FRACTAL 2016/01/01(Fri)15:59 No. 691137 ID: 8679fe
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I'm outside the Sukebun's main house. It wasn't really like I could ask Chidori for a ride, so I guess wherever I'm going, I'm hoofing it. I don't even know where I want to go, though.

I check my phone, just out of habit, and I've got three messages. One's from Reiss. One's from a number I don't recognize. And one is from Ne.

Like I said. Today is looking bad.

Did you even leave Reiss with a phone?

Check all three messages. Reiss (can he even talk? Make sounds?), Ne, unrecognized.

check ne's first. might be the scariest, might as well get it over first. either that or check it last.

check ne, reiss, unrecognized.

did we leave sweat at chidori's house? can we meet up with it again? its weird but also seems to be good insurance that we dont run into trouble.

Does Sweat have a phone? Where did it even go?

If Sweat doesn't have a phone, probably try to figure out a way to get in contact with it. It's about the most helpful ally you have right now--especially if Ne's text is a threat.

Ne first, in case it's something dangerous. Unrecognized second, in case it's Rabies or something. Reiss third. He can wait. Especially considering how he's treated you in the past.

Check the unrecognized number.

Also, you should leave Sukebun territory or hire a local Sukebun mercenary, because they might get the wrong idea after you publically denounced their ear-seppuku.

FRACTAL 2016/01/01(Fri)16:45 No. 691149 ID: 8679fe
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I don't know where Sweat is. It disappeared at some point while Chidori and I were talking - that's normal, as far as 'normal' can go for a slimy penis angel. It would probably come if I called - and by 'called' i mean some kind of weird ... prayer-type thing.


I decide to check Ne's message first, since it has a good chance of being the worst one. It's a picture message, sent this morning at around 1 AM. I brace myself and open it.

It's ... I don't know. It must be photoshop or something.

FRACTAL 2016/01/01(Fri)16:45 No. 691150 ID: 8679fe
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Reiss can use an internet connections to send SMS messages, though he doesn't do it often.

REISS
8:50 AM 8/10/2015

:(????

REISS
9:10 AM 8/10/2015
:( ??? ??? ??? ? :((((( ? :'(, :( ? :( ?????

I guess I didn't actually tell him what my plans were besides staying at Sweat's place last night. All he knows at this point is that I never came home.

FRACTAL 2016/01/01(Fri)16:46 No. 691151 ID: 8679fe
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The next messages are from the unrecognized number. Whoever it was typed up a fucking novel.

UNKNOWN
2:52 AM 8/10/2015

hello!!!! ✨ ✨ ✨ you don't know me yet but i have heard SO much about you! i figured we'd gone long enough as strangers and i wanted to take this opportunity to PERSONALLY invite you to have dinner with me in my home!! oh oops i just realized i haven't even introduced myself yet! this is jolene~ 💖

UNKNOWN
2:52 AM 8/10/2015

and anyway!!! i want you over TONIGHT if you can make it!!! i know that you and pookiepie have had your differences, so if you'd feel better bringing some friends that's totally fine~ 💖 but i think we're really going to get along! i could always use more girlfriends to hang out with!

UNKNOWN
2:52 AM 8/10/2015

so get over here tonight okay!!! 💖 don't worry about bringing anything~ oh, and by the way - this is actually not an invitiation at all, it's a demand, and if you refuse me i'm going to have you fucking gutted like a fish. Every fucking dog in the city will be on you as soon as I say the fucking word and if you think it'll be a quick death you are sorely fucking mistaken. You're either ready to have dinner with me or you're ready to die.

UNKNOWN
3:00 AM 8/10/2015

oh i forgot to ask! let me know if you have any food allergies okay!


Okay. So. There's that.

what if ne.... time travled woooooooooaaaaaaah man oyou better watch out

rabies' new girl... shit why the fuck not. actually there are many reasons but just ignore them sounds great

ignore ne- he probably just wants to get a response out of you. if you are feeling up to it, text reiss something simple so he knows you are still alive.
then tell joylene you are alergic to dogs

Okay. So.

Ne: creepy fucker. Should have killed him when we had the chance. Fucking hindsight.

Reiss: who even cares?

Jolene: psychotic, retarded, or both? Anyway, we probably shouldn't.

Go to the dinner, but bring Sweat and anybody else you can get with. Obviously not the Sukebun, now, but... somebody else.

Also, if the overuse of emotes is anything to go by, it's possible that Jolene put out the hit on Chidori.

File for future reference: see if you can get somebody to make a new OS for Reiss that maintains this personality, because this is better than what he used to have.

That probably isn't photoshop. It's probably something that got Taken from you.

>>691151
bahaha she didn't leave an address.

you've still got your scar in the photo so it's recent, how many days ago did you get the scar again?
it's unlikely it was taken last night unless you went to sleep with sweat past 1am, or sweat betrayed you and took you out to ne in the middle of the night.

either way theres some missing memory shit going on here and i'm left wondering who took the photo considering whose already in the frame.

If she wants a party, you'll give her a party.

1. Find explosives.
2. Stealth your way into Rabies' base.
3. Grab all memory fragments you can find.
4. Make sure Jolene is dead.
5. Explosion.

Try to get the mooks out of the blast radius, they're victims where Rabies and Jolene are involved.

Ne: "You broke me. The debt WILL be paid, no matter how far you rip yourself apart."

Reiss: "Will you get a job? Nothing fancy, just move some stuff for food money. I won't stay with you, and I might not come back alive; if you want me to like you, you'd better earn it."

>>691157
Might have been right after the scar was inflicted.

Ask the mystery bitch where the party is and what it entails. Tell her you'll consider going but then don't.

Explain where you where to Reiss.

>>691151
This is obviously the person who put out the hit on Chidori.
Send the copy of texts over to her, saying I know we JUST split up after having a fight, but I figure she has the right to know that her hitter just asked you out for dinner.

>>691165
I like this. Bullshit aside, they're still friends.

>It's ... I don't know. It must be photoshop or something.
Or something else you forgot.

>>691150
Well, I guess that you could text him that you're okay, and got stuck at Sweat's place last night.

>>691151
Text back "you didn't leave an address, jerkbutt"

>>691151
It's also obviously Rabies' new girl, judging from her tone though, she wouldn't take any of his abuse. Odds are they just had a breakup and she wants blood.

I wonder if getting you involved was a part of Jolene's plan, I mean, Chidori knew Ne had been sent the hit somehow, which means someone tipped her off, which was probably Jolene, to put you in the positions you've been in... potentially to set off a war between the Sukebun and Rabie's gang as a sort of revenge. Maybe it wasn't a coincidence that that Dude was right there at the wrong place at the wrong time.

I can tell the woman's unstable from the texts, she would probably make a plan as complex and unlikely to succeed as that, and would be just as pleased if any part of it failed.

Does... ANY of that seem likely to you? Did you know about any of Rabie's own exes in the past?

@Jolene: I am allergic to carbon and iron. Who's "pookiepie" ?

>>691166
this
tell ne to "eat ass shitlord and tnx for the gun"
send reiss ":)"

this is the same person that sent ne those emails. this is dangerous. go. dont go alone. find fucking sweat

>>691151

Man, that's some speed typing. And, comparing e-mail styles, I guess we have a likely culprit/catspaw for the hit on Chidori. Unless that's not speed typing, but someone fucking up a pre-prepped copy paste job to throw a false flag. I might be paranoid.

Hmm. Could be Ne informed her he fucked up, prompting this rapid-fire response. Or, more likely, the real guy who wanted the package turned up, and Ne spun the story of how you fucked up the job, gave them the contact details (which they supplied to Jolene). Either way, someone's not a happy camper, and that someone is Rabies' new girl. And now Nana's killed one of Rabies' men, maybe the guy who came looking for the gun, or one who stayed to see what was going to happen next to Ne's place. That's gonna throw some oil on the fire, whatever's going on, I bet.

Thing is, what was the beef? Why would Jolene want Chidori dead so badly? At Rabies' behest, or personal reasons? Perhaps both. Seems like almost everything's personal around here, don't it?

It might be too late, but.. tell Jolene you couldn't make it last night, but that she shouldn't worry about dinner. You're not allergic to anything, least of all tasty threats. You might drop by to talk later. Assuming she is willing to give an address. (^-_-^)

Send a message to your boyfriend that you're making progress on your errands. Like 1% progress. It's going to be a long day. (^-_-^)

To Ne, just send '(^-_-^)'. If he wants to elaborate, fine, but otherwise, we're not on speaking terms.

Find some place to get breakfast. Pre-prep a message to send to Chidori. 'Could've been Jolene, Ne told me she was Rabies' new girlfriend.', and copy the messages you just got.

It might be wise not to send it yet, though. The threat of exposing Jolene to the Sukebun might be leverage you could hold over her. Also, according to Ne, you might need her to fix your BF once you find his parts (or replacement parts).

uh. if you go, definitely bring sweat, maybe also a weapon

FRACTAL 2016/01/02(Sat)08:24 No. 691232 ID: 8679fe
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I slam out a quick text to Reiss - "i'm still out, don't know when i'll be back" - more to keep him off my back than anything else.

It's been several months since the break-in, so if the photo Ne sent is real, it could have been taken any time in the past few months. I have no memory of waking up at any point with unexplained injuries - but then again, apparently having no memory of something means absolutely jack shit in my case.

If I'm gonna be honest with myself, I'm starting to get freaked out.

As far as Jolene goes ... it doesn't matter that she didn't give an address or anything. I know where she lives. I think back to the emails I showed Chidori, and I do have to admit that there's a serious resemblance, and it makes sense that someone who calls Rabies "pookiepie" would want Chidori dead. I make up my mind to forward the messages to Chidori once I find somehwere to sit down and regroup. I might be pissed off at her right now, but this is exactly the kind of thing she needs to know about.

Long story short, there's a lot going on here. The second I find myself thinking it would be a good idea if Sweat was around, it's here, leaning over my shoulder.

"The little throat sings," it says.

"Yeah. Hey, will you come somewhere with me tonight?" It tilts its head at me, chirping inquisitively, and I gesture for it to walk with me. "We gotta go to the junkyard. Rabies' place."

FRACTAL 2016/01/02(Sat)08:24 No. 691233 ID: 8679fe
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We've only made it a few steps, but Sweat immediately stops, and it's making that screeching metal noise in the belly of its throat, the same one it made the last time Rabies was brought up. I turn around and look at it, furrowing my brow.

"Failings, failings," it pants, "my failings - lined up to look me in the face, collecting dust but at attention, firing squad - how can I face?" It shoves its knuckles into its mouth, all of its eyes darting back and forth anxiously. "To go, to risk failing you again - to flee, still failure - how shall I? How can I?" It's breathing heavily now, every inhale coming with a ragged car-crash sound. I've never seen it like this before. "I cannot refuse you but I cannot go. Torn, rent - pulled in half - you tear me, Lowry, you tear me -"

Hug the dick angel.

>>691233
Put a hand on him.

Hey, hey. It's okay. What's wrong?

First: What are you talking about?

Second: It's not like it was a proposition, it was more like an ultimatum.

Third: Between a "total failure" and "probably failure", I would go with the second.

>>691233

Hold its hand.

Let's think a little. That sounds like a pretty traumatized reaction to me... one involving us and Rabies or the junkyard. The reference to failings may mean that Sweat took it personally that it didn't or couldn't help. Something about going to Rabies also seems to scare it, big time. She wants you, but she doesn't want to go, hence being torn.

Maybe someone, or something, there Took some things from it (or you), and it doesn't want that to happen again, and at the same time can't bring herself to take the same risk again.

So, rather than keep insisting on bringing it along, say you'll find another way. Nothing good can come from bringing a PTSD'd (or whatever) fallen angel into an already tense situation.

