Enemy 2016/12/21(Wed)13:42 No. 767347 ID: f6ba27
File 148235654005.png - (14.08KB , 960x560 , 627.png )

"Zack?"

You turn over, extract yourself from the pillows and a still-snoozing Bika, and open your eyes. GG's already up; her hat and pants hav disappeared from the nightstand. A Bika is at the door.
"Housekeeping," she says.
"Ha ha."
She points back out the doorway. "You got visitors."


"Good morning, Mr. Nguyen," Carlson says.

"Good morning, sir. What do I owe this pleasant surprise to?"

"Good morning, Mr. Carlson. What can I do for you?"

Did something happen?

>>767347
I dunno, that looks more like a human to me.

>>767347
"Good morning, Mr. Carlson. You sus."

Oh no.
What's wrong? He wouldn't be here if nothing was wrong. Is someone dead? Did somebody go missing? Are we in trouble? Is someone else in trouble
What?

"Morning Meg. Morning Mr. Carlson."

Come on guys, at least acknowledge Meg's existence instead of only talking to Zack's boss.

Morning Carlson, morning Meg.

So, uh, what's going on?

Meg! Carlson! ZOIDBERG!
You're all here, and you have the grimmest face. No offense, but it looks like your drinking nothing but pure shadows, sir.

>>767361
>>767362
Oh! Right. Greet Meg, too. Of course.

>>767347
"Oh, hey Meg. Mr. Carlson. Is something wrong?"

Enemy 2016/12/21(Wed)14:49 No. 767377 ID: f6ba27
File 148236056742.png - (7.35KB , 960x560 , 628.png )

"Good morning, sir. Morning, Meg."
"Hi."
"To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?"

"I think you're already aware." Carlson sticks his head out the door and looks both ways. "Miss Bika has kindly vacated the floor. If you'd turn off your cell phone, please?"

You power it down and surreptitiously power your other down too, as Carlson sticks a small black box on your nightstand and flips a blinking antenna out of it.
"What's that?" you ask.
"Portable tunnel," he says. "As in, can I call you back I am going through a tunnel. Just as a precaution. Now." He watches the blinking light. "You'll be pleased to hear that the program is no longer in imminent danger of shutdown."
"I sure am."
"You'll be less pleased to know that its primary function is now as a front for an interdimensional spy ring organized by Megumi 9x542. I would have preferred you not know this." He purses his lips. "But Meg, I understand, has already told you."
"They would have liked the option of turning me over and lying to you that I'd been reassigned," Meg says.
"As I said, Megumi--"
"I know what you've said, Carlson," Meg says. "I know what the appeasers have said too. And there's this thing called being honest to your boyfriend."
"Regardless," Carlson says. "Since you are aware of what is happening, we can't proceed without your consent to be part of it. Or your indication that you understand you will be a key part in espionage against Golboria with serious dimensional-political ramifications, your involvement in which, if uncovered, will place your life in extreme jeopardy. You are allowed to refuse. We would dismantle the operation and reevaluate."

>>767377
Accept.

We didn't get this far by being a coward.
We will continue. Bring on the challenge.

>>767377
Accept. What all is changing? Any new responsibilities?

Funny, when we started, this whole thing was supposed to be about improving relations, not setting them up to fall apart.

>We would dismantle the operation and reevaluate
You would pretend to dismantle and find a way to work around me, you mean.

I'm already in this pretty deep, Carlson. Ain't gonna help no one one's safety much, even my own, if I back off now.

>>767377
Accept, I mean if you wren't comfortable with all the spy stuff you wouldn't have kept pestering Bikka or told Meg about what you found out.

>>767377
Desperately try to stifle the "Man of course I want to be a spy I love james bond" line, graciously accept because really you don't have much else going on

Tell them you would like to know if the others are going to be in on this though

I won't let you down, sir.

"Anything left for me back in my old life will likely be destroyed in the next five years if I don't help you guys prevent Visitor War II from happening.

I'm in."

>>767385
>Tell them you would like to know if the others are going to be in on this though
That's a very good question. Who all is in on this besides Meg and Zack? Poly I imagine, but what about GG and Bika?

>>767377
"If you please, sir. The name's Nguyen. Zack Nguyen."

>>767377
I believe I understand. So, as the outward-facing successful test subject, I will continue my normal activities as a front while the rest of the organization tries a 'different approach'?

>>767387
>Visitor War II
Yeah, and we already know that the last war had humans hilariously outmatched. The only reason it ended was because the Visitors felt bad about how hard they were kicking the human's asses.

If there is a second war it might actually be a fair fight, with humans and visitors vs the Kariket and his loyal followers.

Enemy 2016/12/21(Wed)16:37 No. 767401 ID: f6ba27
File 148236707902.png - (89.62KB , 960x560 , 629.png )

"I'm already in this deep enough," you say. "It won't help anybody's safety if I back out now, least of all mine."
"I suppose not," Carlson says. "All right, Mr. Nguyen. Welcome to the great game."
"Are the others going to be in on this?" you ask. "Bika and GG and Poly?"
Carlson shakes his head. "The less they know, the safer they'll be. And the fewer variables, the better. I understand if that makes you uncomfortable."
"It does."
"I understand. But you are still not going to tell them."

"What's all this changing?" you ask. "Do I have new responsibilities?"
"Not as such," Carlson says. "But it was agreed, in the discussion Megumi and I had with my associates in the branches of government we are now collaborating with, that Megumi's cover will be better served with a more... outward display."
"What does that mean?"
"That it's time to go public, Mr. Nguyen. You've been keeping an admirably low profile; but a low profile is not what will convince the Floater Collective, or the zeitgeist, that this program has and deserves the support it does. I'm not suggesting that you become an undue celebrity, Zack; but you've erred too much on the side of caution. The HVAO is willing to provide rides and security in any capacity you require. Decide on a public profile; control how and when you show your face; but we need you to show your face. This is all to say that there is an upcoming fall benefit gala at the Museum of Modern Art. And it is my suggestion that Megumi and yourself attend. Two seats can be arranged for."
"This is why I wanted to bring Carlson," Meg says. "So you didn't think this was just my idea to make you take me to fancy dinner."
Carlson's lips are so thin they're in danger of vanishing.
"It's a fucking joke, Carlson," Meg says.

>>767401
pfft.
"Well, for starters, might help us out to start making more public appearances. Perhaps start with some coincidental sightings at the movies, innocuous stuff, then build up some reputation for charity work."

Should we mention the visitor aid program stuff we're doing?

>>767401
The gala sounds good.
It's going to be tough keeping a lid on all this, but it has to be done. We don't want to put the girls in any more danger.

The main problem for Zack is going to be balancing his responsibilities to the HVAO with his responsibilities to the dulabira.
Keeping it all a secret may prove difficult. GG is unlikely to pry, but Bika is a nosy little thing. We'll have to be extra cautious around her.
I don't even know about Poly anymore.
Anyway, that's all in the future. For now we should just carry on as normal and go about our day.

>>767401
sounds fun

Unless there's going to be secret stuff happening at the gala, I don't see why the whole dulabira can't come.

Well, it has been a while since we've been with Meg, so maybe it would be good to get some solo time with her? I don't know!

>>767419
Let's just ask!

Which is preferable: full squad or not?

So James Bond here needs a hot date she can show off to maintain her cover. I'm the Bond girl in the movie of our life.

I'm not sure how expert we'll be at "choosing a face"; the only thing I can think to say on that front is, the closer to reality the easier it will be to present, so I'd say we should talk to our friends and lovers a bit to find out what the best spin on our "face" would be that we would find easy enough to manage.

... Before that portable tunnel goes, I think we should ask for a private moment with Megumi. We need to give more solid details about the whole "kariket mind control" thing to someone who can use that info especially after the end of the last chapter, we trust Meg, and Poly did sort of give us permission to talk about the dreams to other members of the dulabira if they were disturbing us. If we were threatening to reveal anything of Poly's past or secrets by doing so, I'd restrain myself, but the kariket dream revealed nothing about her and I'd bet she'd be thrilled to know she was undermining him, if we could manage to talk clearly to her about it. Meg is the person to talk to.

Plus then we might also be able to talk over the general Poly issue with Meg. No-one besides Zack and Poly know about their current trouble, after all, and Zack presenting a nice public face might be problematic if he's currently going through a rocky patch with one of his ladies, much less the possibly most influential one. If things were good with her, for example, she'd be a candidate for helping out at this gallery exhibition. She might be there anyway, actually, on her own dime. We'll want to lay out the possibility of some frost, there, in case that's true.

