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910512 No. 910512 ID: 891b91

Chapter 0: >>/questarch/886861

Discussion: >>/questdis/123379
Wiki: https://tgchan.org/wiki/Dead_Dust
Inventory: https://tgchan.org/wiki/Dead_Dust/Inventory

Yesterday was a blur. They ended up keeping you in the infirmary overnight, so they could monitor your health; between the frequent examinations and the steady trickle of well-wishers showing up to ask how you were doing, you didn't get much opportunity to make sense of your current situation, let alone ask any of the growing number of questions floating around in your head. Of all the things puzzling you about this place, the people themselves are the greatest mystery. They've been friendly and welcoming, sure; but sometimes it feels like they find you familiar in some way. They keep calling you Sigarzghar,, too, and you have no clue why.

But these confusions don't trouble you -- you find the others more worrying, such as why you were in a coma for three days, or why all your posessions are missing from your pockets. You wonder how long you'll be stuck in this place, but you don't have much in the way of leads to figure out where else to go -- there're Delaney and Quincy over on Gansett shelf, the tentacle twins on the Concourse, and... that's about it. You're not sure how you'd get to either of those places from here, so you certainly feel stuck. Right now, more than anything else, you need answers.

You suppose that's why you're waiting here. They discharged you from the infirmary shortly after you awoke this morning, and led you here, telling you that Cider has invited you to her quarters to discuss a few things. You get the impression she's in charge around here; surely she can help you make sense of why you're here and how you arrived, and perhaps what to do next. At the moment there's already a visitor in there with her, judging from the muffled sounds of conversation; you wager it's been 20 minutes already, and you hope it isn't going to take much longer.
Expand all images
>>
No. 910513 ID: 891b91
File 154210863180.gif - (391.74KB , 1024x1024 , 1-000-2.gif )
910513

A few minutes pass before the pocket door suddenly slides open.

"--is too time-sensitive. We really can't afford to delay this any longer, Cider. If we miss this opportunity it'll--"

"Iva, iva -- you worry too much, Matteo! I'll have the arrangements made tonight and get back to you. Everything will be fine, trust me."

"...If you say so. Sah-ha, aye-yema."

A stern-looking man strides out of the room, but your presence startles him when he catches you out of the corner of his eye. "O-oh!" He shouts in distress. He regains his composure quickly, though, giving you an annoyed look. "Cider, I think the new sigarzghar's here to see you," he calls back into the room.

"Grazzi, Matteo! Coming!" A voice rings out from within.

Matteo turns to you and gives you a curt bow. "Sah-ha," he says mechanically, before marching down the hall and out of sight.
>>
No. 910514 ID: 891b91
File 154210868740.gif - (345.70KB , 1024x1024 , 1-000-3.gif )
910514

"Ah, meravilyuz, Sigarzghar! You're back on your feet, I see," Cider exclaims as she steps into the doorway, smiling at you with lidded eyes as she beckons you into her quarters. "Please, jidhlu -- come in, come in!"
>>
No. 910515 ID: 891b91
File 154210879236.gif - (318.32KB , 1024x1024 , 1-000-4.gif )
910515

You cross the threshold and step into a compact, dimly-lit room. A large, ornate rug extends from the entrance to the back of the room, serving as a placemat for the unevenly-arranged furniture: a plush couch laden with pillows, a couple of leathery beanbag chairs, a weathered fold-up chair, and a circular coffee table centered between them. A large, shaded window spans the back wall, through which filtered sunlight spreads across the room; in front of it, a kneeling desk rests against the wall, festooned with a scattering of miscellaneous documents and writing implements. A thurible is chained to the ceiling in the center of the room, diffusing the gentle scent of incense into the air.

"Now, I'm sure you have many questions, fyura sabiha," Cider continues as she saunters deeper into the room, her robes trailing behind her like the train of a dress. She gestures to the furniture gathered around the central coffee table. "But first, have a seat and get comfortable, hmm? Sit anywhere you like, I'll only be a couple minutes." She disappears through the archway in the right wall.
>>
No. 910517 ID: 5adf99

The folding chair looks like the most comfortable seat.

Ok not really, but it will help keep you attentive and not too relaxed to get too tired to listen. Sit there.
>>
No. 910529 ID: 7efe6b

Sneak a peek through the archway to see what she's doing. You never know what kind of dangerous things she could be hiding in there.

As far as where to sit, I think the couch would be the best. We'll need those pillows. Also, you should smell them to see if there's any familiar scent there.
>>
No. 910543 ID: f99cdc

>>910515
BEANBAG CHAIR
>>
No. 910553 ID: 10c408

Take a quick discreet peek through the window then take a seat on the couch.
>>
No. 910559 ID: 1872dc

>>910517
The right idea. It's also a test, since you don't let someone choose unless you want to see the choice.
>>
No. 910571 ID: 2202fb

>>910559
Seconding this. These guys seem like either resistance fighters or the mob. Since the govt doesnt seem to have gone to shit, they are probably the mob. Tread carefully.

Also be careful what you think about. We dont know what they may be able to do in your head and you dont want to compromise people by thinking the wrong thing.

Also - and use your best judgement on this - if you think it is safe to do so, bring up this guy's striking resemblance to the tentatwins (darker and sans tentacles, yet the similarity is there). With their speaking a different language, they may be part of this organization.

Try asking the guy what kroy-vons are.
>>
No. 910574 ID: 7efe6b

>>910517
>it will help keep you attentive
> >>910512 >They discharged you from the infirmary shortly after you awoke this morning, and led you here
We just woke up and you're already worried about being attentive? Also, wouldn't it be better to simply stand then?

>>910559
>It's also a test
That sounds a bit paranoid to me. So if someone invites you to their home and offers you a choice between tea and coffee, you immediately think the person is somehow testing you? Isn't it more likely that she's simply being polite?

>>910571
>this guy's resemblance to the tentatwins
> >>/questarch/909424 >a woman
It's a woman. And I don't see any resemblance at all. Snout, ears, hair, eyebrows, fur patterns, tentacle arms, the size itself... they're as dissimilar as they could possibly be.
>>
No. 910581 ID: 2202fb

>>910574
>test... paranoid
You would be correct if we were just invited into someone's house in a good neighborhood, but we aren't. Plus, these guys are throwing up a lot of mafia flags.

>snout, ears... proportions
On the contrary, these are the exact things i think are so similar. This one looks a bit less lithe as the other two (and is missing the tentacles) but i would believe it if someone told me the twins were this character's nieces.

Additionally, i use guy as gender neutral since i couldnt remember which they were. Tbh though, your response seems kind of overly critical...
>>
No. 910583 ID: 10c408

>>910574
We woke up without any idea where we are exactly, in an infirmary that is seemingly housed on private property and haven't been told anything at all yet.

Paranoia and suspicion are entirely warranted, given that we lost three whole days after evidently going comatose next to a pair of drug mules.
>>
No. 910608 ID: 9a9e0c

>>910574
A choice between tea and coffee is a choice between two mostly equal things. Here you have been told to take a seat and have the choice between several seats of very different quality. It's definitely a test. I doubt it's a mafia test. I personally think it's more of a personality test. As such, recline on what looks like a chaise in the background.
>>
No. 910613 ID: 235ba5

>>910515
If this is a test (which is a non-zero possiblity) then we should stand.
It isn't overtly hostile or disrespectful, but makes it clear we aren't naive enough to get comfortable here.
We seem like we're easy to take advantage of, tbh, so putting on a brave face is probably a good idea.
>>
No. 910622 ID: 05ebc7

>>910608
That's what I figured- personality test.

>>910515
Go for the sofa.
>>
No. 910662 ID: 3674e7

>>910515
Couch time
>>
No. 910700 ID: 75c493

The couch looks comfy.
Also, it would let you see both entrances to the room.
>>
No. 910816 ID: c0641d

We were asked to take a seat, so I think the choice to remain standing would be seen as being defiant (or worse, contrary), so we sit. I say go for the chair. Not for gaming a test, but for merely practical reasons; we like to stay attentive, and aren't that concerned with indulging ourselves on such a trivial matter as butt-position; we are perfectly capable of being professional.
>>
No. 910830 ID: 719d94

There's also the half-standing resting-your-ass-on-the-couch-armrest option. Kind of the worst of all worlds and makes you look like a tool option. But if this is some kind of personality test there could be some value in taking an option that doesn't make you look like you're actually crazy, but also probably doesn't fit on their roadmap.

Would definitely make you look like a tool though.
>>
No. 910832 ID: b1b4f3

Sit on couch, examine stuff on table.
>>
No. 910840 ID: c0641d

Actually, I’m changing my vote to sitting on the sofa, specifically not in the center. If asked to explain our reasoning:
“The folding chair sacrifices comfort and dignity, and the beanbag chair sacrifices professionality and ease of movement. The sofa sacrifices none of that, and gives a decent view of all possible exits to boot. Also, if I sit to one side like so, I guarantee that I don’t rob my gracious host of the seat she was planning on using, no matter what that’s going to be.”

And yeah, if there’s nothing else to do, perusing the table of its contents (see what I did there?) seems like a good way of spending time.
>>
No. 911010 ID: 6ebee4

Gotta take the beanbag chair for sure
>>
No. 911019 ID: 0e2ebe

>>910840
I wouldn't vocalize the thought process. Giving them anything, including how wary we are or how canny we are, for free is a bad idea.
>>
No. 911052 ID: 15a025

Beanbag chair!
>>
No. 911062 ID: 4c6db0

Be unpredictable and put the beanbag on the sofa. Then finger the beanbag.
>>
No. 911123 ID: c0641d

>>911019
Hence why I said we should say this if we’re pressed to explain. I never said we should say this out of the blue.
>>
No. 911146 ID: 2cb8b9

>>911123
I'm saying we should never talk about it.
>>
No. 914612 ID: fafba8

Bean bag all the way. and ask what Sigarzghar means.
>>
No. 914668 ID: 7d9d06

Sit cross-legged on the table. Stare at her defiantly when she returns.
>>
No. 917982 ID: 725bd3

Beanbag, definitely. Maximum comfort must be achieved.
>>
No. 918154 ID: 891b91
File 154781214828.gif - (416.69KB , 1024x1024 , 1-001-1.gif )
918154

>Sneak a peek through the archway to see what she's doing.
Sticking close to the wall, you creep up to the archway and poke your head around the corner; past the threshold is a small kitchenette. The room is furnished with a sense of careful economy: the walls are lined with cooking implements, cabinets, and appliances, while the limited counter space is left free of clutter. With her back facing you, Cider hums to herself cheerfully as she pours steaming water into a teapot. As she turns to stow the kettle, she notices you and smiles warmly. "Just fixing some tea for us," she explains. "It's one of my favorites: an earthy oolong, but with a hint of orange, kind of like Earl Grey. It should only be a couple minutes, make yourself at home!"
>>
No. 918155 ID: 891b91
File 154781216224.gif - (416.81KB , 1024x1024 , 1-001-2.gif )
918155

>Take a quick discreet peek through the window
Quietly, you make your way past the archway and spread the drapes gently, and the bright glow of the sun, or whatever it is, streams in from above. The window is actually a sliding door connected to a narrow balcony; eyeballing the height, you'd wager that this is the third or fourth floor of the building. You can't see what lies below it without going outside, but the line of rooftops in the distance curves down and to your right, suggesting that this place is at the top of a hill.
>>
No. 918156 ID: 891b91
File 154781217425.gif - (541.97KB , 1024x1024 , 1-001-3.gif )
918156

>Also be careful what you think about. We dont know what they may be able to do in your head and you dont want to compromise people by thinking the wrong thing.
You consider the idea that these people -- Vesper? You aren't sure -- might have the ability to read your mind, if the effect the glyph had on you is any indication. Being cautious about your thoughts comes to mind, but, ironically, you feel like you'll need to think about what thoughts you ought to censor, if you can even truly pull off such a thing. You have no idea how you'd be able to tell whether they're reading your thoughts, anyway.

>examine stuff on table
A pair of strange objects rest on the circular coffee table. The purpose of the bell-like item is unclear to you, but judging from the crumbs of ash beside it, you'd guess that it has something to do with the incense burning in the thurible. The square card is more mysterious; you reach out and touch it, prompting a hologram to leap to life from its surface. A still, three-dimensional photo of a small group of people hovers in the air before you, and you quickly recognize a couple of them. In the center is Cider, who has been captured in mid-laughter as she pulls in the the pair of friends (or so you assume) flanking her. Everyone involved seems happy to be there -- except for Matteo, who stands rigidly off to the side in an almost military fashion, with a sour expression spread across his face.

Unsurprisingly, tapping the square card again dismisses the holographic photo.
>>
No. 918157 ID: 891b91
File 154781218836.gif - (148.84KB , 1024x1024 , 1-001-4.gif )
918157

You get the sneaking suspicion that Cider might be testing your personality, based on where you choose to sit; you aren't sure whether that's just your imagination talking. It occurs to you to try something provocative to "beat" the test, but you dismiss it; you think it might be best if you feign innocence for now.

The sofa seems comfortable enough; you plop down on the left-hand cushion, since it gives you the best view of all possible exits, as well as leaving room for Cider, should she want to sit on the couch as well.

>you should smell pillows to see if there's any familiar scent there.
You grab the nearest pillow and give it a whiff, although it makes you feel like some kind of weirdo. The pillow smells mostly like the incense flooding the room, leading you to assume that Cider uses the stuff quite a bit. Deeper in, however, there's a subtle, pungent undertone that you can't quite place, something that's been there or has built up there for a long time now. Your best guess is that this is just a musty old pillow with musty old smells.
>>
No. 918158 ID: 891b91
File 154781219740.gif - (308.01KB , 1024x1024 , 1-001-5.gif )
918158

The tinkling of porcelain rings out from the kitchenette, startling you; you nearly throw the pillow across the room out of panic, but you manage to regain your composure and quickly stuff the thing between yourself and the arm rest.

"Ah, here we are -- a nice pot of tea!" Cider returns through the archway, daintily toting a basket-like tray by one hand. She carries herself with a serene elegance, which, combined with her thick robes mostly obscuring the movement of her legs, makes it seem almost like she is gliding across the floor. You wonder briefly whether the thick robes are meant to conceal her stature. It strikes you as a futile effort, however, as the robes still drape over her features in a way that hints at them unmistakably: wide, girthy hips; a pear-like figure ending in a round rump; and a heavy bosom that fills out the top half of her attire. You feel a brief twinge of envy as you reflexively compare them to your own modest assets.
>>
No. 918159 ID: 891b91
File 154781221035.gif - (302.20KB , 1024x1024 , 1-001-6.gif )
918159

Cider sets the tray in the center of the table, then fills a pair of mugs with tea, handing one of them to you. "Here you go, Sigarzghar, it's still pretty hot, but once it cools off I think you'll find the citrus makes it quite pleasant," she says, smiling at you warmly.

You sniff the tea suspiciously, but nothing seems out of the ordinary to you aside from the aforementioned hint of orange; as Cider takes a few cautious sips of the hot liquid, you decide that it's probably safe to drink it. A long moment passes quietly as she savors the stuff, and you begin to wonder whether you should say something.

"I like to meet one-on-one with newcomers," she begins suddenly, finally breaking the silence. "It helps with getting accustomed to us and how things work around here, if one's curiosity is first satisfied. You no doubt have questions, which I'll be happy to answer to the best of my ability. Ask me whatever you'd like -- nothing is off-limits."

>We seem like we're easy to take advantage of, tbh, so putting on a brave face is probably a good idea.
You give her a defiant look in response, saying nothing at first, but she just looks back at you patiently, taking the occasional sip of tea. You get the strong feeling that she has a lot of experience with this sort of opposition, judging from her lack of response. "I understand if you'd rather not ask anything right now -- no pressure! The offer's always open, if you change your mind," she adds.

>ask what Sigarzghar means.
You sit there for a moment, before finally deciding that you're better off with more information about your situation than less. You start off with an obvious question: "What does 'Sigarzghar' mean?"

"Translated literally, it means 'little tree,' or 'sapling.'" A sip of tea punctuates the statement. "We use it as a title for newcomers; our calling here is to help Sigarzghars grow into Jarmus, blossoming trees. Once you become a Jarmu, you'll be ready to reintegrate with the outside world." Another sip of tea. "A Jarmu may choose remain here and dedicate themself to our work, eventually becoming a Qatra, meaning 'drop,' as in the drop of petals and the bearing of fruit." A long sip. "I am a Qatra, as is Matteo, whom you met in the hall earlier."
>>
No. 918160 ID: 094652

Question 1:
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!
I stared at some stupid piece of paper and BAM I'm in a hospital! Then you bring me to this apartment and treat me like I'm your newest member and is this even the same space station?!"
Question 2:
"What is it that you do, anyway."
Question 3:
"I need a job, where can I find the nearest bounty board?"
>>
No. 918177 ID: 10c408

...Yeah, Cider puts on such a warm and friendly face I bet she's done this a hundred times and is an expert at reading people and suckering them into a deal they can't refuse.

Start with small questions, let's try not to betray how intelligent and resourceful we can be (though given they took all of our possessions that already might be spoiled).

If she gives you an answer you aren't happy with, just go with it and ask something else. Don't put on a poker face, she's likely to notice and will probably see through it instantly.

In fact, it's probably best to act like you are completely out of your depth here, which shouldn't be hard. Tricky bit is acting like someone slightly dumber than yourself.

"So, you rehabilitate people here? From what exactly?"
>>
No. 918180 ID: c0641d

"I... I think there's been a misunderstanding; I'm not a Zom- sorry, Sigarzghar. I just found that paper in the trashcan in the evac office toilet and accidentally looked at the rune too long. (By the way, the 'lock-in' function on that is way too quick on the draw. You should maybe tweak that.) ... I mean, didn't you think it was weird that it activated there of all places? Anyways, I have a friend that's probably wondering what happened to me, and a lead on a potential murder case that's... probably gone cold, I realize."
>>
No. 918189 ID: acdd32

>>918158
You could nonchalantly ask if there is a body mod place available and the costa of such a service if you really want to enhance your figure. I mean, might as well ask on your own terms in a way that is as dignified as possible rather than risk getting embarassed later should they have been reading your thoughts.

Additionally this could be useful later on for less cosmetic-type mprovements if the need arises.


--

As about factions. You could tip your hand slightly and ask if it would be possible to find some friends you made (dont mention names or descriptions for now).
>>
No. 918192 ID: 91ee5f

>>918158
>the robes still drape over her features in a way that hints at them unmistakably: wide, girthy hips; a pear-like figure ending in a round rump; and a heavy bosom that fills out the top half of her attire.
>You feel a brief twinge of envy as you reflexively compare them to your own modest assets.
I mean, if you had any of that on your body right now, you’d look kinda ridiculous. You should worry about making yourself a little taller first, that way when you do get around to wanting to get any of those other assets, they’ll fit on your body better.

Although, with no money, any sort of body modifications you’d want, you wouldn’t be able to get any of them for quite a while.

>>918159
>rehabilitation
“Can you rehabilitate someone that doesn’t know if there’s something wrong with them? Because I’ve got amnesia and I don’t really remember anything about myself.”

>>918177
>took our stuff
I thought we gave our stuff to Quincy so that she could get them through customs for us? That way she’d give them back to us when we met up with her.

>>918189
>You could nonchalantly ask if there is a body mod place available and the cost of such a service if you really want to enhance your figure.
Might as well. Wouldn’t hurt to ask, right?
>>
No. 918195 ID: e51896

Might want to ask if you would owe any money or something for getting their help before we get into asking serious questions.
>>
No. 918196 ID: 10c408

>>918192
We gave the dustbender to quincy so she could sneak it through customs for us. We had everything else on hand when the alarm went off and now that we've woken up, everything is gone except the clothes on our back.
>>
No. 918201 ID: b1b4f3

>>918159
Okay first ask why you were in a coma. Was that symbol supposed to do that to you? Second, ask where you are(though I suspect you're in the Vesper building). Third, ask exactly what Taffa Syndrome is. You need to confirm whether or not you have it.
Fourth, ask what dust is. It has to do with Taffa Syndrome and the drug itself but the information you found didn't go into details. This question might already be answered from the description of Taffa Syndrome though.
>>
No. 918204 ID: a9af05

>>918158
If you keep staring at her body like that, she's going to think you're mentally undressing her.

Which is fine if you're into girls, but this seems like the time you don't want to give her the wrong idea, so you might want to be careful with how long you stare at her.

>>918189
>Body mod place?
Yes, let's ask about that.

>>918196
>Stuff is gone
Then let's ask where it is so we can get our stuff back.

>>918201
These are good questions to ask.
>>
No. 918205 ID: 2202fb

>>918192
>>918201
>amnesia
>taffa

Lets not show our hand completely. We should keep any possible vulnerabilities to ourselves (even the obvious ones like the amnesia). Explicitly asking for help would show them that we trust them and that we are willing to open up to them. We are not ready for that. Keep this a business relationship for now.
>>
No. 918211 ID: bad12e

>>918159

Cool, we're part of a secret society and/or cult, now!
>>
No. 918221 ID: ebd50b

Keep staring at her chest. If she notices, explain that you were just wondering what her breast size was.

As for the less important things, you can ask about
- glyph's purpose; what exactly happened when and after you looked at it
- vesper goals and why are they helping taffa syndrome sufferers
- your possessions
- wards and ward affiliations
- the opportunity Matteo was talking about
>>
No. 918232 ID: c4ea2b

I vote a vague but firm inquiry. i.e.:

"What's the game? Why help me? Philanthropy? Or is there a deeper motive?" Open with that in an earnest, but not hostile tone. You won't be tricked, but you're also not openly hostile.
>>
No. 918253 ID: bad12e

>>918221

Oh, good point! How DOES that funky glyph thing work and how did we get here rather than a stall in a public restroom?
>>
No. 918254 ID: 158da5

"Sorry but I don't have time for that, I've got plans to take care of." Basically see if you can just leave. And also, think about doing that anyway.
>>
No. 918273 ID: e51896

I mainly want to know what happened after we passed out. Who discovered us unconscious in the bathroom, what kind of crazy things were happening while the alarm was going off?
>>
No. 918279 ID: 91ee5f

>>918205
But what if she could actually help with the amnesia? We might end up missing out on getting some real help if we don’t tell her.
>>
No. 918281 ID: b1b4f3

>>918205
We were brought here because we looked at the Vesper glyph, do you really think they aren't already convinced we've got Taffa Syndrome?
>>
No. 918287 ID: 10c408

>>918281
Those aren't necessarily connected. Yes we looked at the vesper glyph and apparently spent three days completely out of it, but so far we haven't been given any information as to how we ended up under Cider's care. Or even what business/organization Cider represents.
>>
No. 918307 ID: bad12e

>>918287

This guy gets it. It's not normal to go comatose for a couple of days like that, and we really have no explanation as to why we're HERE (wherever here is), rather than back in a public restroom.
>>
No. 918314 ID: c0641d

I still say we at least make an attempt at making this seem like a big misunderstanding. If we do a good enough job of it, Cider will either A): Believe us, and send us on our way until we're ready to actually seek help for the larger issue at hand after we're settled down, or B): Not believe us, but think we're convincing enough that we can already be considered a Jarmu - we did essentially hit the ground running after we woke up, after all; a few quick pointers on how stuff specifically works around here (government, socio-economic situation, culture, important groups, how dust and frequency works, etc.), and we can be on our way. Ask for exactly that if we don't end up convincing her, because again, we have several things we're leaving in the lurch by staying here.
>>
No. 918328 ID: b1b4f3

>>918287
>>918307
The glyph was a thing people with Taffa Syndrome were supposed to look at. I repeat: if you have Taffa Syndrome you're supposed to look at the glyph.
We looked at the glyph, therefore they think we have Taffa Syndrome, even if that's not true. The coma may be normal or it may have been an unexpected complication, it doesn't matter.
>>
No. 918338 ID: 10c408

>>918328
They haven't said whether or not we have it though. Aside from how long we've been unconscious because of the stupid coma paper we know basically nothing about our current situation, because they've told us exactly jack and shit.

Assumptions are dangerous things to make in such an information blackout that's been heavily enforced by Cider here.

And if we did have taffa syndrome and this IS Vesper that got us out of that bathroom, they would have said something about it by now.
>>
No. 918847 ID: 891b91
File 154833051205.gif - (343.71KB , 1024x1024 , 1-002-1.gif )
918847

"Wait, reintegrate with the outside world? What does that even mean -- are you saying you're putting me in some kind of rehab? I don't even know who you people are!" You protest.

"People in the outside world probably see our work merely as a form of rehabilitation, yes," Cider admits, closing her eyes as she punctuates it with a long sip from her mug. "We don't view it in such rigid, medical terms, however... what we do is more holistic than a simple rehab program. As for who we are, here on Red Shelf we call ourselves Vina-nijma, meaning 'guiding star,' but the outside world knows us as the Vesper Society. Our mission is to aid those whom the outside world rejects and mistreats: those poor souls suffering from amnesia caused by the abuse of raw taffa. We offer them a home, a family, and most importantly, an opportunity to discover themselves as a new person, rather than being shackled to the lives of their qabels -- their predecessors."

"But what does that have to do with me? I've never touched raw taffa."

"Sigarzghar, you--"

"Penny," you interrupt her. "My name is Penny."

"...Penny," she begins again, slowly and deliberately, "you're suffering from taffa syndrome. Your qabel, the person who inhabited your body before you, drank raw taffa to erase her memories. She died, creating you in the process. You woke up in an unfamiliar place, unable to remember who you are or how you got there; You were covered with a strange, red powder -- this was your qabel's own dead dust, killed by the taffa and expelled by your body during her death throes. You found our flyer, and eventually you looked at the capture-glyph printed on it, which exploited a vulnerability in your dust to temporarily take control of your body and deliver you here. In your case, it made itself known to police officers who were fortunately nearby to handle some kind of disturbance, and they then brought you to us."

"I... I think there's been a misunderstanding. I'm not a zom-- sorry, I mean, uh, 'cigar-scar?' I don't have taffa syndrome. I just found that flyer in the trash near the Concourse customs and looked at it for too long... I mean, didn't you think it was weird that it was activated in a bathroom, of all places?"

"Penny, we know you have taffa syndrome. Think about it for a moment: if our capture-glyphs could work on just anybody, do you really think the powers that be would let us distribute them, let alone produce them? We're a small ward, we don't have the power to decide that for ourselves. We're allowed to do it because the glyphs only work on people suffering from the syndrome. The optical vulnerability they exploit is created by taffa poisoning, by killing dust that would prevent the glyph's signal from reaching the rest of the system." Her demeanor darkens, her visage turning solemn. "And we aren't the only people who can produce these glyphs... body hunters and other traffickers use them too -- because in the outside world, who's going to care if a 'zombie' goes missing? It's better that we take advantage of that vulnerability -- and fix it -- before someone else with far worse intentions does."
>>
No. 918851 ID: 89b4c8

This is outrageous! Demand that she bakes you something as compensation.
>>
No. 918853 ID: 4da535

And what exactly does “fixing this vulnerability” entail?
Also, you make it feel like i’ve just been abducted by a cult... shit, this is a cult, isn’t it?
>>
No. 918855 ID: c0641d

"I mean... did it at least sound convincing to someone who doesn't know how that works? I was thinking I'd at least be convincing enough to graduate to Jarmu already. I mean, the idea of me being forced to kidnap me doesn't seem appealing, so I guess you make a fair point. Still, that whole 'discovering and establishing the new you' thing you're talking about? I was in the middle of doing just that when I decided to give that rune a harmless glance before throwing it away, thinking it would just bring up info like that business card I found. I do in fact have some irons in the fire already; a friend I still need to meet up with, and a possible lead on a possible murder case. Is there any way to expedite this process?"
>>
No. 918863 ID: 2202fb

>>918853
Probably patching their backdoor they made to Penny's brain.

--

Ask what other memetic exploits you are currently vulnerable to. Concede that you have TS, but ask her how you can trust her. Ask her if she has ever seen the movie Total Recall; are you even in reality right now?
>>
No. 918865 ID: bddb0f

>>918847

Say, a little waspishly, that you are certainly loath to be taken advantage of. Begrudgingly settle down into the couch and admit that perhaps you're a little unfairly blaming them for the scare of your life - if you could have felt scared, at least - and WOULD like a PRIMER ON BASIC FACT-OF-LIFE STUFF and a bit of Q&A. Add, with a grimace, that getting KO'd out of nowhere was really not the best way to get introduced. You were doing fine, and feel tricked by their 'capture-glyph', and now you apparently have to 'qualify' to even leave their ward? It's inconvenient.

How you can 'fix' this exploit in your mind and how long will you have to beware holographic pop-up ads in bad neighbourhoods?

Ask what happened to your stuff. Have all your possessions been confiscated, or are they around here somewhere? You had a few people you wanted to talk to at Gansett and in the Councourse. Those plans were a TAD disrupted by what has happened. What's required for you to leave, and how long does it take to get it?
>>
No. 918866 ID: 158da5

>>918863
Sure, do this
>>
No. 918867 ID: 2202fb

>>918865
This is still too trusting. Additionally, it sort of seems confrontational which isn't a good approach at the moment.


If we absolutely need to, we can ask for the primer and such, but lets try to find out as much as we can on our own instead of just what one resource says.

We might be able to ask for a newspaper(equivalent) and/or (e)books on life.

We clearly know some things, but we definitely dont know others.
>>
No. 918874 ID: 10c408

>>918863
If everything Cider just said is true, then the backdoor is already there because of taffa syndrome and pretty much anyone with the know-how and awful intentions can take advantage of it.

As for what to do next... Try not to cry, fail and then cry a lot.
>>
No. 918880 ID: 864e49

Okay yes fine I probably have taffa syndrome but I'd still like some answers.

Where's all the stuff I had on me? Some of it I think was pretty important in ways I don't quite know yet and speaking of there where some other things I was planning on doing before everything went to shirt and I'd still like to do them so am I allowed to leave, are you people in charge of me now, are there things I'm not allowed to do or places I'm not allowed to go?

Oh and also something that's important, YOUR FUCKING GLYPH PUT ME IN A COMA FOR THREE DAYS!
The fuck is that all about? Is that normal? I should hope not cause if that's the case then I'm lucky that I decided not to use it when I first woke up in that ruined city or I would've been taken away like the other three.

Well aside from all that the only other questions I have are if it's normal to still kind of have memories from my past and if you can think of any significance of a red fox and a blue fox both of which have both their eyes on one side of their faces?
>>
No. 918883 ID: b1b4f3

>>918847
>red dust is dead dust
Shit, that means those other people in the basement were zombies too. They got taken away, we should report that.
Also ask if the vulnerability is permanent. Are you going to have to avoid looking at those glyphs forever?

Then ask what you'd need to accomplish to be considered a Jarmu, and how long that'd take. You made a friend and agreed to go scrapping with her.
>>
No. 918887 ID: 91ee5f

>>918847
“So what you’re saying is that you brainwashed me to come here to let you fix me to prevent me from getting brainwashed and kidnapped by body hunters and other traffickers. Is that right?”

“Because if you can help fix whatever is wrong with me so that I don’t get affected by those glyphs anymore, then that’s what I want. I don’t like the idea of someone else using those glyphs to kidnap me!”

>>918883
>Are you going to have to avoid looking at those glyphs forever?
Cider told us that she’d help fix that so that we’re not affected anymore. And she said that we should let her fix that before someone else with far worse intentions uses those glyphs to kidnap us.
>>
No. 918889 ID: 094652

"Okay. Still, is it normal for four people to enter a suicide pact in the same taffa den? And why do I think I'm a human?"
>>
No. 918891 ID: bad12e

>>918847

Okay, okay ... let's walk things back a bit.

What we know of the things is thus:

- She knows WAY more about our circumstances than she has any reason to unless this really IS a more common occurrence than we realize.

- Everything Cider has described insofar mirrors our experiences.

- We don't know anything beyond one hell of a migraine after looking at the thing and blacking out, so ... maybe this glyph deal isn't so ludicrous after all.

- Taffa is something serious. Something really, really bad, and "dust" can evidently be used to alter one's own body / mind / metaphysical qualities.

If so -- and this is a BIG if -- that means that two very important items need to be inquired about: the "dust gun" in the case that we talked to Pompadour-chick about (I forget her address), and the vial of maybe-it-was-medicine.

Does Cider have either of those? If so, can she show you the medicine bottle and help make sense of it?

She's right; we've got gaps. Big ones. Really, huge, gaping holes in who and what we are (because right now, we don't even know WHAT we are). Cider's the only chance we've got right now, and it doesn't look like we'll be receiving many other choices.
>>
No. 918894 ID: 2202fb

Here's a question to mull over.

What if someone forced someone else to consume raw taffa? Wouldn't that be murder without a corpse? What if your past self was assassinated? It is an interesting word choice on Cider's part to say that your past self died. I mean, you are still you, you just dont have memories, but memories arent the only thing that is you.
>>
No. 918895 ID: 0e2ebe

>>918894
That's a matter of opinion. Different people are going to have different views on personhood.
>>
No. 918933 ID: 10c408

>>918894
Cider has only explained the aftereffects of taffa syndrome as it relates to our current status and hasn't talked about the entire process from start to finish.

Which I'm sure is absolutely horrifying.
>>
No. 918938 ID: 053cbb

I think the most important thing here is to remain collected. An emotional outburst would get you nowhere. Try to breath, organize your thoughts, and think about what you want to say.

I think you should ask what happens to you next; what kind of process exactly does she want to send you through? how long does it take? Can you leave at will?

Ask that last one very carefully, phrase it hypothetically. If pushed, state that you have friends you would wish to see on the outside, but don't name names whatever you do.
>>
No. 918964 ID: caf1de

i wanna know why we were in a coma

>>918889
>>918880
yeah what was with those fucking dogs
>>
No. 918986 ID: e51896

"I apologize if I sound frustrated, but I didn't much appreciate being put in a coma. couldn't a phone number, or a alarm or something sufficed without the knockout? Or at least a written warning of me being put in a coma after looking at the glyph? I felt a little bit lied to..."

>>918938
this. Lets just stay calm. No need for outbursts.
>>
No. 918988 ID: 10c408

>>918964
Drug mules from the looks of things. They were gonna get busted so they freaked out and started flushing the goods.
>>
No. 918989 ID: fd2d31

Goddamn, imagine carpetbombing enemy population with aerosolized raw Taffa and pamphlets with carefully crafted glyphs.
Ultimate non-lethal weapon.
>>
No. 919012 ID: a9af05

>>918847
If she can fix us so that we don't get brainwashed anymore, then I say that we should let her fix us!
>>
No. 919056 ID: ac10e5

No yelling. Stay calm. Even on the diminishingly rare chance that these people have it in for you, an outburst isn't going to do anything positive for your situation.
>>
No. 919064 ID: 158da5

>emotion is bad
It makes people empathize with you! If she's actually legit she'll care if we're upset. If an emotional outburst actually hurt things, this is a situation we definitely need to escape.
>>
No. 919115 ID: b1b4f3

>>919064
You can express anger without yelling.
>>
No. 919118 ID: 158da5

>>919115
And that could be interpreted as unfeeling, or intimidating. Is that what you want to do, or who you want Penny to be? I like an emotional, fiery Penny, personally.

[spoiler]I'll leave it there, any more definitely needs to go to the discussion thread.[/thread]
>>
No. 919205 ID: 30f4b7

Well, the fact that they seem pretty culty and they're obviously willing to employ mind control to drag people in against their will, rather than just seek them out and offer help raises so many red flags.

....ask to be let go. See if they'll either help you get on your feet, keep their hooks in you, refuse to let you go, or throw you out without help so you have no choice but to come to them.
>>
No. 919207 ID: 10c408

>>919205
The flyers are a method for seeking out and trying to help. Yes, it's mind control but so far this could be so much worse than waking up in someone else's personal clinic.
>>
No. 919288 ID: 2202fb

>>919207
That is what it looks like on the surface, but who knows what may be underneath that.
>>
No. 919289 ID: 10c408

>>919288
We're going to need time and information to figure that out one way or the other. Oh hey look, we've got both right now.
>>
No. 919295 ID: df5c09

Say you're glad that you got a genuine Vesper Society glyph page and not some malicious impostor page. You say this because just thinking about it a bit, you think it'd be easy for those with nefarious intent to make glyph page books that look just like the Vesper Society's except for a different glyph. You assume the Society has to have had such trouble before and those in it who distribute the books are always on the lookout for fakes.
>>
No. 919736 ID: 891b91
File 154910882376.gif - (186.54KB , 1024x1024 , 1-003-1.gif )
919736

I changed Cider's text color to grey to make it a bit more readable when using tgchan-BLICK's invert colors feature.

"Fine," you acquiesce, settling into the couch and folding your arms, "I don't remember anything before four or five days ago." Or much during the past three, thanks to you, you think to yourself, suppressing the urge to say it out loud. "But why put me in a coma for three days? Don't you find that worrying?"

"It is worrying, especially because we haven't figured out what caused it." Cider sighs -- you get the impression she was hoping you wouldn't ask. "It's never taken more than a couple of hours for newcomers to wake up, once we've deactivated the glyph's programming. Until you came here, that is. Our best guess is that there is something unusual about your dust's structure -- but as for what it is, or why it's there, we don't know. What's important, though, is that you're here now, safe with us."

"Okay, you say I'm safe, but what about those glyphs? Didn't you say you'd fix things so they wouldn't affect me?"

"Our capture-glyph patches the vulnerability automatically, actually. We think it should have been successful in your case, but we're a bit wary of testing it out to make sure. I think you should... be careful around glyphs for now, just in case."

"Well, that's reassuring. Are there any other mind control devices out there that I should know about? And how do you know there aren't people making fake copies of your glyphs, to get people like me?"

She either ignores or doesn't notice your sarcasm. "None that we know of. If they exist, we're as in the dark about it as you are. As for counterfeits, traffickers have tried it before, so we make the rounds pretty regularly to swap out our books. With the right equipment, we can test them and find out what they're programmed to do, so when we find fakes we pass them off to the authorities. It's not a perfect solution, but it does help make counterfeiting a bit more trouble than it's worth, for them."

"Great. So I guess I need to become a, uh, 'jarmu' to get out of here?"

"Penny, becoming a jarmu is about more than 'getting out of here.' It's about grounding yourself in a community and, within that context, coming to learn who you are, independent of the qabel who came before you. Will you then be able to leave Red Shelf of your own accord? Yes, not because we let you, but instead because you'll be truly capable of making that decision for yourself."

"I've already been 'discovering myself' and managing on the outside just fine, so far. The fact that I made my way from the ruins of the old city to the Concourse on my own demonstrates that I'm pretty capable, if you ask me. I've even made a few friends along the way, one of whom I was on my way to meet before your glyph threw a wrench in my plans. So I think I'm more than capable of handling life on the outside, and I'd like to leave."

"Penny... please, let's not make this difficult," she pleads, her placid demeanor breaking slightly to reveal an image of genuine concern. "At least give our way of life a chance, I promise it'll help you more than you think."

"Well, if I play along and do things your way, maybe you could take my experience into account and expedite things a bit, at least?"

"It isn't my choice to make, I'm afraid. Graduating a sigarzghar to jarmu is decided by a majority vote among all qatras, so the most I could do is put in a good word for you with the others. And I can't do that in good conscience until I'm convinced you're ready to thrive in the outside world."

You sigh -- your frustration is rising, but you're doing your best to remain calm. "Okay, then," you respond coolly at first, before tempering your demeanor, "what do I have to do to become a jarmu? More importantly, how long does it take?"

"As I said, becoming a jarmu is to become a part of our community, and through that come to understand who you are as a person. Family is an integral part of that, and to that end our community here is split up into seven dars, or houses, one of which you will join. As a member of a dar, you will take part in its collective responsibilities to the community -- and be compensated for your work, of course -- in order to learn a trade you can use to support yourself in the outside world. While our community is fairly tight-knit overall, your housemates will naturally be those you grow closest to, forging friendships that help complete you as a person." She takes a moment to finish her tea, setting the mug aside. "Eventually, based on your progress, the qatras leading your dar will recommend you for graduation to jarmu. The amount of time it takes to reach that point varies from person to person, but in most cases it takes between two and five years."
>>
No. 919737 ID: ad51b8

... OK THEN! These jobs, can you give some examples on what they are and how much do they pay. Is it at least minimum wage or are they more like internships where I should be happy to be getting anything at all. I'm not expecting a high paying job like a doctor or anything but I do want to know if I'm at least getting the same wage as an unskilled worker like a factory worker on an assembly line who could at least make enough to live off of or if I'm living off charity with a few bucks thrown my way here and there.

Also how much does room and board cost? Both for living in one of these dars and... I don't know a cheap apartment. I want an idea on what the poverty line is around here.
>>
No. 919741 ID: dd5242

Look I acknowledge that going back now is probably dumb without any actual skills but at least It’s real, it’s hard to take your “offer” as anything but a joke or a scam when I seemed to be doing well enough on my own.
You’re basically asking me to give up on the life I was partway through building myself so I can do it again but in a “safe” gated community where the big bad real world can’t hurt me. I know it wasn’t much of a life yet but i’d only just started.

But how about this... I’ll spend a day or so here to see what it’s like and decide afterwards whether or not I stay for real, sound good?
On an unrelated note, where are my things?
>>
No. 919742 ID: fd2d31

Sounds more and more like a petty but creepy cult.

Time to tell her that if she doesn't allow you to leave right here, right now, no strings attached, then it's nothing more than that.
>>
No. 919743 ID: 158da5

Five years? Definitely a cult. That's the kind of time frame that by the end of it, they're going to say "no no, you need another year, at least!" and never let you go.

But it's way easier to escape if they don't know you want to. Also maybe there's others who want to leave. So lie and say you'll give it a shot.
>>
No. 919745 ID: 10c408

...Yeah, this basically is a friendship cult. Everything that Cider here is offering comes with some very massive, sprawling strings attached. Five years is a hell of a long time to work with when your goal is to convince someone that yes they can leave but they should totally stay instead.

Lie and say you'll go along with it.
>>
No. 919747 ID: bddb0f

>>919736

Take a deep breath and re-calm down. At least it was an honest answer.

State matter-of-factly and without (much) rancor:

You, Penny Ainsley, being of sound mind and body feel just fine - surprisingly, perhaps, but you do - and not to belittle the work of the Vespers, but you do not want to stay on Red Shelf for years of 'pseudo-familial integration'. You want the independence to move around - and you want to talk with people you've already met. You had a line on a potential job and information on what may be a missing person from down in the Old City to pass on. In a pinch, you have holo addresses you could call or send messages to.

You get what the Vespers seem to be about, but you don't seem to require their services as they intend to give them. If they really want to help, then yeah, there's plenty they could do for you that you'd want and you'd even repay it with work or money, but if Cider wants you on board for a years-long process... she should sell you WAY harder on why this is to your benefit. Cigar tzar or zombie - you are apparently high-functioning enough to not act as a child (or worse). Your main stumbling block is your ignorance, and that, thankfully, has a fairly simple cure.

Now, what happened to your stuff?

And, in her breadth of experience with sufferers of Taffa Syndrome, do people tend to remember anything from their old lives?
>>
No. 919750 ID: c0641d

"I... get the feeling arguing with this is pointless. I still have some questions, though:"

Start counting on your fingers.

"1: Getting the potentially easy solution out of the way; are you legally allowed to hold me here against my will?

"2: What's your policy on contact with the outside? I want to let my friend know I'm okay at least, and if I can't finish the investigation I ended up inadvertently starting, I can at least turn in my evidence and testimony to someone who can. I'm pretty sure the victim's employer will be interested in picking up the lead.

"3: Can you tell me what each dars specializes in? I'm particularly interested in information services or investigative positions, as that's what I feel I'm best suited for.

"4: What's the fastest it's ever taken to graduate to Jarmu? I'm just curious about what the current record is right now."
>>
No. 919751 ID: 91ee5f

>>919736
>The amount of time it takes to reach that point varies from person to person, but in most cases it takes between two and five years.
This is the point where, if you’re drinking your tea, you spit it out is surprise! Also known as a spit take.
>>
No. 919752 ID: b1b4f3

>>919736
So this is like college, where you're not allowed to drop out.
Well, you have one advantage here. You might be able to recover more memories. Tell her you'd like to make investigating your unique condition your first priority, since you remembered something during your coma. Something related to one of the items you were carrying. Where are those, by the way?
Also yeah ask what kind of jobs you can train for. May as well get some training while you're here.
Lastly ask how you can use email. You don't know your own address.
>>
No. 919754 ID: 2202fb

Remember to inquire as to the possibility of your past-self being murdered. While self-inflicted amnesia may be the most common, it seems like it would be fairly easy to assassinate someone without a trace.
>>
No. 919763 ID: df1b0b

"Is there a sorting hat that picks my dar? Because if there is, I am NOT ending up in Hufflepuff." Say this in a comedic deadpan. (Is that too meta?)

Go for a noncommittal sarcastic response. Don't make it backhanded. I understand how frustrating all this is, but Cider is obviously entirely convinced of her own self righteousness. The harder you push, the less she'll listen. If you try and say 'this is unfair' she'll respond sympathetically, but in her mind she'll immediately write you off as a 'lost sheep' in need of guidance.

Agree to jump through her hoops, but continue to sound apprehensive, or she'll become suspicious.

We'll figure out how to escape later.
>>
No. 919782 ID: 2202fb

>>919763
emphasis on escape.

This seems to be a safe place for now for us to take control of our mental and cyber security.
>>
No. 919792 ID: 10c408

>>919782
As was just mentioned, the glyph should have patched the security hole in our head it used.

Given that our case is out of the norm, though... Well, it doesn't sound like Vesper has the facilities needed to investigate our coma instance further.
>>
No. 919795 ID: 15a025

>Two to five years
This is sounding more and more like a trap.

Seconding asking about if they can legally keep you here.
>>
No. 919810 ID: 2202fb

>>919792
We are not in control. We have been told they fixed it, but until we have access to our own interworkings to see what is there, we are not in control. We dont just want a pre-setup pc, we need to be a power user!
>>
No. 919815 ID: 10c408

>>919810
It's not a good idea to perform anything remotely resembling brain surgery, on yourself. We also can't trust Vesper with it, so long as we're under their friendly thumb. The best case is that we get out, re-establish ourselves elsewhere and then quietly start doctor/technician shopping.

Let's not outsource our desktop upgrades to this place, their couch smells like sex and they might be daft enough to fully enable cortana, mcafee and goodness knows what else when we asked them to install linux.
>>
No. 919824 ID: e51896

Lets not talk about what we saw during our coma, specifically that building we saw before waking up from the coma. If we plan an escape at some point, and they remember you talking about that building, they most likely will know that you will head that way at some point.
>>
No. 919839 ID: 2202fb

>>919815
I am saying we can learn to do it ourselves while we are relatively safe here and then escape once we are done.
>>
No. 919854 ID: bad12e

>>919736

Well, let's discuss options and scenarios:

All of this sounds a little too good to be true. We've only seen two, maybe three other people in our waking time here, yet she talks about the place as though it's huge and large enough to house a hundred people or more -- a commune, essentially.

Which is fine, and getting paid to do some basic duties and just live a while is probably better than we can get outside, BUT -- and this is the important part -- being stuck here in a place we know nothing about, and know next to nothing about ourselves, for an upwards of five years ...?

That's asking a lot of someone who may have just "survived" suicide.

On the other hand, we could leave, because Cider has given us every indication that, while severely reluctant, we are allowed to do so. But if we do so, there's no knowing if this glyph thing isn't going to turn us into a walking space-case again and we know nothing.

So in that cases, courses of action: we ask Cider about our stuff, where it went, and if there was anything on our person -- like a mysterious bottle with a faded label -- which might give us a sense of who we are or were.

From there? The success rate. How many wake up in a pit down on the surface with nothing but a bottle of some kind of medication and their "dust" or whatever it is sprayed all over the ground in front of them, and then manage to miraculously become this "jarmu" thing through what sounds a lot like a form of group therapy?
>>
No. 920132 ID: 834378

I'm all for staying here, as that's definitely the best option for us now, but we first need to take care of the unfinished business that we left behind. We need to get the dustbender back from Quincy (or at least tell her that she can keep it), we need to contact Delaney with the evidence, and inquire about their agent Moira.

So tell her that you'll agree to her wishes, under the condition that she lets you talk to a few people on the Gansett shelf first.
Altho, I suppose all of those could be done right here, through holo, while Delaney can simply send someone to fetch the evidence case.
>>
No. 920539 ID: cbcfcb

Agreed, we should stay for now but stay on guard and find ways to escape and learn what Vesper really is. Be patient and dont give away your plans. It's likely others may have similar plans as well...
>>
No. 920542 ID: 05ebc7

It might be worth taking advantage of anything they give you for the time being, although I'm worried about if they have any procedures to prevent runaways. They can't be so stupid as to not anticipate such attempts.
>>
No. 920543 ID: 05ebc7

Also, you're gonna have to play it ICE FUCKING COLD. In a manner of speaking. They probably expect you to start out that way and then slowly subvert you somehow. But above all, you cannot let them do that. Trying to 'fit in' also runs the risk of 'becoming the mask'. You don't know what you were, but you at least know what you are right this second- you create who you are every day you live. THAT'S what's important.
>>
No. 920552 ID: 2202fb

Found a thing that may be relevant:
http://vesper.org/
>>
No. 920560 ID: 10c408

>>920132
Sweet summer child...

if this really is a cult, we're never going to be allowed to do any of that. We'll likely be unable to even have a phone and any computers we're allowed access to will be loaded with a keylogger and other such things.
>>
No. 920561 ID: b1b4f3

>>920560
Why are you spoilering that? If they start restricting our freedom then we escape. Don't act like we can't say no once we say yes. The only time that's applicable is when contracts are involved.
>>
No. 920562 ID: 4294c6

Everyone freaking out about being trapped here are missing the fact that they took control of Penny's body to bring her here. If they wanted to do something sinister, then they wouldn't have ceded it back to her.
>>
No. 920564 ID: 0e2ebe

>>920562
That's not how cults work. Getting us here is all they really need to ensure, after that it's all emotional exploitation.
>>
No. 920579 ID: 891b91
File 154980116670.gif - (297.10KB , 1024x1024 , 1-004-1.gif )
920579

Your stomach drops at hearing that figure. "Two to five years?!" You're lucky that you haven't touched your tea, otherwise you probably would have sprayed it all over the place.

"Yes, Penny. I understand that may be a little shocking to you, but keep in mind that we are essentially helping you build your personality and identity up from practically nothing. It's lengthy and takes significant effort, but the end result is much better than the treatment offered elsewhere. We seek to help you create genuine memories, rather than the soulless, artifically-constructed ones they force on our kind in hospitals."

"So my choice is between being forced to live here for up to half a decade, or having phony memories forced on me? What if I don't want to go through with any of this? Are you even legally allowed to keep me here against my will?"

"We are legally obligated to keep you here, in effect. Or, rather, you are required by tripartite law to stay here with us or go to a hospital, due to your condition. If the police had found you before you used our glyph, you would have been taken to a hospital -- and one of us would have visited you there, to try to convince you to come here instead. I refuse to keep anyone here against their will, however, so if your heart is truly set on leaving, we can bring you to a hospital and leave you in their care. I apologize if that doesn't seem like much of a choice."

"Well, you're right about that -- it doesn't feel like much of a choice. But I guess I'd rather be stuck here for years than having some doctors mess around in my head, so... I guess I'll stay here and play along." It's a lie; you have zero intention of remaining here any longer than is necessary. While these people strike you as a bunch of cultists, you think you'll probably have better luck escaping from them than from a hospital. Maybe you can even find a few others who want out, too, and take them with you. "But before, um, my coma, I was trying to get to Gansett Shelf. I'd still like to go there, if possible."

"Wonderful!" Cider practically beams at the news, and there's no outward indication that she suspects your lie at all. "I know all too well how frightening this all is, but someday you're going to look back on this decision and realize it was one of the best you've ever made. Mark my words! As for visiting Gansett Shelf, I'm sure we can arrange for a chaperoned trip sometime soon. Now, shall we get started with getting you settled in, or was there anything else you wanted to know?"

"Well, I had a bunch of stuff on me before I used the glyph, but after I woke up yesterday it was all gone. Where is it?"

"Don't worry, all of your things are in your temporary quarters. Our standard procedure is to go through newcomers' possessions, just to make sure there isn't anything dangerous or illegal. While you had a couple questionable items, it was nothing that we could justify confiscating; the objects you've collected are part of the beginnings of forming your own identity, so we try to tamper with it as little as possible."

"Questionable?" You ask.

"Just a couple minor things. One was a medicine bottle, we think, although we weren't able to identify what it might have held. I assume it was just some junk you grabbed for one reason or another, but it did raise a couple eyebrows. There was also the evidence case -- there was some blood inside it, so we cleaned that out since it was a biological hazard. Out of curiosity, did you already have these things when you first woke up?"

"No, I found them in an abandoned shop." It's a partial lie, but you think it's probably for the best if she thinks you just happened across the vial. "So uh, is there a sorting hat that picks which dar I'm joining? Because if there is, I am NOT ending up in Hufflepuff." The look of confusion on Cider's face tells you the joke flew right over her head.

"Hufflepuff? Is that a reference to something, or..?"

"It is, it's a reference to --" you pause when you realize you aren't sure what you were referencing. "Um, I don't remember, actually."

Cider chuckles knowingly. "Ah, well, don't let that worry you. It's very common for a new sigarzghar to find small fragments of their qabel's memories left over here and there. They'll fade over time, like dreams."

"Oh," you reply, mulling it over for a moment. You suppose that explains the vision you had during your coma -- just a sliver of your past self's memory that wasn't wiped out completely. "Well, anyway, I meant to ask how you choose which dar I'll join."

She smiles. "The choice is made mutually between you and the dar's leadership. The qatras in each dar will decide whether their dar should invite you to join them; you'll be given a day or two to become acquainted with those that invited you, and then you'll announce your decision at your ismijiet -- your naming ceremony -- where you'll take on the name of your dar, becoming a fully-fledged member. I expect that tomorrow we'll have some invitations for you."

"Do the dars specialize in certain fields?"

"Yes, actually. Dar Ormi serves as the shelf's administration and local government; dar Nevian specializes in finance and commerce; dars Blin and Zahra handle maintenance of the shelf, with dar Blin focusing on engineering and dar Zahra focusing on construction; dar Grixti staffs our eateries and cafeterias; dar Balzan is home to our artists and entertainers; and dar Funtana -- my dar -- is our medical and spiritual center."
>>
No. 920580 ID: 891b91
File 154980118409.gif - (422.13KB , 1024x1024 , 1-004-2.gif )
920580

You start to ask about the kind of pay offered by the various dars, but you're interrupted by someone knocking suddenly.

"Come in!" Cider calls to the door, prompting it to slide open.

A very fluffy, maned creature steps into the room. "Cider, Polenta's waiting to see you downstairs--OMIGOSHISTHATTHENEWSIGARZGHARAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Her voice becomes an energetic shriek as she bounds over to you and scoops you up into a bear hug.

Cider doesn't miss a beat -- apparently this is very normal behavior for this person. "Wow, it's already eleven? How time flies!" She observes your helplessness for a moment before continuing. "Penny, this is Jarmu Rosalyn, one of my aides. I'm late for a meeting with Qatra Polenta, so I'm afraid I have no choice but to cut things short. I'm sorry for not giving you more of my time, please know that my door is always open -- well, figuratively speaking -- so feel free to stop by anytime you'd like to have a chat. Now, unless there is something on your mind that truly can't wait until later, Rosalyn will take things from here and help you with moving into your quarters and getting acquainted with life here."

"Your name is Penny? That's so cuuuuuuuuuuute ahahaha!" In her excitement, Rosalyn squeezes you a bit tighter than you'd prefer.
>>
No. 920584 ID: 10c408

Start shaking your head back and forth since your arms are pinned. Hopefully they'll get the hint and at least relax their hold on you.

Any who... Whether or not Cider bought our lie, ask if Rosalyn here is going to give us a tour (without further bear hugs) and answer questions.
>>
No. 920585 ID: ad51b8

DOWN GIRL DOWN!
>>
No. 920586 ID: fd2d31

>>920579
>"We are legally obligated to keep you here, in effect. Or, rather, you are required by tripartite law to stay here with us or go to a hospital, due to your condition. If the police had found you before you used our glyph, you would have been taken to a hospital -- and one of us would have visited you there, to try to convince you to come here instead. I refuse to keep anyone here against their will, however, so if your heart is truly set on leaving, we can bring you to a hospital and leave you in their care. I apologize if that doesn't seem like much of a choice."

"So you're gonna play-pretend with a "us versus them" scenario that you're the better choice despite being 2 to 5 years worth of ball-and-chain? what about conveniently leaving a window open or doors unlocked so that I can leave without all the hassle from either choices? or doesn't that fit with your "benevolent ruler" image you like to cultivate?"
>>
No. 920587 ID: 10c408

>>920586
ffs don't actually call them out on their bullshit. We trying to be sneaky about getting out from under their thumb.
>>
No. 920588 ID: 158da5

>>920580
Tell her to be gentle! Geez, gotta wonder (out loud) how helpful someone this excitable could be.
No extra questions right now, for Cider.

>>920586
Are you serious? We just lied about wanting to stay here, it would be a terrible idea to ask how we could leave illegally.
>>
No. 920593 ID: bcc41d

Ponder the unsettling fact that you could easily fit your head inside Rosalyn's toothy maw. Offer a pained "Ex-squeeze me." to hint to her that she should perhaps stop breaking your back as if readying to stuff you into her mouth like a broken pretzel.

Say that it's nice to meet her - your full name's Penny Ainsley - once she lets go, and offer a more normal handshake. If she's an aide to Cider, you'll want to stay on her good side to get gossip and information from her - not that I think this will be hard, the way she's acting. (Must've embraced her new identity perhaps a little too enthusiastically.)

You'll want to learn more about the Dars and what they do, but my immediate impression is that Funtana - Cinder's spiritual/medical one - and Blin/Zahra - engineering/construction - could be good ones to join. The former because we appear to have a few vague memories intact that seem to indicate scientific, biological/dust knowledge, so training medical know-how might be in our bailiwick and could trigger additional memories. If any skill-memories survived, that'd be a useful way to shortcut some of the training-for-life they seem to think you require.

The latter, Blin/Zahra, because if they're surveying and constructing things, they'll have hovercars or whatnot. If we really want to make a break for it off this shelf one day, having access to those could be handy.

Request that Cider think about two things, no need to answer right away:

1 - Is it possible to form new Dars, to start a focus on new skills and industries? This will indicate a go-getting attitude that may lull Cider even more into a false sense of security regarding your acceptance to stay here.

2 - Are there temp jobs for the Dars that you can help out with, given the community festival that's apparently taking place soon? That way you can get to help out and experience multiple Dars' ways of doing things before you decide (and you get to scout out what they actually do and which might grant you the best means to escape, if you so wish).
>>
No. 920594 ID: 91ee5f

>>920579
>dar Grixti staffs our eateries and cafeterias
Hey, Penny, since you seemed to be envious of Cider‘s body, maybe going into the food business would help you get the same curves that she has?

>dar Funtana -- my dar -- is our medical and spiritual center.
Then again, you could also get into the medical studies to get access to body mods, if you want to get some curves that way.

>>920580
>In her excitement, Rosalyn squeezes you a bit tighter than you'd prefer.
“I.....can’t.....breathe!”
>>
No. 920601 ID: 094652

"Stop playing Rubik's cube with my skeleton!"

Also, they don't know Terra A.D. 2000 pop culture. That's not weird. What is weird is that you do. Keep using references and see if they can jog your memory.
>>
No. 920606 ID: bad12e

>>920580

Teeth. Teeth. TEETH.
>>
No. 920608 ID: ae9056

Ask if anybody else got admitted to Vesper within the last few days.

Don't tell them this but I remember when we first woke up, there were a few other unconscious just like we were. And then later we saw some authority figures come down presumably to the place where you woke up to. Perhaps they bring those unconscious people here to
>>
No. 920615 ID: cbcfcb

I'd aim for Balzan primarily, with Blin as a backup, also be sure to ask if it's possible to modify... assets?
>>
No. 920616 ID: 158da5

If this doesn't end in self acceptance we will have failed Penny.
>>
No. 920617 ID: 86eb65

Motorboat the excited lady.
>>
No. 920618 ID: 05ebc7

Dar Ormi actually might not be a bad one; with this you'll be plugged into all the know regarding the local politics, useful information to have...and manipulate, if possible.

dar Nevian would be similar, but you'd have to really work that silver tongue- you could make powerful allies by slipping someone a few extra bucks in their paycheck here and there later on (or maybe skim a few cents off the top for you), or maybe doing some 'creative accounting' to make sure projects that would benefit you happen. dar Blin would be excellent if you wanted to figure out escape paths and general lay of the land, and dar Zahra for if you want to know structural weakpoints and get your hands on potentially high quality tools for digging.

With your own emergent skillset, you might be more brainy than brawny, though, and while dar Funtana might seem like a good fit for that, you'd be under the direct and most CERTAINLY watchful eye of the boss lady herself (even if she'll be pretending she's not to look nice), so I'd not recommend that one.

On the whole, I'd recommend dar Ormi, if only because I think it fits with her analytic style of thought.
>>
No. 920621 ID: 5bdd53

Dars Blin and Funtana both seem good because they use more brains than brawn, but offer more practical skills than the other brainy dars. Preferably Funtana over Blin so we can learn more about Dead Dust, because it seems like there's something seriously messed up about people having "dust" in them that can "die" and it doesn't sound natural at all. Funtana and Blin seem like our best bet for going back to that old, dead city we found ourselves in before we came here, and I think there are mysteries there we have a destiny to investigate.

Hug the excited lady back, cause if we're gonna be stuck in this cult for a while we better start making friends.
>>
No. 920622 ID: 05ebc7

>>920621
As stated, I don't like the idea of getting into dar Funtana simply because we'd be under the perview of High Leader Cider herself, and we'd probably get away with far less 'questionable' things (that would allow us to better prep for escape) than we would if we were a degree or two separated.
>>
No. 920623 ID: b1b4f3

>>920580
Ask to be let down please.
>>
No. 920624 ID: 080aaf

Just buy yourself some space in the hug with your hands. Also try averting your eyes. This isn't such a bad place to stay, all things considered!
>>
No. 920643 ID: a9af05

>>920594
All of this.
>>
No. 920667 ID: 834378

Well, hug her back I suppose. Also, motorboat, but without motor.

"Hello soft lady~"

Seems she likes to meet new people? Ask her if she always gets this excited.

As far as choosing a dar goes, as Cider said, let's wait to see which invitations we get and get more info on the dar's.
>>
No. 920673 ID: c0641d

I think Ormi might be the best fit for our mindset. They'd be the closest to security and information services, after all.
>>
No. 920675 ID: 864e49

I still think we should mention that there were three others that got taken away, as well as those two foxes.



And also maybe ask what their policy on fraternization is?
>>
No. 920681 ID: 2202fb

Ask about martial arts. While they definitely aren't a militaristic organization, martial arts is more than just fighting. They probably have something to some degree.
>>
No. 920777 ID: 7f0aac

>>920580

Once all the TEETH aren't so close to your everything, we should ask Cider which house she feels we are most likely to enter — essentially a thinly veiled way of asking what she thinks our personality is or will be.
>>
No. 920850 ID: 4c908d

Cheep like a small mammal in distress. Like a hamster or a rabbit.
>>
No. 920856 ID: bad12e

>>920850

Perhaps like a ... cutebold?
>>
No. 922053 ID: 891b91
File 155049047486.gif - (273.79KB , 1024x1024 , 1-005-1.gif )
922053

>Ponder the unsettling fact that you could easily fit your head inside Rosalyn's toothy maw.
>Teeth. Teeth. TEETH.
You quickly regret thinking about this, and silently hope that you haven't stumbled across a den of cannibals.

Wriggling your body, you attempt to buy yourself a little more breathing room, but Rosalyn's strength is too much for you. "I....can't.....breathe!" You gasp out, hoping she'll ease up on you, but apparently she can't hear you over her own shrieking!

>Motorboat the excited lady.
>motorboat, but without motor.
You get a crazy idea -- frankly you're a little embarrassed by it, but drastic times call for drastic measures. If you can't get through to Rosalyn with your voice, maybe you can communicate through her chest! You jam your face into the mounds before you; while her breasts are fully concealed beneath her top, the soft, stretchy fabric quickly gives purchase as your snout plunges into the pillowy depths. They're remarkably soft, and as you begin violently shaking your head left and right -- made more difficult by the heftiness of her chest -- you can't help but think that in a different context you might actually enjoy this.

Your lips graze past a nipple poking through the fabric, thick and stiffened from the sudden attention, eliciting a loud squeal from Rosalyn.
>>
No. 922054 ID: 891b91
File 155049048774.gif - (474.58KB , 1024x1024 , 1-005-2.gif )
922054

She bursts out laughing and loosens her grip on you, nearly dropping you in the process as she hastily sets you down. "Whoa, nelly!" She cackles, idly massaging her breast. "That's the friendliest welcome I've had in months!"

