>>43629790
If possible, use
>Grab some towels
to
>Pull Boss aside

>>43629790
>Grab some towels
>Pull Boss aside

>>43629790
>God, what a stupid system you live in...

In nearly every fictional modern day based magic society they have a shitty system for dealing with 'Normies'; the Beaumonts had the right idea.

>>43629790
>>Pull boss aside for a moment
>>Grab some towels


>>43629913
Then they got fucked and turned their daughter into a murder machine.

>>43629942
It's tragic to think that she could have had a normal life, had The Coven decided to fuck off.

>writing

>>43629980
The Coven is, essentially, HYDRA un-ironically calling themselves SHIELD.

"Well, I'll let you two get acquainted" You say, patting Abigail on the back. "Hey Boss, where do we keep the towels nowadays?"

You give Boss a serious look, and he seems to understand that you want to talk.

"They're in back. Come on, I'll show you" He says, as he stands up and heads off.

"Hmm? Doesn't Saif Kno-"
"So Marissa!" Abigail says, cutting Marissa off. "I love your hair! It's so big!"
"Uhh... thanks?" Marissa says.

You leave the girls and head into the back with Boss.

"You want to talk?" He asks.
"Just to tell you something" You say. "I got a bad feeling earlier. It's why I came here"
"What kind of bad feeling?" He asks.
"I dunno... It kinda felt like someone was watching me" You say.

"Any magic?" He asks.
"Not that I could sense" You say.
"Then it wasn't the Mountain" He says. "They use light to hide themselves. Not sure how. They keep that a secret"

"Sacred Mountain?" You ask. "The Muse and The Judge?"
He nods. "If it wasn't them, then you probably don't have to worry" He says.

You frown. "I'm not so sure about that..." You say.
"Who do you think it was?" He asks.

>Could it have been Harvey's people?

>Someone keeping tabs on Abigail?

>Take a guess (specify)

>Ask about the Muse/Judge

>Other

>>43630289
>>Someone keeping tabs on Abigail?
>Ask about the Muse/Judge

>>43630289
>>Could it have been Harvey's people?
>Ask about Muse/Judge

>>43630289
We were talking about Coven earlier; it could be them.

Puppeteer and Keeper are government, yeah? Maybe they're trying to find out about the competition.

Keeper can move around with that Knob, and we don't know if he/she can 'watch' from the room.

>>43630391
Keeper's power IS a bit vague, considering we don't know how they know where to pop out next.

Not like it could be sensed either, if it's a boon.

>writing

"It might be the Coven, or the Harts, or possibly just someone from the Dietrich house keeping tabs on Abigail" You say.

Boss shakes his head. "At the moment Coven has no presence here" He says. "A week ago, they did. A lot of them became Champions, and all of them died. The ones left over aren't enough to handle that kind of surveillance"

"What about the others?" You ask.
"Hart house is on defensive. Last I heard they had less people out and about than the Coven did" He says. "But you could be right about the girl... except you were the one who was being watched"

"How do you know?" You ask.
"You would not have felt it if it were her" He says. "Want me to look into it?"

>Yes

>No

>Other

>>43630585
>Yes

>>43630585
>>Yes

He's got connections. Maybe we can mention The Keeper thing.

>>43630585
>>Yes
Can we ask him if we're technically in the Russian Mob? We are a Malikov

>>43630585
What about asking about Muse/Judge?

>writing

"If you can" You say. "I don't much like the idea of someone stalking me"
"I'll make some calls" He says.

"Please" You say.
"Anything else you want to know?" He asks.
"Yes, actually" You say. "I'd kinda like to know more about the Muse and the Judge. They're the only champions who haven't shown themselves, and I get the feeling I'll be facing up against them eventually"

"Is topic for later" He says. "We are just getting towels. Excuse runs dry too quickly for long explanations"
"Right, yes" You say. "We can't just mind magic Marissa into thinking we were gone for 5 seconds?"

"Not a good use for it" He says. "Mind magic is for when you get caught, and tracks must be covered. Not for when you get careless and can't make good excuse"
"Gotcha" You say. "I was kidding anyway"

Boss hands you a couple of towels. "Here, dry yourself off" He says.
"Thanks" You say. "So... am I technically a part of the magical Russian mob? I am a Malikov, after all"
"I could get you in" He says. "Want me to ask about that?"
"No... or uhh... maybe" You say. "I'll think about it"

You nod to each other as you take the towels from him and head back out to find Abigail still chatting with Marissa. You toss her one, and use the other to dry yourself off...