Honestly I can't help but feel slightly betrayed but these recent developments, suddenly going from being responsible to building relationships between humanity and Visitors to now into the clearly dangerous realm of government espionage. I think its mostly from a combination of Meg refusing to talk to us and all the crap going on with Poly.

Still though, definitely NOT going to let those feelings get in the way of this. We've already gone this far, and Zach has four wonderful women he love to where he is willing to do anything for, so becoming a spy is really the next step up for him.

Thus, the next question that should be asked......

Is this banquet going to be formal, and can it be business casual? XD

Enemy 2016/12/21(Wed)18:27 No. 767428 ID: f6ba27
File 148237366206.png - (7.58KB , 960x560 , 630.png )

"Can everyone come?" you ask.
"Beyond the questionable optics of that decision, I will remind you that tickets to galas at the MoMA do not grow on trees, Mr. Nguyen," Carlson says. "Not without the addition of a great deal of pulp processing, ink, and a surcharge. The American taxpayer will happily provide you with two seats. If you wish to bring someone besides Megumi that's your prerogrative."
"Isn't it really great, Carlson, when you're comfortable enough with someone else you can joke around with them," Meg says.
"I have to be going," Carlson says. "It's not a good idea to draw this out. Will there be anything else?"

Just Zack and Meg. Got it.

Are we still supposed to learn more about the Visitors? Not like a spy, but like we have been. Because it's really been paying off.

Will they want to know anything about the girls? Because GG's only secret is her thing for subbing, Bika has plenty of secrets that need to stay secret, and Poly is a big, hot mess of enigmas.

This sounds like something Poly would love. Maybe it's time to give her a call.

Ask him to leave the portable tunnel for a moment so we can talk to Megumi.

Or just ask Megumi to stay for a moment. The middle of a skut hive is probably impossible to bug, but if Carlson's worried enough to have brought the portable tunnel here then maybe it is necessary.

Then talk to Megumi about kariket secrets, oculot dreams and polyphema love troubles, as I already described >>767423

>>767432
I think it would be rude to snub Meg, though.

>>767430
>GG's only secret is her thing for subbing
Do not say that out loud because GG will literally kill Zack by ripping out his spine.

Instead of meg I think this is the perfect chance to give Poly a call and invite her to something that she might like more.

>>767430
They're spying on the Golborians, not Golborian defectors. All the girls' secrets, including Meg's, are safe with us.

A light chuckle at Megumi's joke and a ten-four to Carlson. Yes, it's time we started getting out and about again.

Wait, now that I think about it, how much money does Zack have saved up? He's been getting paid this whole time right? Maybe Zack actually can afford those extra tickets for the other girls.

He would need to be able to afford 5 or 6 extra tickets to bring the other girls. 1 for GG, 1 for Poly, and 3 or 4 for Bika.

>>767430
>Are we still supposed to learn more about the Visitors? Not like a spy, but like we have been. Because it's really been paying off.
I sure hope so! That's the best part of the job. Besides the sex, of course.

>Will they want to know anything about the girls? Because GG's only secret is her thing for subbing, Bika has plenty of secrets that need to stay secret, and Poly is a big, hot mess of enigmas.
Reveal nothing! The girls' secrets are their secrets, and that's how it should be.

>>767435
Well I figure Poly may be able to get a ticket on her own dime. She's rich, isn't she?

>>767446
Or that, yeah, Zack may be able to just buy one for Poly with his own income levels.

NOTE: I strongly object to trying to bring Bika since she would either be alone and unable to enjoy anything, or have to bring a bunch of other Bikas and that would raise lots of questions and be very expensive. It isn't GG's thing either. So it's just Meg and Poly.

Enemy 2016/12/21(Wed)21:53 No. 767469 ID: f6ba27
File 148238602004.png - (9.63KB , 960x560 , 632.png )

"Do you think I can afford extra tickets?" you ask.
"This is a Gala at the MoMA, Zackary," Carlson says. "You need to be invited to actually buy the invitations. And I seriously doubt they are used to the etiquette of hosting alien polygamy so please. As a personal favor. Do not bring the whole circus."
"Fine. Gosh." You shake your head. "I still have the rest of my job, right? The cultural exchange part?"
"It is," Carlson says. "Now may I?"
"Can you leave the tunnel thing here?" you ask. "I need to talk to Meg one on one."
Carlson looks like he's about to refuse, then shrugs. "Fine. Megumi should hold onto it anyway. It will be necessary. Thank you both for your service. If you'll excuse me, Zack. Megumi."
"Bye, Carlson," you say. Meg inclines her head in a vaguely farewellish motion.

As soon as he's out of the room she goes wheee and sweeps you into a ballroom pirouette. "The MOMA. A GALA. Doing spy shit." She whispers the last part, bobbing around you.
"You're awfully calm about this whole thing," you say.
"Because I know I can do it," Meg says. "I've been doing it for a while. And now I have a partner. Do you know how to dance?"
"Ballroom dance? Uhh not really."
"Then you gotta take me," Meg says. "I have no feet to step on."

1]] Sounds like a plan.
2]] I was thinking of taking someone else.
3]] Tell her about the fight you had with Poly.
4]] Tell her about the Kariket dream she gave you.
5]] Shut off the portable tunnel so you can get texts and calls again.
6]] _______________

((As a reminder: Megumi has been told about the Kariket's mind control, but not how Zack knows about it.))

6) "This will be easy. I literally cannot step on your feet. Just focus on spinning and I'll kick stuff."

Then 3. She might know how to fix this.

... Also, has it occurred to you that the Kariket dominated Jack because he caught a trace of you dreaming into his past and heard "-ack, time to wake up"? Might be something worth hinting about to Meg.

1 and 3.

3.
6: why don't we try sneaking meg into the gala since she wants to be a super spy and inviting poly out with the ticket.

1, 3, and 5.
Not 4. We haven't broken that promise yet, and we don't need to be making a habit of breaking promises.
Especially not now that Zack's a SUPER SPY.

1, 3

4, 3. For sure.

We need to tell someone who can do something about it, and give them what they need to do something about it - details. Along with other information that could be used to undermine the kariket, details of his madness and the reason for it, how the mind control power works, et cetera, which telling her about the whole dream will do. It will not reveal anything about Poly's personal history, and she did give us permission to talk about the fact that the dreams happen, in themselves, to other members of the dulabira. I am also sure that Poly would want to deliver information that could undermine the kariket's nefarious plans, if she knew said information herself (I think she doesn't) and that there was someone to give it to (Meg). Poly has repeatedly demonstrated no desire to be secretive about her weird mind powers so long as her personal past isn't revealed, which it won't be.

Since Megumi will probably think to ask Poly for backup on the dreams being a thing, we can also take the opportunity to talk about the problem with Poly and what generally went down there, both because Poly may turn up at this showing by herself and Meg will need to know the situation between her and Zack, and also because Zack probably needs to talk to someone about it anyway. If need be we can confirm the dreams' truth by asking GG about the veracity of the events that we dreamed of in her childhood.

Let's please not take any chances of letting the kariket get away with his bullshit.

>>767469
1 and 3, no 4.

>>767469
1, 3, 5

Hopefully it doesn't turn into a Ballroom Blitz where everybody is fighting.

Enemy 2016/12/21(Wed)23:09 No. 767485 ID: f6ba27
File 148239059840.png - (15.26KB , 960x560 , 634.png )

"Sounds like a plan," you say. "That frees up my feet to kick the other guests."
She giggles. "Just follow my lead." She waltzes you slowly around the room. "I'm surprised Poly hasn't made you learn this stuff."
"Yeah." You hesitate. "About Poly..."
"Mm?"
"We kind of had a fight."


"Wait wait wait." You follow Meg down the stairs. "I think-- I haven't messaged her yet or anything."
"Well if you do tell her I'm coming over." Meg kicks her boosters into a brighter gear.
"You don't even know what this is-- it was complicated!"
"No it's not. She's being an idiot."
"What are you going to say to her?"
"I'll think about it on the way." Meg pecks a waiter Bika on the cheek as she passes. "Bye, babes. I'm going to Poly's."
"Oh!" He rebalances his tray. "Are we still on for later?"
She half-spins and flashes him the thumbs up, then guns it out the door."
"MEG," you call after her. "At least don't go in the No Fly Zone!"
She's gone.

Now that you're out of the Tunnel your phone buzzes. You take it out to distract yourself.
Hi! It's Krin from yesteday! I just wanted to say thank you again for the save! Seriously thank you so much. You were a knight in shining Uber.
I was wondering if you wanted me to buy you a coffee or something as a token of my gratitude!
You know since you don't like apple juice :)

You check the time. It's a little after ten on Saturday. What are you going to do with the morning?

