Buckwheat 2020/11/03(Tue)17:01 No. 980328 ID: 15a025
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>So what happened to her? What made my sister change so much from being the nice girl who made you a sweater as charity?
Candy: "So, what happened to my sister then? How'd she go from a charitable friend to crab that makes you crunch numbers at night?"

Marsh: "Work mostly. She doesn't know how to use a computer for all this office work, but she thinks it's so easy. I'm not her drinking buddy anymore, I'm her rake for bringing in cash. Man, you could pretty much say I run the whole bar by myself and own it. I'm not sure what she does for the candy store, but I'm sure she pulls the same crap with Roxie and Sharcole."

Candy: "Yeah that sounds like her alright. When we were dealing together back in high school and after graduation, she made the stuff and I had to do all the foot work to sell it. Finding buyers, arranging meet ups, dodging the cops while she sat at home getting high all night. It sucked, but it got me a hoof in the door to start college."

> What sort of job were you looking for before?
Candy: "So, before you met her. What kind of job were you looking for?"

Marsh: "Anything really. I came here broke and with the clothes on my back. Pretty happy I ended up with the job bartending. Just wish your sister wasn't such a jerk most of the time. Man, I can't even remember the last time we sat together and had good couple of drinks together."

Maybe you should do exactly that.

>>980328
Y'all need a vacation.

Buckwheat 2020/11/08(Sun)16:00 No. 980651 ID: 15a025
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>Maybe you should do exactly that.
>Y'all need a vacation.
Candy: "Sounds like you two need a vacation and share a couple of drinks then."

Marsh: "Yeah, too bad it's sounding like my 'vacation' is coming up again. Stupid mail. Something to think about though."

Candy: "Oh yeah, what was with that letter from awhile ago?"

Marsh: "Can't talk about it. Doesn't concern you anyway."

She goes back to mumbling out numbers and typing on the computer.
Marsh: "Stupid letter. Stupid-Stupid computer!"
She smashes her paws on the keyboard.
Marsh: "The program just closed and disappeared!"

Candy: "Huh? No it didn't. It's still open on the taskbar Marsh."

Marsh: "The what?"

I get up and click on it in the taskbar.
Candy: "You just minimized the window it was in. You might have hit alt and tab to minimize it."

Marsh: "You know more about this crud than I do."

Candy: "Well I did have to use computers a lot in college. Just comes with practice."

Marsh: "Well thanks. I'm almost done, so that would've sucked. Getting this done in record time for once."


She types away at a few more cels in a spreadsheet before saving and shutting down.

Marsh: "Well, that's that then. Anything else you wanna talk about, or we calling it a night here now?"

Should probably just call it a night

It would probably be best to call it tonight Marsh. Remind me to help re-familiarize you with computers later so you can do this stuff without some much pain.

>>980651
Any chance we could get a ride to the bank to cash in that check?

Make sure you keep it close to you when you go to bed tonight!

>>980672
*Get a ride to the bank in the morning.

1/3 Buckwheat 2020/11/09(Mon)18:18 No. 980702 ID: 15a025
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>Should probably just call it a night
>would probably be best to call it tonight Marsh.
Candy: "Let's call it a night then."

>Any chance we could get a ride to the bank to cash in that check?
Candy: "Oh! are you going to be free tomorrow though?"

Marsh: "Other than working and packing up for the road, yeah."

Candy: "I need a ride to the bank tomorrow, is on your way to work okay?"

Marsh: "Yeah."

Candy: "Alright, good night then Marsh."

Marsh: "Nighto."

2/3 Buckwheat 2020/11/09(Mon)18:18 No. 980703 ID: 15a025
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I head back downstairs and into my room. Eugh, time to sheer this stinky- wait. Ah crud! I left my sweater back at the police station, dang it! That was my only shirt too, I can't shave with no clothes to cover me. Ugh! Guess clothes are on my to buy list now. So I don't lose my check, I slip it in my case for safe keeping. After that, I climb into bed and call it a night.

3/3 Buckwheat 2020/11/09(Mon)18:19 No. 980704 ID: 15a025
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Later in the night...

Ugh... huh? What am I doing up in bed? I don't remember getting up at all. Eugh, and this wool wreaks even more now. All I can smell is that smoke from that fire now.

Is that fire?

>>980704
Were you... sleep-smoking? Or is this a nightmare?
Anyway, you need to put out that fire.
Where's the fire extinguisher? Lacking that you can get a pot of water. Or stamp it out, since the flames aren't too high yet.

Smother the fire with your mattress, its small enough that you still have time!

>>980704
Your floor is on fire! Quick, put it out! And save the check!

>>980704
Candy put out the fire!

I wouldn't be surprised if this was Sugar's fault. She's drunk enough that she could've come in here to smoke and just tossed it on the floor without putting it out!

Candy might've woken up and the smoke from the drugs made her delirious enough to just sit there and stare at the fire while it got bigger.

1/2 Buckwheat 2020/11/12(Thu)18:34 No. 980894 ID: 15a025
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>Were you... sleep-smoking? Or is this a nightmare? Anyway, you need to put out that fire.
>Smother the fire with your mattress, its small enough that you still have time!
>Your floor is on fire! Quick, put it out! And save the check!
Sleep smoking? I thought I threw out my cigarettes? Wait, fire?!

Candy: "Fire!"

I start freaking out and throw the mattress on the fire.

