You lean back in the seat of the armored police VTOL, attempting with minimal success to recline against the metal wall. NeoLogos Secfors had shunted the lot of you into a VTOL before hostages, before even the noncons. Apparently keeping StrikeOut involvement in the operation takes precedence over just about everything else. You glance around the cabin, drinking in the delicious awkward silence.

Hikaru apparently didn’t care for the fact that she and Fausto were essentially left out of the mission entirely, something that had erupted into an argument the moment Marek opened the sphincter on his face and spewed forth his usual deluge of verbal diarrhea. What with all the dung Marek sprayed over the cabin, the spark of Hikaru’s temper turned the VTOL into a verbal fertilizer bomb. Everyone got scorched in it, even you, who was wearing the fire proof suit of seniority…

You decide to flush the entire verbal diarrhea/fertilizer bomb metaphor. It’s overflowing the toilet that is your mental narration. Suffice it to say that Hikaru was pissed that she didn’t get to participate in the mission and Marek’s needling set her off in a big way. You imagine things wouldn’t be quite so bad had Marek not pointed out that Hikaru seemed to doubt Miyuki’s ability to function effectively in combat. Miyuki’s shame permeates the cabin, damping just about everyone’s mood.

Normally you wouldn’t really give a shit about rookie interpersonal drama, but Miyuki’s statement that she only got anywhere due to her “udders” cuts kinda close to home. You shift in your seat and sigh, accepting the fact that you won’t be able to recline without cutting a hole in the fuselage. Part of you feels obligated to say something to lighten the mood, or at least get the rookies focused on something other than their personal bullshit.

>Do you
>Remain silent. Not getting involved in this shit. Besides, you’ve got stuff to think about [Speculate on cY-drite and NeoLogos, gonna be some exposition on the two]
>Say something joking [Write in]
>Say something authoritative [Write In]
>Other [Write In]

>>34909618
>Say something authorititative

This isn't about letting everyone play, this is about everyone doing their jobs when and where they're needed. A sniper rifle isn't a whole lot of use in an office building, but it's pretty fucking handy from across the street. Now play nice.

>>34909618
>>Say something authoritative [Write In]

Enough bullshit, it is a simple fact of life as a merc that not every mission will allow you to perform to your full potential. This mission unfortunately resulted in two of you providing overwatch and leaving you feeling unneeded. HOWEVER, none of you would be here if you could not perform and perform well, StrikeOut does not fuck around with its recruits and anyone who can't keep up is cut out. We are a team, this isn't a job for petty one-uping, that shit will get you killed, now shut your traps.

>>34909596
>>34909758

Seconded. Also say something to Marek, cuz he's a shithead and constantly antagonizing his team. Something along the lines that his attitude is gonna get him shot in the back someday

>>34909618

>>34909715, here. Agreeing with this guy, >>34909782, let him know that if he pisses off too many people too often, it's unlikely they'll stick their asses on the chopping block to help him out

>>34909618
>Say something authoritative
>>34909758
This

You scowl and sit upright, one hand grabbing onto a dandling support strap, the other hitching it’s thumb into your utility belt. You honestly didn’t think that it was possible for a group of rookies to have more friction than your own, what with you and Markos both being somewhat shitheaded and Elda being something of a bitch, but apparently you’ve found one. And while Marek being an obnoxious little tit isn’t your goddamn fault, you do have some sense of responsibility towards the former Himawari Force. Also, the fact that Miyuki is at least partially right about her “udders” leaves you feeling inordinately guilty. You rather wish that Darius or Clayton were here. Those two would probably have the leadership chops to bring things under control. You swallow a lump of self doubt and speak. “Enough bullshit, it is a simple fact of life as a merc that not every mission will allow you to perform to your full potential,” the rookies look up at you in some surprise, not entirely used to dealing with serious buisness Ivan. To be honest, you aren’t either. You continue anyway. “This isn’t about letting everyone play, this is not kindergarten and I am not your well meaning but perpetually single instructor who has to project her maternal urges onto other people’s children because the last relationship she was in was seven years ago with some manchild who couldn’t commit to raising a kid.”

You jerk yourself upright, hoping that the VTOL wouldn’t run into some turbulence and send your ass to the floor. You imagine that might ruin the effect you’re going for somewhat. You stomp over to Marek, looming over the rookie. “And since I’m not a childless child educator, it’s fucking incredible that you people are still pulling each other’s hair and pinching one another. You won’t get any goddamn gold stars for playing nice with others, but you can bet your ass you’ll live a hell of a lot longer if you do.” You turn away from Marek and begin the pace… well lurch around the cabin from landhold to handhold. “At this point, none of you would be here if you could not perform and perform well. StrikeOut isn’t some chickenshit outfit. We’re not about to invest near one hundred thousand credits in some fuckwit who’ll get fragged the second they step out of the pod. We are elite mercenaries, and the fact that StrikeOut was willing to finance your first round of augments proves you are ready to join us.”