1]] Text Meg and try to get her to turn around.
2]] Hang out with Bika.
3]] Find GG and go around the neighborhood with her.
4]] Do some advocate work.
5]] Reply in the affirmative to Krinsteszj and go get coffee.
6]] Text or call Polyphema.
7]] _______________

Tell her apple juice is boss and you'd like to hang at her place.


Seriously m7s it doesn't have to be sexual, we're trying to be higher-profile with this shit, and apple juice is gr8.

text poly telling her meg is coming grab a Bika or two and see if GG is available and go and have a coffee with the sheep.

>>767474
That was never promised and I don't understand why you'd bring this misconception back where more people will be confused by it.

Ooh, I can't not 2. Retrieve the tunnel device and text Meg she forgot 'her stuff' back there. You'll have it for safekeeping.

1 and 6 first. Try to get a handle on the situation.

Then a combination of 2, 3, and 5. Grab a few Bikas, find The Red Menace (GG), then go hang out with Krinsteszj because we need a freaking break.

>>767491
This.

>>767492
>>767491
>>767496
Guys, no no no. Let Meg do her thing--it might actually help. We won't see consequences for it either way, probably. Let her go. Accept the apple juice invite, 'cause why not, might be fun.

I think Krinsteszj's invite for coffee was just for Zack, not an invitation for Zack to bring others with him.

>>767506
>Let Meg do her thing--it might actually help.
Also, this.

Shit. We've only just started and we're already fucking up.
Focus. Alright. 1 and 6. If we can't convince Meg to stop, then we have to make sure Poly doesn't do something regrettable.
And I guess accept Krin's invitation. Maybe an outside source can help the madness that is our life.

>>767509
Christ, nothing's happened, relax. Meg's a spy, she's actually good at dealing with people. She'll be fine.

>>767510

A spy you'd expect to gather all relevant info on hand before running off into action. Also to recognize there might be a reason Zack wanted to keep the communication blocker to talk to her. What even happened there, did Meg literally just fly off as soon as soon as Zack mentioned they had a fight? Was that line break supposed to imply Zack telling her anything? I'm confused.

Text Meg that the fight was about Poly's worry about Zack finding out her past and if she just flies in Poly might get the wrong idea and you were really hoping to reconcile more carefully.

>>767485
>1]] Text Meg and try to get her to turn around.
Failing that, we can take the opportunity to explain the situation to her. Maybe we can prevent a disaster.
>6]] Text or call Polyphema.
Tell her Meg is coming, and that we told her about the fight. We didn't reveal any private information or any information at all really. Meg took off before we could explain. Apologize for that and for last night. It was not our finest moment.
5]] Reply in the affirmative to Krinsteszj and go get coffee.
Once we've (hopefully) got things managed, let's go get coffee with Krin. Some time away from work would be good.

5 but without bringing everyone to a clearly private invitation morons

Guys Poly doesn't require an explanation. Meg will be fine. It'll be fine. Just accept the coffee invite and do nothing else.

I think a lot of our relationship problems are about trying to maintain too much control. It REALLY doesn't work and makes us seem like a neurotic freak. Let it go.

>>767520
This.

>>767530
Meg's a she, not an it!
Let's do 4, meet new faces. Does Bika ever work directly with advocates?

>>767530
Definitely this. You people need to take a breath and calm down. We constantly get in trouble for second-guessing our girlfriends. It's not like Meg can make it any worse and poly will figure out we didn't tell her anything. She's not dumb.
Also 5

When I saw Krin's icon, I thought we were talking to a one-eyed sheep for a second. XD

>>767485
Do 6 first, just to give Poly a heads up that Meg will be coming over. No need to do 1, because we should be confident that Meg can handle it. 2, 3, and 5 should be next. Just grab a few Bikas on break, pick up GG, and just hang out until the time to meet up with Krin, again just to hang out. And in case whatever stalker she mentioned the last time is still around......

7. Send nudes

Fuck it, changing my earlier vote

>>767485
Respond to the text with "I've got a lot going on right now. Maybe I'll hit you up."

Wait a few days, then come on with a stronger date suggestion where you're buying. Upper scale venue, maybe a little dressy. Make her feel like she is unimportant and imposing on you so that she craves your attention and approval, then unexpectedly make her feel special so that she explodes for the dick.

Repeat this process until you are tired of her.

>>767545
I'm tired already, though.

"New fone who dis"

>>767485
6. Call Poly, apologize for everything, tell her Meg is coming, and ask her not to kill her no matter how aggravating she may become.

Then 5.

>>767549
We should only call Poly when we're in the middle of having sex with Krin. And we can tell her that we found a replacement for her who doesn't have nearly as much emotional baggage.

Good luck, Smik

Calling Poly to warn her is a terrible idea. If she knows why Meg is coming she'll just slam the door in her face. Can we please just trust Meg?

>>767554
You are a very terrible person.

>>767557
It's a comedy suggestion on a sex quest. You need to chill. And take it to my questdis.

Enemy 2016/12/22(Thu)12:54 No. 767583 ID: a523fb
File 148244007926.png - (16.72KB , 583x232 , XfWxbx.png )

You hurriedly text Meg:

>i really want to reconcile more carefully Meg this is complicated

You text Poly:

>Meg is coming over about our fight. I didnt tell her any details but she took off before i could explain anything. Im sorry

You text Krin:

>Sounds good! Mind if I bring a few friends?

Your phone buzzes almost immediately. You're getting a lot of texts.

chill dude

im not going to call her an idiot to her face or anything

I don't have the salary to buy coffee for everyone! Lol

But I would love to meet them another time!

Zack you fucking dumbass

She's sent you an image screenshot. You open it up.

why the fuck did you do this. she needs to talk to people who arent you

Didn't we put confidence at #1? Hopefully that lets Zack start ignoring a certain type of suggestion soon.

Anyway, accept the fucking date with Krin without trying to bring anyone over and tell Meg you're sorry for "your" control issues.

Idiots.

I sentence you to community service. Text Bika's advocacy hotline with a question. "What has three wheels and control issues?" (It's Zack. I lied about the wheels. 'Reliant Robin' is also an acceptable answer.)

>>767585
For fuck's sake, do this do this do this.

>>767583
Text Meg that we're sorry. We're fucking up a lot lately, and it's totally on us. We're so afraid that something terrible is going to happen that we're causing more problems than we're fixing. She's right that we need to step back and chill out. Nothing's going to get better if we keep jumping at every, little shadow. If she has any advice on what to do next, we're all ears.

Oh, and text Krin that it's cool. We'll be glad to hang out mano-a-visitor.

We shouldn't be apologizing to Poly so much, the whole thing went down the way it did because she's so paranoid about her past being discovered. Zack didn't do anything wrong beyond being a goddamn idiot in how he presented the whole thing, the principles of the whole thing were and are sound. Zack needs to stop being intimidated by his girlfriends so much and stick up for himself sometimes. He's made mistakes but he's getting treated like a child, first by Poly and now by Meg. It's not right and he shouldn't put up with it.

Text back: "Because I really seriously don't think you'll be able to help properly without knowing everything first, please come back here so I can talk to you about it in private like I intended to."

>>767591
>Text back: "Because I really seriously don't think you'll be able to help properly without knowing everything first, please come back here so I can talk to you about it in private like I intended to."

Jesus fucking christ no Meg is a spy she does this shit for a living and she's 100 times better at this than Zack has been lately

Also that just worsens the damn control issue shit

>>767591
Did you miss the part where this behavior just caused us to fall flat on our face? It's time to STOP.

>>767585
>>767590
These.

We might be able to salvage it. We could ask GG to check up on Poly and make sure she's okay. They're pretty tight, so it's probably a better idea anyway.

>>767592
>>767593

Zack's "control issues" which I doubt exist in the first place aren't a problem, the problem is him acting like some sort of pathetic wishy-washy mea culpa sobs merchant who keeps presenting himself in a way that makes people go off on him. Most of what he's been trying to do is the right thing, it's just that he's not doing it the right way. He just needs to try get this done right, not give up just because it's hard, even if it's emotionally stressful. I can't remember the last time we got a lick of bloody courage out of him, and that's supposed to be his strength!

>>767583
most of you guys are starting to get controlling of the relationships in this story. ya all need to chill and let them do their things
meg goes over to polys with little info the only person meg can get mad at over that is meg.
poly might get mad at us initially but she would realize meg did this on her own and would give an avenue for further dialogue exchange.

>>767599
The right thing to do is leave it the hell alone.