Candy: "Baaah!"

Shit shit shit! Why'd it get bigger! The mattress just burst into flames!

2/2 Buckwheat 2020/11/12(Thu)18:34 No. 980895 ID: 15a025
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>Where's the fire extinguisher? Lacking that you can get a pot of water. Or stamp it out, since the flames aren't too high yet.

Candy: "Marsh! Marsh! Get the fire extinguisher!"

I run over to the door, but it's stuck! It won't open! I start pounding on the door.

Candy: "Help! I'm stuck in here with a fire!"

Ugh! What do I do! What do I do!

You're just dreaming, no huge deal. Make note of how it was a cigarette that caused the fire, which you said yourself is impossible. Also I don't know too much about how fire works, but I do know it doesn't eat through a mattress like that, especially not so quickly.

Even that's ignoring the impossibility of your door magically becoming stuck without a shitload of noise, and how no one's answering your yelling. Just pinch/nick yourself and at the very least go on whatever wild ride your psyche's taking you on with the knowledge that this is all a dream.

>>980895
Well this is clearly a nightmare. Can you lucid dream?
Kick the door open.

>>980896
Unless she's being framed for destroying the house by a resentful, selfish, and criminal sister. Or rival of said sister.

Is there a window out of here? Crack it open and climb to the eaves if you can.

>>980894
>I thought I threw out my cigarettes?
Actually, when you first arrived in town, your sister stole your cigarettes from your suitcase and you never got anymore.

>Fire got bigger
Ok, this has got be either a magical fire or you’re dreaming. There’s no way that fire should’ve gotten that big that fast!

>>980895
Do you have a window in your room? You could try going out that way.

1/2 Buckwheat 2020/11/13(Fri)18:23 No. 980949 ID: 15a025
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>when you first arrived in town, your sister stole your cigarettes from your suitcase and you never got anymore.
No, she gave me another pack. Shoot, instead throwing those out I should have just gave them back to her...

>Is there a window out of here? Crack it open and climb to the eaves if you can.
>Do you have a window in your room? You could try going out that way.
No, this door's the only way out.

>Kick the door open.
I kick at the door a couple times, but for old wood it's sure holding up. I finally hear Marsh though!

Marsh: "Outta the way I'm busting in!"

She manages to smash the door right off the hinges.

2/2 Buckwheat 2020/11/13(Fri)18:23 No. 980950 ID: 15a025
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Marsh: "Uh...Candy? Where's the fire you were yelling about?"

Candy: "It's by my now burning bed!"

Marsh: "I just see your mattress and pillow on the ground."

Candy: "What!"

What!

>>980950
Even we saw it, so that would've been a very powerful hallucination. Or... you were half-asleep and still dreaming?
Or Marsh being here is part of the dream.

Whatever. Tell her you guess last night took more of a toll on you than you thought. Maybe you can drag your mattress into her room for the night?
That way if you start hallucinating again or sleepwalking or whatever that was, she can be there to keep you grounded.

I'm... I'm sorry marsh. I think I was sleepwalking... during a nightmare.

>>980950
The fire may not have been real, but the door not opening was definitely real! Why didn't the door open when you tried to leave?

1/2 Buckwheat 2020/11/15(Sun)14:10 No. 981064 ID: 15a025
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>Tell her you guess last night took more of a toll on you than you thought. Maybe you can drag your mattress into her room for the night?
That way if you start hallucinating again or sleepwalking or whatever that was, she can be there to keep you grounded.
>I'm sorry marsh. I think I was sleepwalking... during a nightmare.
Candy: "Sorry Marsh. I guess what I went through took a bigger toll on me than I thought. I must of have been having a nightmare and sleep walking."

Marsh: "Must have been one nightmare if your beds on the floor."

Candy: "Mind if I crash in your room tonight then? In case I have another nightmare, you can help keep me grounded."

Marsh: "Sure, you can crash on my couch if you want."

She helps me lift the mattress up and throw it back on the frame.

>The fire may not have been real, but the door not opening was definitely real!
Candy: "Oh shoot, what are we going to do about the door?"

Marsh: "Worry about it later. Thing was probably going to snap off one of these days anyway."

2/2 Buckwheat 2020/11/15(Sun)14:11 No. 981065 ID: 15a025
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I walk with Marsh back to her room and lay down on the couch.

Marsh: "Good night Candy."

Candy: "Goodnight."

As I nod off, I keep having passive thoughts about fires still. I need to get my mind off that crap. Let's think here. I got a lot of stuff to do tomorrow, probably. Let's see, I need to cash my check for starters. Hanging out with Pepper is another thing. What else do I have to do tomorrow spirits?

If you can't remember anything more, then probably nothing else

Uh I don't recall anything else. Maybe drop by the station to check up on your friends in the force?

>>981065
Don’t think there’s anything else.

>>981292
Weren’t they forced to go off duty for a few days? I’m not sure if they’ll be at the station.

Buckwheat 2020/11/21(Sat)21:27 No. 981737 ID: 15a025
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>Maybe drop by the station to check up on your friends in the force?
>Weren’t they forced to go off duty for a few days? I’m not sure if they’ll be at the station.

Yeah, Nibbles and Freeze are off duty. Plus they made it sound like the station isn't safe to go to.
Emm.... guess that's it then.


Before I know it Marsh is poking at me.