You sit back down in your chair, crossing your arms. “You’re goddamn mercs in all but name. Act like it.”

You suppress the urge to smile. That rant turned out better than expected. Hopefully it got through to at least some of these dumbasses. You slide on your e-glasses and boot up some old yakuza flicks. The silence in the VTOL has gone from awkward to… something else. Anticipatory maybe?

The VTOL lands and the rookies file out in a straight line, Forming up to stand at attention in the courtyard of Camp Burgbradswoodshireford. You prowl the line before barking out, “Alright. It’s been a somewhat hectic day today. You’ve got R&R until the AM. Dismissed.”

The rookies march off to do whatever it is rookies do when given R&R time. You wait until they disappear from sight before relaxing from your drill sergeant stance.

>Well, R&R for them is R&R for you. What do?

>>34910726
>Well, R&R for them is R&R for you. What do?

Get a real beer, iirc the stuff they had on the Brick is synthetic crap.

>>34910726
>> Speculate on cY-drite and NeoLogos

>>34910786
>>34910726
>>34910787
Dual seconded

>>34910726

Time to do all the necessary paperwork... then we can R&R...

>>34910726
>>34910726
Agreeing. Find a real bear, relect on pearaliums and corporate warfare.

>>34910726
>>Well, R&R for them is R&R for you. What do?
Find a bear and wrestle it.

>>34911480
Bear wrassling inbound!

>>34911448
A real beer, too, while we're at it

>>34911549
Why not both? A bear and a beer.

>>34911566
We Rassle the bear then share a beer with it to laugh it off afterwards.

>>34911566
Sounds like a fun night to me

>>34911594
"- Sup Darius how's your night, I just cracked a bear and I'm relaxing with a old movie.
- Ivan check your e-glasses, I think your spellcheck is malfunctioning.
- Nah it's all good man.
- Goddamn crazy rookies."

It doesn’t take you long to remember the various implications of being planetside. Boozey implications. You slide on your e-glasses and ping the Camp supply Semi-Autonomous Program. Once it confirms your status as a full StrikeOut contractor it returns with an extensive list of booze. It appears that you’re not the first merc campside to pine for proper brew. Somehow you doubt you’ll be the last. You order a fairly comprehensive sampler of bottles, directing the SAP to leave them at your quarters.

You walk briskly back to your (temporary) quarters, making sure that you don’t encounter any rookies along the way. What that Antonin guy had to say deserved a little more thought than you could spare at the time. You grab the beer from a waiting drone and step into your room, placing the bottles in your fridge with abnormal tenderness, except for the milk stout, which your crack open on the well worn desk.

“Okay,” you mutter to yourself. “Where to begin.”

You take a sip from the stout, enjoying the interplay of roasted coffee flavors with the lactose. <Let’s assume that what Antonin said about being from cY-drite is true. Circumstantial evidence does add up, Ismene Tower is a NeoLogos research hub, cY-drite likes stealing shit from NeoLogos.>

You draw up some wiki articles on the two companies, more out of collegiate habit than anything else. You have to stop yourself from scrolling down to the reference section. cY-drite. Founded three years after NeoLogos experienced breakout success in the neuroware market. Their Othlan neuroprocessors were suspiciously similar to NeoLogos’ own Pentius line, but at the time StrikeOut lacked the capacity to raid their facilities. Too many probes by other corporations with a very literal definition of hostile takeover for an expedition against another start up on the far side of human space.

By the time the dust settled and NeoLogos had it’s defensive situation under control, cY-drite had also grown more than enough to defend itself from the revitalized StrikeOut. Ever since the two have been involved in a long cold war, never directly attacking the other. No, subsidiaries were the most common casualty in that long conflict.

And a long conflict it is. Since 2138 until today, the two have been at each other’s throats. Nearly one hundred and fifty years of cold warfare. And not so cold. In 2212 for example, a space elevator on Varaline mysteriously came unhitched from the planetside hub, crashing into the ground. You flick through pictures of damages, until you find a phone recording of the collapsing space elevator. You watch as the titanic cable comes down, the damn thing rumbling like an avalanche. As the tether comes closer, the camera shakes. At first you think the recorder is running, then you realize that no, it’s the impact of the space elevator, like a goddamn earthquake. The video cuts off as the massive tether scythes through a highway bridge and god knows how many feet of strongcrete and steel. All because Varaline Inc decided to cut some costs and switch over to the cY-drite Adapton line.

NeoLogos denies any involvement in the incident to this day. Considering the elevator in question that “spontaneously came unhitched” was carrying the first shipment of Adaptons you imagine the PR rep did so with a wink.

