Mall first, ride back second.

Head to the mall now

>>983285
Sounds like we're all in agreement

>>983347
Sounds like we're mall in agreement*

Buckwheat 2020/12/15(Tue)12:50 No. 983689 ID: 15a025
File 160806541091.png - (7.06KB , 800x600 , 48.png )

>Mall first, ride back second.
>Head to the mall now
Candy: "Can you drop us off at the mall then?"

Marsh: "Okay. If you need the taxi's phone number there's a phone book in the booths."

Marsh makes a quick trip over to the mall and drops us off. There's a clothes store pretty close to the entrance that we go too.

Pepper: "Wow, they got all kinds of stuff in here!"

They've got all kinds of little stuff like make up and little accessory stuff up at the front. I skip past it and head for what I'm here for, a new sweater. Their clothing line up is pretty solid back here. There's sweaters, hats, purses, collars, all kinds of stuff. I'm wondering what I should get? Should I just grab a red sweater like I had last, or should I go with something new?

Girl, you are not getting out of here without a grey flat-cap and nice dark green sweater. Its a stylish combo. Maybe a scarf too? A black scarf would look good on you!

Don't forget to encourage your sister to pick out some things!

Buckwheat 2020/12/16(Wed)16:53 No. 983768 ID: 15a025
File 160816642545.png - (6.97KB , 800x600 , 49.png )

>Girl, you are not getting out of here without a grey flat-cap and nice dark green sweater. It's a stylish combo.
Candy: "How's this look?"

Pepper: "Kinda plain."

Candy: "That's kinda what I'm going for. I think it's a pretty stylish combo though."

>Maybe a scarf too? A black scarf would look good on you!
I'm going to pass on a scarf. I've never been a big fan of them.

>Don't forget to encourage your sister to pick out some things!
Candy: "You can something out too if you want."

Pepper: "Nah, I'm fine with just my nice, thick wool coat here."

Candy: "And here you're calling me plain."

Well, with my clothing problem here solved, where to next?

There an arcade in this mall?

Buckwheat 2020/12/19(Sat)20:49 No. 983995 ID: 15a025
File 160843974440.png - (5.83KB , 800x600 , 50.png )

>There an arcade in this mall?

I think we there's some close to where that cafe place is?

We wonder over and low and behold there are! What a rare sight these days. Two arcade games that aren't those stupid golfing or basketball cabinets. There's two games we could play, Dungeon Hunters or Fatal Bite: Mark of the Werewolves. One's a classic gun game where we go bounty hunting for dragons in a dungeon. The other I remember used to be a popular fighting game a few years ago. Both of them are quarter munchingly priced at fifty cents a player. So it'd be a dollar for both us to play.

>>983995
Dungeon Hunters, duh! Get you and your sister 5 bucks of continues and see where you can go!

Yeah, do a round or two of shooting

Hmm, was there any unfinished business with Roxie or the church?

Buckwheat 2020/12/20(Sun)19:30 No. 984061 ID: 15a025
File 160852144720.png - (5.84KB , 800x600 , 51.png )

>Hmm, was there any unfinished business with Roxie or the church?
I don't think there is? We killed off some important cultist last night and from the sounds of it, Relina helped kidnapped people escape from the cult.

>Dungeon Hunters, duh! Get you and your sister 5 bucks of continues and see where you can go!
>Yeah, do a round or two of shooting
I go over by the cafe real quick and get five dollars worth the quarters. That'll give us each five plays on the machine. Then Pepper and I coin up for our first round. A sound effect of a roaring dragon plays and the game begins.
A start screen pops up and we select what kind of difficulty we want.

Pepper: "Looks like easy goes slower and gives less points."

Candy: "Yeah, but harder is faster and has more enemies. Which probably means we'll burn through are money a lot faster too."

Pepper shoots the easy route.

Dungeon Hunter: "Round One: Howl-Peak! Awoo!"

Candy: "What, I thought we were hunting dragons?"

Pepper: "Well the dragon's gotta have minions to protect him and his treasure, duh."

Alrighty then. As we go through the dungeon, skeletons of wolves come after us. It takes a little bit, and a continue to get used to holding the controller.

Pepper: "Boo, you already died? We haven't even gotten to-"
A dragon roars, interrupting Pepper.
Pepper: "Quick! put in your quarters it's the dragon!"

Candy: "What's wrong, can't handle him yourself?"

I quickly pop in two more quarters and we start blasting the dragon to bits. We both end up dying once and have to continue again. Pepper finds out headshots end up actually doing more damage and we end up bagging our first dragon bounty.

Dragon Hunter: "Round Clear!"

