>>629351
She's doing it on purpose. One.

Enemy 2015/03/16(Mon)01:09 No. 629369 ID: 1eba6d
File 142649336359.png - (8.78KB , 960x560 , 174.png )

You do your darndest to think about grandma or something.
No dice.
You try and edge away from her a little bit to give you room for adjustment.

"SOMETHING GOING ON BACK THERE?" Meg asks. "ZACK?"
"UH JUST ADJUSING THE UH HARNESS," you reply.
"IT MIGHT NOT BE TIGHT ENOUGH," Meg says. "PUT YOUR HANDS AROUND MY WAIST."
"NO NO IT'S OK IT FEELS PRETTY TIGHT."
"I'M NOT DROPPING MY FIRST DATE, ZACK." Meg reaches back to you and pulls your arms across her midsection. "HOLD TIGHT. LONG WAY TO FALL."

Great.

Well, maybe she won't notice. If she does she makes no indication of it. You do your best to lean away but it's hard when you're essentially mid-air spooning her.

"SO WHEN WE GET THERE," she says. "ONE-ON-ONE OR ARE YOU ON MY TEAM?"

1]] LET'S GO MANO A FLOATO
2]] IT'S MY FIRST TIME MAYBE I COULD USE SOME TEAMMATES
3]] _____________

>>629369
2 because if you try to take her on she will just annihilate you.

From what I've gathered, the Floaters are a Collective. Not the same sort that the Skut are, but they definitely enjoy teamwork. Go for teamplay.

>>629369
Definitely 2.

Besides our lack of experience and not having the advantage of flight, there's also the fact that she's our date and being on opposing sides would make it difficult for cultural exchange and whatnot.

Also, the possibility of AERIAL ASSAULT!

2.

Enemy 2015/03/16(Mon)20:42 No. 629515 ID: e30e12
File 142656375456.png - (20.44KB , 960x560 , 175.png )

"LET'S TEAM UP," you say. "IT'S MY FIRST TIME"
"COOL," Meg says. "DON'T EMBARRASS ME."

Her recorded voice sings a buoyant ending refrain as you coast out of the city and toward the green upstate forests.

Près de vous, purs et fidèles,
Ils accourraient, nuit et jour,
Si mes vers avaient des ailes,
Des ailes comme l'amour!

After about a half hour of flying and trying not to think about your erection, you feel Meg slowing down. She pulls into a hover over a broad treeline, and a couple other floaters fly up and out of it to greet her.
You can see some guys down on the ground in padding and helmets. Mostly humans (or maybe oculots?) and a few warriors.

"Megumi," the floater in front says. "Thought you had a date."
"Brought the date." Meg gestures to you.
"He playing?"
"He's with me," Meg says. "Tailgunner."
"That's not legit," the floater says.
"One he's natural weight and he'll slow me down," Meg says. "And two he's a newbie. Call it a handicap."

1]] Cool cool. Gimme a paint gun thing.
2]] Gee, thanks, Meg.
3]] Actually Meg maybe I could support you from the ground?
4]] Actually Meg maybe I could just watch.

2 and 1.
"gee thanks" and sound pouty but then "naw i'm keeping, where's my gun?"

>>629515
2 and 1.

Let's kick this thing off right.

>>629519
>sounding pouty
nah

Otherwise, 2 and 1 sound good.

I support the 2 and 1 course of action.

Enemy 2015/03/16(Mon)22:37 No. 629560 ID: e30e12
File 142657062624.png - (12.33KB , 960x560 , 176.png )

"Gee thanks Meg," you say. "Gimme a gun thing."

"You're blue," the floater says. "Up north. Get guns, get pads, and listen for the buzzer."

Meg drops you off with about a dozen other people who are all suiting up. You find a gun and a few of the extra thingers with paintballs in them. Meg says they're called hoppers.
"Are you putting on any armor?" you ask.
"Nah," she says.
"Won't you ruin your leather then?"
"No," says Meg. "Because we're not getting hit. Strap on. Back-to-back this time. So you can watch my ass instead of poke it."

You're about to ask what that's supposed to mean when the buzzer sounds and she rockets into the air.