Instead, ask her what happened last time you went. Giving us some idea as to what to expect is probably the best way to resolve this tearing conflict of interests. Sweat can then feel like she's helped us without having to come along.

>>691236
>>691240
These.

Give it a hug, and maybe tell it that you're still alive and there's still a way to set things right.

>>691233
Yeah, hug him, but warn him that we have to ask him some ugly things.

Sweat, what did he DO to you? How did we break up in the first place, I know our relationship had to be before Rabies. I don't know why my old self wouldn't have gotten back together with you as soon as I got out from Rabies.

Unless it was to protect him or something, which would make sense, if Reiss was raping you the whole time until the procedure that took your memories, you wouldn't have cared about staying with him if Rabies eventually wanted to kill come and kill your "boyfriend", don't share that theory with Sweat though.

Tell him to be honest as possible please, try and say everything like I would when explaining it instead of with poetry, I deserve that.

Lowry, you could ask some of the Sukebun for protection instead. You're still at their HQ, and their protection never was rescinded, right? You don't even need to ask Chidori about it. Besides, they need to set up a meeting with the Junkyard peeps anyway over the murder (AND the Hit against Chidori) and they can't send either Nanako or Chidori because of the murder and hit.

tell it u have no other choice, jolene will sick the dogs on you if you refuse. give it a hug :3

Punch sweat in the face. Reassure it that you're not going to accept a three-way with Junkie Psycho and Ms. Junkie Psycho, you plan on fighting them. You're just not sure HOW yet, hence the party.

Sweat, did you get banished from the junkyard or something? It's okay, you can wait right outside and I'll go get you if there's trouble. Unless I get tied down and am in the process of being gutted like a fish. We should probably come up with another plan for that.

oh no, give sweat a hug! tell it you can't remember its past failing so no harm no foul, but you don't really have a choice about the rabies thing and if it won't be your backup you'll have to find someone else - but you don't have many options

ask it what its deal is, why it's reacting this way?

you have NO ONE else to go with. if sweat won't go with you, then that's its decision and you shouldn't press it, but like...if it won't go then you're on your own. are you cool with that? if not then youre gonna have to try and convince it to come

FRACTAL 2016/01/03(Sun)00:51 No. 691438 ID: 8679fe
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"Hey, hey, whoa, it's okay." I cautiously reach out to touch it, and when it leans into the contact I let my hand slide down its arm and catch its big clawed fingers. "What's going on? Why are you acting like this?"

It doesn't answer at first, and I try to get it to look at me. After a beat of hesitation, it does. Its eyes have multiplied and they're unstable and twitchy, sliding around its face like raindrops on a car window. "What happened?" I press, but I'm trying to be as gentle as I can. It sucks in a breath, and I ask again, my voice hardening just barely. "What did he do to you?"

"Failure, failure - wrought upon me - showed me my weaknesses, showed me the foolishness of what I worked so bloodily to attain," it babbles, and I squeeze its hand to silently interrupt.

"Can you try to explain it to me plainly?"

Sweat hesitates, then draws its forehead close to mine. "I can show you, little throat. The memory is no longer yours? Carried away?"

"Yeah," I reply quietly. "I don't remember."

It rests its forehead against mine. The skin is hot and damp, and it smells like heavy perfume.

FRACTAL 2016/01/03(Sun)00:51 No. 691439 ID: 8679fe
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it is sssss ss s s august, its august, the 23rd of august and i feel virginal i feel like i was born on the 23rd, died and born to do this for Her

i have watched Her weep like lot's wife until i feeel She will be crusted over with salt i have watched and watched i have rent my organs from my body, away from Her, to distract from the pain. but She asks and asks and begs and begs leave him alone leave hima lone he will get better

She is standing like the salt pillar and i cannot watch anymore and so i have come

FRACTAL 2016/01/03(Sun)00:51 No. 691440 ID: 8679fe
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he is my enemy. he is like god, he reminds me of it, reminds me of god reminds me of the arrogance and the violence, the way his mind has eaten and distorted and twisted away until all he sees are insects crawling

he will be an insect crawling now i think it i think of him crushed and i smile

i say to him i say in a voice i have saved, a voice i never use, i say to him in the voice my siblings heard last, i say <with your actions you have asked me for death and i in my infinite mercy cannot refuse you>

he smiles smiles smiles, he is like me, smiling for murder, i hate him as i can only hate god and i hate him as i can only hate myself

he says something and i do not listen because who will listen to an insect crawling

She weeps. i am sorry i am sorry i am sorry. my guts, stuffed with the dead and still digesting, cry out at the sound. i am sorry. i do not mean to defy Her i suffer to defy Her i suffer i suffer but what can i do, what can i do, i cannot watch anymore and so i have come

FRACTAL 2016/01/03(Sun)00:54 No. 691447 ID: 8679fe
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i come for him in light and sound, i come for him in a way i have not for years years years years years it is the 23rd of august and i hear them ripping away under my hands again, the thousands, and i bless their names i pray i gloss my eyes i pray i thank them, my sweet family my siblings my loves who gave their lives for my strong hands and my long teeth i thank them i am sorry

i am sorry for your begging i am sorry for your death wails. i know you begged my mercy and you begged me my love i am sorry. look now, siblings. look how strong you've made me. i tear at him. no immortal could rend flesh this way. bodies that die are so strong so strong so strong so strong and so many died to make me this killable body. thank you i am so sorry thank you

he does not beg and i am glad i do not want him to be like them

FRACTAL 2016/01/03(Sun)00:55 No. 691449 ID: 8679fe
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ah but

then

i am rent

She screams as if it were her own arm tearing not mine and i scream and scream because i cannot hear Her in pain i cannot i cannot i cannot stop stop stop stop stop. She is screaming She is weeping

ah

i see

my body is built in violence built from violence but his body is built for violence not like mine, not for love

he is more accustomed. i have killed so many so many so many i have killed the thousands but their bodies were immortal and so weak and everyone he has killed, all the pain he has wrought, so real so vital with real blood real bones, screams that vibrate eardrums. better than a thousand angel deaths. he is better he is better he is so practiced, so good at harming

i have never broken a bone before

FRACTAL 2016/01/03(Sun)00:55 No. 691450 ID: 8679fe
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i crack and fold like kindling and Her pain sets me alight and i burn as i should have from the first blow i landed on the eldest of the thousands

i th ink i am dying

he thinks so too She thinks so too

i feel he cannot break me anymore i feel i will flatten and sink away into the pavement i watch my blood i watch my blood. nothing reflects in it

he places his boot on my head i hear Her call for god and i want to beg Her do not call it do not call god. do not call god do not call god. anything but this

she calls god and he crushes my skull and i die

FRACTAL 2016/01/03(Sun)00:56 No. 691451 ID: 8679fe
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The memory is over. I don't know what to say to it.

... Okay...

Let's... take a step back from the spiritual here.

Replay everything with a logical approach.

1. August 23. This would likely be last year.
2. You hate your boss, you love Lowry. The first one might explain how the second is possible.
3. You decided to fight... Reiss? Was that Reiss or was that someone else?
4. You're skilled at fighting.
5. He's more skilled at real-life fighting.
6. Okay, did you LITERALLY die? Or did he just smash your brain?

So Rabies is a mean motherfucker. Big whoop. He's as mortal as the next motherfucker. There's got to be some way to lay him low.

So Sweat was post-Rabies, and this explains his own obsession with you since it literally fell FOR you after getting fucked up by Rabies, and why it hates Reiss. Reiss took you from it, somehow. When you started dating Sweat, it had won against Rabies in a different way.

Maybe that's why you left Sweat, when you realized that? Perhaps over time you felt you were just the best way it could get back at Rabies? I guess it would feel like a dishonest relationship after a while, and you could have gotten really tired about it's obsession with you too. It's stalker behavior... which means Sweat's just as dangerous as Rabies, in the end.

Don't rely on Sweat, get Sukebun protection when you go. You need to cut him off. It seems ungrateful judging from it's recent kindness, but with more of the picture, I can't trust him.

>>691463
I don't think a lot of these assumptions are necessarily confirmed by this flashback. The relationship with Sweat still could have happened either before or after the fight with
Rabies, and we still haven't really gotten any real clues about why that relationship ended.
So a few questions: if Sweat definitely died that night, why is it standing in front of us perfectly unharmed? How long ago was the fight we just saw? Who were we dating at the time? (From context it seems like Rabies, but we might as well double check) Can Sweat make us some kind of rough timeline so we know what order things happened in?
I think we need a lot more information before we decide what to do with this, and it's all information that should be pretty easy to obtain.

>>691463
Additionally (sorry for double post, I forgot to add this in my previous suggestion), it's mentioned in the memory involving Sweat that was viewed in the first thread that Sweat has been waiting for Lowey for centuries before she was even born. I don't think it's romantic feelings for Lowry were specifically born out of the confrontation with Rabies.

well... um. comfort sweat, hug it or something.

if it has died, how is it alive now? why were it and rabies fighting in the first place? is it likely that rabies will try to kill it again?
honestly this situation sucks. you need to go meet rabies&jolene, but you cant go alone, and there arent many people (beings?) you can ask to go with you...

COMFORT SWEAT OH NO....
ask them how they survived maybe
thank them, maybe, because you dont remember and shit...

Let's also look at this from the spiritual angle. Sweat was one of a host of immortal angels, one who came to despise god and turned away from its kind in exchange for a shot at mortal existence. Thousands of its angel kind 'died' (if immortal, did they really die?) at its hand to craft it this mortal flesh body with the body itself being crafted for loving a mortal, and that mortal seems to be you. The properties of the body also seems to make it vulnerable to those experienced in dealing violence and abuse, like Rabies, so uh, we shouldn't bring it anywhere close. Though, if it has known centuries of mortal existence, I'm kind of surprised it hasn't run into a psycho two-bit thug before now. Maybe there's something we're not seeing.

We also know Sweat isn't dead dead, so it probably lost something in 'dying' instead. Or it just thought it died, and didn't. Or someone fixed it. I wonder if part of its body or self-image was part of that cost. It seems like it pictured itself to have two pairs of primary wings. Now only its lower wings remain, and as far as Angel wings go 'the more, the stronger', if I remember correctly. Maybe by its self-confidence taking a beating along with its body, it demoted herself, or the loss was part of the cost of reviving?

It does seem like this was a major turning point in its opinion of its rebellion against god, going from 'worth it, despite the hurts I inflicted to my kind' to 'oh shit, I can't even accomplish something I sacrificed so much for, it wasn't worth it'. Guess that's why it's so choked up about its dusty rows of failures. It did bad things to be able to do good things, and then it couldn't and that only made things worse and hurt it to boot.

Welp, say it's okay, you won't need it to deal with Rabies... perhaps ask it what made one little throat so precious it'd pick a fight with both god AND Rabies over, because, uh, trying to come to our rescue, failure or not... is appreciated.

Also, fuck god. Who needs that guy, right?

>>691500

Sweat's in shambles just for THINKING about it, I don't think it'd get any better when you actually get there. Sweat would just be a vulnerability, tell it to stay.

Tell the poor guy he doesn't need to come with. Try and rope someone else in to coming with you.

>had to murder a thousand fellow angels to get a corporeal, mortal form
Well. Uh, that's kind of fucked.

>traumatized by failing you, getting killed, it being for nothing
Well, we can comfort him for that, at least.

He doesn't have to come if he can't face that. You won't ask anyone else to break themselves over you any more.

ok so comfort sweat

like right now

>>691500
naaah sweat can shapeshift.

remember the hands in the last thread?

interesting developments for sweat tho.
obsessive stalker behaviours but probs a pretty great bf

anyway yeah tell him he doesnt need to go to rabies' place, but ask if he has any advice for killing him anyway

Yeah you should probably find somebody else to go with because Sweat seems pretty upset about this.