Marsh: "Hey, time to get up. Hope you like cereal for breakfast because someone's sister didn't mention we needed food."
She hands me a bowl and I get up, trying to adjust to the light.

Marsh: "So, where did you need to go again? The bank right?"

Candy: "Mm...Yeah. Gotta cash that check."

Marsh: "Anywhere else?"

Candy: "Promised I'd go to that coffee place you like with Sharcole tonight."

Marsh: "Sounds like fun, but you're also cutting it close. I might have to leave town again for a few days. If I gotta leave, I gotta be gone by tonight to make it on time."

Candy: "Why don't you just read the letter now?"

Marsh: "Because I want to hold on to the small hope it's just junk mail."

I start scooping away at my cereal.

Marsh: "Your sister's dying to know too. She wants me to do Roxie's delivery jobs now while you run the bar."

Candy: "What'd you tell her?"

Marsh: "I told her bite me, I ain't screwing around with her drug deals. Smoking the stuff once and while is fine in my books, but I know enough to stay away from her crowd. Just look at the mess Roxie's tied up in right now. Screw getting tied up in that."

Where's Marsh headed?

>>981737
That's a good call Marsh, I'm doing everything I can to stay out myself. Mind telling me where you're headed?

I don't mind cutting it a little close on travel time if you don't.

1/2 Buckwheat 2020/11/22(Sun)18:21 No. 981823 ID: 15a025
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>Where's Marsh headed?
>That's a good call Marsh, I'm doing everything I can to stay out myself. Mind telling me where you're headed?
Candy: "That's a good call. I'm doing my best to stay out of it as much as I can as well. So where are you going anyway?"

Marsh: "Also a secret."

Candy: "Ah. Was going to say I don't mind cutting time close if you don't mind."

Marsh: "Ehh... we'll see-"

Sugar hollers for us upstairs.
Sugar: Candy! Marsh! Get up here!"

Marsh: "Great, what does she want now."

2/2 Buckwheat 2020/11/22(Sun)18:22 No. 981824 ID: 15a025
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We put the cereal bowls down and head up into her office.
Sugar: "Alright, there's a change of plans going on around here. Slick and some of the others big shots are coming here tonight."

Marsh: "Okay, and?"

Sugar: "We got our own secret crap to sort out. Marsh, you're heading out of town for something right?"

Marsh: "Yeah, probably."

Sugar: "Good, then you're taking Candy and Pepper with you as well."

Marsh: "I can't take anyone with me! You know that!"

Sugar: "Here's two hundred bucks, figure it out."

Marsh: "What the hell. Money isn't magically going to let me take them with."

I whisper to Marsh, "She's gotta be serious, or up to something. She'd never hand out that kind of money for free."

Marsh: "Why do I have to take care of your family? This is your problem, not mine."

Sugar: "Because this isn't exactly a good get together and I don't need to see my sisters getting used for a ransom if things go bad!"

Marsh: "What?"

Sugar: "You should know what Marsh, you do the accounting after all!"

Well, $200 should cover a hotel room for the day?

>>981824
Hopefully, no one will mistake you or Pepper as Sugar and think she’s trying to leave town. Because then they’ll chase after you instead of meeting with Suagr!

Well, do we need to be out of town? Cause if not you and Pepper can just have your bonding time now and spend the night at a hotel. If you do need to skip town then Marsh probably knows another settlement she could take you to do the same, probably just with a cab or uber to take you home.

1/2 Buckwheat 2020/11/29(Sun)16:22 No. 982447 ID: 15a025
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>Well, $200 should cover a hotel room for the day?
>Well, do we need to be out of town? Cause if not you and Pepper can just have your bonding time now and spend the night at a hotel. If you do need to skip town then Marsh probably knows another settlement she could take you to do the same, probably just with a cab or uber to take you home.
Candy: "Do you want us out of town, or is in town fine?"

Sugar: "Shoot, I didn't think about it. I don't think being in town is going to be a problem, so just do whatever."

Marsh: "Hang on a second, this isn't about money is it?"

Sugar: "Kind of is?"

Marsh: "Because we're pulling good dough at the bar still. If we weren't, and things are bad like you're saying. Why give us two hundred bucks?"

Sugar: "Because two hundred is a small price to keep my sisters out of trouble."

Marsh: Something ain't right here. Guess we better get going then. Candy's got a stop somewhere on the way."

Sugar: "Where?"

Candy: "None of your business."

Sugar: "Better not make it mine then. I got enough trouble to deal with now."

2/2 Buckwheat 2020/11/29(Sun)16:23 No. 982448 ID: 15a025
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We all get in the car and Marsh starts driving off.
Marsh: "Man your sister sure knows how to screw with me. Listen, I'm holding on to that money she gave me Candy, I don't trust her giving me that kind of dough for this. Something feels off."

Candy: "Well, a hotel room isn't cheap Marsh."

Pepper: "Hotel room?"

Marsh: "Your older sister wants some privacy for some business meeting Pepper."

Pepper: "Ah, so boring crap then?"

Marsh: "Yeah. Anyway, I'm not wasting her money on a hotel room. There's gotta be cheaper options."

Pepper: "Roxie's place! We could sleep with Roxie!"

Candy: "She's staying at the church volunteering, so that's not an option."

Marsh: "Well if she's staying at the church, someone's gotta watch her house while she's gone."

Candy: "Could stop there and ask her I guess?"

