Not sure if we can make it out of this alive. We could certainly try to make one explosive effort to get out of this though.

Grutter, shoot the gas tank. Get that explosive liquid leaking and run like hell.

Strober- Certainly classy mobster like yourself carries a lighter. Get that thing going and lets blow up that crashed car.

Fletch- Start booking it.

>>1034354
I’m liking this idea

Silly question, how late is it here? Because if it's late enough to be dark out, there's a simple, practical solution to this.

Shoot out the closest lights, use the cover of darkness to flee, or at least get distance.

Blowing up the car seems like a solid plan.

best case scenario he's either injured or stunned enough for Grutter and Fetch to get away, and for the city to bring in the serious guns to at least distract this psycho for a while

worst case scenario you die, but that's what the bastard wants anyways so there's nothing to lose

On one hand, you guys are making like, 3 assumptions too many about blowing up the vehicle.
We don't know if Echoverse vehicles use internal combustion engines - they could be electrical. Heck, we don't even know if they have a fossil fuel equivalent, given that the origins of our fossil fuels goes back to the dinosaurs. IF they are not electrical...
We don't know if these vehicles have safety features that would stop an explosion before it starts. A vehicle that explodes in car accidents is just bad design in general. IF they lack those sorts of features...
We can't be sure that the vehicle will explode. It might just catch on fire at a slow rate, regardless.

On the other hand, if you are right about it blowing up, it might just be what's needed in this scenario...

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/06(Mon)18:59 No. 1034517 ID: 11f77a
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Grutter wasn’t expecting the zepher to straight up shove the car across the way. With every assumption you make of this guy, he seems to subvert it. Seems almost unfair. But with an extra set of cybernetic arms it’s not too much of a surprise he can make unexpected extraordinary feats. He doesn’t seem to be in the mood to go around cars and bullets, this juggernaut must strike fear in a lot of his bounties by simply moving forward without delay. Seeing him with your own eyes, it’s a wonder Fletch managed to escape the first time.
Grutter only has a moment’s notice to process his next move. Because the henchman was crushed by the overturned vehicle, his gaze remains on the flipped car. And good thing too, for his eyes follow the undercarriage to the exposed gas tank.
He immediately opens the driver side to see his buddy finally apply power to the vehicle. An explosion could take them all out, so they’ll need to cover some distance before he shoots it.
“Forget the car! Grab the suitcase and fucking book it!”
“But I just got it working—“

The Vitruvian’s robotic arms slam on the top of the flipped car. His body is hoisted up like Doc Ock. To be sure he wasn’t an easy target the zepher sprays some bullets across the horizon. The windshield shatters: Fletch is completely safe under the dashboard. Grutter had partial cover from the opened car door, but a stray bullet nicks his shoulder. Stobor was split between three decisions. His mind is on the lights above--darkness could be his ally; he also feels the need to run because it’s not like he’s the main target; but he doesn’t want to be exposed to be shot so he may consider keeping his aim ahead. The krullg expected The Vitruvian to go around and is instead shot in the gut during the bullet spree. He cringes from the pain but remains on his feet.

“Right fucking now, Fletch! It’s not fucking going anywhere!” Grutter reaches a long arm out to grab and throw Fletch out of the car. The briefcase is again in the ichor’s hands as all three of them scurry to the next car for cover when it’s clear.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/06(Mon)19:01 No. 1034518 ID: 11f77a
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All three characters take their movement speed to get far enough away to avoid the worst of the blast--albeit any debris that may fly in their direction. Grutter will remain silent about his current strategy so the Vitruvian wouldn’t realize his plan.

Current positions:
>Grutter can stick to the plan on taking the shot on the gas tank.
>Fletch and Stobor await their next action.

...I've clearly been thinking too much like this is a conventional tactical squad engagement against a hostile that just has a trick or two up their sleeve. Perhaps it'd be better to view this from the other side.

Looking at the situation that way, the hostile has very good reason to be confident now. We've been pushed back to our last cover before open ground, and even that cover is minimal while he has such a high angle. If we shoot back? He just uses his shields to deflect the shots, and guns us down as we pop up. If we fall back? He guns us down while we're exposed. If we stay put where we are? He advances, and guns us down with ease. All conventional tactical scenarios lead to an easy victory for the hostile, and that's even before we consider if he has further tricks up his sleeve, like tossing a vehicle at the group. Clearly, conventional will not do here.

Seeing as how there is indeed a gas tank, attempting to blow up the car is worth a shot, and it's now or never because the hostile will probably continue to advance.
That said, whether it explodes or fails to, we need to have further plans in place. Shooting out the light and falling back has risks. For all we know, he's got nightvision cybernetics in his eyes, and even if he doesn't, full auto fire has a chance to hit regardless. However, we have to take some risks because this guy advances like a Persian immortal. Staying still is suicide. In addition, the stuff in Fletch's briefcase seemed pretty tough, so he could probably use it as an improvised shield while he attempts to get to the next cover with everyone else, the roadway barrier wall. I suspect the hostile's next move will be to just climb over or bust through the wall, but that's a problem for the future. Assuming this ragtag band survives.

Grutter: Attempt to blow up vehicle
Stobor: Shoot out street lamp
Fletch: Put the briefcase behind your back, and get ready to dash
After that, everybody rush to get behind the parking lot wall, or at least as close you have the ability to.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/14(Tue)21:08 No. 1035028 ID: 11f77a
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Grutter reloads his pistol and hugs against the car. “Stobor, I need you to kill those lights!”
“Why? So we can’t see what we’re shooting at? It’s no fucking use either way--he can’t be stopped by conventional means! He could have night vision goggles! We need to run! You idiots are gonna have to take your chances!”
“Nevermind! But I need you to keep him distracted!”
“You about to run off before me? Nooo way! I’d shoot your ankles myself!”
“I aint running yet! You’re just gonna have to trust me on this!!!”

The Vitruvian stomps forward, seeking advantage in scope on top of the car they just abandoned. Bullets pepper in a line across the windshield until it breaks entirely. Grutter and Stobor cringe in their spot as glass and mirror chunks shatter around their heads. Fletch huddles behind the vehicle entirely, waiting for a break in gunfire.
Grutter turns to his friend, “Fletch, you gotta go! Escape into the woods; I’ll be right behind ya! (If this works, I mean.) Otherwise... I’ve given you some distance at least.” The relicynth turns and opens fire, aiming for the end of the flipped vehicle. Stray bullets ricochet off the steel carapace until one punctures the tank.