Comfort it, tell it that things will be okay even if it can't help you in this particular situation, and think of somebody--anybody--else you could go with.

comfort sweat, itneeds it.
do you know how much time/how many memories you lost? it seems like this happened a year ago, and sometimes during that it's also possible that lost time ne took that picture and its real.
youre gonna have to be really nice to jolene so we can get info
and we need to figure out a rough timeline. do you know for sure the year and your age? and when you dated reiss and rabies? we need to try to piece together when all these events happened

that is a lot of info and you don't need to address all of it right now. or figure out how to process and think about all of it, even. sometimes "well, that happened and it sure was shit" is all you've got

i agree that it's probably a bad idea to bring sweat with you. if you had more options, it would clearly be better to let it sit this one out.

but the list of potential allies you gave us yesterday is pretty much at its end, and you can't do this alone.

sweat isn't the only one who has a terrible history with rabies. you need someone with you who's on your side.

you need to talk about this first, though, and try to get yourselves more or less on the same page. if you can talk sweat around to a point where it hopefully won't be terrified and wrenched with self-loathing the whole time it's with you, you're doing pretty good. (relatively, on this shit scale of Definitely Not Good)

(((this is contradictory to what i just said, but-- do you think bringing sweat along is likely to escalate the situation into violence? assuming there's a chance to make it through the night without blood in the first place. i still think walking in alone is a terrible idea, and in addition to being terrible, presents the wrong image to your enemies, but depending on your answer to the first question, it might be better to ask sweat to be ready to come when called. if it comes to that; i feel like having an ally appear in the midst of a group of hostile gang members is asking for them to jump you.

from where i'm sitting, taking sweat with you, if it is willing, is still the better option, but you know the risks better than i do.)))

although-- the list you initially gave us was of people who might be able to help with reiss. is there anyone else you know who might be willing to come with you?

FRACTAL 2016/01/03(Sun)19:52 No. 691597 ID: 8679fe
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"It looks like I'm missing ... a lot," I say finally. Sweat nods. I hesitate a little - just because I don't want to make him keep talking if it's really making him feel this bad - but then I ask, "Is there any way you can help me figure out when all of this happened?"

Its face twists a little but after a beat it speaks again. "August of 2012, you and I, lovers. August of 2013, you and Rabies, lovers. August of 2014, Reiss is coming. August of 2015, now ...."

I'm trying my hardest not to be frustrated with it. I don't want to push it too far, but the longer I go the more I realize I'm missing, and the longer I sit with that knowledge the more freaked out I can feel myself getting. "What about other months? When did you and I break up, and why? I know Rabies and I started dating in June of 2013, I at least remember that much ... and I got out the next May ..." I press the heel of my hand in one of my eye sockets, trying to massage away an approaching headache. "God ... I barely remember 2012 at all. And now that I think of it I don't really remember when Reiss and I started dating, it just feels like it happened, then his theft was six months ago and mine was five and -"

When I look up again, Sweat looks ... bad. I don't know. Not like it's doing anything freaky with its eyes or anything like that, but it just looks different in a bad way, like it's not feeling the way it's supposed to, and I trail off. "Hey ... are you okay?"

FRACTAL 2016/01/03(Sun)19:52 No. 691598 ID: 8679fe
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It's picking at its hands and it doesn't say anything. I reach out and touch its arm again. "You wanna go home?"

"I am needed," it protests shakily, "I cannot -"

"Hey, hey, come on," I interrupt. "It's okay. I can start looking at other people to help me. If we go in there and you break down, that's not gonna help, right?"

It shrugs half-heartedly, still fussing and fidgeting. I sigh. "At least get some rest, okay? If you feel better later we can talk more."

"You will call if I am needed?" it asks. Its voice is high and uncertain.

"Yeah."

"Swear to me?"

"I swear. Even if you decide not to come. If things get really bad, and I need you, I'll call for you."

"I thank you, again and again. Thank you, thank you." The smile it gives me is tired and lopsided. "I will rest, then, regenerate, purge myself of fear and return to you."

"Hey, before you go." I tug on its arm a little, and it obediently steps towards me. "I wanna say that ... I don't get what was going on back there, and I don't know how I felt then, but... I want you to know that the me that's here now appreciates that you tried to help me. This me doesn't care that you lost or failed or however you think of it." I reach up, and it cautiously lets me give it a hug. "So try not to worry about it, okay?"

I feel tears on my shoulder and then my arms are around air.

FRACTAL 2016/01/03(Sun)19:52 No. 691599 ID: 8679fe
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I don't have time to stress about it. I still need to eat and forward Jolene's texts to Chidori, plus I need to start figuring out who I can ask to come with me, since Sweat can't. There's a shitty diner down the block and I make my way there, grabbing a booth and pulling my phone out.

To Chidori, I forward the texts, saying only "something you should see." Once that's done I start looking through my contacts.

While these weren't people I thought would be helpful finding Reiss' parts, they're still people who I guess I could call ... well, not friends, but friendly.

FRACTAL 2016/01/03(Sun)19:53 No. 691600 ID: 8679fe
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There's Belial, another angel. Like Sweat, he's obtained a physical body. The two aren't really friends, but we've met a few times and he seems to think I'm okay. He could probably answer a lot of the questions about Sweat's apparent death, but he doesn't know me well enough to be of any help figuring out a timeline.

I could ask the Sukebun to lend me an entourage for the party, and they would definitely say yes. The only ones besides Chidori and Nanako I know by name are Sada and Junko. They would also at least be able to fill me in on a lot of the stuff having to do with Rabies.

The Mortician is a person who works closely with the Sukebun, and they've worked with Ne in the past too. I don't think they'd agree to come with me to Jolene's party, and they don't know me very well, but they're still a pretty useful person to have around, and I can't really afford to leave anyone civil off the list.

To add to the list of fucked-up spiritual beings, I also know a demon named Cain. He ended up living around here because he was fired from his job in literal hell or something. He'll do pretty much anything for a raw chicken and some iTunes gift cards, but he won't cooperate with angels, so if I'm trying to get someone to come with me, he and Belial couldn't be in the same group.

Finally, there's my brother, Bronsted. He doesn't live here, so he wouldn't be an option to come to Jolene's tonight, but again, as long as we're listing people who find me tolerable, I might as well put him on the table.

That's ... about it. It makes me feel a little weird that when I try to think of people who would be willing to help me, this is all I can come up with. I feel like most people have more friends than this, but maybe that's just an illusion. Maybe everyone feels that way.

If demons are stronger than angels in this world, let's try and get Cain to come - but it's worth giving Sukebun a call first so we know exactly what we're walking into

i'd say wait before we contact the sukebun. lets talk to cain. he seems to be someone who could actually come with you tonight

Let's call the Sukebun to try and get at least an overview of what to expect, then ask Cain to come to the party with us.

Sada's a higher-up. Definitely try to contact Sada, and maybe shake the Sukebun tree and see if anybody else comes by. Junko would be a bonus. Try contacting The Mortician just to see what they're willing to do. More is, well, more.

Other than that, Belial will probably be your best bet, seeing as having Cain around would interfere with calling Sweat up if you need it. Unless he's fine with Sweat, in which case Cain's the marginally better option if you have the resources to pony up.

Maybe try to make friends with somebody while you're at the party. Obviously someone in your own entourage, but try to buddy up closer with some of these people. Having Chidori and Sweat as your only two trustable people is... suboptimal.

>>691600
Call your Brother, ask him to fill in several relevant breaks of memory for you and anything else worthy to share, like the last few times you've contacted him.

Sukebun for protection.

Belial can wait until later, we should have a meeting with him, but I don't want him tangled up in the Junkyard thing. I don't think you're close enough for him to want to protect you, and it may send Sweat into even further depression by asking another Angel.

Cain seems pointless, other than for a better than mortal bodyguard. Odds are he may betray you in exchange for a greater profit, if Jolene makes the offer.

Oh, hey, you know what, send that Ne image to Chidori too. If she gets her hands on him, she can interrogate him further, otherwise, she'll kill him probably immediately.

What is your relationship to the sukebun, exactly? What would the cost of calling on them for help be?

I'd say call on cain; he seems like he'd probably be the most help for the lowest risk, as far as bringing someone with you goes. Definitely get whatever relevant information you can from the sukebun members you know; your lack of info is one of the things putting you at such a bad disadvantage against jolene, & unlike some other stuff, you can actually do something about it.

Calling your brother is probably also a good idea: he can help you establish a timeline, and maybe give you a rough idea of some of the memories you're missing. I don't know jolene, but it's likely she's going to use your missing time against you, and anything you know about that could potentially be helpful. It could end up shifting the balance of your interactions, depending on how things go down tonight.

Also, I don't know what terms you're on with your brother, but if they're ok... It might be good to hear from him, and he'd probably want to know something about the mess you're in. I'm making a lot of assumptions here, but, regardless, when things are this serious, it's usually a good idea to have someone separate from the situation know about it.

If I were in your position I'd want to have more than one person with me, but i'd judge whether bringing any sukebun members with me to this meeting was a good idea or not after I learned more about the situation, and the state of current hostilities.

If you have time, give the mortician a quick call and see if they have any help they can offer or any relevant information about the situation. Info is important here, and, again, it's important that some people that Aren't with you tonight are aware of the situation.

You made a good call sending sweat home. Hopefully soon you'll have a chance to sit with it and talk and have a moment of peace for the both of you.

Good luck with your recruiting.

>>691600
I guess if the only way to get an angel body is mass murder, it makes sense angels with bodies would not do well around each other. They'd disagree over how the other did what they did, or why, and see any of their own shame and self disgust projected.

Do you remember why the Sukebun would be so hot to help you? What did you do to get in their good lists?

I'd also note, after Nanoko killed one of Rabie's dudes before, tensions with him and 'buns might be high. If you bring them for escort, we probably risk starting a gang war.

What does the mortician do that makes them useful? I assume they do more than pretty up dead bodies, cause that's not what you need right now.

Checking in with your actual family might not be a good idea, considering you probably have no real idea how you left things with your brother, or how much of your missing story he knows.

I suggest you call everyone except the angels for now, but have them take on different roles.

Hire a few Sukebun soldiers. Even if they intend to screw you over, they'll GLADLY slaughter Rabies' gang first.

Call the Mortician to deal with the aftermath, offer her a percentage of the spoils. She's a cleaner, right?

Cain might not be anywhere near reliable in a team, but if you keep him fighting from a distance he should be able to do some damage. Have him on sniping duty, hire one of the commanding Sukebun to handle him closely in case you summon an angel and he gets bored with shooting morons. They can provide mission control and control each other. Recommend both armor-piercers and non-lethal flare rounds.

You may as well call your brother in case things @#$% up beyond whatever reason is left. He might like your new personality.

Bringing Sukebun for protection would probably be okay, but make sure you at least try to tell them not to start shit with the dogs, you'll be smack in the middle of their territory and Rabies alone seems like he's more than capable of ripping basically anyone to shreds.

At the very least call your brother and let him know who, exactly, threatened to gut you like a fish, so if that ends up actually happening, he'll have the option of wreaking a terrible vengeance without too much tedious detective work.

ask belial & the sukebun for help

your brother and belial are people you should talk to soon, but not necessarily now. your bro can help fill gaps in your memory, and belial can help you with sweat.
you should try to arrange a meeting with the mortician, too, and see if they know anything about your memories.
i say call cain and have raw chicken or something else he likes handy and arrange a meeting. the sukebun can be our failsafe.

Get a hold of Cain. If they're a demon they should be strong enough to help you out if things get dicey.

The mortician, first. No reason. I want to meet them.
Do you know Cain or Belial better?