Marsh: "Yeah, but from what I remember the ma- ehhm. Sugar's friends are on thin ice with her too. Plus that's another stop I gotta make."

Pepper: "Oh! Sharcole! We could stay with-"

Marsh: "Hard no on that. I don't like Kyle and after last night I don't trust him at all."

Candy: "Are you still-"

Marsh: "Yes I'm still mad over that!"
She turns the radio down a bit.
Marsh: "I don't like this option much either since it's close to where I have to go, but I know a rest stop you could stay at. It's closer to where I'm going and I have to stop there for a night anyway. It's your call though Candy."

Guess we've got more options than I thought. I think Roxie's place wouldn't be too bad, but I guess it could be a little risky if the mafia came there looking for her. Wouldn't mind a hotel or that rest top Marsh mentioned either I guess. At least with the rest stop Marsh wouldn't be far from the sounds of it.

Rest stop sounds fine, as long as pepper is cool with it.

I guess rest stop is the easiest, but my vote is to stay at Roxie's

Why is being close where Marsh needs to go a bad thing? But yeah due to possible mafia-related issues I'd rather stay at the rest stop if Pepper is cool with it.

1/2 Buckwheat 2020/12/01(Tue)20:13 No. 982645 ID: 15a025
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>Why is being close where Marsh needs to go a bad thing?
Candy: "Why is the rest stop being close to where you're going a bad thing?"

Marsh: "Cause I got private stuff to take care of here. I guess it's fine since you won't have a way to really follow me."

>Rest stop sounds fine, as long as pepper is cool with it.
>yeah due to possible mafia-related issues I'd rather stay at the rest stop if Pepper is cool with it.
Candy: "Pepper, you alright with the rest stop then? Sounds like our safest option."

Pepper: "Yeah, sure."

Marsh: "Alright then, rest stop it is."

2/2 Buckwheat 2020/12/01(Tue)20:14 No. 982647 ID: 15a025
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The rest of the drive is pretty quiet, just bopping it to some music on the radio.

I head inside and I'm surprised how empty it is. Guess not a lot of people would be hitting up the bank this early in the day yet.

Teller: "I can help you over here."

Candy: "Oh thanks. I've got a check to cash."

Teller: "Alright, just sign the back on this line please."

I grab a pen and scribble my signature on it.

Teller: "Would you like that in cash or deposited in your account?"

Candy: "Cash please."

I hear a drawer open and he counts out the money.
Teller: "Alrighty then. One, two, three- "

Candy: "Oh uh, could I have that in smaller bills? A little bit of everything please."

Teller: "Sure!"

He puts the bills back in the drawer and gives me some twenties , tens, and fives.

Teller: "Anything else?"

Candy: "Nope, that'll be all."

Teller: "Okay, have a nice day then!"

Well, there's a good chunk of change. Some of this needs to go to Marsh I can't remember what I owe her. I guess with gas and everything I should give her fifty bucks? That'd leave me with four-fifty to myself. What am I going to spend that kinda cash on?

Well that should definitely cover the day out, maybe mentally estimate how much that'll cost, and then that ought to be enough for a rest stop in the evening. Consider buying some pepper spray for your little sister, just in case a situation arises where she needs to defend herself.

>>982708
Some self defense seems like a prudent choice.

Buckwheat 2020/12/09(Wed)20:51 No. 983280 ID: 15a025
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>Well that should definitely cover the day out, maybe mentally estimate how much that'll cost, and then that ought to be enough for a rest stop in the evening. Consider buying some pepper spray for your little sister, just in case a situation arises where she needs to defend herself.
>Some self defense seems like a prudent choice.
Uh... shoot. I dunno how much I'm going to actually spend tonight. I need some clothes for sure. Then there's getting drinks at that coffee place with Marsh and Pepper. So, I dunno. Probably a fifty bucks there as well?
I head outside and hop back in the car.

Candy: "Here's the money I owe ya Marsh."

Marsh: "Whoa fifty bucks? I don't remember you borrowing that much."

Candy: "Yeah, but gas for hauling me around probably adds up and stuff. Now I need to goto the mall and get-"

Marsh: "Hey, do I look like a taxi here? I gotta open up the bar here soon. If you wanna go to the mall, you'll have to call a taxi to come back to the bar or shop around for eight hours. Or, you wait till we go there after closing and make it snappy."

Mall first, ride back second.

Head to the mall now

>>983285
Sounds like we're all in agreement

>>983347
Sounds like we're mall in agreement*

Buckwheat 2020/12/15(Tue)12:50 No. 983689 ID: 15a025
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>Mall first, ride back second.
>Head to the mall now
Candy: "Can you drop us off at the mall then?"

Marsh: "Okay. If you need the taxi's phone number there's a phone book in the booths."

Marsh makes a quick trip over to the mall and drops us off. There's a clothes store pretty close to the entrance that we go too.

Pepper: "Wow, they got all kinds of stuff in here!"

They've got all kinds of little stuff like make up and little accessory stuff up at the front. I skip past it and head for what I'm here for, a new sweater. Their clothing line up is pretty solid back here. There's sweaters, hats, purses, collars, all kinds of stuff. I'm wondering what I should get? Should I just grab a red sweater like I had last, or should I go with something new?

Girl, you are not getting out of here without a grey flat-cap and nice dark green sweater. Its a stylish combo. Maybe a scarf too? A black scarf would look good on you!

Don't forget to encourage your sister to pick out some things!