Cider chuckles. "Roz, I'm pretty sure that was Penny's way of telling you it was time to put her down."

"Damn, I might have to hold you upside-down next time!" She notices your immediate look of concern. "Kidding, kidding!"

"Um, how about we start over? It's... nice to meet you, Rosalyn." You raise your arm up, offering your hand to her. "Not to mention, um, interesting. I'm Penny Ainsley."

Roz grasps your hand and gives it a firm shake. "Rosalyn ta' Balzan, but just call me Roz." She flashes a toothy grin whose exact meaning eludes you. "Seems like we're doin' things a little out of order here, but eh -- when in Rome!"

When in Rome? It sounds familiar, and you know what the expression means, but... Rome? What is that, exactly? You feel like you should know, but you're drawing a complete blank. You decide to dismiss the thought for now, but it still prods you a little from the back of your mind.
>>
No. 922055 ID: 891b91
File 155049050058.gif - (344.23KB , 1024x1024 , 1-005-3.gif )
922055

"Well, Penny, it was very nice meeting you," Cider interjects, "but I really need to get changed for that meeting. Rosalyn will take things from here and help you get settled in."

Roz nods in agreement. "C'mon, let's go scope out your room."

With that, you follow her out into the hall. "So, do you always get that excited, Roz?"

She grins sheepishly. "Yeaahh... kinda. People say I overdo it, but I really, really can't help it. I just love it when we get newcomers!"

"Oh, speaking of," you add, "Has there been anyone else new here in the past few days? Or am I the only one?"

"Funny you should mention that! A new girl joined us a couple days ago, and you two'll be rooming together 'til your ismijiet. Her name's Mint, and she's a real sweetie!" Roz frowns a little. "The past couple days've been tough for her, though. She's been getting some killer nightmares, they've really done a number on her mood. So, y'know, be extra nice to her, okay?"

"Okay, I'll try." The two of you start heading down a flight of stairs. "So uh, that's it? No one else?"

"Nah. Before you and Mint, the last time we had newcomers was maybe a few weeks ago. Why do you ask?"

"Well, when I woke up a few days ago, I was in a room with a few other people. They all had the red powder on them, like me, but they were still unconscious. I saw them being led onto a ship later on, so I thought maybe they'd ended up here."

"Did you see a metal spine kinda thing on their backs and running up their head?"

"I saw guy putting something like that on one of them, yeah."

"Ooh, ouch. I hate to break it to ya, but those people? They were hollow. Like... the lights are on but no one's home."

"You mean they're braindead?"

"Nah, not braindead. They just took such a big overdose of taffa that it wiped 'em out completely." She continues speaking as the two of you start heading down a hallway several floors down. "The spine thing controls the hollow body, makes it easier to move 'em around. I hate to say it, but by now some guy's prolly fixing 'em up for the black market."
>>
No. 922056 ID: 891b91
File 155049051455.gif - (320.90KB , 1024x1024 , 1-005-4.gif )
922056

Roz finally stops at a fairly nondescript door. "Anyway, here we are, room 136!" She chirps as she swings the door open.

The room is relatively small, with a bunk bed pushed up against one wall and a closet, standing mirror, and a couple chests of drawers bordering the opposite wall. Ample light streams in through a bay window, which spans the width of the room. A thin, lanky girl sits on its cushioned seat with her back to you, gazing outside.
>>
No. 922057 ID: 891b91
File 155049052586.gif - (266.93KB , 1024x1024 , 1-005-5.gif )
922057

"Mint, sweetie," Rosalyn calls out cautiously, "We have a new friend for you -- this is Penny, she's a sigarzghar too... you two are gonna be roommates for a little bit, okay?"

"...Okay," Mint finally responds in a tiny, forlorn voice. She doesn't so much as turn her head to acknowledge you.

"Is there anything I can get you? Something that'll help you feel better?"

".....No thanks, I'm fine." She punctuates it with a small, despondent sigh.

"Okay sweetie, well, you just let us know if you need anything at all, okay? We wanna help you."

"I know, thank you..."
>>
No. 922058 ID: 891b91
File 155049053783.gif - (376.98KB , 1024x1024 , 1-005-6.gif )
922058

"Alright!" Rosalyn starts again, her previous enthusiasm fully returned. "How about we get you out of this ratty old thing --" she tugs at your jumpsuit for effect "-- and put together a wardrobe for you, hmm?"
>>
No. 922059 ID: ad51b8

no that's... wait, how long have we been wearing this thing? Yeah, maybe some fresh clothes will be nice. hell while you're at it ask if they have a shower or a bath around her that you can use. I mean sure we're planning on ditching these guys when we can but doesn't mean you can't take advantage of the free room and board they're offering.
>>
No. 922060 ID: bcc41d

>Motorboat save
This becoming a thing made me chuckle.

>When in Rome
Ask Roz about the saying. Does she know what it means?

... and if she doesn't, what does it mean that you both kind of knew it? That you were once part of the same culture or group who used similar idioms?

>>922058
Sure, you wouldn't mind a second set of clothes, but you'd like to keep the jumpsuit. It's got deep pockets and if you pick one of the worker dars, you may as well save some money on getting work clothes.

Say, that's a thought. Does receiving the clothes, food, room and board put you in some kind of immediate or long-term debt? Obviously you're not receiving everything for free... are you? How is that kind of stuff tracked here?

(When you remove the jumpsuit, check the innards for a tag or logo for signs of manufacture or even sharpie-written name initials - the clothes you were wearing when your old self overdosed are a clue in and of themselves of who they used to be.)
>>
No. 922061 ID: 91ee5f

>>922058
Can we also get some food? Being asleep for a few days without eating means we’re most likely starving right now!
>>
No. 922063 ID: 834378

>wardrobe
Sure. How do we go about picking our wardrobe? I hope they have some options because my mind is empty. Except for some sort of standard crop top with thicc boardshorts.
>>
No. 922064 ID: e51896

>>922060
>Say, that's a thought. Does receiving the clothes, food, room and board put you in some kind of immediate or long-term debt? Obviously you're not receiving everything for free... are you? How is that kind of stuff tracked here?
If I remember correctly from the previous thread, isn't Vesper non-profit? I think we're fine as far as money goes.

Scary, human (or rather people) trafficking on those hollow people. That could of been us if things got worse. I hope those people weren't someone we knew in our past life. If so, we might have to save them maybe.

anyway, Mint has been having nightmares? we had a dream while we were unconscious that felt very real. Perhaps ask if sigarzghars tend to have weird dreams often. (Don't mention what you saw in your own dream. keep it a secret)

also, I'd leave Mint alone until she feels better. Let her approach you when she is ready.

Lastly, the clothing, we'll get new clothes, but ask if we can keep the jumpsuit for later... (unless she literally tears the jumpsuit off your body, as she seems very forceful... oops, try not to think about how lewd that is)
>>
No. 922067 ID: 124d9b

If we are changing clothes, we should look for clothing with lots of pockets on the top and bottom, for inventory space. Just planning ahead.
>>
No. 922069 ID: f1a100

Rome is or was a city-state in Italy. At one point it was an empire that encompassedthe entirety of the mediterranean. By the way, what planet are we on?
>>
No. 922070 ID: 05ebc7

>>922058
Wardrobe good, would like to keep the jumpsuit, though. The pockets are hella useful.

As for what kinda wardrobe? I think we're more cool with stuff that's comfortable, yet practical. Pockets are a must on all things, and it needs to cover us well enough. Maybe something light, yet with darker colors for casual wear (and fashionable contrast).

>>922060
Agreed, but don't put it so harshly. Just ask 'do I owe anything for all of this?'
>>
No. 922071 ID: 05ebc7

>>922067
>>922064

I'm thinking she'd look good in cargo pants? Shirt is variable. I dunno about a jacket or anything like that, though.
>>
No. 922074 ID: b1b4f3

>>922058
Ask her what her belt's for.
>>
No. 922078 ID: fd2d31

>>922071
So what? camo colored cargo pants, tanktop and pilot jacket?
>>
No. 922082 ID: 094652

>Rome
Oh good, you're not the only one with dead knowledge from a planet your qabel could never have experienced under normal circumstances. Ask if they have any theories about these phrases - maybe it's just cosmic alien dust that siggies are susceptible to when they reincarnate.

>New wardrobe
"Does it come with a bra, or is that also an alien concept to you? No, no, I like your prominent independence from support."

>Mint
"Roz, did you hug the joy out of this fluffy little pastry?"
>>
No. 922100 ID: 2202fb

>>922058
Wow, she is not ashamed of her body.

Get something utilitarian
>>
No. 922102 ID: 2202fb

>>922078
how about sports bra and cargo vest
>>
No. 922105 ID: fd2d31

>>922102
>sports bra and cargo vest
So next you're gonna say army boots and a punk haircut along with the cargo pants, just to complete the 90's punk hacker look?
Punk hacker Penny.
>>
No. 922106 ID: fd2d31

>>922105
Shit, i forgot the fingerless gloves and color tinted sunglasses, can't go without them.
>>
No. 922108 ID: 2202fb

>>922105
need that good pp
>>
No. 922109 ID: 05ebc7

>>922078
Sounds nice, actually!

>>922082
Also let's not talk about that out loud.
>>
No. 922110 ID: bad12e

>>922058

Let's keep the jumpsuit but make it look a bit less like our GRANDMA's jumpsuit.

Cool onsie-thing with more of trunks (just above the knee?) and shorter sleeves because we aren't afraid of showing off our TOTALLY SOFT AND SNUGGLEABLE BODY.

And maybe a neat top as well, like those cool jackets worn open, like you see on cool characters.

... oh, AND UNDERGARMENTS, PLEASE GIVE US SOME UNDIES ALREADY, TOOTH LADY.
>>
No. 922134 ID: fd2d31

>>922110
Since you're obsessed with showing off the soft floof, then it'd make more sense to trim clothing down to something like a two-piece sports swimsuit, strapon thigh pockets for carrying things and maybe a optional jacket if the inherent floof isn't insulating enough against the elements.
>>
No. 922136 ID: 2202fb

>>922134
might as well just go naked.
>>
No. 922181 ID: 158da5

Clothes would be great. Underclothes especially.

Also could she quickly give the definitions for the more unique words when she says them? Just to get us used to them.
>>
No. 922876 ID: 891b91
File 155091695807.gif - (377.98KB , 1024x1024 , 1-006-1.gif )
922876

"Sure, I guess," you reply, "but if I could just get some underwear that'd probably count as the best thing that's happened to me all week!"

"Can do!" She pauses, studying you for a moment. "Hmm. Sports bras okay? Er, no offense or anything."

"Sure, and none taken," you say diplomatically as you shove a wave of embarrassment to the back of your mind. "Oh and, what was that word you said earlier? Ismee-shit?"

Roz chuckles. "I'm sorry, I keep forgettin' that you're new to all this jargon. It's ismijiet-- that's the naming ceremony where you'll announce which dar -- uh, house, that is -- you're gonna join."

"...So um, do I have to pay for any of this? And is there a bath or shower somewhere I could use? I could really go for one right about now."

Roz shakes her head, smiling. "Nope! It's all charity, paid for by the dars. And sure, we can go down to the bathhouse once we've put together a few outfits for you! I could use a deep shampooing myself." She glances past you, to Mint. "Hey Mint, hon, you're welcome to come with, if you'd like!"

"...no thank you," Mint squeaks out, hesitating for a moment.

"All right sweetie, you just let me know if you need anything."

"I will.."

Roz nods, then turns her attention back to you. "Alright, wardrobe time!" She snatches the zipper of your jumpsuit and cheerfully yanks it down to your navel.

"H-hey!!" You exclaim in shock, grabbing her wrist in an attempt to wrestle the zipper back from her.

"Relax Penny, it's just us girls here!" Roz chuckles -- she seems to think this is much less of a big deal than you do. "Besides, I can't figure out what size you wear while you've still got this baggy thing on!"
>>
No. 922877 ID: 158da5

I don't see how that's a relevant reason! She's already proven to be too frisky for the "all girls" line. I mean, you do have to undress to get new clothes, but that doesn't mean you have to go at her pace! Set up some boundaries, like "hands off" and "no more references to cunnilingus".
>>
No. 922880 ID: bcc41d

>Everything's gratis
Hm, no 'debt' per se, though you're still pigeonholed into become a working, contributing member of the Vespers. All charity must be funded somehow. At what point do you start earning your own pay - and is any of that pay diverted to Vesper causes, as seems likely? Who/what funds the charity?

>>922876
Well, she's grabby, but not wrong. All girls, and Mint isn't even watching. Carry on removing your jumpsuit - with help if she's still at it - while grumbling to Roz that she's gotta stop surprising you like this, you hardly even know her - or know if you're into girls like her!

Then realize you may have accidentally doth protested a little too much.
>>
No. 922884 ID: 91ee5f

>>922876
>clothes
>bath
Don’t forget to ask for food! You’ve been asleep for 3 whole days, you must be starving right now!
>>
No. 922888 ID: e51896

>>922877 agreed, can't have random strangers forcefully stripping us without permission. Jump backwards away from her and tell her "I know it's just us girls here, but I know how to undress myself, thank you very much". we can't be too submissive.
>>
No. 922891 ID: d8bdca

Wonder if the bathhouse is mix gender bathing. Hope that it is not mixed gender bathing...

...

secretly hope it is mixed gender bathing
>>
No. 922892 ID: 05ebc7

>>922880
That's what I'm wondering, too. Even charities have to get funding from somewhere, even if it's donations. It's part of why I want to go dar Ormi. That level has a lot of oversight, most likely, but also a lot of potential power to wield.
>>
No. 922914 ID: 10c408

This place just keeps getting better and better. :|

Quickly wrap your arms around your chest to keep the jumpsuit from falling off entirely.

"E-even so!"
>>
No. 922916 ID: fd2d31

"If you're going to continuously invade my personal space, at least invite me to dinner first"
>>
No. 922924 ID: d8bdca

Struggle to keep your clothes on, even if your efforts accidentally cause your clothing to get ripped off accidentally by her in the progress. You're pride is at stake.
>>
No. 922937 ID: 15a025

Tell Roz she should relax a little and slow down. You can do things on your own.
>>
No. 922957 ID: bad12e

>>922876

At least wait until we're somewhere to properly measure!

(I guess this is turnabout for our motor-boating, huh ...)
>>
No. 922974 ID: d7c643

If it makes you uncomfortable to be naked in front of her, than you should tell her so. You can be firm without being rude.

Though, in my opinion, you shouldn't feel awkward or embarrassed about being naked. You should feel comfortable in your body with or without clothes.

You're cute regardless of clothing.
>>
No. 922978 ID: b1b4f3

Tell her if it's fine for you to be naked then she should be naked too.
>>
No. 923002 ID: 834378

>>922978
This. Use an excuse that you want to try her suit on.
>>
No. 923004 ID: bad12e

>>922978

Oh! This is clever.
>>
No. 923007 ID: 5f9e6d

>>922978
Errybody get nekkid.
>>
No. 923047 ID: 2202fb

>>922876
Didn't you say when you first woke up that you felt like you used to be a dude?
>>
No. 923314 ID: e982e2

Wait, you both remembered to close the door... right?... right?!?
>>
No. 923824 ID: 891b91
File 155143966462.gif - (249.44KB , 1024x1024 , 1-007-1.gif )
923824

You clutch an arm around your chest, attempting to keep the jumpsuit from falling down. "E-even so! Let's take a bit slower, okay? I hardly even know you, let alone whether I'm into girls... and you could at least invite me to dinner first!"

In retrospect, you think you might have said too much.

"Whoa now, don't take my horsin' around so seriously!" Roz chides you, laughing. "Far be it from me to judge you for your preferences, but I wasn't hittin' on you! Now c'mon, let's get this jumpsuit off already."

You hop backwards a step, inadvertently dragging the zipper all the way down before Roz finally relinquishes her grip. "I can undress myself, you know!"

>Don't forget to ask for food! You've been asleep for 3 whole days, you must be starving right now!
Actually, you ate last night and this morning at the clinic. It was crappy hospital food, but food nonetheless. You are starting to feel a little peckish, but it can wait until after you're no longer indisposed.

>Didn't you say when you first woke up that you felt like you used to be a dude?
You don't remember thinking anything like that, but your memory about that whole situation is a little fuzzy at this point.
>>
No. 923825 ID: 891b91
File 155143967037.gif - (206.11KB , 1024x1024 , 1-007-2.gif )
923825

"Alright, alright," Roz chuckles. "We'll go at your pace."

"Isn't there somewhere a little more private than this? Maybe a dressing room?"

"These bedrooms are as private as it gets around here, y'know."

You walk over to the door and swing it shut. "Fine, but we're keeping this closed."

"Man, Penny, you really gotta lighten up! What's the worst that could happen?"

"Someone could see me naked!"

"Well, if I'm gonna help you put together a wardrobe, then I'm gonna see you naked, aren't I? And Mint too, if she turns around to watch!"

"Not likely," Mint yawns. "I'm too tired to care about seeing naked people..."

"Fine, then someone else could see me."

"So? What's so bad about that?"

"I... I don't know! If you don't think it's so bad, then why don't you get naked?"

"Eh? What for?"

"Maybe I'd be more comfortable with it that way. Besides, I wanna try on your outfit."

Roz giggles. "There's no way this thing'll fit you, but I'm sure I can find something like it in your size. Or make it myself, if push comes to shove."

"Looks like I'm not the only one who's reluctant about getting naked!"

"Ha! You sure about that?"

"Sure looks like it to me."

"Is that so?" Roz flashes a toothy grin.
>>
No. 923826 ID: 891b91
File 155143967735.gif - (258.93KB , 1024x1024 , 1-007-3.gif )
923826

Roz's clothing hits the floor, defying your expectations.

"There, feel better now?"
>>
No. 923828 ID: ad51b8

... you did not think this though did you?
>>
No. 923832 ID: 7f0aac

>>923826

"Oh no. She's hot" in 3, 2, 1, …

In all seriousness, though, you're around two people who seem at ease with you. Maybe things started a bit faster than you were comfortable with, but you've set some boundaries and (over)played your hand.

Time to lighten up and just do our best to roll with it.
>>
No. 923835 ID: e51896

...Is nudity not a taboo in this world? So far, 3, maybe 4 people we have met didn't seem to care about any sort of nudity (the guy who saw you unzipped your jumpsuit at the beginning when you were seeing what gender you were didn't seem to care, Quincy wasn't wearing underwear when you first met her, and now these two don't seem to care, even when the door was open)

Not to mention, there was a strip club outside we saw earlier that had a hologram of a nude girl pole dancing... uncensored.

ask "is nudity not taboo or something? Is public nudity even legal?"
>>
No. 923836 ID: 947d34

"...Fiiiine, I'll remove the stupid jumpsuit... but I'm not throwing it out, I'm still keeping it for later"

Afterwards, nervously strip your jumpsuit off with a slight embarrassed shiver. Once your jumpsuit is removed, cover your naughty bits, you have your dignity to protect after all.

(...Later question yourself if you actually enjoy the embarrassment of being seen naked by strangers)
>>
No. 923845 ID: a9af05

>>923826
Try not to stare at her chest and try not to be jealous of her being bigger than you.

Fail and continuously stare and become jealous of her size compared to you.
>>
No. 923851 ID: b1b4f3

>>923826
....yes.
>>
No. 923854 ID: 7d9d06

On the bright side, this is an awfully effective way to learn whether you are into girls or not!

Then again, you might just be into Roz... she seems like a category in of herself.
>>
No. 923855 ID: 834378

Repeat after her and drop your clothes, except you'll probably be taking an embarrassed pose as compared to her content one.
>>
No. 923856 ID: adb07a

>>923826
Confusedly admit to yourself that you felt 'something' just now.
>>
No. 923866 ID: adb07a

Save yourself for Quincy!
>>
No. 923869 ID: e2f5cc

>>923826
First you should realize she shaved her crotch specifically.

Secondly notice that even if you were the same size as her, Roz would still be bigger than you in every way (Optional: realize you have the big gay)

Thirdly attempt to step up to her calling your bluff and let her figure out your measurements with seemingly no tape to do so with in sight.
>>
No. 923871 ID: fc5514

>>923869
Also do all this while doing that peek through your hands thing.
>>
No. 923911 ID: c0641d

Honestly, realizing we aren't completely straight and admitting as such is an excellent excuse for us to admit that that suggestion was a mistake and ask her to put her clothes back on.
>>
No. 923919 ID: 10c408

Well then. penny, you know the saying "beat them at their own game"? This is the opposite of that saying.

At best, you can turn sideways so that you aren't looking directly at her and she can't directly get as much of an eyeful as you just did before stripping your jumper off and demanding a towel or a sheet or SOMETHING.
>>
No. 923946 ID: d3a890

Realize the fact that you just got a lady out of her clothes less than an hour after you met her. You must be devilishly charming.

Well, when a girl removes her clothes in front of you, it's only polite to do two things, not necessarily in this order: remove your own clothes, and develop a boner.

You might have a little trouble with the latter of the two, so you have to develop a... Wide-on, that's the word, instead.
>>
No. 923968 ID: 891b91
File 155152983642.gif - (232.08KB , 1024x1024 , 1-008-1.gif )
923968

"...Yes," you respond, hesitating for a moment. "But I can't say I was expecting you'd actually do it."

Roz giggles. "Never try to bluff a nudist about getting naked! Now c'mon, it's your turn."

"Fiiine, I'll take this stupid thing off," you moan, finally shrugging the jumpsuit off your shoulders and letting it pool around your ankles. Instinctively, your hands shoot to your chest and crotch in a subconscious attempt to save your dignity, and you turn away to deny her a better view of your body. "Now can I get a towel or a sheet or something?"

"Hey, relax," Roz reassures you, "It's only while I measure you, then you can get dressed again if you want."

>... you did not think this though did you?
You didn't think Roz would call your bluff!

>Realize the fact that you just got a lady out of her clothes less than an hour after you met her. You must be devilishly charming.
You're pretty sure this says more about Roz than it does about you.

You sigh. "Okay, let's just make it quick. Also, I'm keeping the jumpsuit," you add, pulling your eyes away from her chest. "I think I might see about modifying it into something a little less drab."
>>
No. 923969 ID: 891b91
File 155152984457.gif - (441.91KB , 1024x1024 , 1-008-2.gif )
923969

"I can help you with that! Fashion's kinda my thing, it's what I do over in Balzan. I bet I can make it into somethin' really cute!" She flashes that toothy grin again. "...Or something risque, if you'd prefer. Just think about what you'd like and we can talk about it later." She paces closer to you. "Alright, arms up -- I can't take measurements with 'em in the way like that. You really gotta learn to be comfortable in your own skin, y'know!"

Reluctantly, you pull your arms away from your privates, leaving yourself fully exposed, and you shudder gently at the realization of what you're doing. Roz takes another step forward, inadvertently giving you an up-close view of her groin, prompting you to cover your face in embarrassment.
>>
No. 923970 ID: 891b91
File 155152985189.gif - (310.15KB , 1024x1024 , 1-008-3.gif )
923970

>First you should realize she shaved her crotch specifically.
You give into temptation and peek at the smorgasbord of supple, gray flesh and wooly fur standing before you. It's not just her crotch -- her breasts and abdomen lack fur as well. You aren't sure whether she specifically grooms herself that way, or if she just naturally doesn't have fur there. Or maybe a combination of the two. Either way, the sight leaves you quivering, ever so slightly.

>On the bright side, this is an awfully effective way to learn whether you are into girls or not!
Yes. Yes, it definitely is. And you can safely say now that you're into girls -- you admit that you think Roz is, well, pretty hot. Particularly now that she's in her birthday suit.

>you have to develop a... Wide-on, that's the word, instead.
You're pretty sure you already have!

>Then again, you might just be into Roz... she seems like a category in of herself.
There's definitely a physical aspect to your attraction, but Roz certainly has a... unique personality, to say the least. You really aren't sure where your attraction to her lies on the spectrum between "attracted to women" and "just attracted to Roz", at the moment, but given your... biological reaction to seeing her body, you'd wager this isn't limited to her.

>Save yourself for Quincy!
Quincy... why did she pop into your head just now? You guess Roz kind of reminds you of her, and looking back on it you think you felt pretty attracted to her as well, although the situation you were in at the time made it difficult to acknowledge that fact. Still, it's a little early on for you to worry about saving yourself for anyone, you think.
>>
No. 923971 ID: 891b91
File 155152985972.png - (246.05KB , 1024x1024 , 1-008-4.png )
923971

"Hey, c'mon now, you don't need to cover your eyes. I don't look that bad, now do I?" She chuckles.

>Honestly, realizing we aren't completely straight and admitting as such is an excellent excuse for us to admit that that suggestion was a mistake and ask her to put her clothes back on.
You remove your hands from your face and do your best not to stare, but the temptation is rising. "Okay, now I definitely know I'm into girls, which is making the fact that you're naked much more awkward for me, so could you please put your clothes back on?!" You grab your jumpsuit from the floor, clutching it against your chest defensively.

"Sure, if that's what you want. But is it because you wanna look at me and feel like a weirdo for it? 'Cause you really don't need to feel that way, I'm totally fine with it, everyone has urges after all. I'd prolly find it flattering, even."

>When you remove the jumpsuit, check the innards for a tag or logo for signs of manufacture or even sharpie-written name initials - the clothes you were wearing when your old self overdosed are a clue in and of themselves of who they used to be.
Feeling blindsided by Roz's question, you distract yourself for a moment by peeking down the jumpsuit's neck to see if there's a tag. Sure enough, you find one sewn to the inside. There's some text printed across it:

PROPERTY OF DELANEY SECURITY SERVICES LLC
IF FOUND PLEASE RETURN TO
306B ABLEWILD BLOCK
GANSETT SHELF

>>
No. 923974 ID: c0641d

Huh. Guess that could explain our (normally) calculating nature. Best not to think too hard into it, though. Just another item for the ticket line when we eventually get in contact.

"Look, maybe I just don't like getting turned on unless I explicitly want to be. Does that make me a weirdo?" "Look, can you please just put your clothes back on and get this over with so I can do the same?"
>>
No. 923975 ID: 834378

I guess we aren't modifying this jumpsuit after all.

Heh, don't get too wet from Rosalyn's survey of your body. Come to think of it, you really ought to rub one out relatively soon. And we know what you'll be thinking about when you do.

Matteo of course! Those strong arms of his holding you tight, that annoyed look on his face, you just can't forget about it!

Anyway, get your measurements taken and then you can dress back up. Should ask Roz how long it would take to produce your wardrobe and what should you do while you wait.
>>
No. 923979 ID: e51896

Awesome, we are learning so much about ourselves. so it seems we are into women, and we were in some way involved with Delaney... (still doesn't explain why we were going commando...)

Now I wonder this: are we exclusively gay, or bisexual? Are we also into men as well as women? It would probably be more fun if we are bisexual

Also, the jumpsuit really brings home the fact that we really need to get to Delaney. For now, we should not let Vesper know about us being involved with Delaney and keep that a secret... just in case.

um... oh, right! you're still naked. I think to get off the mind about nudity and avoid making us even more nervous, we should probably ask Roz about her history with Vesper.
>>
No. 923981 ID: eceda8

Hang on, so what's the 'property' here - your jumpsuit or your (past) self?

Just something that needs to be taken into account, given that we know that Taffa'd husks of people are sold on the Black Market. We might need to first investigate whether or not this is just an innocuous request for if you're an employee who was lost on the job - and whether you were an employee or an indentured servant of sorts.
>>
No. 923983 ID: bad12e

>>923971

Oh. Shit.

What if whatshername, the one whose card we had was our partner ...?
>>
No. 923984 ID: bcc41d

>>923971
Obscure the tag from Roz and sober up from your sexual fantasies for a second to consider things while she takes your measurements.

Those clothes could've been put on you. Your old self might've just happened to be a random Delaney overdosing on suicide drugs. Or you may have accompanied Moira Elgin, the Dust Forensic Specialist down into the Old City. Two Delaney employees down there at roughly the same time doesn't seem like a coincidence. So what's the story? Your old self and Moira pursued a lead down in the Old City, Moira got shot, runs off to heal and hide her evidence case... and your old self goes off to take suicide drugs? Seems hella suspect. Maybe your old self was forced to do raw taffa. Would be hard to prove, which makes it a good cover-up. Heck, maybe Moira got hurt trying to escape the same fate your old self suffered.

That means even if you're legally a 'new person', you'll get wrapped up with this case and Delaney LLC if you contact them. You might also get a real lead on who your old self might've been, since missing personnel tends to stand out - and on that note, the Vespers probably DON'T want you pursuing this lead, since it goes against their entire philosophy of breaking with your past life and discovering the new you. So keep your suspicions of your old identity a secret, as well as your plans to contact Delaney - which you should do relatively soon. At the very least you should report your past life's 'death' and the thing with Moira's bloody shirt and the dustbender.

Hm. Something else.

Remember 'Preston?' He got nervous around you and wanted to leave while you were talking to him and trying to fish for information - while at the same time being interested in you, your conversation with Quincy and trying to fish for the location where you found Moira's stash. I think he might've recognized you - or your suit. He certainly seemed uncomfortable in your presence, and he seemed surprised that you didn't know or recognize Moira. So, here's a theory.

Preston is familiar with you - or with Delaney uniforms and recognized you were wearing one - and he may be, or work with or for, someone who did not want Delaney poking around in the Old City. He seemed to know of Moira and was interested in her wherabouts, so he may be connected to her investigation in a bad way. Seeing you - a Delaney person - when he didn't expect you to, carrying an evidence case, exacerbated his nervousness. He may have initially thought you were playing mind games with him - but then realized you were probably a zombie. He might've been scared you'd come to recognize or remember him - because that can definitely happen.

I admit this is a bit conspiracy theory-ish, but for now, note the fact that Preston's nervousness and confusion makes a lot more sense if he knew the old you - or your clothing - were Delaney and he thought you should recognize or know of Moira. That he was interested in the whereabouts of where you found Moira's belongings is a red red flag.

Actually... crap.

He saw you pass over the dustbender to Quincy and then skipped in line to be the next number out after her. If Preston did have connection the the case, Q could have gotten in trouble over the 'bender already. You should try calling to her address, see if she and the 'package' are still alright. Insist to Roz you just remembered you had a meeting planned with a new friend and that you need to tell them what happened. How quickly can you get access to a ... whatever they use for communicating here? Surely holo-calling people is permissible even for new Zigarettes?
>>
No. 923991 ID: adb07a

>Quincy...why did she pop in your head just now?
...Because Quincy was assertive, unashamed and liberated. Who acted genuinely, had an upfront behaviour but didn't seem to take advantage of you, even though she was in a position to do so, and even though she had no qualms about breaking some laws? Quincy is an adventurous go-getter with standards.

Of course you'll see whether she actually pawned your stuff before you fawn too much over these fantasies.

Speaking of, you'll want an outfit that both passes well in society, and lets you go cross country for the kind of jobs, remember, that you owe her. That means tough leather, shin guards and thick boots, miss Croft. Should I draw something for you?
>>
No. 923992 ID: e51896

>>923991
also, clothing that can help you carry lots of stuff, plenty of pockets.
>>
No. 923993 ID: adb07a

>>923992
And hidden pockets for contraband.
>>
No. 923994 ID: 57f319

>>923991
All good.

But if Roz is offering, you might as well. It's positive for both of you!
>>
No. 923996 ID: adb07a

>>923994
I'd be wary of Roz, actually. And I'd pick carefully the kind of people to add my circle.

You could, just saying, get to know them beforehand.

And let's be honest, you mostly liked Quincy for her big teeth, her aggressive pompadour and the fact that she called you a pancake. It's not like you really need more of a reason.
>>
No. 924010 ID: bfa316

Ask about humans. You think you were one, but you certainly don't look like one.
>>
No. 924018 ID: 41314b

I wouldn't jump to conclusions and immediately say we work for Delaney. Even though we had the jumpsuit on, we were still kind of underdressed for work if we were working for them (lack of shoes, lack of underwear). For all we know, our past self could have wound up naked somehow, and either found that jumpsuit, or was perhaps given that jumpsuit to wear until we find something better to wear.

In any case, we should make sure we don't throw out the suit and keep this Delaney thing a secret.
>>
No. 924029 ID: fc9d03

Dose she have eyes?
>>
No. 924089 ID: bad12e

>>923984
>>924018
>Preston
>Delaney
>Bidnis Card
>Moira's Dead?
>The dustbender
>etc.

I'm not sure that keeping this secret will be safer for us. Especially not if our past self might have gotten tangled up in this shit before our CURRENT self did so again.

Actually, once we've gotten measurements and spoken with Roz about whether our other personal effects are here (the stuff we were found with), let's go see if we can't talk to Cider again. In confidence. Ask her again about the business card and medicine bottle on our person.

Explain what we found in the jumpsuit and say that there's a chance you're involved with what might be an investigation into the Old City. Say that we started remembering things -- finding the blood-stained jacket with the business card and case, a strange fellow at the intake office who acted odd and rashly with no few questions about the woman on the business card and our affiliation to her, and another woman named Quincy who we really, REALLY need to check in on to make sure she's okay.

Because there's a chance we just gave her the evidence case without realizing what we'd done.

Not to be paranoid, but we're in over our heads right now, Cider's right that we need help to figure out who we are now, and as it stands, she and the other, uh ... Jarmus or whatever are the only ones who can probably authorize us to go talk to Q and we damned well could use a chaperone.
>>
No. 924115 ID: 2202fb

heh, this quest is currently more nsfw than teegee's specifically nsfw quest.

--

So this is probably a decent time to talk about body modding is you are interested in such a thing. Interest was expressed at getting a more well endowed body, and now that we know about this security thing, it might be pertinent to up our height and build so we can better defend ourself.
>>
No. 924151 ID: e51896

>>924115
We could ask that... Unpopular opinion maybe, but I kind of like Penny the way she is now though...
>>
No. 924156 ID: bcc41d

>>924115
A mid-term goal of finding more out about how body modding actually works would be good, though I think Penny's fine the way she currently is. Nor is bulking up necessarily that much of an advantage in a society that has, y'know, guns and stranger things.

>>924089
We're better off holding our cards close to our chest and saving being honest for when we're out of options or actual emergencies. Cider may have come across as a patient matronly figure and she may legitimately be so, but she's also a leader in an organization whose primary business is making people forget their past life ever existed while trying to turn them into productive 'family members'. The cult-ishness is strong, she is going to oppose us pursuing Penny's past, and we don't know to what extent the noble intent the rest of the organization espouses is real.

That a criminal underground would permit the Vespers to scavenge their zombies is strange already - I mean the book was right there and the goons let Penny go like it was usual procedure - especially when, as Cider chillingly suggested, they could just instead hack our head using symbols, if they wanted.

There may be some connection between the Vespers and criminal underground in the Old City. Perhaps they pay them whenever a zombie happens and it gets back safe. Like a referral fee.
>>
No. 924158 ID: bad12e

>>924151

Agreed. Adorable flat cutebold for life.
>>
No. 924181 ID: fd2d31

>>924115
>Interest was expressed at getting a more well endowed body
Might wanna put a pin in that while still investigating the past and why the whole taffa thing happened, and focus on something more practical.
Those huge floppy ears and tails isn't exactly practical and a little more muscle mass wouldn't hurt, and a small stature can be played to a advantage.
>>
No. 924240 ID: 05ebc7

>>924156
Have to agree with all this. It seems like things are a-okay on the surface, but I've got some questions for the Vesper Society that probably wouldn't fly in polite...well, society. I think we need to learn more about our oh-so benevolent caretakers before we entrust too much to them.
>>
No. 924290 ID: 4ca135

Let other women be endowed. You stay fluffy and adorable.
>>
No. 924296 ID: 2202fb

>>924151
>>924157
>>924158
Regardless of whether we alter our more aesthetic traits (which penny did express interest in at one point if i recall correctly), i think it is more important we do some body modification to improve our physical performance, either by increasing our stature and musculature, reinforcing our body, or increasing our agility.
>>
No. 924408 ID: bcc41d

Apropos of nothing, new far-out theory. Think it's possible Moira turned herself into Penny, using bodymodding? She had the tech - the dustbender - on hand and as a Dust expert she may have had the experience to use it that way. Perhaps it could've helped her deal with those gunshot wounds, too, and she may have wanted to disguise herself after getting in the kind of bind that got her hurt.

Perhaps, in her altered state, she got captured and fed raw taffa by the criminal element.

It seems within the realm of possibility, if unlikely.
>>
No. 924411 ID: a6405f

>>924408
I'd disagree simply because any paramilitary(security, police, etc. i.e. using military tactics) group worth their salt is never going to send someone in solo. It will always be a group of at least two, although it is usually at least four.
>>
No. 924412 ID: bcc41d

>>924411
Like, say, four people, perhaps?
>>
No. 924414 ID: bcc41d

>>924411
>>924412
Ow, my reading comprehension. I should take a break from theorizing.
>>
No. 924427 ID: 773e32

(Sorry to intrude, but I just had to move a bunch of posts and I'd prefer I didn't have to do that again, so I'd appreciate it if people read >>/questdis/128189 real quick before posting any further suggestions. Ta.)
>>
No. 924511 ID: 4dca91

Let's get some new clothes that are suitable for heavy physical activity in hostile environments. After all, you'll need an outfit for after you've busted out of this joint. Especially if the plan is still to go scavenging with Quincy.

i.e. Fatigues, thick leather, sturdy gloves, tall waterproof boots, multiple layers. Things of that sort.

It would be far too suspicious to ask after the good stuff (Kevlar, ceramics, ballistic fibers), but so long as you can play it off like you simply want some tough work clothes; I'm pretty sure you'll be able to get most if not all of this stuff from these Vesper folks.

As much as 'cute' clothes would be lovely, frivolous attire is for people with time for frivolous activities. Forgive my saying so, but you don't seem to have that sort of lifestyle right now, Penny.
>>
No. 924514 ID: 2202fb

>>924511
If we are going for physical activity in unknown conditions, lets go with Crye combat gear.
>>
No. 924530 ID: 87dacc

>>924514
That would be nice, but very sus.

We can't up an ask for military specific combat fatigues from Vesper, there's a certain chance they'd see straight through that, and a guaranty they'd find it suspicious.

One day maybe, but not today.
>>
No. 924566 ID: 2202fb

>>924530
idk, as long as we dont go for the helmet and vest, we should be able to get away with the boots, pants, top and gloves and just pass it off as a fashion statement or for utilitarian reasons. We did show up in a jumpsuit, after all.
>>
No. 924569 ID: 10c408

>>924566
Yeah, because asking for a partial outfit from a brand mainly purchased and/or supplied to soldiers isn't suspicious as hell.

Just tell Roz that you honestly feel more comfortable in work clothes than anything too fancy since, to be brutally honest, the jumper is the only thing you've had since you woke up.

And when she inevitably insists otherwise, suggest a compromise for a normal outfit (pants, shoes, etc) that isn't too extravagant.
>>
No. 924573 ID: fd2d31

So practical yet something that can be written of as being "cosmetics"?
I'd assume sportsbra, tanktop, pilot jacket, cargopants inspired workpants, underwear and something like construction worker workboots or work shoes.
Optional but highly recommended if going that route: aviator sunglasses.
>>
No. 925678 ID: 891b91
File 155255834979.gif - (331.23KB , 1024x1024 , 1-009-1.gif )
925678

"Look, maybe I just don't like getting turned on unless I explicitly want to be. Does that make me a weirdo?" You ask, concealing the jumpsuit's tag in one hand. "Can you please just put your clothes back on and get this over with so I can do the same?"

"Nah, doesn't make you a weirdo, I guess it'd be pretty distracting if you aren't used to it." Roz shrugs, stooping down to pull her singlet back up. "Alright, arms to your side and straight out," she commands, stuffing a breast deeper into her suit.

You do as she says, dropping the jumpsuit on the floor, but it confuses you when she starts "measuring" you by briefly placing her thumbs on various spots on your arms and back. "Don't you need a tape measure for that?"

Roz chuckles as she moves on to measuring your bust, carefully avoiding touching you in ways you might not appreciate -- or that you might appreciate more than you'd prefer. "Nah, I've got a mod for that. It's basically a virtual tape measure, real handy for my work."

>Dose she have eyes?
You guess she does, but you can't think of a way to ask that wouldn't come off as rude. She'd probably laugh, but still.

"How does modding work, anyway?"

"It's simple, really. You just go to a salon, tell 'em what you're looking for, and if they can do it they'll program a bender and zap you. It isn't cheap though, even my tape measure ran me like 500 chits."

>Heh, don't get too wet from Rosalyn's survey of your body.
There isn't much danger of that -- compared to her previous behavior, the way she is going about measuring you feels quite clinical. Professional, even.

>Come to think of it, you really ought to rub one out relatively soon.
Considering that you have no memory of ever having masturbated, yeah, maybe some self-love would be in order at some point. If you can get some private time to yourself, anyway.

>And we know what you'll be thinking about when you do. Matteo of course! Those strong arms of his holding you tight, that annoyed look on his face, you just can't forget about it!
So far, you can't say Matteo's made a great impression on you, regardless of his physical qualities. Maybe you'll find him more likeable if you see him in a less sour mood, but for the time being you doubt you'll be thinking of him while in the throes of self-passion.

>Now I wonder this: are we exclusively gay, or bisexual? Are we also into men as well as women? It would probably be more fun if we are bisexual
You honestly don't know, at this point. You don't feel repulsed at the thought of dick and male bodies, but who the dick's attached to you probably matters more than the dick itself. You figure the window-licker is probably the nicest guy you've met so far, but... c'mon, he's a window-licker. (You do admit, though, that that tongue might've been more intriguing if it were attached to a more appealing person.) You think you'll probably get a better idea of how you feel about guys once you meet more of them.
>>
No. 925679 ID: 891b91
File 155255835794.gif - (316.45KB , 1024x1024 , 1-009-2.gif )
925679

"What about body modding?"

Her hands work their way down your torso, presumably measuring its circumference in different spots. "As far as I know it's mostly the same kinda deal, but I think some body mods are grafted on. I really don't think you need it, though, there's nothing wrong with the way you look now!"

"Oh, I was just curious, don't worry. So uh, is nudity not taboo or something? You aren't the first person I've met who's been so... nonchalant about it."

"Here on the shelf? Nah, we're pretty tolerant of it, for the most part. Plus there's the bathhouse, although we do have a small private section with stalls if you really don't wanna deal with the whole communal nudity thing. Other places... it depends on what ward is in charge, really."

"So in other words, I'm gonna have to get used to seeing naked people from time to time."

Roz shrugs, moving on to measuring your legs. "Yeah, pretty much. I think I might be the biggest offender there, but if it really bothers you I can try to avoid you when I'm havin' a 'fuck clothes' day." She chuckles. "Or, y'know, you can always join me. The more the merrier!"

"Um, I'll think about it. Hey, can I ask you a weird question?"

"Shoot."

"Why do I feel like I'm a human when I don't look like one?"

"What do you mean, 'don't look like one'? I mean, yeah, of course you're a human, what else would you be? We all are."

That just raises more questions, but you decide to drop it for now. "...I guess that makes sense. Oh and, do you know where my stuff is? I was told they brought it here."

"Should be in one of those drawers." She tilts her head towards the chest of drawers nearest to the door.
>>
No. 925680 ID: 891b91
File 155255836557.gif - (239.02KB , 1024x1024 , 1-009-3.gif )
925680

>Does she have eyes?
You guess she does, but you can't think of a way to ask that wouldn't come off as rude. She'd probably laugh, but still.

>Theories about Delaney, Moira, Preston, etc.
The fact that your jumpsuit belongs to Delaney raises all sorts of ideas and questions about your predicament and who you used to be, with no real answers in sight beyond guesswork. One thing seems certain, though: whoever you used to be, you were wrapped up in this Delaney thing, and maybe you were even connected to whatever happened in that ice cream shop. And so far you aren't convinced by Vesper's whole "you are a new person, let your old life go" ethos, so contacting Delaney to find out more information seems like your best move going forward.

"Also, a few days ago I had set up a meeting with a new friend, but I missed it for obvious reasons, so I really need to tell them what happened. How quickly could I get access to a... whatever you use for communication? Holo, I guess?"

"Hmm. We've got a bunch of hololinks on the shelf, but a sigarzghar using them so early on might raise some eyebrows. I think I could vouch for ya, though. You wouldn't be the first sigarzghar who had a legit reason to make a call, anyway. You swear you just wanna get in touch with this person to explain yourself? Nothing else, right?"

"Yeah, that's it, I swear."

"Alright, I'll see about getting someone over at Ormi to set up an account for you. Just need a username, so be thinking about what you wanna go with."

"No password?"

"Not one you need to remember, your dust'll take care of that. Anyway, that's all the measurements I need! I'm gonna go grab some stuff for you to try on!"

Relieved, you grab the jumpsuit again and start slipping your legs into it. "If it's not too much trouble, I'd rather have work clothes than anything fancy, though."

"Work clothes, gotcha! But don't think that'll get you out of tryin' on some cute stuff too! I'll be back in a few, just hang tight!"
>>
No. 925681 ID: 891b91
File 155255837587.gif - (329.14KB , 1024x1024 , 1-009-4.gif )
925681

With that, Roz heads out the door and disappears down the hall.

"Hey," Mint sighs, finally looking back at you. "You're new here, right?"

"Yes," you respond, a little surprised. She's been so quiet that you'd almost forgotten she was there.

"... Can I ask you a question?"

"Um, sure, I guess."

"Do you feel like there's something... wrong with this place?"
>>
No. 925682 ID: ad51b8

>Do you feel like there's something... wrong with this place?
uhh, well it does feel like it gives off a bit of a cult vibe doesn't it?

Not sure if it's just this place though or the station all together. Right now I'm planning on just experiencing as much as I can and then decide what to do next.

why, what kind of vibe does this place give you?
>>
No. 925683 ID: 06fdc0

>>925681
"... if there were something wrong with this place, it wouldn't be wise to talk about in the open." *hint hint*
>>
No. 925684 ID: 3674e7

This could still all be a trap to figure us out but.
Yes, ever since we woke up this place has felt off.
First reason I can think of is the No Leaving (I mean come on if you want someone to trust you give them some freedom, denying them that only makes it seem like your trying to limit their movement and access to information).
Second no contact or calls without permission and probably monitoring (limiting info/freedom again).
Told not to try and find out who you are/where.
Cult like structure that's based around large set groups (allows for the separation of people based on their personal traits for better indoctrination a common practice of cults).
We're given no info about this place that can be corroborated by someone with no ties or connections to their organisation.
>>
No. 925687 ID: c8452a

I mean, yes, but nothing more specific than the obvious cult vibes. You notice anything specific, Mint?
>>
No. 925689 ID: bad12e

>>925681

It's very … purple?
>>
No. 925690 ID: 2202fb

>>925681
oh fuck yeah, but whatchagonnadoaboudit?

I mean, creepy cult here, cyberpunk furry dystopia out there, mind stuck in the 21st century somehow. Yeah, there is definitely something fucky, but not much you can do. Not that we are overly nonchalant and carefree-far from it-but we pick our battles and those sorts of existential questions arent useful when we have better existential questions like whether we are hacked right now and what we can do about our personal internal defenses.

And how to get combat gear! (I think penny should feel most comfortable in combat gear, whether this is a past life thing, paranoia thing, or just some random quirk, i think it should be a thing, regardless of how belligerent or combat-heavy she ends up being).
>>
No. 925691 ID: 2202fb

Also... did you change color? You seemed a hell of a lot more, well, mint-colored a moment ago.
>>
No. 925693 ID: 398bc4

All the time, if there’s something about this place that isn’t fucky then i’ve yet to find it.
>>
No. 925694 ID: 891b91

>>925691
>Also... did you change color? You seemed a hell of a lot more, well, mint-colored a moment ago.
This is due to an art error that occurred back in >>922057, which I failed to notice until now. I neglected to enable a color-correction layer in that panel; the green you see on her there is her base fur color, but it should look more like it does in >>925681 due to the color of the ambient light.
>>
No. 925697 ID: 2202fb

>"Look, maybe I just don't like getting turned on unless I explicitly want to be. Does that make me a weirdo?" You ask, concealing the jumpsuit's tag in one hand. "Can you please just put your clothes back on and get this over with so I can do the same?"

Btw, this was beautifully concise.
>>
No. 925698 ID: 2202fb

>>925694
aww, i was hoping she was part chameleon.
>>
No. 925705 ID: e51896

You be sure to thank Mint for not taking a peek when you were getting measured.

"yes, this place feels pretty off, doesn't it? And not just this place, but from what I've seen, outside of here feels pretty strange as well."
"But yes, this place in particular is pretty weird."
>>
No. 925707 ID: b1b4f3

>>925681
Yeah, they're treating us like children.
>>
No. 925710 ID: bcc41d

Introduce yourself fully as Penny Ainsley. Don't share any plans of leaving - but you can probably be honest about some of what you're feeling. Even if she does tell the Vespers - or they monitor new recruits' rooms - I doubt you're the first initially recalcitrant member. Start by asking Mint if, by 'this place', she means the Vespers' place on Red Shelf or the entire world... because yeah no shit, to either. Try to open her up by discussing some of your thoughts, like...

Vesper worries:

*Lots of ceremonial-level words and titles. Plus this whole 'big happy family' thing. It gives you a cult-y vibe.

*Staying here for yeeearrrrssss is a stiff price to pay when you don't feel you need excessive chaperoning! Then again, if the only legal alternative is getting drugs and new memories medically implanted, you'd rather take the Vespers' deal. ((Although not really - court-ruled EXCEPTIONS, EXTRALEGAL situations or ILLEGAL means probably exist and Penny may have to pursue them later!))

*That said, even if the Vespers offer charity, their deal - and ideal - is that you form new connections, advance in 'rank' and take on trades and jobs working for their community. With no previous connections, plenty of time and effort invested and a job gotten through the organization... you'd hazard a guess that many of the raw taffa victims they take in stay on as Vespers simply because - once they're considered fit for society again - being a member of the Vespers is all they really know, y'know? (maybe there's a statistic on how many, but given that the Vespers have multiple departments to work for... probably quite a few sufferers become recruits)

Which is probably their philosophy working as intended, buuuut it does leave you feeling a teensy bit caged by the method of initiation and the for-your-own-good lack of freedom.

World worries:

*You've seen, heard and read some disturbing things about Dust and the 'rhythmic disturbances' that affect it, especially near the quarantined ground-based settlements. You started off someplace in the Old City and you saw what could be best described as a giant flesh monster come poking out a building - in what you think was called the 'Secondary Quarantine Area' - only to be blown to bits by a military turret. Then those bits just kind of... hung there. "Wrong" covers that one pretty well. You really need to do a 'pedia dive at some point to get more of a grasp on things. Why is world the way it is, what this Core thing is, etc. etc.

*Also, it's kind of fucked up that someone could hijack your body through your Dust using Glyphs. Even if the Vespers said THEIR glyph should've fixed it now, there's an avenue of abuse if you ever heard of one! Which, uh, you guess you technically haven't. Still, that there was a backdoor into your head that allowed someone to take control of your body? Freaky.

*Nobody looks human. Not that you mind having the body you do and you know body-modding is a thing, but did like... EVERYONE suddenly decide to change up? You haven't seen a single human-looking human, at least not so far, and Rosalyn just blew you off when you asked, which, uh, has added to your confusion on the issue. If the definition of 'human' is different from what you have in mind, how did you even come to have it in mind in the first place? Has Mint had any similar dismissals of concerns?

Shrug and thank her for the opportunity to vent about this stuff. Ask about her particular beef(s) with the state of everything.
>>
No. 925711 ID: b1b4f3

Well, we could think of it like a college degree. Except, with more of a focus on immediately useful skills and knowledge, I expect.
>>
No. 925714 ID: 834378

>something... wrong with this place?
Define "this place". This room? This shelf? This planet? Za warudo? Anyone who's lost their memories would feel like something was wrong simply because they forgot what was right. We can't really answer this question because we just got here. But do explain what you mean. I'd say it's probably just your previous life knocking on your door.

Check the drawers.
>>
No. 925717 ID: 623c7e

Well, considering someone we spoke to before arriving here referred to them as "Vesper freaks", I wouldn't put it past us for thinking this place feels "wrong"
>>
No. 925724 ID: c0641d

“The Vespers do give off cult vibes, but I get the feeling you’re thinking of something broader than that...”

On a meta level, regarding how we go forward:
Any plan we make in escaping the Vespers has to be absolutely perfect. Let’s not make any moves until then. Sure, they might be a little cult-like, but the council system gives it an air of democracy and capitalistic advancement for members who started with literally nothing, meaning the current leaders likely got there through hard work and good merit; meaning that the higher ups likely legit believe in what they’re doing. Unless there really is a de facto guy sitting at the very top, I doubt this group is outright malicious (certainly not across the whole council board), even if it did start as an honest-to-god cult. Hence, no rush; just keep a cool head and your sensibilities about you, and you should be fine until an opportunity presents itself.

They probably have a point about how trying to regain your past life is an excercise in futility. That way lies madness. Probably. It’s a problem we can tackle some other day, if we’re still hung up about it; like with the issue of escape, there’s no rush. Our death, however, is an entirely different beast. Our previous self is dead, true, but actually stop and think about it; our past self is dead. There’s a non-zero chance we were murdered, to be specific. Sure, it would be silly to want to continue our previous self’s story, but is it wrong to want to at least bring closure to it?

And yeah, check your shit.
>>
No. 925747 ID: f07f0b

>>925678
Penny needs to eat more and gain fat and muscle. She looks almost skeletal. That cant be healthy.
>>
No. 925751 ID: c8452a

>>925747
That's an exaggeration.
>>
No. 925758 ID: 891b91

>>925747
Oops, I drew her arms too thin in that panel -- thank you for pointing it out! (Consistency/staying on model is an artistic weak point of mine, unfortunately.) >>925680 is more in line with her intended stature.
>>
No. 925761 ID: 42c2a3

"Yeah, I kinda get a weird feeling from this place too."

Note the use of the word 'too', it's important. She hasn't admitted outright that she feels that way, but saying it in a particular way, signifying that you feel similarly or the same way that she does, will help build trust. It's a pretty reliable psychological trick for those who are shy or introvert.

Keep your sentences short, the bare minimum to answer her questions. If she is as introvert as she appears, being too nice or open will cause her to dis-attach emotionally from the conversation, which will be to your disadvantage.

Let her lead the conversation. Don't try too hard to read between the lines for her. She wants something from you, that's obvious (maybe merely friendship, but we'll see), so let her do the talking. Your impassiveness should force her to show her hand.
>>
No. 925774 ID: f07f0b

>>925761
it is also a good way to manipulate people into joining you. They might not have quite phrased it as that, but if you phrase it to be inclusive, it will nudge them subconsciously into thinking they think the same way.

This is a good thing.
>>
No. 925791 ID: bad12e

>>925689

Adding to this, aside from purple (or is that just me being meta?), it'd be hard to say what's even right when it has been ... what, 4 days,5 tops since we woke up with no memory of what who we are, not sure WHAT we are, in a basement full of not-dead people, covered in some kind of grit people keep calling "dust" and weird flashbacks to some place while you were zonked out of your everything.

So it might just be better to answer that we wouldn't even know what's right, and maybe that's why it all feels wrong.
>>
No. 926092 ID: 15a025

Best play it safe and just say yeah, kind of. Ask her what she thinks?
>>
No. 926142 ID: 05ebc7

Let's keep things a bit vague for now, feel her out. "What do you mean by 'wrong'? Care to explain?"
>>
No. 926272 ID: 8d23f0

>>925681
at the moment this place feels like it is off in a way they want to throw you into the tide and have you pulled along with it into their ocean in a way. But it also doesn't feel malicious, more like they want to help but they would rather hurt you a little now so you turn out better in the way they want you to later. they are probably hiding some secret at the top level here but as long as we don't fuck with them they won't fuck with anyone below them and just try to keep you in thier system.
>>
No. 926553 ID: 719d94

Ask her what a "human" is. Like, you know humans, of course. You are one. But could she describe them for you? Like, what do humans look like, for example?
>>
No. 926812 ID: 891b91
File 155326109577.gif - (397.97KB , 1024x1024 , 1-010-1.gif )
926812

"Yeah, this place gives me some pretty strong cult vibes," you respond. "Glad I'm not the only one who feels that way."

Mint shakes her head. "They're pretty culty, but... that's not what I meant."

"What do you mean? Notice anything specific?"

"You can't feel it? I thought, maybe..." She turns away from you. "It doesn't matter. You-- you'd probably think I'm crazy."

"No, no, I won't," you reassure her. "I've already seen plenty of crazy stuff myself. What do you feel?"

Mint opens her mouth, then pauses, furrowing her brow before speaking again. "I'm not sure how to describe it. It's like... fuzzy. It feels fuzzy. In my bones, in my teeth, but not really."

"What does?"

"Everything, this whole place does. Especially the people." She adjusts her glasses and stares at you for a moment. "But you don't. You aren't fuzzy at all -- not counting the fur. So I thought maybe you could feel it too, since you're different."

You aren't sure how to respond, and before you can say anything, she lets out a hollow laugh. Then she continues, her voice wavering slightly as she hangs her head. "Who am I kidding? You prolly just think I'm nuts now, and who could blame you? Who knows, maybe I have lost it..."
>>
No. 926813 ID: ad51b8

well... I guess you could tell her that you do feel... kinda off, as in you feel like you're in the wrong body. Not like in that I think "I should have been born a different gender" kind of way but like you could have sworn at one point you where taller and much smaller ears and the only fluff you had on you was on the top of your head. I mean, what is a baseline human? Does she mean something like that?
>>
No. 926817 ID: c0641d

"I mean, I'm pretty sure I have a bunch of pop-culture references in my head that don't seem to make sense in this world, and I have a clear mental image of what a human should look like, and therefore feel like I'm trapped in an alien body. I did see a lot of fuzziness when I looked at the glyph that brought me here. Maybe your biology can sense something about people's dust? Whatever dust is."
>>
No. 926820 ID: 05ebc7

>>926812
"Well, I don't feel 'fuzzy', but I'm pretty sure I feel something that isn't quite right. So if you're crazy, I'm probably similar."
>>
No. 926821 ID: 7f0aac

>>926812

Fuzzy like … indistinct? Or like something's missing?

Does she mean something intrinsic to the people? Like why Cider or Big McLargeBoobs (oh jeez what was her name??) have these weird personalities?
>>
No. 926822 ID: 6f764d

Fuzzy, like everything's constantly vibrating? That even still images are constantly in motion?
>>
No. 926824 ID: e51896

fuzzy? Is she talking about how we and everyone else seems to be... for lack of a better word, a little bit pulsating? (or in a fourth wall breaking explanation, everyone's outlines, including our own, is all shakey?)
>>
No. 926825 ID: 4fdf26

Walk over and sit down beside her. Say you don't think she is, and here's why:

There's something weird about your Dust - it put you in a three-day coma when you looked at a Vesper glyph, which isn't supposed to happen. If that 'fuzzy' sensation she feels is caused by Dust, then it makes sense that she'd feel it literally everywhere since 'Hoefler-Kurosawa corpuscles' seem pretty omnipresent.

Perhaps the big difference is that your own Dust is dead, uh, less active and that makes you not as fuzzy-wuzzy? Not counting the fur. Which you feel as if you shouldn't have. So hey, if she's crazy, maybe you're in the same boat. You can be coo-coo comrades.

Offer to high-five her, then awkwardly apologize for the joke when she doesn't.

... does the fuzzyness bother her much or can she push it into a background sensation? You feel a bit worried about your weird Dust, amnesia and vague gut feelings, but that's not, like, a constant ever-present feeling. If she's got it rough, she might want to try looking into how to fix the sensation.

On the up side, sensing if something is off with Dust might be a bonus, if, say, she went scrapping and those rhythmquake things threatened to go off.
>>
No. 926827 ID: 2202fb

>>926812
Seems like it is time to look into how to edit your internal operating system. We need to keep ourselves from getting hacked, and remove any hacking that has already occurred.

Lets also ask what year it is.

--

You know, we may know so much about history because we used to be a history major at some point (obv it didnt pan out). The wiping could have just wiped everything that was relevant which is why we still remember info about the early 21st century and earlier.
>>
No. 926835 ID: bcc41d

>>926827
We've got some intel on the year already. We know they're not using Common Era years, yet they seem to use common months, or something close to it. We have a current date snagged from the evac shuttle intro, three days ago, meaning today is august 25th.

>4:16 PM SST
>(S) 92C-233 (H) 92C-Aug-22

(Aug 22 is the 234th day of the year, unless a leap year makes it 235. I have no idea if this is a typo or if there's some different/deeper meaning to it being 233 here. Don't know what the S and H in front of the dates mean either. Standard and Historic?)

To add to that, one article we read during the Evac Transport segment talked about rhythmic readings prompting the creation of an evacuation system near Beacon (the Old City) in 586 Elm. The article goes on to say the city was hit by rhythm spikes two years later (4K dead, most citizens evacuated to the then-recently-built Concourse). That day became the start of the Ash Era, which apparently lasted centuries. The article finishes with mentioning that the current evacuation system (the one we used) was established in 88C. C likely followed Ash, but we don't know what it stands for yet.

(It's odd that the ruins are still mostly around centuries on - and in some cases intact. 'Dust did it' may be the go-to answer here.)

That's most of the date stuff we've got so far. One of the other articles - the one on Taffa trade regulation - had a date, but that one was pretty recent. (S) 92C-162 (H) 92C-Jun-8. So... a month and a half ago?

(Also, looking at it now, june 8th is the 159th (or 160th) day of the year - a difference of 3 days in excess as opposed to 1 day short above. Given teegee's otherwise stellar worldbuilding we may just want to hit up a calendar at some point to check what the heck because that seems like Something Weird.)
>>
No. 926839 ID: c8452a

"I feel like I'm in the wrong body and I remember things from centuries ago. I think I can believe that you have extra-sensory perception. Maybe you can read em waves or psychics or real, or something else entirely. But I believe you. You're too concerned about being sane to be crazy." Place a hand on her shoulder.
>>
No. 926843 ID: b1b4f3

>>926812
Tell her that you're getting something similar. Everyone looks... wavy. Like their details won't stay put. It's only people though, and she looks that way too.
The only ones that didn't look that way were the empty people in the room you woke up in. It must have something to do with Dust, but clothing and accessories share the same visual effect when they're being worn.
>>
No. 926851 ID: 864e49

Do you know what stars are?
>>
No. 926855 ID: 8eaf98

Fuzzy is kinda vague, more details and/or comparisons would be nice.
>>
No. 926878 ID: 2202fb

>>926835
Great idea.


We should also grab a writing utensil and something to write on and draw a human as best we can. We could also organize things into a chart.

Poke your head outside and ask for a board to write on or a bunch of paper(paper is still a thing, right?) or something.
>>
No. 926884 ID: 8eaf98

>>926878
But it would be even cooler if they had something we could just project a mental image directly onto. No reliance on our skill as an artist.
>>
No. 926890 ID: 10c408

>>926843
Seconding this.
>>
No. 926892 ID: 5c9b38

Though I highly doubt she is truly mad, there remains a possibility that she is suffering from a mental disorder stemming from taffa syndrome. Some sort of dissociative or psychotic instability that results in a numbness or tingling of the senses. It's not impossible.
>>
No. 926914 ID: 398bc4

I have no idea what this could mean but try and see if you can narrow down what that feeling is. Who knows, it could either be extremely important or nothing at all, so make sure itks nothing before you completely disregard it.
>>
No. 927198 ID: 8d23f0

>>926812
give her a back rub or a back papping it might make her feel better to have a physical reassurance there.
>>
No. 927418 ID: 834378

Ask her how long she's been feeling like that for. Also, ask her if she's been near any rhythmic disturbances in the past... does she know about "the itch"? Can she confirm that her memory was wiped with taffa? Is it only this place, or is it everywhere she's been to until now?
>>
No. 927569 ID: 8eaf98

only brain alive people 'wiggle.' Back in chapter zero, the harnessed people do not wiggle >>/questarch/887433 so perhaps it is a sign of 'living' dust.
>>
No. 927580 ID: 3ef4d3

>>927569
But that theory falls down 'cause Mint says Penny isn't "wiggly" when Penny does have living Dust and is "wiggly" both now and back then when she first woke up.
>>
No. 927598 ID: 05ebc7

>>927580
Perhaps if you look at it solely from personal perspective? (Although technically this should all probably go in disthread.)
>>
No. 927607 ID: c8452a

>>927580
>>927598
There's a difference between wiggly and fuzzy. Penny sees wiggly (so WE see wiggly) but Mint sees fuzzy. Penny and Mint aren't fuzzy, but they are wiggly.
>>
No. 927623 ID: 2202fb

Guess we are both more attuned to the dust than the average bear. I have yet to realize the full implications yet though.
>>
No. 928004 ID: 15a025

Ask how she feels if something is fuzzy or not. Is it like a feeling in the air, or is it more of an internal feeling.
>>
No. 929223 ID: 891b91
File 155486765554.gif - (301.46KB , 1024x1024 , 1-011-1.gif )
929223

"I don't think you're crazy," you respond, placing a hand on Mint's shoulder. At first she tenses up, but she relaxes again soon after.