Focus, you remind yourself, pulling out a bottle of HopFUCK, the latest offering from the Neo-Origonian brewmasters. As much fun as it is watching a space elevator collapse planetside it doesn’t really address Antonin’s bizarre ramblings. If we’re assuming he’s not crazy, or at least that his claims aren’t entirely delusional, we run into a brick wall. That brick wall being his weirdly convenient amnesia. Seriously, the odds of memory loss like that is tremendously low. Hypnotic and neurochemical suggestion are both possible culprits, but if one assumes Antonin really was a cY-drite operative he would have been proofed against such things. Besides, neither is particularly efficacious. And regardless, Ismene Tower is a center for neuroware and neuronic interface R&D.

>Speculate

>>34911886
He was caught doing industrial espionage and they tried to implant memories of a faulty design and erase the memory of him getting caught so that he could bring the faulty design back to cY-drite and fuck up their push in that domain/ discredit them on the market.

>>34911886
>>Speculate
While it is true that current technology wouldn't be able to erase memory like, lets not forget that it is after all a research lab, who know what kind of new untested technologies they have at their disposal.

>>34911886
Maybe he fucked up and Cy wiped his memorys?

I hope the fact that we talked about the Pear aliens never comes up cus that was not a good idea to talk about in front of people

>>34911886
Antonin was very clear that the thing he forgot is the reason why he forgot whatever that thing is. Did he find something in Ismene Tower that affected his mind or memories?

>>34911886

Maybe he wasn't a cY-drite operative, and that idea was an implanted memory? What if he was a test subject for some kind of Illegal Neuroware, or maybe even a research who grew a conscience... The bad blood between the two corps is known, and It would be a simple enough story to believe if him being an insane Non-Com wasn't enough...

>>34911886
The pearalium said something about there being someone else that was contacted, but that he was dangerous. I may be remembering wrong, but is it possible that the contact with them maybe sent him off the deep end, and that he really was a spy for cY-drite, but is so far gone he can't remember anything that he found for them?

“Antonin did say over and over,” you mutter out loud, partially trying to rid your pallette of the astronomic IBUs contained in HopFUCK. “That whatever he forgot was the cause of his memory loss. Did he find something in Ismene? Shit was he the other guy that Fruity was talking about?”

You try to recall it’s name. “Was he… fuck, that other one. The Whole to Which Many Submit. Fruity said The Whole had an agent. Could Antonin be that agent?”

You eventually dismiss the idea. That individual was apparently set on the path of the pear aliens. You’re not entirely clear what that means, but it does imply that whoever serves The Whole has some sort of power or authority, not some raving lunatic. That leaves the almost an unlikely alternative that something in Ismene Tower messed with his mind. Maybe it deleted memories, but shit, maybe it added them too?

There’s really only one problem to that possibility. The Gillar Divide. Named after a noted neuroscientist in 2098, Chell Gillar. The Divide basically states that while the brain may interface with electronic devices, the transfer of data, memories in this case, from the electronic device to the brain is impossible. This basically means that uploading memories, knowledge, skills, or even entire personalities from a brain to an electronic system is impossible. The fundamental programming language of the human mind is too obtuse, too complex to allow communication between binary computers and the human brain.

You’d have an easy time believing that NeoLogos had some sort of magical wand that could overcome the Gillar Divide, but that particular problem has stumped scientists for nearly three centuries. Some scientists have declared that you’d need a quantum computer the size of a continent to properly calculate and compile a working protocol between the Mind and Machine.

>Continue Speculating
>Fuck this. There’s beer here and my head hurts a little now. [Timeskip to end of time on Atlas]

>>34912590
Eh, I at least want to hang out with the Himawari force off duty. That's basically what we came for before we got distracted by plot.

>>34912590
>Fuck this. There’s beer here and my head hurts a little now. [Timeskip to end of time on Atlas]

>>34912590
Fuck this. Off to bed to dream of tomahawk killings and triple lewdity of the Himawari Force.

>>34912590
>Fuck this. There’s beer here and my head hurts a little now. [Timeskip to end of time on Atlas]

>>34912646
So much this

>>34912646
I think we decided to remain professionally distant while we were their instructor, rather than just their superior.

>>34912590
>Fuck this. There’s beer here and my head hurts a little now. [Timeskip to end of time on Atlas]

Hey FG, are alright? Things seem a little off since the quest started back up.

>>34912590
>Fuck this. There’s beer here and my head hurts a little now. [Timeskip to end of time on Atlas]

>>34912590
>Fuck this. There’s beer here and my head hurts a little now. [Timeskip to end of time on Atlas]

>>34912590
>>Continue Speculating
You need help speculating. Help with big tits.