I would be cautious asking the Sukebun for the favor of accompaniment, but definitely call them & everyone you can to get your memories filled in

FRACTAL 2016/01/12(Tue)18:51 No. 693378 ID: 8679fe
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I call the Sukebun directory number first. It's a 24/7 line they give to everyone under their protection, and I still technically fall under that category, even if I haven't made any use of it for the past few months.

When the girl in charge of the line picks up, I give her my case number and answer my security questions. It doesn't take long after that for me to be redirected, and the next person I talk to is Junko.

"Heyo, Lowry! What's up?"

"Hey, Junko." Out of the corner of my eye I see the server approach my table, and I hold my hand up to ask for another minute or so. "Is it too late for me to cash in on some protection?"

She laughs. "If you're in the city, we've got your back. There's no expiration date on that. What's the sitch?"

"It's, uh. Junkyard stuff."

FRACTAL 2016/01/12(Tue)18:51 No. 693379 ID: 8679fe
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The line goes quiet. I'm about to say her name, just to make sure she's still there, when she speaks again.

"Why would you go back there?"

"He's still got one of my t-shirts and I want it back," I reply sarcastically - but when she doesn't respond, I relent and explain. "I don't really have a choice. I'm being threatened. Jolene - that's Rabies' girlfriend - wants me over tonight, and she said I could bring people if that made me feel better, but if I don't show up she's sending dogs."

"Lowry ..." I hear her sigh, but it doesn't take her long to take another deep breath and get her normal chipper voice back on. "Well, alright. It's our job, after all. I'll send you a team of four. Five, if Sada decides to come along ... and with the shit that's been going down with Junkyard kids lately, she might want to."

"Okay. Thanks. We can meet outside my apartment at around 6."

FRACTAL 2016/01/12(Tue)18:52 No. 693380 ID: 8679fe
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With that done, I immediately open my contacts again and linger over my brother's entry. We haven't talked in a really long time, besides short little canned texts on holidays.

I call him. He doesn't pick up.

FRACTAL 2016/01/12(Tue)18:52 No. 693381 ID: 8679fe
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I guess Cain would be a good bet to call on, but for him to pay me the time of day, I need a whole raw chicken and at least $20 worth of giftcards, and I only have a little over $12. That's where The Mortitian would come in handy - they might be able to trade me for odds and ends. I'm about to call them when the server approaches the table again.

"Oh, sorry," I say, without looking up. "I think I'm ready to order now."

"BLLLAGRGGHHUGHGAUGRHRGHBBBBLLLLBLBLBLBLBUUGH," says Tunamouth.

get chicken and waffles. this is ihop right you should have enough

Man, nothing like the weight of the world to make you ignore a waterfall of crazy in your everyday life, huh?

Didn't know Tunamouth worked at this specific diner. Chow down on anything rumored to counteract poison or toxins.

Ask Tunamouth if he can help. Might be stupid to ask him, but more allies usually means less casualties.

>>693380
Text your brother. Better than voice mail. Explain the situation, and that if you've talked between now and the memory removal, you don't know, then send him the shocking picture of you and Ne as proof.

You'll need the picture to make dialogue, it will force his hand. Don't let pride prevent you from doing this. You need to talk to your brother and that concern trip is the best bet.

>>693381
Ask Tunamouth what's up, please use the paperthing as a means of communication.
Also, bacon and eggs.

tunamouth is so good.

call the mortician once you've ordered, order something that is cheap and doesnt taste like shit

Order tuna

>>693380
>not answering the phone
>handwritten letter left conspicuously in the middle of the table
...oh fuck we didn't catch him right before a suicide attempt, did we?

>>693381
You okay, Tuna?

ask for a glass of water

actually maybe not

ask tunamouth to come to the junkyard too.

all the dogs will be too busy eating the fish coming out of his mouth and debating the physics of his existence to be a threat

also, let's get pancakes.

Order fingerling lake trout

How about some pancakes?

>>693381
I think Tunamouth is getting better. Not as much fish getting out of him.

FRACTAL 2016/01/13(Wed)17:47 No. 693606 ID: 8679fe
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"Uh." I pull a menu from the caddy under the window and my eyes dart between the specials - fish and chips, a tuna melt, chicken and waffles, your standard breakfast fare - before finally settling. "Uh, I'm gonna do the pancake combo. With bacon, and eggs over easy. Plus a coffee, and a glass of water," I add.

"BLUUGHGHHGUHGH?" asks Tunamouth.

I stare at him blankly before he seems to realize, and he scrawls out his question on the pad instead.

CREAM AND SUGAR?

"I'll just add them myself if you bring them to the table." Right before he leaves, I speak up again. The thought is stupid, but ... at this point, I could use any help I can get, and it doesn't hurt to ask. "Hey, Tuna ... I know it's been a while since we talked, but ... are you doing anything tonight?"

"BLARHRHJRARRGARGHGARGAHGRHAGRRGHBLUBLBUBLBUB!" he exclaims, and then, with a little gesture of frustration, he scribbles out another message on the pad.

I HAVE A BOYFRIEND, YOU KNOW! >:(

FRACTAL 2016/01/13(Wed)17:47 No. 693607 ID: 8679fe
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Tunamouth stomps away to the kitchen. I'm left back here with my phone the weird emptiness in my stomach I always get whenever I know I should be feeling something. Embarrassment, I guess. Or maybe sadness. When we worked together, Tunamouth and I were kind of friends. Like everyone else, though, I just ... stopped talking to him.

Either way, that's not the issue right now.

I text my brother - neither of us ever liked leaving voicemails, and I know he wouldn't check it even if I bothered. Texts, though, can get through to him. It was hard to decide what to write, but eventually I scraped something out.

TO: BRONSTED LEWIS
10:32 AM 8/10/2015

hey, its lowry. sorry things have been weird and we havent talked. things have actually gotten like. sort of bad on my end


TO: BRONSTED LEWIS
10:33 AM 8/10/2015

uh basically like. i told you how we had that break-in and stuff and i guess this is kind of late but now im trying to get it back and it turns out i have a lot of missing memories and stuff. so if we could talk sometime and you could help me figure out exactly what im missing it would help a lot

TO: BRONSTED LEWIS
10:34 AM 8/10/2015
so call or text me when you can okay. thanks

Tunamouth drops off my water and coffee. I stare down at my phone for a minute.

TO: BRONSTED LEWIS
10:36 AM 8/10/2015
i hope you're doing okay

FRACTAL 2016/01/13(Wed)17:48 No. 693608 ID: 8679fe
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With that out of the way, I call The Mortician next. They pick up before the first ring can even finish, as always.

"Yes, hello, this is The Mortician, here for all your odds and ends and posthumous needs, please note that our return policy has changed and I no longer accept returns of bodily remains after the three day grace period-"

"Yeah, yeah, hey! It's Lowry."

"Oh." I hear something crash in the background, but the person on the other end of the line doesn't react. "Hi, honey. What's up?"

"I was gonna swing by and see if I can make some trades."

"Well, sure, honey, we just restocked. You needing anything in particular?"

"Gotta make a deal with a demon."

"Ohhhh okay. Which demon?" Something else crashes, and I wait until they've covered the receiver and finished yelling before speaking again.

"Cain, I'm thinking."

"Hmm. Well, I don't Have any specific items that he likes right now - at least as far as I can remember - but I do Have some trinkets that might come in handy. And, of course, there's always our Blood 4 Buckz promotion, which, I remind you, is always open. So, technically, if you're willing to bleed a little, you can get whatever he wants."

I narrow my eyes. "Explain how."

"Money can be exchanged for goods and services."

sorry for repost; missed a chunk of text first time

>Blood 4 Buckz promotion
I kind of think you're going to need to be as close to your A game as possible, tonight. Paying in blood really doesn't seem affordable. (No need to rub the Mortician's nose in that, though).

You're going to dinner. You can spare a pint. Not to mention you'll want to get your blood checked.

>>693608
How much could I get if you leave enough blood in me to do important shit I need to not be drowsy for? Like, how much would you take out of you if you wanted to continue the work you do, but could use a few bucks on the side if you weren't running the business yourself?

yeah no lets not give our blood away

>>693731
Lets Not bleed yo.

A little blood sacrifice isn't gonna hurt too much, and you need the protection imo...

Let's not give away more of ourselves. Especially not without knowing what exactly it does, since Mortician seems used to Taking and Having.

>>"Explain how."
>>"Money can be exchanged for goods and services."
HA

How much for a chicken and gift cards?

FRACTAL 2016/01/14(Thu)13:17 No. 693881 ID: 8679fe
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I massage the bridge of my nose. "Refresh me on the blood-to-buck ratio, here?"

"A dollar per tablespoon if you're selling, or $32 for the whole pint - if you're buying blood, however, that turns into $2 per tablespoon, or a discounted rate of $60 to buy an entire pint."

"Uh. Right. You know what, I think I'll ... put that on hold. Til I can get there and see what else you have."

"Of course, honey." Another crash, and this time The Mortician doesn't bother covering the receiver. "Oh, you worthless piece of garbage, just leave it! I'll do inventory myself if you're going to be this hopeless! For fuck's sake."

"You, uh. You sound busy, so I'll let you go," I mutter.

"Okay, Lowry. See you soon."

FRACTAL 2016/01/14(Thu)13:17 No. 693882 ID: 8679fe
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We hang up, and I've gotta say Tunamouth has great timing, because he brings me my food just a second later. I thank him and he goes "BLARAGAHGARGAHGAGRHGRHGAH."

It's okay. You know. It's diner food. Whatever. I finish pretty quickly and get ready to pack up. The tab comes out to about $8, and for old times' sake, I give Tunamouth a pretty good tip. I now have about $2.

At this point, I could go straight to The Mortician's, unless there's anywhere else I should stop or anything I should do first.

the lack of a heart cutout on The Mortician's turtleneck in former panels is an artist error; it's not relevant in any way.

let's go to the mortician's, i guess.

head on over, doesnt seem like theres anywhere else we need to be yet.

wonder if you could steal a chicken somewhere.

>>693882
To dollars isn't gonna get you much unless you're willing to bleed yourself. If you're not willing to bleed, it's not worth seeing the Mortician.

Unless there's anywhere else you can scrounge up some cash?

might as well go to the morticians-- you wont be as dizzy from the blood loss since you just ate. a pint of blood doesn't sound too bad, and is enough to get cain to join you. unless you think you might not need him, with all the sukebun planning to come with you?

FRACTAL 2016/01/14(Thu)17:07 No. 693942 ID: 8679fe
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Since I quit my job, I've mostly been staying afloat by either selling blood to The Mortician or just trading for useful stuff with them. So far they haven't done anything weird with it. As far as I know.

It's a bit of a hike to their place, and by the time I get there, the sun has stretched its way across the sky. It's around 11.

FRACTAL 2016/01/14(Thu)17:08 No. 693943 ID: 8679fe
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The door's open, as always, and I duck under a string of junk clipped up in the doorway to enter the dark, cramped shop. The Mortician's on the phone.

"No, I can't do bulk - no, I do them one at a time, sweetheart, that's how I've always done it, they're too valuable to not check every single one - well, then, find someone else to trade you, yeah? Oh? What's that? There is nobody else? Well yeah, that's why you're here, huh?"

They notice me come in and put their hand over the receiver with a quick "hold on" to whoever they're talking to. "Oh, Lowry, honey, I'm sorry, but I'm on a call right now, you don't mind dealing with my thrall, do you?"

FRACTAL 2016/01/14(Thu)17:08 No. 693944 ID: 8679fe
File 145282009567.png - (78.84KB , 700x600 , 108.png )

"Uh. Sure?"

"WHISPER!" they scream. "GET OUT HERE!"

"AaaaAA aaaaa AAA aaA."