"...You don't?"

"It's far from the weirdest thing I've encountered over the past week. I think I can believe you might have some kind of extra-sensory perception."

"Th-thanks... but I'm still the only one who can feel it, so what does that make me --"

"It makes you special, and that's it. So you said it's fuzzy? Like it looks like everyone's constantly pulsating?" You hadn't really noticed it consciously until now, but there's definitely a strange... wiggliness to every person you've seen so far. ...Except for the other people in that basement you woke up in. So maybe it's only people who still have living dust, maybe? You honestly aren't sure.

Mint shakes her head. "No, I don't see it." She sighs. "I feel it. And it's everybody here on this... shelf? Whatever they call it. It gets stronger when I get close to other people... except for you."

"What do you think it means? The fuzziness, that is."

"...I don't know, but I don't like it."

"...Is it painful?"

"No, just... weird. Worrying."
>>
No. 929224 ID: 891b91
File 155486766640.gif - (196.29KB , 1024x1024 , 1-011-2.gif )
929224

"Now let me ask you a question," you say, searching the chest of drawers for your stuff. "Do you feel like you might be in the wrong body?"

Mint pauses for a moment. "...I hadn't really thought about it, so I guess not. Do you?"

"We're both humans, right?" You find your things, and from what you recall, nothing is missing, aside from the glyph page and the blood sample Cider mentioned. Whoever brought it here was even courteous enough to consider your height and put it all in the bottommost drawer.

"Yeeaaaahhh?" She seems confused by the question. "What else would we be?"

"I feel like I'm a human, but.." You gesture towards your own body. "We don't look like humans. These aren't what human bodies look like."

"...Then what do humans look like?"

"Well, they -- hmm." Up until just now you were certain you knew what humans look like, but when you try to recall the specifics of it, you draw a blank. "I... don't know. I thought I knew."

"O-oh." An awkward silence descends upon the room.

A few minutes pass, and the silence is finally broken when Mint sighs. "...What if they weren't always like that?"

"What?"

"The people here. What if they weren't always fuzzy? What if this place... made them that way?" She looks back at you, a pained expression on her face. "What if it makes us fuzzy? What if it changes who we --"
>>
No. 929225 ID: 891b91
File 155486767514.gif - (254.08KB , 1024x1024 , 1-011-3.gif )
929225

Roz bursts through the door, dragging a rack of clothing behind her; Mint does her best to act like she wasn't saying anything, and you follow suit.

"Dress-up tiiiime~!" Roz shouts excitedly, tossing a couple of plastic-wrapped bundles to you. "Catch!"

Catching the bundles in your arms, you tear them open and discover that they contain several sets of sports bras and panties -- at long last, underwear! "O-oh hey, thanks!" You respond. Just holding it makes you feel relieved.

"C'mon, try somethin' on and see how you like it! I tried to keep the variety pretty high -- it's all hand-me-downs and donated clothes, but there's a lotta good stuff in here."
>>
No. 929226 ID: 891b91
File 155486768584.png - (254.32KB , 1024x913 , 1-011-base.png )
929226

Paper doll time! Please suggest up to four outfits to add to Penny's wardrobe, either from the pre-made outfits, or from outfits drawn on the provided paperdoll. Penny's jumpsuit will be kept as a fifth outfit. Feel free to suggest changes or other additions to Penny's attire.

Be sure to mention which outfit you want Penny to wear for the rest of the day.

>>
No. 929227 ID: 891b91
File 155486769842.png - (831.41KB , 1024x1924 , 1-011-paperdolls.png )
929227

Pre-made outfits
Higher resolution available at >>/questdis/129055

>>
No. 929231 ID: b1b4f3

>>929227
Haha why does she have a version of her outfit in your size?
I like B and F.
She should wear F for the rest of the day.
>>
No. 929232 ID: b1b909

Love outfit G. Insanely cute. Go for G.
>>
No. 929235 ID: fc9d03

>>929227
A or B are my faves
>>
No. 929237 ID: 864e49

C DEAR GOD C
Maybe keep the jacket from B

Maybe E, lot of pockets on that one.
Actually again maybe just the jacket and gloves.
In fact if the belt from D is adjustable then pair it with the gloves and jacket from E on top of C.

And keep A for more casual attire.
>>
No. 929239 ID: 05ebc7

>>929227
Hm...I'm liking B and E the most. F might be good, too. I like the blouse on H and I could live with the skirt, but I'm not liking the heels.
>>
No. 929240 ID: 10c408

B, E, F and H. Wear E for the rest of the day.
>>
No. 929241 ID: 080aaf

B is a pleasing balance of fashion and pocket space, H has HEELS, and D is a little version of Roz's outfit. She'd like if we picked that.
As for a fourth outfit, perhaps a plain tee and cargo shorts, something with a simple meaningless logo to fill space, like a delta or a lambda.
aka too lazy to draw the Steve this time
>>
No. 929242 ID: 6f764d

B, C, E, and H, definitely. C mostly for those funky glasses.
>>
No. 929248 ID: e51896

E, B, C, H.

As for what to wear for the rest of the day, this: >>929226
I mean B
>>
No. 929249 ID: caf1de

four outfits huh
A
C
D
H
and A for the rest of the day
>>
No. 929250 ID: 2ea85f
File 155488194518.png - (368.63KB , 1024x913 , tgpaperdollpenny.png )
929250

Small girl, big coat.

Otherwise voting for C, F, and G. With wearing G for the rest of the day.
>>
No. 929251 ID: dbc6b2

B,E,G,H

Wear E today.
>>
No. 929253 ID: e51896
File 155488423801.png - (323.11KB , 1201x931 , Hoodie.png )
929253

>>929248 (my previous post)

I also made something too. Hoodie. I like hoodies. do you all like hoodies? (Listed it as J just in case) That was fun practice for line-art improvement.

(I'm replacing one of my choices H with J, my hoodie design, so
E, B, C, J.
>>
No. 929254 ID: fd2d31

Gotta need lotta pockets if bailing this place and living on her own, that's for sure.
>>
No. 929256 ID: c8452a

A, B, E, and F. Wear F!
>>
No. 929257 ID: ad51b8

gotta go with C or F for me
>>
No. 929258 ID: fd2d31

B, C, F.
>>
No. 929259 ID: a4f5b2

E, F and B are my votes.
>>
No. 929262 ID: 8eaf98

A, B, G, E(but with cargo pants for more storage)
>>
No. 929263 ID: abfa32

Some mix of B, C and F for practical usage, G for casual everyday attire and H for formal events.
>>
No. 929264 ID: 891b91

>>929248
>As for what to wear for the rest of the day, this: >>929226
You kid, but if going nude got the most votes, I would let it happen.
>>
No. 929265 ID: c8452a

>>929262
I also vote for not cargo pants
>>
No. 929266 ID: eceda8

My vote's on B,C,E and J
>>
No. 929267 ID: 2202fb

>>929226
>>929227
>>929264

Okay, so imma vote nude for while we are here cuz casual nudity pushes all the right buttons :P.

..but for when we leave, lets go with the pants of E with the gloves and boots from C, the top of B, but make the jacket either brown leather or olive drab and give it the pockets from the top of E. Add on a chestrig (platecarrier if we can get it) and a holster belt to it (which would for now be empty) along with aviator sunglasses. Add an MICH-style helmet (without cover) when things get spicy. I cant draw for shit, so i would really appreciate it if i could get a mock-up of what I am describing, but that is nothing more than a polite request.
>>
No. 929268 ID: 2202fb

We also need to keep a set of D even if we never wear it.
>>
No. 929273 ID: 7fb87a

"A" for looking comfy.
>>
No. 929277 ID: 864e49

Disregard last post!

Changing to
>>/questdis/129059 else C
A
D
H
And go au naturel for the rest of the day, or just in your underwear.
>>
No. 929284 ID: e2f5cc

B and G should be your usual clothing, depending on how cool or cute you feel that day.
C Is your spicy clothing.
and H is for when you have to be fancy.
For now though, go around nude. Nothing ventured nothing gained right?
>>
No. 929292 ID: 235ba5

>>929227
B or E.
Preferably E.
I am a simple man
>>
No. 929300 ID: b1b909

>>929232
Thanks to some new developments, I'm adding to my initial vote for G over with a vote for nudity while around this place...
>>
No. 929301 ID: 745eba

Casual nudity time it is!

Or when we have to wear something I vote G
>>
No. 929302 ID: bcc41d

Wear F, keep A B C and D.
>>
No. 929303 ID: bcc41d

>>929302
Ergh, one too many. Drop C.
>>
No. 929305 ID: 745eba

>>929301

Oh since I didn't see that we could pick 4 I also vote for A and H

Only lose the heels on H
>>
No. 929307 ID: bad12e

>>929227

A for fun.

B for going out on the shelf.

F for working on things (and because it's cute!!)

and lastly, G because it's heckin' adorable.
>>
No. 929318 ID: 834378

A D G X (heh)
>>
No. 929321 ID: 5bdd53

>>929226
BEGH. Practical clothing for now.

Wear B today, break in those boots now to prevent blisters.
>>
No. 929344 ID: 4deeaf

H but stuff your ears in your bra
>>
No. 929345 ID: b0784e

B. E, F and H. Wearing F for now.

You HAD to have known that saying you'd do nude would make people want to meme it into existence. I'll pass, though.
>>
No. 929376 ID: 13efb0

B, E, F, C.

For now, I think Penny should wear B.
>>
No. 929379 ID: 688dd6

E E E E E E
>>
No. 929380 ID: 8eaf98

Going to have to also vote against nudity as it would kinda be a 180 from what Penny has been wanting.
>>
No. 929382 ID: 05ebc7

Oh yeah, I didn't say which outfit she should wear for now. I guess B.
>>
No. 929395 ID: c8452a

>>929380
I mean, yeah.
>>
No. 929400 ID: b1e749

>>929227
B
>>
No. 929441 ID: 891b91
File 155502499945.png - (1.29MB , 2048x2284 , 1-011-paperdolls2.png )
929441

Outfit Vote, Final Round
This round, the four most popular pre-made outfits will be pitted against the custom outfits suggested during the last round. The four most popular outfits from this round will be chosen for Penny's wardrobe.

Several of the outfits have alternate versions requested by some suggesters, numbered 1 and 2. Voting for either version counts as a vote for the outfit overall; for example, a vote for E2 counts as a vote for E, H1 counts as a vote for H, etc. If the outfit in question wins the round, the most popular version will be chosen.

As with last round, be sure to vote for which outfit for Penny to change into; in the event that someone voted for one last round but doesn't this round, their vote will be carried over to this round.

You may vote for Penny to go naked instead, but this will be treated as a simple majority vote between going naked and staying clothed, separate from the vote for what outfit to wear. This means that you may both vote to go naked as well as suggesting to wear a particular outfit in the event that the naked vote fails. While you may also vote against nudity, suggestions that do not explicitly vote for nudity will be counted as votes against it as well. Please note that walking around naked is likely to affect other characters' opinions of Penny, and therefore may impact the quest's plot.

Custom outfits:
I: >>929241
J: >>929253
K: >>929250
L: >>929267 (Note: Vesper doesn't have much in the way of military gear, so the chest rig and helmet have been omitted.)
M: >>929277
>>
No. 929442 ID: b1b4f3

>>929441
F, B, H2, L2

Let's wear B.
>>
No. 929444 ID: 575ec0

B
I
J
L2

Wear Green's Meme for now.
Make the Meme canon again!
>>
No. 929445 ID: 745eba

Nudism hooo

But aside from that J, H2, K, & B because we need something practical to go along with the everyday wear
>>
No. 929448 ID: 7fb87a

J,F,K,H2
wearing J
>>
No. 929449 ID: 32e6c4

E2, J, H2, L1.

Wear L1 right now.
>>
No. 929450 ID: fd2d31

>>929441
L1's got the "rebel without a cause" vibe that'd fit Penny going against both a pseudocult and government who wants to control her in one way or another (optionally with the iconic "Top Gun" hat from movie with same name).

I and F got a functional "practical yet casual" theme (with F having a implied emphasis on hard labor), while H(1) seems to only work for formal-ish events.

E looks way too military for Penny's own good despite being practical, and B would make her look like she's dressed up to burgle or assassinate due to being so dark.

And while M technically works, it looks like it is split between going all-out late 80's / early 90's totally tubular turbo radical or not, it should either fully embrace the a e s t h e t i c s or distance itself.
Still bummed about G since it was the best fitting "relaxed" casual one
>>
No. 929451 ID: 2202fb

>>929441
okay, so after much consideration, i think i will change my stance to neutral on the nudity thing, so plz dont count me for or against it (maybe Penny develops a thing for exposure but is too sensible to just go out and do it and damn the consequences).

I am going to vote we take L2(with E pocketed pants, if we can), B, M, and J, if we go clothed, i vote for whichever of the four outfits i picked has the most wear-it-nau votes(if any do).
>>
No. 929452 ID: 2202fb

>>929451
sorry, meant E2 pocketed pants, not E.
>>
No. 929453 ID: 891b91

>>929451
>i think i will change my stance to neutral on the nudity thing, so plz dont count me for or against it
Sure, I'll avoid counting anyone who explicitly says they don't want to be counted for or against it.
>>
No. 929454 ID: bcc41d

Wear F, choose B, J and H2.
>>
No. 929455 ID: 6a6bf5

F, I, K, and M.
Wear I for now.
>>
No. 929460 ID: 05ebc7

>>929441
B, E2, J, H2.

Wear J.
>>
No. 929461 ID: ad51b8

really liking J

but I and M aren't bad either.
>>
No. 929464 ID: 080aaf

I, B, H, L2, wear I, nudity? Why not.
Sorry Roz, we'll have to play your mini-me some other day.
>>
No. 929467 ID: 094652

Huh, J looks like a winner. H is my second choice.
>>
No. 929469 ID: c8452a

B, E1, F, and J.
>>
No. 929470 ID: e2f5cc

>>929441
Throwing my lot in for B, H1, J, L1, and running around nude for a little bit.
>>
No. 929472 ID: e51896

Lets see...

L1 for inventory management, and we look like a cool biker (Lots of pockets = more things to steal collect without losing space)

J for casual wear (the yellow is a good color compliment for all the purple around this place, it'll give people something refreshing to look at)

H1 for formal occasions, or fancy parties (I have a feeling there will be moments like those during our time here)

B, for something decent for going outside and meet new people with

for what to wear for today, we'll go with J, since we aren't planning on doing anything too productive since we just got here

As much as I like casual nudity, I'm voting against it as I prefer an ENF Penny over a casual nude Penny...

...but I just realize we might not have pajamas to wear to sleep tonight, and might have to sleep naked sooo... maybe we can do something a little daring late at night to relieve some stress?
>>
No. 929473 ID: 2ea85f

F J K and M
Let's start with wearing M and make the world pay attention to us.
>>
No. 929474 ID: 5bdd53

>>929441
J
H2
L2
B
>>
No. 929475 ID: c8d2b2

B, J, K, H2
Wear J
>>
No. 929476 ID: 6f764d

E2, L1, H1, M, no nudes
>>
No. 929478 ID: 864e49

Thank you so much for drawing my suggestion.
It gives us both C and D

M but with the pants with more pockets
L1
A
H

That just about covers everything, and don't actually go nude.
>>
No. 929482 ID: caf1de

H2
I
L1
M
FUCKING NUDE
>>
No. 929488 ID: 8eaf98

E2 H2 I J and wear J for now
>>
No. 929491 ID: c8452a

>>929469
Oh right, wear J.
>>
No. 929493 ID: eceda8

Voting for E2, I, J, M.

And voting to wear J.
>>
No. 929494 ID: 5bdd53

>>929474
Oh yea, wear J
>>
No. 929499 ID: ea5947

A was so cute... tsk.

B J (wear)
>>
No. 929509 ID: 63fbd1

Wear E1 (because it's faster to draw), and also B, L1, and M
>>
No. 929510 ID: 63fbd1

>>929509
Oh, and against nudity
>>
No. 929513 ID: 2bccc2

B - great day to day outfit, and it goes very well with Penny's fur. My vote for what to change into.
H2 - a good dress outfit without feeling too fancy. Something with good color for when she wants it. Against high heels for practical and aesthetic reasons.
I - another nice casual outfit with a good color palate for Penny. More casual wear than B but not quite laying around on a couch level.
K - laying around on a couch level.
>>
No. 929515 ID: 4ec1c4

B E2 F L2
>>
No. 929516 ID: 214cda

B) is the only correct answer
>>
No. 929556 ID: bad12e

>>929441

Awww ... all the ones I liked got voted out
>>
No. 929585 ID: 375c85

I, B ,E2,J2
Go nude.
>>
No. 929603 ID: e95cec

B E2 I J
B for rest of the day.
No nudity, I think both Penny and I would be more comfortable with that.
>>
No. 929604 ID: 7f1e71

A or F for sure
>>
No. 929605 ID: 10c408

wear B, take E2, J and L2
>>
No. 929633 ID: 5b93d3

>>929441
L1
F
B
Maybe H1 for special occasions.
>>
No. 929637 ID: c0641d

B, E2, L1, M

These seem to be the most "all business" outfits while keeping ourselves modest.
>>
No. 929642 ID: 7d9d06

M

M is perfect.

Just M. Nothing but M.
>>
No. 929659 ID: 235ba5

>>929441
E2
K
L
B

And I'd like to vote against M, though I dont think that's something we're doing
>>
No. 929661 ID: 15a025

B
F
H2
L1
In the event of a tie between the two L and H choices, I'm honestly fine with either design for them.
>>
No. 930175 ID: ccb66b

I, J, and K for casual wear (put on I).
H2 because a girl's gotta have a nice dress.
>>
No. 930206 ID: 3940d3

B F K and L1
Wear B for now
>>
No. 930529 ID: 891b91

The vote for Penny's outfits is now closed; any votes after this post will not be counted.
>>
No. 930708 ID: 891b91
File 155591440007.png - (416.44KB , 1024x1024 , 1-012-1.png )
930708

Despite Roz's efforts to get you to stick to "cute" clothes, you end up basing most of your wardrobe choices around utility, rather than fashion. You have to admit that you found it kind of fun, and for a few minutes almost forgot about your situation. Even Mint joined in eventually -- apparently your conversation with her earlier made her a feel a bit more comfortable. Roz brought a lot of clothes to peruse, but eventually you manage to settle on four outfits, in addition to your jumpsuit:

>An old wool-lined pilot jacket, paired with an undershirt, cargo pants, and a pair of black workboots; you think you might use this for when you leave the shelf, since it's fairly roomy and allows for a little extra storage space. Roz thinks the jacket goes nicely with your fur color.

>A brown leather jacket with large cargo pockets, a grey undershirt, olive fatigue pants, black lace-up combat boots, and aviator sunglasses; this outfit feels slightly less maneuverable than the last one, due to the leather and the boots, but it provides a bit more physical protection, which you think will be helpful when you go on that scrapping job with Quincy. Mint laughed when you put on the aviators, but you think they might help slightly with concealing your identity, assuming your ears aren't a dead giveaway. You do briefly have the idea of stuffing them into your bra, however, which sounds less silly the more you think about it.

>A gold zip-up hoodie, a pink t-shirt, jeans, and sandals; you'd like to have something comfy to lounge around in, and the hoodie stood out immediately. Roz is just happy you chose the pink t-shirt.

>A pink miniskirt, a violet cutoff turtleneck, and black flats; you finally relented and agreed to pick one of Roz's "cute" outfits, to her delight, although you turned your nose up at the high heels. You were a little surprised that Mint agreed with her, considering her paranoia, but she thinks you look really good dressed like this. Looking in the mirror, you guess you have to agree, even if it's not very functional. Roz insists that underwear doesn't "go with" this outfit, leading you to wonder briefly if Roz ever wears any herself.

Note: clothing combinations for outfits are not locked; for example, if enough people wanted to swap the jackets between outfits B and L, that would be allowed. I most likely won't put it up to a formal vote, though; instead it'll be a spur-of-the-moment thing that occurs at some point when Penny changes clothes in the future.
>>
No. 930709 ID: 891b91
File 155591440958.gif - (195.96KB , 1024x1024 , 1-012-2.gif )
930709

For now, you decide to change into the hoodie and jeans, stowing the jumpsuit and the rest of your new clothes in the chest of drawers.

"I think I'm gonna wear this for now," you say as you grab the hoodie and jeans.

"Dare you to go in the buff," Roz interjects.

You shoot her a sidelong glance, trying to figure out if she's serious. "...I think I'll pass on that one," you reply, eliciting a moan of exaggerated disapproval from her. It concerns you somewhat that some part of you seriously considered taking the dare, but you dismiss it as a random thought.

"You'd make one helluva impression on everybody~"

"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of!"

"Suit yourself," Roz shrugs, before suddenly perking up again. "Anyway, now that we got your wardrobe situation figured out, whatcha wanna do next? Hit the bathhouse or maybe get some grub? Or I could show you 'round one of the dars, since we're gonna have to do that eventually anyway. Oh, and you oughta come with us, Mint! You could use some fresh air instead of stayin' cooped up in here all day."

"I dunno..." Mint says, hesitation in her voice.

A) Get cleaned and freshened up at the bathhouse.
B) Go get a bite to eat.
C) Visit one of the dars.
D) Something else?
>>
No. 930711 ID: 2202fb

>>930709
D: let them decide for you.
>>
No. 930713 ID: b304c7

C)
Ask to visit Dar Ormi- getting a feel for how the shelf's government works could be useful.
>>
No. 930715 ID: c8d2b2

B.
You probably do need to wash up, but let's put that on the backburner and get some food, because it'll probably be an easier thing to convince mint to join for. Even better if you can be allowed to eat off-premises, since it'd hopefully let her spend some time around less "fuzzy" people.
>>
No. 930716 ID: ad51b8

A) Get cleaned and freshened up at the bathhouse.
>>
No. 930717 ID: e51896

C, just so we can get that done and over with to get a better understanding of the area and plan whatever action we'll do next. Tell Mint she doesn't have to come if she doesn't want to. It is a good idea to give introverts their space as a sign of friendship.
>>
No. 930718 ID: ea5947

A) Bath
Because there's a chance you may get some privacy there and touch yourself.
>>
No. 930719 ID: c8452a

D, let Roz give you a hard look and tell you if you need a bath or if you can wait on that for now. If she decides you can't wait, go to plan A.
If you can wait, move to plan C instead.
>>
No. 930720 ID: 0fae41

A. Refresh yourself before you go to a dar.
>>
No. 930727 ID: bcc41d

>>930709
A -> B -> C, tbh. Unless Roz's schedule only lets her care for you for a limited time today. In that case it seems smart to have her act as the ice breaker to one of the Dars - she's social, outgoing and will probably help smooth over any potential faux pas you might make. And as someone a little up in the hierarchy, she might introduce you to the 'right' people in the Dar and not just the meet-and-greeter of the week. An established person giving you the who's who and a foot in the door can be invaluable to building the connections and trust you need to succeed (in escaping quickly).

Tell Mint you'd like to have her along for her own perspective on things, but you get that she's tired and uncomfortable around others. If she's not up for coming, you can always talk later, yeah?

D+) Ask Roz if she could arrange to get you 'Basic facts for dumb babies' reading material for tonight or can message Dar Ormi to get you that Holo access so you can call your new friend soon - both would be really nice. Entertainment, like a movie, would be cool too, if Roz/Mint's up for a girl's night this evening.

As for your holo username, 'n4_a_pretty_penny' might work, yes?

See, because it's a pun on both 'in for' and 'in fur', referencing you having fur, and two name-related idioms - 'in for a penny' and 'a pretty penny', so it's a 'pretty penny' 'in fur' that you'd want 'to be in for'. It also kiiiind of sounds like 'info (for) a pretty penny', which, like, you need a ton of information right now, so it fits. (and there's the internal deep reference to maybe having once worked for a detective agency that sells information for money)

... you don't have to explain all that, though. You probably put too much thought into the name, honestly.
>>
No. 930728 ID: 7fb87a

>>930709
A) Realize you haven't taken a bath since this ordeal began
>>
No. 930738 ID: 041283

>>930709
C is probably the best option for now, considering Roz is probably the best possible guide, although we do need a bath and food.

Agreed with dar Ormi if possible, or just the whole tour. Also, Mint should come, if only to be amongst a friend so we can take focus off of her.
>>
No. 930742 ID: 9dcc8f

Im fine with any choice

But i think we should take Mint's comfort into consideration and respect her boundaries by leaving her alone. Besides, she probably has much to think about after our conversation with her. Assure her she does not have to follow you or Roz if she doesn't want to.
>>
No. 930753 ID: 5bdd53

>>930727

C>A>B>D

>>930709
Getting a Big Book of Basic Facts for Dumb Babies sounds like a good idea, very important.
>>
No. 930758 ID: fd2d31

>>930709
Might wanna get a quick shower before going further.
And getting something to eat afterwards or else low blood sugar and less sane decision making.
>>
No. 930761 ID: a9af05

>>930709
A and B in that order.
>>
No. 930871 ID: 64356b

>>930709
A
>>
No. 930893 ID: 2202fb

>>930727
we should learn some martial arts fitting for our stature and then we could add "out4_a_#"

but yeah, i like that username.
>>
No. 930895 ID: d9bac8

I think just "out4a#" would work, and also not be a complete mouthful.

C might be prudent, while you still have Roz with you.
>>
No. 931194 ID: 864e49

We probably really need a bath after who knows how long without it, A.
If we're going for good first impressions then we don't want to be stinky and filthy.
>>
No. 931337 ID: 15a025

Visiting the Dars sounds pretty important, but at the same time looking and smelling nice would probably help.

A then C.
>>
No. 932536 ID: 891b91
File 155754552764.gif - (369.79KB , 1024x1024 , 1-013-1.gif )
932536

"Let's see the bathhouse," you reply. "Who knows how long it's been since I last had a shower."

"Awesome! You'll love it, it's practically a spa in there~" Roz pauses, turning to Mint. "So how about it, Mint? Wanna come with?"

"I, uh..." Mint mumbles inaudibly.

"You don't have to come with us if you don't want to." You give her your best attempt at a reassuring smile. "I won't feel insulted, we can just meet up again later."

"I guess I... I think I'm just gonna take a nap," she sighs.

You and Roz say your goodbyes to Mint, wishing her a good rest, before Roz leads you down a hall and out of the building. You emerge into a narrow corridor nestled between several buildings; bright, a sliver of bright, orange sunlight streams in through the gap between the roofs above you. It's quiet and empty here, leading you to assume you left through a side exit.

"C'mon, the bathhouse's over this way," Roz beckons.
>>
No. 932537 ID: 891b91
File 155754554394.gif - (476.16KB , 1024x1024 , 1-013-2.gif )
932537

You follow Roz out of the corridor and into a wide, curving street flanked on either side by tall, thin buildings. As you walk, you occasionally spot people as they bustle to and from the buildings, but the street is mostly empty. The air is surprisingly empty, too, for a society with flying vehicles; a couple float lazily along above you, but most of them appear to be trucks and utility vehicles.

"Where is everybody?" You ask.

"At work -- this place doesn't run itself, you know!" Roz chuckles. "Things'll pick up around lunchtime, they always do."

"What about vehicles? The sky is practically empty."

"Red Shelf isn't a big place, and this road gets you pretty much anywhere you wanna go, so most of us just hoof it. Some of us drive, but it's usually only people who actually need to visit the Concourse or other shelves." Roz shrugs. "I guess you could say we're pretty self-sufficient."

"I guess that makes sense," you respond. "So about getting me holo access -- is there any chance you could get it set up for me today?"

"Hmm. Yeah, I guess so, I could make a trip over to Ormi and talk it over with 'em while someone gives you the grand tour of one of the dars. You really wanna talk to that friend of yours, huh?"

"Yeah, they must be wondering where I am and I don't want them to worry."

"So what's the deal with this person you met, anyway? It's not like you could've known 'em for long."
>>
No. 932543 ID: 0fae41

Exactly. Given the reduced timeframe, it's like I've known them my whole life. They just- mean so much to me, you know?
>>
No. 932544 ID: b5d6fa

>>932537
"No, but they were willing to help me out when I was in a bind, and I just up and vanished on them. They seemed like the sort that would be worried. So I wanted to balance my ledgers, so to speak. I respect honor like that."

Don't give her any details on the whos or whats, just keep it plain, and emphasize your respect for those that help you out how you want.
>>
No. 932547 ID: b1b4f3

>>932537
That owl. Is that a person? It's like we're being spied on.

Tell her you made a business transaction and you hope to make good on your end of the bargain.
>>
No. 932550 ID: b5d6fa

>>932547
Oh, good catch. Might just be a weird vertically eyed owl, but who knows? Well, who knows that we can get that information from safely...don't think we want to express such concerns out loud.
>>
No. 932552 ID: e51896

that owl that is staring at us wasn't the only animal we encountered that had vertical eyes. those foxes we saw the other day had the same vertical eyes. Is that owl interested in us like those foxes were earlier? hmm... Don't be alarmed if it tries to perch on you.
>>
No. 932607 ID: ea5947

Any animal would look at you if you were the only person passing by. Nothing strange about that.

Tell Roz that while you may only have known that person for a short time, it was enough to make a couple of plans with her. When one makes plans with another, it feels normal to either follow them, or inform that person in case of any changes to these plans. You can also tell her something more concrete, about how that person more or less owes you some money. So if you are to stay here for a while, that money would be pretty useful to have. It would certainly allow you to pay Roz for all these clothes.
>>
No. 932608 ID: 5bdd53

>>932537
They're one of the first people we had an actual conversation with after losing our memories or whatever. Of course we're all little attached to the first person who ever (in this life) gave us attention. Besides, you don't meet people or make friends, connections, allies or amigos without staying in touch. And they're someone not associated with youze guys, so having contact with someone outside this group makes us feel like we have more freedom. That makes it easier to adjust living here cause we feel like we have control.

Also what >>932607, they owe us some money.
>>
No. 932614 ID: cb6404

>>932537

An owl with vertical eyes.

Kinda like the dog-fox-things with ... vertical eyes.

Man, wildlife here is WHACK.
>>
No. 932630 ID: c0641d

"They're the first person I ever really talked to, and we made plans together. I should at least let them know why I bailed. Hey, is that bird staring at us?"

Giving her the bare minimum to satisfy her curiosity before immediately changing the subject.
>>
No. 932650 ID: ea82cb

>>932614
Clearly not "wildlife"! Remember, those foxes were very intelligent and clearly controlled somehow. Either by their master if pets or boss if sapient.

Maybe the foxes were just uniquely domesticated, but we can't just assume that an owl with the same traits isn't also working with the foxes.

Anyway, yeah, before you got here you got a really kind job offer from someone who didn't need to give you help. You owe it to her at least to let her know you're alive.
>>
No. 932651 ID: ea82cb

>>932650
Oh, right, also make sure not to stare at the owl. Or to specifically avoid looking at it.
>>
No. 932656 ID: e95cec

Well, you can say that she was one of the first people you actually talked to after coming to.

You COULD say that you made plans.

I might advise against saying you have business deals. That could potentially attract concern.
>>
No. 932665 ID: b5d6fa

>>932656
Yeah, I'd suggest against that.
>>
No. 932684 ID: ea82cb

>>932656
I guess that makes sense
>>
No. 932773 ID: cb6404

>>932650

>Working with the foxes.

Penny, I fear that our encounter with Roz's everything may have rattled our last few screws loose and we are definitely going over the deep end of this already very shallow pool.

>>932537

But perhaps now is a good time to ask if it's normal for critters to have weird eyes. I mean, we have Roz here, and she seems to Know Things About Stuff.
>>
No. 932778 ID: e51896

>>932773
>But perhaps now is a good time to ask if it's normal for critters to have weird eyes. I mean, we have Roz here, and she seems to Know Things About Stuff.

I'm probably being too paranoid, but I am not really sure about asking Roz if it is weird for animals to have vertical eyes. What if in this world, vertical eyed wild animals are the norm and not many people or unique people only remember animals having vertical eyes, and you'd reveal too much info about yourself? I don't know, Maybe Mint is a better person to ask... But like I said, could be just me being paranoid...
>>
No. 932779 ID: ea82cb

>>932773
Maybe you're forgetting that the foxes were snooping around and looking for stuff? There's nothing crazy about assuming that they might not be the only intelligent animals around. We don't need to gaslight Penny about this.
>>
No. 933785 ID: 891b91
File 155860090228.gif - (390.79KB , 1024x1024 , 1-014-1.gif )
933785

>That owl. Is that a person? It's like we're being spied on.
You glance at the owl, looking for any sign of intelligence while trying to avoid paying too much attention to it. It just stares back through those strange, piercing eyes, and it unnerves you deeply. It has two left eyes, like the fox-things you encountered several days ago. Is it somehow related to them? For a moment you're swept away by the paranoid idea that it's spying on you, but you dismiss it as a figment of your imagination. Maybe the wildlife around here all have double left-eyes? You almost ask Roz about it, but you get a weird feeling that it'd be a mistake to mention this to just anyone. You wonder if Mint might know something about this, but you think it's probably unlikely -- she's practically in the same boat as you. Still, you feel like you can trust her, so you figure it can't hurt to mention it when the two of you are alone together.

"Exactly," you respond, doing your best to forget about the owl for now. "I haven't been... 'me' for long, so it's kinda like I've known them my whole life. They're one of the first people I had an actual conversation with after waking up, and on top of that they helped me out, so I feel like I should at least let them know why I disappeared on them."
>>
No. 933786 ID: 891b91
File 155860092062.gif - (370.41KB , 1024x1024 , 1-014-2.gif )
933786

The owl flies off suddenly, disappearing behind a building, as if somehow prompted by your acknowledgement of it.

"Heh, alright," Roz shrugs. "I'll see if I can't convince 'em over at Ormi for you. Anyway, c'mon, the bathhouse's down here."
>>
No. 933787 ID: 891b91
File 155860094276.gif - (465.06KB , 1024x1024 , 1-014-3.gif )
933787

Roz leads you down a winding flight of stairs leading beneath the streets. They open up into a small lobby, and a wave of humidity hits you as you enter. An L-shaped desk sits in the corner of the room, flanked by an open doorway to a hallway. The insectoid person sitting at the desk, whom you assume is an attendant, motionlessly looks up at Roz through lidded eyes.

"Hey Roz. The usual?"

"You know it. Unless the new sigarzghar here wants somethin' else and doesn't wanna be alone."

The attendant glances at you. "New sigarzghar, huh? Guess I gotta give you the rundown, then." He sighs and rattles off some directions in a disinterested monotone. "S' pretty simple. Head through the doorway to my right, hang a left for the ladies' section. You've got three options once you're in there: the private showers, the ladies-only spa, and the co-ed spa. I'll give you one guess which one is Roz's usual. The locker room has towels, and if you go to the spas you have to shower before getting in the water."

"Wow Ben, don't get too enthusiastic there," Roz chortles.

"I've only had to say that shit like a thousand times now, so sue me." He glances at you. "So, sigarzghar."

"Penny."

"Penny." He glances at Roz, an amused look in his eyes. "You gonna join Roz's nudist club for weirdos?"

"We aren't weirdos, fuck you," laughs Roz. "And it isn't a club! It's a social movement," she declares, folding her arms.

"Yeah, yeah." He waves a hand in Roz's direction dismissively as he turns his attention back to you. "You gonna join her nudist, er, social movement?" Roz starts to say something but he cuts her off, wagging a finger at her. "Ah ah ah! Don't try to sway her now, that's cheating!"
>>
No. 933788 ID: 0fae41

Give it a shot!
>>
No. 933789 ID: 06fdc0

i dunno, nudity's pretty cool
>>
No. 933790 ID: 2202fb

Go for it.
>>
No. 933791 ID: 8faf34

Nope, no nudism.
>>
No. 933793 ID: ad51b8

Not today
>>
No. 933796 ID: 3940d3

I don’t think so
>>
No. 933797 ID: b1b909

Sure, give it a try. Do the naked thing
>>
No. 933801 ID: e2f5cc

This is pretty much your best chance to do this Penny, you get the feeling of being nude in front of strangers while not being entirely in public, and these people would obviously be pretty used to seeing naked girls so you won't even get particularly strange looks beyond being new, and if worst comes to worst you can either cover yourself in the hopefully opaque spa water or abscond to the locker room and throw on a towel. Doing this will also increase your chance at banging Roz.
>>
No. 933811 ID: ead464

yes... ...I MEAN NO!  

While i'm not opposed to nudism, I think it would be out of character for us to suddenly be into it. I'd rather us getting into nudism happen gradually as the story progresses. Dont want this guy to see us as a weirdo (Plus, joining that club might make us lose access to some possible fun enf situations to occur later in the story, like Roz stealing our clothing in order to feel more open about nudity ;) )  

We will be taking the private showers... for now.
>>
No. 933813 ID: c84fd7

... Maybe? You'll try it out and see how it goes. Not committing to anything.
>>
No. 933817 ID: e51896

No. It might mess up our social standing.

But if the vote of joining wins, I would say something like: "*sigh*... if I join this club, can I at least keep my clothes on in public? or is getting naked mandatory?"
>>
No. 933822 ID: 2ea85f

Nah, You just got this hoodie and don't want to declare your freedom from it yet. Take a shower and then head to the lady's spa.
>>
No. 933823 ID: e51896

Oh hey, forgot to mention, we should see what that paper says on the wall, as well as look at the floor map under it in case we need to evacuate the area for whatever reason (would be a good way to change the subject away from this part of the conversation). Also, is that an alcoholic drink on the shelf behind Ben? Probably not as I think it would be wrong to drink on the job, right?
>>
No. 933824 ID: bcc41d

WOULD you join Roz' social movement for nudeys-not-prudeys? What would be the point - other than potentially letting you hang around with Roz more and earn some Roz Respec(tm)?

Are your experiences and desires enough to form a decision?

Pros:
You know you can be pretty assertive when you want. You have full-body fur and your biggest 'assets' are your ears, not your breasts, so it's not like you'd show off all that much (hell, you could use the former to cover up the latter in a pinch). You didn't hesitate to suggest trading sex with a stranger in exchange for favors. You're kinda sexually attracted to Roz.

Cons:
You'd probably attract more attention than you otherwise would. You 'feel' your nudity - at least when caught off guard. You don't like undressing for no good reason. ...You're kinda sexually attracted to Roz.

Conclusion:
You can probably handle going around nude on occasion, especially as a way of connecting with Roz and her social clique. You may or may not feel comfortable in your own skin depending on the situation.

Suggest you can become a Trial Member of her movement, and put your feelings to test on the issue.

Also, ask Buck tongue-in-cheek whether there's a 'movement' for slacking off at your desk job, or if that is a perk of his dar.
>>
No. 933829 ID: c0641d

Didn't we already establish being uncomfortable with that sort of thing? Hard no, private shower only for us.
>>
No. 933844 ID: 91ee5f

>>933787
>join nudists?
No, thank you!

We’ve already established that we’re not exactly comfortable with this, so let’s not go along with it.
>>
No. 933845 ID: cb6404

>>933787

It could be cool, but maybe after we've had some time to adjust to ourselves and put more thought into how comfortable we are in our own body.
>>
No. 933851 ID: 8eaf98

>>933824
>Also, ask Buck tongue-in-cheek whether there's a 'movement' for slacking off at your desk job, or if that is a perk of his dar.
Do this, also no nudist.
>>
No. 933858 ID: 5bdd53

Roz has a social movement? Is this a joke or a real thing? I'm surprised members of the Vesper society or whatever the cult is called could have their own groups outside it. Maybe they won't be so restrictive after all.

Ask Roz how many other sigarzhars have joined her nudity friendship club.
>>
No. 933862 ID: b5d6fa

>>933787
Quick Pass. We were already more or less asked once already.
>>
No. 933863 ID: b1b4f3

>>933787
>go to the co-ed spa?
Maybe later. Right now you're a little too nervous. It's the private stall for you.
>>
No. 933888 ID: 7fb87a

>>933787
"I haven't even met everyone yet"
>>
No. 933889 ID: e95cec

Nah.
>>
No. 933890 ID: 864e49

"I don't think I'm gonna be joining the nudist movement but I'll try the co-op if there aren't to many people, else I'll probably just have a shower."
>>
No. 933891 ID: b5d6fa

>>933862
Oh, didn't specify- I vote for solo shower.
>>
No. 933900 ID: caf1de

are we allowed to have sex in the co-ed
>>
No. 933906 ID: f3310b

Of course. Penny would feel right at home in Roz's club for weirdos.

Also, we'd get massive brownie points with whoever's a member of this club. I'm sure there's at least a couple of prominent figures in there.

>>933900
This is a good question, yes. It's important we know this.
>>
No. 934011 ID: 15a025

Opt for either private or co-ed.
>>
No. 934094 ID: e51896

>>933900
I'm against asking this idea, but If you're going to ask this, Ask it like a joke so he doesn't think you're a perv.
>>
No. 934175 ID: de080b

I say try out the co-ed. Don't have to do anything lewd in there, but it could be a good way to meet new and helpful people.

Also, one way to ask about Roz's eyes without offending her could be "How do you see through all that long pretty hair?" Worth a shot.
>>
No. 934458 ID: f94dfb

No to the nudist club, and try the co-ed showers
>>
No. 935848 ID: 891b91
File 156059018658.gif - (331.72KB , 1024x1024 , 1-015-1.gif )
935848

"Er, I'll pass on the nudist club, thanks," you respond. You feel like you've answered this question before.
"Hah! That's another 20 chits for me." Ben rubs his fingers together, gesturing at Roz. "Pay up!"
"Yeah, yeah, you'll get your money later," Roz grumbles. "But one of these days I'll prove you wrong!"
"Uh huh, you just go on believin' that and I'll just go on gettin' paid."
"Yeah, until you have to pay me," Roz fires back.

"Speaking of social movements," you pipe up, feeling a little defensive of Roz, "Is there a 'movement' for slacking off at your desk job, or is that just a perk of your dar?"
An awkward moment passes while Roz and Ben trade glances. Suddenly, Roz bursts out in laughter.
"Hah! I like this one. About time we got a sigarzghar with a spicy tongue!" Ben remarks before looking back at you. "Now, I'll have you know they put me in this position as a specialist -- how else are they going to find out whether this desk is at optimal leg-propping height?" While he lacks the equipment necessary to make conventional facial expressions, you get the feeling that if he did he'd have a shiteating grin plastered across his face.
"Well, is it?" You ask.
"Hmm. Couple centimeters too high, if you ask me." He faux-sighs forlornly. "But I suppose we all must make sacrifices."
"Alright, can it cornball," Roz says, still chuckling. "Penny n' me gotta go get wet 'n naked now."
"Yeah, yeah," he sighs as he waves you off. "Have fun, don't drop the soap, et cetera, et cetera."
>>
No. 935849 ID: 891b91
File 156059020177.png - (90.81KB , 1024x1024 , 1-015-2.png )
935849

On your way out, you take a brief look at the map posted on the wall. The layout seems straightforward enough.
>>
No. 935850 ID: 891b91
File 156059021379.gif - (411.94KB , 1024x1024 , 1-015-3.gif )
935850

"Well, that was interesting," you remark as you follow Roz into the locker room.
"Hah, Ben's an asshole, but a lovable one. Don't take him too seriously or nothin', he wouldn't scuzz me like that if it actually bothered me."
"So what was all that about, anyway?"
"Oh, we just have a bet on whether I can get any newbie sigarzghars to join the nudist movement. I gotta pay him 20 chits for every sigarzghar who doesn't wanna join." Her toothy grin returns. "But if I get even one to join, then he's gotta pay me back double what I paid him. He thinks this is his way of convincing me that the nudist movement doesn't belong here, but sooner or later I'm gonna win. Just gotta be patient!"
"How long has this been going on?"
"For a few months now. He's gotten 160 chits outta me so far." She tosses a towel, a small bottle of shampoo, and a pair of disposable shower slippers to you. "Here, it's on the house. This stuff should treat your coat pretty nice."
"Thanks." You choose to avert your eyes while Roz starts undressing, fearing what getting an eyeful might do to you, and instead focus on stripping down yourself. "How many people are in your nudist club, anyway?"
"If you're curious enough to ask, you could always show up to one of our weekly get-togethers and see for yourself. You don't even have to get naked if you don't wanna."
"I dunno, I'll think about it, I guess."
"Hey, it's your call. No hard feelings if you'd rather not." Roz's locker slams shut, and you reflexively glance to your side. Yep, that's a buck-naked Roz, with her towel draped unhelpfully over her shoulder. The sight causes you to wonder if people ever have sex in this place, but you suppress the urge to ask about it -- you don't want to give the wrong impression. After all, Roz already knows you're into women, so it might come off as an invitation...
"Anyway," she continues, seemingly ignorant or apathetic of your gaze, "I'm gonna rinse off real quick and then hit the co-ed spa. Wanna come with?"
"Uh, I'm not sure," you respond, trying your best to keep your gaze from drifting to certain parts of her figure. "I think I just wanna relax in the shower for a bit."
"You sure? Could be a good way of gettin' to know people, especially with me there to introduce you!" She studies you for a moment. "Hey, I get that the whole nudity thing kinda bugs you... if it'd make you more comfortable, you could always just keep your towel wrapped around you. It's no big deal, no one's gonna think anything of it."

A) Decline Roz's offer and grab a shower stall for yourself. You need some private time to relax and reflect on your situation a bit.
B) Accept Roz's offer. Roz makes a good point about getting to know people, and like she said, you can cover yourself up if you'd rather not go nude.
C) Suggest the two of you stay in the ladies-only section instead. Getting to know some people sounds good, but you don't think you're quite ready to graduate to the co-ed area just yet.
D) Invite Roz to join you in one of the stalls. You're a little too new around here to feel comfortable with meeting a bunch of people who are in their birthday suits, but the shock of seeing Roz's body has worn off and it might be nice to have someone to chat with while you wash each other's hair. Plus, it might be a good opportunity to ply her for information.
E) ???

>>
No. 935851 ID: 790132

>>935850
While the gesture IS nice, and by all means very understandable, I also feel like we would prefer to introduce ourselves at our own speed and pace, so to speak. Letting Roz dictate the time and place could throw things out of our narrative control unless we were particularly proactive about taking control of the conversation. And even then, we come from a position of weakness; even if we take the 'go, but with towel' option, we come across as shy or (perhaps more likely with our personality) stubborn, going against the mores intentionally. Don't want to make such a first impression right now. I'd like to hope we're going for rational, reasonable, trustworthy, but not too egregious or withdrawn.

Not to mention, the nudity thing, while clearly common, tends to denote a certain...vulnerability in people. Vulnerability that I don't think is good to expose right now, considering our long-term goals of escape. It's something that I think is possible to overcome, but would be difficult to execute unless all us suggesters were on the same page.

tl;dr:

If We Accept: It'll possibly allow introducing us to others to be quicker and easier, but puts us in a weaker position of impression if we don't control the conversation wholesale due to the sheer nature of the place and context- which is highly likely. Choosing to wear a towel would also make us seem like we're too shy to accept the local norms or too stubborn to abide by them- both not the first impressions we want.

If We Decline: We'll likely lose a bit of trust with Roz; she's been trying hard to get us to do her thing, and we could lose an easy in or an early vouch for our person. However, the means and methods of first contact with other individuals within the cult remain with us, allowing us to shape their impressions of us however we might want.

I'm not sure which I pick right now, just felt it'd be good to get my logic out early.
>>
No. 935853 ID: 220480

B) while trying and failing to not fantasize about getting your face between Roz's cheeks in a private stall.
>>
No. 935854 ID: ad51b8

>B) Accept Roz's offer. Roz makes a good point about getting to know people, and like she said, you can cover yourself up if you'd rather not go nude.

Going with this so you can get a feel for what the people in this maybe cult are like. I mean yes gathering info on this place is important seeing I see it as gathering information on who people are and who's who so we can try to build up an idea of people we might be able to trust, people to avoid for one reason or another, and people who we feel that we can safely pump for information on this maybe cult.
>>
No. 935856 ID: e2f5cc

>>935850
B)Cause you need to meet people and should probably get a little more used to naked people if you're gonna hang around Roz with much regularity, and go nude as you'll probably draw more attention to yourself if you go with a towel. Plus this will get you closer to being inbetween those thighs that are bigger than your torso
>>
No. 935863 ID: e51896

B

give a half jokingly excuse that you are only joining her in the co-ed showers because you have the strangest feeling that if you don't keep your eye on Roz, she might steal your clothing from the locker room to try to get you to embrace nudity
of course, that won't stop somebody else from stealing our clothing from the locker room ;)

Keep your towel when you enter.
>>
No. 935882 ID: 726b70

B. Because males.
>>
No. 935891 ID: 0fae41

D. Let's tackle this one body at a time.
>>
No. 935892 ID: 4854ef

B: We might as well get used to some people now, and getting it out of the way helps.
>>
No. 935893 ID: e7c7d3

A

Let's be honest, if just Roz is setting you off then a whole room of naked strangers is going to make you explode.
>>
No. 935895 ID: b1b4f3

>>935850
B.
>>
No. 935899 ID: d40a27

>>935863
>of course, that won't stop somebody else from stealing our clothing from the locker room ;) 

Fully support. More ENF shenanigans will be fun. Imagine having to chase down your clothing thief or try to sneak back in your room without being seen... nakedly~.

B. It seems like Roz is starting to get a little dissapointed in us. I would like to keep our friendship going, and if it means going in the mix bathing spa with her, so be it. But lets keep the towel on to keep our modesty and shame intact.
>>
No. 935910 ID: 790132

I should also mention that I already don't like this- how Roz is beginning to act. I don't know if she's doing it intentionally or what, but it almost feels like subtle emotional manipulation- guilt tripping, in other words. I could just be reading too much into things, but I've always been one of those people that really dislikes being coerced into doing something supposedly voluntary that I don't want to do.

It honestly just furthers my suspicions that this has cult leanings, if nothing else. No one should feel like they can't say no if they're uncomfortable.
>>
No. 935932 ID: cb6404

>>935850

After a bit of thought ...

... let's start off with D, sharing a shower for a bit. Just to acclimate, talk some more, and "feel things out," to help adjusting. It's still a pretty big shift, after all, considering this will be the first we've ever bathed since becoming ourselves!

That, and learning more about things, who Roz is, being a sigarzaghar, and the dars -- you know, since we need to choose one soon -- would definitely be beneficial.

After that and some time to relax, let's then do B, but keep the towel on. It could be kinda nice to meet a few people and talk some, and maybe help make this whole affair feel a bit more normal.

And besides, Roz has been really supportive so far and nothing if not nice to us, so ... it's only fair to show some of that back, right? Just not completely naked (yet).
>>
No. 935935 ID: 7fb87a

E) Help Roz with that 'deep shampooing' she mentioned earlier
>>
No. 935969 ID: 15a025

B. It could be a nice relaxing way to meet some other people here and have a casual conversation.
>>
No. 935981 ID: dc9489

A because it couldn't hurt to know some more people around here, and washing off before getting in a public bath is common courtesy
>>
No. 935982 ID: b0b724

C. Not that it's going to win but it'd be an interesting compromise
>>
No. 935989 ID: d24c68

Hmm, B.

But not because I want to see these anthropomorphic people naked, or anything. Just, you know, for research.
>>
No. 935995 ID: c8d2b2

B) you should definitely start meeting the other people around here and this is a nice casual way to do so. Considering your reaction towards being naked around Roz and seeing Roz naked, the ladies-only section probably wouldn't be any more comfortable.
>>
No. 936022 ID: 864e49

B son.
Gotta scope out the merchandise. Gotta make connections. Gotta get some fuckoundations going.
>>
No. 936075 ID: 168af0

You haven't really had an opportunity to find out if you're attracted to men as much as you are women, so I'm tempted towards B just on the basis of more chances for self-discovery. And like, better to get over the shock you feel seeing people naked in a relaxed situation, with someone looking after you, than possibly at some random future point, right? There is a big aspect of just being conditioned when it comes to this sort of thing.
>>
No. 937386 ID: e95cec

>>935893
This is sound logic. (A)
>>
No. 937405 ID: 91ee5f

>>935850
A
>>
No. 937426 ID: bcc41d

B, because getting to know people with the help of an established individual is an actual no joke opportunity. If you're worried about getting involuntarily tantalized try to focus on faces and backgrounds, not bodies. Roz caught you off-guard earlier, but surely you can steel yourself somewhat, right?
>>
No. 939820 ID: 891b91
File 156370598023.gif - (348.30KB , 1024x1024 , 1-016-1.gif )
939820

Roz has a good point, you realize -- this is an opportunity to get to know people in a relaxed atmosphere, and having Roz there to back you up, so to speak, makes it a bit easier. You feel like Roz might be a bit disappointed in your apprehensiveness, too... but shouldn't you be allowed to be apprehensive about anything you choose? Still, staying on Roz's good side and getting to know some people around here with her backing is probably worth the discomfort.

"I guess you have a point," you sigh. "I'll go -- but I'm keeping the towel on." You almost add, half-jokingly, that you need to keep your eye on her so she doesn't steal your clothes, but you stop short when you realize that it might give her ideas.

"Sure, sure, like I said, no one's gonna think anything of it. I'm gonna go rinse off, meet you in the showers."

"Alright," you reply, acknowledging her with a wave of your hand.

After she leaves, you finish undressing and neatly stack your clothes in the locker. A key is hanging by a lanyard inside; you take it, assuming it to be the key to the locker -- a surprisingly low-tech solution, compared to the things you've seen so far.

>of course, that won't stop somebody else from stealing our clothing from the locker room ;)
You frown at the possibility that someone might steal your clothes, but as you clutch the key to your chest you decide it isn't very likely. If they had a clothing theft problem around here, they'd use high-tech lockers, not mechanical ones, right? Besides, if it were to happen you could just wait in the locker room and get Roz or someone else to bring you new clothes. Or you could just walk back in your towel, which would be nowhere near as embarrassing as being naked in public was! You clutch the locker key in your hand instinctively, as though it were a talisman, and use it to test the lock one last time before looping the lanyard over your neck. You wrap your towel around your body, tucking the corner in so it hangs like a dress, then gather your toiletries and head through the door to the showers.
>>
No. 939821 ID: 891b91
File 156370598801.gif - (257.48KB , 1024x1024 , 1-016-2.gif )
939821

As you enter, Roz catches sight of you, and motions for you to join her under the open shower. You do your best to ignore the pendulous sway of her breasts as she does so.

A) Duck into one of the stalls and shower off in there. You're fine with meeting some new people in this setting, but you're strictly against taking your towel off in front of any of them for any longer than you have to.
B) Join Roz and rinse off at the open shower. It might be quicker that way, and Roz would probably like it.
>1) But shampoo your fur here. You just want to get the bathing over with so you can keep your towel on most of the time you're around other people.
>2) But let the shampooing wait for the spa. A little communal bathing could be relaxing for all you know, and Roz can help you get those hard-to-reach places. After all, it's not like you'll stand out doing that in a bathhouse of all places.
C) ???

>>
No. 939824 ID: 2df440

B 2
>>
No. 939834 ID: 10c408

A. Establish limits first, then break/adjust them later. We're just here to have a shower, no frills attached.
>>
No. 939840 ID: 7f086e

>>939821
A) We’ve pretty much decided this already. Holding yourself to a more comfortable situation is probably the best option here; we do intend to leave Roz and the rest of the “not a cult” behind us as soon as possible.
>>
No. 939843 ID: e51896

B1, to get this over and done with.

Also, as you are walking towards Roz, glance under the stalls and see if you can see legs in there to get an idea if other people are here.

also, as you walk towards Roz, accidentally slip and fall on your back, end up in an... inappropriate position.
>>
No. 939845 ID: e7c7d3

B 1
Step out of your comfort zone but not too far. Show Roz that you're willing to join in but that your own boundaries still need to be respected.
>>
No. 939851 ID: 58ee15

I'm against B, because Penny already decided to wear a towel to the spa. It would be inconsistent for her to shower nude with other people here, but then suddenly be shy and need a towel for the co-ed spa.
I'm also against Penny slipping on the wet floor here. It would be way better if it happened after entering the co-ed spa ;)

A) Hold onto the stall doors when entering.
>>
No. 939856 ID: 864e49

B1
Show her that you're at least a little adventures but taking it slow, also get her to help shampoo you.
>>
No. 939876 ID: 0fae41

B 2. It's not too late to crawl back out of your shell.
>>
No. 939903 ID: 7fb87a

B 2
it is difficult to both learn about people and avoid them at the same time.
>>
No. 939906 ID: fd2d31

B2, but clearly show you're doing it as a necessity and not out of pleasure.
>>
No. 939936 ID: cb6404

>>939821

We've been a bit paranoid in the past, but insofar, this seems like a very relaxed and respectable atmosphere. It isn't as though Roz is suddenly making out with everyone, or anything silly like that.

Maybe it won't be too bad to talk a bit and rinse off.

So ... C: use the opportunity to talk to Roz some more, have her help you shampoo in one of the stalls (because acclimation is important!) and then go ahead and join her in the spa to meet some others -- with your towel, of course.
>>
No. 939940 ID: e95cec

A1, a tasty steak sauce
>>
No. 939961 ID: 744ed0

B2 my dude
>>
No. 939963 ID: 094652

>>939940
Yeah, it's that good.
>>
No. 939987 ID: 4854ef

B2
>>
No. 939990 ID: 29e9f3

A
>>
No. 940017 ID: 44b1b5

A1.
>>
No. 940024 ID: e2f5cc

B2
>>
No. 940088 ID: 2202fb

B2
>>
No. 940190 ID: 446872

Maybe b2 wouldn't be so bad
>>
No. 940653 ID: 15a025

A
>>
No. 943391 ID: 891b91
File 156656325353.gif - (585.49KB , 1024x1024 , 1-017-1.gif )
943391

Hesitantly, you make your way toward Roz -- you conclude that it'd be to your advantage to keep Roz's enthusiasm for you high, which you suppose means being more open and adventurous than you'd otherwise prefer. You glance at the stalls as you pass by, curious whether you can see signs of anyone inside; you notice a few pairs of feet here and there, but most of them appear to be empty. It isn't rush hour, you guess.

You sigh, silently reminding yourself that the only people out here are that sea slug-thing woman, who seems to be minding her own business, and Roz, who has already seen you naked anyway; everyone else in the room is in stalls and probably won't see you, if you're quick about it. You strip off your towel, hang it up on one of the wall hooks, and join Roz by the shower, standing beneath one of the unused shower heads.

You try to turn the shower on by twisting the knob, but it's firmly fixed in place. For a moment you puzzle over how to turn it on, but then Roz reaches over and pushes it, and water starts spraying from the shower head above. "You gotta push it," she explains. "It's on a timer."

"Oh, thanks."

"Y'know, I was sure you were gonna duck into one of those stalls."

"Yeah, I was too."

"What's that? Could someone be getting a little daring?"

You sigh, closing your eyes as you let the water stream across your face. "This is a bathhouse, so what I'm doing isn't daring at all. Besides, once I'm cleaned up that towel's going right back on."

Roz chuckles. "Well alright then."
>>
No. 943392 ID: 891b91
File 156656328342.gif - (540.36KB , 1024x1024 , 1-017-2.gif )
943392

"Excuse me," a voice to your right begins, prompting your hands to fumble about in an attempt to shield your more intimate parts from view. Opening your eyes reveals that it's the slug lady. Because of course she would want to talk to you while you're standing here in your birthday suit. "Aren't you that sigarzghar who was in a coma?"

"Y-yeah, that's me," you stammer, swallowing your nerves as best as you can.

"I knew I recognized you! Sah-ha, it's so lovely to see you finally up and about! And without that dreary old thing you had on when you first arrived, no less -- navy blue simply is not your color, not one bit! It detracts horribly from your lovely, snow-white fur!"

"Oh, um, thanks?"

"You are most welcome -- oh, but I haven't introduced myself yet! I am Jarmu -- soon to be Qatra -- Millicent Endora ta' Ormi -- but please, call me Millie, all my friends do!"

"Uh, nice to meet you, I'm Penny."

"Penny," Millie echoes, as though she's trying the name out. "My, what an adorable little name that is! It suits you perfectly! Tell me, did Jarmu Rosalyn come up with it? She should know it's quite unorthodox to name a sigarzghar before her ismijiet!"

"No, I picked it myself before I even came here."

"Mmm, I should have known! Of course you did, I can see it in your eyes! It may seem like a trifling thing, but most sigarzghars don't even think to name themselves, they're completely helpless when they first awaken! But not you, no -- you are one of those rare individuals who come to us already talented and capable, I'm certain of it! Now, I'm sure Rosalyn here has told you all about Dar Balzan, but I would be quite remiss in my duties if I didn't steer you towards Dar Or--"
>>
No. 943393 ID: 891b91
File 156656330122.gif - (488.51KB , 1024x1024 , 1-017-3.gif )
943393

"Millicent. Do you really have to do this right now?" Roz's words are unusually short and stilted -- a far cry from the bubbly demeanor you've seen from her so far.

"Why Rosalyn, I'm shocked!" Millie gasps. "I am only trying to help our new friend Penny find the place where she will the most fulfilled. You do want to help her feel fulfilled, don't you?"

"Of course I do," Roz sighs.
>>
No. 943394 ID: ad51b8

maybe she kept this from you because she didn't want to overload you with too much info to quickly... but I don't think she would be sounding as annoyed as she is right now. Either this is something she wanted to hide from you or she has a bad experience with the good doctor.
>>
No. 943395 ID: 2df440

Uh, Roz has a good point. Maybe we can deal with these things after the bath?
>>
No. 943398 ID: b5bc34

Let Roz know you're fine and tell Millie to give you the elevator pitch. Take Roz's side if she tries to continue past that. Be clear that you can spare thirty seconds but you came to get clean, not get an advertisement.
>>
No. 943399 ID: 469f5e

>>943393
Blink, look between them, then say, half-jokingly and deadpan:
“Theeeere’s a signing bonus or something, isn’t there.»
Pause, then furrow your brow and stare off in the distance thoughtfully while you try to rinse off without revealing too much of your noblee parts.
«Politics, worker shortage or both? I mean... is convincing people to join your Dar some mark of success?»
>>
No. 943407 ID: e7c7d3

Not getting good vibes from Millie, despite her being a multi-titted mollusc. Kind of sounds like she's being overly nice to you just to get to Roz.

Stick with Roz. Tell Millie that you need to be presentable first before seeing anyone!
>>
No. 943408 ID: 3e9573

Take a firm stance and tell them that the dars can wait because the only place where you'd feel fulfilled would be a girl's bosom.

And moments later realize what you just said.

Note that if we make them believe that female bosoms are our weakness, that would definitely result in many interesting situations down the line. Characters taking more liberty with their racks and Penny's head perhaps?)
>>
No. 943412 ID: 7fb87a

"I would find it very fulfilling if we could shower in peace."
>>
No. 943419 ID: b1b4f3

>>943393
I don't like her. Tell her to buzz off.
>>
No. 943429 ID: cb6404

>>943393

Might as well tell her that she's coming on a bit strongly -- and that while we're happy to discuss fashion (because oh boy do we need to fill out our wardrobe further), we'd like to keep decisions regarding our future placement in a dar to ourselves for now.

But I suppose thank her as well for her review of ... Dar "Or," or whatever it's called.

Why yes, I am totally running with that interrupt there.
>>
No. 943430 ID: 0fae41

"I'll be honest, all that jargon is sliding off me like water off a duck's back right now. Perhaps later?"
>>
No. 943453 ID: 10c408

...Sass her, sass her right now!

"First of all, my eyes are up here."

"And second of all I only just got out of my coma. I'd at least like to feel grounded before engaging in what I assume to be some sort of inter-departmental political game of sigarzghar poaching."
>>
No. 943459 ID: 3a3c64

>>943393
Last I checked, we're still trying to find a way out of this cult. Use Mrs. Exposition over there and try to get some more information about its structure. This ismijiet thing is either an opportunity to leave or yet another rabbit hole that we do NOT want to fall into.
>>
No. 943460 ID: 1fd9ec

>>943393
"...if you want me in your dar, you're not helping things by being so pushy. Leave me be."