>>34912646
If we can I would like this if not no biggie

>>34912590
>Fuck this. There's beer here and my head hurts a little now. [Timeskip to end of time on Atlas]

>>34912590
>>34912689
>>34912733
This me, changing to second this

Okay anons. The game plan was a bit of light lewding between Ivan and ONE of the Himawari force after the timeskip. Won't do any more people than just one, too much effort to work out the scene. Totally honest, the only way I could see myself writing the lead up to a fourway is in a sentence long blurb that basically says "you fucked".

>>34912694
On duty is one thing

>>34912846
In that case, let's see if Thundertits wants to remember the taste of real booze before she heads to The Brick

>>34912846
Can you hear this rumbling? Is that thunder? Is it an earthquake? Is it the rumbling of an army advancing?

NO! It's Thundertits walking toward Ivan!

>>34912846
That's fine Fall Guy. I didn't really feel much chemistry between anyone but Ivan and Thundertits anyway.

>>34912846
Drinking contest round two. Light-weight decides to show up and demonstrate her improvement in one of the most dangerous elements of the mercenary trade. (Can she best the Russian Bear? Probably not, but she'll damn well try!)

You decide to leave speculation on pear aliums and technological marvels to a later date. Right now there’s beer to savor/smash if we’re being honest. You crack open the remaining bottles and drain them in short order. This eventually results in you falling onto your bed. Although not terribly drunk, barely even buzzed, you doze off anyway. Too much thinking and hostages to bother staying awake and rocking the nightlife of Camp Woodsburgshirebradford.

The rest of your time on Atlas passes by in a bit of a blur of training exercises and instructional videos. Your speech on the VTOL seems to have created some distance between you and the rookies, even if they salute and hup to with the best of them in your presence. You regret this slightly, but hope that once it’s all said and done they’ll be all the better for it.

It’s Friday, your last day on Atlas and with the rookies in Camp Shirebradforsburgwood. you stand before the rookies, who are panting after several hundred laps through an obstacle course while you fired paintballs at them. If you’re being totally honest, it was a blast. Sweat mixes with paint on their shirts, leaving huge neon green smears. You walk along the line of rookies, examining each of them. “Well. As you all are fully aware this is my last day planetside. I’m sure it’s a day at least some of you were looking forward to. So, in honor of that and the beginning of the weekend, you’re dismissed early for R&R. Hit up Mymerkion, sleep, take a shower, whatever you want. My replacement isn’t coming until Monday. Fair warning, it’s Choi and when he was my instructor he liked to use smoke bombs for reville. So... be ready for that. Dismissed.”

The rookies all file away, breaking off into groups the further away from you they get.
You shake your head and look around the familiar camp. Seemed bigger when you were a rookie. The shadows are already long, and the world is suffused with a golden light. It’s kinda pretty right now.

You decide to head back to your own quarters and get out of the BDUs. You’re officially off duty as a trainer at Camp Bradbradbradbradbrad, so no point staying in uniform. After getting changed, you wonder what to do with your free time.

>Head to the Training Dojo. [Chisaki]
>Climb on top of the Camp barracks, one of your old haunts as a rookie [Miyuki]
>Check out the Camp data archives [Hikaru]

before we go back to the brick we should buy some real donuts for Svenja

>>34913421
>>Climb on top of the Camp barracks, one of your old haunts as a rookie [Miyuki]
Miyuki is thunder-tits right?

>>34913421
>>Climb on top of the Camp barracks, one of your old haunts as a rookie [Miyuki]

>>34913421
>Climb on top of the Camp barracks, one of your old haunts as a rookie [Miyuki]

It's thunder time!

>>34913421

>Climb on top of the Camp barracks, one of your old haunts as a rookie [Miyuki]

>>34913421
>Climb on top of the Camp barracks, one of your old haunts as a rookie [Miyuki]

>>34913421
>Head to the training Dojo. [Chisaki]

>>34913421
>>Head to the Training Dojo. [Chisaki]

>>34913421
>Check out the Camp data archives [Hikaru]

>>34913581
>>34913603
Buck that trend, anons!

Alright, writing.

>>34913611
Ok, if we're doing Miyuki (did not realize how that sounded until I wrote it) can I ask what Ivan's performance evaluation for her was? Trying to figure out what angle we're taking.

>>34913390
bring rice balls and booze

>>34913688
Pretty good. Miyuki was well within StrikeOut fitness parameters and her combat performance was acceptable. Nothing really exceptional, but nothing worth her crushing self doubt.

>>34913421
>Climb on top of the Camp barracks, one of your old haunts as a rookie [Miyuki]

Not only will this bring us closer to extreme watersports with her chest, We can also maybe help her grow as a merc and shed some of her ridiculous self doubt.

>>34913927
>Not only will this bring us closer to extreme watersports with her chest

Now I know what you were getting at when you said that, but still, that really doesn't come out right.