Enemy 2015/03/16(Mon)22:37 No. 629561 ID: e30e12
File 142657064794.png - (17.50KB , 960x560 , 177.png )

"WHAT'S ON OUR SIX" Meg banks low over the treeline. Paintballs snap through the air around you.

"FLOATER COMING IN FAST" You fire off a couple rounds but neither of them hit.
The floater from before is gaining on you.

1]] Tell Meg to go faster.
2]] Tell Meg to pull some evasive maneuvers.
3]] Tell Meg to lose him in the trees.
4]] Tell Meg to keep level so you have a clear shot. You've got this.
5]] ________________

>>629560
>what that's supposed to mean
Unexpectedly dense of you.

>what do
Trees.

>what that's supposed to mean
She was aware of the erection and just didn't think it important enough to mention, but now she's trying to say you need to focus on watching her Six instead of focusing on her.

5. You do not have this. You're the tailgunner, she's the pilot. Ask, "Got any evasive maneuvers?" but don't demand them. "Can't aim better than spray and pray." If she does agree with evasion, wait for her to steady out before you try firing, and only take one or two shots in case she zips around some more.

Plans for the future: Shooting range... Not a gallery, because "range" can also be out in the open, and learning how to shoot things from a wider variety of terrain, and from moving sources (Flying included) will be necessary if you plan on improving your skill here.

>>629561
1), 2) More speed may help, also if possible dip and attempt to loop to reverse direction - you won't lose them, but a tight enough somersault forces them to choose between continuing on their heading or slowing down to chase.
Also, curl your legs and brace the gun with your legs, this is gonna hurt.

>>629565
Agreed.

keep up suppressive fire. don't waste ammo but don't let them get a clear shot.

Enemy 2015/03/16(Mon)23:59 No. 629577 ID: e30e12
File 142657557156.png - (4.31KB , 960x560 , 178a.png )

You lay down some suppressive fire. "GOT ANY EVASIVE ACTION?"
"YEA," Meg says. "HOLD TIGHT."
"HOLDING." You tuck your knees up and stick your gun between them. "PUNCH IT."

She peels up into a skyward backflip, corkscrewing around so that you're facing down and she's facing up.

Enemy 2015/03/17(Tue)00:00 No. 629578 ID: e30e12
File 142657560036.png - (5.65KB , 960x560 , 178b.png )

You take the opportunity and splatter paint all over the floater's helmet.
He's out.

Enemy 2015/03/17(Tue)00:00 No. 629579 ID: e30e12
File 142657561071.png - (37.12KB , 960x560 , 178.png )

"THAT WAS ICE." Meg levels out. "KEEP IT UP AND MAYBE I WON'T DROP YOU."
"NOT FUNNY," you say.
"PRETTY FUNNY."
"SORRY ABOUT EARLIER," you say. "WITH THE-- SORRY"
"WAS IT BECAUSE OF MY ASS?" Meg asks.
"KIND OF."
"THEN WHY ARE YOU APOLOGIZING?" Meg buzzes low over the trees. A paintball whizzes past too close for comfort.
Looks like it's coming from a couple of guys entrenched behind a concrete palisade you can only assume was put there for natural cover.
"HARK," Meg says. "FUCKBOYS."

1]] Divebomb them!
2]] Drop me off behind them a bit and I can sneak up on them!
3]] Just leave them in the dust. We should hunt the other team's floaters.
4]] ____________

>>629579
3.
If we can get total air control then we can overwatch with impunity.

just buzz them to distract them so the land guys get a shot. then move on to better killzones.

3.

If you're bootybothered enough to continue explaining, mention it's generally seen as crossing a boundary. I recommend against it, though.

>>629578
BOOM! HEADSHOT!

>>629579
3.
Ignore them. Focus on the air support. Once we own the sky, we own the fight.

Let's go with 3.

Enemy 2015/03/18(Wed)00:14 No. 629747 ID: e30e12
File 142666287325.png - (7.10KB , 960x560 , 179.png )

"JUST BUZZ THEM AND KEEP GOING," you say. "WE GOTTA CLEAR THE AIR."