The zepher has a moment to realize something’s amiss. The krullg’s bullets don’t faze him one bit, sure. It was all a random pattern, frantic when one’s life is coming to its end. But the relic’s shots have a much wider interval--one of focus...
He looks over his shoulder in time for the gas to ignite--

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/14(Tue)21:18 No. 1035029 ID: 11f77a
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Farah speeds as fast as she could to the scene of disturbance! A lot of people are reporting echoes of gunshots in the area. She’s determined to catch up with all this nonsense with a squad right behind her.

As she zooms over the bridge she witnesses an explosion!

"My goddess... what is going on with this city?"

uhhhhh... just keep driving away, Farah. This is too much for you to handle, especially on your own. You got a husbando and son after all.

>>1035029
Better call for backup, firefighters, and probably emergency medical personnel.

...That was a bigger explosion than I expected. Almost looks like it blew a hole in the wall. Did Stobor have explosives inside that vehicle?

Well, real tough to say what happened with Fletch and the others.
In fact, that might be somewhere else given that the parking lot seems way further off than it was on the tactical map. Would be quite a ridiculous coincidence, though, so I'll just go with something not being quite to scale.
If they're still alive and we still have the ability to command Fletch & co., the obvious choices are
1) Make sure he's dead and GTFO
2) Hope that he's dead, GTFO, and leave the mess to the authorities
Given that they're all criminals, they'll probably go with 2.
Of course, with Stobor bleeding out of a gut wound, it'd make sense for Fletch and Grutter to ask themselves if they trust Stobor enough to get him fixed up. In fact, without him they're both effectively off the radar of the Mosses...

The good officer, on the other hand, now has a mess to deal with. Fire and rescue's gonna have to be called, and the area cordoned. Of course, that may dilute her manpower too much to safely investigate the gunshots, so she'll have to call in additional backup. Worst of all, she'll have to deal with that scourge of any public employee. She'll have reams and reams of paperwork in her future.

Stobor: Continue firing. "Finish Fletch's job!"
Fletch: Set the forest on fire.
Grubber: Hotwire the car. "You're not the boss of me, ssob!"
Farah: Call for backup, get out of the car, and use your phone to scope the situation.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/17(Fri)20:27 No. 1035281 ID: 11f77a
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Farah arrives on the scene accompanied by police. Paramedics and firefighters have been notified and would arrive soon after. She helps cordon the area and makes a clear path to the wreckage for the firemen.

There is a crashed vehicle ahead of the explosion. The license plate matches Ordo’s stolen car--so the convenience store killer was here when it happened. Bullet casings litter the ground leading up to the fire. A dead krullg lies partway with a hole in the noggin. Car paint has scuffed the asphalt and the blackened remains of the chassis looks it’s been flipped. It’s hard to tell what model is in the fiery heap with melted plastic and scorched metal.
The flames are being doused. Farah finally has a moment to step back and look at the entire picture...

That taxi driver described an ichorynth carried away by a team of krullgs--the dead one is wearing a formal suit and near him lays a loaded shotgun. Could be them. Could be part of a gang, or family. Now they may be mixed up in all this.

A yell from her officers.

“Farah! What d’ja make of this?”

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/17(Fri)20:33 No. 1035283 ID: 11f77a
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The chupian officer joins the other policeman. Beneath some car debris are splintered parts of a machine gun.
A sheet of metal is found lodged in the road barrier. A weird contraption is attached to it with some kind of dripping fluid.

“Enough force to blow a car door through brick. Would you ever believe a sight like that? Although I have seen wood planks jutting through sidewalks during hurricane season. Those winds are fierce.”

Farah has a bit more concern than the other officer.
“I don’t think... that’s a door. You wouldn’t happen to know if anyone's seen a visitor from Daatuteph, would you? Dead or... escaping the scene...”

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/17(Fri)20:36 No. 1035284 ID: 11f77a
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Farah looks around. There are only three directions to flee the scene: south, west of the explosion, or north. And she hasn't run into anyone coming from the north.
There are several trails of blood that follow along the road barrier. They all lead down into the parking lot--and over a chain-link fence to escape into the woods.

Another trail passes through a gate. The lock’s been smashed... as well as the gate itself...

“Ho, boy. I’m gonna need a search team.”

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/17(Fri)20:38 No. 1035285 ID: 11f77a
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Fletch, Grutter, and Stobor run in the dark forest. Ichorynths are known for their darkvision better than the others--thus Fletch leads with the briefcase in hand. There’s no aim to where they go, just far away from this place.
Stobor is only hanging back because of his sore gut. He knows he’s bleeding fast and will only get worse if he continues to exert himself, and the boys are getting a little further away. But one thing’s for sure--they will pay for all this damage done. Aint no way the krullg walks this off empty-handed.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/17(Fri)20:44 No. 1035286 ID: 11f77a
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They reach a pond. It’s when the krullg finally speaks up.
“Now hold on just a minute, guys!! hrrk Wait up! cough! Just to catch... our breath!”
Neither of them checked to see if the zipperneck is a charred carapace--but they didn’t want to be around when the cops arrived. Grutter’s shoulder begins to feel numb from the gunshot wound now that there’s a moment to ponder their situation. He shoots a look at Stobor:
“We can’t linger any longer. Where-ever you think we should go next I will only say: forget it! No place is safe in this city! And you aint following us on the next train out of here so we’re going to split. Here.”
Stobor scoffs and points a finger at them.
“Listen here, cretin! You aint parting ways without owing me for getting you this far! You think this is out of kindness?! Hesphis Moss will throw me in a grinder if I just cut my loss and let you two go! Yeager expects you to be face-down in the hot asphalt this morning!--
--That’s not the end of it, you know! He will send more after you, he’s that arrogant! You know that better than me--you worked for that deranged motherfucker! Once he finds out you blew up The Vitruvian, of all people, he’ll have the entirety of HURON sent down from orbit!
--You know what? Why the fuck do I even ramble about what's gonna happen to you two? Give me my fucking money!"

Stobor makes a gesture to show his gun tucked under his belt. Grutter still grips his pistol as well.

How do they settle this?