>>34913791
Damn, no easy openings for confidence boosting. No one likes hearing that they're "adequate" or "acceptable" in relation to their peers...

>>34913974
There's no turning back anon, I stand by the letter of my idea.

>>34914011
Gotta appreciate a man with conviction

File: apone_aliens.jpg (29 KB, 580x300)

29 KB JPG

>>34913390
>Your speech on the VTOL seems to have created some distance between you and the rookies, even if they salute and hup to with the best of them in your presence. You regret this slightly, but hope that once it’s all said and done they’ll be all the better for it.

Sometimes, you have to be the caring dude who looks out for his rookies.

And then sometimes, you have to be this guy.

You decide that so long as you’re here and feeling like a nostalgic old shit you might as well visit one of your old haunts when you were a rookie. After all, you can get loads of drunken debauchery on the Brick and there you don’t need to worry too much about killing any civvies by accident. Not everyday you can climb back on top of the barracks and reminisce about all that time you spent stargazing/getting shitwrecked. You decide to bring along a six pack for old times sake. Watch the sun set and all that serene bullshit.

You walk over to the barracks, passing by Chisaki, Fausto, and Marek as the three make their way to one of the autos waiting outside. They wave at you, somewhat surprised to see their instructor of the week in civvie wear. You nod back, and continue on to the barracks. Eventually you reach the barracks wall. It only takes a few minutes of looking to find the bit of piping that leads up to the roof. You grunt, and climb up it.

The trip is a lot easier than you remembered it, but being a superhuman mercenary does have it’s perks. You clamber onto the roof, depositing the six pack with a series of clinks. You barely manage to hear the gasp of surprise. Looking around suspiciously, you eventually pinpoint the sound. It came from behind some roof vents, the very ones you would sit against while skiving off of work. You walk over the the vents, taking no care to mask your approach. You reach the vents, a look quizzically around the edge.

Miyuki stares up at you like a deer caught in headlights. You step fully into the open and raise an eyebrow. Suddenly, the merc hops to her feet, bowing deeply. “M-my apologies Kostov-sensei! I know I am not supposed to be on the barracks roof. I hope my presence did not cause any undue stress to you on your rounds. I… I shall descend to the ground level immediately!”

>Better say something before she runs off.

>>34914103
Just explode in an hearthy laugh.

>>34914103
Laugh and tell her to join us, we're just reminiscing

>>34914103
>Hold up the six pack

'StrikeOut isn't too strict on the whole 'rules' thing'

>>34914103
>Clink the six pack in your hand.

"Fuck Miyuki. If I was on duty right now I'd be in violation of way more regs than you right now."

>Sit down against vent. Proffer beer

"Bribe you not to turn me in to HR?"

Go on about how we used to come here all the time as a rookie.

>>34914103
"No. Stay. I'm not your Instructor anymore. I'm just surprised to see someone else found this particular spot to unwind."

"Besides, tasty beverages always taste the better for being shared."

>>34914354
that's gay as fuck

>>34914257
Something like this works, I guess.

>>34914211
This, followed by...

>>34914257
The second part of this.

>>34914103
Start chuckling.

"Sorry Miyuki, I can't let you do that. You might rat me out for coming up here, so you're stuck with me. Have a beer.

Come up here often?"

>>34914257
seconding

You can’t help yourself. You chuckle slightly, which forestalls Miyuki’s retreat. Grinning, you raise the six pack, letting the bottles clink against one another. “StrikeOut isn’t really strict on the whole rules thing.”

You walk up next to Miyuki and sit down, leaning against the vent. You lift a bottle out of the pack and flip it in your hand, proffering the neck out to Miyuki. “Bribe you not to turn me into HR?”

Miyuki considers the beer for a few seconds before she takes the bottle, plopping down next to you, knees as close to under her chin as her anatomy allows. She fingers at the cap of the bottle for a few seconds, looking away from you. You figure she probably comes up here to deal with her feelings or some shit. You gently pull the bottle out of her hand and pop the cap off with the head of your (deactivated) tomahawk. You hand it back to her before opening a bottle for yourself.

You lean back against the vent and look up into the sky. After a long draw on the beer you say, “You come up here too? Did the same all the time when I was a rookie.”

You notice Miyuki’s head shift out of the corner of your eye. She’s not looking at you, but she’s not looking away either now. “Why did you come up here sensei?”

>”It’s a little stupid, but stargazing. At least sometimes.”
>”Why do you think I brought the sixer up with me?”
>”I’d usually come up here with some friends. Good place for shenanigans.”
>”You can stop calling me sensei by the way. I’m not your instructor any more.”
>Write In

>>34914779
>>”It’s a little stupid, but stargazing. At least sometimes.”
>”You can stop calling me sensei by the way. I’m not your instructor any more.”

