 ID: d1dff1
File 171528572275.png - (56.89KB , 1000x700 , dh55.png )

You thank the shopkeeper for being helpful, but there's always that nagging thought in your mind.

>Even if he hates them, he could call in to the bites telling them you were asking after them in an effort to gain credit with them before the next shakedown.

You tried not to give too much info about yourself, just in case. But you wouldn't be surprised if he calls in right after you're out of earshot. It would put a massive dent in your plans. The Bites would go on high alert if they thought anyone was going to try breaking in.

You weigh now, the option of killing him. It would put him out of his misery of getting beaten down every other day. And it'll save you the trouble of worrying about what he's going to do.

Besides, you got all the useful information you could need. Right?

(4/7) OMNI 2024/05/09(Thu)13:15 No. 1090644 ID: d1dff1
File 171528573925.png - (59.64KB , 1000x700 , dh56.png )

For the rest of the hour, you hole up in a dark alleyway to look over the items and only manage to set off FIREBALL once. You get slightly singed clothes and the heavy scent of burnt plaster for your trouble.

Here's what you find:

CERAMIC FROG (Enhancer) - Allows the user to leap up to 30ft forward or upward while held.

HARMONIC MUSIC BOX (Magitech) - Temporarily stuns all those within hearing range for the length of the song (30 seconds).

The CERAMIC FROG can prove very useful to you with your current mission. You reason that since it's a new acquisition, you won't squirrel it away in your INVENTORY forever. You'll keep it in your pocket just in case. Current value of 150C.

The HARMONIC MUSIC BOX is valuable as a low-grade magitech item. This you'll store away to repair and sell for later. Current value of 500C. Maybe 750C to start.

After another spellcard sets off, you decide to take a break from identifying. With some careful wall scaling you manage to make out the debris sites that the antique guy described.

There's an array of shallow holes along the surface of each previous building. Debris is scattered among it. It's not a neat clean up by any means, but you can identify some good spots to try weaseling down into.

You now have two ways of entering the compound for tomorrow's ambush:
>1) Scale it
>2) Go underground

(5/7) OMNI 2024/05/09(Thu)13:16 No. 1090645 ID: d1dff1
File 171528576570.png - (56.59KB , 1000x700 , dh57.png )

As it gets closer to 6:30PM, you walk around and internally assess everything you've learned.

>1) Julien's made the Wolf Bite presence significantly worse on everyone in the city after overthrowing Akito
>2) The presence of magical objects that were not the norm before
>3) The new presence of the cult DB
>4) Eiko's odd attachment to the Bites
>5) Your interests align with the Bulls & other gangs

You pause your walk as an unfamiliar car pulls up to you suddenly. You brace yourself for the doors opening up and for people to rush out.

Instead, the tinted window rolls down, revealing a familiar figure.

(6/7) OMNI 2024/05/09(Thu)13:16 No. 1090646 ID: d1dff1
File 171528578439.png - (65.13KB , 1000x700 , dh58.png )

Eiko's werewolf form is... larger than you expected. She practically has to hunch over the wheel to fully fit in the driver seat. Biceps bigger than your head. Impressive.

Reminds you of how close you got to getting mauled in your first encounter.

You make your voice playful, "Sooo, how'd it go?"

Her ears pull back in clear irritation, "Get in the damn car."

You snidely obey, peeling into the passenger seat of the beat up car. The cuffs are gone from her wrists and so is your jacket.

You sit back in your seat and you pull the mask down, "You're all big."

She huffs, reminiscent of an irritated teen, "It's the only way they take me seriously."

You nod, understandingly, "They bought it?"

She nods back, "For now. They're still mad they lost some grunts and they couldn't get anything else. Kept your jacket too."

"I bet as a trophy."

Eiko laughs dryly, wrinkling her snout, "God that'd be gross. Hung up on the wall and stinking up the place."

"It'll stiffen up like a dead body. Next thing you know, they'll be treating it like an heirloom and passing it around. Big game, big jacket."

She snorts and smacks her paw against the wheel. "Yeah, yeah. How did it go with you? Find anything useful?"

You shrug, "There's some activity with the other gangs around. Nothing good for y'all, that's for sure," you've considered how much to omit, "Danced around with some shop staff and got a mini history lesson about the Bites."