Damnit, though, she's dar Ormi, which is the one I was shooting for, since that's admin and the big decision making stuff.
>>
No. 943469 ID: 30f4b7

"So, are you trying to pressure me to join you? Or trying to get me to NOT join by being pushy?"
>>
No. 943470 ID: 1fd9ec

>>943459
I'd HOPE we still are. A couple of nice eggs does not mean the case isn't full of cracked ones.
>>
No. 943472 ID: 2df440

>>943395
i'd like to add "If you wanna get down, just come out and say it."
>>
No. 943479 ID: b5bc34

>>943470
Yeah, Roz might be nice but she's still someone in a position of power over us in this cult.
>>
No. 943487 ID: e51896

Idea: maybe we can nickname her "silly Millie"?

um, it's awkward enough that you're naked in front of strangers, so just ask if this can wait until after you're done focusing on showering. This is time limited after all.
>>
No. 943507 ID: 0ec903

Tell Millie maybe you'll talk later

Theres a time and place for everything. Naked time is not one of those
>>
No. 943974 ID: 891b91
File 156724798205.gif - (263.01KB , 1024x1024 , 1-018-1.gif )
943974

"Come now, Rosalyn, do you really think Penny here would ever feel fulfilled as one of Balzan's... entertainers?" Millie sniffs. "I should say not! There--"

"I'd find it very fulfilling if we could shower in peace," you interrupt. "Maybe we could let this wait until I'm not standing here in my birthday suit? Not to mention how pushy you're being..."

Millie whips her head in your direction, eyeing you with surprise.
>>
No. 943975 ID: 891b91
File 156724799831.gif - (219.70KB , 1024x1024 , 1-018-2.gif )
943975

A smirk quickly spreads across Millie's face. "Fine, have it your way," she shrugs. "I suppose I can't blame you -- after all, you have been through a lot, haven't you? I can only imagine the trouble you must have run into before you arrived at our doorstep, especially with such a... rare body."

"Dammit Millie," Roz growls.
>>
No. 943976 ID: 10c408

Shower stall, now. Apologize to Roz but someone just can't take a damn hint.
>>
No. 943977 ID: 0efe8e

UwU what does she mean we must know!
>>
No. 943979 ID: 18f1c5

Tell her that she's the first one to mention that your body is rare. Which either means that she knows something others don't, or others didn't think it was something you should learn. Or at least not yet... turning your head to Roz.

Continue that, fine, she got your interest, and that you're definitely interested in listening to what she's got to say. Just not while her naked body's distracting you...
>>
No. 943980 ID: e7dcb0

Your body isn't that unusual. That's a weird thing to just say to someone.
>>
No. 943982 ID: c51837

>>943976
This. You've at least shown willingness to engage, but this is a pretty good excuse to get what you wanted from the start.
>>
No. 943984 ID: 9d50cc

Hmm. You know, she seems like she's trying to look knowledgeable and feel superior, dangling all this bait for questioning in front of you. Which makes me feel kind of sorry for her, actually? She must have some sort of self-esteem problem if she's making herself feel better by knowing more than an amnesia case does.

I know she's annoying you, a lot, but the way your life is right now you really don't need enemies, and the way she said she was soon to be "Qatra" suggests she's getting a promotion of some kind (or... married? Or something?), so she probably has at least a little influence and seems like she could be petty enough to use it on grudges.

So maybe just give her an excuse to do what she wants to do, hear herself talk, and get back to cleaning while she's distracted.
>>
No. 943985 ID: 10c408

>>943984
I disagree with this. all potential outcomes are fraught with social peril (roz may or may not realize we've intentionally baited millie into blabbing while we tune her out and millie may or may not ensure we're actually paying attention to her.)
>>
No. 943986 ID: 18f1c5

>>943976
I'm against moving into a shower stall.
We've already chosen to take an open shower, so suddenly moving into a stall, simply because of one person, would make us look like an extremely intolerant and unsocial piece of shit.
>>
No. 943987 ID: fd2d31

"Sure as hell doing a whole lot to make me not feel welcome here Millie"
>>
No. 943993 ID: 567477

>>943985
Never said anything about ignoring her. Pardon if I implied it. We need all information available, though.
>>
No. 943994 ID: 0fae41

Ask Roz what that means.
>>
No. 943995 ID: e7c7d3

Just say "Thank you," turn and finish showering. If we wish to hear more from her, we could mention that we're still headed for the baths, but I feel that Roz also has the same info.
>>
No. 943997 ID: 10c408

>>943986
Millie clearly didn't give two shits about Penny's request to table the discussion until after we're done bathing and immediately started approaching it from an entirely new direction.

So it's time to slam the proverbial door in her face and MAYBE she'll take the fucking hint this time.
>>
No. 944000 ID: cb6404

>>943975

Okay, hold the fluff up. "Rare body?" What is THAT supposed to mean?

Because as far as we know, we were always like this, from the moment we woke up covered in dust in some dingy basement somewhere wearing a jumpsuit out in the dead city.

So if she can tell us what any of that might be, who or what we are, THAT would be something to consider.

I know, I know, we've previously resolved to keep quiet, but I kind of feel like right now is a good time for Penny to be upset with Millie's ... everything. Especially calling attention to something we've already said we're uncomfortable with. So why not? Let's lash out a little. Be the diminutive firebrand nobody expected (and maybe win some more respect from Roz).
>>
No. 944002 ID: 1fd9ec

>>943975
Thinking about it, maybe we can turn this on its head. She clearly wants to be seen as someone of importance, and someone who's superior or has knowledge.

We want that knowledge, of course, but that doesn't mean we have to come straight out from a position of weakness. We want to control the conversation, not react to it. If we ask her to tell us, we put ourselves under her position as well because she could do something like ask a favor from us for giving us valuable information. What we need to do is make her WANT to tell us outright; make her figure that the ACT of telling is the reward, as opposed to anything given post-so.

My suggestion? Play the situation completely straight, like she's a subordinate just getting too pushy. We know she's trying to bait us, so just nod and be like 'Thank you. Wait over there, I'll be finished after a bit and then you can tell me what's going on.'

Otherwise, no sell it. Make sense? Means we approach her at a time and position WE give, and she has to abide it, else she runs foul of social contracts that make her out as a negative. If she decides to be petty and say nothing else after this, we can shrug and be like 'well, alright. Guess it's not that important, then?'
>>
No. 944003 ID: 91ee5f

>>943975
>rare body
“Hey! Don’t draw attention to my flat chest! I’m really sensitive about that!”
>>
No. 944007 ID: be926c

>>943975
"Straight to negging? You should have waited instead of spoiling my first impression of your entire Dar."
>>
No. 944008 ID: 015bf2

Consider what this means. If a gossip is interested in us because of our 'snow-white fur' and 'rare body', it may be because our past self used to be someone famous or notorious in the right circles. We already know we may have worked for a detective agency. We know changing your body is possible, with the right tools. Were we this person, or did we change ourselves to look like one for some reason?

I'd honestly like it if we pursued this without burning bridges despite Millie being all Millish. Knowing or not, Millie IS giving us hints at things we want to know and figure out - things that Roz wants to keep from us for philosophical reasons, or 'our own good' - and making an enemy of Millie just because of what she's doing (being condescending, manipulative and nosy) may be contrary to our own goals of getting out of here and investigating how our past self ended up how it did.

She's also the first person we've met who seems to be more giving lip service to the creed of the Vespers, indicating that there are members or factions that hold other things more important than the Vesper tenets. Roz and Cider at least gives the appearance of holding them in esteem.

Millie is dar Ormu - in administration, a place where allies would be useful - and is on the path to becoming a Quatra - in other words someone who has chosen to stay with the Vespers after they were 're-educated'. We've also experienced that she has the manners of a manipulative gossip with airs - although we have no idea of her skills as of yet. This gives us a somewhat bad impression of her, and by extension, her dar. Still, there is a possibility that we might - more or less guiltlessly - trick her into being a source of information and freedom for us, even have her as a tits-for-tats contact if we can stand or deal with her attitude.

I think at first she spoke to you to appeal to you - recruit and bring you into her dar's sphere of influence while you were still a blank slate - and annoy Roz, but when you spoke back and tried to shut the conversation down she seemed surprised. Either she's unused to people talking back at her - i.e. she's in a privileged position and has gotten arrogant, or new recruits tend to be less assertive (the statistics from our sample of one agrees). Then she made comment that something about you is unusual, to bait out a response.

So.

Don't ask directly about your body (we want to know, but Roz clearly wouldn't approve and might try to shut down the conversation), but give her a weary look (Don't think sexy thoughts!) before chuckling softly, as if you just thought of something. Pretend as if she's been on the money.

"Haha, on that note, you should've seen how Matteo reacted when we met. Practically jumped out of his skin!"

Pause, as if mulling something over, and try to sound as if you're attempting being pleasant despite your weariness.

"You know... it feels like my body, but it also sort of doesn't, too. Isn't that curious? Anyway, I'm sorry for being short with you Millie, I'm a little overwhelmed and the way I arrived did me no favors. I just need this bath badly, I think. So please, let's talk another time. Before Rosalyn tries to eat you - and not in the good way!" (God dammit brain, not to the gossip while in the nude!)

A response like that may serve to soothe Millie's ego and set us up for later conversations. Namedropping an actual Quatra's name may encourage her to spill something else before we leave for the pools.
>>
No. 944013 ID: 1fd9ec

>>944008
I'm backing this because it's basically what I said but in more detail and more eloquently. Thank you.
>>
No. 944014 ID: b1b4f3

>>943975
We can ask Roz what she means. Right now I think her intentions are clear- she wants you for your body.
>>
No. 944028 ID: 18f1c5

>>943997
>Millie clearly didn't give two shits about Penny's request
She said "Fine". She literally just agreed to Penny's request.

>>944008
I agree that the best course of action is to try to make friends, not enemies. First impressions hardly matter.
>>
No. 944040 ID: 10c408

>>944028
"you are one of those rare individuals who come to us already talented and capable, I'm certain of it!"

"Please stop"

"I suppose I can't blame you -- after all, you have been through a lot, haven't you? I can only imagine the trouble you must have run into before you arrived at our doorstep, especially with such a... rare body."
>>
No. 944047 ID: 15a025

Tell her the only thing rare about your body is going to be seeing it if she doesn't chill.

Then Ask Roz what she's talking about.
>>
No. 944050 ID: 015bf2

>>944040
There is no question Millie is being rude, intrusive and is attempting to inelegantly influence Penny.

The question is whether Penny uses the blabbermouth's attitude to figure out more, now or later, or whether we shut her down to show we don't tolerate her behaviour. In our current position there is little obvious benefit to the latter, other than Roz - and others' - possible approval, but I think there's a reason why Roz herself isn't shutting down Millie harder than she is. Millie may have some level of support - or something about the Vesper organization - that is allowing her to get away with this sort of behaviour. Or she may just be a very pitiful, insecure individual who gets on everyone's nerves, but is put up with because everyone's supposed to be given a fair shot at a new life. We know so little, after all.

We can still shut Millie down at any point in the future if she becomes too much. In the meantime we can also look into the mechanics of doing so, for example through "Who do I threaten to talk to if someone like Millie becomes too pushy again?"
>>
No. 944070 ID: 86794b

In general, I agree with trying to make friends rather than enemies, even if you don't really like the person - if nothing else, it tends to be more productive. She also seems like a source of information. If you can express cautions interest in hearing more once you're done showering etc., that might be the most productive. How EXACTLY to do that, I'm not sure.
>>
No. 944080 ID: 10c408

I'd like to rescind my earlier suggestion to shut the social door in millie's face by stalking off to a stall.

instead, we should start asking some pointed questions... To Roz instead since shower time is being interrupted. This will no doubt make Millie snap and say something she shouldn't and could possibly get in trouble for.

I suggest starting with asking if fawning/ogling over the sigarzhar's in an effort to recruit them is standard practice or frowned upon.
>>
No. 944134 ID: ce39da

I agree with asking Roz some questions, but have this prepared if Millie continues to be pushy: "Alright, that's it; I'm done. I was already considering Dar Ormi as my best fit, but I'm starting to reconsider after this little stunt." Then switch to a shower stall after you're done delivering that "you fucked up harder than you thought was even possible" style verbal nut-shot.
>>
No. 944150 ID: 93184b

So, in case we decide not to go with dar Ormi, then what else? I have to think dar Nevian would be the next best thing in terms of influential possibility for the shelf, while dar Blin may help with learning how to craft things.

I sincerely hope this girl doesn't turn us off dar Ormi, however. We could use that kind of overall power.
>>
No. 944156 ID: 10c408

>>944150
As cinder explained... The houses/dar's send their invitations to us and then we pick them. That hasn't happened just yet and Millie is evidently trying to meddle with our choice by dangling information and hoping we'll bite in the middle of a shower.

We might not actually get invites from all of the dar's.
>>
No. 944174 ID: 02d8f4

>>944156
Hm. In that case, we have to be careful. Don't want her to try and proverbially slam the door in our face.
>>
No. 944176 ID: 10c408

>>944174
She's not a Qatra yet though. She's still a Jarmu. and from the looks and sounds of things she's trying to curry favor from the actual qatra's for a promotion by getting us to pick Dar Ormi over the others because we're evidently special.

Either that or trying to poach us into Dar Ormi because we're special for whatever reason and there's some kind of inter-dar rivalry over the newbies.

(or both of the above, though I'm pretty sure it's more the former than the latter)
>>
No. 944346 ID: 30f4b7

So what you're tryont to say is... you view me as an object to be possessed. Yeah, seems like par for the course given my absolutely MARVELOUS treatment upon getting here.

Then clam up angrily and refuse to talk. If Roz asks you later imply you were subject to mistreatment before meeting her. Refuse to say who it was for fear of retaliation.

Manipulative? Yes, but can eventually be turned into making the boss bitch look abusive, and get Roz to view us with sympathy.
>>
No. 944371 ID: 10c408

>>944346
...That lie is not going to hold up against any scrutiny, at all, for the following reasons.

1: we already asked Roz for holo access to try and get in touch with someone we met before we looked at the gylph.

2: anyone else who could have possibly mistreated us from before we used the glyph who most likely have been a slaver and yet we weren't caught somehow.

3A: it couldn't have been anyone visiting us while we were under the medical dar's care because the staff would have noticed.

3B: and it wouldn't have been anyone on the staff because the constant influx of visitors and the other staff there would also have noticed.

Of course, we don't have to lie here. Clamming up after shutting Millie down is more than sufficient, but throwing in a baseless lie is only going to cause more problems than it would theoretically solve.
>>
No. 944373 ID: b970b2

Ignore her.

Yes you might be able to get info here, but that's at odds with trying to relax. We don't know whether she's leaving the baths or just entering, and she doesn't seem like the kind of person you can tune out easily.
>>
No. 944652 ID: 891b91
File 156802837111.gif - (337.97KB , 1024x1024 , 1-019-1.gif )
944652

You turn to Roz. "Is this how everyone treats new sigarzghars, or is it just her?"

Millie interjects before Roz can respond. "Penny, I am only trying to help--"

"Listen, the only thing rare about my body is gonna be seeing it if you don't chill," you snap, interrupting her. "You should've waited instead of spoiling my first impression of your dar. I'm done talking to you."

A faint "You go girl!" echoes from one of the shower stalls. Apparently you were raising your voice.

She shoots a fiery glare your way in response. "Well, I never--"
>>
No. 944653 ID: 891b91
File 156802839410.gif - (267.29KB , 1024x1024 , 1-019-2.gif )
944653

Millie cuts herself off as she regains composure, her expression softening into a sly grin. "Mmm. Fair enough," she chuckles.
>>
No. 944654 ID: 891b91
File 156802841438.gif - (271.66KB , 1024x1024 , 1-019-3.gif )
944654

"Do forgive me for my persistence," Millie continues as she grabs her towel. "I thought you and I might... have something in common." She lifts her ear to reveal a small hologram.
>>
No. 944655 ID: 891b91
File 156802843379.gif - (254.76KB , 1024x1024 , 1-019-4.gif )
944655

"But I shan't bother you with such things anymore. Should you decide you'd like a tour of Dar Ormi, do look me up, hmm? Until then -- ta-ta!"

With that, she disappears into the locker room.
>>
No. 944656 ID: 891b91
File 156802845070.gif - (521.32KB , 1024x1024 , 1-019-5.gif )
944656

You and Roz stand there quietly for a moment. Roz is visibly uncomfortable.

"Sorry about, uh... her, Penny," Roz finally says, breaking the awkward silence while she dabs excess water out of her hair. "She wasn't always such a bitch, we used to be best fuckin' friends. But ever since she decided she wanted a transfer to Ormi, it's been like she's a completely different person."
>>
No. 944658 ID: 0efe8e

She just loves to drive that bitch nail in deep doesn't she? On the bright side her being a cunt prevented us from feeling self conscious about the whole nudity thing.
>>
No. 944659 ID: ce39da

Show Roz under your ear. "Do I have the same scar? If I do, remind someone to chew her out for trying to get me interested in my pre-taffa history. I honestly would like a tour of Ormi, just with absolutely anyone but her."
>>
No. 944661 ID: e7dcb0

Is it the power and privilege of being in Ormi that changes someone, or is it more literal? Could be a bad plan to court them if it's the latter.

Anyway, ask Roz if it was a gradual or sudden change. And if she knows why you're rare.
>>
No. 944662 ID: f3c77f

Let’s not ask roz to check our ear, we’ll just do that in a mirror when we’re alone, cards to our chest and all that.
>>
No. 944663 ID: 10c408

Quietly ask Roz to see if she can see about getting you a hand-held mirror, then go back to bathing.
>>
No. 944668 ID: e51896

Certainly hope Millie doesn't try to steal our clothing after such comments about us having a rare body... nah, she couldn't, she doesn't have your key after all. Certainly nothing to worry about.

That "you go girl" from one of the stalls... did it sound like a male, or female? looks like Millie isn't all that popular around here to get that response from our argument.
>>
No. 944669 ID: e51896

>>944668
Also, we'll check under our ear ourself. Don't let Roz check.
>>
No. 944670 ID: e7c7d3

Just forget about all that for now and relax, and what better place to relax than in a bath!
>>
No. 944678 ID: b1b4f3

>>944656
She might BE a different person. Maybe she got some memory implants and those altered her personality, despite the memories not feeling quite right. Or she just learned something life-altering. Or in the worst case that's someone else who body modded themselves to look like her?

Also yeah, gotta find a mirror. ...holograms show up in mirrors right?
>>
No. 944681 ID: 9d50cc

"She's hardly subtle, isn't she? All that "ooh let me vaguely hint at things, aren't you dying to know" stuff. So either she's really insecure and wants to feel superior or she was trying to get something out of me. Does she think I'm stupid, or does she think that about everyone?"
>>
No. 944682 ID: be926c

>>944656
Well, might as well point out the elephant in the room and ask what that mark she flashed was.
>>
No. 944769 ID: b3c4cf

Millicent seems like a pretty mysterious person. Why would she choose to engage Penny at this time? There has to be a special reason for it. We should definitely try to get someone as cunning as her on our side.

Ask Roz what she thinks Millicent's agenda might've been. Also, if what she did was against any guidelines Vesper might have.

Other than that, finish taking a shower and then go to the spa.
>>
No. 944780 ID: f15663

Y'know, it's weird. At first I was annoyed by her, but now that I've thought about it for a bit, I think her blatantly self-serving and egotistical attitude is kind of amusing. In a 'we could use her' kinda way.

We should try to find her later and 'make amends'. Would like to figure out that mark on her ear first, though. If she's really that high on herself, and she's a newbie looking for clout, that might be an avenue we can exploit.
>>
No. 944885 ID: c0e130

>>944656
I say let's use a mirror to check for the mark when possible. Can always tell others about it later, while you can't un-tell it.

If we've got a lot more shampooing to do, let's do it in a private stall. Roz is free to join us, if she wants to.
Would've been a good opportunity to get off - shame slugthot had to ruin the mood.

>>944780
No - never trust a THOT
>>
No. 944904 ID: 560cb8

>>944885
...where was it said to trust her? It read to me like the exact opposite. Manipulate her using her ego against her.
>>
No. 944915 ID: 58b4f3

>>944656
Ask Roz if that comment about you having a "rare body" was an insult directed at your lack of feminine curves of any kind and how rare it is to see someone without any curves at all?

Because you are now very self-conscious about your body right now.
>>
No. 944983 ID: 32b5ec

>>944915
Fairly sure she's already concerned about her body, despite how cute it is.

I'll fuckin' break through reality and suck on that DFC to convince her if I have to.
>>
No. 945093 ID: 15a025

Ask Roz if she can tell you anything about Ormi, or what any of that was all about. If she doesn't know or want to talk about it. Try and cool off and enjoy the rest of your shower.
>>
No. 946430 ID: 891b91
File 157018609455.gif - (477.83KB , 1024x1024 , 1-020-1.gif )
946430

>That "you go girl" from one of the stalls... did it sound like a male, or female? looks like Millie isn't all that popular around here to get that response from our argument.
You think the voice sounded female. It certainly seems that Roz isn't the only one around here who thinks Millie's a bitch.

>Certainly hope Millie doesn't try to steal our clothing after such comments about us having a rare body... nah, she couldn't, she doesn't have your key after all. Certainly nothing to worry about.
For a moment your mind wanders to the possible consequences of putting Millie in her place like you just did, but... you try to stop worrying about it. If she does steal your clothes, well... you still have your towel, and Roz would probably go grab some spare clothes for you.

>Is it the power and privilege of being in Ormi that changes someone, or is it more literal? Could be a bad plan to court them if it's the latter.
>She might BE a different person. Maybe she got some memory implants and those altered her personality, despite the memories not feeling quite right. Or she just learned something life-altering. Or in the worst case that's someone else who body modded themselves to look like her?
You really don't know what to make of Millie -- according to Roz she changed a lot, and you can't help but wonder whether someone or something changed who she was -- or maybe even replaced her. The realization that it might actually be possible sends a chill down your spine.

>Millicent seems like a pretty mysterious person. Why would she choose to engage Penny at this time? There has to be a special reason for it. We should definitely try to get someone as cunning as her on our side.
You aren't sure whether Millie's cunning or just an asshole, but whichever it is she seems like she could cause you a lot of trouble if you get on her bad side -- she seems to be the manipulative type and you'd wager Ormi is one of the more powerful dars in this place. Whatever you do, you think you'd better be careful about how you deal with her.

>On the bright side her being a cunt prevented us from feeling self conscious about the whole nudity thing.
Maybe being annoyed distracted you from your discomfort in the moment, but now that distraction's gone, so... you hastily throw your towel back on. Roz seems oddly quiet.

"...What was all that about?" You ask, breaking the silence finally.

"... I dunno," Roz shrugs, seeming a little subdued herself.

"Was that 'rare body' thing an insult? I know I don't have big, uh, assets, so... was she just trying to make me feel bad?" The thought of it is actually starting to piss you off a bit. "I mean, what the hell, I'm new to this whole thing, the last thing I need is to be made to feel bad about myself--"

"Nonononono," Roz interjects, clasping her hands around yours, "don't listen to her, she's just a bitch! Penny, you're super super cute, there's nothin' wrong or weird or 'rare' or whatever about your body! You should know that!"

"...Thanks, I guess you're right," you sigh,. "But what was the deal with that hologram under her ear?"

"Hey, how about we just hit up the spa and forget about all this? Millie's just tryin' to get into our heads 'n mess with us, but we don't have to let 'er win!" Roz tugs your arm gently towards the doorway. "C'mon, let's go get our shampoo on!"
>>
No. 946433 ID: ad51b8

... wow she could fit your entire head in her mouth if she wanted to. Not sure if that means you're just to damn small or she just has a really big mouth.

anyways it does look like she's clearly trying to distract you although I'm not sure if she's trying to get you to stop asking to many questions or just trying to get herself to focus on something else as she doesn't want to think of slug gal. Either way I really don't have any idea on how to get her to tell you more about what just happened short of forcing the issue but I'm pretty sure we don't care enough right now to cause a scene so let's just do what she just said to hopefully help her calm down a bit.
>>
No. 946434 ID: 094652

Lick the underside of her mouth, then ask about any cavities.

Also, you'd like to go dancing.
>>
No. 946436 ID: 2df440

>>946434
kome no

we do that later when we're together in bed :P

anyways, just... go to the spa for now. then you and roz can talk about things like cute girls and how long until you can see some cute boys??
>>
No. 946439 ID: 6dace0

>>946430
Obviously distraction, but this isn't the place to pursue it anyway. Accept it gracefully and we'll put a pin in that holotattoo question for now. Maybe look into it ourselves later.
>>
No. 946440 ID: 3d59b1

Climb onto her shoulders and let’s go down to shampoo town!
>>
No. 946442 ID: e7c7d3

You don't want any poo on you, even if it's just sham poo.

Yeah, just continue with the cleaning. You have too much on your plate to stew over yet another mystery.
>>
No. 946448 ID: cb6404

>>946430

Return the hug and agree. Roz doesn't seem to want to talk about it much, so let's not press to hard right away.

We can always casually ask again on the way back, where fewer people are likely to overhear things.
>>
No. 946461 ID: b8f107

The whole "rare body", "something in common", thing may just be because Penny and Millie have similar skull structure? Seriously, head shape and ear shape are almost identical.
>>
No. 946462 ID: 81cd19

Ok, but you're washing my back.
>>
No. 946473 ID: 7fb87a

>>946430
Geez you can just see right down her throat at that angle can't you
>>
No. 946518 ID: c0e130

>>946430
"Answer my question. What's with the hologram?"

Y'all need to stop focusing on her maw, ya fuckin' degenerates
>>
No. 946519 ID: b1b4f3

>>946518
This. Let's not let her deflect so easily. If she wants to talk about it later in private, that's fine.
>>
No. 946537 ID: 0fae41

I think we've forgotten too much already. Let's go somewhere else to discuss, but let's discuss. And also shampoo.
Switch to first-person camera again
>>
No. 946541 ID: c15cc3

>>946439
This. Don't forget the question, but file it away for now. This is spa time.
>>
No. 946561 ID: c063e9

Lean in while you're shampooing each other and say "I get you're trying to be nice, but I don't really have the sort of body issues that would let it bother me. It's more that she was trying to string me along to get something out of me. Speaking of which, I noticed you dodged my earlier question. I can understand if you'd want to speak privately, but don't thing I'm going to let this drop."
>>
No. 946591 ID: 15a025

Ask if that hologram thing was something we need to worry about now and then leave it there for now. Shampoo up and go enjoy the spa with Roz.
>>
No. 946670 ID: 19da47

Stay close to Roz for now she seems really nice so far. Also maybe ask check out her nudiest club later. That said look up the meaning of the hologram on your own.
>>
No. 946708 ID: 86794b

See, here's the thing - we are, of course, going to investigate that hologram. But we're ALSO trying to foil the system, and so the fewer people know we're getting nosy, the better. If we ask too many questions of people who don't want to answer, we might end up getting watched more closely. Roz's position seems like one we need to step carefully around. (I.e., don't push the matter, I think. MAYBE it would be fine, but it's a bit of a gamble.)
>>
No. 946717 ID: 19da47

Im kind of against "foiling the system" as of right now. We still know very little about how things work around here and we cant assume that this place and everyone in it is all corrupt. That said we still should be cautious about Dar Ormi people because something seems off about them.
>>
No. 946719 ID: 49e4d4

>>946717
>>946708

Personally, I'm all FOR foiling the system. We might not know a ton about the system, but what we do know is pretty bullshit. We'll foil it for us (and Mint) if no one else.
>>
No. 946720 ID: 19da47

How is the system "bullshit"?
>>
No. 946721 ID: 49e4d4

>>946720
First: I'm speaking relatively to us specifically.

Second: For starters, it's more or less forced on us; I have the strong suspicion that we're operating with a higher baseline than most do- from what Cider implied, and Millie just said about sigz being 'helpless', they're not adjusting their playbook for our inquisitiveness, drive, and general capacity to make logical connections and operate at a level that makes it hard to guess we've been mindwiped without asking probing questions and knowing what to look for.

They're prevent us from getting out in the world as we want so they can remake us under THEIR guidelines. It's captivity. Mind, by 'foiling', I'm presuming that means 'escape' at the least. The entirety of the opening of the thread lays out why I'm not a fan of this place, even if it might have some benefits we can reap. It's bullshit in the sense that it's ultimately obstructing us from our goals.
>>
No. 946722 ID: b1b4f3

We don't even know what the system is yet. Don't get ahead of yourselves.
>>
No. 946734 ID: 19da47
946734

Agreed maybe we should wait before saying that this system is evil and learn more about it.
>>
No. 946735 ID: 1f2742

>>946734
I don't personally think we need to wait to assume something is messed up here. We have enough information to assume it's not totally ethical, our captivity making that clear. It may be for the best of intentions but that doesn't excuse it.

That said I definitely agree that we should probably never say anything about that. That's a good way to get watched way too closely, and a bad way to get on their good side like we planned.

Same with the tattoo, if we are getting the run around about a topic, don't keep asking about it.
>>
No. 946736 ID: 19da47
946736

I say play it cool for now until we get more information on this program. It isnt wise to jump to conclusions based off one conversation. Hell maybe they're on the level and legitimately trying to help.
>>
No. 946754 ID: cb6404

>>946721
>>946735

Considering that it's set up as what is essentially an equivalent to involuntary hospitalization, which is actually a fairly common practice with regards to what sort of things we are facing, were this "the real world," I'd say that nothing has been out of the ordinary.

That we're being treated as an equal, given quite a few things, and are essentially free to do and explore as we like within the grounds, the notion of "captivity" is a massive stretch.

Were Penny stuck in her jumpsuit on a hard cot in a featureless room with Mint and no warmth or empathy from Roz or Cider or anyone else, I'd say yeah, the system is bullshit. But right now? Right now I think we need to actually look at the situation.

1. We were comatose for DAYS. Longer than most others. Clearly there's a possible worry here.

2. The mind-control sigil thing might be pretty sketchy, but it could have been worse, as Cider graciously informed us. That they're working to help us counteract the same flaw theirs exploited is a significant point here.

3. We have ... well, other than our stuff in the drawer, nothing. Literally nothing. How exactly are we supposed to survive in this world that we know nothing about?

4. What I gather from this place is that they're an in-world equivalent to a humanitarian non-profit, ergo the Dars and other sub-organizations acting as vocational schools to allow them to generate enough revenue through labor and other contributions to be self-sustaining. Seems a fair trade-off for being given room, board, clothes, and what amounts to a free education -- again in a world we know nothing about.

5. The worst that anyone has insofar done was Millie being a real bitch, and a manipulative one to boot. I'm going to get even more meta here, but this is the obvious plot-hook. We're being given a chance to get more information, but potentially at the cost of having to make a major decision. Roz's reticence is also further sign of it, as it's clear the two were once very close and are now all but hostile, or in the very least, entertain highly divergent notions of how to treat the newcomers.

6. Nothing says we can't bide our time, gather what information we need, figure out what Mint meant by this shimmering about others, and then make a break for it once we have the means to do so. But to decide that in the midst of a spa in nothing but our fur? That's foolish in the extreme.
>>
No. 946821 ID: 1f2742

>>946754
Involuntary hospitalization might make sense for the average cigarsar but we already have two very clear examples of fully capable individuals in both Penny and Mint. Clearly there's either something wrong or something inflexible, and a one size fits all solution to anything involuntary is clearly wrong.

A fancy cage is still a cage.

A coma they caused.

And the second you start justifying mind control, is the second you start down a slippery slope. Maybe it's to patch up a hole. Maybe it's just exploitation of a known weakness. We only have their word.

We were doing rather well and already had a headstart into a career/job so I don't get this one.

That sounds more like a for-profit prison than an NPO but what do I know. We'll actually have to see what the labor is like to know how bad it is.

She wasn't that bad, she's just like, normal recruitment officer level. She just wasn't all bread and circuses like Roz here.

I, at least, already said almost exactly that. And the other person never said it should happen immediately either. Either way, I don't know what clothes add to someone's ability to think.
>>
No. 946826 ID: c8d18c

I find it hilarious that people are wanting to leave so quick without any information on how the program really works.
Heres the run down so far:
Its confirmed that we have taffa syndrome and the severity of which we have no idea yet.

We have no almost no basic idea on how the world works and what is dangerous to us.

We have no known skills or money to survive on our own. Hell before we got here we were begging and willing to use are body for favors.

Based off multiple sources we have, walking around with taffa syndrome is apparently somewhat illegal in this Society due too the dangers of body snatchers and apparently the condition is detectable from are dust.

If we leave by law they'll just turn us over to the police and will get are brain pumped full of fake memories.

People are still freaking out about the coma thing despite that being a accident and we are the only person that has ever happened to.

We know almost nothing about Mint other than she thinks this place is weird and she has night terrors. Yet people think that more than enough info to condem this program.

We need to calm down and learn more before passing judgement on a whole organization.
>>
No. 946833 ID: 10c408

>>946826
Personally, I find what we've been told vs what we haven't been told, on top of the other bits of information we've gleaned, to be a successive amount of red flags and that's before we even met Mint.

I'm not passing judgement just yet, since we can still get more information/don't have a solid plan for escaping, but my opinion of cinder and the vesper society is still; leaning towards "shady friendship cult"

I'll list the actual red flags in the dist thread later for discussion purposes.
>>
No. 946847 ID: 49e4d4

As was stated before, I'm NOT in favor of leaving immediately, because I think that's stupidly depriving us of a source of both knowledge and resources. I merely think we shouldn't play happy houseguest and take them at their word for everything. We should play cautious, and, honestly, my preferred course of action would be to sublimate their resources for our own uses mafia-style, and use that to set ourselves up well before we escape. But I DO think we should escape eventually.
>>
No. 946858 ID: 1f2742

>>946826
You seem to be seeing a more panicked reaction than anyone is giving. Don't knock gut feelings, they're useful, especially since there's a reason for them.
>>
No. 946861 ID: dbf43c

Why is everyone talking like she being held prisoner? She could probably just leave anytime she wants granted they'll probably just call the police because. That said it would be stupid if she did t
Without really knowing if this place is bad or no.
>>
No. 946866 ID: e40171

>>946861
Read the beginning of the chapter. That very possibility is brought up and then dismissed in universe. They claim they are, in fact, obligated to keep us here, or else they will immediately try to take us to a hospital to implant false memories in us.
>>
No. 946912 ID: e044fb

For involuntary hospitalization, it certainly seems to be the nicest involuntary hospitalization I've ever seen. Let's just play it cool, try and get closer with Roz, and work to be as perceptive as possible.
>>
No. 946957 ID: 891b91
File 157087839739.gif - (320.70KB , 1024x1024 , 1-021-1.gif )
946957

>Geez you can just see right down her throat at that angle can't you
>wow she could fit your entire head in her mouth if she wanted to.
She really does have a huge mouth, doesn't she? It makes you wonder how big of a, uh, you know she could fit in there. (Do they even come in that size?)

...No. You should stop thinking about that. Especially not when she's right in front of you in the buff like this.
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No. 946958 ID: 891b91
File 157087840472.gif - (316.88KB , 1024x1024 , 1-021-2.gif )
946958

"Okay," you sigh as you follow her through the women's spa, "but you're washing my back." You decide it's best to go along with her distraction for now... at least until you can figure out a better way to broach the subject.

"I didn't figure you for the touchy-feely type," Roz chuckles.

"I said my back -- just the hard-to-reach places!"

"Haha, alright. So you're just touchy-feely with your back, then!"

"Whatever," you chuckle.
>>
No. 946959 ID: 891b91
File 157087841895.gif - (404.65KB , 1024x1024 , 1-021-3.gif )
946959

Thankfully, the co-ed spa isn't jam-packed at the moment, making easier for you to ignore the temptation to gawk at the scattering of nude bodies here. Roz leads you into a closed-in booth section off in the corner; you feel silently thankful for the fact that it even has something like that, and that she apparently realizes you'd prefer the privacy. Not to mention that this buys you some time to figure out how to get her to open up about Millie's tattoo.

"This spot work for you?"

"Mmhm," you nod, a little lost in thought.

"How about get the touchy-feely part out of the way?"

"Uh, yeah, no time like the present, I guess." You silently remind yourself that she's only going to touch your back.

"Alright, toss me your shampoo 'n get that towel off," she says as she plunks a couple plastic buckets upside-down on the floor between you. "Oooh, Penny's naaay-kid," she whistles playfully as you hang the towel up.

"Shut up, it's not like you didn't see me like this 2 minutes ago," you laugh.

"Yeah, yeah. Have a seat," she gestures to one of the buckets, squatting onto the one behind you as you sit down. "Gimme your hand?"

"Why?" You ask, offering your hand back to her. She squirts a pile of shampoo into it. "Oh."

"So you can wash your front 'n stuff while I work on your back." She squirts some of the stuff into her own palm. "Lemme know if I'm goin' at it too hard. I'm used to havin' to work it pretty deep with my wool, but your peach fuzz prolly won't need that much effort."
>>
No. 946960 ID: 891b91
File 157087843441.gif - (455.14KB , 1024x1024 , 1-021-4.gif )
946960

You start rubbing the shampoo into your chest fur, and Roz uses the nearby shower head to spritz some water to help build up a lather. "Damn, I wish my fur was as easy as yours," she sighs as she starts going to work on your back.

Roz digs her fingers deep into your back, like she's trying to massage you rather than shampoo you. "O-ow, ease up a little," you complain.

"Whoops, see what I mean?" Roz chuckles, easing off her fingers a fair amount. "Too used to this damn wool! That better?"

"Much better," you nod, idly spreading shampoo around your chest and abdomen.

>lick Roz
>we do that later when we're together in bed :P
In bed? In a moment of vulnerability you entertain the idea of... carnal lust with Roz, helped along by the fact that she is actually touching your body at this very moment. You try to snap out of it, though, focusing instead on washing your fur and thinking about how to get more information out of her.

"Hey, so, I know everything's gotta be pretty overwhelmin' for you right now..." Roz pauses thoughtfully, working her way down to your midriff. "I hope I've been makin' it a little less scary for ya, at least. I was scared out of my mind my first day, but the jarmu they had lookin' after me really helped me through it. I wanna do the same thing for you if I can."

You feel utterly torn on whether to bring up Millie's tattoo again. You can't shake the feeling that learning more about it could help you make sense of things, but Roz seems like she's trying to avoid the subject and you aren't sure how she'd take it if you were to pressure her about it.
>>
No. 946961 ID: 2df440

You clearly need to take your mind off things right now. Ask about:

1) if she knows any cute boys here
2) some good hair care tips
3) if you can have a sleepover :P
4) how heavy her boobs are
>>
No. 946963 ID: ad51b8

Honestly confused.

I don't really know how to say it without being blunt so I'm just going to be blunt so sorry if it comes off as me being rude.

I mean as you can probably guess I don't really have a lot of... experiences to fall back on to try and figure out what's going on around me besides some random bits and pieces of disjointed info which rarely helps and whenever I go to ask someone... when someone is around anyways, they either just deflect or outright ignore any questions. I mean I have next to no idea what's going on, no one want's to spend more then 3 words about what's going on, and at times it feels like... well it just feels like the world is set against me. Like I have some place in the world that I don't even know about and whenever I try to even figure out what that place might even be every... THING just conspires against me to try its damnest to keep me fumbling blindly in the dark. Honestly there are times when I feel like I'd have better luck trying to wring water from a stone.

So I guess confused and frustrated. Not really scared though. I mean I guess after seeing a giant worm rip it's way up through the earth only to get blown to kingdom come a moment later by some excite locals kinda skews your perspective a little.
...
...
I had an interesting walk here.
>>
No. 946964 ID: 19da47

Dont ask about the tattoo just yet instead ask about Roz's past experiences with the organization, try to figure out how things work here. Also try become frinds so ask to vist her nudist club! ;)
>>
No. 946967 ID: 015bf2

Tell her she's... definitely helping, and you appreciate her using her new life and attitude to make you feel more welcome, even if you're not sure you need special coddling. You're still pretty peeved about the whole 'stay for years or leave to forcibly get new generic memories implanted', though. Heck, how is that even done? They just chuck you in a machine and bing-bada-bing you're a new person with new priorities? (ask about how implanting new memories is done)

You've gotta admit getting stuck here is one of the things that's disappointing you the most. You wanted to explore the districts and figure stuff out. Pretty much everything's novel and interesting, y'know? (try to get an angle on whether it's possible for new sigarzhars to leave on field trips)

(And suds up properly, will ya Penny? Gotta clean up.)

>>946960
I don't think you need to ask her, you may have all the clues required to start making an educated guess.

Primary Hypothesis
The Vesper Society could be ideal for, say, well-connected criminally inclined people to escape notice. Were one to change one's body and wipe one's mind, there is no way for people to realize who you once were. The Vespers' philosophy discourage looking into members' pasts - semi-reasonably so - making it hard to verify the source of newfound Vesper recruits, especially given how some might enter from the outside through the evac program.

Then, when some time has passed and whatever heat has died down - and/or through a predetermined identifier - the technology of recorded memory implantation is used (which we know exists, because the government would do it to us were we to leave the Vespers!) to surreptitiously be re-institut someone as 'themselves' by members already positioned within the society.

Indicators
It is common for criminal cartels typically take 'empty' bodies and use/sell them according to Cider. The fact the criminal hideout we were in did not deal with us harshly and the goons we met were so casual towards 'zombies' and allowed a Vesper recruitment book to be placed in their hideout is significant. That they did not bushwhack us for our body (the first one certainly seems like he could've overpowered us) indicates that there is an accord in place. Potential Vesper recruits are allowed to go, despite this losing the criminals profit - and as a rule criminals don't often do stuff for free. It's likely that either someone up the chain told them to let zombies go or that they have been paid off somehow.

Secondary Hypothesis
Millie's sudden personality shift came due to something she learned - or something she remembered - that made her literally become a different person.

Indicators
Millie's body has a tattoo that allows a changed body to be identified after a mind wipe.
She changed around the same time as she started to work with dar Ormu.
Her attitude suggested we ought to remember something or have something on us that could identify us, and she wasn't shy about giving us that hint, either.
That she approached us like this means she recognized us somehow. If she is a new person with no memories, she should not be able to recognize anything about us.

Tertiary Hypothesis
Just by implanting relatively blank 'zombies' with the right memories, one could 're-create' people, more or less. Obviously this would be taboo as fuck for the Vesper philosophy, but sometimes members of cult-like societies make sacrifices to maintain their power and influence. And they might be making literal sacrifices of their recruits. Or the entire Vesper society could be in the middle of, say, a subtle criminal takeover.

I think it's important that:

- We don't tell anyone in the Society of our suspicions for now. Either they're wrong and baseless or many of the Vespers could potentially be - or become - part of the conspiracy (if there is one) and we don't know how far up any eventual rot would go. If Millie's in on it then dar Ormu may be a segment of the bad, but we don't know how far or wide any such reach would go. The recruits could be genuine but the power structure could be bad from the ground up.

- We learn more about the Vesper society, its power structure, its leaders and their dars. The more we know and pick up, the more people we meet, we can form impressions and judge by how they act if our suspicions are real or not.

- We should still aim to get out of the society's reach on a temporary or permanent basis so we can do the things we want to. Whether we want to live our own life as our own remade individual or we want to investigate the factors that lead to our past life's situation, sticking with the Vespers doesn't seem like it's in line with those interests (especially if the society is in the midst of some weird conspiracy).

- We retain cold neutrality towards Mille, as she appears to be overconfident enough that she might be willing to drop some more hints if we try to - or fail to - take the bait.

- We become more cautious towards the prospect of joining dar Ormu as a potential escape venue; it seems like it might come with some baggage if Mille's involvement with it lead to her personality shift.
>>
No. 946968 ID: b60672

Save the tattoo question for later the last thing you want to do is lose a potential friend/Ally. Focus on relaxing now. Also ask Roz if there any men around to have fun with.
>>
No. 946973 ID: b8f107

Are we ever gonna mention that bird with two on one side of it's face, or those foxes?
>>
No. 946974 ID: 015bf2

>>946967
>field trips
Oh wait, it is possible for field trips to Gansett to be arranged, Cider herself said so. Only as a 'chaperoned trip', though. Hm. Rephrase it as asking for who might be viable and easy-going chaperones. You don't want a Millie guiding you, after all.
>>
No. 946978 ID: 015bf2

>>946973
Not to someone in polite society, I think. Perhaps Delaney or our scavenger acquaintance whenever we can get to talk to her.

Or whenever we get 'net access, we do some general research that meanders into research on animal life to see if we can accidentally stumble across an explanation for the two-left-eyes thing. I'm pretty sure our comms and access records will be logged, and someone like Millie may be able to see what we were saying/looking at. We should, in fact, be careful about what we use the 'net for around here.

It's a bit paranoid, but I'd rather we keep most things close to our chest. The foxes and the owl haven't seemed harmful to us so far, but they clearly have some agency and if the latter wants to surveil us and the former wants us get us to poke our head into mysteries others may want unsolved - mysteries related to a potential Delaney disappearance, taffa drug rings, bodynapping/shaping and even potentially the Vesper society - then pointing out any kind of association may not be the wisest course.

>Tattoo
Ah, one more thing. Once you're done washing, try to get close to a mirror to check if there's any holo-tattoos or the like on your back. Millie came up on you from behind, and given her hints, it may be that you have an identifying mark outside of your normal range of vision. 'Proper' Vespers like Rozalyn might not mention it because it'd put the focus back on the life of your predecessor.

... uh. Additional paranoia check. Did it feel like Roz was scrubbing a particular part of your back really hard? Glance down the drain - any odd colors, like those of a temporary marker or something, mixed into the shampoo?
>>
No. 946979 ID: 0fae41

Ask about the tattoo in a roundabout way. Ask what kind of body mods are legal, maybe about cybernetics, and then why one would acquire such a holo tattoo.
Then turn around and get the other side.
>>
No. 946984 ID: cb6404

>>946960

Let's thank her for her help, then. Ask and learn more about Roz's own time as a wee little sig and maybe try to get a better sense of Vesper as a whole -- learn what we're working with.

Roz, being Jarmu, has to know quite a few things we don't, and she's a font of information we've yet to properly tap (not like that, mind).

This would also be a good time to ask if she perms her wool on her head and arms or not; it's a really cool effect, whatever it is!

(I'm also getting the feeling that if we do press about Millie and the tattoo, it must be in a more private place. Maybe back in our room (or Roz's, should that be a possibility!), and definitely after she's grown a bit closer. Her reactions with Millie were ... telling, to say the least. There's a lot of bad history there, especially considering they were best friends here, of all places, and while we might have Taffa Syndrome, we know this is something Roz is really uncomfortable with; far more than we are, likely.)
>>
No. 946985 ID: 1f2742

Don't ask someone who doesn't want to tell you something when you could ask someone who will tell you it. So no, don't ask about the tattoo.

Say yes, Roz is making this more comfortable. I mean, she's a little forward but that kinda grounds us in a way. It's easier to understand at least. What was her experience like?
>>
No. 946995 ID: b1b4f3

>>946960
This isn't a good time to bring up the tattoo. Try again later when the conversation isn't on the topic of how much she's trying to help.

Tell her she's doing a good job of helping you feel relaxed, but you also did a little research before you used the pamphlet so you knew Vesper's reputation was good. You imagine most would read the pamphlet sooner rather than later.
>>
No. 947006 ID: 49e4d4

>>946960
We should clarify that we're honestly not 'scared', we're more 'annoyed and frustrated' at the situation than anything else.

>>946963 sums up my feelings a lot. We're a curious cat.

And, well, y'know what they say. 'Curiosity killed the cat...but satisfaction brought him back.'
>>
No. 947013 ID: 15a025

Assure Roz she's helping you keep your cool for now.
>>
No. 947077 ID: 1cd489

>>946960
"You're not helping me by failing to answer my question! What's with the hologram tattoo thingy?!"
>>
No. 947079 ID: 7fb87a

>>947077
if we're too pushy, she may decide that she's a poor fit for guiding us through all this. who knows who will try to step into the she leaves behind.
>>
No. 947083 ID: 10c408

She's been pretty dead set on being as evasive as possible when it comes to millie's tattoo. Asking Roz is pointless.

Perhaps later we'll get a chance to ask someone who isn't Roz or Millie about it.

just focus on getting as clean as possible.
>>
No. 947624 ID: 719f92

Asking about that tattoo now will not get us anywhere. We have to get closer to Roz; trying joining her nudist club.
>>
No. 947681 ID: 891b91

Apologies for the update-less bump, but I'd like to get as much input as I can on this: >>/questdis/131253
>>
No. 948738 ID: a80696

>>946960
Ask if there is a library near by.

Knowledge is power and we are seriously under armed right now.
>>
No. 949490 ID: 891b91
File 157372849459.gif - (356.10KB , 1024x1024 , 1-022-1.gif )
949490

You glance at the water draining past your feet, but you don't see any ink; it just looks like soapy water to you. As far as you can tell, Roz wasn't trying to remove any kind of mark from your back.

"Well, I feel welcome at least -- even though I don't really think I need any, uh, coddling." You decide to drop the subject of Millie's tattoo for now. "But honestly, I'm not scared at all."

"Huh, really?" Roz eases up on your back fur for a moment. "I-I mean, that's great, just a little surprised, is all."

You run your hands along the front of your torso and down your legs, spreading the shampoo into a thick lather. "What's surprising about it?"

"Well I mean, waking up and not knowing who or where you are... not knowing anything about the world... isn't that scary to you?"

"I think it's more frustrating than scary." As you wash yourself, you realize just how little you know your own body -- it feels bizarrely foreign and familiar to you at the same time. "Confusing, too."

"Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised," Roz sighs, her mouth stretching out into a grim, wistful expression as she squeezes a big dollop of shampoo in her hand and starts tending to her own coat. "Sometimes I forget that not everyone had it as rough as I did."

"What do you mean?" You grab the shower head and hold it over your shoulder, letting the water cascade down your back. "What made it rough for you?"

"I... I woke up in a really fucked up situation, that's all."

"Like 'waking up in a basement with a bunch of unconscious people covered in red powder' fucked up?"
>>
No. 949491 ID: 891b91
File 157372850802.gif - (438.55KB , 1024x1024 , 1-022-2.gif )
949491

"No, like 'buried in a pit and left for dead' fucked up. With people --" She stops herself. "I shouldn't talk about it, it's all in the past. What's important is comin' here helped me move past it all 'n learn who I really am -- that I'm not just garbage someone threw away, y'know? So I wanna help you find out who you are, too."

"That's what I want, I guess... I want answers. About me, about the world, about my past... but I feel like at every turn someone or something is trying to stop me, to keep me in the dark." You sigh. "I feel like I have some place in the world that I don't know about, and nobody wants to give me the answers I need."

"How many of us do you think wanted to learn about who we used to be, when we first got here?"

"...A lot, I guess."

"Damn near every one of us. But I'm tellin' you, Penny, tryin' to find that stuff out is only gonna fuck you up. There's a reason why whoever you were before decided she wanted to forget everything. And the more you find out, the more it's gonna change you." A twinge of bitterness creeps into her voice. "Like it did to Millie."

"What did she find out about herself?"

"I don't know. But whatever it was, it changed her fuckin' overnight."

A long, uncomfortable pause lingers between you. Roz seems lost in thought.

"Anyway, enough of this heavy shit." She finally chirps, breaking the silence as she takes the shower head from you. "How 'bout we hit up the hot tub before we head out? A little relaxation would do you some good."

You aren't sure what you want to do next. Considering the stress you've been under lately, some relaxation in the hot tub sounds pretty tempting -- if you can keep your towel on, anyway -- and it might present an opportunity to get to know whoever else might show up. However, you feel equally tempted to ask to go somewhere more private with Roz, since then you might have better luck plying her for information about Vesper and her past. And, besides all that, you feel a pressing need to get on with things; the sooner you start visiting the dars, the sooner you might obtain information or connections you can use to escape Red Shelf.
>>
No. 949492 ID: ad51b8

well might as well go and hit the hot tub since it would be kinda silly to come all the way out here just for a shower only to decide you want to head on home.

Also I can see her point about how digging up the past might just bite you in the ass but at the same time I can't help but feel that things are quite the simple for you. I mean your body feels wrong, from the small snippets of things you can remember makes it seem everything around you is off, and if you really did want to forget wouldn't you have left yourself a note or something saying you chose to forget so don't bother go looking for your past self as it will only bring you pain and misery? Just saying while it's not impossible for you to have chosen to forget who you were it doesn't feel like you did want to forget.

As for something safe to ask Roz you could ask her how you compare to most people who come through this program. As in are you better/easier to deal with than most, worse, about average? Kinda just wondering if most people who come here are emotional wrecks or constantly try to resist any attempts to help them or if people are usually at lot more docile then you and tend to go with the flow pretty easily. Mostly trying to get an idea on if most people come here willingly or not and how they respond without directly asking that in hopes it will give us a more clear cut answer.
>>
No. 949494 ID: 0fae41

Can you go somewhere more private with Roz after all? Then you won't need to wear a towel into the tub.
>>
No. 949495 ID: 589a8b

Some time relaxing in the hot tub would probably do you some good, considering a majority of the things that have happened in your known life have been stressful.
>>
No. 949497 ID: cdabe3

>>949495
Yes, go to the hot tub!
Ooh, I wonder if the hot tub is mixed gender.
>>
No. 949499 ID: 3429bb

>>949491
I not sure how everone else feels about it but i have a strong suspicion that we didn't willingly forget who we are and the only way to find out the truth is to dig into the past, no matter what it may bring.

As for hanging out in the hot tub, sure as long as we maintain modesty.
>>
No. 949504 ID: e51896

What's the rush? might as well hit the hottub and meet new people to get a feel of the type of people here.
>>
No. 949506 ID: e7c7d3

Hot tub! Hot tub!
Relax and slowly sink into the water until just the top of your head is sticking out of the water. Hum yourself some tunes. Just be passive in the conversations.
>>
No. 949516 ID: a0dfd2

>>949491

What about all of it at the same time?

Let's ask Roz if there's somewhere private we can go to relax -- not to do anything like that mind, unless like, she'd want to, maybe -- you know, to unwind for a bit. Because yeah, there HAS been a lot of stress and maybe you need to just relax for a bit, chat with someone who feels like they'd make a good friend, and ... well, do the one thing you've been resisting: acclimating a bit.

Just talking about things, about Red Shelf, the dars, whatever. All we need do is keep a dialogue going, slip a little information (like that weird place we saw a vision of while still under the charm), and get some in return.

Just don't tell Roz that we intend to break her heart by using that information to ditch the place.
>>
No. 949517 ID: 7e1c22

>Enough of the heavy shit.
Sounds like she had a Set of Circumstances. Much like you, although hers seems nastier on the surface. Best continue such talk at another time.

>Tub or Dar-talk
I thought the point of coming here was also to meet some dar-people in an informal setting? Getting into the hot tub would achieve that. Just, uh, remember to focus on faces.

>Not worth pursuing 'your' past
While Roz has a point, I think Millie's situation and the Vesper viewpoint is painting her perspective. For one, you suspect personally that not all who take taffa do so willingly. Nor can Roz say that finding out the truth of a past self will necessarily change you for better or worse. Restoring memories might, but it doesn't sound like that's in the cards, and if it is, what can you do about it other than deal with it when that time comes?

You can only be sure of this - dreams and feelings aside, your body's past resident was someone else and you are your own person now, regardless of circumstance. If there is something you and the Vespers can agree on it's that. Biologically it's stupid anyway. Take the you of ten years ago and you'd have a different person entirely, even without continuity and memory loss. There's little sense in considering anything other than the present you as the 'real' you.

So you won't be deterred from considering yourself an individual of your own - nor be deterred from finding out more about your body's previous self and their circumstances. The two do not have to be exclusive! It's not that you're trying to revive a past self - you're solving the mystery of how they ended up becoming you. And if that was just shitty life decisions, well, that wasn't you, so who cares?

>Enough of the heavy shit, really.
Okay yeah no, let's hit the tubs.
>>
No. 949558 ID: 5b0071

>>949491
Go for the tub, but watch out for overheating. You are small and wrapped in fur.

You may want to ditch the towel, just in case.
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No. 949570 ID: 83bf07

Tub time. Admire Roz's body some more.
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No. 949625 ID: ce39da

“Let’s go to the hot tub for now, but... I hope you don’t misunderstand me. I know trying to discover who “my past self” was is an oxymoron, but that’s not what I’m looking for; I just want to know who died to make me, and why. That’s it. Just morbid curiosity and a desire to seek closure. In fact, I feel the same way looking at any of you guys just as much as when I look in the mirror; we’re all living evidence of various crimes which probably have yet to be explained, and I have a burning curiosity for that sort of thing in general. If I do ever find out what happened to that person who preceded me, regardless of what happened to her, I doubt I’ll be too affected by it. She’s just a body in the morgue for me to examine.”
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No. 949699 ID: 15a025

It might be better not to press Roz for about her past. Hop into the hot tub and relax some more with Roz.
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No. 949737 ID: 824a3f

I'd think of it, like... that person wasn't you, but like a twin sister that you never met. You'd still want to know, right?
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No. 949850 ID: 19da47

the hot tub is the best choice right now.
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No. 949853 ID: 094652

"Knowing whether or not I had a good reason to erase my memories is an important aspect of moving on. In Millie's case, I'd say yes."
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No. 950134 ID: 279754

Hot tub sexy time.
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No. 950150 ID: b1b4f3

Did she ask Millie why she changed? Or is this conclusion based on assumption?
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No. 950529 ID: 5d903c

Honestly, its more bothersome that people seem to want to keep me from it. Before I was curious, sure, but now all this focus on keeping it away and saying its bad makes it seem like there is something they want for themselves. Like what, you said I had a valuable body? Nobody here has really been friendly to me aside from you, so... how can I trust this? I was kidnapped and told I can't leave! I want to go out and live my life, not be a prisoner "for my own good."
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No. 950585 ID: 9e04c9

I think it would be better to ask Cider about these things later on.
Ask Roz how many people she's bitten due to being scared before she became a Jarmu.

Anyway, it's hot tub time! And then the blue area~
I mean, it's crucial that we... expand our worldview in terms of various species and genders of people around here.

Also, make sure you slip on the wet floor when you enter the area. After all, everyone should know that Penny has arrived!
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No. 951131 ID: 891b91
File 157572168554.gif - (201.81KB , 1024x1024 , 1-023-1.gif )
951131

You nod. "That sounds pretty nice, actually."

Making sure that your towel is wrapped firmly around you -- and eliticing a chuckle from Roz, which you ignore -- the two of you make your way to the hot tub, which turns out to be nestled within its own partition in the back corner of the spa.

"Aw yeah, got it all to ourselves," Roz chirps, bouncing a bit with glee. You do your best to ignore the parts of her that are bouncing more than the others.

Turning away from the show Roz is inadvertently putting on, you sit at the tub's edge and dip your feet in -- and you let out a little shriek when you discover that the water is cold.

"Chilly?" Roz laughs, pushing a button on a small console at the edge of the tub. "Gotta let the heater get goin' first."

Immediately you feel a jet of warm water hit your feet. "Ooh, these water jets feel pretty nice."

Roz plops down at the edge and dangles her legs in the water as well. "Just wait 'til you feel it on your back."
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No. 951132 ID: 891b91
File 157572170015.gif - (281.80KB , 1024x1024 , 1-023-2.gif )
951132

>Ooh, I wonder if the hot tub is mixed gender.
You... think it probably is, since this is the mixed-gender part of the spa, after all; you wonder if people here normally use the hot tub while naked, or if that's just Roz being Roz. You aren't sure which you'd prefer, either, but... you do have to admit that it'd be nice to have a clearer idea of how much male anatomy appeals to you, without having to resort to staring at some dude's body from across the room.

>Admire Roz's body some more.
Despite your best efforts to the contrary, you catch yourself sneaking glances at Roz's... well, her everything. You wonder if she'd even care if she noticed, given how nonchalant she is about her own nudity.

>Anyway, it's hot tub time! And then the blue area~
...Well, so long as you keep a towel around your waist, you could probably go back there without getting caught, between your, uh, relative lack of assets and the fact that you're new here. You don't know how to feel about the fact that the idea even occurred to you.
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No. 951133 ID: 891b91
File 157572171278.gif - (147.89KB , 1024x1024 , 1-023-3.gif )
951133

>I mean your body feels wrong, from the small snippets of things you can remember makes it seem everything around you is off, and if you really did want to forget wouldn't you have left yourself a note or something saying you chose to forget so don't bother go looking for your past self as it will only bring you pain and misery?
>i have a strong suspicion that we didn't willingly forget who we are and the only way to find out the truth is to dig into the past, no matter what it may bring.
Despite Roz's warnings, something just seems wrong about your whole situation -- well, more wrong than you think it probably is for most of the people who go through the same thing, anyway -- and you just can't get your mind off of it.

"Y'know, it's not that I want to know about my past self... I know I'm basically a different person than whoever she was." You lean forward, tracing circles in the water with a finger as you gaze at your dim reflection. "But I want to know who died to make me, and why. That's it. Whatever I find out about her... I know that wasn't me, because I'm not her."

"Penny, I hear what you're sayin', but... how do you know that's how you'll feel once you find somethin' out?"

"I... just know, I don't know how to describe it. I don't think I'll be too affected by whatever I find out -- whoever I was before is just a body in the morgue for me to examine. Like a long-lost twin sister I never got to meet -- I still wanna know about her, even though she isn't me."

"Millie used to tell me the same kind of stuff... and now she's different."

"How do you know she changed because of something she found out?"

Roz shrugs helplessly. "What else could it be? She went lookin' for answers off-shelf, 'n when she came back she just started actin' different. Wouldn't even say what she found out, just said it was none of my business." She sighs. "Look, Penny, I know we just met, but I really like you -- I think we could become really good fuckin' friends. I just don't wanna lose another friend to whatever got Millie."
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No. 951134 ID: 589a8b

As much of a bitch as she was, it seems like Millie might be our best chance at finding answers. Unfortunately it's probably best Roz not know we want to talk to Millie at all, so we'll have to figure out how to get in touch with her on our own.

For now, move the conversation to something lighter. Ask Roz about herself, or what she thinks we should do to find our footing.
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No. 951135 ID: cdabe3

Ask roz more about what she does here with the group, and what she thinks you’d be good at.

also look around there was a cute boy behind you just now! maybe he’s still there
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No. 951137 ID: 015bf2

>Doesn't want to lose another friend.
Let's resolve to try to avoid crush Roz' giant golden heart whenever we get out of here.

Smile and tell her you appreciate the thought and will mull over how to not let any revelation, such as how you were a disgraced pop star, turn you into a self-entitled diva overnight.

Besides, she shouldn't think following up on your past is your only concern! You want to figure out where you can fit in, and what you could be doing with your life. That's part of the reason why you want to get in touch with your off-shelf acquaintance, after all. They're 100% a contact of your own make, and more friends is always good, right?

Since Millie screwed up her pitch, why don't Roz start with telling us about her dar in her stead? And then Roz' own dar, of course.
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No. 951142 ID: 91ee5f

>>951133
>I think we could become really good fuckin' friends.
Hey now. Like you said, we just met. Isn’t it a little early to assume that we’ll be fucking friends? Couldn’t we just be normal friends that don’t fuck?
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No. 951144 ID: a0dfd2

>>951133

>really good fuckin' friends

Involuntarily gigglesnort and 360 crosshatch blush because omg roz you have no idea, what with your everything.

>you, but actually

Maybe we should back off for now. Clearly this still has her distressed, and the fact that Roz is saying this now kind of feels like ... not a warning, but a plea?

Because from the sound of it, Roz and Millie were best friends and now they're barely civil.

Sure Roz comes on strong and seems to get attached easily, but from that, it sounds like she was really, really hurt by whatever happened, even if she might be wrong. Maybe we shouldn't have her afraid that she'll be hurt all over again ...

... or worse, have to live with knowing that she could have stopped us.
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No. 951145 ID: 9e04c9

Move closer to Roz and speak to her quietly so that no one can hear you talk.

Try to make a deal with her. Ask her if she would be willing to trust you more if you can find out what happened to Millie and prove that it wasn't the act of unraveling her own past that changed her. While inadvertently poking her breasts.

Note that if we fail in finding out or confirm Roz's postulations, we can always tell Roz that we didn't find anything.
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No. 951157 ID: b1b4f3

>>951133
"whatever got Millie"? She's talking as if it's some kind of mind-altering cognitive hazard. It's just information. You know what I think? She found out something important, which led to her joining another organization and coming back as a spy. That changed her perspective and allegiance, not her personality. Still the same Millie, but she's acting different because she's recategorized Roz and had to push her away to keep her secrets.

Tell her she's being silly. Nothing got Millie. It's Millie that got something. Knowledge is power, and she feels powerful knowing a secret. She developed an ego.
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No. 951159 ID: 10c408

>>951157
I'm not sure about the spying angle you have postulated, but the rest is plausible enough. (if she was sent here to spy, behaving completely different and alienating everyone she used to know with her ego is a really shit way to go about it. It's possible she is here to spy and just absolutely sucks at it, but we'll find out.)

Change the subject, talk about something else instead.

Oh, I know. Ask if Roz has any friends in the medical staff, you have a slight theory about Mint's issue to most likely get disproven by an actual medical professional.
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No. 951176 ID: a0dfd2

>>951133
>>951144

Okay, actually, on second thought, maybe we need to come clean. Tell Roz what we already know and suspect.

