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Post by empireoffire on Apr 28, 2015 2:25:34 GMT -6
B. LEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY JEEEEEENKINS
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Post by SummerCrow on Apr 28, 2015 10:23:31 GMT -6
B. LEEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOY JEEEEEENKINS B. Alright, chums! |
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Post by grayjack on Apr 28, 2015 14:05:43 GMT -6
B I guess.
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Post by HHDeception on Apr 30, 2015 1:41:16 GMT -6
Mike shook his head. "No, you stay back. I'll rush them and you catch like last time."
"I can't heal you if you get hurt," Zachi said in response, "Not like little miss Sparkles."
"You nuke stuff instead. That's better." Mike said, waving away whatever implications she had. "Ready?" he asked.
Zachi took a second before she finally nodded. "Ok, Go."
He jumped up, bat raised. The frogs in their bouncing patterns swerved from random to ordered to meet each other for their combo attack. Mike swung and rushed in to catch them as they came together. He kept his eye on a single frog the whole time, and didn't so much hit the frog as he did try to scoop it up at high speed and carry it into its neighbors. Much more precise than hitting. He spun in a circle, scooping one into another. The two bubbles both popped and the frogs fell helplessly to the ground, where Zachi stuck them fast.
The remaining two frogs didn't seem happy about that though, and they charged Mike in double helix formation, which was inconvenient since he was right next to them. They hit him even before he finished following through with his swing. And this time, instead of being flung away, Mike was caught in the vortex. Zachi couldn't see if he tried to activate his shield pin, but it wouldn't have worked if it did. Mike didn't hear Zachi call his name, get up, and start running towards him, but it's not like it would have helped. Mike was carried all the way and slammed into the far wall (which to be fair, only took a few seconds at the speed the frogs were moving), where the frogs bounced off, leaving a battered Mike slumping to the ground.
The frogs found a new target: Zachi, who was standing right next to a wall nearby. They swerved into a beeline towards her, noticing too late that there was a blotch of ink on the wall behind the girl. Zachi intended to drop just before they hit...but they moved faster than anticipated. They rammed her into the wall behind her hard, knocking the wind out of her, but that didn't stop her from hitting the detonator. With a great big boom, she blew up both the frogs she had stuck before, and shot a pillar of fire out from the wall she was just thrown against and luckily, her hypothesis had checked out. She didn't stick to her own ink, hence the psychs don't affect the players themselves. It's also why Jesus couldn't levitate objects with other players on them. The fire passed right through her and caught the two frogs previously on her tail, slapping them together to pop their bubbles before deep frying them out of existence.
Of course, Mike was a bit too woozy to know that had happened. He swung his bat, then felt a lot of pain, and then...he didn't remember...and then after a while he heard Zachi calling his name and shaking him gently.
"Mike. Mike. Look at me."
He could manage that. He could still feel his face...not his arms or legs or chest, but his face he could manage. He turned slightly to Zachi. She wasn't smiling or looking concerned...but she was watching him rather intently.
"We win?" He muttered.
"I nuked them." She replied.
Mike tried to get up. Feeling was returning, slowly. "So did we win?"
Zachi sighed, "Yeah. And guess what, we have like...$952 now."
Mike grinned a bit, "Guess it was worth it then." He said, as he pulled himself to one knee. Zachi held an arm out, but was also looking at him strangely. Typical....or, wait, no there's something strange on him. Mike looked down and saw his pin Burnt Rubber glowing. It pulsed a few times before flashing and it suddenly had a completely different design. Where there was once a spinning tire on a purple background, now there was a flaming hubcap on red.
"That's weird."
"Yeah."
Mike took Zachi's arm and pulled himself up, while checking the pin for where its name was engraved previously. It had changed to Shred Rubber. Suddenly, Mike had a flashback to one of the ads during the Tin Pin Masters Event.
"This can't be the end!"
"AHAHAHAHA! Your Spicy Curry Bomb is no match for my Lollipopper Xtreeme! Give it up!"
"No...NO! I won't give in yo! I feel it...I feel like my soul is...burning! Like HEARTBURN! The Curry...it burns within me. I can feel the spicy hot passion of Curry filling my being! I get it! I can even taste it! CURRY! RAAAAAUGH!!! I! HAVE! THE! POWEEEEEER!