• [Fletch/Grutter] Simple. We just get this negotiation over with.
• [Fletch/Grutter] Start running again, ditch the guy. You could probably lose him. Probably.
• [Grutter] Shoot Stobor already, he’s just slowing you guys down. Get the Mosses off your backs and cut any link.
• [Stobor] Hold them at gunpoint, demand half or all money.
• [Stobor] Shoot them anyway. You’re that hot-headed. News of their death may prevent future hassle to your Family.
• [Other] >___

Fletch: "We'll pay you a big cut for your limo and your hired help getting toasted, but we're not trusting you an inch further. Just go home, while you still have one."
Grutter: "Look at yourself in the damn lake. You say we're going to have the HURON gunning for our heads, ready to nuke us because our boss is spiteful enough to ruin himself just to ensure we'll never have anything good in our lives... and you're still trying to take our tagged money? Because your Mossy Bossy will be disappointed?
You're hooked to this life, Stobor, in the worst possible way. They force-fed you caviar to get normalized to conspicuous indulgence. You don't want to be posh and fancy and idle, your gunplay proves otherwise. But you act like you do and you step all over us ants because you think it's perfectly normal.
You are, and have always been, their Pavlov pet. A million dollars? Nothing but a sack of hay to hide their disgusting behaviors behind monetary greed. Slaves are their true wealth, their true obsession. Only reason we sucked at this job is because we don't learn obedience well."

Were this a movie, this'd probably be the climax, or getting close to the climax.

Allow me to suggest some dialogue to rachet up the tension of it all.

"Seriously? If we hadn't blown up that car, the zipper would have blown you full of holes!"

"He wouldn't have been after me if it weren't for you two! Hell, if it weren't for me, Fletch wouldn't have gotten fixed up at all!"

"So, what, you going to shoot us? Alert the cops to where we are? That'll end well. With that wound, there's not a chance in Ndepteph's guts you shake 'em off."

"Yeah, so unfortunate you shot me in the gut, and I shot you in self-defense. Did you forget? I'm with the Mosses! The family has damn good lawyers!"

"With the shoulder wound, we've got the same story you do!"

"You really think the Mosses will stand for you shooting one of theirs? You want Moss AND Yeager after your hides? You'd be better off shooting yourselves in the head!"
[I'd like to note this would be the perfect line for Stobor's head to get blown off. Regardless of who fired.]

At this point, the only option lost is running. As if that was ever actually an option, muzzle velocity is faster than anybody alive, but I digress.
One thing that's for sure, they're not handing over all of the credits. Getaway money is sorely needed.

If Stobor dies and they evade the cops, the Mosses are a non-issue. So, that's probably what they'll go with if Stobor demands it all.
However... if they hand over half... it'd be sooooo veeeeeery awful if the two faked their deaths and Yeager somehow got word that the Mosses now have his credits... oh soooooo veeeeery awful.

Fletch: Give Stobor some money, he DID help you, and his men did provide a good meatshield.

Stobor: take whatever money you're given, you're out numbered and injured.

Grutter: Shoot Stobor if he starts demanding everything.

there isn't time for a long argument, either the Vitruvian or the Cops will be here soon, no reason to die so close to the finish line from petty bickering

Stobor: Demand half the money.
Fletch: Agree but point out Stobor is in no state to carry it.

>>1035340
Oooh I love this, totally agree. Strober is in no shape to carry all that loot.

Grutter- Point out that shooting us is fucking stupid right. The cops are certainly hearing it, and they're going to catch whoever's ass, faster than our injured bodies can out run them.

>>1035340
This.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/23(Thu)16:30 No. 1035818 ID: 11f77a
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Grutter is aggravated with this soft-shelled brat. Stobor slings subtle threats that the path ahead is one you can never rest. And ripping this guy off would get both Yeager and Moss barreling after you.
Fletch throws his arms in the air. “Are you serious? You chose to take us along for the ride to ‘help us out’. You made a risk just for this little side-hustle! Feels like a job you had to run by Moss first! Given the situation, if we hadn’t blown up your car we’d be all full of holes!”
Stobor retorts, “I wouldn’t have been on Yeager’s radar until you took your first steps at the vet. Why couldn’t you have stayed on your shithole planet and not bring your matters here?!? You’re leaving a path of destruction, bucko. Your situation is hopeless--I'm just earning my dues and saving face while I have the option!”
The relicynth scoffs, “Oh how smart you are to take initiative. ‘Hey, kid! You’re going to die soon so can I have your trading cards?’ What--? You’re going to steal as much as you can because your biggest concern is a surrogate father figure disappointed in you?”
- “Oh this is more than... sticking up to a boss, chopsticks. I could explain to Hesphis that two jerkwads have decided to make an ass out of the family--that they ought to make peace with the sea floor. Or! I could tell a different story that the boys unfortunately died in a crossfire but at least there’s some compensation out of the wreckage. Any leads to your next stop could turn cold. I’ll definitely be reprimanded (no doubt about it), humiliated either way. But I’ve been through worse. And you’ve got enough on your plate... So shut your mouths and pile those credits up!”

Fletch holds up the briefcase with an irritated sigh.
“Fine. Fine, you bottom feeder. You get your fucking cut. What’s this, for a limo and your hired help? Hospital bill? Sure, take your damn credits. Four-hundred thousand should cover everything.”
“No. Half.”
“Half? Are you fucking joking?!”
“You’re taking what we give you!” Grutter puts his foot down, “More than enough for the damage the bounty hunter caused. Now enough talk! The cops will be here any minute!”

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/23(Thu)16:30 No. 1035819 ID: 11f77a
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Stobor grimaces; there’s neither a nod nor decline. Fletch carefully walks on over, fiddling with the case. “Arms out. You better hope you can carry all this.”
The krullg briefly ponders, “I can use my suit like a bag. It’s ruined, anyway.”
“Well you got the cash to buy a better one,” Grutter quips.
Stobor looks at the relicynth. And his shoulder rolls to remove an arm from the sleeve--he swipes it around his body like a matador. Just before it floats to the ground the gun is in his hand.

Grutter spies it, and draws his piece at the same time. Both fire at one another. Stobor gets Grutter in the ribs--but the relic empties the last of his magazine into the krullg. The mobster cringes and faceplants into the pond with a flat splash. Still.
Grutter kneels and slips into the water as well--but he has the strength to keep his head above the water.

“GAAK! RhRRRRGH!”

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/23(Thu)16:34 No. 1035820 ID: 11f77a
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Fletch immediately comes to his aid, taking his arm to help. “Oh fuck! Grutter! Are you okay? Ooah—shit!”
“I’m fine! Blugh... C’mon. Help me up, Fletch... I may hunch a bit but I can still walk fine. Come on.”

Only a moment to breathe, thinking of the next move. Obviously to run. But what measures?
-
His eyes yellow in the darkness of the woods, The Vitruvian limps into the moonlight. Mangled, his right side is scorched. One of his robotic arms is missing--the other sparks and twitches behind him like a folded wing.
The boys turn to see the zepher.

“No..."
"No. No. No. NO!!!”

The Vitruvian stands three yards away. Other than the riot shield, he has no other weapons; the rifle is missing. His eyes look at Stobor’s floating body and he sneers.

...

...

“You could run. Probably will.”

...