Not to win her trust, but to tell her why this is so important to us.

Ask her if she knows a name: "TAUNTON MICRODYNAMICS"

It's something we know from before, something we remember seeing, while we were still under the effects of that paper-thing. The glyph. Tell her that we have a bottle that might have had that same name on it.

Ask her if it's possible to use programmed taffa in a manner similar to a dust-bender and ... I don't know, get put inside another body. Because maybe that's why we feel the way we do.
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No. 951181 ID: 49e4d4

I'm gonna say let's ease up on this for her. It's obviously causing her a LOT of stress, and we really need to chill out on bending the reed before we break it. Logic won't work on someone who's emotionally just not wanting to talk about something. Let's drop the subject for now and just get to hanging out to ease her up. Conversation that involves getting other normal folks that don't want to talk about something tends to involve gentle, and slow pushes, not constantly trying to attack the question from different angles. She'll just freak out or clam up harder otherwise.
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No. 951372 ID: 891b91
File 157598323122.gif - (296.60KB , 1024x1024 , 1-024-1.gif )
951372

"That'd... be nice," you reply after a moment. "Being friends, I mean. I'm sorry if I upset you -- maybe you're right. Maybe I should be careful about dredging up the past." You don't feel deterred at all, actually, but there's no reason to make Roz worried over it.

"It's-- it's cool," she sighs in response. "It's not your fault, everyone gets curious about this shit. It's just... hard, y'know? To see Millie change like she did 'n wonder if it could happen to more people I care about. It's like I don't even know her anymore." She shakes her head. "I'm sorry, I should stop bein' such a buzzkill. We're here to relax, right?"
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No. 951373 ID: 891b91
File 157598324320.gif - (167.49KB , 1024x1024 , 1-024-2.gif )
951373

>really good fuckin' friends
>Involuntarily gigglesnort and 360 crosshatch blush because omg roz you have no idea, what with your everything.
You're... pretty sure Roz didn't mean what that sounded like it could mean. ...You think.

>also look around there was a cute boy behind you just now! maybe he's still there
You glance to your right and spot a reptilian-looking guy walking past. He's naked, of course, and you try to ignore that, but from this angle you kinda have to admit he's kinda got a nice butt. As he walks by you notice something moving in front of his leg--

Oh. That's his... his thingy, isn't it.
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No. 951374 ID: 891b91
File 157598325651.gif - (238.15KB , 1024x1024 , 1-024-3.gif )
951374

"Y-yeah..." You tear your gaze away from Lizard Boy's rear end and stare at your feet, kicking them idly through the water as you try to think of what to say. "So what's your, uh, 'dar' like?"

"Oh! Well, I'm in Dar Balzan, we kinda handle everything with entertainment 'n art 'n stuff around here. This is actually the busiest part of the year for us, with the fair comin' up! Of course everyone on the shelf helps out, since it's kind of a big deal, but Balzan's the big reason to come because we're the ones who make it fun! Well, that and 'cuz it's the only time we actually let outsiders on the shelf, for the most part. So y'know, some people come just 'cuz they're curious."

"That sounds kinda stressful," you admit.

"Hmm, I guess it is, but it's a ton fun too!"

"So what're you doing for the fair?"
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No. 951375 ID: 891b91
File 157598326827.gif - (345.18KB , 1024x1024 , 1-024-4.gif )
951375

"Oh, my big thing is always helpin' design the costumes 'n stuff. But this year they're lettin' me do my own big dance number, too!" She bounces a bit with excitement. "That's kinda my thing at Balzan -- fashion 'n costumes 'n dancing. But I also wanna make Qatra 'n help with our mission, y'know? That's why I help show around new sigarzghars like you."
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No. 951376 ID: 2aa5f0

Wait, wait, wait, wait... you can dance? I though you were strictly a fashion designer?
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No. 951379 ID: 9d2b4b

>>951373
damn, guy's hung
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No. 951381 ID: cdabe3

Try not to think really hard about how well-hung that lizard boy is.

Try even harder to not think about having a “sleepover” with him and roz. At the same time. Together.
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No. 951382 ID: 336cc0

>>951375
Interesting. Sounds like a way to get to know both the other houses and possibly get some intel on the outside world quickly. We don't want to leave just yet I think- still need to build up our skillset a bit (rather, I just don't think we've taken advantage of their resources yet).
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No. 951385 ID: e51896

>>951373 >>951374

Looks like it is confirmed that you're interested in guys also.

>>951375
wow, she can dance? Ask if you could see her dance right now. It'll help cheer her up
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No. 951387 ID: 3ce8ff

>Looks like it is confirmed that you're interested in guys also.
in other words perfect tg- QuestDen material.
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No. 951391 ID: e7c7d3

Nothing wrong with a nice ass. Though are all the dicks around here going to be that big? That's rather intimidating.

But hey, a fair! Sounds like it'll be a fun time. And a good time to do some snooping while Roz is busy.
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No. 951407 ID: a0dfd2

>>951375

So like, what else does Balzan do? Mostly since it's pretty obvious by now that dancing and being the center of attention aren't really our thing.

... actually, we should ask Roz for an overview of all the dars, since we've kind of forgotten to do that.
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No. 951408 ID: 9e04c9

Think about the words Roz said
>big thing
and let them echo in your head.

And make grabbing motions with your hand.

"Are sigarzghars allowed at the fair?"
"Will there be any males there?"

Also, in how many days will the fair be?
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No. 951425 ID: bb78f2

So what music do you like to dance to, or planning to? Or is that a spoiler?

>>951373
Oh no! I want to play with his ass cheeks like they were bongos! What to do?!?
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No. 951429 ID: b1b4f3

Ask how dating and romance works in this society. Is it hard to get laid, requiring several successful dates before it reaches that point? Do people fall in love and have exclusive relationships? What's marriage like?
>>
No. 951443 ID: 0c9a8e

Try to ease up a little, Penny. You came to relax and to get information; it's a mite bit too early to start looking for friends with benefits. At the very least you should want to do a bit of a background check on your potential paramours!

Besides, getting a boy or girl-friend here would tie you down a bit, wouldn't it?

>Only time of the year outsiders come here.
Hm. That has implications. Namely: artists need an audience. Does Dar Balzan operate off-shelf? If so, it may end being a better pick for us than we thought if we can get a role in a production elsewhere.

Ask Roz what Dar Balzan does the rest of the year. Do they only entertain on Red Shelf, or do they get sent off to theatres, operas, dance exhibitioons or whatnot off-shelf? How does an artist Dar make its living?

>The festival
What's the festival about? Just an excuse to show off how well the system is running and generally be merry, or is there something more to it?

>Other Dars
Her opinions on 'em, straight up, no filter, just lay it out.
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No. 951587 ID: 1620b1

>>951375
Oh, oh my. Seems Roz isn't the only one around here with generous proportions. Might want to stick to guys around your size like Lizard Boy, if that's the status quo. If his size is an anomaly though, you might want to keep an eye out for him in the future, once you're situated a bit better. Those horns would make for good handles, and his lizard tongue is probably a plus as well.

Moving on, of course Roz works with entertainment and is into dancing. She's got the joyful energy and the body for it. She could no doubt teach you a lot of things, not just the essentials. Focus on her, surely she has some work that she's particularly proud of that she could tell you about.
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No. 951593 ID: 4f51b2

>>951373
Oh, my. He's pretty hung isn't he?
>>951391
I support this, if he would like to.
>>
No. 951736 ID: 2454f7

So what do all the other groups do? Groups, clubs, houses, sigza- arhg, why do you have to make all those terms such tounge-twisters?
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No. 951861 ID: 891b91
File 157676323713.gif - (384.13KB , 1024x1024 , 1-025-1.gif )
951861

"Wait, I thought you just said you were a fashion designer, you didn't mention dancing before."

"Well, dancing's kinda my new big thing. I used to just do fashion, but I've been branchin' out a bit."

"So they just let you do whatever you want in Balzan?"

"Mmm, it's more like they, uh... guide you, kinda. Help you find your talents and develop them." Roz lowers her voice to a mock whisper. "But I think the guy who told me I should do it just wanted to see my tits bounce around!"

"O-oh. I--" you almost say you don't blame him, but you catch yourself "--uh, did he?"

"Hell yeah he did!" Roz guffaws. "No skin off my nose if he had fun with it, though -- I love dancin'! Plus it was just a good idea, I'm pretty damn good at it now, if I do say so myself!"

"So you uh, dance naked?" As though you don't already know the answer.

"I mean, I do and I don't. Usually for actual performances I'll have some kinda costume on, 'cuz that's more interesting 'n there's usually some kinda theme or message, but I usually practice in the buff, more comfortable that way." Roz shrugs. "Balzan's prolly the most cool about bein' naked out of all the Dars, so it's not like anyone minds."

Like anyone would, you think to yourself. "Oh, uh, I guess that makes sense. So... what do you dance to?"

"It depends, really. Mostly it's to music made by other people in Balzan, but my gig at the fair has a lil' more... meaning behind it. We have, like, traditional songs 'n dances 'n stuff that're all about Vesper and our history 'n what makes us unique -- 'n the dance I'm doin' at the fair is all about our history and how Vesper was founded in the first place."

"What if I joined Balzan? What do you think I'd be good at there?"

"Beats me! We usually cut sigarzghars loose 'n let 'em experiment with whatever they wanna, 'til they find their passion, y'know? So it's really all about you."

"So what does Balzan do the rest of the year? Is it all just here, or do you put on shows, uh, 'off-shelf', too?"

"Well, we do a lotta stuff here at home, we gotta entertain everyone on the shelf after all -- but we do send some people to put on shows all over the place, on other shelves 'n stuff. They say if my number at the fair goes good, I'll be ready to go on tour myself!"

"Oh wow, that sounds exciting." And like a possible avenue off of this rock.

"It is! But scary."

"What about the other Dars? What do you think of them -- who do you think would be good to join?"

"Well, you really oughta join Balzan, wink wink, nudge nudge," Roz chuckles. "But seriously, uh, let's see... Dar Blin's pretty cool. Balzan 'n Blin are like this --" she holds her hands out, weaving her fingers together "-- best buddies. They're always helpin' us out with all kindsa technical stuff. Most of our stagehands 'n stuff are from Blin. They know their stuff too, lemme tell you! No way any of us could go on tour without 'em. Grixti's alright I guess, although there used to be some bad blood between them 'n us 'cuz they split off from us. Food's great, though!" She pauses to think for a moment. "Funtana's pretty good too, kind of a buzzkill sometimes but you won't find nicer people... just look at Cider! Can't really say much about Nevian 'n Zahra, don't really get on with 'em much, but they seem like they're all business all the time. We sure as hell need 'em though, they keep this place up 'n running." She sighs. "And that leaves Ormi. Ormi's... complicated. And not just 'cuz of Millie. Like, they're kinda in charge in a lot of ways I guess, which makes 'em kind of a pain in the ass. Not gonna say they're bad people, but... I usually steer clear of 'em."

"So basically, if I don't join Balzan, you want me to join Blin."

Roz shakes her head, putting her hands out defensively. "Nonono! You should go with whoever's right for you! I mean, sure, I like you a lot and I wanna have you in my dar, but y'know... it's your choice, not mine, I'm not gonna tell you who to pick. Even if you pick Ormi."

"I guess I'll know the right choice when I'm ready," you sigh.

"Yeah, you will! Once you kinda get a look up close, you'll know who you wanna join. Getting in's another story, but it usually isn't too bad."

"So about the fair -- when does it start, and how long does it last?"

"Like in a week and a half, 'n it's a week long." She grins. "Just thinkin' 'bout it's givin' me butterflies in my tummy. But in a good way!"

"Are uh, sigar-whatevers allowed at the fair?"

"Of course you are, the fair's about you as much as it is about the rest of us!" Roz laughs. "Hmm, I think the water's ready."
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No. 951862 ID: 891b91
File 157676324822.gif - (179.13KB , 1024x1024 , 1-025-2.gif )
951862

You start to ease yourself into the now-pleasantly warm water, when Roz interrupts you.

"Wait, are you really gonna wear a towel in the hot tub?"

You look at her for a moment, gauging whether she's serious. "...Yes, yes I am."

"Oh, Penny..." Roz giggles, shaking her head. "Alright, lemme go get you an extra one so you can have somethin' to dry off with." With that, she gets up and walks off -- you assume to the locker room.
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No. 951863 ID: 891b91
File 157676326508.gif - (137.59KB , 1024x1024 , 1-025-3.gif )
951863

You slide the rest of the way into the water, letting out a long sigh as the warmth envelops your body. This... this is nice.

You sink deeper into the water, until the tip of your snout peeks just above the surface. You let your mind wander, running back over, well, your entire life's experience, from your perspective. There's still something about this that seems so surreal -- just a few days ago you woke up with no memories, wandered around the outskirts of a ruined city, saw some bizarre monster get blown to smithereens, and then got mind-controlled by that damned glyph. And now you're lying here in a fucking hot tub like everything's just going to be okay. But it's not okay, you barely even know yourself -- you weren't even sure whether you were attracted to guys until lizard boy confirmed it for you just now. And now you have to navigate Vesper, with its Dars and cigar scars and jar moos and whatever.

At least the amenities are nice, like this hot tub. You feel like you could stay in this thing all day.

>Try to ease up a little, Penny. You came to relax and to get information; it's a mite bit too early to start looking for friends with benefits. At the very least you should want to do a bit of a background check on your potential paramours!
That's all true, but... surely it won't hurt to do a little window shopping? It's not like you have to commit to, well, anything sexual or romantic any time soon, if ever.

>damn, guy's hung
>Though are all the dicks around here going to be that big? That's rather intimidating.
While it's the first one you have any memory of seeing, lizard boy's dick did seem... big, for his size. Maybe too big? You aren't sure what your body's own limits are, though, and you feel like the enormous variety of bodies you've seen already probably means you shouldn't make any assumptions. But that's thinking pretty far ahead, anyway -- just because you looked at the dude's junk doesn't mean you have to put it in you -- although you think you wouldn't mind, well, copping a feel, if you got the chance.

>Try even harder to not think about having a "sleepover" with him and roz. At the same time. Together.
Too late; the idea comes to you and seems appealing, but... let's face it, is it even a possibility? You don't know this guy at all, and it occurs to you that despite Roz's nudism and unabashedness about her body, you don't actually know anything about her, well, her sexuality. It seems like there's an odd innocence to her when it comes to sexual matters -- an innocence you're beginning to realize you might lack.

Still, you're here to relax, right? You decide to put these thoughts, too, out of your mind for the moment. You close your eyes, letting your limbs go limp ...
>>
No. 951864 ID: 891b91
File 157676328203.gif - (149.68KB , 1024x1024 , 1-025-4.gif )
951864

>>
No. 951865 ID: d7b99c

Tell Dollar hi.
>>
No. 951866 ID: 2aa5f0

thank god we're relaxing otherwise this might be weird.
>>
No. 951869 ID: ce39da

A rare moment with a dying echo. Better use it wisely, assuming we can use it at all: "Who did this to you?"

With this, we can at least know whether it was murder or suicide and if the former, we can get a huge lead on the perp.

Also, it makes total sense that this would happen now of all times; I've heard of extrasensory divination rituals involving submerging yourself in a hot bath, so maybe this runs on the same principles.
>>
No. 951871 ID: 9e04c9

Check out the size of this Penny's chest. With your hands. To make sure it's an illusion.
>>
No. 951879 ID: a0dfd2

>>951864

Must be something in the water. Or maybe that shampoo. But does it matter if we natter to ourselves a little while longer?

It's comfortable, we're alone enough, and this could be anything we wish of it. Ask what's up, and what took so long to start having cooky out-of-body experiences with yourself.

(Or why it only started once you thought about sex ...)

>>951865

Yaaaaaaaaaassss~
>>
No. 951881 ID: c0594d

Makes me wonder, have we ever seen Penny sleeping in a normal non-glyph'd state? Our brains sure like to process a lot of life-stuff in our dreams, so who knows what that could bring. Something to think about for later, maybe.
>>
No. 951882 ID: b1b4f3

>>951864
Are you having an out of body experience? That copy of yourself is not wiggling.
I guess this could be a dream, and that's your dead past self. Say hello. Maybe it has something it wants to tell you?
>>
No. 951917 ID: e7c7d3

Say hello to this strange stranger
>>
No. 951918 ID: 0c7dda

>>951864
Your eyes are closed and you hear nothing. Nobody's there. Don't panic.
>>
No. 951919 ID: 8fab7a

Stay calm. What are you feeling right now? What is happening to you? Analyze.
>>
No. 951932 ID: 32ef34

Slow breaths, don't move, open your eyes. Someone's here. Maybe they want something. Maybe you want something. Ask them who they are.
>>
No. 951941 ID: 3ce8ff

>>951864
it isn't wiggling! What does it meeeeeeean?!
>>
No. 951960 ID: 235ba5

>>951864
quietly ask no-one in particular if they have something to say

don't open your eyes though

we know that glyphs can effect a person by sight alone, but we have no information on what possible effects dust-ghosts or whatever can have
>>
No. 951981 ID: 0c48a6

>>951864
Ok lets take this slow, lets go over what we know. This is probably a shard of our lost self. I personally think we should use this chance to find out more about our past. If we are lucky we might even get a hard lead on what happened to us, or where we need to start digging for clues. Also open your eyes and look at 'shard'

Side note if this is just some rando then this is going to be a epic miss understanding
>>
No. 952005 ID: 891b91
File 157700834926.gif - (277.41KB , 1024x1024 , 1-026-1.gif )
952005

>Your eyes are closed and you hear nothing. Nobody's there. Don't panic.
You feel something disturb the water near you. It's probably someone getting in the tub, but... something about it seems wrong. You're afraid to open your eyes. You can't feel any further movement in the water, aside from the gentle ripple from the tub's jets. Maybe you just imagined it.

>Stay calm. What are you feeling right now? What is happening to you? Analyze.
Everything seems... normal. The water feels as warm as before, the air still has that slight hint of chlorine in it, everything is still as quiet --

Wait. It's quiet. Before you could hear other people talking and bathing; now it's like you're the only one here.
>>
No. 952006 ID: 891b91
File 157700836536.gif - (149.80KB , 1024x1024 , 1-026-2.gif )
952006

>Makes me wonder, have we ever seen Penny sleeping in a normal non-glyph'd state?
That's it -- you must have fallen asleep. You're dreaming.

>Slow breaths, don't move, open your eyes. Someone's here.
Keeping as still as you can be, you open your eyes. Slowly. And you look at the being in the water next to you.

It looks like... you, but without a face. It doesn't respond to you looking at it.

>It isn't wiggling
It... feels like it isn't alive. It doesn't have that... undulating quality that seems subtly present in every person you've come across. You wonder what Mint would make of this thing.
>>
No. 952007 ID: 891b91
File 157700837681.gif - (124.22KB , 1024x1024 , 1-026-3.gif )
952007

"...Hello?" You ask, cautiously.

The thing lurches to life and leans towards you. Found you, it croaks, opening its mouth -- which wasn't there before -- into a wide, toothy grin.

"...Who did this to you?" You think this must be some fragment of your past that has come bubbling up from your subconscious. Maybe it knows what happened before you lost your memory.

You did this to yourself. It didn't work.

"What didn't work?"

The creature just smiles at you.

"Are you a... a fragment of my past self?"

I am of the future. The past is irrelevant.

"Who are you?"

...Call me Omen.

"What do you want?"

To find you. To prepare you for what's to come.
>>
No. 952008 ID: 0efe8e

First of all, we gonna call you "Dollar" not "Omen".
Second of all, The future is uncertain and is only what we make of it, fuck you and you whole "I know what the future holds" bullshit.
>>
No. 952009 ID: e7c7d3

Should we ask the obvious questions, or are you just going tell us the things you want to tell us?

Questions like: What's to come? Can we make out? What's the deal with the animals around here and their eyes being on one side? Where can I get a mouth like that? Are these people trustworthy?
>>
No. 952011 ID: 8fab7a

Laugh.

The future is always inevitable, isn't it? That's kind of its thing.

Reach out and touch her snout.

Tell her:

You're sorry.

But the person she's looking for is dead.

So in that sense, well, whatever they did must've worked out for them.

And whatever kind of short straw they left you holding that she represents you can't truly be responsible for.

Not in the same way.

But if the future holds any challenge for the one who used to be.

You, Penny Ainsley, will take them on.

Your way.

So bring it.

Whatever it is.

And you'll see.

And she'll see.

Whether a difference has been made.
>>
No. 952012 ID: 094652

"... Can we screw?"
>>
No. 952013 ID: afa812

Some sort of manifested fear based on what Millie insinuated about you having a special body? It's just a dream. Say: "How about you just tell me about it, and I'll prepare myself?"
>>
No. 952014 ID: e51896

I'd rather call Omen "Jenny" or maybe "Jenny Dollar" just like >>952008 suggested

Ask Omen if it knows of the butterfly effect, because if it is from the future trying to prepare us for something, it could risk more harm than good for us, just sayin'

also ask how it found you, because you can't even find yourself right now.

Keep this to yourself, but is this just like one of those dreams Mint was tormented by?
>>
No. 952015 ID: e51896

Also, Let try not to be too rude to Omen, listen to what it has to say,
but take what it says with a grain of salt, then it will go away.
>>
No. 952017 ID: 9e04c9

Tell Omen that you missed her.

Since you're aware that this is a dream, you should be able to control your surroundings. Imagine changing the scene to... the sofa in Cider's living room. Maybe you lying on it or something. Should be more comfortable than the tub.

Ask her to be gentler this time. Also, if you've been spotted yet, if you should look for the third, what is the password, and >>952012. And before she goes, if you will see her again.

No changing Omen's name.
>>
No. 952018 ID: 2aa5f0

>To find you. To prepare you for what's to come.

what that I should look for a new dentist?
>>
No. 952026 ID: a0dfd2

>>952007

Who or what is TAUNTON MICRODYNAMICS, and why did I have a vial of theirs?
>>
No. 952031 ID: 470289

Only call them Dollar as a power move. Only one of ya'll is alive and you ain't taking no shit from a doppelganger.
>>
No. 952032 ID: 49e4d4

I feel I have to point out- I don't think it's good to call them 'Dollar' because that's worth more than a 'Penny'. It's too easy to fire back if that's said as an insult.
>>
No. 952034 ID: 470289

>>952032
Only a nerd would be offended that a dollar is more than a penny. Penny ain't a nerd.
>>
No. 952035 ID: b24d69

>>952007
Say to Omen

>>"Those who forget there past are doomed to repeat it. If you really what to prepare me for the future then a good place to start is who I was and why I should what your help. Please if you know how I ended up like this then please explain what happened to me, or what happened to the person that I once was. If you are willing to do that then I'm willing to hear you out...Please, I just want, I need answers."

let's not change the name of Omen she is clearly distinct from us and to try and do so will probably only invite trouble. moreover, Omen is the first real lead we have had into what really happened to us. let's try not to piss her off. one more thing I recommend that y'all calm down with the hostility to Omen lets give her a chance before deciding to drive the only link to our past away.
>>
No. 952036 ID: 0fae41

Ooh, are we running away from our destiny? Was some tragedy to befall us, or were we going to do something horrible? You look like you want us to do something horrible. Spell it out for us - we can both agree being prepared is a good thing.
>>
No. 952037 ID: b24d69

>>952036
Oh man, that angle didn't even cross my mind. If that's correct then things are going to get interesting very fast.
>>
No. 952041 ID: 32ef34

The past is the kind of thing you get doomed to repeat if you don't pay attention, hardly feels irrelevant. Though, fine, it's not your wheelhouse.

What do you have for us? And are you actually going to prepare us or are these just going to be... omens?
>>
No. 952045 ID: b1b4f3

>>952007
Shit. Ask Omen if you tried to wipe your dust to get away from it, or if not that, to hide from whatever it needs to prepare you for. Also what is it referring to? What's going to happen?
Also don't give it any damn lectures that's ridiculous. It's *not* a part of you, it's clearly something else.
>>
No. 952050 ID: bb78f2

>>952007
Shut the fuck up I don't need no bullshit, esoteric strange way of putting myself down. Fuck you and fuck your scary teeth.
I'm a new person.
Where do you get off.
Motherfucker I'm trying to bathe here. Take your mystic, ominous ass out the door and your quest with it.
>>
No. 952051 ID: b24d69

>>952050
Yes, getting aggressive with an entity that we don't understand and that has information about our past is a great idea. Simply put outstanding move.
>>
No. 952052 ID: fd5772

>>952007
Well Dollar didn't bite us right away, so that's nice. Hopefully it's a hallucination. Tell 'em that being vague is gonna get both of us nowhere, so give us a specific task and piece of information, or get outta here! We're trying to relax!
>>
No. 952073 ID: 5b0071

If you feel endangered and want to wake up, bite one of your ears.
>>
No. 952082 ID: c0594d

"I am of the future."

'Of' the future, not 'from'. What does that imply, then?
>>
No. 952083 ID: e860a4

Alright then, what’s coming?
This thing, although unnerving, hasn’t yet given reason to distrust it so let’s hear it out.
>>
No. 952087 ID: ce39da

“First of all, correction: My predecessor did this to herself, but good on you for reaffirming that hunting the past is inconsequential. Second, did she do it because of you, or something else? Was she possibly coerced? Finally, I’m restricting you to straight answers only; no cryptic BS. My time is valuable and I’d like it if you didn’t waste it.”
>>
No. 952099 ID: fa0b14

Ask if Omen is dtf, maybe they need some stress relief
>>
No. 952295 ID: 15a025

Alright then, Dollar. Fill out that reality check for us then and tell us what's to come.
>>
No. 953251 ID: 891b91
File 157882805215.gif - (199.95KB , 1024x1024 , 1-027-1.gif )
953251

"Well, since you look like me, I'm going to call you Dollar, okay?" You feel like you're making a joke, but you aren't sure what it is.

Names are fleeting. How many have you left behind?

"Why don't you tell me?"

Omen, or Dollar, doesn't respond.

>Since you're aware that this is a dream, you should be able to control your surroundings. Imagine changing the scene to... the sofa in Cider's living room. Maybe you lying on it or something. Should be more comfortable than the tub.
Your surroundings melt away and reform, giving way to your will; soon you find yourself on Cider's couch, which you take as confirmation that you are indeed dreaming. The room seems vague and poorly-defined in spots, however; you guess the room is constructed from your best memories of it. Your body, too, seems to have not made the transition properly, leaving you in the form of a head attached to a body that ebbs away from you like water. Surprisingly, it doesn't bother you, so you decide to ignore it for now.

A liar sleeps here, Omen muses, that same toothy smile on its face. It settles into a bean-bag chair; its body is as undefined as yours, but you think it was that way in the hot tub, too.

"You mean Cider?" You ask, but Omen only smiles in response. "Never mind. So is this just a dream?"

We immerse in the shuddering expanse beneath.

You sigh, rubbing your temple with an ill-defined appendage. "Can we quit it with the cryptic bullshit? You said you want to prepare me for what's to come, so how about you just tell me about it, and I'll do the preparing myself."

Omen frowns, or maybe pouts, shaking its head. Intention floods the expanse. Directness at this distance would invite... interference.

"What does that even mean?" A smile, again, is its only answer. Perhaps you're just imagining this thing, and it can't tell you anything useful.
>>
No. 953252 ID: 891b91
File 157882807132.gif - (143.92KB , 1024x1024 , 1-027-2.gif )
953252

>Can we make out?
>Can we screw?
>Ask if Omen is dtf, maybe they need some stress relief
You aren't quite desperate enough to have dream-sex with a monstrous doppelganger of yourself. You think.

As if in response to your thoughts, Omen nestles itself against your body; the fringes of your ill-defined forms flow into each other, creating patterns through the space surrounding you. It lies its head against what would be your chest, almost affectionately.

Spiritual congress... would narrow the gap, it sighs.

"What can you tell me?" You ask, frustrated by the vagueness of Omen's answers. "What do you want to prepare me for?"

Powerful hands pull at the Gordian knot! The blade they cannot wield rests in your lap. It bares its teeth in an expression you can't quite read -- is it amused? Menacing? Both? Some seek to stay your hand, others to guide it... but few to cleave the knot in twain.

Your mind is flooded with questions to ask this thing -- assuming its answers are worthwhile at all -- but how long do you have until Roz comes back?
>>
No. 953257 ID: 404f0f

>Directness at this distance would invite... interference
>Spiritual congress... would narrow the gap
So if we had sex with her, it would allow us to converse with her in a more straightforward manner and gain better insight into the future?

I'm ok with this. Tell Omen that you're all for, uh, spiritual congress if that's what she wants. Because you'd like to be well prepared and stuff.

Of course, you should first put some mental work into imagining your body to look properly.

As for the questions, besides the ones I already wrote, you could ask... is the liar one of the hands that pull?
>>
No. 953259 ID: ce39da

> Things deduced from ramblings.
If this isn't a fever dream, then Omen truly is a separate entity.
We're essential to coming events somehow, and so was our predecessor, and some people are aware of this.
Spiritual congress - Soul orgy? - would cause things to be less confusing in the future, assuming Omen can be trusted.

> What ask.
"Could you elaborate on the nature of this knot?"
"Could you elaborate on the nature of the 'knife' I wield?"
"Could you elaborate on who's interested in these things?"

'Could you elaborate' offers Omen the reigns on deciding what's safe to divulge; asking direct pointed questions seems to make them clam up, and yes/no guesswork is right out.
>>
No. 953262 ID: 91ee5f

>>953251
>Intention floods the expanse. Directness at this distance would invite...interference.
At this distance? Is Omen saying that she isn’t a part of your imagination and is actually someone trying to get in contact with you?
>>
No. 953269 ID: e7c7d3

Dollar might be a sort of amalgamation of your past lives, before dusting themselves in an odd sort of reincarnation. It has a goal for you in mind, and is implying you has some sort of knowledge or power that people would want. Now why it can't just tell you what it is is beyond me.

Poke blepping tongue
>>
No. 953271 ID: 3ce8ff

>Poke blepping tongue
YES!
>Directness at this distance would invite...interference.
Suggests to me that this is a kind of 'wiretapped' line for it, so what it can say is moderated
>Could you elaborate
Makes sense, seems like a good idea. I would add 'Could you elaborate on "interference"'
>Some seek to stay your hand,
Keep the status quo
>others to guide it...
Change the system to their own ends
>but few to cleave the knot in twain
Break the system entirely
>>
No. 953276 ID: 49e4d4

>>953271
I have to agree with this. Seems like it IS an outside entity with a connection to us, but it's also being watched.
>>
No. 953277 ID: 49e4d4

>>953252

Actually, in retrospect, if it IS being 'wiretapped', then begging for spoonfeeding won't get us anywhere. We'll have to intuit things a bit- but it's still our decision.

Why not just ask it: "So, anywhere outside this rock that might be interesting for these 'preparations'?

Might as well have a to-do list once we escape. Stave off the boredom.
>>
No. 953279 ID: 10c408

Okay, that's very worrying. Somehow, we have an item or weapon meant to destroy/demolish something of great and likely terrible importance to no less than three unknown parties who are in opposition to each other and our guide is being vague as hell because they're being spied on.

So with that said, let's try something.

Think, don't ask, if Omen can get away with nodding her head or shaking it in this dream without tipping off the interfering party.

If she nods her head your next thought should be if you speaking also tips off the interfering party.

If the answer to both of these is an affirmative yes then we've got something to work with.
>>
No. 953280 ID: e51896

not to make you feel exposed but, did you lose your towel? It probably doesn't matter since it is a dream, but it still makes you feel uncomfortable being somewhere a little more public under dressed.

>>953279
This, but don't mention "interfering party". Play dumb. just ask something along the lines if Omen can just answer yes or no questions and nod or shake its head to the questions instead.
>>
No. 953293 ID: a0dfd2

>>953252

Evidently we were a MASSIVE HECKIN' NERD before, because our doppel (Dollarganger?) is referencing ancient legend and history.

It's actually a clever one, too: the so-called knot is an impossible task, the blade the means to work around it.

Evidently our changing perception (ergo the blade) might well be the only means to unravel it.

But why would Omen caution us by saying that the proverbial cutting of the impossible knot would serve little purpose, in that few would even think to try?

"Staying our hand" might mean to maintain the status quo -- a reference to Cider, perhaps, who we've feared has not been forthcoming?

The one who seeks to guide it might be Millie, who seems a little ... too forward about trying to infer that learning this truth is meaningful.

... is then the knot ourselves? Our past memories and dust, expunged by taffa?

It would seem so, given that Omen/Dollar seems to not only know our thoughts to some degree (its reference to spiritual congress), but as well that the interface and divide are not merely the dream itself, but our distance from our former self, who this doppelganger represents. An imagined act of an equally symbolic gesture -- becoming as one -- might allow us to see into Omen's mind.

Omen, by their own admission, is our subconscious self. They reside within our mind and our memories.

What worries me is their claims of intent -- that to speak openly, to be the one to guide our actions (and thus alter our perception of the "knot"), could change what will be.

But then again is the lot of this just prophetic history.
>>
No. 953294 ID: b1b4f3

>>953252
If you're gonna bone the dream-thing, you better ask if there will be any consequences from the act aside from easier communication.
One question and cryptic answer before that though: why did you try to erase your memories? I can think of a few possibilities:
1, to escape Omen because it's bad news
2, to destroy the "blade"
3, to use the "blade" somehow by allowing your body to be bodysnatched
Even a cryptic response should fit one of these three possibilities. If it's 1, do not engage in spiritual congress.

If you "close the gap", then you should ask about the hologram thing, and retread some of your earlier questions that didn't get a good response. Like for instance, what is the knot, and what is the blade? Also, can you trust *anyone* here?
>>
No. 953298 ID: 10c408

>>953280
You've missed the entire point of my suggestion. Penny didn't even get to saying anything about having intercourse with omen, she just thought about it and then omen immediately responded to penny's thoughts as if penny had actually spoken.

That alone is worth investigating.
>>
No. 953300 ID: 015bf2

>Here lies a liar.
It's either Cider or you. I'm leaning towards you, since you crafted this dreamscape (a lie), and you are the one 'lying' on the sofa. It's not a bedroom, too, so it being Cider doesn't quite make sense. If it is you, it's likely also a deep cut against your past self: they were a liar; a hint that corresponds with the earlier question 'How many names have you left behind?'

Hmmm. All of this could still be weirdly cohesive memories from your past life reaching out to you, but... I'm starting to wonder, especially at the reference to 'distance' and 'expanse'. This thing, whatever it is, is suggesting that it is somewhere else, reaching out to you. Like, some weird communication thing - maybe done through your Dust, which I guess can then be detected and intercepted, which is why this has to be kept dreamlike and vague?

In that case your past self clings tighter to you than you'd like, for if Dollar can 'find' you again, others might as well. Shit.

>Gordian knot, blade, guide or stay, few to cleave in twain
This is quite difficult to parse, but it seems to be saying you have something intrinsic to you - or on you - that others want you to use to resolve a complex, difficult matter one way or another. Maybe there is some weirdness to your Dust that allows you to do something? You know that it is a little unusual, due to how you reacted to the glyph and how Mint seems to think that you're different from others.

I would advice not dragging this out, even for 'spiritual congress' to clarify matters (though, by all means, blep that tongue). Falling asleep in a bath may not be the best idea, for one. Spacing out may also set Roz to worry. Or we could lose grip on our towel, oh dear!

Erk. Before you end this vision, ask if Dollar if can tell you anything that isn't important or significant, but which will prove that this session, whatever it is, was the real mccoy. Something you wouldn't know, but can verify.
>>
No. 953301 ID: 404f0f

>>953257
Also, pet Omen.
>>
No. 953302 ID: 5b0071

>>953252
Ooh. here's a good one.
"Is there anything you can tell me that will prove this isn't just a dream?"
>>
No. 953311 ID: b24d69

>>953257
I support this
>>
No. 953320 ID: 37896a

To cut the knot is to solve the problem and you're the only one with a blade. What is the problem, should it be solved? Or is this a mixed metaphor, and the knot is something integral to the world? But still, who is the few who want it cut? Maybe you should cut it...

You need to know what, where, and why the knot is. You need to know the same about your sword. If you got closer... But you said you didn't want to. I doubt Omen isn't going to show up later, maybe you'll feel more in the mood then.
>>
No. 953321 ID: 0fae41

Try spiritual congress, it'll give their mouth something to do other than spout riddles.
>>
No. 953337 ID: 536baa

The cutting of the Gordian knot wasn't solving it; It was bypassing it and its original intention. If we are the blade that's supposed to cut the knot, then that's not necessarily a good thing.
>>
No. 953370 ID: aa2059

I don't think it's a good idea to let this horrifying apparition blackmail you into sex when you're still getting your bearings from memory loss. Let yourself go at your own pace. I think turning it down and getting your bearings would be wise until you understand what's at stake here. Maybe you can research into what this creature might be. There's no rush.
>>
No. 953371 ID: e2f5cc

You gotta fuck Roz before the manifestations of your literal demons Penny.

You do that after you're girlfriends with Roz for a sick nasty threesome.
>>
No. 953376 ID: a80696

>>953371
selfsect is the best sect, we must make sweet sweet 'spiritual congress' with dollar
>>
No. 953385 ID: 57bb13

Why y’all try’na screw the dream clone? That’s weird.

I vote we wait till Roz gets back and reflect on what ‘Dollar’ has said. It’s cryptic now; either everything it says will make sense in good time, or it’s going to remain total nonsense forever. It makes no difference either way, in this very moment; so I vote we chill. No fucking the dram-clone.
>>
No. 953387 ID: 49e4d4

Damn, people are hard up.

Let's not try to screw the clone. We have bigger fish to fry, and we need to mull on all this junk Dollar's been feeding us and figure out how to make sense of it.
>>
No. 953399 ID: 0fae41

>>953387
And how are we prevented from doing that by screwing the clone in a hallucination?
>>
No. 953400 ID: 10c408

>>953399
You aren't, but some of us actually enjoy making suggestions that we're aware will lead to non-sexy content.
>>
No. 953408 ID: cdabe3

I think we oughta lewd the dream thing. Show the dollar the power of the penny~
>>
No. 953409 ID: 0efe8e

You know what they say, in for a penny, in for a pounding, lets fuck that dollar.
>>
No. 953410 ID: 75ea94

keep yer pants on penny, no fuck'n just yet
>>
No. 953411 ID: bef60d

I also vote we fuck the demon. Why not? it's a dream.
>>
No. 953412 ID: 404f0f

If Omen knows all about Penny, doesn't that mean it also knows how to make Penny cream in under two seconds? Wouldn't that make it like... a perfect lover? Hmm.

> >>953302 >"Is there anything you can tell me that will prove this isn't just a dream?"
I'd ask her this, but in a bit different way.
Ask Omen to prove that by doing something that would feel good.
>>
No. 953414 ID: 617448

We must discover what Omen can do with that tongue, it's time for a sexy Omen.
>>
No. 953415 ID: c00c23

I vote NO BANG!
>>
No. 953419 ID: 96402a

Bang Dollar you perv.
>>
No. 953421 ID: 422cea

Fuck your own clone. It's free real estate.
>>
No. 953422 ID: 33056f

Make change with Dollar.
>>
No. 953426 ID: 536baa

Bang that Dollar on the table. Just make sure you know you're wearing a strap. Show her what for, coming here being all cryptic~
>>
No. 953427 ID: e51896

no bang please. Seems out of character for Penny, and could cause some unintended consequences

hey, I wonder if mint has similar dreams like this, she is tormented by nightmares
>>
No. 953428 ID: feaf28

So it is distant and cryptic for a reason, because being direct and plain would mean being mentally too close and thus things would bleed through both ways. Yeah, we probably shouldn't try anything funny with her. Besides, we don't really know her that way, even if she dies seem like she's trying to help.
>>
No. 953435 ID: c0e130

>>953428
>>953427

How do you know spiritual congress doesn't mean doing the do? I say we go for it, besides you can't get stds from mind sex.
>>
No. 953437 ID: 1d7c77

Mind/"Spiritual" congress is from a certain point of view more intimate than physical, if I were you I would try the latter before wondering if you want to have a go at the former.

Also your body is still sitting in a pool where Roz is going to be back soon, do you really want the chance of anything visibly going on that someone could see?
>>
No. 953462 ID: c0594d

I mean hey, lewd/intimate moments are gonna be few-and-far-between later on as it is. I vote we engage in spiritual congress.
>>
No. 953482 ID: a80696

>>953462
hell yeah brother!
>>
No. 953515 ID: bb78f2

You know, I wasn't for it too bad before, but now that I've seen that tongue...

Yeah go for the congress. Don't pass up that tongue.
>>
No. 953528 ID: ce39da

If we're voting on Congress/No Congress, I'm for the no crowd. I think we can deal with crypticness for now until we do our research on this stuff, and yeah, we've built Penny up to be a bit shy about this kind of thing so far.

"Might you decide to contact me again? I've kept my friend waiting long enough."
>>
No. 953529 ID: 4854ef

I vote for spiritual congress and she hasn't been hostile at all. This could be a good breakthrough in memories.
>>
No. 953533 ID: a80696

>>953529
Exactly, I know most anons are of the mind set 'no memorys no problems' I am of the oposite mind set. this could be the second best lead we will get.
>>
No. 953675 ID: 891b91
File 157926322237.gif - (178.17KB , 1024x1024 , 1-028-1.gif )
953675

You try thinking, rather than saying, about whether Omen can answer questions by nodding its head, without tipping off whoever might be eavesdropping. What's in a name? Omen responds, seemingly confirming that it can read your thoughts. That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.

That seems like... a less than encouraging answer. "What are the consequences of, uh, 'spiritual congress'?"

The memory is unforgettable, Omen responds.

You feel a little uneasy about the prospect of sex -- or "spiritual congress" -- with this thing, but you are nevertheless drawn in by the temptation of getting better answers out of it. You tell yourself that this is only occurring inside the dreamscape... it's less than real. "...I'll do it," you sigh. "This spiritual congress thing. If it means you can be less vague."

In a split second you find yourself pinned to the couch by a pair of legs Omen didn't have before, with your body restored to its usual form; it -- she? -- looms over you, letting you drink in the sight of her now-formed body. Like with her head, she seems to have adopted a more animalistic take on your own form; she resembles you superficially, but every inch of her is lean and rippling with toned muscle. You glance downwards, and see that she is sporting the same "equipment" as you, too, although you're unsure how concrete such things are in this place.
>>
No. 953676 ID: 891b91
File 157926326126.gif - (168.80KB , 1024x1024 , 1-028-2.gif )
953676

You wonder if you should say anything, but Omen answers that by diving in close and locking her lips with yours. Her tongue snakes into your mouth, filling it to the point that it feels like she's going to go down your throat. You struggle for a moment, but she reaches behind your head and caresses your ear, which calms you a bit.

Relax, Omen's voice rings in your head, Through this carnal embrace, we are closer now. It feels strangely soothing, perhaps even intoxicating, to hear her say it. Now, you have questions. Ask them.

Oh, right, questions, you think, your mind still reeling a bit from what just happened. Some of the haze from earlier remains, but you feel a new apprehension in the face of Omen's sudden advances. Still, you're doing this for information, you remind yourself, and having your doppelganger's tongue shoved in your mouth will hopefully be worth it in light of Omen's answers. You take a moment to recall the questions you had in mind:

A) Is the liar one of the hands that pull?
B) What is the knot?
C) What is the blade?
D) Who is interested in these things?
E) Can you elaborate on "interference?"
F) Is there anywhere outside this rock that might be interesting for these "preparations"?
G) Why did I erase my memories?
H) Do you know anything about the hologram under Millie's ear?
I) Can I trust anyone here/in Vesper?
J) Is there anything you can tell me that will prove this isn't just a dream?
K) Will we be able to meet again?
L) Another question (please specify)


Select up to three questions.
You may also suggest actions in addition to or instead of asking questions.
>>
No. 953677 ID: e7c7d3

We're transferring the wiggles!

Hmm, I'd say:
C,G,K

That first pic is hella sexy!
>>
No. 953681 ID: 2aa5f0

C) What is the blade?
G) Why did I erase my memories?
J) Is there anything you can tell me that will prove this isn't just a dream?
>>
No. 953682 ID: 404f0f

A
E
L: What did Cider lie about?

Something tells me that, even though we're doing this, we shouldn't expect Omen to be able to give us much better answers. After all, this is still just a dream and there's still a certain distance and various kinds of abstractions at play.

You should be a bit more feisty and pull on one of Omen's ears. Whether it should be towards you or away, depends. But what's important is that you should try to enjoy this situation as much as possible rather than fight it.
>>
No. 953686 ID: 3ce8ff

>>953677
>We're transferring the wiggles!
The big concern!
C and G
But instead of a third thing break away (or ask about this 'wiggles' thing and why Dollar is gaining it here)
>>
No. 953687 ID: ce39da

> A rose by any other name.
That means thinking and talking are the same here.

B, C, J.
>>
No. 953689 ID: e51896

A
E
L: Why does Mint feel people being all fuzzy when she is near them and i'm the only person who doesnt feel that way to her?

(Im going to reread this quest tomorrow to see if there is any other details we missed that needs answering. You all should do the same, this is probably a once in a lifetime moment with Omen)

As for action, try changing the scenery again. Be a little experimental. For example, Roz is always talking about you trying out being a nudist, so lets try changing the scenery to somewhere more public, like the city we flew overhead the other day, and see what the appeal Roz finds in exhibitionism. Reassure yourself your only dreaming.
>>
No. 953691 ID: a0dfd2

>>953686

I think that's the point; the congress they spoke of. We're essentially becoming as one, allowing communication which transcends this mere dream-speaking.
>>
No. 953694 ID: 4b8164

>>953691

>I think that's the point; the congress they spoke of. We're essentially becoming as one, allowing communication which transcends this mere dream-speaking.

The question is, do we truly want to become one with Dollar? What is the consequences of becoming one with Dollar? Dollar is a stranger after all and we are just allowing this...
>>
No. 953707 ID: fd2d31

>>953675
Omen is fucking RIPPED, you could shred cheese on those abs.
hot damn...
>>
No. 953712 ID: 425ece

>>953689
>As for action, try changing the scenery again. Be a little experimental. For example, Roz is always talking about you trying out being a nudist, so lets try changing the scenery to somewhere more public, like the city we flew overhead the other day, and see what the appeal Roz finds in exhibitionism. Reassure yourself your only dreaming.

I approve this action, if only to get Penny to be a little less self-conscious about her body and nudity in general and slowly start easing into it.
>>
No. 953715 ID: 10c408

K, J and G, in that exact order. Let's make sure to establish that this isn't some kind of hallucination and that we can get more information out of Omen here at a later date.
>>
No. 953716 ID: c0e130

>>953676
>E
>C
>G

>>953689
I am against your proposed exhibitionism.
>>
No. 953717 ID: c0e130

>>953715
Changing to support this guy.
>>
No. 953738 ID: b1b4f3

>>953676
C, G, I.
K is kindof a pointless question to ask. If Omen can revisit you, it will, and will likely bring up the subject on its own.
>>
No. 953742 ID: bb78f2

>>953676
C, G, and I sound good.
69! 69! 69!
>>
No. 953744 ID: bb78f2

>>953742
Whoops, I forgot something very important. Whatever you do, don't forget to put a finger in the butthole.
>>
No. 953752 ID: 0fae41

G, B, C.
Hardcore snuggling.
>>
No. 953755 ID: 10c408

>>953752
This is several orders of fanservice beyond "hard core snuggling"
>>
No. 953759 ID: b24d69

>>953755
Not with that attitude(¬‿¬)
>>
No. 953760 ID: aa2059

G, I, D

I feel really bad for Penny. Our collective hornyness is pushing her into a situation that she clearly isn't 100% comfortable with. It feels a bit icky.
>>
No. 953761 ID: b24d69

>>953760
we are her subconsciousness or something, so it's fine...probably
>>
No. 953762 ID: b1b4f3

>>953760
Her comfort zone was established by the vote split actually. It was a close vote, so she's not really into it.
>>
No. 953763 ID: a0dfd2

>>953760

G, I, and D sound good, yeah.

Also very agreed.

Ogling Roz and Big Dong Lizard Guy was one thing, but losing all agency within a situation wherein we are no longer certain of our own consciousness, let alone whether this is something we remotely feel comfortable doing ...?

If this is how we are, maybe there really is a reason we wanted to be rid of Omen and erase our memories.
>>
No. 953770 ID: 891b91

>>953760
I'm sorry if this situation comes off as excessive or too uncomfortable -- I can't give much explanation without spoiling things, but there are important plot reasons for Omen's behavior apart from any sexual considerations, if that's any consolation.

Also, I normally try to avoid explicitly going "hey this is a viable option" most of the time, but in this case I think it might be helpful to say that Penny doesn't have to take this, uh, lying down. Trying to gain the upper hand (so to speak) or just rejecting the situation entirely are completely valid and viable options. Obviously, what happens depends on what the consensus among suggesters looks like, but this is not a situation in which Penny is powerless.

>>953762
That's what I was aiming for, yes. Generally speaking, I try to treat suggesters as part of Penny's psyche; so polarized disagreement, like with the previous round of suggestions, manifests as indecision or reluctance on her part. In this case, the general idea is that Penny feels apprehensive about sex with Omen, but really wants the information she can potentially gain from it.
>>
No. 953772 ID: b24d69

>>953770
If that's the case then by god Penny is going to be the dom in this weird mind sex relationship! we will counter her Tongue with our own, because if we're doing this, and we are doing this, then WE are doing it our way.

ÕwÕ
>>
No. 953773 ID: 4854ef

G, I, K

And I'm glad we are getting more valid memories personally.. The congress is nice but whatever helps us become whole with our memories once more.
>>
No. 953774 ID: b24d69

>>953773
I agree with you, the man with no past has no future.
>>
No. 953779 ID: e51896

>>953689
On second thought, I'm changing my mind, as much as I want Penny's memories back, and some lewd action, doing it this way just seems like a very bad idea, especially since it is with something we know nothing about, a complete stranger. Something about this feels really wrong.

If it turns out we are going through with this in the end, I'll still go with my previous questions and action: >>953689, but overall, getting our memories back this way just feels wrong, there are other ways to get our memories back. This whole thing feels like a deal with the devil in a weird way, dream or not. I don't care if the ends justifies the means.
>>
No. 953780 ID: 864e49

K
L:Whats up with the animals that have both eyes on one side of their face?
L:Why do I remember myself being Human but know that this is not what a human looks like? (Also I feel its related so why do I remember pop culture references of things that don't exist?)

ACTIONS:
Get into it, get a handful of titty!
>>
No. 953789 ID: 921520

I, B, K.

Also, definitely get on top. Show her that you like being in charge~
>>
No. 953790 ID: 404f0f

>>953689
I'm also against changing the scenery. I don't think this is the right situation to be mixing with exhibitionism because it could interfere with gaining information. Also, it's already spicy enough hehe.

>>953691 >>953760 >>953763 >>953779
>>/questdis/131879

>>953789
I'd rather Penny be the bottom tho. I feel that it would be more consistent with the current situation.
>>
No. 953791 ID: 4854ef

>>953779
What methods of gaining our memories back have we discovered besides Omen? This is literally the first avenue we've discovered.
>>
No. 953798 ID: e51896

>>953791
>What methods of gaining our memories back have we discovered besides Omen? This is literally the first avenue we've discovered.

Wasn't one of the services that Delaney Security Services provides was memory acquisition and analysis? that could be another method to regaining Penny's memories if she can get in contact with them, especially since she has some connection with them anyway with the jumpsuit she was wearing being owned by them. That is another method besides omen.
>>
No. 953800 ID: 3ae33e

>>953798
Omen's method is a lot more fun than using Delaney's services. Besides, we want answers now, not later, especially since we don't know much about this Vesper place. Best to het as much info as soon as possible.
>>
No. 953813 ID: 5b0071

>>953676
B, I , J
>>
No. 953821 ID: b1b4f3

Oh, let me vote on an action:
Feel up Omen. There's a naked body right there, take advantage of it.
>>
No. 953830 ID: a07b94

G, I, L(Why are they gaining the wiggles)

>>953821
and this.
>>
No. 953835 ID: 15a025

C, E, and I.
I feel like the most important of these is asking if there's anyone here we can trust considering we may be stuck here for awhile.
>>
No. 953846 ID: b23117

Take a good look at omens body; think about the apex predator you could be, in time.

Then have that "spiritual congress" and don't worry too much about getting it on with your dream demon doppleganger.
>>
No. 953978 ID: cdabe3

G, I, K
>>
No. 954116 ID: 5b93d3

>>953676
B, K, L (the wiggles)

Also, Penny switch engage!
>>
No. 954676 ID: 891b91
File 158021642397.gif - (262.89KB , 1024x1024 , 1-029-1.gif )
954676

You grab Omen's ear suddenly, keeping her close as your tongue mounts its own offensive and snakes into her mouth. She gives a muffled squeal in response, but ultimately relents and begins dancing her tongue around yours. I'm not as submissive as you think, you say in your mind's voice. I want to know why I erased my memories.

Omen breaks free of your embrace, licking her lips playfully as she stares down at you. What a welcome surprise, she cackles.
>>
No. 954677 ID: 891b91
File 158021643852.gif - (315.45KB , 1024x1024 , 1-029-2.gif )
954677

Omen slides herself away from you and opens your legs, and as she does so the scenery around you grows very dark. Gradually, you become aware that you are now in an enormous dark circular chamber; it's unsettlingly quiet here, save for the distant clatter of debris echoing from somewhere unseen. The walls are lined with rows of odd, glowing structures you can't put a name to; but something about this place seems familiar, as though you'd seen it in a dream.

As you take in the scenery, Omen plants little kisses on the insides of your legs, gradually working her way inwards.
>>
No. 954678 ID: 891b91
File 158021646852.gif - (261.73KB , 1024x1024 , 1-029-3.gif )
954678

"What is this -- ah!" You twitch involuntarily when Omen dives face-first between your legs, tasting you with her dextrous tongue.

You stole something from here. You drank taffa to escape the consequences. As her words echo inside your head, she explores your folds; her tongue snakes around your clit teasingly, and it throbs hungrily in response..

"Where -- where is this place?" You gasp, trying to stay focused despite the growing pleasure in your nethers.

She finally relents, leaving you wanting more. You already know where this is, she chuckles, covering your mound in kisses. Its name would be best left unspoken.

A) Is the liar one of the hands that pull?
B) What is the knot?
C) What is the blade?
D) Who is interested in these things?
E) Can you elaborate on "interference?"
F) Is there anywhere outside this rock that might be interesting for these "preparations"?
G) Do you know anything about the hologram under Millie's ear?
H) Can I trust anyone here/in Vesper?
I) Is there anything you can tell me that will prove this isn't just a dream?
J) Will we be able to meet again?
K) What are those "wiggles" moving across your body?
L) Another question (please specify)


Select up to three questions and/or suggest an action.
>>
No. 954681 ID: a80696

>>954678
D) Who is interested in these things?
E) Can you elaborate on "interference?"
K) What are those "wiggles" moving across your body?

Two lead questions and one relevant to the moment. Also ah yeah its getting "interesting" now
>>
No. 954682 ID: 3ce8ff

wiggles. what are they.
>>
No. 954683 ID: 2aa5f0

>B) What is the knot?
>C) What is the blade?
>K) What are those "wiggles" moving across your body?
>>
No. 954690 ID: e7c7d3

How can a person be so direct and yet so elusive?

C
J
K
>>
No. 954691 ID: 10c408

I, J and L "the thing I stole, did I give it to quincy?"
>>
No. 954697 ID: e51896

L: i dreamed of a building called TAUNTON MICRODYNAMICS before waking in a hospital. What was that?
L: what did Mint mean when she said i wasnt fuzzy like everyone else
L: did you, omen, meet with Mint in her dreams? It was said she was tormented by dreams. Were you the cause?
>>
No. 954700 ID: ce39da

Are we doing these one at a time, then?

I think
B
and
C
would be the most important questions going forward.
>>
No. 954701 ID: 404f0f

E
J
L: What did Cider lie about?
>>
No. 954710 ID: c0e130

>>954678
I forgot to suggest an action on top of the questions, return the favor to dollar 69
>>
No. 954713 ID: 74c159

K
and for action, 69!
>>
No. 954715 ID: 015bf2

B, I & K
>>
No. 954716 ID: b1b4f3

>>954678
K, H, C.
>>
No. 954723 ID: 404f0f

>>954701
Ah, the action.

Try to slowly inch away from Omen. Just to see how she would react.
>>
No. 954731 ID: bb78f2

>>954678
B, C, K
Flip her over and 69 her with you on top
>>
No. 954738 ID: 5b93d3

LEG. LOCK.

>>954678
B, K, L: "Do I still have what I stole?"

>>954691
Could be the empty jar (or its contents), or could be something more abstract (information, a concept), could be Penny's body...
>>
No. 954740 ID: 10c408

>>954738
My question is worded to gain as much information as possible while also reducing the potential leads depending on if Omen says yes or no.

If she says yes then it can only be the stuff we gave to quincy. if the answer is no, then it's either anything we picked up and didn't give to quincy or we ditched it before drinking taffa and 'killing' ourselves.
>>
No. 954743 ID: 094652

CHI casting
>>
No. 954744 ID: aa2059

G, H, K
>>
No. 954783 ID: 5b0071

>>954678
H, I, K
>>
No. 954798 ID: 864e49

J
L:Whats up with the animals that have both eyes on one side of their face?
L:Why do I remember myself being Human but know that this is not what a human looks like? (Also I feel its related so why do I remember pop culture references of things that don't exist?)

Action: use one leg to rub her back.
>>
No. 954829 ID: 7ae67b

C, H, J
Asking the minimum number of questions needed is a good idea, we probably don't have much time here.
C) I think if we know what the knife is, we may be able to figure out what the knot is without using a question.
H) Our current situation is being dependent on Vesper, and they seem a bit cult-ish. It would be nice to know if we should try to run as soon as possible, or if they are just weird.
J) We need to know if we need to ask all the important questions now, or if we can find out later. Also we might want to meet Omen again for personal and "personal" reasons.
>>
No. 955037 ID: ccb66b

C, D, H.
C being the most important since we can't use or protect the 'blade' if we don't know what it is, and being helpless isn't good.
>>
No. 955247 ID: 15a025

C, E, H.
>>
No. 955379 ID: 20144f

L, why do I think I'm human?
>>
No. 955495 ID: 891b91
File 158090852633.gif - (158.60KB , 1024x1024 , 1-030-1.gif )
955495

You wrap your legs around Omen's back, rubbing her gently with a foot. "What are those 'wiggles' moving across your body?" She starts to move away from you, but you lock your legs around her, pulling her back into your crotch. "Let's just keep you here while you answer."

Omen laughs and opens her mouth wide; you gasp sharply as her thick tongue slithers inside you, pulsating with each thrust.
>>
No. 955496 ID: 891b91
File 158090854336.gif - (103.19KB , 1024x1024 , 1-030-2.gif )
955496

Your surroundings fade into darkness; a spherical hologram appears above you, depicting a number of shapes sandwiched between an inner sphere and an outer sphere. Two sets of lines form paths running through the sphere: one red, long, and meandering; and the other green and direct.

Our voices find each other more easily now, Omen replies, nuzzling her snout closer against your pussy. More rhythm is preserved between us, so now you see mine -- and I can see yours, too, just barely.

Her tongue pulses harder and harder, searching for something, until it finally finds a particularly sensitive region inside you. It hits you like a ton of bricks, sending shudders throughout your body. "Rih-- rhythm?" You pant, fighting to speak amid the sudden waves of pleasure.
>>
No. 955497 ID: 891b91
File 158090856224.gif - (152.04KB , 1024x1024 , 1-030-3.gif )
955497

Rhythm surrounds us, pervades us. For some of us, it grows stronger when we... exert ourselves, and we leave our mark upon it.

A jolt of... something runs through you, as if to punctuate her point. It lingers everywhere it touches you, forming a buzzing din of pleasure that spreads across your body before surging back between your legs, over and over. Tension and desire builds in your loins, almost to an unbearable level, and in a bid to gain control over the situation you flip over, taking Omen with you. She grabs your butt tightly as you try to pull yourself away, anchoring herself with the base of your tail. It's clear she isn't going to let go, and in desperation you try to swivel around to gain access to her body. Seemingly sensing what you have planned, she lets go just long enough for you to bring your head between her legs before clamping her arms back down around your hips.

You and I are alike in that way, she continues.

You plunge your tongue into her sex, attempting to retaliate in kind and gain the upper hand over her. She just seems to enjoy it, though, and responds by grinding her crotch against your snout, as if egging you on to give her more. Next question, Omen's voice echoes in your head teasingly.

A) Is the liar one of the hands that pull?
B) What is the knot?
C) What is the blade?
D) Who is interested in these things?
E) Can you elaborate on "interference?"
F) Is there anywhere outside this rock that might be interesting for these "preparations"?
G) Do you know anything about the hologram under Millie's ear?
H) Can I trust anyone here/in Vesper?
I) Is there anything you can tell me that will prove this isn't just a dream?
J) Will we be able to meet again?
K) Why do I think I'm human, but know that this is not what a human looks like? Why do I remember cultural references to things that don't exist?
L) Another question (please specify)


Pick up to three questions and/or suggest an action.
>>
No. 955499 ID: 2aa5f0

H) Can I trust anyone here/in Vesper?
I) Is there anything you can tell me that will prove this isn't just a dream?
K) Why do I think I'm human, but know that this is not what a human looks like? Why do I remember cultural references to things that don't exist?
>>
No. 955500 ID: ce39da

I think C is a critical question to ask here. Perhaps clarify that we want to know how we're supposed to access/use it as well.
>>
No. 955504 ID: 3ce8ff

>>955500
Yea C is the next biggest question, then depending on the answer B. Also important: the hell is the image in >>955496 about, then K or E
>>
No. 955505 ID: e7c7d3

C, H, I

Oh, this is getting good!
>>
No. 955506 ID: 0d14f1

H+C+J. It'd be great if we got a way to meet her consistently, that way we could ask all of our questions in time. Vesper itself is spooking me out, mint brought up that it might be that vesper will change us over time, so It'd be best to find out before we are "changed", lest we lose something unrecoverable. The Blade might be an ability or something we have, so the faster we can "wield" it, the better, I suppose?
>>
No. 955515 ID: 795750

>>955497
>H
>C
>J

These seem like the really important questions and if the rule of three holds true then this might be our last chance to get answers for sometime.
>>
No. 955517 ID: 795750

>>955515
I wanted to add on an action. Take a moment to focus yourself. This is your mindscape dollar is just a visitor. Reassured by this knowledge dive in deep and take your dopleganger for a ride she will never forget remember, you, are the one in control.
>>
No. 955523 ID: 7ae67b

H, C, J.
Same explanation as here >>954829
Can't let Omen win the tongue fight.
>>
No. 955532 ID: b1b4f3

>>955497
Interesting. So Penny can see Rhythm naturally, while most people cannot. It's like she has some kind of deeper connection to everyone. This probably has something to do with the blade... heck, it might BE the blade. She may be trying to prepare you because she's gone through the same sort of situation.

H, B, K.
>>
No. 955538 ID: cdabe3

K, C, G
>>
No. 955572 ID: 01e2f9

This visible rhythm makes me remember what Mint said about people looking "fuzzy". We should probably ask her about that later, and maybe ask her to tell us if we start looking fuzzy too.
>>
No. 955588 ID: 4286b4

C
J
L: Why does this feel so good?

Action: Remember Omen's rhythm.
>>
No. 956258 ID: 891b91
File 158170440044.gif - (124.14KB , 1024x1024 , 1-031-1.gif )
956258

"Wai--wait, what is --hnngh-- all this?" You gasp between surges of combined tension and pleasure.

It is a map of Sieve, Omen's voice rings in your head, matter-of-factly as she grinds her clit against your nose. This is our world.

The tension from Omen's tongue and the ever-increasing rhythmic jolts reaches near-maddening levels; some part of you urges you to regain control, to do to her what she is doing to you. You drive your tongue deep inside her, deeper than you think should be possible, and mimic the pulsing of her tongue, searching for the most sensitive flesh within her. She tenses up in response, constricting herself around your tongue, and the two of you struggle against each other, each refusing to allow the other any respite.

Omen has the advantage of rhythm, though, and the jolts grow harder and longer as she tries to drive you into submission. For a few moments you lose yourself, letting your pelvis bear down instinctively on Omen's snout to push her tongue against that tender region inside you. You struggle to gain your lucidity back, though, and silently remind yourself that this is your dream and that Omen is only a visitor here -- and that you are not going to let her win at this. You focus all of your being into pleasuring her while fighting against the desperate urge to finally let her conquer you, to let her have that final victory of forcing you to the point of orgasm.

"And -- haah -- what's, what's 'the blade'?" You pant, your lips brushing against hers before you dive back into her.
>>
No. 956259 ID: 891b91
File 158170441836.png - (120.33KB , 1024x1024 , 1-031-2.png )
956259

The scenery brightens as the map disappears, and you find yourself in a clearing surrounded by a pale mist. Dark figures emerge from the mist in a semicircle around you. They extend their arms to reveal that each of them holds a knife, each of which appears unique from the others.