FRACTAL 2016/01/14(Thu)17:08 No. 693945 ID: 8679fe
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"HhehhHEHEHELLO," says the thrall. "I, I, I, I, iiiIIiiiIi- I'm WHISper..." It bumps into the counter and lets out a loud yelp, then immediately curls into itself. "SORRY sorryr SORry sorry ... I'm WHisper ... Uh, aaaAAA, uh, welcome to our, um, sorry, sorry, WELcome to our, shooOOOp? H-How, uh, aaaa, how can, I? Help yoU?"

The thrall's hands scrabble with a kind of nervous eagerness over the counter, as if to clumsily point out the items beneath the glass. "IIiiIi, um, I can, sh- I can ShhOOOooow you, some of thtth, AAAAA, the, thINgs, we fOUnd this week! I'm Whisper. Um. If, aaa, if, if, if, only if, uh, if you waaaAAnt...."

>>693945
Thrall, huh? How's that working out for you?

Why do I have the urge to tease the shit out of it?

Sure. We'd better wait for your boss before you give us the tour. Can you describe what you got?

whisper is really cute and it sounds like a nice being, but i have a feeling it's not gonna be much help.
maybe you can indulge it while you wait for the mortician to finish their call, ask it to show you some stuff (nothing fragile!)

Nothing else to do but let him show you what they've got. Smile patiently to get him off edge a little.

Be kind to the thrall!! Ask them what they have to offer, and be patient with your questions. Figure out money-wise and energy level wise if you can afford to do the deal.

Hello, thrall friend! Show me your wares!

>>693983
yeah

kiss whisper!!

>>694137
MAKE OUT

>>694137
>>694160
>sexual assault
Disgusting.

can we adopt whisper...... the mortician isnt nice to it

>>694160
why do i get the horrid feeling it'll just fall apart if we hug it

anyway check out whats for sale

>>694180
And do what with it? We're obviously in no position, economic or otherwise, to run a charity for abused whatevers.

what're thralls? also i love whisper.
explain that youre here to get blood drawn but if they cant uh. yeah youd be happy to see what's in. we dont really have $ but yknow maybe we'll see something cain would want or maybe one of our memories?

>>694161
err, when i said kiss i thought more like a boop on the nose. ask before you kiss?? sorry

A thought- as mentioned before, Jolene is pretty likely to be the one who asked Ne to kill the sukebun. I don't know whether that means its good or bad to bring the sukebun but you will almost certainly be putting their lives in danger by doing so. I don't think you should bring them.

FRACTAL 2016/01/18(Mon)18:32 No. 695241 ID: 8679fe
File 145317075235.png - (116.90KB , 700x600 , 110.png )

>what're thralls?
>can we adopt whisper...... the mortician isnt nice to it

While I have to agree that I don't feel great about the way The Mortician treats Whisper, there's not really anything to be done about it. Thralls are beings - either living or created - who are bound to serve a magician until three tasks are performed. Until those three tasks, which the magician sets, are carried out, the thrall has to do whatever else the magician asks. A lot of magicians set either all the tasks or just the third as things that are pretty much impossible so that the thrall is trapped in their service forever, and it's still technically legal. It's fucked up.

If I remember correctly, The Mortician's thrall is a homunculus ... even if he got free, there's really nowhere for him to go. He doesn't have any family or home to go back to.

Anyway, like I said, there's nothing I can do. As long as Whisper is wearing that mask, he's bound to The Mortician, and he's their property. "Adopting" him would be theft. Besides, I'm pretty sure The Mortician could like, remotely detonate his guts or something if he went missing.

FRACTAL 2016/01/18(Mon)18:32 No. 695242 ID: 8679fe
File 145317076736.png - (164.04KB , 700x600 , 111.png )

With all that being said, I wanna be nice to the thing, so I do my best. "Uh... I'm really here to check out the Blood 4 Buckz thing, but I don't know if you can-"

"AAAaaaAAaaaAAAaaa no, nooo, I can't - I'm WhhhIsper," he explains apologetically. "Only Master ccaaAn take the blood, no... I'm sorry, I'm sssorry, I'm SoOOrry-"

"No, no, no, it's fine," I cut in quickly. I do my best to shove my mouth around into a smile to put him at ease. "I'd love to see what else you've got. Thanks, buddy."

FRACTAL 2016/01/18(Mon)18:33 No. 695243 ID: 8679fe
File 145317078353.png - (104.52KB , 700x600 , 112.png )

"BbbBuuuUDDy," Whisper burbles. "Buddy!! B ... buddy, I'm WHISPER, your BUddy ..."

He clears his throat (I think?) and gets back on task. "MMmmm, aaaaAA, as, as, as, as you know, aaa, we haAve, aa, three - th- three TIERS of, of, items! For trade o-or sale ..."

FRACTAL 2016/01/18(Mon)18:33 No. 695244 ID: 8679fe
File 145317079729.png - (184.98KB , 700x600 , 113.png )

"T-Tier one can be tradED FOR, aaa, for, for odds and EndS, yes! Um, uuuUUm, AAa, we have, aaa .... a fEW things."

I look into the case he points out. From what I can see, they have:

- a switchblade comb
- a sticker sheet
- a deck of cards, the seal unbroken
- a dog skull (Whisper assures me it's very fresh)
- a child's stuffed toy

FRACTAL 2016/01/18(Mon)18:33 No. 695246 ID: 8679fe
File 145317081084.png - (152.44KB , 700x600 , 114.png )

"Aaaand th - and thEn!! Next is t- is tiER two! Um, i-items here can be tr-tradED for but, only with i-items tthhthat, hhhhh - that hhhh - thAt hhAVE d-d-d-distinct, ah, distinct, aaaaa, monETary value..."

In this case, there's:

- a flash drive
- a keyring
- a brass talisman
- a burner phone
- a locket with a lock of hair inside

FRACTAL 2016/01/18(Mon)18:33 No. 695247 ID: 8679fe
File 145317082411.png - (225.67KB , 700x600 , 115.png )

"FiiiIIiiInally, finally here, h-here, weE have, aaaaa, there's, tier thrEE... th-these items, aaaa, c-cAn only be, aaaaa, items of i-immENSE monetary, ah, ah, value, or equal trAdES!! S-So ... a MmmMmMemory for a mEMory ... and s-.... and s, and s-, and so o-on ... aaand aaa, aaAAaa, th-there's no, aaa, previewing of, aa, memories, sorry, SSorry ... yoU can just?? ahaa?? think of it AS, as, as, as, as like ... a capsule machine... haaAAA...."

This case has:

- a clear plexiglass box full to the brim with memories
- adrenaline, both in a bottle and in ampoules
- a pill bottle full of large tablets. The bottle is labeled "methedrone"
- several bags of dark blood

>>695247
Whisper, these memories, can you tell me if any of them are mine? Several were stolen from me some time ago, so... well. I'm not sure what your policy is when it comes to memories of its owner? Like, if they were illegally stolen from them by a third party, then traded here? Would you also happen to keep documentation on them?

I'm much more interested in the paper trail of these memories if one or two of them are mine, if you would please.

HOLY POOP THERE ARE STICKERS... get the stickers. everyone likes stickers if a situation gets bad just offer everyone a sticker and everything goes well

yeah ask about the memories. you don't need a preview. if it's yours you want it back

See if any of the memories are yours. Ask about where the memories come from, maybe you can track down the source.

we can't exactly tell if memories are ours just by appearance - the physical ones we've seen resembled more who they were about than anything, so the entire "ours" thing would be difficult - in addition to the fact that they are apparently SUPER EXPENSIVE

um. so. let's get the switchblade comb, from what we know about the junkyard dogs maybe they would like that as sort of a peace offering. and the deck of cards too.

checking what we Have from back in chapter one, we could probably trade one or two cds for those. depending on the quality.

but on the second tier, i'm super interested in the locket with the hair in it. it might be a spell or something. do we have anything we could trade for that?

and may as well take a look at the memories, just to see. no previewing, just looking at the box from the outside.

>>"No, I can't do bulk - no, I do them one at a time, sweetheart, that's how I've always done it, they're too valuable to not check every single one - well, then, find someone else to trade you, yeah? Oh? What's that? There is nobody else? Well yeah, that's why you're here, huh?"

also, that was a few posts back, but this and the huge box of memories implies (at least to me) that all memories go through the mortician before they go into circulation, as in the mortician is the middleman. some questions might be in order once we get to talk to them, but try to be subtle about it

the memories are def intriguing. it's very possible one of yours is in their, also very not. i know im supposed suggest things but use your own judgement

personal fan of the skull... gotta be good for something

i would say to get the skull but honestly idk what you could do with it
can we trade useless memories? like "that time you took a big shit" or something like that in exchange for one of the memories in the box?

let's NOT get the dog skull first off, if we're going to be visiting a bunch of them, having a fresh skull might send the wrong message. we probably don't need adrenalin, blood, or bath salts either, and the locket looks like it's the mortician's hair inside? probably not too useful.

really i'm the most interested in the keyring, usb, talisman, and memories tbh....

can we get a quick inventory refresher? what do we still have on us to trade with?

for a memory, if we can't get a freebie, we could offer up the marble we have of Rabies? i think we've seen the same thing from Sweat's perspective now, so maybe we don't need our own copy as much?

holy shit get the sticker sheet, that is Vital. its got the dolphins and rainbows on it.

also the memories I guess.... the usb could be helpful too. I think there's a good chance the mortician knows what the memories are honestly, like cryptid said.

nanako just killed a dog and that skull is fresh so its probably from him. If u take it to the junkyard theyll probably rip u limb from limb
Someone brought up a good thing about the mortician viewing the memories so ask them about it when we can but lets see what our current inventory is worth and go from there. A weapon is always good just in case
Im most interested in tier two things but the blood and skull are probably from the killed dog and seem like a bad thing to be taking with us

>>695402
if the skull is from the junkyard dog, and it seems so, who's to say the burner phone or key-ring isn't too? i mean, all his stuff had to go /somewhere/, and the mortician said there is no one else.
get the burner phone because it might give us an insight on the junkyard's latest activities. get the key-ring too, because it's such a Clue Item we need it, and it might be relevant if we end up inside the junkyard.

that locket actually looks pretty intriguing, ask Whisper if he knows anything about it?
also i want those stickers omg.
and dont get the switchblade-comb thing we already have a pocketknife!

Get the burner phone. Information is valuable.

Buy the comb.

Name it Maria Conchita Teresa Rosalita.

Huh...you might want to check out that phone, see if there's anything on it. D'you think Whisper would let you take a closer look at the items before you buy anything? Also, check out those memories for sure. The stickers are tempting, but unlikely to come in handy.

Also...hm. Can't you get around the memory-for a-memory by choosing a specific memory and writing it down before you give it away? Or would that qualify as cheating...

Should totally grab some memories.

Jesus Lowry that's the most horrifying smile I've ever seen.

Can we buy Whisper? We could use more friends and The Mortician doesn't seem too attached to it anyway.

Right now, I Have:

- $2.65 USD
- two tampons (without applicators)
- one menstrual pad (wrapped)
- an assisted open pocketknife
- a half-eaten granola bar
- city map (obsolete)
- my cell phone
- my cell phone charger
- my hitachi magic wand
- two shirts
- a milk crate
- assorted cds (mostly alternative)
- a few extra pairs of underwear
- an electric water heater
- one cup of instant ramen
- a box of tissues
- a handgun
- slightly above average cognitive function
- slightly below average emotional capacity
- average physical capacity
- 22 years and some change worth of memories
- 22 years and some change worth of experiences/knowledge

FRACTAL 2016/01/27(Wed)15:22 No. 697622 ID: 8679fe
File 145393697970.png - (102.92KB , 700x600 , 116.png )

I'm considering the phone, the keyring, and ... kind of the stickers, for some reason. I'll have to make trade offers for them.