>>767599
You are literally objectively wrong please get some self-awareness

>>767599
>>767600
>>767601
>>767602
GUYS
DISTHREAD
SERIOUSLY

>>767585
>>767588
>>767590
>>767594
These.

>>767583
"Sorry you're right and I'm being weird I know but aaaa"
we are anxious about making it worse yet that anxiety is paralyzing us from letting someone help, let us not do that

I think we need a refresher course on talking to people. It's okay, if you don't use a skill it atrophies over time. Go do some advocacy work for Bika.

>>767583
'Meg its my fuckup, i can't have other ppl fix it for me. i don't want to keep you from hanging with Poly, it's just something i feel like i need to do.'

'forgive meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee im panicking hardcore because everything is piling up and she's so upset and it's because of me and i don't know what to do and aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa'

>>767583
Yes.
I am a dumbass.
I don't think responses through and I just make them.
I have, after all, headbutted two warriors in my lifetime.

Meg, you could try singing to her. She loves your music.

Just calm down, melting down further won't help things.

>>767583
Text Meg: "Right, shit. good point to make when I was trying to get you to take 3 seconds to talk about it. I'm being an idiot about it too, Meg."

Communication is sort of nice, even if Zack is doing it shitty lately. He very clearly expressed an interest to Meg to talk his drama, but she blew him off. And not in the fun way; heck, that would have been productive.

Zack's not a mindreader, and Meg's actual action plan isn't immediately recognizable as matching anything, of the very little, she said. I don't see why her dumb reaction to the situation is any more forgivable than Zack's dumb reaction to the situation.

>>767635
This.

Zack's greatest aspect is composure and confidence, not his least aspect.

Enemy 2016/12/22(Thu)19:00 No. 767648 ID: f6ba27
File 148246200370.png - (11.99KB , 960x560 , 635.png )

>im sorry youre right and i know im being weird but aaaaa
>shes so upset and im panicking

ZACK. take a breath and stop trying to micromanage everything your girlfriends do. you are not my boss and the world is not ending yet.

listen you need to trust me

im still going to polys. she needs to know she has friends. she probably thinks youve turned us all on her and your text did not help

>I thought she said to leave her be

what poly says and what she needs are different things

So coffee? For 2?

I'm not working today or anything so I can go whenever. Even if coffee is a morning thing. Afternoon coffee is good too.

Love an afternoon caf

"Zack?"
Bika touches your arm and you jump out of your skin.
"Is everything OK?" he asks. "You've been on your phone in the middle of the kitchen for like 5 minutes."
"Things have been better," you say.

1]] Tell Meg she can't go to Poly's.
2]] Wish Meg luck.
3]] Tell Krin that coffee sounds great.
4]] Tell Krin you can't make it today.
5]] Tell Krin that your friends can pay for themselves.
6]] ________________

2 and 3. Absolutely not anything else.

2 & 4. You guys are in no state to fluff the sheep.

2 & 3.
We are going to have a platonic coffee break with a new friend to recharge the Nguyen magic.
This is a necessity.

2,4

6) Go work out with GG after work. You need catharsis.

>>767651
>platonic
>p l a t o n i c

>>767648
>2]] Wish Meg luck.
'augh. alright. just be careful ok? she's not in a good place. don't let her set you on fire. good luck. love you.'

>3]] Tell Krin that coffee sounds great.
'krin. new friend. i need a break. a nice, quiet, platonic, stress free, non-work related break. plz drink caf wit me.'

>6]] Tell Bika you're taking a coffee break.

>>767649
>>767651
>>767660
These.
>>767656
Dude. We're having a hard enough time with the ladies we're already dating. We don't need more complications.

>>767648
Do not mention platonic in any sense, but do this
>>767660

>>767664
I respect your opinion but I disagree.

>>767669
I reject your decree, despite that I agree.

>>767670
I'm not really sure what this is a vote for

>>767660
This.

2) You're right, I'm sorry. I just feel like this is my fault. Good luck.

>>767648
2 and 3 are a must. That brainfart previously shows the stress is starting to mount and we need to decompress.

I agree with whoever said to workout with GG as 6. Some exercise might help.

6) Tell Bika about all your problems and what caused them and what you should do about it, because apparently you need your girlfriends to think and do everything for you, never question anything they do or tell you to do and fall over yourself apologizing for being a miserable wretch at the first sign of difficulty in you every attempt to do anything that doesn't involve your dick!! I'm sure everyone will love it, and everything will turn out for the better without your involvement!!!

>>767700
1 nega-vote for this salty pill of a suggestion

>>767648
2+3
tell bika about sheepcoffee, make sure it's a thing that is actually ok.

>>767701

Well, since I don't seem to be able to make any other suggestions without either getting roundly ignored or having other suggestors/the quest itself twist it into a fuckup for bullshit reasons, I've decided to become the embodiment of Zack's self-loathing! Now the rest of you don't have to do it!!

btw Zack you're a parasite sucking on your loved ones for everything that makes you look like you have any personal worth just fyi

>>767664
Second.

2 & 4

Is going out with another oculot after we almost broke up with Poly a good idea (even if it is platonic)?

>>767704
That's not a gimmick I need in my suggestions and if you keep it up you're going to be banned from posting in this quest!!

2, 4 (6, 8, who do we appreciate?)

>>767764
>who do we appreciate?
Well, there's women (and men if you count male Bikas) in the dulabira, the HVAO for supporting us and not dropping us from the program as soon as things started getting bad, Zack's human friends that are rarely seen or heard from, but fully support Zack's new lifestyle and are not racists towards Visitors. Am I missing anything?

>>767757

Yeah, ok. I wasn't really being serious, just annoyed.

I am actually kind of serious about suggesting Zack talk to Bika about it.

>>767675
It was mainly just a joke.

>>767648
2, 3, 5. Bring some Bika with you, and explain the problem along the way.

>>767889
To Bika. Before you meet up with Krin.

2,3,6: Talk to Bika before you meet up with Krin.

I honestly dunno if I want to be just platonic with Krin or not. She seems pretty keen and may genuinely not be that interested in just being friends- we shouldn't be unprepared for that. Honestly I expect we'll finally end up deciding what we want when we go see her. :v

Enemy 2016/12/24(Sat)13:27 No. 767970 ID: 16bad7
File 148261485589.png - (53.76KB , 960x560 , 636.png )

>good luck
I dont need luck
well maybe i do we'll see

You sigh and close your phone. "Just some interdimensional politics," you say to Bika.
"Is all not well in Zackland?" Bika asks.
"They've been better. I just hope Meg isn't in over her head."
"She's smart," Bika says. "Blunt but smart. We're going on a date thing later."
"I thought you were already dating."
He blushes. "Not exactly. It was kind of spontaneous."
"Well I'm actually about to go have coffee," you say. "With that Oculot I helped out yesterday."
Bika grins. "I knew it!"
"What?"
"I knew you couldn't resist Visitor poonani," a chef Bika says as she squeezes past you.
"Who said anything about poonani. This is about coffee." You pocket your phone. "But uhh is that ok? Getting coffee?"
"This is with-- what's her name?" Onion Bika slows his chopping as the collective thinks. "The publishing lady?"
"Krin, uh... Krin can't pronounce it."
"Krinstezj Sulesso." Waiter Bika snaps his fingers. "The poet's daughter."
"You know her?"
"I know her father. She asked you for coffee?"
"Yeah."
"Hmmm. He told me she's a complete workaholic." He rubs his chin. "I approve."
"Of what, exactly?"
"Coffee, of course."

It's the first day in a while that reminds you Fall is coming. There's a brisk note of cool on the wind.
Krin is waiting for you outside The Bean, joe already in hand. She sees you coming, beams her megawatt beam when she sees it's just you, and waves excitedly.

Ask how she's been. Don't fucking start talking about our current girlfriends or woes or try to bring them around.

>>767970
Wave back and join her.

>>767970
"Hey, sup! Great timing on that offer, been needing a day off for a while now."

>>767970
IT'S A TRAP!

>>767994
>>767971
These.

If she asks how you've been, be honest about things being kinda crummy, but don't go into details. If she pries just say it's nothing important.

Let's wave back, order our coffee, then go join her.

>>768023
>>767994
These.

Yeah, Keep It Light is like, the number one rule for starting a conversation with a new acquaintance, and not going into relationship woes has to be the second one. (Doubly so on a first date.) We can absolutely have a deeper conversation about our dreams/life goals/how mixed up things seem right now, but not right at the start, and we shouldn't dump our personal drama onto her.