"SOLID COPY." Meg pulls up and circles high, scanning the treeline. "I DIDN'T MIND."
"WHAT?"
"YOUR BONER. I WOULD HAVE SAID IF I'D MINDED."
"SURE BUT IT'S KIND OF LIKE SEEN AS CROSSING A BOUNDARY," you say.
"I KNOW," she says. "I DON'T REALLY CARE, THOUGH. ALSO IT'S FUN TO FLUSTER YOU."

She spots a floater flying alone and divebombs him.

Out of the treeline behind you spring up two floaters who were waiting for Meg to make her move.

"BOGIE ASSHOLES," Meg says.

1]] Have Meg chase her target down and take him out while you suppress these guys.
2]] Disengage and fly back toward friendlier skies.
3]] Get into a defensive spiral and take on all three of them.
4]] Be a meatshield and just try and absorb the hits for her. It's OK if you're taken out as long as she isn't.
5]] ______________

1 and then 3 with only two guys.

Unless you choose to break off, there is no reason *not* to try to soak fire for her, though I dont think the spiral is the right choice.
Remember Ender's Game?

I would say just go 1, and do your best to support her.

>>629753
Well, unless getting hit means you're out and can't shoot. I've played with rules like that.

Anyway, seems like if we can finish and take out the one we're targeting, dealing with the others should be easier. 1, I guess.

>>629747
1 and then 3.

Our aim stinks, but we don't really need to hit something just to keep the buzzards off our back. Hopefully Meg inherited some of Rebea's skills and will be able to finish her target quickly. Once he's out we need to take some evasive action and finish these yahoos.

To be more precise about my idea:

1)Have Meg chase her target down and take him out while you suppress the bogies.
2) Get into a defensive spiral and take on the remaining two.
3) Avoid 'meatshield' status. If we get taken out she loses her tail-gunner and is stuck with the dead weight unless she ditches us.

>>629755
Pretty sure it does.

>>629752
Seems like a good plan.

[1]
Be sure to yell SUPPRESSING FIRE while you fire wildly in their direction. TV has taught me that this is both proper and helpful.

Enemy 2015/03/18(Wed)22:11 No. 629871 ID: e30e12
File 142674186715.png - (7.18KB , 960x560 , 180.png )

"KEEP ON HIM," you yell, pumping the trigger to suppress your pursuers. God, you wish you were a better shot.

Meg buckles down, takes aim, and snipes the runner.
Then she kicks up and back into a defensive spiral, turning over and back again way up into the air. The two red dudes pull up and climb after her.

"READY?" she asks.
"YES," you say. "FOR WHAT"
She switches her thrusters off again and you drop like a rock, whizzing down between the two guys who were chasing you.
Meg neatly plugs one with a single shot.

You need 3 but whatever it still counts.

Enemy 2015/03/18(Wed)22:11 No. 629872 ID: e30e12
File 142674191515.png - (38.18KB , 960x560 , 181.png )

With their air power reduced to nil the remainder of the enemy are pretty easy to pick apart. Your twitchy trigger finger means you run out of ammo fairly quickly, but Meg dispatches her targets with pinpoint precision.

"FUCKIN' floaters!" a newly blue warrior yells from the forest floor as Meg angles out of a divebomb and back into the sky.
"YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT THIS," you say.
"SOLDIER GENES," Meg says.

It isn't long before the buzzer sounds again and the blue team floaters coast in for a landing.
"Handicap my ass," one of the floaters says.
"Get good," Meg says. "Next week?"
The floater pulls off a shoulderpad and examines the paint spattered against it. "As usual."
"Cool." Meg turns to you as you wiggle your way out of your padding. "What next?"
You check your phone. It's around 4 PM. You have 4 text messages: 2 from GG, 1 from Polyphema, and 1 from Gary.

1]] I think that's about as much excitement and swandives as I can handle on one date.
2]] ________________

It'd be nice to do something else, but there's not much to eat with the floater thing, and after lots of sick flight most other stuff would be a disappointment. Talk a bit, you had a great time, same again next week or does she want to do something else before then?

Also, wonder if we could find a way to fluster her.

