>>1042728
>Seeing *Neat* stuff *it* might be fine.

B. I have a feeling we're supposed to be bonded with Jack for a reason. Plus this might be the only opportunity to try to make friends with Jack!

tippler 2022/09/03(Sat)08:04 No. 1042745 ID: 9ea24b
File 166221745062.png - (131.29KB , 500x500 , p30.png )

>B
Nah. Whatever you can get from Set won’t be worth the harassment. You turn around and take the long walk back to the main floor. You’re a little worried since Jack said she’d get BOSS involved if the DREAMS continue, but you keep seeing COOL stuff so maybe it’s still worth it.

>The TINKER’S STUDIO
Between Rudy, Mint, Rupert, and Xana, the large room for the TINKERS is overflowing with random PROJECTS of all kinds. You spot Rupert’s famous STILL in the corner, a mass of computer monitors running code and scrolling through furry porn, the hulking block of metal you suspect is the ANTI-BARRIER, and a haphazard pile of gadgets.

You see Xana, returned from lunch, Rudy the jetpack wielder, Cat, Mint who has also propositioned you, Willamina, and even Isabella! The scarred woman is cooling some of the larger machines while Isabella heats a glob of glass at Mint’s direction. You walk up to Cat and gently headbutt him to get his ATTENTION. Rex gives a mental sigh but opens the TELEPATHIC connection.

Cat: Hi again Remy! Thanks for the tip earlier though next time if you don’t mind waiting outside–
Remy: I require Willamina and Isabella to help RIDER! Xana and Kazu the sole HEALER informed me that there is much work to be done, but this should only take an HOUR.
Cat: I knew Kazu would blab, and he’s not the only healer we still technically have GRUK even though he won’t FIGHT, Trey’s death hit the poor guy really hard. Sure, you can borrow Willamina and Isabella once they finish what they’re doing.

You find a bare bit of floor next to Cat to sit and stifle a yawn. Almost time for your afternoon NAP. Rudy’s shiny glasses flash in your direction and Mint licks her lips at you, so you’re probably going to have to dodge some ANNOYANCES. What do you talk about with Cat?

>>1042745
Tell him your link to Jack Knight could become problematic now that she's aware of it. In fact, he should teach you some juicy DISINFORMATION in case she somehow uses the link to probe your mind.

We might see and talk to Jack again when we nap. Ask Cat if there is any messages he wants to relay to her if we talk to her again.

Oh yeah, and tell Cat you're a bit worried because Jack said she'd get Boss involved if the dreams continued, and you wanted to let Cat know first before letting Set know and have her mess with your head again.

Ask Cat if he can aWAKeken you please. Would be cool to have a power to help RIDER, right?

>>1042747
This

>>1042750
Make sure to start with OH GREAT AWAKENER

tippler 2022/09/03(Sat)13:34 No. 1042767 ID: 9ea24b
File 166223729963.png - (90.15KB , 500x500 , p31.png )

>Ask him his opinion about your link with Jack Knight
You explain the situation in a bit more detail, including the information that Jack is somewhere other than FAUNUS but still has contact with BOSS.

Cat: Hm, well you’re not coming with us so I don’t see how it can do much HARM, as long as it's not slowly driving you insane or something. If we keep CC with the STRIKE TEAM and VV here then BOSS can’t randomly KILL us and honestly that’s what I’m most worried about. He seems like a loose CANNON for an ANGEL.
Cat: Jack sounds okay, the MCD stuff was kind of SKETCHY but in the end she didn’t cause any TROUBLE, so maybe try to keep her happy?

>Rudy dodge check: SUCCESS
You hear Rudy sneaking behind you and you whack him with your tails before he can strap any ROCKET BOOTS to your paws.

>Ask to be AWAKENED
This is a marvelous idea!

Remy: OH GREAT AWAKENER!
Cat: Where in FAUNUS did you learn to say that? Rex did you teach him that?
Remy: Help me defend the BASE by giving me a POWER!

Cat touches your shoulder for a moment and FROWNS.