You watch Eiko's reaction carefully. Looking for some type of tell. Or giveaway. Although her wolf features are harder to read, her ears look more alert. "What did they say?"

You roughly summarize it for her. The public perception & how it all started out, then on to how it is now. Eiko seems to be deep in thought as you speak. Features tight. You can almost hear the way her teeth seem to be grinding together.

There's some real beef there. You lean a little closer to the door in case you need to make a quick duck and roll escape.

Instead, she cusses Julien out under her breath for the rest of the ride.

"He never should've trusted him. Never should've taken that little bastard in."

(7/7) OMNI 2024/05/09(Thu)13:16 No. 1090647 ID: d1dff1
File 171528581197.png - (83.07KB , 1000x700 , dh59.png )

Eiko's apartment is farther out in the edge of the city where there's a slight residential district. It's a five story building in surprisingly good condition. She even has a little garage to park her car at.

It's nice. Too nice for the type of girl she is, in the type of work she's in.

She grabs her bag from the trunk and leads you up the stairs still wolfed out. Thankfully, Eiko's still lost in thought, so there's little conversation as you absorb all the details of the building from entrance to floor.

Tacky cream painted walls and floors with lint-thin carpet. Wall art of random paint strokes and flowers. A heavy chemical perfume that tries to mask it all. It screams cut corners and overpriced. Gentrified, even here, in this gang-driven city.

Before she opens the door to her apartment, you almost imagine that you're going to walk into a secret rich kid's space. It would explain how she pays this off and her gang dues with no side jobs she's mentioned so far.

Instead, she opens the door to the most bare minimum apartment you've seen. Still large, as expected. But it reminds you of your college days, when all your furniture was found from dumpsters or other kids moving out.

It's too quiet, there's more space than there is anything to fill it. Nothing covers the walls except the windows. No plants, no decor, all function. A bare minimum of furniture occupies the living room like a checked list: couch, old coffee table, box tv stand, tv.

Damn bitch... you live like this?

She kicks her shoes off and gestures, "Set your stuff down next to the couch. That's where you'll be sleeping. I'll be ordering takeout for dinner, so just do whatever. Don't touch anything."

"No promises."

There's a good amount of ground to cover. You can try and explore and gather more clues about Eiko or talk to her directly. The more you understand her, the better you can gauge if she's a trustworthy ALLY. A common goal only gets you so far from being stabbed back once it's done.

Though, you have a feeling that if you want to explore her bedroom, she'd have to be DISTRACTED or PERSUADED.

Options:
>A) Explore Porch
>B) Explore Kitchen
>C) Explore Bathroom
>D) Talk to Eiko (Choose Subject)

>>1090647
Ask if you can get a drink and what she wants.

Explore the kitchen under the pretence of making tea, coffee or whatever shes wanting.

Icebreaker mainly.
Place is big but voice can carry.
Compliment her commitment to the minimalist style.
Keep it light.
Build trust.
Ask her take on the bulls if theyre the likely successor in the power vacuum you teo are planning on making.

(1/6) OMNI 2024/05/11(Sat)11:57 No. 1090726 ID: d1dff1
File 171545385815.png - (60.47KB , 1000x700 , dh60.png )

>Ask if you can get a drink and what she wants.
>Explore the kitchen under the pretence of making tea, coffee or whatever shes wanting.

"You want something to drink?"

Eiko eyes you at the oddly polite gesture, but concedes, too tired to try and argue, "Nothing alcoholic right now. I need to think. There's a teapot in the cabinet to the right of the microwave."

After taking your boots off, you turn towards the kitchen. It's of the times, the cabinets painted over in white, a chipped gas stove, and vaguely stone counters. There's no oil splashes anywhere on the stove or bottom of the microwave. You figure Eiko is either a meticulous cleaner or she rarely cooks.

You open both cabinets above the microwave. There's a few tea boxes and spices but the top racks look empty. A beaten up metal teapot sits on the bottom rack, so you grab it. Behind it is a nicer clay teapot with a matching set of cups. It sits neglected.

(2/6) OMNI 2024/05/11(Sat)11:57 No. 1090727 ID: d1dff1
File 171545387572.png - (74.67KB , 1000x700 , dh61.png )

>Icebreaker mainly.
>Build trust.