>Ask why the cafe is so dead

>Ask why Marissa isn't at school

>Grab a coffee and sit down

>Other

>>43630957
>>Ask why Marissa isn't at school
>>Grab a coffee and sit down

>>43630957
>>Ask why the cafe is so dead

>writing

You step behind the counter and check the coffee pot. It's about half full and it seems pretty fresh, so you pour yourself a cup.

"Well this place is certainly dead" You say. "What's up with that?"
"It's 2pm on a Wednesday, it's pouring outside, and most of our usual crowd is at school" She says. "What do you expect?"

"I dunno, I've just never seen it this empty" You say.
"Like I said, everybody is at work or at school" She says.
"Shouldn't you be at school?" You ask.
"Not today" She says.
"Why not?" You ask.

"It's a half day, and the cafe is shorthanded" She says.

Yeah... you figured that much. Safi and Dwight have both quit, you've been neglecting your work, and Yui...

"So you're picking up the slack?" You ask, trying to keep your mind away from that subject.
"Someone has to" She says. "We can't all take half of our days off"
"I have my reasons for that" You say.
"And what reasons might those be?" She asks.

>My cat is sick

>It's personal

>It's Abigail's fault

>Other

>>43631291
>It's personal
"But for what its worth, sorry."

>>43631291
>It's personal

>>43631291
>>It's personal

>writing

>>43631291
>>It's personal
Could even cite the Kyla thing as an excuse; bureaucracy can fuck things up pretty hard.

>>43631458
Actually, yeah, could say something about who was 'supposed' to adopt her, or actual family that wants to take her in, yadda yadda yadda

"It's personal" You say.
She scrutinizes you for a moment, before realizing something. "Right! You're a father now. I forgot about that" She says.

A fa- fucking damn. You'd forgotten about that too, ever since Kyla stopped being small...

"How are the joys of parenthood treating you?" She asks,
"I don't even want to talk about it" You say. You doubt many parents get thrown into a deathmatch by their 'children'...

You also doubt that many parents end up having a magic make-out session with their children, but you're not going to look into that number. It would probably surprise you, and not in a good way.

"That's fine" She says. "I've heard that having kids is hard"
"Ugh... and to think some people do it by choice, rather than by bureaucratic fluke" You say.

Abigail giggles. "I'm sure there's good points to it" She says.
"Uh oh, Saif. Better watch out for her, she wants the whole shebang" Marissa says.
"What, you mean kids?" Abigail asks. "Of course I'd want kids. What kind of person plans to never have children?"

Marissa chuckles. "That's a good way to scare off your new boyfriend there, Abigail" She says.
"What? Saif's not scared" Abigail says, giving you a smile. "Right?"

>Would you be fine having cats instead?

>Terrified

>Fatherhood isn't so bad

>Other

>>43631628
>>Would you be fine having cats instead?
If only for humor's sake, but I don't think Saif would be opposed to Fatherhood.

>>43631628
>Fatherhood isn't so bad
"All kids work like Kyla right? Feed themselves and watch my anime?"

>>43631628
>>Would you be fine having cats instead?
Say it deadpan, looking right into her eyes. Then laugh

>>43631669
>>43631657
>>43631649
>>43631628
Pretty much a combo of all these.

>>43631628
>"What? Saif's not scared" Abigail says, giving you a smile. "Right?"

Rich Aryan German girl having kids with an everyman brown dude, like Saif? I wanna hear her throw that one to her parents lol

I'm not opposed, I just think their reactions would be hilarious.

>writing

>>43631754
Lucky fucking sand nigger gets a german girl and doesn't want to put babies in her....

Sometimes you just gotta let the /pol/ out

>>43631856
If you've heard todays news, /pol/ was right again.

File: bart.gif (1.4 MB, 193x135)

1.4 MB GIF

>>43631903
Yeah...shits fucked.

>>43631903
It's kinda said when they are, if it was any other country other than france I'd feel a lot worse.
But I'm Belgian and the frogs are assholes who didn't heed Germany's warning.