He looks to Fletch.
“Your friend won’t have a chance to keep up with you. Not long anyway. If you two split--then I’ll be going after him first. You’ll have your head start, sure... but easy to follow. I’ll be on your heels by tomorrow.”

>>1035820
"What do you want."

There's two ways this could go.

First up.
Grutter: "Fletch, go."
Fletch: "What?"
Grutter: "There's only one way I get out of this alive. The cops obviously heard the shots. Besides, the only way I get fixed up is if I get to a hospital. I play the victim, I might avoid jail. I take any of the credits with Yeager's stamp, they'll know. Now GO!"
Fletch: "...Fucking hell, you better not die..."

The other way is to roll the dice. This guy's a cyborg, obviously full of metal. Heavy dense metal. Metal that could cause him to, say, sink to the bottom of a lake. Even if he can breathe underwater, he can't catch them from the bottom of the lake. He could leave to get a ranged weapon of some type, but that would effectively let both escape. Still a dice roll though, because this guy is quite unconventional. He's good at doing unexpected stuff.

Oh wait, there is a third choice. Stobor's gun still has ammo.

Lure him into the mud. Then use both guns to put him down. He only has ONE shield now.

He says you'll be easy to follow, but when did we ever take this guy's advice on anything?

Run on all fours, man! Pain is just weakness leaving the body!

Let's run back to the populated and be as loud as possible when this cyborg genius decides to follow us in the open.

We could run, but then he'll still be after us. He may even come back repaired and stronger.

Grab whatever weaponry you can get, and start running to muddy area, this should hopefully slow him down. If you can team up, hopefully you can get some shots past his shield and end this. If not, you may be running from him till you're out of breath.

Yeah..., dont listen to this guy. By the looks of it he's in worst condition. Stay together, grab the guns and run towards an populated area. Dont bother wasting your ammo on him, he still has that shield and the gun fire will only alert the police.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/06/27(Mon)19:56 No. 1036293 ID: 11f77a
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>Run towards a populated area
You don’t know how deep in the forest you are, and how much further you'd need to travel. The surefire way to population is back where you came--but you’ll have to get through the zepher.

>Use both guns to put him down.
>Stobor’s gun still has ammo.
Stobor has fallen in the pond; his gun may have sunk too far in--and it would be difficult to find in the muddy water at dark.
“What... what do you want?” Grutter mutters.

The vitruvian takes a few steps forward.
“It’s what my client wants. You know what he wants.”

Fletch yells out.
“We didn’t do it!!!”
The Vitruvian slowly stops, intrigued by the ichor’s outburst.
“What happened was not our fault! Yeager can have his money! He can have it back--just leave us alone! We wanted to get out of that life!” he whispers, “You don’t have to do this.”

“I’m not the one to talk about that to.”

Grutter lifts his arm, aiming his gun at the zepher. But he recalls emptying his mag into Stobor. His silverhand trembles--then drops the pistol willingly and rolls his sleeve up. Revealing his folded left arm, it has room to extend out freely. He hisses to his partner.
“Fletch, go. Just get out of here.”
“What?”
“Get your legs moving... and run.”
“He just wants me to run!”
“It’s the end for me, boyo. But I’ll at least try to bring that bastard down.”
“Not like this! Since when would I take advice from him? Just look at him. He’ll never be in worse condition.”
--
Combat initiated: A little different this time. Designate exactly where you intend to hit the Vitruvian (on the head, sweep the leg, for example).

Of course... there is still the option to just go back to running.

Nah, just die like the good little DM-dogtoy you are.

Grutter, if you really intend to fight then keep in mind that he still has another cybernetic arm and shield that could could easily kill you if you're not careful. His right eyeball destroyed, while is right arm and possibly his right leg are probably weakspots, Try to stay within his blindside and attack his right leg with a kick.
Fletch, don't abandon your injured friend stay and help fight.

Fletch: milk is coming out of that guy's torso. Stick your hand there and let's see what other stuff we can pull out.

Fletch and Grutter double team this half-dead asshole and attack his injured side. Knock him to the ground and drown him in the water.

Ok nobody else wants to rebel against the author, so I'll suggest again to lure him into the mud. Even without a gun, that's advantageous terrain, especially since his center of gravity is severely off-balance. Lacking one shield means the other one isn't there to compensate!

I don't think he's going to respond to pain, since if he could feel pain he wouldn't be still standing with those wounds. Hitting him won't do anything, though maaaaybe yanking something out of his leaky cybernetics might do something? Eh, even if you yank out his guts he'll probably keep going, because he's like, full of combat drugs or something at the moment.
Throw mud in his eye. Trip him, especially so he falls to his left (his heavy side). That'll pin his useful limbs for a moment. Then grab a pointy stick, and shove it into his empty eyesocket. You could use the empty gun as a bludgeon to try to knock him out if you're feeling lucky.

Oh no, fighting's last resort for if they wind up cornered. What they have to remember is that they don't have to kill this guy immediately, they can get help from the cops if they hide the credits and stall for as long as it takes. Like, they could toss the briefcase in the lake, and get them afterwards. Sure, this guy is directly between those two and the cops, but they don't have to go the direct route. Once he's dealt with, they can make up whatever would show the two as victims.
Stobor's gun may not have panned out, but there are other options.
Here's one, use Stobor's body as a flotation device so the two can jointly swim across the pond. Disgusting and morbid to be sure, but it's got better odds than a battle.
Failing that, the "go through the mud" idea would help to stall. Especially if they go around the pond. Should they do so, the hostile is no longer in the path to the cops.
Splitting up may help if either of the previous two options partially fails. One goes to the cops, the other escapes with the credits. Or just escapes if the credits got hid. Or one could go get the cops while the other stalls by fleeing in a way that winds up going 360 degrees to nowhere.
Loud cries for help would be a thing they could do in all of those.
Worst case scenario, they somehow get cornered, well... Human weak spots are the eyes, neck, groin, and joints. Of those, eyes and joints seem to be biologically close enough. Get the eye, and the fight gets way harder for the hostile. Stay to the blind side if you have the ability to do so, it'll quite literally make assaults harder to see.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/07/01(Fri)19:01 No. 1036736 ID: 11f77a
File 165672727044.png - (227.20KB , 550x500 , tvd_120.png )

Grutter prepares his first strike. He knows the zepher still has a heavy cybernetic arm that could crush him if he isn’t careful. It’s clear the shield is his only weapon and would use it as such--so the best counter may be to force him to use as intended: defensively.
The relic attacks in an obvious pattern, perhaps to bait his opponent to keep blocking without any room to swing. It doesn’t do much damage, sturdy as it is. But his talons are made of stern stuff as well. A few light scratches here and there.