As you fill the metal teapot with water, you clear your throat, projecting your voice as Eiko moves about the space just passed your view, "So, you've got a real minimalist thing going on here."

She seems to laugh, "I don't like having too much stuff. It weighs me down."

You can relate to that. Almost too well.

The pot meets the stove and you turn the burner on. Click, click, click. "Me too. Helps that I just travel all the time."

"Do you?" Her voice sounds amused, "I don't know what's normal for time traveling criminals."

You chuckle as you press your fingers and knee against the hinge of the bottom cabinet, softening the sound as you open it, "I travel dimensions. Not time. Time can change depending on the dimension. It could be the stone ages in one or a sci-fi movie in another."

There's a pot and a few mixing bowls in the cabinet. You slowly lift the lid and see a gun inside. You close the lid.

"How is that different? Isn't time a dimension?"

"And magic's real." You laugh lightly, "It's just what I've learned to say. I don't know much about all the science and theories, but from what I've scraped together, each dimension is just a cut layer of something bigger. Think of a diamond. Each cut is unique, even symmetrical, but it's a part of one big thing. And each cut is a world. The ultimate shape, I guess, is our universe."

You pause to let her process the information. Truth be told, you've had a few people explain it to you in more complex ways, but it all sounded too complicated to memorize. "I don't know what that shape looks like, but it must be huge. I've been to worlds so different from each other that they might as well be on opposite sides. Seen people that don't look like you or me. To top it all off, there are beings that exist outside or within multiples of those dimensions. We call them extra-dimensional. You call them gods."

You open the top drawer to test the sound it makes. It's oddly smooth, but Eiko's silence makes it sound like a bomb dropping. You see an array of neatly arrange cutlery. Some knives and chopsticks. You lift the cutlery organizer to look underneath and see an envelope taped to the hollowed bottom. You pick up a spoon.

You continue your lecture when she stays quiet, "Because of how each world is arranged, it's easy to cross over to the next one. That's how typical dimensional travel works. You find that boundary? You can cross. You might not even notice, each neighboring world is only slightly different. They reflect each other. Each boundary is different. There could be an entire solar system contained in one layer or just one endless plain."

(3/6) OMNI 2024/05/11(Sat)11:59 No. 1090728 ID: d1dff1
File 171545394989.png - (75.79KB , 1000x700 , dh62.png )

Eiko finally speaks, "It's that easy?"

You open the next drawer just enough to get a peek. It's all plastic bags. Next one.

"It's like crossing states. But it gets harder when you're traveling cross country, you get me? That's where it's regulated. You need something special to really jump around, but you leave a signature when you do. And if you get caught doing it without permission, they'll take your ass in or kill you."

The next drawer has a bunch of snacks. You take out a few of them to put on the counter.

"Who's they? How do you move around?"

You look back at the teapot. "They're the Wolf Bites for dimensions, DB," you laugh, "criminal enterprise, cult, gang. Whatever. You're too small to worry about them."

Her tone sounds annoyed, "They're the only ones? I doubt it."

"They are. They monopolize all their competition. And I hate to say it, but they have some of the best magitech around. Since they were the first to make the most efficient travel gear across worlds, they've been keeping that title and spreading their influence. Only those within the camp can use them, so they sell their service as regulators. Most extra-dimensional beings don't care for their service. Not until people like me show up and start disrupting the natural order of their playground."

You move towards the other bigger cabinets and peek into them. Protein shakes, vitamins, plates, bowls, and more empty racks. Makes you wonder how often she eats. You take a few of the smaller plates and start to open and set the snacks on them. Like this is a tea party.

Eiko's voice is incredulous. You haven't heard her make any sounds, yet she still remains out of view, "And you just... do that? Aren't you the reason they even need to regulate it?"

(4/6) OMNI 2024/05/11(Sat)11:59 No. 1090729 ID: d1dff1
File 171545399212.png - (57.78KB , 1000x700 , dh63.png )

There are many reasons you could give for what you do. It's money, of course. You do all this to make money. You want to live well. Eat well. Do as you please. But you can never settle. You can't find peace with this target on your back.

So, you make money. You'll make a lot of it. You'll make so much fucking money that you can suffocate in it.