*FLASH FLASH FLASH*
"No! That's IMPOSSIBLE! Your Spicy Curry Bomb evolved!"
"That's RIGHT! Now it's ULTRA SPICY CURRY BOMB X! I'm making a COMEBACK! And I'm PACKING HEAT!"
Mike shuddered a bit. Zachi was now definitely looking at him strangely. The moment was broken by his phone buzzing, and the slow process of fading back to the RG from the Noise Void.
(Yes, it's called the Noise Void...NV...thought it sounded neat).
It was a text message from Spencer.
Couldn't find you. Be in the Food Court.
"Spencer's waiting for us in the Food Court."
"Let's go then. Can you walk?"
Mike nodded. "Yeah, I'm good. A bit...tired though."
On the walk over, they had time to chat. Zachi was carrying the shopping bags along.
"Let's sort things out." Mike started.
"You go first," Zachi followed, "What do you see as the problem in our cooperation? Be honest."
Direct and to the point. Of course.
Mike spoke, "Ok um...you are quiet. A lot. And you ignore me a lot outside of the mission. And you hardly ever voice your opinions if it's not about battle. And when I speak up it's like you dismiss all my ideas. But you still go along with it, so it's like you humour me like a child. It's...obnoxious."
Zachi absorbed that, then spoke again. "Then I apologize for coming off that way. I don't see a practical reason to talk to you outside of battle or the mission. I think a lot. And it's easier for me to think on my own. In that regard it's not you, it's me."
Did she really just say that?
"I suppose I should then talk to you more," she continued, "Conversationally. Since you seem to need it."
"Like that! Right there!" Mike called out, "I seem to need it. Dismissive and passive aggressive as all hell."
Zachi shook her head in frustration, "Ok ok. Sorry. It's...the way things form in my head. Words come out that way. Straightforward. I can't really...help it. Not right now. But know this," she said making eye contact, "I think you are a good person and I will never mean to actually offend you. If I say something insulting...assume I'm joking. I know I don't look like it, but pretend. If that helps."
Mike thought for a moment. "...alright. Thank you. And same to you. I like you. I don't want to offend you. Ok?"
"Ok."
"Ok."
...
"Hold on," Mike said again, "Do you have an actual problem with me? Like...I know I seem to call the shots here..."
Zachi stopped him, "No, no problems. If I really thought we were doing something wrong I would say something for sure. Like I have been. And now we're talking now to work out a problem I needed solved."
Like a well oiled machine...an honest one though I'll give her that.
"Alright, cool." Mike said with a grin, "And same here. We're partners. We gotta trust each other."
"Good. On that note, we need to buy you better clothes."
"What?"
"You should have some armor, especially if you insist on making risky plays and taking hits like you have been." Zachi said, the gestured to her labcoat, "It seems like you take hits harder than I do, like with those Frogs for instance. Since I doubt there's any difference in cushioning, I can only assume the fabric type helps. This lab coat is cotton-polyester.
"This jacket is denim." Mike said tugging at his own, "But you think somehow polyester is better?"
"Or...cotton..." Zachi confirmed with a bit of hesitation.
Mike didn't get it, but hey Zachi was smart right? He checked his hand...
2:32:43
2:32:42
2:32:41
"Spence is waiting for us. Let's go meet him first. Mission time is ticking after all." Mike said
"It'll be quick. And we don't want to have to go back and forth between storage and the shops. It'll faster if we shop now." Zachi insisted.
"Maybe after the mission then...I'll just be more careful today."
Zachi didn't seem to like that idea.
A) Meet Spencer first, then shop
B) Shop, then meet Spencer
C) Just go meet Spencer, the shopping can wait until after the mission.
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Post by grayjack on Apr 30, 2015 1:44:49 GMT -6
B. Let's not concern waifu.
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Post by SwordMasterEX on Apr 30, 2015 1:59:22 GMT -6
B. Let's not concern waifu. |
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Post by empireoffire on Apr 30, 2015 2:14:20 GMT -6
B) She got the point
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Post by SummerCrow on Apr 30, 2015 8:37:54 GMT -6
B, anything to piss off Spencer. Wait, Spencer's the one I think he is, right?