The boys assumed correctly, he barely flinches when Grutter’s talons hook across his singed leg. Nerves could be shot--or he could be on some strong painkiller. But he feels the pull, the trip. The Vitruvian is brought down to a knee, his shield dives into the soft ground to keep his entire body from falling over.
As the zepher maintains balance--Fletch has the courage to tackle him into the shallow end of the pond.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/07/01(Fri)19:02 No. 1036737 ID: 11f77a
File 165672737009.png - (216.74KB , 550x500 , tvd_121.png )

Fletch gets some of that torso-sludge on his hands and suit. It doesn’t ‘feel’ like blood, if that makes sense. It’s not runny at all. It’s like a tar or grease.

Before anything else, the zepher makes his response: Fletch is a light enough creature to be tossed aside. He heaves the ichorynth off and into the deeper end with a heavy splash. The bounty hunter lugs his body up to focus his attention to Grutter again.

Designate your next attack against the Vitruvian.

So the sparky cybernetic got wet, but failed to zap the zip? Dang.
On the plus side, that tar or grease or whatever is not in the second image. Water either washes away or dilutes it, and he just got a whole bunch through the torso holes and possibly the eye hole. Whatever that stuff is (lubricant, maybe?), it's probably used by the cybernetics, so what's left of his cybernetics are probably no longer fully functional. Emphasis on fully, they probably still work fine for now.

Other notes:
Looks like Fletch dropped the briefcase. Might work as an improvised throwing weapon or shield.
Despite probably having the strength to crush Fletch's windpipe, as evidenced by throwing him into the pond, he opted to, well, throw him into the pond. Either he was worried it would leave an opening, or he really would like to avoid a 2 on 1, preferring to focus on 1 hostile.
He's strong, but grappling still works due to his heaviness, seeing as how unbalancing the legs made him use his shield to compensate.

Hey, wait a second... he's in the pond. Does that mean he's no longer directly in the path toward the cops? Toss dirt in his eye, and flee to the well-armed officers who are far better equipped to deal with this!

Fletch, sneak under water and do everything you can to pull on his legs and get him down under.

Time to put some dirt in his eye.

Mud goes in eyeball, but don't run away. Try to break his joints, or at least get him down in the mud again.

>>1036883
Trying to drown him isn't a bad idea but at this point we really need to make some noise to alert the cops if we want to keep them alive

>>1036983
this

Sarcopholacooda 2022/07/07(Thu)11:22 No. 1037308 ID: 11f77a
File 165721815891.png - (262.04KB , 550x500 , tvd_122.png )

>cybernetics
Noticing he wasn’t shocked in the water with the cybernetics he has, there must be countermeasures or insulated systems to prevent those problems. This gear isn’t makeshift like most technology in Daatuteph--it seems to be much higher quality stuff; It’s nothing you’d find on your home planet. And seeing he’s from HURON, this is some intricate machinery off-world.
With the short glimpse you had of his torso, it wasn’t a big gaping hole to his organs. If you could compare to working on a car it looks like a... filtration system? There were frills and something cylindrical within. It was too quick before you were tossed over.

>Attack: Legs
Fletch tries catching up; he hugs the vitruvian’s legs in attempt to bring him under the water.
With a scowl the zepher certainly won’t be taken advantage by his legs again, and his riot shield swings to bash Fletch’s snout. Blood trickles out the ichorynth’s nose as he stumbles backwards into some reeds.

>Make: Some Noise
You figure someone ought to hear the brawl. You oblige to yell and ham things up a bit in case officers are on the search.

>Toss: Dirt
“Hey zipper-neck! It’s me you want, right?!”
Grutter hastily scoops up a wad of mud and chucks it at the zepher’s face when he glares back. A direct his to the left side of his face that makes him recoil and shake his head. It was quite an annoyance for him; he instinctively attempts to wipe it off--splashing some pond water on his face while trudging through the shin-high level of pondwater.

Designate your next attack

He's temporarily blinded. This'll probably be the best shot we have to do serious damage.

Grutter: Go for the eye. Scratch, poke, slice, do whatever it takes to make him completely blind.
Fletch: Distract. Watch out for the cyber-arm of course, but if you occupy the hostile, the odds of successfully removing his vision go up.

And be careful; he may have some obscure cybersensors that can give him partial sight even if you claw his remaining eye out. He hasn't made it this far as a reaper by being easily blinded.

Grutter attack the head. Try to rip off his antennas and stab out his remaining eye.
Fletch attack from behind and kick him in the testicles/whatever he has down there. That might put him to the ground.

Go for the riot shield to use it against him. Not sure how exactly tho. I guess you could push/pull/twist it in such a way that the guy would lose his balance and fall in the water, and then you could run.

Grutter's best equipped here to stab and gouge this dude's eyes out. Hopefully we can blind him, maybe even rip off his antennas.

Fletch: Dude's stomach is bare and exposed. Use them claws of yours and try to dig into his stomach. Hopefully that'll further damage and slow him down.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/07/18(Mon)09:49 No. 1038478 ID: 11f77a
File 165816296783.png - (228.88KB , 550x500 , tvd_123.png )

Grutter gallops to the distracted hunter. He uses the shield to leap upwards and attack the zepher’s face.
Feeling his weight on the shield, the robotic arm swerves--the relicynth hooks a hand around the neck like a pole to segue into an awkward piggyback. His nails dig into the exoskeleton of the vitruvian’s throat.
The zepher hunches and rolls his shoulders to try and throw Grutter off; it’s a rodeo as the shield attempts to swat him. Grutter leans to the right to avoid the haymaker; he regrips on the vitruvian’s head with nails digging into softer skin, bloodletting and hoping to scuff up his opponent's vision.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/07/18(Mon)09:52 No. 1038479 ID: 11f77a
File 165816317381.png - (231.03KB , 550x500 , tvd_124.png )

The Vitruvian responds predictably, but there’s enough thrashing for his shield to wedge under Grutter. His hands grab his thin wrists and he flips him over.

Forced off, the relicynth’s nails cut deeply as they rip the bounty hunter’s flesh, cutting across his eyebrow and cheek bones. Blood pours down the left side of his face with the mud still staining him.

With his hold on Grutter’s wrist, the zepher slams his robotic arm down and smashes across two nails, breaking them.

“AAAAUGH Fuck you! You bastard!!”

Designate your next attack

Kick the ports on his midsection! Don't worry about your limbs, you can get shiny cybernetics if you live!

Fletch, pick up those nails. They are now shivs. Use them to stab this guy. In the eyesocket, preferably.