"Okay, so you don't eat food, so I can't take you out to dinner. Except the whole point of that particular ritual is really to give humans an excuse to sit still and talk for a bit. Is there something you would do instead for that ulterior purpose?"

>>629872
1.
On the whole, this has been a roaring success for a first date. We learned a bit about floaters, learned a bit about Meg, listened to some cool music, went on a few awesome flights, won a kickass game of paintball, and never once embarrassed ourselves. I say we quit while we're ahead.

Oh, and let's check our messages once we're finished with Meg.

>>629878
...

...Just... chat. Start a conversation if she's receptive. Walk with her if she goes somewhere.

Enemy 2015/03/18(Wed)22:58 No. 629882 ID: e30e12
File 142674470304.png - (58.35KB , 960x560 , 182.png )

"Well normally now we'd go and get food or something," you say.
"You hungry?"
"Not really. It's more like an excuse to talk."
"Oh," Meg says. "Floaters just talk."
"Do floaters go on walks?" you ask. "It's a really nice day."
"We don't walk," Meg says. "But it is pretty good out."

"Earth doesn't have crags," Meg says, floating lazily in front of you. "Crags are sick."
"Like a cliff?"
"Yea. Golboria had lots of crags. Or the other side. Whatever you want to call it. Pyrate Crag, Bilous Crag. Here's like forests and mountains. There it's crags."
"But you've never been?"
"Naw," Meg says. "I just got a head full of memories. Crags. Battles. Foundries."
"Do you wish you could go?"
"Not so interesting there for a floater," Meg says. "Rebea never got bored but I probably would."
"Why?"
"Cuz humans expect us to not just be machines," Meg says. "So Earth Floaters kicked the habit. Golborian floaters don't like that. Lotta wasted energy." She floats in contemplative silence for a bit. "Kind of want to see a crag, though."

1]] Tell me more about Rebea.
2]] What kind of memories of the War do you have?
3]] What do the floaters on the Other Side think of your new romance features?
4]] What's it like to be the first of your species with the capacity for romantic affection?
5]] Tell me more about Earth Floaters.
6]] Tell me more about Golboria Floaters.
7]] ____________________

4. what does she feel about her, well, feelings.

7) You've discovered synth music (and Kenny Loggins) and Paintball and Harry met Sally (aaannnd probably TOP GUN and Archer) in about 8 months. Anything else notable you've learned or experienced in that time, Meg?

Also maybe,

You've called yourself Rebea's 2.0 with her memories, but also call yourself Meg. Do you feel more like Rebea's daughter or a displaced Rebea with a new name and new feelings? Say if everyone that used the teleporter's in star trek were actually just clones (with all their memories) of the person that got atomized by the teleporter. Or the Prestige problem, basically. I hope I just did not spoil the Prestige for you.

Did you choose your name? It's a nice name.

>>629882
4, 5, and 6.

What's it like being the first Floater who's not aromantic? What are the differences between Earth Floaters and Golborian Floaters?

>>629882
>Lotta wasted energy.
I have been wondering about that for a while now. Floaters don't eat, or have other obvious energy intake. Floaters have high powered thrusters. Where is this energy coming from?

also, mental note: see if you can identify the location of a good set of rocky cliffs or outcroppings nearby. Might be good date #2 material.

Enemy 2015/03/19(Thu)01:55 No. 629892 ID: e30e12
File 142675532960.png - (9.24KB , 960x560 , 183.png )