Anyhow, we should wave back, order our coffee and go join her. Ask her how work's been. We could also talk about how hectic but interesting it's been being an Advocate, actually, as long as we don't divulge personal details.

(Also for some reason I now wonder if Krin is actually a Golborian agent in deep cover. On a meta-level she seems pretty well designed to appeal to the playerbase's biases, and I'd probably include myself in that. :p)

Wave, order, sit.

"Heya, Krin. Thanks for having me. I needed a break."

>>767971
>>768031
>>768039
What they said.

Order decaf.
For health reasons.

>decaf
haha screw that, get a double-shot dirty chai up in here

>>768073
Second that dirty ass chai

>Not hot chocolate

>>768085
>not pouring every drink into a bucket and chugging it

>>767970
looking good, i also approve of this coffee

Enemy 2016/12/25(Sun)01:00 No. 768109 ID: 16bad7
File 148265640962.png - (51.46KB , 960x560 , 637.png )

You wave back, and hold up a finger to indicate you'll be right there.
"Morning, my man." The barista is a particularly barista-looking barista, from v-neck to manbun. "What can I get you?"
"Can I get a large double dirty chai latte?"
"Filthy chai. Word." He plucks a cup from the stack. "You're not Krin's dude, are you?"
"I am. Is something wrong?"
"Naw." He starts up the frother. "Just thought you wouldn't have as many eyeballs."

"Hiii!" Krin scoots back and tucks her legs in as you sit across from her. You find yourself surprised again by how short she is. Maybe it's because of her gangly limbs but she seems taller from further away. "Whatcha having?"
"Chai latte with a lot of espresso in it."
"No way! Like that stuff is my blood. Rolf makes it amazingly. That's the barista you got. Isn't Rolf the most like-- barista name?"
"I was gonna say. He looks like a paragon of his craft."
"The zenith of caffeinesmith!"
"So is that chai?"
"Oh no this is decaf." She sets it down on the table between you. "Please don't judge me."
"I'm kind of judging you."
"I knooow. I feel like a like mom. But I'm trying to detox on the weekends. Like I wasn't hooked before this job? or anything? but they have free coffee and fuck-you deadlines so like. I'm a junkie now. Wait!" She puts a hand on her chest. "I was supposed to pay for your thing! Shoot!"

1]] That's ok. I can soak this one.
2]] That's ok. I'm way overpaid.
3]] That's ok. Just getting to relax and chat over coffee is payment enough.
4]] That's ok. Just getting to see you again is payment enough.
5]] You can pay for the next one. It is definitely a 2-coffee kind of day for me.
6]] I guess you'll have to find some other way to thank me for maybe saving your life.
7]] Make it clear through a certain level of polite distance that this is not in any way meant to be a date.
8]] So Rolf told me I'm your dude now apparently.
9]] Aren't you kind of chilly today?
10]] You look nice today.
11]] Talk to her about ____________.

>>768109
2 + 5 and a negavote for 7 since this kind of bubbly positivity could be a very good thing for the dulabira. I imagine them and big red biceps would get along famously, and she might be a good help with our other oculot once she pulls out of her funk a bit.

3+8=11

>>768111
this and also 5

>>768109
3/4+8+10=18.75??

>>768112
Second.

3. Keep it simple.

>>768109
Just 3.

3.
Also 8, but only because it's funny.

2, 4, 7, 11) "If a new type of alien colony ship crash-landed on Earth right now with anything but conquest on their mind and too afraid of some greater threat to think about anything but joining forces with anything they could and escaping to the furthest reaches of subspace, do you think Earth and/or Golboria would ally with them just to help declare war on the other planet?" And other stupid hypotheticals.

2, 7, 10, 9. Maybe it's another Visitor thing, maybe she's just one of those aberrations that can wear shorts in winter. Could go either way.

So, we talked about making some kind of press statement before but Carlson discouraged it. Now he wants our face out there and we have someone sitting in front of us who sounded really interested in writing about Zack. Sounds like fate.

1, 5, 9, 11 (casually broach the subject of doing some kind of write-up on the soon-to-be-famous Zack Nguyen)

There's actually something I'd like for us to ask her: what's up with the purple? We had absolutely no idea oculots could be that color. Is it racist to ask?

>>768116
This

3. Also this >>768137.

Don't worry, Uncle Sam's paying for this one.

Probably not mention Uncle Sam or the job unless she brings it up. Don't want to discuss work at a date, after all.

>>768135
That's actually a good point. Krin could help us get out there in the media without handing a complete stranger reign over our first impression.

>>768126
Did... did kome just make a suggestion that sounds mostly rational? Is kome's character development actually happening?

I'm actually interested how she would react to this question, and it might make a good ice breaker to start conversation.

>>768109
3, maybe 2 as well, 8, 9, and 11: Ask her to recommend any new books that may come out of her publishing house.

Okay so VOTES TIME

Let's start with 3., and maybe 2. as a joke. Then move onto 8. but clearly jokingly, 9., and maybe 10. afterwards but in a quite casual & offhandish manner. Also 11.: casually bring up at some point that we're looking to establish more of a public profile for ourselves/ask how her work is going.

If she doesn't fuck stories (most good journalists have this as a rule, Krin seems like a good one, although perhaps she's very avant garde)then we may need to choose between our liking of Krin and her help developing Zach's profile. I'm content to play this out a little more and see where it goes, however.

Enemy 2016/12/26(Mon)17:51 No. 768373 ID: 16bad7
File 148280346481.png - (72.56KB , 960x560 , 638.png )

"That's ok," you say. "Just getting to relax and chat over coffee is payment enough."
"Awwww!" She looks like someone just showed her a puppy. "That's so sweet. But like for real I totally zoned out. I should have stopped you."
"Well you can get me the next one. This is definitely a two-coffee kind of day for me."
"Oh no! Rough trade?"
"Let's just say that this R&R was well-timed." You sip from your chai. "Rolf told me that I'm your dude now, apparently."
"Oh well um!" She goes red. "He probably didn't mean anything like-- well like he was probably just assuming. This is a good place for-- like they're nice to oculots here."
"You seem in your element."
"Yah." She snuggles into the boho cushions around her nook. "I write here a lot."
"Maybe a little chilly though."
"Chill- oh!!" She self-consciously pulls the bottoms of her shorts down a little. "Oh. Kind of." She hesitantly puts a pillow in her lap. She looks very uncomfortable.
"Well I mean I suck in the cold," you say. "I keep the heat cranked up until like, May every year."
She laughs and lets some of the nerves out. "I don't turn it on til like January. Junior writers wear a lot of sweaters I guess."
"The hair probably helps too."
She floofs her fluff. "It does!"
"About your writing, though, actually," you say. "I kind of had an idea. I'm looking to establish a more public profile for myself. Were you still thinking of writing about me?"
"About you like-- what do you mean?"
"Like an interview."
"Oh. Oh gosh." She blushes again. "I'm not-- I'm not really a, an interviewer or a journalist or anything. That's not-- I mean I do articles for like clickbait sometimes but that's just for extra scratch."
"I thought you wanted to use me. You mentioned."
"I don't write-- well I haven't really written any like-- I more do longform stuff. Or I'm doing a longform thing currently. Kind of a-- a history, I guess. Of the past couple of decades. And some other things. Short stories, I'm part of a screenwriter's group-- like creative stuff. I don't-- you probably don't want me to do your debut. I'm not, like, a professional." She sips nervously, then clarifies: "And like I'm not trying to get you as an exclusive or anything if that's what you think I'm trying to do. With the coffee."

1]] What are you trying to do, then? With the coffee?
2]] I do want you to do my debut, actually.
3]] You write creatively? Can I read some of it?
4]] Well if you're doing a history you should definitely interview me. I'm a historical figure.
5]] Do you have any writer friends or anyone you'd reccommend instead?
6]] Krin, I'm not looking to go out with people beyond my dulabira right now. I'm sorry.
7]] ____________

>>768373
3 and a negavote for 6, as usual
Lets see some of her writing before we thrust her into being our debut interviewer of choice, ay?

1 and then 3 once she's done stammering.

7: Initiate footsie.

5 with a dash of 2. Y'know a "Well, if you're not interested" sort of thing. Make sure she knows she's first in line, but don't push. Then into 3 for some small talk.

>>768137
Also this. Admit ignorance first. It often helps if a question turns out to be either stupid or offensive.

>>768373
7]] Tell her it's cute that she writes fanfics, but you don't have extra time to burn on that kind of thing. Then ask if she has any (female) friends who are real writers that can help you. Make her feel foolish for embelishing herself so heavily.

1 , 3

7) Ask about how she can use her media connections to safely turn national secrets into tabloid garbage.