>>34914779
>”It’s a little stupid, but stargazing. At least sometimes.”

>>34914779
>”It’s a little stupid, but stargazing. At least sometimes.”
>”You can stop calling me sensei by the way. I’m not your instructor any more.”

>>34914779
>”It’s a little stupid, but stargazing. At least sometimes.”

>>34914779
>>”It’s a little stupid, but stargazing. At least sometimes.”
Ivan trying to act all moe and shit.

>>34914813
I agree with this anon.

>>34914779
>”It’s a little stupid, but stargazing. At least sometimes.”
>”You can stop calling me sensei by the way. I’m not your instructor any more.”

"Ivan works just fine."

>>34914779
>>>”It’s a little stupid, but stargazing. At least sometimes.”

>>34914813
>>34914827
>>34914901
>>34914779
Yerp.


And for some reason, I feel I'd be fine not banging her.

Not saying I don't want to bang her, but she seems to need a friend more than anything.

You grunt, rubbing the back of your neck. “Well... fuck. It’s a little stupid, but stargazing.”

“Star… gazing?”

“Yeah,” you reply, and now it’s your turn to look away from Miyuki. “Yeah, that.”

Miyuki titters with laughter, hand covering her mouth. You can feel your ears turn a little red. “H-hey now. That’s only sometimes! What’s so funny?”

Miyuki continues to giggle at your obvious embarrassment. “Well sensei, it’s just that… oh you know, it’s just so incongruous!”

You decide to change the topic of conversation from your (stunted) poetic side. “You don’t need to call me sensei any more,” you say suddenly, the entreaty for informality sounding a little stiff and formal. “I’m not your instructor anymore after all. Feels a bit weird, like I’m a balding middle aged guy or something.”

Miyuki looks surprised at the conversational shift, but smiles at your words. “Well then, what should I call you?”

>Write in something
>”Whatever the hell you want.”

>>34915067
'My parents preferred Ivan'

>>34915067
"Call me Ivan."

>>34915067
"THE BEAR! But actually, just call me Ivan"

>>34915067
"Ivan."

>>34915067
>>”Whatever the hell you want.”

But most people call me Ivan.

>>34915067
Ivan "Bearpuncher" Kostov.

>>34915067
>Write in something

"Most people just call me Ivan since I don't have a snazzy nickname yet."

>>34915067
>Steve

>>34915067
Call me...IVAN THE DREADSLAYER!

>>34915067
Call me ana ga chigau.

>>34915524
>ana ga chigau

l...lewd

>>34915524
>pre-googling
whut

>post-googling
kek

“Just call me the Bear,” your brain processes that one for a second. “On second thought don’t. Give people the wrong impression. Just Ivan. Most everyone else calls me that anyway.”

“Okay. Hello Ivan!”

You expected getting her to say your first name would be more difficult. You have some vague awareness that first names have some connotations on Nipponese worlds. You chuckle. “What a surprise. Thought you wouldn’t want to us-” You look over at Miyuki, to see she’s smiling slyly, but you think you can see the hints of a rising flush of embarrassment. “Uh never mind.”

Miyuki brushes some hair back behind her ear. “Use your first name? That’s a very traditional… approach to things. Most people aren’t so strict about it.”

“Yeah, yeah I suppose not,” you reply, rubbing the back of your head. Then you hear another titter of laughter. “What’s so funny?”

“Oh…” says Miyuki, speaking around her hand, “Just, well you know already.”

>”Is my hobby really that surprising?”
>”Well fine then. What’re YOU doing up here?”
>”So you lived on a less traditional Nippon Corp holding?”
>Write In

>>34915524
[Keks internally]

>>34915620
>>”Well fine then. What’re YOU doing up here?”
What's YOUR excuse you dirty slutmuffin?

>>34915620
>”Well fine then. What’re YOU doing up here?”

>>34915620
>”Well fine then. What’re YOU doing up here?”

Let's laugh at her, unless its a feels scene

>>34915620
>>”Well fine then. What’re YOU doing up here?”

Do you want me to archive this?

>>34915620
>”Well fine then. What’re YOU doing up here?”

>>34915620
My life can't be all high-risk corporate espionage, sometimes I need to relax and unwind. Star gazing gives me some perspective and peace.

>>34915749
Sure, if it's not a bother. Thanks anon.

>>34915795
And Archived.
Hope it's alright

Your face contorts into a mock grimace. “Well fine then,” the grimace slips off, replaced by a friendly smile. “Why are YOU up here?”

Miyuki’s laughter catches. That’s not a good sign. Neither is the slow falling of her face.

Oops.

Miyuki looks away from you again. Her forehead touches the tops of her knees. You’d imagine that if it were not for a pair of obstructions she'd have buried her face instead. Oh boy, guess this isn’t really her serene happy place.