There are many blades in this world, Omen says in your mind, her voice not wavering despite her pleasured agony beneath you. Each different from the others but just as potent. Together they could cut the knot effortlessly, but they reject each other, rendering each bearer able to brandish only one.
>>
No. 956260 ID: 891b91
File 158170442628.png - (96.97KB , 1024x1024 , 1-031-3.png )
956260

Across from them, another dark figure steps from the mist, and you recognize its silhouette as your own. This figure, too, extends an arm, but the hand is empty. Your blade is a blade in name only, leaving you weak, but through its potential also the most powerful.

The you-figure thrusts her palm forwards, and one by one the knives fly out of the other figures' hands, stopping to orbit her hand. It lacks any outward power of its own, but instead brings others into harmony, allowing its bearer to wield any -- or all -- of them, should she obtain them.

You are the bearer of that blade of blades. The you-figure extends her other hand, revealing another knife, which floats up to join the others. Through its influence you have already brought another blade to heel: a blade of illusion, to conceal yourself in times of danger. And to weather the coming storm, you must obtain the rest -- or their bearers will destroy you utterly.
>>
No. 956261 ID: 891b91
File 158170443668.gif - (164.97KB , 1024x1024 , 1-031-4.gif )
956261

H-how do I use it? Even your mind's voice wavers from the nearly unbearable levels of pleasure and tension.

Something is blocking your access to it, and we are going to break through that barrier. Her voice echoes, as she pushes every last iota of rhythm she has deep into your body. Something snaps inside you, and a torrent of what must be rhythm surges forth from you and into her, and you can feel your very essence boiling as it travels through you. She screams into your pussy, writhing in combined surprise and pleasure, and retaliates with her own massive wave of rhythm. The rhythmic influence circuits through the two of you, and you begin to lose understanding of the divide between you and her -- your pleasure and tension are shared; you can feel hers and she can feel yours. The feedback loop grows stronger and stronger, building more and more, until --
>>
No. 956263 ID: 891b91
File 158170445381.gif - (268.50KB , 1024x1024 , 1-031-5.gif )
956263

A torrent of energy and fluid bursts from her and from you, as you both shudder and writhe against each other in a shared, mind-obliterating, universe-shattering orgasm. Time seems to stop, and all that exists is you-her and the unending agony of climactic bliss. Every inch of your being revels in it and is reformed in it, you are remade by it, you cease to exist and are reborn. The surge of rhythm fills you utterly, flowing into parts of your soul you never knew you had, and which defy conventional description.
>>
No. 956264 ID: 891b91
File 158170447359.png - (489.42KB , 1024x1024 , 1-031-6.png )
956264

The rhythm breaks free of its tether and explodes from within you, knocking Omen away as it spreads outwards and begins tearing at the edges of the dreamscape itself. Everything around you fragments away, as though it were the walls of a large dome, revealing a vast, rippling space all around you.
>>
No. 956265 ID: 891b91
File 158170450161.gif - (239.97KB , 1024x1024 , 1-031-7.gif )
956265

As you lie there panting in the wake of orgasm, vague figures scattered across the distance take notice of you. They turn to watch you, their gleaming white eyes seeming to burrow into your soul.

WHO IS THAT
Cripes, no need to yell.
I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD REASON FOR YELLING
relax this isnt the first time this has happened
Indeed.
TYPHON IS THIS YOUR DOING
I hope not, that's boring~ My money's on Nemo!
hey new guy can you uh come kill me im on bellwether
TYPHON YOUR SILENCE IS AN ADMISSION OF GUILT, WHY MUST YOU MEDDLE
haha that wasnt a joke uhhh please im begging you just fuckin destroy me uwu
none of these other assholes will do it
Be quiet, you melodramatic cretin.

>>
No. 956266 ID: e7c7d3

So our "blade" is to find the other blades and bring them together, And in the darkness bind them. Seems like we'll have a choice of either having the other blades work together in harmony, or forcible taking them.

Ask if these mysterious figures are the other blades. Also say you don't know who contacted you, you just call them "Dollar"
>>
No. 956267 ID: 3ce8ff

>>956265
My guess is they may be other blade bearers. I guess let's say hello
>>
No. 956268 ID: b1b4f3

>>956265
Ask bellwether where they are. You won't decline their invitation.
>>
No. 956271 ID: ce39da

"Who's Typhon?"
>>
No. 956278 ID: 801ba1

>>956268
Bellwether is the location, the name is unknown.
>>
No. 956291 ID: 10c408

Take a moment to collect yourself, and also enjoy getting dream-laid by Omen.

"Uh, hello everyone. What is happening?
>>
No. 956292 ID: 9b97e0

These guys are...

Ask them why they're so bewildered by your appearance; isn't this situation to their advantage?
>>
No. 956295 ID: 0fae41

Ask them how to do chat effects. Then, tell him it was Ligma's doing.
>>
No. 956296 ID: 2aa5f0

and you all are?
>>
No. 956297 ID: b1b4f3

>>956278
Oh, in that case... maybe it's better to remain silent and try to cut the feed. We saw a map earlier which showed our position, so they can probably figure out where Penny is if we give them time to do so.
Of course, Omen found Penny on her own anyway so maybe it doesn't matter.

Asking who Typhon is might be a decent question though.
>>
No. 956299 ID: 10c408

>>956297
If they had seen the map, they would have seen Omen and the spiritual congress going on at the time. Their dialogue thus far is indicative that they were simply unaware of Penny at all until the barrier between her and her blade was destroyed.
>>
No. 956301 ID: fd5772

>>956265
Reach higher planes of consciousness through psychic sexytimes, Penny!

"So am I psychic now? Are you all psychic? What's with these blades I just found out about?"
>>
No. 956303 ID: b1b4f3

Oh my god don't talk about the blades. Penny's supposed destiny involves STEALING them from the others. Last thing we want is for them to expect that.
>>
No. 956304 ID: f2f5ae

>>956268
This, let's just get straight to business and act like we totally know what we are doing and didn't just coom so hard we jumped dimensions
>>
No. 956333 ID: 864e49

>>956265
These are either other blades or Hands that pull.
Introduce yourself as Spades.

>Nemo
>Omen
Interesting.

>>956295
Yes blame Ligma.
>>
No. 956334 ID: 015bf2

Stop! Don't just blurt things out. Relax in the afterglow and think and use your senses.

And be careful with what you reveal. They probably can't see you clearly, just as you can't see them. Or if they can, you should cloak yourself real quick using that blade of illusion if it's at all accessible. Maybe swap through a bunch of indistinct shapes.

Can you cloak your voice as well? If they peg you're female, that's half their suspects gone.
>>
No. 956385 ID: 7ae67b

Those people are probably the "interference" that Omen mentioned before you used "spiritual congress" to get a more direct connection. Its probably a good idea to not give them any usable information if at all possible. Try to use your illusion powers to hide, or to give them incorrect information.

Also "Nemo" is "Omen" backwards as someone else pointed out, so they might already known something about her, and might consider her, and by extension you, their enemies.

The person asking you to kill them is probably crazy. They might actually want to die, or it might be some kind of trap. Probably a bad idea to do what they ask without more information.
>>
No. 956392 ID: 7ae67b

I have a theory about what is going on.
Dust is some kind of nano-technology. It permeates most things, or at least most people and the surface of the planet.

In people it carries out certain functions. Some kind of basic firewall meant to protect your dust from being hacked, the one that capture-glyph bypassed and them patched. The virtual measuring tape that Roz has. Being able to effortlessly remember digital addresses. Making a backup of your brain so it can be put in a new body if the current one dies. The personal dust-network of a person is probably the thing you perceive as their rhythm or wiggling.

I you can perceive it, you might be able to mess with it. Even it you can't mess with it, you might be able to get information from, like what state they are in, or if they've be hacked, or if they have one of the blades.

However I don't think all of this dust is actually under control. I think its something along the lines of lost technology, or something that grew out of control. People these days can work with it, but the system as a whole isn't under anyone's control.

I think the surface suffers from "rhythm" because the huge network of dust on the surface has rogue programs or virus spreading and screwing with it all the time. Presumably the network or distributed computing of the dust is really robust and capable of adapting, otherwise the whole networked would have stopped working completely. So the network in an area adapts to whatever was breaking in last time, then a new/mutated virus spreads to it and makes the dust do something unpleasant to anything in the area.

The "blades" are programs that are able to manipulate the dust network in particular ways.
The "Gordian knot" is probably the inability to control the network as a whole.
The "hands that pull" are people that people that would like to have that power, some of which would be people who already have a fair amount of power, some might be crazy people who think their cause is right, etc etc.
"seek to stay your hand" would be people who want the status quo to continue, probably because they benefit from it.
"others to guide it" would be people who would try to get you to change the network in their favor.
"to cleave the knot in twain" could mean to modify the network to clear up the issues on the surface or other such things that would get rid of huge problems for everyone, because then those hands that pull would no longer be in power, which is why few of them want the knot cut in twain.

The people you are seeing now are likely either others who hold blades, or work for those who holds blades, or are likely to somehow get the information about you to the people who hold blades.
As for where you currently are, it's probably some kind of VR/simulation type thing happening in the network. Before you had some kind of secure connection between you and Omen, but now you've got a public connection that anyone in the network can look into if they want too.
It's a good idea to re-establish a secure connection, or leave immediately and talk with Omen again later.
>>
No. 956394 ID: 15a025

Ask why one of them seeks destruction?
>>
No. 956424 ID: e7fbf6

Realize you almost forgot that you are still naked and in front of these group of hooded(?) Strangers. Ask for something to wear.
>>
No. 956486 ID: b24d69

>>956304
Support, god I got a good laugh from this
>>
No. 956548 ID: ce39da

>>956424
You don’t need to ask. Just will some clothes on.
>>
No. 956562 ID: cdabe3

>>956291
this
>>
No. 956574 ID: 13059a

>>956304
>>956291
Roll with something like those.
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade, and if some weird ghost version of you gives you a mindblowing orgasm into another plane, roll with it.
>>
No. 956725 ID: 891b91
File 158211758337.gif - (191.01KB , 1024x1024 , 1-032-1.gif )
956725

>Realize you almost forgot that you are still naked and in front of these group of hooded(?) Strangers.
At first your stomach drops when your realize that you're naked (and partially soaked) in front of all of these people -- a feeling that isn't assuaged by the fact that this is your dreamscape body, considering its identical appearance to your waking body.

But then you look down at yourself and discover that your body has again lost definition -- you appear the same as the strangers. You would be alarmed by the sudden change, but the fact that it obscures your previous appearance is reassuring to you. With any luck, it's obscuring your identity, too.

>Cloak yourself with blade of illusion
You can feel the... presence of some facet of yourself that you never noticed before -- it's as though you have a new limb. You try to flex it, and you feel it do so, but there is no apparent effect.

"Uh, hello everyone. What's happening?" Your voice echoes uncomfortably across the abyss.

A couple of the figures give each other a glance, then look back at you. The others continue to stare silently.

"Ahem, well anyway, can you tell me where you are, Bellwether? If you really want me to uh, kill you."

A couple moments of staring pass, and then finally, you get a reply.

oh uhh really?? cool like i said im on bellwether shelf, they keep me on the center floor i think. just watch out for the guards
Stop using your voice in here. You're broadcasting your location to us, you dolt.
Ooh, she's on Red Shelf, how interesting~
She's lucky she isn't in my neck of the woods. If she was I'd be on my way to apprehend her as we speak.

>>
No. 956729 ID: e7c7d3

Try to project your thoughts, then. Say that you're obviously new here, so a quick run-down of the rules would be appreciated. Unless they get off on be cryptic dicks about it.
>>
No. 956733 ID: 4286b4

Yeah, try imagining sending a text message to people here instead of using your voice.

>I'd be on my way to apprehend her as we speak
Reply with something like "I'm sorry, I'll be a good girl, please don't tie me up and touch me in weird places as roughly as the last time~~"

Saying it like that may mislead them and/or cause the other figures to comment on it, revealing more information about us or the person that just spoke.
>>
No. 956781 ID: b1b4f3

>>956725
Fuckballs. Just cut the connection.
>>
No. 956787 ID: a80696

>>956729
support
>>
No. 956808 ID: 0fae41

Try thinking what you want to say. Titty sprinkles. If that doesn't come across, it's not like you can hide your location now.
Apprehend us, huh? What are you, a cop? You have to tell me if you are.
>>
No. 956814 ID: c8b64e

>>956725
The teens sure know how to show a girl a warm welcome. This is an opportunity to say something unexpected. Maybe confusion can help you out here. Tittysprinkles was a great suggestion!
>>
No. 956820 ID: cdabe3

>>956729
try to mentally project your thoughts. if that works, ask them if you can join their spooky DnD club
>>
No. 956834 ID: 891b91
File 158219923934.gif - (231.66KB , 1024x1024 , 1-033-1.gif )
956834

>try imagining sending a text message to people here instead of using your voice.
It feels weird, but you try composing a text message in your head... and it seems to work. Stranger yet, you become aware of a... running log of communications, and a clearer sense of who said what.


d01c35: Titty sprinkles.
ff358f: What.
32b0cc: Looks like we've got a lewd one~
32b0cc: I like her~
d01c35: Sorry, I'm new to this. A quick run-down of the rules would be appreciated.
ff358f: There are no rules. I was simply astonished by your stupidity.
32b0cc: Don't be such a meanie! What our dear '58f was trying to say is that there are certain precautions we must all take to avoid compromising ourselves!
ff358f: No, I meant what I said. Although you are right about precautions. Those who don't maintain some semblance of secrecy... well, they don't last.
d01c35: What did you say before about apprehending me? Are you a cop or something?
ff358f: ...No, of course not. I simply don't tolerate intruders.
32b0cc: Oh d01 darling, we are all above the level of being policed by anyone but our own kind~

>>
No. 956838 ID: 4286b4

>I like her
32b0cc you're nice, I like you too! Wanna meet up? Or ERP?

>I simply don't tolerate intruders
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I didn't know that I could come so hard that... anyway, if you guys don't want me here then I'll leave.

>by anyone but our own kind
Then what about the guy that's being held on Bellwether? Did you guys put him there?
>>
No. 956841 ID: a17ca4

Yep. These guys, or at least some of them, are definitely not friendly and also very powerful.

Don't say/think anything to them right now, we would just be giving them more information about us. We can come back and chat when we know enough to not give away the wrong info.

Look around to see if Omen is still here. If she is, try to get closer to her and communicate with only her.
>>
No. 956844 ID: 9a21f9

I knew talking was a bad idea! Now they know you're a woman, that you're on Red Shelf and that you're pretty lewd. (Best to never reveal the latter to anyone anyway!) In the future, in here, be more careful. You've got no idea what can be traced back to you and anything you say will probably be sifted through for clues so if you ask about any of the things you've discovered so far and then go around asking about it outside this realm they might connect it to you.

Absolutely do not mention you have the blade of blades or imply you can control other blades. They may know you can anyway, but no need to announce it! Frankly, you may need to just lurk moar around here before getting involved in any deep chats. Or at least until you can figure out how to ask questions that doesn't reveal you're a newly-minted zombie, which puts you into a small number of potential targets.

While you're here, focus to see if you can get an options menu or a gut feeling as to what your illusion power can do. And see, once you're done talking, what can be done to... shut down the broadcast signal and go dark again.

>Thinkspeech
"So... this is it? We sit around talking smack all day trying to trick one another into saying more than we should? Can't say that's what I expected out of this!

I am a tad curious, though. How DO people typically 'not last' by revealing who they are?

If you were that keen on killing each other, wouldn't someone have gone looking for bellwether already? Or are they just that blatant or bad of a honey trap? It does strike me that they haven't exactly given me much of anything, y'know, useful. No offense honey, will totally gently sink you into the sweet embrace of oblivion if I can find you, xoxo love, some random murder-happy stranger."
>>
No. 956850 ID: 0e24f3

hey, wait a minute, those name tags look like html color codes.
>>
No. 956851 ID: e7c7d3

Alright then, a shadowy consortium of monarchs. Any reason we're all gathered here today?

>>956850
I was thinking they were board ID's. Is this metaphysical QuestDen? :V
>>
No. 956864 ID: b1b4f3

>>956834
Ask what they do, anyway. Is there any central organization or plan, or are they all independent actors?
>>
No. 956877 ID: ce39da

`So, Bocci, Triple-F, are we the only ones using this feature or does someone else feel like actually telling me what this all is? Call me "Dulcinea" or "Doll" if you want to call me anything since those seem like the closest things to actual names I can construe from this letter spaghetti.`
>>
No. 956892 ID: e4423f

>>956850
>>956851
Hex triplets could be several things, but in context, the similarity to the questden poster IDs is hard to ignore.
>>
No. 956904 ID: 891b91
File 158227574359.gif - (193.33KB , 1024x1024 , 1-034-1.gif )
956904

>Look around to see if Omen is still here. If she is, try to get closer to her and communicate with only her.
You don't see Omen anywhere. Maybe she's one of the figures standing in the distance -- but you can't tell them apart anyway. And you can't contact Omen privately, because you don't know what her... callsign is, you guess.

>While you're here, focus to see if you can get an options menu or a gut feeling as to what your illusion power can do.
You can't sense an options menu or anything like that, but you feel like you can manipulate the illusion power in your mind, somehow. It really does feel like you have an extra limb -- you can bring it close and examine its properties. When you look closely enough, you become aware of what you guess is a technical description of what it does, although it's fairly cryptic: it has something to do with manipulating "spiral 5-vectors" and using those to create "orthogonal wave interference". You suddenly have a vague idea why nothing happened when you tried it earlier, though -- this ethereal space you're currently in, whatever it is... it features "recursive topology" that causes the spiral 5-vectors to "self-intersect," which you intuit somehow causes them to collapse in on themselves uselessly.

>Bocci, Triple-F, Dulcinea
You think it might be best to avoid forcing nicknames on the people here for the time being, but it occurs to you that you can use these names to help you make better sense of who's who in the conversation log. If it comes up, though, you'll try to get the others to refer to you as Dulcinea.

Penny (d01c35): I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude... if you don't want me here then I'll leave.
Triple-F (ff358f): Quit it with the passive-aggressive shit. I didn't say you were intruding, Red Shelf isn't my turf. But if I find out you are in my territory I am going to treat you as a threat.
Penny (d01c35): Okay, so where is your territory?
Bocci (32b0cc): That'd be one of those things we avoid talking about~
Triple-F (ff358f): Unless you want one of us knocking at your door. Which you probably don't.
cc45d0: i do
Triple-F (ff358f): Maybe so, but I'll remind you that you deserve your predicament and I'm not risking my hide to rescue you from it.
Penny (d01c35): Is cc45d0 one of the ones who... didn't last?
Triple-F (ff358f): No, he let those fanatics on Bellwether capture him.
Bocci (32b0cc): The ones who didn't last simply disappeared, darling~
Bocci (32b0cc): Their whereabouts became common knowledge, and... poof!
Bocci (32b0cc): Where'd they go? What happened to them? Who did it to them? No one knows~
Triple-F (ff358f): Right. That's why I won't hesitate to put any of you down, should I discover you closing in on me. One of you is behind all of this, and I'm not going to let you win.
Penny (d01c35): But I'm new here -- why suspect me?
Triple-F (ff358f): Are you? Can you prove it? Maybe you've been here all along, listening and never talking. Maybe you're the one who's been picking us off, one by one.
Triple-F (ff358f): You seem pretty enthusiastic to kill our crybaby friend over there, after all. Maybe this is just your next gambit: pretend you're new and confused, to try to make us slip up.


>And see, once you're done talking, what can be done to... shut down the broadcast signal and go dark again.
As far as you can tell, this is an always-on kind of thing; there doesn't seem to be a way to get out of it. Upon inspection, though, you realize that you can will yourself to wake up at any time, and that your presence in this place is somehow parallel to the "real" world, rather than being explicitly some kind of dream realm. Furthermore, you become aware that you can toggle your wraith-like body in this world between visible and invisible states, and that the invisible state acts to temporarily deafen your awareness of incoming conversation -- you guess in case you need to focus on something. It isn't clear to you how you're able to learn these things; it all arrives as sudden epiphanies, as if unearthing an old memory. It's just there and it's true.
>>
No. 956907 ID: b1b4f3

>>956904
Sounds like there's no downside to waking up, so do that.
Tell them if someone's begging to die then you feel like you need to at least try to help one way or another, and accepting the task was the easiest way to get more info. Ask about the fanatics. If you went to bellwether how hard would it be to get in and out? Any chance of rescue instead of death?
Also point out an obvious truth: anyone new to this group would not immediately have the knowledge required to hide themselves. There's no way someone could have joined and never made their presence known. Whoever the killer is, it's someone they've been aware of at one point, however briefly. Heck, the killer could be someone who "disappeared", since it's quite possible to go invisible indefinitely, isn't it? It's also possible that the missing members aren't missing, but simply got sick of talking to the others and went invis indefinitely.
>>
No. 956910 ID: cdabe3

>Are you? Can you prove it?
wait, are we able to 'hide' ourselves? if everyone is able to enter this... place without the others knowing, there could be literally thousands of others just hiding. if we can't, then their paranoia makes no sense
>>
No. 956913 ID: 60d648

“I’m interested in your friend because if i can help someone who hasn’t wronged me then why shouldn’t i at least consider it? Also cc45d0, if speaking openly is so lethal then why don’t you just do that?” (It would also help prove their location probably)
>>
No. 956918 ID: 4286b4

>That'd be one of those things we avoid talking about
Then, can I at least get your names?

>I'm not going to let you win
Win? Is this some sort of a game?

>Maybe you've been here all along, listening and never talking
Didn't you guys notice me the moment I entered this place? Doesn't that prove I wasn't here the whole time?

That said, you should try inputting a black bar with text hidden in it, I like boobs, like this, to see if it's possible to do that.
>>
No. 956937 ID: a17ca4

Well if you don't want to tell me things that would help me if I was an assasin, how about things that would be really useful for somebody new, and that an assasin would already know?
Like, what should I do to avoid disappearing?
>>
No. 956946 ID: ce39da

Hm, Bellwether + wants to die = "for whom the bell tolls?"/"Death-knell?"

Knell-Tolly (cc45d0)

> I mean, it sounds like he really wanted to die...
> But sorry, I spoke without thinking. Maybe there is a better way to help him, now that I think about it.
> Still, as long as you think everything that comes out of me could be a lie for all you know... I guess there's no proving my innocence, even if I know I am, huh?
> Actually, are you like this with every new person who comes here?
>>
No. 956947 ID: 7ae67b

I propose either Ceecee or Cas as a nickname for cc45d0.
>>
No. 956959 ID: 015bf2

>Just there and it's true
Sounds like it's... kind of programmed into you? And that you have to think about it to become actively aware about it. Keep exploring these feelings and the, uh, user documentation, for lack of better words. Branch of your thoughts into more specific questions, then go back to general questions. Like, what's your power actually allow you to do? Change appearances?

>names
So what's the usual callsigns of those who HAVE shown themselves? You've got a few down already, but you don't want to introduce a new crop if there's already a common protocol. Some names were mentioned, but you don't have their, uh, IDs down yet.

>Wake up.
Should do so soon and put your awareness of this place on passive. We've no idea how much time's passed and it it's straight up real-time, you might start turning into a wrinkly prune and/or worry Roz right about now.
>>
No. 956981 ID: 3ce8ff

>Penny (d01c35): But I'm new here -- why suspect me?
>Triple-F (ff358f): Are you? Can you prove it?
no as all we seem to have here are words and you didn't believe mine.
so feel free to believe what you want till you feel more strongly one way or another. in the meantime: >>956937 though without the example question posed; as that WOULD help the assassin (tell them something to work around without being thwarted by it first)
>>
No. 956984 ID: 7ae67b

>>956981 I'm not quite sure if it would help an assassin or not. But it wouldn't hurt if we can ask something useful that definitely wouldn't help an assassin.

Maybe just ask literal "Is there anything you can share that would be useful for a newbie but not for the mysterious murderer?"
Also, bring up the log of messages so we can get the "names"/IDs of everybody who talked so far.
>>
No. 957001 ID: 891b91
File 158238074423.gif - (163.88KB , 1024x1024 , 1-035-1.gif )
957001

>Knell-Tolly (cc45d0)
>I propose either Ceecee or Cas as a nickname for cc45d0.
You can't make up your mind, so you decide to split the difference and go with "Casknell" for cc45d0's nickname.

Penny (d01c35): I mean, it sounds like he really wanted to die... so I thought I should consider helping him, or at least hearing him out.
Penny (d01c35): But maybe there's a better way to help him, I don't know.
Triple-F (ff358f): He's not worth helping.
Penny (d01c35): cc45d0, if speaking openly is so lethal... then why not just do that?
Casknell (cc45d0): already tried it
Casknell (cc45d0): a lot..
Bocci (32b0cc): Ironic that out of all of us, he seems to be the safest from our... pursuer~
Bocci (32b0cc): Not that I envy him~
Triple-F (ff358f): Or he is the pursuer.
Penny (d01c35): Well, still, if you did, then I'd know you're being honest about being on Bellwether, right?
Casknell (cc45d0): i dont like to do it out loud anymore..
Casknell (cc45d0): but fine.. if youll really come..
Casknell (cc45d0) INC VOICE LOC BELLWETHER


A voice echoes across the void strangely, sounding both distant and close by: "Alright, here I am." The voice is male, gravelly, and oddly metallic, with a certain melancholy lethargy to it. "Hope you're satisfied.."

Triple-F (ff358f): If you think you're fooling anyone but him, you're wrong.
Penny (d01c35): Look -- anyone new here wouldn't know right away how to hide themselves, right? There's no way someone could've joined without making their presence known -- you all noticed me the moment I showed up! Doesn't that prove I wasn't here the whole time?
Triple-F (ff358f): You made one hell of a light show when you showed up -- you obviously wanted us to notice you. You've probably been eavesdropping quietly all these years, but now that we're all onto you, you had no choice but to make yourself known and play dumb.
Triple-F (ff358f): I have to admit, though, I'm impressed. Pretending to be one of those Red Shelf zombies to back up your "I'm new, no really" story is a nice touch, if obvious bullshit.
Penny (d01c35): Couldn't the killer be one of the people who disappeared? Maybe they're out there right now, just gone invisible and listening!
Triple-F (ff358f): That's impossible, and you know it. Every time someone's location got out, not long after they were just gone, for good -- the resident sadsack excepted, of course.
Triple-F (ff358f): That means the killer probably never goes invis, because if they did, they could miss information about someone's whereabouts. You know as well as I that stuff that happens while you're invis doesn't show up in your logs.
Triple-F (ff358f): So I think you've been here and listening for years now, and until now you just hid yourself way off in the distance where we wouldn't notice you. But now that we're down to those of us who won't become your prey so easily, so you have no choice but to try to trick us.
Penny (d01c35): Maybe the people who disappeared just got sick of talking to you guys. You aren't exactly polite, you know.
Triple-F (ff358f): That's preposterous. Yeah, I'm sure sixty-seven people all just decided that talking to us sucks and went perma-invis, and a bunch of them even thought it would be fun to beg profusely for protection.
Triple-F (ff358f): Really likely story, that.


Triple-F (ff385f): Fuck, you're pissing me off. Almost makes me want to go over to Red Shelf and kick your ass into next week. And I mean almost, so don't get your hopes up.
Bocci (32b0cc): '85f, darling, relax! We don't know that she's the one behind it all. She's definitely lying about being new, of course, but perhaps she's trying to trick our pursuer, and lure them out of hiding, hmm?
Triple-F (ff385f): ...You're right. I'm sorry -- it's just infuriating to have lost so many good people and not even truly know what happened to them. I still don't trust you, d01c35, but I should at least allow for the possibility that you aren't the killer.
Penny (d01c35): I guess I can't prove that I really am new, and that I'm not the killer... but just humor me for a second and assume I'm telling the truth. Is there anything you can share that would be useful for a newbie but not for the killer?
Triple-F (ff385f): ...Not much more than we've already said. Don't reveal any identifying information about yourself, don't broadcast your voice in here, and don't let anyone on the outside catch you using your talent, whatever it is.
Casknell (cc45d0): id also clue her in on typhon and nemo
Triple-F (ff385f): Wow, I guess you can be useful, when you think you might actually get what you want. Hmm. Most of us just want to live our lives quietly, but Typhon and Nemo have... ideas. Typhon seems to think... I don't know what for sure, but they seem to mostly want us to be at each other's necks all the time. If you aren't the killer then I think you're probably with Typhon, since they've had, well, sleeper agents in the past who suddenly became active and started trying to turn us against each other.
Triple-F (ff385f): And Nemo... just don't listen to them. They pop in every once in a while to ramble about how they think the killer isn't a killer, and instead is bringing us to some next phase of evolution or something. It's obvious bullshit, but I think they might actually drink their own kool-aid.

>>
No. 957002 ID: 891b91
File 158238077078.gif - (119.02KB , 1024x1024 , 1-035-2.gif )
957002

>Keep exploring these feelings and the, user documentation, for the lack of better words.
>Like, what's your power actually allow you to do?
As you grope in the back of your mind for information, it seems more like this is technical documentation than a user guide of sorts. You find another passage that seems to describe its function when used in the "mainline environment": the "orthogonal wave interference" mentioned earlier affects "global-space vortices", which you guess are involved with vision in some way, since it mentions differences between "local viewers" and "global viewers"? And exercising control over the parameters of "local-space spiral 5-vectors" enables in turn some limited control over the public-space vortices that intersect with the user?

>Also, bring up the log of messages so we can get the "names"/IDs of everybody who talked so far.
You fetch the parts of the message log you initially saw without IDs or nicknames, so that you can get a better idea of who said what:

??? (abcb03): WHO IS THAT
Triple-F (ff385f): Cripes, no need to yell.
??? (abcb03): I THINK THIS IS A VERY GOOD REASON FOR YELLING
Casknell (cc45d0): relax this isnt the first time this has happened
Triple-F (ff385f): Indeed.
??? (abcb03): TYPHON IS THIS YOUR DOING
Bocci (32b0cc): I hope not, that's boring~ My money's on Nemo!
Casknell (cc45d0): hey new guy can you uh come kill me im on bellwether
??? (abcb03): TYPHON YOUR SILENCE IS AN ADMISSION OF GUILT, WHY MUST YOU MEDDLE
Casknell (cc45d0): haha that wasnt a joke uhhh please im begging you just fuckin destroy me uwu
Casknell (cc45d0): none of these other assholes will do it
Triple-F (ff385f): Be quiet, you melodramatic cretin.
Penny (d01c35): INC VOICE LOC RED
Penny (d01c35): INC VOICE LOC RED
Casknell (cc45d0): oh uhh really?? cool like i said im on bellwether shelf, they keep me on the center floor i think. just watch out for the guards
Triple-F (ff385f): Stop using your voice in here. You're broadcasting your location to us, you dolt.
Bocci (32b0cc): Ooh, she's on Red Shelf, how interesting~
Triple-F (ff385f): She's lucky she isn't in my neck of the woods. If she was I'd be on my way to apprehend her as we speak.
Penny (d01c35): Titty sprinkles.
Triple-F (ff358f): What.
Bocci (32b0cc): Looks like we've got a lewd one~
Bocci (32b0cc): I like her~
Penny (d01c35): Sorry, I'm new to this. A quick run-down of the rules would be appreciated.
Triple-F (ff358f): There are no rules. I was simply astonished by your stupidity.
Bocci (32b0cc): Don't be such a meanie! What our dear '58f was trying to say is that there are certain precautions we must all take to avoid compromising ourselves!
Triple-F (ff358f): No, I meant what I said. Although you are right about precautions. Those who don't maintain some semblance of secrecy... well, they don't last.
Penny (d01c35): What did you say before about apprehending me? Are you a cop or something?
Triple-F (ff358f): ...No, of course not. I simply don't tolerate intruders.
Bocci (32b0cc): Oh d01 darling, we are all above the level of being policed by anyone but our own kind~

>>
No. 957003 ID: 891b91
File 158238079221.gif - (193.92KB , 1024x1024 , 1-035-3.gif )
957003

>Should wake up soon and put your awareness of this place on passive. We've no idea how much time's passed and it it's straight up real-time, you might start turning into a wrinkly prune and/or worry Roz right about now.
With everything that's happened, you nearly forgot about Roz! You hope you haven't worried her, or perhaps embarrassed yourself in your sleep --

You open your eyes, but Roz isn't here. You aren't sure how much time has gone by, and come to think of it, it's oddly quiet. You're completely certain that you're wide awake now.

Something doesn't feel right.
>>
No. 957004 ID: 3ce8ff

>>957003
I think we should go find roz. if there are questions about us being late or early we literally dozed off and lost track of time.
>>
No. 957005 ID: 5b0071

>>957003
Is your face still dry?
No signs that your body did any of those sexual gymnastics that were going on in your head?
... Is anyone else there at all?
>>
No. 957006 ID: 7ae67b

Hopefully everything is quiet because of something harmless, like your new ability or something, rather than everybody disappearing or dying.

Look around for people. Get out of the tub if you have to.
If there is something wrong with them, but they don't look like they've turned into zombies(or are otherwise hostile), investigate.

Also consider: We certainly haven't killed anybody since we woke up from drinking taffa. However, we don't know what the person we used to be did before drinking taffa, they might have been the killer. Worst case: they left traces that point to us being the killer.
>>
No. 957007 ID: 015bf2

Welp. Time to reflect for a moment. If all of this is to believed, your past self got in some big trouble. There's been some kind of superpowered-people-vanisher been going around collecting or destroying the 'blades' (i.e. whatever kind of data's inside your Dust) of several dozen people.

(Hm. Actually, nothing says it couldn't have been several people doing that. I am willing to bet there are at least informal alliances among the blade-wielders, despite Omen suggesting they're all in fated opposition.)

Could even have been Omen, for all that they did to push you into your power, and we are just being another stooge of theirs. Or it could have been your past self, though if that's the case, they must've messed up. Hm. Well, not much use panicking over it yet. You'll figure things out as you go along.

>Quiet sauna
Uh... hm. Strange. You should get up and out of here. Look for Roz. It's weird that she'd just leave you on your own, though. Perhaps she got called away suddenly? Or maybe you were out of it for a longer period. Check your body if you're prune-y. Don't forget your towel.

Then there's the big issue du jour.

>INC VOICE LOC BELLWETHER
Did it give you a very specific location?

Remember that you did the same earlier and if it is down to the meter you have no idea who might be coming to investigate - now or later - including the 'killer' the others were talking about. Note that the person yelling about Typhon stopped talking very soon after and that there could, indeed, have been quiet, invisible listeners who started to move more immediately. At least any of them that might be in a position to come investigate right away.

So, hitting the ground running here, if the location finding is specific you should consider how to hide or downplay the fact you were in the sauna today. There's mainly one person you have to worry about there: Ben the desk jockey. If anyone were to investigate who went to the sauna at this time, he'd be the natural person to ask. I'm not sure how we could convince him to stay quiet about it, however. It'd be a pretty weird request to ask.
>>
No. 957010 ID: ce39da

Get out of the tub, obviously. My bet's on "we up and 'disappeared' while we were in there, likely because of our power over illusion, and we 'reappeared' after the bathhouse closed."

Also, mental-log the loud guy as 'ALPHABET' for the abc in his ID. Yes, in all caps, 'cause that's how he rolls.
>>
No. 957011 ID: a0dfd2

>>957003

Oh heckin' heck, THIS is what Mint was talking about ...!!

But which one was she ...?
>>
No. 957012 ID: 7ae67b

I agree with >>957010 that the name we pick for abcb03 should be all caps. I propose ALPHA, being shorter that ALPHABET, and also matching his apparent loud personality.
>>
No. 957013 ID: 015bf2

>>957011
Oh! You're right. Everything has gotten more... well. It'd say it's become LESS fuzzy, actually. More distinct, but overall more uneven and squiggly?

No doubt it's a perspective thing. You have apparently had some senses you haven't been using.

Do compare, y'all.

>>951863
>>957003
>>
No. 957016 ID: b07f1c

>Something doesn't feel right.
You're right. An emptiness.

Extend your arms and get a handful of Roz's titties.
>>
No. 957019 ID: e51896

I hope we didn't break something in ourself beyond repair... it might be best to ask mint.

Lets get outta the water, try and find Roz, or maybe just get our clothes and leave if we can't find her
>>
No. 957026 ID: b1b4f3

>>957003
Something is distorting this space. Evacuate and use your blade of hiding.

REMEMBER, they said that every time one of the others revealed their location they went missing soon afterwards. This means you are likely in immediate danger.
>>
No. 957031 ID: b07f1c

Take a deep breath and sink underwater. While underwater, inject rhythm into the blade of illusion and use it. Then concentrate on what you can hear. Also, look above through the water surface. Only if you don't detect anything should you get out and search for people.
>>
No. 957033 ID: 10c408

Try to carefully extricate yourself from the spa, and do so as quietly as possible.

Locate a clock and/or clothing while keeping an eye out for any noise.
>>
No. 957042 ID: b24d69

>>957033
support
>>
No. 957079 ID: b1b4f3

Okay let me be more clear about what I mean by "distorting".
Look at the center of the image, compare it to the original one. It's warped. There is a distortion. Something is happening or about to happen.
>>
No. 957080 ID: e51896

>>957079
Good point. I really don't like the idea of using magic as something feels wrong about relying on magic instead of our own physical abilities, but if we are to use this illusionary blade thing, best do it under water where no one is looking like >>957031 mentioned.

BUT We might need to strip off the towel and throw it far from the water over the wall behind us and outta sight of whatever is coming before we do that illusion thing, since it might be suspicious if there is a random towel floating in the water for no reason.
>>
No. 957091 ID: 7ae67b

>>957079 Oh no, I think your right.
We need to get out of here or hide now!

I'm not sure how easy it would be to hide with our new ability, we've never practiced before.
Toss the towel and duck under the water like >>957080 said. Try to turn invisible, and then whether or not it works try to get further away from the distortion.
>>
No. 957102 ID: 15a025

We should find Roz, and later Mint.
>>
No. 957121 ID: 891b91
File 158245067024.gif - (193.38KB , 1024x1024 , 1-036-1.gif )
957121

The very space around you seems to ripple and undulate slowly... the effect is almost calming, mesmerizing; some part of you wants to relax and immerse in it. You don't know if it's the result of something inside you that changed or broke, or if it's coming from some external source. All this talk about a killer makes you worry that it's the latter. The thought makes you want to escape this place, to go hide -- and your mind turns to your newfound power of illusion.

You don't know what exactly you can do with this ability, aside from knowing some technical details about it that you only half-understand at best. If it's to be of any use to you, you'll have to test it; but as Triple-F warned, you don't want to be caught in the act of using it. You resolve to hide underwater as you try it out, in case it ends up being a... very noticable illusion. You think maybe you should ditch the towel too, since you don't know how the illusion power may interact with it, but... you hesitate and decide against it.
>>
No. 957122 ID: 891b91
File 158245068977.gif - (315.00KB , 1024x1024 , 1-036-2.gif )
957122

...and then concentrate on your new "appendage", flexing it to draw energy -- rhythm? -- into it...
>>
No. 957123 ID: 891b91
File 158245070042.gif - (177.36KB , 1024x1024 , 1-036-3.gif )
957123

...until you feel something change.
>>
No. 957128 ID: 10c408

The towel is now more visible than you are, but you aren't completely invisible either.

And because of that, in addition to the accompanying reasons, it's time to briefly turn the BoI power OFF and look for a dry towel.

1: You are completely soaked in water from head to toe. Turning invisible will NOT hide you unless you stay in the tub.
2: you gave your location away to everyone, and Omen/nemo knew how to find your mind before that even happened. If any of them can do something using that information immediately, you have to leave the spa.
3: the spa appears to be deserted as well, or at least there's no one in the immediate vicinity. Another reason to get out and start looking around.

See if you can spot a convenient clock while you try to find the towel and keep an ear out for ambient noise.
>>
No. 957132 ID: 60d648

Well what do you know, joining the nudist club was in the cards after all.
Anyway, turn visible, get out, find someone familiar and regain your bearings.
>>
No. 957133 ID: 891b91
File 158245540797.gif - (142.99KB , 1024x1024 , 1-037-1.gif )
957133

>The towel is now more visible than you are, but you aren't completely invisible either.
You glance down at your body, seeing that it has disappeared aside from a very faint outline. As soon as you consciously acknowledge the outline, however, it disappears; you realize that it was only your mental perception of your body, which in reality has been rendered completely invisible.

>>957128
>>957130
>>957132
This update was made mainly as a clarification, so your suggestions will still be considered when I write the next update. Please feel free to repost or change them if you want, though.
>>
No. 957134 ID: b07f1c

See if you can extend the effect to the towel and the keys as well. Imagine them being a part of your body. If not, then discard them.

Then, immerse in the water and the surroundings. Of course, until you have to get some air heh.
>>
No. 957135 ID: 0efe8e

It would appear that while we are using this ability we stop wiggling as well, although our towel is still doing it.
>>
No. 957136 ID: 10c408

>>957133
Thank you for the clarification, true invisibility on demand is going to be hilarious usable.
>>
No. 957140 ID: ce39da

Yeah, invisibility isn't nearly as useful when we'd be dripping everywhere we go. If you can't make the towel and keys (and by extension, the water clinging to our body) invisible, and keep it that way when we stop touching it, then there's little point in keeping it up here.
>>
No. 957148 ID: 7ae67b

Try to extend the invisibility to the towel, ditch it if you can't. Then get out of the hot-tub, try to follow trails from other people who dripped water so the water coming off of you isn't so noticeable, and go to the locker room to find a dry towel.
>>
No. 957150 ID: 0fae41

Finally, you can disrobe without fear of someone seeing something private!
>>
No. 957156 ID: 3ce8ff

interestingly where you are in front of the towel it is invisible (from our perspective)(also the strap isn't wiggling like the rest of the towel)
>>
No. 957159 ID: e51896

is there anything happening from above the water?
>>
No. 957168 ID: b1b4f3

I guess you can only effectively use this power while naked. Unless you can learn to extend it to your belongings? Hmm. Well, whatever the case, turn it off and get out of the tub.
Keep an eye on the undulation, see if switching the group chat off does anything to it. Turn it back on afterwards.
Also something to ask the others: "What names do you use?" We know of a few names but none attached to the current speakers.
>>
No. 957196 ID: a0dfd2

>>957168

In hindsight, this explains why we were totally naked under the jumpsuit we probably stole from Moira, after perhaps killing her.
>>
No. 957241 ID: 891b91
File 158255286095.gif - (162.02KB , 1024x1024 , 1-038-1.gif )
957241

>Finally, you can disrobe without fear of someone seeing something private
That's true! You wonder, though, if there's some limit to how long you can keep the invisibility up.

>Keep an eye on the undulation, see if switching the group chat off does anything to it. Turn it back on afterwards.
You try to mute the discussion in the ethereal space you just left, and you feel it take effect immediately; you're a little surprised how quickly accessing it has become second nature to you. Still, tuning out of the mind realm didn't seem to affect either the undulation of the world around you, nor the rhythmic undulation apparent in your towel, so you unmute it.

>interestingly where you are in front of the towel it is invisible
You hadn't noticed it before, but your body, although invisible, is definitely still blocking part of your towel -- and the lanyard your locker key hangs from -- from view.

>also the strap isn't wiggling like the rest of the towel
That does seem to be the case -- your best guess is that if an item, such as a piece of clothing or a towel, covers enough of your body, maybe it absorbs and re-emits some of your rhythm; while a small object like the key covers too little and the rhythm just flows around it.

>INC VOICE LOC BELLWETHER
>Did it give you a very specific location?
It specifically told you Bellwether, but there's also... a weird sensation that also feels like you're being gently tugged in a certain direction when you think about it.

>Also, mental-log the loud guy as 'ALPHABET' for the abc in his ID. Yes, in all caps, 'cause that's how he rolls.
>I propose ALPHA, being shorter that ALPHABET, and also matching his apparent loud personality.
ALPHABET does seem a bit long, so for now you'll just tag abcb03's posts with the nickname ALPHA -- in all caps, of course.

>Also something to ask the others: "What names do you use?" We know of a few names but none attached to the current speakers.
Penny (d01c35): What names do you guys go by?
Triple-F (ff385f): None of your business.
Casknell/Ellis (cc45d0): ellis
Bocci (32b0cc): Hmm... how about you tell me yours, first~
Penny (d01c35): Call me Dulcinea.
Bocci/Ceres (32b0cc): Well then, Dulcinea, you may call me Ceres~
Casknell/Ellis (cc45d0): thats my real name btw


>Try to extend the invisibility to the towel
You emerge from the water and concentrate, focusing on the towel, trying to move your rhythm towards it somehow...
>>
No. 957242 ID: 891b91
File 158255290545.png - (1.19MB , 1024x1024 , 1-038-2.png )
957242

...And something unexpected happens.
>>
No. 957243 ID: b8dddb

>>957242
Congratulations! You are now a towel!
Jokes aside, this is significantly less inconspicuous than being invisible, so it’d be best to try and fix this before someone inevitably stumbles back into the spa
>>
No. 957245 ID: 3ce8ff

>>957242
while interesting, largely unhelpful right now, it does seem dropping the towel for full invis will be the most productive
>>
No. 957247 ID: ce39da

So invisibility and disguise capabilities? Yikes, if you have any devious inclinations, you could probably get up to some nasty shenanigans with this... Wait, maybe you can copy people's abilities, too? Maybe that's what was meant when it was stated that your power can obtain all the others?

Welp, try making that form invisible; the physical towel seemed to disappear, so maybe finding a shortcut for those two steps is how you cover stuff you're "rhythming" in the illusion, too. If you can't do that, drop the towel back in the water. Either way, wrap the lanyard around its key and press it to your chest - assuming your fist isn't big enough to hide it just by holding it.
>>
No. 957248 ID: 33056f

Focus on Roz next. Can the disguise replicate proportions, or will you end up with a Penny sized Roz?
>>
No. 957249 ID: e7c7d3

So we thought about becoming invisible under the water and we actually become invisible. We then move our essence and become a towel. So then this trickster blade thing of illusion is real and definitely is us. So taking the other blades powers might just be meeting them and copying their abilities liek a metaphysical ditto.

Should probably focus on becoming Penny again until we can experiment in a more private place. Unless our wish of not wanting to be seen somehow extended to the spa?
>>
No. 957250 ID: 015bf2

So, imagine something, and you will appear like it, albeit with size and format change to suit the current size and shape of your body?

This seems more ideal to pretend to be people, though, or else your illusions will look weird unless you shape yourself accordingly. I wonder if you can change your voice as well?

>>957249
Yeah. Return to Penny mode and stop experimenting for now, we don't know when Roz will be back or anyone will pass by.
>>
No. 957251 ID: 015bf2

Actually, wait a minute.

Did the old towel disappear as well? Did you somehow *absorb* the towel to become a large humanoid version of it?
>>
No. 957253 ID: a17ca4

Huh. Could be useful, but I don't think now is the time for in depth experimentation.
Does the towel feel like its diappeared, or is it still there but hidden?

Remove the towel and return to regular invisibility. Wrap the key in its lanyard and hold it in a fist so that its invisible.
>>
No. 957276 ID: b07f1c

Before turning back, do check if the illusion of a towel body is actually just an illusion. Try touching your body to see if underneath the illusion your body is still the same shape.

And then you should, yeah, not imagine yourself as towel anymore and turn back. Hopefully no one saw this.
>>
No. 957284 ID: a80696

>>957251
I also wish to know this information
>>
No. 957290 ID: e51896

Wait a minute, a worrying thought, if Penny has the ability to possess a towel, what if that means that Penny's rabbit looking body is not her original body, and is actually a different person's body that she is currently unknowingly possessing with that same power she used to possess the towel before she lost all her memories?

...Actually I think I am thinking too deeply into this with wild assumptions. Nevermind, best not think about it.

Right now, unless you wanna get high, it is probably best not to be a towel. check If the coast is clear, then try to undo your action.
>>
No. 957291 ID: 10c408

>>957290
Blade of "illusion". Not blade of 'warp reality as I damn well please."
>>
No. 957292 ID: c0594d

Food for thought later down the line - with these abilities, you could probably give yourself Omen's eyeless-toothy-maw face and raspy voice to good effect if you need to rely on intimidation at some point. And wouldn't /that/ be quite a way to lean on what she said about "I am of the future".
>>
No. 957304 ID: 891b91
File 158264704137.png - (475.88KB , 1024x1024 , 1-039-1.png )
957304

>Congratulations! You are now a towel!
You don't want to be a towel!

>Before turning back, do check if the illusion of a towel body is actually just an illusion. Try touching your body to see if underneath the illusion your body is still the same shape.
You try to touch yourself with a towel-like appendage, but what you feel is your fingertips touching your fur. What a relief -- apparently this, too, is just an illusion.
>>
No. 957305 ID: 891b91
File 158264706120.png - (833.30KB , 1024x1024 , 1-039-2.png )
957305

As you glance downwards, you notice your towel lying at the bottom of the hot tub -- apparently it slipped off while you were surprised.

>Wait, maybe you can copy people's abilities, too? Maybe that's what was meant when it was stated that your power can obtain all the others?
You aren't sure how your ability to obtain other powers works, but like your illusion power, you're able to locate it and feel it out a bit. The mechanics of it are still unclear to you, but you get the strong impression that, in order to use it, you have to be close to your target. Really close... or inside them, somehow? It doesn't quite make sense to you.
>>
No. 957306 ID: 891b91
File 158264708227.gif - (268.89KB , 1024x1024 , 1-039-3.gif )
957306

>Check if the coast is clear
As far as you can tell, there is nobody within eyeshot. Still, you do your best to stay quiet, in case someone is nearby.

>Try making the towel-transformation form invisible too
You try to render your illusory towel form invisible, but nothing seems to happen. Trying to dispel the towel form entirely, however, does work -- you become your normal, visible self again. Satisfied, you will yourself into invisibility once more. Interestingly, it feels like it took significantly more effort to get the towel-body illusion going; whereas going invisible just takes a little effort, and turning off the illusion entirely felt effortless.
>>
No. 957308 ID: 891b91
File 158264771694.png - (1.04MB , 1024x1024 , 1-039-4.png )
957308

Resisting the temptation to experiment with this newfound power, you step out of the hot tub, leaving your towel behind; it's soaking wet and you can't make it invisible anyway. You decide to hold on to the key, though; you try wrapping the lanyard around it and concealing it in your hand -- and thankfully it disappears from view when you close your hand around it. There is still the issue of you being dripping wet, which makes your invisibility slightly less effective, but hopefully you'll find another towel to dry off with soon.

You step out of the hot tub's partition and into the center aisle of the room -- the place looks deserted. Curiously, towels and bathing paraphernalia are scattered all over, even though there is no one in sight.
>>
No. 957309 ID: 7ae67b

Since people usually don't leave all their stuff behind when they leave normally, it seems like people either straight up vanished, or evacuated.
If its an evacuation, it was probably triggered by the distortion or something related to it.

Glance around for any oddities or clues, but don't spend much time on it.

Head to the ladies locker room and dry off. If you find any people, stay hidden and observe them for clues to what is happening.
>>
No. 957310 ID: e7c7d3

Head to your locker and grab your stuff. Check to see if Roz's locker is still locked or if she quickly grabbed anything
>>
No. 957312 ID: b07f1c

Go to your locker and take your stuff and realize that you can't hide it so just leave it there. Then head outside.
>>
No. 957313 ID: e51896

might as well get our stuff, carefully.

should we ask those guys about the distortion around the area? They might know what is going on
>>
No. 957314 ID: e51896

>>957313
Oh yeah, before we get our stuff, we'll need to become visible again in an out of sight spot.
>>
No. 957316 ID: 3ce8ff

look out the world in front of you is kinda wavy, lines that should be straight are kinda sinusoidal and it looks like it is getting worse farther ahead of you.
>>
No. 957317 ID: a0dfd2

>>957308

Kind of like everyone left in a hurry, wouldn't you say?

Almost like there was a big rhythm spike and everyone had to abscond because that shit is whack.

... almost like someone breached the divide and touched the shuddering expanse beneath, Penny.
>>
No. 957324 ID: 33056f

Borrow a towel to dry off and take this as an excuse to cavort around naked until you make it back to your room.
>>
No. 957329 ID: 10c408

That looks like a stack of towels at the far end of the room, dry yourself off as much as possible and then go get your stuff.

And, of course, keep an ear out for any worrying noise like footsteps or doors opening.
>>
No. 957330 ID: b1b4f3

>>957305
>really close
You gotta be fuckin'.

>>957308
Seems like your thing with Omen triggered an evacuation. You better keep going. Try finding another towel to dry off with so your invisibility is more effective.
>>
No. 957341 ID: 2aa5f0

explore a little I guess. See if anyone else is actually here.
>>
No. 957343 ID: 015bf2

It's looking more and more likely some manner of Rhythm Quake happened during your 'spiritual congress', hence the panicked evacuations from the epicenter. Let's hope that epicenter isn't too traceable, because Roz knew precisely which tub you were in!

If you reveal yourself you better be ready to have a real good lie for where you went during the quake - Roz will probably have been looking for you as your chaperon, if nobody else. You probably don't want to be pegged as the 'last person out, 10-20 minutes later' either, that's gonna tag you as THE person of interest to whomever wants to investigate. It would be too easy to put 1 and 1 together with 'person appearing in weird special space' and 'unusual on-shelf rhythm quake and 1 late evacuee'. Even if you're not pegged as the last evacuee, you're gonna be a person of interest as someone who was inside at the time (unless you can find a way to hide the fact).

So, a potential good excuse: you were embarrassed about being seen naked, so you hid yourself when you slipped out. 'course, that does mean you have to show up somewhere naked as well and check for cameras that might've seen you (or hope they got scrambled in the quake!), so don't grab your stuff. Especially not if you can see everyone else having not done so either when you check on the lockers.

To build an alibi you can drop your key by the locker, so it seems you were there and trying to open it, but then thought better of it and just let it go.

>>957308
Also, what's going on in the upper right corner there? Some holograms displaying something? Infomercial? Evacuation stuff?

Hm.

Another thought. While investigating what's up on Red Shelf and figuring a way off the shelf, you could go 'missing' from here RIGHT NOW. It will definitely tag you as THE person of interest, but you essentially don't need to look like yourself any more, do you? If you can pretend to be anyone, or anything, you can stay like that and maybe sneak off-shelf aboard a vehicle. The risk of discovery is still there, but it's definitely on the table now and just going MIA would certainly make it harder on anyone trying to trace and hunt you down after this.
>>
No. 957344 ID: 015bf2

Ah.

Realize you have to get used to the thought of being ready to go nude at a moment's notice.

And... that having an excuse to go around naked is going to be a fucking handy, so you need to conquer your fear and join Roz's nudist club.
>>
No. 957346 ID: a80696

>>957309
support
>>
No. 957347 ID: d187d8

what if we just can't see people whilst invisible? Though that doesn't explain why we didn't see anybody in the few moments we weren't invisible. Let's quickly go grab our stuff and be ready to do uh, something. Expect killer alien robot deathsquads tearing everybody to pieces or something.
>>
No. 957352 ID: 2e3a6b

>>957313
No we should not ask those guys in that chatroom. The hunter could be in chat and could also be causing the distortions. If that is the case, asking about it might reveal your location to the killer.

Also Stay away from the distortions.

I wonder if that owl we saw glaring at us earlier has something to do with this
>>
No. 957431 ID: 864e49

>>957306
Can we illusion ourselves bigger tits?

>>957308
Everything seems to get more warped the further it is from you, like a mirage.
What's that at the back on the wall? Is that a speaker? What are those symbols?

also
>>957001
>drink their own kool-aid
It was Flavor Aid.
>>
No. 957443 ID: 891b91
File 158282077761.png - (1.10MB , 1024x1024 , 1-040-1.png )
957443

I've changed the way I depict Penny's invisibility effect to make her more visible against the background (how ironic) -- there's no meaning behind the change.

>It was Flavor Aid.
I know, but the idiom nonetheless coalesced around the more well-known brand.

>Almost like there was a big rhythm spike and everyone had to abscond because that shit is whack. ... almost like someone breached the divide and touched the shuddering expanse beneath, Penny.
>Seems like your thing with Omen triggered an evacuation.
>It's looking more and more likely some manner of Rhythm Quake happened during your 'spiritual congress', hence the panicked evacuations from the epicenter. Let's hope that epicenter isn't too traceable, because Roz knew precisely which tub you were in!
It's definitely looking like something happened, and the timing does seem more than coincidental. What happened, exactly, is unclear -- but you hope you didn't cause anyone to get hurt.

>Also, what's going on in the upper right corner there? Some holograms displaying something? Infomercial? Evacuation stuff?
It's a hologram playback of what you assume is some kind of dance show -- maybe something produced by Dar Balzan?

>Can we illusion ourselves bigger tits?
You don't know for sure, but you assume you probably could use this power as an artifical means of knocker enhancement. Although it'd just be an illusion, you guess.

As you head back to the locker room, you don't notice anything out of the ordinary -- just more abandoned bathing paraphernalia, as well as a couple of the private showers left running. The place seems completely abandoned, and the locker room is similarly empty. You find a stack of fresh towels in the locker room and use one to dry yourself off quickly.
>>
No. 957444 ID: 891b91
File 158282079552.png - (0.98MB , 1024x1024 , 1-040-2.png )
957444

>>really close
>You gotta be fuckin'.
That is a distinct possibility, and you aren't sure how to feel about it. Even if that isn't how it works... you assume that sex with other blade holders would get you close enough to do whatever it is you're supposed to do with this power.

>Also Stay away from the distortions.
They seem to be all around you, so... there's not much you can do about that at the moment.

>Check for cameras
So far, you haven't seen any.

You try checking the other lockers, to see if anyone else grabbed their clothes -- but they're all locked. Roz's locker is the one exception there; you open it and find her clothes still hanging up, so you guess she's still naked, wherever she is. It's a little odd, but maybe Roz wouldn't care too much if she lost her clothes, being a nudist and all. You don't recall seeing her with a locker key, anyway.
>>
No. 957446 ID: 891b91
File 158282082206.png - (1.03MB , 1024x1024 , 1-040-3.png )
957446

>Realize you have to get used to the thought of being ready to go nude at a moment's notice.
>And... that having an excuse to go around naked is going to be a fucking handy, so you need to conquer your fear and join Roz's nudist club.
You hate how much sense this makes -- if this illusion power is to be useful at all, you at least need to be able to get naked quickly. And, from that perspective alone, just being naked by default is even more helpful.

>Another thought. While investigating what's up on Red Shelf and figuring a way off the shelf, you could go 'missing' from here RIGHT NOW. It will definitely tag you as THE person of interest, but you essentially don't need to look like yourself any more, do you? If you can pretend to be anyone, or anything, you can stay like that and maybe sneak off-shelf aboard a vehicle. The risk of discovery is still there, but it's definitely on the table now and just going MIA would certainly make it harder on anyone trying to trace and hunt you down after this.
You don't know if you've discovered the full extents of your illusion power yet, but if you can disguise yourself as anyone or anything... then that would also be an argument in favor of going naked everywhere. At all times. Granted, if you were invisible or disguised -- assuming you can create an illusion of clothes on your body -- then nobody would know you're naked. Well, except for you, and you'd probably still feel naked too, so it's not particularly reassuring to you.

Maybe you don't need to be ready to use this ability all the time, after all. For now, at least, you think you just want to get dressed -- so you open your locker. Thankfully, your clothes are still there.

Suddenly, you hear voices echoing from the bathhouse reception room.

"For crying out loud... no one's going to think you're a pervert, you're following Aye-yema's orders." You don't recognize whoever is speaking.

"But someone could be in there -- naked!" This voice, however, does sound vaguely familiar.

"Look, there shouldn't be anyone in there now. But if you do see someone, just pop the can and gimme a holler."

"I just don't see why we have to be the ones to check out the bathhouse."

"Because everyone else is checking the rest of the shelf. Now c'mon, let's get this over with."

"Why can't you go in there instead?"

"'Cause I'm the one who knows how to work the equipment. Now hurry up."

"Yeah, yeah..."
>>
No. 957447 ID: 3ce8ff

unfortunately i think we are going to want to get a better idea of what this equipment is, which means going toward the voices (partly because we dunno much about this place's layout and so can't abscond effectively)
>>
No. 957448 ID: 202aef

Make sure you dry off any loose fur before you follow; others know you were in the bath so finding signs of you being here is completely normal. Not so if they find hairs in a secret area.

Follow them but be sure to keep at least two escape routes in mind at all times. Your invisibility could turn off at any time. Also try to find hiding spots for short breaks.
>>
No. 957449 ID: e51896

>>957447
actually, we do know the layout of the place: >>935849 we might have to go to the emergency exit... the only thing is, it might make a loud sound if we do exit that way and alert everyone of our presence here.

Should we risk getting caught and take our clothes and head towards the emergency exit, or leave them behind? whatever we do, we might need to close and lock the locker quietly after the decision and take the key as to not cause suspicion...
maybe we should leave the clothing behind and go to the emergency exit and check for clues if it causes an alarm once open before using it? (which is a shame because I designed those clothes personally >>929253 , but sacrifices may have to be made if we must leave them behind for our safety)
>>
No. 957450 ID: e51896

also, the color of the text of the person who sounds familiar here: >>957446 has the same color as Matteo we saw at the very start of this chapter: >>910513
try to remember if that voice is that person's
>>
No. 957453 ID: fb46c1

>Naked at all times and nobody can tell.
Except for anyone and everyone brushing up against you. Getting jostled in a crowded street would be aw~kward.

>What if I see someone naked?!
I see Matteo's not on team nudist.

Considering their relative calm, I don't think everyone's gone missing. I also don't think you want to be seen by these people. 'Aye-yema' could be Cider, since Mattero referred to her that way earlier. And Cider...

1 - Omen warned you about her stating 'Here lies a liar' when you conjured her room in your imagination.
2 - One of the silhouettes you glanced close to the peak of your, uh, thrilling ascension, is close enough to fit Cider's. I don't know why Omen would know all the other wielders' shapes, but... that glimpse may be one of the few edges you have in identifying the others.

So, with clues telling us she could be a wielder, what's going on here? She may have wanted to figure out who it could be and she probably has the pull to do so. Are we in an impromptu manhunt against another wielder appearing on her island? She may be wanting to catch a newly-minted wielder with their pants down, so to speak.

That said, evacuating everyone and searching every last speck of the shelf is probably more likely to be standard procedure after an unusual Rhythm Quake. They might even be sweeping for unusual phenomena or Rhythm/Dust monsters like, uh, that THING you saw get blasted down below. If that's the case, they could possess equipment that could mess with or detect your illusion power! Or at least tell that something's wonky nearby.

Maybe try to bypass them real quick while they're not actively searching?

And abandon your clothes, for now. Unless you want to reveal yourself, you probably don't have the opportunity to bring them.
>>
No. 957454 ID: 6b7e4d

I dont think we will have time to get dressed with these people approaching, and just carrying the clothes will make it difficult to hide with our in invisibility and move around since that is a lot of clothing to carry with us.

So lets just close and lock the locker (will be suspicious if it was open since nobody had time to grab their belongings if they left in a hurry) take the key, and get ready to hide until they leave, unless we can determine if the emergency exit sounds an alarm or not
>>
No. 957455 ID: a0dfd2

>>957446

Well, grab your shit and hide it and you in plain sight?

But be quick about it, since we haven't yet figured out how to extend our invisibility to anything we're holding and "spooky poltergeist clothes" will definitely give that one voice a panic attack.
>>
No. 957456 ID: ce39da

... You could just undo your invisibility and announce your presence. They're clearly aware of the possibility of people getting left behind, and we have a perfectly valid excuse for just that.

"Um, I'm naked in here! I'll be a minute! Is something going on? I ended up sleeping in one of the hot tubs, and now I can't find anybody."
>>
No. 957457 ID: b1b4f3

Get your stuff, hurriedly put clothes on on, be interrupted mid-change and act like you don't know what happened.
>>
No. 957461 ID: c0e130

>>957455
support
>>
No. 957462 ID: 015bf2

>>957456
>>957457
This could work given a ciggie's general ignorance of the world, but if they ask any questions and Penny says the clearly wrong thing, she'd be caught in a really weird lie. Someone may peg her as the new face in supernatural chat town when given that information, which I think should be our chief worry. I would be better to appear outside and pretend she evacuated or whatever with everyone else (but hid due to being too conscious of her nakedness - or maybe took a walk about, to dry down and appreciate her newfound appreciation for fresh air on her excessively naked body!).