For instance, the "Skut thing". The one where gang wars are causing casualties. Expendable casualties. How do you defuse that without revealing something that would turn all Skuts into punching bags?

Also make a small, grim note that war seems to point people at each other, and that usually brings about more raw social control over the masses. There's lines being drawn, and what most people are too stupid to realize is that there are divisive lines drawn within opposing sides, so when the fighting ends even more people will die unheard and betrayed by the ones with the most power in the end.

It's things like this that make you oppose genocide: killing one faction doesn't mean the right side wins. It ensures the survival of those that are ready to continue fighting. And then they need new targets. And then they look at their engineers and farmers and the many soldiers that put their weapons down, and their knives flash in the darkness and their teeth gleam with sickening gold. And then the leaders shout, and they obey without question.

>>768373
2, 5.
"I do want you to do my debut, actually, but if you have any writer friends or anyone you'd reccommend instead I'd be willing to listen."
If there's a good way to segue into 3, then that, too.

>>768379
>>768386
These.
>>768137 isn't a bad question, either.

1 and raise and lower your eyebrows a lot

3 and 5.

>>768373
do you really need to 1? you know damn well this is a date, you insecure awkward fuck.
if you 6 i will slap you so hard you'll need the cane for another month.
3 is ok, 2/4 is also ok but make sure she understands that those are PLANS FOR ANOTHER DAY. today is just a chill date.

>>768414
>do you really need to 1? you know damn well this is a date, you insecure awkward fuck.
About that, the point is to see how adorably flustered we can get sheepuclot, so Zack, if you do say it at all, be sure to make it obvious you're teasing her.

>>768397
Seconded.

1, 3, 5

2, 4, 6. History is being made right now.

Enemy 2016/12/27(Tue)01:15 No. 768441 ID: 16bad7
File 148283012111.png - (59.85KB , 960x560 , 639.png )

"What are you trying to do, then?" you ask. "With the coffee."
"The, um, I, um, coffee?" Krin sinks further back into the cushion. "Just like just to say thank you. Thank-you-coffee. And I guess just to say hi again. You're the only like celebrity I've ever-- well I see other celebrities at work sometimes like they come to the office but they just like they look right through me or like I'm an exhibit. And you're nice. You seem nice. So." She's trying very hard to melt into her seat.
"And you're sure you don't want to interview me? Do you know anyone you'd rec instead?"
"I could-- like I know people. Now that I think about it. Yeah. Like I'd have to think and ask them but totally."
"The offer remains open to you if you want it."
"I'm really sorry. I just like-- I wouldn't want to mess it up. I'd be scared to mess up." She's startlingly red. "I'm sorry."
"Let me know if you reconsider," you say. "And I'd love it if you let me read some of your other stuff. Your creative stuff."
"Oh, that's all just-- well like a lot of it is written in Garaktonnik or Oculotti."
"Is any of it English?"
"Well yes. Yeah, some. But I don't-- I would have brought my laptop if I'd known but it's all back at my apartment."

1]] That's OK. I'm not a writer or anything, I was just curious.
2]] If you email it to me tonight I'll read it.
3]] Bring it next time. I'm assuming you're ok with there being a next time?
4]] Do you want to go there? I'm not doing anything right now.
5]] So it's just because I'm nice, you're here? Are you sure you aren't after my autograph or anything?
6]] I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable, Krin. You look uncomfortable.
7]] Change the subject. Ask her why she's purple.
8]] Change the subject: ____________
9]] ____________

1, 2, 6, 7.

>>768441
>1]] That's OK. I'm not a writer or anything, I was just curious.
>6]] I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable, Krin. You look uncomfortable.
>7]] Change the subject. Ask her why she's purple.

>>768441
we can't ask her why she's purple since she's currently red
but yes, 6, leading into asking politely what's up with the purps, we didn't even know oculots came in purple!

1, 2, 6, 7.

>>768441
8. Any sports she's into? She looks like she has a secret sports interest.

1), then 8) Ask her if she knows any good resources for learning Garaktonnik or Oculotti.

Because you know, Zack, your job is basically ethnographic fieldwork, and I'm surprised you've yet to get angry letters from anthropologists telling you you're doing it wrong. One of the things that's generally done if at all possible is learning the language of the community you're studying. I mean, you could get away with it since you're specifically studying Visitors who've come to live on earth, but there's a lot you could learn just about mindset and ways of seeing and speaking, even before you actually use what you learn. Garaktonnik specifically seems the more pressing, since you've had more trouble with and more people doubting your ability to understand warriors, compared to oculots. Being able to read their literature and watch their films and so on will probably give you some insights.

Also, if you ever get abducted by the kariket's goons and have to escape a prison on an alien world, you'll be that much more ready!

Really though, Zack, there are methods for studying other cultures, you don't need to follow them blindly but they'd probably be worth a look to you. At the very least you should be carrying a notebook around with you at all times, and using it, and also spending time every evening before bed reviewing your notes and using them to write down everything you can remember about your interactions as completely as possible.

And you're a spy now, too. Spying and anthropology share a lot of skillsets. Back in old british colonial india, there were a lot of people who did both! Though both professions have changed a lot since then, of course.

>>768442
>>768450
Third.

4.

>>768442
This.

>that awkward expression

ARE YOU TESTING ME SATAN

In all seriousness though I think we've tormented this girl enough. I think 6. will just make her blush more, which I'm fighting the temptation to do.

1., 2.
9. - "I'm sure you wouldn't mess it up."
8. I've thought about trying to learn Garaktonnik or Oculotti. How difficult are they?

>>768441
1, 2, 6, 7 to lighten the mood a little, and lastly 8 to ask about foreign languages.

I'm mildly worried that asking her why she's purple straight-up might come off as insensitive, or I'd have voted for it. That worry might be misplaced though.

>>768461
Or it could lead to an uneducated discussion on the science of skin pigmentation.

8]]

Now is your chance to sweep in for the blowie! Come on Zack just a quick one behind the coffee shop. She can brag to her friends about the gr8 taste of celebri-dick!!

In addition to me previous vote, I'm going to lay a blanket -1 to all variations of a vote to seduce or be seduced by this particular oculot.

>>768467
>In addition to my previous vote
We get multiple votes now? How does this work?

>>768467
Enemy's not taking -1's, better to voice the why and hope you convince people.
>>768468
We could always vote for multiple options, but it's just +1's.

I'm putting a +1 to learning more warrior lingo.

My stance on the relationship thing is that we've got plenty of "Alamad" already. We don't need to be making moves, but we don't need to be avoiding them either. If she appears to be making any, there's no need to shoot her down, just let her know that best case it'd just be a dulamad thing. Too much going on for serious serious.

Enemy 2016/12/27(Tue)14:12 No. 768493 ID: 16bad7
File 148287672425.png - (84.06KB , 960x560 , 640.png )

"That's ok. You can just email it to me later."
"Okay."
"If you want. I'm not a writer or anything. I'm just curious."
"No, it's cool! Like I send them to other people all the time. Submissions and stuff."
"Are you published?"
"Sometimes!" She's regaining her confidence. "Not like under Krinstezj, of course. But I have a few more human pseudonyms that see some action."
"Send me some." You finish your coffee. "If you're comfortable with it. I hope I'm not making you uncomfortable."
"Oh! No I'm ok." She peels herself from the fortress of pillow. "I'll pick out, like, some of my like least-hated drafts."
"Can you send me some in Oculotti or Garakton too? I'm actually thinking of trying to learn."
"Oh, really?"
"You think I could?"
"I think-- probably. It's kind of hard cause like there's 0 cognates but like I could find some text-- well you should probably ask the HVAO about it. I bet they know like way more than I would."
"You seem a little uncomfortable."
"I'm just like-- I'm-- I guess I'm just not really a very comfortable kind of person." She laughs nervously.
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure!"
"It's kind of a weird question. Don't take it the wrong way."
The fight-or-flight creeps back into her eye. "What's up?"
"Why are you purple?"
"Why am I-- oh!" She seems relieved. "I forgot you probably haven't seen a Kashzan Oculot before."
"Kashzan?"
"It's an ethnic group," she says. "Most Oculots are Shzuli. Or like they're called Kariketi now because he's one and he like changed the name but they used to be Shzuli. Shzuli-Kariketi. The Kashzan were the mountain Oculots. But way back during the unification the Kashzan put up more of a fight against the fold than most of the other Oculots, and now there's a lot fewer of them. Like we don't know exactly how many cause the Kariket controls those kinds of records but between that and the interbreeding and stuff we're probably one or two percent of the population. I'm like, all the way Kashzan. Which is pretty rare. That's why the skin and the poofy hair and the shoulders and stuff. Most people usually ask about the shoulders first."