"What's the difference between floaters here and on the Other Side?" you ask.
"Over there we're not bugged as much," Meg says. "Everyone leaves floaters alone."
"Sorry," you say.
"I don't mind it," Meg says. "But floaters are used to doing what they need to do and then hibernating."
"Hibernating?"
"After a job we usually try to save fuel expenditure and power down," Meg says. "Your brain is kind of semi-active but you don't move. Like sleeping kind of. We can sleep for weeks."
"But not here?"
"For some reason the synthesis thing that makes our fuel works way better here," Meg says. "There's a science reason for it I don't know. But there's so few of us and plenty of stuff to go around and human jobs and human people get wigged out if all you're doing is your job. So we stay switched on."
"Is that tough?"
"No. It's cool."
"So do you feel more like a clone of Rebea or like her daughter?"
"I feel like Megumi. It's hard to describe to a human. It's a normal floater thing. Everyone's a copy of someone."
"Did you pick that name yourself?"
"Yea."
"It's nice."
"Thanks."
"What's it like being the first floater who's not aromantic?"
Meg shrugs. "It's different."
"But like how do you feel about your feelings."
Meg slows down a little. "Can I be real for a sec?"
"Of course."
"It's kind of fucking with me, Zack." She sounds uncertain for the first time since you've met her. "I don't know what to do with it."
"What do you mean?"
"It's making me like-- I don't know. You're the only human I've ever wanted to talk to, but I like can't talk to you."
"I'm sorry."
"No not like that. I mean it's not your fault. I mean see? This is what I'm talking about." She straightens her jacket and puts her hands in her pockets. "Do you know what it's like? It's like you're my superior officer and I get nervous talking to you and I want to impress you. And it's only because we're on a date and I'm sexually attracted to you. It doesn't make sense. I'm worried it's not helping. If anything it's impairing what I'm supposed to be doing. It feels all gross and distracting. It kind of hurts. Why is it such a big thing for everybody?"
"What is?"
"Love and shit. Maybe not love. Like affection."

1]] Because of its effect on people. I mean look at you.
2]] Generally it feels a lot better once it's reciprocated.
3]] Well it's essential to non-floater reproduction. I think that's why.
4]] I don't really know either.
5]] It's because everyone likes having sex.
6]] Is this you trying to tell me you like me?
7]] Is this you trying to tell me you like me? Because I like you.
8]] ________________

>>629892
Think about it for awhile. "Because."

"You should worry less."

8) Stockholm's Syndrome

nah, but for real 2. And 1. Also, 4.

It's a part of life for most people, the culture's adapted to it. There's a bit of a feedback loop.

7777777777

Love's... complicated at times. And sometimes it's straightforward. You can't really tell what it'll be like in advance.

>>629892
It's a big deal because we've had them for a long time and some emotions are very powerful. Sometimes we get addicted to them, like the rush of adrenaline. Most people believe in a direct correlation with causation between love and happiness, and people love being happy, so it's a big deal. You feel important to someone, you have someone important to you, and there's the sex that's also great.

Love's like this HUGE combo of good shit stacked together. So a LOT of people want it, and a lot of people fear it too.

>>629892
1, 2, and 7.
She's unsure of what to do with all these strange emotions, and she's worried that they're more trouble than they're worth. We need to be supportive and show her that she's doing better than she realizes.
>>629893
>>629896
>>629900
These guys say it well.

2, maybe 3, and a little 4. Also, a general response to her concerns: while it may be kinda interfering, I think it's important that she experience that, because EVERYBODY ELSE does. So now she knows what we all feel like. Also, its existence probably colors the relationship in subtle but important ways, if I had to guess.

>>629900
This seems mostly good, too.

>>629902
>Everybody else does
Except the floaters of course...

Possibly try "What kind of answer do you want? Evolutionary? Cultural? Personal?"
...because that's not going to confuse her even more..

Also probably let her know that it's kind of weird and confusing to everyone, not just her.

2, 4, 7.

2 and 7.

Say whatever you're gonna say, but for the record, Earth totally has crags. She should check out Arizona or Norway or any number of other places. Maybe a date? How fast can she fly, top speed?

Enemy 2015/03/19(Thu)10:49 No. 629920 ID: e30e12
File 142678738546.png - (8.70KB , 960x560 , 184.png )

"Um." You think. "I don't really know either. Just because."
"But it's messing me up," protests Meg.
"It feels better once it's reciprocated," you say. "Which it is."
"What?"
"If this is you trying to tell me you like me then you should worry less because I like you too."

She stops and hugs you, very tightly.
She's smooth and cool to the touch. You can hear a quiet hum coming from her thrusters and from the ear things on her head.
She runs her hand along your neck and then holds you even tighter, nestling her head against your chest.

A weirdly long amount of time passes.