The game dings as it adds up our bonus points and then we get to buy gun upgrades. I increase the ammo I can hold while Pepper spends it all on making her gun shots more powerful. Seems like a fair balance.

In the second round the game starts to ramp of difficulty with smaller lizard enemies. They're harder to aim at and manage to take another continue out of us. We get to the boss, this time they're a Velociraptor.

Pepper: "A Velociraptor? Are thought we were hunting dragons, not dinosaurs?"

Candy: "Does it matter? Quick shoot his fireballs so we don't get hit!"

Pepper: "Ah!"

Dungeon Hunter: "Player Two has died!"

Candy: "That's what you get for questioning the game I guess."

It's a tough fight and I end up dying myself. It's a tough fight because you spend more time shooting his attacks up than you do shooting him instead.

The next level is where we meet our final demise. It's in an icy cave with skeleton archers. You can only kill them with a headshot, but they've big dragon skulls for heads. They're quick and slick on the ice. The game does a countdown before saying,

Dungeon Hunter: "Game Over."

Well, that was a good half hour of fun.

Pepper: "Dang. We only got half way to the boss there too."

Candy: "I had a blast myself. If it was cheaper I could see playing it more."

Pepper: "I'm starting to get thirsty. Can we go to the coffee place now?"

>>984061
Absolutely, I could use a pick-me-up myself!

I don't understand how you can be tired after half an hour of pure, unadulterated dragon hunting, but sure lets go grab that coffee now

1/2 Buckwheat 2020/12/28(Mon)19:44 No. 984424 ID: 15a025
File 160921346002.png - (5.26KB , 800x600 , 52.png )

>Absolutely, I could use a pick-me-up myself!
Candy: "Sure, I could a warm drink myself."

Hope Marsh won't be too mad we went without her. We head over to the coffee place and Vienna greets us.

Vienna: "Oh hello. No Marsh?"

Candy: "Nope, she's stuck working at the bar."

Vienna: "So a table for two then?"

Candy: "Yes please."

2/2 Buckwheat 2020/12/28(Mon)19:44 No. 984425 ID: 15a025
File 160921348446.png - (5.13KB , 800x600 , 53.png )

Vienna takes us over to the usual table.
Vienna: "So what'll it be?"

Candy: "I'll just have some hot tea please."

Vienna: "What kind?"

Candy: "I'll have some black tea please."

Pepper: "I'll have a hot chocolate please!"

Vienna: "All out of hot chocolate."

Pepper: "Boo. Okay then, I'll have green tea then."

Vienna: "Okay, I'll be back with your order shortly."

Guess while we wait, this would be a good time to start catching up with my lil sis some more. What should we talk about?

Ask her if she has any friends around town, whats she do when she's not cooped up in that drafty old mansion?

Ask where she was on the night of the murder! Where are the bodies?

More seriously, ask what she thinks of Marsh and Sugar. Any problems going on? Concerns?

Buckwheat 2021/01/02(Sat)12:34 No. 984650 ID: 15a025
File 160961966666.png - (5.23KB , 800x600 , 54.png )

>Ask her if she has any friends around town, whats she do when she's not cooped up in that drafty old mansion?
Candy: "So, do you have any friends in town?"

Pepper: "Other than Marsh, Roxie, and Shrarcole? Nope. Neither here or over back home by mom and dad. All my friends moved away for college."

Candy: "Aw. What do you do then when you're not stuck in the mansion?"

Pepper: "I like to ride around with Roxie! Sometimes I get to go on deliveries with here too."

Candy: "You...you go on uh, special deliveries with her?"

Pepper: "Yup! She doesn't like taking me on those, but sometimes staying at the candy store with Sharcole isn't always an option."

I'm surprised that I'm surprised. I can't believe my sister makes Roxie take my little sister around for drug deals.

Pepper: "Sometimes Roxie takes me to watch her baseball games."

Candy: "Roxie plays baseball?"

Pepper: "No, she coaches the games sometimes though. It's funny how fired up the gangs in town can get over it. Roxie even mentioned they used baseball to fight for places to operate around or something even."

At least it's a baseball game and not a stabbing competition.

Vienna comes back with our drinks,
Vienna: "Here you two go. Fresh and hot."

I grab my tea and take a gentle sip, making sure it isn't too hot. It feels warm and refreshing.

Pepper: "Now this is the good stuff. Thanks Vienna!"

Vienna: "Glad to hear. Please let me know if I can get you anything else."

While I'm enjoying my tea, I start to get worrying thoughts. Pepper seems to be pretty exposed to gangs and drug dealing scene here, and after hearing that one cultist mention Pepper last night. I wonder if I dare ask if she knows about the cult at all?