I also ask Whisper if he knows the sources of any of the memories, and he quickly shakes his head. "I'm sSSssorRY, i'm SORRY, I'm - aaaaa - i'M WHISper ... only, aaa, o-only M-Master knowS, YES, aaa, s-sorry ..."

Conveniently, The Mortician seems to be done with their phone call just at that point, and they come over to check on us. "Doing alright, honey? Starting to see how useless my construct is, hm?"

"No, uh." Admittedly, Whisper hasn't been much help, but I don't want to get him in trouble, so I steer the conversation away from his involvement as quickly as I can. "I just had some questions that I wanted to ask you. Specifically about these memories. I'm missing some, and I was hoping that if you had any you knew were mine, that I could get them back."

The Mortician sighs. "Lowry. You know I don't talk about sources."

"I'm not even asking that. I'm just asking if any of them are mine."

"Bargaining for specific chips is a messy game, Lowry. Do you have memories - or, even less likely, items - that will be worth me taking the time to look through them? Because, ahaha, I know you don't have enough blood."

If you've got anything you'd prefer to forget, now would be the time. I doubt the hitachi + gun would even equal one memory, but if it would, it's worth a shot.

dont give the mortician the gun, thats valuable as hell
bargain for the keyring+phone+sticker first
maybe some cds? maybe the ramen too.
like, youre sitting here giving something away to MAYBE get something else, lets not?

I don't suppose there's a favor I could do for something in exchange for some way of finding the lost memories, is there some magic ass technique or use of a paper trail that DOESN'T betray your business code that I could gain in exchange for the favor?

Something, anything. I'm looking for a solution, and your my best bet. If you were in my shoes, after potentially crucial lost memories, what would YOU do, Mortician?

don't trade off the gun; you need to hang on to your useful items

some of the things you have might be tradeable for the lesser-tier items, like the map and the cds.

will selling the mortician some of your blood affect your ability to handle tonight's events?

Oh wait,
...Could you trade her for a memory you have? If they have value, consenting to trade a memory of your own would probably be enough for her to trounce through her stock. We'll just write a description up of what we're giving her so we don't try and get that same one back, done deal.

We could also maybe use your boyfriends monitor head to look at the memories and keep them permanently as a separate memory as viewing them through your boyfriend's head. That can work, right? He just has to be loaded with a compatible OS and install the right programs to translate the visual information he's receiving into a video file.

We're done forgetting. No memory trades.

Handgun may be very useful soon, so maybe not a good idea to trade it, maybe also a bad idea to let someone know we're packing heat before our visit, but given how much Ne was whining about the difficulty of getting the weapon in, it proobably qualifies as 'immense monetary value'.

On the other hand, ever wonder if it was Jolene's intention that we'd get the weapon? She could've leaked the plot to the Sukebun if she knew that we'd get sent. At any rate, she might already know we have it, so it might be a good idea to lose the piece, if that's the case. Could be a crazy frame-up in the works.

>>697624
this was a terrible idea and i redact my previous stateme nt do NOT give the mortician the gun.

but the random junk is definitely worth at least the stickers so at least acquire the stickers.

what's the price of raw chickens... wherever it is you buy food? if it's under $14, you could get everything you need to recruit cain in exchange for 1 pint of blood

trade the assisted open knife for the switchblade comb! like for like

>>697659
"trade a weapon for an accessory" sHE DOESNT EVEN HAVE HAIR

buy the stickers. give them to sweat. it would like them

the hitachi and water boiler should be enough for the phone and keys,,, see if the mortitian will take the cds for the usb too?

>>697666
Thats overbidding.
City map, milk crate, some cds?

yes yes stickers are most important. exchange the ramen for the stickers

>>697630
Yeah, asking to do a favour is probably your best bet right now, maybe show the Mortician your inventory while you're at it.

>>697796
Better to keep them guessing about what you have. That's pretty standard bargaining--don't show your entire hand.

that handgun is pretty desireable, huh? id trade it.
in any case, do you think this stuff is from the dog nana killed earlier? and what memories are considered 'desireable', exactly? like, what makes a memory valueable?

FRACTAL 2016/02/05(Fri)11:31 No. 699237 ID: 8679fe
File 145470071906.png - (138.87KB , 700x600 , 117.png )

Before I start thinking about the memories, I decide to take care of smaller trades. I know I want that phone and keyring, because they likely belonged to the junkyard dog nanako killed this morning, and knowledge is power right now. Also .... for some reason .... I really want those stickers. Like, I really want those stickers. I can't put my finger on why.

I'm used to bidding with The Mortician, so it starts without preamble and goes fast. "I have a city map and some CDs. I want the phone and the keys."

"Is the map new?"

I furrow my brow. "Not exactly."

"I'll give you the keys for that. The phone needs more."

"Milk crate."

"I don't want it."

"Electric water heater."

"Deal."

"And, uh, the sticker sheet - I'll give you a cup ramen."

"Done."

The entire exchange takes less than a minute, and we pass the items over the counter. After looking the phone over to make sure it still turns on, I Take all three items. The Mortician hands my items to Whisper, who reshelves them in the cases.

FRACTAL 2016/02/05(Fri)11:32 No. 699239 ID: 8679fe
File 145470073921.png - (79.56KB , 700x600 , 118.png )

"You still thinking about those memories, honey?" The Mortician prods.

"Yeah." I scrub my hand absently over my nose and mouth, staring down at the clear box. I could definitely get one or two for the gun, but I really don't want to give that up, especially since I'm going to be walking straight into the Junkyard tonight. It occurs to me, faintly and briefly, that me having it might not even be a surprise to Jolene, but I can't really worry about that right now.

"I have a Hitachi vibrator," I offer lamely. The Mortician raises their eyebrows.

"Don't act dumber than you are, Lowry. It's not attractive."

I let out a dull little laugh. "Could've just said no."

"You could just swap out some memories you don't want anymore," they point out mildly.

"No." My voice is firm and hard. "I'm keeping all the memories I have right now. Giving them away is kind of the opposite of what I'm trying to do right now." I pause, then let out a weary sigh and speak again. "Can I trade labor? You have any favors I can do for you?"

"That's why I have a thrall, sweetheart. Free labor."

I want to point out that all they've done is complain that Whisper is useless, but I don't want to draw any more attention to him than necessary, so I decide to drop it - but I'm about to start thinking about Blood 4 Buckz when The Mortician speaks up again.

"But, there's something you can do that my thrall can't." They lean against the counter, rattling their skinny fingers against the glass. "Now, you know I trade in blood - but the issue is that most of the blood I have now is consentually offered. It has specific properties. I have a certain project I'm working on at the moment, and I need blood unwillingly shed. You collect me a vial, I'll not only give you a memory in return - I'll let you look through them and choose whichever one you like."

>>699239
Girl, you're trying to get some vitae, aren't you?

Does the person need to be alive for that? I see you nicely picked that Junkyard dog's corpse clean.
Discuss with me the proper process and the requirements of this noncensentual withdrawel of blood.

If I obtain consent AFTER the blood is drawn, does it change the properties? Can I vaguely require something of them, then draw the blood as a surprise and it counts?

Well, you're going to Jolene's anyway. If things get ugly, just scoop up some poor sap's blood and call it a day. If you can't get it, then you don't get the memories. No harm, no foul. Sounds like a deal.

Don't promise anything, since things might not go sour at the junkyard, but take a vial or two just in case.
See if you can subtly find out if Whisper can be freed! We need to help our buddy!!!

Let's go drain some poor saps on the streets!

how about we try to free whisper after tonight... the last thing we want right now is another person wanting us dead.

What's the demand curve on that offer? If we drag somebody back here alive, kicking and screaming, with enough blood still in them for, like, a hundred vials, how much would that be worth?

This don't seem right, but take as many vials as possible. Would be a shame to let all that blood go to waste.

Seriously, people kill each other for product and then leave all the bodies or dump them in the river. Whatever happened to experimental testing on corpses or ritual sacrifices?

Feels like the price of life gets dirtied every year...

Here's what we'll need:
-A beer.
-A roofy.
-A syringe.
-Some dumb schmuck.
The plan writes itself, really.

Oh man. Dealing in blood, huh? Sounds kinda iffy, but it makes sense. There are worse things a person could do. Do we need the blood from anyone specific, or? Also, I'm guessing animal blood isn't an option..?

FRACTAL 2016/02/06(Sat)12:00 No. 699502 ID: 03c8e7
File 145478881143.png - (134.48KB , 700x600 , 119.png )

>What's the demand curve on that offer? If we drag somebody back here alive, kicking and screaming, with enough blood still in them for, like, a hundred vials, how much would that be worth?

I'm not doing that.

>Here's what we'll need:
>-A beer.
>-A roofy.
>-A syringe.
>-Some dumb schmuck.
>The plan writes itself, really.

I'm not doing that either.


But ... there's already a chance that things might get nasty tonight, and I've got nothing to lose either way. "Sure. I can't promise anything, but I'll take some vials in case the opportunity comes up."

"Well, I hope it does, because this is important," The Mortician replies tartly. Still, though, they rummage through some boxes and press two capped glass vials into my hand. "Let me know if you go more than a day or so without getting any, alright? So I can ask someone else."

"Yeah. Will do." I Take the vials, then lean against the counter again. I still haven't gotten the stuff I need to contract Cain, but one pint of blood would definitely be enough to get it all. I don't think it would totally put me out of it - it's around 11:30 now, so I'd have several hours to recover. I'd probably feel a little light-headed and weak, but on the flip side, it's a matter of whether I think having another ally there would balance that out.

>>699502
I don't think Cain is worth all this mess. Just get a few more mercs and have them take the spoils (you're not planning on doing a major heist, here).

Do it. If there's bloodshed later on, one pint won't make much difference one way or the other

nah. above all, you need your clarity.

hhhhhh. can you trust cain to have your back once you've paid him? if yes, i guess you can do without a pint of blood

My vote goes to give blood for the money. Cain plus 4-5 Sukebun members should be fine even if you're a little dizzy.

>>699513
>>699747
These.

let's do the blood for bucks. our best option right now, and if we have some spare money after buying the shit cain needs we can get a smoothie or something to make up for that lost blood.

also tell the mortician they should provide some orange juice for blood donors. if you take care of them they'll come back (don't do that)

FRACTAL 2016/02/07(Sun)16:24 No. 699905 ID: 8679fe
File 145489105596.png - (200.03KB , 700x600 , 120.png )

"Hey." The Mortician looks up, eyebrows raised, and I continue. "I wanna sell some blood, too."

"Oh, good." Their face creases into a broad smile. "How much?"

"Just a pint."

"Fair enough." I swear I didn't blink, but suddenly they're over the counter and pressing close. I roll up my sleeve.

I want to say that by now I'm used to the process, but I don't think I'm ever gonna get used to watching The Mortician's head stretch and split the way it does. I look away as they engulf my forearm elbow-deep in the lowest of their mouths, and to my credit, I only wince a little bit when the sharp barbs at the root of their tongue pierce the soft underside of my wrist.

I guess I'm also never gonna get used to the noises - loud, obscene slurps and muffled gurgling, a little bit of what I think might be choked laughter, but I don't want to think about it too hard.

FRACTAL 2016/02/07(Sun)16:27 No. 699907 ID: 8679fe
File 145489124993.png - (83.50KB , 700x600 , 121.png )

It takes about six or seven minutes. By the end, yeah, I have to admit that I'm suppressing my gag reflex. When they finally let my arm go, slick and heavy, I'm feeling pretty woozy. The Mortician counts out my payment - $32 on the nose - and presses it into my dry hand. "It's always such a pleasure doing business with you, Lowry."

I mumble an acknowledgement before glancing back over at Whisper. He notices me looking and waves timidly. Maybe ... well. I don't know. I'm really not in a position to get myself into any more trouble right now, but maybe if I can think of a plan after all this Junkyard shit is sorted, I can come back for him ...

im thinkin u need a drink

Leave that for later. It is concerning, but you've got other things you need to focus on first.