The thing is we don't know what the situation or standard procedure is other than 'flee in haste', cuz' we missed all the hubbub. Maybe we'd get a pass, but anything that stands out - such as Penny being too calm, or not being able to report precisely what happened during the Rhythm Quake or what she's been up to since, could paint a target on her.
>>
No. 957463 ID: 7ae67b

I think we either want to come off as innocent, or not have any attention on us at all.

Admittedly, we don't know anything about weaponry around here, but "pop the can" sounds like it refers to something non-lethal, meaning that they would be looking to capture whatever they are looking for, rather than kill it.

Based on the "checking the rest of the shelf", they are either looking for the cause of the effect, or victims of it.

Since you don't know one way or the other, the safe paranoid option is to stay invisible.

However, I vote for turning visible and going with the story that "I fell asleep in the hot-tub, and for some reason nobody woke me up", coupled with confusion and puppy-dog eyes.
>>
No. 957473 ID: 6c227a

>>957456
if you're going for the innocent bystander approach, you don't volunteer details about what you were doing for as long as possible, so you can judge what details would be plausible and what will cause suspicion. Just open with "What happened? Where is everybody?"
>>
No. 957474 ID: a0dfd2

>>957463

As much as I like that as a fall-back plan if need be, not knowing what a Rhythm-quake (or whatever this is) would be like to experience might make that difficult to convince people on.

It might be best to, if pressed, just say that we're very confused and disoriented and don't know what's going on canyoustopstaringandpleaseletmegetdressedohjeez kind of a thing.
>>
No. 957480 ID: b07f1c

>>957444
>you aren't sure how to feel about it
You should imagine the sexy time you just had with Omen and how moist that makes your nether region feel. Now imagine sex with one Omen for each blade... so doing it with six Omens at the same time.

>>957446
>But someone could be in there -- naked
Oh, how funny it would be to troll Matteo here. Make him think the place is haunted.

>Now hurry up.
Considering the layout of this building has circular design, you can simply evade Matteo through the male-only area. Or the female-only area if he decides to check the male section first. And yes, staying invisible for now would be the safe choice.
>>
No. 957485 ID: 5b0071

>>957446
Time to be absolutely quiet. Whatever this 'can' is, its probably something to specifically mess with whatever your new deal is.

.. or it could be a dust bomb to wipe your pretty little brain again.
>>
No. 957486 ID: 10c408

Yeah that's not good. There are now multiple search teams checking out the entire shelf since some alarm was raised and from the sounds of things, they've got equipment on hand to incapacitate you.

I think the best thing to do is to keep our distance from Matteo until she enters the spa, then go around her and and investigate the green voice.
>>
No. 957506 ID: 529620
957506

Leave the clothes behind and escape naked. I mean you have a cool super power and it sounds like nudity isn't that big of a deal with a lot of people.
>>
No. 957512 ID: a80696

We can't go around nude at all times, we developed clothes for a reason.
>>
No. 957513 ID: e51896

>>957512
Of course we're not going naked at all times, we'll catch a cold.

But in this situation, we're just only temporarily ditching the clothing as carrying them around would be a hassle and Matteo might see flying clothes while we carry them, and we don't have the time to get dressed with Matteo coming this way. Plus we can't be invisible while we wear clothing.

Right now, we don't want to get caught by Matteo(?) while they are investigating. That "pop the can" they mentioned sounds intimidating if they do find us. It is best to just keep our distance and spy on them.

Once they leave, we'll dress up again.
>>
No. 957526 ID: f5590a

>>957513
yeah ok that is a reasonable plan. I just want to make sure that we don't start making Penny walk about in the nude. It would just a new layer of difficulty to her on going misadventure.
>>
No. 957530 ID: 2be85e

The constant inner turmoil about walking about in the nude is already a layer of annoyance. Just let penny enjoy the freedom! From everything that happened so far, it just doesn't seem like it's going to be a problem. So just enjoy the freedom already. I feel like except for the one moment that penny took a nap in a hot spring, they have had this constant cloud of stress over themselves.
>>
No. 957536 ID: 891b91
File 158293066616.gif - (422.70KB , 1024x1024 , 1-041-1.gif )
957536

As quietly as you can, you shut your locker and lock it, concealing the key in your fist. The decision pains you, but with someone coming to actively search the area, you just can't risk it -- you'll continue to go naked and invisible for now, and maybe you can get dressed once they leave.

You hear someone enter the room -- it's that Matteo guy you bumped into outside of Cider's room earlier. You knew you recognized his voice. You back into the corner silently, deciding to wait it out until he moves on. He paces around the room, craning his neck around as he looks or possible hiding spots. You watch him carefully as he searches; he's wielding some kind of pistol, as well as a couple nondescript metal cylinders on his belt.
>>
No. 957537 ID: 891b91
File 158293067849.gif - (431.96KB , 1024x1024 , 1-041-2.gif )
957537

You tense up when he pauses to stare at your corner -- for a moment you think he might see you, somehow. It makes you feel incredibly exposed and vulnerable, especially as his gaze continues to linger. You cover yourself instinctually despite your invisibility; some part of you wants to break the tension by crying out that you're here, he's caught you, and professing your confusion and innocence. Just as you start to feel like you can't take it anymore, though, he moves on, apparently satisfied that nothing is amiss here; he exits the room towards the showers.
>>
No. 957538 ID: 891b91
File 158293069646.gif - (512.75KB , 1024x1024 , 1-041-3.gif )
957538

You wait a little bit longer to make sure Matteo isn't coming back, and then decide that you'd better go see what the other person is doing -- even if you plan on waiting them out, you think you'd better get an idea of what this "equipment" they mentioned was. You make your way down the hallway and towards the doorway to the lobby; you guess one upside to your current predicament is that being barefoot means you don't make much noise as you walk.

You peek into the doorway to see who it is; you see a large, kind of burly man who looks like a cross between a donkey and an aardvark, maybe. He's focused on tinkering with a strange machine with a conspicuous spindle jutting out from its top -- you assume this is the "equipment" you heard him mention. Before long he stands up, pressing a button on the side of the machine; it responds by making a grinding, whirring sound as the cylindrical section at the top begins spinning rapidly. He stares at it for a moment, his hands on his hips, and --

ping

Immediately he jerks upright, swinging his head around as he looks for some unseen threat, and backs up into the doorway leading out of the building. As the machine continues to make periodic pinging noises, he presses a couple of fingers to his cheekbone. "Careful in there. Just picked up a signal. Yeah. It keeps goin' off, they're up to somethin', keep your eyes peeled." He pauses a for a moment. "Hey. Got a possible contact in the bathhouse -- no visuals yet, but the scanner found something. Yeah, I got it calibrated right. New signature, not Aye-yema's. Uh huh. No, it's active, scanner keeps going off."
>>
No. 957539 ID: cdabe3

well, shit. either that machine detected you... or someone else, and neither option is great. i think we should find a way to sneak out of the bath house entirely...
>>
No. 957541 ID: a0dfd2

>>957538

Oh shit, it's that guy from the holograph in Cider's office!

A set-beast? Cool!

Time to probably book it back to our quarters and find something to put on, since we MIGHT be able to drop the invisibility there. We can then pretend we evacuated with everyone else, and made it back to our room (you know, the ONLY other place we really know how to get to, and left but recently) to get dressed since, you know, had to GTFO and didn't have time to get stuff.

Only downside is if we find Mint there, but ... we have to trust her, for now.
>>
No. 957542 ID: 015bf2

>>957539
Damn. Brawny guy's standing in the way of the doorway now, too. May be blocking it intentionally. Is he, or can you sneak by?

Odds are the scanner's detecting you, but it may be something else, too. And if it's something they need a scanner for, odds are it can hide itself somehow. Maybe not like you, but somehow.

Any other exits available? Open window, office space nearby?

If not, you'll have to try to squeeze past brawn-dude. You may want to skirt the machine, as it might start triggering more intently if you move closer to it. Try to keep at an even radius distance to keep the ticking as steady as possible, if so. So it doesn't alert the guy at the door even more.

If the ticking starts getting more intense and you're not moving, then it might be something else here, not you.
>>
No. 957543 ID: 13059a

So disguise like the other guy, bail out running and when in cover outside bathhouse, go invisible again and sneak back to the room?
>>
No. 957544 ID: b24d69

>>957538
Well, this isn't good, Before we make any major plays we need to figure out if that scanner is detecting us or something else, then we need to slip past this guy and make for our room, get dressed and go blend in with the evacuees. Though if they are here for us, we are going to have to make a run for it. let's hope the latter is not correct.
>>
No. 957545 ID: b07f1c

We should first confirm that the signal they're detecting is our own. So let's move a bit closer and see if there's any difference in the pings.

Another thing that I would do is, close your eyes and try to immerse in the rhythm around you.
>>
No. 957546 ID: b1b4f3

Another way of confirming you're the source is by hiding behind the desk where he can't see you, then turning off your invisibility to see if the pings stop.
>>
No. 957548 ID: 7ae67b

"New signature, not Aye-yema's." Aye-yema/Cider is specified and Vesper people in general, it means that very very few people have any such detectable signature.
It seems likely that Cider must be one of the people with a blade. Specifically, she may be ALPHA (abcb03), because that person stopped participating in the chat as soon as you spoke and gave them a location. They probably started devoting all their attention to trying to organizing and trying to capture "you", although they hopefully don't know to look for you specifically.

Anyway, introducing yourself now/in this location is probably a terrible idea. Try to get around the scanner without getting any closer to it.
Also, try to find clothes and a place to change into them as soon as possible, I think actively using your invisibility/blade is something they can track. Additionally, if you can put your blade in "low power mode" or something, that might make it even harder to track.
>>
No. 957549 ID: 10c408

Alright, it keeps getting worse. They know for sure you are at the bathhouse now, so more teams are likely heading to it. We need to leave and the front door is out. That leaves three options.

option 1: emergency exit. We can throw this open, but it's going to be noisy and closed doors are the bane of all fictional characters that had invisibility in their arsenal.

option 2: vents. We'll need some loose change (though there may be a screwdriver on hand if the bathhouse has a maintenance room you can try and get into.

option 3: ...window?
>>
No. 957550 ID: b1b4f3

Oh, ask Nemo about this evolution thing.
>>
No. 957552 ID: 10c408

>>957541
>>957544
I don't think trying to slip into the evacuation zone is feasible anymore.

For one, Roz, Ben and Mint can place us at the bathhouse.

For two, we don't even know where it is.

And for three? Even if we SOMEHOW acquire clothes, dodge all the search teams and not get punked by the scanners that can detect us, making tracking a breeze... A simple headcount and logical deduction is going to rat us out as the target if everyone not part of the search team has been recorded and logged.
>>
No. 957553 ID: 2aa5f0

whelp time to GTFO
>>
No. 957574 ID: e51896

He is nervous about seeing someone naked... and yet he chooses the women's side first instead of the men's side......ok...

alright, whatever we do, things to keep in mind:

Don't step in any puddles, we will leave wet footprints.

Be careful what we touch, touching things while being invisible might make things move suspiciously to other people.
And also touching could leave fingerprints if these people are through. If we need to leave through the emergency exit or the vents (if this place has any we can crawl through), try doing so without leaving fingerprints.

one last thing, peek around corners or doorways before going through as to not run into somebody.
>>
No. 957577 ID: e51896

>>957574
whoops, typo. I meant to say touching could leave fingerprints if these people are "thorough" not through. my bad, lol
>>
No. 957581 ID: 864e49

>>957538
This guy was also in the picture from Cider room. Looks like we were right not to trust them.

>>957548
God I hope you're not right.
>>957453
Ah FUCK!
>>
No. 957584 ID: c8b338

I dont feel comfortable going near that pinging scanner. Might be best to check one of the emergency exits.
>>
No. 957585 ID: 891b91
File 158297283419.gif - (365.55KB , 1024x1024 , 1-042-1.gif )
957585

>"New signature, not Aye-yema's." Aye-yema/Cider is specified and Vesper people in general, it means that very very few people have any such detectable signature.
>It seems likely that Cider must be one of the people with a blade. Specifically, she may be ALPHA (abcb03), because that person stopped participating in the chat as soon as you spoke and gave them a location. They probably started devoting all their attention to trying to organizing and trying to capture "you", although they hopefully don't know to look for you specifically.
If Cider has a "blade"... what does that mean for you? Does she see a new blade bearer as a threat, or is there some other motive at play? The threat theory seems likely, considering the evacuation, but... you don't know for sure what led to the evacuation, either. You wonder if there's some way you could form an alliance of sorts with her -- maybe this could be your ticket to obtaining more independence while still having access to Red Shelf's safety net? ...Or maybe she just thinks you're the killer who's been hunting blade bearers down, and she's playing a game of kill or be killed.

>I think actively using your invisibility/blade is something they can track.
>Odds are the scanner's detecting you, but it may be something else, too. And if it's something they need a scanner for, odds are it can hide itself somehow. Maybe not like you, but somehow.
If one of these scanners exists, chances are you'll run into more of them in the future -- so you decide you'd better risk testing it out now in case you're caught by surprise.

>We should first confirm that the signal they're detecting is our own. So let's move a bit closer and see if there's any difference in the pings.
Cautiously, you begin to approach the machine, which continues to produce pinging sounds periodically; the pings start coming in more rapdily as you close in on it. The big guy's ears perk up, but he doesn't react further than that -- you decide to back off, and the pings slow down as you do so.

>Another way of confirming you're the source is by hiding behind the desk where he can't see you, then turning off your invisibility to see if the pings stop.
You crawl beneath the desk partition, staying as quiet as you can, and push yourself up against the side facing away from the big guy. You take a deep breath, deactivate your invisibility, and pray that he can't see you.

The pinging sound stops.

"Hey, uh, I lost the signal. You see any activity in there? No? --"
>>
No. 957586 ID: 891b91
File 158297286328.gif - (449.90KB , 1024x1024 , 1-042-2.gif )
957586

Suddenly, a piercing siren starts blaring!

"Shit! The emergency exit!" The big guy shouts before you hear him run into the hallway and down the hall.

You let a few moments pass, and then with some trepidation you peek your head up over the side of the desk. It appears that it is only you and the machine in this room, now.

You get the feeling it this might be your best chance to make yourself scarce. But which way? The big guy isn't blocking the way out anymore, so you could do that, but there are probably others closing in on your location now, and they might come in through that door. The emergency exits might be an option now that someone has set the alarm off -- you recall that there are multiple exits, according to the map on the wall, but for all you know they might be sending people to cover those exits. The thought of getting out through a window comes to mind, too -- while you haven't seen any windows per se, it did look like the locker room had a skylight you could get to if you were to climb on top of the lockers. Or maybe you should see if you can find a good hiding spot somewhere in the bathhouse and just wait them out; with the emergency exit alarm going off, they might not even think you're in the building anymore.
>>
No. 957587 ID: e7c7d3

The emergency exit? So someone else was in the bath house, not just you. Either a bystander who didn't leave with the others for some reason, or these peoples actual target.

Either way, risk the front door. The longer you take to leave, the more likely you're to be caught.
>>
No. 957588 ID: ca4acd

Since you're still naked, leaving invisible may be the best option. Turning invisible will make the detector beep again, but the main entrance is likely to be the least guarded.
Also, maybe there's an easy switch to deactivate the detector?
>>
No. 957589 ID: 10c408

Honestly? This is probably the best chance you have for making at least a plausible cover story. Leave the building and book it while covering yourself. While visible. We're going to try and dodge any obvious parties but if we can get away with normally sneaking back to the dorms and not get caught we can legitimately hide in our room and wait for this all to blow over.
>>
No. 957590 ID: b07f1c

Haha, the emergency exit of the spa had an alarm on it? Good thing we didn't go that way.

The longer you wait, the more people are gonna show up to this place, so it's best to leave. Through the front door. And as soon as you notice that there's no one around, turn off your invisibility.

Yes Penny, that means you're gonna be walking around visible and naked.

Altho, I'm not sure where we should go. I guess back to our place.
>>
No. 957591 ID: 2aa5f0

can you brake the machine on your way out? Also think front door is best bet right now as I doubt they think that would be the first place someone trying to sneak out would try.
>>
No. 957592 ID: 0fae41

Break the detector in a way not easily repaired. Snipping the plug, poking something in the centrifuge, etc.
>>
No. 957593 ID: f1a58f

I'm against outright sabotage of the detector, it may cause its owners to step up their efforts.
>>
No. 957594 ID: b07f1c

>>957591
>>957592
Doing this would be an extremely bad idea. It would:
- tell them that we were here
- tell them that we exited through the front door
- tell them that there are two contacts and not just one
- not accomplish anything because this isn't the only machine they have
>>
No. 957595 ID: cdabe3

>>957590
i think this is the best option
>>
No. 957600 ID: a17ca4

Leave through the front door, try to get back to the dorm.
Don't break the scanner.
Stay visible unless its an emergency.

Also, Cider may recognize us by our voice. We spoke to her before, and she heard our real voice in the chatroom. Unless we want to reveal/confirm that we were the new person in the chat, we probably want to avoid her.
>>
No. 957608 ID: e51896

I'd say go to the male locker room since the emergency exit siren might have came from the female side, and see if there is a skylight in the male locker room we can escape from, especially since people might be closing in on this location might enter through the front door, and exiting through the emergency exit might cause the possibility of them having a system in place to log when somebody used and emergency exit.

Though it looks like the front door vote is winning by a landslide. If we do leave through the front door, leave the opposite direction of where we think the emergency exit siren came from which might be the female side, which means leave towards the right side of the building where the male side is, not the left where the female side is. They'll be busy searching the other direction.
>>
No. 957612 ID: aa2059

>>957600

Actually, on the other hand, if we can easily contact the chat, maybe we should ask in there, "Is one of you Cider?" There's less danger in asking in there than in approaching this person in real life.
>>
No. 957614 ID: 7ae67b

>>957612 it would be a safe way (for us) to contact Cider, but I don't think it would make her very friendly with us.

If Cider really is in the chat, we would be revealing her identity to everybody else in the chat, which is as good as saying "Hey murderer, kill this person".

Even if there is a way to PM people in the chat, we don't know for sure that ALPHA/abcb03 is Cider, and asking them about it would bring up the same issue if we are wrong.
>>
No. 957617 ID: 015bf2

Hustle hustle! Go for the open main door now, go invisible as you near it - furthest away from the machine - and peek out to check for guards, alarms, cameras, tripwires and other rhythm tracking machines, then get moving! More people may be inbound to an active event like this and you want to get distance between yourself and the area ASAP before the manhunt closes escape routes down.

The way I see it there's a couple obvious options, apart from using your invisibility to flee the shelf.

1 - Head for your room, go visible and pretend you fled there. Continue living with the Vespers while trying to find a way to get off the Shelf and perhaps figure out the truth of things here.
Pros: You know the location, there are clothes, you can pretend you fled bath house with everyone else. Long haul approach, risks less.
Con: Mint is there, will know roughly when you arrived. There may have been a head count after the evacuation - the truth may get out.

2 - Head for Cider's office. Spy on her to see how she's reacting to all of this. See if you can't invisi-kissy her knife out of her.

Pros: You know the location. Brings the initiative your way. You can get more information by spying on her while a crisis is ongoing, and if lucky you can get the issue of Cider's knife settled right away, rather than have it linger in the back of your mind while you're here.
Cons: Cider may be ready and waiting for someone to come after her and may have rhythm detection devices on. You have no idea what Cider's power is, or the specifics of how to acquire it other than 'maybe sex or skinship'. No idea what's going to happen afterwards, to Cider, Vespers and Red Shelf. The longer we're wandering around invisible, the less of an alibi we can get.

>Machine signal
Definitely you doing that - though there clearly were someone - or something - left in the bathhouse who went out the emergency exits just now.

>Aye-yema's signal
Hrm. Kind of sounds like they presumed it would always be on for her?

>>957612
Outing Cider may have consequences and not earn us any favor or trust among the other survivors. Could also bring more of 'em to the shelf, if they're the sort to go after an actual target and not just a rough location.
>>
No. 957620 ID: e51896

>>957608
To add on, Try not to leave fingerprints on the door if we decide to leave through the front door.

And it seems we'll have to stay visible while outdoors in case there are other scanners, which means finding hiding spots while we head to our dorm.
>>
No. 957627 ID: b24d69

>>957587
support
>>
No. 957633 ID: e51896

I just noticed something

the environment around us is getting blurry again like it used to

compare:
>>957538
>>957586

whoever escaped using the emergency exit must have been causing those distortions and making things less blurry...
>>
No. 957636 ID: 7d5d55

>>957633
Ah shit, good catch

Well, i do not think the distortions are coming from another person but maybe that rhythm thing, but if it is amother person, it could be another blade user and they might be in trouble...

...should we try to find this potential blade user by sneakfully following the distortions to the source once we exit the building, and save them from these two guys? Or could that have been that this blade user or otherwise helped us to escape by making a distraction for us and doesnt actually need our help?
>>
No. 957639 ID: b1b4f3

If you can go get your stuff now, do so. Also, you could claim you were hiding in a locker. You can fit in there I think!
>>
No. 957646 ID: 891b91

>>957633
Whoops, that's an art error that I didn't catch. I must have accidentally left out the background line art layer when I did the post-processing pass.
>>
No. 957653 ID: e51896

>>957646
Ah, I see. It's alright. But hey, at least you know that you got viewers in your quest that are aware of their surroundings and are able to pick up on any potential small yet important details when hunting for clues in what is going on in the story ;)

I still think we should escape through the skylight in the
male locker room >>957608,
but if we go through the main entrance, if I remember from earlier: before we entered through the doors, we had to go down a winding flight of stairs underneath the streets... I wonder if maybe since people might be coming that way if we should hide behind/under those stairs until reinforcements arrive into the lobby for us to sneak pass. I guess it depends on what the stairs looks like.
>>
No. 957654 ID: 15a025

Head out the front exit while going invisible for now.
>>
No. 957673 ID: b24d69

>>957654
Can't we confirmed the machine can detect us
>>
No. 957681 ID: ca4acd

>>957673
The key question being how fast they can react to it, especially as they left the machine unattended.
>>
No. 957682 ID: a9d8df
957682

Break the machine before you go so that they cant track you.
>>
No. 957685 ID: e51896

>>957682
I diasagree on breaking the machine. Breaking the machine will mean that they will know somebody came through this way. We want them to go on a wild goose chase and go after whatever went out the emergency exit, not where we are leaving. Lets not leave evidence of us being here and not destroy the machine, especially since reinforcements might arrive this way eventually and might see the destroyed machine.

Plus they won't detect us if we stay visible. We just have to rely on our physical abilities and hide
>>
No. 957687 ID: a0dfd2

>>957685

Seconding this, but adding that all we need to do is get a good distance BEFORE we go invisible again.

While we don't know the range of this thing, we want to be far enough away that Matteo and Burly won't hear it start pinging while they're investigating whatever.

So be quick! We gotta get out into the streets, and then disappear back to our quarters!!
>>
No. 957708 ID: e51896

>>957687
Lets not forget that this might not be the only scanner in the area. Other buildings might have other people manning similar scanners. We'll need to keep this possibility in mind on our way to our dorm.
>>
No. 958263 ID: 891b91
File 158354591062.gif - (518.77KB , 1024x1024 , 1-043-1.gif )
958263

>Also, maybe there's an easy switch to deactivate the detector?
Staying as quiet as you can, you approach the scanner and search the console on its side for any obvious controls. Sure enough, there's a button conveniently marked "power" -- but you hesitate to push it. You also get the idea to just try to break the thing, but decide it's better left alone. You don't want to leave any evidence of sabotage.
>>
No. 958264 ID: 891b91
File 158354592529.gif - (1.52MB , 1024x1024 , 1-043-2.gif )
958264

The screen embedded above the controls catches your eye, though -- it's displaying a list of wave diagrams, and somehow it seems familiar to you. Each one has a label and some kind of statistics beside it:

BACKGRND 01 IGNR CONT 00s
WRLDSTAT 01 IGNR REPT 04s
CUSTOM01 01 IGNR CONT 00s
UNKNWN01 01 ALRM CONT 01m
UNKNWN02 01 ALRM POIN 01m

You aren't sure how to interpret the text, but there's an intuitive feeling to the waveforms that you can't quite describe -- you just get them on some level:
>BACKGRND ebbs and flows in a way that reminds you very much of the subtle rippling you've noticed around people's bodies.
>WRLDSTAT is... vaguely familiar, but also very complex; you don't know what to make of it.
>CUSTOM01 seems special somehow, and after a few moments you realize it corresponds in some way to the calming distortion you've sensed around you ever since you woke up.
>UNKNWN01 is immediately recognizable to you as somehow belonging uniquely to you; you guess this is what the scanner detected when it went off earlier.
>UNKNWN02 is completely unfamiliar and unknown to you.

CUSTOM01 stands out to you as the most interesting -- what is its connection to this strange aura pervading this place? As you stare at the waveform, you feel a wave of... something indescribable wash over you -- it's a sensation of somehow coming into harmony with it and conforming to its cadence. The sensation lingers for a moment, but it slips through your grasp when you stop concentrating on it.
>>
No. 958265 ID: 891b91
File 158354594176.gif - (215.73KB , 1024x1024 , 1-043-3.gif )
958265

You decide you'd better get moving, and you head out of the lobby and towards the stairs leading up to the streets. As you cross the threshold, you become ever more aware of the reality of what you're doing; you're really going to walk out of this place completely naked, not even concealing yourself with your invisibility illusion. Your heart races at the thought, and part of you wants to go back and get your clothes -- but you're worried that having them with you right now might give you away, so you guess you have no choice.

You muster up as much courage as you can, and start climbing the staircase leading up to the streets -- but once you take a few steps up, you hear someone shout from the top of the stairs:

"Hey Matteo, you down there?"
>>
No. 958266 ID: e7c7d3

The people themselves don't seem to detect you when invisible, just the machine. You mat be able to pop in and out to get past this person.
>>
No. 958268 ID: b1b4f3

>>958264
Unknown2 is older than your signal, but by less than a minute. I feel like that's not old enough to match the signal of your awakening, so I guess it must've been something that was active just before you turned off your invisibility-- the signal corresponding to Nemo's power, perhaps? The spiky waveform matches the rhythm pattern you saw on Omen. Too bad you didn't see her use her blade in person though, so you don't have a feeling for it. Or maybe it's not Nemo, but an agent of Nemo that infiltrated the spa and worked as a signal booster to allow Nemo to contact you?
Custom01 is obviously Cider's power. An aura of peace and conformity. Perfect for the Red Shelf. Also probably useless for your presumed overall task of stealing blades. You can save her for last.

>>958265
You're visible right now. Might want to turn on the invisibility again?
>>
No. 958271 ID: 10c408

Stairs are almost as bad as doors!

Stop moving, turn invisible again. Did the alarm turn itself off or is it simply not loud enough to mask our footsteps?
>>
No. 958277 ID: 906caf

Also, if the voice ignores us then we should go back and switch UNKNWN01 to ignore, assuming that Matteo hasn't returned to it.
>>
No. 958280 ID: 18411d

Stay visable to not get the machine pinging again and Hide behind the stairs. There is a gap you can hide in below the stairs.
>>
No. 958282 ID: 18411d

>>958280
To add on, we dont know if they have a scanner upstairs as well. Best to assume the worst
>>
No. 958284 ID: a0dfd2

>>958265

Shit, dive under the stairs! That little alcove just there in the back corner, right beneath the section you're going up. Hopefully nobody could see you there ...?
>>
No. 958289 ID: e51896

alrighty lets think this through

We know that the scanner records how long ago it detected those wavelengths from us after we stopped using our blade and became visible again,
also, that said, we stopped using our blade of illusion around the time the emergency door alarm conveniently went off.

ergo, If we want them to continue to believe what they are looking for went out the fire escape and send them on a wild goose chase, we cannot go invisible again, otherwise if they come back to the scanner, they will see that it recorded us again and they will know that we escaped through the main entrance.

so, unfortunately, we can't go invisible again or else it will record us. we do not even know how far away we need to be from it, or if there are other scanners in the area

Instead, what we will do for now is hide behind and under the stairs while visible as to not make a recording on the scanner again until we know it is safe to come upstairs. From what I assume, whoever that voice belongs to might be coming downstairs right now.
>>
No. 958296 ID: b1b4f3

Uh guys why are we trying to sneak out in the nude if using invisibility is forbidden because they "might have a scanner"?
The one we found gave no indication of where the blip was, only a sense of proximity, and even then only a vague one.
>>
No. 958298 ID: e51896

>>958296
while it doesn't show any indications where exactly we are, We don't want to leave clues that we are still close enough to leave a new recording on the scanner, and we want them to believe that whatever left those recorded blips escaped through the fire escape and is not lingering near the bath house to leave more blips in the machine.
>>
No. 958302 ID: 10c408

>>958296
Because it didn't sound like this was the only machine and search team on the entire shelf.
>>
No. 958303 ID: b1b4f3

You're not responding to my main objection here.
Being naked is pointless if we're not going to use the invisibility.
>>
No. 958305 ID: 10c408

>>958303
Two reasons.

One, if we're about to be caught but managed to put some distance between us and the spa then turning invisible is going to confuse the fuck out of the search teams

two if we don't get caught AT ALL and make it back to the dorms/somewhere else without having to use invisibility we can probably hide out long enough for all of this to blow over and no one can poke enough reliable holes in a shaky cover story.
>>
No. 958307 ID: 18411d

Going back to get our clothes now is too risky, and even if we did, if any investigator searches the locker for clues and finds no clothing in the locker we had the key for, they will wonder how we had time to get dressed during an evacuation which wouldnt make sense and cause suspicion. It looked like everyone left in a hurrry after all.

And also, Penny felt some kind of weird sensation from CUSTOM1. What if she felt another blade user using their blade? If we use our invisibility, chances are this person might sense us just as we sensed them.
>>
No. 958330 ID: 864e49

>>958264
>CUSTOM01
This is probably Aye-yema/Cider's signal.
>UNKNWN02
This could possibly be Omen.

>>958305
Three, If they do have more of these devices then we'll be making a connect the dots puzzle to the dorm we're staying in.
>>
No. 958341 ID: b07f1c

These stairs are unfortunately not wide enough for Penny to evade someone if they came walking down so... hide under the stairs and wait until the coast is clear.
>>
No. 958367 ID: b1b4f3

>>958307
Penny "sensed" the other(Cider's) power because it's an area of effect power. The invisibility's entire purpose is to go undetected so why would it be so easy to sense!?
>>
No. 958376 ID: b17082

Scurry around and hide under the stairs.

Again, be ready to use your invisibility, but only in an emergency.
>>
No. 958377 ID: 015bf2

>>958376
If we want to keep avoiding detection, this may be the best solution. If they don't come down, we can start using the invisibility and try to get past them.
>>
No. 958408 ID: 891b91
File 158362115574.gif - (257.94KB , 1024x1024 , 1-044-1.gif )
958408

Fearful that going invisible might set off the scanner again, you dash for the alcove beneath the stairs. Thankfully, the alarm is loud enough that you think it should mask your footsteps. You flatten yourself against the wall and wait.

You hear someone rushing down the stairs. "Matteo! Where the hell are you? Your comms busted or something?"

He reaches the bottom and pauses. "Fuckin' hell, where'd they go?" Another pause. "Hey -- if Matteo's down here, he ain't answerin'. No, don't see Owen either. Scanner's by itself. Hey, can you shut that alarm up? Can't hear myself think down here."

The alarm stops blaring, and you hear him jog off, probably into the lobby the next room over. "Yeah, I'm checking now... uh, this is weird. Got two unknowns. Owen only said one? What the hell... Wait, I think this thing might be on the fritz -- says it picked up Aye-yema's signal twice -- did she let up on it for a minute or something? Yeah, gimme a sec, I'll restart the thing."

You hear a click, and the scanner's whirring goes silent -- followed by another click and the whine of the scanner starting up again. "...Alright, yeah, now it's just showing one. Maybe you should send someone-- what? In Funtana? Do you need -- oh, watch the scanner? Yeah, gotcha, I'll let you know if anything happens. Be careful over there, somethin' don't add up about all this."
>>
No. 958412 ID: e7c7d3

Check the service door. Maybe it's a janitors closet and you can get into a jumpsuit again
>>
No. 958415 ID: b1b4f3

>>958408
>picked up aye-yama's signal twice
Maybe when you recognized the signal and thought about it real hard you could replicate it? Maybe that's how you copy blades to begin with-- seeing the pattern in detail and mimicking it. The extra close proximity might be required for most blades, but not Cider's. Also I suspect "stealing" a blade does not require removal of the target's blade or kicking them off the group chat, but is something Nemo wants to happen in addition to gathering abilities.
OR, all you did was fool the scanner, and didn't actually use the ability for real.
...I wonder if the scanner picked up the second unknown signal when you turned off your invisibility? Maybe the reading on that is you using your blade-manipulation ability, so whenever you turn on or off a stolen ability you create two rhythm signatures.

Anyway, with that guy busy watching the scanner you can either use the service exit or go up the stairs as planned. I'm favoring the service exit.
>>
No. 958417 ID: ac10e5

Or there's another person here with you.
>>
No. 958418 ID: b07f1c

Would it be possible for you to sneak up the stairs now? Or is he positioned in such a way that he sees this way? If you can't, then try the service door... quietly of course.
>>
No. 958419 ID: b1b4f3

>>958417
The thing is, Owen only saw one signal when he turned it on. That implies the second signal happened when he wasn't looking, and he didn't look at the scanner again after that. The timing is suspicious.
>>
No. 958420 ID: 015bf2

>>958408
We could take the service door, but it might also trigger an alarm.

Safer path is probably tiptoeing upstairs.
>>
No. 958426 ID: e51896

Good, he thinks there is a glitch on the scanner and the previous 2 guys are busy chasing whatever went out the emergency exit. Best to make the new guy think there is only one signal. No invisibility unless it is an emergency so we don't set off the scanner again.

I'd go for stairs. for all we know, service could be a dead end, not an exit, and the door could make a sound now that the alarm isn't blaring to drown it out. this new guy is focused on the scanner to look out the door.
>>
No. 958428 ID: b17082

Take a look at what's behind the service door. If it leads to service corridors, that may be a way out of the building, and if its supplies there may be a jumpsuit (unlikely, but possible).

If the service door is locked or not useful, try to peek through the doorway to the lobby to make sure the new person won't see you if you go up the stairs. If they won't, head up the stairs.
>>
No. 958431 ID: 3bac2f

If there are any jumpsuits in the service area, I probably wouldnt steal one, we dont want to leave clues someone was there during their investigation by stealing something that is supposed to stay there.

Im going team stairs
>>
No. 958478 ID: b24d69

>>958412
support
>>
No. 958484 ID: 10c408

Inch over to the service door on your right and carefully open it.
>>
No. 958485 ID: b17082

Wait, how long was the scanner off for when he reset it?

If is was even 5 seconds, you might be able to take advantage of mimicing CUSTOM01 again.
When you need to get past a scanner and people, mimic CUSTOM01, they will think its being glitchy and reset it, and then you turn invisible and sneak past while the scanner is turning back on.

Of course, if is like 1-3 seconds or something, it might not be useful.
>>
No. 958497 ID: 864e49

>>958264
> As you stare at the waveform, you feel a wave of... something indescribable wash over you -- it's a sensation of somehow coming into harmony with it and conforming to its cadence.
>>958408
>says it picked up Aye-yema's signal twice
Did...did we just copy her signal?
If we could do that while being invisible that could solve a lot of problems.
>>
No. 958501 ID: b07f1c

>>958415 >>958485 >>958497
I think the order of events was:
1. Penny started reading the stuff on the scanner
2. While she was still reading the stuff, the number 01 changed to 02
3. Penny looked at CUST waveform in more detail
4. Penny was washed over with a sensation

So unless I'm wrong, the sensation came in after the change in the CUST signal counter, which would imply that Penny was not the cause of that increase and that she likely cannot mimic the signal. I mean, we could still try but, I don't think this is a good time to be experimenting with that.
>>
No. 958511 ID: b17082

We could try mimicing CUSTOM01 right now, and if the new guy complains about the signal showing up again, then we know it works. If it doeen't work, it shouldn't cause any problems.
>>
No. 958514 ID: b07f1c

>>958511
>If it doeen't work, it shouldn't cause any problems.
The only way this would be useful would be if we could use invisibility and have it show up as a different signal. This means that, to properly test this, we'd have to use invisibility right now. If it doesn't work, we'd be tripping the sensor. Some might consider this a problem hehe. And even if it did work, having Cider's signal appear twice for the second time might cause this guy to call her up and confirm that something's up.
>>
No. 958515 ID: e51896

I'd rather not try to mimic Custom01 again.
>>
No. 958538 ID: a0dfd2

>>958497

Maybe? Or maybe it's a sympathetic reaction; Cider / Aye-yema reacting to whatever the heck we did.

>>958511

Probably best that we don't. It doesn't really matter what signal / waveform we give off, I imagine, because unless we can mimic one of the ignored ones (world static or background noise, for example), these things are simply looking for ANY discrepancy.
>>
No. 958539 ID: a0dfd2

>>958408

Service might lead to a back entrance or similar, or at least a way to get our stuff?

It looks like with Matteo and Owen preoccupied, and the guy I'll tentatively call Brownie (like the fairy, but totally because of his text color) on orders to mind the scanner, we might be able to risk getting the hell out of here.

Provided there are no obvious locks or alarms on the Service door, let's give it a brief listen for activity, then peer in and see if it might be useful for absconding without making a (worse) show of ourselves.
>>
No. 958609 ID: 891b91
File 158372116711.gif - (274.91KB , 1024x1024 , 1-045-1.gif )
958609

You press your ear against the service door and listen for any activity behind it; you don't hear anything, aside from the distant hum of some kind of machinery. Carefully, you slide the door open, trying to make as little noise as possible; you get it about a quarter of the way open before you meet significant resistance against opening it further. You think you could force it further open, but you don't know how much noise it'll make.

It's open enough for you to take a peek, though. You peer inside and you're greeted with a narrow corridor lined with pipes, ending in a junction that branches off in the distance. It isn't clear where it leads, but at first glance it seems like the coast is clear. You don't see any convenient jumpsuit-bearing lockers nearby, though.

>So unless I'm wrong, the sensation came in after the change in the CUST signal counter
You were a bit distracted by the sensation when it happened, but you think it coincided with the counter changing, rather than coming afterwards.

>Maybe when you recognized the signal and thought about it real hard you could replicate it? Maybe that's how you copy blades to begin with-- seeing the pattern in detail and mimicking it.
It seems plausible that you might be able to copy an ability by copying someone's signal by itself... but when you felt yourself coming into harmony with the CUSTOM01 signal, you didn't feel like you had gained any extra knowledge of whatever ability might be attached to it. Then again, you weren't even aware of your powers at all until Omen... did her thing.

>Did...did we just copy her signal?
>If we could do that while being invisible that could solve a lot of problems.
Maybe it's another aspect of your illusion powers -- perhaps you can disguise your signal, in addition to creating visual illusions. You consider testing it out, but you aren't sure if that's a good idea while that guy is in the other room.

>Wait, how long was the scanner off for when he reset it?
You'd wager it was about 10 seconds, give or take.
>>
No. 958610 ID: b1b4f3

>>958609
Try to squeeze through the door.
>>
No. 958611 ID: a0dfd2

>>958609

No chance of squeezing through ...?

It might be our only chance, unless we try to flee up the stairs, and hopefully Brownie won't be able to see us from wherever he is.
>>
No. 958615 ID: e51896

Sounds like it'll be too risky if it will make noise and there are resistance. If we use the door, we'd most likely have to run, and I don't want to leave a trace that anyone went this way. Lets use the stairs as initially planned.
>>
No. 958618 ID: b8bf3b

If we can squeeze through the door with the amount it is open now, i'd take it. Though the narration did say that it is open only enough to peek through. 

I'd say, if we can squeeze through with no problem without opening the door further, which doesnt seem likely, go for it. Otherwise i'm more for going for the stairs right now. Whoever the new guy is will most likely be too focused on the scanner and looking out for Matteo and the other guy to bother looking out the main entrance to see us.
>>
No. 958620 ID: b17082

The service tunnels might work, if we had a map. Since we don't I think its too easy to get lost.

Take a peak at Brownie, if hes looking the other way just go up the stairs. If he is likely to see you, spoof the CUSTOM01 signal again, wait for him to reset it, and go up the stairs invisible.
>>
No. 958623 ID: 4f367a

>>958609
Slide through the crack in the door into the tunnels.
>>
No. 958628 ID: 10c408

Alright, well. The service door's a bust then I suppose. Even if you can reach the obstruction, there's no guarantee that you can undo it without making some form of noise.

Soo... While we've got this nice concealed alcove and an unwitting member of the search team nearby monitoring one of the scanners let's expirement. See if you can duplicate the feeling you had earlier for several seconds before stopping. Then see if you can become invisible while duplicating the same feeling.

If it's possible to do that, then we can turn invis and go up the stairs while 'brownie' here believes the scanner is faulty.
>>
No. 958629 ID: 227827

Whether we leave through the stairs or take the doorway, i want to leave no evidence or further suspicion that we were here or that there is two blade users in the area. That said, whatever we do, lets wipe our fingerprints off the spots we touched on the service door with our arm before we leave wherever (unless we dont leave fingerprints because of our fur on our digits) and lets not do anything that sets off the scanner in any way like attempting to fake the custom signal or using invisibility. It could be too risky to experiment as things are now and we dont want them to conclude theres two people. I think we want to make them think the glitch was due to the scanner needing to reset and having it scan something again might make then think it wasnt a fluke thr first time around.

He should be too focused on the scanner to look out the main door to see us anyway if we decide on taking the stairs.
>>
No. 958657 ID: b07f1c

Try to get to the base of the stairs and then reveal yourself to this guy by saying, "Excuse me, can you tell me what's going on?", while covering yourself. While he should be startled, he shouldn't be too surprised due to the fact that Matteo and Owen are chasing after the supposed culprit, where the dar Funtana was mentioned.

Why this decision? That's because the longer we're deemed missing, the more suspicious we become. Revealing ourselves right now would also give us a sort of an alibi (can't be at two places at the same time), provided that we can explain why we're not with others. I think a good explanation would be that we remember following some people, our memory being hazy for some reason, but then we blanked out and got lost. So we turned around and went back to the spa to get our clothes.

Alternatively, go for the stairs.
>>
No. 958658 ID: b17082

>>958657 actually, I like that idea. If he can the stairs through the doorway, and he's facing in that direction, we might have to sneak up the stairs so that we can then come down them while he can see us.

But if the whole thing works, we can get our clothes back as soon as possible & can stop worrying about being hidden.
If it doesn't work, hes just one person, and we can probably get away from him.
>>
No. 958661 ID: 015bf2

>>958609
Hmm... if you put your tail through first and then angle yourself sideways into the crack, you'll probably be able to squeeze through at the current size.

I still think the stairs would be the better move, since we know where they lead, but this way is viable as well.
>>
No. 958662 ID: 015bf2

While I still don't think revealing yourself to any of these guys is a good idea, if you really need an excuse to pop in again, you can say you CAME from the service hall, having panicked and gone the wrong way when you were evacuating.
>>
No. 958667 ID: 227827

I don't like the idea of revealing ourselves to these people. They most likely have a specific segment of the community on lockdown and anyone they spot in the locked down segment of the city might be treated with extreme suspicion. I think we have a better chance of an alibi if we make it to the dorms and explain to Mint the situation
>>
No. 958669 ID: 227827

>>958667
Plus to add on, matteo was told that if they spot anyone, "he should pop a can on them" >>957446
This guy might do the same if he sees us, no questions asked
>>
No. 958701 ID: b07f1c

>>958669
If they know that there's an intruder on the shelf, then no, they wouldn't lock down a specific segment, but the whole shelf.
If the spa was evacuated, then I'm pretty sure the dorms (and Mint) would have also.

We will have to reveal ourselves sooner or later. Someone "popping a can" carries the same risk no matter where or when we do it.
>>
No. 958743 ID: 891b91
File 158380938307.gif - (300.61KB , 1024x1024 , 1-046-1.gif )
958743

Pushing your tail through the gap first, you just barely manage to squeeze your way through the service doorway without opening it further. Carefully, you close it behind you, which thankfully doesn't make much noise either. As you do so, you feel the locker key press into your palm, reminding you that you still have it concealed -- and, more importantly, that you're moving ever further away from your clothes. The realization makes you feel terribly exposed, but at least you're down here and not somewhere more public.

You follow the corridor a short distance, and soon you arrive at the junction you saw. It splits off into three branches:

>BALZAN/GRIXTI/FUNTANA/NEVIAN
>CENTRAL/UNDERHANG
>ORMI/BLIN/ZAHRA
>>
No. 958744 ID: 3ce8ff

>>958743
central/overhang
>>
No. 958747 ID: b1b4f3

>>958743
Hmm, I think people are going to assume you've been kidnapped, since you made some fuss about not walking around naked, and if we do things right nobody's gonna spot a naked person on the surface.

Also, I wonder if you can disguise the use of your ability as background rhythm? I can't imagine scanners are good at detecting duplicate background signals.
Either that, or disguise it as fucking nothing. Walk without rhythm, Penny.
>>
No. 958748 ID: 0fae41

Balzan is, as I understand it, most understanding about walking around nude. Roz might be there too. Thataway!
>>
No. 958749 ID: 422cea

Balzan. It's perhaps the only place we have any worthwhile knowledge of.

Also, NAKED TOWN.
>>
No. 958754 ID: 630bad

We probably want to stay far away from the direction of funtana where Cider is. The brown text guy said someone or something is there anyway.

Which way would our dorms be? Maybe central? Lets go there.
>>
No. 958756 ID: b1b4f3

I pick Balzan.
>>
No. 958757 ID: a80696

>>958743
I vote Central, we need to get clothes and get to where the rest of the evacues are.
>>
No. 958761 ID: e51896

I'm mainly voting for Central since that is most likely where the dorms are, and that way looks pretty empty. We need to talk to Mint about what is going on, and our dreams and stuff since she could be a confused blade user like us and could help us come up with an alibi. She doesn't seem all that comfortable around the people around here anyway except Penny since she was more open to talking to her, and most importantly we can get dressed there.

BUT I have an idea: if it is possible, maybe before picking where to go, I want to peek over to the left and the right hall, and check the distortions of each direction. Afterwards, maybe we can pick the direction that has the least amount of distortions. It could be that the source of the distortions could be the blade user these investigators are hunting down which we don't want to be near.
>>
No. 958775 ID: 9fad0d

>>958743
balzan
>>
No. 958776 ID: b07f1c

In order of my preference: Ormi, Balzan, Central
>>
No. 958790 ID: a0dfd2

>>958743

... wait, do we know where our dormitory is? Would these service tunnels be able to lead us back there?

If so, follow that one. If not, head to Balzan and try to meet back up with Roz.
>>
No. 958791 ID: ce39da

Central is likely where the dorms and the evacuees are.
>>
No. 958794 ID: 727dff

Central. If that is where the evacuees went, we can blend in with the crowd and get clothing. And even if their not there, by order of elimination of the places, our dorms should be that way. Or maybe we can wait in the halls and listen until the investigator leaves and we can grab our stuff from the locker?
>>
No. 958797 ID: 891b91
File 158386203981.gif - (304.21KB , 1024x1024 , 1-047-1.gif )
958797

You feel torn on which direction to go -- on one hand, you want to get back to your dorm, so you can get dressed and check on Mint; you think that's probably in Central. On the other, between your nudity and the possibility of finding Roz, you want to head in the direction of Balzan.

>BUT I have an idea: if it is possible, maybe before picking where to go, I want to peek over to the left and the right hall, and check the distortions of each direction. Afterwards, maybe we can pick the direction that has the least amount of distortions. It could be that the source of the distortions could be the blade user these investigators are hunting down which we don't want to be near.
So far the distortion has seemed to be fairly constant, but... now that you give it a closer look, it does seem stronger in some directions than others. It feels strongest down the Central/Underhang path, in an upwards direction, so you assume that if you went far enough down that path, you'd end up underneath the source of the distortion. The distortion is at its weakest in the direction of Ormi/Blin/Zahra, so if you want to avoid its source, you think that'd be the direction to head in. That being said, you aren't sure what the distortion is even doing, aside from making you feel slightly calmer than you would otherwise.

>Also, I wonder if you can disguise the use of your ability as background rhythm? I can't imagine scanners are good at detecting duplicate background signals.
Background rhythm... you glance down at your hands, mulling over the concept briefly as you watch the subtle boiling of their contours, and you're suddenly struck by epiphany -- the monotonous rippling you've seen in yourself and every living person you've come across, that's the background rhythm! And if you can imitate the CUSTOM01 signal... why couldn't you imitate that? It seems so obvious to you now; you're emitting background rhythm at this very moment, after all, so you just have to... keep doing it when you're putting up an illusion. You can't be sure without testing it out, of course; but you feel a strong intuition that it is something you could do, albeit at the expense of some effort.

>Either that, or disguise it as fucking nothing. Walk without rhythm, Penny.
Thinking about it further, you realize that there's effectively no difference between putting out background rhythm and putting out no rhythm at all -- the background rhythm is a default state, and when you aren't putting some other rhythm out, you're emitting just the background signal. If the scanner you encountered earlier is any indication, they probably can't distinguish between separate background contacts, either; since it only counted one even though at least two or three people had been close by it.
>>
No. 958798 ID: d187d8

>>958797
all these updates, you're spoiling us. Let's go towards central and try to save mint. She's already felt uncomfortable before, this is just gonna make it worse. What if the "background rhytm" here screws with your own resting rhytm so to speak, and thus influences the kind of person you are or something? The hooded figures did refer to the red shelf inhabitants as "zombies" after all.. Mint seemed especially sensitive to this sort of stuff, it's probably way too late for Roz.
>>
No. 958801 ID: b07f1c

Preferably Ormi (same as before). Find Millie, she'd probably bail us out.

This is because it would be suspicious as hell if we were discovered trying to get to Cider during this situation. Similarly, I'd rather not get close to Funtana, the location Matteo and Owen went to.
>>
No. 958802 ID: a0dfd2

>>958801

Unless she's the other unknown, what with all those creepy comments of hers and that whole situation by the shower.
>>
No. 958804 ID: b07f1c

>>958802
She was interested in Penny and she did offer to help us with information. So I think it's very likely she'd be willing to help us in this situation as well.

Also, she was too fat to be able to use that exit and outrun anyone. But who knows, maybe she hacked the alarm to allow Penny to escape.
>>
No. 958805 ID: 015bf2

>contacts
So, to go invisible without detection, you need to do it as the same time as you're mimicking the background rhythm. Very handy - you now have a reliable fallback. Use it in a pinch to not get spotted! Given that it tires you out, you shouldn't use it all the time, though.

>Central
If that's where the calming influence is coming from, odds are that's where Cider's at, since it might be her gift that's keeping everyone from flipping their shit over what's been going on. She's up to something there, so if we want to spy on her and figure out her deal during this crisis, we should definitely head in that direction.

>Balzan
On the other hand, we might find support in Balzan, and it's the place where our nudity is the most likely to be accepted casually. We might also find Roz there and reunite to form a better alibi and return to our dorms, wherever they were.

>Ormi
Or spy on or seek answers from Millie in Ormi - or at least on what the Ormi do in general, maybe there are clues as to what they're up to that turned Millie into Millie.

Ultimately, I kind of want to poke at the mystery at the heart of this Shelf while it is active and we have the opportunity. We could also go that way to sneak into our dorm for a 'home free' option. Head down Central!

Secondary preference would be to head to Balzan.
>>
No. 958807 ID: c3a103

So if Cider is causing these calming distortions, she is probably using it to keep the evacuees calm after whatever just happened.

Im not sure where to head to after learning this new information, im torn between CENTRAL to find Mint or the direction of ORMI/BLIN/ZAHRA to stay away from the distortions and possible investigatiors, but whatever direction we do end up going, i think Pen should put her ear against the door we'll leave through and listen for anybody before exiting.
>>
No. 958824 ID: 695467

I'd suggest going to Balzan, if we can find Roz there. She's been pretty good to you, and she's probably worried.
>>
No. 958831 ID: a80696

>>958797
I am voting central we need clothes and we need to check on mint
>>
No. 958841 ID: a9d8df

go to Balzan and find Roz
>>
No. 958845 ID: 10c408

Before we move on to central... We can and probably should check in on the blade user chat thing, see if there's anything relevant going on in there.
>>
No. 958846 ID: a80696

>>958845
I like the idea, but if people are searching the tunnels it might give us away
>>
No. 958847 ID: b1b4f3

>>958846
Huh? How? The group chat doesn't broadcast location unless the user speaks out loud in it.
>>
No. 958852 ID: e51896

To be fair, the last time we used group chat was before these people showed up with that radar, so I'm not sure if that can detect us looking through chat or not, though if people are chatting away as there is an investigation going on, maybe it is safe to check? maybe we can check group chat when we are farther away from the radar?

But now that I think about it, could WRLDSTAT 01 be that group chat ability? the seconds were resetting itself every once in a while as we checked it, like maybe whenever somebody chatted in it or looked into it for updates, the timer on the scanner of WRLDSTAT 01 would reset itself? and the narration said that the signal is vaguely familiar to us too. if that is the case and Penny can recognize and confirm WRLDSTAT as group chat, maybe we can test disguising WRLDSTAT with Background when we're farther away since both are pretty expected to see on the radar? Would be safe to test disguising WRLDSTAT with background before testing disguising her abilities with background.

which way? I want to stay away from the distortions and go the directions where ORMI/BLIN/ZAHRA is, but since lots of people are voting either central or Balzan, maybe I'll take the risk and pick Central to check in with Mint to see if she is alright and get some clothing. Besides, Penny believes that she can disguise her ability with background signal, so if it comes to it, she can use that in case of an emergency when we know for sure we are about to get caught and we have no other options.
>>
No. 958855 ID: 05bc7c

>>958852
Interesting theory, I like it. though maybe that isnt the case. Consider that WRLDSTAT had the words IGNR REPT at the end instead of IGNT CONT like most of thr others. REPT might stand for repeating while CONT might stand for continue, so whatever it is detecting might be set to repeat every 12 seconds, so it might not be group chat. But who knows, maybe it is actually refreshing every 12 seconds for new updates in group chat?
>>
No. 958869 ID: 3ce8ff

also we may be able to illusion clothing on ourselves while maintaining our background signal(though it is odd because we have no apparent wiggle while invis which to me suggests that maintaining the background signal will just have us emitting two signals the blade and the background signal)
>>
No. 959004 ID: 15a025

Head to Balzan and find Roz.
>>
No. 959078 ID: 2be85e

Go find roz.
>>
No. 959168 ID: 7f7c82

Finding Roz sounds like the best plan right now.
>>
No. 959800 ID: 891b91
File 158527913447.gif - (326.28KB , 1024x1024 , 1-048-1.gif )
959800

Torn between heading towards Central or Balzan, you eventually decide to head down the CENTRAL/UNDERHANG path, so that you can check on Mint and hopefully get dressed again. You want to find Roz as well, but that can come after things die down. Besides, you suspect that Cider has something to do with whatever is going on right now, and Central seems like most likely place to find her or some evidence of her involvement in this. As you progress down the narrow corridor, the distortion becomes gradually stronger, and with it comes an distant murmuring noise; it's too muffled to make out what it is exactly.

You continue further until you reach a ladder set into the side of the corridor. A sign beside the ladder reads:

>UP: COMMONS
>FORWARD: SANCTUARY
>BACKWARD: DARS AND BATHHOUSE
>DOWN: UNDERHANG

The distortion feels like it's strongest in the direction of the Sanctuary, but the murmuring sounds like it's coming from the Commons.
>>
No. 959801 ID: 0fae41

Check out the Underhang. Time to see what shelf life really means!
>>
No. 959802 ID: e7c7d3

Can't go to the commons, people will see you naked then! Though, they probably won't have a machine so invisibility might work. Let's take at least a peek
>>
No. 959804 ID: 259a38

Lets try to listen in on what those murmurs are saying. It might give us a clue as to WTF happened and is going on so we can plan our next move and destination.
>>
No. 959807 ID: b1b4f3

Go eavesdrop in the Commons.
>>
No. 959810 ID: b07f1c

I want to go to the Sanctuary. Therefore, you should go up, to the Commons. This is because I don't think entering the Sanctuary from the maintenance tunnel is possible. It wouldn't be much of a sanctuary if they didn't secure this passage.
>>
No. 959813 ID: 89a441

If humans have five toes, why do we have three?
>>
No. 959814 ID: 10c408

commons.
>>
No. 959815 ID: 529620

Go to the commons
>>
No. 959817 ID: a0dfd2

>>959800

Commons for sure, just beware that if there's a grate or a trapdoor, we'd best leave it shut. Same as if there's a regular door.

We need to wait for a clear, then streak our pale lily butt to our room.
>>
No. 959818 ID: a9d8df

Go to the commons.
>>
No. 959820 ID: c84ff4

>>959813
of all the questions, that is the one you arrived at? last I checked everyone here identifies as 'human' and this is clearly a fantasy world where it could be that 'human' refers less to the species and more to being alive and sentient.
>>
No. 959821 ID: c84ff4

>>959807
This, if you can't do so without being seen abort.
>>
No. 959849 ID: ce39da

Commons for now, so we have clothes, but we’ll probably want to make our way to the Sanctuary after that - preferably via a less suspicious above-ground route.
>>
No. 959892 ID: e51896

listen in on the people on commons. Try to pick up on what they are saying.
>>
No. 959961 ID: 15a025

It might be hard to come back down here, at least undetected. I think we should take a peek at the underhang.
>>
No. 960663 ID: b24d69

>>959800
Go to the commons we need clothes
>>
No. 960974 ID: affa90

Investigate commons. See if they have a machine. If not get clothes.
>>
No. 961112 ID: 891b91
File 158633228434.gif - (295.72KB , 1024x1024 , 1-049-1.gif )
961112

>If humans have five toes, why do we have three?
This, along with various other aspects of your appearance, seems to mesh poorly with this deeply-held notion that you are human. Frustratingly, you're still unable to conjure up a mental image of what a human should look like.

But speculating about what you are, exactly, can wait until later, when you're safer and hopefully less naked! You begin your climb up the ladder to the commons, and before long you reach a trapdoor. You feel apprehensive about opening it -- what if someone sees? -- so you decide you'll open it just a crack and peek out.
>>
No. 961113 ID: 891b91
File 158633229467.gif - (248.98KB , 1024x1024 , 1-049-2.gif )
961113

You're greeted with a view of what looks to be a gathering of people nearby -- thankfully, they're mostly facing away from you and none of them seem to notice that the trapdoor is slightly ajar. (Although you can't be completely sure about that, considering you've only got a view of their ankles.)

The murmuring sound, no longer muffled, turns out to be some kind of... chanting in unison, you guess, coming from the group of people ahead of you.

"...and we shall see the lights before dawn, open, open, break through the barrier, show what lies past the edge! Never tell the lock what opened the key. Eighty-three! Nine hundred seventeen, two thousand!"
>>
No. 961114 ID: 0fae41

The group is focused on something else, this is the perfect opportunity to get out. Move fast and stay low, though this shouldn't be hard with your stature.
>>
No. 961117 ID: b1b4f3

Yeah, sneak out here, then try to find your room so you can get some backup clothes on.
>>
No. 961125 ID: 094652

Well, the circus is in town. You should lend them a hand; find a phone and call the local police force and tell them to maintain peace and safety for this crowd of legitimate and sane businessmen.

Then get the hell out of dodge.
>>
No. 961127 ID: cdabe3

Hold up, are those Roz’s legs?
>>
No. 961128 ID: b07f1c

>>961127
They are black-skinned legs with thick wool that starts a bit below the knees. Does Roz have the same-looking legs? Yes. Does that prove this person is Roz? No.
>>
No. 961132 ID: a0dfd2

>>961113

Oh, they're standing in grass and I think they're ... I have no idea.

Suddenly, however, I think "Commons" meant more of a central courtyard than what we first hoped. Might be a good idea to head elsewhere?
>>
No. 961133 ID: a1afa2

I think I can see Ross out there.
>>
No. 961139 ID: d6a927

It sounds like a sermon of some sort... wasnt the santuary ahead of the commons? The group might be facing the sanctuary if this is a sermon... and there was quite a lot of distortion coming from the sanctuary which causes soothing feelings. I wonder if in some way it is causing some kind of hypnotic trance on these people or from whatever they are looking at considering they are all speaking in unison. Maybe we shouldnt continue through commons and try a different area?

Im torn on either heading to sanctuary to find a different less populated exit, hide in the underhang, go to the direction with the less amount of distortions, or go to Balzan since they are less strict on nudity
>>
No. 961141 ID: 49e4d4

I had a think:

What happened to Mint? We should probably see if we can't get to her. Maybe she knows something about what's going on, despite her usual...detachedness.
>>
No. 961150 ID: a9af05

>>961141
Even if she does know about what's going on, I think she's more likely to try and kill us. The people in that "chat room" thing seemed to really not want to meet each other in person and if Mint was one of them, then she'd really hate us for coming near her. Possibly even attempt to kill us herself.
>>
No. 961153 ID: b07f1c

I don't see any dicks touching the ground, therefore the coast is clear.

Clear as in, clear to use your invisibility! Concentrate on the rhythm you're emitting, then slowly turn invisibile - slowly in a way that you're careful to only do it when you're sure that the rhythm you're emitting isn't the one of your blade.

Then crawl outside by lifting the trapdoor the least amount needed to do so. Fortunately, the hatch door seems light enough to not require effort lifting, but be careful not to lose your concentration doing it anyway.
>>
No. 961154 ID: 10c408

>>961153
Just because we can't see a machine doesn't mean there is one. And a hatch being pushed up by itself with no one doing it is also a huge giveaway.

Instead of turning invisible and booking it, just turn invisible and stay still, see if the crowd does anything.
>>
No. 961159 ID: d6a927

>>961139
Actually now that i think about it, it might be very suspicious if we weren't attending this sermon especially if Roz is here. Someone might notice we werent part of the group from the hot springs. We might need to try to sneak and slip into the group and blend in for awhile.
>>
No. 961165 ID: 864e49

>>961113
Cool we're just in time to watch them drink the kool-aid do culty stuff.
>>
No. 961166 ID: 49e4d4

>>961150
Wait, what makes you think Mint was one of them?
>>
No. 961269 ID: b24d69

>>961113
close the hatch and go make and pick a different direction
>>
No. 961291 ID: a0dfd2

>>961141

Good idea! She's probably taking things pretty poorly right now, and might be a safe haven from whatever the hell's going on.

>>961150

And give herself away as the cause of the disturbances? Not likely. She'd have to be a fool to try that right now.
>>
No. 961599 ID: 15a025

Might be best to close the hatch for now and see if you can keep on listening in.
>>
No. 962249 ID: 891b91
File 158711167371.gif - (610.78KB , 1024x1024 , 1-050-1.gif )
962249

For a moment you wonder whether you should double back, but you decide to continue through the commons once you realize that one of the pairs of legs ahead look like they could be Roz. You will yourself invisible again, disguising the blade's rhythm as the background signal -- it takes some concentration, but you don't notice any sudden activity coming from the commons, so it must be working, assuming there's another scanner nearby.

Staying as low as you can, you crawl out through the trapdoor and let it close gently behind you. Remaining still, you observe your surroundings, sizing the situation up as you watch for any reactions to your presence.

A large gathering is arrayed ahead of you, spaced out at regular intervals. They all stand rigidly, continuing to chant as you heard before -- something about it unnerves you; it seems too regimented, too controlled, and you wonder if it has something to do with the strange aura pervading the area.

You scan the crowd and immediately pick Roz out in the back row -- why is she here? Not to mention that she's still naked -- which you guess isn't that unusual for Roz, but you quickly realize that the person beside her is the guy whose junk you scoped out earlier, and he's naked too. In fact, it looks like there are quite a few naked people among the group, and no one seems to care.

Everyone is facing towards the building in the distance, as if they're chanting at it. You squint your eyes; you think you can make out a couple people standing on a balcony at the front of the building.

"The opening lies before us, its name is barycenter! Years, days, hours pass and everything remains the same: Alpha and Omega hide the magenta in-between. An ant travels the klein bottle, searching in vain for the outside, forever trapped inside!"
>>
No. 962251 ID: 0fae41

Give Roz an invisible nudge. What's got her in a trance?
>>
No. 962252 ID: cdabe3

what the hell is going on? look at the lizard-taur: judging by the lipstick smooch on his balls, he was in middle of something before coming here, and then came by while completely disregarding whatever embarrassment he should have felt. same with the others: half of them look naked.

be very careful here before choosing your next course of action
>>
No. 962255 ID: 35cc17

>>962251
I think that interacting with Roz is definitely not the thing to do right now. Really, anything that could alert someone to our presence is something that should be avoided until we have some idea what's going on. Even if Roz is completely trustworthy and is herself right now, trying to alert her to our presence is liable to attract unwanted attention to one or both of us, which in turn is likely to put the both of us in danger.