1]] Gently detach yourself.
2]] See? Isn't that better?
3]] Kiss her.
4]] Touch her butt.
5]] _______________

2. "Feel better?"

>>629920
3&4

>>629920
2 & 5: Reciprocate. Hug that little lady!

>>629922
Oh, please no.

>>629922
>in the middle of an emotional moment
>time to grope her ass

Jesus fucking christ. Kiss, maybe. Ass, no.

>>629926

>Kiss, maybe.
Hugs and gentle neck and shoulder kisses.

>>629920
Just go for the hug.

I am going to feel super bad when we break three of their hearts.

>>629925
Agreed.

>>629928
Also agreed. For some reason, this moment in particular highlights that particular...awkwardness...about our job.

>>629928
>implying monogamy

No but seriously though, while monogamy is dominant in Western culture, there's a lot of IRL cultures where it's not practiced. Fraternal polyandry exists, religious polygyny is a thing even in America, and so on. There's no way skut are monogamous with their hivemind, and since Meg is new to the whole love deal I doubt she has any preconceived ideas or cultural mores about monogamy. Polyphema and GG are the only possible problems, but they both signed up for the dating pool and Polyphema seems willing to try anything, besides not seeming to take the relationship very seriously so far.

Enemy 2015/03/19(Thu)12:27 No. 629941 ID: e30e12
File 142679325174.png - (8.43KB , 960x560 , 185.png )

You kiss her forehead.
She raises her head and kisses you full on the mouth.
It's kind of a surprise to find out she has lips. They're surprisingly full.
She tastes fresh and clear, like water. She doesn't have any teeth.
Her mouth is a little too wide. You pause for a second, brush her jaw to close it a little, and keep going. "Sorry," she mumbles out of the corner of her mouth. You shake your head in dismissal and kiss her deeper.

Her thrusters sputter and almost give out. You catch her.
Eventually she tilts her head back and away. "Fuck," she gasps.
"Feel better?" you say.
"Yes." She boosts her thrusters back up. "A lot."

Enemy 2015/03/19(Thu)12:27 No. 629942 ID: e30e12
File 142679327220.png - (9.38KB , 960x560 , 186.png )

She gives you a ride home. She plays more music for you.

D'amore al dolce impero
Natura ognor soggiace.
Dov'è quell'alma audace
Che non apprezzi Amor?
Chi, misero, non sente
La fiamma sua possente,
Di Smalto ha il core in petto,
O mai non ebbe un cor.

"WHY OPERA?" you ask.
"CUZ IT'S HARD," she says. "AND I'M BAD AT THINKING OF LYRICS FOR MYSELF."
"IT'S REALLY BEAUTIFUL," you say.
She finds your hand and holds it.

She drops you off outside your apartment. "That was good," she says.
"Yeah?"
"Yea. Usually with paintball there's not as many good dogfights because everyone focuses on picking off the ground people to pad their numbers. That was better."
"I'm glad you didn't get paint on your jacket," you say.
"Me too." Meg unbuckles her harness. "I woulda fucking killed you."
"Really?"
"No. Probably not. That was cool, though."
"It was."
"If you want to go again next week I can take you."
"Are you sure I won't be too much of a handicap?"
"Shut up," she says. She starts to unclip the harness from her hip, then pauses. "Zack?"
"Yeah?"
"I have a question."
"What's up?"
She looks at you. She unclips and reclips her harness.
"Meg?" you ask.
"Can we have sex?" she says.

1]] Yes.
2]] No.
3]] Not yet.
4]] Are you sure?
5]] _______________

>>629942
4. 4 so hard.

>>629942
It's taboo to do that on the first date, and this is her first date EVER, so 3.

4 followed by 3, we think she needs to discover feeling a bit more first.

Smile graciously, but there is such a thing as too much too fast. Not yet. For her sake.

>>629942
4.
She is completely new to this, and what she's experienced so far has left a really good impression on her. She needs to be certain of her decisions. Our reaction should depend on her response.