Best ask and know for certain

>>984650
Yes, but lead into it carefully. Maybe something about how "even when I'm not doing anything dangerous I always seem to run into trouble here. The cult problem certainly isn't helping, they ever interfere with deliveries?"

Buckwheat 2021/01/03(Sun)18:29 No. 984792 ID: 15a025
File 160972738921.png - (5.12KB , 800x600 , 55.png )

>Best ask and know for certain
>Yes, but lead into it carefully.
After Vienna leaves I start to tread carefully to the question
Candy: "You know, even when I'm just doing normal stuff in town, I always end up finding trouble."

Pepper: "What kind of trouble? It's not the cops is it?"

Candy: "No not the cops. It's more or less the cult problem going on. You ever run into those nerds or anything?"

Pepper: "What do they look like?"

Candy: "They're always running around in those purple robes."

Pepper: "Oh yeah! One time I was with Roxie and some guys in purple robes really wanted our uh, candy. They didn't seem like too much trouble for Roxie though."

Candy: "How'd she fight them off?"

Pepper: "It was before a baseball game, so she smashed their faces in with a baseball bat."

Candy: "You said she didn't play though?"

Pepper: "A coach always comes prepared for the forgetful."

She picks up her tea after that and takes a sip.

Pepper: "Mmm... nice and warm."

>>984792
Hey Pepper, when I'm ready to head back to the city, you should consider coming with me, we can room together or something. Its not so bad, this place on the other hand is apparently one giant roving brawl. We can do better for ourselves.

Buckwheat 2021/01/05(Tue)20:39 No. 985061 ID: 15a025
File 160990797488.png - (5.12KB , 800x600 , 56.png )

>Hey Pepper, when I'm ready to head back to the city, you should consider coming with me, we can room together or something.
Candy: "You know, when I'm ready to head back home, you should think about coming with me."

Pepper: "Why?"

Candy: "Well, it's not by a town full of drug dealers and crazy cultists for starters."

Pepper: "Okay yeah, but if I wanted safety I'd just stay home and help with the family business selling winter wear. Yeah it's dangerous here in town but, it's where Marsh and Roxie are and I enjoy being with them."

Candy: "It might be fun now, but you need to think about your future. I'm pretty sure we just talked about you not growing up to be Sugar. You need to find a real job. Shoot, I'm kind of still looking for a job."

She replies in a mocking tone,
Pepper: "Aren't you working for Sugar though?"

Candy: "Yeah, and I didn't have any idea she meant selling 'special candy.' She told me she had a bar and a candy store she needed extra help with. I figured it'd be a nice easy job to earn a little extra cash while I looked around for something."

Ugh, and I wished that was the half of it. Now I'm invested in stopping another group of cultists and now convincing my sister to get out of here. I go to finish off my tea while I think. There's gotta be something I can say or do to convince her.

>>985061
Speaking of the cult, even the cops here don't want to deal with them, any clue whats up with that?

Either way, sis, put some thought into it, I'd love to have come back with me. Anything else you want to do here or do you wanna move on somewhere else.

1/2 Buckwheat 2021/01/06(Wed)18:56 No. 985128 ID: 15a025
File 160998820226.png - (5.21KB , 800x600 , 57.png )

>Speaking of the cult, even the cops here don't want to deal with them, any clue whats up with that?
Candy: "You know, speaking of the cult. Cops don't seem to wanna bother with them at all. Any idea what's up with that?"

Pepper: "No, I don't deal with the cops at all. Isn't the cult supposed to be like the church's problem or something anyway?"

I guess her staying away from the cops is a good thing for now. Guess I'll have to wait and see what Nibbles comes up with.

>Either way, sis, put some thought into it, I'd love to have come back with me. Anything else you want to do here or do you wanna move on somewhere else.
Candy: "Anyway, put some thought into it at least. I'd love to have you stay with me, even for a little bit. There anything else you wanted to do or should we get going?"

She takes another sip of tea before finishing it off.
Pepper: "I think we should head out now."

Candy: "Alrighty then."

We go back out to the lobby and I ask Vienna to call us a cab. I pay him for the tea plus a little tip.

2/2 Buckwheat 2021/01/06(Wed)18:57 No. 985129 ID: 15a025
File 160998824083.png - (5.64KB , 800x600 , 58.png )

When we get to the bar I see Freeze is here.

Freeze: "Candy, I've been waiting here for you."

Candy: "I uh, see that. What's up?"

Freeze: "We need to talk, privately. Are you free?"