>>1038503
This, Fletch aim for the eye. Approach from the back but watch out for his right hand. Ideally with him tangling with both of you Grutter should be able to escape so you can either finish this or run assuming he's blinded.

Drat, objective failed for now. His vision is still covered, but also still can be used if uncovered.
On the upside, that head wound proves that he bleeds, and whatever bleeds can die. For all the vaunted cybernetics, there are still vulnerabilities and vitals that could prove lethal. Plus, the blood from the wound should impair his vision even if he removes the mud.

Oh, I guess we're out of the lake, too. Figures, water might have dampened the shield strike, though it also would have brought up the issue of drowning...

Grutter: Get away from grapple range for a second. He'll either attempt to find where you're located or go back to getting rid of the mud. Either way, there will be an opening for a second run at the eye.
Fletch: Everybody else has the right sort of idea with a shiv or dual shivs. Getting the eye would be a good target of opportunity, but with the hostile's temporary loss of vision Fletch is effectively an RPG rogue with stealth on and a perfect shot at a backstab for critical damage. Perhaps the best spot would be the spinal cord at the top of the torso, to avoid the exoskeleton further up, but also the cybernetics below. On success, this would paralyze. On failure, the hostile's strengths and weaknesses get a little revealed.

Bite the hand that grabs you!

Sarcopholacooda 2022/07/20(Wed)20:38 No. 1038766 ID: 11f77a
File 165837468787.png - (260.88KB , 550x500 , tvd_125.png )

>Kick the ports on his midsection!
>I guess we’re out of the lake, too.
The fight is still a few steps from the pond. You watch him bleed over you--and anything that bleeds can die. First you need to make some distance...
Grutter uses both feet to kick into the metallic sternum of the zepher—with enough hard jabs it manages to bend one of the cylinder attachments and makes the Vitruvian take a few steps back. There’s a brief, sharp noise like the release of air under pressure--and more of that tarry substance sputters from the creases of the cylindrical module. The zepher inhales, a wheeze like something caught in his lungs, but spits whatever’s out.

>Fletch, pick up those nails
>Aim for the eye. Approach from the back.
Fletch attempts to swipe and stab for the eye again. The vitruvian’s height alone makes the attack tricky, and after the previous attack on his face he keeps his head high and away. Like the leg sweep, he’d deny the same tactic twice. Catching glimpses of the ichorynth in his peripherals he thrusts an arm to block the hand wielding the clipped talon.
The Vitruvian promptly thrusts his knee into Fletch’s gut, forcing him to dry heave before a second strike to throw Fletch backwards.

Designate your next attack

Farah: taser to the neck.

See? Spinal cord was a better target for Fletch.
Problem is, it's too late now since the eye mud's gone and Fletch is no longer behind the hostile.
>Port damage
Huh, wheezing is unusual. Wonder if the cybernetics are acting as life support to a degree.

Getting low on dirty tricks to use, but there's one for this scenario.
Obviously, throwing mud at the eye will fail. He knows to be ready for it, and that shield will easily block a wad of mud. Which means if he raises his shield to his high-up head to do just that, his legs will be completely undefended.
Several options to follow that up.
1) Go between legs to get behind, then shiv the spinal cord below the cybernetics but above the hips to paralyze the legs.
2) Shivs go into knees.
3) Grapple legs
Option 2 seems best, because success would screw up the hostile's ability to purse, therefore allowing the two to flee.

>stabbing the eye didn't work because we tried that before
So we can only attack a bodypart once? What kind of horseshit is that?!

Whatever, stab him in the kidneys.

At this point I can't tell if this fight is supposed to be winnable. If he is the "catalyst" then he has higher plot armor then us.

I guess at this point we should consider a retreat until we find a way to elude him off world have a better sure fire way to kill.

Grutter stab then dude in the leg or foot to slow him down and whlie Fletch grabs the money. Then both of you make a run for it.

Give those antennae a good yank. Aim for the base, it's hard to miss.

Grutter, break one of his arms. You guys are getting grabbed too much. Grab a hold of his right arm and apply pressure to the elbow to stretch the joint till it breaks. Use your body weight if you're not strong enough.

Our options are running low here. I feel at this rate we're not making it out alive.

The only thing I can think of is pulling off a cross up on this dude.
Grutter, try to use that acrobatic strength of yours to jump to the other side of this dude. We need to pin him between the two of you as best as possible. He seems to be conditioned that we're going for his head, so it should grab his attention enough to give Fletch time.

Fletch: Use Grutter's short distraction to get those shivs. If his back is turned and focused on Grutter, go for his spinal cord. If he's facing you still, go for the legs and hope Grutter can back you up.

If we can launch an attack from both front and behind, we might be able to land some significant damage. He can't focus on both sides at once.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/07/26(Tue)18:35 No. 1039336 ID: 11f77a
File 165888573522.png - (276.08KB , 550x500 , tvd_126.png )

“Get away from him!!”

Before the Vitruvian stomps after Fletch, Grutter lunges and grabs his right arm in attempt to break it. In their current position, the boys flank the zepher--dividing his attention. Grutter tries to stay behind him as he spins, pressure applying to hopefully pop his elbow.
In the struggle, the Vitruvian shifts his arm down to loosen Grutter’s hold, and juts an elbow back up to an uppercut against the jaw. In the disorienting blow, his hands snap to Grutter’s temples.

From behind, Fletch plunges the relicynth’s talon into his back to strike a kidney. The zepher makes a guttural yell and retorts.
The mechanical arm of the Vitruvian releases its heavy riot shield. The metal slate thuds against the loose, marshy grass. The arm’s three-pronged digits branch out and grab Fletch by the throat. Gradually, he lifts him off his feet.

“We are done here...”

Sarcopholacooda 2022/07/26(Tue)18:36 No. 1039337 ID: 11f77a
File 165888580014.png - (226.51KB , 550x500 , tvd_127.png )

The Vitruvian head-butts Grutter with a loud pop. The relicynth fumbles with weak eyelids as the zepher maintains a grip on his collarbone for another series of punches. Fletch struggles to reverse the grapple on his throat, barely able to breathe and watching his friend diminish strength.

Grutter falls backwards into the pond.

“I commend you, relic.” he grumbles with phlegm in his lungs. “You’ve been on the vulgar rush before, I see that. Tonight you offered to keep the rush alive. No one ever reaches the end of its treacherous roads. The desert moth... still waits.”

“No! gruugh--Noooo!” Fletch hollers with a hoarse throat.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/07/26(Tue)18:38 No. 1039338 ID: 11f77a
File 165888593895.png - (285.94KB , 550x500 , tvd_128.png )

The Vitruvian grabs Grutter by the scruff of his outfit and dunks him under. The weight of the bounty hunter makes it difficult to squirm out from beneath. Grutter’s claws sprout and swipe from the water, yet the effort is fruitless--even if a claw digs into a shoulder.