>>629942
4)I'm up for it, but you need to be sure that you'd be comfortable trying it with me first.
Bad timing can potentially ruin the first time. I mean it's fun still even with bad timing, but it's still a concern. I don't want you to regret it later. Unless this isn't your first time at all, in which case I apologize for making that assumption.

We're also going to have to figure out how it's going to happen. Can your jets burn my sheets or bed? Not that I can't replace it and that actually almost sounds fun to try.

>>629954
Yeah. "Are you sure? You said it yourself, this is your first date. Try clearing your mind and see if it's really something you really want."

>>629969
That sounds a touch...condescending.

Enemy 2015/03/19(Thu)15:19 No. 629972 ID: e30e12
File 142680359733.png - (9.00KB , 960x560 , 187.png )

"Are you sure?" you ask.
"Yeah. No. Yes. I don't know. Yes. I don't know what to do."
"I think for your sake we should wait," you say. "It's kind of taboo on the first date."
"Why?"
"It's too much too fast. Especially if it's your first time."
"Oh. True." Meg finishes undoing her harness.
"Is that OK?"
"That's fine." Meg shakes her head. "I thought I had a handle on it."
"No it's fine," you say. "You just need more time to work your way through it."
"I've had nine fuckin' months," Meg says. She is clearly very embarrassed. "Maybe I should just read the manual. I'm sorry."
"I don't want you to regret it is all."
"Thanks." Meg hovers up and backward. "I'm going to go crawl into a hole. Later, Zack."
"Meg--"

But she's already blasting away at speed.

Shoot.

You check your messages.

Greg: Zak I am moving this weekend can you help and can you bring your frightening GF? Ill pay you

Zack i was at the grocery store and i cant look at those chickens with their legs tied together in the eye anymore not that they have eyes
when can we do it again

Z doll I feel like I should play an earth video game. Whats a good video game?

Enemy 2015/03/19(Thu)15:20 No. 629973 ID: e30e12
File 142680361343.png - (20.20KB , 832x600 , 188.png )

You've gotten everyone in at least once.

Who next?

I vote Bika.

>>629973
Poly.

Go hang out with Bika.

>>629972
FUCK!!! WE TRIPPED AT THE GODDAMN FINISH LINE!!! GODDAMN IT!!!
We must-ABSOLUTELY MUST-find a way to make this up to her. As soon as possible.
UGH.
Anyway.
Greg: We'll help when we can. And stop ogling GG, it's creepy.
GG: Avoid poultry for a while. How about sometime next week?
Poly: What are you in the mood for? Action, adventure, strategy? What are you into?

>>629973
We already had plans with Poly, so her.

Poly.

>>629982
Well, it's too bad she feels...embarrassed? Mortified?...but I think the decision we made was still the most rational one (at least, of the ones that makes sense for Zack to give); I'm not sure whether we could have predicted the outcome. Maybe we're not putting ourselves in her shoes properly? Dunno.

But yeah, I guess meet up with Poly, since she has dibs. Help Greg at some point, sure. OH, looking back, it looks like Alan was the one who was attracted to GG. Speaking of which, that might kinda be ok? GG doesn't have exclusive rights on Zack, it'd be fair to have that go the other way. Plus, matchmaking helps partially solve the problem of "how do I not disappoint at least 3 women" or whatever, maybe.

Aw man, I leave for classes and come back to this. Oh well.

Poly, and yeah, Greg wasn't the one ogling GG. We're going to have to apologize to Meg. Profusely. Admit we made a mistake, should've said "If you're sure", apologize for doubting her, and so on.

Poly
And tell her that if she likes nutty warrior movies, try Metal Gear Solid. Not Ground Zeroes, that's heavy as fuck. Get the HD collection with 2, 3, and Peace Walker. Play 3 first.

Another wacky game might be Sunset Overdrive if she has an Xbox One.

If she wants a serious game, This War is Mine. It represents an example of how human on human war effected civilians. Very deep emotional stuff. It'll flare emotions.

If she has a Wii U, go get Super Metroid or the Metroid Prime Trilogy and download it from the eshop. That's neither wacky or too serious. It's just you, Samus, and good gameplay. Also, maybe we can Smash Bros later.