You guess so

I'm kind of in the middle of a thing with my sister, is it urgent?

Don't leave her alone or with strangers. You can talk but only if there's a way to do that, you need to watch out for her.

1/4 Buckwheat 2021/01/13(Wed)20:20 No. 985643 ID: 15a025
File 161059800804.png - (5.65KB , 800x600 , 59.png )

>I'm kind of in the middle of a thing with my sister, is it urgent?
>Don't leave her alone or with strangers. You can talk but only if there's a way to do that, you need to watch out for her.
Candy: "Is it urgent? I'm supposed to be watching my little sister here."

Pepper: "Hey I'm not that little I'm-"

Freeze: "I guess it's not super important. Uh, here."
She hands me a small package.
Freeze: "Open that up when you're by yourself. You'll know what to do after."

Candy: "Uh, okay. Was that all?"

Freeze: "Kind of, I had some things to talk about. We can talk later though."

2/4 Buckwheat 2021/01/13(Wed)20:20 No. 985644 ID: 15a025
File 161059803570.png - (5.53KB , 800x600 , 60.png )

She gets up and leaves.

Marsh: "Well that was awkward. So, what'd you two do at the mall? I see someone bought new clothes."

Candy: "I did. Then we played an arcade game and hit up the coffee shop."

Marsh: "Augh, you went without me?"

Pepper: "Sorry we didn't bring anything back for you."

Marsh: "Nah don't worry. Faster we can leave town tonight the better."

3/4 Buckwheat 2021/01/13(Wed)20:20 No. 985645 ID: 15a025
File 161059805064.png - (6.45KB , 800x600 , 61.png )

The rest of the day I end up helping Marsh a bit with running the bar. It wasn't too busy, but I took care of bringing over drinks to tables while Marsh manned the taps.

4/4 Buckwheat 2021/01/13(Wed)20:21 No. 985646 ID: 15a025
File 161059806637.png - (4.16KB , 800x600 , 62.png )

After work, Marsh rushes us straight back to the mansion. I've got fifteen minutes to get ready. Not a lot to really pack, but I've got things to take care of. I really need to sit down shave this smelly wool off, it's bothering me. I also got that package from Freeze too though. It might not be super important, but this could also be my only alone time for awhile to mess with whatever it is. What should I do?

Open it.

You could've left your sister with Marsh, you know...

>>985646
Yup, crack that package open (but first shake it to make sure its not a mail-bomb)

Buckwheat 2021/01/16(Sat)19:43 No. 985828 ID: 15a025
File 161085499784.png - (4.14KB , 800x600 , 63.png )

>You could've left your sister with Marsh, you know...
I- yeah I guess I could have.

>Open it.
>Yup, crack that package open (but first shake it to make sure it's not a mail-bomb)
I shake the package and I hear something rattle in it, no explosion yet though. Once I'm sure it's not a bomb I open it up. Inside is a cell phone? I flip it open and browse through it. First thing I do is set it to vibrate. Then I see I've got Freeze and Nibbles as contacts. It also says I have two-hundred-forty minutes left, whatever that means. I've got enough time that I could probably squeeze in a call to one of them to see what was up. Should I? If so, should I call Freeze or Nibbles?

Call Freeze.

>>985829
this, but consider texting, if the phone can. It'd be more discrete.

Buckwheat 2021/01/17(Sun)21:37 No. 985898 ID: 15a025
File 161094822340.png - (4.29KB , 800x600 , 64.png )

>Call Freeze.
>this, but consider texting, if the phone can. It'd be more discrete.
Unfortunately texting isn't option, so I call up Freeze.

Freeze: "Hello?"
Candy: "Hey Freeze, it's Candy. I got a few moments to talk."

Freeze: "Ah. Are you alone?"

Candy: "Yeah, thanks for the phone."

Freeze: "No problem. We decided to play it safe and get phones that aren't in the police system."

Candy: "So what's the news?"

Freeze: "Nibbles and I are still digging through files still, but we did find something interesting. Churches have been donating a lot money to our anti-drug programs."

Candy: "Okay, that doesn't strike me as anything odd. Practicing what they preach after all."

Freeze: "It wouldn't be odd, except for how much money is being donated. We're talking almost half a million dollars, per station. For reference, other donation groups for our anti-drug program barely hit fifty-thousand."

Candy: "Okay yeah that is a lot of money, but what's wrong about that?"

Freeze: "These donations started around the same time Nibbles got sent here and when the big push to focus on drug crimes started."

Candy: "That's a little odd I guess. Is this going anywhere though?"