How had everything before gone so fast? Why now, does the world crawl in your final minute? You remember the vulgar rush when you were younger. There were stories of the horrors involved--but a rite of passage that juveniles make for themselves. Yet you once went down the same path as your neighborhood friends seeking a name. It is a treacherous road. But like many, you can only go so far before settling where you stop. One cannot return to their old lives, and you joined Yeager’s armada. You killed under his orders. Met Fletch along the way, sharing similar circumstances. Everyone you worked with still carries the guilt on their shoulders--only the most maddening creatures can detach themselves from reality after the vulgar rush. Someone like Yeager.
Maybe you deserve this--you definitely weren’t a saint. Especially under Yeager.

You think of the arid planet that was your home and its vast, unending wastelands. Canyons and pillars that were once the beds of great oceans. And now you feel the water. The water that soothes the bruises. The water that cleans you.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/07/26(Tue)18:40 No. 1039339 ID: 11f77a
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The police try to pinpoint the origin of gunshots in the forest. It has been several minutes since a party has departed. On her way, Farah hears some commotion and splashing around.

She had not come alone in the forest--there are several search teams scouting the wood, the closest officer would only be about 50 meters away looking in another direction.

Farah sees through the dark branches and comes across the pond...

Farah: Yell at him "POLICE! Get your hands in the air!" while training your gun on him and getting close enough for a good shot.

Fletch: he's still got that nail in him. Kick it deeper. You can also try kicking at the joints of the arm carrying you.

Fletch: "He... *gaurk* killed... Nirrn. KILL... *HORGH*"

>even if a claw digs into a shoulder.
Obviously - after all, the proper target would be the wrist to force the grip to release. Duh.

So, it appears that the hostile isn't keeping Fletch very far away from himself. Perhaps if the hostile were to turn away to, maybe, see who's yelling at them, Fletch would have a shot to kick the face. Extra points if he finishes off the eye.

Fletch: "I'm not going to let you drown him!"
Do whatever you can with your free limbs. Beat on him, kick him. Anything.

Farah- That ichornyth's life seems to be in immediate danger. Don't alert the assailant of your presence, try and use your gun and shoot the metallic limb off to free them.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/07/31(Sun)12:47 No. 1039630 ID: 11f77a
File 165929684252.png - (307.06KB , 550x500 , tvd_130.png )

“POLICE!”

Farah raises her gun, training her sights on the zepher who gradually rears his head up following the sound of her voice.

“Drop everything and put your hands up where I can see them!” she orders. She shines her light to see a half-burnt bleeding mess. At first the chupian couldn’t figure what the hell she was looking at. What was clear was an ichorynth currently being strangled by some mechanical arm, and noise of a recent struggle in the pond.

The Vitruvian turns his neck with sharp yellow eyes locking on Farah. He looks pale and sick. He rises from the pond. How a creature could even stand, looking like that, she thinks. Tark has described his thousand-yard stare; it’s unmistakable. This could be the zepher he had to let go. Who knew all the chaos that followed after.

“This is outside of you, chupian.” he stifles to breathe steadily with whatever composure he has, “You don’t know what you’re stepping into.”

Fletch grunts out his words, teeth clutching. “Don’t lis’sen to him! H-He... killed her--! ghrrk Killed N-Nirrn! S-Stop him!” He’s struggling to kick at the Vitruvian, but he is helpless like one would present a pet by the scruff. "My friend... he's drowning!"

Was that a threat?
Give him ONE chance to step away from the puddle and his victims. If he fails to take it, you'll have to take the shot.

Farrah: "Last chance. Release your hostages. Let me arrest them.
Or I will invoke my right to kill threats to civilians.
3... 2... 1."

shoot this fucker if he so much as twitches at you, he's extremely dangerous

Tell him he’s surrounded. There’s teams of police all around. One shot would alert the dogs on him

Put a hole in the other half of the cybernetics attachment. Both as a warning, and to assist the drowning guy.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/08/03(Wed)12:58 No. 1039919 ID: 11f77a
File 165955671033.png - (246.45KB , 550x500 , tvd_131.png )

She attempts to reason. “You’re about to be surrounded. Release your hostages--let me arrest them!”
The Vitruvian huffs a bit--there’s slight effort to inhale from his damaged carapace. “It’s not my choice to spare them.”
“You don’t have to do this!”
“Hmmgh.” He almost suppresses the slightest smirk; the attempt forces him to contain a bloody cough. “This was their doing. They decided their fates.”
Farah casts her arm back in the direction of the road. “Fates? Is that how you justify killing the lady at the store?! Or the gullusk? Was all that destruction necessary... for this?!”
“They contributed to pave more road for these two.”
“Contributed?! That makes zero sense! You can’t make that an excuse!”
“That isn’t an excuse. That’s just what it is.”

She stifles to even come with an answer. Her immediate thought was that he has spoken like a true psychopath. In his own world and rules.
He senses her hesitation: “It's time to keep moving...”

Sarcopholacooda 2022/08/03(Wed)13:00 No. 1039920 ID: 11f77a
File 165955683470.png - (258.03KB , 550x500 , tvd_132.png )

Fletch kept struggling throughout the conversation, swinging his legs until he gets enough momentum to stomp on the talon.
“Fffuck you!”
Pain surges in the zepher’s lower back; he flinches from the kick as well and growls. The talon pierces through the other side.
In an instant Farah shoots at the mechanical arm instead of his torso; bullets spark against its steel and a few wedge in its wiry innards. The arm malfunctions, the grip is easier to pry out of and the ichor is let go. Fletch faceplants on the soft and muddy ground and rolls away.

Gunfire alerts nearby officers. The light from their torches flicker through dense trees with confused yelling on what’s going on.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/08/03(Wed)13:02 No. 1039921 ID: 11f77a
File 165955692539.png - (177.11KB , 550x500 , tvd_133.png )

A handful of police emerge from the foliage and shine on the Vitruvian in the center, who slouches on his knees in some fugue expression from the blood loss. He faces the pond and ignores everything around him, something churning in his mind. With a slow exhale his eyelid closes and he keels over from the heavy weight of exhaustion.

Fletch has scrambled to drag Grutter’s limp body out from the pond. The police already hound them as Fletch attempts to resuscitate. Not a lot of drowning happens on Daatuteph, he hopes he knows what he’s doing. At first he’s forced aside to keep his hands up, but Farah is able to put her coworkers at ease once the zepher is accounted for.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/08/03(Wed)13:05 No. 1039922 ID: 11f77a
File 165955715408.gif - (652.26KB , 550x500 , tvd_133b.gif )

“Someone call an EMT over here! We have injured people!"