Buckwheat 2020/12/16(Wed)16:53 No. 983768 ID: 15a025
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>Girl, you are not getting out of here without a grey flat-cap and nice dark green sweater. It's a stylish combo.
Candy: "How's this look?"

Pepper: "Kinda plain."

Candy: "That's kinda what I'm going for. I think it's a pretty stylish combo though."

>Maybe a scarf too? A black scarf would look good on you!
I'm going to pass on a scarf. I've never been a big fan of them.

>Don't forget to encourage your sister to pick out some things!
Candy: "You can something out too if you want."

Pepper: "Nah, I'm fine with just my nice, thick wool coat here."

Candy: "And here you're calling me plain."

Well, with my clothing problem here solved, where to next?

There an arcade in this mall?

Buckwheat 2020/12/19(Sat)20:49 No. 983995 ID: 15a025
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>There an arcade in this mall?

I think we there's some close to where that cafe place is?

We wonder over and low and behold there are! What a rare sight these days. Two arcade games that aren't those stupid golfing or basketball cabinets. There's two games we could play, Dungeon Hunters or Fatal Bite: Mark of the Werewolves. One's a classic gun game where we go bounty hunting for dragons in a dungeon. The other I remember used to be a popular fighting game a few years ago. Both of them are quarter munchingly priced at fifty cents a player. So it'd be a dollar for both us to play.

>>983995
Dungeon Hunters, duh! Get you and your sister 5 bucks of continues and see where you can go!

Yeah, do a round or two of shooting

Hmm, was there any unfinished business with Roxie or the church?

Buckwheat 2020/12/20(Sun)19:30 No. 984061 ID: 15a025
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>Hmm, was there any unfinished business with Roxie or the church?
I don't think there is? We killed off some important cultist last night and from the sounds of it, Relina helped kidnapped people escape from the cult.

>Dungeon Hunters, duh! Get you and your sister 5 bucks of continues and see where you can go!
>Yeah, do a round or two of shooting
I go over by the cafe real quick and get five dollars worth the quarters. That'll give us each five plays on the machine. Then Pepper and I coin up for our first round. A sound effect of a roaring dragon plays and the game begins.
A start screen pops up and we select what kind of difficulty we want.

Pepper: "Looks like easy goes slower and gives less points."

Candy: "Yeah, but harder is faster and has more enemies. Which probably means we'll burn through are money a lot faster too."

Pepper shoots the easy route.

Dungeon Hunter: "Round One: Howl-Peak! Awoo!"

Candy: "What, I thought we were hunting dragons?"

Pepper: "Well the dragon's gotta have minions to protect him and his treasure, duh."

Alrighty then. As we go through the dungeon, skeletons of wolves come after us. It takes a little bit, and a continue to get used to holding the controller.

Pepper: "Boo, you already died? We haven't even gotten to-"
A dragon roars, interrupting Pepper.
Pepper: "Quick! put in your quarters it's the dragon!"

Candy: "What's wrong, can't handle him yourself?"

I quickly pop in two more quarters and we start blasting the dragon to bits. We both end up dying once and have to continue again. Pepper finds out headshots end up actually doing more damage and we end up bagging our first dragon bounty.

Dragon Hunter: "Round Clear!"

The game dings as it adds up our bonus points and then we get to buy gun upgrades. I increase the ammo I can hold while Pepper spends it all on making her gun shots more powerful. Seems like a fair balance.

In the second round the game starts to ramp of difficulty with smaller lizard enemies. They're harder to aim at and manage to take another continue out of us. We get to the boss, this time they're a Velociraptor.

Pepper: "A Velociraptor? Are thought we were hunting dragons, not dinosaurs?"

Candy: "Does it matter? Quick shoot his fireballs so we don't get hit!"

Pepper: "Ah!"

Dungeon Hunter: "Player Two has died!"

Candy: "That's what you get for questioning the game I guess."

It's a tough fight and I end up dying myself. It's a tough fight because you spend more time shooting his attacks up than you do shooting him instead.

The next level is where we meet our final demise. It's in an icy cave with skeleton archers. You can only kill them with a headshot, but they've big dragon skulls for heads. They're quick and slick on the ice. The game does a countdown before saying,

Dungeon Hunter: "Game Over."

Well, that was a good half hour of fun.

Pepper: "Dang. We only got half way to the boss there too."

Candy: "I had a blast myself. If it was cheaper I could see playing it more."

Pepper: "I'm starting to get thirsty. Can we go to the coffee place now?"

>>984061
Absolutely, I could use a pick-me-up myself!

I don't understand how you can be tired after half an hour of pure, unadulterated dragon hunting, but sure lets go grab that coffee now

1/2 Buckwheat 2020/12/28(Mon)19:44 No. 984424 ID: 15a025
File 160921346002.png - (5.26KB , 800x600 , 52.png )

>Absolutely, I could use a pick-me-up myself!
Candy: "Sure, I could a warm drink myself."

Hope Marsh won't be too mad we went without her. We head over to the coffee place and Vienna greets us.

Vienna: "Oh hello. No Marsh?"

Candy: "Nope, she's stuck working at the bar."

Vienna: "So a table for two then?"

Candy: "Yes please."

2/2 Buckwheat 2020/12/28(Mon)19:44 No. 984425 ID: 15a025
File 160921348446.png - (5.13KB , 800x600 , 53.png )

Vienna takes us over to the usual table.
Vienna: "So what'll it be?"