Go get your chicken and gift cards and then pay Cain a visit.

that was... really gross, wow. ok. ditto on the whisper thing, though.

ok so a raw chicken is about 10 bucks and with that 20 dollar gift card we've got like, 4 or 5 bucks left over. which should probably be kept.

so let's eat that half a granola bar and head to a walmart or something

Ask the Mortician if they know the quality of your blood. If you have meth in your veins, you would rather know now than later.

You need some chocolate chip cookies and orange juice. That'll help. We can buy them along with the chicken.

wave goodbye to whisper, speedwalk The Fuck Out Of There with your loot

grab some snacks for yourself, a chicken for cain, and let's head on over to meet that demon.

maybe wave a lil. we should try, at least. no one deserves that.
ok, what's next? buy the giftcards and meat? and find a place we can check that phone

Give Whisper another scary smile. We should definitely try to free him, hopefully without bringing the Mortician's wrath down upon us. But we can think about that later. Next stop, wherever we have to go to buy that stuff for Cain.

wave goodbye to whisper!
also yeah >>699936

FRACTAL 2016/02/08(Mon)14:22 No. 700228 ID: 8679fe
File 145497016810.png - (277.94KB , 700x600 , 122.png )

I wave to Whisper and try for another smile. I know that right now I should be feeling something for him, and I hope that just knowing that is enough, even if the feeling itself is a no-show.

There's a mom and pop grocery down the road. I eat my granola bar on the walk over and then duck in to pick up the chicken, a $20 iTunes gift card, and a single-serve bottle of orange juice. Together, it all comes to about $30 - I got really lucky. I have around $4 total left.

FRACTAL 2016/02/08(Mon)14:23 No. 700230 ID: 8679fe
File 145497018302.png - (190.09KB , 700x600 , 123.png )

I finish the orange juice off on the walk to Cain's place. The city has changed since the last time I was there, so I get a little turned around, but when I finally find his apartment building and climb up on a dumpster to reach the door, it's easy to find his unit.

FRACTAL 2016/02/08(Mon)14:23 No. 700231 ID: 8679fe
File 145497019517.png - (140.17KB , 700x600 , 124.png )

The door is unlocked and open, the way it always is.

say hello, i guess. maybe we should text him saying we're there?

Spooky. How about we call and let him know we're here.

Yeah, uh, maybe text? Seems like just going in might be... not a great idea.

Throw the chicken and the gift card through the spooky blood portal.

Wiggle your tail a few times and gargle "Cain" over and over until he's annoyed by your humor to answer.

"Cain! Get your twisted, little, demonic butt out here! I bought ya lunch!"

hey buddy i got u some chicken

Jut shout to him that you've got his chicken. If we toss it in there without explanation he might deny that it's part of a deal.

Also... Before the events of tonight kick off, we should remember that Ne told us Jolene's the only one who can fix Reiss. I'm not feeling particularly fond of Jolene, Reiss, or Ne at the moment, but there may come a time where we have to decide whether or not to kill her/Rabies and risk never getting Reiss repaired before dumping him like Lowry wanted.

FRACTAL 2016/02/08(Mon)19:59 No. 700358 ID: 8679fe
File 145499037438.png - (192.30KB , 700x600 , 125.png )

I lean a little closer to the doorway and call out. "Hey Cain!"

No response. I wait a second longer, then try again. "Cain! Caaaaaaain!"

When I'm met with silence again, I shoot him a text letting him know that I'm here. I hear it ding on the other side of the shifting morass in the doorway - then, suddenly, the hallway's shaking. There's a noise that starts as a low rumble from the depths of Cain's apartment, but it quickly swells and unfurls into an earsplitting shriek. I'm not prepared for it, and I stumble back, covering my ears instinctively.

The liquid in the doorway tears like a sheet, and Cain appears. Ichor bleeds from his mouth like tar.

L̼͕̦͚̼͎̟Ó̲W̜̣͚͖̳͉̥R̴̳͔̟̥̹͖̺Y͈̜͈!̡̟̜̱ͅ

FRACTAL 2016/02/08(Mon)19:59 No. 700359 ID: 8679fe
File 145499039299.png - (256.58KB , 700x600 , 126.png )

"Uh." I drop my hands to my sides again and squint at him. "Cain? Hey. I, uh, brought you chicken and stuff. But you, uh, don't look super happy ab-"

YO̧U ̵M̢EWLIN̛G LITTLE͞ CUNT. ̛DO̷ ҉YOU ́H͜AV͟E͘ AN͏Y ÌDE̶A ̸WHAT ́YO̢U̸'V͢E ̶DONE͠?̵ D͏O͡ YOU HAV́E͢ TH҉Ę FA͞I͡NTEST͞ IN̷K͜L̨I̢NG͜? OR ͏IS YOUR MIS̀E̕RAB͘LE L̷I͢TT́ĹE̴ ͏G҉RA͞ṔE ̧OF͏ ͘Á ͜B͞RA̧IN TOO LIMI͠TE͠D̵ ̵T̢O̴ C̶OM̴P҉RE͡HEŃD ͟Y̢OU̡R ÓWN TRA̡NS͜G͞RES̶SÍOŅS̵?҉

I squint harder. "Uh."

FRACTAL 2016/02/08(Mon)20:00 No. 700360 ID: 8679fe
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Cain takes a long, shuddering breath, his shoulderblades rolling back as he slumps against the doorframe. After a moment of silence, he holds his phone out at arm's length. "I was getting a full combo in Otome Shiki Renai Juku and then your text notification showed up right in the middle." When he rolls his head around to look at me again, his eyes are full of murder. "You broke my combo, Lowry. You broke my fucking combo. So you had better have a really fucking good reason to be here, and a really fucking big chicken."

alright bro. we want protection. we got chicken. we got itunes cards for your loveca

Oh, was it EX, too? Buddy. Pal. Ohhhh boy.

Show him the chicken and gift cards, and also apologize.

If you can full combo Otome Shiki, offer to do it for him. If you can't, don't say anything about it.

man why the fuck do you have smile and cool cards on your pure team.

anyway, we got chicken, and we got you a giftcard so you can buy more loveca and get some better cards. you gotta come with us to the junkyard for dinner with jolene, though

maybe we can ask and she'll get you a chicken too

>>700368
This.
The reason we're bothering him, besides getting to bask in his glorious presence, is that Rabies is back with a new, psychotic girlfriend. She's demanding you join her for dinner on pain of horrific, agonizing death. So you could use a little backup/company during the event.

would indulging cain by showing faint interest in the game distract him? if not dont say anything, just apologize and hand over the goods. tell him what's up.

dunk this anime trash back into hell where he belongs
but first tell him you need protection and you have The Goods

Why didn't you just turn notifications off in the middle of games?

>>700403
as far as i know it's all or nothing. this is a fairly frequent problem with people that have notifs on, and having text notifs off means having to check your texts every time you suspect you may have gotten one

"Cain, we got a mission. Real money. Focus, man.

How would you like to butcher an entire gang while following a group of frontline Sukebun, then take some of their organs?

Rabies is going off the deep end, and his 8!+(# is sucking the brains out of him. We need to deal with this NOW, or they'll do something crazy and we'll all get screwed.

Also, I didn't call the angels for this gig. I will call for backup if we @#$% up though.

Also, you do realize that there's a better way to increase your point velocity than full combos, right? You need to double-tap the long notes, it breaks your combo but you get ^2 points."

>>700368
also this. also ask if he's trying for that nozomi event. if so that sucks.

>>700369
They're probably SRs or URs with really high attributes. My one UR is pure and ends up on all of my teams, so.
>>700459
Well, I mean, I don't think he'd be playing Otome Shiki for the loveca unless he's disinterested in Nozomi, but it's entirely possible that it came up in the score match. Even then, though, I don't think he'd just stop playing if his combo was broken if that were the case, so I'm going to say probably not--or this isn't taking place concurrently with reality.

>>700459
>>700489
i normally try not to go ooc on quest threads but this is hilarious and too fucking good to avoid talking about so: acid soup takes place in late august of 2015. cain exhausted all his love gems on the nico event in early august and is not trying for the maki event that went on in late august.

FRACTAL 2016/02/09(Tue)12:53 No. 700527 ID: 8679fe
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I don't know anything at all about this game. Still, I figure maybe he'll like it if I show some interest. "Oh, man, that sucks. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. O-Otomi ... shicky... renny juke must be. Really fuckin' hard."

He stares at me. I swallow and try again. "But, uh, a broken combo's not the end of the world, right? Can't you just, uh ... double-tap the long ones and ... get double the points or something?"

He blinks. "Are you fucking stupid?" I open my mouth to apologize again, but he sighs dramatically and turns into the doorway, waving his hand idly to dispel the swirling membrane and to gesture for me to follow. "Whatever. Come inside."

FRACTAL 2016/02/09(Tue)12:53 No. 700528 ID: 8679fe
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I hold the plastic bag out for him once we're inside. "So. Here's contract stuff. So you can use the giftcard to like ... buy better anime girls and stuff, right?"

He snatches the bag out of my hand, sticks his head in, and then flops onto the couch. "Okay. What do you need?" He rips the shrink-wrapping off the chicken and shoves his hand straight into the cavity, withdrawing the plastic baggie of entrails. "I'm not doing anything, so I'm up for whatever."

"I need you to come to a party with me." I watch as he rips the baggie open and drops a wet, shiny organ into his mouth like a grape. "Rabies' new girlfriend wants me to come to dinner. And if I don't go she'll kill me. So I'd feel a little better with you backing me up." I shrug. "Maybe you'll even get a second chicken out of it, too."

"I like those odds," Cain grins. He pats the seat next to him with his dry hand. "Let's talk contract terms. Outline what 'backing you up' means, and then i can do the ritual."

(yeah after i commented on his team i realized i had a team full of my perfect locks and otherwise better cards for full comboing when i played sif a lot... cain knows what he's doing)

"backing up" entails not splitting at the first sign of trouble. if things go south (ie jolene decides that she wants to kill us for whatever reason, the dogs and sukebun get into a fight, whatever), we want you to help us Not Die, and get violent if necessary. don't say anything that could get us in trouble. no running away. not saying you would, but like, you know. gotta minimize those loopholes.

that's all i can really think of. other suggesters probably have more

If shit goes down, I want you to kill whoever you have to. Preferably the girlfriend, to be honest. Maybe Rabies too, if he shows up. If you do kill the girlfriend, Rabies will probably need to be taken care of quickly, anyway.

The sukebun will be there to back me up, but they'll just get me out of there if it goes bad. They won't remove the threat permanently. With them, I have good defense, but I need some actual offense to actually really deter conflict. Just so you know, I don't actually want anything to go down, you're there to mostly be a deterrent.

Last time shit went down with Rabies and his gang, I brought an angel. He... couldn't finish the job because Rabies was better at killing and evil and all that shit apparently. So, with a demon, we have better odds and they'll be more afraid to actually do anything.

.....ok wtf why are there entrails inside that chicken. do grocery stores sell chickens with the guts nicely packaged and stuffed back inside the chicken?? why??

DOES HE EVEN EAT THE REST OF THE CHICKEN?? also fairy nozomi is coming up then. Hm

Kill the dogs if things go bad and make sure you're safe. Try to eliminate loopholes as much as you can.

Once the ritual is over, to make him feel better, ask him to show you his favorite one that he has.

>>700529
i need you to play muscle for me, and be intimidating, and actually follow through with violence if anyone attacks me

1. Do not initiate unnecessary conflict or aggression.
2. If any of the junkyard dogs initiate conflict or aggression, defend us ("us" meaning primarily Lowry, the Sukebun to a lesser extent if possible/necessary) to the absolute extent of your ability. This includes fatal force if necessary.
3. Do not do anything to harm us, and do not do anything that would allow the junkyard dogs to harm us.
4. Stay with us until either the event is over or we explicitly dismiss you, whichever comes first.