Cat: Okay, so I’ve had my fair share of AWAKENING non-KIN, like Rex and all of Juniper’s ANIMALS.
Cat: But Rex is small and Juniper has solid CONTROL of all her wildlife, you’re a bit. Well.
Cat: Look, the only POWER I’m seeing for you is SIZE MANIPULATION, and I don’t want a repeat of the KAIJU incident. Also, people would be really freaked out and you’ve noticed how we don’t have a THERAPIST around here.

tippler 2022/09/03(Sat)13:35 No. 1042768 ID: 9ea24b
File 166223732438.png - (106.31KB , 500x500 , p32.png )

You grumble, but admit the DEMON has a point. There’s plenty of PTSD about giant MONSTERS already.

>Mint dodge check: SUCCESS
Not today, perverts. Mint sidles over to grope you and you firmly headbutt her in RETALIATION, knocking her into a pile of fresh printed CLOTHES.

Mint: Ribs, fuck, ow.
Cat: You kind of deserved that. Go find Kazu.

Mint wheezes and staggers away, clutching her chest. Threats neutralized, you continue waiting for Isabella and Willamina.

After what feels like hours the two women get a break, and you explain to them via Rex that RIDER is very DEPRESSED and needs REASSURANCE. You escort them to the bedroom and again pace OUTSIDE while they talk. Half an hour later, you hear crying and decide to give them more privacy by having your NAP in your NOOK. Seems like they’ll be in there for a while anyway.

You dream about Jack, of course, playing catch with a young WING-KIN. As soon as she spots you she groans.

Jack: I’m not even asleep! Give me a fucking break.

>Headbutted Mint
Bad Remy! You're definitely putting too much force if the cat doesn't roll on the floor and beg for more!

>Jack
Try again and make sure you hold back this time!

Gotta keep Jack happy, by supporting her bonding activities with the young wingkin. Give her space, by laying in the distance, but give some cheering waks whenever the wingkin catches a tricky shot from her throws, show you support her family and bonding.

>>1042768
Don't headbutt Jack, that's a surefire way to get BOSS involved.

Join in on the game of catch! Also, um, be nice to Jack in general.

I think attempting to play catch is going to distract Jack, and confuse the wingkin since it most likely cant see us and be confused by Jack's actions. Plus, the ball will probably phase through us.

Supporting the idea of being a cheerleader instead!

Also no licking. Jack will be upset we're inturrupting playtime

Run after the ball when she throws it.

tippler 2022/09/03(Sat)18:49 No. 1042798 ID: 9ea24b
File 166225614943.png - (95.88KB , 500x500 , p33.png )

>Bad Remy, you hit Mint too hard
You’re of the OPINION that Mint is lucky she still has fingers.

>Headbutt Jack
No no, you want to be FRIENDS with Jack so she doesn’t call BOSS on you. That means no licking and no hitting, your best RIDER level behavior.

You take a moment to look down. You’re a wispy ghost-like image of yourself, and by the way the RAVEN lad is staring, he can see you too.

???: Wow Auntie Jack, is that your SPIRIT? I’ve never seen it before.
Remy: Wak wak!
???: Can I touch him? He looks super cool. Dad won't let me get a pet…
Jack: Uh, I’m not sure you can. Let me try first.

Jack attempts to poke your face. You kind of feel it, her finger has an odd gelatinous texture and you stay perfectly still to show you are a GOOD BOY.

Jack: You bite him and I’ll get BOSS to evaporate your sorry KAIJU hide, got it?
Remy: Wak wak wak wak wak.
Jack: Alright Beaky, you can try it, watch out for those spikes.

You let the bird run his feathers all over you, glowing slightly under all the ATTENTION. Now here’s a KIN who doesn’t have severe KAIJU related trauma.

tippler 2022/09/03(Sat)18:49 No. 1042799 ID: 9ea24b
File 166225618085.png - (87.65KB , 500x500 , p34.png )

>Play catch
You nod your head toward the ball in Beaky’s hand and he throws it to you. It goes somewhere in your face, and you shake it on the ground so he can pick it up and toss it AGAIN.

Jack keeps a close eye on you while you play with Beaky. You discover you can’t go more than 5 meters away from Jack and you start feeling sleepy after about half an hour.

What fun! What joy! Between the BOND with Jack and Beaky’s short stature, you can almost pretend you’re playing with RIDER. Eventually you yawn and lie in the grass to SLEEP.