I need to make a list of the characters so I'll stop getting them mixed up.
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Post by HHDeception on Apr 30, 2015 9:05:57 GMT -6
B, anything to piss off Spencer. Wait, Spencer's the one I think he is, right? I need to make a list of the characters so I'll stop getting them mixed up. Honestly, I should have done that by now. |
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Post by HHDeception on May 1, 2015 1:07:32 GMT -6
I've done that now.
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Post by HHDeception on May 2, 2015 1:57:42 GMT -6
"Alright let's shop," Mike said, "But let's make it quick. Find a store. I'll text Spencer..."
"There must be somewhere along the way." Zachi replied. Mike followed her down the hall with his phone out.
*tap tap tap*
Noise held us up. Gotta shop first. Will be there in a bit.
*tap*
"How about here?"
Mike looked up. It wasn't a familiar brand. Import maybe? Those have been popping up a lot. It looked kind of like a Hot Topic, only slightly less edgy.
Tigre Punks...uh, ok. Wait, that's the brand of one of my pins, isn't it?
"Why here?" Mike asked, as he saw Zachi cashing in some money pins on the store-side sigil.
Zachi didn't turn but she replied anyways. "Yeah. We could probably find a leather jacket in here somewhere." she said before walking inside.
Mike caught up, "Hold on, why leather? I mean, besides the fact I can totally rock one."
"Faux leather is similar in composition to my lab coat. It'll test my theory about materials." Zachi said in monotone, looking around.
Of course. For science.
"How about this?" Mike asked, grabbing a dark brown one, slightly lighter than his skin colour. Zachi checked the label and nodded, and soon after Mike was wearing his new purchase and looking at himself in a mirror.
Hm...not bad!
He had the slight urge to comb up his hair, but it wasn't really long enough for that. Meanwhile Zachi was counting the money they still had. A bit strange maybe, to pay for things like this in cash, but money is money. They had around $870 left.
"I thought you said we should be quick." Zachi said, nudging Mike.
"Right! Right," Mike said, pulling himself away, "Yeah let's get moving."
Mike didn't get any replies on his text message. As they arrived at the Food Court, they found the very strange sight of CC waiting for them alone. She was leaned up against a pillar and was apparently foregoing the cardigan today in favour of a long scarf. It looped down and around, binding her arms to keep them out of the way.
"Hey Zachi! Mike!" She called out, cheerily.
"Hey," Mike called back, making his way over, "Where's Spence?"
"He said he got bored of waiting and went to the game store." CC answered, her ever present smile living up to its title.
Really? That doesn't seem like him...
Then CC leaned in closer, "But just between us three, I think he just wants to know if Mike tries to hit on me. He asked me to let him know."
Oooookay never mind, that's him.
Zachi replied, "He's a moron."
CC sighed, "Yeah, but he's my moron now." Mike wasn't sure exactly what kind of sigh that was. "Anyways," she continued, "I'll show you the locker room in a flash. Then you guys can get to that darned mission."
"You're not going to help today?" Mike asked.
CC made a motion like she would have shrugged if she could. "Spencer said he wanted to try and leave downtown today. So I guess we're going on an adventure."
Zachi spoke again. "You have any clue about the mission prompt?"
CC shook her head. "I have no idea. Spencer mentioned...something about the voice part, but didn't go on."
Zachi turned to Mike, "Only one of us really has to handle the locker. You could go find him while you wait."
A) Zachi goes to inventory with CC, Mike goes to find Spencer
B) Mike goes to inventory with CC, Zachi goes to find Spencer
C) Forget Spencer, just do the inventory together.
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Post by SwordMasterEX on May 2, 2015 2:40:08 GMT -6
A, Spence needs a heart to heart. And maybe a fist to face but that can come later.
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Post by empireoffire on May 2, 2015 2:58:01 GMT -6
A. Choice B would probably lower affinity with him.
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Post by SummerCrow on May 2, 2015 3:28:18 GMT -6
C.
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Post by grayjack on May 2, 2015 10:14:01 GMT -6
B guys. Let's make him even more jealous. I am being serious, I want him to get really jealous.