I think this covers all the loopholes I can think of.

>>700556
define unnecessary....

>>700584
"Unnecessary" means anything more than the minimum required to meet the other terms of the contract.

Might make sense to review our strategic priorities here. Lowry's personal survival, obviously, ranks pretty high. Lining up after that we've got things like:
*avoid losing any more memories/stuff
*reacquire previously lost memories/stuff
*move on with life/get new stuff
*maintain relationships with allies
*improve status of allies, thereby increasing their willingness and ability to help in the future
*neutralize or destroy enemies


Rather than a mess of legalese, it might work better to put the contract in the plainest language possible to eliminate confusion.

"Accompany me to the junkyard for dinner tonight, and back to my apartment after the meeting is over. While we're at the junkyard, be at least as polite as the Sukebun are being, and at least as nonviolent as the junkyard dogs. If anyone threatens me, explain to them the terms of this contract. If anyone attacks me, cooperate with the Sukebun in making the assailant regret having done so, but don't kill anybody, unless that's the only way to get me back to my apartment alive."

Just in case we do need a mess of legalese, here's what I got.

A person bears HARMFUL INTENT towards a party that is not themselves if they do any of the following:
1. Demonstrate or have demonstrated in the immediate past an active, actionable intention to bring immediate physical harm to that party.
2. Demonstrate an alliance with, support for, or aid someone in their HARMFUL INTENT.
3. Demonstrate or have demonstrated in the immediate past an active, actionable intent to Take items of high value (memories, weapons, etc) from that party against their will or while they are incapable of rendering competent consent.

OUR PARTY consists of you, me, and all present members of the Sukebun.

On my signal or if I become incapacitated so as to be incapable of communicating competently, you will incapacitate (or kill) all parties present (excluding me and yourself) who bear HARMFUL INTENT towards me or towards any other members of OUR PARTY, subject to the following stipulations:
1. You will not kill any of the following people unless doing so is the only way to prevent the immediate death of someone who precedes them on this list:
Chidori, Nanako, Sweat, Tunamouth, Whisper, The Mortician, Ne, and any other members of the Sukebun who have not demonstrated betrayal to their gang.a
2. If I am capable of competently rendering decisions in my interest and I signal you to stop, you will cease the task being described (incapacitation/killing) until I indicate that you should resume whenever the conditions retrigger.

Except for the situation[s] defined above, you won't bring physical harm to anyone there, and you'll stay within a range of me such that you will be able to hear and promptly respond to any signal that I give.

All terms in this contract expire at... sunrise of the next day sound good?

>>700734
Uh maybe sunset tomorrow.
We don't know when the party ends, and we might still be in rabies' place after it's over.

Also it's useful to have him round for protection even if the party's over.

FRACTAL 2016/02/15(Mon)20:08 No. 702251 ID: 8679fe
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Because demons are, well, demons, it's really tempting to lay everything out in a dense net of legal jargon just to be safe - but in the past i've found it's a lot easier to be casual, but firm and thorough. I sit down next to him, exhaling as i sink into the couch.

"I'm not going there to try to start shit," I begin. "I mostly want you there as ... well, a deterrent, first of all, and backup in case something does go wrong. So I want you to come to the Junkyard with me, stay the entire time, and walk me back to my apartment after it's over. While we're there, I don't want you to do or say anything that would cause any negative effect to me or the Sukebun who accompany me - that includes angering the Junkyard dogs. If anyone there tries to harm me or the Sukebun, I want you to do whatever you have to in order to keep me and the Sukebun safe. You can kill them, but only if that is absolutely the only way to keep me safe. I also want you to stay near me and to pay enough attention throughout the event that you would notice if anyone were to threaten or intend to harm me."

I mull it over for a moment, then shrug. I think that covers everything, without being redundant or overly complicated. "Does that sound good to you, Cain?"

"Mm." He finishes thoughtfully chewing a giblet, then swallows and speaks. "I want an addendum. If it gets to the point where there's absolutely nothing I can do to help you - as in, if I've failed and you're already dead or something, or for some reason the dogs pull something that it is absolutely impossible for me to succeed against - I can leave. I don't want to get stuck there by the 'stay with you the entire time' clause if I'm facing imminent death and there's nothing I could have done to help anyway."

well i guess if we're already dead... then you staying wouldn't make us more alive or anything.

wouldnt mind a dead dog at that point tho. just like, out of spite

A better definition of "impossible to succeed against" would be good. If he gives examples that hold up, seems fine. But he has to be absolutely certain that you're dead. If he isn't a hundred percent certain that you're dead, then it's his responsibility to drag your lifeless ass out of there with him when he leaves. That's just my two bits though.

Hm... can we rephrase that to "if staying means there's no doubt you would die, you can leave." If there's are situation where you would definitely die, you won't be any help to us anyway, so there's no point in forcing you to stay, and I feel like this phrasing is less vague.

would a simple "don't kill yourself for me" suffice? after all you don't want him to die anyway and it seems like a good catch all. might be better to go into specifics though in case our wording fucks us up later

his wording of "if you're already dead or something" sounds like he's got some kind of loop hole up his sleeve....feels like you want some reassurance that he actually will be helping and actively doing what you're asking.
Maybe in the event of your death or very serious injury, his task switches from accompanying you home, to returning you home. If you're in no shape to walk, he's still obligated to get you back to your apartment. Once you're in your apartment, regardless of your state, then he's free to leave.

If there's something impossible fo you to succeed against, you should go get help. But yeah, you're released if I die.

FRACTAL 2016/02/15(Mon)21:33 No. 702278 ID: 8679fe
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I pick at my nails as I consider his addition. "How about we just make it, like ... if staying means you would die, obviously you can leave. I don't want you killing yourself over this, and if I'm dead there's no point in you sticking around." I consider a moment longer, then add, "But if I'm not dead - and I mean you are not absolutely 100% sure I'm dead - and you have to leave to stay alive, you have to grab me and drag me out with you and get me home."

"Mmmm ... okay. I'm good with that." Cain plops the entire chicken onto his TV tray and turns towards me. "Wanna seal the contract?"

"None of this kiss shit," I warn him. "I talked to Belial about this kind of thing and he told me you don't actually have to kiss for demonic pacts."

"Party pooper," Cain pouts, "but fine. We'll do it the boring way." He spits into his hand, and I spit into mine, and when our palms meet in the middle the apartment seems to shake and bend.

L̡OW͢R̢Y L͠EWI̕S. T҉O͏DÁY Į ̴A͞M ṔL͘E̢D͘GED҉ ́INTO ͏Y͠O͜UŔ S͘ER̷V̨I̧C͠E.͝ ̸MA҉Y M͢Y U͘N͟H͟OĻY ͘W͟OR̢KS S̕ERV͏E͏ Y͞OU̵ WE̸L̨L. He grins at me, and I keep my face impassive even when he squeezes too hard, causing the bones of my fingers to creak and ache. AS I̛T H́AS͡ ̸B͡ÈE͢N SAI̶D, ͝S̛O͏ ͢IT ŞHAL͟L͞ B̛E͏ ̵D̨O͏NE.

FRACTAL 2016/02/15(Mon)21:34 No. 702279 ID: 8679fe
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"Um. Cool, thanks." When he lets go of my hand, the straining of the building shudders to a halt, and I wipe my palm off on my coat. "So, uh ... the Sukebun are gonna meet me at my place at around 6 tonight. You wanna do the same?"

"Sure." He's already pulled his phone out, brows knitting in concentration as he scratches away the silver coating on the back of his gift card to reveal the redemption code. "Pleasure doin' business with you, as always."

He's re-engrossed in his rhythm game, and it's about half past noon. I still have plenty of time before the rendezvous at my apartment. I know I'll have to go back there to shower and get dressed - I at least know better than to show up looking the way I do now - but until then, I have some time to kill. I could visit or call some of the other contacts I put together at the diner, check on Sweat or Chidori and Nanako, or do pretty much anything else I can think of that's worth doing.

Check on Sweat first, then Chidori + Nanako. Then maybe try calling your brother again? And maybe drop Belial a line to ask about Sweat's death after you've checked on it.

Then freshen up. It's party time. Terrible, terrible party time.

>>702278
Methinks you're never going to heaven. No biggie; Sweat and the others said current management sucks anyway.

Call up Nanako, ask for a weapons loadout. Tell Chidori to stay alive, you want to have another party when this is over.

Check on Sweat, then try to call your brother again, then go talk to Belial.

Also, sorry to double post, but I want to emphasize that I actually don't think we should bother Chidori and Nanako right now. Chidori might still be angry, and Nana should be resting. At most you can drop a line saying something like "Sorry about earlier, how is Nanako holding up?"

Lowry, what do you do for fun? Maybe go do that!
And/or check up on Whisper.

Sweat, Sukebuds, Belial.

check on sweat, then let's go talk to belial

lets see if belial can be any help to us, check on sweat, and then go home and rest for a bit if there's time before 6.

Maybe check in on Reiss?

Go home and shower. Also check on your bf, he probably misses you a lot.

FRACTAL 2016/02/16(Tue)09:26 No. 702354 ID: 8679fe
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I decide to head over to Sweat's place to check on it. Cain clears the membrane over his door with a disinterested wave of his hand so I can leave, and within a few minutes I've dropped onto the lid of the dumpster again, and I'm walking.

I pull my phone out, thinking maybe I'll try Bronsted again, and notice I have a few messages.

FRACTAL 2016/02/16(Tue)09:27 No. 702355 ID: 8679fe
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FROM: CHIDORI ITOU
11:01 AM 8/10/2015

Thanks. I heard from Junko that you're going.

FROM: CHIDORI ITOU
11:05 AM 8/10/2015

Be careful.



FROM: BRONSTED LEWIS
11:30 AM 8/10/2015

Hey. Sorry. Haven't really been feeling up to talking on the phone. I'm kind of busy today. Can you call me later this evening?



FROM: NE
11:59 AM 8/10/2015

[IMAGE ATTACHED]

Thank Chidori and ask how Nanako is doing, tell your brother that that's fine, and then take a deep breath and open up the Ne image. He's probably escalating things since you didn't reply to the last one, so it might be more graphic than the first.

You should text Bronsted back, even if it is just a short reply. Try and call him back this evening, when this is over. Take a look at the img from Ne

Thank Chidori. Maybe ask her if she wants updates if you have the time during the dinner? She might want to know how its going, or maybe not. That is why you are asking.
Tell your brother that's okay and open the Ne image. Even though we might regret it, it most likely has to be done.

>>702355
Is Ne just spamming that same image over and over again?

Fuck off Ne, you've made your point, unless that point isn't that I shouldn't have let you live, then you're doing it POORLY. Either give me information relevant enough to forgive you, or have another reason to always look over your shoulder. Don't fucking troll me, it's a waste of both our time. If you're really getting kicks off this, then you're appearing desperate for pleasure. Be a professional, it suits you better.

Maybe if you sent Ne some stickers the situation would be better

FRACTAL 2016/02/16(Tue)20:58 No. 702565 ID: eaa5d1
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I've never liked texting much, but it's at least better than phone calls - they feel rushed and overwhelming and annoying, but with texts there's room to breathe. Plus they're ten times easier to ignore. Today I'm being responsible, though, and I tap out replies as I walk.

TO: BRONSTED LEWIS
12:40 PM 8/10/2015

yeah, that's fine. i have something to do tonight so i might call pretty late. if i miss you i'll try again tomorrow.



TO: CHIDORI ITOU
12:43 PM 8/10/2015
thanks. i hope nana's doing ok. i can keep you updated while i'm at the junkyard if you want.