"Yeah, why not? Fuck em"

The teapot starts to whistle. Time's up. You hurry to tend do it, dropping oolong teabags into mismatched mugs. You wont touch the tea set. You want to keep this light.

Eiko finally walks into view to plop down onto the couch. She's changed into more comfortable clothes.

"You want some sugar or milk in these?"

She looks at you, like she's making calculations in her head, "That sounded personal." She pauses, "There's honey next to the fridge."

You nod and add all the sweets. As you move to grab the milk you open the fridge, there's soju, beer, bread, and a few tupperwares in various states of decay. You check the expiration date of the milk twice before pouring it into your mug. Last thing you need is the shits.

You set everything down on the coffee table, sprawling on the other end of the couch, "Everything becomes personal. I've been at this a long time."

Eiko snorts, picks up her mug, then hands it to you. "Take a sip."

Smart. You grin and pluck it from her hand to sip without hesitation. She takes it from you a few seconds after you swallow. Looks like you're both testing each other.

After you clear your throat you gesture, "You've been at it a long time too."

(5/6) OMNI 2024/05/11(Sat)12:00 No. 1090730 ID: d1dff1
File 171545404232.png - (51.56KB , 1000x700 , dh64.png )

She rolls her eyes, "I couldn't exactly rush it. If you weren't here, it would take me a few more years."

You lift your mug up, "Cheers to that." You eye each other, "So, you think the Bulls will take over after we're done?"

Eiko glares but sips her tea, staring into it for a moment, "Like hell. Over my dead body that I'll let those cunts even try it."

Your eyebrows almost fly off of your face. "Really? So you'll take over? If the Wolves disband they'll take advantage of that."

There's an awkward pause. It tells you all you need to know. She hasn't thought it through passed the point of killing Julien. Maybe she thought she'd have a few more years to think about it.

"I couldn't talk to Julien directly." She avoids your eyes as she changes the subject, "It looked like he was in a meeting, but I don't know with who."

You speak without missing a beat, "Could be anyone. Could be the Bulls."

She shakes her head, "He hates them as much as I do. When I tried asking, the other wolves said that he's been making deals."

Deals? It's got to be the new Arms Dealer then. This could be your chance.

"No description? How often have they been visiting?"

She shrugs, "Very recently. Maybe this month? It's pretty hush hush. The other wolves said they don't even come in through the front door. They just appear at Julien's office whenever they want."

Traveling unimpeded? Not many criminals can get their hands on tech that good. They'd need both wings or something equivalent. And your guy is already one of the best.

She continues, "Only Julien's seen them. Their meetings last at least an hour."

(6/6) OMNI 2024/05/11(Sat)12:00 No. 1090731 ID: d1dff1
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No suspects come to mind except one.

You hope it's not her. She's usually too strict about consorting with criminals. That would also mean she's been camping here a while and that's not her usual style. Your Archangel likes to ambush you at a random inopportune time. Usually in a building. Usually where there's a bed.

Eiko sips more of her tea as you are momentarily lost in your drunken horny thoughts, "Tell me more about a world you've been to."

Options:
>A) DIM 2-67SS: World of Glass
>B) DIM 3-30XO: Kingdom of Nox
>C) DIM 3-30NS: The Necropolis
>D) DIM 4-50LR: Solar Circuit
>E) ______ (No DIM Tag Needed)

Talk about the world where honking is a sacred musical art.

Tell us about that world with the Magitech Tallships In Space, sailing the luminiferous aether!

Speak truth in what you share.
See if you can convey a bit of the beauty, wonder and terror of it all.
Because thats what it has to be, the sheer scale and potential of everything.

A world of glass sounds interesting.

Then the honking thing, whether its true or not.

(1/8) OMNI 2024/11/27(Wed)19:25 No. 1100474 ID: 546545
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It was cycles ago, on a cargo ship, as it traversed the well-worn interstellar Zutofian highway. Giant stars filled the galaxy, bathing space into a luminiferous aether, the heat radiation powerful enough to feed magitech engines for light years. You landed in this world after some cops broke down the door of the hotel you were staying at at the time, right into the supply closet of a spa resort center, to be exact. There you stayed for a few weeks to recuperate with bottomless mimosas and a swimming pool large enough that your float would be considered a minuscule island in its depths. Good times.