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Post by AlmosDug on May 3, 2015 1:37:32 GMT -6
A.
Based off what little I know, it seems wise.
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Post by HHDeception on May 4, 2015 1:51:56 GMT -6
"Good idea," Mike said to Zachi, "I'll go see what's up with him."
Zachi nodded. Mike turned to leave. Then turned back around.
"Game store right?"
"Yep!" CC confirmed.
Mike turned to leave, and did.
CC walked down the hall behind the food court. Zachi followed. Zachi figured she was used to silence and CC was too positive for it to really register. Regardless, she eventually decided to say something. After all, there's a tactical advantage in hav-
"It's just down this way," CC said casually, "Since we're invisible you don't really run into problems until you get to the lockers."
"Uh. Right. Thanks." Zachi said, abruptly. "And yes, thanks for showing us around."
CC replied in her usual cheerful disposition, "Oh it's no problem. We're in this together after all!"
Zachi nodded. Considering that sufficient. But then she thought maybe she should voice some of her criticisms. There couldn't really be any harm, since CC wasn't her partner in this and a rift wouldn't be terribly detrimental. And Mike did have an issue with her being quiet all the time so it's only logical to-
"So how's death?" CC said suddenly, "You're science-y. What do you make of all this?"
"I can't make anything of it," Zachi said, "but it's interesting that you're curious."
"Hey, just cause I'm cute doesn't mean I'm not a thinker," CC said while grinning, "And I want your take on it. You're one of the lucky ones who weren't crippled by their entry fee. Spencer's let it go to his head. Whatever he lost I think he's actually happy about it."
"You don't know his entry fee?"
"Does Mike know yours?"
"...no."
"Hehe. Through here," CC said before they turned down another corridor, and through a nearby door.
Zachi decided to keep talking, "When we're not fighting Noise, I have been able to contemplate my personal situation. It's interesting to think on the consequences of losing what I did, but it's just as intriguing that what I lost is what I considered most valuable to me. I should think I'm as conflicted as anyone else at this point."
CC blinked, "Ok, you lost me. What's your entry fee again?"
Zachi was quiet for a bit, "I think it most appropriate if Mike knew first."
"Oooh personal," CC said giggling, "Mine's much more straightforward. But anyways," She kicked a door, "You're going to have to open this for me. It's unlocked. The lockers are inside and I'll tell you our combination. We're gonna share, but no stealing my clothes kay?"
Mike arrived at the game store. It was much more peaceful than yesterday. There weren't any Tin Pin things going on, besides a few demo tables inside the store. Guess they packed up. Speaking of inside the store, he could see Spencer inside. He was the only one besides a guy at the counter with blonde hair and glasses...that looked awfully familiar...wait...
"Hey!" Mike called, heading to the counter.
"Mike?" Spencer said, turning his head, "Didn't expect to see you here."
"He-woah!" The guy behind the counter said, before groaning and making aggressive "zip-it" motions while Spencer's head was turned.
"Yeah hey Spence," Mike said somewhat dismissively before fixing his attention on the counter guy, "You...we've met, haven't we?"
"Don't think so, dude" counter guy said, with a very unconvincing smile.
Spencer looked back and forth between the two. Wondering what was going on. "Um...so how do you two-"
"He's a Reaper," Mike stated, "Sparkles and I interrogated him yesterday."
The Reaper hung his head with a big sigh, "No, it was all her. You just popped in after a while."
Spencer looked at counter guy, "Dude...seriously? That's kind of awesome!" He said this with a rather large grin on his face.
"He's also the same Reaper that kicked your ass that first day in front of the art gallery."
The Reaper grimaced. Spencer switched his tune, but gave a small chuckle saying "Oh, well that case I owe you one..."
"Woah woah woah ok look!" The Reaper backpedaled, "I've got a civilian life! I've got a Reaper life and a civilian one. I'm nice. I swear. It's just...as a Reaper I have to make ends meet by beating on and erasing players sometimes. But really I'm...I'm just some dude. My name's Lawrence. I run a shop. Let's be cool, kay?"
Spencer still had a slight grin on his face, "Alright...Larry. Maybe. But first you gotta tell me, what's it like? Do you get to keep the super powers? Can you become invisible? Can you sweat or are you a zombie like us?"