Your nap was late so you wake up late. The DUNGEON lights are starting to dim and you can hear people talking in the CAFETERIA. You’re quite confident Jack will keep you around, if only to win cool aunt points with Beaky, so your list of duties has been completed.

Before you meet up with RIDER, is there anything you’d like to do? Please list anyone or any place you’d like to visit.

Lets see the Kaiju mainly. ask if they've seen Bobby Slurps anywhere, and if they'd like to help your cause when the demon war begins.

Alternatively, we can search for one or more of the kin we haven't seen yet (Joseph, Forest girl, Kelsey, Sunshine, Pazuru, Hyun, and Laverne (the latter three worked the ruffled haunch and we never seen them

but overall, I want to see if we can find the Kaiju hanging out outside of the barrier and see if we can have a short WAcKy chat with them before we see our rider.

Well, we could go say hi to Andrea. She's related to RIDER, so it'll be nice if we can warm up to her as well.

The Carnivorous Garden, and Gruk.

>>1042801
I'm down with that. Let's just hope they still recognize Remy as family.

>>1042802
Considering the previous encounter was just Andrea trying to smash I say, to avoid potential awkwardness and discomfort, we wait for her to come to us without all the propositioning.

>>1042799
Go visit the other Kaiju.

tippler 2022/09/04(Sun)11:29 No. 1042844 ID: 9ea24b
File 166231614433.png - (65.89KB , 500x500 , p35.png )

>Go to the BARRIER and call to the KAIJU
You have a feeling that some of your fellow MONSTERS survived after FLEEING the ANGELS that Isabella inadvertently summoned. Maybe you can get them to help you defend the BASE!

>Juniper dodge check: SUCCESS
You sneak out of the stump and sniff the air. Ugh, you can smell the TAINT of the FOREST girl’s magic. To keep the daily count of broken ribs to a minimum, you take the long way around so you don’t pass the graveyard.

The moon is half full and combined with your night vision you can see perfectly well. You start a stiff gallop towards the far end of the BARRIER, on the other side of the ruined TOWN.

The wall of concrete and steel rises before you, though much more intimidating is the INVISIBLE film of BOSS’ death bubble. You take a deep breath and ROAR.

You howl your hearts out for some TIME before trailing off into a pathetic whine. Where are your SIBLINGS?

With a heavy heart, you remember that since RIDER told that one muscly ANGEL about how breasts don’t have to be SEXUAL, he probably was able to hunt and kill all the rest of the KAIJU. You turn to leave when you feel a few heavy steps shake the ground.

tippler 2022/09/04(Sun)11:29 No. 1042845 ID: 9ea24b
File 166231615415.png - (61.60KB , 500x500 , p36.png )

A hammerhead SHARK face peers over the top of the physical wall. Sister Lung!

Remy: Where are the others?
Lung: DEAD, little KING. It won’t be long before I am slain as well. The ANGELS seem immune to these sacks of FLESH that CREATOR gave to protect us. I came when you called, but it is not safe for me to be so CLOSE to the CITY. Why do you still stay with the KIN that orchestrated our CREATOR’s death?
Remy: RIDER was only trying to free herself! She and I share a DEEP BOND and I LOVE her.

Lung sighs. You stamp the ground in frustration. You know RIDER hurt your siblings and kind of RUINED YOUR LIFE, but you HAVE to LOVE her.

Lung: I understand. You cannot help how CREATOR has shaped you.
Lung: I am also LINKED to you. What do you desire from me?

A. Ask Lung to sacrifice herself for you via jumping over the wall and dying so you can eat her BODY and GROW

B. Tell Lung to save herself and get as far from DONJON as possible

C. Ask Lung to stay near LYST

A or B. "I want to eat you, but if you'd rather live then please get as far away from DONJON as you possibly can."

B.

I think I'll choose C. With the strike team gone, we're probably going to need a giant Kaiju to help protect the town, and I'm sure once the tinkers finish their anti barrier thing, they can work out a plan with Lung in some way to help her be better prepared from angel attacks too, like against the buff angel. as long as we let them know she's an ally, and tell Lung not to hurt any kin from LYST.

Totally against A.