"Would you be fine just having cats instead?" You ask. "I think I'd prefer just getting more cats"

Abigail snorts. "You can barely handle the one you've got" She says.
"I can so" You say.
"Oh yeah?" She asks. "Then where is he?"

"He's..." back at the warehouse... with your sock... "Point taken"
Abigail smiles. "Maybe I was wrong about you being dad-material" She says.
"I am okay with you making that assumption" You say.

Abigail pouts. "But seriously, is he going to be okay over there?"
"Yeah, he'll be fine" You say. "Rain doesn't bother him. It's thunder that he hates"

Almost on cue several flashes light up the sky, followed by the boom of Thunder...

"And now?" Abigail asks.
"Less fine" You say.
"Should we head back?" She asks.
"Probably..." You say.

>Call a cab

>Brave the rain and catch a bus

>Ask Boss for a ride

>It can wait, though

>Other

>>43631965
>>Call a cab

>>43631965
>>Call a cab

>>43631965
>>Call a cab

>writing

You look out at the rain, and dread going back out there... but your little kitty needs you. So you pull out your phone, and call up a cab.

"Wow, what happened to your screen?" Marissa asks, once you're done talking.
"Oh, I dropped the damn thing" You say.
"That's too bad" She says. "You're always so careful"

"Well... some things just happen" You say. Not really your fault there... your hands were shaking so much...

"So where are you guys going anyway?" Marissa asks.
"We were... uhh..." You say.
"Back to this apartment we were looking at" Abigail says. "Moriarty snuck out with us in my purse"

"You left him there?" Marissa asks. "AND you two are looking for places? Dayum, you guys don't even know how to take it slow, do you?"

Abigail gives you a sly grin.

You sigh. "Abigail is the one looking for a place" You say. "I was helping her out"
"Why'd you leave your cat then?" Marissa asks.
"We left for lunch" You say. "The original plan was to head back there after, but then we got stuck in the rain"
"Ahh" Marissa says. "So why are you looking to move out so soon, Abigail? I thought you said your house was nice"

"Oh, the house is nice" Abigail says. "But you should meet my family. They're like a hand on your throat: suffocating"

>[1/2]

When the cab arrives, you head into the back to tell Boss that you're heading out. He lets you know that everyone will be meeting up at the warehouse later, and tells you to be careful.

After saying bye to Marissa, you head out. The rain soaks you once more on the short trip from the cafe to the cab, and it'll probably be worse going from the cab to the warehouse, as you told the driver to take you somewhere that's a little ways away.

"You know, that was pretty mean spirited of you, back there" You say.
"I thought you handled it pretty well" She says. "Besides, it worked out didn't it?"
"What did?" You ask.

"She got so focused on what I'd told her, that she didn't question it" Abigail says. "That, my dear, is how you tell a good lie"
"I'll keep that in mind" You say.

The ride back to the warehouse is short, but unfortunately the mad dash through the rain to the warehouse isn't. At the door, you fumble with the keys before finally getting it unlocked and disabling the alarm.

Once inside, Abigail shakes the water off her arms. "Ugh... I can think of one, maaaybe two times where I've been wetter than this" She says.
"Double entendre intended?" You ask
"Of course" She says. "We should probably hang our clothes up to dry for a bit, don't you think?"

Abigail presses herself against you, and goes for a kiss. But you stop her with a finger on her lips.

"We did come here for a reason" You say.
Abigail kisses your finger tip and twirls away. "Well, I'll be up in the bouncy room" She says. "Come see me when you're done"

You watch her take her shirt off as she walks away, giving you a look over her shoulder before she turns the corner.

Shaking your head, you set yourself to finding your cat. You can feel him here somewhere, but it's a bit jumbled... like his fear is getting in the way.

>Try calling him

>Try searching for him using magic

>Other

>>43632484
>>Try searching for him using magic
I've never owned a cat, do they actually fear thunder?

>>43632484
>Try calling him
Use our bond.

>>43632484
>Try searching for him using magic

>>43632484
>>Try searching for him using magic
But you can also call him.

>>43632506
Some do, some don't; it's a mixed bag.

>writing

You try to use your bond to find him, focusing on the connection itself. It's similar to focusing on your magic senses, so you can sense Abigail using magic up in the bouncy room.

She's probably doing some sort of hot-air thing to dry herself off... which seems like an interesting use for air magic.