You notice for the first time that the ridges you'd expect from an Oculot's shoulders are mostly absent. "Hey, yeah. Didn't you have those the other evening?"
"Like I have them, but only little tiny like, nubby ones. Those were inserts. They sell them for Oculots who don't have them because for Oculots it's like a beauty thing. I'm not exactly-- Oculot dudes go for pointy shoulders, pale skin, and lots of curves. So I'm not exactly-- cute. I kind of need to cheat." She rubs her shoulder. "It's kind of comforting, actually. Back on Golboria I'd be the really weird-looking one. But here I'm in good company."

1]] It might even help you here. Wrap yourself up more and you could more easily pass for human.
2]] Well I'm not an Oculot but I think you're cute.
3]] Thank her for the coffee and excuse yourself.
4]] Thank her for the coffee and make plans to see her again.
5]] Thank her for the coffee and offer to walk her home again.
6]] Suggest that the two of you keep the day going and get some lunch together.
7]] Ask her about something else: _____________
8]] _______________

2 and 5 or 6.

2,5, and 8 "How bout some apple juice" say while initiating footsie!

>>768496
Add 8 to my earlier post: begin footsie

>>768493
8. Ah, but you lack our gigantic ears.

We're pretty poor at this today for some reason.

2., 5. or 6., 8. - Make an ear joke. Or footsie.

2 and 5.
She is super cute and she could use an escort home. It's our duty as an advocate, after all.

>>768507
This.

>>768493
2, 6

>>768493
2, 5, and 8: I agree with the previous two suggestions, mention ears, and possibly noses. XD

>>768507
>>768521
These.

2, 6, 8: footsie

MAYBE 5, but only if that plan involves getting invited in.

2,5

2, 5, 7]] Has she ever gotten her crazy long tongue stuck to something cold? Like that scene in A Christmas Story?

1, 2, 3. She could pass for human. An extremely hypothermic human.

you guys are gross and thirsty.
2+4/6

Enemy 2016/12/28(Wed)01:13 No. 768592 ID: 16bad7
File 148291641441.png - (97.77KB , 960x560 , 641.png )

"Well I'm not an oculot," you say. "But I think you're cute."

"You do?"

"Super cute. As comforting as that can be from a guy with gigantic ears." You slosh the dregs of your coffee. "You ready to mosey?"
"Um. Sure."
"Cool. Want me to walk you home again?"
"That, um, yes. Please. Totally."
"Well actually. Hmm." You take out your phone. "A ride would probably be smarter."

Enemy 2016/12/28(Wed)01:14 No. 768593 ID: 16bad7
File 148291646735.png - (86.54KB , 960x560 , 642.png )

"I see you lots of times," Zrazkokh says.
"Well you're one of the only guys who's visitor-okay," you say. "And finding that and a dude who actually makes an effort to avoid potholes is way harder than it should be in this town."
"I do not mind. You keep request me, tip good, it is good. Does little lady feel ok? She is quiet."
"I'm fine," Krin says. "I'm good."

Enemy 2016/12/28(Wed)01:15 No. 768594 ID: 16bad7
File 148291650730.png - (100.20KB , 960x560 , 643.png )

In the early noon sun Krin's building looks less crapsack and more well-lived-in. Cozy, even. You walk with her between the wrought-iron fences that line her ingress, their rank-and-file posts like a riot line losing the fight against the overgrown, insurrectionary bushes.

She turns around at her door, and leans on it to anchor herself back down from whatever cosmos she's been floating in.

"Thank you," she says.
"I should be thanking you," you say. "For the coffee."
"But like I didn't pay for the coffee. I was supposed to but, like."
"Well. It was your idea."
She giggles. "Then you're welcome."

She remembers she's supposed to be opening the door and gets her keys out. She hesitates with them in her hand, visibly girds herself, then says: "Well so like I said my stuff is up in my apartment. Like my laptop and writing stuff that I was going to email you anyway but like since you're here. Do you want to come up?"

......... NO.

BAD IDEA. REALLY BAD IDEA. THREAT DETECTED. WARNING. WARNING. WARNING.

SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOUR DETECTED. POTENTIAL THREATS: IRATE BOYFRIEND, BETRAYAL FOR SCANDAL, ACTUALLY A HUMAN DISGUISED AS AN OCULOT AND IS PLANNING TO CAPTURE YOU FOR INTERROGATION AND TORTURE.

And because we're not giving up Poly that easily.

You have other guy friends, she's sweet enough for them. But YOU want a CRACKER.

>>768594
"Yeah, sure!"
>mosey on in

Politely decline.

Nah, that's ok. Wouldn't want to ruin your reputation.

(Also, wouldn't want to further ruin our reputation, but don't tell her that. There's a whole big range of reasons to not get too close to this girl right now and they've already been repeated like a hundred times.)

>>768598
>>768599
the smartest choice at the moment

yes

>>768600
>>768596

Ditto, coffee was good enough. Call me incredibly paranoid but I agree with kome but not for the same reason, the fact that if HVAO exists, there is nothing that says that the Kariket can't have something like a spy ring as well, also Krin has not been checked by HVAO in any way as far as I'm aware. Considering how serious Zack's situation is, it's not worth it, at least not right now. Just walk away Zack.

>>768594
'That sounds lovely, thank you.'
Considering Bika was totally on board with it I say go for it.

You know what? Sure.

>>768594
"Can't think of a good reason not to."

>>768609
This, tbh. Bika's our most reliable measure (barring Poly) for these situations, so if she says it's cool, then it's cool.

Yup. She cute.

Do it. She's cute, she won't "replace" Poly, Bika was fine with it, and even if something goes wrong that should be interesting to deal with.

>>768631
>she won't "replace" Poly
I'd like to stress this. Just because we're getting friendly with another oculot doesn't mean we're trying to "replace" Poly.

>>768594
another time. don't rush into it, have some class.

DO IT!

yeah

Go for it. I'm curious in what she's written, and I do doubt that going into someones house will be some sort of huge detriment later.

It is possible to go into someones flat and remain just friends, you know.

>>768594
yes

>>768626
>>768609

Bika gave Zack that approval based on incomplete information vis-a-vis the whole current Poly scenario thing.

>>768655
Realistically this.
Let's not jump to conclusions.

>>768655
This.

Politely decline.

What's the oculot power relating to maximum fluster?

>>768596
>>768658
>>768598
I don't think she's a human in disguise, but kome is correct. In fact, hooking her up with one of your guy friends might be interesting. Zack the matchmaker.

Whether or not we're replacing Poly is irrelevant, of course. Poly's perception of the situation is what matters, and if she feels replaced we lost any hope of fixing it. There is a time and a place for everything, but not now.

In addition, this woman is not under official HVAO protection, like our GF's are, and Hiz got offed WHILE under official HVAO protection. If we get to close before the perpetrator is apprehended we make her a very easy target.

>>768713
Actually, given her stalker, I'd get Zrazkokh to circle around with his car and find a place that won't draw attention. Keep watch a little bit for anyone suspicious hanging around after you look like you've left.

We can pay Zrazkokh extra for helping us with this, and if her stalker makes a move we'll have friendly warrior muscle right there. Plus then we can chat him up and maybe make another new friend.

>>768713
Liking sheep oculot does not mean we are replacing neurotic oculot, ffs
we can like both
visitors do not have hang-ups about exclusivity as far as we've been told.
cease.
There's also no guarantee this will be a romance thing, she is nice and people are capable of just being friends.
>go in, this isn't an extra vote since I already voted but pls

I was against it the first time, but it would seem awfully rude to refuse a second invitation. Just hope her writing isn't all erotic fiction.

>>768735
>Just hope her writing is all erotic fiction featuring Zack
FTFY

Enemy 2016/12/28(Wed)21:12 No. 768738 ID: 16bad7
File 148298831849.png - (67.81KB , 960x560 , 644.png )

"I would love to," you say.
The muscles in her mouth lose their grip on her lower jaw for an instant then clench back into an elated smile.
"Okay!" she says.

"Roommate's out at work for the day," Krin says, leading you into a compact but comfy two-bedroom. "She cleans. I mean not this apartment. This apartment she kind of--" She surreptitiously removes a hounstooth sock from her coffee table. "I guess she gets enough cleaning at work."
You sit on her couch, next to a huddle of cushions and a stuffed elephant pillow pet, while she kicks her shoes off in the entranceway. "It's nice."
She opens the door to her room and drops her bag on her bed, which is made with a star-pattern bedspread and garlanded with string lights.
She unplugs a boxy Thinkpad from her nightstand and flips it open, cradling it in one arm while she logs in and steps back across the living room and to a kitchenette. She hands the laptop over and heads to the fridge.
You eye the computer. "Am I allowed to be holding this?"
"Sure! That's just like my writing one. The state secrets and world domination plans go on the tower. You want anything? Drink? Seamless?"