Cat told us he doesn't want us to grow, and he's the leader. Best do what he says. Plus, we've kind of been acting as everyone's missing therapist. maybe not professional therapist, but more of a comfort service kaiju, which is better than nothing. our growth might also freak people out because of their trauma.
Plus, since we've been acting kind of as everyone's missing therapist, it'd be trouble to solve everyone's issues if we can't be able to fit back inside the dungeon if we're big, which means we won't be able to help people feel better.
I'm not sure how our big size will effect Jack and Beaky's life either.

If at some point we NEED to gain size, Cat will give us that power when the time is right, like maybe towards when the demon war begins in a year or two. There's no point in eatting our sis when we have another method of growing later. Size manipulation can also not only make us grow, but shrink as well after all.

C: Rex is probably around you can say you have a giant kaiju friend to help defend the city while they go do a murder, it’s an extra layer of security and also you get a friemd!!!

C. The closer Lung is to danger, the farther they are from harm.

B. Our team likes saving people.

>>1042845
>one angel killed all the kaiju
Wow, giant Kaiju must fucking SUCK at fighting. Good reason for Remy to stay small. Maybe it's a good thing they mostly died though, they don't exactly have a place in this world.

B, but the enemy is going to WANO soon, so tell her to steer clear of there too.

...or maybe C, and we can lure the angel into a trap using the kaiju as bait. Perhaps RIDER can use her "friendship" with him as an additional distraction during the fight (or after it?) to allow Set to assassinate the angel.

C

tippler 2022/09/04(Sun)19:32 No. 1042908 ID: 9ea24b
File 166234517298.png - (99.57KB , 500x500 , p37.png )

>C
Remy: I want you to stay, even if it’s RISKY. You might be able to help RIDER defend the BASE, though you’ll want to stay hidden as best you can so you don’t scare the KIN.
Lung: As you wish.

You try to offer advice about CAMOUFLAGE before bidding Lung goodnight. It’s selfish, but you feel comforted knowing another KAIJU is nearby.

>Andrea dodge check: FAILURE
On the way back to the DUNGEON, you spot a RABBIT darting towards you through the underbrush. Is it RIDER? Is she coming to see you? You enthusiastically bound forward to meet her.

Augh, it’s Andrea! You prepare your thick skull for more rib destruction in case Andrea tries to put a hand on you. You’re very fed up with all the KIN who think you’re some kind of TOY. Beaky is the only exception.

Andrea: Hey Remy! I spotted you earlier down in the ARENA, was there something you needed?
Remy: Wak.
Andrea: Right, right, Rex patch me in.

Remy: I was looking for WILLAMINA and she was not there. I later found her so it is no longer an issue. Do not PESTER me.
Andrea: Just being polite, bud. Sounds like someone needs to RELAX. I can think of a few things that might help…

How do you deal with Andrea?

She's your rider's sister, so maybe she can help Myriad feel better? Why not ask her to come with you and help her?

>>1042908
Tell her directly that you have no interest in sex of any sort, and that she should tell all the other perverts so that they stop harassing you.
Oh also tell Andrea that you convinced the last surviving giant Kaiju to stay near town to help protect it, and you'd like help keeping her hidden please so as not to freak anyone out. (and maybe ANDREA can suggest a sneaky plan to Set)

>>1042917 mainly this. Let Andrea know you've been on an important mission to help VV with her DEPRESSION all day and was finally going to relax by seeing her after already getting a few people to see her today to make her feel better about herself, and maybe Andrea can come along to give her sister company with you... it was one of the main reasons she came to Lyst after all, to be with Andrea... really let her know VV deserves Andrea's attention more than you deserve Andrea's attention right now.

>>1042919 also letting her know about the Kaiju is good. Best let Andrea know so she can deliver the message to Set later to convince her to let VV help protect the base with Remy and Lung instead of being benched now that she's got a giant Kaiju on our side under her command so VV can feel useful.

basically parroting what the others say about setting boundaries and talking about the kaiju. Though you should mention the big kaiju has big tiddies so if you want to fondle them, ask for consent but go ahead. (pass the buck, pass the buck, let her try to flirt with the other one)

>>1042925
She can't tho, the kaiju is on the other side of the super dangerous barrier

If any of them are sexual or lead to anything sexual prepare to get a cold shoulder at high speed. Regardless, you are wanting to to see how your rider, her sister, is doing, so unless it's pressing, it will have to wait. Maybe she should come with.

