Jack 2018/11/19(Mon)14:33 No. 911224 ID: cc0a23
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[[Do you have a plan of action to recruit her to your side? Let us tell you what we understand of her.]]

[[Demrin comes from a place with many sentient species, like our world. But, only one dominant species, like yours. Her people have utterly subjugated all others. The concept of 'prey' and 'predator' is something that is integral to her cultural psychology. It has taken her time for her to adjust to the concept of equality upon arriving here, although she did stop trying to subjugate the local population, eventually.]]

[[We do not know the full story. Bolo convinced her, somehow.]]

Right... how is this supposed to help me?

[[We think that you may wish to play to this cultural pride in power dynamics. Either submit yourself as a slave, or attempt to impress her with some form of display of dominance.]]

[[Although she may take that as a serious insult, or challenge, and attempt to assert her own dominance. It is difficult to predict her reaction. It may be violent, or playful, or yielding. We are not adept at understanding emotional response.]]

Oh, are you fucking kidding me? I just got away from one alien girl trying to rape me and now I'm back into this BDSM bullshit?

[[She is among the strongest individual residents on the rock, and if you gain her favour, she will take little convincing to stay by your side on a permanent basis. She despises this place and will not wish to return.]]

[[A giant, powerful bodyguard on your side is not such a bad thing, is it? This is a rhetorical question. It would be, in fact, a good thing.]]

>>911224
Approach her submissively and present your proposal. She wants to leave, and you can offer a means of doing so. You can even offer her a new group to join if she's interested.

Just make her think it's her idea. From her culture, she won't realize the difference between taking point and taking command.

Challenge her to a contest that she can easily win (without making yourself look useless), then convince her to take you on as her 'thought slave', so you have to do all the menial thinking and planning and choosing while she gets to be the video game protagonist who just kills everything on her way to the exit.

Before you go submitting yourself to Demrin as a slave, consider you already have a demon in your service. If Xyphylys could be bargained with for information she would be interested in, we could show our dominance as a person who Gets Shit Done, specifically in the field of Getting Off Rocks. In fact, he may have given us such information already, precluding the need to punch ourselves in the ball or whatnot to make another deal. Then, as the man with the resources to facilitate escape, we would be someone Demrin would want to follow.
Feel free to switch back to groveling when you can't keep up the air of confidence, though.

Jack 2018/11/28(Wed)13:56 No. 912075 ID: cc0a23
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>>911253
>convince her to take you on as her 'thought slave', so you have to do all the menial thinking and planning and choosing while she gets to be the video game protagonist who just kills everything on her way to the exit.
I think that implying that I'm smarter then her will probably end with her cracking my skull open or something. You guys haven't talked with her much, but I have, and I don't think she's dumb. And even if she was, people usually don't like being told they are.

Hey there.

The little human again. You actually managed to get lost, didn't you.

No, I talked with Bolo... I came back to talk with you, actually.

You did?... I am out of composite and I have given myself some time before I will make more. I suppose I'll allow you some of that time.

Jack 2018/11/28(Wed)13:56 No. 912076 ID: cc0a23
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So what do you want.

>>911258
>Before you go submitting yourself to Demrin as a slave, consider you already have a demon in your service. If Xyphylys could be bargained with for information she would be interested in, we could show our dominance as a person who Gets Shit Done, specifically in the field of Getting Off Rocks.
I really don't want to deal with that creepy motherfucker if I don't have to... but I can't think of any other advantages I could possibly have to leverage here, so... uh, how do I put this?

Do you... need to know anything?

...Excuse me?

I mean... getting off this rock. Maybe there's something you'd like to know.

...What game are you playing at, little human?

I know someone- uh, I have someone in my servitude who knows a lot of things. He's... I think he's a demon. Like some kind of information broker demon.

I'm fucking this up. Crap. It's hard to think of how to say stuff when you've got a scary 10 foot tall alien slaver staring at you. I'm not a brave man... Can you guys tell me exactly what I should be saying? Should I, like, summon him? He said I could do that by just saying his name out loud but I don't know if I want to do that. What if he refuses to leave unless I give him my other nut? Fuck.