“Shit.” The sight of Miyuki in such obvious unhappiness fills you with that illogical need to apologize. “Sorry about that Miyuki.”

Miyuki shakes her head. “No… no. Please, I am sorry Iv- Kostov-sempai. I should not be such a burden.”

The rookie merc makes to stand, free hand covering her mouth like a mask.

>Shit bitch, ya’ll best intervene

File: animated-gif-forming-glass.gif (1.71 MB, 480x288)

1.71 MB GIF

>>34916121
Nailed it anon. Have a gif of a machine doing something

>>34916158
'Come, sit down. Just trying to get you used to the sense of humor you'll find in this line of business. Finish your beer, and let me teach you the wonders of star gazing'

>>34916158
A burden? What make you think that?
Anyway, do you think you would have made it that far if you were a burden?

>>34916158
"Burden? Why would I think a silly thing like that? You aren't a burden. Now come, sit. And Miyuki, it's Ivan, just call me Ivan."

>>34916158
"Burden?, Hah!"
Shake head
"I was considered a potential burden for a while, even after I completed some missions. I am an official Strike Out operative and I still mess up and perform stupidly in the field as does everyone, we're only human after all, no matter how much hardware they put in us we will still make mistakes."
Rub the arm that was blown off on 'THAT' drop and look ahead
"But I learned from my mistakes and now I'm out of my dept and in a record time to boot. That's even after they warned me about my reckless behavior in the field. Now are you going to learn from your mistakes or are you going to wallow away in them?"

>>34916365
Like this, seconding

>>34916333

Seconding.

>>34916365

Not this. A long spiel is likely to shut her down.

>>34916365
This.

>>34916333
This please, the other one is way too long. No speeches, just love.

>>34916365
Wait. When we're we considered a burden. Also, if Ivan's a burden, would that make her feel worse since she currently feels like her potential as a merc is significantly lower than ours?

>>34916741
Our recklessness didn't go down well with the company

>>34916158
Wait guys. Niels. Niels who couldn't even fire a gun properly.

Compare her to Niels, throw our buddy under the bus a bit, no matter how worthless Miyuki feels she will never be as incompetent as Niels. Talk about the time he saved our life. "If Niels can do that, you can easily do it too."

>>34916815
>Shit tier bro
Niels, and you

>>34916158
"Girl, stop that. Stop doing it. I don't care about your reasons, just stop it. I'd say that it gets on my nerves, if I didn't care about sounding mean.

You've got nothing to be ashamed of. I've followed your training, even if only for a little. I've seen you fail, and I've called you out on it every time, because that's what you need. What all of you guys need.

But as I said, I've seen you. And believe me when I say it, you're doing fine.

Now, sit down and relax. Enjoy the stars, if you want."

>>34916158
*remove pants*
You're tired of being a burden? How about I make you a woman instead?

>>34916876
Niels is terribad at combat. But he can still contribute to the success of the mission. I guess I misspoke when I said "throw him under the bus" but if Miyuki feels bad about her ability to contribute, just point out Niels.

“Fuckin’ Goddamn. Stop doing that. I don’t care about your reasons for doing that, just stop.”

Miyuki stops and looks up at you, somewhat confused. “K-K-”

“You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. Seriously, you think you’re bad? I’ve got this buddy Niels. Bastard couldn’t even hit the broadside of a cruiser. Like, even after boot camp he was worthless with a gun. But guess what, he ended up saving my life on a drop.”

“B-but Kost-”

You interrupt Miyuki. “Just Ivan. Seriously, just Ivan. And like I was saying, I’ve seen you and Niels in action. you are by far and away more competent than Niels. Guy’s a hacker. I’m positive he’ll become a desk jockey at some point in the future.”

“But Ivan!” Miyuki cries, cutting through your reassurances. “I can’t even contribute to the group. Not like Hikaru or Chisaki or Marek or you or anyone!”

“Miyuki,” you say, chuckling softly. you rest a hand on her shoulder. “Look at me. When I was just starting out, there was talk of leaving me station side. I just took that many dumb risks. You think you are holding the team back? I got my goddamn hand shot off when I stepped into my squad’s lines of fire.”

“Oh… oh my.”

“Yeah. So trust me. No matter how goddamn worthless you feel, you haven’t yet forced a tactical retreat and mission failure because you stepped into the line of fire.”

Miyuki smiles and laughs wetly. “I suppose that I have not, Ivan.” She rubs both of her eyes with her wrists. “I certainly have not been shot.”

“Exactly. So you can breathe easy. Useless… pfah.”

Miyuki grins a bit. “Yeah... Yes, I suppose that was rather silly.”

“Damn straight,” you reply, taking a seat once more. You draw from a bottle. “Now siddown. Suns about to set.”
Miyuki sits down next to you.