Candy: "I'll just have some hot tea please."

Vienna: "What kind?"

Candy: "I'll have some black tea please."

Pepper: "I'll have a hot chocolate please!"

Vienna: "All out of hot chocolate."

Pepper: "Boo. Okay then, I'll have green tea then."

Vienna: "Okay, I'll be back with your order shortly."

Guess while we wait, this would be a good time to start catching up with my lil sis some more. What should we talk about?

Ask her if she has any friends around town, whats she do when she's not cooped up in that drafty old mansion?

Ask where she was on the night of the murder! Where are the bodies?

More seriously, ask what she thinks of Marsh and Sugar. Any problems going on? Concerns?

Buckwheat 2021/01/02(Sat)12:34 No. 984650 ID: 15a025
File 160961966666.png - (5.23KB , 800x600 , 54.png )

>Ask her if she has any friends around town, whats she do when she's not cooped up in that drafty old mansion?
Candy: "So, do you have any friends in town?"

Pepper: "Other than Marsh, Roxie, and Shrarcole? Nope. Neither here or over back home by mom and dad. All my friends moved away for college."

Candy: "Aw. What do you do then when you're not stuck in the mansion?"

Pepper: "I like to ride around with Roxie! Sometimes I get to go on deliveries with here too."

Candy: "You...you go on uh, special deliveries with her?"

Pepper: "Yup! She doesn't like taking me on those, but sometimes staying at the candy store with Sharcole isn't always an option."

I'm surprised that I'm surprised. I can't believe my sister makes Roxie take my little sister around for drug deals.

Pepper: "Sometimes Roxie takes me to watch her baseball games."

Candy: "Roxie plays baseball?"

Pepper: "No, she coaches the games sometimes though. It's funny how fired up the gangs in town can get over it. Roxie even mentioned they used baseball to fight for places to operate around or something even."

At least it's a baseball game and not a stabbing competition.

Vienna comes back with our drinks,
Vienna: "Here you two go. Fresh and hot."

I grab my tea and take a gentle sip, making sure it isn't too hot. It feels warm and refreshing.

Pepper: "Now this is the good stuff. Thanks Vienna!"

Vienna: "Glad to hear. Please let me know if I can get you anything else."

While I'm enjoying my tea, I start to get worrying thoughts. Pepper seems to be pretty exposed to gangs and drug dealing scene here, and after hearing that one cultist mention Pepper last night. I wonder if I dare ask if she knows about the cult at all?

Best ask and know for certain

>>984650
Yes, but lead into it carefully. Maybe something about how "even when I'm not doing anything dangerous I always seem to run into trouble here. The cult problem certainly isn't helping, they ever interfere with deliveries?"

Buckwheat 2021/01/03(Sun)18:29 No. 984792 ID: 15a025
File 160972738921.png - (5.12KB , 800x600 , 55.png )

>Best ask and know for certain
>Yes, but lead into it carefully.
After Vienna leaves I start to tread carefully to the question
Candy: "You know, even when I'm just doing normal stuff in town, I always end up finding trouble."

Pepper: "What kind of trouble? It's not the cops is it?"

Candy: "No not the cops. It's more or less the cult problem going on. You ever run into those nerds or anything?"

Pepper: "What do they look like?"

Candy: "They're always running around in those purple robes."

Pepper: "Oh yeah! One time I was with Roxie and some guys in purple robes really wanted our uh, candy. They didn't seem like too much trouble for Roxie though."

Candy: "How'd she fight them off?"

Pepper: "It was before a baseball game, so she smashed their faces in with a baseball bat."

Candy: "You said she didn't play though?"

Pepper: "A coach always comes prepared for the forgetful."

She picks up her tea after that and takes a sip.

Pepper: "Mmm... nice and warm."

>>984792
Hey Pepper, when I'm ready to head back to the city, you should consider coming with me, we can room together or something. Its not so bad, this place on the other hand is apparently one giant roving brawl. We can do better for ourselves.

Buckwheat 2021/01/05(Tue)20:39 No. 985061 ID: 15a025
File 160990797488.png - (5.12KB , 800x600 , 56.png )

>Hey Pepper, when I'm ready to head back to the city, you should consider coming with me, we can room together or something.
Candy: "You know, when I'm ready to head back home, you should think about coming with me."

Pepper: "Why?"

Candy: "Well, it's not by a town full of drug dealers and crazy cultists for starters."

Pepper: "Okay yeah, but if I wanted safety I'd just stay home and help with the family business selling winter wear. Yeah it's dangerous here in town but, it's where Marsh and Roxie are and I enjoy being with them."

Candy: "It might be fun now, but you need to think about your future. I'm pretty sure we just talked about you not growing up to be Sugar. You need to find a real job. Shoot, I'm kind of still looking for a job."

She replies in a mocking tone,
Pepper: "Aren't you working for Sugar though?"

Candy: "Yeah, and I didn't have any idea she meant selling 'special candy.' She told me she had a bar and a candy store she needed extra help with. I figured it'd be a nice easy job to earn a little extra cash while I looked around for something."

Ugh, and I wished that was the half of it. Now I'm invested in stopping another group of cultists and now convincing my sister to get out of here. I go to finish off my tea while I think. There's gotta be something I can say or do to convince her.

>>985061
Speaking of the cult, even the cops here don't want to deal with them, any clue whats up with that?