You managed to hitch a ride on a cargo ship after the crew sloppily crashed into your pod (or at least that's what you told them). They had one of the better ships on the dock, the helm polished with fresh copper paint lining its exterior. The bulk of their cargo were universal snacks and other beverages kept in temperature controlled rooms, the space equivalent of a vending machine refill crew. A minuscule target for space vagabonds. All the better for you.

(2/8) OMNI 2024/11/27(Wed)19:29 No. 1100475 ID: 546545
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Between trips from rec center to rec center, you'd ply whatever wares you'd acquire from each stop. Banned raunchy media and cigarettes were the main stock of interest to that particular crew, so it was easy to meet their demands. Guns didn't mean much to them except to flex, since their routes were on the safer side of space. They also really liked board games. A lot. You learned more about TTRPG's on that ship than you ever did at any other point in your life.

On this particular day, you managed to pin down the captain of the ship as they were taking a walk in the rec dome. They were a hard duck to catch, always busy with whatever paperwork or travel coordinates they had to keep track of at all times of the day. But, they were the most loaded out of everyone there, and had a fascination with knick-knacks and other sentimental junk that could catch their eye.

Also, a real easy mark. You could practically hear slot machine noises every time you saw them.

(3/8) OMNI 2024/11/27(Wed)19:30 No. 1100476 ID: 546545
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"Just got this one in stock. It takes in light through a modified glass lens and captures images of particular scenes that you point it at. And get this, it will take that captured image and synthesize it into a physical object in your hand. No need to buy anything to transfer the data and manifest it."

"Fascinating... And it doesn't use magic?"

"Not at all. You only need to plug it in for about 2-3 hours to let it charge. Should be good for days. And I'll give you the captain's discount of course."

"Hmmm.. Oh. Is that?"

(4/8) OMNI 2024/11/27(Wed)19:30 No. 1100477 ID: 546545
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In the corner of your eye, you just made out the vague movement in the distance.

You had never seen that before. Even with your excellent vision, you could only just make out their translucent forms as they swam through the endless ether. Space seemed to distort in them, the vague rays of light from the ship and stars just barely managing to capture their forms. The roiling masses, as it moved, vaguely clicked in your mind, as the shape of a whale. You were reminded then of how the ocean mirrored space.

"What are those?" It was awe in your voice.

"Hooohoo look at those! They're cosmodaes. You don't normally see them in this part of space, must be migrating."

(5/8) OMNI 2024/11/27(Wed)19:36 No. 1100478 ID: 546545
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A big one. Two small ones. Mother and child. Their bodies naturally translucent in order to blend in with the darkness of space, but when the light hit them just right, they would refract, as if made from glass.

"Looks like they're surrounding those asteroid chunks."

"Yup, they eat space debris. When they get real big, they'll be grown enough to eat a whole asteroid in one gulp. Maybe a moon too."

The mother cosmodae swam around the other two, gesturing, like it was teaching the others what they could eat.

"I haven't seen them before."

"Yeah, they're pretty rare nowadays. They get hit by ships a lot since they're hard to see. Poor things."

It's not often you see things like this anymore. For every world you've seen, you slowly became desensitized to the extraordinary. What is a bird to super computer? Walking on a scenic route to the act of calling fire to your hands? In this moment, you thought, what are you to this space whale? It likely didn't even understand what you were, or that you were even there.

As you both watched the cosmodaes eat their fill, you hear the radio on the captain's waist go off, a crackle of static. They moved to grab it and chuckled at you.

"She's singing."

(6/8) OMNI 2024/11/27(Wed)19:36 No. 1100479 ID: 546545
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Somehow, the vastness of the world seemed to wash over you as the whale song captured the ship radios, resounding in every inch of the ship. An alien yet familiar twinkle, the depth of a sonar and the rumble of shaking earth. A song of happiness about her family being fed. A simple thing. Beautiful.

The sheer size of this cosmodae could have been big enough to swallow all of you in a single gulp. Yet, she carried on, indifferent to her audience as her children had their fill.

(7/8) OMNI 2024/11/27(Wed)19:37 No. 1100480 ID: 546545
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"After that, we stopped at a planet that was really into clowncore honking music. Like it was gospel. One of the crew members became obsessed with playing it on the ship aux, so I left not too long after."