>>1042926
Counter: what if she just flirted with the thing and whenever it went down tried afterwards. They were working on an anti-barrier I think right? So maybe the big ol kaij can just come in when that happens?

tippler 2022/09/05(Mon)08:02 No. 1042965 ID: 9ea24b
File 166239014275.png - (51.30KB , 500x500 , p38.png )

Remy: I want to make it very clear that I have NO interest in sexual activities with you or Mint or anyone else and that I don’t appreciate any attempts to be snared by druid MAGIC. Even though my kind caused massive damage to LYST, I am not a threat and you don’t have to try and CONTROL me!
Andrea: Okay.
Remy: There is only ONE full-sized KAIJU left, and she obeys me and can help with our efforts to defend the BASE. She has large, pillowy BREASTS and may be more receptive to your flirtations if we use the ANTI-BARRIER to let her in.
Andrea: Yeah I’m going to have to ask about that one, that might freak out a lot of people.
Remy: All I care about is RIDER and I have been running around all DAY trying to cheer her up since she is very DEPRESSED because Set has stopped her from doing anything USEFUL. RIDER came all this way for YOU, so you should be trying to help her as well. I’m going to see her now, so you can come with ME.

With that impassioned speech, you hold your long neck high and stride towards the STUMP. After a moment, Andrea follows behind you.

Gruk encounter check: FAILURE
You don’t see anyone noteworthy on the way to the rabbit room.

tippler 2022/09/05(Mon)08:02 No. 1042966 ID: 9ea24b
File 166239015824.png - (137.01KB , 500x500 , p39.png )

>RIDER
The door is open, and you tentatively look inside. RIDER is sitting with Isabella on the bed, while Willamina leans against the end of the mattress. They’re watching BRAIN WORMS 3 on one of the handhelds the TINKERS put together. Everyone’s eyes are a bit bloodshot from crying.

Andrea: Is this girl’s night? Mind if I join?
Willamina: Come on in.

FINAL CHOICE:
A. Follow Andrea and sit next to RIDER (You’ll feel loved and at peace)
B. Sit outside (You’ll hear them talk about SLAYER)
C. You feel drawn to the lower levels of the DUNGEON (You’ll learn about Set’s tragic backstory)

A, absolutely. Feel loved.

Easiest choice ever. A

C implies that Remy cares about Set when in reality she's just the bitch that made RIDER sad. Her tragic backstory is that she was born a bitch, the end.

B would be kind of interesting, because it would let us hear what Willamima and Isabella think about Max now, and might give us some insight into why RIDER is really sad if it has something to do with the last encounter and not other junk.

But A would make us happy, which is a tough offer to beat. We just spent the thread trying to make RIDER happy, I think we've earned a bit of self-care.

A.

The other two are interesting, but...

while being everyone's therapist and caring for their mental health is important, so is our own mental health. We totally deserve this. Plus Andrea told us to relax. Say what you will about her, she knows the importance of taking a break

I really want to learn about Set, but it feels ooc, so A

C. I wanna know how she went from a puppy to a demon lord.

A. We can learn some other time.

tippler 2022/09/05(Mon)12:23 No. 1042999 ID: 9ea24b
File 166240580778.png - (70.26KB , 500x500 , p40.png )

>A
It’s the easiest choice of your LIFE. You enter the room and lay yourself at RIDER’s feet below the edge of the bed. She reaches down to stroke your head, and you tune out the sounds of the campy horror movie as you sink into a blissful doze. Maybe one day, once the WAR is over, your RIDER can get a nice house with a fur rug in front of the fireplace where you can sleep and grow old. A big yard to play fetch in. A warm, soft bed to rest your weary bones.

It’s only a daydream, but the thought is STRONG enough that you hope RIDER can feel it too.



Thanks for reading Queen of Hell! I don’t have plans to continue the CATALYST story any further besides some comics about Max’s misadventures with BOSS and Overmind, and I’m leaving it to Edmango to do the ENDING.