You are a strange little human, aren't you? And I can taste your fear scent.

Uh.

[[We are still here to help you, Jack. We can see into her mind and tell you exactly what she is thinking. This may give you an edge.]]

[[For instance, at the moment, she believes you may have some form of mental damage or irregularity and would probably be executed rather then enslaved, where she comes from.]]

Thanks for that.

[[You are welcome.]]

>She thinks you're crazy.
"This place is crazy. You need a crazy to understand crazy. Unless you want to go crazy yourself..."

>Why should I go along with a madman
More like why should she go with three psychics and their pet monkey: Because psychics know a lot.

>scary 10 foot tall alien
Scary is one word for it, I suppose. Anyway, prove yourself the same way he did, by knowing something only she would know. This means summoning him again to get the dirty little secrets. ("Alright Xyphylys, help me out here...")
I imagine getting choked out by Demrin as her rage grows would be payment enough. Ooh! Or holding your head submerged in the bucket to waterboard yourself while getting the details. Don't worry, I'm sure it won't do lasting harm...

Someone let us into her brain.
We'll show her what crazy is.

>>912076
You can't blame her for thinking that sounds crazy. But, then again, she should look around herself. She's stuck on some crazy, alien world filled with things that are too bizarre to describe without sounding like a maniac. Maybe you have a demon in your service, and maybe you don't. You have ways of proving it to her, though you doubt either you or she would enjoy them. What does she have to lose if she takes you at your word, though? You have no cause or even ability to harm her and if you really are just some crazy human, then at least you might be useful as a distraction from the dullness of life in the trench.

>>912079
honestly that first line is pretty good

"yeah I know this shit's crazy, but it doesn't make it less real. I can do the crazy for you though."

...Is it just me, or is she making a wall for an enclosure she can't stand up straight in? No wonder she's so cranky. She needs to get out and stretch a little! With company, to be safe.

Just say something like "the mind is willing but the flesh is weak."
You can't control your biological reactions, but you'll be damned if you will let them control you.

Jack 2018/12/10(Mon)17:00 No. 913638 ID: cc0a23
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> Someone let us into her brain.
[[We could certainly help with that. Allow us one moment to-]]

No! Don't do that. I need you guys talking to me right now. You're always jumping around in people's heads, it's confusing... just stay here and help me. That was a good line you gave me.

Yeah, look, I know this place is crazy, but you need a crazy to understand crazy. I can do the crazy for you.

... What are you talking about?

[[I do not think that this situation is 'crazy' for her. She did not arrive entirely unintentionally; there was some form of teleporter malfunction, or something similar; 'teleporter' is the closest human analogue. In any case, to her perspective, this situation is extremely inconvenient but not 'crazy'.]]

Well you could have fucking told me that before I said it.

[[We apologize.]]

[[Though in fairness, you did not ask.]]

...And now you've gone quiet. I do not know what is going through your brain. I don't care, either. Shut up and go away, little human. Talk with the green one, he is now your... what is the word? Handler.

Fuck... fuck it. Maybe if I show her something crazy. And show her how I'm in control of the crazy thing.

Xyphylys?

Jack 2018/12/10(Mon)17:00 No. 913639 ID: cc0a23
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Yes, friend. What is it that I might help you with?

K'iragh saph karagh! Where did he come from??!

[[What... Jack, what is that?]]

I was just looking there! What... what sashka trickery...

If you are wondering about those runes we had agreed upon, I haven't had time to prepare the relevant knowledge for you. I've been... occupied with tending my own payment. It is now better. If there is some other business you-

Jack 2018/12/10(Mon)17:00 No. 913640 ID: cc0a23
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Karigh! Kah taha! LOOK AT ME! Do not sneak up on me, you filthy... Jaht! Thing!

Jesus christ- why-

[[She is intimidated. She has rationalized it as lashing out in anger for being surprised, but her subconscious instinct is to establish dominance with anything new and threatening.]]

[[It is not a conscious decision on her behalf. Fortunately, you were not nearly threatening enough to trigger this reaction in her.]]

My friend... I do not like interacting with these aliens. I would prefer to speak with you while you are alone. If you have nothing for me, I shall leave.