"Woah woah woah," Mike said to stop Spencer, "Important questions first. what the hell does the mission today mean?"
"That's not an important question..." Spencer muttered.
Larry slumped in his chair, "I uh...I'm really not supposed to help Players. Or like, even talk to them. Or notice they exist. I'm in enough trouble as it is."
"Go on." Spencer said, honestly interested.
"Well I uh...no. No! Not saying anything." Larry said, doing his best to keep his word.
Spencer looked at Mike. Mike looked back.
"You've already broken the rules then?" Mike asked. Larry didn't reply.
"So he's already in trouble," Spencer continued, "We just have to report him."
"Or he could like, buy our silence somehow..." Mike finished.
Larry groaned. "Uuuuuugh I swear I am erasing you guys the moment I get back on active duty!"
"Why aren't you on active duty?" Spencer followed up.
"Punishment for letting Kitty escape yesterday. It was supposed to stay in the Colosseum, but then it escaped, and we couldn't get it back inside and so the Mission became null since there wasn't a win condition. Skull wanted our heads but DJ managed to talk him down to just a suspension. And I really needed this week to up my clock. I only have a month and a half left at this rate..."
Larry went off on a rant. Spencer and Mike just kind of watched.
"So now we can really black mail him." Mike said to Spencer.
"Oh, yes indeed." Spencer said back.
Larry face palmed. "Alright then. Give it here."
"Give what here?" Mike asked.
"The Mission. Let me see it," he looked up and saw that the two Players were confused, "Helloooo, off duty? I didn't get briefed. I don't know anything more than you guys do."
It was Mike's turn to face palm, but he showed Larry his phone regardless. The not-a-Reaper-right-now looked it over.
"uh...nope! No clue."
"You sure?" Spencer asked, maybe a bit menacingly.
"Well, 'his master's voice' might be that whole dog listening to his master's voice on the first phonograph deal. DJ's into that kind of thing, if you couldn't tell." Larry replied.
Spencer sighed, "Is that all? I knew that."
Oh you did? Aren't you the smart one...
"That's all I'm saying," Larry shook his head, "Now promise me you wont blab to the higher ups!"
Mike shrugged, "Come on Spence. Let's leave him be."
"Yeah yeah fine..."
As they both left, they maybe heard Larry say "And stay out!", but it was said too meekly to really count.
Spencer and Mike both walked back to the food court.
"Hey, have any of your pins...evolved?" Mike asked.
"Oh yeah," Spencer replied, "It evolved after a Tin Pin match."
"Mine went after a Noise battle."
"Huh. Neat."
...
Mike spoke again, "For the record, I'm wasn't going to hit on CC."
"Oh. Thanks."
"...that's all?"
"Well she told you. I'm wondering what to make of that."
*bzz bzz bzz*
Mike felt his phone vibrate just in time. He checked it. Text from Sparkles.
Any leads on the Mission?
*tap tap tap*
Not really. His Master's Voice is a dog on a phonograph?
*tap*
Mike looked up. Zachi and CC were already sitting at a bench waiting for them.
"And then he says 'looks like your guns are bigger than mine!'" CC said, as if that were a punch line. Or at least, it was supposed to be, but Zachi didn't really respond at all.
"Oh. Sorry. Ha ha." Zachi said, kind of awkwardly, but then shifted her attention to Mike. "Storage is done," she said handing Mike his bat, "Any leads?"
Mike shook his head. "No, not really..."
*bzz bzz bzz*
Text from Sparkles.
Got it. Meet me at Victoria's Secret, Burrard St.
"Maybe we do have one." Mike said, showing Zachi the text. Zachi raised an eyebrow but didn't question it.
Meanwhile, Spencer was helping CC up. "Alright then! Let's go take a train ride." he said. CC smiled and nodded. Miked looked up at them.
A) Try to convince them to come with.
B) Just go meet Sparkles.
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Post by grayjack on May 4, 2015 3:45:19 GMT -6
A.
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Post by empireoffire on May 4, 2015 3:47:45 GMT -6
B..
Changed my mind, A.
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Post by SummerCrow on May 4, 2015 7:05:48 GMT -6
B.
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