Other than that, there's the "signature" of Moriarty which you can feel through your connection. You also get a faint reading off some of the enchanted items in the warehouse, as well as from the different barriers around town.

You don't think you could locate any of this stuff in less than several hours, as it is you don't even know what direction they're in. But this is a start.

Jessica told you that you could be a damn good tracker, and you're starting to understand why. Unless there is somehow a magic that's "older" than time, there could very well be nothing that you can't sense.

You follow your connection around the warehouse. It's like playing 'hot or cold'. If it weakens, you're going the wrong way, if it strengthens then you're on the right track.

Your senses lead you to a door at the back of the warehouse. It has a big 'do not enter' sign on it.

"Strange..." You say. You try the knob, but it's locked. Moriarty must have slipped under the door.

>Try to get in

>Call him out

>Ask Jessica what's inside

>Other

>>43632857
Ask jessica

>>43632857
>>Try to get in
Obvious plot hook is obvious.

>>43632857
>>Call him out

Rolled 68 (1d100)

>>43632857
>Try to get in
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG!?

>>43632857
>Try to get in

>writing

You pull out the Archive, recalling that there were a few keys in there when you looked through earlier. You try each one in turn, until one finally clicks and turns.

You open the door and step in, wary of any traps that might have been placed. Flicking the lightswitch to the side of the door, you're met with a messy office.

Moriarty darts out from underneath the desk and climbs up your pant leg, so you pick him up and cradle him with one hand, using the other to pet him.

"Miss me, buddy?" You ask.
"Meeee" He replies.

You continue looking around the office, glancing at the papers strewn about the single desk. It looks like old records. On the wall is what looks like one of those boards you might see an investigator use...

"Huh..."

It's all about her husband, your brother. It looks like she was trying to track him down.

There's even some stuff about you on here... How interesting. Maybe it wasn't coincidence that she becamse both your teacher and neighbour...

>Text/call Jess about this

>Go dry yourself off

>Look around

>Other

>>43633282
>Look around
Hmmmmmm

>>43633282
>>Look around

>>43633282
>Look around

>>43633282
>Go dry yourself off

>>43633282
>Look around

>writing

Okay, for some reason you aren't buying this. She obviously knew you had some connection to her husband. There has to be a reason for that beyond just looks.

You open a few drawers, looking through the various papers and envelopes contained within. You search for several minutes, before coming across something odd.

A brown envelope, sealed with wax. On the back of it are the words "Fazim Nazir, last will and testament"

If it's still sealed, then that means Jessica hasn't opened it either.

When you read the top corner, you see why. It's addressed to you and Safi, under the last name Nazir as well.

Before you can really question it or open it, you hear someone approaching and stow the letter in the Archive.

"How long are you going to make me wait?" Abigail asks.

You turn to see her wearing nothing but a towel, loosely wrapped around her. The sight makes you all but forget what you were doing.

"Just long enough to make you antsy" You say.
"Well I'm antsy" She says.

You step towards her, but she whips the towel off and throws it in your face.
"Nuh-uh" She says. "You'll have to come get me"

When you get the towel away, she's gone. So you follow the sound of her running footsteps all the way back to the bouncy room, where you "get her".

The letter gets pushed to the back of your mind for the time being, as you find yourself having more pressing concerns. Like how difficult it is to get wet jeans off, and the hopes that you won't be missing another sock this time around...

Bit of a slow thread, but I'll admit that not much happened this time around.

Next thread might be tomorrow, if I'm not busy. Either way I'll be running on Monday.

As always I'll stick around in case anyone has questions or suggestions

>>43633739
Ah teenage hormones and conspiracy, the best combination. Thanks for running boss.

>>43633739
Great thread, Smiley! I like Abigail, but I just have to ask: was Claire always supposed to be a character that wasn't seen much, outside of the arena, as opposed to Abby who can show up pretty much at the drop of a hat?

It's just a shame that Saif's interaction with her was so limited.

>>43633829
There were missed paths that could have been taken which would have led to more Claire time.

Some of them were missed due to choices you guys made, and some of them were missed due to Saif's social life all but collapsing after Yui's death/the Safi reveal

>>43633944
It's a shame, the fanbase might not have been as hard on her if there had been more opportunities to connect.