It would be much more safe to find somewhere out of the way to observe for a bit. Getting a better grasp on the situation could help avoid a costly mistake.
>>
No. 962256 ID: b07f1c

This bunch is probably the people that were at the spa, which is why most of them are naked. Look around if you see anyone suspicious but don't touch anyone or anything.

Hmm. Is that some sort of a tattoo on that guy's sack? Take a closer look.

As far as where to go from here, I'm not sure.
People wanted to go to Balzan to find Roz, but we already found her. And she's busy.
I also don't see much point in returning to the dorms because I think it's highly unlikely that we'd find Mint there. And even if we would, she'd be just as confused as we are and wouldn't be able to help us. And even if we got some clothes, they would only put us in jeopardy since wearing them would mean forgoing invisibility, which seems like an important skill to have available right now.
So where else can we go? Personally, I was in favor of finding Millie, since I argued that she'd be willing to help us in this situation. In this case, we should search this crowd to see if Millie is among them. If she is, it would mean she's just as busy as Roz. But if she isn't, we could go search for her.
The other option that I see is heading towards the Sanctuary and finding Cider, but I'm not sure how good of an idea that would be in the current situation.

For now, I vote to squeeze past this crowd (while checking if Millie's here) and move towards the balcony until we see who's up there.
>>
No. 962265 ID: b78a11

I wonder why everone might be in a trance and we aren't? Could it be that blade users are not effected?

What if Mint isn't effected and is unkowingly a blade user? It was mentioned she had weird troubling dreams, and we had a weird dream with Omen. Maybe we should check the dorms and find her so that she does not get captured for not being a part of this out of suspicion?

Either that or we could stand behind Roz, turn visible, and pretend to be in a trance like everone else and wait this through.
>>
No. 962269 ID: 91ee5f

>>962249
This seems to be a way for someone to get people out of the spa so that they’re out of the way. I’m guessing it’s so that they can find you more easily, since the guys at the spa had a machine made to track you.

The people here probably won’t even remember what happened once they come out of their trance.
>>
No. 962273 ID: e51896

>>962269
>This seems to be a way for someone to get people out of the spa so that they’re out of the way. I’m guessing it’s so that they can find you more easily, since the guys at the spa had a machine made to track you.

judging by how there are others dressed in clothing, it might not just the spa, but other places as well, mainly the places that have these distortions most likely. I assume all the areas with the distortions are where they are drawing out people searching for a blade user (or us).

If that is the case, maybe we'll need to find Mint so she doesn't get in trouble in case she isn't in a trance and is a blade user too without knowing. I don't want her captured by these people...

Should we remain invisible once we get out of this area and towards the dorms, or turn visible again just in case once we're out of sight of the balcony? only just in case the whole disguising our rhythm thing doesn't work and there are more machines around? our powers are kind of new, we don't know if this thing depletes or drains our concentration or something...
>>
No. 962274 ID: e51896

>>962273
(that is assuming these distortions don't effect blade users to be put into a hypnotic trance)
>>
No. 962275 ID: 015bf2

Yeah, this is suspicious as hell. Probably Cider's Blade effect has pulled them here under some kind of charm. You need to get an overview of the crowd - move forward invisibly to get a view of people's expressions, and to what degree they're actually themselves at present.

If they look dazed or in a trance, try to memorize faces and body types - these people are the victims, unaware of the truth of what's going on here, i.e. not trusted or part of Cider's inner circle. That is knowledge you may make use of later, especially in terms of who to maybe trust.

Also, use the opportunity to look for Mint (to verify if she's here) or tattoos like the one Millie showed you - you don't know what their significance are, but you might as well get a list of people who might be on her 'team' as it were.

And.. is something going on with their feet? Everyone seems to have been, uh, rooted in place by something? Study it with your rhythm-sense.

If the rows are uniform and everyone is acting all dazed, this is also your one chance to pretend you were with the rest of the crowd all along. Thankfully you're small, so you could position yourself all the way at the back, hiding behind someone taller and broader like Ben or Roz. Since Roz and the bath house crowd seems to have arrived last it wouldn't be unusual for you to be there lined up in a neat row with the rest of them (I suggest hiding behind Ben in that case, since people usually line up from left to right).

Alternatively, since everyone's out of it and Cider's trusted people are chasing ghosts (and another Blade wielder???) and you are on a balcony away from the person whose blade you need to steal... you can try getting closer to her to see what you can do about grabbing her Blade and putting an end to one of this cult's power moves.

You do at least need to get a bit closer and verify who is on that balcony. It's probably Cider, but it would be of interest to know who else she's got with her up there. Heck, that probably is that the same balcony as the one you peeked out of earlier today in Cider's living room!
>>
No. 962276 ID: 03513d

Seems that we’ve walked in on a veritable cavalcade of delicious derrieres, with the more familiar Lizard Boy and Roz mixed in with some newer faces, like the Slim Girl on the right, and the extra Leggy Boy on the left. Speaking of Leggy Boy, that’s quite a sack, though it seems he has a blemish of some sort, maybe we should take a closer look. Actually, would he wear pants or does he naturally go around nude? Some sort of kilt or cloak might fit him better if he isn’t a nudist.

Also, do Lizard Boy and Roz know each other? Could be that they were hanging out just before they came here, though they could’ve wound up side by side by coincidence. Couldn’t hurt to ask at a later date.

More seriously though, I think Roz might be injured, if only slightly. There seems to be a bruised or slightly bloody spot on her left ankle.

Seems that whoever or whatever is controlling them is likely up ahead, on the balcony. It’s unlikely they will hold this type of control permanently, but we could try and learn their identities, seeing as blending in right now won’t work unfortunately. They are too uniform, too insync, we would stand out regardless, so sneaking it is. It might be worth trying to wake one of them from range, to see if it’s possible, but if we do, then we’re putting them in danger as well. If waking one of them really is a priority, which it shouldn’t be, toss a rock at Lizard Boy.

Honestly, finding a hiding spot nearby seems ideal to me, if only in the short term. We could drop our cloak to avoid overusing it or something, and keep tabs on what everyone is doing for a while. If we find a telescope or pair of binoculars, we could get a good look at whoever is up on the balcony without getting closer, avoiding the risk of us exposing ourself to whatever has control over them. From there, we can decide on how we should intervene.
>>
No. 962284 ID: a0dfd2

>>962249

Ah, a sequence of functional paradoxes or impossibilities, based upon such things as non-euclidian geometries (in the instance of the bottle).

This has something to do with our Gordian Knot -- as each one is perceptual, whilst remaining illustrative of the symbolic separations thus formed.

They're in a trance, too; that's certain. And worrying, as I suspect whomever it is sits on that balcony has no small hand in this.

Move, Penny. And Quickly.
>>
No. 962291 ID: afd902

Well THIS is a big old red flag. If they don't want to be known as a cult, they shouldn't do things like this.

Also, that's a lot of nice butts. Based on the nonsense everybody's chanting, they're totally out of it. You could totally cop a feel on some of them and get away with it. You won't, but you're tempted.

What you will do is take a closer look at the stuff on their feet (unless its really just grass). Also get a closer look at some of those butts.

Also: that chanting? What is this gibberish? Is this some kind of dream nonsense stuff they're coming-up with spontaneously, is it some kind of password/program thing, or is this an actual official cult chant written by an idiot?
When we take Cider's blade, we should totally mock her choice of chant.
>>
No. 962292 ID: b1b4f3

>>962249
Is Mint in there? If not, go see if you can find her in her room.
>>
No. 962299 ID: ce39da

I'm hearing a lot of caution about Cider, but keep in mind that someone else was lurking around the bathhouse - probably with ill intent for us. We might be in a position where we'll have to decide whether Cider is to be avoided or aided against a possible mutual threat.
>>
No. 962308 ID: 49e4d4

>>962249
We REALLY shouldn't stick around, but we might want to at least try to see who's speaking- from a distance, and with a clear escape route in mind. We need to get to Mint now that it's clear that this place is bad news.
>>
No. 962320 ID: b24d69

>>962249
Well if there was any doubt before then it is gone these guys are brainwashed cultists. we need to figure out what is going on and how to leave. while making sure no one is alerted to our presence.

(Looking it that book was a mistake I think.)
>>
No. 962345 ID: 9c48ac
962345

It's kind of tempting to just try to blend in... But there's no way we can duplicate that chant without actually being affected, and if they're looking for Blade users they might have people looking around for people who aren't chanting.

Plus, I really want to find Mint. So let's see if we can do that.
>>
No. 962380 ID: 891b91
File 158719725857.gif - (167.09KB , 1024x1024 , 1-051-1.gif )
962380

>Everyone seems to have been, uh, rooted in place by something?
>take a closer look at the stuff on their feet
It just looks like grass, to you.

>More seriously though, I think Roz might be injured, if only slightly. There seems to be a bruised or slightly bloody spot on her left ankle.
Upon closer inspection, you think it was just a trick of the light; Roz's ankle looks like it's uninjured.

>we don't know if this thing depletes or drains our concentration or something...
While it doesn't seem to be sapping your focus rapidly, disguising your blade's signal like this does feel a bit tiring -- you think you can keep it up for a while, but eventually you'll need a breather.

Something about the lizard-taur guy's nuts catches your eye -- aside from the fact that they're huge, that is. You cautiously step forward to get a closer look, and realize that there's a big lipstick mark spread across them; apparently he was, uh, having some fun before all of this happened. You feel a twinge of envy for whoever left that mark there; you're tempted to cop a feel yourself, but you resist the urge, telling yourself that it's too dangerous to get sidetracked by lewd things right now. Even if you'd like to feel how heavy they are.

Untimely horniness aside, this guy and the rest of the naked people out here seem like an important clue -- did they just drop whatever they were doing and immediately walk over here? Because that's increasingly what it looks like, to you.

You think for a moment about your next move. You're concerned about Mint, and think maybe you should find her before something happens to her. You could also seek out Millie -- she might know something about what's happening, if she isn't under a trance too. You also think you'd better come up with an escape plan, and quick, in case things get even more dangerous than they already are.

Your concern for Mint wins out, and you decide your best bet for finding her is to return to your dorm, if you don't see her in the crowd here. You're pretty sure you need to head in the direction of the sanctuary to get there, based on what you remember from walking to the bathhouse earlier. That'll also lead you past the balcony ahead, so you decide you'll stop nearby to eavesdrop -- whoever's up there might have something to do with all this distortion and the trance that everybody out here seems to be under.
>>
No. 962381 ID: 891b91
File 158719727024.gif - (278.51KB , 1024x1024 , 1-051-2.gif )
962381

Carefully, you slip past the crowd and get closer to the balcony, ducking into a nearby alley once you're close enough to observe. The distortion is incredibly strong here. Along the way, you glance at the faces in the crowd -- they all seem to have the same deadpan expression. You're pretty sure you saw Millie's head across the way, but you didn't see any sign of Mint. Then again, she's about as small as you are, so it'd be easy to miss her in this crowd. You didn't see any tattoos like the one Millie showed you earlier, either.

Looking up at the balcony, you see Cider standing at the edge, partially hunched forward with one arm outstretched towards the crowd, while she steadies herself against the bannister with the other. Besides her is someone new to you -- whoever she is, she looks quite concerned about Cider.
>>
No. 962382 ID: 891b91
File 158719727938.gif - (161.08KB , 1024x1024 , 1-051-3.gif )
962382

She turns away from Cider and presses her hand against the side of her head. "Status report! ... For fuck's sake, how hard can it be to find one fucking person?!" She starts shrieking. "Hurry the fuck up! Aye-yema can't keep doing this for much longer -- do you have any idea how fucking hard it is for her to take control of nearly every god damned person on the shelf?! Do I need to remind you how just how fucked we all are if the killer gets to her?! It's not just Aye-yema's life on the line, if she's gone we're all fucked! Everyone living on this shelf is fucked! Our entire goddamn way of life is fucked, everything we've ever worked for and everyone's chances at paradise are fucked! This is bigger than you or me or any-fucking-body in the world, so pull out the stops and get this shit done already!" She sounds like she's on the verge of tears.

She stands there for a moment, her chest heaving, before she turns to Cider and nearly embraces her, rubbing her back. "It's alright, Aye-yema, they're gonna find 'em, they're gonna find 'em soon..." It sounds like she's trying to reassure herself as much as she is Cider. "And when they do, we're gonna kill the bastard..."
>>
No. 962383 ID: 891b91
File 158719729248.gif - (224.50KB , 1024x1024 , 1-051-4.gif )
962383

"Nnn-no," Cider gasps -- her voice sounds hoarse and strained. "Don't -- don't kill them."

"A-Aye-yema, I don't think--"

"Don't," Cider interrupts, in a more forceful voice this time, "Don't kill them. Bring them to... the spire. I have... questions." She nearly falls over from fatigue, but catches herself.

"Aye-yema!" She gasps, trying brace Cider. "W-we won't kill them, we won't, just hang in there until we find them, please!"
>>
No. 962384 ID: 0fae41

You should go up there and tap Cider on the shoulder.
>>
No. 962385 ID: 3bcc4b

Alright, so we can already infer *some* details out of this. Cider is more or less confirmed as a blade wielder - namely, 'the blade of control', due to her ability to forcibly manipulate people into this gathering.

Notably, she doesn't seem to be hostile to the 'killer' on the loose, so in theory Penny could negotiate/discuss, were she not unfortunately the prime suspect who would be killed on sight. That also begs the question of *how* her blade of blades can steal other people's, because it's going to be real unfortunate if we're going to have to kill everyone for it.

I'm not quite sure what to suggest in this situation. Revealing yourself and 'surrendering' could have adverse effects, especially since Cider's goons do seem like they want to take Penny in. But we *can* safely say that Cider is most likely to not be the killer, as (from her point of view) there shouldn't be anyone she would be keeping her blade a secret from, meaning that her words are much less likely to be a front meant to deceive the killer. As such, revealing yourself as harmless (preferably somewhere where it isn't immediately obvious that you have invisibility powers) is probably a better choice than to keep running around willy-nilly and further arouse suspicion.
>>
No. 962386 ID: cdabe3

Surrender yourself and say you have no intention of causing harm. Don’t reveal your invisibility powers though.

This might be a creepy cult-like convent, but Cider likely has no idea you’re listening in, so I honestly think she doesn’t intend to kill you. At least, not right now.
>>
No. 962387 ID: 2aa5f0

sounds like you just have to wait and they'll be forced to pull out.
>>
No. 962392 ID: b07f1c

Reveal yourself. Turn off your invisibility and walk out of the alley.

The thing is, if Cider goes out and there's an actual killer still on the shelf, this would spell danger for us as well, so we should avoid Cider exhausting herself for now.
This means that we must reveal ourselves soon. Heh, I already voted to do so several updates ago - it would've been much simpler back then. Anyway, there's no need to be fancy here. Whether we do it next to Cider, or do it down here, the risk and the consequences would be the same.

Hmm, Mint. If she's not here then, could she be the killer? Or under their influence? I feel that the first thing we should do after surrendering is to ask them where Mint is and, if they don't know, tell them not to lower their guards just because you're here, because the killer could still be out there.

Nice sack.
>>
No. 962403 ID: b452f6

Reveal yourself and dont reveal your powers to anyone. Play dumb and try to act like you have now idea whats going on.
>>
No. 962407 ID: e51896

I'd rather not reveal ourselves. Whoever they are looking for is a killer. we are not a killer, we do not want to be treated like one, and if we reveal ourself, the real killer they are looking for will get away. After all, we were not the only ones in the bath house, the killer they're looking for was most likely that person.

Plus Omen said that Cider is a liar. We shouldn't have to listen to her lies

Best not to get involved at all with all this. Lets look for Mint at the dorms, if she isn't here, she is at the dorms and could be in trouble.
>>
No. 962416 ID: 417f73

None of the other blades believed we were new, many of them thought we were going to kill them. It doesn't seem safe to assume that Cider will believe any differently. We do not want to be questioned by another blade right now and there is no guarantee that we won't be killed when the questioning is done. It seems much safer to go try to find Mint and see if she is ok. There are better times to talk to Cider, on our terms, if we want to reveal that we are a blade too.
>>
No. 962425 ID: a0dfd2

>>962383

As much as I want to throw off the invisibility in front of the crowd and tell Cider to stop this before the old fool actually kills herself ...

... we don't honestly know if we're the only other anomaly, right now, NOR if Cider was the one who left the "chat room" in such haste.

If we can spare a moment, let's check to see who's still in there. Counterintuitive though it seems, it might be safest to inquire there -- sort of an "If you can hear me, Aye-yema, please stop. You're searching for the wrong person." That way we don't cause a scene.

The use of her Qatra / whatever name should be enough to let Cider know we're here.

If that doesn't work ...

... well, neither do we know how long we have to find Mint, either, or what state she might be in.

It's too much of a risk to drag everyone else into this, especially if we've only just awakened to our powers (and unknowingly set the entire shelf into a frenzy searching after us, if we indeed ARE the only other wielder here).
>>
No. 962427 ID: b07f1c

>>962425
Using the chat room to communicate with Cider is a really bad idea so I'm strictly against it. This is because it would be exposing Cider as a talent holder (using "Aye-yema" wouldn't be safe either because it's publicly known that that's Cider's other name). Exposing her would put her in danger and consequentially cause an even larger scene. Lastly, there's a good chance Cider wouldn't even read the chat because she's occupied.
>>
No. 962428 ID: 10c408

Don't reveal yourself, we can more easily establish an alibi now. All we have to do is nudge our way inside that crowd and then wait out Cider until she has to release everyone.
>>
No. 962429 ID: b1b4f3

There's no way she knows you're close enough to make a plea like this. However, there's no way you can conclusively prove you're not the killer unless you walk right up to her while invisible to prove that you COULD have killed her, but didn't.
Also, there was another blade user here. If Cider catches them, you're gonna want to listen to that interrogation. So... sneak into the Spire.
>>
No. 962431 ID: 9857bc

Lets get to the dorms and find mint and clothes. This issue with the cult trying to find their killer is none of our business. Finding Mint and making sure she doesnt get caught up in this is our business however since she is our friend and she seemed like a shy delicate person. I cant imagine how she is fairing in all this chaos if she is not hypnotized like we are not.
>>
No. 962495 ID: afd902

Considering that Cider doesn't want the "killer" executed immediately, it would probably be safe to get captured, talk with Cider so you can get a better idea of whether she needs to lose her power or not, and if you do end up in danger during the talk, you can probably take her power, and use it to skedaddle.

However, that's not a guarantee. We should look for Mint first, we might be able to convince her to aid us in the event that we need to escape. Additionally, the extra time will likely mean that Cider is even more tired, and easier to overpower.
>>
No. 962502 ID: 91ee5f

>>962383
Don’t reveal yourself. Just wait for Cider to tire herself out.

You can go meet her later in her office. You can ask her about all of this when you’re not being chased by people with guns.
>>
No. 962519 ID: 015bf2

Looks like Cider's trusted cabal knows she's in danger and is trying to root out the source, meaning she's trusted them with quite a bit of information! Remembering that old picture they might've been with her on this journey from the beginning. The Vesper society itself might've been built up around her power, tweaking and manipulating influential people to get their own Shelf, to get 'willing' recruits... goodness, how many minds have she influenced to get this far?

I wonder what their idea of paradise is.

From the woman's panicked rambling it also seems like they're very dependent on Cider's Blade power to keep their society running. If we do manage to take it from her that means we might have a hell of a trump card to hold over the Vesper leadership - assuming we want to.

Hm. I don't think we should freely trust Cider and the Vespers yet - I mean, cool, they have goals and dreams that they're using the Vesper society to achieve... but between Millie's personality change and Cider's persuasion power there are clearly schemes going on and not everything may be on the level. We need to know more before we can commit to trusting Cider!

Also, if we reveal our identity and power to them now, they could pass it along to others later on, which we definitely do not want. There is also the off-chance that Cider is the real 'killer' and she can only get whatever she's after from the wielders directly, which is why she insists they not kill them and instead want them brought to her.

Finally - and most importantly - Cider's associates are probably gonna try to converge to attack and imprison us if we reveal ourselves, because they are paranoid and (at least in one case) scared shitless for Cider's health and safety. The other blade wielders were already hella suspicious and paranoid - these people are very much the same, especially if so much is riding on Cider's continued survival.

So... what do we do?

We could approach Cider using our awesome stealth powers and try to figure out how to steal her Blade (and probably ruin the Vesper project). It's chancy, since Cider's got a frantic bodyguard hanging over her, but to be honest? Between an illusion blade and a persuasion blade your infiltration ability goes through the roof, and that'll be pretty damn helpful in avoiding the killer and getting close to the other blade wielders.

That said, we don't know how it's done, and causing the collapse of the Vespers right now might be a bit premature for our own tastes. It could cause a great deal of pain and hardship for us, an ostensible new Vesper member, who otherwise would have to get new memories implanted by central shelf authorities.

So, instead we could try to hang around nearby, catch the conversations and wait to see if Cider's associates manage to capture the other signal source. We can even 'guard' Cider and interrupt or trip the killer if they strike, which would be a way to garner real trust. If Cider's associates succeed in the capture, the conversation between the captive and Cider is probably worth listening to.

Of course, we can also just take no big risks and join the crowd, waiting for this to blow over. Either the killer's here or they're not, and if they're not Cider's gonna tucker herself out soon enough. As long as they believe you're a normal cult member, even if they're more paranoid than usual, you can use your power to investigate the Vespers to your heart's content and choose whether to reveal yourself at a later time. Maybe try to investigate who that third signal source was on your own if they slip away.

I lean towards just getting up closer, but it may be a better long-term plan to just pretend you were in the crowd all along and hope everything returns to a somewhat tenser situation normal since A) you're not the killer and B) whoever the third source is may not be either. Cider's just in a panic because of your ascension.
>>
No. 962525 ID: 10c408

>>962502
if we reveal ourselves after Cider wears herself out and ends the lockdown, then we can no longer leave this shelf and conveniently go missing.
>>
No. 962573 ID: b452f6

I think its for the best if we dont reveal ourselves to Cider. I dont think she'll hurt us but, we shouldn't reveal our powers to anyone best play it safe and let Cider tire herself out then hid in the crowd and pretend we were there the whole time.
>>
No. 962586 ID: 35cc17

>>962425
>>962427
We don't have to reveal Cider's identity to try to communicate with her through the ethereal space. Something much more covert like "You have questions? I have several of my own, can we talk?" should get the point across to her without revealing too much information to anyone else. (It would also alert Cider to the fact that Penny can hear her speaking, so we'd need to be ready to run if she reacts poorly)

I definitely think we should try to find some way to communicate peaceful intentions to Cider, if nothing else. A message to the chat saying that this hunt is a waste of time and energy if we're the target, or something like that. Ideally, it'd be nice to send her some sort of "private message" but it seems like that's not possible without very intimate contact, at which point we might as well just use invisibility to get close enough to ask in person, which doesn't seem like a great idea.

Also, as a last resort, if we need to play hardball, we can always send a message to the group chat threatening to reveal her identity if she doesn't call off her goons. It's not a good way to gain trust and earn friends, but it's probably better than getting captured if we're backed into a corner.
>>
No. 962591 ID: b07f1c

>>962586
That seems like a much more reasonable way to send a message and I would support it. By doing that we got nothing to lose even if Cider isn't reading the chat. Of course, we can't expect Cider to answer in the chat room, as she probably wouldn't want to reveal her chat ID to us. If she's smart, she'd answer vocally instead.

Doing this would also be useful to test and see if Cider has access to the chat room, or if it's someone else who's conveying the info to her.

>>962573
No one said to reveal our power to Cider, only to surrender ourselves. One can be done without the other.

>>962525
This isn't logical. The timing of the reveal has nothing to do with our ability to leave the shelf.

>>962519
I'd like to point out several mistakes in your reasoning
You're assuming that obtaining Cider's blade would mean her losing it. There's no evidence to say we can't simply copy it.
You're assuming that everyone in the chat room is a blade wielder. The only thing that was confirmed was that everyone there had "a talent". Having a talent and having a blade are likely two different things.
You're suspecting Cider of being the killer. There's plenty of evidence against this.

>>962431
Mint isn't our friend (unless you consider anyone that we talked to for two minutes as our friend). Also, she's the killer 😏
>>
No. 962615 ID: 864e49

I think we should use the chat room but be vague, use her chat ID and tell her "please let those people GO about there business and to go inside before you keel over" and that we would be willing to talk with her but we're not sure how much we can trust her and her lackeys "kill the bastard comment" didn't help matters.
This will both inform her that we know who she is without telling the others and also let her know that we're close enough to hear her conversation but haven't done anything to her.
Maybe also warn her about the other signal?




>>962387
That's what she said.
>>
No. 962617 ID: 015bf2

Would advice against using the chat except as a last resort. I would also advice not giving any hints as to where you are precisely, such as by commenting that you can see Cider and her crowd.
>>
No. 962624 ID: e51896

>>962617

me too

I'm still not too enthused about getting involved and interfereing with all this as I said here >>962407 as it may complicate things. I do not want to give any hints about us being a blade user, even if we try doing it anonymously. It could also interfere with them searching for the killer if they start focusing on us

I still think we should just head for the dorms and see if Mint is there to make sure she didn't get captured or something considering she may be an unawakened blade user regarding her weird dreams like the one we had with Omen. If it turns out she is the killer they are searching for like >>962591 mentioned, we can always spy on her with invisibility and try to stop her or listen in on her plans.
>>
No. 962629 ID: a0dfd2

>>962615

>"Kill the bastard"
Based on their reactions, and the severity of it, I feel as though this is NOT the first someone has breached the shelf's security and made an attempt on Cider's life.

Ergo Cider's response, and its magnitude. She wants to know WHY, but knows she must protect her people as well.

Ending this now might be for the best -- provided we were the only other anomaly detected.

I agree that your phrasing would be better, and help mitigate the risk of revealing that she's active / aware of matters to those who might not have connected her identity.
>>
No. 962644 ID: 864e49

Also the goblin chick is also from the photo-gram from ciders room so it's safe to assume that everyone in that picture is in on whatever the fuck is going on here.
>>
No. 962707 ID: 35cc17

>>962525
that's what disguises are for. Penny doen't have to look like penny when she meets up with cider.
>>
No. 962744 ID: ce39da

Guys, we know for sure that someone at the bathhouse other than Penny was sneaking around due to the emergency exit alarm. It's safe to assume that Cider truly is in danger here. Considering where the suspect "started," it's safe to say that they had already infiltrated Red Shelf by that point and were waiting for someone to slip up and reveal themselves. Note that as they exited above ground before we left, the killer could already be here. Our priority should be trying to find Cider's would-be killer.

... If we see Mint anywhere, we need to keep an eye on her. From what she was talking about before, and the implication expressed recently about zombie status being fakable... it's not something I want to believe for now, but if we see Mint of all people after entering the building Cider is in, that should be a gigantic red flag.
>>
No. 962749 ID: fb820f

>>962744
>we know for sure
No, we don't. We don't know what triggered the alarm. And it's far more likely that if anyone else is here (and it's not just a ghost), that they're after us, not Cider. Since we're the ones that announced our location in the chat room.
>>
No. 962755 ID: e51896

>>962749
don't forget, the machine picked up another signal (UNKNWN02) besides our own signal (UNKNWN01, and Cider's signal (CUSTOM01) Considering that with the alarm going off, I'd say it is safe to assume there definitely was someone other than us who is a blade user in the bath house who could have triggered the alarm, maybe the killer.
>>
No. 962836 ID: 891b91
File 158744812664.png - (814.93KB , 1024x1024 , 1-052-1.png )
962836

You pass up the opportunity to reveal yourself, deciding it's too risky -- even ignoring that "we'll kill the bastard" line from the woman with Cider. Not to mention that the source of the other signal that scanner picked up could be the real killer, which could present added danger.

Your thoughts again turn to Mint. Your gut feeling is that she has some role to play in all of this, but what? Could she be the killer? You'll have to be cautious around her in case she is, but you decide that you're better off knowing her whereabouts than not. You scan the crowd again, but you still don't see her, so either she isn't here or she's fairly well-hidden. If you're going to find her, you might as well start with the last place you saw her: your dorm room. (Plus, you can get dressed again while you're there.)

Your sense of direction tells you that you exited the dorms earlier from somewhere to the left of the building with the balcony on it -- the sanctuary, you guess? -- so you head around the left side of the building, staying close to the walls so that you'll be less likely to bump into anyone who might be patrolling. Before long you find the entrance you and Roz used to leave the dorms and head back inside.

The building is eerily quiet compared to earlier, now that nobody's in it, but it thankfully makes it easier for you to navigate -- but you keep your invisibility and signal cloak up anyway, just in case. After heading up a flight of stairs, you find yourself in familiar territory and eventually arrive at what you're pretty sure is your dorm room.

The door is closed, and you think you hear someone crying.
>>
No. 962837 ID: 0fae41

Is your room on the ground floor? Maybe you should approach from the window first.
>>
No. 962838 ID: c84ff4

>>962836
Well this is awkward we either stay invisible or we go in naked.
>>
No. 962842 ID: b1b4f3

>>962836
I guess that's Mint in there, huh? Turn off invis, open door a little, ask Mint to hand you some clothes.

At this point I'm pretty sure Mint is a former blade-wielder who got her blade stolen, and that gave her amnesia like the other people here, but she still has the ability to resist Cider's blade like you can.
I wonder if Millie is immune too?
>>
No. 962844 ID: e51896

Is the door locked? now that I look at it, it doesn't seem like there are any keyholes on the door or knob... privacy must not be an important factor here. Can we quietly peek in without making a sound to determine whether to enter with invisibility or not? Worse case scenario, Mint might be getting attacked.

One thing for sure, someone is suffering in our dorm room and might need our help.

>>962837
Good idea, but I believe that it was mentioned we went up a flight of stairs before reaching our dorm room. It might not be ground level. But if it is ground level, I'll support if we can't peek in without making a sound.
>>
No. 962846 ID: 10c408

Tap on the door, quietly ask if it's Mint in there and if so can she please pass you some clothing.

Stop being invisible, but only after double-checking that no one is watching, especially any cameras.
>>
No. 962853 ID: b34040

Looking in the window might be good if that's convenient. Otherwise, I don't really see any way to keep our entrance from being noticed unless she's completely oblivious. Anyone not either working with cider or lined up out from of her building is going to be noted as being resistant to her powers, which is going to mark you as a probable blade user quickly. However... I don't think she's working with cider, which means she must be resistant too. I don't think she'll sell us out.
>>
No. 962859 ID: 10c408

>>962853
I think it's a bit more likely that due to whatever limitations cider has for her blade (barring stamina and only being able to control something less than the entire shelf), Mint has simply gone beneath notice of cider and the search teams.
>>
No. 962861 ID: 015bf2

If Cider's Blade isn't working on her properly this confirms Mint IS special in some way, but not way precisely. If she's still in here, crying, she is unlikely to have been the third signal earlier as well (thought she could've just checked on the place and ran back to her room, avoiding pursuit).

Go un-invisible, sneakily enter the room and confirm Mint's status. Like, if she seems, well... coherent? Or in pain? Try to use your rhythm sense on her.

Do not ask for or wear clothes. You might need to go invisible again to return to the crowd or bathhouse before this is over. If she sees you, ask if she's okay and pretend to be a little freaked out as well (well 'pretend') by the whole situation.

>>962842
Millie was in the chant crowd, so probably not.
>>
No. 962862 ID: fb820f

Pull out your blade and cut this door in half!

Alternatively, enter the room visible and ask what the crying is for.
>>
No. 962864 ID: 462cc1

Keep ourselves hidden, for now Cider is a suspect but also someone we should protect. At worst, she’s the killer and has an group of people under her control. At best she’s just using these people to protect herself. We’ll need to find the source of the unknown signal.
>>
No. 962865 ID: a0dfd2

>>962836

Do remember that Mint is sensitive to this stuff and probably went through The Wiggles or whatever it was that Q had called it back in the day -- you know, how the O-Town hobos would get real boozed up to not feel? -- which is very likely why she's crying at the moment.

If we're seeing everything go to wiggly nonsense, try to imagine what the only other person to ever remark about that must be experiencing.
>>
No. 962866 ID: 462cc1

Oh shoot, realized I replied to the wrong image. >>962836

Stay hidden and take a small peek first.
>>
No. 962871 ID: e225aa

Look before you leap. Make sure no one is around and Take a quiet peek through the door. She did say she would take a nap and we were told she had bad dreams and could be crying about that, or she might just be scared of how everyone is acting from Cider's power. But worst case scenerio, somebody might be crying over being attacked. Peeking in first should give us an idea.
>>
No. 962885 ID: 417f73

May as well keep it simple. Turn visible, go in and see what's happening. If it's a bad situation, run. Otherwise, get dressed and find out what is wrong with Mint.
>>
No. 962890 ID: 9c48ac

>>962842
That seems unnecessarily complicated. I think she's probably like us: a blade wielder that got dusted and doesn't remember how to use it. but it still effects her perceptions and prevents her getting Cider'd.

>>962861
agreed - especially since (afawk) she doesn't know how to use her blade or for that matter anything about what's happening.

I wonder if we can "wake" her like Omen did to us, and whether we should, if we can.

Anyway I'd say go visible, enter, and see where it goes. From there we could either reveal our abilities or pretend to be as confused as we would've been a couple hours ago, or bugger out invisibly if the situation is really bad without whoever's in there necessarily knowing how we did it, if we're quick enough.

(If we go in invisible, the first option is lost and the last becomes the foe likely knowing how, but not who - given that we can disguise ourselves, I would say our identity is the lesser secret, at the moment.)
>>
No. 962907 ID: fb820f

So there's two decisions that we have to make here.
1. Let's say that it's Mint in there and that she's crying. Do we actually want to talk to Mint? If we do, we'd be revealing to her that we're not affected by Cider's power. If Mint knows or learns of Cider's power and then later tells others that we weren't affected by it, we could get in trouble.
2. Do we actually want to get our clothes? If we get them, it means we will no longer be able to use our powers. So if we get in trouble, there's no escape.

Note: It's impossible that Mint is the killer or the UNK2 signal because she said that she would take a nap. If she was in this room when we were at the spa, it would've been impossible for her to get to the spa after we woke up, considering how far the spa is from the dorms.

Is there actually any benefit in entering our room at this time? If we're worried about Mint, then wouldn't simply listening carefully to confirm that it's Mint's voice be enough? If she was sleeping most of the time, would we actually learn anything valuable from her? Other than that she's crying because of another nightmare or she's scared of all the undulations around?
>>
No. 962937 ID: 891b91
File 158752201414.gif - (413.53KB , 1024x1024 , 1-053-1.gif )
962937

>Is your room on the ground floor? Maybe you should approach from the window first.
The room is one story up -- for some reason the 100-level rooms aren't on the ground floor. It seems a bit nonsensical to you, but you guess they probably had a reason for it.

>Is the door locked? now that I look at it, it doesn't seem like there are any keyholes on the door or knob... privacy must not be an important factor here.
It only locks from the inside, you think.

Carefully, you grasp the doorknob and turn it as slowly as you can, trying to avoid making any noise. You manage to do so quietly, but as you push the door open the hinge lets out a loud creak.

Whoever was crying has gone silent. You poke your head through the door, but you don't see anyone.
>>
No. 962938 ID: 3bcc4b

Things seem a little... wavier around here. Be careful and investigate the surroundings, since there may be some kind of Blade-related distortion.
>>
No. 962939 ID: 015bf2

Yeah, you’ll want to get that oiled if you stay here.

The crier is either invisible like you orrr on top of the upper bed, probably. There’s no closets in here, right? Under the beds seems too narrow for someone to hide. Then again Mint was pretty slight and thin.
>>
No. 962940 ID: cdabe3

there's something behind the bed, in the very back
>>
No. 962943 ID: b1b4f3

>>962940
Good catch, we can see the wiggle.

>>962937
Tell Mint it's you, Penny- you're naked and need to get some clothes. Be visible, of course, and you know what she's already seen you naked, don't even hide it when you go in.
>>
No. 962955 ID: e51896

>>962943
Support, though She might not believe it is you if we just say your name and she might not answer. you might want to start out with something that only she and you knew and spoke about that nobody else does to make her understand it really is you and not somebody vicious trying to lure her out and cause her to run away, like mention her and your conversation about how Mint talked about how everything felt fuzzy to her and how everyone doesn't look human to you like you both did before.

Make sure no one is looking, go visible, and enter and close the door. Cover yourself and like >>962943 said, start out with: it's me, Penny- we talked about how everything feels fuzzy to you, and about how everyone doesn't feel human to me. I'm naked and need to get some clothes.
>>
No. 962956 ID: 91ee5f

>>962937
Make sure no one is looking and become visible. Make sure you also back away from the door so that you reduce the chances of Mint seeing you just appear out of nowhere!
>>
No. 962959 ID: fd5772

>>962937
I don't like this. Get out of there Penny! Get the hell out of there!
>>
No. 962961 ID: b05d40

Part of me wants to stay invisible and sneak over to Mint behind the bed to see whats going on...

But I think she is just terrified of what is going on and Cider's power based off of her crying and hiding. I wonder since she feels fuzziness from everyone, would that mean she can strongly sense blade users powers, like Cider's and maybe ours as well? Might be bad to sneak towards on her then and risk scaring her more if we sneak towards her while invisible.


Turn invisibility off, and stop disguising your signal so that you dont feel fuzzy to Mint to prove your Penny, and calmly and quietly call out to her and that you need help getting clothing.
>>
No. 962963 ID: 10c408

turn visible, and quietly announce yourself to the bit of mint's head that you can see.
>>
No. 962972 ID: e51896

Hey, out of curiosity before we do anything, can we check the chat room really quick and see if it updated? We don't even need to message anything, just check.
>>
No. 962995 ID: 891b91
File 158754518931.gif - (285.67KB , 1024x1024 , 1-054-1.gif )
962995

>Hey, out of curiosity before we do anything, can we check the chat room really quick and see if it updated? We don't even need to message anything, just check.
Out of curiosity, you take a quick look at the ethereal chat room, since it's been a little bit.
Casknell (cc45d0): hey new guy are you there
Triple-F (ff358f): Probably got herself killed... or I was right and she is the killer.
Casknell (cc45d0): noooo i need her
Triple-F (ff358f): What you need is to solve your own damned problems.
??? (abcb03): TYPHON
??? (abcb03): TYPHON
??? (abcb03): TYPHON WOULD YOU PLEASE CALL OFF YOUR FUC;KING ATTACK DOG YOU ARE NOT HELPING
Triple-F (ff358f): Shut up.
??? (abcb03): WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TYPHON
??? (abcb03): WE LOOKED THE OTHER WAY WHEN YOU PLANTED A FUCKING MOLE IN OUR HOUSE
??? (abcb03): WE LET IT HAPPEN
??? (abcb03): SO MUCH FOR GRATITUDE
Triple-F (ff358f): Why do you do this?
Triple-F (ff358f): You scream at Typhon
Triple-F (ff358f): Every.
Triple-F (ff358f): Single.
Triple-F (ff358f): Day.
Triple-F (ff358f): But they never answer you, do they?
Triple-F (ff358f): Take the fucking hint.
Casknell (cc45d0): i miss when they talked normal instead of yelling all the time
Triple-F (ff358f): Heh, yeah.


...Well, that's quite the exchange, now isn't it.

You just barely spot someone hiding behind the bunk bed -- that must be Mint, you think.

After checking to make sure there are no cameras nearby, you step away from the door and go visible again, making sure to disable your signal cloak as well. You step into the room and close the door behind you quietly. "Mint, is that you behind the bed? It's me, Penny -- are you alright?"

There's no response.

"We talked about how everything feels fuzzy to you, remember? And how everyone doesn't feel human to me?" You find some panties in a drawer and start slipping them on. "Sorry, but I'm uh, I'm naked and I need to get some clothes, okay?"
>>
No. 962996 ID: 891b91
File 158754519446.gif - (222.56KB , 1024x1024 , 1-054-2.gif )
962996

"Oh Penny I'm so glad it's really you!" Mint nearly bawls as she tackles your side, almost knocking you over. "N-now everything's fuzzy and I don't know what it means and I'm so scared and you're the only one I can trust because you're--"
>>
No. 962997 ID: 891b91
File 158754520775.gif - (170.71KB , 1024x1024 , 1-054-3.gif )
962997

She stops and looks up at you with an expression of combined fear and bewilderment. "Y-you're spiky...?"
>>
No. 963000 ID: fb820f

"Umm, at least I'm not fuzzy? And yes, I do have quite a bit of spiky hair in... certain places", while covering your groin. Then ask her if it's a bad thing or does that make her afraid of you. However, I wouldn't tell her anything specific about the current situation or the reason why everything's fuzzy. Just that there seems to be something going on around here right now and that she should stay inside.

Anyway, while talking to Mint, take out all your clothes from the dresser. Make sure you get a good look and feel of every single piece. Then try on every set and also take a good look of yourself in the mirror, both your front and your back. Might be useful for our illusion power.
>>
No. 963001 ID: 9c48ac

>>962997
Oof.
Hnnng I want to reassure her but how much can we share...

Screw it I wanna trust her.

"Yeah I uh. Found something out about that. I guess it affected me?"
>>
No. 963002 ID: ea75a5

Holy shit you can feel that?
Yeah, I did a thing and now Cider’s mind controlling most of the shelf to try and find me because she thinks I’m here to kill her. Either that or there really is a killer here and we’re in danger.

On the plus side though I’m fairly sure I know what it is that you’re feeling from me and the people here.
>>
No. 963003 ID: 015bf2

Again, clothes are a bad idea if you need to go invisible again for any reason.

>>962997
Spiky? Huh. (Blade metaphor may come from someplace real.) Hold that thought, does anything happen to me now?

Try to disguise as background or no rhythm at all.
>>
No. 963004 ID: 10c408

Get your clothes on while you talk quietly.

"Yeah, about that... It's Cider. She's capable of outright mind control and is broadly using her psychic power to keep most of everyone contained while the remainder try and hunt down a serial killer that may or may not be loose on the island.

And no, it's not me. I'm not psychic. All I can do is this."

Enable scanner proofing, then if you've got your clothes on change the color of your clothing to something else.
>>
No. 963005 ID: 0fae41

It seems that Minty is on a different wavelength from everyone else. Perhaps she wields a blade too? And that's odd, I thought spikes were Omen's waveform.
Reassure her you know what she's talking about but no idea what it means. She's not crazy, and you're still you. Something's just different.
>>
No. 963009 ID: 094652

>Everything's fuzzy
>You're spiky
"I'm much more than that. As for the fuzzy, there's a psychic gang war going on outside. Stay indoors and describe what you can.

We're gonna defend ourselves by snorting superpowered textures."
>>
No. 963021 ID: a0dfd2

>>962997

(Okay, okay, just play dumb here!)

Ask Mint what she means. We KINDA understood the wiggly stuff, but we haven't really seen anything "spiky." If anything, everything else is even wigglier.

But if she CAN feel dust harmonics ...

If Mint really is aware of this, we need her to be able to tell us.

And WE need to tell HER that it's okay, something happened, and Cider and the other jarmu-whatevers are trying to take care of it.
>>
No. 963023 ID: e51896

>>963003
support. Mint's probably able to feel the wavelength of others, and UNKNWN01 (ours) did look spiky, not as spiky as UNKNWN02, but still spiky. so maybe we should try to disguise our wavelength as nothing.

Tell Mint we might have a better idea what those fuzziness feelings she is feeling means now to reassure her. Also apologize for being spiky. But you'll be here to help her through this.
>>
No. 963024 ID: ce39da

If it's safe to message the room: "Who's the mole?" "Please, this could be important for me to know if we're both to get through this." "Even if I really am with 'Typhon' like you think I am, then there isn't any harm in telling me what I supposedly already know, right?"

I'm starting to suspect that Cider isn't ALPHA; someone (possibly the girl with her) is another blade-user who shoulders the risk of speaking to the room on her behalf.

Meanwhile, if it wasn't Millie who set off the sensor and door alarm, and it wasn't Mint, then who was it. Aside from your amnesia, you have a good memory; think back and try to remember if there was anyone you saw in the bathhouse not among the bathhouse crowd out front the sanctuary. The receptionist? One of the people in the hot tub area?
>>
No. 963028 ID: a9af05

>>962997
Play dumb. Ask her what she's talking about.
>>
No. 963032 ID: b05d40

I do not think we should keep secrets from Mint regarding what we think these fuzzy and spiky feelings are. She is scared of these feelings and needs answers.
I fear if we dont tell her what we think these feelings are, she might do something irrational and run away from us and our spikiness, and into danger.
>>
No. 963033 ID: 417f73

>>963005

I like the idea of us being reassuring, seems like
Mint is having a tough time right now
>>
No. 963034 ID: e1d81a

Tell mint that Cider seems to have some weird psychic control over the people. They’re searching for some sort of killer who is likely immune to her powers. And no, it’s not you. Though since you and her both aren’t at the gathering, suspicions will point to you and her both.
>>
No. 963043 ID: b1b4f3

>>962995
Let the chat room know you're not dead, but you found evidence there was someone else nearby, so the killer might've almost found you. Can the killer teleport or something?

>>962997
Tell Mint the fuzziness is due to Cider putting everyone into a trance, and you don't want to talk about why you're spiky. Actually, ask if she's ever met Cider. Does she want to? Maybe you could both go meet her now.
>>
No. 963052 ID: 015bf2

Worth stating: there's a non-zero chance Mint could be that mole - if one actually exists. You shouldn't reveal the full extent of your own ability or anything compromising from your chat with Omen. At least not until you know more about Mint and what her nightmares involve.

Millie's reversal already suggested it's possible to bring back memories from those with taffa syndrome (or at least have someone's personality do a sudden 180), so a little care could go a long way here. Besides, to someone without any of the cunning context Omen gave you, the full truth is gonna sound even crazier. Phrase things to avoid confusion and keep it simple to be understood.

Also worth considering is that Mint's sensitivity for Rhythm could be helpful for actively tracking down hints of other blade-users. Assuming you even want to pull her into this mess and that she's willing to help in the short or long term, that is!

>>963024
Third signal could have just been a hidden blade-user hiding on Red Shelf trying to check on who just ascend-gasmed. Or they could've been Omen being way closer than we thought - they did seem to have a more than fleeting familiarity with Cider, considering the 'a liar sleeps here' comment. (i.e. Omen may know Cider's identity as a blade-wielder).

We also don't know for sure that those signals always equate to someone being a blade-wielder, though they certainly seem to relate to Rhythm.

Anyway, don't spend too much focus on chat. You're in the middle of talking to Mint now, remember! That said... probably doesn't hurt to let them know we're still up and running. You can prooobably afford a couple of questions as long as you take your time between looking at the answers.
>>
No. 963060 ID: fb820f

One important thing we should ask Mint would be if anyone else came in here while you were gone.

I wouldn't use the chat for now. Maybe after we're done with Mint, I'd try sending a private message to abcb03.
>>
No. 963085 ID: fd5772

>>962997
I don't trust mint because I don't understand why she's immune. Play dumb, and only tell her a little bit about people looking for a killer without talking about the blades.
>>
No. 963179 ID: 60e3cf

Ask mint if she can see distortions in the environment wiggling everywhere.

She seems more focused on how she feels, but can she see what we see?

If not, maybe we should take her to a spot with less distortions, maybe that will help her feel less fuzziness.

She was crying before we entered, so i think her actions are genuine.I do not think she is bad and is indeed trustworthy. I feel we should talk to her about what happened and why we think she feels fuzzy and why we might feel spiky, of only to not have her scared of us.
>>
No. 963199 ID: b34040

Mint's in the same position we were not long ago: Lost, confused, and feeling alone. She felt like she could trust us, and I don't want to pull the rug out from under her. If there's anything we don't want to tell her, let's at least be honest about that.
>>
No. 963233 ID: 529620

Hug mint. They obviously need some emotional comfort, after hiding away like that, and they are so distraught that don't seemed bothered by your at attire. Don't be weird about it and give a damn hug.
>>
No. 963239 ID: e51896

>>963233
Mint said Penny was spiky and looked to be in fear over that. A hug as Penny is now might just terrify Mint more.
I like the idea of hugging Mint, but we need to see if we can first turn off the spikiness feeling we are emitting, like maybe try disguising our signal to nothing, without rhythm.
>>
No. 963246 ID: a9d8df
963246

Im all for comforting Mint but, we should not reveal our powers or ethereal chat room to her or to anyone else at all. Its probably best to keep stuff like that to ourselves unless in extreme circumstances. Just tell her that Cider is the one causing this.
>>
No. 963266 ID: e51896

I personally think we might need to tell her a little bit about our powers and about blade users powers to give her a peace of mind and understand our spikiness, and understand herself. She was very courageous to trust us about asking about how and why she feels fuzzy sensations, so we should keep that trust and bond between us and Mint strong by being courageous as well and tell her what we think is happening with her as well from what we learned if she presses us on the issue on us being spiky.

Plus, it will be good to have another person who relates to us in many ways as a friend to get through our time in Vesper, and potentially other blade users we might have to deal with. She feels like someone we need to protect.

But overall, we should mainly tell her why we think she feels weird sensations, and try to see if disguising our rhythm to nothing to see if we won't feel spiky to her again can help as I mentioned before: >>963023
>>
No. 963318 ID: 4aa0a7

Its a bad idea to tell anyone about our powers now beside we dont we know Mint well orlong enough to trust her.
>>
No. 963320 ID: f745f8

Does anyone else find it weird that Mint is not effected by Ciders powers?
>>
No. 963323 ID: 10c408

>>963320
No. There could be any number of explanations for this, given how little we know about the upper limit's on cider's mind control and the smattering of information pertaining to rhythm that Omen imparted to us.
>>
No. 963357 ID: 891b91
File 158771380641.gif - (166.85KB , 1024x1024 , 1-055-1.gif )
963357

"It-- it's okay, I'll explain everything," you reassure Mint, cradling her head while she's latched onto your leg; you try to ignore the combined awkwardness of your nudity and the fact that she's chosen to bury her face into a spot disquietingly close to your crotch. "H-here, is this better? Am I still spiky?" You reactivate your signal cloak, hoping that it'll clear up the "spiky" sensation.
>>
No. 963358 ID: 891b91
File 158771381338.gif - (339.61KB , 1024x1024 , 1-055-2.gif )
963358

Mint slumps onto her knees and gazes up at you expectantly. "Y-yeah... I-I mean no, you aren't... What was that, Penny?"

"I'm uh, sorry about the spikiness," you say as gently as you can as you slip the panties on and grab a bra. "Some... things happened while I was gone. The good news is that I think I know what the fuzzy and spiky feelings are." You look back at her. "Did anyone else come in here while I was gone?"

"Um, a couple people looked in here for a minute earlier," Mint sniffles. "I was hiding, because of the fuzziness."
>>
No. 963359 ID: 891b91
File 158771382386.gif - (313.27KB , 1024x1024 , 1-055-3.gif )
963359

"I think they were looking for someone -- a serial killer. I found out that Cider has... powers, and right now she's using it to make almost everyone on the shelf line up outside so they can find the killer, since I guess the killer is immune to Cider's powers. That's what the fuzziness is -- Cider's powers, or something like that." You pause as you slip a shirt over your head. "And no, it's not me. But they might think it's me or you if they find out we're immune to it."

You catch sight of the mirror nearby, and it jogs your memory that you wanted to check to see if you had a tattoo like Millie's. You flip up your right ear, and... well, there it is. That just adds more questions on top of this increasingly strange situation, but considering the present circumstances you decide to file them away to consider later, when there isn't a serial killer on the loose somewhere on the shelf.
>>
No. 963360 ID: 891b91
File 158771383373.gif - (149.56KB , 1024x1024 , 1-055-4.gif )
963360

"As for the spikiness," you continue, studying your clothes and committing it to memory, "something happened to me while I was out and uh, I guess it 'woke up' powers of my own. Which means I can do... this."

You attempt to will the color of your shirt to be something different, but your shirt just kind of flickers randomly. "Hold on, I'm still kinda figuring this out," you add, slipping your shirt and bra off. You try again, and this time it works -- despite being topless, you appear to be wearing a red shirt. "There. I guess it's not a lot compared to Cider's mass mind control, but it's something." You decide it's best to avoid revealing that you can go invisible as well, though, in addition to staying mum about your blade-stealing power.
>>
No. 963361 ID: 891b91
File 158771384511.gif - (320.20KB , 1024x1024 , 1-055-5.gif )
963361

Mint stares at you for a long moment. "That... explains a lot," she finally responds, seemingly calmer now. She turns away, removing her glasses to wipe the tears from her eyes. "Can I... can I ask you a question?"

"Uh, I guess so, what is it?" You ask, slipping your shirt back on.
>>
No. 963362 ID: 891b91
File 158771385956.gif - (339.74KB , 1024x1024 , 1-055-6.gif )
963362

" H A V E Y O U S E E N T H E L I G H T S B E F O R E D A W N ? "
>>
No. 963364 ID: 0fae41

Sounds like a rhetorical question. Shoo the bird away with a thrown shoe.
>>
No. 963365 ID: b1b4f3

>>963360
Coool, fake clothes! They don't wiggle though. To be completely convincing you'll need to fix that.

>>963362
HOLY FUCK back away towards the door. "Lights before dawn" was part of the chant from earlier. This thing is either on Cider's team or the chant has some universal significance.
Ask who it is. What it wants.
>>
No. 963369 ID: 015bf2

>>963362
...Typhon?

This sounds like something a Typhon would say. Be cool as a fucking cucumber. Mint must be the ‘mole’, someone Typhon can possess. Typhon is related to the weird two-eye animal thing, meaning they’ve ‘seen’ you before.

Their special power is probably something akin to possession, which might explain their god complex and ability to create sleeper agents.

“I have not. What are you doing to Mint?”
>>
No. 963372 ID: b1b4f3

I had a thought that Cider might be a decoy and Mint is the real power behind Red Shelf, but the distortion was strong near Cider, not here. Mint would've had to have spotted Penny through invis and ran ahead of her once she saw where she was going.
Instead, it's more likely that Cider isn't the one with mind control, it's Typhon, and either the owl or Mint is Typhon. Cider's power is probably pacification or something, and had to use it to protect herself from Typhon.
Or it's someone other than Typhon? Let's remember, Typhon is like some kind of bogeyman for abcb03, so it could be misplaced blame.

Something of note: Mint isn't wiggling and neither is the owl. Either the owl is a hallucination, or Mint is, because they can't BOTH be using all their rhythm to attack Penny. Plus she was crying from both sides of her face before!

Penny could try to steal a blade from Mint. I'm thinking the way to do that is to shove Rhythm into her.
>>
No. 963375 ID: 10c408

Close your eyes and put your hands out in front of you for a second, then ask Mint if she can repeat yourself.
>>
No. 963377 ID: b34040

>>963369
I'm not ready to assume Mint's the mole yet. It could still be Millie, or even someone else we haven't met. I'm also not convinced this isn't just happening in Penny's head, or in some other way not-entirely-physical.

Penny, I doubt you're in physical danger. If it charges at you, try to run, but otherwise this might be an opportunity to learn something. Don't assume that you're speaking to Mint right now (you probably aren't).
>>
No. 963387 ID: 015bf2

>>963377
Well it’s certainly a Rhythm play by someone with powers and since Mint wasn’t out and about investigating the disturbance caused by Penny’s ascension, Omen should already know Penny’s situation, Millie is in the mind-whammied crowd and Cider is busy doing the mind-whammying... that means this is a manifestation of the killer or Typhon, the only people we have reason to suspect might be monitoring the area (or have been monitoring it, since we saw the owl earlier).

Could be a third unknown party, I suppose, but this situation is getting real crowded, if so.
>>
No. 963390 ID: bae7b0

>>963369

Seconding the possession theory, and now they have revealed themselves to you. Time for some answers!

I'd really like to know if this is what has been causing Mint all the distress, too. Not that there is a lot we can do about that from here, but it would say something about who we are talking to if they're willing to do that to another person.

"You've been following me for a long time now. Can you tell me who I am talking to?"
>>
No. 963393 ID: c84ff4

"No."
Interesting eye placement. Are those glasses like legit opaque. Also of note the (probably blade) wiggles are dashed and in out.
Probably also want another update on the blade chat log.
>>
No. 963395 ID: 91ee5f

>>963362
Bird in the window! There’s a weird bird in the window! It might be the same bird from right here: >>932537 and here: >>933785 !
>>
No. 963397 ID: a0dfd2

>>963362

Oh hey, a thing in the window with the same eye pattern, that may or may not be our bird buddy!

I'm beginning to wonder if this may not actually be a sort of remote possession ability, with the "tell" being that it causes the recipient / target of the ability to assume the appearance of the user (the foxes, that bird-thing, maybe-it's-that-bird-thing-again).

For now, take the briefest moment you can to assess whether there's a signal coming from them, or if Mint "feels different." (I presume yes, based on visual cues here.)

Let's just roll with this, but first say that "it's rude to eavesdrop on conversations." See which of them reacts to that first.

>>963359

As for the significance of the tattoo ...

I was thinking that 37 might be our tripcode, but checking back, we're *35, so unless it's in some freaky base, that's a bust, but:

... I wonder if these are designations, something that can be used to look things up, which is both how Millie figured stuff out, and WHY.
>>
No. 963399 ID: 1888a9

Focus and prepare mental defenses of any kind, be ready to resist this possession ability or whatever it is. Not to mention, have an escape planned.

Ask “What did you do to her?”
>>
No. 963400 ID: 8679bc

This is why i said not to tell anyone about are powers...
>>
No. 963402 ID: 2aa5f0

you mean the owl that seems to hate symmetry or are we talking about something else here?
>>
No. 963404 ID: afd902
963404

Huh. In case Mint is the mole or the killer, we should be ready to try and steal whatever blade she might have. We should also be ready to try & do the same it she's be possesed, on the off-chance that we can take the possesor's powers through her.

Right now though, ask questions, try not to get possesed yourself.

Brainwave! The fuzzies on everyone (except you & Mint) was Cider's power protecting them from Typhon. You're protected by your blades, but Mint isn't protected, so she is open to possesion.
>>
No. 963406 ID: ce39da

>>963404
If that's true, we need to act NOW before Cider loses her concentration!


Kiss the girl, you fool! Attempt spiritual assault on Typhon maybe!
>>
No. 963407 ID: fb820f

The way Mint understood our explanation implies that she, whoever she is right now, is quite intelligent. Let's see if she can wrap her mind around this:

"Umm, is that a pickup line? Dawn? You'd like to... with me... until dawn? Oh my! I mean, I do think you're cute (and unlike Omen you have eyes), so I wouldn't say no, but this is all so sudden! Why is everyone so forward around here? Also, I kinda wanted to do something about Cider right now so, maybe this isn't the best of times..."

If that doesn't work, then I suppose you can go with some standard questions, such as, is she Typhon, who is she, what is she trying to do, who are the Alpha and Omega, what do the numbers 83, 917, 2000 mean, etc.
>>
No. 963408 ID: 015bf2

>>963406
Occam’s razor, guys: wouldn’t there have been a persistent signal in addition to Cider’s if so? Wouldn’t ALL of Cider’s associates be in a huge tizzy and not just the really invested one? Wouldn’t we have seen a new weird rhythm, like the one Mint is displaying now on them?

It’s possible possession is like a super stealth thing, but the simplest answer is that Cider’s the one doing the mind-control of Vespers, and it’s to hide the hunt for Penny.

Kissing/hugging to achieve ‘spiritual congress’ could still do something - such as allow a clearer, more private line of connection - mind you. We’ve been told conversations you don’t want to broadcast are hard to hold remotely.
>>
No. 963413 ID: a0dfd2

>>963408

Thank you.

The very idea that Mint had managed to plant herself in the Vespers, completely undetected, and remain there without acting against Cider until Penny realized her powers (and even then sit around and wait completely undetected) -- whilst spying on us via the funky-eye critters since even before we left O-Town -- is just too ridiculous.

And thank you as well for raising the point of other rhythms.

Likewise, as a friend recently pointed out: Mint was crying on both sides of her face before this, so unless she has illusion powers, too, this isn't Mint right now.
>>
No. 963414 ID: e51896

>>963413
Oh shit, good catch with those tears coming out of both sides of where her eyes were supposed to be!

if that is the case, then those fox looking animals we saw back in that abandoned city were also possessed in some way, meaning this person that is possessing Mint has been following us since around the start of this quest.
>>
No. 963426 ID: 6c227a

Play it completely straight.
"I don't think I've been awake before dawn since I can remember, so... I don't think so?"
>>
No. 963444 ID: e6eb48

>>963426
Not actually true. Penny was awake and saw dawn come and go while she was walking on the road out of the Old City, before she reached the fork between the automatic evacuation zone and the roadblock that led to the town with the giant monster in it. (>>/questarch/889586)
>>
No. 963445 ID: ce39da

>>963408
>>963413
I didn't think Mint was a (knowing) mole to begin with. I think she's just someone uniquely vulnerable to Typhon because Cider couldn't protect her with her blade - after all, possessing someone she's directly mind-controlling would be a REALLY bad idea. My suggestion for spiritual congress was mostly in response to the realization that Cider can only restrict Typhon's ability for so long, and it still stands, unless there's a good way to suddenly attack the bird.
>>
No. 963459 ID: fb820f

Oh and, to answer Mint's question.

"Yes, I have seen them."
> >>/questarch/888233 >Glancing at the lights across the water
> >>/questarch/909256 >A thousand swarming lights are arrayed before you
One of these two should be the one they mean. Probably the latter one.

You could also change your appearance to that of Omen's. Perhaps this person would find it... intriguing.
>>
No. 963461 ID: fd5772

>>963362
I told you her immunity was suspicious and that we need to get out of here, so let's hightail it and head somewhere else right now. We don't need to be around the psychic side-eyed bird. Don't say nothing, just run.
>>
No. 963480 ID: b9f243

Idea: maybe Cider's people were searching the bath house because Penny was talking out loud instead of using chat speak giving her location away.

If we found that killer through the owl, we might need to alert them again by giving our location again by speaking out loud in chat yo get backup.

Should we say "Titty sprinkles" out loud in chat and hope cider's gaurds senses it and comes help us?
>>
No. 963495 ID: 10c408

>>963480
No, because that's just going to compound our problems. There's a lot going on, most of which we don't have a full grasp on because of how little we know, and tipping off the search teams that will either detain or shoot us is just going to make the current set of terrible problems even more dire.
>>
No. 963513 ID: 9c48ac

>>963480
Seems unlikely, given the only location information in our chat log was the Shelf. I think it's far more likely they were searching the whole shelf and had the location narrowed down by that pattern detector.
Even if it does give more precise information, giving away our location is as likely to make the situation worse as better.

Anyway, it's hard to be sure, but I think this most likely isn't Mint anymore. So:
*Be prepared to GTFO, but if you do, try not to blow the fact you can go invisible.
*"Leave her alone, left-eyes!"
*Negotiate, but warily. We don't want to abandon Mint, but there's really not much we can do for her unless lefteyes leaves on their own.
>>
No. 963518 ID: 891b91
File 158780851195.gif - (149.14KB , 1024x1024 , 1-056-1.gif )
963518

You step back in alarm -- your mind floods with possible explanations for what is happening before you. Is Mint possessed? Is she a blade user? Is she the killer?

"I-I don't know?" You respond, addressing both Mint and the owl in the window. "What did you --"
>>
No. 963519 ID: 891b91
File 158780852457.gif - (322.86KB , 1024x1024 , 1-056-2.gif )
963519

The words suddenly refuse to come out, as if caught in your throat. You rapidly become aware of a growing pressure in your windpipe; it swells and swells until it bursts, sending a jolt of sharp pain that is soon replaced by intense burning.

You claw at your throat, coughing uncontrollably as your body tries to expel the sudden fire inside you!
>>
No. 963520 ID: 891b91
File 158780853547.gif - (375.56KB , 1024x1024 , 1-056-3.gif )
963520

You fall to the floor -- you try to regain control of your body, but it puts every ounce of energy you have into expelling some unknown substance from your lungs. Excruciating, searing pain spreads throughout your throat and chest, expanding and spreading until it envelops every fiber of your being.

"I-- I didn't--" Mint sobs, backing away from you and collapsing in the corner as she watches you in horror, "I didn't know, I didn't know it would, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
>>
No. 963521 ID: 891b91
File 158780854681.gif - (403.85KB , 1024x1024 , 1-056-4.gif )
963521

As you lie there, paralyzed by agony, your chest still heaving violently, you wonder if this is the end.
>>
No. 963522 ID: 891b91
File 158780855688.png - (65.80KB , 1024x1024 , 1-056-5.png )
963522

Darkness.

END OF CHAPTER 1

Discussion: >>/questdis/123379
>>
No. 963525 ID: 2aa5f0

gg
>>
No. 963545 ID: 015bf2

That's disconcerting.
>>
No. 963552 ID: 710d90

I knew we couldn't trust Mint! Now look what happened. I cant tell if we're coughing up blood or dust. If we survive this we need to be more careful about who we trust.
>>
No. 963561 ID: fd5772

GG NO RE
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