Eiko stares at you, speechless.

"I'm not lying, you know. I've seen a lot."

She contemplates this for a while, processing all that you've told her, and likely what she wants to do with this information. You don't blame her for not believing it outright.

(8/8) OMNI 2024/11/27(Wed)19:38 No. 1100481 ID: 546545
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Eventually, she takes a sip of her tea, staring off, "You're fucking with me."

"I'm not. Even if I took a pic of them it wouldn't be good. Like trying to capture the moon."

Eiko still seems suspicious, but eventually relents, tone wistful, "I wish I could've seen it."

You laugh and lean back to take a sip of your tea, "Yeah, it really was a once in a lifetime thing."

"Maybe I could see it one day."

You aren't sure how to answer that. The topic drops easily as she moves onto asking you other questions, though you can see in her eyes that she's still thinking about it. It's a dangerous hope brewing there. What you both have is temporary, after all.

What do you do?

"Well, I had to steal from an angel to get it. Good luck with that."

Well to do that, you'll need to kill an angel. Preferably two. You'll be marked for death though, hunted by powerful angelic assassins.

It's a dangerous life. Not for everyone.
There's nothin else like it, though.

I don't know for certain but that new dealer of Julian's? That sounds like an angel to me. If you want this life or just a fancy method of suicide, that's your best shot.

>>1100481
Tell her what it cost you too.
If not exact, as that may compromise you, then impart the weight of it.
"Its not all good".

But...
You are an arms dealer, not a thief of dreams.
Just be real with her.
That it is out there, and its not beyond possibility, but its a sliver of a chance, that what worked for you may not work for her and the price it can extract may be heavier than it was for you.
Youre not trying to dissuade her.
Just arm her with the truth.
Its Not impossible, its not easy by a long shot and the cost may not be truly known until you are already stuck paying it.

>>1100481
It's not a wonderful life, what you live. It's one that's yours, though. Not easily gained, and not one you want to lose, either.

If she wants anything like that, no matter the reason, she's got to be willing to give up everything else. Peace of mind, happy future, all of that. It's a one way commitment. To slake that wanderlust might be worth it for some folks. Is it worth it to her?

(1/4) OMNI 2024/11/29(Fri)17:10 No. 1100552 ID: 546545
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Uncharacteristically, you decide to address it, clearing your throat and taking on a more serious tone, "Well, in order to travel around, I had to steal from an angel to get it. Good luck with that."

You can feel her gaze more intensely now, but you stare down into your tea instead of meeting her eyes. "That angel you mentioned before..."

You shake your head, "Not her, a different one. But I'd do a lot to take her wings too."

"Her wings?"

You explain the concept of the Angel Wing to her. How she'll likely have to kill an angel. Preferably two. It's not pretty stripping them off either, they're practically embedded into the flesh of the back, and can only be removed when they've been manifested. Killing comes with flaying, then the excrutiating pain of attaching it to your body. "Going off instinct here, it sounds like Julien's been consorting with one too. If you want this life or just a fancy method of suicide, that's your best shot."

She snorts, "You're just saying that."

>It's a dangerous life. Not for everyone.
>There's nothin else like it, though.
>Tell her what it cost you too.
>If not exact, as that may compromise you, then impart the weight of it.

"Everything comes with a price. I have the power to do what I want, but I've done a lot of bad shit to get it. Worse things than you can imagine. And I've been on the run for as long as I remember. This life isn't for everyone, it takes everything from you that you don't fight for. I don't have a home, a family, barely any friends, or peace of mind of where I'll be tomorrow."

"I have a lot of enemies that wouldn't think twice about selling me out or killing me on the spot. Got angelic assassins chasing me for every breath I take. I wake up half dead sometimes. I've lost limbs and been blown up more times than you can count, but I keep moving because I have to. There's nothing else waiting for me, except the kiss of a blade."

Eiko stares at you with a mixture of suspicion, "That sounds terrible," a pause, "Why keep going?"

"It is terrible." you lean your head back on the couch, "But I'm alive because it pisses people off. And I want them to stay pissed off. Not sure if that aligns with you the same."

(2/4) OMNI 2024/11/29(Fri)17:13 No. 1100553 ID: 546545
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There's another moment of silence before you bring it back around, "Of course, seeing what exists out there... It's unlike anything that can be."