We do have something for him, right?

"Sorry, Xyphylys, we didn't realize she would be so angry. We intended to introduce her to you; but if she's going to be rude, you can leave."
This sort of wording should make her see that Xyphylys is beholden to our commands, or at least our suggestions, while also not pissing him off.

Okay.

Pro: This is the first time some horrible monster has been getting beaten up instead of a horrible monster beating us up, or choking us out, or choking out our cute alien girlfriend.

Con: This woman is a violent lunatic.

While she's definitely proving that she can defend us against the weird shit here, do we really need violent lunatics in our party? I think the wormy dudes are enough of an escort if we need one at all, they seem eager to help and can read minds. That's nothing to shake a stick at. Dump this crazy orange lady, leave hentai tentacle monster's rape town behind, and get a move on to pick up Nouille. We have some places to explore.

Awww, they're bonding! I'd suggest they start with puppy kisses but okay okay fine back to work.

"Please don't kill him yet, he knows how to get off the rock."

Hey there Xyphylys, i am pretty sure you can understand us, even though we are in jack,so first off, we are sorry we couldnt have warned you ahead of time about this.Had we know shed tackle you outright, we probably woulda tried something else. You are entirely free to go if you want, but we also kinda need a small favor.
We are currently trying to impress/assert dominance over this gaint red alien lady inorder to get her protection, but jack's not really the type to project a assertive energy of any kind. So we are going to say >>913666, and all we need you to do is either disapear instantly, or say something that suggests jack some form of control over you, and then disapear, alright? We can give you abit o minor pain latter for your troubles.
Also jack, ask the victors if there are any other acts of dominance demrins people perform verbally, or is all of it grappeling related?

Jack 2018/12/21(Fri)14:22 No. 914692 ID: cc0a23
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Ah... Xyphylys, I didn't realize she would do this. Uh, I wanted to introduce you to her, but if she's doing this, you can go.

...Yes, if you please, I shall leave on your command.

Do not summon me again without adequate business to discuss. I will remember this.

Jack 2018/12/21(Fri)14:23 No. 914693 ID: cc0a23
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It... just left? What was that?

Did she calm down already?

[[She is less immediately violent now that the threatening stimuli has left, however, she is still quite upset.]]

I don't know what his deal is. That's the sort of shit I'm talking about when I called this place crazy.

No, this 'place' isn't 'crazy'.

This world is... I don't know all your words. But the... the 'rules' are consistent. I understand them. They are... bent here, but consistent. That thing didn't follow the rules. I could taste it. It didn't come from... somewhere else.

It tasted like you. You humans. But it wasn't a human.

Imagine if you ended up in his world, where pain is food, people don't die when they're eviscerated, he can just disappear whenever he wants to, and business is more important than life. Then he gets all offended at you and says "Oh no, this place isn't crazy. The 'rules' are consistent!" Then you'd know how I feel. He tastes like me because neither of us are from around here. I don't come from his world, but neither of us came from this world, which is as strange to me as he is to you. So sorry if I pull some weird shit, but a girl I barely know is literally holding herself together, I need to bring her friend from trench town to help, I'm squishy and fragile, and you're not, so come on, I need your help to survive out there.

>>914746
This NEEDS to be said.

He plays by his own, equally valid set of rules. Whatever they might be. This alternate rule set can work in our favor when we collaborate - what may not be a legal move for us, works for him. Jack can be your go-between for this.
What are the usual 'rules' for someone teleporting out of thin air, anyway?

...I figured that out on my own, but thanks anyway. If you're quite done attacking one of the few things not trying to kill me, can we talk about leaving this dump?

Jack 2019/01/04(Fri)11:35 No. 916221 ID: cc0a23
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Look, he operates by his own set of rules, and I don't understand how they work really either, but they can work out in our favor because he seems to know things, and... look, I just really need your help. My friend is dying, I don't know how to help her, and everything out there is fucking dangerous and terrifying and is probably going to kill me.

Okay.

So... can we go?

No. Is that what this has all been about? I am not going anywhere with you.

Jack 2019/01/04(Fri)11:35 No. 916222 ID: cc0a23
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I do not care about you or your friend. Go ahead and die.