Either way, sis, put some thought into it, I'd love to have come back with me. Anything else you want to do here or do you wanna move on somewhere else.

1/2 Buckwheat 2021/01/06(Wed)18:56 No. 985128 ID: 15a025
File 160998820226.png - (5.21KB , 800x600 , 57.png )

>Speaking of the cult, even the cops here don't want to deal with them, any clue whats up with that?
Candy: "You know, speaking of the cult. Cops don't seem to wanna bother with them at all. Any idea what's up with that?"

Pepper: "No, I don't deal with the cops at all. Isn't the cult supposed to be like the church's problem or something anyway?"

I guess her staying away from the cops is a good thing for now. Guess I'll have to wait and see what Nibbles comes up with.

>Either way, sis, put some thought into it, I'd love to have come back with me. Anything else you want to do here or do you wanna move on somewhere else.
Candy: "Anyway, put some thought into it at least. I'd love to have you stay with me, even for a little bit. There anything else you wanted to do or should we get going?"

She takes another sip of tea before finishing it off.
Pepper: "I think we should head out now."

Candy: "Alrighty then."

We go back out to the lobby and I ask Vienna to call us a cab. I pay him for the tea plus a little tip.

2/2 Buckwheat 2021/01/06(Wed)18:57 No. 985129 ID: 15a025
File 160998824083.png - (5.64KB , 800x600 , 58.png )

When we get to the bar I see Freeze is here.

Freeze: "Candy, I've been waiting here for you."

Candy: "I uh, see that. What's up?"

Freeze: "We need to talk, privately. Are you free?"

You guess so

I'm kind of in the middle of a thing with my sister, is it urgent?

Don't leave her alone or with strangers. You can talk but only if there's a way to do that, you need to watch out for her.

1/4 Buckwheat 2021/01/13(Wed)20:20 No. 985643 ID: 15a025
File 161059800804.png - (5.65KB , 800x600 , 59.png )

>I'm kind of in the middle of a thing with my sister, is it urgent?
>Don't leave her alone or with strangers. You can talk but only if there's a way to do that, you need to watch out for her.
Candy: "Is it urgent? I'm supposed to be watching my little sister here."

Pepper: "Hey I'm not that little I'm-"

Freeze: "I guess it's not super important. Uh, here."
She hands me a small package.
Freeze: "Open that up when you're by yourself. You'll know what to do after."

Candy: "Uh, okay. Was that all?"

Freeze: "Kind of, I had some things to talk about. We can talk later though."

2/4 Buckwheat 2021/01/13(Wed)20:20 No. 985644 ID: 15a025
File 161059803570.png - (5.53KB , 800x600 , 60.png )

She gets up and leaves.

Marsh: "Well that was awkward. So, what'd you two do at the mall? I see someone bought new clothes."

Candy: "I did. Then we played an arcade game and hit up the coffee shop."

Marsh: "Augh, you went without me?"

Pepper: "Sorry we didn't bring anything back for you."

Marsh: "Nah don't worry. Faster we can leave town tonight the better."

3/4 Buckwheat 2021/01/13(Wed)20:20 No. 985645 ID: 15a025
File 161059805064.png - (6.45KB , 800x600 , 61.png )

The rest of the day I end up helping Marsh a bit with running the bar. It wasn't too busy, but I took care of bringing over drinks to tables while Marsh manned the taps.

4/4 Buckwheat 2021/01/13(Wed)20:21 No. 985646 ID: 15a025
File 161059806637.png - (4.16KB , 800x600 , 62.png )

After work, Marsh rushes us straight back to the mansion. I've got fifteen minutes to get ready. Not a lot to really pack, but I've got things to take care of. I really need to sit down shave this smelly wool off, it's bothering me. I also got that package from Freeze too though. It might not be super important, but this could also be my only alone time for awhile to mess with whatever it is. What should I do?

Open it.

You could've left your sister with Marsh, you know...

>>985646
Yup, crack that package open (but first shake it to make sure its not a mail-bomb)

Buckwheat 2021/01/16(Sat)19:43 No. 985828 ID: 15a025
File 161085499784.png - (4.14KB , 800x600 , 63.png )

>You could've left your sister with Marsh, you know...
I- yeah I guess I could have.

>Open it.
>Yup, crack that package open (but first shake it to make sure it's not a mail-bomb)
I shake the package and I hear something rattle in it, no explosion yet though. Once I'm sure it's not a bomb I open it up. Inside is a cell phone? I flip it open and browse through it. First thing I do is set it to vibrate. Then I see I've got Freeze and Nibbles as contacts. It also says I have two-hundred-forty minutes left, whatever that means. I've got enough time that I could probably squeeze in a call to one of them to see what was up. Should I? If so, should I call Freeze or Nibbles?

Call Freeze.

>>985829
this, but consider texting, if the phone can. It'd be more discrete.

Buckwheat 2021/01/17(Sun)21:37 No. 985898 ID: 15a025
File 161094822340.png - (4.29KB , 800x600 , 64.png )

>Call Freeze.
>this, but consider texting, if the phone can. It'd be more discrete.
Unfortunately texting isn't option, so I call up Freeze.

Freeze: "Hello?"
Candy: "Hey Freeze, it's Candy. I got a few moments to talk."

Freeze: "Ah. Are you alone?"

Candy: "Yeah, thanks for the phone."