Eiko stares down, contemplative, as you continue, "There's the cosmodaes, there's food out there that you can't even fucking believe. I've eaten things that have danced on the plate before they died. Drinks that taste like sweet liquid gold. Been to places where lights dance around the sky at night and castles travel on the backs of turtles. It's an endless frontier out there. I admit, you don't have to do what I do out there either, but you gotta keep some kind of living to maintain it."

She snorts, "Sounds like you just make it harder on yourself."

"Yeah, that's one way of putting it." Yeah, you have a bit of a sunk cost fallacy complex, okay? We all have something we dig too deep in.

"It's a full-time commitment, and yeah, I made it at about your age, but it's not easy. It's never easy."

She sighs, "No, it never is. Nothing's easy," her ears flatten, "But it sounds better than this."

"... Killing Julien?"

"No.. Just.. Everything else in my life. I don't know what I'm doing.. I thought I'd have more time to just concentrate on killing him. Building my life after it. But now that it's going to happen. Well." Looks like your intuition was just right.

(3/4) OMNI 2024/11/29(Fri)17:13 No. 1100554 ID: 546545
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"Hey, it's fine. You're young. First kills go like that."

"I don't have anything. What is there for me to lose, really? My brother's gone, my mom's old, I don't have a job or an education. The friends I had.. I cut them all off when he died. I was.. I was so angry. I don't know why. I threw it all away, like a fucking idiot. I threw my life away."

There's a snarl to her words now, "And I was. I was supposed to take this gang. Now it isn't right. I thought I'd have more time to build.. Something with them."

You're a bit surprised, yet you aren't, grief can do that. "To lead them?"

"I don't know! I don't know. I thought I could understand once I got there. Why. Why he started it. Why he spent his life for it. What made it all so fucking worth it? At least I understand now why you did it."

(4/4) OMNI 2024/11/29(Fri)17:20 No. 1100555 ID: 546545
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For the first time in a long time, you feel a pit in your stomach.

Eiko becomes eerily calm, yet tired, shoulders slumping. You try to find the words, but she beats you to it. Her words are icy, like she's held them in her chest for years, the fire dying away and leaving ash in the soil. Ground away by every winter past.

"Did Akito mean anything to you? My brother? Did you even meet him before Julien killed him? Was he anything to you, besides a concept?"

There it is.

You admit, you never met the former boss of the Wolf Bites. Not much to go off in looking for a family resemblance.

Do you LIE? Or tell the TRUTH?

Your answer will not change the objective.

Tell the truth. You didn't kill him, you never even met him, you just bought stuff from his employees.
But you're involved because Julien's idea of a 'business relationship' is to murder every trader that comes his way. That's bad for you, that's bad for everyone around him.
You put yourself first - but after that, the many come second. And Julien's an asshole who is going to kill many people, both by incompetence and direct murder. May as well kill him to shut him up.

>>1100555
It took longer than I want to admit to clue in why she was suddenly pointing the finger at him and stuff. NOW I get it. But.

Honestly, you might as well admit that no, you'd never met him. Thinking too hard about the people you step over to stay alive in this business is a fast way to die in it.

Knew at least one guy it happened to. Ran into each other slightly more than 'every now and then'. Jolly fella, seemed like. Almost was a friend. Wasn't even expecting it- you'd ran across each other near a bridge, chatted a bit, said bye, then you'd turned away and about 7 seconds later, *pop*.

Wasn't sniped.

(OOC- I know you said 'heavy themes including self harm may be explored (but not explicitly)' so adjust as necessary if you want to use this.)

Truth

No. Never met him. Never saw him. Didn't know what he was about. To me this was just business. I don't know if Julien would have killed him or not without my goods, but I won't pretend that I didn't co-sign that check in a way.

You know, I try not to think about this sorta thing. The way it's come together though, it's like I just appear in people's lives suddenly, make them worse while making some sort of deal, only to then fight an angel and vanish.
Taking about it like this, it kinda sounds like I'm some sort of demon, doesn't it?
...
...
You know what? Forget I said anything. Yeah, I'm the shithead that sold Julien the guns he used to kill your brother. A person who... Like you said, was just a concept to me and nothin more.
Business as usual.