I am busy here. I must rebuild this shitty little shanty 'town'. It offends me that it has been allowed to exist in this state.

[[I do not think she is convinced. She does not respond well to appeals to sympathy.]]

[[At this point, you may wish to simply cut your losses. This does not seem to be working.]]

"Ffffffffine, I'll get you some @#$%ing slaves on my suicide mission so you can work faster, GOODBYE."

Why is she staying here if she hates it so much? It's not out of a sense of loyalty or altruism. Do they have something she needs? Is it because she has no other recourse? Is nobody else willing to put up with her attitude? Is she afraid of this world and unwilling to face it, cowering here in a hole like some pale, pasty grub? It's strange how the frail, little human is more willing to brave the dangers of the world than her, powerful as she claims to be. Maybe she isn't worth the trouble. Maybe she's a coward.

>>916227
I think it's mostly a sense of duty; a desire to work for a cause and make the people around you work harder, even if you have to enslave and torture them all to get them motivated. Keeping the Trenches in shape also decreases the average number of complains and griping she has to put up with, which is an obvious motivator.

Hell, if you're that scared of the outside, I won't keep bothering you.

>>916227
Pretty much well blown it already. We were told in advance that she basically only respects the rules of domination, we appealed to sympathy, we've been told it's a lost cause, let's move on. Every hint has been dropped and ignored by majority, let's moved on.

There's no need for insults, it's clear Bolo has already called dibs on her.
Let's head back to Soo. Tell her we have (not had) a van with some drugs in it if we can get to them. It's still technically true, Noodle grabbed some stuff and kept it safe.

Jack 2019/01/14(Mon)15:08 No. 917738 ID: cc0a23
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Are you that scared of the outside world? I guess if you want to hide away in this pit like a pasty grub, that's fine.

[[Jack?]]

I don't know if I would want a coward by my side, anyway.

Jack 2019/01/14(Mon)15:08 No. 917739 ID: cc0a23
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...Uhm, actually, I meant that

Jack 2019/01/14(Mon)15:08 No. 917740 ID: cc0a23
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Wait- what are you

Jack 2019/01/14(Mon)15:09 No. 917744 ID: cc0a23
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Oh, god.

Goodbye, human. Be on your way.

[[There can be overlap, but there is a difference between asserting your own dominance, and merely insulting another.]]

[[For what it is worth, it did work. Only slightly, but it did. Contrary to her actions, she feels marginally less disgust towards you now.]]

[[Still, it is probably better if you 'dropped it'. Perhaps you may still return later.]]

Why do I listen to you guys?

I think she likes you.

Right. Okay. Whatever. Let's just get on with it. That was a complete and utter waste of time. Fuck.

Like I said, don't insult the big red one.
That leaves you with Victors for traveling partners. At least you'll have someone to talk to, and for talking over long distances.

>Why do I listen to you guys?

Perhaps instead of just going by the majority you should pick and choose. Some of us told you to cut your losses.

>Why do I listen to you guys
Because as the client you have veto power. If you think we've gone from gibbering mouthers to flame war, you can always START SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF YOUR LUNGS and we'll notice.

... To the box thing! Factory.

Jack 2019/01/18(Fri)15:07 No. 918218 ID: cc0a23
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Yeah, I shouldn't be blaming you guys. It's just confusing sometimes, to have all these voices in my head saying shit at me, so I go with whoever's saying roughly the same stuff. Man, my face hurts.

Whatever... anyway, we're still going to go meet up with Nouille and Katie, that was the plan, right? That's what I told the green guy, at least. Plus, I'm a little worried about Kate, she was just fucked up last time I saw her. But we'll check out the 'factory' after.

Only thing is I don't know where either Kate or the factory thing are.

[[We can direct you.]]

[[Not that you truly require our help. Should you pick any direction and walk for some minutes, you will either find what you were looking for, or be back where you started. It is difficult to get lost on this rock.]]

[[However, we will assist all the same, and save you some time.]]

I have an update in the feedback thread. https://tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/126364.html[/spoiler]

Thanks Victors, good help is hard to find in this place.
Say goodbye to red lady, and hello to red desert.