>Do anything as the sun sets you suave little fellows?

>>34917411

Drink beer together.

Sensually.

>>34917411
Fuck like rabbits

>>34917411
Yawn and put your arm around her
Ivan is one suave motherfucker

>>34917411
>>Do anything as the sun sets you suave little fellows?
Put your arm across her shoulder and then slowly whisper to her ear "How about a Dirty Martian Jackrabbit?"

Sensually

>>34917411
Point out them consolations.

Sensually

>>34917411
>no words, share beer

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>>34917411
Point out some sweet constellations as we wrap a arm around Miyuki.

>>34917689
*Constellations, I mean

>>34917411
Wrap an arm around her shoulder.

"If there's one thing my fuckups have taught me it's that you have to rely on others, nobody can do it alone and there's no shame in that. Whether it's covering fire, or needing to talk to someone.

Now drink your beer, the stars'll be out soon."

>>34917813
Seconded.

Alright guys, probably the last update tonight, dollar beer happy hour and all that.

Next thread on thursday, will have missions to select. Probably two this time.

While I'm still writing, is there anything that I can do better as a QM right now? That hiatus over the summer was a long one, and I was wondering if there was any issues.

>>34918042
pls run more

>>34918042
Honestly not much, you're one of my favorite QM's and your writing style actually very good. I guess we haven't had a fun mission in awhile and that would be nice.

>>34918042

You just stay shiny, you beautiful man.

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>>34918042
Love this quest. Just keep doin what yer doin

>>34917411
Help! (´･ω･`)
I think Fall Guy has fallen asleep (´･ω･`)

(´･ω･`)

>>34918042
None come to mind. Just be wary of igniting a waifu war.

>>34918547
But the whole "you can bang everyone" thing is designed to prevent waifu wars

>>34918042
Keep up the good work man. I actually feel like your writing is a little better. Maybe allow for a little more player input? The last few thread have been great, but it's been QM side heavy I think. Maybe because we haven't been on a mission yet.

>>34918547
Already happened. Then all relationships defaulted to casual, which is smart.

The two of you watch as the sun sets behind the horizon, setting the world awash with golden red light that eventually fades away to purple and finally night. The two of you gaze up expectantly at the night sky. After a few minutes of waiting you yawn. After your down yawning you put your arm over Miyuki’s shoulder. Because why do you need an excuse to put your arm over her shoulder? The rookie nestles herself into your side.

You can feel some undeniable assets press against your chest. Like seriously, holy shit was this woman the result of years of breeding for the perfect boobies or something? You decide to ignore your somewhat more unbecoming thoughts and focus up at the night sky. Luckily the camp is far enough away from Myrmekion to avoid the worst of the light pollution, and most of the major constellations are visible. Your hand rises slowly into the air and traces out one, your finger looping around and around. “That’s Malkos. The Tapeworm constellation.”

Miyuki shifts against you. “Gross.”

“I know, right,” you answer, as your finger traces out another line of stars in the sky. “That’s Ancephelon, the Nebular Octopus. Further away from the cities, the nebula shines through area between the stars and some say changes color even as you watch it.”

You trace out a few more constellations, giving a brief blurb on each. After a little while you lean back. “Sorry if that bored you. I find this sort of thing very relaxing.”

“You know, Ivan,” says Miyuki, a sort of sly note in her voice that you’re not usually used to hearing from the merc, “I think I can see a constellation from my homeworld here.”

You decide that being a star autist can wait, and don’t correct her that the stars would most likely look different from her own home planet. Suddenly Miyuki’s finger is tracing something, and it most definitely isn’t the night sky. “This one is called Mamushi, the Hebi Constellation.”

>>34918545
>(´･ω･`)

Literally the worst thing. You gave me flashbacks.

>>34918636
> undeniable assets
keking

>>34918636
>“This one is called Mamushi, the Hebi Constellation.”

Hah, my power level was high enough to get that one without google's help.

>>34918636
Being a Star Autist can never wait FG. My inner astronomer overwhelms all.

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>>34918636
>Suddenly Miyuki’s finger is tracing something, and it most definitely isn’t the night sky.

>>34918636
Hmm, I get the feeling that Miyuki has a thing for authority figures.

>>34918636
Wait, was that the last update for tonight?

>>34919439
Yep. I'm guessing >>34918681 was Fall's decision to cut his loses.

>>34919496
in that case
(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)
(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)
(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)
(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)(´･ω･`)

>>34919520
(｢･ω･)｢

>>34918636
Just caught up, thanks for the thread FG, cya next time

Hey everybody who came after I went offline! You guys are excellent, thank you very much for reading DAQ!

>>34923719
Love your stuff man, thanks for taking your own personal time to write it for us.