Freeze: "Yes, but it's hard to really say without digging more. I feel like the church is trying to keep our eyes of the cult for some reason. Nibbles mentioned that these large donations might be to cover up some kind of money laundering scheme as well though."

>>985898
Sounds like somebody's gotta investigate the anti-drug organizations. See who's in charge.
Maybe you can do that for them?

1/2 Buckwheat 2021/01/21(Thu)19:32 No. 986071 ID: 15a025
File 161128632020.png - (4.16KB , 800x600 , 65.png )

>Sounds like somebody's gotta investigate the anti-drug organizations. See who's in charge. Maybe you can do that for them?
Candy: "Sounds like we should investigate these organizations. See who's in charge of them. Is that something I could help with?"

Freeze: "That's a good question, but hard to say. Maybe I could you a meeting or dinner date with one of the head organizers? Anyway, don't want to run all your minutes up. "

Candy: "Oh yeah, what does that mean?"

Freeze: "You have to buy air time for that phone. We got it loaded with four hours right now, but it's expensive. I'd only use it when you need too."

Marsh: "Candy? You almost ready in there?"

Candy: "Okay, gotta go."

I hang up the phone and stuff it in my pocket for now. Then I dig out my briefcase and head out.

2/2 Buckwheat 2021/01/21(Thu)19:32 No. 986072 ID: 15a025
File 161128636714.png - (6.10KB , 800x600 , 66.png )

Marsh: "Are you two all set? It's going to be long ride before we even get to the rest stop tonight."

Pepper: "How long of a ride is it?"

Marsh: "Six hours if the roads are good."

Candy: "Yikes, that long? We won't be there till midnight?"

Marsh: "Yeah, if we're lucky. Then I got another three hours of road after the rest stop. Be glad you're staying there and not coming with."

>>986072
Alright then, if you've got your spell stones and your sister is packed, then its time to roll out.

I wish we could get some entertainment for the trip.

Might at well get some snacks, don't want to get hungry. Maybe some ORANGE JUICE!

1/3 Buckwheat 2021/01/27(Wed)17:16 No. 986392 ID: 15a025
File 161179660828.png - (5.17KB , 800x600 , 67.png )

>Might as well get some snacks, don't want to get hungry. Maybe some ORANGE JUICE!
I rush into the kitchen real quick and grab some snacks for the ride. We got some little bottles of orange juice to take.

>Alright then, if you've got your spell stones and your sister is packed, then it's time to roll out.
Wait, ah crap! I forgot to find somewhere I can fuse my shield enchantment stone into you guys. Eh... I probably won't need it while we're gone. Remind me when we get home after this to do that though.
Marsh takes us back to the car and we get rolling.

>I wish we could get some entertainment for the trip.
Candy: "Yeah six hours in the car is going to be brutal without anything to do. Can we-"

Marsh: "Already planned you'd get bored of the radio. When I stopped at a gas station, I got you a couple of word searches. They're in the back by you Pepper."

Pepper: "Well, it's something to do at least."

Marsh: "Hey what's wrong with word searches. They're fun."

Pepper: "Yeah but I miss playing games in the car."

Marsh: "Blame the jerk wad that stole them. I ain't keeping any expensive stuff in the car anymore. Surprised no one ripped out my radio yet."

Candy: "Probably because it's a cassette player and not a CD player."

Marsh: "You knocking my poor cassette player?"

Candy: "Well, I guess it works."

2/3 Buckwheat 2021/01/27(Wed)17:17 No. 986393 ID: 15a025
File 161179664387.png - (5.65KB , 800x600 , 68.png )

It ends up being a long boring car, thankfully I still have another word search left to do on the return drive. When we finally stop, it's at a small motel.
Clerk: "Ah Marsh. That time of the month again? Or, I see you have company this time. Vacation away from the city?"

Marsh: "Hey, no questions no problems."

Candy: "Marsh, be nice. Things are a little wild at home and we just needed to get away. Marsh also has something going on out here."

Marsh: "Anyway, we need two rooms. Can you hook us up?"

Clerk: "Sure, here's your keys."

Candy: "Whoa, are these rooms free?"

Clerk: "No, but Marsh's-"

Marsh: "Paid in advance. Now come on, let's get to bed. I gotta get up early for another long drive."

3/3 Buckwheat 2021/01/27(Wed)17:17 No. 986394 ID: 15a025
File 161179666733.png - (4.34KB , 800x600 , 69.png )

Marsh wanted her own room, so I end up sharing a room with Pepper. The beds are nice a comfy and the room smells nice and clean.

Pepper: "Goodnight Candy."

Candy: "Goodnight Pepper."

[spoiler]End of Volume 10[/spoier]