Freeze: "No problem. We decided to play it safe and get phones that aren't in the police system."

Candy: "So what's the news?"

Freeze: "Nibbles and I are still digging through files still, but we did find something interesting. Churches have been donating a lot money to our anti-drug programs."

Candy: "Okay, that doesn't strike me as anything odd. Practicing what they preach after all."

Freeze: "It wouldn't be odd, except for how much money is being donated. We're talking almost half a million dollars, per station. For reference, other donation groups for our anti-drug program barely hit fifty-thousand."

Candy: "Okay yeah that is a lot of money, but what's wrong about that?"

Freeze: "These donations started around the same time Nibbles got sent here and when the big push to focus on drug crimes started."

Candy: "That's a little odd I guess. Is this going anywhere though?"

Freeze: "Yes, but it's hard to really say without digging more. I feel like the church is trying to keep our eyes of the cult for some reason. Nibbles mentioned that these large donations might be to cover up some kind of money laundering scheme as well though."

>>985898
Sounds like somebody's gotta investigate the anti-drug organizations. See who's in charge.
Maybe you can do that for them?

1/2 Buckwheat 2021/01/21(Thu)19:32 No. 986071 ID: 15a025
File 161128632020.png - (4.16KB , 800x600 , 65.png )

>Sounds like somebody's gotta investigate the anti-drug organizations. See who's in charge. Maybe you can do that for them?
Candy: "Sounds like we should investigate these organizations. See who's in charge of them. Is that something I could help with?"

Freeze: "That's a good question, but hard to say. Maybe I could you a meeting or dinner date with one of the head organizers? Anyway, don't want to run all your minutes up. "

Candy: "Oh yeah, what does that mean?"

Freeze: "You have to buy air time for that phone. We got it loaded with four hours right now, but it's expensive. I'd only use it when you need too."

Marsh: "Candy? You almost ready in there?"

Candy: "Okay, gotta go."

I hang up the phone and stuff it in my pocket for now. Then I dig out my briefcase and head out.

2/2 Buckwheat 2021/01/21(Thu)19:32 No. 986072 ID: 15a025
File 161128636714.png - (6.10KB , 800x600 , 66.png )

Marsh: "Are you two all set? It's going to be long ride before we even get to the rest stop tonight."

Pepper: "How long of a ride is it?"

Marsh: "Six hours if the roads are good."

Candy: "Yikes, that long? We won't be there till midnight?"

Marsh: "Yeah, if we're lucky. Then I got another three hours of road after the rest stop. Be glad you're staying there and not coming with."

>>986072
Alright then, if you've got your spell stones and your sister is packed, then its time to roll out.

I wish we could get some entertainment for the trip.

Might at well get some snacks, don't want to get hungry. Maybe some ORANGE JUICE!

1/3 Buckwheat 2021/01/27(Wed)17:16 No. 986392 ID: 15a025
File 161179660828.png - (5.17KB , 800x600 , 67.png )

>Might as well get some snacks, don't want to get hungry. Maybe some ORANGE JUICE!
I rush into the kitchen real quick and grab some snacks for the ride. We got some little bottles of orange juice to take.

>Alright then, if you've got your spell stones and your sister is packed, then it's time to roll out.
Wait, ah crap! I forgot to find somewhere I can fuse my shield enchantment stone into you guys. Eh... I probably won't need it while we're gone. Remind me when we get home after this to do that though.
Marsh takes us back to the car and we get rolling.

>I wish we could get some entertainment for the trip.
Candy: "Yeah six hours in the car is going to be brutal without anything to do. Can we-"

Marsh: "Already planned you'd get bored of the radio. When I stopped at a gas station, I got you a couple of word searches. They're in the back by you Pepper."

Pepper: "Well, it's something to do at least."

Marsh: "Hey what's wrong with word searches. They're fun."

Pepper: "Yeah but I miss playing games in the car."

Marsh: "Blame the jerk wad that stole them. I ain't keeping any expensive stuff in the car anymore. Surprised no one ripped out my radio yet."

Candy: "Probably because it's a cassette player and not a CD player."

Marsh: "You knocking my poor cassette player?"

Candy: "Well, I guess it works."

2/3 Buckwheat 2021/01/27(Wed)17:17 No. 986393 ID: 15a025
File 161179664387.png - (5.65KB , 800x600 , 68.png )

It ends up being a long boring car, thankfully I still have another word search left to do on the return drive. When we finally stop, it's at a small motel.
Clerk: "Ah Marsh. That time of the month again? Or, I see you have company this time. Vacation away from the city?"

Marsh: "Hey, no questions no problems."

Candy: "Marsh, be nice. Things are a little wild at home and we just needed to get away. Marsh also has something going on out here."

Marsh: "Anyway, we need two rooms. Can you hook us up?"

Clerk: "Sure, here's your keys."

Candy: "Whoa, are these rooms free?"

Clerk: "No, but Marsh's-"

Marsh: "Paid in advance. Now come on, let's get to bed. I gotta get up early for another long drive."

3/3 Buckwheat 2021/01/27(Wed)17:17 No. 986394 ID: 15a025
File 161179666733.png - (4.34KB , 800x600 , 69.png )

Marsh wanted her own room, so I end up sharing a room with Pepper. The beds are nice a comfy and the room smells nice and clean.

Pepper: "Goodnight Candy."

Candy: "Goodnight Pepper."

[spoiler]End of Volume 10[/spoier]