Krin keeps her desktop spare and neat. There's a link to Chrome, a recycle bin with 6 files in it, a shortcut to Plants Vs Zombies, and two folders: Pix and Writing.

Her writing folder is open. It has a list of text files arranged by date.
The latest ones are:
script.doc
heartlessness.doc
thing for mark.doc
dafdfdfasdfsfdads.doc
War thing.doc
thing22.doc
nsfw.doc
ripening vintage.doc
odysseus and teiresias.doc

1]] Open one of the documents: _________
2]] Open Pix.
3]] Check the recycling.
4]] Open Chrome.
5]] Open Plants Vs. Zombies.
6]] Seamless sounds good. Are you in the mood for ___________?
7]] Come pick one of these for me to read, Krin.
8]] Join Krin in the kitchen because you didn't just come here to read.
9]] _______________

8
9: Ask her where she keeps her erotic fan fiction

>>768739
Oh yeah and open all the documents and pictures, read them while you're fucking her doggystyle to keep yourself interested in something

>>768738
1]] Open one of the documents: script.doc

>>768738
3]]

There will be time for the rest later. Reading through her recycling could possibly yield:

1) Crappy stories she didn't want to keep (opportunities for negs and teasing)
2) Lewd stories
3) Personal info
4) Self nudes she was too embarrassed to send
5) Boring drafts and temp files (hopefully it is not this one)
6) And so much more????

1. War thing.doc

>>768741
This. Just start from the top.

1]] Open one of the documents: dafdfdfasdfsfdads.doc

That is a JUICY filename.

>>768744
Yeah.

>>768742
This

>>768738
5]] Open Plants Vs. Zombies.

Let's be a complete asshole and beat her high score.

Open the recycling bin and nsfw.doc

7. why yall snoopin

>>768727
You completely missed the point of everything I said and 'addressed' issues I didn't even mention, reread and try again.

>>768738
1, dafdfdfasdfsfdads.doc

1) Open Chrome.
2) Type in tgchan.org.
3) Browse catalog.

Check the recycling bin, copy everything and paste it in an email, then to seal the deal, find some hacker spam and copy THAT and send the whole fake spam to yourself.

Enemy 2016/12/29(Thu)00:00 No. 768777 ID: 16bad7
File 148299844587.png - (5.53KB , 960x560 , 645.png )

You open script.doc, which is on the last page:

ADAM
And i think of Odysseus
[Tight focus: ADAM's reflection, reversed in his glass. RACHAEL's hand coming down from top of frame to look for his

RACHAEL
Odysseus and Circe again

ADAM
No
I'm past Odysseus and Circe
Aren't you

[RACHAEL doesn't speak]

ADAM
[Tight focus on ADAM's hand holding glass. RACHAEL's hovers over]
Odysseus past the homeland of the Cimmerians, through the mist, and there to the underworld. And when he beached his ship and dug the trench and butchered the sacrifices, and the blood, and he met the host of the dead

RACHAEL
Adam please. Adam baby

ADAM
And he recognizes his shipmates. With their skulls open and their chests open. And he realizes that he knows all of them. This host.
[V.O over tableaux. no music here. clink of glass, breathing, keep sound in room. int. overhead of KEVIN in sleeping MARGO's lap, both lying in bathtub, a Pietà. We track out and can see the needle in Kevin's arm, other addicts to right in frame. We are in the trap]

ADAM
Friends

[ext. day: RAZKTITEK, on Earth now, reflective vest, looking thousand yard stare. Turns, swings girder past frame to wipe]

ADAM
Victims

[int. NAOMI, speaking on podium in deep focus. Camera is circling to reveal audience getting to feet and bulb flashes. Circle back to big genuine smile]
ADAM
His mother
Seeing him but beyond sight
And he's holding the sword above the blood. Holding them away.

[We're back with ADAM and RACHAEL]
i think about his arms

RACHAEL
[Knowing he can't]
Can you touch me

ADAM
How he holds them up for hours. They shake until the feeling goes.
[We're back on the beach. Ext. morning. ADAM spattered with ISAAC's blood, looking at nothing, shock crystals going off behind him]
Because his offering isn't for them. It's for Tiresias.
[LT screaming at him again out of frame but we keep in on his face this time]
The theban
The Blind Seer
[We cut out to what ADAM is looking at. Fantastic sunrise, smoke from Martha's Vineyard rising in bg. held, then:
back to ADAM. looking directly at RACHAEL now. Hard look. An "I know what you did" look.]
To show him how to come home.

[RACHAEL breaks eye contact, tries to reestablish, can't. ADAM is still staring. Give this at least 10 seconds, silence.]

[Bump to black]


You open dafdfdfasdfsfdads.doc:

Her nails scored eight crimson lacerations on his chest. Her foot found his stomach and pushed. But no paroxysm, no deterrence could extend to him now. Something must have happened in the mind meld: something incomprehensible. Not only was this two-eyed monster still alive but some primal switch had been flipped. She realized too late, as he reached for her, that she had awakened something under this human's surface, something abyssopelagic, something with sharp teeth, and now he was coming to swallow her whole. No more training; no more indoctrination; nothing now in his wild twin eyes but a mammalian lust.

His callused hands tore her from her frock with soldierly ease. The cold air against her chest controverting the heat coming off him, the breath from his broad, bony nose, his grip, all spoke to her with such clarity it made her yelp: what you have dreamed of, what you have longed for, what you have dreaded, is happening. Now. And there's nothing you can do to st

Looks like she stopped this one midway through.

Enemy 2016/12/29(Thu)00:00 No. 768778 ID: 16bad7
File 148299845594.png - (16.83KB , 960x560 , 646.png )

You open the recycling bin.

"Zack?" Krin calls from the kitchenette. "Thirsty?"

You quickly close the recycling bin. "Hmmm?"

"You're not reading yet, are you?" Krin is rummaging through her fridge. "Cuz there's some like, crummy crummy stuff on there. Actually it's mostly crummy. I'm trying to think of what you should see."

Typical facebook fanfic junkie. Just... wonderful.

Ask her if she can reinforce her windows with steel bars. Talk about your sister; do you think she started Visiting, or is she with the human-supremacist rebels?

>>768777
"Food sounds nice. This one with the human and the oculot is pretty spicy."

Nope! Nothing yet!
(Back to the desktop. Back to the desktop!)
Something to drink sounds lovely!

"Don't sell yourself short, Krin. Anyway! How about that apple juice?"

>>768784
Oh, and let's close anything incriminating.
Do not alienate our host.

kome, you ok there buddy? you seem more paranoid than usual these past few days

admit to reading the last page of script. ask what it's about because i legit can't tell.

More texts to restore in the recycle bin! Move them to C:\ in case you don't get a chance to delete them again before you get pulled away.

Oh boy I went to sleep and when I wake up we've not only gone up but we've already got a head start on being a skeevy creeper. Who could have seen this coming.

Close the recycle bin and dafdfdfasdfsfdads.doc and tell her you just opened this one called script.doc. Comment on not being as up on your greek epics as you should be. (Unless classical literature somehow entered your repertoire during your sculptor days, Zack? Or any other time?)

Interesting puzzle to those pictures, though. They're clearly taken with the intent (or fantasy) of showing them to someone, but she's put them away. I doubt she took them out of some whim of showing Zack since she hasn't known him long enough. It's possible she has a boyfriend already, or someone who she'd like to be her boyfriend, or she might just be thinking of joining some raunchy dating site. Or maybe taking photos of herself like that is just her fetish!

>>768778
ohhh... i just kind of started, ill stop and let you pick.
take a step back and stop invading her personal space. leave the two things you read open so she knows what you looked at but, don't let her know you rummaged through her recycle bin.

>>768782
>>768784
>>768785
>>768791
These.

No need to say you didn't look at anything. Say you looked at the script, less likely to make her worry you may have seen the recycling bin that way.

>>768778
lol oops.

"Yup! Already learning all your secrets. Jeez, I had no idea you mastered five different martial arts by age 7, that's pretty hardcore. I'm liking what I saw in your script so far; you do a really good job of building and holding tension. There's some kind of classic Greek crossover thing going on? What's the story there? I only saw the last page or two."