There's also the Mass Effect series if she wants a sci-fi story heavy game. It's pretty balanced, but heavy on RPG mechanics for the first game, and excellant characterization and third person gameplay throughout the rest.

Grow Home's a pretty good, simple cheap game. No story or combat but it feels good.

IF she wants a good first person shooter, the newest Wolfenstein. Another war game though, so may be off putting. Bulletstorm is a dumb, lovable, fun shooter though.

Sandbox game with good story? Red Dead Redemption.

Highest recommendation still belongs to Super Metroid.

>>629972
You did the right thing. You didn't blow it. Meg said no once.

>>629989
All of this (she was unsure when she's supposed to be all on board, u feel, but idk)
Oh man tell Poly to play mass effect[s]!

>>629987
> Maybe we're not putting ourselves in her shoes properly?
Whatshoes?
And yeah, it wasn't Greg. Oops. I think GG's pretty set on us now. That was some heavy personal stuff she shared with us.
>>629988
>We're going to have to apologize to Meg. Profusely.
Damn straight.
>>629989
>Metroid
>Mass Effect
Y'know, it'd be really interesting to get the actual aliens reactions to the fictional ones. I bet Poly would love either.
>You did the right thing. You didn't blow it. Meg said no once.
Doesn't stop me from feeling like shit. She was probably in tears when she took off. Fuck.

I want to say FTL but I wonder if that hits too close to home in some ways?

Honestly though I have no idea what kind of games Poly would like. Terraria? Hearthstone? Tetris?

>>629989
Eh. Doing things you're unsure of isn't always a bad thing and I don't think sex would have been as huge a deal for her as it would be for a Western human, but... even if he did the right thing he did it clumsily.

>>629999
Yes. Thank you. We are well aware of our failings.
You wanna twist that knife any harder? I think we could writhe a little more.

I think if we said yes she would have gotten up to getting naked but being completely unprepared for the situation, freaking out, and running off.

Poly. Never flake on a date.

We should probably apologize to Meg and let her know that its not because you aren't interested. We hurt her confidence, and she probably wants to feel desirable. Maybe some sexting or something to help talk her through it, not a manual.
Actually next time we should ask to see the manual. That sounds awesome.

Time to go play games with Poly, but don't we have some reports to write to the boss man?

Tell Poly to play Earthbound.

>Z doll I feel like I should play an earth video game. Whats a good video game?
There are some cultural baseline games like Mario 1 or 3, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Tetris, if that is what she is going for. She is big on absorbing the great works, after all. I think these sweet modern games might be better for later.

>>630014
>We should probably apologize to Meg and let her know that its not because you aren't interested. We hurt her confidence, and she probably wants to feel desirable.
Precisely!
>Maybe some sexting or something to help talk her through it, not a manual.
That...does not sound like a great idea, though.

Enemy 2015/03/20(Fri)03:26 No. 630081 ID: e30e12
File 142684718410.png - (11.22KB , 960x560 , 190.png )

You call Polyphema.

"Zack, darling," she says. "What's the story, morning glory?"
"We have a date this weekend, right?"
"We do. I for one am breathless with anticipation."
"Do you have any hints for me as to what it is?"
"You know me, lover boy," she says. "No hints. Just alternating complete obfuscation and straight to business."
"Speaking of which, do you want to tell me your name yet?"
"I want to a great deal. Which is why I can't. What's wrong, Zack?"
"Nothing."
"You sound like you have the world weighing down on you, doll."
"I'm a little down. How can you tell?"
"I haff my vays." She does a pithy little German accent. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't know."
"Then sit on it. Think about something happy."
"Like what?"
"Like puppies," Polyphema says. "Or Tiny Tim lyrics or something. Or better idea: think about this weekend. That's all I've been doing."
"Are you excited?"
"Aren't you?" she says.

"You and I have are going to have a little reunion, Zachary. Make sure you get plenty of rest. You're going to need it."

ENEMY QUEST CH 2 END Enemy 2015/03/20(Fri)03:28 No. 630082 ID: e30e12
File 142684732496.png - (76.21KB , 960x540 , 189.png )

KILLS 20% ITEMS 0% SECRET 66%