"Go! Go!”

"Start pressing his chest!"

"Sir! There's another--!"

...

Sarcopholacooda 2022/08/03(Wed)14:47 No. 1039932 ID: 11f77a
File 165956323105.png - (239.43KB , 550x500 , tvd_134.png )

Anjan comfortably watches the tube.

It’s late. Mali is finally asleep. You’d probably be in bed too but you’d rather be up when your wife returns. Plus it’s a classic movie that’s broadcasting on those oldies channels. Something about the Tripod War a few centuries back. Interesting stuff.
You’ve been eatin’ a bowl of rice-berries when you hear her come in. Even when you can’t see her from your spot you can assure it's her from the usual sounds of her routine: jangling of keys into a basket, scuffing of feet into a mat, and just her long sigh after a workload.

Turn on the lights. Time for a happy greeting and hug!

Hug her, apologize for staying up late to wait for her. Ask if she's still good for karaoke tomorrow, maybe she and you can sing a naked colors song when we go there.

Well, it appears all that's left is to fabricate a cover story for the cops. Get a lawyer before saying a word, though.

Fletch shot at the Zepher on camera, seemingly without provocation, no getting around that one.
However, given the Zepher's actions, there should be legal mitigating factors. Fletch could say he heard of the Zepher by reputation, so was well aware his life was threatened.

Shifting gears, Grutter's "stalker" was Stobor or one of his henchmen, though they never found out his motive. Fleeing from the law was because he was afraid Stobor bribed the cop.

Stobor must have figured out Fletch had ties to Grutter, so grabbed Fletch to get to his pal. Semi-fortunately, the Zepher got to them before Stobor could get them to a safehouse to do whatever mobsters do.

Fleeing the gunfight that ensued, they hid out in the park, though not before noticing Stobor grabbing a briefcase. He still had it when he attempted to off them to eliminate witnesses. Semi-fortunately, he only shot once before the Zepher got Stobor, emptying his mag. Out of ammo, the Zepher attempted to off them with his bare hands. He almost had them until the cops showed up.

Should be the basics. Slight hole if any cameras caught Grutter with the briefcase, but it's generic enough that could pass it off as being identical.

Play up the sob story if the cops push. "Oh, we're not proud of what we did, but we wanted to leave all that behind! We just wanted a peaceful life, to let the paranoia of our previous lives subside and we'd leave behind all vestiges once it did! Who knows how long that will be now!" Softie judges eat up lies of that type, even from hardened criminals that show no sign of ever reforming.

>>1039935
Oh yeah, in response, Farah playfully teases Anjan by implying that Anjan wants her and him to strip while singing a Naked Colors song at karoke, leaving Anjan embarrassed, trying to explain he just likes their music. A good laugh is had.

Farah says the arrest she made was kind of a big deal, so much so, it has to be kept confidential for now, so she cant talk much about it. But one thing is for certain, she does NOT want public recognition for the arrest, for her family's sake.

Comfort her, busy day. Hope she doesn't come injured or something.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/08/04(Thu)22:41 No. 1040113 ID: 11f77a
File 165967811227.png - (190.68KB , 550x500 , tvd_135.png )

Anjan creeps up from his sofa and softly walks to the hallway. She’s facing away--a perfect moment to slide up for a hug as she hangs her coat.
It was flawless.
“Honeeeeey, you’re home.” He says, “I haven’t even noticed the time and I can’t believe how late it is--even for me!” A kiss to her cheek. “Will you be busy tomorrow?”

There are strange things that happen while on duty. Strange in a silly way, a peculiar way. Stories of minor offenses and foolishness from the common citizen which makes a great laugh with the boys. Tonight’s case was... undefinable. In that short time she spoke to the Vitruvian, with what Tark has heard earlier, the universe feels a little more complicated to explain.

In his light embrace she turns in his arms with her nose bunting his. “I may skip work tomorrow and stay home. I feel I might sleep in for the morning. I’m so fatigued right now after driving all over the city.” A yawn. “I’m heading straight for bed. Is Mali alright?”
“Oh he’s fine. He’s been asleep for several hours. Say, I took the time to download some music on the app for karaoke. Naked Colors is kind of the rage nowadays.”
“Oh, they’re that pop duo, right? I haven’t been paying attention to anything on the radio--I won’t know the words. We can stick to music from Alp Daga.”
“It’s a duet, though! You can just mumble when the words come on the screen!”

She has no energy to talk; she has left it at the door. “We’ll see about tomorrow then. I’m too tired to think. You can finish watching whatever you were--”
“Oh no! I wasn’t... it’s just a documentary. Let me turn it off. I’ll meet you in our bedroom.”

Sarcopholacooda 2022/08/04(Thu)22:43 No. 1040114 ID: 11f77a
File 165967818427.png - (201.43KB , 550x500 , tvd_136.png )

You make a sweep of the living room. TV off. Crumbs under the rug. Future-you will deal with that. Bowl straight in the sink. Future-you will deal with that, too. You tip-toe up the stairs to not rouse your child across the parents’ bedroom.

She’s in her nightgown, flattening the sheets before sitting down. “I think Tark is finally retiring.”
“Deputy Tark? The tall guy?”
“Yeah, he mentioned something like that for weeks. But tonight it sounded like he meant it.”
“Good for him, then. I smell a promotion though~”
“Tch, Deputy Farah? That’s a long way away. I’m fine writing tickets.”

Well, it's already been several years since she joined the force, so you'll never know...

But agree that writing tickets is for the best, if it means she won't be staying out late as a deputy. The family is happy just the way things are now.

Nothing more to say, but give each other a kiss goodnight.

>>1040116
Seconded, this said it better than me.

Sarcopholacooda 2022/08/05(Fri)20:21 No. 1040170 ID: 11f77a
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“Well it’s been several years. You’re bound to step up.” Anjan slips under the covers, nesting himself next to his wife. She looks like she hasn’t lied down in 30 hours or so; she sinks into her pillow and stares at the ceiling.
“Hnngh... I’m just not in a rush is what I meant. I know I brought it up but, I don’t want to linger on work anymore.”

Anjan fastens the sheets to cover her.

“I love you Farah.”
“I love you too, Anjan.”

They smooch goodnight~

Sarcopholacooda 2022/08/05(Fri)20:23 No. 1040171 ID: 11f77a
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At last, we reach the END of THE VITRUVIAN

Thank you for participating in the demo.

A more conclusive epilogue could happen in the future.